Islands of Destiny: RA 5.0 Japanese Side

[JohnDillworth]

CHINA
Dan is bombarding and launching occasion Direct Assaults in these regions. The northern line is worrisome in that there is little reserve available. This problem is being remedied as troops move north to bolster contested hexes and create a mobile reserve. Also have troops moving to the southern active area just to be safe. Forts along ANY point of this line are at 5 or 6. It will take a BUNCH to rupture the line!

This was to be expected. I presume supply is running into China pretty well now. It takes forever to fill out the Chinese army but if you turn reinforcements off you can select specific units to fill out first. Once the big Chinese units get the 1943 infantry squads and good leaders they become pretty formidable. Forts will help a bunch as there are not many engineers but those AV numbers are high for each unit and he will get more and more of them. Just another front for a beleaguered empire

[John 3rd]

I am moving reinforcements to any hex that COULD be overmatched. We'll see how this plays out.

[John 3rd]

Economics...

When the Tankers unloaded starting on September 13th, we had 728,560 HI stockpiled. Now--October 1st, the stockpile has grown to 778,931. In a period of 17 days we added 50,371 HI. This is right at 3,000/Day. I hope to crest at around 900,000 HI unless I get more fuel in. If we can bring home more oil/fuel then we're in great shape.

To put it simply, 900,000 HI would mean roughly 120-150 days of cushion for full production. The current fuel/oil should get Japan to about Mid-November 44. Add the cushion and we're at March--April 45. Not bad.

I WANT one more tanker run to get us to the summer of 1945...

[John 3rd]

October 1, 1944

The enemy closes on his formations south of Guam. He is totally defensive. The convoy heading for Truk ends up just a few hexes away. There are ships at Guam: no attack. All the CVs are used for is as fighter platforms. Two strike fly from Truk:

89 Franks and 34 Jill vs. 748 Fighters
48 Fighters and 34 Jill vs. 332 Fighters

Of course nothing gets through the massed fighters.

Strikes are turned off for tomorrow. No point. The formations will join together on the 2nd and we'll see what he is up to.


Unspotted, Tankers position themselves for the run towards Mindanao...

[Lowpe]

You should fly one strike of only a splinter of a bomber unit at over 30K but escorted with every Frank fighter you have...Georges are better I think at this altitude. It would give you a high altitude sweep most likely and I bet you would trade less than 2-1 in losses. Frank R is needed for the high altitude fights...

Might even get thru...

Or were those Jills as high as they go already?

[John 3rd]

October 2, 1944

Tomorrow is the day we'll know if the Fast Tankers can get to the DEI or not. The Allied Colusses rendezvous and moves NW at six-seven hexes.

No strikes fly because there is no point.

[adarbrauner]

Judging from, it seems he's after the Tankers Fleet, and they won't escape unfortunately, unless a sort of miracle.


INDOCHINA: now that Formosa unfortunately is over, would not be proper to recosider the main defensive line there, meaning, is that region still worth of fight and defense, or rather already unrelevant to war course?


You announced "gamble" and land offensive in south china: I understand your position, but how do you think to get any good result from the vary heavy carpet bombing awaiting you? Are you planning air ambushes as well against his air there?

be fine,

Adar

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

September 29, 1944

The Chinese begin their first attempts at attack. No luck with any of the three attacks. He is bombarding all along the perimeter feeling out my defenses.

Yes, it is hard to win anywhere with Chinese troops-if the Japanese are in good order and supplies. However, the attacks are well worth it. Each major attack burns heaps of Japanese supply and that is very much an end game factor. Even bombardments burn supply-probably more than they should. If you are counting VP, Chinese troops cost much less in terms of VP over other troops. Not sure what the ratio is. He is not going to win much with Chinese troops but as the old saying goes. "If he can't skin, he can at least hold a leg."

[John 3rd]

I have just delivered several supply convoys to Central China using the river. LOVE that! Dropped off about 30,000 supply with a bit more on the way.

Now that supply is really producing in Japan, I have SOME to send out. Got to keep as much as possible but can still use it for some good elsewhere.

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: adarbrauner

Judging from, it seems he's after the Tankers Fleet, and they won't escape unfortunately, unless a sort of miracle.


INDOCHINA: now that Formosa unfortunately is over, would not be proper to recosider the main defensive line there, meaning, is that region still worth of fight and defense, or rather already unrelevant to war course?


You announced "gamble" and land offensive in south china: I understand your position, but how do you think to get any good result from the vary heavy carpet bombing awaiting you? Are you planning air ambushes as well against his air there?

be fine,

Adar

My Tankers have not been spotted. It is the turn AFTER this that will be dicey.

[Chickenboy]

Just a drive-by "Go get 'em John". [8D]

[John 3rd]

October 3, 1944

During the night, the Americans attack Nagasaki with a total of 37 B-29. They are met by 31 Nicks and Irvings as well as augmented AA fire. Three AA units arrived yesterday and are set for this attack. Though the B-29s are stout and shot down several of the Night Fighters, a nice, BUNCH of them don't make it back home.

Only damage sustained is about 2,000 Fires and 6 Manpower Hits.

Am noticing that every night raid targets something different: manpower, resources, and nothing more vital. No complaining whatsoever presently on this score!

[John 3rd]

October 3, 1944

The Japanese Tanker convoys are not seen in either AM or PM phases. There is no eastward Air Search from the Philippines and, evidently, the Carriers/BB/CA/CLs are not flying Search either. Curious. The TF near Babeldoap is picked up from the south but nothing else is seen. We need one more day and then the Tankers are within good LR CAP coverage. Just to the west, two divisions of Kido Butai move up from Tarakan and they will add another 300 Fighters.

Maximum vulnerability will be tomorrow. Already know that 1/3 of my Fast TKs have an excellent shot of getting to Java. It is the remaining 2/3 that pose the question and the concern.

Have already ordered the slow TKs to return to the Marianas and then begin their trek to the DEI.

The Allied Colossus moves NW six hexes. It is not, repeat not, an Invasion Force meant for the Marianas. Why he doesn't CUT my ability to move down here is beyond me. Course he sees the war won with the next invasion which should allow him to move fighters into sweeping range of Kyushu. We'll work to prevent that. With the slow speed of his TF movement, I have at least a week to maybe 10 days to finish moving troops to their destinations.

Here is the area:

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: adarbrauner

Judging from, it seems he's after the Tankers Fleet, and they won't escape unfortunately, unless a sort of miracle.


INDOCHINA: now that Formosa unfortunately is over, would not be proper to recosider the main defensive line there, meaning, is that region still worth of fight and defense, or rather already unrelevant to war course?


You announced "gamble" and land offensive in south china: I understand your position, but how do you think to get any good result from the vary heavy carpet bombing awaiting you? Are you planning air ambushes as well against his air there?

be fine,

Adar

I have decided to begin a phased pullout of units from Saigon and CRB. We'll make the defensive line Haiphong and Hanoi...

We refuse to simply 'give' Saigon and CRB to the Allies but he will have to fight a little to grab them.

[adarbrauner]

Ok, so he's escorting some big and important transports and cargoes. Not exactly good news [:(]. At least, we can try to exploit his constant misjudgement of the nature and importance of your oil convoys and extricate much from the Indies.

i hope you could have followed my advice and joined many good AKs to the tankers (with supply inbound), that's a nice added oil cargo.

Very well done against the B 29!!!

In second thought,regarding Indochina, actually the keeping of Saigon area may be necessary as long as you keep a free route to Indonesia, also to contest Rebel's naval supremacy in Southern China Sea.

Saigon itself is a much valuable harbor with good repair yards, too useful to Canoe to let him get them.

Also, from Saigon triangle he could effectively air bomb Malay, Singapur and Sumatra areas.


Also, Singapur by itself is such a valuable prize not to be conceded to Canoe.

Eager to see what are your plans for south China!

[Mikawa]

Just wanted to say enjoying your AAR. I don't post much, but have been following for a long time!

[John 3rd]

Glad to have you Sir!

[John 3rd]

October 4, 1944

AMBUSH!

This hurts the Allied cause a bit over Karenko.

[John 3rd]

October 4, 1944

Talk about 'defensive indifference.' The Japanese TKs finally get spotted in the AM phase of October 4th. No reaction whatsoever.

Here is the planned move of next turn. WE enter into Mindanao's protective LRCAP as well as two CV Divisions of Kido Butai. I've detailed the planned movement and Fighter numbers on the screenshot.

There will be no pause with this Convoy TK-7. We'll arrive at Soerabaja, refuel, and immediately depart. Dan's planned next move will take at least 10-14 days to occur and that should be enough for a quick turnaround. Soerabaja currently has 250,000 Fuel and 140,000 Oil in it.

A small Tanker convoy carrying 90,000 Fuel is at Balikpapan. We shall run it out starting tomorrow if there is no Allied interference.

[adarbrauner]

What was the ambush?


Listen, We read of a great number of fighters dispersed in many places, Mindano, Java, ok that's sensed if to escort the tankers TFs, or to extract the occasional EXCELLENT losses from the allies...

but, and it's only me...I'd be burning to concentrate them in one place possibly...probably South China... for a protracted fighting. Maybe even for a massive programmed possible onslaught on his carriers fleet. With Kami, the navy et all. But it's only me