Matrix Games Forums

March 1, 2, 3:
Leaky CAP gets some bombers in China.

Key: TT = Torpedo; bb = ground bombardment; c = casualties; b = base hits; s = supply hits; r = runway hits; p = port hits; f = fuel hits; AV = Assault Value; DC = Depth Charged; (*) = destroyed aircraft; If odds are underlined, they are the Allies; BG = Bomber Group of 48 planes (4 x 12 bomber squadrons)

Subs: [>:][>:]
Snook gets 4 TT hits on an AO south of Woleai. I think she sunk. [;)]

CVs:
Mine are almost to to Melbourne.

India/Burma:
Schwebo -
My stack one hex due west is targeted again on 1st. First 42 and then 32 Tojo sweep the skies and find only 6 Hurricanes on LRCAP. I lose 4 of them. 72 Oscars escort in 30 Helens to attack the 2nd Brit Div.
8 Hurricanes are there on 2nd to see no Tojo sweeps, but 27 Oscars with 14 Helens going after an Armoured Bde. He losses 7 in A2A and another 3 due to flak. 23 more Helen come in for the FA and he loses two more. A fourth group of 36 Oscars and 18 Helens get through.
The skies over the base are full on the 3rd. 42(6) Tojo face off against 32(7) Hurricanes and 6(2) P-40s. The second sweep of 42(1) Tojo sweep 8(2) Hurricanes and 2(1) P-40. The third group of 34 Tojo find empty skies. Only 35 Helens come in with a heavy escort of 90 Tojo, Oscars, and Nicks to hit the AF in two waves. I lose 7 more fighters on the ground.

China:
North -
Sian - AF is attacked by up to 12 Sonia daily.

Lanchow - Up to 84 Sally/Helen attack AF along with he troops daily with some Oscars for escort.

Urumchi - [>:]

South -
Paoshan - 19 Sally hit the defenseless AF on 1st.

Tsuyung - 19 Sally hit the AF on the 2nd, but my P-66s from Kunming are set with a range of 2. 15 P-66 destroy 8 of them. [:D]

Australia:
Lord Howe Island - Up to 131 B-17/24s hit the AF and troops daily.

Winton - the empty dot base up near Cloncurry becomes Allies on 3rd.

South Pacific: - [>:]
Multiple TFs headed for Australia

Central Pacific: - [>:]

North Pacific: [>:] [>:]

Engineering: - Hilo P4; Oodnadatta AF2; Warangal AF5; Oboto AF3; Ailinglaplap AF5; Buldir AF5; Charlesville AF7;

Notes:
Australia - The race continues north.

Burma - My inability to get sufficient supplies to the base at Shwebo has slowed down the expansion process (AF expands at 3% per day). I also see he has the small arrow out of Mandalay to head back over the river to Shwebo. I had not left sufficient garrison forces there and will pay the price in the next few days despite trying to get them back over from my huge stack due west of base. A major oversight on my part. Second, the distance from other bases required me to LRCAP the base and I'm losing the air war due to insufficient numbers in the skies. More learning to go.

March 4, 5, 6:
Shwebo switched possession back to Japan. [X(] [:@]
My first success with B-25D1s on LowN attack.

Key: TT = Torpedo; bb = ground bombardment; c = casualties; b = base hits; s = supply hits; r = runway hits; p = port hits; f = fuel hits; AV = Assault Value; DC = Depth Charged; (*) = destroyed aircraft; If odds are underlined, they are the Allies; BG = Bomber Group of 48 planes (4 x 12 bomber squadrons)

Subs: [>:][>:]
Salmon get a TT hit on an xAK off Cairns.

CVs:
Mine are at Melbourne repairing minor damage and having the remaining SBD group fill out after re-sizing to 36.

India/Burma:
Schwebo
4th - 42 Tojo sweep in despite the severe storms. 17 Hurricanes and 14 P-40s are there as LRCAP from Katha and Kalemyo. I do well this time as he loses 4 to my 2. 35 more Tojos come in to see my LRCAP down to 12 fighters. I lose two of them. 92 Oscars with 45 Helens attack two BFs. The skies are now clear for the afternoon sweep of 30 Tojo vs 26 P-40/Hurricanes. I lose another 4 fighters to 2 for Japan.
5th - battle shifts to over Mandalay
6th - 6 of 22 Oscars are lost, but get the 50 Helens by the 17 P-40/Hurricanes to attack my tanks. I lose 2 vehicles with 6 disabled. The 37 Tojo sweep in 'after' to find I still have 13 fighters on LRCAP. I lose 3:1. Another 42 Tojo sweep in to destroy 2 more fighters.

Ground combat at Shwebo (59,45)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 6594 troops, 113 guns, 482 vehicles, Assault Value = 372

Defending force 8768 troops, 99 guns, 218 vehicles, Assault Value = 115

Japanese adjusted assault: 478

Allied adjusted defense: 92

Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Shwebo !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: leaders(+), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-)

Japanese ground losses:
97 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Vehicles lost 33 (2 destroyed, 31 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1129 casualties reported
Squads: 10 destroyed, 13 disabled
Non Combat: 206 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 101 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 84 (71 destroyed, 13 disabled)
Vehicles lost 176 (174 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Units retreated 10

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
9th Tank Regiment
3rd Tank Division

Defending units:
1st Gloucestershire Battalion
150th RAC Regiment
21st Light AA Regiment
1st Bengal Base Force
170 RAF Base Force
3rd (Special Force) Division
1st Burma Auxiliary AA Regiment
Clark Field AAF Base Force
803rd Aviation Engineer Battalion
22nd US Naval Construction Battalion

I saw this coming a few turns ago, but was unable to get sufficient troops back from the west. A lesson learned, but not too expensive of one, except the number of vehicles lost.

Mandalay
5th - I lose 2 of 27 P-38Fs vs 57 Tojo on 5th as I try to clear the way for my B-24s to hit his troops and hopefully slow down his crossing of the Irrawaddy River back into Shwebo. The 26 P-38Es destroy 4 Tojo in the second sweep (observation - my first sweep usually comes out on losing end of A2A, but the second sweep usually does very well). Only 20 B-24s attack the troops and face 37 Tojo and 4 Nicks on CAP. I lose one, but hit do hit the 23rd Division lightly.
6th - 21 P-38Es go in again and find 44 Tojo. I lose 3:1. 5 B-24s find 33 Tojo on CAP. 21 P-40Ks sweep in now to still find the 33 strong Tojo CAP. Again, I lose 3:1.

China:
North -
Sian - AF is attacked by up to 12 Sonia daily.

Lanchow - Up to 89 Sally/Helen attack AF along with he troops daily with some Oscars for escort.

Urumchi - On 5th,

Ground combat at Urumchi (79,11)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 360 troops, 0 guns, 69 vehicles, Assault Value = 38

Defending force 2269 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 77

Japanese adjusted assault: 31

Allied adjusted defense: 89

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 1)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), leaders(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(+), leaders(-)

Allied ground losses:
23 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
12th Tank Regiment

Defending units:
259th Brigade

South - [>:]

Australia:
Lord Howe Island - 6 Beaufort VIII reach out from the mainland to attack 2 DD without success just NE of island. 13 B-25D1s come in at 1000' to straf and bomb the 4 DDs off the island. I get 3 bomb hits on DD Isonami, sinking her. [:)] 36 Australian Mitchells from Brisbane hit the troops as I stand down 48 B-24 BG at Sydney. They join 73 B-17/24s attacking the AF and troops.
From Melbourne, I have two SC TF each with 2 Cleveland CLs, 4 Fletcher DDs, and 2 Mahan DDs patrolling to the west of island to see if I can intercept the Fast Transport TF off to the east.

Winton - My tank force here is attacked by 27 Helens at 6000' with 13 escorting Oscars on 6th. I have one vehicle destroyed and 29 disabled.
Note to self - have an AA unit with your tank units moving cross country in clear terrain.

South Pacific: - [>:]
Multiple TFs headed for Australia

Central Pacific: - [>:]

North Pacific: [>:] [>:]

Engineering: - Wotje P3; Ceduna AF4; Attu P2; Wotje F1; Abadan AF8; Amchitka AF5; Nauru F5;

Notes:
Burma - I learned a lesson here about ensuring my bases are properly garrisoned. Thanks to some recent postings by Jocke and Crackace I got needed feedback on my supply situation that I've taken steps to correct. I will need to retake Shwebo and build up the AF before going further. My P-40Ks have done well and I'm on the wrong side of the numbers every time in A2A combat with his Tojo. My pools of P-40s is deep, so I can afford some attrition. Overall, I'm far enough into Burma that it will become mine around the Irrawaddy river sooner, rather than later.

March 7, 8, 9:
My Fletchers with 2 CLs finally get some target practice. [:)]

Key: TT = Torpedo; bb = ground bombardment; c = casualties; b = base hits; s = supply hits; r = runway hits; p = port hits; f = fuel hits; AV = Assault Value; DC = Depth Charged; (*) = destroyed aircraft; If odds are underlined, they are the Allies; BG = Bomber Group of 48 planes (4 x 12 bomber squadrons)

Subs:

ASW attack near Cooktown at 93,134

Japanese Ships
CL Kashima
CL Katori
DD Karii
E W-20
E W-19
E W-12
E W-11
E Hato
E Hayabusa
AMC Saigon Maru
CM Tsugaru
APD Tawakaze
APD Kyukaze
APD Urukaze
APD Akikaze
LSD Nigitsu Maru
LSD Akitsu Maru
LSD Shinshu Maru
AK Shizuoka Maru
AK Joyo Maru
AK Atutasan Maru
AK Myoko Maru
AK Hakkai Maru
AK Kagu Maru
AK Melbourne Maru
AK Kaga Maru
AK Sado Maru
AK Hirokawa Maru
DD Yomogi
DD Tsuga
DD Hasu
E Ishinui

Allied Ships
SS Salmon

A missed opportunity.

Grayling sinks an xAK with 2 TT hits off Cairns.
Trout hit an xAKL off Milne bay with a TT.

CVs:
Mine are at Melbourne.

India/Burma:
Schwebo [>:] 2700 AV are marching from the hex due west to retake this base.

Akyab -
7th - My troops that are one hex to the SE are attacked by 45 Helens escorted by 42 Oscars. My AA units get five.
8th - I had moved in three groups of Hurricanes. 15 of them are over the troops as 6 Oscars with 11 Helens attempt to hit the troops. I get three of them. A second strike of 20 Tojo with 22 Helens face the 12 remaining Hurricanes. Losses were 2:1 in Allied favor. 13 Hurricanes are there in the afternoon as 36 Oscars with 16 Helens come in. I shoot down one while flak gets another.

China:
North -
Sian - AF is attacked by up to 12 Sonia daily.

Lanchow - Up to 80 Sally/Helen attack AF along with he troops daily with some Oscars for escort.

South - [>:]

Australia:
Lord Howe Island - 9 A-29 Hudsons and 36 Mitchells hit the AF and troops, weather permitting daily. On 9th, 4 PB are quickly sunk to the east of the island by by 2 CLs, 6 DDs. Then...

Night Time Surface Combat, near Lord Howe Island at 101,169, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Fubuki, Shell hits 4
DD Usugumo
DD Shirayuki, Shell hits 3, on fire

Allied Ships
CL St. Louis, Shell hits 1
CL Helena
DD O'Bannon, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Radford, Shell hits 1
DD Saufley
DD Waller
DD Dunlap
DD Perkins

Reduced sighting due to 10% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions and 10% moonlight: 1,000 yards
Range closes to 27,000 yards...
Range closes to 25,000 yards...
Range closes to 23,000 yards...
Range closes to 21,000 yards...
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 15,000 yards...
Range closes to 13,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
Range closes to 5,000 yards...
Range closes to 4,000 yards...
Range closes to 3,000 yards...
Range closes to 2,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 2,000 yards
DD Shirayuki engages DD Saufley at 2,000 yards
DD Shirayuki engages CL St. Louis at 2,000 yards
DD Perkins engages DD Fubuki at 2,000 yards
DD Shirayuki engages DD Radford at 2,000 yards
DD O'Bannon engages DD Fubuki at 2,000 yards
CL Helena engages DD Shirayuki at 2,000 yards
DD Usugumo engages DD Saufley at 2,000 yards
DD Fubuki engages DD O'Bannon at 2,000 yards
DD Waller engages DD Fubuki at 2,000 yards
DD Shirayuki engages DD Saufley at 2,000 yards
Japanese Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...

Winton - My AA unit has not arrived yet, so the Armoured Rgt is attacked again by 27 Helens with 30 Oscars as escort. My AA unit is one hex away on the 8th as another strike of 28 Oscars with 22 Helen hit my tanks again. I lose 6 tanks over two days.

Bowen - the empty base becomes belongs to the Allies on 8th. Now, I'm just three hexes away from Townsville, but the AF needs to be built.

South Pacific: - [>:]

Central Pacific: - [>:]

North Pacific: [>:]

Engineering: - Wotje F2; Nauru F5; Alinglaplap P2; Kwajalein P4; San Diego AF9; Adak P7; Koggala AF5; Cox's Bazar AF9; Alice Springs AF4; Emerald AF1;

Notes:
Eastern Australia - Looks like Nick is leaving as recon shows Cairns empty and large number of shipping at Townsville. I form up 2x TF of 6 PT boats at Bowen to see what is at Townsville on the 10th.

March 10, 11, 12:
Multiple attacks around Shwebo.

Key: TT = Torpedo; bb = ground bombardment; c = casualties; b = base hits; s = supply hits; r = runway hits; p = port hits; f = fuel hits; AV = Assault Value; DC = Depth Charged; (*) = destroyed aircraft; If odds are underlined, they are the Allies; BG = Bomber Group of 48 planes (4 x 12 bomber squadrons)

Subs:
Salmon hits an xAK with a TT off Cairns.
Albacore get a TK with a TT in the shipping lanes between Rabaul and Truk.
Porpoise is hit once by PBs between Milne Bay and Rabaul.

CVs:
Mine are at Melbourne.

India/Burma:
Schwebo Getting only 6 Hurricanes as LRCAP over my troops one hex to the west is not enough vs 42 Tojo on sweep. I lose two more fighters. The same happens again on the 12th. [:(]
The 12th brings two attacks outside this base.

Ground combat at 60,44 (near Shwebo) One hex to NE

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 420 troops, 0 guns, 81 vehicles, Assault Value = 37

Defending force 6585 troops, 59 guns, 77 vehicles, Assault Value = 45

Japanese adjusted assault: 50

Allied adjusted defense: 45

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(+)

Allied ground losses:
85 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Assaulting units:
9th Tank Regiment

Defending units:
1st Gloucestershire Battalion
170 RAF Base Force
1st Burma Auxiliary AA Regiment
3rd (Special Force) Division
21st Light AA Regiment
803rd Aviation Engineer Battalion
1st Bengal Base Force
Clark Field AAF Base Force
22nd US Naval Construction Battalion
I had ordered my B-25s and Blenhein IV at Dimapur to ground attack with escorts and sweeps by P-38s in anticipation of this, but like everybody knows the weather in Burma always plays a role. [8|]

Ground combat at 58,45 (near Mandalay) One hex to west

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 73562 troops, 931 guns, 1198 vehicles, Assault Value = 2762

Defending force 21132 troops, 255 guns, 445 vehicles, Assault Value = 762

Allied adjusted assault: 1174

Japanese adjusted defense: 221

Allied assault odds: 5 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: op mode(-), disruption(-), fatigue(-), experience(-)
supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
7010 casualties reported
Squads: 171 destroyed, 102 disabled
Non Combat: 164 destroyed, 102 disabled
Engineers: 24 destroyed, 27 disabled
Guns lost 69 (44 destroyed, 25 disabled)
Vehicles lost 258 (91 destroyed, 167 disabled)
Units retreated 2

Allied ground losses:
674 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 84 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled
Guns lost 24 (1 destroyed, 23 disabled)
Vehicles lost 8 (1 destroyed, 7 disabled)

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
2nd British Division
BFF Brigade
39th Indian Division
254th Armoured Brigade
22nd (East African) Brigade
20th Indian Division
268th Motorised Brigade
255th Armoured Brigade
5th Chinese Corps
III Indian Corps
23rd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
95th Heavy AA Regiment
17th Indian Light AA Regiment
163rd Light AA Regiment
28th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
25th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
35th Light AA Regiment
22nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment

Defending units:
3rd Tank Division
23rd Division

The Allied ground "Death Star" is alive and well in the Irrawaddy Valley. [:D] Nick wrote back the last turn that air attack recon had showed only two divisions and an armoured brigade present. I will now resume my march east to retake Shwebo. The General Lee tanks don't take any losses. [8D]

Akyab - a ground bb attack shows the 4th Ind Mixed Rgt in the hex two SE of this base on the trail. I will try a deliberate attack on 13th.

China:
North -
Sian - AF is attacked by up to 12 Sonia daily.

Lanchow - Up to 9 Oscars with 91 Sally/Helen attack AF along with the troops daily.

Urumchi - My troops are steadily being worn down with this attack on 11th.

Ground combat at Urumchi (79,11)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 372 troops, 0 guns, 69 vehicles, Assault Value = 39

Defending force 2283 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 79

Japanese adjusted assault: 35

Allied adjusted defense: 33

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0

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

Allied ground losses:
43 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Assaulting units:
12th Tank Regiment

Defending units:
259th Brigade

South - [>:]

Australia:
Lord Howe Island - My 9 A-29 Hudsons and 36 Mitchells DO NOT hit the AF and troops during this three day period. [&:]

Townsville - Two TF of 6 PT boats each arrive here on the night of the 10th. The first group sinks an APD with troops, but cannot hit the 6 "E" or 11 xAPs with TT. The second TF sinks an xAK with 5 TT hits and a PB with 1 TT.

South Pacific: -
Anatom - My well rested and tanned B-17/24 at Suva come out for target practice on the AF here. 96 bombers are involved in multiple strikes over three days.

Central Pacific: - [>:]

North Pacific: [>:]

Engineering: - Mili AF5; Adelaide P7; Ceduna AF5; Bowen AF1; Lahaina AF7; Savusavu F5; Diamond Harbour AF8; Emerald AF2;

Notes:
B-17/24s - I have 6 BGs of heavy bombers on the map at this time. I have a full BG (48 planes) of B-17Es at Suva. A slightly depleted group of 35 B-17Fs in Australia. I have 2x BG of B-24Ds on east coast of Australia. I have a third BG of B-24D1s at Suva. I have my only B-24D/D1s In India at Chittagong converting over from a few B-24Ds to B-24D1s. This will take the rest of the month and maybe a few more days. Plans are to then upgrade the BG with 8 B-18s over at Bombay to 48 B-24D1s during April and into early May giving me 96 planes in India. I have just moved the first two PB4Y-1 Liberators groups of 12 planes each over to Sydney from Pago Pago. I may move them over to Ceduna to hit Esperance in western Australia.

Burma - We each of made errors in judgment around Shwebo. Hopefully, I can take advantage of it over the new few weeks.

Arn´t you playing with stacking limits? Looking at your death star that must be some 80-100.000 troops?

Yes we are, but in clear terrain the limit is 110,000. I have 90k there.

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Yes we are, but in clear terrain the limit is 110,000. I have 90k there.

That' why japan needs to defend the jungle hexes....

what I don't get with the stacking limits is how it is supposed to work if I intend to attack something. As the attacker, you may need twice, three, four or even more times the troops needed to break through a position given the ground combat model in AE. Now if there is a stacking limit of I got no clue how much in a jungle hex, if the defender puts a div there and meets the stacking limit, the attacker would never ever break through with only a single division attacking.

That would mean a line of jungle hexes would create a Maginot line³... what do I miss? [&:]

ORIGINAL: castor troy

what I don't get with the stacking limits is how it is supposed to work if I intend to attack something. As the attacker, you may need twice, three, four or even more times the troops needed to break through a position given the ground combat model in AE. Now if there is a stacking limit of I got no clue how much in a jungle hex, if the defender puts a div there and meets the stacking limit, the attacker would never ever break through with only a single division attacking.

That would mean a line of jungle hexes would create a Maginot line³... what do I miss? [&:]

1) Firepower
2) Deliberate over stacking
3) Rotation of troops

Obviously you know about these things and the other necessary components like bombing campaigns, naval bombardment where possible, HQs, leaders, and so on. But within the target hex itself you want the best firepower (anti-hard, anti-soft, even good armor on tanks to thwart enemy anti-hard), more of it, and fresh troops. If the defender can match or close enough to match those things, that makes for a successful defense.

Obviously you look outside the target hex too, at outflanking, interrupting supply, bringing in massive supply of your own to keep forces fresh, etc.

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Yes we are, but in clear terrain the limit is 110,000. I have 90k there.

Ah, of course! [:)]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

ORIGINAL: castor troy

what I don't get with the stacking limits is how it is supposed to work if I intend to attack something. As the attacker, you may need twice, three, four or even more times the troops needed to break through a position given the ground combat model in AE. Now if there is a stacking limit of I got no clue how much in a jungle hex, if the defender puts a div there and meets the stacking limit, the attacker would never ever break through with only a single division attacking.

That would mean a line of jungle hexes would create a Maginot line³... what do I miss? [&:]

1) Firepower
2) Deliberate over stacking
3) Rotation of troops

Obviously you know about these things and the other necessary components like bombing campaigns, naval bombardment where possible, HQs, leaders, and so on. But within the target hex itself you want the best firepower (anti-hard, anti-soft, even good armor on tanks to thwart enemy anti-hard), more of it, and fresh troops. If the defender can match or close enough to match those things, that makes for a successful defense.

Obviously you look outside the target hex too, at outflanking, interrupting supply, bringing in massive supply of your own to keep forces fresh, etc.

Can't agree more. One thing you learn when you play a stacking limited game is that you MUST pay attention...a lot of attention to your armies composition.
A tank division has more firepower and less stacking limit cost than a regular infantry division, so you may want to compose your attacking force putting togheder a good combo of forces.

During my campaigns in China i discovered that the best way to deal with a 50,000 stacking limited enemy army, for example, was to pack togheder 2 regular infantry divisions, 1 Army HQ, a couple of tank regiments, 2 Combat Eng regiments, 2 light artillery bdes (75mm field gun and 81mm mortars) and some heavy arty (150mm or more)

The Allied ground "Death Star" is alive and well in the Irrawaddy Valley. Nick wrote back the last turn that air attack recon had showed only two divisions and an armoured brigade present. I will now resume my march east to retake Shwebo. The General Lee tanks don't take any losses

How much is in Mandalay? It might be better to occupy Mandalay and disrupt the MLR as well as supplies propagating to Swebo. Than to cross the Irrawaddy River to Swebo in this direction. IMHO . given this set up .. occupy Mandalay with troops and Swebo cannot be defended ..

ORIGINAL: witpqs

ORIGINAL: castor troy

what I don't get with the stacking limits is how it is supposed to work if I intend to attack something. As the attacker, you may need twice, three, four or even more times the troops needed to break through a position given the ground combat model in AE. Now if there is a stacking limit of I got no clue how much in a jungle hex, if the defender puts a div there and meets the stacking limit, the attacker would never ever break through with only a single division attacking.

That would mean a line of jungle hexes would create a Maginot line³... what do I miss? [&:]

1) Firepower
2) Deliberate over stacking
3) Rotation of troops

Obviously you know about these things and the other necessary components like bombing campaigns, naval bombardment where possible, HQs, leaders, and so on. But within the target hex itself you want the best firepower (anti-hard, anti-soft, even good armor on tanks to thwart enemy anti-hard), more of it, and fresh troops. If the defender can match or close enough to match those things, that makes for a successful defense.

Obviously you look outside the target hex too, at outflanking, interrupting supply, bringing in massive supply of your own to keep forces fresh, etc.

Well, yeah, but with the given ground combat model NONE of the above would result in a USMC division (pretty much best ground unit in the game) being able to kick an IJA division out of a jungle rough hex I guess. And rotating units only takes 14 days each time. In these 14 days it takes you to rotate your attacking units the defender has recovered the couple disablements it took during the defense. I had out of supply Dutch (roughly 1000av) survive in Java's mountains against IJA attacks until Java was liberated in 43. If out of supply, low value Dutch troops can hold (daily bombed for a year), I can't see how this should work any better with stacking limits because stacking limits is like chopping off the attackers feet (and arms) IMO.

Most of the players fail to achieve something in areas like Burmese jungle to achieve something even without stacking limits, with stacking limits I have no hopes those would ever be able to move a single hex forward that is non clear terrain. I have thought long about using Babes with stacking limits but just can't see it working with the given ground combat model (and everything that goes hand in hand with it, like the supply routine, morale system, fatigue, etc).

Stacking limits only work for me if the rest works too for example as the crazyness starts right at the point when you can put a division for months into some jungle rough hex, have it fully supplied and all that happens is a little fat and morale dropping to zero after some 5 years. Stacking limits on islands being the exception to me.

Decision time is coming at Allied Command HQ.

Nick admits he is pulling out of eastern Australia. I have to decide where I will be going from here. Options include:
1) SoPac operations around the greater Luganville area that I've prepped for but postponed while I have the big 3/43 upgrade that gets me APAs, significant AA upgrades for other transports (most of these are ongoing in NZ), and then the Hellcats coming out in 4/43 for my CVs.
2) Lower New Guinea area that includes Horn Island, Port Moresby, and Milne Bay areas.
3) Western Australia which would probably be an invasion of Esperance

Forces available are: units - where they are at - prepping for - PP needed
US Marines
1 Mar Div @ Pago Pago - Tarawa 87% (changed to where??)
2 Mar Div @ Marshalls (divided into A, B, C and needs to be transport out)
3 Mar Div @ Suva - Luganville 100%
6 Mar Rgt @ Mili - 100%

US Army
27 Div @ Cape Town - Taung Gyi 100% - needs 1942 PP
43 Div @ San Fran - Noumea 100% - needs 2136 PP
41 Div @ Australia - Luganville 100%
40 Div @ Australia - Ndeni 100%
7 Div @ San Fran - no where yet - needs 2124 PP
32 Div @ Australia - Townsville 16%
25 Div @ Pearl - 100% - needs 2125 PP
Americal Div @ Australia - Esperance 41%
37 Div @ Adak - Koumac 31% (2/3 loading on transports right now to go back to USA)
24 Div @ Pearl - Wake 100% - (21 & 19 Rgt each need 645 PP)

Australian
6 Aus Div @ Australia - Cairns 31%
7 Aus Div @ India - Akyab 100%
4 Aus Div @ Australia - Horn Island 33%
1, 2, 3, 5 Aus Div @ Australia - all need PPs

Right now I know I will need to gather more intel via recon flights on some area to determine defenses. Each option has pro & con.

Suggestions and/or comments??

I might agree if this game is played just analyzing single factors like a single USMC division vs. an experienced IJA division in a vaccum. Yes the USMC division is going to have a hard time. However, this game has multiple facets and such attacks require isoaltion to be sucessfull. For exmple, to support attackers it takes bases built and supplies to be moving. Assuming no borked Home Rules, airpower and ground attacks might not kill squads in the jungle but these attacks will run up the disruption, and subsequently the combat results.

Going from tactical to opertaional to strategic ... Given stacking limits, there are jungle hexes in Burma that have very high comparative stacking limits. The two hexes north of Toungoo are examples. These hexes present a conundrum in that 55,000/70,000 troops is roughly 1800/2300 AV. So the IJA are going to committ 4100 AV to hold just these hexes? If Toungoo falls the enitire line is compromised due to how the rail network/supply works. Then the IJ have to decide on firepower, morale and experince as every division is not elite guards, and this is quite a committment. The other problem is that some area of the line is going to have much less AV, worse troops/firepwer, or the IJ are going to be solely invested in Burma making the rest of the bowl of jello quite vulnerabale ...

So I beleive Castor Troy presents a problem of WWI like proportions where the troops in a vaccum line up and stalemate. But it is quite possible depending on home rules to use a wider set of strategies to break an IJA line in the Burma theater.

I can say unequivocally the IJA line in this game right not is untenable and soon will result in disaster. [;)]

I can say unequivocally the IJA line in this game right not is untenable and soon will result in disaster. [;)]

I agree with this assessment, BUT I have two dilemmas to overcome for this to be proven true - forward supplies and need for PP to buy more divisions. From your previous postings, I now have significant construction units moving from India into Burma to expand AFs to max and then more arriving at Eastern USA for the trip to Cape Town and then India. The rest of '43 will be a monthly decision on who gets the PP points?? India or the USA.

The IJ are making the same decisions ... where to put divisions and how much [;)]

I wouldn´t bother we the lower Solomons at this stage. Its a good place to seek battle in 42 but you are past that now. I would actually do the same thing I did in my game albeit you are a year earlier. But with just one leap (Milne/PM) you can outflank the whole Solomons. If you then have sufficient forces and time your prep you can slingshot up New Guinea at an astonishing pace! I have no doubt you would be even more effective at this then I have been. [:)]

Ragading OZ.

Why not go to Darwin via Horn island? Once you have Darwin he will have to empty out Western OZ and withdraw to the DEI. You will need Darwin at some point and if this eases the liberation of Western OZ why not do it now? [:)]

March 13, 14, 15:
Tanks arrive at Townsville and will attack on 16th.

Key: TT = Torpedo; bb = ground bombardment; c = casualties; b = base hits; s = supply hits; r = runway hits; p = port hits; f = fuel hits; AV = Assault Value; DC = Depth Charged; (*) = destroyed aircraft; If odds are underlined, they are the Allies; BG = Bomber Group of 48 planes (4 x 12 bomber squadrons)

Subs:
Scamp put a TT into PB about 7 hexes south of Japan.

CVs:
Mine are at Melbourne.

India/Burma:
Schwebo
13th - 25 P-40s sweep over the hex 1 NE of this base and find only 4 Tojo on LRCAP. 2 are shot down. Over 25 Tojo are present as LRCAP when multiple strike of B-25s & Blenheim with P-40s & Hurricanes as escorts try to hit the Tank Rgt. Allied losses are 31 planes for the day to 24 for Japan. 42 Tojo sweep over the "Death Star" 1 west of base.
14th - 18 P-40Ks sweep the hex NE of base and find only 12 Tojo on LRCAP. He loses 3 to my 0. Like I said to both Jocke and Cribtop, I can win these type of encounters when I'm ahead in the numbers game. [:)] A second sweep of 25 P-40Ks vs 21 Tojo ends up having both of us lose one plane. The 42 Tojo continue to sweep over my "Death Star." 29 Oscars escort in 33 Helens. They come in at 6k and my flak destroys 7 of them as they inflict 56 casualties. [:D]
15th - The 'milk run' by 42 Tojo over my troops continues. [;)] Then, 11 Helen with 35 Oscars go after one of my armoured brigades inflicting 26 casualties. My troops are at 18/46 to Shwebo and move 6 miles per day.

Akyab - On 13th, I attack 2 hexes to SE

Ground combat at 55,47 (near Akyab)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 11263 troops, 188 guns, 190 vehicles, Assault Value = 394

Defending force 4237 troops, 32 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 121

Allied adjusted assault: 187

Japanese adjusted defense: 217

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
80 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Allied ground losses:
101 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Assaulting units:
25th Indian Division
1st Indian Light AA Regiment
2/9th Field Regiment
2/11th Field Regiment
14th Indian Light AA Regiment

Defending units:
4th Ind.Mixed Regiment

After a day of rest, I attack again on the 15th with worse results.

Ground combat at 55,47 (near Akyab)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 11241 troops, 188 guns, 190 vehicles, Assault Value = 388

Defending force 4209 troops, 32 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 117

Allied adjusted assault: 161

Japanese adjusted defense: 352

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
293 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 15 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Allied ground losses:
218 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 36 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)

Assaulting units:
25th Indian Division
2/9th Field Regiment
2/11th Field Regiment
1st Indian Light AA Regiment
14th Indian Light AA Regiment

Defending units:
4th Ind.Mixed Regiment

China:
North -
Sian - AF is attacked by up to 12 Sonia daily.

Lanchow - Up to 9 Oscars with 83 Sally/Helen attack AF along with the troops daily.

Urumchi - An attack on the 14th...

Ground combat at Urumchi (79,11)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 360 troops, 0 guns, 69 vehicles, Assault Value = 38

Defending force 2164 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 63

Japanese adjusted assault: 15

Allied adjusted defense: 69

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 4 (fort level 0)

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

Allied ground losses:
101 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
12th Tank Regiment

Defending units:
259th Brigade

Since I have no Anti-Armor devices in my brigade, it is just a matter of time before I lose.

South - [>:]

Australia:
Lord Howe Island - 36 Mitchell II attack the troops daily while 10 A-29 Hudson continue to keep the base closed.

Townsville - 7 tank rgt/bde arrive with 389 AV on 15th. They will attack on 16th.

South Pacific: - [>:]

Central Pacific: - [>:]

North Pacific: [>:]

Engineering: - Mili P2; Attu AF2; Bhamo AF4; Bowen AF2; Oodnadatta AF3; Kalemyo AF6;

Notes:
The race up the east coast of Australia continues. I'm doing some prep for possible invasion of western Australia with 1st & 2nd Marine Division prepping for Esperance now. I am getting relief troops prepped and transports to get American regiments to relief the 2nd of garrison duty. My Marines are do valuable for that job.

March 17th recon flight of PB4Y-1P Liberators from Nauru Island change bases from Rabaul to Shortland. Screenshot tells it all as KB is finally found. [8D] In response, I've ordered the PBY-5 group in the Marshalls (Wotje) to rest and then will be switched with the PBY-5A at Nauru. Why?? The distance from Nauru to Shortlands is 19. The range of the PBY-5A is 14/17 while the PBY-5 is 16/20. Thus, I can have overflights of most of the Solomons. An oversight of mine, but one that I can fix.

KB - shows 267 fighters and 295 bombers. That probably means 8 CVs with maybe a few CVLs present. I will need my Hellcats on my CVs to deal with this, so any conflict will not be for another two months. I was leaning towards western Australia and may go that way as KB is here to protect against my other two options.

OK, now that you have quickly read this post, you can go back to John's and Dan's battle off the NW corner of Australia. [:D]