Islands of Destiny: RA 5.0 Japanese Side

[Bullwinkle58]

Looks like I don't get an answer, so I'll go help CR.

Ciao.

[John 3rd]

Now--I cannot have an upset moose stomping around. It would be a long shot but that was said about when Dan landed in Sumatra and Malaya. I will take the shot if the opportunity arises. Look at the MAP. He is landing with NOTHING for support ANYWHERE nearby. His closest base is in the eastern Marshalls or Alice Springs/Cooktown, Aust...

[John 3rd]

November 15, 1943

The I-Boats go back to work this day:

I-183 SINKS AK Crater carrying troops at Manokwari
I-180 plants TWO TTs into a big target--APA President Jackson--at Sansapor

Six more I-Boats break-up from their TF and move into the Hunting Grounds.




Enemy troops unloading at Sorong, Sansapor, and Waigeo. Biak is taken.

Troops unloading at Manado, Ternate, Kendari, and Ambon.

At Ambon a solitary US DD attacks the TF unloading there. This single DD sinks 2 CM, 2 PC, and 5 AK. Damn. Promote that Captain...

More Fighters move into Ambon, Ternate, and Kendari.

Kido Butai is spotted at Manus. The clarion call "Enemy Carriers" is clearly broadcast twice by PBYs. GOOD. Let us hope that makes him look over his shoulder! Move the CVs towards Hollandia to make it APPEAR I am closing in. REALLY Need a day for his CVs to not do anything exciting. Maybe this will freeze them in place? We'll see.

[Lowpe]

You are using your aggressive reputation for a little deception. Very nice.

[HansBolter]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

At Ambon a solitary US DD attacks the TF unloading there. This single DD sinks 2 CM, 2 PC, and 5 AK. Damn. Promote that Captain...

The Japanese AI likes to do this and it can be very frustrating for the Allied player in '42 as these little one ship TFs wreak havoc.

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Now--I cannot have an upset moose stomping around. It would be a long shot but that was said about when Dan landed in Sumatra and Malaya. I will take the shot if the opportunity arises. Look at the MAP. He is landing with NOTHING for support ANYWHERE nearby. His closest base is in the eastern Marshalls or Alice Springs/Cooktown, Aust...

Not trying to cause a ruckus.

But Sumatra was a year ago. You're at 1944 now; it's a whole different Allied world. I was reacting to you saying you would attempt a two ID landing at this date. Earlier, when the Marshalls fell, you spoke of immediately trying to take back an island (don't recall which.)

I have rage-moved a couple of times in my Lokasenna game. I get things can be emotional. All I was asking was whether you believe you can hold a landing beach--for days and days--to unload two IDs plus trim from x-ships at this date given the navy he has? He can mount multiple 10-Fletcher TFs that are fast, nimble against air attack, have a big AA number, and are armored.

And even if you re-took Biak with two IDs, at whatever landing cost, what then?

I'm suggesting a mindset reset. To the realities of 1944. That when you lose an island it's gone. Time is your currency now, not ships sunk or dirt.

[DanSez]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd
Am sorry about the lack of updates but I have been pretty depressed with AE. Feel like I have let people down and feel pretty bad about it.

Trying to run three games, plus have any kind of life (work, family, sleep) is a daunting task, day after day after day.

Don't feel bad. In fact you addressed the limits of the commitments and negociated amicable resolutions with your opponents. That also is a lesson to other readers on how to handle a game as difficult as WitP-AE.

[Sangeli]

One thing you might consider in a counter-blow is prepping for the bases the Allies occupied bloodlessly instead of the ones they took by force. Main reason is that most Allied players by this time are not going to bother with much of a garrison with the bases they didn't have to fight for. Let the Allies build up those bases and then take them back! Of course the Allies may see that your units are planning for such a move with SIGINT but that could also be a good thing; it might force units that were allocated for amphibious invasion into a garrison role.

[John 3rd]

Good thoughts Sangeli. You always have them. KEEP THROWING THEM OUT!

Appreciate the comment DanSez.

[John 3rd]

I have run the next turn but am going to sit on it for a day or two. When I made the decision with the other matches, it dawned on me just how little I have been doing in this game. For the last three game months, I have simply tried to do turns and get them cranked out. There has been little time for a methodical going through of the Japanese Empire. This is leading to more problems and mistakes. For the next month or so while It is only Dan and I for a match I intend to bring my "A Game." That has not been the case and it now changes.

The intention is to go through the entire map, the entire economy, and all R&D.

In reality this should have been done in August 1943 but have had to wait until roughly Dec 43.

Everything will Posted here--good and bad--for comments, discussion, and observations...

[Lowpe]

Looking forward to it!

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Sangeli

One thing you might consider in a counter-blow is prepping for the bases the Allies occupied bloodlessly instead of the ones they took by force. Main reason is that most Allied players by this time are not going to bother with much of a garrison with the bases they didn't have to fight for. Let the Allies build up those bases and then take them back! Of course the Allies may see that your units are planning for such a move with SIGINT but that could also be a good thing; it might force units that were allocated for amphibious invasion into a garrison role.

Any kind of counter-invasion at this point is counter productive unless it's very close to the HI and the Japanese can achieve temporary local air and naval superiority. The Allies have just pushed into the gut of what should be the Japanese defenses, but it appears nothing is here. How would the Japanese get air superiority or control the seas here to counter-invade anyway? Doesn't seem likely.

If you do get a few bases what prevents the Allies from simply keeping the bigger ones and moving on forward isolating the Japanese that have counter-invaded?

What is the next layer looking like?

If this was so easy, what is to prevent the Allies from going farther? Mindanao? Borneo? Or even the Asian coastline in China or elsewhere?

If the Deathstar can create local air and sea superiority, Japan's only option is to have decent garrisons in key positions, have prepared forts and interlocking airfields so that if the Allies land the fight is not over as it appears to be in this area.

[John 3rd]

Let us start with the Victory Point screen:

AIR
We had an exceptional day in the day today. Overall you see ATA to be nearly even at this late date in the war. The major areas of loss for Japan sits squarely in AA and Operational. We've lost over 15,000 planes. Wow.

GROUND
The victory point spread rests squarely on what I've done to his ground units. Look at the disparity there!

SHIPS
Prior to that debacle of a CV engagement I had the advantage in this area. The loss of all my CVEs, 2 CV, and 4 CVL for little return was horrific. Lessons were learned but at huge cost. Dan has lost over 1,100 ships but his Fleet is immense (as should be) and growing by the day.

Anything else anybody see or want to comment on?

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: Sangeli

One thing you might consider in a counter-blow is prepping for the bases the Allies occupied bloodlessly instead of the ones they took by force. Main reason is that most Allied players by this time are not going to bother with much of a garrison with the bases they didn't have to fight for. Let the Allies build up those bases and then take them back! Of course the Allies may see that your units are planning for such a move with SIGINT but that could also be a good thing; it might force units that were allocated for amphibious invasion into a garrison role.

Any kind of counter-invasion at this point is counter productive unless it's very close to the HI and the Japanese can achieve temporary local air and naval superiority. The Allies have just pushed into the gut of what should be the Japanese defenses, but it appears nothing is here. How would the Japanese get air superiority or control the seas here to counter-invade anyway? Doesn't seem likely.

If you do get a few bases what prevents the Allies from simply keeping the bigger ones and moving on forward isolating the Japanese that have counter-invaded?

What is the next layer looking like?

If this was so easy, what is to prevent the Allies from going farther? Mindanao? Borneo? Or even the Asian coastline in China or elsewhere?

If the Deathstar can create local air and sea superiority, Japan's only option is to have decent garrisons in key positions, have prepared forts and interlocking airfields so that if the Allies land the fight is not over as it appears to be in this area.

The battle was in the Marshalls and Gilberts prior to this. Doubt if anyone could have foreseen this move and set of landings on bases that are totally undeveloped with nothing there. He has yet to land on ANY base with infantry in it.

My INNER PERIMETER of Marcus--Marainas--Yap--Babeldoap--Peleliu is well established and solid. Mindanao is garrisoned. Luzon and Formosa is beginning to get troops. The DEI has its garrisons in Java through Timor.

This set of landings--while bold--is highly risky. He must keep the Fleet there to hold it. This gives me the opportunity to nibble and take out the edges as I started to with the present game turn. Give this set of invasions six-to-eight weeks before judgement is passed. I have been in far worse situations in the game...

[John 3rd]

Current Capital Ship Losses:

[obvert]

If he's paying attention to SIGINT he will know what you have and where you have it. He'll know what it's prepping for and where it's moving.

While you may indeed be able to nibble the edges here, you may have to concede this area and start on the next layer now. He can move very fast in 44. LR recon will now be able to start looking all around 25 hexes to the West and he'll find the weak spots.

I would advise a major contraction at this point. Be strong where you can be strong and don't diffuse your lines by spreading them thin or using forces in risky offensive missions.

[John 3rd]

Nineteen CAs:

[John 3rd]

Twenty-Nine Light Cruisers:

[John 3rd]

...and the rest of them...

[Lowpe]

In my game, after I lost half of the KB...the Allies were in Hokkaido within 2 months with a 1000 ship (seemingly) armada.

Allies can simply pack up so, so much and land them wherever, and your land base air will impale itself against a good opponent. Normally you might get a few CVEs...but he has a hundred of them.

The land losses you inflicted on the Allies is very impressive, considering China still exists.[:)] But I doubt it will buy you any more time. The Allies simply have so much.

But, my advice would be to mirror Obvert's...with the addition of really cranking out the fighter planes and engines for them.

But heck, you have defied conventional wisdom in the past...can you invade Ceylon or India again?