Once Again into the Breach - Mike (J) vs. tc464 (A)

[Teikoku Kaigun]

Can you tell a bit about your deployment of auxiliary ships between different fleets?
And what conversions are you doing?

Im doing my OOB to get ready for my first PBEM and now pondering these.

[Mike Solli]

TK, lots of conversions happened. I'll get to them shortly. First, the turn replay...

24 Feb 42

Sub War

An Aussie AM hit the Ro-68 off Pt. Moresby with a DC. Fortunately, the damage isn't too bad at 22-15(5)-0-0. She's headed to Rabaul where the AR stationed there will be able to completely repair her.

I also saw that the Pike was sunk near Rabaul from a DC hit. That didn't happen today but a couple of days ago but only showed up today. If she did sink, it took a couple of days. I'll take it. That's only the 3rd Allied sub sunk so far, along with an S class and Dutch sub.

5 Fleet

Interesting things happened here. If you recall, I diverted 2x Naval Guards to invade Umnak Island and Dutch Harbor. They both landed today. At Umnak, the enemy defenses included the 201 (Sep) Inf Reg, a base force and an EAB. That Naval Guard has no hope of taking the base and will pull out tomorrow. At Dutch Harbor however, there is only a base force and the 2/250 CD. I'm going for a DA. I'd love to kill those units. I am also going to see if I can send a larger force to take Umnak. I'll take a look at that when I receive the turn, which should be later this evening.

4 Fleet

The 3x Naval Guards that arrived earlier are about ready to land at their destinations.

SE Fleet

Ted refuses to provide CAP over Pt. Moresby. That tells me I need to start bombing that base with my Lilys that are there. Three Betties, unescorted, went after the AM that hit the Ro-68 and was ambushed by 7x P-40Es, losing two of their number. Not nice.

China

Interesting proceedings today. I attacked Loyang in a DA. If you recall, there are 20 isolated Chinese units there. Well, my forces there did their job getting 2:1 odds with no enemy forts. The Chinese surrendered losing 61256(4317) to 7972(27) Japanese casualties. Banzai! The infrastructure in Loyang was devastated at Manpower 1(1), Resources 0(40) and LI 0(20). No matter. I destroyed a total of 8x Chinese Corps, 1x Chinese Cavalry Corps, 2x construction regiments, 2x base forces, 5 Group Armies and 2 War Areas. They'll come back but it'll take a long time to rebuild them.

Now there remains 5 units in the dot hex just north of Loyang and 10 more units in 3 hexes to the south in clear and wooded areas.

Burma

The only conflict here was 11x P-40Es vs. 2x Oscars over Magwe. Both Oscars were shot down (and both pilots lost) for no Allied loss.

Malaya

I tried a SA against Singapore today. It did a number on the Allies. The 2:1 attack reduced the forts from 2 to 0. Banzai!!! Losses were 3099(168) Allies to 7576(32) Japanese. Our losses were very low but the disruption and fatigue are in the 70s for all 5 divisions. A few days rest and they'll go in again.

SRA

Kolaka was liberated today. The resources there are intact at 40(0).

I'm continuing to spread out in Java. The end is near.

The Yamada det provided LRCAP over Ambon to support a Nell daitai that was doing a port attack there. Some Allied ships were in port there. The Zeros caught 3x B-339Ds and shot down two. The Nells caught the AVP Arend in port and sank her.

Other Stuff

Reinforcements:

10 Garrison Unit - 14 Army - headed to Manila
11 Garrison Unit - 14 Army - headed to Kendari

[Cribtop]

It seems that the choice in China for the Allies is to abandon Chengchow and Loyang or defend them and lose an army. It has happened in numerous AARs now and, were I to play Allies, I'd run for the woods on Day 1. Still, a hearty BANZAI to you, Mike. [&o]

Also, what are your plans, if any, beyond the usual perimeter?

[ny59giants]

In China, I would continue to push in the north and see how far beyond Sian you can get. There is a small, but significant amount of oil to be found there. Denying him the oil, but more importantly the fuel to keep his Heavy Industry and the supply it produces at Chungking is an important objective. It doesn't hurt that the oil/fuel would benefit you long term.

Logistics, Logistics, Logistics....[:D]

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Cribtop

It seems that the choice in China for the Allies is to abandon Chengchow and Loyang or defend them and lose an army.

Just like Ichang for IJ is a setup as well. Allies can take it in the first few turns and almost impossible not to lose it.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

Interesting proceedings today. I attacked Loyang in a DA. If you recall, there are 20 isolated Chinese units there. Well, my forces there did their job getting 2:1 odds with no enemy forts. The Chinese surrendered losing 61256(4317) to 7972(27) Japanese casualties. Banzai! The infrastructure in Loyang was devastated at Manpower 1(1), Resources 0(40) and LI 0(20). No matter. I destroyed a total of 8x Chinese Corps, 1x Chinese Cavalry Corps, 2x construction regiments, 2x base forces, 5 Group Armies and 2 War Areas. They'll come back but it'll take a long time to rebuild them.

In another thread I learned that only the infantry corps come back. So the HQs, construction and base force units will not re-spawn. So that's a lot of extras you just knocked off for good there! Banzai.

I concur that a push up north, to Sian and beyond, can cripple Chinese industry. Go ASAP so the forts can't be built too high.

[Mike Solli]

I agree with you guys. The army that just took Loyang is headed for the remaining 5 Chinese units in that dot hex to the north. Then that army heads for Sian. Further north, the Mongolian Army has surrounded and is in the process of destroying the last known Chinese unit there. Then they will head west along the road toward a base with more oil (can't remember the name). Once I take those two bases, my offensive missions in the north are pretty much complete.

After that is done, I'll look to the south. I'm pushing W and SW out of Shanghai to clear the Chinese out slowly. Not doing much in the center other than destroying the 10 units surrounded there.

Once all that is complete, I'll begin to clear out the rail line to complete the road net between FIC and Fusan.

To be honest, I hate China, and so does Ted. I want to hurt him enough so that I can do the occasional offensive to surround and possibly kill a few units here and there to keep him in the hole troops wise. That'll postpone the inevitable counteroffensive to late enough in the war so it won't matter.

[Mike Solli]

Ichang, yeah. Ted took it early after I abandon it. I'll take it back - maybe. Gotta see if it is necessary to my goals. I suspect it is. I have no interest in going after Chunking.

Off to play soldier. Talk to you guys tonight.

[ny59giants]

North China:
Sian: Oil - 20 & Refinery - 20
Lanchow: Oil - 90 & Refinery - 90 (This is the big prize)
Urumchi: Oil - 50 & Refinery - 20 (I lost this in my last game as Allies to roving Tank Rgt)

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

Reinforcements:

10 Garrison Unit - 14 Army - headed to Manila
11 Garrison Unit - 14 Army - headed to Kendari

The plethora of Garrison Units that you will receive over the next few months are quite useful. Just a heads up about withdrawal dates on them. You may want to push those that you will 'lose anyways' furthest forward or even use them in an offensive manner before they're taken from you.

[Cribtop]

ORIGINAL: obvert

In another thread I learned that only the infantry corps come back. So the HQs, construction and base force units will not re-spawn. So that's a lot of extras you just knocked off for good there! Banzai.

Wow, I didn't know that!

[ny59giants]

I had everything come back for the Chinese in my last game as Allies. But, everything is at 1/3 strength.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

I had everything come back for the Chinese in my last game as Allies. But, everything is at 1/3 strength.

This is what I'd always thought, but since I haven't played the Allies in a year, I can't remember exactly what happened to my Chinese units. In some AAR that I can no longer find, someone quoted the below area of the manual. It only mentions infantry units, but of course the manual is not clear or comprehensive on many subjects.

PS - It was the Chinese Zombie thread in the War Room.

[Hanzberger]

What is the general consensus on China as far as eating whole units up and having them return, or just pushing them back-hopefully very well damaged.

[Cribtop]

I'd say it depends. The best result is a 1 AV LCU pushed into the woods and left to rot. However, sometimes there is value to destroying units that occupy key terrain or are serially blocking roads and rails behind the lines.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: Hanzberger

What is the general consensus on China as far as eating whole units up and having them return, or just pushing them back-hopefully very well damaged.

I'll take 'em as I can get 'em. Destroyed utterly seems to yield more VPs, but permits the annoying zombification to which you refer. My goal in China is to destroy more infantry than he can produce as replacement squads. Over time, this should work to my advantage.

[SqzMyLemon]

I play as a commander in the field would have during that time. Kill 'em. No commander would refuse an opportunity to eliminate enemy forces or cause mass surrender by encirclement. They didn't have to worry about respawning, so I don't worry about the 1/3 respawn either. It's a game mechansim that I have no control over and it represents an awful lot of mouths to feed at a time when supply could be critically low in China. If the Chinese perimeter shrinks too much, I see no way these zombie troops can be fed.

I do think respawning units should have the lowest experience levels allowable though, they may be 1/3 strength, but it should be rabble and not even remotely trained up. The Allies shouldn't be rewarded for playing Chinese units carelessly or relying on the fact they respawn. Losing them must entail some kind of penalty, not a reward in my opinion.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

I play as a commander in the field would have during that time. Kill 'em. No commander would refuse an opportunity to eliminate enemy forces or cause mass surrender by encirclement. They didn't have to worry about respawning, so I don't worry about the 1/3 respawn either. It's a game mechansim that I have no control over and it represents an awful lot of mouths to feed at a time when supply could be critically low in China. If the Chinese perimeter shrinks too much, I see no way these zombie troops can be fed.

I do think respawning units should have the lowest experience levels allowable though, they may be 1/3 strength, but it should be rabble and not even remotely trained up. The Allies shouldn't be rewarded for playing Chinese units carelessly or relying on the fact they respawn. Losing them must entail some kind of penalty, not a reward in my opinion.

Agree wholeheartedly...

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: Hanzberger

What is the general consensus on China as far as eating whole units up and having them return, or just pushing them back-hopefully very well damaged.

I'll take 'em as I can get 'em. Destroyed utterly seems to yield more VPs, but permits the annoying zombification to which you refer. My goal in China is to destroy more infantry than he can produce as replacement squads. Over time, this should work to my advantage.

I agree with CB. I'll kill whatever I can get. I'm sure my opponent is in a pretty severe infantry deficit right now. I intend to keep it that way.

[Mike Solli]

25 Feb 42

Sub War

The S-39 put a torpedo into the PB America Maru (fitting name, huh?) and down she went.

5 Fleet

The Naval Guard at Umnak Island got pulled out of there and I’m sending them to reinforce Dutch Harbor. I tried another DA at Dutch Harbor and got 1:2 odds (Fort level 1). Losses were 56(0) Japanese to 21(0) Americans. We’ll see what the second Naval Guard does….

Two xAKs were sunk by CD fire at Dutch Harbor. Unfortunately, I don’t have anything to counter it. That’s the problem you run into when you do spur of the moment invasions. I did mention earlier that it was a risky proposition.

4 Fleet

Nothing new to report.

SE Fleet

Another air fur ball over Pt. Moresby. This time, 27 Zeros met 10 P-40Es. Eight of the P-40s were shot down for no Japanese losses. Banzai!

Ted had mentioned that he has half a dozen squadrons each of bombers and fighters to throw into the fray. He has admitted that his war of attrition isn’t working as planned. My fighter strength doesn’t seem to be diminishing. Heh, heh…..

China

Maneuvering continues.

Burma

Two Oscars met 17x P-40Es over Meiktila, shooting down 1x P-40 for no Japanese loss.

I forgot to mention that yesterday, Meiktila spontaneously changed allegiance from Brit to Japanese. All of the infrastructure is intact so now I have an additional 300 oil factories pumping out oil. I shut off the 100 refineries as well as the 200 refineries in Rangoon. The oil (~35-40k) is pooling at Meiktila and Rangoon. Hopefully, it’ll start to flow south soon.

I have some AA at Meiktila and some AS enroute. I’ll station fighters there as soon as I can.

The 22 Air Flotilla HQ, some AA and some engineers, along with a pile of supply, arrived at Pt. Blair. I’ll move some Betties there soon to begin more long range naval search and NavT capability.

Malaya

The 5x divisions at Singapore are recovering, but it’ll be a couple more days before they are ready to try again.

Java

Tjilatjap was liberated in a DA today. The 14:1 odds attack resulted in 70(0) Japanese casualties and 1354(120) Dutch losses including the destruction of the 5 CD battalion and 12x L-212 transports. I also captured 48k supplies and 24k fuel.

I’m postponing a tentative attack on Soerabaja until the 16 Army HQ moves to within 1 hex of Soerabaja. Just a day or two…..

SRA

Yesterday, I landed an SNLF at Bengkalis. I took it in a DA today, driving off the enemy with 34(3) losses to no Japanese losses. I captured the oil intact at 40(0). That SNLF will stay there as a garrison for a while and another SNLF is being picked up to invade farther north.