Turnaround? Lowpe (J) vs Tiemanj (A) Stock

[Lowpe]

I have split the first Oscar Sentai (which had only 8 planes left) and set it to upgrade to the KAI Dinah. It is a large group, 42 planes, so it will be a month before it gets to full strength. Another sentai gets the same treatment for the Nick B version.

Should be an exciting day with several things planned including: bombardment of Rangoon, sub rush of Rangoon, (I wanted to sweep Rangoon, but the fighters don't have the morale back yet) designed to catch his planes on the ground, plus a tanker trying to sneak in to drain Rangoon of fuel (hope my timing is right here); deliberate attack at Ambon again plus BB/CA bombardment (which is daily), deliberate attack at Tjilatjap, about 5 deliberate attacks in China.

KB is at Marcus Island & mini KB gets beefed up with the arrival of the Chuyo.

When the Americans got a spot on Carrier Div 2 north of Midway it really sparked some activity at Pearl where according to my intel 80 ships were in port, but only 23 fighters present.

[Lowpe]

Dec 11, 1942

All ABDA forces on Tjilatjap surrender...netting almost 1300 victory points.[:)] Surely there was an exodus of troops...just glad it is over. Lots of troops and planes freed up now.

Allied bombers hit Magwe (7 runway) Lashio (closed) Xmas Island (Pacific port empty), and two squadrons of 25 Lightnings sweep Nauru. No opposition anywhere.

Now, I need to secure Rangoon, but then what? China, Ceylon, Oz? Or dig in. There is also a division stuck at Port Blair, too.

Elsewhere, Ambon's forts are reduced, and a couple of Chines units (four or five) are destroyed, and another couple are mauled pretty badly. Rangoon should be bombarded tonight as the task force moved closer, undetected.

[Aurorus]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Dec 11, 1942

All ABDA forces on Tjilatjap surrender...netting almost 1300 victory points.[:)] Surely there was an exodus of troops...just glad it is over. Lots of troops and planes freed up now.

Allied bombers hit Magwe (7 runway) Lashio (closed) Xmas Island (Pacific port empty), and two squadrons of 25 Lightnings sweep Nauru. No opposition anywhere.

Now, I need to secure Rangoon, but then what? China, Ceylon, Oz? Or dig in. There is also a division stuck at Port Blair, too.

Elsewhere, Ambon's forts are reduced, and a couple of Chines units (four or five) are destroyed, and another couple are mauled pretty badly. Rangoon should be bombarded tonight as the task force moved closer, undetected.

You still need Port Moresby, right?

Given how aggressive your opponent has been, and given your show of force in the Kuriles and Java, I would expect a build-up and attack in the South Pacific next. So probably the best thing is to ensure you have a complex of mutually supporting bases in the South Pacific and funnel some assets there to be in position to engage his next offensive. He has shown a tendency to place his land units, amphibious groups, and surface fleets in difficult situations without sufficient air support. You may have an opportunity to exploit this tendency yet again in the South Pacific. Then again, he may have learned from his mistakes... whatever the case, I would expect a push in the South Pacific in early 43.

[Lowpe]

What makes you think he will wait until 43 to move in the CentPac area?[:)]

Here he is testing the defenses...

[Lowpe]

Dec 12, 1942

Night bombing by the Allies at Moulmein, no real damage, it is just too dark. Hurricanes sweep Magwe and the Tojo rises to the challenge: 6 Hurricanes downed for 4 Tojo losses. Other 4E's strike Mandalay.

Rangoon gets bombarded pretty well, range was set to 10 to let the destroyers bombard too, and there are no coastal guns, and I believe all the mines are swept.

Lots of ship movement in the DEI as the troops freed up on Java head to their new theater of operations...

[Lowpe]

Banda Sea defensive area:

Allies have totally left this are empty, other than Ambon which was reinforced with the Gull unit...

I have slowly, taken over most of the islands, and on the map below, the circles represent decent sized airbases. This area can really be built up to make it quite a festung of primary, secondary interlocking airbases.

But, in all things Japan, there really isn't enough troops, aviation support and engineers to man it properly. My thinking is a front line tripwire defense, good against air or sub drops backed up by plenty of air assets that can move from the Banda Sea to the Solomons, Central Pacific pretty quickly.

To me, this area really is a poor choice for an Allied advance with all the mutually interlocking bases, long supply line, and I don't think there is any medium term threat here. Heck, Allies don't even have naval search up in the area. But, there is always a but[:)], it is the closest way to hit the oil...and so far that doesn't seem to be a priority for the Allies (maybe that will change in 43?).

Any thoughts of defending this area are welcome...

[Lowpe]

New Guinea:

An important area that needs to be built up some. These bases can make great hub airfields creating an air bridge from the Banda Sea to the Solomons for some of the planes with shorter legs.

Right now, a lot of the air defense of the Solomons and the Banda Sea rely upon very short range Vals...

I am estimating about 6 weeks for the A6M5c to become operational...if given this long then the air defenses of the empire will be much stronger. As it is now, I have to concentrate my fighters in a couple of bases only...

I have collected about 200 Helen's to bomb Port Moresby with about 100 fighters. Allies have no fighters there now, but it is a level 6 air base with only 3 units there defensively. I will have two Air HQs providing direction, and should be able to do well until the Lightnings show up.[:D]

About the time the Port Moresby offensive begins, I will be increasingly more active at Rangoon too. Should be interesting....if not surprising.

[Aurorus]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

New Guinea:

An important area that needs to be built up some. These bases can make great hub airfields creating an air bridge from the Banda Sea to the Solomons for some of the planes with shorter legs.

Right now, a lot of the air defense of the Solomons and the Banda Sea rely upon very short range Vals...

I am estimating about 6 weeks for the A6M5c to become operational...if given this long then the air defenses of the empire will be much stronger. As it is now, I have to concentrate my fighters in a couple of bases only...

I have collected about 200 Helen's to bomb Port Moresby with about 100 fighters. Allies have no fighters there now, but it is a level 6 air base with only 3 units there defensively. I will have two Air HQs providing direction, and should be able to do well until the Lightnings show up.[:D]

About the time the Port Moresby offensive begins, I will be increasingly more active at Rangoon too. Should be interesting....if not surprising.

Port Moresby may prove to the THE battle of the first half of ´43 in your game (like Guadalcanal was THE battle of ´42 in the actual war) that will determine the victor. I would suspect he will make a full-on defense/counter offensive, given his tendencies, which is why I like the strategy of a land offensive from Bonin actually. You can avoid getting your carriers and amphib units trapped between Moresby and Australia and stay mostly under the land-based air cover of Rabaul. This will give your opponent ample opportunity to make mistakes with his air and CV forces, assuming he commits all-in to Moresby, which I suspect he will.

As such, I would build up the Aitape, Hollandia area some, but don´t overdo it. Some air capacity, but not much in the way of LCUs. It can be easily bypassed to the West and to the East by the allies who can simply jump from Rabaul to Truk and then north through the Marianas, Bonins, and Japan. As you point out, LCUs are at a premium, given the number of bases that need defending.

[Aurorus]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Banda Sea defensive area:

Allies have totally left this are empty, other than Ambon which was reinforced with the Gull unit...

I have slowly, taken over most of the islands, and on the map below, the circles represent decent sized airbases. This area can really be built up to make it quite a festung of primary, secondary interlocking airbases.

But, in all things Japan, there really isn't enough troops, aviation support and engineers to man it properly. My thinking is a front line tripwire defense, good against air or sub drops backed up by plenty of air assets that can move from the Banda Sea to the Solomons, Central Pacific pretty quickly.

To me, this area really is a poor choice for an Allied advance with all the mutually interlocking bases, long supply line, and I don't think there is any medium term threat here. Heck, Allies don't even have naval search up in the area. But, there is always a but[:)], it is the closest way to hit the oil...and so far that doesn't seem to be a priority for the Allies (maybe that will change in 43?).

Any thoughts of defending this area are welcome...

I like the idea of tripwire defense of the eastern-most islands. I would, however, build-up several bases just to the west of Koepang and have some assets ready: air, land, and naval, to respond in force to any threat to Koepang. It is 18 hexes from Soerabaja, extended range for B-17s. It is not the end of Japan if he takes Koepang, but I would certainly make him fight tooth-and-nail for it.

[Lowpe]

Dec 12, 1942

Allied bombers hit Magwe at night, it is very dark with bad weather, and the flak actually shoots down 3 Blehnheims and damages a score of 4e bombers. The bombing is ineffective.

Mitchells hit Moulmein during the day, nothing there.

Allies are re-positioning their subs to Naha and west, and the PI, away from the HI.

Japan is moving ships, planes, and troops preparing for the next push.

Recon shows Darwin not built up, but Broome and Derby both have level 5 airfields. Hmmm, they are pretty vulnerable.

I spent the political points to buy out two units with funky commands, a shipping port unit and a garrison unit that when combined form a special base force with coastal guns. There are two such special bases forces that I can form this way.

This special base force is at Koepang, which I agree needs to be held with more than a tripwire defense...

[Lowpe]

Dec 13, 1942

Not much violent happening other than more air strikes in Burma by the Allies. Flak actually downs two Liberators!

The first batch of troops are leaving Java...

The first fragments of Sentai's are upgrading to the KAI Dinah and the KAIb Nick. Lilly IIb in a few more days...

Three allied cruisers are spotted west of Ramree Island heading north east. 3 cruisers no destroyers. Hmm...

[ny59giants]

Bases that need to defended are any with AF potential of 9 with those going to 8 being second. The Allies have too many construction engineers to have anything slow down expansion. In my DBB PBEM, I can easily place over 1000 engineers + engineer vehicles on a base (on one base it was over 1500). In less than two months the beach front condos are finished after the base has been expanded to max! [:D]

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Bases that need to defended are any with AF potential of 9 with those going to 8 being second. The Allies have too many construction engineers to have anything slow down expansion. In my DBB PBEM, I can easily place over 1000 engineers + engineer vehicles on a base (on one base it was over 1500). In less than two months the beach front condos are finished after the base has been expanded to max! [:D]

That is so many bases![:(]

I am working on a defensive plan...we will see how well I can develop it over the weekend and I will post it.

In ranking threats to the empire I feel that the following applies to my game:
1. Marshalls attack axis...Central Pacific
2. Kuriles
3. Solomons
4. Banda Sea
5. Burma

However, as the months go by that will change...especially if the Allies start bombing oil...

[Lowpe]

Dec 14, 1942

Racing to the end of the year...

The first day in a long time where there was no night bombing raids...Mandalay airfields get hit hard during the day. I definitely have learned the importance of big gun AA units in this games, as only a few makes a substantial difference.

A destroyer squadron of the IJN closes with his probing PT Boats that the Allies sent up towards Ponape several days ago and were damaged by fuel starvation. I purposely didn't not attack with air, fearing some kind of CAP trap, and I also let them head northwest/east since they weren't any kind of threat.

I had hoped to lure something bigger into the area, but no joy.[:(]

I think his sending ships in like this shows a difference between play styles. I don't mind risking ships/planes/troops at all but at this point I am not willing to throw away probes like this...while the Allies continually do it. At some point they will probably find a weak spot in my search, but till now they have simply lost a lot of little ships.

Given the rapidity of Allied turns lately, my metagame belief is that there is nothing brewing on the Allied side...not so on my side as the next day will hopefully show.[:)]

[Lowpe]

Forgot to mention, there is now and additional 2 BB Allied surface group in the Indian Ocean. Why does he keep using them like this? I know he was looking for my light cruiser/destroyer task forces or perhaps the Tone...but the Tone's sailors are enjoying liberty in Singers...

Not so the Betty pilots...who are on standbye....if only the BB move a little further south. Here is hoping!

[Lowpe]

December 15, 1942

Today marks the first combat appearance of the KAI Dinah, as the planes sweep the skies over Port Moresby clear of allied fighters. That there were no allied fighters merely points to a defeatist attitude when it comes to this excellent fighter design![:)] The KAI Dinah's have subsequently pulled back to Kavieng to enjoy some sake...after a job well done.

Vals, escorted by Zeroes hit the resupply convoy at Port Moresby, while Helens do some damage on the airfield. Fighter Sweeps up for today.

B17s hit Lunga, now a level 4 airbase, and the 20mm machine cannons can't quite reach the bombers...

Nauru is attacked at night by Liberators, and the normal heavy bombing in Burma.

Meanwhile, more troops, planes, and ships move as Japan still has some conquering to do!

I have built up 2600 political points, itching to spend it...

[Lowpe]

First take at the Banda Sea area notes several size 6 air fields, even more size five, and then a bevy of 4 and 3....

Timor obviously needs to be held, but what about the eastern flank with 6 size 5 air fields? Without holding them New Guinea is at risk...

At least there is a bit of distance from the bases to Darwin (there is a smaller island base one hex north of Darwin).

All ports in this area are size 1, with Koepang already built up to level 3.

The first line of defense will be good recon at Perth to the west and to the east to spot potential invasion fleets...several days warning will make all the difference in defending this area.

[Aurorus]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

December 15, 1942

Today marks the first combat appearance of the KAI Dinah, as the planes sweep the skies over Port Moresby clear of allied fighters. That there were no allied fighters merely points to a defeatist attitude when it comes to this excellent fighter design![:)] The KAI Dinah's have subsequently pulled back to Kavieng to enjoy some sake...after a job well done.

Vals, escorted by Zeroes hit the resupply convoy at Port Moresby, while Helens do some damage on the airfield. Fighter Sweeps up for today.

B17s hit Lunga, now a level 4 airbase, and the 20mm machine cannons can't quite reach the bombers...

Nauru is attacked at night by Liberators, and the normal heavy bombing in Burma.

Meanwhile, more troops, planes, and ships move as Japan still has some conquering to do!

I have built up 2600 political points, itching to spend it...

Did you get the 90th regiment and the other high experience regiments out of Korea? The 90th starts the game at 90 experience, 90 morale (with an objective of Miri at 100.. very nice unit to reassign to the South Pacific). There are also a couple of 85 exp. regiments, which can go wherever. I know you have the heavy guns out of Korea (Tonei etc...). Too bad your predecessor did not take Makin and so forth. Left you a bit of a hole in CentPac- Southpac.

[Aurorus]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

First take at the Banda Sea area notes several size 6 air fields, even more size five, and then a bevy of 4 and 3....

Timor obviously needs to be held, but what about the eastern flank with 6 size 5 air fields? Without holding them New Guinea is at risk...

At least there is a bit of distance from the bases to Darwin (there is a smaller island base one hex north of Darwin).

All ports in this area are size 1, with Koepang already built up to level 3.

The first line of defense will be good recon at Perth to the west and to the east to spot potential invasion fleets...several days warning will make all the difference in defending this area.

A tripline defense of the Eastern islands, with just some Coys and search planes is probably ok. I think Boela is a good place to build up a response force: some naval, air, and a couple good amphibious LCUs. If he tries to take the Eastern islands: Taberfane, Saumlaki, Selaroe on the cheap, you can throw him back. In addition, these units are positioned well to join a response force if Koepang is threatened.

Broome and Derby do look inviting. They start as level 3 and level 1 airbases. That is a lot of building. A spoiling attack there could be promising: delaying any offensive against Koepang, might also net you some supplies; there has to be a good bit of supply there to expand those airbases so.

Also... the whole gambit will compel him to commit a number of units there, which could entice him to pursue a DEI route to Japan, which is a much more treacherous route, as there is more possibility of error, than via the Pacific, or even India, as you observed in an earlier post.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Aurorus
Did you get the 90th regiment and the other high experience regiments out of Korea? The 90th starts the game at 90 experience, 90 morale (with an objective of Miri at 100.. very nice unit to reassign to the South Pacific). There are also a couple of 85 exp. regiments, which can go wherever. I know you have the heavy guns out of Korea (Tonei etc...). Too bad your predecessor did not take Makin and so forth. Left you a bit of a hole in CentPac- Southpac.

The 90th is now part of the Kurile defenses, at least for now.

I am going to go with the 6th Division, 80 exp.

I did have Makin, never built up, but it was held by a 10 AV coy. However, losing Tarawa on day 1 of my takeover, and having absolutely no troops nearby or shipping, I never bothered with trying to build up Makin.

The Allies paid a pretty nasty price in taking Makin, which they probably could have taken by paratroops: several CAs and lots of AKs and APs.