My war against Gen.Hoepner

[hawker]

Zuikaku after she launch fighter cover for bomber strike on Surabaya,

[mc3744]

There's one important thing to consider.
You may easily reach 4:1 by May/June, but you have to keep it till the end of the year.
By September/October the Allies become stronger, you need to get close to 5:1

In a game I aborted for lack of time with Taglia we where at 5:1 at the end of March, but one mistake would have been enough to get me back to 3:1 in just a couple of weeks.

In my game with GH he only managed 3:1 and I can't really say he played badly (on the contrary!), still he didn't even get close to 4:1.

Hence my point is: it is very difficult to keep the 4:1 till the end of '42, watch out.

[hawker]

Hence my point is: it is very difficult to keep the 4:1 till the end of '42, watch out.

See below MC[;)]


Today nothing interesting happened except one thing,RUSSIA.
I won few PBEMs as Japan by attacking Russia.
The rule are,when you close to 4-1 attack Russia to seal the victory. Let me explain,after Jawa and Manila i will have 4-1,then strike Russia,and quickly seal 5,6-1.Bingo,GAME OVER.
Then he will see his mistake to defend Jawa and let me so many easy VPs.
Japan can easyily crush Russia in 1942,very easy.I need month to prepared so i will activate Russia soon. So far i am confident that this game will end 1.1.1943[8D].
He (will) lost many planes and troops in futile Jawa campaign,i have KB (you all know how KB is strong in 1942),and he can do nothing to regain big diference in points. I can assigned 5 IJA divisions in Russia.
Jawa is the key,if he lost this war on 1.1.1942,he can only blame himself for mistake of defending Jawa.
Probably,he defend Jawa to stop or delay my "advance" on Pacific. Well,he can keep his pacific,he can fortified his "attols",he can sent hundreds ships with supply to Fiji etc.,i dont hurt them.
I guess he beign very scared when he see baby KB lurking in pacific,i forseen his action,"quickly,all convoys disperse now. Japanese CVs are here"[:D]. I dont care about Pacific,my future (defeat or victory) is in Russia.
Of course,if i dont manage auto-victory Japan will die with honor .
BANZAI!
Japan will never surrender

Now i really need your thoughts.

[ADavidB]

I won few PBEMs as Japan by attacking Russia.

In those PBEMs, did you attack the Soviets early in 1942 or late in 1942?

Did your opponents try to stand and fight, or did they retreat into Mongolia?

How many victory points did you typically get from the Soviet invasion?

I see no reason why an Allied player can't develop many of the Soviet bases into strong fortifications and as well, move most useful air assets far away to safety if the Japanese player waits too long in 1942.

BTW - I agree with you that the Java defense is very dangerous for the Allied player. I don't believe that in 1942 an Allied player can afford to commit the amount of forces that are truly necessary for a defense that will hold. And if he does, the forces can be bypassed. I do believe that taking and holding Java and Sumatra are feasible in mid-to-late 1943 for the Allies.

Good luck -

Dave Baranyi

[mc3744]

I have no experience with Russia. Therefore no idea about the points.

I do have some experience with the Allies however. And I can say that they are very difficult to crush.

I guess we will see. It'll be interesting. [:)]

I totally agree with you on the Jawa defense.

[hawker]

In those PBEMs, did you attack the Soviets early in 1942 or late in 1942?

I am attacking in jun-jul 1942,enough time to take Vladivostok and seal 4-1-

Did your opponents try to stand and fight, or did they retreat into Mongolia?

He must stand and fight,if not - GAME OVER.

How many victory points did you typically get from the Soviet invasion?

It is enough to take Vladivostok,smashing his LCUs and planes.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/21/42

Nothing interesting happened,i launch strike against Medionen which leaves city in ruins.

Day Air attack on Madioen , at 22,65

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 2
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 11
Ki-21 Sally x 108
Ki-49 Helen x 18
Ki-46-II Dinah x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 10 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 2 damaged
Ki-46-II Dinah: 1 damaged


Allied ground losses:
211 casualties reported
Guns lost 5
Vehicles lost 1

Airbase hits 23
Airbase supply hits 11
Runway hits 94
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In 3 days Manila will be attacked with 4000APs,it will be a short battle[8D].
Preparation for Russia going well,troops are massing in Harbin.
After activation i will wate 1 month to attack. Then i will unleash my hordes.
300 sallys,100 lillys,300 zeros,150 oscars will be assigned to quickly get air supremacy. This will be more than enough.
Tonight i will elaborate my plan in Russia on map.

[ADavidB]

It is enough to take Vladivostok,smashing his LCUs and planes.

So much more the reason to move the bulk of the Soviet planes to Western Mongolia where they are out of reach of a Japanese sneak attack...

Thanks -

Dave Baranyi

[hawker]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/23/42

Another boring day.
My bombers are closing airport in Medioen,after that i will close Soserbaya. He move 25 units to Medioen,i have 2300APs in Kragen but i will wait units from Manila.
Everything is ready in Manila,tommorow my troops will deliberate and masacre defences there[8D]. I have 150 transports waiting in San Marcelino to pick up units and transport them to Jawa.
If everything goes as planned Jawa will fall within a 5-6 weeks.
Then RUSSIA.

Day Air attack on Madioen , at 22,65

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 1
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 50
Ki-21 Sally x 167
Ki-49 Helen x 33
Ki-46-II Dinah x 4

Allied aircraft
CW-21B Demon x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 1 destroyed, 18 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
CW-21B Demon: 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
274 casualties reported
Guns lost 6
Vehicles lost 1

Airbase hits 25
Airbase supply hits 10
Runway hits 180
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[hawker]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03-04/24/42

My brave troops liberated Manila today. Peaople on the streets cheers to Japanese as liberators. Long time Manila was under boots of allies,those days are over[8D].
My soldiers try to save allied POWs from furious citizens but fails. Angry mob kills them all[:D].
Almost 200 transport ships is ready to take my troops to another field of glory.

Ground combat at Manila

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 222956 troops, 1535 guns, 531 vehicles

Defending force 58333 troops, 186 guns, 114 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Manila base !!!


Japanese ground losses:
5331 casualties reported
Guns lost 170
Vehicles lost 13

Allied ground losses:
76763 casualties reported
Guns lost 233
Vehicles lost 65


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Soserbaya is bombarded daily and will be turn to ruins. As soon as my reinforcement arrives,Jawa campaign will be over[;)].
Troops are massing at Harbin,When Jawa is liberated i will engage in Russia,i have enough time.

[hawker]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/28/42

Nothing interesting happened this two days. Transports sailing from Manila to Jawa full of troops. First tranport ETA Batavia 7-10 days. So,he holds Soserbaya approx. 20-30 days from now.
Soserbaya bombing campaign getting stronger every day. Look those numbers:

Day Air attack on Soerabaja , at 23,66

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 19
Ki-21 Sally x 191
Ki-48 Lily x 72
Ki-49 Helen x 39
Ki-46-II Dinah x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 2 destroyed, 19 damaged
Ki-48 Lily: 2 destroyed, 7 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged


Allied ground losses:
276 casualties reported
Guns lost 7

Airbase hits 30
Airbase supply hits 12
Runway hits 229
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Plans for Russia going well,troops still massing at Harbin.I will activate Russia after finnishing Jawa campaign.
KB is vanished from the eyes of his reckon planes,now he has one more thing to worry about[;)].

[hawker]

I will make a redeploy and reconstitution of KB in next month.

KB:

1st carrier division (Yamaguchi):
-CV Zuikaku
-CV Shokaku
-CVL Shoho
2nd carrier division (Nagumo):
-CV Hiriu
-CV Soriu
-CVL Zuiho
3rd carrier division (Teraoka):
-CV Kaga
-CV Junyo
-CVL Ryuyo
Covering group:
-CVE Taiyo
-CVE Hosho

CV Akagi after repairs will join carrier division 2
After redeploying takes place i will have 500+ highly trained pilots on KB to protect Japan interest in future operations.

[hawker]

28.03.42-04.04.42

Nothing interesting happened few days,but things are getting hot.
Soserbaya is daily bombarded with 400 bombers. Transports are closing to Batavia and after troops disembarks all will be over in Jawa[;)].

Attack on Russia is ordered!!
One unit gets orders to enter in Soviet land and ensure activation.
During first month we agreed not to engage.
If i see in Russian base anything "Made in USA" i will unleash my hordes before time is up[8D].

Tonight i will post plan for attack
Stay tuned.

[Arstavidios]

Hi, this is going to be interesting.
Do you plan to send reifnorcements to Russia?

[hawker]

Here is plan for attack on Russia.
First map,then elaboration,

[hawker]

ELABORATION OF ATTACK ON RUSSIA

"OPERATION BARBAROSSA"

This is detailed plan which will occur in 5 weeks from now.

"Army group south" which consist of:

3rd army:
-10 divisions
-3 tank regiment
-3 eng.regiment
-300 bombers
-250 fighters

"Army group Centre":

-1 division
-support units
-1 tank regiment
-30-50 fighters

"Army group north":

-1 division
-support units
-30-50 fighters

Idea is,quickly break enemy lines and take Vladivostok.
Soviet airforce must be destroyed in one week.High exp. zero pilot will be assigned there.
Vladivostok must to be isolated,retreat path for enemy units there must to be cut.
After destroying enemy units in Vladivostok area,Japanese troops will advance to Komsomolsk,take town,regrouping and push north.
At this stage of war,Soviet units and air force will be reduced to 10-30%.
Then,troops of "army group south" will push north,crosss mountains and take Kuysyshevka and Blagovyechensk.
All depends of defensing position of Army group centre and north.
They must hold till "army group south" close the circle and destroy Soviet union.
Whole campaign must be sealed till 31.12 1942.
After that i will have 5-1 ratio.

SUPPORTING ACTION

six division of southern area army will land at Canton and push chinese north.This will be done becouse he probably will try to push in China in response to my invasion on Russia.
These units will push north to Wuchow and Changsha to liberate our division stationed there.
Our position in Dei and Pacific will be in danger.Becouse of this "super KB" will be assembled (7CV,2CVl)to protect our interest and stop any invasion in these area.
Also,forward bases is full of LBA and recon planes. I can quickly summon KB and LBA in areas where neded.

Supreme commander of all Japanese forces,

Gen.Hawker

[Sneer]

isn't it too late to turn units back to asiatic innern combat zones ?

[hawker]

Sneer,

Its not to late,i need more points.
After this game will probably end in 1.1.1943[;)].
Then he may attack,but he loose at green table[8D]

[Sneer]

I still look at game as autovictory would not exist
under thias condition thee would be more risky
but if 43 is deadline ... who cares
I have dilema in my PBEM as i need to choose wisely where to develop my offensive- we want to put points aside and fight till japanese end

[hawker]

Sneer,

I have agreement with GH,we will continue with auto-victory or no.
I just want auto-victory to occur,it will please me[8D].
And,i will still have many assets to fight in 1943,he will have hard time to beat me if this plan works well[;)].

[hawker]

The Russia invasion begins!!
Russia is activated by brave volountiers of construction batallion stationed north of Vladivostok.
"Army group south" is ready,10 divisions is waiting for assault on Vladivostok.Its T - 28.
Today,urgent radio message is sent to soldiers on Russian front:

"Men,you have holly duty to do everything for your country and
your emperor. We are going on "all or nothing"
Early in the morning 10.05.1942 after fire preparations from
2000 guns,unit of "Army group south" will launch the final
Japanese offensive in WW2,attack on Russia.
Glory to the emperor."

Commander in chief of "Army group south"
Gen.Yamashita

JAWA

The campaign is soon to be finnish. Everyday 400 bombers bombarding Soserbaya. I have 5000-6000 APs in Kragen.Two days from now troops will march to Medioen.

Commander in chief of Kido Butai adm. Yamaguchi is sent to Tokio by one Betty bomber.After arrival he got a orders from emperor himself.KB after campaign in Jawa will be dispatched to Tokio,then after refiting KB will strike one town of the West coast.
Probably Seattle.

Top secret operation will be launch along with attack on Russia.
100 transport ships will be used.
Idea is,sent those ships east to PH. GH will notice my move and he will think that great invasion is occuring.
With any luck,he will sent CVs to stop my empty transports.
All i have to do is ensure that KB is near and undetected.
This will be great gamble,but results in case of succes will be tremendous.
Special bait group will be assembled with "invasion force",this group will have CV Akagi
Adm.Tanaka will command "invasion force" from brand new BB Yamato,proud of IJN.
Adm.Yamaguchi has command of KB.

I am counting on my LBA to stop any attempt of invasion while this operation is doing.
BANZAI!!