WitP mod v903 Ngineer(Japan) vs. Feinder(Allies)

[Feinder]

November 30th, 1944

Borneo, Philippines, and Marshalls

Sarawak is secured. The last IJA Inf-Div retreated into jungle, and won't be see again.

We demolished the ports for Malaya and DEI; and have 3x Subs not entering theater which will also double as raiding the convoy line from Burma on the way in. Also sank an IJN sub trying to run the gap between Sumatra and Java.

We pushed up some light units to blockade Thailand's convoy, and found an IJN Sub. It was damaged and driven off into the Bay. I don't think he can escape, but he often surprises me.

Blockaded his remaining forces in Brunei, they're kinda screwed at this point.

Also began pounding targets in Luzon, sank two destroyers. If he keeps that CVL around for another turn, I'll kill it too. You can see I've got several Strat-Bmbrs in Mindanao. Those guys should be sufficient to close all his ports, and I'll invade shortly thereafter with Marines.

And the Marshalls... Landing at Kwaj was successful. With some hesitation, I pushed up my CVs at Enewetok, found also to be abandoned. So I bombed it's port, and should be able to land troops in next turn or so.

[Feinder]

November 30th, 1944

National Morale and Strategic Map

National Morale - We keep pushing him towards that 70% mark. Fall of Kwaj will register as -1500, and Enewetok will be another -1500. I want to get Manila, Batavia, Singapore, Guam, because those are the damage-over-time vs. the Allies.

Strategic Map - I obviously didn't do much with the Strategic Map. It's good that my individual theater maps, are beginning to show overlap though. Obviously, he's pulling back everywhere. It's entirely possible that he's going to try to pack every hex of Japan vs. Invasion. Which should be interesting. I don't know. He sent me a text that he's going to consider himself the winner if he still holds Tokyo in Sept-45. I'm not sure I agree with that, given an a-historical 1943; but either way, I'm in to play the game as long we can.

[Feinder]

November 30th, 1944

Admin Stuff

Research, Production, Losses, and Economy

Research - Nothing new spent on research. I got message that Aircraft Production(3) completed. Sweet. More bombers.

Production - Bought another Tac-Bmbr.

Losses - Two IJN Destroyers sunk in Philippines, and a Submarine sunk off Sumatra.

Economy - Borneo sending supplies to the USA. Fun.

[Feinder]

December 18th, 1944

"The Big Map"

I just thought I'd do it this way for this update, because it really does show how the Theaters are converging and becoming more inter-dependent.

It's a big map, feel free to open in a new window. In the "usual" form of update...

India - Japan had pulled back an Inf-Corps, I presume towards Rangoon. But it showed up again on the line with Burma. Combined attacks with Heavy Artillery, his SNLF-Div, and Thai troops, and his Inf-Corps, he destroyed an Indian Inf-Div. Indian and Chinese forces counter-attacked, and likewise destroyed his SNLF-Div, so we'll take that exchange. He also started to pull back an Inf-Corps at Akyab, but it left his other Inf-Corp exposed in the port. So I've cut off the Inf-Corps at Akyab and blockaded the port. We'll grind it down.

Malaya - UK/Canadian troops continue to unload in the northern throat of Malaya. My Inf-Corps at Bangkok pulls back along the throat because the supply situation there sucks. I won't be taking Bangkok from the throat, but it'll pin down his SNLF-Div. I should be able hold my rear with just a Garrison, since supply along that throat is bad both ways. Meanwhile, I'll advance towards Singapore with Monty, and my 3x Inf-Corps + 1x Inf-Div. It's such a narrow approach, I expect to need additional support (Naval and Air), and possibly a landing on the southern tip of the peninsula. But we'll see when we get there.

China - Good progress in China. The Communists in the North have cut off another IJA Inf-Div. It will be ground down, and once that's accomplished, they'll link up with additional troops already advancing towards Peiping. We're really just holding in Center, as we don't really have enough to drive on Tsingtao. Meanwhile, Nanjing is being enveloped. I really thought he's push more troops against me, but maybe he doesn't have much left. He did launch several airstrikes from two CVs (I thought he only had one). The second carrier is probably a late-game build or event. My fighters intercepted, and his strikes were in-effective. And at this point, any SP loss to his CAGs should be an deterrent to him. And if he's got two Carriers about, it'll give my own CVs something to hunt. Siege of Wuhan also in progress; will probably take a few turns, but I don't see him breaking the siege. For Wuhan and Nanjing, those a big NM recovery hexes for China, so that would be good to recapture them! And Shanghai and Peiping are a little ways off too...

Off Malaya and Vietnam - The IJN sub that had retreated into the Gulf of Thailand was found. It retreated into a port in Malaya and was then sunk. The Royal Navy Battle Ship Malaya accomplished it's task to drawing enemy ire a little too well. It was first hit (hard) by Medium and Maritime Bombers from Vietnam, then finished off by quick in-and-out strike by his remaining Heavy Cruiser and Destroyer. Did I want to attract attention? Yes. Get sunk for it? No. As reprisal, I did send CVLs to sweep his LBA in Vietnam, destroying both the Medium Bomber and the Mari-Bomber there. Poking his eyes out felt a little better. Also, about 8 USN Subs are coming into theater. At this point, most of his Navy is gone, and many of his convoys are shut-down as well. But they'll also be able to reach into the Manchukuo and Korea convoys; either way I'm certain, I'll find a use for them.

Borneo/Sarawak - IJA Inf-Div melted into the jungles of Sarawak. His Garrison near Brunei also destroyed, and his SNLF-Div holding out in NE corner of Borneo will soon succumb (port and town and both blockaded).

I'm going to leave Sumatra and Java alone for now. Either he'll thin out the troops for me, by shifting them around. Or it'll pin down a lot of his troops. Either way works. And the ports are shut down anyway, so no MPPs for DEI for him anyway. I'd like to stop the damage-over-time loss of NM of Batavia, but the reality is, the Brits aren't doing to bad right now, so it's not imperative.

New Guinea/Peleliu - Can't see it on the map, but his "eyes" revealed themselves on the little base off the horn of New Guinea. Destroyed same. Recon missions over Peleliu and Bathelpup show that Peleliu is lightly defended (only a Garrison) and Bathelpup is currently un-occupied.

Philippines - Bad weather over Philippines. I used by Strat-Bmbrs to shut down his ports. You can see he's got a fighter still in PI, and another north in Formosa (probably also giving CAP to CVs off China). Anyway, at this point, PI is locked down, so we launched a bunch of AV/AVLs and basically the plan is to deluge him from North and South (we need to secure the north and South port). We'll demolish anything we can with BBs, CVs, and LBA. Then boots on the ground.

Marshalls - Eniwetok was occupied (unopposed). We also ran some sweeps over Truk, and destroyed his Mari-Bmbr (eyes) there as well. He's got the beaches defended by an SNLF-Div. I'm sure they're well dug-in, and actually taking Truk could be a problem if he reinforces it esp while I'm on the beach (no supplies for me). Truk would be nice (-3500 NM for him), but as historically, not a priority for me.

[Feinder]

December 18th, 1944

National Morale and Strategic Map

National Morale - The usual. Worth noting that Japan is down to 72%, which is another NM break-point (it will put the Japanese in same tier as USA and China, but I've got a few of the Morale techs researched).

Strategic Map - Just some plotted known locations. Note his little CL back beyond Hawaii obviously looking for troop transports. There aren't any for him to find.

[Feinder]

December 18th, 1944

Admin Stuff

Research, Production, Losses, and Economy

Research - Nothing spent on research. Got completion notices for GroundAttack and StratBombers. Blowing sh_t up is good.

Production - Nothing produced, launching a bunch AV/AVLs is expensive.

Losses -
India: Inf-Div in Burma.
UK: BB sunk off Haiphong.
Japan: Garrison destroyed in China.
Japan: Garrison destroyed near Brunei.
Japan: Inf-Div destroyed in jungles of Sarawak.
Japan: Med-Bmbr destroyed in Vietnam.
Japan: Mari-Bmbr destroyed in Vietnam.
Japan: Med-Bmbr destroyed island off New Guinea.
Japan: Mari-Bmbr destroyed Truk.
Japan: SS sunk in port in Malaya.

Economy: US re-conquests coming online for convoys. Japan back down from DEI port closures.

[Feinder]

January 5th, 1945

Another Big Map

Ok. So I kept zoom-in, and 3x7 maps (total of 21 screen-caps). And then pasted them all together.
Somebody chime in, and say what a wonderful job I did cut-n-pasting all these maps together, because it was kind of a pain-in-the-ass.

Starting with India...
A bonus is that, I can now use the Indian ports for 10-pt repairs. That's going to be nice, because their are fewer Australian ports, and the hike back-n-forth from Northern Oz is getting tedious.
We were able to quickly reduce his Inf-Corps at Akyab. Frankly, I thought it would take 3-4 turns, but we smashed 'em up right proper this turn. I was also able to push those same forces along the coast, encountering lead elements of an under-strength Inf-Corps. I expect he'll want to hold with that Inf-Corps north of Rangoon, and should pull back his Mandalay forces back to Rangoon. Otherwise, they risk getting cut off. That would suit me, but we'll see.

British and Canadian forces push into Malaya. Last intel was 2x Inf-Corps at Singapore and Johore, and a Garrison or two on the way in, to tamp-down the Partisans. You can also see several more USN Subs transiting the Malaya-Sumatra Straights, on their way pillage convoy lanes.

China continues make huge gains. The Communist Chinese continue to pound/siege the IJA Inf-Div in the northern town. It should fall next turn. He counter-attacked in the Center, and managed to destroy an Nat-Chi Inf-Div. I remember being in that same place, happy to take any victory where it's presented. Our forces continue to assault Wuhan; also expected to fall next turn (and it's a NatMorale hex, yay). The Inf-Corps at Nanjing also capitulated, so we continued to drive to the coast, destroying another Garrison on the way. Lead elements of our army have reached the edge of Shanghai which is also lightly defended. He could shift a unit there using the port; but I've got him blocked up so he would be limited to only the second unit to defend (if he lands one), and I'm not sure he's got a unit or the MPPs to move it at this point. Also, with the surrender of Nanjing, he'll lose that Garrison in the South, and Inf-Div in Center. Bonus.

We're just going to continue to ignore Java and Sumatra for now. The port is destroyed, so it's not doing him any good. Yes, there the damage-over-time of NatMorale for Batavia; but I can live with it for now.

His SNLF-Div in Sarawak will run out of supplies next turn. Just because it's annoying my "completionist", I really want to see the interior of Borneo/Sarawak turn "green"; one can only hope.

Obviously the big news is Invasion Philippines. There was "some" planning to it. But mostly it involved just
1. Pounding the crap out the place with BBs and Strat-Bmbrs
2. Sweeps of his fighter unit.
3. More bombs with CVs (in Bomber mode).
4. Amphib assaults against his Tank-Div and Inf-Corp in the South (needed to capture the port, and get next to Manilla).
5. After destroying his fighters and a Garrison in North Luzon, was able to secure the port in the north, and dumped more guys there.
6. Moved up LBA Fighters and more CVLs to provide CAP.
7. Threw out a screen to the north, and some Cruisers to block the Leyte passage.

Landed unopposed at Babelthuap, and smashed the port at Peleliu prepped for invasion next turn.

[Feinder]

January 5th, 1945

Strategic Map and National Morale

Ooops. I got the turn back, when I had started this series on 01-05-45; and of course, the turn took precedence.

National Morale - Loss of Bathelpup and Nanjing, has pushed Japan into the "under 70%" bracket, meaning essentially that National Moral "bonus/penalty" is off the table. And with my extra investment into morale techs, the math says it's +20% to me.

Strategic Map - Esp with the Big Map previous, I'm not sure there's much point to the Strategic Map. I kinda-sorta drew a "what Japan still controls", but that's not really the case. I mean no disrespect; the reality is, "Japan only controls the Japanese Islands". He still has a small fleet (2x CV, 2x CVL, 1x DN, 1x BC, 1x CA, 2x CL). But I can pretty much go where I want.

[Feinder]

January 5th, 1945

Admin Stuff

Research, Production, Losses, and Economy

Research - InfantryWeaps(3) completed. Given that the I'm going to have to invade Japan, I'm going to need it. Kept Heavy Bombers and Ground Attack Weaps dbl-chitted.

Production - Lots of money spent on Amphib, upgrades, and replacements.

Losses:
China - Inf-Div lost in Center.
Japan - Garrison lost in Philippines
Japan - Arm-Div lost in Philippines
Japan - Fighters lost in Philippines
Japan - Inf-Corps lost in Philippines
Japan - Inf-Corps lost in Burma
Japan - Inf-Corps lost in Nanjing

Economy - He's lost nearly 1/3 of his MPPs in just 3 months. Ouch.

[Elessar2]

A bonus is that, I can now use the Indian ports for 10-pt repairs. That's going to be nice, because their are fewer Australian ports, and the hike back-n-forth from Northern Oz is getting tedious.

Hmm, you didn't mention any trigger for this change; I'll need to go back and look at older screenies. Really, it just flipped them all from 8 to 10 supply this turn?

[Feinder]

Are they not supposed to full repair? I just assumed as a major country like oz, it would repair to 10. I'll dbl-check, to see how they behave. Fwiw, all if the Oz ports repair to 10.

[Elessar2]

They should if connected to the capital (New Delhi) or any other primary supply source, which is weird if you are implying that the ports in question could NOT repair to 10 before this turn.

[Feinder]

January 23rd, 1945

Another Big Map

India - The Allies continue to keep pressure on the India/Burma border. He is known to have 2x HQ, 2x Inf-Corp, and Art-Div. This side of the map is really about attrition and keep those units pinned in Burma. At this point, I'm draining most of the MPPs that it provides, and there are no NatMorale objectives. The only real prize here is Rangoon the capital.

Malaya - Further south, Monty's forces continue to advance down the peninsula, and we liberate our first proper town in Malaya. If you look past Singapore, in the NW of Borneo, I've packed that corner with Medium and Tactical Bombers. Even with Range(4), they don't have the legs needed to operate in the Central Pacific. I'll use them first to close all the ports (no new IJA units into Malay). Monty keeps rolling south. Then I'll use them nuke anything in Singapore-Jahore; and Monty walks in. I'll probably do the same to Batavia, but we're not there yet.

Borneo and China Sea - Enemy resistance ended in Sarawak. Destroyers and Subs have been sent to blockade ports for Convoy Origins of DEI, Thailand, IndoChina. Since Rangoon cannot be blockaded (only one sea hex to port), I can use the units blockading Singapore to Raider, and they'll also raid the Burma convoy. I've also got a Mari-Bmbr stationed on Christmas Island to keep an eye any comings and goings in Java (weather permitting).

The Philippines - Manilla is liberated, and enemy resistance is wiped out. We'll get an HQ there because we're going to move up our Strat Bombers into Luzon. We also did some recon missions over Formosa, just some Fighters there, and we found a seaplane base in Okinawa and subsequently destroyed it. That actually left Okinawa undefended, so I completed the task by destroying it's ports, and have and AVL loaded to (hopefully) land/capture Okinawa in the coming turn.

In what now feels like "The South" is really Central Pacific. US forces landed at Peleliu (now un-opposed). We've blobbed together a force of (2x CV, 7x CVL, 2x BB, 2x BC, 2x CA) to escort 2x AVLs on their way to Guam. We've only got 2x AVLs, and 3 targets (Guam, Saipan, Tinian). Guam is first priority (damage-over-time to USA NatMorale). Then if we can take a second, great. Either way, we'll bomb whatever is there and destroy the ports so that the other bases cannot be reinforced and then captured in later turn(s). Other than the SNLF-Div in Guam, I don't know what he has. The distance to the Marianas is such that I won't have LBA cover. But 7x CVLs is plenty of CAP, while my CVs should be ok on Bomber mode if needed. Reality is, if he's got anything in Truk to send against me, I've still got him out-gunned 60:40, and Marianas are as remote for him, as they are for me.

Oh, and we landed/captured those twin bases at the spine of New Guinea because it's on the edge of being able to affect Marianas, and more because I'm just a completionist.

In China, we captured both Shanghai and Wuhan. These are major victories, as they EACH provide +7000 NM to China, and -3500 to Japan. The Comm-Chi Army and their Nat-Chi sympathizers now push on Peiping (another major NM location (+7000/-3500). We've also moved up a Mari-Bmbr as "eyes only" (not raiding) to observe Yellow Sea / East China Sea / and West coast of Japan.

Wow. We have at last have some eyes on (part of) Japan. Think about that...

[Feinder]

January 23rd, 1945

National Morale and Strategic Map

National Morale - Big hit so Japan's National Morale from last turn's victories. There will be an even bigger hit to Japanese NM this turn (Manila = -3500, Wuhan = -3500, Shanghai = -3500, Peleliu = -1500), a total of =12,000 NM, not counting the hit for unit's lost. Meanwhile, with the capture of Manila, we've stopped the major bleeder. Guam is the next priority.

Strategic Map - Not as much here, since so much is represented The Big Map. Frankly, I think the next, possibly last, battle with his fleet will either be in Marianas (if his fleet was a Truk, I doubt it), or at/near Okinawa (more likely).

[Feinder]

January 23rd, 1945

Admin Stuff

Research, Production, Losses, and Economy

Research - Nothing new spent on Research.

Production - Bought Strat-Bmbrs. Legs and big bomb-loads are always good.

Losses - Japan continues to get pounded
Japan - HQ : Philippines
Japan - Garrison : Peleliu
Japan - Garrison : China
Japan - Inf-Div : China
Japan - Inf-Corps : Philippines
Japan - Inf-Corps : China
Japan - Inf-Corps : China
Japan - SNLF-Div : Sarawak
Japan - Para-Div : Philippines
Japan - Mari-Bmbrs : Okinawa

Economy : Japan should definitely at this point be feeling the loss of many convoy lanes.

[Feinder]

February 10th, 1945

The Big Map

India/Burma - Indian forces stream south towards Rangoon with air support from the Royal Navy carrier HMS Indomitable, enveloping an Inf-Corps along the way. Advanced elements encounter slight resistance from a Security Division as our forces approach Rangoon. The remains of his Army in Burma in the NE will be forced back into Burma's rugged interior.

Several Allied naval forces also take advantage for the ports along India's coast, now able to resupply for the inevitable invasion of Japan.

Malaya - British forces continued to advance down the peninsula but were blunted by a counter-attack from an IJA Inf-Corps. Several USN Carriers on their India, will provide close air support against the Inf-Corps next turn, which should be sufficient to all the British to continue their advance

Meanwhile, USAAC Medium and Tactical bombers pounded supply depots behind the enemy Inf-Corps (just out of range of actually attacking it).

South China Sea - Blockades against the convoy ports of Dutch East Indies, Thailand, Malaya, and IndoChina are all in place. Rangoon should fall soon to shut down the Burma convoy.

Off NW Australia - Intel reported a enemy Destroyer, evidently looking for Transports. Given that our ports are almost always in use, we had several units available to sortie against it. Enemy Destroyer was heavily damaged (down to SP-5), so we have surrounded it to prohibit it from escaping next turn.

East China Sea - Manila ports are repairing. I need to get an HQ in there, but didn't realize I had an available size-5 port, so I'll move in an HQ next turn. We also landed a USMC-Div at Okinawa (unopposed).

China - Our Chinese Allies continue to punish the Japanese occupiers, and continue to push closer to the coast. I'd like to cut off that group in the South (retreating from Wuhan), we'll see. I'll need to close that port remaining port next turn. My Mari-Bmbr near Shanghai reported several Troop Transports running evacuation missions from Tsingtao, presumable back to Japan. And we have good visibility on a BC that he used to bombard Shanghai. I didn't attack it though, because I'd rather not tip my hand just yet, to let him know that I'm watching him.

Marianas Islands - We obliterated an SNLF-Div that was defending Guam. And then attacked the ports at Saipan and Tinian (unoccupied), to prohibit their reinforcement. We have AVL still available just off Guam, and another loaded from Davao, that should allow us to secure Saipan and Tinian next turn.

[Feinder]

February 10th, 1945

National Morale and Strategic Map

National Morale - Massive hit (-12k) to Japanese National Morale. Retaking Guam is another damage-over-time.

Strategic Map - Not much else on the Strat Map (that isn't included on the Big Map). Basically, Iwo Jima is next target. And I'll also probably end up securing Formosa and Korea so that I can use Medium and Tactical Bombers to support an invasion of Japan.

[Feinder]

February 10th, 1945

Admin Stuff

Research, Production, Losses, and Economy

Research - Nothing new spent on Research.

Production - USA : (1x HQ, 1x USMC-Div). USSR : (1x Med-Bmbr)

Losses -
Japan - SNLF-Div at Guam.
Japan - Garrison somewhere in China
Japan - Garrison somewhere in China

Economy - Japanese MPPs continue to decline as their convoy ports are cut off. The only two functioning convoys are Manchukuo and Korea.

[Feinder]

February 10th, 1945

The Big Map

Burma - The remnants of the Japanese Army of West continue to crumble. An Infantry Corps and Heavy Artillery Division a destroyed as our forces push into the interior of Burma. Gen. Slim pauses the advance just short of Rangoon, to assault the ancient city next turn. An American Heavy Cruiser guards the mouth of the bay to blockade shipping getting in or out of the port.

Malaya - The Carrier Task for passing the Sumatra-Malaya Straights make short work of the IJA Inf-Corps sent to delay the advance of Monty's forces down the Peninsula. What is actually delaying Monty is the fact I landed the 14th Inf-Corps too far from nearby supply, and Monty has had to return to up The Throat to provide supply/pull the Inf-Corp south (we lost an SP to desertions last turn, grrr).

South China Sea - Blockade duty is boring, but necessary. Actually, the convoy route for Dutch East Indies bounced away from Palembang to Batavia (and Japan showed a +30 MPP lift this turn). I now have blockades set up on both ports.

Off Australia - IJN Destroyer raider is handily sunk (and some units are sent to Batavia for blockade duty).

China - Japan's presence in China continues to disentigrate. A few more transports in the North are observed evacuating troops back to Japan. To stop evacuation of his South/Central China forces, I sent Strategic Bombers to bomb/demolish the remaining ports that were range. Only three ports in the far north remain open.

CentPac - Recon mission over Iwo Jima revealed that it too has been left undefended. One of our AVLs was in range, so we sent it to capture the Island. Our forces also landed unopposed at Saipan and Tinian. I had noted earlier that I was going to bypass Truk. However, since I obtained Iwo Jima "for free", and I had "The Big Blob" primed to blow anything there to smithereens; I decided to take a jaunt South and seal-club Truk. An SNLF-Div was handily destroyed, and an Inf-Div on the beaches has been reduced. Of note (bug?), I was not able to bombard the Inf-Div with my BBs. I'll just have to finish him off next turn with 500-pound bombs. A few scattered AV/AVLs are available to secure Truk once it's defenders are destroyed. I think I've got an AVL in range, I want to see if I get my pre-invasion attack (I'm curious now, since I wasn't able to bombard the beach).

[Feinder]

February 28th, 1945

National Morale and Strategic Map

National Morale - Japanese National Morale is down to 49%. It'll take another hit in the coming turn for Saipan, Tinian, and Iwo Jima (applied end-of-turn). In the coming turn, I expect to capture Truk, and maybe Peiping. Tsingtao and Singapore to on the "soon" list. At this point, I'm curious if I can get him to 0% to force a surrender via the game mechanic.

Strategic Map - Just some notes, and last fragments of the Japanese Empire shown. Planning/Preparing now for invasions of Korea and Japan...