Allied Resistance--Burma (Full Version)

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John 3rd -> Allied Resistance--Burma (1/9/2009 1:48:35 PM)

Note the Southern and Central Burma bases being empty. There are 3 recon Chutai at Raheang checking out each of these bases every other day...



[image]local://upfiles/18041/99692843E4AA40CB98E1F293E2256E16.jpg[/image]



John 3rd -> Japanese Plans--Coral Sea (1/9/2009 2:03:22 PM)

This completes the Japanese Operational picture. Multi-Phase Landings occurring throughout area.

Goals:
1. Immediate (1 week or less): Capture Lae, Lunga, and Milne Bay.
2. Near (within 2 weeks): Port Moresby
3. Medium (2 weeks): Luganville and Efate (loading at Kwajalein now)
4. Distant (1 Month): New Caledonia



[image]local://upfiles/18041/AE1977E4E05946B4AD124679F4A94DCD.jpg[/image]



ny59giants -> RE: Japanese Plans--Coral Sea (1/9/2009 2:48:41 PM)

We can discuss your choice of colors and how they relate to your "diagnosis" later. [:D]



John 3rd -> RE: Japanese Plans--Coral Sea (1/9/2009 2:51:20 PM)

STOP THAT!  Evil...pure Evil...you are strong with the Dark Side of the Force...

Master Mace Windu liked that color!  Don't mess with the solitary Jedi who defeated the Emperor in a one-on-one fight!



John 3rd -> Scratch FOUR Cruisers! (1/10/2009 5:56:33 AM)

Combat Report
December 22, 1941
Tulagi, Solomons

On December 20th a small Japanese TF of 3 AP and 2 PG began unloading at Tulagi.  This group was escorted by the Training Cruiser Katori.  On the 21st the Island officially became Japanese and the TF Commander began picking up the troops so Lunga could be occupied on the following day.  Little did these ships and their men know that they were serving as bait.

For the first two weeks of the war, a small group of Light and Heavy Cruisers have been mixing it up with the Japanese.  The fall of Rabaul prompted them to move south until they heard about the Tulagi Force.  Setting Full Speed the 4 Cruisers (CA Canberra, CL Perth, CL Achilles, and CL Leander) arrive during the early morning of December 22 and sink the Katori.  It should be noted that the Katori put up such a spirited fight the Cruisers had to spend valuable time moving into dawn searching the the Invasion Force.

The Australian and New Zealand crews have no idea of what is about to hit them.

CarDiv1
Admiral Nagumo, fresh off his success with Pearl Harbor, spends 4-5 days at Kwajalein before departing the base for the Coral Sea.  Due to all the Naval Activity he elects to split his CVs: CarDiv5 to come in on the northern end of the Solomons and his CarDiv1 to swing through the southern edge of the islands. 

When Katori's distress calls ring out at 0330 hours, Nagumo is perfectly positioned to the west of Tulagi.  At dawn he turns his two CVs into the wind and launches the full complement of both carriers at the hapless cruisers.  These pilots are the best of an elite best.  Commandeer Fuchida commands the strike and he watches with satisfaction as 16 Zero escort his 48 Val and 48 Kate to their target.

The warships are trying to exit the Tulagi area when they massed Japanese strike bores in on them.  Though they ring up Flank Speed there is little they can do to avoid the disaster that is coming.  While the Kates get into position, elegant strings of Val Chutai dive from the sun and score numerous hits on the ships.  Perth suffers massive explosion and quickly staggers to a halt.  Achilles sees her aft magazine explode blowing off her stern.  All this occurs before the Kates make their drops.  Perth and Leander take most of the hits (5 and 6) while Achilles takes 2 Torpedoes, and Canberra gets another pair. 

Leander and Achilles sink immediately after the assault. 

An afternoon strike of 15 Zero, 37 Val, and 29 Kate comes in and finishes wracking up more damage on Canberra and Perth leaving them in a sinking condition.

In one fell stroke two carriers manage to clear the entire region of danger with the launching of 96 Strike Aircraft.  Only 2 Kates fail to make it home and one of their crews is rescued later in the day.

Operations can now go ahead with little fear of interdiction whatsoever.  Almost on cue, anchors drop at Lunga and Milne Bay for their occupation to begin.

Now the hunt for shipping fleeing the area can begin...




Q-Ball -> RE: Scratch FOUR Cruisers! (1/10/2009 7:13:08 PM)

December 23rd Update from the SRA

That was a brilliant move by John! They will likely think twice now before attacking seemingly helpless shipping. Didn't see the other cruisers sink, but I bet they were scuttled.

Phillipines

This theater is very confusing to me; maybe John can post a screenshot. I welcome your comments.

There are 6 Allied units at Baguio, apparently some of their best troops. Shuzan Nav Gd. is in the hex to screen; they could probably push that aside anytime, though they haven't bombarded or otherwise scouted that unit, so they may not know it's only 100AV Gd unit.

Yesterday, 48th Division and support tanks/Art reached Clark in their rear, and took the forts down to 2. Engineers arrive tommorow, at which point we will attack again after a brief rest. 65th Bde guards Lingayen.

The Southern Luzon Force easily took Naga, with those 2 PA divisions fleeing to Manila. We should be able to invest Manila tommorow.

Maybe they know something we don't, or maybe they screwed up the defense. Why would they split their troops like this? Those troops at Bagiuo could break out and threaten the base at Appari, but is a supply-sucking offensive really wise for the Allies? I don't get it.

We are going to bring in 38th Div from Hong Kong for a couple weeks to help take Clark, and eliminate the pockets on Luzon. I will probably bring 4th division from Naga around as well, 1 division is plenty to invest Manila with the forces there, but 2 aren't enough to take it. Very strange.

We have a chance now to really close out the Phillipines, or at least eliminate most of the combat troops outside of Manila in isolated pockets.

Can anyone out there guess why they are aligning troops this way, or do you think it's a mistake?

Malaya

The steamroller down the West Coast continues. Those 2 Bdes had a combined adjusted Defense of 7 last turn; pretty sure they are spent. Otherwise, units are gathering at Johore, save for a Brigade at Khota Bharu that wants to be cut off for whatever reason. We should be investing Singapore around Jan 10th.

DEI

Landings occur tommorow at Dili, Koepang, Lautem. All should fall quickly. We will land at Makassar in 3 days, which will complete the conquest of the southern DEI, and cut off any transfers from Australia save long-range bombers.

We land at Samarinda Christmas day, and Balikpapan two days later. The Java invasion force is gathering at Saigon, and should sail about New Year's Day. Singkawang fell today. Overall I am pleased with the pace here, though I always think we can go faster.



ny59giants -> RE: Scratch FOUR Cruisers! (1/10/2009 7:40:40 PM)

quote:


Can anyone out there guess why they are aligning troops this way, or do you think it's a mistake?


I think they messed up, which is good news for you. I don't think you can move from a hex with mixed ZOC to another with the same situation. Thus, get your troops from Naga to Manila ASAP. Then attack in Clark to force them to retreat to Bataan. The less in Manila, the better. Those at Baguio can only go to a hex without troops. It might include hexes that are under your control, but I'm not sure.

1) Get troops from Naga to Manila
2) Attack in Clark to force retreat into Bataan.
3) Send in enough troops to Bataan to pin them there
4) March troop along west coast into Clark and then up to Baguio (any other way from the west is by trail vs roads).
5) Wipe out Baguio
6) Wipe out Bataan
7) Lay siege to Manila



John 3rd -> Philippine Attack (1/10/2009 10:42:04 PM)

As my partner requests:



[image]local://upfiles/18041/73045CD51B864A57BA499D0D227B4451.jpg[/image]



John 3rd -> Strategic Thinking (1/11/2009 12:50:14 AM)

I truly think we could END the Luzon Campaign by Jan 31st.  Considering that Singapore will be done at that point we could seriously be looking at our ENTIRE army available for operations Feb 1st.

Think about that.

Timeline Thought:
A.  Singapore Falls about January 10th:  we let the troops rest for say two weeks and fling them at India.  We, with units moved down from Manchuria, could launch an Invasion of Viza with 4 Inf Div (Malaya), 4-5 Tk Brigade, several Engineering Reg, and a large Base Force or two.  Target Landing:  Feb 15, 1942.

B.  Allied Resistance collapses in Luzon by January 31st.  Two weeks again to rest and we could send an EQUAL-Sized force for a second invasion within India.  Target Landing:  March 10, 1942 

If we stick to a friendly port these troops can land without any form of disruption.

Fleet Adjustments:
1.  We will have 4 BB (Nagato is 18 Sys and needs to be sent to Singapore immediately upon its surrender OR send it to Hong Kong NOW) and numerous support ships to bombard with in the Initial Attack.
2.  3 CV TF: 
   a.  CV TF1--CarDiv2
   b.  CV TF2---Ryuho, Zuiho, Hosho
   c.  CV TF3---Taiyo
3.  CV Reinforcements
  a.  CVL Shoho complete Jan 1st.
  b.  CV Junyo Feb 19th.
  c.  CVE Unyo March 7th
  d.  CV Hiyo April 4th

Carrier Re-organization
a.  Add Shoho to CV TF1 to form a Strike Force, CV TF 2 and 3 Covering the Landing Force to hit Viza
b.  2nd Landing would be able to include Junyo.

When Junyo enters into your service, I think CV TF1 needs to be pulled back to the Pacific to help handle US CV.  This withdrawal could be done in early-March.

Thoughts...




John 3rd -> SE Pac (1/11/2009 1:13:00 AM)

Combat Report
Dec 23, 1941
SE Pacific

Lunga and Milne Bay Fall.  They will be immediately expanded.

At Rabaul the South Seas Force and 56th ID finish loading and put to sea for Port Moresby.

The KB--working as separate Divisions--will move across the Coral Sea looking for stragglers and fleeing shipping.  After 2-3 days they will return to Tulagi for fuel and then cover the Luganville/Efate Landing.  Once these landings are clear they will either:

1.  move far south and try to interdict Allied shipping

or

2.  Move due east and catch any Convoy/TF moving troops into Suva, Pago Pago, etc...

Submarine Action
I was about to complain that after a great start our SS haven't done much.  That changed this turn with I-8 sinking an AK west of Pearl Harbor and I-4 sinking another AK, while on the surface, at Papeate in the Society Islands.

Another SS was attacked unsuccessfully NE of PH in hex 128,66.






2ndACR -> RE: SE Pac (1/11/2009 1:39:47 AM)

Nope, put Shoho with one of the other TF's........her air groups will arrive in the mid 60 experience level. Too low for frontline use IMO.

I would use one of the CVL's you start the war with......much better experience.

I forget, how many Div do you have in Malaya? I would not move on India until Java is secure or just about secure. Just my opinion and all, but I try to have only 2 major moves going at once......never more than that once the enemy is found. Stretch's your support forces, and supplies too thin.

You are going to need a slew of supply for India until you capture some serious stockpiles. Be prepared. I would have 50,000+ ready to land with my invasion, 50,000 enroute and another 100,000 stockpiled and ready to load. India can and will be a major undertaking.

Burma is a side show when you invade India......a holding action to keep the pressure on. Once you land in India, you will see a mass run away syndrom start in Burma. Burma is a death trap.

Yes, pull CV Div 2 back to the Pacific.......You can keep Junyo and Hiyo along with Shoho in the Indian Ocean area/DEI.......That is the grouping I use anyway. I group ships (CV) by class/speed whenever possibly.



John 3rd -> RE: SE Pac (1/11/2009 2:56:24 AM)

Thank you Sir! 

Good idea of moving a different CVL to Hiryu/Soryu.  Should be Zuiho then and Shoho can replace her in the Mini-KB.  Am debating on putting a full Daitai of Zero on Shoho anyway and have her as a CAP booster like the Japanese planned after Midway.  We'll see...

There are 4 Inf Div in Malaya.  We now plan to 'fix' the Allies with the Burma Invasion blasting into southern Burma and taking the central bases but stopping below Mandalay.  Want them to move troops INTO the area and not AWAY.  If the plan works OK then we can pick-up the 3 TK REg in Burma to add to the Viza landings.  Figure 4 Inf Div and 5 TK Reg for the initial combat power....

Brad is all over the supply issue and preparation.

Getting ready to post a screenshot from 12/24 that is a riot to see!




John 3rd -> The Invasion of Tavoy! (1/11/2009 3:02:28 AM)

A massive force descends from the sky to take Tavoy!



[image]local://upfiles/18041/0839926A213F478880A38416EEDF77C3.jpg[/image]



2ndACR -> RE: The Invasion of Tavoy! (1/11/2009 3:42:43 AM)

Nope, Bombay has a fort. And it cannot be moved. But a whole slew of Indian bases will be undefended.......not near enough troops to garrison them all........you/they cannot even garrison all the southern coastal bases with enough troops to stop you.

The only thing that gives me pause about swapping out any CV/CVL air group is the bug that forces them to re-size. I only swap out CVE air groups, Zero's for CAP, Vals for all purpose, and Kates for anti ship. I try to have 2-3 of each follow my CVE's around the map for fast swaps etc.



modrow -> RE: Scratch FOUR Cruisers! (1/11/2009 8:35:47 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

Phillipines

This theater is very confusing to me; maybe John can post a screenshot. I welcome your comments.

There are 6 Allied units at Baguio, apparently some of their best troops. Shuzan Nav Gd. is in the hex to screen; they could probably push that aside anytime, though they haven't bombarded or otherwise scouted that unit, so they may not know it's only 100AV Gd unit.

Yesterday, 48th Division and support tanks/Art reached Clark in their rear, and took the forts down to 2. Engineers arrive tommorow, at which point we will attack again after a brief rest. 65th Bde guards Lingayen.

The Southern Luzon Force easily took Naga, with those 2 PA divisions fleeing to Manila. We should be able to invest Manila tommorow.

Maybe they know something we don't, or maybe they screwed up the defense. Why would they split their troops like this? Those troops at Bagiuo could break out and threaten the base at Appari, but is a supply-sucking offensive really wise for the Allies? I don't get it.

We are going to bring in 38th Div from Hong Kong for a couple weeks to help take Clark, and eliminate the pockets on Luzon. I will probably bring 4th division from Naga around as well, 1 division is plenty to invest Manila with the forces there, but 2 aren't enough to take it. Very strange.

We have a chance now to really close out the Phillipines, or at least eliminate most of the combat troops outside of Manila in isolated pockets.

Can anyone out there guess why they are aligning troops this way, or do you think it's a mistake?



I belive this is not intentional as well. But if I try to force an explanation, this comes to my mind:

I am currently reduced to diddling against the AI, playing stock due to time constraints and tried to do something different in the Phillipines. Rather than concentrating everything in order to hold as long as possible what is doomed anyway I tried stay mobile with a few units in the north of this region, concentrated more units in the south at Naga in order to put up a more of a fight there and shuffled troops in such a way that I could try to reinvade those bases which have resources. One obviously cannot keep them, but the idea was to reduce the available resources at these sites. In other words, the Allied strategy is directed at negating resources to the Japanese.

In the end, I feel this did not work well, because fatigue of the units I used in the North was increasing quickly, but I used only 2 or three of the Phillipine divisions. Not sure whether this was worth the about 100 resource points that were destroyed in addtition to the ones destroyed in my standard defense.

I have no idea whether this consideration works on the map you are playing on and am far from being an expert or even good at this game. Just wanted to try to open a different perspective to look at things.

Hartwig

Hartwig



Grotius -> RE: Scratch FOUR Cruisers! (1/11/2009 7:41:10 PM)

I'm enjoying the AAR, guys. As I posted in the War Room, I've been trying to learn how to seize oil centers in the DEI without then exposing them to Allied bombers. I guess in Big-B, Amboina isn't threatened by Darwin? In stock, Darwin builds up pretty fast, and it's supplied by rail. They didn't bomb Amboina from Kendari either, it seems. When you took Tarakan, did they try to bomb its oil from Balikpapan? When you take Balikpapan, will they bomb it from Palembang? When you take Palembang, you'll rely primarily on AA and fighters to protect the oil?

As you can see, I'm a bit paranoid about this. Using WITP-Tracker opened my eyes to how fast those oil stocks are draining. :)

Anyway, keep up the good work!



Q-Ball -> Breakout from Baguio (1/12/2009 4:04:17 AM)

December 25th

This is a quick update on the Phillipines, as we had posted screenshots and sitrep before.

The forces at Baguio pushed aside the Shuzan Nav Gd; forces there consist of 2 PA Divisions, the 1st PS Regt, and 4th Marines. With Baguio free, I believe they will retreat to Clark.

A Division arrives at Manila tommorow, so at least we have them split in two. An attack tommorow should take the forts at Clark down another notch. 38th Division unloads at Lingayen in 3 days, and another division about 3 days after that; should be enough to take out Clark.

Elsewhere, we attack at Koepang and Lautem tommorow. Balikpapan lands tommorow.

Timetable

I think John's timetable is right-on. We are making good time in the SRA. We are diverting some troops to Luzon; they will reduce Clark, we still may not be able to close out Manila, but even if we don't, there will be so little AV there we could bottle them up with a Nav Gd unit or something like that.

We should probably start prepping some troops soon. At some point they will know what's up, and at any rate, it's not like they wouldn't be prepping for an invasion of India.



2ndACR -> RE: Breakout from Baguio (1/12/2009 4:13:19 AM)

If you have a unit at Clark, and another at Manila, they are stuck and will never make it to Manila. Zone of control will prevail. As long as you get a unit into Manila first, any retreat from Clark will force them to Bataan. Or back to Baguio. They are toast.

At least I have not ever been able to move units when the same scenario occurs in my games.

Pound those units from the air as heavy as you can......that way it takes them longer to get to Clark, they arrive disrupted. Then when your new units arrive, they will be forced to retreat.......to Bataan which hopefully is in bad shape supply wise.

I would be bombing Manila airfield nonstop to prevent fort construction and to destroy supply. Same for Bataan, all it takes is 1 bomber group for each target to keep damage and prevent fort building.



John 3rd -> RE: Breakout from Baguio (1/12/2009 4:25:39 AM)

We have been doing that.  The Betty at Formosa have been hitting the Port at Manila while bombers at Aparri have been hitting troops at Clark and Baguio.

If that Inf Div makes it to Manila tomorrow then we still have a very good chance of doing this far quicker then could reasonably be expected.




Q-Ball -> RE: Breakout from Baguio (1/12/2009 4:32:24 AM)

Thanks, I meant to say Clark not Manila, I realize we have split them in two, if not 3 or 4. But I think they attacked in order to withdraw to Clark.

Our good fortune here is causing us to revise plans, but in a good way.



2ndACR -> RE: Breakout from Baguio (1/12/2009 4:35:01 AM)

I would not risk just leaving a naval guard unit.................only remove a frontline combat unit once a low experience unit of basically equal strength arrives to take it's place. You should be able to pull 2 of the 4 divs almost as soon as you bottle them up, but I would be rotating in my low exp units in for some safer training. Either Div's or all those units you should have arriving in the HI that need some training to get up to 70+ exp. That is what I classify as combat ready, 80's are Vets, 90+ are Elite.

Only 70+ units are even considered for garrison units of bases I deem worth defending. As in I will fight for it. Not mere speed bumps to prevent the cheap capture with para's and subs. Most DEI base get 70+ units, the more important the base, the bigger and better the garrison.




John 3rd -> SE Pac (1/12/2009 4:43:48 AM)

Interesting thought off of 2nd ACR. How about we rotate in those small China Brigades for 'training' here? If we don't get the base quickly then use it for our own Jungle Warfare Training Center??!! Evil...

Here is the current SE Pacific picture:


[image]local://upfiles/18041/9129A293180F449E8766F7DD8D1EA5DA.jpg[/image]



2ndACR -> RE: SE Pac (1/12/2009 4:49:41 AM)

I release the small Mixed Regiments from China for use as good garrisons. I think they are the 1st and 2nd Mixed Reg. One starts near Pescadores but in China and the other I think is near Shanghai but inland. They max out at about 150AV.

I use them to garrison level 4 air bases that are not directly on the front line. Important, but not important enough to have 300AV dedicated to it right away.



John 3rd -> RE: SE Pac (1/12/2009 4:53:38 AM)

You have taken the idea I began with in Forlorn Hopes.  There are actually TEN of those Brigades spread through China.  They cost about 1,000 Political Points each and start at about 50% strength.  This is why they are so cheap.  We already have 2-3 in Shanghai with the others moving there once Yenen and SE China is dealt with.

Nearly all of our PP are being spent on Engineering Regiments, Heavy Artillery Regiments, and TK Regiments in Manchuria for India.  Going to need some Base Forces as well...



2ndACR -> RE: SE Pac (1/12/2009 5:11:04 AM)

You get a ton of base forces. I would leave the ones that start in China/Manchuria alone. I do pull out all Engineers, Aviation regiment, and even the AA units.

NO, the one I am talking about are identical to the 4th Mixed which starts near Saigon. They max out at 150AV roughly, not the Ind Brigades/Regiments that reach 300 when full strength but start at 150AV or so. I pull those too, but later down the road. I think the 1st Mixed is in Amoy (?) near Pescadores, 1-2 bases southeast of Canton.



TenChiMato -> RE: SE Pac (1/12/2009 11:34:56 AM)

These Rgts are in the two bases/ports just north of Pescadores and the very very good thing about them is that they have a lot of support squad, more than enough for them and a couple of divisions/brigades.  I usually send one to the PI and one to Java. For garrison purpose you can replace them by two SNLF Guard (around 105/130AV needed to garrison each base). Its definitely a good exchange.

You can also take the Kwantung 71st Division, and in China two Ind. brigades that start with 45exp (one in Ningpo, the other in central China) as well as a Naval Guard that starts understrengh. PP wise these units as well as these two rgts are your best choices at start.



TenChiMato -> RE: Japan X-Mas Presents (1/12/2009 11:57:42 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

There isn't very much in Japan to help the attack:
Fukuoka   1st Reserve Tank Reg
Osaka      6th Reserve Tank Reg
Sasebo    1st Mortar Reg



and one engineer regiment on the coast between Osaka and Tokyo, though its 35xp but you can use it for Java or PI.



Q-Ball -> RE: Japan X-Mas Presents (1/12/2009 6:00:19 PM)

These are all good thoughts. We will look at all the PP options. All things being equal though, I would prefer to pull from Manchuria; troops in China can still fight Chinese, troops in Manchuria above 8000AV don't do anything.

I realize the Nav Gds are brittle; without any artillery, they have alot less staying power than a Bde or Regt, even though their AV appears almost as high. I am a big fan of rotating units to build experience, or improving morale. The reason Shuzan Nav Gd is on Luzon is to build experience; by the time we are done, it will be an 80+ experience unit, not 45.

The troops at Manila though appear to be only 2 PA divisions, and lots of HQ/Engineers. We will get an exact inventory as we reduce the other pockets.



John 3rd -> RE: Japan X-Mas Presents (1/12/2009 7:36:34 PM)

Brad--How many Inf Div will we have in Luzon once 38th ID arrives?  Do you think it might be enough to end the fighting in Luzon fairly quickly?

I am really hoping that our opponents THINK our main attack is heading southward towards PM, Noumea, and Eastern Australia.  W have at least 10 Manchurian units prepping for Cairns and Townsville and CarDiv5 just flew a recon mission over each town.



TenChiMato -> RE: Japan X-Mas Presents (1/13/2009 10:46:32 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

These are all good thoughts. We will look at all the PP options. All things being equal though, I would prefer to pull from Manchuria; troops in China can still fight Chinese, troops in Manchuria above 8000AV don't do anything.

I realize the Nav Gds are brittle; without any artillery, they have alot less staying power than a Bde or Regt, even though their AV appears almost as high. I am a big fan of rotating units to build experience, or improving morale. The reason Shuzan Nav Gd is on Luzon is to build experience; by the time we are done, it will be an 80+ experience unit, not 45.



As for myself I use the Nav Gds for two main purposes after the initial landings in the SRA :
1) as a first line of defence in the Marshalls/Gilberts Is as well as the Solomons and Aleutians (Atu/Kiska)
2) as cheap garrison for several ports on the coasts of China, thus freeing some nice Rgts and Brigades to help finish the PI and then strengthen the defense of key bases (Rabaul, Kwajalein, Java)
You can keep those precious few with high exp as a 'fast reaction force' easily airlifted/fast transported

Speaking of Kwajalein, what is the status of your defenses in the 4th fleet area? The US Navy isnt goint to stay iddle while you attack India.



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