Olorin [J] vs JocMeister [A]

[Olorin]

Dec 28, 1941

Eastern Operation:
- Fanning, Canton and Baker captured.
- CL Honolulu's days are numbered. Another torp hit, just 2 hexes NE of her previous position.

Sub attack near Pearl Harbor at 186,95

Japanese Ships
SS I-168

Allied Ships
CL Honolulu, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
DD Chew

Not much to report in the DEI/PI/Malaya theaters, just preparing for the next push (taking longer than I would 've liked).
The main area of interest right now is China, with the offensive in the Nanyang-Ichang-Ankang triangle beginiing to yield the first results.

Ground combat at Nanyang (85,45)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 38507 troops, 333 guns, 97 vehicles, Assault Value = 1355
Defending force 3647 troops, 39 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 78
Japanese adjusted assault: 562
Allied adjusted defense: 3
Japanese assault odds: 187 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Nanyang !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
92 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
3181 casualties reported
Squads: 193 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 41 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 10 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 31 (30 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Units retreated 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
37th Division
36th/A Division
5th Armored Car Co
3rd Ind.Mixed Brigade
9th Ind.Mixed Brigade
41st Division
36th/C Division
1st Army
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
48th Chinese Corps

[Olorin]

Dec 29, 1941

Eastern Operation:
- KB 4 days SE of Kwajalein.
- When are these two BBs going to sink? We need to switch to airfield attack soon.

Morning Air attack on Pearl Harbor , at 180,107
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid detected at 116 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 40 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5
G3M2 Nell x 21
G4M1 Betty x 64

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 2 damaged
G3M2 Nell: 1 destroyed by flak
G4M1 Betty: 11 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
BB Arizona, Bomb hits 31, on fire, heavy damage
BB California, Bomb hits 22, on fire, heavy damage
ACM General Frank, Bomb hits 1

Malaya/Western DEI:
- The usual sweeps by Zeros keep the Dutch airforce on the ground, navy bombers attack Batavia airfield destroying two fighters on the ground.
- A Tonan Matu TK takes a torp near Saigon. Damage is in the 20s. There ships are worth their weight in gold.
- Mopping up Malaya continues. Port Dickinson captured, two enemy brigades pushed north.

Ground combat at Port Dickson (49,80)
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 9883 troops, 83 guns, 47 vehicles, Assault Value = 327
Defending force 6761 troops, 76 guns, 18 vehicles, Assault Value = 178
Japanese adjusted assault: 407
Allied adjusted defense: 29
Japanese assault odds: 14 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Port Dickson !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
110 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
1711 casualties reported
Squads: 30 destroyed, 42 disabled
Non Combat: 87 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 21 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 24 (21 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Vehicles lost 9 (9 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 6

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
5th/A Division
5th/B Division

Defending units:
22nd Australian Brigade
12th Indian Brigade
112th RAF Adv Base Force
11 Battery/3 HAA
109th RN Base Force
272/273rd Bty 80th AT Gun Regiment

PI/Eastern DEI:
- 99 army bombers attack Luzon.
- Recon showed 25 fighters still stationed at Batangas.

Night Naval bombardment of Batangas at 79,78
Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 28 damaged
PBY-4 Catalina: 10 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Ashigara
CA Nachi
CA Haguro
CL Kuma
CL Natori
DD Karukaya
DD Fuyo
DD Asagao
DD Kamikaze
DD Minazuki

Airbase hits 8
Airbase supply hits 9
Runway hits 52
Port hits 24
Port fuel hits 17
Port supply hits 5

Burma:
- Daily sweeps by 60 Oscars over Rangoon, Magwe and Mandalay. No opposition.
- A lone tank regiment entered Mulmein and found it to be emtpy.

SE Fleet:
-Finschaven and Lae invaded by two SNFL companies. Other than that, there are three regiments waiting for KB to return from the east in order to attack PM and Horn island.

China:
131 army bombers attack ground targets near Nayang. 1st, 11th & 12th Armies on the march.

[Lowpe]

I don't think Arizona and California are going to go anywhere. For a long time.[:D] Bomb them once a week if you are so inclined.

[Olorin]

Dec 30, 1941

Eastern Operation:
- Another port attack.
- That damned Boise's sister is finally sunk NE of PH.

Sub attack near Pearl Harbor at 187,93
Japanese Ships
SS I-168

Allied Ships
CL Honolulu, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DD Chew

SS I-168 launches 4 torpedoes at CL Honolulu
DD Chew fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Chew fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Chew attacking submerged sub ....
DD Chew cannot reach attack position over SS I-168
DD Chew cannot establish contact with SS I-168
SS I-168 eludes DD Chew by diving deep
DD Chew fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Chew fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

Malaya/Western DEI:
- Forgot to mention that the whole of northern Borneo is under Japanese control now. Forces are gathering at Jesselton in order to invade Tarakan and Balikpapan, when MKB arrives in the Sulu Sea in 6 days.
- Batavia airfield attacked again, 1 Dutch fighter destroyed on the ground.
- The 16th Army (2&38 Divs) is en route to Singapore and from there to Java.

PI/Eastern DEI:
- 99 army bombers attack Luson airbases. Runway damage at both Clark and Manila consistently in the 20s. I guess that effectively prevents fort building.

Burma:
- Air supremacy is ours. The allied air forces are nowhere to be seen.

China:
- There are 3 Chinese corps' just north of Ichang against our 2 divisions hodling the left flank of the advance.
- The Mongolian Army is advancing towards Lanchow using the northern secondary road from Patow. On its way there it made a river crossing against 2 Chinese corps'.

Ground combat at 90,32 (near Paotow)
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 15767 troops, 93 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 498
Defending force 11578 troops, 85 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 305
Japanese adjusted assault: 561
Allied adjusted defense: 34
Japanese assault odds: 16 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: op mode(-), leaders(+), fatigue(-), morale(-)
experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
356 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 36 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled

Allied ground losses:
3374 casualties reported
Squads: 194 destroyed, 109 disabled
Non Combat: 122 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 11 disabled
Guns lost 46 (25 destroyed, 21 disabled)
Units retreated 3

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
2nd Ind.Mixed Brigade
12th Indpt Infantry Regiment
11th Indpt Infantry Regiment
26th Engineer Regiment
21st AA Regiment

Defending units:
11th Chinese Corps
81st Chinese Corps
17th Group Army

- 128 army bombers attack targets around Nanyang. 30 attack Wenchow.

[Olorin]

Dec 31, 1941 - Jan 1, 1942

Malaya/Western DEI:
- Georgetown captured by a recon battalion.
- Two independed regiments arrived recently at Bangkok and will be deployed in Malaya to assist mopping up the remaining allied forces. There is still an Indian division trapped at Alor Star. Two brigades are being pushed around near Kuala Lumpur by 5 Div.
- 1 Buffalo destroyed on the ground at Batavia.
- Medan invaded by 18 Div.

PI/Eastern DEI:
- Battan added to the list of attacked bases. Some American fighters were repairing there, we destroyed one of them on ground.
- Cotabato is captured by 4th Rgt. This unit is now tasked with capturing Ambon & Kendari.

China:
- Directly SW of Nanyang, two Chinese corps' were cought trying to retreat north.
- With Nanyang and Loyang in our hands, the way into the jungles what lead to Ankang is free, except that 40.000 Chinese troops are on the way. 1st & 11th Armies will attack them (stacking limits be damned), while the 12th Army defends the right flank (Nanyang, Sinyang).

Ground combat at 85,46 (near Nanyang)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 45610 troops, 386 guns, 46 vehicles, Assault Value = 1747
Defending force 9546 troops, 65 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 134
Japanese adjusted assault: 863
Allied adjusted defense: 25
Japanese assault odds: 34 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: fatigue(-), morale(-), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
146 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units pursuing 2

Allied ground losses:
7022 casualties reported
Squads: 295 destroyed*, 23 disabled
Non Combat: 176 destroyed, 30 disabled
Engineers: 6 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 21 (16 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Units retreated 3

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
3rd Ind.Mixed Brigade
5th Armored Car Co
15th Tank Regiment
40th/A Division
14th Ind.Mixed Brigade
9th Ind.Mixed Brigade
40th/B Division
41st Division
37th Division
2nd Ind Engineer Regiment
40th/C Division
14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
11th Army
52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
1st Army
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
7th Chinese Corps
84th Chinese Corps
21st Group Army

*I believe the monthly Chinese squad replacement rate is 300.

[SqzMyLemon]

ORIGINAL: Olorin

1st & 11th Armies will attack them (stacking limits be damned), while the 12th Army defends the right flank (Nanyang, Sinyang).

Be careful with just how much you over stack a hex. The disruption and loss you'll take is exponential. I recall stacking five Japanese divisions in a 20-30k limit hex and they were all trashed with massive disruption and huge squad losses. It's hard to know the threshold, but over stack with caution, because the cost could be huge and set back your operations by months.

[Olorin]

The hex in question has a 40.000 troop limit. Maybe 50.000 won't cause much disruption? I'll use two stacks and rotate them when they get tired. Using 3 tanks regiments and lots of arty also makes sense.

There is a gap through the woods west of Nanyang, I will divert a sizeable force to advance there until resistance is met. The general intention is to tie up Chinese corps' in the wooded area around Ankang and threaten to cut off Lanchow's fuel from reaching the central plains. If a breakthrough is actually made, the 1st Army will meet the Mongolian Army at Lanchow, which will be besieged.

I'll post a screenshot when I can. The Chinese say a picture is worth 1000 words. [8D]

[Yakface]

I've had fairly limited experience with over-stacked combat - we tend to stick to the limits. What experience I have had suggests that you would be better not exceeding the limits at all. This is one of the few battles we have had in which the Japanese exceeded the limits (by 9K on a 40K hex):

Ground combat at Clark Field (79,76)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 49065 troops, 503 guns, 444 vehicles, Assault Value = 1647

Defending force 31219 troops, 453 guns, 210 vehicles, Assault Value = 911

Japanese adjusted assault: 571

Allied adjusted defense: 1327

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
4940 casualties reported
Squads: 132 destroyed, 192 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 58 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 23 disabled
Guns lost 50 (4 destroyed, 46 disabled)
Vehicles lost 50 (10 destroyed, 40 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
308 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 81 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 24 (2 destroyed, 22 disabled)
Vehicles lost 18 (3 destroyed, 15 disabled)

[Uncivil Engineer]

ORIGINAL: Yakface

I've had fairly limited experience with over-stacked combat - we tend to stick to the limits. What experience I have had suggests that you would be better not exceeding the limits at all. This is one of the few battles we have had in which the Japanese exceeded the limits (by 9K on a 40K hex):

Ground combat at Clark Field (79,76)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 49065 troops, 503 guns, 444 vehicles, Assault Value = 1647

Defending force 31219 troops, 453 guns, 210 vehicles, Assault Value = 911

Japanese adjusted assault: 571

Allied adjusted defense: 1327

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
4940 casualties reported
Squads: 132 destroyed, 192 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 58 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 23 disabled
Guns lost 50 (4 destroyed, 46 disabled)
Vehicles lost 50 (10 destroyed, 40 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
308 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 81 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 24 (2 destroyed, 22 disabled)
Vehicles lost 18 (3 destroyed, 15 disabled)

FWIW, when overstacked I would recommend a shock attack. I don't know whether that would have given enough here for a 1-to-1 result (and fort reduction), but you definitely don't want to be overstacked for very long.

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: Yakface

I've had fairly limited experience with over-stacked combat - we tend to stick to the limits. What experience I have had suggests that you would be better not exceeding the limits at all. This is one of the few battles we have had in which the Japanese exceeded the limits (by 9K on a 40K hex):

Ground combat at Clark Field (79,76)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 49065 troops, 503 guns, 444 vehicles, Assault Value = 1647

Defending force 31219 troops, 453 guns, 210 vehicles, Assault Value = 911

Japanese adjusted assault: 571

Allied adjusted defense: 1327

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
4940 casualties reported
Squads: 132 destroyed, 192 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 58 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 23 disabled
Guns lost 50 (4 destroyed, 46 disabled)
Vehicles lost 50 (10 destroyed, 40 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
308 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 81 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 24 (2 destroyed, 22 disabled)
Vehicles lost 18 (3 destroyed, 15 disabled)

I like the hex limits but the consequences of overstacking can be NASTY!

[Olorin]

Beginning to change my mind after your comments on SL. I'll try to rotate my two stacks after each attack.

[SqzMyLemon]

ORIGINAL: Olorin

The hex in question has a 40.000 troop limit.

I found 40k and higher stacking limit hexes in China to not be much of a problem for Japan to clear meeting the stacking limits. It's when you get down to 10-30k hexes (are there 10k hexes, I can't remember) that it gets difficult to dislodge a defender in 3x terrain. You just can't mass enough firepower. It's a slow process of wearing down supply and the Chinese while trying to keep your own forces intact. I found I was getting a division roughed up every attack when within the smaller stacking limits, so rotating in fresh troops is a must. I was having such a hard time taking a 20k limit hex in 3x defensive terrain, that I tried a five division attack. It was a disaster.

I think you will have no problem until you start reaching the smaller stacking limit hexes.

[HansBolter]

Been experimenting a bit with overstacked attacks.

Surrounded a stack of 12 IJA units in China in a 70K hex. I moved in with 109K troops.

Deliberate attacks yield less losses than bombardments which is unusual.

A shock attack eliminated over 300 enemy squads but left half my force with over 40 disruption.

I put the 40+ disruption units in reserve for three days while the remainder bombarded and all heavily disrupted units had disruption and fatigue drop to levels that allowed another shock attack.

It IS possible to recover significant fatigue and disruption while overstacked if reserve mode is used.

Since this test case hasn't resulted in significant disablements, I cannot speak to the ability to recover from that while overstacked.

I should add that this is an open terrain (cultivated) hex. Attempts at overstacked attacks in tripled terrain have resulted in disasters as attested to by SqzMyLemon.

[Olorin]

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

Been experimenting a bit with overstacked attacks.

Surrounded a stack of 12 IJA units in China in a 70K hex. I moved in with 109K troops.

Deliberate attacks yield less losses than bombardments which is unusual.

A shock attack eliminated over 300 enemy squads but left half my force with over 40 disruption.

I put the 40+ disruption units in reserve for three days while the remainder bombarded and all heavily disrupted units had disruption and fatigue drop to levels that allowed another shock attack.

It IS possible to recover significant fatigue and disruption while overstacked if reserve mode is used.

Since this test case hasn't resulted in significant disablements, I cannot speak to the ability to recover from that while overstacked.

I should add that this is an open terrain (cultivated) hex. Attempts at overstacked attacks in tripled terrain have resulted in disasters as attested to by SqzMyLemon.

This is my experience as well in rough hexes. This hex I'm talking about is "forest+rough", so it gives x3 to the defender. Ouch.

[Olorin]

Jan 2-3, 1742

Eastern Operation:
- Most Netties switch to airfield attack. There are still damaged B-17s at PH. Runway damage is 35 or so. Loss to flak are very low (1-2 per day).
- Tarawa captured by SNFL troops. Nauru & Ocean are next on the list.

Malaya/Western DEI:
- Medan captured intact by 18 Div, which will be split into 3 brigades to mop up the rest of western Sumatra.
- Oosthaven captured by a SNFL battalion.
- 5 Div captures Port Swettenham & Kuala Lumpur.
- 41st Rgt captures Temuloh.
- A big enemy oiler is sunk by a sub near Soerebaja.

Ground combat at Medan (46,76)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 14848 troops, 172 guns, 85 vehicles, Assault Value = 538
Defending force 1963 troops, 13 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 58
Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0
Japanese adjusted assault: 206
Allied adjusted defense: 7
Japanese assault odds: 29 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Medan !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: leaders(+), preparation(-), fatigue(-), morale(-)
experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
77 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units pursuing 2

Allied ground losses:
1549 casualties reported
Squads: 47 destroyed, 20 disabled
Non Combat: 36 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 7 (7 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 2
Units destroyed 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
18th Division
1st Tank Regiment
6th Tank Regiment
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
31st Field AA Battalion

Defending units:
Medan Garrison Battalion
Van Aaran Garrison Battalion
Medan Base Force

Philippines/Eastern DEI:

Burma:
- Pengu is captured by a tank rgt.
- Air drop at Toungo fails on Jan 2 because paras were on rest mode. Dropped another 15 AV on the 3rd and Toungo falls. A Thai div is railed in.

Ground combat at Toungoo (57,50)
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 1048 troops, 9 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 45
Defending force 828 troops, 5 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 7
Japanese adjusted assault: 6
Allied adjusted defense: 7
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 0)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), preparation(-), morale(-)
experience(-)
Attacker: op mode(-), shock(+)

Allied ground losses:
16 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Assaulting units:
1st Raiding Rgt /1
Yokosuka 3rd SNLF /3

Defending units:
106th RAF Base Force

China:
- The usual air attacks by hundrends of army bombers. The Chinese airforce and AVG are at Sian.
- The seriously beaten 21st Group Army is attacked yet again and retreats to the hex directly north of Nanyang. Its troubles are over.
- Same for 17th Group Army west of Paotow.

Ground combat at 89,31 (near Paotow)
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 15710 troops, 93 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 494
Defending force 7388 troops, 66 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 108
Japanese adjusted assault: 513
Allied adjusted defense: 18
Japanese assault odds: 28 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: leaders(-), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
104 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
3863 casualties reported
Squads: 141 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 58 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 28 (18 destroyed, 10 disabled)
Units retreated 3

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
2nd Ind.Mixed Brigade
11th Indpt Infantry Regiment
12th Indpt Infantry Regiment
26th Engineer Regiment
21st AA Regiment

Defending units:
11th Chinese Corps
81st Chinese Corps
17th Group Army

[Olorin]

Jan 4, 1742

Eastern Operation:
- Netties switch to city attack. There are 450 permanent VPs to be gained here.

Philippines/Eastern DEI:
- Renewed offensive begins with the invasion of Tarakan by 24th Rgt.
- Busuanga expands airfield to size 3.
- The usual air attacks in Luzon. Destroying 1 or 2 allied aircraft on gound evert day.

China:
- Still marching. Screenshot coming soon.

[Olorin]

China:

There is a small change of plan here, thanks to the discussion on SLs and the fact the there is a gap in the Chinese MLR west of Ichang.

The 11th Army will be diverted to Ichang its mission being dual.
First to cross the river and outflank the 600 AV sitting directly north of Ichang and advance NW.
Second, to advance to the hexe directly N and two hexes NE of Ichang (where the aforementioned 600 AV and 3 unadentified units are occupying and use the rough terrain in my favor. Basically, pin those enemy units in the forest using 40% of their AV.

The 1st Army has two tasks:
- Attempt to advance on the road leads to Ankang with two divs, two tank rgts and lots of arty. It's defended by 50.000 Chinese troops.
- Exploit the gap west of Nanyang with 1 div and 1 bde. Advance until resistance is met.

The 12th Army holds the right flank (Nanyang- Sinyang).
The 13th Army holds the left flank (mainly Hankow). Two of its divs are besieging Wenchow.

The Mongolian Army is advancing towards Lanchow using the northernmost road.
Three division equivalents are defending Loyang-Chengchow-Taiyuan-Kweisui. Willing to fall as far back as Peiping & Tientsin.
The 23rd Army will be activated when enough RGC units garrison the coast (Amoy area).

[Olorin]

The overall goal is twofold:
a) Tie up as many Chinese corps' as posible in the forested area near Ankang-Ichang-Sian.
b) Attempt breakthrough south of Ankang, exploit towards Lanchow, either occupying the mountain road or capturing Lanchow.

[Lokasenna]

I see no reason to not move for Sian at the same time as Ankang. Taking Ankang doesn't really help you that much in taking Sian, and it's actually faster to get up to Sian than it is to get to Ankang. Yeah, the rough forest there makes it harder in terms of raw combat, but China has so few supplies for the Allies that he should break after just a couple of attacks. The sooner you get to Sian, which makes its own supply to build forts, the better.

[Olorin]

Taking Sian is currently not in my to do list, but if the offensive stalls Sian will be considered.