Invasion Russia III

[moses]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/03/42



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Ground combat at Vladivostok

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 169476 troops, 1715 guns, 53 vehicles

Defending force 68450 troops, 748 guns, 178 vehicles



Allied ground losses:
172 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
Vehicles lost 1


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Ground combat at 66,32--The fort continues to hold.
Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 33676 troops, 379 guns, 161 vehicles

Defending force 4448 troops, 10 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 66 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
148 casualties reported
Guns lost 8
Vehicles lost 2

Allied ground losses:
143 casualties reported
Guns lost 2


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Ground combat at 64,23

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 27263 troops, 381 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 48954 troops, 523 guns, 4 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
194 casualties reported
Guns lost 6
Vehicles lost 1


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Ground combat at Vladivostok

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 50687 troops, 689 guns, 132 vehicles

Defending force 174466 troops, 1735 guns, 53 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
1484 casualties reported
Guns lost 51
Vehicles lost 1


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Ground combat at 66,32

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 4130 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 34216 troops, 392 guns, 158 vehicles

My troops are now adjacent to Blagoveshchensk.

[AmiralLaurent]

5 Mong Cav Div are around Choybalsan.

The force opposing my northern thrust was reinforced: a Div, a Bde, 2 Mong Cav are now there.

Soviet planes remained mostly on the ground (blizzard for the 3rd or 4th consecutive day) while some Japanese planes managed to bomb troops in the south.

110th Fort Region is still holding N of Vladivostok. Their commander is now a Hero of the Soviet Union !

13 Japanese units reported just N of Khabavosk. The decisive battle will start soon.

[moses]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/04/42

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Ground combat at Vladivostok

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 168004 troops, 1654 guns, 54 vehicles

Defending force 68325 troops, 746 guns, 178 vehicles



Allied ground losses:
160 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1


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Ground combat at 64,23

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 41125 troops, 472 guns, 3 vehicles

Defending force 30526 troops, 384 guns, 18 vehicles



Allied ground losses:
40 casualties reported
Guns lost 2


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Ground combat at 66,32--fort still holding but odds are getting larger. I'm betting next turn it collapses.

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 33578 troops, 370 guns, 158 vehicles

Defending force 4138 troops, 8 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 143 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
297 casualties reported
Guns lost 7

Allied ground losses:
254 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


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Ground combat at 69,21

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 21006 troops, 252 guns, 7 vehicles

Defending force 13888 troops, 170 guns, 0 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
31 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Allied ground losses:
35 casualties reported
Guns lost 2


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Ground combat at 64,23

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 27224 troops, 381 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 48722 troops, 518 guns, 3 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
548 casualties reported
Guns lost 15


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Ground combat at 69,21

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 13841 troops, 168 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 20961 troops, 244 guns, 7 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
29 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
14 casualties reported
Guns lost 2


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Ground combat at Vladivostok

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 50694 troops, 688 guns, 132 vehicles

Defending force 172826 troops, 1675 guns, 54 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
1536 casualties reported
Guns lost 42
Vehicles lost 4


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Ground combat at 66,32

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 3813 troops, 5 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 33965 troops, 386 guns, 158 vehicles

[AmiralLaurent]

Weather is still awful. I have roughly 500 aircraft (SB-2 and I-16) with ground attack orders and they only flew 10 sorties in the last four days.

No change at Choybalsan. Neither side moved here.

Artillery fire exchanged between Hailar and Tsilihar (my northern advance, hex 64,23). I guess neither side is able to attack in the mountains.

North of Blagoveshchensk (hex 69,21), the Soviet 101st Mountain Division is facing the 14th Japanese Division in woods along the railway. It is probably another slatemate.

The first Japanese units reach Khabarovsk today....

Japanese are probably evacuating Chiamasu in Manchoukuo before my southern counter-attack reaches the city.

The 110th Fort Region still holds the hex 66,32 north of Vladivostok. An I-16 unit intercepted Ki-30s bombing it and shot down 6 (real losses) for only one I-16 shot down by the escort (2 Zeroes).

Vladivostok gunners still pound Japanese lines and disable more than 1000 Japanese each turn. I hope this really hurts the attacking force.

[moses]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/05/42


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Ground combat at Vladivostok

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 166534 troops, 1608 guns, 51 vehicles

Defending force 76374 troops, 828 guns, 178 vehicles



Allied ground losses:
229 casualties reported


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Ground combat at 64,23

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 40590 troops, 447 guns, 2 vehicles

Defending force 30569 troops, 384 guns, 18 vehicles



Allied ground losses:
47 casualties reported


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Ground combat at 66,32

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 33287 troops, 367 guns, 158 vehicles

Defending force 3826 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 318 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
140 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Allied ground losses:
5908 casualties reported---Finally the fort falls.
Guns lost 36


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Ground combat at 69,21

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 20968 troops, 245 guns, 7 vehicles

Defending force 13834 troops, 161 guns, 0 vehicles



Allied ground losses:
4 casualties reported


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Ground combat at 64,23

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 27243 troops, 381 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 48125 troops, 494 guns, 2 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
407 casualties reported
Guns lost 8


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Ground combat at 69,21

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 13828 troops, 160 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 20968 troops, 245 guns, 7 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
28 casualties reported


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Ground combat at Vladivostok

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 50744 troops, 693 guns, 132 vehicles

Defending force 174877 troops, 1626 guns, 51 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
914 casualties reported
Guns lost 8
Vehicles lost 2


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Ground combat at Khabarovsk

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 79429 troops, 921 guns, 255 vehicles

Defending force 246335 troops, 2718 guns, 75 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
634 casualties reported
Guns lost 16
Vehicles lost 1

[moses]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/06/42


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Ground combat at Vladivostok

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 170368 troops, 1603 guns, 48 vehicles

Defending force 76137 troops, 829 guns, 176 vehicles

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 2) --I've had to wait a long time for my HQ to get in place but despite all the bombardment losses I still get 2-1 odds and reduce the forts to 1. Another attack like this and Vladivostock will be mine.

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1


Japanese ground losses:
5072 casualties reported
Guns lost 151
Vehicles lost 13

Allied ground losses:
1664 casualties reported
Guns lost 47
Vehicles lost 3


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Ground combat at Khabarovsk

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 218857 troops, 2718 guns, 73 vehicles

Defending force 102233 troops, 1083 guns, 286 vehicles



Allied ground losses:
264 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
Vehicles lost 2


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Ground combat at Khomsomalsk

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 17542 troops, 220 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 751 troops, 12 guns, 22 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 40 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Khomsomalsk base !!!--This base was left virtually undefended.


Japanese ground losses:
229 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

Allied ground losses:
2 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

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Ground combat at 64,23

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 27101 troops, 282 guns, 4 vehicles

Defending force 30570 troops, 384 guns, 18 vehicles



Allied ground losses:
7 casualties reported


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Ground combat at 69,21

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 20953 troops, 245 guns, 7 vehicles

Defending force 13863 troops, 162 guns, 0 vehicles



Allied ground losses:
55 casualties reported
Guns lost 3


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Ground combat at 64,23

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 27295 troops, 384 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 47858 troops, 477 guns, 4 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
338 casualties reported
Guns lost 5


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Ground combat at 69,21

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 13782 troops, 158 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 20953 troops, 245 guns, 7 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
18 casualties reported
Guns lost 3


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Ground combat at Vladivostok

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 57636 troops, 693 guns, 128 vehicles

Defending force 167351 troops, 1377 guns, 31 vehicles



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Ground combat at Khabarovsk

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 79459 troops, 926 guns, 252 vehicles

Defending force 296974 troops, 3188 guns, 214 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
102 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


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Ground combat at Chiamussu

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 21790 troops, 255 guns, 158 vehicles

Defending force 4019 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 105 to 1 (fort level 5)

Allied forces CAPTURE Chiamussu base !!!--The Russian counteroffensive continues. The two bases captured so far are worthless. Now the only options are to try for Harbin(which is not worthless) or pull back and try to assist the defensive effort.


Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-15 Babs: 11 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
291 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
32 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

[AmiralLaurent]

First day of good weather (overcast) since the start of the campain. Few aerial activity anyway.

During the night, SB-2 bombed a Japanese airfield in the NE and destroyed 2 Zeroes and 2 Sonias.

Situation in Vladivostok is worsening faster than planned....

Khabarovsk should be assaulted shortly. First day will be decisive. Some aerial skirmishes during the day as around twenty escorted SB-2 from Iman bombing Japanese troops met LRCAP Zeroes. A Zero and a Mig-3 were shot down in air battle and a SB-2 by AA fire.

Khomsomalsk was only held by the remmants of a badly battered Mot Brigade, that retreated in woods.

A Japanese Aviation Regiment was repulsed from Chiamussu and 9 Ki-15 were found burnt on the airfield. This base is worthless for Japanese economy but is a size 4 airfield and will in case of emergency allow all planes of southern bases to fly north. Half of the units I have in the north are base forces so sending more planes there once the game will be over in the south seems a good idea.

The southern counter-attack will of course continue to Harbin. If they turn back they will probably arrive too late. The question is: are there enough Japanese reserves to stop them ?

[moses]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/07/42

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Ground combat at Vladivostok

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 162140 troops, 1428 guns, 33 vehicles

Defending force 72318 troops, 695 guns, 174 vehicles



Allied ground losses:
308 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Vehicles lost 1


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Ground combat at Khabarovsk

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 286811 troops, 3171 guns, 215 vehicles

Defending force 100480 troops, 1067 guns, 284 vehicles

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 1) First attack at 2-1 odds. Quite acceptable.

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1


Japanese ground losses:
7308 casualties reported
Guns lost 239
Vehicles lost 33

Allied ground losses:
2046 casualties reported
Guns lost 196
Vehicles lost 7


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Ground combat at 64,23

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 26953 troops, 279 guns, 5 vehicles

Defending force 30689 troops, 385 guns, 18 vehicles



Allied ground losses:
15 casualties reported


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Ground combat at 69,21

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 20983 troops, 242 guns, 7 vehicles

Defending force 13808 troops, 159 guns, 0 vehicles



Allied ground losses:
32 casualties reported
Guns lost 3


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Ground combat at 64,23

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 27403 troops, 385 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 34425 troops, 326 guns, 5 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
428 casualties reported
Guns lost 12


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Ground combat at 69,21

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 13758 troops, 152 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 20983 troops, 242 guns, 7 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
6 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1

Allied ground losses:
2 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


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Ground combat at Vladivostok

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 57523 troops, 690 guns, 127 vehicles

Defending force 201394 troops, 1756 guns, 189 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:--Notice that after being attacked heavily the previous turn the bombardment at Vladavostock in reduced by over 10 times. I'm guessing that artilery gets an extra umph from a low fatigue/low disruption state. After one good attack you take the edge off.

153 casualties reported
Guns lost 3


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Ground combat at Khabarovsk

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 72044 troops, 675 guns, 118 vehicles

Defending force 289057 troops, 2820 guns, 176 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
12 casualties reported

[AmiralLaurent]

Moses bombed Vladivostok airfield today. 6 old divebombers (Anns and Maries) lost to AA fire, 2 unserviceable Lagg destroyed on the ground. More important, Soviet engineers are now busy repairing the airfield (where only some unserviceable planes remain before being repaired and evacuated) rather than rebuilding the fortifications. Some men will be sent to Gulag... if we still have Gulag somewhere ?

Khabarovsk airfield is now empty. All planes have flown to other places.

Ground losses until now:
Soviet Union: 2 Fortified Regions surrendered, 1 Motorized Brigade blown to pieces and hiding in a forest, 2 Divisions and some ENG/ART units repulsed once and at 80% TOE.
436 points of troop losses

Japan: at least 2 Mongol Cav Div, 1 Aviation Rgt, 1 Const Bn replused once and at 80% TOE
111 points of troops losses. Last turn cost 20 points to Japan (probably in Khabavorsk, some of the 7300 casualties were really killed).

[moses]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/08/42

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Ground combat at Vladivostok

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 197905 troops, 1750 guns, 191 vehicles

Defending force 36486 troops, 360 guns, 144 vehicles

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese assault odds: 8 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Vladivostok base !!!



Allied aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft losses
LaGG-3: 10 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
1225 casualties reported
Guns lost 71
Vehicles lost 7

Allied ground losses:
2229 casualties reported
Guns lost 44
Vehicles lost 7


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Ground combat at Khabarovsk

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 247713 troops, 2811 guns, 50 vehicles

Defending force 56784 troops, 396 guns, 151 vehicles



Allied ground losses:
1657 casualties reported
Guns lost 30
Vehicles lost 4


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Ground combat at 64,23

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 26505 troops, 267 guns, 5 vehicles

Defending force 27497 troops, 390 guns, 0 vehicles



Allied ground losses:
57 casualties reported
Guns lost 4


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Ground combat at 69,21

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 21079 troops, 243 guns, 6 vehicles

Defending force 13719 troops, 154 guns, 0 vehicles



Allied ground losses:
27 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


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Ground combat at 64,23

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 27414 troops, 383 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 34014 troops, 314 guns, 5 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
409 casualties reported
Guns lost 9
Vehicles lost 2


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Ground combat at 69,21

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 13679 troops, 151 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 21079 troops, 243 guns, 6 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
41 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Allied ground losses:
5 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


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Ground combat at 67,26

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 21828 troops, 252 guns, 158 vehicles

Defending force 5577 troops, 36 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 16 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
101 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Allied ground losses:
543 casualties reported
Guns lost 14
Vehicles lost 2


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!--Here is the central attack continuing to move toward Harbin. I tried to slow it with a single mongol cav unit in the mountains.

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Ground combat at Khabarovsk

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 7912 troops, 135 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 290763 troops, 2859 guns, 182 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
58 casualties reported
Guns lost 2


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Ground combat at Uglahamensk

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 6379 troops, 98 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 2159 troops, 5 guns, 144 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
48 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Vehicles lost 4


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Ground combat at 60,19

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 3987 troops, 43 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 4571 troops, 37 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 0 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
124 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Allied ground losses:
215 casualties reported
Guns lost 9

[moses]

Casualties have been greater in PBEM which is good. The scenario is really not as far from being correct as some would think. The Russia first strategy will not be much to be feared if a couple simple changes are made.

1.) Change some of the rail hexes connecting China to Russia to road. This slows the pace at which units can be transfered and makes the strategy much more costly in that the allies have a greater window of opportunity to take advantage of the transfer of divisions to Russia. This is realistic as a huge transfer of divisions as I conducted would take more than three weeks. This probably only requires changing 3 or 4 rail hexes to road not the whole net.

2. Increase the fortification value at the the two front line forts at B and west of Vladavostock to about 6. Add very small fort units to each empty rail hex in the vicinity of Vlkadavostok. This will slow the initial charge and allow Russia some chance to react.

I really think that with the other changes in 1.5 that this will be all that is required to make a Russia first statagy very difficult for Japan. It would still be possible to conquer Russia but it would take enough time and losses that the allies could come out ahead through gains in other areas.

[moses]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/09/42

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Ground combat at Khabarovsk

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 280298 troops, 2826 guns, 183 vehicles

Defending force 49261 troops, 294 guns, 149 vehicles

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese assault odds: 32 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Khabarovsk base !!!


Japanese ground losses:
2215 casualties reported
Guns lost 105
Vehicles lost 4

Allied ground losses:
12995 casualties reported
Guns lost 109
Vehicles lost 22


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!--The last production site in the south is captured.

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Ground combat at 64,23

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 26147 troops, 250 guns, 3 vehicles

Defending force 27541 troops, 386 guns, 0 vehicles



Allied ground losses:
22 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


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Ground combat at Uglahamensk

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 2072 troops, 4 guns, 136 vehicles

Defending force 59672 troops, 601 guns, 48 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 3)


Japanese ground losses:
21 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Vehicles lost 2


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Ground combat at 69,21

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 21035 troops, 242 guns, 6 vehicles

Defending force 13666 troops, 150 guns, 0 vehicles



Allied ground losses:
13 casualties reported
Guns lost 2


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Ground combat at 64,23

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 27505 troops, 383 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 33656 troops, 297 guns, 3 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
184 casualties reported
Guns lost 12
Vehicles lost 1


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Ground combat at 69,21

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 13645 troops, 148 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 21035 troops, 242 guns, 6 vehicles



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Ground combat at Uglahamensk

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 50418 troops, 556 guns, 44 vehicles

Defending force 169697 troops, 1347 guns, 164 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 0 to 1 --A very unfortunate shock attack for the allies. A single armored unit had advanced into the city last turn so they ordered a shock attack. But the rest of my army reached the hex and easily halted the attack.

Japanese ground losses:
168 casualties reported
Guns lost 8

Allied ground losses:
4447 casualties reported
Guns lost 157
Vehicles lost 1


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Ground combat at 60,19

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 7825 troops, 86 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 4430 troops, 34 guns, 0 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
66 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

It has taken 14 days to eliminate all production in southern Russia. After the russians shock attacked last turn, Uglahamensk will fall very soon. I believe I have enough force to halt the central counteroffensive at Harbin and once this has been locked down I only have to mop up in the South.

[AmiralLaurent]

ORIGINAL: moses

Casualties have been greater in PBEM which is good. The scenario is really not as far from being correct as some would think. The Russia first strategy will not be much to be feared if a couple simple changes are made.

1.) Change some of the rail hexes connecting China to Russia to road. This slows the pace at which units can be transfered and makes the strategy much more costly in that the allies have a greater window of opportunity to take advantage of the transfer of divisions to Russia. This is realistic as a huge transfer of divisions as I conducted would take more than three weeks. This probably only requires changing 3 or 4 rail hexes to road not the whole net.

2. Increase the fortification value at the the two front line forts at B and west of Vladavostock to about 6. Add very small fort units to each empty rail hex in the vicinity of Vlkadavostok. This will slow the initial charge and allow Russia some chance to react.

I really think that with the other changes in 1.5 that this will be all that is required to make a Russia first statagy very difficult for Japan. It would still be possible to conquer Russia but it would take enough time and losses that the allies could come out ahead through gains in other areas.

Agree fully with moses

My comment about the two last days: disaster, disaster, disaster...

I ordered all units in Vladivostok and Khabarovsk to retreat to Iman two days ago. Retreat is always a difficult thing in WITP and I thought they would take two days to retreat one hex on the railway. I gave orders to move to cities so units will not have their orders cancelled.

Order was one day late in Vladivostok (my fault, I hesitate one day and change my mind minutes after sending the turn to moses) and troops were attacked in the middle of their move. But in Khabarovsk, the units had two full days to retreat, they were fully rested (half of them having been there for ten days and suffered only one day of battle). They had support, supply, HQs and so on... and half of them were unable to move one hex (not counting the CD unit that was unable to move) ! At the end of the first day, 1/3 of the units there had moved one hex, 1/3 30 or 45 miles and the last 1/3 not at all despite still having orders to move to Iman. Worst of it, units seem to suffer more from retreat if they were moving.

During all this game, Japanese forces have always moved faster than Soviet ones. Compare the 160000 Japanese that march from Vladivostok to Uglamascheck (sp) after having marched, attacked and suffered heavy artillery fire all days since the first. And there is no HQ there ! I thought only part of the Japanese forces will arrive there and I had an unique occasion to at least hit them once.

[moses]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/10/42

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Ground combat at Uglahamensk

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 170210 troops, 1352 guns, 168 vehicles

Defending force 48067 troops, 321 guns, 46 vehicles

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese assault odds: 7 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Uglahamensk base !!!



Allied aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft losses
I-16 Type 24: 4 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
922 casualties reported
Guns lost 44
Vehicles lost 1

Allied ground losses:
449 casualties reported
Guns lost 12
Vehicles lost 4


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Ground combat at 64,23

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 26063 troops, 235 guns, 3 vehicles

Defending force 27567 troops, 389 guns, 0 vehicles



Allied ground losses:
10 casualties reported


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Ground combat at 70,28

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 1870 troops, 0 guns, 131 vehicles

Defending force 25745 troops, 93 guns, 39 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
32 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 3

Allied ground losses:
120 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1


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Ground combat at 69,21

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 21064 troops, 246 guns, 7 vehicles

Defending force 13691 troops, 148 guns, 0 vehicles



Allied ground losses:
6 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 64,23

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 27545 troops, 388 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 33592 troops, 282 guns, 3 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
289 casualties reported
Guns lost 8


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Ground combat at 69,21

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 13679 troops, 148 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 21064 troops, 246 guns, 7 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
58 casualties reported
Guns lost 5


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Ground combat at 60,19

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 7836 troops, 88 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 4286 troops, 30 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 4 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
72 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Allied ground losses:
117 casualties reported
Guns lost 5


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

[moses]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/11/42


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Ground combat at Sunwu

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 19813 troops, 245 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 12778 troops, 150 guns, 0 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
2 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
55 casualties reported
Guns lost 5


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Ground combat at 64,23

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 25785 troops, 224 guns, 3 vehicles

Defending force 27661 troops, 397 guns, 0 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
58 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Allied ground losses:
23 casualties reported


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Ground combat at 69,21

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 20995 troops, 237 guns, 7 vehicles

Defending force 13708 troops, 147 guns, 0 vehicles



Allied ground losses:
66 casualties reported
Guns lost 2


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Ground combat at Sunwu

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 12679 troops, 144 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 24064 troops, 255 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 8)


Japanese ground losses:
111 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Allied ground losses:
1229 casualties reported
Guns lost 34


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Ground combat at 64,23

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 27630 troops, 397 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 33122 troops, 263 guns, 3 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
223 casualties reported
Guns lost 7


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Ground combat at 69,21

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 13623 troops, 142 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 20995 troops, 237 guns, 7 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
20 casualties reported


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Ground combat at 66,26

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 5323 troops, 54 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 911 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles--a construction bn fighting a delay.

Allied assault odds: 506 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
111 casualties reported


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

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Ground combat at Mutanchiang

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 8041 troops, 94 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 6299 troops, 15 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 5) --The was a very small cav unit and a base force. Suprisingly it held no doubt due to the mountain terrain.

Japanese ground losses:
134 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Allied ground losses:
712 casualties reported
Guns lost 21

[AmiralLaurent]

Four or five days later:

Japanese troops are marching from Khabarovsk to Iman, the last Soviet base in the south. Soviet troops are not in Harbin yet, but Japanese troops allready there number 14 and at least one is an INF Bde.

Japanese have started operations against the two divisions NW of Vladivostok, that had not the time to move via tracks to the front until the battle was lost. They are out of supply and out of reach of any help.

In the north, the Soviet 35th Div that had crossed the border between Harbin and Sunwu retreated from Sunwu towards Harbin after a failed attack (Sunwu is fort 8 (at start.... Soviet troops dream of that) in a mountain).

Some air actions. Zeroes shot down in the period 4 Mig-3, Soviet fighters shot down more than a dozen Nates, Sallies and Anns for two more losses.

In the NW, Soviet troops are still repulsing Mongol cavalry. Scoring soime points before the defeat.

[AmiralLaurent]

Well, the purpose of this game on my part was to prove than this strategy was a bad one in a PBEM. I was thinking a human player may hold enough in Soviet Union so the whole Japanese situation would be difficult.

Well, I was wrong. It was the first time I played Russia and I did some mistakes, but Moses too, and nothing that will have changed the fate of Soviet troops.

Moses use for the operation 5 China divisions, 5 Southern Army divisions and 2 Zero groups.

In a whole map PBEM, withdrawing 5 divisions from N China would not be a problem. China will be in a defensive role in Dec 1941, except maybe in Canton and Japanese troops are able to hold without more units coming from N China.

The five divisions of Southern Army will the 4 starting in Japan (2nd, 4th, 16th and 56th) and the 48th. So while cancelling only the Luzon landings, Japan may attack everywhere else. And probably seize Malaya, Rangoon, Hong Kong, N Borneo, Mindanao and Menado until the end of January 1942.

The two Zero groups are not needed in Russia. Winter weather is awful and effect of air support is almost nil. Nates get butchered by Soviet fighters but they can be ignored. I will probably keep all Zeroes at start in the south. And maybe use in Russia one of the Home Defense Army Claudes units after converting it to Zero.

Of course the whole Navy is available in Pacific and SRA.

Then in the end of January Soviet Union will be crushed in the South probably. Kwantung Army is enough to chase the remmants and score troop points and invade N Siberia. There is no rush as Soviet won't receive ground reinforcements for years.

So the 5 Southern Army divisions should be available (counting the shipping time) in the end of February in the SRA. While the China divisions will return to hold the line in China just in case.

Then some months later, when Russia will really be finished, Kwantung Army will start to move for China and I don't see how they can be stopped.

IMOO, invading Russia first will only delay the fall of Luzon by some months and the advance in SRA by maybe one month. While giving to Japan thousands of points and several oil, ressources and HI centers. And then the advantage of having Kwantung Army available in China.

Why not do it ?

[moses]

I agree with your analysis. The conquest is so fast that the temporary loss of the divisions will not be critical in the other theaters.

The main problem is the speed with which large forces can be moved about and the speed of the combats. The model works fine for small forces but there is just no way that you can redeploy 10 divisions to Russia in three weeks and be ready to attack. Once the attack starts there should be no way to advance against even week opposition 240 miles in less than a week.

The best way to fix this quickly is just to remove most of the rail net in russia and China. Some will say this is non-historical to be sure. But what is important is the effect on the game. Add two weeks to the initial deployment to Russia and two weeks to the redeployment. Then add two weeks to the conquest. Now Japan can still invade but the absence of the divisions will at least be exploitable.

[moses]

Situation at Harbin is now under control. His divisions are not advancing and I have adequate force there to stop just about anything now with more on the way. My troops are adjacent to Iman and there seems to be little there (3 units?) He appears to be moving toward the two cities he conquered in Manchuria. Perhaps he is going to send everything he has to Harbin for one last attack.

In the far south it will take a while to mop up as now that his units have no supply line they will no longer retreat. Last attack was at 21-1 odds and the units just remain in place.

He has a lot of troops still retreating north from Vladavostock to Iman and I'm not sure if they will get there before I do. My troops moving north from "V" are currently occupied by reducing a fort unit but my troops advancing south to Iman are about there.

North of "B" I retreated the division blocking my path to the north. The race to Itkustuk will begin. In the west my mongol cav continues to draw the attention of several Russian divisions.

[AmiralLaurent]

ORIGINAL: moses

North of "B" I retreated the division blocking my path to the north. The race to Itkustuk will begin. In the west my mongol cav continues to draw the attention of several Russian divisions.

The Soviet 101st Mountain Div was facing four Japanese divisions and was excepted to be thrown back. Trouble is that there is no good defensive position between "B" and the north of the map.

In the west Mongol Cav is facing 2 of the 6 divisions available in the north, a 3rd is facing Japanese troops in mountains N of Tsilihar (northern Soivet offensive stopped cold), the 101st mountain div is retreating in the east and the two last divisions are in a location probably unknow to the Japanese.