A Glutton for Punishment - ny59giants(J) vs Dobey(A)

[ny59giants]

I have decided to take out my mod (Big B's mod v1.5 on RHS 6) out for a spin. However, I have gone over to the "Dark Side" to play as Japan. I started two PBEM games as Japan with identical openings at the beginning of this month. I hope that my experience playing the Allied side multiple times for the first 6 months will help me out, but I doubt it. [:D]

Dobey (Stuart Bruce) is the slower of the two games to date as we are currently at 29 Dec 41 while the faster paced game vs Miller41 (Ken) is at 14 Jan 42. I will post screen shots and make comments, but try not to give out free intel that may help Ken in our other game. The games have gone in different directions since the attack on Pearl Harbor, but only in certain theaters.

I play this game to learn and have fun. [8D] I have enlisted John 3rd for strategic issues and Damian (n01487477) for economic feedback (twice monthly) as part of the Imperial Staff. I helped gets John's economy afloat in "Forlorn Hopes," but did very little in making decisions on what to build, how much of each, and what to expand. In this regards, I am a novice in decision making.

Now, to play catch up on what has transpired to date, theater by theater.

Pearl Harbor - I took Kaga out of KB and sent her to join Mini-KB off of Luzon to add some much needed punch IMO. The initial attack had me at odds with the "dice gods" (no Kates launched torpedoes [:(]). As KB started to head towards Kwajalein, I sent the Kates back for a second strike. No ships were sunk, but some of the cruiser were hit and this will hopefully limit the AA support for his carriers.

[ny59giants]

Marshalls:

KB retreated to Kwajalein to reload, resupply, and take on replacement aircraft and a few pilots. However, they went over to cover the delayed invasion of Wake Island. A lesson learned from Ken's game was to detach the BB and CA to bombard the island "before" the transports arrived. Thus, the troops landed with minimal casualties and the island fell on the 12th. Tarawa fell on the 18th. KB left and headed over to launch attacks on Port Moresby.

Meanwhile, Stuart had sent his three American carriers (Lexington, Enterprise, and Saratoga) to launch attacks on Kwajalein. He kept them 5 hexes away on the morning of the 24th as the SBD got plenty of escort from the Wildcats to blow through the Claudes on CAP. 3 CL and a DD were hit in port while KB was busy hitting Port Moresby. He was smart in keeping them outside the range of the Claudes (4) and without escort, the Nells did not fly. [:(]

Orders were given to have KB return to Kwajalein at full speed on the 25th. Their home port was changed to Rabaul to allow the ships to go full speed and get around the AI's desire to limit their speed if the home port was too far away. Stuart sent the carriers to head further west and they split into 2 CV TF one hex NW of Kwajalein and Lex's TF one hex NE. I had sent the damaged ships towards Truk as bait and I lost 2 CL and a DD to attacks. Thankfully, the Claudes were made of stern enough stuff to fly and escorted the Nells and Bettys (2 Daitai worth of Betty were flown in from Truk) towards the Americans. Lex got hit by one torpedo while the "Big E" was less lucky and got hit by two torpedoes with one getting a "Fuel Storage Explosion." BANZAI!! [&o] Air losses showed that system damage was enough to prevent "Big E" from recovering her DB (28) and TB (17) and were op losses.

KB had moved far enough east to get within transfer range and the Zeros and Kates from Soryu and Hiryu made the transfer to Kwajalein. The boys in the weather center reported that rain was forecasted all the way to Johnson Island for the 26th and the probability of hitting the damaged American carriers was low. However, a max effort was ordered and the patrol planes where set at 100% naval search. As many of us know, the weatherman is often wrong on many occasions and today was one of them. [:D] The damaged Enterprise was found only 4 hexes NE of Kwajalein and the combination of Zeros, Kates, Nells, and Bettys put in four more torpedoes and got an "Ammo Storage Explosion" from one hit and put her under. Only some leak from the CAP from Lexington one hex away slowed down the morning attack. At this point, I would have been happy with this result. In the afternoon, the pilots of the IJN continued to bring honor onto the Empire and found the Lexington. Four more torpedoes were added to the single hit from the day before and a "Fuel Storage Explosion" was reported. Lady Lex slip beneath the waves to join the Enterprise. Plane and pilot losses were acceptable and future plans were being re-written in Tokyo that night.

Saratoga was able to escape into the mist, but subs were being vectored into to cover the approaches into Pearl.

[ny59giants]

Solomon Sea Area:

Rabaul falls on the 15th. Buin falls on the 20th. Lunga is scheduled to be invaded on the 29th.

[ny59giants]

Celebes Area:

Manado falls on the 14th. On the 20th, CA Houston is unsuccessfully attacked by the 5 Kates from the CVEs one hex NE of Kendari. Japanese calculations figure it is 7 hexes to Manado, but only 6 hexes to Namlea where transports are unloading. Namlea has a size 2 AF and is only 2 hexes NW from Ambonia. Namlea falls on the 20th and a SCTF of 2CA, 2CL, & 7DD covering the invasion of Ambonia are ordered over to Namlea while the transports are sent away. On the 20th, the Americans (CA Houston, CL Marblehead & Boise, and 6 DDs) show up. They do not bombard during the night phase, but we have surface combat between the two during the day. There are only two hits "total" - one each between CA's before they break off. Ambonia falls and the Kates and Bettys do not find any targets the next day as they were flown in. [:@] BB Ise is hit by the Martins flying from Kendari and get only 1 point worth of system damage. [;)]

Mini-KB joins the CVEs and a BB TF hits Kendari on the 25th. Troops have landed and orders have been given to take Kendari on the 29th. I have learned from Ken's game and TKs are headed to this part of the SRA form Japan to support these fuel hogs. [:D]

[ny59giants]

Borneo and Jolo:

Kuching is taken on the 16th and the "appropriate" number of Zero, Nell, Marvis, and Recon are moved in to discourage the movement of ships to and from Singapore.

On the 28th, troops land at Brunei and O20 sinks an AP after she unloads. I am still adjusting to being on the receiving end of those "pesky" Allied subs. [8|] An attack is ordered for the 29th.

Two TF with a SNL each are headed for Jesselton and Sandakan (see screen shot). The invasion force for Tarakan has just left Taan (Hainan) and the BB TF from Brunei will head back for a quick reload at Camranh Bay before she catches up.

Jolo falls on 28th and the bridge from Japan to Truk and beyond is now complete. Even my shortest legged planes can now make it. [:)]

[ny59giants]

Malaya:

Kota Bharu and Alor Star fell on the 15th. Mini-KB (CV Kaga, CVL Ryujo, & CVL Zuiho) are covering the landings at Kuantan along with a BB TF. Mini-KB is stationed close enough to Singapore to sink three of four DDs still at sea there. Orders for the 16th are to move mini-KB further south, but stay 4 hexes away from Singapore as recon shows major shipping still in the port. Newly moved in Zeros and Oscars at Kota Bharu are ordered to sweep Singapore for the 16th. However, Force Z made her appearance to try to interrupt the invasion by the 56th Division on the 16th. BB Kongo is hit by 14" shells three times (damage is 49/36/21) from Prince of Wales.

On the 16th Kuantan fell. Force Z had retreated back to the "relative" safety of Singapore, but the sweep from Kota Bharu knocks out almost half the Buffalo's on CAP. This clears the way for the strike from mini-KB to find BB Prince of Wales and put 5 torpedo and 3 bomb hits in her. She is now part of the reef in Singapore. [:D] As a side note, Ken lost her off of Kuching in that game on the same day to mini-KB.

Georgetown falls on the 20th. Taiping falls on the 22nd. Kuala Lumpur falls on the 28th. Southern Area HQ is at Kota Bharu. In various bases within Malaya there is now over 100k in supply. I'll be glad when AE come out to help regulate this.

Screen shot - Coming down the west coast are 3 x Field Artillery, 2 x Engineer, 2 x Mixed Brigade, and the 5th Division. Coming down from Kota Bharu area are Imperial Guards Division, 18th Division, 56th Division, 1 x Mixed Rgt, and 2 x Tank with a Mixed Brigade and a Tank lagging behind. I was trying to push down hard along the east coast. However, Stuart had placed 4 brigades in the hex due east of Kuala Lumpur which is a mtn hex and he got the combat bonus. During one ground combat phase, I did a Shock Attack and got almost 3:1 odds, but he did not retreat. [:(][&:] My tanks were set to pursue and I think my attempt to cut off a few brigades will fall short due to this. He has 5 units at Malacca and I have my Malaya based LBA on ground attack there for the next turn to try to disruption and fatigue while I Shock attack at the crossroad.

In my other game with Ken, I had tried Nemo's strategy of landing at Mershing with my brigades, tanks, and engineers. I think they were so disrupted from the landing that they were unable to cut off retreats from the northern part of the peninsula. Thus, I did a a more conventional attack this time.

[ny59giants]

Luzon:

San Fernando falls on 9th and the AF goes to size 2 on 14th. The AF is now 3(2) 39%. Lingayen falls on 20th. Clark Field is now a stalemate. [:(] Plans are in the works to break the log jam on Luzon (need PP).

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Solomon Sea Area:

Rabaul falls on the 15th. Buin falls on the 20th. Lunga is scheduled to be invaded on the 29th.

Michael--This is a good looking map. You said it is RHS?

[ny59giants]

Michael--This is a good looking map. You said it is RHS?

I think Cobra did the maps for RHS using digital mapping from Google. They are "pretty."

[n01487477]

Michael,
I'm surprised your opponent came out to play so early near Kwajalein, I hope these losses don't dampen his spirit too much, I'd like to see a cut and thrust game[8D]

I had tried Nemo's strategy of landing at Mershing with my brigades, tanks, and engineers. I think they were so disrupted from the landing that they were unable to cut off retreats from the northern part of the peninsula. Thus, I did a a more conventional attack this time.

Did you hit the beach the day before with a small force of Para's or landing force ?

Yep ... these maps are gorgeous - are you finding it takes longer to scroll / load ? I went back to stock the other day and it was lightning fast... Image Andrew's or Cobra's on a 40 mile ... amazing [8D]

Now if only I can get Nemo to do the same for EA...

Sidebar - I thought I've been looking at your data from your game V Ken  [&:] (but is that the testbed as I note ... and this is the adjustment game?)

PS... don't take it easy on those Boise ! HA!

[ny59giants]

I thought I've been looking at your data from your game V Ken [&:] (but is that the testbed as I note ... and this is the adjustment game?)

Ken's game is the one you get twice monthly game files for economic feedback. Once I get it, I make changed to this game.

On Mershing, there is a BF and Aussie Brigade there at game start, so para are not enough. Next time, I'll land with two of four brigades and hold the armor back until the base is captured. I'm still learning how to conduct a successful invasion on a defended base.

I'm using this title for my game as I know I'll lose in the end, but hopefully the learning curve will not be that steep.

[ny59giants]

29 Dec 41

Landings: Lunga, Kendari, and Brunei

Subs/ASW: O16, Perch are attacked by ASW TF without getting any direct hits. O20 puts two torpedoes in an AP at Brunei and the escorts cannot find her. [:(]
For the JFB, are there any combination of ships to use to get max ASW results??

Burma: The small group of Flying Tigers (23 planes) fly a sweep over Bangkok from Rangoon and down 4 Nates to 0. However, only one pilot is lost.

Malaya: 186 Sally/Lily hit the 12th Indian Brigade at Malacca in an attempt to increase disruption and fatigue as follow up forces from Kuala Lumpur attempt to enter the hex. Those troops moved only 22 miles. A Shock Attack at the RR junction SE of Kuala Lumpur gets 5:1 odds and the 4 brigades are pushed back with 2 x Tank in pursuit. I'm still holding out hope I can cut off the 5 LCU at Malacca.

Borneo: 3 and then 8 Martins from Tarakan attack the AP unloading at Brunei and get one hit. 18 Zero brush aside the 7 Dutch fighters (2 lost) over Balikpapan to allow the 25 Nell from Kuching to hit 5 AKs with 5 torpedoes.

Kendari is captured by a Special BF, 2 x Construction, and 4th/A Division. However, the base is left with damages (72/48/74) and the Resource center is (216)384. [X(]

Brunei is captured by 2 x Naval Gds, 2 x Construction, and an Aviation Rgt. This base is also left in disarray. Damages are (63/2/69) at the base and the Oil center is (244)56. [X(]

I have rung up a bill of 460k in supplies needed to repair both these centers. YIKES!! The dice gods are now angry with me for sinking those two American carriers. In my other game with Ken, I have no significant sinking and the dice gods have rewarded me with capturing bases Industrial complexes almost intact. Go figure...[8|]

In other related news, see what my Glen equipped sub spotted. The Glen sub and the 2 fleet subs will move 2 hexes NE to attempt an intercept of CV Saratoga.

[n01487477]

For the JFB, are there any combination of ships to use to get max ASW results??

I'm sure you know most of these Michael ... but ...

Not sure about your HR's but the more the merrier (frowned upon) ... a good commander (admirals are usually frowned upon)...
DD's/APD's with plenty of ASW and experience
Patrol planes spotting
ASW planes and search planes scouring the waters also seems to help ... but once again the dice gods play a fickle finger here too ...(even if it is better than in RL)
CV's using search for all planes (very frowned upon but impossible to tear yourself away from)

As your part-time economics minister, don't sweat the Res Cntr, you have enough anyway. The Oil Cntr is a bad blow as you needed an additional 1100 Res Cntrs to keep yourself afloat.
Palembang, Miri and Balikpapan will almost get you there, and Java will certainly put you over the top...I just hope that you get most of those intact...

[Rainer79]

At the start the 8 ASW APDs are your best ships. They typically have bad commanders though so I would recommend switching their captains ASAP.

Japanese DDs do have good crew experience but typically are needed for other jobs. Be aware that some of them do not have any depth charges before their first upgrade though.

You should also try to include at least 1 escort ship per convoy as that will stop subs from attacking on the surface. While US torpedoes might not work, those deck guns surely do.

[ny59giants]

30 Dec 41

Landings: Lunga (captured by a NLF and BF) and Jesselton

Hawaii: My three subs were able to move into position. I-15 missed hitting a TK, but did put a fish into DD Henley. I-174 was able to hit the same TK with a torpedo. Then, I-174 put a single torpedo into CA Salt Lake City. [:D] My Glen equipped sub is out of torpedoes, but the other two will go to full speed and try to get in a few more licks by moving due east.

China: Another part of the Flying Tigers are operating out of Henchow and 21 flew a sweep over Shanghai where the Claudes from three Daitai were unable to do well. Losses were Japan 3 and Tigers 1. Throughout China the Mongolian Cavalry Brigades are moving into bases that have low garrison requirements to free up the stronger brigades and divisions for active duty. My focus is to get rid of those pesky guerrillas before undertaking a more serious offensive.

Luzon: A large raid hit the AF at Manila. The 79 Zeros lose 4 to only 7 P-40E (why?!? [&:] ). They were escorting 185 Nell/Betty/Sally and got 46 hits on the AF. The daily bombardment attack at Clark Field took place 1254:904 (see screen shot).

Malaya: 148 Lily/Sally hit the 6th & 12th Indian Brigades at Malacca in two separate attacks. An engineer rgt and brigade have entered Malacca and sufficient land forces have caught up with the 2 tanks in the exit hex SE of Malacca to cut off 4 LCU (17,680 troops, 142 guns, 0 vehicles). My LBA in Malaya will hit those troops just above Johore Bharu for the next two days while more troops complete the last 15 miles of their journey. Hopefully, the loss of those trapped troops at Malacca will help with the siege of Singapore.

Japanese ASW vs Allied subs: SS Snapper is sunk just west of Formosa from two direct hits while the SS Seadragon puts a torpedo into a PC 120 miles due east of Takao. The PC has over 90 float damage and is expected to sink tomorrow.

[ny59giants]

31 Dec 41

ASW/Subs: My ASW around Kwajalein, Camranh Bay come up empty against the two American subs. [:(] However, I-174 & I-175 had moved 4 hexes at full speed due east to try to get in another shot at the TF returning from Kwajalein. The damaged Tk from yesterday is sunk by I-174 with another torpedo. Another DD is hit with a torpedo. The tally from two days is a Tk sunk, 2 x DD hit with a torpedo each, and a CA has a torpedo. The subs will go back to mission speed and head back to port.

Luzon: 77 Zero escort 101 Betty/Sally to hit Manila's AF and 4 P-40E are shot down without any losses. [:)]

Malaya: 30 Oscar escort 143 Sally to hit the troops holding back the IJA from getting to Singapore. 2 out of 3 Buffalo were shot down. Another 700 assault value worth of troops are less than 38 miles from this hex and then will push those troops into Johore Bahru. A ground bombardment attack at Malacca show 3 brigades and a BF trapped there. Good news for the eventual siege of Singapore. [8D]

Burma: 33rd Division has arrived at Bangkok with disruption at 15 and fatigue at 47. They will rest for a few days before heading to Tavoy to join the 55th division and head for Moulmein.

Borneo: An AP and an AK are each hit by Martins out of Tarakan. The invasion TF for this base is joined by a SCTF with 2 BB, 1 CA, 2 CL, & 4 DD. A NLF captures Jesselton and is immediately reloading for work within the Philippines. Another NLF is unloading at Sandakan.

[ny59giants]

Here are the economic reports from the first month at war. Please feel free to ask questions and offer feedback to this novice Japanese player.

[ny59giants]

This clearly shows that I am way above what is needed in Malaya.

[ny59giants]

A Global perspective for the last few days.

[ny59giants]

Air Production - Frames