Illinois Yankee in the Showa Emperor's Court (Q-Ball v Canoe)

[Q-Ball]

Combat Highlights, Jan 30-Feb 6, 1942:

I haven't updated in a few days, my bad! Here are some highlights:

Singapore: This has been my biggest problem. It still holds, though I think it will fall on the next attack. Still, given all the losses he suffered during the retreat, Dan has to be pleased it's held this long.

I brought in more bombers, and they are bombing the airstrip everyday to keep the forts down. Flak losses have been brutal, but I need to keep the pressure up until it falls.

This delay is the single biggest problem for me. In hindsight, I should have detailed a couple extra divisions from Luzon to Malaya, and wrapped this up sooner.

The real game begins once Singapore falls.

Java: A couple attacks on Batavia went nowhere; I have another planned with air and naval support, to hopefully make some progress. 21st Division was landed on Java to help out.

Burma: The Allies have abandoned Burma completely; Magwe will fall tommorow, and I will occupy the rest.

I wonder if Dan is somehow alerted to my move on India; that would explain the evacuation of Burma without a fight?

Australia: Carnarvon falls, and Cooktown will be assaulted tommorow. I am doing all this with minor forces, I am hoping to continue to sell Dan on Australia as my main target. To reinforce this notion, I plan to land a Regt. and some tanks at Cooktown; that will look more like the real deal.

I sent Baby KB to raid the OZ-India supply line, but they stumbled onto a picket ship, revealing their position. I brought them back quickly, because I do not have any intel on the position of USN CVs, since that sighting way back on Dec 24th.


New Hebrides: Noumea fell; we are consolidating our position here.

Kido Butai: KB was last spotted by the Allies in the New Hebrides; Dan probably thinks it's lurking there still. I am trying carefully not to reveal it's position until I enter the Indian Ocean.

[Capt. Harlock]

I haven't updated in a few days, my bad! Here are some highlights:

Keep those updates coming, please. At this point, your game is the only one in which we readers are getting good commentary from both sides.

And yes, I too thought Singapore would be flying the rising sun by now. Is the delay likely to make your oil and resource levels dip, or is the rest of the Southern Resource Area being taken on schedule?

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

ORIGINAL: Nemo121

Port Hedland is a particular favourite of mine... Situated close to his SLOCs from Capetown/India to western Oz it indicates an "unmistakable" intent to raid his SLOCs to prevent reinforcements reaching Oz.

I agree, which is why it fell over 2 weeks ago, and I already have an Eng Regt and Base Force there to develop it. You can also occupy Corunna Downs, and create a mini-cluster there; makes it easier to defend than Exmouth or Carnarvon, which can be shut down pretty easily by 4E.

Exmouth has also fallen, and I should take Carnarvon tommorow. I don't intend to really hold Carnarvon, that's more of a raid.

Port Hedland and Horn Island are the two keys to keeping the Allies out of the Southern DEI, because you can't allow them to run supplies to Darwin.

Port Hedland is also an excellent base for the Allies to use as a jumping off port for the DEI invasion. It's port is as large as Dawin's and it is much further away from Japanese LBA. Of course, it is very difficult to hold as Japan when the Allies move to take it back-and they will. However, I personally would not build it up if I were Japan. You really can't prevent it's recapture and you need not give the Allies a pre-built base.

[Q-Ball]

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock
And yes, I too thought Singapore would be flying the rising sun by now. Is the delay likely to make your oil and resource levels dip, or is the rest of the Southern Resource Area being taken on schedule?

UPDATE: Singapore finally fell on Feb 11th; Dan has to be pleased with that timetable, given how poorly his retreat went. I should have shock attacked sooner meethinks, but even then I would have taken it only on the 2nd or 3rd.

CAPT HARLOCK, to answer your question, we are way OK on fuel and Oil levels. I captured all OIL centers other than Medan virtually intact, so I feel very good (knock on wood) about fuel levels. I wish I had more tankers to move it, but we are in good shape accross the board in FUEL, OIL, RESOURCES, with several months reserve of all 3 in the Home Islands.

CRSUTTON: Re: Port Hedland, I am building it up; the alternative is to basically abandon it. By capturing Corunna Downs, you can at least create two mutually supporting airbases. I understand not building bases for the Allies, BUT, with all the Seabee units you get as Allies, it doesn't really matter past 1942. You can develop almost anything quickly anyway.

Now, I won't commit much in the way of ground troops, because there is nowhere to go if it falls, and the terrain favors the attacker. So, once I lose air control, and sea control, it's toast. Pretty much like every other base on the perimeter.

[Q-Ball]

Combat Report, Feb 7-13, 1942:

Sinagpore: This base FINALLY falls on the 12th. Imperial Headquarters, though is unhappy; our plan assumed a fall on or about January 20th, especially after the Allies (by Dan's admission), botched the retreat down the peninsula, and pulled out fragments of every unit it seems. What should I have done differently?

Before the first Patch, 4 Divisions was plenty to roll Singapore; I should have re-adjusted to life post-several patches. Barring a mass evacuation, next time I would bring an extra unit. Instead of just the Guards, 18th, 56th Div, plus 2nd from Japan, I would also throw-in the 38th from Hong Kong, and maybe the 21st. Had I done either of those things, I think the base falls a couple weeks quicker.

So, now what?

The IMMEDIATE tasks I have ordered:

1. IG Division immediately loads for SABANG
2. 1 Regt Ea loads for Medan and that other base to the south of it; we need to clear all bases in Sumatra, not just to clear the rear, but eliminate possible Allied airbases so they don't snoop the move into the Indian Ocean
3. I forgot to do this, but that also means moves on Singkep and that other island South of Singers (ooops). Those will be ordered tommorow.
4. Additional Troops ordered to Java to clear that island; those units will then move onto Darwin, before reinforcing INDIA in April

Other than that, the BIG DECISION is now:

Do I go ALL IN on India?

Or, do I do a LIMITED INDIA? LIMITED INDIA would mean an initial move on CEYLON to clear that, followed by landings in NE INDIA. I predict I would be stopped cold at some point after clearing Calcutta and the surrounding area.

OPTION #1 is riskier; failure leaves CEYLON in my rear, with probably constant raids on my supply lines to India. Not very tempting.

OPTION #2 is safer; I can probably secure the Bay of Bengal WITHOUT CVs, which can then guard the Pacific. BUT, I would resign myself to NOT knocking INDIA out of the war

I think knocking India out of the war entirely is not possible; too easy to run reinforcements to Karachi. I think it is possible, however, to maul the British Army, get a bunch of VPs, and trade space for time later on.

Thoughts, gents?

ELSEWHERE:

Java: I have about 600 AV at the gates of Batavia, and they are stuck; I need a little more firepower to break through. I have small forces clearing the rest of the island almost to Soerbaya, so that when Batavia falls, I can quickly RR to Soerbaya and finish the job.

Another Division for 3 weeks should finish the job.

OPERATION NO-GO: THE PLAN TO SELL AUSTRALIA

Dan is probably reinforcing India anyway, but I want to sell Australia for a few days to see if I can affix his gaze there. The plan:

1. 1 Regt and 1 Tank unit, supported by BBs, will land at Cooktown tommorow, and take it quickly.
2. Bombers from PM are hitting Cairns; I am making LR Recon flights over Townsville
3. I am moving 3-4 empty transport TFs into the Coral Sea, to look like traffic headed to Australia
4. I am moving subs around all over the place

Not sure if it will work, but worth a shot anyway.

Pacific: We occupied Baker Is. Not sure if I really want to go any further; I might push a seaplane base to Wallis Is, and in the back of my mind I have a landing on Fiji, but probably not. Not sure what Fiji really buys me other than more territory to defend.

Once I start landing in India anyway, he'll know that's the target, so that will take the pressure off in the Pacific anyway.

Kido Butai: I am routing KB to Cam Ranh on a roundabout route that I hope to avoid Allied Air search. I would REALLY like to get into the Indian Ocean unobserved; then I could open with a nice raid on Colombo, or something like that, though I bet Dan is too smart to park the RN at Colombo.

Allied Fleet: I have no idea whatsoever where his CVs are. He has 4 Fleet CVs by now I think (HORNET doesn't arrive until March IIRC), not couting the RN. I will bring enough into the Bay of Bengal that a fight would be great, but I doubt he will.

I haven't seen any raiding TFs since I sank that DD off Sakhalin last month. Maybe he gave up on that tactic. PARA JIMA is almost to size-2, along with Shikuka, and I converted both bases to "General Defense" HQ so I can use all the Perm restricteed Air Units. As a result, it will get dangerous up there for DDs.

(BTW: You can still change those bases to "General Defense". You can probably change ANY base, but I am going to only do that for Kuriles and Bonins, islands that were considered Japan's Home Territory. Converting TRUK or MARCUS like that would be gamey IMO

This conversion helps alot for defense up there, because you can use units that are otherwise just training anyway)

[Q-Ball]

STRATEGIC MAP: I haven't posted a map in awhile, so here is the strategic one.

In CHINA, Dan has abandoned several cities for higher (or woodsier) ground. I think we both are looking to establish an MLR. With the higher garrison requirements now, I can only really sustain one offensive at a time, and at the moment that is in the South, toward Changsha.

BURMA was evacuated; I didn't commit many troops to it, and that looks like a good call. I may find some Chinese at Lashio, but that's about it.

The SRA is basically cleared, with some significant Mop-Up, including:
1. LUZON: I am isolating the troops there
2. SUMATRA: Will be dealt with shortly, see above
3. MINDINAO: I have only cleared the supply source at Zamboanga
4. GUERILLAS: All the Dutch units on Borneo fled into the jungle; not sure why. Not alot of supplies out there

AUSTRALIA: I am prepping for Darwin; the rest of Northern Oz is done. I also have occupied the NE Tip, though that's more of a raid; once India develops, I will need to SPLIT.

PACIFIC: Any point to going further anyone?

[Jaroen]

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball
Other than that, the BIG DECISION is now:

Do I go ALL IN on India?

Or, do I do a LIMITED INDIA? LIMITED INDIA would mean an initial move on CEYLON to clear that, followed by landings in NE INDIA. I predict I would be stopped cold at some point after clearing Calcutta and the surrounding area.

OPTION #1 is riskier; failure leaves CEYLON in my rear, with probably constant raids on my supply lines to India. Not very tempting.

OPTION #2 is safer; I can probably secure the Bay of Bengal WITHOUT CVs, which can then guard the Pacific. BUT, I would resign myself to NOT knocking INDIA out of the war

I think knocking India out of the war entirely is not possible; too easy to run reinforcements to Karachi. I think it is possible, however, to maul the British Army, get a bunch of VPs, and trade space for time later on.

Thoughts, gents?

Regarding India I believe your first ambition to start such an endeavor was to gain an automatic win by 1943. If this ambition is still true I think India offers you the best opportunities to achieve this. But it's quite an ambition and I'm looking at you on how to pull it of . . . [8|]

Some alternatives on what strategies might work best have been put forward already and I want to offer another one here. I'm curious for any thoughts on it. My suggestion is to do simultaneous landings in both the NE to capture Bengal (almost a given already) and the NW of India to close of Karachi. The second phse would be to link up both armies in the North of India and the last phase would be to push South and anihilate all leftover Allied forces in India and Ceylon.

The NE invasion is intended to conquer all important industries, but most of all, the VP's. You need to both hold Bengal against the leftover Allied forces from the Burma region and to open an energetic offensive towards Delhi. Required forces are about 8 divisions plus associated armor, engineers, artillery and anti air plus some units for garrison purposes only.

The NW invasion is intended to prohibit any Allied forces to maneuver out of the Karachi area and simultaneously to launch a fast offensive in the direction of Delhi. I think this would also require about 8 divisions of combat strength with associated other units.

To support the landings and maintain operational freedom on the Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal you'll need all the shipping available. That is cargo/transport shipping plus all combat forces to secure your convoys and beat all your opponents efforts to disrupt it. In addition you want to block all available ports on Ceylon and the South of India to your enemy.

Your air power would be used in two ways which are obviously the support of your land offensives and the blocking (destruction) of enemy sea movement. I'd suggest to put all your eggs in this one basket to achieve air supremacy. Are there any other regions you find important to support with air power???

Perhaps a solid beach head on the South of India will be of great use for your sea/air offensives and helping out to neutralize Ceylon.

The sooner you'll start the better your chance for success. Every defensive Allied divison requires minimally three of yours to overcome. Could you start such a full India strategy coming March 1942?

I believe not starting such a full-out strategy at the earliest with everything you have simply means you won't make it at all. Any 'small' operations singly for Sumatra or Bengal or Ceylon or some combination, will result in a delay and diminishing of power which can't be overcome. Are you giving up on your automatic win strategy and conquest of India??? That is probably wise, but . . . well, the worst that can happen if the All-India strategy fails is that the Rebel will win a game in a very intersting, violent match. He'll win anyway if the Allies are given time.

And, do you really need all of India to collect enough VP's??? Leave Karachi surrounded and conquer the rest. If this works you might have the automatic win.

PS: I know I couldn't manage the proposed strategy myself even against the AI.

[Alfred]

Q-Ball,

Hopefully the following comments will help you determine whether to go conservative or all out in your invasion. I still think my post #84 summarised the pros and cons of the alternatives but here are a few supplementary comments.

Firstly, I note that you have made a reference to sending units to India in April. If this means that the invasion will not occur before April, then I think that is too late for commencing a knock out India operation. Such a late start allows, assuming your opponent has been preparing for a possible Indian invasion from day 1, time for:

• The Burma Army to reach the safety of Assam and thereby reinforce the Allied position
• The Indian Army to have fully improved its morale levels up to 99
• Indian garrisons to be at, or close to, 100% prepped for their locations
• Fort levels at the invasion sites to be at level 4 and well on the way to level 5
• The Allied player to retreat back to Karachi secure in the knowledge that by the time he reaches Karachi he will be receiving a significant boost in the quality of his air replacements (Hurricane IIc, Wellington)
• The Allied carriers, whose current location is unknown, if not yet brought to battle by then, would (a) be well on the way to improving the quality of their planes and (b) able to undergo their April upgrades and still have time to put to sea to interdict your SLOCs before all of India is secured

In short, if the invasion is not possible before April, then the risks become too great and you are practically forced into adopting the conservative approach.

Secondly, a recent thread on the main forum indicates that a conquest of Ceylon no longer kills the building Allied carriers. That being so you would not gain the VPs which make the conquest of Ceylon a very attractive option.

Thirdly, an April invasion means that contrary to your assessment, invading both Ceylon and northeast India is no longer the conservative approach. The late invasion does not allow sufficient time to undertake both operations sequentially and if concurrently, you dissipate your forces too much. IMHO, with an April invasion, the conservative approach is to choose either Ceylon or northeast India.

Fourthly, an April invasion places you close to the monsoon season. This would affect operations in Assam and greatly reduce overland supply assistance from Burma. It therefore would place a greater premium on (a) quickly capturing Indian supply sources and/or (b) committing merchantmen to feed the expeditionary army at the cost of not being deployed to transport raw materials from the SRA back to Japan.



With regard to Jaroen's suggested plan, whilst it is "interesting", I would strongly argue against its adoption for these reasons.

1. IIRC, Q-Ball has previously listed the total number of Japanese divisions available for the Indian invasion and garrisoning the SRA plus any other operations/garrisons elsewhere, as being far fewer than 16 divisions. There simply are not 16 divisions (or approximately 7200 AV) available to land on Indian beaches even if every other location is stripped completely bare of troops.

2. Following on from (1) above what would result would be two weak invasions, so widely spaced apart that the Allies could use the railways to concentrate on the weaker invasion and defeat it (I refer to my comments made in post #84 regarding the capability of Japan to capture the railroad "passes")

3. In the context of an April invasion, the SLOCs will be too vulnerable. See my above comments on choosing between a conservative or a knock out approach.

Alfred

[Q-Ball]

ALFRED and JAROEN: Thank you for your thoughts. I agree with you Alfred in principal: I wonder if the time for India has passed, and I need to think on a VP grab in NE India/Ceylon.

I have troops prepped and ready to go for Ceylon; I will go ahead with this just as soon as I clear airsearch from Sumatra, and I can get CVs through.

Combat Report, Feb 14-15, 1942:

Sumatra: We are landing large units to clear Sumatra. 2 reasons: 1) I don't want to break their preps for Sumatra, which means you need more than enough, and 2) I need to clear it. Hopefully Dan thinks I am thorough rather than moving on India.

Australia: I am landing units at Cooktown, and Palm Is. (right accross from Townsville). We are gathering a fleet for Darwin. I am throwing the meager forces I have at Australia in order to sell it, including some empty transports off shore. Will this work? Who knows. Actually, you the readers probably do, but don't tell.......

China: Check out the Map on China. I am a China-hater, I would rather it go away. Dan pretty much let me have big tracts of land, without alot of fighting. I think we are both pursuing the same strategy; find an MLR, and sit there. I plan to keep advancing as far as I can, but I'll hit resistance soon.

[Alfred]

Looking at the China map, you might care to investigate more closely the railway line which runs east to west from Taiyuan to Sian, just to the north of the dot base Tsiatso. Whilst the line runs through excellent defensive terrain, you might find that not too many Chinese units are defending that line. From the map it looks as if the sizeable Chinese garrisons of Nanyang and Loyang/Chengchow are retreating back towards Sian along their respective main road and secondary road LOC. If this is correct then you could avail yourself of the quicker march rate afforded by the railroad and smaller Chinese army on that direction, to outflank the retreating Nanyang and Loyang/Chenchow units by getting to Sian first.

I would be very wary of just allowing the Chinese to have an uncontested MLR, particularly when there are turning opportunities available. A MLR anchored on good defensive terrain, if left largely alone, does not put sufficient pressure on Chinese supply. On the other hand if pressure is maintained on the Chinese consumption of supply, either by combat or turning maneouvres, significant Chinese supply shortages will be experienced in the frontline bases by mid 1942.

Alfred

[Jaroen]

ORIGINAL: Alfred
With regard to Jaroen's suggested plan, whilst it is "interesting", I would strongly argue against its adoption for these reasons.

1. IIRC, Q-Ball has previously listed the total number of Japanese divisions available for the Indian invasion and garrisoning the SRA plus any other operations/garrisons elsewhere, as being far fewer than 16 divisions. There simply are not 16 divisions (or approximately 7200 AV) available to land on Indian beaches even if every other location is stripped completely bare of troops.

2. Following on from (1) above what would result would be two weak invasions, so widely spaced apart that the Allies could use the railways to concentrate on the weaker invasion and defeat it (I refer to my comments made in post #84 regarding the capability of Japan to capture the railroad "passes")

3. In the context of an April invasion, the SLOCs will be too vulnerable. See my above comments on choosing between a conservative or a knock out approach.

I fully agree with you Alfred! [:)]

From my suggested strategy it was clear to me the said resources were not available although I do not recall seeing any estimate on available troops etc. aside from a well investigated count of Allied forces. With formulating a possible strategy for the conquest of India I was hoping for Q-Ball to find a way to free the necessary means and time. For us spectators the attempt would have been a great show but likely a (slow) defeat for Japan. Actually I think my estimate on required forces is somewhat low because of extra Allied units put into play when India gets invaded!?

But . . . hesitatingly accepting the conquest of India is too (???) hard, what does that mean for any alternative strategies on getting the automatic win by 1943? That ambition which started all initial brain storming . . . !? If I'm judging the current sentiment correctly there seems to be no ambition left for a possible 'winning' Japanese strategy. Which I find somewhat of a disappointment. Not so much regarding to Q-Ball's game with CR but for any Japanese player in general. Perhaps I'm missing some specific AAR but don't we see most Japanese players decide on a conservative defensive strategy??? Sometimes after (semi)successful invasions of Australia or so, but . . . pulling back rather soon. Isn't the general trend we see the one of an initial quick strike by the Japanese followed by an Allied return half way 1942? That makes the Russian/Hawaii AAR-adventures even more exceptional. Nevertheless it looks like a good Allied player succeeds in stemming the Japanese surge during the second half of 1942 after which the (slow?) Allied offensive proceeds. Not surprisingly the Japanese look for space and time to slow that offensive even more.

That's a very rational approach and somewhat historical as well, but it does trigger that sense of protest and the need to look for a winning plan which Japan could try. Isn't that what Q-Ball was looking for to begin with??? So I'm still hoping for Q-Ball to find a way of executing an India invasion. Reminds me of the Highlander movie with a quote from The Kurgan: "It's better to burn than to fade away . . . ". He burned very shortly and the Highlander won of course. [;)]

After all's said and done - easy for me to say. I'm certainly not the Japanese player able to execute some sort of winning strategy I'm afraid.

Wish you good gaming Q-Ball. Make the Rebel pay . . .

[crsutton]

One point about a quick grab and smash in India. Any British ground unit smashed will remain smashed for a very long time. The replacement rate for British squads and devices is very low. Any Indian ground unit smashed will also help. There are sufficient Indian squad replacments and it gets better with every year, but the Indian army also relies on British devices and the replacement rate is so pitiful.
 
You are playing scen #2. You have nothing to worry about with the British air force unitl late 1942. A smart Allied player will reinforce India with lots of American units but that matters little before the P40k goes into production as you can then use India to grind his pitiful P40Es to dust.
 
It is my biggest lesson from playing scen #2 is that the Allied airforce just can not put up serious resistance for any extended length of time until 1943 comes around. There are just not the planes for it. If you are playing Japan and any Allied player gives you a chance to grind his airforce, then by all means grind away.

[Q-Ball]

crsutton: That is the reason that I decided on India in the end: The opportunity to grind down the British Army. You're correct that the Brits/Indians are short on many devices. Dan won his game with Miller in Burma, so the more space I can create and more damage I can do to the British army, the better.

Invading Australia, I would anticipate running into the Americans more. The US Army is a bottomless pit of replacements.

Combat Report, Feb 18-21, 1942:

Java: Batavia falls on the 20th, along with about 1/2 the KNIL. The other half is at Soerbaya. I had a couple small units clearing the island, so we can quickly RR over to the other side, and be at the gates of Soerbaya in just a few days. Hopefully, I can have Java completely cleared by the first week of March.

When I took Madioen, 33 Dutch planes were captured on the ground; Dan forgot to move them, though it doesn't matter much at this point. The KNIL airforce wasn't doing much anyway.

Australia: I have no idea if my diversions on Australia are convincing Dan of an invasion; fact is I can't commit large units, so I have to make it look like a precursor.

Cooktown fell, as well as Palm Is, right accross from Townsville

I am landing at Darwin on the 23rd; not 100% sure I have enough guys, but if I get stranded, a) the Allies won't be able to reinforce easily, and b) I should have troops available from Java in a couple weeks

Also NORFOLK ISLAND fell; that's about as far as I will go, setting up a seaplane base there.

China: An attack on a stack of 4 corps came off 1-2 near Changsha. I think I'm running out of steam; really, the Chinese are reaching better ground in good order, probably getting trained, and finding a smaller area.

I need to clear the rest of the coastline, but I don't see alot more progress in China. Miller did better than I did, but then again, he did get uber artillery and strat bombing; both of which are off-limits.

Sumatra: Medan, Sabang, and all bases fell in short order. I landed Paras at Padang, mostly to get a bunch of flying boats there, which I did.

STRATEGIC SUMMARY OF FIRST 10 WEEKS:

WHAT I HAVE DONE WRONG: I am not where I wanted to be at this point. I expected to be landing in India by now, and the delay was Singapore. How would I have done this differently?

My frame of reference was pre-patch AE, where 4 divisions was plenty to clear Singapore. I should have adjusted better, by including extra combat troops. Instead of 38th Div on Luzon, I should have landed that at Singers, along with more airplanes, and more Shock attacks. I didn't realize until a couple failures that I didn't bring enough force. That was a mistake on my part, and cost me about 3 weeks.

The other part I have fallen short was not having a fully-baked plan for Phase 2; I have a plan OUTLINE, which is better than nothing, but felt I should have planned a little better.

A better plan in the Pacific, too, might have yielded more results. Dan pretty much handed me whatever I wanted, and I could have grabbed it. Then again, I'm not really inclined to push the perimeter out just to increase space.

I also haven't spent enough time on sub placements; I haven't had alot of sinkings there.

WHAT I HAVE DONE RIGHT:

I have kept emphasis on time and tempo, including an early enough landing on Java that the KNIL can't really get settled. It's February 22nd, and Soerbaya is really the last holdout in the DEI; if I clear that by early March, that's about right in terms of timing.

I've gotten fairly far in Australia too, reaching out into space that Dan was not defending. If the Allies are going to let you have it, you may as well take it.

I also did not overcommit to Burma; 1 2/3 Division was about right, less than that and the Allies would be inclined to hang around, but that's enough to move them along. Dan decided early he was not going to defend it.

LOSS SUMMARY: I just received confirmation that CL ST LOUIS sank the first week (I thought it must have). So, Allied losses to date:

BB: I think 6 BBs at Pearl, plus PoW and REPULSE
CA CANBERRA, CL ST.LOUIS, CL PERTH, CL DeRUYTER
DD: 9 MODERN USN DDs, and 11 OLD DDs
Also, 8 Subs

So, Allied losses have been light; Dan hasn't really challenged me other than a couple raids, the Allies are playing Sir Robin. I haven't seen a raid in awhile. The only serious losses were at Pearl Harbor. (as a strange note, the 2 Survivors of the PH attack I think are NEVADA and ARIZONA!)

IJN LOSSES:

2 CLs (KINU and KISO, sunk by PERTH at TRUK)
2 Modern DDs (both sunk by sub)
69 Transports

My losses are also light; 69 transports sounds like alot, but it really isn't at this stage for Japan. The 2 CLs hurt; that was just a bad surface combat, but c'est la guerre.

[SuluSea]

Good Luck Brad! I'll be staying out of the allied side and following along  this AAR in your match . Your overview info of rebel looks to be spot on from this readers viewpoint. This should be a good game.

[Chickenboy]

Q-ball,

It is my opinion that, with the nerfing of artillery in the previous patch, assault LCUs are the most effective implement in land warfare.

You've got 12,000+ AV in Manchuko and 1673 PPs. Are you waiting for something to buy out some of your better Divs there? IIRC, 1800-ish buys you a full Division, so either wait another few days to buy one out or start buying out some of the otherwise very good regimental-sized LCUs.

LBA has been useful for me on the Malayan peninsula. It really chews up units attempting to retreat down the peninsula. It drops them out of strat move and even move to combat speed. I find that I can frequently 'catch up' to these units with my moving LCUs and further degrade or eliminate them. I have several Sally and Lilly groups working over LCUs on the peninsula whilest driving towards Singapore. These are the 'new artillery' for much of my LCUs.

Lastly, I think your 'slow' (?!?) progress has been due to the inherent limitations of the IJ warplan. You've got a limited number of healthy LCUs with which to attack. Either they're used in the PI OR they're used in Malaya OR you can score an 'early Java'. Doing all of the above AND expecting an advanced timetable AND expecting free forces to assault India early is just not feasible. Something's gotta give and in this case, I think your expectations were unrealistically optimistic for your time table.

I'll be interested in seeing how your Darwin attack unfolds...those CDs have teeth, mate.

[Capt. Harlock]

My losses are also light; 69 transports sounds like alot, but it really isn't at this stage for Japan. The 2 CLs hurt; that was just a bad surface combat,

Blood! We want to see more -- ahem.

I have to agree that losses post-Dec. 7 have been pretty light. The logical thing to do at this point is to push the defensive perimeter as far forward as practicable, so that Allied losses in re-conquering territory will be maximized. Any plans for the northern pacific? Some bombardment raids on Alaskan bases might provoke an interesting reaction.

[Q-Ball]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy
You've got 12,000+ AV in Manchuko and 1673 PPs. Are you waiting for something to buy out some of your better Divs there? IIRC, 1800-ish buys you a full Division, so either wait another few days to buy one out or start buying out some of the otherwise very good regimental-sized LCUs.

I just purchased the 53rd Division in Home Islands; not the greatest Division, but it's 100% Prepped for Colombo, in case I run into trouble there.

I have almost every division in Manchukuo and Home Islands prepped for a target in India; as I need them, I am buying them out.

So far, my buys:
1st Inf Div (on it's way to Singapore)
90th Inf Rgt. (At Noumea; this was an early buy, a cheap, 90exp unit)
Gds Bde (from Tokyo)
2 AIR HQ (from Manchukuo)
1-2 Tank Regts
53rd Division

Lastly, I think your 'slow' (?!?) progress has been due to the inherent limitations of the IJ warplan. You've got a limited number of healthy LCUs with which to attack. Either they're used in the PI OR they're used in Malaya OR you can score an 'early Java'. Doing all of the above AND expecting an advanced timetable AND expecting free forces to assault India early is just not feasible. Something's gotta give and in this case, I think your expectations were unrealistically optimistic for your time table.

The only way to speed up India would have been a quicker take of Singapore. In hindsight, I should have bypassed Luzon sooner rather than try to take it, and gone all-in at Singapore.

Next time I play, I will keep this in mind: You can clear one or the other quickly, but not both. And if you choose, Singapore wins easily. You can't move into the Indian Ocean with Singers there, and once you have it, it's a very handy place to get organized.

Luzon, on the other hand, is harmless in your rear. About the only thing Dan can do is slowly evacuate units, but even then, most of the units are stuck regardless. They can't get out, they can't hurt me. The only problem is I have to bomb and contain Luzon for a long time, but as time passes I can reduce the troops.

I have 2 Garrison Units in transit to Luzon; they will release the 4th Div. for India, leaving only 65th Bde, and parts of the 16th Div. (along with a stack of heavy artillery)

I'll be interested in seeing how your Darwin attack unfolds...those CDs have teeth, mate.

It unfolded, and went great!

Combat Report, Feb 22-23, 1942:

Darwin Falls: We landed a strong force at Darwin; GDS BDE, 2 Inf Regts, 1 Tank Regt, and 16th Army HQ. They got ashore fairly cleanly; I lost 2 transports, and CL OI was banged-up, but for the most part I got off light. The base fell on the first attack, forcing an Inf Bn to surrender, and causing alot of Allied casualties.

Dan will probably fall back into the desert. Once he sees India happening, he will know that Darwin can be re-taken overland. I will advance to Katherine, and build a base, using airpower to bomb anything coming (since I should have air control up there for awhile).

DEI: Everyone on Java is moving on Soerbaya, and I am otherwise in final clean-up mode.

I made sure to clear every base around Sumatra, so Dan does not observe my fleet leaving for India. DILI/LAUTEM are an active base, and MENADO is still unconquered, but I think other spots are cleared. It is important to clear all Air Search bases, so the Allies can't snoop on the DEI.

There are alot of Dutch units in the bush. All the units on Borneo, for who knows what reason, fled to the interior. Anyone know why? Won't they just starve there over time?

Dan moved alot of Dutch infantry to Sumatra, and those units are moving into the bush as well.

Sub Wars: Dan remarked in his other AAR how effective IJN subs were. I am not getting the same results. While I admit I'm not the best at Sub warfare, I need some hints on settings, patrol zones, and results, particularly from MILLER.

Miller, you out there? Help an Imperial Brother

[Walloc]

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

I just purchased the 53rd Division in Home Islands; not the greatest Division, but it's 100% Prepped for Colombo, in case I run into trouble there.

I have almost every division in Manchukuo and Home Islands prepped for a target in India; as I need them, I am buying them out.

So far, my buys:
1st Inf Div (on it's way to Singapore)
90th Inf Rgt. (At Noumea; this was an early buy, a cheap, 90exp unit)
Gds Bde (from Tokyo)
2 AIR HQ (from Manchukuo)
1-2 Tank Regts
53rd Division

I find it interresting how ppl play. Do u pay full PPs or find ways of paying 25%?
I suspect full, but i ofc dont know for sure.


Kind regards,

Rasmus

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

Miller, you out there? Help an Imperial Brother

Will you share any pearls of wisdom with your faithful readers, Q-ball? I too have yet to experience the same crippling submarine embargo that CR received in his game. My IJ subs pick off a ship here or there, but are not the unholy terror that Dan described.

[Q-Ball]

ORIGINAL: Walloc
I find it interresting how ppl play. Do u pay full PPs or find ways of paying 25%?
I suspect full, but i ofc dont know for sure.
Kind regards,

Rasmus

I am aware that you can do a large buy at 75% discount, but choose not to; I think that's gamey. Dan would probably not appreciate 10 extra divisions in India in May 1942.

I haven't asked, but I hope he doesn't do that either.

I could have bought more troops than I have by now by not paying "Retail".