::Felix, Ferdinand and FRUPAC:: obvert (A) v Greyjoy (J)

[crsutton]

Thanks, that takes a bit of worry off of me. And, now I know that I don't have to impale myself by defending Madras if it comes to that.

[obvert]

Also, I just got proof when I saw the Viper Force, due to arrive at Rangoon, is actually slated for Aden now. This brings up another question though. Will those divisions switch it up and be scheduled to arrive off-map at Aden, making it more difficult to get them on it where needed?

There is not a lot of good stuff coming soon either, and the off-map Aussies really need to make it to Karachi!

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[SqzMyLemon]

That is good news. At least you have operational freedom and not handcuffed with trying to defend Madras. Do you already have most elements of the Australian divisions at Karachi or are they still in Aden? Obviously with KB prowling nearby that could pose a problem if they are still in Aden.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

That is good news. At least you have operational freedom and not handcuffed with trying to defend Madras. Do you already have most elements of the Australian divisions at Karachi or are they still in Aden? Obviously with KB prowling nearby that could pose a problem if they are still in Aden.

I've got two of three from the first Aussie division, and the other hasn't started arriving as of yet. I'm sending most of that brigade into Karachi right now with a fast trip from Abadan. Yikes.

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]Feb 5 - 7, 1942[/font]

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[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font]Around 20-25 subs are fanning out into the Indian Ocean. Their main goal is to scout for the KB in order to find it out of search range, but of course also to get a hit if possible. Out in the deep and away from LBA it should be easier to remain unseen and sneak in. The KB disappeared for one day on the 6th but showed up again on the line midway between Karachi and Socotra. By the 8th there will be some in range to make direct contact. [:)]

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]PI: [/font]A silly mistake by me in the PI. I've been playing turns a bit too quickly. GJ entices a fast pace, and I've fallen into that. I 'feinted' movement out of Manila to get him to move out of Clark, see what was left, or in movement, and try an attack there. Getting him to move worked perfectly, but I forgot to turn off my troops. They got smashed in Cabanatuan. Lost around 120 squads. Stupid. No more fast turns.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]INDIA: [/font]With the awareness that units set to arrive at Madras and elsewhere actually will go to Karachi or Bombay, I am sending all Madras units to Bombay to defend that base. If I can hold there, for even a while, that will extend the defenses of India. It again is a risk, but the farther the IJA is drawn into India the more vulnerable they become (assuming I can avoid AV). Bombay is holding a ton of supply and fuel, and will be a good place for these units to work up to full strength as well. It should still take some time for the IJA to make it this far, and with the division arriving at Bangalore soon heading over as well, that would bring AV to around 1200 in the next two weeks. I know, the same as Calcutta, but with more time to build forts and prepare, and with less opportunity to use overwhelming air and sea bombardments.

I gambled and sent two transports with most of an Aussie brigade to Karachi. They're scheduled to arrive on the 9th. They're at full speed, so should 'appear' at Karachi itself after speeding in off the map edge. I've got 75 fighters at Karachi to LR CAP just in case. Nervous times.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]Pacific: [/font]A sub, the I-10, was located near the Yorktown by the SCTF next to it. Yikes! Three big ASW TFs and the cruisers will converge on the path of the escort TF and the Sara's fighters will LR CAP at 6k to try to hit the Glen.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CHINA: [/font]Pingsiang gets to level 3 again. The IJA is sending a brigade to try and flank to the South. I'll try to bomb with Lysanders to slow them while I send in a Corps to try and claim the hex.

The IJA stopped outside Sian and did not retreat farther after we did not pursue. This is good as it will take much longer to repair while out in the open. Sian is stuck at 3.86 and hasn't gone up in forts in 3 days since the big attack there. Supply is mostly going to units it seems. At least Chunking is still using it's HI thanks to the oil/fuel line continuing to be open.

Soon I'll stop all forts building in the area once Sian gets to 4 and some other bases get to level 3. That will hopefully allow more supply for healing disabled squads and flowing to units in the field.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]DEI:[/font] Soerabaja goes down. Now all units are being sent to bases in good terrain to collect for the last defense of Java. I didn't work to create any fortresses here. Not enough time and also it's still hard to track down the various elements across the island. About 8 B-17s are railing to Tillityap to try and get fixed to fly out.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SIGINT:[/font] Nothing useful lately.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]

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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR February 6, 42

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Ground combat at Cabanatuan (80,76)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 26908 troops, 247 guns, 218 vehicles, Assault Value = 867

Defending force 11718 troops, 148 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 417

Japanese adjusted assault: 706

Allied adjusted defense: 87

Japanese assault odds: 8 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
207 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 16 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Allied ground losses:
3810 casualties reported
Squads: 114 destroyed, 99 disabled
Non Combat: 67 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 32 (15 destroyed, 17 disabled)
Units retreated 3

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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR February 7, 42

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ASW attack near Malden Island at 172,151

Japanese Ships
SS I-10

Allied Ships
CL St. Louis
CL Raleigh
CL Concord
DD Gridley
DD Balch
DD Benham

SS I-10 is sighted by escort

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[font="Trebuchet MS"]Two loaded transport TFs are scurrying toward solid ground while the KB is at the map edge. On Ceylon and in the middle of the IO subs, patrols and bombers search out enemy TFs. One RN SCTF is on station near Addu to move in if anything is picked up or scoot out if the KB or another mini-KB appears nearby. I'll be a lot happier when the planes are on a field. [/font]

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[HansBolter]

ORIGINAL: obvert

Also, I just got proof when I saw the Viper Force, due to arrive at Rangoon, is actually slated for Aden now. This brings up another question though. Will those divisions switch it up and be scheduled to arrive off-map at Aden, making it more difficult to get them on it where needed?

There is not a lot of good stuff coming soon either, and the off-map Aussies really need to make it to Karachi!

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Its anecdotal, but my experience with Babes is that all deferred entries for the Dutch arrive at Aden. Haven't had any experience with deferred Indian troops.

[obvert]

Tense turn. The Aussie brigade made it to Karachi but hasn't started the unload yet. Arrg! The KB and surface force are four hexes out. I'm hoping the TF can unload at least some of the 2/3 of the brigade before getting smoked. I sent out 3 ML TFs right at the KB, plucky little guys, volunteers all, in the hope they could slow anything coming. The PCs will also stand and fight. There are 300 mines in port and 75 fighters in case the KB wants to lose some pilots.

The good part is if he stays there are 15 subs converging on the position. Ten or so will be in range tomorrow. He's playing with fire so far from home. Now I need one lucky sub to come through.

[witpqs]

How big is Karachi port so far? Maybe they can unload everything before dawn.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

How big is Karachi port so far? Maybe they can unload everything before dawn.

Level five.

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]Feb 8-10, 1942[/font]
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[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]INDIA: [/font]Well, today I'm simultaneously pretty smart and very stupid. The 2/3 brigade on the transports ran for cover instead of trying to unload anything, in spite of it's absolute orders setting. Troops lost on ships. This is something I almost always have managed to avoid, and I will work doubly hard to ensure it doesn't happen in the future. Hate it.

The smart part is that 1/3 of the brigade is still at Abadan. This will be split to different transports and wait until the absolute all clear to move.

GJ sent in the big guns, and wiped the PCs off the map at Karachi, but Kako took a mine hit. That is good, and subs are in the retreating path. The transports actually moved to the hex next to off map and were hit by old DDs. Grrr. The KB and company seem satisfied and are moving back toward Ceylon. Fifteen subs stand in their way, undetected as of yet. he has a CS cruiser (I think) operating out in from of the fleet here, but it's not picking up all of the subs. It's also vulnerable, only four ships in the TF. Going for that too.

Big units get out of Madras. Bombay and Karachi each are beefed up.Still considering whether I'll stay for Bombay or let him have it. All fighters land at Addu and begin to transit to Colombo. Others drop off at Diego while one bold TF is heading into Colombo itself. It's set to unload and disband. Come play with the AA guns please!

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font]The York is being dogged by two I-boats near Christmas Island, but makes land at this base. Still 11 system, 66 float and 20 engine damage. Now the long leg. The subs are being detected well, and hit by escorts, so I'm going to keep on.

Grenadier gets an xAK near Taihoku. Go Mk 14s!

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]Pacific: [/font]Prep for Boomerang heads to the Aleutians. Still no sight of any Japanese presence up there.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CHINA: [/font]Nothing new. Wenchow takes a pounding from BBs. Might send some subs to mine that port for fun. See if this becomes a continuing tactic. No planes are in base as the increase in fighters at Shanghai made this place untenable.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]DEI:[/font] Java is being slowly worn away. Not much else to save. The B-17s have repaired nicely and moved on.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR February 9, 42
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ASW attack near Christmas Island at 174,146

Japanese Ships
SS I-10, hits 5

Allied Ships
APD Waters
APD Sands

SS I-10 is located by APD Waters

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ASW attack near Christmas Island at 174,145

Japanese Ships
SS I-17

Allied Ships
DD Chew
DD Schley

SS I-17 is located by DD Chew
I-17 diving deep ....
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR February 10, 42
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Karachi at 40,8, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Aoba
CA Kinugasa
CA Furutaka
CA Kako
DD Kagero
DD Hayashio
DD Maikaze
DD Isokaze
DD Shiranui
DD Amatsukaze
DD Arashi
DD Fubuki
DD Oboro
DD Uzuki

Allied Ships
PC Jumna, Shell hits 8, and is sunk
PC Sutlej, Shell hits 18, and is sunk

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TF 6 encounters mine field at Karachi (40,8)

Japanese Ships
CA Kako, Mine hits 1

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Day Time Surface Combat, near Karachi at 38,4, Range 6,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Hasu
DD Tsuga
DD Susuki, Shell hits 1
DD Tsuta

Allied Ships
xAP Devonshire, Shell hits 22, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAP Lancashire, Shell hits 28, and is sunk

Allied ground losses:
3441 casualties reported
Squads: 112 destroyed, 104 disabled
Non Combat: 136 destroyed, 142 disabled
Engineers: 20 destroyed, 9 disabled
Guns lost 75 (65 destroyed, 10 disabled)
Vehicles lost 10 (8 destroyed, 2 disabled)[:(]

Poor visibility due to Thunderstorms
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms: 6,000 yards
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Losses:

[font="Trebuchet MS"]Loss of PT-48 on Feb 10, 1942 is admitted
Loss of PC Jumna on Feb 10, 1942 is admitted
Loss of PC Sutlej on Feb 10, 1942 is admitted
Loss of AMc Merbabo on Feb 10, 1942 is admitted
Loss of AMc Ardjoeno on Feb 10, 1942 is admitted
Loss of AMc Kawi on Feb 10, 1942 is admitted
Loss of AMc Holland on Feb 10, 1942 is admitted
Loss of HDML P 5 on Feb 10, 1942 is admitted
Loss of HDML P 6 on Feb 10, 1942 is admitted
Loss of HDML P 23 on Feb 10, 1942 is admitted
Loss of xAP Devonshire on Feb 10, 1942 is admitted
Loss of xAP Lancashire on Feb 10, 1942 is admitted[/font]

Ships Sunk:

[font="Trebuchet MS"]xAK Shinfuku Maru is reported to have been sunk near Iriomote on Feb 08, 1942[/font]
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[font="Trebuchet MS"]Not too bad yet, but little things matter, and I can't take too many risks and avoid a scare with AV come 1/43. This is the first time through in a PBEM as Allies, and it's fun, but torturous. Good to experience this side, the helplessness of the early days. [/font]
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[ny59giants]

CV Yorktown - I would head her for Hilo first with PBYs on ASW patrol from there to see what subs he has off Hawaii. Then, from Hilo to Pearl, I would include the "coastal" setting for routing to ensure she stays in the shallow ocean hexes.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

CV Yorktown - I would head her for Hilo first with PBYs on ASW patrol from there to see what subs he has off Hawaii. Then, from Hilo to Pearl, I would include the "coastal" setting for routing to ensure she stays in the shallow ocean hexes.

Yes, she's skirting the line islands in case I need a port quickly, and for the LBA search, and then is heading diagonally right at Kona, actually. The Cats and DBs will be looking and the Sara will stay with her all of the way. There are a lot of ASW ships here, and they're swarming the subs so far. Fingers crossed.

[BBfanboy]

Re: the transport skippers who would not "Stay!" - I find it sometimes helps to set the port you want them to stay in as the home port.
If they get the urge to run from SCTFs they usually run for home port, though not always if their skipper has poor aggression rating.
I usually check the skipper of every xAP that has been assigned to carry troops and change the CO if needed (Naval 50+, Aggression 40 - 60). Most of the time no PP are required for the change.
Unfortunately the CO pool for Commonwealth ships is very shallow and most skippers are poorly qualified.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Re: the transport skippers who would not "Stay!" - I find it sometimes helps to set the port you want them to stay in as the home port.
If they get the urge to run from SCTFs they usually run for home port, though not always if their skipper has poor aggression rating.
I usually check the skipper of every xAP that has been assigned to carry troops and change the CO if needed (Naval 50+, Aggression 40 - 60). Most of the time no PP are required for the change.
Unfortunately the CO pool for Commonwealth ships is very shallow and most skippers are poorly qualified.

I had them set to karachi as home port, but didn't change commanders. The pools in general are really poor for the Allies in the beginning. This is one of the biggest surprises for my first run through a PBEM so far. I literally can't find enough good sub, destroyer and cruiser commanders, let alone improved transport TF guys.

The Japanese start with a plethora of aggressive, highly skilled naval commanders and air group commanders. This is another reason they own the first year of the war. It's a huge difference to run out ships with skippers whose aggression tops at 49! ASW suffers for sure, as aggression is key to attacking subs. I can get either naval or aggression but not often both.

Having been doing a lot of reading I see why this is in game though. The pre-war commanders were much less risk-taking and by-the-book. It wasn't until the 90-day wonders arrived and the younger naval academy grads moved up into commands that things started to change.

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]Feb 11 - 13, 1942[/font]

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[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font]A few new I-boats come into range of the Yorktown. She's moving well, has plenty of ASW around, and has kept steady in terms of damage. Some more APDs just finished converting are heading in.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]INDIA: [/font]The KB dodges subs and gets through so far. Then runs for the open IO and disappears from search. Cats go to Addu to pick it up again. We'll see tomorrow hopefully. Lots of the best Dutch subs and S-boats with working TT are in the open channels of the Maldives.

Near Trincommalee a massive Japanese invasion fleet readies to take Ceylon. Fighters have transited to Colombo from Addu and now almost 100 defend the base. Not much else to do here.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CHINA: [/font]GJ is getting tired of dealing with Wenchow it seems. He's sent BBs to bombard for the past four turns. Rather have them here, to be honest, than most anywhere else. Subs are moving in to see if they can get lucky.

Zeros jumped a Blenheim group and a few Lysanders trying to slow a division moving into the deep wooded rough south of Pingsiang. We had three solid days of bombing, which may have been enough to get in first.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]DEI:[/font] Singers left undefended, with on CAP. It seems anyway. I'm sending PBYs to bomb since th rollover shows CVL. A longshot, but these Cats have no future after java is done, so may as well use them.

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[font="Trebuchet MS"]The KB apeears to be trying to move around the many subs along the coast back to replenish. This could be a doubling back again though to go for more convoys near Karachi. Does he have a replenishment convoy out there somewhere? I'm sending subs to find out and put a small Cat group at Addu for a look. [/font]

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[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]OPERATION BOOMERANG[/font]

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After the great input from Alfred and others plans are taking shape and units are moving into ready staging areas. The timeframe will have to shift back two weeks at least until mid-March due to the transit time of CVs from Cape Town. The Enterprise finally made it there and has only a 45-50 day repair, so as the first stages of the Op hits (and if the bulk of the KB moves NE into the Pacific) the big E might be able to move into the IO with Hermes (and Formidable?) to go for something there if there is still a siege on.

Prep is also looking like it'll not be ready until Mid-March at the earliest. I don't want to hit atolls with incompletely prepped units. I'm thinking a regiment, a combat engineer and a tank unit for Wake and Marcus. Of course after several days of bombardments and air strikes. It all depends on what we find of course. I know the Wake CD guns don't arrive immediately either, so I'll have to check the date of arrival. That could make a difference.

Due to the poor PH strike, sinking only one BB, I'll have two repaired before this op plus the Warspite and Colorado, and the Idaho and the Mississippi, six altogether. The CVs will be Hornet, Saratoga, Lexington and Indomitable.

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]Feb 14 - 15, 1942[/font]

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A month and a half of invasion bonus left. Will all of the Empire's energy e focused on India or are there other high value targets in the plans?

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font]SS KIX gets a shot at escorts of the KB but that's as close as we get for now. Gar reacts into a minefield at Hakodate. I guess it wasn't 'known' before. Hopefully this won't happen again.

The I-16 gets a few off at PC Perseus, and takes one ash can for it's trouble. I-171 also takes a shot at Perseus, and again gets one hit.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]INDIA: [/font]Trincomalee is invaded. All of the troops on the island are in Colombo. The split base force on the smaller bases will move now if they don't get para-dropped first. Nic is fond of his para-troops! [;)]

Still 30 fighters repairing on Addu, but now 93 in Colombo and the B-26 have all made it back to Karachi. Whew. I feel sneaky. The TF that brought them is hugging the coast toward Bombay to avoid detection. A few other units on the move near the Aden map edge. If the KB has fuel to pop back there I may be sad, but I think everything should be able to turn around in time as there is good search from some LR Hudsons and Cats now.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]Pacific: [/font]The Yorktown saga continues, but she made three hexes this past turn and seems to be in good shape, dropping another system point.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR February 14, 42
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Sub attack near Palmyra at 176,131

Japanese Ships
SS I-16, hits 1

Allied Ships
PC Perseus

SS I-16 launches 2 torpedoes at PC Perseus
I-16 diving deep ....
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR February 15, 42
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Sub attack near Palmyra at 177,127

Japanese Ships
SS I-171, hits 1

Allied Ships
PC Perseus

SS I-171 launches 2 torpedoes at PC Perseus
PC Perseus fails to find sub, continues to search...
PC Perseus attacking submerged sub ....

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Ground combat at Malaybalay (80,90)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 7604 troops, 99 guns, 111 vehicles, Assault Value = 228

Defending force 9536 troops, 41 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 298

Japanese adjusted assault: 80

Allied adjusted defense: 154

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
488 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 30 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 18 (1 destroyed, 17 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
125 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 32 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
8th Tank Regiment
Kure 2nd SNLF
5th Amphibious Brigade
17th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
3rd PA Constabulary Regiment
102nd PA Infantry Regiment
102nd PA Infantry Division
III Philippine Corps
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Ships Sunk:

[font="Trebuchet MS"]xAK Ryoyo Maru is reported to have been sunk near Singkawang on Dec 08, 1941[/font]

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[font="Trebuchet MS"]While it will suck not to have the forward base and shipyard in the IO, I'm almost happy he's invading here. It mean to me a focus on the East of India and leaves some room to bring reinforcements and air units to Karachi to build from the rear. Also there is more time to build forts. If Bombay and Karachi have 5-6 forts they will be a lot tougher than Calcutta with level 3. [/font]

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[SqzMyLemon]

Invading Ceylon is going to buy you time to consolidate Karachi and Bombay for sure. I think you might be able to rule out GreyJoy going for all of India since I don't think he'll have the time to land at Karachi before the amphibious bonus ends with enough strength. It's going to be interesting following the next few months, but I think it's going to be fun for you. If you can get enough 4E's to India, Ceylon may be a bittersweet victory for GreyJoy. At least he's giving you lots of options for liberation. [:D]

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

Invading Ceylon is going to buy you time to consolidate Karachi and Bombay for sure. I think you might be able to rule out GreyJoy going for all of India since I don't think he'll have the time to land at Karachi before the amphibious bonus ends with enough strength. It's going to be interesting following the next few months, but I think it's going to be fun for you. If you can get enough 4E's to India, Ceylon may be a bittersweet victory for GreyJoy. At least he's giving you lots of options for liberation. [:D]

We do have a rule of no ground bombing troops with 4Es, but that is actually to my liking as I want to use them for strat bombing, airfield suppression and other facilities destruction. I currently have about 80-90 4Es in India. Now that Ive gotten some fighters in to protect them I can start thinking of how to slow him down here.

[SqzMyLemon]

ORIGINAL: obvert

We do have a rule of no ground bombing troops with 4Es, but that is actually to my liking as I want to use them for strat bombing, airfield suppression and other facilities destruction. I currently have about 80-90 4Es in India. Now that Ive gotten some fighters in to protect them I can start thinking of how to slow him down here.

That was my thinking too. I wasn't aware of your house rule, but I'd feel the same. 4E's are meant to hammer industry and facilities in my opinion. I'd look at trashing Colombo's port to deny it being a viable base to operate from and of course knock the airbases on Ceylon out. It will be a great way to force GreyJoy to divert air units to defend the island and away from your intended operations.