Blitz!

[Mike_B20]

I've just started my first PBEM game as allies in a historical first turn 41 game.
What a blitz by my opponent on the second turn.
Kendari, Ambon, Milne Bay, Lae, Rabaul, Port Moresby and Espiritu Santo all fell turn 2!
In retrospect there seems little I could have done to hold any of them.

Espiritu Santo falling turn 2 and no possibilty of defending it!

I sent a couple af ap's from Darwin to Ambon to move the troops out of there but they had already fought(2 squads) and surrendered by the time the ap's got there.

Playing allies early is tough...the troop quality is so pathetic the Japs could invade anywhere with 2 squads and win.

Is this kind of start in a PBEM game normal...how would you vets have put up some kind of effective resistance?

[Weathersfield]

What senario file did your Japanese opponent use?? It sounds like he used OBC41, which would be very unfair to you. That senario file is to be used with an AI Japan, not PBEM. It has lots of extra units at the start.

You want to make sure that he uses OBC_a for a PBEM game.

[Mike_B20]

Well, as far as I know it's a Campaign 41 historical first turn setup.
The only thing I can think of is my opponent used a couple of destroyer transport tf's.
It could be possible to take PM turn 2 using fast destroyer transports although I haven't tried it . Seems to be little the allies could do about it.
Maybe the same for Espiritu Santo.

[Weathersfield]

Just read what I said. If you opponent used OBC41, then you will have a hard time not losing. It might be possible to do the fast transport, I haven't really looked at that.

See this post by Jeremey for some explanation:

showthread.php?s=&threadid=24626&highlight=obc41

[Mike_B20]

How would one know if one's opponent used OBC41?

I see no reference to it in the game setup screen and the only reference I have in my PBEM game is 'Saved game' and 'Secure PBEM game' and 'slot a'.

I notice several files in my pw directory with OBC41 in the filename.

If it it true that Japan has a sure capture of Espiritu Santo and Port Moresby turn 2 it will sour my enthusiasm for Pacific War somewhat.

Edit: Ok, I did a search on the forum for OBC41 and see that for PBEM games 'other' the 'a' ie 'Rising Sun' should be selected at game setup.

I just ran a test and even with OBC_a, yes a fast AV, DD transport group can be in PM second turn....bummer.

[deVada]

Hi !

It is somehow good that Japanese PBEM player has some extra advantages. The game would be more entertaining later for a price of lowered historical accuracy ... You must choose ...

In our PBEM game with Graham I also had "nothing to say" in 1941 and the most of 1942 (I'm playing Allies). A good Japanese player should have no problem even to seize Hawaian Isles in early 1942 if he really wants it, so the best tactic for Allies seems to be RUN LIKE HELL and save as many squadrons and ships as possible. Then You shall be able to fight with better odds with Wasp and Hornet plus some Washington class battleships ...

A good idea is also to loose some of heavy cruisiers early (those of Indianapolis class) in order to exchange them for Baltimore class later. Ask Jeremy if they will rebirth under 3.1 version. In 3.2 they may not reappear, but they surely do in 3.0.

Be careful not to enable capturing of vital HQ's, but if Malaya AG or ANZAC don't be sad. They cause more problems than benefits.

As a tip - read some comments about how to prevent British fleet withdrawals and use it to draw some Japanese navy out of Pacific. It may lead to loose those ships but if Japs secure the Pacific strategical objectives too early - fall of India is imminent.
Try to involve Your opponent into invasion of Australia, using whole US BB fleet (if You still have one ), it may slow him down ...

Enjoy !
Peter

[mdiehl]

I've just started my first PBEM game as allies in a historical first turn 41 game. What a blitz by my opponent on the second turn. Kendari, Ambon, Milne Bay, Lae, Rabaul, Port Moresby and Espiritu Santo all fell turn 2! In retrospect there seems little I could have done to hold any of them.

There's nothing you can do about the blitz everywhere strategy since the IJN have been given far more sealift capacity than they had available historically. My recommendation is that you use the editor and remove half the Japanese transports.

[Capt. Harlock]

Port Moresby is gone, but the Japanese may have over-reached themselves in taking Espiritu Santo. If you are playing Version 3.2, note that many Australian units can now be loaded onto ships. Even more, the NZ brigade in Fiji now belongs to South Pacific HQ. Use the nearby bases to make sure Espiritu Santo is isolated: transfer Hudsons and B-17's so as to create AZOCs. (Set one or two bomber units to Naval Interdiction.) Bring whatever surface forces survived Pearl Harbor around to bombard. Unless your opponent is willing to commit the bulk of the IJN to secure the area, you should be ready to counter-invade in four or five turns. If he does, stay away from the area with your navy, but put in lots of LBA. (P-40 Warhawks are a good choice, since they're fighter-bombers and can attack ships effectively.)

[Bernard]

on my v3 or even 2, taking such islands as new caldeonia or Espirtu Santo is quite easy resupplying them ad keeping them is a different matter.

as a jap, you just have to choose what you take. but take you must.

As an US palyer, you can easily retake Wake and the Marshalls ( at least no prob against IA, be careful about AKA's in PBEM versions, becuase you ight have problem resupplying).

So let jap take espirtu santo and take Marshalls, eniwetok , and up to marcus, iwojima etc. then base B17 or B24.

[Mike_B20]

I am about to replay my opponents t3.
Think I may have committed a few major errors in my second turn...was kind of peeved and gung-ho.
I loaded several transports and threw them at PM and Espiritu Santo along with whatever else was available in the way of support.
No doubt the carnage will be terrible with all those forward airbases loaded with Jap bombers.

I thought Aussies had troops in PM...they did in earlier versions.

Guess it's only to be expected the Japanese will run rampant with 100% intelligence of deployment of allies and where and when reinforcements arrive.

[Mike_B20]

Well, it turns out my opponent is a relative newbie at Pacific War (could have sworn he was a master) and was using OBC_41 and I have suggested we restart using OBC_a.

Things sure seem to happen a lot quicker in this game than happened historically.
Gives me the impression that the Japanese were WAY too cautious in ww2 and could have achieved the objectives they set themselves for 42 by the end of 41.

[mdiehl]

Things *do* happen too quickly in PW. It is because the capacity to project supply and to adequately prepare for an operation is quite poorly modeled.

[Mike_B20]

Btw, yes the carnage WAS terrible turn 3.

Three massive Jap bomber units operating from Kendari totally destroyed the augmented Dutch Fleet (Prince of Wales and Repulse) up around Timor.
Strangely, the first few air attacks were beaten off with high casualties to the bombers with relatively little damage to the fleet but the fleet then seemingly ran out of ammunition and there was no AA fire for the last few air attacks.
Virtually everything apart from some destroyers was sunk.

In what version was Kendari introduced with an international airport? Very surprised to see it size 5.

[Weathersfield]

I'm glad to hear that you are restarting. It is not what he can take in the first few turn but what he can hold. using OBC41 Japan has a number of independent Brigades and, I think, some divisions that normally are not available until late 43 to late 44. This would give Japan a lot of LCUs in 12/41 that will not be available until much later in OBC_a.

The advice to RUN iss very valid, even more so now that the Allies do not get LCUs that they used to start with until May-June 42.