Rumble in the Southwest witpqs-A vs Andav-J 2011-11-29 to 2017-02-08

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

I just checked: the first attack was November 7th. This one will be November 12th, so a 5 day period. I don't see it getting any shorter unless and until the base is about to fall. Fortifications were reduced to 5 last time, so I am hoping to reduce them to 4 this time.

I guess that is not too bad.

I think I waited a week to ten days between attacks on Chungking advancing to 3-4 days between attacks as the forts fell. You are quite correct the bombing/bombardment will radically improve as Naha is x2 terrain I believe.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Andav could be doing much better, especially at Canton.

He probably shouldn't even defend when it is just one Squadron on defense, unless he breaks them into thirds and then you suffer from poor leaders in two of three splinters.

Settings, settings, and settings. Oh my. He is just handing you those planes.

Talk about your strategic bombing plans, if any? Go visit Honshu again why don't you? Keep Andav honest, and wasting a lot of fighters there.

Honestly I have forgotten to check the fighter strength seen by recon over the HI the last few turns. But last I looked he had many, many fighters on duty there! I have no intention of sending B-29s there again until I fill out the squadrons (at least substantially) so they can go in strength. I'm getting 40 per month now of the longer ranged -25 model plus new squadrons have come in, so that's already helping with Naha. It will help with Amami Oshima, coming up soon after Tokunoshima.

Regarding Canton, it's possible they weren't really on CAP per se, instead on Escort to accompany any bombers that went by. CAP and Escort are sort of a combined setting, not always convenient.

[Drakanel]

Well, that is some really good progress all around. Great day in the air, good maneuvering in Malaya and next day could be the end at Lang son, or very good progress at least.

Things are going suspiciously well. Where's the pitfall? [;)]

The attack of Naha tomorrow is quite nerve wracking. To be honest, I'm impatient to see the results. Will it be a meatgrinder? [:D]

Although it will still take a while, securing Malaya, Sumatra and Java would free up a lot of assets for other fronts and operations. We know you are using small units for all those bases on Sumatra and Java. That's not the case, obviously, for Malaya and especially Singapore.

The question though is, can wee have an estimation of how many aerial assets are you using between those three theatres? I would imagine quite a lot, but I don't think you ever wrote about it.

Also, how many LBA groups will you send at Singkawang? With the obvious objective of torpedoing anything that still floats at Singapore!

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Drakanel

Well, that is some really good progress all around. Great day in the air, good maneuvering in Malaya and next day could be the end at Lang son, or very good progress at least.

Things are going suspiciously well. Where's the pitfall? [;)]
The calendar! Always the calendar for the Allies! [:D]

The attack of Naha tomorrow is quite nerve wracking. To be honest, I'm impatient to see the results. Will it be a meatgrinder? [:D]
OK, here is my prediction. You can all laugh at me when the turn comes in and we see what really happened!

• Meat grinder = yes.
• Fortifications will be reduced 1 level (from 5 to 4).
• Allied casualties will be higher than the prior attack. Why? The Allies are attacking with less against almost as much.
• Imperial casualties will be at least as high as the prior attack. Why? The IJ have 1 less fort level and have been bombarded for longer.
• The Allies will wind up resting for at least 7 days (vs 5 days this time) before attacking again so as to recover additional AV.
• Bombardments (naval and aerial) will be somewhat more effective after the fortification reduction.


Although it will still take a while, securing Malaya, Sumatra and Java would free up a lot of assets for other fronts and operations. We know you are using small units for all those bases on Sumatra and Java. That's not the case, obviously, for Malaya and especially Singapore.

The question though is, can wee have an estimation of how many aerial assets are you using between those three theatres? I would imagine quite a lot, but I don't think you ever wrote about it.

I've written about it in fair detail at various points. I don't want to go through and pull together a formal list right now, so here is a summary from memory.
• Java: 3x Bde/Rgt, a few Bn and a few Coy. A bunch of 105 mm and smaller artillery units. Java will be cleaned out really soon. Recon bombardments were ordered at both Imperial redoubts. We will know their AV strength next turn.
• Sumatra: 2x Divisions, 1x Bde. One division is just about to march into Padang.
• A Cdo Bn is about to land at Oosthaven, which will be followed by a Rgt. Both were from Borneo, on the Java Sea. These two units, plus units that are lifted across the Sunda Strait from Java, will possibly reach Palembang before the divisions marching down from the north get there. Even though there are >14,000 troops at Palembang I suspect it will fall quickly when infantry and artillery from Java get there.
• Singapore: Quite a bit more here. The spearhead has been 3x divisions plus a number of armoured units (the 8 units in the Georgetown combat). Many Bn, depleted Bde, and some not so depleted Bde are supporting in terms of garrison and containment and elimination of zombies. The paras and commandos were retained for use here and a good thing with the recent grab along the road/rail that will reduce the time of marching on Singapore. The basic plan remains: the spearhead pushes down a corridor as quickly as possible while the smaller forces guard the flanks and deal with zombies. When the spearhead is pretty close to Singapore, the remaining divisions and large artillery rail down the peninsula, rested and fresh as daisies, to participate in the attack on Singapore itself. At least 6 divisions (might be 7, but at least 6), and all the largest artillery that was in theater.
• Notice that I have left out support troops. Their commitment is modest and need not be increased to keep up the tempo.
• Recently I have been draining Burma of all but a shadow presence. Divs, Bdes (depleted and otherwise), Bns, armoured cal units, artillery, and many, many base forces and engineers have been streaming toward the front in China. Many are already there and more are on the way.

My goal a while ago was to capture Singapore before 1944 end, and I thought Sumatra and Java would take longer. I now believe that they will all be captured by then.

There are also some Bde/Rgt and Bn that will be moving into the southern and central Philippines.


Also, how many LBA groups will you send at Singkawang? With the obvious objective of torpedoing anything that still floats at Singapore!
So far just a Beaufighter VIII group (if I got the plane name correct!) with torpedoes and a fighter group. Both were in theater already, not at all stripped from more active areas.

[Drakanel]

Thanks for the answer

ORIGINAL: witpqs
OK, here is my prediction. You can all laugh at me when the turn comes in and we see what really happened!
• Meat grinder = yes.
• Fortifications will be reduced 1 level (from 5 to 4).
• Allied casualties will be higher than the prior attack. Why? The Allies are attacking with less against almost as much.
• Imperial casualties will be at least as high as the prior attack. Why? The IJ have 1 less fort level and have been bombarded for longer.
• The Allies will wind up resting for at least 7 days (vs 5 days this time) before attacking again so as to recover additional AV.
• Bombardments (naval and aerial) will be somewhat more effective after the fortification reduction.

We will see how correct this turns out to be. [:D]

[witpqs]

1944 November 12

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious or airborne operations at:


There were Allied amphibious or airborne operations at:
Oosthaven

Imperial Naval Bombardments


Allied Naval Bombardments:
Allied Ships Bombarding Naha
Allied Ships Bombarding Naha
Allied Ships Bombarding Naha
Allied Ships Bombarding Naha
Allied Ships Bombarding Naha
Allied Ships Bombarding Naha
Allied Ships Bombarding Naha
Allied Ships Bombarding Naha
Allied Ships Bombarding Naha
Allied Ships Bombarding Naha
Allied Ships Bombarding Naha


Our subs got an xAK and DD Yudachi. Enemy subs got a YO.

The road was almost cleared NE of Pakhoi.

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Ground combat at 73,57 (near Pakhoi)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 40816 troops, 525 guns, 1573 vehicles, Assault Value = 1733

Defending force 8501 troops, 45 guns, 15 vehicles, Assault Value = 236

Allied adjusted assault: 972

Japanese adjusted defense: 61

Allied assault odds: 15 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
5699 casualties reported
Squads: 143 destroyed, 98 disabled
Non Combat: 77 destroyed, 117 disabled
Engineers: 43 destroyed, 11 disabled
Guns lost 33 (22 destroyed, 11 disabled)
Vehicles lost 14 (12 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Units retreated 2

Allied ground losses:
513 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 61 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 28 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Vehicles lost 42 (1 destroyed, 41 disabled)

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
96th Infantry Division
775th Tank Battalion
1st Australian Division
XI Corps Engr Grp
671th Tank Destroyer Battalion
637th Tank Destroyer Battalion
711th Tank Battalion
706th Tank Battalion
2/4th Armoured Regiment
640th Tank Destroyer Battalion
Provisionl Tank Brigade
632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion
192nd Tank Battalion
2/6th Armoured Regiment
5th Australian Division

Defending units:
3rd South Seas Det.
110th/C Division
6th Field Construction Battalion


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This means that the small unit left behind will be destroyed tomorrow. The sweeps found some targets today but mostly empty air space. Canton airfield was severely damaged (showing 22%) with some aircraft destroyed on the ground. Flak was substantial. A mass of 93 fighters is now seen at Kukong, so the 6x P-47D25 groups sweeping Hong Kong will switch targets. The 4x P-47D2 groups sweeping Canton will continue to do so in support of the 4EB. The USA 475th Rgt is all on land at Kiungshan and is heading out for Samah. The Imperial units on the road from Tsuyung to the Chungking plain are pulling back again.

On Sumatra an empty Padang will be seized tomorrow. Across the water, maneuvering continues on the Malay Peninsula. The enemy unit east of Utan Melintang is once again seen moving toward that town, but aerial recon shows only 60 troops and 1 gun. Perhaps they are trying to scare us. 50th Indian Para Bde will move straight into them on the road, across the river. No sign of IJN sorties except for a sub catching Yudachi. Singapore is showing almost 62,000 troops now, up ~10,000 from recent observations.

Lang Son has finally been secured.

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Ground combat at Lang Son (70,56)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 76058 troops, 965 guns, 490 vehicles, Assault Value = 2070

Defending force 13731 troops, 86 guns, 17 vehicles, Assault Value = 33

Allied adjusted assault: 1580

Japanese adjusted defense: 11

Allied assault odds: 143 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), fatigue(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
11053 casualties reported
Squads: 496 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 581 destroyed, 196 disabled
Engineers: 12 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 102 (102 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 11 (10 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Allied ground losses:
267 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 19 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Assaulting units:
II Aus Corps Engineer Battalion
I Corps Engr Grp
8th New Chinese Corps
23rd LRP Brigade
22nd Australian Brigade
96th Chinese Division
27th Australian Brigade
23rd Australian Brigade
111th LRP Brigade
36th Chinese Division
13th Indian Brigade
4th Armoured Brigade
88th Chinese Division
3rd New Chinese Corps
9th Australian Division
IV Indian Corps
2nd Medium Regiment
312th Base Group
87th Medium Regiment
33rd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
14th RAAF M/W Sqn
85th Medium Regiment
134th (East Ang) Regiment
2/9th Field Regiment
251st Field Artillery Battalion
21st Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
1st Medium Regiment
27th Indian Field Artillery Battalion
18th SP Field Artillery Regiment
25th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
30th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
31st Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
Southwest Pacific
2/11th Field Regiment
2/1st Med Regiment
417th Base Group
II Australian Corps
32nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
22nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment

Defending units:
27th Division
37th Division


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Japanese Unit(s) surrounded at Lang Son
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The units there will stream forward to bring mayhem elsewhere. Some of the artillery has been preparing for Canton; the remaining artillery and much of the infantry will assault Nanning.

The last Imperial positions on Java are weak.

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Ground combat at Bandoeng (50,100)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 3491 troops, 48 guns, 16 vehicles, Assault Value = 150

Defending force 3916 troops, 110 guns, 47 vehicles, Assault Value = 45

Assaulting units:
158th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
2/6 Commando Battalion
2/8th Ind Coy

Defending units:
III/81st Naval Guard Unit
61st JNAF AF Unit
3rd Mortar Battalion
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
92nd JAAF AF Bn


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

Ground combat at Batavia (49,98)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 4371 troops, 69 guns, 29 vehicles, Assault Value = 126

Defending force 2752 troops, 22 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 36

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

Assaulting units:
30th Australian Brigade

Defending units:
78th Naval Guard Unit
35th JNAF AF Unit


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The Allied forces at each location will start reducing them at once. One APD hit a mine at Oosthaven on the Sunda Strait but will survive. The troops are ashore in remarkably good order but shall wait to see if more air support can be freed from the attacks on Java for additional support at Oosthaven before making their own attack. Singkawang is fully operational with an air HQ and a base force. All of the construction units at Soerabaja are packing for strategic movement to Batavia as soon as it is captured. The plan is to max out the airfield there and stuff in as much air support as the B-24s in the area need. From Batavia they will be able to hit Singapore with full bomb loads, first the port, then the defenses.

The attack on Okinawa went very well.

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Ground combat at Naha (95,66)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 73115 troops, 1201 guns, 1816 vehicles, Assault Value = 2289

Defending force 38832 troops, 467 guns, 171 vehicles, Assault Value = 840

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 4

Allied adjusted assault: 3448

Japanese adjusted defense: 2065

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 4)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 4

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

Japanese ground losses:
2287 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 246 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 35 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 22 disabled
Guns lost 58 (16 destroyed, 42 disabled)
Vehicles lost 43 (22 destroyed, 21 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
4524 casualties reported
Squads: 158 destroyed, 219 disabled
Non Combat: 42 destroyed, 52 disabled
Engineers: 22 destroyed, 14 disabled
Guns lost 65 (14 destroyed, 51 disabled)
Vehicles lost 140 (73 destroyed, 67 disabled)

Assaulting units:
6th Infantry Division
2nd Marine Division
41st Infantry Division
1st USMC Tank Battalion
766th Tank Battalion
710th Tank Battalion
194th Tank Battalion
43rd Infantry Division
25th Infantry Division
XIV Corps Engr Grp
40th Infantry Division
2nd USMC Tank Battalion
716th Tank Battalion
3rd Arm Amphib Battalion
193rd Tank Battalion
767th Tank Battalion
Sixth US Army
XIV US Corps
1st USMC Field Artillery Battalion
2nd USMC Field Artillery Battalion
3rd AmphTrac Engineer Battalion

Defending units:
75th Infantry Brigade
2nd Tank Regiment
34th Ind.Mixed Brigade
35th Division
15th Ind.Mixed Regiment
Det. 3rd Special Base Force
31st JAAF AF Bn
Nansei Shoto JNAF Base Force
Okinawa Naval Base Force
3rd Medium Mortar Battalion
100th Ind.Hvy.Art Battalion
79th Field AA Battalion
80th Field AA Battalion
39th Field AA Machinecannon Company
32nd Army
81st Field AA Battalion
244th JAAF AF Bn


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

The odds have actually closed in on 2 to 1 already! Today's naval bombardments were particularly good, and the Avengers made their appearance as asked. The troops will rest while the B-29 groups and all the ships (save the Iowas) continue bombarding. Again there were a number of conventional and kamikaze attacks on our destroyer group patrolling north of Daito Shoto. Many Imperial aircraft were sacrificed but none of our ships were damaged.

I made 6 predictions about today's attack at Naha. 2 of them have to do with future effects, so we will have to wait. 4 of them we can judge - I got 3 right and 1 wrong.

Correct:
• Meat grinder = yes.
• Fortifications will be reduced 1 level (from 5 to 4).
• Imperial casualties will be at least as high as the prior attack. Why? The IJ have 1 less fort level and have been bombarded for longer.

Wrong:
• Allied casualties will be higher than the prior attack. Why? The Allies are attacking with less against almost as much.

Results pending:
• The Allies will wind up resting for at least 7 days (vs 5 days this time) before attacking again so as to recover additional AV.
• Bombardments (naval and aerial) will be somewhat more effective after the fortification reduction.

Very happy to be wrong about that one! Here is a comparison of the relevant result lines from the two battle reports.

November 11 Assault <-- November 6 Assault

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 4 <-- Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 5

Allied adjusted assault: 3448 <-- Allied adjusted assault: 3203

Japanese adjusted defense: 2065 <-- Japanese adjusted defense: 4963

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 4) <-- Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 5)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 4 <-- (No corresponding message.)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), disruption(-), experience(-) <-- Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), disruption(-), experience(-)
Attacker: <-- Attacker: HQ(+)

Japanese ground losses:
2287 casualties reported <-- 1202 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 246 disabled <-- Squads: 4 destroyed, 69 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 35 disabled <-- Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 33 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 22 disabled <-- Engineers: 0 destroyed, 18 disabled
Guns lost 58 (16 destroyed, 42 disabled) <-- Guns lost 53 (3 destroyed, 50 disabled)
Vehicles lost 43 (22 destroyed, 21 disabled) <-- (None.)

Allied ground losses:
4524 casualties reported <-- 7739 casualties reported
Squads: 158 destroyed, 219 disabled <-- Squads: 322 destroyed, 420 disabled
Non Combat: 42 destroyed, 52 disabled <-- Non Combat: 65 destroyed, 87 disabled
Engineers: 22 destroyed, 14 disabled <-- Engineers: 37 destroyed, 25 disabled
Guns lost 65 (14 destroyed, 51 disabled) <-- Guns lost 162 (74 destroyed, 88 disabled)
Vehicles lost 140 (73 destroyed, 67 disabled) <-- Vehicles lost 209 (110 destroyed, 99 disabled)

While significantly elevated, the divisions' disruption is far lower than after the first assault. Current AV is 1,917. The AE/AKE at Daito Shoto are getting depleted, even though loading as much supply as possible every turn. We will have to slow down the battleship bombardments to allow them to catch up so we can go full bore on the day of the next attack. One more day with all the old battleships bombarding, then it will be 1 old battleship per day plus the CL TF to let the ammo ships catch up. The Tokunoshima landing is approaching too, and we have to be ready to support that without letting the assault troops sit in transports at sea gaining disruption and fatigue. Also, more supply will be brought up to Daito Shoto because it's being used at such a fast pace.

Daito Shoto airfield is now size 4. Soon we will need to bring in more air support.

China.

[witpqs]

Malay Peninsula & Sumatra.

[witpqs]

Java Sea.

[witpqs]

Okinawa.

[witpqs]

Ship losses.

[witpqs]

Air losses.

[witpqs]

Complete combat report (attached but not displayed).

[Drakanel]

So you plan to open up a Nanning front as well. I thought you'd move all those units towards Canton/Hong Kong first, but Nanning is quite important as well so I understand why you want to do that. Guess the recons at Nanning also show something you CAN take with those troops

The attack at Naha went well! Apart from the fort reduction, casualties were good all things considered. Your predictions were also quite spot on [;)]. I guess the japanese units there are really disrupted from all these bombardments, naval and aerial.

It's a real pity that you have to slow down the bombardments because the port at Daito Shoto is too small and cannot refill the AE/AKE fast enough. I suppose you will still max out the airfield there anyway.... I imagine you thought about this already but, is there no way you can rotate some of those AE/AKE to other ports, refill them there and send them back to Daito Shoto? And/or bring more AE/AKE there...

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Drakanel

So you plan to open up a Nanning front as well. I thought you'd move all those units towards Canton/Hong Kong first, but Nanning is quite important as well so I understand why you want to do that. Guess the recons at Nanning also show something you CAN take with those troops
In the last few days recon of the troop count there has jumped from ~30,000 to ~40,000. I'm pretty sure that he moved troops out of there in a hurry and is rotating troops back in from elsewhere as they arrive. Although a really substantial and successful counter attack from Nanning is unlikely, I have to guard against something that I would have to clean up and that would cut supply lines. A few turns ago I saw two things. First, the troop count at Nanning started dropping (it has now risen back some). Second, in addition to the Chinese Army units at Lang Son (which I had ear marked all along for containment duty) I have started to have available various Allied BDEs that can act act the back bone of an attack. We'll have to see how things develop, but an advance across the river into Nanning while the main force is bearing down on the Canton/Hong Kong area is different than if he was able to focus on Nanning as 'the' target.

The attack at Naha went well! Apart from the fort reduction, casualties were good all things considered. Your predictions were also quite spot on [;)]. I guess the japanese units there are really disrupted from all these bombardments, naval and aerial.
Thinking about the bombardments in recent days, I think I also got lucky that it was a 'good' bombardment day.

It's a real pity that you have to slow down the bombardments because the port at Daito Shoto is too small and cannot refill the AE/AKE fast enough. I suppose you will still max out the airfield there anyway.... I imagine you thought about this already but, is there no way you can rotate some of those AE/AKE to other ports, refill them there and send them back to Daito Shoto? And/or bring more AE/AKE there...
I've thought about it a little but not a ton. Long journey elsewhere, but I suppose I could send a few to Iwo Jima to load up. If I were really, super on top of planning I could have a second cadre rotate in while the first set retires to Guam to load up. I could also suspend work on Daito Shoto airfield while the port is built up. Might do that next turn. I don't think the delay will be enough to slow us down on the ground, though.

Forget to mention that I noticed the garrison requirement for Canton is going to be 360 AV!! Holy crap!

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

Forget to mention that I noticed the garrison requirement for Canton is going to be 360 AV!! Holy crap!

Garrison requirements start to add up![:)]

At least Andav is keeping pace with VP in land losses at Okinawa. Pretty impressive, really.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

Forget to mention that I noticed the garrison requirement for Canton is going to be 360 AV!! Holy crap!

Chinese troops are good for garrisons. You got any left?

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

ORIGINAL: witpqs

Forget to mention that I noticed the garrison requirement for Canton is going to be 360 AV!! Holy crap!

Chinese troops are good for garrisons. You got any left?

Tons! Despite the losses when most of China was overrun, many units survived and were fed, some upgraded squads, etc. in the mountains. Those units that could be bought out moved into Burma and were built up as much as possible.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: witpqs

Forget to mention that I noticed the garrison requirement for Canton is going to be 360 AV!! Holy crap!

Garrison requirements start to add up![:)]

At least Andav is keeping pace with VP in land losses at Okinawa. Pretty impressive, really.

Very impressive! Imagine if I went in there less prepared. [X(]

We just traded emails about Naha. I shared the plan, which of course can't hurt now.

[Rafid]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

In the north, on the road from Tsuyung to the Chungking plain, the Imperial appear to be in full withdrawal.

Since I'm still learining the game (aren't we all?) - could somebody (maybe Lowpe who seems to have a lot of japanese experience) try to explain this to me? Why would Andav retreat from a perfect defensive position, when it seems that witpqs was not inflicting catastrophic casualties on land or by air. As a matter of fact, that part of the front has been stable for year or so and the allies didn't restart the advance until they noticed his units pulling out in some places. Even though the supply situation seems not perfect for him, shortening your LOC does not have an effect in WITPAE as it would in real life (transporting supply does not consume supply itself). Did he feel he needed the units elsewhere that badly? Is he afraid of getting outflanked if you march north out of Liuchow (east of Nanning)? - But then, that would take some time.

Maybe I am missing the obvious, but it just seems to me that he gives up a good and important defensive position (guarding the Chunking plane and hence the Chinese respawn) with no reason I can see.

Thanks for any answers! By the way, another thing I like about this AAR is, that since Andav does not have an (active) AAR, the reader is as much in the dark as witpqs is.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Rafid

ORIGINAL: witpqs

In the north, on the road from Tsuyung to the Chungking plain, the Imperial appear to be in full withdrawal.

Since I'm still learining the game (aren't we all?) - could somebody (maybe Lowpe who seems to have a lot of japanese experience) try to explain this to me? Why would Andav retreat from a perfect defensive position, when it seems that witpqs was not inflicting catastrophic casualties on land or by air. As a matter of fact, that part of the front has been stable for year or so and the allies didn't restart the advance until they noticed his units pulling out in some places. Even though the supply situation seems not perfect for him, shortening your LOC does not have an effect in WITPAE as it would in real life (transporting supply does not consume supply itself). Did he feel he needed the units elsewhere that badly? Is he afraid of getting outflanked if you march north out of Liuchow (east of Nanning)? - But then, that would take some time.

Maybe I am missing the obvious, but it just seems to me that he gives up a good and important defensive position (guarding the Chunking plane and hence the Chinese respawn) with no reason I can see.

Thanks for any answers! By the way, another thing I like about this AAR is, that since Andav does not have an (active) AAR, the reader is as much in the dark as witpqs is.

• He needs the units elsewhere.
• He is worried that large numbers of units will become (effectively) trapped in the coming weeks and months as the Allied offensive moves up the coast, perhaps aided by amphibious landings.
• Supply is lost when moved; don't know how much but the greater the cost of supply path the more is lost.
• The Allies tried to crack that defensive position a while back but were unable to. A good defensive position as you say!