Sailing in harms way: InHarmsWay (J) vs Andav (A) Scen2

[InHarmsWay]

Quick update on the Chinese front. The pivot to Chengtu is almost complete. Just waiting on a few more units to arrive. Latest AV comparison from a recent bombardment has Japanese AV at 1854, with Chinese AV at 2778. His AV is dropping from air attacks and bombardments, with mine going up with reinforcements. I expect to attack in the next day or two!

[InHarmsWay]

Australia is getting interesting again as well! Gentle readers should be rest assured that the IJA high command has plans in place to trap the uppity Kiwis. Evidently they raided a bunch of Aussie beer and then decided to take Darwin on their own! Once they sobered up, they are now retreating, but I may be able to bag them! Furballs are popping up overhead as Adm Wa is trying to bomb the 83rd Gds unit moving to close the door (at 40 of 46 mile march currently). I dont know how close the Kiwis are but looking good! I am bombing the Kiwis to slow them down as well. To the west, there is a large allied corp moving to Derby. I hope to hold there, while potentially trapping them or at least mauling them for lack of supplies!

Nov 26 1942 Darwin.jpg (507.31 KiB) Viewed 698 times

All this may be Adm Wa's attempt to fix my attention here, while he causes mischief elsewhere. KB has just finished upgrading all Vals to Judys. Jills will go into production Dec 1. All Zeros are the M5 variant.

[PaxMondo]

Hope you are able to take China ...

[PaxMondo]

keep updating us ... you should be attacking Chengtu soon ....

[InHarmsWay]

The vaunted IJA decided to push the attack in China! Extensive arguments raged for days in the China Expeditionary Army HQ before finally settling on a deliberate attack on both Chungking and Chengtu. Initial reports from Chungking have now come in. The Chungking attack went well with the following results (apologies for the length!). Note several Chinese units evaporated, and the next attack will likely rupture the Chinese line, with the long sought after surrender of the garrison. The Army in Chungking think it will just take one more push!

-------------------------------------
Ground combat at Chungking (76,45)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 110876 troops, 1300 guns, 635 vehicles, Assault Value = 4293

Defending force 149613 troops, 258 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2467

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese adjusted assault: 3349

Allied adjusted defense: 1249

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
6983 casualties reported
Squads: 25 destroyed, 486 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 76 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 134 disabled
Guns lost 30 (1 destroyed, 29 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
5750 casualties reported
Squads: 237 destroyed, 630 disabled
Non Combat: 141 destroyed, 831 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 22 disabled
Guns lost 20 (9 destroyed, 11 disabled)
Units destroyed 4

Assaulting units:
110th Division
41st Division
3rd Division
10th Tank Regiment
12th Ind.Mixed Brigade
5th Tank Regiment
26th Engineer Regiment
116th Division
19th Ind. Engineer Regiment
34th Division
39th Division
22nd Division
12th Division
13th Division
104th/A Division
2nd Hvy.Artillery Regiment
8th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
23rd Army
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
13th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
21st Mortar Battalion
14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
9th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
11th Field Artillery Regiment
20th Ind. Engineer Regiment
12th Army
51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
5th Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion
12th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
13th Army
12th Ind.Hvy.Art Battalion

Defending units:
42nd Chinese Corps
79th Chinese Corps
51st Chinese Corps
20th Chinese Corps
3rd Chinese Cavalry Corps
63rd Chinese Corps
93rd Chinese Corps
33rd Chinese Corps
30th Chinese Corps
73rd Chinese Corps
9th Prov Chinese Corps
15th Chinese Corps
69th Chinese Corps
64th Chinese Corps
59th Chinese Corps
45th Chinese Corps
7th Chinese Corps
62nd Chinese Corps
49th Chinese Corps
31st Chinese Corps
32nd Chinese Corps
56th Chinese Corps
39th Chinese Corps
72nd Chinese Corps
83rd Chinese Corps
48th Chinese Corps
4th Chinese Corps
28th Chinese Corps
53rd Chinese Corps
88th Chinese Corps
87th Chinese Corps
58th Chinese Corps
25th Chinese Corps
52nd Chinese Corps
41st Chinese Corps
5th New Chinese Corps
98th Chinese Corps
19th Chinese Corps
18th Chinese Corps
14th Chinese Corps
61st Chinese Corps
66th Chinese Corps
17th Construction Regiment
46th Chinese Corps
11th Construction Regiment
16th Group Army
86th Chinese Corps
CAF HQ
32nd Group Army
1st Chinese Cavalry Corps
3rd War Area
2nd Chinese Cavalry Corps
89th Chinese Corps
67th Chinese Corps
Jingcha War Area
Lusu War Area
16th Construction Regiment
35th Group Army
10th Group Army
33rd Group Army
14th Group Army
4th War Area
13th Construction Regiment
57th AT Gun Regiment
5th Chinese Corps
1st Group Army
4th Chinese Cavalry Corps
8th Construction Regiment
2nd Group Army
20th Chinese Base Force
25th Group Army
7th War Area
2nd Prov Chinese Corps
39th Group Army
99th Chinese Corps
26th Group Army
5th Chinese Cavalry Corps
1st Chinese Base Force
21st Chinese Corps
20th Group Army
71st Chinese Corps
China Command
Central Reserve
8th Group Army
18th Artillery Regiment
6th War Area
7th Group Army
22nd Group Army
22nd Artillery Regiment

[InHarmsWay]

After the second report from Chengtu came in, Lt General Takashi Takamori sadly shakes head, angry that he did not take Chengtu months ago when it would likely have been easier. Lost opportunities abound in the China campaign! Hopefully once Chungking falls, and the main body of the army begins to prep for Chengtu, with HQ support, the final liberation of the Chinese central highlands from the misguided Chinese will be complete.
-----------
Chengtu results... Actually losses in the units were not that great considering the horrible odds, and I expect I can continue the attack in two weeks, once the 12th Division arrives. It will be key to keep the supplies flowing to bring the disabled devices back. Hopefully also by then Chungking will fall and all of the land based bombers will be providing daily air mail deliveries. I wonder if the large number of tank units helped here.

--------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Chengtu (75,41)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 69286 troops, 713 guns, 1184 vehicles, Assault Value = 2412

Defending force 75014 troops, 299 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2765

Japanese adjusted assault: 987

Allied adjusted defense: 10425

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 10 (fort level 5)

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

Japanese ground losses:
9142 casualties reported
Squads: 75 destroyed, 863 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 73 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 88 disabled
Guns lost 78 (2 destroyed, 76 disabled)
Vehicles lost 74 (4 destroyed, 70 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
3125 casualties reported
Squads: 15 destroyed, 203 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 61 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Guns lost 25 (1 destroyed, 24 disabled)

Assaulting units:
3rd Tank Regiment
37th Division
4th Ind.Mixed Brigade
35th Division
13th Tank Regiment
23rd Tank Regiment
138th Infantry Regiment
15th Tank Regiment
13th Ind.Mixed Brigade
3rd Ind.Mixed Brigade
9th Tank Regiment
9th Armored Car Co
11th Tank Regiment
6th Division
11th Indpt Infantry Regiment
19th Ind.Mixed Brigade
7th Ind.Tank Brigade
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Hvy.Artillery Regiment
11th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
6th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
4th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
1st Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
Tonei Hvy Gun Regiment
7th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
2nd Mortar Battalion
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
90th Chinese Corps
24th Chinese Corps
13th Chinese Corps
80th Chinese Corps
44th Chinese Corps
100th Chinese/A Corps
40th Chinese Corps
92nd Chinese Corps
60th Chinese Corps
2nd Chinese Corps
100th Chinese/B Corps
100th Chinese/C Corps
10th Chinese Corps
31st Group Army
5th War Area
9th Group Army
36th Group Army
15th Group Army
3rd Chinese Base Force

[PaxMondo]

CK - maybe 2 more attacks, but you are definitely close.
Chengtu - you need engr units there to reduce forts ... I wouldn't attack again until you have those units there ....


But overall, I think you have learned a lot here and you will be successful this game. In the future, I think you now see how you can do this several months earlier, and it will go faster then ....


Keep it up!!!

[PaxMondo]

... I wonder if the large number of tank units helped here.

CHI INF units have almost zero organic anti-armor capability ... less even than the IJA, so YES, armor is crucial against the CHI hordes. BUT, you also need Cmbt Engr squads to break down forts. Many IJA ID's have them organically, but not all. Then there are some Indpnt Cmbt Bn and Rgmts, very useful in assaulting forts.

[InHarmsWay]

The world does not revolve around China, Adm Harmasaki reminds his subordinates... we must also continue to focus on the threat of allied aggressions into the liberated Burma state. After the temporary strategic withdrawal from India (it will be retaken once the allies sue for peace), they have continued to chase our units into Burma. I am not that worried yet, as the supply situation will begin to work in our favor. First is that it is much easier for us to move supplies in with our holding Ceylon, second is that the new Georges will begin to enter the Theater in just over a month. This will let us try and wrestle air superiority over the Shwebo / Mandalay area. Large IJA positions are in Swebo (1200) and Rangoon (900) with other scattered rgmts across the other base. Hopefully in the next month or two, large formations in China will also free up (yes this is probably wishful thinking) and will begin the march to Paoshan. I have read that it is difficult to keep supplies moving between burma and India so am hoping that will slow him some.

I continue to think Adm Wa will try and move on Ceylon at some point and once I have filled out the KB with Jills (likely in 30 days as they have gone into production already), then we will consider positioning closer... He has begun bombing the bases there already. Of course Adm Wa has his own plans... and mine will likely not survive at all.... Up to now, KB has been kept in a more central location as I want to have the ability to react to the threats in Australia. After squishing the Marshall island attack, I expect Adm will not try that again before mid '43???

Dec 01 1942 Burma.jpg (719.1 KiB) Viewed 531 times

[InHarmsWay]

PaxMondo, I do hope you are right in that I have learned how to attack China better in the next game. Off the top of my head, a few thoughts here on what I missed.

1. I should have brought more engineer in earlier, as I was hamstrung by his fortifications.
2. I should have bombed Chungking earlier to limit his building of forts there, and to make him burn supplies fixing the airfield
3. Ditto for Chengtu
4. I should have taken Chengtu earlier. I dont know where Chinese reinforcements come in, but he has several large units in Chengtu that I am now facing that I expect were not there 6 months ago...
5. I have been overly cautious in killing Chinese units, I think this was a mistake as I should have just rolled up and overwhelmed each city. As it is, I have a bunch of cities all isolated now, with significant troops tied down to keep him occcupied.
6. I should have bought more units out of Korea, especially more armor, eng, and Arty units.
7. Finally I think I should have built more 2E bombers to allow for a more extensive bombing campaign...

ah, hindsight....

[PaxMondo]

... second is that the new Georges will begin to enter the Theater in just over a month.

George in Jan43 is VERY good. Big upgrade from the A6M. The only issue is that there are just not that many IJN Fighter groups.

The IJA is still stuck with Tojo/Oscar, both very humble compared to George. When do you expect to see Frank?

[PaxMondo]

PaxMondo, I do hope you are right in that I have learned how to attack China better in the next game. Off the top of my head, a few thoughts here on what I missed.

I've added some tidbits here ... use them as you see fit.

1. I should have brought more engineer in earlier, as I was hamstrung by his fortifications.

Cmbt Engr are what is needed on attack, as opposed to regular Engr.

2. I should have bombed Chungking earlier to limit his building of forts there, and to make him burn supplies fixing the airfield

Yep.

3. Ditto for Chengtu

Yep. Getting control of the air is a crucial first step in any attack, all the moreso when you are outnumbered.

4. I should have taken Chengtu earlier. I dont know where Chinese reinforcements come in, but he has several large units in Chengtu that I am now facing that I expect were not there 6 months ago...

They came back to CK and then he moved them up there is the most likely scenario. Good play on his part ...

5. I have been overly cautious in killing Chinese units, I think this was a mistake as I should have just rolled up and overwhelmed each city. As it is, I have a bunch of cities all isolated now, with significant troops tied down to keep him occcupied.

You do want to be cautious in killing them, until you have taken CK and Chengtu, they will spawn back in 30 days at 1/3 strength FREE. what you want to do is bounce them out of bases into CLEAR terrain. Then surround them, take control of all hexsides, put one ID in with them (smaller if I can) and hit them with ground air attack daily. Once you own the hexsides, they get very little supply in (theoretically ZERO, but in practice very little), your bomber pilots gain skill/exp, and once you take CK and Chengtu you can mop all of these up and REAP some serious EXP and VP's.

6. I should have bought more units out of Korea, especially more armor, eng, and Arty units.

Oh yeah. Plan those buyouts carefully. Experience teaches you a pretty good order, but you always need to tweak that based upon actual needs. But assuredly all ARM, most of the ENG, all the BIG arty. In addition, ID's and Indpt Engr's, but you have to watch your 8000 garrison number ....

7. Finally I think I should have built more 2E bombers to allow for a more extensive bombing campaign...

Sadly, IJ bombers S%&@@X ... and I am being polite here. But yes, Nettie's and Helen's. (Sally until Helen arrives). After that .... well, not nearly as apparent as the fighters are. Peggy's, sure, but their bombload is only 75% of Nettie's piddly load ... it gets worse from there.

It is not a coincidence that most of the "fictional" mods pay particular attention to bombers for IJ.

ah, hindsight....

No, foresight for the next game. It does not come easy, this is a complicated game. Even now, the game I am running for my AAR, I have 2.5 pages of notes already of items to adjust/fix in my mod.

Then I have another 1.75 pages of notes of gameplay tweaks for me to remember in my NEXT GAME. These are things that I can see have gone sub-optimally due to my play and I want to improve next time.

[PaxMondo]

The world does not revolve around China, Adm Harmasaki reminds his subordinates... we must also continue to focus on the threat of allied aggressions into the liberated Burma state. After the temporary strategic withdrawal from India (it will be retaken once the allies sue for peace), they have continued to chase our units into Burma. I am not that worried yet, as the supply situation will begin to work in our favor. First is that it is much easier for us to move supplies in with our holding Ceylon, second is that the new Georges will begin to enter the Theater in just over a month. This will let us try and wrestle air superiority over the Shwebo / Mandalay area. Large IJA positions are in Swebo (1200) and Rangoon (900) with other scattered rgmts across the other base. Hopefully in the next month or two, large formations in China will also free up (yes this is probably wishful thinking) and will begin the march to Paoshan. I have read that it is difficult to keep supplies moving between burma and India so am hoping that will slow him some.

I continue to think Adm Wa will try and move on Ceylon at some point and once I have filled out the KB with Jills (likely in 30 days as they have gone into production already), then we will consider positioning closer... He has begun bombing the bases there already. Of course Adm Wa has his own plans... and mine will likely not survive at all.... Up to now, KB has been kept in a more central location as I want to have the ability to react to the threats in Australia. After squishing the Marshall island attack, I expect Adm will not try that again before mid '43???

To me the key about Burma/India is US troops and air. I am not worried about Brit or Indian forces. It isn't that they aren't good, it's that there is NOT enough of them to matter. So, watch carefully for USAAF units and USA LCU's. When you start to see those, check your rear-view mirror.

Meaning, make sure of your lines of retreat. More games are lost in SE Asia by the IJ than anywhere else. The Indo China peninsula is a death trap. ALWAY REMEMBER: USA LCU's are FASTER than your troops. ALWAYS. They will win every race.

So if you are fighting up around Katha or north, you are worried about the allies cutting your retreat north of Schwebo from Kalemyo. Also watch out for them coming from Akyab. Then after Burma, you need to watch out that they don't cut you off from Udon Thani to south of Vinh. All of these are examples of the allies cutting your RR line of escape, and all of those troops are now DEAD. No supply. No escape. The last one is the worst one because think of all of the troops you likely have south of Vinh (Singapore, Saigon, Bangkok, etc) ... they are all VP's for the allies to harvest. Don't let that happen to you ... be vigilant!!!

[InHarmsWay]

Great comments! Thank you for those PaxMondo. Current research status of some key airframes:

N1K1-J George : Current availability is stating March '43. I have 8 x size 30 factories completely repaired and researching with the engine bonus (1093 engines built). Research is 18% towards Feb '43. Given this, I expect to have Georges in production in ~18 days (December 22nd). Very happy here. There are a further 4 factories that are almost repaired...

Ki-84a Frank : Current availability is Jan '44. Factory repair status of the 10 normal size 30 factories are 26 / 25 / 20 / 19 / 18 / 18 / 16 / 16 / 16 / 14 out of 30, and the large starting factory is 28 out of 55. Not sure when I will get the Frank into production, but whenever it is, it will not be soon enough! The Tojo is crap, even with me researching the Ki-44 IIb model now due in April '43.

A7M2 Sam : Current availability is June '45. I have 13 size 30 factories set here, repair status is 17 / 16 / 12 / 11 / 10 / 9 / 9 / 8 / 7 / 7 / 7 / 5 / 3. I have been hurt here by not putting enough Sam's into research on day one. Still hoping I get this plane by mid '44.

Ki-83 : Current availability is Oct '45. There are 13 size 30 factories repairing. Status is 13 / 12 / 11 / 10/ 10 / 9 / 8 / 8 / 6 / 6 / 6 / 5 / 5. Again, hoping this one arrives mid '44. It is a costly plane with two engines, but I like the speed and range.

I have just begun to research the Shinden, with 8 factories... nothing repaired yet beyond 1.

Engine bonus is in effect for Ha-35, Ha-45, and Aichi Ha-60. The Mit Ha-43 engine has 6 factories researching with a 7th almost repaired. Current availability is June '44. Hoping to the engine in production late '43 and have the 500 engine bonus available early '44.

I will shortly stop producing the Aichi engine once I have accelerated the D4-Y2 Judy into mid '43. I have two factories producing the Y1 model ( all KB CVs have the Y1 model now, and I am building up a reserve. I have two factories researching the Y2 model. The Y3 and Y4 models bout use the Ha-33 engine. I have 3 factories researching the B7A2 Grace currently (17 / 16 / 7 repaired)

Jills just went into production (4 factories), so should get the KB outfitted in about a month - 2 months.

One area I am considering is stopping almost all zero production except for A6M5b's. Current status is as follows:
A6M2 - 216 in the pool, no production
A6M3a - 183 in the pool, producing 35 / month
A6M5 - 195 in the pool, producing 60 / month
A6M5b - researching 2 x size 30 factories. current availability March '44.
the 5c model and later A6M8 seem a waste to pursue. Sam and George are better, and I hope the A6M5b will be good enough until then.

[RangerJoe]

If you are going to build the recon Judys, you will need the Aichi Ha-60 engines for them.

[InHarmsWay]

RangerJoe, I had not planned on the recon Judy's. My thoughts for Navy recon was the Irving, then switch to the Myrt once I got that one in production. The Myrt seemed the best long range recon, which I could also use as a search plane as well... Currently I have one factory researching the Myrt (at 14 of 30). Probably should not have used a factory for it from the start, but here we are...

[RangerJoe]

I do believe that the recon Judy is a carrier airplane.

[PaxMondo]

I do believe that the recon Judy is a carrier airplane.

Both the C6N Myrt and the D4Y-C Judy are carrier capable aircraft in stock scenarios. The D4Y1-C is available 10/42 in stock scenario making it a standard choice for those who will use CV's for their NavSearch. I use the CS Chitose's with E13A/E15K ... and then H6K/H8K from bases for my NavSearch. I will freely admit that the range (21/17) on the D4Y-C's makes me think about it every game ... there is no "correct" answer here, its about how you get the desired result.

You can certainly think about using CVE's or your smaller CVL's as your NavSearch ship ... I'm think of Hosho or the Zuiho classes here. 20-30 planes will give you about 120 degrees arc of search ... that's pretty good for most situations .... The Chitose is 24 planes ...

[PaxMondo]

OK, we need an update!!!!

[InHarmsWay]

It is getting active in Australia. Adm Wa is pushing into Derby and then likely Broome. I have a brigade in Derby with more on the way, but depending on if Adm Wa attacks soon, they may get diverted to wyndham to cut his supplies. Over the past month I have been lucky to kill a Kiwi btn and a Aussie division over at Katherine when he got too aggressive. I pretty much have local air superiority in the area. My crack zero unit (251 KuS-1) is based in Darwin with two other fighter formations and they been able to sweep the allies from the skies. Adm Wa's one attempt to reclaim the air got squished when I bombarded his fledgling base east of Katherine (Gove). Since then he has been silent here.

Dec 08 1942 North Australia status.jpg (541.94 KiB) Viewed 190 times

It has been a year into the war. Time for a Staff review and briefing for the troops! Stay tuned gentle readers...