Early Strategy

[henri51]

ORIGINAL: mjk428

1) Build a string of bases from PH to Oz to secure supply convoys

What is Oz?

And whaddahell is Sir Robin? Geez this game has more acronyms than the real military...[&:]

Henri

[Mike Solli]

Oz = Australia
 
Sir Robin = Allied strategy where you run away with as much as you can as fast as you can.  (Check out Sir Robin in Monty Python.)

[EUBanana]

ORIGINAL: henri51
What is Oz?

Australia.

And whaddahell is Sir Robin? Geez this game has more acronyms than the real military...[&:]

It's a strategy, from Monty Python. "Brave Sir Robin ran away".

Where the Allies don't bother defending the DEI, but instead leg it for Australia rather than fight.

[HMS Resolution]

I too have had a lot of luck off the PI; most recently a trio of Filipino PT boats managed to ambush a Japanese supply convoy at anchor and sank two big 7,000 ton 17-knot APs. It'll be interesting to see how long I can keep this up, or what effect it will have on the Japanese long-term.
 
Also, when the KB lingered off Pearl for three days, my PT boats managed to intercept their AOs, put a pair of fish into one, and set two more on fire! Great days, I tell you.

[EUBanana]

I notice a lot of the ABDA LCUs are mobile now, so you could do some major redeployment in the DEI if you so chose.  Java units are not restricted to the Java landmass anymore.

I wonder if much could be made of that.

You could actually reinforce Singapore, possibly, at the expense of Dutch holdings. 

There are also quite significant ABDA command units coming in on the British end of the off map areas, thus far I've diverted them to India but there are a couple hundred AV worth of those which might do some good deployed to the DEI.

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: EUBanana

You could actually reinforce Singapore, possibly, at the expense of Dutch holdings. 

They'll just starve faster.

[EUBanana]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli
They'll just starve faster.

Probably. [:D]

You dont have to put them in Singers, though.

That said I think Singapore is the only real important place to defend aside from Palembang and Java now. Borneo looks dead to me. Kuching is next to useless without significant improvement.

[Graymane]

I would put up a fight in the PI, DEI and Malaya. With the leaky CAP rules and the improved surface combat model and the new rules for loading/unloading and transports, it is worth making the Japanese fight for every inch. Unescorted bombers and transports are great targets early on.

[EUBanana]

ORIGINAL: Graymane

I would put up a fight in the PI, DEI and Malaya. With the leaky CAP rules and the improved surface combat model and the new rules for loading/unloading and transports, it is worth making the Japanese fight for every inch. Unescorted bombers and transports are great targets early on.

What about the ABDACOM reinforcements in Aden? Would you move those into the DEI?

Usually you are pulling stuff out of the DEI, I've never had to make the decision of whether to move ABDA units into the DEI before.

Theres an Indian regiment among them, AV 120 odd. So it's not total junk. Theres about 2/3rds of a division in total I suppose if you add up all the little bits.

Java or not bother and keep them in India, is the question...

[HMS Resolution]

I'm planning on trying to make my real stand in Burma. Historically, the British at least put up a decent show there, and maybe with some reinforcements wasted on Singers and a few more Hurricanes, I can try and hold out.

[EUBanana]

Oh, and day 1, the Dutch Martins are having a crash course in naval strike training.  [:D]

Bring it on!

[EUBanana]

ORIGINAL: HMS Resolution

I'm planning on trying to make my real stand in Burma. Historically, the British at least put up a decent show there, and maybe with some reinforcements wasted on Singers and a few more Hurricanes, I can try and hold out.

Mmm, I dont really like Burma much. I've had issues trying to get transports in and out of Rangoon already, and any serious effort in Burma means you need Rangoon presumably, with the new harsher logistics.

The only really nice defensible spot you got is Pegu, and thats one hex away. Which means if things go south, total collapse and catastrophe beckons very quickly potentially. I wouldnt want to get an overcommitment of units trapped in northern Burma.

[Graymane]

ORIGINAL: EUBanana

ORIGINAL: Graymane

I would put up a fight in the PI, DEI and Malaya. With the leaky CAP rules and the improved surface combat model and the new rules for loading/unloading and transports, it is worth making the Japanese fight for every inch. Unescorted bombers and transports are great targets early on.

What about the ABDACOM reinforcements in Aden? Would you move those into the DEI?

Usually you are pulling stuff out of the DEI, I've never had to make the decision of whether to move ABDA units into the DEI before.

Theres an Indian regiment among them, AV 120 odd. So it's not total junk. Theres about 2/3rds of a division in total I suppose if you add up all the little bits.

Java or not bother and keep them in India, is the question...

You know, I haven't really gotten that far into it yet [:)] I'm not sure I would move land troops into the DEI. I was thinking more along the lines of keeping what is already there, there, but more concentrated. Also, using the ships and the planes that are there to harass. Maybe fly something like the AVG in. Make the Japanese expend planning points, lose transports and pilots and generate fatigue. Most of all, make them take the time to do it honest.

[Grollub]

Speaking of "Sir Robin", found a classic on my drive [;)]

[EUBanana]

ORIGINAL: Graymane
You know, I haven't really gotten that far into it yet [:)] I'm not sure I would move land troops into the DEI. I was thinking more along the lines of keeping what is already there, there, but more concentrated. Also, using the ships and the planes that are there to harass. Maybe fly something like the AVG in. Make the Japanese expend planning points, lose transports and pilots and generate fatigue. Most of all, make them take the time to do it honest.

[:D]

I see. Well, I'm not planning on running away in Burma, but neither am I reinforcing it. I'm fortifying Pegu, Mandalay and Shwebo or whatever its called, but I dont expect that much. Port Blair I'm evacuating, let the Japs have it. Whoever owns Rangoon de facto owns Port Blair far as I can see. I've tried to get in supply but actually found it harder than supplying Singapore...

As for the AVG, I know its very tempting to keep them in Burma or send them to Malaya, but I remember in past games that this bit me in the long term. They got used up fighting front line Japanese forces until the good pilots were all dead. And later on, the ROCAF without the AVG in it was completely gutless, letting the Japanese train in China at will.

So now I resist temptation, send them to China, and shoot down as many Jap junkers as I can.

[John Lansford]

ORIGINAL: Grollub

Speaking of "Sir Robin", found a classic on my drive [;)]

Heh; I wouldn't run away from her if she beat me with a stick.

[stuman]

ORIGINAL: John Lansford

ORIGINAL: Grollub

Speaking of "Sir Robin", found a classic on my drive [;)]

Heh; I wouldn't run away from her if she beat me with a stick.

Amen brother.

[John Lansford]

I guess I'm  having trouble understanding the concept of the off map bases.  Karachi currently is under 20k for supplies but all the convoys are coming in from Cape Town and it will be over a year before the Med route opens up.  In order to get locally produced supply, do I need to bring fuel to the industrial sites or do I need to send convoys to Karachi so I can then ship it back south to other locales?

ISTM that with the Cape Town and Mombasa off map ports, they can ship directly to Ceylon and not worry about Karachi.  Is that what everyone is doing?

[mjk428]

ORIGINAL: John Lansford

I guess I'm  having trouble understanding the concept of the off map bases.  Karachi currently is under 20k for supplies but all the convoys are coming in from Cape Town and it will be over a year before the Med route opens up.  In order to get locally produced supply, do I need to bring fuel to the industrial sites or do I need to send convoys to Karachi so I can then ship it back south to other locales?

ISTM that with the Cape Town and Mombasa off map ports, they can ship directly to Ceylon and not worry about Karachi.  Is that what everyone is doing?

I'm only a handful of turns in for AE but in CHS I quickly stopped using Karachi as a dumping point.

It's 140 hexes from Cape Town to Karachi. 109 hexes from Cape Town to Columbo. I'll move supply to Columbo but also Chochin just to be prudent. From Aden I'll probably take it to Bombay.

Long term I would build up Diego Garcia to 5 Port/5+ Airfield and use that as a supply point.

[USSAmerica]

ORIGINAL: Grollub

Speaking of "Sir Robin", found a classic on my drive [;)]