Matrix Games Forums

December 10th is in....

Land
I've had issues with the incredible variability of the ground combat system in the past. This is what I'm talking about:

Ground combat at Hong Kong (77,61)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 19376 troops, 289 guns, 175 vehicles, Assault Value = 534

Defending force 8074 troops, 132 guns, 72 vehicles, Assault Value = 230

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese adjusted assault: 6

Allied adjusted defense: 933

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 155 (fort level 2)

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

Japanese ground losses:
69 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
67 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
66th Infantry Regiment
19th Ind Engineer Regiment
38th Division
20th Ind Engineer Regiment
2nd Mortar Battalion
2nd RF Gun Battalion
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
5th RF Gun Battalion
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion

Defending units:
Winnipeg Grenadiers Battalion
Rifles of Canada Battalion
1st Middlesex Battalion
Kowloon Brigade
102nd RN Base Force
Hong Kong Fortress

So, let me see if I have this correct. My odds are 1 to 155 against me, but I cause more losses and destroy/disable more squads than the defenders. Huh?

Singkawang and Kuching both fall.

I completely mess up my invasion fleets and land the 56th regiment of the 18th division in Kota Bharu instead of Mersing (that's going to be a story for another day). So they are reloading and will come down to Mersing quickly. The 4th division is 1 day away from landing. I'm hoping to take Mersing on the 12th.

Paratroops are ok, but not the best. These guys have high disruption and will need to wait a couple of days before resuming the attack.

Ground combat at Manado (75,99)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 1370 troops, 18 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 98

Defending force 2158 troops, 17 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 61

Japanese adjusted assault: 9

Allied adjusted defense: 19

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
30 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
156 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Subs
He's still searching for me around Pearl with no losses, so I'm pulling back a bit more. He sunk a couple of xAKs around Luzon. I got a few of his fleeing ships around Manlla and Java.

Surface
The cover force around Babeldaob is having a turkey shoot hitting numerous targets. However, US subs are surrounding Babeldaob (around 6). I just noticed that this mod provides a few 6 ASW destroyers! They are going sub hunting around Babeldaob.

Air
There's been absolutely no activity from Singapore. Not sure if he pulled everything out or not. We'll see this next turn as I have a few sweeps going. The Repulse and POW are NOT sunk. Amazingly they got hit by a few more bombs outside of Batavia. So we are back to Force Z again (sigh, Z- had such a nice ring to it). 3rd Air Div continues to pin down troops. Nells/Kates out of Babeldaob are continuing their turkey shoot.

Sitrep
The war isn't going as fast as I like. I placed my starting forces magically 2 turns away from Mersing instead of 1. I forgot about those darn slow moving transports in the fleets. This cost me 1 day which may be the difference between success or failure in terms of a quick Singapore campaign. Weather in the Malaya area has been terrible grounding flights and slowing my movement so the WITP gods obviously hate me. I landed one regiment of the 18th division in Khota Bharu. I landed fragements of an Engineering AF Btn in Patani and Singora that were meant for Palembang, which means not only do I need to fix THAT and the 56th regiment from the 18th division, but I wasted two magic fleets. The economy is pitiful. Vehicle points at 0, need to expand. I don't even have force Z- anymore. On the positive note, air losses are minimal. I'm taking out quite a bit of his valuable support/troop transports/tankers and I've had light shipping losses.

The Shokaku and mini-KB will stay in the northern tip of Java for 1 turn and then turn back to Cam Ranh for needed resupply and then off to Truk. The Akagi and Hiryu Groups are resupplying in Babeldaob and then down to support southern Java and then to Truk.

December 11th, 1941

Lieutenant Kurazowa enters the office of General Suzaki. Suzaki likes order. There are 25 empty Sake bottles perfectly aligned along file cabinets on the left side of the room. He's standing over the desk. Standing really isn't the right way to put it. He's weaving dangerously to the right and left. On the desk is a map of the Japanese Home Island and on the map are many little red ship markers. The general puts his hand down sharply on the desk to steady himself and promptly knocks over many of the markers.

"Look at this. Just look at this mess." The 's' at the end of 'this' continues for longer than it should. "The invathon fleeths are being slowwwwed up (he pauses for a second), by slowwwww thips that thould have not been used. I have troopths that can't be mmmmmoved. And two destroyars....dostrayers...(pauses for a second)...destroyers! (he says triumphantly)...stopped the whole Luzzzzonnnnn invasion. It's a mess." The general has another gulp of Sake.

“I’vvvve been informed (pauses and takes another gulp) that something about vehicle pints, parts….points! (triumphant again) are at 0. I’mmm getthing supply requestssss from aircrafth factories needed more ssssupply because the gammme engine won’t do ittt by itselfth. Why is thissss happening to me?”

Kurazowa was about to point up to the invisible deity again, but thought the better of it and shrugs.

“And you want to know the worsssst part (pauses again, swaying dangerously), they are converrrting the Sake manufacturing over to vehicles….VEHICLES!”

Kurazoma had only one thing he could say, “War is hell General.”

ORIGINAL: vicberg

The war isn't going as fast as I like.

[:D]

What?!! You like to go fast? [:'(]

You never noticed? Patience is not my virtue.

Remember: Even a journey of a thousand miles... okay, okay, it's a long stinkin' way! Might as well start out fast! [:D]

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a cash advance.

But I'm not getting paid for this.

High operational tempo is a very hard skill to master in the early war for Japan. Lots of notes do help. [;)]

I'm realizing that. My high operation temp is starting to feel like "Beat me daddy, 8 to the bar." That's a jazz song from a LONG time ago.

December 11th, 1941

Admiral Isoruku Yamamoto, Vice Minister of the Navy, is inspecting the base defenses in Yokohama.

“I feel I’ve done this before. I’ve died countless times, and though under many different AARs it’s always been me. I think this line will be from a movie in about 30 years from now about a great American General, but my vision is foggy on this.”

His jeep driver just nods and avoids the many pot holes in the road. He knows that asphalt production has shifted over to paper clips. Another metaphysical talk the driver thinks to himself. He never stops.

“We have woken the giant, again. And always with the same results. I warned them, did I not?”

The driver grunts in agreement.

“And yet, here I am again, in yet another AAR along with many others. Pull over, I’m seeing something else.”

The driver stifles a sigh.

“I’m seeing two words for our possible salvation. Something like…Cannon….and another word….Fodder. Wait. There’s more.” The Admiral goes silent for a while. “Stacking at the…no wait….stacking to the limits? What do you think that means?”

“I think it means we are hosed Admiral. At least you have a battleship named after you.” The driver resumes avoiding pot
holes and is glad he squirreled off some Sake.

December 11th, 1941

If anyone is readying this...anyone, Bueller, anyone, anyone, Bueller Bueller.

I'm seeing NO aircraft in or around Clark AND Singapore. Does he have the Political points to pull all of them out? I have no idea about his experience level and if he may (or may not) be confused.

Air
Not a lot to report. Bad weather again grounded many missions. Sweeps over Singapore meet with NO resistance. No naval air against me anywhere. All quiet on the cloud covered, rainly, thunderstorming front.

Force Z Indestructible (hereby upgraded to Z+)

Sub attack near Oosthaven at 47,97

Japanese Ships
SS I-155

Allied Ships
BC Repulse, Torpedo hits 3, heavy damage
DD Express

And another

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Oosthaven at 47,97

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 34 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 26
D3A1 Val x 29

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 17 damaged
D3A1 Val: 2 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
BC Repulse, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
BB Prince of Wales, Bomb hits 8, heavy damage

and another

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 21
D3A1 Val x 24

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 13 damaged
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales, Bomb hits 4, heavy damage
BC Repulse, Bomb hits 8, on fire, heavy damage
DD Express, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Will these things ever die? They are like the villain, who everyone thinks is dead and inevitably comes back for one more final scene

Subs
Still trying to find me without luck. He's being smart and sending out AKL and YO units (pretty much worthless) to chew up my torps around San Francisco. My subs bag a few more fleeing support ships.

Land
Palembang, Aparri both fall. I haven't mentioned much about China yet, but will soon. I've done the "350 destroyed squads" a month already in the first 5 days. Hoping to destroy more. I bought out two Sally Sentai from Manchuria as well as 4 tank regiments.

Mersing falls. Hopefully this might push forward Singapore a bit quicker as he rushed Australians into Mersing. The weather has been awful, so troop movement has been slow. He'll probably get everything into Singapore before I can do much about it.

Ground combat at Mersing (51,82)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 15221 troops, 175 guns, 185 vehicles, Assault Value = 830

Defending force 6165 troops, 99 guns, 15 vehicles, Assault Value = 144

Japanese adjusted assault: 516

Allied adjusted defense: 49

Japanese assault odds: 10 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Mersing !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), op mode(-) he was caught moving into the hex, preparation(-), fatigue(-)
morale(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
399 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 26 disabled
Vehicles lost 3 (2 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
2495 casualties reported
Squads: 49 destroyed, 72 disabled
Non Combat: 80 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 16 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 42 (36 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Vehicles lost 15 (15 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 4

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
23rd Ind Engineer Regiment
12th Engineer Regiment
15th Ind Engineer Regiment
22nd Recon Regiment
1st Tank Regiment
114th Infantry Regiment
55th Infantry Regiment
4th Ind Engineer Regiment
4th Div /2
53rd Const Co
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
18th Mountain Gun Regiment
302nd Ship Eng Coy
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
34th Field AA Battalion
202nd Ship Eng Coy
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
25th Army
84th JAAF AF Bn

Defending units:
22nd Australian Brigade
27th Australian Brigade
30 Battery/3 HAA
113th RAF Adv Base Force

In one game, I didn't have my Luzon bases air attacked on turn one. He went after the port of Manila. Thus, I used my PP to buy them all out. They are now in hiding training pilots. I've done a few hit and run (CAP traps) so far, but it will take some time to get them trained up. For the Americans, you have plenty of Army fighter pilots. However, you have limited airframes. So, I tend to wait until my pilots have better skill and experience levels.

In one game, I sunk Yamato with only 1000 lb bomb hits. It did take over 20 of them to do so. So, your efforts against Force Z may need more big holes in the their side to let in sea water. [:D]

Nice writing style!

Singapore units can either get transferred out to other airbases in range or he could simple withdraw them. If he goes for the withdraw option he will loose damaged frames for life and the units for a while (60 days)

Clark fighters are usually withdrawn at some point (right after they become ineffective). The bombers could also be withdrawn to keep the frames or bought out and transferred. What you see happening does not cost any political points...

December 15th, 1941.

In the center of Tokyo, Minister of the Navy Yamamoto is having a meeting with his general staff. Both Army and Navy are present for this. Even General Hideki Tojo is on hand. Hideki's eyes are crossed. Sometimes one eye goes another direction from the other. His hair is sticking straight out to the right and left. His right hand is twitching uncontrollably.

“Minister of Air, how’s the air battle going?”

“There hasn’t been an air battle in days”

“Minister of Navy, what’s happening there”

“Nothing”

“Subs?”

“Sinking a few fleeing ships from Manila, Java and Hong Kong, but otherwise nothing”

“Land?” Yamamoto is starting to disbelieve his ministers.

“Nothing. Light resistance at the beaches but otherwise allies are in full retreat. I believe that there are no allies, no US and no CW and you made a phantom DOW in order to have the Navy gain power, “ Admiral Tojo blurts out, one eye going to the right of the other. The other ministers just roll their eyes and pretend it was never said.

“What are we doing?” The Vice Minister of Navy feels another vision coming on, but decides to not say anything.

“Preventing Carpal Tunnel Sir”

December 17th, 1941

Sitrep Malaya

Here's the situation in Malaya. Light resistance. No air battles here as the Allied Air Force disappeared from Singapore. The Japanese were able to cut rail lines in Singapore in time to stop 2 more units from making it into the city.

I was given two gifts around Mersing. The first gift was an Australian Brigade that attempted to reinforce Mersing. It was caught moving into the hex and forced to retreat. The second gift was Kluong. More units there were stopped during rail movement and forced to retreat with losses. Third gift was in Johore Bahru. This caught 2 OZ Brigades. plus others, and took heavy losses. which should make Singapore easier. The 56th division is in route, but I might go into Singapore with 2 Divisions and not wait for the 56th or 5th. I know, I said two gifts. I lied.

Ground combat at Johore Bahru (50,83)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 23743 troops, 241 guns, 188 vehicles, Assault Value = 838

Defending force 6356 troops, 88 guns, 83 vehicles, Assault Value = 53

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 555

Allied adjusted defense: 55

Japanese assault odds: 10 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Johore Bahru !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), preparation(-), fatigue(-)
morale(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
329 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled

Allied ground losses:
3575 casualties reported
Squads: 57 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 333 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 8 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 34 (26 destroyed, 8 disabled)
Vehicles lost 100 (100 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 4
Units destroyed 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
4th Division
15th Ind Engineer Regiment
22nd Recon Regiment
4th Ind Engineer Regiment
12th Engineer Regiment
55th Infantry Regiment
1st Tank Regiment
23rd Ind Engineer Regiment
124th Infantry Regiment
18th Mountain Gun Regiment
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
25th Army
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
34th Field AA Battalion

Defending units:
22nd Australian Brigade
27th Australian Brigade
III Indian Corps
1st HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
111th RAF Adv Base Force

December 18th, 1941

Sitrep Java

Bandasan is being renamed to the Bad-asan SNLF. They don't have the juice to dislodge the Dutch. So the 90th has to come in and save the day. More divisions in route.

All 6 carriers and 3 CVL are in route to Truk now for SoPac/CenPac operations. Other than minefields, losses have been light and I've been able to pick off some of the fleeing Dutch ships.

December 18th, 1941

Sitrep Luzon

March march march. Looks like bulk of defenses are in Manila. I'm hoping so as I can combined on Clark, split his forces and then take Manila.

No air battles here at all. Nates, Sonias, Idas are getting pilot live fire training exercises.

December 18th, 1941

Sitrep Celebes

Multiple lands. Paras will rest, build up airfield and then drop on Balikpan.

1st Kure landed in Davao and will move to conquer the island.

December 19th, 1941

Private Emura, assigned to the 114th Regiment, is ready to die. “Sacrifice, Honor, Death” is what he says out loud as he marches.

The regiment is deploying for an attack on Malacca. He fixes his bayonet. The village is close. This will be a glorious charge to death.

“BANZAI”

Emura screams at the top of his lungs as he races towards the village, “SACRIFICE, HONOR, DEATH.”

He’s soon left all of his fellow soldiers. He’s outrun them. There’s no enemy in sight. Simply an empty road moving to the north and the village behind him. He knows the enemy is here. He continues running, “SACRIFCE, HONOR, DEATH.”

5 Days later…

A single Japanese soldier is walking north up a deserted road. His clothes are worn and dirty. The butt of his rifle is dragging on the pavement. Every step seems to be difficult. He’s muttering to himself, “SACRIFICE, HONOR, DEATH,” but it’s coming out as a bare rasp. He knows the enemy is here, but he’s seen no one. He must continue.

A vehicle is heard in the distance over a rise in the road. It’s approaching him. It must be the enemy. A look of determination comes over his face. With his last energy, he braces himself for a single final charge.

Lt. Uruzi is a forward observer assigned to the 22nd Recon Regiment of the 5th Division. His jeep has been slowed to a crawl due to the torrential downpours. It’s clear now, so he tells his driver to speed up. The 5th division just brushed aside the Allies retreating from Georgetown. He's seen no one else on the road, not even refugees. Word must have spread that the road to Singapore has been cut.

As the jeep approaches a rise, a soldier suddenly appears over the rise charging with bayonet. The driver hits the brakes, but it was too fast and the ground too wet. The soldier flies backward as if hitting a wall. His rifle breaks on the jeep, going two different directions.

Stunned, Lt. Uruzi gets out of the jeep and runs to the soldier. The solider lying on the ground is Japanese, but there’s nothing that can be done. He died on impact.

Standing there, unable to move, Lt. Uruzi’s mind is full of questions. Why was he here? Why did he charge us? Why does he have a smile on his face?

Can anyone explain the difference between these guns, especially mid to late war vs. bombers?

I'm reviewing my R&D strategy and comparing planes. Many 43/44 fighters have these 37mm, 40mm, 57mm cannons, but their very very inaccurate vs. the 20mm cannons which though less penetration have greater chance to hit and are more common with fighters until 45. How worth it are these devices?

Singapore - no need to rush in there since he cannot get anything else there. If you go in with just two divisions, the combat results will not be in your favor. Wait until you have four. For now, just bomb the AF so he cannot build forts.