Racing the Sunrise: RA 4.0--Japanese Side

[John 3rd]

He is--probably--guilty as charged. The KEY are those 3 Inf Div up in the NW. There sits the vast majority of Australia's fighting power and I am nowhere near it.

I would immediately try to swing back by moving into the Central Pacific and/or India--Burma. The I-B Route will be tougher within days as I finish landing two full strength Inf DIv at Rangoon. Should provide enough oomph to hold for a while. Seriously considered sending the 14th ID (from Manchuria) to Burma but have directed it towards Australia. The Central Pacific is another story. RA does little to enhance the IJA but it DOES grow the IJN. Having the SNLF Assault Brigades and the Atoll Defense units will be a real boon to the Japanese Defense. Adding the additional aircraft of the 9th Air Fleet (200 planes roughly) helps provide the chance for a concentration against an early American Central Pacific gambit.

This statement also takes into account essential CV numbers. Lew has lost Lexington and Hermes. Enterprise and Indomitable are damaged and all the way over in Ceylon (at a minimum) and, thus, waaaaay out of position. This leaves Yorktown and Sartoga for offensive platforms. I can take TWO US CVs if I have to using LBA. Additionally, Junyo and Nisshin are moving into the theatre. Within 30 Days I will have Shoho, Zuiho, and Soryu back in action. Just past that 30 day window will see Hiyo added to the fleet and Ryujo repaired. If he decides to attack, it had better be FAST! Any form of a window of opportunity in Spring 1942 shall pass quite quickly.

[Historiker]

What are the overall naval losses in comparison?

[John 3rd]

Here is the overall VP Screenshot.

Naval Losses:

Japan
CVEs Taiyo and Hosho
BB Yamashiro
CA Chokai
CL 6 (all old)
DD 21 (11 Old)
SS 1 I-Boat

Allies
CV Lexington
CVL Hermes
BBs Warspite and Colorado
CA 11
CL 14
DD 43
SS 9

LOOK at the CA--CL--DDs. Holy CATS! [X(]

[seille]

Still no news from your opponent ? Hopefully this is not a bad sign.....

[John 3rd]

Just got home from work. Lew wrote and said he forgot to tell me he and his son went to a motorcross event six hours away from their place. They were gone for 3 days evidently. He said we'd get a turn tonight. This appears to be good news so we'll see what happens.

ANY comments regarding the losses Posted above?

[John 3rd]

March 25, 1942

Hello all. Sorry for the lack of Posting but my concerns regarding my opponent continue to grow. We've maintained a solid turn-a-day average and now--suddenly--it is 2-3 days between turns. Getting a bit old but we'll see what happens.

I am traveling from good ole Colorado to my old home state of Missouri. Had a decent flight aboard Frontier and am safely ensconsed at my Best Friend's house for a couple of days while I take care of some of Father's Estate stuff. Thought I might take the time to do a couple of comprehensive updates covering the entire game theatre-by-theatre.

We got one turn in so I want to cover that before moving on to other areas:

Eastern Australia

Rockhampton is attacked by 21 B-17s. My 47 Zeros intercdept and do an excellent job of shooting down 3 of their targets. The remaining B-17's drop their loads and destroy 1 Zero, 1 Sally, and 1 Val on the ground. The AF is only hit 6 times.

To distract Lew, I order a Sentai of Sallys to hit the hex west of Rockhampton and troops spotted on the road to the south. Each Sentai inflicts 50-60 casualties and I hope this serves to make Lew want to think about spreading his fighters around some. Shift the bombers targets for next turn and will then pull them for the 60+ Tinas that will move in for the Para drop coming up.

Time to GO!
Both Invasion Forces are fully formed and ready. Order the TF to head-in to their respective targets at Port Kembla and Newcastle. Each TF has a Daitai of Zero flying Cover from the KB. This number will increase once the TF are spotted. There are 2 BB and CA-CL or two and 5-8 DDs embedded with each Invasion Force. I will pull out a BB and several DDs to bombard once we are a day away from the targets. The TF are 1-2 hexes due south of Lord Howe, not spotted, and are now heading into their respective destinations. There are 50-60,000 men in each TF. The Game is AFOOT!

Southern Australia
The Perth Invasion Force moves south past the other two landing TF. It is my intention to bring this Force in wherever they might do the most psychological damage. If things look good at Newcastle and Port Kembla, then I might shoot for the moon and land at Sale. We'll stay flexible and see what transpires...

Western Australia
The Geraldton IF is less then one day away and STILL NOT SPOTTED! Hiryu will swing around the Landing Force and move to a point SW of of Perth once I have landed.

The Port Augusta IF is now 7-8 hexes WNW of Perth. They will swing to a point of being WSW next turn. If they are not discovered then it is an easy move straight to their Target.

My Paras have Cue and Are laying seige to Kalgoorlie. Lew is using his bombers here to hit my troops and, thus, keeping his attention elsewhere as my Invasion Force reaches the embarkation beaches untouched.

Northern Australia
Bombers hit the 2nd and 4th Austr ID this day. 65th Brigade leaves Katherine and moves into the first hex heading for Daly Waters.

SS Operations
I-173 sinks TK British Motorist near Sale with 2 TT.

I-6 sinks AKL Ngakuta with 1 TT near Burnie (Tasmania)


HOME STRETCH FANS!

[John 3rd]

Gonna do some regional updates to sort of catch-up on the rest of the war:

Burma
I have two TK Reg and Recon element two hexes NE of Swebo (Sp?). The troops in all of Burma conist of 55th ID, 2 TK Reg, and--just unloading--a new Inf Div. I have everything through Central Burma and will expand east and west. Here is the logical counteroffensive area. I need to take Katha--at a minimum--before the Monsoon arrives and everything stops. Will attempt to push north past that and threaten Myitkyina is possible. That might be pretty hard since it appears that ALL the Burma Allied units are up there. We'll have to see...

I've decided to breadown my other remaining Inf Div (Imperial Guards) and deploy Brigades into Port Blair, Sabang, and Medan so I can have a core of resistance if he tries to get amphibious on me. Have decent amounts of Base Forces and a good number of Army air units for support. No naval strength whatsoever so this could be an issue if something is tried quickly.

If things look good in Australia I think the 14th ID that I just bought out of Manchuria will move to thise Theatre. Until Aussieland resolves itself, this arena will be dangerously vulnerable.

CHINA
My offensive for Sian is totally bogged down for the moment. I've got troops next to the base on the SE edge and then more units one hex east of there. Don't think there is enough combat power to eject the Chinese unless I move more air support into the area. Have to tip my hat to the hex limits for army size. It DOES serve to slowdown operations and this is a good thing.

Have got 4-5 ID resting and rebuilding right now and don't have any grand plans except to drive the Chinese out of that dratted Port SW of Shanghai (don't have the game open). Once I've done that there will be a gradual sweep pushing Chinese out of my rear areas so I can establish and defensive line. Will suspend operations at that point and say 'good enough.'

Want to begin buying out China Brigades for deployment into the Pacific to buttress my strength there. Good, solid Brigade of about 225-250 AV makes it rather hard to take a prepped base...

[John 3rd]

North Pacific
I was looking at my notes and noticed that after I detailed the battle up there I didn't finish the story so let me wrap-up that detail. After Junyo, Nisshin, Yamato sink the Warspite and Colorado they move south to Marcus Island. The 'other' element to the action here was the Kawafuto Brigade landing at Dutch Harbor (after grabbing Umnak). I had reconned this base for several weeks and ALWAYS got the report back of two units and about 2,000 men. OK. Good. Order the landing on the 20th and am STUNNED to find SIX units including 2 Ind Regiments present. CRAP. Immediately reload the Brigade and retire to Umnak.

This is as far as I go in the Aleutians. Have Base Forces and Engineers moving to Umnak and will build-up the AF. My Infantry Power here is the Brigade plus one SNLF Brigade. A pair of Naval Guard are on the way up there. I have a decent small air contingent of 21 Kates, 15 Vals, and 36 Zero. This will need to be reinforced with some air search units and a bomber Daitai or two. Naval strength is now 2 CL and 9 DD. We'll have to see what Lew wants to do.

Keep in mind that the Kuriles start RA slightly strengthened and I am continuing to develop those base for the possibilitiy of a northern Allied Offensive.

Central and South Pacific
WOEFULLY vulnerable. I have several I-Boat attacks upon a large convoy of APs and AKs at Christmas Isle. Makes me a bit nervous since he is obviously moving stuff into the region.

My Jaliut Strike Force will grow to 2 CA, 2 CL, and 10 DDs pretty soon so I have some strength here. The Junyo--Nisshin Group is near Marcus and shall head for Truk. Will reinforce this group with my repaired CVLs as they come back into service. The Air Arm is somewhat decent with Netties but am woefully weak in Fighters since everything is deployed to Australia right now. Have got a signicant reinforcement of Mavis and Emily coming soon and this shall help a bunch.

The new Japanese units in RA 4.0 are enhansed Infantry predominately. The SNLF Assault Brigades and the Atoll Defense Units are just now coming into use. I shall fight the Pacific War with these units. Right now, units are moving towards garrisoning Noumea, Luganville, Tabiteaua, Eniwetok, Wake, Marcus, and Truk. Once I have these key points reinforced then we shall expand and thicken the perimeter. Need to sort through my engineers and Base Forces to help with base construction and prepare for things to come...

[KenchiSulla]

Nice AAR!

One thing that always worries me about playing Japan is the size of the map to defend. The attacker has the advantage of choosing the target. Yes you are on top NOW, but try defending such a large area even with the additional toys the Japanese get. It could take you days to react to an invasion in, let's say, Sumatra and by then the allies would already be threatening your lifeline.

Or are you going for autovictory?

[John 3rd]

Hi Sir. Like you artwork!

I don't believe in autovictory. As the Emporer, I am playing to win.

With this mentality I will push until forced to shift gears. In many games this means Japan keeps the initiative until early-43. The key, of course, are losses. This could be a far different game if Soryu, Ryujo, Shoho, and Zuiho had sunk. Since they have not then the Kaigun is free to continue the assault. If possible I shall seek to keep Lew off balance for as long as possible.

This means danger elsewhere and as you clearly state, the Allied player gets to CHOSE his target. That is always a fear but, this early, it is fairly minimal at the moment. HIS losses in cruisers at the moment is fairly staggering and we'll see what he is willing to gamble and lose if the choice is to attack while Japan is so heavily focused on Aussieland.

[seille]

The overall questions is if and how long will this game go on [;)]
Did your opponent tell you any reason for the delay ?

[Cribtop]

SAUSLS? (Sudden Australia Loss Syndrome) [:D]

[khyberbill]

How many days since the last turn?

[John 3rd]

Cribtop: YOu about made me spew my iced tea! PURE EVIL! [:D]

Yes, I do have major concerns with Lew at the moment. He knew I was leaving to come out to Missouri for a few days but he got the turn on Tuesday. It could have easily been done for Wednesday before I left. Haven't seen anything yet in the in box...

I REALLY want to see this through so it is a fervent hope that everything is OK and we're going slowly do to life issues. This should be answered pretty quickly since I'll be home tomorrow night and ready for turns at that point. Both of my opponents know this so it is my hope the turn/turns appear.

Bill: Did I send you pictures of my wife and I's possible 'new direction' in life? Your work is fairly close to what we might be thinking about...

[khyberbill]

Did I send you pictures of my wife and I's possible 'new direction' in life? Your work is fairly close to what we might be thinking about...

No, not yet. Do you still have my email address?

[Cribtop]

Hehe. My work here is done. [;)]

Bottom line is you caught him with his pants down and he's trying to deal. I say give him a few days to accept his situation. He is feverishly trying to come up with a counter, but can't. Remind him that he will probably win anyway if he sticks to his guns, even without Oz.

[KenchiSulla]

As Cribtop says, sometimes you just have to mourn your losses, accept it and move on. I did this a number of times in my PBEM with Arnhem.. Mostly it involved me lining up my carriers for him to divebomb...

[Q-Ball]

Your opponent is simly not all the way through the 5 stages of WITP-AE Grief:

DENIAL: "Strange, the combat animation is showing multiple CVs of mine struck by bombs and torps. It's probably just FOW"

ANGER: "WTF?!? 30 planes on CAP? No counterstrikes? This game is BORKED!"

BARGAINING: "Maybe he'll let me re-run the turn with new settings or something"

DEPRESSION: "The game is completely lost, and I'm totally screwed. I suck."

ACCEPTANCE: "Oh well, it's only a game"

[khyberbill]

Remind him that he will probably win anyway if he sticks to his guns

With the loss of all those CA's, he lacks surface power to add to his CV TF's. And no fast BB's or replacement CA's coming for a longggg time.

[John 3rd]

Maybe I should travel a bit more often. You guys---CRIBTOP and Q-Ball---are providing highly entertaining commentary while others---the vast HOSTE of my quality contributors---add fine amounts of insightful thought! Thanks for the musings as we await developments.

On a personal note, my friend and I spent part of the evening on a bluff at a winery watching the sun set and the Missouri River flow by. After 30+ years in Colorado I tend to forget what a REAL river looks like. Goodness. We think the Poudre or Platte are rivers. Heck! Those things are just little baby cricks when one looks down on the Mighty MO. Seriously though if you are ever near Columbia, MO there is a winery (LES BOURGEOIS) that is wonderful and the restaurent sits atop the bluff with an amazing view. As part of the evening, we polished off one bottle of wine there and brought two more back to his house. Ahhhhhhhh...let me say that I am not in my 20s anymore and three bottles between the two of us last night has meant an awful lot of WATER this morning and a couple of aspirin! [:-]