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I found that subs work well and are easy to set up to patrol with reaction set to 6 and using "Patrol around target" which automatically assigns patrol zone to sub. I think that sub reaction actually works way too well in AE.

ORIGINAL: Sardaukar

I found that subs work well and are easy to set up to patrol with reaction set to 6 and using "Patrol around target" which automatically assigns patrol zone to sub. I think that sub reaction actually works way too well in AE.

i normally put in a hex with do not retourn and 1 hex reaction..i test your sistem next turn

ORIGINAL: jrlans

Hey guys been lurking awhile and i have to say some of the advice i have seen is stelar. Im amazed as how agressive Dave has managed to be, I realy think he is pushing the edge of what an excelent Japanese player can do in AE

Yes, he has but I wonder if his pilot losses are not going to come back and haunt him.

ORIGINAL: loricas

ORIGINAL: Sardaukar

I found that subs work well and are easy to set up to patrol with reaction set to 6 and using "Patrol around target" which automatically assigns patrol zone to sub. I think that sub reaction actually works way too well in AE.

i normally put in a hex with do not retourn and 1 hex reaction..i test your sistem next turn

Problem with that is that your subs do not change hexes automatically. Their detection level gets high, since it doesn't get reset by moving. Many TFs automatically avoid known sub hexes and you will be vulnerable to ASW TFs sent to hex when your location is known. High detection level also means sub is more vulnerable to air attacks.

You'll see your sub detection level by hovering cursor over it. IIRC, 11/11 is highest level and means sub is already been attacked in that hex during same day.

Just when you think this AAR can't get any better it does. [:)] Thanks for taking time to explain these tactics Seyditz [&o]

cfulbright: Ok. So, you basically took out the 90% of his carrier power. Not bad start I would say.

loricas: I actually 2 wolfpack TF's around philippines and these guys pretty much refused to attack anything eventhough there were a lot of potential targets floating around.

I might give this another whirl later on. At the moment I'am using single sub taskforces. Only exception being minelaying missions.

Sardaukar: I used the similar system and got very minor rewards. No I have abandoned it and doing the submarine warfare as discussed earlier with high detail. It is still too early to comment whether this effective or not.

Now I'am setting those patrol hexes manually and I try to avoid shallow water whenever possible.

The sub detection level is propably very important. Actually will check my frontline submarines to see how high it is.

Another intresting fact to see is that people are getting very diffrent rewards on their campaings with submarines. Same tactic and little gains.

I guess it all comes down to your opponents skill to conduct ASW warfare. I think Dave has done very good job in this sector.

crsutton: It might come to haunt him but I think he has mostly avoided unnecessary risk levels.

I think he some good squadrons flying around since his airforce is very active.

SuluSea: You took the words out of my mouth!

China (march 19th and 20th 1942)

Dave is still moving troops towards Nanyang. I still do think this is very odd move.

Two intresting developments in central and southern china. A) Recon missions. I think these missions are getting more frequent around Liuchow and Changhsa. B) lba bombings. These are now more intense.

So one explanation could be that his focus is shifting from north towards central and southern china.

In far up north two tank regiments are entering Kiuchuan.

Ground combat at Kiuchuan (82,26)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 2208 troops, 0 guns, 206 vehicles, Assault Value = 116

Defending force 2262 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 82

Japanese adjusted assault: 63

Allied adjusted defense: 40

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0

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

Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 9 (0 destroyed, 9 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
210 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 16 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled


Assaulting units:
3rd Tank Regiment
9th Tank Regiment

Defending units:
34th Seperate Brigade

This base will propably lost soon but the initial assault was unsuccesfull.

At Hami it seems enemy did abandon this base. There was an tank regiment occupying the base two days earlier.

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Ground combat at Hami (81,17)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 3345 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 88

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

Allied adjusted assault: 77

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 77 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Hami !!!

Combat modifiers
Attacker:


Assaulting units:
303rd Brigade
21st Chinese Base Force

I think we are living an phase where the next operational movement ongoing before the offensives continues.

There were also ground combat at 82,53. The chinese infantry was not able to hold out after the 1st assault was denied.

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Ground combat at 82,53

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 15218 troops, 88 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 475

Defending force 9808 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 263

Japanese adjusted assault: 315

Allied adjusted defense: 177

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
653 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 33 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 35 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled


Allied ground losses:
504 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 64 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 55 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled


Assaulting units:
12th Ind.Mixed Brigade
17th Ind.Mixed Brigade
5th RGC Division

Defending units:
10th Chinese Corps

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Ground combat at 82,53

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 14742 troops, 88 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 443

Defending force 8911 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 200

Japanese adjusted assault: 381

Allied adjusted defense: 15

Japanese assault odds: 25 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
142 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Allied ground losses:
3411 casualties reported
Squads: 139 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 112 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Units retreated 1


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
17th Ind.Mixed Brigade
12th Ind.Mixed Brigade
5th RGC Division

Defending units:
10th Chinese Corps

Java (march 20th and 21st 1942)

Palembang was lost due to overwhelming size of enemy troops.

I have no valid intel on how much damage was done to the resources. The mouse pointer indicates 0 damage inflicted which I find very hard to believe.

The "preparations" for the main invasion has begun. Enemy paratroopers landed at Semarang and captured the base. It seems he is already moving ac's into this level 1 airfield.

I think I found the extreme example of FOW. (look at the pic) I doubt my search planes didn't spot such an force. I have ordered some recon missions in order to find out what is happening.

The naval activity is increasing along with his raids againts Soerebaja and Batavia. I would estimate he has his amphibitous TF's 2-4 days off from Java.

Keep in mind his unloading bonus is entering the final weeks. Those paratroopers were not sacficed for nothing.

ORIGINAL: aztez

I think I found the extreme example of FOW. (look at the pic) I doubt my search planes didn't spot such an force. I have ordered some recon missions in order to find out what is happening.

Does Java have coastwatcher coverage? If so, maybe they were spotted by coast watchers.

I think coastwatchers are just the solomons and NG, but i could be wrong [;)]

Jonathan Pollard: Unfortunately your estimate turned out to be correct.

There are significant transport TF's unloading at Semarang so it is too late to try squash the beachhead here.

Absolute no FOW here just bad luck for me.

Rob: I checked the manual and the initial sighting was propably not made by coastal watchers. At least Java is not specified in the manual.

Java (march 22nd and 23rd 1942)

The major offensive againts Java is underway for sure.

The enemy has landed troops at Semarang. I think he has already unloaded significant forces here and none of his transports are hit.

Simply because none of the ABDA bombers have flown. I checked and this is due to things:

1) Weather. This has been really bad over past 4 days in this region. Severe storms / Thunderstorms. I think this is the main reason.

2) Lack of fighter escort. After those P40E's were withdrawn the fighter defense is abysmal. I think I can gather around 20 fighters and these are far from the elite models.

Even the submarines patrolling in the area missed these transports and this was propably down to the weather factor.

I have some bases that are overstacked. It is a bad thing due to uncordination penalties etc. Unfortunately this cannot be fixed since there are not enough airsupport in the region unless I start moving units out of Batavia and Soerebaja which is an possibility.

IJA is conducting heavy raids againts Batavia and Soerabaja daily now. There are Nell bombers propably based on Palembang.

The ABDA surface has sailed into Oz where they will refit and rest. I think this was the right call since the aircraft numbers he is committing here is huge. No way I could have protected these cruisers and destroyers.

Fingers crossed that the ABDA bombers will fly next turn. The weather forecast did not indicate eny improvent though.

Burma (march 22nd and 23rd 1942)

Quick glimpse at Burmese situation.

This whole area has been quiet but allied signit intel indicates that enemy is sending at least 1 division into Rangoon.

Another intel here is that an brigade is prepping for Akyab offensive.

Now that Singapore has fallen I think he will give this area some focus.

In the last turn enemy troops entered the base at Magwe. I have weak forces defending the hex so he will most likely capture with his 1st offensive here.

Java (march 23rd and 24th 1942)


The weather cleared and ABDA airforce was able to attack some enemy transport convoys in this region.

This was not an succesfull operation though since we only reported the following hit.

xAK Yubari Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

...and this ship had propably already unloaded at Semarang.

Now that the weather somewhat cleared our "picture" on the whole situation became much clearer.

The enemy has landed around 30 units at Semarang. There are 3 diffrent spearheads heading out of the base. (see pic)

Dave is propably trying some sort of an pinzer movement since my recon planes spotted carrier supported invasion TF's near Soerabaja. I think these ships will unload some 40 miles south of Soerabaja.

There have been plenty of airborne operations and last turn saw Oosthaven. This was the 4th base to be lost such a way. Nice job I must admit.

The lba support continues to be heavy and we are unable to gain any control over skies above.

Dave most definately was lucky since he had 4 days of thunderstorms/ severe storms and he unloaded bulk of his troops at Semarang with bombers grounded. I doubt this was an "lucky" move so another well executed operation.

I can admit that I will miss those Banshee's and P40E's. They were very valuable.

Things are not looking good. I'am moving units towards Batavia from Tijitap and surrounding bases. Maybe we can give some sort of an defense there and at Soerebaja.

China (march 23rd and 24th 1942)


There are indications that the next offensive is going to be targeted againts Changhsa area.

I base this assumption on few facts.

+ The air operations seem to be more intensive.
+ Dave is definately withdrawing some troops out of Sian area and towards the railway line.
+ There are some 30 000 IJA infantry just south of Changhsa.
+ My poort recon indicates that there are more troops in Hankow area.

So, add those to calculations and this is most likely next target.

Overall the supply situation is bad. We are short of supplies pretty much everywhere. I have those battered units on replacements ON since I need them to gain strenght.

This isn't happening though since we have took an quite an beating. Oh, well we need to deal with this issue very soon.

In the further up north the IJA armed units launched and counterstrike...

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Ground combat at 81,33 (NEAR Lanchow)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 2988 troops, 0 guns, 286 vehicles, Assault Value = 162

Defending force 7102 troops, 60 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 219

Japanese adjusted assault: 110

Allied adjusted defense: 376

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 3

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

Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 7 (0 destroyed, 7 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
91 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled


Assaulting units:
23rd Tank Regiment
11th Tank Regiment

Always good to see some armoured vehicles getting disabled/destroyed.

So i guess the real question is after the conquest of java where will all of those LCUs be redeployed to?

I realy dont think india is an option unless the japanese player is commited to deploying tons of force from china and dealing with very extended supply lines. That leaves Oz do you think you can defend it if he comes in force at Cook town or Rockhampton, or alternativly Perth/ Darwin (personaly from a japenese perspective i think that a perth attack would devistate Oz as with SoPac blocked off Perth is the only way to get supply and fuel in)

Keep up the good work guys, awesome AAR

Agree, it is very interesting [&o]

Overall the supply situation is bad. We are short of supplies pretty much everywhere. I have those battered units on replacements ON since I need them to gain strenght.

Check in the industrial tab in the info panel to see if you have any chinese infantry left in the pools to reinforce. you only get 200/month and thats no-where near enough to fill up any gaps post combat. it may be better to beef up the most experianced unit/s rather than try and repair the shattered shells of defeated ones.

i think you start getting chinese P40s in march so it may be worth seeing if you can upgrate some chinese fighter units.

and as ever good luck

Great AAR! Any idea where the "Phase 2" target is for Japan? You may be seeing preps for certain points in your SigInt, right?

I am anxious to see how the various choices work now, India, Oz, etc. They all figure to be harder nuts to crack now.