Lambs to the slaughter (Lowpe (J) vs Jocke; BillBrown (A)) Finished

[Lowpe]

Here we go again, another pickup.[X(]

This is a scen 30 game with PDU off. Souped up Jacks, Georges, and Tonies, deadly AA, scenario 2 base.

I am picking up the game after Olorin ran roughshed over the Allies capturing Pear Harbor, Port Moresby, and the Aluetians all by mid February 1942.

Oh my! [:D] Words can't convey how well Olorin has done.[&o]

Here is his AAR:

tm.asp?m=3864684

Many thanks for Olorin and Jocke for allowing me to pick up the game...it has set the ground for some strategies that are pretty unique. Hats off to Lokasenna, with whom I have bounced off several thought provoking emails.

I probably won't be doing as heavy an AAR, at least initially, with this game. But I will put up a bunch of pictures now, so you can see just how well Olorin has done.

[Lowpe]

This will be an important theatre going forward. This game will continue the full speed advance....

[Lowpe]

However, one the early stumbling blocks might be the devastation that is Pearl Harbor. [X(]

Low on supplies, no fuel. Oh my! But there are a ton of ships here, and they seem to have fairly generous fuel bunkers.

[Lowpe]

The SRA.

My first turn saw the Dutch subs strike at two tankers. Tankers that are heading to fill up and make the horrendously long trip to Truk and Pearl. Is that the most efficient way to get fuel to Pearl? Have to research it.

My first concern here was saving some of the tankers, they are under escorted, and there isn't enough planes on ASW so I moved some in, diverted some tankers to safer harbors, and temporarily put some destroyers on ASW work.

I need that fuel for ships.[X(]



Ambon was invaded, with the CD guns there wreaking havoc. But I think enough is landed to take the island, and I have pulled everyone back (I hope). I despise Ambon. Another invasion force is lined up to take Denpassar...

[Lowpe]

From what I understand the big fight has been here. Only 7 Allied units down south in Soerabaja.

[Lowpe]

Port Moresby area....

[Lowpe]

Burma

[Lowpe]

Some day 1 action:

[Alfred]

You might find useful reading the October 2010 posts of mine in this AAR.
 
http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=2518166&mpage=10&key=Pearl%2CHarbor
 
Attention in particular to posts
 
284
285
297
306
308
 
I don't know what Olorin initially intended but in view of what he has accomplished here I wouldn't be at all surprised if he had looked at post #306 in particular.  There are other AARs where I mention Pearl Harbor.
 
Alfred

[KenchiSulla]

In other words then Alfreds: You are in a good position to push your advantage in the Pacific using Pearl and the Al. islands as a forward base for WC operations..

[Lowpe]

Olorin has shared with me his game plan. Audacious it is. Breathtaking in scope.

This will be a spirited offence aimed at auto victory.

[Alfred]

Cannonfodder,
 
Yes, but it depends what one has in mind.
 
The fact of the matter is that the game mechanics and flexibility provide Japanese players with many options.  It is just that most players just follow what is in fashion at the time.  Back in 2010 the fashion was to invade India whereas back then I said on several occasions that Australia was a better option.  Not until some years later did someone invade Australia for the purposes I hinted at and we saw Joc Meister resigning in the middle of 1942.
 
The key factors are:
 
1. Focus
2. Logistics
3. Think of mission objectives like a professional human military officer would
4. Treat it as a real world problem solving exercise and not a "fun" exercise of blowing things up
 
To bring it back to your specific point, yes but know the limitations.  Going into the PH and the Aleutians, particularly this early, can only be justified if the axis is to be continued eastward.  So then the question is what is realistically feasible.  Capturing San Francisco probably isn't on the cards but there are many other worthwhile options.  It isn't as if Japan has to remain on the West Coast until January 1945 for it to have been a worthwhile effort.  And if the Allied dispositions are such to foil such a venture, precisely because it has the interior lines Japan can switch to other fronts.
 
Alfred

[Lowpe]

China

It is still early...

[Lowpe]

Fortress Luzon

[mind_messing]

At last, an AAR where you seem to be doing well

Looking at what I can gather from the screenshots, I'd be looking to make one big last offensive for the sake of VP's (perhaps Alaska or Western Canada) before pulling back to consolidate the DEI and clear out Luzon. Once that is done, I would make knocking China out of the war your goal for the second half of 1942.

I can't stress the importance of knocking out China in terms of freeing up good combat units early in the war. This is even more important considering how you'll have even more territory to defend.

[Olorin]

ORIGINAL: mind_messing
I can't stress the importance of knocking out China in terms of freeing up good combat units early in the war. This is even more important considering how you'll have even more territory to defend.

Canada & China would be my main focus as well, come May when the 21st Army is assembled in Indochina. I think the Chinese Army is now out of position in the northern forests and lost whatever mobility it initially had. Had also planned for 15th Army to attack Yunan from Burma.

I have gathered all the para units Japan has in the Aleutians, thinking they would prove useful in the mountains of Canada. Remember, Jocke asked me if he could use Americans to garrison Canada and I agreed. So, expect at least two divs at Prince Rupert.

Obviously this is your game now and I'll be following with interest. Good luck!

ORIGINAL: Alfred

You might find useful reading the October 2010 posts of mine in this AAR.

http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=2518166&mpage=10&key=Pearl%2CHarbor

Attention in particular to posts

284
285
297
306
308

I don't know what Olorin initially intended but in view of what he has accomplished here I wouldn't be at all surprised if he had looked at post #306 in particular. There are other AARs where I mention Pearl Harbor.

Alfred

Yes, I read the discussion in that link, as well as the Hortlund vs Canoerebel AAR. It's up to Lowpe now to show us what is feasible and what is not.

[Encircled]

Pearl looks bad, but it will repair.

Gotta agree with the above, finishing off Alaska, maybe a base in range of WP VPs for bombing (Coal Harbour maybe?) and finish off China.

Try not to lose the KB![:)]

[Olorin]

Peal Harbor is wrecked. A setback surely, but if you intend to continue the eastward advance, you might want to consider spending some supplies to repair the shipyard, at least partially.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Encircled
Try not to lose the KB![:)]

No worries Jocke and I both have excellent histories with carrier engagements.[:D]

[Lowpe]

Major ship losses: