Spanking Lowpe (NJP72 vs Lowpe (A))

[Lowpe]

A little smaller map, I think....good progress. No losses so far, knock on wood!

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[witpqs]

Clear like John Madden style!

[BBfanboy]

Interesting - most players seem to think they need to take back New Caledonia before venturing on to the Solomons, but you have outflanked NC and he has the dilemma of a perilous attempt to lift his troops off the island or abandoning them to 'wither on the vine'. Nicely done!

[Lowpe]

Interesting - most players seem to think they need to take back New Caledonia before venturing on to the Solomons, but you have outflanked NC and he has the dilemma of a perilous attempt to lift his troops off the island or abandoning them to 'wither on the vine'. Nicely done!

Thanks. Japan doesn't seem to use their forward bases very well...no supporting bases, no SAGs hiding so far, etc so I am pushing forward here rather than in the Marshalls....and why not? I have dot bases still....with which to put forward troops and navsearch once clear of IJN shipping I can send forward low value amphibs with more troops....but boy do I suffer click fatigue. I really fear the end game with all those units.

I am a horrible AFB player. I leave so many things undone each turn because I simply get fatigued...for example I don't think I have looked at the intel reports in a month or more. I know what I want to do and use my recon/search to figure things out instead....just me, don't do this in your games. The only times I ever look at that intel screen is when I can't get intel any other way like during the Marcus Island invasion...I used tracker to sort by base to check for what kind of troops where there (but since I have had to start a fresh tracker database that report is no longer meaningful.

What I am not really showing is my naval bombardment groups, from desrons to the 18" BBs....example from the 4th of Dec. Should hit Port Moresby, New Caledonia today/tomorrow. Seem to be hitting something somewhere every other day.


Night Naval bombardment of Norfolk Island at 113,170

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
BB Idaho
DD Worden
DD Drayton
DD McCalla
DE Lawrence

Japanese ground losses:
133 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 8
Port hits 4

OS2U-3 Kingfisher acting as spotter for BB Idaho
BB Idaho firing at 32nd Nav Gsn Unit


Good intel, and some pressure....trying not to be too predictable until I get great and deep naval search.

What else....Ceylon is the only forward base that bothers me, trying to figure out how to get some transports around it. Should have left a bunch at Port Madras...

[Encircled]

Click fatigue and turn fatigue is real

I stopped my last game in 1944 because I was taking four/five/six hours a turn, and when I cut that down, I kept forgetting things and making mistakes

Completely ruined the enjoyment of the game, and I'm not sure what to do about getting to that stage (as I know the amount of units you get just gets more and more and more and more)

[Lowpe]

December 7th, 1942

A year at war! Canberra is a beefy girl!

Night Naval bombardment of Port Moresby at 98,130 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 5 damaged

154 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
CA Canberra
CA Pensacola, Shell hits 3
DD Voyager
DD Stuart
DD Hull
DD Farragut
DD Mugford
DD Blue

Japanese ground losses:
28 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 6

CA Canberra firing at 48th Field Artillery Regiment
SOC-1 Seagull acting as spotter for CA Pensacola
CA Pensacola firing at Wake Coastal Gun Battalion

Looks bad for the Pensacola...as they are penetrating hits, from big guns, but it is all fog of war....Pensy has 0 damage across all systems!

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[Lowpe]

Ndeni is secured, and will be the launching pad into Guadalcanal area. Will start flying some troops forward shortly.

Goodness, there are soo many US units available for this operation....switching from hunting ASW with our escorts to covering the amphib task forces moving troops forward. Leap frogging, establish naval search, then pummel these isolated Japanese bases with our bombardment groups....especially desrons. No point in risking the heavier 14"x12 bombardment groups of which we have two in the area (Idaho Group at NZ) and Carpenter Group at Suva (New Mexico and Mississippi). The 7 heavy cruisers in the Yorktown group will likely bombard and shut down Noumea tomorrow while they retire and rearm and refuel.

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[Lowpe]

Looking to encircle the Marshalls'...I think Ponape will be the most difficult.

Seems to me once America gets naval search from multiple bases, pretty hard for Japan to counter...all the multiple small units that America can throw forward...Japans last two counter invasions have been failures at Ndeni and Marcus Island.

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[Lowpe]

How do AFBs tackle the Marianas invasion....staged from Pearl or do you take the Marshalls first?

I wonder what the disruption is to troops staged from Pearl?

For Japan, is the Marianas a must hold?

Dare I risk this before the Hellcats show up?

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[Lowpe]

Probably an opportunistic invasion of Kuriles along with Marianas is I can scrounge enough shipping together.

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[Lowpe]

It is a relief that the Wake batteries are here at PM, rather than at say Ponape.

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[Lowpe]

So one year of war and I think we are seeing the negative effects of trying for auto victory and failing. Can Japan even get auto victory without taking all of China? I think Japan peaked at 2.2 VP ratio, and now it stands at 1.90.

Japan suffers from a lack of ground units, especially against an early Allied advance. The shortage is exacerbated with a larger than normal Japanese perimeter (holdings at Perth, Darwin, PM) and of course a very hot war still in China.

Japan has failed to establish a perimeter, failed to take dot bases and even some level 1 ports allowing for a very low risk American advance in the Pacific. Not taking the small bases is certainly sloppy play (more click fatigue?).

I was trying to come up with some advice for AFBs, but overall I think most AFBs don't focus enough on delaying Japan from conquering China. Heavy fighting in China really effects Japan. I always wondered what the effect would be if Japan attempted a historical China but never found out (probably not good).

Of course, you don't want to lose your fleet carriers or APs either. After that....pressure Japan with your disposable assets. Counter punch, raid, threaten, mislead. Look to where Japan is weak. Even in this game, where Japan has Perth and Diego Garcia, I bet I could land and take Java if I wanted to in late first quarter 1943.

Perhaps a big decision is when to challenge the KB....wait for Hellcats? The first Essex arrives May 43, I think. Hellcats a month or two prior. It is so easy to see, that once the KB is marginalized, how the speed of an Allied advance can accelerate. Allies have so many units.

Between two equal players, barring extreme bad luck and foolish play, I doubt the Allies can pull off a victory against the KB in 1942. Japan has too many advantages...crew experience, iboats, planes. But with better radar, 40mm upgrades, Hellcats, improved and numerous subs, it is a different story mid 43 and on.

I guess I will attempt to encircle the Marshalls, push on Rabaul, as I wait for the fleet carriers to fully upgrade and repair...then perhaps a push on the Marianas and Kuriles? I don't really fancy waiting for Hellcats...

[BBfanboy]

Ponape has a small naval fortress of its own, with no AV IIRC. So bring enough bombardment ships to suppress it and a regiment or two to take on the likely Naval Guards and BF. At 10 hexes from Truk this is a good base for medium bombers. If Ponape looks too vulnerable to air attacks from Truk before you get established, taking Kusaie Island to help cover the Ponape invasion is a good idea (if you can build a level 2 AF fast!).

The Marianas are essential for Japan so they will likely bring the whole navy to bear on any invasion attempt. It is too isolated from other Allied bases for you to have LBA support but the Japanese will have that for the KB & Combined Fleet. The trade-off of invading early (before March 1943) is that Japan has few ground troops available until Garrison Units and coastal gun batteries arrive in 1943.

So expect a carrier clash in any event and only do the invasion if you are willing to sacrifice carriers and BBs to support it. The only other thing I can think of is to devise a way to bleed his carrier air strength before confronting with your carriers. That could happen around Kusaie-Ponape or perhaps the Solomons.

EDIT to add: The Bonins are similarly lightly held (unless he reinforced because of the Marcus Invasion), so an invasion there could also be possible while drawing the IJN and even LBA from the north. Note that Iwo Jima has the best SPS and is furthest from Japan.

[Encircled]

He's not built up the Marianas

You have to go for it I think, as he's limited to what LBA he can put there because he's not built it up

I think you've got the balance between attack and defence in 1942 absolutely spot on, and you've slowed him down in China enough so that he's going to be distracted by efforts over there while you take territory he can't afford to lose

And if you win the Carrier battle, then he's really going to struggle to stop you just piling further through, and those areas won't be built up either

[Lowpe]

Ponape has a small naval fortress of its own, with no AV IIRC. So bring enough bombardment ships to suppress it and a regiment or two to take on the likely Naval Guards and BF. At 10 hexes from Truk this is a good base for medium bombers. If Ponape looks too vulnerable to air attacks from Truk before you get established, taking Kusaie Island to help cover the Ponape invasion is a good idea (if you can build a level 2 AF fast!).

The Marianas are essential for Japan so they will likely bring the whole navy to bear on any invasion attempt. It is too isolated from other Allied bases for you to have LBA support but the Japanese will have that for the KB & Combined Fleet. The trade-off of invading early (before March 1943) is that Japan has few ground troops available until Garrison Units and coastal gun batteries arrive in 1943.

So expect a carrier clash in any event and only do the invasion if you are willing to sacrifice carriers and BBs to support it. The only other thing I can think of is to devise a way to bleed his carrier air strength before confronting with your carriers. That could happen around Kusaie-Ponape or perhaps the Solomons.

EDIT to add: The Bonins are similarly lightly held (unless he reinforced because of the Marcus Invasion), so an invasion there could also be possible while drawing the IJN and even LBA from the north. Note that Iwo Jima has the best SPS and is furthest from Japan.

I think I can do alright against the KB....at least I have some ideas. I have yet to really slog thru the OOB to figure out if I have enough shipping.

I am not sure I agree that the Marianas are essential, of course every JFB is different. But there is no economy there, it doesn't stop the fuel from the SRA and you can't bomb Honshu for a long time yet. The CVs are essential, and the Destroyers....I fought for the Marianas in one game, primarily because everyone told me they were essential. This was in Dec of 1943 roughly. I lost the CV clash, and then Japan was able to invade Hokkaido in Feb or March 44 invade Honshu...game over Jan 1, 1945. I gave up something like 60,000 strategic VP. If I would have kept the KB...it would have delayed the Hokkaido invasion long enough that the air war over Honshu would have most likely been different (I did come very close to winning it or delaying it) this was my pickup game with TIemanj.

In a lot of ways, the Kuriles might make more sense for an early 1943 offensive as the line of supply and staging bases are so much closer....and then a mid 43 invasion of the Marianas....just throwing out ideas now....I need to spend more time examining the OOB.

[Lowpe]

He's not built up the Marianas

You have to go for it I think, as he's limited to what LBA he can put there because he's not built it up

I think you've got the balance between attack and defence in 1942 absolutely spot on, and you've slowed him down in China enough so that he's going to be distracted by efforts over there while you take territory he can't afford to lose

And if you win the Carrier battle, then he's really going to struggle to stop you just piling further through, and those areas won't be built up either

It is so hard for Japan at this point...there simply aren't enough ground troops even in a scenario 2 iron babes he which there is a lot of extra forces...if Japan loses their carriers, or worse didn't accelerate al l of them they are in deep deep trouble....I know the Yamato exists, I can't remember if her sis has been spotted or not.

Japan's perimeter is always like an eggshell...crack it and they really need to scramble to stop a deep penetration. Plus, IJ gets worse and worse at offensive ground operations....

[Lowpe]

Dec 8th, 1942

IJN responding to British Cruisers at Calcutta....

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[Lowpe]

Japan's thoughts and reflections on one year of war:

"My thoughts (Japan):

*Developing an irrational fear of Allied subs after 2 nasty incidents
*A little bit too carefree with my CAs
*Haven't sank enough of the USN
*Happy enough with the ground war- which is probably what I am most comfortable with
*In the air, so so
*Really enjoy sub warfare
*Atoll invasions are tough

Loving every minute of the game "

[Lowpe]

Dec 9th, 1942

Kalgoorlie, east of Perth, the first rail junction into western Australia....two Allied armored units approach the station from the south...they have left their AA, infantry, staff and support troops several days behind in a bold bid to take the railroad station by surprise...only two enemy units of unknown strength. The Stuarts will shock attack, while the recon forces deliberately push forward...as they take position the enemy bombers scream in, like yesterday. They are fairly ineffective.

Afternoon Air attack on 193rd Tank Battalion, at 56,147 (Kalgoorlie)

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 3
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 10

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on 2/11th Armoured Car Regiment, at 56,147 (Kalgoorlie)

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 9
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 10

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
9 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

[Lowpe]

No plan survives enemy contact, and Japan, true to their nature launches their own Banzai attack....right into the teeth of the M3 Stuart tanks and Humber armored cars spitting 30 caliber goodness...but an unpleasant surprise, the IJA has railed in another formation. Intel is going to assume the enemy 41st Regiment is entrained, since Japan lacks artillery support in their charge.

Ground combat at Kalgoorlie (56,147)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 1224 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 170

Defending force 858 troops, 3 guns, 130 vehicles, Assault Value = 73

Japanese adjusted assault: 17

Allied adjusted defense: 19

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

Combat modifiers
Defender: preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker: op mode(-), shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
208 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 22 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
8 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
41st Infantry Regiment
I/81st Naval Guard Unit
2nd Sasebo SNLF Coy

Defending units:
193rd Tank Battalion
2/11th Armoured Car Regiment