Rise of the Sheep! JocMeister(A) vs. Obvert(J)

[Lokasenna]

Hong Kong is worth a lot. If you don't have a focus yet in China, other than pushing forward, it should be this. And then along the coast to Shanghai, though I doubt you have time to make it to Shanghai before 1946.

Another place that is worth a lot is the Sakhalins. If he's committed his navy to the south and you can destroy or damage enough of it, you could move on the Kuriles/Sakhalins, I would think. Easier than before Okinawa, anyway.

[Crackaces]

Hong Kong is worth a lot. If you don't have a focus yet in China, other than pushing forward, it should be this. And then along the coast to Shanghai, though I doubt you have time to make it to Shanghai before 1946.

In my last game I made it in 3 months from Hong Kong/Canton line to Shanghai/Nanking using 1QTR 1944 OOB. The OOB is greatly expanded at this point and the Allies have opportunities to land.
Things start to collapse once supply is interdicted ...

Shanghai has an Allied Multiplier of 100, which given Basic VP# x [ ( current size of port ) + ( current size of airfield x 2) ]can yield airbase 9 port 9 2700 points!
Hong Kong is a mere 40 multiplier for the Allies .. [8D]

[JocMeister]

Obviously HK and Shanghai are on the wishlist. [:)] I don´t think any of them are unattainable. As I know from playing the allies once supply runs out the collapse goes VERY quick. I need about 25.000 more VPs for AV. With the current rate I will hit it in about 3 months. I hope to get a viable strat campaign going again and that it will keep the VPs rolling in. If I can get the Japanese army in China to collapse thats probably another 10k VP. Another 1700 VPs will come from Nago once that is built up.

I´ve actually started looking at Formosa again. With 300.000 troops there and another 1000 VPs in the bases it might actually not be a bad target VP wise...

In all honestly the KB and the BBs are a pretty juice target VP wise too. But that is also true for the Allied fleet as Crackaces pointed out earlier! [:D]

[Crackaces]

I need about 25.000 more VPs for AV.

Not to harp on this, but the IJ are going to be losing VP's depending on how well those bases were supplied before you capture them.
Each point in the denominator is like 2 points gained in the numerator .. AV could be closer than you think [8D]

If this is an objective .. Singapore has to be on your target list .. (20) multiplier for the IJ (90) plus this port/airbase can be built up to a maximum for the Allies this base can have a 2200 point swing. Plus the 420 or so points are like 840 points toward AV ,,
Peiping seems like a huge win at (100) allied multiplier, but in contrast is only a (1) IJ multiplier and no port! Not as big as swing ..

One landing to explore is Chinnampo (BigMac hits Inchon early! [8D] ) and March to Heijo Allied (50) multiplier . This cuts off supply from Pusan ..

[zuluhour]

Broadway Liquors on Joppa rd Towson is a supermarket of wine and booze. It's the size of an old A&P and well staffed. I often pick out wines at the Bin in Baltimore or Pinehurst in Roland Park then buy them at Beltway.

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: Crackaces

Not to harp on this, but the IJ are going to be losing VP's depending on how well those bases were supplied before you capture them.
Each point in the denominator is like 2 points gained in the numerator .. AV could be closer than you think [8D]

If this is an objective .. Singapore has to be on your target list .. (20) multiplier for the IJ (90) plus this port/airbase can be built up to a maximum for the Allies this base can have a 2200 point swing. Plus the 420 or so points are like 840 points toward AV ,,
Peiping seems like a huge win at (100) allied multiplier, but in contrast is only a (1) IJ multiplier and no port! Not as big as swing ..

One landing to explore is Chinnampo (BigMac hits Inchon early! [8D] ) and March to Heijo Allied (50) multiplier . This cuts off supply from Pusan ..

While Singers has its lure with its 3000 VPs I´m not sure its worth the effort. Troops and supply has probably been plentiful there throughout the game. That probably means big forts. I´m not too keen on doing a shock attack into 150.000 well supplied Japanese troops sitting behind level 7-9 Forts... This would require a full US army. Maybe more. I´m not so sure I want to divert that much.

Looks like China is about to become really interesting too....

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]14th-15th March 1945[/font]
______________________________________________________________________________

Some interesting developments on the 15th.

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Destination Okinawa
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The fleet has rendezvoused with the replenishment fleet. Tomorrow we move back towards Okinawa. We havn´t been spotted for two days now. Erik has the KB on station between China and Formosa.

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South China Sea
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Our DE patrols run into two more lone ships sinking them both. I anticipated Eriks move here as he lunged parts of the KB forward to strike at the 6 DEs hunting his lone ships. So we moved out of range in time. I love this kind of behavior. Erik must have burned a tremendous amount of fuel during the last week. By all means do move around to try and get a few 5 VP DEs. [:D]

I have no clue what he trying to do here. He has a gazillion ASW TFs moving towards Formosa and the KB on station.

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Palembang
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Erik tries again to get ships back here. I have no clue why he bothers. He lose another 4 ships to the TBs on Java.

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China
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Here is the real news. Erik abandons his roadblock outside Nanning! [X(] I´m stunned. Happily stunned. He just opened the door to China for me. I wonder if his supply situation is so bad he can´t get it to flow that far West?

His stack is now in a clear hex. Four hexes from two allied level 9 AFs (Both Hanoi and Haiphong reached level 9 on the 15th). And 7 hexes from the closest Japanese large airfield. I don´t think I have to paint a picture on what tomorrow will bring. Every bomber on Luzon is going to rebase to China tomorrow and its going to be glorious! [:D]

I need to decide on how to move forward now that the door is open!

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Japanese strategy
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Usually I can read Erik pretty well and have a general idea on what he is doing. But right now I feel like I´m missing a big part of the puzzle.

-Why does he have the KB by Formosa? He has 1500 Fighters there already. Whats the point of having the KB there? ---Why is he moving a huge number of ASW TFs towards the area when he knows my subs have retired to Luzon.
-Why on earth is he using half the KB to chase a couple of DEs?
-Whats up with the single ship TFs trying to leave the DEI? 3 of them have been AKs. Why does he feel its necessary to risk them with a move towards the HI?
-Why is he trying to get oil from PB at this stage?

The only thing I can think of that makes all those things add up is if he intends to move into the SCS. Is he going to get all the ships and troops out from Singers with the help of the Navy? That would be insane on a grand scale.

I just don´t get what his motives are right now. I need to figure that out.

Maps are coming up in a couple of hours.

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]Formosa/SCS[/font]
______________________________________________________________________________

Here is the situation. I don´t understand what Erik is doing here.

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]China[/font]
______________________________________________________________________________

I can´t explain the retreat other then supply issues or that the bombardment was really starting to effect his troops. Now they are in a death trap though. Clear hexes are a death sentence for Japanese troops at this stage.

Whatever the reason this just opened the front door to China wide open. I can now really start to counter Eriks superstacking with maneuver. There are simply too many roads to cover with a superstack each. The newly formed Combined Motorized Army will race ahead (2 Motorized IDs + all the armor 1500 AV) and drive a wedge into China.

First objective is simply to separate the Nanning superstack from the HK/Canton one. The CMA will also be tasked with securing a port on the southern coast.

I have to admit...the prospect of this "reversed China" is hugely satisfying. Now its time for the Japanese side to feel how much fun it is to play without supply and hopeless troops while suffering thousands of casualties from the air each turn. But as I have been told its no problem to defend under those circumstances. Its all about defending in the right spot ey? [8|] We will see about that....This is kind of a personal vendetta so you will probably see some irrantional and strange behaviour here in the coming months! [:D] I really, really hate China.

[Crackaces]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

ORIGINAL: Crackaces

Not to harp on this, but the IJ are going to be losing VP's depending on how well those bases were supplied before you capture them.
Each point in the denominator is like 2 points gained in the numerator .. AV could be closer than you think [8D]

If this is an objective .. Singapore has to be on your target list .. (20) multiplier for the IJ (90) plus this port/airbase can be built up to a maximum for the Allies this base can have a 2200 point swing. Plus the 420 or so points are like 840 points toward AV ,,
Peiping seems like a huge win at (100) allied multiplier, but in contrast is only a (1) IJ multiplier and no port! Not as big as swing ..

One landing to explore is Chinnampo (BigMac hits Inchon early! [8D] ) and March to Heijo Allied (50) multiplier . This cuts off supply from Pusan ..

While Singers has its lure with its 3000 VPs I´m not sure its worth the effort. Troops and supply has probably been plentiful there throughout the game. That probably means big forts. I´m not too keen on doing a shock attack into 150.000 well supplied Japanese troops sitting behind level 7-9 Forts... This would require a full US army. Maybe more. I´m not so sure I want to divert that much.

Looks like China is about to become really interesting too....

If the IJ still have troops (vs. low grade support forces) in Singers than I agree 100% not worth the time and blood spent ..
Korea although might offer a worthwhile adventure and close by level 7 built to level 9 airfields ...

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: Crackaces
If the IJ still have troops (vs. low grade support forces) in Singers than I agree 100% not worth the time and blood spent ..
Korea although might offer a worthwhile adventure and close by level 7 built to level 9 airfields ...

I´m actually not sure what he has in place. But I think he superstacked the troops from Java, lower DEI, Sumatra and Borneo at Singers. Recon lists 90.000 troops in 57 units.

I´m 95% sure he won´t have a division there but probably loads of NavGuards and smaller BDEs. The thing that worries me though is the forts that could be all the way up to 9.

My gut says it won´t be worth it!

[JocMeister]

Got the turn from Erik and have watched the replay.

No time to do the turn tonight though as I promised the missus to watch a movie with her.

Using ONLY the 2Es I caused something like 2500 casaulties in the clear hex. I wonder what happens when you add 500 4Es to that? [:D]

[RogerJNeilson]

Regarding Singers, its like he is running his own POW camp for you. If he cannot do anything to your plans from there, and you don't need its facilities then I'd say you can leave it for months with maybe some irritant bombing to run down supplies.

Eventually he will run out of supplies - and you can take it if you still need it. Its become a bit of a backwater though so it would divert your offensive forces needlessly.

Roger

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: Roger Neilson 3

Regarding Singers, its like he is running his own POW camp for you. If he cannot do anything to your plans from there, and you don't need its facilities then I'd say you can leave it for months with maybe some irritant bombing to run down supplies.

Eventually he will run out of supplies - and you can take it if you still need it. Its become a bit of a backwater though so it would divert your offensive forces needlessly.

Roger

Good point. I can move my "training squadrons" from bombing in the lower DEI to bomb Singers instead.

And if I find I need the VPs later on I can divert. [:)]

[Speedysteve]

I'm sure it's already done but make sure Singers industry is taken out to prevent supply creation

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]16th March 1945[/font]
______________________________________________________________________________

A good day in the air for the allies. Been some time since that happened last.

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Destination Okinawa
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A bit worryingly I lost sight of the KB. She is probably hiding somewhere around Formosa and my search was grounded due to weather. Only thing I can think of.

Erik strikes at the AF at Naha again with good result. Little bit disappointed with the AA here as I have one of the big 72 gun AA units. But it wasn´t propperly prepped and is still suffering 46 disruption. I hope once that goes down I can really start to hit some things. Only 11 Jap planes are shot down.

AF is again closed. Doesn´t look like combat Engineers help with repair? Or is lack of supply (still have 28k at the base but its in yellow) effecting repair?

Erik again got a fix on my CVs.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Daito Shoto at 96,70

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 2,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-67-Ib Peggy x 9

Allied aircraft
Corsair II x 92
Corsair IV x 51
Hellcat I x 6
Seafire IIC x 10
Seafire L.III x 4
F4U-1A Corsair x 55
F4U-1D Corsair x 449
F6F-3 Hellcat x 136
F6F-5 Hellcat x 198

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-67-Ib Peggy: 5 destroyed

I don´t know if Erik will try and interfere with this landing. No juicy combat troops or Amphibs. Only LSTs and AKs. Might be a good opportunity to wreck his strike planes for little risk. [:)]

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China
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It was indeed glorious! The 4Es struck at the surrounding airfields while the 2Es hit the troops in the clear moving for Nanning. We send out multiple sweeps hitting some a halfhearted LRCAP over his troops.

Morning Air attack on 35th Army, at 72,56 , near Nanning

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 27 NM, estimated altitude 34,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J2M5 Jack x 12
Ki-84r Frank x 19

Allied aircraft
F4U-1D Corsair x 42

Japanese aircraft losses
J2M5 Jack: 2 destroyed
Ki-84r Frank: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1D Corsair: 2 destroyed

After the day is over 23 Jacks and Franks are shot down for 4 Corsairs. Another 15 are destroyed on the airfields. No allied pilots lost. Good times. [:)]

Now for the glorious part.

Morning Air attack on 17th Division, at 72,56 , near Nanning

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 42 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-25G Mitchell x 3
B-25H Mitchell x 48
B-25J1 Mitchell x 56
B-25J11 Mitchell x 56
P-38J Lightning x 3
P-38L Lightning x 52
F4U-1D Corsair x 35
PBJ-1D Mitchell x 29
PV-1 Ventura x 12

Allied aircraft losses
B-25J1 Mitchell: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
1647 casualties reported
Squads: 11 destroyed, 73 disabled
Non Combat: 15 destroyed, 131 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 5 disabled
Vehicles lost 25 (1 destroyed, 24 disabled)

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Morning Air attack on 60th Division, at 72,56 , near Nanning

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 33 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-25D1 Mitchell x 4
PBJ-1H Mitchell x 14
PBJ-1J Mitchell x 14

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
284 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 18 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 31 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

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Morning Air attack on 65th Brigade, at 72,56 , near Nanning

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-25J11 Mitchell x 22

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
129 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

There are about 5 more of these. [:)] With the air fields closed and AA fire negligible tomorrow will see 500 4Es added to the strike and altitude dropped down a tad more. There is a good possibility my troops can catch up with his troops. If I can keep them in the hex for two more turns I will... Even if I fail to do that I hope Erik will have a really hard time recovering all those disablements. ´

Another set of 4Es close the AF Tsuyung. Tomorrow we will hit the 3 IDs in the mountains. Would be nice to open up that path too and get the Burma road open again.

Overnight Eriks situation has deteriorated significantly. With the Nanning stack at least temporarily out of the picture the last remaining troops are in the Canton/HK area. I think if Erik wants to avoid a complete collapse here he will need to start shifting unrestricted troops from Formosa to China. That would be a strategical Allied victory IMO.

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Strat bombing
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The B29s hit the HI/LI at Shanghai. Results were okay. 5 HI and 73 LI for 3 B29s.

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: Speedy

I'm sure it's already done but make sure Singers industry is taken out to prevent supply creation

Good point. Thanks for reminding me. Actually havn´t done that. Forgot about it! [X(]

[Speedysteve]

In fact (don't remember seeing a pic of Malaya recently) make sure all the industry in Malaya is blitzed (HI at Georgetown etc) to prevent supply creation

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: Speedy

In fact (don't remember seeing a pic of Malaya recently) make sure all the industry in Malaya is blitzed (HI at Georgetown etc) to prevent supply creation

Georgetown I´ve dealt with. But when I did I was out of range of Singers. And then forgot about it. Pretty much as I did in China. Quite embarrassing! [:)]

So, thanks for reminding me! [:)]

[Speedysteve]

NP. I now have more spare time to think of these things...until my next game starts! [;)]