Into the Lions Den. Grraven (J) vs Nomad (A) Closed to Nomad

[grraven2004]

Well after a 10 month forced hiatus I am back and took the plunge. Nomad has agreed to show me how bad I can lose playing the Honorable and severly misunderstood Japanese. We are using Andrew Browns 5.01 map, Thanks Andy the map is beautiful, Nik's 5.02 Mod, thanks Nik for all the hard work getting things right,.

My last serious foray into Playing Japanese I had no real long term plan, I just played to see how they worked. This time reading alot of AAR's I have come to the conclusion that I am going to hit PH on the 7th and retire. I don't want to lose the pilots. I am strongly leaning towards a 4 division attack on Luzon. I would like to end all resistance there by the middle of January. I will use the troops from Palau to sieze Davao and surrounding bases to set up a Betty/nell base there. I am going to use the IG and 55th to help secure Malaya and Singapore asap. I will not sieze any main oil bases until all the allied bases capable of staging heavy bombers is conquered or neutralized. I will put subs in the Malacca strait to try and help interdict any ships trying to resupply Singapore or evacuating troops from there. After the SSD gets done with Guam I am going to take them to Rabaul and start setting up my Solomans campaign. I would like to get Noumea early and expand there to make it a long way to resupply OZ. If everything goes well with these ops I would like to expand into the eastern south pacific i.e. Fiji Samoa etc. I also will be putting defenders in the Kuriles and western aleutians for early warning if he decides to come across the top in 43.

As somethings have changed since I last played I am not sure what to do yet in the economic side. I will take a close look and see what has changed and post my thoughts then. Any advice would be welcome since I believe Nomad is a very good player.

Thanks

[grraven2004]

Day one of my journey into the lions den.

I used a mostly historical first turn. I invaded Appari, Vigan, Guam, Wake first day. I switched to Kuantan instead of Khota Bharu. I know this will expose me to his planes but I feel the risk is worth it. I went into Davao, and Jolo early as I want to establish airbases there. My airforce did a pretty good job and I am most pleased with my losses first turn.

Here are some of the highlights.

Japanese Ships
AK Yasukawa Maru
AP Kakyu Maru
PC Showa Maru #5
PC Showa Maru #3
PC Nichi Maru #1
PC Gamitsu Maru #1
PG Saiko Maru
PG Edo Maru
MSW Takasago Maru
MSW Ataka Maru
CS Chitose

Allied Ships
SS S-39, hits 3

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Day Air attack on Singapore , at 22,51

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 97

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 1 destroyed, 7 damaged
Blenheim IV: 1 destroyed
Vildebeest IV: 1 destroyed

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 9

Day Air attack on Clark Field , at 43,51

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 72
G3M Nell x 33
G4M1 Betty x 54
C5M Babs x 8
Ki-46-II Dinah x 2
Ki-15 Babs x 11

Allied aircraft
P-26A x 3
P-35A x 2
P-40B Tomahawk x 2
P-40E Warhawk x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 damaged
G3M Nell: 1 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-26A: 5 destroyed
P-35A: 6 destroyed
P-40B Tomahawk: 5 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 6 destroyed
B-17C Fortress: 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
97 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 25
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 167

Day Air attack on Clark Field , at 43,51
Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 23
Allied aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses

Airbase hits 14
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 26

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Day Air attack on Pearl Harbor , at 114,72

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 76
D3A Val x 127
B5N Kate x 143

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 1
P-26A x 8
P-36A Mohawk x 3
P-40B Tomahawk x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged
D3A Val: 3 destroyed, 43 damaged
B5N Kate: 3 destroyed, 42 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 5 destroyed
P-26A: 8 destroyed
P-36A Mohawk: 11 destroyed
P-40B Tomahawk: 30 destroyed
B-18A Bolo: 5 destroyed
PBY Catalina: 14 destroyed
A-20B Boston: 3 destroyed
B-17E Fortress: 2 destroyed
SBD Dauntless: 3 destroyed

Allied Ships
BB West Virginia, Bomb hits 6, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
BB Oklahoma, Bomb hits 7, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
BB Nevada, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
BB Arizona, Bomb hits 9, Torpedo hits 5, on fire, heavy damage SUNK
BB Maryland, Bomb hits 8, on fire
ML Oglala, Bomb hits 1, on fire
BB Tennessee, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
BB California, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AO Neosho, Bomb hits 1, on fire
BB Pennsylvania, Bomb hits 6, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CL Phoenix, Bomb hits 2
AV Curtiss, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AO Ramapo, Bomb hits 1
DM Breese, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Chew, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CL Detroit, Torpedo hits 1, on fire


Allied ground losses:
231 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 35
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 123

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Day Air attack on Hong Kong , at 43,42

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 5
Ki-51 Sonia x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-51 Sonia: 2 destroyed, 14 damaged

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 7
Won’t try this again anytime soon

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Day Air attack on TF at 38,63

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 3

Allied aircraft
Brewster 339D x 3
Martin 139 x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Martin 139: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
CVL Ryujo

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Day Air attack on TF at 38,63

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 3

Allied aircraft
Martin 139 x 4

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Martin 139: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CVL Ryujo

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Day Air attack on TF, near Kuantan at 24,48


Allied aircraft
Blenheim I x 10
Hudson I x 12


Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim I: 1 damaged
Hudson I: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna
CA Takao
BB Kongo

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Day Air attack on TF, near Kuantan at 24,48


Allied aircraft
Swordfish x 7
Buffalo I x 18
Vildebeest IV x 12
Blenheim IV x 12
Hudson I x 3


Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish: 1 damaged
Vildebeest IV: 10 damaged
Hudson I: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo, Bomb hits 1 Crew repainted spot 20 minutes after attack [:)]
BB Haruna

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Day Air attack on TF, near Kuantan at 24,48


Allied aircraft
Blenheim I x 5


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x Blenheim I bombing at 15000 feet
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Day Air attack on TF, near Kuantan at 24,48


Allied aircraft
Vildebeest IV x 2


Allied aircraft losses
Vildebeest IV: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Suzuya

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Vildebeest IV bombing at 5000 feet
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Day Air attack on TF, near Kuantan at 24,48


Allied aircraft
Hudson I x 5


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Hukuyo Maru

Aircraft Attacking:

4 x Blenheim I bombing at 15000 feet
I expect him to lower altitude tomorrow so I probably won’t be as lucky
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Day Air attack on TF, near Legaspi at 45,54


Allied aircraft
B-17C Fortress x 12


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
CS Chitose
CS Mizuho

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-17C Fortress bombing at 15000 feet
3 x B-17C Fortress bombing at 15000 feet
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Naval bombardment of Kuantan, at 24,48


Allied aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft losses
Hudson I: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CL Jintsu
CA Atago
CA Takao
BB Haruna
BB Kongo


Allied ground losses:
186 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
Vehicles lost 2

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 9
Port hits 2
Port fuel hits 2
Port supply hits 7

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Naval bombardment of Wake Island, at 85,72 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

33 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
CA Kako, Shell hits 11
CA Furutaka, Shell hits 3
CA Kinugasa
CA Aoba, Shell hits 2


Allied ground losses:
325 casualties reported
Guns lost 9
Vehicles lost 2

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 1
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 3

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Naval bombardment of Kuantan, at 24,48

Japanese Ships
CA Kumano
CA Suzuya
CA Mikuma
CA Mogami


Allied ground losses:
115 casualties reported

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 8
Port hits 2
Port supply hits 7
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Coastal Guns at Wake Island, 85,72, firing at TF 16
TF 16 troops unloading over beach at Wake Island, 85,72


73 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
AK Kongo Maru
CL Yubari, Shell hits 1

Japanese ground losses:
207 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
1 casualties reported

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TF 20 troops unloading over beach at Guam, 63,66


Japanese ground losses:
501 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 56 troops unloading over beach at Jolo, 39,59


Japanese ground losses:
362 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Davao, 43,61, firing at TF 57
TF 57 troops unloading over beach at Davao, 43,61


100 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
AP Hakone Maru, Shell hits 2, on fire
MSW Toroshima Maru, Shell hits 10, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
347 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
Vehicles lost 1

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Coastal Guns at Kuantan, 24,48, firing at TF 83
TF 83 troops unloading over beach at Kuantan, 24,48


9 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese ground losses:
265 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 87 troops unloading over beach at Aparri, 45,49


Japanese ground losses:
244 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 88 troops unloading over beach at Vigan, 44,49


Japanese ground losses:
274 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 89 troops unloading over beach at Legaspi, 45,54


Japanese ground losses:
143 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 90 troops unloading over beach at Batan Islands, 46,47


Japanese ground losses:
115 casualties reported


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Ground combat at Nanchang

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 25007 troops, 251 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 7457 troops, 51 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
336 casualties reported
Guns lost 13

Allied ground losses:
113 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

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Ground combat at Kuantan

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 3049 troops, 29 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 1977 troops, 9 guns, 0 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
46 casualties reported
Guns lost 3


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Ground combat at Davao

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 2953 troops, 27 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 6659 troops, 67 guns, 17 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
5 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
6 casualties reported
Guns lost 2


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Ground combat at Wake Island

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1123 troops, 26 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 1477 troops, 15 guns, 0 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
68 casualties reported
Guns lost 2


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Ground combat at Batan Islands

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 1727 troops, 16 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 500 troops, 0 guns, 1 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 158 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Batan Islands base !!!


Japanese ground losses:
22 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
979 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Vehicles lost 1


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Ground combat at Wake Island

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 1399 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 1483 troops, 26 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0


Japanese ground losses:
22 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
43 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Should get the island today

[grraven2004]

Dec 8th

Landings continue on all the bases invaded yesterday. Casualties were very light. Received very little damage from coastal guns.

Submarine activity is very high. 2 IJN subs put a torp into:
SS I-165, hits 4, on fire

Allied Ships
DD Bulmer, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Japanese Ships
SS I-162, hits 2

Allied Ships
CL De Ruyter, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Then the attack of the day
Japanese Ships
SS I-157

Allied Ships
TK Semiramis, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
Fuel burning reported. Makes me warm all over seeing that

FORCE Z makes an appearance. I knew going into Kuantan that it might be possible that Nomad would respond with that TF. I was hoping that my long lance would help here and it didn’t let me down.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Kuantan at 24,48

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo, Shell hits 1
BB Haruna, Shell hits 3
CA Takao
CA Atago
CL Jintsu
DD Asashio
DD Oshio
DD Michishio
DD Arashio
DD Akatsuki, Shell hits 1
DD Hibiki, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales, Shell hits 2
BC Repulse
CL Danae, Shell hits 1
DD Vampire
DD Vendetta
DD Tenedos
DD Electra
DD Express
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Kuantan at 24,48

Japanese Ships
CA Mogami, Shell hits 4, on fire
CA Mikuma, Shell hits 7
CA Suzuya
CA Kumano
DD Maikaze
DD Nowaki, Shell hits 1
DD Arashi, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Hagikaze

Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1
BC Repulse, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1
CL Danae
DD Vampire, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Vendetta, Shell hits 1
DD Tenedos, Shell hits 1
DD Electra, Shell hits 1
DD Express
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Kuantan at 24,48

Japanese Ships
CA Mogami, Shell hits 2, on fire 45 sys damage from 1 14”
CA Mikuma, Shell hits 2, on fire 50 sys damage from 1 15”
CA Suzuya
CA Kumano
DD Maikaze
DD Nowaki
DD Arashi, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Hagikaze, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales, Shell hits 2, on fire
BC Repulse, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CL Danae, Shell hits 1
DD Vampire, Shell hits 9, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Vendetta, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Tenedos
DD Electra
DD Express

Then my nemesis strikes:
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Jolo at 39,59

Japanese Ships
DD Hatsuyuki, Shell hits 22, and is sunk
DD Murakumo, Shell hits 23, and is sunk
AP Tatibana Maru
AP Tatsuho Maru
AP Tatumiya Maru
AP Teiyo Maru
AP Ume Maru
AP Yuzan Maru
AP Yamato Maru, Shell hits 4, on fire
AP Amakusa Maru

Allied Ships
CL Boise, Shell hits 1

Going to have to hunt her down soon.

So far Nomad is using the P-40E’s out of Manila in an anti shipping role. No success for him yet but I fear its only a matter of time before they get lucky. One thought I have is if they are being used offensively then I might just send some Betty’s to visit the marine life in Manila bay.
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Day Air attack on TF, near Aparri at 45,49


Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 35


Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Kuma
CA Ashigara
CA Maya
Then you have the payment for invading Kuantan.
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Day Air attack on TF, near Kuantan at 24,48


Allied aircraft
Swordfish x 6
Wirraway x 5
Buffalo I x 9
Blenheim IV x 9
Hudson I x 5


Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish: 1 destroyed
Wirraway: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Hakozaki Maru
AK Akita Maru
AK Sasako Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire
AP Asama Maru
AP Kasui Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AK Nagara Maru

Japanese ground losses:
22 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

This is just one of several attacks made during the day. However this was the most successful for him. Other ships hit were:
AP Izan Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CA Mikuma, Bomb hits 1
CA Kumano, Bomb hits 1

I wouldn’t want everyone to think that IJN subs were the only ones doing some shooting this day.
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Sub attack near Wake Island at 85,72

Japanese Ships
AP Kinryu Maru
DD Mochizuki
DD Yayoi
DD Kisaragi
DD Mutsuki

Allied Ships
SS Tambor, hits 1

Then the Japanese liberated a few bases.

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Ground combat at Wake Island

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 1912 troops, 10 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 1343 troops, 25 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 32 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Wake Island base !!!



Allied aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 6 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
117 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Allied ground losses:
1511 casualties reported
Guns lost 30

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Ground combat at Guam

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 6921 troops, 85 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 142 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Guam base !!!


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Ground combat at Hong Kong

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 23370 troops, 285 guns, 17 vehicles

Defending force 13231 troops, 119 guns, 4 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
6 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
10 casualties reported


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Ground combat at Taytay

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 317 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 15 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Taytay base !!!

Overall a very successful day.

I am afraid of China though. I have very little experience in this area. I notice that Nomad is marching on Canton. One question I have is if the Chinese get there before HK falls will the British troops surrender or move to Canton?

More to follow.