Here we go again! tc464 (A) vs. Mike (J) - No tc464

[Mike Solli]

Malaya. TF 96 is headed for Billiton and will arrive in 2 days. They just refueled. A TF of 1 BB, 2 CA and escorts will accompany them and another of 4 CA and escorts will bombard. (They're both at Sinkawang.) You can see where I currently am in Malaya.

[Mike Solli]

And finally, here's KB. They didn't fly today due to severe storms. Too bad. They're heading for a rendezvous with some oilers. They may head back down here in a few days to catch some shipping. I don't think Ted will expect them to come back.

[vlcz]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli
About Miri.  Yeah, I think the Japanese player needs all the oil he can get.  I'm working on Miri's port.  I'll max it out eventually.  Right now, Brunei's oil is flowing to Miri.  It's showing one day's production every day.  Currently, I have extra TKs in the area because I don't control most of the oil producing centers.  Eventually, I'll use TKs for the oil (max of 45k per month) and xAKs for the fuel.

Brunei to miri? I can be wrong here but.... miri´s 200 oil center should not be producing 2000 oil daily? ...and miri´s port (2/0) can only haul 1000 daily (1500 fully expanded) so it seems expanding oil centerswill not make any profit...

If my maths are not wrong you should pump from miri to brunei, and his 3/3 port (1500/2500 daily pump)

Anyway the AK fuel carrying option is a sound one , as the handling limit are separated from iquids...another lesson learned [:)]

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: vlcz

Brunei to miri? I can be wrong here but.... miri´s 200 oil center should not be producing 2000 oil daily? ...and miri´s port (2/0) can only haul 1000 daily (1500 fully expanded) so it seems expanding oil centerswill not make any profit...

If my maths are not wrong you should pump from miri to brunei, and his 3/3 port (1500/2500 daily pump)

Anyway the AK fuel carrying option is a sound one , as the handling limit are separated from iquids...another lesson learned [:)]

Actually, according to the chart on pg. 125-126, the amount of oil that can be loaded is a max of 1000 per 12 hour phase per ship and a maximum for the day of 6250. You can fill up a 5 TK convoy (1250 TKs) in a day.

And also keep in mind that we don't have any control over how oil flows. All I can tell you is that the oil at Brunei is never over one day's production and I have no ships in that hex at all.

[Mike Solli]

Duplicate message.

[vlcz]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli
a max of 1000 per 12 hour phase per ship and a maximum for the day of 6250

so there was my fault

time to re-track convoys!!!! ,

[erstad]

Actually, according to the chart on pg. 125-126, the amount of oil that can be loaded is a max of 1000 per 12 hour phase per ship and a maximum for the day of 6250. You can fill up a 5 TK convoy (1250 TKs) in a day.

Don't forget this little tidbit on page 126.

Refineries and oil production facilities at a port increase the load
rate and daily maximum limits for fuel and oil respectively. Increase
is equal to one half of daily production in rate, full daily production
in limit. If both refineries and oil production are present, the amount
of oil used by the refinery is deducted from the increases.

That will help at Miri where the oil will be built higher than the refinery. Docking limits are the bigger issue.

[Mark Weston]

And now, for something completely different...

Just poking my head in here to say a huge thankyou to Mike Solli for the superb AAR. I've just completed my first ever GC turn one for the Japanese, during the course of which I re-read pages 1-4 of this thread maybe five times. There was so much useful info and ideas in here from which to kick-start my own planning that I just felt I had to say thanks for putting all the work into writing it.

[Mike Solli]

Thanks Mark, I appreciate that.

erstad, I hadn't caught that. That'll help sucking oil from Miri once the oil field is fully repaired.

My esteemed opponent was out of town last week. He just got back last night and is working the turn now. He did send me a pretty funny message though:

"Oh I can see it now...you and your JFB buddies yukking it up on your AAR.... "Lets take a break from PM, swing up to Darwin for some sushi and a few bomb runs. It'll be fun !"

Poor innocent AM's. What did they ever do to you ?"

I almost spit my coffee all over my keyboard. [:D]

[Mike Solli]

Well, I've been making pancakes for the wife and kids and thinking about the first 4-6 months of the war. Basically, the Japanese can take whatever they want (within reason, of course) and the Allies have to take it in the shorts. If we look at what the Japanese took historically (SRA, Solomons, Wake, etc.), the Allies will lose practically all the troops in those areas. That's pretty much a given. I guess the only unknown is how much the Japanese will lose. Interesting way of looking at things....

[ny59giants]

I have almost a gallon of PURE Vermont maple syrup sitting on the back porch. [;)]

[Q-Ball]

First, 3 with butter and syrup please, 2 slices of bacon, easy on the syrup.

Second, you mentioned up top bombarding Billiton? No need! There's nobody home!

Third, first 6 months plans....this is the most important question for Japan at war's opening. And if you want to maximize your impact, you need to decide early, and have troops prepping for those targets. There are a number of good units in Manchuria (several high-exp Regts, plus tanks), and in the Home Islands (Gds Bde,53,54 div) that you will eventually have PPs for. Prep all those units for your phase-2 targets, so you will have some 100% prepped units available when you move.

So, what are the targets?

In my mind, not India. It's like Russia to the Wehrmacht; you can make big progress, but you'll never take it. And the restricted Indian army will grind you to dust. Don't IMO.

You can rampage in the South Pacific. The point of doing so is to capture ground units, and bring the USN to battle; there isn't alot of value to Fiji or those kind of places. Sure, they lengthen Allied supply lines, but it's not like the Allies don't have enough shipping to go around it. And more importantly, it lengthens YOUR supply lines, and the territory you have to defend. No, I would forget a move past Noumea, and even then, it's debateable.

I think your target should be AUSTRALIA! There are many real good reasons, but I would attack in this manner:

1. Northern Oz: This is essential no matter what you do; Allies too much of a threat here. You must take it. This is Phase 1 of your conquest.
2. SW Oz: Phase 2 is to clear all of Western Australia. Land at Geraldton and Albany; cut off Perth, and get to Kalgoorie as quick as possible. Once you capture the railhead at Kalgoorie, West Aus is effectively an Island, unless the Allies want to walk about 50 hexes through the desert, but that's not adviseable

Now, taking SW OZ will NOT trigger the extra reinforcements for Australia, as it's all north of Brisbane (someone confirm it works that way). YOu will trigger extra ground troops if you go as far as Brisbane. So after you get to #2, you will have a decision to make.

You could secure the NE Tip of Australia, at least as far as Cairns; this would be a defensive buffer only.

Overall, the Marshalls and Gilberts are less important than WITP, because they don't offer very good offensive platforms for the Allies, and at any rate, there are only so many troops you can put there. Focus on Australia.

I have a PBEM going now, and I am still in May 1942, so the Empire isn't done yet....but I did change my objectives in that one, so who knows. I found a large Allied buildup in the New Hebrides, and decided to try to destroy all those troops. So far I have captured 20K POWs, and have another 40K about to surrender at Noumea. The Allies have lost all their P-40s, about 12 cruisers, 2 BBs, and other ships trying to keep it. It has required a large commitment of both the IJN and IJA though, so it DID slow me down, the question is at what price. Point being, your opponent can change your plans depending on what he does.

[Mike Solli]

Q-Ball, you're full of all kinds of great info and intel. I agree that N Australia is the key. I've never considered the east and west coasts though. I have to run a few errands and do the turn. Then I'm going to do some recon of the Australian coasts. I've already decided to commit the Gds Bde to Australia. I'm probably going to prep it for something other than Darwin. Darwin gets a couple of divisions. Maybe Hedland for starters.... Gotta check things out. [:D]

[Q-Ball]

Bravo! Keep an eye on Darwin; it's quite possible for the Australians to train to Alice, and march overland to Darwin. Takes about 45 days from anywhere in Australia, so it's very doable. So, 2 divisions might be plenty, or might not. If he does pile on Darwin, that will leave SOMETHING vulnerable.....

I would load up the Allies and get familiar with the Australians. At this point it's all Militia, so check out what the Australian Militia looks like.
*There are a ton of tank, cav, and other mobile units...and most are just paper formations, because at this stage there are zero tanks. Don't worry about them at this stage. They can start "tanking up" in April or so.
*There are several Militia divisions split into Brigades; if you consolidate all the Bdes, I think you get about 5 Divisions. These Divisions, though, are weak; they are understrength in squads, and can't really be brought up to full-strength. The squads are brittle; I have found in heavy combat the Aus Militia squads are destroyed much faster than AIF or US Infantry. A prudent Allied player will leave a division at Sydney, and probably have 1-2 in NW Australia, leaving maybe 2 for Darwin and/or Perth.
EDIT: Wait, he already put a division, plus extra Militia at Port Moresby.....so, he's probably even weaker than that down under. I bet at this stage, the only units in West Oz are a single Bde.
*The RAAF is not a threat to your shipping. They get no fighter airplanes until March or thereabouts. The only air oppossition will be whatever the USAAF can scrape up and send to Australia, which early-on isn't much.
*If he commits the AIF, you know those are first-rate formations, real tough, and enter at full-strength. 6th and 7th Australian Divs. If you can destroy them though in West Australia, that would take a real commitment, but you'll have 10+ divisions available, and getting the AIF would really help in the long-run.

[witpqs]

Q-Ball, The geography of the game map obviously being different from real life, when you say "NW Australia" what area do you mean?

[Mike Solli]

9 Jan 42

South of Hawaii, the I-2 put a torpedo into the DM Pruitt. I put 8 subs there since the beginning of the war (I-1 through I-8). Seven of them are still patrolling the area. I-6 is headed to Japan to repair 6 major flot damage. At what point do you guys send ships back for repairs? I thought about it for a time and decided to repair damage as soon as possible so they would be available later.

Philippines

I bombarded Iba again, destroying the base force there. Now it's down to the 31 PA Division there. I'll attack tomorrow.

Mindinao

I took Zamboanga pushing out the defenders and taking 80 casualties for 215 Allied casualties. I'll pull out one of the 2 SNLFs for other missions. Here's the status of the industry there:

Manpower: 1(1) - No repairs.
Resources: 20(0)
LI: 20(0) - That's 20 more supply a day.

Singapore

30 Oscars found one Buffalo and shot it down.

[Mike Solli]

10 Jan 42

Philippines

I attacked and captured Iba, destroying the 31 PA Div. I took 25 losses for 6851 Allied captives. Iba's resources are at 15(5). I won't repair the damaged resources.

Now there is one pocket of isolated US/Philippinos as well as the masses in Bataan.

Malaya

The 30 Oscars drove damaged and drove off 1 Buffalo over Singapore. My forces continue to move south.

I landed at Billiton and will take it tomorrow. Several feeble air attacks arrived and then left minus 2 Blenheim IVs.

Hong Kong

A group of minesweepers are clearing mines from the port of Hong Kong. A large group of xAK(L)s (over 100) are waiting to move into port to pick up all available forces for an invasion of Java. In addition to the 38 Division, the 21 Bde will also invade.

SE Fleet

The 4 Division just unloaded at Truk. In 2 days, they will board xAK(L)s bound for Pt. Moresby. KB will refuel and rearm over the next couple of days and will probably head back to Pt. Moresby for another visit.

The Lae invasion force is 2 days out. The Buna invasion force (just a company of infantry) is loading onto APDs and will leave Truk tomorrow, so they're just a couple of days out as well. The 23 Air Flotilla (well, most of it) is at Rabaul for support as well as 2 BBs. Once the Lae invasion force safely lands, the BBs will probably pay a visit to Pt. Moresby.

I finally destroyed that company that started the war at Kavieng.

Damaged ship update

All those weird tenders are really useful if you take the time to read about them and use them wisely. The I-123 is still in Davao port and was 36 days away from being able to safely leave for the Home Islands. An AS arrived and that cut the repair time to 18 days. She currently is at 30-71(71)-11(9)-0.

The I-122 is still at Singkawang (level 1 port). Her damage is slowly dropping but will be in port for another 20 days. I decided to move the AS from Saigon to Singkawang to get her patched up enough to head to Saigon. Her current damage is 44-54(54)-24(18)-0.

Ryujo is repairing at Babeldaob and is a month away from being fully repaired, with the help of an AR. Her current damage is 27-5(5)-7(4)-0.

Hatsukaze just left Babeldaob for Kobe. Her damage is 0-11(11)-0-0.

Akigumo and Kashima are repairing at Rabaul. Kashima is 1 day away from being able to head back for full repairs at 1-13(13)-0-0. Akigumo will be at Rabaul for about 8 more days. She currently is at 23-38(38)-9(6)-0.

Damage repair is a whole new game within a game compared with WitP. Very interesting.

[Mike Solli]

11 Jan 42

Off the coast of Hawaii...

The I-2 was seen and attacked. She was hit by a depth charge causing the following damage: 24-17(6)-0-0. Unless something unforseen happens, she'll make port.......in 8 days. In retialiation, the I-7 spotted and put a torpedo into the DD Cummings not far from where the I-2 was hit.

Philippines

I attacked the isolated Allied force at Cabanatuan. Since I own the hex, I can't seem to push them out, so it's going to be a grind to kill them all off. This attack was successful. For 107 casualties I took out 860. About 6000 more to go.....

I tried bombing Bataan, and had two Anns shot down for my trouble. Once the refugees are taken out, then I'll switch my IJAAF to high level bombing of Bataan. It won't be very effective, but it'll help. I expect to move into Bataan in a few turns.

Mindinao

I caught up with a Philippino infantry regiment at Malaybalay and sent them packing, causing 603 casualties for 149.

Malaya

Nothing much to report. The Oscars flying sweep own the skies over Singapore. That lone Buffalo didn't (or couldn't) come up.

I took Billiton (Resources - 20(0)). A boat load (many boatloads, actually) of engineers landed and 72 air support landed. I got them to work on the airfield. As soon as it reaches level 1, I'll station some Zeros (and recon) there to start sweeping Batavia. That Zero unit from the 22 Air Flotilla is really experienced. They have 5 pilots (of 18) who are 81+ experience. I'm tempted to pull a couple out and put them into TRACOM. By the way, TRACOM has 10 IJNAF pilots and they haven't done a darn thing. [8|]

China

Some rare combat took place in China. (Neither of us really likes the region and we both tend to ignore it hoping it'll go away. [:D]) I attacked a Chinese Corps 2 hexes SW of Suchow causing 602 casualties to 17 Japanese. Ted attacked me 2 hexes N of Anking causing 83 Japanese casualties for 148 Chinese.

SE Fleet

I attacked Pt. Moresby today. I didn't expect to take the place but I want to wear them down so the 4th Division can take it rapidly when they land. I discovered the fort level is up to 2. I wasn't even close at 1:2 odds and caused 506 casualties for 386 Japanese casualties. One of the Militia battalions is combat ineffective.

I'll start loading the 4 Division tomorrow at Truk after the remaining cargo ships arrive.

Tomorrow the Lae invasion force will begin landing operations. Buna will be invaded the day after.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli
I took Billiton (Resources - 20(0)). A boat load (many boatloads, actually) of engineers landed and 72 air support landed. I got them to work on the airfield. As soon as it reaches level 1, I'll station some Zeros (and recon) there to start sweeping Batavia. That Zero unit from the 22 Air Flotilla is really experienced. They have 5 pilots (of 18) who are 81+ experience. I'm tempted to pull a couple out and put them into TRACOM. By the way, TRACOM has 10 IJNAF pilots and they haven't done a darn thing. [8|]

Hi Mike,

Enjoying the AAR.

Don't airfields have to be size 2+ to be able to LRCAP or sweep from them?

[Mike Solli]

One additional thing.....

I noticed 4 small Allied TFs (1-2 ships) at Pt. Moresby. I've had two Betty daitai on naval attack but they won't go after them. I discovered they're on 10% searching to the south of PM. I changed the arc to include PM. Hopefully, if it works out, Ted will be in for a big surprise. [:D]