Groundhog Day! - No NJP

[Mike McCreery]

Early March 1944

I have just taken Darwin with a hefty force that has lingered around Katherine for quite a while. NJP has essentially evacuated the continent, at least the northern part. Have not gone after Western Australia yet. Need to start moving faster.

Just noticed that the victory margin turned from major to minor.

[Mike McCreery]

Over the past month I have made landings on Mindano securing Davao and recently Cotobato. Being that Cotobato has the potential to be a level 9 airfield I will focus on this and put most of my airforce there over the next month or two.

I have over 3000AV on the island already.

NJP is contesting Davao pretty heavily with 2-4 divisions on the island. I will isolate and neutralize it.

[Mike McCreery]

WTF???

[Mike McCreery]

It appears that NJP has decided to go after the Russians!!! In March of 1944!!!

To say that my fighter pools are thin would be an understatement. In addition, I do not see significant aircraft arriving before 1945...

[Leandros]

ORIGINAL: Wargmr

Over the past month I have made landings on Mindano securing Davao and recently Cotobato. Being that Cotobato has the potential to be a level 9 airfield I will focus on this and put most of my airforce there over the next month or two.

I have over 3000AV on the island already.

NJP is contesting Davao pretty heavily with 2-4 divisions on the island. I will isolate and neutralize it.

Seems to be a lot of fat ship's targets in Cagayan.

Fred

[Mike McCreery]

I foresaw this as a possibility so I prepared Russia as much as possible from day 1. The army has been trained up with 95% being 59% to 70% in training.

[BBfanboy]

Russian aircraft are generally crap and the AF is not huge, but any drain on the Japanese AF at this stage is good for you.
Komsomolsk has aircraft factories that pump out a huge number of IL-2s, a useful one-engine bomber for hitting troops in open hexes. All you need is an AF2 within three or four hexes.
The real strengths of the Russians are the armoured units and artillery - really good artillery. Protect the really heavy BM and OM artillery (208 - 305 mm) as it can smash Japanese artillery in counterbattery and cause casualties against troops in high level forts.

[Mike McCreery]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Russian aircraft are generally crap and the AF is not huge, but any drain on the Japanese AF at this stage is good for you.
Komsomolsk has aircraft factories that pump out a huge number of IL-2s, a useful one-engine bomber for hitting troops in open hexes. All you need is an AF2 within three or four hexes.
The real strengths of the Russians are the armoured units and artillery - really good artillery. Protect the really heavy BM and OM artillery (208 - 305 mm) as it can smash Japanese artillery in counterbattery and cause casualties against troops in high level forts.

Thank you very much, all input is appreciated at this point.

I am going to likely be doing more with my AAR since this will be an interesting and rare event in WITPAE ;]

[ny59giants]

If you are making decent progress in IndoChina, I would favor a push into NE corner of Borneo. Between the two, you could base B-25 attack bombers on each side of the South China Sea and cut off his oil and fuel flow, IMO.

[Lowpe]

Very interesting. [X(]

[Mike McCreery]

If someone could link me to some AAR's including the invasion of Russia it would be helpful.

I know NJP has done this at least once before to great effect!

[Mike McCreery]

Burma -

Have been really lazy about taking Burma on the way to Indo China. This is not going to help me with Russia. Need to step it up.

NJP has abandoned Ceylon and I am in the process of retaking it now.

[Mike McCreery]

Central Russia

There is a lot of movement toward Mongola from Manchuko and other Provinces.

I am very concerned about how many places he will cut the rail line from Ulan-Ude to the south.

[Mike McCreery]

The southern Russian ports are vunerable with the exception of Vladivostok.

[Mike McCreery]

Here is the map on March 19, 1944 with only bases highlighted.

I recently took Darwin back. NJP has all of China which allowed him to attack Russia.

[Mike McCreery]

NJP has 1/2 of Mindano blocked with some pretty good forces. My goal is to build Cotobato to lvl 9 airfield and base 1000+ planes there. Once that is completed I will level the area.

Right now the best move seems to pierce through the south china sea at Puerto Princessa and then make a large landing at a base to the northwest. That would cut the oil and shipping and force NJP to split his naval forces between Russia and the South China Sea.

[Mike McCreery]

Strategic Plan - Russia....

I examined Russia a few times at the start of some games. There really is not that much industry, oil or resources to be gained and the victory points are not anything either.

NJP has sucessfully won in Russia by isolating the Vladivostock area by a combination of land manuver and port assault.

What I need to do is secure the rail line north from Russia which is an almost impossible task and/or move the army north so I can assault NJP on the more favorable open plains.

Any thoughts on the drawbacks to completely evacuating southern Russia and letting NJP have the territory temporarily?

If his assault fails to rack up many VP's this is going to turn into a disaster really quickly.

[BBfanboy]

You do not want to let him take the aircraft plants at Komsomolsk. They are the only continuous air reinforcements you get. Once taken, they are converted to vehicle factories and you cannot return them to aircraft factory status.

Vladivostok is a valuable base for sub ops against northern Japan, Hokkaido and the strait of Tsushima.
The rail line can be defended along the river where you also have good road. It will take him a while to cross the river and you can strat move your troops to the nearest base and march into position to make the crossing painful.

He can make deep drive to the North, but supply flow will be a problem for him if he does not get that rail line.

[Leandros]

A carrier in Cotabato....looks risky...

Fred

[Mike McCreery]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

You do not want to let him take the aircraft plants at Komsomolsk. They are the only continuous air reinforcements you get. Once taken, they are converted to vehicle factories and you cannot return them to aircraft factory status.

Vladivostok is a valuable base for sub ops against northern Japan, Hokkaido and the strait of Tsushima.
The rail line can be defended along the river where you also have good road. It will take him a while to cross the river and you can strat move your troops to the nearest base and march into position to make the crossing painful.

He can make deep drive to the North, but supply flow will be a problem for him if he does not get that rail line.

Thanks for the heads up at Komsomolsk. I will divert an AA battery or two over there but he has a lvl 4 airfield at Shikuka well within range of those factories. I am guessing he is aware of my production capabilities as you were.

Trying to pull as much supply as possible down the rail line now. I see your point in denying him the rail line although there is another one north of Hailar I may need to interdict somehow.