Innocently Slaughtering: Japanese Glory--RA

[Historiker]

Marbakka has told me he is reading my AARs so he will know my highly aggressive style as well as some of my 'tendencies.' These would include: always splitting my CVs, taking bold risks, shooting for the moon somewhere, etc...

Until someone destroys your toys. Then the big whining begins!

[:D][:D]

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: Historiker

Marbakka has told me he is reading my AARs so he will know my highly aggressive style as well as some of my 'tendencies.' These would include: always splitting my CVs, taking bold risks, shooting for the moon somewhere, etc...

Until someone destroys your toys. Then the big whining begins!

[:D][:D]

Whine? I NEVER WHINE. EVER!! EVER!!!

OK. Maybe I need some self-examination...

[Historiker]

I haven't seen you quit any game, but I'm really curious what you'd do once your opponent picked your CVs off the surface in piecemail. [8D]

While it is really funny to read your AARs because of your gamestyle, I wonder how you'd do against someone who uses your gamestyle against you from turn one onwards.

[John 3rd]

I sent Turn One to Marbakka yesterday but since Sundays are very big for him (Pastor) I don't expect to see anything until tonight. In the opening moves I bought out the Imperial Guards Brigade at Tokyo and ordered it to move about 6-8 hexes from Midway. The 144th Inf Reg starts at Truk. Having those units begin where they are PRIOR to me ever starting this thread makes me think that Hawaii is the choice. As much as you guys would love to see India, I cannot get over the 'sinking' feeling I have with attempting that Operation. Australia is do-able as the Japanese, however, India--I am convinced--is a no-go. A Right Hook destined to take Eastern India might be workable but I cannot see the sense of freeing up all those units AND triggering emergency reinforcements. NONE of that happens with hitting Hawaii.

These are my thoughts. Any rebuttal or differing ideas?

[Historiker]

Do you intend to take Hawaii for the sake of taking Hawaii, or do you see any real strategic value in this?

[Dan Nichols]

My thoughts. If my opponent invaded Hawaii, I would let him sit there for years. I would move all Air and LCU replacements to Eastern USA and then have them take the free ride to Cape Town. I would move most TKs and xAKs to EUSA and move 2+ Million fuel and supply to Cape Town. Then move all to Western Australia and then on to the DEI. In the second half of 1944 or early 1945 I could retake Hawaii if I wanted.

[John 3rd]

Just might answer for the sake of taking Hawaii.

I've always felt that if one could take PH or render it unusable to the American Fleet you would mightily advance the Japanese cause. It totally turns the axis of probable attack on its head. Having Midway, the Line Islands, and Hawaii would create a massive line from which the American Commander would be force to either (1) go north through the Aleutians, (2) start down in Suva/Pago Pago, (3) work from Australia, or (4) come from India. The capture would massively expand Allied supply lines as well as take an excellent anchorage/repair yard out of the picture. Note that I don't HAVE to take PH. Having everything but PH still achieves the same thing.

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: Historiker

I haven't seen you quit any game, but I'm really curious what you'd do once your opponent picked your CVs off the surface in piecemail. [8D]

While it is really funny to read your AARs because of your gamestyle, I wonder how you'd do against someone who uses your gamestyle against you from turn one onwards.

It has happened before but never in an AAR. Simply continue but massively shift the style of play. When Canoe and I had our epic game in WitP, it became a ton of fun trying to counter-punch as he waged his war invading Hokkaido and Iwo Jima. That was a wild-and-crazy campaign!

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: Dan Nichols

My thoughts. If my opponent invaded Hawaii, I would let him sit there for years. I would move all Air and LCU replacements to Eastern USA and then have them take the free ride to Cape Town. I would move most TKs and xAKs to EUSA and move 2+ Million fuel and supply to Cape Town. Then move all to Western Australia and then on to the DEI. In the second half of 1944 or early 1945 I could retake Hawaii if I wanted.

That makes perfect sense to me and is something I might do as well. The real key to Hawaii is Naval Attrition. Can this be done in such a way to massively damage the American Fleet to slow down the eventual counter-offensive. The answer truly depends on the Allied opponent I guess. Kyberbill took the move as a chance to fight back and really took some serious risks to do so.

[FatR]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

ItsAMadHouse makes a good point. Has anyone EVER done this? I know FatR gave it a college try. I did as well with Kyberbill.

I know I followed footsteps of another player, who had an AAR on this forum, but can't remember his name. It might be referenced in early parts of my AAR.

That said, I think that entire India is the most interesting and strategically valuable goal and eastern India is the second most strategically valuable (although I think that it needs to be evacuated by about late autumn, if Allies hold the rest of the subcontinent).

[FatR]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Just might answer for the sake of taking Hawaii.

I've always felt that if one could take PH or render it unusable to the American Fleet you would mightily advance the Japanese cause. It totally turns the axis of probable attack on its head. Having Midway, the Line Islands, and Hawaii would create a massive line from which the American Commander would be force to either (1) go north through the Aleutians, (2) start down in Suva/Pago Pago, (3) work from Australia, or (4) come from India. The capture would massively expand Allied supply lines as well as take an excellent anchorage/repair yard out of the picture. Note that I don't HAVE to take PH. Having everything but PH still achieves the same thing.

I think that there is a problem with this: Hawaii are so far outside of Japanese perimeter, that even transferring planes there is problematic (Allies can cut off Japanese ability to transfer fighters there by taking Midway and Johnson simultaneously, and these islands are too small and isolated to be effectively defended). Also, fuel costs for supplying them and maintaining active operations must be kept in mind when playing RA. I found Hawaii (without Oahu) somewhat of a trunk without handle - hard to carry, but too valuable to drop.

That said, my Hawaian operation did miracles in attriting Allied fleets. I exchanged 2 old battleships for 8 there, and still can enjoy local surface superiority in some areas in 1/44 as the result.

[John 3rd]

Entertaining analogy Stanislav.

To me attriting the Enemy is the kay. What could one accomplish in India compared to Hawaii? Sinking the Royal Navy wouldn't get one very far while sinking large numbers of the American Fleet would greatly help.

Came back to thinking about India with the Hook. One can take Ceylon without triggering reinforcements. So I guess one could land there and gain those facilities while landing at Viza and driving east to get those Industrial facilities.

[Cribtop]

FYI, one can even take Calcutta without triggering the reinforcements. I think the LOD is the hex row "East" of Dehli.

My earlier comment assumed you have a house rule about paying PPs to cross national boundaries with restricted Indian Army units. It's those units that could fight at Calcutta or elsewhere but couldn't enter Burma in numbers I was cautioning you about.

That said, if you want all of India I think you have to land on Karachi, which obviously will trigger the LOD.

[GreyJoy]

Yup, and remember that as soon as you cross the LOD, at Karachi will magically spring 72 Spitfires mk VIII....that will kill everything you put in the air at a rate of something like 15 to 1....[X(]

[Cribtop]

Your Flying Circus of Death, GJ. The Few that saved Karachi. What a story it was!

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: Cribtop

Your Flying Circus of Death, GJ. The Few that saved Karachi. What a story it was!

Yup, i saved Karachi thanks to those 72 Spitfires...was a great adventure...but not for the Japs[:D]

Seriously John, those Spifire, packed with some 72 Hurricanes and possibly some american planes could easily turn the whole Karachi adventure into a nightmare... am not saying you should not do that...just underlining another possible problem

[denisonh]

Invade Karachi or do the right hook. No in betweens. Would like to point out with all the ground bases in the IO and bases noth of the LOD, can isloate karachi with the extended map. May be good time to see the effects of the extended map on an India campaign.........

[Mac Linehan]

Gents -

It's late, am very tired and was ready for bed; but by the time I was midway down page one of this thread I was so fired up I couldn't stand it!

John 3rd - to me it doesn't matter what you choose to do; it will be fast, hard and furious. I have no doubt that the fur will fly...

a "count me in" Mac!

[John 3rd]

Mac: THAT sort of comment FIRES ME UP! Thanks.

Just got home and found the 12-7-41 turn sitting in the in box. Time to see how things start. Will be back with a quick Posting.

[John 3rd]

The decision is in. I will work a Right Hook into India and, possibly, take Ceylon.

Turn ONE is now in the books. Fairly average and nothing to write home about. Will Post in the Morning.