Matrix Games Forums

X-Mas, 1942

Merry X-Mas 1942!

25 december, the enemy is at the gates of Darwin. As predicted, with Christmas Brad has finished his reconquest of Northern Oz. We've used these months to rush to deliver troops to the southern DEI. Now very important base from Sosarbaja down to Taberfane has a garrison and supply and fuel levels are pretty decent everywhere they should be.

Over Burma it has fallen a strange silent. No air missions for almost 3 weeks now...pretty strange if you ask me.

In China things are getting hotter. The air battles over Kunming are becoming Epic. The IJAAF is suffering pretty badly in the last 4 days, with an avg ratio of 1-2...our main problem is the lack of aviation support in our front line bases. To solve this problem, 2 base forces are moving from Pescadores to HK and will be brought ASAP to Kweyjang. We need to clear those skies if we want to breakthrough those mountains passes
On the ground we keep on trying to flank his positions, while in the plains we're isolating Chengtu from kunming-Tsuyun-Paoshan sector.
My idea is to try to force his armies east of Kienko to fall back, so to open the way for the 7 divisions that are currently stuck in front of the Kienko's strongpoints.

No new signs of enemy CVs.... and i lost track of the CVEs also....[:(]

In my defense of China vs Nick (Olorin) I've found that if a Chinese Corp has had a chance to dig in and build up any forts, it will not retreat until the odds are equal to or greater than the fort level. I had a hex with multiple Corps in it and even though he got 2:1 odds, the only Corps to retreat were those that didn't have a fort of 3 or greater. Now, some hexes have a Corp or more with forts at level 4 or 5 now and will be almost impossible to get moved out. [:)]

I would suggest trying to use your LBA to ground attack a particular hex for at least a turn or two to raise the disruption levels before attacking. What I have found out is that you will not get many casualties reported in the Combat Report by ground attacks in jungle and/or rough hexes, but the disruption levels can easily get to 70 or worse. That is how I'm being slowly pushed out of Burma. These air attacks involve very large number of bombers.

If either of these observations are incorrect, would someone please enlighten me.

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

In my defense of China vs Nick (Olorin) I've found that if a Chinese Corp has had a chance to dig in and build up any forts, it will not retreat until the odds are equal to or greater than the fort level. I had a hex with multiple Corps in it and even though he got 2:1 odds, the only Corps to retreat were those that didn't have a fort of 3 or greater. Now, some hexes have a Corp or more with forts at level 4 or 5 now and will be almost impossible to get moved out. [:)]

I would suggest trying to use your LBA to ground attack a particular hex for at least a turn or two to raise the disruption levels before attacking. What I have found out is that you will not get many casualties reported in the Combat Report by ground attacks in jungle and/or rough hexes, but the disruption levels can easily get to 70 or worse. That is how I'm being slowly pushed out of Burma. These air attacks involve very large number of bombers.

If either of these observations are incorrect, would someone please enlighten me.

This ain't a good news indeed. My bombers are always pounding those bastards, almost every day and they never show up with any distruption malus when a combat is made...however, recently, i've found that the best way to deal with chinese defences is to prevent him from rotating. Even a victorious battle costs disabled men and if those men cannot be recovered (for lack of supplies or because they cannot be rotated out) sooner or later those men will become dead men in the next battles.

Dec 26, 42


Look, for example, at what happened today in the usual "verdun" battle east of Kienko.... the enemy odds are finally slowing down
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Ground combat at 80,40 (near Kienko)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 27971 troops, 415 guns, 220 vehicles, Assault Value = 741

Defending force 24289 troops, 162 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 352

Japanese adjusted assault: 506

Allied adjusted defense: 481

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
788 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 45 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled

Allied ground losses:
949 casualties reported
Squads: 48 destroyed, 16 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 38 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 15 (14 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Assaulting units:
37th Division
26th Division
1st Mortar Battalion
Mongol Garrison Army
14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
9th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
1st Army
Botanko Hvy Gun Regiment
Tonei Hvy Gun Regiment
4th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
5th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
41st Chinese Corps
40th Chinese Corps
14th Chinese Corps
64th Chinese Corps




And at Warazup i think Brad made a mistake...sent a tank bde in a shock attack beyond the river....[X(]

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Ground combat at Warazup (63,41)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 765 troops, 22 guns, 94 vehicles, Assault Value = 697

Defending force 32276 troops, 271 guns, 300 vehicles, Assault Value = 936

Allied adjusted assault: 3

Japanese adjusted defense: 1011

Allied assault odds: 1 to 337 (fort level 2)

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

Japanese ground losses:
11 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
Vehicles lost 86 (14 destroyed, 72 disabled)

Assaulting units:
96th Chinese Division
45th Indian Brigade
16th Light Cavalry Regiment
75th Indian Brigade
88th Chinese Division
2nd Reserve Division
26th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment

Defending units:
5th Division
4th Ind Engineer Regiment
7th Ind.Tank Brigade
4th Guards Division
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
21st Army




No air battles over Kunming today. The recon reports 70 enemy fighters there....i'm prepping to send against them 100 Tojos that are regrouping with good leaders and top pilots at Shangai... in few turns we'll begin the fight again!

N1K1 advanced to 5/43...maybe i could have it by Feb 43[:D]

Another R&D decision is taken.
 
The J2M2 will be skipped and the 3 R&D factories immediately moved to the J2M3 (4/44).
 
So the plan is to get the N1K1 from Feb 43 to Oct 43, then the J2M3 will be online (with 6 months of advance) and then, by april/may 44, the N1K2.
This should give me enough flexibility in terms of Navy fighters and, at the same time, shouldn't stress my industry too much

Dec 28-30 1942

In China we're pushing hard in order to isolate Chengtu and Kienko from Chungking.

Darwin fell and now the door for the DEI is open to the evil allied empire!

Enemy CVs and BBs are supposed to be near Brisbane...at least that's what a glen has just reported. We need confirmation before doing anything with the KB...

The 68Th div arrived at kendari and will be now divided into 3 regiments and sent to different locations for garrisons duties...

.

Note - Your IJA Combat Engineers and IJA Heavy Infantry get an upgrade on Jan 1st. The big thing is their increase in Anti-Armor values (hit the "D" button and then the Infantry button). I would start to plan to get this done when and where possible as any invasion by Brad will include tanks. Just a friendly FYI from your adviser. [;)]

Look, for example, at what happened today in the usual "verdun" battle east of Kienko.... the enemy odds are finally slowing down."
 
Ahhh, my favorite hedge knight, I am watching and I observe, that despite your incessant whinning, you have trashed the opponent in China....utterly trashed him.  Well done.  Now, stop whinning and press onward.  Even in the aforementioned battle, you destroyed more than 50 enemy squads for 3 of your own.  My math is not strong, but that seems a "success" by any measure.
 
In the DEI, I have to admit you have organized a nice reception for him defensively, but would caution you only to this extent.  He who defends everything....often defends nothing.  My feeble advice (I know little of war, but a lot about mistreating people) is this.  A crust defense need be broken in only one place to endanger the whole, while a defense in depth is hard to defeat.  This is especially true in the close quarters of the DEI where you enjoy the presence of many big AFs, large ports in the rear in which to hide a large concentration/reserve with which to counterattack a fledgling beachhead and, perhaps smash him for a long time to come.  I would favor keeping a strong reserve and countering over a crust defense in the frontline of the DEI.  If you do perform a counterattack, then remember mass, not driblets, when you strike. 
 
Just the advice of your old and dear tormentor.   Now, my young knight, go forth and conquer.

Thank you Micheal! Took note of that one [;)]

My Master, it's always a pleasure to see you here watching my efforts. I'm doing my best and i can assure you that, no matter what will happen, the Dreadfort's men will make the enemy spit blood untill the very last day!

Dec 31 1942

The year closes with a good news.
The enemy sortied with a huge convoy from Gove, escorted by a cruiser squadron. Pensacola, Leander and Achilles with some DDs are directed to Darwin. 18 Betties take off from Lautem, unescorted.
Despite the presence of 10 P-38s on LRCAP, our crack boys managed to identify and attack the enemy.
CA Pensacola is sunk. CL Leander eats a fish. We lose 4 Betties due to Flak....man in DBB naval flak really works!!!!

The enemy is trying to reinforce Darwin by sea...this is a good moment to strike! BANZAI!!!! Several Daitais are moved to Timor and my SAG TFs are all ready.

In China we are ready to enter in Kienko from south. Now Cenghtu and Kienko are succesfully isolated from Chungking. Tomorrow we'll attack east of Kienko. We're confident!

BANZAI!!!

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Darwin at 80,124

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 28 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 13

Allied aircraft
P-38E Lightning x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 4 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed by flak

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
CL Achilles
CA Pensacola, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
CL Leander, Torpedo hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp

CAP engaged:
18th FG/19th FS with P-38E Lightning (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 5 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 34 minutes
35th FG/40th FS with P-38E Lightning (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 5 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes

Magazine explodes on CA Pensacola

The Jills entered into production. We will build 90 of them for the moment, while 3x30 R&D factories are researching the second version.
The Tina factory has been changed into Mavis-L. Producing 20 of them monthly.
 
 
I'm not so sure that it's a good thing to keep on investing so much on the R&D. So many supplies spent....mmmm.... is it worth, for example, to research the second version of the Betty? Do i really need it when i have G3M3s and Frances?
 
 
 

Once again the enemy CVs disappeared from my radars... last time i spotted them they were at Brisbane...where are they now?
 
With the arrival of 1/43 the strategic bombing is now allowed. So i'm converting all my 1E bombers into FB and equipped with Nicks. They will be placed in all the important backwater bases with some industrial facilities. Bankok, Saigon, Balikapan, Palembang, Batavia, Sosarbaja etc.  The ASW duties will be conducted only by 2E IJAF bombers. They are more or less useless in any other role by now anyway (except in China obviously)

In Burma he seems to be retiring from Wazarup and Mitikyna area. I think he had enough of it [:D]
For the rest Burma remains too quiet. I foresee a an upcoming air battle for the oilfields at Magwe... we're ready to meet him!

ORIGINAL: princep01

Look, for example, at what happened today in the usual "verdun" battle east of Kienko.... the enemy odds are finally slowing down."
 
Ahhh, my favorite hedge knight, I am watching and I observe, that despite your incessant whinning, you have trashed the opponent in China....utterly trashed him.  Well done.  Now, stop whinning and press onward.  Even in the aforementioned battle, you destroyed more than 50 enemy squads for 3 of your own.  My math is not strong, but that seems a "success" by any measure.

In the DEI, I have to admit you have organized a nice reception for him defensively, but would caution you only to this extent.  He who defends everything....often defends nothing.  My feeble advice (I know little of war, but a lot about mistreating people) is this.  A crust defense need be broken in only one place to endanger the whole, while a defense in depth is hard to defeat.  This is especially true in the close quarters of the DEI where you enjoy the presence of many big AFs, large ports in the rear in which to hide a large concentration/reserve with which to counterattack a fledgling beachhead and, perhaps smash him for a long time to come.  I would favor keeping a strong reserve and countering over a crust defense in the frontline of the DEI.  If you do perform a counterattack, then remember mass, not driblets, when you strike. 

Just the advice of your old and dear tormentor.   Now, my young knight, go forth and conquer.

Master, i'm trying to cover the rear areas too. The northern eastern coast of NG is being built and so are bases like Menado, Kendari, Makassar, Balikapan etc. I admit that the mariannas and Luzon are almost empty... But i have to risk something somehwere. Simply don't have the forces to defend everything, nor to build everywhere. It's still 1/1/1943 and i think it's time to oppose some kind of heavy resistance now. I need to fight here and now. I've already waited probably too much in order to estabilish a first defensive perimeter. Now it's time to move back no more. Not a. Single step back from now on. We fight and die here, where we are. I want the southern Dei to be like Burma...a long and bloody statlemate.

If i manage to get the George in Feb, then his 4E will start to have hard times to demolish my front line bases

The second generation of B-24s come out and in numbers in 2/43, so you need to get ready for the onslaught. [:(]
B-24D = 15/month
B-24D1 = 48/month

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

The second generation of B-24s come out and in numbers in 2/43, so you need to get ready for the onslaught. [:(]
B-24D = 15/month
B-24D1 = 48/month

Yup, i know. I'm trying to get ready as best as i can. I've saved my best pilots for these days to come. Most of the IJA/IJN crack pre-war pilots are still alive and kicking and i'm determined to use them wisely in order to optimize their effect and to treat their lifes as a primary good.
None (or few) of the top pilots will be used in offensive missions. they'll be always on the defending side.

Even on the KB (which is upgrading their lasts fighter squadrons in these days), the pre-war pilots will be set on purely CAP mission at 0 range. The escort will be provided by 80 A6M2s specifically moved aboard for this task (with some Vals moved out). These planes are piloted by rookies with 30/70/30 stats. Cannon fodder in other words.

Hopefully these strategy will allow me to still have a decent Air Army in late war times

GJ, If he really digs in around Kumming and the Western Chinese cities, I would not worry too much about it. Quite frankly, clearing out the Central Chinese plain and killing the troops there with the taking of Chungking will cripple the Allied effort in China to the point that he really can't do much. If resources and supply are an issue I would not press the issue too hard in Western China. Viberpol took Kumming but I was able to stop him at Tsyung. It is now 1945 and without a major commitment of other Allied troops there is no way even my rebuilt Chinese units are going to make much of an impact. You as Japan can simply dig in and his poorly equipped Chinese units won't get very far.
Things got a lot better for me when I opened a supply line from Rangoon but the war has progressed to the point where China no longer matters for me as the Allied player.

If you have not done so, you should focus on taking Lanchow and all the northern points. It is not hard to do if you use tanks and you will need the oil found there later on in the war.

ORIGINAL: crsutton

GJ, If he really digs in around Kumming and the Western Chinese cities, I would not worry too much about it. Quite frankly, clearing out the Central Chinese plain and killing the troops there with the taking of Chungking will cripple the Allied effort in China to the point that he really can't do much. If resources and supply are an issue I would not press the issue too hard in Western China. Viberpol took Kumming but I was able to stop him at Tsyung. It is now 1945 and without a major commitment of other Allied troops there is no way even my rebuilt Chinese units are going to make much of an impact. You as Japan can simply dig in and his poorly equipped Chinese units won't get very far.
Things got a lot better for me when I opened a supply line from Rangoon but the war has progressed to the point where China no longer matters for me as the Allied player.

If you have not done so, you should focus on taking Lanchow and all the northern points. It is not hard to do if you use tanks and you will need the oil found there later on in the war.

The whole Northern China (up untill the Russian border) is in my hands since September/October 1942.
The plains, now isolated from Kunming-Tsuyun and any possible air bridge, are more or less toasted in the long run. I want to have Kunming and Tsuyun in order to have a direct link to Burma. I need to get supplies flow from China to Northern Burma cause Singapore cannot resupply Burma due to the lack of supplies produced in the SRA-DEI area.

I'm still confident i can conquer Kienko, Cenghtu and Kunming. Not so sure for Chungking and Tsuyun...but i'll do my best anyway

China map at 1/1/1943

Great job. That map of China has the feel of the military situation in Berlin, circa late Spring 1945!