Illinois Yankee in the Showa Emperor's Court (Q-Ball v Canoe)

[Q-Ball]

Chickenboy: We'll be fine, I have a two-car garage (Size 6 car port)

Combat Report, Jan 17-18, 1942:

Malaya: We start marching accross the Straits tonight; should be a couple days before we reach the other side. Between the Allied losses on the peninsula, and the evacuations through Medan and Sumatra, I don't expect much oppossition.

Evacs: There is much evidence that Dan is lifting lots of fragments out from the SRA. I know he pulled a bunch of base forces from the PI; I ran into them at Sorong. There are lots of little units on Sumatra; I dropped paras at Langssa, but the fragments are running around them. I sank an AP off Sabang awhile ago and haven't seen a ship since, but I think he is moving them through Port Blair. There are also a pile of Allies OPS losses in PBYs and Do24Ks and other transport types.

Port Hedland and Portland Roads: Occupied

Java: We should take Tjitilap tommorow. The KNIL seems to be content to dig in at Batavia and Soerbaya.

Darwin: We bombed the port again, sinking DD VAMPIRE, which had fled there from the Arafura Sea

Luganville: Will be occupied in a few days, along with Noumea; both appear virtually empty.

Clark Field: My biggest problem; another attack came off at 1-2, with no forts at all. We are not making progress; it will take a bunch more attacks like this, and mostly because their supplies will just run out.

I am seriously debating just leaving 1 1/2 divisons and moving on. I'm not delaying the invasion of India to wait for Luzon to fall, so the real question is whether I can do that without the 3 Divisions I would take from Luzon, or not. I am guessing I'll need them, and it's not like the USAFFE can go anywhere.

VACATION: I am heading out. While I am back, please comment on the following:

CEYLON: What would your suggestion be for tactical landing on Ceylong? Where to land? What are the Allied CD gun dispositions?

INDIA: Should I simultaneously land at Vizingapatam? Or not? I could land a smallish force and start to create some space for the main body.

SOUTH PACIFIC: How far should I go in this direction? I am not going to send alot of ground troops that way, probably no more than I have already (2 Inf Regts, 1 Bde, 1 Tank Regt, some Nav GD). But the Allies seem to not have reinforced anything. Should I keep gobbling up islands for the heck of it?

CARRIERS: Should I bring ALL CVs into the Bay of Bengal, or just KB Jr (about 290 planes worth)

[terje439]

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

CARRIERS: Should I bring ALL CVs into the Bay of Bengal, or just KB Jr (about 290 planes worth)

I had an opponent bring KB Jr towards Ceylon, it was a field day for me, I kept my ships within LBA cover, three Hurricane squadrons set on 100% LRCap and those few remaining Swordfish I had, all Brit CVs escorted by BBs, CAs, CLs and DDs.

Result:
One Jap flattop sunk, remaining badly damaged.
Brit CVs damaged but nothing major (10-15% sys), one BB at 50% sys, rest at around 15% sys.

So I would say if/when you head that way, go in heavy.
Just my two cents anyway.

Terje

[Smeulders]

Mini-KB would have a very hard time against Ceylon, so bringing in KB to suppress the Island is probably needed.

Landings could go in against any base really, Colombo is the most important base, and the clear terrain makes it so that it could easily be taken if garrisoned too lightly. Of course, it might just as well be the most defended base on the Island, in which case the clear terrain is a liability, your troops might be pushed back into the sea before you can unload fully. There is also a fort with CD guns from the start. Trimacolee seems like the standard route, it has CD guns and jungle terrain, it's probably guarded well, then again it's the second base on the Island and once taken it will serve well. The Southern base is probably lightly guarded, but there are only small roads leading out of there, so there is time to reorganize the defence after you take the base. The Northern base is as good as the Southern one, but has better road access, probably lightly guarded as well. The main drawback is that it might be in range of additional airfields in India (probably plane-less when you invade, but a prepared player will have aviation support ready). Also might be harder to get to undetected.

As for additional landings, I'm not quite sure. Vizingapatam is probably lightly defended, but you have no support except for your carriers. You must make absolutely sure you take the airfields quickly or you will get into trouble. Even if the bases are lightly defended, troops can quickly be railed to the area from whichever staging area the Allies have.

[Capt. Harlock]

SOUTH PACIFIC: How far should I go in this direction? I am not going to send alot of ground troops that way, probably no more than I have already (2 Inf Regts, 1 Bde, 1 Tank Regt, some Nav GD). But the Allies seem to not have reinforced anything. Should I keep gobbling up islands for the heck of it?

I'm inclined to say yes. The further you can advance the line, the further the Allies have to push it back, and the longer it will take them. Also, you'll find it easier to sink Allied merchantmen as more and more of the sea lane comes under your aircraft and submarines.

[Alfred]

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball


I am seriously debating just leaving 1 1/2 divisons and moving on. I'm not delaying the invasion of India to wait for Luzon to fall, so the real question is whether I can do that without the 3 Divisions I would take from Luzon, or not. I am guessing I'll need them, and it's not like the USAFFE can go anywhere.

VACATION: I am heading out. While I am back, please comment on the following:

CEYLON: What would your suggestion be for tactical landing on Ceylong? Where to land? What are the Allied CD gun dispositions?

INDIA: Should I simultaneously land at Vizingapatam? Or not? I could land a smallish force and start to create some space for the main body.

SOUTH PACIFIC: How far should I go in this direction? I am not going to send alot of ground troops that way, probably no more than I have already (2 Inf Regts, 1 Bde, 1 Tank Regt, some Nav GD). But the Allies seem to not have reinforced anything. Should I keep gobbling up islands for the heck of it?

CARRIERS: Should I bring ALL CVs into the Bay of Bengal, or just KB Jr (about 290 planes worth)

A few preliminary comments made prior to looking at the map and OOB.

I strongly support your idea to not delay the move on India - provided you keep Luzon and the rest of the Phillipines cut off from resupply. The only immediate disadvantage to this course of action is that you would need to keep sufficient air power in the Phillipines to maintain the blockade. This air power would not be available for operations in India. However that is not a really significant factor because your initial Indian lodgement will only be supported by naval air power and by the time you had significant IJA air operating in India, your IJN air assets would have neutralised the local Allied airpower (also see comments below).

Ceylon

With the at start Allied dispositions on Ceylon only Colombo is well garrisoned. That base, IIRC does not have the best terrain for defensive purposes. Nonetheless I would not land on Colombo. IIRC, Trincomalee starts off with only a CD unit for a garrison. Provided it is not reinforced by more than a bde, it would be a tempting landing site because of its port size and denial of its defensive terrain for an Allied last stand. I would also view the proximity of Trincomalee to Allied airpower from Madras would IMHO be an attractive bonus as it would provide your IJN airpower an opportunity to decimate the local Allied airpower (see comments above about Phillipines airpower)

India

I would not dissipate the initial landing forces. Your IJN airpower would be spread out too weakly to cover both a Ceylon and Indian mainland invasion simultaneously. I would aim for a quick destruction of Allied forces on Ceylon ( I assume from your posting that your number one Indian objective is the capture of Ceylon). With Ceylon under total Japanese control by the end of February 1942, the destruction of Allied units there and the timetable of scheduled Allied reinforcements to India (some landing at Aden and needing to be transported to India) would still leave most of the mainland ports (excluding the Bengali ports) weakly garrisoned.

South Pacific

As you have only minimal forces operating in the area, provided none are needed for operations in India/Phillipines I would gobble up vacant Allied islands but not garrison them. Force your opponent to recon to discover that they are vacant and therefore ripe for reconquest. Note that even without reinforceing Fiji, the at start Fijian garrison would provide a strong roadblock to an invasion using your current in theatre forces, hence I would not move at all in the direction of Fiji. I would however recommend that you capture and develop (but not necessarily garrison), up to a size level 1 port, the dot base near Noumea which produces resources. That would complement and increase the economic value of capturing the main island of New Caledonia.

Carriers

At least until Ceylon is captured, the safest course of action would be to concentrate your carriers to operate in the vicinity for the following reasons.

(a) you will have kept some IJA air back in the Phillipines to to maintain the blockade over there therefore you need to cover their absence with IJN air
(b) you don't know where the USN carriers are. Were they (together with local Allied LBA) to tangle with the baby KB you would be at a tactical disadvantage
(c) in February/March 1942 you have nothing to fear from Allied carrier raids in the Pacific taking advantage of the absence of the KB
(d) with KB and mini KB together, once the initial Ceylon lodgement is made successfully, from a patrol position between Ceylon and the Maldives, you would have an opportunity to send one of them along the Indian west coast in search of any troop convoys sailing from Aden to reinforce India (or resupply convoys from Cape Town/Abadan)

Alfred

[Tone]

Ceylon in Japanese hands is a major strategic roadblock for an Allied Player, as the Island sits across the sea route to the Bay of Bengal, and also can interdict the route south into the Indian Ocean. I concur with Alfred that your operations against Ceylon and India should be succession for reasons listed below.

The first reason is if your opponent has reinforced the 2 Indian Brigades already on Ceylon you will need 2 at a minimum, and ideally 3 divisions of infantry to have guaranteed force superiority. The Allies have the 18th infantry division, and 2 armored brigade groups as early reinforcements to deploy on the Island. The Allied Player could also choose to station the 6th or 7th Australian divisions on Ceylon until more British or Indian unit came available.

The second reason is that your heavy naval forces would need to refuel and rearm after the Ceylon operation. Considering the British have a number of R class battleships in the area it is conceivable that your battleships would have been in action. If your battleships need rearming without a large port available, you will have to send your battleships to Singapore. You cannot use Rangoon with extra naval support as it is a river port.

The advantage of holding Ceylon when you land on the Indian Deccan Coast is that it guards your seaborne flank with the airpower you base there. You also have a large port to base you heavy warships on, therefore giving you the advantage of local sea control, as the British have to project their sea power from the west coast Indian ports.

[Jaroen]

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

Combat Report, Jan 17-18, 1942:

Clark Field: My biggest problem; another attack came off at 1-2, with no forts at all. We are not making progress; it will take a bunch more attacks like this, and mostly because their supplies will just run out.

I am seriously debating just leaving 1 1/2 divisons and moving on. I'm not delaying the invasion of India to wait for Luzon to fall, so the real question is whether I can do that without the 3 Divisions I would take from Luzon, or not. I am guessing I'll need them, and it's not like the USAFFE can go anywhere.

VACATION: I am heading out. While I am back, please comment on the following:

CEYLON: What would your suggestion be for tactical landing on Ceylong? Where to land? What are the Allied CD gun dispositions?

INDIA: Should I simultaneously land at Vizingapatam? Or not? I could land a smallish force and start to create some space for the main body.

SOUTH PACIFIC: How far should I go in this direction? I am not going to send alot of ground troops that way, probably no more than I have already (2 Inf Regts, 1 Bde, 1 Tank Regt, some Nav GD). But the Allies seem to not have reinforced anything. Should I keep gobbling up islands for the heck of it?

CARRIERS: Should I bring ALL CVs into the Bay of Bengal, or just KB Jr (about 290 planes worth)

Just putting in some minor remarks concerning the PI and India/Ceylon strategy.

From playing the allies mainly I found Ceylon to be of minor importance regarding the defense of India/Bengal. It's main purpose is being a giant jump off point for Burma/Malaya/SRA shipping. Without possession of said territory it's not essential to the Allied war effort. What is essential are the railway connections to Bengal and other parts. If you want to conquer Bengal quick and easy I think you need to make sure to block access to that area rather quickly. Isn't Bengal a prime target because of it's high value bases, it's industries, ports/AF's and later on the good defensable river crossings?

Of course Ceylon is also home base to the British Naval Forces but you won't deny it's use by just taking Ceylon. I'd guess the Allies will preserve their forces and flee. Although that would require some serious threat like the KB. This will render Ceylon an empty house to be taken at leisure. If you do go for Ceylon I guess you'd do it while still enjoying the Japanese fast landing bonus. This allows you to pick landing points without large ports and so offering targets without defenses like Jaffna/Koggala. If the Allies do chose to defend Ceylon with a few extra brigades or even divisions it will be a very hard nut to crack. Too hard if you want to do it quick and easy. But consider yourself lucky because those forces won't be present on mainland India. Could you get intelligence on the allied defense on Ceylon?

The British land forces in India grow quickly in early 1942 and the railways allow for speedy transport of them to the places needed. I believe you'd be happy later on with choosing to go for the main India targets at the earliest. British airpower isn't (as in no power) in the first quarter of the year which allows you to build up a few strong AF's at crucial areas (NE, E and S) to counter British shipping South of India, supporting offensives and protect your main bases.

Regarding the PI. How do you rate the offensive strength of the remaining allied forces? Personally I regard Manilla/Bataan and it's port to be the main target on Luzon. Without it the allies are stuck without resupply options and you benefit from the opposite situation. But you do need to maintain forces strong enough to resist the allies from breaking out. The rest will be very useful in India like others suggested already.

BTW: I tried the same thing playing Japan against the AI but failed because I underestimated the required speed and Allied resistance. And not being the logistics/organizing man it takes!? After June '42 the British airpower/land forces will be capable of getting a draw against yours without you taking countermeasures. But I guess you know that already.

Good luck!

[Nemo121]

Personally, I wouldn't bother with Ceylon.

If you take out the RN you can amphibiously land around Madras quite easily by detouring around Ceylon out of range of LBA. If I were you I'd land in the south with a view to taking Calcutta and that region and cutting off the lines of communication to Burma and then I'd begin the long march north and westward towards Madras and Delhi.

As you get closer to Madras and his forces begin to stream into coastal fortresses I'd hit him with a large landing force designed to take Madras or that other large city a few hundred miles south of it by coup de main. Base Netties on either of those bases and you'll prevent those additional divisions from landing in India ( since those divisions come in at Aden if I'm not mistaken they need transport into India and Netties should sink those transports ). At that point you can close the jaws of your forces and crush the Indian forces on the subcontinent, taking it all.

At that point in time you should have more than enough time to land a few thousand AV in Ceylon as you deploy the SRA forces not needed for the garrisoning of India back into the DEI/Pacific. Until then Ceylon can be ignored.


Obviously this all changes if you aren't looking to knock India entirely out of the war but if you aren't looking to knock it entirely out of the war you shouldn't be sending a single troop there, IMO.

[vettim89]

ORIGINAL: Nemo121

Personally, I wouldn't bother with Ceylon.

If you take out the RN you can amphibiously land around Madras quite easily by detouring around Ceylon out of range of LBA. If I were you I'd land in the south with a view to taking Calcutta and that region and cutting off the lines of communication to Burma and then I'd begin the long march north and westward towards Madras and Delhi.

As you get closer to Madras and his forces begin to stream into coastal fortresses I'd hit him with a large landing force designed to take Madras or that other large city a few hundred miles south of it by coup de main. Base Netties on either of those bases and you'll prevent those additional divisions from landing in India ( since those divisions come in at Aden if I'm not mistaken they need transport into India and Netties should sink those transports ). At that point you can close the jaws of your forces and crush the Indian forces on the subcontinent, taking it all.

At that point in time you should have more than enough time to land a few thousand AV in Ceylon as you deploy the SRA forces not needed for the garrisoning of India back into the DEI/Pacific. Until then Ceylon can be ignored.


Obviously this all changes if you aren't looking to knock India entirely out of the war but if you aren't looking to knock it entirely out of the war you shouldn't be sending a single troop there, IMO.

I have never understood why Ceylon is not considered to be a valid target by so many. While it may be true that in the long run it cannot be held, taking it and holding it for even a few months can be a real problem for the Allied player. You basically can control all traffic heading into and out of the BoB with Netties from there and use it as a forward sub base to be able to slow the movement of troops and supplies from the off map areas.
I would say that taking Ceylon is as likely as any other course of action to slow the Allied counteroffensive into Burma.

I do not believe that the Allied player can ignore Ceylon if it is taken. That means a counterinvasion that likely will be costly even if succesful. I am not saying that this can win the game for the JFB but that it can take some heat off Burma and to a certain extent Malaya and the DEI. The large ports on Ceylon will allow rearmament of any ship in the IJN too. You could take it with a large force and then lift out the ID's and replace them with RGT's or Naval Guard units.

Just one man's opinion

[Nemo121]

Since I'm quoted I'll reply.... I don't think Ceylon is not worth taking BUT if you are focussed on taking all of India then it is, IMO, a diversion of effort and resources to take Ceylon before you have subdued the rest of India. It is a matter of phasing and intention.

Ceylon is a nice target for a spoiling attack or a strategy of limited engagement on the Indian front but if one is trying to take all of India then one needs to focus one's IJA strength ruthlessly on the mainland of India and not divert several hundred AV to Ceylon for several weeks of crucial time. I think you may not have understood that distinction implicit in my post. I probably wasn't clear enough that I was talking about Ceylon within the context of a strategy designed to take India out of the war in its entirety.

[vettim89]

ORIGINAL: Nemo121

Since I'm quoted I'll reply.... I don't think Ceylon is not worth taking BUT if you are focussed on taking all of India then it is, IMO, a diversion of effort and resources to take Ceylon before you have subdued the rest of India. It is a matter of phasing and intention.

Ceylon is a nice target for a spoiling attack or a strategy of limited engagement on the Indian front but if one is trying to take all of India then one needs to focus one's IJA strength ruthlessly on the mainland of India and not divert several hundred AV to Ceylon for several weeks of crucial time. I think you may not have understood that distinction implicit in my post. I probably wasn't clear enough that I was talking about Ceylon within the context of a strategy designed to take India out of the war in its entirety.

My apologies Nemo; I misunderstood. I failed to take your Ceylon comments in proper context. Yes, I would have to agree that if the Japan player's primary axis of attack is into India, then Ceylon should be left for later.

Very intersted to see how far the Allies can be pushed in India. My general feeling is this is pure folly in AE but am anxious to see what happens here. Also, I can figure no better player for Q-Ball to attempt this against than Dan.

[Nemo121]

No worries Vettim, I probably wasn't clear enough that it was an assessment in the context of taking over all of India.

If one only wants to spoil things a bit for the ALlies then I hugely favour invading Ceylon over the concept of invading and taking the region around Calcutta. It is just so much cheaper to take Ceylon than do that and it is much more difficult for the Allied to bypass.


India, I've looked into it and I don't think it should be at all impossible to take India. The crux is, to me, preventing the deployment of the reinforcement divisions to India from Aden. If the Japanese player can do that then taking all of India is doable, if the Japanese player can't then taking India in its entirety isn't possible. Of course, that's the theory, let's see what happens in practice.

I think Canoerebel will be opportunistic in his defence of India ( I think his play is very opportunistic in general - which is a good thing as he'll capitalise on opportunities ) but I amn't sure that he's up to putting a multi-theatre plan into action to save India. I've seen lots of improvisation in his games but not a huge amount of evidence of the sort of long-term, multi-phasic planning that it is going to take to hold India if Q-Ball really does come with everything including the kitchen sink.

[Jaroen]

ORIGINAL: Nemo121

Personally, I wouldn't bother with Ceylon.

If you take out the RN you can amphibiously land around Madras quite easily by detouring around Ceylon out of range of LBA. If I were you I'd land in the south with a view to taking Calcutta and that region and cutting off the lines of communication to Burma and then I'd begin the long march north and westward towards Madras and Delhi.

As you get closer to Madras and his forces begin to stream into coastal fortresses I'd hit him with a large landing force designed to take Madras or that other large city a few hundred miles south of it by coup de main. Base Netties on either of those bases and you'll prevent those additional divisions from landing in India ( since those divisions come in at Aden if I'm not mistaken they need transport into India and Netties should sink those transports ). At that point you can close the jaws of your forces and crush the Indian forces on the subcontinent, taking it all.

At that point in time you should have more than enough time to land a few thousand AV in Ceylon as you deploy the SRA forces not needed for the garrisoning of India back into the DEI/Pacific. Until then Ceylon can be ignored.


Obviously this all changes if you aren't looking to knock India entirely out of the war but if you aren't looking to knock it entirely out of the war you shouldn't be sending a single troop there, IMO.

From the way the game map is turned it may be unclear what you mean with said directions. Madras is in the South of India and Bengal in the North-East. As you describe the proposed strategy it appears you are using game map directions and not the 'real life' directions. To make it even more confusing you later mention another city South of Madras.

Am I right assuming you propose a landing North of Ceylon on the East coast of India? And from that point on moving towards Bengal (Calcutta) in the North-East and South towards Madras? Later to change direction towards the West coast for blocking Aden traffic and also moving towards Delhi from the North-East?

Can the Japanese muster enough forces to do a two-pronged assault on India?

[Mistmatz]

I agree with Nemo's assessment. If you want all of India Ceylon is not the most important target. The most important thing IMO is to prevent (or control - if you want some more VPs) allied flow of troops into the theater. This being said I'd follow a two-fold strategy.

a) Cut off Burma by seizing the area around Calcutta.
b) Get a Nettie base ASAP to cover Bombay and Karachi.
c) Use KB to render the RN useless.

While a) speaks for tiself, b) might require an additional landing on Indias west coast for reason of speed. Enough AV to hold an AF4 base until the troops from your main landing site can relief would be neccessary. Alternatively I'd consider a massive thrust of japanese armor to split the sub-continent in two and reach one of those possible bases in the west. This would need to be done as fast as possible. Think Blitzkrieg, but thats probably true for the whole operation.
With KB present, the RN can't do much from their bases in Ceylon. Later Netties from the main landing area can render the islands bases too dangerous. That is why Ceylon is not of strategic importance and can (should!) be taken at will once the flow in, or out of India is under control. The importance of Ceylon increases sharply when Japan is on the defence in this theater.


EDIT: Does using a), b) and c) make my strategy threefold rather than two-fold? [8D]

[vettim89]

ORIGINAL: Nemo121

No worries Vettim, I probably wasn't clear enough that it was an assessment in the context of taking over all of India.

If one only wants to spoil things a bit for the ALlies then I hugely favour invading Ceylon over the concept of invading and taking the region around Calcutta. It is just so much cheaper to take Ceylon than do that and it is much more difficult for the Allied to bypass.


India, I've looked into it and I don't think it should be at all impossible to take India. The crux is, to me, preventing the deployment of the reinforcement divisions to India from Aden. If the Japanese player can do that then taking all of India is doable, if the Japanese player can't then taking India in its entirety isn't possible. Of course, that's the theory, let's see what happens in practice.

I think Canoerebel will be opportunistic in his defence of India ( I think his play is very opportunistic in general - which is a good thing as he'll capitalise on opportunities ) but I amn't sure that he's up to putting a multi-theatre plan into action to save India. I've seen lots of improvisation in his games but not a huge amount of evidence of the sort of long-term, multi-phasic planning that it is going to take to hold India if Q-Ball really does come with everything including the kitchen sink.

I 100% concur. Dan tends to be a "all my eggs in one basket" kind of guy. He also tends to be very flexible. So he is not likely to keep pushing in a direction if it is not bearing fruit but also is less likely to be attempting a multiprong attack. While he is certainly capable of doing some bold, unconvention moves, one wonders if he capable of dividing his forces to adequate apply pressure across the map. We shall see.

[anarchyintheuk]

I think CR not using a multipronged attack in his prior games may be more circumstance and less design. In his game against Miller it was a long time before KB was reduced to a less than fleet-in-being counterforce, given CR's own cv losses. Let's face it, irl if KB hadn't been suffered the losses it did at Midway, it's doubtful the US could have employed a two/multi pronged advance either until deep into '44 or so. Considering how ineffective attritioning the IJNAAF/IJAAF appears to be, the only useful goal of the allies is flattening IJN cv hulls. Just my $.02.

[JohnDillworth]

the only useful goal of the allies is flattening IJN cv hulls. Just my $.02.

and not an easy task if the IJN does not split it's forces, keeps it's training up, and does not lose many in battle. If you count their CVL's and CVE they can keep pace with the USN until late 43, and even then beat them on experience and better aircraft until that point. The "historical number of aircraft" really keeps the USN hamstrung until late 42.

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: Nemo121

Since I'm quoted I'll reply.... I don't think Ceylon is not worth taking BUT if you are focussed on taking all of India then it is, IMO, a diversion of effort and resources to take Ceylon before you have subdued the rest of India. It is a matter of phasing and intention.

Ceylon is a nice target for a spoiling attack or a strategy of limited engagement on the Indian front but if one is trying to take all of India then one needs to focus one's IJA strength ruthlessly on the mainland of India and not divert several hundred AV to Ceylon for several weeks of crucial time. I think you may not have understood that distinction implicit in my post. I probably wasn't clear enough that I was talking about Ceylon within the context of a strategy designed to take India out of the war in its entirety.

I am with Nemo on this one. If you are going to attack the Indian mainland, it has to be with everything you got and with the idea of taking India out of the war.

However, I have always felt that if you do not want to try and take out India, (no easy task) Then a quick rush to take Celyon is a viable option. Thing is, if you get there early the Indian/British army/air force is just too weak and any unit sent to defend Celyon is very possibly going to get captured. Not to mention the three carriers that get cancelled. Once you take it, it is easily held well into 1943 as the Allied airforce remains very short of aircraft and there are virtually no amphibious capable ships in all of the SE Asian theater. Timing is everything but the trick would be to eventually do a staged bug out just like you would if you took Darwin.

[Q-Ball]

Checking in on vacation, this is a great discussion! You guys are making me think. I agree with alot of the comments, and I will have an important decision to make shortly, as soon as Singapore falls (which should be about Jan 20 in game terms). Once that happens, I need to re-prep all those units. Where are they going?

Ceylon v India is an important question. Noone has tried a full-out invasion of India yet, so there isn't a guide.

I do agree with one thing: An initial landing on India probably has to include a very deep landing all the way close to Bombay/Karachi to set-up Betty cover over those ports. I haven't scouted that yet, but if you can't stop the Allies from moving troops in, you can't stop them period. In fact, you really need to cover the entire coast, because the Allies can send convoys from any point off the map.

Is there still a theater transfer feature right to Karachi? If so, doesn't that completely bypass a sea-borne route?

[Grfin Zeppelin]

A fake movement towards Hawaii might also help. The longer you can cover your intentions the better and a "lights out" at Midway for example should realy make him nervous about Hawaii.