Climb Mt. Niitaka - Xargun vs Mr Kane

[Xargun]

ORIGINAL: Aurorus

You are going to need more forces in Burma, I suspect. I am not sure exactly what you have there at the moment, but 6 good divisions, reinforced with the two tank divisions, and a substantial amount artillery is the very least that will be necessary once he begins the inevitable push south: probably in early 1943. Depending upon what he commits there from the U.S. and Australian force pool, you may need more. You can always reinforce the position or withdraw units later (in the unlikely event that he opts not to attack Burma).

I currently have 3.5+ infantry divisions there along with a Tank Division and Brigade. I plan on 1-2 more infantry divisions arriving within the next month. I have a ton of AA units and base forces and we are digging in and expanding airfields. Aiming for level 4 forts in all non-clear terrain and at least level 2 in the clear terrains. I need some sort of speed bump in the open terrain in Burma but don't want to waste to many resources on land I can't hold.

[Aurorus]

ORIGINAL: Xargun

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: Xargun
It was a pitiful strike. The escort wasn't bad but only 15 Vals? That's not even one full CV worth. I was worried and to be honest about to get mad.

I think I sprang 3 picture perfect KB raids on Jocke in this general area...and not a single plane flew due to horrible weather...I was about to dock the KB for good.[:D]

Congratulations on a sting.

Be careful leaving your land based search arcs....very careful.

I tried that at Calcutta again. Showed up 5 hexes away undetected and since recon showed 100+ fighters I ordered everyone to fly at night with 100% moonlight... nothing flew - storms. I had the perfect timing and moonlight and nothing went. Only thing to show up was a flight of Betties from Rangoon and they missed everything.

Understood about the search area - but I was still west of the Marshalls but east of Ponape and he has no search places flying there.

Attack vectors. I think many players have a tendency to respond to their opponents moves as quickly as possible, which often results in a straight ahead attack vector: coming directly into the line of the enemy. Flanking manuevers and rear attacks work at sea as well as on land, just how they work is slightly different. Players tend to screen in front of their CVs and focus their search arcs, especially the AM phase arcs to their forward. By coming in from an unexpected attack vector, you often gain the advantage in naval engagements. Your attack here was a textbook illustration of an unexpected attack vector.

[PaxMondo]

Burma, Solomon's ... et al
Think about why you are in that place, what are your goals, and then decide what to commit.

How many units do you need in Burma? Can't answer that without knowing what is your goal in Burma? I would also suggest that you put on the other hat and ascertain what the allied goals are as well. Make sure your goals/actions are not enabling the allies.

[Xargun]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

Burma, Solomon's ... et al
Think about why you are in that place, what are your goals, and then decide what to commit.

How many units do you need in Burma? Can't answer that without knowing what is your goal in Burma? I would also suggest that you put on the other hat and ascertain what the allied goals are as well. Make sure your goals/actions are not enabling the allies.

My plans in Burma is to keep him away from Bangkok and points both east and south for as long as possible and to bleed him if possible.
My plans in the Solomons are basically the same - kill assets and hold as long as reasonable - Solomons are not as important as Burma.

Allied Plans:

Not sure what his plans are, but it does not seem to be centered around starving the Empire of Oil or in most cases Resources - with his P-38s and B-17s in India, he could easily pound Magwe into dust if he devoted himself to it. His B-17 losses have been very minimal and I'm sure he has a nice stockpile. I think he is doing a holding action in Burma until he has enough forces to push to the Sea. So maybe another year before the Burma campaign heats up? Or maybe he is waiting for the Monsoons to end before attacking since he will be attacking without roads / trails most of the way to start.

In the Solomons I think he is there to grind down my Naval Assets as well as Air and Troops if possible. Otherwise I cannot think of a good reason to be in the Solomons as the allies.

[Aurorus]

Why would the allies be in the Solomons? To get Rabaul and Truk as a springboard to the Marianas and Philippines. Many good reasons to be in the Solomons.

[Aurorus]

How is CentPac looking? Roi Namur, Kwajalein, Mili, Kusaie, and so forth, and what is your plan there? I suspect that he will try the perimeter there very soon. He is vulnerable in the Solomons so long as you can move through friendly controlled air-space and waters in CentPac.

Are you holding the atolls in force at max stack-limit with high fortifications or do you have forces at the larger 2nd line bases prepped for the atolls to launch a counter-offensive? Or some combination of both? How are your mine stockpiles and are the atolls with coastal gun batteries well-mined? If not, now would be the time to start laying down some good-sized minefields at the bases that have coastal guns.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Aurorus

Why would the allies be in the Solomons? To get Rabaul and Truk as a springboard to the Marianas and Philippines. Many good reasons to be in the Solomons.

Or bleed you ... he can afford supply, you cannot.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Xargun

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

Burma, Solomon's ... et al
Think about why you are in that place, what are your goals, and then decide what to commit.

How many units do you need in Burma? Can't answer that without knowing what is your goal in Burma? I would also suggest that you put on the other hat and ascertain what the allied goals are as well. Make sure your goals/actions are not enabling the allies.

My plans in Burma is to keep him away from Bangkok and points both east and south for as long as possible and to bleed him if possible.
My plans in the Solomons are basically the same - kill assets and hold as long as reasonable - Solomons are not as important as Burma.

Allied Plans:

Not sure what his plans are, but it does not seem to be centered around starving the Empire of Oil or in most cases Resources - with his P-38s and B-17s in India, he could easily pound Magwe into dust if he devoted himself to it. His B-17 losses have been very minimal and I'm sure he has a nice stockpile. I think he is doing a holding action in Burma until he has enough forces to push to the Sea. So maybe another year before the Burma campaign heats up? Or maybe he is waiting for the Monsoons to end before attacking since he will be attacking without roads / trails most of the way to start.

Again, allies have supply to bleed, you don't. Tough strategy to implement as IJ.

Holding him North of Bangkok and west of Viet Nam, ok that is doable. Get your first MLR established in the 3x terrain east of Pegu. Weak ID's, Bde's will work. Don't lose any units north of Rangoon. Don't vacate until you have to, but err on the side of caution. Losing 2 - 3 ID's in Burma could cost you a lot more in a hurry.

I like to cycle units through Burma for Exp gain. Get them into the 70's and then move them out. Ditto pilots ...

If you establish your next MLR as soon as you occupy the current one ~2 hexes behind you, you can hold in asia for a long time. Even a single ID in 3x terrain is hard to force out through '43. In '44 though, the allied firepower becomes so great ...

[Xargun]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

ORIGINAL: Aurorus

Why would the allies be in the Solomons? To get Rabaul and Truk as a springboard to the Marianas and Philippines. Many good reasons to be in the Solomons.

Or bleed you ... he can afford supply, you cannot.

I think he is trying to bleed me in Burma and Solomons. There is no need to take the Solomons, or Rabaul or even Truk.. Do allied players ever take Truk? Seems more like an island prison than a legitimate target. Same with Rabaul. I've seen too many allied players take the Marshalls and skip the SW pacific completely except maybe in mid-late 44 as a clean up campaign or just for VPs.


At port Morbesby I have identified both Australian and US forces there including the Americal Division.

In Burma, should I use my tanks as front line in rough terrain or more like a quick response team? At least until he takes the clear terrain.


I will post more updates this evening.

[Aurorus]

ORIGINAL: Xargun

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

ORIGINAL: Aurorus

Why would the allies be in the Solomons? To get Rabaul and Truk as a springboard to the Marianas and Philippines. Many good reasons to be in the Solomons.

Or bleed you ... he can afford supply, you cannot.

I think he is trying to bleed me in Burma and Solomons. There is no need to take the Solomons, or Rabaul or even Truk.. Do allied players ever take Truk? Seems more like an island prison than a legitimate target. Same with Rabaul. I've seen too many allied players take the Marshalls and skip the SW pacific completely except maybe in mid-late 44 as a clean up campaign or just for VPs.


At port Morbesby I have identified both Australian and US forces there including the Americal Division.

In Burma, should I use my tanks as front line in rough terrain or more like a quick response team? At least until he takes the clear terrain.


I will post more updates this evening.

In 1942, the allies do not have sufficient naval forces to move directly from CentPac to the Marianas. SoPac is the only place where they can go on the offensive, so why not try to drive on Rabaul and Truk in late 1942?

Allied players are able to skip SoPac because in many games they still have all their fleet carriers in 1943. That is why it is important to try to get those CVs in 1942. Without a full complement of CVs, skipping SoPac and moving directly through CentPac is not a good option for the allies.

Also, he has 24 units at Moresby. That is a major commitment. He has to keep them in supply. If you can move your CVs freely through the Solomons, you can ambush his supply convoys at any time with TFs lurking through the Solomons. Once he committed himself to the Solomons, he must now commit to CentPac. Once he committed so many units to Moresby, he committed himself to a Pacific campaign: both SoPac and Centpac. It is a domino effect.

[Xargun]

More allied involvement in the SW Pacific. I have seen repeated CV attacks against shipping in the Solomon Sea from all of the US CVs and CVLs. I counted over 200 fighters on escort so I figure an even amount held back for CAP so that should account for all 4 US CVs and 2 CVLs.

Updated pic of the area.


The allies are either investing heavily in the area or putting up a huge bluff.

Port Moresby: Recon shows 37 allied units present [X(]
Dobadura: I have the 23rd Inf Div dug in behind lvl 2 forts and facing off against 6 allied units
South-east of Dobadura is an Australian Brigade. Been there a week or so not moving.
Milne Bay: The allies have taken the SE corner of Borneo with unknown forces.

I am moving more aviation support and air units into the area but its slow going due to long distances from Japan.

[Xargun]

Here is a pic of the fight at Dobadura. Allies have been bombarding for a couple days after a failed attack. My issue here is lack of supplies. Need more if I want to hold the position.

[Aurorus]

This no feint. However, one thing to be cautious of. The allies have a short corridor from SoPAC into the DEI, via Horn Island and the passage between New Guinea and Australia, whereas you have a long passage around the northern and western coasts of New Guinea. They can displace units from SoPAC to the DEI more quickly than you can, without Horn Island.

A good strategy for the allies is to try to pin down several divisions in SoPAC, and then move on the DEI. Apbarog did this very effectively and forced a Japanese surrender in mid 1943. Keep an eye on Moresby. What is the port level there and how quickly can he withdraw units from Moresby toward the DEI? It is a great idea to destroy as many allied assets as possible in SoPac, but keep a close eye on his forces and watch for a quick move west.

He will move on CentPac and the atolls there soon. I am sure of it.

[Xargun]

ORIGINAL: Aurorus

This no feint. However, one thing to be cautious of. The allies have a short corridor from SoPAC into the DEI, via Horn Island and the passage between New Guinea and Australia, whereas you have a long passage around the northern and western coasts of New Guinea. They can displace units from SoPAC to the DEI more quickly than you can, without Horn Island.

A good strategy for the allies is to try to pin down several divisions in SoPAC, and then move on the DEI. Apbarog did this very effectively and forced a Japanese surrender in mid 1943. Keep an eye on Moresby. What is the port level there and how quickly can he withdraw units from Moresby toward the DEI? It is a great idea to destroy as many allied assets as possible in SoPac, but keep a close eye on his forces and watch for a quick move west.

He will move on CentPac and the atolls there soon. I am sure of it.

I checked the Marshalls and most atolls are full - 6k troops with good forts. Not enough to stop a determined landing of tanks and all the BBs bombarding, but decent. I am moving another naval guard sized unit to Mili as its under strength. Have very little naval presence here and only search assets (plus a few fighters). Have a lot of naval assets at Truk which could easily move over here if I detect anything.

I am moving some I-boats into the corridor between PM and DEI to keep an eye out for any movement.

[Aurorus]

ORIGINAL: Xargun

ORIGINAL: Aurorus

This no feint. However, one thing to be cautious of. The allies have a short corridor from SoPAC into the DEI, via Horn Island and the passage between New Guinea and Australia, whereas you have a long passage around the northern and western coasts of New Guinea. They can displace units from SoPAC to the DEI more quickly than you can, without Horn Island.

A good strategy for the allies is to try to pin down several divisions in SoPAC, and then move on the DEI. Apbarog did this very effectively and forced a Japanese surrender in mid 1943. Keep an eye on Moresby. What is the port level there and how quickly can he withdraw units from Moresby toward the DEI? It is a great idea to destroy as many allied assets as possible in SoPac, but keep a close eye on his forces and watch for a quick move west.

He will move on CentPac and the atolls there soon. I am sure of it.

I checked the Marshalls and most atolls are full - 6k troops with good forts. Not enough to stop a determined landing of tanks and all the BBs bombarding, but decent. I am moving another naval guard sized unit to Mili as its under strength. Have very little naval presence here and only search assets (plus a few fighters). Have a lot of naval assets at Truk which could easily move over here if I detect anything.

I am moving some I-boats into the corridor between PM and DEI to keep an eye out for any movement.

You cannot hold an atoll against a determined attack no matter what. Again the point is to force him to commit assets and then try to destroy as much as possible. A mobile reserve is a good idea at Truk or Ponape or Kusaie: a division or (better) 2 from Manchuria, which is broken down into regiments. In this way, you can counterattack against an important atoll, such as Roi Namur, if need be, without committing a full division, but you can also reform the units into a full division immediately, if you desire, to reinforce Rabaul, Truk, or the DEI.

[Xargun]

I have set a course of action they may prove wonderous or disasterous.. A bit of luck and the roll of the die will determine it. I have done what I can to maximize my odds and as they say now... "May the odds be ever in your favor"..

[witpqs]

[Xargun]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

Got the turn last night and had to run it before bed. Only part of the plan executed to predicated bad results. Will explain more after I get home from soccer tournament.

[Mike McCreery]

There is no way I would want to face MrKane as the allies.

I salute you!!

[Xargun]

ORIGINAL: Wargmr

There is no way I would want to face MrKane as the allies.

I salute you!!

Salute is probably not the correct word... Although maybe if you salute sacraficial animals Mr Kane is walking all over me and smacking me around at his leisure. He is by far a much better player than I. I can only claim that I haven't played in years as my crappy defense... and its not much of one.

But on the other hand, I am learning a lot and my next opponent better watch out !!!

I just hope I last until '44 in this game.