A Road Less Travelled

[Quixote]

I've already had one player PM me about possibly picking the game up, but Cannonfodder hasn't given up yet. Over the past couple of days we've flipped several more turns, I've heard nothing more about surrender, and he's even managed to make a joke. I think the shock of being down so far and so fast, followed by losing Suva, Madras, and Chengtu in short order got to him. His spirits seem to be (a least a little bit) improved in the last day or two, though. I'll start to worry again the next time he suffers a major defeat, but unless he does something rash (and he's not a very rash player), I don't think he has too many more major defeats coming his way. My expansion is done other than in China, and I'm hoping that given our situation there he's already more or less reconciled himself to losing the rest of it by now. We'll see.

[Quixote]

May 14-23, 1942

India - Quiet, with screenshot attached showing where everything stands.

South Pacific - Since just before the fall of Suva, Cannonfodder started running small TFs into Pago Pago to try to build this base up. I don't plan to take it, but he probably hasn't guessed that yet. Given how aggressive I've been so far, he's trying to do what he can to slow me down here. I sent in a three DD raiding group when I spotted his last Allied inbound TF, and sank 6 smaller transports (plus one decent xAP) along with the 100 or so Allied squads still on board. I think he was was/is waiting for the KB to step back in and for me to hit Pago and/or Norfolk, but I've kept the carriers quiet for the past two weeks. The KB is still in the area, but I thought it was time to make him start guessing again so I turned its headlights off - no more Kates or Vals on search for now.

China - As mentioned above, both Chihkiang and Chengtu are Japanese. All the Chinese troops along the river line in the south are now falling back on Kweilin, which looks to be our next battleground in three or four more days. Having reinforced the army that took Chihkiang with a Guards Tank division and another 1000AV, I don't think Cannonfodder will have any more luck at Kweilin than he did at Chihkiang, but he has to try something I guess.

[zuluhour]

There is so much RED on your maps!

[Quixote]

May 24-31, 1942

What a difference a week (or maybe two) makes. Since hitting rock bottom a couple of game-weeks ago, the Allies have begun showing some fight in almost every single theater.

Aleutians - Cannonfodder has begun almost daily air raids on Adak with a small group of B17s, and he continues to build up Umnak. For the moment, I've countered with a whole 9-plane chutai of Rufes, who have done surprisingly well against the B17s. (By this, I mean they occasionally shoot a B17 down, and have been keeping the damage done in the airfield attacks to a minimum.)

Australia - Looks like Cannonfodder finally decided to push north from Tennant Creek with tanks. I've been building forts at Darwin, but don't have much real AV down here right now. (The division that took Darwin went on to help take Java. After another day or two of rest, it'll be loaded back up and returned to Darwin's sunny shores to man the defenses.) Further west, Cannonfodder has been trying (unsuccessfully) to intercept the small transports I occasionally run into Exmouth. Just last turn though, he used Catalinas for the first time on naval attack and they actually hit and sank an xAKL. It's a start.

South Pacific - A P38 sweep on Koumac, Liberators bombing Noumea, the usual parade of 2 and 3 ship TFs coming and going from Norfolk Island. I don't see a full scale invasion coming down here in the next week or two, but it does look like he's starting to feel out the defenses. Japanese forces continue a slow reorganization, moving some of the excess AV from Fiji over to New Caledonia and Efate.

Phillipines - The last Allied bases behind my lines have been taken (Iliolo, Zamboanga, Bacolod, etc.) Because I'm sure Cannonfodder has wondered why, I'll also mention that I've taken every dot base behind my lines, too (with a couple of purposeful exceptions.) I did this because I don't like the thought of him sneaking an AVP or a base force and search planes (or engineers) behind my lines without me spotting them. Also, I may be just a bit OCD...(I like my maps that way Zulu[:)])

China - This may not be the best example of Cannonfodder fighting back, maybe, but he has thrown several blocking units across my supply paths and railroads here in the past week. I have predicatably thrown them all right back out again with heavy losses, but at least he's trying.

India - The biggest evidence of Allied pushback is here. Multiple fighter sweeps near both Madras and Benares. Addtional troop buildup in Central India. Tanks pushing ahead towards my flank - fun stuff!! As I don't have the assets necessary to commit to a defense in strength this far out, I'm beginning a calculated withdrawl towards Calcutta. In the grand scheme of things, I plan to lose everything in this area except Calcutta by the end of 1942, but I still want to extract some toll for letting him take it back. This will be probably be Japan's biggest test over the next six months.

[Quixote]

June 1-6, 1942

India - The pullback has begun. Some strafing and bombing by the Allies, countered a bit by one group of Tojos. Allied tanks are flanking Benares from both sides, so it's definitely time to leave.

China - Kweiyang fell on June 1rst, leaving Cannonfodder with 5 bases in China. 20% of the conquerors stayed in Kweiyang to rest and take replacements while the other 80% started the move to Kunming. I plan to take the two remaining mountain bases before closing on Chunking.

Oz - A small Japanese CA/DD surface group 10 hexes west of Perth intercepted a couple of Dutch CLs and two detroyers on June 2nd. I was waiting for a troop convoy, but either way, scratch two Dutch CLs and at least one destroyer.

South Pacific - Cannonfodder continues to hit Noumea with B17s and Liberators from Norfolk Island. I don't have enough Tojos to go around yet, so I'm using what I do have - the KB. I'm either about to make a rather large mistake, or Norfok Island and it's 4Es are going to get hit badly. We'll find out shortly which way this goes...

[Quixote]

June 7-8, 1942

Aleutians - BB Warspite stopped by for another bombardment at Adak on June 7th. After retiring, she took two torpedoes near Dutch Harbor on June 8th. A group of Nicks (stationed on Amchitka to reduce the risk from naval bombardment) is now backing up the Rufes on Adak, so Japan should be able to maintain the status quo up here for a while longer without any additional assets.

South Pacific - The bombardment at Norfolk Island went off well. Allied surface forces didn't stick around, so the destroyer SCTF had nothing to do. One hit a mine, and the group retired. The BB group destroyed a dozen or so planes on the runway, damaged a bunch of other aircraft, then retired without hitting any mines. 50% chance I lose one 7 point destroyer to mine damage, but that's the worst of it. Spotting on the Auckland area sub dropped to zero on June 8th, so if Cannonfodder did have a carrier down there, he ordered it to flee. Despite successfully bombarding Norfolk Island, I changed my mind on following it with a strike from the KB. For the moment, I no longer think it's necessary.

Australia - On June 7th, midway between Melbourne and Sydney, Japanese sub I-6 is rewarded for her patience. Three torpedoes find their marks on CV Saratoga. The carrier sinks the following day. (Not FOW, as her Dauntlesses and Avengers show up destroyed on June 9th.) The slow shift in the balance of power from Japan over to the Allies just got a little slower.

[veji1]

Oh man... your opponent can't seem to catch a break.

[Mike Solli]

Very nice place to put a sub.

[SqzMyLemon]

ORIGINAL: Quixote

Australia - On June 7th, midway between Melbourne and Sydney, Japanese sub I-6 is rewarded for her patience. Three torpedoes find their marks on CV Saratoga. The carrier sinks the following day. (Not FOW, as her Dauntlesses and Avengers show up destroyed on June 9th.) The slow shift in the balance of power from Japan over to the Allies just got a little slower.

I'm envious. I read about attacks like these in so many AAR's yet can't replicate anything close in my own games. In a similar situation my submarine would be spotted by escorts before firing a shot and most likely be heavily damaged or sunk, or end up targeting the escort and miss. I haven't seen anything larger in the crosshairs than a DD for quite some time and can't even hit an unescorted AV.

Nice shooting.

[Capt. Harlock]

The slow shift in the balance of power from Japan over to the Allies just got a little slower.

And the road to Japanese auto-victory just got even smoother! [&o]

[pontiouspilot]

Although not yet news here I gather that your opponent has thrown in the towel. I have followed each AAR closely and with great interest. I loved your ballsy opening. All along I asked myself what could Allies have done differently? To me, first and foremost in 1942, if you know where KB is, which was painfully evident until say late January, then you make hay where it isn't. Here the whole pristine Pacific fleet was available to make hay. I believe that the Allies were simply too shy about your non-KB opening air power. I did not specifically make note but did you shift a sizeable protion of your Betties and Nells to cover your back door while KB played? The Pacific Fleet could have ravaged or occupied many important bases either distracting KB from its India pillage or making the later move south much more challenging. Hell, if I thought I would lose half of India in early '42 I would risk things like a bombardment of home islands. Who really cares if Allies lose what they should have lost at Pearl anyway!!??

[Quixote]

It's official. Cannonfodder offered his surrender and I have accepted it. His current position in the game is tough, and he has no real way to avoid the looming auto-victory. Looking beyond auto-victory, the Allies would probably still continue to struggle until mid '43 in this one. At two turns per day, that would mean another 6+ month commitment to getting his butt kicked after already having it badly kicked for the past 4 months. I understand why he chose to surrender, and I'm OK with it. He did the honorable thing by admitting that he simply felt beaten, and did so in public as both of us have AARs. Much easier to just stop playing and disappear, but he didn't do it. I've said it before in the AAR, but I'll throw it out there one more time for anyone considering Cannon as a future opponent. He's a good guy and a very conscientious opponent. Always communicated about when turns were coming, very complimentary, never complained, even when things didn't go his way.

I'm going to take a short break from the game before looking at another PBEM, which is why Cannon already has another ad up for a new opponent. Playing the Allies, I could start a new game tomorrow. Playing Japan is a bit more draining for me, though. Going to take a few weeks off. As to Allied strategy in this game, certainly Cannon could have done some things differently, but hindsight is 20/20. What were other Allied players encouraging him to do as they watched the opening unfold? How badly do you think he'd have been criticized in his AAR if during an invasion of Tarawa or Wake in February '42 he lost half a division along with a CV? "Why in the world are you risking your carriers this early? Are you crazy? Just sit back and be patient. You're playing the Allies, eventually you'll always win..." I think a lot of other players would have fared exactly the same way Cannonfodder did. Or maybe worse, if they gambled those CVs at Tarawa and lost...

And now, though I'm sad to see the game end, I'm off to read Cannon's AAR. Zulu has told me several times it's very well done, and I'm looking forward to seeing it for myself. Thanks for following along, and for all of the insightful questions and comments. This has been a lot of fun to write, mostly because of all of you guys. Thanks -Quixote.

[obvert]

Well played sir and I look forward to your next.

[&o]

[buutsy]

First of all : Congratz, very well played Mr. Quixote ! Indeed a fascinating new approach !

I for one finding it very frustrating, that your opponent gave up so early ! Would have been so interresting, how your way playing this game works on the long run !!

What about attacking the russians first in your next game ? [:D]

[JocMeister]

Hats of to you Quixote! [&o]

I followed Cannonfodders AAR so I havn´t read yours. I will do so starting tonight. Getting an AV is no small feat and you should feel really proud of yourself. It will be very interesting to see exactly how you did it. Scary read for an Allied player! [:)]

Its a shame it ended though. Would have been really interesting to see Cannonfodders journey back fron the abyss and your response.

Just wanted to drop by and congratulate you. [:)]

[Capt. Harlock]

It's official. Cannonfodder offered his surrender and I have accepted it. His current position in the game is tough, and he has no real way to avoid the looming auto-victory.

Cheers for a very well-played and sportsmanlike game. I confess to being an Allied fanboy, but I've always thought that Japan's one real chance was *not* to do the Pearl Harbor strike, and gain the political advantages from a less-united America. You've shown that there might well have been military advantages as well, in supporting expansion rather than neutralizing the slow and outdated battlewagons.

[Crackaces]

I also wonder if the Mersing gambit is a viable strategy for Scenario #1? My current opponent lost almost all the DB's from the Kaga on the Pearl Harbor attack and did not sink a single BB ... then turned the KB loose into the India Ocean to attack India ignoring Singapore ...

I almost think his current strategy would be perfect in pulling off a Mersing gambit instead of PH, and seizing Singapore .. and then invading Ceylon and India ...

The problems of not seizing major urban centers before they can build up to level 4 & 5 fort levels is well documented in comments within this AAR ..

[KenchiSulla]

Hi guys,

Let me say that I think that this opening is solid and far better then the standard Pearl Harbour opening. The Japanese player really has to use the fact that the allies have almost nothing defending the pacific at game start. You do not need the KB there until march...

The combined fleet can destroy allied forces in southeast asia and the philippines. Destroying those ships, including the main capital ships (PoW, Repulse and Houston) in the area is more important then sinking/damaging a couple of old BBs at Pearl (at full speed they make 21 knots, a whopping 6 hexes in and out if you want to use them for bombarding). Those BBs are useful later in the game but are sitting ducks against Japanese air in 1942.

The biggest mistake Quixote made, as far as I'm concerned, is leaving a supply convoy unprotected once and sending in a long range G4M strike against a defended city... He screened his forces well, reinforced at the critical locations and pushed into the undefended areas of the map.

I surrendered not only because I'm positive he would have gotten AV but also because he played very skilfully. Such a player, combined with the toys the Japanese get in scenario 2, no stacking limits, good pilot quality right out flight school and an excellent defendable position.. ouch

[CaptBeefheart]

Thanks for two great AARs, gentlemen, and congratulations to Quixote on a classic, well-sustained IJ opening.

Cheers,
CC

EDIT: Grammar.

[witpqs]

Congratulations!