Empire strikes back- NJP vs Wargmr Game over :-)

[njp72]

East Coast Oz

Brisbane is secured and now the major airbase for my start bombing campaign.

Majority of his units are dug in at Sydney (50+!). When securing the Northern coast and Brisbane we engaged 3 x Oz Brigades which were all subsequently crushed.

Wargmr is playing it smart, but crossing the LOD now gives me little upside and plenty of down. We will smash him from the air

[ny59giants]

CHINA: Logistics...logistics...logistics!!! [:D]

I agree with your northern flank priority as China cannot afford to lose anything that helps produce supplies. The fuel from the oil at Urumchi, Lanchow, and Sian helps generate supplies from the Heavy Industry which Chinese troops need. To get the oil/fuel from Urumchi to flow down to Manchuria once captured, you will need to ship it from Manchuria to Japan to create a need and have the AI move it down. If you don't create this need, the AI will just store it up at Urumchi. [&:]

[Lowpe]

I don't like that line of death game rule...I would have preferred some kind of sliding AV scale percentage to activate the emergency reinforcements other than Japanese forces at Darwin. Then each turn the Allies would be praying for activation, and the Japanese watching their AV closely, and no Aussies running behind a line and digging in.

[JocMeister]

[quote]ORIGINAL: njp72

Hi Joc

He tried but I threw everything including the kitchen sink at this approach and I think time was against him.

As in my previous games, once you get past those mountain hexes the defence just crumbles.

The next real fight will be to get into the plains proper.

cheers
[quote]

Looks like you are ahead of the usual Japanese schedule in China. That´s why I asked if he didn´t defend. [:)]

[njp72]

Thanks I appreciate the advice as I have always had trouble getting that oil out of China.

I should have Sian secured in the 5 days if not sooner. Economically it will make life tough for him

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

CHINA: Logistics...logistics...logistics!!! [:D]

I agree with your northern flank priority as China cannot afford to lose anything that helps produce supplies. The fuel from the oil at Urumchi, Lanchow, and Sian helps generate supplies from the Heavy Industry which Chinese troops need. To get the oil/fuel from Urumchi to flow down to Manchuria once captured, you will need to ship it from Manchuria to Japan to create a need and have the AI move it down. If you don't create this need, the AI will just store it up at Urumchi. [&:]

[njp72]

I hope I am too

I have very little down around Southern China which he could possibly exploit.

I have two divisions operating near Canton making some noise and trying to hold his attention.

He has successfully stopped one of my secondary advances headed towards Ankang but it will break free soon.

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

ORIGINAL: njp72

Hi Joc

He tried but I threw everything including the kitchen sink at this approach and I think time was against him.

As in my previous games, once you get past those mountain hexes the defence just crumbles.

The next real fight will be to get into the plains proper.

cheers

Looks like you are ahead of the usual Japanese schedule in China. That´s why I asked if he didn´t defend. [:)]

[njp72]

Update 31 Jan 42

Whilst I am being crushed in our first game [:(], game 2 is proceeding relatively smoothly.

The key objectives for China in the North have been secured, DEI continues to be cleaned up and good progress made in the central pacific.

Opposition has been very light with hardly a warship or plane sighted.

We have now switched focus back towards the West to Ceylon and India. Australia is slowly being strat bombed but logistics is causing some issues. He somehow managed to get some Hurricanes in there that are causing a few problems.


I will post some maps

[njp72]

Ceylon

Landings have commenced but I very much doubt anyone is home. I believe Wargmr detected an increase in naval activity about a week ago and then quickly departed.

Once he realised I wasn't going to invade all of Oz, he no doubt correctly surmised I would be headed back this way.

[njp72]

China

This is one theatre I think he is in a fair bit of trouble. Surprisingly he has kept a lot of combat power down South for reasons I'm not sure of.

I intend to cut into the plains from the North once we secure the last couple of objectives.

[njp72]

Burma

Halted at Rangoon by the bulk of his combat forces and I don't want to be trapped into a slugging match.

I am holding him at Rangoon whilst Armour and inf regts move around his flanks and cut off retreat avenues.

If he does not move soon he will lose the bulk of his Burma Army (about 25K of men).

[njp72]

Oz

Not much activity here. We are halted at LOD and undertaking some strat bombing of Sydney and Newcastle.

Logistically we have had some delays and have to expand some airfields before the campaign becomes effective.

[njp72]

Fiji

Taking advantage of the light to non resistance, I leapt forward and seized Pago.

I don't intent to go any further here and logistically I couldn't anyway

[njp72]

Finally the int screen

I really should make some good progress in the next month as I liquidate pockets of his troops in the DEI, China and Burma.

At this stage I haven't touched Luzon or launched any attacks on Singapore direct.

If I could find let alone sink a few more warships I would be happy[:'(]

I don't intend to give him any breathing space on this game because I know all too well what will happen.

[paradigmblue]

As primarily an allied player who is about to start their first PBEM game, this AAR is outright terrifying. It really conveys what Japan is capable of early in the war before the Allies begin bringing substantial reinforcements to bear. Great job njp72!

[njp72]

Thank you paradigmblue, I appreciate your comments.

The first three months the Allied orbat is very weak (air, navy and ground) and as long as you maintain a degree of concentration of force, Japan can basically go anywhere it chooses.

The key assets that scare me are the PoW and Repulse which are effectively convoy killers and my worst nightmare is having those ships cut loose into a amphib taskforce carrying a division.

Once key airfields have been seized and proper air searches set up, there is not much the Allies can do.

Currently we are moving into the exploit phase where I should be able to really inflict some pain.

In game news Wargmr in a very bold move, is counter attacking in China whilst KB just ambushed an amphib taskforce outside Karachi destroying about 6K of Allied support troops.

Thanks

[njp72]

Major Chinese Attack

In a move that has partially caused me a surprise, Wargmr has launched a major counter attack in the centre.

I have been surprised by the scale of the offensive which seems to be a massive undertaking by the Chinese. In the short term it is going to cause me some problems and a number of cities will be lost.
In the medium to longer term, this move by him provides a number of advantages as the bulk of his Army is now out in the open. The bulk of the IJA in China is involved in the Northern offensive now trying to break into the plains. I will not be halting this offensive or diverting units from this critical sector. Instead I intend to reinforce it further to hasten the breakthrough.

In the centre I intend to cede ground as I want him to push further into central China before I attempt to cut him off round the flanks. As he advances he will meet mostly Chinese puppet troops in fortified cities supported by airpower. Paratroopers will occasionally be dropped behind his lines as pure nuisance value.

I have to admit it is a very gutsy move by him but I am confident he will eventually pay a very high price

[pontiouspilot]

I know that if I was opponent I would be collecting supplies from all the bypassed areas and getting Sing and Manila ready for a long siege. In your other game I was surprised your opponent didn't do more to get a lifeline to Sing when it was by-passed for so long. If he can get any amount of supplies to these areas they can become a painful hemorrhoid to you. In particular I would get some type of foothold on Sing Is. before he can get it to fort level 4. This can be a tough shock attack at even level 3.

[njp72]

Thanks Pontious for your comments.

I think Singapore would now be impossible to get something past my positions without drawing a very strong naval/air response.

I would also see him from a considerable distance and then crush him.

PI would be slightly easier to get to, but again there is a lot of air coverage in that area.

I really hope he tries as anything involved in the operation will likely perish. He won't though as he is very keen to preserve his naval assets.

[njp72]

Accidental Self Inflicted wound

With things tracking so well I have of course had to even the ledger with an act of stupidity.

The small dot base south of Brisbane flipped over to Japanese control which then caused a panic at Imperial HQ.

Instead of calmly consulting the rules (who does that anyway ), I panicked and committed 3+ divisions south of Brisbane and triggered the LOD reinforcements.

In the short term it probably helps my cause but medium to longer term it will of course cause problems.

Still as I stated to Wargmr, I have extra toys you might as well have some too!

[njp72]

Late Feb 42:

In other positive news, as expected his Chinese offensive is starting to run out of puff and he does look exceedingly vulnerable.

I have finally captured Rangoon and Burma is largely secure. Finally we have managed to snag some of his convoys deep south of Oz and off Karachi which hopefully will make him quite hesitant at aggressively moving reinforcements

VP wise we are just shy of 2:1 but I have 4 divs moving towards Calcutta and another 4 equivalent fighting on the east coast of Oz. Luzon and Singapore remain untouched.