Yamamoto's Diary #16

[Sergeant]

I selected scenarfio 16 Yamato's Prophesy. Also I made Allied and Jap replacements Variable and I set US commitment to 100% and Jap commitment to 140 %. Finally, I saved it in slot number 16 so it coincides with the scenario number.

Hope I did the update correctly. The options screen says version 2.5 after I uninstalled and re-installed game due to an initial error message. [8|]

My Opponent is Wissooner. I am the Japanese player.

Much of this will be after the fact, by at least a week, to preserve tactical information from falling into the hands of the enemy. Likewise, Strategic plans will not be revealed unless much water has flowed under that bridge.

Thus I begin this AAR in a fictionalized style of Yamamoto's journal entries.

By the way -- my Windoze Vista program will NOT allow me to make snapshots of the game. [:-]

[Sergeant]

1 June 1942

Early morning staff call with my subordinate commanders from Combined Fleet, 8th Army, 11th Air HQ, 17th HQ, and South Seas Detachment. There are many complaints and arguements. They are not yet a team of professionals with one mind. My first orders must unite them in spirit and duty. Thus, I have issued the following Gerneral Orders:

1. All air crews will stand down when fatigue eraches 50%, moral drops below 50%, during thunderstorms and rain. Operational losses must be kept to a minimum. Night raids are authorized on clear nights. Any other type weather night missions must have MY approval alone.
2. Ground forces must rest after they reach a fatigue level of 75% or greater before continueing their march to an objective. Better to have a fresh fighting force than a tired rabble.
3. All Sub Chasers, Gun Boats, Submarines, Mine warfare vessels, and transports must put in for repairs at the nearest appropriate base (Level 3 or above). Likewise combat vessels that have reached system damage equal to 50% of the total number of weapon mounts must split off from their combat task force and put in for repairs immediately. Transports and supply missions must complete their missions first.
4. Task forces with 5 or more ships will be commanded by a Rear Admiral and 10 or more ships a Vice Admiral.
5. Every effort will be made to sink enemy submarines on sight without exception.

Failure to comply with my orders will be dealt with harshly! [&o]

[Sergeant]

I haven't noticed anything different about 2.5 yet, have you? Except, of course, that Windoze Vista doesn't like it!
Guess I'm getting senile (CRS at least)! [X(]

STAFF CALL 2 June 1942

Gentlemen,
Let us begin this campaign with a vigorous mine warfare operation. Every submarine reporting in at TRUK will arm themselves with mines for their First mission. After they deploy the Mines they may revertt back to regular Sub patrol for the remainder of their tour of duty. The only exception shal be RO-34 which shall be on permenant Sub Minelaying Ops. Any questions? Good! Then we are of one mind in this task and quickly becoming a team spirit. Remember Gentleman, the word TEAM means... Together Each of us Achieves More.
Now let us retire to the map room - I want a full report from each of you.

Yamamoto

[Sergeant]

Incoming transmition from ze enemy, sir....

Interesting choice of scenario. I believe this scenario is tougher for the Japs to win…

Send dis reply...

Well, could be a challenge then. Just remember that I tend to do the unexpected.



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If I understood the conditions of this scenario correctly, My job is to capture port Morsbey while holding onto Guadalcanal.

Your's is just the opposite, hold onto Port Morsbey and capture Guadalcanal.

Is that a fair assessment?

No comment, commander
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Hehehehehehe.... OK Marine. In that case Hmmmmm.... last time I attacked TRUK this time you might do something similar. Might just be an interesting game!

Each wondering where the other will strike first... ????


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Hey Marine... You got any Aircraft Carriers you don't want?

Tojo

[Sergeant]

5 June 1942

The submarine war in the Pacific has just started with the Americans firing the first shot.


Weather forcast... stormy.

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6 June 1942

USN scores first blood. Jap APD is scuttled near Buin.


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7 June 1942

Anti-Sub ops fail to take down the pesky 'Greenling'.

Jap PC(s) are worthless pieces of junk!

[Sergeant]

8 June 1942

Greenling needs a new type of torpedo - why don't you send it back to Pearl? [:D]

If my estimate is correct, Greenling should have about 2 bullets left in its gun.

Where'd all your planes go? Port Morsbey is starting to look like a ghost town!

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9 June 1942

Lousey PC's don't have fuel capacity to hunt subs!

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10 June 1942

Well, FINALLY, a sub got beat up. I don't believe it -- by a PC no less !

Banzaiiiiii.....

[Sergeant]

11 June 1942 ... oops must have skipped a day [>:]

STAFF CALL:

Hey, whatz Da 2 ships do'n South of Gili-Gili? Check'n thangs out? Dey iz in hostile territory!

Somebody git some eyes on da situation down there.
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12 June 1942

I can hardly believe that our PCs are actually scoring hits on enemy subs. MATRIX must have tweaked their capability on last update. [:D]

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13 June 1942

Oops... looks like Greenling got lucky with her last torpedo. The ship she hit was carrying the Japanese 3d Coastal Gun Battery. Sir, 11 2d line troops and one 3" gun fell off the deck into the Solomon Sea.

Hmmm.... Ya know what they say about pay-backs, don't ya?

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[Sergeant]

14 June 1942

STAFF CALL:

Shark feeding frenzy appears to be abated for the moment with the sinking of an Allied submarine. Now we can git some work done.

[Sergeant]

15 June 1942

Quiet day. [>:]

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16 June 1942

Another quiet night. [>:] Yamamoto decides to go to the radio room and send a message to the enemy...


Hey GI, what kind of ship iz dat down under behind da coral reef? My ships break too easily -- I gotta put some into port fur repairs. Got any spare parts?

Yamamoto----------------*

Unknown Allied Radio Man... Send this reply:


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17 June 1942

ZZZzzzzzzzzz......

Sssshhhh, da Admiral iz zleeping.

[Sergeant]

18 Jun 1942

Hey, watch where you're throwing them torpedos... you could put somebody's eye out!






THINGY... I'll give you 100 lbs of catnip if you give me your master's battle plans.
--- Agent 00 Furball

[Sergeant]

19 June 1942

Looks like a storm brewing again. Better git da planes down outta da rain.

[Sergeant]

20 June 1942

Banzaiiii..........



Woodlark is captrured.

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21 June 1942

The war is heating up. Allies are leading in ships sunk 7 to 2. That's 2 Allied Subs sunk...

That pesky sub at Woodlark should be out of torps by now, I hope.

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22 June 1942

First Imperial Order.... Kill all subs.

[Sergeant]

23 June 1942

Next stop Gili-Gili. Hmmm... Think I'll take a nap and contemplate Me next move.

[>:]

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24 June 1942

Like a bad cold -- GREENLING has returned.



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25 June 1942

ATTENTION All Sub Chaser Crews:

Admiral Yamamoto is offering a ~5,000 Yen reward to each member of the crew that sinks the Allied submarine GREENLING.

Combined Fleet HQ

[Sergeant]

26 June 1942

Cry HAVOC, and let slip the dogs of war.

Shakespear---

[Sequoia]

Nothing happened huh? [;)]

[Sergeant]

ORIGINAL: Sequoia

Nothing happened huh? [;)]

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27 June 1942

I don't remember !

I suffer from chronic CRS [:D]
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28 June 1942

Unable to sleep -- Yamamoto goes down to the radio room with some hot coco. "Send this message to the enemy at once".

Message Translation:

In da anals of history whense it eez written, Thy empire shall be no more den a foot-note.

Yamamoto-------*
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29 June 1942

Once again Yamamoto feeling restless makes his midnight walk to the galley for hot coco and then to the radio room. "Any response to last night's message?" NO SIR.
"Hmmmm... very well - send this one:"

I see a lot of cruisers and destroyers
at Luganville. You must be getting ready
to make a raid on Guadalcannal. Lots of
transport planes too. Could this be a
prep for an airborne assault?
I am certain, Commander, that you have
considered carefully the risks of such a venture.

Yamamoto---------* [:'(]

[Sergeant]

30 June 1942

Gentlemen,

The U.S. submarine menace continues to be a pain in the ass. Do something about it, or get out of my Command.

Remember... Bushido is still alive and well in Japan!

ORDERLY... sharpen my sword.

Yamamoto-----------*
==========================================

[Sergeant]

1 July 1942

Gentlemen,

Good news -- with the capture of Buna, the door to the Kakoda Trail is now open.

Yamamoto-------------*

==============================
<<<<Morning Staff meeting 2 July 1942>>>>>>

Gentlemen,

The New Hebredes is a snare, approach with extreme caution.

Gili-Gili is now subject to His Majesty the Emperor, as is Irau.

The enemy's battle group is approaching the Coral Sea. Be sure your welcome, is a warm one.
==============================
3 July 1942 Yamamoto's stater room...

Resting quietly contemplating recent events a knock resonds softly on his door.

'Yes come in' he commands but remains reclined on his bunk shielding his eyes from the overhead lamp.

An orderly enters with several messages in hand, bows respectfuly, 'Intelligence reports, Sir.'

'What do they say?' he asks softly.

'American recon planes scouting Lunga. Also the combat force spotted yesterday has moved. Intelligence thinks it went back to Luganville to link up with some mine-sweepers.'

Thank you. The orderly bows leaving quietly.

[Sergeant]

4 July 1942

Yamamoto sat in his stator room enjoying the lunch prepared for him. His flag ship was fortunate to have an excellent cook.

Hearing a commotion outside his door he looked up and noticed his door start to open, then it closed followed by a sharp rap on the door.

"Come" he responded irritated by the interruption.

The orderly marched in and bowed sharply extending his hand with a message. Action report, Sir. Yamamoto noticed the orderly's hand shaking. He slid his plate aside and took the message. The airbase at Port Moresby has reactivated and attacked two convoys. "Tell my staff there will be a meeting in 20 minutes" he said angrily.

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5 July 1942

Yamamoto seated at his perch in the control room watched thoughtfully as repair crews surveyed the damage. "How can I hold my subordinates accountable for ship losses when my own Flag ship has struck an enemy mine?" he thought to himself.

His orderly comes in from the radio room, message from da enemy, Sir.

Looks like I dodged a bullet at Luganville… [:-]

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6 July 1942

Hmmmm... yes, but I didn't. I Zigged when I should have Zagged. You whacked a few of my convoy ships.

I can see that I need to close that PM airfield again.

As for Luganville -- we'll be back! Only next time we'll sweep the harbor for mines 1st.

[Sergeant]

7 July 1942

STAFF CALL:

Sir, Greenling was sighted again. It fired a torpedo but missed. "MmmmHmmm... increase the bounty on Greenling to ~10,000 Yen."

Port Morseby was bombed. Several enemy aircraft were damaged on the runway.

Our port at LAE was attacked and 3 ships were hit. Finschafen HQ port was also attacked and the base Commander is that there was no air cover. Two ships were hit.

Buna was attacked by enemy aircraft too. Again 2 ships were hit and there was no air cover.

"Tell the Air Commander to report to me immediately."

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8 July 1942

STAFF CALL:

>Sir, S39 was sighted inside the port at Lae.
"Yes... and how many depth charges were dropped on it?"
> I don't know Sir, I will find out.
"Must I remind you all of the 1st Imperial Order? Kill all subs without excedption".

>Sir, our night raid on Efate Port Villa was successful. We have confirmed hitting one of their cruisers.
"Very good."

>Sir, we have captured WAU.
"Excellent"
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9 July 1942 STAFF CALL:

Gentlemen, the enemy coast watchers are feeding too much information to the enemy about our movements.

2d Imperial Order:

Hunt down the coast watchers and shoot them. Do not destroy their commo equipment. Instead, turn it over to IJN Intelligence.

Additionally, each of you review your enlisted ranks for soldiers that are fluent in English. Transfer them to IJN Intelligence. Officers are exempt, for the moment.