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ne other concern for such an operation is a possible lack of fighter cover. Many CW fighter squadrons withdraw around June as does the AVG in July.

You do get a Canadian Unit that you can change the command to South East and move to Capetown etc. It has the Hurricane XX (or something like that). Low exp. but good at 30k. for sweeps and defense. Frankly, I dont recall when you get it but look for it. My unit has done well in Burma and near as I can tell, it is the only unit that you can take out of Canada that can use that particular Hurricane version.

Combat Report, June 22-26, 1942

End of Dutch East Indies: The last signficant pocket of Dutch troops, 7500 troops at Sabang, surrendered on the 26th. The DEI Campaign is over. I am not disappointed though, we tied down alot of Japanese troops for a fair amount of time, and sank some IJN ships to boot.

There is a PI Rgt on some island, but the SRA is closed, finito. We are officially in Stage 2: Follow-On Japanese offensives.

Now What?: I have received no solid intel on follow-on Japanese objectives. Here is my take on possible targets:

INDIA: I think it's too late to invade India, and at any rate, I feel pretty good that I can handle anything up to 6 Divisions. I have units pushed forward past Imphal, but in about a week I can move them back to India and on a rail line. I think India is secure, and not a target.
AUSTRALIA: Northern Australia has high probability; it's an easy target, I can't really defend it, there are alot of benefits to the Japanese to take it, and I have also seen air activity recently over it. I think the odds of an attack here are pretty HIGH.
SW PAC: The seige of Noumea continues. I expect that to end in a Japanese victory at some point. After that, what? Fiji is now up to 1200 AV, and dug-in, and I would commit 300 planes to it's defense. A very tough target. New Zealand, I think, isn't doable; I have sent some US troops there, including an Infantry Division. Southern Australia? That would be doing me a favor I think.
CENT PAC: I don't see this as a target, but you never know. The Atolls are maxes on troops, not much I can do to reinforce.

Noumea: The siege continues. Another 1-3 Japanese attack was repulsed. He is starting to bomb and bombard my troops, which is causing some disruption. I foresee another attack shortly. I still can't do anything to reinforce or resupply, but my supply levels are fine, over 50K. I expected to be cut off and left a pile of supplies in anticipation.

Now What?: I have received no solid intel on follow-on Japanese objectives. Here is my take on possible targets:

INDIA: I think it's too late to invade India, and at any rate, I feel pretty good that I can handle anything up to 6 Divisions. I have units pushed forward past Imphal, but in about a week I can move them back to India and on a rail line. I think India is secure, and not a target.
AUSTRALIA: Northern Australia has high probability; it's an easy target, I can't really defend it, there are a lot of benefits to the Japanese to take it, and I have also seen air activity recently over it. I think the odds of an attack here are pretty HIGH.
SW PAC: The siege of Noumea continues. I expect that to end in a Japanese victory at some point. After that, what? Fiji is now up to 1200 AV, and dug-in, and I would commit 300 planes to it's defense. A very tough target. New Zealand, I think, isn't doable; I have sent some US troops there, including an Infantry Division. Southern Australia? That would be doing me a favor I think.
CENT PAC: I don't see this as a target, but you never know. The Atolls are maxes on troops, not much I can do to reinforce.

I would agree with your assessments. With hindsight, I think more Japanese players will go for Samao and/or Fiji before New Caledonia in future games. It may just be my perspective, but Samao Islands offer the Japanese more options to interdict Allies naval movements and make the trip to and from Australia even that much further. AE is even more a game of logistics than WITP. The loss of Noumea will not hurt that much in the area, IMO.

FYI - I'm being printing out and sending John III all the new stuff from patch 2 - beta tomorrow. I have to give him a small fix every now and then. [;)]

I think IRL part of the strategic value of New Caledonia is that some (or one - I forget) of the minerals found there is difficult to find anywhere else in usable quantity.

ORIGINAL: witpqs

I think IRL part of the strategic value of New Caledonia is that some (or one - I forget) of the minerals found there is difficult to find anywhere else in usable quantity.

20% of the world's nickel supply and significant deposits of chromate.

Q-ball,

If he's battering against you in 1-3 attacks at Noumea, what are your thoughts about a counterattack with available forces and supply? If you could inflict 2-1 losses on him and get him to retreat out of the hex, you need not lose Noumea at all...

I fear an attack would be a disaster and wreck your division's ability to hold the line the way they have so far - meaning a quicker end with fewer Japanese losses and supplies expended.

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

Q-ball,

If he's battering against you in 1-3 attacks at Noumea, what are your thoughts about a counterattack with available forces and supply? If you could inflict 2-1 losses on him and get him to retreat out of the hex, you need not lose Noumea at all...

What witpqs said. If I won that attack, what happens? I can't drive him off the island anyway. It would buy me a few days at most. If I lose? Noumea is probably toast. Not worth the risk.

Note that he's attacking at 1-3, but the terrain at Noumea has a 3x modifier if I'm not mistaken. That bonus would get reversed if he counterattacks, so little chance of retreating him and he'll inflict more casualties in the fire phase being on the defensive end of deliberate/shock attacks.

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball
I feel pretty good that I can handle anything up to 6 Divisions.

I dont know why, but for some reason this reminded me of that Ron White line..."I dont know how many of them it would have taken to beat my @ss.....but I know how many they were gonna use". [:D]


Sorry for the interruption, just thought I'd share. [:)]

Combat Report, June 27 to 30, 1942

Seige of Noumea: Cuttlefish is getting closer. BBs and planes pounded Noumea, and an attack the next day was 1-2, and not far from being 1-1. CF dropped the forts to Zero. The 41st Division was very disrupted after those bombardments, into the 70s, which is why the odds were shifted.

I have rebuilt the forts, at this point each time he takes it to Zero, we quickly rebuild to 1 fort. The losses are still heavier on the Japanese side, but starting to converge. The last attack really wrecked Lark Bn, and I'm not going to be turning replacements on.

The siege started June 5, so we are approaching the 1 month mark at this point. I would like to buy at least another month.

Sorry Gramps!: The largest unit at Noumea is the 41st Infantry Division. Not sure if everyone knows, but the shoulder patch of the 41st is my avatar, and my Grandfather was a young Lt. in the 41st Division, specifically a L-4 pilot attached to the 218th FA Bn. Not sure if the 41st being Japnese POWs will tear at the fabric of time from my standpoint....although in 1942, Gramps was still at the University of Illinois, he didn't get to the Pacific until February of 1944. So I guess if the 41st goes down at Noumea, he would probably be assigned elsewhere. Maybe Europe!

RAF Attacks in Burma: My fake offensive in Burma continues. I have 3 divisions at Kalemyo building an airstrip and trenches, and RM Viper force is heading to Katha. A burst of RAF activity over Burma has pretty much closed the airstrip at Mandalay. On day one, 100 fighters and 80 bombers were roughed up by Zeros, on Day 2 though we swamped the Zeros with sweeping fighters. Overall, we shot down about 15 Zeros, after which they were withdrawn. We are now pounding empty airbases.

Besides giving the RAF something to do and killing some Zero pilots, the real objective is to freak Cuttlefish out a bit and make him think there is an offensive. I would like for him to send 1-3 divisions from Java in reaction, instead of invadint something else. We'll see if it works.

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

Sorry Gramps!: The largest unit at Noumea is the 41st Infantry Division. Not sure if everyone knows, but the shoulder patch of the 41st is my avatar, and my Grandfather was a young Lt. in the 41st Division, specifically a L-4 pilot attached to the 218th FA Bn. Not sure if the 41st being Japnese POWs will tear at the fabric of time from my standpoint....although in 1942, Gramps was still at the University of Illinois, he didn't get to the Pacific until February of 1944. So I guess if the 41st goes down at Noumea, he would probably be assigned elsewhere. Maybe Europe!

Nice that you know all that about your grandfather. Mine did not fight in WW2, my grandmother was shot in the head as a child in an accident and this paralyzed her left arm. Given that they had children at the time and needed his help, he wrote the President when he was called up and was excused from service. I think my aunt still has that letter. He worked at the Elgin Watch Factory during the war making 5in fuses. I have one lying around the house, a great conversation piece.

I love the deception and delaying tactics. Time is on your side and the defense must be hurting his timetable.

ORIGINAL: Smeulders

Note that he's attacking at 1-3, but the terrain at Noumea has a 3x modifier if I'm not mistaken. That bonus would get reversed if he counterattacks, so little chance of retreating him and he'll inflict more casualties in the fire phase being on the defensive end of deliberate/shock attacks.

Good point.

Note that he's attacking at 1-3, but the terrain at Noumea has a 3x modifier if I'm not mistaken. That bonus would get reversed if he counterattacks, so little chance of retreating him and he'll inflict more casualties in the fire phase being on the defensive end of deliberate/shock attacks.

Which of course leaves -- Bombardment attacks.

ORIGINAL: Andy Mac

1st Burma is a wasting asset so I wouldnrt commit it also the Burmese squads are not very good use it for garrison duties until it converts to a Jungle Training Div.

if you are set on this course I would be tempted to send one of the Indian Divs to Delhi and disband it to pool to give you depth in your replacement pool.

You can set it to come back in 6 months as a cadre but a 42 attack is dangerous good luck

Monsoon will be changing in official patch to may to october

Ok, so I am about to learn something new. I did not know you could disband a unit back to the pool. I suppose it has to be a non restricted unit. How do I do this?

Ok, so I am about to learn something new. I did not know you could disband a unit back to the pool. I suppose it has to be a non restricted unit. How do I do this?

See Page 184 of the Manual. I dont think all LCU's can be disbanded ie, if it is scheduled to be withdrawn.

can be a restricted one and cost VP. and can't be with scheduled withdrawal date.

For Indian Units send them to Delhi (or if a base has >200k supply)

Cannot be a unit with a set disband date
I think it can be restricted units (although not 100% sure on that)

When disbanded any active devices are returned to the pool and 50% of any disabled devices.

You get the option of whether to have the unit reappear if it does it returns with 10 support squads only as a cadre needing to be filled out.

If disbanded at Delhi/Aukland/Sydney/SF or Tokyo then it costs 0 VP's anywhere else its full VP's

So its a reorg tool if you do it in a home base its full VP's if elsewhere to avoid abuse

Andy

If you are dead set on a late 42 multi prong offensive then you will need reserves at which point disbanding one of the Indian Divs becomes attractive.

p.s. of course I am over cautious about things like this committing a Corps of Infantry to a major battle without adequate replacements seems like a waste of time to me.

So if I was committing say 3 Indian Divs and an Indian Armoured Bde plus support to an attack I would want at least 10% of the main Infantry and Armoured devices in the pool

So say a minimum of 60 ish Indian Squads replacements, 30 British Squad replacements and 15 - 20 tanks plus probably some spare combat engineer squads

Otherwise my Divs will waste away.

Also so much of a British Divs firepower is tied up in the Vickers and Bren Sections I would want a healthy stock of them in reserve.

There is a real temptation if you save anything of 9th 11th and 17th Indian Divs and 18th Brit Div to consolidate the remnants into one or two units or to break up some of the other units if they get to depleted at least until 44 when india replacements ramp up