Lambs to the slaughter (Lowpe (J) vs Jocke; BillBrown (A)) Finished

[Lowpe]

Got the turn away...

I am concentrating off the Channel Islands, DDay barring a savage riposte by the Allies will start tomorrow.

Lots of attacks in China, including the first artillery bombardment of Chungking now that there is a significant artillery presence. First deliberate attack probably in a week. I tried to time this with the invasion of the West Coast, as I want to keep all the hammer blows falling repeatedly now.

It is important that Jocke steps up his air search in the Pacific Northwest and spot the decoy invasions there. Just hoping to cause enough doubt that he delays in moving some divisions into rail mode right away.

Jocke just sent me an email saying he didn't think he could get to the turn today...and I was unwilling to backtrack to a previous save for fear of neglecting something important.

And then I remembered I didn't adjust the CS float planes to the way I wanted them. Hopefully no biggie...

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Encircled

The brilliance of this is that it fits in perfectly with an Japanese Maskirovka campaign.

Brilliance?[X(]

Foolhardy, perhaps![:D]

[Lowpe]

Heavy radio signals from Stockton...that is new and just showed up today.

State of mind of the Empire: I feel pretty good right now...really worried about what it will be like in a day or two or three when the Allies have a chance to centralize their air force. Probably by 5 days after the invasion the Allies will be swimming with land based air and that will be very dangerous.

If I have tactical surprise, and can setup a perimeter in the LA Mtns I should be able to pound San Diego into submission.

I was hoping to sweep Seattle a little, but I suspect Jocke isn't even flying CAP there although recon shows 220 fighters there. Normally they just sit behind the huge AA guns.

As the invasion in the south starts a fresh bombing campaign will open up in the north at targets I haven't hit before like Butte, along with some rail road para landings. Also the Chinese campaign will continue with vigor, while I will be a no show in New Guinea.

[Lowpe]

Ok, gentle readers!

I got a message from Jocke that implies it might be a while for the next turn. So sorry.

No turn today, he was kept late at work.

He might be able to flip the turn tomorrow, and definitely no turn Saturday as more personal obligations rear their ugly head.

So, this once in a lifetime event will slow to a crawl for the next few days...

On the positive side, it seems like I might have achieved local tactical surprise.[:)] Or it is all a ruse.[;)]

[witpqs]

I got a message from Jocke that implies it might be a while for the next turn.

Dang it! [:D]

[el lobo]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Lots of attacks in China, including the first artillery bombardment of Chungking now that there is a significant artillery presence. First deliberate attack probably in a week.

Some real exciting times here and a lot of people, including myself, sitting on the edge of their chairs.

While we have a break in the action, can I ask what you are up-against at Chungking and what you are bringing to the table?

Thanks.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Port Hueneme (base due west of LA) - Will the capture of it eliminate ALL future reinforcements?? If so, then Jocke will miss all those SeaBee construction units and other engineering type LCUs for the rest of the war in a major way. As Allied player, this base is not garrisoned by me. [:-]

Pretty sure they would divert to national capital (SF) while PH is held. Once retaken by the allies, all reinforcements would appear as plan ...

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Port Hueneme (base due west of LA) - Will the capture of it eliminate ALL future reinforcements?? If so, then Jocke will miss all those SeaBee construction units and other engineering type LCUs for the rest of the war in a major way. As Allied player, this base is not garrisoned by me. [:-]

Pretty sure they would divert to national capital (SF) while PH is held. Once retaken by the allies, all reinforcements would appear as plan ...

+1

The ships can't divert to another base while under construction so they would go poof.

Do the aircraft factories change permanently to armament factories? Or do they change back at smaller size when recaptured and convert again to aircraft factories?

[CaptBeefheart]

Aircraft factories are done once the base is taken. They become either vehicle or armament (I can't remember), of which neither are really needed for the Allies.

Can't wait to see how this plays out. I'd wish you luck but hey, I used to live in some of those hexes.

Cheers,
CC

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: el lobo

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Lots of attacks in China, including the first artillery bombardment of Chungking now that there is a significant artillery presence. First deliberate attack probably in a week.

Some real exciting times here and a lot of people, including myself, sitting on the edge of their chairs.

While we have a break in the action, can I ask what you are up-against at Chungking and what you are bringing to the table?

Thanks.

I will get some pictures up...

I am really hoping heavy bombing, medium artillery, and stacking limits will do a lot of the heavy lifting.

[Lowpe]

1st week of Jan, 1943

A peaceful day off sunny California.



Big fireworks tomorrow I bet.[;)]

[Lowpe]

Chungking...

taking 1,000 plus bombing casualties a day, plus now daily artillery bombardment as all the foot soldiers approach.

[Lowpe]

Quite a lot of Allied Naval strength here...but I am sure there are some heavies around LA.[:(]

[Lowpe]

SigInt and recon flights over Oz....

[Lowpe]

Chungking

1740 in the town itself now...with this much around.

Plus another tank regiment on the way & if needed I can pull back the tank army from the western Chinese mountains which are pushing on Kunming (I don't want to do that).





I will try to time the river crossing (division strength) to arrive on the same day and pursue a general attack to support them. This will then totally enclose Chungking even though it will trash two divisions. Yes, I do know the tactic of using armored cars to close off hexsides, but I will not use that. Call me silly, if you must.[:)]

However, I am thinking about a deliberate attack first to hopefully reduce the forts a level or two before ordering the river crossing...not sure on that currently.

[Lowpe]

I would like to point out that this attack, into Western US, is a slight deviation from Olorin's original master plan.[&o]
He wanted to go with 20 divisions. I also believe he wanted to go sooner, and that does make sense, but I am not sure how you could assemble all those troops much earlier than what I have done, without really weakening/slowing China -- although Olorin could have as he is a much better player than me.

Another reason for this later date for the invasion was that I didn't really want to pursue 1943 AV, for fear of causing Jocke to come up with some hail merry invasion while all my troops and carriers are off California. Rather I wanted to entice him into attacking in safe vectors like clearing India & I feel I have been successful in that. I tried very hard to give him a serious threat, and an area where he could counterattack and do well in and continue to reinforce that was far, far away from LA.

So, for good or ill, this attack plan on the West Coast, with its limited goals of sacking and burning San Diego are totally my brain child. I will push to fight in LA, but I doubt I can take it unless I sever the rail line out which will be exceedingly difficult to do so. And then, if I do, I really wonder about pulling off an exodus safely.

Portland area is just too full of nasty terrain and limited naval bombardments for me to see how I could make headway there.

If I can burn San Diego, and fight in LA I will consider the operation a success. If I can escape with my troops....well, lets not get so far ahead. I am sure the Allies will come for Port Moresby, Rabaul, Burma, perhaps the SRA....plus will fight hammer and tong for the West Coast.

This is the quiet before the apocalypse. Breath deep, and go slow & thorough on the turn since Jocke can't flip it until Sunday.

[Olorin]

You are going for a 1944 AV then?

I believe capturing an isolated SD is feasible with ~10 divs with lots of armor and artillery support, but it can become a protracted siege and you must maintain at least air parity in the meantinme, to allow your BBs to approach safely. How many aircraft can you count on for this battle?

[savelius2]

If the original plan was 20 divisions, and you're only realistically hoping to take SD, do you benefit by fighting in LA? Would it be better to fortify in good terrain for a siege of SD with those troops?

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

I would like to point out that this attack, into Western US, is a slight deviation from Olorin's original master plan.[&o]
He wanted to go with 20 divisions. I also believe he wanted to go sooner, and that does make sense, but I am not sure how you could assemble all those troops much earlier than what I have done, without really weakening/slowing China -- although Olorin could have as he is a much better player than me.

Another reason for this later date for the invasion was that I didn't really want to pursue 1943 AV, for fear of causing Jocke to come up with some hail merry invasion while all my troops and carriers are off California. Rather I wanted to entice him into attacking in safe vectors like clearing India & I feel I have been successful in that. I tried very hard to give him a serious threat, and an area where he could counterattack and do well in and continue to reinforce that was far, far away from LA.

So, for good or ill, this attack plan on the West Coast, with its limited goals of sacking and burning San Diego are totally my brain child. I will push to fight in LA, but I doubt I can take it unless I sever the rail line out which will be exceedingly difficult to do so. And then, if I do, I really wonder about pulling off an exodus safely.

Portland area is just too full of nasty terrain and limited naval bombardments for me to see how I could make headway there.

If I can burn San Diego, and fight in LA I will consider the operation a success. If I can escape with my troops....well, lets not get so far ahead. I am sure the Allies will come for Port Moresby, Rabaul, Burma, perhaps the SRA....plus will fight hammer and tong for the West Coast.

This is the quiet before the apocalypse. Breath deep, and go slow & thorough on the turn since Jocke can't flip it until Sunday.

Are you taking Eureka to threaten SF? That at least could keep some troops there.

Are you taking anything up North to keep a threat for Seattle? After all, he won't "see" your divisions landing after the prepped ones going first to take the bases, right? So if he sees 3-4, you hold back a turn or two, hit mid and north coasts and feint that way with the amphibs before coming back, maybe, just maybe you can cause some confusion. Otherwise there are way too many fast rail lines into the LA/San Diego area and your scope is too narrow.

If you also throw in some CAP traps and bombing missions from the Canadian bases maybe you can do something up there.

Or is that kind of stuff all part of the plan? (You're being a bit short on info here, and since the cat's out of the bag and you have the whole weekend while Jocke gets obliterated on IPAs, why not some details!!) [;)]

[Lowpe]

No turn....Allied family is struck by chicken pox.[:(]

Hmmm....

teaser: there are paratroopers landing in the Pacific Northwest today.