Islands of Destiny: RA 5.0 Japanese Side

[John 3rd]

The Hellkittens are NASTY. I've seen them in a few dozen up north but ran into a 100+ in the Marshalls. Bad News!

I need seven days and Kido Butai is fully operational. I need just 2-3 days for reinforcements to unload at Ponape and Kusaie then they are secure.

FIRST Sabang...then FUN thinking may commence...always WANT to counter-punch...

Sent in 3 DDs to Ailinglaplap and they did nice work sinking an AM and two APA. The DDs were not touched so that was nice...

[John 3rd]

Haven't had much chance to update but intend to correct that today and tomorrow. Decided to post a VP screen. Take a look at the Allied Troop Lost line and the MILESTONE reached today of 1,000 Allied ships sunk. WE did that by sinking four ships in the Aleutians, CA Portland (3 500Kg Bombs and 1 TT--Hopefully sunk) and five AK/AP in the Marshalls.

NICE!

[Lowpe]

That is an impressive LCU VP total, especially considering you haven't taken China.

Plus there is more coming, right?

[JohnDillworth]

great numbers there. The only real thing going against you is the planes lost to flak. That's only going to get worse

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: JohnDillworth

great numbers there. The only real thing going against you is the planes lost to flak. That's only going to get worse

Have come to HATE DaBabes and FLAK!

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

That is an impressive LCU VP total, especially considering you haven't taken China.

Plus there is more coming, right?

Just ordered--possibly--the final assault on Sabang. Didn't order a Shock Attack--just a Deliberate because I am now CERTAIN his supplies are low or nearly gone. There has been no AA coming up at all in the two other hexes in Sumatra. Hex 43,71 held on against a 4-1 attack last turn but lost over 60 Tanks. It will fall next attack probably as well. We'll see...

The thing about the LCU total-past Sumatra--is that I am getting nice amounts of troops off these useless Marshalls landings. Majuro (only the Fortress unit present) has now defeated THREE separate small landings killing a total of just over 1,500 troops. Nothing I DON'T want captured has been presently. NOTHING attacked has been seriously defended and that may just be just about to change as he loves southward towards Tarawa and Tabitueau.

Kusaie and Ponape were slightly vulnerable when this all started. They are not now. Let him west or south.

Kwajalein and Rio Namur don't have a lot of troop strength but they are doing yeoman's work in housing over 200 aircraft. He doesn't even appear to be interested in knocking out the AF or taking them presently. That will change. They hit his TFs pretty good as the CVs moved southwards. Hope to see the same thing again this turn. Those CVs cannot be in two places at once.

[John 3rd]

July 7, 1943

Sabang: SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO close. JDA: 2-1 (1872--683) Fort drop to ONE! Japan: 5782 Cas, 63 Guns, 3 Vehicles Allies: 2625 Cas 85 Guns, 85 Veh--nearly all of these are destroyed.

The Bombardments: 1.055 Cas, 53 Guns, 84 Veh--Run 25.

WE are SWINGING FOR THE FENCE next turn. Order the Bombardment TFs to hit Sabang again and the troops get ordered to SHOCK ATTACK. I am done here!


BANZAI!

[John 3rd]

The Japanese defense of these atolls in the Marshalls and Gilberts has not been very much. The strongest unit encountered by the Allies has been a Naval Guard. Despite this, the Allies have had issues. Maleolap and Majuro still stand.

Tarawa becomes the target on July 7, 1943. For this landing Dan is forced to use another Infantry Division and, once again, I blink my eyes seeing yet another AUSTRALIAN ID attempt to land. The 6th, 7th, and 9th Aussie are now all accounted for. This landing could not have been prepped for because the landing nets 1,039 Cas, 135 Guns, and 119 Vehicles when it comes ashore. The attack scores a 1-4 result (Forts 5) with Japan taking 1247 casualties for an additional 1,389 Aust Cas. Scratch one useful, experienced Division.

As the troops get ready to come ashore, the Japanese sub arm continues to hammer away at the Allied Fleet. Since the SS deployed four days ago they have accounted for 2 LCT, AP President Buchanon, AP Rangatira, an AM, two AK, and this shot of a midget planting a a single Torp into CA Indianapolis. The SS presence is about to go up by a third with six more I-Boats entering the arena tomorrow...

[savelius2]

For a barely contested invasion you're making him pay an honest price. At this point he has taken a few airfields he can presumably bomb yours to dust from, so would holding the remainder even be tenable in the long term if he didn't expand his holdings? It seems like this continues aggressive stance is giving you ample time to react, if not with the KB, but with your other assets.

[obvert]

Hi John. Looks like you might slow him down at the least in CentPac.

Any chance you can list squads instead of casualties? It's your AAR, so I hate to keep asking, but casualty numbers don't tell the reader much in terms of these losses. Have no idea if those are lost or disabled? [&:]

Curious what the combat strength of the Aussie division on Tarawa is right now?

[John 3rd]

In a campaign that started over seven months ago, it is Japan that raises the flag of the Empire over the Port City of Sabang this day! Who would ever have thought it in mid-1943 a victory of this size was possible for the Empire?

Here comes a series of screenshots:

[John 3rd]

Here is one for just Obvert. Does THIS make you as happy as me???

[John 3rd]

Here is the list of destroyed Allied units:

[John 3rd]

In one fell stroke Japan now frees up:

Ground:
10 Infantry Divisions
1 Armored Division
5 Air HQ
12 Engineering Reg
Probably 30+ other support units (Base Forces, Construction, AA, etc...)

Air:
Of the 500-650 planes in the Theatre it is realistic to say 350 can now be free to deploy elsewhere.

Naval:
The ENTIRE Battle Fleet is now OPEN: 4 BC and 3 BB.
Figure 6-8 Cruisers and 20+ DDs can now move as well.
The current 12-15 SS deployed shall stay.

[John 3rd]

There are still two hexes to finish off in Sumatra and between them they have 17+ Allied units and at least 25-30,000 more men.

[crsutton]

Well, it took a while but it "is" a pretty nice haul.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: crsutton

Well, it took a while but it "is" a pretty nice haul.

Understatement.

[pws1225]

Nice!

[John 3rd]

I didn't want to jinx things but a week ago (July 1st) I picked up two ID from Langsa. They are passing the Philippines now and are headed for Tokyo. At Tokyo they shall refit and draw winter clothes for a probably assault landing at Ulak and Adak.

Time to push the Allies and make them react a bit to US.

Sho--Zui, Hiryu--Soryu and two CVL are now ready at Tokyo. Akagi--Kaga--Ryujo need another week before completion of their upgrades. My eyes keep looking at the map and Wake is sort of nice and secluded presently. It sure might be easy to go to Wake and then drop right into the Assault Shipping lanes of this Marshalls Offensive. The chance to raise some HELL would be most welcome...

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

I didn't want to jinx things but a week ago (July 1st) I picked up two ID from Langsa. They are passing the Philippines now and are headed for Tokyo. At Tokyo they shall refit and draw winter clothes for a probably assault landing at Ulak and Adak.

Time to push the Allies and make them react a bit to US.

Sho--Zui, Hiryu--Soryu and two CVL are now ready at Tokyo. Akagi--Kaga--Ryujo need another week before completion of their upgrades. My eyes keep looking at the map and Wake is sort of nice and secluded presently. It sure might be easy to go to Wake and then drop right into the Assault Shipping lanes of this Marshalls Offensive. The chance to raise some HELL would be most welcome...

I know you have a certain style, and play the game the way you like for whatever reason. Of course you have a lot more experience than I do, and there is no reason to really challenge this style, but I can't help myself. I see your position and feel like you're going against what you really want here, which is to ultimately win the game against your archrival and friend.

You are in a mod that gives Japan all kinds of extra material advantages, except you only have the same economy as stock (maybe with just a bit more oil?).

So I'm curious if you've started to prepare for the next 2-3 years by conserving supply, building pools of HI, armaments and vehicles, oil and fuel, all of the stuff that will make your endgame work beyond mid 44?

To consistently want to "raise some HELL" makes me think you're not quite dealing with the realities of playing Japan into the endgame. To want to keep pushing into what is newly re-conquered non-threatening Allied territory, using all kinds of fuel, supply, material in terms of ships and troops and planes, and not actually fight in areas where you pick the conditions (like LBA support, far from Allied home bases, etc) is making me wonder.

Based on your playing history and your current position in game, IMHO the most effective and psychologically unnerving thing you could do to an opponent would be to prepare in the background, counterpunch when possible (on your terms) and offensively to actually do ...

... nothing.