RE: Illinois Yankee in Showa Court (Q-Ball v Canoe)

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RE: Illinois Yankee in Showa Court (Q-Ball v Canoe) - 9/18/2010 4:32:40 PM

Q-Ball

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I think in AE, you can't move into the Malacca Strait with the CD guns at Singapore active, correct? IRL, the 15in Battery could reach the Sumatran coast, making a transit impractical. In game terms, I think you need to clear it.

So, without Singapore, you have to transit the Bandung Strait and go all the way around Sumatra. Not convenient.

The other issue is that the troops in Singapore start with plenty of supplies, so starving them out is not an option. They will stay strong. Luzon is another story.

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RE: Illinois Yankee in Showa Court (Q-Ball v Canoe) - 9/18/2010 11:37:06 PM

Jones944

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What about the VP swing from taking Clark Field? It's worth 450 VPs to the Allies. That is significant.

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Post #: 212

RE: Illinois Yankee in Showa Court (Q-Ball v Canoe) - 9/18/2010 11:41:50 PM

CapAndGown

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Jones944

What about the VP swing from taking Clark Field? It's worth 450 VPs to the Allies. That is significant.

It is not like the Japanese are not going to be able to capture Manila at some point in 1942 no matter what the allies do.

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Post #: 213

RE: Illinois Yankee in Showa Court (Q-Ball v Canoe) - 9/19/2010 8:34:58 AM

FatR

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

I think in AE, you can't move into the Malacca Strait with the CD guns at Singapore active, correct? IRL, the 15in Battery could reach the Sumatran coast, making a transit impractical. In game terms, I think you need to clear it.

No, in AE you don't need to do so anymore.

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Post #: 214

RE: Illinois Yankee in Showa Court (Q-Ball v Canoe) - 9/19/2010 3:36:09 PM

Nemo121

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The problem with having Manilla still in Allied hands is that an aggressive Allied commander will simply base multiple PBY squadrons there with an air HQ and force a disproportionate response from the IJNAF in terms of escorting AKs to the DEI and bombing Manilla / LRCAPing IJN TFs.

Very difficult to neutralise raids which don't need a runway.

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Post #: 215

RE: Illinois Yankee in Showa Court (Q-Ball v Canoe) - 9/19/2010 4:01:01 PM

CapAndGown

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Nemo121

The problem with having Manilla still in Allied hands is that an aggressive Allied commander will simply base multiple PBY squadrons there with an air HQ and force a disproportionate response from the IJNAF in terms of escorting AKs to the DEI and bombing Manilla / LRCAPing IJN TFs.

Very difficult to neutralise raids which don't need a runway.

How would this be any different from holding Clark instead?

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Post #: 216

RE: Illinois Yankee in Showa Court (Q-Ball v Canoe) - 9/19/2010 4:54:24 PM

Nemo121

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floatplanes need ports

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Post #: 217

RE: Illinois Yankee in Showa Court (Q-Ball v Canoe) - 9/19/2010 5:22:12 PM

Chickenboy

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Nemo121

floatplanes need ports

I don't think so. Floatplanes can be operated out of "0" port facilities, provided that sufficient AV support is present.

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RE: Illinois Yankee in Showa Court (Q-Ball v Canoe) - 9/19/2010 5:24:32 PM

Chickenboy

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Nemo121

The problem with having Manilla still in Allied hands is that an aggressive Allied commander will simply base multiple PBY squadrons there with an air HQ and force a disproportionate response from the IJNAF in terms of escorting AKs to the DEI and bombing Manilla / LRCAPing IJN TFs.

Very difficult to neutralise raids which don't need a runway.

That aggressive allied commander is looking for trouble. After the first of these raids, a 'bait' TF, heavily LRCAP'ed of course, would be used to draw out extremely valuable and vulnerable PBYs for a fight. When these are damaged and unflyable, the rare and valuable air HQ is just another liability awaiting capture. Not a useful ruse.

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Post #: 219

RE: Illinois Yankee in Showa Court (Q-Ball v Canoe) - 9/20/2010 3:36:09 AM

Q-Ball

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Not worried about Floatplanes out of Clark. Why?
1. They would use supplies
2. I am hammering the airstrip; now, that doesn't matter for a floatplane, but the AIRBASE does. With that damaged, the floatplanes won't repair, and raids will kill them.

Combat Report, April 4-5, 1942:

Kido Butai: Trying something with KB. My excellent intellegence service, the Kempetai, (actually the fact I can check out the other side!), tells me the 2nd UK division arrived at Aden on the 1st. No doubt they are loaded on transports and heading to Karachi. I sent KB away from the coast to hide, and see if I can surprise the reinforcements. I really hate to keep KB all alone out there, but that's why I landed at Calicut.

Calicut: I landed a division here to establish a Naval Base for KB; I have advanced brigades out to make a larger bridgehead.

Chittagong and Diamond Harbor: I have major landings about to take place at each spot; 2 Div. plus each. I am doing this without aircover; risky, yes. My reasoning:

1. Presence of KB probably drew some troops to the other coast, making the landings easier
2. I don't want to take KB off the blockade of Karachi, and
3. I am willing to lose some ships to get the troops ashore
4. I am counting on a poor anti-ship performance by the RAF. I shot down alot of bombers last month, and they did terrible over Ceylon. I doubt the RAF is extremely trained in NavB at this point.

So, I will lose some transports, but hey, you have to break a few eggs if you want to make an omelet. If the losses are less than 10 transports, I'll be happy.

Elsewhere: Not much; I am putting together an attack on Nanning in the south of China, that's about it.

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RE: Illinois Yankee in Showa Court (Q-Ball v Canoe) - 9/20/2010 4:36:41 AM

Mistmatz

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Patrol planes don't require a port, but they require a coastal base hex which means it has automatically a port, although size 0 would do in thios case.

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Post #: 221

RE: Illinois Yankee in Showa Court (Q-Ball v Canoe) - 9/20/2010 2:03:27 PM

ckammp

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Nemo121

floatplanes need ports

Clark has a port.

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Post #: 222

RE: Illinois Yankee in Showa Court (Q-Ball v Canoe) - 9/20/2010 9:45:54 PM

Q-Ball

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RE: Floatplanes, my point is that floatplanes don't need a runway, bu they DO need aircraft service. So, if the Airbase is 100% trashed, like Clark is, then those planes have no hope of repair.

It's probably too late to use FPs, because Dan is probably in the Red on supply anyway on Luzon.

Combat Report, April 7-8, 1942:

Chittagong/Diamond Harbor: I landed 2 divisions plus support at each base; they are garrisoned about equally: An Indian Bde, 2-3 armored units, (really more armored car units), and base troops. I should have enough in each spot; if not, I have a floating reserve, though I would prefer not to have to use it, as I don't like the CD gun losses.

I lost 9 transports so far between the landings, with another 4-5 I should lose tommorow. That is more than I would like, and despite a bombardment. It will be good to get ashore, that's all I can say.

Dan is clearly mocking me, because he attacked the ships at Diamond Harbor with planes that included a unit of Audax. AUDAX? Wow. I shot those down, plus 3 Blenhiems and some Buffalos. Maybe I caught Dan flat footed with airpower, or the RAF is really that hard-up to be putting Buffalos and Audaxs in there. They have lost alot of planes.

We attack at both spots tommorow; I think my chances are a little stronger at Chittagong.

Kido Butai: I moved them away from the Indian coast to make Dan think the coast was clear (literally) to bring in reinforcements from Aden, which I know came in on April 1 (The 2 UK Div). I think I tripped a picket though, not sure. Regardless, they will reveal themselves shortly at Karachi; they will force Dan to turn those convoys around, or if I am real lucky, catch the whole convoy attempting to unload.

Allied CVs: No clue where they are. I don't like that. I feel somewhat better with a port closer to KB, but they are still out there, and vulnerable, except that I would likely win any H2H battle. Still, I am getting very nervous.

I am landing units at Male to build a floatplane screen, but I am keeping TFs small until I know where his warships are.

Pacific: I have done nothing at the perimeter offensively; I don't want to stick my neck out, with CVs unaccounted for, unless it's ships I can afford to lose.

I did occupy the Wallis Is. chain to set-up a seaplane base at Nukufetau, but that's just an early-warning system. Same with Baker, where I am building another seaplane base.

Other than that, I am digging everywhere, from Rossell Is to Noumea, to Exmouth, to the SRA and Sumatra; shovels all around. I have said before I am particularly concerned about Sumatra. I don't think the Allies can mount an offensive, yet, but I will be more conscious as time goes on. At the moment, my primary defense in the Pacific are Air Fleets, specifically BETTY/ZERO units I have at Truk and other locations.

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RE: Illinois Yankee in Showa Court (Q-Ball v Canoe) - 9/20/2010 11:28:18 PM

witpqs

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

Dan is clearly mocking me

"Now it's personal!"

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Post #: 224

RE: Illinois Yankee in Showa Court (Q-Ball v Canoe) - 9/21/2010 6:45:18 PM

Q-Ball

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Combat Report, April 9-11, 1942:

Strategic Update: The initial plan in India was to make a couple landings and force Dan to retreat or commit to blocking them; I have an "Army In Being" on Ceylon, he knows I have 4-5 Divisions there that are resting and prepping, so until they are committed, he can't go "All-In" at any one spot. I hope to take advantage of that, and use it to eventually steamroll NE India.

At this point my objectives in the near-term are Calcutta and Madras, to score max VPs and bleed the British Army as much as possible. Given the garrison requirements of 3380, not sure all of India is doable, and I will really need to have a good reason to go beyond Delhi and trigger the huge Allied reinforcements. But let's hope I have to make that decision.

Akyab: Fell on the 9th; 2 Bns retreated, a third surrendered. He has a few units now stuck between Cox and Akyab, I hope to bomb and liquidate that pocket. The more units I can destroy, the better.

Chittagong: A 2-1 attack on the 11th reduced the forts to 2; it might crack as soon as tommorow. At that point, I plan a para drop behind Chittagong, to move quicker and surround those units.

I am stuck at Diamond Harbor, and rather than land more troops and lose more transports, I will probably releive them overland. He has me pinned there, but he can't release his grip either, so we'll have to do that by threatening Calcutta overland.

Diamond Harbor: My troops are ashore and in good shape; the problem is they have limited supplies. Running more in would cost me transports. I may run some via barge from Chittagong once that is captured.

Male: Occupied on the 10th; this will be a seaplane base, watching the passage to the south.

Kido Butai: I attempted to sneak up on Karachi; the sneaking up seemed to work, but the results disapointed. I sank 4 apparently empty xAKs, and damaged 3 Old Allied Cruisers; not sure what they were doing there, but they fled off-map, so I could not finish them off.

That's it, harbor empty otherwise. I may have mis-calculated when those reinforcements would arrive. I need to pull back to get some gas, but we may try an interdiction again.

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RE: Illinois Yankee in Showa Court (Q-Ball v Canoe) - 9/21/2010 8:52:00 PM

Mistmatz

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball
...
That's it, harbor empty otherwise. I may have mis-calculated when those reinforcements would arrive. I need to pull back to get some gas, but we may try an interdiction again.

Personally I don't like to look up reinforcement data or actual units from the startup, but thats just me and of course each to his own. But nevertheless even knowing when a unit will arrive in Aden and having an idea how long loading onto transports may take, how would you calculate the travel time from Aden to Karachi without knowing what vessels he's using for the transport (read speed)?
I mean you have to hit a one day, maybe two day window... thats quite a long shot, isn't it?

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If you gained knowledge through the forum, why not putting it into the AE wiki?

http://witp-ae.wikia.com/wiki/War_in_the_Pacific:_Admiral%27s_Edition_Wiki

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Post #: 226

RE: Illinois Yankee in Showa Court (Q-Ball v Canoe) - 9/21/2010 9:00:26 PM

Q-Ball

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Combat Report, April 13, 1942:

Comilla: A base behind Chittagong falls today to Para drop; the defenders, the 4/14 Punjab Bn, were really wasted; over 40 squads destroyed, for no losses. I guess my paras are that good.

This cuts the rail to Chittagong; those units won't surrender, they will probably retreat along the coast to an area that will be difficult to extract them

Akyab Pocket: 4 units cut-off near Akyab should be liquidated tommorow.

Chittagong: About to fall

Cocanda: I forgot to mention this; I landed a Regt at Cocanda, the base next to Vizingapatam. 2 Indian Divisions have shown up on either side to block me along the coast. Not sure if I am going to just hold there and keep those divisions occupied, or maybe drop paras behind them and attempt to capture them.

Nav Gds: Seems like I am getting piles of Nav Gd units at Tokyo. I would trade a stack of them for a Division.

Map: Been lazy about Maps; not sure if Dan has been showing everyone alot or not, but here's one:

Attachment (1)

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RE: Illinois Yankee in Showa Court (Q-Ball v Canoe) - 9/21/2010 10:56:18 PM

Alfred

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

...Given the garrison requirements of 3380, not sure all of India is doable, and I will really need to have a good reason to go beyond Delhi and trigger the huge Allied reinforcements. But let's hope I have to make that decision.

Just a reminder that the trigger line is one hex south of Delhi. You therefore need to stop 2 hexes (horizontal line) south of Delhi to avoid triggering the reinforcements.

Alfred

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RE: Illinois Yankee in Showa Court (Q-Ball v Canoe) - 9/22/2010 2:50:20 AM

Mynok

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Some additional ponderings on the advantages to be gained from your India incursion. Obviously, destroying units, especially British is helpful, probably most so for the future defense of Sumatra, which I agree 100% is very susceptible to early invasion. Invading India will assist in delaying the inevitable assault there.

One other thing can be gained from India: HI points. Building up that HI pool for the late war economic strangulation is a major benefit to Japan, and having control of major HI in India for as long as possible should not be overlooked as a major boost to this pool.

The only possible benefit I see to invading NW India is the possibility that it will draw troops from NE India, leaving you in control of the HI there for longer. I think you would need to be able to evacuate fairly quickly once overwhelming force arrived there however. Losing major IJA forces there would counter-balance any HI benefit achieved, but gaining a months delay in the reconquest of NE India without major losses would be worth it. That supply line is interminable and very vulnerable to attack.

It's curious to me (because I'm unfamiliar with the rule) that your invasion of southern India doesn't trigger the Delhi Line reinforcements. Clearly I need to brush up on my rule book.

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RE: Illinois Yankee in Showa Court (Q-Ball v Canoe) - 9/22/2010 6:20:15 PM

Q-Ball

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Mynok

Some additional ponderings on the advantages to be gained from your India incursion. Obviously, destroying units, especially British is helpful, probably most so for the future defense of Sumatra, which I agree 100% is very susceptible to early invasion. Invading India will assist in delaying the inevitable assault there.

One other thing can be gained from India: HI points. Building up that HI pool for the late war economic strangulation is a major benefit to Japan, and having control of major HI in India for as long as possible should not be overlooked as a major boost to this pool.

It's curious to me (because I'm unfamiliar with the rule) that your invasion of southern India doesn't trigger the Delhi Line reinforcements. Clearly I need to brush up on my rule book.

MYNOK: I agree on your assessment, and HI is a consideration; at the moment, I am building very little surplus, and I am using almost all the HI I am making.

As the war continues, I plan to ramp down on Armaments and Naval construction, but it's amazing how much HI I am burning through.

RE: Directions, that end of the map is very confusing, because "South" is actually "East", etc. The rule is that you trip the reinforcements if you cross a line one hex "South" of Delhi (SOUTH on the MAP, not compass). What that means IRL is a that moving WEST of Delhi triggers the reinforcements. The "southern" tip of India does not do that. (Because in game terms, it is the WESTERN tip of India). Confused yet?

In my AAR I have referred to Compass directions when talking about India

The reinforcements that the British get are absolutely huge for crossing that line; the equivalent of 6 divisions, and most of them high-quality (from the Med).

HEAVY INDUSTRY: I mentioned that I am burning alot of HI. This is the result of several things:

1. An expansion of NAVAL shipyards by about 100
2. Expansion of VEHICLES, by alot.
3. Continued production of Armaments
4. Huge PILOT burn in Scen 2, over 35,000 per month

I am expanding HI in the SRA (close to the fuel and resources), at Singapore and Soerbaya.

So, the extra production in India would help, especially coupled with the fuel production at Ledo.

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RE: Illinois Yankee in Showa Court (Q-Ball v Canoe) - 9/22/2010 7:15:59 PM

Rainer79

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Take care that you don't over-expand the economy. The pilot tax will only get worse with time. In August 1943 it is 60k for me and it continues to rise every month...

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Post #: 231

RE: Illinois Yankee in Showa Court (Q-Ball v Canoe) - 9/22/2010 7:23:31 PM

Chickenboy

Posts: 24520
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From: San Antonio, TX
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

quote:

ORIGINAL: Mynok

Some additional ponderings on the advantages to be gained from your India incursion. Obviously, destroying units, especially British is helpful, probably most so for the future defense of Sumatra, which I agree 100% is very susceptible to early invasion. Invading India will assist in delaying the inevitable assault there.

One other thing can be gained from India: HI points. Building up that HI pool for the late war economic strangulation is a major benefit to Japan, and having control of major HI in India for as long as possible should not be overlooked as a major boost to this pool.

It's curious to me (because I'm unfamiliar with the rule) that your invasion of southern India doesn't trigger the Delhi Line reinforcements. Clearly I need to brush up on my rule book.

MYNOK: I agree on your assessment, and HI is a consideration; at the moment, I am building very little surplus, and I am using almost all the HI I am making.

As the war continues, I plan to ramp down on Armaments and Naval construction, but it's amazing how much HI I am burning through.

RE: Directions, that end of the map is very confusing, because "South" is actually "East", etc. The rule is that you trip the reinforcements if you cross a line one hex "South" of Delhi (SOUTH on the MAP, not compass). What that means IRL is a that moving WEST of Delhi triggers the reinforcements. The "southern" tip of India does not do that. (Because in game terms, it is the WESTERN tip of India). Confused yet?

In my AAR I have referred to Compass directions when talking about India

The reinforcements that the British get are absolutely huge for crossing that line; the equivalent of 6 divisions, and most of them high-quality (from the Med).

HEAVY INDUSTRY: I mentioned that I am burning alot of HI. This is the result of several things:

1. An expansion of NAVAL shipyards by about 100
2. Expansion of VEHICLES, by alot.
3. Continued production of Armaments
4. Huge PILOT burn in Scen 2, over 35,000 per month

I am expanding HI in the SRA (close to the fuel and resources), at Singapore and Soerbaya.

So, the extra production in India would help, especially coupled with the fuel production at Ledo.

Any thoughts about HI expansion at Canton, Hong Kong or Batavia?

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Post #: 232

RE: Illinois Yankee in Showa Court (Q-Ball v Canoe) - 9/23/2010 5:29:27 PM

Q-Ball

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RAINER: Thanks, I did not know it went UP like that! Trouble! I would like to form an infantry brigade with all those excess pilots and solve the problem that way. Or an airborne brigade, that would be more appropriate, no?

CHICKEN: I probably will, though Sinagpore and Soerbaya are probably the best spots. After what ranier said, I think I'll start on Hong Kong right away, or maybe SAIGON; I like Saigon better.

Combat Report, April 14, 1942:

Chittagong: I had the strength to take it, but held off; I am flying a unit to Comilla, and marching the Para unit I landed earlier to Chittagong. Once they arrive, the only retreat path will be into the Jungle directly Compass-North of Chittagong; that would effectively take those troops out of the war.

We will attack and should push over Chittagong in a couple days; the last attack was 2-1 and dropped forts, and the last 3 attacks have seen many more Allied than IJA losses.

Akyab Area: We attacked those 4 Bns stuck near Akyab; they suffered more losses, and the remnants retreated into the jungle. I need to track them so they don't take an undefended base in Burma, but they won't get to safety, and should be out of the war.

Coimbatore: This town in the south fell to 2 Bdes; the defenders, the 84th Indian Bde, were completely mauled, suffering 4000 casualties. That unit is wrecked.

Cocanda/Vizingapatam: I retreated my tank unit into Cocanda, but the 10th Division is about to land; this is a Manchurian unit I bought last month. For 1600+ PPs, they better be good!

I plan to drop paras behind the Indian Division, and force it to surrender, or into a costly retreat.

Progress: It takes a long time to walk around India. I am not going near as fast as I would like. Dan so far is fighting, which slows me down, but also helps long-term, in that he is suffering alot of losses. In addition to the 2 division equivalents on Ceylon, I have mauled another 3 Bdes worth of troops on the mainland, with more hopefully on the way.

Dan may get tired of getting beat up and start withdrawing into the vast interior.

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Post #: 233

RE: Illinois Yankee in Showa Court (Q-Ball v Canoe) - 9/23/2010 9:00:13 PM

Q-Ball

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Combat Report, April 15-16,1942:

Chittagong: Delaying the attack by a day gave me what I wanted; the base fell, a bunch of Allies were killed, and the remaining units retreated to a jungle hex where they will rot. The defenders were: 48th Gurkha Bde, 7th Hussars, 2nd RTR, another Gurka Bn, base troops. Nothing great, but they are off the board.

I am bringing in reinforcements, and airlifted a base unit to Comilla; once I do that, I am going to capture a dot base further down the tracks. I hope to be able to use the rail system to my advantage; it's the only way to move quickly around India.

Vizingapatam: I landed a fresh Division from Manchuria, the 10th Infantry, at Cocanda, and they are going to attack Viz. This was never intended to be a major landing, I dropped troops there because it was empty, and on the coast. Depending on how it goes I may move more in; a move on Cuttack would threaten to cut-off Calcutta, and we can cut-off Madras in the other direction.

Other Moves: I still have 4 divisions on Ceylon, fat, happy, and ready for battle. I finally have shipping to move them. Where to?

Dan knows they are there, so they are probably keeping him honest with all those troops I saw on the west coast. Looking at the terrain. Here are my options:

1. Land at Calicut, and expand that enclave. This would mean moving east to cut the RR to Madras,and clear the southern tip.
2. Land at Cocanda, and expand along east coast to cut calcutta/madras
3. Land at Goa; Goa is just off a good road, and can be used to advance toward Bombay.
4. Land in NE India: I think not, I have plenty of troops already ticketed there; their main oppossition will be the roads.

The terrain in India isn't great for invasions; the defender has the advantage of interior Railways, there are not tons of great roads, and only a handful of landing spots along the coast.

I would like to move faster. Any suggestions?

We are beating up the Indian Army at least.

Addu: I am about ready to load an invasion of Addu from Ceylon; I have been prepping units, as Addu has a fair sized base force unit, and is not a complete pushover. Once I clear Addu, I will also land on Diego Garcia, and set-up a seaplane base. This will help screen the Bay of Bengal vs. CVs, and allow me to bring some picket ships in.

Attachment (1)

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RE: Illinois Yankee in Showa Court (Q-Ball v Canoe) - 9/24/2010 3:08:08 AM

John 3rd

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Mistmatz

quote:

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball
...
That's it, harbor empty otherwise. I may have mis-calculated when those reinforcements would arrive. I need to pull back to get some gas, but we may try an interdiction again.

Personally I don't like to look up reinforcement data or actual units from the startup, but thats just me and of course each to his own. But nevertheless even knowing when a unit will arrive in Aden and having an idea how long loading onto transports may take, how would you calculate the travel time from Aden to Karachi without knowing what vessels he's using for the transport (read speed)?
I mean you have to hit a one day, maybe two day window... thats quite a long shot, isn't it?

I concur with this. Once a scenario starts I never look at the other side.

You seem to be doing OK. If you pick-up and drop off your 4 ID en masse then you might really blast through his defense. Why not land them at Viza and open up the throttle for some broken field running?

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RE: Illinois Yankee in Showa Court (Q-Ball v Canoe) - 9/24/2010 3:47:14 PM

SuluSea

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Brain cramp~

< Message edited by SuluSea -- 9/24/2010 5:53:50 PM >

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RE: Illinois Yankee in Showa Court (Q-Ball v Canoe) - 9/24/2010 3:50:55 PM

Chickenboy

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quote:

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

I concur with this. Once a scenario starts I never look at the other side.

Yep. Here too.

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RE: Illinois Yankee in Showa Court (Q-Ball v Canoe) - 9/25/2010 3:18:11 PM

Alfred

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Q-Ball,

You recently posed 4 locations to land your second echelon:

1. Calicut � to move on Madras
2. Cocanada � to move on Calcutta/Madras
3. Goa � to move on Bombay
4. NE India

Of these four options, you immediately dismissed #4. Personally I think that dismissal was too hasty and based on a superficial assessment. As I hope to demonstrate below, all four landing options are valid provided it is understood that their respective follow on operations and objectives are quite different.

Before assessing the options, I list the principles which IMHO should form the basis of the analysis.

1. Concentration of Japanese forces. Currently your first echelon landings have been dispersed and are not mutually self supporting. This provides your opponent with an opportunity to use his superior land transportation network to concentrate and defeat you in detail.
2. Maintain the strength of the schwerpunkt. This is essentially a subset of force concentration and aims to minimise Japanese garrison requirements until the Allied field army has been destroyed.
3. Live off the land. Ideally you would capture sufficient Indian industry to allow the campaign to proceed without the need to send supply convoys which would be vulnerable to interdiction, tie down escort forces away from the frontline and consume valuable fuel.
4. Offset the Allied land transportation advantage. This entails both bypassing Allied strongholds and blocking the Allied LOC. You want to maintain a high tempo of operations and sap the enemy strength by starvation.
Based on these four principles, my comments on your four suggested landing sites are as follows.

Calicut.

Currently you have moved out of Calicut and captured Coimbatore. Without substantial reinforcement, your schwerpunkt here is far too weak to accomplish much. Logically, from Coimbatore you would advance to Madras via Salem. Madras is one of the main Allied strongholds as it:

(a) Is an urban hex, excellent defensive terrain
(b) Is a major depot for the arrival of reinforcement LCUs
(c) Demands the presence of an Allied garrison irrespective of the direction of the Japanese thrust
(d) Is a very significant Indian industrial city, capable of generating 380 supply points daily provided the necessary raw materials can flow to Madras
(e) Requires a Japanese garrison of 220 AV

Consequently, you should assume that Madras will be a tough city to capture as it can sustain a large Allied garrison which increases automatically, on good defensive terrain. However it can be made much more vulnerable to capture if you both capture Salem, whose 320 Resource Centers directly feed the Madras industry, and Bezwada which would block the transport of raw materials (fuel and resources) from the Indian interior.

The secondary axis of advance out of Calicut/Coimbatore is to move on Bangalore. This is not so good because Bangalore industry is much smaller than Madras�s and would not suffice to allow you to live off the land. Bangalore also requires an Allied garrison so you will have to fight for it.

Cocanada.

You cannot afford to move from Cocanada to both Madras and Calcutta simultaneously. It would disperse your strength too much. IMHO, from Cocanada you should move on Madras. The move on Calcutta via Vizgaptnam is a mistake.

From Cocanada, a move to the left takes you to Bezwada, a city which does not require a Japanese garrison. From there you can proceed on to Madras (see preceding discussion) and it would complement your thrust from Coimbatore. Alternatively you could move from Bezwada to Warangal (a base which requires a Japanese garrison of 20 AV) and stop to create a roadblock on good defensive terrain, or move on Bombay via Hyderabad (a 220 AV Japanese garrison). This advance beyond Warangal has problems because of the Japanese garrison requirements at Hyderabad (which also has an Allied garrison requirement in an urban hex), Sholapur and Poona. Only the industrial benefit of owning Hyderabad makes this advance worth considering.

To move right from Cocanada with the intention of moving to Calcutta is a mistake because:

(a) Vizgapatnam has a 20 AV garrison requirement (and is a poor defensive hex to defend from an Allied thrust from Raipur)
(b) The approach to Calcutta (via Cutteck and Howrah) entails a river crossing into Calcutta. Calcutta is likely to be quite well garrisoned because it has an Allied garrison requirement, it is urban and is the prime Indian industrial city, capable of generating 1540 supply points daily (provided it can import the necessary raw materials)
(c) Is moving away from your forces located at Calicut/Coimbatore and invites the Allies to concentrate against those units, using their Madras garrison to sally forth, or additional forces released from the interior travelling along the railroad (compared to your slower movement rate to Calcutta.

However, if the intention is to cut off Calcutta from receiving the necessary raw materials by capturing Jamshedpur and Asanol, both significant industrial cities in their own right provided they can trace a LOC to a fuel source (does Ledo ring a bell, see discussion below regarding NE India), the move right from Cocanada is of benefit. Nonetheless, IMHO the correct advance from Cocanada is to the left.

Goa.

Landing at Goa makes sense only as a base for moving against Bombay. Such an obvious advance makes life much easier for the Allies, unlike Calicut and Cocanada (and see below discussion on NE India) where the Japanese have advance options which can disguise from the Allies the true axis of advance.

A Goa landing really takes you away from your other forces and constitutes a major de-concentration and away from mutually self supporting operations. The advance against Bombay is likely to meet very stiff Allied resistance (also necessitating Japanese garrisons along the way � see earlier discussion), being close to the likely drop off point for shipment of Allied reinforcements from Aden and Mombassa. Bombay is also an urban hex with an Allied garrison requirement and will not have it�s LOC cut off unless you are prepared to cross the reinforcement trigger line.

Personally, I am not sure that the 4 divisions of your second echelon will be enough to capture Bombay. This landing site would have been much better if you had landed there in force on day 1 with your first echelon instead of landing at Calicut, Cocanada, Diamond Harbor and Chittagong.

NE India.

I think it is a mistake to just dismiss this area for your second echelon landings. From NE India, there are three quite different axes to advance upon. These are:

(a) Assam. Moving on Jorhat, Dimapur, Ledo etc from Chittagon/Comilla allows both the capture of the Ledo oil fields which is an indispensable component for living off the land, and the destruction of the Allied Burma army which almost certainly retreated back to these bases
(b) Ganges valley via Dacca (1 hex cross country using armour whilst the slower infantry takes the longer railroad line) which allows for the isolation of Calcutta from raw materials and a quick thrust up to Cawnpore/Lucknow which is likely to catch the Allies by surprise
(c) Quick move into Calcutta via Diamond Harbor which is the only way to avoid a river crossing

As NE India is essentially a cul de sac, both the Assam and Ganges valley advances can be run concurrently without risking an Allied concentration. To run these operations simultaneously will need all of the second echelon forces. NE India also give you multiple ports for disembarkation, thereby spreading out the load and reduing overall harbour time.

Alfred

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Post #: 238

RE: Illinois Yankee in Showa Court (Q-Ball v Canoe) - 9/25/2010 3:49:52 PM

Chickenboy

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While there aren't a lot of good roads in India, there are rail lines aplenty. You are granted 'railway trail' rates for movement, per the manual p. 191 (sec. 8.3.1.1). My reading is that you should be able to make 10 miles / day with infantry, 5 miles / day with armor, 3 / day with other units. Not great, but it's still something better than tractless movement.

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Post #: 239

RE: Illinois Yankee in Showa Court (Q-Ball v Canoe) - 9/26/2010 3:45:59 AM

Q-Ball

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ALFRED: Not a bad assessment...though I am in NE India. The question was on NW India.

Still, the Cocanda lodgement....what to do with that?

More on that.....

Combat Report, April 17-19, 1942:

Tezpur: The strangest combat happened at Tezpur, a dot base that I dropped paras on. The FIRST combat was an Allied shock attack by a base unit at 1-2; THEN the shock attack by paras, which was 4-1, took the base, and really decimated the base force.

What happened? The Base Force must have been railroading through town when the paras landed, and disrupted that plan.

NE India: Despite taking Silchar and Tezpur, we can't RR there; "No Path". Why? Not sure.....but if we have to march, so be it. We are doing so. The Objective? Crossing north of Calcutta, and encircling it.

Vizingapatam: Taken right away, first attack, with 2500 Allied casualties.

What next with this lodgement?

Alfred has a point; two axis is tough, and the immediate target should be cutting-off Madras.

My immediate objectives: Cutting off Calcutta and Madras, and eliminating troops. Which way?

Attachment (1)

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