Up and at 'em. Mundy vs hjones6464@yahoo.co.uk

[Aurorus]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

I think Pax is right, the troops are nice but it is supply that kills Luzon. I don't think that the Allies can fight and save Luzon. Plus with the planes and troops added, the supply is super low, imho.

Another interesting option would have been to invade Sendai or Iwaki on the Japanese coast line. I would go for Senadai as there are more things there to destroy.

However, it is very interesting and I will happily be proved wrong.[:)]

In their pre-war planning, the Japanese high command was worried about this very thing: the U.S. resupplying the Phillipines. I think that it is a legitimate concern for the Japanese. To not take Luzon when the allies are out of supply (in March or April) should pose a risk to Japan. If the allies are determined to write off Luzon, then you are correct; there is no risk. Mundy has created risk, and Japan is now forced to contend with Luzon, rather than allow the allied army to die of rot there. This is good allied play in 1942.

[Mundy]

For the record, Batavia did fall about 3 days ago. Everything in the DEI is pretty much wrapped up at this point.

Looking at a new game to see what's what, it would be very hard for the Allies to typically get more troops to Luzon. If anything, I'd love to be able to get the Marines out of there. I suppose it's possible to send UK forces destined to Singapore there via Soerabaja, but I don't know what that would add. Maybe just a big supply convoy could help things. With PP supply as it is at the start, I don't think enough US land units could be freed up right away.

The lack of IJN search assets does leave a hole screaming to be exploited.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Mundy


The lack of IJN search assets does leave a hole screaming to be exploited.

Not really, it is simply sloppy play on Japan's part. One dimensional thinking....spotting merchant ships int time is very easy.

[Aurorus]

Remember that once those Nells and Betty pilots are trained in naval search, his search capabilities will improve dramatically. Also some Emilies will start to arrive soon. Nevertheless, you have purchased 5 months of time in which to find opportunities to keep Luzon going. At the very least, you have given him something other than Australia to think about.

821Bobo in my game has done a nice job using little 1 VP AKLs to shuttle supplies into bases with Japanese forces nearby. He has lost a good number of them, but at little real cost to his war effort, and he has managed to get some supply in.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Aurorus

That is a good plan in my opinion. Go for the Gilberts and try to threaten the entire route from Manchuria to Austria from east and west. Make him patrol that route constantly with his CVs (just be careful to avoid them with your CVs) and try to hit and run supply and reinforement convoys.

With some naval search at Clark, your deployment of naval air on Luzon will force him to cover any reinforcements coming to Luzon with fighters. He will be very strung out in the air and on the ground. Looks good.

I think Hitler should be expected to cover half the route from Manchuria to Austria. So Japan only need to patrol as far as ~ Iran. [;)]

[Aurorus]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

ORIGINAL: Aurorus

That is a good plan in my opinion. Go for the Gilberts and try to threaten the entire route from Manchuria to Austria from east and west. Make him patrol that route constantly with his CVs (just be careful to avoid them with your CVs) and try to hit and run supply and reinforement convoys.

With some naval search at Clark, your deployment of naval air on Luzon will force him to cover any reinforcements coming to Luzon with fighters. He will be very strung out in the air and on the ground. Looks good.

I think Hitler should be expected to cover half the route from Manchuria to Austria. So Japan only need to patrol as far as ~ Iran. [;)]

[:)]

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

However, it is very interesting and I will happily be proved wrong.[:)]

+1

[Mundy]

02 March 1942

Being March, the dash-4 Wildcat is in production and can help shore up numbers.

On one of my carriers in the PI, I'm carrying an extra VMF on board. I'm debating whether to send them to Bataan or not. The extra CAP over the fleet is nice. All the ships are unloaded and about 1/3 of the planes are now flying. I'm sending my O-47s north to recon his bases to see what planes are flying there. About 5,000 in supply to unload and I'm gone. I'll have about 100k at Bataan. My troops in Manila are trapped there. Probably because he has Clark now. My carriers and land based air will probably start pounding troops there once my guys march in from Bataan. I have a few fighting units still there, which will participate. I'm counting on my tank battalion to be the pointy edge. I've stopped the bombardments at Manila, as they've been turning the wrong way as of late.

5 S-boats arrived in San Diego. Usually I'd send them to Australia, but that's looking shaky now. I'll probably send an AS to Suva and get a sub base going there.

Sydney is sputtering down.

Ground combat at Sydney (90,167)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 33496 troops, 384 guns, 363 vehicles, Assault Value = 1470

Defending force 18264 troops, 217 guns, 261 vehicles, Assault Value = 176

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 419

Allied adjusted defense: 857

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 0)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1338 casualties reported
Squads: 46 destroyed, 23 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 20 disabled
Vehicles lost 25 (2 destroyed, 23 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1168 casualties reported
Squads: 18 destroyed, 75 disabled
Non Combat: 14 destroyed, 49 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 18 disabled
Guns lost 26 (5 destroyed, 21 disabled)
Vehicles lost 23 (2 destroyed, 21 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
Kure 1st SNLF
2nd Tank Regiment
38th Division
9th Tank Regiment
19th Ind. Engineer Regiment
1st Ind. Engineer Regiment
III./4th Infantry Battalion
I./124th Infantry Battalion
20th Ind. Engineer Regiment
20th Engineer Regiment
144th Infantry Regiment
61st Naval Guard Unit
2nd Engineer Regiment
146th Infantry Regiment
4th Division
16th Infantry Regiment
II/81st Naval Guard Unit
4th RF Gun Battalion
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion
2nd Field Artillery Regiment
6th RF Gun Battalion
16th Army
17th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
19th Infantry Regiment
2/5th Ind Coy
298th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
25th MG Battalion
Banks Fortress
2nd Medium Regiment
North Fortress
21/22 Field Regiment
Carnavon RAN Base Force
RAAF OTU Sydney
1st Australian Army
RAAF Command
Australia Command
2nd Australian Hvy AA Regiment
1st RAAF M/W Sqn
Rarotonga Det.


---------------------------------------------


Ground combat at Sydney (90,167)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 2052 troops, 77 guns, 80 vehicles, Assault Value = 107

Defending force 51516 troops, 524 guns, 440 vehicles, Assault Value = 1390

Japanese ground losses:
8 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
298th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
19th Infantry Regiment
25th MG Battalion
North Fortress
1st RAAF M/W Sqn
1st Australian Army
Australia Command
21/22 Field Regiment
Carnavon RAN Base Force
RAAF Command
2nd Medium Regiment
2nd Australian Hvy AA Regiment
Banks Fortress
RAAF OTU Sydney
Rarotonga Det.

Defending units:
144th Infantry Regiment
4th Division
20th Engineer Regiment
1st Ind. Engineer Regiment
146th Infantry Regiment
2nd Engineer Regiment
61st Naval Guard Unit
38th Division
16th Infantry Regiment
I./124th Infantry Battalion
III./4th Infantry Battalion
2nd Tank Regiment
20th Ind. Engineer Regiment
19th Ind. Engineer Regiment
9th Tank Regiment
II/81st Naval Guard Unit
6th RF Gun Battalion
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion
16th Army
17th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Field Artillery Regiment
4th RF Gun Battalion
Kure 1st SNLF

Intel Monkey sez one of his HQs is prepping for Moulmein. That won't be easy at this point, even if I send an expedition out. I'm sending planes in yet from Calcutta, beefing up the fighter strength with Hurricanes and one of Fulmars on the way. The Tigers are pretty much spent at this point.

In China, I have a base in the north (Taiyuan, I think) with lots of troops. He's trying to surround them with singleton units, so I'm sending about 1,000 AV to each of 3 hexes to drive them off. He's been chasing some troops left in open ground, but overall the situation is pretty static. That base is pretty much my furthest reach to the NE.

I'm holding Ichang with lots of troops, but they're staying put as he has a big stack east of there.

[CaptBeefheart]

Success. What kind of forces does he have at Clark?

Cheers,
CC

[Mundy]

Not sure yet. Tooltip just says 8 units, but I'm guessing they're weak.

I've got a group of AOs out to a spot between Midway and Wake to meet them coming back. Once my transports are clear of the PI, I'll swing my carriers north to hit any shipping near the Home Islands.

I think once my bombers there go to work, it'll be a nasty surprise.

If I can free up Clark and free the units at Manila, I'm tempted to just sweep north and clear everything before giving Manila a second try. My Marine dive bombers can pretty much wreck any attempt by him to resupply. My VPs can cover probably everything north of Bataan to either side. The O-47s can pitch in too. Maybe it's me, but I do like that plane.

As my carriers depart the area for home, I'm very tempted to send the VMF and the Vindicators on board to Bataan also. I left that carrier's regular VS squadron at Pearl.

At this point, I'm eager to get the transports back to start my Gilberts operation.

[Mundy]

03 March 1942

Landings
Muntok (The big island just E of Palembang.

I'm guessing a day or two or most at Sydney now. My bombers will hit his troops there next turn.

Ground combat at Sydney (90,167)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 48406 troops, 517 guns, 362 vehicles, Assault Value = 1456

Defending force 17504 troops, 216 guns, 260 vehicles, Assault Value = 118

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 1061

Allied adjusted defense: 589

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), preparation(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1148 casualties reported
Squads: 26 destroyed, 40 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 31 disabled
Guns lost 9 (4 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Vehicles lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1331 casualties reported
Squads: 23 destroyed, 31 disabled
Non Combat: 51 destroyed, 35 disabled
Engineers: 17 destroyed, 19 disabled
Guns lost 35 (5 destroyed, 30 disabled)
Vehicles lost 40 (30 destroyed, 10 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
Kure 1st SNLF
4th Division
19th Ind. Engineer Regiment
2nd Engineer Regiment
1st Ind. Engineer Regiment
I./124th Infantry Battalion
61st Naval Guard Unit
2nd Tank Regiment
III./4th Infantry Battalion
144th Infantry Regiment
38th Division
20th Ind. Engineer Regiment
146th Infantry Regiment
9th Tank Regiment
20th Engineer Regiment
16th Infantry Regiment
II/81st Naval Guard Unit
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion
16th Army
4th RF Gun Battalion
2nd Field Artillery Regiment
6th RF Gun Battalion
17th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
25th MG Battalion
298th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
19th Infantry Regiment
North Fortress
Banks Fortress
1st RAAF M/W Sqn
Australia Command
RAAF OTU Sydney
1st Australian Army
2nd Medium Regiment
21/22 Field Regiment
RAAF Command
2nd Australian Hvy AA Regiment
Carnavon RAN Base Force
Rarotonga Det.


---------------------------------------------


Ground combat at Sydney (90,167)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1993 troops, 77 guns, 79 vehicles, Assault Value = 54

Defending force 51161 troops, 520 guns, 440 vehicles, Assault Value = 1373

Assaulting units:
19th Infantry Regiment
298th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
1st RAAF M/W Sqn
Banks Fortress
RAAF OTU Sydney
North Fortress
21/22 Field Regiment
Australia Command
RAAF Command
2nd Medium Regiment
Carnavon RAN Base Force
1st Australian Army
2nd Australian Hvy AA Regiment
Rarotonga Det.

Defending units:
4th Division
1st Ind. Engineer Regiment
9th Tank Regiment
20th Ind. Engineer Regiment
2nd Engineer Regiment
144th Infantry Regiment
19th Ind. Engineer Regiment
2nd Tank Regiment
III./4th Infantry Battalion
16th Infantry Regiment
146th Infantry Regiment
I./124th Infantry Battalion
61st Naval Guard Unit
38th Division
20th Engineer Regiment
II/81st Naval Guard Unit
16th Army
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion
2nd Field Artillery Regiment
17th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
6th RF Gun Battalion
4th RF Gun Battalion
Kure 1st SNLF

At Bataan, everyone's unloaded and departing. My carriers will detour halfway to Formosa and then to east, off Japan's southern coast. Bombers there are hitting San Fernando next turn. My fighters intercepted his Manila raid.

Morning Air attack on 2nd PA Constabulary Division, at 79,77 (Manila)

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-Ic Sally x 20
Ki-30 Ann x 25

Allied aircraft
P-40B Warhawk x 4
F2A-3 Buffalo x 2
F4F-3 Wildcat x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-Ic Sally: 4 destroyed, 3 damaged
Ki-30 Ann: 8 destroyed, 1 damaged

No Allied losses

Allied ground losses:
49 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x Ki-21-Ic Sally bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
14 x Ki-30 Ann bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
VMF-121 with F4F-3 Wildcat (7 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(7 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead
VMF-221 with F2A-3 Buffalo (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead
18th PG/6th PS with P-40B Warhawk (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 15000.
Raid is overhead

After making their turn east, my two USMC squadrons will probably ferry over to Bataan. I don't like lightening my carrier air, but I don't think he can do much about them.

[Mundy]

04 March 1942

Hornet arrives in 7 days. Formidable in 11.

I guess the up is jigged with my transports. Betties found them and took a shot. Fortunately, no torpedoes. My carriers are racing back to escort.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Burias at 80,81

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 25 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
DD Downes
AO Neosho
AK Castor, Bomb hits 2, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 5000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

He stood down at Sydney this turn, so just my bombardments this turn.

At Rangoon/Pegu, I've been dealing with aggressive sweeps by him with me taking the worst of it. Some rays of light, however as some unescorted bombers make a try.

Morning Air attack on NS KNIL Territory Regiment, at 55,53 (Pegu)

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 38 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-30 Ann x 20

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 4
Hurricane IIb Trop x 4
P-40E Warhawk x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-30 Ann: 11 destroyed

No Allied losses

CAP engaged:
50th PG/11th PS with P-40E Warhawk (10 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(10 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
10 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 15000.
Raid is overhead
No.243 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIb Trop (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 25000.
Raid is overhead
No.488 Sqn RAF with Buffalo I (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 20000.
Raid is overhead

In China, near Nanyang, he's had a bunch of single units moving around my base there. I've sent out about three groups of 700 AV each to intercept and purge these. The first will attack next turn.

If you want to see any perks for taking Haiphong, see below.

[Aurorus]

Could you upload a screenshot of the current game score? I am interested to see the army and air loss VPs; also base control.

[Mundy]

I've been meaning to but forgetting. I'll get it out.

[Mundy]

05 March 1942

Japanese VPs: 21,615
Allied VPs: 9039

Losses
Broken Hill
Hengyang
Sydney

Hengyang caught me by surprise. Didn't notice them come in. I'll be overloading them with troops to drive them out. That's a but too far north for him to be there and I want to keep these cities.

Out near Nanyang, my troops attack his and win.

Ground combat at 86,46 (near Nanyang)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 20399 troops, 125 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 907

Defending force 1151 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 53

Allied adjusted assault: 364

Japanese adjusted defense: 4

Allied assault odds: 91 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: supply(-)

Japanese ground losses:
876 casualties reported
Squads: 18 destroyed, 32 disabled
Non Combat: 23 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 13 (6 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Units retreated 1

Allied ground losses:
37 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
16th Chinese Corps
1st Chinese Corps
30th Chinese Corps

Defending units:
12th RGC Temp. Division

A typical day at Rangoon. I've since moved some Hurricanes and P-40s in, though it's a meatgrinder.

Morning Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 46 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 15

Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 4
Buffalo I x 7
Hurricane IIb Trop x 5
P-40E Warhawk x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
H81-A3: 1 destroyed
Buffalo I: 2 destroyed
Hurricane IIb Trop: 1 destroyed

CAP engaged:
No.243 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIb Trop (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 25000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 2 minutes
No.488 Sqn RAF with Buffalo I (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(7 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 20000.
Raid is overhead
50th PG/11th PS with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(11 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 7 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 35 minutes
AVG/1st Sqn with H81-A3 (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 4 minutes
AVG/3rd Sqn with H81-A3 (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 9000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 12 minutes



---------------------------------------------

Afternoon Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 27
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 17

Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 1
Buffalo I x 3
Hurricane IIb Trop x 2
P-40E Warhawk x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 13 damaged
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 2 destroyed by flak
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
H81-A3: 1 damaged
Buffalo I: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Allied ground losses:
6 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 17

Aircraft Attacking:
26 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 15000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
No.243 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIb Trop (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 25000.
Raid is overhead
No.488 Sqn RAF with Buffalo I (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 20000.
Raid is overhead
50th PG/11th PS with P-40E Warhawk (9 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(9 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
9 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 15000.
Raid is overhead
AVG/1st Sqn with H81-A3 (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 20000.
Raid is overhead

Next turn, two squadrons of Fulmars should arrive, though I don't expect much from them.

Sydney finally falls, with the door to Melbourne now wide open. Hopefully reinforcements come in before he does.

My ships are clearing the Philippines, with no attacks next turn. My carriers caught up to them. I've offloaded the Marine Vindicators and F4Fs to Bataan on the way out. I can make his resupply to Luzon very difficult right now. No strikes from my planes, though my scouts have claimed hits.

[Aurorus]

This is what I suspected. He has an enormous VP advantage for this point in the game, and auto-victory is a very real possibility. That is another reason that I advocate a more aggressive approach. Many people do not play for VPs, and therefore they play passively as the allies, assured of their ulimate "victory." I play for VPs. I play to "win" as Japan. That does not mean "winning" the war. I know that I am going to lose the war eventually. It means winning by VPs. That is the reason for the VP system: to give the Japanese player an objective beyond just giving the allies "a good game."

You are forced to be aggressive at this point as the allies if VPs are taken into consideration, and try to keep all further Japanese VP gains at a ratio of less than 2:1 or so. Hence, the Gilberts' campaign is a good idea in my opinion. The lack of strategic bombing in Australia works to your advantage, because none of his gains there are "permanent." It is also why strat bombing a little in Formosa is not a bad idea at this point. He is playing for VPs, and losing industry on Formosa will force him to redeploy there, taking pressure off Australia.

[Aurorus]

One other thing. He has run his ground forces ragged, and put too much emphasis on the first 3 months of the war. I can tell this by his army losses and looking at his numbers of destroyed and disabled squads in the AARs that you have provided. He is running out of gas and will not be able to stay on the offensive relentlessly for much longer, because he has too many disabled squads in his primary units. Do not give him free time to regroup and reorganize. Be aggressive without being careless.

[Macclan5]

Transports rerouted to Melbourne ? Or Adelaide ?

I assume the KB is now parked in Sydney Harbor.

Congrats on the move back to the Philippines. That should a wrinkle in the plan for certain.

[Bif1961]

Your ship losses seems a little high, what can you attribute that too compared to his almost total lack of loses?

[Mundy]

Warship losses aren't too out of whack. Maryland, Prince of Wales, Repulse, two carriers, 16 CA/CLs plus a mob of destroyers. KB has been really hard on my transports, sinking many around Australia.

06 March 1942

My PI transports are clearing the country, about 5 hexes W of the east most tip of Luzon. Unless KB is flying north at flank speed, everyone should get back. Maybe I can kill several thousand troops near Iwo like I did on the way in. That was pretty big.

I don't see any obvious moves south from Sydney yet. Maybe I have time. I'm bombing Wagga Wagga next turn.

In China, I'm having success cleaning out his units trying to surround my bases.

Ground combat at 86,45 (near Nanyang)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 24228 troops, 119 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 988

Defending force 1156 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 53

Allied adjusted assault: 533

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 533 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: leaders(+), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
706 casualties reported
Squads: 57 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 60 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 16 (16 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Allied ground losses:
242 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 23 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Assaulting units:
90th Chinese Corps
77th Chinese Corps
92nd Chinese Corps

Defending units:
14th RGC Temp. Division

More experience for me, I guess.

4 R class battleships departed Colombo to visit Tavoy. I'm routing them so they approach from the north near Rangoon, to avoid any unnecessary air threats.