The Italian Job (2) - Comments from the Allies

[mc3744]

February 6th-7th, 1942

Once again not much to report.

In Akyab the 4th Mixed Brigade is landing under heavy air and naval cover. The landing will proceed unchallenged, but I’m not sure it’ll be enough to defeat me. Anyway I’m not particularly interested in Akyab fate. I’m definitely not going to fight for it.

Java invasion has started, the Imperial Army is landing in Kragen, Java days are now numbered.

One picket ship North of Akyab has been severely damaged by a sub attack. It’s running for Canton, but I’m not sure it’ll make.

Supplies and troops keep flowing toward South Pacific.

[mc3744]

February 8th, 1942

PACIFIC
The 64th US AA Rgt and the 107th USN Base Force are unloading in the dot base of Baker.
They are joining with a CD defense battalion. The base has been already mined and has 35k supplies.
They will start building it up. 6 More DM are en route for additional mines.
I think I'll bring one more regiment, but I'm not sure.
Maybe it's better to focus on South Pacific, I don't think he'll go for the centre, he would have done it already.

[mc3744]

February 9th, 1942

INDO-CHINA
The 55th Division in reinforcing the 4th Mixed Brigade in Akyab. I guess now it’ll be enough to kick me out. I wonder if it’s a first step for the invasion of India.
Why does he want Akyab so badly to engage 1 full division?

In China he keeps trying the encirclement. The ground movement and combat system is really bad. The enemy can lock a hex with few men and you can’t move to it to reopen the way because you cannot move from a contested hex to another one. It really sucks.

I have to think some sensible house rule to propose to my opponent, this way it doesn’t make sense. One thing is to be able to encircle, another one not to have a chance to break the siege.

AUSTRALIA
Welcome to the new Base of Exmouth (see picture).
Exmouth is now officially a base. Let’s see if he want sot get it too.

He told me that he has (4) divisions in Northern Australia. If it’s true it’ll be difficult to kick him out, but on the other hand it’s (4) divisions he won’t be able to use elsewhere.

[Kereguelen]

ORIGINAL: mc3744

In China he keeps trying the encirclement. The ground movement and combat system is really bad. The enemy can lock a hex with few men and you can’t move to it to reopen the way because you cannot move from a contested hex to another one. It really sucks.

I have to think some sensible house rule to propose to my opponent, this way it doesn’t make sense. One thing is to be able to encircle, another one not to have a chance to break the siege.

Because I faced the same problem in China in one PBEM (problem was even worse because that game started unde 1.30 with the Chinese much weaker), I agreed with my opponent about the house rule not to use non-combat units or units that were smaller in size than regiments/brigades for such encirclements (before that my opponent even used construction units to create ZOC's trying to encircle me). The rule worked well for both of us. May work for you too.

[tabpub]

ORIGINAL: Kereguelen

ORIGINAL: mc3744

In China he keeps trying the encirclement. The ground movement and combat system is really bad. The enemy can lock a hex with few men and you can’t move to it to reopen the way because you cannot move from a contested hex to another one. It really sucks.

I have to think some sensible house rule to propose to my opponent, this way it doesn’t make sense. One thing is to be able to encircle, another one not to have a chance to break the siege.

Because I faced the same problem in China in one PBEM (problem was even worse because that game started unde 1.30 with the Chinese much weaker), I agreed with my opponent about the house rule not to use non-combat units or units that were smaller in size than regiments/brigades for such encirclements (before that my opponent even used construction units to create ZOC's trying to encircle me). The rule worked well for both of us. May work for you too.

one word----counterattack.
Either the pinning or encircling units. And keep reserves. Have enough on the front line to hold the initial hit, then feed units either to the flanks or into the main fight. Recon to determine where and what he has in the area. when a unit gets worn down in the fighting, pull it out while the others stand or attack and rebuild it. And keep your American fighters there to discourage his air force. Even add the PI refugees if necessary. (fighters I mean, send the bombers elsewhere where there is more support).

[mc3744]

Thanks you guys for the suggestions [:)]

February 11th, 1942

GH is back from his trip and we can continue our match.
So far the war is going badly for the Allies. The Rising Sun is shining everywhere he pleases.
The only place where I stopped his advance is Central China, and maybe Eastern China.
Everywhere else it looks like he is following his schedule perfectly. Not a big result so far. I’ll have to do better.

INDO-CHINA
The air control allows him to bomb all my bases freely, main target: my resource centers.
The surrounded 53rd Chinese Corps is fighting valiantly, it will give up sooner or later but he has put up quite some resistance.
In Karachi the 7th Armoured Tank Bde has arrived. It’s been directed towards Dacca.
Akyab has fallen to Emperor’s troops. I’ll have to think when to try to retake it.

DEI-PI
It looks like Manila may hold for a very long time. It is not being bombed nor besieged. Fortifications are now at level 5 and supplies are plenty.
I’ve therefore decided to allow replacements for the 192nd and 194th US Tank Battalions, for all ART units and for the 26th PS Cavalry Rgt. He’ll have to pay dearly for Manila.
Djokjakarta has fallen (it was empty).

PACIFIC
The invasion of New Guinea has started, his TFs are headed towards PM and Gili Gili (see picture). Nothing I can do about it.

In the North Attu is now airfield size (1) as well as the Japanese base Paramushiro.

[mc3744]

February 12th, 1942

CHINA
Ichang has been surrounded by one unit before I could stop it in the adjacent hex (see picture).
I now have (2) divisions facing his, (1) on the way and I’ve just ordered (2) more in Chungking. (5) Divisions should be enough to clear the road from these nasty Japs!

NEW GUINEA
GH is probably making one little mistake: over commitment.
The invasion TF going for PM is escorted by a carrier group. The Kaga has been spotted!
A couple of PGs would have been enough [:D]. Still my Wirraway squadron in PM set to Naval Attack at 100ft has been slaughtered by the CAP. No big deal anyway.

[mc3744]

February 13th, 1942

Due to a traveling overlapping of GH and me we’ll have to stop our match till next Tuesday. [:(]

INDO-CHINA
Jamshedpur base has reached size (2), the first step of my new air ‘plan’.
I started retransferring the LBs that I temporarily placed in Vladivostok back to India. One squadron at a time I’ll take them all back.
My hope is to surprise him randomly here and there.
It turns out that the unit trying to cut out Ichang is a garrison unit approx. 1.500 men strong. Hence I’ve ordered my (2) divisions (some 6.500 men) an immediate attack to clear the way. The third one will shortly join them should they fail in their attempt.

AUSTRALIA
Exmouth building continues and he doesn’t seem interested, good!
He is landing in Thursday Island, I’m watching.

PACIFIC
The 115th USN Base Force is unloading together with supplies in Nanoumea (see picture) where it will start building the port.
This is the last Central Pacific base I intend to garrison. I don’t think he’ll come after me in Central Pacific too. He is too busy elsewhere.
In PH the 8th FG Aircobra squadron is loading. Destination Australia.

In San Francisco it’s been a big day.
CV Hornet has left San Francisco harbor hailed by the cheering public. [8D] The carrier TF is headed toward PH were it will join the other (4) CVs, hence creating a considerable deterrent for any further Japanese action in Central Pacific.
Also the 102nd USN Base Force (360 Aviation Support) is loading in SF. It’ll be a very valuable unit once in Australia.

[mc3744]

February 14th, 1942

And back we are after a long break. Hopefully we’ll be here for a while [:)]

CHINA
The (2) divisions attack to clear the road from Ichang to Chungking has been a miserable failure. Despite 6.500 men vs. 1.500. A third division is one hex away. I’ll bombard the Japs till the reinforcements arrive and then I’ll try again.

PI
He started bombing my resources in Naga!! It has to mean that he has no intention to take it anytime soon. I’ll have to think some way to take advantage of Manila and Naga in Allies hands. The problem is that with Northern Australia captured my closest base is quite far away.

DEI
Landings in Palembang. No units to oppose him.

PACIFIC
The 25th Division is passing by Canton, I had a strong urge to divert it to Nanoumea. I eventually decided to keep it going to Australia. Still the doubt has not left me. Should I make Central Pacific impregnable or is it a waste of good units because he won’t go for it anyway?
I really don’t know. [&:]
The Americal US Division is unloading in PH and will be waiting for the smaller AP (4.000) to take it to Southwest Pacific or Australia.

[mc3744]

February 15th, 1942

The Rising Sun force are unchallenged from China to Northern Australia! [:(]
The Allies watch powerless the Japanese air forces wreck havoc wherever they please. The only area where we still have a hold onto is the Pacific.

DEI
Palembang and Batavia have fallen (see picture). The whole DEI will very soon be under the yellow rule.

AUSTRALIA-NEW GUINEA
Thursday Island is now in Japanese hands and landings in PM have started. PM fate is sealed.

PACIFIC
I’ve - for now - made up my mind about the strategy in Central Pacific.
I will commit only regiment and battalion size units. The divisions will go to Australia to free it from the oppressor’s rule.
I believe the next couple of months of war will be very frustrating. It’ll be all about logistics: ferrying men and supplies from the West Coast to Australia and South/Southwest Pacific.

[mc3744]

February 16th - 18th, 1942

CHINA
The arrival of the third division in the contended road hex NW of Ichang has unlocked the stalemate. The shock attack eventually cleared the way. Ichang is now in supply again. [:)]
The whole China front seems now a WWI battlefield, totally static. No one has any real chance to advance any further. At least not anytime soon.

AUSTRALIA - NEW GUINEA
Exmouth has reached airfield size (1) and the Japs have decided to bombard it. They got lucky because they found a ship at harbor unloading troops. It sank hopelessly.
PM has fallen has expected.
This front will only bring bad news in the following months.

PACIFIC
I’ve split the 27th Division in three units. One is loading for Midway, the other two will serve as garrison for Johnston and Palmyra. I don’t want to take any chances. Once he’ll be done with DEI who knows where he’ll divert his attention to.
One rather big surface TF has been formed in PH, her task is to strengthen the Southwest Pacific area. BB New Mexico is the flag ship, with her (2) CA, (2) CL and (13) DD. They will head for Canton, Fiji, Noumea and eventually Townsville.

[mc3744]

February 19th, 1942

INDIA
Yet one more convoy of 105k supplies is loading in Karachi. The constant supplies and fuel flow is directed to Exmouth, Perth and Adelaide. As we speak 70k supplies are unloading in Adelaide.
All the supplies will be needed for the summer counteroffensive in the North.

CHINA
The Imperial Army looks quite weak in Canton: (2) units only. Hence I’ll try to surround his units NW of Canton by moving a division into Canton itself (see picture). I’m also moving to clear the hex SW of Ichang (see picture).

DEI
The 6th KNIL Regiment in Soerebaja has been converted to Southwest Pacific and is loading for Exmouth.
The Barisan Rgt is has also been reassigned and is loading in Pamakasan for Exmouth. It seems his air control over the air is not yet complete if two AP can sneak out (2) valuable units under his nose. [:D]

PACIFIC
Ships unloading troops and supplies in Nanoumea are being constantly bombed from Betty’s based in Tarawa. Luckily the 250kg bombs are not too dangerous. Still he managed to disable a couple of ships for a while.

[Kereguelen]

Very interesting situation in China! Currently it seems that he has overcommitted in the north. If your front up there holds, you might be able to weaken him much in the southern part of that country before his reinforcements arrive. Will be interesting to see if he moves units to the southern front or if he continues for Lanchow...

[mc3744]

ORIGINAL: Kereguelen

Very interesting situation in China! Currently it seems that he has overcommitted in the north. If your front up there holds, you might be able to weaken him much in the southern part of that country before his reinforcements arrive. Will be interesting to see if he moves units to the southern front or if he continues for Lanchow...

There isn't much I can do to weaken him in the South. Even though I have a numerical advantage my troops suck. The only potential way I see is isolating some of them and try to get the most out of a shortage of supplies for the isolated units.

After 1.50 China is no longer a race to get it as fast as possible. It's rather a trench war. Things may change when I'll be able to regain some air power over China. But it's going to take a while [:(]

His only - little - mistake has been Ichang. He thought he could get through, but I managed to garrison it fast enough. If he used those units somewhere else, i.e. North, he may have broken my front.

[Bliztk]

Take note that only with bombarding exchanges at blocking positions, your Chinese troops can go from a poor 30s to a healthy 55+s only in 3 weeks. When the chinese Divs reach an experience level that you feel confortable, rotate them out to a city and let them regain the full strengh, in two-three months you can have full standing Chinese army in a 60 exp. level plus some fresh reserves to plug gaps.

The Hex northwest of Canton is perfect for those type of things.

[mc3744]

ORIGINAL: Bliztk

Take note that only with bombarding exchanges at blocking positions, your Chinese troops can go from a poor 30s to a healthy 55+s only in 3 weeks. When the chinese Divs reach an experience level that you feel confortable, rotate them out to a city and let them regain the full strengh, in two-three months you can have full standing Chinese army in a 60 exp. level plus some fresh reserves to plug gaps.

The Hex northwest of Canton is perfect for those type of things.

I actually noticed my units gaining lots of experince in another game. I wasn't sure if it came by just being attacked or if you also have to attack.
Thanks for the clarification.
The only side effect is an additional supply consumption and disruption increase, which could be dangerous in some situations.

[Bliztk]

It`s faster if you attack and defend at the same time. What you have to do is when you have your division at a sufficiente Exp. Level, rotate it out and insert a green one.

Since you are going to get past 45 level exp rather fast, those units training should get an objetive more appropiate, like one exposed city you want to strengh, or some place you want to attack.

Yes, but take note that in 3 weeks yor are actually doubling your combat efficiency.

In stock scenario Japan Begins with roughtly 10000 AV and the Chinese have a whopping 23000 AV at full TOE.
You begin disrupted and inexperienced, but if you plan in advance, you can bring a force of ten fully trained corps with support of a 3000 AV and start making things hard to the Japenese in a few months. 5 weeks of training can put you at 60+ Exp. Two-three months of rest and you are at full TOE, then start to pressuring Japan with a sizable, and fully prepped force aiming to an objetive.

[mc3744]

I didn't know about the total AV. Did you count them?!? [X(]

Anyway it's a good advice, I've already started in another couple of PBEM I'm playing [;)].

[Bliztk]

When I decided to start diving into the depths of WitP, I created two home made scenarios, one with a modified Coral Sea scenario, running longer, and with several different units to try new things.

That`s where I got the experience from bombardment attacks [:'(], and started to see how the system worked.

Another useful tip, is that if you want to train you units at night combat, try to find a Japanese base outside Betties range and bombard it, you can improve 3-4 exp at night per run. But if Betties find you, all your effort will be wasted [:-]

Second one a Head to Head Scen15 with all TFs going to port and standing down/not upgrading, and setting all merchants/bases at Auto-Supply when you have enough AKs at SF,Osaka and Karachi.

You put at continuous play for 1 day and a half [>:]. And then you start making tests

For example, to fill China you need approx.:

849 Support,
680 Chinese Squads
504 105mm Hotwitzer
504 76mm AT Gun
144 57mm AT Gun
140 Aviation Support
74 40mm Bofors
74 20mm Bofors
66 90mm AA
34 Radars

That not includes combat losses, and some of them are replacements, but with this data, you can see that to fill the Chinese armies, you need approx 1 month of Allied equipment.

Then multiply the AV for the units, and voila¡ 23000 AV

It`s useful to know what you need to fill the TOE, and adjust the priorities (accept replacements) for your units. Then plan accordingly [;)]

[mc3744]

You do have some time to waste!! [;)]

I know about the night bombing and also some other 'tricks'.
I, however, had no idea of how much stuff was needed to fill out China [X(]

Good to know [:)]