RIDERS ON THE STORM-THANK YOU

[Gen.Hoepner]

ORIGINAL: Rob Brennan UK

HI GH

With the sad demise of Pauks AAR your getting a new reader (just caught up) need my daily Witp Fix and i like your style of play very much. This looks to be an interesting game in the long run and i wish you well and will post with 'usually pointless' suggestions. [;)]

Good Luck and i look forward to the journey ahead.

Welcome aboard mate[;)]!

[Gen.Hoepner]

ORIGINAL: Cathartes

I would further the suggestion of bulking up your supplies in Manila. He will bring more than 4 divisions if he wants Manila. You will be MUCH stronger if you have more supplies, and given the current situation, you have a significant opportunity to hold on a VERY long time in Luzon, with more supplies. 

This is just my take after managing to hold Manila into Aug 42 in my PBEM.  I had about 45K supplies to start, and a level 9 fort.  If I had 20-30k more, I would have held 8+ divisions, 4 brigades, and 60+ additional enemy LCUs until perhaps October/Nov 42.  I ran out of supplies the end of July, and then my AV dropped rapidly and no more AA against bombers.  I was history by Aug 13.

Happy hunting!

Remember that even when Karachi will be fallen he will have to leave in India enough stuff to protect it from a British coming back... so i'd say he will left at least 3 divisions plus a lot of planes in India....

[PzB74]

Most interesting AAR, General! Left my web mail open while at work on Friday and it constantly popped up disrupting my work - quite a spammer [:D]

Your efforts in this game will to a large extent show how far Japan can push it in the opening months without bursting.
If you find an opening you should really invade the Marianas ASAP - this would be a war winning move. The future of this game will most likely be a short one if that happens. Trollelite talks the talk - but does he walk the walk!? [8D]

[1EyedJacks]

ORIGINAL: Gen.Hoepner

I have 39k supplies in the beloved triangle (Manila-Clark-Bataan). my units are in perfect shape, even if not very experienced. However i think i can hold even Clark against what he has brought in till now.
i've managed to sneak in 10 AKs till now to Manila, with some 40k supplies in the last 4 months. Not bad indeed.
I've brought there even an AS that has allowed 10 subs to act in those waters in the last 2 months. Now the AS is safely back to Wake and the subs are back to the pacific or Indian Ocean, but i managed to cause him some problems, forcing him to deploy a lot of ASW TFs in the SRA.
Now the role of advanced sub base is being taken by Darwin.
I'm pretty safe with Luzon right now...

Hi General,

Would it be possible to get in additional AAA units to the PI? I think that any strategic bombing campaign from Formosa will use up your supplies quickly. And I don't have to tell you how hard it is to defend when your supplies are below the minimiums... It might be fun to pull all air units out of Manila other than fighters - lotsa fighters [8D].

You might consider running your sub patrols in the S. China Seas to go after cargo TFs moving oil/resources from Borneo and the DEI...

When you take Marcus I'd put some PBYs there ASAP - I think you are right on about his island defenses in that area.

[witpqs]

Hi General,

A couple of quick notes.

1) I thought that Bombardment did not give combat experience? Maybe someone can confirm for certain. Of course it will use your supplies. [&:]

2) Great idea with Marcus Island. [:)]

3) I still would not go for the Marianas (even pending intel gained from Marcus). It's just too far for you to support, and he will be able to dump divisions in there and destroy your defenders while KB stands guard. [:(]

[Mistmatz]

Bombard gives experience at least when you are at the receiving end. Not sure about the side that does the bombardment but I'd assume there will also some exp gain. [&:]

[Andy Mac]

Sorry ignore me I am to used to the opening phases of AE where allied forces especially militia are very low in exp and finding an opportunity to bombard and gain some valuable xp should never be missed.
 
Supplies are probably more important
 
Andy

[Gen.Hoepner]

ORIGINAL: PzB

Most interesting AAR, General! Left my web mail open while at work on Friday and it constantly popped up disrupting my work - quite a spammer [:D]

Your efforts in this game will to a large extent show how far Japan can push it in the opening months without bursting.
If you find an opening you should really invade the Marianas ASAP - this would be a war winning move. The future of this game will most likely be a short one if that happens. Trollelite talks the talk - but does he walk the walk!? [8D]

Thx John for reading it!

The Mariannas are far away...really far...do not count on that operation....Marcus will be easier, that's for sure. Then we'll see...I however will organize everything but will remain carefull...

[FeurerKrieg]

I still say go for it (Mariannas that is). If you can get a couple of those bases and put some LBA in there, with the PI still in your hands, he'll be hurtin. And with the leakers in this scenario, even if you lost in a counter attack, I know for sure some B-17's or Lib's would get through the KB Zeros, and a few hits on the carriers would be all you'd need to allow your carriers to come in and clean up his invasion fleet.

[Gen.Hoepner]

ORIGINAL: 1EyedJacks



Hi General,

Would it be possible to get in additional AAA units to the PI? I think that any strategic bombing campaign from Formosa will use up your supplies quickly. And I don't have to tell you how hard it is to defend when your supplies are below the minimiums... It might be fun to pull all air units out of Manila other than fighters - lotsa fighters [8D].

You might consider running your sub patrols in the S. China Seas to go after cargo TFs moving oil/resources from Borneo and the DEI...

When you take Marcus I'd put some PBYs there ASAP - I think you are right on about his island defenses in that area.

Hi,

AA units there would be really usefull...but it's simply impossible to bring them there. The way it's closed.
However i'll try to sneak some AKs full of supplies from Darwin...let's see if i get a bit lucky...

[Gen.Hoepner]

ORIGINAL: Andy Mac

Sorry ignore me I am to used to the opening phases of AE where allied forces especially militia are very low in exp and finding an opportunity to bombard and gain some valuable xp should never be missed.

Supplies are probably more important

Andy

No you're right Andy, bombarding will be interesting to make those PI rgts some exp, but gotta be carefull. Trollelite is a master of the sorrounding and i do not want to advance towards his troops in order to gain some exp just to find me cut off from Clark-Manila trenches....
Soon he'll start to bomb the hell out of Manila...let's see what we can do about it...however remember that all the movements made for strenghtening Manila (the creation of the MAF -Manila air force , now transfered to China) and the subs that have operated from there in the last month were all disturbing elements, in order to force him not to look at the Marshalls....the sacrifices made by the guys at Manila have allowed the "Retribution" operation (the conquest of the Marshalls ) to go extremely well...i haven't lost a single ship and i've made Kwalajein, with the 40,000 men there, completely out of the war[;)]

[Gen.Hoepner]

ORIGINAL: Feurer Krieg

I still say go for it (Mariannas that is). If you can get a couple of those bases and put some LBA in there, with the PI still in your hands, he'll be hurtin. And with the leakers in this scenario, even if you lost in a counter attack, I know for sure some B-17's or Lib's would get through the KB Zeros, and a few hits on the carriers would be all you'd need to allow your carriers to come in and clean up his invasion fleet.

First of all i must organize the logistic well for such operation. The first phase (the conquest of Marcus) should not be that difficult. The second possible phase (a coup de main in the Mariannas) woudl be a completely different task. Keep in mind that he can transfer in 1 turn 200 Nells/Betties from Formosa to Saipan (level 4 AF!) and probably 200 zeros, plus more 200 different planes he has at Truk. With only 3 CVs operative and no LBA cover my entire fleet would be at risk even without the KB lurking there...
The only solution would be a run...an extreme run with CV at 30 knots, using the weather...moving fast from Marcus to Saipan in one night and at the first sign of dawn, bomb the hell out of it with every plane i have on the CVs and with some fast CA/CLs...but you'll all understand the risk with such a plan...a cloud on my CVs and ...pufff...it's all gone!

[Gen.Hoepner]

Luzon

[FeurerKrieg]

Well, I have never played as Allies, but it always seems like no big deal to lose a few CV's early.

You have enough bases in Marshalls that LBA can support each other, so even if Mariannas op goes bad, I would think it doesn't change the sitation. Either way you have to sit and wait for the big reinforcements that the allies get in 43.

But if Mariannas goes well - major change of the war - PI can be supported, HI can be hit - your enemy will whine about 'broken' game. [:D]

ORIGINAL: Gen.Hoepner

ORIGINAL: Feurer Krieg

I still say go for it (Mariannas that is). If you can get a couple of those bases and put some LBA in there, with the PI still in your hands, he'll be hurtin. And with the leakers in this scenario, even if you lost in a counter attack, I know for sure some B-17's or Lib's would get through the KB Zeros, and a few hits on the carriers would be all you'd need to allow your carriers to come in and clean up his invasion fleet.

First of all i must organize the logistic well for such operation. The first phase (the conquest of Marcus) should not be that difficult. The second possible phase (a coup de main in the Mariannas) woudl be a completely different task. Keep in mind that he can transfer in 1 turn 200 Nells/Betties from Formosa to Saipan (level 4 AF!) and probably 200 zeros, plus more 200 different planes he has at Truk. With only 3 CVs operative and no LBA cover my entire fleet would be at risk even without the KB lurking there...
The only solution would be a run...an extreme run with CV at 30 knots, using the weather...moving fast from Marcus to Saipan in one night and at the first sign of dawn, bomb the hell out of it with every plane i have on the CVs and with some fast CA/CLs...but you'll all understand the risk with such a plan...a cloud on my CVs and ...pufff...it's all gone!

[Gen.Hoepner]

ORIGINAL: Feurer Krieg

Well, I have never played as Allies, but it always seems like no big deal to lose a few CV's early.

You have enough bases in Marshalls that LBA can support each other, so even if Mariannas op goes bad, I would think it doesn't change the sitation. Either way you have to sit and wait for the big reinforcements that the allies get in 43.

But if Mariannas goes well - major change of the war - PI can be supported, HI can be hit - your enemy will whine about 'broken' game. [:D]

Gotta correct myself. CV Wasp is arriving in 17 days. So i'll have 4 operative CVs.
Well, i tend to play safely with my CVs. I do not count on the respwn rule, also because we have a huge restriction on the respawn in our house rules...so i tend to play as historically accurate as i can. The allies would have never thrown away their CVs is a suicide operation.
BTW, i'm not saying i won't do that. I'm just saying that it's not exatcly easy like a walk in the park....so better to think twice!

It will be a very tough effort to bring all those units from West Coast and Panama first to PH, then to Marcus.
Now it's the 17th of March...let's say...mmmm....with some approx...may, not before.

[Gen.Hoepner]

NOW AN IMPORTANT QUESTION:
Is there a way, when Karachi falls, to make all the units attached to India Command HQ ,that were supposed to appear in India and that now that India is lost appear in Aden,  and so they cannot be moved from there without changing their HQ again, appear somewhere else?
...hope i was clear enough...otherwise i won't be able to move all those units from Aden even if i take India back cause i'll need thousands of PPs....

[Jim D Burns]

ORIGINAL: Gen.Hoepner
NOW AN IMPORTANT QUESTION:
Is there a way, when Karachi falls, to make all the units attached to India Command HQ ,that were supposed to appear in India and that now that India is lost appear in Aden,  and so they cannot be moved from there without changing their HQ again, appear somewhere else?
...hope i was clear enough...otherwise i won't be able to move all those units from Aden even if i take India back cause i'll need thousands of PPs....

Hi G. H.,

Are you sure the units appear in Aden once India falls? I think they might just be delayed entry and only appear once you liberate their arrival base. If not, this is a huge oversight by the CHS guys, fixed units should never arrive in a base not connected by land to their parent HQ’s country of origin.

As to the Marianas campaign, be very careful about allowing victory disease to take hold of your operational plans. Even if you take all the islands in the Marianas chain without taking big losses, you simply can’t hold them, the Marshall’s and the Hawaiian Islands all at once right now. The US simply doesn’t have enough land units to defend all that territory yet.

You also don’t really have a large enough air force yet to project enough power to seriously threaten KB in one area of operation, let alone three. You might get lucky and score a few hits on a CV or two, but allied air power is totally unreliable in its ability to project enough force in 1942 to dominate the surrounding seas.

Whatever you take right now, he can take it back until near the end of 42 when you really start getting significant reinforcements. And he will come to take it back, unless he's completely inept when it comes to strategic foresight. Japan simply cannot afford to allow the US to begin 1943 already in full possession of the Marshall Islands, he has to take them back, so plan for a huge fight there very soon.

I think what you’ve gained by this operation is the ability to dictate where Japan will go next after India. You’ve also probably saved Australia with this move, since he’d have probably gone there next had you not taken the Marshalls.

But I think now he must come back to the Marshalls or his game is lost. I’m sure he realizes it and he has probably already started to plan for their re-conquest.

If you’re off running an operation trying to take the Marianas when he shows up, he’ll bag tons of your stuff. If I were you I’d consolidate my hold on the Marshall Islands and spend every second preparing for the counter-attack that will come.

If you had another 3 or 4 divisions then perhaps the Marianas would be worth a try, but you don’t. So even if you take them you’ll never be able to hold them unless Troll fails to come take them back.

Jim

[FeurerKrieg]

But so what if Troll does take back mariannas? He'll lose planes, ships, men and time in the process - all of which the Jap cannot afford to lose. If GH sits in the Marshalls and waits for all those India divisions to show up, then he has helped buy Japan more time IMO.

[pat.casey]

ORIGINAL: Feurer Krieg

But so what if Troll does take back mariannas? He'll lose planes, ships, men and time in the process - all of which the Jap cannot afford to lose. If GH sits in the Marshalls and waits for all those India divisions to show up, then he has helped buy Japan more time IMO.

Depends what the terms of exchange are. If he trades, say, 2 cruisers, a dozen destroyers, and 20 or so APs for the complete reconquest of the Mariannas complete with the destruction of 3 US divisions and all the associated air power and support units, it sounds like a pretty good exchange to me, and that's assuming the US doesn't commit (and lose) ships to try to defend the Mariannas. That many captured US squads might be an AV right there.

The Mariannas are way closer to Japan than they are to the US, and with forces available in 1942, I think they'd border on indefensible. I've never actually tried it though, so I'd be happy to be proven wrong. If nothing else it'd be an interesting AAR to read .

[Andy Mac]

My understanding is that in CHS they moved the hardcoded Bombay special slot to be Aden so CW forces that arrive at Karachi or as alternate Bombay in stock will now arrive at Karachi or Aden.
 
I dont know CHS at all so apologies but surely not many reinforcing units arrive attached to India Command most new reinforcements should arrive for SEAC so the issue should not arise ?
 
And no I am not aware of a way to change it. I don't think changing SEAC/India Command to be subordinate to West COast or China COmmand will place reinforcements there instead.
 
Dont be to quick to retreat bad terrain is almost as good for a defender as forts I dont know what strength he has in the PI but dig in in bad terrain keep him out of your resource areas every day you garner supplies is important and Clark is piss poor defensive terrain.
 
p.s. Have you considered spriniting a CV into range of the PI and offloading a strike group a couple of SBD Sqns would cause mayhem with his transports a lot more damage than LB worth the sacrifice of the sqns almost
 
Perhaps Wasp because she is expendable ? (If she goes down you get a nice new Essex Class)
 
32 SBD's will make the PI a lot more dangerous for Japanese shipping....