The Bitter End - Topeverest (A) vs Admiral Kamikaze (E)

Post descriptions of your brilliant victories and unfortunate defeats here.

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topeverest
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RE: May 30, 1945 - counterpulse brewing in Gilberts

Post by topeverest »

Empire has had some pretty good results over the last two turns, and a surface counterpulse force has appears steaming south towards the landings in the Goliberts. Probably expensing the assets in a one-way.

Subs: Empire has taken three allied subs to the bottom over the last two days. Part of that is that I sent subs to interdict the resupply activity in the lower Marshalls, and there went 2. In any event, I view subs as double use assets. After two uses, they are either sunk or sent to a yard. I have enough to get to the Philippines, and that is what matters.

Port Moresby: Turns out he has three entire divisions at PM. I did a deliberate attack and was badly treated. See for yourself. I still obviously haven't stripped all the supply there.


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Ground combat at Port Moresby (98,130)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 21965 troops, 333 guns, 482 vehicles, Assault Value = 677

Defending force 26941 troops, 200 guns, 20 vehicles, Assault Value = 813

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 6

Allied adjusted assault: 164

Japanese adjusted defense: 1745

Allied assault odds: 1 to 10 (fort level 6)

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

Japanese ground losses:
553 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 18 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 28 disabled
Guns lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
2640 casualties reported
Squads: 56 destroyed, 117 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 41 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 110 disabled
Guns lost 36 (1 destroyed, 35 disabled)
Vehicles lost 22 (1 destroyed, 21 disabled)

Assaulting units:
15th NZ Brigade
58th (Sep) Infantry Regiment
102nd Combat Engineer Regiment
XI Corps Combat Engineer Regiment
93rd Infantry Division
158th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
131st Combat Engineer Regiment
1st/102nd Infantry Battalion
VII US Amphib Force
8th RAN Base Force

Defending units:
1st Ind. Engineer Regiment
45th Ind.Mixed Brigade
291st Division
22nd Division
54th Ind.Mixed Brigade
2nd Glider Inf. Regiment
1st Glider Inf. Regiment
6th South Seas Det.
25th Air Flotilla
163rd JAAF AF Bn
218th Naval Construction Battalion
175th JAAF AF Bn

Adamans: units will be in place within a few more days for the push to Little Adaman. Will start the air bombard soon.

Gilberts: Beru, Onotoa, Kuria, and Arorae are in allied hands, and invasions today on Nonouti and Nikunau. Both islands are very lightly held and should be in allied hands next turn - unless the empire counterpulse succeeds! Note I diverted the troops that were to occupy Kuria and sent them to take Nikunau. I have three more invasion TF on the way and will use on of those for the occupation.

All eyes look to the potential counterpulse!
Andy M
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topeverest
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RE: May 30, 1945 - Gilberts

Post by topeverest »

here is a picture of the battle zone.



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RE: August 7, 1945

Post by topeverest »

Been gone too long. Our game has marched on, but due to real world constraints with job kids and life, I have been unable to keep up with the AAR. I am going to reinitiate at this point

THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING

In all seriousness, there aren't too many of these AAR's so I thought it would be good cannon fodder.

Ruskies actually activated August 1, but I failed to recognize it until this turn, as I was thinking that the entry would be historical on 9 August. Can you tell my prior stock games never lasted this long. It took the empire on steroids to get this far. but more on that later. First an update on the last nine game weeks and where the war is at present.
Andy M
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topeverest
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RE: August 7, 1945

Post by topeverest »

First a shout out to my esteemed friend and opponent - Admiral Kamikaze. It takes a rare breed to play this game to the end when the end is a near certainty except for the date. Our custom scenario wont end until the end of 46 and no atomic bombs, so we still could be at it a while.

As a reminder, we are ending the game after the allies have successfully invaded one of the main Japanese islands and the allies have 2 to 1.
Andy M
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topeverest
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RE: August 7, 1945 - World map

Post by topeverest »

Here is the world map. Combat since the last update has focused in the Marshalls, Gilberts, and to get on and conquer Sumatra. more on each

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RE: August 7, 1945 - Gilberts

Post by topeverest »

The gilberts evolved into a long slog with airpower used to strip several garrisons of supply before invading them. Tabituea invasion just occurred. The reduction took 2 months by air and naval bombardment before the invasion could occur.

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Ground combat at Tabiteuea (137,134)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 23782 troops, 378 guns, 777 vehicles, Assault Value = 871

Defending force 17277 troops, 233 guns, 20 vehicles, Assault Value = 272

Allied adjusted assault: 178

Japanese adjusted defense: 12

Allied assault odds: 14 to 1 (fort level 6)

Allied forces CAPTURE Tabiteuea !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
3660 casualties reported
Squads: 32 destroyed, 163 disabled
Non Combat: 17 destroyed, 36 disabled
Engineers: 126 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 85 (83 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 11 (11 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
516 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 55 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 17 disabled

Assaulting units:
31st Infantry Division
27th Infantry Division
6th Armoured Div /4
XIV Corps Combat Engr Rgt /1
5th Armoured Div /32
41st Infantry Div /2

Defending units:
24th Division
59th Ind.Mixed Brigade
158th JAAF AF Bn
104th AA Regiment
Jolo Engineer Regiment
4th Machine Cannon AA Battalion
36th Base Force
3rd Rocket Gun Battalion
13th Base Force
51st Air Flotilla
3rd Ind. AA Battalion
53rd Ind.Mixed Brigade
201st JAAF AF Bn


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RE: August 7, 1945 - Marshalls

Post by topeverest »

heavy fighting an numerous small invasions have occurred in this area. main invasions were Ponope, Eniwitok, Wake, Wotje, Malope. Intention is take a couple more bases, highlighted in purple and leave the remaining isolated and move on to the Philippines or Marhalls.

Aside - Very heavy fighting on several islands

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RE: August 7, 1945 - Banda Sea

Post by topeverest »

Allies have been in active amphibious operations here for about 45 days, since Sorong fell, which by the way was about as difficult as Malta.

Objective in the area is to cut off empire access to Makassar straight and Celebes sea as soon as possible, Empire has lost all Sumatra booty, and Java is threatened

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RE: August 7, 1945 - Sumatra

Post by topeverest »

British / Allied minors fought an island war in the Adaman Sea, eventually pushing onto Sumatra in late June. Since that time, the British and Oz force has mostly conquered the island.

Future plans undecided. either Java or west coast of Borneo.

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RE: August 7, 1945 - Soviet OOB and plan

Post by topeverest »

Not surprising but there are -
- 70 infantry divisions
- 4 tank and mech corps
- 15 infantry brigades
- 27 tank brigades
- 3 airborne units
- 21 other combat motorized units (SP etc.)
- 7 combat engineers

---------------------------------------------------

Soviet forces are set up for a historical pincer attack from Borzya in the west and Vladivostok in the east. There really isn't much chance for the empire, especially since he had free reign to pull the garrison throughout the game. I expect most of it is in and around the Philippines.


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RE: August 7, 1945 - Soviet Initial tactics

Post by topeverest »

As to tactics, the entire eastern force is marching on Mishan (114.42). that will be somewhat slow in developing as I lost 7 days movement. There are 14 enemy units in the hex, so I expect that will be somewhat of a battle. If it proves an unwarranted attack, I will hold up attacking until the western force breaks free.

As for the attack from Borzya. The enemy has one unit projecting each road. 106.28 will be the first point of contact, and it wont be a terribly difficult battle. from there the race is on. will take about 5 days or so to get forces there.
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RE: August 7, 1945 - Sakhalin Island campaign

Post by topeverest »

There are a half dozen or effective divisions on or near the island. It will take up to 30 days to push all the troops needed to move forward and advance. There are ample transport types at the three nearby ports, but I will need to allocate fighters to protect the force.

At present, I don't see any empire airpower allocated to Sakhalin.
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RE: August 7, 1945 - Soviet Fleet and Airforce

Post by topeverest »

The soviets are chronically short of aviation support, so the bulk of the airpower will be lightly used. Additionally, there are very few planes that can threaten the empire. The main use of the airforce will be CAP and ground support. I wont bother even trying air supremecy out more than 5 hexes.

I do have enough torpedo bombers that I trained to harass any naval excursion by the empire, and I have stacked Vlad with 6 AA units to protect the fleet. I will leave a few DD's in the hex to thwart midgets, though I expect that soon. With a couple hundred fighters at Vlad, I think the surface force is relatively safe. that said, it is a mere 2 CA and 8 DD. not going to be doing much with that.

I do have several dozen short range subs that I will use to further isolate Korea, Kurils / Sakhalin, and potentially east China sea
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RE: August 8, 1945

Post by topeverest »

I thought Palembang might fall this past turn, but alas. Looks like I will get Majuro next turn. Lots of unloading on Sumatra for future battles. Soviets are moving to stepoff, but no action yet.

SUBS: 2 sub attacks today 2 tankers sunk, a coastal and large body

GROUND ACTIONS
Damar - allies take base after several turns reducing base
Padang - allied bombardment
Palembang - 8 to one attack only reduces fort from 8 to 7. ARRGHH
Majuro - air attacks finally take effect, killing several thousand troops. Will try to assault the base this turn to take it

NAVAL BOMBARDMENT
Tarwara x2 two separate BB's from Tabiteauea

AIR ATTACKS
Tarawa - 21 separate airfield attacks
Ambon - 17 airfield attacks
Majuro - 5 port attacks and 1 ground support (CV's)
Damar - 2 ground support
Kusaie Island - 28 Airfield attacks including 4E
Dili 6 ground attacks
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RE: August 8, 1945 - Subs

Post by topeverest »

Been a while since I had so much success in subs. In fact, it has averaged about 2 ships holed for each sub desttoyed

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RE: August 8, 1945 - Majuro

Post by topeverest »

I am not taking any chances at Majuro. My forces invaded without orders a few turns back - and before I had sufficiently disrupted the base. I have been putting lots a bombs on it to save the invasion. It now looks like I will in fact take it rather than eating terds.

That was way too close. I committed 70% of my CV air to soften her up.

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RE: August 8, 1945 - Palembang - what happened here?

Post by topeverest »

I don't really understand this outcome - help me out here. Fort was level 8, as I reduced it to 8 last turn. Why wouldn't I have gotten two fort reductions?


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Ground combat at Palembang (48,91)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 34856 troops, 438 guns, 1258 vehicles, Assault Value = 1388

Defending force 5099 troops, 27 guns, 11 vehicles, Assault Value = 32

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 7

Allied adjusted assault: 728

Japanese adjusted defense: 208

Allied assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 7)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 7

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

Japanese ground losses:
459 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 47 disabled
Engineers: 11 destroyed, 32 disabled
Guns lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
81 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled

Assaulting units:
XXXIII Corps Engineer Battalion
17th Motorised Division
14th Army Engineer Battalion
1st Australian Division
XXXIV Corps Engineer Battalion
31st Armoured Division
32nd Army Tank Brigade
2nd Indian Medium Regiment

Defending units:
28th Air Flotilla
111th Naval Construction Battalion
55th Const Engineer Regiment
9th Base Force


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RE: August 8, 1945 - Palembang - what happened here?

Post by jwolf »

Is it possible his fort went back up from 8 to 9 at the end of the last turn? I had the same thing happen (though at much lower level and in my favor) in my game recently.
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RE: August 8, 1945 - Palembang - what happened here?

Post by BBfanboy »

I don't understand how you could expect two levels of fort reductions at the 8 and 7 levels. Those are pretty tough forts!
For starters, your combat engineers will be pretty fatigued from the first fort level drop, so getting a double level drop would be pretty amazing (to me, at least.)

I think it highly unlikely the forts were built up to L9 in one turn - you would have to load up every engineer in the game to achieve that kind of construction, and concrete takes more than a day to harden!

Have you ever achieved two levels of reduction on high level forts before? I have never seen it in my own games or other AARs, that I recall.
No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth
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RE: August 8, 1945 - Palembang - what happened here?

Post by Sangeli »

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

I don't understand how you could expect two levels of fort reductions at the 8 and 7 levels. Those are pretty tough forts!
For starters, your combat engineers will be pretty fatigued from the first fort level drop, so getting a double level drop would be pretty amazing (to me, at least.)

I think it highly unlikely the forts were built up to L9 in one turn - you would have to load up every engineer in the game to achieve that kind of construction, and concrete takes more than a day to harden!

Have you ever achieved two levels of reduction on high level forts before? I have never seen it in my own games or other AARs, that I recall.
I think you can only get two levels of fort reduction by chance. Alternatively you could have gotten 0 levels of fort reduction. It is a dice roll after all.
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