Climb Mt. Niitaka - Xargun vs Mr Kane

[Aurorus]

ORIGINAL: Xargun


More slow turns - very little allied activity at sea and a few night time bombers by Blenheims and B-17s from Singapore. I don't have airfields close enough to Singapore yet to start sweeping his fighters there so I have not been bombing the airfield - I have tried at night, but cannot hit anything.

Philippines

More paratroopers take empty bases in Southern Luzon and now my men are ready to move against Manila - don't think I have enough strength to take it, but will move into the city none-the-less. This will pin down the men he has there so I can take the bases to the north without fear or counterattack.


China

I finally took Hong Kong on the 27th netting a nice influx of VPs. I have rebuilt the Hong Kong Detachment and have DMS sweeping the mines from the harbor before I start using it. Majority of the troops are heading back to Canton.

Recon shows Chinese forces moving from the southern cities - which means I will capture them by default and instantly start losing VPs due to not meeting garrison requirements. I am trying to rush troops to the bases affected, but it will be a while to get there.


South Pacific

I took Ocean Island and now own both of the resources islands and have started the endless convoys from there to Truk hauling resources.


Malaya

Troops are still slowly moving south - have captured Georgetown which will be a good bomber base once I get some Aviation Support there. Then I can start sweeping and bombing Singapore - to soften them up and prevent additional forts.

General

Got my first group of ground reinforcements - a bunch of Base Forces for the Marshalls as well as other assorted places. I am still dealing with shortages of aircraft frames - takes forever to build them. My Rufe R&D is going good among the 5 Factories I have dedicated to it.

I have begun setting up my other R&D Factories, but haven't expanded them much beyond a few points yet. I do not believe the size affects how fast they repair so I'm trying to spread out the supply / HI drain.

You are off to a sort of slow start. That is ok though. It is better to start slowly and preserve assets than start quickly and get assets shot up by being careless. You are going to have a slog in both Luzon and Singapore. Java will probably have to wait until either Singapore or Luzon falls, and you won't be able to get going in Burma until they both fall. Get yourself in position to transition quickly into the Java campaign. Take the DEI bases so far as possible and make sure you are moving supplies and aviation support south so that everything is ready to go once troops free up.

What is going on at Palembang? You have to get there. It is a X3 defense hex, and the most important hex on the map. He is going to be building up the forts and stocking it up with supplies, troops, and engineers to blow up the oil fields. Do you have Singkawang yet? If so, get your aviation support down there and start sweeping and bombing Palembang. He may have as many fighters there, at this point, as he does at Singapore. The AVG may be there.

[Xargun]

ORIGINAL: Aurorus
What is going on at Palembang? You have to get there. It is a X3 defense hex, and the most important hex on the map. He is going to be building up the forts and stocking it up with supplies, troops, and engineers to blow up the oil fields. Do you have Singkawang yet? If so, get your aviation support down there and start sweeping and bombing Palembang. He may have as many fighters there, at this point, as he does at Singapore. The AVG may be there.

My escorts have just refueled and resupplied at Cam Rahn Bay and are slowly moving out - trying to avoid air detection and more importantly sub attacks. I have a division loaded and partially prepped for Palembang and will be loading supporting units this next turn - Aviation Support, Engineers, Artillery, Tank Unit, etc...

Figure 5-7 days for the invasion TFs to travel there safely. Singapore still has a lot of planes - MR Kane is not engaging me anywhere so he has a lot of aircraft to use. If I can avoid detection, I should be able to land the first wave completely before he can react.

He seems to be concentrating on trying to keep the airfield at Singkawang suppresed, so I may be able to sneak by.

[Aurorus]

ORIGINAL: Xargun

ORIGINAL: Aurorus
What is going on at Palembang? You have to get there. It is a X3 defense hex, and the most important hex on the map. He is going to be building up the forts and stocking it up with supplies, troops, and engineers to blow up the oil fields. Do you have Singkawang yet? If so, get your aviation support down there and start sweeping and bombing Palembang. He may have as many fighters there, at this point, as he does at Singapore. The AVG may be there.

My escorts have just refueled and resupplied at Cam Rahn Bay and are slowly moving out - trying to avoid air detection and more importantly sub attacks. I have a division loaded and partially prepped for Palembang and will be loading supporting units this next turn - Aviation Support, Engineers, Artillery, Tank Unit, etc...

Figure 5-7 days for the invasion TFs to travel there safely. Singapore still has a lot of planes - MR Kane is not engaging me anywhere so he has a lot of aircraft to use. If I can avoid detection, I should be able to land the first wave completely before he can react.

He seems to be concentrating on trying to keep the airfield at Singkawang suppresed, so I may be able to sneak by.

Sounds good. What type of aviation support do you have at Singkawang? If you can get the 24th Air HQ there via a fast transport TF as your amphib is moving down (a CL and a few DDs should do the job), you can fly with torpedoes out of there. You may catch Repulse and PoW trying to intercept your Palembang invasion with some Gnells or Betties. That would probably spell the end of PoW and Repulse if they have to swim through 40 torpedo bombers.

[Xargun]

Mr Kane and I have pushed out a bunch of turns over the weekend and since I was home from work with a sick son today I was able to push out a bunch of turns today to.
Here is a quick view on the scoreboard.

[Xargun]

Below is a sitrep of Luzon and my progress there. Recon shows 14 units at Bataan, 18 at Clark Field and 8 at Manila. I plan to take Manila first and then
move to Clark and finally Bataan.

[Xargun]

I own the northern coast of Borneo and have troops moving to bases in the Sulu Sea to march down the coastline. Singkawang is being built to a lvl 4 airfield
for future use and has finally been fully repaired. I am repairing the oil fields at Brunei and Miri and starting to haul oil and fuel to Cam Ranh Bay.

[Xargun]

Update in Malaya. Troops are marching towards Singapore but its slow going despite the single road and rail lines. Recon shows little to no
real opposition between me and Singapore and I'm guessing 7-10 days to reach Singapore with my lead elements.

[Xargun]

Palembang has fallen with only 9 oilfields damaged - really lucky despite taking 2 days to attacks to capture it. Allied subs were sitting in the shallow
waters waiting for me and I damaged several without taking a single torpedo hit - although an xAK and DD hit mines at Palembang. I have an Air HQ, Recon Unit,
along with a full division of troops there. I have several AA units enroute.

[Aurorus]

ORIGINAL: Xargun

Palembang has fallen with only 9 oilfields damaged - really lucky despite taking 2 days to attacks to capture it. Allied subs were sitting in the shallow
waters waiting for me and I damaged several without taking a single torpedo hit - although an xAK and DD hit mines at Palembang. I have an Air HQ, Recon Unit,
along with a full division of troops there. I have several AA units enroute.

OK. Great job. That takes a lot of pressure off you. Watch for B-17s transferred over from Pearl, the WC, or the Phillipines to come for the oil and refineries. Cover that beautiful oil with Zeros and your Tojo squadron. Those are your best bomber killers, get the flak there, and build forts up to limit any damage to the oil from bombers. Really, you have just accomplished the most important objective in the first phase of the war. You can take some time now with Singapore, Java, and Luzon.

What you may want to consider is finding some way to bait Mr. Kane into a fight or fights that are to your advantage. You want to try to destroy military assets that cannot be used against you later. For example, try to convince him commit British and Dutch surface ships to intercepting landings or try to bait him into committing U.S. carriers to the defense of Java. One way to do this is to make it appear as if two of your fleet carriers, or your CVLs, are operating independent of the full KB to support landings in the DEI. As your landings get closer and closer to Java, he may be induced to try a carrier engagement. But keep CVLs, or a portion of KB, and the CVEs hidden at one of the many ports in the DEI as you near Java. Reveal them only at the last moment, as amphib groups are coming across toward Java.

This is just one example. I am sure that you can think of others or create other opportunities. The idea is to look weak where you are strong. As you go forward, this should be on your mind and part of your general plan. Taking the DEI, Luzon, Malaysia, Burma, and even China is not enough to win the game. You must destroy allied assets to delay the inevitable counter-offensive. Look for a Midway, but win Midway.

[adarbrauner]

Malaya

Troops are still slowly moving south - have captured Georgetown

how did capture Georgetown, please (for me is a pain in the a.., being it on an island, and me unable to bring in barges)?

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: adarbrauner

Malaya

Troops are still slowly moving south - have captured Georgetown

how did capture Georgetown, please (for me is a pain in the a.., being it on an island, and me unable to bring in barges)?

Troops can walk to Georgetown. No need for barges or ships.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Xargun

Palembang has fallen with only 9 oilfields damaged - really lucky despite taking 2 days to attacks to capture it. Allied subs were sitting in the shallow
waters waiting for me and I damaged several without taking a single torpedo hit - although an xAK and DD hit mines at Palembang. I have an Air HQ, Recon Unit,
along with a full division of troops there. I have several AA units enroute.

In my current game I held it under siege for over a month and sill got it with minimal damage, and that only to the refineries which is fine. [:)]

This should be your turning point. Now you can begin to think about how to use the rest of the invasion bonus time to your advantage. Any thoughts?

[Xargun]

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: adarbrauner

Malaya

Troops are still slowly moving south - have captured Georgetown

how did capture Georgetown, please (for me is a pain in the a.., being it on an island, and me unable to bring in barges)?

Troops can walk to Georgetown. No need for barges or ships.

I sent in 2 tank units - they are the fastest movers in the Japanese Army - especially along the roads. They made short work of the defenders there. I left 1 unit as garrison (until I could move less valuable infantry there) and the other unit rejoined my army.

[Xargun]

ORIGINAL: Aurorus

OK. Great job. That takes a lot of pressure off you. Watch for B-17s transferred over from Pearl, the WC, or the Phillipines to come for the oil and refineries. Cover that beautiful oil with Zeros and your Tojo squadron. Those are your best bomber killers, get the flak there, and build forts up to limit any damage to the oil from bombers. Really, you have just accomplished the most important objective in the first phase of the war. You can take some time now with Singapore, Java, and Luzon.

He is already doing that. He is using the B-17s based out of Singapore to hit me at night. He has bombed Heavy Industry in Bangkok - destroyed about half of it, as well as port attacks at Saigon and Cam Rahn Bay. I have since moved the majority of the ships out of the harbors and into TFs.

He has already bombed both Miri and Palembang with B-17s at night. I have zeros stationed at both flying at night, but they seem to only attack about 50% of the time. Only lost a single oil point at Miri so far but have lost 11 at Palembang in all. It seems the moon % plays a big role in my interceptions. I have shot down a handful of B-17s and damaged a bunch, but he still comes. I need to put pressure on Singapore so he'll withdraw the bombers.

ORIGINAL: Aurorus
What you may want to consider is finding some way to bait Mr. Kane into a fight or fights that are to your advantage. You want to try to destroy military assets that cannot be used against you later. For example, try to convince him commit British and Dutch surface ships to intercepting landings or try to bait him into committing U.S. carriers to the defense of Java. One way to do this is to make it appear as if two of your fleet carriers, or your CVLs, are operating independent of the full KB to support landings in the DEI. As your landings get closer and closer to Java, he may be induced to try a carrier engagement. But keep CVLs, or a portion of KB, and the CVEs hidden at one of the many ports in the DEI as you near Java. Reveal them only at the last moment, as amphib groups are coming across toward Java.

This is just one example. I am sure that you can think of others or create other opportunities. The idea is to look weak where you are strong. As you go forward, this should be on your mind and part of your general plan. Taking the DEI, Luzon, Malaysia, Burma, and even China is not enough to win the game. You must destroy allied assets to delay the inevitable counter-offensive. Look for a Midway, but win Midway.

Every time I try he pulls back. He brought Force Z up to play once (that I have seen) near Sinkawang, but once I spotted it they ran away. He had at least two combat TFs there and I managed to catch a bit of CL Durban with a sub and finished her off as she limped towards Soerbaja. But everytime I spot one of his spoiler moves he withdraws the assets. I think he is very leary of engaging me within Netty range and is trying to get in sneak shots at my convoys and once I spot him, he runs..

I need an important target that he will fight over. Not sure there are any such places in the DEI. Perhaps Darwin or some of the islands near Eastern Oz - like Suva, but I doubt anything else.

[Aurorus]

ORIGINAL: Xargun


He is already doing that. He is using the B-17s based out of Singapore to hit me at night. He has bombed Heavy Industry in Bangkok - destroyed about half of it, as well as port attacks at Saigon and Cam Rahn Bay. I have since moved the majority of the ships out of the harbors and into TFs.

He has already bombed both Miri and Palembang with B-17s at night. I have zeros stationed at both flying at night, but they seem to only attack about 50% of the time. Only lost a single oil point at Miri so far but have lost 11 at Palembang in all. It seems the moon % plays a big role in my interceptions. I have shot down a handful of B-17s and damaged a bunch, but he still comes. I need to put pressure on Singapore so he'll withdraw the bombers.


I need an important target that he will fight over. Not sure there are any such places in the DEI. Perhaps Darwin or some of the islands near Eastern Oz - like Suva, but I doubt anything else.

If he didn't try to intercept you at Palembang, he may not try at Java either, since Java is secondary in importance to Palembang. What is going on up in the Kuriles? He is facing a serious offensive by the allies in the Kuriles in mid 42 in one of his games as Japan. He may try the same against you. That is a good place to lay a trap for the allies. One thing that I like to do in the Kuriles is transfer Toyahara to General Defense. Then you can air transport restricted units (using those terrible Theresas if you want to make 2 hops) units from the mainland to Toyahara. Most of those independent infantry groups that you have on the Home Islands are fully air mobile. They have no devices above 10 load points. You may want to move surface assets to that region eventually as well. Building up the Kuriles in winter, though, is very supply inefficient. You may want to wait until March to really begin building forts and airfields there. You may also want to consider bringing down a few good regiments, with high exp and strong TOEs, or a division from Kwangtung to Hokkaido or to reinforce the islands. Etorofu is a good place to build up and reinforce.

Also, the air war does not seem to be going particularly well for you. Mr. Kane is very good at the air war, and you will have to be competitive againt him if you are going to win. For a long time many players just went to higher and higher altitudes in the air war in an effort to gain an advantage. This was not a good idea for Japan. You want to keep the air war in the manuever bands that are best for your planes. Use a lot of fighter sweeps in any offensive actions. The only good air superiority fighters that you have right now are A6M2s and Oscar Ics, so sweep with those. Most players, in my opinion, also neglect to bomb airfields sufficiently. Most allied fighters are SR2, even the early war fighters. If they get damaged in air combat, they don't fly the next day and often the day after that. If you can follow up sweeps with airfield attacks, you can ground large portions of his airforce and gain a numbers advantage. Do not tangle with AVG with anything but Oscar Ics and A6M2s filled with pilots above 70 exp. Try to plan your engagements with AVG so as to be able to follow up every fight with a raid on AVGs airfield.

[Xargun]

ORIGINAL: Aurorus

If he didn't try to intercept you at Palembang, he may not try at Java either, since Java is secondary in importance to Palembang. What is going on up in the Kuriles? He is facing a serious offensive by the allies in the Kuriles in mid 42 in one of his games as Japan. He may try the same against you. That is a good place to lay a trap for the allies. One thing that I like to do in the Kuriles is transfer Toyahara to General Defense. Then you can air transport restricted units (using those terrible Theresas if you want to make 2 hops) units from the mainland to Toyahara. Most of those independent infantry groups that you have on the Home Islands are fully air mobile. They have no devices above 10 load points. You may want to move surface assets to that region eventually as well. Building up the Kuriles in winter, though, is very supply inefficient. You may want to wait until March to really begin building forts and airfields there. You may also want to consider bringing down a few good regiments, with high exp and strong TOEs, or a division from Kwangtung to Hokkaido or to reinforce the islands. Etorofu is a good place to build up and reinforce.

I like to build up Etorofu as a hub to manage subs and other assets in the Kuriles. I am in the process of looking into the Kuriles for defense and raid warning now. Just shifted several Mavis squadrons to cover the approaches to Japan and setup some Netties for a welcoming committee.

I am thinking of putting some useless xAKLs about 15 hexes east of Japan to act as a picket line and have them patrol. Not sure what else to do with the lil xAKLs that only carry 100tons.

ORIGINAL: Aurorus
Also, the air war does not seem to be going particularly well for you. Mr. Kane is very good at the air war, and you will have to be competitive againt him if you are going to win. For a long time many players just went to higher and higher altitudes in the air war in an effort to gain an advantage. This was not a good idea for Japan. You want to keep the air war in the manuever bands that are best for your planes. Use a lot of fighter sweeps in any offensive actions. The only good air superiority fighters that you have right now are A6M2s and Oscar Ics, so sweep with those. Most players, in my opinion, also neglect to bomb airfields sufficiently. Most allied fighters are SR2, even the early war fighters. If they get damaged in air combat, they don't fly the next day and often the day after that. If you can follow up sweeps with airfield attacks, you can ground large portions of his airforce and gain a numbers advantage. Do not tangle with AVG with anything but Oscar Ics and A6M2s filled with pilots above 70 exp. Try to plan your engagements with AVG so as to be able to follow up every fight with a raid on AVGs airfield.

No the air war is not going well. He has been using the AVG in china, catching my bombers with Nate escorts and mauling them. Even against Zeros, he seems to do better than me with the P-40s. I have been trying to sweep, but never seem to be able to catch his fighters in the air. Once I get close to Singapore I plan on sweeping the hell out of it and then bombing the airfield flat with everything I have in the area. But need close airfields for the fighters or fatigue will kill me and I won't be able to keep it up for more than a turn or two.

[Aurorus]

If he is bombing at night with B-17s from Singapore, they are on the ground in the daylight.

[Lowpe]

Use your float planes to fly night cap.

Petes are great but others work well. Don't worry about numbers, set them to 10K alt and 10% CAP. They will spoil the aim without going down too much in flames.

Plus get dedicated AA greater than 25mm there asap. You cannot allow him to bomb your industry.

Naval bombard his bases or bomb them where the bombers are flying from. They have a high SR and are vulnerable.

During the daytime Zeroes are best since they have cannons, but get coverage there.

He is telling you how the game will proceed so plan accordingly. How is your NF research?

PS: bombarding Singers can be nasty, lots of mines potentially, and CD guns. Be careful there.

[Xargun]

More turns were processed yesterday but not a lot of action.

Malaya

Troops are still marching south capturing Temuloh and Port Dickson. I figure 7 days until I'm on Singapore's doorstep.


China

Still clearing out Chinese units hiding in the jungles behind my rail lines. Slowly capturing bases and destroying units, but its taking time. Captured Wuchow and Tsiato. I am cautiously using airstrikes here as Mr Kane has caught me several times with under-escorted strikes with the AVG and ravaged them. The Nates I have in China just cannot stand up to the enemy fighters - even my few Tojo's can't seem to get an edge on them. So I am playing it safe with my bombers here until I have more Oscars to go around -- and China is delegated as a second-rate theater until I get my main objectives captures -- oil from the DEI.


Borneo

Not much new here other than I am starting convoys hauling oil and fuel from Miri to Cam Rahn Bay. I am also persuing troops near Singkawang and moving into Pontianak via land routes. Engineers at Singkawang as still expanding the airfield there (upgrading to size 4 and then will build lvl 2 forts before moving on).


Luzon

Manila FALLS !!!!! [:D] 17k Allied troops captured. The base is in great shape and I am already moving aviation support there. Manila will be my main airfield to support the assault on Clark and Bataan. The units at Manila took a couple days off to recover and are being moved into Clark as they regain full strength.

Soon the artillery and aerial attacks will begin on Clark.


Mindanao

I have begun the invasion on Mindanao and have captured Davao as well as Digos and Dadjanges. Not much opposition is expected here.


New Guinea

Troops from Babeldaob have begun to move south taking Manokawari and Sorong. I am planning on building Sorong up to level 2 airfield to base fighters at to support the move further south.


Port Moresby & Darwin

What is your opinions on these two ports ? They are not very useful to Japan, but to deny the Allies them is useful. I usually take Darwin and the nearby bases forcing the Allies to commit land and air forces to push me out. In the past a pair of divisions, some aviation support and a couple tank units have wrecked havoc up north and are not too large a force to be able to withdraw fairly quickly.

I have never taken Port Moresby and its not very useful to Japan. But it does seem useful for the Allies. Should I take it just to deny it to them? Or how do you guys use it offensively? Should I allow him to keep it and use bombers nearby to kill naval assets as he tries to support it?


Other Ramblings

Now that Palembang is captured, I plan on moving the mini KB back into the DEI to suport the move against Tarakan and Balikpapin.

I guess I never noticed in the last game I played (2 yrs ago) but the Weather has been a killer for me. Probably 25-30% of all my planned air missions have been cancelled due to weather. I don't remember it being that bad before. Have they tweaked the weather equations?

I am toying with the idea or taking Lord Howe island and using it to base Netties to hit industry in Oz. Just not sure I'll be able to take it and hold it long enough to build up the airfields needed. What do you guys think ? It is a bit far south.

After sinking CL Durban near Soerbaja another IJN sub caught CM Rigel fleeing south from there and reportedly sunk her. About time my subs get on the scoreboard.

I an increasing my HI stockpile by roughly 1500 a turn at them moment and wonder if that it good or not. I think its not bad considering the amount of construction I have going on - building lots of engines and aircraft. I have not captured much in the way of HI in china yet either. I believe the goal is around 3k HI stockpiled a turn right ? Roughly 100k a month? At what time frame should I be doing this ? Mid 42? Late 42?

[Xargun]

ORIGINAL: Aurorus

If he is bombing at night with B-17s from Singapore, they are on the ground in the daylight.

Correct - and the last couple times I have tried to bomb Singapore AFs nothing flies due to weather [:@]