Star Wars Episode 7: Revenge of the Allies (Grotius v. Cap)

[Grotius]

Cap & Gown: I've been waiting for you, Grotius. We meet again, at last. The circle is now complete. When I met you I was but the learner. Now, *I* am the master.

Grotius: Only a master of evil, Cap.

(light sabers clash)

Cap & Gown: Your powers are weak, old man.

Grotius: You can't win, Cap. If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you could possibly imagine. Because my carriers will respawn.

[LittleJoe]

Heh


Good to see you two at it again, what scenario this time?

[Grotius]

This is Scenario 115, Andrew Brown's version of the standard campaign game. Cap & Gown has the Empire; I have the Rebellion. His Death Star circles Pearl Harbor. Imperial warships prowl just outside the secret rebel base. The galaxy awaits the clash of steel.

Our conflict is subject to the following rules of engagement:

Sub doctrines off
Damage control on
Advance weather on
FOW on
Surprise on
Historic first turn off
fixed reinforcements
User defined upgrades on

In addition, we have agreed to a series of first-turn rules intended more or less to replicate the historical first turn, but to allow Cap to make some adjustments to reflect the new map (e.g., he can't reach Singapore from Saigon with his Zeroes). He will land at the standard historical spots with the standard load of supply, and I won't create any new TFs, though I am allowed to move existing TFs and ground units. Full details are in his opening posts on our game. In addition, two house rules:

1) Night air attacks can consist of only 1 unit unless it is to bomb manpower.
2) Sub borne invasions can only target base and beach hexes. This is so 20 men with carbines cannot cut off the retreat path of an entire army but will force the players to garrison their bases.

May the Force be with you, Cap & Gown!

[CapAndGown]

C&G: Churchill never told you about your father, did he?

Grotius: He told me enough. He told me you killed him.

C&G: No. I am your father!

Grotius: No, that can't be true! That's impossible! (for one thing, I don't have slanty eyes.)

C&G: Search your feelings, Grotius. You know it to be true! Join me and together we will rule the planet!

Grotius: Never!

C&G: Then it is your destiny to be destroyed!

Well, Grotius said I could peek at this initial post. So I did. After this, this thread will be off limits.

I feel that the farce is with me! I await the day when the rebellion has multiple death stars of its own. Plus death ray B-29s and killer stacks of droids. Yikes! But until then: the rebellion shall be crushed!

[Rob Brennan UK]

Love the Star Wars humour

[DuckofTindalos]

PLAY_FILE_(imperial_march.mp3)_AT_VOLUME_(600%)

[rogueusmc]

I feel that the farce is with me!

I like the SCHWARZ myself

[DuckofTindalos]

I was waiting for somebody to bring that up! Saw the movie the other night on DVD [:D][:D][:D][:D]

[LittleJoe]

ORIGINAL: Terminus

PLAY_FILE_(imperial_march.mp3)_AT_VOLUME_(600%)

Best song you can play while flatenning the allies in early months .

[Arstavidios]

Beware young Padawan.
The evil Jedi Master To-Yoda hs joined the dark side[:-]

[Grotius]

Lord Gown has sent me the Empire's first turn. I'm still busy installing Andrew's map mod, and as I study the map, I'm starting to formulate my plan. In general, I plan to stand and defend in Malaya, the Philippines, and the DEI, though I will perhaps evacuate a few base forces to Darwin.

But as I study the map, a couple of tactics questions have come to mind. One relates to Malaya. As you can see from this shot (below), Andrew's map adds a RR stretching from Khota Baru to Singapore. Does that new feature change Allied tactics significantly in Malaya? Cap seems to think I should evacuate Khota Baru immediately so that I have some undisrupted troops with which to defend lower Malaya. What do you all think?

[Grotius]

Another significant map change relates to China. As you can see, there are changes in the transport infrastructure; e.g., no RR to Yenan. I'm not sure if this means Yenan will be tougher or easier to hold. The Chinese units north of it are hopelessly stranded; I think I'll just send them on a long trek to Langchow. In fact, I wonder if I should make my stand at Changsha and generally concede the RR line to him everywhere else.

[rogueusmc]

Make him fight in China, just don't get surrounded and cut off.

[Captain Cruft]

In Malaya I say fight all the way. Every base that he has to take is at least another day. The only exceptions to this might be Kuantan and Mersing since they are not on his route to Singapore.

FWIW I had some success in testing with holding the Japs up at the mountains to the SW of Kota Bharu. Large defensive bonus there ...

[Grotius]

Thanks for your comments. Captain Cruft, I might try making a stand just one hex SW of Khota Baru, on the mountains. But if I were him, I'd ignore Singora/Alor Star/Georgetown/Taiping/Malacca and pour everything into Khota Baru now. If he can break thru my two brigades (even on the mountains), he can cut off all my forces on the western peninsula, depriving them of their supply line -- and preventing them from getting to Singapore to assist in the defense there.

So I can definitely see fighting SW of Khota Baru. But what about all the combat units at Alor Star, Georgetown, Taiping, and Malacca? Should some or all head for Singapore now?

[Captain Cruft]

Well my theory is that since you cannot hope to hold Malaya try and fight in the most advantageous places. Specifically, if your troops have prep points for where they start then leave them there. Kuala Lumpur produces some 100s of supplies each turn so I don't think you need to worry about getting "cut off".

The other thing is to retain multiple airbases for as long as possible. Particularly in the north, where there are 3 bases on the western coast from which Wildebeests & Swordfishes can interdict the landings. Force him to suppress all your airfields in turn rather than just presenting once juicy target at Singapore. That goes for the Philippines too.

[Grotius]

Right, I'm less worried about running out of supply in the west than I am about failing to make a good stand at Singapore, which after all is the big prize. At scenario start I have only 200-odd assault factors at Singapore, and more than 300 at KL, Malacca, Alor Star, and Taiping. My worry is that with the new RR, he'll blow through my line at Khota Baru (or the mountain SW of it) with a big force that will get to Johore/Singapore before my 300 assault factors at KL, Malacca, etc.

Now, I guess I don't have to move out of Alor Star etc on turn 1, and I do agree with your point about keeping multiple airbases operational. But if he amasses a big force at Khota Baru, it could chase me down that rail line in a matter of days. And if he occupies both Johore and Singapore, my units north of Johore can't get further than Johore because of the ZOC rules.

Anyway, for now I'm inclined to follow your advice and stand my ground everywhere except perhaps Khota Baru. If it's better to defend in the mountain outside town, I might do that. Even then, I suppose I should leave the base force in KB for a turn so that I can rebase the planes next turn? (Per our house rules, I can't rebase them this turn.)

[Captain Cruft]

OK. I suppose I should mention that I have never played the Malaya campaign to a conclusion on this map.

I also suppose a lot depends on what your opponent plays like. If he is a "full speed ahead at all costs" type then your concern about an early loss of Singapore may be valid. If on the other hand he is like me i.e. slow and methodical then I think you don't need to worry too much

Thinking about this raises an issue in my head - what exactly are the Allies trying to achieve by hanging on to Singapore (other than VPs)? To keep hold of a naval base from which the mighty British fleet can strike back at Japan? That might be a useful point but for the minor matter of the War in Europe.

The only thing I can think of is if we are trying to delay Japan entering into the Indian Ocean. Invading the DEI can be leveraged from Kuching and Davao.

Anyway, I'll butt out now and just enjoy the show

[Grotius]

(A Falcon fighter spots a lone Imperial fighter off Hawaii.)

Grotius: Look at him. He's headed for that small moon.

Han Solo: I think I can get him before he gets there . . . he's almost in range.

Obi-Wan: That's no moon! It's a space station.

Han: It's too big to be a space station.

Grotius: I have a very bad feeling about this.

[Grotius]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/07/41

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Day Air attack on Pearl Harbor, at 114,72

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 66
D3A Val x 135
B5N Kate x 143

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 1
P-26A x 3
P-36A Mohawk x 3
P-40B Tomahawk x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val: 13 destroyed, 45 damaged
B5N Kate: 11 destroyed, 36 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 4 destroyed
P-26A: 6 destroyed
P-36A Mohawk: 10 destroyed
P-40B Tomahawk: 29 destroyed
PBY Catalina: 17 destroyed
SBD Dauntless: 9 destroyed
B-18A Bolo: 8 destroyed
B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed
A-20B Boston: 2 destroyed

Allied Ships
BB Nevada, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
BB Arizona, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
BB West Virginia, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
BB Tennessee, Bomb hits 6, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
BB California, Bomb hits 7, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
CL Honolulu, Bomb hits 1
BB Maryland, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
BB Pennsylvania, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
BB Oklahoma, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CA New Orleans, Bomb hits 1
CL Raleigh, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AK Castor, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CL Detroit, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DMS Wasmuth, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CL St. Louis, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Allied ground losses:
132 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 32
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 125

Aircraft Attacking:
16 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
26 x B5N Kate bombing at 9000 feet
26 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
24 x B5N Kate bombing at 9000 feet
16 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
16 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
14 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
17 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
25 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
26 x B5N Kate bombing at 9000 feet
25 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
23 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
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