Going down in flames - BlitzimX(A) vs. Hoplosternum (J) - Allied Side

[BlitzimX]

Good point Still have to get the hang of replacements, for now most is on stockpiling and mostly ENG and Support are getting new units.

An other point i was wondering : I have a pretty hefty army sitting in Wenchow, with no sign of Jap attack. DO you think i should try and push somewhere, or bring back the 25K units back toward the rear lines? It's a pretty long March, but they're quite useless down there.

[RangerJoe]

Let him evict them. That city makes supplies, do not cheaply give away your supply sources. The only thing that you might want to move out is a base for and/or engineers but those are still useful there to move in bombers for Naval Attacks.[:D]

Edit: Fighters with bombs will also work. But the aircraft have to relocate the very next turn.

[BlitzimX]

January 8th

Mostly information gathering and some fights on this turn.

The counter attack on Sian didn't go as planned, and we ended up with quite a lot of casualties, and nearly dry of supply. Time to get on the defensive.
But since Nanyang is still contested and in allied hands, so far, he may also have supply issues with all those units lost up north. Sian may be able to hold a few days, hopefully, with a level 3 fort.

I however have to stop the bombing runs, as the last one got shreded by zeros i suppose patroling from Kaifeng.

Ground combat at Sian (83,41)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 54690 troops, 291 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1378

Defending force 50843 troops, 505 guns, 98 vehicles, Assault Value = 1438

Allied adjusted assault: 504

Japanese adjusted defense: 971

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2

Combat modifiers
Defender: preparation(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
931 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 40 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 22 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 7 (1 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Vehicles lost 10 (9 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Allied ground losses:
4226 casualties reported
Squads: 98 destroyed, 267 disabled
Non Combat: 25 destroyed, 18 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 13 disabled
Guns lost 31 (2 destroyed, 29 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
7th New Chinese Corps
3rd Chinese Corps
76th Chinese Corps
41st Chinese Corps
92nd Chinese Corps
13th Chinese Corps
36th Chinese Corps
16th Chinese Corps
90th Chinese Corps
57th Chinese Corps
4th Construction Regiment
22nd Group Army
Red Chinese Army
5th War Area
34th Group Army
4th Chinese Base Force

Defending units:
2nd Ind Engineer Regiment
8th Ind Engineer Regiment
13th Tank Regiment
40th Division
6th Division
13th Division
35th Division
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion

In Chengchow, my retreat has been cut short as Japanese units are seen moving down to intercept. It seems he finaly decided to start the assault on the 2 cities, so my units are not going anywhere.

Nanyang may come under attack in a day or two. Not sure i can hold.


Nothing else to report in China.

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An increase in intensity of the Air campaign against SING seem to indicate an imminent attack. Moulmein has also been reconed multiple times on the past days.

Further south, most islands in the Solomons are occupied by now. I'm slowly pulling back assets from Townsville more south. Not that i had many things in the area anyway.

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On the Intel level, one of my subs almost got sunk while scouting in Truck, but it was worth it. It seems part of the KB is in there, and not moving a lot. However, some radio transmissions between the Marianas and Wake at 2 separate spots seem to indicate a fleet is sailing to capture the island. My PBYs haven't detected anything, yet.



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I may have done a mistake in Eastern US. I managed to downgrade a 20 strong squadron of P-38E to P39D, to free up the planes. But by doing "Upgrade now", i wonder if i haven't lost the planes; they show as -20 in the Used pool and the number didn't change between the turn. Have i done something wrong?

[RangerJoe]

No, it means that you used a negative 20 aircraft which means that they are somewhere although they may have to go through depot level maintenance.

BTW, the are crappier planes to use than the P-39s.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

No, it means that you used a negative 20 aircraft which means that they are somewhere although they may have to go through depot level maintenance.

BTW, the are crappier planes to use than the P-39s.

-20 means that 20 more aircraft have been returned to the pool than have been drawn by units. This is common when upgrading aircraft or any device and in the final stages of returning the old model to the pools. Take a look at your F2F Buffalo pools to see another model that should be a minus in the used column.

[BlitzimX]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

No, it means that you used a negative 20 aircraft which means that they are somewhere although they may have to go through depot level maintenance.

BTW, the are crappier planes to use than the P-39s.

Really? I've always thought getting them out of restricted squadrons was a priority because they were great aicrafts to use at the begining of the war. Have i been decieved? XD

[RangerJoe]

Yes and no. They are good for sweeping but they can't handle the day to day stuff. Use the P-26s, the P-35s, and the P-36s for exchanging aircraft. The P-39s are decent enough to use in the game for defense.

[BlitzimX]

January 9th

Mostly fighting around Sian. We held the first wave, which is still one less day off supply for him.

Ground combat at 84,42 (near Sian)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 25260 troops, 209 guns, 15 vehicles, Assault Value = 605

Defending force 5530 troops, 43 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 174

Japanese adjusted assault: 207

Allied adjusted defense: 409

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
594 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 37 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled

Allied ground losses:
571 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 41 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled

Assaulting units:
1st Ind.Mixed Brigade
3rd Division
3rd Ind.Mixed Brigade

Defending units:
47th Chinese Corps

In the south, that's now 5 units tied down at Nanyang, soon about to kick my troops out. In total, that's about 25 enemy units spread over 5 jungle hexes with no direct supply line. It's quite good, a shame i can't really exploit it in the south. At least it gives me more time to build up the defenses.

I can't bomb his units unfortunatly, he has some long range zero patrols interdicting the area, and Kienko is only level 1 for now. However the 33rd base group just arrived and once unpacked will give a good boost to the construction.

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Singapore is now under very heavy bombardment, the invasion is near. Numerous reports indicate units preparing for the assault.

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In the Pacific, i started flying down my B18-E from PH down to Australia and the various islands for some long range recons. My PBYs are starting to get tired, and would be better used for ASW duty.

[BlitzimX]

January 10th

Nanyang has fallen in one swift attack. My units aren't dead yet so they'll stick around for some harassement and try to do a few things.

Sian has held a second day of assault, but is almost out of supply. One or two more days and it's over.

Ground combat at Sian (83,41)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 49825 troops, 504 guns, 87 vehicles, Assault Value = 1434

Defending force 60434 troops, 289 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1109

Japanese adjusted assault: 561

Allied adjusted defense: 738

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 3)

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

Japanese ground losses:
2343 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 135 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 39 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 9 disabled
Vehicles lost 51 (5 destroyed, 46 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
3476 casualties reported
Squads: 33 destroyed, 244 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 88 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled
Guns lost 31 (3 destroyed, 28 disabled)

Assaulting units:
6th Division
13th Tank Regiment
13th Division
40th Division
35th Division
14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
8th Ind Engineer Regiment
52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion

Defending units:
36th Chinese Corps
41st Chinese Corps
16th Chinese Corps
57th Chinese Corps
3rd Chinese Corps
92nd Chinese Corps
76th Chinese Corps
13th Chinese Corps
90th Chinese Corps
4th Construction Regiment
22nd Group Army
Red Chinese Army
5th War Area
34th Group Army
4th Chinese Base Force

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Various signs of incoming invasions are caught is some areas. Multiple TFs are localted in the Solomons, probably heading for PM, while the southern coast of Borneo is starting to get visits of multiple transports.

I couldn't evacuate PM in time, so all there will stand and die.

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All the Dutch ARDs have reached Pearth and are making their way down to Sydney. I'll try to sneak one or two to Auckland if i can.

CT is full to the brim with cargos waiting for something to do, but i don't want to empty it too fast so only a convoy at a time leave the hex.


I was also wondering, what should i do with the short legged Dutch ships? All those CMs and AMxs , not sure where i should send them or do with them.

[BBfanboy]

It is best to get the Chinese units into good defensive terrain. Sian is a clear hex where they will be wiped out quickly without taking many IJ devices with them. Move them to better terrain and you will inflict more pain on the IJA.

About the ARDs - the IJ player usually puts a few I-boats in the straits between Tasmania and southern Oz. It may take a bit longer, but sending the ARDs a couple of hexes south of Tasmania (to stay out of Glen search range) should help them stay undetected. There will be subs off Sydney too, so provide lots of air cover and some ASW TFs to keep them suppressed. My own preference would be to send the ARDs to Auckland or Christchurch in NZ because Sydney already has a decent sized SY to deal with damaged ships. Keep your ARDs hidden!

[BlitzimX]

I already send most of my ships south of Tasmania, i'm all well too used to subs hunting my ships down the straight

For Sian, i can move my units in better terrain but that means abandonning the city? Not that it matters reallto tbh, but won't it be easier for him to pick them one by one, even in better terrain? I'm not really sure how to do this.
I have a few units scatered all along the road to Nanyang as well, but they won't halt a push or a breakout.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: BlitzimX

I already send most of my ships south of Tasmania, i'm all well too used to subs hunting my ships down the straight

For Sian, i can move my units in better terrain but that means abandonning the city? Not that it matters reallto tbh, but won't it be easier for him to pick them one by one, even in better terrain? I'm not really sure how to do this.
I have a few units scatered all along the road to Nanyang as well, but they won't halt a push or a breakout.

If you have lots of units, some of them can be "speed bumps" while the others move to rough terrain. You need to keep your hex sides open to do this, so if he tries to send armour around your retreating units, send a sacrificial unit out ahead of the armoured unit to delay its movement. He must stop to attack in each hex that you have units so you should be able to slow him up by sacrificing a few weak units while moving your best ones continuously to cover.

He is going to take Sian, so your only play there is to leave some units to try and cause damage to industry when he takes over the hex.

[RangerJoe]

If he destroys your weak units while you slow them down, they will not have to be supplied and will return. Just turn off all replacements for them. If you have done so, buy out all of the Chinese units that you can but get them all moving to the border to go to India. Then get bulk out there. Do not let them get replacements until you buy them out. If you can get them trashed but not destroyed, they will be cheaper.

[BlitzimX]

If he destroys your weak units while you slow them down, they will not have to be supplied and will return. Just turn off all replacements for them. If you have done so, buy out all of the Chinese units that you can but get them all moving to the border to go to India. Then get bulk out there. Do not let them get replacements until you buy them out. If you can get them trashed but not destroyed, they will be cheaper.

I'm a bit confused by that. Almost all Chinese units are locked and can't be changed of hierarchy. Do you mean that instead of leaving my units rotting in southern china i should bulk move it to India via the burma road? And then i'll be able to buy them back? I got quite hefty units not doing much for now. OR have i misunderstood all this?

Wouldn't i need to convert a base to Chinese also in India for reinforcements?

[RangerJoe]

No. You misunderstand. There are some Chinese units that can be change their HQ and thus not be restricted.

[BlitzimX]

Oh okay, i see, like those already close from the border. Quite expensive to buy back, but i see the idea. Moving them to India will take a while indeed. Do i need a Chinese base in India?

[RangerJoe]

No. You can change their HQ to an American or a Commonwealth HQ. If you have a home rule about changing HQs before crossing the border, I would suggest that you do so.

You can pick them up with air transports but that means that those planes are not flying supplies into China.

[BlitzimX]

January 11th

Average day for my Subs. Managed a hit on the KAshii, but far from making her sink. All the others shots are duds. I really feel like the penalty isn't in my favor, i barely scored anything since the start.

In Sian, no attack today, just bombardment. A sort of resting day, giving a bit of time for my biggest troops to evacuate the city.

Down the Solomons, a fleet has been spoted. Given the direction, i'd bet for Lugainville, but i'm not sure if it's an invasion force or a mini KB yet. Just in case i'm pulling back all my ships from the base and get my STF fleet a bit closer, even if it won't reach it in time. The troops on Lugainville are by themselves.



I'll also start moving my 2 CVs forward toward NZ from their forward position near Pago Pago. The two others will depart PH in 2 days when the last fighter group has finished converting to F4Fs.

Following previous advices, i've also started moving the entire Chinese 11th Group from the border bases toward Burma, to transfer them bit by bit to India. A few small units are transfered to the vacated bases for garrison.

[BBfanboy]

Not all of the Chinese units that can be bought out are close to the border. To find all the components, click on the red flag button (All LCUS), filter to just the Chinese units and then look at the HQs column to see which ones are in yellow text. Make a note of the location and unit name (number) so you can start moving them west. It may already be too late for some of them to march past the Japanese, but if you can get them into a Chinese airbase you can send transport aircraft to move them rearward.

[BlitzimX]

January 12th

First real surface battle of the war. Small scale, but still a battle.
As expected, the located enemy force went for a fast transport to Lugainville. I couldn't stop the landing, but i was surprisingly able to catch the ships despite the big distance to cover at Full Speed.

Day Time Surface Combat, near Luganville at 120,150, Range 20,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Tenryu, Shell hits 2
CL Tatsuta, Shell hits 5, on fire
DD Mutsuki, Shell hits 1
DD Kisaragi, Shell hits 1
DD Yayoi
DD Mochizuki

Allied Ships
CA Pensacola, Shell hits 1
CL Leander
CL Achilles, Shell hits 2
DD Le Triomphant, Shell hits 2

Tenryu is also reported hit later by a PBY, but no ship is reported as sunk. Still, a nice punch with no major issue. The TF will stick around for a day , trying to catch the fleeing fleet without extending too far. Then it will bombard and retreat the next day for rearming. I'm getting my CVs closer , as it's bound to heat up soon.

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The first major troop convoys arrive at Noumea, which is slowly building up as a forward base. However with the looming threat of the KB still nowhere to be seen, i'm a big hesitant to keep it that way, especialy with no major naval asset to support it. Still, quite a sizeable force is on the island and it should prove to be quite a nice bumb.

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In China, the enemy sarts cleaning out the weak units on the Sian/Nanyang road, maybe to free up supply for the assault on Sian. I don't intend on giving up that easily, even if those units get battered.

Shoutout to the troopers defending the hex before Siam.

Ground combat at 84,42 (near Sian)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 25005 troops, 210 guns, 15 vehicles, Assault Value = 579

Defending force 5155 troops, 43 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 135

Japanese adjusted assault: 345

Allied adjusted defense: 292

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
536 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 40 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled

Allied ground losses:
490 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 62 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Assaulting units:
3rd Division
1st Ind.Mixed Brigade
3rd Ind.Mixed Brigade

Defending units:
47th Chinese Corps

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In India, Calcutta is getting filled with units waiting for a new assignment, or the attack in the Area. All the Arm units are set to reinforce and replace, while a few others INF are set to reinforce, most notably the Kowloon Brigade which just reformed.

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REst is calm so far, appart from an enemy sub getting hit by freshly laid mines in Wake.