Matrix Games Forums

Dan, I know you kicked around the IJA early in China, two questions though. Did you commit the reserves in Chungking from the outset? and did Chez try anything along the Pearl River from Hong Kong? I looked back quite a way and could not discern if you were ever threatened west of Kukong.

Aren't 1:1 attacks fairly likely to generate experience for your units though? Might be worth it to get that extra experience now if given a good opportunity. The Japanese seem unlikely to be able to push you out even with 1 bad result. I'll say I definitely don't know the formulas, but I do get the sense that 1:1 (or especially better) attacks tend to generate experience.

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

10/30/42


Burma:  My armored recon unit is still one mile short of reaching Toungoo.  So no attack until day after tomorrow.

You could probably have attacked with this unit next day by putting it into combat mode and setting all the units in the destination hex to shock attack. With only one mile to go this unit would almost certainly join in as they will have had an hour or two to wash down the road dust with a nice cuppa tea before the attack got underway.

Allied Subs CR, I have seen a few mentions of allied sub activity in this AAR, but not near what I expected in terms of results. When Chaz kept his carriers and BBs milling around the same areas for weeks I was sure your sharks would circle in and bite him in the butt!

Are you using auto-sub ops? Are you hitting his xAKs and not mentioning it because it is of little import? Or is the lousy torpedo issue resulting in so few successes? Trying to get a handle on what to expect from sub ops. When I used auto-ops playing against the AI, I wasn't happy with the deployments or patrol zones. When I took over and set them at choke points or vectored them toward juicy, loitering targets life got better. However, since I was in noob mode I confess to using the “reliable torpedos” switch.[8|]

I'd like to humbly request a screen shot of China, in particular the region your stack in question is in. I know you have been more interested in mauling enemy divisions than picking up territory, but curious to see what the front looks like.

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Allied Subs CR, I have seen a few mentions of allied sub activity in this AAR, but not near what I expected in terms of results. When Chaz kept his carriers and BBs milling around the same areas for weeks I was sure your sharks would circle in and bite him in the butt!

Are you using auto-sub ops? Are you hitting his xAKs and not mentioning it because it is of little import? Or is the lousy torpedo issue resulting in so few successes? Trying to get a handle on what to expect from sub ops. When I used auto-ops playing against the AI, I wasn't happy with the deployments or patrol zones. When I took over and set them at choke points or vectored them toward juicy, loitering targets life got better. However, since I was in noob mode I confess to using the “reliable torpedos” switch.[8|]

My subs haven't scored a major hit in many months. A few against merchants, tankers and patrol craft. They have, however, provided alot of good information about enemy capital ships - carriers, cruisers, and battleships - even while missing those shots. That's where I've really gotten important assists from my carriers.

I have vectored subs into regions where enemy capital ships were known to operate, but I don't "flood the zone." In the first place, that level of micromanagement drives me nuts. In the second, I figure it's best to have a good network of subs all over the map in hopes of getting the good intel and an occasional lucky shot.

Right now, I do have alot of subs operating in the South China Sea, and perhaps ten helping with the supply situation in Paramushiro. But with winter having arrived there, I can now move those subs into an offensive role.

11/1/42
 
China:  Per request, I will post a map later today.  You are right that the Chinese misison in the game has been to hunt down and maul IJA divisions.  The Chinese have been pretty successful at this, but not today.  Today's attack was a lopsided IJ victory - the Chinese attacking at only 20% of raw AV and the Japanese at roughly 75%, which means my estimates were way off on both ends.  I have no idea what a strong Chinese army, high morale, good experience, litte or no disruption, good leaders, and 80% or better supply would attack at 20% of raw AV.  There is mystery in the game!  The result is posted at the bottom of this page.
 
Burma:  Allied shock attack at Toungoo achieves 3:1 odds, drops forts from three to zero, but doesn't quite take the base. It should fall soon, eliminating the only base that could provide efficient CAP for the isolated IJ army at Magwe.
 
NoPac:  Quiet. 
 
DEI:  Quiet except for the massive amount of troop movements as the Allies continue to bring men and equipment into Oosthaven and then move them forward to the critical bases in and on the Java Sea.
 
The Battle of Nanyang (one hex from that base, but the name is good anyway):
 
Ground combat at 86,45
 
Allied Deliberate attack
 
Attacking force 111807 troops, 673 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 4908
 
Defending force 53626 troops, 638 guns, 181 vehicles, Assault Value = 1646
 
Allied adjusted assault: 962
 
Japanese adjusted defense: 1324
 
Allied assault odds: 1 to 2
 
Combat modifiers
Defender: supply(-)
Attacker:
 
Japanese ground losses:
      1525 casualties reported
         Squads: 3 destroyed, 103 disabled
         Non Combat: 55 destroyed, 104 disabled
         Engineers: 52 destroyed, 19 disabled
      Vehicles lost 56 (49 destroyed, 7 disabled) 
 
Allied ground losses:
      5933 casualties reported
         Squads: 36 destroyed, 392 disabled
         Non Combat: 17 destroyed, 380 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 18 disabled 
 
Assaulting units:
    75th Chinese Corps
    59th Chinese Corps
    9th Chinese Corps
    67th Chinese Corps
    68th Chinese Corps
    13th Chinese Corps
    61st Chinese Corps
    85th Chinese Corps
    36th Chinese Corps
    90th Chinese Corps
    47th Chinese Corps
    80th Chinese Corps
    45th Chinese Corps
    2nd Chinese Cavalry Corps
    40th Chinese Corps
    48th Chinese Corps
    89th Chinese Corps
    38th Chinese Corps
    93rd Chinese Corps
    96th Chinese Corps
    98th Chinese Corps
    2nd Group Army
    26th Group Army
    24th Group Army
    36th Group Army
    4th Group Army
    3rd Group Army
    33rd Group Army
    39th Group Army
 
Defending units:
    1st Mobile Engineer Regiment
    32nd Division
    29th Division
    37th Division
    10th Division
    25th Division
    6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
    11th Field Artillery Regiment

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel
Today's attack was a lopsided IJ victory

Eh? Considering the number of support, vehicle and engineers outright destroyed (and their comparative VP differential), I'd say this was at least a draw, if not a Chinese victory.

Then again, I'm an optimist. [;)]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Allied Subs CR, I have seen a few mentions of allied sub activity in this AAR, but not near what I expected in terms of results. When Chaz kept his carriers and BBs milling around the same areas for weeks I was sure your sharks would circle in and bite him in the butt!

Are you using auto-sub ops? Are you hitting his xAKs and not mentioning it because it is of little import? Or is the lousy torpedo issue resulting in so few successes? Trying to get a handle on what to expect from sub ops. When I used auto-ops playing against the AI, I wasn't happy with the deployments or patrol zones. When I took over and set them at choke points or vectored them toward juicy, loitering targets life got better. However, since I was in noob mode I confess to using the “reliable torpedos” switch.[8|]

My subs haven't scored a major hit in many months. A few against merchants, tankers and patrol craft. They have, however, provided alot of good information about enemy capital ships - carriers, cruisers, and battleships - even while missing those shots. That's where I've really gotten important assists from my carriers.

I have vectored subs into regions where enemy capital ships were known to operate, but I don't "flood the zone." In the first place, that level of micromanagement drives me nuts. In the second, I figure it's best to have a good network of subs all over the map in hopes of getting the good intel and an occasional lucky shot.

Right now, I do have alot of subs operating in the South China Sea, and perhaps ten helping with the supply situation in Paramushiro. But with winter having arrived there, I can now move those subs into an offensive role.

Against Chez, I would expect his IJAAF ASW aircraft to be well-trained and deployed. Have you noticed inordinate Allied submarine losses to his airborne (or naval) ASW?

No, the Allied subs are in good shape.  I assign them patrol zones, mainly in deep water, and not right next to IJ bases (with a few exceptions), and keep them moving. 

I have taken great pride in the successes of my submarine fleets in my games against Chez. I do let them go close in towards his ports, but I don't let them delay. They keep moving. I did this even in our CHS game where I had to relocate each sub every turn. I am not at home right now, so I can't post my results - maybe tonight...

I forgot to mention that there are major stirrings in the ether, so my "spidey senses" are tingling.  Lots more IJN combat ships in the South China Sea, lots more traffic and SigInt with regard to Cam Ranh Bay, and pesky Glens seem to have caught wind of my carriers, which have been moving around west of Cocos Island.
 
The Allies are preparing to move most of the carriers back to Colombo to upgrade.  I'll leave two on station in the Indian Ocean - one closer to Colombo and one west of Cocos Island.  These can help send carrier planes forward in the event they are needed in the DEI.
 
Some of the combat ships, including two fast USN BBs and one or two RN BBs, will go forward to Oosthaven.  If there's a major Japanese invasion coming, combat ships will be key.
 
I'm pretty sure Japan won't be able to successfully invade any of the major Sumatra bases nor Billiton Island.  The other Allies bases in the region are much less secure.
 
I feel storm winds a blowin'.

Well this'll at least keep you more engaged than the non-activity of the past months. After hearing what you've been piling into Sumatra for almost a year, I'm not sure I'd like to send the Combined Fleet in that direction now. Waves of planes first for a month, then ships.

Hmmm maybe your recent actions waked a sleeping cherry blossom and filled it with terrible resolve.

Yes Graf, it could be the beginning of a winter offensive in the DEI....then, again, it could be a bunch of huffing and puffing about as has been the case so often in other areas. But, it is long past "doing something" time for the IJ forces in the DEI. I am certain our Allied commander is up to the task of not only holding the DEI, but bashing the living daylights out of Johnny Jap and all his toys. Good luck CR, if the LYBs do descend upon your fortress, I'm sure you'll use the following victory to accelerate your offensive designs..

ORIGINAL: princep01

Yes Graf, it could be the beginning of a winter offensive in the DEI....then, again, it could be a bunch of huffing and puffing about as has been the case so often in other areas. But, it is long past "doing something" time for the IJ forces in the DEI. I am certain our Allied commander is up to the task of not only holding the DEI, but bashing the living daylights out of Johnny Jap and all his toys. Good luck CR, if the LYBs do descend upon your fortress, I'm sure you'll use the following victory to accelerate your offensive designs..

As a southern gentleman, CR would never have offensive designs! [:-]
Assertive, even aggresive, yes, but always with the utmost courtesy and taste. [;)]

[edited to correct typo]

Such a victory would hasten the acquisition of new properties in the tropics. Southern gentlemen don't even need to be aggressive when such a grand opportunity to ... acquire... appears before them. He will gently accept such an offering while politely thanking his opponent for the courtesy.

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

ORIGINAL: princep01

Yes Graf, it could be the beginning of a winter offensive in the DEI....then, again, it could be a bunch of huffing and puffing about as has been the case so often in other areas. But, it is long past "doing something" time for the IJ forces in the DEI. I am certain our Allied commander is up to the task of not only holding the DEI, but bashing the living daylights out of Johnny Jap and all his toys. Good luck CR, if the LYBs do descend upon your fortress, I'm sure you'll use the following victory to accelerate your offensive designs..

As a southern gentleman, CR would never have offensive designs! [:-]
Assertive, even aggresive, yes, but always with the utmost courtesy and taste. [;)]

[edited to correct typo]

A Southern comediane once said, "We Southerners may be crazy, but we're always polite"

11/2/42
 
A nice day for the Allies and a particularly telling day on the issue of how much attention Steve is giving the game.

DEI:  The Kirishima, Chikuma, Atago, Furutaka TF tangled with the CA New Orleans TF at Billiton Island.  The Allies performed unusually well, probably because the Japanese ships were on a "bombardment" rather than a "combat" mission:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Billiton at 52,93, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
     BB Kirishima, Shell hits 1
     CA Chikuma
     CA Atago, Shell hits 2
     CA Furutaka, Shell hits 5,  heavy fires,  heavy damage
     DD Hamakaze, Shell hits 1
     DD Tanikaze
     DD Arashio, Shell hits 1
     DD Yamagumo, Shell hits 1
     DD Asagumo
     DD Arare

Allied Ships
     CA New Orleans, Shell hits 3,  on fire
     CA Cornwall, Shell hits 2
     CL Honolulu, Shell hits 1
     DD McCalla
     DD Stack
     DD Lamson, Shell hits 3
     DD Porter, Shell hits 3
     DD Clark, Shell hits 1
     DMS Dorsey, Shell hits 1

Steve sent the wrong replay, so I don't know why the five hits proved so damaging to Furutaka, but she only retired four hexes (an Allied sub missed a shot at her too).  She might make it, but heavy damage to an IJ cruiser is significant.  I think this will discourage Steve from making these raids into the hornet's nest until he can bring in reinforcements.  That will give the Allies some time to send in more reinforcements to the forward bases.

This action was followed by a subsequent action between the Japanese and the CA Devonshire TF, which resulted in no damage to either side, but did deplete enemy ammo.  So Kirishima will have to retire some distance to reload.

Also, Allied destroyers sank an IJ sub near Batavia.

Burma:  The Allies took Toungoo after another shock attack.  Yesterday's three to one that dropped forts from three to zero was a clear indication that the base was ripe for the plucking, but Steve forgot to move the 70 Zeros based there.  [:(]  IE, he's not paying attention.  He has a very demanding work schedule this week, which explains this particular oversight, but I may go ahead and approach himi about his desire to continue the game.

China:  Quiet at the moment.  I still owe you guys a screen shot.

NoPac:  Allied destroyers and transports arrived at Para.  The transports didn't begin to unload, and detection is high, so their life expectancy isn't very high.

Dan, it is time to seek terms. Both players will benefit. Well done, sir.