Retreat path?

[irishman]

Playing PBEM scenario2 as IJN. Started at 1.00 but now patched to 1.21.
Attacking US forces in Cotabato in Mindanao, bases at Davao and Dadjangas are already in Japanese hands. Defeated US unit retreats to hex 40.61! I thought forces could only retreat to somewhere they could trace a supply path to?
Then when being bombarded in hex 40,61 by a bombardment TF, the message Coastal guns fire back is displayed. But this isn't a base hex and there are no CDs? Or maybe is this just the Inf units own guns firing?

[DoomedMantis]

If there are Arty present they will fire back

[Deathifier]

Units should only retreat if they can trace a supply path, and the hexsides along the path you said they took seems like they walked into a dead end instead... maybe it traced a path and then tried taking the shortest path to the base or something strange?

I just had 2 ARM units "Retreat towards Moulmein" a couple of turns ago, but they actually retreated towards Victoria Point (as they should, it's closer in terms of unblocked movement), they were 1 hex south of Tavoy.

Some strangeness indeed.

- Deathifier

[irishman]

I wonder if the routine that checks the supply lines takes account of water hexes? They may be trying to retreat towards a neighbouring island, but unless they're very good swimmers they're not going to make it! Especially with an 81mm mortar on their backs!

[Arkady]

we have in our Manchukou PBEM game problem with retreat path...

japanese border regiment after defeat retreated absolutely to wrong direction, across Amur river to soviet territory. Current position is completely surrounded with soviet controlled hexes and japanese unit is out of supplies (no supply path and no internal supplies left)...

after defeat they should retreat to Chiamussu, nearest japanese base (two hexes away)...what's wrong ?

no save at this moment, we overwrite it...


I'll try simulate this 'manoeuvre' again.

[Duderonomy]

I too have seen wierd and frankly disappointing retreat results. Most notable is the base force at Victoria Point. Despite the fact that the Japanese (me!) control Songkhla and Moulmein, the unit invariably retreats towards Moulmein. To add insult to injury it retreats INTO the hex I advanced into Victoria Point from. I've gotten used to it after having started a number of scen15 games so I have the 4th Mixed Rgt ready to chase it down. I was under the impression this was going to be fixed (it is a problem, isn't it) in v1.21 otherwise I would have left the armored regt. behing to block the retreat to that hex, or split the Imperial Gd. Div. to accomplish the same thing. Can anyone say "herding cats?". We are now over three weeks into the campaign and I am still chasing that damn unit around. BTW, shouldn't displayed odds of over 3000:1 be sufficient to induce surrender?

Still, I love the game, especially PBEM.

[Mr.Frag]

By slowing down one of the two units heading there, you will kill the unit. If they both move, it will have a retreat path.

[Duderonomy]

ORIGINAL: Mr.Frag

By slowing down one of the two units heading there, you will kill the unit. If they both move, it will have a retreat path.

Yes, I understand that. My point is that it seems extremely odd that a unit should be able to retreat in that fashion to begin with (i.e. into the hex that the attacking unit advanced from). Japnese advance from the east, administer righteous butt kicking, and the thusly "kicked" retreats to the east . . . where the attackers just came from.

I don't have the manual in front of me at the moment (I printed and read it!), but I seem to remember there are two different formulas used depending on whether a unit is attempting to move or if it tracing supply. IIRC the former can be traced a much further distance than the latter. I'm guessing a retreating unit uses the "trace movement" formula when calculating where to retreat? Even if it will be out of supply in the hex moved to? With Tavoy and Songkhla occupied by the Japanese I would expect the supply route to be cut since the route would have to pass throuht at least one jungle hex, and more if there is a Japanese unit between Moulmein and Tavoy.

Not a gamebreaker once you know it is going to happen, but disappointing nonetheless.

Thanks

I mispoke in my original post, I had captured Tavoy, not Moulmein, prior to attacking Victoria Point.

[Mr.Frag]

Entry into Hex is not tracked so escape from hex is by supply path.

You can use *anything* to block the hex, it does not have to be a combat group ... could just as well left a Base unit sitting there that would move into VP as soon as it falls.

[Duderonomy]

ORIGINAL: Mr.Frag

Entry into Hex is not tracked so escape from hex is by supply path.

You can use *anything* to block the hex, it does not have to be a combat group ... could just as well left a Base unit sitting there that would move into VP as soon as it falls.

Thanks for the clarification Mr. Frag. I suppose the designers have their reasons for doing it this way. I'll assume this won't be fixed (or, if you prefer, "changed") and plan my future attacks accordingly!