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Re: Cruft vs. szmike, Babeslite Scen 1 with 3-day turns

Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2024 2:03 pm
by Captain Cruft
Yes the Russian subs are proving to be particularly "exciting". Unless and until I can reduce Vladivostok to rubble this will continue to be a problem.

Artillery is the God of War

Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2024 10:54 pm
by Captain Cruft
13 Mar 1942 - Disaster at Khabarovsk

The force which had spent over two weeks trudging through the swamps finally crossed the river into Khabarovsk. They must have been a bit tired as their efforts left something to be desired.

On the subsequent day a Bombardment attack was foolishly undertaken, which resulted in all four of the artillery units being wiped out.

Doubtless the remnants of this army will be forced out next turn. I just wonder where they will retreat to.

-----------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Khabarovsk (118,41)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 41396 troops, 408 guns, 258 vehicles, Assault Value = 1392

Defending force 43945 troops, 753 guns, 1119 vehicles, Assault Value = 1569

Japanese adjusted assault: 356

Allied adjusted defense: 2576

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 7 (fort level 5)

Combat modifiers
Defender: forts(+), leaders(+)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
12684 casualties reported
Squads: 326 destroyed, 454 disabled
Non Combat: 14 destroyed, 119 disabled
Engineers: 74 destroyed, 55 disabled
Guns lost 142 (58 destroyed, 84 disabled)
Vehicles lost 81 (8 destroyed, 73 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
360 casualties reported
Squads: 10 destroyed, 106 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 29 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 16 (1 destroyed, 15 disabled)
Vehicles lost 20 (1 destroyed, 19 disabled)

Assaulting units:
9th Division
6th Division
10th Division
11th Tank Regiment
13th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
11th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
6th Army
12th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
7th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
9th Ind. Engineer Regiment

Defending units:
422nd Rifle Division
8th Cavalry Division
3rd Ussurii Tank Brigade
205th Rifle Division
258th NKVD Regiment
12th Rifle Division
3rd Amurskaya Tank Brigade
10th Air Army
1131st Hvy Howitzer Regiment
1120th Cannon Regiment
1123rd Cannon Regiment
190th/398th PVO AA Battalion
362nd/367th OM Gun Battalion
1137th Howitzer Regiment
1122nd Cannon Regiment
1140th Cannon Regiment
76th Cannon Regiment
1129th Hvy Howitzer Regiment
187th Cannon Regiment
1194th BM Howitzer Regiment

-----------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Khabarovsk (118,41)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 900 troops, 60 guns, 72 vehicles, Assault Value = 531

Defending force 44599 troops, 789 guns, 1120 vehicles, Assault Value = 1491

Japanese ground losses:
Guns lost 69 (69 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 94 (94 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 4

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

destroyed_arty.png
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Attrition

Posted: Sat Sep 07, 2024 1:02 pm
by Captain Cruft
31 Mar 1942

The army which crossed the river at Khabarovsk has been annihilated.

He has counter-attacked in the north and taken Hailar, which was always going to happen.

Russian subs and destroyers have proven to be a pain the butt. We are slowly getting rid of them but they have managed to put torps into two CVLs. They're not going to sink but will be out of action for a while.

We have achieved air superiority over the Vladivostok area, but the Russian flak is horrendous and prevents our bombers from doing really significant damage.

Slow going at Singapore and Bataan due to lack of air support and (in Malaya) supply problems.

Landing at Balikpapan next turn.

destroyedarmy.png
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Phew

Posted: Sat Sep 07, 2024 11:36 pm
by Captain Cruft
03 Apr 1942

*** Singapore falls ***

Also Balikpapan, with oil and refinery mostly intact.

Quagmire?

Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2024 11:41 pm
by Captain Cruft
12 Apr 1942

Sitrep Soviet theatre.

Thrust and counter-thrust ... This will be the way of it for the rest of the game, however long that lasts.

I am currently beating the Soviets in the air and at sea, but the Red Army is a tad more difficult to deal with.

[ Open Image in New Tab to get the full size picture ]

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DEI update

Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2024 11:45 pm
by Captain Cruft
Soerabaja is defended

He is prepared to defend Soerabaja, which makes sense. He likes subs, and quick surface raids by CLs and DDs.

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Re: Quagmire?

Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2024 11:39 pm
by bigred
Captain Cruft wrote: Mon Sep 09, 2024 11:41 pm 12 Apr 1942

Sitrep Soviet theatre.

Thrust and counter-thrust ... This will be the way of it for the rest of the game, however long that lasts.

I am currently beating the Soviets in the air and at sea, but the Red Army is a tad more difficult to deal with.

[ Open Image in New Tab to get the full size picture ]


sovtheatre.png
Later in my current game I found a supply problem w/ the russians inactive and I had activated all fortess building. USSR ran out of supply. Seems to me the way to tame the bear is conquer china all the way to Urumchi. then cut the rail in several places along the TSR. I like the back door idea at Komsomolinsk. Combined with targeted rail cuts and maybe you could put the russians out of supply then starve them out. .

Re: Quagmire?

Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2024 1:07 am
by RangerJoe
bigred wrote: Wed Sep 11, 2024 11:39 pm
Captain Cruft wrote: Mon Sep 09, 2024 11:41 pm 12 Apr 1942

Sitrep Soviet theatre.

Thrust and counter-thrust ... This will be the way of it for the rest of the game, however long that lasts.

I am currently beating the Soviets in the air and at sea, but the Red Army is a tad more difficult to deal with.

[ Open Image in New Tab to get the full size picture ]


sovtheatre.png
Later in my current game I found a supply problem w/ the russians inactive and I had activated all fortess building. USSR ran out of supply. Seems to me the way to tame the bear is conquer china all the way to Urumchi. then cut the rail in several places along the TSR. I like the back door idea at Komsomolinsk. Combined with targeted rail cuts and maybe you could put the russians out of supply then starve them out. .
Cut the resources to the 1400 LI producing supplies!

Re: Cruft vs. szmike, Babeslite Scen 1 with 3-day turns

Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2024 11:21 pm
by Captain Cruft
Yes I would hope that the Soviet activities are limited by supply. I did have a quick go at bombing the industry in Vladivostok but the flak is just horrendous. Maybe when I have some more robust bombers ...

Luzon is ours

Posted: Sat Sep 14, 2024 11:26 pm
by Captain Cruft
Apr 24 2024

Bataan falls. Thus freeing up some much-needed LCUs for elsewhere (not Russia).

Tojo Eve

Posted: Mon Sep 23, 2024 11:45 pm
by Captain Cruft
30 May 1942

Next turn I will start producing the Tojo. The Oscars have been doing very well so far, but they aren't Tojos ...

In the Soviet theatre, Arshaan is holding out well, but the force I moved into the woods to cut off the Trans-Siberian Railway are struggling. He has completely surrounded them and so they are not getting supplied. It won't be too long before they are eradicated.

On the plus side, I have total liberty to bomb all the Russian bases in the "Maritime" province. The flak at Vladivostok is still very strong but elsewhere it's easy pickings. The air markers at Vladivostok and Olga are all "auxiliary".

In Sakhalin Okha is proving to be a tough cookie, despite not having a fortress. It will fall eventually though.

I have also invaded Java, landing at Tjepoe and Semarang.

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Arshaan falls

Posted: Thu Oct 17, 2024 10:45 pm
by Captain Cruft
25 Aug 1942

The game has become pretty quiet.

I have taken Java, and Arshaan has finally fallen to the disgusting Red Army. My opponent has lamented that this "siege" has lasted 3 months. I wasn't counting, but that is quite gratifying. There will be many more sieges in the Soviet-facing theatre before the game is out.

Preparations for the Decisive Battle continue.

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Allied advances

Posted: Sat Nov 02, 2024 2:55 pm
by Captain Cruft
21 Oct 1942 - Thailand

We have taken Palembang and Makassar. That will probably be about the extent of our offensive operations.

The Allies (apart from the Americans) are advancing in numerous places.

Brits have appeared in Northern Thailand.

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Allied advances

Posted: Sat Nov 02, 2024 2:58 pm
by Captain Cruft
21 Oct 1942 - Southern/Central China

He has troops in Wuchang, Kiukiang & Kaoping. Not sure he can take those places yet but they're there.

china.png
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Allied advances

Posted: Sat Nov 02, 2024 3:00 pm
by Captain Cruft
21 Oct 1942 - Northern China

Combined Chinese/Soviet efforts have taken several bases which were only lightly defended.

I will try to get him out of Shanhaiguan (on the coast) as this is cutting the magic highway. Otherwise I can only really hope to defend.

chinanorth.png
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Allied advances

Posted: Sat Nov 02, 2024 3:05 pm
by Captain Cruft
21 Oct 1942 - Russian theatre

There is a large army to the west of Komsomolsk. I am bombing it.

In the lower left corner there is also a force in the woods which is headed for either Yenki or Rashin.

Sovietskaya Gayan is under siege. I only have light forces there so he will probably take it quite soon.

I still have massive air superiority, this is my only hope. However the Russian flak is extremely destructive.

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Quiet Americans

Posted: Sat Nov 02, 2024 3:17 pm
by Captain Cruft
21 Oct 1942 - No sign of the US juggernaut

I still have a fully intact navy, including all the CVs. This may explain why I haven't seen any US activity out in the Pacific.

One thing I wondered about was whether he would send any 4E bombers to Russia. It's certainly possible, and there are lots of suitable airfields. However nothing yet. Hopefully there isn't enough supply there to service them.

Re: Cruft vs. szmike, Babeslite Scen 1 with 3-day turns

Posted: Sun Nov 03, 2024 5:49 pm
by BBfanboy
Russia is short of Air Support, even for their own pitiful air force. And I am pretty sure you cannot base other nations aircraft there - Stalin's paranoia and all that! Allied ships cannot even get fuel at Soviet bases (even if they delivered the fuel!) unless they were under repair there.

Re: Cruft vs. szmike, Babeslite Scen 1 with 3-day turns

Posted: Sun Nov 03, 2024 11:42 pm
by Captain Cruft
BBfanboy wrote: Sun Nov 03, 2024 5:49 pm Russia is short of Air Support, even for their own pitiful air force. And I am pretty sure you cannot base other nations aircraft there - Stalin's paranoia and all that! Allied ships cannot even get fuel at Soviet bases (even if they delivered the fuel!) unless they were under repair there.
Yes that would be historical, but is it reflected in game?

Re: Cruft vs. szmike, Babeslite Scen 1 with 3-day turns

Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2024 12:29 am
by BBfanboy
Yes. I activated the Soviets to find out those sorts of things. A bit galling to drop 30,000 tons of supplies and find out they won't give you a couple of hundred tons of fuel to get back home.