WITP: Logistician's Edition - Linus (J) vs Xenxen (A)

[ITAKLinus]

Now the question for whoever reads is this: can I keep the troops on "move" mode when they do cross the river? Meaning: will they change automatically to "combat mode" once thei initiate the shock attack or they'll do it in "move" being smashed?

Hell, I've played thousands of turns and I keep forgetting these things......... [8|][8|][8|][8|]


Should have put the tanks in pursuit. I think they would have made it across the river with enough AV to make this question pointless.

[ny59giants]

Since this is the initial move across the river, the stack will shock attack in "move mode." Any follow up move will not create a shock attack unless the AV of the LCUs is over a certain percentage of what is already in the hex. In this case Calcutta. Don't remember what that value is (I think its 1/3 as I would often break down my divisions going into Singapore to not trigger a shock and send 1 of 3 in each day). I hope you set the stack "to follow" and have a full strength division in the lead and not HQ. I've had too many bad experiences with the HQ as the LCU to be followed. Safe bet, have them all in combat mode. [;)]

EDIT - double check all your leaders to make sure they are good quality.

[ITAKLinus]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Since this is the initial move across the river, the stack will shock attack in "move mode." Any follow up move will not create a shock attack unless the AV of the LCUs is over a certain percentage of what is already in the hex. In this case Calcutta. Don't remember what that value is (I think its 1/3 as I would often break down my divisions going into Singapore to not trigger a shock and send 1 of 3 in each day). I hope you set the stack "to follow" and have a full strength division in the lead and not HQ. I've had too many bad experiences with the HQ as the LCU to be followed. Safe bet, have them all in combat mode. [;)]

EDIT - double check all your leaders to make sure they are good quality.

Thank you for precise answer as usual.

It's indeed 30% of the defending AVs IIRC. The night has brought me wisdom and I have changed to "combat".

All the guys are following the 4th Infantry Division, which has exp of only 60: I hope that division will take the greatest amount of casualties, sparing the other three veteran ones.

Imperial Guards Division starts with a mediocre commander, but I changed it at the beginning. Now I don't remember the other ones, but I checked them before the assault to Singapore, so I suppose they're fine.

[ITAKLinus]

[center]12 JANUARY 1942
TURN 38[/center]


I) DEI THEATER

I conquer Manado and Sidate.
Two dutch units surrender SOUTH of Medan. The attack on the city itself will begin soon.

LRCAP trap over Dili nets me 10 enemy bombers for no losses.

In a couple of days I start the invasion of Java with the target of conquering the whole place before mid-February. I'm not in hurry.

I still have to coquer both Balikpapan and Tarakan, btw. Not a big deal: Dutch have been weakened and they have not enough ENG to pose a serious threat. My approach will be extremely simple: massive aerial bombing and then landing a brigade-sized unit in both.


II) PACIFIC OCEAN THEATER

A secondary Theater of Operations to me. Today I've unloaded various ENG in Rabaul and started loading some IJNAF Bns: they'll be sent to Lae/Salamua/Finshafen, where they will develop a little bit the infrastructures. With Buna in range for the AirHQ, these AFs will be relatively useful even if small.

The enemy is gathering some units in Terapo and supplying them with subs. I don't understand what's his logic, but I am ok with it.


III) CHINA THEATER

Tomorrow I should reach the hex N-W of Loyang with a unit, sealing the city. I ordered a shock attack to conquer the place and kill the defenders.


IV) INDIA THEATER

The situation is ever changing. Apparently, Thomas has decided he's not able to defend Calcutta and has withdrawn from the city. Two LCUs remaining accordingly to the recon: they're for sure the two static ones starting the game there.
I discover that the enemy presence at the Indo-Burmese border is quite relevant:
36th Indian Brigade
1/2 Det. West Coast
3rd Hyderabad Base Force
1/3 Det. West Coast
2nd Peshawar Base Force
77th Heavy AA Regiment
24th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
4/2nd Det. NW Front
20th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
AHQ India
3rd NW Frontier Base Force
1st South India Base Force
1st Peshawar Base Force
1st Central India Base Force
23rd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
21st Light AA Regiment

Given the presence of these units in Comilla and the fact that I see various other ones in the area, I think he has sent everything he could in Burma, trying to exploit what was my apparent inactivity.

A paradrop takes Rangpur, important dot on the railway. I think this move should seal the fate of the enemy troops SOUTH-EAST of Calcutta. Tomorrow I will reach Jessore and cut the railway even there.

Diamond Harbor reaches AF lvl2 and tomorrow will arrive probably at lvl3. This is a great news, since I will soon be able to base there bombers.

Cocanda is taken and the 4 divisions there start marching toward Bezwada (3 IDs) and Vizagapatnam. I should have landed in the latter together with Cocanda, mistake from my side probably.
Cuttack won't be attacked by paras. The attack there is very important, but I decided that dropping my second para unit to Rangpur was more relevant: given the fact that the paradrop in Comilla has partially failed, I wanted to cut the railway connecting the area at the Indo-Burmese border and the rest of India. Once the troops in Comilla gets wiped out, I will paradrop the surviving fragment in Cuttack.


So far the invasion si proceding well, I'd say. If my impression is correct, the Allies will pay heavy price for having moved the bulk of indian forces to the Indo-Burmese border. Should also be said that I intentionally gave the impression of moving slowly in the area.


V) OTHER
Few reinforcements have arrived today, a couple of NavGuards at Tokio, an INFp at Kagoshima and various SNLF Coy at Truk/Babeldaob/Saipan. I will send these troops in the DEI, where I still need to conquer many bases.
The various AAs are instead sent to the PACIFIC THEATER, where they will improve my defences in key AFs.

I am starting to load OIL/FUEL from Miri and Palembang, but it's a complex duty: the bases are relatively exposed and I do not have (yet) the optimal setup in terms of TKs because many are still around the map.





GULF OF BENGAL:

[ny59giants]

It's always good practice to check your leaders of your divisions and brigades that you load unto ships after they are unloaded. One can fall off and drown and then you are stuck with some political hack in charge. [:D]

[ITAKLinus]

[center]14 JANUARY 1942
TURN 39[/center]



I) DEI THEATER

The last convoy of troops for Singapore from Babeldaob is attacked SOUTH of Mindanao by Vindicators. I have detatched a CVL few days ago to cover it and Claudes destroy the enemy attack.

Usual bombings on Dili, but I can't do much for those poor guys.

Last Malayan Army LCU, and Indian Brigade, surreders in Temuloh, which is contestually captured by Thai troops.


II) PACIFIC OCEAN THEATER

Enemy carriers show up SOUTH of Milne Bay and they blow up 3 good xAKs which were picking up the part of GuardsMixedBrigade which has conquered the place few days ago.
That's a sad news, but at least I know carriers are there.

My Betty/Nell from Rabaul don't attack because of weather. It's bad since it was a good opportunity to slip under enemy's CAP and they were well within range for torpedo attacks (15hex).


III) CHINA THEATER

Here I screwed up. As known, I was encircling Loyang, trying to occupy the non-base hex NORTH-WEST of it.
I had two units which did 7/46 each turn for a while and they were at 41 yesterday. Fairly sure of them to arrive (or at least one of them), I ordered a shock attack.
Turn out that they stopped at 45/46 and so the enemy escaped.
Still, I conquer Loyang intact with minimal losses:

Japanese adjusted assault: 2821
Allied adjusted defense: 53
Japanese assault odds: 53 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Loyang !!!
Combat modifiers
Defender: leaders(-), disruption(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)
Japanese ground losses:
237 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 37 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 7 disabled

Allied ground losses:
9613 casualties reported
Squads: 520 destroyed, 73 disabled
Non Combat: 1016 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 84 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 87 (73 destroyed, 14 disabled)
Units retreated 7
Units destroyed 1
Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

They of course withdrew in the non-base hex N-W of Loyang. Well... Such is life.

I lose Shaohing, SOUTH-EAST of Hangchow in Shangai Bay. 32 destroyed squads.
There is no industry, so it's fine.
Few other fights around.


IV) INDIA THEATER

The enemy attack at Comilla but only few units have left the trains, so I resist.
Tomorrow I cross the river into Calcutta and so I ordered a bombing of the place.

Few cargo ships trying to escape are sunk by a joint effort of Petes (3 xAK/xAKLs) and Kates with bombs (4 xAKs).


KB strikes enemy troops EAST of Cocanda, who suffer quite big casualties in vehicles:
Allied ground losses:
105 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 9 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 31 (23 destroyed, 8 disabled)

Nothing really new happens a part from Diamond Harbor which reaches AF lvl3.


V) OTHER

Nothing relevant or new.



GULF OF BENGAL:

[ITAKLinus]

CHINA THEATER [NORTH-EAST]:

[RangerJoe]

The paradrop that did not work should have taken any units out of strategic mode. If nothing else, that should help slow any units to your advantage.

[ITAKLinus]

[center]15 JANUARY 1942
TURN 40[/center]



I) DEI THEATER

A couple of CLs bomb Ambon but I don't lose any plane on the ground. The group of 9 A6M2-Zero will rest for a while.

The organisation of the Java offensive reaches its culmination and now everyone is ready to assault the big island.


II) PACIFIC OCEAN THEATER

Nothing new. After the carrier strike of yesterday, I am somewhat more cautious in moving TFs around.

A group of DDs loads supplies at Wake and start loading the fragment of the GuardsMixedBrigade still on the atoll. I'll need one more trip to completely bring the unit away.



III) CHINA THEATER

I cross the river N-W of Loyang and I meet the former defenders of Loyang itself:
Allied ground losses:
3144 casualties reported
Squads: 139 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 170 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 8 (4 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Units retreated 7
I lost 120 troops in the attack.

I fail in my first assault on the next hex of the road to Sian. I think I'll launch another attack in two days, when a full division will be in the place.


IV) INDIA THEATER

I capture Calcutta, basically intact. The two static units defending the city, withdrew. Shouldn't they be destroyed? Maybe they lost all the static devices.
Roughly 45.000ton of supplies are captured in the city. Don't remember the fuel, something like 15.000ton.

My paras at Comilla get wiped out by the allied forces, but it's really not a problem since those guys won't be able to escape much further.


It looks like Madras got evacuated. It's gonna be taken by the troops landed at Cocanda: 2 divisions march toward Hyderabad and 1 toward Madras. I expect a solid defense in Hyderabad. Another division is marching along the coast to the east.


V) OTHER

With the cheap capture of Calcutta, I think I sealed the fate of a good share of India. For sure, the troops in Burma and at the Indo-Burmese border are gone for good: bar a miracle, they're gonna be destroyed in the place.

My target is now to secure Java and the southern part of DEI with the help of KB, which is sailing back home right now. Also a safer deployment in the Salomon Sea is desired, but it's more a matter of ENG availability rather than the need of air cover.

Soon I will organise the landing in Diego Garcia. Celyon has been heavily reinforced as far as my recon can tell and I want to loosely close the access to it. Once I have Bezwarda, I should be able to fly very deep NavS in the area.


GULF OF BENGAL:

[ITAKLinus]

[center]16 JANUARY 1942
TURN 41[/center]


I) DEI THEATER

I land a JNAF Coy at Toboali. I will place a group of Petes there and use the base to keep AKEs disbanded. AKEs which will support the large amount of ships I will use in naval bombardment during the Java operation.

Xen sends dozens of planes on my ships from Java itself but I used intentionally a FastTransportTF: the fast and nimble targets posed by DDs and APDs are more than enough to avoid being hit. A single 30Kg bomb hits an APD creating no damages.

Amphibious forces will reach tomorrow Toboali, where I have put a LRCAP for the occasion. From there, they'll attack Java.

A CV and a CVL will act as distant cover. The CVL got today her A6M2-Zero and it will take some day before they are repaired.


II) PACIFIC OCEAN THEATER

Nothing new.


III) CHINA THEATER

Xenxen has evacuated Singyan, near Hankow. I will take the base tomorrow.

A couple of battles with relatively few losses happen around. Tomorrow I try another deliberate on the road to Sian. Fingers crossed.


IV) INDIA THEATER

I conquer Jessore and I keep marching around.

A couple of xAKs are sunk in front of Calcutta. Over 150 mines swept, so I hope tomorrow I will finish the job and make Calcutta's harbour available.

A DD hit by a mine yesterday, sinks. Another one is in poor shape at Diamond Harbour and will reach Calcutta's repairing shipyard as soon as the threat posed by mines is managed.

No allied movements around. Cannot see what is he doing because I lack of recon planes.


V) OTHER

Thai troops are marching from Chiang Mai to Burma. I hope Xenxen will defend the hex EAST of Pegu so that I will be able to land in Pegu itself and seal the fate of the entire Burma Army.

I am somehow in the process of organising the landings at Tarakan and Balikpapan. There is a group of Vindicator around (now at Jolo) and I need to provide adequate air cover to my ships. Also, US CVs are potentially in the area: they attacked some ships at Milne Bay a couple of days ago and might have slipped into the DEI.
A group of Mavis from Ambon will, hopefully, tell me what's happening around. Regrettably, I forgot to place a group of Betty at Makassar to do more NavS.

In few days, KB will be present but I'm going to do the landings with a very light cover before KB arrival. In line of principle, I hope that Kaga+2xCVL will be more than enough to deal with the two remaining US CVs. LBA support in the area is quite large, also.

[ITAKLinus]

EDIT: double post.

[RangerJoe]

If you take the time to transfer the carrier air unit to a base, upgrade it, then the next turn load the air unit onto the aircraft carrier, the planes should repair faster.

[ITAKLinus]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

If you take the time to transfer the carrier air unit to a base, upgrade it, then the next turn load the air unit onto the aircraft carrier, the planes should repair faster.

Thanks for the reply Joe! I forgot that: I guess it's gonna be for the next time... My carriers are already sailing SOUTH now [:D]

There is one more CVL arriving soon in Singapore: she will do the upgrade in this, more efficient, manner.

[ITAKLinus]

[center]17 JANUARY 1942
TURN 42[/center]


I) DEI THEATER

My AmphTFs and various BombTFs reach the area of operations around Toboali. The enemy sends wave after wave of Dutch bomber, which suffer horrendous losses for just one hit on a xAK.

I launch a modest AF bombing run on two AFs in Java. Very little results.

The enemy also insists on bombing my troops in Dili. My LRCAP today flies and downs many of the attackers for no losses.


II) PACIFIC OCEAN THEATER

Landing AirSupport in various bases: Lae; Finshafen; Salamua. More stuff are being unloaded in Rabaul.


III) CHINA THEATER

At the price of 670 casualties, I take another hex on the road to Sian.

The enemy has also sent a lonley unit in HK, which is well defended. In a couple of days some tanks should seal inside the city the enemy troops.


IV) INDIA THEATER

I conquer Howrath and the defenders (Fort Lewis from Calcutta) suffer heavy casualties. No damages to the industrial items.

My troops are marching everywhere and I am confident Bezwada will be taken soon.

Calcutta itself is cleaned of mines.

No contact with the enemy.

I) DEI THEATER

Troops in Burma are apparently willing to block my Thai units one hex EAST of Pegu. I have the 16th and 56th Divisions ready in Singapore: once he reaches the jungle hex EAST of Pegu, I launch my amphibious assault at Pegu itself. I hope I will encircle everyone and destroy the Burma Army in one engagement.


The position of US CVs is still unknown, so I have to act carefully in the DEI. I will send the 2xCVLs and the Kaga NORTH to support the eventual landing in Pegu once I finish the landings in Java. I still have to conquer both Cocos Island and Christmas Island IO., which where supposed to be taken ages ago.


With the solid position I hold in India, I think it's wise to cancel the so-called "3rd wave" of 4 divisions and instead finish Java and Burma quickly, enabling an attack on Darwin during the amphibious bonus time.
It's not really strategic, but I want to establish a decent position around Darwin early on. Java is very strategic instead and the quicker I take it, the better. Hopefully, it won't last until the deadline I set for the capture of it: the 15th of February '42.



CHINA THEATER:

[ITAKLinus]

And...


INDIA THEATER:

[ITAKLinus]

[center]18-19 JANUARY 1942
TURN 43-44[/center]



I) DEI THEATER

I land in Java without major issues and I am in the process of encircling Batavia.

LRCAP over Dili gets a bad day and a group of P40Es manages to down 3 A6M2s for only 2 of their own. 1 pilot KIA, 2 WIA.


II) PACIFIC OCEAN THEATER

I find US CVs at Townsville. Now I am trying to develop Buna to AF lvl4 so that I can try a torpedo attack on them.

CA Chigaco gets 2 torpedoes SOUTH of Melbourne and sinks, hopefully with all hands. [:D]


III) CHINA THEATER

Nothing new or relevant.


IV) INDIA THEATER

A random tank unit takes back Rangpur, freeing the railway. It's a major blow to my hope of being able to encircle the allied troops S-E of Calcutta.
I tried a paradrop on Tezpur but it failed.
A tank unit is reaching the area and many bombers are keeping allied losses high.

Bezwada falls. Calcutta AF operational and hopefully tomorrow it will reach lvl5.

Madras apparently evacuated. 2 divisions are marching toward Hyderabad, 1 toward Madras and 2 toward Jamshedpur. Another division is in Calcutta resting/garrisoning and the Imperial Guards is marching toward Rangpur: it will engage the allied armies fleeing from the Indo-Burmese border.

Ships of every kind are being withdrawn.



V) OTHER

Nothing relevant to note. With Java campaign going fairly well and key locations in India already secured, I am in a very good strategic position.

Pacific Ocean Theater is my main issue right now, since I do not have neither the infrastructure, nor the assets to keep it as defended as I would like to.
Southern part of DEI (Timor&co) is another area in which I am fairly weak, but there is nothing the Xenxen can do to prevent my offensive there.

[ny59giants]

Can you list where your Air HQs are at or going to?

[RangerJoe]

Torpedo planes do not need level four, level two works.

[ITAKLinus]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

Torpedo planes do not need level four, level two works.

Really? Hell, I've always taken into account lvl4 for Betty/Nell. Well, I guess now I have to move the AirHQ earlier than I thought!

ORIGINAL: ny59giants
Can you list where your Air HQs are at or going to?

1) 11th AirFleet. 144A.S. Destination= Alinglaplap (HQrange=5)
2) 11th AirFlotilla. [R] 72A.S. will stay in Onshu
3) 12th Air Flotilla [R] 72A.S. will stay in Onshu
4) 21st Air Flotilla 72A.S. Destionation = Thousand Ships Bay
5) 22nd Air Flotilla 72A.S. Destionation = Cocos Island and then Indian Theater
6) 23rd Air Flotilla 72A.S. Destionation = Probolinggo (training area)
7) 24th Air Flotilla 72A.S. Destionation = Tabiteuea
8) 2nd Air Div 72A.S. Destionation = Buna (HQrange=4)
9) 3rd Air Div 72A.S. Destionation = Indian Theater (HQrange=4)
10) 5th Air Div 72A.S. Destionation = Dili (HQrange=4)
11) 1st Air Div [R] 72A.S. will stay in Onshu

[ITAKLinus]

[center]20-23 JANUARY 1942
TURN 45-48[/center]


I) DEI THEATER

Landings in Java are going well. Tomorrow, I will launch the first deliberate at Batavia, which should be lightly defended.
Most of the Dutch forces retreated in the southern part of the island.

No other relevant news from the area.


II) PACIFIC OCEAN THEATER

No relevant news.

B17s bomb every turn my troops in Milne Bay and Rossel Island.


III) CHINA THEATER

I have liberated Sinyang and I'm now marchin toward NORTH from there.

I am also in the process of freeing up the last offbase hex before Sian. I hope to assault Sian in few days.


IV) INDIA THEATER

Last turn I lost many (30) bombers over Rangpur. He has finally put to "combat mode" his units there and the FlaK has had a happy day.

I'm cleaning up most of the territory, meeting no resistance whatsoever. Hyderabad looks basically empty, same for Madras. We'll see... I conquered most of the bases intact and it's gonna help me much industrially.


V) OTHER

I think Xenxen is a very heavy supporter of a "full Sir Robin". So far, he is withdrawing as fast as he can everywhere, with the notable exception of southern DEI and SoPac where it's evident he wants to counterattack ASAP.
Especially at Timor, he has brought in reinforcements and is trying to attack Dili coming from Lautem.


So far, so good. I'm conquering India on the cheap and very quickly. China is going well too and soon I'll land three divisions in Burma, hoping to close the front very quickly.

Southern DEI are somewhat behind on the schedule, but I think I will simply unleash the KB so that I can restart my landings everywhere. Currently, I do not have air superiority SOUTH of Celebes and it is basically impossible to move slow ships in the area. Once KB is present, I can smash through enemy positions and land in several other key bases.

Sub war is going remarkably well, with at least 2-3 cargo ships hit every day. I have roughly half of the subs doing close support to operations (with the sole purpose of discouraging enemy actions) and the other half spread around the world hunting down cargo ships coming from offmap/west coast/etcetc.