Empire of the Sun - DesertWolf101 (J) vs Andy Mac (A)

[DesertWolf101]

ORIGINAL: 29000Kevin

From reading this AAR, I wonder what your Submarine sunk tonnage list would've looked like if you had the Submarine Tracker in the campaign since you have so far only lost 2 Submarines in the entire war for an impressive ratio kill list that even the Kriegsmarine U-Boat arm would've been jealous of. **Looks at the USS Lexington**

But 1943 is coming and the events of Black May is going to rain in for any Axis Submarine attempting to strike Allied Convoy's, the Happy times will truly be over...

It's true, from sunk warships to the large number of tankers and other cargo vessels they have put down, I have had some big successes with submarines. As you say though the tide will surely change now as Allied ASW gets progressively better.

[DesertWolf101]

December 13-16, 1942

I decided to maintain the pressure on the Karachi air defenses with my sweeps. The idea is to weaken his CAP so that my Nell strikes can start picking off his vessels and interrupt his supply/forces flow into India. The couple of sweeps that have gone in over the last few days have resulted in about a 2 to 1 kill ratio in my favor but I am losing great pilots and his are likely surviving so truth be told I don't really like the tactical results. I am pressing on though with the overall strategic picture in mind.

[DesertWolf101]

In the USSR my advance is continuing in the north and I have almost reached my strategic objective with the Ulan-Ude area already taken. I managed to catch and hurt a Soviet division and brigade but his forces have largely gotten away for now.

[DesertWolf101]

I am hoping this changes in a couple of turns when my Ulan Bator force shock attacks across the river into Kyaktah. If the weather holds and my air force intervenes, I have a good chance of catching a number of Andy's units in the base before they flee.

[DesertWolf101]

December 17-18, 1942

An excellent couple of days in the war for the Empire. Perseverance with the Zero sweeps has paid off. Andy's CAP over Karachi has been cleaned out and he has been forced to retreat his large convoys and warships from the port for the time being. I'm sure he can try to reopen the supply route through Karachi again once he rebuilds his fighter squadrons but for the time being this is a clear Japanese success. In less than a week of sweeps approximately 200 Allied fighters have been shot down for about a third of that in Zeros lost.

Over in the Soviet Union, the main strategic aim of Operation Siberian Winter has been accomplished as the two main Japanese army pincers link up with the fall of Kyaktah. With the help of the IJAAF bombers, the Japanese force from Ulan Bator even successfully mauled some Soviet divisions in its shock attack across the river. The Japanese troops will now head into the mountains and assume their blocking positions.

I am very pleased that my considerable planning and preparation has paid off. There were some bumps in the road to be sure, not least of which was the mini-disaster of the early start and resulting scramble. In the end however, the main operational and strategic objectives were achieved in less than three months. I am glad I stuck with my plan despite the risks - I knew it had a lot of merits and the happily the results are clear. Normally I would now turn to the slow and steady siege phase of the invasion in the Vladivostok area. With Andy having the option to just disband his units before they are destroyed I am no longer sure this is even worth the effort. Something to sleep on. For now I will enjoy the fruits of my success!

[DesertWolf101]

The Battle of Kyaktah

[GetAssista]

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101
Over in the Soviet Union, the main strategic aim of Operation Siberian Winter has been accomplished as the two main Japanese army pincers link up with the fall of Kyaktah. With the help of the IJAAF bombers, the Japanese force from Ulan Bator even successfully mauled some Soviet divisions in its shock attack across the river. The Japanese troops will now head into the mountains and assume their blocking positions.

Peanut gallery is cheering for you to keep pushing! Terrain is harder yes and Andy can concentrate on a few hexes. But on the bright side Andy is in relative disarray, your airforce gets a free hand, and Vlad theatre seems calm. You need a bit more strategic depth for your blocking positions

Is Cheremkhovo empty? It can't be , right?

[DesertWolf101]

ORIGINAL: GetAssista

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101
Over in the Soviet Union, the main strategic aim of Operation Siberian Winter has been accomplished as the two main Japanese army pincers link up with the fall of Kyaktah. With the help of the IJAAF bombers, the Japanese force from Ulan Bator even successfully mauled some Soviet divisions in its shock attack across the river. The Japanese troops will now head into the mountains and assume their blocking positions.

Peanut gallery is cheering for you to keep pushing! Terrain is harder yes and Andy can concentrate on a few hexes. But on the bright side Andy is in relative disarray, your airforce gets a free hand, and Vlad theatre seems calm. You need a bit more strategic depth for your blocking positions

Is Cheremkhovo empty? It can't be , right?

Nope it's not empty. I just haven't sent a recon flight over it in a few days so it doesn't show its garrison.

We shall see, I will follow in Andy's heels and if the opportunity is there to push even further I will go for it but by and large I am content with maintaining a solid defensive line in the mountains with ample reserves.

[DesertWolf101]

December 19-20, 1942

In the Soviet Union, I trapped and destroyed a Soviet tank brigade at Sovetskaya Gavan while conducting some mop up operations in the southern theater.

[PaxMondo]

Me? I would keep forcing North in the SOV. If you gain Krasnovarsk, Abakan, and Wasu, the SOV units entering the map have no base, so no air cover. There are no other entry points for the SOV, meaning the late war SOV airforce doesn't exist. Yes, eventually he will march his troops out, but you will always have the advantage of an air force whereas he will not. Huge advantage ...

[GetAssista]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo
Me? I would keep forcing North in the SOV. If you gain Krasnovarsk, Abakan, and Wasu, the SOV units entering the map have no base, so no air cover.

If this somehow happens Sov units will have no entrance point and will stay off map forever - units can't march to/from offmap base despite what the F6 tells you, only strategic RR movement can be done. At least East Coast US base is like that.

^ Not true, Soviets can march to and from SU, it's just that Japan cannot

But it is hardly possible for Japan to go all the way, too much material on too narrow front

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: GetAssista

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo
Me? I would keep forcing North in the SOV. If you gain Krasnovarsk, Abakan, and Wasu, the SOV units entering the map have no base, so no air cover.

If this somehow happens Sov units will have no entrance point and will stay off map forever - units can't march to/from offmap base despite what the F6 tells you, only strategic RR movement can be done. At least East Coast US base is like that.

But it is hardly possible for Japan to go all the way, too much material on too narrow front

Not so. I marched Soviet units from Alma Ata to China with no problem. No strat move is possible there for Soviet units because there is no rail link, but the paved road lets them move at 30 miles a day or 60 miles a day depending on unit type. Supply also flows from there to China.

[DesertWolf101]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

Me? I would keep forcing North in the SOV. If you gain Krasnovarsk, Abakan, and Wasu, the SOV units entering the map have no base, so no air cover. There are no other entry points for the SOV, meaning the late war SOV airforce doesn't exist. Yes, eventually he will march his troops out, but you will always have the advantage of an air force whereas he will not. Huge advantage ...

Pax, the Soviet Air Force will be a minimal threat until 1945 - their starting force has been largely thrashed and they don't start getting replacement aircraft in serious numbers until December 1944. Soviet ground units on the other hand, especially in infantry and artillery, will be a very serious threat and in large numbers in just a few months time as he rebuilds his divisions and organizes himself. This threat progressively grows over the next few years and explodes in mid-1945.

Basically, assuming I am able to choose my defensive positions, it is far better to deal with the primary Soviet threat in the narrow blocking positions in the mountains than to extend myself in the vulnerable plains next to his offmap entry points. There really is not much advantage in taking this advance much further.

[DesertWolf101]

To Vlad or not to Vlad?

I am still debating with myself what to do next with regards to the Vladivostok pocket. I definitely intend to tighten the perimeter around the pocket, taking basically all the territory/bases except Voroshilov and Vladivostok as an initial step. But then what? Is it worth the casualties/supplies to seize this territory given the fact that Andy can teleport his units out when it starts looking bad for him? Is it even worth the effort to try to reduce the supplies in the pocket? Should I just leave this as a large POW camp of sorts for the next few years? What would you do?

[GetAssista]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy
Not so. I marched Soviet units from Alma Ata to China with no problem. No strat move is possible there for Soviet units because there is no rail link, but the paved road lets them move at 30 miles a day or 60 miles a day depending on unit type. Supply also flows from there to China.

Oh, good to know, thanks! Never used it from that side without strat movement.

Japan is not allowed to march there, can only block supply on the border. But for Soviet units it apparently also works the other way around (just checked). The last refuge! [:)]

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101
I am still debating with myself what to do next with regards to the Vladivostok pocket. I definitely intend to tighten the perimeter around the pocket, taking basically all the territory/bases except Voroshilov and Vladivostok as an initial step. But then what? Is it worth the casualties/supplies to seize this territory given the fact that Andy can teleport his units out when it starts looking bad for him? Is it even worth the effort to try to reduce the supplies in the pocket? Should I just leave this as a large POW camp of sorts for the next few years? What would you do?

I don't know how many Soviets left there, but I'd say close all hexsides you can, put some second rate divisions to build field fortifications and leave it to its own devices. Terrain works for you just as well as for Andy. Station some heavy arty for counterbattery until field forts build up to about 4. You might not even want to bomb, almost all current Soviet bombers (except DB which are few) lack range to hop there from Irkutsk, newer ones will only arrive in Dec-44. And Allies can't stage there

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

ORIGINAL: GetAssista

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo
Me? I would keep forcing North in the SOV. If you gain Krasnovarsk, Abakan, and Wasu, the SOV units entering the map have no base, so no air cover.

If this somehow happens Sov units will have no entrance point and will stay off map forever - units can't march to/from offmap base despite what the F6 tells you, only strategic RR movement can be done. At least East Coast US base is like that.

But it is hardly possible for Japan to go all the way, too much material on too narrow front

Not so. I marched Soviet units from Alma Ata to China with no problem. No strat move is possible there for Soviet units because there is no rail link, but the paved road lets them move at 30 miles a day or 60 miles a day depending on unit type. Supply also flows from there to China.

Correct. I suspect that is why Alma-Ata exists ... to allow SOV forces the ability to march in unlike other off-map locations ...

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

Me? I would keep forcing North in the SOV. If you gain Krasnovarsk, Abakan, and Wasu, the SOV units entering the map have no base, so no air cover. There are no other entry points for the SOV, meaning the late war SOV airforce doesn't exist. Yes, eventually he will march his troops out, but you will always have the advantage of an air force whereas he will not. Huge advantage ...

Pax, the Soviet Air Force will be a minimal threat until 1945 - their starting force has been largely thrashed and they don't start getting replacement aircraft in serious numbers until December 1944. Soviet ground units on the other hand, especially in infantry and artillery, will be a very serious threat and in large numbers in just a few months time as he rebuilds his divisions and organizes himself. This threat progressively grows over the next few years and explodes in mid-1945.

Basically, assuming I am able to choose my defensive positions, it is far better to deal with the primary Soviet threat in the narrow blocking positions in the mountains than to extend myself in the vulnerable plains next to his offmap entry points. There really is not much advantage in taking this advance much further.

Well, if you take Abakan and Krasnovarsk, his only entry point is Wasu. That would be lousy for him as his supply is not going to flow to support too many units. He cannot move east as there are no roads, he has to move south for a LONG way before he actually gets to a rail line . You know how hard it is to get oil to flow from Urumchi, it can be done, but it take effort. Imagine the effort to get 10K supply/day to travel even longer on the same road?

IOW: you will have taken SOV out of the game for all intents and purposes ... you won't have to fight the '45 SOV or the 44 or the 43. They will be stuck in Mongolia... [:D]

[PaxMondo]

I would use 10 or so of those tiny chutai bomber groups with Ida, set to max altitude, to get the SOV to burn up all their supply in useless AA. once they are low on supply, you can reduce and take the base. [8D]

[DesertWolf101]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

Me? I would keep forcing North in the SOV. If you gain Krasnovarsk, Abakan, and Wasu, the SOV units entering the map have no base, so no air cover. There are no other entry points for the SOV, meaning the late war SOV airforce doesn't exist. Yes, eventually he will march his troops out, but you will always have the advantage of an air force whereas he will not. Huge advantage ...

Pax, the Soviet Air Force will be a minimal threat until 1945 - their starting force has been largely thrashed and they don't start getting replacement aircraft in serious numbers until December 1944. Soviet ground units on the other hand, especially in infantry and artillery, will be a very serious threat and in large numbers in just a few months time as he rebuilds his divisions and organizes himself. This threat progressively grows over the next few years and explodes in mid-1945.

Basically, assuming I am able to choose my defensive positions, it is far better to deal with the primary Soviet threat in the narrow blocking positions in the mountains than to extend myself in the vulnerable plains next to his offmap entry points. There really is not much advantage in taking this advance much further.

Well, if you take Abakan and Krasnovarsk, his only entry point is Wasu. That would be lousy for him as his supply is not going to flow to support too many units. He cannot move east as there are no roads, he has to move south for a LONG way before he actually gets to a rail line . You know how hard it is to get oil to flow from Urumchi, it can be done, but it take effort. Imagine the effort to get 10K supply/day to travel even longer on the same road?

IOW: you will have taken SOV out of the game for all intents and purposes ... you won't have to fight the '45 SOV or the 44 or the 43. They will be stuck in Mongolia... [:D]

You mean to tell me that the Soviet player cannot march his units across into the map like he can in the Wasu area? Wow, I didn't realize that. If that's the case then yes, I totally agree, taking Abakan and Krasnovarsk would indeed be very advantageous. Don't think I can make it there though given how many forces he pulled out and disbanded from the pocket that will be coming into the line in the next months.

[DesertWolf101]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

I would use 10 or so of those tiny chutai bomber groups with Ida, set to max altitude, to get the SOV to burn up all their supply in useless AA. once they are low on supply, you can reduce and take the base. [8D]

I was thinking about doing something similar to this as well. Now that the fighter threat is gone, might as well leverage the light bombers to good effect....