The Shattered Sword: John 3rd vs. Anachro--BTS

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

I don't know, John. Your non-commitment to the Aleutians is 'costing' you the services of the equivalent of 4 divisions, plus base forces plus engineers plus the LBA needed to provide support / defensive striking power. This doesn't count the 1.3 Divisions cut off / lost at Umnak. And supply. Lots of supply.

Why is this Eastward expansion worth it? Why not build just Attu & Amchitka and be done with it? Does the extra 300 miles (500 if you count Umnak efforts) make any difference? Why not put the body of those IJ forces east of Amchitka into the Kuriles' defense and construction?

True points.

Everything I function on is from previous experience. Dan LIKES the northern path. I've had to deal with that once plus again in a different match. Prefer to fight HERE then farther back (closer to home). I will lose the balance of the Brigade and ID but they will rebuild. Once fleshed out again, the Imperial Guards and 7th will be available for action.

Additionally, I have CD at the bases. My hope is to force him to make SERIOUS landings that take time and allow for a possible counter-stroke. After the IO Raid, my Kido Butai shall come home and look forward to dealing with the American Fleet. Sean admits to target fixation. Perhaps that can be used in a month or two...

[John 3rd]

SE Pacific
June 13, 1942

Spotting the American CVs 4-5 turns ago opens the door for a Raid I have been hoping to launch. For two months, my I-Boats and Emily's (flying from Canton and Ndeni) have been watching the American TFs moving back-and-forth. My I-Boats have scored a number of hits and sinkings but--knowing where the US CVs are--here is a chance to wreak some havoc. This TF departed Tabitueau as soon as the Sighting occurred. The ships have threaded a vulnerability in the American PBY Search Arc. They have not been spotted and are--hopefully--about to be foxes in the Hen House!

TF Composition
2 CVL Zuiho--Shoho (36 Zero and 24 Kates)
2 CAV Kushiro and Tokachi (42 Zero, 12 Kate, and 6 Recon Kate)
BB, 2 CA, 3 CL, 10 DD

Following this TF are 4 8,000T AOs with a strong escort of 2 CL and 6 DD.

[John 3rd]

Australia
June 13, 1942

The entire NW Australian Operation was held up nearly a month by the dogged Allied defense of Batavia. Sean has kept token units from Darwin to Broome. I am now in the process of sweeping them out.

Port Hedlund
You might remember a few weeks ago BBs Fuso and Yamashiro sank over two dozen enemy ships that were unloading at Pt Hedlund. Looks like an Aussie Brigade, Tank Unit, and two smaller units. For the last week or so, a Nell Daitai has been hitting Hedlund's Port keeping it damaged and stopping Fort building. Presently, the base will gain the attention of two Bombardment TFs who should really do a number on the units there.

In about ten days, I will have two IDs depart Batavia and assault this location. Their prep is over 805 right now.

Wyndham
A Fast TF just departed Ambon carrying 3,000 troops to make the Assault Landing at Wyndham. Following them is a TF carrying an ID, Tank unit, and two Base Forces. These units shall move east and then north to take Darwin from the rear. The fall of Darwin will allow for me to move on to Daly Waters or so.



Once Hedlund is cleared then we move to take Corunna Downs and Exmouth Bay. Figure 30 days to accomplish all this and then the eastern door protecting the DEI is sealed shut.


NE Austalia
Port Moresby
The enemy has been slowly drawing down the units at PM. My ZEROS (from Milne Bay and Lae) have been catching the occasional Allied Transport Aircraft at PM so it is easy to deduce what is happening. There were 10,000+ troops here two months ago and now fewer then 6,000 remain. Crossing the Owen Stanley Range is a full strength ID that just hit the halfway there mark. This ID should easily handle the remaining defenders.

PM is about to be visited by BB Mutsu, Nagato, and Tosa. Should be a BUNCH of fireworks!

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

I don't know, John. Your non-commitment to the Aleutians is 'costing' you the services of the equivalent of 4 divisions, plus base forces plus engineers plus the LBA needed to provide support / defensive striking power. This doesn't count the 1.3 Divisions cut off / lost at Umnak. And supply. Lots of supply.

Why is this Eastward expansion worth it? Why not build just Attu & Amchitka and be done with it? Does the extra 300 miles (500 if you count Umnak efforts) make any difference? Why not put the body of those IJ forces east of Amchitka into the Kuriles' defense and construction?

True points.

Everything I function on is from previous experience. Dan LIKES the northern path. I've had to deal with that once plus again in a different match. Prefer to fight HERE then farther back (closer to home). I will lose the balance of the Brigade and ID but they will rebuild. Once fleshed out again, the Imperial Guards and 7th will be available for action.

Additionally, I have CD at the bases. My hope is to force him to make SERIOUS landings that take time and allow for a possible counter-stroke. After the IO Raid, my Kido Butai shall come home and look forward to dealing with the American Fleet. Sean admits to target fixation. Perhaps that can be used in a month or two...

CB is right. He doesn't have to land on any of those bases, ever. Unless you're going into CONUS, going east of Adak, at most, is a waste of resources.

If he wants the Kuriles in 1944/45 he can mount that from Pearl. There's plenty of lift. There's no need to island hop in the north.

[John 3rd]

I do believe that the Allies can have anything they WANT in late-44/early-45.

[John 3rd]

China
June 13, 1942

Just look at this. Never gone so far. Thank Dan for the invaluable lesson learned...

There is no way Japan could have done this IRL!

[John 3rd]

I just wrote a magnificent, long entry for the AAR, hit POst, and was disconnected from the damned site. Lost nearly 45 minutes of work. HATE THAT!

Normally copy it just before Posting but was interrupted by my lovely wife and got distracted.

All I'll say is---I was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO right! A minimum of 3 US CV and 2 Brit CV appear just south of the Aleutians and attack the shipping at Adak.

Will work to re-write the damned Post now...

[John 3rd]

June 14, 1942
The Aleutians

Just as I expected, the enemy carriers reveal themselves about 200 miles south of Adak. As said earlier, the 32nd ID, an HQ unit, and an Engineering unit arrived yesterday and began unloading. Since Adak is Sz-3 Port, I broke the convoy into two parts and got about half of it unloading in the anchorage. This convoy carried roughly 19,000 troops and had 20 AK, 2 DD, and 6 PC in it.

Weather is pretty diecy this day. Air Search Nells pick-up the enemy carriers early enough to divert a strike of 25 Zero and 28 Vals from going east to attacking south. This strike arrives over the enemy and finds 54 Brit and US Wildkittens flying CAP. Several Vals get through and drop their payloads on CV Indomitable. As we know, until MISS JUDY arrives, nothing can penetrate the Brit armored deck. SIGH.

It isn't until late in the morning that any form of Allied attack occurs. When it does, 24 Japanese fighters (Oscars and Zeros) intercept 46 F4Fs and 20 SBD. Four AKs are hit and sunk. No troop casualties. A truly large strike arrives in the afternoon with 15 Japanese fighters attacking 55 Wildkitties, 64 SBD, and 68 TB. Though I have less fighters, they almost immediately penetrate the CAP and get in among the bombers splashing perhaps a dozen. The rest drop their payloads. The harbor and outer unloading area sees 8 AK and 1 PC sunk. There are two more AK hit as well as a PC and a DD taking single strikes. Losses for the day end up being 12 of 20 AK and 1 of 6 PC. Thankfully the only causalities are about 6,000 Supply, 26 Guns, and 38 Vehicles. The 32nd gets to its new home at 96% strength and 20,000 Supply is off-loaded. Could be worse but this isn't too bad.

Points:
1. The enemy reveals himself and about 50-60% of his available CV strength. Squadrons spotted included those from Yorktown, Enterprise, Hornet, Indomitable, and another Brit CV. While I am harassed over dividing my CVs, I am not following that proclivity in this game. Kido Butai is formed in the IO. I have my 2 CVL/2CAV Raiding but risk there seems fairly slight. Sean appears to be content in splitting his carriers and that bodes quite well for a CV clash. If it is like this, then Japan will win decisively.

2. Am pretty certain the Lex, Sara, and another Brit is either in the IO or Australia. My bet is IO. He also has the four CLV/CAV as well but he slipped to me that the upgrades look pretty interesting so I'll bet that they are currently converting. Wasp should have just arrived so I don't know where it might be. If the enemy is, in fact, based at Socotra--Michael and I talked about that yesterday--then I should bring overwhelming firepower to the fight.

3. The Umnak defense is nearly done and he will have to decide if the Aleutians is where he wants to continue the fight. If so, I shall welcome it. As soon as KB is done with its raid then it shall come back tot he HOme Islands, upgrade, and fight in the Pacific. REALLY would like to see him continue up north. He has a narrow window with weather to launch any invasions so that tends to help in planning.

4. The shipping loss of 12 12 Knot converted AKs is not too bad. I hope to make up for the lost VP by the two major raids that are now underway.

[John 3rd]

India
June 14, 1942

Anyone who knows me KNOWS that I hate land warfare in this game! The China offensive and India demonstrate my attempt at breaking from this thought mode.

I am trying something in eastern India that might be spectacular or a complete disaster.

Ever study Cannae?

The enemy has concentrated at Jamshedphur and Asanol. I do not have the current strength to take them without one reinforcing the other. I need to weaken those bases so that it might be possible to take them.

Current Army deployment:
LEFT WING
33rd ID, 41st ID, and 3 Tank Regiments

CENTER
Imperial Guards (85% Strength), 21st ID (60% Strength), 2nd ID, 55th ID, 18th ID, 25th Army HQ, and Southern Army Command.

RIGHT WING
4th ID, 5th ID, a Para Brigade, and 2 Tank Regiments

Presently the 56th and 67th IDs will arrive. The 48th has loaded and is leaving Batavia.

These are the main units that are in theatre or shall be in theatre during the next two weeks. 1st and 2nd Armored will form in 10 days in Manchuria and I have VPs to buy them fully out BUT they won't be a factor for a month.


PLAN
I ordered the 21st and Imperial Guard out of the hex between Asanol and Jamshedphur yesterday. The enemy saw this and, as I hoped, is moving west and SW out of Asanol. Today I ordered the 2nd and 55th away from Jamshedphur. The CENTER shall fall back to Howrah and Calcutta. This SHOULD make the CENTER look very weak. We want the enemy to advance.

The LEFT changed its axis of advance and is no heading NNE. The 33rd ad 41st have not been spotted as they enter the valley between the jungle and mountains to the north.

The RIGHT is TRYING to get the damned 1st Burma ID! Regardless of result they will change direction as well and advance NNW up that plain between Darjeeling and Asanol. ALL THREE arriving IDs will unload at Chittagong and take the train to Rangpur, disembark, and advance the same direction.

If the threat is not reacted to/perceived quickly then this COULD be a major opportunity. If the RIGHT and LEFT can drive to their objectives we could come close to surrounding the enemy...


I know the land model is pretty useless but any pertinent thoughts on this?

[Canoerebel]

John, you flaming rascal. Usually reports of "I was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO right!" are not immediately followed by the sound of 12 of your own ships going "glug, glug."

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd
I know the land model is pretty useless but any pertinent thoughts on this?

Pertinent? I dunno.

My thoughts about India mark it as a unique theater in the war. The more I think about it, it's probably the worst place for the Japanese to get involved, except as a spoiling attack or temporary occupation of the East.

It's all about Allied mobility. Here, in continental India they have it like nowhere else on the map. OK, maybe CONUS, but that's rarely in play in most games. The Allies have a supply wormhole allowing them to [poof] drop copious supply and fuel into Bombay / Karachi and then [poof] re-enter the wormhole. If the Japanese player cedes this corner of the map, they are in essence ceding unlimited Allied supply and fuel on a prolific rail network. When combined with the strategic transport of units [poof-they left CONUS and now they're in Karachi 90 days later] and unlimited supply and unlimited rail, it's a daunting challenge.

They've got a rail system second to none at play. There are so many small scale rails and alternative routes that it's almost impossible to surround and eliminate enemy LCUs. If they get damaged or threatened, they can rail themselves out to safety. On your map, your left wing is at risk of being enveloped on that open flank. Your other forces between Vizaga... and Calcutta occupy uninteresting terrain which is not that strategically important. If you are thinking of besieging Jamsheedpur, you may be able to take it, but then "so what?". A holding force there may stave off recapture, but then those units would be hung out to dry on a map upon which they have lost the war of maneuver.

The riverline N of Calcutta is interesting, up to about the NW of Darjeeling. Here, cities / dots are sparse, but rails are thick. These backwoods foci hold outsized importance-but they're in clear terrain [KAFF] B17 bait [KAFF]. Start thinking about what your defensive stand in this terrain would look like. That includes Ledo and the other Burma/India border cities too. Liquidate all opposition behind these lines and start your engineers digging. Bring a big shovel, because you're going to need it.

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

John, you flaming rascal. Usually reports of "I was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO right!" are not immediately followed by the sound of 12 of your own ships going "glug, glug."

Now MISTER DAN I have been waiting for your insightful commentary! Yep. Bit of irony with the events but it SOOOOOOOOOOOO helps other areas...

[John 3rd]

AS said many times, I do not intend to stay in India. This is spoiling/exploitation for a period of time.

Have to say it also equates to my learning more about the land model of warfare since I have seldom seriously work with it in any form of meaningful manner. This assault forces me to come outside of my comfort zone. In that context I would LOVE some educational and useful advice from good, serious Japanese players. An Allied comment or two might be very nice as well...
[:D]

[ny59giants]

I’m on the road again tomorrow morning. I’ll try calling y’all. 😜

[John 3rd]

June 16, 1942
The SOUTH Pacific

Let the raid commence!

The bag for Day ONE is 6 large AKs sunk with 4 more damaged.

[adarbrauner]

The vitrue of these raids is to disrupt even momentarily and delay his resupply sea lanes;

every delay caused adds to the total equation and can be determining for the wider strategic picture;

[John 3rd]

June 17, 1942

India
Finally take a chunk out of the 1st Burma ID. Been pursuing those boys for months. If I get another attack in, they shall surrender. Got a 309-1 result destroying an Indian Brigade and yielding 3,182 Cas, 55G, and 33 V.

As hoped the enemy leaves Asanol with 15 units and a CRAP TON of armor. We'll let them move south. All my troops around and between Jamshedphur and Asanol have safely withdrawn to Howrah. Will move the 21st and Imperial Guards to Calcutta for R&R and to beef up the defense there.

Australia
Take Nookbanah and Windham without a fight this day. Land at Exmouth. The enemy is not fighting here whatsoever. This makes it much easier and I will not require near the force I thought. OK. GREAT! Begin loading another ID for India. It was supposed to help with the drive on Darwin. Not needed.

Tahiti Area
The CVLs strike and sink a PC and 3 AK. Within these loaded ships was a Kingfisher Squadron. Scratch 14 planes that go down with their ship. A small STF of a CL and 2 DD sink an AKL fleeing Tahiti. We order the CTF west and set a Port Strike for Tahiti tomorrow. The AOs will move down and refuel the warships then we head west and hook a right to return to Tulagi...

[John 3rd]

June 18, 1942
Tahiti

I did mention that I had one BIG BOY traveling with the Raiding TF. Neglected to say that it is my BIGGEST BOY! Tahiti's night is shattered as BB Yamato and 2 CA open fire on the Port and Air Field. Three AKs are nailed as well as the facilities. It provides a very nice fireworks display!

In the afternoon, a Port Strike arrives with 30 Zero and 36 Kates pounding several more AK. No losses.

The Task Force moves west across Tahiti passing it by 120 miles. Tomorrow it will refuel and then high-tail it of the area.

[Canoerebel]

John, you flaming rascal....Wait, didn't I start off that way yesterday?

This question from an Allied player who doesn't fully understand the contraints you are operating under: Yamato won't be able to replenish anywhere close, right? Why use her guns bombarding a target of uncertain value and quite possibly little value? Taking that chance and then netting only some xAKs doesn't seem worth it.

What factors are you weighing that leads you, in a case like this one, to pull the trigger?

[BillBrown]

I think the mod he is playing has 1 or 2 AE/AKEs large enough to rearm Yamato.