Amis vs Aussies - World Domination(no jrcar or Tony)

[Q-Ball]

Consider me subscribed, can't wait for your colonialist-crushing strategies!

[jwilkerson]

12/08/1941

South China Sea
I forgot to reset the range of some Nells, so they flew over about six TFs of Allied shipping leaving Hong Kong and suicided themselves against the P40s at Manilla to get a shot an 1 AKL in port (missing). I guess this is SAIEW since UV.

My area will first land at Miri and establish a small fighter base to cover a later landing at Kuching.

I will sortie the BC group out into the SCS to try to bump into some of that massive amount of shipping I see out there.

The Izusu will sortie from Saigon to Kuching to mess with any reinforcement attempt.

A submarine I positioned to pick off the PoW instead put 2 Torps into the Repulse, so I guess we still didn't get her (she has take 7 torp hits so far).

Here is some air production data.

[jwilkerson]

12/08/1941

And aircraft engines

[jwilkerson]

12/08/09

And resources

[jwilkerson]

12/09/1941

South China Sea
See pic below. Not a good day for the Japanese in the South China Sea. No bombers from Indochina flew, despite presence, of HQ, morale 99, fatigue 0, fighter escort, etc. [:)] Allied merchant shipping steams by with no interference [:D] even our BB Surface Group sails through the lot with no contact!

But, Allied submarines massacre some unescorted convoys (set up pre-war by the scenario) - I should've sent them back to port to get proper escorts. Doing so now!

Allied Uber PTs perform a typical daylight attack on a heavily escorted convoy, sinking a second class DD and escaping.[:D]

To top it off, our attack at Kota Bhura failed, messing up our regiment there - maybe we'll have better luck on another day [;)].

[erstad]

ORIGINAL: jwilkerson

But, Allied submarines massacre some unescorted convoys (set up pre-war by the scenario) - I should've sent them back to port to get proper escorts. Doing so now!

Uh, yeah. Insufficient escorts, no aircover, and heading deep into the bowels of the DEI (manado and some other base I forget?). What were those dev's thinking [:-] I've got those guys bobbing along in mid-ocean until I can protect them.

[jwilkerson]

Oh I did manage to turn those two convoys around. They are unloading at Samah. Then I can disband those convoys into the Port - since there are insufficient escorts - but disbanded into the port at least they will be safe from marauding Uber PTs! [:D]

[Kull]

Joe, what are you using as the reaction settings on your Subs? FWIW, I played the entire Aleutians scenario with IJN subs at zero, and they might have launched one attack for every ten "hunker down and get demolished". In my second run through, the subs are all set to 1 and the attack rate is closer to 50%.

[jwilkerson]

Right now for submarines on patrol I'm using 6 and for submarines performing RTB I am using 0. So far I have gotten 1 attack per turn (2 attacks total). I am running the 16 or so submarines in the South China Sea, so I have 12 on patrol and 4 performing RTB right now.

[jwilkerson]

12/10/1941

South China Sea

Our submarines torpedoed 2 small tankers in the Java Sea, both expended all their torpedos and are now performing RTB (Saigon). The Kongo/Haruna Group caught 1 AP (with troops aboard) and another small tanker, during a sweep of the Sulu Sea. This unit must now proceed to Miri to cover the landing there. The Isuzu poked her head in at Kuching over the evening but there was no shipping home. Now she will proceed the Miri landing force into Miri this turn. We do see some Allied destroyers between our Miri landing force and Miri so, we expect some type of battle.

The high command insisted that we attack Hong Kong prior to completing our preparations. Our attack did reduce the fortifications somewhat, but the enemy troops are still holding out.

Here is an excerpt from this turns combat report:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Dec 10, 41--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submarine attack near Billiton at 52,91

Japanese Ships
SS I-153

Allied Ships
TK Strix, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage



SS I-153 is sighted by TK Strix
SS I-153 launches 8 torpedoes at TK Strix


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submarine attack near Billiton at 52,92

Japanese Ships
SS I-153

Allied Ships
TK Semiramis, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage



SS I-153 is sighted by TK Semiramis
SS I-153 launches 8 torpedoes at TK Semiramis


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near San Jose at 76,84, Range 22,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo
BB Haruna
CA Takao
CA Atago
CL Jintsu
DD Asashio
DD Oshio
DD Michishio
DD Arashio
DD Akatsuki
DD Hibiki

Allied Ships
xAP President Madison, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk We find a transport with troops in the Sulu Sea


Allied ground losses:
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Jolo at 74,88, Range 20,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo
BB Haruna
CA Takao
CA Atago
CL Jintsu
DD Asashio
DD Oshio
DD Michishio
DD Arashio
DD Akatsuki
DD Hibiki

Allied Ships
TK Manatawny, Shell hits 13, and is sunk We find a tanker in the Sulu Sea


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Kwangchowan at 73,60

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 2,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-51 Sonia x 10



No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
xAKL Halldor, Bomb hits 1, on fire Of the hundreds of aircraft we have trying to bomb the Allied shipping in the South China Sea, one group of Sonia finally got a hit. Note that none of the Nells or Betty's have yet flown after the first turn



Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Ki-51 Sonia bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 50 kg GP Bomb
6 x Ki-51 Sonia bombing from 1000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 50 kg GP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAKL Halldor


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Hong Kong (77,61)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 26280 troops, 321 guns, 218 vehicles, Assault Value = 632

Defending force 8685 troops, 133 guns, 80 vehicles, Assault Value = 226

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1 Fortifications reduced we can try again soon

Japanese adjusted assault: 892

Allied adjusted defense: 405

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
1202 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 48 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 61 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled
Vehicles lost 8 (2 destroyed, 6 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
375 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 36 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 23 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Vehicles lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)

[jwilkerson]

12/10/1941

South China Sea

So next turn, our Miri landing force will proceed towards Miri, Chokai is flag. The Isuzu will head into Miri before the landing force (we hope) to find and disrupt any allied shipping out in front of the landing force. The Kongo/Haruna force will return from the Sulu Sea, to provide heavy cover for the landing.

[jwilkerson]

12/10/1941

Formosa

Elements of the 16ID will land at Aparri (the scenario starts with them headed for Legaspi) and join the 48ID for the attack on Luzon. Many US Submarines are fanning out around Formosa (a few are shown) we will turn up our ASW counter-measures including surface Tf and naval search. We have a number of important comvoy's proceeding through the area over the next several days.

[jwilkerson]

12/10/1941

Summary
Main production decision for this turn is to turn on the Yamato (I turned off Yamato, Musashi, Taiho and Shinano on turn one to build up a reserve of naval points) ... now that we have a reserve of 1500 points, we will turn on the Yamato and see what happens. Also we have built up a reserve of merchant points, so we will accelerate the Unyo.

There seem to be several large stock piles of resources in China, Korea and Manchuria, so we have several small (20k) convoy's now moving resources to the Home Islands from these spots.

[ny59giants]

I think I can speak for other Japanese players and say any "tricks" you have learned that you can pass on will be appreciated. [&o]
 
How are you going to use your Air HQs?? With their importance increasing due to their torpedo allotment, many of us would like to know your assignment of them.
 
What are your initial priorities on PP use??
 
Economy - Any expansion of factories in the begininng?? Are there enough Zeros, Betty, and others being built?? I understand Kates are an issue to be clarified. If you could post anything about behind the scenes economic moves, I would appreciate it.
 
Thanks!!

[jwilkerson]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

I think I can speak for other Japanese players and say any "tricks" you have learned that you can pass on will be appreciated. [&o]

Oh, I'm just learning as I go, just like everyone else. [:D]

How are you going to use your Air HQs?? With their importance increasing due to their torpedo allotment, many of us would like to know your assignment of them.

Well Nik, in theory controls the Netty's as well as their HQ, though I have some "on loan" for now. I am moving one to Davao for him and another to Kuching for me. One of our early priorities is Java (surprise, surprise) so we want to "isolate the battlefield" by sliding one Netty HQ in on each end of Java.

What are your initial priorities on PP use??

Mostly Artillery from Manchuria.

Economy - Any expansion of factories in the begininng?? Are there enough Zeros, Betty, and others being built?? I understand Kates are an issue to be clarified. If you could post anything about behind the scenes economic moves, I would appreciate it.

I expanded Kates, not so much to clarify them as to have more!!!

I also expanded A6M2 and Oscar. Also the early Helen a bit.

I will be posting more about the economics, my spreadsheets are tracking things, just the game isn't far enough along yet to make regular posting very meaningful.

Remember, this is a 2x2 game, so we will be running 1 turn per day best case. Since Nik and I are West Coast USA, and ROb and Tony are SE Coast Oz, when things are running right, Nik and I do our turn while Rob and Tony are at work, and they do their turn while we are sleeping. So we're trying to make the timezone difference be an asset.

[jwilkerson]

12/11/1941

Results

An excerpt from the combat report. Pretty good day for the Allies - at this rate, the war will be over by Christmas!!! [:D]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Dec 11, 41
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submarine attack near Sampit at 54,97

Japanese Ships
SS I-155

Allied Ships I think our submarines must have swamped torpedoes with the Americans, 70% of our torpedos miss or fail to detonate, 100% of the USN torpedoes seem to be working so far. We did hit one more tanker in the Java sea this turn ... missed four others ...
TK Manvantara, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage



SS I-155 is sighted by TK Manvantara
SS I-155 launches 8 torpedoes at TK Manvantara

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Aparri at 82,73

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3
Ki-27b Nate x 4



Allied aircraft
P-40B Warhawk x 5
P-40E Warhawk x 23


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27b Nate: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses Fighter heavy attack on our shipping at Aparri breaks through and hits several ships, we will fly in another Zero Chutai for next turn
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAK Siraha Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Karachi Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Keisho Maru, Shell hits 3
xAK Kotoku Maru
xAK Okiyu Maru

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Kwangchowan at 73,60

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 47 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-51 Sonia x 3


No Japanese losses

Allied Ships Sonias at Hainan starting to get the idea .. bomb some of those dozens of ships out there camping off your island!!!
xAKL Kanchow, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Aparri at 82,73

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3
Ki-27b Nate x 3


Allied aircraft Second attack not as successful as the first
P-40B Warhawk x 5
P-40E Warhawk x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
P-40B Warhawk: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Hong Kong , at 77,61

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 20


Allied aircraft Old trick from stock, sneak some fighters in during the Allied turn, then sneak them back out before we can react ... still works in AE ...
H81-A3 x 8


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-Ib Lily: 3 destroyed, 4 damaged


Port hits 1
Port fuel hits 4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kwangchowan at 73,60

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-51 Sonia x 4


No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
xAKL Kanchow, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage Wow, the Sonias at Hainan are finally getting the range, as the parade of ships continues to pass by ...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Hong Kong (77,61)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 3181 troops, 153 guns, 133 vehicles, Assault Value = 583

Defending force 8292 troops, 133 guns, 81 vehicles, Assault Value = 192

Japanese ground losses:
8 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)


Allied ground losses: We will try an attack next turn to see where things stand
186 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 90,40

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 4763 troops, 43 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 129

Defending force 12684 troops, 102 guns, 32 vehicles, Assault Value = 363

Allied adjusted assault: 12

Japanese adjusted defense: 277

Allied assault odds: 1 to 23

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), op mode(-), leaders(-)
Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-), fatigue(-)

Japanese ground losses:
49 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Allied ground losses: The Allies make a strange cross river attack, I will counter-attack next turn to see if I can get lucky
858 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 67 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 60 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled


Assaulting units:
19th Chinese Corps
6th Group Army

Defending units:
41st Division

[jwilkerson]

12/11/1941

Summary

Our invasion of Miri will go in next turn, it is now 2 hexes North of Miri, the Kongo/Haruna group are 4 hexes out, but they will be in the unloading hex.

We will launch our second attempt to take Kota Bharu this turn, 2 groups of Sally's, escorted by Oscars will provide support.

We will also launch our second attempt to take Hong Kong. Support will rely on the 23rd Army Artillery.

Also 39ID will launch an attack North of Nanchang at one unit who wandered into our division's hex.

And 41ID will launch a counter-attack against the Chinese Corps that just crossed the river into the Mountains up North.

Both the 21ID convoy and the 33ID convoy are departing Shanghai and Sasebo respectively. 21ID is bound for Malaya to support the 25 Army and 33ID is bound for Burma to support the 15 Army.

Turn after next elements of the 16ID will begin unloading at Aparri, the second regiment of 48ID is loading at Mako.

I am not reporting on the goings on in Nik's section of the map, I will leave that to him.

Production-wise, I turned on Yamato last turn and naval points still climbed by 300, so I will turn on Musashi this turn. Taiho and Shinano are still turned off. Merchant shipping points climbed a lot this turn, so I have now accelerated all four CVE that I can accelerate.

The second Oscar factory at Maebashi still has not repaired its first production line. [:-]

[erstad]

ORIGINAL: jwilkerson

The second Oscar factory at Maebashi still has not repaired its first production line. [:-]

I assume you remembered to turn on the supply vacuum? IIRC Maebashi starts with little or no LCUs => Little or no supply.

[castor troy]

ORIGINAL: jwilkerson

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Hong Kong , at 77,61

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 20


Allied aircraft Old trick from stock, sneak some fighters in during the Allied turn, then sneak them back out before we can react ... still works in AE ...
H81-A3 x 8


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-Ib Lily: 3 destroyed, 4 damaged


Port hits 1
Port fuel hits 4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

But this can now also be done as the Japanese can´t it? Thought the Allied wouldn´t see Japanese air transfers anymore? [&:]

[jwilkerson]

ORIGINAL: castor troy
But this can now also be done as the Japanese can´t it? Thought the Allied wouldn´t see Japanese air transfers anymore? [&:]

In the early phases of the war - the allies will be missing their stock ability to see all the planes at the Japanese based - due to FoW. But once the Allies get lots of recon planes - the same stock ability will return. As the Allies will be able to see the planes at least at the forward bases - not the ones that just moved their during the current turn - but any that had been there before. The Allied stock abilities are watered down a bit - but they are not gone.