Islands of Destiny: RA 5.0 Japanese Side

[adarbrauner]

Three hexes=120 miles=10 knots speed.

"Our" commercial transporters sail a 12 knots max speed.
Either the american has transport ships steaming less then ours, or he's purpotedly, and unnecessary may be added, sailing at low speed.

Your 18 Pts+6 DDs intruding-raiding fleet for littoral-night strikes at short distance and high speed tastes "intriguing" to me...

[bradfordkay]

11kts is the speed of USN LSTs, so this is probably why the TFs are moving so slowly.

[Canoerebel]

Oops, posted in John's AAR rather than my own! I caught the mistake when I re-read the post and then saw Bradford's post above. That's the only one I read.

[John 3rd]

How is that for a shocker? The enemy has entered the holy of holies!

[John 3rd]

Limited Japanese shipping strikes occur on April 2nd and 3rd:

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Oops, posted in John's AAR rather than my own! I caught the mistake when I re-read the post and then saw Bradford's post above. That's the only one I read.

Do you think we should DEMAND the sacrifice of a CV for this horrific intrusion? Maybe 2 CVLs?? How about 6 CVEs???

Seems fair to me...
[8D]

[John 3rd]

April 1-3, 1944
The Philippines

The Allied 1.0x10^6 meanders along the east side of the Philippines looking for empty base hexes to take cheap. It is that simple team.

I've detailed the moves on the screenshot below:

1. April 1st--Landing at Taluad by 11th East African Division. The opposition is against an Inf Regiment. The base falls to the first attack on the 3rd. I have high hopes that a--not spotted--Japanese STF of 1 CA, 1 CL, and 6 DDs will arrive tomorrow and cause some serious bellyache for Dan's forces. Looks like very lite forces guarding the multiple TFs at that location.

2. As mentioned above, limited air strikes occur seeing DD Harding struck and probably sunk (2 500 Kg Bombs) as well as several other landing ships.

3. The 3rd sees landings at Siargo and Dinagut. The bases are undefended but the landings take high casualties. That should tell you plenty about those units preparation...

4. Am clearing the Central Philippines of shipping.

5. The 19th ID's Convoy is working up the coast of Borneo. Plan to put it in Formosa but Luzon might be a possibility.

THINKING
I cannot stop any of this. I won't even try. Have got to keep Luzon and Formosa. Formosa is more important so reinforcements go there.

[adarbrauner]

-

[Lecivius]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

How is that for a shocker? The enemy has entered the holy of holies!

I think it's a testament to you 2 that an error like this gets a nod, and a smile. I know you 2 go way back, but such manners is truly rare these days [;)]

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: Lecivius

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

How is that for a shocker? The enemy has entered the holy of holies!

I think it's a testament to you 2 that an error like this gets a nod, and a smile. I know you 2 go way back, but such manners is truly rare these days [;)]

Thank You Lecivius. Why complain when I have accidentally done it myself? Seems pretty stupid to me that players would go crazy over an accident.

[John 3rd]

Just lost of HUGE post I finished but did not copy. STUPID!

[John 3rd]

MATCH THINKING

I cannot and will not stop Dan's assault. That simple.

Luzon and Formosa are the only locations I shall fight for. Formosa is more important then Luzon so that is where my reinforcements are headed. All reinforcements for these locations (other then the 19th ID) are coming from Japan or China.

If I cannot fight the 1.0x10^6 then what can I do?

Here is a thought.

I currently have 2nd Tanks, 6th ID, and another ID in Java twiddling their fingers. Am working on combining a third ID within the next 7-10 days. We would then have a coiled strike force of 1 TK Div and 3 Inf Div available for operations SOUTH of the enemy's advance.

We have plenty of airpower down here. The Decoy KB (3CV/3CVL--300+ planes), 3 Battlewagons, and a good amount of lite warships are available for support. There is plentiful supply and shipping for landing/assaults.

What about striking at the base of the snake?

Ideas:
1. Strike Ambon and Boela.
2. Hit the Isles south and east of Ambon (Saumlaki et al.)
3. Go farther south and take Gove--Merauke--Horn Isle.

Ideas/Thoughts?

MOVEMENT
Burma
The situation in Burma must be addressed. I refuse to use my hoarded Strike Force in Java. Dan's move has opened up a ton of Inf Reg and Brigades for redeployment. Imperial HQ REALLY THOUGHT the Allies would move further west and cut off all Japanese oil producing centers by grabbing a few more AFs and bombing them to dust. Not happening (at least soon).

He isn't coming here so...2 Brigades and an Inf Reg begin loading for immediate redeployment to the Burma Theatre.

Celebes
Palapo is the last Allied base in the Celebes. A Japanese Brigade and Inf Regiment arrive on April 3rd. The base has been getting bombed by over 100 bombers a day for weeks. No AA fire rising to challenge this. Since Dan doesn't care about troops in trouble, it appears we'll get another nice POW haul. A NZ Brigade, small TK unit, and two base forces are located here.

How he just leaves/abandons these troops defy my imagination. It is only a game but still...

[John 3rd]

Done Posting for while. Jump in!

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Oops, posted in John's AAR rather than my own! I caught the mistake when I re-read the post and then saw Bradford's post above. That's the only one I read.

Well he should at least have the courtesy to leave his initial post in its entirety. Seems only fair. [:D] Hopefully it was chock-a-block full of OPSEC stuff.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Just lost of HUGE post I finished but did not copy. STUPID!

Didja put it in the right AAR? [:'(]

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Ideas:
1. Strike Ambon and Boela.
2. Hit the Isles south and east of Ambon (Saumlaki et al.)
3. Go farther south and take Gove--Merauke--Horn Isle.

Ideas/Thoughts?

None of the above, John. I'd not use 3 IDs and a TK Division chasing after fog in an area so easily abandoned or reduced by the enemy. If your line in the sand is really Luzon or Formosa, then by all means reinforce them accordingly.

Also, if Mindanao is cut off by the incursion into the central Philippines, what are your plans for re-directing these units to someplace more useful in the defensive? Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon (and for the rest of your life), you may regret having troops stranded there.

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Just lost of HUGE post I finished but did not copy. STUPID!

Didja put it in the right AAR? [:'(]

THAT made me laugh Chickenboy! Thanks for the good belly laugh.

YES he should have left his Post in the thread. Call...it...penance...

Total frustration. We lost power here in LaSalle for over three hours as some idiot decided to drive through and wipe out a set of power poles. Just got power back...

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Ideas:
1. Strike Ambon and Boela.
2. Hit the Isles south and east of Ambon (Saumlaki et al.)
3. Go farther south and take Gove--Merauke--Horn Isle.

Ideas/Thoughts?

None of the above, John. I'd not use 3 IDs and a TK Division chasing after fog in an area so easily abandoned or reduced by the enemy. If your line in the sand is really Luzon or Formosa, then by all means reinforce them accordingly.

Also, if Mindanao is cut off by the incursion into the central Philippines, what are your plans for re-directing these units to someplace more useful in the defensive? Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon (and for the rest of your life), you may regret having troops stranded there.

There is an Inf Div, 3 Brigades, and the entirety of the 9th Air Fleet. It is a plane base with some serious AF...

The thing is, he has never truly cut me off from anywhere. Sure...he is landing troops at isolated bases that have to be built up. He is laying a 'carpet' of troops to create bases but none of them will be any help immediately. If there is a built up AF in the area I have an Inf Reg, Brigade, or Inf Div sitting in the hex. He'll actually have to FIGHT to take it.

I want him to land at any post hex in Luzon or Formosa. The reception shall be--shall I say--rather warm.

EDIT: Thinking about this, I can continue to use Manado and Mindanao to 'shoot' TF in and out of the DEI. They would be vulnerable for just a day or so moving back-and-forth.

[adarbrauner]

What about striking at the base of the snake?
Plain, flat YEEEESS sir.


1,2 - Yes, and if possible, together;

3: aren't enough targets to strike before exposing and wasting forces there?

You should add Makassar Islands as a must, and now, and possibly northern Guinea also as possible target.

Don't be "stingy" with army units to counter attack-land, on the contrary use the approriate numer and strentgh to assure the complete and fast annihilation of enemy's garrisons. We are in the "Hit-ans-run" phase, which has to be fast, quick, decisive and VIOLENT at its greates possible extent.

I'd like to raise your interest also to other possible locations, such as Marshalls-Gilberts, Aleutininas, and generally every where far from known location of main US Carrier Fleet.


In addition, I'd like to reiterate the propositon to employ the KB for a good raid in IO, or in North-Central Pacific, or even in Sothern DEI-Carpentera Gulf-Coral SEA, provided the position of Main US Carrier Fleet is known and far and engaged somewhwere else.

That you are depleting forces in China, does not find my personal approvation, for reasons we've talked about since.

"I want him to land at any post hex in Luzon"
I cannot understand why to wait for this. He'll leave the small Philippines island garrisons he toke unprotected by Sea, soon or late, therefore I'd suggest you to think and take the necessary planning and measures to prepare the counter strike-invasion there, Celebes like. The nature of the Philippines arcipelagus greatly favor fast attacks from short distances (isn't it what the Japanes tried to do and implement for the Battle of Leyte Gulf?).


REgarding a Burma response, if you are contemplating the possibility to gather land based air striking force (and fighter escorts), in combination with the greatest possible number of PTs, small nimble subs and fast good DDs + the embarked naval air arm (read: the full KB) to stage a combined, massive, phased and saturation attack on his main Carrier Fleeet or to which fleet it should be posted to protect in the Philippines, so yes momentarily you don't have the means for counter action in Burma.

Counter offensive in Burma in my opinion is otherwise desirable, not to achieve anything by itself, but just as the necessary move to induce CR engaging the greatest number of units in Burma (while we, i propose it again, try the real offensive over ALL the Chinese front, with the startegic objective to seize the Western approaches to India-Burma....then Burma could be neglected).

The fact he's not pressing on in Burma, is fearfully hinting me he's redeploying in China. If so, you'll feel it, in three-6 months from now.

Manado-Mindanao: OF COURSE not to abandon them now!!

[Insano]

This is the narrowest part of the "neck". Unfortunately for you (and probably good planning by your opponent) this is all JR x3 terrain except Talaud-Eilanden which is just jungle. You can forget Ambon for the same reason (JR x3). If he's got a complete division I would consider JR as unassailable. Even if not it would take a Corps to dislodge a brigade quickly.

You could land at the base next to Ternate and march overland through the jungle but that would take too long and he would reinforce the threatened bases. Also there are too many bases to take or keep suppressed to really cut the head off. Unless he's pulled out forces leaving a weak garrison in any of these bases I would say he's got you. Hard to believe he would have any of these weakly held since he can see it's the narrowest part of his advance as well as we can.

Wasting effort even further south towards Australia is even a worse option in my opinion. It won't be as fun as a counter-offensive but all of the above leads to a pretty clear conclusion. Your best play is to get all major units back to Formosa and environs as quickly as possible.