Gaishu Isshoku: John 3rd vs Cribtop Between the Storms

[zuluhour]

[X(]  ............allied perspective

[John 3rd]

Thanks Zulu. I had begun to worry about whether Dwain was going to keep his AAR going. Glad he is.

I think we both had issues with doing a lot of Posting due to the very nature of the game. EVERY game has the same general litany of events, moves, and options for the initial conquest. While ours is different it is still very similar to everyone else's. NOW things begin to get interesting and I cannot wait to keep Posting the action, planning, thinking, and asking queries...

[John 3rd]

Operation Shimakaze
Landing Sites

I've never gone after Ceylon or the Maldives so this is new territory for Japan.

OK. Let us look at Ceylon (North to South Coast)

Jaffna Pt 3 AF 1
Trincomalee Pt 6 AF 3
Colombo Pt 9 AF 4
Koggala Pt 1 AF 1

The Maldives
North Male Pt 0 AF 1 (0) Atoll--6,000 Capacity
Addu Atoll Pt 1 (2) AF 1 (0) Atoll--6,000 Capacity
Diego Garcia Pt 1 (2) AF 0 (3) Island--40,000 Capacity

Landing at Ceylon:
I spoke with Michael today and we discussed the merits of landing at ONE location as opposed to two. Thinking on it, the better choice is to land at BOTH Koggala and Jaffna. By landing like this, we immediately capture a pair of AF that can provide CAP over the Landing Forces. I think the Northern Force will be stronger (3 ID and 5 TK) so we can take Trincomalee QUICKLY. The Southern Force will bring in an ID and 4 TK so as to threaten Colombo within days. The goal will be take both bases one D+1 and have CAP established. This will allow the CVs to move away and cover the Maldives (as well as hit any shipping fleeing from the invasion).

Once Trincomalee falls everyone will converge on Colombo.

Maldives
I want to grab North Male since it has a Sz-1 AF for the placement of Floatplanes (Jakes and Emilys).

Addu will get two Independent Regiments for its capture.

Diego Garcia shall receive the tender attentions of two Brigades. Diego probably still does not have an AF operation so we'll look to bring in FOUR Engineering Regiments to quickly (by Japanese standards) build-up the base.


Thoughts?

[Canoerebel]

A couple of thoughts:

1. You can't approach Jaffna from that direction. You probably know that, but I mention it just in case. If you tried, you'd find your invasion fleet out of position and it would take several days to make corrections.

2. That force should be gracious plenty and more to handle Ceylon. It's unliklely North Male or Addu would have meaningful garrisons this early in the game. Diego Garcia could be another matter. Some Allied players try to get a brigade there early. Others leave it vacant.

Have fun.

[John 3rd]

MISTER Dan! Good to see your Post. Very good thoughts on Jaffna. Need to think on that some. I concur that Diego is a 'logical' place to put some real troops. If Dwain has done that then two Brigades might have issues. Think I will heavily recon it as soon as the Ceylon Landings are obviously coming in. Can make decisions on the fly at that point.

I currently have shifted all the Inf Div, 14th/25th Army HQ, and Southern Army HQ to Aussie Preps. Want to keep him guessing until everything is well out to sea.

Haven't mentioned taking Port Blair but it will be ESSENTIAL for the plan. I will use it to fly in aircraft to fill out the AF as they are taken at Ceylon. Additionally, I shall have 6 AKE sitting there to reload the BBs/CAs as fast as possible. Have got three Port Engineer units ready to move here to help.

There are nine AOs loaded with fuel who will probably operate just west of Port Blair so we make this an extended deployment.

[John 3rd]

February 6, 1942

I am amazed at how quickly the units at Singapore are recovering their strength. On February 1st the AV was 1750. It is now 2100. All eight TK Reg, 1 Cav Reg, the 18th and 38th ID are at full strength. The 4th and 33rd are at about 80-85% strength and should be pushing 90+% when we begin loading in seven days.

Wanted to include more within the OOB and thought I should touch on the Ind Reg and Brigades detailed for Operation Shimakaze. The 41st, 112th, and 144th Regiments are going as well as the 21st Ind Brigade.

Java is falling fast and it looks like we should be able to add another Brigade from that location as well.

The Fleet is nearly all repaired from the minor damage it has taken. There are 18 AK converting over the Troop Transports as well.

[John 3rd]

Here is the upcoming Japanese construction. We're not too far from significant additions!

[John 3rd]

February 9, 1942

I had completely forgotten that I have nearly 60 SS on active patrols!

CVL Hermes: 1 Torpedo and an Ammo Storage Explosion----NICE!

[John 3rd]

Hello All.

I haven't done much Posting since we're in a waiting phase as the Japanese prepare for their Spring 42 Offensive. There has been little to report since one cannot find an Allied ship, plane, or LCU on the WHOLE flipping map! OK. There are troops in locations where they cannot hide but that is about it. Never quite seen a Sir Robin like this. I am about to capture Cooktown and Cairns (no troops) as well as Geraldton. NUTS!

The Fleet has gotten over two weeks to rest and refit, fuel and supply has been positioned, engineers are furiously working at Magwe, Prome, and Pt Blair to expand AF. Nearly 1,000 Japanese planes are ready to move as well as 7+ heavily reinforced Infantry Divisions. This will be BIG!

Loading begins on the 18th...

Will begin a serious daily entry from that point on.

[paullus99]

Given the overpowering Japanese advantage, why on Earth would he want to give you more ships and troops to destroy?

[ny59giants]

Given the overpowering Japanese advantage, why on Earth would he want to give you more ships and troops to destroy?

IMO, Japan is less overpowering in this mod. Cribtop is playing Allies for first time, so he is being cautious.

[John 3rd]

Thank You Michael.

Paullus: Your comment might be better directed at RA where the 'goodies' are about 75% Japanese. The Treaty Mod and Between the Storms are FAR MORE balanced Mods. Goodies go just about equally to both sides...

[John 3rd]

OK Team.

It is time to begin THE Offensive Campaign of the war for Japan...

Soldiers---"Begin Embarkation!" The sound of nearly 200,000 men can clearly be heard moving to their areas for loading.

In the distance off Singapore's FORMER British Naval Base, CARDIV2 (Hiryu--Soryu--Zuiho) form into a TF, two more CVLs and a CAV form into a separate TF, and, lastly a trio of CVEs (Hosho, Ibuki, and Taiyo) form into their own third TF.

To quote one of my favorite movies: "Shall we play a game?"

[John 3rd]

February 26, 1942
Australia

The enemy has given nearly anything I want for Aussieland. Townsville fell this turn and it shall (with Charter Towers) form the main defensive point for the eastern side of Australia. Everything from Cloncurry north and Townsville north is Japanese. This has been taken with just one TK Regiment and the three elements of 2nd Inf Div.

Just loaded 150,000 resources from Cairns and am bringing that back to Rabaul for later shipment home.

KB (CarDiv 1 and 5 +3 CVL) are trailing their coats near New Caledonia and will visit the eastern coast of Kangarooland. They won't get close enough to be attacked but I want Dwain FOCUSED here. The Invasion TF for Diego Garcia and Ceylon and now rounding northern Sumatra...

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
Burma--India Region

As stated numerous times, the major offensive of early-1942 is now underway. To say that my opponent is helping in this effort is an understatement. By pulling back EVERYWHERE, the Japanese have taken next to no losses and have been able to grab bases for further advance without having to pay for them in time, blood, or supply. This has made the final operational planning rather interesting.

On the 26th of February a small portion of an Infantry Regiment took Akyab. Base Forces are now on their way to get the AF fully staffed and running. This base will allow for Japan to use her Tina and Topsy for deep Parachute drops without first having to capture Viza or Cocanada (as initially planned. The 27th will see the Fast TF landing of the remainder of the Akyab Regiment at Cox's Bizarre. Paras will grab Myitkyina facilitating the use of this base as a forward base for Para usage also.

Force allocation for Diego Garcia and Ceylon:
1. Two full Inf Div will take Diego Garcia--the 4th and 21st. Once taken a follow-on TF carrying an Air Flotilla, 4 Ind Engineering Regiments and two Base Forces will work to turn this base into a Fortress that interdicts all trafic to Aussieland.

2. The 5th--18th--33rd ID, 9 TK Reg, and 1 Cav Brig will land and take Ceylon. This SHOULD be a quick campaign. Follow-on forces include the 9th Air Force HQ, two Air Flotilla, and 4 Base Forces. Numerous AA and Engineer units will follow the initial landings.

3. The Viza Landings will follow once Ceylon is--for certain--falling.

Naval Forces Allocated:
2 CV, 3 CVL, 1 CAV, 3 CVE, 3 BC, 4 BB, 10 CA, and numerous smaller warships.

[Sangeli]

With regards to the Ceylon invasion, my thought is that you should go right for the jugular and land everything in Trincolomee. Jaffna and Koggala are simply auxiliary bases while Colombo and Trincolomee are the man shows. Colombo, while larger, is in 1x terrain. No hope for the Allies to make a stand there. But Trincolomee is good defensive terrain and the Allies can make a last stand there. In a previous game a while back the Japanese took the rest of the island from me but I was able to hold out long enough in Trinco to force a Japanese withdrawal. My worry is that if you land in the far north and south of the island, the Allies may realize the gravity of the situation and move all LCUs from Colombo to Trinco and put up a serious defense. But if you land in Trinco first you might take some hits from the CD guns there but you'll be able to take the base before the Allies can react. And once you have Trinco the rest of the island will fall easy.

[John 3rd]

Thanks for the outside-of-the-box comment Sangeli. I will take a look at the starting CD Trincomalee has and give it some serious thought.

Was all excited to get this going and then Dwain drops off the edge of the planet. Coming off of three days off and only did ONE lousy turn. DRAT! Hard to be excited when moving soooooo slowly.

[John 3rd]

All TF and forces are now loaded and in motion moving to their assigned objectives.

In a final move that serves to keep attention divided between India, Aussieland, and/or New Zealand the KB strikes at Auckland:

[John 3rd]

So be it for deception! Got this email with the last turn:

Happy virtual Texas Independence Day!



I’m still a bit confused. Looks like a lot of troops headed for India but your main carriers are clearly off New Zealand. Wild stuff.



I have a Mongol horde of subs near Diego. That’s how I am trying to make up for the lack of recon from Catalinas. Today I guess I got some ancillary benefits from the sub screen.

[Malagant]

He's learning too little too late, though. And the deceptive KB strikes at NZ are clearly doing the job of muddling the picture! Can't wait to see how the landings go!