Groundhog Day! - No NJP

[Lokasenna]

I haven't popped in here for a few months. Looks like I missed a lot of interesting stuff. Russia!!

ORIGINAL: Wargmr

NJP has 1/2 of Mindano blocked with some pretty good forces. My goal is to build Cotobato to lvl 9 airfield and base 1000+ planes there. Once that is completed I will level the area.

Right now the best move seems to pierce through the south china sea at Puerto Princessa and then make a large landing at a base to the northwest. That would cut the oil and shipping and force NJP to split his naval forces between Russia and the South China Sea.

I'm at a similar juncture in one of my games. The route I took was to Manado and Makassar, and Balikpapan, but that would depend on your opponent's defenses.

I do think the logical next step from Mindanao is to jump through to the SCS. The North Borneo bases would allow you to contest that area heavily, with B-25s able to reach halfway across it. Puerto Princesa would be relatively shielded from bombardment, and Taytay would really put the pressure on Luzon (especially if you took Panay/Bacolod/Cebu). Basically, it would force him to try to defend a large crescent from Saigon to Hanoi to Manila, and you would be able to pick and choose your next targets.

Having Balikpapan and Makassar would threaten Java as well - what are the repair shipyard sizes at Soerabaja, Singapore, Manila, and Saigon? That would definitely influence my decisions...

ORIGINAL: Leandros


A carrier in Cotabato....looks risky...

Fred

If it's a task force of CVEs, they don't suffer any penalties. [:)]

[Mike McCreery]

March 29, 1944

A date which will live in infamy... Err... I mean ANOTHER date which will live in infamy....

Japan attacks Russia. Lets see how this affects the victory points in our game. About 17K difference now.

[Crackaces]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

If you are making decent progress in IndoChina, I would favor a push into NE corner of Borneo. Between the two, you could base B-25 attack bombers on each side of the South China Sea and cut off his oil and fuel flow, IMO.

I am a Palawin Fan Boy., liking the attack avenue from Puerto Princesa toward Cam Ranh Bay using Dive Bombers at these two locations, and this seals the DEI. This seeems at this point a natural axis to project power given the assult on Davao. Maybe continue that thrust into Southeast Asia?

However, I could see placing platforms in Borneo while patroling hexs around Cam Ranh Bay with Submarines.

Also The P-39 carries a bomb, and with low level trained pilots can also deliver a devastating blow to shipping ...

I continue to watch as the tension mounts ...

[Mike McCreery]

ORIGINAL: Crackaces

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

If you are making decent progress in IndoChina, I would favor a push into NE corner of Borneo. Between the two, you could base B-25 attack bombers on each side of the South China Sea and cut off his oil and fuel flow, IMO.

I am a Palawin Fan Boy., liking the attack avenue from Puerto Princesa toward Cam Ranh Bay using Dive Bombers at these two locations, and this seals the DEI. This seeems at this point a natural axis to project power given the assult on Davao. Maybe continue that thrust into Southeast Asia?

However, I could see placing platforms in Borneo while patroling hexs around Cam Ranh Bay with Submarines.

Also The P-39 carries a bomb, and with low level trained pilots can also deliver a devastating blow to shipping ...

I continue to watch as the tension mounts ...

Wasnt it you that faced NJP in Russia? What I had going for me is large portions of the army already in strategic move mode so when NJP accidentally tripped the line a day early I had many forces moving.

[Mike McCreery]

Nikolaevsk - This is the site of the first amphibious assault on Russia. On turn 1 the CD guns gave as good as they got and The Mutsu took over 50 gun hits along with a sister BB taking more. Several amphibious transport ships were damaged as well on day 1 and 2.

D day +1 my Russian fleet goes active. I managed to take out a number of sub chasers poised to attack my submarine fleets leaving their bases.

[Mike McCreery]

NJP is taking on Russia so I am going to turn up the heat on other areas to try to weaken him.

First bombardment goes in at Cagayan.

Mindano is a sideshow. He is going to hold the hills and I will be able to take the plains relatively easily. Cotobato will go to level 9 airfield within a few days and I will start leveling anything out in the open on Mindano. He has 60-100K troops on the island but I will just use blocking forces and move the bulk of my forces elsewhere until he has been softened up.

[Mike McCreery]

Dongalla converted to allied at the beginning of this turn and an amphibous force lands at Tand... something. This is a naval bn or regiment landing. I was hoping it was undefended.

[Mike McCreery]

This is the 1st attack at Nikolaevsk

[Mike McCreery]

The mongolian cavalry didnt stand much of a chance against modern tanks. I am happy at what it cost him though.

[Mike McCreery]

Skovordino 2nd attack goes in reducing the forts to zero but at a heavy cost. Tank units start converting into combat mode next turn.

[Mike McCreery]

Not sure if NJP forgot or hoped I had moved but a 2nd day of air assaults on Shilka is wiped out.

[BBfanboy]

Do you mean ground assaults at Shilka? Or were there air assaults as well?

[Mike McCreery]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Do you mean ground assaults at Shilka? Or were there air assaults as well?

I should have said airborne assault

[Lowpe]

Following this with much interest!

[Mike McCreery]

Strategies...

The game differs in reality in that the Russians would not have sat around for a week and allow their supply lines to be cut in multiple places. And Russian units in strategic mode would not magically transport themselves 50 miles away from the rail lines only to have to take 2 weeks to walk back to them.

I am frustrated by certain mechanics at the moment and it certainly gives Japan a huge advantage RE Russia. Give the fact that even though the Russians are threatened with losing 1/2 of their land mass and most of their domestic armies, there are no emergency reinforcements and nothing substantial to help out until May of 1945, over a year away.

On the flip side, I believe the reason that you do not see many actions in Russia by Japan is that in reality the resources and industry to be gained is negligible and the cost usually outweighs the returns.

Nevertheless, the game is what it is. And now Japan is invested in a huge land war yet again. I need to figure out how to use this to my advantage.

Strategically I have a big decision to make. I am manipulating the game rules just like NJP is in that I have not crossed over to activate Kamakazi's.

Now I need to decide whether to swing west in an attempt to completely isolate the oil centers or charge north to attack Japan more quickly.

My gut tells me to focus on the oil centers but my overall strategy was to cut the board in half via puerto princessa toward Cam Ran Bay. I can attack the oil centers without activating his kamakazi's. His air war is much better in this game so attacking the production makes sense rather than pushing forward and giving him another advantage.

[HansBolter]

ORIGINAL: Wargmr

Strategies...

The game differs in reality in that the Russians would not have sat around for a week and allow their supply lines to be cut in multiple places. And Russian units in strategic mode would not magically transport themselves 50 miles away from the rail lines only to have to take 2 weeks to walk back to them.

I am frustrated by certain mechanics at the moment and it certainly gives Japan a huge advantage RE Russia. Give the fact that even though the Russians are threatened with losing 1/2 of their land mass and most of their domestic armies, there are no emergency reinforcements and nothing substantial to help out until May of 1945, over a year away.

On the flip side, I believe the reason that you do not see many actions in Russia by Japan is that in reality the resources and industry to be gained is negligible and the cost usually outweighs the returns.

Nevertheless, the game is what it is. And now Japan is invested in a huge land war yet again. I need to figure out how to use this to my advantage.

Strategically I have a big decision to make. I am manipulating the game rules just like NJP is in that I have not crossed over to activate Kamakazi's.

Now I need to decide whether to swing west in an attempt to completely isolate the oil centers or charge north to attack Japan more quickly.

My gut tells me to focus on the oil centers but my overall strategy was to cut the board in half via puerto princessa toward Cam Ran Bay. I can attack the oil centers without activating his kamakazi's. His air war is much better in this game so attacking the production makes sense rather than pushing forward and giving him another advantage.

Having trouble understanding why your Russian forces did nothing for a week and how units teleported away from rail lines.

I'm playing a Focus Pacific scenario with Russia active from game start.

I'm finding the Russians to be a juggernaut the Japanese cannot contain.

[Encircled]

Its a bold move by your opponent.

He's got a plan, and the a lot of units to use if he's neutralised China.

Be interesting to see what he is aiming for.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: HansBolter


Having trouble understanding why your Russian forces did nothing for a week and how units teleported away from rail lines.

I'm playing a Focus Pacific scenario with Russia active from game start.

I'm finding the Russians to be a juggernaut the Japanese cannot contain.

Allies can't move Russian troops until there is a border violation. So Wargamer spotted the Japanese movement a week ago, but could not move, other than changing op status, until the violation actually occurred.

Remember, Hans you are playing against the AI that didn't have the benefit of a starting surprise attack. Still, you are up against something like 18K AV of Japanese troops which I doubt that Wargamer is -- but you never know.

So your experience versus Japan is vastly different that this one.

I am curious how the air war is going?

[HansBolter]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: HansBolter


Having trouble understanding why your Russian forces did nothing for a week and how units teleported away from rail lines.

I'm playing a Focus Pacific scenario with Russia active from game start.

I'm finding the Russians to be a juggernaut the Japanese cannot contain.

Allies can't move Russian troops until there is a border violation. So Wargamer spotted the Japanese movement a week ago, but could not move, other than changing op status, until the violation actually occurred.

Remember, Hans you are playing against the AI that didn't have the benefit of a starting surprise attack. Still, you are up against something like 18K AV of Japanese troops which I doubt that Wargamer is -- but you never know.

So your experience versus Japan is vastly different that this one.

I am curious how the air war is going?

Understand the differences but in my game the Russians are also fighting with 1942 forces without the benefit of two years of training and bases that haven't been building forts for two years.

By '44 every Russian base should have level 6-9 forts depending on their individual limitations, every Russian air squadron should have overall experience at 70 and several individual skills at 70.

Russian Amy stacks with 1500+AV and 1,000 artillery pieces are quite formidable.

[Mike McCreery]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

I am curious how the air war is going?

I have almost everything flying doing local attacks like suggested. Mostly dozens of troops injured or disabled. This was a great attack though on a regiment used as one of 6-8 blocking forces along the rail line.