Empire of the Sun - DesertWolf101 (J) vs Andy Mac (A)

[DesertWolf101]

March 28, 1942

Pago Pago

This darned island is going to be the death of me. I really feel sometimes like it is my Guadalacanal but I am determined to take it.

In an attempt to reinforce the 4th Division and the Guards Mixed Brigade already on the island, I land the 11th Garrison unit and some more supplies in a series of night and day amphibious operations during the turn. The landings are supported by five battleships, but the presence of the 2nd and 7th Marine Defense Battalions (soon to be joined by another Marine Defense Battalion that arrives in the island as reinforcements) and their infernal 155mm guns still take a toll on Japanese shipping. Two Aden class transports are gone and one is likely to follow.

India

North of Calcutta, the Japanese 5th, 16th, and 21st shock attack across the river and severely maul the 254th Armoured Brigade, driving it from the hex.

China

With forts down to 0, I was hoping this would be the attack to finally take Chungking. Unfortunately, some additional Chinese units spawned in the city while my troops were resting from their last attack. In the end, only a 1 to 1 odds result was achieved.

[Nomad]

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101

ORIGINAL: Nomad

The bottom right corner would put them off the coast of South America. [:)]

Ooops, that was supposed to be bottom left. [;)]

Thanks for spotting, I will correct it in the post.

I was wondering if there were strategic resources there that you needed. [:)]

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Nomad

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101

ORIGINAL: Nomad

The bottom right corner would put them off the coast of South America. [:)]

Ooops, that was supposed to be bottom left. [;)]

Thanks for spotting, I will correct it in the post.

I was wondering if there were strategic resources there that you needed. [:)]

Chilean wine and apples come to mind! [:)]

[RangerJoe]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

ORIGINAL: Nomad

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101




Ooops, that was supposed to be bottom left. [;)]

Thanks for spotting, I will correct it in the post.

I was wondering if there were strategic resources there that you needed. [:)]

Chilean wine and apples come to mind! [:)]

Argentinian beef! Not to mention the Ladies!

[DesertWolf101]

March 29, 1942

Pago Pago

The newly reinforced and supplied Japanese forces on Pago Pago launch an attack but fail to make any headway. The 8th Marine regiment and the Marine defense battalions are proving very tough to crack.

Burma

Burma is almost entirely in Japanese hands as Bhamo falls to the Empire.

[DesertWolf101]

March 30, 1942

North Pacific

The Americans have been keeping some ships off Umnak and I finally built up the airfields at Adak to do something about it. 12 Oscars and 13 Zeros swept over and cleared the 22 P-40E fighters on CAP, paving the way for Mavis flying boats to come in and place a torpedo into the side of heavy cruiser San Francisco. A second wave of 16 Nell bombers that came next missed their torpedo runs, but a third wave of 13 Nells flying in the afternoon scored another torpedo hit on San Francisco, leaving her heavily damaged.

[DesertWolf101]

March 31, 1942

North Pacific

My opponent retaliates in the North Pacific by sending in 11 Marauder bombers to hit Adak’s airfields. I had no CAP in the air and a Zero is destroyed on the ground.

China

The eighth and final assault seizes Chungking, driving the Chinese defenders out of the city. I was in a race against time here so I didn’t have the opportunity to completely surround the city before taking it, but Japanese tank regiments are moving in to encircle the survivors. I was pleased to see that the vast majority of the heavy and light industry in the city was still intact after the battle. I am also happy that I was able to take this key prize without having to send a single point of supply to China. All operations were resourced through local supply generation.

[RangerJoe]

Now the Chinese come in somewhere else.

[jdsrae]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

Now the Chinese come in somewhere else.

That stack will respawn at Chengtu if it isn’t captured quickly.

[DesertWolf101]

ORIGINAL: jdsrae

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

Now the Chinese come in somewhere else.

That stack will respawn at Chengtu if it isn’t captured quickly.

Yes, you guys are of course correct. The Japanese army that took Chungking will rest and recuperate for a couple of days and then make its way towards Chengtu.

[821Bobo]

How can human player lose Chungking in March 42? China must have been completely neglected by the Allies.

[njp72]

ORIGINAL: 821Bobo

How can human player lose Chungking in March 42? China must have been completely neglected by the Allies.

Not in anyway to undermine the fantastic achievement, but I agree, this should not be possible unless completely written off by the Allies.

[DesertWolf101]

ORIGINAL: njp72

ORIGINAL: 821Bobo

How can human player lose Chungking in March 42? China must have been completely neglected by the Allies.

Not in anyway to undermine the fantastic achievement, but I agree, this should not be possible unless completely written off by the Allies.

Unless we are discussing a complete mismatch in capabilities and resources (which this case isn't), the recipe for victory is found in the mixture of good and bad moves by the victor and defeated respectively. I can mostly explain my moves and decisions here, the exact reasoning behind my opponent's moves I can only speculate on.

I explained a bit how the campaign in China progressed earlier on in the AAR. The key good moves on my part where to feint towards a false objective (mostly Sian), use internal lines to rapidly shift the axis of advance (through Ichang), and isolate, encircle, and bypass large Chinese armies (Changsha and Tuyun). The Chinese armies that were not already in the Chungking area either took forever to arrive (the long road from Sian) or were stopped from intervening by my blocking detachments.

[RangerJoe]

In other words, you faked and then went for Chungking first.

[DesertWolf101]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

In other words, you faked and then went for Chungking first.

Certainly a critical part of it, yes.

[Encircled]

Still a phenomenal achievement to take it so early

[DesertWolf101]

ORIGINAL: Encircled

Still a phenomenal achievement to take it so early

Thanks! [:)]

[DesertWolf101]

April 1, 1942

Sadly, no more amphibious bonus - [:(]

North Pacific

B-17E bombers raid Amchitka Island but are met by Zero fighters who shoot one of the bombers down.

Philippines

I got impatient with the waiting game in Luzon so I ordered an attack on Clark. Bad idea, a 3 to 1 odds in my opponents favor and 42 destroyed Japanese combat squads is the result.

[DesertWolf101]

April 2, 1942

Submarines

Off Wyndham in northern Australia, Dutch sub KXVII puts a torpedo into xAK Heian Maru and comes back to finish her off with another two later.

Meanwhile British sub Trusty sinks xAK Tenzan Maru with a fish near Akyab.

Australia

The Australian Sparrow and Gull Battalions attempt to dislodge the Japanese blocking force at Daly Waters but are repulsed.

India

Japanese forces occupy Imphal. North of Dacca, the Japanese 33rd Division catches up with the Indian 46th Brigade and badly damages it.

China

Chinese I-16 fighters intervene and shoot down two of the Sally bombers who were attempting to harass and slow down the retreating Chinese Army from Chungking.

[DesertWolf101]

April 3, 1942

Submarines

I-9 tracks down the damaged heavy cruiser San Francisco to Cold Bay where it puts it out of its misery with three torpedo hits. This is the sixth American heavy cruiser sunk thus far in the campaign.

India

British, Indian, and Australian forces attempt to defend and buy time at Asasnol but are driven back with heavy losses. The lack of effective Allied recon here is playing to my advantage. I like to bring in groups of divisions into a contested hex right before an attack to minimize the Allied window for retreat.