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

[Blackhorse]

It was dozens of power lines being snapped in rapid succession. I will take all the snow in the world over effing freezing rain!

I know the feeling, but be careful what you ask for. Last winter we had two back-to-back snowstorms that dropped 3" of wet snow. The explosions I heard in my backyard were seven (!) trees going down together in a heap.

Re: China. Think about letting Sinyang be, even if he takes it, and trying to cut off his troops there by driving straight for Nanyang.

[vettim89]

ORIGINAL: Blackhorse

It was dozens of power lines being snapped in rapid succession. I will take all the snow in the world over effing freezing rain!

I know the feeling, but be careful what you ask for. Last winter we had two back-to-back snowstorms that dropped 3" of wet snow. The explosions I heard in my backyard were seven (!) trees going down together in a heap.

Re: China. Think about letting Sinyang be, even if he takes it, and trying to cut off his troops there by driving straight for Nanyang.

Sinyang fell this turn cycle. I am moving units towards Nanyang already. I was spooked a little by some of the units counts. The I did some probing attacks and Adm Spruance seems to have divided every KMT Corps and Div. Son when I see 27 units at a base, it most likely is really nine units (but I don't really know now do I). Cute trick but it only works once. My opponent is using some psych-ops a little. He is talking a very big game about China and his ability to limit me. He just attacked the only two bases with no IJA regulars. He is about to be pushed back in several places

I am at considerable AS disavantages at both Manila (700 to 350) and Clark Field (1000 to 650). I have some more units including an Arm RGT about to arrive Batangas to bolster Manila's AS. I am going to just focus on aerial bombardment of the AB's for a few weeks. The Allies are now contained. I know that two or three weeks of determined airfield attack will blow through even a large pile of supplies. I am in no hurry here. I will not use arty until I am closer to the actual attacks so as to not enhance the enemy LCU's EXP.

Tarawa fell, and the little base East of Sorong that begins with an M. Ternate, Brunei, and Miri are Japanese now. The first TK is loading at Brunei and heading for Baldebob as it is out of fuel. Tarakan and Menado should fall next cycle. Both axes advanced one hex in Malaya.

[vettim89]

Been extrordinarily busy of late. Game has moved quite a bit but the AAR is hard to keep up.

We are now at January 18th. Highlights:

* Stalemate on Luzon. I lack sufficient AS to budge him out of either Manila or Clark Field. However, Hong Kong fell on 3 January so the 38th ID is now inbound to Batangas then Manila. I have two Inf RGT from the HI inbound too,

* Oosthaven and Prad (near Palembang) are now Japanese. As some as my ID catches up we will jump the river into Palembang

* All of Mindanao except for Cagayan and Zamboanga are mine. Inf Rgt will arrive Cagayan in a few turns

* All three bases near Kuching are Japanese now.

* KB went on a cruise in the Java Sea and found nobody home. No SCTf etc. It appears Adm Spruance did a full scale bug out

* I am about two thirds of the way down the Malay Peninsula. Not going to make Singapore by 1 February.

* I took Moulmein and am on Tavoy's door step. Did the back door thing through Rahang. Again no evidence of resistance

* I lost Sinyang but am a turn or two away from having it completely surround. Well completely surrounded except for the one clear hex SW of the base where the Chinese will retreat to after I run them out. Then I will fall upon them from three angles and keeeeel them.

* Presently I have troops embarked for Samarinda, Balikpapan, and Sorong. These should go off in rapid succession. In addition. TF inbound to Tarakan where tow SNLF will be picked up for other SRA invasions. KB has restocked its airwing and is headed to Truk. Then I will load up about 6 TF and will hit Rabaul and the entire New Britain/PNG region simultaneously. I know I could have grabbed some of this early but Adm Spruance is a wily foe and I would not be surpsied to find the USN in the area if I ventured there soon.

[vettim89]

This game just moves at breakneck speed.

2 February 1942 update.

* I am almost there in Malaya. Just very hard to keep tempo with 3-day turns.

* I have invested Palembang and think I have enough there to take it even though Adm Spruance moved a lot of stuff there. By taken Oosthaven first, I can put Ki-43 there to intercept transport runs

* I have enough to take Manila but just need a few more turns. Clark Field will then be a bear. Likely will just have to go to siege mode

* KB is almost to Truk. I will then doe a series of tied ops to take New Britain and the Solomons

* I have taken Tavoy and Moulmein.

* CHina is now solidifying. I am almost ready to take Sinyang back and will drive the Chinese into the open to be destroyed. that is the first image

[vettim89]

Situation in Malaya, Borneo and Sumatra

[vettim89]

Situation in the PI

[vettim89]

Updat through 17 February 1942.

* I am almost to Malacca

* Keep missing the 1 to 1 attack at Palembang by the smallest of margins (by 10 lousy AS points last time) This is important because of the three day turn thing. If I miss the 1 to 1 on the first turn then the attacks shut down for the next two.

* Have taken Balikpapan, Makassar, and almost all of Mindanao.

* Cannot seem to move the Chinese out of Sinyang even though I brough three more fresh Divisions in. My base AS is twice the Chinese but cannot even get a 1 to 1. I think Adm Sprunace imprted some Wehrmacht troops from WITE. He is moving 8 units in from the north to through a bigger wrench in the works. This is not the China I am used to as an AFB.

* Have the Allies bottled up at Clark and Bataan on Luzon. My opponent abandoned Manila. I have just been pounding AB for three weeks. Every "Supply Depot" hit I get is another nail in the coffin.

Current ops:

About to finish off Mindanao then I will move on the Central PI.

Have troops ashore at Kendari.

Will move on Ambon and the rest of the Celebes next.

KB is escorting troops to Rabaul. I figured my opponent might pick here to resist a little so I brough more than a token force. Will follow Rabaul up with a quick move on PNG (hopefully)

I have a question. In China, Adm Spruance has divided up every Chinese unit that he can in A,B, and C components. I at first just figured that this was just for FOW puposes to inflate unit counts. I now am wondering if it is actually to take advantage of some game mechanic. I divided all my Div at Sinyang this turn. If I see a bit difference, I may be onto something here. Any comments from any one else that has seen/tried this?

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: vettim89

I have a question. In China, Adm Spruance has divided up every Chinese unit that he can in A,B, and C components. I at first just figured that this was just for FOW puposes to inflate unit counts. I now am wondering if it is actually to take advantage of some game mechanic. I divided all my Div at Sinyang this turn. If I see a bit difference, I may be onto something here. Any comments from any one else that has seen/tried this?

What I usually see is that large units survive combat better and little ones get chewed up and even destroyed pretty easily.

Maybe that is his ploy, get those units destroyed so they get re-built for free at 1/3 strength back in ChungKing?

Be interesting to see ....

[vettim89]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

ORIGINAL: vettim89

I have a question. In China, Adm Spruance has divided up every Chinese unit that he can in A,B, and C components. I at first just figured that this was just for FOW puposes to inflate unit counts. I now am wondering if it is actually to take advantage of some game mechanic. I divided all my Div at Sinyang this turn. If I see a bit difference, I may be onto something here. Any comments from any one else that has seen/tried this?

What I usually see is that large units survive combat better and little ones get chewed up and even destroyed pretty easily.

Maybe that is his ploy, get those units destroyed so they get re-built for free at 1/3 strength back in ChungKing?

Be interesting to see ....

My experiment was a disaster with even worse results. I took 12 K casualties to 6 k for the Chinese. Mostly disablements but the Sinyang offensive is over for now. Only one more base to fall before I reach Singapore. No sign of resistance in the Bismark Sea Area yet. Kendari fell. Doing some test BOMB attacks at Clark Field to see if the Allies are sufficiently tenderized yet.

Now that Manila has fallen, I am moving the 33rd ID to Palembang. I do not want Adm Spruance to build that base up any more than it already is. My taken Oosthaven has helped this as he has to move everything in by air now.

[SqzMyLemon]

ORIGINAL: vettim89

My experiment was a disaster with even worse results.

Hi Vettim,

To my understanding it wouldn't make sense to split your divisions up. I too think they perform better as a cohesive unit and considering units take varying degrees of losses you may find you completely gut a division this way if say 2/3 of it's components gets whacked. Another thing to consider is leadership. Look at the leaders assigned to each component, they are often quite bad ones and I think it's better to have as few leaders as possible so you don't erode a potential positive leadership modifier in combat, every (+) modifier can make a huge difference. Just my thoughts.

[vettim89]

The Japanese are in full retreat in central CHina. I have no idea what I am doing wrong up here. It only cements my feelings: I HATE CHINA

The IJN sweeps into the Bismark Sea. Rabaul falls. Lae, Finschhaven, Buna, Gasmata, and Slamua shoudl all fall next cycle. KB is done around Rennel Island as Tulagi will be hit next Cycle. I have troops moving towards Milne Bay. KB will sweep west after refueling to support that landing.

Mindanao should be nearly 100% IJ after next cycle. I trail AS at Clark filed 1200 to 1500 but I suspect there is little to no supply here for the Allies. Moving up a little more AS to try to dislodge the defenders here

I have Jahor Bhuara (sp?). Still collecting all the troops for the jump to Singapore. Mersing fell last turn also. Only one small fragment of a BF trapped north of this point. I have the 38th ID that is north of Brunei right now heading to Palembang. Once there I should be able to take this base. With the high number of troops already present, the jump to Java should be pretty quick.

I truly hate playing the Japan side but am commmited to play at least until Dec 1942. This was a strategic study of the 3-day turn idea and I am still interested in seeing how things unfold

[Bradley7735]

I don't know what Adm Spruance is doing, but from my experience, splitting the Chinese divisions helps to get 3x more replacements to the units. I can't see any other benefit. If a unit is full TOE, don't split it.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Bradley7735

I don't know what Adm Spruance is doing, but from my experience, splitting the Chinese divisions helps to get 3x more replacements to the units. I can't see any other benefit. If a unit is full TOE, don't split it.

Wow. I had not considered that aspect...

[Mac Linehan]

ORIGINAL: vettim89

So having lost my senses I am doing the following

1. Starting a 3-day turn GC (Dec 8 start)
2. Playing Japan for the first time EVER (not even an AI game)
3. Taking on one of the most experienced AFB's on the Forums - Adm Spruance

So I am plotting the first turn. Mistakenly clicked PDU off and didn't realize it until I was three hours into plotting. Checked with my opponent and we decided to stick with it. Spent a good 45 minutes just staring at the map. It is a bit overwhelming. Finally decided that I would start with the easy stuff. Formed up a CVTF at Hiroshima/Kure and sent it to the Palaus. Broke up the subs around PH and sent them towards various points.


Will be hoping that all you JFB will take pity on this AFB and give me some help on the Economy. Tracker downloaded and installed

Grab your popcorn boys, this should be either real fun or really funny. Perhaps both[:D]

vettim89 -

My respect to you, I do not even have the courage to do even two day turns; the thought of a three day cycle gives me the heebie - jeebies! On the other hand, the days (and events!) will crank right along...

And:

Spent a good 45 minutes just staring at the map. It is a bit overwhelming

I respectfully submit that you already know how to drive; this is just a different model automobile - and you will do well.

Will follow with great interest, good luck, Sir!

Mac

[vettim89]

Thinking about the game and I realize part of my problem is that I have been playing as if my Allied opponent would play the game as I would. I have never have been much of a Sir Robin type myself. Always fought as best I could for the SRA. If you look at Nomad and my AAR for our defunct 2x2 DBB, you will see we had some good success with SCTF in both the Solomons and the SRA. Yes we lost some cruisers and old DD's but nothing that was irreplacable. Expecting the same kind of defense I have not moved forward anywhere without at least SCTF cover if not CV cover also. This has slowed my pace in addition to the 3 day turn thing because I only have so many SCTF to work with. Also movign all thsoe ships around burns fuel and I have had a couple of fuel crisis already.

Adm Spruance seems to pulled everything out of PNG, many of the smaller Dutch bases, and it would not surprise me to see Burma empty also. That said he has been very aggressive in China and that has thrown me as admittingly I am weak here. He has gone for the Fortress Palembang approach but I brought almost enough to undo that. Wishing now that I had brough more in the first place.

Just an interesting observation on how our preconceptions can bend our game play

[erstad]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

ORIGINAL: Bradley7735

I don't know what Adm Spruance is doing, but from my experience, splitting the Chinese divisions helps to get 3x more replacements to the units. I can't see any other benefit. If a unit is full TOE, don't split it.

Wow. I had not considered that aspect...

I haven't convinced myself if splitting corps aids reinforcement rates or not, but there is a big downside. One of the subunits can upgrade a TOE line item (like the 75mm guns) and then you are stuck not being able to recombine (since the replacement rate is so poor on such line items, it might be a *long* time before the other subunits can upgrade)

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: vettim89

Just an interesting observation on how our preconceptions can bend our game play

You're right of course ... something most of us, especially me, fall prey to. I actually think this is what Nemo uses to his best advantage ...

[vettim89]

We have reached 8 March 1942

* Units are 3/4 of the way across the causeway to Singapore

* Palembang fell on the 7th. Refineries are 748(272), Oil is 660(340). Supplies are at 58K. So it will take the better part of a year to get everything back but I have seen worse. I have a SNLF about to take Djambi so the retreat path is cut off. I am sending the 38th Div in pursuit of the stack as it is the freshest. The other two Div will move to Oosthaven for repair prior to going to Java. The will go at less than full strength as time is a wasting

* Milne Bay should fall this turn. I brought Engineers to build this base up ASAP.

* Moving forward slowly towards Pegu. More a reconnasance in force really. I want to see if Adm Spruance has indeed evacuated Burma

* Sorry about the poor image but I just threw it together. The white numbers are Chinese unit counts China is a godawful mess. You can see the chinese are in full offensive mode and I cannot stop them. Huge stacks of units are move south from Ichang and threaten my center. I am moving up what units that can be spared from garrison duty to firm up this flank. If any of you can explain this to me I sure would appreciate it

* I tried a deliberate attack at Clark that reduced the forts to 2. How they got to 2 in the first place is a mystery to me as this base has been pounded since the first week of the war. Recon has never shown the damage below 70%

Being a neophyte JFB, I found 6 Nav Gd units just sitting at Tokyo plus a SNLF at Hiroshima. In addition I found two Garrison units in the HI also that are assigned to 14th army. Ships moving to pick all this units up. Hopefully we we see some lightening moves in the SRA in a couple of weeks.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: vettim89

* I tried a deliberate attack at Clark that reduced the forts to 2. How they got to 2 in the first place is a mystery to me as this base has been pounded since the first week of the war. Recon has never shown the damage below 70%

With the number of engrs at Clark, it only takes a couple of days and I am frequently not able to keep enough damage on Clark the first few days to keep them from getting up to 2. I generally can prevent level 3 forts. Bataan starts with level 3 ....

[vettim89]

21 March 1942

Tokyo Rose has come on the radio and made the grand announcement. It took over a month past historical but Singapore falls.

TF heading to Singers and Oosthaven. Lifting 3 ID to Java post haste.