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ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Manpower is pretty low at Seattle, the chance of fire destroying the factories is pretty minimal.

But is Jocke stands and fights it is a pretty deft move...too bad I couldn't be closer.

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ORIGINAL: Lowpe

I actually have thought of Russia, especially if AV looms near for 43 or 44. I think it would take six months to cut Soviets in half and destroy and conquer everything to the south. Without AV, I don't think it makes sense to attack Russia...but if AV looms it is a solid gamble.

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ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

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ORIGINAL: Lowpe

I actually have thought of Russia, especially if AV looms near for 43 or 44. I think it would take six months to cut Soviets in half and destroy and conquer everything to the south. Without AV, I don't think it makes sense to attack Russia...but if AV looms it is a solid gamble.

I wasn't think AV, but rather just not having that front active the rest of the game. If you push him off the board, his LCU's can come in, but none of his AC until he gets a base on map. No AC, you can always defeat him. You would be able to put ~2400 AV there and then free up all the rest. It isn't clear to me that the allies can win if you don't have SOV as a threat in the game. that extra ~4000AV is a big difference, not mention the economic benefit of holding CHina/SOV in the end game.

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ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Just a bit of a reality check![:)]

Radar provided the framework for an attack on Soviets in 42...do spectacular everywhere, and then cut them in half and destroy the Vlad half. By no means was is it easy, but then he decided not to pursue the Soviets, but instead dug in with the Soviets coming roaring back in.

That was Taming the Bear...which didn't quite work out![:D]

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A bit of a reality check. In my Feb 1942 DBB game, the Sovs have 31 infantry divisions on the board. Dozens more brigades and regiments. One tank division and 13 tank brigades, plus smaller units. Artillery? Oh, my. I think there may be an over-focus on air power here.

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ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Soviet troops come and go...especially in the latter half of 42. They are needed elsewhere. Also their replacements are weak...or low would be a better word.

The Soviets can't move until you violate their landspace, which makes for a coordinated strike at the railroads isolating all the troops down south a great tactic.

See Bullwinkle's response. See Taming the Bear by Radar it is only about 13 pages or so long if I recall correctly.

It is doable, but boy is it scary.

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ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Soviet troops come and go...especially in the latter half of 42. They are needed elsewhere. Also their replacements are weak...or low would be a better word.

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ORIGINAL: vicberg

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A bit of a reality check. In my Feb 1942 DBB game, the Sovs have 31 infantry divisions on the board. Dozens more brigades and regiments. One tank division and 13 tank brigades, plus smaller units. Artillery? Oh, my. I think there may be an over-focus on air power here.

So basically a full Manchuko vs. the Sovs is about 1-2 to 1-3 odds not accounting for air power, experience, etc..plenty of supply and is there a line of death?

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ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

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ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Soviet troops come and go...especially in the latter half of 42. They are needed elsewhere. Also their replacements are weak...or low would be a better word.

The Soviets can't move until you violate their landspace, which makes for a coordinated strike at the railroads isolating all the troops down south a great tactic.

See Bullwinkle's response. See Taming the Bear by Radar it is only about 13 pages or so long if I recall correctly.

It is doable, but boy is it scary.

Also note that rader's game is years and years ago now, before lots of learning by both camps. And before air coordination changes in patches. I haven't read the AAR in those same years, but I'd be interested to know what fort-building his opponent did. Me? I start building every Russian hex the first week.

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ORIGINAL: mind_messing
This discussion has prompted me to re-read Radar's AAR. It doesn't give me much hope for Japanese chances. The majority of Rader's attacks ended up costing the Japanese far more than the Soviets: the best results required that the Japanese had overwhelming superiority in numbers, which you can do locally, but not everywhere...

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ORIGINAL: Lowpe

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ORIGINAL: mind_messing
This discussion has prompted me to re-read Radar's AAR. It doesn't give me much hope for Japanese chances. The majority of Rader's attacks ended up costing the Japanese far more than the Soviets: the best results required that the Japanese had overwhelming superiority in numbers, which you can do locally, but not everywhere...

I think you are correct! But it is fun to discuss it!

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ORIGINAL: HansBolter

In Focus Pacific (active Soviet version) the border forts for both sides are real bears to bulldoze through.

I know both sides are beefed in this scenario, but the fort LCUs themselves probably are not very different from stock in their ability to seriously slow an advance.

Against the AI in FP, I have already taken Harbin by mid February '42 and have separated Manchuria from China by the end of Feb.

It's pretty darn easy to steamroll Manchuria with the Russians.

I agree with the Moose that a drive to separate the Vlad sector from the north may be ill advised if the Soviets are driving from the North on Harbin.