Rolling Over for the AI (Scen. 30) - The R-E-L-A-X War - Jim (Allied) vs. Computer (Japan)
Moderators: wdolson, MOD_War-in-the-Pacific-Admirals-Edition
RE: Other Tidbits
Very interesting jimh009, in fact I bought this game after following your AAR against the IA [:D] (that was...2009 [&:] time flies!! [X(])
RE: Other Tidbits
ORIGINAL: Galahad78
Very interesting jimh009, in fact I bought this game after following your AAR against the IA [:D] (that was...2009 [&:] time flies!! [X(])
No kidding how time flies! I remember you following my old AAR, too. So hopefully you find this one interesting, too.
Jan. 22nd 1942 Update
Jan. 22nd, 1942
Figure it was time for an update.
AI Maneuvers
Pretty much what I suspected so far. To give the AI credit, it has played well in the DEI. Gone are the days of a SCTF or PT boats being able to ambush countless Japanese TF's. I've always thought I had until January 1st to get all naval forces out of the DEI, and that proved true this time. Around Jan. 2nd, the AI moved in with most of its carriers. Since my ships were gone, it found nothing. But if I hadn't moved out the ships, it would have been a slaughter.
The AI has been quite methodical in Borneo, the Celebes and the Salomons. Rabual hasn't fallen yet, but soon will. AI has Tulagi, Lae and a bunch of other hexes in the area. Still hasn't made "the lunge" down to Luganville or Noumea, but I'm expecting that sometime in the next few weeks.
China
I've pretty much built up the "red line" in China. Still have a few more units to move around, but by and large it is done. Now it is just a matter of waiting to see what the AI is going to do.
Unfortunately, I might have inadvertently thrown a wrench into the AI's plans. Without thinking about it, I moved two units into Wenchow during the great retreat from China. I always do it and did it this game without thinking - it has become "second nature" in a way. The result is that there are three ID's and two good HQ's in Wenchow now. Since Wenchow has its own manpower and supply, it is a tough nut to crack despite being pounded by air every turn.
Wenchow has become more of a tough nut in this game due to stacking limits. With 45,000 stacking limits, Japan can only put so much into the hex before supply and disruption issues happen. China has 42,000 troops in Wenchow, so it is just below the stacking limit. The AI has made many shock and deliberate attacks, all with pretty severe losses. I guess Wenchow might be the "one wrench" i threw into AI's plans this game. Thankfully, in the grand scheme of things it isn't a big issue - just a bit more infantry losses then it otherwise might have.
Philippines
The stacking limits and new map change how I've always done a defense in the Philippines. In stock, i simply moved everything back to Bataan and "waited." This game, Battan has a SL of 45,000. Clark Field has 45,000 too. So I ended up moving about 40,000 to Bataan, another 40,000 in Clark and about 10,000 in Manila - which I guess is a more historical defense. AI took manila without issues, but beats its head against the Clark for a few weeks before finally capturing it.
Unfortunately, the SL now begins to hurt Bataan badly. Before the units i had in Clark Field retreated to Bataan, Bataan had nearly 40,000 supply. But with the retreating units, the number of troops in Bataan sky rocketed from 40,000 to 75,000 - which is far above the SL. The result is that in just four turns supply in Bataan dropped from 40,000 to Zero!!! With 0 supply so early in the game, I have little hopes of holding Bataan for more than a few more weeks, I suspect.
Next time I play I'll have to look at a different defense of the PI, to prevent retreating units that end up in Bataan from destroying the supply situation there. Perhaps a more vigorous defense of Manila and Subic Bay??
Burma and India
First of the retreating Burms units have reached India and will soon begin railing into Calcutta. The "mass retreat" is a strategy I've always done, and saw no reason to change it in this game. The quick retreat prevents needless losses and, more importantly, provides time for the Burma units to regroup, train and recombine. The 1st Burma Division should be able to be recombined in a few weeks, as the last of the stragglers reach Calcutta.
Otherwise, Colombo is safe and sound. Every single unit I attempted to evacuate from Singapore made it - without one single ship loss, a first. I wasn't able to get everything out, but got the entire 11th Indian Division, both Oz Briges, an Air HQ and 80% of the 9th Indian Division. Combine all that with the 18th British and the newly arrived Tank Units, and Colombo is brimming with firepower (both Oz brigades went to Australia). Some of this will eventually end up in India, but for now, Colombo is a fine place to rest and regroup and to sit back and wait to see Japanese intentions.
With the first Hurricanes dribbling in, Colombo will finally have some airpower.
The AVG
I moved one AVG unit to Calcutta. The second is in Chungking. And the third I withdrew after it got mauled defending Burma, with little to show for it.
DEI
I'm done evacuating all naval forces. Thinking the AI might be sneaky, I evacuated almost all naval forces via Perth instead of sending it past Horn Island and PM. I didn't want all the naval forces to get caught in a vice. But alas, it wasn't needed. While evacuating via Perth takes a heck of a lot longer, the route also greatly reduces losses to subs. Usually, I lose a ship or two a turn in/around PM/Horn Islands/Cairns/Townsville during the evacuation. But with few ships passing through, ship losses have been minimal.
Other than that, land forces in Java are now where they are supposed to be, digging in and waiting for the inevitable assault in a month or two.
Singapore is occupied and probably will fall in a few days. The AI so far only has one ID across the river, and despite the greatly reduced defenders because of all the units that were evacuated, the AI still hasn't been able to take it. But more forces are on the way. I give it a week.
Allied Subs
Despite unreliable torpedoes, I've always had good luck going after Japanese shipping. I place them in typical spots - the choke points around the PI and a few hexes off shore from Japan itself. Currently, I'm sinking or several damaging 1-2 ships per turn.
To give the AI a bit of a helping hand, I'm thinking of changing my sub strategy this game. Instead of sending ALL my longer range subs off to blockade duty, I think I'll split it up this time. Half will attempt to intercept shipping in/around Japan while the other half will be used for "fleet support" around my various bases and when the Allies go on the offensive. I guess this strategy is more realistic, too. Hopefully, this strategy will somewhat reduce the usually grievous shipping losses to subs that befalls Japan in middle to late 1942 and beyond.
South Pacific
Other than an AMC raid, no Japanese forces have ventured South. Canton Island and Pago Page and Xmas Island have all been reinforced. Bit reinforcement convoy arrives in Suva in a few days. First tankers TF's have also reached Australia and Auckland, too.
The line I want to develop in the South Pacific is coming along nicely and should be lightly to well defended in a month or so. Since Pago Pago is the "key island" I need to defend, it is first in getting reinforcements.
Maybe it is just me, but it seems this scenario has more allied tankers than under stock?? In past games, the Allies and the US in particular are always starved for tankers. But this game, seems more of them running around. I'm struggling more to find escorts for the tankers than anything right now.
North Pacific
Dead. Just resupplying and that's about it.
Australia
Nothing unusual here. Looking forward to getting the 7th and 6th Oz ID's. Unlike most players, I move those units to Australia (not keeping them in India). It is more historical that way. And also in games were I'm not "rolling over" during the first year it gives the Allies some striking power. Since I won't be using these two ID's for offensive operations, I'll just base one in Brisbane and the other maybe in Suva or Auckland.
The Americal Division will soon become available. Unlike in stock, 2 of its brigades in this game originate in Melbourne, I discovered. Those two brigades, along with the one currently on the US West Coast, are all tasked to Suva - where they'll recombine. The Americal will be the first strong reinforcement for Suva - so hopefully the AI holds off attacking Suva for a few more months.
Side Notes
The Dutch ARD's are kind of cool! Took freaking forever to evacuate them down to Perth, but they'll definitely be handy to have around. I kept one ARD with a ship lift capacity of 3000 tons in Perth - and am moving the remaining three towards the South Pacific. I'll put the 8000 lift capacity unit in Pago Pago, as that base is well out of range of land based air and Pago Pago should have a decent air defense system up and going by the time the ARD arrives. Since I anticipate some engagements in this part of the South Pacific, havintg an 8000 ton ARD should make it easier to repair and return damaged ships back to Pearl and the US West Coast.
Not sure what I'll do with the second 3000 ton ARD and the one 20,000 ton ARD. For now, I'll keep them at Hobart until I figure out where to put them. Putting them in Sydney or Brisbane won't really do anything worthwhile, since both those bases have a ship yard. Ditto for Auckland.
Figure it was time for an update.
AI Maneuvers
Pretty much what I suspected so far. To give the AI credit, it has played well in the DEI. Gone are the days of a SCTF or PT boats being able to ambush countless Japanese TF's. I've always thought I had until January 1st to get all naval forces out of the DEI, and that proved true this time. Around Jan. 2nd, the AI moved in with most of its carriers. Since my ships were gone, it found nothing. But if I hadn't moved out the ships, it would have been a slaughter.
The AI has been quite methodical in Borneo, the Celebes and the Salomons. Rabual hasn't fallen yet, but soon will. AI has Tulagi, Lae and a bunch of other hexes in the area. Still hasn't made "the lunge" down to Luganville or Noumea, but I'm expecting that sometime in the next few weeks.
China
I've pretty much built up the "red line" in China. Still have a few more units to move around, but by and large it is done. Now it is just a matter of waiting to see what the AI is going to do.
Unfortunately, I might have inadvertently thrown a wrench into the AI's plans. Without thinking about it, I moved two units into Wenchow during the great retreat from China. I always do it and did it this game without thinking - it has become "second nature" in a way. The result is that there are three ID's and two good HQ's in Wenchow now. Since Wenchow has its own manpower and supply, it is a tough nut to crack despite being pounded by air every turn.
Wenchow has become more of a tough nut in this game due to stacking limits. With 45,000 stacking limits, Japan can only put so much into the hex before supply and disruption issues happen. China has 42,000 troops in Wenchow, so it is just below the stacking limit. The AI has made many shock and deliberate attacks, all with pretty severe losses. I guess Wenchow might be the "one wrench" i threw into AI's plans this game. Thankfully, in the grand scheme of things it isn't a big issue - just a bit more infantry losses then it otherwise might have.
Philippines
The stacking limits and new map change how I've always done a defense in the Philippines. In stock, i simply moved everything back to Bataan and "waited." This game, Battan has a SL of 45,000. Clark Field has 45,000 too. So I ended up moving about 40,000 to Bataan, another 40,000 in Clark and about 10,000 in Manila - which I guess is a more historical defense. AI took manila without issues, but beats its head against the Clark for a few weeks before finally capturing it.
Unfortunately, the SL now begins to hurt Bataan badly. Before the units i had in Clark Field retreated to Bataan, Bataan had nearly 40,000 supply. But with the retreating units, the number of troops in Bataan sky rocketed from 40,000 to 75,000 - which is far above the SL. The result is that in just four turns supply in Bataan dropped from 40,000 to Zero!!! With 0 supply so early in the game, I have little hopes of holding Bataan for more than a few more weeks, I suspect.
Next time I play I'll have to look at a different defense of the PI, to prevent retreating units that end up in Bataan from destroying the supply situation there. Perhaps a more vigorous defense of Manila and Subic Bay??
Burma and India
First of the retreating Burms units have reached India and will soon begin railing into Calcutta. The "mass retreat" is a strategy I've always done, and saw no reason to change it in this game. The quick retreat prevents needless losses and, more importantly, provides time for the Burma units to regroup, train and recombine. The 1st Burma Division should be able to be recombined in a few weeks, as the last of the stragglers reach Calcutta.
Otherwise, Colombo is safe and sound. Every single unit I attempted to evacuate from Singapore made it - without one single ship loss, a first. I wasn't able to get everything out, but got the entire 11th Indian Division, both Oz Briges, an Air HQ and 80% of the 9th Indian Division. Combine all that with the 18th British and the newly arrived Tank Units, and Colombo is brimming with firepower (both Oz brigades went to Australia). Some of this will eventually end up in India, but for now, Colombo is a fine place to rest and regroup and to sit back and wait to see Japanese intentions.
With the first Hurricanes dribbling in, Colombo will finally have some airpower.
The AVG
I moved one AVG unit to Calcutta. The second is in Chungking. And the third I withdrew after it got mauled defending Burma, with little to show for it.
DEI
I'm done evacuating all naval forces. Thinking the AI might be sneaky, I evacuated almost all naval forces via Perth instead of sending it past Horn Island and PM. I didn't want all the naval forces to get caught in a vice. But alas, it wasn't needed. While evacuating via Perth takes a heck of a lot longer, the route also greatly reduces losses to subs. Usually, I lose a ship or two a turn in/around PM/Horn Islands/Cairns/Townsville during the evacuation. But with few ships passing through, ship losses have been minimal.
Other than that, land forces in Java are now where they are supposed to be, digging in and waiting for the inevitable assault in a month or two.
Singapore is occupied and probably will fall in a few days. The AI so far only has one ID across the river, and despite the greatly reduced defenders because of all the units that were evacuated, the AI still hasn't been able to take it. But more forces are on the way. I give it a week.
Allied Subs
Despite unreliable torpedoes, I've always had good luck going after Japanese shipping. I place them in typical spots - the choke points around the PI and a few hexes off shore from Japan itself. Currently, I'm sinking or several damaging 1-2 ships per turn.
To give the AI a bit of a helping hand, I'm thinking of changing my sub strategy this game. Instead of sending ALL my longer range subs off to blockade duty, I think I'll split it up this time. Half will attempt to intercept shipping in/around Japan while the other half will be used for "fleet support" around my various bases and when the Allies go on the offensive. I guess this strategy is more realistic, too. Hopefully, this strategy will somewhat reduce the usually grievous shipping losses to subs that befalls Japan in middle to late 1942 and beyond.
South Pacific
Other than an AMC raid, no Japanese forces have ventured South. Canton Island and Pago Page and Xmas Island have all been reinforced. Bit reinforcement convoy arrives in Suva in a few days. First tankers TF's have also reached Australia and Auckland, too.
The line I want to develop in the South Pacific is coming along nicely and should be lightly to well defended in a month or so. Since Pago Pago is the "key island" I need to defend, it is first in getting reinforcements.
Maybe it is just me, but it seems this scenario has more allied tankers than under stock?? In past games, the Allies and the US in particular are always starved for tankers. But this game, seems more of them running around. I'm struggling more to find escorts for the tankers than anything right now.
North Pacific
Dead. Just resupplying and that's about it.
Australia
Nothing unusual here. Looking forward to getting the 7th and 6th Oz ID's. Unlike most players, I move those units to Australia (not keeping them in India). It is more historical that way. And also in games were I'm not "rolling over" during the first year it gives the Allies some striking power. Since I won't be using these two ID's for offensive operations, I'll just base one in Brisbane and the other maybe in Suva or Auckland.
The Americal Division will soon become available. Unlike in stock, 2 of its brigades in this game originate in Melbourne, I discovered. Those two brigades, along with the one currently on the US West Coast, are all tasked to Suva - where they'll recombine. The Americal will be the first strong reinforcement for Suva - so hopefully the AI holds off attacking Suva for a few more months.
Side Notes
The Dutch ARD's are kind of cool! Took freaking forever to evacuate them down to Perth, but they'll definitely be handy to have around. I kept one ARD with a ship lift capacity of 3000 tons in Perth - and am moving the remaining three towards the South Pacific. I'll put the 8000 lift capacity unit in Pago Pago, as that base is well out of range of land based air and Pago Pago should have a decent air defense system up and going by the time the ARD arrives. Since I anticipate some engagements in this part of the South Pacific, havintg an 8000 ton ARD should make it easier to repair and return damaged ships back to Pearl and the US West Coast.
Not sure what I'll do with the second 3000 ton ARD and the one 20,000 ton ARD. For now, I'll keep them at Hobart until I figure out where to put them. Putting them in Sydney or Brisbane won't really do anything worthwhile, since both those bases have a ship yard. Ditto for Auckland.
RE: Jan. 22nd 1942 Update
Map of China in this game on Jan. 22nd, 1942
The line I'm building up should be fairly obvious. Strong points on the line are the Changsha/Chengteh/Ichang/Nanyang area. Weak points are north and down by Liuchow/Kweilin, although I'm moving reinforcements down in this direction.
The line I'm building up should be fairly obvious. Strong points on the line are the Changsha/Chengteh/Ichang/Nanyang area. Weak points are north and down by Liuchow/Kweilin, although I'm moving reinforcements down in this direction.
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Mike McCreery
- Posts: 4362
- Joined: Sat Jun 29, 2013 2:58 pm
RE: China in 1942
ORIGINAL: Yaab
They one thing I don't like about the AI emptying Ichang, is that the Chinese occupy the city with its undamaged level 3 fortifications. I wish the AI reinforced this place with a tank regiment, replaced the leaders of the units there and put up a fight. As it is now, you can sit in Ichang and start building level 4 forts. Wish someone recoded this stupid AI move.
There is a huge Chinese army just north of Ichang in addition to the fact that those troops can get surrounded very easily. And I dont think it is a strong unit so 60% of almost nothing will get you nowhere.
In fact, most human players immediately pull out of that hex as well. The base simply is not a priority. It can be cut off easily strategically and has no significant value other than being a base.
RE: Jan. 22nd 1942 Update
Map of India
The line of fleeing British and Indians is clear to see!
The red line shows the defensive line I want to establish later. Probably be a minimum of six months before even parts of that line - other than Chittagong - begin to form.
Due to stacking limit changes, the British will be spread out more than in past games. It will also keep busy the engineering units, as I'll need to create new bases on most or all of the "dot" hexes in the area around Imphal/Dacca/etc...
Of course, the SL's will make it more difficult to Japan to launch a big offensive, too. As I discovered in the Philippines, being much over the SL for a hex is a wonderful way to watch supply drop to zero in a matter of days!
Because of that, the key will be to defend the bases up to near the SL limit - with other units spread around to act as scouts and speed bumps to any Japanese advance.
The line of fleeing British and Indians is clear to see!
The red line shows the defensive line I want to establish later. Probably be a minimum of six months before even parts of that line - other than Chittagong - begin to form.
Due to stacking limit changes, the British will be spread out more than in past games. It will also keep busy the engineering units, as I'll need to create new bases on most or all of the "dot" hexes in the area around Imphal/Dacca/etc...
Of course, the SL's will make it more difficult to Japan to launch a big offensive, too. As I discovered in the Philippines, being much over the SL for a hex is a wonderful way to watch supply drop to zero in a matter of days!
Because of that, the key will be to defend the bases up to near the SL limit - with other units spread around to act as scouts and speed bumps to any Japanese advance.
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RE: Rolling Over for the AI (Scen. 30) - The R-E-L-A-X War - Jim (Allied) vs. Computer (Japan)
This is an interesting AAR, I have the same issues with the AI, so I will be curious how this develops.
I'm also curious are you using your any of you transports & tankers in the DEI to pull oil and fuel into Perth and Darwin? I always do that so as not to leave any for the IJN while also giving me a workable Naval Base at Sydney for my CVs to operate in the South Pacific at least until a better base can be developed (Noumea, Suva, Pago).
I'm also curious are you using your any of you transports & tankers in the DEI to pull oil and fuel into Perth and Darwin? I always do that so as not to leave any for the IJN while also giving me a workable Naval Base at Sydney for my CVs to operate in the South Pacific at least until a better base can be developed (Noumea, Suva, Pago).
No catchy signature as of yet...
RE: Rolling Over for the AI (Scen. 30) - The R-E-L-A-X War - Jim (Allied) vs. Computer (Japan)
ORIGINAL: karmannkc
This is an interesting AAR, I have the same issues with the AI, so I will be curious how this develops.
I'm also curious are you using your any of you transports & tankers in the DEI to pull oil and fuel into Perth and Darwin? I always do that so as not to leave any for the IJN while also giving me a workable Naval Base at Sydney for my CVs to operate in the South Pacific at least until a better base can be developed (Noumea, Suva, Pago).
Yeah, I've pulled out all the tankers and xAk's, loaded with fuel and supply, and taken most to Australia. Those supplies/fuel help get Oz thought the initial months. It is even more important in this scenario, where cargo capacities of ships is cut by 30%. Most fuel/supply goes to Perth - where it is re-distributed around Australia as needed. Some ships drop off Supply at Darwin too, to put off the day forces up there "starve." And my forces in Darwin will indeed starve this game. Since I'll be letting the AI take Port Moresby, sea supply of Darwin will not be possible.
Since I'm "rolling over" for the AI in the beginning, I won't be building anything at Noumea or Luganville. I'll be letting the AI take it. Hence, there will be no Allied base there until 1943 at the earliest. And in any event, with the 35,000 stacking limit in Noumea - the base is no longer "what it was" in some ways. While still an excellent port and airbase, gone is the ability to station "everything" out of Noumea like I (and many players) do. Instead, Auckland/Sydney will be main bases for offensives in the South Pacific, with Pearl being the major base for initial drives in the Central Pacific.
Thus, major naval ports for the Allies will be Sydney/Auckland/Pago Pago/Pearl Harbor - with smaller ones at Xmas Island, Canton Island, Suva and another island or two that is yet to be determined.
RE: Rolling Over for the AI (Scen. 30) - The R-E-L-A-X War - Jim (Allied) vs. Computer (Japan)
ORIGINAL: jimh009
Scenario and Updates Being Used
So, to try to make it a more interesting, I updated to the latest AndyMac updates for Scenario 1. I also installed the Extended Map/Art for Dbabes and installed scenario 30 (DaIronBabes).
Sorry to jump in late here but I asked about this in the tech support forum and it was not really made clear...
Is it safe to use the extended map with Andy's Scenario #1 update or does it trash the AI? Or does it only hurt the AI in non full map scenarios? AI seems to be doing just fine in this AAR so far.
I have a BabesLite game I abandoned on Dec 9 because of this uncertainty.
RE: Rolling Over for the AI (Scen. 30) - The R-E-L-A-X War - Jim (Allied) vs. Computer (Japan)
ORIGINAL: stretch
ORIGINAL: jimh009
Scenario and Updates Being Used
So, to try to make it a more interesting, I updated to the latest AndyMac updates for Scenario 1. I also installed the Extended Map/Art for Dbabes and installed scenario 30 (DaIronBabes).
Sorry to jump in late here but I asked about this in the tech support forum and it was not really made clear...
Is it safe to use the extended map with Andy's Scenario #1 update or does it trash the AI? Or does it only hurt the AI in non full map scenarios? AI seems to be doing just fine in this AAR so far.
I have a BabesLite game I abandoned on Dec 9 because of this uncertainty.
I really don't know, truthfully.
I'm playing Scenario 30, which requires the extended map. I suspect that Scen #1 still uses the normal map, since a different scenario (one in the 20's) is a Grand Campaign game that uses the Extended Map.
Mid-February Update
No big surprises so far.
Overall Play of the AI
About as expected. I'm not standing in its way, so it is methodically advancing. No big thrusts yet, although something is brewing in the Central Pacific. The AI did launch a few small SCTF raids, that I let pass unmolested.
Basically, I'm just waiting for the AI to get done with its advances and set up its defensive position. Figure that will take many more months yet.
China
A "sitzkreig" has for the most part developed in China. I have a solid line that runs from Liuchow - Changsha - Chengteh - Ichang - Loyang. AI isn't really advancing on it - more like doing a few "probes."
The one exception is the accidental wrench I threw into the AI's plans at Wenchow. The AI continues to beat its head against the wall there, doing several bombardments turns followed by a deliberate attack. It is using 3 ID's. If I hadn't moved into the other two ID's at the beginning of the game, I'm sure the AI would have taken Wenchow by now. But alas...it seems not to be. Since Wenchow creates its own supply, I'm beginning to wonder if/when the AI will take it.
Philippines
On the other hand, I gave an accidental gift to the AI in the Philippines. Due to all the forces from Clark Field retreating into Bataan and destroying the supply situation, Bataan fell in record time. The AI - with just 15,000 troops and needing only three deliberate attacks to do it - took Bataan on January 31st. So, I taketh away from the AI and China and giveth to the AI in Bataan. Seems like a fair trade.
DEI
The DEI has been pounded every turn by land and carrier aircraft. However, the AI lost the CVL Zuiho. The turn before Singapore fell (which fell on Jan. 21st), I moved over two torpedo squadrons and two fighter squadrons to Batavia. The AI hadn't bombed Signapore much, so the air groups were in good condition. Anyways, the Zuiho just got unlucky and took three torps. Despite all the attacks over two weeks that the Allied torpedo planes launched, the Zuiho was the only ship that took a hit.
Of course, no complaints on my end.
I am using the Dutch PT boats a bit. They've done two raids and taken a few transports, but nothing earth shattering. But they are pretty much out of the game now.
The Hiryu took a torpedo hit from a Dutch Sub, but apparently the damage was only minor. Still, a hole is a hole is a hole.
Japanse forces have invaded Java in three places, but have yet to land enough forces there to dislodge Dutch forces in Batavia, Soerbaja and elsewhere. Right now, the landings are just preliminary it seems.
Elsewhere in the DEI and Borneo, Japan has taken all major bases except Koepang.
Singapore
Signapore fell on Jan 21st. I "suicided" one Indian Brigade of the 9th ID that was left behind during the evacuation. Cut off and trapped, that brigade was preventing me from rebuilding the rest of the 9th ID that was now in Colombo. So, with two AV it started to chase Japanese units around, spoiling for a fight and, after a few weeks, found on - resulting in the unit being destroyed.
India & Burma
The AI just took Rangoon. All Indian/British forces are, with the exception of a few stragglers, back in Calcutta where they are resting and refitting. The 1st Burma ID has been rebuilt, too. Once it gets its morale restored and units rebuilt it will be sent back to Imphal.
Otherwise, nothing really happening in this theatre.
When the AI eventually gets around to taking Akyab and Cox Bazaar I will, as mentioned in the first post, let the AI take it without resistance and make no attempt to interfere with its attempts to keep the area supplied.
I suspect the result of allowing the AI to move in forces to Akyab at will be a decent and probably rather bloody battle at Chittagong. As such, I'm planning on eventually moving in lots of forces to Chittagong. But for now, most forces are in either Calcutta or Colombo.
Australia
6th Australia is about to arrive at Perth. 7th is arriving in Aden now.
No battles here at all yet. Australia is well stocked with supplies and fuel - helped by all the fuel swiped from Soerbaja by the retreating units and the fact that no major naval forces are operating in the Coral Sea.
Pago Pago
Pago has become, at least for the moment, the default operating base for US naval operations. All needed support ships are here to allow for rearming and refueling of naval forces, torpedo planes and surface ships. With 250 quality AV and another 150 quality AV arriving in a month or so, Pago will end up near the stacking limit for the hex. The result is that it will be a hard nut to crack, even for an experienced human player.
The big problem is just bulding up the airfield and the port.
Suvaii will also be full built up.
Rest of South Pacific
Slowly putting up bases on islands I never once used before. Most islands in/around Suva and Pago have base forces slated for them. Just a matter of getting the shipping....and the PP's....to get them moving.
Potential AI Large Assault in the Central Pacific
There's a mass of ships congregating in-between Johnston and Midway Island right now and about 25 hexes due West of PH. Currently I see 9 TF's. This isn't a raid, either. It's an assault of some kind, since searches reveal numerous AP's and AK's and TK's. The weird thing, though, is that it isn't really moving. It is just sort of sitting there in the middle of the Central Pacific. Perhaps waiting for the CV's to join up for the party???
I have no idea where this assault - if it is an assault - is going to go. I've seen no intelligence showing units prepping for Johnson Island, Midway Island or anywhere in Hawaii. So where-ever it is going is a surprise to me.
Regardless, I'll let it "take" whatever it wants if it does make an assault. Then will take it back once I've got units prepped and the AI has left.
Canton & Baker Island
Both Canton and Baker Island are on the "Allied Side' of the Red Line. Thus, I'll defend them when possible - at least as long as it doesn't lead to an all out carrier war.
A small allied SCTF beat back a very weak AI amphib landing on Canton. A few turns later, an undetected AI assault landed on Baker Island. I sent in the SCTF I had at Canton and it destroyed the hanful of ships there, but the AI landed around 80 AV.
Since I had two CV's passing by on the way to Pago, I sent them over to bomb Baker - with a BB force also joining the fun. It will be a while before I have the units available to take Baker, but for all intents and purposes it is out of business for now.
AI also took Funafuti. the CV's sunk a few transports, but I won't battle the AI for Funafuti now. Jap forces on Funafuti are only a tiny annoyance, not a larger aggravation like when they have Baker or, worse, Canton Island.
North Pacific
Quiet as a church on Friday night.
Overall Play of the AI
About as expected. I'm not standing in its way, so it is methodically advancing. No big thrusts yet, although something is brewing in the Central Pacific. The AI did launch a few small SCTF raids, that I let pass unmolested.
Basically, I'm just waiting for the AI to get done with its advances and set up its defensive position. Figure that will take many more months yet.
China
A "sitzkreig" has for the most part developed in China. I have a solid line that runs from Liuchow - Changsha - Chengteh - Ichang - Loyang. AI isn't really advancing on it - more like doing a few "probes."
The one exception is the accidental wrench I threw into the AI's plans at Wenchow. The AI continues to beat its head against the wall there, doing several bombardments turns followed by a deliberate attack. It is using 3 ID's. If I hadn't moved into the other two ID's at the beginning of the game, I'm sure the AI would have taken Wenchow by now. But alas...it seems not to be. Since Wenchow creates its own supply, I'm beginning to wonder if/when the AI will take it.
Philippines
On the other hand, I gave an accidental gift to the AI in the Philippines. Due to all the forces from Clark Field retreating into Bataan and destroying the supply situation, Bataan fell in record time. The AI - with just 15,000 troops and needing only three deliberate attacks to do it - took Bataan on January 31st. So, I taketh away from the AI and China and giveth to the AI in Bataan. Seems like a fair trade.
DEI
The DEI has been pounded every turn by land and carrier aircraft. However, the AI lost the CVL Zuiho. The turn before Singapore fell (which fell on Jan. 21st), I moved over two torpedo squadrons and two fighter squadrons to Batavia. The AI hadn't bombed Signapore much, so the air groups were in good condition. Anyways, the Zuiho just got unlucky and took three torps. Despite all the attacks over two weeks that the Allied torpedo planes launched, the Zuiho was the only ship that took a hit.
Of course, no complaints on my end.
I am using the Dutch PT boats a bit. They've done two raids and taken a few transports, but nothing earth shattering. But they are pretty much out of the game now.
The Hiryu took a torpedo hit from a Dutch Sub, but apparently the damage was only minor. Still, a hole is a hole is a hole.
Japanse forces have invaded Java in three places, but have yet to land enough forces there to dislodge Dutch forces in Batavia, Soerbaja and elsewhere. Right now, the landings are just preliminary it seems.
Elsewhere in the DEI and Borneo, Japan has taken all major bases except Koepang.
Singapore
Signapore fell on Jan 21st. I "suicided" one Indian Brigade of the 9th ID that was left behind during the evacuation. Cut off and trapped, that brigade was preventing me from rebuilding the rest of the 9th ID that was now in Colombo. So, with two AV it started to chase Japanese units around, spoiling for a fight and, after a few weeks, found on - resulting in the unit being destroyed.
India & Burma
The AI just took Rangoon. All Indian/British forces are, with the exception of a few stragglers, back in Calcutta where they are resting and refitting. The 1st Burma ID has been rebuilt, too. Once it gets its morale restored and units rebuilt it will be sent back to Imphal.
Otherwise, nothing really happening in this theatre.
When the AI eventually gets around to taking Akyab and Cox Bazaar I will, as mentioned in the first post, let the AI take it without resistance and make no attempt to interfere with its attempts to keep the area supplied.
I suspect the result of allowing the AI to move in forces to Akyab at will be a decent and probably rather bloody battle at Chittagong. As such, I'm planning on eventually moving in lots of forces to Chittagong. But for now, most forces are in either Calcutta or Colombo.
Australia
6th Australia is about to arrive at Perth. 7th is arriving in Aden now.
No battles here at all yet. Australia is well stocked with supplies and fuel - helped by all the fuel swiped from Soerbaja by the retreating units and the fact that no major naval forces are operating in the Coral Sea.
Pago Pago
Pago has become, at least for the moment, the default operating base for US naval operations. All needed support ships are here to allow for rearming and refueling of naval forces, torpedo planes and surface ships. With 250 quality AV and another 150 quality AV arriving in a month or so, Pago will end up near the stacking limit for the hex. The result is that it will be a hard nut to crack, even for an experienced human player.
The big problem is just bulding up the airfield and the port.
Suvaii will also be full built up.
Rest of South Pacific
Slowly putting up bases on islands I never once used before. Most islands in/around Suva and Pago have base forces slated for them. Just a matter of getting the shipping....and the PP's....to get them moving.
Potential AI Large Assault in the Central Pacific
There's a mass of ships congregating in-between Johnston and Midway Island right now and about 25 hexes due West of PH. Currently I see 9 TF's. This isn't a raid, either. It's an assault of some kind, since searches reveal numerous AP's and AK's and TK's. The weird thing, though, is that it isn't really moving. It is just sort of sitting there in the middle of the Central Pacific. Perhaps waiting for the CV's to join up for the party???
I have no idea where this assault - if it is an assault - is going to go. I've seen no intelligence showing units prepping for Johnson Island, Midway Island or anywhere in Hawaii. So where-ever it is going is a surprise to me.
Regardless, I'll let it "take" whatever it wants if it does make an assault. Then will take it back once I've got units prepped and the AI has left.
Canton & Baker Island
Both Canton and Baker Island are on the "Allied Side' of the Red Line. Thus, I'll defend them when possible - at least as long as it doesn't lead to an all out carrier war.
A small allied SCTF beat back a very weak AI amphib landing on Canton. A few turns later, an undetected AI assault landed on Baker Island. I sent in the SCTF I had at Canton and it destroyed the hanful of ships there, but the AI landed around 80 AV.
Since I had two CV's passing by on the way to Pago, I sent them over to bomb Baker - with a BB force also joining the fun. It will be a while before I have the units available to take Baker, but for all intents and purposes it is out of business for now.
AI also took Funafuti. the CV's sunk a few transports, but I won't battle the AI for Funafuti now. Jap forces on Funafuti are only a tiny annoyance, not a larger aggravation like when they have Baker or, worse, Canton Island.
North Pacific
Quiet as a church on Friday night.
Jim's Newbie Tip #1
One advantage to rolling over for the AI is that it makes the first few months of the games go by rather quickly. I'll go over the various theatres in this and followup posts with maps. But first.....
Jim's Newbie Tip #1 : Keeping the Allied Fleet Replenished Far Out at Sea
Logistics for naval fleets, especially the growing Allied fleet that operates far away from major ports, often poses a challenge to newbie players. In particular, how can a player keep a CV or Surface Combat Task Force fueled, fully armed and - for CV's - keep the amount of sorties replenished when the Allied fleet is far away from a Large Port?
As always, there's multiple ways to do it. The painful way is to find a mid-sized port, have a gaggle of small Tanker TF's, and slowly drop off fuel at the base. Meanwhile, you can disband the CV's and SCTF's and refuel them ever-so-slowly.
The quick and non-painful way is to instead find a nice, secure anchorage. An anchorage is any dot hex or controlled base. Since you'll be doing the refueling and replenishing at a location that likely lacks strong land based air cover, be sure to pick a spot that is far away from land based air threats. And ideally is in a location where enemy CV's won't show themselves.
While this can be done at dot hexes, this method is best used at a controlled base that has a port of 1 or greater. For refueling, dot hexes work just as well as bases with ports. However, rearming is much slower at dot hexes when compared to a port. Moreover, dot hexes prevent the resupply of the AE's/AKE's needed to maintain high operational tempo. In other words, if you have a choice of doing this at a "dot hex" or a controlled base with a port, always choose the port - and the larger the port, the better. Still, all you really need is a level 1 port, although having a port with some naval support does help. If you have a level 2 port or greater with lots of Naval Support (30+), well....you're totally "golden". A level 2 port with good naval support will allow the player to keep everything but the largest of fleets armed/fueled and ready to go nearly indefinitely.
Currently, I'm using Pago Pago as the refuel/replenishment/rearm base (port 3 with 9 naval support). In the unhappy event that Suva falls (thus putting Pago Pago under air threat), my backup refuel/replenishment/rearm base is Penhryn Island.
Now that you've found a base to do this, here's what you need to keep a moderate sized CV TF's and SCTF's fully armed and replenished and ready to rock and roll.
1. Multiple AKE's and/or AE's. You NEED more than one or two to maintain operational tempo. I'm currently using 5 AKE's and 1 AE at Pago Pago to keep my two CV TF's and two SCTF's (which contains two BB's) fully operational, fueled and armed.
Note...it is important to disband the AE's and AKE's. Do not keep them in a task force. Instead, disband them in port. Disbanding the AE's/AKE's makes it MUCH simpler to keep them resupplied.
Also, an AD is always helpful, although it isn't needed. Still, if you have a spare one, be sure to include it.
2. Six AO's, split into two separate replenishment TF's. These replenishment TF's stay at the anchorage spot and do NOT move back and forth between the base and Pearl Harbor/West Coast to get fuel. Instead, the AO's have the the "gas brought to them" by separate Tanker TF's (described next). Because of this, once the replenishment TF's have reached the anchorage you have chosen, you do not need to keep it heavily escorted - just a DD or two will suffice (in case you have to move it in a hurry for whatever reason).
3. Six TK's, split into two separate Tanker TF's which contain three TK's each. Later in the game, when the Allied fleet is huge, you'll need more tanker TF's and each Tanker TF will need to contain more tankers. But early in the game this is all you need.
The purpose of the Tanker TF's is to run fuel in-between the West Coast/Pearl Harbor and the replenishment TF's that are located at the anchorage.
To Refuel and Re-Arm Your CV's and SCTF's
1. Move your CV's and SCTF's back to your chosen base. Hit the replenish button in your CV and SCTF's screen. Simple.
2. By using replenish button, you draw fuel from the AO's sitting at the anchorage. You also draw supplies from the AE's/AKE's sitting disbanded in the port (or at anchor in a dot hex). The supplies rearm all guns for every ship AND also restock the sorties for the CV's, along with resupplying torpedoes for the torpedo bombers.
3. Yawn...nothing new here. But alas, there is....
4. The problem, of course, is that you just drew down - perhaps substantially - the amount of fuel and supplies in the AO's and AKE's. In particular, supplies will drop dramatically if you have BB's that have been kept busy in battle or doing bombardments. If you want to keep your CV's and SCTF's active in operations over a long period of time (not just a single operation), you need to be able to keep those AE's and AKE's and AO's continually resupplied.
5. So...next step is to hit the replenish button for the AO's. If the AO's have op points still available (and they should, that's one reason to use six AO's spread across two separate TF's) the AO's will transfer fuel from the TK's to the AO's. Every turn keep hitting the replenish button of your AO's to keep them topped up, drawing down the amount of fuel in the Tanker TF's. Once the Tanker TF's are empty or near-empty, send them back to port to get more fuel and "wash/repeat". Since you're using two tanker TF's, just as one is empty the other full one should be just about to arrive, too.
6. To keep the AE's and AKE's supplied, go into the port screen for the base and hit "Load Tenders" at base. Assuming the AE's and AKE's have operational points available, they will all load supplies. How fast they load is dependent on port size and naval support.
However, remember you used six AKE's/AE's. When CV's and SCTF's pull supply from AE's and AKE's, they pull supply in equal amounts from ALL AKE's and AE's that are disbanded in port. Generally, even moderate sized TF's involved in active operations won't drain a large pack of AE's/AKE's. Generally, you can fully reload the supplies on AKE's/AE's within a turn or, at worse, two turns.
Just remember, the AE's/AKE's are drawing their supply from the base itself. Thus, your base needs to have LOTS of supply. If the base runs out of supply, then you lose the ability to "reload" the AKE's/AE's that are disbanded in port.
Hmm....sorry this was so long!
Jim's Newbie Tip #1 : Keeping the Allied Fleet Replenished Far Out at Sea
Logistics for naval fleets, especially the growing Allied fleet that operates far away from major ports, often poses a challenge to newbie players. In particular, how can a player keep a CV or Surface Combat Task Force fueled, fully armed and - for CV's - keep the amount of sorties replenished when the Allied fleet is far away from a Large Port?
As always, there's multiple ways to do it. The painful way is to find a mid-sized port, have a gaggle of small Tanker TF's, and slowly drop off fuel at the base. Meanwhile, you can disband the CV's and SCTF's and refuel them ever-so-slowly.
The quick and non-painful way is to instead find a nice, secure anchorage. An anchorage is any dot hex or controlled base. Since you'll be doing the refueling and replenishing at a location that likely lacks strong land based air cover, be sure to pick a spot that is far away from land based air threats. And ideally is in a location where enemy CV's won't show themselves.
While this can be done at dot hexes, this method is best used at a controlled base that has a port of 1 or greater. For refueling, dot hexes work just as well as bases with ports. However, rearming is much slower at dot hexes when compared to a port. Moreover, dot hexes prevent the resupply of the AE's/AKE's needed to maintain high operational tempo. In other words, if you have a choice of doing this at a "dot hex" or a controlled base with a port, always choose the port - and the larger the port, the better. Still, all you really need is a level 1 port, although having a port with some naval support does help. If you have a level 2 port or greater with lots of Naval Support (30+), well....you're totally "golden". A level 2 port with good naval support will allow the player to keep everything but the largest of fleets armed/fueled and ready to go nearly indefinitely.
Currently, I'm using Pago Pago as the refuel/replenishment/rearm base (port 3 with 9 naval support). In the unhappy event that Suva falls (thus putting Pago Pago under air threat), my backup refuel/replenishment/rearm base is Penhryn Island.
Now that you've found a base to do this, here's what you need to keep a moderate sized CV TF's and SCTF's fully armed and replenished and ready to rock and roll.
1. Multiple AKE's and/or AE's. You NEED more than one or two to maintain operational tempo. I'm currently using 5 AKE's and 1 AE at Pago Pago to keep my two CV TF's and two SCTF's (which contains two BB's) fully operational, fueled and armed.
Note...it is important to disband the AE's and AKE's. Do not keep them in a task force. Instead, disband them in port. Disbanding the AE's/AKE's makes it MUCH simpler to keep them resupplied.
Also, an AD is always helpful, although it isn't needed. Still, if you have a spare one, be sure to include it.
2. Six AO's, split into two separate replenishment TF's. These replenishment TF's stay at the anchorage spot and do NOT move back and forth between the base and Pearl Harbor/West Coast to get fuel. Instead, the AO's have the the "gas brought to them" by separate Tanker TF's (described next). Because of this, once the replenishment TF's have reached the anchorage you have chosen, you do not need to keep it heavily escorted - just a DD or two will suffice (in case you have to move it in a hurry for whatever reason).
3. Six TK's, split into two separate Tanker TF's which contain three TK's each. Later in the game, when the Allied fleet is huge, you'll need more tanker TF's and each Tanker TF will need to contain more tankers. But early in the game this is all you need.
The purpose of the Tanker TF's is to run fuel in-between the West Coast/Pearl Harbor and the replenishment TF's that are located at the anchorage.
To Refuel and Re-Arm Your CV's and SCTF's
1. Move your CV's and SCTF's back to your chosen base. Hit the replenish button in your CV and SCTF's screen. Simple.
2. By using replenish button, you draw fuel from the AO's sitting at the anchorage. You also draw supplies from the AE's/AKE's sitting disbanded in the port (or at anchor in a dot hex). The supplies rearm all guns for every ship AND also restock the sorties for the CV's, along with resupplying torpedoes for the torpedo bombers.
3. Yawn...nothing new here. But alas, there is....
4. The problem, of course, is that you just drew down - perhaps substantially - the amount of fuel and supplies in the AO's and AKE's. In particular, supplies will drop dramatically if you have BB's that have been kept busy in battle or doing bombardments. If you want to keep your CV's and SCTF's active in operations over a long period of time (not just a single operation), you need to be able to keep those AE's and AKE's and AO's continually resupplied.
5. So...next step is to hit the replenish button for the AO's. If the AO's have op points still available (and they should, that's one reason to use six AO's spread across two separate TF's) the AO's will transfer fuel from the TK's to the AO's. Every turn keep hitting the replenish button of your AO's to keep them topped up, drawing down the amount of fuel in the Tanker TF's. Once the Tanker TF's are empty or near-empty, send them back to port to get more fuel and "wash/repeat". Since you're using two tanker TF's, just as one is empty the other full one should be just about to arrive, too.
6. To keep the AE's and AKE's supplied, go into the port screen for the base and hit "Load Tenders" at base. Assuming the AE's and AKE's have operational points available, they will all load supplies. How fast they load is dependent on port size and naval support.
However, remember you used six AKE's/AE's. When CV's and SCTF's pull supply from AE's and AKE's, they pull supply in equal amounts from ALL AKE's and AE's that are disbanded in port. Generally, even moderate sized TF's involved in active operations won't drain a large pack of AE's/AKE's. Generally, you can fully reload the supplies on AKE's/AE's within a turn or, at worse, two turns.
Just remember, the AE's/AKE's are drawing their supply from the base itself. Thus, your base needs to have LOTS of supply. If the base runs out of supply, then you lose the ability to "reload" the AKE's/AE's that are disbanded in port.
Hmm....sorry this was so long!
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paradigmblue
- Posts: 784
- Joined: Mon Sep 15, 2014 10:44 pm
- Location: Fairbanks, Alaska
RE: Jim's Newbie Tip #1
Great advice Jim, thank you!
March 15th, 1942 & China
March 15th, 1942
Overall, things according to how I thought it would so far. AI has been deliberate in its movements. AI just finished grabbing all the bases in the Solomons and the area around Port Moresby. Intel shows LCU's moving down now to reinforce PM and Lunga and Tulagi.
Surprisingly, the AI hasn't tried to invade Noumea or Luganville yet. Not sure if it is "waiting" for a specific thing to happen in order to trigger an invasion - or if something has changed in its algo so that it is no longer making those deep, large, unsupported invasions. Regardless, if Noumea and Luganville are not occupied by Japan in the next few months, at some point in late summer or early fall I'll move in and set up shop.
China
The "Sitzkreig" continues. I've developed a nice looking line that, of course, is made of glass. Any competent human player could easily shatter it in many places. And should the "sitzkreig" end with the AI, I suspect the AI will likely shatter it too. The Burma Road is still open (for the next week anyways), but supply already sucks. Two weeks from now, it will be far worse when the Burma Road gets closed.
I've had to pull out forces from several cities due to lack of supply. One thing that continually confounds me about supply in China is why a unit will "starve" in a city but as soon as it move away from the city hex the unit finds supply. The only cities where Chinese units don't "die on the vine" are in those cities that generate the supply (Sian, Changsha, Ichang, etc...). But in cities like Loyang, Nanyang, Yenan and a long list of others....Chinese units just slowly starve to death.
Anyways, lack of supply made me pull two of the three ID's I had in Loyang. The division that remains in Loyang is only getting 15% of the supplies it needs, so I'll likely pull that out soon too. I rather have it pull out then get forced out, being hopelessly broken in the process.
I've also basically abandoned Yenan. Just keeping a tiny unit there (which is still starving despite its tiny size) to keep the AI busy in the event the AI decides to take the march down the road to the city. The units I pulled from Yenen are just one hex away, had been starving in the city, and are now fully supplied now that they sit out in the country. Sometimes this game confounds me.
Finally, there's Wenchow. The AI continues to get bloody in futile attacks to get it, although it is doing a good job bombing the place. Still, supply is running out here too. So I'm pulling out two of the three Infantry divisions I have there. This will allow the remaining one (and the strongest one) to keep fully supplied. It should, hopefully, also give the AI a better shot at taking Wenchow too. The units I'm pulling out of Wenchow will make the long march up to the area around Liuchow and vicinity - assuming they can make the march without being cornered by a Jap unit.
Overall, things according to how I thought it would so far. AI has been deliberate in its movements. AI just finished grabbing all the bases in the Solomons and the area around Port Moresby. Intel shows LCU's moving down now to reinforce PM and Lunga and Tulagi.
Surprisingly, the AI hasn't tried to invade Noumea or Luganville yet. Not sure if it is "waiting" for a specific thing to happen in order to trigger an invasion - or if something has changed in its algo so that it is no longer making those deep, large, unsupported invasions. Regardless, if Noumea and Luganville are not occupied by Japan in the next few months, at some point in late summer or early fall I'll move in and set up shop.
China
The "Sitzkreig" continues. I've developed a nice looking line that, of course, is made of glass. Any competent human player could easily shatter it in many places. And should the "sitzkreig" end with the AI, I suspect the AI will likely shatter it too. The Burma Road is still open (for the next week anyways), but supply already sucks. Two weeks from now, it will be far worse when the Burma Road gets closed.
I've had to pull out forces from several cities due to lack of supply. One thing that continually confounds me about supply in China is why a unit will "starve" in a city but as soon as it move away from the city hex the unit finds supply. The only cities where Chinese units don't "die on the vine" are in those cities that generate the supply (Sian, Changsha, Ichang, etc...). But in cities like Loyang, Nanyang, Yenan and a long list of others....Chinese units just slowly starve to death.
Anyways, lack of supply made me pull two of the three ID's I had in Loyang. The division that remains in Loyang is only getting 15% of the supplies it needs, so I'll likely pull that out soon too. I rather have it pull out then get forced out, being hopelessly broken in the process.
I've also basically abandoned Yenan. Just keeping a tiny unit there (which is still starving despite its tiny size) to keep the AI busy in the event the AI decides to take the march down the road to the city. The units I pulled from Yenen are just one hex away, had been starving in the city, and are now fully supplied now that they sit out in the country. Sometimes this game confounds me.
Finally, there's Wenchow. The AI continues to get bloody in futile attacks to get it, although it is doing a good job bombing the place. Still, supply is running out here too. So I'm pulling out two of the three Infantry divisions I have there. This will allow the remaining one (and the strongest one) to keep fully supplied. It should, hopefully, also give the AI a better shot at taking Wenchow too. The units I'm pulling out of Wenchow will make the long march up to the area around Liuchow and vicinity - assuming they can make the march without being cornered by a Jap unit.
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RE: March 15th, 1942 & China
Since Loyang is both on the frontline and at the end of your supply line, you can start stockpiling supplies and resources there starting from Dec 7. Thus, when AI Japs arrive there in March, your three divisions can defend Loyang using the gathered supplies, plus the LI there will continue to produce supplies from the gathered resources.
You can do this for any frontline base (Nanyang, Ichang etc) which don't generate enough supplies on their own and which you want to defend in force.
You can do this for any frontline base (Nanyang, Ichang etc) which don't generate enough supplies on their own and which you want to defend in force.
RE: March 15th, 1942 & China
South Pacific
Other than taking the Ellice Islands with a weak force as well as Baker Island, the AI hasn't show itself here yet. Even Noumea/Luganville haven't been invaded.
to prepare for the AI becoming entrenched on Noumea/Luganville, I'm building up Suva as well as putting bases on many islands in the South Pacific. It's kind of fun, actually. I'm discovering islands I never heard about before, despite playing this game for years!
The map shows the location of current bases, and new bases will also be put up in Upolu, Niue and Wallis Island. Off map, Norfolk and Lord Howe Islands are also getting bases.
Pago Pago is the main naval base now. But if the AI doesn't grab Noumea or Luganville by late summer/early fall, I'll likely move everything over to Suva due to it being a bit closer to where the action will be.
I do have one operation in the works. I plan to kick the AI off Baker Island. Will use a tank unit and one regiment of the 1st Marine Division and one artillery unit. Invasion will happen in a few months time, though, as units just began prepping and the AI has forced a lot of units on to that little island (at a high cost of lost ships, however). In the meantime, CV's and BB's will be busy pounding Baker Island to prevent it from building up any meaningful fortifications or establishing a strong air presence.
Other than taking the Ellice Islands with a weak force as well as Baker Island, the AI hasn't show itself here yet. Even Noumea/Luganville haven't been invaded.
to prepare for the AI becoming entrenched on Noumea/Luganville, I'm building up Suva as well as putting bases on many islands in the South Pacific. It's kind of fun, actually. I'm discovering islands I never heard about before, despite playing this game for years!
The map shows the location of current bases, and new bases will also be put up in Upolu, Niue and Wallis Island. Off map, Norfolk and Lord Howe Islands are also getting bases.
Pago Pago is the main naval base now. But if the AI doesn't grab Noumea or Luganville by late summer/early fall, I'll likely move everything over to Suva due to it being a bit closer to where the action will be.
I do have one operation in the works. I plan to kick the AI off Baker Island. Will use a tank unit and one regiment of the 1st Marine Division and one artillery unit. Invasion will happen in a few months time, though, as units just began prepping and the AI has forced a lot of units on to that little island (at a high cost of lost ships, however). In the meantime, CV's and BB's will be busy pounding Baker Island to prevent it from building up any meaningful fortifications or establishing a strong air presence.
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RE: March 15th, 1942 & China
Rest of the World in March 15th, 1942 & General Comments
AI has pretty much taken over everything in the DEI. Its pounding Batavia now, and moving on Soerbaja. I'll give the AI credit...it launched a new offensive in Java. With all the CV's and land based air and BB's running around, if the Allies had tried to reinforce Java it likely would have been destroyed at sea. And the AI has done a fine job of "softening" up the Dutch defenders on Java. While it lose the CVL Zuiho to a lucky torpedo hit, other than that air forces in Java were essentially wiped out while inflicting little damage in return. About the only big mistake I see the AI making is launching an amphib assault right into Batavia itself. The CD guns in Batavia - as well as the mine field - have taken a toll on the ships and men that have landed. Still, the forces in Batavia are being ground down. Figure they'll surrender in a week or two.
North Pacific
Still quiet as a church on a Friday night. I did move some units to Adak to get started on setting up a base.
Supply in Scenario 30
Despite the 30% reduction in supply capacities of all cargo ships in Scenario 30, I'm still not really struggling with supply for the allies. Cargo ships continue to build up in San Francisco, Aden, Cape Town and Sydney faster than I can find uses for them. Since I'm not struggling for supply, I've started to convert all eligible xAK's to xAP's. Ultimately, the reduction in supply capacities for the allied player only really hinders the creation of "mountains of supply." I know in past games I've had 500K at Noumea at times, and sometimes more! I can't see that happening this game. In short, under the old system, vast amounts of supply was just wasted. In this game, supply is more rationally allocated and used.
I think the reduction probably hits Japan harder than the Allies, simply because Japan has "so much" real estate to cover and so much to move. Moreover, the passive way I'm playing right now hasn't really drained supply either. Perhaps if there were many active operations going on in Australia, things might be different. But Oz is dead quiet now, too....just being reinforced and being used as a giant air-training base for bombers and fighters.
Stacking Limits
While the reduction in cargo capacities hasn't changed much in terms of game flow for the Allied player, the new stacking limits in Scenario 30 certainly have. In past games, I tended to "centralize" units in just a few spots. The result was vast amounts of LCU's piling up in PH and Noumea.
The stacking limits prevent that. PH is now being used as a "transit base." Units arrive from the West Coast via strategic transport. From PH, they are either then sent to NZ/Oz via strat transport or to smaller bases via amphib assault. The lower stacking limits really does force the Allied player for spread their LCU's around, sort of like how the Japanese player usually has to. I like this change personally, but it does take some getting used to!
And of course with all these additional bases, all the air power that I used to concentrate in just major areas is also now being spread all around.
Fortunately, this scenario has lots of new units. And the biggest change to units I've seen in the game are the base forces. The Allied player has much more aviation support in this game (at least to this point of the game) then it has under stock. This has allowed me to actually start developing multiple air bases scattered across all of Australia, instead of being forced to wait until late summer like I had to do in stock.
Overall, I really like Scenario 30. Having played this scenario, I definitely won't be going back to "stock" again.
AI has pretty much taken over everything in the DEI. Its pounding Batavia now, and moving on Soerbaja. I'll give the AI credit...it launched a new offensive in Java. With all the CV's and land based air and BB's running around, if the Allies had tried to reinforce Java it likely would have been destroyed at sea. And the AI has done a fine job of "softening" up the Dutch defenders on Java. While it lose the CVL Zuiho to a lucky torpedo hit, other than that air forces in Java were essentially wiped out while inflicting little damage in return. About the only big mistake I see the AI making is launching an amphib assault right into Batavia itself. The CD guns in Batavia - as well as the mine field - have taken a toll on the ships and men that have landed. Still, the forces in Batavia are being ground down. Figure they'll surrender in a week or two.
North Pacific
Still quiet as a church on a Friday night. I did move some units to Adak to get started on setting up a base.
Supply in Scenario 30
Despite the 30% reduction in supply capacities of all cargo ships in Scenario 30, I'm still not really struggling with supply for the allies. Cargo ships continue to build up in San Francisco, Aden, Cape Town and Sydney faster than I can find uses for them. Since I'm not struggling for supply, I've started to convert all eligible xAK's to xAP's. Ultimately, the reduction in supply capacities for the allied player only really hinders the creation of "mountains of supply." I know in past games I've had 500K at Noumea at times, and sometimes more! I can't see that happening this game. In short, under the old system, vast amounts of supply was just wasted. In this game, supply is more rationally allocated and used.
I think the reduction probably hits Japan harder than the Allies, simply because Japan has "so much" real estate to cover and so much to move. Moreover, the passive way I'm playing right now hasn't really drained supply either. Perhaps if there were many active operations going on in Australia, things might be different. But Oz is dead quiet now, too....just being reinforced and being used as a giant air-training base for bombers and fighters.
Stacking Limits
While the reduction in cargo capacities hasn't changed much in terms of game flow for the Allied player, the new stacking limits in Scenario 30 certainly have. In past games, I tended to "centralize" units in just a few spots. The result was vast amounts of LCU's piling up in PH and Noumea.
The stacking limits prevent that. PH is now being used as a "transit base." Units arrive from the West Coast via strategic transport. From PH, they are either then sent to NZ/Oz via strat transport or to smaller bases via amphib assault. The lower stacking limits really does force the Allied player for spread their LCU's around, sort of like how the Japanese player usually has to. I like this change personally, but it does take some getting used to!
And of course with all these additional bases, all the air power that I used to concentrate in just major areas is also now being spread all around.
Fortunately, this scenario has lots of new units. And the biggest change to units I've seen in the game are the base forces. The Allied player has much more aviation support in this game (at least to this point of the game) then it has under stock. This has allowed me to actually start developing multiple air bases scattered across all of Australia, instead of being forced to wait until late summer like I had to do in stock.
Overall, I really like Scenario 30. Having played this scenario, I definitely won't be going back to "stock" again.
RE: March 15th, 1942 & China
ORIGINAL: Yaab
Since Loyang is both on the frontline and at the end of your supply line, you can start stockpiling supplies and resources there starting from Dec 7. Thus, when AI Japs arrive there in March, your three divisions can defend Loyang using the gathered supplies, plus the LI there will continue to produce supplies from the gathered resources.
You can do this for any frontline base (Nanyang, Ichang etc) which don't generate enough supplies on their own and which you want to defend in force.
Yeah, I do that, although perhaps not as extensively as I should.
But what confounds me is the difference between "city" and "country" in terms of supply in China.
Take Yenan. I have a tiny, 50Av unit there now. That's it. Both the base and the unit have 0 supply. Meanwhile, I have 200 AV two hexes further away, not on any road, and sitting on top of a mountain peak, and it is fully supplied.
I just don't get it!
RE: March 15th, 1942 & China
Yenan has no industry at all. It gets its supplies from Sian/Loyang/Chengchow provided anything get exported from these cities. If you put too many troops in them, little supply is exported. Even if they export, there are several units in non-base hexes around those cities that need supply. Yenan is somewhat isolated so it gets crumbs of what is left.
You could override the automatic supply distribution by upping the supply requirement in Yenan. Maybe you can collect 2000-3000 supplies this way, then switch to normal supply requirement in Yenan, and then set supply to stockpile at Yenan.
You could override the automatic supply distribution by upping the supply requirement in Yenan. Maybe you can collect 2000-3000 supplies this way, then switch to normal supply requirement in Yenan, and then set supply to stockpile at Yenan.
RE: March 15th, 1942 & China
BTW, there is another house rule I forgot to add. When I play against the Japanese AI, I never change leaders for Allied submarines on December 7. Historically, the leaders' evaluation was conducted after they had completed their first patrol. I know there are very bad sub commanders at start, but I let them finish their first patrol anyway. It helps the AI in its initial operations during the amphibious bonus phase, because it suffers fewer ships sunk by the Allied subs.