China only game - Feinder vs. WitP_Dude (not for your eyes Dude!)

[Feinder]

China Only AAR : Feinder vs. WitP_Dude

Alright. Here's my shot to "put up or shut up". I'm playing WitP_Dude in our best attempt at a "China Only" game. Frankly, right now, I just don't want to look like an idiot (*grin*). I've read many of Dude's posts, and he's obviously a very capable player.

You can see the thread in the opponents wanted forum, for some of the "rules" that we're abiding by. The short list (off the top of my head)...

1. Everything started with no expand, no replacements.
2. We stood down everything in all other theaters, including porting all ships and subs.
3. I get 400 political points a month, Dude (Japan) gets 1000.
4. 2-day turns, with weather.
5. He gets Palembang for free (I marched out), so he walks in to get the oil for his Heavy Industry.
6. In April we close the Burma Road, so he'll be allowed to occupy Lashio and Myt for free.
7. He can use units from the Wang-Chung army, but has to pay political points for their conversion.
8. Border of French-Indo China is closed. Nothing goes across the border.
9. Border between Burma and China is closed. NOthing goes across the border. We will simulate the fall of Burma by simple allowing Japan to occupy the Lashi and Myt.
10. There are constraints on how many aircraft I can employ for resupply (drat!). I can use all the transport AC I can get my hands on. And 50 Hudsons or Blens in December and January. The number goes up, to max of 200 at some point. And I get some reinforcements trickling in, but nothing major.


===

Inital deployments...

Having 100 political points to spend at start, the first thing I did was convert two of the C-47 sqdns on the WestCoast, and get them loaded onto transports headed to Pearl Harbor. On day 2, I converted the 3rd WestCoast C-47, and it's headed to PH a day behind the first two. As soon as they unpack and repair at PH, I'll start jumping them to China. Should take about 2 weeks (since you only get one one transfer every other day on two-day turns).

Day 4 priority on political points was the RDAF transports (Lockeeds and Loadstars), and they were quickly set to Ledo.

That leaves me with about 150 points left for the month. I'll use that swap leaders and do whatever else.

===

For ease of reference, I'll divide into 3 regions.

North - Yenen, and those 3 rear AFs to the west.

Central - Chungking, Changsha, Homan, Ichang, Sian, Chengtu

South - Wuchow, Nanning, Yunan, Kunming, Kweiyang.

===

China

I have moved forces to reinforce the "Key 5" at start. These are Yenen, Homan, Ichang, Changsha, and Wuchow.

I'll will draw off units from Kweiyang, Kunming, Chunking and the other rear bases, to bolster the troops in the front (feeding them to the nearest of the 5 key cities). Will split a single corps level unit that is prepped for the rear base (like Chengtu), and leave one of the sub-units at the rear base. I figure that should be enough guys (plus the squads in the BF), to defend vs. a paradrop. I also like to create "flankers" on each side of my main force concentrations. Basically I split another corps unit, and send the A and B units to each side of me, to keep from getting surrounded. NOt changing objs yet. I figured
a. Might as well let them train up to 45 exp if they're not already there.
b. I have no idea what his strategy is, and I don't want to lose the massive benefit a 100 prep point bonus for swapping the objective on a whim. I'm sure things will open fairly furious, but I'm expecting to be able to see of his intentions by January. Then, I'll see if it's worth it to swap objective. Don't get me wrong, even then I'll still be hesitant to swap them. 100 prep-points is a big bonus.

The Divisions assigned to SEAC, and the units SW of Yunan, are all moving best speed to get into theater around Wuchow.

The units in the SW move to attack Nanning (including those prepped for Hanoi, since Hannoi is neither a target or a threat).


UK

Have moved RAF HQs from Rangoon and Sing. Also loaded SEAC onto a transport, heading for the mainland.
I'll put SEAC and and RAF HQ in Ledo. The RAF HQ will help the the bombers flying transport missions. I'll airlift the other RAF HQ into Chungking. Having SEAC in Ledo also, draws the max supplies directly to Ledo. Since India and Burma aren't in use, it doesn't matter that SEAC is so far forward (and at a malaria base), all I care about it having lots of supplies there. There's also the benefit that Chengtu is within the command range of SEAC. So I set her objective to Chengtu, just for giggles. Frankly, if he's capturing Chengtu, things are a bust anyways, but what the h_ll.

I've moved all the BlenIs and BlenIVs from Malaya into India. They'll stay parked in Dacca for rest and refit. I figure I'll keep as many sqdns "in reserve" in Dacca, as I have flying supplies at Ledo. When somebody needs a break due to fatigue or morale loss, I'll just swap them out. My limit is 50 aircraft in Decemebr and January. But I figure I don't have to always use the same squadrons. I'll actually have twice the allotment -available- for mission, but only -fly- the specified amount (the other half will be resting). Only Hudson's and Blens were specified, that's all I'll use. The Hudsons have a bigger payload than the Blens (2000 vs. 1200), so my priority will be to fly the Hudons. When I get around to it, I'll grab some of the Hudsons from Oz for my reserve squadrons, to replase the smaller Blens. It won't be much either way, 2000 lbs = 1 supply point. So a sqdn of Hudsons brings 16 supply points for Chengtu (and the Blens only carries 9. But 50 more supply a day from the RAF is better than nothing, and every little bit helps.

So in India, I'll have flying resupply :
48 Hudsons at Ledo
16 C-47s
12 Lockeeds
12 Loadstars

plus 48 Hudsons at Dacca in reserve
and 48 more C-47s arriving in mid-January (coming from WestCoast)

==

As of 12-25-41, the events thus far :

===

South - Attack on Nanning and Patok.

I attacked Nanning (successfully). I pulled a few guys from Wuchow to do it. But there is a lot more guys heading to Wuchow anyways, and he hasn't move up toward Wuchow. FIgure I can hit Nanning/Patok and head back to Wuchow before dinner. Actually plan on attacking out of Wuchow once the the extra Divs from SEAC/Kunming/Kweing/Nanning arrive.

I learned something. He defended Nanning, but then retreated his INF Div to Patok when he thot the game was up. At the same time, he moved up an ENG unit from Patok. Naturally, they were an easy victory at Nanning, but when the ENG retreated back to Patok, he damaged the installations at Nanning, and (because the INF Div wasn't present), didn't take the losses to the INF Div in the retreat. Clever. And now the AF is demolished (which I could really care less about), but it's going to auto-draw supplies to fix the d_mn thing (I wish I could just leave it cratered, I have no use for it anyways, the supplies on the other hand...)

It did make it easier for me having only the ENG unit in the last attack. I simply shock attacked "with pursue", and all my guys were suddenly in Patok. My HQs were still in Nanning, but they'll move up next turn. I think the damage to the installs and not taking massive casualties from his INF unit was worth it, so I think I'd agree with his decision.

It only took one more Deliberate attack to capture Patok. I was surprised tho, he didn't actually retreat. But I now have ownership of the base, and he's now outside the gates. I'll split off some sub-units to try and cut off retreat hexes (I noticed that strangely, he's not exerting ZOC anywhere, my guys can move in any direction). So I'll surround everythign, and -then- launch my attack (and hopefully force a suicide charge by him).

He -did- use Mog's suggestion to move an SLNF unit to Patok (using the 1st turn move bonus) at start. This was actually a mistake (in my opinion). If he hadn't moved the SLNF unit, all of the supplies would have gone bye-bye because of the garrison shortfall. But in actually capturing Nanning and Patok (despite the original Div and the SLNF unit), not -I- own the supplies (well, 7500 of them at least). I'm certainly not complaining.

It would have been nice if Nanning and Patok were resource cities (and could produce supply for me), but this will secure my SW flank. Once I've annialated the units in Patok, I can move these forces toward Wuchow.

The plan is to not going to bother with HongKong. According to his own constraints, the 38th Div can't move out of Hong Kong. So when I can capture that Japanse held city north of it, I'll just move on and bypass HK. I don't think it's worth the effort/losses to capture Hong Kong, there's only 50 Reources there, so it's not producing -that- much anyways. I can always go back for it later.

===

Central -

It's a little disorienting with the 2-day turns. LCUs move very quickly (I'm used to 1-day turns), especially along that rail line. Everything was dandy. Initial deployments went fine. I was attacking Nanning. Next turn, I saw 40+ units next to Changsha. Then next turn, they were on top of me (and trying to surround me!).

Changsha is threatened. He has 34 units! There's only room for 30 on the land combat screen (egads). He's got at 16 Divisions, 2 Armorded Regiments, 4 Artillery Regiments, and 4 Brigades. Being the meticulous nutt-case that I am, I've recorded -which- Divs and Brigades are involved. From that, I can see what he pulled from where. I'll also watch the bombardment replay (again!), to see if it tells me the other four units (even tho they're not on the screen). My guess is, about 6500 assault strength (unadjusted). My assault value shown at the base screen is about 2500.

Some of my guys are prep'd 100 for Changsha, which would certainly make a difference. But I can't afford to risk havig 1/3 of my army surrounded and then surrender.

Bleh. I had leftover spaghetti for lunch. I think the sausage contained therein was somwhat "amiss". Back in a few minutes...

I will abandon the changsha, along with the city to the south west (move that garrison towards Wuchow). I'm going to bring my engineers with me (instead of leaving them there to demolish stuff). Japan can cover pretty much all of China from his many AFs anyways. AF at Changsha would certainly help him, but it's not like he NEEDS the AF, so there doesn't seem to be any point in surrendering my BF, just to demolish it. I get the feeling that supplies are not going to be his problem. But I'll need to retreat now to take the supplies with me. Taking heavy casualties in a retreat, with zero supplies, would just leave the road to Chungking wide open.

I'll take my stand in the woods 120 miles up the road (to Chungking), just across the river. It'll at least double my defense strength, and there's a river for him to cross also (not that I've ever seen a river make a difference). I'll have a second woods hex that can fall back to, to draw things out if necessary.

This is impacted by events from Homan and Ichang...

I moved out of Homan, and have cut the N/S rail. I'm also in the city just SE of the rail junction, with a lot of guys. He tried shock attacking my unit when the first guy arrived (the rest with follow orders). But half my army caught up the next turn, so he attacked at abysmal odds. My "gonna be p1ssed face (over Suicide Div move)" turned to pleasently surprised. The rest of my army from Homan will be in the city, and I'll capture it in next turn or two (esp after his shock attack). He's swarming those little Ind Brigades all over, they're like f_cking ants. I've been "leaving a trail of bread-crumbs", units to guard my supply route. Figure I'll capture that city to the SE (where I'm at). Maybe a blocker in the city and to watch the river crossing), and sweep the little bastards southwest where...

My forces have also pooled at Ichang. I'll move south towards the (real) city there in conjunction with the sweep from the Homan army. Frankly, I think I can out-gun any of his Ind Brigades (even if concentrates a few) with the Ichang Army, and the Homan army. I also think I can keep my chain to civilization (Homand and Ichang) secure.

Meanwhile I'm planning link up the army from Wuchow/Nanning and from Homan/Ichang This puts Changsha in the middle. Assuming my guys can delay him in the forests, I think I can fight my way towards Changsha (in the middle) from both directions. It looks like he's pulled -everything- from this region for the attack on Changsha. Which means that hopefully, my army in the woods north of Changsha can hold, while my two pincer armies make their way towards Changsha. I want to be able to advance on Changsha quickly enough to make main army him turn back (to Changsha, it will be his supply link). Then I will have his main army between 3 of mine.

===

North

Kinda hunkered down in the north at Yenen. Not sure how many guys he's got around there. Don't want to leave Yenen, because there are 3 roads in, and I don't want him moving in, if I step out. Frankly, if I were him, I'd move his north forces to the south, and try to come in behind my armies from Homan and Ichang. So I'll have to consider that. But I think I can pull him back to Changsha, before his (expected) army in the north arrives.

===

Oh, and in the air, it's a pretty much a 1-1 exchange. I got a few good bounes in with AVG, and got some his zeros. But just last turn, he got the jump on me over Chengsha, and I lost 20 planes (of AVG! vs about 9 assorted of his). Honestly, the "air war" doesn't appear to be very conclusive here. Basically, I'm going to fly CAP over where I think he's going to bomb. And try to get a few pin-pricks in with my own bombers when I can. But I don't like using them (the bomber) for much besides hauling supply. Frankly, the suck, not just in exp, but in supply. And I'd rather use the supply for bullets than for bombs.

===

Alrighty. And that's the sitrep (and some plans) for at Christmas of 42!
-F-

[Feinder]

An update!

It's currently 01-02-42.

North - I think he's pulled many of his guys from the north, hoping I'll stay pinned in Yenen. Not a bad plan, considering I don't have -that- much to attack with. I have moved out some scouts, and determined his main northern force is at the city on the rail to the south east. The city along the road to my east is undefended, so I'll have them march in, just to p1ss him off (and draw some units northwards to keep him honest).

Homan - This blew up in my face. My army from Homan got enveloped by all his little Brigades. I thought I was able to move onto a hex that I had guys in (shared ZOC), but you can't (FYI). So basically, he put a Brig on each of my "trail of breadcrumbs" units, and then surrounded my main army. It can't move, not even to fight it's way out (which royally sucks). But, it's the way things are. I'm writing these guys off. I don't have a suffiecient sized army anywhere (except the South), to fight thru these guys. The southern army would never make it in time, and he's got his main army participating in the envelopment anyways. The only good I see here is that, at least they'll keep enough of his main army occupied (between the envelopement, and watching the river at CHengsha), that my southern army will have freedom of action for about 3 more weeks (until Homan army surrenders). I've got enough guys at Homan to hold the city against a few brigades, but not enought if/when he turns his main army north. I've got to figure out what I'm going to do about this if he doesn't turn his army south to meet mine (and how it affects Yenen, don't want them cut off either).

Chengsha - I was kinda irritated, because my guys didn't leave the city in time, before being forced to retreat. I was pleasently surprised tho, that my actual losses weren't all that much. We made it across the river towards Chungking successfully, and even repulsed a (minor) counter-attack by some armored regiments. He appears to be happy with Chengsha, and seems to have moved most of his force towards the Homan area. I have therefore sent about half my units back to Chungking to rest/resupply, while the rest guard the river. As soon as they're able, we'll send the rested units back south to the river, and swap out the others.

South - Well this is going quite well at least. I've captured Nanning and Pakhoi. He's actually been forced outside Pakhoi, but didn't retreat (even tho I've gotten 7-1 odds many times), and hasn't suicide charged me either. I don't understand that, but oh well. It's gumming up my attack a little, as I'm surprised these knuckleheads haven't surrendered yet. But the guys from mountains to the west, will actually be arriving soon, so I'll just throw them into the attack. That'll basically double my units, and will hopefully kill them. I'm also moving into Canton. I retreated his sentry units (I think 2 Brigades as I rercall) in the wood north of there. Basically, I've got from the cities on this side, all the way up to Yunan (including the SEAC Divs) for the attack. I'd like to secure Canton (might be difficult, it's a city with est 4 Brigades) in about 2 weeks (or less would be nice!). Then I'll decide what I want to send to along the coast , and what to send towards Henchow. I think I -should- send something along the coast. Recon says only one unit in a lot of these cities, which means only BFs or SNLFs. And these are the heart of his supplies. Dunno, I'm not there yet, and he's got the huge army up north to worry about too.

Air War - Same ol', same ol'. Nothing decicive. He kills some of my guys, I kill some of his. I've upgraded one sqdn of AVG to P-40e, to draw that pool. I like the P-40c better, for the range, but no sense not tapping both pools. The airlift is set up. Have 4 C-47s sqdns, 3 Hudson sqdns, and the 2 RDAF transports flying supply. Also pulled in the two RDAF Falcon recon sqdns. I've also moved an RAF HQ to Chunking. He tried bombing the resources at Chungking. I thought this was a brilliant idea. If "rebuild = yes", then it blows 1000 supplies to rebuild the d_mn things. Fortunately, I have all my resources and such, set to "rebuild = no". A couple of resource hits (that don't get repaired) aren't gonna hurt for a while, and frankly, I can't afford 1000 supplies to repair the stupid resources.

And there you have it!
-F-