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Mandrake--Good to see you Sir!
 
We'll have to move past Perth to be able to protect it from bombing and quick counterattack.  Perth is an excellent site to grab and hold.  Put some decent Torpedo bombers in it and life just gets harder for the Allies.
 
As to Noumea, I'll grab that after March when I have had time to get the initial operations completed.  If we have Pago Pago, PM, Lunga, etc...early I doubt if they will try to strengthen Noumea or Suva.
 
As to bklooste's commentary, I don't disagree with him.  Our goal is resources and oil.  Thus, the Northern China Offensive, normal DEI manuevers, and the drive to capture all of Burma.  Aussieland will provide resources and HI to grow our stockpiles while we expand the industry back home.
 
If we can get the Allies to fight down in these faraway locations then we can effectively begin the delaying action a long ways from Japan and our precious industry.  No Allied bombers allowed over Manchuria or the Home Isles until 1945! 

ORIGINAL: Cribtop

Minor point, but I would take Canton even if you don't plan to hold it long as the stock of 8000 fuel there on 12/7 is very valuable. It is one of the few bases in SOPAC with any fuel and 8K is enough to support a strong cruiser sqdn for some time.

Good thinking!

What are we going to do about House Rules?

Areas:
1. Strategic Bombing
2. Two Port Attacks using only CV Air
3. Manila SS TF Rule--Allowing for a limited # of SS to be in a TF on Dec 7th
4. Must pay PP for unit
Japan--Manchuria and China
Allies--China and India

More???

As to bklooste's commentary, I don't disagree with him.  Our goal is resources and oil.  Thus, the Northern China Offensive, normal DEI manuevers, and the drive to capture all of Burma.  Aussieland will provide resources and HI to grow our stockpiles while we expand the industry back home.

If we can get the Allies to fight down in these faraway locations then we can effectively begin the delaying action a long ways from Japan and our precious industry.  No Allied bombers allowed over Manchuria or the Home Isles until 1945! 

I think your seeing things through WITP glasses here.

i) Islands are limited to 6K , have difficulty build forts and need to be supplied , hence they require more merchant ships to take and keep supplied and are not defensible.
ii) Betties are not the force they once ( and even worse in this mod) were , all he needs is a CVE which this mod has plenty and they are pretty weak beyond zero range, i would even adjust my production because of this.
iii) He can easily bypass these islands in 43 so thats just more isolated forces you have + the forces you used taking them. They dont delay him at all.
iv) With the shipping lanes and NZ they dont really affect supply.
v) It doesnt help oil and doesnt force a decisive battle ( which you want in 41/early 42) , though Midway may.
vi) Gives him the potential for easy and morale boosting victories..

I like going for Darwin via Timor and PM (direct or via Rabaul) but the rest of Australia is too obvious for my liking AE is harder for Japan. I would not commit so much to the Cen Pacific , if its a diversions treat it as such use a few NLF/Nav Guard a SNLF and AKLs. Since they dont delay him ask yourself what you get ?

Better to leave very little except for difficult targets eg Burma , Papua , Marshals that way he can do nothing after Australia is over in 42 this frustration may lead to mistakes.

Also what will he do ? We need an Allied OOB

1. If he brings all his CVs to Malaysia /DEI life could be very difficult for you here from turn 1 asnd could seriously disrupt operations i suggest at least a CVE with CAP. [Not sure how far allied redeployments go] , he may also do a sir robin for which you need to be very aggresive and take lots of small locations.
2. If he brings all his CVs to PH on turn 1.
3. Will he try to pick up the fighter squadron at Wake in which case can you ambush ?

For HR  i suggest no assignment of inappropriate leaders eg Nimitz or Yamamoto ( or any admiral for that matter)  to a sub or ASW fleet etc.

Those are very good posts to ponder. Michael what do you think of that? I'm going to chew them around in my head for a bit before responding.

Just put together a group email list so the four of us can shot stuff back and forth while keeping everyone in the loop. Doing a 2x2 takes a little bit of procedural planning before starting.

Juan--Where are we with your work Sir?

Should note that Michael and I want to know NOTHING of the Allied side here! We want things to be fresh and different.

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Those are very good posts to ponder. Michael what do you think of that? I'm going to chew them around in my head for a bit before responding.

Just put together a group email list so the four of us can shot stuff back and forth while keeping everyone in the loop. Doing a 2x2 takes a little bit of procedural planning before starting.

Juan--Where are we with your work Sir?

Should note that Michael and I want to know NOTHING of the Allied side here! We want things to be fresh and different.

Hey,

Things are looking good for having a release out by the middle of next week - the IJN naval stuff is basically done, with the airgroups and LCU's to be finished. I've started with the USN, and as changes are not quite as extensive there, it should be much easier to do.

With regards to house rules, I believe I mentioned something with regards to conversions in my email already. In addition to your standard ones above which looked good (PPs for transfer, port strikes, etc), I suggest the following;

1) Japan can only have two "large" (CVL or BB) conversions and four "small" (CVE and CA/CL) conversions running at any one time. This is to restrict the availability of these as they do not cost anything in terms of HI.

2) TB2D-1 Skypirate and FD-1 Phantom should only operate from land bases or Midway class CVBs.

3) A7M Sam and B7A/-D Grace should not be operated from Japanese CVEs.

As I'm almost done with the Japanese side of things, if you can send me a general list of changes you'd like done, I can get those worked into the preliminary version I'll send you. If it will help, I can send you an complete naval OOB or post it here.

Juan

This is like the Rabbit and the Hare.  Well we all know that there is no holding John back.

Good luck gents, teach me well.

Well we all know that there is no holding John back.

Yes there is. I know his wife!!

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Well we all know that there is no holding John back.

Yes there is. I know his wife!!

Michael is dead on here. My wife and Michael have a deal where I have been 'restrained' [>:] from my AE work due to putting the family back together. While this has made total sense it has led to grave emotional trauma as I try to LEARN this blasted game.

Tocaff is right, however, I AM READY TO CAUSE CHAOS! "Let slip the dogs of war."

Juan--Thanks for your work. An OOB---ONLY FOR THE JAPANESE---would be good. Do you want to get your Mod done and then I send you the units I want shifted to Truk and Kwajalein? Which would be easier for you?

Does anyone know the monsoon months for Burma? We are currently--through email--discussing House Rules.

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Does anyone know the monsoon months for Burma? We are currently--through email--discussing House Rules.

The Patch 2 Beta had them backwards (used the dry monsoon as the limited supply months), but when that was revealed in a thread the devs said they were fixing the months for the Patch 2 official release. Unfortunately the Patch 2 release notes do not state what months are used.

The thread where it was discussed included this link (click on Geography, scroll down to Climate):

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bm.html

Climate:

tropical monsoon; cloudy, rainy, hot, humid summers (southwest monsoon, June to September); less cloudy, scant rainfall, mild temperatures, lower humidity during winter (northeast monsoon, December to April)

Michael has been handling the haggling over House Rules today and I thought I would post what is being currently discussed.  If anyone has a better and/or different idea on one, please sound off.  This is what he emailed earlier today:
 
Here is what we have to date.[/align] [/align]
HR[/align] [/align]1st turn can have multiple port attacks, but ONLY from carriers.[/align] [/align]PPs to move out of national borders (Japan - Manchuria, Thai) and (Allies - India, China)[/align] [/align]No strategic bombing (Oil, Resources, HI, LI, etc.) until 43 (when exactly ??)[/align] [/align]Manila subs can form TF based on a date/time stamp (use the last digit in a pre-determined e-mail). Since this may be the second port attack, the last digit in the time (hh:mm:ss) is used to determine how many subs can form TF[/align] [/align]Agree with 4e bombers restricted to 10k for naval attacks (does not include PBY/Mavis type patrol craft)[/align] [/align]Pre-turn 1 repositioning will be realistic and sent to JuanG from both sides. There is a lot I would like to do as Japan, but have limited the number of items.[/align] [/align]Japan will follow restrictions Juan suggest on conversions (only so many at one time)[/align] [/align]Non-historic 1st turn, +/- 60 day reinforcement, PDUs ON, orders for TF formed already[/align] [/align]Two months truce in Burma to simulate Monsoon season (which months will those be?) [/align] [/align]Night time bombing must have 'x' amount of moonlight to happen (what is it going to be % wise??)[/align] [/align]4e bombers CANNOT bomb troops[/align][/align]

Was talking with my partner in crime and we were discussing the merits of trying to crush Malaya FAST--ie 5+ Inf Div storming south ASAP
 
OR
 
Diverting at least a pair (if not 3) of Inf Div and support for an immediate drive into Burma to try keeping China out of the theatre.
 
 
The Philippines are fairly irrelevent within planning.  We'll land enough to keep Dugout Doug occupied but that is it.   
 
The 4th Inf Div will go to the South Pacific for operations there. 
 
Michael will thrust a pair of Inf Div from Palau--Amboina--Timor--Darwin with the goal of having Darwin within 6 weeks of the war starting.
 
Our heavy punch will be either against Malaya OR Burma.  This is in the discussion stage so I thought we'd throw it open for thoughts...
 

Thats worthwile,  why not both  ?
 
Go for Burma and have 1-2 divisions going down the panisula than when 38th div becomes free land at Mersing (with no planning)  with CVE support and CV cover  ( in case his carriers show up)
 
Sending 5 divs just dont make it any quicker he can just keep sending battalions up and stalling your advances. Parras help here as they can stop his batalions retreating....
 
The above would give a quick Malaysia and a quick Burma , and if you go the Timor route to Darwin your in a great position  for a quick DEI.  WIth Burma you will face the AVG so you need to plan for it,.
 
Lastly do not count on Betties and Nels outside of zero range it doesnt work in AE and especially doesnt work when he has large amounts of CVE.
 
Oh before you think aboutn Northen CHinese oil double check the spoilage from the roads i think you loose most if not all.
 
 
 

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Michael has been handling the haggling over House Rules today and I thought I would post what is being currently discussed.  If anyone has a better and/or different idea on one, please sound off.  This is what he emailed earlier today:

Here is what we have to date.[/align] [/align]
HR[/align] [/align]1st turn can have multiple port attacks, but ONLY from carriers.[/align] [/align]PPs to move out of national borders (Japan - Manchuria, Thai) and (Allies - India, China)[/align] [/align]No strategic bombing (Oil, Resources, HI, LI, etc.) until 43 (when exactly ??)[/align] [/align]Manila subs can form TF based on a date/time stamp (use the last digit in a pre-determined e-mail). Since this may be the second port attack, the last digit in the time (hh:mm:ss) is used to determine how many subs can form TF[/align] [/align]Agree with 4e bombers restricted to 10k for naval attacks (does not include PBY/Mavis type patrol craft)[/align] [/align]Pre-turn 1 repositioning will be realistic and sent to JuanG from both sides. There is a lot I would like to do as Japan, but have limited the number of items.[/align] [/align]Japan will follow restrictions Juan suggest on conversions (only so many at one time)[/align] [/align]Non-historic 1st turn, +/- 60 day reinforcement, PDUs ON, orders for TF formed already[/align] [/align]Two months truce in Burma to simulate Monsoon season (which months will those be?) [/align] [/align]Night time bombing must have 'x' amount of moonlight to happen (what is it going to be % wise??)[/align] [/align]4e bombers CANNOT bomb troops[/align][/align]

Comparisons ...

No Strategic Bombing - I wanted 1/44 - but Opponents felt strongly - so we agreed to July 43.

Night bombing - None until 1/44 (easier to administer - than % moonlight restriction)

Great thoughts again Sir!

Let me hit them one at a time:
1.  You mirror my thinking about a heavier punch going into Burma while fighting our way down the peninsula.  The use of freed Infantry (38th ID) makes for interesting possiblities.  A Mersing Landing would not be out of the question.  Michael?

2.  We have already discussed the AVG and use of fighters.  This is a major concern seeing as we don't have enough Zeros to be everywhere.  Gonna have to be careful here.

3.  Understand the comments about Betty and Nell.  In general I don't like to send them ANYWHERE without escort.  There is a real chance we might meet up with the AVG doing things with shipping in Rangoon so that will be important.

4.  A quick Burma and Malaya would be great but I expect Malaya to take longer if we lesson the punch.  Pending on the defense chosen by the Allies, it will take a while to cross Johore...

5.  Northern China oil and spoilage is an excellent question that I do not know the answer to.  Economics Minister Benoit must answer that.


ASIDE:  A pet peeve I have in this game is Allied players who immediately go to the bunker mentality in the Philippines and Malaya.  Many players simply fall all the way back starting Day One.  I always consider this a mistake.

As a Japanese player I know that I cannot take many losses if we are to proceed with whatever 'Grand Design' we settle upon.  A good Allied counter-puncher like Mandrake and Tabpub (Sp?) can raise Holy Heck and really throw a wrench into things. 

If our opponents choose to fall back immediately then that will REALLY help us in taking everything more quickly and aid us grabbing targets we otherwise don't have the strength to realistically gain.  We'll see what these plan to do...

RE: Malaya, this theater is problem in AE. From most AARs, the Japanese advance down the Malayan peninsula as fast as you can walk it, no more, no less, no matter what forces you commit (OK, assuming you commit the two divisions at least).

It is crucial to close out Singapore early, and as an added bonus, it's a very easy place to load everyone up for further conquests. So it deserves alot of attention. The problem is that adding divisions at the top of the peninsula isn't going to make it go faster at all. Even with ZERO resistance, it takes a month+ to get to Singapore.

I would look very closely at Mersing.

Hey Mr. Wilkerson!  Always good to see you participating.  Hope you are well!
 
Michael what do you think about his thoughts?
 

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

RE: Malaya, this theater is problem in AE. From most AARs, the Japanese advance down the Malayan peninsula as fast as you can walk it, no more, no less, no matter what forces you commit (OK, assuming you commit the two divisions at least).

It is crucial to close out Singapore early, and as an added bonus, it's a very easy place to load everyone up for further conquests. So it deserves alot of attention. The problem is that adding divisions at the top of the peninsula isn't going to make it go faster at all. Even with ZERO resistance, it takes a month+ to get to Singapore.

I would look very closely at Mersing.

How are you Qball? Good to see you as well. My gut feeling concurs with your observation. Could we force a 2 Division Landing at Mersing and try to cut across the penisula BEFORE they withdraw?