Matrix Games Forums

Nov 10-11 1942
 
So the enemy landed at Horn Island unopposed. He landed not less than 2 NZ Bdes and 2 USMC Tank regiments! Against 400 japanese support troops [:D]
 
The LRCAP was so strong that i lost 6 Mavis/Emilies due to it! Thank God i didn't try to attack. He has strong surface assets in the area....
 
His CVs are gone again....now i need to track them down again...
 
In DEI we keep on reinforcing Timor's sides. The left flank is now secured, more or less, with substantial garrisons in several bases. Supplies and support troops are coming.
 
In Burma we're holding the line. one Indian Division and an African Bde crossed the Irradaway and shock attacked north of Katha...only to find the 55th Division waiting for them...the result was pretty obvious[8D]
He keeps on moving troops to Wazrup...but now in place i have 2 divisions, artillery and tanks...i will hold!
 
In China we're doing fine...and the tanks are flanking the enemy positions, while the push towards Kunming goes on. I'm happy about the recent developements. If we keep this pace we can get to Kunming by mid novemeber and then it will be only a matter of time before we can recombine with Burma and open a communication line with the 15th Army.
 
The central plains are now very close...his resistance will be tough, but once in open terrain i think the cards will fold on my part.
 
 

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Ground combat at 61,42 (near Katha)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 14599 troops, 176 guns, 202 vehicles, Assault Value = 442

Defending force 15207 troops, 125 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 458

Allied adjusted assault: 43

Japanese adjusted defense: 1729

Allied assault odds: 1 to 40

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+)
Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-), fatigue(-), supply(-)

Japanese ground losses:
382 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 23 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 7 (1 destroyed, 6 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
2869 casualties reported
Squads: 25 destroyed, 361 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 25 disabled
Engineers: 7 destroyed, 28 disabled
Guns lost 54 (8 destroyed, 46 disabled)

Assaulting units:
19th Indian Division
22nd (East African) Brigade

Defending units:
55th Division

Still thinking about China, now my first goal is to conquer Kunming and Tsuyun (sp?!). If we manage to completely isolate the central plains and, at the same time, open up a direct way from China to Burma, i think my whole Burma front will get stronger. Then it should be only a matter of time before we can breakthrough his final perimeter around the plains.
Also, when we'll be fighting on clear terrain, my bombers, that till now have been not very effective, should be able to inflict enough distruption to his troops and so help the attackers.
 
In Burma i think his supply situation (a part maybe from the Akyab front) is not much better than mine. If we can hold Mytikina and Wazrup i think we're fine for the momnths to come. Akyab could be difficult to hold, but i have in place 800 AVs behind 5 forts and jungle terrain... even if the supplies will remain a major issue, i think China tought us how inferior troops can hold in good terrain behind some forts... it can be done!
 
As long as my Burma air force remains strong enough, he won't have a total air superiority and that means he won't be able to simply bomb me to oblivion. That's why i'm being very conservative in using my IJAAF there. I remember how Rader bleed his air force to death against me, losing thousands of pilots and planes. I won't do that mistake. Planes will be sent to death ONLY when it really matters, only when the prize is worth the losses.
 
 
The Economy: the economy is having some problems due to some lack of fuel in Manchutko and China. CAn't explain why but fuel is not running as it was in China. I have plenty of fuel at HK, but it doens't move to the HI in the interior...[&:]
However, we're saving some 2000/2500 HI points every turn...not much but it's the best i can do right now. I'm trying to keep the naval and air production as balanced as i can, switching them off every time i can.
In the HI the only thing that is really lacking is oil...but i'm giving priority to fuel right now, so i'm simply stockpiling oil at Singapore and not sending it back to Japan...
 
 
 

The enemy is closing on Derby in N-Oz. The base will fall tomorrow, being defended by a tiny naval garrison unit. Darwin should be in allied hands before the end of the year, then Japan will be confined into the historical perimeter.
I know you all think this is bad, and i agree with you. I should have conquered Exmouth and make a stronghold there (like Obvert did with Joc),...lesson learnt. too late now to cry about what could have been.
However the whole Australian operation wasn't a waste of resources. We have bought 7 months of time to build up our defences at Timor which is, by now, a real stronghold. Any allied advance in this area will force him to take great risks...and that's what we want.
The allied counteroffensive in Oz have caused me very few troubles. I've lost so far in it only a couple of Naval Guard units and 3 base forces... a good exchange for the time gained imho.
 
Kendari, Menado and Makassar are now building fast, becoming very big bases in order to support the external perimeter (Ambon-Timor-Southern DEI) and Java and Sumatra are getting substantial forces to be able to hold for the next months without fearing too much.
 
Same goes for SOPAC. The conquest of PM and NG allowed me to develop a good chain of bases around Rabaul. Kavieng and Manus are building fast too, providing support for our main base in the area. Every advance in this area will mean for him a great exposure...which is what i want.
 
In CENTPAC we are pretty safe, with Tarawa and Makin being two strongpoints, able to sustain any allied efforts for the time being. Wake and Marcus are in the same conditions.
 
The Kuriles will use the winter time to get some more garrisons and to build (slowly) forts.
 
We're now rushing to reinforce Sumatra, placing divisions at Padang, Bandoleng and Sebang, with 2 air HQs covering the Palembang and Sebang Area. Siberoet is getting reinforcements too. Sure there are a lot of bases that can be conquered, but he will face a stiff opposition.
 
The Adamans are secure and am now sending units to Victoria Points and to Moulmein...just to be sure.
 
All of this couldn't have been possible if i had taken more risks and keep on expanding during the first phase. Sure the enemy is closer than what it would be if i had been more aggressive, but i wouldn't be so strong in my defensive perimeter...it's a trade off, i know, but i'm pretty happy about my status so far.
 
 

However, we're saving some 2000/2500 HI points every turn...not much but it's the best i can do right now. I'm trying to keep the naval and air production as balanced as i can, switching them off every time i can.
In the HI the only thing that is really lacking is oil...but i'm giving priority to fuel right now, so i'm simply stockpiling oil at Singapore and not sending it back to Japan...

I use some of the double capacity ships to load both Resources and Oil at Singapore - TKs (Tonan Whaler) and xAKs (Kyushu & Yusen N).

Will you counter-attack near Katha while his troops have what looks like 80% disablements and huge disruption? This is the moment to push him back I would think. That could save a good amount of time.

Nov 11 1942
 
A horrible day in Burma. I'm so pissed.... [:@]
 
He has been sweeping Mikytina for ages now, while his escorted bombers (but no sweeps) kept on arriving at Wuzrup.
So i decided to try another ambush, placing 120 Zeros on LRCAP over Wuzrup (not Mitykina!!!), hoping to catch those escorted bombers.
 
What happened? Despite having the correct settings (all zeros placed on LRCAP at 16k feet over Wuzrup) all my zeros decided to cover Mytikina and got mauled by high higher sweeps!! WTF!!! Why that happened?!?!?!?!?!? I double checked and the settings were correct [:(][:(][:(]
 
We lost 60 zeros and 17 pilots (crack ones) got KIA!, against only 22 enemies...
 
Ok, stop ranting now.
 
Nothing else happened...
 
Now i'll run the next turn and let you know...

For LR CAP one hex difference in destination is nothing. I've had them react 3-4 hexes to get out of place for what I want them to do. LR CAP is always a double-edged sword. Sucks though in the timing it sounds like!

ORIGINAL: obvert

For LR CAP one hex difference in destination is nothing. I've had them react 3-4 hexes to get out of place for what I want them to do. LR CAP is always a double-edged sword. Sucks though in the timing it sounds like!

Yes, sucks a lot! Lesson learnt[;)]

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

So i decided to try another ambush, placing 120 Zeros on LRCAP over Wuzrup (not Mitykina!!!), hoping to catch those escorted bombers.

Welcome to my world. I had the same thing happen in my previous AAR. Set my LRCAP to specifically cover Taung Gyi and they reacted against raids over Meiktila and they were slaughtered. In my experience, setting LRCAP for a specific target doesn't work if that target isn't attacked. The AI then sends it wherever it wants, even if it exceeds a units range settings. As obvert says, LRCAP is a two-edged sword.

ORIGINAL: obvert

Will you counter-attack near Katha while his troops have what looks like 80% disablements and huge disruption? This is the moment to push him back I would think. That could save a good amount of time.

Now, not really. I don't want to risk a 1-1 or even a 1-2. Don't have supplies to recover losses, so i want to take the advantage of having mauled those units and want to save as many supplies as possible.

Nov. 12, 1942

The enemy committed even more planes in Burma. a part from the usual 150 fighters sweep on Mitykina, followed by 50 bombers and the 100 escorted bombers that every day hit Wazrup, now he started to bomb Akyab with 80 2 and 4 engines. Cruisers and DDs arrived at Chittahong, clearly to start a series of bombing runs at Akyab, while more units are flowing in in order to dislodge us. Let's see how long we can hold here.

In SOPAC we placed some mines at Wookwark island and we hit two times the SS Gar...which should be sunk[;)]

Then a RO boat sunk an allied DD at Horn Island, recieving some hits...but should be able to get back to Rabaul.

Then an I-boat spotted a BIG convoy heading to Sydney containing several AP/AKs... So it seems he's concentrating his best landing ships in Australia... from there he could attack from two different axis...from Exmouth to SouthEastern DEI or from Cairns-Cooktown area, heading to NG or, wrost, to Mereuake-Darwin.

Our target now is to reinforce NorthEastern NG (Hollandia, Wewak, Vanikoro etc), Biak area and the bases around Ambon. Hopefully i may have the time to do so...but i need to hurry up!!!

The first George factory finally got repaired! We already have 700 Ha-45 stockpiled, so, from now on, should be a downhill in the research efforts! Hope to get it by march 1943 and then switch immediately to the second model....finger crossed!

Where are his CVs? Haven't tracked them since their last operation....

In China we're closing to Kunming....hope to get there by the end of November. Our tanks are really close to the plains, while he's massing LOTS of troops to sustain my future rivercrossing....

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

So i decided to try another ambush, placing 120 Zeros on LRCAP over Wuzrup (not Mitykina!!!), hoping to catch those escorted bombers.

Welcome to my world. I had the same thing happen in my previous AAR. Set my LRCAP to specifically cover Taung Gyi and they reacted against raids over Meiktila and they were slaughtered. In my experience, setting LRCAP for a specific target doesn't work if that target isn't attacked. The AI then sends it wherever it wants, even if it exceeds a units range settings. As obvert says, LRCAP is a two-edged sword.

Yes, even if the targetted base is attacked, the AI may decides to do otherwise and avoid your orders.... lesson learnt anyway!

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

So i decided to try another ambush, placing 120 Zeros on LRCAP over Wuzrup (not Mitykina!!!), hoping to catch those escorted bombers.

Welcome to my world. I had the same thing happen in my previous AAR. Set my LRCAP to specifically cover Taung Gyi and they reacted against raids over Meiktila and they were slaughtered. In my experience, setting LRCAP for a specific target doesn't work if that target isn't attacked. The AI then sends it wherever it wants, even if it exceeds a units range settings. As obvert says, LRCAP is a two-edged sword.

Yes, even if the targetted base is attacked, the AI may decides to do otherwise and avoid your orders.... lesson learnt anyway!

I wonder if this is like the react setting for naval TFs - the ones with really aggressive commanders will react toward the enemy regardless of the setting you put in for them. Air Sqn Leaders or individual crack pilots usually have very high aggression ratings.

I've been watching all my LCUs in China, while Brad has been busy with Thankgiving...
I've tried to decide which units should have been start prepping for non-chinese objectives and then boght out when enough PPs become available.
Gotta say that, till now, i haven't moved very rationally in this matter. My hunger for more LCUs in the DEI has pushed me in spending PPs for not-necessary units and forgot to buy the most experienced ones [:@]
The fact is that i tried to buy first those regiments that got badly mauled during the attacks (and so cheaper) but that led to a skiztophrenic waste of PPs.... for example i bought the Shangai SNLF unit [&:][&:] to be sent to Saumlaki (east of Timor)... now i realize: did u spent some PPs to buy a SNLF!? Seriously? Idiot

In the last 35 days i managed to buy out 3 indipendent regiments that were severly battered during the harsh fightings west of Kienko. But i cannot send them abroad, cause they need lots of replacements and R&D and are now sitting in Shangai doing nothing... i don't know if this strategy is wise... surely i bought them for a small summ (400/450 pps each if i remember well), but it will be months before they can be of any utility in the DEI...while i need troops there IMMEDIATELY!

Well, not much that i can do it now anyway, but the next unit i'll buy, i want to buy an experienced division (the 8th, or the 28th or the 1st). 2000 PPs are a lot but a big 88 experienced division probably worths them all!


PILOTS:
IJAAF situation for what concerns pilots is very good. Lots of good reserves and i even started to create a reserve of Low-Naval Bombing pilots...for future defensive needs (i've found that, a part from the Kami role, a couple of squadrons of Helens at 1000 ft can deliver some good damage to an incoming fleet... 4x250kg bombs each plane! Like a Val...not that bad)

Problems are with IJNAF thou. I never seem to have enough reserve or pilots to fill all the needs. I keep on losing planes and pilots at a huge rate (the ASW system is working fine, but it's really putting a dent into my losses cause the planes get worn out pretty soon).

However, this part of the game doesn't scare me much. Rader tought me how the IJAF can sustain incredible losses and still be able to fight back well into 1945

Dont forget, Rader wasnt playing this mod, plus he was playing a newbie.

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

IJAAF situation for what concerns pilots is very good. Lots of good reserves and i even started to create a reserve of Low-Naval Bombing pilots...for future defensive needs (i've found that, a part from the Kami role, a couple of squadrons of Helens at 1000 ft can deliver some good damage to an incoming fleet... 4x250kg bombs each plane! Like a Val...not that bad)

Helens on 1000ft drop only 2x250kg bombs, not their full load. Still that's a good way of attacking as I usually do with my Allied non attack bombers too. And a Val doesn't carry 4x250kg bombs either, you'd need four Vals to do that.

ORIGINAL: castor troy

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

IJAAF situation for what concerns pilots is very good. Lots of good reserves and i even started to create a reserve of Low-Naval Bombing pilots...for future defensive needs (i've found that, a part from the Kami role, a couple of squadrons of Helens at 1000 ft can deliver some good damage to an incoming fleet... 4x250kg bombs each plane! Like a Val...not that bad)

Helens on 1000ft drop only 2x250kg bombs, not their full load. Still that's a good way of attacking as I usually do with my Allied non attack bombers too. And a Val doesn't carry 4x250kg bombs either, you'd need four Vals to do that.

I understood Greyjoy's comparison to the Val being in the size of the bomb [which will cause considerable damage to anything except a BB] and the accuracy expected, not the number of bombs carried.

ORIGINAL: castor troy

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

IJAAF situation for what concerns pilots is very good. Lots of good reserves and i even started to create a reserve of Low-Naval Bombing pilots...for future defensive needs (i've found that, a part from the Kami role, a couple of squadrons of Helens at 1000 ft can deliver some good damage to an incoming fleet... 4x250kg bombs each plane! Like a Val...not that bad)

Helens on 1000ft drop only 2x250kg bombs, not their full load. Still that's a good way of attacking as I usually do with my Allied non attack bombers too. And a Val doesn't carry 4x250kg bombs either, you'd need four Vals to do that.

Yes, you're right, i forgot they use limited payloads when on low altitudes. And i meant "more than a Val"
However i have so many Helens units and i don't plan to use them on ground attacks a lot, so i'm creating lots of "specialized" groups of IJAF bombers (ASW, Search, Naval attack, Low Naval attack etc

Nov 13, 42


I-153 managed to place a fish into an AMC south of Carnavon, while a HUGE number of ships is massing at Perth... gotta be very very carefull about that side of the map. An invasion of the DEI may come from there...

In NW Oz the 6th Aus division managed to conquer Derby, defeating the brave naval unit left there to die for the Emperor's glory.

Nothing much else happened, despite a big and fat convoy attacked yesterday and spotted again today moving to Sydney, while everything's quiet in the rest of the map.

At Akyab the enemy used an xAKL to land something (supplies?), while the usual bombing runs and sweeps occurred all over the Burma-Indian front.

I'm slowly upgrading all the A6M2 land based groups to the A6M3a, while the Akagi and Shokaku fighters have been upgraded to the A6M5 model. It will be a slow process of a constant upgrading...can't wait to fullfill my carrier based Vals groups with the Judys!!!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submarine attack near Carnarvon at 47,135

Japanese Ships
SS I-153

Allied Ships
AMC Worcestershire, Torpedo hits 1

Allied ground losses:
32 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

AMC Worcestershire is sighted by SS I-153
SS I-153 launches 2 torpedoes at AMC Worcestershire



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at 71,48 (near Kunming)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 16728 troops, 240 guns, 144 vehicles, Assault Value = 443

Defending force 13258 troops, 47 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 322

Allied ground losses:
29 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
3rd Division
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
2nd Hvy.Artillery Regiment
52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
1st Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
7th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
20th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
46th Chinese Corps
93rd Chinese Corps
1st Chinese Cavalry Corps
79th Chinese/B Corps
10th Construction Regiment
12th Construction Regiment
9th Group Army
4th War Area
79th Chinese/C Corps


This is the next stack on the road to Kunming we'll have to defeat. We'll wait for the bombers to soften the defenders a bit and then we'll attack. I have 3 divisions that can be rotated in...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Derby (64,127)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 13147 troops, 222 guns, 82 vehicles, Assault Value = 438

Defending force 1703 troops, 18 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 55

Allied adjusted assault: 568

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 568 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Derby !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: leaders(+), disruption(-), preparation(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
895 casualties reported
Squads: 75 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 57 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 22 (22 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 1

Allied ground losses:
96 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
2nd USMC Parachute Battalion
6th Australian Division

Defending units:
32nd Nav Gsn Unit

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

ORIGINAL: castor troy

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

IJAAF situation for what concerns pilots is very good. Lots of good reserves and i even started to create a reserve of Low-Naval Bombing pilots...for future defensive needs (i've found that, a part from the Kami role, a couple of squadrons of Helens at 1000 ft can deliver some good damage to an incoming fleet... 4x250kg bombs each plane! Like a Val...not that bad)

Helens on 1000ft drop only 2x250kg bombs, not their full load. Still that's a good way of attacking as I usually do with my Allied non attack bombers too. And a Val doesn't carry 4x250kg bombs either, you'd need four Vals to do that.

I understood Greyjoy's comparison to the Val being in the size of the bomb [which will cause considerable damage to anything except a BB] and the accuracy expected, not the number of bombs carried.

Yup [;)]