BACK IN BUSINESS - PzB goes East again(st) Andy Mac

[castor troy]

that post was 4 months old [&:]

[PzB74]

Yes, indeed! Time flies...as always!

I asked Andy if we could end this game - for several reasons.

1. There are balance issues regarding supplies. Not enough to maintain Japan's scen 2 armies and navies in mid 44.
Not only supplies, but heavy industries have been sucked dry. Each turn I have to worry about this and I'm tired of it - Japan is winning, not loosing.

2. The game has for many purposes been decided. By mid 44 Japan holds the historical mid 1942 boundaries and navies, armies and air fleets are intact while
Allied fleets have been shattered several times. A continuation for another 2 years will see Japan's full strength navy hiding behind powerful LBA and countering allied invasion attempts.
Allied losses will make it impossible to support more than one major amphibious invasion at the time.

3. I'm not really enjoying the game anymore; after years of playing the game (and stubborn Andy) just refuse to come to an end, no matter how well Japan does.
For months I've been sitting looking over the maps, playing the waiting game while thousands of Allied bombers pound some happless dirt speck into oblivion.

Since there are many new games - like War in the East - I want to free some time to play these.
I'm sorry that I want to end the game while Andy wants to continue, or play another match. Andy's been a great opponent and he really never gives up

Instead of proclaiming an end result I think it's better to look back at all the adventures and battles that have made this such an interesting game.
And not the least, thank all of you for contributing and commenting [&o]

[JocMeister]

Its a shame the game has come to an end. But I certainly understand your motivations. Good luck in any future endeavors and thank you for your fantastic AAR! [:)]

PS, You might want to wait for WITW if you havn´t bought WITE yet. WITE is sadly...lacking.

[PzB74]

Thx Joc [:)]

I got WitE - but not played it much. What do you find lacking, and will this be improved in WitW?
- In the old War in Russia it was the Western Front version that was lacking...

[Cribtop]

PzB, when I first contemplated playing Japan, it occurred to me that military victory (as opposed to "player defined victory" e.g. "I lasted until date X") would require serial, one-sided naval victories for the IJN - in other words, winning 3 or 4 "Decisive Battles" in a row. I considered this highly unlikely, but you pulled it off in this game. I salute your glorious victory! [&o][&o][&o]

[TheLoneGunman_MatrixForum]

Would this be the first actual Japanese military victory in Admiral's Edition AAR History that reached a nearly complete game end?

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: PzB

Thx Joc [:)]

I got WitE - but not played it much. What do you find lacking, and will this be improved in WitW?
- In the old War in Russia it was the Western Front version that was lacking...

The airmodel is very, very crude and its actually a bit of a stretch calling it a model at all! The supply system is also very poor. You basically move Rail construction units each turn and thats it. The naval side is more or less non existent.

They have said they are fixing all this for WITW so I high hopes for it! [:)]

[PzB74]

Thx Crib! Andy struggled with the game mechanics at sea and got the special long range strikes twice.
The uber sized carrier TFs also back fired - to Japans favor.

While Japan ruled the seas we failed to occupy Oz, but we did manage to tie down Allied troops here for a long time.
Andy's advanced in India pushed us out of Rangoon - we just barely managed to hang on.

WitP is more a game about dominating the Pacific Ocean, so Andy's victories ashore never counted for as much as those at sea from a tactical point of view.

Hm, sorry to hear that! They don't plan to improve the air and supply models for WitE?
For the time being I'm thundering around in my World of Tanks vehicles and enjoying the new lease of life for Panzer General [:)]

[PaxMondo]

Great AAR.  Hope to see you here again in another soon.

[inqistor]

WOOHOO!
THE MAN is back!

I was afraid, he got married, and wife forbid him playing [;)]

ORIGINAL: PzB

1. There are balance issues regarding supplies. Not enough to maintain Japan's scen 2 armies and navies in mid 44.

I thought that was only temporary. Remember that you have played original WITP, where since mid-1942 there is problem with having even few bases at 20k supply [:)]

Not only supplies, but heavy industries have been sucked dry. Each turn I have to worry about this and I'm tired of it - Japan is winning, not loosing.

Could it be fault of number of pilot replacements? It does not seem, you were producing that much equipment.

Speaking of which - can we see industry screens?
I am especially interested in number of infantry squads produced (it is all at second last table, just sort it by USED), and your surplus of manpower.
Also number of produced planes (and types) can be interesting.

[PzB74]

Nah, married for 5 years and no interference!-)
- Been a lot of years WitP'ing and AARing now [:)]

Japan have to many pilots, to many soldiers, ships and ac..!
Seems like demand is higher than supply. Each time Tokyo gets over 50k supplies I have to load up and ship to Burma, South East Asia.
Risk is that armies there can't fight properly; and even if supplied a major Allied offensive would see us in the red in no time.
Then there are all the other garrisons and islands including Marianas, Java, Philippines etc.

Will pick up a snap later, Premier League just started again [8D]

[PaxMondo]

If you can post some Tracker shots of your economy.  I really want to look at your supply situation ....

[Andy Mac]

I finally found the time to read this all the way through

I really really really really hate losing but have to confess I was well whipped in this one !!

[witpqs]

I think PzB wields a light-sabre in one hand while he plays AE with the other!

[Crackaces]

ORIGINAL: PzB

Yes, indeed! Time flies...as always!

I asked Andy if we could end this game - for several reasons.

1. There are balance issues regarding supplies. Not enough to maintain Japan's scen 2 armies and navies in mid 44.
Not only supplies, but heavy industries have been sucked dry. Each turn I have to worry about this and I'm tired of it - Japan is winning, not loosing.

2. The game has for many purposes been decided. By mid 44 Japan holds the historical mid 1942 boundaries and navies, armies and air fleets are intact while
Allied fleets have been shattered several times. A continuation for another 2 years will see Japan's full strength navy hiding behind powerful LBA and countering allied invasion attempts.
Allied losses will make it impossible to support more than one major amphibious invasion at the time.

3. I'm not really enjoying the game anymore; after years of playing the game (and stubborn Andy) just refuse to come to an end, no matter how well Japan does.
For months I've been sitting looking over the maps, playing the waiting game while thousands of Allied bombers pound some happless dirt speck into oblivion.

Since there are many new games - like War in the East - I want to free some time to play these.
I'm sorry that I want to end the game while Andy wants to continue, or play another match. Andy's been a great opponent and he really never gives up

Instead of proclaiming an end result I think it's better to look back at all the adventures and battles that have made this such an interesting game.
And not the least, thank all of you for contributing and commenting [&o]

This game is in my opinion the archetypical example that even with the best tactical and operational play -- the IJ
cannot simply apply forces and run over the Allies to win the game according to the constraints set in the game.
Simply, the IJ used too many resources to expand too far and ran out of supplies and industry before the Allies
ran out of will.

To win as the IJ one has to out last the Allied onslaught that includes multiple bomber groups. Expanding the
defensive parameter for the IJ and holding till late 1944 at a cost of supply -- might not last till 1946.

Well great game! It shows how far the IJ can expand ....and the upper costs of that expansion ...

[Andy Mac]

Maybe but I made a lot of mistakes in this game and he wiped th efloor with me

I was unlucky in a few spots but all in all he outplayed me and I underestimated Japanese resilience a few times

[Andy Mac]

Gawd I remember this I almost fell for it as well !!

ORIGINAL: PzB

Ah, finally weekend; tired as a log despite not having kids yet.
- AE is much to blame since I always stay up 1 hour to long to do just another turn!

Burma is a threatened sector indeed; need to work hard to reinforce it.
Can anyone give me an estimate of what AV Andy could be expected to bring?
- If we have 2000 AV in place for defence he will have to bring 3-4000 to get somewhere.
If he wants to invade by sea he need more than the British flat tops for support.

Well, if I first invade Australia why don't give it all my best! [:)]
Maybe all of it is to ambitious but I'll be opportunistic and do my best while trying to avoid the big disasters.
Andy doesn't have much of a reference on how to defend Oz and I like that - all new dice.

This is scen 2; so Japan got an extra army. No idea if Allies are weaker, have to ask Andy or someone more familiar with the Allied battle roster. If they are able to attack in Burma in mid 42 weaker wouldn't be the first thought that came to mind though [;)]

Hehe, a few surprises along the way only spice things up Monter!-)

If I fail you can build an AFB statue of Andy instead and place a small moron statue next to hi... [:D]

6 days until Yamato is ready - not using battleships much at this stage; to fuel hungy and they hit $hit...
Considering to put half the battle wagons at Truk and the rest in Singapore as a reserve together with some escort carriers.
- The Mini KB must support the KB in the task of isolating SE Oz.

Our heavy cruisers will be our main striking force backed up by the 4 Kongo's escorting the KB.

The Australian Army Group is composed of:

The Geraldton invasion force

65th Brigade
20th Inf regiment
2 tank regiments
1 engineer regiment
1 arty unit
Div base forces and support units.

The 16th Army spread out between Alice Springs and Bowen

2 full divisions
9 inf regiments
13 tank units
2 assault engineer units
A dozen arty units
Numerous garrison and support units

The 25th Army currently at sea:

4 full divisions
3 inf regiments
2 tank units
3 assault engineer units
Numerous arty and support units

The plan is that 6 tank units and 1 inf regiment will link up with these troops from Alice Springs.

Reserves: 2 infantry regiments at Rabaul.

Totals:
6 divisions
1 brigade
12 regiments (+2)
17 tank units
6 assault engineer units
+ Arty, garrisons and support units

I'm planning to place the amphibious brigade at Tulagi / Lunga while 3 regiments are kept in the Marshalls together
with the bulk of naval garrisons and SNLF units.


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR May 10, 42

Sub Attacks

Hm, an AKL is an acceptable target if you ask me...I-124 better not RTB with torps in the tubes!-)

Submarine attack near Sydney at 91,168

Japanese Ships
SS I-124

Allied Ships
xAKL Wawa

xAKL Wawa is sighted by SS I-124
Captain of SS I-124 elects not to launch torpedoes at this target
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

Bown was also abandoned!

Ground combat at Bowen (93,147)
Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 1025 troops, 4 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 89
Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 38
Allied adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 38 to 1 (fort level 3)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Bowen !!!

Combat modifiers
Attacker:

Assaulting units:
22nd Recon Regiment
7th Tank Regiment
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------