Islands of Destiny: RA 5.0 Japanese Side

[John 3rd]

Haven't had a chance to run the run as of yet due to leaving for a Historical Society event this morning.

Spent part of the night waiting for the turn and am willing to now make some predictions:
1. He shall move past Truk and head for the North Coast of New Guinea. Targets: Biak or others in that area. He'll count on his engineers to do the work while providing CAP from his CV/CVEs. He has tankers and support shipping so he can refuel and re-provision indefinitely.

2. Once these ;empty' bases are built up then he'll work to cut the DEI off on the eastern and central side.

Reaction/Thinking:
1. Decent strategy but totally dependent on Base Constructor and my responses.

2. Kido Butai cannot engage until the four CVs in Japan are repaired. Half of the Unryu's are due within 80 Days. That should help.

3. I am not going to play his game.

This move predicates me reacting and killing my aircraft off for little potential gain since all his CV/CVEs are THERE. Follow the simple logic---if ALL/MOST of his CV/CVEs are THERE then he is vulnerable elsewhere. Perhaps we look to weaken his position elsewhere. Wake jumps to mind as a target. Could re-take that and try to move him away from his goal. The eastern Marshalls/Gilberts could fall into that thought line as well. Need to think on that option and see what else jumps to mind...

I have Infantry Brigades/Divisions at Aitape, Yap, Peleliu, and Babeldoap. There is an ID at Davao as well.

Will lift some troops out of Java to deny him access to the Eastern DEI.

This is my thinking presently...

[Capt. Harlock]

We need some updates -- you were about to go to Page 2. [:-]

[John 3rd]

November 13, 1943

Just as I predicted. His landing is now--currently--aimed for Biak and points west moving towards Sorong. This screenshot shows where the TFs are. The black lines and arrows are troops TF moving to their destinations. Everything marked there is Brigade or greater in strength. Also does not show what is coming in from the east (mainly heading for Aitape and Hollandia. The BLACK boxes show TFs landing troops presently.

Dan mentioned the anniversary of his Sumatra landings being about a year ago in game time and my final victory there just five months ago. Let us hope for similar results. I am building the shoulders to prevent the landings from--hopefully--hitting anything vital (or an established base). We'll build shoulders, try to keep the bases from building quickly and then move in slowly.

The Allied Fleet cannot stay there FOREVER. I want to hit it when it begins to spread out or return home.

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

We need some updates -- you were about to go to Page 2. [:-]

Am sorry about the lack of updates but I have been pretty depressed with AE. Feel like I have let people down and feel pretty bad about it.

1. Cut my game with Herbie and passed that delightful mess to Fabertong. Feel awful about that. The match was a blast and though I wasn't treating it as a true strategic match (more of a give him headlines for the AAR game) my regrets are manifest for cutting it.

2. I've spoken with Michael and we've agreed to suspend our game until school starts. Having the boys home on top of everything else has been hard. Need to spend more time with them and this will help. Once school is going Paula and the boys will be there and I shall have time open up to pick this match back up at that time.

3. Having time now cleared for playing the game with Dan, I am not happy for only putting in maybe 50% of the needed time and brainpower to be at my best with this one. Have requested some days to make a thorough perusal of the state of Japan and Dan has agreed for the end of this week. A couple of days should allow me to get my feet underneath me and make sure aircraft research, engines, the economy as a whole, and everything else is cleaned up, right, and ready for 1944.

4. Not being able to keep the AAR up is highly frustrating. Love writing and getting people's thoughts and it is beyond frustrating to not be able to do that. There have been days when I didn't even want to look at the Forum because it would make me think of what hasn't been done on this AAR. This will change with freeing up time by handling points 1 and 2.

OK. Done with moping. Just wanted to explain myself as we prepare to move forward...

[pws1225]

No letdown here. I have had to abandon/postpone games before due to RL considerations and completely understand the necessity. I imagine others here share similar experiences. But I am glad you are able to keep game going with CR. It is a lot of fun to watch. [:)]

[Anachro]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd
Cut my game with Herbie and passed that delightful mess to Fabertong. Feel awful about that. The match was a blast and though I wasn't treating it as a true strategic match (more of a give him headlines for the AAR game) my regrets are manifest for cutting it.

This might turn out to be a blessing in disguise for both you and pws1225. You might not have been treating the game as a true strategic match, but I'm sure the Penguin (as you guys call him) will. It might lead to a revolution in pws1225's AAR. I think you two should both look very much forward to it. I know I will.

[Anachro]

I said pws1225. I meant 1275psi and his Letters from the Prime Minister

[John 3rd]

November 14, 1943

Someone described it as 'a poor man's sweep.' Japan launches 68 F and 6 Judy against 490 Allied Fighters. Lose about 25 planes for roughly 18-20.

[John 3rd]

November 1943

I hit the landings right on the nose. The Allies land at Biak, Noemfoor, and Manokwari. Figure Sorong will be added to that list at a minimum.

This is a good thing. NONE of the bases are developed at all. While an eventual threat to the Eastern and Central DEI that will take TIME to manifest. These landings give me just enough time to get my reinforcements unloaded at Ternate, Ambon, Aitape, Hollandia, and Manado. Move 100+ Fighters to Ambon and Ternate to provide CAP if he wants to play with my TFs.

Eighteen I-Boats begin to deploy in the area.

Order prep to begin with two Inf Div for Biak. It is the biggest threat in AF potential so we'll plan to take it back first.

Move Kido Butai from Kaving to Manus.

CV Hiryu is repaired yesterday, CV Ryukaku is repaired in 3 days, and CV Shokaku needs 11 days. Once these three are good we'll move them and work to ratchet up some pressure on the Allies.

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Order prep to begin with two Inf Div for Biak. It is the biggest threat in AF potential so we'll plan to take it back first.

Reading both sides, so just a general question. In almost-1944, what is your general feeling about the utility or even possibility of staging major, multi-division landings with x-class-ships, no amphib bonus, and the current Allied naval OOB?

My general experience has been that once Japan loses a target in the era you're in and later, it's gone. You seem to have a different attitude.

[crsutton]

The hard thing is this is a game of economy and in that I mean engineers. It is my experience that by late 43 the Allied ability to land at virtually any location and quickly build up airfields trumps any counter move that the Japanese player can do. This is my experience in my current game. I was worried about the ability and the early arrival of the super Jack and George fighters. But frankly, it has not played out that way. Yes, they are more of a nuisance but the reality is that I can build a level nine airfield most anywhere it is possible while my opponent simply can't do that. In the end superior airfields allow for air superiority more so than superior aircraft. Well, that and the P47...[;)]

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: crsutton

The hard thing is this is a game of economy and in that I mean engineers. It is my experience that by late 43 the Allied ability to land at virtually any location and quickly build up airfields trumps any counter move that the Japanese player can do. This is my experience in my current game. I was worried about the ability and the early arrival of the super Jack and George fighters. But frankly, it has not played out that way. Yes, they are more of a nuisance but the reality is that I can build a level nine airfield most anywhere it is possible while my opponent simply can't do that. In the end superior airfields allow for air superiority more so than superior aircraft. Well, that and the P47...[;)]

Very hard for Japan to contest the air away from a a rail network. Very hard.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

November 14, 1943

Someone described it as 'a poor man's sweep.' Japan launches 68 F and 6 Judy against 490 Allied Fighters. Lose about 25 planes for roughly 18-20.

So, are you happy with the results?

What altitude did you go in at?

[AcePylut]

I was just wondering the same, how long does it take allied engineers to make that undeveloped base into a "developed and dangerous" base?

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: AcePylut

I was just wondering the same, how long does it take allied engineers to make that undeveloped base into a "developed and dangerous" base?

Less than a week, a business week.[:(]

[John 3rd]

We're going to find out. He must keep all the shipping tied to one point or else I will eat it. Right now the only safe thing for the Allies to do is move as one big blob. If he spreads out at all, I shall pounce...

People said some similar things about the Sumatra Campaign. As long as I can buuild shoulders to this set of landings, I will work to attrit and damage the Allied Forces. If nothing else, it serves to buy time...

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

November 14, 1943

Someone described it as 'a poor man's sweep.' Japan launches 68 F and 6 Judy against 490 Allied Fighters. Lose about 25 planes for roughly 18-20.

So, are you happy with the results?

What altitude did you go in at?

Not really excited. made a mistake in keeping my Judy at 11,000 Ft. Next time I shall bring them up and do a high altitude 'attack/sweep.'

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: AcePylut

I was just wondering the same, how long does it take allied engineers to make that undeveloped base into a "developed and dangerous" base?

Less than a week, a business week.[:(]

I have 4 BBs at Manus who intend to make an 'impression' at Biak. It is the only base I am concerned about losing.

[ny59giants]

American Construction units:

The biggest and baddest is the "USN Naval Construction Rgt" with 225 engineers (includes vehicle - bulldozers).
Next is the "Construction Rgt" with only 84 engineers.
The typical "USN Naval Construction Bn" has just 75 engineers.
AEB = 57 engineers, USN Spec Con Bn = 51, Base Group = 42, etc.

Dan will be able to put about 500 engineers at most bases and over 1000 engineers at his primary bases. One of his new bases has AF at 0(5) and it will be at size 2 or near 3 in the week that Lowpe mentioned. He could base B-24s at this size in just 2 to 3 weeks.

However, one of the things I did for Japan in this mod was increase the number of 'engineer vehicles' some units get, so John will and has been able to build AFs and forts better than Japan does in any other scenario.

[John 3rd]

I've already got engineers moving to Aiptape, Hollandia, Dabo, and growing AFs at Ternate, Manado, and Ambon. Babeldoap, Yap, and Peleliu are close as well