Once Again into the Breach - Mike (J) vs. tc464 (A)

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo


My concern is that with recon and naval bombardment, the allies could neutralize IJ airpower in both Panay and Mindinao and keep it that way.

It depends on sea routing.

[MakeeLearn]

Defensively, the Philippines make a great THORN BUSH. With several big thorns and numerous small ones.

Use your air, naval and land forces to create the THORNS.

[rustysi]

My concern is that with recon and naval bombardment, the allies could neutralize IJ airpower

On any coastal base.

[rustysi]

Manila is protected by Bataan.

Not really. Japan doesn't have a mobile CD unit with large enough guns to stop BB's. She may do some damage to small ships in the convoy, but what do the Allies care late in the war. Besides Allied air could probably neutralize Bataan at any rate.

[rustysi]

Clark,

In stock at least Clark is accessible from the sea, past Bataan.

[rustysi]

You're next to the fuel from Miri and Balikipapan

Balikpapan at least could be pretty easily cut off from the Philippines.

[rustysi]

The Allies can and will take Panay and Mindanao if they want it, but Japan can make it a slow, painful affair.

And so with the rest of the Philippines, as this is essentially Japan's last line of defense. Once the Philippines are controlled by the Allies the SRA is cut off and Japan will wither. Don't forget the Allies need not take every little speck of the archipelago, but just enough to 'control' its environs.

[mind_messing]

ORIGINAL: rustysi

Manila is protected by Bataan.

Not really. Japan doesn't have a mobile CD unit with large enough guns to stop BB's. She may do some damage to small ships in the convoy, but what do the Allies care late in the war. Besides Allied air could probably neutralize Bataan at any rate.

That's not the case, the Wake CD unit is mobile, and has 20cm guns which are big enough to do some serious damage to even battleships. Even non-penentrating hits do damage, so even the smaller 15cm and 12cm tubes make it a dangerous endevour. Couple the guns with mines and you've pretty much sealed off Manila and Clark from the sea. As you say, you're unlikely to stop the BB's, but between the mines and system damage it makes forcing the straits a risky move.

IIRC Bataan is also classed as a narrow strait, which means CD gunfire and mines are notably more effective.

ORIGINAL: rustysi

You're next to the fuel from Miri and Balikipapan

Balikpapan at least could be pretty easily cut off from the Philippines.

Sure, but fuel convoys could always go the moderately longer western route around Borneo, and unless the Allies establish either a blocking position or advance on Balikipapan itself, it's a vector for the Japanese to use for attacks.

[Mike Solli]

Man, this is great stuff! By the way, I was just talking about Luzon. Mindanao will have its own defenses.

My thought on what Ted will do is to go after Babeldaob after he takes the bases up to Hollandia. I'm planning on putting a division and a brigade at Babeldaob and a division at Pelielu. CD guns are already at both locations to make it more interesting for him. [:D]

Mindanao will get forces as well. Not sure how much nor where they'll be positioned yet though.

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: rustysi

Manila is protected by Bataan.

Not really. Japan doesn't have a mobile CD unit with large enough guns to stop BB's. She may do some damage to small ships in the convoy, but what do the Allies care late in the war. Besides Allied air could probably neutralize Bataan at any rate.

Mines. Bataan's minefield(s) can't be cleared without losing minesweepers to the coastal guns. Ergo, those minesweepers will either need to be sacrificed first (and somehow go in first) or the bombardment TF will need to transit the narrow strait with its minefield and all coastal guns from each applicable hex...

Not an enticing proposition.

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: rustysi

You're next to the fuel from Miri and Balikipapan

Balikpapan at least could be pretty easily cut off from the Philippines.

Sure, but fuel convoys could always go the moderately longer western route around Borneo, and unless the Allies establish either a blocking position or advance on Balikipapan itself, it's a vector for the Japanese to use for attacks.

I would welcome Japan attempting this, if the presumption is that the Allies have invaded Mindanao and hold Darwin/New Guinea. The sheer amount of time and risk of spotting while en route is high.

So you go right ahead [;)].

[mind_messing]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

ORIGINAL: rustysi



Balikpapan at least could be pretty easily cut off from the Philippines.

Sure, but fuel convoys could always go the moderately longer western route around Borneo, and unless the Allies establish either a blocking position or advance on Balikipapan itself, it's a vector for the Japanese to use for attacks.

I would welcome Japan attempting this, if the presumption is that the Allies have invaded Mindanao and hold Darwin/New Guinea. The sheer amount of time and risk of spotting while en route is high.

So you go right ahead [;)].

Balikipapan is hard to interdict from Mindanao, and even if you're spotting the convoys, by hugging the coast you can make Allied interdiction by air very difficult. Naval interdiction is another story, but the ocean around Balikipapan isn't exactly the most open for raiders, especially not from the north.

[Lokasenna]

Don't need to interdict it, just need to block.

[rustysi]

IIRC Bataan is also classed as a narrow strait, which means CD gunfire and mines are notably more effective.

Nah, air bombard it, sea bombard it, and sweep the mines at the same time. After that its right past. May take a couple of days.

Sure, but fuel convoys could always go the moderately longer western route around Borneo, and unless the Allies establish either a blocking position or advance on Balikipapan itself, it's a vector for the Japanese to use for attacks.

Take a base in the Celebes, build it up, which should take the US what late in the war, about a week?[:D] Balikpapan, bombed into oblivion or at least isolated.

can't be cleared without losing minesweepers to the coastal guns.

I think the above will work.

[rustysi]

To me, it seems that if you want to focus on a particular airframe for use as a Kamikaze, you need to focus on one of the three categories and train your pilots.

My initial thoughts are to either focus on maneuverability or durability for Kamikazes because I'm not all that excited in using my late war fighters as Kamikazes.

Note that the Ki-115b and Toka are tied for #18 in the speed category.

What to you all think?

Mike I've no experience in the Kami aspect of the game and wouldn't really even know what to say is best.

BTW, as its one of my oversights so far, in what and how far would you train your Kami pilots? IIRC 40 EXP and 60 LowN are the norms. Is that correct? Also is there an experience limit for groups to convert to Kami units? I thought it was 40, but not sure.

[rustysi]

My thought on what Ted will do is to go after Babeldaob after he takes the bases up to Hollandia.

I wouldn't. Just as IRL I think the area should be avoided (it wasn't, but could've been). Once he gets to the western end of NG there're just so many bases, that it should be easy to find some undefended or lightly defended for the picking. Establishing bases and forces here he should be able to isolate almost anything, making his advance through the SRA easier. To me at least once past NG the only 'real' obstacle left is Luzon.

Remember he doesn't need to capture any resources or such, just deny them to you. IMHO your days are numbered.[:(]

Ah, the voice of doom and gloom.[:D]

[rustysi]

I'm planning on putting a division and a brigade at Babeldaob and a division at Pelielu.

Self contained POW Camp. I'd have some forces here, but not this much. Again, JMHO.[:)]

[mind_messing]

ORIGINAL: rustysi

IIRC Bataan is also classed as a narrow strait, which means CD gunfire and mines are notably more effective.

Nah, air bombard it, sea bombard it, and sweep the mines at the same time. After that its right past. May take a couple of days.

Sure, but fuel convoys could always go the moderately longer western route around Borneo, and unless the Allies establish either a blocking position or advance on Balikipapan itself, it's a vector for the Japanese to use for attacks.

Take a base in the Celebes, build it up, which should take the US what late in the war, about a week?[:D] Balikpapan, bombed into oblivion or at least isolated.

can't be cleared without losing minesweepers to the coastal guns.

I think the above will work.

I think you seriously underestimate the in-game effect of medium and even small calibre CD guns in the confines of a narrow strait. What you propose is nigh-on impossible, and rightly so. It's easy enough to clear the mines at Bataan, if you're willing to accept the outright loss of nearly all of your minesweepers, but you'll never get the minesweepers past Bataan to clear Manila or Clark. So when you send your BB's in, you're hoping that they don't get too badly mauled going past Bataan (which they will), that they then don't hit any mines at Manila or Clark (a stretch) and then don't get too badly mauled on the way back out (which they will).

If you doubt, test it for yourself. Put the Wake CD unit along with a reasonable garrison (say, a brigade, some aviation support and maybe a little AA) at Bataan along with some mines and try to sail ships past them. They won't have a fun time and it won't be a couple of days before it's clear to traffic.

[rustysi]

I think you seriously underestimate the in-game effect of medium and even small calibre CD guns in the confines of a narrow strait. What you propose is nigh-on impossible, and rightly so. It's easy enough to clear the mines at Bataan, if you're willing to accept the outright loss of nearly all of your minesweepers, but you'll never get the minesweepers past Bataan to clear Manila or Clark. So when you send your BB's in, you're hoping that they don't get too badly mauled going past Bataan (which they will), that they then don't hit any mines at Manila or Clark (a stretch) and then don't get too badly mauled on the way back out (which they will).

If you doubt, test it for yourself. Put the Wake CD unit along with a reasonable garrison (say, a brigade, some aviation support and maybe a little AA) at Bataan along with some mines and try to sail ships past them. They won't have a fun time and it won't be a couple of days before it's clear to traffic.

TBH, who cares? Japan can't hold everything and the Allies don't even need Clark or Manila. I'd simply hit the island somewhere else, strangle his ability to resup, and move on. Appari(?sp) and the other clear terrain base in the north would more than suffice to replace the others once built up, and it shouldn't take the US long to do that.

[Mike Solli]

Been doing turns at a pretty good rate. About a week behind. I need to catch up.

8 Nov 43

Sub War

The I-36 is hunting in a pretty nice area around Vava'u, an Allied hub I found. She caught a big xAK damaging her then sinking her later in the day.

I heard some other sinking sounds after I heard the xAK sink. It wasn't mine. [:D]

Later in the day, the I-36 found a second xAK and sank her too. Good work for this little sub today.

5 Fleet

My daily sweep of Umnak found nothing. The Sallies caused a little airfield damage. I've noticed it's creeping up. He can't keep up with it. Interesting. Maybe he's written off the Aleutians as a staging base?

4 Fleet

All quiet out here.

SE Fleet

Ted's 4E bombers focused on Hollandia, presumably to keep the damage up so it's function as an airbase to support Aitape, the next base in the area on his hit list.

The 2E bombers focused on Aitape's troops, a Naval Guard and a Naval Guard company, along with some engineers. They're slowly getting whittled away. Occasionally, a few of the bombers will hit the port so I can't build up the forts there. The fort level is stuck at 1.95.

Ted's carriers are hovering just south of Manus. He keeps about 90 fighters, along with some SBDs and naval search aircraft at Manus. They're SBD-5s, so I can't get even my fastest cruisers to a staging area to hit the place without being spotted. It's pretty much immune to anything except night air bombing, which is just a nuisance at best.

SRA

Darwin is now a maxed out airbase that can reach Saumlaki. He's begun hitting it with Beaufort VIIIs, SBD-3s and Wildcat escorts. I think I'm going to put a few fighters there to kill off some second rate pilots.

He sent 48x 4E bombers against Boela, presumably against the oil there, which has been totally destroyed for a while now. 48 wasted sorties!

Burma

I've been sweeping Akyab and Chittagong. Akyab's airfield is out of commission (why am I still sweeping it?). My 4x Helen sentai are bombing Cox's Bazaar out of existence.

China

The bombers destroyed 6 squads. Fresh divisions are moving from their staging area to Chungking for a new assault.

Other Stuff

Reinforcement: TK Tachibana Maru, Type-1 TM (8150 capacity)