Lambs to the slaughter (Lowpe (J) vs Jocke; BillBrown (A)) Finished

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Jocke flipped the turn, he is fast. Probably hiding. Just kidding, I know he wants to hit me and hard.[;)]

Anyhow, things moving apace. Everything moving to Victoria Island. Lead elements will land at San Fernado in Luzon tomorrow. None of the initial ships are spotted, good thing, since they are light on escorts. I wonder if he would sortie pt boats at me? Fly Cats really low? Bleed on me?

I ran a few battleships off Java today, they were spotted yesterday and 3 Dutch bombers attacked. Oscar Ic and Zeroes were there to shoot them down. I have a passionate dislike of the Ic, but the IIb Oscar really makes me sing. If it were me I would have a little more R&D there than what Olorin started with; but I will live with his choices for now.

Created a size 60 r&d facility for the Lilly IIb. This is in keeping with Olorin's preference for this size factory. I will make these puppies for the rest of the game. Well, IIb then IIc.

Timing for Luzon is good, as it will hopefully make Jocke think I am cleaning up behind the lines while we steam for Victoria. I tried ground bombing of San Fernando and it seems nobody is home. Bad news, looks to be troops in Chikiang. Oh well, too good to be true. Might divert the paratroops to take another base near San Fernando.

I need to find the funny subs; I need to grow Sally production, they will be a workhorse in Canada, and they have a tendency to die in great numbers (like every Japanese plane in my Air Force).

Dili taken, some other odds and ends around Singers, PI, etc, etc. Mavis search deep off NW Oz can't spot a thing.

Other things to do: find the training cruisers; repair a ton of ships; assemble my AMCs, have some fun somewhere.

What are the "funny subs"?

Why do you need to find the training cruisers?

But agree on AMC Raiders.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna




I'm not sure if that's a bit of forum lore or not. It's certainly not in the manual.

+1

All that I know is that it increases the offload rate... allows your xAK's to offload like they are AK's or even AKA's for a few months. Can't say that I have seen it do anything else.

I have seen less losses from not being prepped, but certainly not nothing. It's entirely observational on my part.

I wouldn't risk it with a division unless you know for SURE. If you suffer 1/3 disablements, that's maybe a month for it to get back up to full. That's a long time at this juncture.

Sorry, I was referring to the amphib bonus, not prep. As for prep, I rarely ever go in without good prep and never with an ID. As you note, high disablements on an ID can be a real headache early on.

[Lowpe]

San Fernando in Luzon invaded with an Air Force support unit. The handful of combat squads will take the base unopposed, 37 mm rapid fire gun units will land tomorrow, while the guards division will land in two day to secure the base. Allied naval search weak, not much spotted.

Hopefully this show will give just a little misdirection to the Allies.

More landings on Timor, absolutely nothing spotted down there.

Invasion Victoria and surrounding bases one day closer and not spotted.

[Lowpe]

Funny subs are the midget carriers and the mine carriers.

The training CL I like to get with the Tonan Whalers after the initial wave of expansion.

Most of the AMCs are heavily damaged. Landing at Pearl no doubt.

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

San Fernando in Luzon invaded with an Air Force support unit. The handful of combat squads will take the base unopposed, 37 mm rapid fire gun units will land tomorrow, while the guards division will land in two day to secure the base. Allied naval search weak, not much spotted.

Hopefully this show will give just a little misdirection to the Allies.

More landings on Timor, absolutely nothing spotted down there.

Invasion Victoria and surrounding bases one day closer and not spotted.

Are there even any tanks to speak of in Luzon for the Allies? I know there's that Provisional GMC unit that has nice ant-tank halftracks, but other than that... I can't think of any actual combat vehicles? Maybe I'm forgetting [:'(].

[Lowpe]

I thought they had some stuarts.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

I thought they had some stuarts.

+1. Think there are 2 Bn of Marine Tanks in Bataan.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

I thought they had some stuarts.

+1. Think there are 2 Bn of Marine Tanks in Bataan.

That is my memory, too. I recall using them aggressively early to bloody some over adventurous Japanese units in Nasty, Nasty.

Just sent the turn, and it strikes I me I may have forgotten to put some LRCAP up over San Fernando. Maybe. I did put some patrolling destroyers on duty to look for PT boats. Guards division landing in one day and they should secure the base. I will be able to move my Sonia fleet in to really punish those Americans.[:D]

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

[Just sent the turn, and it strikes I me I may have forgotten to put some LRCAP up over San Fernando. Maybe.

That's the biggest challenge for the IJ in the early game: you have so many operations going on at the same time, its easy to forget one aspect of your attack and have it foul up totally.[X(]

[Lowpe]

It would be a shame; as I have an Oscar Ic sentai rested and waiting for that assignment.

Last turn I landed at Milne Bay and Rossel Island, at Rossel there is an Allied ship - an AV no doubt.
We sill see if I can bag her.

I have rebuilt the Pearl yards to 8, I will go to 10 and stop. For now. I have emptied Pearl of a lot of troops: Alaska & Canada; Canton.

Japan attacked again on the Ankang road (good disablements on both sides, now have two tanks and three artillery there to start pounding thru -more on the way), the paratroopers arrived at Canton tomorrow, but there is 700 troops at Chikiang.

[Lowpe]

Feb 26, 1942

San Fernando falls, a division starts landing today. Strength: 1 ENG, 2 AT, 1 ID. I will throw in dribs and drabs and build it up, start taking the rest of northern Luzon if no action from Jocke. And, Yes I did have LRCAP up for them, and patrolling destroyers in case a few PT boats came my way.

There is troop movement from Manila north, so we shall see. This is simply mainly a diversion, an attempt to let Jocke think I am busy cleaning up the perimeter and backfield. Took a few a other bases, Tagula (SE of Milne Bay, and he has gotten 10/10 dl on it).

The Alaska/Canada invasions are steaming away - undetected.

Jocke has been sending a few Dutch bombers my way around Java, and I mostly shoot them down. There are about 50 fighters and 50 bombers of the Dutch left on Java.

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Feb 26, 1942

San Fernando falls, a division starts landing today. Strength: 1 ENG, 2 AT, 1 ID. I will throw in dribs and drabs and build it up, start taking the rest of northern Luzon if no action from Jocke. And, Yes I did have LRCAP up for them, and patrolling destroyers in case a few PT boats came my way.

There is troop movement from Manila north, so we shall see. This is simply mainly a diversion, an attempt to let Jocke think I am busy cleaning up the perimeter and backfield. Took a few a other bases, Tagula (SE of Milne Bay, and he has gotten 10/10 dl on it).

The Alaska/Canada invasions are steaming away - undetected.

Jocke has been sending a few Dutch bombers my way around Java, and I mostly shoot them down. There are about 50 fighters and 50 bombers of the Dutch left on Java.

I'd scoop up as many minor bases as you can if diversion is your goal. Maybe even more in SOPAC - might be a little late at this point to go for Noumea with a token force (entirely possible to have it reinforced by February), but maybe? It's an important base and if he sees you there he might not think about CONUS. They're far apart.

In future games as Japan, I think I'll be looking at Noumea before February. Before January 15, if possible. Snatching it up before reinforcements arrive is key. There's just way too much to do in the first months.

[ny59giants]

End of Feb in DBB based mods sees 2 of 3 Rgt from Americal ID arrive at Melbourne along with a few AEB that are all attached SoPac HQ so they just need transports to be moved over to New Calendonia. The other Rgt is in USA, but needs PPs and transports to join her sisters and be recombined. So, plan accordingly. [:-]

[Lowpe]

I will try to do a flurry of small island takeovers in the PI this day, good advice I think Lok.[&o] Probably won't mean much, but you never know.

Will spend extra time on the turn, since I rushed the last two a little.

There are now 3 units at Chikiang....so never had a chance to get the paratroopers there, but there is a unit standing ready for opportunity at Canton, more going to Alaska, and another at Singers enroute to Magwe.

Here is China....I will have assembled 5 Tank units for the drive on Ankang, along with 3 artillery currently there. Will simply cycle in infantry divisions and grind my way north. I am bombing fairly heavily his position on the road. I have seen 50 fighters in China at Chungking....

Adjacent I have troops moving into the deep jungle, but I have no intention of going there. Jocke has several units adjacent and might actually see a movement arrow. Let him think I am going offroad...

At Wuchow, almost 1000 AV is moving on the town, which Jocke seems to have left not much defending. I want the industry there, and once I get Wuchow, I will wait about 2 weeks for all the other forces to form up for the drive north from there. Getting air support and planes ready for both movements.

Sonia, Ann, Mary, Lillies go to Luzon, China. Sallies go to Alaska. In Java, I am just defending and will move to take his bases without a lot of air action.

[Lokasenna]

Comments RE: China.

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

There are now 3 units at Chikiang....so never had a chance to get the paratroopers there, but there is a unit standing ready for opportunity at Canton, more going to Alaska, and another at Singers enroute to Magwe.

Shame about Chihkiang, but keep your eyes on all of the bases. Anything you can snatch up, even if you can't hold it, you should do. It makes him move units at the very least, potentially abandoning forts in the field as well as keeping them from being in rest mode where they could be recovering morale and disablements at a faster pace. Although you should want him to be recovering from the starting disablements, to some degree - it makes the units eat more supply.

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Here is China....I will have assembled 5 Tank units for the drive on Ankang, along with 3 artillery currently there. Will simply cycle in infantry divisions and grind my way north. I am bombing fairly heavily his position on the road. I have seen 50 fighters in China at Chungking....

Oscars, Oscars, and more Oscars are the answer here. You can sweep almost anywhere from Hankow and Wuchang. Truly anywhere once you have Changsha.

However, I think this is a misallocation of your tank units. Send them south to the grey roads. Ankang isn't important right now. I'd pull back some of your other units too. Maybe it stalls you out, but that's OK because as stated you don't need to be advancing here. The important things are in the south! Compounding this importance, they're also much harder for him to defend. Also, who knows - maybe if you seem to stall out up here he'll be lulled into feeling secure-ish in China.

ORIGINAL: Lowpe


Adjacent I have troops moving into the deep jungle, but I have no intention of going there. Jocke has several units adjacent and might actually see a movement arrow. Let him think I am going offroad...

Let him think that to....accomplish what? Maybe I don't see which hex you're referring to, exactly. Also, just to be pedantic... it's woods rough, not jungle rough [;)]. Don't have to deal with malaria here.

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

At Wuchow, almost 1000 AV is moving on the town, which Jocke seems to have left not much defending. I want the industry there, and once I get Wuchow, I will wait about 2 weeks for all the other forces to form up for the drive north from there. Getting air support and planes ready for both movements.

Why wait? 2 weeks is a long time and costs you some initiative. At the very least you should invest Kweilin and/or Liuchow and begin burning his supplies via bombardment. He has no guns to speak of to hurt your guys, so you've got nothing to lose except one thing: it might cost you in that he might shift some defense this way, but that's OK too - you can just crush more troops for more VPs.

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Sonia, Ann, Mary, Lillies go to Luzon, China. Sallies go to Alaska. In Java, I am just defending and will move to take his bases without a lot of air action.

Just make sure to use "follow" for your troops if he is bombing. You don't want units arriving piecemeal to fight his large stacks, which I assume to be present at Soerabaja at least.



Speaking of the Sonia... you aren't stuck with her for the whole war, are you? [X(]

[Lowpe]

Lok,

Lets see. I have no intention of fighting off road, but he has a lot of troops off road now and I want to keep them there. So, if he thinks I am willing to go off road, the longer it is before he moves back to the roads.

Stuck with Sonia and b for the whole war. I did not count squadrons but know it is a fair amount. Some of the Sonia b upgrade to Oscars though.[:)]

I will have enough armor pushing up from the south; having armor also push to Ankang will get him to move his artillery to that area I think or keep it there.

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Lok,

Lets see. I have no intention of fighting off road, but he has a lot of troops off road now and I want to keep them there. So, if he thinks I am willing to go off road, the longer it is before he moves back to the roads.

Stuck with Sonia and b for the whole war. I did not count squadrons but know it is a fair amount. Some of the Sonia b upgrade to Oscars though.[:)]

I will have enough armor pushing up from the south; having armor also push to Ankang will get him to move his artillery to that area I think or keep it there.

I wouldn't bother worrying about the Chinese "artillery" [:)]. I know they have more guns in DBB than they do in stock, but still... guns take supply. He won't have any.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Lok,

Lets see. I have no intention of fighting off road, but he has a lot of troops off road now and I want to keep them there. So, if he thinks I am willing to go off road, the longer it is before he moves back to the roads.

Stuck with Sonia and b for the whole war. I did not count squadrons but know it is a fair amount. Some of the Sonia b upgrade to Oscars though.[:)]

I will have enough armor pushing up from the south; having armor also push to Ankang will get him to move his artillery to that area I think or keep it there.

I wouldn't bother worrying about the Chinese "artillery" [:)]. I know they have more guns in DBB than they do in stock, but still... guns take supply. He won't have any.

I was under the impression is was a big boost...[&:]

[Lowpe]

Some general plane notes:

Got my first repaired r&d factory: Lilly IIa. Rufes should start coming on stream shortly too.

I switched a Betty E facility over to Frank A. In thinking about it a little more, I probably should have put it over to Oscar.

Off the top of my head I have the following r&d for fighters: Oscar IIa 3; Oscar IIb 1; Tojo IIa 3; Tony 61A 2; Tony 61d 1; Nick A 3([X(]); Frank A 4; Frank B 1; Frank R 1; Ki94 3; Karyu 1; Randy 102a 1; Ki100-I 1; 102 b 1; Ki119 1.

Navy: Rufe 4; AGM3 2; A6M3a 2; A7M2 3; A7M2-J 3; J2M2 2; N1K1-J 2.

[PaxMondo]

So, I have to ask this ....

Have you already triggered the US reinforcements for invading NA or not yet?

If so, do they not include a ton of fighters in this scenario?