Day of Infamy AAR - Feinder vs. Ngineer (no Ngineers allowed)

[Feinder]

And that's all I've got for tonight folks (tired, off to bed). I've got three more turns to post, and a turn in Ngineer's court.

[Feinder]

5-11-1943

Burma

Imperial retreat towards Rangoon continues. The Allies have deployed a squadron of Heavy Bombers into India (I think the ones that come to Chennault). The docks at Rangoon are damaged, and I am thus unable to move out my SNLF-Div. I went ahead and spent the MPPs to rebuild the SNLF, because either A. I'll be able to evacuate them, and having the full unit will be useful. Or B. I'll not be able to evacuate them, and having them defend Rangoon will also be useful.

Meanwhile, I've pushed up my anti-partisan Garrison unit, to allow my other front-line Inf-Army, Inf-Corps, and LtTank-Div to retreat and replace. Suffice to say, nobody expects the Garrison to last very long.

I'll also point out that, I got a warning message about Vietnamese partisans in French Indo-China. So I've had to push units into both Saigon and Hanoi. I'll have to figure out if/what to keep there permanently, as it's really a juggling routine to try to keep things under control.

[Feinder]

5-11-1943

China

In the North, a Chinese Inf-Corps moves to block out advance towards Datong. There's really nothing to exchange there, he's not going to be able to push me back, and I'm not going to be able to push him out of Datong, because I'm not able to bring up sufficient troops/supplies to sustain an attack. I'll consider if I can hold that hex though, and maybe shift the Inf-Army out of Kalgan for something lighter.

In Center, and combined attack by Nationalist and Communist Chinese forces pushes into and through our lines into the Hebei valley. He's got "fast" units, the Inf-Corps and Cav-Divs trying to break through. He's got a similar attack near Changsha, pushing towards the coast. It's what I'll call the "Drip Strategy", basically trying to force anything thru any cracks/seams to see what can get thru, and see what gets thru. "Dripping" also seen near Canton/Hong Kong.

Reality is, Japan MUST in the very least hold China, as the National Morale hits for losing cities can be as large, or larger than losing islands in CentPac (and also include a positive Chinese morale boost).

I've also got a northern Philippines, as I've pulled back most of my fleet to Luzon an an attempt to screen/shed the 3(?) subs that keep plinking my ships. Also noted is the build up of (weakend) LBA in Philippines to cover new Partisan hexes, and the two Partisans in French Indo-China.

[Feinder]

5-11-1943

Leyte

As stated earlier, he's got several subs off Southern Philippines. I think 3, maybe 4. Fleet is pulled north until we can at least drive them off/back a little.

[Feinder]

05-11-1943

Over-all, a quiet-ish turn (except for the Drip Offensive in China).

And Tanaka - Sorry for no previous reply, I didn't see your post. No I really cannot contest Guadalcanal landings. He owns Rabaul and Truk, with a sizable fleet standing between me and Guadalcanal.

Strat Map, Losses, Builds, Economy

Strat Map - Crud. How did I forget to screen-cap this?

Losses - On the plus side, no losses. Grinding in Burma, Solomons, and China, but at least no losses.

Builds - No new Builds.

Economy - I must have been tired, no MPP shot either.

[Feinder]

5-31-1943

Burma

Allied forces overrun our meager Garrison unit north Rangoon. It does however, buy us enough time to pull back my Inf-Army and bring replacements into the Colonial Inf-Corps. I'm also moving back the HQ slowly into Thailand (the rail does NOT connect, and I don't want it to get stuck in Rangoon).

There's a Royal Navy heavy cruiser patrolling off the coast of Rangoon. Perhaps by mistake (I'll take it), he left it within two hexes of the major ports, and thus it remained spotted. I was able to successfully evacuate the SNLF-Div, and even pass his RN Sub off Singapore; and my SLNF-Div has landed at Manila.

[Feinder]

5-31-1943

Java

More "Dripping". Allies land a Tank-Div at Mataram, and quickly secure the port. I have nothing to to stop them with. Unless I can come up with something stop him with (or land behind him); it's really going to be a matter of trying to hold at Batavia. I'm not fond of that option, so I'll have to come up with a Plan-B.

[Feinder]

5-31-1943

China

China is not in a good place right now.

In the north(ish), he did push as far into the valley as Jinan, successfully capturing the town with his Cav-Div. This proves too far however, and I'm able to cut it off, and will destroy it next turn.

Everywhere in the South, Chinese units "drip" thru and are mounting pressure on Canton/Hong Kong, and if I can't figure out something to halt them, the Chinese Coast will soon be back in Chinese hands.

I'll work on pulling one of my Army's from Kalgan (which will mean that he'll re-besiege the city). But I'm going to need it near Nanjing/Shanghai if China continues to roll. Losing the Japanese held Chinese cities, is about the same as the nukes for National Morale. So spending effort on defending CentPac and Philippines (holding off nukes), will be for naught if China collapses (and a huge hit to Japanaese National Morale).

[Feinder]

5-31-1943

Solomons

With support by additional bombardments and Artillery, the US Marines are finally able to secure Henderson Field. This will be a huge boon, as it provides 5 organic supply. Japanese SNLF-Div continue to hold the blockaded town/port, but will continue to fight on the service of the Emporer!

[Feinder]

5-31-1943

The Waters SE off Mindanao

Supported by land-based coverage of their new bases in Western New Guinea and Celebes, a large USN Fleet pushes towards the Philippine southern island of Manadao. There's a lot of lines on that map.

What started off as ASW patrols by Mari-Bombers and CVLs against his sub-screen, revealed the position of much larger force marshalling behind them. One USN submarine was sunk (gotcha bastard!). USN carrier(s) made strikes against our own screens, and USN battleship finished off our squadron of Destroyers.

Our subsequent follow-up strike(s), damaged a Battleship and a USN Carrier. Unable to reach the Carrier, the Yamato was sent in to finish-off the USN BB. However, I mis-calculated the action-points, and Yamato is left exposed for next turn (ugh).

I also going to presume there are invasion transports behind his fleet. I wanted to hold off a major engagement until August when I get the additional CVs, but Ngineer has decided to not cooperate with my plans.

[Feinder]

5-31-1943

Hokkaido

A US-Army Inf-Corps was able to land un-opposed and capture the port of Nemuro. Japanese Home Defense forces were quickly dispatched, including our "Repair Fleet" to blockade the captured port. Unfortunately, one of his prowling subs (no doubt to support the landing), did manage to put a fish into one of BBs as it headed North.

A quick editorial here: I did receive the message last turn that, "Allied Units activate Japanese Home Guard in Hokkaido" (or whatever the specific wording is). However...
a. The unit's spawn in, in stupid locations. The Inf-Corps should spawned into the country-side; whereas they SHOULD spawn in somewhere useful like the two port of Nemuro and Sapporo, while the HQ spawning into Hakodate makes perfect sense.
b. They spawn in a the END of the turn, that the message triggers. So I knew that an Allied invasion was immenent, but I was unable to move the Home Guard units anywhere useful.
c. I'll hold my full comments on on Transport Move ranges until after our subsequent game, but I'm of the growing opinion that Transport move ranges are still very excessive (even without AVLs). With Amphib-2, a transport can move 12(!) hexes which is 8 hexes more than the spotting ranges of even the units dedicated to spotting naval units (like Mari-Bmbrs).
d. There's another long editorial on the lack of effectiveness/usefullness of Land-Based-Air (that Ngineer and I fully agree on). But I'll save that for later also.

[Feinder]

5-31-1943

Strat Map, Losses, Builds, Economy

Strat Map - Relative locations of IJN vs. Allied naval forces. I'm not even sure it's worth-while to include Japanese LBA, because it's shot-to-pieces, and too expensive to pull replacemetns.

Losses - Japanese Garrison in Burma. An IJN Destroyer off Mindanao. Allied Sub and Battleship off Mindanao.

Builds - Purchased an SNLF-Div, and will be receiving as reinforcements a CV (yay!, but will need upgrades) and an SNLF-Div next turn.

Economy - MPPs down to 450.

[Feinder]

6-20-1943

Burma

Allied units appear to be taking breather/replacements, before lunging towards Rangoon.

My plan is a to try to fighting withdrawl into Thailand. I know he's going to end up invading either Malaya and/or Sumatra, but there's little I can do to stop him.

[Feinder]

6-20-1943

Java / Portuguese Timor

Allied Tank-Div moves un-opposed towards Java, while a unknown landing force liberates Portuguese Timor (I got nuthin' to defend it, having moved the Garrison out of it, to Singapore to defend against a bypass attack).

I did shift the Garrison from Brunei, into Sarawak, as Sarawak represents 23x MPPs and and I don't want him to invade it for free either. I may lose Brunei to Partisans, but it can't be helped, and it only represents 8x MPPs anyway.

[Feinder]

6-20-1943

China

The short version is that, "China is a mess." You can see that Chinese forces continue to sweep towards the coast, I'm struggling to hold at Canton. In the valley near Jinan, combined Nationalist and Communist forces destroy and IJA Inf-Army.

On the plus-side, I did complete the destruction of his Cav-Div.

[Feinder]

6-20-1943

Solomons + Truk

Our stalwart AAA-Div at Truk has finally fallen.

I do think he's getting frustrated with Guadalcanal, as he's brought up additional AVs to pound my defenders. The stubborn defenders at Guad, continue to hold. However, their days are numbered, because now he has 2-units next to the town, which will slowly erode the supply.

[Feinder]

6-20-1943

Japan

Home Guard units and the "Repair Navy" continue to besiege the US forces at Nemuro. I've pulled replacements, and with the US supplies dwindling, I'm hoping I can kill them in the next turn or so with my two Inf-Corps.

[Feinder]

6-20-1943

The Waters SE off Mindanao

The gathered US Fleet, known to be (4x CVs, 1x DN, 3x BB, 3x DD, 1x MTB) engage the mighty Yamato, and after many attacks by both land-based Patrol Bombers, Carrier bombers, and strikes by several Battleships, finally drag the might Yamato beneath the waves.

The onslaught does leave the US fleet mildly dispersed however, and Adm. Nogawa seizes the opportunity, even with a much smaller force. First launching patrols from the weakened land-based squadrons, then enemy fleet is identified, and several intercepts from the Allied carriers and land-based fighters are drawn off. A strike by our own Patrol Bombers, manages to break thru the heavy CAP over a US Dreadnaught, putting three torpedoes into her, forcing her captain withdraw his heavily damaged vessel. Patrolling near the site of the last furious naval battle with Yamato, our scouts find a Battleship, escorting a US Carrier southwards, bac towards the more friendly waters near the port of Manado. Our last flights of Carrier-borne bombers (from CV and CVLs) are quickly scrambled, scoring several hits on both the Carrier and her escorting Battleship. Sent in to execute the final cous-de-gras, is the Heavy Cruiser Tone, the the Battleship Ise, and the Musashi to avenge her brother. Both the US Carrier and the Battleship are smashed, and retreat beneath the waves. In final act of retribution, the Light Cruiser squadron lead by Kashima attacks and mauls a squadron of forward screening MTBs.

The IJN task-force rounds the island of Mindanao, and heads north towards Manila. Meanwhile, our CVLs retreat due north, hoping to escape pursuit by the larger USN task-force.

Over-all, a very strong riposte. I'm hoping I hold it, without further loss. The screen cap is end-of-turn, you can see that my air-groups are completely smashed, save some planes still on one of CVLs. I don't really know what shape his own air-groups are in (I suppose I'll find out, when the turn comes back).

[Feinder]

5-31-1943

Strat Map, Losses, Builds, Economy

Strat Map - The stat map notes Air and Naval assets as usual. But suffice to say, pretty much everything is "very shot up".

Losses - The USN loses a Battleship and Carrier off Mindanao. Chinese Cav-Div that was cut-off, is destroyed. Japanese Inf-Army is destroyed in China (ouch!). Japanese AAA-Div finally succumbs at Truk. And Yamato is sunk off Mindanao.

Builds - At this point, I'm short of ground units everywhere, so I built two Inf-Corps. Well, I'm short of everything. But ground units actually hold territory, and we need those right now. However, next turn is a big one, with huge delivery of Naval reinforcements. Everything will need to be upgraded, but oh man, we need them! Also two SNLF-Divs that will also need to be upgraded, but they can be upgraded at their deployment location.

Economy - Down to about 450. I expect that most of next turn's MPPs will be spent on upgrading my new naval assets.

[Feinder]

Whew! That was a lot of work! But I'm officially "caught up", no pending turns to post. And I have a turn out to Ngineer, and waiting on that. Thanks again for viewing!