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Arshan will fall tomorrow...1500 AV, 400 guns and 650 AFVs in the Soviet thrust here. 4000 AFVs at Heiho coming south to Hailun and Tsitsihar and Harbin.

Palembang is now down to 172 oil and will fall tomorrow. The Allies have parity in AV on the ground in SRA, and air and naval superiority. The Allies swept Palembang with 200 fighters.[X(] I have about 120 (Oscar Ic & Zero) and that is if I strip the KB.

Ah, well, well played by the Allies.

BANZA...........er, no

You going to call it a day or keep on going?

ORIGINAL: Encircled

BANZA...........er, no

You going to call it a day or keep on going?

Quit, why? What really changed from yesterday, last week, or last month?

I think Encircled is giving a nod to the cumulative weight of the pounding since Russia activated. It's been an intense fight, and he (and many of us) wonder if there comes a point where things are hopeless from a gaming standpoint (beyond the hopelessness of a military standpoint).

If there came a day when it was time to surrender, would you approach Erik about resuming the game a day prior to Russian activation and taking it from there? I hope you will, when that time comes.

P.S. It's clear that all your readers respect how you've handled the war, fighting hard and keeping your chin up even during the hard days.

I am incredulous at how well the Allied surface fleets performed in that series of engagements. Exactly the opposite of what is typical in this stage of the war.

In view of the imminent loss of Palembang, will you be able to complete the conquest of Singapore?

ORIGINAL: jwolf

I am incredulous at how well the Allied surface fleets performed in that series of engagements. Exactly the opposite of what is typical in this stage of the war.

In view of the imminent loss of Palembang, will you be able to complete the conquest of Singapore?

I wasn't going to complete it until late 1942 anyhow, if then. Figure my planes don't start arriving in numbers till mid May, it will take 1-2 months to build numbers, 1-2 months to win air superiority, and probably 2-4 months to break the forts.

So a long time. With a free 1500 more assault value, and a solid 2 months to ram supply in, I would say it is highly doubtful, more likely Allies land at Cam Ranh Bay than me take Singers.[;)]

The lions share of Japanese strength has to go to stalling the Bear...so the Allies will strengthen, while Japan weakens.

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

The lions share of Japanese strength has to go to stalling the Bear...so the Allies will strengthen, while Japan weakens.

Correct. The SOV simply draws off all of the IJ assets that could be used against the allies ...

The theory (argument?) is that once the IJ whips the allies badly early in 42, can she then take the SOV out before the allies recover?
Even against the AI, this is a challenging proposition. In a PBEM? There really hasn't been an AAR done so there is no public answer.

But the goal would be to have both CHI and SOV subdued before the allies are able to recover in late '43. That could really change the end game. Maybe.

Interesting premise to be aure.

This game has clearly shown that if the IJ does an early activation of the SOV, she has to be fully prepared for it ... the MAN garrison in no way will provide more than a minor bump to the SOV bulldozer.

Quit, why? What really changed from yesterday, last week, or last month?

This is true! [:D]

Not disrespecting your play, or anything, I think you've done better than anybody would have managed and its great to see a fight like this.

Just want to echo what has been said as well, those Allied naval units did amazingly well for '42.

ORIGINAL: jwolf

I am incredulous at how well the Allied surface fleets performed in that series of engagements. Exactly the opposite of what is typical in this stage of the war.

In view of the imminent loss of Palembang, will you be able to complete the conquest of Singapore?

I have almost 0 torpedo hits from surface ships this entire game. Nothing new here, at least for this game. So many fights have been in clear weather and Japan launches their torpedoes at 10,000.

ORIGINAL: Encircled

Quit, why? What really changed from yesterday, last week, or last month?

This is true! [:D]

Not disrespecting your play, or anything, I think you've done better than anybody would have managed and its great to see a fight like this.

Just want to echo what has been said as well, those Allied naval units did amazingly well for '42.

Yep, absolutely. Probably the most interesting (and weird, but interesting for it) game there's been for a long time - I know I read both sides every day and obviously am not the only one...

April 8th, 1942

Japanese attacks at Lashio and Wenchow fail to get 2-1, Lashio forts were rebuilt to 2.

Beasts attack Miri, no damage thanks to AA and poor recon, but I had no planes there flying CAP thanks to an upgrade to Oscar Ic last turn. Another Rufe Squadron joins the fold, only 7 planes, but they could have been flying CAP over Miri.

Soviets keep on plugging away. Soviets now pick two or so aerial attacks per day swept by Migs. Tough to CAP trap. Working on bombing smaller concentrations of Soviets, but the Sally is fragile and needs rest after each mission.

Rufe...this squadron will go to 24 shortly, but it will be a full two months before all three Rufe squadrons are filled out to max planes, but even just a few flying CAP can prevent bombers from making hits.

In a day or two, I will get 2 9 plane Chutai of Rufe. I am not sure if I can resize them or not, but that will give me 5 squadrons quite the little force.

Most welcome addition to the IJNAF. Interesting to note that this squadron does upgrade to the A6M5, and but of course, they won't be going there, but to Rex (July of 1943). They will be deep base defense planes, until we start getting enough other fighters then they will switch to the CS and join the KB in low altitude CAP.

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

... but the Sally is fragile and needs rest after each mission.

Sally has reasonably good DUR, so to me that would imply he either has some AA deployed OR the SOV units have reasonable integral AA.

I don't know the OOB of the this mod so I cannot say which ...

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

... but the Sally is fragile and needs rest after each mission.

Sally has reasonably good DUR, so to me that would imply he either has some AA deployed OR the SOV units have reasonable integral AA.

I don't know the OOB of the this mod so I cannot say which ...

Soviets basically have 1945 AA from the start and integral AA in a lot of units....very plentiful and very dangerous.

Lowpe, facsinating AAR. First time I've all the way through one in a day in years...

One question. Given the unique circumstances around Palembang, why have you not focused your Rikko units in the SRA to counter his resupply and reinforcement plans? It seems that is one aspect of your game that is missing. Even with the strength he has shown in Air Power to date, it seems an early Rikko scourge with good supply and appropriate HQs would have helped tremendously especially with his US Carriers out of the picture.

Anyway, keep it up. I can't wait to see how your R/D program pans out in Russia, and with the Heavies. Good luck!

~Elf

April 10th, 1942 (missed a day due to holiday & travel)

Yesterday, the Allies send a well packaged invasion force into Attu. The defenders lost 50% of their strength to battleships and cruisers bombardments, and are outnumbered three to one now in effective AV.

There is about 75 AV on both islands in front of Attu, but quite simply, another day, another demand for IJA Troops that simply don't exist. [;)]

Bering did get to size 1, and now some Oscars are prowling around up here. I wish it could be Zero, but they are in such short supply and heavily demanded elsewhere.

Manchuko

Soviets have now switched tactics and bomb only where Migs sweep first, which means only 1-2 targets per day.

The Kotou pocket defenders are finally getting back to the rails and will bolster the Tsisihar to Harbin to Lihnsi line (such that it is[;)]).

Some meager reinforcements arrived at Fusan and head north, while another Division (grade b) is pulled from China. I really need more AV support here & runways as soon the Japanese air force will be resurgent.

Supply has been short here for a while, as a month ago I thought I could hold Palembang with about 300 AV and sent way too much there. I have gone to having supply bases, and let other areas starve so to speak, so there are several bases with well over 20,000 and some without.

Magwe is being visited nightly by B17 and other 4E beasties, and I have had to put some precious Oscar Ic on night duty as those B17s were getting some hits. I expect the lion share of the Allied fighters to relocate up there to really engage in an all out war on Magwe/Rangoon. The next few months will be tough.

Singkep held off another attack, after a bombardment by battleships and cruisers.

I have flown out splinters from Palembang expecting the worst with each attack. This last attack was 1-4 but forts are now gone, and the odds are misleading with all the Allied tanks here and no AT capability on Japan's side.

ORIGINAL: TheElf

Lowpe, facsinating AAR. First time I've all the way through one in a day in years...

One question. Given the unique circumstances around Palembang, why have you not focused your Rikko units in the SRA to counter his resupply and reinforcement plans? It seems that is one aspect of your game that is missing. Even with the strength he has shown in Air Power to date, it seems an early Rikko scourge with good supply and appropriate HQs would have helped tremendously especially with his US Carriers out of the picture.

Anyway, keep it up. I can't wait to see how your R/D program pans out in Russia, and with the Heavies. Good luck!

~Elf

Ian - "Rikko" - I don't know that abbreviation?