RE: Quisling! An AFB does Japan (No PanzerKat) (Full Version)

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John B. -> RE: Quisling! An AFB does Japan (No PanzerKat) (11/8/2017 12:40:11 PM)

Nothing as dramatic as a carrier battle for the past few days, but still action on several fronts. In the Burma theater the British brigade that had landed at Port Blair was wiped out. Scott moved ships down to Ramree island but lost a very large AP. In a running series of battles the Razor had his T cross [:-] but managed to limp away after sinking the Brit CA. Unfortunatly a Blenheim put one bomb on the IJN CL, it caught on fire and burned itself out and is no more. Pay no attention to the sunk Lexington. I think what's going on is that it represents one of the sunk Brit CVs from the Rangoon battles. I did put a torpedo into an American CV three days ago and it was a dud. Dammit, my torpedoes are supposed to work!!! [sm=Christo_pull_hair.gif]

[image]local://upfiles/39741/0672FA5517234823B90906ABEBE95726.jpg[/image]



John B. -> RE: Quisling! An AFB does Japan (No PanzerKat) (11/8/2017 12:43:10 PM)

Speaking of the US CVs, there are over here by Perth having taken the long way around. Scott came up north of Gerladton and almost, but not quite, got a number of ships moving troops from Oz back to Java. I knew there were coming because SBDs hit my subs near Melbourne several days before the carriers showed up. This is why I try not to have my carriers fly ASW if they are being sneaky, you really give away a lot of information. I have almost everyone evacuated from SW Oz and if his carriers go away I may be able to get all of the support troops out who are still there.

[image]local://upfiles/39741/3B848ABD5B3646709716E7893B08F0CF.jpg[/image]



John B. -> RE: Quisling! An AFB does Japan (No PanzerKat) (11/8/2017 12:47:31 PM)

Alas, my clever plan to take advantage of the US carriers being far far away has not worked out as planned. I've been bombing Eniwetok for several days and put in a multiple CAs and BBs bombarding it as well as air strikes from the KB all to no avail. My invading regiment really got whacked. I stopped unloading in case I can avoid having to do another shock attack but it looks like this regiment (which was very good) will be gone by the end of the day. I guess it makes up for the dead British regiment at Port Blair. It was a brilliant plan to take advantage of the US CVs being far far away, it just happened to not work. :)

Hey, how to I find squadrons to fill out my carriers. I have several CVEs with no planes. There are a couple of zero units I could fly off of their decks.



John B. -> RE: Quisling! An AFB does Japan (No PanzerKat) (11/8/2017 12:48:34 PM)

Oooops, here's the combat report from Eniwetok. I caused no damage at all to the Americans and they were not even dug in.

[image]local://upfiles/39741/596C0C91EAE34DD88924CD8CCEE77E46.jpg[/image]



Aurorus -> RE: Quisling! An AFB does Japan (No PanzerKat) (11/8/2017 1:37:24 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: John B.

Alas, my clever plan to take advantage of the US carriers being far far away has not worked out as planned. I've been bombing Eniwetok for several days and put in a multiple CAs and BBs bombarding it as well as air strikes from the KB all to no avail. My invading regiment really got whacked. I stopped unloading in case I can avoid having to do another shock attack but it looks like this regiment (which was very good) will be gone by the end of the day. I guess it makes up for the dead British regiment at Port Blair. It was a brilliant plan to take advantage of the US CVs being far far away, it just happened to not work. :)

Hey, how to I find squadrons to fill out my carriers. I have several CVEs with no planes. There are a couple of zero units I could fly off of their decks.



Conducting amphibious operations on atolls after the amphibious bonus expires for Japan is tricky. You really need your LSDs (all 2 or 3 of them). Use more APs and AK-ts than are necessary to try to get an many troops offloaded in one day as you can. Be sure to approach the atoll and get with 1 pulse of movement before moving to unload, or even, if possible, move onto the atoll set to "do not unload," so as to take advantage of all the unload phases before the combat phase. If possible, try to use lighter regiments that have a good number of lighter guns, such as the 70 mm mountain guns or mortars, where you do not expect to encounter much enemy artillery. The 105s and the 150s tend to have a very high number of disabled and destroyed offloading. Tank regiments with light tanks only (you have a couple) are very helpful. You can use the medium tanks, but again, you will suffer a high disabled/destroyed rate on offloading. Heavier devices also offload more slowly, meaning that you are less likely to get everything ashore before the combat phase.


As to your CVEs, I like to use 9 Vals and 18 Zeros on the CVEs. At this point in the war, you should have 2 size 27 Zero squadrons. You can divide these to create 6 groups of 9 Zeros. This will fill out 3 CVEs. You also should have about 6 small Val squadrons. I transfer 1 to each CVE and resize to 9. The LBA Zeros and Vals will need about 2 months aboard the CVEs before they are CV-capable (rather than just CV-trained). If possible, keep them on 0-range CAP until they are CV-capable to minimize pilot losses to operations. You can train Val pilots set to range 0 on the CVEs while they are only CV-trained, and you will not suffer any losses. This will also give you some extra CV-capable Zeros (Zekes/Sams) for other uses later in the war... such as removing the Kates and/or Vals from a CV and adding Zeros.

Later, when I have more CVEs (because I like to accelerate them in production, since they use merchant shipyards and not naval), I break down more squadrons to fill them out.




John B. -> RE: Quisling! An AFB does Japan (No PanzerKat) (11/8/2017 5:20:47 PM)

the regiment actually went ashore on three AMCs so two thirds of it was off in one landing phase. I'm glad some are left so I can rebuild it. I put the men on shore into defend mode so we'll see if it cuts me a break. I was very surprised at how poorly all the bombardments did. Even the BBs did not kill anything and the americans were not dug it at all.

I'm going to hunt around for some groups to put on the CVEs.

China is now settled into the typical stalemate with huge stacks facing off against each other.

And, I think that I'll send at least two of the three divisions from Perth to Burma. That will give me 5 divisions there plus various regiments which should be enough for now.



Aurorus -> RE: Quisling! An AFB does Japan (No PanzerKat) (11/8/2017 6:02:23 PM)

AMCs are not ideal for amphibious operations. They have higher unload damage than the LSDs, APs, and AKs (which also creates more disruption). The other question is whether or not sufficient supplies were ashore. If you do not continue to unload, the unit already on the atoll will not attack.

Bombardments tend to target the base facilities: airfield and port until these have sufficient damage. Then the bombardments will begin to target specfic ground units. For fighting in the Marshalls, I like to bomb the airfield until it is inoperable before naval bombardment. This will usually ensure that at least some of the bombarding ships will directly target ground units (typically in order of most "guns" to least. Once a unit reaches a sufficient level of disruption, the bombarding units will target a different unit. This is why massed air attacks and bombardments against fortresses and naval guns are necessary to begin to inflict disruption on other units in the hex. The fortress must be disrupted sufficiently before bombers and bombardment TFs will target another unit).



John B. -> RE: Quisling! An AFB does Japan (No PanzerKat) (11/8/2017 9:26:33 PM)

Ah, Well I'm not unloading so we may have a stalemate for awhile. But, with his carriers so far away my unit just might make it! The base facilities are pretty beat up so I can always hope that the next round of bombardment works. Does unloading supplies only trigger a shock attack?



Aurorus -> RE: Quisling! An AFB does Japan (No PanzerKat) (11/8/2017 9:39:33 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: John B.

Ah, Well I'm not unloading so we may have a stalemate for awhile. But, with his carriers so far away my unit just might make it! The base facilities are pretty beat up so I can always hope that the next round of bombardment works. Does unloading supplies only trigger a shock attack?


I believe so. I think that any unloading will. You could always evacuate the whole unit and rebuild it while preparing a fresh invasion force. I forgot to mention one thing about atoll and small island invasions after the amphibious bonus. Be sure to have good unit preparation (60+).

In Marshals, What I like to do in mid-late 42 is set up 6-8K-size counter-attack teams on Kusaie, Ponape, Nauru and Truk, prepping for Kwajalein, Maloelap, Roi Namur, and Jaluit. Typically a light ToE regiment (with 70mm guns only), and an SNLF, a brigade, or 3 SNLFs with either combat engineers (especially those electrical engineers) or a small tank unit and a mortar unit.

In my opinion, any allied player worth his salt is going to come through the Marshalls at some point; therefore it is worth preparing to fight there. In this case, he came before you could set up anything, but that is probably better, because you will have the opportunity to counter-attack there twice, possibly.

I know that most allied players disregard the Solomons, but in my opinion, I think that the Solomons is a much better place to begin an allied offensive than the Marshalls if the allies want to go on the offensive early: i.e. in mid-late 42 or early 43. Larger airfields can be developed there to support some 4-E ops, larger supply stockpiles can be built there, and it is closer to support and bases in Australia. As a JFB, I am glad, actually, that most allied players disregard the Solomons.



John B. -> RE: Quisling! An AFB does Japan (No PanzerKat) (11/9/2017 12:20:54 AM)

As a previous AFB I never thought much of the Solomons. They are a dead end that winds up at Rabaul and once you're there you have to get through Truk to get to Guam etc... I think that Eniwetok gives you a decent sized port (5) as I recall, that you can use to rearm bombardment ships for a relatively short hop back to the action and it's also a handy refueling base for everyone. Put in some AKEs and naval support squads and you have yourself a real rearming port for your naval operations.

I guess you look to fight the american carriers in the Marshalls in late 1942 with your counter attack teams?



Aurorus -> RE: Quisling! An AFB does Japan (No PanzerKat) (11/9/2017 1:05:26 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: John B.

As a previous AFB I never thought much of the Solomons. They are a dead end that winds up at Rabaul and once you're there you have to get through Truk to get to Guam etc... I think that Eniwetok gives you a decent sized port (5) as I recall, that you can use to rearm bombardment ships for a relatively short hop back to the action and it's also a handy refueling base for everyone. Put in some AKEs and naval support squads and you have yourself a real rearming port for your naval operations.

I guess you look to fight the american carriers in the Marshalls in late 1942 with your counter attack teams?



Fighting the U.S. CVs in the Marshalls in 1942 would be ideal. Fighting U.S. CVs in 1942 is always something that I want to do, the closer to Japanese waters and bases, the better.

The thing with the Marshalls is that the air-bases are too small for 4-Es to be used effectively, the U.S. must rely heavily on naval aviation to advance there. and the Marshalls are far from Pearl, which means it is difficult for the allied player to receive replacement planes for his LBA. These problems do not exist in the Solomons, where planes can be transferred to nearby bases in New Caledonia or Espiritu Santo or even Australia to pick up replacements. Eniwetok is the perfect launching off point for a move on the Marianas. However, without Kwajalein, Roi Namur, and Maloelap, Eniwetok is useless, because it is a size 0 airfield. Anything based there by a player who does not control Roi Namur and Maloelap will be destroyed.

These are not problems for the U.S. player in 1944 when he has naval aviation aplenty. Prior to 1944, however, the Marshalls, is a place where Japan has an advantage. The same does not apply to the Solomons, where stacking limits allow for allied air HQs and bases can be expanded to accomodate 4-Es. The objective in defending the Marshalls heavily is to prevent any allied advance through CentPac until 1944 and to destroy sufficient U.S. assets as to delay any advance on Marianas until mid to late 1944.

The advantage to an allied campaign in the Solomons in 1942 is to threaten Kusaie, Ponape, Rabaul, Truk, and Naura: the non-atoll bases, so that the Marshalls can be taken in 1943, because the Japanese player must concern himself with defending these 2nd-line bases from a southern offensive.



Bif1961 -> RE: Quisling! An AFB does Japan (No PanzerKat) (11/9/2017 8:19:09 PM)

I try to avoid invading atolls, as much as possible as the Allied player and take advantage of the non-atoll Islands to invade, so it sounds like you mentioned my general strategy. I however, do take some when I need to or they are left lightly defended. Some times one or two can't be avoided.



Aurorus -> RE: Quisling! An AFB does Japan (No PanzerKat) (11/9/2017 11:24:32 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Bif1961

I try to avoid invading atolls, as much as possible as the Allied player and take advantage of the non-atoll Islands to invade, so it sounds like you mentioned my general strategy. I however, do take some when I need to or they are left lightly defended. Some times one or two can't be avoided.



The U.S. loses so many advantages on atolls that is possesses on larger islands, such as the ability to concentrate artillery and armor. Allied aviation support units have higher stacking cost than Japanese units as well, meaning that the allied player can base fewer fully serviced aircraft on atolls. In short, the Japanese military is ideally suited to fighting on atolls. The U.S. military is not. Fighting in the Marshalls for the U.S. is difficult prior to 1944, but I think that the allies need to take the Marshalls to advance on the Marianas.

Of course, the U.S. can advance through the DEI and ignore Centpac altogether, but this is a longer road to Japan, and limiting the U.S. advance to one front allows the Japanese player to heavily reinforce 2nd line bases in the DEI. Also fighting in the DEI is helpful in many ways to Japan because it is close to fuel and supply centers and there so many ambush points and bottlenecks in which to waylay allied amphibious groups. Also, CVs are always at risk of surface engagement when operating in the DEI. Focusing exclusively on the DEI seems to be a misuse of the advantage that the U.S. ultimately has in naval aviation.



John B. -> RE: Quisling! An AFB does Japan (No PanzerKat) (11/10/2017 12:24:38 PM)

If you can pull off the DEI advance it has the big advantage of putting the oil resources in range of allied strategic bombing quite early. One concern I have in my current game is that I did not take Darwin so that gives the US a major port as a springboard into DEI.

I think that there are only three atolls I like to take as the US. Eniwetok (as discussed) and then Wake and Marcus. If you have these two islands, the Japanese have no base for search planes to detect any sort of raiding group heading into home waters. Marcus is also close enough to serve as an emergency resupply/refueling/repair base for ships damaged in fights in the Marianas or subs damaged in convoy raids.

My current plan is to build up the Marianas as much as possible. Guam, Saipan, and Tinian each get at least one AT unit, AA, artillery etc.. I have to CD units on Saipan and I think I may put a division on each Island. If the US bypasses them I think I still come out ahead because of all the VP that he'll forfeit if he does not take and develop the bases. As for the Philippines, there are so many islands and bases I don't think it can all be defended so my current plan is to use Manila's industry to pay for fortifying that city and then have some units hold out until the death in there. That should keep him from building up to the level 9 port there for as long as possible.



Aurorus -> RE: Quisling! An AFB does Japan (No PanzerKat) (11/10/2017 1:16:08 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: John B.

If you can pull off the DEI advance it has the big advantage of putting the oil resources in range of allied strategic bombing quite early. One concern I have in my current game is that I did not take Darwin so that gives the US a major port as a springboard into DEI.

I think that there are only three atolls I like to take as the US. Eniwetok (as discussed) and then Wake and Marcus. If you have these two islands, the Japanese have no base for search planes to detect any sort of raiding group heading into home waters. Marcus is also close enough to serve as an emergency resupply/refueling/repair base for ships damaged in fights in the Marianas or subs damaged in convoy raids.

My current plan is to build up the Marianas as much as possible. Guam, Saipan, and Tinian each get at least one AT unit, AA, artillery etc.. I have to CD units on Saipan and I think I may put a division on each Island. If the US bypasses them I think I still come out ahead because of all the VP that he'll forfeit if he does not take and develop the bases. As for the Philippines, there are so many islands and bases I don't think it can all be defended so my current plan is to use Manila's industry to pay for fortifying that city and then have some units hold out until the death in there. That should keep him from building up to the level 9 port there for as long as possible.



I have not taken Darwin in one of my two games, and that worries me as well. My opponent has reinforced the position heavily. It is not too late to take Darwin in your game if feel that you have the force to do it. If you do not want to move on Darwin, you could also take Broome, Port Hudson, and Port Moresby as Netty bases to prevent your opponent from massing amphibious assets at Darwin for the time being.

You are right to begin transitioning to defense at this point, but that does not mean that you must forego any further offensive operations. Most of the transition, at this point, involves positioning base forces, construction btns, and other support units. Keep in mind that any allied advance in 1942 can be destroyed, so long as KB remains intact. You do not have to allow fear to govern all of your decisions... yet.

You also want to consider how your strategy in China relates to your overall strategy. For example, if you do not intend to take Chungking, you may want to try to establish a small perimeter in China which will allow you to withdraw a few divisions for forward defense in other theaters. By early 1943, you probably will have purchased most of the major units that you are able from Manchuria. This will be some 8 or 9 divisions and support. So you will have about 20 divisions, plus SNLFs, garrison units, and other light 2nd-line units, of unrestricted troops by early 1943. Can you purchase anything from China? How many divisions for Centpac? How many for Burma/India? How many for the DEI? Do you want to commit a division or 2 to the Solomons, SoPac, and Moresby?

Japan cannot defend the entire perimeter in force, no matter what you do. So Japan needs some plan that does not involve holding everywhere at all costs.



John B. -> RE: Quisling! An AFB does Japan (No PanzerKat) (11/13/2017 5:46:12 PM)

Just a quick update. The situation at Eniwetok remains dire for the American regiment and armor battalion that are on there. They get bombarded by sea and air every day and they are now losing squads at least to the bombing. For some reason my ships still don't do much damage but having been on the receiving end off all this I know it's not helping them. My regiment is almost entirely back up to snuff and is basically undisrupted. So, a couple more days and I'l send them up over the top. I think I'm still in the clear since I keep seeing the American KB down near Esperance in S.W. Oz.

Here is a fun fact. Unloading supplies from a sub transport did NOT trigger a shock attack by my lads on Eniwetok. This has them back at full supply.

In Oz I have a few more troops in Geraldton. An Air HQ and part of three armor regiments. I may get them out and I may not. I have two ships loading and I'm keeping an eye on the American KB mentioned above. I do have the Zuikaku and Shokaku hovering off shore to see if I can catch any surface TF heading to Geraldton. Any indication that the Americans CV are heading back and my boys are gone!

In Burma, Scott has a surface TF hovering at Ramree where he has part of an East African Regiment trapped. I have a BB TF heading that way. More news as it develops.

And, in China, Scott may be about to have several corps surrounded at Kwelein. It depends on if he notices that I just put a regiment on the road north of him.



John B. -> RE: Quisling! An AFB does Japan (No PanzerKat) (11/21/2017 1:53:25 PM)

We've made it to the middle of July 1942 and there is action on all fronts. Eniwetok just fell. That took a lot longer than I expected but I did get a nice prisoner haul and more than 100 VP from all the dead and devices. I'm not sure about going after other Atolls. Eniwetok was within land based air range of Truk and was never able to fortify. I'm sure that the other atolls have been digging in furiously and they are out of land based air range. So, I'm not sure what to do with the force I now have concentrated at Truk. I could put two regiments ashore at Roi Namor which would give the airbase back to me but I'm just not sure.

[image]local://upfiles/39741/B69465AEFD7449D89410F62640066354.jpg[/image]



John B. -> RE: Quisling! An AFB does Japan (No PanzerKat) (11/21/2017 1:56:43 PM)

Well, I almost got away with it in Perth but then I got greedy. I was loading troops at Geraldton and decided to wait one more turn because there was no way that Scott could get his carriers north from Esperance to get at me. I was wrong. [:(] Lost several high value transports and lots of men drowned. this reduces the margin I got out of Oz but the odd thing is that Scott has been leaving his CVs at Perth for a long time. I"m not sure what he's up to down there. The rest of my men are fleeing north to see what I can get out of there. :)

[image]local://upfiles/39741/B28C64B98AFE425F985283CD560D0BA6.jpg[/image]



John B. -> RE: Quisling! An AFB does Japan (No PanzerKat) (11/21/2017 2:00:10 PM)

Things are heating up in Burma. Scott still has part of the East African Brigade on Ramree island and he has been attacking the past two turns and got it up to a 1-1. I have help on the way but it's going to be awhile before it gets there. Scott really handed it to my CAP last turn shooting down 23! Oscars in exchange for just 13 Hurricane IIcs and bs. The mystery down is is that I could really hand him a defeat as Warzup because he has on Aussie division up there. But, I'm not getting any supply push up there. I'm putting an HQ there and building the airfield in an attempt to complete the supply flow. If I can get up up enough I can put in three more divisions and get at him five divisions to his one.

[image]local://upfiles/39741/2BC492CA8BAA40DC9BEB82C05B909919.jpg[/image]



John B. -> RE: Quisling! An AFB does Japan (No PanzerKat) (11/21/2017 2:03:19 PM)

Here is China. It looks like Scott has a problem at Kweilien. He can get out by I've blocked the road so he has a very long resupply line. I'm attacking this turn on deliberate mode since I"m not sure what his supply situation is there. And, I think he's pulling out.

[image]local://upfiles/39741/ABDA31A2AEA2453CB272FAA720D5362A.jpg[/image]



John B. -> RE: Quisling! An AFB does Japan (No PanzerKat) (11/21/2017 2:04:50 PM)

Last but not least, here is the current VP situation. Sadly, I got word that the Hermes survived the June carrier battle.

[image]local://upfiles/39741/6B00949E65B8428197232301BB70DEA4.jpg[/image]



John B. -> RE: Quisling! An AFB does Japan (No PanzerKat) (11/21/2017 10:43:48 PM)

Quick update. Two torpedoes into the Saratoga. Both had belt armor penetration and one report of severe flooding. But, the action report did not show damage or heavy damage and no fire. Ship will probably survive but it might take some time int the yards.



Aurorus -> RE: Quisling! An AFB does Japan (No PanzerKat) (11/22/2017 12:23:14 AM)

Marshalls: a level 2 or 3 fort on an atoll will not hamper a heavy bombardment and a sturdy invasion. I would not be deterred by the possibility of a few forts. After a year of fort building... that is another issue.

Burma: It is monsoon season, from May 15 until October 15. Bases will only receive or ship out 50% of their maximum "draw." Supporting 5 divisions in one hex will be impossible without massive (i.e. every available) transport aircraft. Use your transport a/c for supply runs to support an offensive until October. Having a network of bases with supply paths to units, as well as a dispersion of units is helpful in this period. Offensive operations are difficult, and you will probably find that units are only fully supplied once a week or so. The allies are in a similar position, however, and a simple bombing mission can put an enemy unit low on supply for several days.

Try to avoid matching up Oscars against Hurricanes. 23 to 13 is, in fact, very good for Oscars against Hurricanes. His pilots must be terrible, and I suspect that the Hurricanes must have been escorting bombers to perform so poorly. Use Zeros, Tojos, or even Nicks against the Hurricanes. Tojos are merciless against Hurricanes and will quickly put an end to the Hurricane threat.



John B. -> RE: Quisling! An AFB does Japan (No PanzerKat) (11/22/2017 12:50:03 PM)

That is a good point about the invasion. Alas I think playtime is over. He is clearly sending the American KB back. It will take a couple of weeks but my own KB is heading to Japan for the July 42 upgrades. I'll have three carriers at Truk (Shokaku and Zuikakau are on their way) but I think it's time for more caution by my guys.

It's a little frustrating in China. I have a 4-1 and then a 9-1 shock attack at Kweilien and no retreats so no mass casualties. Killing 100 Chinese squads just does not add up to much. :). Looks like he'll slip away again.

In Burma I take your point about Monsoon. so, I'm sending two regiments and two divisions to retake Ramree. Given it's roll in Chinese resupply I'd rather have it than let Scott have it.



GetAssista -> RE: Quisling! An AFB does Japan (No PanzerKat) (11/22/2017 6:38:19 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: John B.
It's a little frustrating in China. I have a 4-1 and then a 9-1 shock attack at Kweilien and no retreats so no mass casualties. Killing 100 Chinese squads just does not add up to much. :). Looks like he'll slip away again.

That's because he has no valid hex to make retreat to. Your troops are in the NW one, the only one he has hexside opened with. Yet he can cross that hexside on foot if time allows him. So you better either leave clear retreat path or completely surround the enemy in your future attacks in other places



Aurorus -> RE: Quisling! An AFB does Japan (No PanzerKat) (11/22/2017 6:56:45 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: GetAssista

quote:

ORIGINAL: John B.
It's a little frustrating in China. I have a 4-1 and then a 9-1 shock attack at Kweilien and no retreats so no mass casualties. Killing 100 Chinese squads just does not add up to much. :). Looks like he'll slip away again.

That's because he has no valid hex to make retreat to. Your troops are in the NW one, the only one he has hexside opened with. Yet he can cross that hexside on foot if time allows him. So you better either leave clear retreat path or completely surround the enemy in your future attacks in other places



If he has no valid supply path by which to retreat, his units will surrender if they fail a morale and leadership check. This will completely destroy the units and result in a haul of VPs. Isolating units and then destroying them is the best way to accumulate VPs for army losses. Attack 1 or 2 more times and watch what happens.

Again, however, remember that Chinese units are worth only 1/4 of the VPs of other allied units, so even if you destroy 1200 Chinese squads, you will only receive 100 VPs. A few months ago, in my game against Opilot, I shock attacked an isolated stack of 105,000 Chinese troops and destroyed 2700 squads in one day to a loss of precisely 0 Japanese squads (this was without a surrender)... the difference in my VPs was barely noticeable.



John B. -> RE: Quisling! An AFB does Japan (No PanzerKat) (11/23/2017 12:01:04 PM)

Ohhh, now I understand. I could not figure out this amazing defense that these troops were putting on. Thanks! The map indicates that they are pulling out so I just hope to mop up some of the survivors. Even the ones who get out wont be worth much for a long time.

In other news, I cleaned up a few AKLs at Roi Namur and there is a couple of surface actions brewing at Akyab (my BB TF is going in at what is reported to be CAs) and at Ramree Island where a CL/DD TF headed by the razor is attempting to hit what looks to be a resupply convoy. The Razor has not done well the past two sea battles so let's hope he steps up his game.



John B. -> RE: Quisling! An AFB does Japan (No PanzerKat) (11/23/2017 12:04:18 PM)

@ Aurorus. I'd look at your victory as the same as sinking a BB since it's worth 225 VP. It means that the allies will have to rack up 450 VP just to stay on the final victory path. The terrain is too awful to really kick in China but it is a good place to accumulate VP to make up for what you lose once the American Freight Train picks up speed.



Aurorus -> RE: Quisling! An AFB does Japan (No PanzerKat) (11/24/2017 4:25:27 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: John B.

@ Aurorus. I'd look at your victory as the same as sinking a BB since it's worth 225 VP. It means that the allies will have to rack up 450 VP just to stay on the final victory path. The terrain is too awful to really kick in China but it is a good place to accumulate VP to make up for what you lose once the American Freight Train picks up speed.



Yes. 200 VPs is 200 VPs, and I should not complain. But I accumulated much more in my Burma campaign in that game with the destruction of far fewer allied squads in an operation involving half as many divisions and using less supply overall. In that campaign, I isolated and destroyed a few Indian brigades completely, and these few brigades were worth more than 3 whole Chinese corps. He eventually did break the isolated Chinese units out with a relief column that gained control of a hexside that gave his army a retreat path. Otherwise, I would have scored a much larger haul of VPs: probably another 6000 Chinese devises destroyed or about 500 VPs. So, I was a little frustrated that I did not have 2 or 3 more days to finish those Chinese units. Of course, instead of receiving freshly rebuilt Chinese corps at 1/3 strength, he has been forced to make do with corps that have a large number of disabled squads. So, it was not a complete loss that I failed to fully crush the pocket.

Opilot was just learning my ways in that China campaign, and he made a mistake. He expected me to build a big stack and try to engage his big stack, rather than isolating his stack, gaining control of the major roadways so that I could respond to his movements, and bombing his big stack daily to slow its movement significantly and reduce its supplies to 0, so that it was incapable of breaking isolation even against a single division.

Chinese stacks reduced to 0 supply have their already marginal firepower reduced so severely that they are not capable of inflicting signficant casualties. For example, I was able to destroy about 9 or 10 Chinese corps completely in my game against Apbarog without having more than 9 or 10 squads disabled in any of my units in any one battle.

China is a tricky theater, because to make any major VP gains there, you must destroy a significant number of Chinese devices while losing relatively few. Also, China can become an enormous supply drain, especially if you make heavy use of artillery, medium bombers, and long sieges of heavily defended entrenched positions (which is the only way to take a heavily defended entrenched position that is in supply without taking major casualties yourself).



John B. -> RE: Quisling! An AFB does Japan (No PanzerKat) (11/24/2017 11:46:38 AM)

Killing Western/Oz/Indian troops is so much more rewarding but it is tough to get them isolated and allied airpower really keeps their troops in the game. I was able to kill the Aussies in OZ and the americans on Eniwetok only because I was able to get the drop on Scott and be far away from his carriers. The OZ division at Warzup is vulnerable to significant losses but it looks like I need to wait until the end of the monsoon season. The East Africans on Ramree are very vulnerable and it looks like that hex is becoming Guadalcanal given the sea fights we've had over it. With nothing better to do I'm move two regiments and two divisions to retake the hex. The down side is that it takes so long to get over the river and onto the island.

The problem I've had when trying to isolate chinese big stacks is that when I infiltrate units around the flanks the Chinese have so many corps that Scott can peel off a couple of units to send them around the flanks as well. And, when Scott has tried to do that to me it only gives me the chance to kill a few squads basically for free.

The other nice thing about the China campaign is that you capture towns that give you 10 VP for each increase in the airbase level. So you do a quick build up to level 3 at little cost in supply and voila 30 bonus VP.



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