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

[Lowpe]

Pax has the right of it.[;)]

Even if I stall the invasion, the Allies will be able to invade at some other point where I am weak. Remember this is a scenario 1 game.

Allies have done a great job of invading at the weakest points.

Countering the Chinese invasion is horrendously difficult given troop TOE disparity and all the clear ground. I probably could put together a strong infantry counter attack to threaten the beaches, but I can't control the air and have almost no anti-tank weapons.

Still, we will see what develops.[:)]

[panzer cat]

I'm sure the allies have more then enough shipping to keep the bridge head in supply. I've only played scenario 1, but not past early 44.

[Lowpe]

May 17, 1944

More misses with our totally ineffective night torpedo runs against Allied shipping. To be sure, they targeted destroyers...[X(]

Heavy bombing of Tokyo, 28K fires burning and the runways trashed again. [:(]

The Allies fly into a little air festung over Iwaki, or was it Sendai. Doesn't really matter, but it was nice to down every plane. This, and the sinking of the SS Bluegill were the highlights of the day.

[Lowpe]

Over in Indochina, on the jungle road heading to Vientiane, Japanese artillery hits the Allied troops. We were bombed moderately here, but further south, on the road to Pakse we were hit with a lot...luckily a fresh 1/3rd of a division was reinforcing in combat mode. Perhaps we can hold.

[Lowpe]

Not to be....the troops morale is simply to low. Now we are presented with a pretty pickle.

I want to delay for longer to allow both the troops in the north to make Vientiane (10 & 17 miles progress thru the river crossing) and to allow the troops down near Saigon to pull back too. They are all recovering from heavy fighting and heavy aerial bombardments.

[Lowpe]

No invasion. Wow. We lose one PT boat fighting four fletchers, and a larger convoy escapes to Shanghai...but all the shipping fleeing Hong Kong and Canton are pummeled.

Hong Kong and Canton are both bombed, losing a few ACMs and a damaged xak while I evacuated the planes to central China.

I was so sure of an invasion, I didn't even put up LRCAP on the ships fleeing Hong Kong even though I have 30 Tonies able to do so. I also blame turn fatigue as there are so much movement of my battered air forces I simply get tired on working on the turn. Such is life for the battered Japanese. Kind of failed my morale check last turn.[;)]

B29s from Singers also hit Hong Kong...

[Lowpe]

Not, a pretty picture. I wish I had put up some LRCAP, I could have salvaged some VPs. If I would have downed 25-40 more planes it would have gone a long way in offsetting the VP ratio.

Could have been much worse. Could have been an invasion of China...but then again that might have been an opportunity too (Not!).[:D]

[Lowpe]

Can't really complain, a good day in the air for Japan. Could have done better. Sigh.

[Lowpe]

Shikoku

The Allies have 3 divisions on Shikoku plus plenty of artillery in nasty terrain....I have three thousand AV heading in. And to think I was called Crazy for first attempting a defense in open terrain and now it looks like I might minimize the landings on Shikoku.

There are three Allied tank units at Matsuyama, but they haven't been able to knock the forts down there yet, and yesterday the defenders got 18 more 47 mm rapid fire anti-tank guns. More troops headed there today. I would like to hold here, as there is a hefty Ha32 factory producing, and sending the engines back to Honshu by barge -- all under American observation. Astounding.

[Lowpe]

More reinforcements....not much to write home about. Weak TOE, horrible morale, but they are troops on the line!!!! I will take them gladly and throw them somewhere to protect the beaches.

Just having a division show up on SigInt, or the bombing, or just lots of men showing up in aerial recon can have an effect. A positive effect.

[Lowpe]

I missed an opportunity to end the Prince of Wales a day or two ago. She left Mergui, where she was licking the wounds done by three torpedo hits and I missed the intel informing me.

I blame my staff. Falling down on the job. I could have gotten some 800 kg kamikazes there and perhaps put her down for good.

Meanwhile, the KB is training up to hit the Australian industry and replenishing air frames. Tankers and oilers are filling up to make this trip possible.

[Lowpe]

Opportunity of the day....

Maximum effort from these airbases. Kamikazes, Divebombers, Torpedo planes, as many escorts as I can stuff on the bases.

It will probably fail, but perhaps not! Hope springs eternal in the beleaguered Empire! Banzai!!!



I am assuming a 7 hex movement rate. That might be generous, which in that case the attack will go off the following day given the same course of movement and decent weather. However, the odds are good the task force isn't even really heading west...I set up so many traps that go for naught. Last turn I had 60 fighters over some tankers near Pescadores and the deathstar goes west.[:(]

[Lowpe]

Lang Son: An Important Base

The lessons I am learning in this game just keep coming. After Vinh, which is a fortress, comes Lang Son the Gateway to China.

What a wonderful rest and repair facility for my shattered troops. It is at the end of the rail road line to Saigon; it has no malaria; it is in nasty terrain making aerial bombing less effective.

Of course when the front line reaches here, it can be easily bypassed to the plains below. But as long as it stays in Japanese hands, supply for the Allies would be problematical. A good place to build forts and supply I think.

If Pakhoi falls, that could become a supply hub for the Allies...well, nothing is ever perfect, and there is currently a full division sitting at Pakhoi, digging and fortifying.

[Lowpe]

It has been two to three weeks since these troops escaped the Thailand plains and ferocious bombing by the Allies with perhaps a tank fight in between.

Shattered. Simply shattered. Look at the morale.[X(]

But, they made it back, and will head to Lang Son and hopefully a full month of recovery before they need to be thrown back into the cauldron that is war on the western front.

I am glad I took Alfred's advice in planning subsequent lines with fresh troops. I am somewhat surprised I have managed to retreat my troops without them getting cut off so far.

[Lowpe]

The Commonwealth has pushed thru the jungle to threaten the road line. Currently held by a third of the crackerjack 11th Division. Luckily, the other two thirds are moving into the lines this turn in combat formation, and all the troops have been given special demolition charges for the expected tanks.

But, no AA; and you can bet your bottom dollar the Allies will bomb hard and long.

Dare I expend my dwindling fighter strength trying to protect the troops here. Or, should I use them to fly LRCAP over the shipping that is currently being hunted down by the Allied deathstar. Probably only have a hundred or so fighters to use...

[ny59giants]

The leader for the 33rd ID is great for front line duty, but lousy for rebuilding it. It needs better Admin and Leadership right now. Spend the dozen PP points. See "Leaders" document I propably sent you done by Alfred. If not there, its in my AARs.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

The leader for the 33rd ID is great for front line duty, but lousy for rebuilding it. It needs better Admin and Leadership right now. Spend the dozen PP points. See "Leaders" document I propably sent you done by Alfred. If not there, its in my AARs.

Thanks, you are so correct. Of course I have a copy of your leadership factoid. [&o]

Unfortunately, PP are so darn scarce!!![&:] And it isn't a dozen points, but 37 or so!!![X(][&:]

Here is a list of divisions needing rest and repair in the Indochina front: 33rd, 2nd, 55th, 18th, 14th, 21st, 1st, 8th, and 4th. Nine divisions.
[X(]

[Lowpe]

Michael, you always like using command hqs:





Of course this means it will be bypassed.[;)]

[Encircled]

Doing really well mate

Keeping the flag flying for us JFBs and giving us valuable ideas about what we can do when we get to this stage![:)]

[ny59giants]

Lousy leaders means they will NOT be ready for combat soon enough. Buy one at least twice per week. If not, all that Assault Value will go to waste once they are attacked. [X(]