No disrespect to either side here, but I think at this point that the difference in skill levels between players is now painfully apparent.
At this point Docup is marked with all those battle he lose in past. He is not bad player , he learn lot. I only think he lost his confidence.
Look at last op in Kuriles. He decide to go Holly Marry op and still he use half of what he can. Why he don`t bring full 3000 plane death star(with that power KB at this point will bee death after last week battle). Why he don`t land on 3 or 4 islands simultaneously. He have enough transport ships and troops.
We will se what he will do in next days. I see only one he can. Concentrate carriers to massive 2000-3000+ planes DS bring as many as he can troops and capture Shimushiri-jima and islands around.
With them he can sweep, sweep, sweep Hokkaido and North Japan, opening opportunities to land in Main Islands in summer or early autumn.
As about future of this game. We both have will to end this not earlier that at end of 1945. Maybe even March 46[:D]
For both of us it is opportunity to play late war game. Not many players had chance to play late 1945 PBEM. Maybe it was not best experience for Docup but we both, i believe, enjoying playing and we both still have goals to achieve. Also it will be interesting to watch.
Agree about Kuriles, which is why you need to re-take Shimu as fast as you can. Remove his beachhead. Force him to start over, and worse, due to time, force him to have to start in Hokkaido or PI. And Hokkaido much better choice for him as then his LOS is cleaner. But with surprise lost ... hard to say which way he will jump. Desperate enemies do desperate things. They also make big mistakes which you can capitalize on if you are ready
Agree about Kuriles, which is why you need to re-take Shimu as fast as you can. Remove his beachhead. Force him to start over, and worse, due to time, force him to have to start in Hokkaido or PI. And Hokkaido much better choice for him as then his LOS is cleaner. But with surprise lost ... hard to say which way he will jump. Desperate enemies do desperate things. They also make big mistakes which you can capitalize on if you are ready
Well he never actually lost Shimu. And while I think its important to remove the beachead, I find it very unlikely the Allies will try something up north again. I think at this point the Allies are tied to two different attack vectors: Indochina and the eastern DEI. Only way forward as the Allies is brute force under LBA. Maybe after the Soviets join Allies can try something up north because the Soviets can support but until then I think its out of the question.
Kendari
200 4E bombard base. I lost it. Docup i sweeping with P-47 so i will not be able to regain air control over it. Base have garrison of 600AV behind for 6.
Kuriles
Shimushiri-jima garrison grow up to 1170 AV. I had also transfered 150mm mortars and in plans i have more heavy arty to be moved there.
Super Es doing wounders fighting with enemy subs in Kuriles. Last turn - 4 confirmed sunk, 3 damaged, plus over 10+ hits from air ASW. I am sending 20 more Es to that area.
In last week allies lost 13 subs
Supplies are unloading, 5k last turn. Situation is looking good. Troops on island start taking reinforcements and disabled squads repairing fast.
Two AKE arrive to area. Tankers will be there in 4-5 days. In week i will start bombarding with BBs.(IF there will be less allied subs)
I give some resting to 2E bombers, enemy flak is strong and morale is low. Also half of planes need repairs)
Carriers, Cruisers and battleships
Damaged ships arrive to dry docks. Reperir will take between 30 to 70 days
Let's be honest, Docup is dead in the water in this game, he will grind out more of the SRA, bu I can't see him ever getting past Luzon and threatening Japan.
Let's be honest, Docup is dead in the water in this game, he will grind out more of the SRA, bu I can't see him ever getting past Luzon and threatening Japan.
I kind of agree. Barring a complete disaster for koniu (like supply running out) I don´t think DOCUP can gain much ground. Had he managed to secure a base in the Kuriles and had a massive followup invasion of Hokkaido already prepped he might have had a slim chance. But not now.
Kudos to him for sticking with it. Don´t think I could have. [:)]
Docup will have China/Korea bases at some point to bomb Japan even if his fleet decimated. I don't think Soviet wave can be stopped, and Soviet bases can be used for staging US bombers, right? Time is running out though.
Am still having fun watching this as well as game interest, games with late Japan alive and kicking are pretty rare
At this point Kuriles are still doable for allies. But without surprise element Allies need to bring everything. He must win air superiority and for that he need all carriers.
I think Kuriles are only passable solution to have something from that war for Docup.
Simultaneously i would start pushing in China. Docup should open Vietman/China road allowing to all those supplies from Thailand to flood China and then start major offensive there.
He not need to capture Shanghai. He only need to be in fighter range of Jap Islands.
With that he will be able to bomb Home Island from south to north.
Luzon-Flilipines path is bad decision i think. It will take to much time. and if he capture Manila in ~6 months. He still will be to far from Home islands. Only gain for him will be to cut me of From Singapore and oil fileds. But who will care about this in September 1945
Kendari
Another 200+ 4E raid. Nothing i can do about it.
Marshal Island
Allied carriers retreat. Tomorrow BBs will bombard enemy troops. I am planing to destroy enemies on island before Docup bring reinforcements.
Shimushiri-jima
Garrison grow to 1260AV.
I am loading two arty and two Tank units on ships. I plan to bring ~100 tanks to island (most of them type 3 medium nad some light). 25 Japanese subs arrive to area, just in case allies will back.
It looks Docup move back some subs. I only see 2 of them today
At this point Kuriles are still doable for allies. But without surprise element Allies need to bring everything. He must win air superiority and for that he need all carriers.
I think Kuriles are only passable solution to have something from that war for Docup.
Simultaneously i would start pushing in China. Docup should open Vietman/China road allowing to all those supplies from Thailand to flood China and then start major offensive there.
He not need to capture Shanghai. He only need to be in fighter range of Jap Islands.
With that he will be able to bomb Home Island from south to north.
Luzon-Flilipines path is bad decision i think. It will take to much time. and if he capture Manila in ~6 months. He still will be to far from Home islands. Only gain for him will be to cut me of From Singapore and oil fileds. But who will care about this in September 1945
I generally agree with you.
Too late for Asia approach, his troops can barely walk the distance if you have nothing there. He'll never make it.
Sov activation is the only way for him to get bases in Asia.
PI can work, but slower than direct to Hokkaido. Appari puts both Okinawa and Taiwan under 4E range, so both can be taken even with little CV support. Okinawa puts all of southern HI in 4E range.
4E meaning B24/B17. B29 is almost not an issue for you now. He doesn't have enough to really settle this. B24/B17's he will soon have almost unlimited pools and so many groups ... from any AF=9, they are just horrendous.
Another quiet days.
Finally i have repair time for ships damaged in recent battles and other major ships during repair
CV Taiho 16/27(27)/5(5)/0 67 days
CV Zuikaku 41/27(27)/2(0)/0 50 days
CVE Taiyo 19/32(32)/29(20)/0 49 days
CVL Ryujo 25/0/0/0 9 days
CVL Zuiho 15/0/0/0 5 days
BB Hyuga 20/35(35)/3/0 135 days
BB Yamato 0/18/0/0 86 Days
Enemy at gates of Saigon. City will be in allied hands in week.
In north Vietnam i had unloaded 700AV of troops. North Vietnam is defended by 4500AV soon it will be 6k.
45 Fighters lost above Hanoi. Allies lost 11 P-47
First J7W1 group operational. I plan to have at least one group of them above each big industry center in Japan.
If Docup will cut me from Palembang today i have enough reserves to hold ~9 months. More if i cut my expenses. So i can hold to end of game.
Kurile Islands
Quiet. I am still reinforcing Shimushiri-Jima. Tomorrow 150AV in tanks and HQ should be unloaded. Those will be last units i will move there. I will have 1900AV on island. Enough to hold forever what allies have there.
LB will attack enemy everyday burning supplies. Right now i don`t planing counterattack.
Thailand
LAst turn i have unloaded 400 more AV in Haiphong. Risky operation. Docup send bombers but my CAP foght well. 60 P-38 shotdown and almost 20 bombers. I am impresed how fast my boys unload. They manage to unload 200AV in tanks and 200AV in troops in single phase ( not day but phase). When bombers arrive ships where arledy empty.
Saigon almost captured. I have barely 200 AV in this area. Almost all already evacuated.
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Haiphong at 68,58
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-84r Frank x 28
Allied aircraft
B-25H Mitchell x 6
P-38J Lightning x 18
P-38L Lightning x 18
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-84r Frank: 1 destroyed
Allies enter Saigon. I think i will not hold more than few days.
After that Docup will have lvl 9 AF in range of Palembang,Miri, Manila, Singapore, etc.
Blood bath on Marcus Island
It look that Docup see only one solution for Marcus Island impasse. Throw more troop to attack. Last turn allied CVs show up. At first plane attack. Strangely no sweeps only few bombers on ground attack. Most of them shot down by CAP. Why Docup dont try to close AF. It should be easy. It is only lvl 1 AF.
Afternoon Air attack on Marcus Island , at 123,85
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid detected at 60 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes
Japanese aircraft
J2M5 Jack x 36
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 23
Allied aircraft
FM-2 Wildcat x 28
F6F-3 Hellcat x 13
TBM-1C Avenger x 34
Assaulting units:
Yokosuka 5th SNLF destroyed
5th Garrison Unit
Kure 3rd SNLF
1st Ind.Tank Co
Minamitorishima Naval Guard Unit
4th Medium Mortar Battalion
29th Ind. Engineer Regiment
5th JNAF AF Unit
Defending units:
767th Tank Battalion
40th Infantry Division
41st Infantry Division
240th USN Base Force
Palmyra (Det.) Defense Battalion
After that 40th Infantry Division and 767th Tank Battalion attack. Short story. Both units reduced to 0(zero) AV with most of combat squads and vehicles destroyed. 40th Infantry Division lost almost 80% squads.
Ground combat at Marcus Island (123,85)
Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 8972 troops, 223 guns, 343 vehicles, Assault Value = 487
Defending force 8181 troops, 113 guns, 50 vehicles, Assault Value = 246
Assaulting units:
40th Infantry Division
767th Tank Battalion
41st Infantry Division
240th USN Base Force
Palmyra (Det.) Defense Battalion
Defending units:
1st Ind.Tank Co destroyed
Kure 3rd SNLF
5th Garrison Unit
Minamitorishima Naval Guard Unit
29th Ind. Engineer Regiment
4th Medium Mortar Battalion
5th JNAF AF Unit
So far defense of Marcus island is huge success. So far allies lost there 10000 soldiers. Two Infantry division lost ability to fight plus two Tank Battalions as bonus. Japanese loses are marginal. ~10000 troops but mostly small SNLF units and small tank unit.
Watching with interest. I've never been able to hold Hanoi/Haiphong due to terrain. I've always had to make my line starting with Lang Son going North.
