Sardaukar's Newbie Grand Campaign Tutorial (Community Effort)

[Sardaukar]

ORIGINAL: Yaab

Sardaukar, in your plans concerning China you mentioned two offensive battles: Ichang and Sinyang. While Ichang is a non-issue of sorts ( clear hex, lots of Chinese troops nearby, possibility of AI vacating the hex before the battle), Sinyang is different. How do you reduce Sinyang fortifications if standard Chinese corps has no combat engineeres just engineeres in its TOE? Do you plan to bring masses of troops to raise your AV ratio in the battle and make the Japanese retreat from Sinyang then? Also, I noticed that China Command (command HQ, range 9) sits in Chungking 100% prepped for Chungking. Do you change its prep points to Sinyang in order up the AV of the assaulting units ( manual p. 178) ? In my understanding, the China Command does not need the Chungking preparation point, since it already has 50 exp and it will not gain more experience from Resting ( according to the manual max Chinese experience that can be gained by training, is 45). Just curious.

Ichang is indeed done deal.

Sinyang will require complete encirclement of base. This would obviously be difficult against human opponent (if not even impossible), albeit AI will contest this too. Fortunately lot of Chinese units are alrealy occupying hexes around the base. Plan for Sinyang is not assault, but siege. "Death by thousand cuts".

It is more of distraction..and it'd force Japanese to react, committing resources against Chinese that, frankly in that area, are expendable.

See the pic below. There is only one hex to occupy..and Japanese have to react mainly from directions denoted by red arrows (lovely done by free hand of me).

If anyone wonders why closest Chinese units are not ordered to advance there, answer is Fort levels. Digging in saves lives.

In China, when you move, do it with purpose. Otherwise, dig in. Units outside base hexes will dig in automatically. As long as Rangoon is held by Allies, you can dig in with selected bases. But after "Burma road" is closed, remember that it costs supply.. Thing that you'd need desperately for you units to be able to fight.

[Yaab]

Thx, Sardaukar.

I think Sinyang siege offers a chance to look at hex possesion and supply movement, ideas that us newbies may struggle with. Your plan is to occupy all hexes surrounding Sinyang. This will totally cut the supply routes into Sinyang and the Japanese would either have to break the siege or supply Sinyang garrison by air. Is that correct?

Second, you could also (albeit with some heavy maneuvering?) enter the Sinyang hex from all directions and assume total control of all the hexsides in the Sinyang hex. This cannot probably be done in a coordinated fashion, since different Chinese corps would not arrive in the hex at the same time, given the different terrain and roads they are marching, and arriving piecemal they could be beaten by the Sinyang garrison. Would you contemplate such an operation were all the hexes surrounding Sinyang uniform terrain (i.e clear) with identical road network?

I am trying to learn how to conduct sieging in WITP:AE.

[Sardaukar]

ORIGINAL: Yaab

Thx, Sardaukar.

I think Sinyang siege offers a chance to look at hex possesion and supply movement, ideas that us newbies may struggle with. Your plan is to occupy all hexes surrounding Sinyang. This will totally cut the supply routes into Sinyang and the Japanese would either have to break the siege or supply Sinyang garrison by air. Is that correct?

Second, you could also (albeit with some heavy maneuvering?) enter the Sinyang hex from all directions and assume total control of all the hexsides in the Sinyang hex. This cannot probably be done in a coordinated fashion, since different Chinese corps would not arrive in the hex at the same time, given the different terrain and roads they are marching, and arriving piecemal they could be beaten by the Sinyang garrison. Would you contemplate such an operation were all the hexes surrounding Sinyang uniform terrain (i.e clear) with identical road network?

I am trying to learn how to conduct sieging in WITP:AE.

Yes, since (IIRC) Sinyang doesn't have any intrinsic supply production, Japanese would indeed need to break the siege or air-supply.

I think trying to enter hex from all directions is bit of waste of time, since as far as I know, unit cannot retreat from hex containing enemy unit to other hex containing enemy unit. So just having unit in every hex around would be sufficient. Or one could enter from one or 2 hexsides and thus take control of those hex-sides, removing the need to have units in those hexes. But of course it is beneficial to have units surrounding enemy, to prevent breaking the siege.

So, most likely, I'll surround Sinyang and later, after enemy is getting out of supply, I'll enter the base from one hex-side.

[Yaab]

ORIGINAL: Sardaukar

Dec 14-15 highlights:

- some submarine action
- AM Penguins has managed to survie
- troop convoy unloading in Rangoo loses one ship to Nells/Betties
- normal skirmishes in China
- Japanese capture San Fernando in Ph.I.

Combat report attached.

Rangoon and Burma Road are important for the war effort in China so losing unloading shipping hurts. I noticed that in the attached combat report, the Japanese air raids on Rangoon were spotted at 3 to 36 nautical miles. Do you plan to move a unit with radar equipment into Rangoon or you rely solely on numerical advantage of your CAP? Would early radars improve your situation there?

[Sardaukar]

ORIGINAL: Yaab

ORIGINAL: Sardaukar

Dec 14-15 highlights:

- some submarine action
- AM Penguins has managed to survie
- troop convoy unloading in Rangoo loses one ship to Nells/Betties
- normal skirmishes in China
- Japanese capture San Fernando in Ph.I.

Combat report attached.

Rangoon and Burma Road are important for the war effort in China so losing unloading shipping hurts. I noticed that in the attached combat report, the Japanese air raids on Rangoon were spotted at 3 to 36 nautical miles. Do you plan to move a unit with radar equipment into Rangoon or you rely solely on numerical advantage of your CAP? Would early radars improve your situation there?

Problem with that is that closest units with radars are in USA...none of the Brits have upgraded yet from Sound Detectors. So there is really no realistic chance to get radar to Rangoon unless base forces upgrade. I checked and RAF/RN base forces will lose even their sound detectors in next TOE upgrade..

Mobile Base forces just don't have mobile radars yet. Only garrison fort units get CH radar in next upgrade. When you check the pic in link, you see why these Chain Home radars were not mobile: http://www.radarpages.co.uk/mob/ch/chainhome.htm

India/Burma/Malaya was the poor stepchild in British empire military and getting decent equipment takes time.

[Yaab]

The reason I am asking about radars is that when I tried to sort out the mess which China is, I noticed that I have only one size 4 airfield there, which is Chungking. I planned to use this airfield as the main base for Chinese bombers and subsequently bolster it meager anti-air defenses by adding more fighters from AVG. Still, I noticed that Chunking has no radar and wanted to move there a unit that has such equipment (ideally unloaded at Rangoon, railed to Lashio and marched to Chungking). Since your tutorial AAR uses DaBigBabes there should be two unrestricted units with radars: 109th RN Base Force in Kuala Lumpur and 113rd Adv Base Force in Mersing. Both should have No.1 Mk I (Device 921) radars at hand. Is this radar used for detecting aircraft?

I have just checked a combat report from Dec 7th with air attack on Mersing. It says "raid detected at 40 NM". Bingo!

[Sardaukar]

ORIGINAL: Yaab

The reason I am asking about radars is that when I tried to sort out the mess which China is, I noticed that I have only one size 4 airfield there, which is Chungking. I planned to use this airfield as the main base for Chinese bombers and subsequently bolster it meager anti-air defenses by adding more fighters from AVG. Still, I noticed that Chunking has no radar and wanted to move there a unit that has such equipment (ideally unloaded at Rangoon, railed to Lashio and marched to Chungking). Since your tutorial AAR uses DaBigBabes there should be two unrestricted units with radars: 109th RN Base Force in Kuala Lumpur and 113rd Adv Base Force in Mersing. Both should have No.1 Mk I (Device 921) radars at hand. Is this radar used for detecting aircraft?

I have just checked a combat report from Dec 7th with air attack on Mersing. It says "raid detected at 40 NM". Bingo!

Yes, you are correct. Those 2 units do have that radar and it is air search. It's effectivity is only 30, though. I am getting 5 of those devices per month...so maybe I am lucky and one of my Rangoon BFs upgrade to them... I am keeping those in Singapore, since with Japanese planes in northern Malaya, getting them to Rangoon might be bit tricky, not impossible though. But I think their usefulness is bigger in Singapore.

[Sardaukar]

Orders for Dec 22-23:

- 2 more subs set to patrol from PH.
- some more air search arranged on West Coast.
- some unit commanders in Burma changed for better ones
- one of AUS brigades in Singapore changed to unrestricted HQ
- second AVG squadron sent to Rangoon to bolster Air defenses.
- AA regiment from Mandalay sent to Pegu
- one BN sent to Mandalay, since under garrison requirements
- general changing orders for units that have reached their destination.
- same with ship repair
- fast tanker with DD escort sent to Rabaul to provide fuel for Cruiser TF there.
- more Chinese units sent to Ichang, to be later used against Sinyang

[Sardaukar]

Highlights for Dec 22-23:

- 3 minor disaster hits Allied cruisers. Japanese planes manage to torpedo 2 CLs in Rabaul one in Palembang (latter was done by CV force planes)
- Wuchow is lost
- Davao is lost
- Brunei is lost
- despite added air cover in Rangoon, Japanese long range TBs sink several ships from last convoy.

Combat report attached as usual.

[Sardaukar]

Orders for 24-25 (Merry Xmas, pixel troops!):

- Catalinas in Port Moresby sent to evacuate brave AUS commandos ousted before from Kavieng.
- 2 just arrived Ind Inf Coys set to Strat, they will go to Noumea
- 46th Indian Brig sent to march to Pegu from Rangoon.
- damaged cruisers either put into harbour for emergency repairs or sent home (Sydney for Rabaul CLs)
- token Brewster unint (Dutch) sent to Palembang to give nominal air cover from Singkawang
- Ph.I. units set to correct op modes and merged, if possible

I will still try to sneak in 2 troop convoys into Rangoon, with 63rd Brig, AA and ARM unit.

[Sardaukar]

Highlights of Dec 24-25:

Our pixel troops were handled pretty hard in some occasions...

- DD Scout in Soerabaja is hit by bomb from carrier plane and put to dock
- Wenchow is lost
- Cabanatuan is lost and Japanese are preparing to advance to Clark Field
- Undefended Kuala Lumppur is lost
- Digos is lost
- undefended Tavoy is lost
- generally, in couple of occasions this tuen, Ph.I. and Chinese defenders were handled pretty roughly by IJA.

The greatest loss though, is that MAJ Gregory "Pappy" Boyington of AVG/1st Sqd was killed in air combat over Rangoon. He had been credited with 1 air combat victory so far.

[Sardaukar]

As you can see from A2A losses in picture below, numbers count. They especially count when meeting unescorted bombers. Lot of those Japanese planes shot down were lightly escorted/unescorted IJA/IJN bombers in Singapore, Rangoon and Clark. If you can concentrate versus divided enemy, do so.

I am especially delighted with performance of RAF planes in Singapore. They have been handing IJAAF their butt time after time. Going is lot tougher in Rangoon and Ph.I., because there our fighter planes meet elite IJNAF Zeros & Betties/Nells. Still, USAAF, RAF and AVG have more than given what they take.

[Yaab]

In my newbie stock GC test games, my Rangoon convoys always got hit hard by the Japanese torpedo bombers. Sardaukar, I noticed that in the DaBig Babes, the best AKs in terms of AA values and in vicinity of Rangoon, are the American AKs in Chittagong ( AA values of around 20, compared to the British AKs in Ceylon and Calcutta whose AA values are mostly 8). Plus, the durability of the American ships is comparable to the British. Maybe the American ships would fare better in your convoy runs to Rangoon?

[Sardaukar]

ORIGINAL: Yaab

In my newbie stock GC test games, my Rangoon convoys always got hit hard by the Japanese torpedo bombers. Sardaukar, I noticed that in the DaBig Babes, the best AKs in terms of AA values and in vicinity of Rangoon, are the American AKs in Chittagong ( AA values of around 20, compared to the British AKs in Ceylon and Calcutta whose AA values are mostly 8. Plus, the durability of the American ships is comparable to the British. Maybe the American ships would fare better in your convoy runs to Rangoon?

That's a good idea, might try them.

[wdolson]

About the only way I can get supplies into Rangoon is to send in single AKLs.  I put a bunch of them in Diamond Harbor and made up a bunch of single ship TFs with them.  I load a couple a turn and send them south.  The small ships in small TFs tend to have the best chance of avoiding detection.  I also have a lot of fighters in Rangoon to protect them while they unload.

Once in a while the Netties will find them, but most get through and the cost if you lose a couple are small.

The SRA has lots of small AKLs at start.  They don't have the range for long ocean voyages, so this is a good use for them.

Bill

[obvert]

Against the AI I put the entire AVG in Rangoon plus the Buffs, and got multiple 6-8 ship TFs in early with generous amounts of supply, plus got quite a few bombers from the LR CAP as they came around the point toward the river. I found that the bigger faster ships were better just because I could get them into LR CAP range earlier than with the slow xAKLs. I must have put an extra 100,000 to 120,000 supply into Rangoon and a good portion of that up into China over the pass.

You can also keep a few British CVs out of Netty range and CAP as they are going in from them. At least early on.

The greatest loss though, is that MAJ Gregory "Pappy" Boyington of AVG/1st Sqd was killed in air combat over Rangoon. He had been credited with 1 air combat victory so far.

That's tough. Never seen Pappy out so early!

[Yaab]

Wow, some many ideas to try!

[Sardaukar]

ORIGINAL: wdolson

About the only way I can get supplies into Rangoon is to send in single AKLs.  I put a bunch of them in Diamond Harbor and made up a bunch of single ship TFs with them.  I load a couple a turn and send them south.  The small ships in small TFs tend to have the best chance of avoiding detection.  I also have a lot of fighters in Rangoon to protect them while they unload.

Once in a while the Netties will find them, but most get through and the cost if you lose a couple are small.

The SRA has lots of small AKLs at start.  They don't have the range for long ocean voyages, so this is a good use for them.

Bill

Good ideas.

I am not yet worried about supply situation in Rangoon/Pegu, but I'll have to try to address the issue when ground combat starts in Burma. Sneaky xAKLs seem definitely the way to go.

Right now my main concern are the 2 troop convoys still to arrive to Rangoon (63rd Brig, and in another ARM & Arty etc.).After that it's going either a trek through Jungle, albeit there are also those couple of Chinese divisions available.

[obvert]

I am not yet worried about supply situation in Rangoon/Pegu, but I'll have to try to address the issue when ground combat starts in Burma. Sneaky xAKLs seem definitely the way to go.

Most of the supply put into Rangoon is not intended for Burma but for China. This can really help throughout the rest of 42 to have a big burst for fort building and repair of troops. If your opponent goes for China hard supply may be an issue early.

Burma is untenable anyway, but it may be good for a few stalling battles in good territory.

[HansBolter]

ORIGINAL: obvert

Against the AI I put the entire AVG in Rangoon plus the Buffs, and got multiple 6-8 ship TFs in early with generous amounts of supply, plus got quite a few bombers from the LR CAP as they came around the point toward the river. I found that the bigger faster ships were better just because I could get them into LR CAP range earlier than with the slow xAKLs. I must have put an extra 100,000 to 120,000 supply into Rangoon and a good portion of that up into China over the pass.

You can also keep a few British CVs out of Netty range and CAP as they are going in from them. At least early on.

The greatest loss though, is that MAJ Gregory "Pappy" Boyington of AVG/1st Sqd was killed in air combat over Rangoon. He had been credited with 1 air combat victory so far.

That's tough. Never seen Pappy out so early!

This is what I do and have had no problem bringing in massive amounts of supply as well as covering the relocation of III Indian Corps from Singapore to Rangoon. Placing the bulk of III Indian Corps in Pegu can guarantee that the AI will never conquer Burma.

After stopping the AI cold in Burma three games straight and watching each game go downthe tubes for teh AI as a result I have refrained from beating up on the AI in this manner any longer.

Prioritizing the AVG squadrons for upgrade to P40E and P40K also helps to maintain air superiority over Rangoon during the critical period.

p.s. In my last game which I gave up in Marhc '43 Pappy was my leading ace with 37 kills and his squadron had over 500 kills (I trnasfer him and all the other experienced pilots of the AVG from the AVG when it leaves to one of the squadrons of the 10th AF when they arrive).