Islands of Destiny: RA 5.0 Japanese Side

[Q-Ball]

Michael is right, I would leave enough troops behind in the Phillipines to prevent a breakout, and move everyone else out. There is no reason to commit valuable time and resources to reduce the Phillipines by force, when starvation will do the job for you, over time.

The 65th Bde and supporting units are enough; the same terrain bonus that makes Clark or Manila a tough nut also makes breakouts very tough. And failed attacks by the USAAFFE command are disatrous, because they burn valuable supplies.

You know all this, but for everyone's benefit: There is no reason not to bypass the Phillipines. You don't need Manila in the short run. The only risk is that the Allied player might use Clark and/or Manila for "pop-up" attacks using SB2Us or something like that. While potentially irritating, it's not a game-changer, and you can mitigate that by constant bombing of the 2 airstrips, which is a must. Even here, any old bombers will do, allowing you to use Sallys for front-line work.

Singapore, on the other hand, can only be reduced by force; and it is critical to take before moving into the Bay of Bengal. Singapore can't be starved, as even if you can get in the hex and stop LI production, it starts with over 80K supplies, enough to last awhile.

Too many IJN players, IMO, expend resources on reducing Luzon by force. It's a waste of time. You need to use that force elsewhere, like Malaya.

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

Michael is right, I would leave enough troops behind in the Phillipines to prevent a breakout, and move everyone else out. There is no reason to commit valuable time and resources to reduce the Phillipines by force, when starvation will do the job for you, over time.

The 65th Bde and supporting units are enough; the same terrain bonus that makes Clark or Manila a tough nut also makes breakouts very tough. And failed attacks by the USAAFFE command are disatrous, because they burn valuable supplies.

You know all this, but for everyone's benefit: There is no reason not to bypass the Phillipines. You don't need Manila in the short run. The only risk is that the Allied player might use Clark and/or Manila for "pop-up" attacks using SB2Us or something like that. While potentially irritating, it's not a game-changer, and you can mitigate that by constant bombing of the 2 airstrips, which is a must. Even here, any old bombers will do, allowing you to use Sallys for front-line work.

Singapore, on the other hand, can only be reduced by force; and it is critical to take before moving into the Bay of Bengal. Singapore can't be starved, as even if you can get in the hex and stop LI production, it starts with over 80K supplies, enough to last awhile.

Too many IJN players, IMO, expend resources on reducing Luzon by force. It's a waste of time. You need to use that force elsewhere, like Malaya.

completely agree with QBall here. Maybe the 65th Bde is a bit too few to be 100% sure he won't breakthrough. Move the 65th out (that unit can do some damage in the southeastern DEI alone) and place there a division to keep Clark besieged. Bomb it with a couple of Sally Sentais everyday and, sooner or later, Clark will fall with ease.

[John 3rd]

Will leave a single ID there and move on to Singers. Was headed that way anyway and TOTALLY agree with the thinking here. Manila's easy capture--with corresponding surrender of 15,000 troops---really made me think this would be fast. Time to continue "evolving" the plan to REALITY!

[CaptDave]

To answer your question, I'm reading -- but I'm reading both sides, so won't comment or advise.

What I can safely say without causing any security threats is that I appreciate your writing style, along with those of others who essentially "think out loud" here. I don't have nearly the time to play the game that I would like, so appreciate any insight into others' lines of thinking. My turns are too few and far between to remember well what my own thoughts are.

[John 3rd]

Long time (a week) since my last Post. Sorry about that but I have taken over my store and hours have shot up from a pleasant 25 or so a week to nearly 50. Reality is biting into 'fantasy' time. Simple truth.

Turns have slowed but we are still getting them done. Just sent back the Feb 13th turn. We should get another in today and I HOPE to make an extended Log Entry.

Will simple say that my 'gut' feeling was frighteningly spot-on with the Aleutians. He is up there in force. I am REALLY happy about having decided to move my SS up there earlier. They are already in play and SCORING heavily!

The Fleet is mostly in the Home Islands right now. CarDiv2 is disbanded repairing system damage (Hiryu--12 and Soryu--13!!! [&:]) at Kobe. The KB just passed Marcus and is headed for Yokohama. It will only take a few days to fix its System Damage. BB Division One (Mutsu and Nagato) are almost to Yokohama as well. We re-tool for a massed push into the North Pacific. Three separate reinforcement convoys will follow on the Fleet's coattails. While this is good, the news gets even better with CVL Nisshin due in 4 days, CV Junyo in 6 days, and BB Yamato in 9. How about that for reinforcements?? Yamato joins the other two BBs. The newly re-organized KB shall consist of 6 CV and 3 CVL. I might also attach Junyo and use her as well.

I expect Dan to bugout before I get there. This is why I shall do a DEEP STRIKE, have 7 fully loaded fast AOs moving East presently, into the Gulf of Alaska and the Northern West Coast. Since he--evidently--wants to fight up here, then I shall welcome this development for a chance to attrit his airpower.

The funny thing is that doesn't slow my operations whatsoever elsewhere. With my revised planning, I won't need heavy Naval Cover for Western Australia. The Port Blair Landing will be covered from multiple points. Eastern Australia MIGHT pose a problem. We'll see about that. This is why I think about taking CV Junyo down south. She can join the Ryujo and 2 CVEs and this will make the TF carry nearly 140+ aircraft. SHOULD be plenty. If I don't send Junyo south and--instead--send her north then the 3 small CVs will be on their own. Have to think about that.

Just wanted to throw some of this out before Posting the Combat Log later tonight.

COMMENTS?

[ny59giants]

Up North - I would form a small SC TF with about 4 to 6 DDs with maybe a CL as leader. I would order KB to follow behind by 1 to 2 hexes. This TF would have a non-aggressive leader. Hopefully, his SBDs will go after this TF and leave your CV/CVLs alone. I would not place the slower Junyo with KB.

Overall, I would look to take bases that you can destroy his troops. The Americans have limited regiments that he can use up there now. Force him to use a division or a broken down division.

CVE with your fast AOs. I would have one to provide fighter cover and scare away any PBYs that Dan may use with torpedoes.

[obvert]

Does reluctant Admiral allocate more fuel to Japan in the beginning?

Now that I'm entering 44 I realize that some of my earlier CV moves deep into Japanese territory were most likely un-productive fuel-wasting missions. By pressing your buttons up here have you thought that maybe he wants you to gather strength and move deeply into territory he might completely vacate before you arrive?

[John 3rd]

RA starts with LESS fuel. The only advantage I have fighting out of the DEI is that it doesn't pull from the HI Reserves. We look really good right now. I have not mentioned that the Fuel TF are already running between the taken Ports to the HI. In the spirit of planning ahead I like to create fuel caches in different spots on the map--just in case. PJ has 50,000 Fuel, Saipan about the same, Babeldoap ditto, and Jaliut is near 30,000. Try to make these large enough for one major operation's worth of fuel if needed.

This could be and--quite possibly is--a lure to bring me North. I accept that. His concentration here so early bespeaks his perennial fixation with the North. If this is where he wants to play some then I accept ON MY TERMS. I have three major reinforcement Convoys carrying a Brigade and two Regiments (bought out from China) that will land troops at Unmak, Amchitka, and Adak. These units--dug-in--will make it quite costly to take any of these bases without at least a pair of ID. Additionally I am deploying one Air Flotilla and its large base Force from the 9th Air Fleet to provide my AF's Bombers some teeth as well as serious support. He can mess with Unmak while I build the other bases up behind there.

Michael is right. I shall send Junyo down to join-up with Ryuho, Taiyo and Hosho. They shall have enough planes to defend themselves and cause trouble.

Didn't mention earlier that the US CVs are up there. Watched them slowly move east for a period of 4 days. They were fairly close to Paramushiro Jima when I started my Recon and--thankfully--moved away ASAP. I had a BUNCH of TF moving around there and they would have been chewed up and spit out in a bloodbath had he moved slightly farther west.

[obvert]

This could be and--quite possibly is--a lure to bring me North. I accept that. His concentration here so early bespeaks his perennial fixation with the North. If this is where he wants to play some then I accept ON MY TERMS. I have three major reinforcement Convoys carrying a Brigade and two Regiments (bought out from China) that will land troops at Unmak, Amchitka, and Adak. These units--dug-in--will make it quite costly to take any of these bases without at least a pair of ID. Additionally I am deploying one Air Flotilla and its large base Force from the 9th Air Fleet to provide my AF's Bombers some teeth as well as serious support. He can mess with Unmak while I build the other bases up behind there.

This sounds good. I didn't realize that this was a move to solidify the positions on the ground. He definitely likes it up there, and some opposition seems necessary.

I expect Dan to bugout before I get there. This is why I shall do a DEEP STRIKE, have 7 fully loaded fast AOs moving East presently, into the Gulf of Alaska and the Northern West Coast. Since he--evidently--wants to fight up here, then I shall welcome this development for a chance to attrit his airpower.

What got me wondering was the use of DEEP Strike in the above passage. If he bugs out, will a move farther than necessary to set up your positions help you? Especially if you have less fuel than stock in this version?

[John 3rd]

Good Question Obvert. I have 5 AO's worth of Fuel loaded and moving slowly NE so I can rendezvous and fuel up for a move deep into the Gulf of Alaska if needed. These are the BIG AOs so this means 55,000 Fuel. Will not spend more fuel then that for the mission. Think I will cut the distance between Midway and the Aleutians right down the center then angle NE into the Gulf. Will go on Emcon (no Search/ASW) to give away the move. I'll use the Mavis and Emily that are and will be stationed for my eyes. Meanwhile, Nagato, Mutsu, and Yamato can stir up the Hornet's Nest!

Should be interesting to say the least. If needed, I can Port Strike Anchorage, Kodiak, Cold Bay, etc... NINE CV--CVL should be enough to overwhelm any opposition.

[John 3rd]

Looks like the KB shall consist of CarDiv's 1, 2 and 5 in separate TF each with a CVL attached. The CVLs shall carry only Zeros resized from 18 up to 30 planes. Escorts will be 2 BC, 6 CA, 3 CL, and 18-21 DDs.

There are already 12 I-Boats on Patrol with six more about the enter the area.

Have moved two of the SS ML and they shall load-up for a ming mission. There are 5 CM gathered in 1 TF (210 Mines) and it is headed for Attu. All three of the BIG ML are headed North to lay mines at Adak and then Unmak.

[Q-Ball]

John, following-up on my earlier post, you have 3 Inf Divisions committed at Singapore. My two yen, I think you have made a strategic error in not committing more. As Japan, I think you have to really overkill Singapore; you need to take it fast and move on. I think you have a problem here.

I like to use several divisions: 5th, 18th, Imperial Guards are given, plus 2nd Div (It starts the game with elements 100% prepped for Singers), and at least one other, plus tanks and guns. I think 5 is the bare minimum, and 6 if you want to be sure.

The other benefit is that once you have completed the conquest, Singapore is a great launching place for the next move, and all the units will already be there.....

You committed 3 divisions to Java; you could have committed less here. In Java, your main objective is to drive the Dutch into Batavia or the mountains; either way it doesn't matter much. Soerbaya and the Oil is the stuff you really need. The rest, you can starve them out. You would have to garrison Batavia anyway.

Singapore is the one place you can't be cheap. You can even use troops from Luzon, because you don't really need that fifth division until mid-Jan, but you do need it

My two yen..........

[moore4807]

I just caught up on this and I am keeping notes. (AF const, HQ planning, etc.)

My suggestion is (and I know I'm a rookie talking to a master...) I use the bought LCU's from Kwantung and send them to Khota Baru, and like Q-Ball says too much at Singers is never enough. After conquering Singers I then rail the excess up to Chang Mai (?) the end-of-the-railline base four hexes east of Rangoon and start the process of rolling up to Mandalay and points North. The rail movement saves around a week compared to sea travel. Once the Engineers are done at Singers they also go to Rangoon, Akyab and Chittagong to build up ports/AF...

My other "trick" is I take all the 14th Army units in P.I. after Bataan falls and send them to Haiphong and Hong Kong to start rolling up the Chinese units. With these experienced units it is much faster routing resistance and encircling the stragglers. I can usually capture up to Sian and Kunming (vs. A.I.) by 1943 taking most of the Chinese production away. The Southern Army units are then sent to take Noumea/Norfolk Is/Tanna Is. and make supply diffcult to Sydney and Brisbane.

I figure you already know this but I have not seen you post it in your plans, so could you point out to this rookie what I'm missing vs. a live player by doing this?

[Crackaces]

I figure you already know this but I have not seen you post it in your plans, so could you point out to this rookie what I'm missing vs. a live player by doing this?

The biggest difference between playing agaainst random but fixed scripts [the distiction is important in that no gaming AI I have experinced comes close to passing the Turing test] and playing vs. an opponent is that the scripts do not have the logic to change the locus -- a person has that capacity. CannoeRebel is an exteremly experinced player and thus knows once the IJ have shown where their strength is centered .. they push on teh big bowl of jello where the IJ are not ...In your example, as I see you comitt forces in China and account for your forces I might push ihard n Burma or the Marshalls .. the "AI" simply follows the script ..

I would agree although that the lack of concentration of the most optimium divisions including those Kwantung have limited the complete use of IJ resources at the most optimum period to use them .. i.e. the amphib bonus period. Now two very important objectives are still not seized and time is moving into the period where the Allies stop reeling and start putting presure on the Empire ...Then the game becomes "Wack-a-mole" with incessent moves/coutermoves that is also not seen in a fixed script game .. [A fixed trigger of comitting XYZ force if place 'A' is occupied is not an example of my thought ...]

[John 3rd]

Hello All.

Just checking in and wanting to let people know that we are still running. Dan and I are getting in 10-14 turns a week so our pace is pretty fair, however, as I have stated above, life has been a little TOO exciting in taking over my store here in La Salle. Going from a part-time job to 50 hours a week has been a very rude SHOCK to the system. Not fun. On the BRIGHT side I will be getting wireless at work so I can do little things from there.

We just got the 3-11-42 turn done and things are certainly 'fascinating' within the game.

GOOD NEWS: The Naval and Air side look solid (KB 6 CV and 3 CVL) is about to to do a Port Strike on both Sydney and Melbourne next turn. The fleet hasn't been spotted so there is solid expectation here. We have a massive version of Gettysburg going on in China where our lines stretch all the way from Ichang around to Kweilin with the Japanese pushing and trying to punch a hole through the Chinese Line. Wouldn't even be thinking about this if it wasn't for Dan's Sir Robin retreat that gave me EVERYTHING I wanted within 3 weeks of the war starting! He has done the same in Burma where 2 TK Reg and a Brigade have taken everything from Schwebo south. DITTO for NW Australia where I have Katherine and Fenton (3 TK Reg) and am driving south with 90th Reg to grab Tennant Creek.

BAD NEWS: Still hung up at Clark and Singapore. Singapore has been reinforced and a near 4 Inf Div attack vs NO FORTS got a 1-3 result! Can you BELIEVE that CRAP?!! Am not bombing the HELL out of the target with over 200 bombers each day. Clark is close to falling. Bataan is out of supply and I assume that Clark is about the same. Expect movement there within a week or so...

Just so you guys KNOW!

Will try to Post a picture of China if I can.

[John 3rd]

Here we are with a quick screenshot.

The north is locked in place with a solid front extending west of the Central Plain's Cities (Loyang, etc...)

The Fishhook begins SW of Ichang and curls all the way around to Kweilin. Just like Gettysburg, Dan has excellent interior lines with the damned RR to move troops around quickly. Thrusts:

1. Troops (2+ ID) just moved in behind the Chinese defending east of Changsha and are attacking Changsha itself. I viewed this as Pickett's Charge with hitting the Center, however, the first attack got a 1-2 and LOWERED Forts from 3 down to 2. NICE! Engineers and 2 more IDs moving in to help.

2. Anderson's attack on the edge of Cematary Ridge is next. Three ID are gathering to cross into the open hex west of the Changsha and other cities area. I like the Open Hex because I shall focus nearly 250 bombers there when the crossing is about to occur.

3. We've got McLaws trying to occupy the Chinese next in the Town east of Kweilin with 1 ID and 6 Artie units trying to pin down more Chinese units.

4. Just crushed two units SW of Kweilin as Hood's fearless Division moves in to punch the flank at Little Round Top! Have got 1 ID (2 more coming up) and 3 TK Regiments involved here.

Wild Cards. I've moved the 2nd Para Raiders unit to Wuchow and have enough Transports to drop it in one lift. Thoughts?

[John 3rd]

Just for some warning about getting some popcorn ready...

[ny59giants]

Don't forget the newer beta patches change back the code to allow supply generation from Light Industry. So, Singapore gets some, but not enough supply here.

[John 3rd]

This is a pleasant sight. The quail scatter out of Melbourne and FLEE the KB! Strikes account for no less then 27 ships including 14 AKL, 3 AK, 5 small AO, 3 TK, 1 AM, 1 PG, and an AG.

Warships are racing away to the edge of this screenshot. KB won't catch them but will pursue for one more day. They have no understanding that KB-2 is now waiting just SW of Perth undetected... The hunters flushing out the game to an even greater threat...

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Don't forget the newer beta patches change back the code to allow supply generation from Light Industry. So, Singapore gets some, but not enough supply here.

Michael: I called earlier tonight and it wouldn't go through. Will try after work tomorrow morning.