A Good Place to Start - Matthew (A) v Fokko (J) - Bottlenecks Mod

[LargeSlowTarget]

Hey @M Peaston, glad to see that this game is still on!

Depends on the SY type. If a repair SY, he doesn't have as many repair points until he fixes it. Each point repaired eats 1000 supply and supply is what Japan never gets enough of.

In this mod, I’ve replaced the uniform '1000 supplies' repair cost with a more nuanced system.
Costs are now differentiated by industry.
For example, 'one foot in the water' structures like shipyards are now more expensive to expand/repair than land-based ones to reflect the extra engineering efforts required for coastal or aquatic structures.

Here are the repair costs:

Oil 2000
Resources 500
Manpower 1000
HI 2000
Naval Sy 5000
Merchant Sy 5000
Repair Sy 3000
Armament Assembly 1000
Vehicle Assembly 2000
LI 500
Refinery 2000

[PaxMondo]

Thanks PaxMondo. Full credit to LST for designing this into his mod; it’s a simple enough concept but planning and implementing the ‘Doolittle Raid’ has been really great fun. Whether I would have still thought so had I lost Yorktown and Hornet is another matter…..

Ah, but you didn't, just as historically, they simply don't expect it ...

[RangerJoe]

Thanks PaxMondo. Full credit to LST for designing this into his mod; it’s a simple enough concept but planning and implementing the ‘Doolittle Raid’ has been really great fun. Whether I would have still thought so had I lost Yorktown and Hornet is another matter…..

Ah, but you didn't, just as historically, they simply don't expect it ...

If the KB is protecting Japan or even a significant amount of land based air is protecting Japan, that is a win for the Allies since that is during the expansion phase. If SigInt shows that the KB or mKB is near Japan or if they don't show up in the Indian Ocean, DEI, SWPAC, and/or SoPAC, that keeps them from their expansion as well.

[M Peaston]

Hey @M Peaston, glad to see that this game is still on!

Hi LST, yes this game is still alive and kicking!

[M Peaston]

PaxMondo, Ranger Joe, both good points which I intend to address.

[M Peaston]

This is the last turn to report back on, bringing the AAR up-to-date.

2nd May 1942


CHINA

The last Chinese unit at Anyang surrenders. Anyang was already Japanese held, isolated Chinese units had moved on Anyang just to try and make a nuisance of themselves.


INDIA/BURMA

Japan’s 18th Division captures Konbo on the road to Magwe.

The RN carriers have found no sign of the Japanese battleships so far. The Warspite battlegroup has been ordered into the Bay of Bengal.


ABDA

Japanese fighters have been sweeping over Soerabaja for several days now; all Allied fighters from Java have now been evacuated to Koepang and Darwin.

Japanese 21st Division captures Cheribon, easily overwhelming the defenders.

Mini KB has pulled back towards Celebes, but it looks like Saumlaki, or Darwin, are about to receive a visit from Japanese battleships. Hermes was escorting a Darwin-bound reinforcement convoy (1st and 3rd RAAF BFs, 2/1 MG Bn, 43rd Construction Rgt, 11th MAG HQ), which has been temporarily diverted to Broome until safe to continue. Hermes is continuing on in the hope of getting off a strike at the Japanese battleships, although unless they linger I doubt she’ll make it in time. It could be a trap, in which case being too late might not be a bad thing.

Saumlaki.png (1.32 MiB) Viewed 82 times

SWPAC

Milne Bay - The Allies’ first opposed landing of the Pacific War (and my first opposed landing in witpae now I think about it) went off not too badly - certainly no worse than than some of the landings the Allies have carried out at friendly ports. Japanese defensive fire was ineffective and all the Allied casualties were caused by landing accidents in the dark. It was dawn that brought the greatest peril; anxious eyes scanned the skies, or stared at radar screens, looking out for the Japanese air-raids. After a long day at Action Stations, the only fighters seen were USAAF Airacobras and the new twin-boomed fighters patrolling overhead, and the only bombers were attacking Japanese positions. RADM Callaghan is both concerned and relieved. He wants unloading to be completed by tonight and the fleet well away by daylight; he doesn’t think his luck will last another day. Whether his ships get away unscathed, or whether they take a pounding, he knows that he has already managed to get the bulk of the Allied troops ashore and that his mission has therefore been successful.

Having transported 147th Separate Rgt to Melbourne, the Queen Mary has been ordered to withdraw from the Pacific theatre. This is partly because large, fast ships are required to transport troops across the Atlantic, and partly because Churchill has heard a rumour that Blackadder wanted to use her as a floating HQ.

‘A’ Detachment of 1st Independent Coy holds off an assault by 2nd Sasebo Coy SNLF on Los Negros Is.


SUBMARINE WARFARE

KXII torpedoes and sinks xAP Kashima Maru 1 off of Kendari.
I-1 is attacked and damaged (1 hit) by Allied ASW patrol craft off of Vancouver Island.


OPERATION NEPUTUNE.

Yorktown and Hornet have reached the Allied picket-line NW of Midway, with no sign, yet, of being pursued by KB, so I think yes, I have gotten away with this. This also brings me on to the wider question; where is KB? Other than that it was previously operating out of Truk, Allied Intelligence has no idea.

- KB doesn’t seem to be pursuing the Doolittle raiders
- It hasn’t, as yet, attempted to interfere with the Milne Bay landing (despite Allied intentions being so clearly telegraphed).
- It isn’t yet supporting Japanese operations in the DEI.
- It might be lurking in the Malacca strait waiting to ambush the RN carriers, but there is no evidence of this, and KB has done nothing to help the Japanese take control of the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal.

Now, as much as I would like the opportunity to start wearing down Japanese naval aviation, this is something that can wait for future battles. The fact that up to now I have been able to build up my forces largely free from much interference from KB has been an absolute godsend, and it’s enabling me to start contesting the initiative. Long may this situation continue!

I don’t think this situation will continue for long, though. I think May is going to prove to be a decisive month, with the Japanese advance bumping up against Allies’ main defence lines. I think KB will be coming out to play soon enough, and I’m sure my opponent will have some nasty surprises up his sleeve for me.

[BBfanboy]

The sleeve surprises aren't too nasty, but the ones they pull out of their shorts ...

[RangerJoe]

One way to find the KB is to keep track of the escorting ships.

Once your weaker Chinese units return to Chungking, consider having them relocate close to India. Check the supply route situation and see if they can get supplies from India. Make sure that all buyable Chinese units end up moving that way but some of them might need to get trashed so you can buy them cheaply. You can also move the Chinese air units to India to train once they are bought out.

If you can do so, bring some base forces such as those from Burma to the mountains for base protection. Some Commonwealth armoured units, AT units, and artillery would be useful as well. Those will stop the Japanese armoured forces and give some backbone to the Chinese infantry. Look at Lowpe's latest AAR to see what he did.

[M Peaston]

The sleeve surprises aren't too nasty, but the ones they pull out of their shorts ...

Eeeek!!

[M Peaston]

One way to find the KB is to keep track of the escorting ships.

Once your weaker Chinese units return to Chungking, consider having them relocate close to India. Check the supply route situation and see if they can get supplies from India. Make sure that all buyable Chinese units end up moving that way but some of them might need to get trashed so you can buy them cheaply. You can also move the Chinese air units to India to train once they are bought out.

If you can do so, bring some base forces such as those from Burma to the mountains for base protection. Some Commonwealth armoured units, AT units, and artillery would be useful as well. Those will stop the Japanese armoured forces and give some backbone to the Chinese infantry. Look at Lowpe's latest AAR to see what he did.

Other than some persistent Japanese air-raids against isolated units, and a daily bombardment by Japanese units of the 4th Guerrilla Corps at Poyang, China is quiet. However, this will change.

Preparations have long been underway for the upcoming ‘Harmony’ offensive, due to start later this month. The Chinese airforce is reorganising and re-equipping with H81-A3s being handed over by the AVG and with the slow but steady flow of Lancers being imported. USAAF ground personnel have established a forward base for the AVG, and Chinese armies have been quietly gathering and carrying out approach marches towards their start lines.

Chiang Kai-Chek intends to show that Chinese armies can fight. Maybe then the Allies will take him seriously and provide China with the assistance and resources it needs.

I don’t think I need to bother about trying to get some Chinese units trashed - I think they are about to take care of that themselves….

[RangerJoe]

I would not start an offensive with the Chinese unless they are in Burma and eating Indian curry. You will expend supplies that you will need for defence. I would turn off all Chinese replacements except for any units that have been bought out and are eating Indian curry or are needed for very important defensive positions in X3 terrain. Let the supplies that are there be used to repair disabled devices. Don't have any HQ units outside of bases, leave them in bases to help repair devices in units.

Remember that you can fly out Chinese units that have been bought out as well. Let those parts eating Indian curry receive replacements.