The First Team: Take Two!

[Canoerebel]

What happened at Lashio?  I thought you held it?  Have you posted anything about losing it?  Potentially this is a game-changing event.  If the Chinese can pour into Burma, the floodgate is open, your flank is threatened, and I wonder about the viability of an attack on India.

[John 3rd]

Dan,

Just sent a turn to ya!  The intervention of the AVG didn't allow us to build-up much strength there.  We got pushed out about a day after the AVG was crushed.  Those Chinese troops entered the hex west of Lashio about 5 days ago.  I figure (with trail movement) we have about a week or so to get the hex back and then HOLD it! 

Since we are moving with armor and he only has 1 Brigade there we should be able to reclaim it pretty easily.  I've been bombing the base so Forts aren't built.  With the Paras beat-up and spread out there is no chance of taking it by aerial assault.  Gonna take the ground-pounders to do that.

[John 3rd]

The Game is Afoot in the SE Pacific:

[John 3rd]

This is a strategic proposal of Japanese future moves open for discussion by any contributor:

[John 3rd]

This would be my specific proposal:





Just realized that I cannot type whatsoever with my screenshot notes...

[John 3rd]

Things in Burma stay interesting...

[Alikchi2]

So in February-ish you'll be having troops land in India, Australia, AND New Zealand.. [X(]

[John 3rd]

As determined earlier in this AAR we have ruled out TAKING Washington, DC!  [:D][:D]

[John 3rd]

Michael throws out that we should also look at grabbing Exmouth Bay as well.  We could use a pair of SNLF and a Base Force to begin the expansion of the base. 

The whole goal of these Operations is to make the Allies think the plan is to grab Aussieland.  Landing at Gibome, New Zealand and NW Australia would make it appear that we are cutting off the continent from reinforcements.  If we can sell that then it might help with the main effort at India. 

Additionally, we should be able to get some sinkings doing this.

[John 3rd]

Brad and I have been bouncing thoughts around today regarding what we could use for upcoming operations described above.  We'll take a look at each of the adjunct operations:

NW Australia 
1.  We could take the weakest pair of Brigades in Java (4th Mixed Regiment and 56th Brigade) for the striking power to land at Broome.  Between them they have about 350 AS.
2.  They will need Base Force support and possibilities could be:
  a.  9th Base Force at Jolo
  b.  A Special Base Force at Lautem
  c.  Kuching has 12th Base Force and an SNLF
  d.  Bandjermasin has the small 119th IJA BF
3.  Some Engineers for Forts would help too:
  a.  Johore Bharu has 3 Con Btn
  b.  Lingayen has 3 Con Btn

Figure the Invasion Force needs 2 Brigades, 1 Large BF, and 2-3 Con Btn.

Exmouth Bay would need to be grabbed too.  IT could be taken by an SNLF and small BF.

Shifting to Noumea here is my Force allocations:
1.  Nandi--56th Inf Div, 2 small Base Force, and 21st Eng Regiment
2.  Gisbome--South Seas Force, 2 SNLF, and 2 small Base Force

Reserve:  4 Construction Btn and 24th Aviation Regiment

The two Invasion Forces will sail together.  Gisbome will act as the reserve.  IF it appears that the Original Force is enough then the second Invasion Force will peel off and head for New Zealand.
 

[John 3rd]

In scrolling around the board I found two Special Base Forces at Sasebo assigned to Southern Army and SE Fleet.

We also have 5 new Base Forces coming into Tokyo within the next week.

[John 3rd]

Just have to comment that I get a little Bi-Polar with my two campaigns.  In this game everything is POSSIBLE for Japan in early-42; whereas, in my Forlorn Hopes campaign it is late-1944 and nothing is really possible.  Makes me a little nutty bouncing between them each day! 

The lessons learned about the Japanese economy have been harsh in that campaign!  I cannot believe how badly I screwed things up for a period of over six months!  Practically froze everything up.  Crazy.  Glad we have Brad here to keep a steady hand on the tiller for the economy in this game!

[ny59giants]

Just have to comment that I get a little Bi-Polar with my two campaigns. In this game everything is POSSIBLE for Japan in early-42; whereas, in my Forlorn Hopes campaign it is late-1944 and nothing is really possible. Makes me a little nutty bouncing between them each day!

So many targets...so little time to take on Narssy!! [:D][:D]

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Just have to comment that I get a little Bi-Polar with my two campaigns. In this game everything is POSSIBLE for Japan in early-42; whereas, in my Forlorn Hopes campaign it is late-1944 and nothing is really possible. Makes me a little nutty bouncing between them each day!

So many targets...so little time to take on Narssy!! [:D][:D]

That is someone in the Therapist line talking! [8D] But my score wasn't REALLY that bad...

[John 3rd]

We have had an addition to House Rules requested by our opponents.  This is the set of emails:

Gentlemen,[/align]  [/align] I wondered if you might consider a new HR.[/align]  [/align] The moving of convoys between Aden and Australia is constrained by the west map edge. I'd like to propse creating a 'safe' convoy route down columns 1 & 2 from the Aden channel to a point level with Exmouth or Geraldton. This area would be off-limits to IJN ships and air attack/search. Likewise Allied ships could not air attack/search out of the 'off-map shipping lane'.[/align]  [/align] Now that several TFs have been hit by elements of the KB, the Admiralty would route convoys further out into the Indian Ocean and approach Oz from the west not north/north-west. To simulate the long transit any TFs using this route would only travel at cruise speed. IRL the IJN did not have the logistical capability to support fleet ops out into the IO (and certainly not by sitting just 600 odd miles off Sumatra's coast).[/align]  [/align] Does this sound reasonable?  comments?[/align]  [/align]

---

Brad wrote back:

.ExternalClass .EC_hmmessage P {padding:0px;} .ExternalClass body.EC_hmmessage {font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana;} I defer to my partner.....certainly a major Japanese objective in WITP is to isolate Australia; not because you can starve it out, but because doing so prevents it from being used as a platform to launch offensives, and also makes it possible to completely conquer it.  I'm not saying we are attempting that, I'm just saying....

 I also understand the map-edge constraints, and that they are artificial. 

I would be OK with it, though I would assume that doesn't apply to subs, and also would need clarification on what happens if the Japanese occupy Exmouth, Geraldton, or Perth.  Not that they are targets, but just asking......

---

Brad's Personal Email to me:

I wonder if they think that is our primary objective.  If so not a bad thing, and the landings at Broome and Gisbourne would certainly reinforce that thought.

What do people think on this topic?[/align]

[ny59giants]

In a prior PBEM using CHS, I had this HR from the start. It is realistic. There are map limitations that can be exploited to close off retreat routes and prevent shipping from getting to Australia. John knows I'm a big fan of RHS 7 map system that has 16 hexes between Exmouth and the west map edge. Thus, I say "YES" to this rule.

I would clarify that the Aden and Panama shipping channels are close ONLY to surface ships. The Japanese should be able to send in subs and aircraft in from the mouth of those channels.

If I had known that AE was going to take this long, I would have learned to use the Editor and moved Big B's over to RHS 7.

[Canoerebel]

I wish I had known enough to request such a HR "back in the day."
 
It does seem like a fair rule, but you might use it to your advantage.
 
Press your opponent for some kind of limiting language (as Q-Ball suggests) if the Japanese take Perth, Exmouth, Albany, Adelaide, etc.  Then freak out your opponents by taking Exmouth (as you are already contemplating) thus further convincing them of Australia's imminent peril.  Then throw everything at India. 
 

[John 3rd]

Thanks guys.  I will mull over your thoughts.  Deeply appreciate it.  Dan--I think your commentary is spot on.  We will freak them out by hitting where we are planning and THEN throw the kitchen sink at India.

Have you got my turn I sent Sir?

[Canoerebel]

No, no turn.

[John 3rd]

Turn resent.

I think we are hammering out an HR addition that should work.  Like the idea of keeping their paranoia running!  [:D]