Hello all! First time playing the game (love it so far!) and I need some help in China playing as the Axis.
Help. I seem to be stuck!
It is February 18, 1940. My goal was to secure the coast, capture Nanning and hold the line in the North. I have brought additional land forces to the mainland. I have used carrier air to soften up targets. I have replaced the HQ in the Southwest with Yamasita. I have used naval bombardment in Foochow.
Here's what I've experienced:
I have attacked the Chinese unit in Nanning repeatedly and the Chinese rebuild it to full strength every turn and the Nanning defender has taken a horrible toll on my Carrier Air - getting 2 or 3 hits every turn. To date, I have only destroyed 2 Chinese units in all of China. I can't seem to advance onto the unoccupied mountain hexes.
Bombarding Foochow has resulted in significant losses to my BB's and CA's.
The Armies around Wuhan just seem stuck. They can't inflict any significant damage to the Chinese units to their West and they cant really move. The army due South of Wuhan can't move to the empty hex to it's South East and it can't attack the Chinese army directly to it's West. All it can do is grind itself down on the Army in Changsa.
There has to be some fundamental tactic or strategy that I'm missing. Any suggestions?
I know that historically the campaign in China was a long drawn out slog, but what is a realistic goal here? How much do I need to attrit the Chinese (and how far do I have to push them back) in order to neutralize their ability to effectively counterattack? What level of forces will the Japanese be required to keep in China long term?
Thanks in advance for any help. Great game so far, but defeating any Chinese units (let alone just being able to maneuver my Japanese forces) is a little frustrating.