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RE: One Weird Battle - 10/2/2010 4:28:04 AM

witpqs

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From: Argleton
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In my game they have arrived at the national capital instead.

(in reply to crsutton)

Post #: 541

RE: One Weird Battle - 10/2/2010 1:49:28 PM

Canoerebel

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From: Northwestern Georgia, USA
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5/13/42

Calcutta: The Japanese didn't attack, so it looks like the remaining Allied troops will leave the hex tomorrow. There are IJA troops closing in on the hex to the rear from both sides, so the retreating Allied units may have to fight through a road block. But I think the Allies are going to manage to extract essentially all troops.

NE India: The Allied troops that were cut off after taking the least optimum route of retreat out of places like Akyab, Chittagong, and the Kohema/Ledo line are in various places where I can make use of them. Those in Ledo are being evactuate by air to Changtu, China (this is just a couple of cadres of no real importance). In the jungle, the Chittagong survivors are getting close to the Kohema/Ledo line where they'll try to create some problems. To the south, the Akyab survivors just arrived at a vacant Magwe and could take the hex tomorrow unless Brad airlifts in some defenders - it wouldn't take much to stop my rabble.

South India: Things look good here as the Allied retreat is orderly. However, an Indian HQ just arrived at Madras, which isn't a useful place for them. They'll move south and I'll later try to evacuate a cadre by air.

The Good and the Bad (and will it get Ugly?): Ten days ago I was very worried when an Indian division was mauled by an IJA division south of Viz. I thought that might embolden Brad to push for all of India. Four other things have occurred that I think might dampen his ardor: (a) The fact that a rabble of Indian troops were able to hold off two IJA divisions at Calcutta, showing the power of the urban hex modifier plus good forts. This leads me to wonder whether Brad would even consider trying for places like Bombay and Delhi. (b) I know Brad wanted to isolate and destroy Allied troops, but all of the important units got away, and most of the small stuff too. (c) The influx of reinforcements through Karachi. (d) Allied fighters have more than held their own when defending their home bases.

NoPac: An Allied sub just encountered an IJN combat TF near Hokkaido - including CA Chokai and three DDs. I have expected Brad to take a more aggressive stance in NoPac, so this may be the first move. Over the next few weeks and perhaps months, I'll have to be careful with transports in the western Aleutians. The Allies do, however, have some good combat ships up that way including a slow BB.

SWPac: The Allies should take a vacant Carnarvon tomorrow. SigInt and the cursor show steady Japanese activity in building up the bases in NW Australia, plus some garrison information. This is good news as the Allies mean to use the appearance of mounting threats against Japanese bases to advantage as the game wears on.

Reinforcements: A host of reinforcements arrived today, including a handful of base forces and about six SeaBee units. The Seabees will be allocated as follows: Dutch Harbor, Umnak Island, French Frigate Shoals, Midway, and Canton Island. Two of the base forces will go to Fiji if I can get them there. 6th Marines will go to Suva if I can get it there. A SE Asia base force will go from the East Coast to Capetown to Karachi, eventually.

Overall: It will be very interesting to see if Brad goes for all of India. He's probably already made his decision, but I have no idea what it is. Only time will tell for me. I really don't want to reveal my carriers to him, but I will do so if carrier escort is needed to get infantry from Capetown to Karachi. The transports won't arrive in Capetown for probably two more months, so there's time to see how things shape up.

< Message edited by Canoerebel -- 10/2/2010 1:54:20 PM >

(in reply to witpqs)

Post #: 542

RE: One Weird Battle - 10/2/2010 5:52:09 PM

Canoerebel

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5/14/42

Alot going on as the Battle of SEAC develops:

Calcutta: The entire Allied garrison makes it out of the hex, thus negating the FUBAR situation that resulted from my mismanagement of the strategic mode of travel. The two Japanese divisions tried another deliberate attack, this time opposed just by the static Fort William garrision, acheived 2:1 odds, but only managed to drop forts to two.

SigInt: SigInt revealed that a Japanese AF Construction battalion is on a Maru bound for Goa, an Allied base just south of Bombay. This suggests that Brad will continue to press forward in India, which I had begun to question.

Reinforcements: About 150 Indian AV are due in Madras in less than two months; I hope, as wptqs mentioned, that they will divert to Delhi. Also, another UK division arrives in Aden in just under two months. I didn't realize there were three complete divisions in India - I thought it was just two. Finally, most of a U.S. Marine division should be arriving at Aden (from East Coast via Capetown) in something over two months. All these reinforcements should be timely if Brad indeed continues to push across India. If Brad has divided the KB, or if the KB is absent because Brad thinks he can rely upon LBA to stop shipping into Karachi, I will commit my carriers to escort in these reinforcements. If the KB is present, I won't commit my carriers.

A Li'l Mayhem: An Allied unit took a vacant Magwe and will continue on toward Mandalay. The Allies troops in this area are very weak, but it will force Brad to pay attention to his rear areas. Perhaps he'll suffer some damage to oil production and the refinery, too.

Oz: An Aussie cav unit took the vacated Carnarvon hex.

Philippines: For the first time in months, the Japanese attacked at Clark Field. The Allies have been out of supplies for months, so the Japanese attained 2:1 odds and dropped forts to two but suffered 3x casualties. Clark may fall soon, but I think Bataan could hold out into June (not that it matters really).

< Message edited by Canoerebel -- 10/2/2010 5:56:06 PM >

(in reply to Canoerebel)

Post #: 543

RE: One Weird Battle - 10/2/2010 6:27:44 PM

witpqs

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Karachi is the game national capital for India, so I presume units would arrive there. It's also possible that the code might substitute Aden, but that's a pure guess.

I've had several air units arrive in SF because the Pacific base they were slated for was in IJ hands. I'm pretty sure I had the same with at least one ground unit, but I can't recall which one it was right now.

(in reply to Canoerebel)

Post #: 544

RE: One Weird Battle - 10/3/2010 1:39:35 AM

Chickenboy

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

A Li'l Mayhem: An Allied unit took a vacant Magwe and will continue on toward Mandalay. The Allies troops in this area are very weak, but it will force Brad to pay attention to his rear areas. Perhaps he'll suffer some damage to oil production and the refinery, too.

Got any engineer units you could put in there in a hurry?

_____________________________

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Post #: 545

RE: One Weird Battle - 10/4/2010 2:30:37 PM

Canoerebel

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5/15/42 to 5/17/42

West India: Further signals intercepts leads me to re-evaluate Brad's intentions in India. On the 17th, the Japanese begin landing troops at undefended Goa, confirming the SigInt report of the 14th. Allied bombers at Bombay were ready and sortied, scoring one bomb hit on an xAK, two TT on AMC Akagi Maru (this is a big ship of 25 points, and a heck of alot of squads were reported destroyed), and one TT on an APD. I think Brad is landing armor and infantry in hopes of cutting off the remaining Indian troops in South India, but I don't think he will succeed.

South India: There are only a few troops left here, now. Most are about to vacate the area, but there is still one rearguard Indian division that has one more hex to reach a base, then must transition to strategic mode and clear the area. There's a good railroad network in the interior, so I'm pretty confident that it will make good it's retreat.

East India: The Allied troops withdrawal from Calcutta appears successful. The troops are now two hexes west without any apparent threat of isolation. Calcutta held yet again, but forts are zero and it should fall next attack.

India at Sea: There's been no sign of the KB since the last sighting of some carriers near Soerabaja a few weeks ago. I think the KB is absent from India, but I will continue to operate as though it is present unless I receive further info. KXI sank an IJN DD near Colombo on the 15th.

Japanese Divisions Present: The number of confirmed divisions present continues to mount: 4, 18, 38, 2, 21, 5, 54, and 48 in NE India; 1 and 6th Guards in South India; Imperial Guards on Ceylon; SigInt on the 16th reported one-twelfth of 12th is prepping for Bombay - that almost certainly means 12th is divided amongst ships, so I suspect 12th is one of the units landing at Goa, and I'll know for certain tomorrow. That's at least 12 divisions in India.

Philippines: Another Japanese deliberate attack at Clark Field dropped forts to 1 and came off at 1:1. This base should fall by the end of the month.

< Message edited by Canoerebel -- 10/4/2010 3:08:16 PM >

(in reply to Chickenboy)

Post #: 546

RE: One Weird Battle - 10/4/2010 4:51:53 PM

Cribtop

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Sounds like the stringbags had a good day!

From the concentration of troops it seems to me that Q plans to sweep across India, probably up to the trigger line, happy to seize what industry and territory he can and make it a longer trip to his vitals in the DEI. IMHO he has waited too long and, without KB, doesn't have the air support, to try to cut you off from Karachi at this point. Good job getting out of Calcutta.

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Post #: 547

RE: One Weird Battle - 10/4/2010 5:04:20 PM

JohnDillworth

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quote:

Akagi Maru (this is a big ship of 25 points, and a heck of alot of squads were reported destroyed)

IRL, this was the last ship to arrive at Wake in early 1944 discharging troops and guns. Don't know if they were expecting a move against Wake, or this was just part of fortifying the outer perimeter. Hope they left some food too.

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by JohnDillworth -- 10/4/2010 5:07:40 PM >

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Today I come bearing an olive branch in one hand, and the freedom fighter's gun in the other. Do not let the olive branch fall from my hand. I repeat, do not let the olive branch fall from my hand. - Yasser Arafat Speech to UN General Assembly

(in reply to Cribtop)

Post #: 548

RE: One Weird Battle - 10/4/2010 5:16:27 PM

Canoerebel

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Thanks, Cribtop. I hope you're right that he intends to go no further than up to the "reinforcement triggering line." It is immaterial to me whether Brad takes a small part of India or most of it as long as he doesn't take the Karachi sector. From the beginning, I felt like I could use any incursion against him later on, no matter how deep, as long as I held the Karachi sector.

I'll have some big decisions to make - do I divide my troops among four urban areas (Bombay, Ahmadebad, Delhi and Karachi), or do I withdraw from Bombay and try to concentrate on the bases I really have to hold? Troops in urban hexes with good forts can hold out a long time even if surrounded, so the decision is a pretty difficult one to make.

< Message edited by Canoerebel -- 10/4/2010 5:18:43 PM >

(in reply to Cribtop)

Post #: 549

RE: One Weird Battle - 10/4/2010 8:30:01 PM

Canoerebel

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5/18/42

West and South India: The troops landing at Goa consist of Imperial Guards (late from Colombo) and a tank regiment. Moving east, these troops can threaten the interior railroad. That, combined with an IJA unit moving west from and nearing the middle of the continent, pose a threat to my railroad lines. Therefore, I'm going to move the one remaining Indian division by road rather than risk it getting caught in strategic mode somewhere.

So, where's 12th Division?: I previously mentioned that I thought 12th was the division landing at Goa - I'd had SigInt that 12th was prepping for Bombay and had been divided into at least 12 segments, suggesting it was aboard transports. I still think it will be landing at Goa.

Other SigInt and Plans: I'm getting lots of SigInt for support troops on Ceylon or heading to Chittagong or even heading to Singapore (the latter probably a staging point for troops heading to India). If I can hold Karachi, and if Brad keeps this mammoth commitment to India for a considerable period of time, you can bet there will be ways to take advantage of the situation. I'm still worried about Karachi, but the current disposition of forces would be ideal for the 1943 offensive the Allies have in mind.

NoPac: Amchitka Island's airfield just went to one and Adak Island's port to four. I really hope Brad is paying attention to developments like this and contemplating what it might mean in the future.

SubWars: I-2 gets an empty xAK south of Perth; over near Pago Pago, I-23 got an xAK loaded with part of an AA battalion heading for Savaii Island. A turn ago, I-24 was sighted at the south tip of New Zealand's South Island.

What it Might Mean: The sub activity (and recent combat TF activity around Fiji) is consistent with the expected increase in Japanese operations in the Pacific. I think Brad will be sniffing around for opportunities or problems and that he may employ the KB if he thinks it will be helpful. I certainly expect a move on Midway, with Fiji also a likely target. Midway now has nearly 200 AV with four forts and a CD unit. That's about as good a defense as I can build.

< Message edited by Canoerebel -- 10/4/2010 8:32:19 PM >

(in reply to Canoerebel)

Post #: 550

RE: One Weird Battle - 10/5/2010 2:59:52 PM

Canoerebel

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5/19/42

SigInt: I've received two significant reports that provide a missing piece of the puzzle. In previous posts, I've mentioned SigInt reports that 12th Division was prepping for Bombay and was aboard a Maru. Until today, I had thought this division was in theater and probably about to land at Goa. Today, however, SigInt reports that 4/12th and 6/12th are aboard different Marus making for Singapore. This tells me that Brad is still streaming reinforcements to India, meaning he's coming full bore.

Reinforcements: The Allies have two Marine regiments and a tank unit at East Coast awaiting transports for the trip to Karachi via Capetown. I may also detail 27th Division, currently at San Diego, for this mission (but I need 1900 PP to "buy" 27th and currently have but 1100). In addition, a UK division arrives at Aden in about 50 days. The Allies will employ carriers to escort these troops to Karachi if, when that time comes, it still looks like Brad is coming full bore. (If he should back down, I won't reveal my carriers). Wasp will arrive at Balboa in less than a month - she'll likely move to Capetown to join the party in waiting. In the meantime, the East African unit (95 AV) will arrive at Abadan tomorrow. It will then make for Karachi, though I'll break up the TF into several smaller TFs to reduce the risk of total loss.

India: The Allied retreat from South and Northeast India continues. One Indian brigade got caught fighting a rearguard action west of Calcutta, holding back a much larger force. I'll air evac a cadre of this unit. I don't want to lose this brigade, but it has slowed down the enemy advance thus allowing the bulk of the units to put more distance between them and the Japanse. Far to the south, nearly all units have evacuated. The one Indian division left is moving north by road. It may have some trouble making it all the way to the MLR before getting cut off.

Thinking Ahead: The Allies are carefully monitoring Japanese base-building activity all over the map. This helps me detect where Brad is concentrating his efforts, where he believes an Allied push is most likely to come, and where there might be "holes" that the Allies can exploit. I don't think the Allies will go on the offensive until 1943, but I want to be as prepared as possible in case an opportunity arrives earlier than I had expected.

KB: No reports or sightings of IJN carriers in weeks, so I no longer have any hard evidence as to it's location. I'm playing as though it could be anywhere. My hunch is that it may be resting and upgrading in preparation for some activity in the Pacific.

Allied Carriers: Fully upgraded and in port at Capetown. The air squadrons continue to train at 100%. In AE, the Allies begin the game with pretty decent carrier pilots, so the first big battle is usually a good contest between competent pilots. After that, though, the Allies had better have a good pilot training program in place or they can't fight as equals for a long, long time. The soonest I can envision the Allied carriers moving into the Gulf of Arabia would be around August '42. By then most of the really obsolete aircraft should be gone and some torpedo squadrons should be equipped with Avengers. The USN will have six carriers. I think the RN will contribute three CV and a CVL.

At What Cost? The Allies have gone to great lengths to preseve the "force in being" concept for carriers. This has paid marked dividends in the Pacific to date and I would love to continue the program. By the time I would commit the carriers, however, the period of greatest crisis in the Pacific will have passed. The Allies needed the breather to occupy and/or strengthen the key islands in the Aleutians, Midway, Canton Island, Pago Pago, and Fiji. All of those tasks have been accomplished, now, and those garrisons are ready to fight if it comes to that.

< Message edited by Canoerebel -- 10/5/2010 3:06:09 PM >

(in reply to Canoerebel)

Post #: 551

RE: One Weird Battle - 10/5/2010 4:12:02 PM

JohnDillworth

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quote:

At What Cost? The Allies have gone to great lengths to preseve the "force in being" concept for carriers. This has paid marked dividends in the Pacific to date and I would love to continue the program. By the time I would commit the carriers, however, the period of greatest crisis in the Pacific will have passed. The Allies needed the breather to occupy and/or strengthen the key islands in the Aleutians, Midway, Canton Island, Pago Pago, and Fiji. All of those tasks have been accomplished, now, and those garrisons are ready to fight if it comes to that.

I suspect you will get "free" runs into Karachi until carriers are spotted escorting reinforcements. Once that happens the KB will be waiting at or near the worm-hole for the next exit. If you are really pressed against the wall this might make for an interesting confrontation. I think Bombay would make a nice base for the KB.

Are you running many convoys to Karachi with supply? I ask because I am surprised by the lack of sub activity. If I were your opponent I would have every hex from the worm-hole to Karachi with 2 subs each and aggressive commanders. British ASW is good at this point in the war, but it would be worth it for any chance to get a troop ships.

< Message edited by JohnDillworth -- 10/5/2010 4:15:33 PM >

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Post #: 552

RE: One Weird Battle - 10/5/2010 4:44:56 PM

Canoerebel

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Good points.

I am running regular convoys between Abadan and Karachi. Some of these are supply convoys and some are carrying troops or aircraft.

Brad has had a couple of subs in the sea lanes between the Abadan exit and Karachi. They've picked off just a few unescorted, empty xAK or xAKL. His subs haven't touched any of the major (read: escorted) convoys.

I think I can handle any subs with ASW. I also think the Allied carriers will probably be a fair match for the KB if and when I sortie between Abadan and Karachi. What has always worried me - but what hasn't yet happened - is if Brad devotes a powerful combat TF to closing down Karachi. I suppose he hasn't done so out of fear of LBA or Allied carriers popping up.

I'm not worried about Brad reacting to the sudden appearance of Allied carriers by moving the KB to Bombay. I will only need my carriers for one brief window of opportunity - long enough for some big troop transport TFs to make the very short run from Abadan Channel to Karachi. Once that's accomplished my carriers can retreat back into the channel as I won't be making further use of them there anytime soon thereafter.

On a related note, we're talking here about operations around Karachi that will likely occur in late July or early August. It is hard for me to imagine Brad concentrating essentially all of his ground troops and ships to that corner of the map that deeply into the game. I could be wrong about that, of course. But I think Brad's unease about his situation in the Pacific and DEI has to be mounting the longer he fails to attend to those areas by having the KB in theater. Again, I could be wrong.

(in reply to JohnDillworth)

Post #: 553

RE: One Weird Battle - 10/5/2010 9:28:05 PM

Canoerebel

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Break in the Action

My boys and I are heading back to the Appalachian Trail. This time we're covering what is supposedly either the toughest section south of New England or the toughest section on the entire trail, depending upon the source. We'll backpack about 31 miles from Wesser to Fontana Dam, North Carolina. This stretch begins with a 3,000 foot climb, much of it over the first five miles. After that things calm down and we have good walking. The weather forecast is perfect.

NYGiants, if you're reading this we're not to your neck of the woods, yet. It will be several more years before we make it to northeastern Tennessee.

As for the game, Q-Ball has another spell at work where he could turn out only one turn a day, so this disruption in the schedule won't affect the flow of the game very much.

See you Saturday if everything goes according to plan.

(in reply to Canoerebel)

Post #: 554

RE: One Weird Battle - 10/5/2010 9:49:20 PM

anarchyintheuk

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Enjoy the trip . . . even if I can't help but hear dueling banjos. Iirc they filmed some of Last of Mohicans around there in NC.

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Post #: 555

RE: One Weird Battle - 10/5/2010 10:04:21 PM

Canoerebel

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Thanks, Anarchy. Yes, many films have been made in this neck of the woods including Mohicans and The Fugitive, both of which are excellent movies. Cold Mountain may have been filmed here, too, since the story takes place in Western North Carolina, but that movie is a steaming pile of dung from an overheated jungle bat.

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Post #: 556

RE: One Weird Battle - 10/6/2010 8:51:53 AM

nicwb

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quote:

[Cold Mountain may have been filmed here, too, since the story takes place in Western North Carolina, but that movie is a steaming pile of dung from an overheated jungle bat.
/quote]

Is that another term for "Chick Flick" ?

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Post #: 557

RE: One Weird Battle - 10/8/2010 2:23:15 PM

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Thanks, Anarchy. Yes, many films have been made in this neck of the woods including Mohicans and The Fugitive, both of which are excellent movies. Cold Mountain may have been filmed here, too, since the story takes place in Western North Carolina, but that movie is a steaming pile of dung from an overheated jungle bat.

Believe it or not...

"Cold Mountain" was filmed mostly in Romania.

The producers said it was due to lower production costs and the fact that Romania has fewer signs of modern life, like power lines and cell towers, than Appalachia does.

(in reply to Canoerebel)

Post #: 558

RE: One Weird Battle - 10/11/2010 2:44:00 PM

Canoerebel

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5/20/42 and 5/21/42

Back in the saddle...

India: The Japanese continue to move west from the Calcutta region. To the south, more IJA troops are landing at Goa. An IJA unit has arrived at Madras and will probably take the hex, guarded only by the static fort unit. The East African brigade heading from Abadan to Karachi has been split between two TFs - the first departed today, and the second follows tomorrow.

NoPac: An IJN TF sighted west of Attu Island on the 21st. I'm interested in seeing what this might be. SigInt says part of 303 Inf. Battalion is heading for Etorufu, part of the Kuriles. I like seeing this kind of activity - it suggests that Brad is suitably concerned about the Allied build up in the Aleutians.

Sub Wars: S-47 got a troop-carrying xAK near Mangalore on the 20th. I-25 got an empty xAK departing Karachi on the 21st.

(in reply to DW)

Post #: 559

RE: One Weird Battle - 10/12/2010 3:07:56 PM

Canoerebel

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From: Northwestern Georgia, USA
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5/22/42 to 5/24/42

India: The Japanese are moving west from Calcutta in force. I think Brad is also landing troops at Goa for a drive on Bombay. The first IJA deliberate attack at Madras - garrisoned only by the static fortress - came off at 1:1 and dropped forts from 4 to 3. The first of two transport TFs carrying East African brigade unit will arrive at Karachi tonight. A small carrier TF took station near Goa - probably a few CVE and/or CVL - launching a small strike force that sank a picket xAKL. That Brad would post a fairly weak carrier force there when he doesn't know the whereabouts of my carriers surprises me a bit. Nevertheless, I continue to find more advantages to keeping my carriers concealed than sortying after tempting bait.

NoPac: Whatever the mission and make-up of the Japanese TF sighted west of Attu on the 21st, it wasn't seen again. The Allies continue to make appearances of aggression here - Attu's airfield just went to level two, and a Liberator squadron will fly the first recon mission tomorrow - targeting Ketoi Jima. I bet this gets Brad's full attention. SigInt continues to show Japanese buildup in the region - 10,975 men posted at Toyohara and 303rd Infantry Battalion going to Etorufo. SeaBee units are about to land at Umnak and Dutch Island, which should help me build up those port/airfield facilities faster, lending further appearance of a mounting Allied menace in NoPac. An artillery unit begins landing at Attu tomorrow (I've devided the three-xAK TF into three separate TFs due to the enemy TF recently sighted in the area).

CenPac: SeaBee units are on the way to French Frigate Shoals and Midway. This will be Midway's last unit. Troops prepping for Baker Island continue to gather at San Diego. I have a sufficient force there to handle the invasion, but don't have even a preliminary date for the operation yet.

SoPac: After a Japanese combat TF wiped out an Allied transport TF carrying an Army battalion to Suva a few weeks ago, I've been nervous about sending ships this way. But two TFs (three xAKs apiece) have been unloading at Suva and Nadi for a week without interference. A Marine regiment is on the way, so I'll try my best to get her into Suva. Other than that, things are quiet in SoPac.

Oz: The Allies recently landed a base force and an engineer unit on Lord Howe Island, east of Sydney. This is meant to convey a threat to the Japanese base on Norfolk Island and, by extension, New Caledonia.

Sub Wars: I-25 got an ML near Karachi. Drum got an xAKL near Wakkanai. Skpjack got an xAK near Trincomalee.

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Post #: 560

RE: One Weird Battle - 10/12/2010 4:13:00 PM

JohnDillworth

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quote:

I think Brad is also landing troops at Goa for a drive on Bombay.

Do you make a stand at Bombay or pull back and see if he wants to tempt triggering reinforcements? Bombay is a biggie. He gets that and he has a great base for the KB.

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Post #: 561

RE: One Weird Battle - 10/12/2010 4:58:12 PM

ny59giants

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quote:

NYGiants, if you're reading this we're not to your neck of the woods, yet. It will be several more years before we make it to northeastern Tennessee.

I'm less than 10 miles away from it. I live close to Watauga Dam.

I did some hiking around Brevard, NC while living in SC. The Pisgah National Forest has a lot of trails to hike. Evenings were in Asheville, NC. A nice combination.

(in reply to JohnDillworth)

Post #: 562

RE: One Weird Battle - 10/12/2010 5:11:35 PM

Canoerebel

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From: Northwestern Georgia, USA
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quote:

ORIGINAL: JohnDillworth

quote:

I think Brad is also landing troops at Goa for a drive on Bombay.

Do you make a stand at Bombay or pull back and see if he wants to tempt triggering reinforcements? Bombay is a biggie. He gets that and he has a great base for the KB.

That is the huge $64 dollar question. I don't know the answer yet. On the one hand, I don't want to divide my forces into too many groups, thus inviting defeat in detail. On the other hand, Bombay is a big urban hex with five forts (and on the way to six) that would be a tough fortress for the Japanese to take.

At the moment, I have a slight leaning toward leaving a strong garrison in place (currently I have 1100 AV at Bombay) and relying upon reinforcements to help me defend Karachi/Delhi/Ahmadebad should Brad decide to cross the "triggering reinforcements" line.

What reinforcements, you ask? Most of the East African brigade just arrived at Karachi and safely unloaded. Another Indian brigade or two will arrive in India over the next month or so. A British division arrives in Aden in something less than 50 days. And two Marine regiments, a tank brigade, and an artillery unit will be on the way from the East Coast soon (the tanks and artillery are already on the way to Capetown). As stated previously, I will use the Allied carriers to get these troops to Karachi.

It's going to take some time for the Japanese to make it across India to threaten Bombay/Delhi/Ahmadebad, so I'll be reevaluating as the situation develops.

Edited to Add: On the other hand, I don't have to have Bombay. For my purposes and plans, the Allies are fine as long as I hold at least Karachi. So that line of thought suggests that I abandon Bombay before any troops there get cut off. I don't know which line of thought will win out - stay and fight or run like a scalded dog.

< Message edited by Canoerebel -- 10/12/2010 5:14:14 PM >

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RE: One Weird Battle - 10/12/2010 5:22:22 PM

Mike Solli

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How much supply do you have in Bombay? 1100 AV won't last long without supply.

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RE: One Weird Battle - 10/12/2010 7:04:01 PM

JohnDillworth

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quote:

How much supply do you have in Bombay? 1100 AV won't last long without supply.

Interesting point. Should be easy to supply for now. If air cover is not an issue you could probably send a convoy directly in loaded with stuff. That will get tougher and tougher particularly if there are carriers in the area. I guess one could turn the dials and have most of the supply go there instead of elsewhere. There is less and less elsewhere everyday but Karachi still seems easy to get to. There is some quality (Australian) troops around so it would take 2-3,000 to AV to make a serious attempt to take the city. It will take some time to get that much in place, particularly if the railroads are not fully open (any paratroopers?). I think sufficient reinforcements will get there before than. If the offensive is going to bog down, I think it will be near Bombay.

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RE: One Weird Battle - 10/12/2010 7:09:45 PM

Canoerebel

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SigInt just reported another IJA division (4th Guards) in India. That's at least 13 committed to the campaign thus far. That's a heck of alot of firepower and doesn't leave Brad with much to go on the offensive elsewhere.

4th Guards is one of the four extra divisions Japan gets in Scenario Two. Another one of these - 6th Guards - is also in India.

Brad is nuts to commit that much firepower to India unless he intends to take the entire subcontinent, "reinforcement triggering" or not. It's going to take him a long time to extract that much infantry once he decides to do so. It would suit me very much if he was still waging war in India late this year. I would love to have most of the Imperial Japanese Army committed to India while the Allies were moving elsehwere....

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RE: One Weird Battle - 10/12/2010 7:40:03 PM

Chickenboy

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel
It would suit me very much if he was still waging war in India late this year.

Not sure you will feel this way if he does take the entire subcontinent and gets auto-victory on January 1, 1943.

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RE: One Weird Battle - 10/12/2010 7:47:54 PM

Canoerebel

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel
It would suit me very much if he was still waging war in India late this year.

Not sure you will feel this way if he does take the entire subcontinent and gets auto-victory on January 1, 1943.

That's why I said I was fine with it as long as I hold onto Karachi.

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RE: One Weird Battle - 10/12/2010 9:23:07 PM

Canoerebel

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5/25/42 to 5/27/42

India: No major developments since the last report - just the continued steady Japanese advances in the east and south. The Allies have managed to extract the Indian brigade that had been threatened with envelopment. The last unit that I have my eyes on is an Indian division making its way through the interior NW of Madras. I don't think Brad has spotted this unit, yet, and I hope I can get it to Bombay or Ahmadebad before the enemy closes in.

India Reinforcements: A quick look at the reinforcement que shows the following for India: (1) Indian brigade to arrive up north in a few weeks; (2) Indian brigade to arrive in Madras in a few weeks, or in the likely event that Japan holds Madras at that time, probably to divert to Karachi; (3) British division to arrive at Aden within 40 days. That's another 600+ AV.

India Supplies: At present I have most of the supplies set in Karachi, Delhi and Ahmadebad. If I decide to stick it out at Bombay, I'll send more that way.

Philippines: Clark Field fell to a 3:1 shock attack on the 27th. The last redoubt is Bataan, which I expect to hold into early or mid June.

NoPac: I-20 was waiting at Attu Island and picked off an xAK carrying part of an arty unit. (I believe this is the first enemy sub to make a showing in the Aleutians.) The other two xAKs are posted to the NE, awaiting arrival of some ASW escorts. Allied recon are flying over Onnekotan Jima and Ketoi Jima, which I feel sure got Brad's attention.

SoPac: Transports carrying a Marine regiment, and transports carrying an Army regiment, are both bound for Suva. Presently, the TFs are widely separated and closing on Pago Pago from different directions. Upon arrival, if safe, that will probably be it for the Fiji garrisons.

Supplies and Oil: The Allies have had a convoy system running from Cristobal to Capetown since early in the game. Another is about to begin operating from East Coast to Capetown. The Capetown hub was originally intended to facilitate Allied offensives much later in the game, but I'm also drawing on those supplies to send to India. Supplies are also flowing from Capetown to Oz. I am not yet stockpiling supplies anywhere in the Pacific except Pearl Harbor and Kodiak, but that will eventually change as Tahiti and Christmas Island become more secure.

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RE: One Weird Battle - 10/12/2010 9:39:36 PM

Chickenboy

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

quote:

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel
It would suit me very much if he was still waging war in India late this year.

Not sure you will feel this way if he does take the entire subcontinent and gets auto-victory on January 1, 1943.

That's why I said I was fine with it as long as I hold onto Karachi.

Seems as though your rationale for this being a game winning proposition for Q-ball versus something 'suiting you' very much is balanced on a knife-edge. Are you putting the outcome of this game into your last ditch defense of Karachi? If so, I'd be a whole lot more nervous about the outcome than you appear to be.

If your defense of Karachi is what separates your successful Indian campaign from Q-ball's autovictory, what are you doing to buttress Karachi's defenses right now? I must confess that I haven't been following your Karachi buildup per se, if you've discussed it on this AAR.

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