1937 AAR

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Empire – Turn 28

Reconstituted units S of Kongwa conduct Banzai attacks in an attempt to push back defenders and open up territory where more Imperial Kongwa units can deploy. This is a failed attempt.

In the center Imperial forces attack and push back the Leftist. Losses are moderate, but the Imperialist are able to gain a tactical position advantage. Reinforcements are on the way to the center force to exploit the advantage.

On the Sair Usa front units are positioned for defense and resupplied. Imperial command assesses the tactical situation and believes that an offensive may be possible. As a fallback position, they are busy building a defensive line along the river system just N of the Sair Usa front.

The Empire begins extraction of the Southern Legion from the Eastern Manyoni Shores. The Legion has occupied a Leftist replacement center and, thereby, at least temporarily reduced Leftist replacement capability. Since this raid reduces the enemy capability to build replacements, it is judged to be a success. On the downside, a pair of infantry regiments are left behind to cover the extraction and they will probably be lost. These units will not reconstitute, but their replacements will be added to the Legion replacement pool.

Force Supply: 32 Effective Supply: 40

Leftist – Turn 28

Theater Option: An option to increase shock value by using chemicals and gas is exercised.

Leftist surround and eliminate two Imperial units which reconstituted S of Kongwa. Destroying out of supply units is relatively easy, but it does tie up units which could be better used on the mainland.

The central region has become a battle of attrition. Leftist counterattack and drive back an infantry unit. Supplies run low and the Leftist decide to conserve strength for the next turn.

On the Eastern Manyoni Coast, Leftist drive the Imperialist back to their entry port and assault the defenders. The heavy concentration of Imperial naval units provides significant support and inflicts heavy casualties on the Leftist. One Legion regiment is forced out of the port defense and should be eliminated on the next turn.

Along the Sair Usa front Leftist make multiple attacks and succeed in driving a few Imperial units out of their prepared positions. The battle continues for three rounds resulting in heavy casualties.

Force Supply: 43 Effective Supply: 48

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Inventory and replacements as of Turn 28. Note the decrease in Leftist replacement rates as compared to earlier reports.

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Southern Legion withdraws from engagement to the port of Kilwa Kivinje. Unfortunately, the two rear guard regiments will probably not make the extraction point.

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Leftist push aside the rear guard and descend on Kilwa Kivinje. Their assault is repulsed by the Legion and naval units in support.

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In the center reinforced Imperial units begin an offensive. The initial attacks are successful in driving back the Leftist flanks.

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Empire – Turn 29

Theater Option: Option appears to recall Eastern Legion; cost of activation is 7 supply. Even though activation will drop force supply to about 25, the Empire decides to recall the Eastern Legion.

The extraction of the remaining Southern Legion units is complete. The formation is being redeployed as reinforcements in the center. The intention is to break the stalemate in the center and then move E toward Sair Usa and hopefully capture a Supply Center along the way. One Southern regiment, which was unable to escape, goes into hiding in the low hills N of Kilwa Kivinje.

Rail movement of the Southern Legion comes to a temporary halt due to another rail hex turned by Leftist guerrillas. This is becoming a real irritant.

Imperialist attack twice in the center but the Leftist hold. Maybe they’re using chemicals and gas in the defense.

Naval units have four bombardment rounds on the Partizansk volunteers, badly degrading a motorized unit.

Near Kongwa another motorized Bn reconstitutes. It doesn’t move in order to escae detection by the Leftist.

Force Supply: 32 Effective Supply: 40

Leftist – Turn 29

News: Leftist attack with chemicals and gas, shock increased to 112. Temporary supply reduction of 15 and permanent cost of 3 supply. This event is good for one turn.

Partizansk volunteers spread out along the East Manyoni Shore looking for Imperial stragglers and re-occupying their replacement center. They find one isolated Imperial regiment but are unable to attack during this turn.

Imperial attacks in the center sapped supply and strength from Leftist units leaving them unable to conduct an offensive. A couple of spoiling attacks are made but have little impact on the Empire.

Leftist conduct a series of attacks along the Sair Usa front but are unable to move the Imperial defense. Evidently the gas and chemicals were not worth the cost.

Force Supply: 28 Effective Supply: 38

Author’s Edit: Chemical attack shock values have been increased. 1st attack from 112 to 120, 2nd attack from 106 to 115. Cost in supply remains the same.

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News from the period December 29th thru January 12th. The big news is the capture and reduction of Leftist replacements.

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Imperial units are able to evacuate Manyoni Shores after damaging the Leftist Replacement Center. Leftist recapture the center but suffer a permanent partial loss of replacements. Imperial naval units inflict casualties on the volunteer Leftist when they move to occupy Port Kilwa Kivinje.

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Both sides are locked in battle. The Empire intends to move the Southern Legion into a position that flanks the Leftist. This move is designed to enable the Empire to roll up the Leftist all the way to Sair Usa.

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Empire – Turn 30

News: Urban warfare reduces force supply by 20 points.

Theater Option: Option to use chemical attacks next turn. There is insufficient supply available to spend on gas attacks.
Theater Option: Option to surrender to the Leftist. The Emperor feels that his forces have enough firepower to defeat the Leftist, so this option will not be used unless the situation changes for the worst.
Theater Option: Option to negotiate a cease fire. Not used for the same reasoning as above.

Supply reduction due to urban warfare has put a tremendous strain on the force supply situation. One solution to increase supply is to capture the Supply Center located in the mountain pass about 750 kilometers N of Songea. The insertion is successful, and the center occupied. Leftist are thought to be in the area so getting reinforcements to the center is a critical follow up task.

During troop movements a more rail hexes have been found to be turned by guerrilla activity. While not directly damaging Imperial forces, their actions are causing delays in movement and disruption of the supply chain.

The Eastern Legion deploys on the Kilo Islands located in the SW. They immediately embark and sail to invade Pangani. The first objective is a minor supply point located in a port, next will be the major supply point in the Pangani capital. Eventually the Empire wants to occupy Kongwa territory and allow the entire Kongwa formation to deploy.

From the Eastern Manyoni Shores area, the heavy naval units move S to threaten Chunya. As needed, they are ready to support operations against Pangani.

Force Supply: 5 Effective Supply: 11

Author’s Edit: Events for supply decreases due to urban warfare have been toned down from -20 per event to -10, -15 and -20 for the three events.

Leftist – Turn 30

Theater Option: Option to surrender to the Empire. Leftist forces are being stretched but are not yet forced to surrender. The fight goes on.
Theater Option: Option to negotiate a cease fire. Not used for the same reasoning as above.

Pangani forces rally to defend the capital. Units are drawn from the Kongwa area knowing the risk that Imperial units will reconstitute. It is decided that the immediate threat to Pangani must be dealt with first. This move by the Empire, in conjunction with units reconstructing at Kongwa, are major strategic problems for the Leftist.

The Partizansk Corps consolidates its hold on the Eastern Manyoni Shores and chases down an isolated Imperial unit. Some elements will be left to garrison the Replacement Center while the bulk of the corps moves N to the Sair Usa front.

The Sair Usa front and center force are both depleted from the last offensive. This turn is spent resting, reorganizing and building supply.

Force Supply: 28 Effective Supply: 36

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Eastern Legion performs an amphibious assault in the Pangani Bay. The only resistance is a HQ which is mostly administrative, Motor T and heavy artillery. They are easy to push aside. The immediate objectives are an inland supply point and the Pangani capital city.

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Unit positions as seen from the Leftist viewpoint. Other than their failed attempts to force a way through the Sair Usa front, Leftist do not really have a coherent battle strategy. Earlier loss of their heavy naval units limits the possibility of amphibious operations and they are stalemated elsewhere.

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Typical TO&Es for the reconnaissance regiments. Imperial units have a slight edge in material, but nothing significant. Equipment is French, Italian and common.

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Empire – Turn 31

News: The Empire occupies a Supply Center located in the mountain pass N of Songea.

In the center, the Southern Legion disembarks from the rail transportation and begins a movement around the Leftist right flank. Regular units stage a small attack on the Leftist left flank. It may be possible to envelop the Leftist and cut their logistics line to the S.

Heavy naval units laying off the coast of Chunya retire to a friendly port. Most of the units are in the “orange” state and need supply before supporting Pangani operations.

Two more Bns reconstitute near Kongwa. They all move away from the roads in hope of remaining undetected.

The Eastern Legion successfully invades Pangani Bay and captures the port and supply center. They spot a Leftist HQ near the coast and proceed to beat it up.

Force Supply: 5 Effective Supply: 10

Leftist – Turn 31

In the center the Leftist pull back a bit to regroup and form a defensive line. It’s obvious the Empire has reinforced their center and intend to push S.

In Pangani the Leftist are able to scratch up a few reserves to counter the landing in Pangani Bay. A few more units can be brought in from Chunya. The trick will be to defeat the landing force while not compromising the defense of Chunya or the occupation of Kongwa.

Leftist make artillery strikes and small-scale assaults along the Sair Usa front. Nothing too dramatic, the purpose is to weaken Imperial units while the Partizansk volunteers redeploy to the Sair Usa right flank. The volunteers have finished clearing out remnant Imperial units around port Kilwa Kivinje and will be moving the bulk of their force N.


Force Supply: 28 Effective Supply: 36

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Rundown of the official news for January 1st thru January 19th.

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Imperial Eastern Legion performed an amphibious assault in Pangani Bay. The Leftist have been caught off guard with limited forces to defend the shore. Their defense will need to form further inland.

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Action along the Sair Usa front. Empire armored units have pushed the Leftist out of line and are forcing them to adjust defenses. Leftist counter attacks but do inflict more Imperial casualties than Leftist losses.

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Leftist – Turn 32

Most of the Partizansk volunteers arrive in the Sair Usa theater and begin to deploy while Leftist regulars make assaults on selected Imperial positions. Attacks are not all out but are effective in depleting Imperial units.

In the center recon detects Imperial movements on the right flank. Reserves from Manyoni are brought up by rail. The formation appears to be about 4 combat units supported by ample artillery.

Pangani Leftist are able to disengage from the invaders and form a weak defensive line further inland. They are making a stand to protect the capital of Pangani and its major supply source. A few additional units arrive by rail from the E end of the island.

Force Supply: 40 Effective Supply: 47
Supply which was temporarily diverted for the manufacture of gas is returned to Force Supply.

Empire – Turn 32

News: Supply is increased.

In the center the Southern Legion completes the flanking maneuver and catches the Leftist reserves before they are able to disembark. Attacks cause heavy Leftist causalities. More importantly, the Legion cuts the Leftist’s rail supply line.

The Eastern Legion starts to move inland and finds a Marine Bn blocking the road to Pangani. The Marines offer little resistance and the Empire continues to move inland.

Units along the Sair Usa front dig in and resupply. The Leftist Partizansk volunteers moving up from the S remain undetected.

Force Supply: 20 Effective Supply: 26

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Leftist continue the attrition attacks against the Sair Usa defense. On the right flank the Partizansk volunteers begin their movement to flank the Imperial line.

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The Empire’s Southern Legion successfully strikes behind the Leftist lines and catches them still embarked. Heavy causalities are inflicted on the Leftist reinforcements.