Forlorn Hopes: The Japanese Respond

[Q-Ball]

Good comments John.

Of course that attack is fair, any debate otherwise is ridiculous. Now, whether it is WISE, well that's up for debate.....

Whether it will be ENTERTAINING, that's not even debateable. I can't WAIT to read Dan's post when he sees the troops unloading!

This will only make the AAR more interesting. Who wants to read about 200 bombing raids?

Keep it up!

[Miller]

Go for it![&o]

[SierraJuliet]

John. Maintain the entertainment. Dan caught you off guard earlier on. The fact that you have managed to maintain sufficient forces to even contemplate such a daring move at this late stage should not preclude having a go. It is reminiscent of the audacity and desperation of the late war German attack in the Ardennes.

Your move will certainly liven up this particular end game.

[SierraJuliet]

Now that I have thought about it a little more I can see a number of striking similarities between your Indian adventure and the Germans in the Ardennes:

The careful gathering together of a strike force and the efforts at concealing this process.
The hopeful reliance on the weather to keep the overwhelming reach of the enemy air on the ground and out of the fight.
The last throw of the dice.... there is nothing left in the tank after this.
The blitzkrieg style of attack... just look at the use of tanks in both cases.
A sting in the tale even in the face of insurmountable odds.... look at the forces arrayed on the doorstep of Japan.... and the Germans - a monstrous Russian army behind them.
Audacious... without a doubt.
Desperate.... breathtakingly so.
Chance of ultimate success..... not a hope.

The stuff of legends.... for sure. 

[vettim89]

I read both AAR's and therefore try to keep silent as far as anything regarding strategy, unit locations, etc.

As far as Downfall goes John, here are my thoughts

1. This game has been like a wildly swinging pendulum with both sides having their day. Unlike some, I think it is the ONLY way for this game to go as you near 1945. Anything else and it would not be the Forlorn Hopes we all love

2. As for Dan, I think he will at first soil himself and then likely smile. He has come to both respect and appreciate your style of play. Quite frankly I think he would be disappointed if you didn't try something outrageous

[jwilkerson]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Wow.  Anything I have to say will be rude.

I just ran tracker and it couldn't be much more grim.  There is oil in the Home Islands for 22 Days.  Resources are good for 140 days.

NO--Scratch that--I will comment to Jeff's posting.

I have fought Dan tooth and nail in a great fight for over 18 months of my life where my own life has been subject to indescribable fear, anger, and depression.  In many ways this stupid game and AAR have kept me afloat through some horrifically dark days and nights.  I expect comments and criticism but won't tolerate that Bullshit.

An AAR is a labor of love to write where one exposes themselves to all sorts of things. Your posting is the first time I have been truly offended

The fact that I decide to try a desperation move is because Dan has ALLOWED me to do this.  ALL his CV are now accounted for.  He has made the choice to continue into China and leave the door open elsewhere.  There is no conceivable way for me to fight off the onslaught about to hit China.  I will fight and my army shall die.  The troops I am using for Downfall come from areas that SHOULD be taken.  The Philippines and Malaya survivors are where these troops come from.  They SHOULD have been wiped out six-eight months ago but weren't and they lived to fight another day. 

I will speak no more on this without drawing a moderator into the AAR.

If it is now a farce then GET OUT and STOP READING IT!

John (moderator here! [:)]) a man's AAR is his castle in my book - if you feel someone is offending you consistently in your AAR then let me know via PM and we will try to address.

[Mad66]

I've read both AARs, and enjoyed them. Carry on, John. I too want to see how this works out.

[John 3rd]

I was so steamed I had to walk away for a bit and then come back to find all this.  Thank you all VERY much. 

Mr. Wilkerson (this will sound corny) I am honored that you would contribute your thoughts in a such a strong manner.  I do appreciate it VERY much.

For the rest of you nuts---THANKS---for providing a bit of a confidence boost.

SierraJuliet---I had not thought of the striking comparison of Bulge versus this plan until you laid it out like that.  well done!

Vettim--I think you are dead on with your evaluation of Dan.  He will have a heart attack, smile, and then--hopefully-over-react!

Miller and QBall--you guys have been great contributors from the beginning of this AAR.  Now one of you is an allie in another piece of insanity!

Redd--Harry--B--Mad appreciate the support.  PLEASE jump in anytime.

[thegreatwent]

Just a semi-lurker who has only occasionally commented. Yet I've enjoyed this AAR immensely and have learned a great deal about the game from it. As for a fascicle death ride HA! Tell that to the Yamato... Erm... Wait... What the heck, Banzai!!![:D] What's the worse that can happen[;)]

[John 3rd]

BANZAI!

[John 3rd]

Trying to get back to the war...





The bottom box should read "add it to the army..." I hate typos!

[John 3rd]

A far more frightening screenshot...

[n01487477]

Banzai !  See you can get Div at full strength IF the points are there ... (caveat - as long as the scenario designer hasn't nobbled it). I know economics bore ppl - but this is a game as much about logistics as strategy.  The Indust-Military Machine pumping war materials to an audacious commander & a carefully orchistrated plan set in motion is hard to hold back. I'm not saying this will succeed but my heart is with the attempt.

Banzai !


 

[John 3rd]

I just want to be able to land and GRAB some serious real estate and scare the tar out of Dan!

Damian--You and Michael have taught me so much about running the economy.  Totally correct regarding units coming in at full strength IF the armaments and vehicles are available.  I am a decent military strategist but an economic neophyte.  Brad is running our economy in the First Team AAR and I am enjoyably watching what he is doing from the perspective of one who has SCREWED up this campaign.

Any of you who look to or are playing Japan, try to learn as much as you can from my mistakes and other people's advice and suggestions.  To be a Japanese player you need to LEARN Tracker.  If I had had Tracker a year ago things might have gone differently.  Putting the troops, planes, and ships where they need to be is one thing but what is the point if they have no bullets or fuel??!!  This is the whole problem with this campaign right now. 

Ask Michael.  He can tell you about the horrific state of things in that arena!

[castor troy]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

I was so steamed I had to walk away for a bit and then come back to find all this.  Thank you all VERY much. 

Mr. Wilkerson (this will sound corny) I am honored that you would contribute your thoughts in a such a strong manner.  I do appreciate it VERY much.

For the rest of you nuts---THANKS---for providing a bit of a confidence boost.

SierraJuliet---I had not thought of the striking comparison of Bulge versus this plan until you laid it out like that.  well done!

Vettim--I think you are dead on with your evaluation of Dan.  He will have a heart attack, smile, and then--hopefully-over-react!

Miller and QBall--you guys have been great contributors from the beginning of this AAR.  Now one of you is an allie in another piece of insanity!

Redd--Harry--B--Mad appreciate the support.  PLEASE jump in anytime.

John,

I don´t think Jeff wanted to offend you deliberately. I have my doubts about this operation too and have posted it clearly, but never with any intention to offend you. Perhaps the word "farce" is too strong here, on the other side you could see the Ardennes offensive in real life as a farce also and like I´ve posted, I see the Ardennes offensives as a "better operation" than your attack on India. [;)]

Please don´t take this as offending!

In the end, the Ardennes offensive ended the war for the German faster than if they hadn´t done it. IMO the same will happen in your game but it´s YOUR decision and everyone here respects that decision, thus also trying to contribute with tips. It´s just like real life, Hitler came up with an insane plan and his generals tried their best to execute this "insane" plan. Same for me, you say you want to land in India, I thought of using the fast transport TF.

There´s a slight chance that this operation will prolonge your fight (just like the Ardennes offensive was), if Dan is reacting wrong or does make some serious faults but (and that´s just my oppinion) if he plays it out smart then it will end the war earlier.

But it´s a game and there are two AARs. And for the two AARs this is the best that can happen!

[Nemo121]

Just because something is a piece of insanity doesn't mean we should applaud it. I think that this offensive is not as finely judged as it should be and am less in favour of it than others because I think it is going to be less firework and more damp squib than many think.

With that said so long as something CAN be done within the limits of in-game logistics then it is fair game. To disparage John like JeffK did is, IMO, quite unfair.
 
 
But I don't applaud the plan and think it is not sufficiently supported at the present time. My problem is with its chance of success, not with its nature.

[John 3rd]

Nemo do not be concerned about your comments.  I know where they come from and what you mean.  You are dead- right that this will probably hasten the end and could easily end up with 150,000 desperately needed soldiers drowning at sea.  Understand this and am willing to take the risk...

Just like someone else said earlier, I am not content to watch the Empire waste away under the pounding of 1,000s of aircraft and a massed army that I have no chance of beating.  This is a chance to end the war on the ATTACK at a place of my choosing.  Just don't think you can drive the aggressiveness out of me--even in late-1944...

L'Audace, L'Audace, Toujours L'Audace!

[veji1]

" de l'audace, de l'audace, toujours de l'audace, et la patrie sera sauvée !"
Audacity, audacity, always audacity, and the motherland shall be saved... fitting quote..;

I totally seee your point John. at this stage in the war with Dan having bombers AND fighter bases near de Home islands + Rolling you down in China, there isn't much fun to be had if you can't go for a big bang... And regarding realism/historical behaviour, I find your offensive only slightly more audacious than Dan's landing in the far north without close support base in late 43... And this big gamble changed the game...

Obviously your gamble won't change the course of the game, but if you can have a bit of fun, at least that will be it... After that you will be able to play your turns in 10 minutes and let Dan slug through his logistical nightmare for hours...

[John 3rd]

Oh, my...

The end of you post gave me a solid, good laugh!  There is far worse to be described.  Screenshot to be posted in about 1 minute...

[John 3rd]

Here comes--knowing Dan--the ENTIRE Pacific Fleet.

Poor Grace pilots...at least they served to get off an apparent radio broadcast...