War and Peas - Hortlund (J) vs. Canoe (A)

[Canoerebel]

Things are happening pretty fast now, and we're flipping turns at a ridiculous rate, so you can check in hourly, if you wish.

[BBfanboy]

Disappearance of his subs and then KB suggests that he may have spotted a reinforcement convoy and realized he needs to blockade the IO and/or threaten Oz to keep you pinned there. Or he could just be going for Oz after all!
I have to admit his actions are doing a good job of smoke-screening his master plan, but it is costing a lot of time that could be used for direct thrusts at his targets. Tick-tick-tick-tick ....

[paullus99]

Canoe's position is only going to get stronger - so if he doesn't make a bold move pretty quickly, that window of opportunity is going to close rapidly.

[ny59giants]

Manchuria/Korea - Do you know where the following divisions are?? 1st, 8th, 9th or 20th. These four have the highest experience levels and might be somewhere that is important to him. These are 70 or above in experience levels and I rebuild the 20th in Korea and send to Luzon in many of my games.

[Canoerebel]

Michael, thanks for some solid suggestions. Since I've never played Japan, and since I don't "study" the Japan side of things, I have pretty limited knowledge. Some years ago, I prepared a list of IJA divisons and where they start, but even that list has some holes in it. Of the four you listed, here's what I know:

1st Division is near Nanyang (east of Sian).
9th Div. is still on the Russian border according to recent SigInt.
8th Div. - unknown location
20th Div. - unknown location.

On the "Is it India or Oz" question, CA Hagura that showed up at Port Headland was in the Bay of Bengal two weeks ago. But I don't know whethere that's a telling shift of assets or just a pressing need for something big enough to handle Boise/Mauritius.

I just ran the replay (but don't have the turn file yet) and think I might've picked up the KB again - closer to Ceylon.

[paullus99]

Well, if he's being cagey like that, he seems to want you to believe he's thinking about hitting somewhere else. I would suggest, the more he wants you believe he's shifting his attention, the more likely he is to continue to hit you where he is (i.e. India).

[Canoerebel]

The KB is the bellweather. He's got to use it against his ultimate target, whether that's India, Oz or North America. Any of these three cannot be successfully attacked if the Allies are free to bring in reinforcements (that doesn't apply to America as much, but in America he would need carriers to cover his LOC).

I hope, and I still think, India is his main target. I'm best prepared there and I am pretty confident I can defend it well.

[Canoerebel]

4/8/42

India: KB is ten hexes due SW (true) of Sabang on the same heading, as though Ceylon or points west are the target. The Allies will cautiously resume the movement of the reinforcements west. 18th UK Div. has the inside track, so I think I can get her in no matter where the KB goes. 27th USA Div. is much further back and will be positioned south of Cocos, awaiting further developments.

China: Waiting to see where Steve goes (or turns up) next. We still have good integrity on the MLR and no Chinese units to speak of have been roughed up since the beginning of the game. So China is doing okay.

NoPac: USN subs score two more kills - one near Toyohara and one near Kodiak. They've been rampaging the past several days. Sara and York will recover their strike aircraft tomorrow.

Oz: A landing at Port Headland is imminent. A small carrier is present.

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

The KB is the bellweather. He's got to use it against his ultimate target, whether that's India, Oz or North America.

Is there a fourth, fifth, or sixth option? Making a list like this can lead to a pre-formed conclusion.

[Canoerebel]

4/9/42

There are a multitude of options, but I'm focusing on the three that mean the most. Thus, for instance, Hawaii and New Zealand must stand alone.

India: The KB continues on a SW heading and is now 20 hexes NNW (true) of Cocos Island (but much closer to Ceylon and on that heading). The Allied carriers are five hexes WSW of Cocos, 22 hexes from the KB. They will move a few hexes close to Cocos. The 18th UK Div. transports are six hexes ESE of Cocos. The PoW and Repulse TF is west of Cochin. The RAF fighters are at Colombo and Addu. If the KB moves towards Cocos, the Allied carriers may make a stand with an assist from the RAF. Naturally, there's the concern that Steve might pull a carrier ambush, acting like he's coming with the same force when he actually has Kaga, Akagi and Junyo available.

China: Seven stout Chinese divisions converge in a wooded-rough hex NE of Sian and overwhelm two small Chinese infantry units. This will force me to contract my MLR once again and heightens the threat to Sian.

North America: Sara and York recover their strike aircraft. They will rendezvous with a replenishment TF while I consider where they will go. Other than that, quiet, except for more effective work by USN subs.

Oz: A small landing at Port Headland, strong enough to take the base. A small IJN carrier is just to the southwest.

Divison Reconciliation Update: 53rd, which starts at Osaka, and which recently moved to Tokyo, is now reported on marus bound for Mersing. By my count Japan has at least 35 divisions in China, including Kwantung army.

[Capt. Harlock]

China: Seven stout Chinese divisions converge in a wooded-rough hex NE of Sian and overwhelm two small Chinese infantry units.

This must be from where we get the phrase "Chinese fire drill". (I assume the seven divisions were actually IJA?)

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

China: Seven stout Chinese divisions converge in a wooded-rough hex NE of Sian and overwhelm two small Chinese infantry units.

Who won, the Nationalists or the Communists?

[Walloc]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel


China: Seven stout Chinese divisions converge in a wooded-rough hex NE of Sian and overwhelm two small Chinese infantry units. This will force me to contract my MLR once again and heightens the threat to Sian.

I didnt think AE showed the chinese civil war. Guess i were wrong. It comes at an inoppertune moment, sorry to hear CR.

Rasmus

[Canoerebel]

Ack!

Why did I think I could write for a living?

[Cap Mandrake]

I also wonder where one would find 7 divisions worth of "stout Chinese" in 1942.

Those guys were darn skinny back then. Perhaps if there were some kind of referral system so all the chubby ones could be aggregated, sort of like that regiment of tall Prussians the Kaiser had.

We aren't being annoying, are we CR?

[Canoerebel]

[Canoerebel]

[:)]

[ny59giants]

I also wonder where one would find 7 divisions worth of "stout Chinese" in 1942.

Those guys were darn skinny back then. Perhaps if there were some kind of referral system so all the chubby ones could be aggregated, sort of like that regiment of tall Prussians the Kaiser had.

Wasn't Food Stamps part of the "Lend Lease" program?? [:D]

[Canoerebel]

4/10/42

India: I lost sight of the KB again, though she's somewhere close to Ceylon. Vals sank an xAKL to the SE (true). I don't think Steve's coming for Diego Garcia, but if he is, we may have a carrier battle tomorrow. The Allied carriers will take station about two hexes due south. 18th UK Div. is aboard transports that will be a bit further south. I set home base for the carrier TFs and accompaning TFs to Mombassa, just in case calamity strikes. Pucker time.

China: Steve has an army 100k strong in the forests northeast of Sian. I have an army capable of standing up to it, but the Japanese may be able to get to the open terrain near Sian. If so, I may have to abandon Sian and pull further back to consolidate my lines. That in turn will threaten the Lanchow wing of the army. So I may be fighting like Joe Johnston during the Atlanta Campaign after all.

North America: Quiet. Sara and York will refuel in two or three days. I have until then to determine where I wish to use them.

Oz: Japan takes Port Headland. I think Exmouth is next.

[JohnDillworth]

Ack!

Why did I think I could write for a living?

You want to turn yourself in to GreyJoy or just assume he will read the AAR.

Might be a push, but I think a Stout for the stout. Drink up