Rumble in the Southwest witpqs-A vs Andav-J 2011-11-29 to 2017-02-08

[witpqs]

A little of both. They are pestering the area but so far no important ships or cargo have fallen victim. I'm not sure that any near Sydney have been sunk although there have been some minor hits on them in the area.

Overall the Intel Monkeys think we've bagged a few, but that's through FOW. ASW is not so good right now. Most USN destroyers have upgraded ASW. The DDs with Enterprise and Yorktown have yet to upgrade. Worse is the meager experience rating of pretty much all the USN DDs. Most other ships, even with decent ASW ratings, have even worse experience of course. Only the RN, etc. DDs have better ratings with good ASW, and they aren't facing any sub opposition at the moment. Escorts for the USN really are scarce still. Using APDs and Canadian escorts to keep the tankers moving.

[BBfanboy]

Well, using Canadian escorts to convoy tankers is historical - my Dad was a corvette sailor and convoyed US ships on the East Coast. Seems Ernie King didn't think subs were a problem .... not that he had much to throw at them anyway!

[witpqs]

Denial is more than just a river in Egypt.

[BBfanboy]

The way I heard it, he might have dealt with them but the British offered to "help" the USN with ASW training/intel. Ernie King detested the British and would do ANYTHING other than what they suggested. So, to make the British go away he ignored them, and the sub problem, for at least six months.

OTOH, I haven't heard of any [RL] great Japanese sub problems on the West Coast [the movie 1942 notwithstanding] so sending all he had to the Pacific may have suppressed the subs there a bit - but I think it had to do more with the IJN policy of using them as scouts/warship hunters rather than commerce raiders.

[witpqs]

I've read pretty much the same thing. Ol' King was extremely competent and certainly made a big positive contribution, but even he serves as a reminder that all of us have flaws!

[BBfanboy]

I think I know what you mean - I thought I was wrong once, but I was mistaken ...[;)]

[witpqs]

1942 May 14

The Empire captured:
Daly Waters

The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


KV Hollyhock lost to a sub it was hunting near Colombo. Force Z is on the way to Cape Town for POW to upgrade and other ships to reassign, etc. as needed. Bombing all over China and Burma. The boys at Shwebo continue to run north hoping to stay ahead of the Imperial horde. The same for those making for Lashio. In China, it will take the troops at Ichang a few days to cross the river and test the advanced troops of the Empire. The large convoy is at Sydney and will begin unloading tonight. The other two convoys are proceeding without incident. No sign of the KB, but there are persistent heavy radio contacts at Kwajalein.

Here is an overview map.

[witpqs]

1942 May 15

The Empire captured:
Darwin

The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


The large convoy is well into unloading at Sydney. There are battleships and cruisers near Burma, and one TF at the doorstep to the Bay of Bengal that is unidentified. Still nothing on KB.

[witpqs]

1942 May 16

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


A turn dominated by logistics. The boys in Burma continue to run like hell, but the Imperial horde coming from Mandalay might catch and punish some troops before they can leave Shwebo. Keep your fingers crossed. The infiltration tactics in China continue. Perhaps I can hold the line, perhaps not. Either way, I judge this to be the best way for the Empire to proceed. Tip of the hat to Devious Admiral Wa. No sign of KB.

The convoy at Sydney finished unloading all the troops and equipment. Now various units are boarding trains for deployment to Alice Springs and points east of there to stop the invasion before anything beyond Tennant Creek falls. Tennant Creek itself has an uncertain fate. It might hold. As Alice Springs airfield went to size 2 yesterday, Hudsons and B-26s attacked the 48th Recon Regiment which has been harrying the retreating A/B Battery Heavy Coastal Artillery Regiment late of Darwin.

Here is a look at that situation in China.

[witpqs]

1942 May 17

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


Mostly movement today. Three Allied units running for Lashio have been caught by two Imperial units, unknown strength. One Bn made Lashio and is digging in. The British base force from Lashio is marching as fast as possible for Paoshan to help build fortifications there. With the weight of troops approaching, Lashio can not hold. An air raid against Akyab went well enough. Although only minor damage was done to the base there were two or three Imperial fighters shot down.

The Australian 9th Division and three artillery units are on the road to Cox's Bazar, tasked with eradicating that Imperial ingrown toenail in India. 70th British Division is moving by rail to Chittagong to form a stout anchor should the Empire try to out flank the Australians by sea.

Here is a look at our efforts to notice any attempts to penetrate the sea lanes near Australia.

[witpqs]

1942 May 18

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


We had a communications loss and resulting delay. Back in the saddle!

In Burma an Imperial attack aimed at slowing down the Allies withdrawal for pursuing forces to catch up was rebuffed.

Ground combat at 61,46 (near Lashio)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 7764 troops, 52 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 254

Defending force 4200 troops, 18 guns, 48 vehicles, Assault Value = 160

Japanese adjusted assault: 137

Allied adjusted defense: 622

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 4

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

Japanese ground losses:
847 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 50 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
168 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Assaulting units:
1st Formosa Inf. Regiment
47th Infantry Regiment

In China, the Allied forces withdrawing from Ichang crossed the river and smashed the Imperial blocking forces. A large number of Chinese squads were disabled, but the two Japanese regiments suffered far worse. Although some (hopefully one more still adjacent to Changteh) Imperial units have been beat up in this operation it will achieve its likely objective: the seizure of Ichang. With Ichang in enemy hands the danger to the entire Changsha area increases, and a possibility of a direct assault on the Chungking area appears.

Ground combat at 82,49 (near Ichang)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 68470 troops, 299 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1946

Defending force 8811 troops, 66 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 279

Allied adjusted assault: 830

Japanese adjusted defense: 126

Allied assault odds: 6 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
3338 casualties reported
Squads: 194 destroyed, 34 disabled
Non Combat: 61 destroyed, 70 disabled
Engineers: 11 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 39 (28 destroyed, 11 disabled)
Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Units retreated 2

Allied ground losses:
2546 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 226 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 23 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 8 (2 destroyed, 6 disabled)

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
75th Chinese Corps
68th Chinese Corps
8th Chinese Corps
58th Chinese Corps
2nd Chinese Corps
94th Chinese Corps

Defending units:
13th/B Division
13th/C Division

In Australia the 48th Recon Regiment has again caught up to and attacked the A/B Battery Heavy Coastal Artillery Regiment (ex-Darwin).

Ground combat at 76,135 (near Tennant Creek)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 830 troops, 4 guns, 41 vehicles, Assault Value = 30

Defending force 180 troops, 5 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 30

Allied adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 30 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: op mode(-), leaders(+)
Attacker: leaders(+)

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

Assaulting units:
48th Recon Regiment

Defending units:
A/B Battery Heavy Coastal Artillery Regiment

The battery might make it out of the hex tomorrow. Either way, in the next hex there will be Australian armor waiting to protect them. Farther back along the desert road, the 19th Australian Bn has been caught by a unit of unknown strength.

No sign of the KB. Here's a look at Australian chase scene.

[witpqs]

1942 May 19

The Empire captured:
Shwebo

The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


Shwebo was just vacated as the Empire's troops moved in. The retreat to the northern jungle in Burma continues. In China the Allied forces crossed the river from Changteh and cleared the road for the forces out of Ichang. While the IJA suffered more squads destroyed, the Chinese Army did suffer number of disabled squads, which was to be expected crossing a river into good defensive terrain.

Ground combat at 81,49 (near Changteh)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 24819 troops, 124 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 893

Defending force 4540 troops, 36 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 144

Allied adjusted assault: 491

Japanese adjusted defense: 111

Allied assault odds: 4 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
1825 casualties reported
Squads: 37 destroyed, 34 disabled
Non Combat: 27 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 10 (4 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Units retreated 1

Allied ground losses:
1562 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 200 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
99th Chinese Corps
12th Chinese Corps
5th Chinese Cavalry Corps
20th Group Army

Defending units:
13th/A Division

Over in Australia the superior experience of the invaders was telling in a small engagement.

Ground combat at 76,133 (near Daly Waters)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 920 troops, 4 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 38

Defending force 843 troops, 4 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 31

Japanese adjusted assault: 17

Allied adjusted defense: 12

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: leaders(-)
Attacker: leaders(-)

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

Allied ground losses:
70 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
2nd Recon Regiment

Defending units:
19th Australian Battalion

Armored units will try to keep this rear-guard Bn from being cut off as is now threatened.

No sign of the KB, but there is an unspecified radio source in the hex selected.

[BBfanboy]

KB right off the west coast - that would be a bold move! More likely a sub, but you can never take chances in this game. Will be very interesting if it is KB.

[witpqs]

Right! Precautions were taken... just because. [:)]

[witpqs]

1942 May 20

The Empire captured:
Bhamo

The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


The Japanese shock-attacked across the river into Ichang, and the unit left behind to make certain that fortifications get burned down managed to hold. But they sure got the worst of it.

Ground combat at Ichang (83,48)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 4038 troops, 12 guns, 142 vehicles, Assault Value = 464

Defending force 5201 troops, 43 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 97

Japanese adjusted assault: 261

Allied adjusted defense: 127

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 4)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2

Combat modifiers
Defender: forts(+), leaders(+)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
17 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Vehicles lost 11 (2 destroyed, 9 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
652 casualties reported
Squads: 9 destroyed, 75 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled

Assaulting units:
58th Infantry Brigade
15th Tank Regiment
52nd Infantry Brigade
13th Tank Regiment
13th RGC Temp. Division

Defending units:
67th Chinese Corps

Imperial troops continue to snipe at retreating forces. In Burma tanks made a long-odds assault but got away free while disabling 6 Allied squads. In Australia the damage was more severe.

Ground combat at 76,133 (near Daly Waters)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 911 troops, 4 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 37

Defending force 776 troops, 4 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 21

Japanese adjusted assault: 33

Allied adjusted defense: 2

Japanese assault odds: 16 to 1

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

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

Allied ground losses:
184 casualties reported
Squads: 11 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
2nd Recon Regiment

Defending units:
19th Australian Battalion

But the nasty of the day was back in Burma when Bhamo was seized by - the infamous 2nd Raiding Rgt!!!

No sign of the KB. Many additional Imperial units bearing down on the Liuchow area. Presumably many of those have been shipped in.

[princep01]

A dark hour for the Allies on all fronts. Howsever, the enemy may yet become the unltimate victim of victory disease.

[witpqs]

Darn right! Part of a communique to Imperial HQ sent through diplomatic channels this very morning:

"Of course it's all a clever trap anyway. Those Imperial forces around Ichang are doomed! [:'(]"

Walter aka Admiral Wa aka Devious Admiral Wa aka Matrix forum user Andav has confirmed that he is no longer maintaining his AAR. I told him that I would mention that he might fire it up from time to time to comment on some major action. So if you want to read both sides, you still might consider restraining your comments here in case he does that.

In China I figure I can hold the northern flank of the Changsha area and against a direct assault on the Chungking area. The Liuchow area is a different kettle of fish. I figure it's vulnerable like Ichang. I might be able to hold really depending on how much combat power he has shipped in to join the party. I can hold the line toward Tuyun, and most likely Kweilin, but that latter again depends on what he brings in.

The flip side of that is the more he has shipped in to China, the less there is elsewhere. I've already got two American divisions plus some bonus armor in India courtesy of DAW's successful disinformation campaign. Australia looks to be safe. There is just no sign of him attacking down either coast, a land foray from the conquered (map) western area excepted. His seizure of Bhamo in Burma might force those Allied units falling back on Lashio to ultimately retreat to Paoshan in China as they have nowhere else to go. A drain on supplies but a boost in combat power along the China-Burma frontier.

So I have begun an offensive through the Arakan with the Australians. I will add the Americans and other appropriate units as India builds its defensive combat power so that a simple end-around would not bring disaster to our forces. The goal is to shatter Imperial defenses in Burma before they can build to the more formidable levels of later 1942 and 1943, and thereby provide relief to China. Now I have to consider sending some USA engineering units to India to support the USA divisions by building the all-important infrastructure for supply passage to Burma. Have to look at that next turn. I already have several 4EB units bought and on the way to Cape Town for trans-shipment to India. Call it a month before they make Cape Town, then the batter part of a month before they are fully operational in India. When they do join combat their numbers should worry DAW.

I have yet to suss out my Pacific strategy, but I am considering some early advances into the southern-most conquered areas to keep the front active (and requiring attention). An early move on the Gilberts as well. So far I have not detected any build-up there.

[princep01]

Discretion is my miiddle bname in AARs. No worry. Walter is a good friend from Advanced Squad Leader and previous WitP gaming. However, there is no way I would intentionally give either of you any advantage by a comment in the AAR or elsewhere. It is a gentleman's game after all.

I am playing one that is about 1 game month behind your game. It is so different. The Japanese player is much less aggressive than Walter has demonstrated in this game. While my opponent is still very capable of offensive surprises, I think he is bent on a defensive strategy akin to that planned by the real Japanese in WW2. As of April 19, he has only a small toe hold on the far eastern tip of Java, I still hold Palembang, Clark Field/Batann and have actually launched a limited offensive in Burma where I hold Rangoon and the trail. China has received a huge load of supply via the Rangoon supply pull pipeline and as a result, they have stalemated the IJA for quite sometime. The IJ stopped at Tulagi/Guadacanal, but might still stab at New Caldonia or Espiritu Santo. Both are strongly defended, so it will not be a cakewalk if he does. We have traded recent punches at Ndeni in the Reef Islands, but I hold the base and am expanding it (from scratch).

Back to your game; your above comments reveal a strategy that is akin to that I typically employee. As I recall, your CV force is intact. I would expect you to began a significant offensive in one of several places in the late summer.

Keep up the great AAR. I have enjoyed the read.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: princep01

Discretion is my miiddle bname in AARs. No worry. Walter is a good friend from Advanced Squad Leader and previous WitP gaming. However, there is no way I would intentionally give either of you any advantage by a comment in the AAR or elsewhere. It is a gentleman's game after all.

Oh that wasn't for you! That was just a general note for people to update them on the status of Walter's AAR since he and I exchanged notes about it this morning. I remember a couple of people mentioning long ago that they were reading both sides, so I thought I should pass along the info.

Keep up the great AAR. I have enjoyed the read.

Thanks! [:)]

[witpqs]

1942 May 21

The Empire captured:
Ichang

The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


The rear-guard was punished as expected at Ichang.

Ground combat at Ichang (83,48)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 11449 troops, 65 guns, 141 vehicles, Assault Value = 1350

Defending force 4657 troops, 43 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 36

Japanese adjusted assault: 322

Allied adjusted defense: 20

Japanese assault odds: 16 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Ichang !!!

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

Allied ground losses:
1838 casualties reported
Squads: 78 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 40 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 12 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 5 (5 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
58th Infantry Regiment
58th Infantry Brigade
15th Tank Regiment
51st Infantry Brigade
52nd Infantry Brigade
27th Division
3rd Infantry Regiment
13th Tank Regiment
13th RGC Temp. Division
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
67th Chinese Corps

The story was better near Lashio where a single brigade gave a good account of itself.

Ground combat at 61,46 (near Lashio)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 11798 troops, 78 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 400

Defending force 2989 troops, 6 guns, 44 vehicles, Assault Value = 102

Japanese adjusted assault: 224

Allied adjusted defense: 226

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
719 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 66 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
245 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 27 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled

Assaulting units:
1st Tank Regiment
47th Infantry Regiment
1st Formosa Inf. Regiment
16th Infantry Regiment
25th Army

Defending units:
45th Indian Brigade

CVE Long Island made San Diego today. She's forming up with escorts for the trip to Hawaii. No sign of KB

Here is a look at the retreats in Burma and the attack going into Cox's Bazar.