Ironman 23: Not a movie

[witp1951]

March 3, 1942


China- I’ve consolidated forces at Anyang and moving them all in unison to retake Kaifeng. I intend to set up a wall of fortresses to include:
Chengting
Kaifeng
Hankow
Kiukiang
Hangchow

I’ll fortify these bases and hopefully let the Chinese beat their heads against the wall. Minor air skirmishes continue to take place here.

PI-other than some JAAF ground bombing we’re all taking a siesta here.

Burma-ditto without the bombing. Recon shows strong forces in Moulmein. I’m pulling the 33rd Division from the 15th Army to give me some more muscle for Singapore.

Pacific-building up Rabaul and Shortlands. Hoping the Massacre at Milne Bay buys me some time. Recon has substantial air forces at PM, but not much in the way of troops.

DEI- invasion supported by KB on its way to Manado. The 28th Division coming out of Manchuria to land at Tarakan with the Mini KB in support. I’ve learned to bring everything including the kitchen sink and bathtub in Ironman. I’m running about ten weeks behind the GC1 pace in the DEI.

Malaya- took Johore Bahru with the fourth attack. Bulking up for the big boy. Running a month behind GC1 in Malaya.

I always thought the coolest answer I read to an ultimatum was to Phillip II of Macedon when he said to the Spartans; "If you
don't surrender, I will destroy your lands and kill all your people." The Spartans answered "if".

Singapore says "if".

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Ground combat at Johore Bahru (50,83)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 104606 troops, 1023 guns, 638 vehicles, Assault Value = 3280

Defending force 16758 troops, 218 guns, 193 vehicles, Assault Value = 439

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 1436

Allied adjusted defense: 391

Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Johore Bahru !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1966 casualties reported
Squads: 17 destroyed, 89 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 129 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Vehicles lost 14 (1 destroyed, 13 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
3215 casualties reported
Squads: 214 destroyed, 65 disabled
Non Combat: 206 destroyed, 60 disabled
Engineers: 101 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 71 (66 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Vehicles lost 168 (168 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 14
Units destroyed 1


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
148th Infantry Regiment
21st Division
41st Infantry Regiment
4th Division
Imperial Guards Division
19th Ind. Engineer Regiment
1st Tank Regiment
14th Tank Regiment
90th Infantry Regiment
18th Division
38th Division
56th Recon Regiment
113th Infantry Regiment
5th Division
56th Engineer Regiment
2nd Division
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
56th Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
25th Army
1st RF Gun Battalion

Defending units:
2nd Argylls Battalion
6th Indian Brigade
5/2nd Punjab Battalion
3/16th Punjab Battalion
15th Indian Brigade
44th Indian Brigade
22nd Indian Brigade
28th Gurkha Brigade
12th Indian Brigade
1st HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
272/273rd Bty 80th AT Gun Regiment
112th RAF Base Force
5th Medium Regiment
4th Heavy Regiment
137/155th Field Regiment


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[PaxMondo]

That was a BIG hurt.  A bunch of completely broken units are headed back into Singers.

[witp1951]

Recon shows 39 ground units at Singapore, but no spotted troops. They must be underground. I've had three different recon units continually observing and the DL is 9. I guess I'll find out when I get there.

[Andy Mac]

Yup but look at the date the AI did ok !!!

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Andy Mac

Yup but look at the date the AI did ok !!!

Heck, better than ok.

Ok, this isn't a human player and it isn't "realistic", but it is FUN and it is challenging. witp1951 is moving much faster than me, I only get 3 or so turns/week. But still, having a lot of fun with it.

Thanks for a great mod. Very playable. Very enjoyable for those of us who can't make the time commit for a PBEM but still like to play AE as we can.

[witp1951]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

ORIGINAL: Andy Mac

Yup but look at the date the AI did ok !!!

Heck, better than ok.

Ok, this isn't a human player and it isn't "realistic", but it is FUN and it is challenging. witp1951 is moving much faster than me, I only get 3 or so turns/week. But still, having a lot of fun with it.

Thanks for a great mod. Very playable. Very enjoyable for those of us who can't make the time commit for a PBEM but still like to play AE as we can.

Ditto

The AI still has lapses in judgement, but the extra troops, planes, and forts plus the surprises (the infamous Dornier!) make up for it and keep me working. We'll see how well the AI switches over to the offensive and manages the mechanics of an invasion.

In general, the AI seems to carry out air operations very well. It mixes up the targets and keeps me guessing. Attacks usually have powerful escorts and in Ironman it has plenty of good planes with experienced pilots to choose from. Land operations can be mysterious. The AI appears to have objectives. But if it is stopped it doesn't quite know what to do with itself. It also does not garrison captured bases which frequently revert back to the Japanese once the AI vacates. We haven't had enough naval combat to make a judgement here yet, but the AI uses a lot of one ship TF which are vulnerable to subs.

[witp1951]

March 21, 1942

China- the front has stabilized. A Chinese attempt to move into Kaifeng was defeated with heavy losses.

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Ground combat at Kaifeng (89,44)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 96946 troops, 843 guns, 268 vehicles, Assault Value = 3281

Defending force 25324 troops, 193 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 694

Japanese adjusted assault: 3852

Allied adjusted defense: 334

Japanese assault odds: 11 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
3489 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 282 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 198 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 15 disabled


Allied ground losses:
11033 casualties reported
Squads: 504 destroyed, 36 disabled
Non Combat: 488 destroyed, 36 disabled
Engineers: 37 destroyed, 9 disabled
Guns lost 10 (5 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Units retreated 4


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
6th Ind.Mixed Brigade
110th Division
41st Division
36th Division
7th Ind.Mixed Brigade
15th RGC Temp. Division
101st NCPC Route Brigade
5th Armored Car Co
37th Division
3rd Ind.Mixed Brigade
32nd Division
35th Division
59th Infantry Brigade
1st NCPC Infantry Brigade
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
1st Army
11th Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
27th Chinese Corps
9th Route Army
98th Chinese Corps
8th New Chinese Corps


DEI- the 28th Division took Tarakan. I also took Manado and Ternate supported by the KB and Mini-KB. Some unescorted 2E appeared which were wiped out by the Zero CAP. No sign of the Dorniers.

Singapore-nine divisions went over the top for a 1-2 shock attack. It has taken me so long to assemble this force and get it down through Malaya that the Brits are up to level 6 forts. I took heavy casualties and failed to even reduce the fort levels. This is going to be tough.

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Ground combat at Singapore (50,84)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 124094 troops, 1280 guns, 841 vehicles, Assault Value = 3915

Defending force 62238 troops, 689 guns, 476 vehicles, Assault Value = 1853

Japanese adjusted assault: 3562

Allied adjusted defense: 3999

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 6)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
23608 casualties reported
Squads: 392 destroyed, 721 disabled
Non Combat: 364 destroyed, 681 disabled
Engineers: 37 destroyed, 151 disabled
Guns lost 45 (26 destroyed, 19 disabled)
Vehicles lost 152 (49 destroyed, 103 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
2153 casualties reported
Squads: 55 destroyed, 98 disabled
Non Combat: 71 destroyed, 275 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 14 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 113 (15 destroyed, 98 disabled)


Assaulting units:
41st Infantry Regiment
148th Infantry Regiment
4th Division
1st Tank Regiment
33rd Division
21st Division
56th Engineer Regiment
18th Division
2nd Division
38th Division
113th Infantry Regiment
Imperial Guards Division
14th Tank Regiment
19th Ind. Engineer Regiment
56th Recon Regiment
5th Division
6th Tank Regiment
5th Mortar Battalion
31st Field AA Battalion
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
25th Field AA Machinecannon Company
29th Field AA Machinecannon Company
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
16th Field AA Machinecannon Company
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
3rd Mortar Battalion
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
1st RF Gun Battalion
25th Army
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
56th Field Artillery Regiment
91st JAAF AF Bn

Defending units:
2nd Loyal Battalion
3rd Cavalry Regiment
5/2nd Punjab Battalion
5/14th Punjab Battalion
1st Manchester Battalion
11th Indian Division
Singapore Fortress
3/16th Punjab Battalion
1st Malay Brigade
2/17 Dogra Battalion
27th Australian Brigade
3rd SSVF Brigade
2nd Malay Brigade
15th Indian Brigade
22nd Indian Brigade
6th Indian Brigade
12th British Brigade
22nd Australian Brigade
SSVF Brigade
28th Gurkha Brigade
12th Indian Brigade
1st Indian Heavy AA Regiment
1st ISF Base Force
Malaya Army
Malayan Air Wing
Singapore Base Force
22nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
112th RAF Base Force
2nd HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
2nd ISF Base Force
AHQ Far East
III Indian Corps
137/155th Field Regiment
1st HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
272/273rd Bty 80th AT Gun Regiment
4th Heavy Regiment
5th Medium Regiment
5th Field Regiment


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[witp1951]

April 8, 1942

Singapore-After multiple 1:2 attacks I’ve got the fort levels down to three. The problem is the heavy casualties I’ve taken have now brought the raw AV below the 2:1 ratio and I’m no longer reducing the fort levels. I could pull in up to three more divisions if I stripped everywhere, but that could take the rest of April. The Allies still have air superiority over southern Malaya which has turned into a fighter meat grinder. My loss rate exceeds my production rate. The Allied pilot skill rate must be very high because even Buffaloes are shooting down Zeroes. At this point I’ve been strategically defeated since I’ve been unable to take the DEI.

I initially approached Ironman as I would GC1. I gave the AI the usual breaks: historical start, PDU off, limited production increases. My initial strategy was a cautious offensive. As I discovered how strong the Allies are in Ironman, I focused all efforts on Malaya and the DEI. It turned out to be too little too late. The Allies begin with higher AV and higher fort levels. Given time those fort levels increase. The Chinese Army is much stronger and quickly went on the offensive. The Allies also start with large numbers of aircraft with good pilots. Most of my bases were under constant attack by 2E and 4E. Every front was contested by the Allied fighters and I took heavy losses. My major successes were my PH strike and sub warfare. I got lucky when a KB raid ran into a huge effort in New Guinea and sent AKs and APs under the waves.

I asked my AI opponent if it was OK to restart. He did not object. Now I can approach Ironman with some foreknowledge. No breaks this time: PDU on and a non-historical start. I plan a Manila first turn attack by the KB because I need to get it quickly to Malaya to support Mersing landings. I have to get to Singapore faster and cut off some of the troops in Northern Malaya.
I don’t plan to continue this AAR, but I will update it every few months.

[witp1951]

Just an update on my second try at Ironman 23. I brought everything the IJA could muster to Singapore except the 48th Division in Luzon. I included two divisions and a regiment from Manchuria. Two shock attacks on my two day turns resulted in over 50,000 casualties to the IJA compared to 6,000 for the Allies. The IJA is a shambles with two divisions < 10 AV and several regiments at zero. The troops were well rested and prepped with the 25th, 15th, and Southern armies all 100% prepped for Singapore and on site. The Allies were at fort level 5.

[CaptBeefheart]

Sounds like Ironman may be too tough a challenge for the IJN. I wonder if anyone else has tried it. However, I imagine the Allied AI would be lousy at attacking later in the war, with piecemeal attacks that could be defeated in detail being the norm.

Cheers,
CC

[witp1951]

I'm considering one more attempt bypassing Malaya and going for Java first. The Allied AF may be too strong for Japan too pull it off.

[PaxMondo]

[font=calibri]Anyway, this is another perspective on the mod ….[/font]
I'm way behind you in my game  ... as I mentioned before I only get 2 - 3 turns / week at best.  [:@]

Anyway, it's end of Jan and here's where I'm at:

PI: Only Bataan is left and I'm bringing the BIG hammer.  I've kept the airfield damaged since about Dec 10 or so.  I beleive the forts should not be higher than 4.

Malaysia: Just taken KL.  I'm beginning to shift the air forces from PI to Malaysia to begin attacking Singers directly.  I've been bleeding off the fighters now for some time and almost have air superiority over Malay/Singers.

China: Northern attack is moving well.  Ningsia is taken and Lanchow will be assaulted shortly.
         Central attack is back and forth.  Sinyang is now secure and a large stack is being beaten up and retreated towards Chengchow.  Chengchow is targetted and ready to be assaulted.  Kaoping is currently a stalemate, but after Chengchow falls will be focused on.
         Southern attack is starting to move.  Several battles fought near Hangchow.  Moving into Chuhsien now.
DEI:    Menado just fell.  Ternate amphib just landed.  Kendari and Ambon are next.
Pacific: Some great battles.  I've pretty sure I've sunk all but one of the USN Pearl BB's and 3 CV's with hits on a 4th.  About half of the KB is in drydock for repairs now (Kaga has been there since Pearl), but the remainder is still ruler of the seas.

The economy has been nip and tuck, but I've managed to expand/convert the aircraft production and not sink my economy yet.  I've almost managed to balance the resource flow.  Supply production in the HI is now just starting to grow at about 5K/day.  I've really cranked up production to help with the attacks:
Fighters: Zero/Oscar = 180
Netties: 50
Sallys: 90
Kate/Val: 30 each

Pilots: I've lost 450 pilots and about 750 planes (891 ac pts) through Jan .  1/3 (252) of those are Zeros and another 100 FP's due to all the naval air battles.  Allied ac pts are about double.  So other than IJN fighter groups, I'm rapidly replacing outdated models in the front lines.

Overall: 
China is much tougher than stock and you really have to keep focused there.  Many of the cities have supply, so you can't count on starving them out. Also, you have to be careful about stealing any forces to help out in the SRA. 
I'm behind in the DEI, but I expect Bataan to fall by mid Feb, which will free up a lot of troops. I expect to hold Johore at that time.  Based upon the PI campaign, I know it is going to take a lot of bombing induced disruption to take Singers.  From what WitP1951 says, it might take more than I had planned, so I might have to bring the KB around as well as pull some bomber units from China.  That will cost me some there, but Singers has to fall.  I've had to use my Netties for ground attack more than I would ever wish.  Losses have been acceptable (100 total, 50% ops so pilot losses fairly low)as I have ensured air superiority before committing them.  Almost 50% of my good Sally bombers are committed to China to keep those fronts firm. 

The way the game is going, I expect to barely be able to match the historical expansion by June in the DEI/Burma theatre.  Not sure about the Pacific yet but I think I can do better as the USN is out of the way now until early '43.  They get 2 more CV's in '42, but I'll have the entire KB out of drydock by then and full airgroups to boot.

Bottom Line
Its fun and I feel challenged.  I'm not a good player, but not my problem.  I can't play PBEM due to RL, so AI has to work.  This is clearly a challenge, not like PBEM of course, but still challenging.

PS: I'll let you know the result of Singers when it happens. Based upon my game speed, that would be oct/nov. [:D]

[witp1951]

You've been more successful than I've been. I think I had some unfortunate die rolls moving into Singapore. I've made Singapore my sole focus which I think is a mistake. The PI seems close to GC1. The DEI is stronger, but can be taken with a big stick. I'm starting another attempt with a strategy more along your lines. I plan to move through Manado-Ambon -Java/Timor and roll up the DEI. Worry about Singer later.

Where did you have your carrier battle?

[Andy Mac]

good good looks like its a challenge at least

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: witp1951

You've been more successful than I've been. I think I had some unfortunate die rolls moving into Singapore. I've made Singapore my sole focus which I think is a mistake. The PI seems close to GC1. The DEI is stronger, but can be taken with a big stick. I'm starting another attempt with a strategy more along your lines. I plan to move through Manado-Ambon -Java/Timor and roll up the DEI. Worry about Singer later.

Where did you have your carrier battle?

Well, I haven't been to Singers yet and may very well get my butt handed to me as well. [:D] You're also into April, I just finished Jan. I bet in Jan you thought things were pretty rosy too! [;)]

My biggest concern is that, as opposed to Bataan, I have not been able to keep the AF disabled. So I know the fort levels will be really high. I have to hope that when I arrive I can reduce the forts on my first attack. If I can't, I'm pretty screwed. Singers has to fall or the IJ doesn't survive long ...

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Andy Mac

good good looks like its a challenge at least

It is for me. Not saying that means much. I know I'm not that good of a player. Like Nemo pointed out, I am one of a large group of players who hates to lose forces. Being risk averse makes it tough as IJ.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: witp1951

You've been more successful than I've been. I think I had some unfortunate die rolls moving into Singapore. I've made Singapore my sole focus which I think is a mistake. The PI seems close to GC1. The DEI is stronger, but can be taken with a big stick. I'm starting another attempt with a strategy more along your lines. I plan to move through Manado-Ambon -Java/Timor and roll up the DEI. Worry about Singer later.

Where did you have your carrier battle?

Two battles, both near PH. First was like about Dec 10 west of PH, and then I went back convoy raiding in the east Pacific and had another one east of PH.