The Shipwreck of Our Hopes: Japanese Side

[Q-Ball]

Does Juan's mod have more "Magic Move" than the Scenario 1 opening? I ask because in Scen 1/2, I think it's impossible to get 4th Division to Truk that fast, or any faster than a couple weeks on standard speed.

That's a big help if you do get more "Magic"

[ny59giants]

Both sides were allowed to send Juan a list of "realistic" pre-turn 1 moves. John asked for the 4th Division being moved to Truk along with most of the SNLFs and Nav Gds LCUs. Besides not knowing what the Allies asked for, this is a mod so there are a few more unknown factors to take into account in the early war. 

[John 3rd]

I asked for a redeployment of about 12-15 units.

LCU
The leading units were 4th Inf Div, Combined Fleet, a couple of SNLF/Naval Guard, and a pair of Base Force to Truk. Kwajalein got 4 small Base Force and 4-5 SNLF/Naval Guard. Additionally the 144th Inf Reg is moving out from Kwajalein as the largest Infantry unit I've got in the Marshalls.

Fleet
About 25 warships and 50 AK/AKL got moved to support these forces. There are 3 BB plus the warships detailed in the current operations that are underway working out of Truk. Several CA and a few DDs were added to the Marshalls.

No Airpower was moved whatsoever.

These above units help to establish the Offensive beginning of the Japanese attack. Michael will be adding to these units as Political Points make them avaiable. First unit to be dispatched is the Guards Brigade in Tokyo.

Does that help Qball?

Should note that Juan did nearly all of this but I've been able to do the same thing in a Mod I am fiddling with. The Editor is AMAZING! Idiots--meaning me--can use it...

[John 3rd]

I'm not sure if Michael posted the sinkings for yesterday but they added up to 3 DD (Pope, Ford, and Stewart), 1 AK, 2 TK, 1 SS (total of 5 sunk now), and 1 PT. 
 
My forces captured Nauru and will move over to Ocean and get it within a day or two.
 
 

[bklooste]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Thank you guys.  Michael and I continue to mull over the possibilities.  I am certain we'll tackle NW Australia and, probably, the Perth area. 

Where is Mount Isa?

Gloncurry on the map has about 400 Resources ... cant check at work

[John 3rd]

It has been three days since getting a turn from our Allied opponents.  I am going through a serious case of withdrawal.  Not being able to play for six months and then restarting with a turn a day has been great.  The addictive qualities of this game are as high as most drugs these days!  [:D]

[John 3rd]

The action continues at a sordid rate.

BOTH Silent Services are highly active and successful during the turn. All that action was in my partner's sector so I'll let him talk about the glories of the IJN SS Arm. He might skip the exploits of a certain DUTCH boat...

Allied Sinkings: 2 PT, AK, 5 AKL, 2 TK, AVP, AVD, PC

In my area:
1. Kavieng Invasion Force hit the port and began unloading
2. Ocean Isle should be landed upon tomorrow
3. Truk TF for Rabaul and the follow-on to Lae depart for their respective destinations
4. About 12-14 SS are now patroling around the sea lanes between PH and the US West Coast as well as the Canton, Pago Pago, annd Suva region.
5. I have sent several SS to mine Midway and Suva.

Canton
No air activity as we prepare for certain action tomorrow.

I order the STF to high speed to sweep into the base hex for any shipping that might be present while the KB cuts in from the NE. Should be interesting to see if anything is present here. If the answer is no then we will order the Invasion in for a landing on the 12th.

Here is a screenshot of the planning:

[John 3rd]

The Japanese small STF fan out on the 10th to cover three Patrol Zones. There are five TF now moving in the colored areas. One TF is 2 CA and the other 4 TF are a CL and 3 DD each.

It would appear that the exodus from the Philippines is in all directions. We've sunk ships trying to move around northern Luzon, hit ships in the central Philippines, working in the Straits near Borneo and the Philippines, and, lastly the area moving towards Amboina.

I'd hope to bag another dozen or so ships if possible. WEATHER has been a PAIN! Only once since the open of the war have Bettys been able to fly a Port Strike into Manila. Weather really impacted air operations in the DEI this turn.

[ny59giants]

Dec 10: Subs at Work

ASW/Subs:
SS I-121 engages xAKL De Haan with deck guns 1 hex NE of Batavia. She is rewarded with 6 hits.
SS KXV, a soon to be pesky Dutch subs takes up position 1 hex due east of Camrahn Bay and sinks xAKL Banshu Maru #18 with 1 torpedo hit. Later another 2 xAK are sunk. [:(]
SS I-162 finds xAKL De Klerk with insufficient escort off Toboali and puts 16 shell hits into her.
At Singora, SS KXII puts a single torpedo in xAK Tamaki Maru, but gets one direct hit from depth charges as a result. The xAK is able to disband in port afterward.
I-157 is also off Toboali and takes on xAKL Meroendoeng, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 1.
Near Oosthaven, I-155 finds TK Manvantara, Torpedo hits 3. Then she finds TK Strix, Torpedo hits 1

Carriers:
Mini-KB is supporting the Ambon operation. But not without a mishap.

CVE Hosho
CVL Ryujo
CVL Shinyo
BC Kongo
BC Haruna
CA Takao
CA Maya
CLAA Kitakami
DD Kuroshio
DD Oyashio
DD Hatsukaze
DD Natsushio
DD Hayashio
DD Amatsukaze

Allied Ships
xAKL Mauban, Shell hits 2

CVL Ryujo collides with CLAA Kitakami 0-23(18)-3(2)-0 [X(]

Then she hits a xAKL Mauban with 4 shells from a DD.
11(0) Vals are need to take on xAKL Mauban, Bomb hits 6, and is sunk
Another 11(0) Val are needed for PC Zeeman, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
4(0) B5N2 Kate are enough for xAKL Montanes, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk

KB2 is operating 3 hexes east of Kuantan

Malaya: Bad weather closes down air, which is good news for the transports.
Kuantan -
Landings commence

Philippines:
San Fernando -
More troops land.
3 PT Boats attack my transports at night and PB runs into a torpedo and sinks.
CL and 6 DDs hear the call of their brethren and come over to see another PT Boat TF of six and sink half of them before they run away. [:D]
The same 3 PT Boats are back during the day time, but don't hit anything.
4 PT Boats sink an xAK with 1 torpedo as they unload.

Lingayen -
More troops are landed

Clark Field -
17(0) Zero sweep in over the AF to see a small CAP of 1(1) P-35A, 1(0) P-40B Warhawk, and 6(1) P-40E Warhawk.

Manila -
18(0) Zero escort in 4(0) G3M2 Nell and 42(0) G4M1 Betty to wast ALL their torpedoes trying to hit the British DDs - DD Thracian, DD Scout, and DD Thanet without success.
19(0) Zero sweep in during the afternoon and find the skies empty.

20(0) Nate are on LRCAP and the transports that retreated from PT Boat attacks see 3(0) B-17D Fortress, 1(0) P-35A, and 2(0) P-40E Warhawk attempt to hit the ships but turn around without attacking.

SRA (East):
Morotai -
Troops manage to land before a few more of the damaged xAKLs slide under the waves.
AVD William B. Preston shows up off base and gets 2 hits on a PB before breaking off.
Thankfully, after the other days mistake, I ordered 2 DDs to break off the 2 SC TF headed for Ambon to merge with my transports here. It pays off as AVD William B. Preston, Shell hits 9, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Sorong -
A SC TF reacts to AVP Reiger and 2 hits are enough to sink her.

Notes:
Screenshot below shows what happens when you don't micro-manage your TF correctly. I had a SCTF followed by the transports followed by another SC TF which had the CV TF follow, but remain one hex behind. The front SC TF had the reaction range set for 5 hexes. It went after a single ship TF with a transport and the rest of them followed along. It has been corrected.

I have moved in some Sally and Lily to Kota Bharu with orders to ground attack Malacca (Oscars will escort). Recon shows 5 LCUs there. I am going ahead with the Mersing invasion before the Kuantan is done. The SC TF will leave here and head to Mersing. There is now an arrow headed NE from Johore Bharu. KB2 will move one hex closer (got to keep those subs honest).

65 Bde is loading at Takao. I feel they need to get over to Luzon before diverting forces to SRA (east).

DDs vs Nell/Betty - In my brief experience, these ships are very hard to hit with torpedoes. Thus, I'm just putting them on Port Attack (Manila) and AF (Clark).

More troops for Mersing are loading at Samah vs loading troops prepping there for Singkawang. I have to learn from last game to focus mainly on one major operation instead of trying to do too much all at once. Malaya is that one operation that has to come before all others. Singkawang will be in two phases as troops are loading at Camrahn Bay only for now.

For any newbie reading this AAR, the choice of what transports (and which particular class of transports) to temporarily convert to more troop capacity is very important early on. Mike Solli sent out a nice spreadsheet just after AE's initial release which ways cost effectiveness of each class. A very helpful tool. [&o]

[John 3rd]

I am finding out, the hard way, just how different the shipping equation is with AKs having very limited troops storage.  It is a RUDE surprise.  I THOUGHT there were plenty of AKL/AK/AP in Truk and Kwajalein; however, that is not the case.  In a highly realistic manner it is slowing down my loading, transport, and assault TF. 
 
Should know in a week to ten days just how short of shipping I am.
 
Michael--Is there much of anything I can get sent in my direction in the following areas:
1.  AKL or AP?
2.  DDs?  I need some DDs at Truk to flesh out my STF there.
 
Should be getting the Imperial Guards Brigade at Tokyo in a day or two and they will then be sent to Truk.  I will order preparation for Noumea.
 

[John 3rd]

As I get ready to go sleepy-night (sorry six- and three-year oold children in this home) I was looking at the map and got to thinking just how much I've abused Michael in this game. He has control over China (YUCK! ), Malaya, Burma, DEI, the Philippines, and the Economy while I'm lolly-gagging around with the Pacific.

Wonder if I paid him off in alcoholic libations? Hmmmm...

The real point in doing this was for him to use the experience gained in his first campaign and provide me time to spin-up on AE in areas I'm comfortable to start with. My depressing discovery of the limits regarding combat loading of AKs/Akls shows that. Am making notes each turn about something I noticed or had questions about so I can ask Mike on the phone when we chat. We BS at least every other day and that helps A BUNCH!

I really like the long-term strategy we have in governing our operations for the first six months of time. Think perhaps I'll go through the final 'envisioned' time table for the SE Pac, South Pac, and NE Australia sometime tomorrow with a detailed Post.

[ny59giants]

Michael--Is there much of anything I can get sent in my direction in the following areas:
1. AKL or AP?
2. DDs? I need some DDs at Truk to flesh out my STF there.

Like I tell the children I counsel, "Be Specific." [:D]


Sir John,

Please open up your back up game file. Look at those ships under repair from Saigon to Tokyo, especially Nagasaki. You will see just over 30 Ehima Class (xAK-t) converting cargo space to troop space (1175/2685) and around 30 Aden Class (xAK-t) doing the same thing (1535/3505). This number of Aden Class can lift three whole divisions. There also 6 Lima Class converting over to AKE (capacity 4900 - cargo).

Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. [;)]

[John 3rd]

But Daddddddddyyyy I want to be able haul 16 Infantry Divisions, the Cabinet, Imperial HQ, and the Emporer himself! 


OK.  I'll look up the ships mentioned.  How long do they take to convert?  If given time today (meaning Chris enjoys his movie) I'm gonna tackle my side of Operational Planning for the nexst couple of months.


Do you expect to land at Mersing this coming turn?  I KNOW you really WANT to jump onto the "Brown on Brown" Thread.  Perhaps you can later today! 

PS Do you have any DDs that could be sent to Truk. I only need about 200 or so...

[John 3rd]

December 11, 1941
Canton Area

0015-0029 STF sweeps into the Canton Harbor and finds two large American AP (Scott and Pres Coolidge). After several hits by gunfire the two ships manage to get away, however the Captain of the Aoba gets off a contact report.

0350 The Commander of SS I-169 finds a convoy NE of Canton, fires off a spread of Torpedos that MISS CA Pensacola. Within 30 minutes the I-Boat get off its contact report.

0515-0930 Morning Searches fly off of the Escort ships and CS Naniwa. Both TF are spotted through heavy clouds and thunderstorms. After no positive reports of enemy ships, Adm Nagumo turns into the wind and launches two morning strikes.

0955-1010 CA Pensacola is escorting a force of 1 AGP, 3 large AP, and 2 AK. Her TF is attacked by 30 Zero, 43 Val, and 45 Kates (carrying bombs and TT). Pensacola is hit hard by 4 bombs while trying to protect her charges. All remaining ships take heavy damage with the 2 AK sinking and all but one of the APs heavily damaged. The Japanese sustain no losses.

1045-1051 A much smaller Strike Force of 9 Zero and 9 Kates find the APs disturbed by the STF. In a remarkable display of skill, the elite Kate pilots put SIX TTs into the APs sinking both the Scott and Coolidge.

1140-1255 Japanese recover strikes and afternoon searches are launched. Weather progressively worsens...

1430-1445 Negative search contacts. Nagumo elects to hold back nearly all planes due to the weather. A hand-picked group of 30 Zero and 13 Vals fly off to hit the American convoy again. Dodging thunderheads, these planes manage to hit one of the more lightly damaged APs with a pair of bombs.

1550-1615 Recovery of aircraft. TF continues to move SW to cover Canton landing scheduled for tomorrow.

Results of day: AP Scott, AP President Coolidge and 2 large AK sunk with a CA, 3 AP, and an AGP heavily damaged and in sinking condition.

[John 3rd]

The Strike on Pensacola and cohorts:

[John 3rd]

Here we see the KB moving SW with the STF withdrawing towards Jaluit. I order the Landing at Canton to proceed while Baker gets taken tomorrow:

[John 3rd]

The Japanese STF patroling the southern Philippines and Borneo Straits have a good day as well:

2 CA sink an AK
2 CL and a DD sink AS Otus and an AP
1 CL and 2 DD sink 4 AM

The Japanese CAs spot shipping at Balikpapan, however, I am worried about running into BIG game so I order them to retire somewhat and will combine them with a couple of STF and then decide if I want to attack that Port area. Normally would love to but have to worry about running into Force Z. In this Mod I have no idea what Force Z is comprised of and fear what it might be! Course as the Japanese I would never ADMIT to fear...

We had an exceptionally good day all the way around.  I don't envy Michael's Report today but it contains nothing but good news!

The Sons of Nippon sink 22 ships this day:  8 PT, 4 AP, 3 AK, AS Otus, 4 AM, DD Thanet, 1 PG.

Other Developments in my Areas:
1.  Kavieng falls
2.  Ocean Isle taken

Having just said what I plan to do tomorrow with landing at Canton, I change my mind.  The Canton SNLF is told to move to Baker where it will merge with the Baker Naval Guard after it takes the base.  The two units will then attack Canton with an assault strength of about 100.  Should be enough.  Got to thinking about those AP at Canton.  Bet they offloaded troops there and so I want enough to grab the base and bag some POWs.  Also pull 3 DD from the STF (they have decent fuel) to strengthen the escort of 1 CL and 2 DD so 1 CL and 5 DD will Cover the Canton Landing.

Orders:
1.  A small BF begins to be airlifted into Kavieng by Mavis-T
2.  144th Inf Reg leaves Kwajalein heading for Savaii.

The weather prevented a lot of KB planes from flying so I hope I didn't miss any bigger game.  Will move SW and then hold position while Baker and Canton is taken.  Fleet will then retire to Jaliut to reprovision and refuel.  I have two fully loaded AKE moving there to help with that.  My AOs are headed for Baker and could refuel the KB at sea pending on developments.

[ny59giants]

Dec 11: Some success, but not everywhere

ASW/Subs:
DD Thracian hits a sub laid minefield at Bataan. [:D]
xAP Matang hits the other sub laid minefield at Merak.
I-157 is operating just off Batavia and find another victim in xAP Sin Kheng Seng, Torpedo hits 1

Carriers:
Mini-KB is 2 hexes due north of Ambon
KB2 is still off Malaya and their Zeros are adding valuable LRCAP over Kuantan and Mersing.

Malaya:
Mersing -
2 of 3 Dutch PT Boats are sunk after running into my SC TF ( BB Ise, 4 CA, 2 CLAA, 8 DDs) The same thing happens to a second group of 3 PT Boats. [:)]
Landings commence in the evening.

Kuantan -
18th JAAF Base Force at Kuantan is the target of the Allied LBA. 12(0) Zero, 2(0) Nate, and 3(0) Ki-43-Ic Oscar are on LRCAP as 2(0) Blenheim I, 13(0) Blenheim IV, 17(4) Buffalo I, and 3(0) Hudson I attempt to get through. No troops are hit.
Death of the Vildebeest!! 35 Zero, 1 Nate, and 1 Ki-43-Ic Oscar see 22(4) Vildebeest III attempt to get to my ships. This is followed by another group of 5(2) Buffalo I escorting in 7(1) Vildebeest III to face a reduced LRCAP of 9(0) Zero, 2(0) Nate, and 3(0) Ki-43-Ic Oscar. The third strike is of 7(3) Vildebeest III. All came from Kuala Lumpur.

Malacca -
AT Gun Regiment is attacked by 35 Sally and 15 Lily escorted by 32 Ki-43-Ib Oscar.

Philippines:
San Fernando -
4 PT Boats tangle with my SC TF (CL, 7 DDs) and two of four are sunk at night.

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 6931 troops, 96 guns, 82 vehicles, Assault Value = 178

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 108

Allied adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 108 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE San Fernando !!!

Lingayen -
The 155mm M1918 GPF Coastal Battery is doing a number on my poor PBs and AKs. Many will be lucky to make it back to Formosa.
2 more PT Boats are sunk during daylight as my SC TF (CL, 5 DDs) has moved away from the transports.
The same SC TF is run into by DD Thanet, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 9327 troops, 55 guns, 156 vehicles, Assault Value = 378

Defending force 3334 troops, 74 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 137

Japanese adjusted assault: 216

Allied adjusted defense: 15

Japanese assault odds: 14 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Lingayen !!!

Manila -
35(2) Zero escort in 69(0) Betty and encounter 14(1) P-40E Warhawk on CAP over the port.

Allied Ships
CL Raleigh, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
TK Mindanao, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
SS Searaven, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage

Clark Field -
51(0) Zero sweep the air space clear from 2(0) P-35A and 3(2) P-40B Warhawk.
Then 29 Nell, 23 Sally, and 20 Lily do minimal damage to the AF.

China:
Hong Kong -

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 21340 troops, 321 guns, 218 vehicles, Assault Value = 635

Defending force 6067 troops, 118 guns, 78 vehicles, Assault Value = 228

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 3

Japanese adjusted assault: 560

Allied adjusted defense: 681

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 3)

SRA (East):
Ambon -
My pre-invasion TF of BB Mutsu, BB Nagato, CL Kinu engage the CD guns.

Morotai -

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 664 troops, 2 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 13

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 5

Allied adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Morotai !!!

Notes:
Kuantan and Mersing have orders for deliberate attacks tomorrow.
Ambon will have landings commence.
65 Bde is about two days away from Lingayen.

[John 3rd]

See what I mean!  He has ALLLLLLLL the action.
 
Michael--to specify my request to Santa Claus--I could use 6-8 DD to strengthen my escorts operating out of Truk.
 
Sidenote:  VERY happy with our SS right now.  They have sunk at least 8-10 ships so far including 4 TK.
 

[bklooste]

Any men in the water from those APs ?
 
It may be worth while setting a trap , he knows KB is in the area , show KB at Canton ( kit Canton with a few vals)  he may think you head back to Truk since he knows you need to refuel which is his sign to reinforce or abandon. If you refuel in the area and fly in some Mavises you might find some juicy targets.