BACK IN BUSINESS - PzB goes East again(st) Andy Mac

[PzB74]

That's true witpqs, not sure it matters much anyway :-]
Well, constructive criticism has _never_ been well received in the boyz club Pax, so I stopped trying a long time ago....

Some (more) difficulties in next turn now as the usual fubar happened.

I had forgot that I set most troops in Toungoo to move south (just in case I wanted to leave).
I cancelled the move order for the division I thought everyone was following but obviously they were all marching.
So I only got 1 full strength and one mauled division left at Toungoo just as Andy attacks - now with an uber sized Chink corps again.
We have strong troops to the south of Toungoo but no forts here and we will take losses before the Guards div can move south again.

To add to this, enemy reinforcements moved into Bassein and air strikes hammered our troops again.
I had ordered all our bombers to attack as well, Bassein was shrouded in severe storms so our bombers didn't attack (only their escorts went in).
- Allied planes attacked with great efficieny in the storms as usual.

So Bassein fell one turn before our division from the left flank could move into Bassein (that's the one I wanted to get to Rangoon).
Our left flank division has moved 42/46 miles to Bassein:

Question 1: Will the division move the remaining 4 miles in combat mode by next turn (it moved 7 miles in Move mode)?
Question 2: I have a full strength tank div that can enter and assault Bassein from Rangoon tomorrow in combat mode.
Should I send it in together with paras and full air strikes to rout the enemy and bring our left flank units home at the risk of getting the tank div mauled as well?

Alternatives; loose another full strength division or attempt to save it at the potential cost of a mauled tank div.
Seems like we have no choice...but then there is the question about whether we can get both division to enter Bassein together in combat mode tomorrow.

With the fubar at Toungoo I'm unsure about our defense north of Rangoon.
We have enough troops to hold south of Toungoo but in general the situation has been, is and will remain bad.
- There is just no way to stop the combination of fully supplied 7-8000 enemy AV supported by nuke 4E and ground attack bombers.

An early withdrawal to Moulmein will give Rangoon to the enemy, but this is perhaps inevitable before the monsoon period anyway.
Will think about this until tomorrow, good advice is really appreciated! [&o]

Got a feeling that Andy is ready for a major push in the Central Pacific or SRA soon, alternatively a push down Sumatra after Rangoon area falls.
I'm therefore not very eager to send KB to Port Moresby to punsih a few transports and minor importance warships there. That's a sideshow, let Andy play and we can snipe at him.

KB is to be used for the mainshow only!

The entire horrible ground combat campaign in Burma is really taxing my will to play AE, so I hope the game changes focus soon but since Andy loves his ground combat there is probably
not much chance for that [:'(]


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Feb 27, 44

Ground Combat

Ground combat at Toungoo (57,50)
Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 36283 troops, 681 guns, 295 vehicles, Assault Value = 1756
Defending force 18236 troops, 194 guns, 68 vehicles, Assault Value = 624

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 3

Allied adjusted assault: 1090
Japanese adjusted defense: 1427

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 3)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), leaders(+), preparation(-)
fatigue(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
924 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 43 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 45 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled

Allied ground losses:
499 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 51 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 49 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled

Assaulting units:
18th British Division
5th Chinese Corps
23rd Indian Division
20th Indian/B Division
20th Indian/C Division
24th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
26th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
97th Field Artillery Battalion
14th Indian Light AA Regiment
Burma Corps
6th Medium Regiment
56th Heavy AA Regiment
20th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
23rd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
2nd Indian Heavy AA Regiment

Defending units:
37th Division
6th Guards Division
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Bassein (54,52)
Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 2547 troops, 24 guns, 26 vehicles, Assault Value = 724
Defending force 4783 troops, 88 guns, 73 vehicles, Assault Value = 74

Allied adjusted assault: 81
Japanese adjusted defense: 8

Allied assault odds: 10 to 1 (fort level 0)
Allied forces CAPTURE Bassein !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: disruption(-), preparation(-), fatigue(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1640 casualties reported
Squads: 64 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 154 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 19 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 22 (22 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 58 (58 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 4

Allied ground losses:
21 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
75th IAC Regiment
3rd Carabiniers Regiment
Guides Cavalry Regiment
8th KGV Light Cav Regiment
267th Armoured Brigade
268th Motorised Brigade
Gardner's Horse Regiment
4th Marine Regiment
16th Chindit Brigade
3rd (Special Force) Division

Defending units:
90th Infantry Regiment
24th Ind.Mixed Brigade
25th Field AA Machinecannon Company
18th JAAF Base Force
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bassein

[Cribtop]

Do you have the ability to push one LCU in from Rangoon and thus open a hex side that will allow the division to escape to Rangoon? This tactic can work (see my AAR as Cuttlefish used it against me at Loyang).

[pauk]

ORIGINAL: PzB


Ground Combat

Ground combat at Toungoo (57,50)
Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 36283 troops, 681 guns, 295 vehicles, Assault Value = 1756
Defending force 18236 troops, 194 guns, 68 vehicles, Assault Value = 624

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 3

Allied adjusted assault: 1090
Japanese adjusted defense: 1427

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 3)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), leaders(+), preparation(-)
fatigue(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
924 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 43 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 45 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled

Allied ground losses:
499 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 51 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 49 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled

Assaulting units:
18th British Division
5th Chinese Corps
23rd Indian Division
20th Indian/B Division
20th Indian/C Division
24th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
26th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
97th Field Artillery Battalion
14th Indian Light AA Regiment
Burma Corps
6th Medium Regiment
56th Heavy AA Regiment
20th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
23rd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
2nd Indian Heavy AA Regiment

Defending units:
37th Division
6th Guards Division

LOL, ground combat in Allied edition is really improved [8|]. Allies just need to keep attacking no matter what odds are.... [:'(]

I can understand your frustration - ground combat with 4E menace makes defense impossible. But keep in mind, sooner or latter Andy will get short of the land and you can stop him at the gates of Bangkok and delay him at Malayan peninsula !As long you have naval supremacy there he must be catious with his advance towards singapore IMHO (and you can cut off him with your units at Bangkok if he becomes reckless

[PzB74]

Yes, the 2nd Tank div can move into Bassein tomorrow, that's the sacrifice for getting our left flank division out.
The 50 B-25s cause 5-700 casualties in each attack - and they attack every day no matter if there's t-storms over target[:(]

Odds doesn't matter so mach for casualties anymore it seems, as long as you have more troops the defender will suffer higher casualties. Those 600+ AV Chinese corps are really bad ass, they provide a real hammer to the Allied push. When we agreed when Allies could have 3 Chink units in Burma several of these monster units appeared, each can be divided into 3 small divisions.

Problem is that the majority of our major ground units get disrupted and continously weakened by the never ending pounding from the air. Then a little fubar happens and another division gets stuck or routed. It's to cry about all together.

Andy will be happy when he gets into Rangoon, then Port Blair and everything north of Bangkok can be pounded to dust.
With Port Blair neutralized the barrier against Sumatra and Malaya is removed, but yes then he has to committ his fleet to move on but with the enormous amount of LBA then in Rangoon area life will not be easy for Japs that try to interfere.

[String]

While ground combat right now surely must be frustrating, one must consider that PzB has achieved two major victories by mechanics that clearly favor the Japanese side. The 8 hex Japanese vs. 7 hex Allied carrier strike range. The last one was a major strategic victory that still influences the game.

[viberpol]

ORIGINAL: PzB
Apart from this a hit ratio of 30-60% is still insanely high!
I know that an airfield size 7 in AE is an abstraction of reality, but it's not a good abstraction.
- Port Moresby had 7 airfields in WWII and there was no conceivable way of closing them all down in one attack unless you had an enormous number of bombers.

The abstraction in AE should therefore make it increasingly difficult to suppress a large airfield - but it's not so.
With a single attack by 100-150 4E bombers Andy closed down Rangoon (size 9 AF). Same faith awaited all the rest of Jap airfields in Burma.
- A single attack with a relatively small number of bombers can therefore efficiently close down a major air system with hundreds of fighters on CAP.

I don't think this is very realistic, especially not when a base like Rangoon or Moulmein got 5 forts.
Most airfields had shelters for aircraft and dispersed them into the jungle. Low level sweeps by fighter bombers were more efficient at times than high level bombers, but flak
was much more of an issue then.

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo
Not sure I would go all the way to insanely, but if Gene is correct and 20% in the box was considered good in the Med, then it seems as though the results need to be shifted down some.

ORIGINAL: PzB
Well, if you have time and guts to lobby for such changes in the boyz club Pax I'll support you!-)

Well, take a look at this thread; tm.asp?m=2787581&mpage=1&key=&#2822270
I found the extraordinary good results (that somehow must be linked with better skill of Allied pilots in '43/'44) quite allarming... because sometimes it even seemed that more bombs hit that were dropped... [:D]
Maybe it's good place to lobby... [;)]

[PzB74]

Well, the previous victories weren't solely caused by the 7 vs 8 hex strike range, just one of the components.
- the increased (and realistic) chance of bombers to slip through CAP combined with strong support from LBA also contributed.

The 7 vs 8 hex strike range is a deliberate functionality, I would indeed open for a discussion on this anytime.
Since both Jap and Allied carriers in real life sometimes sent of strikes beyond their max range (to land on islands or ditch deliberately in sea) the 7 vs 8 hex strike range is now mostly based on the fact that Jap ac had longer range than Allied CAG.

The 4E is the Allied counter to Jap Uber capabilities - but that doesn't mean we have to like it! [:D]
It's not very funny to play AE for 2 years under constant grousing from 4Es that can't be stopped.

Since Allies have such a strong hand in the air by 1944 I think a prolonged battle of attrition would be better.
The 4Es hurt my fighters in the air as much as Allied fighters does. If damage to ground facilities (including ac) could be reduced the number of strikes required to close a base would mean a prolonged air campaign.

Sending 150 4Es to attack 4 bases and close them all down is a bit simplistic.
Right now I have 100 damaged ac sitting in major bases with 100/100 damage to fields and maintenance services.
As it is my pilots are tied to their damaged ac and I have to return them to the pools (takes forever and last time I did so in large numbers many never returned).

Also; by October 1943 the Burma railroad between Bangkok and Rangoon was finished.
Why can't we have this reflected in the game? This would really have made it possible to organize a good defense of Burma in 1944.

But I guess the Allies also need to have some slight hopes of progress and victory [;)]

[paullus99]

Well - unfortunately you are a victim of your own success here. You won so overwhelmingly at sea, that you've forced your opponent to concentrate on the one area that he knew he could avoid your key strengths (superior use of your naval forces) & prevail using his own defined strengths (LBA & his army).

Crushing defeats are great, if they do in fact end the war, but in this case, you've driven Andy in a direction that is worse for you (instead of encouraging him to maintain a naval campaign that would have allowed you to attrit him more - in this case, your quick victory in the DEI is now a liability to the grand campaign).

[janh]

I completely concur with all of your points.  The Burma RR would be a nice feature.  Perhaps with a map-mod that both players agree to swap at a given date this could be j-rigged?
I would be willing to cut the 8-range NavAir strike benefit for the japs (simply allow both sides to use their resp. airframe max ranges, such as done for LBA) as well as see the E-type subhunters be tuned a bit down, if in turn the allied bombing efficiency and the "4E-bomber sweep" capabilities would also be toned down.  Seeing hit-percentages like in your reports, or viberpol's, or anyones, is really scary.  Makes me wonder whether the allied player should simply husband them throughout 42 and put the planes of withdrawing sqrns into the pools until he can form 200+ bomber raids.  If there were no house-rules...

As for your present dilemma... Yes, Toungoo was a little faux pas, but that can still be turned around.  I would speak out for saving the full-strength division enroute to Bassein by moving the Tank Div from Rangoon, yet not the paras.  The question is, what will Andy move to reinforce his units there as well within the next 2-3 days?  If the forces remain as they are, I would even consider an peremptory attack against these units once the tank and the infantry div are both in the hex.  Just waiting them to get pummeled from the air while retreating together to Rangoon would surely leave them in better shape, but with an attack you could at least deal some damage to Andy's exposed units as well.

As for Rangoon... yes, 1AV ain't 1AV.  With the bombing to be expected, you'll probably also reach a (steady?-) state with a substantial disrupted squads, and I bet you'll need at least 2500AV with good morale and experience to hold the place.  Is it worth it?  Yes, in terms of denying Andy the airfields, and the supply port.  Can it be done?  Well, how much supply can you get there, and how long will it last in face of heavy bombardment from air and sea, as well as regular spoiling attacks?  And will keeping so many units leave you with enough to hold the Moulmein line, or will Andy just plunge through straight to bangkok"?




 

[PzB74]

Ah well, Andy loves Burma theatre - he would have played this hand whether we had routed him in Cent Pac and SRA or not!
I learned a lot of game mechanics in Burma, both regarding how things work...and how they don't work [8|]
- Very hard to pick all this up and the seemingly endless ability to supply half a million men in Burma without a single complete road running into India is still mindbogling.

Can always suggest it for Andy, but not so sure he will be all jubilant about it [:D]
I don't need E-type subhunters...Andy has already retired his subs. He only takes em out for major campaigns nowadays...
Our asw trained medium bombers can handle the subs closer to shore. Half of my medium bomber force is sitting at key bases along our convoy routes performing scout and search missions.

When the tank division enters Bassein tomorrow it will cross a river and shock attack.
That's why I wonder whether the division from the other side will manage to arrive at the same time; think we have to set it on Move mode to ensure that this will happen. Then we will most likely rout the enemy units in Bassein and ourselves become victims of the B-25s..until we escape into Rangoon. 5 days = ~3-4000 casualties from the air.

I have dumped a lot of supply into Rangoon but it has all been distributed so we need the railroad to Moulmein open.
No doubt we can stop the Allied stack dead at Rangoon, the question is whether it's worth the risk of being flank and trapped.
- Pegu is a clear terrain, same as the hex to its north. Not a very tempting stand...so an Allied move here would hurt - but as mentioned, it would take 20+ days and force a division of their troops. Right now 20 days rest and time to plan would be great, if Andy marches into Rangoon we'll make a stand as long as we hold the hex south of Toungoo.

I need ~4000 AV to hold the Moulmein line and surroundings, right now we probably got ca 5000 AV in total - so we can't afford to loose to many troops.

So be it! [&o]

[inqistor]

Why does your new CVL, in early 1944, have no radar?

ORIGINAL: PzB
Question 1: Will the division move the remaining 4 miles in combat mode by next turn (it moved 7 miles in Move mode)?
Question 2: I have a full strength tank div that can enter and assault Bassein from Rangoon tomorrow in combat mode.
Should I send it in together with paras and full air strikes to rout the enemy and bring our left flank units home at the risk of getting the tank div mauled as well?

If enemy will hit your LCU with air, it could not march 4 miles, also there can be additional enemy LCUs the next day, so you will not know, until you try. But if terrain is clear, it is a good opportunity to rout Allied units.

Forts will not help you much, because engineers will reduce them, and any attack can reduce them further, so level 5 will probably last only 3 days, you need more, than even 2k AV to hold Rangoon.
Rotate your troops, and do not let your tank units into prolonged battles.


Since New Guinea have such hard terrain, you can expect another amphibious assault somewhere near PM, so prepare your airforces well. You should have enough lvl 2 airfields to spread them, and minimise bad weather.
Also, push will be probably north, and Rabaul will be only neutralised, so you should prepare Ambon defense.

The main problem, I have with 4Es, is that they seem to be immune to flak. Seriously, 100 4Es attack several AA units, and they get only ONE plane damaged? How hard is to hit 4E, especially when it is attacking directly you? If half of attackers willl be damaged during attack, they would spend lots of time in repairs, and now, they can be send in full strength day, after day.

[Rainer79]

Ahem, as a victim of the great New Guinea Overland Campaign I can say with confidence that Andy won't be needing to make any amphibious landings there. Just dump the troops and supplies in PM, set them to move mode and in a couple of weeks you'll be in Lae. The same supply system that lets the allied armies cross several undeveloped hexes in a row in Burma also works in the Pacific (even better there as there is no monsoon to consider). [;)]

[inqistor]

I would expect amphibios assault at the SE penisula tip (Milne Bay), as getting there on foot will take 2 months.

Also, there will be probably some landings at western coast, further north. Getting to Lae is kinda risky, when Japan have so many airfields around Rabaul, and Lae.

[PzB74]

Regarding Burma railroad Andy says "No worries if you can find an alternate Pwhex I will have no issues with changing to it".
- I then asked him whether the map just can't be edited, all we need is to change 3 road hexes to railroad...?

This is a special bulletin; I was quite worried about the outcome of today's ground battles!
There were again heavy battles in the air with losses on both sides. Allied ground nukers, the B-25s concentrated on Toungoo and the "opportunity"
Andy suddenly got there due to our FUBAR move. This saved our bassein bound forces and our army bombers succeeded in bombing the enemy troops there.

Still, another Chindit Brigade had been flow in during the night and the defenders fielded the following units:
3rd Carabiniers Regiment
267th Armoured Brigade
8th KGV Light Cav Regiment
Gardner's Horse Regiment
4th Marine Regiment
75th IAC Regiment
268th Motorised Brigade
Guides Cavalry Regiment
16th Chindit Brigade
3rd (Special Force) Division

That's 7 armored regiments and brigades, 1 marine regiment, 1 Chindit brigade and one special force division (or remnants).
Our elite 1st Tank division together with the elite 33rd division shock attacked from the east and west. As mentioned the 33rd division attacked in move mode in order to coordinate with the panzer division.

We just managed a 2-1 odds and Bassein was swept clean of enemy forces for the second time this month [&o] [&o]

This is a major victory, it ensures that our left flank troops will reach Rangoon (more or less in one piece) and we have routed a major part of the Allied air and armored troops in the Rangoon region.
In Toungoo I raced in some reserves and through heavy fighting we staved off the storm, it's now possible for us to march in further reinforcements and stabilize the front there.

Our rearguard north of Rangoon, a militia unit was routed and the enemy advanced units are now close to Rangoon.

Gawd, we needed this!

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Feb 28, 44

Sub Attacks

Submarine attack near Port Moresby at 98,130

Japanese Ships
SS I-173, hits 4

Allied Ships
xAK Chief Washakie, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

xAK Chief Washakie is sighted by SS I-173
SS I-173 attacking on the surface
Matsumura S. decides to submerge SS I-173 due to damage
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ramree Island at 49,48
Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 7 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M3 Nell x 13

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
xAK Sepia, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Pasha
xAK Urbino

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x G3M3 Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

Ground combat at Bassein (54,52)
Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 20701 troops, 251 guns, 658 vehicles, Assault Value = 813
Defending force 12212 troops, 144 guns, 810 vehicles, Assault Value = 723

Japanese adjusted assault: 399
Allied adjusted defense: 193

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Bassein !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: disruption(-), preparation(-), fatigue(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-)

Japanese ground losses:
1942 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 99 disabled
Non Combat: 11 destroyed, 240 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 34 disabled
Vehicles lost 390 (25 destroyed, 365 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
2039 casualties reported
Squads: 112 destroyed, 24 disabled
Non Combat: 360 destroyed, 24 disabled
Engineers: 44 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 29 (29 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 751 (751 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 10

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
1st Tank Division
33rd Division

Defending units:
3rd Carabiniers Regiment
267th Armoured Brigade
8th KGV Light Cav Regiment
Gardner's Horse Regiment
4th Marine Regiment
75th IAC Regiment
268th Motorised Brigade
Guides Cavalry Regiment
16th Chindit Brigade
3rd (Special Force) Division
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Toungoo (57,50)
Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 42438 troops, 779 guns, 401 vehicles, Assault Value = 1847
Defending force 18314 troops, 194 guns, 171 vehicles, Assault Value = 638

Allied adjusted assault: 796
Japanese adjusted defense: 787

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 3)
Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 2

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), op mode(-), leaders(+)
preparation(-), fatigue(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
736 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 75 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 53 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Vehicles lost 28 (2 destroyed, 26 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
947 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 70 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 56 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 18 disabled
Vehicles lost 24 (1 destroyed, 23 disabled)

Assaulting units:
20th Indian/B Division
147th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
23rd Indian Division
5th Chinese Corps
20th Indian/A Division
18th British Division
20th Indian/C Division
97th Field Artillery Battalion
26th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
56th Heavy AA Regiment
20th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
6th Medium Regiment
Burma Corps
24th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
23rd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
NCAC
3rd Tac Air Force
14th Indian Light AA Regiment
2nd Indian Heavy AA Regiment

Defending units:
37th Division
9th Tank Regiment
6th Guards Division
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 55,52 (near Rangoon)
Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 24016 troops, 500 guns, 271 vehicles, Assault Value = 875
Defending force 1042 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 33

Allied adjusted assault: 640
Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 640 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), op mode(-), leaders(+), experience(-)
supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1177 casualties reported
Squads: 61 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 83 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 1 disabled
Units retreated 1

Allied ground losses:
26 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
19th Indian Division
14th Indian Division
XV Indian Corps

Defending units:
7th Burma Militia Regiment
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Bassein

[Nemo121]

Most importantly check out the Vehicles Lost section of the Allied forces at Bassein - 751 vehicles lost. Not disabled, lost. That represents the almost total destruction of all those armoured regiments.

[PzB74]

Yes, I'm aware of that [&o]
Firstly, the close 2-1 odds takes first priority in Tokyo celebrations!
The joy over destroyed enemy tank army in Burma is a good second while the rescue of our left flank is third!-)

Ref. Burma map again:
Andy: "I am happy to operate with a new map or pw hex but I have no idea how to go about it
Ask in the scenario builder forum the map is an irrelevance apart from the graphical look of it
The key is the pwhex that says how the map interacts
If you ask maybe someone has one already built."

So if any of you got a working map already....send me a note and perhaps the Burma railroad will be completed after all!

[PzB74]

Our "new CVLs" are the CS conversions; they will first upgrade with radar 6/44.

Burma

Lots of drama in Burma...the question now is whether Andy will march his 250k troops into Rangoon or attempt to march west and cut of Toungoo.
The next 4-5 days will show, until then we consolidate our forces. I've ordered 6 supply convoys to move to Bangkok and Singapore.

Within 10 days we should have reorganized and rested our air force as well.
Lots of base units and support units milling about between Moulmein and Rahaeng...because the railroad isn't there!-)

[PzB74]

Andy asks which beta patch I suggest we upgrade to, any suggestions - latest?
Also, who said they had already done an upgrade to their map to include the Burma railroad?

Next turn just completed, we're now in March 1944.
Nothing great to report...another assault on Toungoo, achieved 1-1 odds and reduced forts to 1.
Moving in some reinforcements but it could be time to move south.

Question is now whether to stand and fight for Rangoon or move back to Geisha line in good order.
What do you think?

Let's now see if our tank regiment on the road from Ramree Island has any effect on Allied supplies.
Despite no roads the units attacking at Toungoo doesn't lack supplies...but that may change. Let's challenge Andy on his "supply acuteness"-)

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Feb 29, 44

Ground combat at Toungoo (57,50)
Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 45496 troops, 879 guns, 482 vehicles, Assault Value = 2078
Defending force 19810 troops, 263 guns, 316 vehicles, Assault Value = 586

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 1
Allied adjusted assault: 674

Japanese adjusted defense: 763

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 1)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), op mode(-), preparation(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
729 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 25 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 105 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Vehicles lost 61 (3 destroyed, 58 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
677 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 78 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 85 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 32 (1 destroyed, 31 disabled)

Assaulting units:
147th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
20th Indian/A Division
84th Indian Brigade
18th British Division
20th Indian/C Division
23rd Indian Division
5th Chinese Corps
20th Indian/B Division
66th Chinese/C Corps
20th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
Burma Corps
14th Indian Light AA Regiment
3rd Tac Air Force
24th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
6th Medium Regiment
97th Field Artillery Battalion
26th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
23rd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
56th Heavy AA Regiment
NCAC
2nd Indian Heavy AA Regiment

Defending units:
37th Division
9th Tank Regiment
6th Guards Division
4th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
2nd Hvy.Artillery Regiment
Botanko Hvy Gun Regiment
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
21st Fld AA Gun Co
18th JNAF AF Unit
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Burma

In March 1944 numerous Jap air units expand in size...and that's positive for us.
Larger, more effective units and increased pilot training capacity.

[janh]

Congratulations, the 2nd battle of Bassein was really an impressive victory for IJ.  Would be curious what those 751 destroyed tanks consisted of.  Probably mostly M3, M4 and some British types I would guess, but I don't know the ToE of these Allied units.  Anyway, 751 tanks will require Andy some time to replace, and one of his armored fists in Burma is basically whiped out with this for the next few weeks.  I wounder whether some Jacksonian aggressiveness would be in order to pursuit and destroy the routed forces, but for that proper intel of the units Andy could (have) send to their support would be needed, and a security line for a subsequent withdrawal to Rangoon. Of what units/AV again does the Allied stack north of Rangoon consist?

Southern Burma looks pretty chaotic.  Probably favors you as much as it hurts.  The guys with 4 IJA Tank Rgt. surely aren't happy about their situation, but they hopefully will turn into a pain in Andy's supply routes and communication.  I wonder how he missed that.
Toungoo will surely soon fall, but as long as it exists, and with it substantial resistance north of Rangoon, Andy will be prevented from uniting his separate pushes.  Looks to me like a good way to bind superior numbers, but a slow fighting withdrawal due south might be in order.  Besides, what is the indicated movement in one of your maps to the hex south of Prome?

If I were Andy at this point, I would , or I would now bypass Rangoon and bottle it with two Indian divisions to the north while rushing into Pegu, and simultaneously trying to assault Toungoo and severe the N-S railroad between them.  If he can severe that life-line, he prevents the fast movement of reinforcements which presently it a huge benefit for you.  He might need to take a break, rest and clean up in the rear (assuming low supplies and need for replacement, and reorganization), though perhaps his forces are still in such a good shape (or reinforced/swapped out against fresh units) that he can keep rushing ahead towards Moulmein and Rahaeng. Before he gets to the gates of Bangkok he will probably need a large port in his rear, and the air bases of Rangoon or perhaps Victoria point would also be extremely valuable, but for now he seems to be able supply his army by plane and rail from the northern Burma basin if he can secure the Toungoo RR.

Regarding the situation anywhere between Java and the Line Islands, I would also try to establish a second foothold somewhere near Port Moresby to set up a second large air base, and start a large attritional air war against all of your bases between the Solomons and Northern Guinea.  If he can achieve that, he might effectively neutralize the whole area including Rabaul.  At this late point in time, he will surely not revert to a  slow island hopping campaign in a region which is stragtegically unimportant for the Allies, but an awesome buffer zone for IJ.  Milne Bay could be a target for an amphib op, or an overland campaign.  I likely would save my naval assets and start a slow overland campaign against it, as well as Lae and Buna, if I were in his position.  Time is of no great importance here anyway as long as he can keep you busy and distracted by any actions here, and he can even fly  restricted Aussie units into PM to perform this task.

If Andy will move in this region, he will likely consider jumps to more strategically relevant targets given the late date.  Any target in Java Sea could still look inviting to him since neutralizing or denying you the oil centers between Palembang and northern Borneo would be major victory.  It would open a whole theater for a good strategic bombing campaign, and has favorably short sea routes to OZ.  However, he will surely remember the outcome of his last try there.  But as Andy seems to be a rather aggressive opponent, he could try to get a foothold somewhere on Java, Timor, Flores, Ambon, etc. again if he sees an opening, so I would suggest to be on your toes there. Long term I don't know whether there is still enough time to reach the HI via this route, and through the Philippines.

If Andy doesn't push there, his options in NORPAC and CENTPAC are rather limited.  At least strategically he could reach the HI faster through this region, perhaps even bypassing the Philippines at large. More risky, but as time proceeds, Andy may be forced to take greater risks.
An Aleutean campaign might add a new front for a strategic bombing campaign against the HI, but given that no AE player ruins his air force and lacks the foresight to train and build up for the coming bomber swarm the way the Japs did historically, he will need more bases in the Marinas or on continental china if he doesn't want his bombers to be shredded piecemeal.  Otherwise, even assuming he might have the moment of surprise here, the Aleutians would gain him not much at this point, and are also too far from any major bases to risk a major naval engagement here.
That leaves three other options in my opinion:
(a) Bypassing the Line Islands and the Marshalls and move via the Wake-Midway-Marcus route directly to the Marinas: not reasonably possible since KB is still up to the match, especially for a battle in your home zone and far from Pearl, and the Marinas are probably a bristling fortress that might need some time to reduce, i.e. some time in which he and his reinforcement convoys would be very vulnerable.  If he goes for this, he would first need to bring about a decisively successful battle against KB.  Benefits, if done successfully, of course would be immense for him. 
(b) A slow island hopping through the Marshalls, to or past Truk before hitting the Marinas or Philippines.  Likely strategically unimportant for him as the Solomons, but surely faster than walking through the latter and stumbling into Rabaul, and much safer to do since closer to Pearl.  I'd almost say that would be a good training ground for him, but at the present point any approach, which must take place via Johnston Island, would be threatened by naval bombers and save heavens on both flanks (Midway/Wake and the Line Islands).  If he'd risk and loose a naval battle in the Marshalls, his cripples would have a long and dangerous route to Pearl.
(c) Retaking the Line Islands, before moving on to option a (or b) if KB was neutralized in the process.  The Line Islands were cause to the first severe defeat for his fleet, and that right outside Pearl.  They deny him direct convoy routes to the SOPAC, cover a huge sea area, act as an unsinkable carrier and forward base for subs and raiders.  He already tried twice to neutralize this problem, and retaking them would make all of his operations between OZ and CONUSA much easier and safer.  And as a flanking threat, he cannot ignore them unless he had absolute naval superiority. 

So my guess is that he will try to bring about a carrier clash somewhere, either near Pearl, and then attack the Line Islands, and perhaps simultaneously stage an amphib operation near Milne Bay, or the Aleutians, or a clash near Java, which would offer bigger short term benefits (having the Burma theater nearby). A simultaneous strike with a clash near Pearl and an invasion in the Javanese Sea is probably not possible since he must expect it to face substantial LBA and would again need CV cover.
Now, the question remaining is, wait for him and fight following his initiative and control, or preempt him? Or: how to do Andy the favor and give him a CV battle, just not exactly on his terms, and ideally before he can have his amphib operations prepared?

Lastly, could you post a general situation/strategic map?  And a few screenies of your air groups and pilots?  Given the airframe losses of Helens, Tojos, Franks, Georges and so on, I wonder what your average pilot experience presently is in your frontline units?  Can you also post a screen shot of your airframe pools?

[PaxMondo]

How many days until monsoons?  You might just have saved Rangoon this season ....  CONGRATS!!!!

Spectacular result at Bassein. What do you think contributed? Andy's forces must have been in bad shape, but how did you get them to be so badly beatup before the shock attack?