el cid again
Posts: 16922
Joined: 10/10/2005
Status: offline
|
RHS Comprehensive Update 5.02
https://1drv.ms/f/s!Ap7XOIkiBuUwhZAU7bdtWbbscE_oLg
This update is limited to scenario files, but unusually includes files
rarely updated, such as pilot files. As well, some unusual tools were used
to update records automatically - such as air groups - to force their
aircraft data to be updated - which it turns out is not as automatic
as live linking implies it should be.
Because the 5.xx update series includes an extensively reviewed starting
order of battle for Japan - and IJA in particular - it has revealed some
problems not clear in earlier editions of RHS or indeed of AE. In defense
of the original data entry effort, it has become much easier to find good
data now. Japan has finally finished its official history, and both the
(ROC) Chinese and Japanese official histories are beginning to be translated
(a very slow process because these histories are massive and use scholarly
forms of writing not taught to masses in this century). As well, the time
it takes to look up units is significant, and different references do not
agree on the data in many cases. But the larger problem is that the start of
game Japanese ground forces were essentially overstated in all forms of AE.
This is because units appeared too early, or even in partially or completely
duplicated forms. Confusion is easy because Japanese culture loves complexity,
so there are a host of traps it is easy to fall into - many not at all clear
to researchers unfamiliar with either Japanese usage or bureaucratic practice.
This issue made me wonder "how could they possibly have even survived (in China),
never mind taken units out of China to fight in the SRA?" [You may have noticed
playing games that Japanese players tend NOT to remove all the forces historically
transferred from China early on, or even to send many more ground units and air
units to China]. This is caused by essentially two different things - particularly
in RHS where Chinese forces were reworked so they are not "pre-defeated" by the data.
First, the ground combat system makes defense in forests, mountains and urban areas
demand too many troops. Second, the Japanese forces in country are very marginal for
the size of the opposing forces. That was only made worse by getting rid of the
"additional" forces (duplicates, units appearing later in time, or divisions starting,
say, with one of two brigades - but shown as the whole division).
So I went back to the drawing board and reviewed other possible sources of units.
Of these, it turned out that the Axis Allied forces were still badly understated in RHS
data. Indeed, it turned out we really cannot list them all. [And probably should not -
several of them are not exactly practical to model as combat units even if they contribute
to security - such as gigantic police forces and local security forces of a host of types].
One datum point will illustrate what I mean: by 1943 Allied intelligence (which is admittedly
incomplete) listed 42 RGC divisions plus tens of smaller formations. It also listed corps
sized formations, two of which were rated as the "most effective" in the entire service, of
two different species.
The first of these forms sometime before January 1943 and is the Metroplitian Defense Army
(Army = corps in both Chinese and Japanese organization). It is composed of the three Capital
Divisions which have all formed by then, and which are the best equipped in the RGC. However,
this force is unusually loyal to the RGC administration itself, and no parts of it are ever
assigned to Japanese commands as such. I decided to model that by assigning them to the RGC
HQ itself on a Restricted Permanent basis. This required using one slot and permitting the
existing divisions (one formed from two brigades) to combine into the new unit.
More important is the second species of corps. These were assigned to other Japanese commands
and were sent farther afield, and could be reassigned and could to things like use riverine
transport. These were termed Front Armies and were apparently composed of two divisions (which
is logical since a brigade is typically two regiments and a division is two brigades). Of these
the First was highly rated, and due to sheer size more powerful than any other RGC division, and
apparently had more flexible leadership than many other formations did. These differences were
sometimes reflected in unit names: a "temporary" division is perhaps an indication of less trust
in leadership and less cooperation by it. I classified all these units as restricted Permanent as
well - they can never load on a ship - they can never be assigned to a different command. On the
other hand' "Route" in a name usually implies a successful record in combat. These units are now
Restricted Temporary. To insure other problems are not created, I have crafted new house rules:
an RGC unit may never move more than six hexes into Burma from the Chinese border, nor may it ever
cross the Yellow River. They also may never be assigned to a Kwantung Army subordinate HQ. NCPC
units are similarly restricted. Temporary formations are restricted permanent. "Elite" units may
change commands (paying political points) but may NOT be assigned to commands OTHER THAN those
subordinate to Kwangtung Army. They also may NEVER cross the Yangtze River. [Thus NCPC units
and RGC units MAY cooperate only if between the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers - something they did twice
in major offensives in late 1941/early 1942, and in the late war Ichi Go offensive]. Note that in RHS,
reflecting reality on the ground, China is divided into THREE parts: that which is Japanese occupied
(mainly in the NE and North) and entirely controlled by Kwangtung Army; that which is Japanese contested
(mainly in the East and South) and entirely controlled by the IJA China Expeditionary Army; that which
is de facto Russian controlled or allied (in the West). NRA (ROC) units and RED (communist units) may NOT
enter the Russian controlled zone (due to hard code). Both operate in the area NE of Sian, and mainly
only ROC operates elsewhere. A tiny number of communist guerillas operate in Manchukuo. And all Warlord
units (other than cavalry, which is for hire to anyone) are static - they don't really "cooperate" in an
attack unless both the enemy and "friendly" NRA units both happen to be in the same hex as they are in.
Even this seemingly complex situation understates the divisions. Never mind that the number two NRA general
defected (with about 40% of the force, creating the RGC), Chiang actually ordered some units to join them!
This was a long term strategy to insure their survival for the bigger fight - vs the communists. It also
meant that civilians in zones they "pacified" were better treated than if Japan had to deploy Kempetai or
mercenary units, creating a better political foundation for the time the government would regain control.
For this reason, since both RED and NRA (ROC) units are on the Allied side, we forbid them to join in the
same attack together (but they DO defend together).
Anyway, a surprising missing element is that the RGC had an actual Navy, including numbers of warships
and non-warships, and a rather complex supporting base and command structure. In the North, where (a)
more units were undamaged than farther South where the Navy had been almost exterminated in the fights for
Shanghai and Nanking, there was a more functional organization - effective as a coastal patrol force and
even able to field a proper amphibious assault capability (of very short range with pure light infantry -
called "Marines" - and indeed, identical in organization with the regiments of the First Separate Marine
Brigade that starts in Chunking). The strategic bases of Weihaiwei and Dairen more or less controlled the
approaches to Tientsin and Peking (which you can reach using a river/Grand Canal route in RHS). These
two bases were supported by another at Tsingtao which was also under the North China Fleet Command. The
rest of coastal China had spotty but meaningful local bases at Ningpo, Foochow and Canton, each with local
patrol assets. There were also RGC naval elements at Nanking - folded together with the government, the
Army and the tiny RGC Air Force as the RGC HQ which is static at that location. [All these base units
are static. All have tiny numbers of naval support and aircraft support. And some of these have a flight
of ancient biplanes. I almost left them out - but we have suitable art and defined aircraft - and I even
know the flight leaders names - so I decided to include them as chrome.] A more significant addition is
that there is a second RGC Marine "regiment" (= battalion in Chinese terms) at Canton, and also some fairly
clever LCI(S) [Landing Craft Infantry Small] to carry them (made from converted river steamers, which China has
in numbers). Unlike the ROC Navy in RHS, which can convert river vessels at will to various functions, RGC
lacks the infrastructure to do that - they are stuck with what they inherited in 1941, and that is that. ROC
can convert vast numbers of junks and river steamers at will, and other Allied ships sometimes are transferred
to ROCN. [We even have the Aurora - a modern if tiny British light cruiser].
But it is important to realize that the character of the game is changed by the combination of fewer first rate
Japanese formations, and larger numbers of Japanese allied formations, including even some which are river mobile
- which is uncommon in China (except for ROC Marines) - mainly a reflection of Japanese dependence on using the
Yangtze, Pearl and lower Yellow Rivers in preference to roads and rail lines (which, in fact, are less efficient
in game terms than ship transport).
Numbers of things are carefully crafted in the data. Different scenarios also offer different interpretations.
Thus - strictly historical scenarios have the ex-ROC Navy Ning Hai and Ping Hai "light cruisers" (glorified
gunboats) - refloated and rebuilt by Japan - in service with the IJN. In Japan enhanced scenarios (125 and 129)
they appear as RGC Navy vessels. This was nominally actually true from 1940-1943, but in fact it appears they
were used as accommodation ships in Japan until converted to escorts for IJN - so that is why they appear in
Scenarios 121 to 124 (and the incomplete 126) in IJN service in Escort form - late in the war. But in JES scenarios
they are presented in their official form - BEFORE conversion to Escort ships - flying the RGCN ensign. [This
may only have been true on the day they were commissioned into that service at Weihaiwei (which is Chifoo in
Japanese). Never seen before in this form in any kind of AE I am aware of, don't be totally surprised if they
show up somewhere.
This update does include changes to Allied units and devices. These are mainly correcting eratta, or
crafting something to better model a specific local situation. But the main change in the starting situation
is that the upper Yellow River area (which is isolated from the sea because of flooding South of Kaifeng
which creates a mainly swamp area - something killed a couple of million Chinese), is no longer contested.
This means NRA (ROC) units that have always been in that area are more concentrated in the area NE of Sian,
defending the heartland where Chinese civilization was born. This one river system is ROC dominated, because
it has superior naval forces (and the ability to create more by converting vessels rapidly at need), and
because it has good air bases well supported by local cities able to generate supplies (and even a local
oil industry - indeed the oldest oil industry in the world - predating the one we claim is older in Pennsylvania
by a few months). The Sian area has never been captured by Japan in RHS so far as I know - and I have tried
more than ten times. I have got right up beside it and 2/3 of the hexes around it - but never was able to
beat the forces feeding off that major logistical center. Do not abandon Sian - fight for it! The entire area
from there upriver to He Chu and Sinn Sinn can be defended because of terrain and the economic centers being
Allied controlled. Japan cannot divert vast forces to reduce it - and if it did - it would hamper offensives
elsewhere on the map.
|
Printable Version
RE: RHS Thread: Micro Update 5.02 Eratta & Chrome - 
New Messages
No New Messages
Hot Topic w/ New Messages
Hot Topic w/o New Messages
Locked w/ New Messages
Locked w/o New Messages
Post New Thread