Feasibility of eary Australia Invasion

[Accipiter]

I am considering a completely new strategy in my next game in which as the Japs, I attack eastern Australia as soon as possible, with specific landings in Brisbane and hopefully then moving towards Sydney. I haven't ever had a game last more than a few weeks due to severe bug (was run 1.795 patch) and haven't ever got to try out this strategy.

At the beginning, the number of Australian troops are low in number and if I can get there before any substancial allied re-inforcement arrivfe , I should be able to capture a large number of resource, HI, and even some repair shipyards to support further operations. This would mean of course, having to sacrifice in another area. But it might be worth it.

Any chance that an operation like this might succeed. If I can capture the important areas of Australia relatively early, that should then free up those units for defending the Pacific afterwards before the Allies start to roll in '43.

Question would mostly be where to sacrifice initial operations.

Any thoughts?

[mogami]

Hi, I think your out of your mind. You dont need more resources then you get from SRA. (and there are a lot more units in Oz then you think. It would take the entire SAA to have 2-1)

[KDonovan]

i wouldn't do it. In my PBEM game, my oppenent landed over 100,000 troops at Darwin (about 4 Div's) and couldn't take it against a defending force of 30,000 troops (1 Div, 2 Bde). Couldn't imagine how much forces it would require to take the whole continent. But if you are still bent on trying it, i would suggest doing it on CHS, so your oppenant can't fly around the railroad of Australia, which wasn't there in real life.

[veji1]

you get 6 months of oil and supply at the start, so you might just grab the whole SAA, KB, and go to OZ via Truk, Rabaul, PM... This would mean not attacking malaya at all, and try to just render PI the less annoying possible by landing here and ther and basically just smash Clark and avoid reinforcements getting in...

You probably could conquer south-eastern OZ this way, then go to the DEI via Timor and New guinea... You would probably manage to get Java, eastern DEI, and Borneo after a bloody fight.. But attacking Malaya in mid 1942 after they had time to prep would be almost impossible, and still you would be very vulnerable in the pacific with such a big area to protect... I mean what is the point in taking OZ if you don't grab New caledonia and NZ to be able to defend it... but then that woul mean losing time before attacking DEI...

Honnestly you would probably end up in mid-late 1942 with no oil left, an exposed under belly and a big useless desert island under your boot...

But it might be fun to try to pull it out though.. I'd read an AAR on that for sure..

[Sneer]

return/risk factor for such operation is far too low for me - even if I'm capable of fast finishing PI and DEI + malaya I don't see it

[el cid again]

In more complex games, I like to RAID Australia - to sieze RR rolling stock (engines) and machine tools from factories - but NEVER to stay.
The only exception is Darwin - more or less an island - I like to own it so it cannot be used to bomb Java - and because I can predict where they will attack! I LOVE to fight battles over places I don't really need and can afford to lose, where there is total certainty they will attack, and I won't be surprised. Delays real Allied offensives a year or so.

[mogami]

Hi, Landing in forward over extended locations might be a pain for Allied player but it will also train his units before he has to go out and begin retaking other bases. everything you lose fighting pointless battles makes the real battles later more difficult. where can the Allied player train his airgroups if Japan stays away from large close easy to supply Allied airfields?
The only reason I would attack any Allied base was to kill the enemy forces deployed there. (And then I would pick up my units and move back into better areas for defense)

[Ron Saueracker]

Only in the game can this even be considered...like the India or North America invasions. Utter hosh posh!

[Speedysteve]

Ron if you ever had anything positive to say i'd almost offer to buy you a pint

[fabertong]

The gauntlet is thrown down.

[Mike Solli]

I recently invaded Darwin in my game in May 42. The reason I did it was because he had most of his B-17s stationed there. I started by bringing some BBs and CAs to pay a visit and destroyed many on the ground (100 or so comes to mind). Then I got the idea to invade to possibly destroy some of the units and capture some of the pilots sitting around playing pinochle. I did take it with little loss. Not sure if I'll stay or leave, but I do know that it slowed his air offensive to the soft underbelly of the SRA for awhile. To me it's all time. The longer I can delay the Allied player's offensives, the better. I haven't seen a B-17 lately.

Let's not talk about LB-30s, Wellingtons and B-25/26s. But none are in that area.[:D]

[Ron Saueracker]

ORIGINAL: Speedy

Ron if you ever had anything positive to say i'd almost offer to buy you a pint

Not a big lager fan. Pint of Bitter?[:D]

Only in the game can this even be considered...like the India or North America invasions. Utter hosh posh!

Mr. (-)

Anyway, what is negative about the above? If anything it is neutral because it is true?[8D]

[Speedysteve]

LOL. 'That's the spirit son'. Think of the positive's[:D]

[Speedysteve]

ORIGINAL: Ron Saueracker

ORIGINAL: Speedy

Ron if you ever had anything positive to say i'd almost offer to buy you a pint

Not a big lager fan. Pint of Bitter?[:D]

Could be arranged. Please note in my original post I said 'ALMOST offer' [;)]

[Ron Saueracker]

ORIGINAL: Speedy

ORIGINAL: Ron Saueracker

ORIGINAL: Speedy

Ron if you ever had anything positive to say i'd almost offer to buy you a pint

Not a big lager fan. Pint of Bitter?[:D]

Could be arranged. Please note in my original post I said 'ALMOST offer' [;)]

I saw that![:D]

[Ron Saueracker]

Hey, when I get to Greece you can blow a few bucks and take a 3 day package deal to the island and we can both get pranged![:D]

[DuckofTindalos]

With his female attachment? Not bloody likely, considering her nationality...

[Ron Saueracker]

ORIGINAL: Terminus

With his female attachment? Not bloody likely, considering her nationality...

He is re-attached? Hey, Zakynthos is one of the few places the Turks did not manage to invade so I don't think anyone gives a hoot except maybe footie!

[Nikademus]

Invading Northern Oz is certainly feasible...but i've never seen much value in it other than providing an additional buffer for the SRA. I don't like over-extending my forces when I play as Japan. Like Mogami said, just makes it easier for the Allied player to train and gives them an easier target to start marching back from whence they came.

[DuckofTindalos]

ORIGINAL: Ron Saueracker

ORIGINAL: Terminus

With his female attachment? Not bloody likely, considering her nationality...

He is re-attached? Hey, Zakynthos is one of the few places the Turks did not manage to invade so I don't think anyone gives a hoot except maybe footie!

It's in the bones, man. Just like all good hatreds, it's in the bones...