Matrix Games Forums

Manila!

Thanks to your help and Michael and others, I'm getting a feel for ground combat. Air combat is still kicking my a$$. Not sure what to do with Oscars. They just aren't very good planes.

You are the point in early to mid 42 where the shortcomings of the Oscars show up. The Allies get better planes with the Hurricanes and their pilots have had time to do some training. Many Japanese player put even more pressure on their Zero groups until the Tojos come out to rule the skies for the rest of 42.

That's exactly what I'm doing. I'm pushing 3 zero sentai over to Burma. Probably more if I can scrape them up. I have about 9 AA (company up to battalion) on the oil fields, but they seem pretty ineffective.

Oscars do feel like pretty bad planes.

April 12th, 1942

Northern China

From what I read, China is difficult for any Allied player. I'm not really sure what's he's trying to accomplish. The armored thrust pushed back the defenders from Tienshui and are are moving west. Meanwhile, his forces to the south are moving east. Perhaps he doesn't have any recon going in China because I have numerous divisions not part of the main thrust due to stacking limits. If he tries south of Sian, that's good defensive terrain for me, and north of Sian is clear terrain and he'll get smashed.

I took a pop at Chinese divisions attempting to cross the river north of Sian. The attack did quite well in spite of the good defensive terrain.

Ground combat at 82,40 (near Sian)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 20867 troops, 154 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 460

Defending force 24871 troops, 75 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 580

Japanese adjusted assault: 403

Allied adjusted defense: 1042

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
492 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 60 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled

Allied ground losses:
863 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 83 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled

Assaulting units:
63rd Division
59th Division
12th Army

Defending units:
16th Chinese Corps
36th Chinese Corps
Red Chinese Army
22nd Group Army

Central China

Again, I'm wondering if no recon? He's just now retreating from the central area. Maybe he thought I would turn north after Kwellin? The 25th Army is now in Hengyang. It should fall tomorrow.

Ground combat at Hengyang (80,53)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 12399 troops, 290 guns, 421 vehicles, Assault Value = 1365

Defending force 31415 troops, 192 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1089

Japanese adjusted assault: 441

Allied adjusted defense: 432

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
250 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 24 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 8 (1 destroyed, 7 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1780 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 177 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 26 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled

Assaulting units:
19th Ind Engineer Regiment
4th Tank Regiment
15th Ind Engineer Regiment
66th Infantry Regiment
1st Tank Regiment
20th Ind Engineer Regiment
56th Division
8th Tank Regiment
23rd Ind Engineer Regiment
18th Division
1st Ind.Inf.Group
8th Armored Car Co
6th Tank Regiment
2nd RF Gun Battalion
5th Mortar Battalion
21st Mortar Battalion
5th RF Gun Battalion
1st RF Gun Battalion
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
25th Army
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
63rd Chinese Corps
46th Chinese Corps
65th Chinese Corps
9th Prov Chinese Corps

Northern OZ

Darwin fell today. I'm going to take the 2nd Division and push it south for a ways. Invasions will be going off on the rest of the northern coast as divisions from Luzon are transported down to Java.

Darwin - Daly Waters - Katherine - Tennant Creek

Once you get outside of Darwin, these bases daily Supplies (max draw) is based on base size (AF + Forts). As Allied player, I can invest BFs in building up Tennant Creek as it will help me once I come back if Japan is slow in capturing Northern Australia like you are. Thus, be careful what you build up on this trail for bases. Many Japanese players go down to Tennant Creek and keep a small force there as a tripwire to Allied counteroffensive. Once you capture Darwin, I would place a small Sentai (9 planes) of recon broken down into 3 plane Chutai to explore the bases down to and including Alice Spring to see what the Allies have here.

April 13th, 1942

Alright, Almost a 2-1 vs. Changsha, Hengyang falls and it does look like he's trying to cut off my LOC around Sian. Problem for him is that I have interior lines.

Ground combat at Hengyang (80,53)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 35228 troops, 467 guns, 388 vehicles, Assault Value = 1350

Defending force 17275 troops, 106 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 461

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 1014

Allied adjusted defense: 52

Japanese assault odds: 19 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Hengyang !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: forts(+), disruption(-), preparation(-), fatigue(-)
experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
538 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 16 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 22 disabled
Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Units pursuing 5

Allied ground losses:
2796 casualties reported
Squads: 269 destroyed, 121 disabled
Non Combat: 168 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 22 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 27 (14 destroyed, 13 disabled)
Units retreated 2

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
4th Tank Regiment
19th Ind Engineer Regiment
8th Armored Car Co
20th Ind Engineer Regiment
1st Ind.Inf.Group
23rd Ind Engineer Regiment
66th Infantry Regiment
1st Tank Regiment
56th Division
18th Division
15th Ind Engineer Regiment
8th Tank Regiment
6th Tank Regiment
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
1st RF Gun Battalion
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
25th Army
5th Mortar Battalion
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
21st Mortar Battalion
5th RF Gun Battalion
2nd RF Gun Battalion
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
46th Chinese Corps
9th Prov Chinese Corps


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Changsha (82,52)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 78962 troops, 656 guns, 64 vehicles, Assault Value = 2154

Defending force 48567 troops, 200 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1324

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 4

Japanese adjusted assault: 4008

Allied adjusted defense: 2763

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 4

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

Japanese ground losses:
6509 casualties reported
Squads: 25 destroyed, 599 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 31 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 21 disabled

Allied ground losses:
1211 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 125 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 25 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Assaulting units:
13th Division
39th Division
40th Division
34th Division
3rd Division
9th Division
11th Army

Defending units:
73rd Chinese Corps
44th Chinese Corps
87th Chinese Corps
45th Chinese Corps
94th Chinese Corps
19th Group Army
9th War Area
21st Group Army

April 14th, 1942

I believe this called the Eggshell Affect, after the German Army simply ran out of troops in France and were force to do a massive withdrawal. My only worry right now is exhaustion for my troops, otherwise, the Chinese simply can't hold up. a 3-1, but didn't take the city. I probably should hold up the 11th Army and give it time to rest, but I want to keep the pressure on.

Ground combat at Changsha (82,52)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 64399 troops, 552 guns, 40 vehicles, Assault Value = 1715

Defending force 47596 troops, 200 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1209

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 3

Japanese adjusted assault: 2209

Allied adjusted defense: 559

Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 3

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

Japanese ground losses:
2373 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 102 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 17 disabled
Guns lost 15 (1 destroyed, 14 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1562 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 152 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled

Assaulting units:
3rd Division
34th Division
39th Division
40th Division
13th Division
9th Division
11th Army

Defending units:
45th Chinese Corps
87th Chinese Corps
73rd Chinese Corps
44th Chinese Corps
94th Chinese Corps
9th War Area
19th Group Army
21st Group Army

SoPac

An Allied SCTF, led by the Canberra, managed to get a bombardment in on Suva. Note, that I detected this force south of Suva yesterday. I flew some sentai of Kates and Vals into Suva and adjoining base, but my Kates didn't fly and neither did the Netties out of Noumea. Sigh. Air combat is still a huge weakness for me. They were within escort range, well within bombing range. Didn't fly at all though set to naval.

April 15th, 1942

The collapse in China has officially begun. Changsha is Japanese. The city directly west of it will be Japanese by tomorrow. The LOC from Vietnam to Shanghai/Fusan is now open and fuel/resources will hopefully start flowing. The Chinese are in full retreat in the center and getting pummeled in the north.

There's no pressing need for the 25th Army right now, so it will continue to focus for a while in central china before I pull it out or possible race it across China to Burma.

I'm going to reassign the Netties and zeroes at Noumea to the Air HQ that's stationed there and see if that makes a difference.

Preparing for further invasions of Northern and Northeastern OZ.

April 16th, 1942

Siangtan falls. Shaoyang tomorrow. I've decided to keep the 25th Army in China and speed the collapse.

For the 2nd straight day, Allied SCTF makes a deep strike, this time next to Nadi. They were seen, but my planes didn't fly. I've reassigned them all to the 9th Air Flotilla on Noumea. The 3rd Air Flotilla is at Luganville. I've moved some more Nells down to there and reassigned them. Both HQs loaded with torpedoes. Both have good supply. I've moved more naval search also. Something better happen or it will be time to sacrifice a live chicken to the WITP gods and I feel sorry for the chickens.

Not sure if I'll have time for Burma via the Eastern China approach.

I would try to push as far as the base which is the end of the Burma Road. I can't remember the name. I ended up just short and it remained in Allied hands. Since witpqs opened the Burma Road, it is happily supplying units while I try keep them out of China. I could probably still be holding that city if I had been able to get that far. It would have been nice to stop the end of the road. While he probably could move enough supplies into the area without the Burma Road, every little bit helps (or hurts from the IJA perspective).

The Oscar really is out classed very quickly. I tended to set them at high CAP so maybe they would eat the sweepers and let the Zeros be lower. The Hurricane is just a tough match for a plane which does not have a cannon. The Tojo makes a big difference especially the IIc model.

Wa

April 17th, 1942

Lieutenant Eto is sitting outside his tent. He's been stationed at Noumea for a few months now. There's been nothing going on except for some training drills. His Co-Pilot, Airman Mika is sitting next to him. Both of them are out of uniform, with only shorts and tank tops.

"Stop boggarting the joint dude, that's an order", says the Lieutenant as he reaches over for it.

"What?" is the Airman's only response, taking another drag. "This stuff is righteous...(pauses for a minute and realizes he forgot)...sir!"

As the air siren horns suddenly blaze across the base and air crews are being ordered to their planes through the intercom, Eto and Mika are startled enough to fall over in their chairs. They shamble as best they can into their tent, grabbing as much of their flight gear as they can.

As they shamble towards their plane, they see the squadron commander blowing a whistle as loud as possible over the siren and making hand symbols as if to stop. With their uniforms draped over their shoulders, arms, one pants leg on and Mika's flight cap on sideways and half blocking his vision, they stop and notice that the rest of the squadron looks the same as them. Most of them desperately trying to get their clothes on, many hopping on one leg trying to get pants on.

The squadron commander is coming towards them screaming. They quickly turn around and start back towards their tent.

"HALT!" They both heard that clearly. "Give me that" and the commander takes the joint. As they look back sheepishly at the commander, they can see he's taking a puff.

ORIGINAL: Andav

Not sure if I'll have time for Burma via the Eastern China approach.

I would try to push as far as the base which is the end of the Burma Road. I can't remember the name. I ended up just short and it remained in Allied hands. Since witpqs opened the Burma Road, it is happily supplying units while I try keep them out of China. I could probably still be holding that city if I had been able to get that far. It would have been nice to stop the end of the road. While he probably could move enough supplies into the area without the Burma Road, every little bit helps (or hurts from the IJA perspective).
Paoshan is in China on the Burma side and I think the IJA was stopped near it. Tsuyung is the end of the Burma Road and it was invested (overland I think) but held. Kunming is a short rail farther and it was invested even more seriously but held.


Definitely agree get all you can there because the terrain/stacking/supply choke points makes capturing things there difficult and your defense might obstruct the Allies on this route for a long time.

The Oscar really is out classed very quickly. I tended to set them at high CAP so maybe they would eat the sweepers and let the Zeros be lower. The Hurricane is just a tough match for a plane which does not have a cannon. The Tojo makes a big difference especially the IIc model.

Wa

In the north, I have 8-9 divisions, most in good if not full strength and experience 70-90. In the center I now have 10+ divisions and have transferred 3 more over from the 13th Army, since Wenchow is looking as strong as ever. The remainder of the 13th is on it's own to take Wenchow. That could easily be the last city standing.

The key is 10 armored regiments. Where they go, the Chinese fall. There's been no counter attack into Burma as of yet and probably premature for him now anyway.

I've also destroyed somewhere around 2000-3000 Chinese squads over the last month. I believe he has too much committed toward trying to cutoff Sian also. Probably 20+ units there.

Ok, I'll continue the thrust.

April 18th, 1942

I wish Bill had an AAR so he might get a bit of help. Perhaps he doesn't need it, but I do believe his strategy around Sian will help escalate the fall of China.

This happened yesterday. He crossed the river just north of Sian. Because I have that lovely road, I can quickly shift troops as I can see the movement coming days in advance. He landed on top of a division and brigade.

Ground combat at 83,40 (near Sian)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 24494 troops, 111 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 777

Defending force 18046 troops, 110 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 580

Allied adjusted assault: 174

Japanese adjusted defense: 289

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
1156 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 120 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled

Allied ground losses:
4542 casualties reported
Squads: 263 destroyed, 70 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 116 disabled
Engineers: 10 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 51 (41 destroyed, 10 disabled)

Assaulting units:
34th Chinese Corps
72nd Chinese Corps
99th Chinese Corps

Defending units:
7th Ind.Mixed Brigade
69th Division

And today I counter attacked just north of Sian.

Ground combat at 83,40 (near Sian)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 17049 troops, 110 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 477

Defending force 22562 troops, 80 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 561

Japanese adjusted assault: 279

Allied adjusted defense: 16

Japanese assault odds: 17 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
260 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 24 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Allied ground losses:
7800 casualties reported
Squads: 171 destroyed, 73 disabled
Non Combat: 241 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 8 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 26 (18 destroyed, 8 disabled)
Units retreated 6

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
7th Ind.Mixed Brigade
69th Division

Defending units:
72nd Chinese Corps
99th Chinese Corps
3rd Group Army
8th Group Army
34th Chinese Corps
15th Group Army

Main Armored Thrust by 1st Army

Ground combat at 80,40 (near Kienko)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 18868 troops, 221 guns, 478 vehicles, Assault Value = 652

Defending force 56531 troops, 314 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1262

Japanese adjusted assault: 556

Allied adjusted defense: 853

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
347 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 25 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled

Allied ground losses:
3837 casualties reported
Squads: 172 destroyed, 84 disabled
Non Combat: 109 destroyed, 53 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled
Guns lost 27 (12 destroyed, 15 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
26th Division
2nd Ind Engineer Regiment
23rd Tank Regiment
13th Tank Regiment
5th Tank Regiment
9th Tank Regiment
8th Ind Engineer Regiment
15th Tank Regiment
10th Tank Regiment
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
1st Mortar Battalion
14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
5th Armored Car Co

Defending units:
90th Chinese Corps
93rd Chinese Corps
38th Chinese Corps
19th Chinese Corps
61st Chinese Corps
9th Chinese Corps
41st Chinese Corps
2nd Chinese Cavalry Corps
7th Group Army
83rd Chinese Corps
3rd Heavy Mortar Regiment
6th Group Army
51st Chinese Corps
48th Chinese Corps
34th Separate Brigade
1st War Area
4th Heavy Mortar Regiment

China Strategy

That's about 1100 combat and non-combat squads destroyed in 2 days and 16k casualties. I may not know the mechanics of this game very well, but having played wargames for 35 years, I know a bit on strategy and tactics. His strategy in the north will doom China as he's allowing me to destroy his army in mass.

For the rest of the China war, the 25th Army will be tasked with Kweiyang and then push towards Burma. It has 3 crack divisions, arty and armor and stacking limits prevent anything more. The 11th Army will move towards Chungking, possibly transferring a division for reinforcement/reserve of the 25th. The 13th Army will take over garrison duty of the center until it rebuilds some more. The 1st Army will continue it's push towards Chengtu and then towards Changsha. The 12th Army will continue it's defense of Sian and then push towards Ankang.

If everything goes to plan, the bulk of the Chinese army will be destroyed around Ankang and Changsha will be caught between a hammer and a vice and roughly 12+ divisions.

Recon Ledo to see how many transport planes he has there. Key base for Allied resupply efforts into China. You may need to send your Sally & Helens there. Beware, there may be a high number of AA guns there. [:-] I move the big AA brigade from Colombo to this base. Add in a few heavy AA units and I get over 100 heavy AA guns there.

Do engineers help with factory repairs?