Surviving until 1946

[Rysyonok]

February 13, 1942:

Philippines:

Manila and Clark Field are still holding.
IJA troops have started cleaning up all the small island bases.

DEI:

First Japanese troops arrive in Batavia.
SE of it a seemingly nameless and unimportant unit (4th KNIL regiment) has repulsed two attacks.
All in all, it appears IJA troops are waiting for the 2nd wave of reinforcements.
All Dutch airforce has been disbanded to avoid pointless losses, save for an occasional remote patrol detachment.

China:

Japanese continue to advance inland.
The battle for Changsha is about to start.

Burma:

Japanese troops steamroll across the river and Pegu.
I estimate the entire region will be taken over in 2 weeks.

Elsewhere:

IJN ships have appeared around Midway on 2 occasions but have retreated, seeing my CV TF.
More sightings of IJN subs in Indian Ocean.

Japanese side now has a "Major Victory".

[Rysyonok]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Personally, I find 9 torpedo hits from 10 PT boats pretty unbelievable. I suspect extreme FOW, backed up by the fact that no 4 Japanese ships can carry 8K+ troops.

Per Hans Bolter's comment, Greyjoy had a PT boat hit Yamato with a single torpedo ... right in the main magazine. Sometimes the dice gods just want to be generous!

Small request - you list the last game date as 2/9/42. Depending on whether you use European or American annotation that can be February 9 or September 2. That makes a big difference in interpreting the stage the game is at - February landings in Java are normal, September would be a disasterous delay for the Japanese. Could you use the abbreviated month name instead of a number to avoid any confusion?

They might not have hit 9 times, but they have certainly spent all of their ammo. I could neither rearm nor disband them in Batavia. And they did not make it to Soerabaja.

And the dating got changed. Thanks for the heads up.

[Rysyonok]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Above looks good, but capitalize the f to F: -altFont

and then for good measure add -skipVideo

and then for even better performance read the readme on switches you can do a lot to enhance the game...

Thanks for the Orion, I thought she launched a fair number of torpedoes...

PT boats are pretty nasty, especially when led by a good Commander. Sounds like the AI is moving right along, good to see....you may want to turn off the Heavy Industry in Oz to avoid a fuel crisis there, or then again, it probably is too late for that.

Thanks for the tips, I'll keep including them in the game setup.

Orion did not seem to launch any torpedoes that day, just lots of gunfire.

And yes, it is too late. Then again, to be "historical" I would have kept it on anyway.

[Rysyonok]

February 17, 1942:

Philippines:

Manila and Clark Field are still holding.
4 USN subs try to return for more torpedoes, and get pounded to dust. Time to reroute all the remaining ones to Pearl Harbor.

DEI:

First assault on Batavia.
Lots of activity on the smaller islands, but the Dutch still hold 2/3 of Sumatra and Java.
No Dutch ships are left in DEI. Whoever hadn't escaped a month ago now never will.

China:

Despite all the carnage no Chinese corps has been destroyed... yet. Or at least nothing is showing up in the reinforcement queue for Chungking.
All airforce is slowly being pulled to Chungking as well. The few squads in the north hit a roadblock (the missing Ansi base) and had to be disbanded.

Burma:

Rangoon falls. I wonder, can I protect India?
19 Hurricanes sneak in by night to Port Blair and celebrate their arrival with 14 downed Betties. As I expect IJA retribution to be swift, 2 more Hurricane squadrons are being redeployed to Chittagong for Port Blair.

Elsewhere:

First two air squadrons of US fighters are shipped to India along with a few AA and artillery units.

[Rysyonok]

February 21, 1942:

Philippines:

Massive assaults at Clark Field, whereas Manila has had nothing but an ID and an artillery regiment the entire campaign.
Another USN sub is lost. This makes 7 in 8 days between Manila and DEI. I got no one to blame but myself.

DEI:

IJA lands at Medan. They may actually end up clearing the whole Sumatra soon.

China:

Surprisingly, quiet. Even though I had a few I-15s and I-16s on patrol to intercept IJA bombers.

Burma:

Japanese advance, taking Prome, and leaving all the Rangoon survivors behind. I am scrambling, lining up all the weak Indian batallions in the first wave, stronger ('42) batallions in the second, and a couple of divisions behind them all. Light bombers are staged in Silchar, 4E's in Dacca. But I could really use more fighters.

Elsewhere:

Repair on USN BBs is proceeding slowly but steadily

[CaptBeefheart]

Wow, 4-day turns. I've only tried 2-day turns vs. the AI. You have some big cojones, sir.

You might want to base some of those Manila subs in Perth and Brisbane to allow them to better interdict the DEI and SoPac. Also, I tend to let the AI have its way for a while so as not to screw it up, as others have mentioned above. Plus, with 4-day turns things can go to hell pretty quick, since the AI can react but you can't.

Good luck!

Cheers,
CC

[Rysyonok]

February 25, 1942:

Philippines:

Clark Field falls. Manila is starting to see more IJA troops.

DEI:

IJA starts to move south, reaching Djokarta. Lots of air activity.

China:

A few skirmishes, but no real changes to report.

Burma:

Japanese keep on rolling, taking Toungoo. Prome, that just fell last turn, already has enemy aircraft.
The future Allied POW camp NW of Rangoon is still there, too.
And we have our first landing in India - a Japanese division takes Akyab.
Port Blair air cover is still holding, but IJA is now engaging in nighttime runway attacks... I may have to switch a squad to NF.

Elsewhere:

In a major embarrassment, a USN convoy gets bested by 4 IJN ships. Despite equal numbers (IJN: CA CL 2DD, USN: CA 4DD), and early radar notice, all USN manages is a single hit on CA Haguro, losing CA Pensacola and 4 transports in return. Ouch!

At least a Cat from Christmas Island lands a 500lb present on CL Yodo on the way back. I should have moved B-17s to Christmas last turn, not just patrol aircraft.

[Rysyonok]

ORIGINAL: Commander Cody

Wow, 4-day turns. I've only tried 2-day turns vs. the AI. You have some big cojones, sir.

You might want to base some of those Manila subs in Perth and Brisbane to allow them to better interdict the DEI and SoPac. Also, I tend to let the AI have its way for a while so as not to screw it up, as others have mentioned above. Plus, with 4-day turns things can go to hell pretty quick, since the AI can react but you can't.

Good luck!

Cheers,
CC

Good call on Perth and Brisbane, I did not think about it. I was routing RNN ships to Colombo.

All those subs are still from the original deployment, and they've been quite successful. They are responsible for 3/4 of IJN ship losses... even with all the dud hits.

[Rysyonok]

March 1, 1942:

Philippines:

Manila falls. Bataan and Cebu are all that is left.

DEI:

Despite plentiful supply, Batavia falls.

China:

A few skirmishes, but no real changes to report.

Burma:

British airforce comes in full force on the 25th IJA division at Akyab and a few tank regiments north of Toungoo. Sadly, Allied inexperience shows. Many planes are damaged. At least an Oscar is downed as well.

IJA tries another air attack on Port Blair. Hurricanes hold their own. With 21 Betties down this turn, I'm surprised there are no escorts. After all back in December the very same air battles always featured Oscars and Zeroes by the dozens.

Elsewhere:

More and more IJN ships are seen in the vicinity of Pearl Harbor. None come close enough to be seen after the turn is over.

One KB is circling Java, another one is spotted near Marianas.

Overall, a surprisingly quiet turn. Only one ship is sunk, and it's a Japanese one, on a mine.

[Lowpe]

I really like the fog of war you get when playing this game for the first time.[:)] All those shiny new Japanese toys...how many and where are they? Intel Monkey will help you figure that stuff out.

I hope you know how to use off map naval movement, it surely will be important for the rest of 1942 and 1943.

You can train some of your Airacrobras' up in lowN and really put a hurt on visiting IJN ships to some of the small islands in the Pacific. Some of the early P40s are good that way too. You can do this if you are late getting fighters to Oz.

You may want to look at your Army commanders in Burma...ugly.

[Rysyonok]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

I really like the fog of war you get when playing this game for the first time.[:)] All those shiny new Japanese toys...how many and where are they? Intel Monkey will help you figure that stuff out.

I hope you know how to use off map naval movement, it surely will be important for the rest of 1942 and 1943.

You can train some of your Airacrobras' up in lowN and really put a hurt on visiting IJN ships to some of the small islands in the Pacific. Some of the early P40s are good that way too. You can do this if you are late getting fighters to Oz.

You may want to look at your Army commanders in Burma...ugly.

Luckily for me, I don't have many Burmese units left

As for fighters on smaller islands, how do you save them if IJN comes about with a night bombardment followed by an invasion? At least bombers can relocate...

[Rysyonok]

March 5, 1942:

Philippines:

Bataan falls. Here's the end of any organized resistance in the Philippines. There are 5 stray base forces around Panay and Leyte, plus a guerrilla unit in Mindanao, but that doesn't amount to much.

DEI:

More cleanup. IJA troops are 90 miles from Soerabaja.

China:

With some corps down to 50-60 capable squads, I am starting a mass retreat towards Sian and Chungking. The hope is that I can at least resupply and rebuild over the next month or two.

Burma:

Cox's Bazaar, Schwebo fall. I am actually in position to start using Wapitillas in ground attacks. Dacca gets bombed, and I lose a B-17. Gotta give it to AI - it flew airplanes past 2 closer airfields with CAP towards one with no fighters.

Colombo runs out of fuel, and I have to rush convoys there, else the entire RN is immobilized.

Elsewhere:

Three months in, and Japan controls most of DEI and parts of New Guinea - but many more islands have been left alone. I was truly expecting to deal with a massive red blob by now.

The way I see it, I got 3 options:

1. An aggressive landing in Gilbert Islands (Green route)
2. A conservative buildup across Pago-Pago - Suva - Noumea line (Blue route)
3. Bring troops via Capetown - and go straight for oil (Red route).

Any ideas?

[Rysyonok]

March 9, 1942:

DEI:

More cleanup. IJA takes Tjilatjap.

China:

Japanese aircraft are now within the strike range of Chungking. They slice through the meager CAP, and take out 17 irreplaceable SB-IIIs. Ouch.

Burma:

Increased air activity. Daytime and nighttime raids on Port Blair and Dacca. I pull back fighters to protect my airfields, and payback is painful as Blenheims are no match for Oscars. All AA units and all British fighters are already concentrated on the India-Burma border; I will need to rush more of both from Eastern USA if I want to have parity.

Elsewhere:

Not a single ship was sunk last turn. Perhaps because USN is pulling back for its 3/42-4/42 AA upgrades.

[Rysyonok]

March 17, 1942:

A couple of very quiet turns.

DEI:

Soerabaja is the last Dutch base left on Java.

IJA troops take Sabang. This was an opportunity lost, I should have ferried a couple of brigades over when I had a chance.

China:

Fighters are concentrated in Chungking, and IJA bombing raids stop immediately. AI is not all that clueless.

Burma:

IJA troops have stopped at Akyab. I wonder if that is as far as they are planning to go. Burma itself only has a couple of bases left under Allied control.

Elsewhere:

3 IJN CLs raided Midway, but did not engaged in bombardment. I am noticing quite a few surface raiding groups in this scenario, and it really keeps me on my toes.

[Rysyonok]

March 21, 1942:

DEI:

Soerabaja falls.

China:

First strategic bombing run is executed by the Japanese. I wonder if that signals the high tide of their land expansion in the area.

Burma:

Very, very quiet. A single daytime raid on Port Blair brings down 12 Betties.

Elsewhere:

Several IJN TFs are spotted east of New Guinea. Unfortunately recon is almost non-existent.

Australian and New Zealand forces are starting to entrench along New Caledonia and Fiji archipelagos. A scout force is sent to Espiritu Santo.

[Malagant]

I think the balance of power is way too strong in favor of Japan at this point, aggressive action probably not a great idea. I like your second option above...the blue route.

[Rysyonok]

ORIGINAL: Malagant

I think the balance of power is way too strong in favor of Japan at this point, aggressive action probably not a great idea. I like your second option above...the blue route.

Yeah... I'm starting to lean that way too. I'm finding myself very short on APs, and that will make the long route across Australia very challenging. Now I just need to find a reliable supply of Allied fighters with long enough range to provide LRCAP.

I'm starting to realize why Guadalcanal was so important.

[Rysyonok]

March 25, 1942:

DEI:

Sabang is still holding, but IJA is on a clear offensive to take over all the remaining Dutch strongholds. I am strongly considering an attempt to land either at Sabang or at Sinabang. The latter is likely to have fewer IJA airplanes to contest with.

China:

City bombing runs are becoming more frequent.

Burma:

Very, very quiet. I know IJA has at least 4 divisions in the area, but they are either holding still or hunting down the remaining Burmese guerrilla units.

Elsewhere:

Allied carrier strength is now at 8, 5 at Pearl Harbor, 2 at Colombo, and one on the way there. Despite rigorous training (100% since the war started), pilot experience is still wanting. The best USN squadron is at 66, the best RN one - at 61. I dare guess that's not enough to go against KB.

[Malagant]

Here's an example of the pilots you're likely up against:

[Lowpe]

There are several super squadrons with super elite pilots, as well as super elite ships.

You are just now going to see what the AI is shooting for as it is cleaning up the normal historical capture of the SRA.

I think the other shoe should drop by the end of the April. Heads up, or it will hit you hard.

You should be comfortable starting offensive actions in 1944 I think.