Posts made by elque

Two successive normandy landings were repelled. The first was a small landing and the second was an landing in force.  In each case, the US navy docked off normandy suffered losses from axis air counterattack coupled with some german destroyers. The Italian navy never made it into the Atlantic.

There is one in the Ukraine and one in the caucasus. Several were lost in combat in Africa. After a while, it just seemed that tanks were a better buy for use there. There had been a lot of fighting in the Red Sea and East Africa earlier in the game.

Agree in retrospect that a major IC in Romania would have been helpful. The Axis minor IC in Egypt was pretty much a requirement as well.

Here’s Africa

Another Photo of the eastern Front detail

We are resuming this game tonight. Thought is might be interesting to review. Axis looking to take Moscow within 2 or 3 turns for 8th victory city. US has been ejected from Normandy twice. The second time Germans had bare majority of combat factors (28 to 24?) so there was luck

1. Mech and tank buys were helpful to the Axis
2. Germany bought minor IC in Caucasus on G7. Should probably have bought one in Iraq a couple of turns earlier
3. Britain used carrier in GB1 to attack German Navy; Italy took Egypt in I1
4. Strategic bombing for either side has been ineffectual
   

Do French and Italian colonial IPCs go in limbo when their capital falls. I assume so based on other posts on this forum. Must their former allies occupy them with land units to acquire their IPCs even if no enemy units have yet entered these territories. e.g. must germany move into Albania to capture its IPC or the British move into French West Africa to obtain that IPC for itself? Would the presence of “free french” units or italian stragglers impede IPC acquisition?

I don’t think that bidding is necessary for the allied player but … one idea already broached somewhere would simply relocate the UK Batteship and 1 or more transports to Calcutta from Malaya at the game’s outset. They could not be sunk on J1 and the UK player could transport units to Sumatra and especially Java to serve as fodder for ANZAC air that would stage there in ANZAC1. The UK collects an extra 8 IPC and probably can preserve 2-4 Anzac fighters for defence of the India/Burma by J3.

It seems that coordinated play between the British and ANZAC can get ANZAC fighters to the asian mainland by the end of turn 2 - even without an airbase. Agree that ANZAC fighters could get to Java in turn 1. But let’s assume that Japan takes out the UK BB and Transports in J1 - thus threatening allied planes landing in Java turn 1. It would be inhospitable for ANZAC to land planes there without fodder in turn 1. Nevertheless, the UK should be able to trade the Shan State with Japan for at least 2 turns. In fact, Japan may have to keep its infantry in Siam in J1 as fodder. Otherwise, the UK could counterstrike unprotected Jap bombers/fighter landed there after taking out the british navy in Malaya. In the ANZAC Turn 2, fighters can stage from West Australia to Shan State to support UK inf/art. With three inf/art as fodder there, they can at worst extract valuable planes from Japan’s attack there in J3.

I think that it’s 6 spaces from NZ to Java. The move into the NZ sea zone counts as 1. Though Western Australia is within range. Even without an airbase, there is usually a staging area available to India/Burma unless the Japanese player is methodically trying to foreclose this possibility.

Haven’t built the airbase yet in Western Australia but recognize that it would be a nice response to a fast Japanese takeover of the DEI. If Australia achieves its NO, it wouldn’t even have to save IPCs from a previous turn. Fighters might consider strafing targets of opportunity as they fly over to Burma/India.

My friends and I have wrestled with a determined Japanese Strike against Calcutta. My view as to the best countermeasure is to buttress the UK with Australian and American air units. The US has a fighter and TAC in Hawaii that can be in Queensland by US1 and in Java by US2. Similarly, some or all of the Anzac fighters can reach there by AU2.

The UK can protect Java by transporting a couple of infantry there on UK1. Then possibly putting up a screen of the island with its surface ships on UK2 if there is an opportunity. If not used for a screen, then navy should turtle to the Indian sea zone to protect against an amphibeous assault. An all out defense of Malaya doesn’t seem fruitful as it is vulnerable to massive air strikes as early as J2. Any air units diverted there will be lost rapidly.

If the US and ANZAC can get 4 or 5 fighters and TACs to Burma/India by turn 3 or 4, the UK should be able to bog down a Japanese attack.

For the UK, buying inf and art is probably the best option as there will be a premium on defense value early on. The UK should have enough resources to trade Shan state for a couple turns. Move the AA gun to Burma - it will be of more use there to defend against an overland attack. That should buy some time. Of course, by the end of J3, the UK’s economic power will be severely curtailed.

China plays a critical role. China must keep the Burma road open to keep its build capacity alive. Probably means constructing an artillery each turn bolster attack strength retaking Yunan from Schechwan.

Apart from the US “loan” of air to British, there may be an opportunity to take the Caroline islands. A japanese all out rush for India will leave them vulnerable elsewhere. Caroline is a more effective way to project US force than Wake. It already has a naval base and projects US naval and air strength to a larger share of the relevant board. From there, it may be possible to take back the PI or shift major strength to Guam. The Japanese would have to divert  attention to counter either of these moves as their transports and/or asian ICs would be vulnerable.

Just some food for thought.

Agree that Anzac fighters are key to the British defense of India if Japan goes all out for Calcutta. Staging area may be important. Anzac fighters may have to stay land in Java, Sumatra, or Malaya. Preferably a location where there are at least 2 infantry to absorb losses. One alternative for the Anzac player is to build an airbase in Western Australia(Perth). Burma is only five moves away, alleviating the need for a risky stage in SE Asia.

The US fighters/TACs in Hawaii can land in the Solomon Islands if there is a J1 attack. From there, they can skip to Burma as well to shore up defenses.

Assume that your naval force includes one or more submarines and your opponent has a destroyer and engages you in battle. Can your submarines submerge (exit in mid battle) at your option once your opponent takes his destroyer as a casualty?

If Japan retakes an island such as Iwo Jima and/or Okinawa, does it retain the ability to utilize kamakazes in defense even though it currently controls PI, Iwo, and Okinawa.

Can American land units enter British and Anzac territories prior to a state of war between the US and Japan?

Thank for the fine updates on the new rules. Regarding convoys: Can we assume that subs and surface ships designated to disrupt convoys can participate in no other naval battles during the same game turn?

Quick follow up: Can the attacker decide to abort the amphibious landing after the shore bombardment phase. Or must the attacker commit to at least one round of combat once the shore bombardment has commenced?

Thank you Veqryn. That clears it up.

There has been some discussion/argument within our AA42 group about the extent of shore bombardment allowed during an amphibious assault. Can battleships/cruisers/etc. fire multiple times on a coastal location to support an assault or may they fire only one round (one die roll). Appreciate any clarification on this matter.