Notes from a Small Island

[Canoerebel]

Thanks, Loka and Bill.

I am destined to be cast in the AE adaptation of The Princess Bride to deliver this one line: "Nothing means what you think it means."

[BillBrown]

To be completely fair, in WitP, your interpretation is correct, the distance of 1 would only have effected the hex the HQ is in.
It was changed in AE. But, AFAIK the effects of the support squads do not extend to the next hex, only the hex the unit is in.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

12/25/44

L+4: Decent Allied bombardment.

Enemy gunfire has increased considerably since L-Day, resulting in enhanced casualties to bombarding ships.
I saw the same phenomenon at Uruppu. What's going on? I have several thoughts:

1. Erik had his CD unit(s) in reserve mode on the day of invasion, choosing to keep them safe from heavy fire. He changed it to combat mode a day or two later.
2. The unit he had there started in a "depleted" state without the OOB filled out. At the moment it became clear the base was under attack, he turned on upgrades and reinforcements.
3. The commander had low aggression or land ratings. He changed them.

Another possibility is increase in his supply in the hex, possibly by sub delivery. Sub Transport TFs are very hard to detect because they are not looking for any action.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

The troops landing south of Wakkanai today:
1. I Corps HQ (35% prepped for Wakkanai)
2. 25th Division (36% prepped for Wakkanai)
3. 200th and 501s AA Regiment (45% prepped for Wakkanai)
4. XIV Corps Combat Engineer Regiment (96% prepped for Etorofu)

Bringing in unprepared troops wasn't the original plan. Originally, I thought the Wakkanai campaign would take weeks or months. But developments began suggesting the compaign could be compressed in time...and previous landings in the wooded hex suggested troops came ashore in acceptable condition despite lack of prep. So I decided to expedite the landings, both to beaf up what's at Wakkanai and to bolster the strength of the army protecting the hex to the south.

I believe it will succeed, ultimately, but today's landings looked pretty darned ragged from the 001 movie. I'll know more when Erik sends the next-turn file, which may not be until Monday.

If, as you mentioned earlier, you have three or four days before he has enough troops to try and dislodge your roadblock most of your disruption/disablements should be recovered by then and in good shape.

[Canoerebel]

That's encouraging, BBfanboy.

Erik sent the turn this a.m., so I was able to check the unit locations and condition of the units that landed and those which fought today.

First, I think it will be eight days or so before he reaches the chief blockade a hex south of Wakkanai. By then, the Allies will probably have attacked two to four more times. Unless he manages to bring in reinforcements by sea, I think the fate of the base will have been decided.

The troops that landed today did "okay" - about 1/3rd disablements, minor to modest fatigue or disruption. 25th Division will move to Wakkanai along with the big combat engineer unit and I Corps HQ.

Another US infantry division is set to land in the blocking hex tomorrow. If it comes ashore without issue, I think Wakkanai's fate is set, assuming Erik tries to relieve by land and forgoes the sea route or fails at it.

There is a Marine division prepping for Wakkanai at Toyohara. It is the last big Wakkanai-reserve unit on Sikhalin Island. Two infantry divisions are prepping at Uruppu. The Japanese garrison there is rapidly weakening.

Allied units at Wakkanai are in fine condition after today's deliberate attack, including the armor, which attacked on consecutive days. The AI wants to attack again, but the army will rest for one day before doing so.

Ship bombardments, air force bombings, and arty bombardment schedule for tomorrow.

[BBfanboy]

When I landed troops in a non-base hex recently, the squads were little disrupted, but the heavier equipment like guns and vehicles took a higher amount of disablement. You just need a day or two to get the water out of their engines and gun barrels!

[Canoerebel]

That's encouraging too, but is it true? Does the game distinguish between the cause of disablements, so that a unit recovers from some kinds faster than others?

I ask because my experience is that units typically are slow to recover from disablements but relatively quick to recover from disruption and fatigue. Is there a gap in my understanding of this mechanic too?

Here's a screenshot of the units that landed today. Their condition fluctuates wildly, from pristine to battered. The key unit is 25th Division, which is slated to lend a hand at Wakkanai. I'll post screenies the next few turns to see how it recovers.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

That's encouraging too, but is it true? Does the game distinguish between the cause of disablements, so that a unit recovers from some kinds faster than others?

I ask because my experience is that units typically are slow to recover from disablements but relatively quick to recover from disruption and fatigue. Is there a gap in my understanding of this mechanic too?

I don't know if there is code to distinguish the cause of disablements, but recovery did not seem to take long in my game. I landed two or three USA Base Forces (200 support each) which may have helped.

[RangerJoe]

Extra support units from HQs, base units, et cetera, help ALL units at a base. Outside of a base they do NOT help other units. You can check the unit screen like the two units posted above, their support is in red then there is insufficient support, when it is in green then there is enough support even if it is not organic support. From what I have seen, aviation support supports itself but no other ground unit.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

Extra support units from HQs, base units, et cetera, help ALL units at a base. Outside of a base they do NOT help other units. You can check the unit screen like the two units posted above, their support is in red then there is insufficient support, when it is in green then there is enough support even if it is not organic support. From what I have seen, aviation support supports itself but no other ground unit.

Are you sure about that? What is the point of the US Army having a BF with 200 support squads for LCUs and a different BF for USAAF airfields? The answer has to be that the former were intended to support troops in the field. In British and Commonwealth armies, it was called a "Service Battalion" and it brought to the field:
kitchens for hot meals
hospital tents
shower tents
laundry tents
cinema tents (in quiet sectors)
a transport company to take troops further back from the front and return them after R&R.
a supply company to replace equipment and clothing.
a paymaster

Units at the front commonly cycled back to the Service battalion for a day or so, and if the front moved, so did the Service Battalion to stay in touch with the fighting troops.

I think the game designers meant the USA BFs to do a similar role.

[RangerJoe]

Correction: Friendly base hex. Otherwise it is the same as per section 7.2.1 which is page 182 in the WITP-Manual-[LIGHT] in my folder. I never had WTIP itself, just the AE version.

In The US Army I preferred to forage for food. Wurst mit kase und brotchen, Bier, bakery items, coffee, sub sandwiches, bratwurst mit pomme frites, carbonated soft drinks, and so forth.

We had our own kitchens in the squadron. Our own medical personal in the unit, our own aid station, our own supply for equipment, or buy it at the clothing store. Heck, one time they even exchanged an M-1 tank.

I do believe that the Base Forces (BFs) are abstracted in the game to show what was available on the base and not the units themselves. Otherwise there would be a ground element for every single air group and then higher echelon maintenance support units.

[BBfanboy]

Right! I think the environment in which they operated was much different in WWII - not many developed towns on the Pacific Islands! (although I am sure the locals had coconut "juice" on tap!

[Lokasenna]

On recovering disabled devices - I am pretty sure that Disruption and Fatigue play a role. So while it may appear that certain "types" of disablements to "light action" or non-combat (landing in the surf) may recover faster because of their type, it is probably just a function of them not being as disrupted.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

On recovering disabled devices - I am pretty sure that Disruption and Fatigue play a role. So while it may appear that certain "types" of disablements to "light action" or non-combat (landing in the surf) may recover faster because of their type, it is probably just a function of them not being as disrupted.

That sounds more likely than trying to write code for different causes of disruption.

[tarkalak]

To my experience (very limited) units that "cure" high Disruption and Fatigue will also fix disablements faster. Even if the Disruption and Fatigue are caused by another source than the disablements.

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: tarkalak

To my experience (very limited) units that "cure" high Disruption and Fatigue will also fix disablements faster. Even if the Disruption and Fatigue are caused by another source than the disablements.

Admin skill of leaders is a factor. As is availability of Support and supply.

[Canoerebel]

12/26/44

L+5: This is a massive turn with a holocaust of fighting around Wakkanai. I'm going to post in great detail.

The two sides begin the turn in close proximity - the Kaigun at Sapporo under CAP by 700+ fighters. The rest of the Japanese navy and air force is close by.

The main challenge for me is to provide for adequate defenses against the threat while also accomplishing the landings and other missions necessary to the reduction of Wakkanai and to thwart or hamper Erik's efforts to reinforce or bolster the base.

Erik chooses this day to sortie his fleet and air force and the two sides will meet at sea and in the air in and around Wakkanai.

[Canoerebel]

12/26/44

L+5: A few days back, an SSX put two TTs into Alabama, as she led in a bombardment TF. The rest of that TF (now anchored by BC Renown) is inbound tonight as is the BB Richelieu TF.

[Canoerebel]

12/26/44

L+5: With the Kaigun at Sapporo, the threat to Allied shipping at Wakkanai is high. I selected a mobile defense in depth - the idea being to blunt any initial IJN attack. I think there are four or five DD TFs patrolling Wakkanai with another inbound from Toyohara. There is an ASW TF or two. And the two bombardment TFs are inbound - the concern there is that TFs set to bombardment mission are at a disadvantage against TFs set to combat mission.

For the first time, I also send in an CA TF to check out Wakkanai and then retire to Toyohara. I don't want capital ships loitering there with so much enemy airpower nearby (and with DS a hex away and only able to provide modest LRCAP).

[Canoerebel]

12/26/44

L+5: And so it begins.