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Grand Campaign--Big B--1.4--PDU On

I am doing something different with this AAR. I am beginning it seven months into a campaign against my longtime opponent--going back to UV--Dan Roper (Canoerebel). Dan is a good man and worthy foe. What I would like to do is focus this AAR at the point of where we are: June 11, 1942. Manila and Pago-Pago just fell and the Japanese have reached the possible zenith of their power.

The war, as it should, has gone nearly all my direction so far and the Japanese Empire is at a crossroads of decision. The Rising Sun shines upon the entire Pacific from Burma in the west to Canton Island--Midway in the east and from Cold Harbor--Dutch Harbor in the north to Noumea--Suva--Papeate in the south.

The only Allied possessions left are:

North--Kodiak and all points east
East--Johnston, Hawaii, and Palmyra
South--New Zealand and Daly Waters south and east in Australia
West--Mandalay and Akyab

All of SE China has be cleansed and numerous Japanese Brigades have been assigned from here to Pacific duty.

I know that Dan has kept up an AAR from the beginning and I think now is the perfect time for me to start contributing my thoughts about direction and purpose from the Japanese perspective.

This is a kind of sper-of-the-moment decision to start this AAR and I am waiting for a turn from Dan so I can post a VP, ships sunk, and economic update. Let me touch on some broad points and then I will start a comprehensive update once I get the round from my opponent.

Changing Strategy and Current Situation
I decided from the very beginning to play this campaign in a somewhat different manner. I knew that Dan had read all my previous AAR and was getting inside information from my good opponent NY Giants 59 (Michael Benoit) so I decided to try and change my tactics:

a. The Kido Butai--Normally I split this powerful formation into 3 major TF and gradually add new construction to it. This normally allows me to place Carrier TF with 200-300 planes in 2-3 places at once. While usually this works pretty well--it has cost me. In my AAR against Mandrake I lost Junyo, Hiyo, Zuiho, Ryujo due to them running into 3 US CV. I am not doing that again.

In this campaign, I have kept the 6 starting CV together in three TF operating as one unit. To this I have added a CVL to each TF. The KB is now 6 CV and 2 CVL fielding a formidable 201 Zero, 138 Val, and 189 Kate. All these Daitai have been in the thick of it and carry experience ratings ranging from the high-60s (the CVLs) to high-80s. These CVs are operating together and I will not split them apart.

Separate of this formation is Junyo-Hiyo currently operating around Papeate and 2 CVL with 4 CVE at Soerabaja. The DEI Force has been commerce raiding periodically.

b. Japanese Air Force--normally I allow myself to get caught in aerial battles of attrition that leave me in so-so shape by the summer of 1942. Usually this occurs over Burma or Australia. I have not allowed this to take place. The Japanese Air Force is in exceptional shape having come off of months of bombing milk runs over the Philippines, Pago-Pago, Darwin, Katherine, and--now--Daly Waters. I am not dispursing my effort and using my planes for maximum punch with minimim casualties.

c. Kaigun--My Fleet is in exceptional shape. I have not lost A SINGLE heavy unit to this point in the war. I'll post the exact numbers when I get the next turn. Additionally, I have made a point of rotating my ships into Japanese Home Ports for their System Damage to be kept under control. The Kaigun is tan, rested, and ready.

d. Imperial Army

North Pacific--In the biggest surprise of the war, Dan and I have had a Meeting Engagement in the Aleutians. I originally planned to take Kiska and Attu and then dig in. Dan countered and we had some small scale naval and aerial fights over these islands. I countered with a China Brigade and several larger SNLF and took Dutch Harbor and then Umnak. Cold Harbor fell and I have been holding there with the force commitment just described.

Central and SE Pacific--I have taken the Pacific with about 10 Brigades pulled out from China. All that I used to start the war with was the South Seas Force, 35th Brigade, and one full Infantry Division. The Chinese Brigades gradually, as Political Points allowed, filtered into the fight. Pago-Pago just fell on June 10th and I have 8-9 Brigades about to be spread throughout the Pacific for garrisions.

Australia--I bounced the NW portion of Australia very quickly after Timor fell. This did not allow my opponent to get TOO dug in. I now have the equivalent of 5 Infantry Divisions with a large set of support units converging on Daly Waters.

Burma--I HATE CBI! I have 3 Infantry Divisions and 2 Tank Brigades holding the line below Mandalay.

Philippines--Manila fell today--June 11, 1942--and I have nearly 250,000 available, highly trained troops...


I start this AAR with the question of what to do next? I have all those troops in Manila and WILL use them! The option of sitting still is NOT the right answer. To use Robert E. Lee's adage "if the enemy is there--then I will attack him." For those who are Civil War scholars you do not need to remind of this being used at Gettysburg! [:@]

Strategic Options:
1. Alaska--Massively reinforce this theatre and take Anchorage as well as Kodiak and all points nearby.

Advantages--Very probably a successful strategy. Dan is trying to reinforce this theatre and I have slowly moved the KB into a striking position looking for convoys and US Fleet units SE of Anchorage...

Disadvantages--Dead-In theatre of operations. No real stregic/economic benefit.

2. New Zealand--I LOVE attacking this place! With my southwards and SE moves, I don't think Dan has gotten many reinforcements here. Probably normal NZ units plus a pair of American Infantry Divisions.

Advantages--Showy target with ability to cut the US--Aussie supply lines. Could rack up a lot of Victory Points.

Disadvantages--Have already cut this line with grabbing Papeate--Bora-Bora.

3. Australia--Already rolling here and have been pushing the Aussies backwards for the last 4-5 weeks.

Advantages--Here is industry, supply, and resources.

Disdvantages--Even with ALL of Manila's troops, I doubt if there will be enough to take the WHOLE continent!

Those are my foremost strike options. What might you think?

NZ - That's a long way south.  While yes, it does interdict Allies to Oz, it's a long way for you to haul supplies, with ample opportunity for the Allies to interdict -you-.
 
Oz - Do you actually -need- the supply-resources in Oz?  Why not just bomb them and get the vps and make life otherwize unpleasent for the Ozzionians?
 
Alaska - The problem with Alaska is that, there are lot of bases to defend.  It cuts both ways.  Allies can not defend tht all, so you can capture them in detail.  It is good to "deny him the northern route".  But also consider that when push comes to shove in 1944 (and you're getting shoved), can you mount a useful defense?  Probably so.  But make your attack with a defense in 1944 in mind.  You can't defend all those islands in Alaska (just like Allies couldn't earlier).  He'll just attack where you're not, build every the AF(1) to AF4(1) and bomb the snot out of you and kill you in detail (just like you did to him in 1942).  So there -is- a point to invading the Aleutions (and maybe Alaska) - it buys you time.  But just when do, think about how you want your guys to die, because they -will- die.
 
I dunno.  I guess I'm conservative.  If you realistically can -WIN- in 1943, ambitious land grabs are maybe worth it.  But keeping that in my mind, if you're not going to win outright in 1943, you need consider that your -NOT- going to win in 1944 - and therefore should take the stance of (IMO) -
 
"As Japan, I need to either win big 1943, or do everything I can (from war's start) to NOT LOSE in 1945."
 
In my (CHS) game vs. Bilbow, I consider that mantra before doing any sort of operation.  Will whatever I'm doing either contribute to a big win in 1943, or more likely, help me to NOT LOSE in 1945.  If it doesn't fit into that frame of mind, it's not worth doing.
 
-F-

Good Evening Feinder!
 
If I go by that advice and PLAN on an attack, the eastiest--and least dangerous with 1945 in mind--is the Ausie attack.  I only use more troops and NOT the Fleet.  Can still do things in the Pacific while the battle rages in Australia...
 

Great Idea!!!
I can use this AAR to gain more insight into my opponent using my "vast" counseling skills and "superior" powers of discernment. [:D][:D]

I feel that your game as in every other game will be decided by what happens with Japan vs. USA. All other theaters of operation - India, China, Australia, etc., are just side shows to the main event. Unless you suffer a major defeat in one of these theaters, they will not decide the outcome. Thus, your plans should be focused on the USA.

Alaska - I concur with Feinder that there are too many bases here and he will eventually use his massive amount of LBA to roll you back. Going here just delays the counteroffensive.

Australia - it is a large land combat which favors the Japanese (land combat and attrition in this area favors the Japanese through most of the war). However, it does nothing against the USA.

New Zealand - with your capture of French Polynesia, you have already cut off his LOC with Oz/Nz. What more do you gain?? In RHS with the shipping channels, it would be just one more area I can attack you. With Andrew's map, it isn't as important with Bora Bora area captured.

Due to Dan's loss in CV's you still have KB and Co. to use to your advantage to inflict more damage to him and push him back further.

MY choice to attack is....
<drum roll, please>
HAWAII - with everthing else you own, its capture will mean he will need to counterattack with the USA using his CV's anywhere but Alaska (which you can spend more effort defending knowing that the rest of the east Pacific requires him to use CV's to get to you). As it stands now, your CV force is superior until mid-43 and then goes down from there as American production kicks into high gear. Allowing him to hold there and the Line Islands means he can attack from more points.

If this game was on RHS level 7 maps, he would probably not have lost his 2 CV's as he could have taken the long way home. After the limited experience in our game, I will not start another new game on anything but that map (or what they will become in AE). That map changes strategies for the Allied player as well as the Japanese.

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

I feel that your game as in every other game will be decided by what happens with Japan vs. USA. All other theaters of operation - India, China, Australia, etc., are just side shows to the main event. Unless you suffer a major defeat in one of these theaters, they will not decide the outcome. Thus, your plans should be focused on the USA.

I agree with this wholeheartedly. The USN in Cent Pac/So Pac/SW Pac will win the war. Other theaters might certainly have an effect, but they won't be decisive.

One thought - do you need to stay on the offensive at this date? Let the allies come to you where you can attack them from multiple airbases AND with the KB. The amount of territory you grab is far less important (IMO) than your ability to defend it later.

Personally I'd prefer to stop my own offensives before those dastardly allies stop me. Keeping enough strength in reserve to counter-attack vigorously once the allies start to get frisky.

I don't know if this is the best advice in the world, but hopefully it's some food for thought...

I have to agree with ctangus here. Bring in your Chinese Brigades and bunkerdown. With an effective and undepleted airforce, make him pay for every landing. Use your KB to destroy landing ships after he committs and win the game by holding out until 1946.

I do agree with those thoughts.&nbsp; Problem is that I am so darned offensively minded that I want to keep swinging!
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I think that I am going to do the following:
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1.&nbsp; Begin the set-up of my perimeter with the forces on Pago Pago.&nbsp; Moving them around should take about a month of gametime.&nbsp; By the end of that time I should have a serious garrision at each of my major islands of at least one veteran Brigade and support units--figure about 200-250 dug-in assault points at each base.&nbsp; This should be enough for a serious tripwire.
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2.&nbsp; I will station at several points (Kwajalein,&nbsp;Lunga, etc...) additional infantry&nbsp;units to act as regional fire brigades when a counter attack starts.
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3.&nbsp; Will continue to prowl around with the KB and shall&nbsp;consolidate my smaller CVs into a small raider force.
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4.&nbsp; Pool my best&nbsp;Fighter and Betty Daitai&nbsp;to react in a similar manner to point 2.
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I will continue the offensive in Australia to keep Dan focused there and NOT looking elsewhere.&nbsp; maybe I can get himt o commit reinforcements from USA that I can sink and kill...
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Have a feeling that we may have a major brawl coming up in NE Pacific.&nbsp; My KB sank a lone AK in the middle of nowhere (a picket perhaps???) while moving towards Kodiak--Anchorage...&nbsp;
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Will have the statistics for a comprehensive report later this morning.
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The Game is Afoot!
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I just completed the June 13th turn and have sent the June 14th round to Dan.
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My recon up in Alaska is now picking up several Allied TF!&nbsp; Perhaps I have actually stumbled onto something BIG!&nbsp; I bet that Dan has no idea that the entire KB+ is steaming NE towards his TFs.&nbsp; He last spotted them a little over two weeks ago around Somoa...
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I deploy the KB for battle:
&nbsp;
CarDiv1 (Akagi-Kaga), BC Kongo, CA, and 6 DD
CarDiv2 (Hiryu-Soryu), 2 CA, and 6 DD
CarDiv3 (Shokaku-Zuikaku), 3 CA, 2 CL, and 5 DD
CarDiv4 (Ryujo-Shoho), CL, 5 DD
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Rechecked my planes totals and I actually have 185 Zero (CAP 60% Range 6), 138 Val (10% Nav Search Range 5), and 195 Kates (Range 6).&nbsp; I hope to strike using my range advantage like when I sank Enterprise and Lexington a few months ago in the far south.&nbsp;
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To make matter even more itneresting, I order the Bombardment Force that just hit Kodiak to sortie SE towards the Allied formations to draw fire.&nbsp; BB Yamato, CL, and 7 DD serve as bait...&nbsp; This is not a suicide mission, I dedicate 2 Daitai of Zeros from Cold Harbor to fly LR CAP.&nbsp; They won't provide much but should help.
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There are 3 Daitai of Bettys with another Daitai of Zeros are Umnak.&nbsp; Though to range is pretty high, they have struck at several Allied TF prior to this.
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I have a total of 11 SS operating in this arena and they are ordered to move towards Anchorage.&nbsp; This should move them across the American TF line-of-advance.
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INTELLIGENCE ASSESSMENT:
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I haven't seen the remaining American CVs in nearly 6 weeks.&nbsp; There is a very high probablility that I am going to hit at least 3 CV.&nbsp; To my knowledge--with Enterprise and Lexington sunk--this would be about all the Americans can field.&nbsp; Wasp isn't yet int he Pacific I believe.&nbsp;
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IF that is what I face and IF Dan chooses to fight, my KB will be taking on 81 Wildcats, 108 SBD, and 45 TBD.&nbsp; Any American strike will be fatal to a Japanese TF and that is why I split my KB the way I do.&nbsp; It'll, as always, depend on first strikes and range.
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Let us see if Dan wants to play...
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Of course there might be NOTHING out there then some poor, helpless convoy but I don't think so.&nbsp; My Japanese 'spider-sense' is twitching!
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BANZAI!&nbsp; BANZAI!!&nbsp; BANZAI!!!
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Dan appears to be backing away from the hoped for battle.&nbsp; His CVs have moved toward the coastline of Canada--Alaska.&nbsp; I will move NE one more day to try to catch him.&nbsp; With that web of bases stretching from Kodiak to Seattle, I have to be careful in where I plot to.&nbsp; My KB will end up tomorrow at an 8 hex range&nbsp;from Kodiak (AF 4), 9 hexes from Anchorage (AF 5), and 8 hexes from Juneau (AF 2).&nbsp; At this hex location, my Kates can reach any part of the Gulf of Alaska.&nbsp; We'll see what he does...
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I am running low on fuel so I can only do this another day or two.&nbsp; Hope to provoke things since he still doesn't know that all those CVs are present.&nbsp; He knows of at least 1 and since he knows how I operate, he probably safely assumes that there is at least 1 full division of the KB.&nbsp; His AK Picket ship was hit by Hiryu's Zeros, 21 Vals, and 21 Kates.
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Since I am not sure of action there, let me shift to other fronts and fill things in a little better.&nbsp; I have began moving troops from Pago Pago and Manila:
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Pago Pago
I start loading 3 convoys each carrying an Brigade-sized unit:
1.&nbsp; South Seas Detachment&nbsp;to garrision Canton Isle
2.&nbsp; 12th Ind Brigage to garrision Baker Isle
3.&nbsp; 13th Ind Brigade to garrision Tarawa
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Manila
Also loading 3 convoys:
1.&nbsp; 2nd Infantry Division to Darwin
2.&nbsp; 4th Mixed Regiment to Darwin
3.&nbsp; 65th Brigade to Rangoon
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Australia
I have&nbsp;a great amount of troops and aircraft stationed or&nbsp;on the move between Wyndham, Darwin, Katherine, and Daly Waters.&nbsp; I'll hit each base:
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Wyndham
This was my main base when I was trying to take Darwin from the rear via Katherine.&nbsp; The base has been massively built up (AF 5 and Pt 5) and currently has a Sentai of Oscars, 72 Tina Transports, and 90+ Topsy Transports.&nbsp; Obviously my 2 Parachute Regiments are based here and awaiting orders.&nbsp; I have enough base support here for 250 planes.
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Darwin
Dan evacuated this base (thankfully) near the end of May and I have been expanding it.&nbsp; It is currently AF 4 (almost 5) and Port 4.&nbsp; I've enough base support for 250 aircraft and it has 45,000 supply in it.&nbsp; There is an Air Flotilla and Army Air Division HQ here.&nbsp; There are 81 Zero and 151 Sally/Helen here being used to attack&nbsp;ground targets at Daly Waters.
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Katherine
This town is now AF 3 and expanding rapidly.&nbsp;&nbsp;The 14 Army HQ is currently planning for Tennant Creek while sitting here and there is another Air Division HQ here.&nbsp; The Imperial Guards Division, 56th Brigade, 2 Artillery Regiments, and 2 Engineering Regiments are moving through here to Daly Waters.&nbsp; The 72 Oscars and 81 Sally/Helen are bombing the Daly Waters AF.
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Daly Waters
This town is under attack by the 25th Army HQ, 16th/18th/48th Infantry Divisions, 7th Ind Brigade, a Tank Brigade, and Artillery Regiment.
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Once my reinforcements arrive from Katherine, I will launch a general assault here.&nbsp; Dan has about 3 1/2 Aussie Divisions and&nbsp;3-4&nbsp;Base Forces present.&nbsp; I've been content to bombard&nbsp;and strafe this base for the last 10 days or so.
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When this town falls, I will switch Army HQs and drive on Tennant Creek.&nbsp; When it falls, I will split my troops.&nbsp; The more powerful will attack in the direction of his retreat and the smaller will drive&nbsp;on Alice Springs or Cloncurry.&nbsp; Things will wholly depend on which way his forces elect to retreat.&nbsp;
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A CV clash does occur on June 16, 1942 just two hexes from the Canadian coast!

Well...OK...the GOOD News:

1.  I sank BB Idaho
2.  I put 2 TT--with an AMMO explosion secondary--into the Hornet
3.  My CVs were not TOUCHED!

The BAD News:

I thought that UBER-CAP didn't exist anymore!  Here are my 2 Raids for the morning:

Raid One--16 Zero, 43 Vals, and 54 Kates  VERSUS  16 P-40, 68 F4F, and 4 P-38
I shot down 2 P-40, 1 F4F, and 2 P-38 while losing 11 Zero, 24 Vals, and 30 Kates

This strikes me as reasonable since my Strike ran into a HUGE number of fighters.  It is bad but understandable.

Raid Two--56 Zero, 91 Vals, and 141 Kates  VERSUS  15 P-40, 67 F4F, and 2 P-38
I shot down 16 P-40, 3 F4F, and 3 P-38 for GET THIS 40 Zero, 30 Vals, and 52 Kates!

What the HELL!  I am outnumbered slightly in this fight but not by much.  What a slaughter!

I lose all these planes and pilots for an old BB and serious damage to 1 CV...

I especially hate that there were Army Fighters flying cover as well.  That is for my opponent and I to discuss...

The range was at 6 and the Japanese react 1 hex closer (now Range 5) and the Americans do the same closing the range to 4.  I prepare myself for Dauntless HELL and...NOTHING...no planes fly on either side!  Thank God!


Breathing deeply and trying to exert some control to NOT throw the game out, I order the KB to move SW AWAY and then I will head for Dutch Harbor.  Dan is conservative.  I do not expect him to move out away fromt he coast with his 2 healthy CV.

June 17-24, 1942
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After the Great Gulf of Alaska Turkey Shoot, the KB moves to Dutch Harbor where it arrives on the 22nd.&nbsp; I discovered a few interesting things as I survey the damage to my air groups.&nbsp; Though I lost about 185 planes, I only lost about 150 pilots.&nbsp; While terrible, this came a nice surprise.&nbsp; Let me detail the damage done to my air groups:
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Name--Standard Complement, left to fly, and (Zero/Val/Kate)
&nbsp;
Akagi--72 Planes--46 (19-16-11)
Kaga--72 Planes--61 (24-20-17)
Hiryu--63 Planes--17 (11-6-0)&nbsp; OUCH!
Soryu--63 Planes--47 (14-15-18)
Shokaku--72 Planes--52 (15, 17, 20)
Zuikaku--72 Planes--54 (16-20-18)
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Ryuho--48 Planes--36 (20-0-16)
Shoho--30 Planes--18 (12-0-6)
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In searching for good news, I find that I only lost 5 Daitai Leaders.&nbsp; Luckily this should help with training up the rebuilt airgroups.&nbsp; I can only guess as to why Dan's bombers DIDN'T fly but I am thankful.&nbsp; I still have my CVs intact and will have to work on ringing up their experience is a careful manner.&nbsp;
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ACTIONS:
1.&nbsp; I split the KB and send 3 CV and 2 CVL home for upkeep on the 24th.&nbsp; I'll list&nbsp;their name and system damage # afterwards:&nbsp; Soryu&nbsp;(8), Shokaku (9), Zuikaku (11), Ryujo (10), and Shoho (8).&nbsp; They head for the Home Islands to get repaired and fix their broken airgroups.&nbsp;&nbsp;
2.&nbsp; Akagi, Kaga, and Hiryu will leave ont he 26th (after fuel arrives) and head south to Suva for operational duty down there.&nbsp; Dan is running little Convoys along the edge of the map and I will let me CVs train their new avaitors there.
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North Pacific
On the 23rd, three of my older BBs arrive at Dutch Harbor so I send them-with Yamato and Kongo--to bombard Kodiak.&nbsp; I want to make Dan think I am staying up north.&nbsp; If I can keep him from moving north again for 2 weeks, then that will be something.
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I augment my Northern Air Force to 3 Daitai of Zeros, 1 Sentai of Oscars, 2 Daitai of Bettys, 1 Sentai of Helens, and 3 Chutai of Emilys.&nbsp; This is what I will commit to the theatre and NO MORE!&nbsp; If Dan fixates on te Aleutians then that is a good thing.&nbsp;
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With the BBs making their presense known, perhaps he will think that I plan to&nbsp;invade Kodiak and/or Anchorage as I have in other campaigns...
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SE Pacific
I am spreading around my Brigades and getting my defensive line established here.&nbsp; Lots of AP Convoys are moving around and I work to improve and expand my captured bases.&nbsp; I am paying particular attention to Papeate, Bora Bora, and Rarotonga.&nbsp; Each of these bases have about 250 assault points of troops and can hold upwards of 100-150 aircraft each.&nbsp;
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Papeate is already expanded to AF 5 and Port 4.&nbsp; It is my main base here with naval units (CVs Junyo and Hiyo), SS, and a good number of planes operating from here.&nbsp; Currently I have 6 I-Boats with Glens set up in two groups of three watching for the single ship and small convoys traveling to and from New Zealand.&nbsp; Akagi, Kaga, and Hiryu will base themselves at Papeate for a while...
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It would be good if I continue to make Dan nervous about New Zealand so I will periodically do things to make him THINK I MIGHT invade here...
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Australia
The big news here is that Dan evacuated Daly Waters on the 22nd without a fight.&nbsp; I occupy it and get aircraft into the undamaged Size 3 AF on the 24th.&nbsp; He MUST make a stand at Tennant Creek.&nbsp; I have the equivalent of 5 Infantry Divisions with another 1 1/2 about to land at Darwin from Manila.&nbsp;
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Tennant Creek should fall rather easily and then I have big decisions to make.&nbsp; Do I swing SE and head for Townsville/Cairns or go SW and threaten Adelaide/Perth?&nbsp; Have to think about it...
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To make Dan even more nervous, I order an SNLF, Nvl Construction Battalion, and small Base Force to load into transports on the 23rd to take Exmouth Bay.&nbsp; I will use this harbor for a seaplane base.&nbsp; It is my HOPE that Dan will move troops towards Perth to protect it.&nbsp; That is a deadend area and if I do go that direction, those troops will be wiped out through seige and attack.
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To ratchet up the tension, I dispatch my smaller CVLs/CVEs from Batavia on the 22nd towards the edge of the map for raiding duty.&nbsp; This is a respectable force:&nbsp; CVLs Ryuho and Zuiho sail separately with CVEs Hosho, Unyo, Chuyo, and Taiyo nearby.&nbsp; The total plane complement is 86 Zero, 18 Val, and 47 Kate.&nbsp; Accompaning them are 3 CA, CS Nisshin, 2&nbsp;CL, and 11 DD.&nbsp; There are 3 Glen-Equipped SS probing around looking for targets...
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Thoughts?&nbsp;

Strafing chinese or other unfortunate guys could help training them up to about exp 65, you need sink some ships to improve further. But, u see, very high exp didn't really help, you still got more than 100 bombers coming through last time, but they failed to sink Hornet.

Another thing is I would never choose BB mod as Japs, too weak, you simply give all fun to your allied opponent. This A2A result normally not happened in other mods.&nbsp; I judged this mod too unbalanced for a good game between 2 players with about equal skills.

Tennant Creek should fall rather easily and then I have big decisions to make. Do I swing SE and head for Townsville/Cairns or go SW and threaten Adelaide/Perth? Have to think about it...

I made a mistake in my CHS PBEM and sent unit through Townsville and then NW towards Tennant Creek. There is about 8 hexes of trails between Cloncurry and Tennant Creek. They took forever to get there. [:(] No sense in going that direction. I would just take Alice Spring and dig in. He can only hit you with heavy bombers due to distances. If your going to continue south, then you need to take Perth and roll up that flank to Adelaide. Cuts off India from Australia. Then he will have three areas that are NOT mutually supporting. [:-]

Good thinking Michael.&nbsp; I will push through to Alice Springs at a minimum and you are right about the condition of the trails from Tennant Creek to Cloncurry.
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Like the idea of splitting him into several pieces...
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On the last turn I added all 3 of my Tank Regiments that were in Manila to go to Darwin.&nbsp; That will add nearly a division of punch with Shock Attack possiblities.
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Like the idea of splitting him into several pieces...

RHS and eventually AE with their extensive shipping channels will take away this option.
Which is how it should be.

We shall see!&nbsp; Michael--Do I have a turn coming????
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Slow turn day today for Dan and I.  We have weekdays open so we tend to get 4-6 turns done each weekeday.  The weekends are the opposite where we have a lot of family time and only get 1 or 2 in.  I have a son about to turn 4 and another that is 16 months.  This leads to great amounts of chaos when everyone is home!

I continued my disinformation campaign with our June 27th turn. 

In Big B's Mod, we get 100 Political Points per day to give the commanders more flexiblity in troops usage.  This is what I have done and am doing: 

1.  I have taken advantage of this to pull the small Chinese Brigades out over the first 5 months of the campaign.  Like I have said earlier, I think I have pulled 9-10 of those units out of China.  Those troops allowed me to take the South and Southeast Pacific and are now becoming garrision formations throughout the area.

2.  About a month ago, I bought out the following units of the Manchurian Army:  1st Mixed Brigade (much bigger then the small ones I have pulled), 2 Engineering Brigades, and 2 Artilllery Regiments.  They have reached Shanghai for embarkation.

3.  I am getting ready to pull the 20th Infantry Division from its Korean location and change it out as well on July 1st.  This unit purchase will completely tap my current Political Points.

The headgame that I am playing at right now is that I assigned ALL of these units to plan for ANCHORAGE!  Odds are that American intelligence will pick-up on a few of these unit's orders and...

Rather evil planning if I do say so myself!

Where are they going you ask?  I believe the units detailed in point 2 are going to take Geraldon to the north of Perth.  The 20th ID will help to start a counter-action force that I will begin to create for the American counterattack...

Dan and I will get a turn or two in today and I plan to keep up the confusion on my main axis of attack.
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I have Junyo and Hiyo approaching New Zealand from due east looking for shipping.&nbsp; I PLAN to let them be seen before heading north up to Noumea.&nbsp; Once spotted and then seen moving northwards, they will make a long loop back to Papeate and try to hit anything being sent from the Panama Canal.&nbsp;
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Will also set a few more units to plan for Auckland this round to further that thought.
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Just simply want some serious confusion from Dan.&nbsp; I do enjoy doing this.&nbsp; Perhaps I can paralyse him for a few weeks while I hammer at Australia...
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This is a red herring heading.&nbsp; I want Dan to see it since he is on the forum site right now.
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[:D][:D]
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Merry Christmas everyone!

Have just completed the June 29-30, 1942 turns with little action.

North Pacific

Partial KB
I have replennished the lost aircrews on Akagi, Kaga, and Hiryu while at Dutch Harbor.  CarDiv1 looks good with all six Daitai still in the high-60s and low-70s for experience; however, Hiryu is BAD:  Zero 68, Val 49, and Kate 41 for experience totals.  These 3 CV with 2 BC, 4 CA, 1 CL, and 8 DD depart Dutch Harbor on the 29th headed for Suva.  I HOPE Dan thinks they are still at DH for a while!

BB Bombardment
I have 4 BB on regular Bombardment runs to Kodiak.  Their job isn't to do any real damage, it is to make Dan think I am serious about coming North.

South Pacific 
Junyo and Hiyo are spotted heading north towards Noumea after passing New Zealand to the east.  Something else for Dan to think about.

Pago Pago
My LBA manages to hit THREE Allied SS in ONE round on the 29th! None sink but still nice to do some damage.

Australia
Am approaching Tennant Creek and have nearly 200 Sally and Helen hitting the AF and ground troops in that area.

My Exmouth Bay Invasion Force will land about July 5th.  Once I have that bay then I will move two Chutai of Emily there for recon and naval search.

I MIGHT invade Geraldon--will recon it from Exmouth Bay...

Burma
No real news.  I have about 150 bombers and 200 fighters here operating out of Rangoon, Meiltaka, and that other base NW of there.  Have no desire to capture Akyab or Mandalay.

That is the news from my front!

Will be posting an economic summary as well as victory points total in a few minutes.