Rio Bravo
Posts: 1794
Joined: 7/13/2013 From: Grass Valley, California Status: offline
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Japan Surrenders January 14, 1944 According to recent communications with Evil El Lobo, Japan capitulates for the following five main reasons: 1.) Japan's "Magic Highway" in China had been severed by the Allies in China significantly decreasing the amount of supply flowing to Japan's Home Islands. 2.) Japanese forces were on the defense and in retreat in China. 3.) Upon the Allies managing to reinforce Formosa, Formosa had turned into a huge Prisoner of War camp for the Japanese forces on Formosa. 4.) Japan was out of reserves. 5.) Allied production capability would continue to be massive, leaving Japan with no hope for the future. This war was much, much closer than it appears at first glance. Had either of the following two situations turned in favor of Japan, the Allies would have been the ones in big trouble: 1.) It was very close as to whether Chungking could suffer the siege of Japanese forces. The Allies barely managed to push north from Amoy, cut the "Magic Highway," and force Japan to divert aircraft and ground forces from Chungking to halt the Allied advance north toward Chungking and west toward Paoshan. The Allies simply won the footrace by mere inches. Had Chungking fell into Japanese hands, there was an excellent chance that Japanese forces would have swarmed out of Chungking and knocked the Allies back to Amoy and back to Burma. 2.) The Allies also barely managed to reinforce Formosa prior to Japan booting the Allies completely off of Formosa. Both El Lobo and I figured that if the Allies had not been able to reinforce Formosa for an additional two weeks, it would have been Japan that owned Formosa, not the Allies. Had Japan managed to boot the Allies off Formosa, it would have been extremely bloody for the Allies to supply Allied troops in China. Accordingly, the advantage in this war could have quite easily gone either way until January 12, 1944 when the Allied reinforcement of Formosa secured Formosa for the Allies. Although Captain Haggard and I have extensive experience playing war games going back as far as our college days together at the University of California at Santa Barbara during 1971 whereas El Lobo had absolutely zero experience with war games until this war between us. I faced a quick learner, a formidable foe; was challenged and nervous the entire time up to date the Allies secured Formosa. El Lobo was under considerable and intense pressure from the Allies since the Allies captured Saipan, Tinian, Rota, and Guam in the Marianas Islands in June of 1943. With the taking of the four southern Marianas Islands, the Allies opened a wide range of invasion opportunities. Japan had no way of knowing exactly where the Allies might strike next and they did not have the assets to adequately protect a multiple of key Allied invasion sites. Further, the Allies had the advantage of knowing exactly where they were heading from day one of the war and had prepared best they could to pursue their objectives. Yet, El Lobo met the Allied onslaught and threw everything Japan had left at Formosa and was damn near successful in driving the Allies into the sea. Japan was simply unable to rally quick enough to get the job done before the Allies reinforced Formosa. Further, I believe that the element of "Surprise" was a huge factor in this war. El Lobo did not expect the Allies to invade Burma on October 15, 1942 with such a substantial force. Nor did El Lobo expect the Allies to invade the Marianas Islands in mid June of 1943 nor Formosa in mid September of 1943. I sincerely doubt many, if any, Japanese Emperor would have anticipated such early invasions at the Marianas Islands and Formosa, Pescadores, and Amoy China. In conclusion, I want to express my honest and sincere gratitude to the developers of this game and to those of The War College that assisted the Allies in prosecuting the war. The developers provided the vehicle and those of you that attended The War College taught me how to drive the vehicle. Combined, all of you played a part in providing so many hours of fun for me. Lastly, I want to thank El Lobo; a good friend and a deadly foe. Attached below is the Strategic Map as of January 14, 1944. Best Regards, -Terry
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< Message edited by Rio Bravo -- 5/11/2018 9:52:41 PM >
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"No one throws me my own guns and tells me to run. No one." -Bret (James Coburn); The Magnificent Seven
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