Lunacy in the Pacific: Mogami vs. Oleg

[Oleg Mastruko]

Okay, 2nd Jan, this is the scoreboard so far.

[Oleg Mastruko]

Major naval losses (naval losses have been very light by any measure, also consider that all major ships on this list were lost in first couple days of the war)

[Oleg Mastruko]

North DEI and Malaya, with Festungen in Batavia and Singapore partially censored. Malaya is still mostly in British hands, he sent one division there to capture Georgetown. Festung is formed in Singapore, and - in as much as I could - Batavia.

O.

[Oleg Mastruko]

Now this is interesting. This is Burma theatre. He did not enter Burma, he stopped at Tavoy and Rahaeng, I think he has a brigade sized unit in each of those places, just to defend vs my possible attack from Burma.

I think his idea is to defend on Siam-Burma border, clear Malaya in as much as he can without committing more than one division there. So he'll walk with said division along Malay road taking couple places but will not commit more than division, and obviously (unless he commits MUCH more than a division) he will not take Singapore.

If he leaves Sing alone I might reinforce. What do you all say?

Everything else, is going to finish the occupation of DEI, and march back to crush Soviet Union.

I am sure very soon the main show will be Siberia. I expect him to use all of Kwantung Army, some units from China Expeditionary, and couple SAA divisions too thrown in for good measure.

What can I do to stop him?

Well, I will keep some more inventive ideas for myself, but the obvious is to use Vladivostok as bombing base for everything that flies and carries bombs.

[PimpYourAFV]

I'm probably as eagerly awaiting the next installment here as you are to get your Allied reinforcements into Russia. I like this kind of uncertain game, even if the unpredictability is a result of Mog's wild, drunken mouseclicking rage.

Is that the CHS mod extended map? Sorry I'm a newbie and know very little. Also my brain is so slow. [:@] I do like the big pink runways that mod has.

As for advice about Russia, all my weak brain can come up with is scrap it out and take your losses like a man. I don't think that helps much does it? [:'(]

[Oleg Mastruko]

No news is a good news. 4th Jan 42 he tried to shock attack Manila, he'll have to wait some time before trying again:

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Ground combat at Manila

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 200735 troops, 2506 guns, 243 vehicles

Defending force 89174 troops, 1000 guns, 231 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 5)


Japanese ground losses:
11453 casualties reported
Guns lost 282
Vehicles lost 55

Allied ground losses:
990 casualties reported
Guns lost 32
Vehicles lost 2

[PimpYourAFV]

Wow, those are HUGE numbers of troops!! [X(]

Oleg, what are your defensive arrangements for the Philippines now? Did you lose Clark Field yet? Where are you concentrating your defence - only in Manila or also in Bataan? You sure got a lot of people in Manila so it seems Clark may be already taken by Mog right? Those nasty casualties Mog took in Manila should wear him down a bit. Nice fight. I wanna see how this goes.

You're lucky Mog is so kind to let you keep Singapore and Burma. Now you can supply China right? I wish I had to go against such a considerate and gentle opponent as Mog instead of the usual strategy of overrunning Malaya ASAP most people do. I suppose you are planning big bombing raids out of Singapore for the rest of the game against Japanese shipping and bases. Ahhhhh so nice. [;)]

[Oleg Mastruko]

Mog I know you're too coy to ask for fear of losing face... but I am ready to discuss your surrender. [8D] MacArthur is getting his best uniform ready for the ceremony.

In other news...

Tsitsihar expands airfield to size 3

Does anyone here know of anybody who ever visited this town? My wedding best man spent a month or so in Tsitsihar couple years ago (he writes it as Qiqihar and it took me some time to connect the dots - so you were THERE dude??). He works for company that other companies hire when they need to solve some problem in "processing industry" (for lack of better word).

Now here is the best part.

They (his company) specialised in working for breweries (places where beer is made?) and steel works (rather diverse fields but that's how it is). He travels around world "fixing" breweries and steel factories - Turkey, US, Japan, China, Brazil, Finland you name it. Qiqihar unfortunatelly has no brewery but it has very large steel works today (didn't have back in WW2 time when it was just some far away backwater). Japanese army had some notorious camp for biological weapons nearby - the area is stil "off limits" because of that.

O.

[Oleg Mastruko]

ORIGINAL: TokyoBoyTensai


Wow, those are HUGE numbers of troops!! [X(]

Oleg, what are your defensive arrangements for the Philippines now? Did you lose Clark Field yet? Where are you concentrating your defence - only in Manila or also in Bataan?

I have everything in Manila - urban hex, best place to defend on PI. Festung Manila I call it.

I actually joked about MacArthur in the above post. I took the primadona guy away, and put some guy named Short in his place. I wanted Wainwright as he seems like a cool guy based on books I read but could not find him on the list.

O.

[PimpYourAFV]

Oleg please see my post just before your last one. You posted a minute after me so probably missed it. [:)]

edit: okay you saw it, thanks

Ya Manila is good for urban defense and I was thinking the same. I asked cause I noticed from other people's posts that they prefer Bataan cause reinforcements pop up there later and units from Clark tend to retreat into Bataan.

[Oleg Mastruko]

ORIGINAL: TokyoBoyTensai


Oleg please see my post just before your last one. You posted a minute after me so probably missed it. [:)]

I didn't actually I replied to it.

[Oleg Mastruko]

Updates slowed down a bit, because I'm trying to play as fast as I can, and game is very uneventful stage.

We have standoff in Manila, where he's preparing for another attack, after unsuccessful shock attack described above.

We also have standoff in Pakhoi (Chinese port) where my repeated attacks produce tremendous odds, but fail to inflict significant casualties to Japanese, let alone destroy them completely. This below is among better results, and I guess after repeated treatment they will eventually die.

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Ground combat at Pakhoi

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 23462 troops, 79 guns, 70 vehicles

Defending force 6722 troops, 15 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 19 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
1151 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Allied ground losses:
131 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Vehicles lost 2

He's doing Canton-Pakhoi bombardment runs trying to help his guys there survive:

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Naval bombardment of Pakhoi, at 39,39

Japanese Ships
DD Minegumo
DD Natsugumo
DD Arashio
DD Michishio
DD Oshio
DD Asashio
CL Naka
CA Atago
CA Takao
BB Haruna
BB Kongo


Allied ground losses:
552 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Runway hits 3
Port hits 1
Port supply hits 3

And that's about it, for now. I won't report much on my operations or plans.

O.

[PimpYourAFV]

Okay here we go everyone. This post is to start oddsmaking on who thinks who's gonna win the war (as well as punt this story back to the first page of the forum). Same as is done before major UFC fights, viewers can state who they think will win and an explanation for their choices. Everyone is welcome!! Even dumb newbies like me. [:D]

Once a few people have participated I will begin a running odds value. Please pick one player to win, don't say "I don't know cause they are both doing everything so well. I vote for both." or something lame like that. I will go first to set an example and not look like a jamtart.

I have to go with Oleg on this one. He's just too careful about protecting India which the Mog needs to win. Sure Oleg says he's not an allied expert but he knows the game so well and he'll do all the tricks allied players have used against him so far. Russia is still a trump card and we'll have to wait and see how Mog deals with that. So far it looks like American territory losses are gonna be limited to the Philippines leaving a decent starting position for a US comeback but this depends upon Oleg's use of the brutal 4-engine bombers.

So who do you think is gonna win everyone? [:)]

[wobbly]

ORIGINAL: Oleg Mastruko

I am using Bodhi's "most excellent" (as Apollo would say [8D]) WITP utility to track various stuff and consolidate intel from various sources. It's almost useless when playing as IJN, but extremely useful for Allied players.

Hey Oleg - great AAR - there are too many that are good to read - my work effort is plummeting!

Do you know where to get hold of Bodhi's utility? I've looked at spookies but no luck.

[Roger Neilson]

tm.asp?m=804557&mpage=11&#967206

this thread has numerous direct links to download Bodhi's utility.

Roger

[Oleg Mastruko]

OK days pass by with not much happening – its now 11th Jan 42. Since I will not detail what I do on strategic level, I can only describe what we both see.

Most interesting stuff is happening in China and it is very marginal really. Not exactly what I expected before I started this game but so far so good. I think all this will change once he attacks Russia.

His plan is, I believe, to finish the occupation of Phillipines, then use PI units to strenghten Kwantung Army (KA) and attack Russia.

So every day Manila holds out longer is a day more for Soviets to prepare. Which, in fact does not have to mean much, since his KA forces are gaining prep points for Russia too.

Meanwhile, battle of wills and cojones is going on in Pahkoi for days if not weeks.

I have overwhelming odds vs his IJA brigade there:

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Ground combat at Pakhoi

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 22373 troops, 62 guns, 69 vehicles

Defending force 5418 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 43 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
216 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Allied ground losses:
95 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Vehicles lost 1

I get results like these (43:1 or better!!) day after day but his forces simply refuse to die! To say it's frustrating would be understatement, but in my other games I have even more ridicolous results. Take a look at this, in this game I am IJA (THIS IS NOT FROM LUNACY GAME):

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Ground combat at La Foa

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 127320 troops, 1198 guns, 363 vehicles

Defending force 3369 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 428 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
419 casualties reported
Guns lost 6

Allied ground losses:
187 casualties reported

This happens day after day after day after day AFTER phucking DAY. 428:1, fer chissake! I lose more people than him, and his starved 3,3k guys refuse to give way to overwhelmingly superior force. I hold the base itself in both cases (Pakhoi in lunacy game, La Foa in this other game).

This is the case of "unit refusing to die" bug, I reported it already on the beta board and support thread, but I guess we'll see it fixed (or at least getting some people hysterical about it) only when majority of games enter the phase when Allies are on the offensive, and when United Allied Fanboy Whiners Club (UAFWC), strongest organised force on this board, starts to swamp the board with their posts. Until then we'll have to live with units casually surviving 43:1 odds, and 428:1 odds. [:@]

Still, I think his guys in Pakhoi are at the end of their ropes and will soon surrender, or die for the Emperor.

He counters my Pakhoi operations by sending bombardment forces (stronger and stronger in each run) to bomb Pakhoi:

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Naval bombardment of Pakhoi, at 39,39

Japanese Ships
DD Asagumo
DD Hagikaze
DD Arashi
DD Nowaki
DD Maikaze
CL Isuzu
CL Sendai
CA Kumano
CA Suzuya
CA Mikuma
CA Mogami
CA Chokai
BB Ise
BB Yamashiro
BB Fuso
BB Mutsu
BB Nagato


Allied ground losses:
1693 casualties reported
Guns lost 9

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 8
Port hits 5
Port supply hits 9

So 5 of his BBs are occupied with this utterly marginal task - again, not what I expected when we started this game, but obviously he has nothing better to do with his BBs at this point in the game, which is telling.

Brits and Americans sent their specialists to train Chinese in coastal artillery operations, but results have been poor so far. Apparently Chinese need food to operate - who would expect that?

There have been interesting fights elsewhere in China. This is battle for "Homan crossroads" (those two criss cross railroad hexes SE of Homan):

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Ground combat at 50,32

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 75896 troops, 1059 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 29115 troops, 211 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
1341 casualties reported
Guns lost 28

Allied ground losses:
242 casualties reported
Guns lost 2


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 50,31

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 94096 troops, 1109 guns, 13 vehicles

Defending force 49908 troops, 352 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
3758 casualties reported
Guns lost 71
Vehicles lost 9

Allied ground losses:
336 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Both times his attacks were repulsed – MWARGHHHAHHAHAHA

O.

[mogami]

So 5 of his BBs are occupied with this utterly marginal task - again, not what I expected when we started this game, but obviously he has nothing better to do with his BBs at this point in the game, which is telling.

Hi, A Japanese Bde is isolated and under attack and you think these missions in support are "marginal"?
Any time any place the enemy is succeeding it is important to extract payment. There is no other location currently on map that provides a target as rewarding to Japan as this one. The BB would be sitting in port if not engaged in these missions.
Japan has and will take risks in this game but they will be calculated risks not meaningless adventures. There is a plan and a schedule. So far Japan is ahead of schedule. (and under budget)

However this is the only one of the 3 "Lunatic" games where the Allied player has foiled an important part. (The transfer of CEA units to Burma) As a result the Japanese must take steps to correct this. Since these Chinese forces are astride the southern RR they are a priority target. Operation "Cowcatcher" will commence in the next few days

[Oleg Mastruko]

Updating this thread becomes harder for me than actually fighting vs Mog.

First - not much happens in the game (not much that I want to report that is). Secondly, I've been on business trips lately, and will have more to come. Frankly they're not much "business", as this last week I've been half drunk most of the time, and mostly drunk rest of the time.

I try to be reponsible PBEM partner so by all means I try to squeeze time for some PBEM turns on my laptop, but it's not easy when on the road - updating the AAR is even harder.

Okay. When he captures Manila he'll turn to Soviets - that was, and still is my bet. He still didn't capture Manila and that's it. No major losses no major battles to report...

O.

[PimpYourAFV]

Get it on Mog!! I wanna see a good fight at Manila and in Russia.

[Oleg Mastruko]

18th Jan 42. Minefields laid by my subs are beginning to do some damage:

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TF 6 encounters mine field at Kwajalein (79,79)

Japanese Ships
PG Santos Maru
PG Santo Maru
PG Seiko Maru
PG Okuyo Maru
PG Nishho Maru
PG Nanpo Maru
AK Shun Yuan, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Notice it was not Maru, it was I guess captured Chinese ship modelled in the game...

Pacific is, true to its name, very very quiet for days. Manila still holds, he is bombarding every day, in preparations for the next round of attacks.

Most important things happen in China.

He started his campaign nicknamed "Fyling horsedung" by Allied GHQ. Assorted IJA crappy aircraft bomb the Chinese concentrations. For example:

Day Air attack on 7th Chinese Corps, at 48,35

Japanese aircraft
Ki-30 Ann x 34

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
14 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
24 x Ki-30 Ann bombing at 2000 feet
10 x Ki-30 Ann bombing at 2000 feet

Sometimes I put some LRCAP over his intended targets bit I do it with Chinese fighters, so the results are meagre, as I am not sure it's worth risking western fighters for this marginal task.

Most important news. BIG success in Central China!

Ground combat at Hsinyang

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 28822 troops, 212 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 5440 troops, 11 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 87 to 1 (fort level 5)

Allied forces CAPTURE Hsinyang base !!!

Japanese ground losses:
179 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
150 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Yee haw. Holding Hsinyang, important base on main railroad, would be too good to be true (I will try), but at least I gave him the bloody nose, Tom Hunter style.

Here's how it happened.

I think he moved most of his north China units towards Manchuria, to help with planned attack on USSR.

This left some bases weakly defended, and I marched on with my Chinese. We have numerical parity in most bases in Central China. I do bombardment attacks, mainly in hope they will raise EXP levels some (will they, I don't know really?).

I sent some units to two hex crossroads SE of Homan. He reacted with his units scrapped from various bases nearby – I reported some battles hapening there.

I noticed he moved troops from Hsinyang to fight at the crossroads and attacked there, and took the base.


1. He moves his units to Manchuria (I guess, I don't have any proof for this)
2. I move towards weakly defended bases and Homan crossroads to contest them.
3. Hsinyang falls.

O.