[ASLML] Japanese CC (The entire post!)

[Ulric Schwela]

Hello Mike,

I'm no expert on PTO, but as I am trying to get to grips with it myself, I'll
have a stab at your query as a little exercise!  :)

 --- PZchala at aol.com skrev:
> Situation: HIP Japanese 447 in jungle hex.  Concealed marine 558 moves into
> the hex during his MPh using non-assault movement.  Japanese 447 elects to
> stay HIP by not firing.  All covered in G.4.
> 
> At the start of the CCPh, the HIP 447 is placed on board concealed, per
> A11.19.  Both sides are now in CC, concealed.  
> 
> What happens if the 447 elects not to attack and the 558 attacks at no
> effect?  Does the 558 lose concealment?  Does the 447?  Is there a Melee of
> a concealed 447 and unconcealed 558?

If the 447 does not attack, they do not lose '?' for that. If the 558's
attack is of NE, again the 447 retains '?'. The 558's attack would either
eliminate the 447 outright, or Reduced it and also cause '?' loss. See the
Chapter A divider.

The 558, if it attacks, will loose '?' (EXC: unless it Ambushes the 447 _AND_
eliminates them).

Any unit that remains Concealed, will not be held in Melee and in the
following turn will be free to fire in the PFPh or leave in the MPh/APh
(A11.15). If all the units of either side are Concealed, then there will be
no Melee marker but only a CC marker.

> Is it fair to say that, if the 447 knows that the 558 is going to end it's
> MPh in it's hex, that it's best option is to fire in first fire, as staying
> HIP will at best garner it nothing but 1/2 firepower of the CC attack
> against it?

I couldn't venture an opinion on that, but would have a skeg at Mark
Pitcavage's article in J5 on this very subject.

I would think the benefit of firing would be TPBF and if as D1F possibly also
with FFNAM, plus usually a second shot as SFF and maybe more as FPF. The
downside is you might not harm an 8 morale unit and would then face TPBF from
the 558 in the AFPh. The 7 morale unit would be at a slight disadvantage
there.

If you stay HIP you do of course loose out on the D1F option, but should then
also not suffer in the AFPh. In the CCPh you get to play your trump card of
Stealth when determining Ambush, giving you a good chance of hurting the 558
with H-t-H and CC modifiers.

The choice very much depends on your style and also whether the 558 is
Concealed. If not, you might not be able to resist a 12+1 attack
(Jungle+FFNAM) followed by a 6+1. But if you fail, can you stand a 6/7/8+2?
(depending on AF capability and IFT/IIFT use) If the 558 were Concealed and
had AM'd, your initial shot would drop to 6+2 - not good odds, especially if
you fail to even strip Concealment.

In the CCPh, if the 558 (assuming Normal, not Stealthy) is Unconcealed and
you are Concealed, your Ambush roll has a significant -4 drm (Stealthy,
Concealed, Enemy advancing into Jungle). If you succeed in Ambushing (apart
from being able to Withdraw should it prove prudent), you can attack with
H-t-H at 1:2 with a -2 DRM (Ambush and Japanese H-t-H), needing an 8 or less.
If the 558 should survive unscathed, they will still need a 6 or less. Not
bad!

Should the 558 be Concealed, you would still enjoy a -2 Ambush drm, just
about making it possible for the 558 to Ambush the 447 (with a 1 vs. 6), but
very unlikely. A successful Ambush would strip Concealment and enjoy the
above advantages. If not successful the erstwhile Ambusher may still decline
to attack and weather a 1:2 attack from the 558 with no mods needing 4 or
less, allowing it to use the PFPh instead against an Unconcealed 558 or move
away in the next turn.

> And a related question...If a Japanese Attacker Ambushes the enemy, the
> ensuing H-t-H attack gets an "extra" -1 DRM.  The CCT on the QRDC gives
> this as a -3 DRM (-1 ambush, -2 ...Japanese (G1.64) vs Infantry/Cavalry in
> HtH CC).  The VASL CCT, doesn't include that -2 DRM, but only a -1 for
> Japanese HtH and the -1 ambush, for a -2 total DRM.  I beleive the VASL
> chart is in error, but where does the first -1 of the "extra" G1.64 DRM
> come from?  What rule reference gives the Japanese a -1 in CC to begin
> with?

I believe another post in the past couple of days answered this. There is an
error on the v.2 QRDC and the "extra" should be a -1 DRM and _NOT_ a -2 DRM.
The VASL chart is correct. The rule reference is as you state, G1.64.

Hope this helps! It was fun looking up the rules...

Cheers


=====
-- 
Ulric Schwela
Leigh, Lancashire, England
GSM +447753857878
Fax +447753939634
Currently playing:
 70 - KP167 - American - 1/11
 A16 - On The Borderline - Finnish - 5/12
 A59 - Death at Carentan - German - 1/8
 D8 - Gruppo Mobile - Italian - loss
 OVHS CG - 19 AM - Canadian - 6/9
 RB - CGIII - Soviet - 18-Oct - 7/8
 TOT37 - Breaching Maloarkhangelsk - German - 6/11.5

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