Japan First turn

[JWE]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd
Good to be back Sir! 

Thanks.  I'll give it a try and see how badly I mess it up!

Stuff can get a bit tricky if you are not used to it. Pms always answered.

[fflaguna]

ORIGINAL: JWE

ORIGINAL: John 3rd
Good to be back Sir! 

Thanks.  I'll give it a try and see how badly I mess it up!

Stuff can get a bit tricky if you are not used to it. Pms always answered.

How are we all supposed to learn if everyone just PMs each other in secret? Ask in public [;)]

[Cavalry Corp]

In scn 1 it seems the allies can move from PH ( change airmodes etc ) , should they not have a first turn as such ?

Cav

[Grotius]

Since we're asking first turn questions, I have a couple of my own. I'm playing Scenario 2, historical first turn, but I'm pretty sure my questions pertain to Scenario 1 too.

1. What do you guys do with the two infantry fragments (an SNLF, a Kimura detachment) pre-loaded on the two CS's at Palau? I mean, do you let the CS's continue forward as landing craft, even though they're rather precious cruisers that can upgrade to CVLs? I'm tempted to turn them around, unload them, and put the troops in xAKs. But of course that will cost time and deprive the remainders of the units of integrity. What do you do?

2. What do you all do with the 4th Division? There it is, in Osaka, ready to go. I'm putting it on a boat to Saigon, but I figure if things are going badly in Luzon, it can hop off there instead. What do you do?

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: Grotius

2. What do you all do with the 4th Division? There it is, in Osaka, ready to go. I'm putting it on a boat to Saigon, but I figure if things are going badly in Luzon, it can hop off there instead. What do you do?

That's what I did with the 4th. Prep it for Singapore, dump it onto Luzon to help with Bataan and / or Manila while it's prepping.

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: cavalry

In scn 1 it seems the allies can move from PH ( change airmodes etc ) , should they not have a first turn as such ?

Cav

House rules will prevent this. I like to ask that the Allied player not move anything (other than the TFs he starts with) and not attempt to intercept KB. He was surprised after all. No restrictions in China.

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: Grotius

1. What do you guys do with the two infantry fragments (an SNLF, a Kimura detachment) pre-loaded on the two CS's at Palau? I mean, do you let the CS's continue forward as landing craft, even though they're rather precious cruisers that can upgrade to CVLs? I'm tempted to turn them around, unload them, and put the troops in xAKs. But of course that will cost time and deprive the remainders of the units of integrity. What do you do?

I don't like to unload ships that are already loaded at the start of the war. If you're concerned about them taking damage, invade a base that is not garrisoned.

ORIGINAL: Grotius
2. What do you all do with the 4th Division? There it is, in Osaka, ready to go. I'm putting it on a boat to Saigon, but I figure if things are going badly in Luzon, it can hop off there instead. What do you do?

That sounds good. It's a nice reserve.

[ny59giants]

4th Division can go to (with prepartion) - Malaya, Luzon, Darwin, Port Moresby, or Noumea. Convert a whole bunch of those Aden Class xAKs to hold more troops and by the time thats done, the 4th will have achieved a decent level of prep. Decisons....Decisions. [;)]
 
Don't forget the 21st Division over at Shanghai. You will need to move troops around to maintain your garrison requirements, but.....a nice two headed monster for late 41 or early Jan 42.

[Grotius]

Thanks for the replies. I suppose another possibility for the 4th Division is Truk/PM, but I'm going to buy a brigade to help with that.

Also: can we use air-transports at extended range, and if so, what's the penalty? In particular, is it feasible to try to fly in a base force to Miri using the Thalia from Cam Ranh Bay, or should I just suck it up and put the base force on an xAP (or a stack of slow-unloading xAks)? I kinda want to put a big base force, with Naval Support, in Miri, so I'm guessing I'll have to move it by sea. What do you think?

[Mike Solli]

I'd move it by sea. What's the hurry?

[Mynok]

ORIGINAL: Grotius

Thanks for the replies. I suppose another possibility for the 4th Division is Truk/PM, but I'm going to buy a brigade to help with that.

Also: can we use air-transports at extended range, and if so, what's the penalty? In particular, is it feasible to try to fly in a base force to Miri using the Thalia from Cam Ranh Bay, or should I just suck it up and put the base force on an xAP (or a stack of slow-unloading xAks)? I kinda want to put a big base force, with Naval Support, in Miri, so I'm guessing I'll have to move it by sea. What do you think?

Miri?!? Why? It's useless there.

Singkawang is where you want the big base force.

[Grotius]

Actually, I didn't mean the biggest available aviation-support unit -- I just meant one with Naval Support, so that Miri can eventually load liquid quicker. About 30 aviation support, but lots of naval support. I realize that Singkawang, a larger airfield closer to Singapore, deserves a larger base force.

As for the hurry: well, I'm using the historical first turn, and the only invasion force I have pre-launched toward Borneo is toward Miri, and that force has no base force in it. Sooo, it would be nice if my first base had an operating airfield, if only to run recon, or perhaps even to support fighters to cover landings at Kuching and Singkawang. Perhaps I worry too much about those British torpedo bombers disrupting future landings on Borneo.

[Grotius]

I'm full of questions today. One more: I've noticed some players moving paratroopers from, say, Japan to Bangkok via ship. Can paras be moved more quickly or efficiently by air transport?

[ny59giants]

The 29th JNAF (unrestricted) at Nagasaki and the 35th JNAF BF (restricted and needs PP to be bought out) are the ONLY two that come with Naval Support. I have the 29th at Miri. Send some of your Shipping Engineers to Miri to speed up the loading of fuel/oil. The more Naval Support, the better. They each have 24 Aviation Support.  

[Mynok]

ORIGINAL: Grotius

Actually, I didn't mean the biggest available aviation-support unit -- I just meant one with Naval Support, so that Miri can eventually load liquid quicker. About 30 aviation support, but lots of naval support. I realize that Singkawang, a larger airfield closer to Singapore, deserves a larger base force.

As for the hurry: well, I'm using the historical first turn, and the only invasion force I have pre-launched toward Borneo is toward Miri, and that force has no base force in it. Sooo, it would be nice if my first base had an operating airfield, if only to run recon, or perhaps even to support fighters to cover landings at Kuching and Singkawang. Perhaps I worry too much about those British torpedo bombers disrupting future landings on Borneo.

Those Swordfish are really short ranged. Wouldn't worry about them on Borneo.

[Grotius]

The 29th JNAF (unrestricted) at Nagasaki and the 35th JNAF BF (restricted and needs PP to be bought out) are the ONLY two that come with Naval Support. I have the 29th at Miri. Send some of your Shipping Engineers to Miri to speed up the loading of fuel/oil. The more Naval Support, the better. They each have 24 Aviation Support.

I'm playing Scenario 2, and I have several BFs (not IJNAF) in unrestricted commands that also have Naval Support. (E.g., at Saigon: 11th Special Base Force Unit, attached to Southern Command, 12 Aviation Support, 80 Naval Support. And I see one at Cam Ranh Bay: 9th Base Force Unit, 24 Aviation Support, 120 Naval Support; I've got that one prepped for Miri. Plus several others.) But I think your point is that the JNAF BFs would fit more easily into air transports? I don't see any device on the 11th or 9th that is larger than load size 9, but maybe I'm missing something. I always resort to Tracker to check device sizes; I don't know of a way to check them in-game.

Speaking of air transports, I'm still wondering whether it's efficient or even possible to move the paratroops that start in Japan to, say, Bangkok via air transport. I don't think the Topsy has the legs to do every hop, but the Tinas that start in Formosa might. But I like them where they are. I suppose some fast cargo ships might end up being just as fast as air transport anyway, since air transport can require more than one round trip. I miss my L2D2 Tabby!

As for British torpedo bombers: the Swordfish has a range of 6 hexes, and I think the Vildebeest can get out to 8 or 9 with drop tanks, if the Allied player cares to burn supply. Long enough to put a nasty hole in one of my CAs at Khota Baru on turn 1! And long enough to wreak havoc at landings at Kuching and Singkawang. But even with air and surface cover, I suppose it's inevitable we lose a few transports in some of those landings.

[Ketza]

You can actually get very creative with the * task forces. I have found by shuffling ships around Sinkawang can be invaded turn one as well as Ambon and Kendari on turn 2. You can also bombard Cagayan and Iba. My guess is you could shuffle out all the tankers and have 2 * tfs made up from the KB to cause trouble as well but your tankers would lose their move boost. (thats why I dont do that not to mention most allied players limit you to one port attack).