Sand in the Vaseline - Wobbly vs PzB

[wobbly]

I had a good weekend thank you very much - even if my troops didn't. We have had two turns and this is the combat replay of the second.

In the first my much punished CVL Hermes was hit by one of his infuriating night torpedo attacks and sunk.

A TF of transports I had delivering planes to Tjilitap unloaded and then headed to Karachi ( I forgot to check) they were hammered by naval bombers - 1 AK escaped from 6 ships!

A massive bombardment of Madioen by a sneaky BB force, including the Yamato, during the day! He only hits one B-26 as all other planes are in the air. The Mutsu suffers 10 bomb hits but everything bounces. My Beauforts are not attacking with torpedos for some reason... The Yamato shrugged off everything

The first clash of zeros and spitfires occured over Ahamabad and the losses are even.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/03/42
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Night Air attack on Tjilitjap , at 19,62

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 3

Allied aircraft
Fulmar x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Fulmar: 1 damaged

More night attacks at Tjilitap. The Lex has made it to this very dangerous anchorage and has managed to offload her AC compliment, but she could go the way of the Hermes. I have put the Fulmars on night duty...
Strange occurance - the fulmars have expanded to a size 36 sqd - is this expected?
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Night Air attack on Madioen , at 21,64

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21 Sally x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 1 damaged

He night attacks Madioen as well but most of the ACs have left there now.
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Night Time Surface Combat at 18,69

Japanese Ships
CL Isuzu
DD Makigumo
DD Kagero
DD Hatsukaze
DD Urakaze
DD Hamakaze
DD Nowaki
DD Arashi
DD Arare
DD Shiratsuyu
DD Shigure
DD Murasame
DD Yamakaze
DD Ikazuchi

Allied Ships
AK Aldebaran, Shell hits 18, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk

A mid ocean intercept. He is filling the lower Indian Ocean with alot of heavy metal.
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Day Air attack on Chungking , at 43,32

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 23
Ki-48 Lily x 36
Ki-49 Helen x 19

Allied aircraft
I-153c x 16
I-16c x 19

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 7 destroyed
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 11 destroyed
Ki-48 Lily: 4 destroyed, 2 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 8 destroyed, 6 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
I-153c: 6 destroyed, 5 damaged
I-16c: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged
SB-2c: 5 destroyed, 6 damaged
IL-4c: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged

Airbase hits 6
Runway hits 12

Another change of tactics as he hits the airfields in Chungking. My chinese fighters do very well though.
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Day Air attack on Lucknow , at 28,16

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48 Lily x 23

Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48 Lily: 21 destroyed, 7 damaged


Runway hits 3

Unescorted the Lillies loose 9 of their number but still press on to hit the airfield - damage is fixed by morning but this is valuable time taken away from enhancing the fortresses.
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Day Air attack on 38th Division, at 24,8

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 45

Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 4

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Wellington III: 9 destroyed, 2 damaged

Crickey that's alot of zeros. All 4 Wellingtons fall in flames.
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Day Air attack on 5th Division, at 24,8

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 45

Allied aircraft
Hudson I x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hudson I: 14 destroyed, 2 damaged

More bombers dispatched as the fly without escort.
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Day Air attack on 5th Division, at 24,8

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 45

Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 9 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Wellington III: 17 destroyed, 3 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
10 casualties reported

Another 6 valuable planes crash. The pilots are the real worry though - I have 2 in the British pools.

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Day Air attack on 18th Division, at 24,8

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 21

Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 19
P-40E Warhawk x 11
B-17E Fortress x 23

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 7 destroyed, 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Wellington III: 6 destroyed, 1 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 20 destroyed, 4 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 5 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
116 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

At last a few fighters start escorting the later arrivals. They still come out second in the capability stakes.
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Day Air attack on 56th Division, at 24,8

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 44

Allied aircraft
Fulmar x 7
F4F-4 Wildcat x 13
Wirraway x 7
Hurricane II x 22
Spitfire Vb x 16
Kittyhawk I x 10
Blenheim IV x 6
Hudson I x 3
Beaufort I x 6
Beaufort V-IX x 16
P-40E Warhawk x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 100 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Fulmar: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged
F4F-4 Wildcat: 11 destroyed, 1 damaged
Hurricane II: 19 destroyed, 5 damaged
Spitfire Vb: 9 destroyed, 1 damaged
Kittyhawk I: 21 destroyed, 1 damaged
Beaufort I: 1 damaged
Beaufort V-IX: 2 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 4 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
45 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

But the zeros are tired now and the next escorted raid is above the airfield. Many zeros are dispatched. This is the heaviest air losses both sides have suffered in the war - 80 each. He looses 47 zeros!!!! My losses are splattered around more. Of course 80 ACs means another 240 points he needs to find for autovictory.

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Ground combat at Ahmadabad

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 145185 troops, 1275 guns, 17 vehicles

Defending force 64346 troops, 522 guns, 385 vehicles

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 4

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 4)


Japanese ground losses:
1981 casualties reported
Guns lost 81
Vehicles lost 5

Allied ground losses:
1206 casualties reported
Guns lost 47
Vehicles lost 4

The big push starts. He has 3 engineering regiments there and they manage to reduce the forts by 1. My engineers counter by raising them back up to 5! Next turn another 300 vehicles arrive in the form of one of the tank regiments and the 3rd Indian HQ gets into range to influence the action with it's brass.
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Ground combat at Lucknow

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 13523 troops, 145 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 91499 troops, 699 guns, 793 vehicles

After an attack my rebuttal is hardly awe inspiring...
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Ground combat at Rawalpindi

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 170 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 8 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Rawalpindi base !!!

He has returned to his paradrop ways as expected. Rawalpindi had 350 supplies. He will have to fly them in if he wants to mount an attack from the rear. It is 10 lost points.

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So the battle in the North has started in earnest. PzB is very sure he will have the place by the end of the week and I am inclined to agree with him. It really is up to the engineers. My bombers will continue to attack as I imagine his fighters will require a rest for a day or two to replenish their savaged numbers, but they haven't exactly covered themselves with glory.
With the inclusion of the tank regiment and the HQ my troops will fight better and with higher odds but the forts are the real workhorses. How quick can the engineers do the work of raising them? More troops wind their way to the battle location but the heaviest hitters I have are already on site. If they do survive then another Chindit unit will add to the defense in 11 days.

I imagine the first attacks at Lucknow are on the horizon. He attacked with bombers and that is usually the precursor. I have the 2nd UK Division and two of the smaller Indian units in attendance. Forts are size 5 with 75% completion to level 6. He has 3 divisions and about 4 tank units here.

Down by Java there is now a massive air armada. But as others noticed, I am short of base units. I have one large 220 air support unit and it moved inland last turn. I am afraid I will have to move it back to Tjilitap in order to get some of the damaged planes flying and moved inland. The 51st air regiment is enroute but the gauntlet it needs to run is now substantial.

My carriers are about 3 days out of Perth - but all the running around is starting to show. The Saratoga is at 14 SYS damage.

The Big E continues to head South at float 52% and the Formidable is down to 17 float. PzB is moving his carriers to the SW though so he may be shutting the gate. If this is so then the damaged carriers will have to stay out on the brine. My BB group is making good speed to Perth and should slip passed his Carrier blocking force.

Off the coast of Tjilitap his BB force is in line to be able to hit my major port again. I have a 25 ship TF there built around the Tennessee, New Mexico and Mississippi. The last two are injured as are some fo the cruisers in the force. But it is under air support so if I damage ships then the local bombers should be able to make him pay.

[bbbf]

Strange occurance - the fulmars have expanded to a size 36 sqd - is this expected?


I've noticed that Naval squadrons strength can vary depending on where they are.

One of my Kate groups will only allow 5 planes on land, yet expands to 13-17 depending on which carrier I put it on.

[asdicus]

I am glad to see the land battle at Ahmadabad is not too one-sided - this is the crucial battle for you in india. I notice it is not an urban hex which is a pity for you.
I think you should take some risks with the reserves you are keeping back near karachi in case of a sea assault. If Ahmadabad falls then karachi is surely doomed anyway - as it is subject to sea bombardment and most of the defenders will be exhausted from previous battles. Move as many troops as you dare to ahmadabad and stop him there - even abandoning delhi if necessary. At the moment your ahmadabad garrison is just a bit too small - an extra full brigade or 2 will really make a difference I believe.
Your air attacks on troops are good but why not use a lower altitude except for b-17's ? Try 1000' or 2000' instead of 6000' - after all japanese divisions have minimal aaa potential. You may do a lot more damage although I haven't tested it. In uncommon valour attacks at 100' by medium bombers seemed devastating - perhaps the witp code was changed for this ?
For the b-17's have you divided them into squadrons for faster repair ? Also you might be able to transit more b-17's via java and columbo - you could certainly use them in india.
I think you might be gaining air superiority in india now - he has lost a lot of planes and pilots - keep up the air offensive. By the way july is upgrade time for dutch bombers if you have any - also check any odd raf units still flying old planes.
Finally you mentioned sending the usa carriers back to us west coast for repair - that is a long way and will take ages. I find sydney works fine for minor damage if you add a few repair ships - keeps you carriers in theatre where you need them.
I am impressed that you have dodged his carriers so far - keep up the good work. It is a pity night bombing on ports in still too effective - witness his tiny night raids on java sinking ships without chance of being shot down - very annoying for you.

[wobbly]

This war just wont cool down. Massive naval attack at Tjilitap. Bombardment of Karachi. Lucknow feels the heat and Ahamabad gets the heat turned up! Soerbaja is returned to the forces of light.

BBBF - that makes some sense. I am a little overloaded with planes in Java at the moment so this change is not that welcome - but being overloaded with resource is a good place. I am not going to moan too much [:)]

Asdicus - Pleased to have your comments again sir. I am inclined to agree with you r.e. Ahamabad and have taken then exact measures you have put forward under my own steam - pleased to see we are agreeing on a few things. I do fear for Ahamabad though - it really is down to his disruption. I want him to attack and be heavily spanked so that he has to rest. Each day of rest is a god send. As to flying bombers in - I haven't room for the ones I have unfortunately. I could introduce more B-17s but there are only two bases that can take them: Delhi, which is doomed and Karachi which is fraught with danger.
The Carriers I wanted to send back to the West coast were the ones that are now smashed. That plan is out the window. I have to keep them around Oz now in order to keep him Honest. Wasp is released in a few days and will make the transit to this theatre. With the larger F4F sqds this cut down TF will still pack some punch. While waiting for the Wasp I will do as you say and repair in Sydney. My ARs are currently in Noumea - they will be send to Sydney for the purpose.
yes the night bombers are a right royal pain - they always hit the most important targets.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/04/42

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Tjilitjap at 19,62

Japanese Ships
CL Isuzu, Shell hits 1
DD Makigumo
DD Kagero
DD Hatsukaze, Shell hits 1
DD Urakaze
DD Hamakaze
DD Nowaki
DD Arashi
DD Arare, Shell hits 22, and is sunk
DD Shiratsuyu
DD Shigure, Shell hits 1
DD Murasame, Shell hits 1
DD Yamakaze, Shell hits 1
DD Ikazuchi

Allied Ships
BB Tennessee, Shell hits 1
BB New Mexico
BB Mississippi, Shell hits 1
CA Indianapolis, Shell hits 1
CA Chester
CA Vincennes, Shell hits 1
CL Leander
CL Sumatra
CL St. Louis
DD Meredith
DD Gwin
DD Hammann
DD Mustin
DD Russell
DD Blue
DD Helm
DD Mahan
DD Drayton
DD Lamson
DD Porter
DD Monaghan
DD Allen
DD Litchfield
DD Inconstant
DD Lawrence

My night fighting prowess is not that good. This was an enemy torp attack TF that fortunately did not live up to its capabilities.
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Tjilitjap at 19,62

Japanese Ships
BB Yamato
CA Chokai, Shell hits 1
CA Myoko, Shell hits 2
CL Sendai, Shell hits 9, on fire
CL Naka, Shell hits 3
CL Nagara, Shell hits 1
DD Akigumo
DD Kazegumo
DD Kuroshio
DD Hayashio, Shell hits 1
DD Maikaze, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Shiranuhi, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
BB Tennessee, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
BB New Mexico, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1
BB Mississippi, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 1
CA Indianapolis, Shell hits 4
CA Chester, Shell hits 4
CA Vincennes, Shell hits 2
CL Leander, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CL Sumatra
CL St. Louis
DD Meredith, Shell hits 1
DD Gwin, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Hammann, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Mustin
DD Russell, Shell hits 1
DD Blue
DD Helm, Shell hits 2
DD Mahan
DD Drayton
DD Lamson
DD Porter
DD Monaghan
DD Allen
DD Litchfield
DD Inconstant
DD Lawrence

Then the big boys arrive. Both sides BBs appear to be witnesses rather than contenders. Yamato doesn't even fire and the Allied BBs only hit with secondary guns. This time the fearful long lances do come out to play and my last undamaged BB - Tennessee - wears one. Leander, my last Kiwi ship, is the worst for wear. She is at 72 Sys and 60 flood. I am taking another gamble this turn: The surface unit is disbanded as I think I wont see his surface attack force back. I do build two ASW TFs as there are two subs in the harbour hex. I think he will put his LBA on naval attack again so the ASW unit can act as bait while they fly through my fighters.
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Tjilitjap at 19,62

Japanese Ships
BB Yamato, on fire
CA Chokai
CA Myoko, Shell hits 2
CL Sendai, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CL Naka
CL Nagara
DD Akigumo
DD Kazegumo
DD Kuroshio
DD Hayashio
DD Maikaze, on fire
DD Shiranuhi

Allied Ships
DD Cushing
DD Phelps, Shell hits 2
DD Farragut, Shell hits 34, and is sunk
PC Reliance

The Yamato et al continue on to find an ASW TF and do get the Farragut. Sendai is not looking too happy though.
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Naval bombardment of Karachi, at 21,3 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!


Allied aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish: 5 destroyed, 2 damaged
Beaufort I: 5 destroyed, 4 damaged
Catalina I: 2 destroyed

48 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
CA Mikuma, Shell hits 1
BB Fuso
BB Nagato
BB Kirishima, Shell hits 1
BB Haruna
BB Kongo

Allied Ships
PG Cyclamen, Shell hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
TK Empire Viscount, Shell hits 6, on fire
AK Empire Tugela, Shell hits 5, on fire, heavy damage


Allied ground losses:
699 casualties reported
Guns lost 6

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 8
Port hits 14
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 2

Back in Karachi the much waited for bombardment happens. Many casualties are caused but they are base unit men and therefore not as essential as the fighting troops (pretty callous huh!) Cyclamen sinks.
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ASW attack at 20,3

Japanese Ships
SS I-153, hits 10, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Panther
DD Paladin
DD Napier
DD Isis

In contrast the allied shipping out in the bay - attempting to get away from the BBs - finds and sinks another sub.
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Coastal Guns at Waingapu, 27,74, firing at TF 95
TF 95 troops unloading over beach at Waingapu, 27,74


60 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
DD Nokaze
DD Sawakaze
DD Asagumo
CL Abukuma
CA Mogami

Japanese ground losses:
1090 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

The invasion of Wingapu has started - with massive loss to the landing Japs. I evacuate the patrol ACs I had there - no supplies remain.
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ASW attack at 20,4

Japanese Ships
SS RO-68, hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
MSW Bendigo
MSW Burnie
MSW Romney
MSW Cairns

Another sunken sub. This little bugger sunk two of my patrol craft before being put out of my misery.
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Day Air attack on Lae , at 54,87


Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 9
B-26B Marauder x 34


Allied aircraft losses
B-26B Marauder: 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
ML Wakatake, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
28 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Port hits 1
Port supply hits 2

Back in New Guinea I have a crack at Lae again. A previously damaged ML in port takes a bomb hit.

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Day Air attack on TF, near Karachi at 21,3


Allied aircraft
Swordfish x 15
Wirraway x 4
Beaufort I x 6


Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish: 11 destroyed, 4 damaged
Beaufort I: 5 destroyed, 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Kirishima, Torpedo hits 1
BB Nagato
BB Haruna
BB Fuso

Despite the damage to Karachi anti-naval flights take off and attack through withering AAA. One torp strikes home and I'll take that.
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Day Air attack on TF at 17,59


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 6
SBD Dauntless x 23
Kittyhawk I x 6
P-40B Tomahawk x 2
P-40E Warhawk x 3


Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Yamato, Bomb hits 6, on fire
DD Maikaze, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage

Back around Java the ACs take off to interccept the fleeing Jap surface forces. The Yamato wears more 1000 lbers but no doubt shrugs them off. Hopefully the fires cause a little damage. The Maikaze however may be in real trouble - those are also 1000 lb hits.
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Ground combat at Lucknow

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 84438 troops, 657 guns, 794 vehicles

Defending force 30560 troops, 236 guns, 3 vehicles

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 4

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 4)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 4


Japanese ground losses:
620 casualties reported
Guns lost 11
Vehicles lost 2

Allied ground losses:
1481 casualties reported
Guns lost 47
Vehicles lost 1

The first attack at Lucknow and the forts aren't good enough to hold the Japs. I order a retreat. Better that than be forced.
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Ground combat at Ahmadabad

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 123581 troops, 1053 guns, 11 vehicles

Defending force 71854 troops, 518 guns, 838 vehicles

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 4

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 4)


Japanese ground losses:
2330 casualties reported
Guns lost 46
Vehicles lost 6

Allied ground losses:
1799 casualties reported
Guns lost 63
Vehicles lost 7

Damn. He reduces the forts again. Two Jap attacks at 0-1. I would think he is struggling to keep his troops from disruption. I really need him to take a break as the forts are only increased to level 4 + 40%. He will knock down another level if he attacks again and then the numbers will really start to show.
Strangely after the massive air attacks of the day before nothing flies today?
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Ground combat at 45,30

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 123683 troops, 939 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 11671 troops, 96 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 39 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
876 casualties reported
Guns lost 15

Allied ground losses:
286 casualties reported
Guns lost 8


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

The Chinese in between Sian and Chungking force the Japs there to retire towards Sian. At last the Japs are taking more damage than I am. I don't want to stray too far from Chungking as that is likely to be the thorn in PzBs side. I want the whole Chinese army to be defending.
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Ground combat at Soerabaja

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 21079 troops, 184 guns, 58 vehicles

Defending force 7708 troops, 122 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Soerabaja base !!!


Japanese ground losses:
286 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Allied ground losses:
758 casualties reported
Guns lost 28
Vehicles lost 8


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

The 2nd marines take heavy losses ejecting the Japs from Soerbaja but the job is done. Now down to Malang to finish the conquest of Southern Java. Soerbaja itself is a wreck. More than half the resources centres are smashed. This is a pain as ongoing supply relied on native production while the enemy Carriers were off the coast.
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Ground combat at 20,61

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 8318 troops, 126 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 5953 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 8 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
5 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
44 casualties reported
Guns lost 9

On the coastal road, heading N to Batavia a Jap air regiment is parked. Despite getting 8 - 1 odds I can't make them retreat. In fact I take a bit of a slapping.
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Ahamabad is a real problem. I am contemplating what to do with the likelihood that I will be forced out. There will only then be Malir and Karachi. We can see that Karachi is not a nice place to be. Another problem I have is the number of ACs I actually have. Attacks from Ahamabad itself were coming in pieces because it is size 4 and I had over 200 ACs there. This will only get worse as the bases are relinquished.

With retreat ordered at Lucknow I also have to get ready for the loss of Delhi. I just don't have enough units to halt him. PzB tells me he has the same number of troops as are at Ahamabad now. That is too many for my meagre band. I am also having very large problems with morale. It just wont go up! I know I would be unhappy with constant war - unfortunatley there is nowhere for me to retreat them too other than Malir and I can't really do that while I am under the hammer like I am.
I have bitten the bullet and ordered the Chindits and UK regiment south to Ahamabad. 3 more bitsa units are moving form Delhi and the BFF unit is with them. I don't know what difference they will make without forts though - he does have a power of engineers there.

In Java I have moved the large air base unit back to Tjilitap. The ACs aren't repairing fast enough. The Japs will be and I need those fighters to defend the field. I only have about 60 operational at the moment and that will change as soon as he starts fighter sweeps.

Most bombers are still set to anti-naval. I expect he will be LRCAPing his ships this turn though. I also expect he will head to Batavia and FT most of the troops there out. Nothing I can about this really.

The Big E now has flooding of 54 - this is bad. I want it coming down not creeping up. She is still a very long way from Perth. the weather is better though and it is this that is causing the added damage I think.

[frank1970]

"More than half the resources centres are smashed. This is a pain as ongoing supply relied on native production while the enemy Carriers were off the coast. "

No Wobbly, this is great! You´ll have to leave sooner or later and then the resource centres will be damaged further which will make PzB howl in pain. He really needs all resources he can lay his hands on.

Have you found his carriers yet? Be aware he might want to cut your retreat route towards Oz´s northern coast. Better move your cripples towards Perth and put some subs in position to catch his carrier TFs there.

Hang on.

[String]

ORIGINAL: Frank

"More than half the resources centres are smashed. This is a pain as ongoing supply relied on native production while the enemy Carriers were off the coast. "

No Wobbly, this is great! You´ll have to leave sooner or later and then the resource centres will be damaged further which will make PzB howl in pain. He really needs all resources he can lay his hands on.

Have you found his carriers yet? Be aware he might want to cut your retreat route towards Oz´s northern coast. Better move your cripples towards Perth and put some subs in position to catch his carrier TFs there.

Hang on.

No.. it will take a month or two to clear off india.. and before that there will be no counter invasion of java. And by then '43 will be approaching fast.

Unless Wobblys sea power is utterly decimated then wobbly is there to stay

[frank1970]

The question is what he wants to do there.
If he tries to hold out and build up he will loose his troops there.
I´d say he should use the bases to raid neighboring resource areas plus shipping and then get out of Java as fast as his ships carry him.
India is not yet lost and played right Wobbly should be able to reduce PzB´s fuel and supply transports into India, which will reduce Japanese efficency and give him a chance to hold.
Wobbly doesn´t need the resources there so much as PzB needs them later on.

[tsimmonds]

As IJ the thing that would worry me more than anything else would be the possibility that Wob would bring in heavy LBA and do strategic attacks vs the oil centers.

[String]

ORIGINAL: Frank

The question is what he wants to do there.
If he tries to hold out and build up he will loose his troops there.
I´d say he should use the bases to raid neighboring resource areas plus shipping and then get out of Java as fast as his ships carry him.
India is not yet lost and played right Wobbly should be able to reduce PzB´s fuel and supply transports into India, which will reduce Japanese efficency and give him a chance to hold.
Wobbly doesn´t need the resources there so much as PzB needs them later on.

To exactly what will he lose his troops when india won't fall? Basically all of PZB's reserves are there.. as far as I can see he might be able to pull a division or two and various smaller snlf battallions from here or there but nothing that could outnumber wobblys forces there (4 divisions iirc) and you basically need 2:1 advantage atleast to get wobbly out of there. It's july now and wobbly is only getting stronger

[Hornblower]

ORIGINAL: irrelevant

As IJ the thing that would worry me more than anything else would be the possibility that Wob would bring in heavy LBA and do strategic attacks vs the oil centers.

I agree 100%. And his b-25's and a-20's should put a crimp in PZB's shipping lanes

[wobbly]

A bad day for my DD forces. More pain in Ahamabad. Lucknow is about to be abandoned. His carriers start moving west. Waingapu falls but the survivors have a retreat hex.

thanks for the comments as always - but I am struggling - I cannot hold India. That releases all those Divisions. Rant at end of post.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/05/42

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Night Air attack on Ahmadabad , at 24,8

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21 Sally x 37

Allied aircraft
Blenheim IF x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 4 destroyed, 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IF: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged


Allied ground losses:
10 casualties reported

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 1

Night attacks at Ahmadabad are defended. As always night fighters are more likely to suffer damage rather than desuade attackers.
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Tjilitjap at 19,62

Japanese Ships
CA Suzuya
CA Furutaka
CL Kiso, Shell hits 1
CL Oi, Shell hits 1
DD Tokitsukaze
DD Hatsuyuki
DD Shikinami
DD Hokaze, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Namikaze
DD Tomozuru

Allied Ships
DD Mustin
DD Cushing
DD Allen
DD Inconstant, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
MSW Grebe, Shell hits 3, on fire
MSW Bobolink

Damn - I didn't expect him to come back with his surface forces. They race in and find my two ASW units smashing them. It isn't all one way traffic but I do loose more DDs than he does.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Tjilitjap at 19,62

Japanese Ships
CA Suzuya, Shell hits 4
CA Furutaka, Shell hits 2
CL Kiso, Shell hits 2
CL Oi, Shell hits 6
DD Tokitsukaze
DD Hatsuyuki, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
DD Shikinami, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
DD Hokaze, Shell hits 15, on fire, heavy damage
DD Namikaze, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Tomozuru, Shell hits 6, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Lamson, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Phelps, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Clark, Shell hits 10, on fire, heavy damage
DD Monaghan, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Lawrence, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DMS Hovey, Shell hits 14, and is sunk

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Lae , at 54,87


Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 9
B-26B Marauder x 33


Allied aircraft losses
B-26B Marauder: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
ML Wakatake, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
11 casualties reported

Port supply hits 1

The attack here at last persuades the Wakatake to sink.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 5th Division, at 24,8


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 6
Hurricane II x 11
Spitfire Vb x 10
Kittyhawk I x 7
Hudson I x 3
Beaufort I x 9
Beaufort V-IX x 19


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
18 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Well flight operations start again but there effectiveness is still very poor. I am going to take the advice of those on the boards and lower the altitude.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 30th Chinese/B Corps, at 46,33

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 24
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 12

No Japanese losses

This is very ineffective but I think he is just training the pilots.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 18,61


Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 14


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Hokaze, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
DD Hatsuyuki, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Tomozuru, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage

Well he is well ahead of the eightball during the surface battle - but the dauntlesses repay a bit of the hurt when the sun comes up.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Batavia at 19,59

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4
A6M3 Zero x 4

Allied aircraft
Beaufort V-IX x 26
P-40E Warhawk x 6
A-20B Boston x 3
B-25C Mitchell x 11

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort V-IX: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged
A-20B Boston: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Yamato, Bomb hits 4, on fire
CL Nagara
CA Myoko, Bomb hits 1

yamato the bomb magnet continues to confound my ability to hit more deserving targets
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Tjilitjap at 19,62

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 51
G3M Nell x 3
G4M1 Betty x 12

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 13
Kittyhawk I x 11
P-40B Tomahawk x 7
P-40E Warhawk x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 37 destroyed
G3M Nell: 2 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 12 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 16 destroyed, 1 damaged
Kittyhawk I: 8 destroyed, 1 damaged
P-40B Tomahawk: 12 destroyed, 1 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed

Allied Ships
AK West Shipper
AP Henderson, Torpedo hits 1
AP President Garfield

Then all hell breaks loose. Despite the pain I felt about loosing the DDs that were lost, I was right in thinking he would unleash the naval air arm upon me again this turn. If the Bbs had been out then they would be spanked.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Tjilitjap at 19,62

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8
A6M3 Zero x 14
B5N Kate x 25
G4M1 Betty x 3

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 7
Kittyhawk I x 7
P-40B Tomahawk x 2
P-40E Warhawk x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed
A6M3 Zero: 2 destroyed
B5N Kate: 4 destroyed, 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 10 destroyed, 1 damaged
Kittyhawk I: 5 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
MSW Grebe
DD Cushing
MSW Bobolink, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Mustin, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Allen, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

The second ASW TF is found and spanked.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 14,78

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 5
A6M2 Zero x 82
A6M3 Zero x 14
B5N Kate x 9

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Bridge, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Suddenly the Carrier TF moves rapidly West and find the gate-keeper Aks I hadin position.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 15,75

Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 22
B5N Kate x 24

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Argus, Bomb hits 9, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Both are sunk.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 12,59

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Empire Southey, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

3 betties also decide to attack a remnant from teh Karachi breakout - she is scuttled
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Tjilitjap at 19,62

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 46
G3M Nell x 10
G4M1 Betty x 50

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 5
Kittyhawk I x 3
P-40E Warhawk x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 7 destroyed
Kittyhawk I: 2 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 6 destroyed

Allied Ships
AP Tasker H. Bliss
AK Peter Kerr, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
AP Largs Bay, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AP President Garfield
AP President Fillmore
AP Henry T. Allen, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AP Harris
AP Henderson, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Holy crap - 50 zeros!! I want to dominate him somewhere. Anywhere, please! Just a combat area where he doesn't outnumber me 5 to 1.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Tjilitjap at 19,62

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 35
G4M1 Betty x 4

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 1
Kittyhawk I x 1
P-40E Warhawk x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk I: 4 destroyed

Allied Ships
AP Henderson, on fire, heavy damage

So there are now no fighters functional to rise and defend the shipping.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Ahmadabad

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 139007 troops, 1033 guns, 2 vehicles

Defending force 73501 troops, 465 guns, 836 vehicles

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 3

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 3)


Japanese ground losses:
1253 casualties reported
Guns lost 52
Vehicles lost 1

Allied ground losses:
1642 casualties reported
Guns lost 39
Vehicles lost 4

Ahmadabad is looking tenuous. Like a crowing cockeral, PzB is gloating about his ability to go through the defenses in Northern India. I am being reminded about how much better it would have been for me if I had bought a couple of Oz divisions - oh and the US carriers. NO problem I'll just wave the magic invisibility wand and the KB is neutralized!
The forts are falling faster than aunt Maud the go-go dancer's draws and there is nothing I can do about it. I am now loosing more troops and guns than he is in a 0-1 attack. The uber Japanese juggernaut keeps on rolling. It's a good thing we have a pro-japanese bias to all facets of the early game, it would be awful to think it only lasted 3 years as opposed to 5!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Lucknow

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 83691 troops, 636 guns, 790 vehicles

Defending force 27831 troops, 195 guns, 2 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 4)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 3


Japanese ground losses:
602 casualties reported
Guns lost 19
Vehicles lost 4

Allied ground losses:
1878 casualties reported
Guns lost 45
Vehicles lost 1

Lucknow will fall tomorrow as all the troops move out.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Waingapu

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 4246 troops, 19 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 1399 troops, 5 guns, 3 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 6 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Waingapu base !!!



Allied aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft losses
CW-21B Demon: 4 destroyed
Empire: 2 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 3 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
24 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
8 casualties reported

The planes stuck at Waingapu could not escape due to lack of suppleis to get them in the air. The troops themselves are able to retreat to the beach hex to the north of the island where I will endevour to pick them up with subs.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Ahmadabad

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 40088 troops, 353 guns, 663 vehicles

Defending force 145612 troops, 984 guns, 1 vehicles

Oh yeah - my troops are great - just great.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 20,61

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 8216 troops, 113 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 5943 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 7 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
9 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
86 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Gawd they are crap! this is two regiments of a US Division attacking a Jap Engineering Air regiment! I am getting 7 to 1 odds why the hell wont they retreat. Must everything be slanted in the Japs favour!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Do Jap air regiments have uber mega defenders too?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Now please put up with me while I go on a rant.

I understand that this is a game that is supposed to simulate the duration of a world war (well at least the pacific part). I also understand that doing so will cause difficulties between those that require a grognard aspect and those that want to play a game. Even more I understand that there is an element of ‘just wait and it will be the Jap’s turn”.

Knowing all this, and actually being someone who previously liked the idea of being grognardy about what I come up against, and wanting to suffer some element of inability to step up to the bar against the early jap war machine, I took it on with the philosophy of ‘wait and see’.

But now I am just plain fed up. It takes too long. For a game, you are just down too long. It takes 1600 or so turns, but I have only played 220 of those. We have done more than 1 turn a day at times but it has still been a lot of dedication to a game – and to this AAR. During 96 or so percent of these days I have had the crap kicked out of me. It is a chore not a pleasure.

I don’t care that in 140 turns or so things will be different – PzB is ecstatic with the game because he thinks it will be a cracker in late 43 when the US Navy starts to roll: that’s 500 bloody turns away! Twice as much as we have done!

I have had a long look at myself and I just don’t think I have the masochistic penchant required to be down that long.

So I look at the way the game beefs up the Japs and despair.

The reason behind this is to give them the ability to take the DEI and get out to a historical Prosperity sphere that can mirror the way history evolved. But to do that the Japs get handed soooo many early game bonuses. The problem with this is the early game can last as long as a year!!!!

Japs have tactical and Strategic flexibility only dreamed of by their historical counterparts. When would the Jap high command have contemplated taking 13 or so divisions out to the tenuous supply location of India? I mean they built the Burma railway because the couldn’t trust the shipping to Rangoon! Others have shown that if they choose they can take out Russia – they had a crack at that in real life and had their arse handed to them.

It is not that I think this sort of flexibility should be taken away, but in the instance of Russia and India, the map stops! I can’t keep retreating. All the shipping in Karachi has nowhere to go! So the Japs are handed this flexibility while the allies have to get lucky with where they defend. Don’t even think about defending Burma – he’ll just go around you.

As the allies you get the benefit of extra divisions appearing if the jap lands in the US. Why, with 700 million people, would the Indians not have the same sort of response? Well because that would be too hard on the Japs.

There in lies the problem – this is really a game about the Japs vs the US. But players aren’t singing from that song sheet – and why should they?

The way to play the allies in the early years is to give ground wherever you are pushed. What if that means Russia, India or Australia? I still think the US is a hard ask against a human but the bonuses are all there to maybe make it possible.

Any Jap player worth their salt, and I very much count PzB amongst them, will strike while they are in the ascendant. They will also do it with the best possible chance at getting themselves a victory. The crux of my chagrin is that, as an allies player, the dice are so loaded against you that you can’t stop them. And you can’t stop them for a years worth of play. You will have to be a better man than me to put up with that!

[Fornadan]

There are too few bases in India IMO. I think advancing any further west than the Calcutta area is a bit too gamey

[Thayne]

I would very much like to comment on the above rant, but . . . as the author of my own AAR . . . I think these discussions are best posted elsewhere.

I would like to say, Wobbly, that I have been absolutely amazed at your ability to take punishment such as this and continue on. I can aspire to the level of sportsmanship that you have displayed so far, but I doubt if I could ever obtain it.

[ADavidB]

The way to play the allies in the early years is to give ground wherever you are pushed. What if that means Russia, India or Australia? I still think the US is a hard ask against a human but the bonuses are all there to maybe make it possible.

Any Jap player worth their salt, and I very much count PzB amongst them, will strike while they are in the ascendant. They will also do it with the best possible chance at getting themselves a victory. The crux of my chagrin is that, as an allies player, the dice are so loaded against you that you can’t stop them. And you can’t stop them for a years worth of play. You will have to be a better man than me to put up with that!

Wobbly - I think that part of the problem is with the way that Allied players are playing the game - they are trying to play it historically and the game really isn't designed to be played historically. The Japanese players learn that fast. Certainly in the games where I have been playing the Japanese I've learned to avoid historical precidents and it has paid off very nicely.

What you did in the DEI was a very good strategy from a historical p.o.v - you are right, in history that would have been a horrendous threat to the Japanese supply line and the ability of the Japanese to maintain an offensive in India. But in the game it quickly became an opportunity for the Japanese player to get lots of cheap shots at your forces that had only started to recover.

That's why way-back-when I suggested to you that you invade northern Japan instead of the DEI. You were too committed at the time to try that, and I suspect that it seemed too "ahistoric" to you. But in the context of the game such a stroke allows the Allied player to focus strength in one region that is relatively close to the US bases. (Certainly close compared to the DEI.)

I don't believe that an Allied player can do well in the campaign scenarios if he tries to do things historically. However, the more that the Japanese player plays ahistorically, the more the opportunities arise for the Allied player to counter the moves by his own off-the-wall moves.

Should the game be this way? Fundamentally, I don't think so. I've always felt that the game should be designed to reflect the differences in the "generalmanship" of the two players. But it's too late to influence things - GG has abandoned the game and probably rightfully so - this is, after all, the third kick-at-the-cat for him and they've all ended up similarly.

Right now I'm not certain that I will agree to another December 7, 1941 game start as the Allies once version 1.50 comes out. I'm bored with running away for six game months and it makes more sense to me to start in May 1942. And I find the Japanese supply system too cumbersome to bother with, so I will continue to take the Japanese side in shorter scenarios.

Dave Baranyi

[Grotius]

Wobbly, if it's really feeling like a chore, maybe take a break for a while? Or, better yet, give yourself an antidote -- find someone who actually wants to play Japan in the 1944 or 1945 campaign.

I think Wobbly's got a point about the map edge. I've long thought that extra British or Indian troops should appear in India if it were threatened in this way. There is such a rule for the USA (and Indochina?); why not India? This was the jewel in the British Crown.

Still, the game can be played quasi-historically, if the players agree to house rules at the outset. Thayne's PBEM seems to be following that model. Raverdave's Allies seems to be giving Luskan's Japanese a tough time, and again the map seems roughly historical.

[Zeta16]

ORIGINAL: Grotius

Wobbly, if it's really feeling like a chore, maybe take a break for a while? Or, better yet, give yourself an antidote -- find someone who actually wants to play Japan in the 1944 or 1945 campaign.

I think Wobbly's got a point about the map edge. I've long thought that extra British or Indian troops should appear in India if it were threatened in this way. There is such a rule for the USA (and Indochina?); why not India? This was the jewel in the British Crown.

Still, the game can be played quasi-historically, if the players agree to house rules at the outset. Thayne's PBEM seems to be following that model. Raverdave's Allies seems to be giving Luskan's Japanese a tough time, and again the map seems roughly historical.

Not every Japanese player plays like that look at my AAR with Freeboy, I stop in Burma and only took northern China. I went for PM and such. I have a big lead in points becasue I shot down a lot of planes that were not escorted and sunk a bunch of ships while getting lucky mine where not sunk. However he is moving real well at the moment in 12/43, am I mad no becasue the little victory's make me real happy. Yes Japan in the game can be better than in real life and give the allied player a game in 43, but the Allies can move places better than in real life. It kinda evens out, don't worry have fun. he is losing his airforce to fast at the moment. I don't think he understands that. What good are his carriers if his pilots suck and you can not hold bases or protect them with out a good airforce. I think you are in a lot better shape than you think.

[wobbly]

Huh guys. I had a big feed of Indian last night - maybe getting the hoo haa kicked out of the creators of that cuisine was enough, but this morning I got out of bed decidedly on the wrong side!

I don't take back anything I said in my rant - I think all those things are true - but they had hardly changed from the turn before. Hell, I was in the crap well before I spouted this list of "feel sorry for me's".

In retrospect the hardest thing about this game is that the size of the team doing the beta testing could never have been large enough to cover, in any depth, the possibilities that a game of this depth could dredge up. But it is the dedication of time that you put in that means every mistake that is made seems to hurt more.

I know that I had trouble justifying a restart in UV when the game lost its marbles. In this it is even worse.

So when things like 'troops marching into the jungle as if on a rail line and then realise they are in mud and take 30 times as long to get back onto the rails' strike, you grit your teeth and live with it. But when something as fundamental as having it possible to take out the Russians or the Indians strike - man it is difficult to keep your chin up. Things like this have taken us the better part of 6 months to find - no way, with new versions coming out all the time- that these things would be found in Beta.

But it is this incredible effort that you put in playing a mammoth game like this that you have trouble trying to justify when these things get in the way.

[Andy Mac]

Wobbly you have done a wonderfull job as a direct result of this AAR I managed to hold my opponents invasion on the beaches when my PBEM opponent tried this tactic on me.

The fact is (and its a pity you had to be the guinea pig to prove the theory) that if the Japanese get ashore in force anywhere other than Chandpur - Diamond Harbour. i.e. especially Madras then I dont think the allies have a choice but to withdraw to the Ahmabad - Delhi line every where else can be flanked.

I also in all of my PBEM's over committed to Burma but when I saw the way this one was going I withdrew troops to India (which saved my ass on the beaches).

Having said all that I dont think this one is over.

If you can hold at Ahmabad PZB is actually in a bit of trouble he has his entire available army stuck on the end of a nasty logistics train.

His pilots are getting drained and his formations are stuck in India.

Java is going to be very difficult for hime to retake.

I would be considering an early 1943 invasion of Singapore/ Malaya after you have Java assuming he tries to respond use a few RCT's to harrass him in Cent Pac using Tarawa to really annoy him but dont overcommit to either.

I would be building forces in Australia perhaps a Marine Division and a few Australian and NZ Divisions / Brigades plus a couple of US Army Div's. i.e. dont get caught up in a SW Pac campaign as anything but a distraction.

Assemble 2,500 Assault Points of Infantry/ Marines and Armour and go straight for the jugular as soon as you get Corsairs he has to have stripped malaya to hit India and if he tries to counter invade Java yet more land forces are committed.

He doenst have an inexhausable pool of big land units exploit it !!!.

Good Luck

Andy

[AmiralLaurent]

Woobly, take a break some days and think twice to it.

I know your feeling. Getting his ass handed to you day after day is something hard to suffer. But you have to see it in game terms. You are probably still scoring more than 1 point for each 4 points scored by your opponent.

Your landing in Java was a brillant idea and was less costly than what I thought initially. The losses suffered by Japanese airmen show that they have no more experienced pilots. Most of the losses were over your base, that means that your pilots may bail out while Japanese ones are lost most of the times.

Every ship or plane or pilot you lose will be replaced. This is not the case for Japan.

[Hornblower]

I’d have to agree with the Wob-one on the point of extra Indian troops appearing if a certain point in India is treated. Albeit low moral low experienced troops, but something should show-up. Which truth be told should happen if Japan is invaded- granted they would be armed with flintlocks and pikes, but I am sure that is something for a future thread.

And as mentioned PZB came up with a new way of looking at Japans strategic goals and objectives, took a chance, and then made it work. Hindsight being 20/20 all allied players have learned from Wobbly’s status as guinea pig. If its any solos I don’t think many of any of us out here could have done anything beyond what you have. And I know it doesn’t help, but many turns from now the rolls will be reversed and PZB will be complaining the DEI is wide open, his shipping lanes are shut down, and he has no way to transfer his troops from India to defend against the allied attach in the south and central pacific.

Good luck Wob! I’d like to see you pull it out.