Taming the Bear - Rader (J) vs. jzanes (A). A jzanes-free zone.

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rader
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Taming the Bear - Rader (J) vs. jzanes (A). A jzanes-free zone.

Post by rader »

Since the cat is out of the bag, I'm just prepping up to write the other side of the game report with jzanes, where I am planning to attack the Soviets in May 1942.

For a more detailed description of what has happened so far, you can probably take a look at Jason's game report. I have no idea how much or what kind of information is in it, of course.

So far the Japanese have seized the usual perimeter (Philippines, Dutch East Indies, Malaya, Gilberts, Wake, and Solomons), plus New Caledonia, Port Moresby, & a few Northern Australian ports (see strategic map). Were currently trying to work our way through Burma as we gear up for the big Phase II push against Stalin's Far Eastern forces.



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rader
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RE: Taming the Bear - Rader (J) vs. jzanes (A). A jzanes-free zone.

Post by rader »

Actually, here's one with the perimeter drawn.

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RE: Taming the Bear - Rader (J) vs. jzanes (A). A jzanes-free zone.

Post by rader »

For starters, I have no idea if attacking the Soviet Union is brillant or the stupidest idea to ever hit WITP, but I've always wanted to try it. Seydlitz's AAR helped convince me that it can be done, and I think that by waiting until just after Phase I operations are complete, I can use some of the Southern Army forces in the attack (while not having to worry about having trouble securing the Southern Resource area).

My long term goal is not to crush the Soviets (which would probably be impossible), but rather simply to sieze the trans-Amur region and the Soviet ports, destroy their airforce, fleet, and pocketed armies, and establish a defensive line in Manchuria (see map).

My reasons are as follows, in increasing order of importance:

1. The Soviet Union has resources and oil located close to Japan.
2. Soviet equipment is realtively bad until 1944-45. For example, they only have BT tanks (no T-34s until 1944 or so), and a 1942 Russian infantry squad is worse than a Japanese one.
3. Soviet aircraft replacement rate is low to non-existent, and their early planes are short legged and weakly armed.
4. I believe my opponent is relatively cautious, and something like this might just force him into taking risks with his carriers that he might not othewise take (he might try to invade somewhere if he thinks I'm distracted).
5. I believe I have a window to strike a blow against them in 1942 before the western allies are prepared to counter-attack. I think this game might go the distance, and if I wait until 1945, the Soviets will come in when I am least prepared to deal with them. Vladivostock will be a dagger aimed at Japan and I will have no free troops to stem the tide of brand new Soviet equipment. In 1942, I can use air, land, and naval forces, that will not be available later on. These extra forces, in concert with the Kwangtung army, might just be enough to remove this long-term threat. Meanwhile, the KB still rules the waves, so they should be able to safeguard the empire while much of the Southern Army is tied up in the Soviet Union.
6. I feel as though I am helping out my pal Adolf, and doing something that although it would probably not have won the war historically, probably offered the Axis powers' best chance (in my opinion).





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RE: Taming the Bear - Rader (J) vs. jzanes (A). A jzanes-free zone.

Post by rader »

Oh, and I should add that because of the Geography of the region and the trans-Siberian railway, Soviet forces are highly vulnerable to being cut off and encircled.

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RE: Taming the Bear - Rader (J) vs. jzanes (A). A jzanes-free zone.

Post by PaxMondo »

ORIGINAL: rader

For starters, I have no idea if attacking the Soviet Union is brillant or the stupidest idea to ever hit WITP, but I've always wanted to try it.

I am really looking forward to this. I have never considered opening up the bear, so this will be VERY interesting to watch unfold.

Good Luck!
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RE: Taming the Bear - Rader (J) vs. jzanes (A). A jzanes-free zone.

Post by rader »

Well, the declaration of war ought to be in Stalin's hand by tomorow morning.
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RE: Taming the Bear - Rader (J) vs. jzanes (A). A jzanes-free zone.

Post by rader »

The invasion of the Soviet Far East begins on May 22nd!

All the main objectives were achieved, but the cost at sea and in the air was higher than anticipated.

Our ground troops' timing couldn't have been better, and all forces arrived on schedule, blocking the Transsiberian railway in many locations (see map). The forces moving to either side of Khabarovsk arrived safely, and now are advancing on the city from the south. The landing forces moved up the Amur at high speed (starting outside of Soviet territory as discussed in the war room), and managed to start unloading at Komsomolsk by the end of the second day (we are playing 2-day turns). This landing is essential to ensure that we can supply the Kwangtung army in the Khabarovsk region. The Kwangtung army is marching into Soviet territority to link up with its supplies being delivered by sea.

The first objective is to secure the line from Komsomolsk to Khabarovsk, iretrievably cutting off all Soviet forces in the Vladivostok region. Eventually, this pocket will have to be liquidated although I imagine he has a huge stockpile of supplies in the area. However, without a source of new supplies, these should eventually dry up. I wouldn't be surprised if the battle for Vlad takes all of 1942, and even a good chunk of 1943.

Now that the Soviets are active, we expect furious air attack on the Amur landing force. The force includes 3 AVs with 2 Chutai of Rufes and one of CAP Petes (with good fighter pilots), and LRCAP will be flown by over 100 A6M2s from Sakhalin (7 spaces away). Hopefully that should reduce the damage.



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RE: Taming the Bear - Rader (J) vs. jzanes (A). A jzanes-free zone.

Post by rader »

At sea was where it got ugly. For some reason, I decided that it was important to take Magadan (no idea why, except to cut off air rebase routes from Alaska).

I thought 2 BBs, 3CAs, 1CL, and 8 DDs ought to be enough to handle the CD guns. It disn't quite work that way. The fleet got very badly roughed up. 4 DDs and a few APDs and AKs already sunk, all Battleships and cruisers have heavy system damage. Kako is in deep trouble, and will almost certainly go down. We have 280 AV ashore against 40, so we should take the place, but definitely not worth the cost.



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RE: Taming the Bear - Rader (J) vs. jzanes (A). A jzanes-free zone.

Post by rader »

And that was just the first round! Here's poor Kako. [:(]

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RE: Taming the Bear - Rader (J) vs. jzanes (A). A jzanes-free zone.

Post by rader »

And in the air, the Japanese fighters generally made a good accounting of themselves, achieving about a 2:1 kill ratio. However, many bomber strikes went in without escort, so we lost lots of crappy bombers. It seems as though the Sallies and Helens are durable enough to suck up a lot of 7.7mm ammo and only get damaged, but the Anns, Idas, Marys, and Sonias are toast to anything larger than a peble. Oh well, not a big loss I guess. But my air losses so far this game even before the invasion have been horendous. I've pretty much used up all the army bombers I started with (both in pools and air groups). Most are converting over to the Helens, which are starting to arrive in numbers. Eventually, we will convert most or all groups to the Helen II.



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RE: Taming the Bear - Rader (J) vs. jzanes (A). A jzanes-free zone.

Post by rader »

Now, a question for anyone out there (who isn't influenced by reading Jason's AAR of course). I have no idea what the Soviets will do. Will they try to evacuate the Vlad region? Will the fight for Khabarovsk? Will they attack out of the Vlad region North? Try to come down from the North into Manchuria?

What would you do and how should I handle it? Ideas?

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RE: Taming the Bear - Rader (J) vs. jzanes (A). A jzanes-free zone.

Post by rader »

One of the things that worries me the most is the Soviet subs. They are going to be haning around the main Japanese shipping lanes now, and might be able to interdict the damaged ships on the way back from Magadan. I've set up ASW patrols on the air and surface, but the Russians have a lot of subs! And their torpedoes probably work!
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RE: Taming the Bear - Rader (J) vs. jzanes (A). A jzanes-free zone.

Post by rader »

May 26, 1942

Heavy Russian bomber attacks on the blocking units today. My Idas, Marys, Annes, and Sonia continue to come in unescorted, and I don't have many left.

The Sallys and Helens are doing ok though, and the Oscars and Zeroes continue to down Soviet fighters. Air losses were about 60 Japanese to 70 Allied this turn. Soon the Japanese will be out of single-engined army bombers, and the Russians will be out of fighters (that will take a while though!).

IJN Kako slips beneath the surface [:(]. She's the second major Japanese ship lost.

Komsomolsk falls, as does the first base in Mongolia, Petrovsky is raided by paratroopers, cutting the Trans-Siberian, and Magadan is brought down to 0 forts. It should fall tomorow.

The battered Magadan invasion fleet limps back towards Yokohama - desperately trying to shake off pursuing Soviet Subs.



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RE: Taming the Bear - Rader (J) vs. jzanes (A). A jzanes-free zone.

Post by Jones944 »

I'm glad you're posting. This is going to be a very interesting read!
"Cry 'Havoc,' and let slip the dogs of war" - William Shakespeare, "Julius Caesar"
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RE: Taming the Bear - Rader (J) vs. jzanes (A). A jzanes-free zone.

Post by rader »

May 28, 1942

Here's what the Soviet Response is so far from his moves (see map).

Essentally, I think he is very clever and is making a bid to try to break out of the pocket with all available forces. In fact, he might succeed in extricating a large part of his force. Don't you hate it when your opponent does something you don't expect?

If he abandons the Vladivostock area but escapes with his army, is that a victory or defeat? I'm not sure. It does help to significantly reduce the strategic bombing threat to Japan and straighten the lines, so at least the main long-term goal would be accomplished, but it also leaves the entire Soviet army to fight.

Anyway, he is moving north and south on the blocking force north of Khabarovsk, abandonning the city. This led to a shock attack across the river into the swamp, but it wasn't nearly as bad as I would have though (around 3000 Russian casualties to 2000 Japanese).

His bombers are very powerful, and he keeps sending 200+ of them to hit that position every turn, supported by figther sweeps. All I can do it LRCAP and bomb back. I woudl say that the Japanese have the better fighter force, but the Russians have the better bomber force.

Right now he has about 1500AV to about 800AV in that swamp, but he's bombarding and bombing every turn. I should have sent more north, and less south. Not sure how long they can hold out. Probably not until help arrives, which means that he will control the swamp North of Khabarovsk. What should I do about it? I might be able to bring in troops from the south in time, but they would shock attack across the river and arrive piecemeal.

My long term goal is just to take Birgodizodan (sp?) and then clean out the pocket, but this will likely be quite difficult. He dosen't seem to be aiming to put pressure on our forces in Western Manchuria. Rather, I think he's trying to get all reinforcements down the rail to the Kuybishevka area. This means that it's a race for Birgodizodan! Not sure who's going to win...


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RE: Taming the Bear - Rader (J) vs. jzanes (A). A jzanes-free zone.

Post by rader »

Here's the map.

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RE: Taming the Bear - Rader (J) vs. jzanes (A). A jzanes-free zone.

Post by Smeulders »

What is the quality of forces you have committed ? Are there Chinese units advancing into Russia as well ? You should be very careful if they are as you don't really have any way to bring them back up to strength once they take casualties. On the other hand, the same can be said for the Russian armoured formations. It's a bit stupid, but not only do T-34 not appear before 45, but the light AFVs are no longer built, meaning losses can't be replaced once the initial pools, (+/- 100 various AFV) are depleted.
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RE: Taming the Bear - Rader (J) vs. jzanes (A). A jzanes-free zone.

Post by rader »

The Chinese units can't go into Manchuria, but they are the units attacking Mongolia out of China, so a few divisons from China are "involved". I have about 5 divisions from the Southern army also.

Yeah, I know, he gets very few replacements other than INf squads. Once his pools are depleted, he should have serious trouble keeping squadrons and units filled. That's partly what I'm banking on... what makes you think I can't bring my units back up to strength?

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RE: Taming the Bear - Rader (J) vs. jzanes (A). A jzanes-free zone.

Post by Smeulders »

I wasn't clear enough, I am talking about the units made up off Chinese troops, so anything with IMA, Chinese or Mongolian squads. These squads have a replacement rate of "1", not enough to replace combat losses.

I do think that there are decent replacement rates for guns for the Russians, only AFV should suffer.
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RE: Taming the Bear - Rader (J) vs. jzanes (A). A jzanes-free zone.

Post by rader »

Vicious battles continue in the swamp between Khabarovsk and Birobidzan (see battle). Help is only 2-3 days away, but the first units will shock across into the Russian positions. We are both bombing the units in the hex, but he has mor and better bombers. 200+ bombers a day wears down land units fast, and causes a lot of disruption. We're praying we hold the line for just a couple turns until help arrives.

He's starting to clear the rail line in the north, wiping out 2 hexes of weak blockers.

The units coming from Komsomolsk are moving slowly. Hopefully they will arrive in time to help secure the salient.




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