RIDERS ON THE STORM-THANK YOU

[Gen.Hoepner]

The Marianas are a juicy target, but are far away from any base of mine and at this stage of the game my 4 carriers only have wildcats...he can master easily 200 Nells/betties in the Mariannas...too risky imho. The worst thing that i can do right now is to be impatient. Gotta think twice and always keep in mind that he is superior right now, so all my moves must be sneaky and at the same time wise and careful

[okami]

ORIGINAL: Gen.Hoepner

The Marianas are a juicy target, but are far away from any base of mine and at this stage of the game my 4 carriers only have wildcats...he can master easily 200 Nells/betties in the Mariannas...too risky imho. The worst thing that i can do right now is to be impatient. Gotta think twice and always keep in mind that he is superior right now, so all my moves must be sneaky and at the same time wise and careful

My suggestion is Ambiona and Kendari. Far enough away from KB that it can't react and close enough to Australia that you should be able to bring overwhelming force without the use of carriers. Cut off his resources nicely too.

[String]

What are the chances of conducting harassment air raids out of Luzon?

[Gen.Hoepner]

No turns for today guys...
 
String: there are chances for some raids from Luzon, but it's still not the right time imho.
I know quite well the japanese strenght at this stage. If i move planes there right now in few days Formosa will be full of zeros and Sallies.
I need him to get involved deeply in India before doing such a thing. And above all i need him to need to cover a lot of AFs in India, so needing many fighters and bombers, before moving some air assets to Luzon.
 
This is the idea coming to my mind in these days.
1-Delay him in India as much as i can, moving backwards slowly till Delhi-Bombay defensive life. Even to Karachi if it's needed.
2-By the end of Jan-mid Feb 42 starting a bombing campaign out of Darwin to Timor and Ambonia.
3- At the same time launching the Kwalajein bombing campaign from wake, followed by the invasion of the Marshalls.
4-As soon as these operations will be started, 72 P-40s will be moved to Luzon, along with 50 mitchells (from India)
 
The combination of the last 3 should give him some real headhaces because he'll be forced to face 3 different threats without having the chance of moving back his assets from India (where i hope by that time he'll be deeply involved in the mainlands). He will simply have to chose where to move his reserve forces and whatever he will chose, i'll have the real chance of hurting him somewhere else.

[Gen.Hoepner]

.

[jumper]

Hi,
going for Marshalls is a good move IMO. And as soon as you will be able to launch the attack, the better for you. Every day he is building forts.. Good thing is, that because there is no lvl9 port and it is so early for any MLE, there won´t be many mines..
Considering the number of planes he has in Ceylon (and that he probably have many more in reserve in Singapore, which are planned to be thrown in once he get another AF and which he can not afford to use elsewhere) he had to leave huge areas virtualy unguarded.
Except the Marshalls you could consider taking some unguarded bases (even the dot bases) in Kuriles with some small forces or fragments of some RCT. They are nearly worthless, but the fact, that allies are SO close to HI usually lead to japanese reaction. Reaction with forces, which were planned to be used elsewhere.. You have to divert his assests from India.

Oops, just saw in your HR, that attacking in Kuriles is forbidden to you.. Good HR for Japan. It saves him many planes and LCU from guarding this area. Nevermind..

Another possibility is to use your long range bombers to attack his Resource/Oil/HI centers all around. From Mandalay or Rangoon you should be able to reach Hanoi/Bankok, from Darwin you can hit him in Kendari..
What is the situation in Solomons and NG? Any chance to hit him there? What he has on Timor? Timor is my favourite target when playing allies.. [;)]

[Jim D Burns]

Hi G.H.,

Careful about that move across the river to the hex northeast of Kiukiang. From what I’ve learned from Andrew Brown’s map, there are some spots like this that no matter what you do, your units will try and follow the path that costs the least in movement points, or they'll stick to a transportation line no matter what. As a good example, units moving to Nanning from Pakhoi will go two hexes NW then two hexes SE instead of just moving one hex NE, and there is nothing you can do to prevent the AI from doing that when you plot the move.

So even though your units may state they are moving east, they will reset once they get to 60 miles instead of crossing the river. Or they may just move NE and be forced to shock attack.

So if timing is critical, be very careful or it may screw up your plans. More than likely the units will follow the path in the below screenshot, or at least reset their east orders at 60 miles because they want to follow the red arrows instead. Heck it is even possible they have orders to move northeast already (AI will sometime set a 120 mile roundabout path to go the 60 miles), check their path orders and see.

Jim

[Gen.Hoepner]

Thanks Jim. I'll take a look at their orders...i'm quite sure i've checked them last turn and they seemed right to me, but i'll check again!
 
However, Trollelite's PC is out of order for some time...so this game will be stopped for few days...hope to get back soon!

[PzB74]

You've certainly been generous with the HRs - no attack in the Kuriles? [:'(]

One important factor that you leave out of the equation:
Your superior skills and experience!

Within mid 42 the Troll will most likely have lost 1 or 2 of his heads [:D]
I think you can inflict so much delay and casualties in India and Luzon that the Western Pacific
will become a US playground in no time.

Will the RN stand and fight in India?

[Gen.Hoepner]

ORIGINAL: PzB

You've certainly been generous with the HRs - no attack in the Kuriles? [:'(]

One important factor that you leave out of the equation:
Your superior skills and experience!

Within mid 42 the Troll will most likely have lost 1 or 2 of his heads [:D]
I think you can inflict so much delay and casualties in India and Luzon that the Western Pacific
will become a US playground in no time.

Will the RN stand and fight in India?

Thx John for being so kind, but my experience (which however is never enough) hasn't saved my butt till now[:)]
It's true anyway that IF he fails to kick to brits out of the war he's gonna have huge problems around the map! Even if he takes Karachi, he needs to take Aden to kick the brits out and if he does not, he will have to keep a GREAT garrison in India. Not only men, but planes and ships to contrast a possible british counter-invasion.
And if it goes like that, the strategical options in my hands, even without the Kuriles, are gonna be a lot![8D]

[cantona2]

ORIGINAL: Gen.Hoepner

ORIGINAL: PzB

You've certainly been generous with the HRs - no attack in the Kuriles? [:'(]

One important factor that you leave out of the equation:
Your superior skills and experience!

Within mid 42 the Troll will most likely have lost 1 or 2 of his heads [:D]
I think you can inflict so much delay and casualties in India and Luzon that the Western Pacific
will become a US playground in no time.

Will the RN stand and fight in India?

Thx John for being so kind, but my experience (which however is never enough) hasn't saved my butt till now[:)]
It's true anyway that IF he fails to kick to brits out of the war he's gonna have huge problems around the map! Even if he takes Karachi, he needs to take Aden to kick the brits out and if he does not, he will have to keep a GREAT garrison in India. Not only men, but planes and ships to contrast a possible british counter-invasion.
And if it goes like that, the strategical options in my hands, even without the Kuriles, are gonna be a lot![8D]

Was thinking exactly the same thing GH, if you can bog him down in India for a good time, the reinforcements you receive in the West might allow you to go on the offensive early.

[Andrew Brown]

ORIGINAL: Gen.Hoepner
It's true anyway that IF he fails to kick to brits out of the war he's gonna have huge problems around the map! Even if he takes Karachi, he needs to take Aden to kick the brits out and if he does not, he will have to keep a GREAT garrison in India.

This is something which I haven't made clear in the notes for CHS, but Aden is not supposed to be attacked or invaded by the Japanese. Although the base is called "Aden" it represents a series of British bases in North and South Africa. It (and the shipping lane leading to it) should be out of bounds to Japanese forces (unlike Panama, which is open for the Japanese to attack should they ever manage it).

Andrew

[Gen.Hoepner]

ORIGINAL: Andrew Brown

ORIGINAL: Gen.Hoepner
It's true anyway that IF he fails to kick to brits out of the war he's gonna have huge problems around the map! Even if he takes Karachi, he needs to take Aden to kick the brits out and if he does not, he will have to keep a GREAT garrison in India.

This is something which I haven't made clear in the notes for CHS, but Aden is not supposed to be attacked or invaded by the Japanese. Although the base is called "Aden" it represents a series of British bases in North and South Africa. It (and the shipping lane leading to it) should be out of bounds to Japanese forces (unlike Panama, which is open for the Japanese to attack should they ever manage it).

Andrew

Don't worry Andrew, i think Aden is rather safe. It has more than 500 AVs on its own, plus the other units that keep on flowing in. 16''CD guns and level 9 forts...and the fact that there is not any nearby base implies that no naval bombing runs will be available for Japan...so i don't think he really has a chance of conquering it.

[Gen.Hoepner]

ORIGINAL: cantona2



Was thinking exactly the same thing GH, if you can bog him down in India for a good time, the reinforcements you receive in the West might allow you to go on the offensive early.

That's for sure Cantona2!
But consider that even if his main assets will be stuck in India for some time, the ability, early on, of Japan to stop an allied counteroffensive relies in its Air-Force. At this stage of the war, and let's say for the next 5 months at least, the allies have real problems to defend themself against crack zeros and betties. Alone these 2 weapons can stop, or at least make really bloody, any allied advance.
With the B-17 replacement rate at 15/month it's nearly impossible to close any AF in the pacific.
I'm going however to attack. It's the only thing to do. Just have to be prepared to suffer some heavy losses, even in terms of CVs...
..but that's war anyway[:)]

Hope Trollelite will come back soon...i'm ager to keep on fighting[8D]

[cantona2]

ORIGINAL: Gen.Hoepner

ORIGINAL: cantona2



Was thinking exactly the same thing GH, if you can bog him down in India for a good time, the reinforcements you receive in the West might allow you to go on the offensive early.

That's for sure Cantona2!
But consider that even if his main assets will be stuck in India for some time, the ability, early on, of Japan to stop an allied counteroffensive relies in its Air-Force. At this stage of the war, and let's say for the next 5 months at least, the allies have real problems to defend themself against crack zeros and betties. Alone these 2 weapons can stop, or at least make really bloody, any allied advance.
With the B-17 replacement rate at 15/month it's nearly impossible to close any AF in the pacific.
I'm going however to attack. It's the only thing to do. Just have to be prepared to suffer some heavy losses, even in terms of CVs...
..but that's war anyway[:)]

Hope Trollelite will come back soon...i'm ager to keep on fighting[8D]

i know the feeling when your opponent is out of action because of holidays or work and so on

[Mistmatz]

ORIGINAL: Gen.Hoepner
...
I'm going however to attack. It's the only thing to do. Just have to be prepared to suffer some heavy losses, even in terms of CVs...
..but that's war anyway[:)]

Hope Trollelite will come back soon...i'm ager to keep on fighting[8D]

Thats the spirt!!! [;)]

Furthermore your opponent might feel just too safe and will become more and more confident. You need to pinch him wherever you can, even though the effect might only be psychologigally.

[mlees]

I'd like to make some comments on the HR's here:

4.no strategy bomb on resource under 100, and any other thing (oil, heavy industry, aircraft factory,etc) under 50, no man power attack except for japan home islands (no restriction for Jap side)

How does this affect you, GH? I know that right now, your worried about India. I was wondering what resource and oil centers this leaves open for you to hit...

5. No night mission except for night fighter and Patrol boat units. Any side could convert a normal bomber unit to night bomber unit. To do so, they first have to be announced, after this, they act as night units and cannot henceforce be given day missions and cannot be converted back.

The underlined section rules out night bombing, I guess. Makes all night bomber units useless slots, if so.

"Announced"? Why?

"Cannot be converted back"? Why?

Is night bombing still too accurate? If night bombing is forbidden, why would you want to convert stuff to night bomber types?

6.No PT enter those deep water hexes, that surrounded all six sides by water hex.

Well, that keeps the PT's from being transferred to other theatres, I guess.

7.Allied asw group not exceed 6 ships, no restriction to japanese.

Heh. Only the IJN knows ASW kung-fu...

10. Except initial chinese exp.force, only 2 other chinese corps could be changed to southeast asia command and be able to fight in burma and india. There is no restriction to support units, however. Those 2 corps should be announced.

Well, I can see that the Chinese would not want to abandon the homeland to help the British defend India. By why the "announced" part?

13. No allied offensive action in northern pacific before soviet enter war. They can take back any amercian territory occupied by japanese, however.

This one I kinda don't get. This closes an entire theatre to the Allies, meaning that the Japanese do not have to station any units in defence of an attack from this direction. Basically, he secured an entire flank, and freed up units for use elsewhere.

16. Only 6 carriers, 12 cruisers can be reconstructed by allied. Of these, 2 should be used to replace australian cruisers and not allowed to use on US units. Only Heavy cruisers and american "10000-tons" light cruiser could be replaced. Those reconstruced ships should be announced before enter service.

Uh, the Allied player doesn't get to decide what goes in the respawn slots. That's hard coded...

"Announced before they enter service"? What does he expect/explain that to mean?

"Oh, by the way. Lexington II is entering service today." or "Lexington II has appeared in my respawn list."?

[Gen.Hoepner]

ORIGINAL: mlees

I'd like to make some comments on the HR's here:

4.no strategy bomb on resource under 100, and any other thing (oil, heavy industry, aircraft factory,etc) under 50, no man power attack except for japan home islands (no restriction for Jap side)

How does this affect you, GH? I know that right now, your worried about India. I was wondering what resource and oil centers this leaves open for you to hit...

5. No night mission except for night fighter and Patrol boat units. Any side could convert a normal bomber unit to night bomber unit. To do so, they first have to be announced, after this, they act as night units and cannot henceforce be given day missions and cannot be converted back.

The underlined section rules out night bombing, I guess. Makes all night bomber units useless slots, if so.

"Announced"? Why?

"Cannot be converted back"? Why?

Is night bombing still too accurate? If night bombing is forbidden, why would you want to convert stuff to night bomber types?

6.No PT enter those deep water hexes, that surrounded all six sides by water hex.

Well, that keeps the PT's from being transferred to other theatres, I guess.

7.Allied asw group not exceed 6 ships, no restriction to japanese.

Heh. Only the IJN knows ASW kung-fu...

10. Except initial chinese exp.force, only 2 other chinese corps could be changed to southeast asia command and be able to fight in burma and india. There is no restriction to support units, however. Those 2 corps should be announced.

Well, I can see that the Chinese would not want to abandon the homeland to help the British defend India. By why the "announced" part?

13. No allied offensive action in northern pacific before soviet enter war. They can take back any amercian territory occupied by japanese, however.

This one I kinda don't get. This closes an entire theatre to the Allies, meaning that the Japanese do not have to station any units in defence of an attack from this direction. Basically, he secured an entire flank, and freed up units for use elsewhere.

16. Only 6 carriers, 12 cruisers can be reconstructed by allied. Of these, 2 should be used to replace australian cruisers and not allowed to use on US units. Only Heavy cruisers and american "10000-tons" light cruiser could be replaced. Those reconstruced ships should be announced before enter service.

Uh, the Allied player doesn't get to decide what goes in the respawn slots. That's hard coded...

"Announced before they enter service"? What does he expect/explain that to mean?

"Oh, by the way. Lexington II is entering service today." or "Lexington II has appeared in my respawn list."?

Hi mate, i'll try to answer:
- About the strategic bombing...yes, it's an issue. However strategic bombings aren't in the top of my list normally...i prefer using my bombers to shut down AFs than to destroy resources...however it's limiting, obviously.
-The night bombing issue...i've interpreted it as: only hard-coded dedicated night-groups can operate at night, except for patrol boats...hope this won't create problems with Trollelite ...
-We've already had some problems with the PTs, because when Sosarbaja fell those PTs just went for Darwin without any order of mine...hope "common sense" will solve any further problems...
-I think the annunciation needed for the chinese units to move to Burma/India and the restriction correlated is because he already knew he was going for India...don't see any other explanation for that (however i tend to play a lot in China theatre so i tend to keep every unit i have there anyway)
- The Kuriles rule is quite strange indeed. I must admit that i accepted it almost without thinking of the consequences...but, as i put my sign on this "contract" now i have to pay the price of my lack of wiseness...

[mlees]

Yes, sir, you are a trooper, I'll give you that.

I hope you can use the Phillippines as some kind of thorn in his side.

Bypassing them like that flies in the face of historical Japanese planning. The IJA assumed that leaving the Phillippines unconquered would be a dagger at the throat of the resource convoys coming up from the DEI.

Is Trollelite keeping the AF at Clark, and the port in Manila, supressed?

What is the status of the forces there?

[Gen.Hoepner]

Hi, there isn't any real INJA force in Luzon. He landed only some 100 paratroopers, but nothing more, at Aparri. I didn't bother kicking them out also because i didn't want to attract his attention here (kinda psico-war[:D]).
Now at Luzon, between Manila and Clark, there are nearly 2000 AVs, full of supplies and support. Forts are building up and the AFs hadn't been touched by jap's bombs since the first day of war. So basically Luzon is a good fortress at the moment. It's gonna be hard for him to kick me out of PI as long as India can fight back