Against the Wind: Cuttlefish (Japan) vs. Q-Ball (Allies)

[Cuttlefish]

[font="Arial"]“…the unwholesome air of Batavia which I firmly believe is the death of more Europeans than any other place upon the Globe.”[/font]
- Captain James Cook: journal entry, 1770

---

4/5/1942 – 4/8/1942

It’s been mostly quiet for the last few turns. The Allies have been quiescent and the Japanese have been preparing for fresh assaults. Things are about to start hopping on Java, though. The 21st and Imperial Guard divisions will assault Batavia next turn and Japanese transports will be just off Semarang. With them will be battleships and light carriers Zuiho and Shoho.

I expect a vigorous reaction from what’s left of the ML-KNIL. They’ve been quiet lately but I know they still have some bombers left. Hurricanes have been occasionally sweeping Merak in small numbers and not doing too badly, getting about a 1 to 1.5 kill ratio. Q-Ball tried it with P-40Es a few turns ago and it went badly, with about 10 Warhawks lost for no gain.

Resource Management: I have a dozen or so convoys busy hauling resources to Honshu. The big sources are Toyohara on Sakhalin, Kushiro on Hokkaido, Haiphong, and Taihoku on the north end of Formosa. This effort has stabilized the resource situation but I really need to get more convoys working. The big bottleneck is the fact that most of these ports are small and can only load so many ships at a time. I’m trying to stagger arrival times so that a new convoy arrives as the previous one finishes loading. This requires a lot of careful planning, however, and careful planning is not as much fun as carving my way through the possessions of the evil colonialist dogs.

Q-Ball knows where these resource centers are as well as I do, sadly, and he often sends submarines there to cause trouble. I have subchasers working all these ports but so far I have yet to sink a single Allied sub via ASW. Most of the Allied attacks result in duds but every now and then he picks off a freighter. I can see that later in the war the Allied submarine fleet stands a very good chance of strangling Japan. Can’t argue with the historical accuracy of that, I guess.

Deception Island: I have had Mavises (Mavii?) scouting Canton Island and Glen-equipped subs are heading there and to several other places – Midway, Baker, etc. It seemed to me that ny59Giants had a pretty good idea about confusing Q-Ball about my intentions towards Luganville and I am putting that into practice.

Interestingly Baker and Canton seem to be virtually undefended. If that continues it is kind of tempting to invade them. But that would be invading just to be invading and I don’t like to do that. I could not hold them long and it would risk ships and waste resources.

Under the Lashio: My last attack at Lashio, on 8 April, got only 1 to 4 odds but dropped the forts to 2 and inflicted a lot more casualties on the defenders than the attackers. In other words, a few more bad attacks like that and the base will be mine. I think the forces I have there now should be sufficient to the task.

King Kukong: I have been feeling bad because it seems as though I am the only Japanese player so far who has failed to completely overrun China in six weeks. But Kukong fell on 5 April, inflicting staggering casualties on the defenders as they fled. They retreated up towards Hengyang. I am not going to pursue them at the moment. Instead I am going to swing over and attack Wuchow, continuing my sweep across southern China. Well, really it’s sweeping south across eastern China, but the map distortion makes it hard to think that way. You know what I mean, though.

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: jwilkerson

ORIGINAL: Cuttlefish
I know this has been discussed in the forums but I am going to repeat it here. Take as little fuel out of the Home Islands as possible.

Now if I could only get my IJN co-player to learn this rule!!!
[:D]

(I bring it in - but he takes it out faster!!!)

Sounds like an army-navy rivalry to me....[:)]

[stldiver]

As to subs in your sea lanes. I have found that if I fly ASW missions and search missions, that these bad boy's never seem to attack as long as I have an ASW asset with them.

My opponent is particularly busy around Palembang and Java with his subs. but I have 1 good (mid 30's to mid 40's asw) and 2 good Nav search units that keep spotting these guys and my tranports just roll past without an attack.

I try to send ASW assets but they rarly attack so I have just resorted to letting the airforce do the job and keep ASW for the transports.

One a week I get a lucky sub attack message and couple times a month a sub hit message. Not sure if I'm just lucky or your unluck with his subs getting shots off.

I also began training several units with poor bombers to ASW early in the war to help cover the sea lanes.

Hope this helps

[Cuttlefish]

ORIGINAL: stldiver

As to subs in your sea lanes. I have found that if I fly ASW missions and search missions, that these bad boy's never seem to attack as long as I have an ASW asset with them.

My opponent is particularly busy around Palembang and Java with his subs. but I have 1 good (mid 30's to mid 40's asw) and 2 good Nav search units that keep spotting these guys and my tranports just roll past without an attack.

I try to send ASW assets but they rarly attack so I have just resorted to letting the airforce do the job and keep ASW for the transports.

One a week I get a lucky sub attack message and couple times a month a sub hit message. Not sure if I'm just lucky or your unluck with his subs getting shots off.

I also began training several units with poor bombers to ASW early in the war to help cover the sea lanes.

Hope this helps

This seems like good advice. I am also training several dedicated ASW groups and will deploy them in key areas, though the training at the moment is painfully slow.

[Cuttlefish]

[font="Arial"]Time spent on reconnaissance is seldom wasted.[/font]
- British Army Field Service Regulations, 1912

---

4/9/1942 – 4/13/1942

Things on Java advance well for the Japanese cause. At Batavia the Dutch are showing signs of weakening; the last Japanese attack was at 1 to 1 odds, dropped the forts to 2, and inflicted twice as many casualties on the defenders as on the attackers. The landings at Semarang were a success. The Dutch responded with planes, losing about three dozen aircraft for a paint-scratcher hit on Fuso, and PT boats, losing two of them but sinking an already-unloaded xAK. By next turn Japanese forces will have advanced from Semarang to Djokjakarta and cut the island in two.

Where is Everybody?: Kido Butai descended serenely and undetected into the South Pacific. They arrived at Fiji on 13 April to find – nothing. No ships there, no planes, nothing at all. The weather is fair and KB has not been shadowed. The place is quiet.

I’ve been scouting Canton, Pago Pago, and Luganville as well. There’s very little at Canton, though Pago Pago is a pretty happening base. I bet they even have a Coke machine. Luganville, however, seems to be deserted. I do not trust this result. I’m prepping two infantry divisions to attack nothing but French plantations? Hmmm.

As it stands right now, though, it seems like I could seize much of the South Pacific with a couple of Naval Guard units. This is tempting. I will do further scouting and reconnaissance before making a decision about this.

Return of the RAF: A recent attack at Lashio, on 12 April, went well, dropping the forts to level 1. Q-Ball has responded by putting Hurricanes over the base and sending in bombers, I think from Imphal though it is hard to be sure. It cost me five bombers and a Zero to learn the Hurricanes were there – I shot down two of them – and I have stood down my bombers and will send in my fighters to try and sweep the Hurricanes from the skies. It may not be easy. Of the various enemy fighters Japan has faced so far the Hurricanes have by far given the best account of themselves.

[Onime No Kyo]

ORIGINAL: Cuttlefish

I bet they even have a Coke machine.

Look at it this way. This is better intel than you are likely to see for the rest of the game. [:D]

[ny59giants]

Interestingly Baker and Canton seem to be virtually undefended. If that continues it is kind of tempting to invade them. But that would be invading just to be invading and I don’t like to do that. I could not hold them long and it would risk ships and waste resources.

Look at taking Canton from the point of view of what it does to Q-Ball vs. what it does for you. Some potential conquest are more to deny a base to your opponent than it is to be an asset for you. I would take it and base search planes on it (just a small garrison). This would also making it easier for KB to slide by those islands and raid into the shipping lanes that he will likely have going past Christmas Island around Pago Pago. Even if you never do a raid here, it makes him have to change his convoy composition and take precautionary steps.

Advantage: CF

[Menser]

Heh,
Got to agree with ny59giants there. Also can mess with you're opponents head. Taking things out of the way or in the back field will probably do that too. (i.e OMFG what does he need TAHITI for!?!?!)

[Capt. Harlock]

Kido Butai descended serenely and undetected into the South Pacific. They arrived at Fiji on 13 April to find – nothing. No ships there, no planes, nothing at all. The weather is fair and KB has not been shadowed. The place is quiet.

That's the trouble with these deep-penetration raids. In order to watch the confusion and panic, there have to be units to panic![:D]

[Cuttlefish]

[font="Arial"]Had we taken ten sail, and had allowed the eleventh to escape, when it had been possible to have got at her, I could never have called it well done.[/font]
- Nelson: letter after the action of 14 March 1795

---

4/14/1942 – 4/16/1942

After finding Fiji deserted Kido Butai sailed on down past Tonga, reasoning that perhaps any Allied shipping was being routed further south. Near the island of Eua it found a large convoy and launched several attacks, sinking DMs Montgomery and Ramsay, three xAPs, and three xAKs. Another seven ships were damaged and left in flames. The ships, alas, were empty of troops, though I theorize that they may have been shipping consonants to Eua.

My carriers then proceeded westward. The next turn, 16 April, I-174 torpedoed and sank DM Breese at Noumea. The sub reports a number of ships in the harbor there. KB is now in easy striking distance of Noumea so I am hopeful that next turn may see further carnage.

Journeys in Java: Djokjakarta is now in Japanese hands. Batavia stood off another attack but the defenders took a lot of casualties. DD Fuyo, part of a four-destroyer flotilla chasing PT boats near Soerabaja, took a bomb and was badly damaged. The destroyer has put into Semarang (a level 5 port) for emergency repairs.

Lurching Towards Luganville: the Japanese invasion force is nearing Luganville. There is still no sign of defenders, though I am far from convinced this is the case. We will know soon enough. Kido Butai, of course, is now to the south. All this sudden activity should give Q-Ball something to think about, at least.

Wandering Towards Wuchow: the Japanese forces in China detailed to attack Wuchow have reached Canton. From there it’s just two hexes (over secondary roads) to Wuchow, so that attack should be developing soon.

Blundering Around Burma: Lashio also stood off another Japanese attack. Still, Chinese troops have not demonstrated a lot of staying power so far and I think I can wear them down. The RAF has not returned but I know they’re out there.

KB’s recent travels and attacks:

[Cuttlefish]

[font="Arial"]Death is lighter than a feather; duty, heavy as a mountain.[/font]
- Emperor Meiji: Imperial Rescript to Soldiers and Sailors, 4 January 1883

---

4/17/1942 – 4/19/1942

Luganville really is unoccupied. Japanese forces will capture it next turn and Zeros will be based there the turn after that. But that really isn’t the biggest news of the day. It’s just the good news, and I always like to start off on a positive note.

The bad news was at Noumea. My planes failed to launch any strikes on 17 April. On 18 April Akagi launched against a freighter there. I approve of the size of the strike package but not of the escort provided, because by the time Akagi launched her planes fighters from Shokaku and Zuikaku had already swept the place and found a lot of fighters there, as suspected. The Zeros did okay – by my best reckoning they downed 17 P-40s and P-39s at a cost of 10 planes – but they were not able to prevent Akagi from losing 26 Vals and Kates, mostly Kates. Grim.

At least they sank the AK.

To add to my woes there is a task force of six enemy AKLs and PBs scooting west from Noumea. My carriers have been in strike range of these guys for three turns now and have failed to launch. The weather hasn’t been bad. Perhaps they are actually small craft, barges or something. I dunno. At any rate KB has turned north to refuel and will call at Truk so Akagi can take on replacement planes and pilots. I’m glad I restarted Kate production.

If I were Q-Ball and my carriers were in the area I would strike at KB now, while KB is at 5/6 strength. On the other hand, if I were Q-Ball my carriers would not be in the area. Still, it’s something for me to keep in mind.

Planning: so it looks like there are considerable forces at Noumea but nowhere else in the area. Noumea is still only a size 2 airfield; with land-based aircraft at Luganville I should be able to wrest control of the skies over New Caledonia from Q-Ball. I will land two divisions at Koumac, at the other end of New Caledonia, and march down to Noumea. Kido Butai will be on hand to cover the operation.

Depending on what Q-Ball has invested in Noumea so far he may be unwilling to see it turned into an Allied POW camp. To prevent this he would have to move in his own carriers and surface forces. The result would be the Decisive Battle; the Allied fleet would be swept away and Japan would become undisputed masters of the Pacific!

Wait…um, sorry, got carried away there for a moment. Still, even without the decisive battle thing I think the plan is a sound one. Noumea would then become a springboard from which to threaten the rest of the South Pacific.

Java: Madioen fell to Japanese forces on 19 Apri and a division is driving towards Soerabaja. Batavia remains in Dutch hands, though the forts there are at 0.

Lashio: the forts here are at 0 as well. One or two more attacks should do it.

Cebu Later: Two brigades, the 56th and the 65th, have been detailed to capture Cebu, the largest Allied base remaining in the Philippines. Transports are en route but it will take a week or so to move everything into position.

Resistance Movement: The Dutch guys that retreated from Palembang ended up at Djambi, where they actually attacked me. They almost captured the place, too, only the presence of an infantry regiment hurrying up from Palembang saved the day.

These guys have annoyed me now. I was content to simply chase them into the jungle and watch them starve, but if they refuse to lie down and succumb to dysentery, malaria, and beri beri then I am going to take the gloves off. No more Mister Nice Imperialistic Conqueror.

Those Allied fighter pilots on Noumea are going to get what they deserve, too. Just see if they don’t.

[Capt. Harlock]

If I were Q-Ball and my carriers were in the area I would strike at KB now, while KB is at 5/6 strength. On the other hand, if I were Q-Ball my carriers would not be in the area.

I wouldn't be in the area either. 5/6 strength in April '42 is still more than a match for anything the USN can put together. My own guidelines (and Q-ball's may be far different) are to have all US CV's upgraded to the Wildcat F4F-4 (more fighters on board) and all torpedo bombers upgraded to Avengers (still lousy torpedo performance but increased scouting range, which can be critical).

[Cuttlefish]

[font="Arial"]No system of tactics can lead to victory when the morale of an army is bad.[/font]
- Jomini: Precis de l’Art de la Guerre, 1838

---

4/20/1942 – 4/23/1942

Luganville was occupied on 20 April. On 22 April Lashio fell and on 23 April Japanese forces captured Batavia. These victories have pushed the Japanese score for bases held above the Allied score for the first time.

Burma: the combined Chinese/British force at Lashio did not retreat down the road towards Paoshan in China. Instead they retread towards the closes Allied base, a dot hex named Bhamo up a side trail towards Myitkyina. I’ve ordered the 33rd Division forward in an effort to cut them off before they can return to the Lashio-Paoshan road.

I’ve been wondering about the Burma Road. The next base down the trail from Paoshan is Tsuyung and the manual says that the Burma Road is open as long as a rail/road/trail path can be traced from there to either Ledo or Rangoon. It seems to me I read that the trail from Ledo to Myitkyina was removed late in development and thus the change didn’t make it into the manual. Can I thus assume the Burma Road is well and truly closed?

Java: with the fall of Batavia Java is starting to feel like a mop-up operation despite the fact that I hold less than a third of the island total and count at least 45 enemy units still running around the place. Though the number of them is impressive the quality and morale of the Dutch troops seems poor. The 38th Division has reached Soerabaja, though the base is far from undefended. The divisions at Batavia will rest for a couple of turns and then swing over to Buitenzorg.

China: Japanese units are approaching Wuchow. I have also gathered a large force (about 3000 AV) across the river from Loyang and have ordered them to cross the river and assault the city. The object here is ultimately to capture neighboring Chengchow and thus clear the rail line that leads down to Sinyang. This will give my forces in northern and central China much greater mobility.

Pacific: I was worried about an attack at Luganville while my transports unloaded, perhaps by the heavy cruiser force that turns up every now and then to shell Nukufetau. Despite the fact that I had a battle ship and a heavy cruiser TF there I have already had some experience with enemy forces waltzing into hexes and clobbering my unloading transports while my surface forces stood idly by. But no such attack developed and now everyone is returning to base. The attack on Noumea via Koumac will begin as soon as Kido Butai gets to Truk and back.

Under the Sea: Japanese ASW forces have damaged a couple of enemy submarines recently. They can’t ever seem to finish one off but at least they keep some of them in the repair yard and out of my sea lanes. A Dutch submarine put a torpedo into a subchaser at Miri (the poor SC was reported as “obliterated”).

Future Operations: Cuttlefish HQ has decided on a couple of future operations. The first will be an attack on the northwestern Australia coast, from Darwin down to Broome. This should delay the Allied air assault on the vital oil centers in the DEI.

The second will be an attack towards Fiji from the New Hebrides/New Caledonia area (contingent, of course, on victory at Noumea). This one has a couple of advantages. The first is that it will force Allied convoys far to the south. The second is that resisting my amoeba-like advance will give Q-Ball’s forces something to do other than plan mischief against my current holdings. In short, with luck it will buy time for me to firm up my defenses.

In both cases minimal forces will be assigned to hold the territory seized. The idea is to force Q-Ball to use time and effort in taking them back, not to hold onto them with a death grip and sacrifice units that will be needed closer to Japan.

---

The current situation on Java:

[FeurerKrieg]

though I theorize that they may have been shipping consonants to Eua.

[:D]

[ny59giants]

Future Operations: Cuttlefish HQ has decided on a couple of future operations. The first will be an attack on the northwestern Australia coast, from Darwin down to Broome. This should delay the Allied air assault on the vital oil centers in the DEI.

The second will be an attack towards Fiji from the New Hebrides/New Caledonia area (contingent, of course, on victory at Noumea). This one has a couple of advantages. The first is that it will force Allied convoys far to the south. The second is that resisting my amoeba-like advance will give Q-Ball’s forces something to do other than plan mischief against my current holdings. In short, with luck it will buy time for me to firm up my defenses.

In both cases minimal forces will be assigned to hold the territory seized. The idea is to force Q-Ball to use time and effort in taking them back, not to hold onto them with a death grip and sacrifice units that will be needed closer to Japan.

I would look at taking the base at Tanna - Port 1(1) & AF 0(5) and placing one of your Air HQs there. It would serve two purposes. The first is to cover your flank as you move on Noumea and make it difficult for any of Q-Ball's ships to come from the east. Second, it is only 13 hexes to Suva. If I remember correctly, that is within extended Zero range with drop tanks. [:)] Ms Betty could make it a little more expensive for shipping in reinforcements to Fiji. [;)]

A raid on Aukland needs to be put forth by someone at Cuttlefish HQ. KB and possibility a Bombardment TF made up of your faster BBs to his the port. QQ - When is Yamato scheduled to arrive??

[Cuttlefish]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Future Operations: Cuttlefish HQ has decided on a couple of future operations. The first will be an attack on the northwestern Australia coast, from Darwin down to Broome. This should delay the Allied air assault on the vital oil centers in the DEI.

The second will be an attack towards Fiji from the New Hebrides/New Caledonia area (contingent, of course, on victory at Noumea). This one has a couple of advantages. The first is that it will force Allied convoys far to the south. The second is that resisting my amoeba-like advance will give Q-Ball’s forces something to do other than plan mischief against my current holdings. In short, with luck it will buy time for me to firm up my defenses.

In both cases minimal forces will be assigned to hold the territory seized. The idea is to force Q-Ball to use time and effort in taking them back, not to hold onto them with a death grip and sacrifice units that will be needed closer to Japan.

I would look at taking the base at Tanna - Port 1(1) & AF 0(5) and placing one of your Air HQs there. It would serve two purposes. The first is to cover your flank as you move on Noumea and make it difficult for any of Q-Ball's ships to come from the east. Second, it is only 13 hexes to Suva. If I remember correctly, that is within extended Zero range with drop tanks. [:)] Ms Betty could make it a little more expensive for shipping in reinforcements to Fiji. [;)]

A raid on Aukland needs to be put forth by someone at Cuttlefish HQ. KB and possibility a Bombardment TF made up of your faster BBs to his the port. QQ - When is Yamato scheduled to arrive??

I looked at the map and the tip about Tanna is a good one, thanks. Zero range with drop tanks is 14 hexes, so Suva would be within range. As far as fast battleships go, Kongo and Haruna have recently completed repairs and are heading for the South Pacific. Yamato is on schedule and will arrive in around three weeks. But why hit Auckland in particular?

[Smeulders]

Auckland is often used as a convoy hub by the Allied player, it's quite likely to have good amounts of merchants and lighter warships. Problem is that it's quite a bit behind enemy lines, so it's likely to have early warning.

[ny59giants]

With the front lines being Noumea, Suva, and Pago Pago in the South Pacific, Q-ball cannot base any significant naval forces and shipping anywhere near or in those bases and expect adequate warning before KB comes for another visit. That leaves having to go to Sydney or Brisbane. Both are too far away and can only reach New Caledonia. Next would be using either Vava'u or Tongatapu, but both did not show anything when KB did a tour around Fiji. Farthest east would be Bora Bora or Tahiti, but those bases are more likely to be major supply hubs for transports going between USA and Australia/NZ. Thus, my choice of Auckland as the best choice if Q-ball decides to place naval assets in the South Pacific. He could use other bases, but right now would probably want one with a decent port potential rather than one that was 1(0) for his ships. 

edit - add in Savusavu as a potential base when, or if, you go for Suva. It is a dot base on the big island just NE of Suva. The base is Port 0(1) & AF 0(5). The are a few other bases with Port 1(0) in the area, but this is the only one that has greater potential.

[BrucePowers]

I do like it when Miss Betty can crash a party.

[Cuttlefish]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

With the front lines being Noumea, Suva, and Pago Pago in the South Pacific, Q-ball cannot base any significant naval forces and shipping anywhere near or in those bases and expect adequate warning before KB comes for another visit. That leaves having to go to Sydney or Brisbane. Both are too far away and can only reach New Caledonia. Next would be using either Vava'u or Tongatapu, but both did not show anything when KB did a tour around Fiji. Farthest east would be Bora Bora or Tahiti, but those bases are more likely to be major supply hubs for transports going between USA and Australia/NZ. Thus, my choice of Auckland as the best choice if Q-ball decides to place naval assets in the South Pacific. He could use other bases, but right now would probably want one with a decent port potential rather than one that was 1(0) for his ships. 

edit - add in Savusavu as a potential base when, or if, you go for Suva. It is a dot base on the big island just NE of Suva. The base is Port 0(1) & AF 0(5). The are a few other bases with Port 1(0) in the area, but this is the only one that has greater potential.

I see. Thanks (and to Smeulders, too). I will ponder these and other matters from the Allied point of view.