The First Team: Take Two!

[Q-Ball]

Here are my answers to John:

1. Yes, we expanded Oscar, target of 150 I think....may revisit this.
3. RE Rabaul: Agreed, I bet SSF is enough. If I were the Allies, I would lift out that Lark Force, but then move it by ship from PM. But that's just me. I bet you can just keep going straight for PM, using the base at Rabaul as cover. I think you need a Zero Daitai out there though just in case. There is one unit that can ruin your day: That A-24 unit that is loaded on a transport in SW Pac Dec 7th. They can unload that and move to PM. It's pretty brittle though, no replacement planes, and poor base force support in any case.


4. RE WAKE: I wouldn't land the BF until your troops are rested. You have had terrible luck there. You need to hurry, because I would bet anything the USN CVs are gathering at Pearl. They know KB is off to the south. That is alot of targets around Wake! Don't be surprised to see US CVs within 2-3 days. Wake could turn into a disaster if that happens.

New Thoughts:
1. RE IO RAID BY CAR DIV 2: Sound idea, as I said before, they will not take on KB head-on right now. Combining them with KB won't add much. The other alternative, is to combine them with KB, but rotate the CVs to limit Ops damage. But i would rather raid.

RE SHOHO:
Another good idea; is that gamey, or within the house rules?

2. RE MALAYA: That's the plan! Attacking Alor Star tommorow, may have a chance IF weather clears and bombs disrupt the Indians

3. RE BANGKOK: Forgot to mention, I moved a bunch of idle Sallys as well there. Can't hurt. Should finish the job.

4. RE QUICK PI CONQUEST:
Don't think so, unless they botch it and I can split the troops. I have never seen the PI fall early though.

Early Landing on Java

2ndACR's comments are sound. I think this looks like a plan! So far we have left 21st Div in place, but I forgot about that formation....that should be added if John's OK. They could invade Vietnam, but I doubt it; it triggers a nice IJA reinforcement, and they don't have the PPs to convert Chinese units. (per house rule).

We can leave Manila in our rear, but NOT Java. We have to close it out before heading to India. Starting next turn, we are prepping full-bore for Java.

Car Div 2 and Baby KB combined can get us ashore without too much damage at Kragen. The sooner we go, the fewer air resources will be available to the Allies.

[ny59giants]

I hate to expose Palembang to air attacks on the Oil, but that airbase is key to supporting a landing at Merak (one at Kragen I would have to use Baby KB). I am trying to think FAST, though, so we can get on with India early.

Since you have too many needs for your limited Zeros and too many other fighters, I would land 3 to 6 Construction and a BF at Toboali. Even though the AF is 0(1), it does have is own Resource center (270). Once it reaches size 1, then you can LRCAP Palembang (2 hexes away) and/or Merak (3 hexes away). If you get it to size 2 AF, then Batavia is only 3 hexes away. You will have Kuching with your Nells and possibly some Zeros to keep you safe while you build this base up quickly, if needed.

Palembang just needs to be isolated. Bomb the ground units to damage the engineers to prevent the Oil center getting damaged once you take the base. Once northern Java is captured, you can bomb Soerabaja AF to close it down and leave the Allies with no place to base B-17s from to hit Palembang.

[John 3rd]

I am fearful about a Wake counter-move too.  I am going to wait for 2 days with the CAs bombarding and add a Nell Daitai to help.  In two days I will order the Base Force to land in conjunction with a Shock Attack.  THAT should do it.

Using Shoho to carry only Zeros is perfectly fine.  After Midway the Japanese planned to use a CVL as a CAP carrier.  That was supposed to have been Zuiho's job at Santa Cruz.  The glory of this possiblity is to then use Shoho's 18 Zero and 12 Kate on other Cvs to strengthen their air groups. 

CarDiv2 will rest at Amboina for 2-3 days until the screen can be reinforced with 1 CA, 1 CL, and 5 DD.  Once done resting these shuips will move out between Timor and Australia.  They will move towards the NW Coast of Australia and then sweep NE towards Java.  My hope is to catch TF moving back and forth between these areas.

I think I'll load up Tracker with the current turn to see just how much our aircraft industry is expanding.   Got to make sure we have enough Zero/Oscar coming in.  It looks like the work Brad has done should be enough buit it is always good to check.

As to Tony/Tojo Research, we need to figure which plane to concentrate on for the future.  IF we can bring one in a month or two early then that will really help with life.  particularly if we are 'decisively engaged' within India!

Java needs to be dealt with ASAP.  I concur with 2nd ACR and you are your planning.  Be CAREFUL with the Baby-KB in covering your movements to the landing.  The Dutch have an awful lot of bombers...  Perhaps you can cover from the north while I strike from the south with CarDiv2?  Where shall we land--Merak or Kragen???
   

[John 3rd]

Mike has a great thought there!  Problem is we have moved many of our Construction Btn east to Truk and Kwajalein.  There are a couple of Engineering Regiments still in Samah that might be usable. 

I am concerned about not taking Palembang; however, it cannot be bombed if the Allies still hold it.  Mike is right on that thoughtline.

Will go into the current turn and pull some screenshots...

[2ndACR]

If you use the 21st and 38th Div, well you really speed up Java's fall.........I would shift the 21st brigade to Palembang, and bring both divs into Kragen along with the other brigade. That gives you roughly 1000AV right there, and another 300 if you airlift Palemband's brigade into Merak. Load 1 of the div's in the small AP's and the other into your large AP's. Say the 21st combat loaded for fast unload and the 38th loaded as a floating reserve to be commited once the port is secured.

If everything goes really smooth, well you may not even need to land the 38th and it can be prepping for India. So just thinking out loud.

You will have the following........

38th Div
21st Div
2 Div's from the PI area
2-4 Div's from Malaya
6-8 Armor Reg
2-3 large Brigades
4-6 Engineer Reg

Roughly 2600 AV right there freed up by early Feb 42...........if no snags show up........available to hit India. I used the lower estimates on troops to figure AV.......6 Div and 2 Brigades.........Very respectable force.

I predict Java landing commence around 25 Dec 41 if shipping is available nearby. But would bet heavily on 1 Jan 42 though. 1 Jan allows you more time to gather, plan etc. I would be buying every Engineer reg out of Manchuria. They are better used to build up your bases than sitting in Manchuria. Only needed there if you are going for Russia. Troops and Const Bn can build the forts.

Java falls late Jan 42, Malaya will fall mid Jan and the PI will be decided mid Jan 42.

Palembang can be hit at the same time as Java landing.......force them to choose, hit oil or shipping. I would para land Merak and airlift Palembang force.

[ny59giants]

As to Tony/Tojo Research, we need to figure which plane to concentrate on for the future. IF we can bring one in a month or two early then that will really help with life. particularly if we are 'decisively engaged' within India!

Another "free" Tracker lesson for Sir John! [:D]

[2ndACR]

Tojo looks to be the better a/c to me.......great altitude and climb rate......armament is tied but Tony is better durability and extended range.

[ny59giants]

If 2nd ACR is correct on the forces you have available, it is only 3 days at full speed from Saigon to Mershing. Rather than push his troops into Singapore, cut them off before they get there. 

[2ndACR]

I know they have the 21st avail right now.......the 38th once HK falls.......I have not seen 2 heavy Brigades used yet. Or I missed it.
 
I just hate to suggest landing on top of one of the Aus brigades.

[Q-Ball]

ORIGINAL: 2ndACR

Tojo looks to be the better a/c to me.......great altitude and climb rate......armament is tied but Tony is better durability and extended range.

I already invested mostly in Tojo; it will be around 70/30 Tojo/Tony. They are close in ability, the clincher is that the Tojo is a better production choice: Naka engines can be used for models other than Tojo, allowing more flexibility, unlike Tony, which are a dead-end. If we get that far, Tojo also auto-upgrades to Frank. Tony doesn't.

[John 3rd]

I noticed the Tojo change after I looked around the map. Sorry about asking a dumb question. Brad can you detail for the readers what are plane expansions are at this point?

Here is the Truk, Rabaul, and Port Moresby area:

[John 3rd]

This is the VERY busy Eastern DEI Region:

[John 3rd]

Here is the last screenshot of sunken ships to Dec 12th:





Just realized that I got my Torps wrong in that the 18" is aerial, 21" is SS, and 24" is Long Lance.

We just need to add the names Prince of Wales and Repulse and life is GOOD!

[ny59giants]

KENDARI!!!
It will close off the Makassar Straits when you place Nell/Betty there. It has over 10k in supplies at game start plus the Resource center (600).
Afterwards go for Koepang and finally, Bali (AF 3). You will have the southern part of Java closed off and Borneo surrounded.  You can back fill from here at your leisure. [:)]

[Q-Ball]

The troops at Amboina are already prepping for Kendari. A Base Force is on the way to Amboina, when it's close we are departing for Kendari. This was already in the works. In two days, another force hits Menado; this will then re-load and sail toward Kendari. We hope to be in Koepang by the end of the month.

[John 3rd]

BANZAI!

Let's 'keep up the Skeer!'

[John 3rd]

Brad--I was bored and starting looking around the map and have some thoughts.  How about we move 10th TK Reg, 23rd & 24th Engineering Regiments to Moppo and pull them for the Indian attack?  We can start them moving now and move some ships to pick them up.  I believe you already have 1 or 2 Heavy Artillery Regiments moving there also right?

Those units would add some important support for what is to come...

We can also look at pulling bombers and fighters from this location too...

[Q-Ball]

Java

We have decided upon an early move on Java. We expect Hong Kong to fall within a couple days; when this happens, we will have the 38th Division available. Shipping is moving to Takao to be available to pick up this unit. Tentatively, we will land at KRAGEN around the first of the year.

We hope that this is a major Japanese irritant for them. With a 6-year old daughter, when I think of Japanese irritant, I think of...Hello Kitty. Thus, this shall me OPERATION HELLO KITTY. Banzai!

Tentative OOB:
21st, 38th Divisions
21st, 23rd Mixed Bdes
4th Eng Regt
1 Mortar Unit
1st Base Force
2 AA Units....

Naval Support:
BB Mutsu, 3 CA, 3 CL and 10DD.
Baby KB
We may need to bring 2 BBs from Amboina around Borneo, along with Car Div 2.

CAP Support can be provided from Singkawang or by CV, by standing 4 hexes off Kragen. For a couple turns, the CVs could be targets. This is certainly a risk.

We can tweak the landing spot and coverage. A good suggestion was made to land at Toboali and use lots of engineers to build that base; unfortunately, a number of engineeers have already been committed elsewhere, and we don't have a large reserve handy.

As an interim, I am thinking of picking up the Kuching invasion force and landing at Singkawang. That is within 8 hexes, or Zero range, of Kragen. I think we can get ashore at Kragen quickly. Another suggestion was made about a para drop/airlift into Merak, but all our air transport is tied up on Port Blair.

Going straight into Kragen, we will take some losses; however, available Allied air will still be limited to UK torp bombers and Dutch air; at most only 20 or so B-26 will be available to the Allies by then. In our favor, they have lost 14 Vildebeest and 4 Swords. They don't get alot of replacements for those.

I welcome thoughts and tweaks

JOHN: Re: Manchuria, I noticed those Manchurian tanks have AT guns attached; I wonder if that slows them down. We could test that. I would convert the Home Islands Tank units first. Like the Engineers, though.

[ny59giants]

You could land on the west coast of Borneo at the base there that is already a size 3 AF and is across from Kragen. It has a Dutch BF and small infantry there. It is not Balikpapan, but begins with a "B." You could use your Oscars to LRCAP into Java and/or base some Lt bombers there.

I'm trying to think of ways to use more of your IJA fighters vs. relying more on your IJN fighters (Zeros). You have some small 12 plane Chotai in Saigon and Camranh Bay that can go over to Oscars.

EDIT: I just looked it up and the base is Bandjermasin. The AF is 3(3) with Port 1(1). It is within 5 hexes of Kragen, Soerabaja, and only 3 to Balikpapan. Use it as bait for the Allies to send their Martins (Range 5, Extended 6) and their other planes for a few days. Fly CAP and also do sweeps over Soerabaja to knock their planes out for a few days before you invade. Kuching can knock out Batavia at the same time.

[2ndACR]

Okay, you gave me insight to deployments.
 
Singkawang is a good move. I would also think about dropping a large Naval Guard at Pontiak (the level 3 port right there) and pre deploy your limited AR's forward to there. They will greatly help save your banged up ships from the invasion.
 
1 Engineer reg.....ouch.......I like to have 2-4 for Java. But I understand you have commited the others.......but you do have the 2 mentioned above from Manchuria.
 
Might want to have a CL and 4-5 DD's in a surface action TF to counter the Dutch PT's. I always run 2-3 bombardment runs into Batavia prior to my landing using 4-5 BB's. It really helps to bang up the a/c based there plus disrupt everything.
 
DO NOT RECON KRAGEN BY AIR TILL THE LAST MOMENT!!!!!!! Place a sub there instead. You might get some free recon on the base. Even though you have the force to push past any defenses. Any chance to base one of the para units at Kuching with the Tina's and at the last moment one day before you hit the beach take it from the air? At least the you can land fully fresh and undisrupted.