Matrix Games

quote:

CA Louisville, Bomb hits 2, on fire
AVD Ballard
xAKL Absaroka, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP President Coolidge, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
TK Eidsvold, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk
AMc Condor
AG Regulus, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
AS Pelias, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAKL Honomu, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Mexican, Bomb hits 5, and is sunk
AMc Crossbill, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAKL Vincent, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
CA Pensacola, Bomb hits 1

quote:

Ground combat at 50,82 (near Johore Bahru)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 5020 troops, 32 guns, 7 vehicles, Assault Value = 159

Defending force 10109 troops, 90 guns, 197 vehicles, Assault Value = 381

Allied adjusted assault: 1

Japanese adjusted defense: 1007

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1007

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

Japanese ground losses:
93 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Allied ground losses:
2365 casualties reported
Squads: 101 destroyed, 23 disabled
Non Combat: 37 destroyed, 48 disabled
Engineers: 11 destroyed, 13 disabled
Guns lost 14 (5 destroyed, 9 disabled)
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

quote:

Ground combat at Manila (79,77)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 13461 troops, 281 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 581

Defending force 12846 troops, 117 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 402

Allied adjusted assault: 1529

Japanese adjusted defense: 671

Allied assault odds: 2 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
2895 casualties reported
Squads: 76 destroyed, 56 disabled
Non Combat: 69 destroyed, 39 disabled
Engineers: 13 destroyed, 13 disabled
Guns lost 19 (10 destroyed, 9 disabled)
Vehicles lost 10 (5 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Units retreated 6


Allied ground losses:
3078 casualties reported
Squads: 194 destroyed, 113 disabled
Non Combat: 16 destroyed, 63 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 54 (28 destroyed, 26 disabled)


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
91st PA Infantry Division
41st PA Infantry Division
3rd/12th PA Inf Battalion
51st PA Infantry Division
71st PA Infantry Division
21st PA Infantry Division
1st PA Infantry Division
USAFFE
Manila USAAF Base Force
II Philippine Corps

Defending units:
20th Infantry Regiment
16th Recon Regiment
9th Infantry Regiment
16th Engineer Regiment
Yokosuka 3rd SNLF
31st Special Base Force

quote:

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

Since you're picking up from Tojo, and you have no idea of his ability ....
1. Check your resource balance to the HI. By end of JAN you need to be well on your way to being balanced. Get those convoys setup/confirmed.
2. Check your overall supply situation. Someone who has 20 R&D on the Frank may not have watched supply too carefully. Be sure you have enough moving to you offensive prep points and for oil center repair. Miri alone needs 150K supply minimum.
3. Check you engines. Tojo might have gone on a building spree of aircraft, but forgot to balance his engine production ....

good luck!!

quote:

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

Refineries: There is not universal agreement on this, but I rarely repair refineries. Oil centers always are repaired as fast as possible to max as long as I can keep them out of 4E range. Once they are in 4E range, I no longer repair them.

Sally: I don't consider useless. It is the best IJA bomber until Helen II arrives. I would build them.

Resources: I thought it might be a fiasco. Focus on that until you get it turned around. 18 days is REALLY tight. I would watch carefully each turn. You need to expand Hakodate port to be able to ship enough, and Ominato expand to be able to offload enough. Ditto Sakalhin.

quote:

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

First Helen is 1 hex shorter range than the Sally. MAD add only 5% to sub detection, I've never been able to prove if that is noticeable or not. It seems that pilot skill and random chance drown this out. Again, no concensus on this. Me?, I don't build the Helen Ia, I R&D until the Helen IIa with armor and I will build the Sally until then. Ergo, for my entire expansion phase the Sally is my IJA bomber.

On your resources, be sure that you can meet the daily requirement ... I generally have to expand a few ports to meet the daily resource flow.

quote:

Interceptor (CAP) - Tojo (stopping at IIb?), then Frank. Maybe the turbojet fighter later.

quote:

Escort - Oscar for far-flung bases, otherwise Tojo with drop tanks

quote:

For Recon, I don't think I'll bother with the Dinah-III until I'm out of Ha-31 in the pools. When 1/43 nears, I'll look again. The -III uses the Ha-33, which I need in numbers for Jakes, Judys, Nells, and Mavises. For the IJN Recon, I'll produce the Irving when it's ready and the am undecided on the Myrt (it has radar...)

quote:

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

Refineries: There is not universal agreement on this, but I rarely repair refineries. Oil centers always are repaired as fast as possible to max as long as I can keep them out of 4E range. Once they are in 4E range, I no longer repair them.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

quote:

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

Refineries: There is not universal agreement on this, but I rarely repair refineries. Oil centers always are repaired as fast as possible to max as long as I can keep them out of 4E range. Once they are in 4E range, I no longer repair them.

I repair refineries that as necessary to rationalize a balanced oil/fuel cargo from producing hexes. This is mitigated by the rationale about where those refineries are located. I'll not repair refineries that are unlikely to stay away from 4EB, but I will for those more centrally located (e.g., Miri). The supply produced and the handiness of the fuel (instead of slow-loading oil) can be very beneficial. I'll typically repair refineries on Palembang and Java too. Refineries in Burma, China and the rest of the DEI (e.g., Balikpapan) are more arguable.

Agree with Pax about oil centers. With the exception of Magwe, these are repaired ASAP.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

Thanks obvert. By "bother", I meant switching engine production up as the Ha-31 will only be used for the Dinah II at that point. The III is clearly a far superior plane. I just want to avoid needing to build up the Ha-31 to support using the early Dinahs in addition to the other airframes, and then drastically reduce the need for Ha-31s while not eliminating it (I'm at work, but IIRC the Jake uses it). I'm not sure I'll have 2 factories for the Ha-31, but I suppose at worst I can cycle the factory on/off later if I'm overbuilding the engines. I do plan to begin training ASW for TB/FP and IJAAF 2E units immediately, and I want to get started on resizing extra float plane units as soon as possible.

quote:



I hadn't taken the "put low XP pilots in escort units" line of thought to its logical conclusion, which is basically your process. I like it. Do you produce the Oscar in numbers throughout the war?

quote:


I would like to have more of a traditional focus in this game than I have in my AI runs (where I pushed hard into China, and hard on Australia, rather than doing anything in CentPac), at least partially because I will need to pay attention in the north against a human. Midway would substantially reduce sub patrol cycle times but, as you say, it would be free target and amphibious practice. Since I'm taking this over and 1.5 months of turns have already been played, figuring out my long term plan is somewhat of a different experience than I'm used to (but a welcome one, it's fun).

Thanks for all the comments. I have no doubt that, being my first campaign game against a human, it will be full of things I wish I'd done differently. Advice from people who've either made the mistakes I'm about to make or avoided them is always helpful. Gotta do it to learn, though .

quote:

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

Wall of text incoming.
January 23, 1942 - Current situation report:

Global: Industry & Captured Territory
--1055 PPs in the bank. Not too shabby. I plan to use these to buy out the 53rd Division ASAP.
--Wake Island, Port Moresby, Rabaul, Balikpapan, and the northern coast of Borneo are all in IJ hands.
--Vehicle factories are at only 72, and the LCU production curve is below trend needs. I will bump up production to about 110-115 over the next couple of weeks and see where that gets me.
--Lots of naval reserves at Hiroshima, including 4 BBs, 5 CAs, 5 CLs, 40 DDs, and 8 submarines. 10 TKs and 40 xAKs. Also, 16 subs plus midgets at Kwajalein. Lots of unallocated assets here.
--20 R&D factories already working for the Ki-84: wow!
--Unfortunately, not much else looks changed with aircraft R&D other than a small focus on the B6N1 and D4Y1, which are both good things, but nothing has been put towards the Tojo or Zero models yet.

quote:


China
In general, my plan for China is to move on Nanyang and Sian in an attempt to encircle the troops at Loyang/Chengchow. I then hope to push on to Lanchow and eventually enter the central valley from both north and south. This is ambitious; I will undoubtedly have to revisit and tweak this plan many times. For the south of China, I am to open up the Magic Coast Road by taking Nanning, Liuchow, and Kweilin after I take Kukong. From there, I may try to sneak some units up the dirt road from Naning towards Kunming's/Kweiyang's back door. Overall, this theater needs a lot more supply. Convoys will be organized shortly.

quote:


Burma
I'm almost clueless here.

quote:

I am hoping that I can just lock away the PA resistance in Clark/Bataan for a while, while I deal with Malaya and Sumatra - maybe even Java. I don't need Manila until later.

quote:


Jolo is in IJA hands. Davao and Batangas on Mindanao are also Japanese. I think more AV is probably needed here to complete the conquest of Mindanao, as only a couple hundred is present.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

quote:

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

Wall of text incoming.
January 23, 1942 - Current situation report:

Global: Industry & Captured Territory
--1055 PPs in the bank. Not too shabby. I plan to use these to buy out the 53rd Division ASAP.
--Wake Island, Port Moresby, Rabaul, Balikpapan, and the northern coast of Borneo are all in IJ hands.
--Vehicle factories are at only 72, and the LCU production curve is below trend needs. I will bump up production to about 110-115 over the next couple of weeks and see where that gets me.
--Lots of naval reserves at Hiroshima, including 4 BBs, 5 CAs, 5 CLs, 40 DDs, and 8 submarines. 10 TKs and 40 xAKs. Also, 16 subs plus midgets at Kwajalein. Lots of unallocated assets here.
--20 R&D factories already working for the Ki-84: wow!
--Unfortunately, not much else looks changed with aircraft R&D other than a small focus on the B6N1 and D4Y1, which are both good things, but nothing has been put towards the Tojo or Zero models yet.

You're right. That's not too abysmal for January 1942. R&D looks borked, but that's OK so early in the war.

The naval reserves in Hiroshima aren't doing you much good there. Were you going to...you know...USE them in the war? If so, pre-position them as naval reserves where they'll do you some good. Truk and Singapore make intuitive choices for forward reserve basing.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy
Restructure your R&D program for the Ki-84. I wouldn't go with more than 6 factories for the Ki-84a. Don't forget the independent research tree for the Ki-84b! So you'll have to have another 6 factories for that as well.

Tojo II production / research is a no-brainer. Quickly put at least 6 factories (@ 30) for the Ki-44IIa. As soon as these are repaired, transition them to the IIb and then (the next turn) to the IIc. When the IIa comes on line as a production model, you can change some of the other production factories over to the IIa and allow the IIc research to plow forward. Don't forget the Ha-35 engine pool too. If you get that over 500 (and keep it that way), you'll double your R&D on this very important airframe.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy
G4M R&D is superfluous. Forget about it. Change that to the Peggy (T) if you're looking for a mid-late war bomber to research. H8K R&D is superfluous. Stick with the production date.

D4Y3, A6M5b, A7M, B6N2, N1K2 and the aforementioned Ki-84 research has a priority. J2M3/5 and Tony research is +/-. Align your research on their predecessors so that you can take advantage of the damage-free 'switchover' for your factories.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy
I keep the Oscar production (and research) at a moderate clip for airframe replacement, limited "ablative armor" escort function and future Kamikaze airframe 'banking'. The IIa and IIb pools will number in the hundreds by the time I get Kamikazes. The Oscar research tree is a pretty straight shot to the top, so it's another excellent candidate to pull forward Oscar IV production as soon as possible. It also benefits from a >500 pool of Ha-35 engines too, which is nice.

I'm researching the Shinden too, but I'm not sure that's the right thing to do.

Don't forget engine R&D! Engine acceleration and numbers built become very important for mid-late war fighters. Get these built up to take advantage of the different system for engine R&D factory repair and airframe R&D factory repair!

quote:

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

quote:


China
In general, my plan for China is to move on Nanyang and Sian in an attempt to encircle the troops at Loyang/Chengchow. I then hope to push on to Lanchow and eventually enter the central valley from both north and south. This is ambitious; I will undoubtedly have to revisit and tweak this plan many times. For the south of China, I am to open up the Magic Coast Road by taking Nanning, Liuchow, and Kweilin after I take Kukong. From there, I may try to sneak some units up the dirt road from Naning towards Kunming's/Kweiyang's back door. Overall, this theater needs a lot more supply. Convoys will be organized shortly.

Sound initial strategy.

Chinese forward deployment at Nanyang, Loyang and Chengchow should be seen as an opportunity for you to envelope and liquidate these units in situ. I'd rather kill them on the central plains than have them retreat into the wooded (and more defensible) hexes in front of Sian.

Don't be afraid to liquidate his troops where they stand. These VPs can be a useful bank for you moving forward and forestall or downgrade Allied victory conditions. Yes, they respawn at Chungking after some months, but they'll suck up supply and surprisingly scarce Chinese infantry squads before they can be a real threat.

Your overarching goals in China are to: 1. Kill Chinese infantry squads at a steady rate and 2. Cut off Chungking from resupply efforts. Clearing the Chinese from open terrain, rail hexes or nice strategic goals (Sian and the Northern oil-rich cities spring to mind) are nice secondary considerations.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

quote:


Burma
I'm almost clueless here.

Push out the Allied dogs as best you're able. Burmese infantry and their commonwealth overlords are the worst infantry in the game. They S U C K. Good for you! Kill 'em all!

Try to push some engineers and infantry to Ramree island and build forts / airfield. Same with Akyab. This can forestall an Allied push into this theatre. I'm assuming that you guys have no house rules pertaining to the monsoon? If not, don't wait for your opponent to take advantage of the borked supply movement in this theatre.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy
SWPAC: You didn't mention New Caledonia. Who has that? What are your plans for Noumea?

quote:

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

Jolo is overrated in AE. I remember in WiTP it was a freakin' awesome base, but with limited Nettie torpedoes in this game, there are better choices for scant AV support. After capture, other than building defenses, you can better use your combat units elsewhere in the DEI.

My opinion re: Mindanao is similar to Luzon. You've got the bases you *need* for now. Keep them, build them and start to put a steady pressure on the Allied forces remaining on the island. Bang on 'em every freakin' turn with IJAAF bombers-airfield attacks to score supply hits and prevent defensive building alternating with ground attack to disrupt / damage units. After a few months of this, they'll fall over when you come a 'knockin' with your real forces.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

Restructure your R&D program for the Ki-84. I wouldn't go with more than 6 factories for the Ki-84a. Don't forget the independent research tree for the Ki-84b! So you'll have to have another 6 factories for that as well.

quote:

I'll also have to take another look at the Tojo IIc - I must have missed something when comparing it to the IIb. I'm not familiar with how quickly the IIa R&D factories will repair, so I won't expand them to 30 right away as I don't want to get boned and have them not fully repaired when it arrives. I should be able to get close to 30, however... So you skip the IIb entirely by fully repairing the IIa factories, then upgrading to IIb, and the next turn upgrading those same factories to IIc? Interesting. I could do that with any production chain, couldn't it? Thinking Judy (Y1, next turn Y2, next turn Y3), Zero (up to M5c if not M8), Jill (N2a only has radar over N2 right?), and Oscar as well... Seems a bit gamey if it works that way, but only a bit as their arrival dates are farther away so by not focusing on accelerating the next model until it's a month out before upgrading the R&D factory, I'm delaying the replacement of crappy planes like Vals.

I'll keep the 2 Oscar factories online, I suppose. And I'll look at getting 2-3 factories researching its upgrades. Probably 2 (of the 8 extra Frank factories, 6 will probably go Tojo and 2 to Oscar).

quote:

ORIGINAL: koniu

I will suggest use both "b" and "r".
"b" for his guns.Having those CL guns making him best bomber killer in Japanese arsenal.
And "r" for max ceiling. "r" version is very important in games with 2nd best maneuver bound rule. Because "r" will be able to sweep and CAP higher that most of allied planes can go. I think only P-47 can go higher

quote:

ORIGINAL: Captain Cruft

I really don't know why people obsess about killing bombers. Pretty much anything beyond a Nate can do this. It's killing fighters that's the problem. Which is why I believe that the Ki-84r is the most important plane due to its climb rate and maneuverability.