WitP mod v903 Ngineer(Japan) vs. Feinder(Allies)

[Feinder]

Japanese attacked across the Thanlyin River, west of Rangoon, but were repulsed. Indian-Div taking no casualties.

I wanted to see what and where he has coming into Burma, so I sent my Indian Med-Bombers looking for him. Their target actually ended up being inhabited by Japanese fighters and there was a second squadron of IJA fighters nearby on intercept. The long and short of it is, I did damage his fighters, but my own fighter escorts were pretty badly mauled and my Med-Bombers were completely destroyed. So a bit too high a price to pay for intel.

I've backed off my Indian Fighters. The RAF fighters are on intercept, so we'll see how well they fair. I'd like to keep an air presence in Burma, but we'll see if it becomes to costly.

I've moved the Burmese-Div into the north/central, and landed an Indian-Corps at Rangoon. I don't want him to be able to move around Rangoon, and will make my line-of-defense as indicated. The town where I parked my Burma-Div has max entrench 3, vs. max entrench 2 in the settlement to southeast.

I'm not going to denude India, because he would happily invade the back field if I let him. I'm finishing calling up reservists to fill out the Indian units, and will then start prepping a secondary line of defense.

[Feinder]

China... Well, we saw his focus on the south coming. He beat the crap out of Henchow (captured), and also pushed me back in the NW corner, and up from the south. It's tough to watch a slow moving train-wreck.

I can't let him cut off all those divisions, and then systematically destroy them. So I'm going to try to get what folks out that I can, and then reform the line along the river where that AAA unit is currently. It's still going to cost me four, probably five divisions and that HQ, which is really going to suck (esp sense it was no surprise, seeing it develop from the get-go. Anyway, it is what it is.

He shored up his line in the Center, and my units there took some replacements to fill out their numbers.

The Comm Chinese continued to push that single IJA-Div, but results were inconclusive. Might need to rest the Comm-Chi there.

[Feinder]

Singapore continues to hold.
And the Coastal Gun has always had something to shoot at, so yay.
I also attacked his HQ unit there, and did a strength-point of damage to it, which will at least annoy him.
His BCs have actually sustained a fair amount of damage bombarding (like down to 4 strength points or so.
My US sub was looking to transit south past Java (hopefully), and encountered one of his BCs. Took shot(s) but BC retreated. At least it was amusing.
You can also see the invasion TF off Borneo now. They're fully equipped, so we'll see how well/long they can hold.

[Feinder]

No production screen (ref comments above). I don't really expect anything to have changed from previous turn tho.
Losses so far. It's going to hurt if I can't get most of those Chinese Divisions out of that pocket.

[Feinder]

My own experience in previous PBEM games is how critical morale is. So I put 3 chits into USA air/cv morale research this turn.

[Elessar2]

My own experience in previous PBEM games is how critical morale is. So I put 3 chits into USA air/cv morale research this turn.

Good idea, because even with the NM edits I mentioned earlier the IJN will still have an edge there mid-war.

Hmm, if he pushes north from the South China coast Chiang should be getting some militia spawns-the rationale for that was that putting all of those troops out there on the map at-start allowed China to go on the offensive pretty early and effectively. Let me know if you got any, or not...

Note also that China can't get any tanks or mechs (which helped them in a previous run-through we did) until they get two levels of Army Mobilization.

Good news is that partisan spawns are everywhere (something the Allied player can't see), so he'll need lots of garrisons down there even if he takes it all.

[Feinder]

He pushed on my Indian-Div north or Rangoon, it took some SPs damage and retreated. I conscripted locals for replacements, and topped off the Corps in Rangoon. He also made some fighter sweeps into Central Burma, I'm sure spoiling for a fight. RAF fighters traded even with him, but I've pulled them back to India for now, for replacements.

He traversed several capital ships thru the straight between Singapore and Sumatra (no CVs were spotted though). I'm sure he'll be interested to spoil for a fight with Royal Navy. Except that...

The Royal Navy is just around the horn of India, awaiting rest of Royal Navy (next turn or so). I'm actually considering sending the whole lot of them them along the edge of the map to Australia to meet up with the USN. I don't see how one RN-CV and escorts is really going to do much against whatever he dictates into Bay of Bengal. So in the interest of NOT going on his terms, I'm thinking of shifting RN to Oz. That would give me some parity in CVs when the USN gets to Oz. Anyway, for now, keeping a group of CVs that represents a credible(?) hammer seems like a better idea than onesey-twosey spread around, only to be splatted in detail. At least that's what I'm thinking at the moment. Leaves India vulnerable to amphib invasion. But that's where my head is at. Let's see what develops.

[Feinder]

Singapore repulsed another attack; so he came back and bombarded the heck out of it. On the plus side, it did several SP damages to several capital ships, when the Inf-Div there finally was destroyed. The coastal guns have also expended the last of their ammunition, and pasted the CA in the screen cap for another 3-damage. Singapore declared an open city, and Malaya will surrender next turn. I didn't sink anything, but he's not got quite a few damaged ships that will cost him to repair.

I do think he was a little surprised that I had shifted the Garrison in Borneo (no sense making it easy for him). He showed up with amphibs and decided against landing (esp since that nearby town is not available to him PHHHTTTT). So he decided to land alternate to the West. On the plus-side, I think he'll either have to bring some bigger guns to land against my two garrisons, or he'll have to bring an HQ to that town for supply, and then march his Inv-Div all the way to Balikpapan. Either option sounds expensive, so we'll see.

Oh, and a Partisan popped up in S Philippines. He moved up a Mech-Div against it, but again, yay for tying up some of his guys.

[Feinder]

In N China, he ganged up on a Comm-Chi-Div, so I pulled it back for replacements.

Same against my Arm-Div. Again, back for replacements.

[Feinder]

China South...

First screen cap is end-of-replay/begin my turn.
Attacks of (favorable) opportunity for him along the center, and went hunting for my HQ with his bombers. Crap, I forgot to move up Flying Tigers for CAP the area. Oh, well, next turn.

Again, he's trying to pinch of the pocket in the South (before pic).
I did manage to get several shifted to west (albeit damaged). I left some remnants that weren't going to make it out, in the last cities. If/Once he kills them, at least they'll be cheaper re-builds.

Second screen cap is China after my retreat.

Ellissar - You asked about the two militia spawns -> yes, they did spawn (somewhat to the west), and will help to (re)establish a line.

[Feinder]

Central Pacific was relatively quiet.

His CVs didn't show up. So he's re-positioning them.

I did get two blips on IJN Subs, I'll send some DDs to run them off. Moved my Strat-Bmbrs to Pearl, will act as patrols for now.

One comment of note Ellisar - It looks like the Drydock (as Major Port), in Pearl cannot fully repair ships. I would have expected that it could? Or is that by design? See screen cap of submarine who cannot be repaired from 9 to 10.

[Feinder]

Bought a Fleet-CV (Intrepid), so I'll see her sometime in 1943. No new research.

Screen caps of Research, Losses, and Production.

[Elessar2]

The Royal Navy is just around the horn of India, awaiting rest of Royal Navy (next turn or so). I'm actually considering sending the whole lot of them them along the edge of the map to Australia to meet up with the USN. I don't see how one RN-CV and escorts is really going to do much against whatever he dictates into Bay of Bengal. So in the interest of NOT going on his terms, I'm thinking of shifting RN to Oz. That would give me some parity in CVs when the USN gets to Oz. Anyway, for now, keeping a group of CVs that represents a credible(?) hammer seems like a better idea than onesey-twosey spread around, only to be splatted in detail. At least that's what I'm thinking at the moment. Leaves India vulnerable to amphib invasion. But that's where my head is at. Let's see what develops.

India could indeed be vulnerable. But I brought out the RN early, thinking I'd just be dealing with some cruisers, maybe a CVL or two, and the transports they would be escorting. OCB however ambushed me with Kido Butai, and that was the end of the Royal Navy in the Pacific. You are wise to group them together because as you intimated you have no idea where his gleaming samurai sword will be lurking.

Tradeoffs. Yeah, one of the changes I had planned was to make Oahu a primary supply source. Again the game engine doesn't differentiate between repairing a full capital ship, and some subs. But typically full repairs for the big ships were only done on the West Coast; Pearl only had that one dry dock, where they couldn't typically have one ship in the thing for months on end blocking other more minor repairs for other units. I likely will implement something I had planned for Euro 20K, which is variable repair percentages. In both mods a single carrier/battleship/battlecruiser counter does equal one ship, but cruiser counters = 2 actual cruisers, and DD's/SS's = 6-10 individual boats. So for the first group I had planned to give them 30% repair costs, cruisers 50%, and for the small ships 70%, because there strength losses may indeed represent sunk vessels. In the end tho this means that a single strength point would cost about the same for all vessels.

Strategy: I like how you have no Lend-Lease going on at all right now. I cranked it to full in my run-throughs because the Commonwealth needs as much income as it can get at this stage of the war, but the US needs to get its fleet up to size ASAP too. Tough choice.

You haven't detailed your fleet builds much, tho I see the CV you bought there. What is your CV schedule? Iowas? Maybe even Montanas?

[Feinder]

February 26th, 1942

Burma

He continues to move up Inf units in Burma. Continues attacks just east of Rangoon. Indian Inf-Div holding for now. He started moving around me faster than I thought he could, so I shifted the Burmese Inf-Div and Indian Arm-Div to block for now. I figure he'll continue to push into the interior, until he gets to Mandalay where there's a fully entrenched Chinese Inf-Div.

Had to pull back my fighters deeper into India. They got pounded again, and need rest/replace. I can't afford to just feed him weakened units. Also starting to establish line at India/Burma border. He will certainly bomb the Oil in India, along with Dacca (it's also worth 10mpp), so I put the AAA there, until I can get my Fighters re-filled-out.

Royal Navy is skirting the west edge of the map, on it's way to Oz.

[Feinder]

February 26th, 1942

China North

He continues to be very agressive in China. Is even pounding on the Comm-Chinese fairly successfully. He's move up a bunch of LBA, medium and tactical bombers. I've moved the Flying Tigers into theater, but they'll be too far away to intercept if he flies missions to Comm-China.

[Feinder]

February 26th, 1942

China South

He killed 3 more Chinese Inf-Divs trying to escape the pocket. Will lose the that mortally wounded (2-step) one on the edge and the one in the port city in the south. Ugh. The rest of the line is more or less formed up, behind rivers etc. And hopefully having to squat on Partisans will tie up more of his troops.

[Feinder]

February 26th, 1942

D.E.I.

Singapore surrenders.

Landing north of Balikpapan in Borneo. Garrison holds for now. Prob not next turn tho.

USN Sub stopped at channel between Sumatra and Java.

Partisan skirmish in Philippines.

I parked the RN Sub in straight between Malaya and Sumatra.

[Feinder]

February 26th, 1942

Coral Sea

Intel spotted an IJN CV northeast of the Solomons. With his sub off New Guinea, he definitely scouting the place and with nefarious intent.

I operated a USAAC Med-Bmbr onto one of the islands Solomons. Tried to pick an innocuous one that would/should NOT be his first choice to invade, but should give me decent spotting next turn. Also parked a USN Sub near prospective landing site at Guadalcanal.

My CVs have not been able to mass yet. Attaching StratMap also. One CV at Oz, and two CVs with Oz-fleet SE of Noumea. RN CV is on west map-edge. And fourth USN CV is still far to the East. I frankly, I expect him to have at least 4x CVs. That's just my gut. I'm not really keen on 3v4, I'm still a bit to the south (intentional obviously). I think I'm a bit far for him, and I'm not inclined to charge in. Dunno. We'll see what that MedBmbr turns up next turn.

[Feinder]

February 26th, 1942

Admin Stuff

Bought another Fleet-CV (Tico), arrives April 1943. No new research.

Screen caps of Research, Losses, and Production.

[Elessar2]

What spreadsheet are you using for tech? Do you input the data manually?

I was going to mention earlier, definitely will now-don't skimp on the 3 mobilization techs. You'll eventually hit a build wall and not be able to buy any more historical builds, esp. in terms of ships, and you need to absolutely flood him with US fleet units to win. Overall I notice that, overall, you haven't gone all-in with tech much yet, esp. for the UK which apparently has none.

You should be pleased to have him go all-in on China, esp. tackling Mao which especially surprises me since the terrain up there and his high leadership rating can make for a tough nut to crack. All those garrisons in China will mean fewer on Pacific islands, and fewer IJN fleet builds. IF China can hold together from this point onwards of course...