Spanking Lowpe (NJP72 vs Lowpe (A))

[CaptBeefheart]

I hesitate to provide advice to a man of your esteemed experience, but there could be some less experienced readers who could use the help.

Have you gotten any USMC or Oz paras yet? Those are great units take an undefended beach regardless of prep and then land plenty of unprepped units the next day without disablements. Device disablement recovery can be the long pole in the tent in CenPac and SoPac campaigns.

The beauty of using paras in the region is you can drop them from PBYs or even the PB2Y.

Cheers,
CB

[Lowpe]

Don't hesitate...all is grist for the ever grinding mill.

As Japan, I use the parachutist to take undefended dot bases along with APDs. They remain on station, and then pick them up after converting the dot base and move on to the next one. So far this game, I have used the Paratroops to take Ocean Island (Marines), and a few others to take some in the Gilberts. I have used the Raiders in SSTs to this effect too although that is a long process and not nearly as desirable as APDs.

These empty bases around Pago Pago have caught me a bit unaware, but if you have 25+ percent prep the disablements aren't bad at all, and if you lead the invasion with only one small xap with the rest of the unit a day or two behind, well that works too. But only if the area is generally uncontested.

Another trick is to exploit the merge feature, the initial landing is what gets disabled generally speaking, so have two Task Forces, a small initial landing in the dark of night and then more than one phase of movement away have the 2nd task force move forward and merge with the initial landing task force. The second wave lands problem free.

Amphibious Assault at Pago Pago (148,161)

TF 242 troops unloading over beach at Pago Pago, 148,161

Allied ground losses:
18 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

13 troops of a USA 42 Rifle Squad lost from landing craft during unload of 147th(Sep) Infantry Rgt /1

Amphibious Assault at Vava'u (141,165)

TF 234 troops unloading over beach at Vava'u, 141,165

Allied ground losses:
18 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)

[Lowpe]

Nov 13, 1942

Our Iboat hunter killers coordinated on this sub...spotted in the morning by a B17, but no detection from the 80+ SBDs operating off the CVEs nearby on naval search. However, by late afternoon the DL had climbed high enough for the Fraser to attack and get 2 penetrating hits with depth charges. Can I finish her off now?

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[Lowpe]

Japan is retreating from Lashio...pulled out one full division! The engineers have stopped developing forts at 3 and switched to expanding the runways.

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[Lowpe]

Moving forward...

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[Lowpe]

Burma...our movements in Burma have caused a large Japanese reorganization and taken the pressure off Lashio. But we are devolving into trench warfare...if I am not careful.

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[Lowpe]

Nov 14 & 15, 1942


Piats are priceless!

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[Lowpe]

The timing is correct for a the Tank Divisions to be around Sian now...Japan is massing all their tanks into one huge spearhead! 60 Piats won't do much here anymore.

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[BBfanboy]

In case you don't know, if Chungking falls to the Japanese the alternate arrival base for Chinese units is Chengtu. If your opponent overlooks investing Chengtu you could still have another redoubt to defend.

[witpqs]

In case you don't know, if Chungking falls to the Japanese the alternate arrival base for Chinese units is Chengtu. If your opponent overlooks investing Chengtu you could still have another redoubt to defend.

I didn't know that. I just thought some units arrived there.

[BBfanboy]

Section 16.6 of the manual:

16.6 ARRIVALS
The rules for ships, groups and land based units (collectively known as items) coming onto
the map, when the assigned base is controlled by the enemy, are as follows: If not a full map
scenario, the four possible main bases from the data base are checked, and if one of them is
present and owned by the player, the item arrives in that location. In full map scenarios, the
nationality of the item is determined and the following bases are checked in the order shown. If
under friendly control, the item arrives at that base. If all arrival locations for the unit are enemy
controlled, the unit will arrive as soon as one of the locations is recaptured and the unit will be
listed as arriving at an unknown destination.
»» Japan - Tokyo, Osaka/Kyoto
»» China - Chungking, Chengtu
»» Britain – United Kingdom (includes Commonwealth and France)
»» India – Bombay, Karachi
»» Canada - Canada
»» Dutch - Tjilitjap, Soerabaja
»» Philippines - Manila, Cagayan
»» Australia - Sydney, Melbourne
»» New Zealand - Auckland, Christchurch
»» Soviet Union - Krasnoyarsk, Soviet Union
»» United States - Eastern USA (includes any other nationality not listed).

[Lowpe]

I think I missed two days not being able to get on the website...lets see what I saved:

[Lowpe]

Nov 16th, 1942

Our ASW Hunter Killer team with which is made up of about half destroyers and half sub chasers and 4 CVEs caught another I boat...well an R boat and managed one solid penetrating hit and several lesser hits before it fled. Pretty sure all the subs are gone from the Gilberts now. They will return to Baker for rearming and refueling. I need to swap out the pilots in at least one Avenger squadron and replace them with ASW trained pilots...not having the ASW pilots to finish off the damaged Iboats has allowed two subs to escape after taking good hits I think.

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[Lowpe]

Big developments in China....

The missing Tank Divisions are spotted by recon by fire from the Chinese Hudsons just north of Sian. Figure we have around 7-8 days before they are east of Kienko and there is no way we can stop all the tank regiments that are there currently and three tank divisions and 1-2 infantry divisions. Japan is truly forming the Apocalypse Spearhead!

One of our counters, the 77th LRP has proven effective but very fragile and they are moving off the front lines and will retreat back to Chungking. The excellent 71st Corp (US TOE) needs to get off the front lines too, and retreat back to Chungking line too, but that will prove very troublesome I fear. Already moving the Indian Mountain Guns (26th) and the 7th Chinese Artillery back (they only have 75mm guns).

Supply has increased into Burma and China...and it has allowed the 254th Armor to finally swap out their Vickers for Valentines. They are at Chengtu and have enjoyed two solid days of replacements flowing in! If time allowed they could get to 150 tanks...but they will need to leave Chengtu soon for the Chungking line. I would really like to get enough supply into Kunming to allow for some hoarded Chinese AT/ART pieces to be distributed to deserving units...plus to reinforce the US TOE Chinese Corps that are there and the 8th Route Army.

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[Lowpe]

Our goal in China has never been to hold Chungking...but rather maintain a Chinese front in the western mountains. So I need to be careful to not throw away my best troops fighting on the Chungking line. I have been super careful to protect Chinese Artillery/AA for the final defense in China.


Heavy Industry is starved for fuel in China, but the Light Industry is chugging along. Our Air Lift, combined with base building in northern Burma are quite effective at increasing the supply flow into China...perhaps too easy however the monsoon season just ended and that might play a role.

We should see continued growth in the supply flow to China...Myitkyina just increased to size 3 air field and the bases in northern Burma still have a long way to go to fully build out plus we should be able to advance a bit more in Burma.

Our logisticians inform us we need 8K more supply in Burma and 20K in China and in January the 1943 Chinese Infantry device gets unlocked and the piat equipped troops for the Commonwealth start to flow into the pools.

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[Lowpe]

Our additional counters to Japanese tanks aren't really great, but they are improving. At first it was the 3.7inch mountain/jungle guns...they have some range but a low anti armor and the Stuart tanks which I believe I misused. I should have given them time to dig in and get decent fortifications...or used them against IJA infantry and not tank spearheads where they got overwhelmed in one fight.

But are counters are improving...the excellent African infantry starts with the best infantry anti armor rating, and the LRPs do too (AA=75)! The East Africanners are digging in south west of Chungking, while the LRPs will help garrison Chungking initially. I am torn on where to send the 254th Armor. Japan might mass their incredible Tank Army of the Apocalypse for an all out attempt to take Chungking which means the Valentines should go there and enjoy the x4 terrain and forts level 6. But if Japan instead attempts to isolate Chungking then they are needed in the critical hex to the south west supporting the troops there.

I chose to keep the 254th Armor with Valentines, rather than upgrade them to the Lee (which has lower armor but higher anti-armor and soft attack). Even though the Valentines armor doesn't exceed the Type 1 Medium Tanks anti armor rating, I am hoping combined with forts, terrain it will prove more durable and longer lasting.

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I should clarify we lack interior lines to the critical road hex south west of Chungking. The southern road hex is important for rotating troops in and out of Chungking but if the SW hex is taken it's importance is weakened greatly.

[Lowpe]

Japan is left with only two runways in the area-- a small one at Koumac and slightly larger one at Noumea. Recon P38s should give us some solid intel on Noumea today and that will impact our plans a bit. Certainly need to hit Noumea with a bombardment group...probably use CAs for the first attack and then transition to the slow battleships once the area is better patrolled.

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I tried to sneak the AVD Thornton into Aoba Island...but they Japanese got solid DL on them (10/10). I think I will have the ship pull back...as I can't protect her yet and can establish some flying boat bases by air lifting troops into the Allied bases already present.

[Lowpe]

Enterprise, nailed by IJN subs during the Gilbert Operation is finally approaching Pearl Harbor.

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[Lowpe]

Resolution has made the east coast and is being repaired at the Philadelphia Naval Yard... (my wife's Grandfather is a welder there, and her father a metallurgical engineer designing gun turrets for the New Jersey class of battleship ).

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[Lowpe]

Section 16.6 of the manual:

16.6 ARRIVALS
The rules for ships, groups and land based units (collectively known as items) coming onto
the map, when the assigned base is controlled by the enemy, are as follows: If not a full map
scenario, the four possible main bases from the data base are checked, and if one of them is
present and owned by the player, the item arrives in that location. In full map scenarios, the
nationality of the item is determined and the following bases are checked in the order shown. If
under friendly control, the item arrives at that base. If all arrival locations for the unit are enemy
controlled, the unit will arrive as soon as one of the locations is recaptured and the unit will be
listed as arriving at an unknown destination.
»» Japan - Tokyo, Osaka/Kyoto
»» China - Chungking, Chengtu
»» Britain – United Kingdom (includes Commonwealth and France)
»» India – Bombay, Karachi
»» Canada - Canada
»» Dutch - Tjilitjap, Soerabaja
»» Philippines - Manila, Cagayan
»» Australia - Sydney, Melbourne
»» New Zealand - Auckland, Christchurch
»» Soviet Union - Krasnoyarsk, Soviet Union
»» United States - Eastern USA (includes any other nationality not listed).

Thanks, although I did know that!

Standard JFB doctrine calls for taking Chengtu first and then surrounding Chungking and bombing it for a month or more. However, this Japan really likes to shock attack and I can envision a total tank attack at Chungking first.