A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Greater East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere

[sprior]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

when planned otherwise. [8D]

You're assuming planning.

[RogerJNeilson]

Planning or pranning?

Roger

[sprior]

We haven't divided up responsibilities yet but we do have to ask: Manila or Vanilla? (I just made that up). I say Manila then KB can go haring across to the Malay peninsula and support a landing at Mersing. What's not to like?

[GreyJoy]

But a stock game? Or a DBB one? Strongly suggest the latter...

A Mersing gambit with the KB around doesn't sound much "right" to me. At least not at the very first turns...

PDU ON or OFF?

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: sprior

We haven't divided up responsibilities yet but we do have to ask: Manila or Vanilla? (I just made that up). I say Manila then KB can go haring across to the Malay peninsula and support a landing at Mersing. What's not to like?

Not a bad plan if you want to keep KB in the DEI. I'm a fan of the Manira gambit, but then will frequently detach Kaga + 2 CVLs plus 1-2 CVEs to keep the Allied dogs busy. The balance of KB can then be freed to go cause havoc or support landings elsewhere.

If you elect to keep KB in the area, the South China sea 4-6 hexes NW of Manira is your launch site. If you elect to hit and run with KB, then the Phillipine Sea E of Manira is your launch site.

I'm a little 'squirmy' about having a full KB operate in waters so restricted in the early hours of the conflict. Lots of Allied dog ships running around causing problems for an air combat TF in shallow waters and narrow straits.

[sprior]

Babes Scen B, PDU on I think. Not suggesting it first turn but after the "1" port attack at Manila.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy
A Mersing gambit with the KB around doesn't sound much "right" to me. At least not at the very first turns...

Why not? If the IJ is going to pay the price of admission and tie up KB supporting a Mersing landing, why not? It's ahistorical, to be sure, but certainly within the realm of reason for a fully supported and gutsy landing subject to Allied (dog) interdiction.

[Lecivius]

I don't know if the Matrix servers can handle another thread like this [X(]

[Cap Mandrake]

Here's my idea:

4 or 5 carriers strike Pearl.


1 or 2 hunt for PoW and Repulse if they try to make a run for it to the South on turn 1. The carriers stand off Western Borneo somewhere set on naval attack.

The CVL near Mindanao to pick off the escapees from Luzon.

We are in compliance with both house rules and historical feasibility in that repsect.

[Cap Mandrake]

Maybe Zuikaku and Shokaku operate together near Borneo and help support either a Mersing landing and/or Palembang landing a bit later. CAP set to 70% perhaps on turn one because there will be air attacks from Singers but they almsot certainly will get murderized.

PoW is a real threat in the DEI. If they port them on turn one we won't hit them but most folks run then SE to cover.

[sprior]

I like my plan better. The Khota Baru and the other place forces all go to Mersing along with the BBs from further up the coast. KB attacks Manila, destroys the boats there. Then they go to support the Mersing landings.

[Cap Mandrake]

The KB would then have 4 carriers and can handle the two USN carriers if they challenge them.

This also has the advantage of allowing both players to have some fun. [:)]

I still think Pearl is better than Manila. Killing subs is nice but wrecking or sinking the BB's is very nice, plus we can kill a bunch of planes at Pearl.

[ny59giants]

If your going to break off a CV from the KB, I usually go with Kaga as she is the only one with speed below 30.

Change the 2 DD TF scheduled to go to Midway to Escort.
Transfer in Kaga.
Change the Home Port to CamRahn Bay.
Pick a hex that you want the Bonus Movement (*) to end.
Have another SC TF with (*) go to same hex so you can recombine on Dec 8th.

Malaya - Rather than land with too much at Kota Bharu, try landing there with just the 18 Div and the 5th Div goes to Kuantan with some BFs. It takes some work to get your TFs at Samah to do this, but it is doable. Then after you can take the bases, recombine the divisions and break up into A, B, C. You can reload and use LRCAP from the fighters you have moved into Kuantan to land at Mersing. This will free up your CVs to go after Force Z.

Since you are playing DBB, their map changes means a successful para drop at Port Dickson can cut the western side (RR) of Malaya from moving troops down and into Singapore. Just remember to LRCAP the base and transport in more troops.

CVL Ryujo - I put her in Bonus Movement TF and have her end turn one at Takao, disbanding. Set her fighters to expand and upgrade to Zero and make sure she gets Kates. On Dec 8th, she is placed in Air TF and send over to join with Kaga. This forms a potent TF. [8D] Make plans early to attack port of Batavia and Soerabaja in December to sink any ships they have left there. Plus, they are good place to repair damaged subs (easier to kill in port than at sea).

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: sprior

I like my plan better.

[:'(] You are a poopyhead! [:D][:D]

The Mersing attack is a good idea as long as we bring enough to dislodge the Australian brigade there but you don't really need 6 carriers to land at Mersing or Sumatra.

It's most likely Force Z won't react to the Mersing landing because everyone knows what happens with the Bettys and Nells when the sun comes up.

The advantage of having carriers that far West on turn one is trying to catch Force Z in open water. This can be done by moving the carriers to the Midway bombardment TF and changing to Air Combat. We might even catch the CL's lolling about.

[sprior]

The Aussies aren't in Mersing in this scenario. Maybe we can use the Netties to sink the RN and bring down the BBs at Singora to provide surface coverage. There are Zeroes at Soc Trang that might provide LRCAP.

[LoBaron]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake
DON'T PANIC!

Easier said than done. With you two issuing orders to Japan-mens ships.

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: sprior

The Aussies aren't in Mersing in this scenario. Maybe we can use the Netties to sink the RN and bring down the BBs at Singora to provide surface coverage. There are Zeroes at Soc Trang that might provide LRCAP.

Wow, didn't know the Aussie brigade isn't at Mersing. That is tempting.

I do think the two BB's plus the 4 CA force in separate taffy's could cover the Mersing landing. If Force Z reacts you get a daytime battle of roughly matched forces plus the CA's to stand by in case Force Z wins. It also does not seem gamey to land there on turn 1 if you send two strong SCTF's.

If Force Z goes South or SW it seems they always get away unless you stir up the mix with carriers.

[Wirraway_Ace]

ORIGINAL: sprior

I like my plan better. The Khota Baru and the other place forces all go to Mersing along with the BBs from further up the coast. KB attacks Manila, destroys the boats there. Then they go to support the Mersing landings.

One constraint to consider when you compare and contrast these COAs is where will you rearm your CAGs with the entire KB in the South China Sea? You may quickly find you have essentially six large and unnecessarily fast CVEs.

Is Cam Ranh Bay still a size 5 port with 129 Naval Support in this latest version of DBB? Can Kaga and Akagi even get up the river to Saigon, and is this port still a size 5 anyway with only 44 Nav support? How quickly and safely can you get AKEs to the theater and how many can you spare?

Is the CAG reload for torps still Port 5 + 240 Nav Support?

[Wirraway_Ace]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

ORIGINAL: sprior

The Aussies aren't in Mersing in this scenario. Maybe we can use the Netties to sink the RN and bring down the BBs at Singora to provide surface coverage. There are Zeroes at Soc Trang that might provide LRCAP.

Wow, didn't know the Aussie brigade isn't at Mersing. That is tempting.

I do think the two BB's plus the 4 CA force in separate taffy's could cover the Mersing landing. If Force Z reacts you get a daytime battle of roughly matched forces plus the CA's to stand by in case Force Z wins. It also does not seem gamey to land there on turn 1 if you send two strong SCTF's.

If Force Z goes South or SW it seems they always get away unless you stir up the mix with carriers.

Which two BBs matters quite a bit. The Kongos are not normally a match for POW. She can penetrate their armor at just about any range and her heavy armor creates a much larger immunity zone in return. You need the two Nagatos in theater as fast a possible, though you will need AKEs to rearm them too.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

ORIGINAL: sprior

The Aussies aren't in Mersing in this scenario. Maybe we can use the Netties to sink the RN and bring down the BBs at Singora to provide surface coverage. There are Zeroes at Soc Trang that might provide LRCAP.

Wow, didn't know the Aussie brigade isn't at Mersing. That is tempting.

I do think the two BB's plus the 4 CA force in separate taffy's could cover the Mersing landing. If Force Z reacts you get a daytime battle of roughly matched forces plus the CA's to stand by in case Force Z wins. It also does not seem gamey to land there on turn 1 if you send two strong SCTF's.

If Force Z goes South or SW it seems they always get away unless you stir up the mix with carriers.

The gaminess that people talk about with respect to the Mersing landing on turn 1 has to do with prior warning that the British would have had due to active Allied search.