I have spotted P-40Es, P-39s, B-25s, and A-20s. So according to what you said, Dan HAS reinforced India with additional USAAF units. This is not surprising though.
Am sure for scenario 1. Would need to fire up scenario 2 to be 100% certain but AFAIK, no changes were made in this area between the two scenarios.
I would proceed on the basis that the P-40E and B-25 you have spotted belong to 10th Air Force which is attached to SEAC (the B-25 could also be attached to NCAC but as that unit is sceduled to enter the game at Aden, it amounts to the same thing). The P-39 and A-20 would be from elsewhere, probably from Hawaii (either 7th or 13th Air Force) or SWPac.
Wow, couple days off, and this AAR slips to page 2! I need to update more frequently, or you guys need to comment more.
Air Wars over Poona: We have had several days of large dogfights over Poona. Overall losses have been about equal over 4 days, but they go kind of like this:
1. Allied fighters, Hurricanes, P-40s, P-39s,and P-38s, sweep my guys at high altitude, and shoot some down
2. We get a few back at lower altitude, but I lose fighter on fighters
3. However, his bombers come in un-escorted and get crushed
So, I've been losing more fighters than the Allies, but shooting down alot of bombers, mostly BLENHEIMS, HUDSONS, and B-25s, with a couple A-20s thrown in (and 2 B-17s!).
I have been playing with altitudes, but against the sweeps, staggered altitudes in the 10-20 range, where my planes are much more manueverable, seem to work best.
Dan seems to want to attrition me. I have pulled the best pilots from these units into the pool, so most pilots are 70 exp pilots fresh from the pool. Some get killed, some live and gain experience. I'm not worried about losing pilots, and I'm not worried about losing planes, though I am losing Tojos at the current replacement rate.
The RAF is very, very depleted. They have lost almost 300 Bombers, and nearly 200 Hurricanes. This is probably why I am seeing more USAAF now.
1-1 air losses hurts me for Auto-Victory though. I helps in the long run from a VP standpoint, but hurts right now.
Bataan Falls: Bataan surrendered; 25,000+ troops gave up. VPs only went up about 800 points, probably because of the losses suffered so far, and the fact that units starved. I noticed that I would gain a few VPs a day, even without ground combat. At any rate, I am now at 11,640 for Allied Ground, with Bataan done.
Wainwright didn't, however, surrender the rest of the Phillipines. There are still garrisons on Iloilo, Cebu, and Mindinao, probably another 15K troops or so.
I think BYPASS is the right strategy for the Phillipines. You need to land strong in December to force the Allies back on Clark. If the Allies defend in multiple hexes, you can eliminate Luzon earlier in detail. But they fall back to fortress Clark, I think the best thing to do is to leave 600 AV, a bunch of bombers, and move on. I pulled all the good units from Luzon a long time ago; the troops there since then are just artillery units and a mish-mash of B-grade troops.
Wow, couple days off, and this AAR slips to page 2! I need to update more frequently, or you guys need to comment more.
Air Wars over Poona: We have had several days of large dogfights over Poona. Overall losses have been about equal over 4 days, but they go kind of like this:
1. Allied fighters, Hurricanes, P-40s, P-39s,and P-38s, sweep my guys at high altitude, and shoot some down
2. We get a few back at lower altitude, but I lose fighter on fighters
3. However, his bombers come in un-escorted and get crushed
So, I've been losing more fighters than the Allies, but shooting down alot of bombers, mostly BLENHEIMS, HUDSONS, and B-25s, with a couple A-20s thrown in (and 2 B-17s!).
I have been playing with altitudes, but against the sweeps, staggered altitudes in the 10-20 range, where my planes are much more manueverable, seem to work best.
Dan seems to want to attrition me. I have pulled the best pilots from these units into the pool, so most pilots are 70 exp pilots fresh from the pool. Some get killed, some live and gain experience. I'm not worried about losing pilots, and I'm not worried about losing planes, though I am losing Tojos at the current replacement rate.
The RAF is very, very depleted. They have lost almost 300 Bombers, and nearly 200 Hurricanes. This is probably why I am seeing more USAAF now.
1-1 air losses hurts me for Auto-Victory though. I helps in the long run from a VP standpoint, but hurts right now.
Bataan Falls: Bataan surrendered; 25,000+ troops gave up. VPs only went up about 800 points, probably because of the losses suffered so far, and the fact that units starved. I noticed that I would gain a few VPs a day, even without ground combat. At any rate, I am now at 11,640 for Allied Ground, with Bataan done.
Wainwright didn't, however, surrender the rest of the Phillipines. There are still garrisons on Iloilo, Cebu, and Mindinao, probably another 15K troops or so.
I think BYPASS is the right strategy for the Phillipines. You need to land strong in December to force the Allies back on Clark. If the Allies defend in multiple hexes, you can eliminate Luzon earlier in detail. But they fall back to fortress Clark, I think the best thing to do is to leave 600 AV, a bunch of bombers, and move on. I pulled all the good units from Luzon a long time ago; the troops there since then are just artillery units and a mish-mash of B-grade troops.
I belatedly realized that complete bypassing of the Philippines may not be the best approach. Both Cebu and Zamboanga on Mindanao have some resource and LI functionality, therefore can hold out without external supplies much longer. They produce their own. These (and Clark / Manila of course) should be a higher priority target in the initial assaults.
Chickenboy: Actually I took Zamboanga months ago for that reason; it's the only supply source on Mindinao.
Didn't know about Cebu, but that's OK; it can't hurt me.
crsutton: I know from playing Allies that they have limited aircraft; particularly the RAF is short. Even with no losses, I struggled to fill out RAF bomber units into 1943.
Subs: Not much going on in sub wars, since I hit IDAHO off the West Coast. Of course, Intel reports it as SUNK, which only ASAHI SHIMBUN believes. I have nailed a couple AKLs here and there, nothing special.
I sank a SUB off Trincomalee, and there are 2 subs docked at Bombay we are hitting tommorow; they are probably damaged from aircraft around Ceylon.
Defending the Empire: I am moving the troops from Luzon to various vulnerable points, including Sumatra, and the Central Pacific.
Leaving bases in the Philippines under Allied control can be very dangerous, particularly as there remain some tenuous unbroken Allied LOCs back to Australia (IIRC the Allies still hold Manado plus Dutch bases in the Arafura Sea/New Guinea). I don't think you have to rush to garrison Sumatra (previously commented on) or any atoll in the Central Pacific with a 6k troop limit. The atolls can be quickly recaptured in 1942 in the event that a valuable one is captured by the Allies. Instead I would use your odds and ends from Luzon to capture Filipino bases with reasonable sized airbases/ports or garrisons before they can be reinforced.
Alfred, with all due respect because you have some insightful comments, there is no threat from the Phillipines. You might be right if I was sloppy around Australia, but I control the Torres Strait, Exmouth, and everything in between, the nearest Allied base to Menado in Australia is far, far, away. China is closer.
There is no feasible way to get adequate supplies to the Phillipines. Thus, I can take my time.
I do plan to take Mindanao and Cebu now, though, simply because I would like the points, and see where I stand. I am currently at 28,700 to 8,300, or about 3.6 to 1.
Night Battle of Nandi: I have had a cruiser TF lurking in the New Hebrides for awhile. A month ago, they intercepted and sank an Allied convoy with troops on it. I spotted an Allied cruiser TF parked off Nandi, and sent them to attack.
I had 2 CA, 1 CL, 4 DD, and they tangles with 1 CA, 1CL, and 5 old DD. Results were disappointing; we traded some shots, nothing was seriously damaged. NAKA took some damage that will require shipyard time, but she was due for an AA upgrade anyway. I don't think any Allied ships tood significant damage. We fired off at least 30 Long Lances, but alas, they all missed.
So far, the IJN really hasn't done that well in night fights. Hopefully that changes.
Poona: I have temporarily withdrawn from Poona. I bombed Bombay port for 2 turns in a row because a SUB is parked there (probably damaged by one of my ASW bombers), but all they did was hit the port and not the sub, so I give up. I do plan to start sweeping Bombay soon, just to kill Allied fighters.
Bombay: I am flanking Bombay to see if Dan evacuates, but I don't think he is going to. He just railed in another unit, making it 41 total. That's alot.
I don't have a troop or AV count, but he has to have at least 3 divisions worth there, or what's the point. It's probably more. Either way, I fear it's more than I could ever dislodge.
Air Wars: Still back and forth over Poona. I lost big a couple days trying to bomb the two subs in port at Bombay, but got Dan back with a 21-0 day by sweeping Bombay at high altitude. I even shot down 3 P-38s with OSCARS which doesn't happen too often. But most of the damage was done by TOJOs.
That was on the 5th, and since then, Dan is only bombing the troops to the East of Bombay, and leaving Poona alone. I am getting bombers together soon to bomb the airbase.
Bombay: BOmbay is the last worthwhile target this side of the "Line of Doom", really the line that triggers a very large Allied reinforcement.
Bombay has 42 units, and in a Heavy Urban hex with forts, is probably a too tough a nut. I am going to keep moving forward to force Dan to commit to a siege and think I'm still coming in India.
Diego Garcia: Another try at Diego; this time I am landing the 5th Amphibious Bde, 150 AV that is 100% prepped. I am also bombing it with KIDO BUTAI; that is the first and hopefully last time I bomb a land target with KB, but I have to clear it, and cover the landings at the same time, since I don't know where Dan's CVs are. I hate doing that, but I need to clear that island.
Subs: Dan sent large convoys to Karachi, as soon as KB had to take a breather. I sank 3 xAKs, but they appeared empty or only had supplies.
Heavy Industry: A couple months ago I noted that I was struggling to accumulate any HI surplus. Not anymore. With INDIA, I have about 450 HI producing right now, all of it in the Calcutta area. Ledo is producing 630 Fuel per day, not sure where the rest is coming from, I suppose Magwe.
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Diego Garcia, Take 2: We landed reinforcements at Diego, a Brigade that was 100%, and that I should have taken the first time. A 1-1 shock attack dropped the forts. We lost no transports this time, mostly because I bombarded it with 4 BBs, and placed 6 cruisers with the transports (3 of those the KATORIS). KB also bombed it.
I really hate to use KB this way, but I need to clear Diego to secure the Bay of Bengal. Without a land base between Geraldton and Bombay, it would be difficult to launch an invasion in the Indian Ocean, which is the point. This is the first time, and last time, I'll use it to hit a land target. At least there are minimal AA guns there, so I suffered no losses.
Air Wars Over India: I think we are gaining the upper hand; two days in a row of fearful Allied losses over Bombay. I will sweep tommorow, but I expect to find nobody. At that point we can start bombing the base.
Not sure how much farther I am going in India, but anytime you can shoot down Allied fighters like this, you have to keep pressing! I'm not even using the IJN units, where I am trying to keep the pilots fresh.
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Strategic Situation: Last commment brings up interesting questions. I am nearing a major decision point.
I think India is not takeable at this point, and not sure it is vs. a very good player. I have been careful not to trigger garrison requirements, but I already have more than I would like, without approaching the LINE OF DEATH.
BOMBAY will hold for months in my rear if I leave it alone, a quick take of it I don't think is possible, given the requirements.
The problem is India is too difficult to Isolate. The only easy base in the Arabian Sea is Socotra, but occupying that triggers the REINFORCEMENTS which I don't want to do. Keeping KB floating in the Arabian Sea for several months without interruption is also not a great solution. The only real way to isolate India is to first give the Allies 6 extra divisions in the process.
I thought a conquest of most of India would be sufficient for AUTO VICTORY. Without a major sea battle, or without Dan standing fast and losing troops, it isn't. I have about 3.5 to 1, but that's not quite there, and not close enough.
I picked India because even if I don't trigger auto-victory, there are lasting benefits. I can't realistically hold the Indian mainland, but I can make Calcutta a bear to re-take. Overall, the RAF is completely mauled, and the Indian Army has taken alot of casualties, so a major offensive into Burma and Southeast Asia probably is not in the cards until at least 1944. As a side benefit, I am also gaining alot of HI in India, which also helps in the long run.
A better Auto-Victory choice is Australia. It's much easier to isolate, because it's not so close to the map edge, and has way more coastline for the Allies to defend. Looking around, it has a ton of points if you take South Australia. I should have gone for OZ IMO. Oh well.
That is too pessimistic a view of the Indian situation. Even if you decide to transition to the defence in India by not crossing the line of death (TM) [a questionable choice at least] you can still play an aggressive defence which continues to garner VPs towards achieving a 4:1 ratio.
Bombay left alone in your rear is a dangerous situation. It would leave your opponent with a choice of too many options. What you should do is to move some units into Bombay itself. In post #369 you estimated some 3 Allied divisions are currently in Bombay. That means you can move in 1 Japanese division and it will not be kickout out by the enemy because you benefit from:
(a) the 4x heavy urban defensive bonus
(b) the low quality of the Allied infantry
(c) Japan having air superiority over Bombay, will prevent Allied resupply by sea, and you can isolate Bombay from overland supply (and raw material imports necessary to feed its industry) - the net result is that you can eventually starve the Bombay garrison, further reducing its combat power.
By investing Bombay, at a great economy of scale, you fix in place Allied units and channel their offensive options into known premium defensive channels. Allied attacks to kick you out of Bombay will be to your benefit pointwise. The Japanese besieging force would not need to be that much greater than the garrison requirement would be anyway. A similar approach can be adopted with Cawnpore (and elsewhere) which you have previously stated has a stout enemy garrison.
I second Alfred's thought re Bombay. It is one location where you know what can be/is there, and the x4 works for you so long as you seige and don't attack. When/if he attacks you, he bleeds.
I assume you're doing this already, but building airfields, ports, and forts in already-taken bases also leverages those conquests VP-wise. If you have engineers toiling away on, say, the second-defense-line, it might be worth pulling them into India to build the big VP cities faster.
Well, I am glad to see that you went for India. It has made for a great AAR and you are the first to really give it a go. Personally, I don't think all of OZ can be taken vs a good Allied player as well. However, as more knowledge is gained perhaps Japanese players will work out a system for it.
Besides, your accomplishments are not without merit and won't hurt your prospects at all. You have really banged upt the Indian army and the Brits. It really is going to take CR a very long time to rebuild them to the point where they are capable of offering any threat to you in either India or Burma. You hold Ceylon and should be able to hold it easily for some time as the Allied just have no assault transport in that theater and with scen#2 you will hold air superiorty at any point you want until mid 1943. As Monty would have said, you just need to "tidy up".
Personally, as an AFB I think that a major garrison in Celyon is worth it even if you know you will lose them all. It forces the Allied to mount a major invasion to take it back and that invasion will eat up time and resources that he could well use in the Pacific. Frankly, I think you could hold Celyon until the end of 1943 and then even if you lose a lot of men, it would be worth it. You have already made a major commitment to India. There is no turning back from that. Now you need to find a way to force the Allies to make a major commitment there as well so as to take maximum advantage from the ground work you have laid.
After playing the Allied for 500 turns in scen #2 I am convinced that there is more opportunity for Japan as far as strategic options go. Given the bonus in resources, planes and ships, there is ample room for a Japanese player to think out of the traditional box.
I am very happy that you will not take an auto victory on Canoe. That means that this campaign and AAR should go fairly deep. That is what we all secretly wanted anyways...[:D]
I am very happy that you will not take an auto victory on Canoe. That means that this campaign and AAR should go fairly deep. That is what we all secretly wanted anyways...[:D]
Speak for yourself, mate. I wanted BLOOD, dammit. BLOOD!
Is there anything you would do differently if you could do this over? Would there have been any merit to going right for Karachi after Ceylon? It's a big step with un-prepped troops but yours are so much better at that stage of the war. Once Karachi is in your hands you are a long way towards isolating India. Running troops and supplies to Bombay would be difficult at best and I think you would still have had enough troops to to take Madras and Calcutta. It might have triggered reinforcements, but they would have no place to go.
Today I come bearing an olive branch in one hand, and the freedom fighter's gun in the other. Do not let the olive branch fall from my hand. I repeat, do not let the olive branch fall from my hand. - Yasser Arafat Speech to UN General Assembly
