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

[BBfanboy]

flounder - to flop around helplessly or ineffectively [:-]
founder - to sink on a (relatively) even keel; the person who originates a new settlement or company [;)]

Correct - you would need a large enough ARD to accommodate the damaged ship and repair the float damage. In stock, Japan does not have a large enough ARD, only the former French one of 3,000 tons capacity that starts in Truk. I am not sure if mods give the Japanese any ARDs.

You can choose to risk moving the ship, in which case you should repair all the System damage first to give it a chance. Then move in short hops so that you can disband and pump out minor float if some occurs. If it sinks, you lose the VPs and the use of the ship.

You can choose to leave it where it is and it may not get sunk by the enemy so you lose no VPs - but you lose the use of the ship.

You can scuttle it and save 10% of the VPs and the captain, but you lose the use of the ship.

[DesertWolf101]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

flounder - to flop around helplessly or ineffectively [:-]
founder - to sink on a (relatively) even keel; the person who originates a new settlement or company [;)]

Correct - you would need a large enough ARD to accommodate the damaged ship and repair the float damage. In stock, Japan does not have a large enough ARD, only the former French one of 3,000 tons capacity that starts in Truk. I am not sure if mods give the Japanese any ARDs.

You can choose to risk moving the ship, in which case you should repair all the System damage first to give it a chance. Then move in short hops so that you can disband and pump out minor float if some occurs. If it sinks, you lose the VPs and the use of the ship.

You can choose to leave it where it is and it may not get sunk by the enemy so you lose no VPs - but you lose the use of the ship.

You can scuttle it and save 10% of the VPs and the captain, but you lose the use of the ship.

Wait, you mean to tell me that my ship won't flop around helplessly as it sinks?? [:D]

In all seriousness though, thank you for noting the difference and for confirming my lack of good options. I think I will risk the slow and dangerous voyage to the shipyard. I doubt the ship will make it, but I don't like just giving up on it.

[Alfred]

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101

Noob Question of the Day

I have a valuable but heavily damaged Yusen S class ship that I am struggling to figure out how to repair. It was damaged all the way back during the invasion of Java (hit some rocks I believe) and has very high floatation damage. I have been able to repair its minor damage but not the major damage. Problem is I can't get it to a shipyard without serious risk that it will flounder. Is there a way around this conundrum? As far as I can ascertain, even with repair ships I can't repair major damage above 5 without a shipyard or suitably sized ARD. Is this correct? Thanks in advance!

You need to carefully read s.11 of the Ship Repair Guide.

https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.a ... r&#2990845

Subject to the specifics here, there are more options.

Alfred

[DesertWolf101]

ORIGINAL: Alfred

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101

Noob Question of the Day

I have a valuable but heavily damaged Yusen S class ship that I am struggling to figure out how to repair. It was damaged all the way back during the invasion of Java (hit some rocks I believe) and has very high floatation damage. I have been able to repair its minor damage but not the major damage. Problem is I can't get it to a shipyard without serious risk that it will flounder. Is there a way around this conundrum? As far as I can ascertain, even with repair ships I can't repair major damage above 5 without a shipyard or suitably sized ARD. Is this correct? Thanks in advance!

You need to carefully read s.11 of the Ship Repair Guide.

https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.a ... air�

Subject to the specifics here, there are more options.

Alfred

Thanks for the link Alfred, this looks like a very useful resource to use.

[DesertWolf101]

May 13, 1942

North Pacific

Another Zero sweep goes in over Umnak Island but this time no CAP is encountered. In any case, the sweep paves the way for a small KB airstrike that targets a surviving AP from the last few days. The AP is sunk but not before it largely unloads its passengers and cargo. I wonder what it delivered? I guess I shall find out when my forces invade the island.

[DesertWolf101]

May 14, 1942

Submarines

One of my Sally bombers on ASW duty is shot down by an Allied submarine. Pretty cool, I have had my aircraft damaged by submarine flak but never outright shot down before.

Northern Australia

The Yokosuka 1st SNLF carries out a successful parachute drop on Derby, capturing the base and wiping out the RAN Base Force there.

India

Evoken is carrying out a massive reorganization of his forces in India. My recon of Bombay now detects 43 ground units there. With such numbers moving to the city during our armistice, I fear my chance of seizing that critical port is now probably out of reach.

[DesertWolf101]

May 15, 1942

India

The number of Allied land units in Bombay has reached 83!

Evoken has evacuated from Hyderabad so we agreed that I could take it even with the Armistice. I order some Japanese units to advance there.

[DesertWolf101]

May 16, 1942

China

The latest Japanese attack forces another two Chinese Corps to surrender at Chengtu. The bulk of the Japanese army here is ordered to march out towards other Chinese pockets while some troops will temporarily stay behind to finish off the Chinese remnants before catching up.

Home Front

The Yamato super battleship has finally come online! Looks like a beauty and can't wait to test out in battle. I presume Lima class AKEs are sufficient to rearm it in the absence of a large enough port?

[Q-Ball]

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101

The Yamato super battleship has finally come online! Looks like a beauty and can't wait to test out in battle. I presume Lima class AKEs are sufficient to rearm it in the absence of a large enough port?

Yes, but only the LIMA-class among your AKE options. The rest are too small.

[DesertWolf101]

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101

The Yamato super battleship has finally come online! Looks like a beauty and can't wait to test out in battle. I presume Lima class AKEs are sufficient to rearm it in the absence of a large enough port?

Yes, but only the LIMA-class among your AKE options. The rest are too small.

Good news, I have already converted quite a number of LIMAs to AKEs. Thanks.

[DesertWolf101]

May 17, 1942

With the armistice holding in India with another week to go (and with Pago Pago seized), the game is witnessing a bit of a lull in the action. On my side however, plenty of forces are on the move, with armies marching in China, amphibious invasions getting ready to sail or underway, and planning and preparation for Siberian Winter developing further. On the home front, Tokyo has finally amassed more than a million in supply. Not sure what that means exactly as to the health of my economy, but it's the first time I see it pass that mark for me.

On the Allied side, it seems there is a full scale reorganization of the logistics and supply system. Evoken has informed me that the effort is keeping him very busy.

[DesertWolf101]

May 18, 1942

China

The last Chinese remnants in the Chengtu pocket surrender to Japanese forces. The Chungking plain is finally completely free of Chinese forces.

[DesertWolf101]

May 19, 1942

North Pacific

I sent a cruiser force to bombard Umnak Island but I foolishly forgot to switch the task force from surface combat to bombardment. Evoken sent his torpedo armed Catalinas to harass the cruisers but with no success, losing a float plane to flak in the process.

Central Pacific

The KB is maneuvering north of the Hawaiian island chain but in a stroke of bad luck it was picked up by naval search at a distance of 17 hexes.

India

The Allied presence in Bombay continues to skyrocket. My air recon picked up 129 lCUs in the city, including approximately 177,000 troops, 1,500 guns, and 1,500 AFVs. I can't imagine Evoken is leaving many forces outside of Bombay in all of India. In fact with him packing everything into Bombay I am pretty sure I can take the rest of the sub-continent except for that city. The question then is whether it is worth triggering the Indian emergency reinforcements to do so.

[Alfred]

Some Allied players, if they feel their opponent is attempting to completely capture India, choose Bombay as their last ditch stand. This is a sub optimal choice. The better choice is Karachi. The only advantage Bombay has over Karachi is that it is Heavy Urban terrain whereas Karachi is Light Urban terrain. The more important advantages lie with Karachi.

1. Karachi is close to the Abadan wormhole. This means that it can be easily resupplied from off map bases. The only way to blockade Karachi requires the KB to permanently be on station just 1 hex away. Well prepared beforehand, Karachi should should survive investment for months. That leaves all other Japanese possessions vulnerable to Allied recapture, even in 1942. Bombay can be blockaded merely by Japanese LBA from captured airfields and IJN subs.

2. Karachi is as the extreme end of Japanese logistics whereas Bombay is near to several important supply depots which would have been captured by Japan on the drive to
Bombay.


The real sting in the Indian Emergency Reinforcement package is provided by the early arrival of substantial numbers of Spitfires. Unless opposed by the best Japanese pilots and airframes, the Spitfires will, not may, quickly gain air superiority over the battlefield. That makes suppression of Allied fortification building very, very difficult. It also tends to ensure Allied supply dumps are not reduced by Japanese air attack.

If you go for knocking out India, you will have to accomplish it before commencing Operation Siberian Winter. The Soviet Mig's impact is similar to that of the Spitfire. You won't have sufficient quality pilots and airframes to be fighting both the MiGs and Spitfires simultaneously.

Alfred

[DesertWolf101]

ORIGINAL: Alfred

Some Allied players, if they feel their opponent is attempting to completely capture India, choose Bombay as their last ditch stand. This is a sub optimal choice. The better choice is Karachi. The only advantage Bombay has over Karachi is that it is Heavy Urban terrain whereas Karachi is Light Urban terrain. The more important advantages lie with Karachi.

1. Karachi is close to the Abadan wormhole. This means that it can be easily resupplied from off map bases. The only way to blockade Karachi requires the KB to permanently be on station just 1 hex away. Well prepared beforehand, Karachi should should survive investment for months. That leaves all other Japanese possessions vulnerable to Allied recapture, even in 1942. Bombay can be blockaded merely by Japanese LBA from captured airfields and IJN subs.

2. Karachi is as the extreme end of Japanese logistics whereas Bombay is near to several important supply depots which would have been captured by Japan on the drive to
Bombay.


The real sting in the Indian Emergency Reinforcement package is provided by the early arrival of substantial numbers of Spitfires. Unless opposed by the best Japanese pilots and airframes, the Spitfires will, not may, quickly gain air superiority over the battlefield. That makes suppression of Allied fortification building very, very difficult. It also tends to ensure Allied supply dumps are not reduced by Japanese air attack.

If you go for knocking out India, you will have to accomplish it before commencing Operation Siberian Winter. The Soviet Mig's impact is similar to that of the Spitfire. You won't have sufficient quality pilots and airframes to be fighting both the MiGs and Spitfires simultaneously.

Alfred

I share the same view on the importance of Karachi. If Evoken loses Karachi I don't think he will be able to reinforce India and over time even his forces in Bombay will be gradually worn down, especially given my naval superiority. As you note, the fact that Karachi is at the far end of the map is also a significant hindrance for Japan and is a point that some Allied players may overlook.

I am still debating whether to push towards Karachi and trigger the emergency reinforcements however. While the prospect of capturing further industry, destroying a number of Allied units, and removing the threat of invasion from India is inviting, such a conquest will require considerable resources (including my strategic reserve) and time that clash with Operation Siberian Winter. The prospect of facing Spitfires early for the reasons you note is also a big hindrance. I remain undecided at this time but I will have to make a decision shortly.

[DesertWolf101]

May 20, 1942

Submarines

Near Hokkaido, SS Trout finds a working torpedo and sinks a small Type-1 TS Japanese tanker. This is the first tanker lost by the Empire.

Further south near Darwin, SS KXVII sinks a small Japanese Akasi-class xAK.

North Pacific

A Japanese task force of three heavy cruisers, two light cruisers, and escorting destroyers shell the Allied forces on Umnak Island. Thankfully this time I remember to put the ships into a bombardment task force.

China

Japanese forces capture Ankang. The conquest in China continues.

[RangerJoe]

If you are going for Karachi, keep an eye on the enemy units there and you might be better off invading there instead of going overland. There may be a fortress there with a couple of 6" guns but if he does not put other CD guns there and sufficient defenders, an invasion should stand a good chance of winning. If you do that, try to get a blocking force paradropped onto a rail line to block faster reinforcements.

[castor troy]

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101

ORIGINAL: Alfred

Some Allied players, if they feel their opponent is attempting to completely capture India, choose Bombay as their last ditch stand. This is a sub optimal choice. The better choice is Karachi. The only advantage Bombay has over Karachi is that it is Heavy Urban terrain whereas Karachi is Light Urban terrain. The more important advantages lie with Karachi.

1. Karachi is close to the Abadan wormhole. This means that it can be easily resupplied from off map bases. The only way to blockade Karachi requires the KB to permanently be on station just 1 hex away. Well prepared beforehand, Karachi should should survive investment for months. That leaves all other Japanese possessions vulnerable to Allied recapture, even in 1942. Bombay can be blockaded merely by Japanese LBA from captured airfields and IJN subs.

2. Karachi is as the extreme end of Japanese logistics whereas Bombay is near to several important supply depots which would have been captured by Japan on the drive to
Bombay.


The real sting in the Indian Emergency Reinforcement package is provided by the early arrival of substantial numbers of Spitfires. Unless opposed by the best Japanese pilots and airframes, the Spitfires will, not may, quickly gain air superiority over the battlefield. That makes suppression of Allied fortification building very, very difficult. It also tends to ensure Allied supply dumps are not reduced by Japanese air attack.

If you go for knocking out India, you will have to accomplish it before commencing Operation Siberian Winter. The Soviet Mig's impact is similar to that of the Spitfire. You won't have sufficient quality pilots and airframes to be fighting both the MiGs and Spitfires simultaneously.

Alfred

I share the same view on the importance of Karachi. If Evoken loses Karachi I don't think he will be able to reinforce India and over time even his forces in Bombay will be gradually worn down, especially given my naval superiority. As you note, the fact that Karachi is at the far end of the map is also a significant hindrance for Japan and is a point that some Allied players may overlook.

I am still debating whether to push towards Karachi and trigger the emergency reinforcements however. While the prospect of capturing further industry, destroying a number of Allied units, and removing the threat of invasion from India is inviting, such a conquest will require considerable resources (including my strategic reserve) and time that clash with Operation Siberian Winter. The prospect of facing Spitfires early for the reasons you note is also a big hindrance. I remain undecided at this time but I will have to make a decision shortly.

If he has enough supply at Bombay and he has built forts it's impossible to take due to the heavy urban defensive multiplier. In my game against Mundy as the Allied he attacked Calcutta with an Army of over 10.000 av. I had 2000 Japanese av in the city with level 9 forts. He lost several thousand av with each attack and only got the forts down to level 6 when his 500.000 men Army was totally worn down and my reinforcements arrived.

Attacking heavy urban hexes is suizide when the enemy has supplies and even without supplies one takes horrendous losses attacking. If you can't get it cheap (which you can't in this case), I wouldn't attack.

[DesertWolf101]

Game Update - May 21-29, 1942

Another shift has occurred in this campaign and a new opponent has been acquired. Evoken has too much on his plate so he thought it was best to step away from this one. Luckily, he knew just the right person to pick up the reigns of the hard pressed Allies, Andy Mac. Andy Mac needs no introduction for the veterans here, but for those not familiar with him he is a very experienced player and a previous dev of the game. Right now we are in the thick of it so I will give a brief summary of what has happened in the last ten game days up to bring us all up to speed.

China

The Japanese have continued their advance and have taken Sian, Ningsia, Ankang, and Tuyun. The Chinese under Andy Mac however have forced their way through one of my cordons and have assembled together a huge army of about 5,000 AV which is currently positioned right next to Sian. I am currently attempting to bring this monstrosity under control and have shaved off about 500AV from it through inflicted losses but right now some of my units are in a vulnerable position and in its sights.

India

The Armistice is no more and Andy Mac has taken a dramatic shift in his positioning. The Allies have evacuated Bombay and have redeployed to northern India, with what appears to be a focus on preventing Karachi from falling (Andy Mac asked for a grace period for me not to attack Karachi while he redeploys and I accepted). I am currently advancing towards Bombay, Madras and other Indian bases and will make a decision whether to go further. Currently I am leaning against it due to Operation Siberian Winter requiring forces and my unwillingness to trigger Indian/British emergency reinforcements.

Southern Indian Ocean

My surface raiders here annihilated a convoy of 12 Euro K xAKs, and three large tankers.

Aleutians

My forces are almost entirely in position for the first stage of the landings. Some hiccups with transport loading and skirting submarine areas has caused delays. I anticipate the actual landings to occur in eight days (game time).

Ceylon

I kept this one close to the chest. Operation Morning Mist is a go. Japanese forces are poised to land on Ceylon the next turn. I have allocated the two elite divisions from the strategic reserve to the operation and am currently seeking to replenish the strategic reserve with other units to compensate. Thus far I have extracted a battered but decent division for the reserve but the Clark garrison is on its last legs and after it collapses I should have another elite division and decent infantry brigade to add to it.

[Alfred]

Alfred 2

Clowns 0

Alfred