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Re: Defending Manila and not Bataan

Generally, I agree with this call because Bataan in a malarial hell hole that, as you say, does not produce its own supply; however, recently I try to defend the triangle that is Clark, Bataan and Manila.I actually send some supply to Bataan and build forts there. I prepare some units at Clark to defend it and then when I start seeing diminishing returns defending Clark, I pull the Bataan prepared troops south. The rest I will try to get to Manila as soon as the others make it to Bataan, but in the end I've found the greatest likelihood is that they'll retreat in that direction anyway.

Why split my forces like this you might ask. Well the answer is, I learned the hard way that if you completely abandon (or mostly abandon) Bataan in favor of Manila, you will quickly lose the big guns of Fort Drum. When that happens, depending on whether or not your opponent is cognizant of this, the IJN will be free to bombard Manila with impunity.

As I hinted out, this happened to me and lets just say both the supply and the willingness to resist of the Manila garrison evaporated very quickly.

Interestingly enough, my opponent has not used his BB's to bombard Manila but one time. I think one of his ships hit a mine remaining at Bataan and that's scared him off.

ORIGINAL: AcePylut

Interestingly enough, my opponent has not used his BB's to bombard Manila but one time. I think one of his ships hit a mine remaining at Bataan and that's scared him off.

You're a lucky man! Those mines are an easy fix if he sends in a minesweeping TF. This is the disadvantage of only playing one side I think--your opponents tend to over judge your abilities from time to time! In this case, not realizing that in the early stages of the war, once the mines are out in the DEI, there are no replacements for the Allied player for quite awhile.

At least one of my opponents wasted no time sweeping Bataan and then continuously bombarding Manila, and there was nothing I could do about it. I went from over 35k supply in Manila to none in about 7 turns.

Feb 27th, 1942:

Pearl Harbor: Subs spotted near PH. Many of my bomber squadrons are on ASW. I can really build up some ASW experience by doing so.

Rangoon: Visited by 14 Zero's, 41 Oscars in a morning sweep. In the afternoon phase, 29 Oscars sweep. I have no fighters here.

Mini-KB (located by Batavia) sorties 37 Zero's against my MTB's from the previous turn and sink 2 of them.

Port Moresby: Visited by 27 Zero's, 36 Oscars, and 23 Nells

Manila: Around 120 assorted bombers make their presence known.

Japs deliberate attack: Adjusted AV is 776 Japanese to 717 Allies. Forts are knocked to 0. IJ suffers 1875 Casualties, US suffers 2553 casualties. Supplies are down to 5200.


In China, 2 hexes easy of Iachang, the IJA 34th Div deliberate attacks and kicks out three weak Chinese Corps.


Imperial Japanese Ships CA Kako, Mikuma, and CL Kashima have been 'confirmed' sunk.


At San Francisco, the US 40th Div is bought out and loads onto transports bound for PH. This unit is detailed for Operation Hodor.

Game has slowed to a crawl - currently it's April 14th, 42, but I haven't had any turns in almost two weeks. I hope this isn't the "start" of what has always happened when I play PBEM - 3-4 game months of intensity, then game over.

Updating the AAR:

Feb 28th, 1942:

2 IJ Subs off of Pearl get dc'ed pretty badly. No sinking sounds however.

Rangoon is visited by 41 Oscars and meet no opposition.
Port Moresby is visited by 62 Zeros/Oscars and 23 Nells
No air strikes at Manila.

IJ Bombardment of Manila shows a wrecked IJ 21st Div at 85 AV

Bandoeng falls - int he Delib attack, the IJ has 175 AV to my Dutch 22 AV
Cheribon falls also.

Hilo (Hawaii) upgrades it's airfield to level 3. Fanning Island also meets airfield level 3. See attached for my defenses at the Line Islands.

Intel shows the 33rd IJ Div planning for an attack on Rangoon

The 40th ID, loaded on transports at San Fran, leaves port and begins making its way to Hilo. Reason being is that many IJ Subs are surrounding Pearl Harbor, but there is a wide open lane to Hilo.

CV Hornet is 19 days out

Here's a showing of Java and surroundings.

And here's the status of "my air group's" pilots