Well China... Nomad was retreating since turn 1 here and gave up everything until the mail rail from Changsha to Nanning. He had 6-8 units at each base and we were slugging it out at Changsha with artillery for weeks before I noticed a weak spot at Siangtan. I had tried some end runs on the northern trails, but ran into enough chinese to prevent any breakthroughs.
Recon spotted only 2 units at Siangtan - it was behind a river but I took the risk. I sent 1 Bde and 2 Rgts across the river and then pulled everything from Changsha and sent them as well. The initial attack lowered the forts there and beat up on the two units defending there - but also suffered heavily in the river crossing. I kept them attacking while supporting it with every bomber in range -- including naval bombers from Formosa.
In the end, Nomad noticed my move, but I don't think he noticed right away. He reacted by moving troops from Changsha to Siangtan, but it was to little to late. Between my bombers and the huge force from Changsha invading, Siangtan was going to fall. Once this was recognized he pulled a huge retreat.
Everything along the rail has pulled out leaving me the four bases there. He also pulled out of Nanning and I am guessing from Kweilin and Liuchow as well. He has 12 units at Chengteh but will probably establish large forces at Tuyung and Chikiang. I hope he doesn't just pull everything out of China and into Burma / India. I have no idea what sort of mess that would turn into in a year and am dreading it.
Wenchow is still in chinese hands, but I finally have it surrounded and am beating on it until it falls. There are 8 chinese units there that will be destroyed => 3 Corps, 1 Rgt, 1 Construction Rgt, 2 Group Army HQs, the 3rd War Area HQ and a Base Force.
Ground combat at Wenchow (89,58)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 58525 troops, 507 guns, 315 vehicles, Assault Value = 1932
Defending force 28583 troops, 117 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 639
Japanese adjusted assault: 445
Allied adjusted defense: 1207
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 2)
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker: supply(-)
Japanese ground losses:
912 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 87 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 19 disabled
Guns lost 15 (3 destroyed, 12 disabled)
Vehicles lost 33 (2 destroyed, 31 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
1268 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 95 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Xargun
; Julia Child
