Turnaround? Lowpe (J) vs Tiemanj (A) Stock

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: topeverest

How are you doing building banks of resources oil fuel in the HI's?

have you drawn down you economy or stopped any naval builds yet?

I just posted: 5.5 or 5.6 millions supply; over 6 millions oil and fuel, who cares about resource, manpower.

I have stopped builds...mainly sub so as to accelerate DD, Es, Cl, CVs.

[Lowpe]

Dec 29, 1943

No night bombing.

Japan bombs and bombards Chungking. Chinese raw AV down to 2150. Losing 50 points a day.

Allies bomb Raheng heavily, and also the troops on the Moulmein/Bangkok road and Moulmein/Raheng road.

The Allies are heavily reinforcing the jungle hex north or Raheng, must be tough on their supply, probably 3 Divisions there now...this was part of the group that comprised the Allied Tank Army...off the roads and into the jungle.

He is splitting my defence, and I guess he will make an forced river crossing north of Uttaradit with tanks, while the infantry threatens Raheng from the jungle...excpet that at least one of the units in the jungle is a Tank Brigade so there are probably more. I guess he will use air drops to make supply these guys if that is even possible.

The Allies attack for the third consecutive day on the Moulmein/Bangkok road and get a 1-4. Japan suffers 400 casualties, mostly disruption, but the Allies suffer close to 2,000 with 31 combat squads destroyed and another 175 disabled. Good fight![:)]

Japan wins the bombardment destroying more tubes and vehicles than the Allies on the Moulmein/Raheng road.





You can see I am trying to cut the Allied line north of Uttaradit again.

[Lowpe]

Japanese troops are definitely getting a beating in Thailand, but Allies are suffering too. I am impressed with Japan's ability to stall the Allies here in the x3 terrain no doubt thanks to forts and very heavy artillery plus my ability to cycle in and out infantry divisions.

Currently, the 8th ID is resting at Pisanuloke, the 14th ID south on the Moulmein/Bangkok road, the 1st RTA ID is at Bangkok, the 2nd RTA is training to Singers, and the 33rd is doing a fight withdraw to Raheng from Chiang Mai and is really battered.

Active full strength reserves are the 4th ID, the 1st Tank Division.

On this front, Japan really needs the heavy Japanese Infantry divisions, those that have plenty of internal artillery and most importantly IJA 43 squads with their 25 anti-armor rating. Those divisions, quite frankly are wasted in China.

[Lowpe]

I recall from somewhere on resting and recuperating beat up troops, you really want to get 10 hexes or so from the enemy.

My normal mode of resting and taking replacements: 10 hexes away from enemy, Command HQ within range, plenty of supply, plenty of local manpower, split into thirds, resting.

Am I missing anything?

[Lowpe]

Some of the troops heading out for close in defence.

I am making use of the 10Kt subchasers to provide escorts for these convoys as I don't think speed is of the essence, but protection from subs is. So far a 100% success rate, and it frees up my E's for the tanker fleet where speed is important right now as I drain Singers to the last drop.

Most troops are going very close, but I am sending the 2nd Amphibious to Thailand/Indochina and several mortar units that will combine with garrisons already in theatre to form larger units.

The Mixed Brigades are really nice, and would make great defenders in Thailand in x3 terrain, but can't afford to send anymore there at this time.

I think I have time here, as there is no search and not much of a sub threat here by the Allies. Their subs are around Samar, Leyte, lower Luzon and that is where I feel the next hit will come. But perhaps he will hold off and secure Saipan first, which would give me two more months of building, digging and retreating.



Naha is clearly the gem here, clear terrain, size 5 AF. Kunashiri is perhaps second, but very close to Japan proper, and Tsushima the third but in an even tougher spot to get to by the Allies.

After that there is 10 level 4 airfields, 12 level 3AF, 6 lvl 2AF. Lots to cover.

[Lokasenna]

I think the mixed brigades are just meat for the grinder... more or less.

How are forts at Naha? I know this game has unique circumstances, but I really don't think he has the OOB to invade that close to Japan so far ahead of historical. He just doesn't have the CVs/CVEs to support it... not if you crowd your airfields full of angry planes, anyway. Which I would absolutely do for Okinawa.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

I think the mixed brigades are just meat for the grinder... more or less. That is all Japanese Infantry!
How are forts at Naha? 5.38 w/180 engineers I know this game has unique circumstances, but I really don't think he has the OOB to invade that close to Japan so far ahead of historical. He just doesn't have the CVs/CVEs to support it... not if you crowd your airfields full of angry planes, anyway. Which I would absolutely do for Okinawa.

One of the reasons why I expect a Leyte/Samar push. But will he bypass Yap, etc?

[Lowpe]

Normally, I try to do at least one offensive, unexpected thing a turn, but today...not so much.

The most exciting thing I did was to move a Myojo squadron to Moppo, Korea, for eventual bombing of Chungking. Probably in time for the next assault.

All the heavily fatigued units are out of Chungking, divided, and resting with a spare HQ one hex removed from Chungking. I expect 2-4 days of resting, moving back in, and attack within 1 full week. It should be a great attack!

[Lowpe]

Dec 30, 1943

No night bombing. A fresh 40K of supply docks at Singers, more on the way...seems I need 30+ per week to sustain the Thailand fighting.

Allies bomb heavily in Thailand, losing 9 planes for the day versus 2 Japanese.

Allies attack north of Raheng, no malus for supply, but Japanese troops get a malus for poor morale and fatigue (these are the remnants of the Chiang Mai defenders).

Allies have 1 Yank division, 4 tank units of several styles, and 2 mtn gun units (1100AV). Now, the only defenders in the hex is a Paratroop unit (9AV) and a shell of a garrison infantry unit with support only left. If they are attacked, which is most likely, and his troops put on reserve pursuit, will his tank units make Raheng in one day?[&:]

Normally tanks in jungle is 2 miles per day. His tanks successfully moved from one jungle dirt road hex to the next on prior reserve pursuits...but does the game engine slow him down here since there is no road?



I guess there might be a good chance of the Japanese units being destroyed, except the paratroops are usually pretty tough. They have made 36 miles in their retreat...not enough to exit prior to combat.

The good news is the 33rd division made Raheng, along with four heavy artillery units and two tank regiments and they all took replacements from Chumphon. The heavy artillery is in good shape, the 33rd battered and needs time off the front lines to fully recover. Morale among the Chiang Mai defenders is a little low, except for the artillery which is in good shape.

[Lowpe]

Elsewhere:

Marianas, I still own half the chain with plentiful supply. I am flying out all the support troops.

Lower Solomons: Evacuation ongoing. All but some heavy guns from an infantry division have been removed, still have a few base forces and naval guard units acting as a trip wire and some heavy items leftover from engineers.

Port Moresby: 2/3 of a division withdrawn. Down to a HQ and the 1/3 or a division.

Kusaie: All but heavy guns yanked out from the a division there, still lots of other troops.

Ponape: About 1/3 of a division left, but other support troops still there.

Truk: A veritable fortress with over 1,000 AV plenty of support etc. Moving it back to Babeldaob and PI.

New Guines: fairly light, always has been.

Really, there has been shockingly little interference with my retreat.

Marshall: still own a few, no supply. Bombed daily to build Allied experience.

[Lowpe]

Turn is away and cross your fingers for north of Rahgeng in the jungles!

I have close to 200 Georges sweeping Port Blair, where there be Spitfires, and not the slow ones either! Unless of course he juggled his fighter squadrons.[:)]

There is strong evidence that he is juggling squadrons to and from Port Blair as the number of fighters varies from 80-120.

I will have an Iboat trying to save downed pilots...

[Lowpe]

Navy Fighters:

A6M5c, George and Jack. With experience, I have come to the conclusion Japan should build them all. Other JFBs' talk down the A6M5c and the Jack (or recommend going with one or the other Jack or George). The 5c, being cv capable, gets knocked primarily for range & speed (10mph slower than the 5b).

I recommend all three and really like them. 5c for CV operations, bomber escort (reasonable range), anti-bomber defence, and on islands or non-railroad linked fields; J2M2 interceptor; George everything!

Long time readers of this AAR, realize how important the A6M5c was in helping to turn the tide of the air war in 1943. It was butchery, plane and simple, prior that plane coming along. A6M5c stopped the long range daytime bombing, with stacked CAP diminished the Lightning sweep (George finished them[:)]).

However, the A6M5c is getting long in the tooth, very slow, but I still use them for deep protection.

I have recently expanded my Jack production up to 50 a month. If I can keep the oil flowing, I have plans to jump that another 50 -- really for the J2M3 model which is available in 4/44 (three months).

There are three squadrons of Jacks flying, one at Chumphon and two in the Home Islands. They have not seen much action, with 11 kills only (compared to my top George squadron with 475). However, I like having a dedicated interceptor plane, makes sorting and using them very easy.

George is, well George! She can do most anything.

Three cheers, for three solid planes!

[Lowpe]

Dec 31, 1943

No night bombing.

Bloodbath over Port Blair. Very Heavy Allied CAP....I don't know if it is a good idea to challenge such heavy CAP, but I feel that anytime I can trade 1-1 against Allied fighters I should grab it with both hands.

I was surprised to see the Lightnings...I have downed close to 250 of those twin tailed devils. I don't like the Lightnings because they can escort bombers or sweep deep prior to a deep penetration bombing run. Using them as normal CAP I think is a misuse.

Anything I can do to wear down the Allied fighters here in 44 I am going to grab.

I had a sub present to catch downed pilots, of which there were many! They are serving the Empire nobly!

[Lowpe]

Allies bombard across Thailand, shock attack north of Raheng and it wipes out 1000 men - destroying the para unit and garrison unit still left in that jungle hex (9 AV present). I had flown out spinters of both units a month ago so they will reform back at Singers most likely although both are currently at Raheng.

Now the really question is what will those tanks do...strike out for Raheng, force a crossing into Uttaradit, retreat back to the road and the Chiang Mai area?

Tanks in jungle terrain do what - 2 mph a day. This was a good outcome.[:)]

This means that all 14 units of the Chiang Mai defenders made it back, albeit with 2 units only flown out splinters arrived. The two Tank Regiments, after two days have already drawn in 7 and 9 fresh tanks respectively. You just have to love Japan's replacement programs.

Of course the troops won't be as experienced as they were initially, but still they are very important, with the 33rd Division being especially important since they are IJA 43 squads.


Another full division show up here, in the jungle. Fine by me...

[Lowpe]

Thailand/Burma

Tavoy beats off a 1-2 attack, but they really lack artillery to hit the attacking tanks hard, plus they are hard to get supply to.

I feel that the Allied Tank Army, most of which is in the jungle, with half back on the main road to Tuang Gyi with movement arrows to the jungle, will move on Raheng.

I don't see how he will be able to supply them, but I am moving the heavy 18th Division and fresh 21 Division to defend Raheng along with four very heavy artillery units already there to be reinforced by some 47mm AT units and whatever else I can scrape up. Raheng is only x2 terrain...



Sorry, I cropped off the other half of the Allied Tank Army north of Raheng/Uttaradit.[:-]

I will have to move back from Chumphon, as he will start sweeping it from Tavoy shortly. I need to keep my primary fighter base at least 10 hexes away from an size 2 or larger Allied base.

[Lowpe]

Chungking -- will be moving my rested troops back in...I should have close to 6500 assault value versus a Chinese raw AV of 2100 or less by the time the attack goes in. The art bombardment alone this turn knocked out over 600 casualties, including 25 combat squads destroyed.

I am hoping, the freshly rested troops will allow me to stage 2 attacks fairly close together and that might be all she wrote for Chungking! Chungking is being bombed mercilessly by the Army and Navy air forces.

Can't tell you how happy I am that the Allied Tank Army is now in the jungle...I was really worried they were going to reserve pursuit right out of there and that would have been bad for me, but probably not end of the world bad. Now I should have plenty of time to reconstitute the 33rd Division and the Chiang Mai survivors. So pleased.[:)]

[witpqs]

What - not worried about landings at Cam Ranh Bay?

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

What - not worried about landings at Cam Ranh Bay?

Yes, I am...I just put the 32nd Special Base Force at Cam Ranh Bay, but also worried about Vinh. Unlike a lot of other bases in the area, no static VM infantry units spawn there (that I know about).

Hey, I am worried about them all!



The base force just arrived...they made the long move from Moulmein. Need to change their prep.[:)]

[witpqs]

That's a big base force. What's in those?

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

That's a big base force. What's in those?

The base forces vary quite a bit the weakest usually have 4 8cm gun, but here is a slightly stronger one with bigger guns at Cam Ranh Bay.