Forlorn Hopes: The Japanese Respond

[John 3rd]

Here is the Fleet at Palau as it prepares to sail.

Only other real note is that a had a group of 16 Frances find a TF of LST a hex from Formosa with no Fighter Cover! Sank 3 LST and Torpped another. Not much but it is something for the day.

I've got a Scouting Line of 5 Glen-SS forming up east of Marcus...

[Q-Ball]

John;

Can you give us an OOB of your operational CV's? I know you took some damage off India; what do you have in operational condition?

Why do you think you have so many CV's at this point? Is it because Dan has avoided CV battles, or you have?

My opponent in my late '44 will tell you that I have avoided head-on battles with US CV's, but I have hit invasion hexes numerous times with mixed results. I have probably lost my CV-air several times over at this point, and had to rebuild it.

[bigbaba]

20 CV? wow. they must have 1200 or more AC on them! if you can surprise the allied with their pants down, then there emperor will have a reason to celebrate in tokoyo.[:D]

good luck, john san.

[John 3rd]

The Fleet CVs consist of:
CV:  Akagi, Kaga, Soryu, Shokaku, Zuikaku, Taiho, Amagi, Unryu, Kasagi, Aso
CVL:  Ryujo, Chitose, Zuiho, Shoho, Ibuki, Ryuho, Hosho
CVE:  3

Aircraft complement is right about 1100.

My Fighters are pretty poor (55-70 EXP) but my bombers are rock solid with many in their 70s and a few in their 80s.

[tocaff]

Go get 'em tiger! 

A PH raid at this point in time?  Interesting, but what would be found there?  A transport hub for sure.  A SF raid is a bit to far away and would be a logistical nightmare.  I vote for the convoy hunt and a maybe for a shot at PH.

How many Japanese player can claim to have so much punch left so late in the game?

[bigbaba]

i realy dont think that "comerce war" is worth risking your carriers. as i saw in another AAR, the allied have more AK/AP then they need in this stage of the war. so loseing some AK wont hurt them.

i would keep my CVs together and wait for the next allied invasion. then, i would use the carriers AND the LBA against the enemy. in this way, you may sink some transports with troops on them or even some carriers.

i would not seperate and risk the carriers for hunting AKs. he may spot you and hit your carriers while they are seperated. it may only work when you are 100% sure about the location of the main body of the allied carrier fleet.

look at the AAR of vettim. his japanese opponent tried to hunt allied transporters and lost half of his carrier fleet.

[Panther Bait]

Unfortunately, it is often very hard to know where the next invasion will land in time to hit the transports on their way to the destination (at least with Japanese Sig Int).  Until John spots the invasion fleet, he has to keep the Kaigun at Palau, since it is one of the few, or only, bases apparently not in range of Allied search craft.  Unless the invasion is close to Palau, he will probably arrive too late, especially since Dan likes to move in quick, drop a bunch of troops and supply, then get the ships out just as quick.
 
And trying to interdict the invasions in the South China Sea would be almost certain suicide for little gain, since they amphib portions are just little 3-10 hex right hooks up the coast at the moment.  Maybe if Dan moved towards Java it would be worth it, but he shows no signs of going there right now.
 
The real Japanese tried several times to hit shipping on the way to an invasion with either surface ships (Leyte) or aircraft (Philippine Sea, Okinawa), but couldn't get things arranged in time. 
 
Unless John gets lucky a commerce raid probably won't be a stunning success, but it will probably leave the bulk of the KB intact at the end for another try at something else.

[John 3rd]

OK.  Good thinking.  Am going to work on a turn and shall see what happens.  Want to move a few aircraft squadrons on the CVs so I plan to remain another day before moving towards Marcus.

[John 3rd]

"For I Intend to Go in Harm's Way..."

[n01487477]

I really am surprised somewhat that Dan hasn't stopped your ability to bring in Res and Oil for the Southern Part of Borneo and Java ... I know he probably thinks he is doing great damage to your economy with bombing, but strangling the Res/Oil from these regions with a landing at Menado, Palau, Davao or even Tomini could have really have twisted the cord. Interesting decisions & it keeps you in it for a bit more...

I note you didn't do an economic review for this month, I guess you are extremely busy but if you'd like me to have a look & do some assessment pls. pass the file to Micheal (as you know I'm interested in the '44 econ data.)

Damian

[flaggelant]

as kind of a sidenote to "bombing the economy"
 
main aspect described when bombed is AC & engine production,
do the manpower, HI etc suffer equal or more damage?
 
and about what do you repair? 
since there will be fewer convoys arriving, would it be usefull to not repair parts of the industy as they won't have a 100%
production scedule in a couple of months or do you repair everything to try & keep up with what gets destroyed?
 
  

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: n01487477


I really am surprised somewhat that Dan hasn't stopped your ability to bring in Res and Oil for the Southern Part of Borneo and Java ... I know he probably thinks he is doing great damage to your economy with bombing, but strangling the Res/Oil from these regions with a landing at Menado, Palau, Davao or even Tomini could have really have twisted the cord. Interesting decisions & it keeps you in it for a bit more...

I note you didn't do an economic review for this month, I guess you are extremely busy but if you'd like me to have a look & do some assessment pls. pass the file to Micheal (as you know I'm interested in the '44 econ data.)

Damian

I was going to post a Dec Econ Report but then I stupidly saved over the file! Made me mad so I was going to wait until January 1st; however, I will send a file along right now! Be prepared to be sickened and appalled!

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: flaggelant

as kind of a sidenote to "bombing the economy"

main aspect described when bombed is AC & engine production,
do the manpower, HI etc suffer equal or more damage?

and about what do you repair? 
since there will be fewer convoys arriving, would it be usefull to not repair parts of the industy as they won't have a 100%
production scedule in a couple of months or do you repair everything to try & keep up with what gets destroyed?

 

Dan has chosen to attack my Resources FOREVER and though this is beginning to have an effect it should have been OIL! Recent attacks have been on Tokyo's Heavy Industry. Once again this doesn't hurt that much since I have shutdown nearly all of my shipyards (Merchant and Naval). My surplus continues to grow.

I have a large TF of Oil (mentioned earlier) that is now at Davao. I am splitting it into 3 TF of 6 TK and will try to run them Home. They carry a full month's supply of Oil so it would be great to get any of them home.

If they make it home then I will run them back out with fuel for helping the Fleet when it returns from the current sortie.

As to Engines, I have issues with Mitsubishi but my Nakajima stockpile is pretty decent. Don't know why Dan hasn't gone after these hardly at all...

[John 3rd]

Fight at Shanghai...

[John 3rd]

Here is current situation in China and Formosa.

[Mark VII]

Go USS Nashville! One of my favorite ships since I work in Nashville and live nearby.

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Fight at Shanghai...

[flaggelant]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd


Don't know why Dan hasn't gone after these hardly at all...

i guess its one of the few late war advantages, that the allied player usually doesnt have a single clue about what
jap economy is doing at that stage [:D]

[John 3rd]

I've seen that.  If any Allied FB reads this always remember OIL is NOT your primary target!  Hit the resources, heavy industry, and shipyards...
 

[John 3rd]

The Fleet just sailed past Guam with no observation.  There is an SS at Marcus and I have an ASW TF moving to sink it.

Damian--I sent a turn to Michael because I couldn't find your email address.

[Panther Bait]

John,
 
Your HI pool might be increasing but how about supply?  Resources and heavy industry are your basic sources of supply (except for any auto supply). So I think Dan might be going after your supply pool and allowing you production since he can kill just about anything you produce. 
 
Mike