Leandros
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Joined: 3/5/2015
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Those of you who have followed my Rookie II thread may have noticed that the progress in that thread has slowed down somewhat due to my opponent’s various other engagements (anybody want to step in for him..?..). To calm my nerves, I have in the meantime started a parallel game against the AI, to test some of the ideas (theories) which I have aired here earlier – that of an aggressive US leadership where the US Navy played along instead of panicking and sabotaging the Army’s intentions to give effective aid to the USAFFE – MacArthur’s forces in the Far East. The mission is to see how fast the Japanese can be isolated in The Philippines and the transport route between the Japanese homeland and the conquered areas in the south-west closed off, thereby strangling the Japanese war effort. Which is what MacArthur preached from the start.
I would like to say that I find “our” game to be an excellent platform for a “war game”. The warring parties would have been lucky to have something similar at their disposal in 1941. While it can be unrealistic in some ways, in other ways it compensates for this - things even out over time. While some things are too easy to implement, others are too difficult and do not take into consideration the American flair for improvisation and all-out effort. The defense of Bataan, and the Philippines in general, are good examples of this (as is Guadalcanal, for that matter).
However, to make this in any way meaningful the game must be “edited” somewhat – first of all the “political points” (PP) system. With only 50 points added each day this does not conform, or make possible, an “aggressive leadership”. As I do not know how to change this in the Editor I have had to make other adjustments.
An aggressive leadership should be reflected in how fast and how many units of all branches, were sent west. To that effect I have, in the Editor, released approx. 1/3rd of air and ground units on the west coast, to be transferred as shipping become available 1-4 weeks after the war started. Naval units were not tinkered with. Instead, the PPs have been used for available allied units. For the Anzacs this was natural as they had lost confidence in the British and welcomed the US efforts to protect them. The Dutch have put up part of their resources based on the area meant to be specifically covered by the US – that is the Moluccans (the only viable route to The Philippines) and The Philippines.
Crew experience of air units in this first wave (1-4 weeks after the war started) has been adjusted up. Not unnaturally as these units were, of course, topped up with the most experienced pilots in the various (and other) groups. They should, after all, go to war. Average amounts to approx. 60-70 experience level. Later available units have been kept to their original experience levels.
Naval fighting units have been sent west according to analysis of the threat picture behind the immediate front – based on the obvious conclusion that the enemy was already seriously over-stretched when the war started. The US Navy’s insistence that they could not release the carriers for air transport (which MacArthur had asked for), or fighting in the Far East, was over-ruled by the political leadership.
On this day, January 15th 1942, the situation is as follows:
MacArthur’s ground forces on Luzon have withdrawn into the Bataan Peninsula in good order. However, some of his best regiments had to be sacrificed to achieve this. He was able to transfer a good volume of supplies into Bataan before he was closed off. The enemy has still not advanced on Bataan but has instead concentrated on occupying Manila with its surroundings.
In Burma the British have sent forces forward to the Thai border and have at one place crossed it. Moulmein and Tavoy have been reinforced and fortified. New forces arriving in Theatre shall not go to Singapore but instead reinforce Burma (at this stage the British leadership had already started to doubt if Singapore could be held). Indian reinforcements to Burma have travelled by train to Chittagong and are proceeding over land to Akyab. On British request, two Chinese divisions have crossed into Burma and shall stand by near the Lashio railhead. Two more are moving to the Burma/China border.
British forces in Malaya have been pushed south towards Singapore but are preparing stands in Malacca and Johore Bahru. Some British units have been locked up in Georgetown and are heavily bombed, the airfield is still operational. British air forces in Singapore have been waiting for the enemy ground forces to come within fighter range before starting to bomb them. Some central British units are being prepared to leave Singapore.
An enemy carrier force has launched attacks on Singapore, Oosthaven and Batavia. It has now withdrawn. Another enemy carrier task force cut through the Moluccan Sea without doing much damage. The British oil installations on Borneo have been captured, Kuching, too. Most of the British and Dutch naval units are still intact. MacArthur’s Asiatic Fleet has been kept for its original duty – that of supporting MacArthur and the convoys arriving from the West Coast.
Chinese forces have crossed the border to Vietnam and captured Hanoi and Haiphong, the enemy is fleeing south towards Vinh. Strong Chinese forces are in pursuit.
The enemy’s attempts to land in Davao, Jolo, Menado and Tarakan have been frustrated by allied naval forces, including two carriers. Only the last few days have any new US air force units to speak of began to arrive in Theatre. The enemy invasion fleets have been weakly defended by inferior covering forces. Several of the convoys have been slaughtered and their back-up escorts have been harassed by US submarines and torpedo-carrying PBYs. Yesterday he lost the carrier Hiryu in the Luzon Strait after a two days’ gauntlet through submarine-infested waters. A Japanese battleship and three light cruisers have been sunk in the Celebes Sea through naval action and by land-based bombers and own carrier planes flying from USS Enterprise and Saratoga in the last few days. While the enemy has sunk 50 % more ships than the Allies the tonnage is fairly equal. A US freighter carrying 25 P-40 fighters was sunk in the Coral Sea yesterday. It is estimated than an equal number of enemy fighters went down with Hiryu. While the enemy’s submarine warfare has been of little consequence, in the last few days it has started to pick up.
Own submarines have been set to “reliable torpedoes” which in reality is a little less “reliable” than in real life. Just my previous experience.
Some Australian army and air units have moved forward to strengthen the Dutch defense of the northern Moluccans, mainly Ternate, Menado and Tarakan. Three Australian“Independent” companies landed on Jolo before the first US reinforcements arrived. This was important as Jolo has the best airfields in that area. Two US Army infantry regiments with support units have recently arrived in Zamboanga and Davao. Two others are some days out. 8th Marines are presently being reorganized in Ambon, the 7th is right behind them. Part of the US 27th Infantry Division has arrived in Brisbane. Many of the Army units in transfer from the West Coast are in less than a complete state but it has been judged that this is better than nothing.
Ships with amphibious capacity are concentrated in Ambon and an assembly of air support units shall make Ambon the center for newly arrived air force units. Several USN four-stackers are withdrawn to be converted to APDs.
The first Australian army units withdrawn from North Africa and the Middle East have arrived in Aden for transfer to the homeland. The American leadership has insisted that these shall be put under MacArthur’s command to relieve US units for the coming north-bound push. The Aussies have agreed on this.
With the conclusion on the Arcadia Conference that the Pacific shall have priority in the US war effort until further, many transports are transferring from the East to the West Coast.
Further postings by me here shall be erratic and mainly in connection with special events.
Fred
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