6971grunt
Posts: 427
Joined: 3/31/2005
From: Ya sure, you betcha
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I have been reading, with more than a passing interest, the posts on a Japanese attack on the USSR. I did take deep interest in Feinder's take on the armor issue. While I agree that historically the Japanese did take a terrible beating at the hands of the Russians [Zuhkov], but WiTP is not necessarily a truly historical game - things can go very differently.
The bulk of Russian forces are concentrated in the East along the coastal area of that command area, while there is a limited combat presence in the west along the TransSiberian RR. Additionally, the Russian during the course of the game only receives engineers [i.e., for airbases] as reinforcements. The entire bulk of the Russian "combat army" is confined in the eastern section of the Far East Command. Is it possible to attack in such a manner as to isolate these forces by strong and determined point attacks in the north and south? I believe it is possible and without the outside infusion of massive forces as some have suggested.
The use of Mongolian Cavalry Divisions from the China Expeditionary Army in the west could clearly isolate Russian bases as far west as Irtkusk without running into more that second line engineers with experience and morale in the upper 30s or low 40s. A strong concentration at Hailar with 3 or 4 Japanese Infantry Divisions, and support forces, could take the main Russian base [Borzya] just opposite of Hailar along the Trans-Siberian RR. Most of Russian combat forces are concentrated in Bozya.
In the East, Russian combat forces are concentrated, in the north, in the Blagoveshchenske-Kuysyshevka area. Japanese forces [3 to 4 Infantry Divisions with supporting troops] would concentrate in the Sunwu-Heiho area and attempt to cut the Trans Siberian RR at this point and drive the Russian units toward the south [trying to keep these forces from joining those Russian combat formations in the west].
It would appear that the Japanese should conduct a holding action in the center [Mishan-Chiamusu] while using their bombers to suppress the concentration of Russian bombers in this area. Russian combat forces would have a numerical advantage in this sector but may have to move some of these forces to the north and south to assist in the defense of these areas - hopefully leaving some parity along this sector of the front.
The Japanese forces [5 to 6 Infantry Divisions and 1 to 2 Infantry Brigades plus supporting troops] would concentrate in the area of Mutanchiang. This force would encounter most of the Russian combat forces in the Far East Command. These forces would conduct an offensive along the Mutanchiang-Vladivostok-Uglahamenski line with the primary goal of the capture of Vladivostok.
The overall goals here would be two-fold:
1. To destroy as much of the Russian Far East Command's combat efficiency [i.e., infantry, armor and artillery] since those Russian troops there are all the Russian gets during the game. The Japanese, during the course of the game, get several large combat infantry units in this area throughout the game; and
2. To capture Vladivostok and other cities in the eastern end of the Far East Command [resources and oil are to be found here].
In preparation for this assault I would do the following:
1. Strip all of Korea of any combat formation and move reccon airforces further north near Vladivostok.
2. Use all Mongolian Cavalry Divisions for deep penetration thrusts into the Russian western rear areas [i.e., Ulan Bator].
3. Move all Japanese combat units in Manchuria into western, northern and eastern Manchuria - along with appropriate support forces [i.e., combat engineers, artilllery, combat and supply transport aircraft and the proper headquarters{land and air}].
4. Move 3 fighter squadrons from other theaters into Mishan and Mutanchiang to support [2-Zero squadrons from the Southern Command and 1-Tojo Squadron from the China Expeditionary Army]. It appears that both types can match the fire power of the I-16 Type 24, MiG3 and Yak-1s [most Russian airpower is concentrated in the eastern part of the command.
Moses may ultimately be right concerning the need for 10 outside divisions to suppresss the Russian Far East Command, but the need to keep momentum in the Southern Command Area may be too important to divert these forces. Additionally, with China's cities needing to be carefully garrisoned to prevent "hostile" activies, withdrawal of division size units may be difficult [the best solution may the several Mongolian Cavalry Divisions].
The solution I propose may take more time in mission completion, but Japanese goals and manpower resource suggest a solution within the forces in and about Manchuria.
Any thoughts?
_____________________________
"Over?! It's not over until we say it's over. Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?!" John Blutarsky from the Movie "Animal House"
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