Sailing in harms way: InHarmsWay (J) vs Andav (A) Scen2

[InHarmsWay]

Q-Ball, thank you for comment. Early days for sure, Adm Wa is sneaky and devious. He is also willing to push all the chips into the pot to gamble at times so I need to be careful. That said, I think he may have made a short term tactical gain that I can capitalize on given my wider strategy of kneecapping the British... Two turns after I crossed into Calcutta, the 6th Australian Division showed up in Calcutta. My thoughts are to keep him pinned in Calcutta, while expanding out beyond. Effectively instead of taking Calcutta quickly (which will be hard now with the Aussie division there, I pocket that base, and push the perimeter out, while additional units are shipped in to finish off Calcutta (in 2-3 weeks). This way I now have trapped both the Brit Division near Cox Bazaar, and the Aussie division at Calcutta. Will be dicy as both will not go easy. With Scen 2, I feel I have the LCU advantage at least uniti mid '42, so want to capitalize on that!

What other high quality allied LCUs do you think he can have available my mid march in India? I would think the US reinforcements must take a month or so to get to Karachi?

[InHarmsWay]

RangerJoe, thanks for the advice on the dot base in middle China. I was toying with a flanking attack there so will send a few units through there. Makes more sense now as my current main thrust coming up to Chungking from the south is running up against stacking limits. This will get me units on the East side of Chungking earlier, which will help seal that city off. Yes, I am bringing as much as I can! And bombing anything I can see! I can't neglect Chengtu either as I believer that is the other China base that magically returns LCUs that were eliminated.

[RangerJoe]

Yes, Chengtu is the other base that the Chinese units magically creates Chinese units. I think that most people defend Chungking more but Chengtu is closer to India and it would be easier to fly supplies directly there.

In my beta testing game, after capturing both Chengtu and then Chungking, I had over 50 Chinese units resurrect at a base near Amoy! I quit playing once I saw that because my units were out of position. Although that base is on the coast and thus subject to bombardments, I would probably have to capture every interior base first before I started on that base just so the Chinese units wouldn't suddenly show up again somewhere else.

[RangerJoe]

US reinforcements to India need to travel to Cape Town and that takes at least a month. They can be bought out at Cape Town instead of being bought out in CONUS.

There is also the 7th Australian Infantry division as well coming in, there are two British armoured regiments that form the 7th (Desert Rats) armoured brigade as well.

Don't be afraid to take what he gives you, also plan on capturing Ceylon as well. You can trap some units there and even if light elements are flown out, the heavy devices can be destroyed. That impacts all of the Commonwealth forces.

See if you can capture Madras or even better, isolate it because a lot of units with very low experience and morale come in there. They also need a lot of devices but they would make good target practice for your artillery units first!

[InHarmsWay]

One question that I do not know the answer to is, will units come back into Chungking, Madras, etc if there are enemy units already in the hex? I am assuming once I get a unit in the base hex it negates any reinforcing unit from showing up? This impacts when I try and finish off the isolated bases in China where I have pocketed units. Thanks!

RangerJoe, I am planning on taking Ceylon, as holding that should keep him honest on invasions into burma once he counterattacks in '43. I only got ~40 days of invasion bonus left, and want to land in Darwin / exmouth areas, and Ceylon before that magic bonus is up.

[InHarmsWay]

So unfortunately not all has gone my way, I had neglected to take Wake back in the early days as I was worried the allied CVs would pounce on any invasion fleets there. Well.... I went back a week ago with several CAs and CLs, and landed the 17th Inf Rgmt (81 exp). Those darn Marines were up for a fight and I ended up re-embarking after 2 days of shock attack where I was 80% disrupted, and never got better than 1-1.... oh well. I may need to go back again when I got the KB in the area.... No saki for those IJA warriors.

[RangerJoe]

One question that I do not know the answer to is, will units come back into Chungking, Madras, etc if there are enemy units already in the hex? I am assuming once I get a unit in the base hex it negates any reinforcing unit from showing up? This impacts when I try and finish off the isolated bases in China where I have pocketed units. Thanks!

RangerJoe, I am planning on taking Ceylon, as holding that should keep him honest on invasions into burma once he counterattacks in '43. I only got ~40 days of invasion bonus left, and want to land in Darwin / exmouth areas, and Ceylon before that magic bonus is up.

Those units will come in to their respective bases.

[RangerJoe]

So unfortunately not all has gone my way, I had neglected to take Wake back in the early days as I was worried the allied CVs would pounce on any invasion fleets there. Well.... I went back a week ago with several CAs and CLs, and landed the 17th Inf Rgmt (81 exp). Those darn Marines were up for a fight and I ended up re-embarking after 2 days of shock attack where I was 80% disrupted, and never got better than 1-1.... oh well. I may need to go back again when I got the KB in the area.... No saki for those IJA warriors.

Nest time, try a fast transport mission!

Also, don't forget to bombard the target.

[InHarmsWay]

Admiral Harmasaki was just enjoying a fine Scottish single malt whisky after a hard days planning when his Army chief of Staff, Col. Sadieaki barged into his office. "Sir! Manila has fallen! You were right to order that last attack!"

"So, we need to move on Bataan to free up the Manila port, Please issue the appropriate orders Colonel, but make sure to expedite several units out of Batangas to Calcutta, I am afraid my nemesis Adm Wa, will to slow us down there in India and I want heavy Art units over there ASAP!"

"Yes Sir!"

With that, the good Colonel spun on his heels and quickly strided out of the office and to the switchboard down the hall. Adm Harmasaki watched him go. Good man there, I am glad I pulled him into my naval staff, we need to foster better IJA / IJN cooperation. He had seen how that was one of the contributing factors in that strange dream he had had way back at the beginning of the war. This time around he had influenced as much as he could the improved buildup of the Emperors forces before war began. If only that will be enough he thought... likely not but for the next several months it should. And by then, hopefully the Allies will have given in. Admiral Wa will never give in, but maybe Churchill and Roosevelt will see reason....

With that he walked out into the conference room and over to the map of the PI theatre, but not before refilling his glass with another finger of that wonderful single malt General Sadamu had liberated from Singapore over a month ago.

Feb 21 11942 PI area.jpg (459.27 KiB) Viewed 495 times

I currently have several Amphibious TFs headed to Batangas to pull out about a division + Arty units. Also the 6th Guards Division that arrived in Cam Ranh Bay recently will begin boarding ships. All will go to Calcutta.

[InHarmsWay]

RangerJoe, I had a Bombardment TF (2CAs, CL, and several DD's) that went in first at Wake, then the amph TF, with another CA and CL with DDs to cover landing. Must have had a bad role on the initial attack (1-1). Can you do a fast TF with AK-t's? Will try that next time I get the guts to go back to Wake! Flew Betties over the base on ground attack that day also.. All to no avail. I spotted him on the second day about 20 hexes out (sub screen + 1 brave PB ship) so knew my time was limited ....

[RangerJoe]

Admiral Harmasaki was just enjoying a fine Scottish single malt whisky after a hard days planning when his Army chief of Staff, Col. Sadieaki barged into his office. "Sir! Manila has fallen! You were right to order that last attack!"

"So, we need to move on Bataan to free up the Manila port, Please issue the appropriate orders Colonel, but make sure to expedite several units out of Batangas to Calcutta, I am afraid my nemesis Adm Wa, will to slow us down there in India and I want heavy Art units over there ASAP!"

"Yes Sir!"

With that, the good Colonel spun on his heels and quickly strided out of the office and to the switchboard down the hall. Adm Harmasaki watched him go. Good man there, I am glad I pulled him into my naval staff, we need to foster better IJA / IJN cooperation. He had seen how that was one of the contributing factors in that strange dream he had had way back at the beginning of the war. This time around he had influenced as much as he could the improved buildup of the Emperors forces before war began. If only that will be enough he thought... likely not but for the next several months it should. And by then, hopefully the Allies will have given in. Admiral Wa will never give in, but maybe Churchill and Roosevelt will see reason....

With that he walked out into the conference room and over to the map of the PI theatre, but not before refilling his glass with another finger of that wonderful single malt General Sadamu had liberated from Singapore over a month ago.

Feb 21 11942 PI area.jpg

I currently have several Amphibious TFs headed to Batangas to pull out about a division + Arty units. Also the 6th Guards Division that arrived in Cam Ranh Bay recently will begin boarding ships. All will go to Calcutta.

He strided? Or he strode?

Check to make sure that your ships won't have to go past Bataan to pick up any units.

I suggest taking Cebu before any other bases unless they also generate supplies, then take any resource centers. You can then start hauling resources to Luzon.

Also, leave one base on the islands that has a port and an airport to the Americans. PM me if you want to know why.

[RangerJoe]

RangerJoe, I had a Bombardment TF (2CAs, CL, and several DD's) that went in first at Wake, then the amph TF, with another CA and CL with DDs to cover landing. Must have had a bad role on the initial attack (1-1). Can you do a fast TF with AK-t's? Will try that next time I get the guts to go back to Wake! Flew Betties over the base on ground attack that day also.. All to no avail. I spotted him on the second day about 20 hexes out (sub screen + 1 brave PB ship) so knew my time was limited ....

No, AK-Ts can't do a fast transport TF. But your PBs and AMCs can do a fast transport TF. That is why I don't like to have the AMCs go back to xAPs. Plus the AMCs unload faster over the beach. I like to use the Ansyu-C PBs both hauling supplies and tank units, as well as other units with only cargo and not manpower. You can load the PBs and other escorts with supplies in a fast transport TF and then put them into your Amphibious TF. For the DMs, that may not be many supplies but since they are going there anyway it is free as far as the fuel cost is concerned. While the BBs won't haul supplies or units they can also go into a fast transport TF.

[InHarmsWay]

It has been a bit since the last update in India. Adm Wa stymied me with the Australian 6th Div rail moving into Calcutta, several more days and it would have been mine. Oh well, I guess this plan did not survive contact with Adm Wa! Here is the current situation, more of a draw in Calcutta as I have 3 divisions in the city (all beat up a bit from the river crossing in). I have pulled the Imperial Gds Div out and it will circle around to the south and head to burma to help pocket the Brit Division. I now have 4 tank units on the subcontinent, with 3 Inf rgmts as well outside of Calcutta. I am pushing out to grab maneuver space around Calcutta, and to take the nearby rail heads. More units are on their way as well.

Feb 24 1942 India.jpg (687.34 KiB) Viewed 413 times

One thing I missed is that I should grab ~6 smaller units and send them to India for garrison purposes. Will do that next!

The push up from Rangoon is going well, I have reached the outskirts of the base cluster near Mandalay. Also moving on Prome.

[RangerJoe]

Don't forget to recon every base, especially if there is an airbase there. If there is an airbase with no units, you can paradrop just a fragment there to capture it and then fly the fragment out. You can also drop on any coastal base and use flying boats to fly them out. So just one transport plane full of troops . . .

[InHarmsWay]

It has been a crazy week with days flying by. Adm Harmasaki, worn down by the stress is in need of a vacation. Soon he will step back for a bit, but for now, looks over the map. Again, the focus is with the Indian Subcontinent. Key events the past few weeks include solidifying a second front on the Indian mainland at Vizagapatnam. A second Inf Rgmt along with tank, engineer and airbase support has landed and now begun moving on Calcutta from behind.

Elsewhere, the Paratroop gambit has worked well. Two small Brit units moved into the dot base, and the Japanese counterattacked after the British impaled themselves on Japanese bayonets, and threw them back. The rail line remains cut.

A total of 5 Inf Divisions are now in the area of Calcutta, with multiple tank rgmts and smaller inf units sealing off Burma from India. The British 18th Div is in the area, so significant mass is needed to keep it sealed. Multiple Arty units from the fall of Manila are now moving towards Calcutta. The question dear readers is do I try and close off the exits to Calcutta directly through a series of costly river assaults or push beyond Calcutta without sealing it? The only effective unit Adm Wa has is the 6th Aus Divsion, I think.... Both sides have ~1100 AV here, most of his AV is with the Aus Div and a couple of Indian units (23rd div and 46th brigade)

Finally, the push up from Rangoon continues, and there is not serious resistance at this point. The equivalent of 2 Inf Divisions are doing the pushing.

March 05 1942 Calcutta front.jpg (664.95 KiB) Viewed 385 times

[InHarmsWay]

Looking beyond India main continent, I have landed a couple Inf Rgmts on Ceylon, hoping to take that island on the cheap. I doubt Adm Wa will reinforce it with the main continent in doubt. I may need to move another combat unit there if I get bogged down.

In the DEI, the conquest of Java is going slow, but steady. I am shooting for landing on Australia before the end of March to take advantage of the landing bonus. Challenge is finding enough units to do so as I have sent quite a bit to India. I just bought out the 20th Division (high exp -80) from Korea, and it is loading now at Fusan. Took almost all my Political points to do so.

March 05 1942 Java.jpg (498.34 KiB) Viewed 382 times

In Philippines, the Allies have been pushed back into Bataan, and currently Adm Wa has about 450 AV there. His supplies are low so I am hoping I can complete that conquest by mid March. Cebu is the only other significant base left in the area with enemy troops. Oil and fuel has begun to flow back to the HI. The Emperor is pleased.

One area I have not pushed into much is around Port Moresby. With the KB in India, it was too risky, so I have only taken Rabaul and built out that base with a Air HQ.

[InHarmsWay]

Finally, in China, it has slowed some. My main attack up east of Chihkiang towards Chungking has been stalled, while I recover some AV. Most units have been used and abused up till now, especially after the river crossing, so a week of rest is needed. North of Sian, it has turned into a war of attrition, I will win this as supplies in China will get low and every disabled unit will at some point be a mission kill.

March 05 1942 China.jpg (846.06 KiB) Viewed 380 times

[InHarmsWay]

Finally a snip of the current Fighter R&D status. Thank you Tracker! I am very uncomfortable with the pool of zeros currently at 20. building 3 a day. I need to get the A6M3 and A6M3a's into production! Getting close, as I now have over 500 Nak-35 engines in inventory. I may get them by May, but am leaning toward quickly converting the factories from A6M3 to A6M3a as soon as I can so I can get carrier CVs fighters upgraded.

March 05 fighter RD status.jpg (340.85 KiB) Viewed 379 times

[InHarmsWay]

Admiral Harmasaki looks up from his maps and thinks, yes, time for a vacation to see the front lines, a personal inspection will do me well...

The AAR will now be taking a 2 week hiatus as I am headed to Vietnam on vacation. Adm Wa will have two weeks to fiddle with the turn, hopefully he will keep changing his mind on orders and get confused... > evil grin <

I expect I will forget everything as well.

As someone once said "I shall return" after this short break!

[Q-Ball]

Question: Noticed you bought out the 20th Division (which was a priority for me also due to experience!), but what are your other buys?

First priority I think is all the tanks in Manchuria, followed by some of the Heavy Artillery.

Then, the high-experience divisions in Manchuria; 20th, I think 1st, and maybe 10th IIRC......

I tend not to spend much early on leader changes for Japan, focusing on those buys (plus, the leaders are generally pretty good at start, unlike the Allies...)

On Ceylon, if memory serves there are 2 mediocre Indian Brigades that will be on the island......probably 2 Regts isn't going to cut it, even with the poor defensive terrain

I think your strategy of cutting-off all those units is good....you'll have to decide soon if you're going for all of India or not. It's not easy and pretty risky, but huge payoff if you make it