Matrix Games Forums

Jan 5th, 1942

Rabaul invaded. A literal armada of task forces are there...lost 6 Cats attacking as there was some Zero and Petes on CAP. The minefield at Rabaul inflicted heavy damage on the destroyer Asagao.

But over here in the SRA, the Dorniers continue to rack up some impressive hit ratios.

Japanese ground troops move first and they catch the 260th FA btln on trains...I miscounted. Hard to see how they aren't totally destroyed.[:(]

I think all the recent American arrivals will head here too, more field artillery, a very heavy AA unit and in infantry regiment with a great TOE. There is an Indian Brigade and some good British AA heading down from India too, plus of course there will be lots of Americans arriving shortly at Cape Town...

Eastern Australia

IJA tanks will cut the rail line to Cloncurry...at Hughenden.

My inclination is to fight and challenge and continue to spread Japan thin...but the coastline is so dangerous, and will be for a long time. I can see large Australian forces cut off, isolated, or just out of the fight on back roads for a long time, especially true if he were to go below the Brisbane line.

Especially given my commitment to Perth...will pull back and be content and readying defenses here. CD guns and mines at Brisbane and south to Sydney.

I think the primary point will be to avoid losing troops, keeping a force in being, and await the heavy bombers.

Japan landed 144th Regiment at Rabaul...managed to destroy 6 squads landing, but Rabaul will fall to the first attack.

Japanese tanks in China....soon he will bring in the super heavy artillery too.

Rangoon

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

Yes, it is a reinforcement artillery unit that gets it. At least one unit that I recall.

In most scenarios, the 2/1 Med Regt, Australian, starts with 60#....it appears in Aden roughly March, IIRC

Many thanks.[&o]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

I'm pretty sure any unit that uses the 2 pounder A/T gun can upgrade to the 6 pounder, but it will be a while before any more 6 pounders are available. Wherever the Japanese have their best tanks is the place to put the 6 pounders - the 2 pounders can handle light tanks and armoured cars quite roughly.

You will come to look forward to getting more 25 pounder guns - they are much more effective than the 18 pounder. I think their range makes them more effective in counter-battery fire.

Yes, I see the 2 pdr upgrades to the 6pdr. [:)] The 2pdr continues with production into mid 43.

It is always difficult finding out what tanks/artillery you are fight against. I am informing Japan thru email when we have clashes to provide him with that flavor...and I hope he will let me know in return. Adds to the enjoyment of the game I think.

An Aussie Division takes a lot of 25 pounders! Up to 34 in the pools, building about 1 a day, plus whatever the convoys bring in.

I don't know if he will let you do this, but if you can try to cause a Japanese unit to retreat below the Brisbane Line Of Death. Some fast armour units moving behind his units could do the trick. [:D]

That won't be as bad as sending Stalin some rotten shushi, however. [X(]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

I don't know if he will let you do this, but if you can try to cause a Japanese unit to retreat below the Brisbane Line Of Death. Some fast armour units moving behind his units could do the trick. [:D]

That won't be as bad as sending Stalin some rotten shushi, however. [X(]

I don't think that would work because the Japanese need to already have a source of supply below the LOD before the unit would retreat there.

The 25lbers in regular to&e Aussie divisions decrease from 72 to 48 when they reformat to jungle to&e. The reductions also apply to the 2lbers. The changes affect most of the Indian divisions as well. Some to&e changes are more extreme. They lose all their 25lbers and use the mountain/jungle guns for organic arty. It happens in late '42, early '43.

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

I don't know if he will let you do this, but if you can try to cause a Japanese unit to retreat below the Brisbane Line Of Death. Some fast armour units moving behind his units could do the trick. [:D]

That won't be as bad as sending Stalin some rotten shushi, however. [X(]

I don't think that would work because the Japanese need to already have a source of supply below the LOD before the unit would retreat there.

If the Japanese unit can trace a supply path to a base north of the line but is unable to retreat directly towards it, it might retreat along the supply path which could be south of the line.

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy
I don't think that would work because the Japanese need to already have a source of supply below the LOD before the unit would retreat there.

If the Japanese unit can trace a supply path to a base north of the line but is unable to retreat directly towards it, it might retreat along the supply path which could be south of the line.

Not "might", but "absolutely will" retreat using whatever route available. And Oz excellent road network makes many routes available to a lot of bases. Orchestrating a necessary setup would still be very hard against an experienced player on the offensive. You would have to advance from multiple directions to cut off E/W/NE/NW sides

Jan 5th, 1942

Mines go off again...Rabaul?

Dutch Navy does really well punishing the retreating IJA troops from Perth.

Another round of mines...and invasion Rangoon. Starting to be able to predict Japan, I started the rest of the evacuation of Rangoon yesterday...so hopefully everybody will escape to the north in half decent order.

And the harvesting of VP by strategic bombing runs into a hiccup.[:'(]

We are whittling down his spearhead...

The Perth counterattack might very well happen this day!

So, they did get 40 vp from bombing, but I nailed 10 bombers.

TF 85 encounters mine field at Rangoon (54,53)

Japanese Ships
DD Ayanami, Mine hits 1, heavy damage
xAK Asakasan Maru, Mine hits 1, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
35 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled



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

TF 85 encounters mine field at Rangoon (54,53)

Japanese Ships
AV Sanuki Maru, Mine hits 1, on fire

Looking to stop the tanks in the forest rough terrain (river crossing) or in the mountains above Sian.

Otherwise, it is looking very positive for now...