Empire strikes back- NJP vs Wargmr Game over :-)

[Lowpe]

Like your map graphics.[:)]

[njp72]

Thanks I was thinking about that option and does make good sense. I will allocate some forces to it.

KB is currently transiting back from the Pearl Harbour strike but the Allied Orbat is so weak at this stage of the war KB light should be able to provide sufficient protection.

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Since you have all of KB in the DEI/SRA, the capture of Horn Island will seal off the east. Then, capture both Koepang and Denpasar with the landing of Air HQs will seal off the southern part of the area. You can backfill after these outpost are yours, IMO.

[njp72]

Thank you I am definitely not going to die wondering this game

Completely agree, I don't intend to be get fixed in place at any particular location.

Wargmr is a tough opponent and I have a strong sense he knows that I am coming so it will be difficult to trap him.

Also when he took on KB in late 42 he demonstrated a very good understanding of calculated risk. Losing that battle stop me cold and also reinforced to me not to have KB too exposed in late 42. I won't be making that mistake again

ORIGINAL: pontiouspilot

I agree with your overall strategy. Go big in 1st year or go home. Don't get sucked into tying to keep the far flung pieces too long. As far as I could see the only error, or maybe bad luck, you had in Round 1 was letting your carriers get ambushed off Aust so far from home. I never would have thought that there was anything in Aust worth having the carriers down that far south! That changed the entire tone and direction of that game.

[njp72]

Pacific Update

Swinging back towards the central pacific after the Pearl Harbour strike (I hate BBs), KB stopped off to provide distant support/air cover for the Baker/Canton Islands invasion force.

I suspected there would be US surface forces about and possibly a US carrier and hence set a small trap. Using a small amphib taskforce which had been spotted I tried to draw out his ships before I hit him in the flank with KB.

To my surprise a carrier was present but Wargmr is used to my tricks, smelt a rat and bugged out.

[njp72]

Pacific Update Part 2

Of course he then proceeded to run directly over my sub picket line and become a sitting duck for SS1-9.

And from this notable engagement the first forcibly nominated Kamikaze pilot (CDR Kondo) is born and now quietly awaiting his fate.

Most likely a midget boat captain or I will be driving his I Boat into a very dense Allied minefield.

AHHHHHHHHH!

[njp72]

First sign of actually resistance on Day 8.

About 50 Allied a/c were destroyed today by CAP as they sortied against various amphip taskforces.

Also sighted today and engaged one of his SAGs which have been strangely quiet. The destroyer sqns are doing their job of sweeping the dangerous areas before the amphib taskforces arrive.

Whilst they don't have enough firepower (unless a lucky torpedo strikes home) to sink some of his heavier ships, they will still force his taskforces to return home and replenish ammo.

Now as long as PoW and Repulse don't show up next turn, a number of important bases should start to fall including Rabaul.

Lex unfortunately got away.

[njp72]

Strategy Update

So far everything tracking reasonably to plan after the first 10 days. Allied losses are a little lighter than I hoped and I would have loved to bag the Lex, but on the flip side we are roughly on schedule.

We will have secured those objectives circled on the map before the start of 42.

I expect the main event to commence in the first week of Jan. Allied units in Malaysia will continue to be herded down into Singapore and the Philippines pretty much ignored.

I suspect it will start to look quite obvious where I am headed but doing something to stop me in Jan 42 will not be easy

[njp72]

The Jig is up-20th Dec 41

Ironically just like in the movie's namesake, we came out of light speed a little bit too close to Hoth (sorry Rabaul).

I suspect he managed to glimpse about a third of the Spanish Armada but that would be enough to give him kittens. He has done a good job with his recon aircraft and I don't think I have fooled him with my feints.

Right about now I suspect every ground unit Wargmr has in Oz is headed to Sydney and digging in.

My plan will be to take every city in OZ except Sydney which I will burn to the ground from the air. His surface fleets have completely disappeared and since I no longer need stealth, I will accelerate everything by an additional week. [:D]

Darwin was seized today with minimal resistance.

[paradigmblue]

Wow, I'm impressed by your aggressive timeline. What you've accomplished in two weeks is significant.

[njp72]

Thank you

I think bypassing the Philippines and only committing limited forces to Singapore can really accelerate things.

I believe the next two weeks look pretty good as the major amphib forces have now married up with their surface and air cover.

Historically if the Allies are really going to cause me grief it is usually in the first fourteen days when a number of my forces are dispersed and lacking mutual support.

I have attached the int screen. Interestingly he has only lost one major warship (Arizona at Pearl), the rest being AKs, AKLs and tankers. I am reasonably certain very little escaped from the PI except subs and his actual ship losses are over a hundred.

ORIGINAL: paradigmblue

Wow, I'm impressed by your aggressive timeline. What you've accomplished in two weeks is significant.

[obvert]

What is the goal for OZ? I know you're saying al but Sydney, but then why cross the LOD at all? Could you not just bomb the industry since he'll have the usual lack of fighters there?

[njp72]

Yes a very valid question and one I have thought a bit about too.

At this stage my reasoning is as follows (and it may be wrong):

1. I'm interested in Melbourne. With the current Allied orbat he won't be able to defend both Melbourne and Sydney and rationally most players choose Sydney (coming from Victoria I know which city I would choose!)
2. No Melbourne = no future beaufighter or beaufort.
3. Melbourne has 850 light industry and there should be plenty of resources nearby to sustain me.
4. It will force the Americal division and attached elements scheduled to be deployed to Melbourne to be re-deployed stateside?

Probably the most critical factor will be the scoreboard. With just about all of Oz under my control plus the usual territory an Allied player will be forced to act most likely in June/July 42 to undertake offensive action.

With no Hellcats on his carriers and his ASW weak there is a fair chance an Allied player comes to grief.

We have both witnessed/ experienced the frightening Allied firepower of 44/45 in other games and it is my strong belief if you don't hurt him in 42 (especially CVs) it ends in tears- which it is likely to anyway

ORIGINAL: obvert

What is the goal for OZ? I know you're saying al but Sydney, but then why cross the LOD at all? Could you not just bomb the industry since he'll have the usual lack of fighters there?

[obvert]

I know he gets the reinforcement package if you cross. The Spit VIII are the most important element there, and could be used to defend at Sydney.

I like the thinking on taking away the factories for future airframes, but the Allies of course will do fine without these. The most important factor seems to be the last, which is pushing him to react and expose essential high value assets at less than ideal moments (Wildcats). You'l probably have the opportunity to also take out at least some troops before he turtles.

The negatives are fuel and supply consumption and the obvious overextention of the Empire. So you may want to think of ways to save fuel and supply in other areas while attacking in OZ.

[pontiouspilot]

Whatever you do stay away from Bundaberg.....that crappy rum will kill you!!!

What about New Zealand?....has anybody rang that door? It is much easier to acquire initially. It is much smaller to defend. It sits astride Aust/USA convoy routes. As things progress it is at the end of a much longer supply tentacle....but....should the Japanese player ever be "all in" in Aust or NZ anyway?

[njp72]

Again you make some good points there Obvert.

I will be hitting the enabling targets in the next 7 days and should have an accurate feel if he has completely burrowed into Sydney.

Clearly one of the other major reasons to hit Oz is to destroy land units and devices. If he has retreated back into Sydney and slammed the door, I run the real risk of deploying the entire IJA to Oz only to capture empty towns (yuck).

I suspect I will be able to trap and destroy a division at Melbourne but in the process release approximately 3 plus everything else. Not really good odds.

I daresay like the first game, he might be reinforcing some islands like Diego and near Ceylon which provides more food for thought.........

ORIGINAL: obvert

I know he gets the reinforcement package if you cross. The Spit VIII are the most important element there, and could be used to defend at Sydney.

I like the thinking on taking away the factories for future airframes, but the Allies of course will do fine without these. The most important factor seems to be the last, which is pushing him to react and expose essential high value assets at less than ideal moments (Wildcats). You'l probably have the opportunity to also take out at least some troops before he turtles.

The negatives are fuel and supply consumption and the obvious overextention of the Empire. So you may want to think of ways to save fuel and supply in other areas while attacking in OZ.

[njp72]

No fear there, though I live in Queensland I am not a born and breed Queenslander and that stuff is poison unless you drink it from birth.

I think New Zealand is a bridge to far. I fear an opponent of the quality of Wargmr would just go around and leave you to rot amongst the flightless birds, hot springs and the delightful scenery of the southern islands.

There would be of course worse prison camps

ORIGINAL: pontiouspilot

Whatever you do stay away from Bundaberg.....that crappy rum will kill you!!!

What about New Zealand?....has anybody rang that door? It is much easier to acquire initially. It is much smaller to defend. It sits astride Aust/USA convoy routes. As things progress it is at the end of a much longer supply tentacle....but....should the Japanese player ever be "all in" in Aust or NZ anyway?

[njp72]

Attack Formation

And here is a snap shot as the armada starts to sort itself out in attack formation.

I'm not really worried about Allied air so the major threat would be surface forces and we have positioned accordingly.

There are strong sub picket lines to the south of the formation and screening surface groups now moving to the front.

Just behind them sits KB. We will start hitting the east coast of Oz in the next 5-7 days.

There are roughly around 4 x divs worth of troops and equip in the amphibs.

[setloz]

Good luck with the invasion. Invading Australia below Brisbane line is debatable because of the emergency reinforcement package (about 1500AV iirc and a lot of planes and devices)but I really hope you succeed!

[Lowpe]

Good luck!

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: njp72
1. I'm interested in Melbourne. With the current Allied orbat he won't be able to defend both Melbourne and Sydney and rationally most players choose Sydney (coming from Victoria I know which city I would choose!)

I´m not so sure about that. Both are UH hexes. In my games I always send all the available engineers on OZ straight to Melbourne and Sydney. Then again you are going very early and even with a day 1 commitment forts shouldn´t be more then 3 or possible 4 once you get there!

But those UH hexes are going to be a tough nut to crack no doubt!

Good luck!