Historiker (J) vs. USS America (A) - no USS America

[Historiker]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: Historiker

ORIGINAL: Puhis

Base size or industry got nothing to do with garrison requirements.

great! Thank you very much! So finally no more worries about which airfield to increase or whether to increase at all

Well, you've still got to worry about this, but just not worry about it from the perspective of garrison requirements per se. Garrison requirements are based upon AV values only.

But it is hardcoded now, isn't it? So no matter how much I do in the base, the requirement won't rise.

[Chickenboy]

Correct.

[Historiker]

good!


It almost hurts to take units like that apart. I have already found 6 of those, look at how many are above 80xp!
But I guess it is more important to fill the TRACOM which will be far beyond 100 Trainers at the end of turn 1!

[castor troy]

forget about sending those pilots into TRACOM. Only send them there if you want to have them somewhere as a reserve, they don't increase skill or exp of your trainees. I would rather use them as replacement pilots for KB.

edit: oh, just noticed they are Army pilots.

[Historiker]

I figured that myself, yesterday.
These 200 pilots will surely help making training faster. But that only means those 150 new navy pilots will be at 35 XP a few days earlier. I realized that doesn't change a bit in the total number of 150 pilots per month.

AFAIK, the enemy has the initial XP of his pilots, so 40 to 50. This makes the units with pilots between 60 and 80 still superior.
These pilots will now be able to fill the KB or specific groups where needed. Let's say he build the airforce in India quite fast an has air superiority over in 3 months. When I send 3 or 4 new Ki-44 groups filled with 80-95 XP pilots, it should make a difference. Especially if I use them only a few days to inflict heavy losses and then transfer them to another theatre to do their best again...


Garrisons:
I've realized that there are about two dozend bases without proper garrisons, especially in PI. It is really annoying to have Base units with 5 AV and small units with 14AV. So to garrison a "20" base, I have to send more than the bare minimum. It will turn out quite difficult to find the appropriate garrisons, as it is in China. I really don't want to waste Naval Guard units with 90 XP for garrison duty somewhere in the backyards. I have to figure out where to get that necessary units [&:]

[Historiker]

This is the right picture:




Does anyone know what "release pilot" means here? Where are release pilots from TRACOM or Reserve sent to?

[Historiker]

Obvert, I am impressed about what you did in China.
As I start with exactly the same situation - only the AVG will already be able to convert to better planes and will NOT retire (!), the ground situation is the same.

Have you evacuated Ichang?
Hod do you handle all that garrison requirements? Do you leave some requirements unfulfilled to free combat troops?

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Historiker

Obvert, I am impressed about what you did in China.
As I start with exactly the same situation - only the AVG will already be able to convert to better planes and will NOT retire (!), the ground situation is the same.

Have you evacuated Ichang?
Hod do you handle all that garrison requirements? Do you leave some requirements unfulfilled to free combat troops?

Not sure if this was meant for my AAR or this one. But I see it anyway! [:)]

I'll answer in my AAR just so I can fully disclose info without my opponent perusing it. Sorry Jocke!

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Historiker

Obvert, can you please come to my AAR to aid me?
I am impressed by your performance, but I know my sneaky opponent reads everything I write outside my own AAR [;)]

Just saw this after I answered you in my AAR. Sorry. Hope I'm not giving up secrets. It's just that I suspect my opponent of the same! [:)]

I was going to PM you this stuff, but I'll put it here knowing that none of it is really current and Jocke is fairly aware of what is happening, and most likely many things he would do differently in China next time.

--------------------

ORIGINAL: Historiker

Obvert, I am impressed about what you did in China.
As I start with exactly the same situation - only the AVG will already be able to convert to better planes and will NOT retire (!), the ground situation is the same.

Have you evacuated Ichang?
Hod do you handle all that garrison requirements? Do you leave some requirements unfulfilled to free combat troops?

Jocke admitted that he hadn't really thought much about China when we started, having played the AI only before our game. I had the benefit of having played the first 3 months of a PBEM with Dan Nichols. That was also going fairly well in China, but the resistance was going to be stronger in successive months as I got closer to the intentionally set defensive line he had been preparing.

I evacuated Ichang in both games. No sense fighting for it when it gives nothing in return and forces the Chinese to occupy with a strong force that has no direct supply from the base. The Chinese eventually just had to walk out once the bombing began to hit the fields and the troops there in the clear hex.

Many garrison troops are bought out from Manchuria, of course while sacrificing other potential uses of these valuable PPs. Actual garrison forces, about 120 AV each, are much cheaper than their equivalent in Regiments, Brigades or Divisions, but of course weak in combat as there is not much arty with them. I've now managed to buy ALL of those and place them in spots to free up as much AV as possible. Most of my garrisons have been calculated to fit the requirements almost exactly. This takes a while, but eventually you have a lot more to play with.

Also, the armor is cheap and easy to buy out early, and the Chinese can't handle armor in the clear at all. I did benefit from my opponents choice to evacuate rather than being mauled in several key locations. This has improved the pace of the IJA conquests, but it means there are very strong Chinese armies left to defend key choke points now. The problem for them is whether they can feed all of these armies after losing fully half of the industry in China?

As for the AVG, just vary bombing missions DAILY early on. Always sweep first, then escort the bombers, and use large numbers at key points. Recon every base all of the time so the DL is always high and then the bombing gets more hits when it comes in. When I've lost planes it's because either my opponent was very sneaky or I made a mistake in the settings or my sweeps didn't fly due to weather. Also, bring in the BEST fighter groups you have at first, wear the AVG down, then rely on the Chinese restricted IJAAF fighter groups. I still have 3rd Ku S-1 here, with almost 90 kills.

If you hit Chinese units in the clear and disable troops it costs a lot of supply to fix them up again, plus slows down the unit and lowers morale. Hit these a lot early before they flee into the woods where they are almost invulnerable. Also, go for the road to Sian before the Chinese set up a big blockade in the woods if possible.

I think there are maps periodically earlier in my AAR if you want to check to see how it developed.

[Historiker]

Allright, thank you.

So you sent extra air assets to the theatre. Not just using 2nd line planes as well, I guess?

[obvert]

No. Because the IJAAF didn't really have any other focus early in the war, ALL of it could be used there after Malaya had been put under some control. You have a harder time, as you have Burma to think about immediately. Still, a good 45 plane zero unit will meet the individual sections of the AVG well. If all three are there, you'll need the Oscars to be helping quite a bit I imagine.

[Historiker]

Operational Planning:
Time to plan my operations...


I will rely heavily on the military principle of the "Inner Line".
This principle means, that the besiegd party can concentrate its forces faster than the one on the outside. So even when the defender is weaker, he can still deliver strong blows. The attacker has to go through much bigger efforts to concentrate his forces and create local superiorities. If an attack by him is defeated, the defender can use the inner line to concentrate his forces way faster to another part of the besieged area and may even go into offense.
According to von Clausewitz, I also have the element of surprise as I can easily divert my forces and let the enemy face units he didn't expect.

I will never be able to compete with the enemy. Right now, there are already 12 Fighter units in India, mustering more than I can put into play. They can easily be augmented by up to 100 fighters of the AVG and 51st PG from China.
I could build five times more planes than I do now according to my HI surplus. But having thousands of modern fighters in pool won't change the fact that I can't create new airgroups and that I will get only 150 pilots into the training system each month - no matter how many planes are in existance.
So there's no way to fight the enemy on all fronts and win.

The solution will be to use the inner line. I will transfer elite units from Theatre to theatre, creating local superiorities. Not 5 Fighter groups in Burma at all times, but 3 at all times and sometimes 10 or 15. After two days of destroying the enemy's forces in the air, the front should be quiet for a few days.



Theatres:

1. Burma:
No offensive! Without commiting inacceptable amounts of my troops, I have no chance in India, as he can include restricted units into the fighting. I could take Ceylon, but what then? He'll reinforce it quite fast, but while I have no doubt that I can take it. The problem is, it'll just be bombed from mainland India all the time.
Ok, I can invade the continent, too. But it is too big, needs lots of garrisons, and will recieve emergency reinforcements if I get too far.
In an AAR I asked an allied player crossing to border to Burma about what to do to defend it. It was proposed to hold the railway line from Chittagong to Ledo. While I had to defend countless hexes and had to transport every bit of supplies by sea, he'll be able to transport supplies and troops with Indias big railway network.
So I'll stay in Burma!
I don't expect that I can stop him from building airfields at the line mentioned above - that's simply impossible! He can rush in more engineers that I can count while the bases are supplied by railway network. Every air battle above the airfields will cost me pilots, while his have a good chance of survival!

To hold Burma until 45, I will do this:
- build every possible base into an airfield and put base forces on it. This will allow me to circle my fighters or follow the idea of the inner lines and create local air superiority for a limited time.
- The 55ths division stays in Akyab for the time being. It'll be in strong positions when he should come by land. If he doesn't I may exchange that Division with a Brigade to free the division for other use.
- I will send additional RC planes into Burma to see whether he crosses the border by foot. If he does so, I'll meet him in the jungle, set LR-CAP over his forces and supply mine with TR
- Every base on the railway line will get a garrison strong enough to defend against airdrops.
- Using the local airsuperiority, I will bomb wellstacked airfields using good bomber units with the hope to destroy serious numbers of planes on the ground.
- I will use Night bombers on the airfields

Defensive positions are marked red, optional movements/front straightening yellow.

[Historiker]

2. Northern China:
After shifting garrisons to free as many offensive units as possible, I will start two major offensives:

A: The race for Lanchow
All available tank units will be temporarily deployed for China. That includes those in the SRA. They will race along the dirt road to Lanchow destroying everything on their way.

B: Threatening inner USSR:
About 100 AV in tank units will race the good road along the mongolian border and then turn "left" to Kiuchuan. If he hasn't redeployed the 82nd Chinese Corps to Kiuchuan, all of Xinjang will be mine! within a year!

C: The Key to the North: Sian!
Heavy forces will follow the left bank of the Huang He and cross it where the Wei River flows into the Huang He. The enemy forces in the south will largely be bypassed, while the troops in the south maintain contact with the enemy.
Hopefully, Sian, the "Key to the North" as I cristend it once, will be in my hands within two months.

[Historiker]

3. Southern China
The prize of the first big offensive is Changsha. Its industries will have to be taken away from the enemy.
Changsha will be attacked from Wuchang with serious strength. My bombers will hopefully prevent the building of bigger fortifications while destroying supply there.
When the battle begins, I will fly extensive RC over the bases behind enemy lines. My Paras will be ready to drop behind enemy lines to cut his supply lines.
In about a month, I expect one Division to be ready to cross into China from Indochina. It will meet with the forces from Canton and cut into the lines of communications of fortress Changsha, should it still be in enemy hands.
Lao Cai (Yellow Circle) will be built into a major airbase to provide air support over Yunnan. It might also be the starting point of another aerial assault. This time into Yunnan against Paoshan, Kunming and Tsuyung.

[Historiker]

4. Alaska
To protect my northern flank, I will invade Alaska. Allright, just the Aleutians, but I plan to occupy everything in the Island Chain till Port Heiden. For matters of prestige, depending on the enemy forces, I will also take the Yellow Area to have invaded the American continent.
Even if this happens, I will not leave any troops behind. The sole purpose is to destroy the enemy forces in the area.
After the conquest is complete, I will reatreat most of my forces to the most western part of the island chain to create a Torpedo Center in Atuu. If there's both time and ressources, I'll built another one on Amchitka Island.
While I will occupy everything from Attu to Adak within the next weeks by fast transports and while I'll try to interdict any enemy reinforcements, I'll only do serious invasions when I can provide the appropriate cover. To be able to do this, other objectives have to be achieved and the defensive positions have to be prepared in other regions. I have no benefit from taking Dutch Harbor while USS America invades Java...

[Historiker]

5. South Pacific
The solomon chain will be conquered, as well as PM. The first southern defensive line will beginn north of the red line, while red circles show torpedo centers.
Still, there'll be raids on the islands south, to which I'll commit about two or three divisions. Depending on the allocation of enemy troops, on their strength and on the situation at the other fronts, I plan to conquer New Caledona, The New Hebrides, Fiji and the Ellice Islands.
The main purpose is to keep the initiative, to deny the bases to the enemy for some additional time and to destroy the enemy forces present. The garrisons left behind will be neglible. Should I have an Air HQ with a command range of 1 to spare, Fiji will be turned into a temporary torpedo center. Its purpose is to interdict shipping and attack allied invasion fleets there. There won't be any defense in a manner that makes the lines thinner somewhere else!

[Historiker]

6. Central Pacific
I'll mainly stay on defense here. By transfering a Command range 4 Air-HQ to the area, this torpedo center will be more spread but include at least four bases for Nettys, instead of just one as usual.
The red line is the approx. the line where my PF-subs will keep watch, the yellow line will be the area where my picket boats are.
I will turn Kusaie island into a serious fortress, because it can have a lvl 6 airfield, has 0(9) forts and has no limits in troop capacity! Being outside the inner Marshall islands, it is likely to be not attacked in an invasions, especially with the missing troop limit there. Meanwhile, its base is in good striking range for Sweeps over the islands or night attacks on their airfields.
When the Marshalls have fallen, the island will most likely be evacuated, but while there's fighting in the island chain, Kusaie island should be able to assist my defense.

[Historiker]

more Central Pacific:
I will take Midway, should the opportunity arrise. If this is done, it will be defended only very light, but be used for Emily patrols. With midway in my hands, I should be able to recon PH, maybe even do an occasional night bombing there with my PA!
About a month after the island is taken and in preparation to antoher offensive - either Alaska or rather Australia - I will send sub invasions to Laysan Island and French Frigate Shoal. This might make him think I'm going for Hawaii. While this is a tempting target, I won't try it. But if he expects me to do it, I might intercept some reinforcemtns with a KB raid in the seas behind Hawaii, or I might get some good hits with my subs, or he'll rerout troops that were ment to somewhere else.
Whatever he does, it may help me keeping the initiative.

[Historiker]

7. Northern Australia
As soon as 4 divisions are prepared for Darwin, I'll invade northern Australia. If RC show that the bases behind Darwin aren't defended, I'll drop Paras with my L3Y2 in coordination with the landing in Darwin to cut off the enemy troops. Strong airgroups follow swiftly to attack the fleeing units in the open deserts of northern Australia. Everything north of the red line on the map will be taken.
I will prepare to retreat across the Timor Sea should the need arise, but I hope that several torpedo centers, together with the KB will be able to prevent enemy attacks for quite some time...
I will take Port Hedland and Exmouth at the western tip of australia, but will only use them for PAs and FPs.

[Historiker]

8. Western Australia
And now: The prize!
I will also invade Western Australia, if three conditions are met:
a) Northern Australia is secured
b) Invading Western Australia doesn't trigger the reinforcements
c) The race for Lanchow is completed and Sian is conquered. In that case, I'll send all tanks units, that are almost useless against forces in Sining back to the coast.

The invasion will begin with an amphibic operation against Esperance, while Paras take Kalgoorlie, if possible. If not, my tanks will race north to take it. This will allow me to send the troops from Esperance by rail to Kalgoorlie and then head west for Perth. Every base there is in open terrain, so they should be easily overwhelmed, while enemy reinforcements can't be sent by rail as Kalgoorlie is in my hands.
Every enemy unit in that area shall be exterminated. When this operation is done, I will consider if and how to defend the area. While it may be difficult to supply, there's no enemy airfield anywhere closer than 16 (Esperance-Ceduna) and 19 (Kalgoorlie-Alice Springs and Kalgoorlie-Ceduna) hex. With Pearth in my hands, any invasion into DEI around the western side of Australia will be difficult at best and most likely impossible. So it might even be worth defending!