JFB in charge of the USN??? BtS Lite ver. 4.5 Kitakami (A) vs Falken (J)

[Kitakami]

The airframe loss situation definitely favours the Allies at this point. I need a few months before Allied airframe production increases to a level where I am comfortable, but not losing stuff is almost as good as getting new stuff. Losing that many naval bombers (and pilots) in one turn must hurt.

[Kitakami]

And here is the accumulated airframe loss table.

[Kitakami]

Finally, the VP situation. This one worries me not.

[Kitakami]

Once again, any and all comments are welcome. I will read them all, and am certain that will learn something from each and every one.

[ny59giants]

On the land side of things, 17th Indian Div is now formed up, and marching from Rangoon towards Pegu, to join the 1st Burma Div and the 46th Indian Bde. Additional forces will pour in as available and allowed by enemy air. 18th Brit Div will begin downloading in Sumatra this turn. Will have to move 1-2 fighter units to cover them with LRCAP, but at least they are there. If allowed to reach Palembang before the enemy attacks it, it will be an interesting situation. Medan's defenders are in place, and only two commando units are still on their way to Palembang, where forts are at 1.33.

Burma - It is a tough balancing act here to have enough to defend, but not too much. Gen Patton, Brian, had repeatedly placed significant forces in Irrawaddy River area around Magwe. We had multiple restarts, so our current game had me go around and invade at Diamond Harbour. All those force in Burma were destroyed. Not to say, "don't defend here." But in back of you mind, I would be thinking of how to counter possible invasion of India. You will have the two Aussie divisions with many Indian divisions that come in with poor experience (20s to 30s) and TO&E that needs time to fill out with '42 squads.

18th Brit Div - By landing in Sumatra you are saying that this division will die there. Yes, it will make the Empire expend significant effort to capture Palembang, but you don't get enough Brit infantry to rebuilt it. Unload supplies to keep Palembang well supplied and allow you to build forts.

O19 & O20 - These two Dutch subs are minelayers. I would place in same TF and lay mines just to NE of Palembang.

[Kitakami]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants
Burma - It is a tough balancing act here to have enough to defend, but not too much. Gen Patton, Brian, had repeatedly placed significant forces in Irrawaddy River area around Magwe. We had multiple restarts, so our current game had me go around and invade at Diamond Harbour. All those force in Burma were destroyed. Not to say, "don't defend here." But in back of you mind, I would be thinking of how to counter possible invasion of India. You will have the two Aussie divisions with many Indian divisions that come in with poor experience (20s to 30s) and TO&E that needs time to fill out with '42 squads.

I am going to ship two USA Inf Divs to India (at least). They will form the backbone of the defense there, should it be needed. One of them is conveniently broken down into regiments, so it will be the first one to go. The other one I may need to break down into combat commands to do the same.

18th Brit Div - By landing in Sumatra you are saying that this division will die there. Yes, it will make the Empire expend significant effort to capture Palembang, but you don't get enough Brit infantry to rebuilt it. Unload supplies to keep Palembang well supplied and allow you to build forts.

Yes, it will. But it will give me time, time that the Japanese do not really have. If my opponent gets nervous, he is bound to make mistakes. If he overreacts and sends troops to Sumatra that he had prepped for taking something else, he loses time. I need to attack his weaknesses. If I can make him bleed in the air, and deny him that oil for a few months, it should put him in a difficult position.

On the other hand, I had not thought about the supply situation, thanks a ton! Will start sending supplies ASAP.

O19 & O20 - These two Dutch subs are minelayers. I would place in same TF and lay mines just to NE of Palembang.

Will do. Many thanks!
[/quote]

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Kitakami


Yes, it will. But it will give me time, time that the Japanese do not really have. If my opponent gets nervous, he is bound to make mistakes. If he overreacts and sends troops to Sumatra that he had prepped for taking something else, he loses time. I need to attack his weaknesses. If I can make him bleed in the air, and deny him that oil for a few months, it should put him in a difficult position.

Prep only matters after the Amphib bonus ends on March 31. The most interesting part of investing sumatra is the panic as you say, but also the time it takes away from other goals. A division will be hard to kick out. Some AA would help bleed the 2E he'll need to close the fields and hit your troops.

[Kitakami]

ORIGINAL: obvert
Prep only matters after the Amphib bonus ends on March 31. The most interesting part of investing sumatra is the panic as you say, but also the time it takes away from other goals. A division will be hard to kick out. Some AA would help bleed the 2E he'll need to close the fields and hit your troops.

Now, there is an idea... an AAA unit, even if light, should help. Hmm... which one...

Thanks a TON!

[Kitakami]

December 27th

A somewhat quiet day, most probably the clam before the storm. There were no naval losses on either side last turn, but I am afraid that my esteemed opponent is getting ready to unleash a few important attacks I'd rather not see.

Last turn I lost Camiguin, Catbalogan, Taiping, Namatanai, Boela, Beaufort, and Cabanatuan. Nothing unexpected, but Ambon and Johore Bahu are next.

First, the numbers. Pilot losses are on the rise. Sadly, most were fighter pilots in the Philippines. AT least the nine Allied aces are still alive and kicking.

[Kitakami]

Air losses were in the Allied favor, but the loss of fighters is never good.

[Kitakami]

Accumulated losses are still in the Allies favour, although this will change as soon as real attacks against Sumatra and Java start.

[Kitakami]

And victory points are lost, once again.

[Kitakami]

There are three areas that worry me at this point. The first one is Soerbaja and surroundings. A CarDiv of KB ended the turn 11 hexes ESE of Soerbaja. I had just refueled surface combatants there, and they have had to leave post haste. If it had been the CVLs and/or the CVEs I would have risked it, but against 77 fighters and 75 bombers... no dice. Fuel and oil flow towards Australia has been interrupted, for the time being, at least.

[Kitakami]

Second area that worries me is Sumatra, specifically Palembang. My esteemed opponent has over 19k troops assembled in Singkawang, and there is no juiciest target for them than Palembang. The place's defences are not setup yet... I onlu have 110 AV there, with only the small Dutch AAA unit and the 2nd HK&S Hvy AAA from Malaya as air defense. That, plus two squadrons of Buffaloes, that is. The rest is still on its way. I have not detected enemy carriers in the immediate vicinity.

[Kitakami]

The third and final area of immediate concern is the waters around Suva. Unless I am mistaken, the enemy CVEs are prowling those waters... as an advance force for something bigger, no doubt. Right at this point I find myself unable to face them, so all I can do is wait and see what develops.

[Kitakami]

Besides that, I don't have enough transports, cargo ships, or planes, but besides that the war is going OK, I think. Pilot replacements are not ready yet either, but at least I will get the USN's fourth carrier in two turns. The three I have have decent air groups planes-wise, but their pilots still need tons of training. I need to be patient and not commit too early, I guess.

Any and all thoughts are welcome.

[ny59giants]

End of Dec '41: Yes, your situation is normal. Too many needs, not enough assets. [;)]

Soerabaja: best place to rearm your CAs and larger. I make it a point to hit it early as Japan in this mod.

Palembang: the longer Japan waits to invade and take this very important base, the more likely it will become "Fortress Palembang." Does he invade here before you get the large Brit division there??

Transport: it take a month for the most common 12 knot transports to get from California to Sydney. You are now learning how Allied players have to think further ahead when you have to go around the outside of the circle rather than the direct approach.

Use the list of bases I furnished for your PBYs to give you warning.

[Kitakami]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants
End of Dec '41: Yes, your situation is normal. Too many needs, not enough assets. [;)]

Yeah, this game is quite enlightening in that regard.

Soerabaja: best place to rearm your CAs and larger. I make it a point to hit it early as Japan in this mod.

We will see what develops. That CarDiv needs to refuel and rearm at some point, hopefully before it is replaced by another one.

Palembang: the longer Japan waits to invade and take this very important base, the more likely it will become "Fortress Palembang." Does he invade here before you get the large Brit division there??

Hopefully not, but we will see. May need to sacrifice something to stop him. Hopefully not, but it may be necessary.

Transport: it takes a month for the most common 12 knot transports to get from California to Sydney. You are now learning how Allied players have to think further ahead when you have to go around the outside of the circle rather than the direct approach.

Use the list of bases I furnished for your PBYs to give you warning.

Off-map movement is much safer, and there are tons of small ships that can move supply and fuel from the East Coast to Cape town without fear of running out of fuel. As for the AEW system, it is in place. A couple of pieces are missing, but I need a few more Catalinas to refill two of my squadrons. The rest is done.

Thanks for your thoughts... much appreciated!

[ny59giants]

Off-map movement is much safer

Very true, but the biggest hurdle for Allied player is getting the supply away from USA. You can move lots to Cape Town. But you need to move it from there onto the map. That requires transports and fuel. You can easily run out of fuel at Cape Town (been there, done that!!). Most of your movement needs to be on map. You will get to understand the huge surplus of transports in the months ahead. The first 6 months are the toughest.

[Kitakami]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants
Very true, but the biggest hurdle for Allied player is getting the supply away from USA. You can move lots to Cape Town. But you need to move it from there onto the map. That requires transports and fuel. You can easily run out of fuel at Cape Town (been there, done that!!). Most of your movement needs to be on map. You will get to understand the huge surplus of transports in the months ahead. The first 6 months are the toughest.

Never having been in this position, I will take your word for it. Fuel is moving from Los Angeles forward, albeit cautiously. Need to get a feel of how things go first. After six months I'll probably know where I am standing.