The Good The Bad & The Indifferent

[Canoerebel]

Nothing in America or Australia.

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Nothing in America or Australia.

Nothing in a piece of hex that is coded to belong to the US or Oz? The manual says "Australia" but doesn't define that in terms of boundaries, islands, possessions, etc.

Also, strat damage VPs are cumulative, so if he did damge something and you aren't repairing it he'll keep accumulating.

[Canoerebel]

Nothing's been hit anywhere in USA or Oz by aircraft or ship bombardment.  Zero.  Nothing.  (This is meant for emphasis, not to indicated that I'm grouchy.  I'm not.  I'm supple.)

[Bullwinkle58]

Maybe Manila LI?

[Canoerebel]

As far as I know, Strat Points against the Allies only come from damaging industry in continental USA (not Hawaii or Alaska) and Oz (or perhaps it's just that part of Oz south of the Line of Death). I don't think any points are scored in DEI, Philippines, India, China, New Zealand, Russia.

[desicat]

Someone needs to ask Mandrake, he knows the manual backward and forward.

[CaptDave]

"Points will only be scored by the Allies for bombing industry in mainland Japan, and by the Japanese for bombing industry in North America, Australia, and/or/Hawaii." (p. 264)

Looks like Hawaii is the most likely source of his points.

[Capt. Harlock]

"Points will only be scored by the Allies for bombing industry in mainland Japan, and by the Japanese for bombing industry in North America, Australia, and/or/Hawaii."

Hmm. Is there any industry in Alaska?

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: CaptDave

"Points will only be scored by the Allies for bombing industry in mainland Japan, and by the Japanese for bombing industry in North America, Australia, and/or/Hawaii." (p. 264)

Looks like Hawaii is the most likely source of his points.

OK, forget Manila.[:)]

But what's "Australia?" There are national ownership codes attached to every land hex, accessed by a hotkey I don't recall. It's how you figure out the Kuriles for example. Tasmania is surely part of Australia, but it's not contiguous land mass. The easiest way to code strat points would be to use the national codes. I agree it's probbaly Hawaii and CR just didn't notice it was damaged. But I'd still be careful about Aussie islands.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

ORIGINAL: CaptDave

"Points will only be scored by the Allies for bombing industry in mainland Japan, and by the Japanese for bombing industry in North America, Australia, and/or/Hawaii." (p. 264)

Looks like Hawaii is the most likely source of his points.

OK, forget Manila.[:)]

But what's "Australia?" There are national ownership codes attached to every land hex, accessed by a hotkey I don't recall. It's how you figure out the Kuriles for example. Tasmania is surely part of Australia, but it's not contiguous land mass. The easiest way to code strat points would be to use the national codes. I agree it's probbaly Hawaii and CR just didn't notice it was damaged. But I'd still be careful about Aussie islands.

Could be the dockyard. It's easy to forget that it is considered "industry" rather than just a port facility.

[richlove]

Could the scenario start w/ the Japanese having 20 strat points?

[Canoerebel]

1/4/42 to 1/6/42
 
I do recall now that the Pearl strike hit the shipyard, so that must explain the 20 strat points.  Thanks for helping me there.
 
NoPac:  The four American carriers are well north of Pearl.  I am setting up two small combat TFs to raid the Aluetians and perhaps the Kuriles.  The carriers could offer support if something juicy turned up.  Engineers and a CD unit are loading at Seattle for transport to Kodiak.  I might keep my carriers in the area long enough to support (if necessary) an effort to establish my forward base at Kodiak.
 
CenPac:  Midway has been reinforced by a second Marine CD unit, basically doubling the AV.
 
SoPac:  Quiet at the moment.  John is busy working the New Britain and vicinity region.
 
DEI:  Half the Japanese navy is near Cocos, including the DEI KB, who has launched big strikes against the island the last two days.  Bettys in big numbers also visit.  I assume John is putting together a big invasion force.  He knows what I have at Cocos, so he'll have to bring alot.  The Japanese "opening rogue wave" came in this direction - the extent of the wave caught me by surprise, costing that UK brigade and a bunch of small Dutch ships.  One more day and that brigade would've been ashore at Cocos - just one of those things.  I'm fortunate to have good garrisons at Cocos, Diego and Port Blair, which should slow John.  Cocos, in particular, is acting as bait - John is expending a huge amount of assets and time here.  I think that could prove to be valuable to the Allies in and of itself. 

[Crackaces]

Midway has been reinforced by a second Marine CD unit, basically doubling the AV.

I like this not so much from an AV standpoint, but the Arty that can devastate xAP's and xAK's ... sinking xAKL's ... should not enough surface action platforms arrive to supress the coastal fire .. plus this fire happends every phase the landing is taking place .. penalizing any lack of coordination ..Just a thought ...

[Canoerebel]

1/7/42
 
D-Day Cocos Island:  IJA 4th Division coms ashore at Cocos Island.  Another BB TF bombardment and more air strikes preceded the landings.  The Japanese lost something like 15 combat squads coming ashore, but overall the enemy BBs suppressed the organic and Oz CD unit guns.  The following shock attack came off at 1:3 with both sides having sharply reduced AVs.  That Japan's was lower came as no surprise, but the Allied AV was adjusted down to something like 60.  The attack did considerably more damage to the Allied army, but did not touch the two forts.  The Allied AV post attack is down to about 80.  I hope the Japanese are in very bad shape or else the base will fall.  I need the Cocos garrison to hold out for awhile.  A long awhile.
 
Pacific:  Things have quieted down considerably.  I used precious PPs to buy 2nd Marine RCT, which goes to Kodiak Island.  I am spending some precious capital to (hopefully) stabilize the area.
 
Oz:  I also used precious PPs to buy 27th/A Div. at Los Angles. This unit boards QE and makes for Melbourne post haste.  If things go sour at Cocos, I'm going to have to make quick and hard decisions about whether to reinforce Oz or India. 
 
DEI:  Japan hasn't moved close to Singapore yet.  Western Sumatra and most of Java are still in Allied hands.  But, overall, the IJ tsunami in the DEI overwhelmed the Allied positions.  I'm glad to have 300 AV at Port Blair, 250 at Diego, plus soon I'll have about 30 AV and a CD unit at Addu Atoll.  But pushing those defenses forward leaves India rather weak.
 
China:  MLR looks good at the moment.
 
Allied Carriers:  Once the Allies have addressed the Aluetians, which won't take long, the carriers will move south to be in a position to help with Oz or India.  They'll be posted in or near NoPac for another week or so.  They can also respond to Midway should a need and opportunity present itself.

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

1/4/42 to 1/6/42
 
I do recall now that the Pearl strike hit the shipyard, so that must explain the 20 strat points.  Thanks for helping me there.

NoPac:  The four American carriers are well north of Pearl.  I am setting up two small combat TFs to raid the Aluetians and perhaps the Kuriles.  The carriers could offer support if something juicy turned up.  Engineers and a CD unit are loading at Seattle for transport to Kodiak.  I might keep my carriers in the area long enough to support (if necessary) an effort to establish my forward base at Kodiak.

CenPac:  Midway has been reinforced by a second Marine CD unit, basically doubling the AV.

SoPac:  Quiet at the moment.  John is busy working the New Britain and vicinity region.

DEI:  Half the Japanese navy is near Cocos, including the DEI KB, who has launched big strikes against the island the last two days.  Bettys in big numbers also visit.  I assume John is putting together a big invasion force.  He knows what I have at Cocos, so he'll have to bring alot.  The Japanese "opening rogue wave" came in this direction - the extent of the wave caught me by surprise, costing that UK brigade and a bunch of small Dutch ships.  One more day and that brigade would've been ashore at Cocos - just one of those things.  I'm fortunate to have good garrisons at Cocos, Diego and Port Blair, which should slow John.  Cocos, in particular, is acting as bait - John is expending a huge amount of assets and time here.  I think that could prove to be valuable to the Allies in and of itself. 

In the beginning year of my ongoing campaign, I was reluctant to lose any brigade size unit and in over 1,000 turns with Viberpol have not lost a single large infantry unit since the big surrenders in the first few months of our little war. But that was way back before you could purchase back destroyed units so I was more careful. The trade off was my sacrifice of territory and time. Now, if playing the Allies I would think nothing of sacrificing good brigades or regiments (or a division if it merits) to cause delay to Japan in 1942 or early 43.

The best units to sacrifice are American infantry regiments-especially any one due to withdraw at a latter date. Commonwealth units are much harder to rebuild so I would be a bit more careful with them.

[Canoerebel]

1/8/42 and 1/9/42

DEI: Cocos Island falls to 4th IJA Div. on a shock attack following an elaborate series of bombardments and air raids. Ouch! This is bad news since Cocos is one of my "breakwaters" intended to slow Japan down. I'm wondering if John will continue to leap forward or if he'll spend some time now consolidating his positions. That's an important question. Meanwhile, badly damaged CL Marblehead is stuck in no-man's-land with no means of egress to a safe haven - I've sent her north from Soerabaja towards Manado with desperate hopes she might find a seam across the coast of New Guinea.

NoPac: An IJN carrier force turned up well to the northeast (true) of Midway - the position and appearance of the Mini KB that was there a week ago. I'm unsure whether it's covering Midway, moving north to the Aluetians, and whether it might have taken on reinforcements from the Pearl KB, which ten days ago was down around Luganville. My four carriers, though, are in position to try for an intercept if the CV force is heading for the Aluetians. There are lots of unknowns here, but I do have combat ships all around my carriers, hopefully serving as effective tripwires. A series of transport TFs are inbound to Kodiak from Seattle carrying reinforcements and supplies.

India: The Subcontinent looks and worries.

China: The MLR continues to look good.

[Cribtop]

The next move after Cocos is probably a great indicator of John's "big plan." He's moving fast, but with him that's no surprise.

[JeffroK]

I'm not surprised Cocos fell quickly.

The Allies are very fragile in this period unless in a strong position with lots of support.

[princep01]

Too bad about Cocos Is. and the Bde that did not make it there.  That is painful, but things like that will happen with a skilled and aggressive IJ player.
 
Hopefully, you can repay the insult by sinking some CV/CVL/CVEs very soon in the wide expanses of the N. Pacific.
 
Engage the enemy more closely.  Good luck.
 
 

[Canoerebel]

1/10/42
 
Cocos Aftermath:  Yeah, the garrison troops weren't elite.  The backbone - a UK brigade from 18th Div. - was just 40 experience.  I think I may end up being very glad that RA Mod doesn't give Japan the extra divisions of Scenario Two.
 
NoPac:  The Allied carriers moved WNW "blind."  I don't know what's out there, though my strongest guess is no more than the NoPac Mini KB that began the war crusing the Aleutians and then moved to Midway.  I don't like moving so blind, but feel that the odds are stacked in my favor.  (I need to add that I'm not even sure the Mini KB is up this far; it's just a possibility.) 
 
CenPac: QE is moving fast, due east of Pearl Harbor at the moment.
 
SWPac:  SigInt that an IJ Assault Division is on a maru bound for Carnavon.  Force Z and an American cruiser TF are patrolling those waters.  I know the DEI KB is up near Dem Passar, so I feel relatively comfortable.
 
DEI/PI:  John has some work to do to clean up this region.  A shock attack at Clark Field two days ago bloodied his army badly (John makes extravagant use of shock attacks - occasionally with good success [Cocos] but more often to get bloodied badly).  It's going to take him some time to attend to Clark, Singapore, and the remainder of the DEI.  I really hope he will attend to those to wipe some time off the clock.  I need some space to help Oz and India.