Is this an INSANE idea for April 1943? No Rebel Canoes Allowed!

[John 3rd]

To start with, this is a high level strategic thought for April 1943 as the Japanese in a Big B 1.4 Mod game. Anyone who has been reading Dan Roper and I's AAR (Forlorn Hopes) know that I have had a terrific run as the Japanese player. Darn near took all of Australia but am in a 'situation' within Burma. I am attaching a recent screenshot.

If one looks at the map, you see that I am pinned into Rangoon by 28 units: 2 Brit Inf Div, some Brit Artie, and a heck of a lot of Chinese/Indian troops. To the east sit 9 more units blocking Moulmein from aiding Rangoon. Spread throughout Meiktila, Magwe, Mandalay, etc... are at least 31 more units. This makes for a total of 68 units within Burma proper.

The problem Dan has is that I control the air and sea around Rangoon and Moulmein. Rangoon is in no danger of falling as its Forts are rising, troops have been reinforced, and supply is excellent. There are 3 1/2 50-60% strength Japanese Inf Div in Moulmein and they are recovering their strength fairly rapidly. Put simply Dan cannot take Rangoon but cannot let off without me coming after him.

Never one to be cautious and/or defensive-minded, I am thinking about something that might be crazy in any other situation. I am contemplating a strategic assault upon his rear in India. My thoughts are to land somewhere between Diamond Harbor and Madras and then drive east taking everything I can. To do this let me tell you what I have available for troops:

1 Army HQ
3 Full Strength Infantry Divisions (2 from Australia with XP at 98)
2 Full Strength Tank Divisions
1 Cavalry Regiment
1 Engineering Regiment
2 Aviation Regiments

Both Parachute Regiments

This would be a combined force of nearly 3000 assault points...

I don't know India well enough to know if this force--figuring the massive forward deployment that Dan has done--would be able to accomplish much. I don't contemplate taking India but I thought I could force him to pull back and my troops could raise merry Hell throughout India until he tries to contain them...

Is this a crazy idea? If yes, then toss out your thoughts! If no, then help me with some planning...


Arrrgggg...some some reason the program is telling me that I cannot upload the screenshot because it is too large. I will post this and then pull the screenshot and add it on another posting.

[John 3rd]

 

[USSAmerica]

John, you would have to be willing to throw away any troops you land in India, once they have done their damage.  Once you are convinced that you are willing to lose them, it would be a bonus to get any of them evacuated once their mission is finished, if you still control the air and sea in the region. 
 
As far as what they could accomplish, and what they would be facing, I really can't say.  I've not yet played far enough into the war to know what the Allied player has at his disposal in 1Q '43.  Dan sure seems to have a lot of troops in Bruma, though. 
 
I would honestly have to say this is an INSANE idea.  When has that ever stopped you?  [8D]

[rtrapasso]

Any idea what is in Calcutta??

It is an urban hex, so maybe 1.5 divisions could probably stop an offensive (i am guessing)... if it were me, it would surely be at level 9 forts by now... you might be able to run "north" or "west" (toward Madras - another city hex, i think), however... this would probably mean your supply lines are vulnerable, though.

[John 3rd]

India

[John 3rd]

Mike--You just nearly made me spew my tea with your last comment!  [:D][:D]
 
I could do a quick recon of the various towns throughout that area and see how many troops are spread throughout.  If I did it now and then don't do anymore until closer to a landing, Dan might not suspect...
 
Going west IS an interesting thought!  Madras could be entertaining...
 
This could be a Nathaniel Bedford Forrest race through India destroying all that I can before running like Hell to survive!

[rtrapasso]

Don't think Cuttack is a sea-hex (it isn't in CHS, but the map looks slightly different)... you can still land there, i guess (depending on house rules) but there might not be a port...

Again, if they have a lot of forts, even a base force will give any paras a hard time.

[Gem35]

He probably either has or will get some good reinforcements from karachi . It would be a gamble but it may work if you can sneak by and pull it off.

[rtrapasso]

Madras could be entertaining...

in CHS, it is also a city hex, iirc... could be tough if there are any signficant forces around.

[AcePylut]

What about landing at Chittagong, then moving North to cut off all the allied troops in Burma from their sources of supply?
 
Or, land at Cuttack, then move the guys north to Rangpur to try and cut off supplies to the troops in Burma?


What do you plan to accomplish by pushing across India?  Insane?  It's only insane if you aren't going to gain anything by it.  Why throw away 3k AV, when a different plan of "throwing away" that 3k AV might possibly lead to you bagging 30 Allied LCU's?
 
 

[Jzanes]

I also vote for landing at Chittagong instead.  Without a port in Burma, the allied supply situation must be tenuous at best.  Use everything you have (KB, naval bombardment, and air forces) to suppress the airfields from Diamond Harbor to Akyab before you land.  If it's lightly held, a paradrop at Rangpur (or even Dacca) will help to isolate the battlefield.
I think the invasion you are considering will stall out and slowly get pounded by allied LBA before you grab anything important.

[John 3rd]

I just a turn in from Dan and will update the screenshot as well as order recon.  Wait a bit and I will add more information...

[John 3rd]

Have started recon over his bases.  So far I see that Calcutta has 3 units and Diamond Harbor has 2.  Will see more next turn...
 

[tlkiilerich]

I’ve done 2 India invasions using CHS so far, but those have always been in February or no later than Marts 42. First of I would rule out both Calcutta and Madras as landing areas, I would if possible steer clear of these areas altogether. I’ve had the Madras baseforce by itself hold of a DIV attack and this was a fully prepped DIV supported by a HQ, arty and an additional regiment.

Chittagong has a few things going for it, it’s closest to a friendly port, it can be long range CAP’ed. I would still be careful landing here, first of there’s a decent baseforce and second and most important in my book, it’s in range of way to many and to big airfields. I know that his air force might have been bloodied earlier, but it should still be able to field a decent amount of TB’s. And even with a lousy fighter escort they will get through.

Out of the other two options I would land at Vizagapatam, mostly because it’s far away from any supporting air fields, or at least out of TB range. And as soon as you land India is open for your armour to blitzkrieg through.

Just my two cent.

[John 3rd]

OK.  After 3 turns of Recon, this is what I see:
 
Calcutta  3 units--9,000 Troops
Diamond Harbor  2 units--1,440 Troops
Chittagong  2 Units--4,500 Troops
Cox's Bizarre  2 Units--5,000 Troops
 
Chittagong could be feasible.  There does not appear to be much in the area...
 
I THINK most of his airpower is accounted for within Burma and China.
 
Available Naval Forces for Operation:
 
6 CVE (136 planes)
2 BB
3 CL
29 DD
 
Hmmm....
 
 
 

[AcePylut]

Here's a thought... dual landings.  One at Chittagong, one at Diamond Harbor.  One a "diversion", the other not.
 
Diamond Harbor - 2 units and airplanes.  So one of them is a base force. 
Chittagong - This is "on the railway" behind the Imphal line.
 
Land and sacrifice a unit or two at Diamon Harbor to take pressure off a landing and "behind the back" drive from Chittagong.
 
If you land at Diamond Harbor, and threaten or take it over.... the location and port capabilities of this base REQUIRES the allies to counter it as soon as possible, as often as possible, lest you "build up" a base right by calcutta.  This is good.  This is what you want.  You want the allies to expend most or their time trying to kick these guys out of Diamond Harbor....
 
so that your drive behind Imphal doesn't soak up the full brunt of the allied forces. 
 
Chittagong may appear to be a "less strategic" location than Diamond Harbor... i.e. the opponent may think that Diamond Harbor is the precursor to an attack on Calcultta, and at the same time "just think" that the Chittagong attack as "just another attack at a base in Burma" and dismiss it.
 
Either way, you get a nice size port one step from Calcutta, or a nice size force  behind the Imphal line.

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd
Available Naval Forces for Operation:

6 CVE (136 planes)
2 BB
3 CL
29 DD

That's not a lot of naval force to protect CVEs. What's the status of the RN?

[John 3rd]

There are 3 RN CVs prowling around.  Dan has been quite relauctant to use them.  He just took--for the 3rd month in a row--a huge 2600 PP hit for not pulling RN ships out of the Indian Ocean.
 
I have Junyo/Hiyo and 2 CVL upgrading in Japan right now.  I could pull them and add their combat power to an attack.  They would have another BB, 3 CA, 2 CL, and a few DD swith them.
 

[Feinder]

Well, you can count on one of each of those units to be the base force.  He's probably split a depleted Indian Div into regiments, and they're acting as Inf garrisons on top the few squads in the BFs.  My guess is, the 3rd unit in Calcutta is either an air HQ or SEAC.  Between those 4 cities, he's got -maybe- a Div-and-a-half (more likely just a Div).
 
-F-

[String]

CV support is more of a problem here it seems..