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Strat bombing in OZ is SOP

I've never had trouble taking Alice Springs. Both sides suffer from supply, but the defenders in AS have it worse as the IJ controls the air and the supply bombing will negate any supply effort.

Flipping it around, the crucial requirement for me to defend OZ is fighter groups. If I can either take control of the air OR force the IJ to move so many of its fighters to OZ to create an opening elsewhere. When the triggers come in, with a couple of ID's from the US, I've been able to hold OZ ... as noted, hard for IJ (long transit times) to support OZ adventure ...

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: Encircled

I've successfully defended Oz in my last game.

Very hard to defend coastal hexes from heavy bombardment and round the clock bombing

Sydney and Melbourne need to be forts six as fast as possible, and the inland airbases near Sydney need to be built up (Port Augusta as well)

Hard to hold the Brisbane line btw if he really pushes for it, but once he's past that I think emergency reinforcements kick in.

But while we were fighting in Oz, I managed to land (but ultimately fail) in Parashimo-java and Northern Sumatra, and the casualties I took in troops and ships was high, but he had to divert enough troops to make sure Oz failed.

If he's still struggling in June, then he's not going to get it

Did he do strategic bombing?

Where you able to keep Alice Springs?

Bits and bats but not a lot, it was a very bloody air war and I assume he couldn't spare the aircraft (and he was a long way of auto victory)

Yeah, he was stopped at Port Augusta in the west, and about half way to Sydney in the east. Successful defence of an amphibious landing at Newcastle was the key.

I think he realised that I was on the verge of counter attacking, and his withdrawal was pretty skilful as he managed to withdraw pretty effectively.

Australian Infantry:

How do I interpret this?

Is it the mounted rifles upgrading to CMF Inf 41 which then upgrades AMF Inf 42? Will the two line items combine once upgraded?

ORIGINAL: Lowpe
Australian Infantry:

I assume you know the trick with back-to-back upgrading Aus Inf squads to a 42 variety through dividing the divisions into ABC. You gonna need it

ORIGINAL: Lowpe
How do I interpret this?

Is it the mounted rifles upgrading to CMF Inf 41 which then upgrades AMF Inf 42? Will the two line items combine once upgraded?

They should. Also, start your upgrading to 42 infantry squads with smaller units as soon as there is enough squads accumulated in the pool.

Until they get 25 pounders, Matildas etc, the Aussie units still really struggle as their experience is so low

(not as bad as Indian Units, but still not great!)

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

Strat bombing in OZ is SOP

I've never had trouble taking Alice Springs. Both sides suffer from supply, but the defenders in AS have it worse as the IJ controls the air and the supply bombing will negate any supply effort.

Flipping it around, the crucial requirement for me to defend OZ is fighter groups. If I can either take control of the air OR force the IJ to move so many of its fighters to OZ to create an opening elsewhere. When the triggers come in, with a couple of ID's from the US, I've been able to hold OZ ... as noted, hard for IJ (long transit times) to support OZ adventure ...

Ok, I feel that I am off to an okay start in that respect.

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

I can never find the emergency reinforcement rules in the manual...they are hidden to me[;)] -- but I recall a line somewhere in the south of Australia. I also don't know where the troops activate at -- probably off map.

Aussie Line of Death is the hex row one south of Brisbane.

EDIT: Oops - that answer has already been made.

Don't forget to mine the hell out of Aussie ports - it's a long way for Japanese minesweepers to travel and everything he has to bring costs fuel (which he is not going to gain in OZ).
The closest I saw for an IJ player taking Oz was IIRC against Canoerebel who built his defences along the area between Melbourne and Sydney. The IJA took everything else and occasionally got a unit or two on the communication lines between the two cities, but Aussie armour quickly cleared them off. By the time this situation developed it was late 1942 and the USN was able to hit the Japanese shipping everywhere from the Solomons on down, making the Japanese situation impossible. They began withdrawing but lost a lot in the process.

Getting rid of Japanese subs around Bass Strait and the Tasman Sea is also important to bring in supply and reinforcements. New Zealand was built up as the USN advance operating base.

Thanks everyone...a few notes:

Have been building up New Zealand already...will redouble my efforts there and relocate some service ships there from Espiritu Santo to be on the safe side. I can see a push on those islands to help cut off Australia.

I think I am going to put a maximum effort into saving Perth for now...I think that will be Japan's weakest assault and easiest stymied. I don't really cotton to fighting under the KB umbrella. Also it might be the easiest method for resupplying Australia although I wouldn't go further south than Perth of course.

Speaking of supplying Oz...I am debating two methods. One large lightly protected convoys, or two daily sequential unprotected small convoys. I am leaning towards the small task force method with protection provided by ASW groups moving along the line.

As somebody who has lost western Australia twice, the key will be Kalgoorlie. Nathan landed at Geraldton and sent Tank Rgt cross country to block the RR from Perth and then took it with tanks and para drop. What did manage to escape was bombed to near death by Sally and Lily trying to get to safety.

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

As somebody who has lost western Australia twice, the key will be Kalgoorlie. Nathan landed at Geraldton and sent Tank Rgt cross country to block the RR from Perth and then took it with tanks and para drop. What did manage to escape was bombed to near death by Sally and Lily trying to get to safety.

I was thinking particularly of one of your games...when I decided to defend Perth.[:)] Hopefully I can gain control of the sea here in the short term...Didn't realize that game was against Nathan.[:(]

Depends what he comes with

But you are going to struggle to defend the landing sites (busselton, Albany especially)

Cunderdin build up, defend Kalgoolie

But if he brings a lot, then a withdrawal to Port Augusta is the best bet.

He can't hold Western Oz at all once you get to mid/late 42 in any strength, especially if he continues to lose naval units at the rate he's going.

In my current game, I've had issues supply Oz with fuel and supply, mainly due to raiders blocking the CT-Perth route and DDs + AVs in teams of two or three hiding in the areas not covered by naval search.

If you are not using DDs for convoy protection (I think that is what you said?) then they are very vulnerable to something like that.

Dec 30, 1941

More Japanese troopers on the way. Will he land at Perth directly or further to the south.

A lone DMS....good ships to sink![:)]

Tromp and destroyers bombard Geraldton, finding Nells there and do a good job...

while Banckert's luck runs out against the troop convoy.

Townsville, Cairns invaded...

In China, the Ankang road holds for now...but Japan will bring up some very heavy artillery shortly.

Port Moresby holds...

Dutch will hold here for a long time...

Japan is coming with a lot...I have the 1st Div at Perth, the 3rd Div at Kalgoorlie, the 4th Division on the way -- but it looks to be a very tough battle -- if I decide to fight.

Two IJA Regiments take Pegu after a healthy fast battleship bombardment...