Japan timeline- JFBs look here!

[CyrusSpitama]

I am now working on my 5th game as Japan and feel I have a decent hold on the industrial game. Each prior game I stopped in either late '42 or very early '43 because my focus has been on learning how best to manage convoys and industry. Now is the time to learn my attack strategy in better detail because a faster grab of the SRA means a faster running and stockpiling industrial base.

As for the offensive game, I have made the realization that the speed at which I am taking things is a bit too slow... Perhaps because I do not know the forces I am up against better so I tend to overdo the attacks in some areas and 'underdo' (why is this not a word, the opposite of overdo?) them in others.

What I would ask from the folks here so I can gauge my ability is a general timeline for major locations that should be taken, using basic Japanese maneuvers for the early phase of the war(up till say, Jun'42). I will pose a few direct questions that I hope yall can take the time to answer as well.

Note: I have been playing the historical scenario exclusively and plan to stick with that. The temptation to play the non-historical is there, I just worry very much about breaking the AI by pushing it too hard, too early. With that in mind, a few questions.

1) A number of base attack forces I have unload at Babel or Truk, remove the crappy xAKLs, and build the forces properly. These attacks are on the north of New Guinea so I really dont see this as a problem. I basically kill about a week reorganizing these forces before attacking. Am I really screwing something up that I dont see?

2) Similar to the above, I dont attack Miri or Brunei till I have better organized these attack forces. Also same as above, this delays my Miri capture about a week, but it is a VERY strong capture with planes landed immediately on Brun and Miri to ward off those bomber attacks on my 1250 cargo tankers. Am I really hosing anything up here?

3) The taking of Singapore and Manila. Both of these need work for my armies. I am beginning to think the forces I am sending up towards Rangoon are hurting my chances of a quicker capture of Singapore. As for Manila, this time around I sent a bunch more troops down towards Davao to stomp that naughty Mindanao quickly. This has slowed down my attack on Manila and Bataan, but in a couple of weeks of battles there, I will have taken all except for Zambo (far western city). Again, am I hosing up anything here?

Any answers for me? Anyone willing to share a basic timeline with goals?

Mucho thanks in advance!

[WO Katsuki]

take all the major oil centers by the end of march 1942, that's when the landing bonus expires - after that you suffer lots of disabled squads on landing unless you are prepared 100%

[CyrusSpitama]

Excellent starting point and one I have been working on. Palembang is my biggest choke I am suffering I think (as far as attacking bases)on previous games. It's Jan 17 currently and still no Manila, Singapore, Bataan, Rangoon, or Ambon. Of those I am working on them and Ambon has been a royal pain... I have another attack force bound here now which should finally put the smack on the heads of those pesky defenders.

P.S. I never did mention I am using Reluctant Admiral mod. This does not really change the basic strategy questions I have asked.

[rroberson]

I have played, and lost tens of games as the japanese.

I never manage to break the PI before may or June of 42.

Singapore almost never goes down before April.

Echoing what others have said.

Go after those Oil centers quickly. You will need them.

[PaxMondo]

Really depends if you are playing PBEM or AI.
 
AI
AI won't attack oil centers once you have them, at least no priority on them over any other base.  So, taking them early as you can is a good idea.  Be sure you have supply to repair them handy.  Miri alone requires a minimum of 150,000 supply to repair.
 
PBEM
Barring an HR, the allied player will attempt to bomb your oil center to the stone age if you give him a chance.  That means, don't take them until you have taken neighboring bases and have enough air assets to protect them.  Magwe is REALLY hard to protect and many IJ players do not do any repair on this until/unless they take Calcutta.

[Q-Ball]

First, timeline depends on HR on the first-turn move. It's possible to go very very crazy, but not kosher. This is a big factor.

Aside from that, and other than the Oil, Singapore is a must-take IMO, and is a critical timetable point. You need to commit extra troops to take it, and Feb 1 is a good target. Anything before that is great, Feb 1 to 15 is OK, and after Feb 15 you're running into trouble. You need that big group of divisions ready to move out March 1 at the latest, to whatever your Phase 2 targets are. Singers is a priority target.

As far as Luzon, I am an advocate of starving it out. Land 2 1/2 divisions the first month, to drive the defenders back on Clark/Manila. Once you are stabilized, you can withdraw 48th Division for elsewhere, and just leave 65th Bde and the 16th Div units, plus odds and ends. It is very difficult for the Allies to counterattack out, and if they fail, they do you a huge favor. Bomb Manila/Clark daily to destroy supplies. It will take awhile, but wait them out until Fall 1942, when you're offensive action is over and you can allocate plenty of ground troops from elsewhere, and wipe out what's left. Manila is not strategic, and you don't need it early, unlike Singers.

Other than that, land on Oil Centers, size-2 and larger airbases, and finally just all airbases in the DEI, and try to do that before April 1.

[FatR]

In my limited experience, I think that decisive moves in DEI must be made before the end of 1941, when Allied airpower is nonexistent, to ensure good progress later. By this I mean taking Southern Sumatra on one side and Kendari/Makassar on other, allowing to interdict any naval moves around Java and Singapore. Singapore should be taken out by massed force in January or very early February, and in the same time Java should be reduced to isolated pockets of resistance. If you can do that, you will be in an excellent position for Phase 2 operations. If these victories are delayed to early March, then most likely only limited Phase 2 operations are now possible. More delays mean great trouble. As about Philippines, Northern Luzon must be conquered immediately, to bring Clark/Manila within IJAAF range, but unless the Allied player commits enough tactical mistakes, it is better to opt for an extended siege and to leave everything else for later - once DEI falls, Philippines are effectively isolated and their priority isn't high. Maybe take Cagayan on Davao, to prevent 4E sneak attacks. Burma, I believe, can be taken very early if the Allies do not reinforce, but if they do, conquest of it can be postponed until Singapore/DEI are conquered, and it can be even bypassed and cut off.

[CV 2]

ORIGINAL: rroberson

I have played, and lost tens of games as the japanese.

I never manage to break the PI before may or June of 42.

Singapore almost never goes down before April.

Echoing what others have said.

Go after those Oil centers quickly. You will need them.

You are in for a surprise then when we play.

as for MY timelines:
PI, nothing here. Neutralize and by pass. Take it when you want.
Singapore? Jan 15th. End of the month at the latest.
Oil centers? Last things I take. Take them too early and the allies will bomb them. The oil produces and will be waiting for you when you take it.

[CyrusSpitama]

Thanks for the responses and yes, I am referring ONLY to AI play at this time. I thought I was clear on that point, but perhaps not. As for Singapore, I had a feeling it was more important regarding my future than I had made it via troop allocations. I am, as we speak, rerouting much of my Rangoon forces towards Singapore. I am one or two days away from taking Sinkawang(sp?) which will allow me to place serious pressure in the area surrounding that important base. It is now Jan 18th and I can throw 3 full divisions plus some extras at it within a week. I am still mopping up the cities just next to Singers right now, at which point, I will throw a large force at it once they have recovered fatigue and disruption.

Q-Ball - I foresaw your idea but did not act on it exactly as you stated. My troops sent down to Davao were to open that southern area up to more plane attacks and sunk shipping. I can adjust my current game to reflect the fact this strategy is workable and useful I love this idea and will work on making it more effective next game I do. I figure this game will also run as the others, late '42 -early'43. I would like to think the next game I play will be the whole enchilada, at least till '44.

Once again, thanks for the responses and I would love to see what others think, if they have the time to respond. I was worried my topic was a little too 'pushy'. It was late and I was frustrated seeing Singapore ignoring my attempts at sweeping the skies of its fighters It is now down to less than 100 fighters after a couple weeks of big losses to my poor Oscar I-cs. My Zeros will finish it off from Singkawang as soon as it is taken. Those poor Oscars have lost many pilots and much morale. They need a rest

[CyrusSpitama]

Just another thought to add here... I have read a number of great AARs which helped me develop some of the tactics I now use. Thing is, many tactics there might/will break the AI and I am not considering myself PBEM material yet. When I am capable of breaking the AI regularly, I figure its time to play PBEM. As for now, despite my previous experience with WitP and UV, I am still very much a green trainee.

[Q-Ball]

I also never understood why alot of players land on Mindinao early. You do need to secure Zamboanga early, because it's a supply source; but other than that, you might take Davao, but leave the rest alone.

The Allied supply situation on Mindinao is not good, so taking Zamboanga will starve the rest of the island. A base at Davao is helpful to keep an eye on things, but I don't see a need to march up to Cagayan until much later.

Cebu has a supply source, so needs to be addressed, but all the other islands in the Phillipines do not. Those troops will eventually starve, and without supplies they can't do anything but die. There is no hurry to capture those places. Some of them require garrisons anyway.

[CV 2]

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

I also never understood why alot of players land on Mindinao early. You do need to secure Zamboanga early, because it's a supply source; but other than that, you might take Davao, but leave the rest alone.

The Allied supply situation on Mindinao is not good, so taking Zamboanga will starve the rest of the island. A base at Davao is helpful to keep an eye on things, but I don't see a need to march up to Cagayan until much later.

Cebu has a supply source, so needs to be addressed, but all the other islands in the Phillipines do not. Those troops will eventually starve, and without supplies they can't do anything but die. There is no hurry to capture those places. Some of them require garrisons anyway.

I send the 65th bde and 2 armor regts to Mindinao as soon as possible. Why? Cuts off escaping ships from the PI, it cuts off single ship supply coming INTO the PI (one of my favorite tactics as the allies), it cuts off the Boise and company from making sneak attacks against ships around Luzon, it gives you a shallow water access to the South China Sea for shifting troops from east to west (so you dont have to use the sub-choked deep water around Formosa), and as a staging base for ops against Java.

[CyrusSpitama]

I had some similar thoughts as CV above had. That entire area between Hong Kong and Naha is a sub festival of sunken tankers and cargo haulers. They even have the audacity to kill off my patrolling SCs. I figured not only does going the Davao route cut off this meat grinder it also gives me more chances to establish a firm air and sea base on the 'island' of Mindinao. Lots to be said for Davao compared to Babel as a base for a fleet HQ and air hq. No worries about being attacked with no place to retreat(by default assuming no extra landings).

I am not claiming this to be some masterful stroke of genius, but as a bonus I can start sending more fuel/oil/resources to Davao as a gathering point as the next leg towards home. Previous attempts were clumsy with Singapore holding out for so long. Maybe once I develop better plans for taking Singapore out earlier, I will dismiss this Davao base of operations.

[CV 2]

Singapore is easy - fighter sweeps, lots of bombing, and 6 divs minimum.

[CyrusSpitama]

the finer points of the game still elude me sadly. My sweeps to weaken Singapore's cap have always been met with lots of fighters and my bombers get destroyed trying to join this fray while attempting to punish their airfields. My earliest take of Singapore was late Feb so far... sad I know...

6 full Divs minimum? I now see why Singapore has been so difficult for me. I think the most I threw at it in prior games was 5 full divs with a lots of extras. I shall examine my troop's placements and see if I can't adjust things a bit more. My current attempt is 4 full divs plus a little over one more div of extras... I have not begun the attack yet of course. Still getting bases next door supplied, more troops moved in and rested. hrmmm.. me thinks this CiC needs to review his general's reports in more detail (AARs).


edited to reflect div numbers checked in game.

[PaxMondo]

Fighters sweeps for several days B4 any bombers sent.  Dont' send bombers until the fighters are removed.  Should only take a few days.

[CyrusSpitama]

I have summoned all the Oscar Ic's I have and they are taking many losses. Should I move my zeros I sent to Sarawak as part of this force? Perhaps I am spreading my air forces too broadly as well. I don't even consider the Nates for this kind of duty, as they are swatted like gnats, weak guns, and have range issues.

[CV 2]

When I say "fighter sweeps", Im not talking about a 27 plane squadron. Send hundreds. Every day. Bombers too. Hundreds (and yes, after you have the fighters cleared; although you can bomb at night while the daytime fighters go in).

Pasting the airfields will disrupt the support squads. Bombing the port will disrupt the artillery defense/shore guns. Both will destroy supplies (although airfield is better). After both airfield and port are a shambles, start bombing the ground units direct with some air. Dont stop hitting airfields though, because the ground units will heal the damage as long as there is supply. Once the supply is gone, it will fold up like a house of cards.

[CyrusSpitama]

Hahah. Well I see my grand attack plans are not so grand after all. I will allocate additional troops, planes, and attention to Singapore and see how that fares for me [X(]

Once again, thanks for the feedback.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: CV 2

When I say "fighter sweeps", Im not talking about a 27 plane squadron. Send hundreds. Every day. Bombers too. Hundreds (and yes, after you have the fighters cleared; although you can bomb at night while the daytime fighters go in).

Pasting the airfields will disrupt the support squads. Bombing the port will disrupt the artillery defense/shore guns. Both will destroy supplies (although airfield is better). After both airfield and port are a shambles, start bombing the ground units direct with some air. Dont stop hitting airfields though, because the ground units will heal the damage as long as there is supply. Once the supply is gone, it will fold up like a house of cards.

+1

Maybe not 100's, but certainly at least 100. 150 is better. You want at least 2:1 odds in numbers, 3:1 will give you fast results with few losses. The AI will have about 70 total fighters in Singers ... maybe 50 will fly CAP. You have to commit a lot of your Zero's here. You also need them for PI to reduce those allied fighters. You need to decide which to reduce first ... I never have enough Zero's to do both simlutaneously.