Raid on Nagoya: Excellent nighttime Superfort raid at 2k starts 100k+ fires.
Hangchow: Allied 2:1 attack drops forts to 2; this base is in big trouble and most of the Allied army isn't even up yet.
Canton/Hong Kong Front: More Japanese merchantmen go down today. I think John brought in arty and other support units and probably lots of supply. He can make it tough for the Chinese to take these bases into the long term but I don't think he has a realistic chance of offense.
What will I do if he has a strong Alamo here: big units, lots of supply? If that happens, I'd just pen the enemy up and focus elsewhere. From my perspective, the real effort is Shanghai and then points north and east.
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"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
As I recall, a B-29 raid dropping incendiaries at 2,000 feet sent the bombers to over 7,000 feet when they ignited. The smell was terrible.
For those low odds attacks yielding relatively lots of damage, your guns might be bigger and his devices might be under manned. That is, the squad might be considered effective but it has already taken casualties.
Seek peace but keep your gun handy.
I'm not a complete idiot, some parts are missing!
“Illegitemus non carborundum est (“Don’t let the bastards grind you down”).” ; Julia Child
Low odd attacks inflicting large loss on Japan....
well, that is part and parcel of playing Japan. AV and adjusted AV are very simple guidelines. You need to dig into the TOE and devices.
Japanese TOE's simply put are inferior substantially in firepower to the Allies, and the difference is very noticeable late in the game...which makes any Japanese attack very problematic once into 1944.
This is really noticeable in Allied tank attacks.
In addition, Japanese arriving units are poorly trained and have terrible morale.
It is another reason why I am shocked by seeing Japan using shock attacks, well really any attacks.
Japanese TOE's simply put are inferior substantially in firepower to the Allies, and the difference is very noticeable late in the game...which makes any Japanese attack very problematic once into 1944.
This is really noticeable in Allied tank attacks.
In addition, Japanese arriving units are poorly trained and have terrible morale.
It is another reason why I am shocked by seeing Japan using shock attacks, well really any attacks.
Speculation: maybe John isn't taking this into account or isn't consciously aware of it, but still has a 1942 frame of mind where most Japanese attacks result in automatic, easy victories. But by this time even the Chinese are no longer pushovers, and major US ground units certainly are not.
Just cracked the binding on “The Fleet at Flood Tide American at Total War in the Pacific 1944-1945”. Very first page says June 15, 1944..........the punishment phase of the Pacific War began. We are definitely far into the punishment phase in this game. Full book report coming as soon as I finish the book, which is 2 books away on my reading pile.
Today I come bearing an olive branch in one hand, and the freedom fighter's gun in the other. Do not let the olive branch fall from my hand. I repeat, do not let the olive branch fall from my hand. - Yasser Arafat Speech to UN General Assembly
Just cracked the binding on “The Fleet at Flood Tide American at Total War in the Pacific 1944-1945”. Very first page says June 15, 1944..........the punishment phase of the Pacific War began. We are definitely far into the punishment phase in this game. Full book report coming as soon as I finish the book, which is 2 books away on my reading pile.
Finished this book a couple of moths ago. Very well written.
Also read his Guadalcanal campaign book (forget the name).
On replenishing lost carrier airframes, are you using the replenishment carriers in their intended role?
I find them very useful and since over time you get a plethora of CVEs I don't see using the replenishment carriers for the intended purpose as having a significant impact in reducing carrier air power.
Just cracked the binding on “The Fleet at Flood Tide American at Total War in the Pacific 1944-1945”. Very first page says June 15, 1944..........the punishment phase of the Pacific War began. We are definitely far into the punishment phase in this game. Full book report coming as soon as I finish the book, which is 2 books away on my reading pile.
Finished this book a couple of moths ago. Very well written.
Also read his Guadalcanal campaign book (forget the name).
Neptune's Inferno. Amazon keeps suggesting them to me.
Today I come bearing an olive branch in one hand, and the freedom fighter's gun in the other. Do not let the olive branch fall from my hand. I repeat, do not let the olive branch fall from my hand. - Yasser Arafat Speech to UN General Assembly
On replenishing lost carrier airframes, are you using the replenishment carriers in their intended role?
I find them very useful and since over time you get a plethora of CVEs I don't see using the replenishment carriers for the intended purpose as having a significant impact in reducing carrier air power.
A nasty tactic, especially if Japan is trying to bleed the Carriers for several days say at Marianas, and then launches an alpha strike hoping to hit a weakened deathstar.
well, that is part and parcel of playing Japan. AV and adjusted AV are very simple guidelines. You need to dig into the TOE and devices.
Canoe, considering what Lowpe wrote, could this be an explanation for the poor performance of the 5th Marines?
I recall you writing that you'd looked the division over to see if there were any problems, but I don't recall if you mentioned whether or not it had the most modern equipment.
Fancy Pants: Death Star replenishing in good order. 25th IJA Div. reinforces Battle of Hangchow, slowing things down a bit but offering more grist for the mill.
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"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
On replenishing lost carrier airframes, are you using the replenishment carriers in their intended role?
I find them very useful and since over time you get a plethora of CVEs I don't see using the replenishment carriers for the intended purpose as having a significant impact in reducing carrier air power.
They don't have to be on carriers either, any airfield within range. They can also supply pilots as needed so make sure that the VR squadrons have decent pilots.
*edited for spelling! [:(]
Seek peace but keep your gun handy.
I'm not a complete idiot, some parts are missing!
“Illegitemus non carborundum est (“Don’t let the bastards grind you down”).” ; Julia Child
Fancy Pants: Important attacks tomorrow at Hangchow and two hexes to the NW. I don't expect either to boot the enemy units, but they should weaken them considerably.
John is really working hard to interdict Allied supply/LOC in SoPac and SWPac. I'm trying to encourage him to ramp up his efforts. Right now, my logistics is in between major ops. So I have a lot of low value ships steaming back and forth, beating on drums and sounding cymbals, in hopes of feeding his blood lust.
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"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
Love the way you are using John's tendencies against him!
Hope you have lots of TDs or A/T guns in the attack on his two tank divisions. By now he will have equipped with Type 3 tanks which are about equivalent of a Sherman, I think.
I think John is expecting some kind of mass of shipping heading to the USA to draw more supply because he doesn't realize the supply is already in Oz. Thus he put KB down in the Coral Sea/Marshalls area but doesn't want to weaken it by taking on LBA fighters so he wastes his best asset just waiting for you to do what he wants - which you are not going to oblige! He needs less timidity and more temerity! [:)]
As for you new offensive - I wonder if he is neglecting Port Arthur because you haven't gone there. It may not count points for strategic bombing but it has some industry that makes supply and HI points and refines oil for him. Knocking some out will increase the lack of supply on the continent. You might find his damaged BBs in the shipyard too.
BTW - what is that Escort TF one hex east of Pescadores? Damaged sub?
No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth
The Escort TF is CA Minneapolis and a DD limping to Taichu. They were the last of the ships damaged in the big naval battle at Ningpo a month back. All of the damaged ships are at Taichu, now, except a few DDs that went on to Manila.
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"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
John's supply interdiction plan is a good one, but seriously mis-timed so that it's unlikely to accomplish much.
For those just catching up, a big Allied supply TF just made it to Formosa and China a few weeks back. I should be able to maintain the current pace of operations - most importantly, air ops against Japan and army ops in Coastal China - into late winter. There's an outside chance I have enough supply to make it until game's end, though I'm not counting on that (a majority of the Peanut Gallery is not nearly as optimistic, I think).
With supply flush, the Allies can afford to "stand down" the big supply convoys temporarily. That's why I think John's efforts are mis-timed. He's anxiously patrolling, seeking targets whom he may devour. But, for the most part, the Allied merchant fleet has holed up (in the DEI) or moved far south (in the Coral Sea and SoPac).
Even so, convoys are still running supply from Hawaii to Oz. Then the empties retire back to Pearl to do it again. The supply moves inland to ports like Normanton, on the Gulf of Carpetnaria, where empties at Boela will eventually pick it up in time for another great convoy to Formosa and vicinity.
Oz currently has more than 1.5 million supply - well over double what it had just a month ago.
So the Allies have a complex, layered, dispersed and efficient supply delivery system that will be hard for John to seriously.
For that reason, the more assets (subs, carriers, aircraft) he has down here, the better.
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
Battle of Hangchow: Hangchow falls to the Allies a bit sooner than expected. Three Japanese divisions are beat up pretty badly (three others are getting beat up two hexes to the NW).
This is a significant step for the Allies. Most of the units employed here are 100% prepped for Shanghai. Meanwhile, most of the units prepped for Hangchow were to the west. This was the outcome of how the Coastal China campaign unfolded - the need to push fast wherever possible.
So the road to Shanghai is open. Units prepped for Hangchow will switch to Nanking. All units prepped for Shanghai will report there. That will be a critical, tough and protracted battle. Shanghai and it's big airfield and port are key to Japan - more from the aspect of keeping them out of Allied hands. So the Allies focus here rather than on Hong Kong and Canton.
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"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
That is utterly devastating to John - none of his units have any combat effectiveness left, meaning they'll not contribute to the defense of Shanghai in the least.
The lack of supply for his is also a very bad omen for his holding Shanghai for any real amount of time.
Never Underestimate the Power of a Small Tactical Nuclear Weapon...
; Julia Child
