Banzais Don't Make Victories - Anachro (A) vs John 3rd (J) BTS 5.7

[RangerJoe]

It is raining here - on top of the two inches of packed and icy snow. Not fun.

Here is the theme song for the IJA in India:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJVpihgwE18

[Anachro]

November 10th, 1942

@Rangejoe I'm on the east coast at the moment and it is way too cold. It will always be that way despite being mostly on the east coast for the last decade. Once a west coast boy from Los Angeles, always such (however much the high tax rate tries to make me not one).

India
Not much to note today in India. I am continuing to bomb John's retreating forces while pursuing them with my own. I'd imagine Howrah will fall as soon as John moves his divisions across the river to Calcutta. I was a bit worried as I forgot to change my air settings last turn and feared John setting a CAP trap for my bombers. Much to my surprise, there was no opposition to my bombings this day and I continue to bomb the 2nd and Imperial Guard Divisions east of Jessore as they head for Dacca.

Australia
In Australia, I attack and cause some damage to the 22nd Tank Regiment south of Normanton. John's little roving regiments have encountered opposition and these raids should end soon barring him sending forces over land from Tennant Creek or Normanton. Forts at Alice Springs and Clonurry are at 4 and 3 respectively with decent garrisons. On the sea front, a bombardment or raiding naval force seems headed for Cooktown where I had some xAKLs unloading supplies. We'll see what John does. Or perhaps they will land/bombard Portland Roads again.



CenPac

The real interesting thing for me is what John might be intending for Christmas Island and Palmyra. I have had multiple sigint reports of planned attacks in this sector (as well as an attack pointing to Efate in the New Hebrides) and convoy movement sigint points to a troop buildup of a division and marine assault division heading for Canton Island. I don't know if John is attempting sigint misdirection, but so far this has me on my toes and watchful. What's lending further credence to a potential invasion of the Line Islands is that today we spotted Japanese aircraft reconnoitering both Palmyra and Christmas Islands. Moreover, we have noticed in the last 1-2 days that transports southeast of Pearl Harbor on the pathway to the line islands have also been spotted by Japanese float planes. This suggests John has aircraft-capable submarines posted on the transit-way between Pearl and the Line Islands.

All of this points to a potential, late Japanese amphibious invasion.



Here's the interesting part: The large majority of the Allied fleet is situated either at NZ/Tahiti or Pearl Harbor...as in 95% of it. The Line Islands are right between these and both could act in concert as a hammer and an anvil if John does attempt something. The Japanese KB cannot stand up to the concentration of everything...and my many BB's would act as a great black hole for Japanese bombs to be wasted while my carriers can focus on KB (although I certainly expect Japanese BBs and the Yamato to be involved).

And the fact that I can come from the north and the south opens up tactical possibilities. Won't say anything for now, but something similar to Japanese plans for the Mariana Islands (thwarted) and Leyte Gulf invasions (succeeded but failed to take advantage). Anyways, at the moment I am sending some reinforcements to the area and mining both islands.

[Canoerebel]

Why does John have interest in the Line Islands in late 1942? That's really strange.

You could of course ignore his interest while seeking an advantage somewhere far away. Or, as you mentioned, you can seek an advantageous action there. His apparent need to do something offensive to somehow relieve pressure in India/Oz (or to feel better about the game) is kinda bonkers.

Edited to add important adjective. Emoticon added in honor of Ranger, who always expresses his distaste for the need to correct mistakes. [:@]

[GetAssista]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel
Why does John have interest in the Line Islands in 1942? That's really strange.

You could of course ignore his interest while seeking an advantage somewhere far away. Or, as you mentioned, you can seek an advantageous action there. His apparent need to do something offensive to somehow relieve pressure in India/Oz (or to feel better about the game) is kinda bonkers.

Might even encourage John to play around Line Islands for a bit longer, KB trips and such. Even postponing the serious resistance. It is the best way to make him burn his fuel.

[Anachro]

Well, regardless of what I do, I have (Sep) Infantry Regiments posted at both Palmyra and Christmas Island. Furthermore, both have level 3 forts building towards level 4. I suspect Xmas Islands is the real target as it has a 3(4) airfield and can perhaps be used more effectively as a means of trying to hinder my supply line to Tahiti and New Zealand. Thus, I am reinforcing Xmas Island at the moment with a para regiment and a tank battalion from Pearl Harbor. Moreover, Xmas Island is getting 300 mines and Palmyra 200. I think they can hold the line for a little bit. We'll see how effective a massed Japanese bombardment is. A number of subs are being posted between the islands and Canton.

I do have other targets I can pursue separately in the South Pacific and Central Pacific. I was initially planning these two be done simultaneously so one could act as a draw for Japanese forces so the other would be clear, but perhaps this op (if it happens) would serve that role for both. My troops are pretty much 100% prepped but it has been a process to get them all to their staging points and planned follow-up ops would happen slowly. I have been a bit less conscientious and thorough in my amphibious ops planning than in past games, so part of this is my fault.

Then there is India and Celyon, which I suspect can be accomplished with minimal forces.

[Canoerebel]

I wouldn't worry about an eastern Pacific LOC. If my opponent managed to make it risky, I'd reconfigure things and count myself lucky that he was devoting time and assets to real estate that isn't really important.

But, of course, if he commits assets to a place, then you can weight the benefits of taking steps to make his misplaced priorities costly.

What I'm saying is: The Line Islands are really irrelevant. There is no need for you to respond unless you think you can do so on terms decidedly favorable to you. Christmas Island? Who cares?

[Anachro]

I agree about the relevance of the islands, believe me. My supplies to Tahiti aren't coming from Pearl, but directly from the west coast. I'll wait to see what advantage there is and my mostly likely confrontation would be indirect if I can perhaps, I don't know, get John to chase a northern force appearing on his flank like everyone's favorite admiral, Mr. Halsey (which John reminds me of). Then perhaps my carriers could come from the south.

EDIT

Just to reinforce, ever since John took Canton and Baker Islands, Xmas and Palmyra Islands have been too close to the front lines for me to make use of anyway. This has already forced me to re-route my LoC anyways and I only use Palmyra/Christmas as well as adjacent dot islands as nav search babses for my PBY's.

[RangerJoe]

He will have a hard time keeping those forward bases supplied if you don't want them to have supplies.

Otherwise, the mice play when the cat is away.
Also, the cows party 'til the farmer comes home.
(You should see the Holsteins dancing!) [X(]

I don't mind other peoples spelling errors, sometimes they get creative. Especially from an Italian lawyer . . .
I just hate my spelling errors.

edited again for wrong word . . . [:@]

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

He will have a hard time keeping those forward bases supplied if you don't want them to have supplies.

Otherwise, the mice play when the cat is away.
Also, the cows party 'til the farmer comes home.
(You should see the Holsteins dancing!) [X(]

I don't mind other peoples spelling errors, sometimes they get creative. Especially from an Italian lawyer . . .
I just hate my spelling errors.

edited again for wrong word . . . [:@]

Are the Holsteins twice as good at dancing as the Halfsteins?
What about the quarter horses? Were they horsing around just a bit while the Belgians had a Stella Artois or two and the Arabians stood in the corner sipping sweet tea?
Did the sheep get fleeced?
Were the goats high on the hogs (which were doing yoga)?
This calls for a congressional investigation ...

[RangerJoe]

To my knowledge, my Grandfather only had Holsteins, not Halfsteins. So I can't answer that question.

As far as I remember, he never had horses either. No sheep or goats as well. My mom did talk about eating the pork fat after it had been rendered for lard. But I don't remember them having hogs either - besides, they stink too much. You don't want hogs doing yoga because they might get too skinny and then become pigs again . . .

There is actually an East European pastry type food called potica that one version has using the rendered fat as filling. I never had that version though. I am sure that it would be good for me since my cholesterol is too low . . .

DDs and maybe even some Cls raiding his SLOC could get his attention.

[BillBrown]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Why does John have interest in the Line Islands in late 1942? That's really strange.

You could of course ignore his interest while seeking an advantage somewhere far away. Or, as you mentioned, you can seek an advantageous action there. His apparent need to do something offensive to somehow relieve pressure in India/Oz (or to feel better about the game) is kinda bonkers.

Edited to add important adjective. Emoticon added in honor of Ranger, who always expresses his distaste for the need to correct mistakes. [:@]

Isn't John just being John? [:)]

[JohnDillworth]

Don't discount the possibly the John might be kicking up a lot of dust around the Line Islands to make you think you could set up an ambush. I'm sure he would love to have a full fleet engagement. Your position in the game is pretty secure. No need to react to him anymore, getting close to to the time where John has to react to you. Sing from your own songbook.

[CaptBeefheart]

Line Islands, Schmine Islands. Worst case you can start routing supplies through the Falklands.

Cheers,
CB

[RangerJoe]

Fill up Cape Town. Once that route to Australia is secure, you should have millions of supply there to move out . . .

[paullus99]

I agree - John is always going to be fishing around to go on the Offensive. He needs to fix of killing something Allied, in a lot of cases, anything Allied.

[Anachro]

November 11th, 1942

Not much to report today. In India, I attack the 2nd Tank Division again and cause damage to it, but suffer some attrition in the form of my own tank disablements. John completely evacuates Howrah and I will take it tomorrow. Japanese fleets are moving in the Bay of Bengal; John might try a sea evacuation. Elsewhere, sigint still shows the 12th Division moving to Canton Island.

Ground combat at 57,32 (near Rangpur)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 3371 troops, 28 guns, 451 vehicles, Assault Value = 187

Defending force 4312 troops, 80 guns, 179 vehicles, Assault Value = 137

Allied adjusted assault: 203

Japanese adjusted defense: 21

Allied assault odds: 9 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: disruption(-), fatigue(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
660 casualties reported
Squads: 31 destroyed, 39 disabled
Non Combat: 69 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 25 (10 destroyed, 15 disabled)
Vehicles lost 65 (35 destroyed, 30 disabled)
Units retreated 1

Allied ground losses:
22 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 70 (14 destroyed, 56 disabled)

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
43rd Cavalry Regiment
150th RAC Regiment
632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion
7th Armoured Brigade

Defending units:
2nd Tank Division

xAK Kyusyu Maru is located at Hollandia (93,116).
12/12th Division is loaded on xAK Shinyubari Maru moving to Canton Island.
6th/A Division is planning for an attack on Chungking.
34th/C Division is planning for an attack on Chungking.
Radio transmissions detected at Diego Garcia (11,62).
Radio transmissions detected at Port Arthur (99,44).
64th Inf Group Brigade is located at Tottori(109,58).
4th Ship Engineer Regiment is located at Balikpapan(64,97).
27th Ind Engineer Regiment is located at Ponape(119,113).
8th Garrison Unit is located at Hailun(111,37).
56th Const Co is located at Manila(79,77).
74th Infantry Regiment is located at Kanko(105,47).
Radio transmissions detected at Ndeni (120,143).
12th Air Defense AA Regiment is located at Nagoya(111,60).
Radio transmissions detected at Amchitka Island (158,52).
5th Ind.Mixed Brigade is located at Wuchang(84,51).
12th Ind.AA Gun Co is located at Matsue(107,57).
71st Engineer Regiment is located at Fushun(105,42).
25th Field AA Machinecannon Company is located at Changchun(106,41).
11th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion is located at Yenki(110,44).
Radio transmissions detected at Cagayan (79,89).
208th Ship Eng Coy is located at Nagasaki/Sasebo(102,58).
Radio transmissions detected at Aparri (82,73).
2346 men are based at Nago (95,65).
3rd Tank Regiment is located at Tsuyung(68,46).
2/Southern Army is loaded on LSD Shinshu Maru moving to Rangoon.
4th RTA/C Division is located at Ayuthia(56,61).
Radio transmissions detected at Kalgan (95,37).
36th Division is located at Tangshan(96,41).
55th Const Co is located at Oosthaven(48,96).

[Anachro]

November 12th, 1942

The day begins with good ASW work by my escorts, both off the coast of Australia and between Pearl and the Line Islands. One submarine is confirmed to be sunk and 2 are listed by intelligence to be sunk; either way it's good to sink another Japanese submarine. The real interesting thing is the evidence this gives pointing to John stationing subs above the Line Islands, no doubt scouting for anything coming from Pearl while he potentially preps for an invasion there. The islands continue to be recon'd and now he might guess that I'm bringing minelayers to the scene.



In India, we bomb some airfields to be sure we have control over the air in the coming days as we focus on John's forces. John states the he is "VERY PLEASANTLY" surprised to see me opt to hit his airfields instead of his ground forces. I'm fine with this. Dacca and its 4(7) airfield is severely damaged and I can focus on his forces (John had 80 fighters at Calcutta but my airstrikes hit nothing on the ground). Up to 4 divisions seem to be moving east there; and two more divisions are just south of Rajshashi. 1500 Allied AV should be arriving shortly to attack those 2 divisions. I am also moving forces east across the river.

John does have 40,000 troops at Calcutta that seem to either be moving north across the river towards Asanol...or east. I can't tell. We'll soon find out, but with Howrah taken, that frees up 1500 AV to be moved elsewhere.

The Japanese 1st Tank division seems trapped at the moment and might be destroyed.



The Japanese fleet spotted is heading northwest, seemingly to Viza. I have a bunch of TBs and DBs at Madras waiting to see if they come in range.

[Anachro]

John seems to have put an entire division on Ndeni. There are 18,000 men there. What are the stacking limits there again? Interesting.

[Anachro]

November 13th, 1942

A Japanese fleet appears way east of the nearest Japanese holding at Canton, southwest of the Line Islands. Is this the vanguard of a Japanese invasion?

[Canoerebel]

Why insert reinforcements in the LIne Islands? If John's coming, you risk sticking your nose into an active hornet's nest. If he's not coming, then that's probably the end of the threat in this sector for the balance of the war, saving you the necessity of retrieving the troops. These islands aren't worth fighting for. Now, if your air force or navy can engage at very favorable odds, great. Then the place takes on momentary importance beyond it's value as a group of island. But if you don't have the advantage, I'd say let him have his way with this meaningless territory while you rip him a new one in India and prepare for action in other places that are actually of value.