Empire of the Sun - DesertWolf101 (J) vs Andy Mac (A)

[Alamander]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe



Indeed, the Allies get to pick their main axis of advance. It does help to kind of nudge the Allies into choosing a different axis of attack perhaps and that has value if the Allies bite.

Yes.... if you cannot guard the whole perimeter, then an alternative to shrinking the perimeter is limit the options for advance: funnel the enemy. Japan can fight effectively later in the war along a narrow front, but not a broad front.

[DesertWolf101]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101


Zero fighters shot down four Vildebeest torpedo bombers that were attacking my Naval Guard unit at Langsa.

34 Zeros swept over Changsha, encountering 17 Flying Tigers on CAP. 11 H81-A3 aircraft were shot down for no Japanese losses.

Well done on getting torpedoes forward.

The Vildebeest on ground attack tells you a fair bit about your opponent.

Nailing those Tigers early is very good!

You are doing very well, indeed!

Thanks Lowpe! Hopefully I continue to make good headway.

[DesertWolf101]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101

ORIGINAL: Alamander





I don't want to speak for Desertwolf, but in my case, and I suspect in his, the idea is not to prevent the buildup in Oz, which is impossible long-term. It is to delay it and hamper it as long as possible. We are both playing for the long game, and we are both prohibited from strat bombing Oz for the time-being, which is the most obvious route to auto-victory for Japan. Therefore, the idea is to delay the allied advance long enough for the 1944 reinforcements to arrive and be deployed. The biggest threat to a Japanese long-game is a rapid allied advance in 1943 and early 1944, when there is just not enough material and men to cover the perimeter. We are both seeking a new solution to this problem, it seems. It will be interesting to see how it plays out and hopefully one of us will have success.

Yes, our approach to the problem is not very similar but our long term goals are the same. I will certainly attempt to draw my opponent into an early decisive battle with the aim of crippling his will to fight, but I doubt that is a likely outcome so I have to think more longterm. The best chance I have then is to delay the Allied juggernaut as much as possible. There are certainly different ways of pursuing that, but the one I have outlined in this AAR is the one I am going for in this campaign.

Ultimately I think the issue that I will most struggle with is to find the balance in successfully delaying the Allies whilst making sure I don't overextend or expend too many resources to the task.

I don't mean to criticize the strategy, just merely point out that I don't think it will materially slow the Allies down that much as Oz is usually about the last place in the Allied buildup line. That is one reason why Allied offensives out of Darwin area into the SRA isn't very popular.

Indeed, the Allies get to pick their main axis of advance. It does help to kind of nudge the Allies into choosing a different axis of attack perhaps and that has value if the Allies bite.

Also, perhaps as a deception it might work very well too. In seeing this opening as an AFB, I might be persuaded that Japan will invade heavily into Oz. I might therefor neglect other areas, and plan to either counter the Oz thrust, or since this is a scenario 1 game, I would be more likely to start smallish offensives elsewhere into Burma, or Santa Cruz/Guadalcanal, Marshalls, Aleutians, etc. I might very well risk my Carriers in support of those operations, especially if I consistently spotted enemy carriers around Oz. The more Japanese troops I could suck into Oz, the happier I would be as an AFB as long as AV wasn't in play.

Just random thoughts and I am looking forward to see how this plays out.[:)]

I didn't take it as such, but rest assured even if it was criticism that is fine as I always welcome constructive criticism. Especially from informed players like Alfred and yourself! Even if I may not agree with everything, you have consistently raised excellent points that I am taking into account.

For instance here your mention of Australia as one of the last zones for an Allied player to stage a push towards the Empire makes a lot of sense, as logistically it is the farthest forward and last to receive the supplies needed.

I will get into more detail with regards to my focus and strategy for Australia as I get closer to the game date (currently late February 1942).

[DesertWolf101]

December 23, 1941

Submarines

East of Hawaii, I-17 sights AP Hugh L. Scott but misses with two torpedoes. I-19 however targets the same ship and sinks it with two torpedoes.

Malaya

Japanese paratroopers finally overcome the defending base force and capture Johore Bahru. All remaining allied forces north of Singapore are now isolated from the fortress city.

Philippines

Japanese troops land at Puerto Princessa and Zamboanga.

[DesertWolf101]

December 24, 1941

Submarines

West of Hokkaido, the Thresher hits the small TK Sanraku Maru but the torpedo fails to explode. Thresher tries again against the same vessel later in the day but misses.

Having had no luck against the TK, Thresher strikes AK Nitsan Maru with a working torpedo. The AK survives but has to go in for a long period of repairs.

I-20 sinks and AK south of San Diego.

S/SW Pacific

Japanese troops land at Tulagi.

Philippines

Japanese forces arrive at Clark and exchange artillery fire with the defenders. Iba, Puerto Princessa, and Zamboanga are taken.

Sumatra

I send in some destroyer minesweepers to get rid of some of the mines that my opponent dropped off at Palembang but the DMSs get hit by coastal artillery fire from the city. DMS W-1 unfortunately sinks as the force retires to Sinkawang.

Zeros sweep over Palembang, knocking out the half a dozen Buffalos that challenge them. Nell bombers then pound the airfield, destroying few Dutch and British bombers and fighters on the ground.

The 91st Naval Guard follows up heavy bombing by Sally bombers on Langsa with an attack, taking the first Japanese base on Sumatra.

Java Sea

11 139WH-3 bombers are lost as they attempt to hit the Japanese light carriers near Billiton.

Celebes

After a plastering by Betty bombers, Japanese forces overwhelm the dazed the defenders and take Manado.

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My cautious advance in the Philippines has resulted in minimal Japanese losses but has given the time to my opponent to establish a strong defense at Clark with 1,352 AV. This is going to be a problem.

[DesertWolf101]

December 25, 1941

S/SW Pacific

Japanese troops land at Madang.

Philippines

Japanese troops take Batangas while others arrive at Manila from the north.

On Mindanao, the 146th Infantry Regiment takes Malaybalay.

Malaya

Japanese forces capture Malacca.

Andaman Islands

Following up a Nell bomber attack, Japanese paratroopers land and capture Port Blair from the British base force there.

China

Japanese troops catch up to the retreating Chinese troops at Nanyang and punish them, destroying 444 combat squads for just a few Japanese ones. The Chinese get pushed back into the dense mountainous forests on the road to Sian.

[Lowpe]

How many units are in Singers pocket? Can they start to build forts yet?

When will you take Palembang?

[DesertWolf101]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

How many units are in Singers pocket? Can they start to build forts yet?

When will you take Palembang?

Both Aussie brigades as well as two Indian brigades already escaped into Singapore. Forts are undoubtedly already being built, but enough bombing has gone in to hopefully hinder that effort. My list of objectives going into the campaign was to capture Singapore by the end of January 1942, which right now in the campaign seems pretty plausible - maybe even likely.

Palembang is being bombed to stop fort construction and Betty/Nell bombers are watching for any effort to land troops in Sumatra. Japanese forces should be ashore at Palembang before the start of the new year.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

How many units are in Singers pocket? Can they start to build forts yet?

When will you take Palembang?

Both Aussie brigades as well as two Indian brigades already escaped into Singapore. Forts are undoubtedly already being built, but enough bombing has gone in to hopefully hinder that effort. My list of objectives going into the campaign was to capture Singapore by the end of January 1942, which right now in the campaign seems pretty plausible - maybe even likely.

Palembang is being bombed to stop fort construction and Betty/Nell bombers are watching for any effort to land troops in Sumatra. Japanese forces should be ashore at Palembang before the start of the new year.

Good, with your HR on strategic bombing you can take Palembang insanely early without having to worry about protecting the oil.

Both those bases can be a royal pain.

[DesertWolf101]

December 26, 1941

North Pacific

Japanese troops land at Amchitka Island.

Sumatra

A massed air raid of 50 Betty and Nell bombers hits Palembang airfield. The 37 escorting Oscars successfully keep the ten defending Buffalo fighters off the bombers.

Borneo

My opponent has been harassing my SNLF units at Tanjoengselor with a few Kingfisher float planes, slowing their advance on Tarakan. Zero fighters are put on CAP today and shoot down three Kingfishers.

Andaman Islands

16 B-17Ds strike Port Blair from Calcutta, wrecking the newly captured airfield and preventing its immediate use.

China

Japanese troops take Wuchow. The advance continues towards Liuchow.

[DesertWolf101]

December 27, 1941

Submarines

I-20 sends an AK to the bottom near southern California.

North Pacific

Carrier strike! 15 SBD dive-bombers escorted by 30 Wildcat and Buffalo fighters hit the Japanese transports that had just landed troops at Amchitka Island. From the composition of my opponent’s carrier based aircraft, I believe that the Enterprise and Saratoga are in the area. I lose the AMC Awata Maru and an escorting E vessel to the strike.

Malaya

A concerted effort by Sally bombers hits Singapore, but losses are considerable due to the intense flak. Nine Sallies are lost for the day.

Philippines

Japanese troops take Mauban and Cotabato. Cagayan is invested.

------

Knowing where the American fleet carriers are located is worth a lot, not sure it's worth a good E and an AMC though!

[DesertWolf101]

December 28, 1941

North Pacific

During the night, the heavy cruisers Chester and Northampton pound my base force at Adak.

Sumatra

Kate TBs from the light carrier force finds and sinks a spattering of Dutch AMc vessels near Palembang.

Burma

Japanese forces arrive at Moulmein.

China

A Zero sweep catches a few Flying Tiger pilots on CAP over Sian and knocks them down. This is followed by a Sally raid that destroys a few Chinese Hudson bombers on the ground.

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The Palembang invasion force is assembling northeast of Bangka for the landing operation.

[DesertWolf101]

December 29, 1941

Submarines

As the Palembang invasion goes in, Japanese destroyer minesweepers engage a number of Dutch submarines near Palembang. My opponent has infested these waters with subs.

Philippines

Japanese troops capture Cagayan. Mindanao is almost completely taken.

Sumatra

Having been unable to successfully clear out all the mines at Palembang, the small destroyer Kuri hits one and goes under. Meanwhile, a concentration of 17 Dutch 139WH-3 bombers targets the invasion force, putting a single 300kg bomb into AK Ryoyo Maru. The transport is severely damaged but survives.

Betty and Nell bombers repay the favor through heavy bombing runs on the Palembang defenses as the invasion force comes ashore. My opponent has reinforced the Palembang garrison but not by much, with about 60AV there. I should hopefully take the critical location in a few turns.

Borneo

Japanese forces land at Samarinda.

Burma

The Empire takes Moulmein.

[DesertWolf101]

December 30, 1941

North Pacific

Northampton and Chester again hit hard the Adak base force.

S/SW Pacific

The Japanese 4th Division lands at Port Moresby. Other Japanese troops land at Gasmata.

Borneo

6 Dutch PT boats charge into my invasion force at Samarinda during the night. The plucky boats do a really good job, sinking two of the valuable DMS ships with torpedoes and creating general havoc with the cargo ships resulting in a couple of collisions. In response, the Japanese escorts only managed to sink two of the PT boats before they ran out of torpedoes and evaporated into the night.

During the day, 7 Swordfish aircraft came in from Bandjermasin with bombs and pushed past the floatplanes on CAP to score two critical hits on a Japanese AK, which later sinks.

These losses however could not prevent the Japanese forces from taking Samarinda at the end of the turn.

Sumatra

Dutch reinforcements arrive at Palembang at the last minute, taking the AV to 106. The Japanese attack and take down the forts to zero, but fail to take the base.

China

Another Zero sweep over Sian destroys several H81-A3 fighters.

Loyang falls to the Empire.

[DesertWolf101]

December 31, 1941

Submarines

North of Darwin, RO-34 finds an unescorted TK Augustina and instead of launching torpedoes decides to attack on the surface with the deck gun. That is all well and good but the ship captain immediately decides to submerge the sub after one shell is fired due to low gun ammo. Plenty of torpedoes though, as was demonstrated when RO-34 next fired torps at DD Whipple in the same night.

Thresher, still hanging around Wakkanai annoying my ships, got some glancing blows from depth charges dropped by some sub chasers.

S/SW Pacific

In an effort to aid the defense of Port Moresby, the Americans dispatched 21 B-17E and 7 B-17D bombers from Townsville to hit the Japanese 4th Division. Zeros from the KB were on station however, and a bloody fight ensued. 6 Zeros were shot down by the lumbering bombers but the fighters managed to bring down 8 of them.

Under the cover of the Zero fighters, the 4th Division assaults and takes Port Moresby.

Sumatra

Another Japanese assault goes in but fails. Forts remain at 0 but the Dutch defense remains tenacious.

Malaya

Mopping up operations continue in the rear, with Temuloh seized by Japanese mechanized formations today.

Burma

I sent in the paratroopers in an attempt to take Toungoo and disable aircraft on the ground but the Japanese barely missed a two to one result in the ensuing attack and failed to take the base. The paratrooper unit is now surrounded in enemy territory.

China

Near Loyang, the 15th Tank Regiment stuck its head out a bit too far and was pushed back into Loyang by a retreating Chinese army that took the chance to counterattack.

[DesertWolf101]

State of the Empire

A new year is upon us and it is time to evaluate my progress thus far. I am fairly optimistic at this stage but that does not mean there aren’t some areas where I am behind schedule. A series of screenshots will follow this post with some more detail, but here is where I have met or have failed to meet the objectives I have outlined at the start of the AAR:

Seizure of the SRA as an absolute priority with an aggressive timeline. I aim to land in force in Malaya, the Philippines, Borneo, and Sumatra by the end of December, seize all the critical oil fields as well as Singapore and Manila by the end of January, and complete the conquest of Burma, Java and the rest of the Dutch East Indies by the end of February.

I have successfully landed in force in Malaya, the Philippines, and Borneo. I do have a foothold in Sumatra, but Palembang has yet to fall so I would assess myself as having fallen slightly behind schedule there. Furthermore, I hoped I would have already crossed into Singapore by now but that is still a few days away. Overall however, I am largely on schedule with my planned advance.

An aggressive campaign does not mean I will be reckless. Given my disadvantaged position in the correlation of forces between the two sides, I aim to minimize the cost by not losing any capital warships during this early period, including light cruisers and above. I will also seek to minimize losses to submarines, escorts, and my merchant navy.

As per this objective, I have successfully avoided major capital losses thus far. The biggest loss sustained has been the two AMCs lost. The Asashio destroyer lost against Force Z also hurt but I can live with that. In terms of the merchant navy and escorts, ten AK/AKLs and 1 AP lost is not too bad, but the loss of three DMSs and an E is grating.

The other two objectives, taking China by the end of 1942 and elongating the Allied supply lines in the SoPac region are works in progress and too early to judge.

[DesertWolf101]

End of December Overview

[DesertWolf101]

December 1941 Warship Losses

[DesertWolf101]

December 1941 Merchant Losses

[DesertWolf101]

China Theater - January 1st, 1942

I haven't written too much about China thus far, so this is a post with a screenshot to update what's been happening there. These are the five key variables of the campaign there thus far:

1) Organize Japanese offensive forces and garrisons and maintain hold on Ichang - completed.
2) Isolate and screen Wenchow - completed.
3) Threaten Changsha and pin forces there - completed.
4) Secondary southern offensive from Canton with the aim of cutting the rail at Liuchow - ongoing with Wuchow already seized.
5) Develop a major offensive towards Sian - the first phase of this has been completed with the capture of Chengchow, Loyang, and Nanyang. I have however hit a wall of dug in Chinese troops in the forested/mountainous terrain to the northwest. My secondary march towards Sian north of the river is also tenuous because of my opponent's positioning of forces on either side of the road which risks isolating any further advance.

Overall therefore things are going well except for the centerpiece of my plan which is the major offensive towards Sian. This leads to a rapid shift in the plan. Instead of battering myself against a wall of dug in Chinese forces, my main line of advance has now shifted towards the center. As you can see, the main Japanese army at Nanyang is now moving southwest towards Ichang, taking advantage of short internal lines of communication to rapidly shift the advance towards weaker points, with the intention of moving on through the Changteh sector.

(EDIT: I forgot to mention - part of my plan in China is to destroy at least 400 combat squads per month - this goal has been met in December 1941 with the destruction of 3,193 combat squads)