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That Luzon strategy is good. The only drawback is the troops held there for the duration of the siege, but that seems minor in comparison to the time gained by using the greater number of troops elsewhere (that you would have needed to force the issue sooner).

BTW, disablements take supplies to re-enable, so that burns supplies even before it has a net reduction effect on his forces.

ORIGINAL: witpqs

That Luzon strategy is good. The only drawback is the troops held there for the duration of the siege, but that seems minor in comparison to the time gained by using the greater number of troops elsewhere (that you would have needed to force the issue sooner).

BTW, disablements take supplies to re-enable, so that burns supplies even before it has a net reduction effect on his forces.

Well, there is confirmation from Cap n Gown's opponent.

I agree; as I re-think the Japanese opening, I would do alot different next time than I did in this game.

What I did right was go deep, early, in the Southern SRA, supported by 2 CVs. I wouldn't change my strategy there; it was sound, and it was fast, and got what I needed with a minimum of effort.

What I would change, is that I would only land 2 divisions on Luzon, enough to herd the Allies to Clark, and stop. That's it.

All other units I would send to Singapore and Java, 2 places that are more important to take, particularly Singapore. I would do a 3rd-day landing at Kuantan, and use that base for aircover for a major landing at Mersing, and skip the walk down the peninsula. This should clear Singapore by mid-January, instead of the first week in February, when I actually did it.

I didn't use alot of troops on Java, so I am not disappointed with the timeframe of mid-March; I figured those units would be "2nd Wave" anyway, and it was only 800 AV or so. I did do Java the right way IMO: Land between Batavia and Soerbaya, and force the Allies to either SPLIT or COMMIT between the two. Dan chose SPLIT, which allowed me to destroy in detail. It was either that, or just hand me Batavia for free.

LUZON in your rear can't really hurt you. Sure, he can fly B-17s there, but a) talk about supply burn, and b) what can he really bomb with them that can hurt you? That early in the game, they aren't trained for NAV-B.

BTW, I have only captured DAVAO and ZAMBOANGA on Mindinao; Zamboanga, because that is a supply source. But Mindanao starts with few supplies.

The good way to test whether the defenders are out of supply or not is to bomb them. AA fire practically ceases, at least at medium altitudes, once the defenders are out of supply.

It's been a while that I've been kicked out of Luzon so maybe I remember that wrong (also no map available right now), but can't you go into the Bataan hex from Manila and Clark?

If so, why let the CD guns have fun with your barges? I'd suggest taking Bataan out and destroying at least some supply there as well if you have enough AV around to do so. This way you can still starve the allies to death in Clark (the AF is not of any use for some time to come anyway) but make Manila's port and shipyard available.

The only way to Bataan is through Clark; that is why Clark is becoming the preferred "Last Stand" location in the PI.

In WITP, the choice was Bataan or Manila, and most people chose Manila, because the terrain (Urban) was more favorable, and that's where the VPs were. Plus, Manila had a CD unit.

But in AE, it's different; the terrain is better at Clark. And without a CD unit, Manila would get pummelled by IJN ships once the Japanese cleared Bataan.

The best strategy for the Allies is to get everyone to Clark at the opening gun. On several AARs the Allied player has tried to hold Manila AND Clark for a time, but that's a mistake; more often than not, the troops in Manila are cut-off and destroyed in detail. It just makes the IJA's job easier.

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

LUZON: I wanted to mention the situation on Luzon; what do you guys think of my strategy there?

I stopped attacking the concentration of troops at Clark. I have 6 artillery units there, and they Bombard every day. I realize this has trained the Phillipine Army, but they get 1-3 disables a day. I hope that also burns enemy supply on counterbattery fire.[&:]

I am bombing every day as well. We acheive between 2-6 Supply Hits a day, with 3-4 being average. The AA has been fairly heavy; we are flying at 11K ft, but I lose planes, mostly OPS losses. Probably 12-15 per month.

At present, the ground troops there are down to: 2 Garrison Bdes, 2 Inf.Regts, 1 Recon Regt, 65th Bde, and an SNLF. The Regts are from the 16th Div. I had the 4th there for awhile, but pulled them out for India. At least 1 units has to garrison Manila as well; right now, it's the 65th Bde, which is recovering.

Not sure if this helps: Most turns I send a single Barge from Manila past Bataan; the CD guns fire, and obliterate the barge. I hope this is burning supply?[&:] It's definitely clearing mines too, which is a side-benefit.[8D]

Anyway, I have no idea what the supply situation is or should be by April. I have plenty of supplies myself, but who knows on the Allied side? I won't really know for sure until they stop shooting AA or CD guns.

Thoughts?

Taking a long term view of the situation in the Philippines, all you have to do is stop supply from getting to the troops. As far as Luzon is concerned, there are only two supply sources (a) external, air/sea lifted, (b) internal, Manila. Stop those and eventaully the enemy just starves. There is in fact no need for the Japanese to even engage in conducting artillery bombardments or air attack. The more Allied mouths there are to feed, the quicker they will starve if they are denied access to supply.

I would stop bombarding. That would save you from suffering air operational losses, conserve Japanese supply and allow for even more units to pull out. The 6 artillery units would be better employed in India where you will encounter many Allied artillery units. You could even reduce the number of LCUs present at the siege. Personally, I would remove the two regts of the 16th div for redeployment elsewhere, probably to India.

In fact it is in your interest to have the Japanese unadjusted AV to be less than that of the Allies at Clark. Nothing will burn up Allied supply more quickly than a failed Allied deliberate attack. Remember if he attacks you, you gain the defensive bonus plus your troops AV will not be reduced because of starvation.

There is no need to rush anything at all. Now that you have opened the Indian campaign, you don't really have the resources to capture the remaining Philippine strongpoints (Clark, Cagayan, Cebu etc) until that campaing is concluded. That means it would be around July before you would be able to force the issue in the Philippines anyway.

Alfred

I took Singapore on Dec 31st using the "Mersing Gambit." I took CV Kaga out of KB (re-arranged TF 2 and got the AOs into a slow moving TF) and sent her to Camrahn Bay. Using the extra Zeros from Scen 2, I made her a floating fighter base as I put on a large Zero group from Formosa. I also had CVL Ryujo get to Takao on turn 1 and expand to 36 fighters and upgrade to Zeros. Between them, they were able to flame the dreaded Vildebeest in masse. [:D]

I re-organized the transport TF at Samah to have the whole 5th Division land at Mersing on the 9th (used bonus move to get them 10 hexes away). It took the 4th and 33rd Division getting there by fast APs from Japan as I broke the division into components.

I like to buy out the 20th Division from Korea to finish up Luzon in early March 42. The components start prepping for it on turn 1.

And, no fragment can be rebuilt until the parent unit is taken out. So what is the hurry?

All valid points, and my thinking is similar. I got to that place in WITP, when Luzon was tougher to take out. In the initial release of AE, Luzon became suddenly easy, because you could use artillery to soften the garrison. Now, it's back to almost WITP days.

I am constantly refining the Japanese opening in my mind, but I think an isolation of Luzon is an early addition. You have to invade to drive the Allies back on Clark, but once that happens, I would bottle them and move on. The exception would be if you manage to separate the Allies at Clark and Manila; if that happens, then a quick conquest is possible.

Luzon has no strategic importance to Japan, while Malaya (especially Singapore) has some. Many have spoken of not needing Singapore, but I disagree. It has a large port, repair shipyard, and is malaria free. Try moving fuel out of a "relatively" intact Palembang (size 4 port) for a length of time without Singapore to store and help load up the large TKs for the trip to Japan. [8|]  Your troops can quickly recover disabled squads here and load up for further conquest.

As long as Luzon is neutralized, it can be used to train up troops under 50 experience for some time.

I think in AE, you can't move into the Malacca Strait with the CD guns at Singapore active, correct? IRL, the 15in Battery could reach the Sumatran coast, making a transit impractical. In game terms, I think you need to clear it.

So, without Singapore, you have to transit the Bandung Strait and go all the way around Sumatra. Not convenient.

The other issue is that the troops in Singapore start with plenty of supplies, so starving them out is not an option. They will stay strong. Luzon is another story.

What about the VP swing from taking Clark Field? It's worth 450 VPs to the Allies. That is significant.

ORIGINAL: Jones944

What about the VP swing from taking Clark Field? It's worth 450 VPs to the Allies. That is significant.

It is not like the Japanese are not going to be able to capture Manila at some point in 1942 no matter what the allies do.

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

I think in AE, you can't move into the Malacca Strait with the CD guns at Singapore active, correct? IRL, the 15in Battery could reach the Sumatran coast, making a transit impractical. In game terms, I think you need to clear it.

No, in AE you don't need to do so anymore.

The problem with having Manilla still in Allied hands is that an aggressive Allied commander will simply base multiple PBY squadrons there with an air HQ and force a disproportionate response from the IJNAF in terms of escorting AKs to the DEI and bombing Manilla / LRCAPing IJN TFs.

Very difficult to neutralise raids which don't need a runway.

ORIGINAL: Nemo121

The problem with having Manilla still in Allied hands is that an aggressive Allied commander will simply base multiple PBY squadrons there with an air HQ and force a disproportionate response from the IJNAF in terms of escorting AKs to the DEI and bombing Manilla / LRCAPing IJN TFs.

Very difficult to neutralise raids which don't need a runway.

How would this be any different from holding Clark instead?

floatplanes need ports

ORIGINAL: Nemo121

floatplanes need ports

[&:] I don't think so. Floatplanes can be operated out of "0" port facilities, provided that sufficient AV support is present.

ORIGINAL: Nemo121

The problem with having Manilla still in Allied hands is that an aggressive Allied commander will simply base multiple PBY squadrons there with an air HQ and force a disproportionate response from the IJNAF in terms of escorting AKs to the DEI and bombing Manilla / LRCAPing IJN TFs.

Very difficult to neutralise raids which don't need a runway.

That aggressive allied commander is looking for trouble. After the first of these raids, a 'bait' TF, heavily LRCAP'ed of course, would be used to draw out extremely valuable and vulnerable PBYs for a fight. When these are damaged and unflyable, the rare and valuable air HQ is just another liability awaiting capture. Not a useful ruse.

Not worried about Floatplanes out of Clark. Why?
1. They would use supplies
2. I am hammering the airstrip; now, that doesn't matter for a floatplane, but the AIRBASE does. With that damaged, the floatplanes won't repair, and raids will kill them.

Combat Report, April 4-5, 1942:

Kido Butai: Trying something with KB. My excellent intellegence service, the Kempetai, (actually the fact I can check out the other side!), tells me the 2nd UK division arrived at Aden on the 1st. No doubt they are loaded on transports and heading to Karachi. I sent KB away from the coast to hide, and see if I can surprise the reinforcements. I really hate to keep KB all alone out there, but that's why I landed at Calicut.

Calicut: I landed a division here to establish a Naval Base for KB; I have advanced brigades out to make a larger bridgehead.

Chittagong and Diamond Harbor: I have major landings about to take place at each spot; 2 Div. plus each. I am doing this without aircover; risky, yes. My reasoning:

1. Presence of KB probably drew some troops to the other coast, making the landings easier
2. I don't want to take KB off the blockade of Karachi, and
3. I am willing to lose some ships to get the troops ashore
4. I am counting on a poor anti-ship performance by the RAF. I shot down alot of bombers last month, and they did terrible over Ceylon. I doubt the RAF is extremely trained in NavB at this point.

So, I will lose some transports, but hey, you have to break a few eggs if you want to make an omelet. If the losses are less than 10 transports, I'll be happy.

Elsewhere: Not much; I am putting together an attack on Nanning in the south of China, that's about it.