Lambs to the slaughter (Lowpe (J) vs Jocke; BillBrown (A)) Finished

[Alfred]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

... PDU off is not well developed or thought out, imho. It skips entire models of planes; it severely handicaps the night fighters which I think is pretty much a death knell for Japan, and really hamstrings kamikazes...

Au contraire mon ami, it is PDU ON which was not developed or thought out.

PDU ON was introduced in a patch for classical WITP which was initially shipped out with only PDU OFF. The entire Japanese economic and logistical structure was calibrated to work "seamlessly" with PDU OFF. It was only following sustained criticism from predominantly JFBs that essentially a "marketing" decision was made to introduce PDU ON. However in doing so, none of the economic and logistic structure was recalibrated to accommodate this game unbalancing action.

With the exception of wdolson, to the best of my knowledge, none of the devs of either classical WITP or WITP:AE have ever publicly supported the availability of PDU ON. Mike Wood, the coder who wrote the PDU ON code for classical WITP subsequently stated that if he could revisit the issue, he would not have come up with PDU ON as the solution. Several of the AE devs have very clearly stated that they disapprove of the existence of PDU ON. I tend to agree with their reasons for their disapproval.

Even wdolson, the sole AE dev I recall who is not disparaging of it, likes it because it reduces clicks and micromanagement for an Allied player attempting to maintain units at full strength. IOW in a PDU OFF environment where downgrading to an obsolete, but plentiful in the pools, model is not possible combined with the strict fixed quantum of airframes which is delivered to the Allied player, the game is made more "playable" with PDU ON for an Allied player. This difficulty of not being able to downgrade with PDU OFF is not a problem for a Japanese player as they can always configure their aircraft production to produce as many airframes as needed to fully equip their air units.

Alfred

[Alfred]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

And the combat result.

Because New Zealanders were listed at 0 in the combat replay, I feel that the Helen bombing was decisive and that this wasn't simply the result of a good roll, although I probably did get a decent roll.k

Of course, you can believe what you want.[;)]

Ahem, cough, ...

There is a negative leader check on the Combat Report.

Still the LBA strike would have been of benefit to you.

This Allied invasion is another poorly constructed operation. The fact that so many Allied bombers are hitting your position indicates the precarious position the "sheep herders" are in. It is a bit too early now but given a little time you should start planning on barbequeing the sheep.

Alfred

[Lowpe]

Nov 28th, 1943

Bombed Darwin, and no CAP present. Lost 5 bombers, but managed to sink 2-3 PT boats.

Another attack on the isolated 32nd and 6th Divisions. Light losses inflicted in a 14-1 assault. At this pace it will take a long to time to destroy these guys...they have nowhere to retreat to and are dug in. I will stay the course.

No Allied attacks.

I am gathering my Fast Transports for the plunge to rescue the troopers off New Britain.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Alfred

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

... PDU off is not well developed or thought out, imho. It skips entire models of planes; it severely handicaps the night fighters which I think is pretty much a death knell for Japan, and really hamstrings kamikazes...

Au contraire mon ami, it is PDU ON which was not developed or thought out.

PDU ON was introduced in a patch for classical WITP which was initially shipped out with only PDU OFF. The entire Japanese economic and logistical structure was calibrated to work "seamlessly" with PDU OFF. It was only following sustained criticism from predominantly JFBs that essentially a "marketing" decision was made to introduce PDU ON. However in doing so, none of the economic and logistic structure was recalibrated to accommodate this game unbalancing action.

With the exception of wdolson, to the best of my knowledge, none of the devs of either classical WITP or WITP:AE have ever publicly supported the availability of PDU ON. Mike Wood, the coder who wrote the PDU ON code for classical WITP subsequently stated that if he could revisit the issue, he would not have come up with PDU ON as the solution. Several of the AE devs have very clearly stated that they disapprove of the existence of PDU ON. I tend to agree with their reasons for their disapproval.

Even wdolson, the sole AE dev I recall who is not disparaging of it, likes it because it reduces clicks and micromanagement for an Allied player attempting to maintain units at full strength. IOW in a PDU OFF environment where downgrading to an obsolete, but plentiful in the pools, model is not possible combined with the strict fixed quantum of airframes which is delivered to the Allied player, the game is made more "playable" with PDU ON for an Allied player. This difficulty of not being able to downgrade with PDU OFF is not a problem for a Japanese player as they can always configure their aircraft production to produce as many airframes as needed to fully equip their air units.

Alfred

Perhaps it is the mod I am playing?

I don't see why you would have planes you can research and make, and yet have absolutely no squadron than can upgrade to it. Maybe there is a hidden upgrade path that is not visible and gets unlocked after an upgrade?

Plus I believe (at least in my modded game) every possible Toka squadron is a size 10 training Willow squadron that arrives in May of 45. Why research and make the Toka at all? Training squadrons can't be converted to kamikazes.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Alfred

Ahem, cough, ...

There is a negative leader check on the Combat Report.

Still the LBA strike would have been of benefit to you.

This Allied invasion is another poorly constructed operation. The fact that so many Allied bombers are hitting your position indicates the precarious position the "sheep herders" are in. It is a bit too early now but given a little time you should start planning on barbequeing the sheep.

Alfred

I wasn't clear...I meant no malus listed for disruption from the aerial bombing. The leader malus certainly helped, but in and of itself can't justify the starting 0 AV on the combat animation replay -- or can it?

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

I don't think researching anything else in a PDU OFF game is worth it ... Just build the aircraft to staff the groups as best you can ....

I think that is either misinformed or a function of the mod changes in this case, a rare disagreement between us.[;)] Most Frank squadrons can upgrade to the Ki94II. Most Sam squadrons can go to the Sam J. If I can hold the Allies off into 1945, I have a real good chance of fielding them in large numbers.

The others are in such small numbers that it probably isn't worth r&d. Ki83, Shinden, Jets, etc. Randy A and Randy B are worthwhile but don't need much allocated to them.

You are correct, I don't know this mod. If the Franks will upgrade to the FrankII (ki94), then by all means research it.
No idea what a SamJ is, but any Sam is good. So there you go. Two more fighters to go for ...

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

I don't think researching anything else in a PDU OFF game is worth it ... Just build the aircraft to staff the groups as best you can ....

I think that is either misinformed or a function of the mod changes in this case, a rare disagreement between us.[;)] Most Frank squadrons can upgrade to the Ki94II. Most Sam squadrons can go to the Sam J. If I can hold the Allies off into 1945, I have a real good chance of fielding them in large numbers.

The others are in such small numbers that it probably isn't worth r&d. Ki83, Shinden, Jets, etc. Randy A and Randy B are worthwhile but don't need much allocated to them.

You are correct, I don't know this mod. If the Franks will upgrade to the FrankII (ki94), then by all means research it.
No idea what a SamJ is, but any Sam is good. So there you go. Two more fighters to go for ...

Sam J is in stock...it has two extra 30mm up guns or something like that. I think it has the most firepower of any Japanese fighter.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Alfred

This Allied invasion is another poorly constructed operation. The fact that so many Allied bombers are hitting your position indicates the precarious position the "sheep herders" are in. It is a bit too early now but given a little time you should start planning on barbequeing the sheep.

Alfred

I am going to fly in some 47mm AT rapidfire guns. Plus I now have some Nicks ready to strafe, or to attack his reinforcements as they have 70 low naval.

I am afraid to attack with more, as I really want to evacuate my 19K troopers from New Britain...we shall see, I think I might do both at the same time. Depends what I can get away with.

Finished the turn, upgraded another fighter squadron to Frank Rs, one to Sonia B (a plane I don't think I have ever used much), a sentai to Peggy. I really like the Peggy's longer legs.

[Lowpe]

Nov 29, 1944

A great little fight, that the Allies win for now, of Singers.

[Lowpe]

IJN is not spotted, good DL really only on Manus.

I suspect this the sheepherders succor...

[Lowpe]

Burma

I really am clueless at what is going on here. China has fallen, Magwe and Rangoon totally vulnerable to strategic bombing and yet they are still hat 100 percent operation and now that the Allies have marched out of Magwe (100% skill in marching around the plains of Burma).

But for me, I am trying to attrit the Allied air force, wipe out the isolated Allied troops, and I am looking at trying to snare the Chinese in the north, and withdraw some troops back to build up a good reserve and strengthen the likely invasion spots.

The only tactic that makes a little sense to me is for the Allies to pressure with larger and larger forces and then making a fast march and a lighting invasion further south or Sumatra. The Royal Navy is strong, and I really am not contesting them at all with anything in the theater.

[Alfred]

Always wise to assume an opponent is undertaking a good plan even if they are not.
 
As to reducing the Allied pocket, too many players are unnecessarily concerned about their own fatigue levels.  Pockets must be attacked every day, not every 2-3 days as that allows time for the defence to recover.  Artillery should bombard every day without any consideration for the fatigue level.  Infantry should attack whenever disabled devices (primarily the AV contributing) are fewer than the ready devices.
 
Alfred



















  

[Lowpe]

Below is the just the tanks attacking the isolated Allied units, with other IJA units bombarding, and the infantry in reserve looking to recover a few disabled devices, resupply and lessen disruption.

Of course these guys are being strafed daily, and it seems odd to me that the Allies haven't mounted a LRCAP against them. Don't get it, although I do have fighters at 30K providing some LRCAP.

This attack really brings home the importance of rotating units and attacking every day as the Allies might be slipping in supply transports and I don't want to give these divisions any breathing room.

My experience is that at some point the number of destroyed squads will be all that occurs, since every device is disabled. Maybe I am getting close to that but with a raw AV of 100 at the beginning of the battle I fear not.


Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 3656 troops, 132 guns, 315 vehicles, Assault Value = 518

Defending force 19318 troops, 288 guns, 212 vehicles, Assault Value = 100

Japanese adjusted assault: 40

Allied adjusted defense: 11

Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
34 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
159 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 3 (2 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Assaulting units:
33rd Division
17th Indpt Guards Regiment
41st Infantry Regiment
3rd Tank/A Division
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
Botanko Hvy Gun Regiment
Tonei Hvy Gun Regiment
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
11th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
32nd Infantry Division
6th Australian Division
77th LRP Brigade

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Alfred

Always wise to assume an opponent is undertaking a good plan even if they are not.

As to reducing the Allied pocket, too many players are unnecessarily concerned about their own fatigue levels.  Pockets must be attacked every day, not every 2-3 days as that allows time for the defence to recover.  Artillery should bombard every day without any consideration for the fatigue level.  Infantry should attack whenever disabled devices (primarily the AV contributing) are fewer than the ready devices.

Alfred

Thanks Alfred[&o], that confirms my thinking here on having daily attacks over assaults every few days now that the Allies are fairly toothless. I like the greater than 50% guideline for attacks, I worry about disruption more than fatigue.

I really want to close this pocket, and get my artillery out of the jungle.

Flew some fighters back into Magwe today, nothing huge, about 120 low, layered CAP.

I am also sending in multiple small task forces into Madang on the New Guinea coast. I certainly hope he is not invading Manus with everything but rescuing the New Zealanders. I figure the first few will tangle with a Brooklyn/Fletcher SAG or two but the others might hit the transports. Threat level is set to Low to minimize combat time hopefully with the Fletchers.

I also put a squadron of Nicks (70 low naval, 70 strafe) on 1000 foot naval attack. I would be very curious to see if they can damage Fletchers after the Fletchers have used a lot of ammo fighting the IJN.

Countering Fletchers is one of the greatest challenges facing Japan. My normal strategy is Divebombers, but the Nicks properly trained might do ok especially combined with a hopefully ammo deficient task force. I also did fairly well using Light Cruisers and the low threat setting in my game versus Tiemanj.

[Lowpe]

Today's turn will be pretty important, with wide ranging impact on the war I think. It will decide most likely if I can get those 20,000 troops of New Britain, if I can slow the Madang offensive and resupply Kavieng.

And it will also hopefully be the final stages in wiping out an American & Australian Division & the LRP Bde in the Jungles of Burma.

Big stuff.

[Lowpe]

Big day...starts off poorly for Japan.

[Lowpe]

Round Two... These fights are one hex east of Madang.

[Lowpe]

Round Three...

[Lowpe]

Round 4

[Lowpe]

More...