Playing the Japanese in WITP

[mogami]

Altering the Outcome: The Japanese in War in the Pacific.

Before embarking on the 1735 turn Campaign game the Japanese player should pause to consider the objectives, strengths and weaknesses of the opposing forces. And long term requirements.
Japanese Objectives:
First and foremost Japan must secure the Southern Resource Area. Set up and maintain the required assets for transfer of oil and resources back to the Home Islands. This must be accomplished in a timely manner allowing transfer of military assets to the front Japan intends conducting offensive operations in the next phase. (Central Pacific or South Pacific-or both)
The routes the resource convoys must travel will require protection. Air and naval ASW assets will need to be deployed to patrol these routes. Bases will need to be built to support these units. Every hex of these routes should be within air patrol range and have patrol TF's active. Minelayers (and sweepers) will need to be readily
available along the entire length.
The Japanese escort/ASW effort versus Allied Submarine Campaign will be the longest running most time consuming aspect of the war. The outcome will in many ways be the most decisive of the war.
Over the coming months I intend to cover this facet of the game in detail.
Topics will include Japanese production. Limits and requirements. (It is very important for Japanese player to understand what his supply/fuel production out put will be. and what delivery is needed to maintain production of supply and fuel)
Primary enemy threats to supply routes (Enemy submarines, mines and air)
Oil and resource availability. Location, transport and use.
Routes between oil/resource centers and Japan.
Bases along routes.
Mines and minesweeping locations.
Japanese aircraft for ASW types, numbers, and where to place them.
Japanese surface ASW platforms. numbers and where to base them.
Enemy bases critical to their submarine campaign. Identify and then consider what measures can be effective in neutralizing these bases.

The first area of performance versus the historic conflict the Japanese player should concentrate on improving is the area of logistics. There is much room for improvement but it will require careful planning to implement. Once the system is in place it should function with minimal attention.

After the SRA is secured and adequate measures taken to protect the transfer of material. The Japanese player will need to transfer his efforts to opening a new area of operations..
This decision should not be a spur of the moment occurrence but a continuation of the Japanese War Plan. Preparations should have been conducted during the SRA phase. Upon this choice lays the future of the war. There really exists only two options. The Central Pacific or the South Pacific.
The Central Pacific will depend to a large degree on a single massive operation covering a limited amount of time.
The South Pacific allows for several concurrent or sequential operations over a longer period of time.
The force requirement for the Central Pacific will be "up front"
The South Pacific allows for reinforcement between operations.

[madflava13]

Mogami, you're gonna take all the fun out of learning the ropes here... hehe...
Seriously though, that all sounds good - I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

[Zakhal]

I wonder if its even possible to change the fate of japanese merchant marine. No matter what ASW/convoy tactics used, all you can do is only slightly delay the unavoidable at best.

[Raverdave]

Mogami

Do you consider Australia part of the SRA? Just interested to hear what you think on this subject.

[Mike Scholl]

MOGAMI Could you let us know about how much of the Japanese Merchant Marine is tied down handling:

1) The Northern Resource Area. Materials imports from Manchuria, Korea, and North China?

2) Support of the ongoing China War?

3) Food Imports?

I was curious if the Japanese could "short" one of these for a limited time to support another operation?

[mogami]

Originally posted by Raverdave
Mogami

Do you consider Australia part of the SRA? Just interested to hear what you think on this subject.

Nah, Japan can brew their own beer.

Japanese ASW platforms.
Aircraft
IJN
E7K2 Alf float plane range 5/7 (normal/extended) 4x30kg bomb
E13A1 Jake float plane 4/6 2x30kg bomb
F1M2 Pete float plane 1/2 2x60kg bomb
H8K Emily flying boat 18/24 2xtorpedo
H6K2-L Mavis flying boat 13/17

These aircraft types form the backbone of the airborne ASW force.
The Pete is best used for TF ASW protection and point defense. The short range is
sufficient for protecting harbors or TF's

AV's supporting Jakes can be deployed to bases allowing for patrol of the entrance into areas traversed by convoys. The main areas for Japanese commerce are the Yellow Sea and the South China Sea. The Yellow Sea is shallow water (under 200 feet) This makes detection/attack easier then deep water hexes. The South China Sea has a path of shallow water following the coast of China. The area around Borneo is also shallow.
The flying boats are best used covering the greater distance routes leading to Truk and the Marshall Islands.

Other land based air types can also be used but should not regularly be considered for ASW since they are the primary defense against enemy surface units.

Ships capable of carrying aircraft that will be part of ASW force.
AV, CVL and CVE (CS if not required for scouting )
AV will be based on Islands while airfields constructed. (also AV will allow aircraft to operate without requiring a landbased support unit.)
CVE/CVL can patrol routes (and move to areas enemy submarines have been spotted. All enemy submarines that make attacks must be hunted.

[mogami]

Originally posted by Mike Scholl
MOGAMI Could you let us know about how much of the Japanese Merchant Marine is tied down handling:

1) The Northern Resource Area. Materials imports from Manchuria, Korea, and North China?

2) Support of the ongoing China War?

3) Food Imports?

I was curious if the Japanese could "short" one of these for a limited time to support another operation?

Hi, Mike it is too early in testing for me to comment on shipping requirements. At present it appears to me that Japan has enough shipping. The issue will be whether Japanese construction/capture will exceed losses
(at this moment in development it seems there are more ships then material to carry-I have to establish amounts resource/oil centers produce. Amounts Japanese industry consume/produce
Amounts military forces require moved, Amounts military forces consume) Then the available transport ships can be assigned to the various tasks.
One thing for certain is unlike the actual Japanese practice the player will want to arrange shipping where the ships carry loads in both directions where possible. (Japanese transports during the war would often move one direction or the other empty)
So a supply convoy to Truk will return home via movement into SRA to load oil/resource before heading back to home Islands.
The result will be a circuit.

(Rather then empty ships moving to Palembang directly from Japan. Ships will carry loads to bases and then move to load.
I will attempt to establish schedules where supply/fuel is delivered by convoy of the size required by amount of oil/resource waiting pickup. (Rather then large convoy of supply and then empty ships waiting loads. Have pickup and delivery based on return load volume.)

There will also be a dedicated military pool of transports.
(The 7k AK will be the supply/resource pool-the smaller 3.5k AK will belong to the military and be assigned to make up the difference between supply/fuel required for operations and supply/fuel delivered via the supply pool transports.) Also the smaller AK will be used for transit into areas where enemy Air/Surface dangers exist. The AP class ships will be retained in home ports and assigned to operations as needed. (The larger AP will be assigned for movement between controlled bases in safer areas. The smaller AP will be used for operations against enemy bases.

[Snigbert]

Dont worry about any of this resource garbage Mogami is going on about. Japan will win the war within three months.

[U2]

Originally posted by Snigbert
Dont worry about any of this resource garbage Mogami is going on about. Japan will win the war within three months.

Thus no reason what so ever to protect the convoys bound for Japan;) The thought of protecting my convoys against incompetent American submariners is below my honor:rolleyes:

[mogami]

Originally posted by Snigbert
Dont worry about any of this resource garbage Mogami is going on about. Japan will win the war within three months.

Hi, I wonder........If everything goes exactly according to schedule. If the enemy makes every possible blunder......How much time would be needed to achieve victory?
Philippines: Will require 5-6 weeks for blitzkrieg (where Allied troops move into central PI and get surrounded) Then 14th Army would need another month to rest and refit (Can use 14th Army again mid Feb 42?) (not counting transport time to new area)

Malaysia lets give same time table for 25th Army

15th Army will not be considered. except to steal 1 Division after Rangoon Captured
By the time unit marches back to Bangkok and rests it will be same time as others (Mid Feb 42)

So we will be using 1 Division from 14th 15th 25th Armies

Java/Borneo and Sumatra will occupy 16th Army from Mid Jan 42 till 1st of March.
So 1 additional Division will become available around 1st of April.

We can also add around 5 independent Brigades. (ready for use by Feb)

So the major operation that will end the war in victory for Japan can begin around 1 Feb with 5 Bdes for opening stages, with 3 Divisions being added after 2 weeks and another 6 weeks into operations (nice reinforcement schedule-better then UV 17 or 19) But wait
it's already been longer then 3 months

The next operation will need at least 4-6 weeks to complete (achieving total annihilation of enemy)

So in my opinion. If the enemy make every possible blunder. If Japanese operations proceed like a whirlwind. The earliest a faint hearted Allied player would call it quits would be around Mid May 1942.

Guess what? Before then you would have needed to set up your supply/resource system.

[madflava13]

Mogami (or other testers)-
How are the "Malaria Zones" modeled (if they are at this point)?
I hope they're not quite as prevelant as in UV, because the Japanese will be constantly rotating units back to the Home Islands if that's the case -- and that would be far from historical, IIRC... Thoughts?

[mogami]

Hi Currently in Alpha testing map is divided into zones. One of which is Malaria. Others include Cold and Temperate
I have not ran enough turns to make any comment on the effects of any of them. Stay tuned, as the game develops and we are able to play 20-30 turns we will see what effects they have.

While units may not be required to actually return to the Home Islands they will need after periods of combat or protracted service in adverse areas, to be sent to a major base. This is where and when they can rest and refit. This is historical.
(Esp for Allied units) Japanese units often did not survive their service in adverse terrain. But those that did required a refit period (or a large influx of replacments) to regain effectivness

[bradfordkay]

"One thing for certain is unlike the actual Japanese practice the player will want to arrange shipping where the ships carry loads in both directions where possible. (Japanese transports during the war would often move one direction or the other empty)
So a supply convoy to Truk will return home via movement into SRA to load oil/resource before heading back to home Islands."


Hmmm.... sounds like another Railroad Tycoon veteran.....I always hated deadheading...

[Snigbert]

The thought of protecting my convoys against incompetent American submariners is below my honor

Yes, we brave samurai are only concerned with thoughts of battle. Leave logistics for the lesser men back home while we busy ourselves spreading the glory of the Emperor.

[mogami]

Originally posted by Snigbert
The thought of protecting my convoys against incompetent American submariners is below my honor

Yes, we brave samurai are only concerned with thoughts of battle. Leave logistics for the lesser men back home while we busy ourselves spreading the glory of the Emperor.

Hi, Back where I come from when we want to spread "glory"
we use a manure spreader.
Samurai without supply or ammo become fertilizer.

[Mike Scholl]

You message was quite informative...., but it really didn't
answer my question. One of the things I'm wondering about
is the source of the "enough shipping" you say the Japanese
have to start the war. Historically, they didn't. But as you
pointed out, historically their shipping usage was quite inne-
ficient. What I'm curious about is are they gaining shipping
because of your more efficient usage, or because 2by3 hasn't
yet factored in the shipping usage in the NRA and/or for China.

[madflava13]

Mogami-
Thanks for the quick reply. Your input is always informative and appreciated.

Mike-
I think the IJN did start off with enough shipping - remember there was no attrition yet, and the far-flung bases hadn't been established either. The demand originally could be met. Once outer layer bases (South Pacific) were established and the US subs began positive action, it became a war of attrition the Japanese were sure to lose.

On an unrelated note-
Are there any Japanese 2by3 or Matrix customers? I've never seen anyone hailing from those parts, and I'd really like to hear their perspective.

[Mike Scholl]

"Mike-
I think the IJN did start off with enough shipping - remember there was no attrition yet, and the far-flung bases hadn't been established either. The demand originally could be met. Once outer layer bases (South Pacific) were established and the US subs began positive action, it became a war of attrition the Japanese were sure to lose."


Actually, they didn't. They were using over a million tons of foriegn shipping to meet their regular peacetime needs before the war. They were able to snatch some of this at the outbreak,
but lost the use of most of it. To meet the needs of thier original expansion they were forced to "borrow" a considerable amount
of shipping from domestic usage. Thanks to the totally inefficient
way the military used shipping historically, much of this was never "returned".

If, as Mogami suggests, it is possible for the Japanese to make
better use of their shipping---they might just barely have enough to meet their needs when the SRA convoys are put in place. There will certainly not be an "excess"---and they will probably
still be a bit short. "Robbing Peter to pay Paul" is going to be a
way of life when the second round of expansion starts if History
is any guide. Of course, 2by3 could simply choose to ignore the actual situation and reduce the load to make more military shipping available. Would make for a better "game", though not gas good a "simulation".

[mogami]

Originally posted by Mike Scholl
You message was quite informative...., but it really didn't
answer my question. One of the things I'm wondering about
is the source of the "enough shipping" you say the Japanese
have to start the war. Historically, they didn't. But as you
pointed out, historically their shipping usage was quite inne-
ficient. What I'm curious about is are they gaining shipping
because of your more efficient usage, or because 2by3 hasn't
yet factored in the shipping usage in the NRA and/or for China.

Hi, Mike it is too soon for me to be able to answer this question.
We have to wait and see if the available shipping can handle the volume. But it appears too me there are enough ships to conduct operations with. (The Japanese player will need to base operations on shipping rather then just planning unlimited operations but there seems to be enough ships to permit the level of operations I am comfortable with. In the beginning it looks like there are more ships then loads requiring shipment. How long this condition lasts (or even if it is in fact a true impression) will require much more testing. (We are still in Alpha)
I have not yet ran enough turns to see supply fuel resource oil use.
Concerning the NRA, once output is known then I can assign shipping to haul it. The distances are shorter, I think it would be wise for the Japanese to insure they are collecting everything produced there before sending ships farther distance to load the same type material. But I still have to total up the resource base production. As far as supply leaving Japan. I don't think there will ever be enough to meet demand. (Just guessing) I think the Japanese will need to closely monitor supply use and eliminate waste.
Train in Home Islands. Supply wise it is much more efficient to train Units at a supply center in Japan rather then send supply to a distant base where it is consumed by training. (Airgroups)

Do not hoard supply once a base supply consumption rate is known limit supply to 2x required (3x at most)

When planning operation that will require supply/fuel, stockpile it at base beyond enemy air using large transports and move to operation base's by smaller transports.

Also consider that not every transport can be used at one time.
Japan can begin the war trying to use 100 percent but wear and tear (Not mentioning enemy action) will require a certain number of transports to be in refit/repair

Sorry I'm rambling the answer is not concise yet. We'll have to wait for a lot more testing.

[Mike Scholl]

That's more the kind of answer I was looking for. You seem
to suggest that there IS a need for shipping in the NRA, and
that it's too early to tell just how it's all going to come together.
That's as much as I can hope for. Keep an eye on it for us, and
please continue to post those informative "reports from the
alpha front". Your's are the best insights into the game most of
us ever see.