Sailing in harms way: InHarmsWay (J) vs Andav (A) Scen2

[RangerJoe]

... I am still not planning on taking all of India...

It isn't taking India that will trip up IJ players, it's knowing when to bail out, cut your losses, and tighten your defensive lines. This sounds simple, but it isn't. It is so hard to give up ground that you took. BUT, if you can, then taking all of India and gathering all that supply, fuel, oil, and resources for 4 - 6 months can be HUGE. Not to mention the HI points and the fact that you just cream a ton of the local supply production for the allies (remember, HI is halved when taken and then halved again when retaken. That means at best the allies only get 25% of what they started with. Forces them to move that much more supply. They have it, sure, but more work for them, more opportunities for them to mess up, delay themselves due to lack of the supply ... etc etc etc.

Just remember, they have to take the base in combat. That means sacrificial units in defense. I like to use mortar and scout units.

EDIT: Reading this, I realize that this applies to the whole map. Burma, DEI, OZ ... One of the keys to success in '45 as IJ is not to have lost too many units. This isn't dead units, but rather units stranded some place now useless. 1200AV in Palembang when you can no longer ship fuel. All those units are useless, worse than dead because you cannot re-form them. And that 1200 AV would be so helpful in Korea.

So, watch your lines. Carefully choose what to leave behind (always include some units with ENGR when the base has a lot of factories to increase the odds of them losing factories on attack), make it WEAK so the allies WILL take it, kill your units so you can reform them in Tokyo in 90 days or less. Every day delay is to your advantage. ENTICE them to take bases that you can't use any more. Shift your units to choke points so that the allies can't leapfrog and cut your lines of retreat. SE Asia is ALWAYS an allied jump point to trap your DEI/Malay/Burma/India forces. Start your retreat to those coastal bases early so that they are well defended.

Or pull out just a few squads/devices from the units left behind so they can rebuild immediately.

[InHarmsWay]

Great points PaxMondo and RangerJoe! I have not and will not ever repair refineries, only the oilfields. Expanding out factories is always a tough decision. I am currently wrestling with expanding Ha-35, and just did so by 30, as I want to keep the research bonus. Currently about 550 engines in inventory there.

Two days ago, had a unfortunate retreat by one of the british units I have been chasing. It retreating into one of the two hexes that was blocking the UK 18th Div. I had just moved a unit there down to the dot base as he was moving to attack that base. Now he switched his march and is hoping to take advantage here... see map. Thankfully my units are mostly armored so they can move fast. That plus lots of bombing to slow him down should help. If he is delayed past the next turn, I will have 200+ AV and he will be performing a river attack. I am really hoping to get a Armored unit behind him as well.

March 20 1942 India front.jpg (739.34 KiB) Viewed 647 times

In other news, have ordered my first Arty bombardment of Calcutta, until now he has been bombarding, and lately he was on the losing end of casualties each day. Time to turn the screw a bit!

[RangerJoe]

It should take 2 turns for the 18th UK Division to move into that hex, was it already moving there during the last turn?

[InHarmsWay]

It was not moving there when the retreat happened, I figure bombing it each turn, will limit it to 15 miles a day?? I am hoping that is the case. That will give me two days to get into the hex, and a day to attack. (crosses fingers). We will see this next turn. He has been unable to put much cap over the hex so I have been bombing the division each day.

[RangerJoe]

If the 18th UK Division is in Reserve mode while moving and being bombed, it will stay in Reserve mode. If it is in Move mode while being bombed, then it will change to Combat mode. The fatigue will also slow the unit down and maybe the disruption as well slowing the unit down.

This situation does show the problem of a forward defense in India when a "left hook" is used by the opponent to flank and someone isolate the area since there is only one narrow road and rail entrance/exit for that area of India and none for Burma. Which is probably why Burma was separated from India . . .

[InHarmsWay]

Well, I won the race! I was sweating it but looks like the Brit 18th Div turned around. I wonder if he is now just planning on bunkering up in a strong defensive position and make me dig him out. I kind of hope so as that gives me the initiative over there. I do have several small units running around so can cause him problems. See latest below.

March 22 1942 India.jpg (507.64 KiB) Viewed 567 times

Now the next critical area. The city of Howrah NW of Calcutta. My first attack went in at 1-1, with a shock attack by the IG Div across a river, with a Inf Rgmt already in the hex and paratroopers dropping. I am moderately beat up by the attack, but with the IG already across the river, I put in another shock attack in the hopes of carrying the city before he can reinforce. That will really turn the corner on Calcutta! We shall see... He had forts at 1. Here is the combat report:

Ground combat at Howrah (52,36)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 15896 troops, 148 guns, 53 vehicles, Assault Value = 503

Defending force 6259 troops, 135 guns, 195 vehicles, Assault Value = 211

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 290

Allied adjusted defense: 175

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
1015 casualties reported
Squads: 15 destroyed, 99 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled

Allied ground losses:
104 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 16 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 7 (1 destroyed, 6 disabled)

Assaulting units:
Imperial Guards Division
21st Ind.Mixed Brigade
Yokosuka Assault SNLF /1

Defending units:
41st Infantry/A Division
41st Infantry/B Division

[InHarmsWay]

Drat! Double Drat!! Iama sure you gentle readers are just waiting for the next installment of how Admiral Harmasaki outwits Adm Wa, but you will have to wait a bit more.... Adm Wa moved in a couple Tank rgmts into Howrah as well as the last third of the 41st Inf Division. My attack went nowhere and now we are at an impass again. More troops are needed (and they are on the way!) Also over by the Brit 18th Div area, the division went backwards and squished my tank rgmt one day after I destroyed two of his armed rgmts. Map to follow in a bit. Good news is that it meant it moved back into the "trap" if you can call a loosely built bamboo framework a serious trap for a tiger....

Other news, I have landed in Darwin and run into the Aus 8th Division. Stalled out for now, but flanking by landing all along the northern and NW coast. Landings went in on PM as well, will need to reinforce both landings likely. KB is down there supporting. Map to follow as well. It does look like I have found his MLR.

Overall, not feeling I have moved fast enough, it is already late March. I would like to have everything wrapped up by June if possible!

[RangerJoe]

Drat! Double Drat!! Iama sure you gentle readers are just waiting for the next installment of how Admiral Harmasaki outwits Adm Wa, but you will have to wait a bit more.... Adm Wa moved in a couple Tank rgmts into Howrah as well as the last third of the 41st Inf Division. My attack went nowhere and now we are at an impass again. More troops are needed (and they are on the way!) Also over by the Brit 18th Div area, the division went backwards and squished my tank rgmt one day after I destroyed two of his armed rgmts. Map to follow in a bit. Good news is that it meant it moved back into the "trap" if you can call a loosely built bamboo framework a serious trap for a tiger....

Other news, I have landed in Darwin and run into the Aus 8th Division. Stalled out for now, but flanking by landing all along the northern and NW coast. Landings went in on PM as well, will need to reinforce both landings likely. KB is down there supporting. Map to follow as well. It does look like I have found his MLR.

Overall, not feeling I have moved fast enough, it is already late March. I would like to have everything wrapped up by June if possible!

As long as you have units there, the enemy forces can't retreat into that hex.

Darwin is a trap for the Allies, I think that it is impossible to supply a division overland. So bomb and bombard if you can. Capture bases behind his division as well. Then wait with naval strikes to pounce on any shipping.

Bamboo is a grass that is surprisingly strong, with flexibility for the cage as well, it should hold a tiger. But according to Calvin, the best way to trap a tiger is with a tuna sandwich . . .

[InHarmsWay]

Status of the Darwin front: Admiral Wa is flying ground attacks and bombarding my beachhead at Darwin, I expect he is burning through supplies. Beginning the interdiction of Darwin by taking PM and also setting up several airfields to the northwest. Will have airbases in Broome and Wyndham and a Air HQ with my long legged girls (Betty and Nell) in Koepang.

March 27 1942 Darwin.jpg (468.09 KiB) Viewed 509 times

[InHarmsWay]

Port Moresby front, I am sweeping PM, and will bring more land units. Adm Wa had a nasty surprise for me at PM. Two DDs snuck in and hit my amphibious landing, sunk the sole AP that was there and I lost about ~50 squads that went swimming. KB got revenge the next day, but a black eye for the IJN! I should have had more escorts but thought they were safe with KB in the area. Lesson #829 now learned!

March 27 1942 Port Moresby.jpg (437.14 KiB) Viewed 507 times

[PaxMondo]

Lesson #829 now learned!

Well, I hope that you are not on MY learning curve, because if you are, you still have about 9999999171 more lessons to go! Myself, being a bit further down the curve in a number of ways, my challenge is that my lessons learned list is SO long that I fear I will start having to re-learn soon .... oh dear!

[InHarmsWay]

Admiral Harmasaki looks at the map of India. It has been a chess match over the past 7 weeks. Each time him he thinks he has Adm Wa on the ropes, a fresh unit shows up in the nick of time. First that Australian Division showed up just as the 4 initial assault Divisions were set to take the port by Coup de Main. Second, the British 18th Division was able to move out of Cox's Bazaar faster than expected and forced key armored units to hold the trap door closed. Next the Aussies showed up to hold the western flank at Cocanda. Finally the US 41st Division just makes it into Howrah to keep the lifeline open for the Calcutta defenders... Well NO MORE!! Admiral Harmasaki states to the room. I have 2 Divisions holding the line in Calcutta, while three divisions will force closed the last route out of Calcutta. The Key is Howrah... The key to Calcutta likes there!

In addition, bombardments will commence as that door is closed. The equivalent of 2 more divisions are less than a week out of Diamond Harbor. Those will keep the trap on the Brit 18th Division in place as well. If I can bag both multiple Allied divisions this early, that will bode well for later in the war.

April 1 1942 Calcutta.jpg (720.29 KiB) Viewed 437 times

[InHarmsWay]

Close!!! So close! Both Adm Wa and I had shock attacks going in at the same time, not 46 miles away! The Road out of Calcutta is in flux. I think if I can take Howrah before he opens the road from Howrah to Jamshedpur, I may get large bag of prisoners? Not sure how the retreat rules work but don't think he can retreat into a contested hex? That is my hope. Here is the map.

April 6 1942 Calcutta road.jpg (236.98 KiB) Viewed 402 times

Here are the combat reports for the discerning gentle readers out there. What gives me hope here is that I knocked forts from 2 to 0. That should help with the next attack! Also, he should be somewhat disrupted.... (is this wishful thinking rearing its ugly head???)

Ground combat at Howrah (52,36)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 35731 troops, 324 guns, 212 vehicles, Assault Value = 1222

Defending force 15130 troops, 309 guns, 716 vehicles, Assault Value = 619

Japanese adjusted assault: 1461

Allied adjusted defense: 433

Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
4257 casualties reported
Squads: 11 destroyed, 185 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 47 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 45 disabled
Guns lost 38 (11 destroyed, 27 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
482 casualties reported
Squads: 23 destroyed, 30 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 25 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 41 (6 destroyed, 35 disabled)
Vehicles lost 52 (6 destroyed, 46 disabled)

Assaulting units:
4th Division
4th Tank Regiment
48th Recon Regiment
6th Guards/A Division
Imperial Guards Division
6th Guards/C Division
Yokosuka Assault SNLF /6

Defending units:
255th Armoured Brigade
41st Infantry Division
254th Armoured Brigade
7th Armoured Brigade
23rd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
85th British AT Gun Regiment


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

Ground combat at 50,35 (near Jamshedpur)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 667 troops, 0 guns, 100 vehicles, Assault Value = 46

Defending force 627 troops, 7 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 4

Japanese adjusted assault: 84

Allied adjusted defense: 5

Japanese assault odds: 16 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(+)

Allied ground losses:
182 casualties reported
Squads: 22 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 18 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 19 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 6 (3 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
6th Tank Regiment

Defending units:
2/1 AIF Pioneer Battalion


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

Ground combat at 51,35 (near Howrah)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 7061 troops, 32 guns, 286 vehicles, Assault Value = 326

Defending force 3449 troops, 32 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 111

Allied adjusted assault: 267

Japanese adjusted defense: 185

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
560 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 36 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled

Assaulting units:
754th Tank Battalion
193rd Tank Battalion
7th Indian Division

Defending units:
4th Ind.Mixed Regiment

[RangerJoe]

To give your unit at 51,35 (near Howrah) more time, you might want to airlift some units there. Considering the American tanks (probably M3 Stuarts) there, airlifting some AT guns should help the infantry but I don't think that they can be airdropped. Some bombing there might help your unit as well if you have not done so.

You should look at your units at Howrah and any that have a lot of disabled devices should stand down.

Units should not be able to retreat into contested hexes. But according to the hexside control, supplies can move through at 51,35 (near Howrah), Howrah itself, and then into Calcutta. Also the same for moving supplies out of Calcutta and into India. The resources, fuel, and oil will follow the same rules. So to limit the supplies at Howrah, bombarding Calcutta will reduce the amount of supplies that may be extra, will reduce the supplies at Calcutta for a siege, as well as potentially weakening the defenses at Calcutta for your victory there.

BTW, if you haven't yet given an overall name for this operation, the name "Speedy Gonzales" should work, also the "Taz" which is a nickname for the Tasmanian Devil. Just don't let Bugs near Taz . . .

[PaxMondo]

Wow ... next couple of turns will be interesting.

I miss the old popcorn emoji ...

[BBfanboy]

Wow ... next couple of turns will be interesting.

I miss the old popcorn emoji ...

Here ya go. Just right click and save them on your computer.

Popcorn613.gif (1.01 KiB) Viewed 341 times

popcorn_eaters_smiley.gif (11.5 KiB) Viewed 341 times

popcorn.gif (4.08 KiB) Viewed 341 times

[PaxMondo]

Thanks!!!

Popcorn613.gif (1.01 KiB) Viewed 336 times

[InHarmsWay]

I feel that Adm Wa is moving everything that is not nailed down to India. Question is can I win that race? The latest turn (April 10), I recon bombed the 70th ?? Brit division that is getting ready to clear my rail road blocker near Patna. To date I think I have seen 2 Aus divisions, a Brit Division, multiple Indian Divisions, 1 American Division, and multiple rgmts and armored units running around. I have recently even seen the Marine raider Btn marching!

I am thinking of completing the Ceylon conquest (just landed the 4th Guards Infantry division, and have the 21st Div about 4 days away. I am hoping both those divisions, along with the 2 Rgmts there will take care of the Colombo fortress (three brit/india rgmts plus other units). KB is off grid now, but will move back into the Bay of Bengal after a short refit. If the opportunity allows, I may then take the victors of Ceylon and land on the West side of India, maybe break the logjam by Calcutta... Downside it that would not occur until early May. I likely will bring mini KB as well, and lots of support as it is getting dicey at that point with allied reinforcements...

Elsewhere, China is a grind, mainly wearing down the Chinese, burning up their supplies and bombing anything that is moving.

Darwin is being periodically shelled, and bombed but I need to find a closer location for BB resupply! I do think Darwin will fall in a few weeks, but waiting on more units to get behind the front there.

Soerabaja is an issue as I do not have enough boots on the ground to win that one soon. Last attack went in and I reduced forts from 4 to 3, but most Inf units were trashed, so need a few weeks to recover. I am bringing in additional Art units here to help.

So what is everyone's favorite Tojo? Is it worth continuing to research to get the later IIb model or just go with the first one in the research queue? I will get the Ki-44-IIa on May 1. I have decided to go with the IIa model as my only stopgap model before the Franks show up (have 11 factories researching the Ki-84a now). For the record, 12 factories on Georges, and 13 on the Ki-83.

[PaxMondo]

...
So what is everyone's favorite Tojo? Is it worth continuing to research to get the later IIb model or just go with the first one in the research queue? I will get the Ki-44-IIa on May 1. I have decided to go with the IIa model as my only stopgap model before the Franks show up (have 11 factories researching the Ki-84a now). For the record, 12 factories on Georges, and 13 on the Ki-83.

The Tojo b is worthless (the big gun accuracy is horrendous, never hits anything), most do not build it. The Tojo c is the best as it has armor. Biggest issue with Tojo's are the short legs ... costs more supply as you need to build up more airbases to support your expansion along with the supply that you expend to build the Tojo factories .... Tojo's are one of the best interceptors though, along with Jack, they have great climb.

[InHarmsWay]

April 17 1942 Darwin.jpg (500.54 KiB) Viewed 219 times

I have neglected reporting on the Aussie front... Apologies gentle readers. Admiral Wa has made my landing at Darwin painful with the Emery Fortress there. I think I have lost about 6-8 Ak/AP ships total, and one DD and one CL here but figure better to lose them in an attack than bombed by 4Es while sitting in port in Japan in '45. At least they were useful! No huge rush here, as I waited till the units were back to minimal disruption. One interesting thing is I have been facing wirraways mostly here with a few B25s. I hope that is a sign he he is low on planes? Next turn my BBs will go in for another bombardment, with another TF 3 days out. Orders have been sent!