Weathering the Storm - CHS 155

[VSWG]

Uh-Oh....

I've been doing some testing with the Soviet OoB and the August Storm upgrades...

Turns out the upgrades start 5/31/45 with the appearance of the Soviet HQ's

Then Slot 2164 upgrades to 2nd Rifle Corps on June 2, 45
Slot 2165 - 86th rifle corps on June 3, 45
Slot 2166 - 5th Gds Rifle corps on june 4, 45

so forth and so on...

What gets interesting is... no matter where or what the unit in slot 2164 is... it gets replaced with the 2nd Rifle corps and gets moved to Borzya. It maintains the planning of the previous unit.... as well as the TO&E of the previous unit...I suspect the same will be true for all of the upgrades... however they don't all go to Borzya some get moved to other locations.

tm.asp?m=1105280

[X(] [:(]

[ctangus]

Well, at least I have some time before I have to worry about that... [:D]

July 23-26, 1942

Vodka for the glorious defenders of Vladivostok! [:)]

Russia

While we've continued to trade air raids they've been of much smaller scale for the last two turns. On the 23rd & 24th I lost 43 to the Japanese 48. On the 25th/26th it was 36 to 47 for the good guys.

Seems like we're both resting and re-grouping.

The best news, though, came from Vladivostok - Oorah!!!


Here's the next day's bombardment attack. The Jap starting AV is down about 20%. I'm sure that's mostly disablements but still, that buys some time:

Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 9360 troops, 184 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 3726
Defending force 116942 troops, 1011 guns, 163 vehicles, Assault Value = 2032

Southwest Pac

Sank a sub & damaged a couple others. Thursday Island just made size 4 AF & Port Moresby should hit size 7 tomorrow. The reduction of Rabaul will begin after that.

[ctangus]

July 27-28, 1942

Air losses were again light. 27 to 36 in my favor. However A2A losses were 13 to 22 in favor of Japan.

Russia

Relatively quiet. We're still catching our breath.

SW Pac

I beat up on another Jap sub. Port Moresby expanded to a size 7 AF and raids against Rabaul will begin.

DEI

I tried to LRCAP the milk runs over Balikpapan but lost 1:3.

Western Sumatra has been invaded with landings at Medan.

Burma

I raided Tavoy but leaking CAP from Bangkok was a problem for me. Over Tavoy I lost 10:18 during the last two days.

China

My daily bombardment of Nanchang continues without much effect. But for good news I stuffed an attack along my flank. Chinese fighters will sweep Hanoi tomorrow, where some Nates are on CAP.

[ctangus]

Operation Bootstrap

Here's the details on Operation Bootstrap.

I'm normally not a proponent of invasions beyond LBA range, but I think I have a good opportunity to take the Gilberts. Tarawa hasn't yet installed torpedo facilities (still a size 3 AF). I don't know for sure but from sigint I doubt it's been reinforced beyond the Naval Guard unit that originally took it. Forts can't be too high yet. The Japanese haven't had the chance to mop up Abemama & Makin yet.

Over half the Combined Fleet, including the KB, is supporting the Russian adventure.

I can also use my CVs to cover the invasion while still remaining beyond escorted Betty range from the Marshalls.

The needed forces are assembling at Pago-Pago. I'll start loading troops in 10-14 days.

[Mistmatz]

Your plan sounds bold to me, although I wonder if you have had a chance to fly recon over Tarawa (eg from Baker or Nanoumea) or if you're placing a bet on that single NavGd.

You're planning for Makin and Abemama with large forces, seems like you want to stay there - right? I wonder if the Gilberts are a a good place for the allies to have a CV battle there in say early '43... [:D][;)]

[ctangus]

I haven't flown any recon yet despite having a couple squadrons nearby specifically for that purpose. I don't want to tip my hand yet. If resistance seems larger than I expect I can always fall back on my original plan which was to build up the Ellice Islands (already started) and soften up the Gilberts from there.

I'd love to fight a CV battle within range of 3 offensive AFs... [:)]

July 29-30, 1942

The air war is stepping up again - 90 to 90 for the day. 44 to 67 A2A in my favor.

Southwest Pac

A squadron of P-38s with sweep orders took off against Rabaul, leaving the bombers and fighters on escort behind. They shot down 24 A6M2s for the loss of 17 P-38Fs. Could have been better if everyone flew but it also could have been worse.

B-25s, now based on Thursday Island, continue to keep Lae & Wau closed.

DEI

Mopping up on Borneo has begun with the Japs landing at Bandjermasin and another small TF heading to Balikpapan or Samarinda. I'll try to beat up on them.

[ctangus]

Burma

Eeek! It looks like Rangoon and/or Moulmein are about to get a visit from the IJN battleline. 2Es from Rangoon took off and bounced a few bombs off a couple Japanese ships. I moved most of my good fighters out but the bombers (plus a small # of fighters for escort) will remain in the hopes of causing some damage.

China/Indochina

A sweep over Hanoi nets 8 Nates for no losses in return.

Russia

A deliberate attack at Vladivostok lowers the forts to 8. [:(] The Japanese AV afterwards was reduced another 10% though.

[VSWG]

Aztez is trying to do too many things at once IMO. Russia, mopping up in the DEI, a naval bombardment of Rangoon/Moulmein... Any chance of concentrating your forces in the DEI in order to delay the fall of those resource producing bases? You know how important these resource centers are in CHS, his economy might be in serious trouble if you can deny them to aztez for another couple of weeks/months.

ORIGINAL: ctangus

Nice screenshot! [8D] Where did you find those military symbols?

I agree with Mistmatz: a nice operation, but maybe a bit of overkill at Makin and Abemana? Perhaps concentrate more troops against Tarawa, just to be sure?

Can you give us a short rundown of the distribution of the Russian assault value? Will you try to reinforce Vladivostok, or do you intend to retreat from that base? Too bad you can't torch your own supply depots at Vladivostok, IMO you can't let so many supplies fall in Japanese hands. [:(]

[ctangus]

ORIGINAL: VSWG

Aztez is trying to do too many things at once IMO. Russia, mopping up in the DEI, a naval bombardment of Rangoon/Moulmein... Any chance of concentrating your forces in the DEI in order to delay the fall of those resource producing bases? You know how important these resource centers are in CHS, his economy might be in serious trouble if you can deny them to aztez for another couple of weeks/months.

I agree. I don't want to be highly critical of my opponent - it's his first Japanese game & he also seems to be a good guy & honorable opponent so far. But I also think he's spreading himself too thinly. I think his biggest mistake has been the timing of his Russia invasion. If he wanted to invade Russia he probably should have waited until after the SRA was totally secure & he had numbers of Tojos & Tonys ready.

Of course, I've never made any mistakes in this or other games... [:'(]

Where did you find those military symbols?

It's a font pack. I think I got them here: http://www.mapsymbs.com/ If that's not it I can e-mail them to you.

I agree with Mistmatz: a nice operation, but maybe a bit of overkill at Makin and Abemana? Perhaps concentrate more troops against Tarawa, just to be sure?

Boy, I really think a full division, combat loaded, will be more than enough. And I have another div in reserve. And I do want combat troops on those other islands ASAP. Though you may be right - maybe I should hold them in reserve until I know how the Tarawa battle is going.

Can you give us a short rundown of the distribution of the Russian assault value? Will you try to reinforce Vladivostok, or do you intend to retreat from that base? Too bad you can't torch your own supply depots at Vladivostok, IMO you can't let so many supplies fall in Japanese hands. [:(]

Sure, but maybe not tonight. Might reinforce, but certainly won't voluntarily retreat. The supply level, amazingly, is still going up despite my moving the Far East HQ out of there several turns ago and many "supply hits"

Update shortly...

[ctangus]

July 31 - Aug 1, 1942

Good times for the good guys! The Cleveland Indians clinched the American League Central! [:)] Oh, and there was good news from the war, too.

Cent Pac

All the forces for Operation Bootstrap should be assembled in about 8 days.

SW Pac

My airfield attack against Rabaul launched this turn. Losses over the two days were 84 to 10! [X(] I'll take it. Recon reports that Rabaul's been abandoned and I've established air supremacy in the theater (at least for now). Now let's see if I can take advantage of that.

DEI

For bad news, Medan on Sumatra fell.

For good news, my troops at Bandjermasin were able to hold off the Japanese there. And A-24s attacked the Balikpapan invasion. 2 MSWs were sunk and several transports were damaged. The Royal Dutch Navy will make an appearance tonight.

Burma

The best news is from here. 2 Japanese SAGs bombarded both Moulmein & Rangoon, causing noticeable but not crippling damage. Beauforts (& other 2Es) from Rangoon & Swordfish from Port Blair subsequently attacked them. The net results are:

BB Nagato, Torpedo hits 2 (one of those hits might have been FOW)
BB Kongo, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
BB Ise, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage

Ise needs to travel 540 miles to a safe port. I bet she's a goner but she's at least certainly out of action for many months. Kongo almost certainly needs significant port time. Not sure about Nagato but I bet she needs a month or two in port as well.

Mutsu sank earlier in this war so I suspect Japan is down to 7 operational BBs. (I know Yamato is in service but I doubt Musashi is yet.)

Russia

We continue to trade airstrikes. I won a couple and lost a couple. Overall the day's results were good, though. In all theaters losses were 110 to 190 in my favor (32 to 68 A2A).

[ctangus]

Monthly review - end of July

Here's the intel screen for the end of the month.



I have to be pleased. Before the Russia invasion I was already trying to attrit Japanese air strength and was modestly pleased with my results. This month was tremendous, though. A few statistics:

1611 Jap aircraft lost vs. 1332 Allied
406 A6M2s destroyed (now 1124 total)
385 Ki-43s destroyed (now 703 total)
1037 Japanese fighters (all types) destroyed. (2149 total)

If I can keep up the pressure (uncertain) I doubt Japanese LBA can recover. I still need to deal with KB & the First Air Fleet, however.

[ctangus]

Aug 2 - 3, 1942

Quick update before work. No pics.

Southwest Pac

ASW forces sink one sub & damage another.

DEI

Bandjermasin falls. The Royal Dutch navy intercepts the Balikpapan invasion sinking several ships and driving them off the beach. Follow-up strikes from A-24s further damage the TF. 7 or 8 ships, mostly auxiliaries, were sunk in all.

Burma

Ise hasn't sunk yet & I think I spotted her off Georgetown. If that's true then she's moving more than 1 hex/phase and might not be as bad off as I hoped.

Russia

Most of the air action was here. I bombed Kiamusze & the Japanese bombed Iman & Vladivostok. 110 to 39 for the day in the allies favor. 47 to 15 A2A.

A deliberate attack at Vladivostok was repulsed with no lowering of the forts. Oorah!

[ctangus]

Aug 4-5, 1942

I'm continuing to score well in the air war - 37 to 65 overall and 21 to 26 A2A.

Southwest Pac

4Es hit Rabaul again - a group of B-17s on airfield attack and a group of B-24s on port attack. (There were some ships there). 3 subs sank and several other ships were damaged.

DEI

The Japanese attacked at Balikpapan but achieved 0:1 odds.

Samarinda, where I was basing my A-24s, was attacked by Japanese LBA. Light damage. I've flown out the A-24s and will CAP it next turn.

Burma

80 rested P-40s/Kittyhawks from Moulmein will sweep Bangkok tomorrow. Unfortunately Hurris don't have the range. If successful this will complete my battle for air superiority in the theater.

Russia

The battle for air superiority is going well here, too. The Russians have a ton of fighters. I actually have more than I can effectively use since their range is short & I'm trying not to overstock. When looking at Russia early-game I mostly set my bases to building forts. In hindsight I should have built more airfields in several locations.

Anyway, a second turn of raids against Kiamusze (Japanese base near Iman) forced Japan to abandon it. The only active Jap airbase near Russia is Mutankiang. (Base near Vladivostok.) I have about 150 MiGs resting at Iman. They'll start the assault against Mutankiang in a turn or two with a sweep.

I neglected to keep Heiho closed but I just started rotating IL-2s against it to close it again & keep it closed. I doubt the Japanese will show up in the meantime.

[ctangus]

No turn from Jari tonight and another one of my opponents - viberpol - is on vacation. (How dare he!) So here's the map I promised VSWG.

I've got pretty good sigint on the front-line Japanese forces - I've identified all but one unit that's been reported by my recon.

Hailar - 3 IJA Divs, 3 Mongolian Cav Divs + supporting forces
Heiho - 2 IJA Divs, 2 Mongolian Cav Divs, Kwantung Defense Bde + support
Mishan - 1 IJA Div, 1 IJA Cavalry Brigade, 2 IJA Tank Rgts + support + 1 unidentified unit
Vladivostok - A lot! Currently has a strength of @ 3600 AV.

I've also received sigint on not many, but a handful of combat units in Central Manchukuo. So the Japanese do have a reserve if I try something.

In my screenshot I'm not showing my anti-para garrisons. I can probably reduce those, though - just my base forces should do well against a paradrop - 40 AV x 2 (woods) x 3 (level 9 forts mostly) = 240 adjusted AV. I might be able to free up 2-3 Divs (600-900 AV) while still keeping a mobile reserve to counter-attack paras.

I'd love to counter-attack in the north, to take some pressure off the Vladivostok area. I've decided, however, any flanking move to the west won't work - the supply lines are too weak. I could try to take Hailar. But 1800 AV x 2 (woods) x 3 (forts) = 10800 AV! I do have air superiority over Hailar, though.

Alternately I could reinforce Vladivostok. I'd also like to rest the 4 divisions that were forced to retreat from Voroshilov. That would make Vladivostok more safe but it wouldn't give me the initiative in this theater which I'd love to have. Hmmm...

I'm starting to blabber. I need more turns! [:D]

[ctangus]

Aug 6-7, 1942

Yet another good day in the air war. 53 to 90 overall and 42 to 78 A2A.

Cent Pac

I'll be ready to load forces for Operation Bootstrap next turn, but I'm having second thoughts. I was hoping to take advantage of KB being in the north, but I just checked and it's been over two weeks (closer to three) since I've seen it. I suspect it's headed to support further ops in the DEI, but don't know for sure. There's some large air balance #s in the Marshalls, too.

I've ordered recon over Tarawa & Maloelap. I'll decide in a turn or two whether to launch or postpone.

DEI

The Japanese run into my CAP over Samarinda. 18:9 for the P-40s & F4Fs. I'm wary of a naval bombardment but will stick it out another day or two.

Burma

My sweep over Bangkok nets 59 to 33. The Japanese seem to have pulled all their air out of the base now. However an 89 exp ace with 12 kills was captured by the Japanese and the 3rd AVG squadron was down to 7 pilots.

Russia

The Japs, probably wisely, pulled their airforces out of Mutankiang before I could attack them there. I now own the skies over Russia & northern Manchuria! Oorah!!!

Other

It looks like I've cracked the back of Japanese land-based air, roughly a year before it happened historically. Over the last 3 or 4 turns not only have the Japs withdrawn from a couple theaters but Claudes & Nates have started larger & larger "training missions" in safe areas. [:)]

I haven't done much to attrit the First Air Fleet, though. I still need to be wary of KB.

[ctangus]

Aug 8-9, 1942

I found out from my opponent today that he's enlisted Nemo121 as his "War Minister". Yikes!!! [X(][:D]

What that means is that Nemo will be reviewing the turns every week or so & giving aztez some economic & strategic advice. From what I can tell he'll basically be helping Jari learn how to play Japan while giving him some specific advice on our game. To be honest I'd say that's nice of Nemo, if only it wasn't against me...

It's a good thing that I'm the bestest strategic genius ever! [:'(]

Anyway, back to the war:

Cent Pac

Recon reports 3 units, 13K men at Tarawa. No fighters, 56 bombers at Maloelap. Still roughly 1200 air balance in all the Marshalls. No signs of KB anywhere on the map.

SW Pac

I damage 2 more subs with direct hits, though none sank. 4Es hit Rabaul's port & airfield again.

DEI

The Japanese hit Samarinda again & I got the worst of it for the first time in several turns. Overall air losses for the turn were 22:18 in Japan's favor & 9 to 8 A2A. I've pulled my fighters out.

Burma

Ise still hasn't been reported as sunk. At this time I suspect she's either been scuttled or will live. Probably the latter, unfortunately. However I'm sure she'll be out of action for a long time.

Russia

For the first time since the start of the war Vladivostok was hit by neither an air attack or a naval bombardment. Runway damage is now only 89%! [:D]

I also forgot to mention that on the 6th the Japanese launched another deliberate attack. 0:1, no reduction in forts and 8600 casualties.

[VSWG]

ORIGINAL: ctangus

Aug 8-9, 1942

I found out from my opponent today that he's enlisted Nemo121 as his "War Minister". Yikes!!! [X(][:D]

What that means is that Nemo will be reviewing the turns every week or so & giving aztez some economic & strategic advice. From what I can tell he'll basically be helping Jari learn how to play Japan while giving him some specific advice on our game. To be honest I'd say that's nice of Nemo, if only it wasn't against me...

It's a good thing that I'm the bestest strategic genius ever! [:'(]

What happened to "WitP's worst battleship admiral"? [:'(]

So here's the map I promised VSWG.

Thanks! Geography forces you to distribute your AV in a very inefficient manner. Only Borzya is IMO too well defended. I see only two areas where you can maneuver a little: occupy the hex southwest of Blagovyeschensk in order to threaten Sunwu, or march 120 miles through clear terrain without roads from Khabarovsk to the hex northeast of Mishan. In either case, you force aztez to defend a second base behind the current front line. Then you can either try to occupy these bases, or attack Sunwu/Mishan itself with a second, river crossing attack in the hope that he had weakened their garrisons. I'm not really convinced that this will work myself, but I'd like to point it out, in case aztez/Nemo throw A LOT of AV against other targets - then this might be an option.

Alternatively, reinforce Vladivostock, but make sure that your retreat path to Iman is clear.

It looks like I've cracked the back of Japanese land-based air, roughly a year before it happened historically.

Definitely. This is a fact that even Nemo can't change. Aztez needs weeks, if not months before Jap. LBA becomes competitive again. There's a window of opportunity here. During this time-frame aztez has to add KB to the remnants of his LBA in order to be able to withstand your LBA. Since KB can't be everywhere, I suggest you that you either lure it out of place (NorPac?), or start multiple offensives at the same time (and risk that one of these operations is defeated by LBA+KB).

[ctangus]

ORIGINAL: VSWG
What happened to "WitP's best, smartest, most sexy battleship admiral that all the girls lust after"? [:'(]

I'm still that, too... [;)]

Thanks! Geography forces you to distribute your AV in a very inefficient manner. Only Borzya is IMO too well defended. I see only two areas where you can maneuver a little: occupy the hex southwest of Blagovyeschensk in order to threaten Sunwu, or march 120 miles through clear terrain without roads from Khabarovsk to the hex northeast of Mishan. In either case, you force aztez to defend a second base behind the current front line. Then you can either try to occupy these bases, or attack Sunwu/Mishan itself with a second, river crossing attack in the hope that he had weakened their garrisons. I'm not really convinced that this will work myself, but I'd like to point it out, in case aztez/Nemo throw A LOT of AV against other targets - then this might be an option.

Alternatively, reinforce Vladivostock, but make sure that your retreat path to Iman is clear.

I certainly have more strength at Borzya than I need to defend it. I was massing forces there in the hopes of a counter-attack but I don't think I have enough strength for that.

I have sent two or three divs to Vladivostok to relieve 2 or 3 of the divisions that were routed at the other V-city.

I'm not too concerned about the retreat path to Iman. There's still a ton of supply at Vladivostok so it can potentially survive a very long siege. It could be cut overland from the other V-city or by an amphibious invasion of Suchan. Japanese supply lines would either be non-existent (from the V-city) or very scarce (from Suchan). As long as I keep some reserves, I'm not too worried. Particularly if I maintain air superiority.

Aztez needs weeks, if not months before Jap. LBA becomes competitive again. There's a window of opportunity here. During this time-frame aztez has to add KB to the remnants of his LBA in order to be able to withstand your LBA. Since KB can't be everywhere, I suggest you that you either lure it out of place (NorPac?), or start multiple offensives at the same time (and risk that one of these operations is defeated by LBA+KB).

Hmmm... Good thoughts...

Update in a little bit. Aztez & I did 5 turns this weekend and so I'm slow on updating this AAR. I'll try to make up for it by adding a couple extra screenshots.

[ctangus]

Aug 10 - 17, 1942

Looks like it was only 4 turns. Anyway, both the allies & Japanese are working on training up their air forces. The allied air base network is slowly(!), but surely expanding.

Cent Pac

Not knowing where KB is I decided to indefinitely postpone Operation Bootstrap. It would have been nice to take Tarawa on the cheap, but currently the risk doesn't seem the reward. I'm more of a Spruance than a Halsey, anyway.

I'm shepherding most of those forces to the Ellice Islands to garrison them & help build them up more quickly.

There also seems to be a substantial aerial presence as well as some sort of naval presence nearby.

[ctangus]

SW Pac

I sunk at least two IJN subs and damaged 2 or 3 others. Milne Bay just made it to AF size 1. The IJA base at Wewak made it to size 2 so I bombed that as well as Buin again, to slow down any further expansions.

DEI

The Japanese reinforced their Balikpapan invasion but CD guns & level bombers in the Celebes made it costly. Maybe 10 or 12 ships have been sunk altogether. On the 4th a Japanese attack achieved 0:1 odds.

Another Jap TF just arrived off Balikpapan. The Dutch Navy plans to make another appearance.

Burma

I was wrong - the Battleship Ise wasn't safe - it sunk! [:)]

China

The Japanese have started to bomb the resources at Sian & Honan. I've tried to intercept these raids with CAP but no luck so far.

Russia

I have a bit of a breather here, but suspect the IJA will be back in force sooner or later. In order to make that return as tough as possible I've reorganized my airforce a little and am doing a few things.

1. I want to make life as miserable as possible for the Japanese besieging Vladivostok. (Deny them supplies, basically.) To do that:

A. I'm bombing them directly, to drive their supply requirements up and maybe cause a few disablements.
B. I'm bombing the other V-City to destroy its supplies & increase its requirements. Eventually that should slow the flow of supply to the Japanese at Vladivostok.
C. I've started to bomb any resources in Mancukuo that I can reach.

2. I'm continuing to bomb airfields close to my borders to either keep them closed or at least make them untenable.