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ORIGINAL: kfsgo

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

ORIGINAL: kfsgo

https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B1Hrlf ... y=CPmb_OEJ

I can't download the file from that site for some reason. If you see this and it's not an imposition, please email to ropersfive@aol.com.

Thanks.

Tried to; gmail apparently thinks something in it's an EXE so won't allow. I changed the vis settings to public-public rather than link-public so you should be able to grab it now.

If you encrypt it (and maybe make sure the name doesn't imply that it's an executable) you can get executables through Gmail.

3/19/42

Eastern DEI: The Japanese invade Balikpan, probably losing two xAK in the process (one to mines the other to shore guns).

Western DEI: The mass of enemy shipping remains in the South China Sea covering Mersing and Singkawang/Kuching. The Allies landed a small Aussie pioneer unit at Cocos Isalnd to provide a measure of defense. I've really been debating whether garrisoning this island is worthwhile, but finally decided I may do so up to about 100 AV if time permits. The Allies will also move the Sabang invasion troops by rail from Bombay to Madras, so that once the PP are available to buy the Indian division (about 12 days), the invasion will have a bit of a head start. Singapore's AV is up to 881.

China: Still no move by the enemy facing the Siangtan front.

NoPac: The Para and Onne troop transports will be at the rendezvous long before the final two BBs (Maryland and Idaho) arrive. I'll wait for them, though, as they should be in position in about six to eight days. D-Day is perhaps ten days away.

SoPac: The Japanese invaded and took undefended Lord Howe Island, just east of Sydney. Steve continues to push hard in this theater, though I don't believe he'll go "whole hog" for New Zealand or Australia given the situation in the DEI. He may think that's an effective way of applying pressure on the Allies, but he can have all of SoPac if in doing so he impales himself.

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Thanks, kfsgo. I guess there's a big lesson to be learned if I'd be willing to learn it. I've spent six hours the past two day orchestrating awkward tests. I probably could've learned to use the editor in an hour or so and then run the tests in an hour.

I've just sent the next turn to Steve, so I'll work on the tests later this afternoon. I owe you one, kfsgo, but I don't know how I can repay you. However, if you need anybody to edit a work on Georgia history, botany, or ornithology, I'm your man.

Feel the same way at times Dan!

The Editor is not TOO bad. With all the work done in RA, it has become a friend of sorts. Since I am NOT a computer person (you might remember that from our Grand Campaign in WitP) this came as a pleasant surprise!

Your situation is very similar to what Nomad and I had in our 2x2 game. We had an even stronger death grip on southern Sumatra (over 900 AS at Palembang with level 5 + forts), but our opponents held all of the New Hebrides, new Caledonia, Fija, Somoa, and the Tonga Islands. Our game ended in May 1942 when we lost our fourth IJ opponent. Figured it would be imp[ossible to get another to sign on for the duration with that strategic situation. I was in charge of SoPac and had a good defense set up in French Polynesia, Oz, and NZ. WIth us still holding Palembag, they had a lot of territory but did not hold the territory they needed.

Since this is Scenario Two, the situation is pretty unusual. The Allied grip on eastern Sumatra does not pose any threat to Japan's economic well being for many months - maybe even well over a year - if I understand the analysis done by Alfred. Of course, it is possible that the Japanese player won't realize this and will panic unnecessarily, but I think Steve knows the lay of the land.

So in Scenario Two, the problem with a strong Allied grip on Sumatra isn't the threat to the Japanese economy, but rather that it creates a massive Allied presence in a vital area. Usually, the Allies have to struggle forward in late '42 or '43 to gain a threshhold in the Japan's vitals, but that exercise can be avoided if the Allies are already strongly lodged there.

So this campaign is really about posing a military threat to Japan's MLR. Japan is going to have to address that threat sooner or later (and sooner would have been much more efficient). While Japan is doing so, the Allies may/should be able to take advantage to strike in other regions. Nemo did just that in his game vs. One-Eyed-Jacks and I hope to do something similar in this game.

If Steve concentrates on New Zealand, Australia, or some other distant vector at this point, I'm pretty sure the Allies will be able to reinforce Sumatra strongly enough that it will never fall. At that point, the Allies have already achieved what I might otherwise be working on in late '43 or early '44. And by then Japan certainly would be in a crisis due to the lack of Palembang's oil.

ORIGINAL: Nemo121

Well, KB's power lies in its airplanes... He can employ the airplanes from land bases without risking the CVs. That's what I meant, employ the planes but keep the decks in a nice, safe port somewhere far to the east.

I doubt many Allied players would be very happy with that strategy.

Aye, people generally don't like to be faced by situations they didn't expect and don't have a counter to. On the other hand this isn't, "Make your opponent happy in the Pacific" ( which sounds like some Thai bar in Pattaya ) [8D]

ORIGINAL: Nemo121

Aye, people generally don't like to be faced by situations they didn't expect and don't have a counter to. On the other hand this isn't, "Make your opponent happy in the Pacific" ( which sounds like some Thai bar in Pattaya ) [8D]

I recently started a new game as the Japs and I have to be honest in saying that the thought of doing the above had never even occurred to me. Surely once the defensive perimiter is set up you would be reducing the KB to the role of a huge aircraft ferry shuttling its air groups form the land base to another to counter the latest threat.

I think most Allied players (whether it be justified or not) would complain about this tactic. Just my 2c.........

It's a valid tactic similar to the Allies stripping carriers in '42 to base carrier aircraft in the DEI. I can't imagine an Allied player complaining...or, well, I should say I wouldn't attach any validity to the complaints.

Well, you would need the aviation support in place and large enough airfields. It's not a tactic that can be used anytime anywhere.

I suppose that psychologically the Japanese would not have done that IRL given the way the way did actually did proceed during the first half of '42. But if the war proceeded IRL the way it has in this contest, I think they certainly would have.

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

It's a valid tactic similar to the Allies stripping carriers in '42 to base carrier aircraft in the DEI. I can't imagine an Allied player complaining...or, well, I should say I wouldn't attach any validity to the complaints.

Hmmm, definately something to consider in my new game then.....might have saved me a CV or two in our game as well!

Miller,

Different people play the game in different ways. This is good as it means people can find opponents who suit their play style.

My ( personal ) view is that throughout history people have found many things their opponents have done unsporting but if it was effective that rarely stopped those opponents. I'm sure the Persians thought that the Macedonian sarissa's length was "unfair" as it impaled them at double the length of their spears. I'm sure that Ramses opponent's thought it was unfair of him to win a second battle before he had completed losing the first, I'm sure Alexander wasn't too hot about the use of elephants vs his Companions or that Carthage liked the Roman use of assymetric resistance to defeat the Barcas. I'm sure the ALlies weren't too hot about kamikazes either. As such, if it is effective, I'm willing to consider that it would be done.

Others draw the line in a different place and that's fine. This is, after all, a game and they can find opponent's who choose them. In real life though the matchup between a no-rules assymetric, smart fighter and a more hidebound regular opponent often goes to the assymetric smart fighter. But, as I said, this is a game, not real war.

"But, as I said, this is a game, not real war."

That basically sums it up.

ORIGINAL: Nemo121

........or that Carthage liked the Roman use of assymetric resistance to defeat the Barcas. .............

Barcas were never defeated. Carthage and her blidness was defeated but not the Barcas!

Anonymous Anti-Titus Livius supporter
[:D]

I will have to chime in, as I have in other threads, to state that offloading CV air groups to fight from land bases is historical enough that, IMHO, even "conservative" players should not object. Both sides (Allies at Guad and Japanese at Rabaul) did this en masse and for a period of weeks (months in the case of Japan, IIRC). Fire in the Sky details the practice. The Allies did it when the CVs were damaged, but the Japanese did it with perfectly healthy CVs sitting at Truk.

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

ORIGINAL: Nemo121

........or that Carthage liked the Roman use of assymetric resistance to defeat the Barcas. .............

Barcas were never defeated. Carthage and her blidness was defeated but not the Barcas!

Anonymous Anti-Titus Livius supporter
[:D]

Hasdrubal would be surprised to read this, and if his headless body could talk (after his defeat by the Romans at Metaursus) he would disagree with you.

3/20/42

Eastern DEI: Japan takes Balikpan though two more transports are first damaged by shore guns. CAs Mogami and Suzyua are involved. Confirmation that CA Myoka was sunk during the Battle of Denpassar a few weeks ago - the first Japanese CA casualty of the war.

Western DEI: Still receiving SigInt that 52nd Div. is aboard a maru bound for Mersing. I would love to try for an intercept, but have decided not to stick my nose into a potential hornet's nest since IJ LBA is well established in the region and since I don't know the whereabouts of the KB. A US coastal artillery unit is perhaps a week out of Benkolen and a Aussie heavy CD unit is perhaps five days from Oosthaven. More engineers are inbound too.

Western Sumatra: After alot of thought, I am reconfiguring and expediting this operation. Originally, this was to consist of 20th Indian Div. (once purchased), 182 USA RCT, and 1st Marine Raiders. However, I have 132nd USA RCT inbound to India. I have diverted it to Colombo where it will unload and combat load on transports that will then rendezvous with 182nd RCT and 1st Raiders on transports to load at Madras. By substituting 132 RCT for 20th Indian Div., I can move much faster and I can save the political points, which I can then use to buy 27th USA Div. when it arrivest at Capetown in two weeks. I didn't want to reveal the presence of US infantry in the theater, but I am satisfied that this is my best course of action under the circumstances. I really like the idea of being able to invade Sabang in about two weeks.

China: The front at Changsha-Siangant-Hengyang remains static, though Steve did spin off one unit that disappeared to the south. He may try to feel for a weakness down around Kweilin/Liuchow/Nanning, but by the time he can get troops there in force, Chinese reinforcemens (that left Sian two months ago) will be available.

NoPac: Everything is set to go while awaiting BBs Maryland and Idaho, which seem to be taking their own sweet time on the journey from Christmas Island to the Aleutians (they are about halfway between Pearl and Adak now). I'll have two AE and an AR posted at Dutch Harbor to replenish and (hopefully) handle damaged ships efficiently. I'll have three American BBs and BB Warspite. I have DMS and a few AM. The infantry-carrying transports are just about in place (Para's troops are far north in the Bering Sea; Onnekotans troops will approach from the southeast). And transports carrying support units (engineers, base force, coastal defense) are set to come in after the Allies take the two islands. D-Day in roughly nine days.

Sabang?

What about invading behind him in Malaysia? Land there, cut his lines of supply from Thailand into Malaysia and watch his army at Singapore's gates falter and his planned amphibious invasion of Java/Southern Sumatra be reconfigured into a counter-counter-invasion of Malaysia.

Basically, why don't you Inchon him? You already have lots of troops at Palembang who can move to Oosthaven and load onto ships there. You can LRCAP the invasion site ( Georgetown is a nice place to land at ) from Northern Sumatra and once you have the base fly in 200 fighters and massacre him.

He will HAVE to respond to this with a major strategic redirection - whereas Sabang invites only a minimal response. Think big!

Wow Nemo - I was just thinking of suggesting the same thing. If it can be done while he's still redeploying (and Singapore holds) - that's going to put a monkey in the wrench, big time.