Payback - jzanes (A) vs. Rader (J). A Rader-free zone.

[Jzanes]

ORIGINAL: SoliInvictus202

just a question to get a deeper understanding of your actions: - why are you invading the Gilberts in 45 when you are already in the DEI?

maybe you have already explaine above and I missed it - if so - please excuse!

I had noticed that Rader had moved out lots of his troops from the Gilberts and decided to put all the regiment/brigade sized garrisons of the Pacific Islands to work. My Gilbert's force isn't all that large and Rader hasn't done anything to oppose them. It's overkill in the DEI as it is, so I didn't really need to send anymore assets that way.

Taking the Gilbert's helps shorten my lines, closes off a route for any surface/sub raiders, and Tarawa is actually worth a pretty good chunk of points.

[obvert]

As a follow up is Marcus on the menu at all, or is it too well garrisoned for the effort it would take?

[Jzanes]

ORIGINAL: obvert

As a follow up is Marcus on the menu at all, or is it too well garrisoned for the effort it would take?

I haven't reconned Marcus or the Bonins at all. I may take it eventually but probably not. IIRC it can't be built up very much anyways.

[GreyJoy]

Jzanes, i have a question for you if i may...
 
...how are you handling his late war fighters and bombers?
How bad is the Kamikaze situation in 1945?
 
As far as i can tell in our game Rader managed to get some planes 17 months earlier than previewed...and i'm starting to feel a bit uneasy with the idea of seeing hordes of late war uber weapons against my Hellcats...
 
how do you deal with those new weapons?
 
Thx

[Jzanes]

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

Jzanes, i have a question for you if i may...

...how are you handling his late war fighters and bombers?
How bad is the Kamikaze situation in 1945?

As far as i can tell in our game Rader managed to get some planes 17 months earlier than previewed...and i'm starting to feel a bit uneasy with the idea of seeing hordes of late war uber weapons against my Hellcats...

how do you deal with those new weapons?

Thx

17 months early? wow, that's a lot. I suspect Rader has fine tuned his R&D for your game. In this game, I suspect he was learning his technique and hadn't mastered the advancement of availablilty dates.

I know he's gotten some planes early but I've never really paid attention as to how much earlier he's gotten stuff. I haven't run into anything that was totally dominant over the contemporary allied plane. His current top fighters are the Ki-83 and the Shinden. The Ki-83 normally arrives in 2/45 and the Shinden in 4/45. Since we are in 6/45 and I haven't seen them for very long, I don't think he advanced these very far if at all.

Kamikazes are very very dangerous. Rader likes to mass them and let them all loose at once. Your fighters will kill most of them but even a 1000 hellcat CAP cannot stop them all. Those kamis that get thru the CAP will have a very high hit rate and cause a lot of damage. My advice is to stand off with your carriers and other valuable ships and lure Rader into launching his kamikaze horde vs. low value ships with a heavy LR CAP overhead.

[GreyJoy]

Thanks mate. Yes, that's typical of Rader...massing assets for a massive blow. The Kami stuff is really a problem...

And the shidens don't dominate the skies?..their stats are simply awesome...and the Ki-83 really makes me sweat...[:o]

Thanks for the quick answer...i'll keep my finger crossed and keep on watching on your unstoppable advance! Much to learn from you!

[Jzanes]

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

Thanks mate. Yes, that's typical of Rader...massing assets for a massive blow. The Kami stuff is really a problem...

And the shidens don't dominate the skies?..their stats are simply awesome...and the Ki-83 really makes me sweat...[:o]

Thanks for the quick answer...i'll keep my finger crossed and keep on watching on your unstoppable advance! Much to learn from you!

I only saw the Shindens a few times in action in the Soerabaja area. They are primarily a defensive fighter due to their short range. The Ki-83 is flying effective sweeps in Russia but Rader is losing 20-30 of them every day. I doubt even Rader can afford such high losses turn after turn. They kill more than they lose but at this point, the allies (especially the russians) can afford these losses. Especially, since the Ki-83 sweeps aren't big enough or numerous enough to wear down the allied fighters enough to stop them from massacring the japanese medium bomber raids.

No matter how good the japanese planes are, they are worn down by 100s of sweeping allied fighters and destroyed on the ground by the huge 4E raids following the fighters. In addition, allied control of the seas around Java has allowed me to use naval bombardment with impunity which kills 100s of japanese planes without any loss to my air at all.

[Jzanes]

June 13, 1945

Rader and I have both been busy so we’ve only managed to complete 2 turns (4 days) over the last week.

The Japanese continue to retreat in most areas and the allies are doing their best to take advantage of the fluid situation.

Russia:

Several columns continue to advance into Japanese territory without much opposition. Japanese sweeps and bomber runs vs. the Arshaan area column continues to be very costly for the japanese with his fighters being unable to sweep away the large allied CAP which leads to heavy losses for his bombers. Meanwhile, Russian light and medium bombers and American B29s continue to pound away at the Japanese army. The light and medium bombers are being used to slow down his forces by forcing them into combat mode before they can move. The heavy bombers are smashing units in the open to clear the way for the mechanized corps trying to move to cutoff the Japanese “Chita” army.

Rader has been active on the WITP forum with his “ground bombing is borked” thread. I agree ground bombing vs. units in clear terrain is about 2x too deadly and bombing vs. units in cover is about ½ as effective as it should be. However, I think the situation in Russia reflects a near optimal situation for ground bombing;

1. There has been absolutely 0 Japanese fighter opposition.
2. Japanese AAA is either non-existent or ineffective. Bombers are flying at 6000 feet.
3. Allied bombers are flying out of large (level 8 or 9) airbases with excellent supply, plentiful aviation support, and air HQs are present.
4. Japanese forces are moving and are either in MOVE mode or COMBAT mode with 0 forts when bombed. Having some forts dramatically reduces the effectiveness of ground bombing even vs. units in clear terrain.
5. Generally the weather in Russia has been “good” for the last few weeks. Good weather means anything but thunderstorms basically.
6. Even with optimal supply and support, all heavy bombers are not flying every turn. Most turns, 150-250 B29s fly sorties while another 100-200 bombers stay home for various reasons.
7. Some of the ground units being bombed have already been routed in previous land battles and have lots of disrupted components ripe for being destroyed.

[Jzanes]

(June 13, 1945 con’t)

North China:

Large Russian and Chinese forces are closing in on Kalgan. I’m not sure if Rader plans to try to hold here or whether he’s still retreating. Like most of the map, things are so fluid here that I’m not sure where (or if) he plans to form a new line.

Farther south, smaller Chinese forces are trying to grab some of the small Japanese held bases guarding the entrances to the north china plain. I’m tentatively moving into the plain further south around Nanyang.

[Jzanes]

(June 13, 1945 con’t)

South China:

The chinese are across the river in force and moving in pursuit of the retreating Japanese forces. Rader has yet to significantly reduce his Changsha force so I’ll try to flank them and convince him it’s time to pull back his troops here also.

Further south, the Chinese are approaching Kukong and have severed the land link between Canton and Hong Kong.

[Jzanes]

(June 13, 1945 con’t)

British Area:

In the north, the British rout the 2 japanese divisions blocking the Moulmein-Rahaeng track. Several of the cutoff Japanese units NW of Rahaeng were annihilated as they tried to cross the river into Chinese held Rahaeng. The Japanese are in full retreat towards the Bangkok area and the British-chinese army will pursue as quick as possible.

In the south, the British paratroops captured Surat Thani to complete the isolation of the Japanese Chumpion army of about 1,000 AV. I’m trying to beat them to the hex NE of Surat Thani with one of the British paratroop units. This would seal the pocket. A large chunk of the Victoria Point force plus the armor heavy force NE of Chumpion will pound away at the cutoff Japanese troops and try to keep any from escaping.

I haven’t included a screenshot of it, but the Japanese continue to evac troops from the Medan area on Sumatra. Next turn, I’ll be trying to hit this shipping with long range naval bombers and a cruiser force sailing from Trinkat. Last I saw, the Japanese had a cruiser force in the area so we may see a sizable surface battle next turn.

[Jzanes]

(June 13, 1945 con’t)

Americans (North DEI):

Destroyer raiders, subs, and naval bombers continue to take bites out of the Japanese shipping coming and going from Batavia. Rader has made no attempt to defend any of his ships. There is a large Japanese DD TF at Batavia and I hope to engage it next turn. The KB is still at Singapore so I’m going to avoid sending anything larger than a DD to the Batavia area for now.

American heavy bombers have suppressed most of the airfields in the Batavia and Palembang areas. Palembang oil and Batavia heavy industry have been hit again by strategic bombing.

Effectively, the allies have closed down all the Japanese routes into the Indian ocean. This will allow me to concentrate my forces and more rapidly clear out the Java-Sumatra areas and turn the corner heading into the South China Sea.

[Jzanes]

(June 13, 1945 con’t)

Americans (South DEI):

The Japanese airforce has abandoned Java and the IJA has left only token forces in the Soerabaja area. The marines recently captured Den Paser and several hundred allied planes have already moved in. In the next few turns, I will commence the invasion of mainland Java with landings at Banjoewangi, Loemadjang, and Probolinggo. I don’t anticipate much resistance and the invasion forces will move up the island towards Batavia as fast as possible.

The American carrier force is resting and refitting at Kendari. With total air supremacy over the Java area, I don’t feel it’s necessary to commit the carriers.

My sense it that Rader has given up on the DEI. He intends to hold onto Singapore long enough to pull out a good chunk of his ground forces and then will leave this citadel to it’s fate.

[Jzanes]

(June 13, 1945 con’t)

Americans (Eastern DEI):

Including a map of this area to show the allied TBD/SBD raids on the evac op at Cagayan. Several DDs, light escorts, and transports have been sunk so far. More bomber and DD raids will be going in next turn.

The Japanese subs I spotted previously have formed a screen north of Jolo.

No screenshot for the Gilberts this time. Nothing has happened as I wait for my Tarawa invasion force to recover it’s strength after the bloody initial shock attack.

[Jzanes]

June 19, 1945

Overall, the allies continue to advance on all fronts. In most areas, I’m just grabbing the ground Rader has abandoned but I’ve had some success in trapping some of the Japanese ground forces and in stopping or damaging their naval evacuation forces.

Russia:

The eastern column just captured Svobodny and Kuibyshevka with paratroops and the rest of the troops will arrive via rail next turn. It appears as though Rader has abandoned this area. I wonder how far I’ll be able to advance on this side of the river before I run into resistance.

In the center, my armored force reached the Hailar-Tsitsihar rail line but Rader managed to reach it in force before me. Recent recon reports show 120 japanese units and over 200000 troops in this hex. It is unclear whether Rader intends to make his stand here, wait for the rest of his retreating units and then retreat some more , or counterattack. Currently, we have a stalemate with neither of us having the strength to rout the other. My army advancing from Hailar is hot on the heels of his rearguard and I hope to rout a couple of his divisions next turn.

I suffered my 1st significant heavy bomber losses in a long while when my sweeps failed to show up over Tsitsihar and my B29s ran into a hundred Ki-83s and Randy two engine fighters. I suffered about 60 B29 losses to A2A. Just goes to show that you must have excellent fighter support to successfully bomb with heavy bombers even at this late date. Next turn, I’m going to heavily sweep and bomb his 120 unit blocking force with the heavies. I’ll be curious to see how effective the bombers will be flying from 15000 feet (instead of the usual 6000 feet). I am flying higher since I am concerned that a large # of those 120 units may be AA bns/rgts. I’ll be sweeping the target hex even more heavily than usual with fighters coming from both Hailar and Arshaan. I find that using sweeps from multiple bases helps guarantee that at least some of them will show up.

In the western part of the theatre, my tank brigades are advancing towards Chinchow and Liaoyuan. A small SU regiment is charging ahead to try to cut the Harbin-Changchun rail line. 500 fighters are now based at the recently operational Tonan airfield and large Russian forces have reached this city by using the rail line from Arshaan.

Along the Russo-Chinese border, a large Japanese force is holding Kalgan and does not appear to be retreating. I am trying to attack the Japanese flank guards on both sides with the goal of either encircling Kalgan or forcing Rader to abandon it.

Similar to the other theatres, there are signs that the Japanese defense is starting to firm up but it is not yet clear where he intends to stop and hold. I will continue to advance over a wide front probing for weak spots while trying to hold back a strong reserve to match any possible Japanese counters.

[Jzanes]

(June 19, 1945 con’t)

China:

The Chinese have been advancing from the far north (Kalgan) to the far south (Canton) sections of the front. Mostly, they are a couple days behind retreating Japanese forces but have caught up to several brigades/divisions and routed them around Loyang and Nanyang in the north and Kukong in the south.

There has been no Japanese air opposition and I have yet to see signs of a new Japanese defensive front. The Japanese even abandoned their siege of Changsha which frees up the very large Chinese garrison to advance towards Hankow or Nanchang.

Here’s a screenshot showing the north;

[Jzanes]

(June 19, 1945 con’t)

(China con’t)

and a screenshot showing the south;

[Jzanes]

British (Thailand):

In Thailand, the Japanese appear to be in full retreat with Cam Ranh Bay in Indochina being the point of egress. Next turn, B29s plan to pound this port and slow down the evac operation.

Last turn, the British caught up to and routed a Japanese force across the river from Bangkok. This gives me a chance to cutoff and destroy a couple Japanese divisions still holding jungle blocking positions around Tavoy/Mergui.

The British closed the noose around the Japanese Chumphon force and should be able to liquidate this approximately 3 division force over the next few turns. They will then begin the drive into Malaya.

[Jzanes]

(June 19, 1945 con’t)

British (Sumatra-Malaya):

Several turns ago the British cruiser squadron locked horns with 2 japanese CAs plus escort at Tandjoengbali (sp?). The british heavily damaged both Japanese cruisers with well-placed 8” shells while several british cruisers were moderately damaged by gunfire and torpedoes. No british ships were sunk and I suspect the Japanese cruisers were able to limp home. However, there has been no Japanese naval activity in the area for the last several turns and B29 port attacks have severely damaged the northern Sumatra ports. It will be difficult for Rader to load up his troops if he should return to his evac operation.

[Jzanes]

(June 19, 1945 con’t)

Americans (Java):

The Americans pounded Japanese naval power around Batavia with naval bombers, DD raids, and subs. Countless transports and barges were destroyed and around 10 japanese DDs and a CS were sunk while trying to flee to Palembang or while disbanded at Palembang port when it was hit by a B29 port raid. B29s also have closed down the Batavia port. Thousands and thousands of Japanese troops were lost at sea when their TFs were wiped out.

I believe Rader has given up trying to save his ground forces and they are now being railed back to the Soerabaja area to oppose the allied advance.

The allies have already captured the large airfields on the “tip” of Java and are heading towards Soerabaja in strength. Heavy and medium bombers are pounding Japanese ground forces and airfields without mercy.

The Japanese citadel of Java appears to be cutoff. It’s large army is trapped and is now out of position. Huge allied forces are on the ground and more are coming. The Japanese have no airpower in the region and their airfields are getting trashed every turn.

Java is going to be a one-sided bloodbath.