The First Team: Take Two!

[Q-Ball]

Last few days in the SRA

As suggested, we are moving on Australia. Broome first, then Exmouth fairly quickly, basically as soon as we can get some troops together.

Phillipines

Basically a stalemate here, we did get the Manila forts to Zero, and next attack will be close to 1 to 1....we'll see what happens after that. Meanwhile, we bomb bomb bomb to chew up supplies.

Java/DEI

Soerbaya fell on January 21st, with 21,000 Dutch surrendering! The other half of the KNIL is at Batavia, most of the troops are marching that way to finish off Java.

We will land at Teloekbetong in a few days to start cornering the last spot, Palembang.

We are organizing a landing at Broome; 56th Bde from Soerbaya, 1 Base Force from Banjarmisan, an SNLF from Koepang, and Construction troops from Kendari. All supported by Baby KB. Pulling this together on a shoestring.

Malaya

Reinforcement arrive at Sinapore, bringing total to over 4 divisions. Forts dropped to 6, trying again in a couple days.

[John 3rd]

Brad hits on developments nicely.  Should note that seeing the Fort drop to 6 at Singapore really shows how fast things are going.  It is not unrealistic to imagine by Feb 5th having all of Java and Malaya under total control.  It might be realistic to imagine the Invasion TF departing for Viza by February 15th.  Tentative D-Day for India is March 1, 1942.

I always forget.  When do we lose our invasion bonus?  Is it March 1st or April 1st?  Important to know.

[FeurerKrieg]

Pretty sure it is April 1.

[John 3rd]

I agree FK.  With the complete fall of Java prior to Feb 1, 1942, I think we can easily look at landing in early March.  Shouldn't be a big day.

Brad and I are having strategic conversations this afternoon with the current turn.  Economy shall also be looked at.  We'll try to keep it on the AAR for discussion and input.

Will post current screenshots as well.

[John 3rd]

First of Five for Discussion: Java

[John 3rd]

Number 2 with a Proposal...

[John 3rd]

The Theatre that has been both good and bad for the Empire!

[John 3rd]

Operations in the SE Pac:

[John 3rd]

Anyone who knows me knows that this is impossible! I think it is Brad's bad influence working on me. Actually doing something in China...

[John 3rd]

While I am never a fan of playing for simply Victory Points, I thought this screenshot might help to put everything into perspective:

[Q-Ball]

January 30th

John posted some nice screenshots, so good time to update and make comments on what has happened last few days (since about the 25th when I last posted), and upcoming plans

DEI

Batavia fell on the 28th, with the remaining 17,000 Dutch troops fleeing to Merak. We should be able to finish them off on Feb 1, completing the conquest of Java.

This will also basically secure the SRA for the Empire. Palembang is now the only lvl 2+ airbase with supplies in the SRA; Manila still holds but is a bomb magnet, as well as Singapore. We landed yesterday at Teloekbetong to establish an advanced base, and 2 Bdes (21st and 23rd mixed) are prepping now at Batavia for a landing at Palembang. I could unload at Teloekbetong and attack over the river, but I understand shock attacks are very bad on Oil facilities, so we'll have to do an amphib landing. A para drop at Djambi, plus a screening force coming up the tracks from Teloekbetong, should force the surrender of the 10 (!) units at Palembang when it falls.

Northern Australia

The invasion of Northern Australia has begun! Honestly, this expedition is a diversion, we can't commit enough troops to really invade Australia. Total forces are 56th Bde and some SNLF troops. We should hit the beach at Broome around Feb 3rd, and plan to quickly take Exmouth, Derby, and Wyndham shortly thereafter. We will have to see on Darwin; I would love to clear it, but I think we need a division for that. Either way, we can buy ourselves some breathing room around Timor.

John is also planning a landing at Gisbourne on New Zealand, which is also basically a diversion, not an invasion. But putting the two together, we think they will think that AUSTRALIA is the prime objective, as those will all look like moves to isolate OZ.

Phillipines

Manila is proving a tough nut, even with 2/3 of the infantry at Bataan. We made no progress on the last attack with 4 divisions, and are planning a long siege. On the 27th, the Allies SHOCK Attacked the 2 SNLF guarding Bataan, and shoved them back into Clark. I am hoping to bait them into another attack, I set 1 SNLF to march back to Bataan, with 3 divisions 1 day behind; hopefully they shock attack tommorow into those 3 divisions. Either way, I welcome Allied attacks, it just burns supplies.

I am asking John, but also our readers: I don't think we can take the Phillipines anytime soon. IMO, we either need to commit more troops to overwhelm them, or starve/bomb them out over time, which requires less than 4 divisions. I think we should soon prep the freshest troops for India, and leave 4th Div and 65th bde behind. As the months go by, we can even withdraw those units, and rotate in green Nav Gd or troops from China to build experience. Just a thought. We don't really NEED to reduce the PI garrisons until the end of 1942, for VP purposes. A side benefit, they are withdrawing many fragments, but those units can't rebuild until the parents are killed. I would rather that happen AFTER we land in India, where I think alot of those fragments are going.

Malaya

Well, really just Singapore. Someone give me some advice; 4+ divisions and artillery/engineers are getting nowhere at Sing. We wait until disruption is about 15 or so, ground attack with bombers, and attack; brick wall. In between we are bombing the airbase. Any suggestions? Maybe we need more troops. 21st division on Java is prepping for Singapore, I suppose that's the next step.

[Canoerebel]

The operations around Australia and New Zealand ought to cause your opponents sleepless nights.
 
I'm sure they have concerns about India, too, but how much can they do?
 
You win the game by taking India, right?  So anything not absolutely essential should not be allowed to interfere with India and your schedule there.  Time is everything - time is on the side of the Allies with reinforcements, new aircraft models, new ships.  I'd say that Manila isn't important enough to allow it to interfere with India.  If you take India, you'll have time and plenty of it to finish off Manila.  If necessary, leave a holding force there.  Singapore and Palembang are probably essential.  Have your tried bombarding Singapore with ships?  Will it work if you set your TF "escorts don't bombard"? 
 
Would you be able to proceed with the Indian invasion while still besieging Singapore?  Could your invasion TFs sail south of Sumatra, or is that a logistical nightmare for fuel?  Once in India, they have friendly ports close by (Rangoon, Tavoy, Georgetown, Port Blair) and you could even shuttle in new reinforcements from these ports. 
 
You have a shot at auto-victory if you take India; if you fail to take India you lose.  So I'm thinking every consideration should be given to India immediately.  At this point, anything you do elsewhere may be counterproductive if those assets could be used against India.

[John 3rd]

Hey Dan.

I don't play the game to 'win.'  You might remember when I was flirting with auto-victory in our game I said it didn't matter to me and that we should go on?  That is how I feel about it.  We might take all of India, most of it, or part of it.  The result will still be the same when we get well into 1944.  Does make things far more interesting though! 

The thoughts regarding moving on India before Singapore falls sound good but I think the logistics will cripple the idea.  My partner has secured a good amount of fuel and supply for the move but would prefer it to be spent in a more efficient manner.  MUST take Singapore...

As to Brad's comments above:
1.  I think we should add 21st Inf Div to the Singapore attack to finish that place ASAP. 
2.  Am seriously thinking we should land at Derby instead of Broome.  If we grab Derby then the BF there MIGHT retreat towards Broome and we could get BOTH units!  That would be nice...
3.  I really thought we could grab Manila with what we have there but it doesn't look hopeful.  The Allies drove of troops out of Bataan with a Shock Attack.  This costs supplies and Brad hopes they actually pull out of Bataan so he can smack the troops in open country.
4.  We are bombing both Singapore and the Philippines with over 200 planes at each site.  That will help.

I staged a Port Attack on January 29th at Auckland, New Zealand.  CarDiv5 provided the excitement and the pilots did quite well.  The attack was carried by 14 Zero, 42 Val, and 47 Kate aginast the shipping hiding within the Port.  There was no CAP.  At the cost of a single Val and Kate, 5 PT Boats were sunk, 1 DD Torped, an AVD, PG, 10 AK, and a TK were all hit.  One set of Kates carried 800 KG and the other had TTs.  It was a good attack.  The orders are sent to do the same thing again tomorrow.  The 31st will see CarDiv1 join in the attack and then the CVs will move off to cover the Nandi Landings.

[ny59giants]

The frags they evac from Luzon will not be able to build up to full strength. However, when they get enough of the support troops withdrawn, then the frag will become the parent unit. The new parent unit can build up to full strength minus the amount left on Luzon. Since most of those units were not at full strength to start with, then they can get a head start.

I would leave enough on Luzon to ensure that they cannot take back Clark. Keep Bataan and Manila under siege only. The idea to rotate troops is a good one.

Before invading India, I would take Singapore - continue air attacks on the AF and port to keep their heads down and prevent forts being built. Look to get supply hits. Next, I would devote some aircraft to ground attacks. The top units in the stack take the hits. If its a HQ, then the number of support troops goes down which does effect combat results. I would not take on the CD guns there.

If you have the troops available, land on the northern tip of Sumatra and march south. I would finish taking Java, Sumatra, and Singapore before going for India. Your troops will need a week or two to rest and rebuild in a Malaria free base like Singapore before being loaded. The first half of March looks like a good time to land.

[2ndACR]

Well, trying to bottle up Bataan with naval guards was a booboo IMO. Has to be a brigade at least to have a prayer.
 
Cut off Manila and Bataan......leave 2 1/2 divs there to keep them bottled up and bomb the snot out of them. Shift the other troops to Malaya to hurry that along. Everyone can rest and rebuild in Singapore upon capture. Every unit tasked with India can head for Malaya to crush it quick. The faster the more time you have to rest up etc.
 
Run BB's in and out of Singapore bombarding......the more the merrier. I do it all the time. You will get some sys damage, and some risk from mines though. But 1 or 2 really good bombardments works wonders. I have yet to have a BB take any serious damage doing this. CA's and below are at risk.
10 units in Palembang? Yikes, I would be sacrificing goats and my kids to the dice gods for some good rolls when you try and take that place. Nothing worse than seeing Palembang destroyed. Not when you are looking at a million plus supplies to and 1,000 days to repair the place.

[John 3rd]

"Mercy is for the weak." Sensai John Kreese

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: 2ndACR

Well, trying to bottle up Bataan with naval guards was a booboo IMO. Has to be a brigade at least to have a prayer.

Cut off Manila and Bataan......leave 2 1/2 divs there to keep them bottled up and bomb the snot out of them. Shift the other troops to Malaya to hurry that along. Everyone can rest and rebuild in Singapore upon capture. Every unit tasked with India can head for Malaya to crush it quick. The faster the more time you have to rest up etc.

Run BB's in and out of Singapore bombarding......the more the merrier. I do it all the time. You will get some sys damage, and some risk from mines though. But 1 or 2 really good bombardments works wonders. I have yet to have a BB take any serious damage doing this. CA's and below are at risk.
10 units in Palembang? Yikes, I would be sacrificing goats and my kids to the dice gods for some good rolls when you try and take that place. Nothing worse than seeing Palembang destroyed. Not when you are looking at a million plus supplies to and 1,000 days to repair the place.

"Sacrificing goats and my kids." Oh, my Gods that REALLY made me laugh. Sad thing you are SOOOOO correct...

I like the BB idea. There are 4 BB in Saigon that are tan, rested, and ready...

All the units that we have been buying out of Manchuria are now at Johore Bharu and are crossing over to Singapore. The next attack will certainly work.

On the China Front, I just bought my first real Infantry reinforcement for SE PAC as the 9th Infantry Brigade at Wenchow got deployment orders for Noumea. It has been prepping for Gisbome, New Zealand for 2 weeks already.

[John 3rd]

Brad--If our attack makes no headway with the February 1st turn perhaps we should follow through with the BB Bombardment?

We have opted for the safer landing at Broome so we have plenty of aircover.  That AF is at 3 as opposed to Derby's Sz-1 AF.

January 31, 1942

CarDiv5 hit Auckland on its way out and sank another 2 AK and PG.

We got two surrenders this turn:
1.  ALL resistance ended at Java with 14,941 POW at Merak. 
2.  Kuantan surrendered to an Engineer Regiment and Inf Div Combat Command (3,615 POW).  With the exception of Singapore Malaya is all ours.

Notice was served from Magwe that the Japanese will now raid into India!  Dacca found 46 Zero and 7 Helen over it with no resistance.  Must be a lot of bombers parked there because just 7 Helen caused 2 bombers to be destroyed on the ground.

Am starting our first Economic/Victory Report for this campaign.
 

[Mobeer]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel
...Have your tried bombarding Singapore with ships?  Will it work if you set your TF "escorts don't bombard"?

Battleships seems to be reasonably safe doing this. But don't do what I did and send in a battleship force with a screen led by a light cruiser. The game considers the cruiser to be a capital ship rather than the destroyer leader I had in mind, and it didn't survive the journey home.

[John 3rd]

SAFETY TIP!  Thanks...