Rookie Mistakes
This article details some common follies, flubs and fumbles of inexperienced play. Most of the examples are from my very own school of hard knocks. If you are the type who likes to learn on your own (the hard way), stop reading now! For the wise reader though, please learn from my mistakes. If you have a "Rookie Mistake" that you feel is worthy of (dis)honor, please let me know and I will be glad to add it to this article.
Blunders in Burma
"the attack was not completely successful..."
The first set of examples originate from my very first game against a "live" opponent. Dave Casper took the Allies and I commanded the Japanese in a PBEM game. We were using the 1941 start, and my initial attacks knocked out the air units in Manila and Singapore, putting the HQs at those locations out of supply. So far so good.
My first Offensive was a 2OC by the Combined Fleet and I attacked into Burma while reinforcing Bangkok and making some invasions in the Solomons area. My attack (see picture to the right) was not supported by an air unit. I thought I was safe from reaction by using a 2OC card that prevented the large Indian Corps from reinforcing the battle hex (not enough movement points for them to make it).
But alas, I failed to take into consideration the Allied air units. Dave reacted successfully and brought the FE AF and AVG air units to the battle as well as reinforcing the XX unit with the XX unit. The dice were kind (to the Allies that is) as the air units scored 100% hits for 13 hits. This flipped the 38th Army. In ground combat, the 38th Army was able to flip both Burma units but they rolled an 8 and with 14 hits, the 38th Army was eliminated! I think Dave's comment was "It would be typical Japanese understatement to say the attack was not completely successful..."
The "right way" to do this operation is to support the 38th Army with at least one air unit which protects the 38th from air attack. Attacking into Burma early on turn 2 is the right idea--ideally you'd like to capture Rangoon before the big British corps show up (but note that the DEI and Philippines are much more important than this operation so take that into account as well). Most likely, you'll need to use one of your big air units (16 or 20 factors) to support the attack. If you have the activations, sending in more than one of these big boys is recommended. The Allies can react with 18 factors so at most, you'll lose one air step. By sending in several, you will make the Allies think twice about reacting. For the Allies, losing both of their non-replaceable air units (the AVG and FE AF) is a big set-back early in the game.
Japanese forces are cut-off from supplies
The British 33rd XXX evades from the Japanese 19th Army...
...but Commonwealth forces are still isolated
The next example comes from the same game. It is now turn 4 and the Japanese have recovered in Burma and have taken Rangoon. Japan pushes up the road to Mandalay but meets a devestating Allied counter offensive.
Dave and I have sparred over Advanced Third Reich in the past and for those of you who have played A3R, you know that a key tactic is putting enemy units out of supply. So we both approached EoTS with that mind-set. Dave realized that my forces were exposed and simply moved his two 12-12 Indian corps south to put the entire Japanese force in Burma out of supply.
You need to remember that the Japanse supply line to Rangoon most likely will not come by sea but rather overland through Indochina (the sea route is too long for the S HQ's range). This effect is a "design for effect" mechanic (artifact of the map and HQ rules to some extent) that forces the Japanese player to garrison his backside. Had the Japanse left a full strength army in hex 2108 (hex SE of Rangoon), the Allies would be hard pressed to isolate Rangoon. A much more complicated solution is to shift HQs around and will not be discussed here.
The third and final example comes from turn 6 of the same game. The British moped up the out of supply pocket of Japanese units in turn 5 and on turn 6, Dave faced a tough situation. He had a poor hand and had to make Progress of War or risk losing. Prospects in the central Pacific were slim so Dave decided to push into Indochina with his British forces.
After his initial advance, I realized that I could return the supply interdiction favor. My plan was to attack the British 33rd corps and surround the Indian corps with air units. I forgot about the ground disengagement rule but Dave's desparate attempt did not save his forces. The 20-12 corps disengaged from 2210 to 2309 (note: the units in picture that are rotated 90 degrees are "active.") Fortunately for me, I moved the 19th Army first so after Dave disengaged with the 33rd Corps, I could still move my other units.
The original plan was to attack the 33rd Corps with the 19th and reduced Korean Armies while the 27th Army landed in 2309. With air units in Hanoi and Phnom Penh (one active air unit is not seen in the picture), the Indian Corps would be isolated since supply cannot be traced through enemy units (but can be traced through unoccupied enemy controlled hexes).
The 33rd Corps withdrew to 2309 but this actually worked out better for me. As you can see in the second picture, the 19th Army rerouted to the north and the 27th went around Singapore to invade 2109. Coupled with the inland march by the Koreans and the rebasing of the air unit to Hanoi, all three Commonwealth units were isolated.