Matrix Games Forums

China

Despite one initial drubbing in the north of China in one of my WITP PBEMs I actually enjoy this theater playing allies. It's not going to be a decisive theater for the allies, but I hope to bog down some IJA forces here that might be otherwise elsewhere.

In Central China I just took Ichang, routing @20K troops. Farther north a Japanese offensive is developing roughly on the Nanyang-Sian axis. Right now most my attention is here:

South China

I want to hold on to Wuchow as long as possible - 120 supply/day is not insignificant for the Chinese. To protect Wuchow I had hoped to invest Canton with some minor forces before Hong Kong fell. I'd like to use that 4X terrain to my advantage. However movement was too slow...

Some nearby reinforcements are close to breaking an IJA roadblock in woods to the east. I have other potential reinforcements just starting to arrive at the railhead due north. Even so they're still @ 2 weeks away from this battlefield & I may need them elsewhere as well.

As always Admiral Bonnie is thinking long-term and has been inspecting rain-weather gear for her Burma Troops. She doesn't seem all that convinced that the new camouflage pattern will work but personally I don't see what's wrong with it...

I like admiral bonnie!
Enjoy the game, good dog!

ORIGINAL: larryfulkerson

I'd just like to take a moment to thank you for the pictures. So few AAR's have really well done pictures in them that they tend to overachieve when they are present. Yours is fabulous. I applaud you and say keep up the good work. Overachieve isn't the correct word in the previous sentence.......I'm looking for a word that says pictures are a welcome addition to the AAR and how they really are a welcome addition when they are present in the AAR. I really like 'em. You may or may not have noticed that my AAR tends to read like a comic book w/ a picture on each posting. That is by design. Pictures say things that text can't and explain things that text makes difficult. Pictures in AAR's is a good thing. Thanks.

I'll second this. I try to put a picture with each post (at least one) and agree that pictures make it so much easier to see what is going on at a glance. Thanks for your work on this ctangus!

ORIGINAL: 1275psi

I like admiral bonnie!
Enjoy the game, good dog!

Yep, she's a good girl!

I'll second this. I try to put a picture with each post (at least one) and agree that pictures make it so much easier to see what is going on at a glance. Thanks for your work on this ctangus!

Thanks for the thought! I'll check out your current AAR - I remember lurking on an AAR of yours back in WITP days. Forget the name of it though.

I like AARs with lots of pictures too as they're also easier for me to follow. Though potentially there's more to learn from an AAR heavy in combat reports. What can I say, I haven't graduated far beyond picture books like "See Spot Run"...

Bonus picture: here's Admiral Bonnie doing her Teddy Roosevelt impersonation:

12/17 - 12/20/41

The game's actually one turn beyond this but I had pics prepared & then the turn came in.

Philippines

Ugh. Deserves a more detailed post which I will get to some time in 1944...

Malaya

Also ugh.

IJA forces are likely to crush a Commonwealth rearguard at Taiping. IJN minesweepers are sweeping mines at Mersing - I may have to contend with an invasion there soon. Singapore's closed but JB is open for the moment. No chance of getting surface forces in there.

I gave up the fight (at least temporarily, though probably permanently) for air superiority over Singers.

Operation Bug Out II has had partial success. I've airlifted @ 35% of two cut-off Indian Brigades to Sumatra. My opponent hasn't seemed to have caught on to that yet. However I was also planning to try to use some transports left in Singapore to speed the evacuation. Admiral Bonnie is quite displeased that her subordinate (me) left them there after we gave up contesting air superiority. A Japanese port strike either sank or crippled every ship there.

DEI

The evil aggressors are rapidly gobbling up bypassed bases. Ambon has been invaded but still stands. Balikpapan looks like the next target.

So Pac/SW Pac

The Japanese are also rapidly gobbling up bases on Northern New Guinea. On the 19th the 51st Naval Guard Unit took Ndeni. Last we saw them they took Ocean Island. Token ground forces, but are there naval forces are backing them up?

I dunno - I was negligent in setting up search bases here for about a week. Some AVs & AVDs are currently on their way. In 4-5 days I should have a decent search network in place.

Lex & Enterprise & a SAG are within 2 days steaming, slightly south of Suva. If that was a lightly escorted invasion they could have crushed it. However I've lost track of IJN Carrier Divs 2 (Hiryu, Soryu) & 5 (Sho, Zui) for several days. Last I saw them they were roughly heading in the direction of Truk. I have to suspect they're supporting ops in this area until I have firm intelligence otherwise. In the DEI Alex is doing a very good job covering his invasions both in the air & sea.

Northeastern China

The IJA is launching a large offensive against the flank of Chengchow. I have about 1000 AV there which withstood the initial Japanese deliberate attack. I didn't counter-attack as my units had not drawn supplies. Now I have a huge stack bearing down on me. Doesn't look good.

I'll probably have to withdraw from both Chengchow & Loyang to better terrain. I hate to do that because of the supply they generate but it will probably be necessary.

I'm launching some small flank attacks to maybe distract my opponent & divert forces from his schwerpunkt.





Edit: Also trying to send some guerrillas to temporarily cut IJA supply lines.

Central China

I'm a little more optimistic here. I haven't been planning on anything remarkable but I've been hoping to establish a few places in good terrain where we could achieve a stalemate. If I can trade bombardments with the IJA I can drive up the Chinese experience.

East of Changsha we have a good stalemate. Sinyang is another stalemate but I'm slightly outnumbered there & IJA reinforcements are on their way. Chinese reinforcements are on their way too. Hope to have my opponent bogged down in Hankow soon, as well.

Like in the north I'm launching some minor flanking attacks around here. I'm hoping to force my opponent to disperse his forces.

12/21 - 12/22/42

Very quick update

Malaya

Horrible news here:

On the other hand

My troops in northeast China are holding for now.

Oh yes, and there was this: [:)]

12/23 - 12/26/41

Malaya

Alor Star falls but Operation Bug Out II was a partial success. I successfully evac'd @ 60% of the surrounded 6th & 15th Indian Brigades. Though I still need to get them off Sumatra. Details, details...

After my opponent invaded Mersing I was able to rail 3 or 4 units back to Singapore but there's still 200+ AV hopelessly cut off. Operation Bug Out III will try to fly out large portions of another brigade or two.

50K+ supplies at Singapore, but barely over 600 AV to defend it. [:(] Kudos to my opponent for keeping me continually off balance here and successfully attacking me piecemeal. Still sucks though...

China

SW of Chengchow, in clear territory, my Chinese troops were utterly CRUSHED.

Ground combat at 87,45 (near Chengchow)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 88279 troops, 788 guns, 581 vehicles, Assault Value = 3081

Defending force 42562 troops, 168 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1318

Japanese adjusted assault: 3433

Allied adjusted defense: 226

Japanese assault odds: 15 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
5287 casualties reported
Squads: 22 destroyed, 513 disabled
Non Combat: 13 destroyed, 39 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 25 disabled
Vehicles lost 58 (46 destroyed, 12 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Allied ground losses:
19776 casualties reported
Squads: 980 destroyed, 82 disabled OUCH!!!
Non Combat: 325 destroyed, 120 disabled
Engineers: 23 destroyed, 18 disabled
Guns lost 71 (54 destroyed, 17 disabled)
Units retreated 7

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

I didn't expect to hold here, but I certainly didn't expect these casualties either. While I'm trying to create some mischief with small forces around here I need to abandon both Chengchow & Loyang for now & head for safer territory. Between the two I believe that's 130 supply/day I'm abandoning. [:(]

I hate to give up the supplies but there's a silver lining - the loss of supplies is balanced by a lot fewer Chinese that need to be fed!

South Pac/SW Pac

While Rabaul held my opponent up for a few days he's subsequently been steamrolling the area with small ground troops. I hate to give this area up on the cheap but I haven't known how well his invasions have been covered.

Two reasons for that:

1. No good intel where 4 Jap fleet carriers are since @ Dec 10th or so (Car Divs 2 & 5).
2. Until two turns ago no naval search capability in the area other than what started at Port Moresby. On Dec 8th Admiral Bonnie told me I should send some AVs & AVDs to the theater ASAP. But did I listen to her? No...

Couple patrol bases operational now, at least.

I have two, soon to be three carrier TFs in the neighborhood. 1 NZ & 1 USN SAG as well. More than enough to stop a "cheap" invasion but I'm reluctant to commit them without better intel.

Noumea has only been reinforced with 1 NZ engineer unit which is building forts. More significant ground reinforcemnts are on ship but still 2+ weeks away.

In New Guinea the Aussie cruisers were sent to intercept an invasion of Milne Bay. They arrived too late to save the base but got some small retribution.

12/27/41

Nothing momentous occurred this turn, so I'll provide longer updates on a couple theaters.

DEI

After my opponent's initial blitzkrieg of Palembang he advanced no further on Sumatra.

However he has been steadily expanding his hold on Borneo, Celebes & nearby islands. See the map. After a couple ineffectual attempts I've stopped (for now) attempting to challenge his invasions. Alex is keeping his invasions well covered with both air & naval forces.

I'm modestly reinforcing Java. Some multi-national air units & I'm flying in some isolated Dutch LCUs. I could get more in if I decided to ship them however I don't want to spend the PPs. Maybe if I have a little more time...

The remnants of Force Z, the Dutch cruisers & the Houston TF are in nearby waters. I intend to commit them in Java's defense if I don't see any earlier opportunities. I'll at least be able to provide them with some CAP. Also BB Warspite, recently repaired at Seattle, is now on her way via the Atlantic to Capetown, eventually to replace POW in Force Z.

I'm desperately short on fuel, too. A few turns back all but one of the small Dutch oilers were sunk in an air raid against Christmas Island (IO). The two Aussie oilers will be transiting the Torres strait in about a week to replace them.

Luzon

I had a few units cut-off in Northern Luzon earlier in the game though I successfully extracted some of them. Lost @150-200 AV.

I have subsequently declared Manila an open city and have retreated to Clark Field & Bataan. @36K supply between the 2 bases & 1300 AV. Another 180 AV in reinforcements arrives in 4 days.

This had the possibility of being a disaster (like Malaya) but I'm halfway content. The situation certainly could be better but it could be far worse as well. Hopefully I can last as long as the supply does. I'll need to start monitoring it.

Speaking of supply I've assigned Nautilus & Narwhal to supply duty and the first sub load will be dropped off in 2-3 turns. Won't make a huge difference but a few weeks of effort from them might buy an extra day or two. I've yet to try to send in any blockade runners. Alex (Quixote) did a very good job of interdicting shipping leaving the PI. Perhaps he'll relax his guard now that most the PI shipping has been sunk.

12/28/41

I've seen the replay for the 29th but since I don't have the turn I'll write this like it hasn't happened yet.

Malaya

Johore Bahru falls.

OPSEC may be over for Operation Bug Out II. An airfield attack against Medan destroys 2 precious transports on the ground. Dutch transports & patrol planes are abandoning Medan. RAF & USAAF transports will continue operating from Sabang for the moment.

South Pac

IJN subs are active here & are sinking unescorted transports every day. The first troop transports have arrived at Pago Pago safely though. Reinforcements for Suva & Noumea should arrive in @ 9 & 12 days respectively.

Philippines, DEI

Mop-up invasions continue for now.

Northeast China

This continues to be a big swirling mess. I kinda am enjoying it.

The big threat continues to be 120K IJA troops driving on Chengchow/Loyang. That's 130 supply/day threatened. I do have level 3 forts there so I may try to defend for a few days.

I have abandoned Nanyang for now. 4 tank units have entered the city and it will surely fall on the 29th.

In the meantime I have guerrillas sitting on most of the major roads behind the front. Hopefully that will mess with the Japanese supply situation a bit. I'm also sending some small forces on flanking attacks to attempt to divert forces from the IJA schwerpunkt.

I invested Sinyang mainly to provide a training ground for Chinese troops however I now have 45K IJA troops surrounded there. I'm sure that won't last for long - too many enemy troops nearby. Anyway raw odds are roughly even plus the defender has woods and probably some forts. If I can get a few more troops in before the encirclement is broken I'll try a deliberate attack. I don't expect great success here but maybe I can beat up on those troops a little.

3 of the 4 units I booted out of Ichang marched out of the swamps & back into Ichang. (I thought they were headed NE.) Might be as much as 450 IJA AV albeit in bad shape. I only have about 120 AV between two beat-up Chinese Corps there. A little over half the Chinese artillery is there as well - it had been in transit north. If the IJA attacks this turn I could be in trouble. I don't expect an attack as there's a high unit count there but I'm still a little worried.

Reserves were next door and will be there in two days. I then should be able to complete encircling those troops and eliminate them once & for all.

Hopefully the picture makes a little sense:

Southern China

The threat here is to the 120 supplies/day at Wuchow with 7 IJA units driving on it. Reinforcements are on the way but still several days short. Nearby I've ordered a shock attack at Kukong. If successful maybe it'll divert forces from the Wuchow offensive.

On the 28th in woods SE of Nanchang I routed a small Japanese tank unit. I have forces trying to follow up. There are 4 units in Nanchang and now at least one of them is leaving to the northeast. I'm not sure what that's about.

Further east at Chuhsien I'm about to surround an annoying Japanese blocking force that has been sitting there for a number of days.

12/29 - 12/30/41

Admiral Bonnie just got some top secret intelligence about our opponent. It appears that Admiral Catamoto is plotting for the IJN! link

North Pac

Japanese forces took Attu & Shemya with token forces in the first 2-4 days of the war but there has been no sign of them since. I think this was mostly a defensive move for the Japanese. However I do now have a small naval force (2 old CLS, 3 old DDs) in the area and am slowly but steadily building up Dutch Harbor & Umnak Island.

West Coast

I haven't said anything about this area up to now . There are 2 or 3 or 4 IJN subs operating just outside ASW range off the US West Coast. They've managed to hit 3-4 transports, all unloaded, and sunk most of them. I have a couple weak ASW TFs operating in the area but they've been completely ineffective so far.

While I've sent most free troops based on the West Coast to forward bases no troop convoys have been hit.

The worst damage was @2 weeks ago when CA San Francisco ate two torps. It took her @ 10 days to limp into port but she made it & will be operational again in @ 2 1/2 months. San Francisco was part of the screen I was pre-positioning for the arrival of CV Yorktown. Yorktown & 12 escorts are just recently on their way to South Pac.

SW Pac

I've been slowly reinforcing Port Moresby but on the 29th Netties from Rabaul sunk a small supply TF unloading there. A little over 7K supply there now so should last a little while - further resupply efforts will have to wait until I can provide fighter cover. Considering other priorities that's at best that's 2-3 weeks away.

Celebes Sea

I haven't said too much about the Japanese steamrolling Mindinao but they are certainly doing so. See the map.

I did just notice that there are potential high-value ships parked at Tarakan. What few B-17s I can muster are ordered to port attack next turn.

Malaya

No advance on Singapore yet. The IJA seems to be waiting until they can wipe out the stragglers they cut off further north in the peninsula.

Meanwhile Operation Bug Out III is proceeding unhindered.

Burma

This has largely been a quiet theater but not completely. We've had a few air battles over Rangoon & for now I've withdrawn my fighters so they can rest & replenish.

On 12/11 Japanese paratroopers took Victoria Point.

A small IJA armored unit just entered Moulmein. I don't want to give up Moulmein on the cheap so I haven't evac'd anything there yet, though I'm preparing my initial defensive line in the jungle hex just across the river.

Northeast China

This continues to be a busy theater. Hopefully the pic helps.

At Chengchow the IJA orders a bombardment attack, probably for reconnaissance purposes. Roughly 2K vs 1K AV for the bad guys. I'm retreating, but don't know if I can hold off attacks long enough to retreat orderly. Possible advantages for the brave Chinese: 1. Level 3 Forts. 2. I have guerrillas sitting on his major supply lines so hopefully his supply situation is tenuous.

Nanyang: the IJA took it easily after I abandoned it. 110 IJA AV. The Nanyang garrison just met up with reserves coming from Sian (@750 AV total) & we'll attempt to retake the base & hopefully destroy a few Japanese tanks in the process.

Ichang: Th IJA does try to shock attack me, but on the very day my reinforcements arrive. They are crushed. I could easily counter-attack with success but I want to wait until I can surround them. (@ 1 week.) I'd rather take the extra time to eliminate them rather than deal with weak IJA forces running over my rear areas for months.

South China

A Chinese attack against the aggressors at Kukong was successful. However that hasn't as of yet diverted IJA forces from their Wuchow offensive.

I'm reinforcing the roadblock east of Canton with another (strong) Chinese Corps. If I can break that roadblock perhaps I can pull troops away from Wuchow.

I also have 400+ AV in troops and 2 artillery units rushing to reinforce Wuchow. Due to poor infrastructure they are moving FAR slower than their Japanese counterparts.

To be honest I think chances are that I'm going to lose the race to Wuchow. However I don't consider the situation completely hopeless & I'd really rather not give up that 120 supply/day.

ORIGINAL: ctangus

December 7th 1941, Dutch East Indies

In the early morning hours two Dutch subs encounter suspicious Japanese shipping but as no hostilities are yet declared the Dutch take the high road and do not engage.

Shortly thereafter the fragile peace in the Pacific is shattered when a Japanese transport TF tried to ambush the CL Boise as she was peacefully sailing to Balikpapan. While shocked at this breach of peace the Boise acquited herself well.

CL Boise and her sisters should be classified CAs. They have considerably more armor than most CLs and two to three times the firepower. I adore that design. [&o]