rule out that they were in wrong op mode and/or stripped of supply due to the lack of the respective combat modifiers ? I always thought these issues would appear in the combat report.
I lost at Darwin and have to confess I am confused as to why
you can´t hold, I´m facing the same problem you face in your two games against PzB and String, with the difference that Rainer is doing everything in one game that you face in both. [:D] Loads of divisions and rgts are landing everywhere on the map and he still has 2000 av at Clark field and Singapore. Doesn´t make much sense to me if someone again tries to point out that the game is slowed down for the Japanese. The opposite is true, without any aircraft for the Allied in the first 18 months, the Japanese can just do what they like... I´m more or less at the same timescale as you and at the end of Dec a div and a rgt was landing at PM, two weeks later 800 av are thrown against Darwin. IG div is moving through Burma unharmed (I´m not dumb enough to try to fight it when I already know I would lose). And Singapore and the PI fall at the usual dates. So what has been slowed down for the Japanese? Nada, they can bring in overwhelming force everywhere without any problem, on the other side, the Allied load up their ships on day one (of what is available), send them to their target but the target is lost already before the Allied arrive because their way is longer.
Being a Japanese fanboy I will have a lot of fun when I will start my IJN PBEMs. [:D]
Guys for the avoidance of doubt I am not at all concerned that I lost I was half expecting a 2:1 it was the 5:1 that confused me but I have rationalised it to myself.
Guys for the avoidance of doubt I am not at all concerned that I lost I was half expecting a 2:1 it was the 5:1 that confused me but I have rationalised it to myself.
I've seen a lot of those weird ratios, and they've always reset my indicator lights. WWII ground combat results were a lot less random than the game suggests.
Harry Erwin
"For a number to make sense in the game, someone has to calibrate it and program code. There are too many significant numbers that behave non-linearly to expect that. It's just a game. Enjoy it." herwin@btinternet.com
OK next turn is in and I am running south as fast as I can he followed with his two armoured Regts I think I can get out of the hex before he can attack but its a race if he pursues with to much he may end up stuck in the desert.
I need to bug out and preserve what I can of my force.
I have 3rd Motor Bde en route and 22nd Recce Regt these armoured units will try to screen my retreating forces.
18th British Div is a wreck and to avoid total destruction I need to run and fast.
If I can get back beyond Fenton and Katherine I will feel better I am now doing the full bug out boogie.
The Indpt Companies and Recce Regt of both 18th British Div and the CMF Bn will move off road to try and slow pursuit by harrying any pursuing forces LOC.
I have more forces arriving in theatre and I will use them to secure my escape route south.
Katherine has temporarily lost its garrison as I shuffle units but it should be ok as 3rd Motor Bde is now at Tennant Creek and can take pretty mauch any Japanese Para unit
It seems to me that String's strategy, coupled with Canoerebel and Qball's AARs show that one of the developments of AE is that with the major change of Bases distribution (a lot more in the DEI for example) and the limitation of the amounts of troops on many Pacific islands + the possibility to shuffle supplies and troops and ships through South Africa if needed, Attacking in the Pacific is less inviting for players while NorthernOZ becomes a must to protect the DEI... basically the Japanese don't have enough troops and base forces and logistics basically to developp well enough the southern DEI fast enough so the simplest and best way of protecting is to get Northen OZ, because the great australian central desert is a proper buffer, compared to the Timor sea...
So If I were to start a game, i would obviously make PM an important target, but Noumea, Fidji, Canton, and all those stapples of the WITP strategy would be considered secondary while cutting through the eastern DEI to attack Australia straight on and from then finish of the DEI, while isolating it by taking Port Blair and Tavoy before going for Burma...
It seems to me that String's strategy, coupled with Canoerebel and Qball's AARs show that one of the developments of AE is that with the major change of Bases distribution (a lot more in the DEI for example) and the limitation of the amounts of troops on many Pacific islands + the possibility to shuffle supplies and troops and ships through South Africa if needed, Attacking in the Pacific is less inviting for players while NorthernOZ becomes a must to protect the DEI... basically the Japanese don't have enough troops and base forces and logistics basically to developp well enough the southern DEI fast enough so the simplest and best way of protecting is to get Northen OZ, because the great australian central desert is a proper buffer, compared to the Timor sea...
So If I were to start a game, i would obviously make PM an important target, but Noumea, Fidji, Canton, and all those stapples of the WITP strategy would be considered secondary while cutting through the eastern DEI to attack Australia straight on and from then finish of the DEI, while isolating it by taking Port Blair and Tavoy before going for Burma...
This basically is what my opponent is doing to me and I can´t do anything about it. Perhaps I´m just a that bad player but I have yet to figure out how to warp my TFs around, as so far the enemy has always been faster than me (due to shorter ranges to the target) to bring the invasion before I could bring reinforcements. And does it do you any good to bring reinforcements? No, as seen here, you only take higher losses. Why? Because when you are able to bring one division in time, the enemy can bring at least two full divs and a couple of rgts to make sure he will take what he´ll want. Without Allied aircraft you can´t do anything but watching the enemy taking ground in Dec and Jan that you would probably have been able to hold until March at least in WITP.
I´ve lost PM in December to a full div and am now in mid Jan to lose Darwin to two divs and some rgts. And nearly 4000 av in total are still marching in the PI and Malaya. And no, that wasn´t it. There´s still the IG div left to throw into Burma with more troops to support it. Yes, it´s mid Jan 42 and if I would be dumb enough to even try to hold something or throw in the kitchen sink (heck what would that be? 50 Warhawks, 30 B-17 and a division?) somewhere, I would just lose all that. You just don´t have the material to do something, you can do something if your opponent is doing something wrong, but as long as he´s using the hammer, he can take whatever he wants (except continental US). As seen on the maiforum, you can take out PH easily it seems while not suffering more than minor losses. While we´ve seen that in WITP too, in WITP it took more than a major effort and not just moving there with a huge amphib fleet and land 6 divs.
What I´ve seen so far is that while the material you have on hand seems to be historically correct for both sides, the Allies end up worse than real life or WITP because the historically correct material for the Japanese is so much more powerful compared to what the Allies have. And the Japanese are not at all harmed by the new so much slowing new transport routines. Sure, they will have to work harder to keep Japan supplied with oil, fuel or resources, but that´s it. They can take out the map faster while suffering less losses. Try to attack something with 30 B-17 or defend a base with 50 Warhawks. A stratosphere Zero sweep will end this in two turns. Your B-17 won´t hit a single ship of the invasion and the next turn you will have two divs on your doorstep that landed with fewer losses than what would happen during a peace time maneuver. Depressing, but that´s how it is. To top this off, you will have to withdraw nearly the same number of aircraft that you get as reinforcements + replacements, making 1942 a net net ZERO in terms of your airpower if you haven´t lost a lot. Lose something and you end up with fewer ac in late 42 than you had in Dec 41. That´s how it is. By that time, the Japanese will have conquered everything they wanted to have and will probably have 150+ Tojos coming out of the factories per month. As a side note, the Tojo is by far the better fighter than anything you get in late 42, except the 20 P-38s per month which could be seen as equal. Yes, equal.
The fact that there are more bases in the DEI don´t matter either due to the fact that they are all empty. If they aren´t empty then what is there? Nothing that could defend the place anyway. Nothing that could support more than halve a dozen ac. But what ac anyway... [:D] And if there would be a hundred empty bases on Borneo, you only need those lightly defended bases that provide you with what you want. The rest can be taken with a couple of mini units during 42.
If the speed of Japanese advance seems quicker than historical, I think we're going to find that this is true for the Allies as well. Although AE succeeded in slowing the operational tempo down somewhat, it's not all the way back to historical.
I think it's correct that the Southern DEI is very vulnerable. To me this puts Northern Oz on the "Must Take" list for Japan, about equal with Port Moresby, and probably ahead of Canton and Noumea as veji1 pointed out. I think that's accurate. The Japanese must commit troops and airpower to this area to defend it.
Historically, why was the Southern DEI a non-theater? The Allies made no moves whatsoever there the entire war. Why? The Allies were acutely aware of the importance of the DEI to Japan. Why wouldn't they land on Sumatra?
I suspect the reason is difficulty of supply. Not the case in AE.
MacArthur was responsible for SWPAC and he was going all out for PI
I am not convinced anything is wrong yet.
But I am watching and reading as many AAR's as I can to pick up issues as I go.
and playing a PBEM for real does bring home the helplessness that the allies faced.
If the speed of Japanese advance seems quicker than historical, I think we're going to find that this is true for the Allies as well. Although AE succeeded in slowing the operational tempo down somewhat, it's not all the way back to historical.
I think it's correct that the Southern DEI is very vulnerable. To me this puts Northern Oz on the "Must Take" list for Japan, about equal with Port Moresby, and probably ahead of Canton and Noumea as veji1 pointed out. I think that's accurate. The Japanese must commit troops and airpower to this area to defend it.
Historically, why was the Southern DEI a non-theater? The Allies made no moves whatsoever there the entire war. Why? The Allies were acutely aware of the importance of the DEI to Japan. Why wouldn't they land on Sumatra?
I suspect the reason is difficulty of supply. Not the case in AE.
Yes, it was logistics. Burma buffered the DEI from an offensive based in India/Ceylon. Australia did attack Borneo in 1945, but from bases in the Philippines and New Guinea, and refused to continue on to Java.
Harry Erwin
"For a number to make sense in the game, someone has to calibrate it and program code. There are too many significant numbers that behave non-linearly to expect that. It's just a game. Enjoy it." herwin@btinternet.com
OK he let me run away and didnt try to attack with his tanks !!!![/align] [/align]Looks like I managed to break contact - so thats a good thing !!!![/align] [/align]PM will fall tomorrow but as long as I can get the Darwin mob out of jail I will be happy.[/align] [/align]Don't read to much into one game I lost Darwin on turn 3 in a couple of stock PBEM's so i am not to worried yet[/align] [/align]AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Jan 10, 42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Port Moresby - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
SS Seadragon launches 4 torpedoes at DMS Teiko
Seadragon bottoming out ....
DD Hokaze fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Shiokaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Shiokaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Shiokaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Shiokaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Shiokaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Shiokaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Port Moresby
PB Nikkai Maru firing at enemy troops
PB Nagata Maru firing at enemy troops
6" Mk XI/XII Gun Coastal Battery engaging PB Nagata Maru at 2,000 yards
PB Keijo Maru firing at enemy troops
PB Kaiun Maru firing at enemy troops
PB Kaikei Maru firing at enemy troops
6" Mk XI/XII Gun Coastal Battery engaging PB Kaikei Maru at 2,000 yards
PB Ikunta Maru firing at enemy troops
6" Mk XI/XII Gun Coastal Battery engaging PB Ikunta Maru at 2,000 yards
PB Hakkaisan Maru firing at enemy troops
PB Fukui Maru firing at enemy troops
6" Mk XI/XII Gun Coastal Battery engaging PB Fukui Maru at 2,000 yards
PB Choko Maru #2 firing at enemy troops
PB Chiyo Maru #4 firing at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Busuanga at 77,80, Range 12,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
PB Shinko Maru #3
PB Shinko Maru #5
CM Kyosai
CM Ukishima
Allied Ships
xAKL Luzon
Japanese Ships Reported to be Approaching!
Allied TF begins to get underway
Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions: 14,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 12,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards...
Both Task Forces evade combat
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 131 encounters mine field at Singapore (50,84)
Japanese Ships
SS I-159, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 54th British Brigade, at 75,125
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 42 NM, estimated altitude 25,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4
Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 2
Aircraft Attacking:
4 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 19000 feet
CAP engaged:
No.243 Sqn RAF with Buffalo I (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 16000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 7 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 26,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 24
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 14
No Japanese losses
Aircraft Attacking:
24 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 25000 feet *
14 x Ki-43-Ib Oscar sweeping at 27000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Bandoeng , at 50,100
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 27,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 36
Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 1
CW-21B Demon x 2
75A-7 Hawk x 1
P-40B Warhawk x 4
Aircraft Attacking:
35 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 25000 feet *
CAP engaged:
AVG/1st Sqn with P-40B Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes
1-Vl.G.IV with 75A-7 Hawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 4 minutes
2-Vl.G.IV with CW-21B Demon (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 42 minutes
No.21 Sqn RAAF with Buffalo I (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 6000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 4 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 3/16th Punjab Battalion, at 50,83 (Johore Bahru)
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 53
Ki-43-Ia Oscar x 30
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 15 damaged
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Ki-30 Ann bombing from 1000 feet
Ground Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Sparrow Battalion, at 75,125
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-Ic Sally x 28
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 9
Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 4
Aircraft Attacking:
20 x Ki-21-Ic Sally bombing from 11000 feet *
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
6 x Ki-21-Ic Sally bombing from 11000 feet *
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
4 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 11000 feet *
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
5 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 11000 feet *
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
CAP engaged:
No.243 Sqn RAF with Buffalo I (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 16000
Raid is overhead
Also attacking 54th British Bde /1 ...
Also attacking 55th British Brigade ...
Also attacking Gull Battalion ...
Also attacking 2/4 MG Battalion ...
Also attacking Darwin RAAF Base Force ...
Also attacking Sparrow Battalion ...
Also attacking 55th British Brigade ...
Also attacking Darwin RAAF Base Force ...
Also attacking Sparrow Battalion ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 109th RAF Base Force, at 50,83 (Johore Bahru)
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid spotted at 43 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 23
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-Ib Lily: 7 damaged
Aircraft Attacking:
23 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 11000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 100 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 109th RAF Base Force, at 50,83 (Johore Bahru)
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid spotted at 44 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 23
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-Ib Lily: 11 damaged
Aircraft Attacking:
10 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 11000 feet *
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
CAP engaged:
No.243 Sqn RAF with Buffalo I (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 16000
Raid is overhead
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 49th Australian Battalion, at 98,130 (Port Moresby)
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8
G4M1 Betty x 39
Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 9 damaged
Aircraft Attacking:
15 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 15000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
19 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 15000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
5 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 15000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
Also attacking Port Moresby Brigade ...
Also attacking 49th Australian Battalion ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid spotted at 33 NM, estimated altitude 27,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7
No Japanese losses
Aircraft Attacking:
7 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 25000 feet *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 53rd British Brigade, at 75,125
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 23 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 11
Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 1
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 damaged
Allied Ships
SS Sargo, hits 12
SS Sargo launches 4 torpedoes at DD Tatsuyuke
DD Tatsuyuke fails to find sub and abandons search
SC Ch 23 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC Ch 23 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC Ch 23 attacking submerged sub ....
SC Ch 23 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC Ch 23 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Lahaina at 191,101
Japanese Ships
SS I-17
Allied Ships
TK Mobilstation, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DMS Trevor
AVP Avocet
TK Eidsvold
TK H. M. Storey
TK Hagood
DD Crane
PC Taney
PC Reliance
SS I-17 launches 6 torpedoes at TK Mobilstation
DD Crane fails to find sub and abandons search
PC Taney fails to find sub and abandons search
PC Reliance fails to find sub, continues to search...
PC Reliance fails to find sub, continues to search...
PC Reliance fails to find sub, continues to search...
PC Reliance fails to find sub, continues to search...
PC Reliance fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Miri at 64,87
Japanese Ships
DD Urukaze
Allied Ships
SS Saury, hits 5
SS Saury is sighted by escort
DD Urukaze attacking submerged sub ....
DD Urukaze attacking submerged sub ....
DD Urukaze is out of ASW ammo
DD Urukaze is out of ASW ammo
DD Urukaze is out of ASW ammo
DD Urukaze is out of ASW ammo
DD Urukaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Urukaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Urukaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Port Moresby
Defending units:
2nd Chinese Cavalry Corps
80th Chinese Corps
15th Chinese Corps
40th Chinese Corps
93rd Chinese Corps
98th Chinese Corps
24th Group Army
10th Chinese Base Force
39th Group Army
14th Group Army
Jingcha War Area
36th Group Army
4th Chinese Base Force
15th Group Army
1st War Area
7th Construction Regiment
Darwin is indefensible against a determined Japanese opponent. Especially in the first month or two, but unless you send every Militia formation in Australia to Darwin turn 1 (which is a real bad idea anyway), I don't see how it can be held against a Japanese player that puts a priority on taking it.
I held it in my game vs. Cuttlefish, but I think that's mostly because he prioritized Noumea first, as well as Java taking a bit longer than planned probably. Even then, a 3 IJA division assault would have cleared it as late as July or August.
Well for the moment the speed of operations certainly doesn't seemed to have slowed to much in AE. The main point is that it has shifted. TF vulnerability to midoceans intercepts and stacking limits in islands + hubbing in South Africa have meant that the Pacific is a lot less interesting. Nothing to gain it seems there for a japanese player.
While Northern OZ is not difficult pickings and very usefull... Indeed we will see later how the pace of operations for Allies is affected, but it worries me to see Qball and Canoerebel being able to stage very ambitious operations from northern OZ in late 42, and being able to send basically 2 to 3 corps worth of troops throught the jungles of Burma as well...
What will it be in 1943 ? It seems that a Japanese player can't really hold on to Burma during 1943 once the allies can get all those troops to bear.
We will see but supply pulling is probably an issue, just as it is in China for Japan, and the comparatevily uninteresting expansion for Japan in the Pacific might have unexpectedly turned this game from War in the Pacific to War In Indonesia South East Asia..
Dont forget a lot of the early games don't have th emonsoon restrictions on supply along the Assam border and wont have the impacts of limited supply draw in north australia either as these were patch 2 changes
And anyway I aint out of the fight yet !!!
I chose not to defend PM in this game I made a different choice in my game with PZB and we have yet to see how that works out [:D][:D]
Lets put it in context the first 8 weeks of the war are when the allies are at their absoulute 100% weakest and ok String has used that time to take PM and Darwin - well big wow he still doesnt have Java or Palmbang and has done nought in CENTAC.
My convoys to Fiji have been unmolested where PZB drove me to distraction and Burma is un threatened.
All that has happened is one Div that if sent to Malaya is lost anyway got a little trashed in Australia but with a little luck will be able to run for home at best speed.
I have not yet begun to fight !!!!!
Every day that passes I get stronger, every week that goes by my troops get better trained more forts and better equipment
Ah ok I hadnt quite made it out of the hex so its going to be close String now has 8 units in the same hex as me and will attack tomorrow as sure as day is day so I hope my troops get out of the patch of whats to come
The conscious decsion was made in early 1942 to not make Australia a base for offensive actions.
Logistics was the issue, but hardly insurmountable.
The planners determined that the railway line would need to be completed between Alice Springs and Birdum. This was going to take about 1 year or so (from memory, remember that due to the wet season this effectively meant 6 months of construction... the Wet is Nov-Apr approximately, so a decision in early 1942 could have meant the line functioning by Nov 1942... but if it slipped it wouldn't be until Jun 1943). In the end impatiance to do something, rather than prepare, also impacted on this decsion.
There were also issues with Australian warf gangs early war.
In the end the decision was made that instead of transshipping stuff from the USA at Sydney or Melbourne, onto one rail network, then transshipping onto another rail network (or sometimes twice depending on the transshipment point) the stuff could stay on the ships, and simply be offloaded once (Sydney, Brisbane, Townsville, Auckland, Wellington), broken down in to tactical amounts then sent by ship direct to the location... of course this only really worked if you were close to a port (and why ports were so important in real life, in the Pacific you are never that far from a port or potential port).
Despite this Darwin was significantly built up and had around 2 divisional equivelants of troops there. The road was significantly improved between Alice and Birdum, and the rail, meagre though it was, was able to keep up with the truck convoys and managed to supply everything needed to build up the massive airbases, the naval support facilities and supply the troops (a lot of food was grown locally, and water was available, as were key products like concrete and timber, so it was mainly spares, fuel and ammo that had to be moved).
Air attacks from Darwin area with Liberators on to the DEI had an impact on slowing the supply of products.
AE has increased the importance of ports and naval support significantly, it could have done more but many people would have considered it unplayable. But AE hasn't been able to limit the movement of supplies overaland, in fact with the supply draw feature (which is needed for other reasons) it may be worse.
So it is easier as the Allies to supply Northern Australia, or Burma (the Allies can afford the supply wastage)than in real life... OTOH in real life if the Allies HAD decided to do a ground offensive in Burma, or used Northern Australia as a base, they could have easily (with 6-12 months of effort) built the infrastructure required.
But the Northern Australia approach is one of my favorite what-ifs to the DEI, I've only managed it once in PBEM. For the Japanese taking Darwin early is relatively easy, but if the Allies fall back, bring up a couple of Aussie Divs with lots of the Arty, and don't attack piecemeal, it ends up being a nightmare for the Japanese (this is the voice of experiance from playing Joe in testing).
Early war let the Japanese take what they want, concentrate, then go where they aren't the Japanese CAN'T be everywhere! Don't fight their strength until you can crush them (mid to late 1943).
Cheers
Rob
ORIGINAL: herwin
ORIGINAL: Q-Ball
If the speed of Japanese advance seems quicker than historical, I think we're going to find that this is true for the Allies as well. Although AE succeeded in slowing the operational tempo down somewhat, it's not all the way back to historical.
I think it's correct that the Southern DEI is very vulnerable. To me this puts Northern Oz on the "Must Take" list for Japan, about equal with Port Moresby, and probably ahead of Canton and Noumea as veji1 pointed out. I think that's accurate. The Japanese must commit troops and airpower to this area to defend it.
Historically, why was the Southern DEI a non-theater? The Allies made no moves whatsoever there the entire war. Why? The Allies were acutely aware of the importance of the DEI to Japan. Why wouldn't they land on Sumatra?
I suspect the reason is difficulty of supply. Not the case in AE.
Yes, it was logistics. Burma buffered the DEI from an offensive based in India/Ceylon. Australia did attack Borneo in 1945, but from bases in the Philippines and New Guinea, and refused to continue on to Java.
Well one of my British Bdes dies today which was really aggravating it was at 38/44 miles out of the hex but then a singe device fragment unloaded at Perth which reset the movement of the 99% of the Brifgade fragment at the base outside of Darwin - Strings attack went in and I am scratch 1 bde
Really really annoyed at this one.
Thats a bde I did not need to lose bloody mechanics whoe designed this sodding game anyway - oh........[:D][:D] ah well
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Jan 11, 42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Port Moresby
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft
PB Nikkai Maru fires to suppress enemy troops at 12,000 yards
PB Nikkai Maru firing at enemy troops
PB Nagata Maru firing at enemy troops
PB Keijo Maru firing at enemy troops
6" Mk XI/XII Gun Coastal Battery engaging PB Keijo Maru at 2,000 yards
PB Kaiun Maru firing at enemy troops
PB Kaikei Maru firing at enemy troops
PB Ikunta Maru firing at enemy troops
6" Mk XI/XII Gun Coastal Battery engaging PB Ikunta Maru at 2,000 yards
PB Hakkaisan Maru firing at enemy troops
PB Fukui Maru firing at enemy troops
PB Choko Maru #2 firing at enemy troops
PB Chiyo Maru #4 firing at enemy troops
6" Mk XI/XII Gun Coastal Battery engaging PB Chiyo Maru #4 at 2,000 yards
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Darwin at 76,124
Japanese Ships
APD Nadakaze
DD Ushio
DD Sazanami
Allied Ships
SS Seadragon, hits 4
SS Seadragon is located by APD Nadakaze
Seadragon bottoming out ....
DD Ushio fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Sazanami fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Ushio fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Sazanami fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Sazanami attacking submerged sub ....
DD Sazanami fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Sazanami fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Keijo at 100,50
Japanese Ships
E Susuki
PC Take
PC Nire
xAK Wakatu Maru
xAK Kizan Maru
xAKL Shinshui Maru
xAKL Mayachi Maru
xAKL Shuko Maru
DD Tsuga
DD Hasu
Allied Ships
SS Pike, hits 1
SS Pike launches 4 torpedoes at E Susuki
Pike bottoming out ....
DD Tsuga fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Hasu attacking submerged sub ....
DD Hasu fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Hasu fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Hasu fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Hasu fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submarine attack near Enderbury Island at 158,141
Japanese Ships
SS I-8
Allied Ships
xAKL Kentuckian, Shell hits 2
xAKL Kentuckian is sighted by SS I-8
SS I-8 attacking on the surface
SS I-8 low on gun ammo, Fujita U. breaks off surface engagement and submerges
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submarine attack near Enderbury Island at 158,141
Japanese Ships
SS I-8
Allied Ships
xAKL Kentuckian, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
xAKL Kentuckian is sighted by SS I-8
SS I-8 launches 6 torpedoes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Port Moresby
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft
PB Nikkai Maru firing at enemy troops
6" Mk XI/XII Gun Coastal Battery engaging PB Nikkai Maru at 2,000 yards
PB Nagata Maru firing at enemy troops
6" Mk XI/XII Gun Coastal Battery engaging PB Nagata Maru at 2,000 yards
PB Keijo Maru firing at enemy troops
6" Mk XI/XII Gun Coastal Battery engaging PB Keijo Maru at 2,000 yards
PB Kaiun Maru firing at enemy troops
PB Kaikei Maru firing at enemy troops
6" Mk XI/XII Gun Coastal Battery engaging PB Kaikei Maru at 2,000 yards
PB Ikunta Maru firing at enemy troops
PB Hakkaisan Maru firing at enemy troops
PB Fukui Maru firing at enemy troops
6" Mk XI/XII Gun Coastal Battery engaging PB Fukui Maru at 2,000 yards
PB Choko Maru #2 firing at enemy troops
6" Mk XI/XII Gun Coastal Battery engaging PB Choko Maru #2 at 2,000 yards
PB Chiyo Maru #4 firing at enemy troops
6" Mk XI/XII Gun Coastal Battery engaging PB Chiyo Maru #4 at 2,000 yards
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Port Moresby
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft
PB Nikkai Maru fires to suppress enemy troops at 12,000 yards
PB Nikkai Maru firing at enemy troops
PB Nagata Maru firing at enemy troops
PB Kaiun Maru firing at enemy troops
PB Ikunta Maru firing at enemy troops
6" Mk XI/XII Gun Coastal Battery engaging PB Ikunta Maru at 2,000 yards
PB Hakkaisan Maru firing at enemy troops
PB Fukui Maru firing at enemy troops
6" Mk XI/XII Gun Coastal Battery engaging PB Fukui Maru at 2,000 yards
PB Choko Maru #2 firing at enemy troops
6" Mk XI/XII Gun Coastal Battery engaging PB Choko Maru #2 at 2,000 yards
PB Chiyo Maru #4 firing at enemy troops
6" Mk XI/XII Gun Coastal Battery engaging PB Chiyo Maru #4 at 2,000 yards
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submarine attack near Channel Islands at 221,77
Japanese Ships
SS I-21
Allied Ships
xAK Steel Mariner, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Steel Mariner is sighted by SS I-21
SS I-21 launches 6 torpedoes at xAK Steel Mariner
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Channel Islands at 221,77
Japanese Ships
SS I-21
Allied Ships
xAK Steel Mariner, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Steel Mariner is sighted by SS I-21
SS I-21 launches 6 torpedoes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Kendari Garrison Battalion, at 68,104
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 46 NM, estimated altitude 26,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 11
No Japanese losses
Aircraft Attacking:
11 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 24000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 3/16th Punjab Battalion, at 50,83 (Johore Bahru)
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 53
Ki-43-Ia Oscar x 30
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 47
Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 11000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
22 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 11000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
27 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 11000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
23 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 11000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 100 kg GP Bomb
24 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 11000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 100 kg GP Bomb
Also attacking 110th RAF Base Force ...
Also attacking 109th RAF Base Force ...
Also attacking 3/16th Punjab Battalion ...
Also attacking 110th RAF Base Force ...
Also attacking 109th RAF Base Force ...
Also attacking 3/16th Punjab Battalion ...
Also attacking 110th RAF Base Force ...
Also attacking 109th RAF Base Force ...
Also attacking 110th RAF Base Force ...
Also attacking 109th RAF Base Force ...
Also attacking 3/16th Punjab Battalion ...
Also attacking 110th RAF Base Force ...
Also attacking 109th RAF Base Force ...
Also attacking 3/16th Punjab Battalion ...
Also attacking 110th RAF Base Force ...
Also attacking 109th RAF Base Force ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Manila Bay Defenses , at 78,77 (Bataan)
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 38 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-Ic Sally x 16
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 8
Ki-30 Ann x 21
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 40
Aircraft Attacking:
22 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 100 kg GP Bomb
10 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 100 kg GP Bomb
20 x Ki-30 Ann bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
16 x Ki-21-Ic Sally bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
8 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 100 kg GP Bomb
8 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
Also attacking 86th PS Coastal Artillery Battalion ...
Also attacking Manila Bay Defenses ...
Also attacking 86th PS Coastal Artillery Battalion ...
Also attacking Manila Bay Defenses ...
Also attacking 86th PS Coastal Artillery Battalion ...
Also attacking Manila Bay Defenses ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Manila Bay Defenses , at 78,77 (Bataan)
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 35 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-Ic Sally x 26
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 22
Ki-30 Ann x 23
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 10
Aircraft Attacking:
22 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
26 x Ki-21-Ic Sally bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
23 x Ki-30 Ann bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
10 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 100 kg GP Bomb
Also attacking Asiatic Fleet ...
Also attacking 86th PS Coastal Artillery Battalion ...
Also attacking Manila Bay Defenses ...
Also attacking Asiatic Fleet ...
Also attacking 86th PS Coastal Artillery Battalion ...
Also attacking Manila Bay Defenses ...
Also attacking Asiatic Fleet ...
Also attacking 86th PS Coastal Artillery Battalion ...
Also attacking Asiatic Fleet ...
Also attacking 86th PS Coastal Artillery Battalion ...
Also attacking Manila Bay Defenses ...
Also attacking Asiatic Fleet ...
Also attacking 86th PS Coastal Artillery Battalion ...
Also attacking Manila Bay Defenses ...
Also attacking Asiatic Fleet ...
Also attacking 86th PS Coastal Artillery Battalion ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Asiatic Fleet , at 78,77 (Bataan)
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 38 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-30 Ann x 25
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 32
Allied ground losses:
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Aircraft Attacking:
32 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 100 kg GP Bomb
25 x Ki-30 Ann bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
Also attacking Manila Bay Defenses ...
Also attacking Asiatic Fleet ...
Also attacking Manila Bay Defenses ...
Also attacking Asiatic Fleet ...
Also attacking Manila Bay Defenses ...
Also attacking Asiatic Fleet ...
Also attacking Manila Bay Defenses ...
Also attacking Asiatic Fleet ...
Also attacking Manila Bay Defenses ...
Also attacking Asiatic Fleet ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 28th Chinese Corps, at 87,56
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 44 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Ki-21-Ic Sally bombing from 11000 feet *
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
4 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 11000 feet *
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
3 x Ki-21-Ic Sally bombing from 11000 feet *
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
Also attacking Gull Battalion ...
Also attacking 2/4 MG Battalion ...
Also attacking Sparrow Battalion ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Port Moresby Brigade, at 98,130 (Port Moresby)
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8
G4M1 Betty x 29
Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 7 damaged
Aircraft Attacking:
13 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 15000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
12 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 15000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
4 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 15000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
Also attacking 49th Australian Battalion ...
Also attacking Port Moresby Brigade ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on 53rd British Brigade, at 75,125
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 42 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 6
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 damaged
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 11000 feet *
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Port Moresby
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft
Defending units:
93rd Chinese Corps
40th Chinese Corps
80th Chinese Corps
2nd Chinese Cavalry Corps
15th Chinese Corps
98th Chinese Corps
1st War Area
39th Group Army
24th Group Army
36th Group Army
4th Chinese Base Force
14th Group Army
10th Chinese Base Force
15th Group Army
Jingcha War Area
7th Construction Regiment
Assaulting units:
65th Brigade
4th Tank Regiment
2nd Tank Regiment
21st Division
16th Engineer Regiment
1st Formosa Inf. Regiment
9th Infantry Regiment
47th Infantry Regiment
48th Engineer Regiment
48th Recon Regiment
Tanaka Detachment
7th Tank Regiment
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
2nd Mortar Battalion
4th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
9th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion
Tonei Hvy Gun Regiment
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
4th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
1st Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
6th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
48th Field Artillery Regiment
14th Army
7th Ind.Hvy.Art. Bn /1
Defending units:
31st Infantry Regiment
2nd/45th PS Inf Battalion
57th PS Infantry Regimental Combat Team
4th Marine Regiment
194th Tank Battalion
4th PA Constabulary Regiment
51st PA Infantry Division
1st PA Infantry Division
192nd Tank Battalion
11th PA Infantry Division
14th PS Engineer Regiment
86th PS Coastal Artillery Battalion
3rd/45th PS Inf Battalion
71st PA Infantry Division
1st PA Constabulary Regiment
91st PA Infantry Division
2nd PA Constabulary Regiment
31st PA Infantry Division
1st/45th PS Inf Battalion
Kowloon Brigade
Manila Bay Defenses
26th PS Cavalry Regiment
21st PA Infantry Division
41st PA Infantry Division
2nd PA Constblry HW Regiment
USAFFE
201st PA Construction Battalion
Provisional GMC Gp
1st PI Base Force
I Philippine Corps
Cavite USN Base Force
Clark Field USAAF Base Force
803rd Engineer Aviation Battalion
Manila USAAF Base Force
1st USMC AA Battalion
200th & 515th Coast AA Regiment
PAF Aviation
II Philippine Corps
Asiatic Fleet
Bataan USN Base Force
Far East USAAF
202nd PA Construction Battalion
88th PS Field Artillery Regiment
301st PA Field Artillery Regiment
I am not at all concerned that I lost I was half expecting a 2:1 it was the 5:1 that confused me but I have rationalised it to myself.