Empire of the Rising Lemon? SqzMyLemon (Japan) v Smeulders (Allies)

[SqzMyLemon]

Just a question.

I've been catching a lot of comments in other posts and AAR's about resource shipping to the Home Islands. It seems a lot of Japanese players are primarily shipping resources from Shanghai, Port Arthur, Hakodate and Shikuka exclusively to save on fuel wastage on other routes. I currently was shipping resources from Singapore and Manilla to Takao where I have roughly 600,000 resources stockpiled and growing, then shipping from there to Kyushu. Is this a wasted effort transporting resources all the way from Singapore and area to Japan, or is the priority to ship as many resources to the Home Islands as possible...period? I already use Takao as my major fuel/oil hub for shipments from Singapore, Miri, Brunei, Tarakan and Balikpapan prior to transport to Japan proper.

If using just 4 primary ports for shipment of resources to Japan, wouldn't that leave an awful amount of transport shipping idle, I wouldn't think those four ports would have the capacity to handle all the shipping efficiently without serious delays during loading/unloading? Can they alone provide enough resources to build a huge stockpile in the Home Islands? What are other Japanese players doing with the abundance of resources in the captured territories? Using them strictly for local industrial consumption?

[SqzMyLemon]

April 27/42 Update:

Java:

P-40E Warhawks (10) swept Semarang, no Japanese planes are based here. Soerakarta was captured while undefended and puts me in a good position for the drive on Soerabaja.

China:

I continue to pound the 35th Chinese Corps by air, as ground troops are not in position to launch any attacks. Casualities were 159 over 3 raids.

Burma:

Blenheim IV's (27) made a bombing run over Lashio hitting the resource production centre's. 6 Resources hits were recorded. I have no CAP over Lashio so the bombers were not interdicted. Smeulders' indicated he wanted to see what experience points the pilots might gain.

New Guinea:

[X(] B-17D's (6) appeared over the 24th Inf. Rgt. near Port Moresby at 98,129. A6M2 Zero's (4) intercepted from Buna, and two B-17's were damaged for no loss. The troops were not hit.

Japanese and Allied units traded artillery bombardments at Port Moresby. Troops continue to march overland. Next time I invade from the sea, this is taking far too long.

Miscellaneous:

Canton expands fortifications to size 2
Woleai expands fortifications to size 1
Shortlands expands fortifications to size 1
Buna expands airfield to size 3

DD Asashio beginning refit in shipyard at Singapore

C./50th JNAF Coy arrives at Tokyo

I can only hope the recent appearance of Allied bombers will continue, I'd like to start attritioning the Allied airforce. However, I don't think Smeulders will commit them on a regular basis, there's no immediate gain for him to do so. I don't believe he'll risk any assets unless it's in conjuction with a strategic gain for the Allied war effort.

[SqzMyLemon]

April 28/42 Update:

Sub Ops:

SS I-170 was spotted near Palm Island off the coast of Northeastern Australia. One near miss hit was suffered from the DC attack.
SS I-18 patrolling off the coast near Darwin, spotted, attacked, and sank the AG Canopus with two torpedo hits. The ship was a small one, but at this stage I'm happy to sink anything! The submarine eluded an ASW attack.

China:

Daily bombing of the 35th Chinese Corps continues. Another 143 casualites reported.

Java:

I've had a couple of MGB's sitting at Semarang for days now and they were strafed by P-40E's (12) based from Soerabaja. The MGB G-5 received 12 hits, but damage is minimal.

Sumatra:

The Yokosuka 3rd SNLF began an airborne landing on Siberoet Island off the west coast and captured it with a shock attack. The island was undefended.

Christmas Island IO:

The 2nd Sasebo SNLF Coy captured the island which was undefended.

New Guinea:

Japanese and Allied forces again traded artillery bombardments. Casualities on either side were minimal.

Miscellaneous:

Manila expands airfield to size 4
Balikpapan expands fortifications to size 3

AV Akitsushima arrives at Tokyo

[SqzMyLemon]

April 29/42 Update:

Sub Ops:

SS KVIII launched a 2 torpedo salvo at the SC Ch 21 and missed, then was attacked spotted by an ASW SC TF near Salajar at 65,108 and received one direct DC hit!

SS KXIV was spotted off teh coast of Djemadja by the PB Tatebu and received 3 near miss DC hits. This is encouraging to see some successful ASW attacks beginning to happen.

Port Blair:

The assault force began landing on the island this morning. Shore bombardment from the 2 CA's, 2 CL's and 4 DD's provided support.

Dutch New Guinea:

The 23rd Naval Guard unit began unloading at Manokwari.

China:

The 35th Chinese Corps suffered another 172 casualties from bombing today.
Japanese ground forces are moving towards Ankang. We've also picked up some movement from Chinese forces at Sian heading east. I will follow up with recon to get an idea of the numbers moving. I can only hope that the Chinese are getting restless and that some small offensives may be in motion. If I can get Smeulders to start moving that will help me tremendously. I'll be keeping a close eye on Chinese movements in the theatre. Right now though, I am committed to the assault on Ankang. I believe this will cause a reaction from my opponent which I hope to exploit.

Java:

The P-40E's (12) were back again over Semarang strafing my MGB's, of which the MGB G-5 took another 7 hits.

21st/A and 21st/B Div. forces reinforced by the 47th Inf. Rgt. began deliberate attacks against Tjilitjap again. Casualites were 189 for Japanese forces against 268 Allied. I don't believe my forces are strong enough to carry the base yet, but I wanted to start ramping things up in Java. The AV comparison right now is 420 to 205 in Japan's favour.

Djokjakarta was captured today forcing the Dutch defenders to flee towards Soerabaja. Japanese losses were light at 15, while 200 Dutch troops fell.

Timor:

The Dutch defenders at Lautem fell after a deliberate attack launched by the 41st Naval Guard unit and the 48th Eng. Rgt. Japanese losses were 22, while the Allied lost another 608 casualties. That leaves only the troops east of Koepang to deal with on the island, and these are treated to a deliberate attack which inflicts 47 casualties for the Dutch to no loss for Japan.

Miscellaneous:

Lomblen expands airfield to size 2
Bihoro expands airfield to size 6

Maizuru 3rd SNLF arrives at Maizuru
301st Ind.Infantry Battalion arrives at Asahikawa
302nd Ind.Infantry Battalion arrives at Asahikawa
303rd Ind.Infantry Battalion arrives at Asahikawa
Kure 5th SNLF arrives at Hiroshima/Kure
Yokosuka 5th SNLF arrives at Yokohama/Yokosuka
Ichiki Det. arrives at Asahikawa
79th Garrison Battalion arrives at Singapore
80th Garrison Battalion arrives at Singapore

Always great to get an influx of reinforcements. These units will be dispatched as quickly as possible from the Home Islands to postings throughout the Empire.

[SqzMyLemon]

April 30/42 Update:

Sub Ops:

SS Trout launches 6 torpedoes at the SC CH 23 spotted near Buna, but luckily all miss. No ASW attack is launched sadly.
SS Trout is then spotted again and attacked by ASW assets, no hits are recorded.
SS Trout then launches another 4 torpedoes in an effort to score a hit on the SC CH 11, this time hitting with a dud. No ASW attack is launched.

China:

The 35th Chinese Corps continues to be pounded, suffering another 150 casualties.

The 23rd Chinese Corps is attacked northeast of Sian by the 110th Div. and 12th Tank Rgt. Japanese casualties were 252 against 316 for the Chinese. This unit was an advanced unit stationed at 85,40. I believe the movement from Sian is meant to check my advancing forces from Yenan. Future turns will give me a better idea of the threat I'm facing.

Java:

Another deliberate attack against Tjilitjap saw both sides suffer equal casualties, although more units were destroyed on the Dutch side. Japanese losses were 323, to 324 Allied.

Port Blair:

Port Blair fell to a deliberate attack. British forces suffered 169 casualties and the destruction of the Port Blair RN Det. Japanese losses were 6 wounded.

Timor:

The final Dutch units on the island were destroyed today. 216 casualites and the elimination of the Dili Det. and the Koepang BF. Japanese forces sufefred no losses and Timor is completely in Japanese hands!

Miscellaneous:

Maizuru expands port to size 7
Cagayan expands fortifications to size 2
Lashio expands fortifications to size 1
Saumlaki expands airfield to size 2 (Zero sweeps against Darwin will commence now)

xAKL Tenpei Maru arrives at Tokyo
SC Ch 29 arrives at Kobe
SC CHa-33 arrives at Hirosaki/Aomori

17th Army arrives at Tokyo

So ends another month. I'll update the major theatres with screenshots next update, and look at the latest production figures and the current state of the Japanese economy. The next steps strategically will be examined as well.

[SqzMyLemon]

Here are the first of the screenshots updating the various theatres of operation current to the morning of May 1/42.

Burma:

[SqzMyLemon]

Java:

[SqzMyLemon]

The Banda Sea:

[SqzMyLemon]

The Celebes:

[SqzMyLemon]

The Southern Philippines:

[SqzMyLemon]

The Solomom Sea:

[SqzMyLemon]

Southern China:

[SqzMyLemon]

Northern China:

[SqzMyLemon]

Air Production 1

[SqzMyLemon]

Air Production 2

[SqzMyLemon]

Industrial Production:

[SqzMyLemon]

Air Losses to date:

[SqzMyLemon]

Game Summary and VP's:

[CapAndGown]

Just a few notes: One reason your ops losses may be high is from transferring units. My ops losses have been very high too. So now I am being extra careful when making transfers. I will only transfer to bases where the weather is clear or partly cloudy. Occasionally, I will transfer to a base where there is overcast or light rain. But stay away from thunderstorms.

Once you have secured Java, your oil/fuel convoys should use Balikpapan and avoid Tarakan. By using Balikpapan and shipping the stuff to Singapore you will not need to transit any deep water hexes. I would also send stuff from Miri to Singapore. This route is all shallow water. From Singapore you can organize two or three mega-convoys with heavy escorts.

[SqzMyLemon]

May 1/42 Update:

The Banda Sea:

Japanese forces began the invasion of Mataram suffering 147 casualties while unloading.

Australia:

The first air sweeps of Darwin begin. The first raid of A6M2 Zero's (26) at 22000ft are intercepted by Kittyhawk IA's (16) and P-40E Warhawks (8) flying at 20000ft and 15000ft respectively. I was actually a little disappointed in the performance of my fighters with 4 Zero's being lost in A2A against that of 1 Kittyhawk and 1 P-40E's to A2A. I will continue to sweep tomorrow. the plan is complete air superiority so I can send in a SCTF to shell the airbase and create a moonscape. This may draw out some Allied naval assets in the region if Smeulders thinks the invasion is on, and I should have bases set up for the naval torpedo planes by then. [;)]

A second wave of A6M2 Zero's (3) goes in after the initial raid, perhaps they became separated somehow as only one unit is set to sweep from Saumlaki. The Zero's are intercepted by more Kittyhawk IA's (6) and P-40E's (2) with two Kittyhawks reported shot down for no Japanese losses.

The intelligence report, however, shows the day's losses as 6 A6M2 Zero's to A2A while 7 Kittyhawk IA's and 2 P-40E's were downed with a further 2 each to Ops losses. Total losses then were 13 Allied planes lost to 6 Japanese, so maybe not such a bad result after all.

China:

The 35th Chinese Corps was bombed again, suffering another 105 casualties. After recon there is more movement from Chinese forces at Sian, two units have moved 1 hex east, and there is movement both southwest and southeast. It looks like Smeulders is aware of my move towards Ankang and is sending reinforcements. I'll recon more heavily to see what I'm up against. It looks like my plan of having the Chinese weaken Sian is working, now I hope I can exploit something here!

Java:

Another deliberate attack was launched against Tjilitjap. Japanese losses were 347 (mostly disrupted) to 322 for the Dutch (about half destroyed) so it looks like they are beginning to crack.

Dutch New Guinea:

Manokwari was captured today by the 23rd Naval Guard for no loss. Another potential air base is gained.

Miscellaneous:

Guam expands fortifications to size 1
Lahat expands airfield to size 2
Sabang expands airfield to size 3
Waingapu expands fortifications to size 2
Nadzab expands airfield to size 3

SC Ch 1 taken out of commission to begin refit at Nagasaki/Sasebo
SC Ch 2 taken out of commission to begin refit at Nagasaki/Sasebo

B./50th JNAF Coy arrives at Tokyo

Noumea has expanded to airfield size 3 so the Allies are active in the Southeast Pacific. I will start to focus my submarine forces in the region to look for allied transports. I plan on some active SCTF's in the region soon as well. It's too early to say he'll be heading towards the Solomon's, but it makes me start to wonder. [&:]