Walking the Fine Line Between Bravery and Stupidity (Japan only)

[stuman]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Shouldn't the title of this AAR be "Walking the Fine Line between Bravery and Knavery"?

[:D]

3 day turns, PDU off ? First time as the Japanese ? An interesting challenge !

[Nomad]

ORIGINAL: stuman

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Shouldn't the title of this AAR be "Walking the Fine Line between Bravery and Knavery"?

[:D]

3 day turns, PDU off ? First time as the Japanese ? An interesting challenge !

My vote would have been "Walking the Fine Line between Idiocy and Stupidity" [:D]

[vettim89]

ORIGINAL: Nomad

ORIGINAL: stuman

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Shouldn't the title of this AAR be "Walking the Fine Line between Bravery and Knavery"?

[:D]

3 day turns, PDU off ? First time as the Japanese ? An interesting challenge !

My vote would have been "Walking the Fine Line between Idiocy and Stupidity" [:D]

You guys are so mean to me your humble AAR writer and infant JFB (or is it infantile?) Despite the self imposed limitations, I am looking forward to having my arse handed to me. I like PDU off as it will give the game a certain historical flavor. I think 3-day turns will lead to a slowing of the ops pace too. Time will tell

[Canoerebel]

Hey, Tim, who came up with the original title! [:'(]

Anybody willing to take on a tough assignment (and aren't they all for those playing the Japanese?) deserve some encouraging words. I wish you the best.

I'll also be interested in your take on managing the Japanese economy. Is it challenging and fun, or is it tedious and boring?

[Nomad]

I have always found the Japanese economy to be quite interesting and I will say that having Tracker available is necessary( at least for me ).

[vettim89]

Dan, the economy is a game within the game. So far I do not find it burdensome. I think with PDU off it actually is a little easier as I cannot really mess with the a/c production system too much as the game will require me to stick to pretty much what is set up from the get go. I won't say it runs itself but I think you will find it actually takes less work than pilot training

11-13 December 1941

I don't think I have ever seen so much sub action in a sequence of turnes. The RNN subs really made a pest of themselves. O20 especially was active off Saigon. The USN fleet boats got lucky too hitting Cl Kitakami off Okinawa and sinking two AKL in the Wake Invasion force. My subs caught a few xAK fleeing the PI and a Ro-Boat put two TT into CA Pensacola south of Makin. She is listed as sunk and I think she might very well be gone.

Of course that is only after the aforementioned USN heavy cruiser hit the Makin Invasion TF and all but obliterated it. Just a few AKL's and PB but every little bit counts. My Miri invasion was intercepted by the Hong Kong DD's and trashed. I am embarassed to say that I trail in ships sunk at this point (of note, I have not yet received credit for BB Arizona nor BB Oklahoma). That will likely change very quickly as a SCTF built around two CA forced the Makassar Strait and is now blocking the escape route for a lot of shipping fleeing the PI. It already sank 3 xAK. Baby KB also did some damage but is now out of TT. The CVL and CVE from Hiroshima will be in the Palaus when that TF gets back.

Wake Island fell to the first attack and KB did not spot any ships. May have just been subs I saw last "turn". Troops are ashore in Northern NG with several bases set to fall next trun. Kavieng and The Shortlands should also fall next turn.

Well I may have really messed on Luzon. The force I landed at Iba is now up against it. The enemy unit count has grown to eight and I am on the wrong end of a 300 to 34 base AS ratio. The second wave is one day out but I fear it may be one day too late. If my troops can hold for just one turn I think the crisis will be passed. Here's hoping. The good news is that my opponent indicated the first iteration of turns basically eliminated his AF on Luzon.

Still adjusting to three day turns and playing the IJN. I will post about the economy after next turn to see what you guys think.

[GreasyLake]

I have never converted AK to AP but some AK have the ability to convert the cargo space to troop space and become an AKt ??? Not sure of the exact designation but I stumbled upon this ability in a larger port. Have not read the manual on this which might prove very useful but I have converted some cargo space on AK's to troop space quite by chance. Troop space went up to at least 1000 if I remember correctly. Happened in level 9 home island port where I was looking for some AK to convert to PC, found an option on several AK ship info screen to convert cargo to troop space. Gotta wait the 10 or so days for the change-over.

Kudos for the 3 day turns. Still learning AE after a year myself.

[vettim89]

ORIGINAL: GreasyLake

I have never converted AK to AP but some AK have the ability to convert the cargo space to troop space and become an AKt ??? Not sure of the exact designation but I stumbled upon this ability in a larger port. Have not read the manual on this which might prove very useful but I have converted some cargo space on AK's to troop space quite by chance. Troop space went up to at least 1000 if I remember correctly. Happened in level 9 home island port where I was looking for some AK to convert to PC, found an option on several AK ship info screen to convert cargo to troop space. Gotta wait the 10 or so days for the change-over.

Kudos for the 3 day turns. Still learning AE after a year myself.

Found the answer. My problem was that I was looking at too small of a port to try to do the conversion. Bunch now in the process.

14-16 December 1941

First the situation at Iba never materialized. My troops landed during both phases on the 14th to bring up the strength. Then, the Allies only bombarded which went very bad for them. All I had in the hex was artillery but a lot of artillery. The Filipinos lost 1300 troops and 69 tanks to 300 troops and 20 tanks for IJA. Everybody is ashore and a deliberate attack is ordered this sequence. Base AV is only 450 to 300 but I think the Filipinos are a bit beat up now. Manilla and Clark field are at 100% AB damage and will remain that way until my LCU arrive. There will be no fort building here. Maubin fell and a force a little less than a division equivalent is making for Batangas. Probably will not arrive by end of this cycle.

We had a little SCTF clash at Tarakan and I came out on the wrong end. Only lost the one DD but the other ships are beat up. He lost a DD and I suspect Ca Houston is in trouble

Night Time Surface Combat, near Tarakan at 67,91, Range 7,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Chokai, Shell hits 7, on fire
DD Sagiri, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Tsuta, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Yomogi

Allied Ships
CA Houston, Shell hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Marblehead, Shell hits 2
CL Boise, Shell hits 2
DD Barker
DD Bulmer, Shell hits 1
DD Paul Jones
DD Parrott, Shell hits 8, and is sunk
DD Stewart, Shell hits 1, on fire

Betweeen SCTF intercepts, A/C and subs, I killed about 12 xAKL, two xAK, a CM, and two DD. I still trail in points but now lead in number of ships sunk. Still no report on the two PH BB's so those are hidden from me for now. Lots of sub action again this turn. Of note one of the xAKL sinkings gave troop losses - must have been trying to sneak out a BF. I had not one but two subs hit the dreaded VH1 mines and sink (are the MTV mines any less deadly?)

Aitape, Wewak, Guam, Kavieng, Shortlands, and Vigan all fell in this cycle. Hong Kong came close but my troops were not up to three days of Deliberate Attacks in a row. The will go three days of Bombardment then Shock attack next cycle.

In the air, only a few notes. Part of the AVG is actually in China. The Curtisses were seen over Hong Kong and Liuchow. Nellies killed an xAK and a HTML north of the Malacca Strait.

Toying with the idea of doing a second mini-sub raid on PH.

[vettim89]

16-19 December 1941

Okay this is getting old. My Menado TF ran across the Filipino Q boats (PT's). Two things are irritating about this: first the invasion force is escorted by a SCTF which engaged teh PT's afterwards and anihilated them; then the TF once again turn back towards home instead of going forward. Setting the routing seems fruitless as any AMPH TF that encounters anything seems to want to run home to Momma. Hope this happens to my opponent a few times when he goes on offensive.

Somehow I completely messed up Malaya. All my units are still sitting in their original hexes after 12 days. Nobody has moved forward yet. This initially was my fault as I thought I could push the road up the cennter by setting a base in the south as march destination. Well the game saw the one small unit in the way and plotted around instead of directly towards. Still I caught this after one "turn", but that cost me three days.

Brunei and Miri invasions are setting out thsi time with heavy SCTF cover. Kuching TF will also make landfall this turn again with heavy cover (BB's for this one in case he tries to sneak POW into the hex). Manus should fall on the 20th and a few other small NG bases are being picked off.

Adm Spruance appears to be pulling out of Iba as the AS has fallen to 96. It should fall this next turn. Batangas is unoccupied and it will likely fall on the 20th also.

Where the real action is in China. The AVG is their in force as is a considerable portion of the RAF. Our units are being bombed by Blenheims and Hudsons. They are all concentrating on Ichang where the KMT seems to be in the mood to take it back. I find the whole idea a bit on the raching side but they seem to be flying from Chungking. If that is so, I can't see how my opponent can object to my bombing the AB there.

I know many JFB abandon Ichang early on, but it is an important base for me as far as my plans go. Unfortunately, my inexperience at the Japan side puts me at a disadvantage as I am just trying to figure out how to free up some AS from garrison duties. I have moved a lot of stuff now and hoepfully I will be able to stave off his advances. We have three bases now invested as you can see from the map

[Blackhorse]

I know many JFB abandon Ichang early on, but it is an important base for me as far as my plans go. Unfortunately, my inexperience at the Japan side puts me at a disadvantage as I am just trying to figure out how to free up some AS from garrison duties. I have moved a lot of stuff now and hoepfully I will be able to stave off his advances. We have three bases now invested as you can see from the map

Based on the deployment of forces at start, you should be able to squat in Sinyang pretty much forever until you can bring up enough reinforcements to kick out the Chinese - or try to pin them and cut them off; and you should only have to rail in a couple of good-quality brigades to clear the Paotow area investment. But you could easily lose Ichang (and your opponent is smart to have moved into the eastern woods, as well) unless you sent / are sending heavy reinforcements up the road from Hankow.

Good luck!

[vettim89]

ORIGINAL: Blackhorse

I know many JFB abandon Ichang early on, but it is an important base for me as far as my plans go. Unfortunately, my inexperience at the Japan side puts me at a disadvantage as I am just trying to figure out how to free up some AS from garrison duties. I have moved a lot of stuff now and hoepfully I will be able to stave off his advances. We have three bases now invested as you can see from the map

Based on the deployment of forces at start, you should be able to squat in Sinyang pretty much forever until you can bring up enough reinforcements to kick out the Chinese - or try to pin them and cut them off; and you should only have to rail in a couple of good-quality brigades to clear the Paotow area investment. But you could easily lose Ichang (and your opponent is smart to have moved into the eastern woods, as well) unless you sent / are sending heavy reinforcements up the road from Hankow.

Good luck!

The first two things you mentioned are already in the works. I already have a Ind BGD plus a Chinese Div in place on the road from Hankow to Ichang. In addition I have another BGD and eventually a full Div moving in plus lots of arty. I sent one Div towards Changsha to act as a blocking force and am moving a second Div from Wuchang north to Ichang. Those moves should eventually turn the tables. Right now I have a plan to clear the northern Chinese plain of resistance and then move forces into position to start an offensive soon. This definitely takes any steam out of a offensive towards Changsha but I wasn't going there anyway.

[fcharton]

In Kweisuei, you start with level 4 forts, in defensive terrain, and enemy forces are not well supplied and far from their bases. You should be able to withstand the first assault. After that, the enemy will lack supplies, and you can rail one or two regiments in (from Tatung or Chenting), and use them for a counter attack if your opponent was foolish enough to stay in the hex.

In northern China, it is a good idea to have a couple of regiments in strategic mode somewhere on railroad bases. Since the rail network is quite dense, they can easily reach any base under attack. They will defend at a disadvantage (being in strat mode) but their numbers will be enough to prevent the base from falling.

Around Ichang, in my opinion, the best you can do is to try to attack in the woods, in the east (reinforcing from Hankow). If your Ichang garrison holds for a while (it is possible, you have forts there as well), this will allow them either to fall back, or be reinforced. If Ichang falls, you will need this hex to prevent troops from Ichang to link with those attacking Sinyang.

And like Blackhorse says, don't worry too much about Sinyang. Even if it falls, it does not compromise your supply lines to Hankow and Wuchang, and the Allies will have a lot of trouble to defend it.

Since your opponent apparently chose to be active in China, you need to take some time moving units around. Basically, you want to use the collaborationists (RGC and the like) to fullfill garrison duties, and free your good IJA regiments, brigades and divisions. You also want to move armor toward the frontlines, they are deadly against chinese corps (and you'll need to move engineers too, pretty soon). Are you free to move your units from Manchuria into northern China, or do you have a rule restricting this?

Francois

[vettim89]

No Manchuko units cannot enter China for free; HR is units need to pay PP to cross national borders. This makes the Allies pay to leave India and me pay to move stuff from Manchuko.

[Cap Mandrake]

What if you select "Do Not Retire" and select a higher risk tolerance for your invasion task forces? Of course, they will need a surface escort or things could go badly. Put some Betty son naval attack so the bad guys can't send in bigger surface forces with impunity.



Re. the title, couldn't one be both brave AND stupid? One would need enough smarts to recognize the danger in one's course of action but one could still be really bad a math, for eg.

[fcharton]

ORIGINAL: vettim89
No Manchuko units cannot enter China for free; HR is units need to pay PP to cross national borders. This makes the Allies pay to leave India and me pay to move stuff from Manchuko.

Then, you need to spend some time shuffling garrisons to free your better units. All units from the RGC, NCPC, and some of the Mongol Garrison are your garrison troops. Don't send them in exposed locations, they are bad in combat, and don't even think of changing their leaders... This should free quite a number of good troops, many in the northern plains (where you need them).

It is not the funniest aspect of the game, though...

Francois

[vettim89]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

What if you select "Do Not Retire" and select a higher risk tolerance for your invasion task forces? Of course, they will need a surface escort or things could go badly. Put some Betty son naval attack so the bad guys can't send in bigger surface forces with impunity.

O have been trying to put a surface escort with everybody if possible. What led to the above fiasco was I diverted a SCTF from one invasion to the Ternateforce with the meet/follow command. While the command sequence worked perfectly, it create the less than optimal TF sequence. Word is it is best to have teh AMPH TF follow the SCTF rather than vice versa. My need to keep tempo up was the ultimate cause. With three day turns, I am endevoring to keep every TF on the map moving every turn which is no easy fete

Re. the title, couldn't one be both brave AND stupid? One would need enough smarts to recognize the danger in one's course of action but one could still be really bad a math, for eg.

Hmm. A bit Hellerian there don't you think there?

[vettim89]

20-22 December 1941

Ichang falls and my units retreat SW. Now I will be focused on extracting them. The map indicates my general directions of movement. Up north will be stabilied probably by the end of this cycle. Sinyang may not hold. I only have 80 AV there. Once every thing is set I will rush a good IJA DIv in there to shore everything up. My opponent contends this is his best answer to the China issue - occupy cities where he can actually hold the ground. If he hadn't brough most of the RAF bomber force up to fight I might buy that - I told him I have no problem with what he has done. Best way to learn is in defeat I always say. Still I know that the Japanese Army has the upper hand here. I just had no idea who could move and where. My opponent with plenty of AFB experience knew exactly what he wanted to do. My A6M2 did a pretty good job eliminating the bomber threat. If nothing else the RAF bomber pool will be empty for a while.

Manus, Batangas, and Iba were the only base to fall this turn cycle. Kuching will fall next cycle. Ternate and Menado should be falling but some one forgot to unclick the "Do Not Unload" button. I three day turns, that can be lethal. They will offload this next cycle. I suspect the Miri and Brunei forces will do so likewise. Troops will also land at Davao and Cagayan.

My troops had caught up with the Allies on the central RR in Malaya and arrived at Alor Star. The latter will fall this turn and the Allies should be pushed back one hex. Supplies are in good shape in Malaya, the PI, and Truk. They are a little short in the Palaus - convoy en route.

[FatR]

Amphibious TFs should be set to the direct route and absolute threat tolerance. I find this works reasonably well.

[vettim89]

Fat R: I did have at least one TF that was set at direct/absolute that did try to retire, but it also took losses from a PT encounter. Perhaps that was the cause of the withdraw

23-25 December 1941

First, things are stabilizing in China. Units are pulling back from the Ichang retreat to Hangkow. Then Sinyang will be dealt with accordingly. Up North evryhting is stabilized and I might even start some counter thrusts to undo what my opponent felt was his best opening move. The RAF has disappeared. I figure the mauling it took once I put Type 0 into theatre will be felt for some time. My shock attack at Hong Kong just missed 1 to 1. My units are sufficiently disrupted now that I will have to bombard for three turns.

In the PI, both Manilla and Clark Field are invested. I am a little surpised to find a sizable garrison at both locales. Most Allied players choose one or the other to make there stand. I never try to hold at Manilla because the retreat path is not towards Bataan. Bombardments are ordered at both bases for these three turns. I will be very interested in what the base AS will be for each stack. I landed at both Davao and Cagayan. There may be more force than I can handle at Cagayan so only bombardments there while I shoot in some more units. Deliberate Attack ordered at Davao

In Malaya, I took Alor Star and push the little BF down the road another hex. Rinse and repeat next cycle. Of note there is not air resistance over Singapore. I destroyed 56 Buffaloes in the cycle previous to the last one. Perhaps that is the end of what the RAF can put up.

Kuching fell and an Air HQ is 90% unloaded. I moved a unit of A6M2, G3M, and G4M in this turn. Lets see what I can stir up in the Java Sea. Menado, Ternate, Miri, and Brunei all were invaded in the last cycle. Hopefull they will all fall this cycle. Little base just east of Sorong was invaded and will fall.

Retrieved a couple of Nav Guard units from Jaluit. First one heads for Tarawa under SCTF care.

[vettim89]

Ran two turn cycles today because I was awoken at one AM by the sound of one of my trees surrendering to the force of all the ice on it. Scared the bejeepers out of me and with the adrenaline rush, I couldn't sleep. Looked in the e-mail and yippee a turn!

First cycle was pretty mundane. Davao fell. Cagayan did not because I did not bring enough. I knew that so more was alread inbound. Manado did not fall because that was the unit that ran into the PT's and lost one othe xAK's. I FastTran'd a SNLF from Baldebob. Should fall this turn.

I warned both my opponents I may go offline without notice. I have branches laying over the power lines at both home and work, but because I am one of the lucky ones with power it will be days before mine are attended to. It was pouring down rain last night - I mean coming down in buckets. Temp was hovering at 31-32 degrees. No a good combo. I was awakened when my tree snapped because it sounded like a bomb went off in the back yard. I was looking out the door to see how bad and the sky kept lighting up every 10-15 seconds. I thought it was lightning but then realized there was no thunder. It was dozens of power lines being snapped in rapid succession. I will take all the snow in the world over effing freezing rain!