Empire of the Sun - DesertWolf101 (J) vs Andy Mac (A)

[Alamander]

I found that I needed 2 divisions to take Fiji in my game. 1 probably would have been sufficient with sustained daily CA bombardments replanished from an AKE at Nadi, which I was doing, but I brought in a 2nd division anyway, because I was building up for my invasion of New Zealand. You might capture some supplies or fuel at Fiji. (I did not).

I agree though with Q-ball. Suva, by itself, is not a key base, but from Suva, you have 2 options: advance on Pago Pago and Vava U, limiting all allied shipments to the very southern edge of the map and from Tahiti and Rangiroa only (which are not large bases) or New Zealand. I opted for New Zealand. One thing to keep in mind with a New Zealand invasion is that it adds one of the best units in the game to the allied force pool: the New Zealand 2nd division, pulled from Monty's 8th Army.

I have taken half of the north island in New Zealand and am starting to find some nice supply stockpiles though fuel caches have been scarce so far. Auckland is next and I am hoping that there is a nice stockpile of supply there, if not fuel. All of these locations: Fiji, New Zealand, Pago Pago, and Vavu can be nice VP bonanzas since there is no retreat and all destroyed devices will be U.S. or commonwealth.

Also, Noumea is one of the best bases in the game to take and hold into 1943, if you are seeking auto-victory, and Suva is essential for holding Noumea. Noumea is worth some 600 VP to the allies. Reducing their VPs by 600 is the equivalent of increasing yours by 2400 if you need 4:1 for AV.

[DesertWolf101]

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

How many troops are you bringing to Fiji? There's a NZ Bde there IIRC, so you should have a Division at least

The gain with taking Fiji is not a ton IMO; it's not enough to disrupt communications to Australia, just lengthen them a bit. You will capture some Allied troops if it goes right, so there's that.

The invasion force consists of the 4th Division, the Guards Mixed Brigade, and a couple of Naval Guard Units.

Yes, I have no illusions that taking Fiji will cut supply lines to Australia. I am pursuing the Fiji operation to lengthen those supply lines, to provide a forward operating base against those supply lines, to illicit a reaction from my opponent in the hopes of a decisive battle (The KB came along with the invasion), and for one more reason that I will get to a bit later [:)]

[DesertWolf101]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

A negative impact on Commonwealth devices is good if you are also pushing in India. The problem is that your forces are divided.

You mean Burma? I am playing Scenario 1 so I don't have the forces to do two major operations at the same time. Right now in the campaign my main free land units are invested in the SRA operation with a minor allocation to the South Pacific and China.

[DesertWolf101]

ORIGINAL: Alamander

I found that I needed 2 divisions to take Fiji in my game. 1 probably would have been sufficient with sustained daily CA bombardments replanished from an AKE at Nadi, which I was doing, but I brought in a 2nd division anyway, because I was building up for my invasion of New Zealand. You might capture some supplies or fuel at Fiji. (I did not).

I agree though with Q-ball. Suva, by itself, is not a key base, but from Suva, you have 2 options: advance on Pago Pago and Vava U, limiting all allied shipments to the very southern edge of the map and from Tahiti and Rangiroa only (which are not large bases) or New Zealand. I opted for New Zealand. One thing to keep in mind with a New Zealand invasion is that it adds one of the best units in the game to the allied force pool: the New Zealand 2nd division, pulled from Monty's 8th Army.

I have taken half of the north island in New Zealand and am starting to find some nice supply stockpiles though fuel caches have been scarce so far. Auckland is next and I am hoping that there is a nice stockpile of supply there, if not fuel. All of these locations: Fiji, New Zealand, Pago Pago, and Vavu can be nice VP bonanzas since there is no retreat and all destroyed devices will be U.S. or commonwealth.

Also, Noumea is one of the best bases in the game to take and hold into 1943, if you are seeking auto-victory, and Suva is essential for holding Noumea. Noumea is worth some 600 VP to the allies. Reducing their VPs by 600 is the equivalent of increasing yours by 2400 if you need 4:1 for AV.

Interesting. I am curious as to your decision to go for New Zealand vs Australia. Do you find New Zealand easier to invade?

[DesertWolf101]

February 4, 1942

Submarines

I-2 sinks AK Mormacsul with an attack on the surface west of California.

S/SW Pacific

As part of the southern operation, Japanese troops land at Effate.

Java

Dutch and British bombers from Soerabaja harass my advancing troops with notable effects. Madioen falls to Japanese tank units with a large number of aircraft destroyed on the ground.

Burma

Japanese paratroopers land and take an empty Akyab.

[RangerJoe]

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101

ORIGINAL: Alamander

I found that I needed 2 divisions to take Fiji in my game. 1 probably would have been sufficient with sustained daily CA bombardments replanished from an AKE at Nadi, which I was doing, but I brought in a 2nd division anyway, because I was building up for my invasion of New Zealand. You might capture some supplies or fuel at Fiji. (I did not).

I agree though with Q-ball. Suva, by itself, is not a key base, but from Suva, you have 2 options: advance on Pago Pago and Vava U, limiting all allied shipments to the very southern edge of the map and from Tahiti and Rangiroa only (which are not large bases) or New Zealand. I opted for New Zealand. One thing to keep in mind with a New Zealand invasion is that it adds one of the best units in the game to the allied force pool: the New Zealand 2nd division, pulled from Monty's 8th Army.

I have taken half of the north island in New Zealand and am starting to find some nice supply stockpiles though fuel caches have been scarce so far. Auckland is next and I am hoping that there is a nice stockpile of supply there, if not fuel. All of these locations: Fiji, New Zealand, Pago Pago, and Vavu can be nice VP bonanzas since there is no retreat and all destroyed devices will be U.S. or commonwealth.

Also, Noumea is one of the best bases in the game to take and hold into 1943, if you are seeking auto-victory, and Suva is essential for holding Noumea. Noumea is worth some 600 VP to the allies. Reducing their VPs by 600 is the equivalent of increasing yours by 2400 if you need 4:1 for AV.

Interesting. I am curious as to your decision to go for New Zealand vs Australia. Do you find New Zealand easier to invade?

Taking New Zealand helps to cut off Australia from the US. With Noumea and float plane searching, most convoys should be spotted. If the West Coast of Australia (Perth and environs) are also captured, the Australia could be conquered as well. Or at least seriously knocked about. I should try that against the AI.

[Q-Ball]

I've only attempted Australia, but taking all of Australia is REALLY tough...reducing Sydney takes a major effort, and the Australian Militia is fairly large.

I've never tried New Zealand, but it looks much easier

I feel like that kind of land effort though would be better made in Western Austrlia or NE India, but that's just me

[Alamander]

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

I've only attempted Australia, but taking all of Australia is REALLY tough...reducing Sydney takes a major effort, and the Australian Militia is fairly large.

I've never tried New Zealand, but it looks much easier

I feel like that kind of land effort though would be better made in Western Austrlia or NE India, but that's just me

New Zealand has major advantages and major disadvantages to a move on Australia or India. The major disadvantages are that the allies get the 2nd New Zealand divion with a convoy of replacements for the division. The other disadvantage is the fuel cost. Moving a large force that far south is hard on fuel reserves.

The major advantage is that it is very doable and will net a good VP tally in destroyed devices even if no U.S. reinforcements are there. What is more, the major base, Auckland is a clear terrain hex, so no major siege and the consequent supply drain is needed. The other major advantage is that the Pacific is now completely cutoff. In my game, Mike has only been able to move 2 or 3 convoys across the Pacific since early February, and I have spotted them all, mostly with subs south of New Zealand. Now even that will be near impossible without air cover. I have a search-plane net that runs from the Kuriles to the southern edge of the map without interruption. Such a blockade is the most that can be done to force the allies to deploy their CVs during the window when Japan can fight a naval air battle with the hope of inflicting more damage than they receive.

[DesertWolf101]

ORIGINAL: Alamander

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

I've only attempted Australia, but taking all of Australia is REALLY tough...reducing Sydney takes a major effort, and the Australian Militia is fairly large.

I've never tried New Zealand, but it looks much easier

I feel like that kind of land effort though would be better made in Western Austrlia or NE India, but that's just me

New Zealand has major advantages and major disadvantages to a move on Australia or India. The major disadvantages are that the allies get the 2nd New Zealand divion with a convoy of replacements for the division. The other disadvantage is the fuel cost. Moving a large force that far south is hard on fuel reserves.

The major advantage is that it is very doable and will net a good VP tally in destroyed devices even if no U.S. reinforcements are there. What is more, the major base, Auckland is a clear terrain hex, so no major siege and the consequent supply drain is needed. The other major advantage is that the Pacific is now completely cutoff. In my game, Mike has only been able to move 2 or 3 convoys across the Pacific since early February, and I have spotted them all, mostly with subs south of New Zealand. Now even that will be near impossible without air cover. This almost forces the allies to make a move with their CVs during the window when Japan can fight a battle with hopes of inflicting more damage than they receive.

Remind me again Alamander, are you playing Scenrio 1 or 2?

[Alamander]

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101


Remind me again Alamander, are you playing Scenrio 1 or 2?

DBB-B, a scenario 1 variant, designed to be slightly more historically accurate and to slow down the pace of the game. There major reductions to naval and air support and engineers: especially the Japanese support units. The IJN is also less effective, losing many of their dual-purpose guns on DDs and elsewhere for YT guns, but several plane types are advanced a couple months to the date when the prototypes were completed instead of when the planes entered mass production. So, I am playing with the same constraints you are along with some additional constraints on base construction and support. In fact, support has been the thing that has slowed me down more than anything.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Alamander


New Zealand has major advantages and major disadvantages to a move on Australia or India. The major disadvantages are that the allies get the 2nd New Zealand divion with a convoy of replacements for the division. The other disadvantage is the fuel cost. Moving a large force that far south is hard on fuel reserves.

The major advantage is that it is very doable and will net a good VP tally in destroyed devices even if no U.S. reinforcements are there. What is more, the major base, Auckland is a clear terrain hex, so no major siege and the consequent supply drain is needed. The other major advantage is that the Pacific is now completely cutoff. In my game, Mike has only been able to move 2 or 3 convoys across the Pacific since early February, and I have spotted them all, mostly with subs south of New Zealand. Now even that will be near impossible without air cover. I have a search-plane net that runs from the Kuriles to the southern edge of the map without interruption. Such a blockade is the most that can be done to force the allies to deploy their CVs during the window when Japan can fight a naval air battle with the hope of inflicting more damage than they receive.

In what you describe there will be absolutely no fuel in NZ.

It makes great sense in an AV game and is very well thought out. If you can't get AV, I think you are seriously over extended, especially if the Allies go for the throat. But you are significantly better off than when I went for San Diego.[;)]

How are you covering Perth and southern Oz ports from Capetown? Perth can usually be handled, but all those southern ports are tougher.

[DesertWolf101]

ORIGINAL: Alamander

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101


Remind me again Alamander, are you playing Scenrio 1 or 2?

DBB-B, a scenario 1 variant, designed to be slightly more historically accurate and to slow down the pace of the game. There major reductions to naval and air support and engineers: especially the Japanese support units. The IJN is also less effective, losing many of their dual-purpose guns on DDs and elsewhere for YT guns, but several plane types are advanced a couple months to the date when the prototypes were completed instead of when the planes entered mass production. So, I am playing with the same constraints you are along with some additional constraints on base construction and support. In fact, support has been the thing that has slowed me down more than anything.

You should do an AAR so I can follow along with your progress. I think I am only a few months behind your game.

[DesertWolf101]

February 5, 1942

Submarines

A PB goes down from a torpedo fired by KXIV near Balikpapan. Better the PB taking the fish than the tankers it was escorting.

S/SW Pacific

My opponent sent in DD Hughes from Noumea to interfere with my landing force at Effate but a Japanese cruiser force intercepted the destroyer. Hughes received a couple of shell hits but managed to flee.

On Fiji, Japanese forces land at Nadi. This reminds me of the previous first game where I played as the Allies, except in reverse!

My opponent must have reinforced the garrison at Fiji, besides the two units at Nadi, I note 8 other LCUs at Suva.

Java

Batavia falls to the Empire, Japanese troops are in pursuit of the retreating garrison.

China

Waves of bombers pave the way for another determined attack at Liuchow. This time the Japanese forces are successful, driving the Chinese out with heavy losses. 520 Chinese combat squads are destroyed.

[DesertWolf101]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: Alamander


New Zealand has major advantages and major disadvantages to a move on Australia or India. The major disadvantages are that the allies get the 2nd New Zealand divion with a convoy of replacements for the division. The other disadvantage is the fuel cost. Moving a large force that far south is hard on fuel reserves.

The major advantage is that it is very doable and will net a good VP tally in destroyed devices even if no U.S. reinforcements are there. What is more, the major base, Auckland is a clear terrain hex, so no major siege and the consequent supply drain is needed. The other major advantage is that the Pacific is now completely cutoff. In my game, Mike has only been able to move 2 or 3 convoys across the Pacific since early February, and I have spotted them all, mostly with subs south of New Zealand. Now even that will be near impossible without air cover. I have a search-plane net that runs from the Kuriles to the southern edge of the map without interruption. Such a blockade is the most that can be done to force the allies to deploy their CVs during the window when Japan can fight a naval air battle with the hope of inflicting more damage than they receive.

In what you describe there will be absolutely no fuel in NZ.

It makes great sense in an AV game and is very well thought out. If you can't get AV, I think you are seriously over extended, especially if the Allies go for the throat. But you are significantly better off than when I went for San Diego.[;)]

How are you covering Perth and southern Oz ports from Capetown? Perth can usually be handled, but all those southern ports are tougher.

You went for San Diego??? Is there an AAR about that?

[Alamander]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

In what you describe there will be absolutely no fuel in NZ.

It makes great sense in an AV game and is very well thought out. If you can't get AV, I think you are seriously over extended, especially if the Allies go for the throat. But you are significantly better off than when I went for San Diego.[;)]

How are you covering Perth and southern Oz ports from Capetown? Perth can usually be handled, but all those southern ports are tougher.

Yeah... it seems pretty much bone dry. I suspected as much, since nothing has come into or out of Auckland for months. I was hoping maybe that he was sneaking some fuel in from Australia through the southern island to keep the heavy industry going.

I can't go into all the details of what I am doing about Perth and the Capetwon route to Western Oz. He was running convoys from Capetown to Perth pretty regularly through February. I was picking up heavy radio traffic from Perth at all the intervals one would expect from such convoys. He knows I have a submarine picket in the area, and an ASW TF that he sent far west encountered 2 AMCs and 3 TBs cruising the area. I have all the coastal bases of northern Oz, but B-17s from Geraldton have laid waste to Port Hedland, so that is, at least for the moment, useless to me.

It seems to me though that the paucity of escorts has really slowed him down in resuming convoys to Perth. There hasn't been much radio traffic or contacts with any convoys west of Oz for a couple months. I think he may be moving more escorts to Capetown to resume the convoys... at least DDs... maybe more.

Am I overextended? I don't know if that is the word that I would use. If one wants a defense in depth, Japan is overextended doing anything beyond taking the DEI and Rabaul. There are locations to defend and some defense in depth is needed for certain avenues of attack. The more territory that Japan takes, however, the more she can give away to purchase time and look for opportunities to engage the enemy on the best terms. I don't like to think in terms of rigid defensive positions, except for certain key avenues of allied advance.

[RangerJoe]

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: Alamander


New Zealand has major advantages and major disadvantages to a move on Australia or India. The major disadvantages are that the allies get the 2nd New Zealand divion with a convoy of replacements for the division. The other disadvantage is the fuel cost. Moving a large force that far south is hard on fuel reserves.

The major advantage is that it is very doable and will net a good VP tally in destroyed devices even if no U.S. reinforcements are there. What is more, the major base, Auckland is a clear terrain hex, so no major siege and the consequent supply drain is needed. The other major advantage is that the Pacific is now completely cutoff. In my game, Mike has only been able to move 2 or 3 convoys across the Pacific since early February, and I have spotted them all, mostly with subs south of New Zealand. Now even that will be near impossible without air cover. I have a search-plane net that runs from the Kuriles to the southern edge of the map without interruption. Such a blockade is the most that can be done to force the allies to deploy their CVs during the window when Japan can fight a naval air battle with the hope of inflicting more damage than they receive.

In what you describe there will be absolutely no fuel in NZ.

It makes great sense in an AV game and is very well thought out. If you can't get AV, I think you are seriously over extended, especially if the Allies go for the throat. But you are significantly better off than when I went for San Diego.[;)]

How are you covering Perth and southern Oz ports from Capetown? Perth can usually be handled, but all those southern ports are tougher.

You went for San Diego??? Is there an AAR about that?

There is but it was a while ago. If I recall correctly, he picked up the game from someone else. The Allied player had the foresight to send units to Diego before the invasion. [:@] One convoy accidentally unloaded on an island offshore which got the US reinforcements started.

Against an unwise Allied player, there is an even better target. [:D]

[Alamander]

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101

You should do an AAR so I can follow along with your progress. I think I am only a few months behind your game.

Mike and I are flipping 3 turns a day, so I don't have time to do an AAR. We are in early June. I will keep you posted on the major events in our game that may be pertinent to your thinking and your game in your AAR, so that you can benefit from whatever experience I gain using a similar strategy.

For the moment, the best that I can suggest is to be prepared for a major battle for air superiority over Burma. Any advance there is difficult and costly without air superiority, and Mike is really pressing me there with massive 200+ plane fighter sweeps and 150 bombers hitting any target of opportunity and making the development of airfields north of Mandalay difficult.

[DesertWolf101]

ORIGINAL: Alamander

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101

You should do an AAR so I can follow along with your progress. I think I am only a few months behind your game.

Mike and I are flipping 3 turns a day, so I don't have time to do an AAR. We are in early June. I will keep you posted on the major events in our game that may be pertinent to your thinking and your game in your AAR, so that you can benefit from whatever experience I gain using a similar strategy.

For the moment, the best that I can suggest is to be prepared for a major battle for air superiority over Burma. Any advance there is difficult and costly without air superiority, and Mike is really pressing me there with massive 200+ plane fighter sweeps and 150 bombers hitting any target of opportunity and making the development of airfields north of Mandalay difficult.

Looking forward to hearing more about your battles.

[DesertWolf101]

February 6, 1942

Submarines

Near Karachi, I-166 finds and sinks the AP Indora. The sub then finds and sinks AK Esperance with an attack on the surface. One of these two ships must have been carrying a Hurricane I squadron, as 20 of the aircraft popped up on my Intel screen after the turn.

North Pacific

A fast transport mission with two good PBs ends in grief after my opponent’s extensive search in the sector notices them. An American cruiser task force charges in during the night and quickly takes them out.

S/SW Pacific

On Fiji, Japanese forces attack and take Nadi, driving the 30th NZ Battalion and the Nade Base Force back to Suva.

Burma

I reinforce the mine clearing efforts at Rangoon with some DMS vessels. They do a good job sweeping up the mines but unfortunately not before DMS W-15 takes a hit from one. The crew fails to eradicate the fires and I eventually have to scuttle the ship.

[DesertWolf101]

February 7, 1942

Java

Sally bombers bomb Soerabaja’s airfields, knocking out a few aircraft on the ground. Meanwhile Zeros on CAP shoot down a dozen British and Dutch bombers that were attacking my troops west of the city.

Burma

The Japanese 14th Tank Regiment and some artillery arrive at Mandalay. The subsequent attack does not dislodge the commonwealth grip on the city but does reduce forts to 0.

More importantly, Magwe and its oil fields is taken nearby.

China

The advancing Japanese army storms and takes Chihkiang, further isolating the Changsha sector from the rest of the Chinese held bases.