Forlorn Hopes: The Japanese Respond

[saj42]

How many Armament and Vehicle points do you have in your pools?

[John 3rd]

My stats in those areas are:
 
Armament  572  (72,150)
Vehicles  171  (1,293)
 
What might you think of that!

[John 3rd]

Here is the Northern edge of the defence perimeter:

[Big B]

Hey John, [:)]

I have been away for quite a while...my interest in Hoplite Warfare has taken me off to learning to mod Rome Total War(I never thought about it before).

But anyway - I see you are still alive and doing well in the Pacific.[;)]

I have only one bit of advice for you; at this point Canoerebel can be fat in F6F's, so as soon as you can re-equip with A6M5's - I would do so[:D].

Good luck and keep 'em guessing![:D]

B

PS.. The Allies don't get much in the way of Heavy 4E's from 1941-late 1943(historically and in this mod), but that horror will be coming in to play around 9/43...so keep it in mind.

[John 3rd]

Brian!  Wondered what had happened to you...
 
This realization settled in with me about April 1st.  I KNEW that those F6F would be coming in with his new CVs.  I will wait--if I can--for my M5s and then wage the decisive battle within the context of Fall/Winter 1943.  In the mean time, my hope is to catch a portion of the Allied Fleet for some victory points.  This is why I am ordering a concentration at Pago-Pago where I can then go convoy hunting with nearly all my CVs.
 
Pago-Pago also leaves me in decent position to counter many of his possible moves...
 
I have been creaming Dan's Liberators over Burma for months now and I cannot imagine that he has very many in reserve.  As to B-17s, I haven't seen many of them for quite a while.  THAT makes me nervous!
 
Jump in anytime with thoughts and ideas.  I always appreciate it.
 
 

[Mistmatz]

John, I'm definately not knowledgeble regarding the economic situation of Japan in your current timeframe. Neverthelee I'd appreciate if you could post some number oil/resource/supplies/airframes just to get an idea.

My guess would be that due to the constant action you must be running at the limit?

[saj42]

I'm No expert of Japanese production but it looks like you should have enough armament points for those 7 Divs.

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

My stats in those areas are:

Armament  572  (72,150)
Vehicles  171  (1,293)

What might you think of that!

p.s. The mine defences at Midway would be a shock to many an allied player

[John 3rd]

Mistmatz--Go back to the previous page of the AAR and you will find April's Economic Summary that includes everything you ask about.  I do a monthly economic/VP update so people can watch the development of the Japanese economy throughout the war.
 
Tallyho--I THINK there is enough to outfit them all!  Additionally, I have a VAST pool in manpower right now so that should help as well.  The mines are something I abhor but since the Allies seemingly love them then I am doing the same.  I have a TF of 1 MLE and 11 ML who are moving from base-to-base dropping off about 10,000 mines is 5 days of work and then they move on...
 

[KTNJR]

I am really enjoying this AAR.
After reading this AAR I made up my mind and will play the Japonese side for know on[:D]

[Jzanes]

"I have a TF of 1 MLE and 11 ML who are moving from base-to-base dropping off about 10,000 mines is 5 days of work and then they move on... "
 
Putting the MLE with the MLs is an excellent idea I had never considered.  Saves all that time travelling back to port to pick up another load of mines.  I imagine it eats up a fair amount of the supply at your frontline base but that's no biggy.

[John 3rd]

I came onto that idea only about April 1st.  I got REALLY tired of sending my ML out to drop their mines, they then return, and so forth...  This has REALLY speeded up the process!
 
I send them as 1 TF and then separate the the MLE from the ML and off they run.  Supply does drop but not nearly as much as I thought it might.
 
Have some time tonight to--hopefully--do the screenshots of the Outer Perimeter.  Have started creating the Inner Perimeter as of the 1st as well.  I get a massive influx of reinforcements on June 1st and will use them to harden the close-in bases.  Am mainly sending Con Btn and small Base Forces out to Marcus, the Marianas, Palau, etc...
 

[Big B]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd
..
I have been creaming Dan's Liberators over Burma for months now and I cannot imagine that he has very many in reserve. As to B-17s, I haven't seen many of them for quite a while. THAT makes me nervous!

Jump in anytime with thoughts and ideas. I always appreciate it.

Hi John, I believe you won't see many B-17's at all in the game. I did research (the same for AE actually) and the B-17 didn't appear much in the PTO. What you will see are a lot of B-24's and a little later - B-29's in 1944+.
What ever you have shot down of B-24's is basically going to be the tip of the iceberg that is coming later on...

Brian

[John 3rd]

I have shot down 100s of them over Burma.  That is not an exaggeration whatsoever.  His Squadrons attack in small enough groups over Rangoon that my standing CAP of about 75 Zero and 75 Tony simply decimate them...  He has tried to use P-38s and advanced P-40s as cover but my Daitai and Sentai are so experienced in that area that the same result generally happens to the fighters as well.
 
Right now I have about 8-10 Daitai and Sentai training througout China gaining experience.  They will move out to buttress the Perimeter by the mid-May.
 

[Big B]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

I have shot down 100s of them over Burma. That is not an exaggeration whatsoever. His Squadrons attack in small enough groups over Rangoon that my standing CAP of about 75 Zero and 75 Tony simply decimate them... He has tried to use P-38s and advanced P-40s as cover but my Daitai and Sentai are so experienced in that area that the same result generally happens to the fighters as well.

Right now I have about 8-10 Daitai and Sentai training througout China gaining experience. They will move out to buttress the Perimeter by the mid-May.

Hmmm, I think those are mostly Liberator III's (British) and some B-24D's (not huge in number yet)...the large number of B-24J's come later.
Could you perhaps be mislead by FOW? I don't know, but I do know most of what he gets hasn't started yet....though you could be up to your arse in B-25's by now...[:)]

B

[John 3rd]

Those are Brit B-24s of both varieties.  I have seen some B-25s in China but few, if any, in Burma.  I've been shooting down a lot of Wellingtons...
 
Australia had some B-25 and Beauforts...
 
KTNJR--I am sorry that I didn't Thank You for jumping into the AAR and posting your thoughts.  THANKS!  It helps to know who is reading.  If you have ANY ideas or thoughts, please jump in with them!
 
Always good to know that I have brought another to the DARK SIDE for playing the Japanese.  I firmly believe that ANYONE can play the Allies but it takes someone of---unique should I say---perspective for playing the Japanese!
 
 
 

[John 3rd]

I have to add that I HATE shifting to defensive thinking! (Course one doesn't mention my thinking about invading India in May 1943!!)

There are troops moving just about everywhere at the moment. I continue pulling troops out of Australia for various points throughout the Empire.

Here is the Central, Outer Perimeter:

[John 3rd]

Here is the next area:

[John 3rd]

The FAR SE!

[Cathartes]

John, Thanks for your AAR updates. 

I'm enjoying the drama in Burma particularly.  I don't know how many bombers your opponent has in Burma, but I'm curious why he hasn't found a way to shut down, or at least suppress Rangoon.  The potential is there, he just hasn't exploited it.  Your massed fighters are a potent force.

[John 3rd]

Cathartes--Thanks for the comment.  I have decided to move my reaction force from Soerbaja to Moulmein and TRY to blast Dan's units out of their hex to the east of Rangoon.  I am moving 100 bombers from Australia to the Theatre of Operations and plan to attack.  If I can drive him out of the hex then he MUST exit Rangoon.
 
He is seemingly looking at coming towards Hanoi again.  I would welcome those Vietminh Divisions!  There are 3 Inf Div holding the town and that should be enough...
 
I expect Moulmein to get 3 full-strength Infantry Divisions, 2 Tank Divisions, an Army HQ, and 40,000+ supplies there by May 10th.  They will go directly into an attack...