Here come the Rebels! (Canoe v. Q-Ball)

[FOW]

I think what anarchy meant, and I'd be also interested in is:
 
do you have enough fighter LBA units, and sufficient in the pools, of decent models, to effectively contest/defend the multiple operations you are planning?
 
Of course Sumatra will need the most to defend it. So are you prepared to cede control of the air at Wake/Marcus/Tarawa/Ocean etc?. Also what trigger point would force you to withdraw fighters from those locations to preserve your limited fighter strength for the main effort in sumatra?

[Canoerebel]

I can't imagine posting any fighters at any island base. The small fields at Ocean, Nauru, and Marcus are level one, so devoting fighters won't help. They can be overwhelmed too easily. Wake is too remote for a serious commitment of air power. In the absence of the American carriers, the Japanese can bombard and/or bomb the airfield into submission. Not sure about Tarawa, yet.

I don't see any utility in committing fighters to small, isolated bases. If you have multiple, interlocking bases of some size, yes; island like Marcus, no.

So I'll devote as much aircraft as possible to the defense of Sumatra. This will be tough going. Taking Ceylon (and taking or developing another base in the Andamans or one of small bases off the southwest coast of Sumatra) will help the ferrying process of aircraft from India to Sumatra.

If the Allies succeed in landing in force at Sumatra, though, it's going to create a pretty big vaccuum everywhere else. That offensive will probably relieve the pressure on the islands, at least for awhile until the new wave of Allied carriers are on the board.

[Canoerebel]

11/5/42

Poona: This Allied attack resulted in high IJA casualties - about 500 squads destroyed. So the destruction of the two IJA divisions here will not take much longer. One-third of 6th Guards Division remains a hex to the NE, but I'll take care of it after I finish off the stack at Poona. To the west, 48th Division remains in place. I'll attend to it later, too.

South of Poona: The infantry caught up to the armor, so tomorrow most of the Alied units (about 1600 AV) will shock attack, with about 350 AV set to follow. I think this attack will all but anhiliate the remnants of these three divisions, so that the 350 AV following will be sufficient to handle whatever's left the day after tomorrow.

China: This theater has been quiet, thank goodness. With the Burma Road and Hump shut down, supplies are tight. But there hasn't been any movement by Japan since Liuchow fell months ago. The Chinese are too weak to sustain an offensive against any well-entrenched defenders, but I am going to feel around the front lines east of Sian, where the Japanese are not particularly strong. The three "front line hexes" there are defended by less than 1,000 IJA AV each, so there may be an opportunity for some mischief.

Australia: In conjunction with the major planning undertaken yesterday, the Allies began recon of Exmouth (just to give Brad something new to think about) and began advancing troops from Alice Springs/Tennant Creek towards Daly Waters. Supply is a major obstacle to an advance on this road, but the terrain lends itself to a threat of envelopment for the forward IJA garrisons. I'm sending a bunch of units, to give the appearance of a major campaign, but they are mostly small. Nevertheless, through bluff and bluster I might be able to take a base or two and heighten the appearance of coordinate threat ot the Darwin theater.

Fish or Cut Bait: The Alied carriers will arrive at Tahiti. I have misgivings about exposing them to greatly elevated risk, so I'm currently reevaluating my plans to make sure they are optimum and sensible. I'm pretty sure I will commit the carriers to the New Caledonia campaign, while mostly keeping them relatively close to Fiji. But I'm also re-evaluating the utlity of committing them to the Wake/Marcus operations, instead, or even keeping them hidden in South Oz so that they'll be ready for Sumatra at a moment's notice.

[ny59giants]

Where are you going to use your armor?? In Andy Mac's game vs PzB he is using them in mass to take Darwin. You could take them to Sumatra as they will be able to react quicker to his counter attacks or land them as follow up at Port Hedland and supply them by transport as they drive on Broome. When I play Japan, I use them to get around Sumatra quickly.

[Canoerebel]

11/6/42

Brad and I got in an extra turn as I ended up working late last night, which is now a better time for him to game.

South of Poona (now North of Goa): The Allied shock attack came off as expected, destroying 700 infantry and support squads. The enemy retired towards Goa, with 335 Allied AV following. I won't attack again until the day after tomorrow, to give the armor and infantry time to advance (no reason to outrun the bulk of my units).

Poona: The Allied deliberate attack destroyed 350 squads, with no squads disabled (meaning that the Japanese units are about to vanish).

Squad scoring: Before the Allies corralled and began attacking these five IJA divisions, the Japanese had lost just 600 army points in the game. That total is up to 1,000 in just a week or two. I don't know what the score will be by the time these five divisions are liquidated, and then 48th Div. attended to, but it will be interesting to see. The Allies, in contrast, have lost 12,500 army points, so I have a long way to go before I can start feeling smug about things. Nevertheless, 12,500 to 1,000 feels alot better than 12,500 to 600.

Allied Carriers: All but one TF has reached Tahiti and refueld. The carriers should be ready to depart tomorrow. (It's interesting to note that this is the first appearance by the Allied carriers on the map since they snuck into Capetown way back in early 1942).

Japanese Intentions: The KB vanished months ago. No clues of it's whereabouts. My best guess would be Truk or Kwaj. I could really use a SigInt report that "CV Kaga is at 68/143" right now. Two months ago, I was certain that Brad would invade Fiji and Midway before the end of the year. It would be a terrible coincidence if the Allied carriers blundered into the a Japanese invasion force with KB while steaming innocently through the seas. I considered this and I've decided that there's no way Brad is going to invade Fiji at this late date. Too much time has transpired, the garrison is too strong, and he doesn't yet know where my carriers are. However, I believe he HAS to invade Midway. Failure to do so would be criminal neglect on his part. If he isn't already on the way or planning this, the appearance of my carriers around Fiji would be a good green light. The thought of my Wake/Marcus TFs blundering into the KB up that way is equally noxious. *ack* as Bill the Cat would say.

Use of Picket Ships: Throughout the game, the Allies have made use of picket ships. With regard to SoPac, I've had a few xAKL spread around New Caledonia for months. As this operation unfolds, I'll send more, plus several small DD TFs. I've also had a picket xAK west of Midway for most of the game. That too will be increased as the Allies proceed west. Some players oppose the use of picket ships on the basis that they wouldn't have been used in the real war. I think they would have under these circumstances. In the real war, the Allies had a pretty good idea where the IJN carriers were, or weren't. That allowed the Allies to undertake operations without the threat of wholesale slaughter. In this game, due to the near-total failiure of SigInt, and Brad's extended cloaking of his carriers, I have no idea. None. Had the real Allies had no clue of the location of an extremely powerful force that greatly outnumbered critical Allied assets (like carriers and troop ships), I'm sure they would have sent small, expendable ships, or nimble, fast destroyers, forward as pickets.

[Canoerebel]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants
Where are you going to use your armor?? In Andy Mac's game vs PzB he is using them in mass to take Darwin. You could take them to Sumatra as they will be able to react quicker to his counter attacks or land them as follow up at Port Hedland and supply them by transport as they drive on Broome. When I play Japan, I use them to get around Sumatra quickly.

The British and Indian armor (plus 1st Marine Tanks) are doing a superb job in the great land campaign in India. Some small Aussie armored units are heading for Daly Waters in the coming weeks to assist in the little envelopment campaign intended to appear "big."

I would love to bring armor to Sumatra, though I don't yet know how much I can bring. First priority is powerful American and Australian infantry divisions, because after about a week Sumatra will turn into a hotly contested defensive battle. Also, political points are amazingly scarce. I won't be able to buy out any of the restricted Indian units, I'm afraid. That will leave me with some American and Australian units with maybe an Indian unit or two thrown in.

If I can put eight Allied divisions ashore in good shape, the key to the battle will then become air power and LOC. If the Allied carries are in good shape, I should be able to handle LOC matters. The air campign, though, is going to be a bugger.

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Nearly all of the reinforcements triggered by Japanese encroachment in India arrive at Capetown.

There is one major exception: the Waristan Division arrives in Karachi. I think it arrives with complete TOE and something around 300 AV. (It will be a welcome arrival for the Allied player, but is by no means enough to halt the Japanese player if he arrives in earnest by summer 1942).

I know the Allied device pools get a big bump, but I don't know how this will effect the supply situation. If drawing on the increases in these pools requires suppy, then yes it could be a major problem for India. (I didn't get a decent amount of supply to India until I started running regular, major supply convoys sometime around early summer of 1942).

The Allies also get a bunch of aircraft, included much-needed fighters. I don't know where they arrive. If they don't arrive in India/Karachi, though, they won't be of much help if the Japanese have imposed a blockade.

A few things I might do differently if I were starting another Scenario Two agianst Brad or a player of equal ability, experience, and aggression: (1) As soon as possible transfer some major USA Marine and Army units on the West Coast to East Coast. From there I'd send them to Capetown, then to Karachi/India. this would weaken defenses in other key areas, but it would put some strength in India in early 1942 - February maybe? - probably before Japan could impose the blockade; (2) Immediately organize some major supply runs to India from Capetown to India and from USA to Capetown to India (I did this in this game, but not immediately and with full energy). (3) Getting reinforcements to Oz would be a priority, as would Hawaii. There aren't enough troops, and there aren't enough political points, so from Day One of the war the Allied player is going to be pulling his hair out.

I agree.

This has pretty much been my SOP even with WITP. I start the transfer of air squadrons from day one (in WITP you had to ship them from OZ) and in the case of AE the Australian I corps went to India. If there is not a major incursion into India by May 1, then you are probably safe and I then think about transferring the Aussie units to home. A good Japanese player who elects to go for OZ instead can be invading by May 1 but you can shift Allied troops to help out. I really don't know if OZ can be taken either but it sure can be a test but my policy has been India first so far.

[John 3rd]

Your strategic plan for '43 looks quite sound.

It is safe to expose your CVs for a day or two and then disappear. The chance of him having his CVs in the exact spot where you appear is tiny. Drag your coattails for a day or two and bugout. Get him looking the wrong way...

[Canoerebel]

Brad has at least three subs around Fiji. He's really paying close attention to this theater. It should be easy to get his full attention. A sniff of my carriers and all his warning bells will be clanging.

But - and this is the paranoid side of me - I can just feel the possiblity of Brad guessing right so that my carriers stumble right into his. (Nemo and NY Giants, what's the diagnosis and treatment for these feelings of paranoia?). There's always some risk, though, so no matter when I get going I'm going to be worried.

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

11/6/42

Brad and I got in an extra turn as I ended up working late last night, which is now a better time for him to game.

South of Poona (now North of Goa): The Allied shock attack came off as expected, destroying 700 infantry and support squads. The enemy retired towards Goa, with 335 Allied AV following. I won't attack again until the day after tomorrow, to give the armor and infantry time to advance (no reason to outrun the bulk of my units).

Poona: The Allied deliberate attack destroyed 350 squads, with no squads disabled (meaning that the Japanese units are about to vanish).

Squad scoring: Before the Allies corralled and began attacking these five IJA divisions, the Japanese had lost just 600 army points in the game. That total is up to 1,000 in just a week or two. I don't know what the score will be by the time these five divisions are liquidated, and then 48th Div. attended to, but it will be interesting to see. The Allies, in contrast, have lost 12,500 army points, so I have a long way to go before I can start feeling smug about things. Nevertheless, 12,500 to 1,000 feels alot better than 12,500 to 600.

Allied Carriers: All but one TF has reached Tahiti and refueld. The carriers should be ready to depart tomorrow. (It's interesting to note that this is the first appearance by the Allied carriers on the map since they snuck into Capetown way back in early 1942).

Japanese Intentions: The KB vanished months ago. No clues of it's whereabouts. My best guess would be Truk or Kwaj. I could really use a SigInt report that "CV Kaga is at 68/143" right now. Two months ago, I was certain that Brad would invade Fiji and Midway before the end of the year. It would be a terrible coincidence if the Allied carriers blundered into the a Japanese invasion force with KB while steaming innocently through the seas. I considered this and I've decided that there's no way Brad is going to invade Fiji at this late date. Too much time has transpired, the garrison is too strong, and he doesn't yet know where my carriers are. However, I believe he HAS to invade Midway. Failure to do so would be criminal neglect on his part. If he isn't already on the way or planning this, the appearance of my carriers around Fiji would be a good green light. The thought of my Wake/Marcus TFs blundering into the KB up that way is equally noxious. *ack* as Bill the Cat would say.

Use of Picket Ships: Throughout the game, the Allies have made use of picket ships. With regard to SoPac, I've had a few xAKL spread around New Caledonia for months. As this operation unfolds, I'll send more, plus several small DD TFs. I've also had a picket xAK west of Midway for most of the game. That too will be increased as the Allies proceed west. Some players oppose the use of picket ships on the basis that they wouldn't have been used in the real war. I think they would have under these circumstances. In the real war, the Allies had a pretty good idea where the IJN carriers were, or weren't. That allowed the Allies to undertake operations without the threat of wholesale slaughter. In this game, due to the near-total failiure of SigInt, and Brad's extended cloaking of his carriers, I have no idea. None. Had the real Allies had no clue of the location of an extremely powerful force that greatly outnumbered critical Allied assets (like carriers and troop ships), I'm sure they would have sent small, expendable ships, or nimble, fast destroyers, forward as pickets.

Here is a question for you and all other readers. Now with both sides having the ability to rebuild destroyed units, and considering scen #2 and Japanese production, is it just wiser to beat Japanese units and then push them to a spot where they are trapped rather than destroying them outright? As long as a small fragment is left the unit can not be purchased and rebuilt. I have taken some island bases and not yet wiped out the defenders for this reason. Reasoning that even if they ultimately escape the rebuilding of the unit will be delayed and getting them out cost time and resources and risks shipping. And then, my last question is should I consider this gamey and refrain from doing it.

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: crsutton

Here is a question for you and all other readers. Now with both sides having the ability to rebuild destroyed units, and considering scen #2 and Japanese production, is it just wiser to beat Japanese units and then push them to a spot where they are trapped rather than destroying them outright? As long as a small fragment is left the unit can not be purchased and rebuilt. I have taken some island bases and not yet wiped out the defenders for this reason. Reasoning that even if they ultimately escape the rebuilding of the unit will be delayed and getting them out cost time and resources and risks shipping. And then, my last question is should I consider this gamey and refrain from doing it.

Why can't they just attack you until they're dead? IOW, commit suicide?

[Canoerebel]

11/7/42

crsutton: That's a very good idea, though I'm not sure the "buy back" rule applies to our game, because I'm not sure Brad and I are patched that far. But, for morale reasons, I've authorized the Supreme Allied Commander to eliminate every Jap unit possible. After the terrible Indian retreat from 3/42 to 9/42, it feels awfully good to punish the enemy.

Poona: Another Allied deliberate attack. This one destroyed 1100 squads with none disrupted. At least three IJA units have vanished. The end will come tomorrow.

Squad Points: That attack elevated the points for destroyed IJ units from 1000 to 1300, thus reducing the IJA lead in that department to less than a 10:1 ratio (bronx cheers fill the auditorium, but I tell ya it feels good!) Byt the tiime the Allies eliminate the stack near Goa, plus 48th Divsion, the points should increase to roughly 2,000.

Neglect? Recon reports 48 Japanese ships at Madras, whose troops have been targeted by Allied 4EB over the past few days. Surely Brad won't leave shipping exposed like that any longer, but on the chance that he's careless, I've ordered a port strike tomorrow.

India as a Whole: No question now that the Allies will hold all of southern, central, northern, and western India by the end of the year. The only question is the NE. Even there, it's possible the Allies will reclaim Calcutta, Chittagong, and the Kalemo/Imphal line within two months. (Brad could certainly make a protracted stand at Calcutta, but I don't think he'll sacrifice the units to do so.)

Waving the Red Flag: Allied carriers have refueled at Tahiti (always a good feeling). They'll move west tomorrow. I'm definately going to use them in SoPac. I'm debating whether using them to cover an in invasion of Noumea, as long planned, or instead to try to give Brad just a whiff of their presence, so he knows they are there. The real purpose in revealing them is to draw the KB to free up CenPac for the invasion of Wake Island. If I do anything that smacks of "feint," I won't achieve the goal. So I'll think about this a bit. This isn't the time, methinks, to sail around near the front lines banging on pots and pans. I need to be either very subtle in "hiding" the carriers around NZ, or very bold in striking Noumea. Neither of those would strike Brad as a feint.

[Canoerebel]

One other word about the idea of not destroying an enemy unit so that your opponent can't rebuild them.

First, you could leave them in a hex by themselves. Then they couldn't commit suicide attacks.

Second, I'm not sure such a move would be fair. If the idea of the game is to permit players to rebuild units, thus eliminating the challenging but sometimes annoying "cadre evacuation" measures, then shouldn't we let the feature work as intended?

[vettim89]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

One other word about the idea of not destroying an enemy unit so that your opponent can't rebuild them.

First, you could leave them in a hex by themselves. Then they couldn't commit suicide attacks.

Second, I'm not sure such a move would be fair. If the idea of the game is to permit players to rebuild units, thus eliminating the challenging but sometimes annoying "cadre evacuation" measures, then shouldn't we let the feature work as intended?

Regardless of the final disposition be it rebuilding by "buy back" or rebuilding from cadre, that unit is still going to drain the device pools. I think the number of units affected by this would be limited for that very reason

[Cribtop]

IMHO leaving stragglers is gamey. It's silly to think that IRL the enemy high command would simply refuse to create a new division organization just because a few companies are lost in Timbuktu.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Cribtop

IMHO leaving stragglers is gamey. It's silly to think that IRL the enemy high command would simply refuse to create a new division organization just because a few companies are lost in Timbuktu.

+1

[Capt. Harlock]

IMHO leaving stragglers is gamey.

On the other hand, that appears to be what happened at Iwo Jima. There were as many as 3,000 IJA soldiers still hiding in caves when the island was declared secure. (Although it was declared secure three times before it finally stuck.) The last holdouts didn't surrender for at least four years after V-J day.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

IMHO leaving stragglers is gamey.

On the other hand, that appears to be what happened at Iwo Jima. There were as many as 3,000 IJA soldiers still hiding in caves when the island was declared secure. (Although it was declared secure three times before it finally stuck.) The last holdouts didn't surrender for at least four years after V-J day.

Which had nothing to do with the ability of the IJ HQ to form a new unit.

[Xxzard]

Agree. If we are being realistic here, we have to accept that the lack of an ability to form new units is a limitation/trait of the game. In real life, the high command could have chosen to remake a cut off or destroyed unit, or create new divisions, or do whatever they wish.

[Canoerebel]

11/8/42

Neglect it was: Shame on Brad. He forgot about 48 ships docked at Madras. Three effective strikes by Allied LBA facing no CAP heavily damaged at least 23, including 2 xAP, 19 xAK, 1 E, and 1 PB). I think alot more ships were hit, but I didn't want to compare the three strike reports for duplicates. I think at least ten IJ ships will go under; maybe twenty.

Poona: The Japanese army at Poona evaportated. 54th Division and two brigades of 6th Guards Division vanished. That leaves one-third of 6th Guards to be dealt with just NE of Poona, and then 48th Div. west of Poona.

Goa: Darn it, Brad's mauled army north of Poona got chewed up, but took the optimum route of retreat into Goa, crossing through jungle rather than taking the top-quality road that led south. (Every one of my forced retreats early in the campaign resulted in the least optimum route of retreat against all common sense; Brad has had the opposite luck). Now his remnant troops are at Goa, where Brad will certainly extract portions by air. I've posted two P-38 squadrons for LRCAP, and about 200 Allied AV will attack tomorrow.

Subs: Kingfish got an empty xAK near Diamond Harbor.