The Sun against the Eagle - WitP AE AAR - UCG v KyzBP

[airboy]

I am loving these AARs.

Never, ever, ever going to buy this.  Too much work mastering the rules and logistics.  If I want to work this hard, I'll do consulting and get paid.

But I'm most appreciative of the two of you showing the progress of the war.

[airboy]

I've read your AAR.  I've read a part of the other one.  Thanks for posting - very interesting.

You might want to step back and think: What is my strategy?  How do I win (or lose)?  Where am I strong and weak?

[undercovergeek]

im weak east of Rabaul and the Home islands - the home islands were emptied to ensure the capture of Oz and Manilla, thats why the Kuriles are still Allied - everything west of there im fairly happy with - i have enough of a mobile garrison in china to let the big army loose on burma and India, i have enough points to take Australia - the KB is at full strength and will only be used where necessary - im not dividing it again, if a target is not worth all of the KB then its not worth the KB at all

The sopac islands were only ever taken to prevent a clean sweep and free up KyzBPs units to use somewhere else - as it stands 3 naval guard units, an air unit and a base force have tied up approx 8 cruisers, 2 battleships and a heap of destroyers, and recently destroyed a marine unit - these would be running all over the Kuriles, Australia or Sumatra but instead they have to stay home to harass what are essentially sacrificial units

i cant win, its impossible, but i can get a morale victory by at least forcing an auto victory, going neeena neeena to KyzBP and then carrying on as the might of the US comes west

[jomni]

I'd like to see if you can pull it off.   O0

[airboy]

im weak east of Rabaul and the Home islands - the home islands were emptied to ensure the capture of Oz and Manilla, thats why the Kuriles are still Allied - everything west of there im fairly happy with - i have enough of a mobile garrison in china to let the big army loose on burma and India, i have enough points to take Australia - the KB is at full strength and will only be used where necessary - im not dividing it again, if a target is not worth all of the KB then its not worth the KB at all

The sopac islands were only ever taken to prevent a clean sweep and free up KyzBPs units to use somewhere else - as it stands 3 naval guard units, an air unit and a base force have tied up approx 8 cruisers, 2 battleships and a heap of destroyers, and recently destroyed a marine unit - these would be running all over the Kuriles, Australia or Sumatra but instead they have to stay home to harass what are essentially sacrificial units

i cant win, its impossible, but i can get a morale victory by at least forcing an auto victory, going neeena neeena to KyzBP and then carrying on as the might of the US comes west

I agree that you cannot beat the USA.  The only question is, can you roll up enough wins in 1941-1942 to have a realistic chance of a negotiated peace?  When the US Essex class flattops roll out, and the subs, and the planes, and the better planes, Japan does not have the industrial might to win. 

I'm reading Shattered Sword currently, and it changes the narrative of Midway and the consequences to the IJN from losing 4 carriers.  It is fascinating. 

[JasonPratt]

I think Geek stands a good chance at forcing an auto-win.

I'm curious, Geek, about how you see your supply situation to the Australia campaign, compared to a supply situation for the coming Ceylon campaign.

[JasonPratt]

The barbaric propaganda of the enemy rears its head again, as the United States sends out a message baldly announcing that Japan has surrendered and the war is over.

Even their attempts at lies are beneath contempt, however, as they cynically went right on describing Japanese victories all over the theater in their April 1 report.

The fact that American people even tolerate such nonsense shows that their thoughts are completely irrational and undisciplined, bouncing from one idea to another, apparently for the sake of novelty (or what they call the "news").

[undercovergeek]

im assuming that report coincided with April 1st   >:(

smiles will soon be eradicated - Task Force Augusta and Perth are almost ready to leave Singapore

I hope the presence of the KB has set allied feet scampering thinking an attack on Ceylon was imminent

[Con]

Having lived in Perth for many years and having lots of friends living there reading about your invasion force has me more than a little nostalgic and concerned

In fact Perth did build some giant naval guns on Rottsnest just off shore during WWII.  Your strategy is bold (but I dont think realistic due to logistics).  I cant wish you luck but I am watching with interest

Con
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rottnest_Island
http://www.backyardbattlefields.com/rotto-guns-rottnest-island-western-australia/

[JasonPratt]

Cue Ash's final words from Alien in 3... 2...

[JasonPratt]

im assuming that report coincided with April 1st   >:(

;D :D

[JasonPratt]

We may be driving the American leaders to insane levels of fruitless threats. Our codebreakers report they want to make a maximum number of Japanese cry by flushing the children's favorite giant sock puppet down the toilet.

Admittedly, it's possible this is code within code for something else. But it may also just be an example of the tendency of Americans to be what they call "bullies" in insisting on fighting dishonorably against those who are weaker than they are.

[undercovergeek]

lol, im lost!

update after next turn, would have been this one but i forgot screenshots, needless to say there has been tears of rage and rejoicing - i chased a pair of CVs round the coral sea for 4 days getting bombed every frikking morning only to finally intercept them and attack without using the long lances  :'(

there has been pillaging off the coast of Sumatra and Java and Attack Force Perth and Augusta are nearing the NW coast of Oz

At the minute i cant win the airwar over the Kuriles, with glee i have sent 120 Nells and Bettys back to Oz and Singapore - lets try and sink some stuff. Instead i can get a decent LRCAP over the coast - a triple BB task force is on its way to Hokkaido lets try and not get sunk

[undercovergeek]

Sumatra - im having a lot of luck catching AP and AK task forces around here, particular mention goes to TF7 headed by the Fuso - the game doesnt keep track of tonnage sunk like Panzer General follows unit kills but shes responsible for a lot of future dive wrecks round here. Its a short hop to Soerbaja or Singapore to resupply and back out again - its merely a vindictive ship hunt, i have noone to land at Sumatra or Java to take these bases back yet, theres higher priorities at the moment, but its still fun sinking Allied ships. To the North East the BB TF heading for the Kuriles



Off the coast of North West Oz, task force Perth and task force Augusta are finally making good way - i started them off with the arty and engineers following but this kept slowing down the lead invasion force - theyve now all been given there own nav orders and heading out, probably half of the offensive power of the IJN is here escorting the fleets and the KB is meeting up with them now after picking up more Zeroes from Soerbaja. I estimate maybe 6 more turns before we're off the coast of Perth, and maybe another 4 until were at Augusta. If i think the plan has been discovered ill just invade Perth and block up the railway line one hex east to prevent incoming reinforcements, if not the plans the same - hang off Perth until Augusta falls



The Kuriles - a mess - its a bit of a conundrum but the answer seems to be to overwhelm the Allied fighters and whittle there numbers down - LBA against the CVs isnt working - the airfields arent big enough to get 100 bombers en masse into the air, but 50 - 60 fighters can, and although i expect them to lose if i can get those 60 over a battleship task force we should be able to hurt some landing craft or maybe catch the CVs with the TF - the BB TF is on its way from Java



The land KB finally has Burma in its binoculars as it climbs the mountains - whilst been constantly aware of the massed troops at Rangoon and Pegu we were going to head straight to India but KyzBP seems to have made my mind up by shifting some troops from Rangoon east this turn. That splits up the quite formidable number based at Rangoon - i can only imagine hes after Pegus troops and then a thrust toward Moulmein - that will be his undoing - i still dont think he knows this group is coming, he knows its there, he dies by it every 3 turns but i dont think he perceives the threat



Eastern Oz - a bit of a mess brought about by over reaching - the IJA has been in and out of both Maryborough and Bundaberg and voluntarily retreated to Bundaberg to reinforce. Theres a constant air bombardment and sea bombardment but to be fair its taught me a lot about my own tactics - its having no significant effect on morale or disruption. 2 turns ago disruption was 65 due to two failed attacks at, having rested for 2 days despite have been pounded by air and sea disruption is 32.

Despite KyzBPs best efforts with his two CVs the reinforcements finally arrived at Rockhampton and are marching to the rescue. Theres 700 assault points at Bundaberg now, against KyzBPs 500-550, the reinforcements are another 1800 points. Ive recently discovered that the AIs priority is base repairs, you cannot build fortresses whilst there is base damage. KyzBP has been able to build the forts instantly after each attack at Bundaberg - so weve been bombing the base and there is 30% airfield damage, whilst this is present the forts cant go up again - well continue bombing until the reinforcements get there and then we will attack again - hopefully a successful attack there will shatter any coherent resistance against a march on Brisbane again.

The red cross refers to the two CVs - theyre out there somewhere, Nells have been sent to Rockhampton for naval patrol duties, if they see the CVs there are others to launch an air attack - nervous but good times for the IJ forces right now

[JasonPratt]

Hey, you went back to vanilla graphics!

Don't get me wrong, I really like the vanilla graphics, but I'm going to miss the alternate gfx pack: it looked nice, too, and made a good visual distinction between posting in one thread and posting in another. 


The round eyes do curse the Chinese Land KB on a regular basis, but seem resigned now to its existence, operation, and inevitable Imperial victories.  O0