Nomonhan Redux: Seydlitz (Japan) vs. MBatch729 (Allies)

[seydlitz_slith]

Carrier arrivals. Many of these will be accelerated as soon as the two battleships arrive. That will free up a ton of points every turn.

[seydlitz_slith]

On a final note for the turn, we elected not to do the beta patch. After this turn, we upgraded to the second patch, so beginning with turn 87 (3 March 1942) this will be with patch 2 in effect. We shall see how that changes things......

[Rob Brennan UK]

Good to see you back and feeling better .. means i get my fix of GC Pbem's again .. YAY

I'm going to go back to your starting posts as im about to start an AI game as Japan and its daunting to say the least .. any Japanese PBEM player this early is a bona-fide hero.

[seydlitz_slith]

Well, we hit a problem in the post-patch 2 turn. We have PDU ON, but suddenly it acts as if PDU is off, and I can not upgrade or change aircraft types for my air units. I have asked Mark if he is seeing the same on the allied side.

I have also posted a note in tech support to see if anyone else has seen this issue.

[Caliban]

Seydlitz,

After clicking the "do not upgrade/upgrade to" button you now need to click on the plane type that appears to the right of the button. An option screen will then appear.

Caliban

[jimh009]

ORIGINAL: seydlitz

If I defend along the current perimeter with interlocking bases then I do not risk having large garrisons cut off and starved. I am open to opinions here, but judging by what I learned in WITP, I think that I may be able to conduct a better defence with a shorter perimeter.

For Japan, a shorter perimeter is always better. This is especially so if you have the KB still together in 1943. Too many players throw away one of the biggest advantages Japan has in the game - interior supply lines and mutual supporting bases. By not over-expanding, you better concentrate your forces in areas you must defend - the Marianas and South Pacific in particular.

I guess I'm just a stodgy conservative Admiral, but I rather not waste valuable, high experience units in fruitless battles that accomplish nothing more than waste a valuable LCU. And by sailing Japanese naval forces far away from any land bases, Japan also gives up another huge advantage - the ability of land-based air to provide some support, reconnaissance in particular.

I've always thought a solid inner defensive perimeter for Japan went from Iwo Jima > Marianas > Truk > Rabaul > Somewhere in Central New Guuinea. Then Japan can have an outer defensive perimeter that runs from Enwietok > Kwajalein > Shortland > Somewhere in Southern New Guinea (not Lae, though...it's too close to Moresby).

By setting up a line like that, the Japanese can safely retreat (and disappear to the Allies) behind their solid inner-defensive perimeter and fight with the Allies along the outer defensive perimeter. If the Allies take a base along the outer-perimter, Japan can then quickly strike and take it back. I dub it the "counter-strike" defensive strategy.

Japanese naval forces would be based in Truk...which has a superb location since it's such a quick and easy sail to any point along the outer-defensive perimeter. And since the Allies can't be everywhere at once - even in 1943 or early 1944 - the Japanese can retake lost territory in one place while the Allies are moving forward in another place.

The ability of the Japanese to quickly move along their defensive perimeter - while the Allies spend weeks sailing from place to place - is a huge advantage that I don't think many players fully take advantage of.

Of course, this "counter-strike" defensive strategy is only possible if Japan has the KB and it's surface forces in-tact, plus enough land units and transports based in Truk to allow for quick counter-strikes. And obviously by early to mid-1944, it won't work either as the weight of the Allies finally takes hold. But if Japan is still fighting the Allies along the outer perimeter beginning in 1944, Japan is doing very well indeed and stands a good chance of extending the war.

Anyways, my two pennies.

[bklooste]

Even if you build a strong perimiter its still well worth conquering outpost and locations and leave them lightly defended since :
- He has to take them back giving away his position.
- They provide recon AND denies it to him
- You can counter attack if appropriate based on the above.

Loosing a few battalions or even regiments for this is irrelevant , Histroically Rabaul and Truk were cut of so i heavier defence will just get more units cut off.

I Prefer to always take Port Morsbey and defend it with a brigade though i dont build it up. With Port Morsbey in your hands it will be much harder for him to isolate Rabaul and you can build up Lae for mutually supporting bases.

[FatR]

IMO, Port Moresby should be taken early in any case, but not developed. No reason to give Allies a base within P-40 range to your other bases, yet it is too close to Australia and can be too easily attacked. For the same reason, establishing a perimeter, against which Allies need their limited numbers of P-38s to support air operations, it might be sensible to move from Solomons to New Hebrides - there are small bases halfway, that Aliies can use to reduce Lunga. Beyond that... if you won some major naval battles in 1942, why not to take some bases in Norther Australia in SWPac, just to serve as forefield and delay their development by Allies? Garrison them with weak forces, if you believe that evacuation will not be possible, and just use them to buy time.

[seydlitz_slith]

I got the pdu working thanks to hints about clicking the arrow and then clicking the aircraft to get the list to pop up. Why this was changed and not documented I will never know. Maybe it isn't WAD but rather...unintended side effect of the new airscreen but working anyway.

I just completed turn 89. Stalemate continues in Russia but he is moving forces around and working on what he claims is a counter attack in Mongolia. I am biding my time and bombing him while my southern army troops move up to the front.

[seydlitz_slith]

Over on Sakhalin Island, I FINALLY killed the border fort north of Shikukua and can now advance my troops up to Alex to relieve my other forces there. These border forts are very tough to kill.

[seydlitz_slith]

Finally, the KB (now 6 CV and 2 CVL) plus a SAG consisting of 7 battleships has sortied from Kure. Unlike the earlier operations, they are not bound for the Sea of Japan to pound Russian targets. Instead, they are bound for the central pacific about 15 hexes NNW of Midway where they will meet 7 tankers to refuel.

I have not decided fully where I want to raid. I may hit Pearl since I did not strike it on turn one and I have seen no sign that he has moved any of his battleships out of there. If not, then I may hit one of the west coast ports just to shake him up. I wouldn't want him to think that my focus on Russia is keeping me from fighting the rest of the war, and if I am lucky I might even uncover a carrier or two.

I have 16 subs heading towards french frigate shoal now to scout and also intercept any traffic.

There is a risk involved but still less than committing the carriers around Java right now and I have more to gain from the surprise factor.

Thoughts?

[stuman]

ORIGINAL: seydlitz

Over on Sakhalin Island, I FINALLY killed the border fort north of Shikukua and can now advance my troops up to Alex to relieve my other forces there. These border forts are very tough to kill.

What level are those forts ? 9 ?

[stuman]

Roughly speaking, how long has it been taking you to reduce level 9 forts ?

[Menser]

He's commenting on the unit itself ...not the fortification level .... those fort units have a garrison flag on them ...they cannot be forced to retreat ....therefore they must be eliminated to the last squad/device before you can freely move through the hex.

[stuman]

ORIGINAL: Menser

He's commenting on the unit itself ...not the fortification level .... those fort units have a garrison flag on them ...they cannot be forced to retreat ....therefore they must be eliminated to the last squad/device before you can freely move through the hex.

I was asking what level those forts were, i do not have the map in front of me atm, I cannot remember if those were level 9s or not.

I seem to remember earlier in his AAR that the level 9 border forts were very difficult to reduce.

[Menser]

I've been playing Ironman and, if I remember right, all the fortress units outside of a basehex start at level 3 ..... since in a basehex you need 20k supplies to go above six.... I think that most of them by this time are level 6 and no higher. ..... unless they are in a well supplied basehex. By a Garrison Flag I meant a Static unit.

[stuman]

ORIGINAL: Menser

I've been playing Ironman and, if I remember right, all the fortress units outside of a basehex start at level 3 ..... since in a basehex you need 20k supplies to go above six.... I think that most of them by this time are level 6 and no higher. ..... unless they are in a well supplied basehex. By a Garrison Flag I meant a Static unit.

Thx. I just could not remember what levels all the Russian forts were. I think some border forts start at 9, but I am not sure. I will look it up later.

[castor troy]

ORIGINAL: seydlitz

Finally, the KB (now 6 CV and 2 CVL) plus a SAG consisting of 7 battleships has sortied from Kure. Unlike the earlier operations, they are not bound for the Sea of Japan to pound Russian targets. Instead, they are bound for the central pacific about 15 hexes NNW of Midway where they will meet 7 tankers to refuel.

I have not decided fully where I want to raid. I may hit Pearl since I did not strike it on turn one and I have seen no sign that he has moved any of his battleships out of there. If not, then I may hit one of the west coast ports just to shake him up. I wouldn't want him to think that my focus on Russia is keeping me from fighting the rest of the war, and if I am lucky I might even uncover a carrier or two.

I have 16 subs heading towards french frigate shoal now to scout and also intercept any traffic.

There is a risk involved but still less than committing the carriers around Java right now and I have more to gain from the surprise factor.

Thoughts?

You are aware of how many Allied fighters could be on Cap over Pearl? If he gets a nice die roll with his Cap rates and you don´t have a hundred Zeroes for escort (which you probably won´t have) then this could completely trash KB.

[castor troy]

ORIGINAL: stuman

ORIGINAL: Menser

I've been playing Ironman and, if I remember right, all the fortress units outside of a basehex start at level 3 ..... since in a basehex you need 20k supplies to go above six.... I think that most of them by this time are level 6 and no higher. ..... unless they are in a well supplied basehex. By a Garrison Flag I meant a Static unit.

Thx. I just could not remember what levels all the Russian forts were. I think some border forts start at 9, but I am not sure. I will look it up later.

one thing to consider is the fact that you couldn´t reduce forts of units outside bases in WITP. If it wasn´t changed than you still can´t in AE. I haven´t checked yet.

[bklooste]

ORIGINAL: castor troy



You are aware of how many Allied fighters could be on Cap over Pearl? If he gets a nice die roll with his Cap rates and you don´t have a hundred Zeroes for escort (which you probably won´t have) then this could completely trash KB.

Whats better fighting now while you have the advantage and they are still in P40, P39s and Buffalos or wait for those pilots to get Corsairs ? KB should be expended not nursed. Also those battle wagons make fierce AA platforms later they need to go down.

Banzai! .