Lightfoot (Allies) vs stjeand (Axis) 3.1 (no stjeand)

[kennonlightfoot]

42 Mar 15 Turn

Reinforcements: US gets 2 Inf. Div. and 1 AA (goes to Bombay). UK receives a BB and an AA (goes to Sydney)

Production: UK shifts more PP to Reinforcements (70) in anticipation of some major damage to their ships.
US builds another Sub and maximizes its Reinforcements (300 PP) also in anticipation of need for repairs.

Convoys

Since Kido is going to be busy for a while I maximize it. Particularly more Oil to UK so they can keep their fleets active.
UK send 24 PP to India, has 25 in Imports and 49 to cover exports from US.
US send 6 PP to New Zealand and 20 to Australia. 32 PP and 8 Oil to UK.

China - Snow
Lines are stable. I think only three Japanese armies are left in China so they can't do much damage. Everything I guess is going to India.

Australia - Rain
Also, probably safe from attack now.

S. Pacific

The Japanese take the bait. Kido Butai attacks my Carrier fleet (need a cute name for US fleet). Of course whether this was "bait" or "stupid" depends on the out come. In this case the US comes out the winner so its "bait". The Carrier Interdiction, shown below, was as successful as the US could hope for. The Akagi is sunk and one hit on the Hiryu. The Carrier strike can't find me so I survive with jsut 2 hits to the Saratoga.

Elsewhere the Japanese have moved air unit into the islands north of Noumea and make Naval Air strikes against my subs breaking the blockade. They also move more surface ships into the area. Both the Pike and Grayling take 2 hits each but luckily neither are sunk.

My Carrier fleet withdraws to Sydney (not going to press my luck with only three full strength Carriers). The Pike and Grayling also withdraw. I am considering moving it next to India to turn the tide there but the Saratoga will need repairs.

A transport with the 38th Div moves SE of Tonga. Soon my first US unit will reach Australia.

I tend to forget about my US bombers especially the one Strategic Bomber. It has tremendous reach. So I change it to Naval Air and move it to Canton Is. I should be able to Island hop it down to Fiji where it can do some good.

The Japanese sub that was trying to blockade Canton is driven off by the US Destroy there. It attacks getting two hits on RO-67.

There are to many ships and air units around Noumea to keep my blockade busters there. So I use a supply truck to boost its supply level up for a bit of isolation.

[kennonlightfoot]

42 Mar 15 Turn Cont'd.

India

Snow in the south. India along with Burma has some very odd weather patterns. They are both in the Monsoon zone which means over 98% chance of clear through March. This bothers me mostly because I remember in earlier version having rain in Burma area. Maybe just bad memory. But it makes these grand offensives by the Japanese during winter possible.

The other oddity is there is a small "temperate" zone in the middle of Southern India (and also most of northern China. This really looks like an error. It seems to snow a lot in this "temperate" zone. But the last printing I have of the Weather file doesn't define a "Temperate" zone at all. It may be mislabeled (or misleadingly labeled) and is "Artic". Need to check if a new file is out for it.

Anyway things are getting worse in India. A UK division has arrived at Bombay but the Indian lines are facing the Japanese advances from the south and Burma are very weak. It will be two more turns before another UK unit can arrive.

To try to slow them down I send the UK fleet to blockade Madras. This should put the Southern forces out of supply but it exposes the fleet to an attack by the Japanese Indian Ocean fleet.

[kennonlightfoot]

42 Mar 29 Turn

Transport capacity is up to 20 for UK and 30 for US.
The Hornet arrives and heads for Australia.
Kido Butai returns to Rabaul as expected.
Noumea is blockaded as expected.
The Pr. of Wales is sunk. I was hoping for damage and maybe a minor ship sunk. Hermes air crews apparently went into hiding.

Production:
UK makes another division plus 1 LS, 1 Supply Truck with Canada adding in another Landing Ship. In case I have to take India back the hard way.
US builds only an Oiler and an AA. The rest of its production put into repairs.

Convoys
Maximizing PP to India for both US and UK plus Oil to UK to keep its fleets active.
UK: 24 Imports, 26 to India, 39 for US exports to UK.
US: 6 to New Zealand, 7 Oil to UK, 30 to India (Australia is now on its own), 30 PP to UK.

Australia
The first US division to arrive goes to Rock Hampton. One of the Austi divisions is sent further north to garrison townsville.

S. Pacific
The strategic bomber moves to Pago Pago. The NZ air there moves to Fiji.

India
The supply cut off in the south worked stopping the Japanese offensive there for a turn but in the North the Japanese Burma forces blew the Indian line apart. What is left of it makes a run for it leaving Calcutta open for occupation next turn and a key supply source for their northern armies.

The UK fleet returns to Bombay.

[kennonlightfoot]

42 Apr 12 Turn

Japanese use air resupply for their unit in New Caledonia.
They move their Indian Ocean CVL fleet in range of Bombay and launch air attacks.
I received 3 AA's this turn so I put them in Bombay to make that costly.

Kido Butai appears to have moved to Manila and probably reinforced by the arriving Junyo CV.
Throws a monkey wrench into my plan to move my main fleet to the Indian Ocean.

US Rework their Encryption codes. Hopefully, this will help make my carrier movements less visible. But have know idea how this part of the game works.

Production is limited. US builds a Landing Ship.
Convoys are unchanged.

China

Clear whether leads to four attacks along the Chinese lines.
Changsha also falls to combined attacks of infantry armies and air.

[kennonlightfoot]

42 Apr 12 Turn Cont'd.

India

I got a reprieve in the south with no attacks other than by the CVL group. UK troops become available and move into the line which is also pulled two hexes back to limit the next round of attacks.

But the north is still a disaster. One division is trapped and just moves to create a road bump for the Japanese. The others along with a HQ unit try to make a semi line covering the Southern lines left flank and Delhi.

Ceylon is in danger of falling with Jaffna blockaded.

[kennonlightfoot]

42 Apr 12 Turn Cont'd.

S. Pacific

My Bomber group moves to Fiji and makes an air strike against the Japanese subs blockading Noumea. The Bomber takes a hit but does very well against the subs. RO-67 takes one hit and I-174 also takes a hit.

Since I can't go to India with the Kido Butai at Manila, I think I will try to fix the problem of Noumea.
The US Carrier fleet leaves Sydney and takes station off Noumea. A carrier air strike is launched against the Subs getting two hits on I-10. But so far none sunk.

So I bring over a 3 Destroyer group and make one more attack on the subs. This time they deliver with I-10 and I-174 sunk. RO-67 retreats from the battle. It is now the lone remaining Japanese sub.

Now to kill that Japanese Marine unit. I land a US division on the other side of the Island and make the Noumea garrison active. This should give me the fire power to kill it next turn.

[kennonlightfoot]

42 Apr 26 Turn

UK receives its 3rd Transport and the US its 4th.
US receives a Sub and an AA as reinforcements. The AA goes to Bombay.

Production:
UK starts an Inf. Div
US starts another Sub.

Convoys aren't changed.
I think the Japanese feel its beneath their dignity to chase after Merchants. Hope it stays that way.

China

The weather is Clear and but not much happens.
I start moving my southern forces toward Haiphong to see if I can put some pressure on the Japanese.

S. Pacific

My Bomber Group XXI makes an air base atack against the Japanese 16th Air group.
First round goes well getting 2 hits in at the cost of 1 loss.
Should have stopped there. Second round the bombers take 2 hits and do no damage.

I move the NZ Air unit to Noumea in preparation for taking out that marine. Two destroyers are move in to resupply the units and support them as needed.

[kennonlightfoot]

42 Apr 26 Turn Cont'd.

India

There are minor attacks but my line holds in the South. In the North they are still trying to catch up with my fast running infantry.

A UK HQ unit arrives at Bombay freeing up the UK infantry there to move forward to take position in the new line I am forming one hex back from the old one. I am running out of retreat room. Things are particular bad on my left flank since there aren't enough division to form a continuous line to Delhi.

But for India to stay in the war they must hold Bombay. Even if I have to give up Delhi. I now have six AA guns in Bombay so hopefully that will counter the Japanese light carriers. I try an air attack on the fleet but it is ineffective.

Meanwhile the garrison in Jaffha is running out of supplies. I will have to do something soon or lose it.

The Indian army does receive on fresh division (not shown but is placed where the green "X" is).

The Japanese Carrier fleet in the Pacific moves back to Rabaul (from Manila).
This frees me to move the US fleet into the Indian ocean. The US Main Carrier fleet leads the way moving toward the Indian Ocean south of Australia. The UK CVL joins the fleet. The Hornet group follows but is about a dozen or so hexes behind. I fear the move is to late.

[kennonlightfoot]

42 May 10 Turn

Reinforcements: UK: 1 Inf. Div. US: 1 Sub, 1 Inf. Div., AA (goes to Sydney)

Kido Butai still at Rabaul. Maybe my move toward India went undetected.

The problem with non-VP islands. Japan took Wake Island but is now stuck with garrisoning it. And, to keep me from starving it out with a blockade, has one of their air units baby sitting it.

India

The Japanese army closes up on my new line but at least for this round doesn't attack. Still got holes in it with only HQ's to plug them.

Jaffna (on Ceylon) is a problem. It will fall without relief but I have little to do it with. The US fleet is still a turn away. So I risk the UK fleet and move it to break the blockade (circled in green). It is in Raider mode but the Japanese have a lot of both land and CVL based air. This will cost me.

To make things worse the US is running out of oil trying to keep this fleet afloat. I have to shut down all Oil exports and even try to bring some back from the UK.

[kennonlightfoot]

42 May 10 Turn Cont'd.

China

Japan don't have much strength to use on this front but they keep picking away at the line pushing it back a hex here or there.

Production:
US starts another sub, Landing Ship, Oiler and Supply Truck.
UK starts another infantry.
India is able to start an infantry division.

S. Pacific

US troops on Caledonia take out the lone Japanese Marine.

[kennonlightfoot]

42 May 24 Turn

US receives a Sub reinforcement.

Production:
US (upkeep went down so maybe finally catching up on repairs) Builds: 1 Marine, Landing Ship, Oiler and Truck.
UK builds another infantry. Canada builds a Landing Ship. India is able to start another division.

The Allies are running out of OIL. UK 19 and US 4.
Convoys
Again trying to get oil back to US from UK to keep the Carrier Fleet afloat.

China
Hvy Rains in the south but clear in the north. Some minor attacks in the north.

S. Pacific
Because of oil shortage limiting movements here. I relocate the XXI Strategic Bomber to Rock Hampton. Only one division is loaded on transports to save oil.

India

Heavy Rain saves the day. But not the UK fleet. Enough air units were in that central Temperate Zone to support air strikes against the fleet. Plus the Japanese got 4 CVL's and a CVE over to make carrier strikes against it. They sink the Revenge. Another battleship gone.

With great hope the US fleet arrives joining the UK fleet. The Japanese CVL group tries to Interdict resulting in the CVL Ryujo being sunk. I had hoped for better but lacking enough movement to make my own carrier strike nothing can be done.

Plus, I have lost track of Kido Butai again.

[kennonlightfoot]

42 Jun 7 Turn

Fund a function I didn't know existed. Under the War Panel you can use COMIT points (60) to try to break the enemy code. Gave it a try with the UK's points. Failed.

Kido Butai left Rabaul. Looks like it probably made a refuel stop at Surabaya on its way to the Indian Ocean.

US fleet at 86% Effectiveness and out of oil. They have to withdraw to Bombay.

Reinforcements:
UK: Infantry,
US: Sub, AA(keep in queue).

S. Pacific

Rain in the Solomon Islands area. Looks like with the fleet gone the Japanese pull back to a more defendable area. The small outer islands of New Hebrides and Santa Cruz are abandoned.

Transports move a Bomber, 2nd Marine and Infantry into position. Nothing from the US since I lack oil.

China

Japanese continue pushing forward. I draw my lines back to a more defensible position.
Need some rain.

[kennonlightfoot]

42 Jun 7 Turn Cont'd.

India

Rain saves the day. The Monsoon season has started and may save me in India. There is only a 10% chance of clear weather for the next three months. But even with rain Delhi is weakly held and it looks like more full strength armies are being moved against it. A fresh UK division does arrive. If India can hold two more turns I think I can stabilize the situation.

Production:
UK builds another infantry.
US builds another sub along with Truck, AA, and Landing ship.
India is able to start another infantry.

Convoys
Back to moving as much production as I can to India and UK but short on oil.

[kennonlightfoot]

42 Jun 21 Turn

Japan changes their encryption codes. I wonder if I will see any change for that.
US receives the Wasp CV, BB, Sub and an AA.
UK is running out of oil which is now my biggest problem.

China - weathers clear again.
But at least only one unsuccessful attack was made.
I do some more line shortening and straightening.

India - Monsoons continue with rain.

Delhi holds out from attacks in spite of rain.
I use my move to merge a division into the Delhi force making it a Corps. A UK unit replaces it in the line.
Likewise, out side Bombay I merge a UK division to create a Corps in the line there.

But until I can find something to drive the Thai Corps that is across the river NW of Delhi my line is to fragile to withstand a clear weather turn. I need to hold on into August before enough divisions will show up to do this.

The US fleet in Bombay still hadn't recovered. Effectiveness is only 90%.
The Japanese have concentrated a large fleet at Columbo of about 17 ship groups.

To help the build up in India I route two US divisions south of Australia. But it will take them a while to get to India.

[kennonlightfoot]

42 Jun 21 Turn Cont'd.

S. Pacific

I have very little oil to use but I do use two Landings to take ports nearer the Solomon Islands. Ndeni and Espirito Santo are occupied. I will use them for air bases to support further attacks.

In Australia I move to occupy ports closer to the Solomons and shift air units there.

Production:
UK builds another division but its manpower now is below 50% (47%).
Canada builds a Landing Ship in case the UK has to retake India the hard way.
US builds a Marine, AA, 3 Landing Ships, and one oiler.

Convoy allotment doesn't change. Still trying to get enough oil to UK to keep its fleet operational.

If I can just last into July the increase in oil by 40 to the US will solve this problem.

[kennonlightfoot]

42 Jul 5 Turn

My luck runs out and disaster strikes.

Kido Butai comes out of Columbo and makes a surprise strike against my fleet in Bombay.

Clear weather in the central temperate zone around Krishna allows the Japanese to first launch air attacks from six groups to soften the Bombay defenses up.

Kido Butai makes a devastating carrier strike on the fleet sinking the Saratoga.
The US fleet is taken by surprise and does not damage in return.
The UK fleet stands idle with no oil to fire its boilers.

To support the main fleet a second Japanese fleet made up of CVL's and Battleships comes up in support.

To make matters worse no reinforcements can be landed with these powerful fleets next to Bombay.

The US fleet has no choice. It runs south as far as it can go as fast as it can go. Leaving the UK fleet behind in Bombay. Four CV with one badly damaged can't take on Kido Butai.

India is on its own. Even the Convoys have to be shut down with so many Japanese surface ships in the Indian Ocean.

[kennonlightfoot]

42 Jul 5 Turn Cont'd.

And the bad news just keeps coming.
In China more advances are made by the Japanese army. They are now only two to three hexes from Chungking. Chinese armies just aren't strong enough to stop this slow advance. Only weather will save Chungking and I have no idea when it changes for this region (missing from weather file).

[kennonlightfoot]

42 Jul 5 Turn Cont'd.

Compared to the to the other fronts, the South Pacific is down right peaceful.

I have move air units to provide heavy coverage of the area but I haven't come up with a plan to take back this area. A lot will depend on how effective land base air is against naval units. So far it has been very variable.

Since the Japanese have new codes I give another try at breaking them both the US and UK attempts fail.

[kennonlightfoot]

42 Jul 19 Turn

UK Warship Advancement goes to 43 for those few warships left.
China's Anti-Tank goes to 40.

I try to break the Japanese codes again. This time it works. Can't see any effect for this.

India

Saved by the Monsoon season and an early Heavy rain. For now until September there is only a 10% chance of clear weather and even in September it won't improve much for the Japanese offensive. Hopefully enough time for me to rebuild the Indian army.

India receives its first home raised Infantry Division. The first of many.

This is what makes India so critical to the Allies to hold and the Japanese to destroy. India has the capacity to raise over 100 division (33 full Armies) using their almost unlimited manpower and over 1000 logistics points.

S. Pacific
Heavy rains in the area limit operations.
The Sub forces have reached the level that I can field two groups of five and next turn they go to attack level of 2. So I send them north to the China sea to see what happens.

Part of my strategy is to try to make the Japanese use up their oil supplies. Making them keep having to shift both their sea and air forces around to counter threats is one way to eat into their production until I have enough force to actually attack it. I doubt the subs will do much damage to their Merchant fleet but it is going to draw their air units back to the China sea and keep them flying and using oil.

Production:
UK has none.
US builds a Merchant, Landing Ship and Supply Truck.
Canada builds an AA for India.
India builds a 1939 level division. Not enough PP for up-to-date one but they need bodies in the line.

Convoys
The India route is reopened.
UK: 5 PP to India.
US: 34 PP and 2 Oil to India, 21 Oil and 40 PP to UK.

I fear my opponent is realizing how effective their carriers are against convoys.
Since he can't see what it is doing, he probably doesn't realize just how close he is to destroying the ability of the US and UK to keep India in the war.

[kennonlightfoot]

42 Aug 2 Turn

Unfortunately for me, he has decided to focus on it for a while. Kido Butai sinks 6 Merchants.

USA has a Carrier advancement to 43.
USA also gets torpedo improvement this turn.
China gets Assault rise to 40.

US Subs move into the East China sea in two groups of five each.

Very little going on in the S. Pacific as I wait for the US carriers to recover.

China

The Japanese continue their drive. Slowly advancing one hex a turn. Very little the Chinese can do to stop it. Their armies are about as strong as they get this early in the game and it isn't strong enough to stop a multi army attack.