RADM Yamaguchi's Diary (Pls no affins or cheesesteak)

[RADM.Yamaguchi]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Apr 22, 42
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Rockhampton at 99,152, Range 11,000 Yards

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
SOC-1 Seagull: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CA Takao, Shell hits 3
CA Atago
CA Maya
CA Chokai, Shell hits 3
DD Kagero, Shell hits 1
DD Kuroshio
DD Oyashio, Shell hits 1
DD Hatsukaze

Allied Ships
CL Perth
CL Marblehead, Shell hits 15, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Barker
DD Bulmer
DD Edsall
DD John D. Edwards
DD Stuart
I was going in to Bombard Northhampton and ran into this group. Glad i had a good leader to adjust to surface combat from bombardment.
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Night Air attack on TF, near Bundaberg at 98,155

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
D3A1 Val x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
CL Perth
DD Barker
DD Stuart
i have no idea how this group got set to night bombing but pretty cool they found the ships - at least close enough to attack.
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Night Naval bombardment of Rockhampton at 95,152

Japanese Ships
CA Chokai
CA Maya
CA Atago
CA Takao
DD Hatsukaze
DD Oyashio
DD Kuroshio
DD Kagero

Allied ground losses:
139 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 26 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled

Light Industry hits 1
Airbase hits 20
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 44
Port hits 18
Port fuel hits 9
Port supply hits 7

E13A1 Jake acting as spotter for CA Chokai
CA Chokai firing at Rockhampton
CA Maya firing at Rockhampton
CA Atago firing at Rockhampton
CA Takao firing at Rockhampton
DD Hatsukaze firing at 3rd Motor Brigade
DD Oyashio firing at Rockhampton
DD Kuroshio firing at Rockhampton
DD Kagero firing at Rockhampton
They got through and bombarded anyway. I see the 3rd motor brigade. i wonder if they're any good.
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Night Naval bombardment of Rockhampton at 95,152

Japanese Ships
CA Kumano
CA Suzuya
CA Mikuma
CA Mogami
DD Maikaze
DD Hayashio
DD Yukikaze
DD Natsushio

Allied ground losses:
158 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 23 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 2 disabled
Vehicles lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Airbase hits 8
Airbase supply hits 8
Runway hits 34
Port hits 23
Port fuel hits 7
Port supply hits 4
another bombardment group.
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Afternoon Air attack on Lark Battalion, at 95,152 (Rockhampton)

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 73
B5N1 Kate x 16
B5N2 Kate x 85
D3A1 Val x 42

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N1 Kate: 2 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 1 damaged
D3A1 Val: 2 damaged

Allied ground losses:
259 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 27 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Looks like the Lark Battalion is there too. I don't think thats a major unit
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Ground combat at Ichang (83,48)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 5691 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 195

Defending force 6867 troops, 63 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 65

Japanese adjusted assault: 214

Allied adjusted defense: 70

Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Ichang !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
253 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 26 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
2488 casualties reported
Squads: 98 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 60 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 17 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 8 (8 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 2

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
51st Infantry Brigade

Defending units:
2nd Chinese Corps
39th Chinese Corps
Got Ichang. China is going okay after a very very slow start. I used all PPs to get ARM, ART, and ENG units. I haven't got any manchurian divisions in china yet.
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Ground combat at Paoshan (65,45)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 13013 troops, 115 guns, 68 vehicles, Assault Value = 475

Defending force 2216 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 78

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 291

Allied adjusted defense: 40

Japanese assault odds: 7 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Paoshan !!!

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

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

Allied ground losses:
1421 casualties reported
Squads: 99 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 49 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 4 (4 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 2
Units destroyed 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
56th Division

Defending units:
36th Chinese Division
88th Chinese Division
AVG Ground Echelon
getting deeper into Eastern China. am i crazy?
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Ground combat at Wallis Island (142,156)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 1418 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 58

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

Japanese adjusted assault: 47

Allied adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 47 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Wallis Island !!!

Combat modifiers
Attacker:

Assaulting units:
51st Naval Guard Unit
getting all the islands around Pago Pago.

[jdsrae]

Lark Bn is an infantry Bn, part of the Bde of the Aussie 8th Divison that didn’t get sent to Singapore.
It starts the war at Rabaul so may have been evacuated or re-raised if you destroyed it earlier.
Looks like that bombardment rendered it combat ineffective with the number of combat squads disabled.

I haven’t read this book but might look it up:
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/LIB100045446

[RADM.Yamaguchi]

Thanks Jdsrae.

Here's the next turn.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Apr 23, 42
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Night Naval bombardment of Rockhampton at 95,152

Japanese Ships
BB Kirishima
BB Hiei
BB Haruna
BB Kongo

Allied ground losses:
115 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 5
Port hits 5
Port fuel hits 2
Peeled the BBs and some extra DDs from KB to give it one more blast.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on 754th Tank Battalion, at 95,152 (Rockhampton)

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 72
B5N1 Kate x 16
B5N2 Kate x 85
D3A1 Val x 42

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N1 Kate: 1 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 1 damaged
D3A1 Val: 2 damaged

Allied ground losses:
109 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Ground Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
25 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
5 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Ground Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
22 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
23 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
15 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
16 x B5N1 Kate bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
9 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Ground Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
9 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Ground Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
11 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Ground Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb

Also attacking 2/4th Armoured Regiment ...
Also attacking Lark Bn /1 ...
Also attacking 3rd Motor Brigade ...
Also attacking 754th Tank Battalion ...
Also attacking 2/4th Armoured Regiment ...
Also attacking Lark Bn /1 ...
Also attacking 3rd Motor Brigade ...
Also attacking 754th Tank Battalion ...
Also attacking 2/4th Armoured Regiment ...
Also attacking Lark Bn /1 ...
Also attacking 3rd Motor Brigade ...
Also attacking 754th Tank Battalion ...
Also attacking 2/4th Armoured Regiment ...
Also attacking Lark Bn /1 ...
Also attacking 754th Tank Battalion ...
Also attacking 2/4th Armoured Regiment ...
Also attacking Lark Bn /1 ...
Also attacking 3rd Motor Brigade ...
Also attacking 754th Tank Battalion ...
Also attacking 2/4th Armoured Regiment ...
Also attacking Lark Bn /1 ...
Also attacking 3rd Motor Brigade ...
Also attacking 754th Tank Battalion ...
KB attacks again. She's full of sorties, ammo, fuel. Looks like a tank Bn, the lark Bn, 3rd motor, and part of an arm Rgt.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-Invasion action off Rockhampton (95,152)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

49 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
SC Ch 3
SC Ch 2
AMC Hokoku Maru
CM Okinoshima
E Ishinui

Japanese ground losses:
34 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Rockhampton (95,152)

TF 50 troops unloading over beach at Rockhampton, 95,152

Japanese ground losses:
163 casualties reported
Squads: 10 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
I landed the 2nd and 33rd Divisions and 20,000 supplies. Almost all were done in one turn. both fatigue and disruption are under 5. I think i'll be okay. but we'll see. They are not very prepped.

[ITAKLinus]

I would shock attack immediately to take the base.

Lark Btn isn't good at all since it has probably been airlifted from Rabaul (where it starts) to PM and then again back to Australian mainland. I don't think it's gonna have its full TOE.


3rd Mot Brigade. Those pesky motor brigades are cool units, problem being that their TOE is awful and they have few AV. I'd say that the normal range in terms of AV is betwen 80 and 120AV per brigade. In Australia there are few units which can be equipped with Maildas and those are the only armoured units which can create some trouble. I tend to smash them with pure force, since there is not a single early-war tank able to pierce their armour.





China. Starting slow is not a big problem and I think that there is no real need to start purchasing manchurian divisions. In the beginning, support untis around the map are quite important, while in China you can achieve decisive results with the troops already there.

[RADM.Yamaguchi]

ORIGINAL: ITAKLinus

I would shock attack immediately to take the base. Thanks ITAK. i had already sent turn and used deliberate. I'm really not that experienced to feel like i could shock. I didn't want to trash my units if i misjudged something.

Lark Btn isn't good at all since it has probably been airlifted from Rabaul (where it starts) to PM and then again back to Australian mainland. I don't think it's gonna have its full TOE. I thought i had beat it at Rabaul thank for the confirmation.


3rd Mot Brigade. Those pesky motor brigades are cool units, problem being that their TOE is awful and they have few AV. I'd say that the normal range in terms of AV is betwen 80 and 120AV per brigade. In Australia there are few units which can be equipped with Maildas and those are the only armoured units which can create some trouble. I tend to smash them with pure force, since there is not a single early-war tank able to pierce their armour. I didn't know what the AV was on these. I have anti tank units (such as the IJA has) on their way.


China. Starting slow is not a big problem and I think that there is no real need to start purchasing manchurian divisions. In the beginning, support untis around the map are quite important, while in China you can achieve decisive results with the troops already there. It's funny. i was reading some other AARs and they were far advanced into china. I didn't realize they had no restrictions crossing borders w/o paying PPs. I feel a little better now.

I may have caught them offguard. I don't think any of my TFs were sighted before that surface engagement. I haven't seen the turn yet is another reason i think it might have surprised them.

[inqistor]

You might want to put BB into amphibious TF. They will bombard during unloading. And they shoot against LCUs, keeping industry undamaged.

Remember, that there is probably half of US fleet in the area. Keep your CAs with ammunition, just in case. You also have some CLs with like 20 torpedo tubes, add them to the area.

The best use for Divisions in Korea, and Japan, is to prepare them for landing in different places, and when you are ready (and they are fully prepared) to make any of that invasion, you just buy them out. It is also good for tricking Allies into strengthening defenses, when you plan against West Coast, or Pearl Harbor.

What is your fuel situation at Truk? It only looks to be good, when war begins. You might consider forcing cruising speed for your Bombardment TFs. They use Full Speed approaching, and retreating from target hex.

[RADM.Yamaguchi]

ORIGINAL: inqistor

You might want to put BB into amphibious TF. They will bombard during unloading. And they shoot against LCUs, keeping industry undamaged. Wow. I guess i never knew that. Here i destroyed the town when if i had been smart i could have targeted the ground troops there.

Remember, that there is probably half of US fleet in the area. Keep your CAs with ammunition, just in case. You also have some CLs with like 20 torpedo tubes, add them to the area. I will try to keep them supplied.

The best use for Divisions in Korea, and Japan, is to prepare them for landing in different places, and when you are ready (and they are fully prepared) to make any of that invasion, you just buy them out. It is also good for tricking Allies into strengthening defenses, when you plan against West Coast, or Pearl Harbor. That's sounds perfect.

What is your fuel situation at Truk? It only looks to be good, when war begins. You might consider forcing cruising speed for your Bombardment TFs. They use Full Speed approaching, and retreating from target hex. I've got quite a lot of fuel at Truk, Luganville and more coming.

[RADM.Yamaguchi]

Just so you understand. This little operation on eastern Australia started with taking Cooktown and Cairns just as a way to make it difficult for the allies to bomb Port Moresby. I never really intended to Conquer the area. Then when Java wrapped up so neatly is had the 15th and 16th armies available. So i put them on ships headed towards Noumea. on the way i noticed that they had put over 28 troops in Townsville to stop my troops from Cairns. Those 2 divisions on ship had been there for a long time but i took a chance and directed them to Rockhampton to see if could cut them off. Well i took it and now i don't know what to do. Commit more troops? 55th Div , Guards Div, pull the 21st army out of china, 14th army out of Burma? I have the rest of the 15th and 16th army support unit on the way. Or should i just pull out my troops and rest and rebuild?

[RADM.Yamaguchi]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Apr 24, 42
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Invasion Support action off Rockhampton (95,152)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

24 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
AMC Aikoku Maru
AMC Saigon Maru
AMC Bankok Maru
AMC Nosiro Maru
AMC Kongo Maru
AMC Kinryu Maru
SC Ch 3
SC Ch 2
AMC Hokoku Maru
CM Okinoshima
E Ishinui

Japanese ground losses:
6 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
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ASW attack near Gisborne at 118,190

Japanese Ships
SS I-169

Allied Ships
BB Warspite
DD Aylwin
DD Parrott
DD Paul Jones
Man, i had a stack of subs there waiting.
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Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 9 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 76

Allied aircraft
B-17D Fortress x 4

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17D Fortress: 4 damaged
All that effort and i still have B-17s bombarding Port Moresby
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Afternoon Air attack on 3rd Motor Brigade, at 95,152 (Rockhampton)

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 71
B5N1 Kate x 16
B5N2 Kate x 85

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N1 Kate: 1 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 1 damaged

Allied ground losses:
193 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 14 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 23 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
didn't appear to be much flak so i bombed them again with KB.
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Ground combat at Rockhampton (95,152)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 24623 troops, 247 guns, 73 vehicles, Assault Value = 867

Defending force 2727 troops, 42 guns, 161 vehicles, Assault Value = 146

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 365

Allied adjusted defense: 19

Japanese assault odds: 19 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Rockhampton !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
276 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 21 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled

Allied ground losses:
819 casualties reported
Squads: 31 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 112 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 26 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 9 (8 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 137 (134 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Units retreated 5
Units destroyed 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
33rd Division
2nd Division

Defending units:
2/4th Armoured Regiment
754th Tank Battalion
3rd Motor Brigade
Rockhampton RAN Base Force
Bobcats USN Naval Construction Battalion
Lark Bn /1
I was pretty worried about what i would face but it looks pretty good. That seems like a lot of tanks destroyed to me but i'm not sure.

[ITAKLinus]

ORIGINAL: RADM.Yamaguchi

ORIGINAL: ITAKLinus

I would shock attack immediately to take the base. Thanks ITAK. i had already sent turn and used deliberate. I'm really not that experienced to feel like i could shock. I didn't want to trash my units if i misjudged something.

Lark Btn isn't good at all since it has probably been airlifted from Rabaul (where it starts) to PM and then again back to Australian mainland. I don't think it's gonna have its full TOE. I thought i had beat it at Rabaul thank for the confirmation.


3rd Mot Brigade. Those pesky motor brigades are cool units, problem being that their TOE is awful and they have few AV. I'd say that the normal range in terms of AV is betwen 80 and 120AV per brigade. In Australia there are few units which can be equipped with Maildas and those are the only armoured units which can create some trouble. I tend to smash them with pure force, since there is not a single early-war tank able to pierce their armour. I didn't know what the AV was on these. I have anti tank units (such as the IJA has) on their way.


China. Starting slow is not a big problem and I think that there is no real need to start purchasing manchurian divisions. In the beginning, support untis around the map are quite important, while in China you can achieve decisive results with the troops already there. It's funny. i was reading some other AARs and they were far advanced into china. I didn't realize they had no restrictions crossing borders w/o paying PPs. I feel a little better now.

I may have caught them offguard. I don't think any of my TFs were sighted before that surface engagement. I haven't seen the turn yet is another reason i think it might have surprised them.

Regarding anti-tanks.


Your AT units, which technically are ART, aren't good at all. They can do their job against initial allied tanks but that's all.
You don't have a single tank or AT capable of piercing those Matildas in 42. You need to check in the in-game database and bring some heavy artillery from Manchuria. They are a life insurance against heavy armoured allied tanks (especially later in the game!).


If I were you, I would bring both ARM and some heavy ART from Manchuria in Australia rather than ATs. ATs cost few PPs but they aren't a good investment accordingly to me. If you have PPs, purchase 4-5 ARM and 4-5 ART from Manchuria and send them using your 18knts cargo ships to Australia. Loaded at Port Arthur they should reach Australia in roughly a couple of weeks, IIRC.
They are way more useful than ATs: tanks move fast on flanks and can be useful in field battles. Heavy ARTs give you both an anti-tank weapon in defence and a siege platform (albeit those heavy manchurian ARTs have few cannons per unit). Last but not least, both the tanks and the ART are units which can be employed in future fights somewhere else, while ATs are somehow limited in their use for a while (China has no tanks, allies aren't going to counterattack in Pacific atolls so early, so you have only Burma as an option, but Burma needs so many different stuff that you'd better go with heavy ART there as well)

[PaxMondo]

Actually, the thing to remember about AT guns is that they only fire defensively. To the best of my knowledge, they will not fire offensively. Nor will Arty in an AT capacity, so ….

Next, the IJ AT guns can penetrate Matilda, but with an avg penetration of 64 vs the Matilda 79 it won't be as often as you like. The IJ INF can also penetrate Matilda, but with an antiarmor value of 5, it really isn't all that often. Meaning, you take a lot of losses using your troops against Matilda's. The good news is that the Aussie don't have a lot of them. The other good news is that you want to bring your armor, at least a bde or two with you to deal with them. Yeah your Type 98 and Type 97 tanks are totally suckie compared to the Matilda, but you will win with fewer losses.

Big mistake people make in looking at the data in the Device files is thinking black and white. This is a Grigsby game, there is no black and white any where. Anything can happen and everything has a probability. It is by design because that is how Gary sees things (I happen to agree, but that is neither here nor there.). So even a banana can take out a tank. Not a preferred weapon, but it can happen. 1 in a million, but it can. Same thing with all the other devices. That's why there are few zero's in those fields. Everything has a chance, no matter how remote.

Now in terms of planning, it means that you have to consider higher force ratios when you have a bad fit; like IJA INF against Matilda's. But, a division will wipe out a battalion of Matilda who are not well supported with INF of their own. If you don't believe, sand box it.

[inqistor]

ORIGINAL: RADM.Yamaguchi

Just so you understand. This little operation on eastern Australia started with taking Cooktown and Cairns just as a way to make it difficult for the allies to bomb Port Moresby. I never really intended to Conquer the area. Then when Java wrapped up so neatly is had the 15th and 16th armies available. So i put them on ships headed towards Noumea. on the way i noticed that they had put over 28 troops in Townsville to stop my troops from Cairns. Those 2 divisions on ship had been there for a long time but i took a chance and directed them to Rockhampton to see if could cut them off. Well i took it and now i don't know what to do. Commit more troops? 55th Div , Guards Div, pull the 21st army out of china, 14th army out of Burma? I have the rest of the 15th and 16th army support unit on the way. Or should i just pull out my troops and rest and rebuild?

There is no reason to use unrestricted troops in China. Unless you are going to knock China out, that would be tertiary theater. Even better, if you have some seriously trashed Divisions in China, it would be cheaper to buy them to unrestricted command, as cost is calculated on current strength.

You should aim in Australia to make type of damage, which Allies could not recover. Namely destroying devices, as reinforcements are hard coded, and conquering Bases with industry, as it will convert to yours one, destroying some in the process. Destroying units can be also useful, as Allies would have to buy them out again (and refill with devices), or you will see them no more.


Oh, and it is very hard to cut out troops. In WITPAE supply movement cost is pretty generous, and even march for 200km of desert is not considered to be inaccessible for supply delivery. Check keypad shortcuts, and one of them will show you supply path distribution for any hex.

[RADM.Yamaguchi]

ORIGINAL: inqistor

ORIGINAL: RADM.Yamaguchi

Just so you understand. This little operation on eastern Australia started with taking Cooktown and Cairns just as a way to make it difficult for the allies to bomb Port Moresby. I never really intended to Conquer the area. Then when Java wrapped up so neatly is had the 15th and 16th armies available. So i put them on ships headed towards Noumea. on the way i noticed that they had put over 28 troops in Townsville to stop my troops from Cairns. Those 2 divisions on ship had been there for a long time but i took a chance and directed them to Rockhampton to see if could cut them off. Well i took it and now i don't know what to do. Commit more troops? 55th Div , Guards Div, pull the 21st army out of china, 14th army out of Burma? I have the rest of the 15th and 16th army support unit on the way. Or should i just pull out my troops and rest and rebuild?

There is no reason to use unrestricted troops in China. Unless you are going to knock China out, that would be tertiary theater. Even better, if you have some seriously trashed Divisions in China, it would be cheaper to buy them to unrestricted command, as cost is calculated on current strength.

You should aim in Australia to make type of damage, which Allies could not recover. Namely destroying devices, as reinforcements are hard coded, and conquering Bases with industry, as it will convert to yours one, destroying some in the process. Destroying units can be also useful, as Allies would have to buy them out again (and refill with devices), or you will see them no more.


Oh, and it is very hard to cut out troops. In WITPAE supply movement cost is pretty generous, and even march for 200km of desert is not considered to be inaccessible for supply delivery. Check keypad shortcuts, and one of them will show you supply path distribution for any hex.

That's good to know about the inability to cut off troops in Townsville. I definitely destroyed almost everything in Rockhampton. Difficult to defend or CAP with it all gone. I destroyed a lot of tanks though. Without ART or ARM.

[RADM.Yamaguchi]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

Actually, the thing to remember about AT guns is that they only fire defensively. To the best of my knowledge, they will not fire offensively. Nor will Arty in an AT capacity, so ….

Next, the IJ AT guns can penetrate Matilda, but with an avg penetration of 64 vs the Matilda 79 it won't be as often as you like. The IJ INF can also penetrate Matilda, but with an antiarmor value of 5, it really isn't all that often. Meaning, you take a lot of losses using your troops against Matilda's. The good news is that the Aussie don't have a lot of them. The other good news is that you want to bring your armor, at least a bde or two with you to deal with them. Yeah your Type 98 and Type 97 tanks are totally suckie compared to the Matilda, but you will win with fewer losses.

Big mistake people make in looking at the data in the Device files is thinking black and white. This is a Grigsby game, there is no black and white any where. Anything can happen and everything has a probability. It is by design because that is how Gary sees things (I happen to agree, but that is neither here nor there.). So even a banana can take out a tank. Not a preferred weapon, but it can happen. 1 in a million, but it can. Same thing with all the other devices. That's why there are few zero's in those fields. Everything has a chance, no matter how remote.

Now in terms of planning, it means that you have to consider higher force ratios when you have a bad fit; like IJA INF against Matilda's. But, a division will wipe out a battalion of Matilda who are not well supported with INF of their own. If you don't believe, sand box it.

I have enough on my plate just playing the game. i don't even know how to go about sand boxing. Luckily i have some helpful people here in the forum. I just take their advice. I killed a lot of tanks i think w/o ARM or ART.

What about Nicks? Especially if they are in the open. I have 2 full squadrons on the way. Lots of low level training. should i use 100 or 1000ft?

[RADM.Yamaguchi]

ORIGINAL: ITAKLinus

ORIGINAL: RADM.Yamaguchi

ORIGINAL: ITAKLinus

I would shock attack immediately to take the base. Thanks ITAK. i had already sent turn and used deliberate. I'm really not that experienced to feel like i could shock. I didn't want to trash my units if i misjudged something.

Lark Btn isn't good at all since it has probably been airlifted from Rabaul (where it starts) to PM and then again back to Australian mainland. I don't think it's gonna have its full TOE. I thought i had beat it at Rabaul thank for the confirmation.


3rd Mot Brigade. Those pesky motor brigades are cool units, problem being that their TOE is awful and they have few AV. I'd say that the normal range in terms of AV is betwen 80 and 120AV per brigade. In Australia there are few units which can be equipped with Maildas and those are the only armoured units which can create some trouble. I tend to smash them with pure force, since there is not a single early-war tank able to pierce their armour. I didn't know what the AV was on these. I have anti tank units (such as the IJA has) on their way.


China. Starting slow is not a big problem and I think that there is no real need to start purchasing manchurian divisions. In the beginning, support untis around the map are quite important, while in China you can achieve decisive results with the troops already there. It's funny. i was reading some other AARs and they were far advanced into china. I didn't realize they had no restrictions crossing borders w/o paying PPs. I feel a little better now.

I may have caught them offguard. I don't think any of my TFs were sighted before that surface engagement. I haven't seen the turn yet is another reason i think it might have surprised them.

Regarding anti-tanks.


Your AT units, which technically are ART, aren't good at all. They can do their job against initial allied tanks but that's all.
You don't have a single tank or AT capable of piercing those Matildas in 42. You need to check in the in-game database and bring some heavy artillery from Manchuria. They are a life insurance against heavy armoured allied tanks (especially later in the game!).


If I were you, I would bring both ARM and some heavy ART from Manchuria in Australia rather than ATs. ATs cost few PPs but they aren't a good investment accordingly to me. If you have PPs, purchase 4-5 ARM and 4-5 ART from Manchuria and send them using your 18knts cargo ships to Australia. Loaded at Port Arthur they should reach Australia in roughly a couple of weeks, IIRC.
They are way more useful than ATs: tanks move fast on flanks and can be useful in field battles. Heavy ARTs give you both an anti-tank weapon in defence and a siege platform (albeit those heavy manchurian ARTs have few cannons per unit). Last but not least, both the tanks and the ART are units which can be employed in future fights somewhere else, while ATs are somehow limited in their use for a while (China has no tanks, allies aren't going to counterattack in Pacific atolls so early, so you have only Burma as an option, but Burma needs so many different stuff that you'd better go with heavy ART there as well)

Thanks. All my ARM and HVY ART is pretty deep in china. it might take a bit to get them to shanghai and out.

[inqistor]

If you force retreat, enemy loses lots of devices, but I think "vehicles" also includes Motorized Support.

Planes with large guns can be useful on Ground Attack, but you will be target of every MG in hex. Japanese planes are generally too fragile to use them in attack role on anything except single unit. You have to attack at 100ft, but Nicks would serve you better as defense against B-17.

Remember, that airfield don't have to be fully repaired for CAP to work. And your Engineers only repair in Combat Mode. Search for some Construction Units in Manchuria. They are cheap to buy out.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: RADM.Yamaguchi

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

Actually, the thing to remember about AT guns is that they only fire defensively. To the best of my knowledge, they will not fire offensively. Nor will Arty in an AT capacity, so ….

Next, the IJ AT guns can penetrate Matilda, but with an avg penetration of 64 vs the Matilda 79 it won't be as often as you like. The IJ INF can also penetrate Matilda, but with an antiarmor value of 5, it really isn't all that often. Meaning, you take a lot of losses using your troops against Matilda's. The good news is that the Aussie don't have a lot of them. The other good news is that you want to bring your armor, at least a bde or two with you to deal with them. Yeah your Type 98 and Type 97 tanks are totally suckie compared to the Matilda, but you will win with fewer losses.

Big mistake people make in looking at the data in the Device files is thinking black and white. This is a Grigsby game, there is no black and white any where. Anything can happen and everything has a probability. It is by design because that is how Gary sees things (I happen to agree, but that is neither here nor there.). So even a banana can take out a tank. Not a preferred weapon, but it can happen. 1 in a million, but it can. Same thing with all the other devices. That's why there are few zero's in those fields. Everything has a chance, no matter how remote.

Now in terms of planning, it means that you have to consider higher force ratios when you have a bad fit; like IJA INF against Matilda's. But, a division will wipe out a battalion of Matilda who are not well supported with INF of their own. If you don't believe, sand box it.

I have enough on my plate just playing the game. i don't even know how to go about sand boxing. Luckily i have some helpful people here in the forum. I just take their advice. I killed a lot of tanks i think w/o ARM or ART.

What about Nicks? Especially if they are in the open. I have 2 full squadrons on the way. Lots of low level training. should i use 100 or 1000ft?

Nicks are effective, but tend to take high losses. So it is a trade-off and one that takes experience to accurately gauge. I can't answer for you here as I simply don't know enough without actually seeing the game.

The trade-off is the cost of replacing the Nicks+pilots lost vs the cost of replacing the ground unit devices that will be lost and their exp. It isn't easy to balance these two ...

[RADM.Yamaguchi]

Thanks Pax and inquistor for all the help. Heres a snapshot of the area.

[RADM.Yamaguchi]

one more thing, i've posted in this AAR so many times that i am now a "Matrix Veteran". DON'T BELIEVE THAT FOR ONE SECOND!

[RADM.Yamaguchi]

uh oh. Did i break the game?

I was gonna go to bed but my opponents sent me back the turn i had just completed a few hours before.

When i ran it this happened.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Apr 25, 42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Charters Towers , at 91,145

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 44 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 33

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
21 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 10000 feet



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Charters Towers , at 91,145

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 46 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 38

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
20 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 10000 feet



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Charters Towers , at 91,145

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 42 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
20 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 10000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Charters Towers , at 91,145

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 99 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 32 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 31

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 20000 feet
5 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 20000 feet
6 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 20000 feet



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Charters Towers , at 91,145

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 118 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 39 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 17

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 10000 feet



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Charters Towers , at 91,145

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 100 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 33 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 16

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 10000 feet
3 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 10000 feet
I had never reconned Charters but i saw a b-17 attack on Port Moresby and i figured they had to have come from Charters because i knew what was at Townsville. So i swept the hell out of it. And nothing. I figured it was empty.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Charters Towers , at 91,145

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 115 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 43 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 91
B5N1 Kate x 16
B5N2 Kate x 152
D3A1 Val x 108

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N1 Kate: 1 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 3 damaged
D3A1 Val: 15 damaged
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
B-17D Fortress: 107 damaged
B-17D Fortress: 1 destroyed on ground
Wirraway: 46 damaged
Wirraway: 6 destroyed on ground
Hudson I: 21 damaged
Hudson I: 4 destroyed on ground
P-400 Airacobra: 36 damaged
P-400 Airacobra: 3 destroyed on ground
P-39D Airacobra: 23 damaged
P-39D Airacobra: 5 destroyed on ground
B-17E Fortress: 112 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 4 destroyed on ground
P-40E Warhawk: 29 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 3 destroyed on ground
O-47A: 3 damaged
O-47A: 3 destroyed on ground

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

Airbase hits 12
Airbase supply hits 14
Runway hits 82
WHAT THE HECK. THERE COULD NOT POSSIBLY BE THAT MANY PLANES ON THAT BASE. Is something broken. I wonder if i should send the replay to my opponents. I'm too tired to do a turn now.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Charters Towers , at 91,145

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 51 NM, estimated altitude 2,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 18 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 29
D3A1 Val x 17

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 7 damaged
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 3 damaged
P-39D Airacobra: 3 damaged
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed on ground
Hudson I: 1 damaged
Hudson I: 1 destroyed on ground
Wirraway: 3 damaged
Wirraway: 1 destroyed on ground
P-400 Airacobra: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 1
MORE?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Charters Towers , at 91,145

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 49 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 20 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 13
B5N2 Kate x 17

Allied aircraft
no flights

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 5 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed on ground
Wirraway: 1 damaged
Wirraway: 1 destroyed on ground
P-39D Airacobra: 5 damaged
Hudson I: 2 damaged
P-400 Airacobra: 3 damaged
P-400 Airacobra: 1 destroyed on ground
B-17D Fortress: 1 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 5 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 1
EVEN MORE?
DOES ANYBODY KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?