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It does look like Batavia can't be taken in three turns or less without exceptional luck with Clear Weather. It may be possible if the Japanese get three consecutive turns of Clear (40% chance per turn).

Because taking Bandar Lampung will complete the blockade of Singapore, it becomes the major objective of turn 1. Landing of two NLF brigades NE and E of the port provides sufficient land forces combined with bringing down the fleet with 2 BC's and a CA to get 10:1 odds against the garrison there. There is a chance the garrison might survive by retreating which will make taking the oil fields more difficult.

I also made a landing east of Batavia to block any Dutch units further east from helping Batavia.

Batavia apparently can't be blockaded. I assume because it is "Main Supply" hex.

Dec 21 Turn

Depends on weather. If clear the Japanese should be able to take the Oil Field at Palembang using one or two of the Marine units. I haven't tested to see if rain will prevent this. But I suspect by the January turns the Japanese should have the 30 Oil flowing.

Bandar's port can be used to bring in the Army unit that was above the Philippines to form the bases of an attack force to take Batavia. The safe and sure way to take the DEI is to bring over a second army and wait until both are in position and, hopefully, have clear weather. This could take a few turns with 40% chance of clear weather being the controlling factor.

I don't think taking DEI is linked to anything important enough that the Japanese player would want to accelerate the surrender by committing air power to reduce Batavia.

So you like the modifications? The A.I. lands in the Eastern part and moves up. I've been adding to them a little for this action.

I was able to take DEI (Batavia) on Feb 1st turn. It required two armies plus Battleship support. But most importantly it required Clear weather and that was the first non-rain turn. That gave a 4:1 attack which got a kill on second try. How quickly it can be taken depends on weather both for the attack and for movement to get the armies across from Banda and both into position to attack.

Manila and Singapore also fell on Feb 1. The next test will be to see what can be done against India by sea now that the ships are freed up. I suspect it will be March for landings in India.

I am suspecting that without incredible luck with weather (all clear turns) the Japanese will not have the two armies in place before Feb 1 to take Batavia. There is a very good chance that continuous bad weather could delay its fall into March. With rain it may take 3 armies or a couple of attack turns to wear them down.

For the AI it should take Bandar first turn to get the supply cut off on Singapore. It is closer to Batavia for moving troops in. I also landed one small unit east of Batavia to keep the DEI units on that end of the island from interfering.

In Beta 3, I am surprised to see that the Batavia Gar unit is back to an infantry division. A small corps was good due to ZOC and it was harder to destroy. Japanese player would have to commit 25th Army instead of sending it to India or Australia.

The longest the fighting in DEI, the best imo.

ORIGINAL: kennonlightfoot

I was able to take DEI (Batavia) on Feb 1st turn. It required two armies plus Battleship support. But most importantly it required Clear weather and that was the first non-rain turn. That gave a 4:1 attack which got a kill on second try. How quickly it can be taken depends on weather both for the attack and for movement to get the armies across from Banda and both into position to attack.

Manila and Singapore also fell on Feb 1. The next test will be to see what can be done against India by sea now that the ships are freed up. I suspect it will be March for landings in India.

I am suspecting that without incredible luck with weather (all clear turns) the Japanese will not have the two armies in place before Feb 1 to take Batavia. There is a very good chance that continuous bad weather could delay its fall into March. With rain it may take 3 armies or a couple of attack turns to wear them down.

I would like to remind that historically Batavia fell to the Japanese on March 5th, 1942. With luck, you are one month in advance. Without you are on time. And all these Japanese armies are not in India or in Australia.

The thing is the A.I. It has a really hard time taking Batavia. I am still making adjustments so it can with a larger unit there.

Understood, you should teach the A.I. to do shore bombardment. [;)]