Port Blair Significance

[Icedawg]

A common move by Japanese players seems to be to take Port Blair relatively early on via paradrop. The main argument seems to be to deprive the Allies of a stepping stone base as they move squadrons from Burma/India to Malaya. However, the Allies should be able to just as easily use Tavoy for this purpose, rendering the taking of Port Blair meaningless. So, is there any other reason to take Port Blair early? It seems to be a bit of a waste of para resources which could very easily be utilized in much more important ways.

[Canoerebel]

Port Blair's significance ranges from modest to critical.  In Japanese hands early it can clear the path for an invasion of India (no fun if you're the Allied playering facing a gifted Japanese opponent).  In Japanese hands late it can pose a real pain in the rear if the Allies want to move on Malaya or northern Sumatra.
 
Port Blair usually ends up playing a pretty important part in most games.

[jwilkerson]

The Andaman and Nicobars control the Western side of the Gulf of Martaban. If the Japanese never take these islands, then the supply convoy route between Singapore and Rangoon is dangerous. So the Japanese would seem to need to take these islands before the Allies get too dug in.
Taking Andaman too early however, does little good, because not much can be supported there with only an air transport supply line. Taking Andaman before Singapore falls, seems to be not worth much IMHO.

[crsutton]

It is important to take it but it is just as important to garrison all of the islands off shore leading down to the DEI. Any one can, if built up by the Allies, interdict supply by sea flowing to Rangoon. However, most of the other islands off the coast of Burma cannot have their port built up and that makes it very difficult for the Allied player to keep in supply. Thus Port Blair. But it does not matter much. Sooner of later the Allied player unless whipped hard, will take key bases that will flank Rangoon and cut off the flow of supply via sea. They could easily do this by ignoring the islands and taking Sabang instead. It really is a tough region for Japan to defend.

Regardless, Port Blair is a must for Japan.

[Icedawg]

All of these sound like very good points and would be reasons I myself would take Port Blair - eventually. From these replies however, there seems to be no immediate/pressing need to take Port Blair by the first or second week of the game.

One could very easily wait until the 124th Regiment seizes its initial objectives in SW Borneo, load them onto transports, sail them to Port Blair and take the base by seaborne invasion by mid/late December 1941 - all without the need to involve paras.

[PaxMondo]

Taking Port Blair early via para forces Singer air units to go out via ship or fly south to Oz instead of to India.  Many of the units have short legs that cannot reach Burma from Sabang.  This helps the IJ with the conquest of Burma.  In the big scope it is a minor thing and easily countered, but ....

[Icedawg]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

Taking Port Blair early via para forces Singer air units to go out via ship or fly south to Oz instead of to India.  Many of the units have short legs that cannot reach Burma from Sabang.  This helps the IJ with the conquest of Burma.  In the big scope it is a minor thing and easily countered, but ....

Good point. I never considered the removal of air units from Singapore. But, if they can leave via Port Blair, then can't they just as easily leave via Tavoy? (Maybe this is what you mean by "easily countered"?)

It takes 2+ weeks for the Japanese player to capture Tavoy, so in the meantime, couldn't he just sail a small/moderate amphibious TF through the straits of Malaca and capture Port Blair that way?

I'd rather devote the surface assets required for this approach than the precious few para units that start the game on map. To me, those para units can be put to better use wreaking havoc elsewhere.

[BBfanboy]

From Pt. Blair, Mavis patrol aircraft [25 hex range] can recon beyond Columbo [22 hexes]. This is the best tripwire for Japan against any British thrusts into the Bay of Bengal. Japan can keep a task force safe in Singapore and have time to react to a British fleet moving into the Bay of Bengal, or just move torpedo bombers into the area.

[KPAX]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

From Pt. Blair, Mavis patrol aircraft [25 hex range] can recon beyond Columbo [22 hexes]. This is the best tripwire for Japan against any British thrusts into the Bay of Bengal. Japan can keep a task force safe in Singapore and have time to react to a British fleet moving into the Bay of Bengal, or just move torpedo bombers into the area.

Excellent point, did not thing of those long legs.

But all in all, can't the Allied render Port Blair's AF a waste land by bombing the crap out of it? Those B-17 should be able to make the AF a jumk pile.

And it would take a while to build the AF up and their would be the need for TF supplying PB, which Burma could make tough with Naval Attacks?

[Canoerebel]

It is hard for 4EB operating at long range to effectively shut down an airfield - at least if the airfield has some size, engineers and supply.  I would hate to use my precious 4EB to try to suppress Port Blair from Ceylon or northeastern India.  I usually need them much more in other theaters.

A litany of reasons have now been cited as to why Port Blair is important. 

And it is.

[KPAX]

I am not in the game right this sec, but can 2E LBA reach from Rangoon?

And the base starts as 1-2 if I remember. So, IJN has to ferry in supplies there. A little Naval Attack and 2E bombing of the AF from Rangoon should make it tough at least and a little costly.

[Canoerebel]

It's (usually) easy for Japan to take Port Blair early in the game if Japan wants it.  Japan should also steamroll right through Burma.  By the time the Allies have the ability to come back in a meaningful way it's usually 1943.  By then, Japan holds Rangoon and Port Blair fairly strongly.  An approach over land is problematic, due to supply-flow problems across the roadless jungles of Burma.  So, to make headway, the Allies often want to invade western Sumatra, Port Blair, or perhaps Moulmein/Tavoy.  The trouble is that these are big, well-defended Japanese bases.  With good patrols operating out of her airfields, Japan will see whatever's coming long before they can arrive and will bring down a rain of Netties and perhaps combat ships (and maybe even carriers).  Now, that might not happen, but the Allied player knows its a possibility.  So moving into the eastern Bay of Bengal in 1943 can be very tough.

[Icedawg]

ORIGINAL: Icedawg

All of these sound like very good points and would be reasons I myself would take Port Blair - eventually. From these replies however, there seems to be no immediate/pressing need to take Port Blair by the first or second week of the game.

One could very easily wait until the 124th Regiment seizes its initial objectives in SW Borneo, load them onto transports, sail them to Port Blair and take the base by seaborne invasion by mid/late December 1941 - all without the need to involve paras.

I just want to reiterate this point.

Why is it that many Japanese players feel the need to take Port Blair as quickly as possible using paras? Can't it just wait unitl mid/late Dec and be taken with a regiment or two transported by sea?

[Ketza]

When I play as Japan there are certain points on the map that I like to get out of the way as soon as posible to prevent them from being harder to get later. Against some allied players you may find some out of the way place that should be a walkover turned into a mini fortress with forces that have been withdrew from other out of the way places.

Port blair is one of those spots that can become a pain in the ass if you wait too long.

[Canoerebel]

Sure, you can wait.  Perhaps you have an opponent who is willing to work with you so that you can take all the time you need.
 
In a game I finished last month, though, my opponent never took Port Blair.  By the time he tried in the spring of 1942, it had become a storngly defended fortress.  He lost two BBs and a CA or two, another BB was heavily damaged, and a host of transports and men.  He never tried again.
 
I'm not saying you have to use paras to take Port Blair in early December, but it may be only with considerable experience can a Japanese player know when and with how much he needs to assault Port Blair. Better early than never.  (In most games, Lunga, Luganville, Noumea, Port Moresby, Pago Pago and the like are of considerably less strategic importance than Port Blair.)

[LoBaron]

ORIGINAL: Icedawg

ORIGINAL: Icedawg

All of these sound like very good points and would be reasons I myself would take Port Blair - eventually. From these replies however, there seems to be no immediate/pressing need to take Port Blair by the first or second week of the game.

One could very easily wait until the 124th Regiment seizes its initial objectives in SW Borneo, load them onto transports, sail them to Port Blair and take the base by seaborne invasion by mid/late December 1941 - all without the need to involve paras.

I just want to reiterate this point.

Why is it that many Japanese players feel the need to take Port Blair as quickly as possible using paras? Can't it just wait unitl mid/late Dec and be taken with a regiment or two transported by sea?

As quickly as possible is a bit of an exaggeration IMHO. But quick enough to render the Andaman Sea and Strait of Malacca useless for transit, and cut the air link between
Rangoon and Singers.

Also, the usual opposite to "what do I gain?" is "what do I deny to the opponent?". Port blair is a good enough base for early war NavS, recon, small SAG raiders and the likes.
One of the most effective Allied tools early war is eyes. The faster you deny that, the easier to keep the Allied player off balance.

[LowCommand]

Another point, if the Allies hold Port Blair, taking the KB or mini KB for a cruse in the Indian Ocean gets more "interesting." The KB can cruse by Port Blair and exchange "insults” with whatever aircraft, subs, surface forces, etc. that might be plugging the mouth of the Strait of Malacca by being based there, or they can sortie by one of the gaps in The Malay Barrier. The gaps are small and lovely places for mines, or other nasty surprises. Even more fun, the largest and best gaps are down near Darwin where the Aussies can arrange an exciting reception. Early in the war, the Allies probably won’t be able to do too much, but they can be lethal to cripples. Later on, Port Blair and Darwin can do a reasonable job of sealing off the Indian Ocean from major Japanese surface forces. Port Blair is also a reasonable place to base subs, suppress or support Rangoon etc. There are many reasons that the Allies want to hold the place or retake it as soon as possible. Retaking the place was high on Allied plans. Only the shortage of amphibious shipping stopped the operation (insert rant here about the timing and priority of DE’s, SC’s LST’s, etc.)

[spence]

In several PBEM I have turned Port Blair into a place where the IJN and IJA have lost a great deal. In every case, though, taking it in June/July 1942 or so has entailed a major effort on the part of both the IJA (several divisions) and IJN (lots of carriers and BBs). In every case the IJN lost several cruisers and a carrier or two either sunk or wrecked and sent to the yards for a very long time. In every case the IJAF and IJNAF have lost a lot of planes. On the upside, in every case I as the Allies have lost the garrison (one of those divisions (reinforced) that comes in in Dec 1941 or so, some cruisers and destroyers, the AVG, assorted obsolete bombers and so forth and a bunch of small AKLs. Attrition is the name of the game for the Allies and Port Blair is not that bad of a place to bring it on.

[Icedawg]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Sure, you can wait.  Perhaps you have an opponent who is willing to work with you so that you can take all the time you need.

In a game I finished last month, though, my opponent never took Port Blair.  By the time he tried in the spring of 1942, it had become a storngly defended fortress.  He lost two BBs and a CA or two, another BB was heavily damaged, and a host of transports and men.  He never tried again.

I'm not saying you have to use paras to take Port Blair in early December, but it may be only with considerable experience can a Japanese player know when and with how much he needs to assault Port Blair. Better early than never.  (In most games, Lunga, Luganville, Noumea, Port Moresby, Pago Pago and the like are of considerably less strategic importance than Port Blair.)

Spring of 42 is obviously way too late. I'm talking Dec 20-30 or so.

Land the 124th Rgt elements (and a couple SNLFs) at Kuching, Miri and Singkawang (to take advantage of their high prep values), load them back up, sail through the Straits of Malaca and on to Port Blair. You should be able to be there by late December with an invasion fleet with 200+ AV.

If Force Z has been disposed of, 4 CAs and 8-10 DDs should serve as enough surface cover. Throw in Baby KB for air cover and the Allied player shouldn't be able to seriously oppose you. If Force Z is still prowling around, throw in a couple of Kongos and a slow BB or two for some extra teeth and you should be good.

In the end, you'll be capturing Port Blair in just about the same amount of time, you'll still have your paras available for other uses and you'll have a significant naval presence in the Indian Ocean relatively early in the game (along with a hefty AV total that can easily be shipped off to help in Burma - maybe even having Akyab in your possession by early Jan 41?).

Now I know there are many out there who use HRs that prohibit the Japanese from sailing past Singapore until it falls. If that is the case, then, of course, paras are your only option.

[Icedawg]

ORIGINAL: spence

In several PBEM I have turned Port Blair into a place where the IJN and IJA have lost a great deal. In every case, though, taking it in June/July 1942 or so has entailed a major effort on the part of both the IJA (several divisions) and IJN (lots of carriers and BBs). In every case the IJN lost several cruisers and a carrier or two either sunk or wrecked and sent to the yards for a very long time. In every case the IJAF and IJNAF have lost a lot of planes. On the upside, in every case I as the Allies have lost the garrison (one of those divisions (reinforced) that comes in in Dec 1941 or so, some cruisers and destroyers, the AVG, assorted obsolete bombers and so forth and a bunch of small AKLs. Attrition is the name of the game for the Allies and Port Blair is not that bad of a place to bring it on.

Wow! You get a whole division there by Dec 41?! [X(]

Scratch everything I said above! Get those paras to Bangkok ASAP!