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Moving troops into all these Japanese cities in China is a very good idea: resource and oil centers stop producing if enemy troops are in the same hex (you probably know this). Try to keep Yangku occupied, it has many resource centers - and the Japanese are very short on resources in CHS! He's running a massive resource deficit right now.

ORIGINAL: Gen.Hoepner

Sure i wanna win guys. Don't think i'm not playing for the final victory! But the journey is what matters!
It's like when you play tennis.
Your buddy may call out some balls that were in...but you can have fun all the way and enjoy the match just for what it is:a game.

I would just like to add my own words of support. Contrary to much of the nasty comments being made your opponent does seem like someone who does know how to play, but I agree that does not in itself make him someone I would ever choose to play.

I believe one of the hardest things to do when finding an opponent is finding someone who plays the style of game you prefer to play.

Your comments have shown you are the better person and many people posting would clearly be honoured to be your opponent. Congratulations to you.

ORIGINAL: Gen.Hoepner

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Day Air attack on Ponape , at 73,80

And finally the Ponape operation started!
NExt week we'll transfer more 200 2Es bombers here...Ponape will be ready to be invaded within the next 3 weeks.

And where oh where is the KB? [&:]

Anticipating the Ponape operation to be a duel!

ORIGINAL: witpqs

ORIGINAL: Gen.Hoepner

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Ponape , at 73,80

And finally the Ponape operation started!
NExt week we'll transfer more 200 2Es bombers here...Ponape will be ready to be invaded within the next 3 weeks.

And where oh where is the KB? [&:]

Anticipating the Ponape operation to be a duel!

Well next move in my opinion, once the situation is rape in Ponape, to wait for KB to show up elsewhere on the other side of the ocean to draw some blood. Hoepner's strength is that his adversary can't just sit and wait - he didn't start the real stuff in the Pacific yet, and I just don't see him keeping the Empire's borders as they are right now. He'll have to commit the KB to invade some place we don't really care about, and then, only then, we may strike the final blow in Ponape. My two cents [:)]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/14/42

In China things are getting worse guys... another huge attack against Chungking caused massive distruption...more 50 planes torched on the ground! Despite our AVG prooved to be more than a challenge for the zeros operating in China (14 of them shot down in a absolute disparity), they could not avoid the closure of Chungking AF...which is now inoperable...[:(]...
Worse he understood that Changsha could not be taken frontally, so now he's moving back his HUGE army and he's clearly trying to flank me in the north of Changsha. I simply do not have enough units to stop this, and now without any kind of air cover. I decided to move back to Changsha everything i have...abbandoning even Nanchang (supply situation was so low...). The idea is to let him take my left flank N of Changsha, but keeping a very strong mobile force in my right flank, so that he won't be able to advance any further without risking to be cut out from his supply path...i know it's a weak plan, but it's the best i can master right now...

At Karachi a lonely AK was hit and sunk by his betties...it's absolutely impossible to bring supplies to Karachi (which is today at 291,000). The AVs remain constant at 2550 however.

At Manila the constant bombing continues...[:(]

About the KB... if i was him i'd try a raid against my lines, between PH and Eniwetok or between PH and san Francisco. However it would be quite risky for him...i still have 4 CVs operative....however i've taken some countermeasures: Wake and Midway are full of Catalinas and Conrados and so Eniwetok...if he wants to pass through this area he will be spotted! And Fishbed, he simply has nothing to invade with in the Pacific...all his divisions are busy somewhere else...i really do not see where and how he could master a counter-invasion right now.....

At Ponape the raids continue. Today we targeted also the port with our B-17s. The flak is non-existent at Ponape, so we can go bombing every day without risking the loss of morale or huge fatigue...At S.F. arrived the 32nd US division...will be moved soon to PH. Eniwetok is fastly becoming my major base. Huge concentration of men, supplies, fuel and ships.

The last note...the VP situation is getting worse...the 4-1 is very very close...[:(]

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Naval bombardment of Karachi, at 21,3


Allied aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft losses
No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
CA Kako
CA Furutaka
CA Aoba
CA Takao
CA Tone


Allied ground losses:
2498 casualties reported
Guns lost 27
Vehicles lost 1

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 43
Port hits 2

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Day Air attack on Chungking , at 43,32

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 64
G3M Nell x 26
G4M1 Betty x 50
Ki-21-II Sally x 26
Ki-49 Helen x 112
Ki-46-II Dinah x 7
Ki-15 Babs x 5

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 2
P-40B Tomahawk x 8
P-40E Warhawk x 7
I-153c x 3
I-16c x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 14 destroyed, 4 damaged
G3M Nell: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged
Ki-21-II Sally: 1 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 3 destroyed, 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 1 destroyed
P-40B Tomahawk: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 5 destroyed
I-153c: 2 destroyed
I-16c: 3 destroyed
Blenheim IV: 10 destroyed
B-25C Mitchell: 4 destroyed
B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed
B-26B Marauder: 2 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
66 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 14
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 93

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Manila , at 43,52

Japanese aircraft
B5N2 Kate x 146
Ki-48-I Lily x 29

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed, 11 damaged
Ki-48-I Lily: 4 damaged


Allied ground losses:
200 casualties reported
Guns lost 6
Vehicles lost 2

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 102

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Ponape , at 73,80

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 21
B-17E Fortress x 77
F-4 Lightning x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
H6K4 Mavis: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 4 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
86 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 4
Runway hits 8
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 1

.

ORIGINAL: witpqs

ORIGINAL: Gen.Hoepner

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Ponape , at 73,80

And finally the Ponape operation started!
NExt week we'll transfer more 200 2Es bombers here...Ponape will be ready to be invaded within the next 3 weeks.

And where oh where is the KB? [&:]

Anticipating the Ponape operation to be a duel!

Well, you know, Trollelite isn't really caring about Pacific at all. He didn't even bother to defend Kwalajein...and now he's completely avoiding defending Truk's perimeter (Ponape could be fortified when i invaded the Marshalls)...he's probably going to take the whole India-China thing and then just sit and wait...knowing that i simply cannot attack his continental empire from the Pacific.
But i agree that once/If Ponape will be conquered it will start a meatgrinder in the pacific. Truk will be under my direct fire and he cannot really let me do that...

Ok, let's take a look at the OOB for Ponape Operation.
 
Marine Raider Bn.
2nd USMC Division
161 US RCT
 
We'll use a huge fast transport fleet, in order not to expose our transport fleet to the betties at Truk.
100 4Es and 200 2Es will support the invasion from Eniwetok.

As soon as our valiant marines will have conquered the base, we'll move in, using Dakotas, a base force and some AA units. This will enable us to move in the Marines Wildcats.Then we'll start building the base up to level 4 AF... i'm very curious to see how he will react
 
 
 

Big Pacific Picture

As you can see the situation in the pacific is not bad. However with the fall of Manila (which is something sure in the nearby future) he will be able to move to the Mariannas area more 3000 AVs...which is enough to stop my advance any firther till mid-43, also considering that the KB is surely lingering in the area...
However i cannot complain.
The problem now is that with India lost and China in a so bad situation, Japan seems really to be near to win this war even without the pacific...

Will the game end if 4-1 in VP is achieved by 01.01.43?
If so, you may have to do something to 'keep it alive'.

Since your opponent need 4 points for every point you score, a big battle will be a good thing.
Engaging his surface fleet at Karachi or forcing a battle with the KB could become a necessity!
I lost 2 Soryu class carriers in my game, and that was all it took to keep under the 4-1 AV on points by the
smallest margin.

ORIGINAL: PzB

Will the game end if 4-1 in VP is achieved by 01.01.43?
If so, you may have to do something to 'keep it alive'.

Since your opponent need 4 points for every point you score, a big battle will be a good thing.
Engaging his surface fleet at Karachi or forcing a battle with the KB could become a necessity!
I lost 2 Soryu class carriers in my game, and that was all it took to keep under the 4-1 AV on points by the
smallest margin.

Hi John!

Trollelite has assured me that the game will end only when i will quit[:D], so the 1.1.43 isn't really a concern for me, however the VP ratio indicates how well you're doing and it's quite depressing to see how bad i'm doing...[:o]
However i still have more than 7 months to score some good hits...! In the next months i really hope to reduce Truk and advance further to the Mariannas...i'm sure he'll come out and play with his KB, so maybe some points will be scored[8D]

ORIGINAL: Gen.Hoepner

ORIGINAL: PzB

Will the game end if 4-1 in VP is achieved by 01.01.43?
If so, you may have to do something to 'keep it alive'.

Since your opponent need 4 points for every point you score, a big battle will be a good thing.
Engaging his surface fleet at Karachi or forcing a battle with the KB could become a necessity!
I lost 2 Soryu class carriers in my game, and that was all it took to keep under the 4-1 AV on points by the
smallest margin.

Hi John!

Trollelite has assured me that the game will end only when i will quit[:D], so the 1.1.43 isn't really a concern for me, however the VP ratio indicates how well you're doing and it's quite depressing to see how bad i'm doing...[:o]
However i still have more than 7 months to score some good hits...! In the next months i really hope to reduce Truk and advance further to the Mariannas...i'm sure he'll come out and play with his KB, so maybe some points will be scored[8D]

If you do not lose anymore expensive ships, you will find that your overall point to total will rise due to plane loses. If he uses, as he has been, his planes on a daily basis. His ops loses are about 6to1 with yours. Also he needs to destroy 4to1 in A2A and on the ground. To offset this you can create bombardment fleets of cruisers to attack active airbases on coasts. Any plane loses will only add to his mounting problem. The autovicotry is important in that I believe if he achieves it, he will reference it later when you do win the game. As for not being able to attack continental China or India, I think your view will change as you get into 1943-44 and find that you can easily to do this. You have him out flanked and his production is going to suffer for it. You should a much easier time in 43-44 than against a traditional Japanese openning offensive.

The irony is, you're in a good set for 1945, but no so much for 1942...  [;)]
 
I honestly don't know what to tell you about China/India.  But if you haven't already, I'd put RCTs in your CentPac conquests and just start digging in.  While I haven't in-depth looked at the situation in China/India (other than  you're in the poo), the question is "What is he going to do with all those troops in India/China when he either wins there, or decides to to just squat (and commit the troops elsewhere).  My guess, the aswer to that question is Oz or PH.  Not to discount PH, but I think that would be (too) costly for him, even if he were to capture it.  That being the case, I'd look at Oz as his next target, and make sure you've got US Divs there to protect it.
 
-F-

I see some red dots on the southern coast of NG, in the Solomons and even in New Caledonia [&:] which of them are units and which of them are bases? Is he already in Lunga and Milne Bay?

I see Rabaul is in his hands too. Any plans to start to design a bombing campaign from PM and the Solomons? That would open another costly air front for him. But I know you don't have that many 4Es at hand... Maybe once Ponape is reduced to ruins, you may undertake such a move elsewhere - but then we'd have to start building the needed facilities in the meantime...

I see the distance between Eniwetok and Ponape does allow for some battlewagon shuttle business right? Do you plan on visiting the place with big guns together with the planes?

I'd add that you may start to bomb the crap out of Kwajalein before you start the show over Ponape. He may believe for now it's your next target, and the XP you'll get from these milk runs should prove handy later on when your bombers will face fighters elsewhere.

You may even, indeed, invade the damn place anyway...

ORIGINAL: Feinder

The irony is, you're in a good set for 1945, but no so much for 1942...  [;)]

I honestly don't know what to tell you about China/India.  But if you haven't already, I'd put RCTs in your CentPac conquests and just start digging in.  While I haven't in-depth looked at the situation in China/India (other than  you're in the poo), the question is "What is he going to do with all those troops in India/China when he either wins there, or decides to to just squat (and commit the troops elsewhere).  My guess, the aswer to that question is Oz or PH.  Not to discount PH, but I think that would be (too) costly for him, even if he were to capture it.  That being the case, I'd look at Oz as his next target, and make sure you've got US Divs there to protect it.

-F-

Oz would be a terrible task for him. I've reinforced heavily both Darwin and Perth, at the cost of taking away many units from the eastern coast. But the gamble here is that he doesn't know that, so the usual invading sites in Oz are West or Northern coast.
However now i simply do not have anything to move to Oz. Every unit is needed in CENTPAC in order to fortify my gained territories. But the next units will be sent to Oz cause i want to start a new offensive front in the second half of 42 starting from Darwin...

ORIGINAL: Fishbed

I see some red dots on the southern coast of NG, in the Solomons and even in New Caledonia [&:] which of them are units and which of them are bases? Is he already in Lunga and Milne Bay?

I see Rabaul is in his hands too. Any plans to start to design a bombing campaign from PM and the Solomons? That would open another costly air front for him. But I know you don't have that many 4Es at hand... Maybe once Ponape is reduced to ruins, you may undertake such a move elsewhere - but then we'd have to start building the needed facilities in the meantime...

I see the distance between Eniwetok and Ponape does allow for some battlewagon shuttle business right? Do you plan on visiting the place with big guns together with the planes?

He just conquered the solomons and Lungaville in the first days of the war, simply using a pair of transports and a NLF unit. He jumped in every undefended base...just to bother me i think...because he didn't leave anything in those bases and i simply ignored that theatre too.
From the actual positions in CENTPAC it would be useless to open a new front in the solomons...Truk is already threatened now!
However when the new front will be opened at Darwin i'll move some forces to PM, in order to cover my right flank of the advance in Northern Guinea.

Yes, my BBs are already on the move towards Eniwetok...will be used to bomb in pieces Ponape first, then when this base will be conquered, Truk will be their target....but my ayes are wide open for the KB...gotta pay attention!

ORIGINAL: Fishbed

I'd add that you may start to bomb the crap out of Kwajalein before you start the show over Ponape. He may believe for now it's your next target, and the XP you'll get from these milk runs should prove handy later on when your bombers will face fighters elsewhere.

You may even, indeed, invade the damn place anyway...

I'm not mentioning it, but i'm bombing kwalajein every single day with 200 2Es from Maloelap and Wotje, in order to keep it closed and to give some extra experience to my crews.
Invading it would be very costly in terms of men...but if my advance will be stopped i'll consider doing so in order to get some extra VP points and get a very good port for my ships...but at the moment it isn't on my agenda

Well yes not knowing where KB is can be quite scary. Too bad Intel can't say a sh*t about it...

By the way I guess you know pretty well you'd better move on to Ponape before the Philippines - or worse - Karachi are done, and before he frees up some troops. I suppose his next target once his troops are available again may be Eniwetok itself...