How fortuitous to find air reinforcements sent to Efate. If you were previously reconning Efate, cease immediately. The point about all your forthcoming offensive actions, which must be launched within the next 30 days simultaneously, is to rely upon surprise even at the expense of local information. If you feel you just must have some intel on efate, park a submarine there, although personally I wouldn't because it will disclose too much interest on Efate to your opponent.
Regarding Exmouth, if you can launch an immediate counter invasion using either sub or fast transport to ferry a fragment, do so before he can reinforce. Exmouth is an example why you must garrison every rear base against para or sub borne invasions. Other than in December 1941, your opponent will rarely attempt to capture any Allied base on the cheap if it has a garrison. If your opponent builds up Exmouth, you can forget about any offensive action against Java in 1942. Exmouth is more important than the other north western Australian bases which can not be defended against any determined enemy assault. Sure the same applies to Exmouth, but whilst it remains in Allied hands, it shields your Indian Ocean maneouvres on one flank.
Regarding B-19 operations in this mod, too many allied players are mesmerized by them forgetting that they consume a huge amount of supplies and because they can only be fully deployed from a limited number of air bases, they invite enemy air attack on their airfields.
Alfred
Gutter War..Empires Ablaze 2ndAcr (allied) vs Nemo121 (IJN)
Moderators: wdolson, Don Bowen, mogami
RE: Gutter War..Empires Ablaze 2ndAcr (allied) vs Nemo121 (IJN)
Anti sub/para garrisons pick a Regt or RCT load it at a big port into a 20 AK TF.
That gives c 20 company sized forces that can be used as garrisons send one AK to each base you want garrisoned
Take all the units thus freed and use them as nodal defensive response/offensive forces.
Andy
That gives c 20 company sized forces that can be used as garrisons send one AK to each base you want garrisoned
Take all the units thus freed and use them as nodal defensive response/offensive forces.
Andy
RE: Gutter War..Empires Ablaze 2ndAcr (allied) vs Nemo121 (IJN)
Andy Mac's suggestion is good, although some might prefer slightly larger fragments resulting from a 10-15 AK initial TF. All the rear area bases need a garrison to stop el cheapo drops, but there is no need for the garrison to be too big.
Alfred
Alfred
RE: Gutter War..Empires Ablaze 2ndAcr (allied) vs Nemo121 (IJN)
I thought I would post some highlights of todays action. Nemo is cleaning up his rear area in the DEI. I managed to sting him with planes flying from Koepang. Taking this base will greatly hamper my evac operations of the remaining 2 PI divisions. I have the 81st completely evaced........the 61st is at Makasaar, Koepang and Cebu. The remaining PI division is at Davao. I might fly in some Coronados to air lift whatever I can to one of the other DEI bases within range and from there pick them up from Koepang.
I have the 6th AUS div getting ready to pass Exmouth........I might have them pay Nemo a visit and retake the base. But I am leaning towards using the Dutch Barison Regiment that is at Perth right now rebuilding. Really do not want Nemo to know I have a whole Div moving around by ship up there.
I shifted some Marine Wildcats and SBD's into Noumea and managed to sting Nemo at Efate. Now to fly them back out again.
I am hoping Nemo will finally kill the last P40 sitting at Wenchow so it will release the 18 pilots there to rejoin the squadron at Kunming. I shifted them down there a few turns back and managed to bushwhack Nemo and bagged about 20 planes. The lack of air support in China makes me pay for every ambush.
Shifted another 2 Divisions from my main line in Russia to make the move to Boryza. I am going slow to try and keep Nemo honest. So far, Hailar is still at 14 units and 50,000 troops.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/21/42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Heiho [Chosen] , at 66,25
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 18
Allied aircraft
I-16 Type 24 x 14
IL-2 Shturmovik x 82
LaGG-3 x 19
MiG-3 x 9
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zeke: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
I-16 Type 24: 6 destroyed
IL-2 Shturmovik: 8 destroyed, 2 damaged
LaGG-3: 2 destroyed
MiG-3: 1 destroyed
Resources hits 28
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Hailar [Manchukuo] , at 63,22
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 17
Ki-109E Mike x 24
Allied aircraft
MiG-3 x 30
R-12 x 1
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zeke: 2 destroyed
Ki-109E Mike: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
MiG-3: 4 destroyed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Hailar [Manchukuo] , at 63,22
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 15
Ki-109E Mike x 23
Allied aircraft
SB-2M x 58
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zeke: 3 destroyed, 10 damaged
Ki-109E Mike: 3 destroyed, 14 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
SB-2M: 5 destroyed, 1 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
8 casualties reported
Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 22
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Wenchow [S China] , at 50,41
Japanese aircraft
D3A2 Val x 69
Ki-27 Nate x 65
Ki-48-I Lily x 28
Japanese aircraft losses
D3A2 Val: 1 destroyed
Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 83
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Calcutta [India] , at 29,23
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 27
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1
Allied aircraft
Buffalo/F2A x 3
Hurricane I x 4
Spitfire VB x 15
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zeke: 6 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane I: 1 destroyed
Spitfire VB: 2 destroyed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Makassar [Celebes] at 30,70
Allied aircraft
Beaufort VII x 11
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
AK Aobasan Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CL Syoka Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Efate [New Hebredes] at 72,114
Japanese aircraft
F1M2 Pete-FF x 4
A6M2-N Rufe-FF x 10
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 11
SBD-3 Dauntless x 21
Japanese aircraft losses
F1M2 Pete-FF: 1 destroyed
A6M2-N Rufe-FF: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 5 destroyed, 11 damaged
Japanese Ships
DD Sagi
CA Aoba
CA Haguro, Bomb hits 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Makassar [Celebes] at 30,70
Allied aircraft
Beaufort VII x 7
Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort VII: 2 damaged
Japanese Ships
CL Syoka Maru, on fire, heavy damage
AK Aobasan Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Makassar [Celebes] at 30,70
Allied aircraft
Hudson IV x 4
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
CL Syoka Maru, on fire, heavy damage
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Makassar [Celebes], 30,70, firing at TF 3
TF 3 troops unloading over beach at Makassar [Celebes], 30,70
8 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese ground losses:
95 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I thought I would post some highlights of todays action. Nemo is cleaning up his rear area in the DEI. I managed to sting him with planes flying from Koepang. Taking this base will greatly hamper my evac operations of the remaining 2 PI divisions. I have the 81st completely evaced........the 61st is at Makasaar, Koepang and Cebu. The remaining PI division is at Davao. I might fly in some Coronados to air lift whatever I can to one of the other DEI bases within range and from there pick them up from Koepang.
I have the 6th AUS div getting ready to pass Exmouth........I might have them pay Nemo a visit and retake the base. But I am leaning towards using the Dutch Barison Regiment that is at Perth right now rebuilding. Really do not want Nemo to know I have a whole Div moving around by ship up there.
I shifted some Marine Wildcats and SBD's into Noumea and managed to sting Nemo at Efate. Now to fly them back out again.
I am hoping Nemo will finally kill the last P40 sitting at Wenchow so it will release the 18 pilots there to rejoin the squadron at Kunming. I shifted them down there a few turns back and managed to bushwhack Nemo and bagged about 20 planes. The lack of air support in China makes me pay for every ambush.
Shifted another 2 Divisions from my main line in Russia to make the move to Boryza. I am going slow to try and keep Nemo honest. So far, Hailar is still at 14 units and 50,000 troops.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/21/42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Heiho [Chosen] , at 66,25
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 18
Allied aircraft
I-16 Type 24 x 14
IL-2 Shturmovik x 82
LaGG-3 x 19
MiG-3 x 9
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zeke: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
I-16 Type 24: 6 destroyed
IL-2 Shturmovik: 8 destroyed, 2 damaged
LaGG-3: 2 destroyed
MiG-3: 1 destroyed
Resources hits 28
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Hailar [Manchukuo] , at 63,22
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 17
Ki-109E Mike x 24
Allied aircraft
MiG-3 x 30
R-12 x 1
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zeke: 2 destroyed
Ki-109E Mike: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
MiG-3: 4 destroyed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Hailar [Manchukuo] , at 63,22
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 15
Ki-109E Mike x 23
Allied aircraft
SB-2M x 58
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zeke: 3 destroyed, 10 damaged
Ki-109E Mike: 3 destroyed, 14 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
SB-2M: 5 destroyed, 1 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
8 casualties reported
Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 22
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Wenchow [S China] , at 50,41
Japanese aircraft
D3A2 Val x 69
Ki-27 Nate x 65
Ki-48-I Lily x 28
Japanese aircraft losses
D3A2 Val: 1 destroyed
Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 83
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Calcutta [India] , at 29,23
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 27
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1
Allied aircraft
Buffalo/F2A x 3
Hurricane I x 4
Spitfire VB x 15
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zeke: 6 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane I: 1 destroyed
Spitfire VB: 2 destroyed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Makassar [Celebes] at 30,70
Allied aircraft
Beaufort VII x 11
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
AK Aobasan Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CL Syoka Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Efate [New Hebredes] at 72,114
Japanese aircraft
F1M2 Pete-FF x 4
A6M2-N Rufe-FF x 10
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 11
SBD-3 Dauntless x 21
Japanese aircraft losses
F1M2 Pete-FF: 1 destroyed
A6M2-N Rufe-FF: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 5 destroyed, 11 damaged
Japanese Ships
DD Sagi
CA Aoba
CA Haguro, Bomb hits 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Makassar [Celebes] at 30,70
Allied aircraft
Beaufort VII x 7
Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort VII: 2 damaged
Japanese Ships
CL Syoka Maru, on fire, heavy damage
AK Aobasan Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Makassar [Celebes] at 30,70
Allied aircraft
Hudson IV x 4
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
CL Syoka Maru, on fire, heavy damage
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Makassar [Celebes], 30,70, firing at TF 3
TF 3 troops unloading over beach at Makassar [Celebes], 30,70
8 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese ground losses:
95 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RE: Gutter War..Empires Ablaze 2ndAcr (allied) vs Nemo121 (IJN)
Nemo has stated he is moving for NZ within the next month or so. Massive influx of troops spotted in South Pac area. Not sure if he is playing mind games or not.
NZ has 3 divisions worth of troops on it right now. Another US div is enroute. I am going to shift the 7th Aus div and maybe 2 of the CMF divisions to NZ. Auckland is at fort 7 and climbing. All other bases are building quickly.
If he actually goes for NZ.......I am going to try and turn into a quagmire. Too strong to take and a blood bath to escape from. I do not forsee any moves until he takes Noumea and can begin aerial bombing of NZ. The 2 US Cv's are in Aukland along with most of the surviving USN combat fleet.
I hit Luganville with B25's and B19's last turn.......it cost me 11 B19's and 25 B25's. I caught 13 Zero's on the ground and 28 betty/nells.
NZ has 3 divisions worth of troops on it right now. Another US div is enroute. I am going to shift the 7th Aus div and maybe 2 of the CMF divisions to NZ. Auckland is at fort 7 and climbing. All other bases are building quickly.
If he actually goes for NZ.......I am going to try and turn into a quagmire. Too strong to take and a blood bath to escape from. I do not forsee any moves until he takes Noumea and can begin aerial bombing of NZ. The 2 US Cv's are in Aukland along with most of the surviving USN combat fleet.
I hit Luganville with B25's and B19's last turn.......it cost me 11 B19's and 25 B25's. I caught 13 Zero's on the ground and 28 betty/nells.
RE: Gutter War..Empires Ablaze 2ndAcr (allied) vs Nemo121 (IJN)
2ndACR,
Whilst it is possible that NZ is his target, it is far more likely that he is simply playing with your mind, trying to get you to reinforce a point not under attack so that he can attack elsewhere. You have more than enough already in NZ to delay him if he lands there - after all he does not have anything really to spare from India and Siberia which can really threaten 3 Allied divisions in NZ.
You must not under any circumstances delay your counter offensive operations elsewhere in order to reinforce NZ. Moving 3 Australian divisions to NZ is a serious mistake, leaving Australia open to invasion and depriving you of spoiling opportunities in the DEI. Particularly as you have correctly noted the importance of New Caledonia to any proposed invasion of NZ.
Alfred
Whilst it is possible that NZ is his target, it is far more likely that he is simply playing with your mind, trying to get you to reinforce a point not under attack so that he can attack elsewhere. You have more than enough already in NZ to delay him if he lands there - after all he does not have anything really to spare from India and Siberia which can really threaten 3 Allied divisions in NZ.
You must not under any circumstances delay your counter offensive operations elsewhere in order to reinforce NZ. Moving 3 Australian divisions to NZ is a serious mistake, leaving Australia open to invasion and depriving you of spoiling opportunities in the DEI. Particularly as you have correctly noted the importance of New Caledonia to any proposed invasion of NZ.
Alfred
RE: Gutter War..Empires Ablaze 2ndAcr (allied) vs Nemo121 (IJN)
2ndACR,
The build up of enemy forces in SoPac seems to have reinforced your preoccupation with reinforcing New Zealand. As this, IMHO, would be a mistake, I thought I might raise the following arguments against your strategic assessment for your consideration.
1. Assuming that your intention of making NZ "...a quagmire. Too strong to take and a blood bath to escape from" is feasible, then that alone would be reason enough for Nemo to not invade NZ. Your opponent is too good a strategist for him to make the basic error of playing to your strengths and engaging in activities which do not further his strategic plan.
2. A build up of enemy forces in SoPac has 4 logical long term explanations, one defensive and the other three offensive. Defensively he may have noticed a build up of Allied forces and to counter potential local allied offensives, he is building up a theatre reserve. In this event I would anticipate that a large proportion of the enemy build up is comprised of AA LCU and base forces to support air operations, plus long range bombers. On the other hand, if the build up is for offensive operations, then the 3 obvious strategic objectives are:
Australia
Fiji, Tonga ... all the way to French Polynesia
New Zealand
Of these three, New Zealand is by far, for the reasons detailed below, the least likely objective.
3. The conquest of Australia brings substantial economic benefits to the Empire, whereas New Zealand does not. Consider these domestic economic facts:
As at 7 December 1941,
(a) Australia has 1855 Heavy Industry, NZ only 111 Heavy Industry,
(b) Australia has 55 Oil Centres and is much closer to the large oil centres of Soerabaja, Amboina and Dutch Borneo to import oil to run its heavy industry fully than is New Zealand which has no domestic oil production and therefore needs to fully import 100% of its oil,
(c) Australia has 4581 fully operational Resource Centres (with 2771 requiring repairs) whereas New Zealand has only 333 fully operational Resource Centres (with 899 requiring repairs) - this means that if the Allies have not repaired all resource centres, then upon capture Japan can rely much more on domestic Australian supply production to generate the supplies to repair than it can in New Zealand which will have a greater reliance on imported supply to repair the resource centres,
(d) assuming that all resource centres are fully repaired and sufficient oil is imported to run the heavy industry, then Australia will daily generate 9207 supplies, whereas New Zealand generates 1343. Most (probably all) of the New Zealand production would be consumed by the Japanese garrison, whereas a substantial amount of the australian supply production could be exported elsewhere within the Empire,
(e) at its potential maximum, Australian domestic supply production covers 62.5% of its starting garrison, whereas in New Zealand the figure is only 31.3%. Now whilst LCUs do not draw down on their base stockpiles every day, air operations have not been factored in either. Thus before taking into account any reinforcements, Australia is largely self sufficient in supply whereas New Zealand needs to import some supply just to feed its initial garrison...any further allied reinforcements sent to New Zealand merely exacerbates the supply difficulties,
(f) Australia has 150 Repair Shipyard points, New Zealand has only 15.
4. There are 4 bases on New Zealand's North Island, and 3 on its South Island. This means that even if it were possible for Japan to invade a New Zealand base in such overwhelming force as to capture it almost immediately (an unlikely possibility considering how many Japanese assets are deployed in India and Siberia), the Allied forces will be able to retreat and regroup at another base. This is not an option for defeated Allied units on SoPac islands. If he invades New Zealand, you can march overland units to reinforce the threatened base - you cannot do that in the SoPac. Thus if Nemo feels it important to isolate Australia before invading (an unnecessary detail previously commented on), it makes more tactical sense for him to capture the SoPac bases from Fiji to Bora Bora rather than New Zealand. Ultimately a fully develped Bora Bora airfield allows Nemo to all the exit points from Panama and the Galapagos Islands. Also tactically he can cover a SoPac island hopping campaign under land based Zero cover. For Japan an island hopping campaign avoids attrition, whereas an invasion of New Zealand may result in some attrition warfare (see point 1 above).
In the short term, the simplest explanation for the enemy build up is that he wants to finish off Noumea ASAP. Only after he fully controls New Caledonia will he consider his plan of action for SoPac. This means that implementing your offensive ideas regarding Effate become much more difficult. It however offers you some significant opportunities provided you don't concentrate your forthcoming offensive actions in SoPac (operations in Siberia/Manchuria and the Aleutians have always been far more strategically important) and dissipate your forces by needlessly reinforcing New Zealand. The more Japanese assets are sent to SoPac, the fewer there will be to oppose you elsewhere in more important theatres.
Alfred
The build up of enemy forces in SoPac seems to have reinforced your preoccupation with reinforcing New Zealand. As this, IMHO, would be a mistake, I thought I might raise the following arguments against your strategic assessment for your consideration.
1. Assuming that your intention of making NZ "...a quagmire. Too strong to take and a blood bath to escape from" is feasible, then that alone would be reason enough for Nemo to not invade NZ. Your opponent is too good a strategist for him to make the basic error of playing to your strengths and engaging in activities which do not further his strategic plan.
2. A build up of enemy forces in SoPac has 4 logical long term explanations, one defensive and the other three offensive. Defensively he may have noticed a build up of Allied forces and to counter potential local allied offensives, he is building up a theatre reserve. In this event I would anticipate that a large proportion of the enemy build up is comprised of AA LCU and base forces to support air operations, plus long range bombers. On the other hand, if the build up is for offensive operations, then the 3 obvious strategic objectives are:
Australia
Fiji, Tonga ... all the way to French Polynesia
New Zealand
Of these three, New Zealand is by far, for the reasons detailed below, the least likely objective.
3. The conquest of Australia brings substantial economic benefits to the Empire, whereas New Zealand does not. Consider these domestic economic facts:
As at 7 December 1941,
(a) Australia has 1855 Heavy Industry, NZ only 111 Heavy Industry,
(b) Australia has 55 Oil Centres and is much closer to the large oil centres of Soerabaja, Amboina and Dutch Borneo to import oil to run its heavy industry fully than is New Zealand which has no domestic oil production and therefore needs to fully import 100% of its oil,
(c) Australia has 4581 fully operational Resource Centres (with 2771 requiring repairs) whereas New Zealand has only 333 fully operational Resource Centres (with 899 requiring repairs) - this means that if the Allies have not repaired all resource centres, then upon capture Japan can rely much more on domestic Australian supply production to generate the supplies to repair than it can in New Zealand which will have a greater reliance on imported supply to repair the resource centres,
(d) assuming that all resource centres are fully repaired and sufficient oil is imported to run the heavy industry, then Australia will daily generate 9207 supplies, whereas New Zealand generates 1343. Most (probably all) of the New Zealand production would be consumed by the Japanese garrison, whereas a substantial amount of the australian supply production could be exported elsewhere within the Empire,
(e) at its potential maximum, Australian domestic supply production covers 62.5% of its starting garrison, whereas in New Zealand the figure is only 31.3%. Now whilst LCUs do not draw down on their base stockpiles every day, air operations have not been factored in either. Thus before taking into account any reinforcements, Australia is largely self sufficient in supply whereas New Zealand needs to import some supply just to feed its initial garrison...any further allied reinforcements sent to New Zealand merely exacerbates the supply difficulties,
(f) Australia has 150 Repair Shipyard points, New Zealand has only 15.
4. There are 4 bases on New Zealand's North Island, and 3 on its South Island. This means that even if it were possible for Japan to invade a New Zealand base in such overwhelming force as to capture it almost immediately (an unlikely possibility considering how many Japanese assets are deployed in India and Siberia), the Allied forces will be able to retreat and regroup at another base. This is not an option for defeated Allied units on SoPac islands. If he invades New Zealand, you can march overland units to reinforce the threatened base - you cannot do that in the SoPac. Thus if Nemo feels it important to isolate Australia before invading (an unnecessary detail previously commented on), it makes more tactical sense for him to capture the SoPac bases from Fiji to Bora Bora rather than New Zealand. Ultimately a fully develped Bora Bora airfield allows Nemo to all the exit points from Panama and the Galapagos Islands. Also tactically he can cover a SoPac island hopping campaign under land based Zero cover. For Japan an island hopping campaign avoids attrition, whereas an invasion of New Zealand may result in some attrition warfare (see point 1 above).
In the short term, the simplest explanation for the enemy build up is that he wants to finish off Noumea ASAP. Only after he fully controls New Caledonia will he consider his plan of action for SoPac. This means that implementing your offensive ideas regarding Effate become much more difficult. It however offers you some significant opportunities provided you don't concentrate your forthcoming offensive actions in SoPac (operations in Siberia/Manchuria and the Aleutians have always been far more strategically important) and dissipate your forces by needlessly reinforcing New Zealand. The more Japanese assets are sent to SoPac, the fewer there will be to oppose you elsewhere in more important theatres.
Alfred
RE: Gutter War..Empires Ablaze 2ndAcr (allied) vs Nemo121 (IJN)
Long time since an update..........work and personal have kept me from updating.
It is now June 1942.
Nemo is kicking my butt all over the map. India is about crushed. Burma is almost cutoff, but there are very little troops there now.
China is still as it was at start base wise. Nemo has been completely stalled at Sian since war start. They hold at fort 5. He is going for starving China out. Most bases have been resource bombed to dust. 3 days ago he tried again and lost 20,000 troops to my 1,000. Massive training raids in China.
Russia can go either way. He has been moving overland to cut off bases. I am doing mass air lifts from 1 cutoff base moving a division every week. He will not find it so easy on the next base though. Now that I know he will jump overland, I will base a div on each flank to stall him.
Noumea has fallen........the Americal div and 2nd Marine got butchered along with 3 Aus brigades, 1 NZ brigade. 2nd Marines is moving back stateside for rebuilding. Should take about 2 years or so.[8|]
Americal is in Aukland with 130AV. I really think Nemo will move on NZ next. I figure he will throw roughly 1500-2000AV at me. I have about 1500 AV on the island now and Aukland is fort 9....Wellington is fort 5, Hamilton is fort 3, Geraldton is fort 4. Hamilton is AF3 and increasing, Geraldton is AF2 and increasing.
I have 1 US div on the ground, 1 AUS div 1 day out, another US div is 2 weeks out. Yorktown and Hornet are based at Wellington along with just about the entire surviving US Navy surface forces. 4 BB's, 38DD's, 6 CA's, 3 CL's and 1 CLAA.
Most of the S.Pac air force is in and around NZ. Roughly 200 P40E, 100 P40B, 72 F4F, 50 SBD, 50 Kittyhawks, 72 Beuforts torp bombers. I have another 72 Beuforts in Aus that can shift if needed.
Both bases on Suva are fort 9 with about 150AV in each base. Both have Marine defense BN's to hopefully bang up some transports if he tries here. I have 60 fighters, 16 A24, 32 B26 and 16 Beuforts based here. I am rushing AP's to Suva to pull as many engineer units as possible, as fast as possible. Should be 4 engineer regiments, 2 EAB's and I think a seabee. Also pulling the aviation regiment out now that Nemo crushed my B25's in a failed raid.
I have been pulling the SPac HQ out of PH by sub.........still have 1 small fragment in PH, but getting ready to shift SPAC from Canton where they are now.
I have been using 7 subs to pull 2 cutoff Russian divs over the beach for rebuilding. This has been going on since Jan 42. I have recovered 2 Inf brigades, and 1/2 of each of the 2 divs. 1 Inf Brigade is already rebuilt to 85% strength.
Perth is my main North Oz base.........250,000 supply and 250,000 fuel there. RN surface fleet (all surviving) are here also. RN CV's are still in Aden waiting for a small opening somewhere.
Nemo took Exmouth on the northern coast and I was stupid and did not launch an immediate counter attack. Now it is causing me some trouble. I have 6th AUS Div in Derby and the 7th is in Perth. Except for Derby, all northern bases have at least a brigade for garrison. 7th Aus is prepped for Exmouth. I have rebuilt 1 Phillipino regiment in full and have both the 81st and 61st PI divs in Perth rebuilding. 81st is at 175AV and 61st is at 120AV. Timor has a rescued PI div as garrison with 175 AV.
Large Brit force cutoff on beach outside Bombay being very, very slowly retreived by sub. Large Dutch force on beach. 1 Dutch aviation Reg rescued and in Perth rebuilding, 1 Dutch Reg in Perth rebuilding. I need more US subs here to lift survivors out. Only have 2 working up here. Lifted all surviving 2nd UK div. In Aden at 75 AV. The 18th is cutoff in Dehli along with 300 AV more of troops.
Basically, I have been kicked all over the map. Should have cut and run earlier in some areas, but I will fight for NZ. I really think Nemo will not have enough AV to kick me out of fort 9 bases. I am keeping my full strength US and AUS div in Hamilton as a reserve safe from shore bombardment. Once I see where Nemo will land, I will move the 600AV to where it is needed. All bases in NZ have min of 150 AV, except Hamilton with 700AV. I really think Nemo will try for a over beach landing like he did at Ceylon. If he lands north of Aukland, well he will face level 9 forts with 400AV immediatly and another 600 ready to arrive in 3 days.
I will keep my CV's on the AUS side of NZ to hit his shipping, and decide if my 4 surviving BB's will hit his shipping. I expect to see most of his CV's and probably a fair amount of his heavy warships supporting this attack.
Geraldton has 18 SBD's and 100 fighters, Hamilton has 80 fighters and 18 SBD's.......Aukland has about 240 fighters and 36 SBD's.......Wellington has 72 Beuforts with 16 Kittyhawks. Once Hamilton reaches level 4, they will shift there.
Wasp just arrived and is at Colon awaiting BB North Carolina and a slew of DD's before moving towards SPac.
2 more weeks, just give me 2 more weeks...........then I will make NZ become Nemo's Gettysburg or Midway. because then I will have another 600 AV on NZ and every base will be fort 9.
It is now June 1942.
Nemo is kicking my butt all over the map. India is about crushed. Burma is almost cutoff, but there are very little troops there now.
China is still as it was at start base wise. Nemo has been completely stalled at Sian since war start. They hold at fort 5. He is going for starving China out. Most bases have been resource bombed to dust. 3 days ago he tried again and lost 20,000 troops to my 1,000. Massive training raids in China.
Russia can go either way. He has been moving overland to cut off bases. I am doing mass air lifts from 1 cutoff base moving a division every week. He will not find it so easy on the next base though. Now that I know he will jump overland, I will base a div on each flank to stall him.
Noumea has fallen........the Americal div and 2nd Marine got butchered along with 3 Aus brigades, 1 NZ brigade. 2nd Marines is moving back stateside for rebuilding. Should take about 2 years or so.[8|]
Americal is in Aukland with 130AV. I really think Nemo will move on NZ next. I figure he will throw roughly 1500-2000AV at me. I have about 1500 AV on the island now and Aukland is fort 9....Wellington is fort 5, Hamilton is fort 3, Geraldton is fort 4. Hamilton is AF3 and increasing, Geraldton is AF2 and increasing.
I have 1 US div on the ground, 1 AUS div 1 day out, another US div is 2 weeks out. Yorktown and Hornet are based at Wellington along with just about the entire surviving US Navy surface forces. 4 BB's, 38DD's, 6 CA's, 3 CL's and 1 CLAA.
Most of the S.Pac air force is in and around NZ. Roughly 200 P40E, 100 P40B, 72 F4F, 50 SBD, 50 Kittyhawks, 72 Beuforts torp bombers. I have another 72 Beuforts in Aus that can shift if needed.
Both bases on Suva are fort 9 with about 150AV in each base. Both have Marine defense BN's to hopefully bang up some transports if he tries here. I have 60 fighters, 16 A24, 32 B26 and 16 Beuforts based here. I am rushing AP's to Suva to pull as many engineer units as possible, as fast as possible. Should be 4 engineer regiments, 2 EAB's and I think a seabee. Also pulling the aviation regiment out now that Nemo crushed my B25's in a failed raid.
I have been pulling the SPac HQ out of PH by sub.........still have 1 small fragment in PH, but getting ready to shift SPAC from Canton where they are now.
I have been using 7 subs to pull 2 cutoff Russian divs over the beach for rebuilding. This has been going on since Jan 42. I have recovered 2 Inf brigades, and 1/2 of each of the 2 divs. 1 Inf Brigade is already rebuilt to 85% strength.
Perth is my main North Oz base.........250,000 supply and 250,000 fuel there. RN surface fleet (all surviving) are here also. RN CV's are still in Aden waiting for a small opening somewhere.
Nemo took Exmouth on the northern coast and I was stupid and did not launch an immediate counter attack. Now it is causing me some trouble. I have 6th AUS Div in Derby and the 7th is in Perth. Except for Derby, all northern bases have at least a brigade for garrison. 7th Aus is prepped for Exmouth. I have rebuilt 1 Phillipino regiment in full and have both the 81st and 61st PI divs in Perth rebuilding. 81st is at 175AV and 61st is at 120AV. Timor has a rescued PI div as garrison with 175 AV.
Large Brit force cutoff on beach outside Bombay being very, very slowly retreived by sub. Large Dutch force on beach. 1 Dutch aviation Reg rescued and in Perth rebuilding, 1 Dutch Reg in Perth rebuilding. I need more US subs here to lift survivors out. Only have 2 working up here. Lifted all surviving 2nd UK div. In Aden at 75 AV. The 18th is cutoff in Dehli along with 300 AV more of troops.
Basically, I have been kicked all over the map. Should have cut and run earlier in some areas, but I will fight for NZ. I really think Nemo will not have enough AV to kick me out of fort 9 bases. I am keeping my full strength US and AUS div in Hamilton as a reserve safe from shore bombardment. Once I see where Nemo will land, I will move the 600AV to where it is needed. All bases in NZ have min of 150 AV, except Hamilton with 700AV. I really think Nemo will try for a over beach landing like he did at Ceylon. If he lands north of Aukland, well he will face level 9 forts with 400AV immediatly and another 600 ready to arrive in 3 days.
I will keep my CV's on the AUS side of NZ to hit his shipping, and decide if my 4 surviving BB's will hit his shipping. I expect to see most of his CV's and probably a fair amount of his heavy warships supporting this attack.
Geraldton has 18 SBD's and 100 fighters, Hamilton has 80 fighters and 18 SBD's.......Aukland has about 240 fighters and 36 SBD's.......Wellington has 72 Beuforts with 16 Kittyhawks. Once Hamilton reaches level 4, they will shift there.
Wasp just arrived and is at Colon awaiting BB North Carolina and a slew of DD's before moving towards SPac.
2 more weeks, just give me 2 more weeks...........then I will make NZ become Nemo's Gettysburg or Midway. because then I will have another 600 AV on NZ and every base will be fort 9.
RE: Gutter War..Empires Ablaze 2ndAcr (allied) vs Nemo121 (IJN)
Karachi falls...............all troops retreat north along the coast. Doubt I will be able to save them. Dehli is held by 600AV.........they will fall within 2 weeks once his main army moves from Karachi. His southern army is pushing on Calcutta.
In Russia, Nemo has pushed either an armor brigade or a full armor div up the back trails. I have a div heading back up north to stall/stop him there. Still air lifting units back north.......hate to leave that nice level 9 fort though. All bases in Russia are level 9 forts though. Have moved 1 div east and 1 div west of Svodornor(?) to stall Nemo's flanking moves. Svod is held by 1500AV with more arriving every day. I might leave 20-50 AV of every div there in my surrounded base just to make Nemo pay some price.
Spotted invasion fleet 5 hexes away from Norfolk Island. I only have a base force there, so nemo will take with no problems. I am not going to oppose this landing. I know Nemo will not move on NZ until he has built this base up to at least level 4. That way he can base Betty's there and a slew of Zero's to LRCAP his invasion forces.
I am thinking about backing alot of my air power to the southern NZ bases and wait for Nemo to expend his sortie count's down before moving my air power back north. Not sure yet. I do not want sweeps and bombing raids to decimate all my air power. Once he has Norfolk, I will have to use the southern side of NZ to attack his landings. That will keep me under LRCAP from land based fighters all the way and keep alot of his Betty's at bay as long as I stay outside Zero range. I really expect Nemo to land over the beach to the north of Aukland. He will not want to stray too far from LRCAP range from Norfolk, even with his CV's around.
But just in case, I will have almost 1200AV stationed at Hamilton ready to react in any direction once I begin tracking his invasion fleets. Once he is on the ground, well I expect to bleed the hell out of him. He will be facing alot of heavy fort levels and heavy forces. This will not be Ceylon again where he hit me with the entire India invasion force against the 400AV I had there with low fort levels. I have between north and south NZ, 2500 AV on the ground with another 400AV on board ship and 2 weeks out. And all are behind huge fort levels. I will have over 200,000 supply scattered around the island.
This will be Nemo's Gettysburg.......I want to crush this army in the South Pacific. Right here. I have enough to worry about once he frees up a large portion of his India army.
In Russia, Nemo has pushed either an armor brigade or a full armor div up the back trails. I have a div heading back up north to stall/stop him there. Still air lifting units back north.......hate to leave that nice level 9 fort though. All bases in Russia are level 9 forts though. Have moved 1 div east and 1 div west of Svodornor(?) to stall Nemo's flanking moves. Svod is held by 1500AV with more arriving every day. I might leave 20-50 AV of every div there in my surrounded base just to make Nemo pay some price.
Spotted invasion fleet 5 hexes away from Norfolk Island. I only have a base force there, so nemo will take with no problems. I am not going to oppose this landing. I know Nemo will not move on NZ until he has built this base up to at least level 4. That way he can base Betty's there and a slew of Zero's to LRCAP his invasion forces.
I am thinking about backing alot of my air power to the southern NZ bases and wait for Nemo to expend his sortie count's down before moving my air power back north. Not sure yet. I do not want sweeps and bombing raids to decimate all my air power. Once he has Norfolk, I will have to use the southern side of NZ to attack his landings. That will keep me under LRCAP from land based fighters all the way and keep alot of his Betty's at bay as long as I stay outside Zero range. I really expect Nemo to land over the beach to the north of Aukland. He will not want to stray too far from LRCAP range from Norfolk, even with his CV's around.
But just in case, I will have almost 1200AV stationed at Hamilton ready to react in any direction once I begin tracking his invasion fleets. Once he is on the ground, well I expect to bleed the hell out of him. He will be facing alot of heavy fort levels and heavy forces. This will not be Ceylon again where he hit me with the entire India invasion force against the 400AV I had there with low fort levels. I have between north and south NZ, 2500 AV on the ground with another 400AV on board ship and 2 weeks out. And all are behind huge fort levels. I will have over 200,000 supply scattered around the island.
This will be Nemo's Gettysburg.......I want to crush this army in the South Pacific. Right here. I have enough to worry about once he frees up a large portion of his India army.
RE: Gutter War..Empires Ablaze 2ndAcr (allied) vs Nemo121 (IJN)
2ndACR,
Well I see that my previous posts were not acted upon. Nonetheless I will put up a couple of ideas for you to consider.
1. You have spotted IJN TF close to Norfolk Is. I agree that it may be invaded shortly. Am not so certain that he will oput off any move on NZ until the AB is built up to level 4. Norfolk Is gives your opponent opportunity to recon and find any empty/lightly garrisoned bases on Tasmania, both south and north islands of NZ, which could be captured by paradrop. Nemo would ideally prefer to capture a port with paras and then unload the next day his transported army. It would also allow him to fly in short ranged aircraft (and Aviation Support) to provide CAP and replenish the KB.
2. Don't assume that he would land on a non base hex. If his recon shows that you have only small garrisons (approx 150 AV) at a NZ base but have a tactical reserve of 2 divs 3+ days out from reinforceing a base, you should assume that he will land directly on that base and capture it before your 2 divs arrive to reinforce the defenders. Even if you have estimated correctly that he only has 1500-2000 AV to land in NZ, that will still be sufficient to capture an Allied base defended only by 150 AV even behind fort 9 levels. Remember what ever he brings, he will land all troops on the same day and thus shock attack the next.
3. You have a division still 14 days out from landing in NZ. With the IJN already spotted near Norfolk Is, you should not assume that the reinforcement convoy will make it through the KB. Base your NZ defence around not receiving the reinforcement convoy.
4. Of course I would still recommend that you go over what I posted before. Moving on Norfolk Is does not absolutely guarantee that he will move on NZ next. He will move quickly from Norfolk to:
(a) Tasmania
(b) south island of NZ
(c) north island of NZ
(d) southeast Australia
(e) Fiji
depending on which is weakest. He will use speed, there will be no significant time wasted building up the facilities at Norfolk. Assume that the TFs approaching Norfolk island already contain, or are only the vanguard of the invasion fleets which will land on the weakest Allied position.
Alfred
Well I see that my previous posts were not acted upon. Nonetheless I will put up a couple of ideas for you to consider.
1. You have spotted IJN TF close to Norfolk Is. I agree that it may be invaded shortly. Am not so certain that he will oput off any move on NZ until the AB is built up to level 4. Norfolk Is gives your opponent opportunity to recon and find any empty/lightly garrisoned bases on Tasmania, both south and north islands of NZ, which could be captured by paradrop. Nemo would ideally prefer to capture a port with paras and then unload the next day his transported army. It would also allow him to fly in short ranged aircraft (and Aviation Support) to provide CAP and replenish the KB.
2. Don't assume that he would land on a non base hex. If his recon shows that you have only small garrisons (approx 150 AV) at a NZ base but have a tactical reserve of 2 divs 3+ days out from reinforceing a base, you should assume that he will land directly on that base and capture it before your 2 divs arrive to reinforce the defenders. Even if you have estimated correctly that he only has 1500-2000 AV to land in NZ, that will still be sufficient to capture an Allied base defended only by 150 AV even behind fort 9 levels. Remember what ever he brings, he will land all troops on the same day and thus shock attack the next.
3. You have a division still 14 days out from landing in NZ. With the IJN already spotted near Norfolk Is, you should not assume that the reinforcement convoy will make it through the KB. Base your NZ defence around not receiving the reinforcement convoy.
4. Of course I would still recommend that you go over what I posted before. Moving on Norfolk Is does not absolutely guarantee that he will move on NZ next. He will move quickly from Norfolk to:
(a) Tasmania
(b) south island of NZ
(c) north island of NZ
(d) southeast Australia
(e) Fiji
depending on which is weakest. He will use speed, there will be no significant time wasted building up the facilities at Norfolk. Assume that the TFs approaching Norfolk island already contain, or are only the vanguard of the invasion fleets which will land on the weakest Allied position.
Alfred
RE: Gutter War..Empires Ablaze 2ndAcr (allied) vs Nemo121 (IJN)
Well, he caught a fast transport to 1 of the islands east of Noumea and butchered it...........CV's came out of no where, completely un spotted............Exmouth in north OZ was just stupidity on my part, Alaska is just a pain in the butt.......I will need BB's up there.
I really think he will go for NZ. I have Oz pretty well forted up and garrisoned. All the coastal bases anyway. Inland bases are small 30 AV garrisons. Para drops will not take any base in NZ. He will have to brute force that. I have HQ's and support troops which will boost any recon counts he gets from my bases. I will keep a div in Aukland.......I just do not want to get hit with a nuke attack from BB's.
I have alot of Dakotas and C47's plus about 100 PBY and Coronado's.............I can lift about 200AV pretty quick in 1 days time. I know Nemo comes with the kitchen sink approach. I have seen and experienced it already. I have noticed that in his mod, well, the flak gap still exists. And boy is he using it. So AA sucks all around.
I am watching this TF pretty closely, 1st day it was spotted..........Tasmania has 32 Beuforts and 32 fighters. I have about 200 Dutch bombers sitting in south OZ, not the best, but all 70+ experience.
I am not really expecting my Div to arrive in time for NZ battle.......once battle is joined where ever, well I will decide where to send it. Right now, it is headed to Bora Bora. Wasp and her battle group are preparing to ship out headed to Bora Bora. So far, I have not seen Nemo not try and kill my troops where he can get at them. I have never under estimated Nemo.......but his mod makes it pretty hard to defend against as the Allies in the 1st 6 months.......he had a slew of PP's (20,000) and alot of ground troops that are bigger and more powerful than stock or any other mod. I really should have taken longer to examine his mod before turn 1.......that would have taken some of the "where the hell did all these troops come from" that said.
I am expecting some small para drops at every base in NZ as he tests my AV..........he likes doing that. One reason I hope to mass airlift a surprise as the ground forces converge.
All advice is weighed.......I may not exactly act on it or as fast as some want, but every idea gives me thoughts.
I really think he will go for NZ. I have Oz pretty well forted up and garrisoned. All the coastal bases anyway. Inland bases are small 30 AV garrisons. Para drops will not take any base in NZ. He will have to brute force that. I have HQ's and support troops which will boost any recon counts he gets from my bases. I will keep a div in Aukland.......I just do not want to get hit with a nuke attack from BB's.
I have alot of Dakotas and C47's plus about 100 PBY and Coronado's.............I can lift about 200AV pretty quick in 1 days time. I know Nemo comes with the kitchen sink approach. I have seen and experienced it already. I have noticed that in his mod, well, the flak gap still exists. And boy is he using it. So AA sucks all around.
I am watching this TF pretty closely, 1st day it was spotted..........Tasmania has 32 Beuforts and 32 fighters. I have about 200 Dutch bombers sitting in south OZ, not the best, but all 70+ experience.
I am not really expecting my Div to arrive in time for NZ battle.......once battle is joined where ever, well I will decide where to send it. Right now, it is headed to Bora Bora. Wasp and her battle group are preparing to ship out headed to Bora Bora. So far, I have not seen Nemo not try and kill my troops where he can get at them. I have never under estimated Nemo.......but his mod makes it pretty hard to defend against as the Allies in the 1st 6 months.......he had a slew of PP's (20,000) and alot of ground troops that are bigger and more powerful than stock or any other mod. I really should have taken longer to examine his mod before turn 1.......that would have taken some of the "where the hell did all these troops come from" that said.
I am expecting some small para drops at every base in NZ as he tests my AV..........he likes doing that. One reason I hope to mass airlift a surprise as the ground forces converge.
All advice is weighed.......I may not exactly act on it or as fast as some want, but every idea gives me thoughts.
RE: Gutter War..Empires Ablaze 2ndAcr (allied) vs Nemo121 (IJN)
2ndACR,
Good to read your last post - it shows your mind set has not been defeated by the enemy!
A couple of tactical thoughts come to mind - mind you, you may not be in a position to use them or prevent their use against you.
Firstly, do you have enough PP to convert one of the well supplied NZ ports to American control? You may have to actually move temporarily an American unit into the base. Secondly, do you have any PT boats which can be created by the expenditure of supplies? If the answer to both questions is yes, why not create some naval point defense with PT TF waiting in ambush against Fast Transport invasion TFs.
Tactically your opponent may elect to create some Fast Transport TFs which use BBs and CAs to transport the invasion troops.
You mentioned in post #49 that mopping up operations by the IJA in India are still required. That presumably explains why your estimate of the size of the NZ invasion force is only 1500-2000 AV. Assuming that the IJA is still heavily involved in India and Siberia, then it would suggest to me that for the "current" NZ invasion Nemo is probably largely reusing the troops he used to "butcher" your Noumea defenders. Thus there might be an opportunity to land by sub on New Caledonia, say the dot hex beach between Koumac and Noumea, thereby cutting off communications and perhaps threatening to commando destroy enemy planes on the ground at Noumea.
Alternatively, if he is comming with the usual kitchen sink to NZ, can you scrape up from your Queensland base garrisons a scratch invasion force to hit the base of his SLOC pyramid by threatening Milne Bay, New Britain, Bougainville (or whatever is appropriate according to the actual map situation)?
Alfred
Good to read your last post - it shows your mind set has not been defeated by the enemy!
A couple of tactical thoughts come to mind - mind you, you may not be in a position to use them or prevent their use against you.
Firstly, do you have enough PP to convert one of the well supplied NZ ports to American control? You may have to actually move temporarily an American unit into the base. Secondly, do you have any PT boats which can be created by the expenditure of supplies? If the answer to both questions is yes, why not create some naval point defense with PT TF waiting in ambush against Fast Transport invasion TFs.
Tactically your opponent may elect to create some Fast Transport TFs which use BBs and CAs to transport the invasion troops.
You mentioned in post #49 that mopping up operations by the IJA in India are still required. That presumably explains why your estimate of the size of the NZ invasion force is only 1500-2000 AV. Assuming that the IJA is still heavily involved in India and Siberia, then it would suggest to me that for the "current" NZ invasion Nemo is probably largely reusing the troops he used to "butcher" your Noumea defenders. Thus there might be an opportunity to land by sub on New Caledonia, say the dot hex beach between Koumac and Noumea, thereby cutting off communications and perhaps threatening to commando destroy enemy planes on the ground at Noumea.
Alternatively, if he is comming with the usual kitchen sink to NZ, can you scrape up from your Queensland base garrisons a scratch invasion force to hit the base of his SLOC pyramid by threatening Milne Bay, New Britain, Bougainville (or whatever is appropriate according to the actual map situation)?
Alfred
RE: Gutter War..Empires Ablaze 2ndAcr (allied) vs Nemo121 (IJN)
OH no, I never admit defeat.......I fight to the last. He has kicked me in the teeth a few times when I got a little too aggressive, but I am ex-cavalry, so I attack etc.
I have roughly 10,000PP's........I have thought about doing just that, converting a base so I can get some PT's. I have 10 avail. Wish there were more. Except for the 6 that are up near Anchorage.
I still hold 3 major bases in India.......Dehli with about 600AV, Calcutta with 800AV and Madras with 400AV. The blasted zone of control rules have really screwed me over. I wish I could get my armor regiment out of Madras because Nemo has left 80% of the bases in India unguarded. I could make him play chase the cat all over the place. I do have 2 brigades running around messing up his supply lines and capturing the odd base from him in India. Mainly to piss him off. First real unit I run into and it is all over.
Oh he is really commited to Siberia........Borzya has 176,000 IJA troops at it right now. I have 2000AV there behind level 9 forts. I have another 1200 or so at Sordovino with 1500 surrounded in Kysh (the base south of there) I am air lifting a division per week from there. I have another 3 divisions moving around towards the north to stall his flanking unit.
I would bet that NZ will be hit with same troops as Noumea and maybe a few more........I am pretty sure it will be around 2000 or so AV. Enough to hurt me, but if I can stall him at a single base for 2-3 days until my reserve forces get to the base, well then he has to take a level 9 fort with 1000+AV in it. Not near enough, heck, I do not think he could take the base if I get 500AV to it. He might knock down 2-3 fort levels, but he will take alot of casualties and disruption and time is my friend here. He can only keep KB around just so long. And then it is time for my navy to do some bombardments etc.
If I have the time, I am seriously thinking about landing my enroute div on south NZ and dividing it to give me 300AV per base behind high forts also. But that one is in the air.
I have roughly 10,000PP's........I have thought about doing just that, converting a base so I can get some PT's. I have 10 avail. Wish there were more. Except for the 6 that are up near Anchorage.
I still hold 3 major bases in India.......Dehli with about 600AV, Calcutta with 800AV and Madras with 400AV. The blasted zone of control rules have really screwed me over. I wish I could get my armor regiment out of Madras because Nemo has left 80% of the bases in India unguarded. I could make him play chase the cat all over the place. I do have 2 brigades running around messing up his supply lines and capturing the odd base from him in India. Mainly to piss him off. First real unit I run into and it is all over.
Oh he is really commited to Siberia........Borzya has 176,000 IJA troops at it right now. I have 2000AV there behind level 9 forts. I have another 1200 or so at Sordovino with 1500 surrounded in Kysh (the base south of there) I am air lifting a division per week from there. I have another 3 divisions moving around towards the north to stall his flanking unit.
I would bet that NZ will be hit with same troops as Noumea and maybe a few more........I am pretty sure it will be around 2000 or so AV. Enough to hurt me, but if I can stall him at a single base for 2-3 days until my reserve forces get to the base, well then he has to take a level 9 fort with 1000+AV in it. Not near enough, heck, I do not think he could take the base if I get 500AV to it. He might knock down 2-3 fort levels, but he will take alot of casualties and disruption and time is my friend here. He can only keep KB around just so long. And then it is time for my navy to do some bombardments etc.
If I have the time, I am seriously thinking about landing my enroute div on south NZ and dividing it to give me 300AV per base behind high forts also. But that one is in the air.
Thoughts
Well, I have been thinking on future moves.
Aden has 2 RN CV's and CVL.......all have been upgraded with Seafires and Sea Canes........I have a slew of Avengers in my pools.......I know US torps suck and the Brit torps are great, but trying to decide if I want to equip with Avengers or keep the Brit torp planes.
Aden is off limits for invasion, so I plan to shift the 5th Indian Div which arrives in 10 days or so to Aus. Trying to decide if I should shift my CV's south also. Been waiting to see what Nemo does with all those troops in India. Also have a ROV field army in Aden with 300AV that I can send south too.
I have 60 Spitfires heading to Oz down the ship channel. Another 32 sitting in Aden that may be moved south, probably will since Aden is off limits. It will be 44 before India can be re-invaded, so I think it makes sense to shift alot of my forces to OZ to help hold her.
Exmouth will have to be re-taken........that base is preventing easy re-supply of northern OZ.
I am thinking of talking to Nemo about this crappy flak gap he is using against me........No amount of AA can hurt him while in the gap. 8000-12000 feet and he is shutting down bases left and right with 1-2 raids even if I have 8 heavy AA units in the base. See how he reacts to this.
Any thoughts or ideas?
Well, I have been thinking on future moves.
Aden has 2 RN CV's and CVL.......all have been upgraded with Seafires and Sea Canes........I have a slew of Avengers in my pools.......I know US torps suck and the Brit torps are great, but trying to decide if I want to equip with Avengers or keep the Brit torp planes.
Aden is off limits for invasion, so I plan to shift the 5th Indian Div which arrives in 10 days or so to Aus. Trying to decide if I should shift my CV's south also. Been waiting to see what Nemo does with all those troops in India. Also have a ROV field army in Aden with 300AV that I can send south too.
I have 60 Spitfires heading to Oz down the ship channel. Another 32 sitting in Aden that may be moved south, probably will since Aden is off limits. It will be 44 before India can be re-invaded, so I think it makes sense to shift alot of my forces to OZ to help hold her.
Exmouth will have to be re-taken........that base is preventing easy re-supply of northern OZ.
I am thinking of talking to Nemo about this crappy flak gap he is using against me........No amount of AA can hurt him while in the gap. 8000-12000 feet and he is shutting down bases left and right with 1-2 raids even if I have 8 heavy AA units in the base. See how he reacts to this.
Any thoughts or ideas?
RE: Thoughts
2ndACR,
Well I won't go into detailed discussion because you can still read my posts of a few months before. But I will make a few short comments based on your last two posts.
1. I am intrigued as to your comments regarding a so called flak gap. I don't recall any of his other opponents in this mod previously identifying such a state of affairs. Does it apply to all enemy air assets or only to dive bombers flying at max altitude and diving down? Are the Allied planes able to similarly exploit this "feature"? Does all AA (light, medium, heavy etc) simply not shoot at anything flying at 8-12K?
2. I previously posted about the importance of a quick recapture of Exmouth - thus in general I agree with your comment about recapturing Exmouth with one important caveat.
Strategically Allied control of Exmouth is important to secure one flank of your SLOC to Perth and to help mask Allied operations in the Indian Ocean. The reason why you seem to think recapturing Exmouth is important (allowing resupply of northern Australia - BTW I wouldn't describe Perth as being in northern Australia) is in fact wrong for two reasons. Firstly, I infer from your comments that Darwin, and perhaps Derby, Broome, Wyndham, remain in Allied hands and that you wish to send supply convoys to those bases. If that is your intention then your resupply convoys can still be interdicted from Amboina, Kendassar, Bali (and of course Timor, but your reference in post #48 to a PI div on Timor leaves it unclear as to which Timor bases are controlled by the enemy). Secondly the need to resupply these northern bases stems from you having a brigade garrison at each base (excluding Derby). IMHO these garrisons are far too weak to repel a determined Japanese invasion. You will never have either sufficient troops to properly garrison these bases nor the capacity to properly maintain adequate supply if you were to beef up their garrisons.
3. Remember when I advocated Inchon type landings in India. Rather than having two brigades running around with no real strategic objective (see your post #53) you should be trying to co-ordinate their maneouvres with Inchon type landings. After all if Nemo has left 80% of his Indian bases unguarded then there must be several realistic opportunities for the Allies. For this you will need to retain a RN presence to support the hit and run amphibious operations I recommended some months ago. You should not be so defeatist in thinking that India is immune from Allied amphibious operations until 1944. The secret, as previously commented on, is for the Allies to strike at several fronts simultaneously, preferably when Nemo has concentrated his schwerpunkt elsewhere.
4. Your idea of sending the incoming division to the New Zealand south island and splitting it into smaller units again displays an unnecessary passive disposition and is wrong for these reasons. Your previous posts indicated that all bases in New Zealand already have a 150 AV garrison. If it must be sent to the south island, then you would do far better to maintain it as an unified mobile reserve similar to the 2 divisions you have on the north island in reserve. Better to have its 300 AV brought to bear to battle en masse than only the 100 AV (at the invaded base) with the remaining 200 AV enjoying pina coladas at the other bases.
In any case, in post #50 I indicated my reservations about whether this incoming troop convoy would actually arrive in time to meaningfully bolster your NZ defences. It might be that the timing of your troop reinforcement convoy may allow you an opportunity to strike strongly behind enemy lines whilst the kitchen sink is preoccuppied with smashing New Zealand.
Anyway 2ndACR, as always a few thoughts to exercise your mind. I do like playing the Jesuitical Devil's Advocate role.
Alfred
Well I won't go into detailed discussion because you can still read my posts of a few months before. But I will make a few short comments based on your last two posts.
1. I am intrigued as to your comments regarding a so called flak gap. I don't recall any of his other opponents in this mod previously identifying such a state of affairs. Does it apply to all enemy air assets or only to dive bombers flying at max altitude and diving down? Are the Allied planes able to similarly exploit this "feature"? Does all AA (light, medium, heavy etc) simply not shoot at anything flying at 8-12K?
2. I previously posted about the importance of a quick recapture of Exmouth - thus in general I agree with your comment about recapturing Exmouth with one important caveat.
Strategically Allied control of Exmouth is important to secure one flank of your SLOC to Perth and to help mask Allied operations in the Indian Ocean. The reason why you seem to think recapturing Exmouth is important (allowing resupply of northern Australia - BTW I wouldn't describe Perth as being in northern Australia) is in fact wrong for two reasons. Firstly, I infer from your comments that Darwin, and perhaps Derby, Broome, Wyndham, remain in Allied hands and that you wish to send supply convoys to those bases. If that is your intention then your resupply convoys can still be interdicted from Amboina, Kendassar, Bali (and of course Timor, but your reference in post #48 to a PI div on Timor leaves it unclear as to which Timor bases are controlled by the enemy). Secondly the need to resupply these northern bases stems from you having a brigade garrison at each base (excluding Derby). IMHO these garrisons are far too weak to repel a determined Japanese invasion. You will never have either sufficient troops to properly garrison these bases nor the capacity to properly maintain adequate supply if you were to beef up their garrisons.
3. Remember when I advocated Inchon type landings in India. Rather than having two brigades running around with no real strategic objective (see your post #53) you should be trying to co-ordinate their maneouvres with Inchon type landings. After all if Nemo has left 80% of his Indian bases unguarded then there must be several realistic opportunities for the Allies. For this you will need to retain a RN presence to support the hit and run amphibious operations I recommended some months ago. You should not be so defeatist in thinking that India is immune from Allied amphibious operations until 1944. The secret, as previously commented on, is for the Allies to strike at several fronts simultaneously, preferably when Nemo has concentrated his schwerpunkt elsewhere.
4. Your idea of sending the incoming division to the New Zealand south island and splitting it into smaller units again displays an unnecessary passive disposition and is wrong for these reasons. Your previous posts indicated that all bases in New Zealand already have a 150 AV garrison. If it must be sent to the south island, then you would do far better to maintain it as an unified mobile reserve similar to the 2 divisions you have on the north island in reserve. Better to have its 300 AV brought to bear to battle en masse than only the 100 AV (at the invaded base) with the remaining 200 AV enjoying pina coladas at the other bases.
In any case, in post #50 I indicated my reservations about whether this incoming troop convoy would actually arrive in time to meaningfully bolster your NZ defences. It might be that the timing of your troop reinforcement convoy may allow you an opportunity to strike strongly behind enemy lines whilst the kitchen sink is preoccuppied with smashing New Zealand.
Anyway 2ndACR, as always a few thoughts to exercise your mind. I do like playing the Jesuitical Devil's Advocate role.
Alfred
RE: Thoughts
Well, Karachi had 4 heavy AA units and 4 light AA units in it........100,000 plus supply and all his bombing strikes take a measly 1 destroyed and 2 damaged. Calcutta is the same thing. He has been coming in at 8,000 and 10,000 feet. You do not do that in Nikmod, at least not every day.
Looks like the stock flak gap to me.........I got used to Nikmod and actually seeing 5-10 destroyed with 25 damaged attacking a base like that.
I hold all of Timor and all of Oz except Exmouth. Like I said though, I am just tossing thoughts.........might even retain that div on board ship as a floating reserve.
North OZ just does not pull enough supply overland to keep me happy.
I lost sight of his transports near Norfolk Is.........spotted Ap's heading towards Timor area. He has finally started bombing Koepang. Guess those torp hits he took over the last couple days irritated him.
Looks like the stock flak gap to me.........I got used to Nikmod and actually seeing 5-10 destroyed with 25 damaged attacking a base like that.
I hold all of Timor and all of Oz except Exmouth. Like I said though, I am just tossing thoughts.........might even retain that div on board ship as a floating reserve.
North OZ just does not pull enough supply overland to keep me happy.
I lost sight of his transports near Norfolk Is.........spotted Ap's heading towards Timor area. He has finally started bombing Koepang. Guess those torp hits he took over the last couple days irritated him.
RE: Thoughts
2ndACR,
Ah...I see what you mean re flak gap. I stand to be corrected but I don't think Nemo did anything in his mod along the lines of what Nikademus did to his mod re flak. Definitely you will not see the same results as obtained in Nikmod. I think Nemo concentrated on the air to air combat aspect with the objective of getting more leakers.
Yes overland supply to northern Australia is poor. That is why the most realistic northern Australia location to stop an IJA drive south from Darwin is Tennant Creek. Any bases further north are only good as speed bumps (and with adequate aviation support, air offensive raids) and can very easily be turned into POW camps for the Allied garrisons.
I knew you would read between my lines and understand the value of keeping your incoming division on board ship as a floating reserve.
Even assuming that you are correct that New Zealand is the immediate next invasion target (Norfolk Island is only a preparatory defensive strike to secure the enemy's flank on Australia/New Zealand), in your weakened state Australia will most likely be the next target thereafter, although you should not totally discount the West Coast of the USA as a target. There is no doubt that of all the Australian bases Nemo most highly prices to form the final Australian redoubt, Perth is it. Whilst I don't entirely agree with him on this point, I do understand his reasoning. You will do well to bear in mind how highly he rates Perth and not fall into the same strategic trap (I did warn you about it) as you did in India.
Alfred
Ah...I see what you mean re flak gap. I stand to be corrected but I don't think Nemo did anything in his mod along the lines of what Nikademus did to his mod re flak. Definitely you will not see the same results as obtained in Nikmod. I think Nemo concentrated on the air to air combat aspect with the objective of getting more leakers.
Yes overland supply to northern Australia is poor. That is why the most realistic northern Australia location to stop an IJA drive south from Darwin is Tennant Creek. Any bases further north are only good as speed bumps (and with adequate aviation support, air offensive raids) and can very easily be turned into POW camps for the Allied garrisons.
I knew you would read between my lines and understand the value of keeping your incoming division on board ship as a floating reserve.
Even assuming that you are correct that New Zealand is the immediate next invasion target (Norfolk Island is only a preparatory defensive strike to secure the enemy's flank on Australia/New Zealand), in your weakened state Australia will most likely be the next target thereafter, although you should not totally discount the West Coast of the USA as a target. There is no doubt that of all the Australian bases Nemo most highly prices to form the final Australian redoubt, Perth is it. Whilst I don't entirely agree with him on this point, I do understand his reasoning. You will do well to bear in mind how highly he rates Perth and not fall into the same strategic trap (I did warn you about it) as you did in India.
Alfred
RE: Thoughts
Keeping that div aboard ship has been floating around in my head for awhile. Just like to feel everyone out. See what other ideas there are.
Nemo would find Perth a hard nut. Alot of troops there........but he does like to bring that kitchen sink. But he better keep alot of troops in India......because if I see a good opening, I will take it.......once I have the troops. Right now, there is only 500AV in Aden. Not near enough to counter attack India with......yet
Todays news......
Nemo brings his CV's north of Aukland and does a sweep........for 5 Zero's, I lose 40 P40E's, 6 Kitty's and 6 Wildcats. I do really, really hate how sweeps are treated........they destroy CAP. Granted, I pulled alot of my a/c back to save them. He is hunting for my CV's.......I just know he is.
Moved some Misquito night fighters and have been sweeping Exmouth.........he has lost 9 Zero's for 2 of mine. And these are 60 exp pilots who are facing 80+ pilots.
Nemo would find Perth a hard nut. Alot of troops there........but he does like to bring that kitchen sink. But he better keep alot of troops in India......because if I see a good opening, I will take it.......once I have the troops. Right now, there is only 500AV in Aden. Not near enough to counter attack India with......yet
Todays news......
Nemo brings his CV's north of Aukland and does a sweep........for 5 Zero's, I lose 40 P40E's, 6 Kitty's and 6 Wildcats. I do really, really hate how sweeps are treated........they destroy CAP. Granted, I pulled alot of my a/c back to save them. He is hunting for my CV's.......I just know he is.
Moved some Misquito night fighters and have been sweeping Exmouth.........he has lost 9 Zero's for 2 of mine. And these are 60 exp pilots who are facing 80+ pilots.
RE: Thoughts
I agree that 500 AV in Aden is currently insufficient to capture and hold an Indian base...but what I am advocating when I refer to Inchon operations, particularly with your 2 roving mobile brigades, is an amphibious landing on an undefended/extremely weakly garrisoned base and immediate reembarkation (leaving say only 10 AV just to prevent the base from auto changing back to Japanese control) and then sailing on to a new target. Obviously this requires having some RN assets to protect the invasion and the enemy having most of his forces unavailable to meet the raid for 5-10 days. Think of it as a well planned Dieppe raid.
Is having a lot of troops currently present at Perth an efficient and effective use of Allied assets. Your opponent invades only with the kitchen sink...he is currently still tied down to Siberia, mopping up operations in India and his demonstration off Auckland. You therefore almost certainly have too much infantry doing nothing (what I have previously described as being too passive) at Perth - infantry which could have been used to hit him where he is currently weak and strategically vulnerable. Until he frees up units from elsewhere, Perth and its nearby West Australian state bases,should be garrisoned by engineers (to build up fort levels) and sufficient infantry to defeat el cheapo enemy invasions.
Regarding his Auckland sweep. If your fighters have the legs, they should be LRCAP Auckland from other north island bases. Keep no fighters on CAP at Auckland airbase, thus avoiding his sweeps. Hopefully your fighters on LRCAP, untouched by zero sweeps, will then be able to sweep down on lightly escorted enemy Kates/Judys.
Alfred
Is having a lot of troops currently present at Perth an efficient and effective use of Allied assets. Your opponent invades only with the kitchen sink...he is currently still tied down to Siberia, mopping up operations in India and his demonstration off Auckland. You therefore almost certainly have too much infantry doing nothing (what I have previously described as being too passive) at Perth - infantry which could have been used to hit him where he is currently weak and strategically vulnerable. Until he frees up units from elsewhere, Perth and its nearby West Australian state bases,should be garrisoned by engineers (to build up fort levels) and sufficient infantry to defeat el cheapo enemy invasions.
Regarding his Auckland sweep. If your fighters have the legs, they should be LRCAP Auckland from other north island bases. Keep no fighters on CAP at Auckland airbase, thus avoiding his sweeps. Hopefully your fighters on LRCAP, untouched by zero sweeps, will then be able to sweep down on lightly escorted enemy Kates/Judys.
Alfred
RE: Thoughts
Okay......Norfolk is has fallen..............Nemo's CV's are slowly moving around NZ on the prowl......I have stood down alot of my fighters, all my strike a/c.
I have this gut feeling that Nemo is not going to hit NZ.......do not ask me why, but something about the way he is moving his CV's so close to NZ (within 2 hexes) and inviting my strikes. Usually he will stand off 4-6 hexes and sweep and then crush the a/f's. Especially if he even thought I might have PE2's.
Plus, he knows I have been fortifying the island like crazy and has to figure I have close to 2000AV there when you count the forces that start there, plus any extra's I might have brought in. So.........he knows his 2000AV have no prayer of cracking my defenses and that is the main thing that is making me feel this way.
He does not have the forces to take NZ from me. Aukland alone with 800AV sitting behind fort 9 (which it is) would devestate his 2000AV. I am beginning to suspect a move on OZ from the south-south east. He wants Norfolk to secure his line of advance.
So, going by that.........if he moves on OZ.......I have 1000AV sitting in Sydney behind level 8 forts. Brisbane has 250AV behind level 7 forts. I have 400AV in Derby.......130AV in each of the following (Darwin, Broome, Wyndham, Townsville and the other eastern OZ Bases.........all forts are level 5 or above. I am thinking about shifting the 7th Aus div from Perth back down south on high speed transports. I can leave the 81st PI div, Aus brigade, and Dutch Reg there in Perth. That brings 350AV back south.
I have enough transports near NZ to lift a div. So, I can shift forces there to OZ if needed. Just have to dodge his CV's which I would expect to blockade me. I know from a CV count, that Nemo offloaded his CV's of strike a/c and basically made CAP traps of them. Sort of gamey, but could have been done, so no bitching from me.
I really think all this has been a sham.........no way will he stick his nose where he knows I have prepared for him heavily. Suva stands at level 9 forts on both bases.........150AV in each base. So he will have to drag a div to take the place, maybe more depending on how good I can butcher the 1st one.
Baically, I had to make a choice.......NZ or OZ........if I had stacked OZ with all my troops, well then he takes NZ and cuts OZ off..........defend NZ and well OZ is threatened. Not a great choice. Of course his mod does give Japan a prodigious amount of ground troops to play with. Way more than the Allies have, which allows Japan to really focus 2000+AV in 4 areas at once which overwhelms the allies.
I have this gut feeling that Nemo is not going to hit NZ.......do not ask me why, but something about the way he is moving his CV's so close to NZ (within 2 hexes) and inviting my strikes. Usually he will stand off 4-6 hexes and sweep and then crush the a/f's. Especially if he even thought I might have PE2's.
Plus, he knows I have been fortifying the island like crazy and has to figure I have close to 2000AV there when you count the forces that start there, plus any extra's I might have brought in. So.........he knows his 2000AV have no prayer of cracking my defenses and that is the main thing that is making me feel this way.
He does not have the forces to take NZ from me. Aukland alone with 800AV sitting behind fort 9 (which it is) would devestate his 2000AV. I am beginning to suspect a move on OZ from the south-south east. He wants Norfolk to secure his line of advance.
So, going by that.........if he moves on OZ.......I have 1000AV sitting in Sydney behind level 8 forts. Brisbane has 250AV behind level 7 forts. I have 400AV in Derby.......130AV in each of the following (Darwin, Broome, Wyndham, Townsville and the other eastern OZ Bases.........all forts are level 5 or above. I am thinking about shifting the 7th Aus div from Perth back down south on high speed transports. I can leave the 81st PI div, Aus brigade, and Dutch Reg there in Perth. That brings 350AV back south.
I have enough transports near NZ to lift a div. So, I can shift forces there to OZ if needed. Just have to dodge his CV's which I would expect to blockade me. I know from a CV count, that Nemo offloaded his CV's of strike a/c and basically made CAP traps of them. Sort of gamey, but could have been done, so no bitching from me.
I really think all this has been a sham.........no way will he stick his nose where he knows I have prepared for him heavily. Suva stands at level 9 forts on both bases.........150AV in each base. So he will have to drag a div to take the place, maybe more depending on how good I can butcher the 1st one.
Baically, I had to make a choice.......NZ or OZ........if I had stacked OZ with all my troops, well then he takes NZ and cuts OZ off..........defend NZ and well OZ is threatened. Not a great choice. Of course his mod does give Japan a prodigious amount of ground troops to play with. Way more than the Allies have, which allows Japan to really focus 2000+AV in 4 areas at once which overwhelms the allies.