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

[Bif1961]

Based on having two fully prepped RGTs for the landing against a good opponent who is waiting for you, be prepared to lose the 2 Rgts and buy them out later. You will need what others have said, but maybe a few days of wearing him down with air attacks and bombardings, burn up his supplies and raise his disablements and disruption. You will need at least 1 fully prepped division, an armored BN, a few smaller defense Bns, to soak up the initial loses and be left behind to be the garrison as they slowly rebuild. I do use old BBs both as bombardment TFs and embedded in the amphibious TF to take the CDs attention away from your landing force amphibious vessels. Have a follow on TF with supplies and base forces engineers and to go along with the depleted recovering defense Bns.

[DesertWolf101]

ORIGINAL: Alfred

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101

Tackling Atolls

Would like to seek some advice on taking Atolls. I have never assaulted a well defended Atoll and want to make sure I am covering my bases.

Say there is an Atoll with max stacking of 6,000 and medium level forts. The base has good troops but at least one base force so not all are combat forces. Is an allocation of two infantry regiments with 100% prep generally sufficient for the task or nowhere near enough?

If I bring battleship and heavy cruiser forces in support, is the best approach to embed all these heavy warships directly into the amphib task force or to use some (Half?) in a separate bombardment task force that hits right before the landing?

Finally, I am thinking of perhaps creating a separate TF that is only carrying supply to ensure that enough is available for the landing force. Am I on the right track?

Thanks!

The number one thing to always keep at the forefront of any atoll invasion is that every automatic attack is a shock attack. Every time you land supply after D-day, you will generate an automatic shock attack. Launching a shock attack after a failed shock attack is not good.

Prime lesson, capture the atoll on D-day. Do not plan to capture the atoll on D-day +1, or D-day +2.

Alfred

Thanks Alfred. In other words, go big or go home [:)]

[DesertWolf101]

ORIGINAL: Bif1961

Based on having two fully prepped RGTs for the landing against a good opponent who is waiting for you, be prepared to lose the 2 Rgts and buy them out later. You will need what others have said, but maybe a few days of wearing him down with air attacks and bombardings, burn up his supplies and raise his disablements and disruption. You will need at least 1 fully prepped division, an armored BN, a few smaller defense Bns, to soak up the initial loses and be left behind to be the garrison as they slowly rebuild. I do use old BBs both as bombardment TFs and embedded in the amphibious TF to take the CDs attention away from your landing force amphibious vessels. Have a follow on TF with supplies and base forces engineers and to go along with the depleted recovering defense Bns.

Yes, I am now leaning against the operation. I was thinking of an attack on Midway. He is using it as a forward submarine base that I was looking to deprive him off and also as an attempt to draw out his carriers for a battle. Now I don't think I will do it though - not worth the risk and my forces won't be ready for a while.

[RangerJoe]

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101

ORIGINAL: Bif1961

Based on having two fully prepped RGTs for the landing against a good opponent who is waiting for you, be prepared to lose the 2 Rgts and buy them out later. You will need what others have said, but maybe a few days of wearing him down with air attacks and bombardings, burn up his supplies and raise his disablements and disruption. You will need at least 1 fully prepped division, an armored BN, a few smaller defense Bns, to soak up the initial loses and be left behind to be the garrison as they slowly rebuild. I do use old BBs both as bombardment TFs and embedded in the amphibious TF to take the CDs attention away from your landing force amphibious vessels. Have a follow on TF with supplies and base forces engineers and to go along with the depleted recovering defense Bns.

Yes, I am now leaning against the operation. I was thinking of an attack on Midway. He is using it as a forward submarine base that I was looking to deprive him off and also as an attempt to draw out his carriers for a battle. Now I don't think I will do it though - not worth the risk and my forces won't be ready for a while.

You can still bombard and launch air strikes there. Maybe catch subs repair minor damage with the help if an AS or AR. [:D]

Maybe even leave some mines with no minesweepers then available.

[DesertWolf101]

Just a quick update - I realize the postings have dramatically slowed down for this game. My opponent finally came back from vacation, and even though I have received only one turn in the few days he has been back, I am hoping the pace will pick up back again soon.

[mind_messing]

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101

ORIGINAL: Bif1961

Based on having two fully prepped RGTs for the landing against a good opponent who is waiting for you, be prepared to lose the 2 Rgts and buy them out later. You will need what others have said, but maybe a few days of wearing him down with air attacks and bombardings, burn up his supplies and raise his disablements and disruption. You will need at least 1 fully prepped division, an armored BN, a few smaller defense Bns, to soak up the initial loses and be left behind to be the garrison as they slowly rebuild. I do use old BBs both as bombardment TFs and embedded in the amphibious TF to take the CDs attention away from your landing force amphibious vessels. Have a follow on TF with supplies and base forces engineers and to go along with the depleted recovering defense Bns.

Yes, I am now leaning against the operation. I was thinking of an attack on Midway. He is using it as a forward submarine base that I was looking to deprive him off and also as an attempt to draw out his carriers for a battle. Now I don't think I will do it though - not worth the risk and my forces won't be ready for a while.

I'd do some serious thinking of the cost for taking a base such as Midway as Japan, both in terms of fuel and in terms of the assets that it would require.

At the end of the day, you take a forward sub base from the Allies, which is nice. Allied subs will then just move to Johnstone Island, and you've much the same problem.

If it's the carriers you want to flush out, I'd consider using the KB to attack Australian industry and manpower.

That will generate permanent VP's for you to bank for later in the war, is very low cost given the more or less total absence of fighters and AA in this theatre for the first few months of the war and will absolutely have the Allied player take note (more so than losing a forward sub base!).

[RangerJoe]

ORIGINAL: mind_messing

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101

ORIGINAL: Bif1961

Based on having two fully prepped RGTs for the landing against a good opponent who is waiting for you, be prepared to lose the 2 Rgts and buy them out later. You will need what others have said, but maybe a few days of wearing him down with air attacks and bombardings, burn up his supplies and raise his disablements and disruption. You will need at least 1 fully prepped division, an armored BN, a few smaller defense Bns, to soak up the initial loses and be left behind to be the garrison as they slowly rebuild. I do use old BBs both as bombardment TFs and embedded in the amphibious TF to take the CDs attention away from your landing force amphibious vessels. Have a follow on TF with supplies and base forces engineers and to go along with the depleted recovering defense Bns.

Yes, I am now leaning against the operation. I was thinking of an attack on Midway. He is using it as a forward submarine base that I was looking to deprive him off and also as an attempt to draw out his carriers for a battle. Now I don't think I will do it though - not worth the risk and my forces won't be ready for a while.

I'd do some serious thinking of the cost for taking a base such as Midway as Japan, both in terms of fuel and in terms of the assets that it would require.

At the end of the day, you take a forward sub base from the Allies, which is nice. Allied subs will then just move to Johnstone Island, and you've much the same problem.

If it's the carriers you want to flush out, I'd consider using the KB to attack Australian industry and manpower.

That will generate permanent VP's for you to bank for later in the war, is very low cost given the more or less total absence of fighters and AA in this theatre for the first few months of the war and will absolutely have the Allied player take note (more so than losing a forward sub base!).

Not to mention the supplies to ship in to rebuild the damaged industry or the supplies that need to be shipped in to replace the supplies not produced by the destroyed/damaged industry.

[mind_messing]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

ORIGINAL: mind_messing

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101




Yes, I am now leaning against the operation. I was thinking of an attack on Midway. He is using it as a forward submarine base that I was looking to deprive him off and also as an attempt to draw out his carriers for a battle. Now I don't think I will do it though - not worth the risk and my forces won't be ready for a while.

I'd do some serious thinking of the cost for taking a base such as Midway as Japan, both in terms of fuel and in terms of the assets that it would require.

At the end of the day, you take a forward sub base from the Allies, which is nice. Allied subs will then just move to Johnstone Island, and you've much the same problem.

If it's the carriers you want to flush out, I'd consider using the KB to attack Australian industry and manpower.

That will generate permanent VP's for you to bank for later in the war, is very low cost given the more or less total absence of fighters and AA in this theatre for the first few months of the war and will absolutely have the Allied player take note (more so than losing a forward sub base!).

Not to mention the supplies to ship in to rebuild the damaged industry or the supplies that need to be shipped in to replace the supplies not produced by the destroyed/damaged industry.

That's a fringe benefit (at best).

Supply won't be a genuine consideration for any Allied player that has a handle on logistics, even assuming they make the decision to repair damaged industry (which would be a mistake).

The motivation for an Allied response would overwhelmingly be the permanent VP gain for Japan.

[DesertWolf101]

I very much see the benefit of operations targeting Allied industry in Australia. I can't pursue such a strategy in this campaign however as our house rules preclude strategic bombing until June 1943.

[mind_messing]

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101

I very much see the benefit of operations targeting Allied industry in Australia. I can't pursue such a strategy in this campaign however as our house rules preclude strategic bombing until June 1943.

Well, there's a lesson in here about the comparative merits of house rules [:D]

[Alfred]

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101

I very much see the benefit of operations targeting Allied industry in Australia. I can't pursue such a strategy in this campaign however as our house rules preclude strategic bombing until June 1943.

You can try naval bombardment and if you are very, very, very lucky ....

Alfred

[DesertWolf101]

ORIGINAL: mind_messing

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101

I very much see the benefit of operations targeting Allied industry in Australia. I can't pursue such a strategy in this campaign however as our house rules preclude strategic bombing until June 1943.

Well, there's a lesson in here about the comparative merits of house rules [:D]

The rule is not entirely one sided though. I don't have to worry about protecting the Magwe oilfield and home island industry for at least another year and it also gave me free reign to capture the oil fields in the SRA very early without fear of providing them with adequate protection.

[DesertWolf101]

ORIGINAL: Alfred

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101

I very much see the benefit of operations targeting Allied industry in Australia. I can't pursue such a strategy in this campaign however as our house rules preclude strategic bombing until June 1943.

You can try naval bombardment and if you are very, very, very lucky ....

Alfred

Yes indeed. I actually accumulated 90 Strategic Points when I heavily bombed the Australian ports in the first few days of the war.

[DesertWolf101]

March 18, 1942

Turns are finally starting to flow at the normal pace.

South Pacific

Pago Pago is given another good shelling by my battleships. This is followed up by a deliberate assault that only manages a 1 to 2 ratio. It looks like I will have to soften up the Marines here for a while longer before I overcome their defense.

India

A number of Allied sweeps come in over Diamond Harbor this turn. The first sweep of 10 Hurricane IIb fighters is annihilated by a low CAP, but they do manage to tire out my fighters and the subsequent Hurricane IIa and P-38E sweeps do better. 12 Hurricanes and a P-38E are lost for 4 Zeros and 2 Oscars over Diamond Harbor this turn.

My success in the air over Diamond Harbor is balanced out by a largely failed air attack on Dacca. In an attempt to hit the P-38E fighters based there, I lose 8 Sallys and 4 Nells to the defending Hurricane CAP and manage only to knock out one P-38E on the ground.

China

The Japanese Army investing Chungking was finally rested enough to attempt a sixth attack on the city. Unfortunately, the result was decidedly subpar. Forts were knocked down to 0 but at the cost of some 450 Japanese combat squads disabled. I will likely wait for some reinforcing infantry divisions before I try again. Meanwhile, the Japanese air force will keep busy hitting the airfields and the Chinese troops in the city. The hardest thing about this siege is the way the Chinese formations keep coming back. The destruction of a large number of Chinese Corps earlier in the campaign is coming back to haunt me.

[RangerJoe]

But when they come back, there is not enough artillery devices for them.

[Lowpe]

It is March 18, 1942 and Chungking has 0 forts. You have done it about as fast as humanly possible.

What is far worse is destroying the isolated Chinese units with no valid retreat paths.

[DesertWolf101]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

But when they come back, there is not enough artillery devices for them.

Yes, thankfully so. Their lack of firepower is likely the reason why the vast bulk of my losses in the siege have been in disabled rather than destroyed squads.

[DesertWolf101]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

It is March 18, 1942 and Chungking has 0 forts. You have done it about as fast as humanly possible.

What is far worse is destroying the isolated Chinese units with no valid retreat paths.

It is true that in hindsight I could probably have been a little more careful with the destruction of some of the Chinese units. On the flip side however, the majority of those were largely unavoidable as my opponent did a good job of repeatedly placing them on and along my critical supply routes. I wouldn't have been able to reach Chungking at the time I did if I had not dealt with them.

[RangerJoe]

If you can, push them into a position where you can surround them, invest them, control every hexside and then just leave a unit strong enough to defeat them defensively but not to destroy them until later. But a good opponent may not allow you to do that and will try to sacrifice them if it does happen.

[DesertWolf101]

March 19, 1942

Submarines

I-28 launches six torpedoes at heavy cruiser Vincennes at Umnak Island but failed to score a hit.

India

I was met with some bad news in my nightly bombardments of Calcutta this turn. DD Karukaya, a small Wakatake class destroyer, hits a mine and promptly sinks.

P-38E fighters come over Diamond Harbor again today. I lose 8 Zero fighters for 4 P-38Es.

Burma

B-17E bombers raid Rangoon but the local Zero CAP disrupts their aim.

The 14th tank regiment takes Katha.