Wait, I can't read Cuttlefish's new AAR? - Cribtop (J) vs CF (A)

[Canoerebel]

I'm sure you know this, but absent unusual circumstances you can bottle up the Allies at Clark/Bataan using a brigade and a regiment or two (and perhaps using a division to scare them back into those bases early on and then withdrawing it for use elsewhere). Then you can bomb Clark/Bataan unmercifully until about April, when it will fall to the brigade and a few regiments. That frees up alot of power to go hunting for the Allies elsewhere.

But there may be pressing reasons to divert from that path - as if you have a chance of cutting off a large part of the Allied army and extinguishing it quickly and relatively painlessly.

[Cribtop]

Jan 4, 1942

Subs

Ann reports a hit on a sub near Formosa, Saury is DC'd by an ASW TF in the same area. A Pete from Indes Fleet bombs Seawolf south of Mindanao.

4th and SE Fleets

No change, but paras, base forces and an Air HQ begin unloading at Truk to support the next phase of the offensive (Lae, Buna, Milne Bay and PM).

14th Army

Ground bombing and a DA at Manila drops forts to 1, odds 1:1, casualties 584(8) vs 500(7). A good start and we will attack again tomorrow. The base should fall once forts drop to zero. We are watching Clark and Bataan to make sure CF doesn't try an offensive, so far no movement detected.

16th Army

We bomb and DA Tarakan, taking the base with 3:1 odds, casualties 720(94) vs 30(0). One LCU surrenders, two retreat. Facilities are captured 64(26). Not bad, but the universe seems determined to keep us from taking anything undamaged.

25th Army

DA by armor south of Taiping forces the three remaining LCUs to retreat, odds 90:1, casualties 576(148) vs 0(0). The main army is on the move south, next target Kuala Lumpur. Both KL and Temuloh are occupied by 7 enemy LCUs.

15th Army

Marching. Recon shows Port Blair unreinforced, so we order the paratroopers to drop tomorrow.

China

Loyang bombed to slow movement. We enter the Loyang hex today and will SA tomorrow. If CF gets one unit into the hex to the West, he probably escapes. If not, assuming we take the base, he will see 20 LCUs surrender. Criptop Intel estimates only a 25% chance of this result, but it's worth a shot.

Intel and Analysis

BB Pennsylvania suddenly shows up as sunk in Tracker. BANZAI!

The enemy's dispositions at Manila, Kuala Lumpur, Temuloh and Rangoon are puzzling. Criptop Intel is beginning to believe in a hypothesis - namely that CF is intentionally choosing to fight in a very historical manner. We may be wrong, but the "typical" Allied AE player would not have stood and fought for Taiping or Manila as he has done.

[Cribtop]

Dan,

That was exactly the plan, but CF's decision to hold Manila and Batangas has forced me to kick him out. This in turn leaves me feeling a little stretched as forces that were supposed to sit on the enemy in a single hex while the bombing did its work for a time have to cover four hexes (Manila, Cabanatuan, Lingayen and Iba). However, Manila should fall soon, allowing the siege to begin as planned and hopefully free up some troops.

[ny59giants]

The Beta patches are very stable, IMO. I would recommend that both of you upgrade to them. Michael M has been putting out a new one once every weekend for the last month plus. The enhancement features are worth it. The ability for both sides to use PP to buy out destroyed LCU units are great to have. CF could buy back his destroyed BF and armor from the Philippines. You can now stockpile devices, supply, fuel, resources, and oil at a base. You can quickly see when any of your ground units can upgrade your TO&E. Right now as Japan (late Oct 42) I have my two bases built up in Korea and the resources are flowing there vs Port Arthur which helps with shipping. The new hotkey "5" allows you to see where your supply is flowing from a particular base (helps in Burma).

[Capt. Harlock]

We may be wrong, but the "typical" Allied AE player would not have stood and fought for Taiping or Manila as he has done.

IIRC, MacArthur evacuated Manila without a fight, and declared it an "open city". (The Japanese dropped a few bombs on it anyway.)

[Cribtop]

That's correct, Capt., so in the case of Manila arguably he's being a-historical. [:)] I think my point is that in many places, CF seems to be standing and fighting rather than evacuating to a single defensive position. My interpretation is that he is refusing to let himself play like many of us do in AE by denying himself the foreknowledge that defense of Malaya, Luzon, etc is a doomed endeavor. This would be consistent with the erroneous assumptions of historical commanders and politicians that these places could be held against the Japanese.

[Cribtop]

Jan 5, 1941

Subs

Seal and Sargo DC'd by convoy escorts near Babeldoab and Talaud Eilanden, respectively. We are pleased to see that in many cases the ASW screen is robust enough to prevent attacks on invasion or transport shipping. Allied SS is reported hit by Anns near Formosa. Getting good work out of that Ann Daitai.

4th Fleet

No change, but we will soon seize Nauru and Ocean Islands and are angling to get base forces on Wake, Marcus and TB.

SE Fleet

Solomons invasion fleet meets up with KB and South Seas Fleet and alters course toward Tulagi.

14th Army

DA Manila drops forts to 0, 1:2 odds, casualties 416(5) vs 412(3). Good progress and another brigade enters the hex today to help with the next attack. We will rest a day or two to drop disruption and bomb the airfield to suppress forts. Hopefully one more attack does the trick.

16th Army

Lolobato occupied. Celebes Sea Sqdn is back to Babeldoab, Indes Fleet and KBL arrive tomorrow. We will load for Operation KS (Kendari to Sorong) tomorrow.

25th Army

We chase down the Taiping survivors and hope to attack again soon. It's all about the march to Singers now. Recon shows the enemy has mostly abandoned Kuala Lumpur but still occupies Temuloh in strength.

15th Army

1st Raiding Regiment seizes Port Blair today, odds 6:1. The RN base force surrenders and the airfield is undamaged. We will fly in an SNLF to replace the paras and retrieve them for use elsewhere. Our troops enter the Moulmein hex while 33rd Div plus 21st Bde sneaks in the back way near Pegu.

China

DA 1 hex east of Nanyang on a trapped corps, 4:1, casualties 493(6) vs 191(1). SA near Suchow trying to finish Lusu War Area HQ knocks them off the rail line, 110:1, casualties 405(19) to nil. We will try to bomb this unit out of existence unless it re-occupies the railroad.

The biggie is Loyang. We succeeded in catching all 20 LCUs before they exited the Loyang hex to enter the hex to the west, currently occupied by two IJA LCUs and four KMT units. We chose to shock attack in an effort to swing for the fences and just miss. We get a 1:1, but had our engineers taken out the forts before the odds calculation we may have taken the place. As it is, forts are dropped to 0 by the assault, casualties 2994(171) vs 3205(41). We are generally still combat ready other than needing to rest to reduce disruption. One brigade got chewed up but mostly disablements. Bottom line, CF will get away unless constant bombing and the SA reset his accumulated movement. However, if he was reset, we should get one or two bites at the apple and may force his army, now surrounded on all sides, to surrender. Time will tell.

Other

DD Henley now shows up as sunk in Tracker. First Pennsylvania, now Henley. Hopefully more BBs will join this list over the coming weeks.

Chiang Mai makes level two airfield and is ready to support invasion of Burma. Babeldoab makes level 4 port and will go on to level 5.

[Cribtop]

Jan 6, 1942

The big fish gets away at Loyang. [:(] Sigh, kudos to CF for slipping the noose by the hair of his chin.

Subs

Glen recon of Canton Island shows the base still unreinforced. I-15 DC'd without hits off San Diego. Another Ann attacks a sub near Formosa. Between ASW patrols, the Ann Daitai and using the escape hatch between China and Takao, the usual USN sub swarm near Formosa has been toothless - so far.

4th Fleet

No change. We are considering seizing Canton and Baker given the enemy's lack of interest.

SE Fleet

D-Day at Tulagi in 48 hours. 90th Regt, prepping for Noumea, arrives at Truk in a few days as well. Namatanai occupied. This is a good job by the rowboat corps, as we plan to use this base to help air defenses at Rabaul when the inevitable Allied counteroffensive begins. Taiyo heads back to Japan with the last 24 Claudes from the Marshalls. She then becomes a re-sizing and carrier training machine, probably based at Maizuru.

14th Army

We bomb the Manila airfield, and do enough damage to keep forts at 0. DA tomorrow.

16th Army

Babeldoab bustles with activity as two big invasion TFs load while KBL and Indes Fleet arrive to re-fuel. One TF will hit Sorong, Boela and Ambon, the other will then descend on Kendari. Recon recently moved into Ternate is probing these bases but so far finds only the pre-war garrisons. We are also preparing to load 38th Division at Hong Kong and will seize Samarinda, Balikpapan and Makassar very soon after the conclusion of the Kendari op. An FT TF of APDs is en route to Jolo. It will lift the Air HQ from Jolo to Ambon, then follow up by moving the Manado Air HQ to Kendari. This will push the LBA umbrella forward and meet pre-conditions for Operation TD, the seizure of Timor. All of this hopefully leaves us in position to invade Java not later than Feb 1.

Finally, Shoho has sailed for Babeldoab. A question about CV air groups and re-sizing: many of the CVLs in KBL have undersized air groups. If I switch both the Zero and Kate units on a CVL to resize allowed on the same day, will both groups take up 1/2 of the available space, or will one group re-size first, leaving no room for the other to expand? I have the pilots and pools to re-size the CVLs now, but want to know how it will play out before issuing the orders.

25th Army

No change, but we catch up to the Taiping survivors with armor and will beat the dead horse tomorrow. We hope to wrap up Singapore by late January or very early February.

15th Army

Chumphon makes level 3 airfield. Chiang Mai is reconned. We think CF is planning to unleash the AVG, still massed at Toungoo, against the IJAAF. By keeping our planes at Bangkok on the ground, we hope to keep the enemy pinned in Burma awaiting an ambush chance that never comes rather than doing something useful elsewhere. If CF keeps them at Toungoo much longer this base will be visited by 1st Raiding Regt. Elements of 55th Division are in the Moulmein hex in strength. BA tomorrow to determine raw AS.

China

BA Loyang shows nobody home. CF's movement wasn't reset, and thus he escapes to the west. We will seize Loyang tomorrow and pursue. Will the enemy attack our 700AS blocking force outside of Loyang? If I understand the hexside control rules he will be able to retire without attacking, but he may try just to get in a few licks. We will re-configure 11th and 12th Armies for the siege of Nanyang.

SA against the last trapped KMT LCU near Nanyang, 308:1, casualties 1684(59) vs 20(0). Only a matter of time.

5th Fleet

The invasion and covering force will pause one day to allow the picket ship and subs to get a full days' sail ahead. No indication of enemy activity in NOPAC, but there's no reason to rush. D-Day at Attu and Amchitka in approx 72 hours.

[Canoerebel]

Good try at Loyang. Cuttlefish may be breathing a sigh of relief, but he's probably shaken at the narrow escape. You might be able to stampede him if you pursue hot and heavy. Use bombers to slow down his stack so that your stack can catch his in the open - I think he's in the open now and will next enter a forested hex? It might be worth attacking at least once in the forested hex. If you can get his stack to retreat after combat just once, it will be so beat up that it will cease to fight effectively. Then you might be able to push to Sian.

Of course, none of that is set in stone. CF may have a fall-back MLR already set in the forest, or some other clever idea to avoid disaster.

[Cribtop]

I'm definitely going to try. CF has 18LCUs and 2200ish AS at Nanyang. He had 20, but one died and one is presumed to be protecting his LoC back to Sian.

The Loyang refugees include the already once defeated Chengchow and Tsiaotso garrisons. Total AS including the 4 LCU relief column is no more than 1200 AS. I'll be able to bring about 5 fresh division equivalents and the IJAAF to the party quickly, with two more divisions in about a week. If he runs now, we still may get in one clear hex attack. If he sticks around to attack, I doubt he can prevent being attacked once or even twice. If I can force the whole stack to retreat we perhaps can push on Sian despite the better defensive terrain. This threat in turn probably forces CF to decrease his uber stack at Nanyang, but that's fine.

Air recon is monitoring a medium size build up by the KMT in the south, but many of these troops are the defeated Chusien garrison, and we are due for big reinforcements in the center and south in a few weeks.

[Canoerebel]

Yeah, Nanyang is flanked if you have a shot at Sian through the forest to the north (true north). You can probably get him to abandon Nanyang simply by credibly threatening his flank. He'd be crazy to leave a stack there and risk having it cut off.

[SqzMyLemon]

ORIGINAL: Cribtop

Finally, Shoho has sailed for Babeldoab. A question about CV air groups and re-sizing: many of the CVLs in KBL have undersized air groups. If I switch both the Zero and Kate units on a CVL to resize allowed on the same day, will both groups take up 1/2 of the available space, or will one group re-size first, leaving no room for the other to expand? I have the pilots and pools to re-size the CVLs now, but want to know how it will play out before issuing the orders.

My experience has been that if they are ordered to resize on the same day they both will fill the carrier to capacity. It seems it's usually a 3:2 ratio of fighters to bombers.

[DivePac88]

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

ORIGINAL: Cribtop

Finally, Shoho has sailed for Babeldoab. A question about CV air groups and re-sizing: many of the CVLs in KBL have undersized air groups. If I switch both the Zero and Kate units on a CVL to resize allowed on the same day, will both groups take up 1/2 of the available space, or will one group re-size first, leaving no room for the other to expand? I have the pilots and pools to re-size the CVLs now, but want to know how it will play out before issuing the orders.

My experience has been that if they are ordered to resize on the same day they both will fill the carrier to capacity. It seems it's usually a 3:2 ratio of fighters to bombers.

If you click the re-size button a third time, you can then enter the group size that you want in the re-size box.

[Cribtop]

Wow, great info gents. Thanks!

Two more notes. First, I just got the latest turn from Cuttles but also a note that he and Mrs. Cuttlefish are headed to the mountains for R&R this weekend, so there will be one more AAR entry and then a short break until Sunday night.

Second, the Loyang campaign points out a quirk in hex side control. Japan controlled the hex west of Loyang (hereafter the target hex). Then the relief force entered the target hex from the 9 o'clock hex side. Loyang was still surrounded as the 3 o'clock hex side was still under IJA control. The Loyang force then flees to the target hex, changing control of the 3 o'clock hex side, but more importantly, combining the escaping LCUs with the relief force LCUs. Under the rules of hex side control, it would appear that all Chinese forces are now free to march into the western forest via the 9 o'clock hex side. The problem with this is that it effectively allowed the Loyang forces to "jump" over the IJA, which IRL would still be in between the KMT and safety. It would come down to an attempt to break through the IJA blocking force before the main force comes up from behind.

I'm not whining or contesting the result at all. In a 40 mile hex you can imagine plenty of abstractions to filter the enemy through our lines. However, it is worth noting this effect in the event you trying to encircle or are in danger of encirclement. Incidentally, this entire analysis is the reason we shock attacked right out of the gate at Loyang as we believed we had only one shot at bagging the enemy.

[SqzMyLemon]

I forgot about the 3rd click to be able to customize your resizing options. I'm just getting used to it myself.

Being an old wargamer more familiar with hex control and zones of control over WitPAE's individual hexside control, it's taken some getting used to. I have my moments scratching my head trying to figure out what just happened when I think I'm about to cut off an enemy force only to realize too late there is an escape route after all. Frustrating at times, but that's how land combat works in this game so I adapt [:D]. Bummer though about Loyang. That was a lucky break for CF. It seems to me that the Chinese force should have had to undergo an attack against your blocking force first and only if successful occupy the hex and link up with the other units. If it would have been defeated it should have had to remain in Loyang. Regardless, I've learned that hexside control makes it much more difficult to surround and destroy enemy formations than hex control alone. I'm guessing that was the intention of the design.

CF's still on the run though. Banzai!

[DivePac88]

Just a note on hex-control; I think it is more about controlling the six hex-walls than the hex itself. Meaning which direction you entered the hex from, and how long your unit/units had been in that hex. So in your case the Allies still controlled the two hex-walls they entered and exited the hex you controlled. The Allied force was able to do this because the two hex walls were controlled from the two adjacent Allied controlled hexes.

[Cribtop]

I agree DivePac. Just pointing out that IRL the Chinese realistically would have to exfiltrate or break through my lines in this instance, whereas with hex side control they have two different forces coming from opposite directions that are able to combine by "magic." The mechanics are as you describe. Will post a screenie tonight to show the situation.

[SqzMyLemon]

That's the point I often neglect. I may occupy the hex, but I really only control 5 interior hex sides and fully control only the hexside I entered from. The defender can always exit from any interior hex side direction they still control even if the hex entered is occupied by an enemy unit, and are never completely cutoff unless all 6 hex sides are enemy controlled. As Criptop mentions though, it still allows a force to move thru an enemy unit by osmosis [:-].

I should be working, but am allowing myself a little Friday surfing. [:D]

[Cribtop]

Jan 7, 1942

Any day Tokyo Rose speaks is a good day for the Empire.

Subs

Porpoise duds on an SC in an ASW TF near Formosa.

4th Fleet

Loading a fragment of 2nd Maizuru SNLF for Wake. Did these guys miss the party IRL? Always wondered why this fragment shows up.

SE Fleet

Tulagi invasion heads for the beach. The IJNAF launches the first of many combat missions from Rabaul, as Bettys bomb the survivors of Kavieng.

14th Army

DA Manila takes the base. Banzai! [&o] Odds 2:1, forts 0, Casualties a spooky 1900(666) vs 367(3). Seven LCUs retreat to Clark. We had hoped for a retreat to Batangas and oblivion. Still, CF got 7 units chopped up by trying to hold Manila. Why? Quien Sabe?

Facilities at Manila are captured intact other than 3 damage to LI.

16th Army

Operation KS fleets launch from Babeldoab. A Nell on Nav Search from Manado attacks a sub near Talaud Eilanden.

25th Army

DA in Malaya by our armor advance guard smashes a base force, odds 109:1, casualties 23(7) vs nil.

15th Army

BA Moulmein shows raw AS 202:29. DA tomorrow. More enemy recon of Chiang Mai.

China

SA 1 hex east of Nanyang, odds 578:1, casualties 523(169) vs nil, but still no surrender. Loyang falls, facilities captured approx 30% damaged. The big enemy stack that fled Loyang is spotted by recon retreating west into the woods.

5th Fleet

The Aleutians invasion and 5th Fleet resume progress toward their targets.

Other

BB Nevada now shows as sunk on Tracker. Please, Sir, could I have some more?

[aprezto]

ORIGINAL: Cribtop

Casualties a spooky 1900(666) vs 367(3). Seven LCUs retreat to Clark. We had hoped for a retreat to Batangas and oblivion. Still, CF got 7 units chopped up by trying to hold Manila. Why? Quien Sabe?

Even when you are in Sir Robin mode it can be hard to just 'let it go' and retreat to the best line. If only I can cost him one more day...

Great stuff.

Very nice counter point to your novelist adversary. Have to say I am really enjoying your terse but exceptionally informative posts - thanks.