Command Decisions: Samurai vs. Yeomen RA 6.4

[John 3rd]

Hey Zulu. Always cogent thinking.

Think my initial plan will be to try and ambush the British if/when they sortie from Columbo. Am certain that they shall try to do SOMETHING to simply do SOMETHING.

I'm VP hunting in this case. If I can severely damage/cripple the British Eastern Fleet then that will make life easier for the near future.

[rook749]

ORIGINAL: zuluhour

There is no question in my mind your opponents reaction will be swift and uncoordinated. The urge to hit back will outweigh any sane defensive measures deigned to impale you. I have no idea what they have on Ceylon, but should you ever try that with me, you will pay! HEI![8D]

I have a hard time recommending a plan based upon my opponent selecting the less than optimal response, should he deviate from his pattern and select the correct response you could get hurt or at least burn a lot of fuel for no gain. However..... Yes, I think in this case if you go after the fleet for the purpose of VP hunting I think your opponent will once again sail out and you will smash him.....

[John 3rd]

It would be a logical assumption that this is what they will do.

What game does your Enterprise counter come from rook749? It isn't Flattop or WITP...

[rook749]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

What game does your Enterprise counter come from rook749? It isn't Flattop or WITP...

It's a poor image of the Enterprise counter from World in Flames, I keep changing it to different counters based upon which carrier/Battleship is now back in dry dock from battle damage from my last engagement from my WiTP:AE AAR with AirGriff.

[John 3rd]

COOL! Thanks for letting me know. Always enjoy asking about people's artwork.

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
Cinco de Johno 1942

Thought I would do a simple day's report instead of the weeklong reviews. (Translation: I have time to write today)

My B-Day is May 5th and so my staff has taken to calling it CINCO DE JOHNO. [:D] NEVER get invited to be the Grand Marshall. Very upsetting...

Northern Pacific
The STF makes the rendezvous with the CV TF and they move SSE towards the Gulf of Alaska. Am not spotted. Plan for the STF to detach in 2-3 days, be covered by LRCAP, and then hit Kodiak.

Central Pacific
Nada

SE Pacific
Am starting work on that base WAY SSW of Tahiti near the edge of the board. Once it reaches Lvl-1/Lvl-2 then no shipping will cross towards Aussieland from this side of the map.

South Pacific
Nadi
The Invasion commences with only having the Nadi Base Force for opposition. A Squadron of 6 Hudson and 3 Vincent attack the TF but no hits are scored. When I have Nadi tomorrow I shall shift 2nd ID's Prep over to Port Moresby.

Noumea
A major reinforcement of the 68th ID (or is it the 69th? Think it is the 68th.) is about to arrive. This ID left China two weeks ago and is well prepped for Port Moresby. There are 3-4 other units with the TF so they will be spread around to create the semi-permanent garrisons of nearby places.

Philippines
Amphib TFs will arrive tomorrow so I can begin loading the troops in Manila for Singapore.

Iliolo falls and all resistance ends on this island.

Java
Order a Deliberate Attack at Soerabaja tomorrow. If that doesn't do it then we try a Shock Attack the day after.

Sumatra
Padang falls to a 10-1 assault forcing the surrender of four units.

Australia
In a highly thoughtful move, the Allies have sent the 3rd Aust ID North (77,134). It is two hexes above Tennant Springs and is advancing north. Bombers will target it everyday now. There are two other units. Could one of them be another Aust ID? Lew did this when I decided to take all of Aussieland. Might need to do some very serious thinking...

Need to finish Darwin NOW!

Burma
Magwe
The aerial fighting this day is 'normal' for the last 7-10 days. A group of 48 Japanese Fighters attack the 8 Hurricanes and P-40s on LRCAP and shoot down 3 Hurricanes (two more operationally crash) for no loss. Bombers hit the 18th ID for 245 Casualties throughout the day. The three Artie Regiment present here open up and add another 25 Cas to the total.

Am now doing recon of the bases NW of Magwe. No sign of other units in the open terrain hexes.

China
Chuhsien
The Japanese launch a 2-1 attack on four Chinese units that have entered the hex. (Cas J-29 Ch--1088) Will attack again tomorrow.

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
May 6, 1942

Three turns in one day. That is good work between the guys and me.

North Pacific
The STF is spotted south of Cold bay. The CVTF appears to be un-spotted but we have to be careful. Detach a CA, CL, and 2 DDs to hit Cold Bay. Shipping was spotted there this turn. The remaining ships will strike Kodiak. Fly in 27 Zero for Taiyo and they shall provide LRCAP.

Central Pacific
Calm

SE Pacific
Calm

South Pacific
Nadi
This base falls to a 482-1 attack. NICE! 2nd ID is nearly unloaded and begins moving towards Suva. Order the BBs back to Pago Pago to refuel and rearm.

Noumea
Troops begin unloading here.

Java
Soerabaja
CRAP! The Deliberate Attack goes in scores a 691 to 350 1-1 USELESS attack. Casualties are 1,022 for Japan and a NICE 3,131 (82 Guns and 36 Vehicles destroyed). I'm gonna roll the dice. Order another Shock Attack for tomorrow and we shall pray it works.

Burma
Magwe
My scheming may not matter. The guys patience wears out and they Shock Attack Magwe with 18th ID. It is pulverized. The result is a 1-24 attack with Japan taking ZERO Cas and the Brits lose 897 men and 28 Guns. No real choice here. Order and Shock Attack right back to blast them across the river. It will be ugly for the Brits tomorrow.


Definitely some serious, pitched action over the last few days. NEED Soerabaja. The Aussie's are coming up the road from Tennant Creek and I need to bring in more troops. Will attack at Darwin in 2 days...

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
May 7-10, 1942

Some action and good developments over these four days. A major OPPORTUNITY presents itself on May 10th.

North Pacific
The raids on Cold Bay and Kodiak are pulled off without any major issue. A pair of PC are sunk at Kodiak as well as another pair of AKLs at Cold Bay. Combine the STF and CVTF at Umnak. They will head for Tokyo tomorrow where this TF will be augmented by CV Hiyo, CVL Ryujo, and 5 modern DDs within the next 20 days.

Central Pacific
Midway
A fuel TF carrying 25,000 Fuel will arrive tomorrow. I can then load-up 9 I-Boats present there and fling them against the West Coast. Have had them disbanded for two weeks and all repairs are complete. Haven't had an I-Boat of the US Coast since January 1st so think we might find some fertile hunting grounds by making a mass deployment.

Christmas Isle
DAMNED Allied SS-laid mines are driving me nuts. The 'gentlemen' are using lots of them and it is irritating. Have only had a few ships hit but it is annoying.

Truk
Had three Daitai of Betty-Nells flying nothing but ASW over the last week. There were 6-7 SS operating around the base and these bombers have their ASW percentage at 59%, 61%, and 39%. To say that the ASW Hits piled up immediately is an understatement. Looks like we sank at least 2 SS and, perhaps, damaged 3-4 more pretty heavily.

SE Pacific
Separate Post after this one!

South Pacific
Suva
The 2nd ID arrives on the 9th and delivers a pair of Shock Attacks that utterly destroy the NZ Brigade and two Base Forces present there. Nearly 6,500 Allied POWs enter Japanese care and, in a nice bonus, 25 aircraft are destroyed (Hudsons, Vincents, and Singapores) as well as S-18 gets scuttled in the harbor. GREAT! 2nd ID is already prepping for Port Moresby. Have an Air Flotilla and large Base Force at sea to get the AF and base set-up and ready.

Noumea
The 68th ID is unloaded and approaching 90% prep for Port Moresby.

Philippines
Manila
Infantry Divisions, HQ, and Engineers are leaving this pastoral location for Singapore.

San Jose
Base falls to a pair of Naval Guards. Will move them back to Iliolo, allow some rest, and then finish the Central Philippines.

Java
Soerabaja
HEADACHE! I cannot score a 2-1 with Forts at ZERO. Pull out the two beat-up Inf Regiments. Dispatch the 21st ID from Manila to finish this stupidity! Cannot complain though. The ground war has gone quite well everywhere except here.

Australia
NW Coast
Darwin
Troops of two IDs are about to invest this Base. We'll see what is there at that moment.

It appears that the Allies have stopped moving the 3rd ID up from Tennant Creek. The ID gets hit by a Daitai of Bettys every day presently.

Burma
Maqwe
After the horrific 1-24 attack by the 18th Brit ID, I counterattack on the 7th and achieve an 11-1 result. The Brits retreat NE staying on my side of the Irrawaddy. Their casualties are 2,735 men. Immediately set the three TK Reg out after them and they tear into the ID on the 10th forcing them across the river and inflicting another 1,645 casualties (31 Guns and 12 Vehicles. This Division is now crippled. Send two of the TK Reg to finish the job!

China
Lots of movement but no action.

Engineering
5-7 Noumea AF-3
5-8 Pescadores AF-4
5-10 Kalgoorlie AF-2 and Wyndham AF-2

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
May 10, 1942
SE Pacific

There is a MAJOR opportunity about to present itself down here in the far SE Pacific. One of my I-Boats (there are six operating NNE of Hiva Oa) got attacked by 4 DD and CA Northampton on the 9th. This pricked my attention up some so I ordered the Emily flying out of Rangiroa to Recon that base on the 10th. BINGO! Spot two TF and 5 CVs present there.

Goodness.

OK. Current situation has both Rangiroa and Tahiti at Lvl-3 AF. There is 100 Base Support at Rangiroa and 175 (with an Air Flotilla) at Tahiti. Planes present are 54 Zero, 72 Val, 72 Kate, and 12 Emily. Ships consist of 3 CL and 8 DDs.

Begin gathering and reorganizing the planes. Fly in 36 Zero from Pago Pago as well as 27 Nell from Christmas. Move a further 27 Zero and 27 Betty to Suva.

Bases:
Rangiroa--63 Zero, 72 Val, and 12 Emily. Vals set to range 7.
Tahiti--36 Zero, 27 Nell, and 72 Kate.

PLAN:
If the Allies come close enough, Rangiroa will work to damage the warships while Tahiti-Based TB will prepare to dish out some serious ship-killing Torps.

Sortie 3 more I-boats and more the Patrol Areas of the six near Hiva Oa.


Could use any suggestions to maximize a probable shot at the remaining American CVs. Current Map:

[ny59giants]

Christmas Isle
DAMNED Allied SS-laid mines are driving me nuts. The 'gentlemen' are using lots of them and it is irritating. Have only had a few ships hit but it is annoying.

Send a few AMc to conduct "Local Minesweeping" patrols.

FYI - headed to both docs shortly.

[Cribtop]

Concur on the AMc solution. I use them at all major ports to pre-emptively deal with mines.

Also, just have to say that it warms my JFB heart to see Tahiti under the Rising Sun flag. Haven't seen that since some of PzB's crazy WitP games.[:D]

You have decent LBA in place near their CVs. The key will be estimating what the Allies really have in theater and then figuring out a way to entice them toward Rangiroa and Tahiti. Dangle a target if you can, and send all the subs you've got over there. Emily on night naval attack might work.

[John 3rd]

OK. I'll add a few AMc to convoys heading out in the general direction of the various bases they are mining: Palmyra, Christmas, Pago Pago, Cocos, and Pt Blair.

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
May 11, 1942

Have continuous tracking of what appears to be the American Carrier Fleet. They have to KNOW I have seen them with my Emily. What will they do? I like Cribtop's suggestion of trying to draw them out. Might try that with a few AK/AKL at Rangiroa. More notes here when we get to the SE Pacific.

North Pacific
The Japanese CTF leaves Aleutian waters heading for Tokyo. We leave behind a CA, 2 CL, and 4 DD to act as a STF to hit anything appropriate.

Central Pacific
Midway
Three AO/TK arrive and begin off-loading fuel here. Have nine hungry I-Boats waiting for a drink before moving to the USA.

Got stacking issues with Midway and Palmyra and have to figure out what I am going to do. Have to juggle numbers and see what best fits here in a 6,000 man atoll. I'll take suggestions as to what you think is the best garrison.

SE Pacific
There are three Convoys at various locations heading for this region. An Air Flotilla, SNLF Assault Brigade, and two small BF are most of the reinforcements. Am a little nervous about Rangiroa. It doesn't have any REAL infantry to protect it. AV is 90+ but that doesn't mean much. Tahiti is solid with the full strength Imperial Guards Brigade. Will juggle plane deployment some tomorrow and see if I can find abetter organization with using Rangiroa for my Val/Zero and Tahiti as my Sunday punch with Nells/Kates/Zero.

South Pacific
Noumea
The 68th ID is nearly unloaded. Smack around a French SS that is trying to stick its nose into the Japanese business.

Lae
Solid supply convoy unloading. This base is the main tool for dealing with PM. Should have 25,000+ Supply here in a few days.

Australia
Looks like they have re-thought their idea of bringing the 2rd Aust ID up from Tennant Creek. The unit withdraws a hex. Will see what they are doing.

Burma
Keep banging up the 18th ID. Two TK Reg will bounce the river tomorrow and smash this unit one more time driving it into the Jungle.

China
The Chinese stack south of Ichang will get smashed back into Ichang in a day or two. Once this happens the five Japanese ID shall advance to Ichang and liberate it from the evil Chinese oppressors.

Engineering
Christmas Isle AF-4

Economy
With all my TK and AO working in the DEI presently there is little-to-no actual fuel at any of the bases. I've sucked Palembang, Tarakan, and Balikpapan DRY! Currently have about 300,000 fuel heading for Truk and Kwajalein. An additional 200,000 is going to the Home Islands. WOW. Lots of TK/AOs moving all at once.

[John 3rd]

With the previous two Posting I have gotten a good view of the American CVs at Hiva Oa. The question is what do they currently have available for deployment? Stats:

SUNK: Enterprise and Yorktown
Available: Lexington, Saratoga, Hornet

Is Wasp around in mid-May 42? Doubt it...

[ny59giants]

Wasp arrives in mid-JUNE!!

The Allied "Death Star" will be at full strength during July as the Brits are still available. [:)]

The most I would do is bring in more subs to the SE Pacific. Use LBA and subs to hopefully sink another CV. The most fighters he will have is 45 x 3 = 135. At least 60 to 70 will have to remain as CAP.

[Cribtop]

Yeah, if they have 3 CVs that TF will be a tough nut for LBA to crack alone, especially if they swapped devastators for Marine Wildcats.

[John 3rd]

May 17, 1942
Burma

This Post and the next go hand-in-hand.

To say the least, my opponents are gamblers. They have been smacked around at sea and now they look to be trying it from the ground. Bottom line is that the Allies have to DERAIL the Japanese juggernaut at some point. Looks like they are trying in not ONE, not TWO, but THREE locations on the map! The problem with gambling is that it also creates enormous opportunities for the player that SEES it! This applies to all games. When my noble SOUTHERN OPPONENT landed in a massively HUGE invasion of Sumatra in late-1942 I nearly panicked but then saw the opportunity that it presented. The same just might be said here.

Burma
The 18th Brit ID has been forced to retreat FOUR times. It attacked Magwe and then was forced out that hex and three more until it now sits in the jungle due west of Magwe. Two TK Regiments were about to enter the hex and force a final retreat when a stack of six units emerge from the jungle to the north. Could I be so lucky as to see an Aussie ID? YES! The 6th Aust ID is spotted in the stack. Is the other one there as well? Lordy: I hope so!

I have decided to 'act' incredibly weak within Burma. Will allow them to advance and, perhaps, take Magwe (after a fight). We want them drawn deeper into Burma and AWAY for any quick reaction ability in India.

There are three major Allied units to deal with in India by mid-1942: the 18th Brit, 6th Aussie, and 7th Aussie. I have crushed the 18th. Now we plan to 'lure' these units into the Irrawaddy Valley and POUND them with air power and ground resistance. The Allies will be forward deployed when I land at Viza and Cocanada. There may a REAL chance to force a massed surrender of Allied units in late-1942...

Current Forces:
The cup board is fairly bare here in that I have Imperial Guards, a Garrison unit, 5 Artie Reg, and 5 TK Regiments. Have a nice support force of an Air Division, Base Forces, and good amount of AA units.

Reinforcements:
The 48th ID gets sailing orders from Singapore to head for Rangoon. Three convoys have already rounded Singers carrying an Air Division, 6 Base Forces, and 5 Engineering units.

I made the comment to the guys when I spotted that stack "Ohhhhh...do I see Pickett's Brigades forming out of the trees in Burma."

Let them CHARGE BABY!

[John 3rd]

May 17, 1942
Western Australia

...continuing from the above thread.

In Western Australia and Allies have ordered a stack up from their nearest base (Ceduna) and within its total is the 2nd and 5th Aussie ID. Remember that the 3rd Aussie ID is moving north towards Daly Waters. This advancing stack of ELEVEN units is 640+ miles from their nearest base.

Here is an even bigger opportunity. Those troops are nearly are at the end of a very weak--to say the least--supply tether. I Imagine that they are carrying exactly one unit of fire with them and then they are SCREWED!

What do the Japanese have in Western Australia? Fairly simple answer: 18th ID, 2 TK Reg, 2 Cavalry Brigades, 3 Art Regiments, and a Para Raiding unit. Just passing Exmouth Bay is a convoy carrying the full TOE 1st and 8th Brigades from China.

Considering the long tether that the Allies are operating from, I want to draw them farther in and get them to lay siege to one of my outer bases (Kalgoorlie? Ft-3+) before I surround them and force a surrender. Will probably need another ID for that so when Darwin falls the 55th or 56th ID will move down over here. Until that reinforcement arrives, we'll use what is present as well as 54 Betty and 48 Kates to bomb these units and damage them.

[Cribtop]

It is far easier in war to be too timid. While rare, it IS possible to be too aggressive as well. [:D]

Mass surrenders + huge naval losses + VP locations captured may equal auto victory if they aren't careful. Still, it is fun to watch.

[Capt. Harlock]

"Ohhhhh...do I see Pickett's Brigades forming out of the trees in Burma."

Don't forget it was properly Pickett, Pettigrew, and Trimble! [;)]