Attack Attack Attack - a Hotseat AAR

[Remington700]

Japan September 27th

India
Rain, rain and more rain. The Imperial Guards division remain in basic supply due to partisan activity in Indochina. There is not enough supply to go around. Regardless, air strikes continue against the Indian 4th Corps which results in a major dogfight. 3 Zero SPs and a bomber SP are shot down by the 1st IAF which lose a total of 5 SPs. At this point the Japanese can afford the loses more than allied forces.

[Remington700]

Indian Ocean
The Southern Air Fleet was unsuccessful refueling from an oiler (I forgot again) but continues with convoy attacks. There is no sign of enemy ships in the area however the recon level is very low. While it is a risk to stay in one place the fleet cannot be attacked by ground-based air units. And the Japanese high command welcomes an unsupported attack from US carriers – although this may have backfired due to my supply mistake.

[Remington700]

South China
Supply remains strong so I continue with the overkill on supply line defense. The Japanese 11th army attacks south of the Yuan River basin pushing the disorganized 33rd army back to the Jinsha River. The 11th continues their advance driving a wedge through the Chinese line. This breaks the enemy positions in South China. The 11th has been ordered to hold at all costs until the breakthrough can be thoroughly exploited.

[Remington700]

Central Pacific
Japanese submarines leave Tarawa to hunt allied convoys in the Pacific.

[Remington700]

South Pacific
The Kido Butai remains in Rabaul. They have successfully upgraded carrier operations and continue to repair damaged ships. They will be able to leave port next turn.

I need a strategy in this area. Capturing New Zealand would be a major blow to the allies. It will take a lot of support, good weather and a bit of luck. Australia just does not seem to be a worthy objective due to the resources required for capture and occupation. I think it is better to sever all their connection with the outside world.

[Remington700]

Builds
No builds this turn. Continue with replacements at 295 to repair navy, air and ground units.
Oil supply grows much stronger (36%) with the Kido Butai at port.

[CrackingShow]

It's a shame you didn't get Suva, most likely too difficult to do now that there is Air in the area. I wouldn't bother with New Zealand, it has very little economic value and it would lead to further extension of your forces.

[Remington700]

If my math is correct India will stop sending 20 PPs to the UK, but in return they will not receive the 5 Oil Points (OP) and will no longer receive 40 PPs from the US. This will be a good test to better understand the convoy system.

Production Points
For those of you interested in my math – I was wrong. The PPs going to the UK leave the colonies but never arrive.

UK: 15PPs*1.57=23.6 rounding down to 23 which matches the production dashboard.

India: Rounding down each calculation = 10SPs*50%+10*50%+10*50%+5*50%+5*50%+3*50% = (5+5+5+2+2+1) = 20 (same as what is shipped to the UK when convoys are open) *1.4 = 28 + 4PPs for manpower = 32. This matches the production dashboard.

[Remington700]

Turn Report
No merchant shipping losses after I closed the Indian Ocean convoy route. I will leave it off for another turn but don’t know how long I can keep it up. Switching up convoy timing may save merchant marine but is shorting PPs in much needed areas.

[Remington700]

Convoy Attacks
Japanese "Bettys" takes a hit and fail to sink a South Pacific convoy ship northwest of New Zealand. I think bumping up the number of escorts last turn may have helped; there is no mention of destroyers making a difference so I will scrap that idea. Japanese subs took a SP loss, scoring no hits.

[Remington700]

Station HYPO
The codebreaking group at HYPO is dissolved due to political infighting. Code breaking and signals analysis is centralized at OP-20-G in Washington DC. Despite the posturing, results are obtained, and the Japanese code is further compromised.

It appears my earlier assumption is incorrect – breaking a code does not change hex intelligence directly; it seems to provide a greater chance to return a higher result when using intelligence units, but I still don’t know for sure.

[Remington700]

India
Construction of an airfield along the Koshi River is complete and the P38s of the US India fighter group relocate to their new home. The Burma Corps replace the understrength Waziristan Corps on the Dacca line. No attacks are made due to weather.

[Remington700]

Indian Ocean
The Japanese CV strike force has disappeared. Shutting down the Indian convoy lane stopped the attacks on shipping but has also eliminated any chance of a surprise allied air strike on enemy carriers. The US CV group moves towards the last know location of the enemy. I hope to draw them into combat.

The 114th garrison division arrives in Diego Garcia. The port is supplied – I was happy to learn transporting supplies is separate from production.

[Remington700]

South China
I have no way to stop the Japanese 11th army’s push. The decision is made to retreat to the Jinsha River. Supply will be better which should help the recovery of effectiveness. Due to the constant pressure, I found it hard to cut off replacements for a turn so I can build a supply truck. However now is the time as I just traded space for time. If I don’t open the road to Ledo soon, I will be in trouble in China.

[Remington700]

Central Pacific
Escorts supported by patrolling destroyers sink an enemy submarine SP. I bring other destroyers closer in, anticipating the enemy’s movement.

[Remington700]

South Pacific
US 1st Corps lands in New Zealand. The NZ unit is beefed up by the Auckland garrison.

West Coast
Naval Air ships out to Australia on the way to Ceylon

[Remington700]

Builds
UK: No replacements while convoys are off.
India: Replacements remain at 51-PP. I will keep an eye on oil usage.
China: No replacements to build stockpile for two supply units.
US: Transport and a Fighter bomber

[Remington700]

Japan October 11th

India
Japanese bombers continue to pound the positions of the 4th Indian Corps. The 25th and Indian National armies attack the line but are repulsed. Losses are heavy on both sides, especially air units, but the Dacca line remains unbroken.

[Remington700]

Indian Ocean
The Southern Air Fleet refuels at sea and steams southeast along the convoy lanes. It's clear they have been shut down, but for how long? The enemy fleet has been spotted by scout planes as the two combatants cross within 100 miles of each other. While there is no intel on the enemy, the Japanese fleet remains in the area to engage their foe. Leaving Rabaul, the Kido Butai steams full speed to join in the hunt. This leaves the South Pacific unprotected.

[Remington700]

South China
No combat this turn. Air units are rebuilding effectiveness and ground forces cross the Yuan attempting to maintain contact with the enemy. There are holes in the line however with the rain, and the head long retreat of the Chinese army, the threat of counterattack is small. The 64th division ships in from the Japanese mainland to help with partisan control in southeast China.