A Lemon rises in the East: SqzMyLemon (J) vs. JocMeister (A)

[SqzMyLemon]

Waiting on a turn at times seems like forever. I'm anxious to see the results of my attacks in China so I can better gage what the fighting over the next few months might entail. My focus is on the battle around Kunming. Success here will most likely be decisive in the campaign to knock China out of the war.

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

ORIGINAL: obvert

Also it's good to rotate units out and stand them down completely. Not that I do this often, but it allows the maintenance to get them back to 0 fatigue, and then there will be fewer ops losses.

You know, I've never even thought about doing that, but it makes total sense in my situation due to the complete absence of an air war at the moment. I mean, I fly CAP so I'm always prepared for an attack, but to supply a reserve unit and allow the other to rest while the times are quiet is brilliant. Thanks Erik.

Also, if you're doing this and he's not, then you're more likely to have the fresh planes and get fewer lost when damaged in combat. This is especially true of CV planes, which players necessarily keep on CAP and search continually. Standing down is tough though with service 3 Judys, and then they fix for over a week as koniu pointed out recently in another thread.

If you know you're jumping something though, and you have time to prepare keep them off and then only just before heading in get the CAP up.

With SR3 planes it can be nasty. Look what happens when i few months ago send D4Y1 unit to stand down. It took two weeks until last plane repair. Better solution is, especially when You expecting fight, to leave unit on small level operation(let say 10% CAP or Search) and 10% rest. It will take longer but only few plane will move to maintenance at at time

[SqzMyLemon]

ORIGINAL: koniu

ORIGINAL: obvert
Standing down is tough though with service 3 Judys, and then they fix for over a week as koniu pointed out recently in another thread.

If you know you're jumping something though, and you have time to prepare keep them off and then only just before heading in get the CAP up.

With SR3 planes it can be nasty. Look what happens when i few months ago send D4Y1 unit to stand down. It took two weeks until last plane repair. Better solution is, especially when You expecting fight, to leave unit on small level operation(let say 10% CAP or Search) and 10% rest. It will take longer but only few plane will move to maintenance at at time

I ran into a little of that with the Tony 1a in my previous AAR. I'll definitely keep your suggestions in mind so I'm not caught out of position when something is about to happen.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: koniu

With SR3 planes it can be nasty. Look what happens when i few months ago send D4Y1 unit to stand down. It took two weeks until last plane repair. Better solution is, especially when You expecting fight, to leave unit on small level operation(let say 10% CAP or Search) and 10% rest. It will take longer but only few plane will move to maintenance at at time

SR3's are manageable with practice. SR5's are a real bear.

[SqzMyLemon]

China:

More progress in China. The attack east of Kienko was successful causing five Chinese units to retreat into the base itself. Unfortunately, for some reason a lone unit remained and prevented me gaining control of the hex. This is important because there are four more Chinese units attempting to move into the hex from the east. If they enter prior to my gaining control of the hex I will have to attack to clear the hex against stronger opposition and they will have a retreat path to Kienko, otherwise they are in danger of being isolated.

The 16 enemy units S.E. of Chungking are in real trouble. If I can block the southeast main road hex side in the hex directly southwest of Chungking I can effectively isolate these 16 Chinese units totaling over 100k troops. There are seven Chinese units currently occupying this hex, but if the road can be blocked there is no way for them to open a retreat path.

The attack to push closer to Kunming failed by achieving only 1:2 odds and causing heavier Japanese casualties. This was anticipated as the Chinese force is over stacked, but still yields enough AV to prevent better odds. I will bombard by both air and ground to wear down the defence and attack as often as supply and disruption/fatigue allow.

I continue to reduce two isolated pockets of Chinese troops trapped behind my lines. They grow weaker daily and it's only a matter of time until they break.

I know a picture is worth a thousand words, so I will provide a screenshot later tonight to clearly show what is going on.

Production:

Ki-61 Tony Ib advances to 3/43.

[SqzMyLemon]

Here's a screenshot of China and all the known positions of Chinese forces to date within the map shown. Yellow circles indicate isolated/encircled, or soon to be, enemy forces. The red line and solid circle indicate the intended blocking position to prevent forces from Chengtu and area reaching Burma. The two small lines, one red the other green, indicate the Allied hex side I'm trying to close which, if successful, will isolate another 100k enemy troops. Numbers on the map correspond to the following list of enemy troop dispositions gathered from the latest recon and of course are subject to FOW.

1. 1 unit of 6460 troops 40 guns
2. Paoshan - 2 units of 18300 troops 113 guns
3. 2 units of 12040 troops 64 guns
4. Tsuyung - 9 units of 84780 troops 207 guns
5. Kunming - 9 units of 38960 troops 112 guns
6. 8 units of 54160 troops 177 guns
7. 1 unit of 16280 22 guns
8. Chengtu - 22 units
9. 1 unit
10. Kienko - 5 units of 31920 troops 111 guns
11. 1 unit of 100 troops
12. 4 units
13. 6 units
14. Chungking - 37 units of 116100 troops 305 guns
15. 7 units
16. 16 units of 103540 troops 305 guns (soon to be isolated pending developments)
17. 1 unit of 9340 troops 53 guns
18. 10 units (encircled)
19. 1 unit (isolated)
20. 3 units of 9460 troops guns 2 (encircled)
21. 2 units (isolated)
22. 9 units of 47180 troops 6 guns (encircled)

[obvert]

You maneuver looks amazing here Joseph. You're really getting around the static positions and forcing him to decide to move or get cut off. Looks lie he has quite a lot in the mountains already, but with stacking limits he can't just pile them, so you should be ale to do something good there eventually.

[SqzMyLemon]

China:

Just artillery bombardments to report today as troops move into position for the next round of assaults.

I've ordered two divisions to cross the river and establish a bridgehead at Kienko. The armour will remain behind to prevent enemy forces cutting off my spearhead. Two reserve divisions from Ankang are moving along the secondary road to link up with the armour.

Another attempt to eliminate the pocket N.W. of Changsha by deliberate attack is ordered.

The next turn should determine whether the enemy force southeast of Chungking is cut off or not.

Naval Ops:

A mine explosion is heard during the replay. Intelligence report indicates SS Permit was sunk near Mattaram, but no sinking sound was heard during the replay so doubtful she sunk.

In return, an E is lost to a Dutch sub near Manus. Gotta love when the tables are turned on the hunter, it's going to happen all the time in DaBabes I fear.

Production:

Ha-45 engine advances to 2/43.

Supply in the Home islands has surpassed the level at war's start and resources have hit a new high.

Thoughts:

More Chinese have already reached the mountains than expected, but if overstacking will deplete what little supply is left I should be able to still make progress. How quickly is the question. Will the Commonwealth air force be committed to support the Chinese by disrupting my operations?

[SqzMyLemon]

China:

The possible escape route via northwest hex side to Chungking for the Chinese units at position 16 (shown on the previous map) is now closed. What remains is to encircle this force.

A deliberate attack achieving 200:1 odds eliminated the Chinese pocket at position 20 (shown on the previous map). The 44th Chinese Corps, 20th and 33rd Group HQ's were destroyed. The 39th Division is now free for other duties.

Armour units are reinforcing Japanese troops maintaining the encirclment at position 22 (shown on the previous map) prior to a final push to eliminate this pocket.

Enemy forces at Hengyang are now encircled. A deliberate attack is ordered for tomorrow.

The river assault against Kienko will occurr in three days. I don't believe the base will hold for long as the current defenders have already suffered two previous defeats. Capturing this base will allow a direct move on Chengtu and possibly lead to further encirclements.

So far so good, but the decisive battles are yet to come and will be extremely costly.

Ellice Islands:

After long term recon of Nukufetau by Allied aircraft, the Allies landed an amphibious force consisting of one Infantry Regt. today. There was no garrison and the base fell. Nearby Funafuti is garrisoned by the 66th Naval Guard unit, but I have no intention of fighting for the Ellice Islands so the unit will be left to its fate.

I'm getting a sense of how Jocke performs his invasions and will put this information in my pocket for now. I believe I'll have an opportunity to take advantage of this knowledge moving forward when bigger stakes are involved.

Thoughts:

I still have 5th Division and a combat engineer regiment fully prepped for Makin. The numbers of defenders are growing smaller and supply must be out. Knowing my difficulties with previous amphibious assaults has made me gun shy to try again, but I feel I should now eliminate this enemy position in the Gilbert Islands after the recent move in the Ellice Islands. The base is currently not being used to perform naval air search by the Allies and I'd like to keep it that way. It may also contribute to slowing down further enemy operations in the theatre knowing that I'm paying attention. I don't have to commit KB to the operation and it really would come down to getting enough troops ashore in good condition to wrap this operation up. It's clear Jocke's focus is grabbing what he can in the Central Pacific on the cheap. I'd like him to start paying a heavier price.

[SqzMyLemon]

China:

The deliberate attack at Hengyang was successful and the 62nd Chinese Corps and 30th Group Army HQ were destroyed. Six artillery units are free to resume strat moving to Tuyun.

Half the Chinese units blocking the road to Kunming at position 6 (previous map) have left the hex. No movement arrow is visible on the remaining units and I will order a deliberate attack against the 500+ AV still in the hex for tomorrow. I don't understand the withdrawal. My lone division wasn't strong enough to budge the previous AV, but now I have a chance to route two more Chinese Corps.

Ellice Islands:

Allied ships have withdraw from Nukufetau already as per usual. I did not react to this invasion whatsoever.

Production:

The Ha-42 engine has advanced R&D to 9/45. I will now convert this factory to the Ha-43, which will bring the total to four researchng this power plant.

Thoughts:

Allied recon is now targeting Luganville. I believe this to be the next target. Not sure I want to do anything about it yet though. The base will fall easily with only a JNAF AF Bn. as garrison.

[SqzMyLemon]

China:

Japanese bombers will hammer the defenders of Kienko over the next two days in preparations for the river crossing. If the base falls on D+1 Japanese forces will race southwest to trap all Chinese units east of Chungking.

I've decided to force another river crossing to establish a bridgehead southwest of Chengtu. If successful, no more Chinese units will be able to reach Burma and China will effectively be split in two as planned. It will take roughly a week to be in position. Will Jocke realize the danger and move out of Chengtu in time?

Defensive Preparations:

Over the weekend I was able to focus on defensive preparations and have gained some clarity of purpose. Having decided where to place my few Air HQ's I can begin to transfer naval LBA to areas deemed critical for the MLR. I've determined my defensive air tactics and hopefully they will prove adequate.

My biggest worry, as always it seems, is Burma. Recon is starting to provide a picture of massive Allied troop and aircraft concentrations at Chittagong and Calcutta. Forward airbases are expanding rapidly and I expect an Allied air offensive any day. With the committment of three divisions to China, I only have three left to defend Burma until reinforcement arrives. It's extremely hard to know just how much strength to deploy in this theatre.

The Kuriles are begining to fortify rapidly as I deploy more forces. I think the Kuriles will be a prime target and I'm acting accordingly, especially since I have no presence in the Aleutians at this time.

Reading some comments in other AAR's has me now producing as many armament and vehicle points as possible. I was periodically shutting off production to increase HI savings, but now feel I should run as high a surplus as possible to replace losses and equip new units without too much trouble. I'm about to surpass my 1942 goal of 100k armaments and 25k vehicle points almost two months ahead of schedule. I need to ramp up fuel/oil shipments to the Home Islands as the number one economic priority for 1943. More tankers are beginning to arrive on a regular basis.

Plane production will focus on the A6M3a and D4Y1 shortly. KB needs to be upgraded quickly to take advantage of the window of opportunity before the Hellcat arrives. Will Jocke get over confident as a result of little resistance to this point and over extend himself for a counterblow? So far the pace of Allied operations is slow, but I know how fast Jocke can move from following obvert's AAR.

There is much to prepare...

[SqzMyLemon]

A few things I'm doing.

All 80+ experience pilots, excepting those on KB, are being transferred to TRACOM. I will not waste these pilots in combat using inferior aircraft. They'll be assigned the best fighters available in mid/late 43.

I forgot to upgrade Helen Ia factories to the IIa [8|]. I have rectified the situation.

I'm happy with defensive preparations overall, but it's time to man my outer perimeter. The trick will be to provide adequate forward positions without committing large numbers of units.

A defence of the Central Pacific is going to present different problems for me then defending in the DEI or New Guinea. I will have to man strong static garrisons in the Kurile's, Bonin's and Marianas' Island chains while the DEI theatre will require depth and mutually supporting bases to be effective.

A rule of thumb for my LBA is that no fighter or bomber units will be deployed on the forward positions. All my major airbases are 7 to 8 hexes behind the front line. By doing this, I hope to avoid losses to naval bombardment and enemy bomber attacks will be forced to try and neutralize bases outside of fighter escort range. Interior bases immune to naval bombardment will be central to my defence and will receive adequate AA and support units to make their suppression difficult.

By setting my LBA attack forces 7-8 hexes behind potential invasion sites this should prevent their loss prior to the amphibious assaults. I may have to deal with enemy naval CAP/LRCAP from carriers, but that will force them to come in close to the invasion sites and risk interdiction from supporting surface ships which will be poised to strike during the initial landings.

One thing I've noticed with Jocke's recent amphibious assaults is he does not include support units in the initial wave. This obviously prevents him from repairing damage or building up airbases to allow immediate support for follow up forces. Therefore, I've decided it's critical to disrupt the initial landings in order to prevent follow up supporting units from landing. The more pressure I can bring initially will force the Allies to keep naval assets at risk for far longer than these smash and grab type operations Jocke has performed so far and should result in higher Allied losses.

I'm trying to instill in Jocke a sense of extreme reluctance on my part to risk surface forces to counter landings. The plan on my end is to risk losing these ships in 43, but not 42. I've begun redeploying surface assets out of search range in likely invasion areas. The intention is to have them strike during the initial landing phases of enemy operations, break up Allied cohesion and allow easier targets for Japanese LBA. The key is adequate search ability to give me the time to react and deploy counter invasion forces.

Bored at work...just posting these rambling thoughts to entertain myself until I can head home to run the next turn.

[Lokasenna]

I think you have a solid overall strategy, but a couple of points:

Basing LBA 7-8 hexes behind the bases in CentPac isn't going to be possible, for obvious reasons. Some bases are worth defending with LBA; some aren't.

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

I'm trying to instill in Jocke a sense of extreme reluctance on my part to risk surface forces to counter landings. The plan on my end is to risk losing these ships in 43, but not 42. I've begun redeploying surface assets out of search range in likely invasion areas. The intention is to have them strike during the initial landing phases of enemy operations, break up Allied cohesion and allow easier targets for Japanese LBA. The key is adequate search ability to give me the time to react and deploy counter invasion forces.

Doesn't the bolded part make the underlined part extremely difficult, bordering on impossible? At least to cover your entire perimeter - you only have so many Nav Search units with range longer than Jakes at 10 extended. You will need many Mavis, Emily, and Nell units for this. Using the Nells depletes your LBA strength slightly, unless you train them in Torp/NavS(/NavB), especially as these units can't be resized using CVs. On the other hand, you may have enough if your naval forces are broken into a sufficiently small number of groups for defense at a sufficiently small number of possible counterthrust points.

[SqzMyLemon]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

I think you have a solid overall strategy, but a couple of points:

Basing LBA 7-8 hexes behind the bases in CentPac isn't going to be possible, for obvious reasons. Some bases are worth defending with LBA; some aren't.

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

I'm trying to instill in Jocke a sense of extreme reluctance on my part to risk surface forces to counter landings. The plan on my end is to risk losing these ships in 43, but not 42. I've begun redeploying surface assets out of search range in likely invasion areas. The intention is to have them strike during the initial landing phases of enemy operations, break up Allied cohesion and allow easier targets for Japanese LBA. The key is adequate search ability to give me the time to react and deploy counter invasion forces.

Doesn't the bolded part make the underlined part extremely difficult, bordering on impossible? At least to cover your entire perimeter - you only have so many Nav Search units with range longer than Jakes at 10 extended. You will need many Mavis, Emily, and Nell units for this. Using the Nells depletes your LBA strength slightly, unless you train them in Torp/NavS(/NavB), especially as these units can't be resized using CVs. On the other hand, you may have enough if your naval forces are broken into a sufficiently small number of groups for defense at a sufficiently small number of possible counterthrust points.

The hope is with adequate search I should be able to get two days warning prior to a landing. The first day spotted the SCTF begin their run to intercept, day two they hit the enemy TF's unloading. That's the plan anyway.

I will be using Betty's/Nell's on naval search primarily until the enemy TF's are about to land, then they will be switched to naval attack for the landings. I want my main effort to be at the most vulnerable moment, which are the unloading phases, not during the run in to the beaches where they will most likely be covered by LRCAP and carrier based air. My hope is to use maximum force in a concerted effort to inflict maximum damage, rather than a series of individual strikes that have little to no chance of success.,

As to the Central Pacific, you're right, a single base prevents this strategy and I won't waste aircraft defending an individual Atoll in the middle of nowhere. It's too easy for a strong naval bombardment to close the airfield during the night and prevent an effective daylight attack against most likely, superior CV based air.

I won't expend a lot of resources defending isolated bases that are easily bypassed. I will choose where I will put my main effort, not the Allies, and it sure as heck won't be over some guano infested lump of coral. [8D]

Sounds good in theory, but effective implementation has yet to be seen. [:D]

[SqzMyLemon]

The current turn is Oct. 31/42. It usually takes me an evening or two to go over a month end turn and the focus is usually on the economy and production.

A few things of note on the production side. My first Jack R&D factory has finally fully repaired to 30(0). It remained at 29(1) for what seemed like forever. The airframe is due to arrive on 5/43 without acceleration so if I can get it a month sooner I'll be happy.

The A6M3a Zero should be entering production any day now while the Judy will follow in a month. I'm not sure on the numbers yet, but 50/month is the immediate goal for both airframes. I'm only producing 50 Aichi engines per month with a current stockpile of 92 engines, but have no desire to increase engine production. Need will determine production changes.

Supply in the Home Islands is officially over 1.5 million and growing rapidly. Last turn 18k was added to the stockpile. HI has surpassed 1.3 million but will lose 20k for pilot training.

Supply levels throughout the Empire have been kept low with captured production meeting current demand. However, once the lead starts flying in Burma, I'll have to facilitate the theatre with supply shipments from Japan. One alarming development is that I can't get supply to flow overland to Ramree Island. I'm going to have to risk some small TF's and air attack from Akyab, Cox's Bazar or Chittagong. If I can't build forts at Ramree, the defence of Burma will already be compromised.

[SqzMyLemon]

China:

The deliberate attack against the reduced number of defenders blocking the road to Kunming failed. Despite no supply the Chinese hold thanks to 3x defensive terrain. The fight in the mountains is going to be brutally slow and expensive. However, I haven't been committing large numbers of air support, as they are busy mauling far easier targets near Kienko and the now isolated enemy force southeast of Chungking. I'm confident when the bombers are deployed against enemy concentrations near Kunming the Chinese will begin to crack.

Three Chinese units have crossed the river and moved west of Paoshan. Currently 1st Tank Division contests the hex. Once I.G. and 21st Division's arrive all three divisions will attack and should be able to force a retreat.

Sub Ops:

A SC is sunk off the coast of Japan, while another enemy submarine targets an escorting DD in one of my large tanker TF's but misses. No DC attack in shallow water follows in the latter case. ASW is truly depressing.

Thoughts:

The river assault is to hit Kienko tomorrow, but I once again fail to pay attention to my movement orders and have overstacked the hex and moved the wrong HQ forward that isn't prepped for Kienko. I'm a little unsure of what will happen to the combat bonus. The HQ that is fully prepped for Kienko is adjacent to the troops about to cross the river so it meets the 1 hex radius requirement, but the HQ is two hexes away from Kienko. Does the fact the units attack prior to moving across the river mean they will benefit from the HQ bonus by being within the 1 hex radius of the HQ, or will it not apply because they physically don't occupy the Kienko hex yet? Does combat occur before or after moving into the hex and where will the HQ bonus be applied?

I have the option to delay the attack until I reorganize my forces or go ahead with it. I am in the white for supply, but I fear the results will be affected by a (-) supply modifier and will not receive the HQ bonus under the current circumstances. I'm risking two divisions and some arty during the initial crossing, but three armoured regiments and another division are in reserve and can be committed within days to force a breakthrough. I should point out the defenders are being hammered by air attack and the disruption, supply loss and current morale of this force may offset the potential problems on my end.

Any thoughts? My first instinct is to press on with the attack and hope the bombing has caused enough disruption to offset any reduction in combat effectiveness of my forces due to overstacking or if the HQ bonus doesn't apply.

[Erkki]

Hey! Cant help you much with the situation on hand in China, but have you considered utilizing your now probably jobless air transport units for supplying Ramree I.? They arent too efficient supply wise nor do they transfer a huge volume of it, but the older models are probably expendable for you and the H6K-Ls should be able to do the job from like Bangkok or so. Is there an AF there? You'd probably still need to bring some of the supply by sea though.

[PaxMondo]

Replacements are $$$$ ... you consume both ARM/VEH and supply @ LOAD COST. So If you lose 1000 devices => ~ 12K supply AND 12K ARM to replace them. This doesn't include the EXP dilution that happens as replacement come in at the national exp level (~35 for IJ). Oh, and they also come in at national MOR ... Trashing 2 ID's in '42 is not good ... that's a lot of offense that you will lose at a time you don't want to lose it. It will bring the transition game that much sooner.

Disablements just cost a little bit of supply and time. I think there is also a random minor EXP loss.

Just my thoughts ...

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

Replacements are $$$$ ... you consume both ARM/VEH and supply @ LOAD COST. So If you lose 1000 devices => ~ 12K supply AND 12K ARM to replace them. This doesn't include the EXP dilution that happens as replacement come in at the national exp level (~35 for IJ). Oh, and they also come in at national MOR ... Trashing 2 ID's in '42 is not good ... that's a lot of offense that you will lose at a time you don't want to lose it. It will bring the transition game that much sooner.

Disablements just cost a little bit of supply and time. I think there is also a random minor EXP loss.

Just my thoughts ...

I'm not positive on using ARM/VEH equal to load cost when rebuilding. Is it Manpower (and supply) at load cost instead? But why are the numbers for rebuilding so low in Tracker? I believe GJ posted about this some time back, maybe 1-2 months ago. Only 10k to rebuild an entire division.

[SqzMyLemon]

ORIGINAL: Erkki

Hey! Cant help you much with the situation on hand in China, but have you considered utilizing your now probably jobless air transport units for supplying Ramree I.? They arent too efficient supply wise nor do they transfer a huge volume of it, but the older models are probably expendable for you and the H6K-Ls should be able to do the job from like Bangkok or so. Is there an AF there? You'd probably still need to bring some of the supply by sea though.

Nice to see you posting Erkki. I'll try it, there is no airbase at Ramree though so it will have to be air dropped. I'll also have to resort to shipping supply in. Seems unfair that the base can be used to supply a Burma offensive when in Allied hands, yet if held defensively by Japan you can't get supply to flow into the base.