Intellectus Ex Nihilo (Wal-Mart on Ice)

[Lecivius]

I am curious if all the attcks against Pelambang are gonna wreck the oil production. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

[Uncivil Engineer]

ORIGINAL: Lecivius

I am curious if all the attcks against Pelambang are gonna wreck the oil production. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

Very high probability. In my current game against the AI on hard, I landed with 2 divisions, and as the AI hadn't bothered to reinforce Palembang with anything, I took it right away (24 Dec 41), and still had a decent amount of damage. In fact, I'm still repairing the refinery and oil field (now 8 Mar 42), although on days where supply is close to 10k I only repair oil, not the refinery.

[RangerJoe]

Put Dutch bombers on night, city attack, with the range to only hit Palembang so when it is taken, the very next night you start bombing. [:D]

Remember, if he is trying to starve you out somewhere, ONE sub a day dropping supplies should allow all combat forces but especially the larger divisions to have at least one unit of supply to fight with full effectiveness. [:@]

A lot of small, sub laid minefields laid immediately after Singapore falls between Malaya and Sumatra in every non-base hex could be a little aggravation. Especially if you can get coverage by night bombing PBYs/DOs or US Torp laden PBYs. These would also scout and help guide in subs and/or PT boats.

[RangerJoe]

I also think that there are three Dutch MTBs with a depth charge rack apiece. Try to save those since they work effectively against the minisubs left behind at bases that you have captured. Why risk a larger vessel and the MTBs are very maneuverable.

[pontiouspilot]

You should have enough at Singapore. I wouldn't try to get 18th into Singapore. In my experience Japan will need 6-8 full divisions with full support to kick down the door. He will have to concentrate much of his 2 engine fleet to bomb for months also. You may wish to get out any Engs/Bfs in excess of what needed if you can. I try to get them out to DEI or Christmas/Coco Is./Pt Blair. Hopefully you have a DEI base close enough to circulate some air units in and out as required. I will wager that you are still drinking Singapore slings at your favorite bar in May '42.

[GetAssista]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel
Singapore: The Japanese bring two divisions (5th and Imperial Guards) and lots of regiments. Most of the regiments get chewed up. Japanese losses are heavy.

This is exactly why recombining IDs as soon as possible is necessary. All the talk here and there about parts being equivalent to whole, yet regiments really get trashed a lot in the attacks where divisions are more or less ok.

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: GetAssista

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel
Singapore: The Japanese bring two divisions (5th and Imperial Guards) and lots of regiments. Most of the regiments get chewed up. Japanese losses are heavy.

This is exactly why recombining IDs as soon as possible is necessary. All the talk here and there about parts being equivalent to whole, yet regiments really get trashed a lot in the attacks where divisions are more or less ok.

+1

[mind_messing]

ORIGINAL: GetAssista

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel
Singapore: The Japanese bring two divisions (5th and Imperial Guards) and lots of regiments. Most of the regiments get chewed up. Japanese losses are heavy.

This is exactly why recombining IDs as soon as possible is necessary. All the talk here and there about parts being equivalent to whole, yet regiments really get trashed a lot in the attacks where divisions are more or less ok.

If you go back to Andy Mac's old AAR's, you'll even get him going as far as to say that the game code tends to favour bigger units

[RangerJoe]

When forming divisions, there are frequently added devices with give the whole more padding than the parts. That is one case where the sum of the parts is greater than the parts by themselves.

[Canoerebel]

18th UK Division exemplifies the "Wal-Mart on Ice" aspect of this game. It's not going to Singers, but it's been everywhere else:

1. The transport TF at game-start approached Sumatra.
2. I decided the division could best used at Rangoon, and diverted the TF into the Bay of Bengal.
3. The enemy established airfields too close to Rangoon, so the TF diverted to Chittigong. It unloaded there and the various units combined to form 18th Div.
4. Almost immediately, I had second thoughts - might the division be used to effect in Java? The TF went into strat mode and re-boarded the TF.
5. The TF returned to the IO via the Bay of Bengal, steaming east well south of Sumatra and then Java.
6. KB approached Java, and I didn't have any good use to put 18th Div. to there.
7. The TF diverted to Perth, arriving today. It will unload and the division will serve as an important theater reserve somewhere obscure, to keep it out of harm's way.
8. 27th USA Div. and two Australian divisions will anchor the early defense of India.

[Bif1961]

The British 18th Division is your best Division from the start and where to place it is always a nail biter. You don't want it to die in place as a speed bump and the reinforcements squads trickle in so you don't want it trashed either, but yet it is so good you want to use it. I have allowed it to die in place at Plamenbang before and seen it used in northern Burma around Katha to stop the Japanese from taking northern Burma. I have used it in the mountains of Sumatra to delay his conquest as the Dutch don't surrender like they actually did in the war. So you have them wondering the IO like the nation of Israel in the desert.

[RangerJoe]

The 18th UK division theme song "I'm so dizzy, my head is spinning!" At least that is better than in real life where it was destroyed and not rebuilt.

[Canoerebel]

Yow! They are the Hebrews in search of the Promised Land- one flowing with milk and honey.

To this point in the game, I've been sending reinforcements to India but none to Oz. With Singers looking stout for awhile, I think Dave won't have big designs in India. But he's moved pretty quickly to take Port Moresby. He also has Ambon. So Oz could stand some help.

18th will report to someplace like Melbourne and train for awhile.

[Bif1961]

Well then you can keep the British promise to support their ally Australia while the Aussies have been supporting them since 3 September 1939 against Nazis, and landing Australia isn't bad duty for them as they train and have tea time.

[RangerJoe]

Not tea time, Fosters and Sheilas on the beach!

[Bif1961]

Testing new icon. Didn't work [&:]

[Zorch]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

Not tea time, Fosters and Sheilas on the beach!

Dumb question - How did 'Sheila' become the generic name for Australian women?

[RangerJoe]

It is not a dumb question and I don't know the answer.

[Lecivius]

ORIGINAL: Zorch

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

Not tea time, Fosters and Sheilas on the beach!

Dumb question - How did 'Sheila' become the generic name for Australian women?

Sheila

Sheila — Australian slang for "woman", is derived from the Irish girls' name Síle (IPA: [ʃiːlʲə], anglicised Sheila).

[Canoerebel]

2/1/42 to 2/5/42

SigInt: A real intel coup about Marcus Island (see graphic).

The war is going fairly well for the Allies. Dave surges forward, lands on (and usually takes) a base or two, and then retires to replenish and bringin in the next wave. He's proceeding methodically, due in part to the threat of Allied resistance. The Allies have problems here and there but nothing catastrophic yet, I think.

China: The Chinese are pressing hard at two points east of Sian. I think Dave will besiege this city. What I don't know, yet, is whether he has the supply to take it and exploit the situation. I'm hoping his schwerpunkt is occupied at other, tough MLR points, but I'm not sure yet.

Burma: The Japanese have taken Rangoon and Toungoo and are pressing north, slowly. The Allies are fighting with small, inferior units. I'm concentrating elsewhere, so Dave will succeed here.

Port Blair: Enemy strike aircraft roughed up a small transport TF that nevertheless managed to land about half of Madras Construction Battalion. This is needed to augment fort building to protect the riff-raff Indian brigade garrison

Singers: Dave hasn't attacked since crossing the causeway. Allied fighters occasionally put in an appearance, usually to good effect. Forts at 4.24. Supply 195k. AV is 1200.

Sumatra: The enemy took Palembang with only slight losses to oil and refinery.

Java: This remains the center of Allied resistance. I've been able to use modest CAP at Soerabaja to protect a motley assembly of DDs and one CL. Dave deployed KB on several occasions to strike, but scored no hits to speak of while expending sorties and losing aircraft. He holds Semereng. He'll come in strength soon. Until he does, this is a thorn in his side.

Philippines: He hasn't attacked Clark Field yet, where supply is about gone.

DEI: His little amphib force hasn't been able to take Ambon yet. Today it failed on a shock attack.

Pacific: Bobcats engineer unit inbound to Midway, but it's taking forever and forever to get there. The Marines need augmented fort-building capacity.


Elsehwere, Dave is very quiet - SWPac, SoPac, CenPac, NoPac. He seems to have his hands full in the DEI, at the moment.