Attacking Russia, December '41

[Shark7]

ORIGINAL: Knavey

AI or PBEM game?

Huge difference.

That is the key point. Against the AI its do-able. In a PBEM I would strongly advise against it.

Just to prove the point, I am currently in a AI game where I have invaded Russia. You really want to know where the best early war allied fighters are? They're sitting on the airfields at Vladivostok. Not only are they holding their own, they are ripping the JAAF fighters to shreds and have air parity with the Zero's.

My advice...only invade Russia in the AI. Forget about it in a PBEM.

[stuman]

ORIGINAL: Anthropoid

ORIGINAL: castor troy

against the AI, Japan can conquer the whole map... every single base, you just have to have some experience and the mood to do it...

THAT is a sad statement about the AI in WiTP [:(]

ADDIT: but I wonder if it is so easy if/when you restrict yourself with some or all of the 'self-rules' mentioned in the

Helping the AI to Challenge Me thread?

I'm up to about late Jan in a game against the Jap AI using most or all the self-rules in this thread and, while he is certainly not stunning me with his performance, he is doing much better than in previous matches where I did not self-restrict with such rules.

It is actually a bit more fun and challenging playing against the Allied AI if you do in fact invade, and also impose other rules.

[Q-Ball]

ORIGINAL: castor troy

against the AI, Japan can conquer the whole map... every single base, you just have to have some experience and the mood to do it...

Including the US West Coast? That is the only area I have NEVER heard of anyone taking.

If someone did, that's amazing, even against the AI. Taking the rest of the Pacific would cause US units to pool at San Fran, so that the armies would be huge.

[Nikademus]

The Banana almost did.....

[:D]

[Hornblower]

Let a sleeping dog lie...  Leave'em alone

[stuman]

ORIGINAL: Nikademus

The Banana almost did.....

[:D]

The Banana ?

[Nikademus]

a super evil genius who hates all carnivores.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Nikademus

a super evil genius who hates all carnivores.

Wouldn't it be vegetarians that he hates? [:D]

[Nikademus]

did i mention that he's a super evil genius?

[AcePylut]

So in essence, no one here has tried a Soviet Far East Dec 41 invasion...
 
Looking at the forces available to the Commies, I wonder why.

[Shark7]

ORIGINAL: AcePylut

So in essence, no one here has tried a Soviet Far East Dec 41 invasion...

Looking at the forces available to the Commies, I wonder why.

not in a PBEM. Dec-41 invasion of Russia would likely end in a June-43 Allied Victory. Even againt the AI its tougher than you think.

[Feinder]

Knavey's PBEM opponent attacked USSR in early 1943 I think.  You'd have to ask him how things are going.
 
And I know I've seen an AAR somewhere where somebody invaded USSR, but I don't know if it was in 1941.
 
-F-

[Historiker]

ORIGINAL: Feinder

Knavey's PBEM opponent attacked USSR in early 1943 I think.  You'd have to ask him how things are going.

And I know I've seen an AAR somewhere where somebody invaded USSR, but I don't know if it was in 1941.

-F-

I'm pretty sure you'll need several extra divisions, a lot of artillery and many engineers.
Japan can't free them unless it stops its offensives against the PIs and Malaya.

One option is a house rule that says: "Japan has ONLY attacked Russia" and consequently only has to fight in Russia and China.

[Lcp Purcell]

Firstly thank you to all who post here. I’ve read a lot trying to figure out this game and it was a big help.

In my AI game I just attacked Russia March 15 of 43’. Having finished China, I had a spare 20 some divisions looking for work. I marched most the Chinese expeditionary force north to outside of Borzya, with their Armor set outside of Tamsag ready to encircle Borzya. Oh yeah every artillery unit from the Southern Army command ended up in Chunking after Battan and is now supporting the push North.


The Kwantung Army was Deployed from Blagoshechenck to the Vladistock perimeter. They pushed 9 Divisions into Blagoshechenck. And as for the rest of the line the plan was to defend in depth.

And a few loose brigades, some Mongolian cav. And a tank Regiment; Invaded Mongolia via every road leading in.



The Plan is simple; Cut the Tran-Siberian rail line, leaving the large Soviet force wanting supply.


The initial Shock attack, which goes off when a unit marches into combat, blew the Borzya force out of their fortifications ( to my amazement ) 25 days into the offensive I have taken Blagoshechenck, and Chita and with in the week Pokravka and Rukhlovo should fall.



To attack in 41’ seems like an unnecessary drain in resources which is doomed to get bogged down. To attack after China is done, is a easy cake walk.

[Naskra]

Against the AI, a Dec '41 attack on Russia is quite feasible. Two things to be wary of:
1. The Russian AI module will be triggered. This means that the Russians will march on Mukden.
2. After the Russians are annihilated, they will respawn in Aug '45 as upgraded Rifle Corps at their start locations.

[castor troy]

ORIGINAL: Naskra

Against the AI, a Dec '41 attack on Russia is quite feasible. Two things to be wary of:
1. The Russian AI module will be triggered. This means that the Russians will march on Mukden.
2. After the Russians are annihilated, they will respawn in Aug '45 as upgraded Rifle Corps at their start locations.

against the AI every attack is feasible, even landing on the West coast... at least as soon as you know how the game works...

[AcePylut]

Well, here is the plan I'm thinking of...
 
As soon as I can, in December, I want to grab a couple of the commie cities that are undefended, that are great production/resource/oil centers.

I plan on attacking with just enough troops to hold these cities, cut off the Trans-Siberian supply chain to the Ruskie troops in the southern part of the soviet, and begin to starve them out while holding the line.  (I'm not going to pull any troops from the Malaya/PI offensive until they are done with those theaters).
 
Once I've taken the PI and SRA, I'll probably pull enough troops up to finish off the Soviets. 

Depending on how the Pacific offensive's go up to that point, will determine where I put those 8k av of the Manchuko Garrison.
 

[rtrapasso]

ORIGINAL: AcePylut

So in essence, no one here has tried a Soviet Far East Dec 41 invasion...

Looking at the forces available to the Commies, I wonder why.

People have invaded Russia in 1941... some AARs on this, iirc.

[Barb]

Well quite improbable to start big offensives against such big piece of land in deepest winter. Also the Winter of 1941-1942 was colder then earlier ones. If someone wish to attack Soviet Union, campaigning season in this area is April-October with heavy rains in August-September.

You really dont want your troops to bog in the mud or pass through snow at -15deg C...

[AcePylut]

Well I'm not too worried about taking out the Russian AI.  After all, and I'm not bragging because it is the AI and I'm sure that others have done much better... but it's 3/26/43 and I'm already bombing the home islands.  Apparently, the AI doesn't really care if you take over their bases.  haven't seen one effort to reinforce anything that I've attacked. 
 
The Japs only really have 1 victory in this game.... a 9/42 CV clash.  They sunk 6 (or 8, can't remember - at work) of my CV's for the the Akagi, Shokaku, and Shoho, and heavy damage to all the rest.  So while I get my CV's back, theirs are neutered and I've been able to run hog wild under P38 CAP and CVE/Brit CV carrier Cap  (yeah, I moved the Brit CV's to the Pacific). 
 
So I changed my "victory conditions" to "can I, can I can I conquer the HI by '46"?