Amphibious Invasion Timing

[Wolf]

So,

Admiral Mikawa and his fleet roll up to Brisbane in Australia, and unload several divisions of hardened Japanese Infantry.  Unopposed landing.  This happened on an early chit draw.

Two American Infantry and one Australian Infantry want to move in on a later chit draw, to oppose the invaders.

So, in my understanding of combat and timing, because they arrive at the battle on a later chit draw, they have to begin in reserves.

HAD there been even one infantry in Brisbane at the time, they could have possibly aided in the battle, providing the defending infantry was not eliminated in the first round of combat.

SINCE there was NO defending infantry, there is no front-line, anyone arriving late (and starting in reserves) would just have to retreat, anyway, because the battle would be over before they arrived.

Is this correct?

[John D.]

Not quite - the Japanese units land and there is no battle. Now the neighboring allied units can attack on a later chit draw since they have not moved so Japs would be defending and allies would be attacking. If there was a single front line allied unit to oppose the amphib - the other units could move in on a later chit draw and go to reserve. Remember - when all frontline units are gone - that side has to retreat (if both sides lose all front line on the same round - attacker must retreat and remaining defending units - if any- can stay).

[Wolf]

Aha!

So, no battle means not waiting for the combat phase.  Functionally, the Allies would be counter-attacking, trying to throw the invaders back into the sea.

Excellent!  That was how I was hoping it would work.  I just had a poor understanding of this particular rule.

Thanks for clearing that up.

PS: a later turn saw a nasty battle in the Soloman Sea, in which 3 of the 5 Japanese Fleet carrier groups were sunk.  The Yamato and Escorts got in some good licks, sinking a US BB, CA, and DD.  Just nothing to be done with 2 CV and 2 CVL staring down 5 US Fleet Carriers and 2 Escort Carriers.

 

[John D.]

Seen that before  - hey - good luck

[Mark]

Wow - it sounds like Midway happened at Guadalcanal in your game!  What turn did that happen in?  must have been 43 or 44 with the number of carriers the US had in the battle.

[Wolf]

Summer or Autumn of 1943.

I had been playtesting variations on the new Naval movement rules, and foolishly stuck the Shokaku/Zuikaku battle group where the Americans in Sydney could reach it.

One CV down without so much as scratching the paint on the 3 US Fleet Carriers.  (with 2 larger carriers making up a CV Group, it was really 6 or so).

The Japanese reacted with 2CV's, Yamato, BB, Cruiser, Destroyer, and some subs.  The Airbattle was disastrous / Glorious, depending on who you were, with the the loss of the 2 Japanese CV's to only damaging one US CV.  The surface combat was all Japanese, with the Yamato sinking the US BB, the Japanese BB sinking the US CA, and the Japanese CA sinking the US DD.  Not one hit on the Japanese Surface Fleet.

Retreating, the damaged US CV was hit by one of the Japanese Subs, sinking it.

Total Floating Assets at the end of that turn: 5 US CV (down from 6), 2 CVL  vs. 2 Japanese CV (down from 5) and 2 CVL.

The Irony was that the 2 other Japanese CV's were not in combat due to a lack of Aircraft, and were able to be brought to combat readiness by the surviving planes.

I know the Japanese suffered historically from a lack of replacement aircraft and crews, and this sure shows up in the game.

It was a real embarrassment to have that damn British Gladiator shoot down a Zero, though.

I will be putting together some after actions, and my thoughts on the new Naval Rules, as they pertain to the Pacific, in a little while.

I really enjoy this game.  Currently working on subverting a whole group of A&A players <evil laughter>

Later...

[John D.]

Wow - that after action reports sounds really familiar - the Japanese surface fleet did amazing! That's a bright spot from the Japanese point of view... You need bright spots...