ORIGINAL: Igel
I´m reading this Aar and now I had been thinking a lot about your tactics & strategies.
I don´t know how to explain very well my thinkings whithout misinterpreted, but I´ve the sensation your aren´t doing all you could at this stage of war.
I do imagine your final goal is the most important thing: THE FINAL VICTORY but it´s a long, long way and the “peanuts gallery” are impatient.
I say you this, because my impresion is you are “playing around “ your victim with methodical and devilish precision, like a cat with a mouse......
I want you: eat the mouse, its parents & all the family too...[:D]
I know you´re acting logically, yes of course I know,..... but I´d like to learn what´re your next steps & thoughts; or if you´re waiting the enemie´s movements to react. I think you are an experienced & superb player but.......¿It isn´t too soon to be defensive as game is being developed ?
You know I´m a noob and I apologize if this questions disturb you[&o]
Respectfully, Igel
Igel, a very good question. I remark your english is better than mine so far like you can see now!!
About your questions, I may replay, my final goal is the final victory (points victory of course, military victory for Japan is unavailable).
Next strategic steps in a near future (1942): the main goal is put chinese under their knees. A huge offensive will start in few weeks with XIII, XXIII and XVI Armies (the last redeployed from SRA) storming Liüchow to march to North and enclose all Central Chinese Armies. In the North, more than 300.000 japanese troops supported by 500 tanks and many heavy artillery units and heavy air close support will begin a massive storm over a in-depth defensive chinese positions at Sian. The logistical matters were enough important there, and many convoys have delivered massive ammounts of supplies to support my war plans there. To end at China another diversionary attack have be launched by SOUTHERN AREA ARMY from the West with 55th I.D (from XV Army) that will be reinforced by Guards or/and 48th I.Division (from XIV). Like secundary target avoid british can supply chinese by air at nearby western chinese bases.
What is my thinkings in other areas (remember my restrictive H.Rules, please):
- SOUTHERN AREA -South Perimeter- : Fortify, reinforce, resize airfields and supress norther-western Australian coast to avoid this area would be used by Jonathan (Cantona2) like a jumping point to storm my valuable SRA resource bases. I have deployed 23rd Air Flotilla with more than 150 fighters and bombers at Timor with 22 Air Flotilla at Sumatra with an eye over Indian Ocean. Reserve deploys have been allocated at Phillipine Islands.
- SOUTH SEAS -4th Fleet Area- : Supress any attempt from allies to use Santa Cruz Islands like a jumping or support point to storm Salomons. I am working hard on fortify all valuable bases (PM, Shortland are near to be size 5, with many others at level 4 or nearby 4). Heavy air assets have been deployed there like you know (25th Air Flotilla and 11st Air Fleet with more than 500 aircrafts ready for combat). Saipan (Marianas) and Truk (Carolinas) are my Reserve areas with one crack division ready for be shipped if any counterstrike is needed. 5th Air Division HQ at Saipan support air ops in the south Seas with 3 daitais flying from PM. Two submarine squadrons have been deployed to shadow enemy movements at New Hebrides - Noumea - Fidji - Gilbert areas.
- MARSHALLS -4th Fleet Area- : Probably the most easy target for enemy. Is nearby to Jonathan´s bases, and he would can strike and flee. They had a probe attack with 1 or 2 carriers over Tarawa few days ago but he turn back when Kido Butai was spotted near Ndeni-Vanikoro (Santa Cruz). I will reinforce Marshalls as much as possible but this will need days or weeks due I have reinforce Southern Seas (Salomon-Bismarck-New Guinea) as heavily as possible (several Infantry División -one crack-, support assets and arty units).
- BURMA : I am heavily engaged at air by CW from indian bases and I am very conservative with my air assets to avoid sustancial losses. Burma is completely under Japan rule with 6 divisions ready (18th at southern india/burmese border, 5th on the center, 56th in the northern burmese/indian border, 33rd Infantry Division like local reserve at center Burma, Guards Division at Rangoon ready like main reserve and 55th I.Division like western China expeditionary force). 48th I.Division have been deployed at Java resting and awaiting for reemplacements. Now, ready for combat (full) will be shipped to Burma and will support my western offensive against chinese.
- FLEET : Counterstrikes and blockades. Two Submarine Squadrons deployed in South Seas and another one (Pennang based) deployed in the waters of Ceylan. The Combined Fleet is a the most valuable strike force with 6 Fleet Carriers, 4 Light Carriers and 11 battleships. 3 Light carriers works on air transfer units and supporting ASW activities with the Great Convoy (SRA named special convoys with resources/oil/fuel, the 3rd will be assembled in this month). I will not risk my valuable assets into enemy LBA range, my will is enemy will looking for or will risk to battle into my own LBA range. It would be possible if enemy will try to land into nearby islands like Santa Cruz (like you can see) or southern Gilberts (like JOnathan tried). If he could follow up with their landings I will heavily counterstrike will all CombFleet assets (more than 600 carrier capable aircrafts on board).
- ENEMY WILLS :
Burma air offensive to strike my facilities and get the air supremacy probably is the main goal of Jonathan in this theatre.
Pacific, probably Jonathan is unpatience to counterstrike, this would be his fault if he would try so near my LBA range at this stage. I keep all my carriers ready for any counterstrike with a very agressive submarine activities in the areas where allies show interests. Until now he shows interest on Santa Cruz and Southern Gilberts. Many four engine bombers recon flights were spotted over Salomon islands. With USMC units at Vanikoro and Ndeni is easy to know that he is trying to get fighter support bases to strike north.
Northern waters, probably another option for him. Adak was becomed in a submarine base. I tried to push it but i was surprised with many american fighters on CAP. This is not a target because I prefer to fight with my carriers into my LBA range. Jonathan shows his interest over this area with many submarines patrolling my Hokkaido-Kuriles-Sakhalin area. Several AMC and long range PB were engaged in my home waters in this area. I have heavily reinforced this area, fortifying heavily Paramushiro and other Kuriles Island. Several figthers and flying patrol chutais have been allocate there. Best ASW assets working in the area too.
China, there he is trying to stop (succesfully until now) my huge offensive in the north. With this in my mind I take decission to strike south and western to fix enemy units or capture enemy base to stress his defenses there.
Like you can see, my english is poor
. I hope you can understand me my reply!.
Best of wishes, and thank you very much for your question.
Ramón
PS (edited): about it is soon to begin with defensive meassures. I am not agree. Never is soon like japanese. Nothing better be heavily fortified to stop enemy counterstrike. Why I would like to get Fidji or NOumea? only to be dropped like a frog, my units will be isolated or under blockade and I will get nothing. Like Japanese I have not infinity of resources and I think the best way to be hard is be as hard as possible in a strongly defended and closed perimeter. Local counterstrike are in mind of course but not with the will to stand out of my defended perimeter.
My long range strategic targets are the aircraft production, pilot training and fortifying heavily the strategic bases. Avoid enemy air bases to launch air strikes over my factories is a mandatory. For the other hand the heavy blow over China can be a great success if I will get a victory over the Chungking regime. If China dissapear of the War... What do you think will be the outcome of the game ?
I think will be a very hard game for the ally.
