The Power of Inexperience / GreyJoy(A)-Rader(J)

[GreyJoy]

Hi all, a quick update and then during the week end i'll reply to your kind replies.

A mixed turn.

China...well, the usual mess (see screenshot). Chungking is now in direct danger and i've to say that i understimated greatly the pace the japs can have even when their supply lines are cut...[:o]

Anyway...At Colombo the last strike of the KB finally sunk the POW...the last hero of the "Miri gamble" (BC Repulse, who ate a fish during that great battle, was lately sunk by jap cruisers west of Borneo). However the Trusty Sub managed to put 2 torps into a jap CV!!!!...which is quite a miracle considering how bad my subs have performed so far!
Hopefully now the KB will retire (it doesn't have anything more to ask from this operation i guess).

In Burma Japan's 15th Army is advancing towards Mandalay...

Near San Diego another ACM have raided my routes...damaged a couple of APs but then i showed him i finally learnt the lesson and the japanese raider was mauled and sunk by my escort DD division! This is the third ACM sunk so far...

What else? think it's enough...

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Jan 16, 42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Merak at 48,97, Range 2,000 Yards the last PT division at Batavia managed to sink a DMS...
Japanese Ships
CL Kashii
DD Oshio
DD Michishio
DD Isonami
DD Hatsuyuki
DMS Sureko, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships
PT TM-4
PT TM-5, Shell hits 1
PT TM-6, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT TM-7, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT TM-8, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT TM-9, Shell hits 1, and is sunk




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Colombo , at 29,48

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 12
B5N1 Kate x 18
B5N2 Kate x 40



Japanese aircraft losses
B5N1 Kate: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 19 damaged

Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales, Bomb hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage SUNK
xAP Dominion Monarch, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
KV Auricula, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Express, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage


Allied ground losses:
4 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Port hits 4





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Jan 17, 42



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near San Diego at 218,102, Range 19,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
AMC Kiyosumi Maru, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
xAP Diomed
xAP Mataroa, Shell hits 1, on fire
xAP Duntroon
xAP Rangatira, Shell hits 1
xAP Wahine
xAP Taroona
xAP Nairana
xAP Matua
xAP Limerick, Shell hits 3, on fire


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near San Diego at 218,102, Range 15,000 Yards

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses

Japanese Ships
AMC Kiyosumi Maru, Shell hits 37, and is sunk [8D][8D][:D]

Allied Ships
DD Hull, Shell hits 1
DD Aylwin
DD Humphreys
DD Sands, Shell hits 1, on fire



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Koggala at 26,54

Japanese Ships
CV Soryu, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage YES!!! [:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]
BB Hyuga
CL Kitakami
CS Chiyoda
DD Asagumo
DD Ushio
DD Akebono
DD Ariake
DD Yugure

Allied Ships
SS Trusty, hits 1

[traskott]

How can u lost Changsha, Nanyang, Sian, and Nanyang in less than two months ??  [X(][X(]

[Canoerebel]

It's cetainly possible if an experienced IJA player is facing a relatively inexperienced Allied player who doesn't know the likely routes of enemy advance. If an Allied player doesn't adequately garrison Hengyang and Changsha early the Japanese can blow right through and the Chinese are in for a world of hurt. Also, futher north, if the Chinese try to make a stand around Loyang or Nanyang, the Japanese can beat them up or bypass them, once again shattering the MLR. It takes some playing before an Allied player knows where to defend and how to get his troops there in time.

[traskott]

Looks like the very first days of warfare at China are truly decisive...

[Canoerebel]

Well, it takes the Japanese player some time to gather up his forces, deal with supply and partisan issues, select a vector or two of advance, and get his troops in place. But the Allied player has to use this time to round up his own scattered forces and get them into bases (or favorable terrain) where they can build fortifications. If the Allied player dallies, or choose the wrong places to defend, he can be in big trouble quickly.

[GreyJoy]

Hi all.
 
Please consider, a part from my inexperience, that rader devoted every effort to Chinese theatre. if you take the time to read back few pages you'll find that he has brought most of his southern area army divisions (plus those who are added in scenario 2) to China, chosing to simply bypass Malaya and Singapore and to limit himself to siege Manila (even without bombing it).
He's using, since day 1, hundreds of bombers (both from IJAAF and IJNAF) to cover his advance vectors. The AVG, a part from a small succesfull operation in early december at Whuchow, could not fight because of more than 100 zeros operating in China.
For sure i was lazy the first 3 turns, but i don't think i've committed too many mistakes. he has chosen to bypass every single strongpoint that i created in favourable terrain and, when he had no choice if not attacking my stacks, he has done it under the umbrella of hundreds of bombers that paved his way to victory.
I've conducted partisan activities since day 1, cutting his supply lines and threatening his back bases, but the surplus of troops he brought there, with probably a constant use of transport planes for supplies, has strongly limited the results of these countermoves of mine.
And i have to thank myself not to have listened to those who suggested me to strongly garrison Changsha...i managed to slip most of my units from there before the big pocket was closed...[:o]
 
Anyway, it's a long long way to victory...and we know it [:D]

[FatR]

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

I've seen that AAR of FatR where he invaded Hawaii...it's a mess once japan puts a foot there. All the coms from West Coast to Oz are almost interdicted and, with the annihilation of the whole pacific fleet assets (talking about ships and LCUs) the capabilities of the US to get back into a fighting war strongly decrease...FatR says that, in mid 1943, the expenses (in fuel and other war assets) due to the Hawaii invasion have been strongly re-paid in terms of VPs and in terms of strategic situation....

Bigred is right in his response to that. I got extremely lucky with each of my two carrier voyages down from Hawaii wiping out a troop-loaded convoy, but overall it is very hard to systematically interdict anything from there, even in ideal conditions. The main problem is crushing fuel cost of maintaining raiding operation beyond the range of LBA airsearch from such distant base. Hawaii have paid off so far in terms of destroying Allied ships, but in terms of interdicting communications... not so much. Things might have been rough for Allies, in terms of convoy routing, had I taken Christmas Island, but by the time I had a fleet to spare, it was so bristling with Allied troops, that I was forced to call off the invasion.

[FatR]

I must say I'm amazed by the extent of Japanese advance in China. Although concentrating Southern Army in this theatre explains much. Well, I advise you to a)start fortifying India now and b)to think if you can stage an early counterattack againt Gilberts-Marshalls (or, if you feel really brave, Aleutians), while you know where KB is. It is a fairly safe bet that no island there, except maybe Kwajalein, holds more than a NavGuard, if even that. Either this will force a major Japanese commitment, reducing the pressure on China and in SRA, or you will be able to breach his perimeter on cheap. The biggest problem with this plan I see is thorough destruction of USN surface assets at Pearl...

[GreyJoy]

Thanks guys.
I really do not know. We have an HR that prevent (except for Russia) the using of restricted LCUs for other theatres (moving from China to India for ex...).

What i know is that all my major theatres are understrenght at the moment. In india i have only a shadow of an Army. not to say about the air assets. In Oz the LCUs are ok, but there's so much land to defend...Hawaii are almost undefended...only PH have a decent garrison...i think i've made a mistake to send all those regiments to Palmyra, Canton, Pago, Suva and whereever...[:@] he could simply land on Big Island, place a number of betties and nells there, along with zeros, and wait for my naval units to sacrifice themself...[:(]

On the 19th of Jan he landed in northern oz (Portland Roads and Normanton)...these are minor landings...probably baits or part of his main strategy which consists in conquering everything conquerable and make me pay for every inch of land i eventually will gain.

However i'm not scared by these landings at the moment. Untill Manila, Singa and Batavia are over he won't have enough units to prepare a major operation. A big supply convoy is however moving from West Coast to Oz...just in case [:)]

KB remains south of Colombo (why???), despite the torpedoing of one of her main ships...was it just FOW?!?!?!?
My subs haven't been lucky this time...4 attacks...for dude torps on KB escorts [:o]
BTW he should now feel less safe with his KB in those waters...i've filled the whole I.O. with ducth and S-class subs....let's hope for the best![8D]

[GreyJoy]

Jan 20.
The situation in china is absolutely desperate. Chungking is being sorrounded and he created another pocket around my last strongpoint at "dontaskmethename" south east of Chungking where 2500 chinese AVs are now blocked there. I give up my last hopes there. The AVG has been transfered back to India, being absolutely useless there against 120 Zeros that sweep my bases every day.
In Burma Mandalay now is under siege.
KB finally retired towards Rangoon (maybe) and the ship sunk report tells me the Soryu CV has been sunk!!!!....is that FOW or i can believe it?????...that would be simply great!!!!!!
PM is sorrounded and more landings in North-East of Oz...
Mini KB has been spotted close to Luzon going back to the Pacific...gotta pay attention now!
Batavia repulsed another frontal attack but now has no more forts to defend behind...
HUGE convoy of troops, planes and supplies is moving from San Diego to Sydney...hopefully my cats at Pago Pago and Canton Island will be able to spot a jap raid in time to disperse it...finger crossed!!!!
 
 

[GreyJoy]

.

[traskott]

I suggest u, put all your chinese troops on his rearguard to attack choke points or cities, so u will got yout troops destroyed and at 30 days they will back to Chungking...

[GreyJoy]

Ok, i have a strong feeling that those landings north of CookTown in Oz are a preparation screen for an invasion od Australia. I so decided to take an important decision: I'm sending 3 rgts, 4 arty units, 3 AAs and 2 Tank units from Hawaii/West Coast to Oz, with some support units (base forces, 1 Corp HQ and 3 eng units)...
 
I do think that, also after the latest comment of FatR, that Rader isn't coming to Hawaii nor for other pacific expansion. I do think he's aiming to a big target, which can lead him to autovictory. Now, considering our HR regarding USSR activation, probably the ruskies are a jiucy target no more...
If he was coming for India i think he should have given to Singapore a much bigger priority instead of Java...so...it only remains Oz! And these first landings, with the very likely invasion of PM, could be a sign of the much bigger coming Invasion!
 
Think i have at least 1 month to reinforce Oz from West Coast now. he will need to destroy Batavia and then to reorganize his army/fleet and probably finish the main job in China...One month...only one month...I have to run!!!!

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: traskott

I suggest u, put all your chinese troops on his rearguard to attack choke points or cities, so u will got yout troops destroyed and at 30 days they will back to Chungking...

already doing that, but he doesn't destroy them (he's too smart). he simply push them in the wilderness and let them rot...

[FatR]

Soryu might theoretically be sunk, but I won't bet on it. There is a known bug with intelligence reporting sinkings whenever major flotation damage of a damaged ship increases at sea. Well, at least, she's damaged badly enough for her condition to deteriorate on the way, so might be stuck in shipyard for half a year.

[bigred]

+1,

CRSUTTON
I have to be honest here. I can't believe that a player of Rader's skill level would foist scenario #2 on an new player such as you. What was he thinking and what pleasure could he possibly get out of it? Sorry, it escapes me and comes off as very cheesy? Scenario #2 gives the Japanese player too many advantages and it gives even highly experienced Allied players fits. He even managed to stack the house rules to his benefit. I am not being critical of your efforts at all-you are very game to try it. But it sort of looks like a puppy getting slammed by a truck.....

Rader is an avid, young Wifcon player. World class at any game.
For some background on Rader.
tm.asp?m=1844632
post #3.

[GreyJoy]

War arrived at Jan 30th. A brief summary will follow.

China:
Japanese tank regimensts, come out from nowhere, conquered one of those bases very north of China. Don't remember the name but however is one of those who guard the trail-road from Manchuria to Soviet Union. Every flow of supplies from the soviet ally is now forbidden.
In northern China Lanchow is now under siege, while in Central China things have gotten a little bit better. At the very last second we managed to push back a tank regiment who was encircling Chungking and, despite one of the two roads that lead from Kweiang to Chungking was occupied by the japs, we managed to open a small corridor that allowed to some 1000 chinese retreating AVs to get safely beyond Chungking forts. China is doomed, no matter what, but these 1000 AVs will make Chungking last for some more time.

DEI-SRA:
Batavia is still holding. My brave soldiers, altough daily bombed by 90 Japanese bombers, managed to repulse 5 japanese attacks. Forts are down to 0 so i'm not expecting much against 900 japanese well experienced AVs...but every day is a gained day!

Singapore:
The japs arrived and shock attacked. They've been repulsed with HUGE losses and they did not manage to put down the forts (level 4). They're now resting, helped by some 60 Sallies that started to bomb my defences. 1800 Jap AVs present here.

Manila:
Japs are just air bombing Manila. They only have 600 AVs here so i don't think they'll attack anytime soon.

OZ:
Japanese land forces landed at Exmouth, north of Perth.

India and Burma:
Japanaese naval assets are blocking Diego Garcia. Some DDs and CLs there. He sent an ACM up towards Scoodra, but the damned raider was found and sunk by a RN Cruiser Division.
Japanese increasing sub activity near Karachi. Already 2 transports have been hit and sunk. Will try to perform some ASW patrols in the next days.
In Burma the 15th Army conquered Mandalay and pushed back our forces towards Mitikina...Burma is lost and the Burma road soon will be closed.
He's reinforcing Port Blair a lot. Intel says many eng units are moving there.


The KB moved back towards Palembang, while another smaller CV divisions have been spotted 5 days ago around Luzon moving towards Japan and the Pacific...
CV Soryu is still confirmed Sunk....finger crossed[:D]
In SOPAC small japanese landings in New Caledonia occurred, while Australian CLs managed to sink another jap ACM raider near Brisbane...

Nothing more happened...

Will post a China screen shot during the evening.

[GreyJoy]

China

[GreyJoy]

Couple of good days. We managed to sink another pesky AV which was patrolling north of Diego Garcia...clearly scouting for a future raid on my convoys...
Japan landed at Caernavon...now the two northern corners of Oz are in Japanese bloody hands...with his Mavis he'll be able to patrol my supply routes to Oz even without his subs or AVs...
My subs are still having problems in hurting his shippings but only because of the dude torpedos...my crews are doing good actually hitting many times...but the torps explode 1 out of 4 times...
 
 
 
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Jan 30, 42
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Diego Garcia at 5,53, Range 15,000 Yards
 
Japanese aircraft
      no flights
 
Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses
 
Japanese Ships
      AV Kamoi, Shell hits 9, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk[:D]
      PB Tsuneshima Maru, Shell hits 12, and is sunk
 
Allied Ships
      CL Emerald
      DD Tjerk Hiddes
 
 
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Jan 31, 42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Anatom at 120,159, Range 11,000 Yards
 
Japanese Ships
      xAKL Tenposan Maru, Shell hits 5
 
Allied Ships
      AMC Monowai
 
 Unluckly my AMCs are defenetly less powefull than his...
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Exmouth  at 51,127
 
Japanese Ships
      PB Kyo Maru #8, Torpedo hits 2,  heavy damage
 
Allied Ships
      SS KXVI
 
 
 Finally
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Addu  at 6,44
 
Japanese Ships
      AV Kiyokawa Maru
      PB Kashiwa Maru
 
Allied Ships
      SS S-39
 
 Hit...no explosion[:@]
 

Batavia, Singa and Manila are still fighting...

[GreyJoy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Feb 01, 42

Japanese sub activity is rising up in Indian Ocean and Bengal Bay...We've been lucky today with CL Mauritius evading 2 sub attacks near Karachi...have to reinforce my ASW assets in this area.
We've sunk another AV today north of Diego...we've managed to sink 6 AVs since the beginning of war...not a bad result i'd say.

Another jap raider between PH and Hawaii...and another one close to Sydney....they didn't sink however any ship this time...will try to reply to this threat right away.


, near Anatom at 120,159, Range 10,000 Yards (we're close to SUVA here...)
Japanese Ships
xAKL Tenposan Maru, Shell hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage[:D]

Allied Ships
AMC Monowai


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Addu at 9,46, Range 17,000 Yards

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses

Japanese Ships
AV Kiyokawa Maru, Shell hits 28, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk[:D][:D]
PB Kashiwa Maru, Shell hits 14, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CL Emerald
DD Tjerk Hiddes



Japan landed at Geralton in Oz...now Darwin is isolated...better to start thinking about evacuating it....