Global War : a Japanese AAR

[EUBanana]

Now I got home I dug out the books. Okay, I see now. So not in an enemy ZOC is the issue probably.

Maybe its worth the CW building some Indian TERR after all then.

[Courtenay]

ORIGINAL: EUBanana

Now I got home I dug out the books. Okay, I see now. So not in an enemy ZOC is the issue probably.

Maybe its worth the CW building some Indian TERR after all then.

The problem is that the CW builds TERRs, not "Indian TERRs". One can't control where one gets the territorials, and some of them are flat out useless. It would be very nice for the CW if they could control which TERRs they build, but they can't. Therefore building other units is generally better. You can build two INF or or three TERR. However, one of the TERR is probably going to be completely useless, so you are better off with the two INF.

Japan builds lots of TERRs. The US has one, (and may conquer more), and it is worthwhile to build it. Italy would like to build some TERRs, but generally has better things to spend build points on. The CW and France have far too many TERRS, usually not in the right places. CW TERRs are not worth the effort.

[yvesp]

While the weather is still good and the allies occupied west, Japan thinks it is time to recapture the Palembang oil fields. They succeed. Getting rid of the allied units near batavia may well be another matter and it is not yet planned ; the combat is excepted to be bloody.

[yvesp]

Faithfull with their current tactics, the USA send an intercepting force (well, it doesn't intercepts the invasion because it is too late for that, but it catches the supporting fleet) ; it is surprised and the 6 carriers make mincemeat of the Japanese fleet : a transport and a battleship are sunk, the Yamato is damaged. The American fleet retires after the first round of combat : no need to take extra risks. Should the Japanese themseleves retreat, the Americans would be stuck in the sea of China within striking range of the ten or so Japanese carriers...

[yvesp]

The Japanese suffer. More to the point, the transport will be sorely missing.

[yvesp]

With the conquest of Kuching, the Japanese fully occupy Borneo and the South China Sea. Remains Singapore to lock the area. And Telok Betonk to prevent easy reconquest by the British.

Obviously, with all these combined actions, the Japanese did not move much in China proper, and thing still are in almost in the configuration of the previous turns.

[yvesp]

In the China Sea, US submarines fail to surprise the Japane. The H8K again forces them to retreat and even damages one.

[yvesp]

ORIGINAL: EUBanana

Now I got home I dug out the books. Okay, I see now. So not in an enemy ZOC is the issue probably.

Maybe its worth the CW building some Indian TERR after all then.

sure! Otherwise you may well get some annoying partisans in India!

[yvesp]

ORIGINAL: Courtenay

ORIGINAL: EUBanana

Now I got home I dug out the books. Okay, I see now. So not in an enemy ZOC is the issue probably.

Maybe its worth the CW building some Indian TERR after all then.

The problem is that the CW builds TERRs, not "Indian TERRs". One can't control where one gets the territorials, and some of them are flat out useless. It would be very nice for the CW if they could control which TERRs they build, but they can't. Therefore building other units is generally better. You can build two INF or or three TERR. However, one of the TERR is probably going to be completely useless, so you are better off with the two INF.

Japan builds lots of TERRs. The US has one, (and may conquer more), and it is worthwhile to build it. Italy would like to build some TERRs, but generally has better things to spend build points on. The CW and France have far too many TERRS, usually not in the right places. CW TERRs are not worth the effort.

That's true ; but while some are utterly useless (no ports to send them somewhere), many can still be used. South African or Nigerian territorials can be usefull to garrison Australia, New Zealand, or used to fight in the Netherlands East Indies after they have been conquered. They can even be used to garrison India (a major Commonwealth Home country) against partisan and more generally against Japanese adventurism. It's easier to go and use your best units when you know that you don't leave undefended territory behind you.
In Africa, many Commonwealth territorials can be used to capture Vichy French territories ; in that case, this may force Germany to actually use the Vichy France production rather than stockpiling it for German use later.

But yes, building territorials more or less looks like a loss of resources for the Commonwealth.

But it's a bit more subtle than that, as always...
In this game, it let the Commonwealth liberate Senegal (1 more resource for many turns) and I had no partisans in India (fewer resources lost, no unit lost for fighting these partisans)
One of the South African Territorial is stacked in Talang Betong with an Indian inf, thus militarily useful and on the front line. Would I have moved the Indian inf if tIndia wasn't itself protected by other territorials from Africa ? I'm not sure. And I'm pretty certain that Talang Betonk is going to be a thorn in the Japanese feet: either they leave it alone, and it will greatly help for reconquering Batavia. Or they lose precious time and resources to fight there, in difficult terrain. And as we have seen in the previous impulse, every naval move may come at a cost with the American fleet raiding from Brisbane.
Some others are in Australia, Perth most notably : this prevents the Japanese from having stupid ideas like seizing the western part of Australia, which could break the Commonwealth convoys.

The Queens are great for moving territorials around.

[Centuur]

Well, it depends on how things are going if I build TERR or not with the CW. Usually, I first empty all other infantry units pools. Now, if the CW didn't have a lot of losses, I probably would build some too, since they are indeed very good for anti partisan duties (and also to have around as small garrisons to annoy the Japanese. It also depends on the availability of sea lift too.

[yvesp]

The month destructions are severe for Germany : Zhukov offensive cause the red army to enter Rumania and advance 400 km along the southern coast, while most of the German troops were stuck in bad weather not far in the north. The Germnas had some success of their own and destroyed the two US para corps that held the center of Italy. They also destroyed the two Russian subs that were raiding in the Baltic.

Japan had severe naval losses : the Hiei and a naval transport were Sunk, the Yamato was damaged.


At the end of April 43:

Japan builds:
- 1 motorized
- 1 armor
- 2 pilots
- 3 carrier planes
- 1 carrier (superstructures)
- 1 carrier (infrastrutures)
- 2 convoys
- repair Yamato
- 1 transport

China builds:
- 1 inf HQ (Tchiang)

The Commonwealth builds:
- 1 carrier (superstructures)
- 2 convoys
- repair 2 cruisers
- 1 sub repaired
- 1 transport
- 1 amphibious
- 2 mechanized
- 4 carrier planes (1 at 0 cost)
- 1 Lnd4
- 1 Nav3
- 1 Ftr2
- 1 inf
- 1 mot
- 1 mot div
- 3 pilots

The USA build:
- 5 carriers (infrastructures)
- 3 battleships (superstructures)
- 1 sub repaired
- 2 convoys
- 1 cruiser repaired
- 5 carrier planes
- 1 pilot
- 2 para
- 2 air transport
- 2 Ftr3
- 1 artillery
- 1 mechanized
- 1 armored marine
- 2 BP stored for France

[yvesp]

In China, the situation is under perfect control.
Advancing however is not on the agenda, unless some artillery preparation happens to be exceptionnally successfull. Why risk a secure position for, oh! so little gain ?

[yvesp]

On this map, everything is under Japanese control with the following limitations:

- China, of course, behind the Chinese line...
- Telok Betong in Sumatra
- Papua

[yvesp]

The Japanese have a good control of advanced pacific islands

[yvesp]

The situation in France is not very good for the allies, who don't yet have a significant position.

[yvesp]

The situation in Italy is now a stalemate, as the allies have left barely enough troops to avoid easy counterattacks, but don't have enough to advance. But it pins down numerous German troops.

[yvesp]

In Russia, Zhukov has too many troops : should they leak south, the whole eastern front would be in jeopardy. The problem is that Germany has barely enough troops to contain them!

[yvesp]

Events in France are not good. Germany just lost 25% of their defensive screen in one unlucky impulse. The allies now dominate the theater 13 corps against 8. With 4 more corps ready to disembark, and 4 more coming at the end of the turn from the USA. On their part, the Germans are hard pressed finding replacements without weakening other positions.

The situation is made more difficult by the Russian pressure on Rumania, and the difficulty to bring reiforcement there too. Russian troops are within 300km from Bucarest, and even bad rolls (last combat was a 6) don't seem to faze them.

The Jananese Imperial Command knows that the allies naval focus will soon shift. But nothing will anyway really happen before 1944. The Royal navy is still engaged in the mediterranean against the remnants of the Italian fleet, and in support of land operations. This won't last, but estimates are that the British fleet should not be seen before 1944, unless uselessly provoked. Meanwhile, the Japanese production is rolling at its peak.

[Centuur]

I think it's time for the Chinese to start building the airforce. With a couple of air units to keep striking Kunming and a couple of INF to attack the city, it can be taken back as first objective...

[yvesp]

Just before the end of the May 43 turn, the Japanese proceed in the direction of Sian and seize the last protecting mountains. The city is now risking capture, although it is well defended and indeed its capture still remains an elusive goal. Artillery serves well, and consumes no oil!