Matrix Games Forums

ORIGINAL: tiemanj
I know I'm a little late to this party, and this may have been answered already... but naval support squads can drastically increase the unloading rate. If he puts them on an amphib (I always do), he can unload the bulk of the xAKs / xAPs the next day. Also (for my invasion at least), the support squads unload last, so all the combat power is on the ground first.
I wouldn't plan on a long exposure time. Another thing to add to the calculation is that it will take you a minimum of 4 days to respond to an attack - and 6 if he takes the base. 1 day to move there (minimum), 3 days to unpack, 2 days to march over good roads to the adjacent base if you don't want to risk unpacking in a hot hex.

As to shipping, he can boost his effective shipping by only packing up the combat elements of units for the first wave and leaving support squads back (Pearl, Coal Harbor, Kodiak, whatever). He can always bring them in the second wave (or even fly them in). I'm not sure of the Japanese OOB, but for the American one, using this method, you can effectively double the combat power you can land on D Day.

Overall, I like the idea of keeping powerful units in a strat mode reserve to quickly deploy where they are needed. But there are limitations to CONOPs. If he goes in fast and reckless (and I don't mean that in a bad way) he can upset your timetables.

Alfred has always said the game is about strategic movement (and least I think that is what he says). I would argue it is about time. Time from detection to destination, time to unload, time to move, time to unpack, time to set up the next layer of defense. Fall behind anywhere, and the next one is incrementally harder.

ORIGINAL: Commander Cody

I think a NORPAC invasion is getting more and more unlikely by the minute. Going by SIGINT his IDs are packing up and leaving one by one. Probably for India!

But he will still have to unload the NavSupport before he can benefit from them. I have zero experience with Japan (or doing amphib landings from xAP/xAPs for that matter. All my experience is based on APA/AKA landings. And (as you well know by now) its not always that easy to get everything unloaded on the first turn. Would be pretty amazed if Japan could unload as fast using xAP/xAKs. Then again as Loka says if the Japanese IDs are that much lighter...

ORIGINAL: Commander Cody

Well, he's been able to procure some pretty obscure American craft beer, so why not some Templeton?

EDIT: I live pretty close to an American base, and my chums who look out for me have yet to spot this fine tipple there.

Cheers,
CC

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

ORIGINAL: Commander Cody

Sadly that one seems like its out of reach for me! [:(]

ORIGINAL: tiemanj

But he will still have to unload the NavSupport before he can benefit from them. I have zero experience with Japan (or doing amphib landings from xAP/xAPs for that matter. All my experience is based on APA/AKA landings. And (as you well know by now) its not always that easy to get everything unloaded on the first turn. Would be pretty amazed if Japan could unload as fast using xAP/xAKs. Then again as Loka says if the Japanese IDs are that much lighter...

Yes, but if he prioritizes the Nav Support (I'm not saying he will, I'm saying he can, and I do) by putting them on the few dedicated amphibs he has (Loki says he has I think 4 LSDs or something like that), he can get the Nav support landed in phase 1... then they help for every phase after that. If he lands after the night naval movement phase, he gets 3 unload phases on D day, then 4 on D+1. His transports will be empty of all by supply and maybe a few support squads.

I'll be able to confirm in a few days how quick, but in my past invasions (with support and follow on troops largely on xAPs and xAKs) I'd have them entirely unloaded (save perhaps a dozen support squads on damaged ships and supply) on D+2 (and then only because some stuff wouldn't start unloading until that day). And this includes, arty, support, motorized support, engineers, radars, aviation support, supply, and all the misc junk you need at a base once you take it.

Oh, and perhaps even more importantly, this works far better as the allies then it ever can as Japan. Infinite supply, xAKs, plenty of nav support squads, 1000s of bombers hitting the beaches and all that.

ORIGINAL: poodlebrain

I think a NORPAC invasion is getting more and more unlikely by the minute. Going by SIGINT his IDs are packing up and leaving one by one. Probably for India!

That might make sense if you think your opponent is playing to win over the long haul. I don't think redeployment to India makes much sense if he is trying for an automatic victory in 1942.

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

It's nearly impossible to really threaten India begining late summer of '42. The Allies grow too strong by then. By autumn, Lowpe would be bogged down in an immense morass.

To even pose a real threat (as opposed to a more localized operation), he'd need to bring 15 to 20 divisions (or equivalent). He'd probably need to land in force behind your lines somewhere. He'd probably need the full KB. And you should get all kinds of intel that troops are prepping or troops are inbound. So you should have some warning. Plus, you'll be building forts like crazy at Bombay and Karachi. and other key bases. And be sure to send a zillion supply form Capetown/Aden to Karachi before the door closes. Also, be sure to keep anti-paratroop garrisons at any base remotely useful to you or Lowpe - especially key railroad and road junctions.

Don't allow troops to get marooned on Ceylon. You need enough to keep Lowpe honest, but you can't hold it if he comes for it. India's far more important and imminently more defensible.

I just can't imagine Lowpe doing this at this late date.

All this you know, of course, but I can't help stream-of-consciousness thinking.

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna
Can you get it online, perhaps? They're a much bigger operation than they used to be (they were sold to a big distillery in Indiana... and it's questionable whether it's still the same recipe, but it's still tasty so whatever).

https://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/P-15758.aspx

Ground combat at Asansol (53,34)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 72886 troops, 1191 guns, 1015 vehicles, Assault Value = 2386

Defending force 39042 troops, 549 guns, 270 vehicles, Assault Value = 1146

Allied adjusted assault: 1134

Japanese adjusted defense: 498

Allied assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 2)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: preparation(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
2785 casualties reported
Squads: 64 destroyed, 144 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 39 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 24 disabled
Guns lost 63 (7 destroyed, 56 disabled)
Vehicles lost 38 (4 destroyed, 34 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
2923 casualties reported
Squads: 10 destroyed, 154 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 50 disabled
Engineers: 90 destroyed, 47 disabled
Guns lost 21 (1 destroyed, 20 disabled)
Vehicles lost 47 (5 destroyed, 42 disabled)

Assaulting units:
I Aus Corps Engineer Battalion
18th British Division
254th Armoured Brigade
7th Australian Division
7th Armoured Brigade
32nd Infantry Division
6th Australian Division
70th British Division
95th Heavy AA Regiment
77th Heavy AA Regiment
2/9th Field Regiment
2/11th Field Regiment
2/1st Med Regiment
1st Indian Light AA Regiment
1st Indian Heavy AA Regiment

Defending units:
4th Ind.Mixed Regiment
38th Division
4th Guards Division
8th Tank Regiment
17th Indpt Guards Regiment
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
2nd Mortar Battalion
20th AA Regiment
3rd Mortar Battalion
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion
51st Field AA Battalion
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Bn /5

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

That's a very favorable result for you at Asanol. Lowpe will be very concerned, so he'll probably LRCAP and bomb your troops, hoping for time to bring in reinforcements (are any close by?) and to rebuild his forts. But he controls multiple hexsides so he doesn't have to worry about being isolated, I don't think. Still, if you force his stack to retreat, two divisions and three infantry/tank regiments are going to be in bad shape.