Empire of the Sun - DesertWolf101 (J) vs Andy Mac (A)

[Alamander]

Where are your 12 divisions? You have 12 free divisions to start the game. You left the 38th from Hong Kong in China, which leaves you only 11 free divisions. We know that the Imperial Guards and 21st are at Mersing, and presumably you have another division coming down the road in Malaysia. Be careful that you do not try to bite into too many apples at once.

Even without the units from Alor Stor, your opponent with probably have approximately 500 AV in Singapore, including anti-tank guns, some decent artillery, and the good Aussie units. The river crossing is quite likely to completely trash one of your divisions, somewhere in the neighborhood of 220 squads disrutped, unless you can get lucky and have the armor cross first. Be sure to have base with 20k supply to withdraw the trahed unit, place it with an HQ, and divide it if necessary to speed up the recover of disabled devices. Having bases with 20k supply and HQs is a key to maintaining pace in the early war. You cannot have divisions sitting around for 6 weeks trying to recover their combat effectiveness.

Clark Field and Bataan are tough nuts to crack. Clark is x3 terrain, and you can expect level 3 forts there, which means you are likely to trash at least 1 division trying to break through there. Remember that you must plenty of anti-armor devices there to deal with the 2 U.S. guard Stuart battalions. Bataan can be even trickier. It is only X2 terrain, but the allied coastal artillery is nasty. You cannot linger long at Bataan and must attack quickly or the artillery will ravage you. You can bring every heavy artillery piece from Manchuko and slug it out or try offshore BB bombardments of Bataan. Expect to lose a couple BBs for a few months to damage from mines if you elect to employ them at Bataan. Firing that coastal artillery will eat through the allied supply stockpiles quickly, but not quickly enough unless have all the heavy artillery in your possession there.

Also, remember that range is key to artillery sieges. You want long-range guns when faced with long-range guns. Your 75mm are fine when dealing with Chinese, Indian, or like division, but when tangling with British, U.S., or Aussie divisions and artillery you want to be sure that you have some 10 cm guns or better.

The 11 heavy artillery units in Manchuria can be very helpful at this point in the game for any place that you enounter an allied redoubt that cannot be easily overwhelmed, either at Singapore, on Luzon, or even Java, if the Dutch take to the mountains. Later these can be used defensively on key islands bases or anywhere you create a stronghold in good terrain that is not easily overwhelmed. The 24, 28, and 30cm guns can be very effective against ships if placed anywhere an invasion is expected. Be sure to place a few other units with gun devices in these locations to absorb bombardements and hopefully leave these big guns undisrupted and undisabled.

[DesertWolf101]

ORIGINAL: Alamander

Where are your 12 divisions? You have 12 free divisions to start the game. You left the 38th from Hong Kong in China, which leaves you only 11 free divisions. We know that the Imperial Guards and 21st are at Mersing, and presumably you have another division coming down the road in Malaysia. Be careful that you do not try to bite into too many apples at once.

Even without the units from Alor Stor, your opponent with probably have approximately 500 AV in Singapore, including anti-tank guns, some decent artillery, and the good Aussie units. The river crossing is quite likely to completely trash one of your divisions, somewhere in the neighborhood of 220 squads disrutped, unless you can get lucky and have the armor cross first. Be sure to have base with 20k supply to withdraw the trahed unit, place it with an HQ, and divide it if necessary to speed up the recover of disabled devices. Having bases with 20k supply and HQs is a key to maintaining pace in the early war. You cannot have divisions sitting around for 6 weeks trying to recover their combat effectiveness.

Clark Field and Bataan are tough nuts to crack. Clark is x3 terrain, and you can expect level 3 forts there, which means you are likely to trash at least 1 division trying to break through there. Remember that you must plenty of anti-armor devices there to deal with the 2 U.S. guard Stuart battalions. Bataan can be even trickier. It is only X2 terrain, but the allied coastal artillery is nasty. You cannot linger long at Bataan and must attack quickly or the artillery will ravage you. You can bring every heavy artillery piece from Manchuko and slug it out or try offshore BB bombardments of Bataan. Expect to lose a couple BBs for a few months to damage from mines if you elect to employ them. Firing that coastal artillery will eat through the allied supply stockpiles quickly, but not quickly enough unless have all the heavy artillery in your possession there.

Also, remember that range is key to artillery sieges. You want long-range guns, especially when faced with long-range guns. You 75mm are fine when dealing with Chinese, Indian, or like division, but when tangling with British, U.S., or Aussie divisions and artillery you wantto be sure that you have some 10 cm guns or better.

Good question. Here is a list of the allocation of the 12 divisions:

China - 1
Philippines - 2
Malaya - 7
New Guinea/So Pac - 1
Burma - 1

I think my opponent has a lot more than 500AV at Singapore, more like 900AV all together. Besides Alor Star and Kota Bharu he withdrew most of his forces into the perimeter.

The Philippines will clearly not fall fast. My plan was to pocket him and wait him out while I dealt with other priorities, but the concern is there at this stage that I may not even be able to take Manila. The artillery advice is solid - I brought some heavy pieces out of China and plan to bring more from the Kwantung Army.

[DesertWolf101]

Alamander, you mentioned that I should bring anti-tank weapons to deal with the Stuart battalions. I was thinking about that - are the at-gun battalions any good on offense? They don't seem to allow for orders for deliberate or even shock attack. Does their presence in the hex imply their use in the attack even if they are not given such orders?

[Alamander]

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101


I think my opponent has a lot more than 500AV at Singapore, more like 900AV all together. Besides Alor Star and Kota Bharu he withdrew most of his forces into the perimeter.

The Philippines will clearly not fall fast. My plan was to pocket him and wait him out while I dealt with other priorities, but the concern is there at this stage that I may not even be able to take Manila. The artillery advice is solid - I brought some heavy pieces out of China and plan to bring more from the Kwantung Army.

Unless he reinforced Singapore with the 18th British Division or an Indian division, I doubt that he will have more than 600 AV there. He may have slightly more if he was able to get the nice Sikh regiment from Kuantan withdrawn intact. With 7 divisions in Malaysia, you can only hope that he reinforced Singapore. It will fall quickly. Just make sure that you cross the river in force and in combat mode with an army HQ and a command HQ prepped and in range. HQs make a major difference in unit combat effectiveness and raw AV calculation.

The heavy artillery is nice, but by judicious in fighting long, drawn-out sieges. Since units use supply as a whole, stacking artillery with a division or 2, but only setting the artillery to bombard while leaving the division set to "defend" will ease the supply cost of sieges substantially, since the division does not produce results equivalent to its use of supply in bombard mode.

[Alamander]

One more thing about that heavy artillery. You need a level 3 port with naval support (just 20 or so will do) to offload the 28 and 30 cm guns. So, if you bring them to Luzon, you will probably have to offload them at Batangas. There is a bug, I think, in the program, where if you try to offload it in a port that is too small, it will teleport back to whereever it was loaded. I encountered this years ago playing the AI and learning the game. I have not since tried to offload these devices anywhere but a size 3 port with naval support, so I am not sure if that bug has been fixed or not in the newer beta.

[Alamander]

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101

Alamander, you mentioned that I should bring anti-tank weapons to deal with the Stuart battalions. I was thinking about that - are the at-gun battalions any good on offense? They don't seem to allow for orders for deliberate or even shock attack. Does their presence in the hex imply their use in the attack even if they are not given such orders?

No. The AT guns won't help much on Bataan. Your best anti-tank weapon at this point are IJA combat engineers. Also, you have several divisions with heavy infantry squads. Japanese heavy infantry has enough anti-armor to disable Stuarts. If you are playing stock, check the 5th division. It is a monster: heavy infantry, 90 exp., with good artillery support. Very good division to switch over after Singapore to Luzon (and then to Burma).

Bring some armored regiments, and you will probably also want to upgrade the type 89A tanks on Luzon to type 97 tanks. Then send these upgraded regiments to Burma. Once you begin encountering Valentin and Shermans, you will want Type 1 tanks, which requires another upgrade from the type 97.

To keep vehicle point use down, do not upgrade all your armor devices, leave some, especially in China, on the type 89, a few on type 97, and the most important and most likely to encounter Shermans and Valentins, upgrade to the type 1 in June or July.

[DesertWolf101]

And in terms of being able to upgrade my units I need them to be in base with good supply and in range of a command HQ - is that right?

[Alamander]

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101

And in terms of being able to upgrade my units I need them to be in base with good supply and in range of a command HQ - is that right?

I don't think you need an HQ present. As long as you are in a base with 10K+ supply you should be able to upgrade.

The same rule applies to the anti-tank guns. Eventually, you do want to upgrade them all to 47mm, but I tend to do it gradually, leaving some on the slow-fire 37mm you get to start the war, some upgraded to the rapid-fire 37mm, and the ones in Burms in 42 upgraded to 47mm. Armament points are generally not as precious as vehicle points so you can be a little more liberal in your upgrades of non-vehicle devices. As with all things Japan though, in moderation.

[DesertWolf101]

ORIGINAL: Alamander

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101

And in terms of being able to upgrade my units I need them to be in base with good supply and in range of a command HQ - is that right?

I don't think you need an HQ present. As long as you are in a base with 10K+ supply you should be able to upgrade.

The same rule applies to the anti-tank guns. Eventually, you do want to upgrade them all to 47mm, but I tend to do it gradually, leaving some on the slow-fire 37mm you get to start the war, some upgraded to the rapid-fire 37mm, and the ones in Burms in 42 upgraded to 47mm. Armament points are generally not as precious as vehicle points so you can be a little more liberal in your upgrades of non-vehicle devices. As with all things Japan though, in moderation.

Thanks

[DesertWolf101]

January 1, 1942

Submarines

During the night, SS KXI kicks off the New Year with a torpedo into the side of APD Tade near Sidate. Tade did not last long before she toppled over and sank.

North Pacific

The Americans continue the pounding of Adak, this time bringing in the big guns. Battleships Tennessee, California, West Virginia, and Maryland, the heavy cruisers San Francisco and Minneapolis, and the light cruisers Concord, Detroit, and Raleigh light up the island. Almost made me wish I had gone with the Pearl Harbor strike!

Sumatra

Japanese reinforcements, consisting of an SNLF unit, lands at Palembang. 21 139WH-3 bombers attempt to interfere with the landing, mortally damaging an AK but losing half a dozen to patrolling Zeros.

Burma

Oscars and Nates sweep over Toungoo encountering the first AVG squadron. The Flying Tiger numbers are reduced with about 9 shot down allowing the following G3M strike in support of the trapped paratroopers there to proceed with few losses.

China

Zeros on CAP intercept 6 Chinese DB-3M bombers near Nanyang, shooting down 5 of them.

[RangerJoe]

But if you hit them hard at sea, you can sink them permanently. Are those ships hitting the mines that you placed there? Dodging the torpedoes from your subs as well?

[DesertWolf101]

January 2, 1942

Submarines

Near the US, I-20 attempts to torpedo AK Mana but misses.

Near Palembang, O19 launches four torpedoes at heavy cruiser Mogami but fails to hit.

S/SW Pacific

Japanese troops land at Luganville.

Sumatra

Reinforced and with the Dutch garrison reeling from daily bomber strikes, the Japanese attack and take Palembang. The oil and refinery infrastructure is almost entirely intact! [&o]

Philippines

Japanese troops take Butuan, pushing the allied forces on Mindanao back to their last remaining base on the island.

Burma

Another Oscar sweep goes over Toungoo, knocking out the now significantly fewer H81-A3 fighters and tangling with a Buffalo squadron.

[DesertWolf101]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

But if you hit them hard at sea, you can sink them permanently. Are those ships hitting the mines that you placed there? Dodging the torpedoes from your subs as well?

Subs are on their way to attempt to intercept, I had only captured the island about a week ago and I did not anticipate that my opponent would react so quickly and forcefully here.

[Alamander]

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101


Sumatra

Reinforced and with the Dutch garrison reeling from daily bomber strikes, the Japanese attack and take Palembang. The oil and refinery infrastructure is almost entirely intact! [&o]

This is the biggest thing in the beginning of the war for Japan that all Japanese players should always remember. Whatever happens on Luzon, Malaysia, Java, at Pearl, or SoPAc, or whatever secondary advance Japan makes, nothing is as important as the oil. So long as you take the oil mostly intact, you can consider the beginning of the game a success, regardless of how many allied casualties you inflict or whether or not you trashed a couple divisions in Malaysia or Luzon.

[DesertWolf101]

ORIGINAL: Alamander

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101


Sumatra

Reinforced and with the Dutch garrison reeling from daily bomber strikes, the Japanese attack and take Palembang. The oil and refinery infrastructure is almost entirely intact! [&o]

This is the biggest thing in the beginning of the war for Japan that all Japanese players should always remember. Whatever happens on Luzon, Malaysia, Java, at Pearl, or SoPAc, or whatever secondary advance Japan makes, nothing is as important as the oil. So long as you take the oil mostly intact, you can consider the beginning of the game a success, regardless of how many allied casualties you inflict or whether or not you trashed a couple divisions in Malaysia or Luzon.

Quite right, I breathed a huge sigh of relief once Palembang was taken.

[DesertWolf101]

January 3, 1942

Submarines

I-20 sights and engages AKV Hammondsport south of San Diego with two torpedoes but misses. I wish the submarine captain had fired a bigger spread!

Singapore

With one division left clearing up the rear, 6 divisions (2,520 unadjusted AV) worth of Japanese troops cross into Singapore against the 876 Allied AV that managed to make it to the city. The result was not too bad, achieving a 1 to 1 ratio and reducing fortifications to 2. Casualties were about even at around 5,000 each, with 11 Japanese combat squads destroyed and 340 disabled for 84 Allied combat squads destroyed and 164 disabled. The disruption rates across my force however were shockingly high – forcing me to rest the Japanese army before I could even contemplate more attacks.

Philippines

The Allied presence on Luzon is down to Bataan, Clark, and Manila. Manila was my priority as it produced supply and involved less daunting terrain. While a Japanese force kept the pressure on Clark with bombardments, another Japanese force of 940 AV attacked the 10 Allied units at Manila, including 5 PA divisions. The first Japanese deliberate attack was less than optimal however, netting less than 1 to 2 odds and failing to reduce the fortifications. Fortunately, casualties were fairly light.

Borneo

A Japanese fast transport force lands troops at Balikpapan. I was very fortunate to not hit the mines that were laid here by my opponent.

Celebes

Japanese troops land at Kendari.

Burma

The trapped Japanese paratrooper unit attempts to breakout at Toungoo but its effort is blunted by the timely arrival of the 10th Burmese Rifle Battalion.

China

After sweeps go in and meet no opposition, Sally bombers hit Sian airfield, destroying a few H81-A3 fighters on the ground.

[DesertWolf101]

January 4, 1942

Submarines

In the Java Sea, RO-33 launches four torpedoes at CL Tromp but misses.

North Pacific

At Shikuka, my minesweepers discover an enemy minefield and begin sweeping it. Undoubtedly my opponent’s subs in action.

S/SW Pacific

Japanese troops land at Milne Bay.

Borneo

Balikpapan is seized. Unfortunately, 60 out of the 240 oil wells are damaged.

The SNLF units finally cross the river into Tarakan, but the defense holds for now.

Burma

19 B-17Ds bomb the trapped paras at Toungoo,

China

A Tojo sweep catches two AVG fighters over Changteh and knocks them out.

Pingsiang is taken by the Empire.

[DesertWolf101]

January 5, 1942

Submarines

AK Maliko is hit with a torp and sinks like a rock near San Diego. Nearby, I-22 attempts to strike AK Makua with two fish but misses.

North Pacific

Adak Island receives more visiting shells from Allied cruisers.

S/SW Pacific

Japanese forces land at Horn Island and seize it.

Philippines

With the fall of Surigao, the last Allied base on Mindanao is taken.

Borneo

Japanese troops take Kuching.

Sumatra

Pushing out from Palembang, Japanese troops take Praboemoelih.

Burma

An Oscar sweep cleans out the Allied CAP over Toungoo. B-17Ds once again pound the trapped paratroopers there, but the following Allied attack on the ground fails to eliminate them.

China

The 4th Independent Mixed Regiment crossed over from Vietnam and made its way to Nanning over the past week. An assault by the regiment successfully takes the town as the Chinese scramble to assemble enough forces in the area to stop the larger Japanese army marching in from Wuchow.

[DesertWolf101]

January 6, 1942

Aside from the usual bombing raids in China, Singapore, and the Philippines, nothing much happened this turn.

Submarines

Having escaped the Japanese torpedoes the last turn, AK Makua now sinks after being hit by two from I-21.

China

Kanhsien is taken by a Japanese armored car company.

[DesertWolf101]

January 7, 1942

Submarines

DMS W-13, previously damaged from a collision during the engagement with the Dutch PT-boats at Samarinda, is sunk in the Makassar Strait after being hit by two torpedoes from SS KXV.

I-15 turns the small craft YP-98 into matchsticks near Victoria.

North Pacific

Yet another cruiser bombardment disrupts my base force and prevents it from building forts and airfields at Adak. What more, an Allied amphibious landing arrives and disembarks troops from the 161st Infantry Regiment on the island! Fortunately, the Allied troops suffer considerable disruption and disablements in the freezing north.

Burma

More dogfights over Burma as Japanese forces seek to cross the river into the hex north of Pegu.