At Dawn We Slept--Japan's Version

[John 3rd]

Michael and I have been slowly playing turns with the campaign and I've decided that it is time to catch-up with the action.  I will do separate regional postings pertaining to the Central Pacific, South Pacific, DEI, and Bruma--Malaya.  It is our intention to showcase the RHS Mod through our AAR.  In doing this, I plan to provide my own commentary about differences (good and bad) to Stock as well as Nik/Big B Mods. 

With almost two weeks of turns completed, I have a number of thoughts and insights to the Mod as well as Michael's strategy:

1.  Map--I have come to truly enjoy the new map.  It is clearly laid out and, once I read up on it a bit, easy to read.  The vast number of additional small bases, islands, resource areas, and pure eye candy take a little getting used to but I like it more and more.  As an agressive Japanese player, I LIKE seeing additional bases in Australia, New Zealand, and elsewhere.  It REALLY opens up the possiblities.  The Sea Lanes are a good addition.  Since I have Madagascar to defend with this Mod, it has been interesting to play with this large island.

2.  Ships
a.  The tremendous variety of the merchant fleet is something!  I love the faster AK and AP.  It is great to have something carrying troops at faster then a 2-2 speed.

b.  The changes to the Japanese Fleet rudely caught my attention.  The range of many Japanese ships have been decreased and I feel like I almost always need an AO nearby.  I am not complaining, mind you, this is more realistic but hard to get used to...

c.  Warship Changes
1.  As said earlier, I am very excited that the CVEs now come with their own organic airgroup.  I like to use my CVEs aggressively and this REALLY helps me do it without taking away resources that could be used elsewhere. 
2.  In a BIG change, I sent Chitose/Chiyoda/Mizuho back to Osaka after intercept operations east of the Philippines and Mizuho INSTANTLY transformed into a CVL!  Since she hadn't been very busy in the first week, I took her immediate conversion to be a simple reinforcement.  Unlike the CVEs, she did not appear with an organic airgroup so I put 32 (30 plane capacity) planes on her--12 Zeros and 20 Kates.  I wish that the same occurred with Chitose/Chiyoda/Nisshin!  I almost forgot to mention that I got BB Yamato within a week of the Pearl Harbor attack!  How about that!
3.  I like the change of Kido Butai's airgroups DOWN to 18 Zero each.  Zuikaku, for example, starts with 18 Zero, 27 Val, and 27 Kate.  The other three 72 plane CVs are the same.  This is how the Japanese TRULY started so it is more realistic.  Anyone know when they shift over to 1/3-1/3-1/3?

3.  Planes
a.  Types--Aircraft have been...interesting...the variety of choices is HUGE and I need help with them.  There are planes that I have never heard of being built or researched upon...
b.  Still trying to figure out how the engines work for aircraft selection.  Working on this as well...
c.  Numbers--I cannot believe that I have a limited number of A6M5 already in production!  They are headed for my CVs ASAP.  Ranges and munition loads are slightly different but OK.

4.  Ground Units
Here is the single biggest level of frustration for me.  Names have been changed, units have been relocated to different starting locations, and many units TOE has been massively reworked.  This has led to some issues with troops landing that were not appropriate for the mission and made it necessary for me to land again at severl locations to reinforce stagnated attacks.

I think my frustrations with the changes is that I wasn't sufficiently prepared for the DEGREE of changes that are in this scenario!  I am enjoying myself but it is taking much more work then I thought I would have to worry about.

A TRUE RHS Handbook would really help here.  The book that can be downloaded isn't that useful.  let me provide some specific suggestions:

1.  The current book talks about industrial and resources changes but doesn't get too specific--it would be helpful if it did. 
2.  A new, detailed explaination of aircraft upgrades, the engines that they require, delivery dates, etc...
3.  The use of correct Japanese terminology--for unit designation--is good but could use some explaination as well.

These are just initial thoughts...

Will do my regional postings later today and tomorrow.

[1EyedJacks]

Hi John,

I guess with the new handbook you've been reading and taking notes <grin>.

I'll B starting an EOS test game w/GoodBoyLaddie this week. I hope to get a good understanding of the air combat system and the production process. This game is soooo different! If I remember right, RHS has no zero bonus - right? How are your fighters standing up to the sweeps and escorting duties? It looks like I'll be trying to produce more shipping than I generate points for. Did you do a massive bump of naval shipyards? Which military ships are you halting production on to try to find some balance?

[John 3rd]

Good Evening Sir!

I didn't KNOW there was an updated handbook out. At this point I don't know how helpful it will be we'll check it out. It is MARKEDLY different as a game. Are you playing the Japanese as well?

My NORMAL strategy is to raise the naval shipyards by at least 100-150 points; however, there are a number of small shipyards that exist in CVO that do not in any other game I have played. Look around in China and Manchuria. There are small yards in Batavia, Soerabaja, Manila, and elsewhere. In taking, repairing, and expanding these you gain a bunch of points.

As to the Zero bonus--I do not know--they have been quite effective! I crushed a huge number of Buffalos--for few casualties--in a two day battle over Singapore just a few turns ago. AAA seems to be NASTY! I have lost a ton of planes attacking various bases...

I always stop Shinano and keep everything rolling. Accelerate all early CV/CVL/CVE! Like I noted earlier, I got BB Yamato on December 11, 1941! [:D] Her 18.1-Inch Rifles are about to get their first test covering Midway Invasion Force...

Does that help? What other questions to you have?

[John 3rd]

Michael and I's game proceed quite slowly but things are beginning to take shape within the campaign. After a number of frustrations regarding the renamed ground units, I am firmly gaining control of that side of the Mod. It hasn't been easy and--in many ways--it has been like learning an entirely new game.

It is now December 28, 1941. Regional Reports:

Malaya
I have taken almost the entire Malay Pensinsula without too much fighting. Starting the 23rd, I directly began an aerial reduction of Singapore itself. Over a two day period, I shot down nearly 65 Allied fighters for very little cost to my own forces.

Burma
I have two Infantry Divisions knocking on Moulmein's door.

DEI
I have taken nearly most of Borneo stretching from Pontianak in the SW to Tarakan in the NE.

I have Amboina and Lautem and am currently about to land and take Koepang.

As I posted earlier, nearly all Allied heavy warships have been emliminated. Prince of Wales, Repulse, Houston, Boise, and Marblehead are all gone. Several other cruisers and DDs have been sunk and heavily damaged.

I originally had substantial carrier forces present for this thrust: Ryuho, Zuiho, Hosho, Taiyo, and Kaga were tasked with this area. They have done well enough that I have dispatched Hosho and Taiyo to link up with CVL Mizuho (YES--she is a CVL and NOT a CS!) at Truk so I can have some carrier power supporting my attacks in the Solomons and New Guinea.

Philippines
Initially ignored, I have landed a substantial invasion force at Aparri on the 24th and am currently taking northern Luzon. The Japanese air force has been hitting Manila, Clark, and Bataan every day.

Northern Pacific
Normally I take everything in the Aleutians through Dutch Harbor but this time I intend to only take Attu in the foreseeable future. An Invasion Force is loading for that destination as we speak.

SE Pacific
Have taken Kavieng, the Admiralties, Rabaul, Lae, Shortland, Buin and Tulagi. An Allied cruiser--DD TF raised some HELL here but has bugged out since Rabaul fell. Plan on taking Luganville and New Caledonia next. Am certain that I do not have a strong enough ground force to take Port Moresby. Will save that for March of 1942...

Eastern Pacific
HERE is where I am taking some massively bold steps.

1. Bases: I have captured Wake, Canton, Palymyra, and Christmas Islands. I currently have TF sailing to capture Midway, Johnston, and Pago-Pago.

2. Naval Forces: All five remaining KB CVs (with all four of the fast BCs) are covering the attacks with BB Mutsu and Nagato as well as about 10 CA/CL and 20 DD covering the actual Invasion Forces.

3. Aerial Forces: I have spent some political points to move several Daitai of Nells/Bettys as well as Zeros to strenthen my attacks. There are nearly 100 Betty/Nells and 60 Zeros currently in theatre with more on the way.

4. Ground Forces: To accomplish this assault I have pulled from the DEI Arena an Infantry Division, 2 Infantry Brigades, the South Seas Force and have another Infantry Brigade from China on the way. These combat units are supplemented by several Engineering Regiments, Artillery units, and Base Forces.

The question is HOW FAR do I go? I KNOW I have the strength to take the big island of Hawaii but don't think I can handle Pearl Harbor...

Any thoughts or ideas???

I've never even remotely tried this strategy before...

[1EyedJacks]

Hi John,

Pearl is probably loaded with mines... Invade from a different base and march across land into Pearl is what I'd recommend. Maybe 2 carrier TFs one N and the other S of PH for Naval/AF attacks.

Pump plenty of supplies/fuel to Johnston so you can replenish lost aircraft might be another thought. Is Johnston a level 3 base? Run 100 LB out of Johnston with room for a decent cap. Pound the airbase and soak up supplies and prevent ENG units from repairing fort damage...

Maybe run an AR to Johnston too? And a naval HQ to fix those ships that get clobbered? And an AS so you can service subs... Send lotsa subs around Hawaii as a peremeter warning system...

Lemme ask another question tho. With the reduction to range for your AK/APs, do you really want Hawaii? That's one heck of a long supply chain...


----- Eeeeeewwww - bad advice on my part - I just looked @ the map again. U can't march overland to PH... Bummer dayz. If you want PH you are gunna have to assault from sea. Maybe take every other dang-gummed base in the chain of isles except PH. While U R island hopping bomb PH into the stone age.

Use this time to fetch a bunch of MSWs. Load your invasion fleet with an extra 15-20 MSWs. Add a 2nd Surface action fleet to bombard PH from way off shore - don't allow you DDs to play.

I dunno what he's got for CDs but it's probably not pleasant... When U invade run the surface fleet to bombard, bring your bombers in to suppress troups, and add some CAs to your invasion fleet to soak up the damage from the CD units...

[Canoerebel]

I thought you tired a grab for Pearl quite awhile ago - I think you called it "Operation East Wind" or somesuch?&nbsp; How did that turn out?&nbsp; I remember the AAR in general, but not the specific outcome of this effort.

[John 3rd]

Wow Dan--that is some memory!&nbsp; Yes--The operation was called Eastern Wind and it occurred much later then this.&nbsp; That was against Paul Layne nearly two years ago.&nbsp; We are still playing and are approaching December 1944.
&nbsp;
By the time I launched that attack, he had had time to strengthen the inner defence line of Midway-Johnston-Palmyra.&nbsp; I took Palmyra and the other two but had to evacuate from Johnston Isle due to his 4EB.&nbsp; My intention here is not let those initial reinforcements arrive, if possible, and try to make the initial battle FAR to the east.&nbsp; I could take the big island in the Hawaiian chain and use its two bases to raise Hell.&nbsp; When things get too hot, I could evac or leave my troops to fight on as long as possible OR I could grab the inner islands named abobve with no real intention of holding them and make the Allies spend time prepping and attacking THERE instead of elsewhere...
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Still open for thoughts and comments...

[1EyedJacks]

Hi John,

I was scamming El Cid's posts and it looks like he's a flak-happy modder-pocker <yes - I'm smiling as I say that>.

I saw Michael post air results in his AAR. It looks like flak is/was putting a huge dent in your frames and pilots. Are you flying most of your bombing runs @ 5k?

Have you modified your altitude setting based on the AAA gun info El Cid posted?

[1EyedJacks]

Hi John,

How is the reduction in endurance for your merchant marines affecting you - are you having to do anything drastictly different in your resource/oil/supply convoys?

What are you doing with your sub warfare? Are you going after his merchies?