Revenge of the Enterprise

[DesertWolf101]

January 31, 1942

Submarines

Near Tarakan, SS KVIII launches four torpedoes at CVL Zuiho but misses – drat!

China

The Japanese 52nd Division makes a surprise appearance near Canton – smashing a weak Chinese provincial Corps on its way to Wuchow. The 52nd is not a division that starts in China – my opponent brought it as reinforcements from the Home Islands. This is bad news for my Chinese troops, but great news for my overall strategic plan to force him to shift resources and troops to China.

With the merger of my two armies southeast of Pingsiang, I had almost double my opponents AV (2,500 to 1,350). This combined with the loss of the bulk of his artillery made me decide to launch a shock attack. The results were not disastrous, but they were not good either. I lost 277 infantry squads with 783 disabled vs only 6 Japanese squads destroyed and 449 disabled. He lost a further 33 guns destroyed and 108 disabled for 6 destroyed on my side and 70 disabled. This result further reinforced in my mind the select nature of shock attack usage.

----

More ominous news in China - the Japanese have regrouped and are crossing the river south of Chengchow with a large army. I assemble my battle hardened veterans from the battle of Chengchow and prepare to meet him in battle.

[Alfred]

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101


...The Japanese 52nd Division makes a surprise appearance near Canton – smashing a weak Chinese provincial Corps on its way to Wuchow. The 52nd is not a division that starts in China – my opponent brought it as reinforcements from the Home Islands. This is bad news for my Chinese troops, but great news for my overall strategic plan to force him to shift resources and troops to China....

Another brick added to the new Wall of China being built by Japan. The original Wall was built by the Defenders for their benefit. This new Wall is being built by the Attackers for their own detriment. Who would have thought the Imperial Army would be so accommodating as to construct a future tourist attraction.

Alfred

[DesertWolf101]

February 1-2, 1942

Submarines

O21 attempted to strike a Japanese convoy next to Ambon but was spotted and took moderate damage from 10 non-penetrating depth charge hits.

S/SW Pacific

Having built of Port Moresby into a powerful stronghold, I stationed B-17E bombers there and on February 2nd sent them to hit Rabaul in a daylight raid. The bombers catch the AV Kiyokawa Maru in port, sinking her (and her complement of floatplanes) as well as an ACM, a PB, and a AMc.

China

Following the failed shock attack, I utilize my local advantage in artillery to pound the Japanese army near Pingsiang to moderately good effect with several hundred losses inflicted.

-----

A large Japanese army of 10 units has crossed the river south of Chengchow. Instead of heading towards Chengchow however, the army strikes directly to the west towards Nanyang. This could be trouble if I am not careful, as Nanyan has a tiny garrison of 66AV and the Japanese force of 2 divisions that was heading towards Sian had by now crossed the river at hex 85,42 and is moving towards Nanyang's rear.

[DesertWolf101]

February 3, 1942

Submarines

Sculpin send an AKL to the bottom of the South China Sea with a working Mk14.

S/SW Pacific

In retaliation over my B-17 bomber raid on Rabaul, my opponent decided to go after Port Moresby. A sweep of 45 Zeros swept in. In one of the largest dogfights yet, my fighters do amazingly well. Despite the Zero altitude advantage, 5 P-40E fighters are lost for 21 Zeros destroyed.

One of my AP’s hit a mine as it came in to unload in Port Moresby. Undoubtedly a gift from my opponent’s submarines. The AP is heavily damaged but does not sink. I disbanded in Port Moresby until I can repair the damage enough to send it back out.

Singapore

I noticed that my opponent had stopped escorting or sweeping during the daily bombing runs over Singapore. I took the opportunity to sneak in 11 Blenheim IF fighters, which proceeded to shoot down 10 of the Nell and Betty bombers in today’s attacks on the fortress city.

The Japanese launch yet another deliberate attack against Singapore. Despite odds of 1 to 6 in my favor, they do relatively well losing only 48 squads destroyed and 199 disabled for 101 allied squads lost and 57 disabled. The forts however remain at level 3.

Philippines

The Japanese move back into the Cagayan hex with a decent sized force and test the waters with a bombardment. Unfortunately, my supply here is a very big problem.

Thailand

Thanks to some recently acquired long-range recon, I noticed that Bangkok had no fighter CAP. I sent in Blenheim, Marauder, and B-17D bombers to hit the airfields knocking out a few of light bombers and transports there.

China

The Flying Tigers claim some more Sally kills over China in a LRCAP ambush. Chinese SBD bombers sneak in at low altitude to attempt to slow down the advancing Japanese army south of Chengchow.

Thinking that his army next to Pingsiang is weakened by from the shock attack and the bombardments, attempt a deliberate attack. 1 to 2 odds in my opponents favor with similar disabled squads of about 200 each but with 69 Chinese squads destroyed for only 8 Japanese.

-------

My phased withdrawal in China following the central thrust is nearly complete. I leverage this timely development to send the Hankow covering army to Nanyang and replace it with the exhausted central thrust force.

[DesertWolf101]

February 4, 1942

Submarines

Nothing of note

S/SW Pacific

With their sweep shattered, the Japanese turn to the naval option, dispatching a battleship force towards Port Moresby. 16 SBDs attempt to interdict the force near Milne Bay but are first knocked around by some Zeros on LRCAP and then rattled by heavy flak. No bomb hits are scored.

Thailand

Thinking that last day’s raid on Bangkok will drive my opponent to bring in fighter cover, I switch my bombers to night bombing. Good moonlight allows them to score some good hits on the airfield, knocking out a few aircraft on the ground, including some newly arrived Nates.

China

Desperate to slow down the Japanese advance towards Nanyang, I send in the Chinese bombers even though I knew my opponent would likely provide it with fighter cover today. Several SB-IIIs are lost as a result.

------

Unable to halt the Japanese battleships, I temporarily evacuate Port Moresby's aircraft back to Australia. I need to find a solution to this type of threat.

[DesertWolf101]

February 5-6, 1942

Submarines

Nothing of note.

S/SW Pacific

The Japanese battleship Mutsu and four heavy cruisers pound Port Moresby. Despite extensive damage to the airfield and port, none of my aircraft or ships are lost due to the evacuations.

Taking advantage of the absence of the KB and the stranding of the 4th Divison at Gau Island, I land my first troops at Nadi. The 34th and 161st Infantry Regiments and the 118th USAAF Base Force come ashore.

Philippines

The Japanese assault Bataan. I repulse the attack with 2 to 1 odds in my favor but the attack further eats into very limited supplies and wipes out another 100 allies squads.

Thailand

I shifted my bombing to Pisanuloke – knocking out a few light bombers and recon aircraft on the ground.

China

The Flying Tigers wipe out 11 Sonias in an ambush close to Nanchang.

The 52nd Division, reinforced by the 66th Infantry Regiment, storm and take an abandoned Wuchow – I don’t have the forces here to stop him.

-----

The first Japanese troops arrive at Nanyang - My armies are about to arrive in the city next turn, and I have kept a reserve army out of sight with a plan to cut off his supply lines and trap his troops in Nanyang. It all comes down to timing - if it runs like clockwork and Nanyang holds, this could be big!

[DesertWolf101]

February 7, 1942

Submarines

Nothing of note.

S/SW Pacific

Attempting to give more time to my troops to land at Nadi – I sent a task force of two heavy and two light cruisers to shell the Japanese 144th Infantry Regiment at Suva that is marching towards my forces. The Yorktown strike forces adds some of its own weight to the shelling with bombs from its SBDs.

Likely thinking that the airfield at Port Moresby is out of commission, the Japanese send 27 Betty bombers escorted by 25 Zeros to pound it some more. The very large number of engineers I have at the base had done a good job repairing the damage however and the Japanese were met by 44 allied fighters. A dozen Zeros and all the Bettys but one were lost.

China

Everything did work like clockwork! With their lines of retreat about to be cut off, the Japanese rush to attack and take Nanyang to prevent a full encirclement. A massive aerial bombardment first goes in to soften the Chinese defense but is met by some Chinese fighters that disrupt it. With everything on the line for this one attack, the massive Japanese army of 5 infantry divisions, 2 infantry brigades, one infantry regiment, a tank regiment, and a traitorous Chinese division then shock attacks.

Despite the clear terrain my valiant Chinese troops, battle hardened from Battle of Chengchow, hold the line behind high fortification levels, but only just. 1 to 1 odds reduce the fortification levels to 2 and inflict considerable losses, but the Japanese come out significantly worse with about 250 squads destroyed or disabled. My maneuvering army then closes the retreat at the end of the turn.

The Japanese Army near Pingsiang finally arrives at the rough hex at 83,54.

-------

Trapping the Japanese Army feels great, but is only the first step of the plan. Now I must keep it trapped and gradually reduce it. Already I can see more Japanese forces converging on Nanyang from the east and from near Sian.

[DesertWolf101]

The Encirclement Battle of Nanyang

[DesertWolf101]

February 8, 1942

Submarines

The Sargo attempts a torpedo attack on a tanker convoy in the South China Sea but misses with two torps.

China

To cover for the Japanese bomber offensive, the Japanese sweep the skies over Nanyang with every fighter they have in Northern China but this time I deployed my Flying Tigers who are able to hold their own. My Chinese bombers themselves go in to disrupt the encircled Japanese army some more.

The Japanese launch another desperate effort to break through the encirclement at Nanyang before the impending arrival of Chinese reinforcements. Another 1 to 1 odds reduces the fortifications, this time to 1, but my troops once more hold firm.

--------

Even as I suffer more losses than the Japanese in today's attack, I can already see from the combat report Japanese disruption and lack of supply is an issue. I am fairly convinced now that I can hold on as long as I prevent external Japanese reinforcements from reaching the city.

[DesertWolf101]

February 9-10, 1942

Submarines

Nothing of note.

S/SW Pacific

Realizing that he won’t be able to take back Nadi with a single regiment and likely being concerned that I could land troops at Suva, my opponent halts the advance of the 144th IR towards my troops. Meanwhile, I continue the disembarkation and fort construction at Nadi to cement my foothold there.

Singapore

Another Japanese deliberate attack goes in today. Despite 1 to 7 odds in my favor the Japanese reduce the fortifications to 2. This time my defenders give the Japanese a bloody nose however, destroying a tank regiment and disabling 420 infantry squads! [8D]

Philippines

The Japanese launch a deliberate attack at Cagayan which fails, but eats up what little supply I have left.

China

The Japanese bombers shift their attention to the maneuvering Chinese army, but are too late to stop them from entering Nanyang from the east. With their arrival, I start dispatching some troops outside the hex to block the approach of the Japanese forces in between Nanyang and Sian.

-----

It had been a while since I had seen the KB, and my fear was that my exposed transports off Nadi would be caught with their pants down.

[DesertWolf101]

February 11, 1942

Submarines

Seawolf attempts to sink an AK south of Formosa but is frustrated by Mk14 problems.

China

With my troops finally assembled in force and the Japanese army weakened, I launch the first Chinese deliberate attack at Nanyang. Both sides lose about 300 squads destroyed/disabled, but I am in a much better position to sustain such losses. The attacks will continue!

----

Chinese forces are now present on both sides of Nanyang - the plan is to keep the Japanese from intervening in the reduction and eventual elimination of the Nanyang pocket.

[DesertWolf101]

Battle Assessment - Encirclement at Nanyang

In assessing the battle, I think my opponent's comments at the time are worth going into:

"I can honestly say I have never seen a game EVER where the chinese just
slap around japanese divisions like in this one. I have no idea where
your getting enough supply to keep a two month offensive going let alone
fly planes at will,unless its this beta version.

In all my previous games it was not uncommon to have 2 divisions and
some support troops hold off entire hordes of chinese when they actually
were brave enough to attack due to the low experience levels and supply
issues."

I wasn't going to let my opponent at the time know, but supply was a major issue for me. Logistics are the sinews of war, and from the start it became quickly clear to me that I needed a lot of supply in China if I were to conduct the aggressive operations I wanted to there. I knew supply was bad from historical context, but it took only the first week of game time to reveal just how bad the situation really is in the game. Strategically therefore, holding Burma was the key to large scale offensive operations in China and I poured significant resources into both holding it and into setting up the air supply over the hump as a secondary source. I have since read that this can be a risky play for an allied player, as the Japanese can encircle Burma by landing in India. The point I think however still stands. IF the strategic decision is to be very active in China - Burma needs to hold - warts, risks, and all.

Operationally, the key to success for me was maneuver. This is undeniably a tough move given the state of Chinese forces in the early game, but I would argue that it is still the best available move. If I had sat in fortified positions without maneuvering my armies both at the front line and behind his lines, my opponent would have gradually and methodically reduced my stretched out positions. Maneuver allowed me to disrupt the Japanese supply by cutting his rail, marshaling armies together at the point of decision, and achieve encirclements.

Tactically, success in the air for me was critical. I won't pretend to know whether this is always a realistic option in China, and I suspect it may far often be less likely than was the case for me this game. I can say however that using my fighters well allowed me to negate his bombing advantage to a large extend, and even assiduous use of Chinese bombers proved very beneficial at critical periods when I had to slow down a Japanese army for turn or two.

These are the humble, but hopefully informed, experiences of a newbie.

[Alamander]

Against a competent Japanese player, any major battle in the central plains of China will result in the complete annhilation of all Chinese forces involved, no matter how much you bring.

[BBfanboy]

Your analysis looks accurate to me, DW101. Well played!

[CV10]

Well done DesertWolf! You've been making hay while the sun shines, and the results certainly seem worth it!

[Bif1961]

looks like he expected a quiet China and you made it into a thundering roar he can no longer ignore.

[DesertWolf101]

Thanks guys! Now the hardest part is to maintain the encirclement and prevent both my opponent's breakout and relief efforts.

[DesertWolf101]

February 12-13, 1942

Submarines

Nothing of note.

S/SW Pacific

Recon detects what looks to be the KB near Nauru Island heading back down towards Fiji.

China

The Japanese 37th Division and 4th Independent Mixed Brigade arrive at the hex just northwest of Nanyang where I had been able to place only the 96th Chinese Corps to interdict. Despite heavy bomber support and Japanese shock attacks that gave odds of 5 to 1 in favor of my opponent on the first day and 20 to 1 on the second, the Chinese Corps refused to retreat and remained in place! [X(] [&o]

I drew heavily on the garrisons at Loyang and Chengchow for the field army that encircled the Japanese at Nanyang. Now I pay the price as my opponent launches a surprise attack across the river with three infantry mixed brigades and two Chinese collaborator units and takes the town. [:(]

Meanwhile, the Chinese army next to Changsha pulls back to Wuchang – likely in preparation to mounting an attempted offensive to relieve the Nanyang pocket. The Changsha army gives chase but I am likely to be frustrated by the heavy fortifications of the town - darned Japanese internal lines of communication! [:@]

Chinese deliberate attacks go in against the Nanyang pocket on both days, resulting in hundreds of squads disabled and destroyed on both sides. I am determined to keep up this exhausting attritional grind until the bitter end. This is the current composition of the Japanese force in the Nanyang pocket:

Just over 50,000 men with around 600 guns and 230 vehicles

15th Division
32nd Division
35th Divison
110th Division
116th Division
6th Ind. Mixed Brigade
7th Ind. Mixed Brigade
138th Infantry Regiment
12th Tank Regiment
16th RGC Temp. Division

----

With the other battle theaters slowing down a bit, the heart of the action is in China - multiple threats are emerging as the Japanese push to relieve their besieged army.

[DesertWolf101]

February 14, 1942

Submarines

Sargo finds a Japanese convoy off the Korean peninsula and sinks AK Sansho Maru.

Seawolf on the other hand attacks AK Boston Maru on the surface near Japan but is frustrated by repeated Mk14 torpedo failures.

Philippines

The Japanese attack Bataan and knock the fortifications down to 1 with a 1 to 1 result. The end is nigh....

Ceram Islands

The Japanese land at Ambon.

China

A Japanese army sallies forth from Hankow and crashes into a Chinese covering army in 1 to 1 odds. The Chinese lose more squads at 176 destroyed and 80 disabled to 17 Japanese squads destroyed and 210 disabled. Two Japanese tank regiments are mauled however with 37 vehicles destroyed and 88 disabled.

A significant Japanese army assembled at Paotow and is poised to brush aside my weak forces there in a potential push towards either Yenan or Lanchow. Yet another threat vector to deal with as I continue the Nanyan pocket reduction effort. At least the heroic 96th Chinese Corps is finally reinforced, helping to block the northwestern Japanese threat for now.

------

Now that the KB is sighted, I decided to pull back the transports that were unloading (painfully slowly) there. Unfortunately, I don't think I have landed enough to take back the island.

[DesertWolf101]

Meanwhile, the intensity of the fighting in the air can be seen through the aces list - The Flying Tigers are at the very top, but numerous other USAAF, British, and even Dutch aces have risen. The first page: