THIS IS GOING TO BE UGLY: Coach Z (J) vs Floyd (A)

[Coach Zuck]

Ok this is my 1st Campaign as Japan in AE!

Actually only played 3 campaigns in "Basic" WitP as Japan, one vs AI, and two PBEM… was winning one and was losing the other when they ended.

My opponent, Floyd of Tracker fame, as usual refuses to play Japan in the Grand Campaign!
He has gained a TON of experience last year playing Damian (also of Tracker fame)

Although I am a Nipponophile [aka JFB} would have liked to have played the Allies and not have to worry about running the Japanese Economy in to the ground - which I almost did in my Campaign against Floyd in Basic WitP.

As we have known each other for WAY TOO LONG we will obviously screw up when talking about things, but we'll have fun anyway.

FYI The game hates me (In other words the game engine ALWAYS seems to do things to screw me).

Scenario 2
PDU = On
R & D = Off ………..{Probably should have reversed these two and made my life simpler!}
Fog o' War = On
Adv Allied Dmg Cntrl = On
Withdrawals = yes
Super Torpedoes = No
Surprise = Yes
Historical = No

BASIC HRs
No Allied Strategic Bombing till 6/42…. Allies were doing it in Europe and by now they would have if they could have!
No Japanese Strategic Bombing till 1/43…. why not?
No non-Naval 4e under 10K feet
Only CV based port attacks on Turn One
Try not to play Gamey

[PaxMondo]

I hope your opponent also does an AAR. In any case good luck!!

BANZAI!!!

[Coach Zuck]

TURN ONE THOUGHTS

I will divide up the KB
AKAGI, KAGA, SHOKAKU & ZUIKAKU to attack Pearl….Kates vs Port (all hoping for torpedoes) & Vals vs AF… If I do well enough vs the Air Field…I'll hit Pearl for another day.
Then they will retreat west to cover a belated invasion of Wake. After which I will use them to cover Rabaul … in case he runs his carriers there and then into the SRA.

SORYU & HIRYU will hit the port of Manila and then provide some cover for an Invasion of Kuantan and further ops in the SRA.

Philippines
The main invasion will take place @ San Fernando. A Yokusaka Para will take Vigan to set up Air Cover …. I will fly in a JAAF Bn the next day (may lose a couple of planes to maintenance but thats fine). The second wave will bring another 2 JAAF Bn.s to San Fernando. Two Tank + a Recon Rgt will land @ Aparri and try to run down the east coast to get in to Manila or Clark Field early. A small landing will be made @ Naga and then be followed up by a landing @ Altimonan covered by the ZUIHO, HOSHO & the Battleships from Hiroshima/Kure.
I'll eventually have in total about 3 divisions on Luzon and the plan is to slowly wear the Americans & Filipinos out. Additionally I will hit Davao on turn one and bring a Tank Rgt to run up the roads to Cagayan.

Malaya
Typical landing will n=be made @ Khota Baru and some troops will go to Signora, but the main landing will fall @ Kuantan. I will transfer some Oscars to Pattani to fly LRCAP over Kuantan & then use Zero's from CAR DIV 2 who will be then have an extra Datai of ZEROS on board. A Tank & Recon Rgt @ Kuantan will exploit my victory there and attemot to cut off some CW troops heading south to Singapore. The troops in Japan earmarked for Malaya will land @ Mersing, but by then I should have great air cover from both Khota & Kuantan.

"Eastern" Pacific
Will delay the Wake Invasion until the KB (-CarDiv2) arrives
Makin & Tarawa forces will be used to tkae Nauru and Ocean Islands. I'll take Tarawa the other Gilberts soon enough.
Guam will be taken by an Infantry Bn.

South Pacific
The "Guam" force will be re-tasked to invade Rabaul! Also some additional supply and troops will be shifted there. As soon as Rabaul is secure I will peek @ Pt Moresby. Kavieng & Sortlands will be taken.

SRA
Miri will be taken by a (*) TF with Brunei falling a few days after. Singkawang will also be taken by a (*) Tf with a SNLF, Tank Rgt and JNAF Bn.
After Singkawang these troops will plan for Palembang and will be the spearhead of that invasion with two additional SNLF!
Another Tf will make moves towards Kendari and after that base is taken… Ambon will fall… and if possible I may make a run for Balikpapan (risky).

I think eventually I want to invade NW Australia, but might want to try for Ceylon or Eastern India…. but thats a couple of months away.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Coach Zuck

I think eventually I want to invade NW Australia, but might want to try for Ceylon or Eastern India…. but thats a couple of months away.

I would suggest that you decide that now and get units prepping ... it takes 60 - 75 days to fully prep units and what you do impacts your economy.

[Coach Zuck]

PEARL HARBOR
"Confirmation Kowalski, I want confirmation ! You know the skipper of the Ward is a green kid" CPT John B. Earle (Fleet DutyOfficer)to LtCDR Kowlaski .

This proves disastrous as two "Midget" Subs penetrate the harbor and torpedo the battleships TENNESSEE & WEST VIRGINIA!
The Air raid proves disappointing as the OKLAHOMA is untouched and the MARYLAND hit by only 1 bomb. The AF and planes did not seem heavily damaged either at a cost of 5 Kates and 10 Vals.
As I looked in to the results I noticed that ONE FULL Datai of KATES did not strike!?! They were ordered to (w/torpedoes) and the SHOKAKU lost 0 torpedo sorties and only 27 carrier sorties from her Vals.

I told you the game hates me [:@]

Was told 153 PBYs were damged @ Pearl…. the Frog of War is croaking [:'(]

PoW & REPULSE
Floyd left them on their original settings and only ordered the Chinese and other ships at sea. The PoW was torpedo 8 times and sunk, the REPULSE ate 3 torpedoes and was reported on fire! A surprising # of Buffalos flew CAP and I lost several Nells.

Malaya
Landings made at Kota Bharu and Kuantan… so far so good! ( I expect to lose 3-4 transports off Kuantan even with ZEROs & OSCARS on LRCAP + PETES from my TFs. The Fast battleships covered this invasion just in case the PoW & REPULSE might have made it through.

Philippines
The HIRYU & SORYU hit the Manila Port; 9 subs hit only 1 reported sunk… I had expected 10 subs hit but 8 was the minimum I thought I might get.
Some of my raids from Formosa came in poorly unescorted or the Sweeps following the raids and I lost several more Nells & Bettys (10 of each in total for the turn)
My Paras took Vigan and landings were made @ San Fernando and Davao.

[Coach Zuck]

December 7th continued

SRA
Landings were made at Singkawang, Miri and Kendari. Thinking about it I should have stopped the Kendari force 1 day away from Kendari ( perhaps a bit gamey - oops).
Sinkawang force includes a Tank Rgt preped for Palembang…. plan to use him to drive up the roads and "blitz' Sumatra! Have another TF loaded with an Inf Bn heading for Brunei.

[ny59giants]

Are you playing with the modified PWHEX files to impose stacking limits everywhere?? They change the war so neither side gets to use ground "Death Stars."

[Coach Zuck]

Pax thanks thinking about NW Australia then …… still may dabble in Ceylon if I take Singapore fast!
Mike No I dont think we are, but I'm not find of those" Death Stars" I feel its a major exploit and I hate exposing my LOC.

DECEMBER 8, 1941
KB minor
Leaving Pearl Harbor heading west toward Wake nothing exciting.

Philippines
One American PT TF hits mines laid at Bataan, while a second 4 PT Boat TF evades both SCTF @ San Fernando and strikes the transports sinking an AK and torpedoing an xAP (3 out of 4 torpedoes hit!).
Fighters & Anns based @ Vigan help prep San Fernando for our assault which is successful.
Davao is taken w/o a fight as no Allied forces are present.
Raids continue over Clark Field.
Also two Tank Rgts and a Recon Rgt unload @ Aparri

Malaya
Troops continue to unload @ Kuantan & Kota Bharu as well as Signora.
Allied planes strike both at TF and ground units @ Kuantan. My strikes vs his ground forces at Kuantan produce 0 casualties… over 60 Sally's and 30 Vals… very disappointing. His strikes create some casualties and hit another xAK.
My attack on Kota is successful and I am totally shocked when 3 Inf Rgts and an Engr Rgt receive only a 1:2 @ Kuantan!
{The 3 times I ran that non pbem to check it the worst odds I received were a 5:1 victory}
Still no report of sighting of the REPULSE, will have to keep my Fast Battleships @ Kuantan and hope he doesnt run the REPULSE to Singkawang
Zeros from CarDiv 2 and an extra Datai on board help LRCAP the TFs unlaoding @ Kuantan.

SRA
Invasions at Singkawang, Miri, and Kendari are all successful. No signs of any Allied SCTF. The RYUJO & TAIYO siuth of Mindinao find and sink an AVD & AK.

China & Hong Kong
Juggling forces in China… really didn't give China a great deal of attention, but only had 3 days to prep from when we agreed to start so something had to give and I figure I can make amends in China quickly once I give it a few hours of time soon.
Did kick Chinese fores out of Pengu…. no sign of the AVG anywhere!
Moving some Sonias & Marys from Formosa and Indo-China in to China….can got some work and experience there - as long as they don't run in to the AVG!

Hong Kong - troops marching, air units bombing. No sign of the British DDs

[Coach Zuck]

DECEMBER 9th, 1941

South Pacific
Invasions are successful at both Nauru and Ocean Islands. I figure I might as well gain the resources from these two little guys for as long as possible. I doubt Floyd will try to move some troops to Tarawa et al within Betty range from Kwaj & Rai.

Malaya
What a frustrating day in the Air over Malaya for the Empire. 100 IJAAF Bombers Sally's & Lilly's hit the Allied troops @ Kuantan, again no casualties! Then two air raids hit Singapore unescorted! I lost 10 Nell's and 5 Betty's. A full Datai of A6M2's @ Singkawang didn't SWEEP, ok wasn't relying on that but the other A6M2 Datai didn't fly their Escort mission (same base) and an OSCAR Sentai (@ Patani) sat this one out as well! [&:]
Good News we kicked a$$ @ Kuantan 17:1…1 unit destroyed, other 2 retreating & being pursued by 1st TANK Rgt & 5th RECON Rgt. Still have a good chance at cutting off those troops in northern Malaya.

Philippines
To add insult to injury a ZERO Datai ordered toSweep Manila, Sweeps Hong Kong? There no fighter planes @ HK? Checked my save they were targeted on Manila… but now read Commanders Choice….really a commander with 74 Aggression is going to choose HK over Manila (most USAAF fighters), Clark Field (some Fighters) or Iba (few fighters)!!!!!????
[:@]
USN AMs sweep mines at Bataan.
ZEROS @ Davao intercept and damage several B17's attempting to raid there.
The Tank Rgt in Davao begins to drive on Cagayan…followed by Infantry.

SRA
OK I'm screwed apparently I did something wrong somewhere. My invasion of Brunei is going to the toilet. I had tasked a Unit at Cam Ranh Bay and clicked Load Troops Only…. well the TF left on turn 1…not a (*) TF with only 2 support squads loaded…which are both disabled now. Also notice this on board my TF heading for Menado (an Engineer unit).
So I'm going to just reload some troops from Miri today, and drop them on Brunei tomorrow!

SO IS THAT WHAT I DID? Clicking the load troops only on Turn 1 can create issues of only a small % loading before the TF sails?

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Coach Zuck
SO IS THAT WHAT I DID? Clicking the load troops only on Turn 1 can create issues of only a small % loading before the TF sails?

From each base you only have so much load capacity per turn (and I think there is a some small random element as well). If you try to grab too much on the first turn from a base you can fail to load everything. I've never seen what you state here though (only getting the initial pre-load), but also not sure what else you were loading from that base ... it almost looks like you set up a load, then attempted to change it, but failed in the confirmation process. That left you with only the pre-load on board and nothing else following.

[Coach Zuck]

Arrggghh
Getting very frustrated Sweeps haven't flown for three straight days over the Philippines!
As well as attacks on the American Air Fields flying unescorted….. IJNAF…IJAAF doesn't seem to matter
Back to back days had many Betty's and Nells set to Naval 1st due to a high number of Allied TFs running away from the Philippines and trying to hit ships fleeing Hong Kong….most of my planes are trying to attack a few minesweepers in Manila. Floyd can't blame, is keeping them there and letting his P-40's shot down bunches of unescorted Betty's & Nell's.
Have lost a total of 57 Betty's & Nell's as of my December 11th results!

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Coach Zuck

Arrggghh
Getting very frustrated Sweeps haven't flown for three straight days over the Philippines!
As well as attacks on the American Air Fields flying unescorted….. IJNAF…IJAAF doesn't seem to matter
Back to back days had many Betty's and Nells set to Naval 1st due to a high number of Allied TFs running away from the Philippines and trying to hit ships fleeing Hong Kong….most of my planes are trying to attack a few minesweepers in Manila. Floyd can't blame, is keeping them there and letting his P-40's shot down bunches of unescorted Betty's & Nell's.
Have lost a total of 57 Betty's & Nell's as of my December 11th results!

That is very bad. They have some of your best naval pilots early.

Usually I would sweep first, then strike once I know the CAP has been worn down a bit. If your sweeps aren't flying check commanders, fatigue, morale and distance. The other major difficulty in flying into his CAP is that you give your opponent a ton of very good pilots early which will make your job harder in each successive stage if he uses them in the DEI.

Your surface fleets and subs should be able to corral most of the Phillipine ships, but if not, no big deal. Your main object is speed and efficiency in getting your main SRA destinations captured, not in sinking ships.

[Coach Zuck]

Fatigue for all the ZERO Datai's in Formosa/Taiwan were under 20 all have morale in the 90's and the Leaders Aggression ranges from 72 to 84.
I just think I have some really awful luck…… thats way I like to say the game hates me.[X(][:@][:(]
For example so far every American Sub torpedo thats hit has exploded… no dudes so far Floyd's 4/4 (non S-Class).

[Coach Zuck]

DECEMBER 10th 1941

War at Sea
American Submarines strike sinking an xAk carrying SNLF troops as part of the Manado Invasion… this could be bad as another xAk carrying that SNLF is already returning to Samah after being hit by a torpedo last turn.
A Tanker fleeing the Philippines is sunk by bombs from the Ryujo's Kates off Leyte.
The I-170 torpedoes the USS Indianapolis and it is reported sunk (maybe, but only 1 torpedo hit)

A SCTF led by the CL NAKA encounters US PT Boats off San Fernando, unfortunately the combat is inclusive.
Another SCTF led by the CL NATORI sinks one of the British DDs running from Hong Kong and leaves a 2nd on fire. Hopefully we'll finish them off next turn.

Malaya
Good News a Sweep from the newly established based @ Singkawang works and downs 5 Buffalos over Singapore.
More Betty's fly over Singapore w/o escort …. have Oscars @ Pattani and Kota tasked to Escort; plus Zero's in Southern Indo-China who don't Sweep.
Stupidly I forget to order the Armor who pursued the CW troops fleeing Kuantan to attack!

Philippines
Two Full ZERO Datais tasked to Sweep…. do not Sweep.
Two small detachments do escort a strike but they escort the 5 Betty segment (part of a datai in main raid) , not the main raid of 45 Betty's over Clark Field…needless to say I lost a bunch of Betty's.
To make me me more frustrated several Nells attack PT Boats in Manila…. lost severql more the American CAP!
Lost 20 Betty's and Nells today!

SRA
ZERO's @ Singkawang work (BANZAI)
TF unloading at Manado hit by CD guns and several combat squads from the Naval Guard Unit disabled.
A Japanese sub looses torpedoes at an AVP fleeing down the Celebes Sea but misses.

CHINA
I continue to reshuffle to straighten out garrisons and free up the 21st Division.
Chinese troops mass at Ichang.
Floyd moves the a part of the AVG to Hong Kong!
A lightly escorted strike does some damage and the AVG bag a Nate, 2 Lilly's, 2 Sonia's and 4 Ida's.
I got lucky here…this could've been worse.

BURMA
Troops rushing across Thailand to move in to position and moving the 1st Raider Rgt to Indo-China….. see if I can Parachute in to Mandalay or one of the nearby bases. Also the Cavalry Rgt is going to take the northern route via Taung Gyi.

[Coach Zuck]

MALAYA FRONT December 11th

[Coach Zuck]

Philippines Front - December 11th

[Coach Zuck]

DECEMBER 11th, 1941

War at Sea
US Subs sink another two xAKs… one loaded with SNLF troops heading for Manado (One already sank)
Early morning 3 Betty's strike at the BOSIE in Makassar, but miss and then miss again in the PM (Drat!)
SCTF led by the CL NATORI encounters two of British Destroyers from Hong Kong, but alas the British slip away.
A SCTF led by the CL NAKA encounters US PT Boats off Iba (PI) sinks one and drives them off!

MALAYA
A6M2 Sweep from Singkawang arrives over Singers, and shoots down 2 Buffalos to Zero ZERO's lost.
Army Bombers from Kuantan are not so lucky most of the OSCARS fail to fly escort and 6 LILLY's are lost.
The 5th Recon & 1st Tank Rgts destroy the British/Indian BF & AA Rgt fleeing from Kuantan.

PHILIPPINES
My ZERO's do not fly Sweeps any where one datai and chutai were each tasked with sweeping Hong Kong( just in case Floyd left the AVG there) and Clark Field. Army bombers flying from San Fernando and Vigan are slaughtered when the OSCARS @ both bases do not fly escort; 9 SALLY's and 7 LILLY's are lost over Clark Field.
My Northern Luzon Armor destroys the PI Inf Bn @ Tuguegarao (south of Aparri).

SRA
Forces unloading @ Manado are hit by more bad luck, CD guns hit a previously damaged xAk and combat troops are disabled…. this is going to be a close run thing now as it will be a Naval Guard unit vs the Dutch garrison.
Will withdraw my Amphib TF even though the HAGURO is imbedded, why take chances with the BOSIE so close, I'll move the RYUJO & TAIYO + 2 Hy Cruisers in to range.

[Coach Zuck]

DECEMBER 12th, 1941

War at Sea
Off the Philippines two ASW TFs almost eat fish from US Subs, but escape unscathed, unfortunately they are unable to damage the offending subs.
The I-153 hits the CL MARBLEHEAD off Soerabaja…..reportedly suffering heavy damage.
6 BETTY's attempt to attack a US TF in Manila and fall prey to 20 P-40s over Manila!
3 BETTY's from Kendari spy the USS HOUSTON @ Soerabaja, but fail to hit and one falls to flak.
BETTY's from Davao strike a TF off Jolo (bombing) we miss the DD but put one bomb in the AV LANGLEY, and sink an AKL off Zamboanga.
12 BETTY's decide to try to torpedo HDML's @ SIngers…..wow….. anyway one's sunk (who cares) and 3 more BETTY's are lost to Buffalos!

MALAYA
Units continue to unload at Signora and begin to march towards Alor Star.
Several uncoordinated strikes lose me several bombers and there are no Sweeps over Singapore.
1st Tank Rgt & 5th Recon Rgt push towards Temuloh!

PHILIPPINES
Army troops begin unloading @ Altimonan…9th & 20th Inf Rgts, 16th Engr Rgt, 16th Recon Rgt, plus Construction Engr's and an IJAAF Bn.
No sweeps [:(][&:]
56 BETTY's & NELLs hit ground troops @ Lingayen, their escort of 28 ZERO's prove ineffective and 20 P-40's rush past only losing 1 of their numbers…. they bring down 7 more BETTYs.
The 8th Tank Rgt occupies Cotabato on Mindinao… pushing for Cagayan.
The Kanno Detachment seizes the port of Naga.
Units of the 48th Infantry Division smash the AMericans at Lingayen destroying an Artillery unit and sending two PA infantry Divisions scurrying back to CLark Field.

SRA
Brunei is taken by units of the 124th Infantry Rgt .
The Manado invasion has fallen apart. CD guns here are extremely effective hitting another two xAks and the attack fails 1:2 but w/o significant squads remaining to take the base. I have a SCTF in the area who will bombard to cover a withdrawal and more troops will be detached….. actually they already were, i was hoping to send them to Ambon but…….stuff happens.

CHINA
Troops juggling
!st attack Hong Kong results in only a 1:1 but reduces the Forts by 1.
Disruption and fatigue remain low so we can "Deliberate Attack" again tomorrow and see if we can reduce the forts some more.

[Coach Zuck]

Production Question?
Do I really need all those factories producing Aichi Ha-60 Engines?
Expanded ZERO & OSCAR Production.
Can I "steal" one of these factories and convert it to Nakajima Ha-35?