I know, I'm mostly blabbering around, but is there anyone left to read what I write? [;)]
like princep wrote:
So, after 4 pages of chatter, threats, maps, lines drawn, and changed, we at last approach the point of doing all those foul deeds and actually blowning something up.
I permanently redraw the lines which might be very boring for readers. So who's left of the initial "subscribers"?
East Australia?
(and the "lines drawn and changed" continues... [;)])
Alfred's postings made me think and I did a couple of tests with Shokaku, Zuikaku and Shoho, whether I can create a firestorm that destroys Sydney's repair shipyard. Unfortunately, it didn't work. In about a dozend attacks on both or either the repair shipyard and the manpower, I was able to start fires with my Kates and Vals, but all factories retained their size.
THe idea to take out the only allied shipyard between pearl harbor and colombo that is able to repair anything bigger than a cruiser below 10.000ts is VERY tempting. Yes, he gets those huge ARDs later (I want some, too! [:(] ), but this means that BBs and CVs neither can be fully repaired, nore upgraded between PH and Colombo.
THAT would be a tempting target. Even if it is impossible to destroy it permanently, I could either occupy it (less good idea as it triggers the reinforcements), or bomb it to dust until he gives up repairing it.
So while my invasion of Darwin is still coming, it might actually become interesting to invade the Australian East coast for two reasons:
- deny it to him
- start a strategic bombing campaign
While I don't play for points, a strategic bombing campaign has some significant benefits:
- I occupy his forces
- I keep the initiative
- I reduce his ability to feed Australia all by itself, which means he'll have to increase the shipping to supply it.
- I get points that might reduce the chance of HIS autovictory in 1944 and later.
Is there any way to increas my chances to permanently destroy the repair shipyards in australia (which is possible according to Alfred)?
There are also a few side effects of a campaign in East Australia:
- PM and the whole area is relatifly save for the time being
- I can destroy all australian forces north of my planned landing point at Maryborough
- I force him to spend his squad reinforcemtns into restriced units instead of free offensive ones.
Units available:
- 53rd Division (invading PM in a few turns)
- South Seas Detachment (invading PM in a few turns)
- 16th Division
- 48th Division
the 38th Division will participate in the Darwin invasion, but will have to remain there to secure northern Australia for now, I guess.
The downside:
Should I do this, not only assets that might help in China are used elsewhere (while suffering losses they wouldn't have in China), I'd also need at least the four mentioned divisions to secure the Brisbane-Toowcomba-Line. Those four divisions can't help in china, can't help defend the pacific, can't help in the DEI and in Burma.
Operation Ōyama Iwao
I am almost convinced now, to do Operation Ōyama Iwao, the invasion of Russia. The only precondition to that is, that Japan can succeed in China. To guarantee that, I make sure that every garrison is filled with useless troops not wasting any point of AV without need. I also send several tank units to China, in combination with two additional divisions. The 18th Division marched from Lashio to Paoshan and should arrive there next turn. She'll hopefully be enough against that two small chinese units there.
The descision to invade russia has several reasons:
- It will help my economy
- It will prevent the russian attack in 45
- It will be fun while having strategic reasons
- It will finally make this AAR really interesting and grant me the attention I desperatly seek [;)]
Again: The precvondition is to be able to free enough troops in China in mid 43. I plan to have about 5 divisions in the Vladivostok area, purely for defense. Three Divisions will cut the railroad at Khabarovks while I hope to be able to throw at least 15k AV into the northern offensive.
The units for that operation will manly have to come from China. I'll also think about evacuation the Australian East Coast before, especially after the Strategic bombing campaign is completed.
Another side show:
I think I'll invade Midway in about 4 months. From there, I'll take the two tiny atolls en route to Pearl Harbor to make him expect a naval invasion of PH. Using that bases, I'll try how night attacks with Emilys work against the port of PH! 4 250kg bombs aren't very much, but I think its worth a try, isn't it?
Without any doubt: I am the spawn of evil - and the Bavarian Beer Monster (BBM)!
There's only one bad word and that's taxes. If any other word is good enough for sailors; it's good enough for you. - Ron Swanson
