Hokushin-ron/Northern Road NJP72 vs TiemanJ

[njp72]

D + 8 and life is starting to became a little bit less risky as key airfields are seized and Allied surface groups are gradually brushed aside.

With search coverage improving every day the chances of a troop convoy being ambush are diminishing.

It also allows me to lure the Allies into my traps like the one below. They went hunting for AKs and APs but found something else [:)]

[njp72]

Progress being made here as the flanks are slowly being cleared and key airfields seized.

No chance of fortress Palembang which always terrifies me.

[njp72]

Good progress now being made in the DEI as well.

A couple of close shaves with Allied surface groups but so far so good.

[pws1225]

I just tuned in and will be following your progress. Good luck and good hunting! [:)]

[Lowpe]

I can't tell you enough how much enjoyment I got from your two prior matches versus Wargamr, but here you are up against a different type of Allied player.[;)] Different styles but both outstanding tactical players!

My advice is take nothing for granted, and I am looking forward to the Russian experiment.

I am not reading Tiemanj, other than to say good luck on the first day he started it. I don't want insight on how he plays, not that it really matters for my game against him anymore.

I am hoping we can wrap our game up quickly, so you guys can really focus. And me too, for that matter.

[njp72]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

I can't tell you enough how much enjoyment I got from your two prior matches versus Wargamr, but here you are up against a different type of Allied player.[;)] Different styles but both outstanding tactical players!

My advice is take nothing for granted, and I am looking forward to the Russian experiment.

I am not reading Tiemanj, other than to say good luck on the first day he started it. I don't want insight on how he plays, not that it really matters for my game against him anymore.

I am hoping we can wrap our game up quickly, so you guys can really focus. And me too, for that matter.

Thanks Lowpe, likewise with your epic contests. I think we are very aligned with our thinking these days.

Mike was a very good player and I can already see Tiemanj really knows his stuff as well. He has made some pretty cunning moves and is always looking to draw blood without risking too much. Bombing of the ports, the laying of mines and always going after my transports is keeping me on my toes.

To really do some damage I need to rattle him a bit and knock him off balance. I think I have the plan to do that but we will have to wait and see [:D]

[njp72]

21 Dec 41- Time for an update, though from here on in they are likely to be weekly not daily (time poor like all of us).

The excitement of a new game burns bright and TiemanJ (Jeff) is a tough and capable opponent. He is really big with subs and mines which have caused the majority of my casualties. Aggressive with his minor fleet units, especially DDs, but never silly. He is always looking for an opening to cause pain and attrition to the IJN.


Java is the main game and I would have liked to have arrived here a couple days ago but his CLs and DDs have been very aggressive in going after my convoys. Thus far, aside from one unfortunate episode near Singapore, I generally fight them off and then my air takes a bit out of them as well. As the days grind on the list of mission capable CLs and DDs the Allies field continues to decrease giving me more freedom of action.

I was a bit short on DDs in this action below but that has since been rectified!

[njp72]

Java

[njp72]

Around Rangoon

Again the air assault on Pt Blair worked well. I have used that tactic in the last three or 4 games and it does add additional pressure on to the Allies. A surprise coming for him near Rangoon.

Singapore closed off and can stay like that for a couple of months now.

[njp72]

Singas

[njp72]

Slower progress around here.

He reinforced Ambon which has slowed me down plus there is still a lot of USN shipping around the place and some of it has teeth.[:)]

[njp72]

China goes well. Jeff has fought clever and he has slowed me down a bit by cutting rail lines and getting into the mountains on my main axis of advance, but numbers and firepower eventually won through.

China's northern defence lines will become unhinged soon and their oil will be mine.[:)]

[njp72]

Int screen- losing more ships than I would like but their is nothing I can really do about it or I run the risk of stalling and losing momentum.

I am hoping to accelerate again once Java is secured in the next week. A CVL also took two torps from A dutch sub which has caused logistical and timetable issues. It is likely to survive unless Jeff can hit it again.

[Bif1961]

Seems you are off to a good start and going for Java early might have thrown him off as many go for Sumatra before Java.

[njp72]

26th Dec 41

Batavia falls on the first attack which was a big relief given the amount of Dutch units in the city.

It is also a big relief as I needed a decent sized port to rearm and replenish my Spanish Armada before I set sail for destination unknown [:D] 4 Divs, some armoured regts and supporting arms will head off in the next 2 to 3 turns depending on reloading at the port and clearing of mines.

After some tough battles, China is also looking good. I plan to have the Allies in the hurt locker in Jan 42 and hopefully scrambling as I move to strike deep- very, very deep [;)]

[njp72]

By God, I have dropped to the second page and it is time to redeem myself [:)]

The smash and grab for India is well and truly on and momentum is building (I had forgotten how much fun it is to play Japan in Jan 42!)

The primary goal is to smash up Commonwealth forces (air, land and sea) and leave them combat ineffective for at least 12 months so they can't interfere in Burma and later cause distractions when I'm fighting the bear. Capturing industry , fuel and supplies would be a bonus but Jeff is a very capable player. He is not getting rattled and drawing blood at every opportunity.

I initially thought of just sailing straight into Bombay but heavy sig traffic from Allied forces at that location and the lack of fuel ( I had to sail the long way round as I haven't captured Singapore yet) killed off that idea.

The million dollar question, will he risk landing the Aussies at Karachi when he knows KB is in the area......

[njp72]

Allies have Rangoon pretty strongly held here. Not going anywhere fast until more combat power arrives.

[njp72]

China- smashing my way through and the results have been encouraging.

The defences are crumbling and I will get all the oil here soon.

[njp72]

Darwin's CD guns took their toll and the defences held longer than I planned for, but now opportunities are starting to open up.

[njp72]

The DEI took the full force of the initial Japanese ground assault, hence the campaign is largely over here in Sumatra and Java.

Critically the oil fields captured thus far have largely been left intact so a huge sigh of relief. [:)]