Designer's Notes for the Allied Tag Team

[el cid again]

RHSEOS for the Allies used to be identical to RHSCVO - which is the RHS version of stock Scenario 15 or CHS base scenario. A number of changes have been made, however, so that EOS now differs in a few respects from the historical Allied forces of PTO. There is also one strictly historical oddity which - if not mentioned - might be overlooked - or cause confusion:

HMS Centurion - a WWI era Second Generation Dreadnaught - is present as a deception ship. Almost unarmed (her turrets are made of plywood!) - she is a mock up of a King George V battleship - and specifically of HMS Anson. Historically - and in RHS - she begins the Pacific War at Bombay. She is classified as a battleship so she will report that way to the enemy - and so that she will achieve tactical deceptive success even if she fails to fool enemy players. Code is going to engage this vessel as if it were really a battleship - for the same reason Japanese fliers attacked the former Battleship Utah at Pearl Harbor - because it looks like one! This is almost purely a deception ship - and it is not required it be used. It was in fact withdrawn from PTO - rearmed as an AA vessel in Egypt - and finally expended as a breakwater at Normandy.

In CVO there are 16 Essex class carriers - arriving from 430521 to 450815 (Boxer). These use their original names - so sometimes the name may be associated with the "wrong" ship - there is no carrier respawn - and you get them all. If the war lasts long enough - you get every one able to be operational in the Western Pacific before the end of September 1945. In EOS, you get 2 more Essex - named Midway and Wake - because the Midway class is laid down as Essex - and it takes less time to build. These appear on 450815 and 450915.

In CVO there are 9 Independence class CVLs. In BBO only 6 - with 3 extra CLs. In EOS you get 12 Independence - but lose 3 CLs to pay for them (in hulls). Taking less time to build than the CLs, they appear sooner than the cruisers would. They change names - Miami, Wilkes-Barre and Oklahoma City becoming Reprisal, Wright and Crown Point (on 430728, 440217 and 440822). This is probably the smartest of the changes requested by the tag team - these ships appear soon enough to matter - and they are more powerful than gunships.

[el cid again]

ORIGINAL: el cid again

RHSEOS for the Allies used to be identical to RHSCVO - which is the RHS version of stock Scenario 15 or CHS base scenario. A number of changes have been made, however, so that EOS now differs in a few respects from the historical Allied forces of PTO. There is also one strictly historical oddity which - if not mentioned - might be overlooked - or cause confusion:

HMS Centurion - a WWI era Second Generation Dreadnaught - is present as a deception ship. Almost unarmed (her turrets are made of plywood!) - she is a mock up of a King George V battleship - and specifically of HMS Anson. Historically - and in RHS - she begins the Pacific War at Bombay. She is classified as a battleship so she will report that way to the enemy - and so that she will achieve tactical deceptive success even if she fails to fool enemy players. Code is going to engage this vessel as if it were really a battleship - for the same reason Japanese fliers attacked the former Battleship Utah at Pearl Harbor - because it looks like one! This is almost purely a deception ship - and it is not required it be used. It was in fact withdrawn from PTO - rearmed as an AA vessel in Egypt - and finally expended as a breakwater at Normandy.

In CVO there are 16 Essex class carriers - arriving from 430521 to 450815 (Boxer). These use their original names - so sometimes the name may be associated with the "wrong" ship - there is no carrier respawn - and you get them all. If the war lasts long enough - you get every one able to be operational in the Western Pacific before the end of September 1945. In EOS, you get 2 more Essex - named Midway and Wake - because the Midway class is laid down as Essex - and it takes less time to build. These appear on 450815 and 450915. In spite of appearing late, these are extra big carriers in time for the war, and that might matter.

In CVO there are 9 Independence class CVLs. In BBO only 6 - with 3 extra CLs. In EOS you get 12 Independence - but lose 3 CLs to pay for them (in hulls). Taking less time to build than the CLs, they appear sooner than the cruisers would. They change names - Miami, Wilkes-Barre and Oklahoma City becoming Reprisal, Wright and Crown Point (on 430728, 440217 and 440822). This is probably the smartest of the changes requested by the tag team - these ships appear soon enough to matter - and they are more powerful than gunships.

The three Alaska class are laid down instead as Baltimore class CA, and taking less time to build, appear sooner on 430917, 431017 and 450217. They have cruiser type names: Oregon City, Albany and Rochester (the next CA names after those actually completed in time for the war). They nicely compensate the loss of CLs to get the extra CVLs, and the first two arrive soon enough to matter significantly.

Apparently the post war super cruisers were also ordered as Baltimores, and one of these (Columbus) appears in time for the war - barely - 450808.

The British do not invest in HMS Vanguard - completed post war - and resources for her permit the first Tiger class cruiser Superb to be completed in time to participate in the 1945 offensives: 441215.

We made two atom bombs available per month. You are not required to use them - and RHS formally recommends the war end on Sept 1, 1945 if any are used. If Japan is not defeated by that date - it has won. If they are not used - RHS formally recommends the war end on Nov 1, 1945 - the date USSBS says the Allies would have won without atom bombs or invasion. Again, if Japan is not defeated by that time - it has won. But RHS permits players to continue the war until 1 January, 1946 - and get the end of year game code verdict. There are, however, no reinforcements after Sept 30, 1945. [Credit for these dates and conditions goes to Joe Wilkerson, who proposed them exactly in that form. Joe also coined the name RHS - which was not the original name.]

Finally, while it is not really a change from CVO or history - I wish to mention that you have the ex-battleship UTAH in the form of a gunnery training ship. BBO offers this ship in a different form - a proposed bombardment support ship - but it was not done IRL, in CVO or in EOS. Nevertheless, it is present - as a gigantic PG - with peculiar armament - 5 inch 25s on the port side and 5 inch 38s on the starboard side !

Many other requested changes were adopted, but since they were historical, they were adopted across the board, in all scenarios. In particular, Soviet forces have been added, including the Navy, the Coast Guard, the Merchant Marine, the Naval Air Force, the Long Range Air Force, the Naval Infantry and an airborne brigade. We just increased the amount of Soviet armor from 3 to 15 brigades.

[el cid again]

II. Changes to Japanese Aircraft: The biggest change in EOS is to Japanese aircraft. There are so many changes that EOS has its own plane art set – incompatable with standard RHS scenario plane art. The principle change was to combine those planes used by both services (e.g. the BABs) – so only one slot was required – creating empty slots into which more obscure – or even alternate – types could be placed. In addition, a number of types not used by both services are permitted to be used by the “other” branch. In both cases the planes get a dual designation (e.g. G5N2/Ki-68) – a historical one if possible. [When this is done, the first designation tells you which service was primarily responsible for creating the type]. This permitted the mod – and human players even more so – to have more and better upgrade choices for air units. What is different is not that EOS has MORE Japanese air units – there are no more slots and Japan had only so much aluminum and production capacity. What is different is that EOS has better Japanese air units – because better choices are made about what to equip a unit with at any particular stage of the war. [Of all these changes, the most significant is the greater mass production of the Ki-44, the first true JAAF interceptor, designed to defeat B-17/24 class aircraft. If you do NOT elect to convert interceptor units to use this aircraft you will also not see a great shift in air air combat statistics in favor of Japan.] Note, however, that the decision to build the Ki-44 instead of the Me-109E may have been a mistake. Not because the Ki-44 isn’t a significantly better fighter plane (which is saying a lot because the 109 is a great fighter plane) – but because the Ki-44 is not available during the critical first year of operations. EOS has the planning committee deciding to put the “Emil” into production as an interim interceptor – until the ’44 is able to come on stream. This permits JAAF to have a better interceptor much sooner than IRL – and it matters. EOS also added three types of specialized ASW aircraft – one of them in leiu of the very first designed to purpose ASW plane in history (Q1W1) – outfitting all three with MAD gear. And another contribution of Nemo was a proposal to give Japan a 4 engine bomber sooner than 1945. [RHS had “converted” the G5N1 bomber of CHS into the G5N2-L heavy transport of real life – because the 1 design was unsuccessful and several attempts to develop it as a bomber by both services failed – so the aircraft all ended up in transport service. More of these could have been built – if the high price in engines was paid – something players may choose (or not) in EOS.] There WAS a historical IJN 4 engine bomber project before PTO erupted into war – the FW-200 Condor would never have been converted into a bomber except for this IJN funding. We looked very hard at this historical option: Like the Me-109E Japan owned the production rights to this aircraft. But it lacks the performance of the Betty: it is neither as cost efficient nor as performance efficient as the Betty. So we considered all other options – and settled on a different historical German bomber design of the same period – one ALSO being ignored and unfunded by the German government: the Me-264. This is a remarkable aircraft, designed to bomb New York City unrefueled from bases in ETO, and designed with late war defensive armament even before PTO erupted into combat. It was the only German super heavy bomber design seriously considered for production (see Luftwaffe Over America) – and had it (instead of the Condor) enjoyed early IJN funding it might (instead of the Condor) been put into production for Germany. We added this aircraft to EOS – in spite of being unable for technical reasons to give it all of its range. We gave it unique engines (not used in any other RHS scenario) – which it would have required – and this results in a significant production bottleneck: it is hard for Japan in EOS to get very many of these aircraft. But a few units with these have major impacts on operations. Otherwise there are a few “chrome” additions related to air power. We created the only air unit in the world ever intended to operate rocket fighters – and simulate the rocket fighters as well – as an end of war “anti-aircraft” unit. This unit (the 312th Kokutai) also has a reserved air unit slot – in case we ever do the Me-263 variant as an aircraft. We put in the nearest to operational of Japanese anti-shipping missiles (aside from the manned Okha – which is from stock and which is very ineffective) – the IGo-1b – on its historical carrier – the Ki-102 (which is in other mods without its intended weapons). And the Me-264 – if it does not fly to extended range – carries German HS-293 anti-shipping missiles (accounting for why it lacks its full range – external loads and associated appendages for their mounting eat up range). None of these things matter much – but they probably help a little – and in the hands of skilled human players they may prove useful operationally. It is MUCH more significant that Japan can expand on its historical practice with the Ki-67 (which was operated by both services – and which saw the JAAF creating a “torpedo squadron” for anti-shipping operations) and fly joint missions with long range bombers – the Nell and Betty and Peggy most of all. Less possible to assess is the addition of the G7M1/Ki-124 Marie. This aircraft – a candidate to replace the Betty – was rejected in favor of the G8N1 – with four engines. But being an earlier design, it could go into production earlier. Lacking the range of the G8, it nevertheless may be a useful enhancement: a long range, armored, well armed, Betty like aircraft with a heavier punch in the form of a 21 inch Long Lance torpedo (similar in size and weight to USN 22 inch torpedoes used by aircraft). The greater standoff range and the greater warhead may make this aircraft deadly – IF unguided torpedoes are able to score hits. Another change that may be significant include the decision to produce the recon version of the Kate. Japan later adopted a recon version of the Judy – and then a specialized carrier recon plane – in detachments on all its larger CVs. What if it had decided to implement this pre-war option? The unarmored Kate carries fuel in place of a torpedo – and it does give the Kiddo Butai longer range “eyes” – years before the better performing C6 and D4Y1-C did this IRL. Yet another change is the decision to take a version of the Ki-44 intended for use from Army aircraft carriers and outfit carrier interceptor squadrons with it. Late in the war Japan’s carriers should have five different squadrons (and in EOS they really do have four): A recon flight, a torpedo squadron, a dive bomber group, and two kinds of fighters – nominally interceptors and escort fighters. By operating multiple ships together – in EOS players may be able to have effective local air defense in addition to long range escort fighters at sea. [WITP has a technical limitation on number of air squadrons per CV – never mind the Brits operated as many as eight and commonly six! But we achieve this de facto by creating double size squadrons for USN and IJN carriers. The problem is – that prevents mixing fighter types in the Japanese case. But IJN has both types of fighters – and can put some interceptors at sea late in the war. It may matter.]


COMMENT: We have agreed in principle to make similar changes for the Allies in EOS. There will be common pools of identical aircraft available not only for different services, but in some cases, different countries. That in turn permits more kinds of planes be represented (since we don't have to duplicate slots for the same type). But Cobra says the art package for this is still "many weeks" in the future - so we will do this at the same time we do changes from what we learn in human vs human testing.

[el cid again]

III. Changes to Japanese capital ships: Japan made the decision in principle for war in July, 1941, after the imposition of an embargo of oil, iron ore and rubber by the US, UK and Dutch; ONLY changes in ship production proposed and implemented after that date are permitted in EOS. Japan does not get more shipyards, more skilled labor or more steel from which to build ships: every different ship must be accounted for in terms of building/conversion space and labor and steel/weapons requirements. [This neatly rationalizes the technical fact we lack any more slots to put ships in.] This means there are very few changes by the time operations begin in December, 1941. Unlike Nemo’s Empires Ablaze mod (a variation of RHSEOS) – we do NOT complete Yamato or Musashi as Shinano sized CVs. The ONLY changes in the early war situation is more (or different) conversions. For example, Chitose and Chiyoda were designed to be completed in several different forms. We elected the CVL form. [A semi-sister – Mizuho – is completed as a secret midget sub tender – as the Chitose’s were – able to launch 12 midgets while underway at full speed – and also able to operate an air group of seaplanes – using a Hein Mat for underway recovery. IJN had high hopes for these “secret” capabilities – but EOS only retains it in one ship – turning the other two into more combat effective CVLs sooner than IRL.] We also elected to convert a number of CVL/CVE projects earlier – but only the Unyo and Chuyo make it in time for the start of the war. In 1942 Japan gets only the same two historical CV as IRL: Hijo and Junyo. But it also gets six lighter carriers: 3xCVL, 2xCVE and its only CVS (Mizuho). It is not until 1943 that significant changes to major carrier construction occurs: in this year Japan gets Shinano – completed early because the conversion was cast in the fall of 1941 instead of after the Battle of Midway. [Note also that BOTH Yamato and Musashi may convert to Shinano form – after they complete as battleships – and AFTER Shinano completes – because that is the earliest date by which such a conversion could occur. Players who do NOT want these super battleships “turned into carriers” better not let them upgrade after early 1943.] The price of early conversion of CVLs is paid in 1943: NONE come off the ways. Only a single CVE is completed in that year. But two planned CVS do complete (both of which can convert to Chitose like form – as can Mizuho). In 1944 the Taiho completes – along with Unryu laid down as originally planned (a raider carrier) – and a sister renamed Isama (vice Amagi – whose name is not available in EOS) – representing pre war planning rather than post Midway decisions. It is assumed that early carrier battles result in Midway-like expansion of carrier programs – but to a much more limited degree: only two more Unryus are laid down: Kurama and Azuma complete in 1945 (replacing historical Aso and Ikoma – whose names are also not available for CV in EOS). Two more Taihos complete late in 1945 – probably too late to see action unless Japan is very successful in the war: Iwami and Iwari in August and September. Japan completes only 2 CVLs in 1944. All the late war CVE projects are cancelled. Similarly the CA Ibuki (and a sister) complete as gunships. But they – and most other CA – and ALL the BB – may convert to CVs late in the war (if allowed by human players to do so: AI does not seem to take this option). None of these conversions will have air groups, but they can embark any carrier qualified squadrons available. All IJA carriers are completed as transport ships and the few IJA carrier air groups are converted to land based ASW air squadrons (outfitted with ASW versions of the Ki-49 II). The main reason Japan gets more light carriers earlier is that some projects convert before they were sunk (that is, before the real life conversions could take place). The ability of Hyuga and Ise to convert to semi-carriers is hard coded and still present. [IRL ALL the BB had conversion plans to CV or semi-carriers – three different options for each class – sort of 1/3, 2/3 and 3/3 conversion options. Similarly, all the CA had CVL conversion plans.] EOS gives the Japanese more light carriers early, none at all late, and fewer CVs, but the later CVs are better – and all the BB can become emergency CV if required. There is no option to complete Shinano as a BB – Kii and 111 are cancelled – and Yamato and Musashi may convert to CV – but only after Shinano – because they are harder to convert being farther along.

[el cid again]

IV. Changes to Japanese Submarines: Being a fan of Adm Donitz and Adm Hart, I believe in medium sized submarines. EOS completes fewer of the gigantic IJN submarines – generally substituting ocean going (KD) or seagoing (K) type vessels. A number of the larger submarines – too far along to cancel – are fitted with fore and aft guns (as are some US fleet boats) – or in the case of I-8 class – dual heavy gun mountings forward. Only the prototype and one sister of the I-400 submarine aircraft carrier class are completed – and none of the almost I-400 type I-13 class are upgraded (instead they are replaced by smaller vessels, available sooner). The I-400s may convert to submarine transports if desired. [Note, however, that in RHS Japan does have true submarine borne bombers. And in RHS some of the lighter sub aircraft are fitted to deliver Uji biological bombs – an expedient to simulate a real life plan to deliver these weapons via subs with aircraft hangers using balloon delivery near the target city. (see Silent Siege, University of Oregon Press)] I proposed a similar USN option (medium sized subs sooner) – and it is present in RHSBBO (battleship option – and its variants RHSRPO and RHSPPO) – but the Allied Tag Team preferred the fleet boats. Many of the IJN transport submarines remain – and others can convert to transports – but IJA transport sub resources were given to the navy to produce more small attack boats. In RHS Japanese submarines are less exotic than IRL – but they are possibly more effective – being available sooner – and fitted with the most effective of submarine weapons – the 21 inch version of the Long Lance torpedo. [All RHS scenarios feature some subs with midget submarine weapons, and some able to convert to Kaiten carriers or transports.]

[el cid again]

V. Changes to Japanese Surface Ships: The main change is the mass production of superior weapons, and in one case the production of a weapon sooner. [The Bofors 40mm was captured at Singapore. It was copied and successfully put into production. However, two years were lost due to making minor improvements in the design. It could and should have been put into production as is ASAP. In EOS this was done – and the weapon is available from mid 1943. Before that 40mm in Japanese service are Vickers type – about half as effective – and not very numerous.] This mainly takes the form of substituting the 76mm/60 caliber in twin mountings at every possible opportunity. This weapon – similar to a US post war weapon of 50 calibers – can be mounted on any strong deck surface – needing no magazine feeds because it is manually rearmed. A much more difficult – but even more effective – option is to substitute the twin 100mm – the best gun in Japan. But it is very heavy – more so than a 140 mm – and only some ships can mount it. Both weapons use the same fire control system including directors and computers (for which a different cam is used depending on the gun being directed). Late war vessels substitute the twin 40mm Bofors for triple 25mm mounts in many cases. Otherwise the biggest change is mass production of a trainable DC projector for late war ASW vessels. This weapon often replaces the forward gun mounting – similar to the post war US replacing of gun mounts by Weapon Alpha. There is also some substitution of twin 5 inch /40 calibers for 5 inch / 70s – but that isn’t entirely a change from real life: many such conversions actually occurred. We just do more of it in EOS. A few other ships get DP 12 cm guns vice SP ones, and DP 76 mm of an earlier (and much less effective) form than the Type 98 which is being mass produced in EOS [mainly for armed merchant cruisers – where it was desired to minimize cost]. More merchant ships are armed better than IRL – but Allied standards are impossible to approximate because of limited Japanese resources. A major change in program is that early plans for true destroyers are implemented, and the “semi-destroyers” of the late war period are replaced either by true destroyers or by true destroyer escorts. Japanese specialized army transports are not converted to Army CVEs either, nor are oil tankers – which remain oil tankers. More attention should be paid to Japanese merchant ship production – but so far we have not done much more than arm a small number better than they were. EOS does eliminate the smaller landing craft in favor of larger ones, and it continues PT boat production (at the maximum possible rate of 1 per month) slightly longer.

[el cid again]

VI. Changes to Japanese Land Units: In a manner similar to surface ships, Japanese land units are enhanced mainly by substituting better weapons. And the two most important cases are the same as for the surface ships: the Type 98 100mm DP gun and the Type 98 76mm DP gun. Both available since the late 1930s, it was entirely feasible to end production of 75mm, 105mm, 120mm, and 140mm weapons in favor of these (where the intent was AA guns). Another change was in armor: the Ho To 105mm Gun Tank was replaced by the Ji Ro 105mm SPG; Joe’s “motorized T-91” (which represents several things) was replaced with the Ho Ha Half Track (and similar MG armament). A few additional companies of light tanks were organized – and one more brigade late in 1942. Probably of greater significance is the substitution of light tanks for less effective motorized recon in some major formations. There is also some “chrome” – the battery of very late war super heavy AA guns protecting the Imperial Palace is expanded to a battalion (that is, two batteries!), stuff like that. One more armored train is assembled in time for the war (mainly using existing rolling stock and spare materials at Mukden). Small numbers of specialized units are added as early reinforcements: “curved guns” (light mortars), “machine cannons” (AAMG and AA/AT guns), etc, but after early 1942 it is barely possible to make enough replacements so additional formations are not added. [Again this rationalizes the technical fact we have no more slots]. The Indian National Army is slightly better outfitted in terms of heavy weapons – something that had Japanese advocates (curiously including Tojo – who began the war more as an administrator than in charge – although eventually he managed to replace the ruling triumvirate of generals – it was too late to change basic war policy). The navy organizes a few more combined SNLFs early in the war. And both services organize a few more support units which are somewhat better outfitted in terms of AA and radar. [You will see no Koku Kantais (Air Fleets) and more Koku Sentais (Air Flotillas). This is isn’t exactly a revision on history – but it is a change in WITP – which does not give you all the Air Flotillas in other mods – or even in other RHS scenarios. We give up the higher HQ in favor of all the lower ones. The JAAF is similar – you get all the Air Brigades but no Air Divisions. In WITP these formations are land units which support air operations.] There is one bit of EOS only chrome: at Forum request, IJA gets one placable heavy CD unit. This uses the proof turret for the unbuilt Japanese battlecruisers – whose guns were tested at Muroran but never used. More significant perhaps than actual changes to units are changes to unit locations: these are more efficiently placed for initial and follow on operations. Probably the most significant of these is the move of the Third Tank Brigade not in Manchukuo from Hainan to Cambodia – where it can move via land/RR routes instead of by sea to its objectives in Malaya. [FYI – this isn’t strictly an EOS matter as it is in all RHS scenarios – the IJA adopted Gen Yamashita’s proposals to create tank brigades BEFORE the war began in PTO. RHS has carefully recreated these four units: they start in their original form and evolve toward their mid-1942 form. In the summer of 1942 Yamashita was sent to Manchukuo to command Kwangtung Army: he expanded these brigades into four tank divisions. RHS represents that by adding all elements not in the Tank Brigades in units called Mechanized Brigades (they have the same numbers as the tank brigade they are associated with). None of this is in any other mod – except Nemo’s Empires Ablaze – but none of it is fictional or alternate history either.]

[el cid again]

VII. Changes to Japanese Commands: RHS in general has expanded the Northern Command area so it is functional. Until now, it has been too small to include enough supplies to conduct important operations. In all RHS mods the Northern Command Area (or Northern Area Army in EOS) includes Sakhalin Island, Hokkaido, Northern Honshu and the Kurils. Note that in all WITP mods the Southeast Fleet is even worse off than the Northern Area is – and there is no obvious area to annex to it with significant production or supplies. [In Level 7 this command will cease to be a major command area – although a HQ will exist able to provide support. It will become responsible for the Vichy in Madagascar.] But in EOS we have made a major change: the Burma Area Army is renamed the Southwest Area Army. The former North China Expeditionary Army HQ is now the Southern Expeditionary Army HQ. [Neither is a command area]. The former Southern Area Army is split – more or less down the South China Sea – with Sumatra being SW Area and Java being Southern Area. This is an attempt to solve the problem of the Southern Area is “too big” – that some units must always be “too far from HQ” to upgrade – and that only one battle can be fought with HQ support. AI testing indicates this change is a really big deal – and a major boon to Japanese effectiveness. It is not clear if human players will benefit? But AI really does!

[el cid again]

VIII. Changes to Japanese Production: EOS adds a few production facilities: notably aircraft and engine production at Mukden. It also adds aircraft plants in Japan – mainly so AI will produce all types of planes. [If not programmed in at start – AI will never produce a plane at all. If it does not, units arriving with that plane won’t appear – or would not before now. It appears that 1.80x may have changed this so units appear with obsolete aircraft if need be?] Some Japanese production facilities are set to expand. And a few “new” facilities (always small) are added. All these are in addition to RHS wide changes: for example we added minor repair shipyards at places like Cebu (and river ports) and medium repair yards at Soerabaja, Hong Kong, Vizzapatnam and Shangahi (some of which CHS has since adopted as well); there are size 1 aircraft plants at Bangkok and Canton. [Set to make P-35s, I am surprised to report that while they start defunct, if the supply situation is healthy, eventually they convert to a Japanese plane – usually Oscars – entirely automatically because of some mysterious code I do not understand]. More subtile in nature, EOS has placed HQ and supply depots at certain places to help AI work the economy better. [It appears that certain values tell AI “this is a major supply center” and it remembers thereafter. Certainly HQ tell AI “send more to this location.”] And RHS in general has certain supply oriented paths (notably to Coal Harbor – the former Port Alice – on Vancouver Island and between Sakhalin Island and the USSR) so the economy works better. [It also has prevented cooperation between Japan and Korea on an automatic basis via Tsushima Island – forcing Japan to use ships – or not move supplies, fuel, oil or resources between the Home Islands and Mainland Asia.]

[el cid again]

IX. Changes to the Start of the Game: EOS begins in a radically different way: With a full scale invasion attempt on Hawaii. While this is not what happened on December 8 (Japanese time), 1941, it isn’t fictional either. Formal Japanese planning to invade Hawaii dates to 1910, and the more than 100 volume Japanese language official history of WWII says that Adm. Yamamoto concluded on December 10 (the reason I am using Japanese dates is so I can quote properly and have Dec 10 be two days after the attack on Pearl Harbor) that this is what should have been done in 1941. The actual decision to attempt to invade Hawaii was not made until after the Doolittle Raid, when it was decided that pushing US bases back to the West Coast was the best insurance against a repeat. Almost unknown in the West, the Battle of Midway was the preliminary event of the real invasion attempt. It is from that attempt RHS takes the size of the invasion force (three divisions not counting regimental sized units for several different additional island objectives). So while this alternate game start is indeed alternate history, it is not historical fiction made up for fun. It is based on actual planning and the actual attempt. [Anyone interested in English language materials on this matter should look at Hawaii Under the Rising Sun, The Pearl Harbor Papers and The Pacific War Papers, all University of Hawaii Press materials featuring mainly translations of official documents and historians notes.] It was my intention to work until the AI was up to taking Oahu against AI led opposition – and I have so far failed to accomplish that. The AI does not use air power in the sustained way required – and the land based air power available is too small to work if not used consistently and systematically. What we do have is an exciting initial battle in which the Japanese win all the other aspects of the campaign – taking all the outer bases – but achieve only a “dramatic failure” in the invasion of Oahu itself (by five different amphibious task groups) – when AI is in command. Human management should make this a very even fight. Win, lose or draw, the start of EOS is always dramatic, and always involves the loss of over a hundred ships on both sides, including usually both American carriers in the Central Pacific area. It certainly meets the criteria of “not being the same old thing rehashed.”

[el cid again]

X. The fate of the ancient ships in EOS: A historian friend once said to me “the Japanese navy never threw anything away – they kept ships nearly forever.” So my practice – in games more complex than this one – of scrapping old ships and hulks to gain steel from which to build or modify new ones – is not very cultural. Since we cannot scrap ships in WITP – EOS takes a different approach – rearming the old ships. Three ancient protected cruisers – rerated as “first class cruisers” or CA IRL as late as 1942 – are completely stripped of their main and secondary guns – and rearmed with triple six inch turrets (of which about 20 were available) – one forward and one aft. In a similar way, when the war begins, the Mikasa (which still exists), is being rearmed when the war begins – as sort of an oversized CL. These vessels are intended to lead major convoys in EOS – and to spell death to any submarine which attempts surface battle with one of them. If the convoy is attacked by air or surface raiders, it is intended these ships take most of the heat – and thereby that their charges mostly escape. Then there is the Settsu: rebuilt as late as 1941 IRL, she had served as a radio remote controlled target ship through the 1930s, primarily for cruiser gunnery practice and bomber practice. We have done an austere conversion to a CVE – modeled on the Japanese CVE practice – which is practical because the upper works are already gone – and configured her superstructure so she reports to recon as a Japanese CV. This is not exactly new to RHS: in all scenarios the Allies have HMS Centurion running around reporting itself to be a King George V class battleship. Since that really happened, and since when PTO began she was at Bombay, I don’t regard it as ahistorical – but it may on occasion fool players – and it always fools the AI code. In EOS we have given the Japanese a similar capability with this ship which was set up for minimal manning and semi-automated control IRL. It is really intended to be a target to draw some of the heat away from a more valuable modern ship. This sort of thing is SOP IRL - and something I am familiar with as a former USN deception specialist. [There is a little known USN deception special unit known as “beachjumpers” who date from WWII. Their motto is taken from the ancient Chinese military writer Sun Tzu: “Deception is the art of war.” If you think this feature is “not realistic” – have a look at what beachjumpers did and do.]