Gary vs. VSWG (Martin DON'T READ)

[GaryChildress]

ORIGINAL: jeffs

I think the question for the Allies and Midway is what can the IJN do from there?

If you can threaten allied shipping, then he might be forced to react at some point...But if not it might make sense to annoy it...Let`s face it, the only thing you can use it for (as the allies) is for recon and to attack Wake...But Wake is too small to be useful. So outside of it as a recon base, it is not particularly useful IMHO.

Now that you mention it I do sort of wonder what I'm going to do with Midway. I may be a little too greedy for conquest.

Although Midway does sort of stick far enough north of PH that I could base some Mavis's on it and make sure no surprises come from that direction out of PH.

[ny59giants]

As the Allies, I use Midway for recon and later in '42 when I have sufficient AS's, I base 2 there to help with any severely damaged Gato class subs that may not make it back to Pearl and to shorten turnaround time for those with low sys damage.

[GaryChildress]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

As the Allies, I use Midway for recon and later in '42 when I have sufficient AS's, I base 2 there to help with any severely damaged Gato class subs that may not make it back to Pearl and to shorten turnaround time for those with low sys damage.

In a game against the AI (of course you can do almost anything against the AI) as allies I used Wake Island similarly. Wake even makes for a shorter turnaround time for damaged subs coming back from operations in the Caroline Islands and Marianas.

So it may be more a matter of denying Midway from the Allies than of actually needing it myself. But as I say Midway does sort of sit in a good place to the northwest of PH. It might make a decent observation post.

[DuckofTindalos]

And, of course, impossible to hold against any sort of determined assault. By all means take the place, just don't overgarrison it...

[GaryChildress]

Woops, I forgot that I promised some results of the first turn.

First off with two NLFs landing there and 4 CAs bombarding it's no surprise that Wake fell easily on turn 1.

The only other instant victories I had were the Batan Islands and Tuguegarao. Of course the Batans alway fall on the first turn. Tuguegarao fell to a surprise attack by paratroops of the 1st Yokosuka SNLF. The main reason I took Tuguegarao is that it is one of the few ungarded resource bases in the PI. I figured I could deny the Allies in the PI some instant supplies that way. Also there's a river between it and the nearest base with Allied troops. Perhaps if they cross I'll be able to inflict a few additional casualties on them. I just hope I don't loose the 1st Yokosuka to a major attack by getting hemmed in by ZOC between it and Appari which hasn't fallen yet but should by the second turn.

[Wellard]

I like this plan but think that there might be a danger in trying to secure such a large outer perimeter.It runs the risk of you being weak everywhere.
What is your plan for the North Pacific?

[GaryChildress]

ORIGINAL: Terminus

And, of course, impossible to hold against any sort of determined assault. By all means take the place, just don't overgarrison it...

I'll probably just leave an NLF and a small base force on it, a base force just large enough to support some patrol planes. Or maybe I should just leave the base force and no NLF. [&:]

[GaryChildress]

ORIGINAL: Wellard

I like this plan but think that there might be a danger in trying to secure such a large outer perimeter.It runs the risk of you being weak everywhere.
What is your plan for the North Pacific?

I don't have any plans as yet for the North Pacific. I'm not sure if there is much utility in gaining anything there. Most of the bases are potentially pretty well covered by Allied bombers from other bases. Attu and Kiska don't seem like very attractive targets right now. If the Allies try to island hop down the Bering straight then I'll send some forces to knock them off. However, I might be tempted to set up a forward base on one of the Islands just to keep an eye on where the Allies are.

I'm hoping that by creating a large outer perimeter I can at some point track down the Allied carriers. Once I can get them out of the way I'll be better able to hold a large perimeter. Also I want to get as far south as possible as soon as possible. I have my heart set on intercepting some convoys headed for OZ. I don't know how realistic that is though.

[DuckofTindalos]

ORIGINAL: Gary Childress

ORIGINAL: Terminus

And, of course, impossible to hold against any sort of determined assault. By all means take the place, just don't overgarrison it...

I'll probably just leave an NLF and a small base force on it, a base force just large enough to support some patrol planes. Or maybe I should just leave the base force and no NLF. [&:]

I'd take the NLF off again, as soon as the place is secured.

[GaryChildress]

Finally for now, here is a layout of my tentative long term plans, including the limits of the empire and patrol zones for my carriers.

Due to extreme southerly expansion the allied convoys will have to take a long trip to get to OZ. Of course the Allies may try to stiffle my southerly advance at the earliest possible time. To check this, I may have KB patroling in the south. Hopefully, by the time I get that far south and have placed KB down there, the CV Junyo will have arrived. Junyo will be paired up with one of KB's carriers to form a small carrier strike force to patrol the Central Pacific. I will affectionately call this KB Jr.. Finally, covering the DEI and SEA will be Baby KB. Within little over a month I should have CVL Shoho which will give Baby KB a little extra punch.

Of course plans have a tendency of going astray so we'll have to see how things develop. I have my fingers crossed.

[jeffs]

I agree (for both sides) about not over garrisoning Midway. And it does have value (and if the IJN is going for PH it is a necessity). Just that it is not really worth losing half your fleet over.....
 
Big question...Are you going to take PM? I am a believer in that the IJN has to take it, even if they have no interest in going for Oz. Because if you do not, he can use that as a base to attack the rest of NG....If it gets to a level 6-7 field he can put mass quantities of LBA there and make your life hell......

[GaryChildress]

ORIGINAL: jeffs

I agree (for both sides) about not over garrisoning Midway. And it does have value (and if the IJN is going for PH it is a necessity). Just that it is not really worth losing half your fleet over.....

Big question...Are you going to take PM? I am a believer in that the IJN has to take it, even if they have no interest in going for Oz. Because if you do not, he can use that as a base to attack the rest of NG....If it gets to a level 6-7 field he can put mass quantities of LBA there and make your life hell......

I'm not sure yet about PM. I think PM would be a real meatgrinder for the IJN and the IJN are sure to loose. I suppose it depends upon how well my planned blockade of Australia goes. The trouble is, PM is within range of 4Es from OZ, Rabaul is within range of 4Es from PM and then finally Truk is within range of 4Es from Rabaul. The whole thing is a house of cards waiting to fall. [:(]

Any suggestions? [&:]

[veji1]

well the suggestion is to have as many cards or dominoes as possible, one falling brings the next one, but it gives you 1 to 4 months eacht time... So get PM, and if you can, get northern OZ ( If you are playing with ABs map ), it gives you the only thing you get anyway, time... Then the key is to buy this time for a cost as cheap as possible...

[GaryChildress]

ORIGINAL: veji1

well the suggestion is to have as many cards or dominoes as possible, one falling brings the next one, but it gives you 1 to 4 months eacht time... So get PM, and if you can, get northern OZ ( If you are playing with ABs map ), it gives you the only thing you get anyway, time... Then the key is to buy this time for a cost as cheap as possible...

Unfortunately that looks about the size of it. I've been reading PzB's thread and he's getting slaughtered by Allied uber-cap in 1944. [:(]

Has anyone tried using the IJN Liz yet? It's the only 4E the Japanese can build (in CHS). I'm wondering if it could be as devastating as Allied 4Es. I went ahead and started production rolling on them. It'll be a few months before they come online in significant numbers.

[FeurerKrieg]

ORIGINAL: Gary Childress

ORIGINAL: Terminus

And, of course, impossible to hold against any sort of determined assault. By all means take the place, just don't overgarrison it...

I'll probably just leave an NLF and a small base force on it, a base force just large enough to support some patrol planes. Or maybe I should just leave the base force and no NLF. [&:]

You could also leave it empty, just some supply, an AV and a group of Mavis/Emily.

[GaryChildress]

ORIGINAL: Feurer Krieg

ORIGINAL: Gary Childress

ORIGINAL: Terminus

And, of course, impossible to hold against any sort of determined assault. By all means take the place, just don't overgarrison it...

I'll probably just leave an NLF and a small base force on it, a base force just large enough to support some patrol planes. Or maybe I should just leave the base force and no NLF. [&:]

You could also leave it empty, just some supply, an AV and a group of Mavis/Emily.

When the AV Akitsushima becomes available I'll probably use it to base Mavis's and Emilys. The ship isn't good for much else. Perhaps I'll leave it at Midway and evacuate when the Allies come after the island. With enough warning ahead of time I could have KB on the scene to do some damage.

[jeffs]

Yes, but uber cap is less effective under Nik mods as A2A is not a total death
to losing side proposition....
 
And you will never hold PM the whole game..But make him take it from you.
 
In a game I am playing now (I have one with an AAR, this is the other) the IJN is throwing everything he can at PM and it is 1/42 (he has 1/3-1/2 of the KB pounding it daily). Personally I think he could have waited a month (we first played UV and I tortured him from there and I guess he has neither forgiven nor forgotten!).
 
But better taking it early than not taking it later...And if it saves you 6 months that is great...

[GaryChildress]

ORIGINAL: jeffs

Yes, but uber cap is less effective under Nik mods as A2A is not a total death
to losing side proposition....

And you will never hold PM the whole game..But make him take it from you.

In a game I am playing now (I have one with an AAR, this is the other) the IJN is throwing everything he can at PM and it is 1/42 (he has 1/3-1/2 of the KB pounding it daily). Personally I think he could have waited a month (we first played UV and I tortured him from there and I guess he has neither forgiven nor forgotten!).

But better taking it early than not taking it later...And if it saves you 6 months that is great...

Fortunately or unfortunately I'm playing the standard, non-Nik mod CHS. Cap will make all the difference. I'd rather not use KB on land targets. Too many pilots and planes get chewed up for small gains.

I'm wondering if I take PM, could I use Buna as a supply line for my TFs instead of having to sail them all the way around the horn of NG. I wonder if enough supplies would flow over the jungle trail between PM and Buna to sustain a defense of PM?

[jeffs]

As it is early and I do not have much AA there, he has lost about 6-8 planes in attacking PM...Not that much...That said I can understand your thoughts...It does seem hard to accept such losses of the KB elite.......

[ny59giants]

As an Allied player, I look at PM as an "unsinkable aircraft carrier." [:D]
If allowed to remain in Allied hands, the Japanese player will eventually loose the battle af attrition and then southern NG and Rabaul when all those bombers get based there.
It is more of denial of use to the Allied player rather than use to the Japanese player.