Where does the offensive in Burma start

[JohnDillworth]

I am starting to mass troops in Burma as the Allies in late 1942. Have an Army at Impal and another at Chittagog. Some good troops and building airpower and supplies. Where does one start the offensive? Seems there is no way out of Impal. Just rivers and jungles. Where does one start? I think amphibious is out of the question for a while. Japanese just have too much airpower for now.

[scott64]

Probably start at Chittgong and work your way to Akyab and over one hex then straight down to Rangoon. [:)]

[stuman]

ORIGINAL: scott1964

Probably start at Chittgong and work your way to Akyab and over one hex then straight down to Rangoon. [:)]

And be aware that supplies will be a major issue at first.

[scott64]

If you prep for Chittigong then the supplies should flow to Chittigong. [:)]

[stuman]

ORIGINAL: scott1964

If you prep for Chittigong then the supplies should flow to Chittigong. [:)]

True. I have had a bit of trouble with supplies for a while once I have crossed that river past Akyab into Burma proper. NOt a real problem until them. This being against AI mind you.

[wdolson]

It takes a long time to march troops overland from Imphal, but sending some that way will force the Japanese to deal with attacks from two directions at once if you also send forces down the coast.

Bill

[JohnDillworth]

It takes a long time to march troops overland from Imphal, but sending some that way will force the Japanese to deal with attacks from two directions at once if you also send forces down the coast.

I have about 2,200 points worth of attack. Probably 1,000 (Australian 7th, plus 1 British division plus some other good remnants) is composed of quality troops. I am defending Impal (fort 6) with 250, and using about 2,000 along Chittagog to attack. Don't have enough quality to attack along 2 fronts yet but as it is late 42 there is more and more each day. I will attack down the coast and hold the line at Impal and apply pressure as troops become available.

[JeffroK]

Imphal to Shwebo means 2 jungle hexes, Cox's Bazaar to Akyab has none, with 1 jungle hex & a river to meet the track from Pagan.

But after Shwebo you have Mandalay & Meiktila in the way, though the road/rail net is better.

IMHO, if you have air & sea superiority concentrate on the coast road as you can support it, otherwise use the Imphal route. But still build supporting pushes from ledo etc so as to gain the attention of your opponent, maybe have a Chindit Bde or 50 Indian Para Bde up your sleeve to pick up a poorly defended base as an airhead.

[vlcz]

The coast offensive seems the only posible way, I managed to take Shwebo from imphal but supplies are not reaching it in any quantity so no way no take mandalay. On the opposite way, even if the road south on Akyab seems "broken" supplies reach in massive amounts to bases north of rangoon.

[DuckofTindalos]

If you start a counteroffensive in Burma this soon, you'd better be mindful of the disaster that was the first Arakan campaign.

[vlcz]

ORIGINAL: Terminus

If you start a counteroffensive in Burma this soon, you'd better be mindful of the disaster that was the first Arakan campaign.

I suppose he is against the AI, so probably obliterated the assault force by rounded them so litle to fear (other than massive numbers of old and unexperienced fighters) against a human would be different of course.

[JeffroK]

ORIGINAL: vlcz

ORIGINAL: Terminus

If you start a counteroffensive in Burma this soon, you'd better be mindful of the disaster that was the first Arakan campaign.

I suppose he is against the AI, so probably obliterated the assault force by rounded them so litle to fear (other than massive numbers of old and unexperienced fighters) against a human would be different of course.

Until you've played the new AI, dont bother to assume that WITP standards work in AE.

From 31/3/43

Afternoon Air attack on 267th Armoured Brigade, at 57,45

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 32
Ki-48-IIb Lily x 50
Ki-61-Ia Tony x 25



Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-IIb Lily: 5 damaged

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: JeffK

ORIGINAL: vlcz

ORIGINAL: Terminus

If you start a counteroffensive in Burma this soon, you'd better be mindful of the disaster that was the first Arakan campaign.

I suppose he is against the AI, so probably obliterated the assault force by rounded them so litle to fear (other than massive numbers of old and unexperienced fighters) against a human would be different of course.

Until you've played the new AI, dont bother to assume that WITP standards work in AE.

From 31/3/43

Afternoon Air attack on 267th Armoured Brigade, at 57,45

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 32
Ki-48-IIb Lily x 50
Ki-61-Ia Tony x 25



Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-IIb Lily: 5 damaged

Hear, hear, JeffK.

[crsutton]

The Allies did it both ways attacking down the Arakan Pennisula and overland from the Imphal plain. Burma was an impossible place to fight especially during the five month monsoon when any sort of major movment of men and supply was virtually impossible. BTW, I just learned that Akyab was an island.
 
The real Allied victories in Burma did not come until the closing months of the war with Rangoon falling just before the war ended. Considering the costs, I doubt that the campaign should have been fought-especially since the IJN Burma forces had been all but cut off from Japan by the loss her merchant fleet. Mitikyama was probably the only significant gain of the whole campaign. Stillwell took the airfield at a terrible cost and then withstood the siege. The capture of the airfield cut off Japanese fighter sorties against transports flying the hump and supported over 14,000 supply sorties into China.
 
It would have been smarter to just ignore Burma altogether and invade further down-say Malaysia. but political considerations and a critical shortage of landing craft prevented this. Of, course as the Allied player you are not bound by this and can try it out. [;)]

[JohnDillworth]

When available I moved the Australian 7th to Burma instead of back to Australia. They are good troops and will lead the offensive down the coast. Put almost all my artillery there to so I have great hopes.

[Q-Ball]

ORIGINAL: crsutton


It would have been smarter to just ignore Burma altogether and invade further down-say Malaysia. but political considerations and a critical shortage of landing craft prevented this. Of, course as the Allied player you are not bound by this and can try it out. [;)]

I wonder what kind of Amphibious Capability the British have in AE. In WITP, they had way too much; alot of games featured massive British and Chinese troop landings in SE Asia, and it really was a headache for Japan, because you can't cover all those beaches.

Not sure about AE.....you're pretty much dependent on xAK-P shipping until mid-43. After that, you get a trickle of craft, but not until late '44 is it anything to write home about.

[JohnDillworth]

I wonder what kind of Amphibious Capability the British have in AE. In WITP, they had way too much; alot of games featured massive British and Chinese troop landings in SE Asia, and it really was a headache for Japan, because you can't cover all those beaches.

Not sure about AE.....you're pretty much dependent on xAK-P shipping until mid-43. After that, you get a trickle of craft, but not until late '44 is it anything to write home about.

Don't think it matters in the game nor in reality. I just don't have the air superiority I need to make an amphibious assault a reality. To many med bombers against British short range fighters. It would be a massacre

[wdolson]

It's not a good idea to do amphibious operations with xAPs.  It can be done, but they unload slowly and with high disablement rates.  There are few APs period.  It's best to concentrate them for invasions in the Pacific.  In SE Asia, overland may not be ideal, but at least you can do it.  Walking in the jungle may not be easy, but it beats the walk from Pearl Harbor to Kwajalein.

Bill

[stuman]

Burma is the one theatre in game that I never feel like I have a good game plan for regardless of the side I play. It seems like no matter what, both sides expend more energy there than they should; but you have to; and so forth and so on.

[JohnDillworth]

Burma is the one theatre in game that I never feel like I have a good game plan for regardless of the side I play. It seems like no matter what, both sides expend more energy there than they should; but you have to; and so forth and so on.

Seemly true in reality also