Jump into the Ocean I go - Human vs allied AI

[atheory]

I played, and still love the old classic game, played uncommon valor and got struggle against Japan. Then Admirals edition came out and I tell myself, what's a few more dollars.

The quality and scope of WITP and now WIR are just fantastic and I will gladly pay the "premium" price bestowed on these games.

with that said. With so much involved in WITP:AE i have never truly embarked on an honest campaign, vs a human opponent or the AI either. I have started numerous games and always seemed to learn something new. Suffice to say I reformatted my computer and took a few months before installing WITP:AE back on it. So I did because I got that "itch". got the latest patch and discovered the "Reluctant variant" scenario and grabbed that. I re-read much of the forum with tips and tricks and decided it was time to leap in, for the long haul this time. I started up a game as Japan vs AI because I love dealing with the Details of the Japanese war economy, but this will be my test confirming i'm ready for my eventual human opponents.

This AAR will be more story based and observation rather than detailed as I am using it to maintain my own interest in moving forward as well.

To continue

[atheory]

Phase 1 - Initial Offensive, plans, outcomes, observations

In my past starts, I've hit the usual bottlenecks, experienced delays and or setbacks. however, this start has been a total surprise to me. I feel as if my Military is just sweeping across the Pacific and no one can stop them.

If you're not familiar with the Reluctant Variant scenario, I recommend it. It's not game breaking, just offers a different perspective to the start of the war than is historically present. The main changes, for me, were that Akagi and kaga formed their own TF and the Battleships were spread out a bit more, which i used to make smaller TF to cover landings.

So, I did all the basic first turn things, checked squadrons, issued movement orders, started moving ships around etc. and then, I hit the end turn button!

Singapore Theater:
I sent the Kaga/Akagi TF to singapore instead of Hawaii. I wasn't playing around with Singapore or Palembang this time. And I do use Mersing as a landing, because with the right support dedicated I do not believe it to be gamey to land there. Any-hoot, I was disappointed with the carriers lack of aggressiveness towards Singapore Port, rather the ships in it. The landings up and down Malaysia, Kauntan, Johore something, Mersing, Khote Bohru (i know i'm butchering some names, just roll with it)

Philippines Theater:
I sent the remaining main carrier TF to Manila instead of Hawaii. While I love sinking battleships and hearing your opponent cry "you sank my battleship" I figured since I had no human opponent that i would go after the subs instead. For me the idea of taking out subs, regardless of how useless initially would eventually do more damage than those battleships could ever do. Of course i'm assuming my carriers will plaster them later on. I got fortunate and sank 20 submarines in 2 days of ports attacks at Manila. The landings in the north went unmolested.

over the next week the carriers ate up many taskforces from singapore and manila attempting to escape.

China:
I launched the typical attacks. Hong Kong fell rather quickly. I've secured the south and the center, for the most part. I have begun to push further inland now, while scampering back to take out straggling chinese units, which I dub insurgents.

Using the CVLs and CVE and some BB to cover landings At, and South and West of Davao I swallowed up the region without much fanfare. Losses were practically none, other than a few troops from small skirmishes. I think the consensus was everyone is afraid of my Battleships.

So its January 8th, Singapore fell 2 days ago, only Manila itself and bataan hang on in the Philippines. Borneo is occupied with the oil in tact. A strike force just secured Palembang with the oil and refinery totally intact, only having to repair the port damage my own carrier planes caused. This force will begin spreading out and occupying the rest of the long island.

The invasion of Java is now be prepared out of Singapore. Allocating 2 Divisions and several Regiments and support units to the operation. Land around Batavia and just force my way south. If there are any recommendations for taking Java, I am all ears. ??

I've been gathering a force to strike at Port Moresby at Truk. the Akagi/Kaga group with CVEs, a battleship group, 2 Divisions and a few regiments. Lae, Buna, Rebaul, and the solomon islands are firmly under my control. Just need to take Miline Bay and Port Moresby.


Observations: the allies did not sortie out of Singapore and withdrew their heavy ships due to the carrier presence. The only heavy ship either side has lost has been the British Warspite. Which leads me to the next thing, usually I lose ships at a 1:1 ratio with the allies in the early stages, either from being too aggressive or not providing enough support craft. that has all changed. Maybe its because of the battleships roaming the waters or the spreading out of the carriers  or better planning, or just all of the above, I have lost only 33 ships to the Allies 161.

Troop losses are about 200 to 2,000 Allies or 10:1 ratio.

Airplane point losses are about 450 to 550 for the Allies.


i welcome all comments, questions and or suggestions. i hope to update this more regularly, maybe 2-3 times a week which will represent probably a month in game.

thanks for reading
Josh "aka the wolf"

[atheory]

Oh, forgot to add, Singapore fell in a day. Marched in on January 6th and by the 7th it surrendered. It only had a Brigade, a few battalions and support units in it when it fell. Carrier presence for the win? I did trap about 30,000 troops to the North with the Mersing landings so no doubt that played a part. 

[atheory]

Feb 1st 1942, Port Moresby Fell and Milne Bay as well. Suffered some AP losses, perhaps due to complacency on my part during the 2 week long campaign. the allies took pop shots at my transports every day.

Sumatra is all but mopped up, except for the northern tip. Java landings went well. All of west Java but Batavia is occupied. The Imperial Guards division is moving to end the siege of Batavia.

Celebes has been occupied and Bataan, the last hold out on the philippines is being assaulted.

underestimated the Chinese aggression. They launched counter-attacks all around the Keifeng region and now we're playing musical cities in the area. This has disrupted my supplies pushing west where my forces were repulsed from Sian once already. Reinforced they try again, but it is a gamble lacking steady supplies.

SE china is pretty cleared. Moving to mop up the left over chinese units that threaten the southern coastline and slowly pushing out of Canton by taking areas of opportunity.

No major push for Rangoon, forces are presently occupied elsewhere. Once Java is finished, or Bataan falls then I will shift to that region.