China Strategy?

[jc4751]

After reading some stuff on the Pacific War lately (working through The First Team, among other things), and in desperate need of something tropical, I decided to start a full war campaign playing as the Allies. I'm not into min-maxing and AP, and am playing more for the fun/experience of the game.

While I have a pretty decent grasp of how to handle the early war, I'm not sure exactly what stategies to use in China. I know there's the Quiet China scenarios, but China was an important part of the war and I feel like I would definitely be missing out on the experience if I didn't play with it active. That said, what are some good moves and strategies to at least keep China from collapsing outright in the first year or so of the war?

Thanks!

[John B.]

I've only played the historical game so it might vary with other scenarios but a couple of things to do is to run away at the start from any clear terrain because the Japanese airforce will destroy you if you're out in the open. Fall back on Sian and hold on in the rough terrain in the south. Let your units sit still so that they can entrench and hide behind rivers where possible. Set the repair button for all Chinese factories, resource hexes, and oil hexes to off so that you don't waste supply rebuilding items. Don't build up airbases or ports.

Try to prevent Japan from getting into the Chungking Plateau. You can use the Flying Tigers to set CAP traps for IJA bomber formations. You can also eventually use long range bombers flying out of Lashio to provide ground support and to strike Japanese air bases when you detect a build up of aircraft. You will get more and more transports and use them to fly in supply points (even point helps in china). So, you want to build up Lashio to a level 9 airbase and stick lots of flak there. Keep Rangoon as long as possible as that sends supply points up the Burma Road. Don't destroy the British to do this, but don't run away at the start either. Counter attack if you get a huge stack against a small Japanese stack but don't attack unless you know you have good odds against him. I'm sure there is more, but that's worked for me.

[Canoerebel]

I don't think you'll have any trouble stymieing the AI Japanese. As a general rule, get your troops into key rough-terrain hexes that block main roads, take advantage of key bases (Changsha is a linchpin) and build forts, and do not change prep for your Chinese units - let them get to 100% for whatever base and then train them so that their experience goes from the 30s up to about 50 or more.

[jdsrae]

Plus turn off replacements & upgrades to all units as that uses supply.
Selectively turn back on to control which units you want to receive reinforcements and which to upgrade once modern equipment starts arriving.
You will still have some Chinese corps with old equipment for the duration so keep them for garrison roles and save your modern equipment for the counter attack force.

[Edward75]

16.4.2 SPECIAL CHINESE REPLACEMENTS
Chinese infantry units that are totally destroyed are recreated. When destroyed, the unit is set to return to Chungking 30 days later at 1/3 of it’s TO&E strength. These replacement units do not use up any units from the replacement pool. They represent the almost unlimited ability of China to replace infantry units if needed.

Question. If Japanese capture Chungking, Chinese units will be recreated elsewhere. If yes, where will this someday stop this recreated?

[GetAssista]

ORIGINAL: Edward75
Question. If Japanese capture Chungking, Chinese units will be recreated elsewhere. If yes, where will this someday stop this recreated?

Chungking and Chengto are the two home bases for Chinese. Capture those and there will be no more respawns

[Edward75]

Chungking and Chengto are the two home bases for Chinese.

Where does this information come from? Just in manual about this is not written.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Edward75

Chungking and Chengto are the two home bases for Chinese.

Where does this information come from? Just in manual about this is not written.

It is known.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: jc4751

After reading some stuff on the Pacific War lately (working through The First Team, among other things), and in desperate need of something tropical, I decided to start a full war campaign playing as the Allies. I'm not into min-maxing and AP, and am playing more for the fun/experience of the game.

While I have a pretty decent grasp of how to handle the early war, I'm not sure exactly what stategies to use in China. I know there's the Quiet China scenarios, but China was an important part of the war and I feel like I would definitely be missing out on the experience if I didn't play with it active. That said, what are some good moves and strategies to at least keep China from collapsing outright in the first year or so of the war?

Thanks!

It's pretty fun to hunker down and make the Chinese effective early. As others have noted use the x3 terrain as much as possible.

Leave anything in the clear undefended, even if it requires a garrison. Defend around the edges of bases like Changsha and Kukong. The two places I definitely build forts are Psingiang and Sian. The former is a spot the IJA will try to get into the clear bases around Changsha. Sian is so important to defending the NW, and it requires a river crossing.

Also, on the Burma side, don't defend Rangoon if the Japanese come big into the area. Defend Lashio with the Burma division and anything else you can get there.

[Yaab]

Arr loads read to Chungking.

Just retreat into the Chungking Basin.

[jc4751]

Thanks for all the advice. I'm close to two months in and the Chinese are a bit beat up, but are nowhere close to outright collapse.