Empire strikes back- NJP vs Wargmr Game over :-)

[njp72]

Hi Lowpe

I think I will cause some discomfit in the first month or so. It really depends if he decides to come out and fight. If he wants to hold a key city unfortunately I won't have the fire power to force him out but there is a lot of territory that needs to be covered.

I'm also hoping the Russian navy ceases to exist after D+2 Only about 13 Divs split between IJA China and the Kwangtung Army. However there are a stack of regt and brigade sized infantry groups which will come very handy in holding positions as long as I can get them into the proper defensive terrain.

I'm looking forward to inflicting some pain before I go down swinging!

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Initially, I think you will do very well in Russia. You have a surprise attack, his air force isn't great yet, and I believe his replacement pools are thin.

I don't think Russia really goes on steroids until 45. Really, just remembering what I read in Taming the Bear. Just don't lose your own personal morale check when the tide of battle turns! You shouldn't as you have been there before.[;)]

I like you comment about planes and quantity...just keep up the pilot training to the best of your ability.

Watch out for Russian bombers hitting Honshu or other industry... I have no clue how many he has currently has, but you have to expect they are 70 bombing skill and could put a hurt on you initially.

Your fighters should clear the skies, if he fights.

How many Japanese Divisions are you throwing at him?

[njp72]

I should have added, (as in all my games) there will be no surrender or honourable peace.

Japan will fight until the game forces me to stop through allied AV

ORIGINAL: njp72

Hi Lowpe

I think I will cause some discomfit in the first month or so. It really depends if he decides to come out and fight. If he wants to hold a key city unfortunately I won't have the fire power to force him out but there is a lot of territory that needs to be covered.

I'm also hoping the Russian navy ceases to exist after D+2 Only about 13 Divs split between IJA China and the Kwangtung Army. However there are a stack of regt and brigade sized infantry groups which will come very handy in holding positions as long as I can get them into the proper defensive terrain.

I'm looking forward to inflicting some pain before I go down swinging!

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Initially, I think you will do very well in Russia. You have a surprise attack, his air force isn't great yet, and I believe his replacement pools are thin.

I don't think Russia really goes on steroids until 45. Really, just remembering what I read in Taming the Bear. Just don't lose your own personal morale check when the tide of battle turns! You shouldn't as you have been there before.[;)]

I like you comment about planes and quantity...just keep up the pilot training to the best of your ability.

Watch out for Russian bombers hitting Honshu or other industry... I have no clue how many he has currently has, but you have to expect they are 70 bombing skill and could put a hurt on you initially.

Your fighters should clear the skies, if he fights.

How many Japanese Divisions are you throwing at him?

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: njp72

I should have added, (as in all my games) there will be no surrender or honourable peace.

Japan will fight until the game forces me to stop through allied AV

[&o]

[Crackaces]

ORIGINAL: njp72

Thanks Dave

I will have a good read. I don't really want to get into a fixed piece slugfest if I can help it. I will hit his flanks and try to inflict maximum damage at minimum cost. Russian artillery and armour from my previous experience is the issue.

There is no chance of me being able to take Vladivostok so I don't intend to try. Hopefully Mike will think that will be my main effort but I doubt it.

ORIGINAL: Crackaces

Here is one OOB that tried this trick .. in "Taming the Bear" Vladivostok became a "Stalingrad" ..


tm.asp?m=2421884&mpage=4&key=�

Your starting later that is for sure .. supply is a huge issue as you will have a lot more units moving and in contact -- supply in this game goes by demand and you will start siphoning supply to this new front, which in turn I propose will test the game mechanics. If he puts pressure on China to the South and you have engagement in Russia -- then the supply situation in China as a whole will take an interesting turn of events unless you somehow fill Korea/Manchuria with supplies that will propergate. One side effect of not doing so is the wasting of supply propagated from far places that never gets to the demand.

This will be an interesting read in itself

[njp72]

I think you nailed it there Dave

I hope he doesn't make a move into Southern China or that will make life very interesting, very fast!

My gut feel is supply will be okay for at least 44. With China conquered and the stockpiles I have on hand, I don't think I can destroy myself that quickly. 45 will be a different story though.

Mike has graciously agreed not to base Allied units in Russia which will make a big difference.

ORIGINAL: Crackaces

ORIGINAL: njp72

Thanks Dave

I will have a good read. I don't really want to get into a fixed piece slugfest if I can help it. I will hit his flanks and try to inflict maximum damage at minimum cost. Russian artillery and armour from my previous experience is the issue.

There is no chance of me being able to take Vladivostok so I don't intend to try. Hopefully Mike will think that will be my main effort but I doubt it.

ORIGINAL: Crackaces

Here is one OOB that tried this trick .. in "Taming the Bear" Vladivostok became a "Stalingrad" ..


tm.asp?m=2421884&mpage=4&key=�

Your starting later that is for sure .. supply is a huge issue as you will have a lot more units moving and in contact -- supply in this game goes by demand and you will start siphoning supply to this new front, which in turn I propose will test the game mechanics. If he puts pressure on China to the South and you have engagement in Russia -- then the supply situation in China as a whole will take an interesting turn of events unless you somehow fill Korea/Manchuria with supplies that will propergate. One side effect of not doing so is the wasting of supply propagated from far places that never gets to the demand.

This will be an interesting read in itself

[Lowpe]

Until you cross the border, All the Soviets can do is train pilots, build infrastructure, and adjust the supply, resource, fuel demand at bases.

Are you going for the oil on the island right away?

[Crackaces]

I am suspecting that the calculus is that the IJ have about 10K AV tied up anyway so why not put them to good use and destroy the Soviet's capability before activation -- besides .. an advantage in VP's due to the aircraft shot down / destroyed ...

NJP72 has already commented that he assesses the supply demends of increased operational tempo, and has made a calculation that the IJ can sustain operations until 1945. It is a very intriguing calculation. On the surface one might say [&:][:-] .. but, one cannot assume the effects if the Allies assume this is a main thrust and get stupid about being stronger in other places because of the the sudden change in tempo ....

[njp72]

Spot on again Dave.

I am going to try to harvest some VPs with my idle combat power in Manchuria and China. Not too worried about the oil. Just keen to kill Soviets

ORIGINAL: Crackaces

I am suspecting that the calculus is that the IJ have about 10K AV tied up anyway so why not put them to good use and destroy the Soviet's capability before activation -- besides .. an advantage in VP's due to the aircraft shot down / destroyed ...

NJP72 has already commented that he assesses the supply demends of increased operational tempo, and has made a calculation that the IJ can sustain operations until 1945. It is a very intriguing calculation. On the surface one might say [&:][:-] .. but, one cannot assume the effects if the Allies assume this is a main thrust and get stupid about being stronger in other places because of the the sudden change in tempo ....

[njp72]

Quick Update on the road I don't have time to upload maps. Will provide a far more comprehensive update in a week.

Russia- well it has kicked off with mixed results. I mistimed (grrrrrr) with one unit which prematurely crossed the border and activated the Soviets before I was ready. This has resulted in some tough fights at a couple of locations which should have fallen quickly. The upside to this debacle is more Soviets have been committed to a couple of pockets which may work to my advantage. On D+3 all important rail lines are now cut.

Other early observations:

-Soviet CD guns really hurt
- Soviet air force is largely combat ineffective-same, same for the navy (average 80 to 100 Sov aircraft being destroyed per day)
- The T-26 is nothing to be fearful of.
- Soviet arty is nasty

The next week will be critical as a couple of key locations need to be seized. If I get hung up on the wire with some of these minor positions Mike will make me pay.

Elsewhere an Indian Div and a brigade got cut off and destroyed in Burma. I think Mike thought no one would be home but there is still significant combat power in this theatre.

The USN has escalated its operations dramatically in the DEI (makes sense) and is starting to pose a threat to oil/fuel transports.

Elsewhere nothing. Resources, oil, supply and fuel plentiful in the Home Islands. Enough to sustain extreme combat operations for the next 12 months.

It is a wild ride but a lot of fun

[JocMeister]

Following with interest! [:)]

[njp72]

Thanks Joc

As promised here is a very confusing map of the current Russian situation up north. Apologies in advance for the poor graphics.

Essentially what is in progress is a massive spoiling attack designed to secure better defensive terrain and inflict some losses on the Soviets. The objectives are very limited as I don't have the combat power or the time to undertake anything more significant, especially with the USN now going berserk.

The danger is on the flanks where Mike has amassed significant armoured and inf reserves. He has the combat power to plunge straight into one of my Army groups and decimate it if I don't provide adequate early warning and flank protection. Before I get too ambitious I need the Chinese based IJA units to catch up and link with the Kwantung Army.

[njp72]

Double post

[njp72]

Down South it is a far simpler affair. Feints are happening at a number of locations which appear to be tying down a large amount of Soviets.

As you will note I am after only a very few localities and unless Mike makes some serious mistakes that will be it. Soviet CD guns at Nikolaevsk were manned by the Russian equivalent of the Alamo with Davy Crockett rarely missing. I lost about 8 AKs even with embedded BBs to the CD unit before it finally fell!

[njp72]

Hard to believe but below is one of the quieter turns in the air compared to the last 7 days.

Only Sov fighters were engaged as he rested his bombers. In total Sov air losses across fighter and bomber units would be approx. 600 over the last 7 days.

The Sov navy after a couple of annoying DD sorties, is largely destroyed or on the verge of destruction with no where to hide. With regards to Army units I believe about 7 brigades worth of inf, mechanised or armour has been routed for minimum cost. All of these units were heavily exposed and Mike made no effort to withdraw them.

[njp72]

One of the few joys of getting stuck into the Sovs in 44 (at least initially) is all of the Empire's toys become relevant again.

Here is a green unit with a mixture of replacement and reserve aircrew after one week fighting against the Sov airforce! Hard to believe the kill ratio but the George just devours Sov aircraft.

A bit like the Thud against me

[njp72]

And of course the USN is going nuts around the PIs with multiple amphib landings. I have plenty of dugged in troops but he is moving very quickly.

In another week KB will be moved back into this theatre to slow him down. I think he is attempting to cut me off from the oil and sever the shipping lanes- smart move by Mike.

[njp72]

Finally the Int screen. Nice to see my buffer in points starting to increase again to about 18K.

I would love to get around 60K perm points which should take the game well into 45. I also wouldn't mind trying to reach 30K in Allied army loss points

[Lowpe]

Turns must take a while![;)]

Make hay in Russia while you can, and I did not doubt that you would improve your VP score. However, 45 will come and I suspect it might be very grim in early 45 -- but I haven't done any study of the reinforcements and upgrades for the Soviets.

What do you have researching the Frank R? I know I have asked before, but too lazy to page back to find the answer.[:)]

What does the Harbin plane factory make?

Have the Soviets been able to strategically bomb you at all?

Great read.[&o]

[njp72]

The turns do!

The harvesting is going well and I think April will be a good month. The Frank R arrives in approx. 2 months.

Harbin doesn't produce too much as I had sense I would eventually pull this stunt even back in 42.

No strat bombing by the Soviets and really it would be suicide, at least during daylight.

This is the best fun I have had in 44 for a long time even if it is short lived!

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Turns must take a while![;)]

Make hay in Russia while you can, and I did not doubt that you would improve your VP score. However, 45 will come and I suspect it might be very grim in early 45 -- but I haven't done any study of the reinforcements and upgrades for the Soviets.

What do you have researching the Frank R? I know I have asked before, but too lazy to page back to find the answer.[:)]

What does the Harbin plane factory make?

Have the Soviets been able to strategically bomb you at all?

Great read.[&o]

[njp72]

The death of the Soviet navy

Surrounded and slowly being picked off, the remaining Soviet navy bravely sorties out targeting my carriers.

Unfortunately they run into my veterans of 2 years+ navy combat and promptly slaughtered. They deserved better and I was lucky they didn't get amongst my carriers. I am pretty sure there are no more surface combatants left afloat after 8 days of combat.