Im getting crushed Rroberson v CV2 (No CV2 allowed)

[rroberson]

North China

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Im trying to make him dig me out right now. Basically guerilla warfare. One of my opponents was VERY successful at doing this to me, dropping random units down onto my supply lines forcing me to constantly dig them out. His losses were high but Chinese Zombie troops cannot really be killed.

Im also attempting to form a new line at the mountain pass you guys suggested. So far he has showed no movement in that direction after his conquest of Sian (maybe my threatening his supply line is making him feel overextended?) so its giving me time to shift warm bodies to the mountain hex.

He has also left his rear areas fairly lightly garrisoned. I have already take a couple of those bases and am moving to see if I can grab a few more. I wont hold him, but hopefully it will force him to pause and back track to deal with the situation.

[rroberson]

And Australia

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He appears to have one or two of his divisions on the move for Wyndham again. I drove him away from it once already with armor.

He also landed at Derby but I had landed a Brigade at Broom and marched them east and the few planes I had in the area caught some APDs bring more troops and put two of them under...the troops that made it to shore ran into the 19th Australian Brigade and for a rare change in this game, it didn't end well...for them. Is carrier is operating on the extreme west edge of the map (2 perhaps 3 carriers?) I think he is searching for my British carriers which are now safely hiding out in the Perth area.

[rroberson]

And the South Pacific

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I was in the process of trying to build this up. Many a game I took this from the allies and then toyed with his shipping to Auckland. Didn't want that to happen to me. CV2 has been so slow in moving into the South Pacific I thought I could seize the moment..>(thus the disaster at Lunga). He just now got around to taking Lunga so I feel like there is time to get troops in there to at least resist any move to Luginville etc. But you guys have made me pause and mull this.

Right now I have another 8 thousand or so troops prepared to land at Luginville and Ndeni. With at least half of his carriers toying around north of Australia I tend to doubt he has much naval air in the area at the moment (though he is tough to sort out where exactly those other 2 or 3 are). I have two more carriers escorting the troops move to the north...frankly this was probably what I should have done in the first place. Right now they are moving VERY slow as I am considering instead pulling everything back to Auckland (again based on what you guys have mentioned). CV2 is a very very aggressive player so I could see him rolling through the area with out "breaking a sweat".

[Dan Nichols]

Turn stockpiling OFF at Noumea and the supply will flow to Koumac.

[rroberson]

aha...and the sad thing is...I knew that.

duh.

thanks

[rroberson]

It's 12 April 1942 in game.

Bataan has fallen.




I was hoping it could hold until may. Im sure those free divisions will suddenly appear where I can least afford them.

[rroberson]

Just a few notes from the weekend...as we pushed out several turns.


CV2 now holds PM. Once again his ability to dump divisions into anything he wants is disturbing. The Australian East Coast is wide open to invasion and based on how he is playing this game I don't doubt I will get a visit there and soon. The Australian forces are garbage right now and I have very little air in the area that can compete with him. Time will tell. I have been hitting PM with two squadrons of B17s, but it will take sometime before they get affective.

He also surprised me and dumped a division onto Derby retaking it. I had run his troops off with armor and a brigade, but didn't figure he'd come back with more troops. I have 3 brigades in the area so if he tries to push west to Broome it will be more of a fight, but with as many divisions as he has on the board, it's not like I can stop him there. I have lost track of his carriers again which of course makes me afraid to move mine in anywhere...(My US pair are hiding out in Auckland, the British are at Perth and Colombo). I also have two more brigades in Perth that I can embark with the British naval air but I want to try to track his carriers before I push them around the corner.

The DEI is all but his. I have garrisons holding out at Batavia and the mountain two hexes south east of it (I forget the name) but they aren't long for the game. Palembang is ripe for the picking and has been for a long long time. He is smart not to take it early as I would have bombed it out of existence.

My Sig Ints has been busy reporting an embarked Japanese unit headed to Akyab. Not much there at the moment but I am rushing troops south to garrison it and give him a happy arrival. Further I have kept the Royal Airforce grounded and training since the start of the game. Should he land at Akyab I will unleash them there.

They also reported him prepping a division for Nadi in the Fiji islands. Now I tend to doubt he will push that far out since he probably needs to grab Luginville first...but I am moving some more ground units into the Fiji Islands to help discourage that.

After much thought I have decided to draw my land in the sand between the New Hebrides and New Caledonia area. He has begun to bomb Luginville no doubt from Tulagi or Lunga with Nells. This next turn he should get a surprise as I have an airfield operating there. My airfields at Efate and Koumac are now both operational and I have moved a combat division to Noumea. I have little doubt he can take all these islands at his pleasure, but it is time to make him start to suffer some from attrition. Like I said, pictures tonite when I get home.

Trying to be patient as the allies is very tough. Like I said I have only been this deep once or twice before as the allies...to have to sit there and just take a beating is beyond difficult.

[Bullwinkle58]

I've never defended Oz, but I'd say stay off the water with troops. The railroads are your friend. That said, I'd hold Perth if at all possible and not move those troops away. There's nothing in the NW worth risking Perth's advantages.

Be aware of where the Line of Death runs and the reenforcement package if he crosses it. Get some ships to the entry locations to lift those troops somewhere.

If he's willing to activate the package there are invasion routes into west Australia from the south which could surprise you as well as cut Perth off from the rail network. Don't let him get to Kalgoorie.

I'd take a good look at the Japanese garrison requirements for the eastern coast cities. Oz can soak up some serious garrisoning.

Why are you bothering to use B-17s on PM if it's gone? Guard those puppies someplace safe and deep. You may need them to bomb troops on road march. PM just wears them out.

[rroberson]

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

I've never defended Oz, but I'd say stay off the water with troops. The railroads are your friend. That said, I'd hold Perth if at all possible and not move those troops away. There's nothing in the NW worth risking Perth's advantages.

Be aware of where the Line of Death runs and the reenforcement package if he crosses it. Get some ships to the entry locations to lift those troops somewhere.

If he's willing to activate the package there are invasion routes into west Australia from the south which could surprise you as well as cut Perth off from the rail network. Don't let him get to Kalgoorie.

I'd take a good look at the Japanese garrison requirements for the eastern coast cities. Oz can soak up some serious garrisoning.

Why are you bothering to use B-17s on PM if it's gone? Guard those puppies someplace safe and deep. You may need them to bomb troops on road march. PM just wears them out.

Line of death? Time to crack open my manual again I see.

Im striking PM mostly to force him to put fighters there. Attrit Attrit. In my many games as Japan my opponents just attrited me to death where ever I had forces in range of their heavies. Currently PM is the only place I "can" strike him with them. (Burma could be hit as well, but so far I am keeping that mostly Royal Air Force).

Probably wise regarding Perth. I don't see him driving that deep (or far to the west) into Australia has he has been content to sit at Daly Waters.

Much like China where after just kicking my ass across Asia, he has just sat at Sian...boggles my mind but it has given me time to get troops into position to defend the core area of that country.

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: rroberson

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

I've never defended Oz, but I'd say stay off the water with troops. The railroads are your friend. That said, I'd hold Perth if at all possible and not move those troops away. There's nothing in the NW worth risking Perth's advantages.

Be aware of where the Line of Death runs and the reenforcement package if he crosses it. Get some ships to the entry locations to lift those troops somewhere.

If he's willing to activate the package there are invasion routes into west Australia from the south which could surprise you as well as cut Perth off from the rail network. Don't let him get to Kalgoorie.

I'd take a good look at the Japanese garrison requirements for the eastern coast cities. Oz can soak up some serious garrisoning.

Why are you bothering to use B-17s on PM if it's gone? Guard those puppies someplace safe and deep. You may need them to bomb troops on road march. PM just wears them out.

Line of death? Time to crack open my manual again I see.

Im striking PM mostly to force him to put fighters there. Attrit Attrit. In my many games as Japan my opponents just attrited me to death where ever I had forces in range of their heavies. Currently PM is the only place I "can" strike him with them. (Burma could be hit as well, but so far I am keeping that mostly Royal Air Force).

Probably wise regarding Perth. I don't see him driving that deep (or far to the west) into Australia has he has been content to sit at Daly Waters.

Much like China where after just kicking my ass across Asia, he has just sat at Sian...boggles my mind but it has given me time to get troops into position to defend the core area of that country.

Take a look at this thread

tm.asp?m=2617094&mpage=1&key=Emergency

there's a screen shot for each unit in the package. They come in at CT and Aden from memory, but I'd check that in the editor.

The LOD is south of Brisbane I think (been a long time since I looked), and it's on a strict x,y basis. Since Oz is very sway-backed in the game due to map projection, you have to be very careful to use the y-coordinate to see where it is out west.

On the B-17s, it's your call, but he can make more fighters; you can't make more B-17s. You won't attrit him out of fighters. But B-17s are your best 4E ground attack bomber until the B-29. Oz has a lot of open, desert terrain which bombs real good.

And if he wants Perth he won't walk there. He'll come by sea.

[erstad]

Now, if you want to use the supply draw button at a base you do need an LCU, else the supplies required is "0" and increasing the supply draw button has no effect.

You sure? I'm pretty certain I've drawn supplies to an empty base.

[rroberson]

Today's update.

I promise I will get map shots up at some point in the next 48. Busy times at the gig again have been wrecking my fun.

We have run quite a few turns again (I think we are now in mid may) things have really slowed down.

The Rob superhighway continues to run pretty much unmolested to Auckland. I know he has subs along the route and I expect him to drop a carrier or two into any time but thus far nothing.

It has allowed me to really build up the new cal area. I now have four working airfields spread out from Luginville to Noumea. Up until the last turn we have had raging air battles over Luginville. My entire goal was enticing him into fighting over my territory...any plane losses he was having would also cost him those very valuable pilots. It has pretty much been going to plan.

In Australia he still controls Darwin and all points connecting to it. I have been unable to do much but watch his troops walk around the desert.

He dropped a division of troops into Derby and chased my brigade out of there. Not unexpectedly he moved the division west and now is assaulting Broome. I only have a couple of australian Brigades there so they wont last long but if he is busy fighting in the great outback ...then he isn't off dropping divisions in the south pacific. So, its win win.

I have also moved to Royal navy carriers south to join the two already at Perth. When they arrive I will see what kind of trouble then can get in North of Broome. He has no carriers in the area that I can tell....so land base air is all I am worried about....and then since he hasn't taken Koepang yet...only the Nells he has operating out of Darwin are much of a threat. We will see.

DEI is his....everything but palembang and Koepang. He is marching on the former but seems to be in no hurry to take the latter.

Over Burma I have discovered he has little to no air coverage whatsoever. My fighter squadrons have been making sweeps over mandalay and points around it. I sent the RAF in to hit the city, refinery, and airfield. The Brits really cant get much done but its nice to have free shots. There has been no movement on the ground since he over ran the area so if he is coming to India it's likely by sea.

China remains china. He is killing my chinese by the thousands. He is a master at trapping units and then slowing beating them down to nothing.

He has made almost no forward motion past Sian which shocks me. Two weeks ago he could have walked into the interior without me being more then a speed bump. I have made good use of my time and built quite a defense there now. If he wants it he can still get there...but now it should be more of a fight.

[bradfordkay]

RRoberson... I am concerned with what I see as a concentration on your part on holding the New Hebrides at the cost of ignoring a more important base of operations: Fiji. IMO, Fiji (the Suva/Nadi complex) is the most important stop on your highway from the US west coast. Both of those bases can be built up to level 9 airfields, allowing you to pound any of his bases in the area with heavy bombers (late in 1942/early 1943). If you try to hold the New Hebrides and allow him to take Fijio, your position will become untenable.

What I did in my ongoing PBEM (almost into 1944 now) was to build up Samoa/Va'va'u/Fiji before going into the New Hebrides. I actually had a regiment headed to each Noumea, Efate and Luganville when Chez landed at Noumea (IIRC, this was April 1942). I held off, sending one of those regiments to Norfolk Island (which I lost about five months later) and the others to Fiji. He held the New Hebrides for about a year before I drove him out - meaning that a move on Lunga is way behind the historical schedule. However, in our carrier battles which have all been in this area I have been able to pound his fleet with a combination of carrier and land based aircraft. It was after the second major carrier battle (the first was a minor victory for him, the second a resounding victory for me) that I had tipped the naval scales in my favor. The battles that came with my invasions in the New Hebrides continued the victory roll in my favor - all because (IMO) the control of the air that I had due to the bases on Fiji (though the presence of the Essex helped - absorb torpedoes!).

[rroberson]

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We have made it to June 42. It's a good thing no one counts the score because I'm getting worked.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: erstad

Now, if you want to use the supply draw button at a base you do need an LCU, else the supplies required is "0" and increasing the supply draw button has no effect.

You sure? I'm pretty certain I've drawn supplies to an empty base.

Hmmmm - I wonder if it makes a difference if the base is developed at least one level vs a dot hex? Don't think the natives would let you use their grass huts for storing supplies if you weren't even going to stick around and build something! [;)]

[rroberson]

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This is for Bradford. I actually have been building the entire area up. While he has been playing off in the Australian outback. I have been pushing shipping through the New Cal area and all points between Tahiti and Auckland.

This map is what is where at New Cal and Fiji. I listed only the major units. There are of course construction units, AA, Art, Engineers, Support, etc. at each location. Noumea is meant to be the main base and I have a combat division there to help protect it should he land there. Satellite bases at Koumac has enough troops to give him a fight when and if he lands. Luginville and Efate less so but they will go down swinging. I had also started to build up the bases at Fuji. They lack heavier combat units (enroute) and warplanes (also enroute) but the bases are set up to be a good fallback line if and when he comes plowing through the south Pacific.

To the East Pago Pago and Tahiti are receiving similar build ups. Im also consider building up Rouhl and Norfolk Islands in case he does come south and use them as patrol bases.

My only limitations at the moment are the lack of combat troops. It is just too early to have much more then what I have in place. So I'm playing for time.

We have been having a hell of an air battle over Espiritu Santo. He keeps sending Zeros in to sweep and I keep sending my young pilots up to fight them. I am losing a lot of frames, but he is losing pilots...which is a plus. The more the merrier.

[rroberson]

The Australian Outback

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Now he is swatting me like an ant here. He stopped his drive south, not surprising. I surprised him by dropping aussie brigades on Broome and taking it and Derby from him. His response was to drop to Divisions back on Derby and drive west to Broome. He also dropped a divided unit (maybe 1000 troops) on Port Hedland. I have 2 or 3 armored units there who should hold until (lol) help arrives.

My biggest concern is him trapping the 2 Aussie Brigades at Broome. I slid a third brigade out of Broome to give the troops a path to retreat but he is sliding an armor unit under it to try and cut them off. It's his favorite ploy and he has killed thousands of chinese troops doing it.

The Royal Navy FAA struck his landing ships at Broome with limited success (claiming one bomb hit) and are now hauling ass south back to Perth to avoid the two carriers I know he has north (just south of Java).

He has also finally landed at Koepang. Those scarecrows wont last long since it has been forever since I could supply them.

The only up news is I have two more British carriers just west of Perth. I was hoping to use them in the Timor Sea somehow, but given Koepang will fall soon as will most of Northern Australia...they may well be bound for Auckland and duty in the South Pacific to offset the loss of my 3 carriers earlier in the game.

He is also pounding Chungking by air...and there isnt a damn thing I can do about it. I have considered moving American fighters from Calcutta to China..given they aren't seeing any action over Burma. Which is a great mystery. No fighters...no bombers in Burma. Recon says he has 75 fighters at Rangoon. But they aren't flying. Curious.

[rroberson]

It should also be noted that my remaining two flattops are headed to pearl for upgrades. Wasp should be on the board in about 10 days and other the CVEs that's what I will be working with until...sigh....Essex.

[rroberson]

Besides torpedo practice (when I was the japanese) what do you guys use long island for? This early in the game she can't operate by herself and survive. Given my lack of Carriers... I was thinking ASW near the west coast.

[rroberson]

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Oh good. Landing a Kodiak. I knew this was coming as my signint reported it a couple weeks back. I have been building up Adak (combat regiment) and Dutch Harbor to some degree, but not enough to fend off a serious landing.

Kodiak also has a regiment, but given the level of warships I see. He is dropping a division or two here. Not good.

Man. I have never achieved this level of ass kicking in any game I have ever played in 8 years as the Japanese. I simply don't know where he is coming up with all the divisions.

He has troops pouring into western australia. Kicking my meager regiments all over the map around broome.

He landed paratroopers on the dot hex south of port hedland, to go with a division size force at the port itself.

and to top it off he used destroyers to drop troops at Exmouth. I know he has carriers in the neighborhood someplace and Im sure I will regret this but I sent the Royal navy(3 carriers and a CVL six hexes south of Exmouth hoping to catch those destroyers. My moral badly needs a boost and since I know the bulk of his fleet is off Alaska maybe I can actually hurt him here for a change.

The one upnote is I have quite a few troops about to make a Landing at Luginville. I was very worried his carriers would sneak past my many s boats and make a surprise visit.

I also have many more fighters about to make land fall at Noumea. If he comes south it will be a fight at least.