Matrix Games Forums

October 25, 1942:

In India, the Japanese army is retreating by one hex to form a new front line. Production points are coming directly from the USA now as well as oil for Indian planes.

South of Tarawa, my DD group has survived four naval air strikes. The US division is saved and can escape the island as well as the DD group. We will come back.

---

---

---

Heavy rain in China. We can't do any attack. The Chinese army in Kunming will go to garrison mode to try to resist the next assault.

---

---

Using a COMINT, I am trying to assess the enemy units around Noumea. Port Vila is protected by a Japanese marines division and an air superiority unit.

Noumea is protected by the 16th army as well as another marines division. They have a ground attack bomber located there too.

The assault will be costly.

---

---

---

November 8, 1942:

Kunming is still holding. The Japanese 33rd army is progressing but at a great cost in effectiveness. Looks like Japanese have seen the danger near Sian now protected by the 19th army.

In Noumea, a Japanese DD group is attacked while entering the port by the bombers of Espirito Santo.

---

---

---

China production is still limited to 53 production points. This is why I resume my offensive in India. The imperial guard division has taken plenty of step losses after four attacks this turn, a total of 8 steps. If I can reach Ledo, more production will help China assuming Kunming is not lost...

US army is also coming full speed to help the Indian offensive. One unit is ready to embark in Geraldton next turn.

Meanwhile, I am doing a port blockade of Wotje and Maloelap with the DD group which escaped Tarawa last turn.

---

---

---

---

November 22, 1942:

Supply situation in China. If the city of Kunming is falling, all supply south of China will be cut. That is why this city is so important to defend. One Japanese attack has been again repelled this turn.

In India, the weak Japanese infantry division has been replaced by an army. But, after several attacks, its combat strength has been divided by two. Japanese has not the production capacity to sustain heavy losses contrary to the Allies. At a given point, it will pay off.

---

---

---

---

Where are the Japanese carriers? Looks like they are no more in Rabaul. I am using a COMINT on top of Singapore to discover 13 ships but with no positive identification. I am sending an US submarine near Truk to see if there is something there.

---

---

December 6, 1942:

Almost one year after Pearl Harbor, the situation in China is worse than ever. True that Kunming once again withstood an attack. But, the weak Japanese 13th army has been replaced by the 12th army. I am pessimistic for the next assault. Both Japanese armies having the winter specialty.

And, near Sian, my assaults are repelled.

---

---

---

In the news, Tarawa is finally invaded by the Japanese forces. Does it change anything strategically? Nope.

In India, attacks continue. The same army has been halved once again. if I manage to make a breakthrough, the impact can be strategic here.

Finally, my investigation near Truk is showing ships but I don't have a count nor a identification.

Where are the Japanese carriers?

---

---

---

December 20, 1942:

As expected, Kunming is lost. And, with the loss of Kunming, this is all the supply chain of south China that is collapsing. Lijiang is not a supply source. As such, I will lose lot of armies if I can't reach the north.

China production is down to 40 production points.

---

---

---

Japanese is doing air resupply of both Wotje and Maloelap.

In the meantime, I am adding the screen specialty to the North Carolina battleship. The North Carolina is assigned an escort mission of the five carriers remaining. Their mission is simple, try to reach air superiority over Noumea.

First raid is not too bad, 5 steps lost for the Japanese 12th Air division. But, the Yorktown carrier has been damaged.

In India, my assaults are doing some damage. And, I am waiting the next army to reduce.

---

---

---

---

January 3, 1943:

6 Chinese armies are at risk. I am moving them north but one hex at a time. The Japanese is clearly withdrawing some land units to assign them elsewhere. Looks like China is no longer a threat to them.

For sure, they will send them in India to counter me.

---

---

---

With the previous success of this tactic, first time I am discovering this in real, I continue my air superiority mission over Noumea. Finally, carrier based planes can indeed do some air superiority mission.

So, I am adding an ace specialty to the air superiority unit in Ndeni. And, I am sending 4 CV and 2 BB. One BB is, of course, the North Carolina with the screen specialty to destroy more planes with AAA guns. This is again a success, 7 steps lost for the Japanese 12th Air division in Noumea.

In San Diego, a new ship is exiting the shipyard. The Essex carrier, a new design, is ready to engage the IJN. Also, in the news, USA is about to discover Warships 1943. The upgrade of all ships of the Pacific fleet with Defense +2 and Surface +2 will definitely change the game.

---

---

---

---

January 17, 1943:

First time I am paying attention at the area near Rangoon. The rail line north of the city is well protected against potential naval invasion. Something I will learn for when I will play the Axis side.

Using once again my tactic but this time with a US corps, no naval air interception was done north of Port Vila. Two possibilities here, either the Japanese 12th Air division in Noumea can't flight due to losses, either the Japanese has ground it for repairs.

Anyhow, I am bringing a second corps to perform a naval invasion near Port Vila. The odds of the attack is at 5:1.

---

---

---

---

The attack is a success and the Japanese 7th SNLF division surrenders. By the way, @Alvaro, if you are reading, isn't it strange for Japanese to surrender? In my books, they'd rather die than surrender.

Unfortunately, I don't have any operation points left to occupy the city of Port Vila. I am bringing subs around, in fleet mode, to try to destroy any incoming troop transports. My US carriers ready even if there are no Japanese carriers in Rabaul.

Where are they?

In China, the supply situation is improving with the weather. As such, my armies are saved for now but are near 10%-15% of effectiveness, incapable of anything.

---

---

---

January 31, 1943:

A bad day for the US navy. Five battleships have been sunk in a single naval battle. Heavy rain around Espirito Santo and Port Vila has prevented the US planes to take off. And, the infamous torpedo specialty has done its job.

I should have kept my fleet in raider mode. Raider mode is the only solution to survive the torpedo specialty. Raider mode. Raider mode. Raider mode.

The Japanese ships are already back in Rabaul protected by their planes.

---

---

---

---

A small note from my opponent reminds me of an earlier discussion we had in a previous PBEM game.

That's why I had opened this thread last month:
https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/view ... 2&t=384121

But, we agree there is something.

---

Port Vila is indeed captured but at which cost. A tactical bomber is immediately rebased there to isolate Noumea a little more.

Bad weather in China means that the supply problems are back. In India, I am fortifying my lines just in case the Japanese wants to resume an attack.

---

---

---

---

February 14, 1943:

The Japanese is launching a bombardment campaign against all the remaining Chinese armies. This is hopeless. The Flying Tigers can't be repaired with 40 production points per turn. The land army has the priority.

Near Ndeni, a DD group is sunk by US planes in the area. In Rabaul, reconnaissance is still showing no carriers.

In San Diego, the Lexington II carrier is renamed Enterprise (CV-16).

Time to play The Enterprise theme by Jerry Goldsmith from Star Trek: The Motion Picture.

---

---

---

---

February 28, 1943:

US submarines are launching their first convoy attack of the war. Strangely enough, no escorts are assigned to this lane.

The situation in China is now stable. However, in India, I was able to break the front. Taking Ledo is now useless since Kunming fell. Supply won't reactivate.

In South Pacific, I am trying a new idea to see if I can accelerate the fall of Noumea.

---

---

---

---