A Lemon rises in the East: SqzMyLemon (J) vs. JocMeister (A)

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Can you post some picture of her so far??

At first, for some reason, I thought maybe you were referring to Jocke's fiancee/wife. And I was very amused.


I have one of those models as well, Lemon. A 1/700 Shokaku anyway, may not be the same kit. I'm waiting on getting an airbrush before I start it.

[SqzMyLemon]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Can you post some picture of her so far??

I have one of those models as well, Lemon. A 1/700 Shokaku anyway, may not be the same kit. I'm waiting on getting an airbrush before I start it.

I can maybe post a picture or two by Thursday or Friday. Right now it's just all a bunch of pieces in a pile [:D].

I have the old Tamiya offering. I think Fujimi released a new one within the last few years which is supposed to be the best kit out there for the scale, I believe it even has interior hangar detail. You won't look back after getting an airbrush, just no comparison with brush painting. I bought a Badger 'Velocity' a few years ago from their Renegade series. I haven't used this one yet, but it's supposed to be a good airbrush. I've got a bunch of various generic 1:700 photo-etch detail sets for Japanese ships so this kit will be a hodgepodge of bits. I just want to get her looking a little better than just OOB with railing, radar and whatever might look good.

I got an e-mail from Jocke letting me know I'd not be getting a turn until tomorrow. It looks like I'm nerding it up tonight with the Shokaku! [8D]

[SqzMyLemon]

I was a little optimistic regarding my timeline for the CV Shokaku. There is much more photo-etch work than I originally anticipated, and of course because I have extra I've decided to add other bits and bobs. Like the game, I make my models more difficult than perhaps I should. [:D]

This evening was spent prepping the 12.7cm AA Guns. I took a stab at a photo-etch dual 25mm AA gun mount, but botched it. These parts are so small and delicate I'm going to have to be in the right frame of mind to complete them all. Plus my desk mounted magnifying light can't reach so it's a little awkward to see these small pieces. I'll have to try and shift the mount so I have a better view.

This kit is kind of a test for me. I have a ton of 1:700 scale ships, but this is the first one I'm trying to finish and I need to learn just how much detail/time I want to invest in these builds. Compared to the out of the box kit, I think some extra detail will make these ships pop but trying to not go overboard with accessories is a real challenge.

Updates/pictures will follow and it's a long weekend coming up in Alberta so that could be some prime model time.

Oh, and I'll hopefully have a turn to run tomorrow...

[Lokasenna]

Ah, I have the Fujimi. Looking forward to putting her together.

[SqzMyLemon]

The next turn arrived from Jocke, but I haven't run it yet.

The first of many aviation support units arrived at Sapporo last turn so the Kuriles will begin to get fleshed out with substantial air support over the next two months.

The same applies to the IO where I'm building up air strength in the kind of numbers it takes to have a chance of inflicting meaningful damage.

The DEI is where I will rely on a defensive strategy centred on LBA fighter units providing cover for strong surface forces as my primary means of resistance. I can't be everywhere in defence, but I hope to be strong enough in one or two theatres to make it meaningful.

[SqzMyLemon]

Quiet turn.

Economic returns continue to be favourable. Another 11185 supply was stockpiled last turn bringing the total to 34852 in the last four days. I'd like to get supply levels in Japan to around 2,000,000 by the end of March. The current amount is 1,379,930.

NE Turbojet advances R&D to 9/45.

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

Quiet turn.

Economic returns continue to be favourable. Another 11185 supply was stockpiled last turn bringing the total to 34852 in the last four days. I'd like to get supply levels in Japan to around 2,000,000 by the end of March. The current amount is 1,379,930.

NE Turbojet advances R&D.

So are you R&Ding the Karyu?

[SqzMyLemon]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

NE Turbojet advances R&D.

So are you R&Ding the Karyu?

I am. I probably will never see it, but had to try,

[SqzMyLemon]

I'm about to invest Chungking with three divisions, two tank regiments and about eight artillery units. Opposing this force will be 88 Chinese LCU's amounting to over 450k of troops and 750 guns [X(].

I don't know if this is the right call. Even though the Chinese will be low on supply could the amount of AV available possibly rout my forces if Jocke tried an attack? I could wait until I get another 1000AV or so, but that would require stripping forces away from the front.

Chungking is going to remain a thorn in my side for the foreseeable future, but I think the priority remains to push the Chinese deeper into the mountains before tackling this beast. By investing the base now though, I want to disrupt resource production that may contribute to Chungking eventually being unable to generate supply from its LI.

[Chickenboy]

Mid-August 1942 in my game. Just tried first deliberate attack against Chungking, which I'd invested some months ago.

7200 AV, 1200 artillery tubes, 16 Divisions, >1000 armor. Nearly all 100% prepped. Three HQ within range, all also 100% prepped.

AF damaged for months, no additional forts building going on. I control all pertinent hexsides.

Results?

1:4 attack. Didn't bring down the level 6 forts at all. I suffer 30,000 casualties (mercifully, mostly disruption) to his 3500. In time, my supply will be able to replace my losses and 'heal' my disruption. He won't have the luxury.

Bombers are back on ground attack while others keep the airfield in check. It'll be this way for months.

In your case, I would welcome an attack by the Chinese in Chungking. Then *you* get the terrain bonus at least and he is forced to use precious supply to attempt to damage you.

[SqzMyLemon]

I almost welcome an attack myself as it would do most of the hard work for me. I'm just worried I may be a little light with this initial force.

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

I'm about to invest Chungking with three divisions, two tank regiments and about eight artillery units. Opposing this force will be 88 Chinese LCU's amounting to over 450k of troops and 750 guns [X(].

I don't know if this is the right call. Even though the Chinese will be low on supply could the amount of AV available possibly rout my forces if Jocke tried an attack? I could wait until I get another 1000AV or so, but that would require stripping forces away from the front.

Chungking is going to remain a thorn in my side for the foreseeable future, but I think the priority remains to push the Chinese deeper into the mountains before tackling this beast. By investing the base now though, I want to disrupt resource production that may contribute to Chungking eventually being unable to generate supply from its LI.

I thought LI always generates supply and did not need any resources or fuel to do so. However, having been through it myself-such a large force isolated in Chungking will use way more supply than it's meager LI can provide so it does not really matter much. They will starve out. Use enough to contain them and then reduce Chungking at your leisure.

[Lokasenna]

Steps to taking Chungking:

1) Bomb it out. This includes LI/HI. If you have rules against this in your game... I'm sorry. You don't really need to bomb the airfield until after your first attack, as there's a supply threshhold to going from forts 6 to 7 and he is very unlikely to reach it. Especially if you bomb out the supply generation. This reminds me that it's time to stand down my own airfield strikes now that there are no more planes in Chungking...

2) Tanks, tanks, tanks. You need them to help drop forts. You'll have to rotate them in/out a lot as you work the fort level down.

3) After you get the fort level down to 2, maybe down to 3, you can begin bombing troops from the air. Likewise on the ground. I would not waste supply bombarding before this time.

4) Also, combat engineers. Every one you can find until the forts are down to 2.

5) Upgrade those air units to 2E as soon as you can.

6) Cut off the hex sides that lead to any open Chinese bases that produce or can bring in supplies, like Chengtu and Neikiang. I prefer to capture these bases first.

7) Attack. Rest up. Attack again. Repeat ad nauseum. It will take many weeks. Despite this time cost, it is worth it. So many VPs from destroying the Chinese troops, even at 1:12 ratio.



You sent far too little in. With 88 units and 450k troops, he probably has 2-3000 AV there. Granted it's Chinese AV, but it's behind level 6 forts.

[SqzMyLemon]

Just to clarify, this isn't meant to be an assault on Chungking. This is just the initial investment of the base and the closing of four of six hex sides to prevent any movement out of the base in a direction I don't want.

My take about the resources/LI production is based on previous knowledge of one of the betas, so unless something has changed this is my understanding of what happens. The LI at the base will still produce when contested, but the resource production will stop. The LI can then only use what resources are stockpiled at the base and once those run out the LI can't function. I don't recall if Chungking has an inherent supply generating capacity on top of the LI production. The initial Japanese force is simply to contest the base and tempt some kind of Chinese attack.

The real siege and assault won't occur until at least Kunming is taken. Chengtu and Neikiang are already under Japanese control. I doubt Jocke was ever able to amass 25k at Chungking to allow fort construction to reach level 7. This is all about setting up the siege, bombing and weakening the base for later assault. The priority remains to push in the mountains while slowly adding strength to attack Chungking within a month or two.

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon
I don't recall if Chungking has an inherent supply generating capacity on top of the LI production. The initial Japanese force is simply to contest the base and tempt some kind of Chinese attack.

It does. I believe it is either 300 or 600.

[SqzMyLemon]

Production:

I'm running a lean Japan right now in order to make up the recent supply loss. I've turned most aircraft R&D factories back to repairing and still accumulated 15695 supply for the pool last turn. This daily excess will fluctuate obviously, but I'm happy when over 10k supply is banked on any given day.

Thoughts:

The game remains quiet these days with little to no action except in China. I've not spotted any further Allied activity since Milne Bay. I'd like to go over my plans for defending the Empire over the coming weeks and any suggestions would be appreciated. I have a few thoughts for countering Allied operations in a number of theatres, but need to flesh out the details including what forces could be available first. I figure I have a month or two before any major Allied push, but any number of smaller operations against the perimeter could occur at any time. It's determining what to strike back at, and when, that needs to be planned.

[ny59giants]

Just going by memory (so I can be wrong [;)]), but 3/43 is when APs can upgrade to APAs. This is the month the first P-47s start to arrive. In 2/42, there was a significant increase in B-24 production and the first Corsairs arrive. From 12/42 to 3/43 is when the Allied Rifle Squads become very deadly to armor as Anti-Armor goes up to 75 for almost all. I got on Jocke's case about rotating his Indian Div to get this done about 5/43 or 6/43 when he had enough stockpiled vs Obvert.

I say all this to let you know major operations will 'probably' not begin until April '43 from the sea as the APAs will need to go through upgrades and get to where the troops are. Setting up your defense needs to be done in early '43 as a result.

[SqzMyLemon]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

I say all this to let you know major operations will 'probably' not begin until April '43 from the sea as the APAs will need to go through upgrades and get to where the troops are. Setting up your defense needs to be done in early '43 as a result.

I hope you are right, a few more months to prepare my defences would be good. Jocke brings such large TF's to allow a quick unload I don't think the lack of APA's is a worry. Now that I know the beta only shows a max of 10 ships is huge and I'll prepare my counters accordingly.

[SqzMyLemon]

The travesty of what constitutes a land combat model continues in China. Despite a 3:1 advantage in raw AV I still get crushed by three Chinese Corps outside of Kunming. I don't know what else I can do, these results continue to favour the Chinese whether I overstack or not. Over 200 destroyed Japanese squads compared to five for the Chinese? Give me a break. And the artillery losses have been crazy. How so many guns are being lost is beyond me. The ridiculous AAR follows:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 70,48 (near Kunming)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 64044 troops, 628 guns, 195 vehicles, Assault Value = 2237

Defending force 20826 troops, 85 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 737

Japanese adjusted assault: 655

Allied adjusted defense: 565

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: disruption(-)

Japanese ground losses:
4223 casualties reported
Squads: 239 destroyed, 232 disabled
Non Combat: 29 destroyed, 24 disabled
Engineers: 24 destroyed, 23 disabled
Guns lost 84 (46 destroyed, 38 disabled)
Vehicles lost 7 (4 destroyed, 3 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
384 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 105 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 6 (2 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Assaulting units:
22nd Division
6th Division
15th Division
34th Division
104th Division
2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
4th Mortar Battalion
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
23rd Army
11th Army
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion

Defending units:
50th Chinese Corps
40th Chinese Corps
54th Chinese Corps
7th Group Army
7th War Area
3rd Heavy Mortar Regiment

Don't sweat China Allied players, you can abandon the entire country and just head to the hills, the land combat routine will take care of the rest for you. [8|]

[SqzMyLemon]

As you can see I skipped over a number of days where there was little to report.

Supply continues to recover in the Home Islands. In the last 11 days over 100k of supply has been stockpiled even with all the R&D factories set back to repairing. I'm going to have to send a resupply TF to China though as the recent heavy losses need to be replaced.

The Ha-43 engine advanced R&D to 12/44. I'm gaining about 8% a day towards acceleration which should translate into a month advancement every 14 days. At this rate I should be producing the engine by the end of 1943.