AE Historical Game Project. Cantona2 (allied) vs Fletcher (Jap)

[Walker84]

Fletcher,

I hadn't checked your progress for a little while so was amazed and delighted to see the reports of the excellent Imperial victories in the Solomons. Clearly you can now make some concrete plans such as the Midway invasion with knowledge of position of the main Allied carrier force (i.e. at the bottom of the Solomon Sea....). Does this, plus the excellent position in China put you closer to achieving autovictory, or is more likely that it will give you a further year to strengthen your overall position before Essex class replenishment?

I will say that Cantona has made it a great and compelling game due to his decision to fight forward at this stage in the war when some Allied players might be content to sit further back and wait for more reinforcements before starting any offensive action. In my own game I can rarely locate the enemy until they arrive in massed 'death star' waves of B-17s or else P-38s sweeping at 39k altitude [:(]

Long may the Emperor's run of success continue!

[LoBaron]

Hey Ramon! 6 days since the last update? Has the IJN turned on their cloaking devices
or are you takeing a brake? [:)]

[Fletcher]

ORIGINAL: LoBaron

Hey Ramon! 6 days since the last update? Has the IJN turned on their cloaking devices
or are you takeing a brake? [:)]

LoBaron, thanks for your post!

Jonathan is on travel, and he will return on April 21st !. We must wait.
In the last turn, HIJMS Yamato heading BatDiv1 BBs have plummed USMC forces at Lunga Point. Chungking is near to fall in IJA hunger hands!.

Thanks a lot!
Best wishes
Ramón

[Fletcher]

ORIGINAL: Walker84

Fletcher,

I hadn't checked your progress for a little while so was amazed and delighted to see the reports of the excellent Imperial victories in the Solomons. Clearly you can now make some concrete plans such as the Midway invasion with knowledge of position of the main Allied carrier force (i.e. at the bottom of the Solomon Sea....). Does this, plus the excellent position in China put you closer to achieving autovictory, or is more likely that it will give you a further year to strengthen your overall position before Essex class replenishment?

I will say that Cantona has made it a great and compelling game due to his decision to fight forward at this stage in the war when some Allied players might be content to sit further back and wait for more reinforcements before starting any offensive action. In my own game I can rarely locate the enemy until they arrive in massed 'death star' waves of B-17s or else P-38s sweeping at 39k altitude [:(]


Long may the Emperor's run of success continue!

Walker84,

Thanks for your question.

I´ll be very agressive at China front, but not in Western or Pacific theatres, my primary target is the seize of Chungking.

Thanksgiven to the massive blow at souther seas, Imperial Navy rules the waves. Jonathan would not take any offensive action more than 4E strikes. I can not avoid that, but I will try to get problems for him at Sea during this year (until Summer 43). My other target will be focus on ASW warfare.
At Southern, II Army will clean Guadalcanal Island. If I would get that, I´ll be very proud with my success!.

Best wishes,
Ramón

[Fletcher]

OCTOBER 19TH, 1942
CARDIV 1 AIR STRIKES OVER ENEMY AIR NEST AT NDENI.
MODERATE DAMAGES REPORTED AT ENEMY AIRSTRIP.

[Fletcher]

OCTOBER 19TH, 1942
ENEMY AIR STRIKES OVER CARDIV 1. HEAVY ENEMY AIR LOSSES. HIJMS ZUIHO AND HIJMS SHOKAKU UNSUCCESSFULLY ATTACKED.

[Fletcher]

OCTOBER 19TH, 1942
AIR LOSSES REPORT.

[Fletcher]

FROM: VADM. TAMON YAMAGUCHI, CARDIV 1 CINC. ABOARD HIJMS AKAGI
TO: ADM. ISOROKU YAMAMOTO, COMBINED FLEET CINC. ADVANCED HQ AT MUNDA.
SUBJECT: STRIKES OVER VANIKORO
DATE: OCTOBER 20TH, 1942

Morning air strike over enemy air facilities at Vanikoro after our recon assets reported this was the enemy 4E nest to attack our advanced air bases at southern Salomons.

With a light rain over the target, our striking wave with 33 B5N2 and 79 D3A2 escorted by 27 A6M2 were intercepted over vanikoro skies by 3 P400, 10 F4F-3P fihters and 4 floatplanes (!?).

Our losses were 1 A6M2 downed by enemy fighters and 1 D3A2 downed by flak. Our forces reported 1 SOC1 downed by A2A and 1 A20A1 and 1 B24D destroyed on ground, 39 casualties, 7 airbase hits, 7 airbases supply hits an 64 runway hits.

In few days all enemy advanced air bases will be destroyed in the area.

Long live to the Emperor!!
END//

[Fletcher]

FROM: VADM. TAMON YAMAGUCHI. CARDIV 1 CINC. ABOARD HIJMS AKAGI.
TO: ADM. ISOROKU YAMAMOTO, COMBINED FLEET HQ. ADVANCED HEADQUARTER AT MUNDA.
SUBJECT: VANIKORO STRIKES, AFTERNOON
DATE: OCTOBER, 20TH, 1942

After be spoted by our first striking group, several enemy ships have been torpedoed off Vanikoro Island. Under Light rain 18 B5N2 escorted by 4 a6M2 were intercepted by 3 P400 and 5 F4F-3P. We lost 1 A6M2.

Reporting from 2nd Striking Group:

xAP Etolin, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
xAP Santa Barbara, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AM Skylark, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Our carriers were unsuccesfully attacked by uncoordinated attack:

- 6 A20A1 were intercepted by CAP (42 fighters). 03 enemy planes were downed. No hits reported.

Long Live to the Emperor !
END//

[Fletcher]

FROM: GEN. HAJIME SUGIYAMA, IJA GENERAL STAFF CHIEF. IGHQ. TOKYO.
TO: GEN. HIDEKI TOJO, PRIME MINISTER, SUPREME WAR COUNCIL. TOKYO.
SUBJECT: CHUNGKING FALLS !!!!
DATE: OCTOBER 22ND, 1942

GEN SHUNROKU HATA REPORTS OUR TROOPS HAVE SUCCESFULLY STORMED THE CAPITAL CITY OF THE BANDITS AT CHINA. CHUNGKIG HAS FALLEN !!!.. CHUNGKING HAS FALLEN!!!...MORE THAN 15.000 CHINESE TROOPS HAVE BEEN KILLED IN OUR ASSAULT. OUR FORCES FROM 1ST AND 11TH ARMIES WILL STAND ON AWAITING FOR REEMPLACEMENTS AND REINFORCEMENTS. OUR XIII ARMY FORCES WILL PURSUE AT FLEEING ENEMY UNITS AT ONCE. KWEIYANG AND KUMMING HAVE BEEN STORMED TODAY TOO, BOTH NEAR TO FALL.

I WILL FLY TOMORROW TO CHUNGKING TO PRESIDE THE MILITARY PARADE ON THE MAIN AVENUES OF THE OLD CITY. TODAY WILL BE REMINDED FOR CENTURIES !! CHINESE WILL LEARN THE LESSON AT LAST !.

LONG LIVE TO THE EMPERORRR !!!!
END//

[Durbik]

How did you get enough supplies for those troops is really beyond me.

[Fletcher]

ORIGINAL: Durbik

How did you get enough supplies for those troops is really beyond me.

Durbik

Sian-Kienku-Chungking was my supply line. I had receive enough supplies (25.000 about)one time each week, enough to launch two storms, the first downed the forty size to six from seven, and the second, and last, destroy their fortys and seize the city.

For the other hand, I have sent daily supply convoys from Metropoli to Hankow by riverine sealift (nor less than 100.000 tons monthly).

Best wishes, I hope this help
Ramón

[Durbik]

It helps, thanks. It seems that PATIENCE is the key to control supply transfer routine... Every time I see 50K of supply moved to China by sea and then... POOF! It vanishes! - I feel discouraged. But I see It CAN be done, even on a such thin supply line.

Congrats on your recent addition to the Empire!

[Fletcher]

Durbik,

Thank you very much !... So kind !
That´s the question: patience !... If you wait your units under supply line will be replenished after 6-7 days, and that´s will be the "momentum" to storm chinese positions...For the other hand, their armies were bypassed and backbone of IJA Northern China Area Army got the prize before chinese could take time to reorganize their defenses around Chungking... Chengdu will fall in few days and I hope to announce the fall of Kweiyang and Kumming in November 1942.
Best wishes, and thanks for your support.
Ramón

[jeffk3510]

I really look forward to this AAR every day. That was a huge battle a couple of days ago, and was a huge blow to Catona(spelling?) I miss reading his AAR...hasn't updated it since then really. Seems like he is going through and not quitting. I like seeing that! Hopefully you guys keep up the good work!

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: Fletcher

ORIGINAL: Durbik

How did you get enough supplies for those troops is really beyond me.

Durbik

Sian-Kienku-Chungking was my supply line. I had receive enough supplies (25.000 about)one time each week, enough to launch two storms, the first downed the forty size to six from seven, and the second, and last, destroy their fortys and seize the city.

For the other hand, I have sent daily supply convoys from Metropoli to Hankow by riverine sealift (nor less than 100.000 tons monthly).

Best wishes, I hope this help
Ramón

What type of vessels were you using for river transport. Can small AKLs go up the river?

[Fletcher]

ORIGINAL: jeffk3510

I really look forward to this AAR every day. That was a huge battle a couple of days ago, and was a huge blow to Catona(spelling?) I miss reading his AAR...hasn't updated it since then really. Seems like he is going through and not quitting. I like seeing that! Hopefully you guys keep up the good work!

jeffk3510,

Thanks a lot for your kind post... I don´t know if he would like to go on with the game, because he is claiming the game is lost after the fall of Chungking (I don´t think so, but it would be a hard climb up for him, for sure)... we´ll wait his choice!

Best wishes, and thanks to look forward this humble AAR
Ramón

[Fletcher]

ORIGINAL: crsutton

ORIGINAL: Fletcher

ORIGINAL: Durbik

How did you get enough supplies for those troops is really beyond me.

Durbik

Sian-Kienku-Chungking was my supply line. I had receive enough supplies (25.000 about)one time each week, enough to launch two storms, the first downed the forty size to six from seven, and the second, and last, destroy their fortys and seize the city.

For the other hand, I have sent daily supply convoys from Metropoli to Hankow by riverine sealift (nor less than 100.000 tons monthly).

Best wishes, I hope this help
Ramón

What type of vessels were you using for river transport. Can small AKLs go up the river?

crsutton,

Hankow is a large riverine port, I usually send large xAK and xAKL supply convoys (ships under 10,000 tons).

Best wishes
Ramón

[Fletcher]

FROM: RADM. S. GOTO, FAST REACTION SURFACE GROUP. 4TH FLEET. NEAR SOUTHERN GILBERTS.
TO: ADM. S. INOUYE, 4TH FLEET CINC. TRUK.
SUBJECT: ENEMY LANDING FORCES SURPRISED AT TABITEUEA.
DATE: OCTOBER 26TH, 1942


MY SHIPS HAVE SURPRISED ENEMY LARGE APs LANDING FORCES AT TABITEUEA. HIJMS TENRYU, HIJMS TATSUTA ESCORTED BY DD NATSUGUMO SPOTTED SEVERAL UNESCORTED SHIPS OFF TABITEUEA.

FOLLOWING ENEMY SHIPS WERE SUNK UNDER OUR EYES:


AP Arthur Middleton, Shell hits 32, and is sunk
xAK Steel Trader, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Maliko, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAP Tjisadane, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk

HEAVY HUMAN CASUALTIES, WITH 455 AMERICAN MEN LOST (113 SQUAD DESTROYED, 34 GUN LOST AND 171 VEHICLES DESTROYED!)

IN A SECOND ENGAGEMENT, ANOTHER TWO SHIPS WERE SUPRISED:

xAP Lurline, Shell hits 41, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Hollywood, Shell hits 24, and is sunk

ANOTHER 17 ENEMY VEHICLES WERE LOST BY ALLIED SIDE.

LONG LIVE TO THE EMPEROR !!
END//

[Fletcher]

FROM: MARQUIS KIDO, LORD KEEPER OF THE PRIVAL SEAL. TOKYO IMPERIAL PALACE.
TO: OUR HIGHNESS, THE EMPEROR HIRO HITO, SUCCESOR OF THE AMATERATSU GODNESS.
SUBJECT: ENEMY SURRENDER !!!
DATE: OCTOBER 26TH, 1942


ENEMY HAVE ANNOUNCE HIS WILL TO END THE FIGHTS AGAINST THE EMPIRE. AMERICAN AND BRITISH AMBASSADOR AT SWITZERLAND GIVE US THE TERMS OF HIS SURRENDER. ALL THE CONQUEST INTO OUR INNER PERIMETER WILL BE RECOGNICED LIKE PART OF THE JAPANESE EMPIRE. CHINA WILL BE A SPECIAL JAPANESE PROTECTORADE. CHIANK KAI CHEK WILL BE JAILED AT TOKYO AWAITING FOR INQUIRE DUE WAR CRIMES.

THE WAR HAS FINISHED !!!
LONG LIVE TO THE EMPEROR !!!!


END //



(*) Both of us, Jonathan and me are agree to end the game after frustrating game experience (Yamato and several BBs bombed USMC forces at Lunga after 1.200 miles sailing to get the target, with only 13 squads disabled)... IF american BBs would bombard my IJA forces at Lunga, I am pretty sure that this figures would be greater, heavily greater.... KB launched a massive attack against the same USMC forces at Lunga with same outcome (10-11 squads disabled).

Like Allied, I am agree with Jonathan, Chinese OOB is heavily understrenght. He is an experienced AFB, and only a little IJA effort have been enought to conquest all China (Chungking fall one week ago)... I support IJA China Expeditionary Army with 4 divisions (16th, 48th, 2nd and Guards). Neither of them were needed to conquest Chungking. But Chinese were at bay after the fall of Sian.

Torpedo Dud Rates: Should be around 80%, but I have counted dud hit after dud hit reporting near 100% after 30-40 torpedo hits.

Uncoordinated air ops: IJNAF / British at Burma were severely damned by uncoordinated air ops. I had many problems at Munda (with size 5, 5 air groups, 1 HQ -11st Air Fleet- and Isoroku Yamamoto commanding this HQ)... It was heavily frustrating to see my G4M1/G3M3 take off unescorted to be massacred by heavy CAPs over the enemy carriers (carriers with high DLs). Jonathan told me about the same problem at Burmese/indian border.

I worked hard with Home Rules to get a historical envrioment, but monsoon don´t works.. we must to add new HR to avoid 90% air ops in Burmese/Indian border during monsoon months.

I may to congrats Jonathan, due he was a great player, legal and efficient like AFB. A great one. He was reliable, and after suffer massive defeat at Salomons and the seize of Chungking he thought to follow on with the game... I suggest to end after my strikes over Lunga with my BB and KB ACs.

I hope all of you got fun with JOnathan´s and my own AARs. Jonathan will get permission to enter in this one to post his thoughts.

Best wishes to everybody.
Ramón