A Japanese Debacle - Sqz (J) vs. fcharton (A)

[PaxMondo]

Wow, you got your block in. CONGRATS!!

[PaxMondo]

As for the DEI, its rough because you have siphoned off so many resources for your Sydney gambit. Focus on the big 3 oil centers first and don't stress the rest. If you take Sydney, you can afford to take an extra 2 months to get the DEI setup.

Focus:
Palembang
Medan
Balikpapan

[SqzMyLemon]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

As for the DEI, its rough because you have siphoned off so many resources for your Sydney gambit. Focus on the big 3 oil centers first and don't stress the rest. If you take Sydney, you can afford to take an extra 2 months to get the DEI setup.

Focus:
Palembang
Medan
Balikpapan

I agree. I told Francois I needed a few days to complete the next turn, so I could specifically try and figure things out.

So far, my Zero's have been brutal. I can't explain why they are doing so bad, other than getting caught at lower altitudes or escorting Betty/Nell bombers. Speaking of the torpedo bombers, they have been awful. The reason I am getting so frustrated is there has been about six times now that Francois has sailed within 10-12 hexes of the bombers, and they either don't attack, or when they do, they lose the target due to weather, or haven't scored a single hit on anything...nada...zilch. I'm talking enemy SCTF's here, not xAKL's which seem to be about the only thing I CAN hit. The same goes for the Kate's on CVL Ryujo with roughly six air attacks against Dutch cruisers they haven't scored a single torpedo hit either. It may only be a CVL, but the pilots on this ship are some of the best in the navy. I need to regroup the fighters, upgrade some units and build up some reserves. Then mass and overwhelm him since it seems like my quality is off. I will add though, that I've been flying fighters in a non-escort role at 15-21k and most of the time I've been crushed by Allied CAP flying 20-24k. Height shouldn't matter at this stage, these are crack Japanese pilots and more maneuverable, yet I'm getting slaughtered.

The lack of threat from LBA is why I can't move in the DEI. Francois sails in calm as you please and bombards at will. My surface forces are always spotted before I can interdict so even when I try a LBA/SCTF combo nothing goes right.

So long story short, I sort of came to the same conclusion as you. If I can't act on numerous objectives at once, I need to focus on one at a time and apply mass. I'm getting chewed up in packets and I need to pull back, gather my forces and hit one target hard, then move on to the next.

I need fuel, so my order is:

Balikpapan
Singapore
Palembang
Medan
Java

Francois is very good and aggressive with his air force and navy, but he's also lucky and I don't think he fully understands that he is getting away with some local success that normally would be punished severely, if weather and rolls weren't going in his favour. I mean, I've been able to bomb Singapore for maybe 6-8 times, the rest of the time the bombers have been grounded by weather. I've never encountered so many targets being obscured so consistently by bad weather. Hard to prevent forts when you can't inflict damage.

[Chickenboy]

Looks like Sydney is setting up well for you. Nice job.

Does the peanut gallery think that a wary Allied player should rail a decent sized blocking force in to Bourke early in the conflict to forestall such a rail line cutoff? Such a deployment could still help hold your pocket in the south and delay your advance towards Brisbane et. al., via that NE spur from Bourke.

As to the application of brute force to achieve your focal objectives, Stalin's quote rings true: "Quality has a quantity all it's own." [8D]

Any thoughts about your opponent getting supply onto Luzon? A couple hundred thousand supplies there could really make a big difference in terms of time to reduce that thorn in your side. Same with Java.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

Looks like Sydney is setting up well for you. Nice job.

Does the peanut gallery think that a wary Allied player should rail a decent sized blocking force in to Bourke early in the conflict to forestall such a rail line cutoff? Such a deployment could still help hold your pocket in the south and delay your advance towards Brisbane et. al., via that NE spur from Bourke.

As to the application of brute force to achieve your focal objectives, Stalin's quote rings true: "Quality has a quantity all it's own." [8D]

Any thoughts about your opponent getting supply onto Luzon? A couple hundred thousand supplies there could really make a big difference in terms of time to reduce that thorn in your side. Same with Java.

Never considered putting anything in Burke because I never imagined an IJ assault on the Sydney area without taking some of the northeastern bases first. SqzMyLemon has pulled off a daring first here.

I suspect he is needing all his available shipping to support the Australia gambit so loading up supply on Luzon is just not feasible right now.

[SqzMyLemon]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

Any thoughts about your opponent getting supply onto Luzon? A couple hundred thousand supplies there could really make a big difference in terms of time to reduce that thorn in your side. Same with Java.

Francois may attempt to do just this, as I've let most of his shipping escape the Philippines. He's sailed most of his ships east from Luzon, slipping between Marcus and the Marianas. He's been awfully lucky, because I've had a constant stream of taskforces sailing between Babeldoab and Kobe, yet he's always avoided running into the SCTF's. I have bigger fish to fry and chose not to divert from the plan by assigning limited assets to prevent an escape. Kudos to Francois for recognizing his escape route and acting on it.

So, I didn't stop the egress, but I am in the process of setting up a defence to prevent supply getting to Luzon. If I can take Sydney quickly, that takes some of the pressure off the navy, and should allow me to redeploy some assets to finally close the door on the Philippines. I know my LBA isn't up to the job by itself (think Hermann Goering, all bombast no follow through).

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy
loading up supply on Luzon is just not feasible right now.

I was referring to SqzMyLemon's opponent loading up supply on Luzon and other locations in order to delay the Japanese.

[Chickenboy]

Java is a piece of cake to dump supply into at this stage of the game, particularly in the absence of a committed Japanese interdiction force-be it air or naval. Do your patrol boats have an eye on Tjitiljap (sp?) and the IO side of Sumatra and Java or is this still out of range for you?

[SqzMyLemon]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

Does the peanut gallery think that a wary Allied player should rail a decent sized blocking force in to Bourke early in the conflict to forestall such a rail line cutoff? Such a deployment could still help hold your pocket in the south and delay your advance towards Brisbane et. al., via that NE spur from Bourke.

I'd welcome that move, because whatever is railed to Bourke is now out of position to help Sydney or Melbourne, providing Katoomba is captured of course. In this case, I don't plan on moving northeast to take Brisbane, but rather land reinforcements at Rockhampton and keep Australian forces divided. Whatever Australian forces are in the northeast are now isolated, whatever forces are at Brisbane are now isolated. Divide and conquer is the order of the day and should allow me to destroy Australian forces in detail. If Sydney falls quickly, the priority shifts to Melbourne and clearing the east coast bases (Brisbane) to open up the rail lines. If I can shorten the distance of the seaborne LOC to Australia from Rabaul, then I'll be able to save fuel and shipping requirements with everything simply railing to the south.

[SqzMyLemon]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

Java is a piece of cake to dump supply into at this stage of the game, particularly in the absence of a committed Japanese interdiction force-be it air or naval. Do your patrol boats have an eye on Tjitiljap (sp?) and the IO side of Sumatra and Java or is this still out of range for you?

Once Singapore falls, I will move very quickly against both Java and Sumatra. I don't want Francois getting any ideas to make my job tougher than it already is. Singapore falling quickly will make my life easier by freeing up five divisions. I will secure my fuel/oil then crush Java and Sumatra before they can be reinforced. Next, I close the door to Australia by taking Perth.

It's a tall order. The delay in the DEI must be addressed, and I think I now know what needs to be done to get moving again.

[SqzMyLemon]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Never considered putting anything in Bourke because I never imagined an IJ assault on the Sydney area without taking some of the northeastern bases first. SqzMyLemon has pulled off a daring first here.

All I've achieved so far is stress and providing Francois with a bunch of new toys to play with. [:D]

I'll feel much better if Sydney can be captured.

[Chickenboy]

Do your patrol boats have an eye on Tjitiljap (sp?) and the IO side of Sumatra and Java or is this still out of range for you?

[SqzMyLemon]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

Do your patrol boats have an eye on Tjitiljap (sp?) and the IO side of Sumatra and Java or is this still out of range for you?

No eyes on Java yet. I have naval search capability on the IO side of Sumatra based from Malaya. Nothing out of the ordinary so far.

[SqzMyLemon]

First order of business is to secure Balikpapan for a source of fuel for fleet operations, so I can stop draining from the Home Islands. I've reinforced Samarinda with 120 AV, so hopefully it will be enough to help IJA 146th Rgt. finally capture Balikpapan. Then I'll deal with Ambon. Controlling these two bases should allow me to lock down the Celebes and secure Kendari and Makassar quickly. Timor and eastern Java then become vulnerable to air attack.

[Lowpe]

Good work in Oz, getting the paratroopers in. I can't tell you how much I am enjoying your invasion.[&o]

Really, well done.

Was there no enemy fighter CAP over Sydney, and what does that tell you?

I guess in this mod, there is no supply generation from refineries so fortress Palembang isn't overpowered. However, given a choice of getting Palembang or Balikpapen I would prioritize Palembang first since it is easier for the Allies to reinforce it. In fact, I worry greatly about it right now. But I don't know what you have up there to provide air support to take it.

Is there enough supply that Miri is repairing the oil fields?

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Good work in Oz, getting the paratroopers in. I can't tell you how much I am enjoying your invasion.[&o]

Really, well done.

Was there no enemy fighter CAP over Sydney, and what does that tell you?

I guess in this mod, there is no supply generation from refineries so fortress Palembang isn't overpowered. However, given a choice of getting Palembang or Balikpapen I would prioritize Palembang first since it is easier for the Allies to reinforce it. In fact, I worry greatly about it right now. But I don't know what you have up there to provide air support to take it.

Is there enough supply that Miri is repairing the oil fields?

Fortress PB is never overpowering. You should want your opponent to send 1000 AV there to die at good VP ratios per device for you.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Good work in Oz, getting the paratroopers in. I can't tell you how much I am enjoying your invasion.[&o]

Really, well done.

Was there no enemy fighter CAP over Sydney, and what does that tell you?

I guess in this mod, there is no supply generation from refineries so fortress Palembang isn't overpowered. However, given a choice of getting Palembang or Balikpapen I would prioritize Palembang first since it is easier for the Allies to reinforce it. In fact, I worry greatly about it right now. But I don't know what you have up there to provide air support to take it.

Is there enough supply that Miri is repairing the oil fields?

Fortress PB is never overpowering. You should want your opponent to send 1000 AV there to die at good VP ratios per device for you.

Egads, man![X(] I worry about the total destruction of the oil! Don't you?[&:]

[SqzMyLemon]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Was there no enemy fighter CAP over Sydney, and what does that tell you?

I guess in this mod, there is no supply generation from refineries so fortress Palembang isn't overpowered. However, given a choice of getting Palembang or Balikpapen I would prioritize Palembang first since it is easier for the Allies to reinforce it. In fact, I worry greatly about it right now. But I don't know what you have up there to provide air support to take it.

Is there enough supply that Miri is repairing the oil fields?

Hi Lowpe,

The Allied CAP will be back, Francois' just waiting for an opportunity. The B-17 raid against Rockhampton really stung me, as I had just deployed 40 Zero's bound for Port Kembla to the base. Six were damaged during the transfer, and another 14 were damaged in A2A against the bombers. I now have 20 damaged airframes sitting on a damaged runway. Ouch. If I can't reinforce Rockhampton before an Allied counterattack, it will be extremely painful to lose so many fighters.

As to Palembang, I don't have the troops to take it, nor local air superiority to ensure an amphibious taskforce arrives safely. I'm not too concerned about Palembang, I traditionally don't take it until after I capture Singapore. If it gets trashed that's out of my control. I've committed IJA 38th Division to Singapore in order to take it as quickly as possible. Five divisions should be plenty, especially when Francois used the two Australian Bde.'s as a roadblock at Jhore Bharu. They were routed on the 4th.

Miri doesn't have enough supply yet.

[SqzMyLemon]

I'm still working on the next turn. I must not make any mistakes in issuing orders.

I plan on using KB against two targets next turn, Sydney's airbase and Australian forces at Katoomba. I must make sure KB ends the turn in a hex with a transport TF to refuel, otherwise I am in big trouble. I'd like to hit the airbase at Brisbane with KB, but it's unwise to divert assets away from the main fight at Sydney. I can deal with Brisbane after Sydney falls.

If I lose Rockhampton it will hurt, but it's already served its purpose which was to allow troop transport aircraft to reach Port Kembla. I have a relief force approaching Rockhampton, but if the Allied carrier squadrons are still deployed at Brisbane, I risk another debacle. I do have CVL Zuiho and CVE Hosho as part of the covering force (detected with 4/4 DL), but I won't risk them against possibly two American CV's worth of aircraft. I wish I could send KB immediately to insure Rockhampton stays under my control, but I just can't.

On a positive note, I do have two battleships with the relief force and another two have reached Rabaul. I feel better having some BB's around to support operations.

[SqzMyLemon]

I have a question. Which night fighters are worth pursuing?

I have initially focused on three:

A6M5-S Zero
Ki-46III KAI Dinah
Ki-102c Randy (Does the 102c follow the upgrade path for the Ki-102 or is it a stand alone NF?)

I recall Pax mentioning that fast night fighters were needed to intercept the B-29. Both Army NF's fit the bill, but arrive quite late. The Zero can't catch the B-29, but should be able to handle B-17's and B-24's, plus it arrives in 44.

The other choices for NF's just seem too slow and under armed to be more than a stop gap measure. Any thoughts?