Global War : a Japanese AAR

[yvesp]

ORIGINAL: AllenK

"The little tour by the Chinese units was costly for little gain."

I'm not so sure. They diverted a lot of units away from the front and then ...

"On their impulse, the allies are not idle, and indeed the Japanese front seems to lighten up.

The first shot comes from Mao who was helped by a nationalist strike by a Boston, which disorganized a whole section of the front. Emboldenened, Mao launched an attack againss an armored corps and supporting artillery and infantry.

The result breaks the Japanese defense."

Would that have been possible if those units had remained at the front instead of chasing the horses?

It would have been possible. But Mao's troops may succeed now in breaking the Japanese line, which would hardly have been possible before. We'll shortly see if that happens. But possibly, the Chinese might not have even taken the risk of an attack if some Jap troops had not been away chasing gooses...

[AllenK]

Excellent. Looking forward to seeing how this plays out. Little immediate gain but potentially a theater turning escapade.

[yvesp]

A nasty bug in the port attack routine forced me to replay the combats at least 3 times before I knew what to do. Problem is that when the attacking planes are intercepted and there is enough surprise to avoid the combat, the game just crashes...

So I don't have many screenshots.

The US attacked in 5 areas : Ominato (a bunch of convoys sitting there), Sapporo (some convoys), Niigata (one convoy), Suva (Fidji islands, one OoS cruiser), Rabaul (new Ireland, two OoS transports) but only a poor F6F-3 ill suited to the task.

Only one attack succeeds, in Ominato: all others are avoided through surprise. But it costs 4 convoys...


July 44, impulse 4

[yvesp]

While the Russians advance in mandchuria, avoiding yet needless fights, the Chinese try their luck once again. And succeed beyond hope.

Yamamoto is sent back to visit the emperor in Kyoto, while the city of Sian is recaptured. This puts the whole front out of suply and will force the Japanese to more difficult choices : rescue the west front, facing the Chinese, on the verge of collapse now that it is unsupplied, or rescue Mandchuria ? Possibly a miracle can help both ?

[yvesp]

Meanwhile, the western allies are continuing to mop up German units, the Russians by burning offensive upon offensive, the British and American by surrounding and attacking massively surrounded cities.

This works well ; axis powers are losing units at a great speed. More than they can recover in a single turn. Actually, the Germans are now losing many times more than their current, paltry, production (14BP in the previous turn.) Yet, the German army still looks impressive considering the size of the territory they are now defending!

[yvesp]

Germany is now much reduced.

It still produces about 14BP per turn with the northern factories (Berlin, Hamburg most notably), but this production shaky: it relies on the baltic convoys, and on the synth oil from the sudeten. Both are now highly vulnerable, and the production might well fall to 4BP before the end of the turn...

Notice the units that were unable to catch up to the allied offensives: the trapped units in the French Jura, from very long ago, the units in and beside Varshaw which were disorganized at the time were they could have fled.

Also note the advancing Russian units in the north: the Russian offensive is advancing faster than the German can pull up their units from the south, which is exceedingly ennoying: there are not enough units to protect the Oder.


July 44, impulse 4

[yvesp]

In China, the frontline has slimmed down. But it should still hold. The Japanese now know that holding China gains little: it will be time to get back to more defensible positions.


July 44, impulse 4

[yvesp]

In Mandchuria, the advance of the Russian units is worrisome.


July 44, impulse 4

[composer99]

Looks like the race to Berlin is well and truly on - although based on the German dispositions the Red Army still looks like it's going to win.

[Courtenay]

I am confused by the American amphibious invasions in Korea. I don't mean by the strategy, but I see a rules problem.

I do not understand why the Japanese defense strength is zero. Korea is a minor country, so that the notional should be Korean, not Japanese, which means that Seoul is a primary supply source, and it is possible to trace a supply line of unlimited length back to Seoul, so that the strength of the notional should be one. Unless I am making a mistake that I don't see, if the notional's strength was zero, there is a bug. Of course, I have made mistakes before. Does anyone see a reason why the notional's strength should be zero?

[yvesp]

ORIGINAL: Courtenay

I am confused by the American amphibious invasions in Korea. I don't mean by the strategy, but I see a rules problem.

I do not understand why the Japanese defense strength is zero. Korea is a minor country, so that the notional should be Korean, not Japanese, which means that Seoul is a primary supply source, and it is possible to trace a supply line of unlimited length back to Seoul, so that the strength of the notional should be one. Unless I am making a mistake that I don't see, if the notional's strength was zero, there is a bug. Of course, I have made mistakes before. Does anyone see a reason why the notional's strength should be zero?

No, the supply path doesn't exist: it goes throough a straight, and the sea area was uncontested at the time, in enemy control: this blocks the straight as a supply path.

[yvesp]

In August 44:

Japan builds:
- 2 inf
- 2 convoys
- 2 Ftr2
- 1 pilot

China builds:
- 1 Ftr2
- 1 mech
- 1 militia

The Commonwealth builds:
- 2 subs (superstructures)
- 2 convoys
- 1 Ftr2
- 3 carrier planes
- 2 Lnd4
- 3 pilots
- 1 mot div
- 2 offensives

The USA build:
- 4 carrier planes
- 1 cruiser (superstructures)
- 1 sub (superstructures)
- 4 pilots
- 1 Ftr3
- 2 Lnd4
- 2 Motorized
- 1 mech div
- 1 supply
- 3 offensives

Russia builds:
- 2 eng div
- 2 motorized
- 2 offensives
- 1 Ftr3
- 1 Lnd3
- 1 mech div

Note that the Commonwealth and USA have build their whole sub force pool. And in addition, they own 3 italian subs...

And in the same way that China doesn't surrender to Japan, Germany doesn't surrender to the USA...

[Courtenay]

ORIGINAL: yvesp

ORIGINAL: Courtenay

I am confused by the American amphibious invasions in Korea. I don't mean by the strategy, but I see a rules problem.

I do not understand why the Japanese defense strength is zero. Korea is a minor country, so that the notional should be Korean, not Japanese, which means that Seoul is a primary supply source, and it is possible to trace a supply line of unlimited length back to Seoul, so that the strength of the notional should be one. Unless I am making a mistake that I don't see, if the notional's strength was zero, there is a bug. Of course, I have made mistakes before. Does anyone see a reason why the notional's strength should be zero?

No, the supply path doesn't exist: it goes throough a straight, and the sea area was uncontested at the time, in enemy control: this blocks the straight as a supply path.

Thank you!

[yvesp]

As the weather turns sour, the allies turn their attention to Japan.

Indeed, the sheer density of German troops requires room to maneuver (mud prevents that) and successfull ground strikes (not with rain if that can be avoided.)

The USA do intend to extend their beachhead in Korea.

The fastest ships go in the North China sea. Two ships bring reinforcements, putting themeselves at some risk of getting sunk later. But Korea is certainly worth it : if the USSR has its way north in Mandchuria, Seoul might become a secondary supply source linked directly to Europe! No need to maintain a fragile supply convoy line!


September 44, impulse 1

[yvesp]

Meanwhile, sub operations don't stop, but are not exceedingly successful.


September 44, impulse 1

[yvesp]

Seoul falls!
This also cuts all resource flow to Japan! and makes supplying the continental army a nightmare.


September 44, impulse 1

[yvesp]

In the NEI, Padang falls too, for what it is worth...


September 44, impulse 1

[yvesp]

The Japanese have little choice, but even that makes for a hard decision.
Moving the fleet is required : it is necessary to reopen the supply lines to the continent : in good weather, the Chinese might cut through like cheese should they succeed in a ground strike ; and their air power is now up to the task!

The first question is : keep a low profile, send a single convoy and pray for the best ?
The second question is : do something in Korea or consider it utterly lost ?
The third question is : take the risk of meeting the US fleet, which is currently as small as it can be, the slow ships having been left in Brisbane because they could not make it to the 3 box, necessary for ship offensive support.

* question 1 depends on the two others actually
* question 2 : even though sending reinforcements in is likely a lost proposition, Korea cannot be given without more fight: sure, Seoul cannot be recaptured, but there is time to keep the most importan places before the country falls. It is too close to Japan, and looks too much like an unsubmersible aircraft carrier facing Japan to leave it without at least some combats.
* question 3 : moving the fleet to the North China sea seems logical to achieve the previous objective. The 3 box is accessible, but not for the transports, and it cannot be protected by the land base 7 rated fighter ; so the Japanese opt for the 1 box, where everything fits well.

Under these conditions, a fight against the USA should end up as well as possible: the conditions cannot be any better.

This will certainly change very fast: A new loas of 6 carriers arrived this turn in San Diego. 4 are essex class, 2 are exact copies of those that were sunk two years before... All are fast (6 movement rating) and boast modern aircrafts ; one of which is an 8 rated F8F-1.

In addition, one can expect planes to come to Seoul: the US may well also soon have land based fighter support, with ratings of 7 and 8.

Scary.

[yvesp]

Unexpectedly, Koniev launches an offensive in Siberia.
The obvious purpose is to get through the mountains before bad weather, as well as remove Japanese units as fast as they are coming.

[yvesp]

The first combat goes rather well, despite a loss.