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what does it take to hold Rangoon? Update: Victory at Pegu

 
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what does it take to hold Rangoon? Update: Victory at Pegu - 9/1/2009 4:35:20 PM   
Speedy Gonzales

 

Posts: 55
Joined: 8/6/2009
Status: offline 		I am playing the GC as Allied player against the AI, it is now early january 1942, Singapoore is holding but japanese forces are two hexes north of the city. I decided to make a major commitment and try to hold Rangoon. Over the past month I shipped in troops from India while the AVG kept the port open. So far I have gathered 1900 AP's and keep shipping in units.

The reason I decided to hold Rangoon was that if I succeed it saves me a lot of time once the tide turns since I don't have to snail march my troops down from India then. Instead I already have access to the rail network in Burma which should speed reconquest up quite a bit. Initially I wanted to hold Pegu for obvious reasons but then went for Rangoon instead. I needed good fortifications, a better port for shipping in troops and a bigger airfield so that I can protect my ships and eventually station strategic bombers there and spreading around my few engineers would have slowed down construction too much. I am not terribly concerned about beeing outflanked since I need to ship everything down there anyway. As long as my fighters can keep the port open I should be fine.

I have two questions:
- When do I have to expect the japanese army to move north and attack Rangoon (so far only southern coastal Burma is in japanese hands which was basically undefended anyway).
- What will the AI throw at me in terms of aussault value.

If I get routed in Rangoon I am in deep, deep trouble since I will lose loads of units during the long retreat north, delaying a possible counter offensive for a long time.

< Message edited by Speedy Gonzales -- 9/17/2009 1:26:42 PM >
Post #: 1
RE: what does it take to hold Rangoon? - 9/1/2009 4:42:58 PM   
stuman


Posts: 3907
Joined: 9/14/2008
From: Elvis' Hometown
Status: offline 		It was possible in WiTP to hold Rangoon against the AI with major effort. But it can also be very disasterous since all forces there are destroyed in a defeat. I just am not sure about AE.

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RE: what does it take to hold Rangoon? - 9/1/2009 4:44:52 PM   
sval062


Posts: 78
Joined: 4/15/2009
Status: offline 		Because road lines are not good between Thailand and Burma, the Japanese can only attack Rangoon by end january at the very earliest with 2 Divisions + some additional forces
--> Expect AV around 1000 (except if he moved some troops originally devoted to Malaya to Burma).

If you take into account the bonus granted by fortifications + Terrain + HQ (assuming you will manage to have this one), I think 1900 Av should be enough as long as you can supply Rangoon.

And that's the point: Southern coastal Burma has several good airports, and Japanese could be able to prevent any shipping if he wants to (by committing a lot of Bettys/Nells).

This is true until the fall of Singapore. Then you could face in addition the entire 25th Army and with this additional one, I think Rangoon will fall with certainly heavy losses for both sides.





< Message edited by sval -- 9/1/2009 4:48:33 PM >

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Post #: 3
RE: what does it take to hold Rangoon? - 9/1/2009 4:53:12 PM   
stuman


Posts: 3907
Joined: 9/14/2008
From: Elvis' Hometown
Status: offline 		sval makes a good point. If the AI wants to, it can bring more to force bear at Rangoon at that point in the war than the Allies can. IF it makes a big effort, and you have committed major forces there and lose, then you may very well forfeit all of Burma including Imphal, etc. And that could end up effecting China. So interesting choice.

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RE: what does it take to hold Rangoon? - 9/1/2009 5:07:41 PM   
Speedy Gonzales

 

Posts: 55
Joined: 8/6/2009
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quote:


And that's the point: Southern coastal Burma has several good airports, and Japanese could be able to prevent any shipping if he wants to (by committing a lot of Bettys/Nells).


So far I still control the airspace over Rangoon. In the beginning the AI flew lots of attacks on my convois but sort of stopped doing so. The AVG is weakened but still fighting, inflicting high losses on the occasional attack that is flown on Rangoon. In late december I pulled out all air assets out of Singapore since they were getting overwhelmed by japanese air. I evacuated them to the DEI and shipped them out. They are about to be disembarked in Madras from where I will move them to Rangoon to reinforce the AVG. Whith the few Hurricanes that I started to get from Europe I am confident I can hold Rangoons port open (at least agianst the AI).

1000 AP's doesn't sound really scary. Singapore I am afraid will fall sooner than later and the entire 25th army does sound scary. I will keep reinforcing Rangoon, by the end of january I should have 2500 AP's in Rangoon. I am commited now anyway, I won't just pull out now. I will keep you posted how it went

< Message edited by Speedy Gonzales -- 9/1/2009 5:08:38 PM >

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RE: what does it take to hold Rangoon? - 9/1/2009 6:04:21 PM   
EUBanana


Posts: 4552
Joined: 9/30/2003
From: Little England
Status: offline 		I just hope for your sake, if you have 1900 AV in Burma, that the AI doesn't go and land at Madras.  

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RE: what does it take to hold Rangoon? - 9/1/2009 6:16:46 PM   
Speedy Gonzales

 

Posts: 55
Joined: 8/6/2009
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: EUBanana

I just hope for your sake, if you have 1900 AV in Burma, that the AI doesn't go and land at Madras.  


Which is exactly why I would never follow this strategy against a human player.
Should the AI land in Madras then I am trouble. India though is not completely without troops so should the AI really land in Madras I should be able to solve this situation.

< Message edited by Speedy Gonzales -- 9/1/2009 7:05:36 PM >

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RE: what does it take to hold Rangoon? - 9/1/2009 7:05:37 PM   
sval062


Posts: 78
Joined: 4/15/2009
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Speedy Gonzales

So far I still control the airspace over Rangoon.


Overhead Rangoon for sure, but I have doubts in open sea since your hurricanes have very short legs and I doubt you will be able to provide air cover for the last 2 days of navigation (unless you put 2 CVs with each convoy).



quote:

ORIGINAL: Speedy Gonzales
I will keep you posted how it went


Yes please, I cannot wait to know what will happen

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Post #: 8
RE: what does it take to hold Rangoon? - 9/1/2009 7:47:29 PM   
Speedy Gonzales

 

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Joined: 8/6/2009
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quote:

ORIGINAL: sval
Overhead Rangoon for sure, but I have doubts in open sea since your hurricanes have very short legs and I doubt you will be able to provide air cover for the last 2 days of navigation (unless you put 2 CVs with each convoy).


I don't have Hurricanes there yet, just the AVG and some Brewsters and they actually did a pretty good job protecting the convoys. I set them to 70% LRCap and set the aproaching comvoys as the target to protect. I did lose a ship here and there in the beginning but the AI suffered pretty high losses in those air attacks and after a while slowly ceased to attack my convoys. So atm, as ships sail down the coast from the north, I can protect.


quote:


Yes please, I cannot wait to know what will happen


I will let you know, might just take a while since I am a very slow player. Took me two weeks to play the first ingame month.

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Post #: 9
RE: what does it take to hold Rangoon? - 9/1/2009 8:44:15 PM   
Shark7


Posts: 7937
Joined: 7/24/2007
From: The Big Nowhere
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: sval


quote:

ORIGINAL: Speedy Gonzales

So far I still control the airspace over Rangoon.


Overhead Rangoon for sure, but I have doubts in open sea since your hurricanes have very short legs and I doubt you will be able to provide air cover for the last 2 days of navigation (unless you put 2 CVs with each convoy).



quote:

ORIGINAL: Speedy Gonzales
I will keep you posted how it went


Yes please, I cannot wait to know what will happen


Please do, I love the chance to put holes in Allied CVs.

In all honesty Rangoon is not worth defending for either side. Which is why in the real war, both sides abondoned Rangoon with the approach of enemy forces...Rangoon is a surrender trap both in game and in life.

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RE: what does it take to hold Rangoon? - 9/1/2009 11:15:11 PM   
Smeulders

 

Posts: 1879
Joined: 8/9/2009
Status: offline 		Do look at the quality of that 1900 AV, a lot of the troops in Burma are low quality and I'm sure at least part of the brigades in India are as well.

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RE: what does it take to hold Rangoon? - 9/2/2009 4:36:40 AM   
Xxzard

 

Posts: 440
Joined: 9/28/2008
From: Arizona
Status: offline 		I'm pursuing a similar strategy, though I don't feel that defending in Rangoon is the best option. I will try to defend in the jungle hex that is between Pegu and Moulmein. This hex is in jungle and the hexside the japanese will have to cross is a river. My biggest concerns are the reduced ability to build fortifications, and malaria. Its Dec 27th in my game.

If anyone could prove that defending in Rangoon is a better idea though, I would be quite willing to hear what they have to say.

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Post #: 12
RE: what does it take to hold Rangoon? - 9/2/2009 8:27:08 AM   
vlcz


Posts: 387
Joined: 8/24/2009
From: Spain
Status: offline 		I suppose almost anything (anything but phi and sin) can be retained against an AI ....but as a plan it sound terrible to me.

Even if japan does not want "bengal adventures" in madras, a short ledge landing up the coast will efectively aislate rangoon from india,  rangoon´s port  is only too easy to close and  its not even in a good position to deny acces to the frontier/burma road. it can be easily encircled, making a perfect pow camp.



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RE: what does it take to hold Rangoon? - 9/2/2009 9:14:19 AM   
Speedy Gonzales

 

Posts: 55
Joined: 8/6/2009
Status: offline
quote:


Even if japan does not want "bengal adventures" in madras, a short ledge landing up the coast will efectively aislate rangoon from india,  rangoon´s port  is only too easy to close and  its not even in a good position to deny acces to the frontier/burma road. it can be easily encircled, making a perfect pow camp.



This all makes perfect sense against a human player. If I played japan in this situation I would simply run fighter sweeps over Rangoon for a week or two and then sink every single ship trying to enter the port. The AI hasn't flown a single fighter sweep against the city yet, only escorted bomber attacks and while they did some damage at times, the AI suffered high losses in planes and could not close the port.

Against a human player I would never try to hold Rangoon. Against the AI it is different. I am not worried about getting bypassed or having the city isolated from India since I believe I can keep the port open. It would have been nicer to hold the whole of northern Burma but I need that port in Rangoon and it is easier to turn one place into a fortress instead of two. My main objektive is not to keep japan out of Burma but two have a base on the Burma rail network. This will hopefully speed up my reconquista of Burma, Malaysia and Singapore by half a year once I get sufficient reinforcments to launch a counter offensive. Again, I would never try this against a human player but against the AI it seemed worth a try.

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RE: what does it take to hold Rangoon? - 9/2/2009 12:08:26 PM   
IKL

 

Posts: 21
Joined: 7/11/2009
Status: offline 		Hi. I'm currently playing Allies v AI in the scenario starting Dec 8th. I've reached Sept 42, and thought you might like to consider my experience of the campaign in Burma. The defence of Rangoon, over a 3 month period, has been my best ever wargaming blast in 40 yrs, and I'd recommend it.
Knowing what really happened in Malaya, I decided from the outset to concentrate on trying to hold Rangoon. I think there are valid strategic reasons for doing so as it gives a great launch platform for later offensives if it works!
Firstly, I established India's needs, and made sure they were adequately met in terms of garrison. The majority of naval assets were held as a protective force, including the units from Malaya. Having made no attempt to defend Malaya, I had evacuated base forces and air assets as far as possible; not a lot.
I decided the main line of defence would be at the river crossing at Pegu, with a delaying action at Moulmein. I started immediately war broke out to fortify the line Pego-Toungoo, to prevent flanking of the main defences, and built up a force at Moulmein to delay the enemy. The core of the defence was the 18th Div, dug in on the river banks at Pegu, with Indian brigades at Moulmein and Pegu and holding the river line to the North. I also strengthened Port Blair as a flank protection and warning outpost.
Japs took Moulmein after over 2 weeks of attacks, which bought me the time I needed. By the time they reached the river, I had 850AV dug in behind level 4 forts. 10 consecutive days of assaults thrown back from the river, with Jap losses averaging 4-5000 each time. It got close early on, with a couple of assaults at 1 to 1, but the line held. The air battle was fierce, and the naval campaign was eerily like the Guadalcanal campaign in the real world. In one night battle, Kongo and Haruna turned up to bombard Pegu and were met at close range by a well led force of RN cruisers and DDs. Haruna went down to 3 torpedoes. KB put in an appearance in the Indian ocean, raided Ceylon and then visited Rangoon on the way home but to no avail.
The land battle proceeded to the point where I counter attacked the Japanese army, drove them back from the river, captured Moulmein and surrounded the remnants between Moulmein and Rahaeng, where they were wiped out. 5 Jap divisions and 8 or 9 other units destroyed. Assorted attempts have been made since to reinvade at Pegu, but all have been wiped out either at sea or on land.
I'm now in Sept 42. I have a heavily defended line running E-W from 2 hexes south of Moulmein- south of Rahaeng, holding both the roads down to the isthmus.
Tavoy is weakly defended, and so is Bangkok. I have enough air to defend my position, but not enough for a major offensive, although bombers are pounding airfields at Tavoy and Bangkok.
The big question is: when do I go on the offensive?
One thing I'll guarantee; whether you hold Rangoon or not, you'll have a great time trying.

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RE: what does it take to hold Rangoon? - 9/2/2009 12:13:45 PM   
IKL

 

Posts: 21
Joined: 7/11/2009
Status: offline 		Forgot to add; supply level is a major factor. I got the build up fast and early, before the Japs had air established and were busy in the South. Throughout, Rangoon, Pegu and Moulmein have been over 125000 supply between them, and its a major factor as the Japs extend their supply lines north. Bombing and bombarding Moulmein after they took it helped a lot as well. Early on, the AVG based in Rangoon gave me enough local superiority to bring stuff in by sea. Harder later when the Japs have moved air assets forward.

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RE: what does it take to hold Rangoon? - 9/2/2009 1:22:07 PM   
fcam1387

 

Posts: 397
Joined: 5/17/2006
Status: offline 		Out of curiousity, assuming that the Allies do not make an attempt to halt the Japanese army at Rangoon and get thrown out of Burma, is it possible for the Japanese to launch a full scale invasion of India? How much AV and airpower would they need? What is the Allied strength in the Indian frontier?

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Post #: 17
RE: what does it take to hold Rangoon? - 9/2/2009 3:48:59 PM   
Jonathan Pollard


Posts: 584
Joined: 2/25/2007
From: Federal prison
Status: offline 		In regular WITP it definitely was possible, maybe it's somewhat more difficult in AE.

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RE: what does it take to hold Rangoon? - 9/2/2009 5:34:23 PM   
Mynok


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quote:

ORIGINAL: fcam1387

Out of curiousity, assuming that the Allies do not make an attempt to halt the Japanese army at Rangoon and get thrown out of Burma, is it possible for the Japanese to launch a full scale invasion of India? How much AV and airpower would they need? What is the Allied strength in the Indian frontier?


Highly doubtful. There's no way to supply a land invasion and there's not enough transport for a sea invasion.

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RE: what does it take to hold Rangoon? - 9/2/2009 6:23:49 PM   
Speedy Gonzales

 

Posts: 55
Joined: 8/6/2009
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quote:


Hi. I'm currently playing Allies v AI in the scenario starting Dec 8th. I've reached Sept 42, and thought you might like to consider my experience of the campaign in Burma. The defence of Rangoon, over a 3 month period, has been my best ever wargaming blast in 40 yrs, and I'd recommend it.


Thanks for your inspiring post. It made me move my defence forward to Pegu.
I really liked the Burma campaign in WitP but since I played the Guadalcanal to 1945 campaign, I had to march my troops all the way down from India. Not this time! I want action in Burma now!

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Post #: 20
RE: what does it take to hold Rangoon? - 9/4/2009 1:13:25 AM   
Speedy Gonzales

 

Posts: 55
Joined: 8/6/2009
Status: offline 		Update:

It is now january 24th 1942.
The bad news is that Singapore fell on january 17th. Somehow my guys down there just kept surrendering and this should free up quite a few units for the japanese move north towards Rangoon.

The good news is, I have now 2200 AP's building trenches in Pegu. I concentrated more on shipping in artillery and AA for a while. Arty so that my guys have cannons to shoot with at anyone who tries to cross that river at Pegu and AA to help protecting the port and airfield in Rangoon.

The british Brewsters I evacuated from Singapore have arrived in Rangoon and also a first squadron of Hurricanes. In total I have now 140 fighters stationed in Rangoon with more Hurricanes and even some P40s coming in. Japan has flown a few attacks against my convois but always paid a very heavy price for it. At the moment I am quite pleased with my progress.

Japan has moved a small force up north and took Moulmein which was undefended. He wont get the rest of Burma!

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Post #: 21
RE: what does it take to hold Rangoon? - 9/4/2009 2:00:59 AM   
GB68

 

Posts: 113
Joined: 8/4/2009
From: Melbourne, Australia
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Speedy Gonzales


quote:


Hi. I'm currently playing Allies v AI in the scenario starting Dec 8th. I've reached Sept 42, and thought you might like to consider my experience of the campaign in Burma. The defence of Rangoon, over a 3 month period, has been my best ever wargaming blast in 40 yrs, and I'd recommend it.


Thanks for your inspiring post. It made me move my defence forward to Pegu.
I really liked the Burma campaign in WitP but since I played the Guadalcanal to 1945 campaign, I had to march my troops all the way down from India. Not this time! I want action in Burma now!



The campaign in Burma in WitP was, for me anyway, always a fait accompli. The Allies could almost never sustain a defence until Imphal & Kohima. The Japanese army was almost unstoppable. Leaving India quite exposed, very early in the war.

But from what I've read in several AAR's, in AE the same cannot be said. Well, so it seems? I am usually a Japanese player and always enjoyed Burma as the best ground combat theatre in all of WitP. But in AE, the Allied player can mount a substantial defence if he is inclined to do so. Once I get into a full GC, it will be an interesting theatre to see what develops.



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RE: what does it take to hold Rangoon? - 9/4/2009 10:56:47 AM   
Speedy Gonzales

 

Posts: 55
Joined: 8/6/2009
Status: offline 		The situation in Burma is very interesting. A human Japan would have realised early on what I am doing in Rangoon. He would then run some fighter sweeps over Rangoon to take out the AVG and then sink every single ship trying to bring in reinforcements and supplies. The AI was not smart enough to do this.

I am now seriously commited in Burma which might leave India a bit vulnerable. I am not overly concerned about an invasion though. The enemy would have to land a force of around 2000 AP's for me to be really worried. If it is more around 800 - 1200 AP's, India is going to be a death trap for them. First of all I still have the forces in India to match that. Second I believe the supply situation in India would be impossible. Everything, fresh troops and supplies would have to be shipped in. Bombers could be flown in but since I am holding Burma even fighters would have to be shipped in and fighters would be essential to protect supply convoys to India.
The RN in my game is intact. I have two BB's, one BC and two british carriers in the area. I also have quite a few bombers there which I pulled out of Singapore with new air units arriving from Europe. Japan would have to commit quite a few carriers for many months to protect reinforcement convoys to India, this is would be the only way for Japan to make success in India possible. If the AI pulls its carriers out two weeks after the landing I will sink every single supply ship thereafter, leaving the japanese forces stranded in India.

If Japan lands 1200 or even 2000 AP's at Madras, the first thing I will do is march my troops in Burma down south to put pressure towards Singapore. The landing force probably was pulled out there, the enemy's situation in Malaya should be weakened. I might not reach Singapore but even if I just take a few bases further south, the supply situation for the japanese troops in India would be even more difficult.

So it is a very interesting situation in Burma.

(in reply to GB68)
Post #: 23
RE: what does it take to hold Rangoon? - 9/7/2009 1:03:19 AM   
Speedy Gonzales

 

Posts: 55
Joined: 8/6/2009
Status: offline 		Update:

The situation on the ground:
Japanese forces have reached Pegu. The initial force seemed rather weak to me, so I launched a shock attack against the japanes lines. The good news was that the enemy force was kicked right out of Pegu again and suffered 6000 casualties. The bad news is that my assault point dropped from 2200 to 1700. The enemy has now reentered Pegu and I have decided to use my force more prudently, limiting my self to bombardment attacks and staying defensive otherwise.

The situation in the air:
The airfield in Rangoon has reached size 6. I have now 200 fighters in Rangoon and in two turns I will actually also have the aviation support to keep them all flying. I have deployed a first unit of Hudson bombers to Rangoon, to attack japanes positions in Pegu. As soon as my aviation engineers are in place I will send in more bombers.

The naval situation:
As long as my convoys get LRCap protection they get through without losses. Outgoing convoys suffer a few losses here and there since I only protect incoming convoys to increase the flow of reinforcements. The losses are very low though. I am actually considering sending my two british BB's and the PoW to do some friendly bombardment of the japanese lines at Pegu. A high risk endeavour but no risk no fun.

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Post #: 24
RE: what does it take to hold Rangoon? - 9/10/2009 7:01:18 PM   
Speedy Gonzales

 

Posts: 55
Joined: 8/6/2009
Status: offline 		Update: February 16th 1942

I rule the sky and I rule the sea. The enemy shipped most of the invasion force in to Moulmein. Unfortunately I realized too late what was going on and by the time I did and had my trusty biplane torpedoe bombers down in Rangoon I could mostly only sink empty outgoing transports. I sank loads of ships, but only a few with troops on.

The battle at Pegu is now in its crucial phase. The enemy has a force deployed that is almost equal to mine in terms of number of soldiers and assault points. I am now down to 1350 AP's and seriously regret the initial shock attack. While it drove out the japanese for two days, it cost me 500 AP's that I could really use now. I am suffering heavy casualties, often higher than the AI despite beeing dug in and defending. The AI even managed to twice reduce my fortification despite heave odds against the attack so it is now down to level 3.
I really wondered how they could give me so much trouble even in the beginning when the japanese force was only half my strength in term of assault points so I decided to sneak a peak and load up the japanese side.
First of all, all japanese units are fully prepped for Pegu. My units aren't fully prepped despite preparing for ages and the AI cannot possibly have anticipated a month before that I would put up a major fight just in Pegu. The only explanation I have is that the AI cheats when it comes to prepping.
It doesn't matter because the real problem for my troops is the japanese experience and morale. Japan has three divisions in Pegu of which two are around 90+ experience and 90+ morale and they kick my ass. And even although one of those divisions is reduced to half strength, their morale is still 90+. Those guys must be on ecstasy or something to be so happy even after losing every second guy in the unit.
Meanwhile my "crack units" have experience rates of around 50. I have one tank regiment which has an experience of 9 (!!!). Did they just leave driving school? Do they know how to fire their cannons? Should I really use them or are they causing more damage among my own troops than on the enemy? How many fellow soldiers have they run over because they put in the wrong gear and went backwards instead of forward?

Btw, I brought in two Battleships and one Battlecruiser to bombard the japanes lines at Pegu. Those three ships + several heavy cruisers caused an amazing 150 casualties among the japanes so it was a complete (high risk) waste of time.

When I still had 2200 AP I was very sure I would hold Pegu. Now I am not certain at all. It has become a pure battle of atrition and while Japan is using up its elite units in the fight I am often losing more than the enemy. So the question is whether I can keep bringing in reinforcments in time. I have an australian division about to arrive in Pegu in 3-5 days and a second one disembarking at Karachi which will take 10 - 14 days to arrive in Pegu. If can bring in those units I might hold the line, but I am not sure att all the front will hold this long. So if you have any combat units to spare please beam them directly to Pegu.


< Message edited by Speedy Gonzales -- 9/10/2009 7:06:19 PM >

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Post #: 25
RE: what does it take to hold Rangoon? - 9/11/2009 2:32:37 PM   
Remenents

 

Posts: 176
Joined: 5/12/2007
Status: offline 		It is early March 42 and I still hold Rangoon. Singapore has fallen, but Java is still mine and so is Manila. I have not shipped any troops to Rangoon, just shifted a bunch from the India area over to there and transfered some Air units (a bunch of LBs and some Fighters) there. The Japanese still havent even tried for an attack on it. They seem more occupied in Java and New Guinea area (Guadalcanal ect...).

I think the reason for this is because instead of trying to disperse my forces at the start of the war, and get them to safety, I decided to try to combine them all in one or 2 areas, making for so long and tough battles in Borneo, Java, and the Phillipines. The Japs are having one hell of a time trying to eliminate them, so they are pulling out their units from Singapore areas to try and deal with them. Yes, they have many other areas and almost have my places blockaded, but when you go through their with some transports that have massive air cover and 2 or 3 different TFs running around causing all kinds of trouble, hitting them here, then turning to hit them somewhere else, it makes it hard for the enemy to really know where you will be and making it easier for your supply TFs to get in, get out, and then get back again. Sure, I have lost some ships (still have the big ones though that really count), but the time they are spending trying to dig me out has been more than worth it.

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Avenge the U.S.S. Houston (CA 30)

(in reply to Speedy Gonzales)
Post #: 26
RE: what does it take to hold Rangoon? - 9/17/2009 1:22:24 PM   
Speedy Gonzales

 

Posts: 55
Joined: 8/6/2009
Status: offline 		Resolution:
It is now march 7th 1942. After my last post japanese forces in Pegu launched attacks against my positions for several days, suffering severe losses. I was curious how the AI was doing and took a peak. The situation was catastrophic for the AI. Out of an inital 1200 assault points, there were only 650 left. Meanwhile my strength stabilised around 1350 AP's. I had clearly overestimated the japanese capabillities. One of the elite japanese infantry divisions was down to an assualt value of 0, it was practically wiped out in the attacks.

By now the australian 6th division has arrived in Pegu. Unfortunately the AI moved a thai division past Pegu into northern Burma and is now one hex from Mandalay. I have a baseforce there and flew in an indian brigade. They have a combined assault value of 128 behind a level 3 fort and I am confident they will hold Mandalay. Meanwhile I have sent the australian 6th division north to destroy the thai division.

The australian 7th division is right now beeing shipped out of Calcutta. The AI has ceased its attacks at Pegu and has taken a defensive position. It is suffering high losses each turn from my bombardment attacks. As soon as the 7th division has arrived, I will try pushing them out of Pegu and stabilize the front further south, maybe Moulmein, maybe Tavoy. I will then rest my troops for a while and eventually launch two assaults. A bigger one south towards Singapore (don't know how far I will get) and a smaller one into northern Thailand to cover the eastern flank of my push south.

Burma can definitely be defended against the AI. Should you consider setting up a defence at Pegu, here is a list of things that I did that you should defintely not do:
- Decide early where to defend, don't change your plans after two months like I did so that your troops are fully prepped and well dug in. Pegu is imo the best choice.
- Don't launch a counter shock attack as soon as japanes forces arrive, even if it is just a small part of the japanese force and you are seemingly vastly superiour. Half of your inexperienced troops will accidentally trip and fall into their own bayonets when they jump out of the trenches to charge the enemy lines. I lost 500 AP's this way.
- Change the leaders of your forces. I realised this way to late when the battle was already going on. Most of your forces in Burma and India are commanded by complete morons who shouldn't be in charge of anything. Changing leaders will help reducing your losses.

Christmas in Singapore! (well, maybe...)

(in reply to Speedy Gonzales)
Post #: 27
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