CLOSED The old world vs the new: Cannonfodder (Allies) vs Quixote (Japan)

[KenchiSulla]

I still hold Canton Island. I am worried about the gap that the loss of Fiji will leave. Thinking about setting up a forward base at Eua. Drawback of that is that is in range of Suva once it falls. Pro is that I can build up the airfield and give it decent protection.

[zuluhour]

Perhaps at least a seaplane tender in the Ellice Islands for some early warning. I'm sure he will flaunt the KB and cause those mass merchant exoduses I have become so quick at.

ps Eua is only good for P38s and F4s. I had one or two successful port raids with Mitchells but they rapidly depleted supply.

[KenchiSulla]

17-april-1942

India


The air war over Bangalore and Madras continues. Sweeps above Madras are reduced to two squadrons while bombing continues at full strength (slightly reduced due to the airfield raid).

As expected Quixote sweeps Bangalore. The A6Ms are outnumbered and the results favour the allies (about 20 A6Ms shot down). For the next turn I'm keeping strong CAP up, still using two squadrons to sweep and resting one of the hurricane squadrons.

The allies have enough fighters in the pool and in reserve to keep this up for a while. Backing of now would just mean senseless losses. We want Madras! This would prove that allies can secure local air superiority even in april 1942..

Afternoon Air attack on Bangalore , at 32,37

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 43 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 39

Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 9
Hurricane IIb Trop x 21
Kittyhawk IA x 10
P-40E Warhawk x 22

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 7 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb Trop: 1 destroyed
Kittyhawk IA: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 3 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 20000 feet

CAP engaged:
AVG/3rd Sqn with H81-A3 (2 airborne, 7 on standby, 0 scrambling)
9 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 19000 and 20000.
Raid is overhead
No.17 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIb Trop (0 airborne, 5 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 20000 and 22000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 38 minutes
No.67 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIb Trop (0 airborne, 5 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 18000 , scrambling fighters between 18000 and 21000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 7 minutes
No.135 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIb Trop (0 airborne, 5 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 23000 and 25000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 7 minutes
No.453 Sqn RAF with Kittyhawk IA (0 airborne, 7 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 16000 and 22000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes
35th PG/40th PS with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
8 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 15000 and 22000.
Raid is overhead
35th PG/41st PS with P-40E Warhawk (3 airborne, 7 on standby, 0 scrambling)
10 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 20000 and 23000.
Raid is overhead

[KenchiSulla]

18-20-april-1942

India

The battle for Madras continues with slightly heavier losses to the allied bombers and fighters (Quixote now uses 4,5 groups to LRCAP Madras). I'm keeping at it with the first deliberate attack going in on the 20th (after prepping the target with Marauders and Blenheims)..

Can consider this is a succes. The IG is largely undamaged but the tank regiment is almost entirely disabled. Will rest a day and then hit Madras again...

Ground combat at Madras (35,40)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 41881 troops, 629 guns, 1185 vehicles, Assault Value = 1500

Defending force 16137 troops, 200 guns, 174 vehicles, Assault Value = 547

Allied adjusted assault: 1573

Japanese adjusted defense: 931

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 3)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 2

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
374 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 38 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 4 disabled
Vehicles lost 72 (5 destroyed, 67 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1081 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 131 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 26 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 18 disabled
Guns lost 30 (1 destroyed, 29 disabled)

Assaulting units:
6th Australian Division
7th Armoured Brigade
7th Australian Division
17th Indian Division
2/9th Field Regiment
2/11th Field Regiment
2/13th Field Regiment
India Command
8th Medium Regiment

Defending units:
1st Tank Regiment
Imperial Guards Division
15th Ind. Engineer Regiment
36th Field AA Battalion
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
97th JAAF AF Bn
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
5th RF Gun Bn /5

[KenchiSulla]

China

The two biggest problems in China
- Constant bombing
- Lack of supply..

[KenchiSulla]

Pacific

[KenchiSulla]

21-22-april-1942

India

Had a deliberate attack going in at Madras on the 22nd but Quixote influenced the battle:

- Tokio express rushing in more and more reinforcements from Ceylon and
- a TF revolving around Mutsu and Yamashiro bombards the troops sieging Madras and cause considerable damage

Night Naval bombardment of Madras at 35,40

Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro
BB Mutsu

Allied ground losses:
201 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 16 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

BB Yamashiro firing at 6th Australian Division
BB Mutsu firing at 7th Australian Division

For two consecutive turns air refuses to fly (except LRCAP and CAP)so that didn't help either. Up till now I haven't lost many squads so I'll withdraw outside of naval bombardment range and rest the units. That means leaving the hex for now..

The only + of the last turn was Chokai eating a torpedo. No major damage but she'll need a bit of yard time. I've started a mining campaign at Madras, using submarines so let's see if we can do some damage there..

The actual attack wasn't shock. That was just the recce battalion crossing the river, trying to close down Madras.

Ground combat at Madras (35,40)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 41845 troops, 642 guns, 1246 vehicles, Assault Value = 1413

Defending force 18375 troops, 242 guns, 227 vehicles, Assault Value = 649

Allied adjusted assault: 662

Japanese adjusted defense: 2177

Allied assault odds: 1 to 3 (fort level 2)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
694 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 32 destroyed, 45 disabled
Guns lost 26 (5 destroyed, 21 disabled)
Vehicles lost 27 (3 destroyed, 24 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1645 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 154 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 40 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 36 disabled
Guns lost 41 (1 destroyed, 40 disabled)
Vehicles lost 22 (3 destroyed, 19 disabled)

Assaulting units:
6th Australian Division
7th Armoured Brigade
7th Australian Division
45th Recce Regiment
17th Indian Division
2/11th Field Regiment
2/9th Field Regiment
2/13th Field Regiment
India Command
8th Medium Regiment

Defending units:
15th Ind. Engineer Regiment
1st Tank Regiment
Imperial Guards Division
4th Tank Rgt /9
18th/A Div /30
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
36th Field AA Battalion
5th RF Gun Battalion
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
97th JAAF AF Bn

[JocMeister]

Time to start that mental preparing for the inevitable loss of China... [:(] Once the supply is gone its game over.

[KenchiSulla]

Hey Joc, it's even worse. This might become the first PBEM that I know of that ends due to japanese autovictory. China is a big factor in this. So many squads lost and a couple of nice bases to build up for points.

I'm going to work on a new strategy this week because this is going nowhere...

[zuluhour]

That little move into the central plain with 1200av was down right dastardly, sneaking through the woods like that, he ought to be ashamed![:D]
rooting for ya Cannon!!!

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: Cannonfodder

Hey Joc, it's even worse. This might become the first PBEM that I know of that ends due to japanese autovictory. China is a big factor in this. So many squads lost and a couple of nice bases to build up for points.

I'm going to work on a new strategy this week because this is going nowhere...

Yeah, tell me about it. [:(] In my other PBEM I lost almost 10k worth of army VP points in 10/42. Mostly Chinese. Supply got so bad I intentionally started to let corps I knew I could never heal up get destroyed. Didn´t think of the VP point then...And...it didn´t help one iota with the supply so it was all in vain.

Supply is still almost zero across the board. My opponent have the entire Jap bomber force bombing day after day just burning supplies killing/disabling about 3000 chinese each turn. Can´t put up any CAP as there is no supply for it to fly. [8|]

Have you considered just withdrawing to the mountains to try and avoid destruction thus losing more VPs? Whats your VP status btw? I´m hovering around 3:1 and china is about to break completely open. I´m going to run for it and just try to avoid getting killed costing me more VPs.

Sucks to see 2000 Chinese AV dug in with level 3 forts in rough terrain get a modified AV of 200. Thats a good signal its about time to give up. [:(]

[zuluhour]

No talk of giving up. We have not even discussed reasonable means to curve the VP ratio.

[KenchiSulla]

23-26-april-1942

Pacific

Suva takes two deliberate attacks (supported by 4 battleships and G4Ms flying from Luganville), forts drop to two. Japanese suffer a lot of disablements but this won't last long..

Fist attack:

Ground combat at Suva (132,160)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 57708 troops, 573 guns, 240 vehicles, Assault Value = 1950

Defending force 23097 troops, 304 guns, 353 vehicles, Assault Value = 431

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 3

Japanese adjusted assault: 1139

Allied adjusted defense: 891

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 3

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), disruption(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
3709 casualties reported
Squads: 13 destroyed, 313 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 33 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 27 disabled
Guns lost 40 (2 destroyed, 38 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
899 casualties reported
Squads: 10 destroyed, 62 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 76 disabled
Engineers: 50 destroyed, 38 disabled
Guns lost 46 (2 destroyed, 44 disabled)
Vehicles lost 24 (5 destroyed, 19 disabled)

Assaulting units:
65th Brigade
38th Division
11th Garrison Unit
10th Garrison Unit
14th Division
64th Naval Guard Unit
16th Division
67th Naval Guard Unit
5th Mortar Battalion
17th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
25th Army
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
14th Shipping Engr Rgt /3

Defending units:
110th Combat Engineer Battalion
8th Marine Regiment
2nd USMC Engineer Regiment
8th NZ Brigade
131st Field Artillery Battalion
147th Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Marine Defense Battalion
I US Amphib Corps
808th Engineer Aviation Battalion
1st RNZAF Base Force
115th USAAF Base Force
134th USA Base Force
148th Field Artillery Battalion
114th USAAF Base Force
Nandi Base Force

2nd attack

Ground combat at Suva (132,160)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 55569 troops, 573 guns, 240 vehicles, Assault Value = 1735

Defending force 22309 troops, 305 guns, 356 vehicles, Assault Value = 370

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese adjusted assault: 1257

Allied adjusted defense: 549

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), disruption(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1482 casualties reported
Squads: 11 destroyed, 313 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 14 disabled

Allied ground losses:
745 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 31 disabled
Non Combat: 10 destroyed, 107 disabled
Engineers: 54 destroyed, 18 disabled
Guns lost 21 (5 destroyed, 16 disabled)
Vehicles lost 35 (3 destroyed, 32 disabled)

Assaulting units:
10th Garrison Unit
38th Division
16th Division
64th Naval Guard Unit
65th Brigade
11th Garrison Unit
14th Division
67th Naval Guard Unit
5th Mortar Battalion
1st Fleet
25th Army
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
17th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
14th Shipping Engr Rgt /3

Defending units:
2nd USMC Engineer Regiment
110th Combat Engineer Battalion
8th Marine Regiment
8th NZ Brigade
3rd Marine Defense Battalion
1st RNZAF Base Force
I US Amphib Corps
148th Field Artillery Battalion
115th USAAF Base Force
147th Field Artillery Regiment
114th USAAF Base Force
131st Field Artillery Battalion
134th USA Base Force
808th Engineer Aviation Battalion
Nandi Base Force

India

The allies withdraw from Madras, taking some casualties from (air)bombardments. The RAF tries to subdue the now numerous IJN and IJA fighters but fails as the CAP up is to strong.. Both sides take heavy casualties.

Will have to stand down the air in India for a bit to regain strength. Madras would have fallen without those damn pesky IJN Battleships and Tokio express...

[KenchiSulla]

Victory point situation

The japanese now have a decent advantage in VPs. This will increase even further with the fall of Suva and the raging of battle in China. What I am looking for is ways to increase the allied VP count foremost. That means:

- building bases (Even if only 30 points, it helps, the Japanese need to have 120 points against every such base)
- killing troops
- sinking ships
- shooting down aircraft

1:1 ratio with the allied airforce in 1942 is ok for me. It's not pretty, it's bloody but it helps the cause...

Sinking ships is harder to realise. Might need to set some sneaky ambushes...

What do you think?

[Encircled]

Raids by small SCTF's into areas he might have a lot of high VP merchant traffic?

Carrier battle?

I've not got much idea more than that

[zuluhour]

Sorry, as I have my hands full in the Pacific as well and have had to put what little cranial resources left over from work on it. He certainly brought the party to the Fiji's. A couple of questions, not a lot of detail required: How is your BB strength? Have you received the two older BBs yet? Are your carriers intact? Are you prepping for something in the SoPac-SwPac area? I noticed that Japan played a very smart hand occupying the low VP but great forward staging islands. He cannot possibly be strong everywhere with such a strong push in SoPac and India. The CG2 is really stretching me as well as I am about to lose Australia. I have begun to notice "chinks" along his forward trace though and believe I can unhinge him. I'm just rambling as I'm reading both sides but would suggest you have played the tactical game well against a very well orchestrated offensive. The tempo he has displayed is downright diabolical. You can step back and take a breath now as his amphibious bonus is gone, you have Wasp and Hornet coming, some fast BBs, and some great engineers. The loss of the marine rgt is going to hurt but you will be able to rebuild it for summer '43. You only really need a small VP swing and a naval victory or two to keep in the fight. ramble ramble ramble.....

[KenchiSulla]

turns up to 2-may-1942

First, a summary of the main battles of the last week.

Minor victory in China, but one that drops the fort level to 2.

Ground combat at Chihkiang (78,50)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 140504 troops, 1330 guns, 663 vehicles, Assault Value = 4820

Defending force 92950 troops, 604 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2743

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese adjusted assault: 5980

Allied adjusted defense: 5431

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
12556 casualties reported
Squads: 152 destroyed, 1008 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 149 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 171 disabled
Guns lost 44 (2 destroyed, 42 disabled)
Vehicles lost 50 (2 destroyed, 48 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
3676 casualties reported
Squads: 14 destroyed, 451 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 126 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 21 disabled
Guns lost 45 (6 destroyed, 39 disabled)

Assaulting units:
40th Division
61st Infantry Brigade
8th Armored Car Co
13th Tank Regiment
27th Division
34th Division
104th Division
116th Division
51st Recon Regiment
17th Division
22nd Division
15th Division
13th Division
102nd Infantry Regiment
8th Recon Regiment
39th Division
58th Infantry Regiment
11th Army
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
23rd Army
1st Mortar Battalion
China Expeditionary Army
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
2nd Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
100th Chinese Corps
8th Chinese Corps
45th Chinese Corps
86th Chinese Corps
78th Chinese Corps
5th Chinese Cavalry Corps
18th Chinese Corps
20th Chinese Corps
21st Chinese Corps
3rd New Chinese Corps
68th Chinese Corps
72nd Chinese Corps
26th Chinese Corps
46th Chinese Corps
49th Chinese Corps
6th Construction Regiment
25th Group Army
6th War Area
33rd Group Army
29th Group Army
3rd War Area
2nd Chinese Base Force
7th War Area
12th Group Army
7th Chinese Base Force

This stack is worrying me. I do have about 4000 AV concentrated at Chungking now so if it has to withdraw it is just a question of getting everything back into the city.

Ground combat at 78,44 (near Chungking)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 11094 troops, 102 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1992

Defending force 50150 troops, 346 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1429

Allied ground losses:
23 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
23rd Tank Regiment
3rd Ind.Mixed Brigade
6th Division
110th Division
36th Division
3rd Division
10th Tank Regiment
Mongol Garrison Army

Defending units:
75th Chinese Corps
14th Chinese Corps
29th Chinese Corps
71st Chinese Corps
73rd Chinese Corps
66th Chinese Corps
3rd Group Army
4th Group Army
6th Group Army
8th War Area
21st Group Army

This is the last Java outpost, about to fall....

Ground combat at Bandoeng (50,100)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 46309 troops, 489 guns, 285 vehicles, Assault Value = 1471

Defending force 20621 troops, 300 guns, 181 vehicles, Assault Value = 558

Japanese adjusted assault: 898

Allied adjusted defense: 673

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(-), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
2384 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 111 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 18 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 17 disabled
Vehicles lost 11 (1 destroyed, 10 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1622 casualties reported
Squads: 16 destroyed, 89 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 9 disabled
Guns lost 45 (11 destroyed, 34 disabled)
Vehicles lost 18 (6 destroyed, 12 disabled)

Assaulting units:
56th Division
41st Infantry Regiment
4th Division
2nd Tank Regiment
124th Infantry Regiment
4th Guards Division
16th Army
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
3rd Mortar Battalion
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
1st Ind. Engineer Regiment

Defending units:
Tjilatjap KNIL Battalion
Mobiele Eenheid Battalion
Batavia Coastal Gun Battalion
Barisan KNIL Regiment
4th KNIL Regiment
2nd KNIL Regiment
1st Regt Cavalerie
4th KNIL Landstorm Battalion
6th KNIL Regiment
3rd KNIL AA Battalion
2 ML-KNIL Aviation
Tjilitap Base Force
South Java Base Force
3rd KNIL Landstorm Battalion
1st KNIL Landstorm Battalion
Bandoeng Base Force

Suva

It falls, just causing disablements to the divisions there..

[KenchiSulla]

ORIGINAL: zuluhour

A couple of questions, not a lot of detail required: How is your BB strength? Have you received the two older BBs yet? Are your carriers intact? Are you prepping for something in the SoPac-SwPac area?

Hi Zulu, I agree with you that I just need a few successes to prevent autovictory and to secure the game going into 1943 now. What I mean with that is the China situation. It is a major source of VPs, especially if you consider destroying the Chinese LCUs (which Quixote does). Right now I'm about to pull everything into Chungking and create a mega stack that Quixote can only destroy by taking massive losses to concentrated infantry fire from my now 50+ experience corps... What is stopping me? The absolute crazyness... but Quixote would do so in the blink of an eye so I guess I just have to let go...

My fleet is mostly intact with a couple of cruisers lost and having all carriers and all battleships operational. I'm planning and prepping for operations in NoPac and SoPac. Obviously SoPac currently is a priority (due to VPs there) and a problem (due to fleet presence)..

Also, I want to keep the pressure on in India so I'm building forward bases to bring Ceylon within range and if at all possible Calcutta..

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: Cannonfodder

ORIGINAL: zuluhour

A couple of questions, not a lot of detail required: How is your BB strength? Have you received the two older BBs yet? Are your carriers intact? Are you prepping for something in the SoPac-SwPac area?

Hi Zulu, I agree with you that I just need a few successes to prevent autovictory and to secure the game going into 1943 now. What I mean with that is the China situation. It is a major source of VPs, especially if you consider destroying the Chinese LCUs (which Quixote does). Right now I'm about to pull everything into Chungking and create a mega stack that Quixote can only destroy by taking massive losses to concentrated infantry fire from my now 50+ experience corps... What is stopping me? The absolute crazyness... but Quixote would do so in the blink of an eye so I guess I just have to let go...

My fleet is mostly intact with a couple of cruisers lost and having all carriers and all battleships operational. I'm planning and prepping for operations in NoPac and SoPac. Obviously SoPac currently is a priority (due to VPs there) and a problem (due to fleet presence)..

Also, I want to keep the pressure on in India so I'm building forward bases to bring Ceylon within range and if at all possible Calcutta..

Is he bombing a lot? I found that while a 1000 casualties per day doesn´t sound like much against the Chinese hordes it does add up. Do that for a year and its A LOT. Major problem is the disablements it causes as this adds a tremendous load on the supply situation. China is all about supply. There is simply not enough of it to go around. From day 1 it just goes downhill.

Have you considered doing an early offensive somewhere in the hopes of drawing him to a battle more on your own terms? NOPAC perhaps? Wake? Do something that forces him to react to what you do instead?

[KenchiSulla]

Well, actually the Madras battle made him react. He had to reinforce with fighters, ground forces from Ceylon (weakening the garrison) and battleships/warships to deploy them and bombard. Right now I concentrated british torpedo bombers (60+) at Bangalore in the hope of catching transports at some point..

The NoPac offensive that I'm working on should secure the aleutians for the allies as Quixote seems very weak in this theatre. In case it goes well who knows what could happen.. Hokkaido is on the table for sure (with its VP rich bases)..

But in general you are right Joc.. The allies need to grab the initiative to be able get out of this mess....