Can the Allies handle 7th IJA Division at Attu Island? Yes, on condition that the KB is in the Bay of Bengal to give me the needed time. I'll have at least 900 AV available at the time of an invasion. If the KB is in the Bay, the Allies should be able to pummel the island by air and sea. It will be challenging, but I think it is doable.
Everything hinges on the KB now. It's almost as though John took precautions in the Aleutians to see to his defenses knowing that his carriers were not going to be available for awhile. We'll see.
The way you guys play, the KB should get frequent flyer miles.
Can the Allies handle 7th IJA Division at Attu Island? Yes, on condition that the KB is in the Bay of Bengal to give me the needed time. I'll have at least 900 AV available at the time of an invasion. If the KB is in the Bay, the Allies should be able to pummel the island by air and sea. It will be challenging, but I think it is doable.
Everything hinges on the KB now. It's almost as though John took precautions in the Aleutians to see to his defenses knowing that his carriers were not going to be available for awhile. We'll see.
The way you guys play, the KB should get frequent flyer miles.
I suspect this is at the heart of CR diabolical plan .. trade fuel for Frequent Flyer Miles ... then suddenly the IJ are at want someday and the real objectives of the Allies will unfold [It is not Burma since CR has not advanced but instead is pinning IJA divisions in the jungle, I am not convinced it is Alaska either but he has pinned more IJ forces here .. ] Somewhere Someday we will know the real plan [;)]
"What gets us into trouble is not what we don't know. It's what we know for sure that just ain't so"
It's July 1942, so I'm not expecting to win the game this month or this season or this year. But I'm pushing buttons, knowing that eventually I'm going to catch John out of position. Him sending the KB and BBs sprinting around the map is a big advantage since it (1) tuckers him out; (2) uses fuel; (3) he might blunder into something; (4) eventually I'm going to have assets in place to take major advantage of an opportunity; (5) he's not really able to implement his own dashing plans, which in early and mid '42 was still a big possibility.
Burma is central to my long term plans. Alaska will be if the opportunity is there. If it isn't there, I'm not likely to push that vector at any point short of '45 (or desperation on my part, should the wheels come off).
In addition to Burma (and China), my long-term plan is to push across CenPac - commencing in '43. Anything I can do to attrit his carrires, BBs and CAs is going to help the cause.
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
Here's an area where my strategy is definitely open to criticism and Monday morning quarterbacking. I took my line and stubbornly refused to go any further. I missed a chance to try to take and hold the Upper Burma cities. While I'm not positive this was the right move, I do have to live with the decision, which is to create a killing zone where the Allies can draw in the enemy and fight effectively. With good terrain, good interior lines (John already has some major hexside issues for his advanced divisions), good units (and lots more on the way) and big airfields in proximity, I think I've established the foundation. (But can I execute effectively?) I'm also fortunate that thus far supply hasn't been a problem. India is flush and its trickling forward.
For your engagement in Burma, will Ramree supply to your troops in the jungle be disrupted if John has hex control of those two hexes on the trail to Akyab? I'm referring to the hex he's currently in and either the one "NW" of there or the one (with your unit in it) that it looks like he's moving to.
Seems to me, this would block Ramree's LOS to your units, but then again, I don't know how this magical Ramree supply situation works.
Yeah, I'm sure IJ units adjacent to Ramree will block supply. But it will be a LONG time before I could put enough supply there to make a difference. Between now and then there is an immense air, sea and land battle to be fought. It will last months, I think. Fortunately, it seems that supply is making it through the jungle via the big bases at Akyab, Cox's, Chittagong, Imphal, etc. I have a zillion supply in India - over 500k at Bombay; over 1,000k at Karachi - and all of it's moving forward nicely to the front.
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
Dan, i think john will be able to statlemate you in Burma in 1942, only transfering here several divisions that will be missing somewhere else.
However, if you can keep your present positions in the jungle, in 1943 you'll be able to push forward. Just remember: with stacking limits what you'll need is a LOT of artillery and lots of tanks(lots of firepower, very little stacking cost)
I think the Allies can fight effectively in Burma in '42. I have big airfields close. My fighter pilots have gained a great deal of experience at the expense of Japan (the Allies are 1,500 ahead in aircraft already). I have alot of good RAF and USAAF bombers available. The Allies alot of good units already at the front and more coming. Japan has come too far forward and is going to have trouble with getting outflanked or missing battles. That's my read, but I've made reads in the past that proved too optimistic. However, I just want a place to fight efficiently and that I have.
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
Bay of Bengal: Continuing to heat up. An IJN carrier force springs into the bay's center and hammers one USN DD, one PC and five xAK (loaded with supply, drat it). The Illustrious TF is probably safe to make Diamond Harbor and I don't think she was sighted. I've spit my fighters between (A) Diamond Harbor/Calcutta; (B) Chittagong; (C) Akyab; (D) Ramree Island. Akyab gets the most and also the bulk of the combat ships. I don't think John will chance a KB raid on a port yet, especially since his LBA got spanked over Ramree yet again (he lost 40+ aircraft on the day, the Allies lost 11). So much going on in this theater. It's gonna be hot. It's gonna be tense. It's gonna be fun.
Pacific: A wandering IJN sub picks off an ACM near Seward. SigInt that 2nd China Assault Division is at Umnak (I thought it was at Adak, so I wonder what is actually there?). The Japanese easily take Tarawa. Abemama is the last of the Allies bases John has to recapture. USN carriers 36 hexes east of Dunedin and 41 west of Tahiti.
Edited to Add: I don't think this is the full KB. I think it's the same group that Junyo was part of before she got torpedoed a week ago.
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
Sounds like his "slow CVs" force. Could be an opportunity for you, really. Try to get him in range of LBA string bags. Is it Junyo, Hiyo and Kaga? Or is it Junyo, Hiyo plus CVLs?
RE Adak, I'm more concerned than you about taking the base. IIRC, that is a x3 terrain base (maybe just x2). If he has good forts in that terrain, you could be looking at a long enough siege that the world traveling KB has time to get back around, so to speak.
Cap, that sounds about right. There have been other comments in here noting that both John and I seem to be equally optimistic and enthused about our respective performances to this point. All I can say is that I'm right and John's wrong. That's my contention and I'm sticking to it!
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
Junyo was knocked out of commission by a sub TT roughly 10 days ago. Her aircraft have since been fighting from land. I think this may be Hiyo and CVLs or CVEs.
I can't imagine John coming close to my LBA. He's just had one bad experience after another. But perhaps he'll give one shot at overwhelming me at one point by using combined LBA and carrier air. But I doubt it. Not until more carriers arrive.
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
CR, if you wave the red flag of the RN CVs in front of the bull, he just may charge. Especially given that IJ players generally salivate at the prospect of cornering Allied fleets at the top of the Bay of Bengal.
ORIGINAL: JeffK
Again, dont listen to all of the monday morning quaterbacks, they have nothing to lose in this game and (on both sides) seem to want to force an action that you wouldnt see in their PBEM.
Yes. Like those that give advice about how to use bomber and transport aircraft, express opinions about lines of advance through the Aleutians (and pace thereof) and disappointment regarding abortive offensives through the Gilberts.
He's right, Dan. You should ignore these people's advice. [&:]
He's right, Dan. You should ignore these people's advice.
So this gets ignored as well???
Interdum feror cupidine partium magnarum Europae vincendarum
So John feels good about his position, right? How?
1. He hasn't taken any coveted territory (New Caledonia is his only conquest beyond the bare minimum of what Japan will take in most games).
2. He hasn't attrited the Allied OOB to any appreciable extent.
3. Since June he's been racing around the map attending to fires that I started, thus losing the initiative on whatever plans he might have wanted to implement.
4. He's been his own worst enemy (long-delayed conquests of Singapore, Clark Field, Batavia and Manado; complete mismanagement of the air war; etc.)
5. By exerting maximum possible pressure - massed infantry and most of his air force for many months - he finally took Changsha, but then permitted the isolated Chinese army to escape back into the MLR.
I haven't done anything flashy in the game yet. I've been concentrating on logistics, laying the foundaiton for future operations. The Allies have massive concentrations of men, aircraft and supply in India, Oz, and Hawaii/West Coast. I am pretty much ready now to move when the right opporunity comes along. John's been alot about flash, and I give him credit for attending to some of my moves, but he hasn't done the slightest thing the upset or molest the foundation for future Allied success.
While I have had a few trying moments - China and the KB raid around Oz - I haven't broken a sweat yet. I"m still in my comfort zone. Compared to recent matches against Q-Ball and PzH....well, there's no comparison. Part of that's due to this not being Scenario Two.
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
You're being pretty flippant about some of your losses to date, CR. Those "speed bumps" you've thrown onto unsupported islands in the Gilberts may have gained you a week or two in the scheme of things, but I have a tough time seeing any RL commander so ordering the repeated extermination of thousands of friendly troops.
Leaving that garrison at Luganville was callous (to be charitable). Putting an expendable regiment on Tarawa doubly so. Again in the Aleutians. What's that-30,000 troops? Gone. POWs. Dead. Yes, you may be able to make that up in the long run. Yes, it may serve your short to intermediate term strategic goals. But I have a hard time stomaching that sort of insensitivity to one's troops-Allied or otherwise.
So, to be fair-I'm unconvinced of your adherence to 'real life' stresses of command. You're not breaking a sweat after seeing 30,000 of your forward deployed troops crushed? Time to get a new perspective, mate.
Seriously?
Luganville stood for seven months, including repelling one invasion and attracting at least two BBs for two months.
The Gilberts stood for seven weeks, drawing most of the KB and four BBs throughout that period.
Akutan stood for four months against three BBs.
Not sure how my attitude towards these stands can be characterized as "cavalier." I just think they were well worth it.
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
I wouldn't argue that the moves on the Gilberts combined with other operations at the time at Ramree and in OZ didn't serve an important function for the Allies. The time it has taken Japan to deal with those multiple issues very early on has cost some time and possible preparation for what comes next. There is a psychological function as well, having to defend in mid-42 not being in your opponent's pre-game plans, most likely.
When you say though that this is not scenario 2, you're correct. It's a lot more stuff for Japan than scenario 2, at least on the naval front and in terms of the kinds of troops most useful for quick invasions and strong defenses. I'm no expert on the OOB in the scenario, but I keep getting eyebrow raising moments when I see these multiple atoll defense units, when I notice the several extra CVs, CA, CL that are in the OOB. Having constructed this lineup I would imagine your opponent knows his own style, knows he likes to run everywhere willy-nilly to engage naval forces, but that he's built himself some protection (from himself, you might say) within the OOB.
One thing John does very well is switch gears to meet threats and engage them with everything he has available. By getting under your skin with his lack of strategic goals, allowing you to become overconfident in your position, he may have done himself a great service if you then push ahead early and before the Allies have overwhelming power. Time will tell.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill
