Defending Burma (vs AI)

Matrix Games Forums

Command Rommels Panzers in Battle Academy!

Servers Update

The Deal goes Fourth!

Command Ops gets a Massive Update!

Lost Battles AAR: Smolensk 41

War in the East: Lost Battles is here!

Conflict of Heroes: Awakening the Bear! Let's Play video

Lost Battles Scenario Manual excerpts available!

A sneak peek from Allied Corps!

Harpoon 3 ANWs Free Ultimate Update!

Forums Register Login Photo Gallery Member List Search Calendars FAQ

My Profile Inbox Address Book My Subscription My Forums Log Out

Defending Burma (vs AI)

View related threads: (in this forum | in all forums)

Logged in as: Guest

Users viewing this topic: none

Printable Version

All Forums >> [New Releases from Matrix Games] >> War in the Pacific: Admiral's Edition >> Defending Burma (vs AI)

Page: [1]

Message

<< Older Topic Newer Topic >>

Defending Burma (vs AI) - 5/17/2012 3:25:58 AM

Justus2

Posts: 251
Joined: 11/12/2011
Status: offline

I have a two-part question, regarding defending Burma vs. the AI. I am almost at an important milestone (for me, I keep restarting LOL), 1 JAN 42, in my latest attempt at a GC vs AI (Scen 1). My initial plan was to develop a strong defense of Burma, in order to keep my supplies flowing to China. But I have also read in several threads, that the AI will get frustrated if it can't get certain areas, and will continue to beat it's head against the door, eventually becoming broken in the process. So is that the case with Burma? I haven't played far enough in to know if I am on the right track, so I am looking for feedback.

Here's what I have done so far:

1. I reunited the 1st Burma Div at Pegu, now up to 302 AV, 2 forts (+44%), and 3K supplies.
2. I rebuilt the 17th Indian Div at Rangoon (with Ghurka Bde and one that I railed over from Karachi and shipped from Calcutta), total in Rangoon of 383 AV, 3 forts, 25K supplies. Also have 2 AVG Squadrons, and a Buffalo squadron in Pegu.
3. I evac'd a couple BFs and some infantry BNs (air trans and using xAKs) from the coast to Port Blair, which is at 77AV, 2 forts, 6K supplies.
4. I have seperate Bns along the Burma Road, and starting to fortify Mandalay (97AV, 1 fort, 4k supply).
5. I have moved the AVG ground element and a Chinese div to Lashio, (56AV), with several more (150AV) on the way.

What I would like to do is hold the Burma road open as best I can, anchoring it on Rangoon and Lashio. I know the IJA will probably be able to cut it, but if I can hold the two ends, I can hopefully use some manuever to reopen it from time to time, tie up IJA forces, and attrit them until I am able to re-establish in Burma. Thats one reason I want to hold Port Blair, as a nav search base and to protect SLOC into Rangoon. Or alternatively, if I do lose Rangoon, it is a good base to harass IJN resupply efforts. But since I have never gotten too far into the GC, I don't know if that is realistic. And if it is, how will that affect the AI? They have moved slowly thus far over here, taking Tavoy but not much further. I have had constant air raids alternating over P Blair, Rangoon, and Pegu. The AVG has kept them from shutting me down, but I do lose a few xAKs here and there. But if the AI focuses on air superiority, I am afraid they could make it hard to keep supplies flowing.

Is this feasible? Is it advisable against the AI? Do I need more forces? I still have the 18 UK in reserve (landed at Colombo til I decide my next step), and one of the independent Indian bdes (other two went to Coco and Garcia). I haven't seen any IJN activity in Indian Ocean, but don't expect that until Singapore falls (I don't expect them to hold long, IJA is 2 hexes north, I pulled the Aussie Bdes out to Darwin, so only about 850 AV remaining). Cant do much more in the air, first Hurricane sqdrn is on the way from Cape Town.

Anyway, I'd appreciate any thoughts/suggestions!!

_____________________________

Currently Playing:
War in the Pacific: Admiral's Edition (learning, not really playing ;) )
LST 325 Fanboy!

Post #: 1

RE: Defending Burma (vs AI) - 5/17/2012 6:51:11 AM

Puhis

Posts: 1627
Joined: 11/30/2008
From: Finland
Status: offline

I don't think you should defend Burma vs. AI. If japanese AI fails to take Burma, it'll probably break the AI.

(in reply to Justus2)

Post #: 2

RE: Defending Burma (vs AI) - 5/17/2012 7:10:47 AM

jmalter

Posts: 986
Joined: 10/12/2010
Status: offline

hi Justus2, i'm playing a GC vs. the AI, using DBB_B.

1, you were wise to evac the Oz Bdes from Singapore. still, it's important to hang on to Singers as long as possible - once it's lost, all the IJ LCU will come after you in Burma. try to keep fighters flying out of Singapore, & try to evac unneeded Brit BFs. be a bit gamey, and populate your bases w/ cheesy 1-ship TFs of MLs or HDMLs to soak up IJN attacks against your base-hexes.

2, Pegu is a good place to stand, so turtle into there & build forts. it suffers a bit 'cos it's undeveloped & can't hold much supply, also troops there fatigue quickly (malarial zone effect?) but can recover in Rangoon. defend the clear-terrain hex NE of Pegu, the AI will try to slip in there & break the BurmaRoad. you'll have a few small photo-recon sqns available, they can give you AEW notice of IJ LCUs approaching your defenses.

3, the AVG boys are key to the air-defense of Burma. micro-manage them to keep their morale high & fatigue low. they withdraw in July '42, by this time you'll have RAF fighters.

4, you'll slowly accrue RAF elements (Hurricane trop fighters and Blenheim bombers) arriving in Aden, use high-speed AirTransportTFs to bring them to Bombay from Aden, then railroad them to Calcutta. the Blenheims will be effective against the IJ LCU in the Pegu hex, also you must suppress the IJ airbase in Moulmein. use a Chittagong airbase initially, expand into Akyab.

5, use small AmphTFs to bring supply from Calcutta to Rangoon & Akyab. expect to lose AKLs to IJ air-attack, but you've got lots of AKLs. IJN will send an occaisional SurfTF into the Bay of Bengal, but you'll have some Catalina groups, and some Vildebeest TBs.

6, scour India for any unit of value - don't neglect the garrison req'ments, but strat-move everything else to Calcutta or Chittagong. you are under the gun here, you've got to have units in place in Burma before Singapore falls.

7, of course you won't neglect to send an Engr/AirBF to Ledo, & build up its airfield. you won't have enough C-47s until June '42, but it'll help if you start preparing the air-bridge now.

8, keep an eye on the intel reports screen (ctrl-I), tag the 'ground units destroyed' button. you'll want to spend PP to buy back any RAF or RN BFs. they'll re-appear in Aden w/ minimal components, but there'll be enough devices in the pools to reconstitute them quickly, once you set them to 'replacements allowed'. don't be in a hurry to buy back land-combat units, or expensive air-groups, but you'll need the BF-type LCUs as soon as possible.

9, heh, i'm long-winded here, but you asked for it!

hth

(in reply to Justus2)

Post #: 3

RE: Defending Burma (vs AI) - 5/17/2012 9:35:50 AM

David The Great

Posts: 86
Joined: 10/3/2008
Status: online

7, of course you won't neglect to send an Engr/AirBF to Ledo, & build up its airfield. you won't have enough C-47s until June '42, but it'll help if you start preparing the air-bridge now.

You can use bombers, even chinese ones to lift supply.

(in reply to jmalter)

Post #: 4

RE: Defending Burma (vs AI) - 5/17/2012 11:43:05 AM

HansBolter

Posts: 3148
Joined: 7/6/2006
From: St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Puhis

I don't think you should defend Burma vs. AI. If japanese AI fails to take Burma, it'll probably break the AI.

Agreed. I have done it several times in the Iron Man scenario. It's simple. Put the AVG in Rangoon. Evac III Indian Corps from Singapore. Ship it to Rangoon via Oosthaven and Colombo and park it in Pegu. The AI will move a 2500AV stack into Pegu and bog down unable to take the base. Spend the next few weeks surrounding Pegu and cutting off the IJ army. Starve and bomb it to death for the next few months and by April or May the Britich army is on it's way to overrunning southeast Asia.

Breaking the AI in Burma is a good way not to make it to '43 as the game goes down the drain.

_____________________________

Hans

(in reply to Puhis)

Post #: 5

RE: Defending Burma (vs AI) - 5/17/2012 1:47:30 PM

cavalry

Posts: 1727
Joined: 9/2/2003
From: Blackboys East Sussex UK
Status: offline

Why so much commitment to defeating the AI:)

(in reply to HansBolter)

Post #: 6

RE: Defending Burma (vs AI) - 5/18/2012 2:44:54 AM

Justus2

Posts: 251
Joined: 11/12/2011
Status: offline

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone. Sounds like I am on the right track in terms of my defenses :) but will only succeed in derailing the AI if successful :(

What is a good like to 'give' to the AI? Should I pull back to Mandalay, or am I better off just ceding all of Burma proper, and start building my MLR along Chittagong-Impahl-Ledo? Is it still worthwhile trying to retain Port Blair?

_____________________________

Currently Playing:
War in the Pacific: Admiral's Edition (learning, not really playing ;) )
LST 325 Fanboy!

(in reply to cavalry)

Post #: 7

RE: Defending Burma (vs AI) - 5/18/2012 3:22:15 AM

Bullwinkle58

Posts: 6162
Joined: 2/24/2009
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Justus2

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone. Sounds like I am on the right track in terms of my defenses :) but will only succeed in derailing the AI if successful :(

What is a good like to 'give' to the AI? Should I pull back to Mandalay, or am I better off just ceding all of Burma proper, and start building my MLR along Chittagong-Impahl-Ledo? Is it still worthwhile trying to retain Port Blair?

I've played Port Blair both ways in both a Scen 1 and a Scen 2 and the AI dealt with it fine. I've always pulled back to Imphal in both cases and all was well. Even then the AI will make a maximum air effort in Burma. I routinely had airbase attacks with 100 bombers and 150 fighters to my 8-10 Spitfires.

_____________________________

The Moose

(in reply to Justus2)

Post #: 8