The Good The Bad & The Indifferent

[DRF99]

I've been following this AAR from the beginning. A great read!

Despite the losses at Sumatra, it took the initiative from John and he's been reacting to you ever since. As long as you don't let him take it back, it was well worth the losses. Now it's too late for him to take back the initiative.

[Jellicoe]

Out of interest and learning could you define for us what a 'well attended to' Luzon would have looked like thought the canoerebel lenses? Plugging defensive holes as Japan always seems like sticking fingers in the dyke, especially if the AFB takes a multi vector approach or rapidly switches theatre as you have done.

[Bif1961]

I hope your unanswered question can be answered as this contest continues. Logistics, without it no war could be fought or won, the old saying for the want of a nail. Germany was defeated in WWI because they had been blockaded and rationing at home was finally making life unbearable and intolerable. Japan didn't have the same constraints with it's population as Germany did in WWI, Japan was use to more suffering and therefore could bear up longer but you can't trade blood for oil. The KB has survived because he has played keep away with it and used it for other purposes, but did they help in the long run? If the war ended tomorrow could you say Japan was in a better position now than historically? PI liberated before the actual invasion began, coastal China in Allied hands. Regardless of what you decide it is a very good learning experience for us who are allowed to peak behind the curtain and see your planning, ideas and then the execution.

[MakeeLearn]

In a game this immensely complex, it's impossible for any reader to have a strong grasp of what constraints I'm operating under. Could a more aggressive player have done more? Probably. Could a more aggressive player made a mistake and set himself much further back than I am? Probably? Have I conceived, planned, and executed a plan that has put the Allies in a favorable position to win this game in a timely manner? You answer. Am I learning a lot and having a blast? You know I am.

It's interesting and entertaining to see people doing different strategies, instead of a recipe.

[Canoerebel]

ORIGINAL: Jellicoe

Out of interest and learning could you define for us what a 'well attended to' Luzon would have looked like thought the canoerebel lenses? Plugging defensive holes as Japan always seems like sticking fingers in the dyke, especially if the AFB takes a multi vector approach or rapidly switches theatre as you have done.

Luzon is critical terrain - lots of big airfields; Manila's big port and shipyard; situated so that it gives the Allies access to Formosa, China, the Ryukus and the Homes Islands while also potentially cutting the empire in two, denying Japan access to the DEI (that hasn't happened in this game, but that's what Luzon represents).

Since Luzon has lots of open ground, defending it can be difficult.

Japan needs multiple interlocking airfields, lots of forts, bases with sufficient garrisons to prevent them from being taken cheaply, probably a few citadels, and plenty of supply so that the Japanese can hold out as long as possible.

John hadn't built up airfields; he didn't have forts; most of the bases weren't even defended. Instead of attending to those bases, however, he sent two divisions and several mixed brigades to the Celebes to successfully counterattack the Allied invasion there. To me it showed his mania for attacking while exposing his failure to properly attend to his defenses.

[RangerJoe]

I just started reading this AAR, I am up to page 32. I am enjoying this and I am learning a lot.

[Canoerebel]

For those of you who wonder what a good defense of Luzon looks like, I suggest you drop by Obvert's AAR and ask him. I have no idea what he's done and I'm poorly acquainted with his notions of defense. But I suspect his view on things will be something like what I posted just above.

In his game with me, it's March 1944 and the Allies are something like 2,000 miles from Luzon. But he'll have attended to it's defenses.

In my game with John III it was March 1944 and the Allies had just spent six months in the DEI establishing a massive base of operations....and Luzon was wide open, unprepared, and largely undefended.

Madness.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel


In his game with me, it's March 1944 and the Allies are something like 2,000 miles from Luzon. But he'll have attended to it's defenses.
Madness.

Runway sizes from a quick mouse-over will tell you a lot.

Not mentioned earlier, is that Luzon has rails and inland runways important details in any Japanese defensive area.

[Canoerebel]

Good point, Jeff. You're exactly right and that was one of the big things I used to identify potential holes in John's defenses.

I haven't look at rear-area airfield/port size in my game with Obvert yet, but I will (thanks to your prodding). But I'll do so with this in mind: Erik seems like the kind who intentionally chooses bases to build large and leaves others unbuilt, both as bait and so that the Allies don't benefit quickly when taking them. I think that's how Nemo would've played it anyway.

[AcePylut]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

ORIGINAL: Jellicoe

Out of interest and learning could you define for us what a 'well attended to' Luzon would have looked like thought the canoerebel lenses? Plugging defensive holes as Japan always seems like sticking fingers in the dyke, especially if the AFB takes a multi vector approach or rapidly switches theatre as you have done.

Luzon is critical terrain - lots of big airfields; Manila's big port and shipyard; situated so that it gives the Allies access to Formosa, China, the Ryukus and the Homes Islands while also potentially cutting the empire in two, denying Japan access to the DEI (that hasn't happened in this game, but that's what Luzon represents).

Since Luzon has lots of open ground, defending it can be difficult.

Japan needs multiple interlocking airfields, lots of forts, bases with sufficient garrisons to prevent them from being taken cheaply, probably a few citadels, and plenty of supply so that the Japanese can hold out as long as possible.

John hadn't built up airfields; he didn't have forts; most of the bases weren't even defended. Instead of attending to those bases, however, he sent two divisions and several mixed brigades to the Celebes to successfully counterattack the Allied invasion there. To me it showed his mania for attacking while exposing his failure to properly attend to his defenses.

Here's the thing - imho - I don't think he would have built up the rear areas even if you hadn't invaded Sumatra.

[Canoerebel]

He probably wouldn't have. But his preoccupation with Sumatra made it easier to feed him false notions as to where I was going (I did lots of little things that put him on the scent of New Guinea/SoPac in a big way). And it made it easier to strike with overpowering surprise in the Aleutians and Marshalls. That, in turn, through him off balance and ultimately led to him making mistakes, like pushing KB forward to raid when he had no idea where my carriers were.

[palioboy2]

It seems like John would perform that sort of reckless carrier raid either way.

[Grfin Zeppelin]

Woah finally catched up. Thanks alot for writing all this up, I really appreciate the effort.

I have also done a deep evaluation of the situation. I have done alot of calculations, thinking and talking with other people about this game.

My conclusion is that there are cracks showing in Japan´s China.

[Canoerebel]

Maybe. But you get an opponent rattled or upset and they're much more likely to make a mistake. I think that was at the core of Nemo's gaming philosophy.

[AcePylut]

I think John's going to learn a heck of a lot from this game and be much more dangerous in his next one. Of course, maybe not, because in his next one, he's going to have all the !powah! for the first couple of years and it'll be back to BANZAI!

[JeffroK]

ORIGINAL: DRF99

I've been following this AAR from the beginning. A great read!

Despite the losses at Sumatra, it took the initiative from John and he's been reacting to you ever since. As long as you don't let him take it back, it was well worth the losses. Now it's too late for him to take back the initiative.

I dont think that CR took the initiative after Sumatra, more that JIII did not take the initiative after what was as a very expensive defeat for CR.
We know, and maybe JIII didnt, that the Allied pools were very low and that maybe this was his best chance to build on his win.

[MakeeLearn]

ORIGINAL: Gräfin Zeppelin

Woah finally catched up. Thanks alot for writing all this up, I really appreciate the effort.

I have also done a deep evaluation of the situation. I have done alot of calculations, thinking and talking with other people about this game.

My conclusion is that there are cracks showing in Japan´s China.

"Bull" Halsey's China Campaign...

[Grfin Zeppelin]

[JohnDillworth]

[/quote]

In my game with John III it was March 1944 and the Allies had just spent six months in the DEI establishing a massive base of operations....and Luzon was wide open, unprepared, and largely undefended.

Madness.

I think I am too used to the Allies. I assume you can move in a few of your easily available engineer units and build up forts and airfields to 8 in a couple of months at most. Still Japan had 6 months to firm up defense in the Philippines and Formosa. I suspect you got some good die rolls in Formosa but it was astonishing how fast it fell. The AI actually put up a better fight for Formosa in a recent game I played. It has been said countless times here. The Japanese player has to start planning his 1944 defenses in January 1942. The inner crust has to be as hard as possible.
I can't comment in depth as I read both sides but you and John both had great ideas during the game that you did not act on. I think you both will have much to contemplate once the game end you read the other AAR. I think your initial incursion into the DEI was well timed. you had a window when the IJN CV's were licking their wounds and your prep allowed you to take full advantage. John still has some cards to play, but this game is decided

[Canoerebel]

11/9/44

Miss Zeppelin is right about China. It's beginning to look like France in July 1944.


Fancy Pants: Things happening all over eastern China now. I think John is collapsing his MLR east. Things should begin deteriorating very fast now.