Nomonhan Redux: Seydlitz (Japan) vs. MBatch729 (Allies)

[bklooste]

ORIGINAL: castor troy



I don't think the air losses are such a big deal since if the Russian gambit works he can sweep all those forces through China and then have all the Chinese /Manchuria LCU ( minus a few garrisons) and air forces working for him. He can rebuild his bombers and just use the fighters as cover as he will have superior numbers.

thought restricted command units can´t cross land borders anymore [&:]

That would be ludicrous if China / Russia have been defeated...Better save those PP points.

[Q-Ball]

ORIGINAL: seydlitz

My equipment and vehicle pools are in very good shape at the present primarily because I did major industry expansions on both during the first turns of the game. Currently armaments uses more HI than naval construction and I have a good sized pool.

Love the AAR, and I will be very interested to see how a large industry expansion plays out over the long-haul. Japan starts with a large stockpile of Oil and Fuel, but even at un-expanded industry this stockpile starts to decline fast. You also will need refinery capacity in the SRA to sustain a high fuel burn rate. I suppose the Sakhalin Oil helps, which isn't a factor in "normal" calculations.

[jwilkerson]

ORIGINAL: castor troy
thought restricted command units can´t cross land borders anymore [&:]

Negatif, we haven't implemented "borders" yet. We've said we were going to do it - but a bunch of people didn't like the idea, and it would be more complex than some other things we think might be more useful, so this one is back on the back burner for now.

So, for now, we still need to use the same ole house rules we used in WITP (or not).

[castor troy]

ORIGINAL: jwilkerson

ORIGINAL: castor troy
thought restricted command units can´t cross land borders anymore [&:]

Negatif, we haven't implemented "borders" yet. We've said we were going to do it - but a bunch of people didn't like the idea, and it would be more complex than some other things we think might be more useful, so this one is back on the back burner for now.

So, for now, we still need to use the same ole house rules we used in WITP (or not).

I see

thanks Joe

[aztez]

You might give SnagIt a whirl. I know it will cost few bucks but it has nice options and most importantly easy/"fast" to use.

As for the game. I still think you are an brave man to assault the Soviet Union.

Have the soviet submarines actually done any worthwile damage? There are plenty of them around. Or at least there should be.

It will also be intresting to see how the soviet armour / artillere will come into play soon. Your opponent most certainly don't have lack of these units even on such an early stage.

Keep up the good work.

[seydlitz_slith]

ORIGINAL: aztez

You might give SnagIt a whirl. I know it will cost few bucks but it has nice options and most importantly easy/"fast" to use.

As for the game. I still think you are an brave man to assault the Soviet Union.

Have the soviet submarines actually done any worthwile damage? There are plenty of them around. Or at least there should be.

It will also be intresting to see how the soviet armour / artillere will come into play soon. Your opponent most certainly don't have lack of these units even on such an early stage.

Keep up the good work.

I tried snagit and IRfan. Both were nice, but I found that I had become used to the one that I was using so I went ahead and paid to register it. Now I am back in business.

The Soviet subs have not done any worthwhile damage so far. I pulled my shipping back into port and only ASW groups have been at sea in the area along with several ASW aircraft. This past turn I had a report that I dropped a bomb on one from and ASW craft and scored a hit.

[seydlitz_slith]

ORIGINAL: jwilkerson

ORIGINAL: castor troy
thought restricted command units can´t cross land borders anymore [&:]

Negatif, we haven't implemented "borders" yet. We've said we were going to do it - but a bunch of people didn't like the idea, and it would be more complex than some other things we think might be more useful, so this one is back on the back burner for now.

So, for now, we still need to use the same ole house rules we used in WITP (or not).

My feeling about the matter is that some of the restricted commands cause me problems with the invasion of Russia scenario. Specifically, the Northern commands in the home islands would have been busy policing up Sakhalin island and doing other offensive movements in the event of war with Russia, but I can't do this unless I change them to a different HQ. As a result I have to change some units to Southern command to use them on Sakhalin Island.

Also, we did not specify a house rule for national borders. Since I invaded Russia, I get to move my troops as I see fit. This pretty much means that they are staying in their normal HQ covered areas but there is some crossover on the Manchurian front as units from both armies try to stabilize the northern flank. If I do manage to knock out the Soviets, I will have no qualms with turning the kwangtung and korea commands loose in China since I will have considered the PP cost paid for by the blood of battle.

[seydlitz_slith]

Turn 40 15 Jan 1942

I will start in the middle of the turn because the news is important.....

Manila Fell to Japan. All Allied troops stationed there surrendered. He has lost half of his forces on Luzon in one turn because he tried to hold both Clark and Manila at the same time against my multi-directional push.

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Ground combat at Manila (79,77)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 35814 troops, 343 guns, 67 vehicles, Assault Value = 1043

Defending force 24616 troops, 293 guns, 245 vehicles, Assault Value = 386

Japanese adjusted assault: 746

Allied adjusted defense: 277

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Manila !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
No Allied losses

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1464 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 71 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 73 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
18520 casualties reported
Squads: 936 destroyed, 524 disabled
Non Combat: 1742 destroyed, 700 disabled
Engineers: 46 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 569 (541 destroyed, 28 disabled)
Vehicles lost 246 (216 destroyed, 30 disabled)
Units destroyed 13
Assaulting units:...
Sasebo 3rd SNLF...
Kimura Det ...
48th Engineer Regiment...
Kure 1st SNLF ...
20th Infantry Regiment...
48th Recon Regiment...
9th Infantry Regiment...
Sasebo 1st SNLF ...
16th Engineer Regiment...
66th Infantry Group ...
1st Formosa Inf. Regiment...
Yokosuka 4th SNLF...
48th Field Artillery Regiment...
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment...
...
Defending units:...
31st Infantry Regiment...
41st PA Infantry Division...
4th Marine Regiment...
1st PA Infantry Division...
51st PA Infantry Division...
71st PA Infantry Division...
2nd PA Constabulary Regiment...
Provisional Field Artillery Regiment...
II Philippine Corps ...
Cavite USN Base Force...
USAFFE ...
Manila USAAF Base Force...
301st PA Field Artillery Regiment...

[seydlitz_slith]

I also attacked Clark during the turn. I am closer to parity there but I have now reduced his fortifications to level 1. With Manila gone he can only retreat to Iba or Bataan. Most of his supply stockpiles are gone and all of my Manila forces are on the way. I strongly feel that my opponent should have consolidated all of his forces in Manila earlier. The terrain mulitplier would have favored his combined stacks and he would have had supply. I do not know if he was lulled into thinking that I didn't have enough forces to take Luzon since I was fighting elsewhere or if I just moved too quickly for him to react. A few turns ago I moved into Manila and Clark with units on the same turn and this could have tied him up.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Clark Field (79,76)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 49191 troops, 349 guns, 364 vehicles, Assault Value = 1417

Defending force 15880 troops, 248 guns, 410 vehicles, Assault Value = 356

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 773

Allied adjusted defense: 577

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
999 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 64 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 39 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 16 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 12 (2 destroyed, 10 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
806 casualties reported
Squads: 91 destroyed, 24 disabled
Non Combat: 53 destroyed, 92 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 16 disabled
Guns lost 7 (0 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Vehicles lost 56 (4 destroyed, 52 disabled)
Assaulting units:...
21st Division...
Tanaka Detachment...
21st Ind. Engineer Regiment...
4th Tank Regiment...
4th Division...
2nd Tank Regiment...
3rd Ind. Engineer Regiment...
65th Brigade...
47th Infantry Regiment...
7th Tank Regiment...
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment...
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion...
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion...
14th Army...
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion...
...
Defending units:...
11th PA Infantry Division...
21st PA Infantry Division...
Subic Bay Defenses ...
194th Tank Battalion...
26th PS Cavalry Regiment...
192nd Tank Battalion...
14th PS Engineer Regiment...
57th PS Infantry Regimental Combat Team...
1st PA Constabulary Regiment...
I Philippine Corps ...
88th PS Field Artillery Regiment...
Clark Field USAAF Base Force...
Far East USAAF ...
200th & 515th Coast AA Regiment...

[seydlitz_slith]

On Mindanao I landed at Dadjangas last turn and attack the small force there this turn, routing them. I am now enroute to Davao.

On the Russian front I fought a battle in Manchukoku. This pushed the soviet force back off the crossroads. Now, instead of moving west to Borzya, I will continue north to Shilka in pursuit of the Russian unit.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at 109,27

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 48489 troops, 444 guns, 190 vehicles, Assault Value = 1375

Defending force 3744 troops, 10 guns, 110 vehicles, Assault Value = 113

Japanese adjusted assault: 620

Allied adjusted defense: 58

Japanese assault odds: 10 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), fatigue(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
773 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 61 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 45 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Vehicles lost 17 (1 destroyed, 16 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
509 casualties reported
Squads: 13 destroyed, 49 disabled
Non Combat: 19 destroyed, 39 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 67 (26 destroyed, 41 disabled)
Units retreated 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:...
1st Recon Regiment...
29th Division...
26th Recon Regiment...
78th Infantry Regiment...
19th Division...
30th Infantry Regiment...
36th Infantry Regiment...
6th Manchukuo Cav Brigade...
15th Medium Field Artillery Regiment...
1st Ind. Field Artillery Regiment...
8th Mountain Gun Regiment...
6th Army...
3rd RF Gun Battalion...
7th RF Gun Battalion...
...
Defending units:...
188th NKVD Regiment...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[seydlitz_slith]

In China I have continued my advance on Sian north of the river while south of the river I am locked in a temporary standoff with a large number of Chinese units at Loyang. I am content with the situation at present because I have additional units enroute that will allow me to complete the taking of Loyang. Right now, his units are tied up there and are not falling back to defend Sian. Hopefully my units north of the road will be one hex out of Sian at about the time that I kick him out of Loyang.

[seydlitz_slith]

Down south, I am trading bombardment attacks with him at Changsha. I do not have enough strength to take the city yet, but I will in about two weeks as I have additional units enroute.

At Nanning I am also close to parity with him so I will try to keep wearing him down until I can take him. My main concern here is that I keep him busy and do not allow him to move the units that he has there to another place.

[seydlitz_slith]

On the air front the weather was bad across most of the map. However, in Korea my bad weather air op plan paid off. I focused all operations on Voroshilov so I had enough fighters on station in the hex to fly all of my bomber missions against his units in the hex forthe second turn. My large stack of units has moved 20 of the 46 miles from Rybilov and should be in the hex and ready to attack in about 3 turns. By that time I hope to have several of his units disrupted through bombing.

Up north, my weak stack of units that failed in their attack on Birobdhzahn a few turns ago have finally managed to break contact and are heading for friendly lines to heal up with the exception of a cav unit that will move up the rail line a couple of hexes to keep the supply line blocked. I am lucky that I did not lose most of these units as their disrutption levels were in the high eighties and even as high as 97 for one unit.

Here is what the air losses looked like:

[seydlitz_slith]

Here were the naval losses during the turn.

FYI, the KB is almost to Truk. Hopefully my arrival in the Solomans will be a surprise.

[seydlitz_slith]

I had proof that his American subs are still out there. My ASW forces detected a Sargo class and attacked her to no effect during the turn.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Hengchun at 84,68

Japanese Ships
DD Suzukaze

Allied Ships
SS Sargo



Sargo diving deep .......
DD Suzukaze fails to find sub, continues to search......
DD Suzukaze fails to find sub, continues to search......
DD Suzukaze fails to find sub, continues to search......
DD Suzukaze fails to find sub, continues to search......
DD Suzukaze fails to find sub, continues to search......
Escort abandons search for sub...

[seydlitz_slith]

In a few more turns, I will be landing my second wave at Okha so that I can end the standoff there. The transports are in position, but the battleships have to steam up to Etoforu Jima to join them. It will be only three battleships since the others are still undergoing repairs from the last voyage. Amazing how much these older ships break down.

I want to run through several screens to show people where we are at this point on various pools and such.

Here we go..
First is allied warship losses to date (Jan 15, 42).

[seydlitz_slith]

allied ship losses page 2.

[seydlitz_slith]

Japanese warship losses during the first 40 turns...

[seydlitz_slith]

Now to show you what my ship arrivals look like as of mid-Jan. We are playing with fixed historical entry (no variability) on ship arrivals. I halted all CVE construction and accelerated several tankers, APs, destroyers, and the Musashi.

If everything works out, Yamato will be completed on May 20th and Musashi will finish on June 8th. Already her arrival time has advanced to October from the original date in early December.

Common sense says that I should have went straight to the carriers and just suspended the Musashi, but the JFB in me won out and I took my normal course of accelerating Musashi so that both arrived close together. As soon as they are complete I will start accelerating carriers like crazy.

[seydlitz_slith]

Here are the DDs...