Hokushin-ron/Northern Road NJP72 vs TiemanJ

[njp72]

Int screen.

Like the last couple of games, it is very hard to catch good Allied player's naval assets so the focus and effort will be towards destroying Allied ground forces for point generation.

Seized a couple of good atolls in the Pacific (Canton, Baker and Johnston) but the Line Island invasion failed [:(] A bridge too far there.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: njp72

Int screen.

Like the last couple of games, it is very hard to catch good Allied player's naval assets so the focus and effort will be towards destroying Allied ground forces for point generation.

You can get them, but you have to be in position to do so.

Ex: Once you secure Burma, you know most allied players are going to reinforce India heavily and frequently with USA LCU's. Those come via far west map edge, right? If you get Ceylon, you now have a base where you can really choke India until the Med opens ... Diego Garcia helps even more with this ...

It isn't easy to force the allies to come out to 'play', but you can and several AAR's have shown how. The key ingredient to all of them is to not give up the initiative until you have to ... and that can be as late as early '44 ....

Just some thoughts ...

[njp72]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

ORIGINAL: njp72

Int screen.

Like the last couple of games, it is very hard to catch good Allied player's naval assets so the focus and effort will be towards destroying Allied ground forces for point generation.

You can get them, but you have to be in position to do so.

Ex: Once you secure Burma, you know most allied players are going to reinforce India heavily and frequently with USA LCU's. Those come via far west map edge, right? If you get Ceylon, you now have a base where you can really choke India until the Med opens ... Diego Garcia helps even more with this ...

It isn't easy to force the allies to come out to 'play', but you can and several AAR's have shown how. The key ingredient to all of them is to not give up the initiative until you have to ... and that can be as late as early '44 ....

Just some thoughts ...

Thanks Pax, I agree and Jeff is starting to come out to play where KB is not.

A fair bit of USN activity in the central pacific as he looks to fight back and sting me.

[njp72]

India- the centre of activity for the IJA.

Threatening Bombay but sweeping around to cut off Calcutta. I believe KB arrived in time to scare off the Aussies arriving from the middle east which should make the Allies position difficult in India.

[njp72]

India part 2

[njp72]

Close to breaking through in Northern China.

The bulk of his forces at positioned down South which suits me just fine [:)]

[njp72]

Slower progress in Burma as Jeff has quite a bit of combat power here.

Still it has no chance of escaping now which will be good for points.

[njp72]

Oz- have to be a bit careful here as the Allies are quite active and I am sure the Middle East reinforcements will be directed here.

Jeff knows KB's location near Karachi so he is moving around here a bit more freely.

[njp72]

An example of the Allies getting a bit feisty is this inconclusive naval clash below in the vicinity of PNG.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: njp72



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

lotta saved supply ... nice ..

[PaxMondo]

you're striking across India from the West ... interesting to see the allied response to this. either he leaves a lot of forces south to oppose you (and lose them) or withdraws and gives you Calcutta for free. Either way is good for you ... Southern half of India alone is a lot of economy to add for the IJ ... nicely played so far ....

[njp72]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

you're striking across India from the West ... interesting to see the allied response to this. either he leaves a lot of forces south to oppose you (and lose them) or withdraws and gives you Calcutta for free. Either way is good for you ... Southern half of India alone is a lot of economy to add for the IJ ... nicely played so far ....

Thanks Pax, and once again you are correct. I am trying to force him to decide between Bombay or Calcutta. There are 4 good Inf divisions in central India now that can either swing to the South or the Nth West depending where his forces are concentrated.

At this stage, any Allied position that I assess can withstand a couple of divisions assaulting it I bypass and cut off. I am not interested in any protracted siege as speed is the key in early 42!

Well that is the plan [:D]

[paradigmblue]

As an allied player, the speed and extent that you've penetrated India in less than two months is terrifying.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: njp72
force him to decide between Bombay or Calcutta.

Actually, if you keep putting resources in India, he is left with Karachi. He might not know it yet, but there you are.

You might even take it if you focus on speed and simply isolating Allied units. Although that is a tall order![:)]

Nicely done.[&o]

[PaxMondo]

If you keep him from moving assets into Karachi you have a chance ... and taking Karachi ... Oh Boy!!!

[&o][&o][&o]

[ny59giants]

I've always thought that Karachi needs to be isolated from getting retreating units and being reinforced by sea. If the Allies get those emergency reinforcements at Aden, isolate them there until the Suez opens up in '43. If the Allies want them bad enough, force them to use CVs as escorts.

[njp72]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

I've always thought that Karachi needs to be isolated from getting retreating units and being reinforced by sea. If the Allies get those emergency reinforcements at Aden, isolate them there until the Suez opens up in '43. If the Allies want them bad enough, force them to use CVs as escorts.

Thank guys, the isolation of Karachi is the plan. It looks like he has made his decision and is abandoning Calcutta and making a stand at Bombay. This should mean I capture Calcutta in the next week with most of the industry intact which will be helpful. At this stage I am reasonably confident I can take Bombay as well given no Aussie reinforcements.

The only problem thus far ( and as Lowpe will no doubt testify) TiemanJ is a damn good player. He is not panicking at all and every turn he finds a way, despite his meagre assets to sting me (subs,surface raiders, mines and air). He has made excellent use of the B-17Ds and other air operating from isolated positions in Singapore and the PIs to attack ports and shipping. Just lost a big tanker this turn full of oil [:@]

[njp72]

Calcutta, no one home and those that are heading for the exits!

[njp72]

Bombay- A little bit more serious here. A tough fight looming here but one I can definitely win in the next month.

[njp72]

Ceylon- saving these guys for dessert [:)]

Actually they are the next target straight after Calcutta.