Global War: Japanese Aggression (Full Version)

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rkr1958 -> Global War: Japanese Aggression (9/4/2015 2:58:30 AM)

I'm starting another "solo" global war AAR. If I'm counting correctly this is the 5th one of these that I've started. Of the previous 4, I've completed 2 and stopped the other 2 for various reasons.

I know from reading the multiple player AARs that these AARs bring more excitement and energy than do solo ones, such as mine, but I'm afraid that's all I have to offer due to work and family demands and time constraints. Though, I do hold out hope that one day I'll be able to play MWiF against a component AIO; but for now it's solo play for me.

I approach my games in MWiF as a stories that unfolds as I play. I view these "stories" as historical fiction documenting alternate realities of WW2. Alternate realities that are something akin to those in the Michael Crichton's novel, "Timeline" but set during and about WW2. In my stories, I'm the one who travels back, well really travels to the alternate WW2 realities, and is witness to events that often unfold differently than those described in history books of my reality.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/23D32602683746A687D642004371BD5A.jpg[/image]



rkr1958 -> RE: Global War: Japanese Aggression (9/4/2015 3:03:15 AM)

Optional Rules.

I'm playing with the same optional rules that I played with in my previous AAR, http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=3885082# with two exceptions:

(1) 2D10 versus 1D10 CRT.

(2) Food in Flames.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/9394F180D75A42EB88745296FE3A47B2.jpg[/image]



rkr1958 -> RE: Global War: Japanese Aggression (9/4/2015 3:07:33 AM)

Scrapped Units.

For what it matters, here are the units that I scrapped. Well, the units that the respective current and future belligerents scrapped.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/D48EA66CBABA4B91B10CC797A1E9FD9E.jpg[/image]



Courtenay -> RE: Global War: Japanese Aggression (9/4/2015 3:16:56 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: rkr1958

Scrapped Units.

For what it matters, here are the units that I scrapped. Well, the units that the respective current and future belligerents scrapped.


This is an excellent way of showing everyone's scrapped units; I like the economy of a single screen showing everyone's scrapped units, rather than spending a page for each. I recommend this technique to everyone who is doing a solitaire after action report.



rkr1958 -> RE: Global War: Japanese Aggression (9/4/2015 3:30:46 AM)

Global AAR: Japanese Aggression.

South China Sea: Japan sends in (i.e., sets up) very strong naval forces in the South China Sea that will be used to support an amphibious invasion of the Dutch East Indies on the first impulse of the game. Japan's plan was to take a combine and land forces adjacent to Batavia on the surprise impulse. The problem ... no DOW other than Germany's automatic DOW on Poland is allowed on the first impulse of the game. A fact that I didn't know, or I was uncertain of, until I played the first impulse. Live and learn ...

Back to Japan's planned aggression in the Pacific. Japan plans to go all out in the Pacific to gobble up all the resources that they can and this may, or is likely, to include an early DOW against the CW. Japan is under no illusion that this may also mean war with the USA, which may come sooner than later.

Those two resources in Malaya and the major naval base at Singapore are looking very tempting to the the Japanese militarist. But only after they can secure a steady supply of oil by conquering the Dutch East Indies and securing the 4 oil resources located there.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/8290E7A51ED743E9ABD57AE5C66FD076.jpg[/image]



rkr1958 -> RE: Global War: Japanese Aggression (9/4/2015 3:48:11 AM)

Japan

A combined action gives Japan two naval, three land moves and one land combat. This means that the IJN marine amphibious force in Tokyo harbor can embark and land on the same impulse using a combined. Specifically, this force supported through bombardment and air by the IJN on patrol in the South China Sea, will force a landing adjacent to Batavia on the surprise impulse that Japan declares war on the Netherlands. Then on Japan's next impulse, this force, again supported by the IJN, will capture Batavia, which then completes the conquest of the Dutch East Indies and gives Japan 4 oil resources per turn. The only possible glitch in this plan is the weather.

Yamamoto will lead the Japanese forces tasked with the conquests in the South China Sea and Beyond.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/DD8ABCFED6BE4A8B92B864D8226AE2B8.jpg[/image]



rkr1958 -> RE: Global War: Japanese Aggression (9/4/2015 3:50:56 AM)

Burma and India.

And beyond includes Burma and India.

As you see, Japan's plans are one of aggressive expansion in the Pacific and Asia. Too ambitious? There's only one way to find out ...

[image]local://upfiles/31901/42014B7395A1438FAD4ED087356E5428.jpg[/image]



rkr1958 -> RE: Global War: Japanese Aggression (9/4/2015 3:56:56 AM)

China. North Temperate.

Japan's planned war of expansion also includes northern China. Specifically, the annihilation of Mao and the communist and the absorption of all resources and factories in the north. This effort will be carrier out by two Japanese Army Groups under the commands of General Terachi and Umezu.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/D6D4CC79CD9C4A19B9F41A97EE40C5A1.jpg[/image]



Courtenay -> RE: Global War: Japanese Aggression (9/4/2015 3:59:09 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: rkr1958

Global AAR: Japanese Aggression.

South China Sea: Japan sends in (i.e., sets up) very strong naval forces in the South China Sea that will be used to support an amphibious invasion of the Dutch East Indies on the first impulse of the game. Japan's plan was to take a combine and land forces adjacent to Batavia on the surprise impulse. The problem ... no DOW other than Germany's automatic DOW on Poland is allowed on the first impulse of the game. A fact that I didn't know, or I was uncertain of, until I played the first impulse. Live and learn ...

Back to Japan's planned aggression in the Pacific. Japan plans to go all out in the Pacific to gobble up all the resources that they can and this may, or is likely, to include an early DOW against the CW. Japan is under no illusion that this may also mean war with the USA, which may come sooner than later.

Those two resources in Malaya and the major naval base at Singapore are looking very tempting to the the Japanese militarist. But only after they can secure a steady supply of oil by conquering the Dutch East Indies and securing the 4 oil resources located there.


Just to be sure, you realize that, in addition to the immediate 2.8 US entry chits you get for a Japanese DOW on the Netherlands and the CW, you get an additional chit every turn for each of those countries? Thus if Japan declares war on the Netherlands, you will get 3.8 chits S/O 39, and one additional chit every single turn. By the end of 1940, that is 8.8 additional chits in the Japanese US entry pool, minus some small number because you probably did not capture as many Chinese cities or cut off the Burma road diplomatically as in other strategies.

If you add in an early DOW against the CW, then you may expect a US DOW very early indeed.

If you were aware of this, fine. Unfortunately, the in-game US entry action chart does not contain the footnotes of the printed US entry chart. That chart, is, however, available in the "Charts from WiF FE" menu item, and has the very nasty footnote 3 appended to "Japan declares war on the CW, Fr, or Netherlands".



rkr1958 -> RE: Global War: Japanese Aggression (9/4/2015 4:00:47 AM)

China. North Monsoon.

Japan doesn't have the forces to fight a war of expansion everywhere. And one of those places, for now, is in southern China and against Chang and the Nationalist. In fact, the Japanese Army Group deployed here has no well know leader (yet). It's mission is to hold on to what Japan has gotten so far in the south. This shouldn't be a problem given the Chinese attack weakness (optional rule).

[image]local://upfiles/31901/0C1214A2E12C45F992F9780851A5F711.jpg[/image]



rkr1958 -> RE: Global War: Japanese Aggression (9/4/2015 4:05:58 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Courtenay


quote:

ORIGINAL: rkr1958

Global AAR: Japanese Aggression.

South China Sea: Japan sends in (i.e., sets up) very strong naval forces in the South China Sea that will be used to support an amphibious invasion of the Dutch East Indies on the first impulse of the game. Japan's plan was to take a combine and land forces adjacent to Batavia on the surprise impulse. The problem ... no DOW other than Germany's automatic DOW on Poland is allowed on the first impulse of the game. A fact that I didn't know, or I was uncertain of, until I played the first impulse. Live and learn ...

Back to Japan's planned aggression in the Pacific. Japan plans to go all out in the Pacific to gobble up all the resources that they can and this may, or is likely, to include an early DOW against the CW. Japan is under no illusion that this may also mean war with the USA, which may come sooner than later.

Those two resources in Malaya and the major naval base at Singapore are looking very tempting to the the Japanese militarist. But only after they can secure a steady supply of oil by conquering the Dutch East Indies and securing the 4 oil resources located there.


Just to be sure, you realize that, in addition to the immediate 2.8 US entry chits you get for a Japanese DOW on the Netherlands and the CW, you get an additional chit every turn for each of those countries? Thus if Japan declares war on the Netherlands, you will get 3.8 chits S/O 39, and one additional chit every single turn. By the end of 1940, that is 8.8 additional chits in the Japanese US entry pool, minus some small number because you probably did not capture as many Chinese cities or cut off the Burma road diplomatically as in other strategies.

If you add in an early DOW against the CW, then you may expect a US DOW very early indeed.

If you were aware of this, fine. Unfortunately, the in-game US entry action chart does not contain the footnotes of the printed US entry chart. That chart, is, however, available in the "Charts from WiF FE" menu item, and has the very nasty footnote 3 appended to "Japan declares war on the CW, Fr, or Netherlands".
I did not know this, but as I've finished the first turn already I was "taught" this fact by MWiF. Fortunately, the sting of finding this out was much less I suspect when playing solo than if I would have been playing against a live opponent. Well, playing solo is playing against a live opponent (i.e., me vs me) but you get the idea.



rkr1958 -> RE: Global War: Japanese Aggression (9/4/2015 4:14:34 AM)

Germany

Germany deploys the bulk of their army and Luftwaffe in the East for their planned attack on Poland. These forces are organized into two Army Groups (A & B) under the commands of Rundstedt and von Bock.

In the West, Germany deploys a single army, the 6th, under the command of von Leeb. von Leeb plans more than defending with the 6th Army. He plans to lead his army in the conquest of the Netherlands in "coordination" with the Japanese invasion and conquest of the Dutch East Indies.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/4061335E8DF747D5AF94970B47130082.jpg[/image]



rkr1958 -> RE: Global War: Japanese Aggression (9/4/2015 4:15:36 AM)

Army Group A. Commanded by von Rundstedt.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/1FC8FCEBF8F444AD927371F03E8EABC0.jpg[/image]



rkr1958 -> RE: Global War: Japanese Aggression (9/4/2015 4:16:28 AM)

Army Group B. Commanded by von Bock.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/4FE640C724CA46C0AACB9DF31B12DE43.jpg[/image]



rkr1958 -> RE: Global War: Japanese Aggression (9/4/2015 4:17:28 AM)

6th Army. Commanded by von Leeb.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/3B4E876C191E41D1A27F3B88073FFD76.jpg[/image]



rkr1958 -> RE: Global War: Japanese Aggression (9/4/2015 4:20:57 AM)

France and Great Britain.

France sets up aggressively and is threatening to push into Germany if Germany refuses to leave Poland.

The CW are poised to send in a BEF led by Gort and consisting of his HQ unit, 7-6 mech corps and 7-4 mot corps. Also, the CW has a 1-4 infantry division and a 6-5 mot corps positioned to reinforce the Med and protect their interest there.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/03B6A968F93C4C96A7F76E6D8D9D2740.jpg[/image]



rkr1958 -> RE: Global War: Japanese Aggression (9/4/2015 4:23:09 AM)

The Soviet Union.

Stalin has positioned his army in Europe to split Poland with the Nazi's, take the Baltic States and demand Bessarabia once this thing gets started. As a side note, the Soviets have no plans to demand the Finnish borderlands.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/E44BCFA14E744614BD78510B2312E5DE.jpg[/image]



rkr1958 -> RE: Global War: Japanese Aggression (9/4/2015 4:25:22 AM)

Italy.

The Italian force in Albania is positioned to support Italian forces in North Africa (i.e., Libya) or in Europe as the situation demands.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/F877F4BEEC6947E5869E01520D3AD1B8.jpg[/image]



rkr1958 -> RE: Global War: Japanese Aggression (9/4/2015 4:25:49 AM)

Libya.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/FA71004107864863A038AFE8F9B5955E.jpg[/image]



Courtenay -> RE: Global War: Japanese Aggression (9/4/2015 4:47:23 AM)

Have you considered the possibility of the Netherlands setting up two units in Batavia? There is nothing prohibiting them from putting the Netherlands home country INF in Batavia. As this gives away the Netherlands home country for free, I am not sure it is a good idea, but is legal, and is a move the Allies should consider, even if they eventually decide to reject it.



yvesp -> RE: Global War: Japanese Aggression (9/4/2015 11:43:44 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: rkr1958

China. North Temperate.

Japan's planned war of expansion also includes northern China. Specifically, the annihilation of Mao and the communist and the absorption of all resources and factories in the north. This effort will be carrier out by two Japanese Army Groups under the commands of General Terachi and Umezu.



You're overextending. You cannot be offensive in China (to the extent of destroying the commies), capture the NEI and India, and all at the same time protect Mandchuria. Not to mention that you'll also need troops to garrison the Pacific unless you want the US to easily seize them in a short time.

A smart Russian would take the opportunity to seize Mandchuria and its resources: This has no cost in terms of US entry (it is more than offset by your offensive stance), and you'll find yourself in a likely difficult situation.

Maybe you'll prove me wrong ?



yvesp -> RE: Global War: Japanese Aggression (9/4/2015 11:50:54 AM)

As for the setup in France, its not the first time that I see the mountain unit in the hex above Nice, which can only be attacked from one side. What is the logic ? Personally I put it in Nice, which is much more vulnerable (it can be attacked with the fleet support for exemple); hence Nice can be attacked at 3 to 1, which is absolutely impossible for the hex above.



Centuur -> RE: Global War: Japanese Aggression (9/4/2015 3:46:48 PM)

Well well. A high risk, high gain game...

The USSR is the Allied power who should react on the Japanese. An invasion of Manchuria means the end of Japanese expansion and it comes cheap with all those extra US entry chits already drawn.

The Japanese can't fight the Soviets and China and still gain territory from the CW at the same time...




rkr1958 -> RE: Global War: Japanese Aggression (9/4/2015 10:35:28 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: yvesp


You're overextending. You cannot be offensive in China (to the extent of destroying the commies), capture the NEI and India, and all at the same time protect Mandchuria. Not to mention that you'll also need troops to garrison the Pacific unless you want the US to easily seize them in a short time.

A smart Russian would take the opportunity to seize Mandchuria and its resources: This has no cost in terms of US entry (it is more than offset by your offensive stance), and you'll find yourself in a likely difficult situation.

Maybe you'll prove me wrong ?
Well I won't prove you wrong by any brilliant strategic moves on my part. But I will let you in on what's going on behind the scenes in my "alternate WW2 reality".

quote:

ORIGINAL: Centuur

Well well. A high risk, high gain game...

The USSR is the Allied power who should react on the Japanese. An invasion of Manchuria means the end of Japanese expansion and it comes cheap with all those extra US entry chits already drawn.

The Japanese can't fight the Soviets and China and still gain territory from the CW at the same time...



Alternate WW2 Reality

Stalin through his purges of the Red Army in the late 1930's has cemented total control over the Soviet Union and the blind following of the Red Army. Western estimates place the number of soldiers purged (i.e., executed) at 30,000 to 40,000. This includes 50% of the entire Red Army Officer's corps, 90% of their corps commanders and 3 of 5 of their Marshalls.

While Stalin is convinced that no credible threat inside the Soviet Union and, especially inside the Red Army, now exists to him, he is now worried that an extensional threat in the form of Nazi Germany is building to the Soviet Union and by extension to himself. He realizes that the severity of this extensional threat is greatly magnified by his purges of the Red Army. While he personally accepts the necessity of these purges, he knows that he now must take steps to rebuild the Red Army to the strength and competence necessary to stymie or even defeat the Nazi war machine if so necessary.

Stalin is under no illusions about the Nazi-Soviet non-aggression pact. It's not worth the paper it's written on. All he is looking for is to buy time, as much time as he can to strengthen the Red Army in his own image.

In Asia, Stalin not only sees what the Japanese are doing but has secretly negotiated an unofficial and very private non-aggression pact with them. He plans to give the Japanese a free hand in the Pacific and in Asia as long as they stay out of the Soviet Union. This free hand includes war against Mao and his communist. Though Stalin is not happy about this, he is a practical man and thus is willing to sacrifice the communist Chinese for the greater good of the Soviet Union. The greater good in Stalin's mind includes the eventual defeat of Nazi Germany and the incorporation of not only the rest of Poland but Germany and the Balkans into the Soviet Union. His closest advisers estimate that this will be possible in 5-years as long as the Soviet Union can stay out of a war with Nazi Germany for that time.

Now Stalin is a patient man when in comes to matters of conquest and absorption. Once Nazi Germany is dealt with, he, that is, the Soviet Union will be in position to take all of Manchuria and most (if not all) of China. But first, back to the his 5-year plan and the absorption of most of Europe into the Soviet Union. Stalin assumes that the French and British will be able to stalemate Germany in the west and tie them down for the needed 5-years. When ready, he will march in and save the the western allies and in the process gobble up most of Europe.

Now after all this is accomplished, Stalin will turn his attention to Asia. He plans once again to be the hero by ending a predicted war raging between the USA and Japan in the Pacific. Again he will be the hero, the savior, by marching in and defeating Japan in China. Of course, to do this he will need to push through and secure Manchuria.

Stalin sees endless opportunities in this new world war that's just ignited.



rkr1958 -> RE: Global War: Japanese Aggression (9/5/2015 5:44:20 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Courtenay

Have you considered the possibility of the Netherlands setting up two units in Batavia? There is nothing prohibiting them from putting the Netherlands home country INF in Batavia. As this gives away the Netherlands home country for free, I am not sure it is a good idea, but is legal, and is a move the Allies should consider, even if they eventually decide to reject it.
I didn't, but very intriguing. Would this, in your opinion, be a viable strategy only if the Japanese DOW the Netherlands and not Germany? Or, would you try it they both did?

As I write this I've already completed the first turn. For me, I guess I'm too conservative (or chicken) to not set up a land unit in Holland too on a simultaneous DOW by Japan and Germany on the Netherlands.



rkr1958 -> RE: Global War: Japanese Aggression (9/5/2015 5:47:25 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: yvesp

As for the setup in France, its not the first time that I see the mountain unit in the hex above Nice, which can only be attacked from one side. What is the logic ? Personally I put it in Nice, which is much more vulnerable (it can be attacked with the fleet support for exemple); hence Nice can be attacked at 3 to 1, which is absolutely impossible for the hex above.
Honestly, I put the French mountain corps there to stymie the threat of his opposite number (i.e., the Italian mountain corps directly east of him). As the French, I wanted a setup that deterred the Italians from getting into the war against me (i.e., France).

Do you believe that my French setup against Italy was too strong?



rkr1958 -> RE: Global War: Japanese Aggression (9/5/2015 5:51:30 PM)

Here are two more graphics that finish up describing my setup.

US Entry Pools.

The USA chooses two chits to put into the Germany/Italy entry pool and one to put into the Japanese pool.

I always put two chits into the Germany/Italy pool to make 100% sure that the Soviets will be able to claim Eastern Poland and the Baltic states on turn 1.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/1680D43C6FFE4854899C9DCC6C682627.jpg[/image]



rkr1958 -> RE: Global War: Japanese Aggression (9/5/2015 5:55:31 PM)

At Start Victory Totals.

For what's it worth here are the victory totals at the start of the game and the measure of those totals against the historical totals at the end of the war in August 1945.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/FECA0239BBD04468B0F70E3C663BFC97.jpg[/image]



rkr1958 -> RE: Global War: Japanese Aggression (9/5/2015 5:57:12 PM)

Setup. Game Turn.

Here's my game turn at the end of my setup and just before Germany's automatic DOW on Poland.



yvesp -> RE: Global War: Japanese Aggression (9/5/2015 5:59:37 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: rkr1958


quote:

ORIGINAL: yvesp

As for the setup in France, its not the first time that I see the mountain unit in the hex above Nice, which can only be attacked from one side. What is the logic ? Personally I put it in Nice, which is much more vulnerable (it can be attacked with the fleet support for exemple); hence Nice can be attacked at 3 to 1, which is absolutely impossible for the hex above.
Honestly, I put the French mountain corps there to stymie the threat of his opposite number (i.e., the Italian mountain corps directly east of him). As the French, I wanted a setup that deterred the Italians from getting into the war against me (i.e., France).

Do you believe that my French setup against Italy was too strong?



Hum.

Usually I prefer to put a 3-3 where you put the mountain, a poor garrison unit east of Lyon, and the mountain in Nice possibly stacked with a div.
Honestly, the French are no threat to Italy, and vice-versa: unless you're willing to play Russian roulette (which is of course always possible), this front is going to stand still. Attacking even a 3-3 in the mountain for the italians is at best +3 attack. he likehood of loosing both attackers is greater than the likehood of killing the 3-3... and it then opens up the front line of the loosing attacker (not to mention the loss of more than one turn in production.) Conversely, as an Italian, I'm not worried: the French won't attack for the exact same reason, increased by the fact that it cannot afford to loose units both on the northern and southern front.



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