CHS 2.08 + Nik mod Tim vrs ADM Halsey

[Timmeh]

For this round it will be :
AAR = ALWAYS ASKING for REASONS

Renamed the " THE TOMATOE AFFAIR "

Knee deep into the first turn of my game vrs ADM Halsey I slowly realized, as I'm sure the Japanese did historically, that to conquor the world first you must conquor the GUI ! or something like that... its been a slog as I learn to manipulate the screens effectively.

This is my first attempt at WitP, having just got the game late last year. I would like to post an ongoing narrative ( minus most of those finger cramping combat reports ) of my activities from the perspective of someone just off the turnip truck. I'm playing a veteran player and fully expect to suffer the indignities of defeat, but thats where YOU! yes You, come in. I'm sure to encounter things along the way that will require your assistance and only your help can save me from the Yankie Dog !! Speaking of that dog, ADM Halsey has not really put any conditions on play but I myself will attempt to play as if immersion was my emperor, so needless to say no subs showing up in the Anden/Panama channels and no tasks force's showing up at perth before Singapore falls if you know what I mean. They say that those that don't follow history are doomed to repeat it, tune back in to watch me prove those pundants wrong [;)]

Dec 7 1941,

A single enemy fighter plane was all that climbed to intercept the KB's efforts to crush the American pacific fleet at Pearl. Total surprise achieved, but still a full third of the 300 + planes return to the CV's damaged (less than 20 pilots lost) . It appears all American BB's eating fish for breakfast...Wake captured, Guam to fall tommorow.
A pock marked Clark Field orders acne cream, finds out new supplier only delivers exfoliants. Also discovers they are willing to ship via both air and ground with fresh 'deliveries' arriving in the north ...
Elsewhere, landings in Malaya finish off the start of the campaign and I begin the long journey for glory for the empire.


Things that make me go, hmmm!

A better understanding for reasoning behind any 'house rules' comes with looking in-depth at the options Japan has without the historical start (up until my brain started to hurt, anyway) with the *20 increase in TF movement one can get distracted trying to win the war on the first turn if they're not careful!!

I left alot of the first move bonus on the table, and with all the AAR's I read seeming to have house rules my question is how balanced is a non-historical start that has been uber-maximized by an advanced player? Also, I para dropped the 1st and 2nd para units into Tay Tay (both island bases) and took Sandacan and the British base north of it. Only 300 or so inf dropped each time ( 1 transport plane used ) but I took all 4 locations.... with a quick look around the map the Japanese can cap alot of bases on the first turn ! Whats the general concensus on this issue?


" Using the interface to wade through the units and bases " In order to dissiminate all the required info my puny brain needed to break it down into bite sized chunks. I'm finding its going to take a careful balance breaking it down into a combination of unit classes and areas to stay focused. Wanting to take all of one unit type and go over the entire map can lead to my inferior brain losing the required perspective to operate in any theatre locally. I'm learning to first look at the broad picture in order to get a feel for what is where and how much of it I can manipulate, and then with that info I drop down into regions to relegate orders.

" Industry " Even after reading threads on the subject I'm still struggling somewhat with this side of the game. I used some of the advice posted here and modified a few things but for the most part uncertainty reigns here....'did you make sure to do this' posts welcome !

I plan on posting some map screenshots and witpdecoder screens as I go and try and avoid the cut and paste combat reports which looks to mean weekly or by-weekly game time reports or when anything of significance happens. Hopefully I'll help other newbie's overcome the sheer magnitude that is WitP as you help me ... Wish me luck !

Tim.

[Timmeh]

Dec 9 1941,

China : A lot more dynamic than the stock set up to be sure. I adopt a passive approach to start but wonder how troublesome those small brigades hiding off the beaten paths will be? Can these smaller units be ignored for the most part or do I need to mop them if I want to push for cities inside China?

Over the last two days I have been loading what seems like an army of units [;)], ADM Halsey has pressed his dutch subs towards Siagon and I ensure to include ASW elements in my TF's. Not instant loading these units and moving them on turn one will make the journey to the SRA more difficult.

KB makes its way west, more troops unload in Malaya and the PI. My light Cruisers run south from Wake as a sub spots a half dozen US CA's that appear to be passing by Wake on their quest ( 8 hexes west ) . How do I get my sub to tell them " I already got one ! ". I dispatch my CA's from Guam to head west but they are several days away, KB could turn to incept ? Or I can just expect this task force to turn and return to pearl?

I'm doing something right it appears,

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Kota Bharu at 24,45

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6

Allied aircraft
Vildebeest IV x 8

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Vildebeest IV: 7 destroyed

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x Vildebeest IV launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------

In the first two turns only a single friendly DD hit by air for 20 sys damage, other than that, some transport damage at Wake has been the only other negative result.

[jwxspoon]

Better to make less rather than more changes to industry, as the wrong moves can cripple your supply system quickly.
 
Likewise be careful with your garrison levels in China - in my first Japanese game I didn't understand this and crippled Shanghai's repair and industry capability.  In later games Shanghai is a huge asset to me so i wish I'd paid more attention to this.
 
jw

[Timmeh]

Ty for reply jwzspoon, Industry is certainly ambigious for the newbie. I raised zero's and vals and a couple other models, stopped the outdated models but didn't add to any research yet. I also increased a few small armaments, naval and HI but I hesitate to go further, I'm running witp decoder with some basic clusters aswell so I hope after a some more game time I can start using it to my advantage.


As I muddle it all together I doubt it'll all click in my brain until its bit me once or twice on the butt. With an even distribution amongst growth, production and repair how much of the 14,000 or so does one want to spend in the first few turns?
Witp decoder seems to show I'm using most of the available Hi, so at this point I should just need to tweak it as I go? I understand my consumption will vary when things like units deploy/appear and repair take place and I expect an increase draw on resources when my initial factory increases take place. ( still foggy on things like damage/slowdowns when upgrading facilities but more turns will shed more light ) I also realize my surplus will be short lived and have started considering the logistics to feed the machine after the first wave of transports returns to the Home Islands. The varying values of all those AK's in CHS blend together the micro management and immersion nicely [&o]

[jwxspoon]

Any update?
 
I'm playing 2 games against ADM Halsey, so I'm curious how this is going.  Perhaps I can get some intel 
 
jw

[Timmeh]

@jwxspoon - only a week in, and yes you are correct in your observation that ADM Halsey plays it pretty close to the vest. He's moved into Naga in force as I try and squeeze the PI and has forced the issue on the peninsula holding some 20,000 troops in Alor Star. I have taken Kota Bharu and started to move south.

Dec 14/41,

Japanese shipping suffer their first loss and its an expensive one, the CS mitzu (sp?) sank trying to make port at formosa after supporting the Legaspi landings. A single PT torp combined with a couple bombs from p40's and its wafer thinness did the rest!

I'm also schooled in how half assed attempts at troop landings are not a good idea as 5000 enemy troops defend against my undermanned snlf landing force of some 3000 troops on Manado (sp?) ( more are being rushed in from Pal but this might get ugly)
I'm also still suffering from not swapping out air leaders on some of my LB's ( some squads are under 30 morale ) these have been corrected but its still affecting the amount of air support I can bring.

The good news: over 40 merchant ships confirmed sunk so far, and on the 9th the CA Houston ate a couple torps in the channel SE of the PI. The nervous news: Any bets on how this is going down? the highlighted enemy TF is 60miles NW of Kuching, TF 5 ( the original BB task force sent to Kota Bharu) is NE with an escorted landing force, and TF 11 ( 4 CA's 4 DD's ) is South, just east of Kuching with the TF that dropped off the first wave into Kuching. I can only assume the P.O.W and her gang are going to try and rape the landing area but I cant be sure of which way ADM Halsey will send it.




I regret not putting more effort into planning at this point as well, I failed to fully consider support requirements for most of my efforts so far and it will slow down an already slow start for me.... Waiting on auxillary troops to arrive is just asking for it !

[Timmeh]

Dec 16, 1941

Tanks, arty and engineers join the fun in th PI. I'm invading Kuantan and Rabul next turn, and I now hold the north coast of Borneo. but...

Day Air attack on TF at 28,55
Allied aircraft
Swordfish x 4
Brewster 339D x 3
T.IVa x 3
Martin 139 x 5Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
AK Seitai Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Mexico Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Sagiri
AP Teiun Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Swordfish launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x T.IVa launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x Martin 139 bombing at 6000 feet
2 x Martin 139 bombing at 6000 feet

Note to self: not bringing in aviation suppoort on the first wave into Kuching is bad,mkay! I get my first real spanking at sea after all the combat ships run away and I try and sneak in to unload. having support land at the same time would've ment air cover in Kuching this turn...

TF 5 encounters mine field at Saigon (31,45)

Japanese Ships
DD Hibiki
DD Arashio
DD Michishio
DD Oshio
DD Asashio
BB Haruna, Mine hits 1

Allied Ships
AK Joan Moller, and is sunk

Note to self: BB's are not minesweepers ! lol, barely scratched the paint anyway. but what the heck is up with the allied Transport in Siagon?

Advice on early ASW would be nice too, should I stick with dividing it up amongst my TF's or should I create more 6 ship ASW TF's to deal with allied subs, so far my efforts are lackluster at best?

[BeastieDog]

A little trick you might try is to set up a mini-mini KB with AVs using float planes set on naval attack somewhere near PI traffic to damage some AKs and slow them down for your subs and also up the experience for your float pilots.

[Timmeh]

hmmm, perhaps we shall build a 'KB' sooooo small even its own mother couldn't find it out of port ! yes, its all coming together now! brilliant !

lol, I am so underusing some elements at this point to be sure ! I'm struggling with fog and recon somewhat too as I climb the learning mountain, err curve, so I think I'm leaving alot of attack potential on the table in leiu of film work. This all goes back to the games title ' The Tomatoe Affair ' ( a cookie for anyone that can crack that metaphore )

And speaking of curves, I'm wondering where daily operational losses reaching 6 on average would place me? Up there I assume, as Japan this strikes me as a very important aspect of the game that will receive more of my attention in future turns.

[Timmeh]

Dec 19,1941

Landings in Rabaul and Kuantan highlight the last turn. In the previous few turns Adm Halsey surprised me by moving a unit into Rahaeng.
Para's in Siagon preping for Singapore had to be scrambled, they held long enough to rail move the 41st mixed in to kick the Allies out.

I think Bill's just toying with me?

I'm moving slowly down towards clark but reinforcements will be needed to break the stalemate in the south at Naga I think. And I start to take notice of combat engineer totals now too, Hong Kong seems a tougher nut to crack in CHS and I'm wondering if I need to augment my totals attacking it?. Heavy rains the last few days so I've tried to get morale up by standing down a few of the more bummed out air units. (this is helping my op losses as well, they are down to 1 a day the last 3 days)

[jwxspoon]

I love it when the allies try to move into Raheng early.  Use one of your independent brigades to tie up either Raheng or, if you're too late, Pisanuloke.  Bomb the crap out of him with bombers and zeros from Bangkok.  Then when manilla and singapore are neutralized and you're ready to move on Rangoon, land in force at Moulmein and cut his troops off.

When I play CHS as Japs I generally focus on Manilla first. Done right, Manilla will fall by the end of January 42. Then ship those troops over to Malaya. Once again, done right you can have close to 5000 AV when you start your assault on singapore in March, and it's all over but the crying.

Make sure you bomb Singapore consistently throughout this process to keep the allies from building singapore into an untakeable fort. Many a time I have seen the japs neglect this and then suddenly find themselves in april 42 facing a well supplied singapore with a level 9 fort.

jw

[Timmeh]

Dec 22, 1941

So where is the Enterprise off to? SS I-24 spots her some 300 miles northwest of Pago Pago. With SNLF landings at Shortlands(today) and Tulagi (tommorow) I think she is headed for the Coral Sea? Rabaul should fall to the south seas detatchment in the next few days and I hope ADM Halsey tries to come to the defense of PM as the KB is sneaking southwards from Kwaj. 3 or 4 days away from the enemy CV'c position.

I also spot what appears to be the P.O.W at Batavia as I push a SC and AC TF as far as I dare towards Palemburg, I'm trying to get support into Kuching so I send a light SC TF to raid the PT's hiding in Singkawang trying to bum rush me in the attempt ... it goes well!

Day Time Surface Combat, near Singkawang at 25,56

Japanese Ships
CA Chokai
DD Fubuki
DD Shinonome
DD Usugumo
DD Shirakumo
DD Isonami
DD Shirayuki
DD Hatsuyuki
DD Shikinami
DD Ayanami

Allied Ships
PT TM-4
PT TM-5, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
PT TM-6
PT TM-7
PT TM-8, Shell hits 10, and is sunk
PT TM-9, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
PT TM-10, Shell hits 8, and is sunk
PT TM-11, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
PT TM-12, Shell hits 9, and is sunk
PT TM-13, Shell hits 4
PT TM-14
PT TM-15

There is a buttload of merchant ships fleeing south that need some TLT (tender loving torpedoes) and setting up some nell and or betty squads in kuching would allow torps instead of bombs here so I kick myself again for the half assed landings at Kuching (apparently bombs only after normal LB range?) . It would also make me feel a little more confidant in the ability to deal with the British warships should ADM Halsey decide to send them north.

Day Air attack on TF, near Palembang at 20,55

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 15

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
TK Semiramis, Bomb hits 1, on fire
TK J. D. Schreijers
PC Wega, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
PC Valk, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x G3M Nell bombing at 7000 feet
4 x G3M Nell bombing at 7000 feet
4 x G3M Nell bombing at 7000 feet
4 x G3M Nell bombing at 7000 feet

Georgetown falls and the Allies are in full retreat down the peninsula, I've moved some armor and engineers into Naga and its days are numbered. My big slow slow down right now was caused by less than optimal moves and landings north in the PI, troops there are now ready to move south and pressure Clark and Battan. I think I'm moving enough force to take Singapore and Manila before ADM Halsey can build up overly nasty defenses but time will tell.

[Timmeh]

Dec 29,1941

The Solomons spotlight recent activities and expose blunders that cost lives on both sides.

Suffering from LoP ( lack-0-patience decease ), I give Adm Halsey an opportunity to use his Aussie Capital ships and he takes out a 4 small ships after they unload an SNLF east of Rabaul. KB was a day late and a sea hex short of preventing their escape around the horn to PM, a 4CA 4DD SC TF fails to find them either and its a swing and a miss for me.

Previous to this some excitement on my part as KB arrived 120 miles east of Tulagi to support the recent capture here and in the Shortlands. Having spotted the Aussie heavies closing on the area I diverted KB, its oilers and another AE TF to the Solomons to support my impatient advance here. Perhaps its saves some red faces too, as on arrival it sinks 4 AP's and a DD unloading at Guadalcanal. Some 5600 troops unloaded unfortunaltly. The next day as KB moved to resupply and close on the Cruisers it spotted a 12 ship convoy of merchants going south, god rest their souls. [;)]



I really like Bohdi's utility for trying to assimilate some of info that can be forgotten from turn to turn, I highly recommend new players using it to help planning.


Hopefully it will help avoid these clumsy attacks in the future as I've made a mess of things down here so far. Not using enough AV and showing less than admirable timing I've left the door open for some abuse by the Allies. KB will loiter now, while I secure Rabual and expulse those poor allied soldiers now stranded on Lunga. At that point I'll need to give it another sense of direction.