Command Decisions: Samurai vs. Yeomen RA 6.4

[John 3rd]

Sub Operations
March 22-April 5, 1942

3-22
I-157 SINKS TK British Fortitude near Bombay
I-15 SINKS DD Dent near Hiva Oa
I-121 SINKS KV Thyme near Cochin

3-24
I-28 SINKS AK Aspasia Nomikos near Brisbane

3-28
I-29 hits AK Welteureden near Diamond Harbor

3-29
I-5 SINKS AK Wilhelmina off Pearl Harbor
I-121 SINKS AMc Poone near Mandalore

3-30
I-5 SINKS AK Willimote near Pearl Harbor

3-31
I-174 hits AP Merkur off Auckland

4-2
I-158 SINKS AK San Alvaro off Surat

4-3
I-170 hits AK Mormacland near Lahaina
I-4 SINKS AP Klipfontein near Lahaina

4-4
I-158 hits AK Itauru off Bombay

4-5
I-9 hits AP Queen Elizabeth at Noumea


Man...the SS Keep doing well!

[ny59giants]

How many subs have you lost??

[John 3rd]

THREE! We've lost I-6, 1-17, and I-155.

[mind_messing]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd
Man...the SS Keep doing well!

Indeed. How do you structure sub patrols?

[John 3rd]

I really work to keep moving them around. I'll seed an area with 10-12 boats and establish patrol zones that slightly overlap. Within the Flotilla are 3-4 Glen Boats to help 'see' if there are convoys moving around. Once a set of boats have raised HE** for a while I pull them and move to a new area. Always keep high traffic areas (West Coast of India--NE of PH, etc...) covered by I-Boats then use the rest to move. Have also established forward operating bases that cut down the patrol transit time bunch as well. Bring in an AS or two and then put about 5-10,000 fuel there and you are good to go for quite a while.

My .02...

[mind_messing]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

I really work to keep moving them around. I'll seed an area with 10-12 boats and establish patrol zones that slightly overlap. Within the Flotilla are 3-4 Glen Boats to help 'see' if there are convoys moving around. Once a set of boats have raised HE** for a while I pull them and move to a new area. Always keep high traffic areas (West Coast of India--NE of PH, etc...) covered by I-Boats then use the rest to move. Have also established forward operating bases that cut down the patrol transit time bunch as well. Bring in an AS or two and then put about 5-10,000 fuel there and you are good to go for quite a while.

My .02...

Good to know. I've the tendancy to use the Glen boats as portable recon bases, but having a couple of them as wolf-pack leaders appeals to me. If it means getting the results you're getting, I can't and won't complain.

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
April 6-11, 1942

The war has come to the point where we need to do some serious organizational work to set for the next phase of operations. In some areas, the IJA is back-filling to finish off some pesky defenders while the Kaigun needs to do some serious reorganization. Additionally, we need to move a BUNCH of fuel, troops, and supplies around to prepare for the inevitable the Allied counter-punches.

There is one more major offensive planned to occur roughly about mid-May. Let us simply say that if the Allies haven't been freaked out by losing everything SE to through Tahiti, all points west of Pearl Harbor, Western and NW Aussieland, and most of China then this operation SHALL DO IT! Beyond Michael (who knows the plans and IN FACT suggested part of it) does anyone have a guess?

North Pacific
Sparring still taking place here. Brought in a pair of Base Forces to Umnak, so it can handle the 27 Zero, 12 Val, 12 Kate, and 21 Emily, and the Allies tried to counter with CLs St. Louis and Concord and 3 DDs. The Japanese fought a skillful delaying action with CL Kiso and 4 DDs. Dropped off the units as well as 10,000 supply.

CV Junyo and consorts have arrived at Kobe and are disbanded for some R&R.

Central Pacific
Very calm. Forts for Midway, Johnston, Palmyra, and Christmas are all at 3+ now. Max garrisons are in place and prep looks good at each base.

A small convoy of AKs got within Betty range of Christmas and two were sunk by TTs.

SE Pacific
Have a lot of LCUs and Daitai moving to this region right now. The Tahiti Region will have 54 Zero, 27 Betty, 48 Kate, 48 Val, and 27 Mavis/Emily for its aerial complement.

Pago Pago will be the main Fleet Base and bastion for the Japanese.

South Pacific
After those big, plump Allied APs got beat-up a week ago, we find that they dropped off supply, an Artillery Regiment and small Infantry Unit. These join the two small French units present in Noumea. Nice of them to allow me to add to the total of soon-to-be-prisoners! An SNLF Assault Brigade will join the two Naval Guards at Noumea while a second Brigade wil begin unloading in two days.

Noumea will be mine in about 7 days or less then we move over to Nadi/Suva. Once those two targets are dealt with then we are finished in the SE and South Pacific.

Philippines
Manila
This base is getting hit by multiple BBs every other day as well as 125 bombers every day.

A second assault occurs on the 11th and gets a 1-2 result ((1038-1647) that drops the Forts down to 2. Looking good. The 18th ID and freshly arrived 9th ID will add their weight to the next attack and drop the Forts prior to the final assault. The six IDs present (at that point) will then change their assignments. Four move to Singapore while two move to take on Port Moresby.

Australia
Western
Have lifted three of the four IDs from this area. There is some sparring going on with Aussie units driven out of their bases earlier. Have got two Manchurian Cavalry units about to arrive. A Brigade from China will join them and that will be most of the troops left to hold this area. Have lifted off two large Convoys carrying Resources from Perth. NICE!

NW
CRAZY! The Allies--don't ask me WHY--are defending Darwin. There are 17 units present as well as nearly 75 planes. YUMMY!!! All bases are taken south of Darwin with the 56th ID about to make arrive at Darwin itself. A reinforcing ID is unloading at Wyndham presently.

The fun part of this has been in the south. I grabbed Daly Waters, Katherine, and Tennant Creek using Paras. Once the Paras regrouped, I used planes to jump on Alice Springs. There was only a single BASE FORCE present! While a unit closed in on my Transport Operation at Tennant Creek, I took the calculated decision to fly 36 Topsy from here to grab Alice while uncovered. We took the base but they took Tennant and I lost all the TR. Not good but I think the capture of Alice outweighs the loss of planes. Am currently flying in a Base Force, Engineering unit, and Brigade so we can build-up and hold Alice.

Burma
Have everything now. Two TK Reg driving towards Akyab to 'fix' the Allies attention.

Heavy air action over Akyab and Chittagong. Am challenging his P-40s and Hurricanes everyday and doing OK. Really want them focused HERE! There is an Air Flotilla present in Magwe now and the Kates/Bettys flying from here have served notice that convoys come into range at their own risk.

CARDIV2 is about to reveal itself on the west side of India. We hope for JUICY targets!

China
Took Kungchang on the 8th and am done for all I care with China.


That is the news. Will Post more in a bit.

[EHansen]

My guess is Ceylon.

[John 3rd]

Ooohhhhh....we already have a bet....

[John 3rd]

Fuel is critical throughout the Empire currently. I had stockpiled 350,000 at Truk as well as the full AOs that start the war for the KB. This has been pretty much eghausted now. I need a period of 6-8 weeks to shuttle fuel (using ALL TK and AO) from the DEI to Japan and the Pacific. Simple reality. Have to do this.

OK.

The Kido Butai waits for no one!

We are in about mid-April 1942. The Allies have lost CVs Enterprise and Yorktown along with CLV Charlotte. The MAX they can field in the East is 4 CV.

The Brits are intact but I don't fear them by themselves. REALLY want to bring some of the British Fleet into ACTION!

Time to acknowledge facts and do some planning:
1. Don't have fuel for any real operations in the Pacific (North, Central, and SE or South) for at least 6-8 weeks.
2. The DEI is FULL of fuel.
3. Will consolidate the entire Carrier Fleet at Singers. After CARDIV2 makes its RAID along the west side of India, it shall return to Singapore. Currently CARDIV1 and CARDIV5 are south of of Noumea and are heading to Singers from there. Will pull the CVs up north of New Guinea so the Allies don't know where they are until the cloak is pulled away.

Carriers currently in play:
CARDIV1 (Akagi--Kaga--Ryujo)
CARDIV2 (Hiryu--Soryu--Shoho--Nisshin)
CARDIV3 (Junyo--Taiyo--Hosho)
CARDIV5 (Shokaku--Zuikaku--Zuiho)

I intend to combine 1,2, and 5 for a SERIOUS ATTACK into the Indian Ocean.

CV Hiyo is due in 49 Days
CVL Ryuho in 83 Days

Once Hiyo and Ryuho are complete I shall operate incorporate them into CARDIV3. CARDIV1 and CARDIV3 will operate together (minus the CVEs) as KB-1 (348 Planes). CARDIV2 and CARDIV5 will then operate as a single unit as KB-2 (338 Planes).

KB-1 will be close to the same operating speed and KB-2 will ROCK as the Fast TF.

Comments?

[Cribtop]

I was going to guess Ceylon too. I will guess NE India instead.

[John 3rd]

OK. Let us open this for active discussion.

My planning was to land in mid-May at Viza and Cocanada with 6 ID and 5 TK Reg. The goal is to take eastern DEI and grab all that economic stuff (HI, LI, Resources, and Fuel). This would force the Allies to respond HERE instead of doing something STUPID (like land in Sumatra--Canoerebel!). I have two ID at 80-90% Prep for each target right now! They will be 100% in time for landing.

I gave some serious thought to Ceylon but didn't see the economic benefits that eastern India bring.

Comments and/or thoughts? This is now up for contributions and brainstorming...

[CowboyRonin]

I have no doubt that you can force through the landings, and no doubt that you can get ashore and cause havoc. If the Eastern Fleet attempts to intercede to protect India (I hope you already have the Eastern DEI [;)]), it will be a death ride. However, I have a series of questions that can best be summed up as "what then?" Does the Calcutta area produced enough supplies on its own (local Resources, etc) to support you? If not, then you will have to ship in supplies on a regular basis. Those resupply convoys are prime candidates for attack, by air, subs, and surface raiders. If you keep the KB in the area to prevent these attacks and to provide air support, then you have it anchored to the Indian Ocean, leaving the Pacific free for the US Navy to get it's feet back under it and start being annoying. Also, you just said that your current fuel situation is painful. If you try to conduct an operation before getting the HI built back up, you will be sweating over every fuel point - Singers (for the offensive) or the Home Islands? The tighter you stretch your fuel situation, the more dangerous a few subs with working torpedoes can be. It doesn't take much pressure to break something stretched taught, and your fuel flows sound like they're awfully tight. Also, what's your "out"? Are the IDs going to stand and die, or are you going to try to either evacuate them (bring back the naval issues) or march them to Burma (good luck getting anything viable)? If you're not trying to pull a Rader and take the whole thing, you are signing up for 3 years in contact in India; that's a lot of opportunity for attrition, and the Allies tend to do attrition better than the Japanese.

Down scope, resume lurking...

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: CowboyRonin

I have no doubt that you can force through the landings, and no doubt that you can get ashore and cause havoc. If the Eastern Fleet attempts to intercede to protect India (I hope you already have the Eastern DEI [;)]), it will be a death ride. However, I have a series of questions that can best be summed up as "what then?" Does the Calcutta area produced enough supplies on its own (local Resources, etc) to support you? If not, then you will have to ship in supplies on a regular basis. Those resupply convoys are prime candidates for attack, by air, subs, and surface raiders. If you keep the KB in the area to prevent these attacks and to provide air support, then you have it anchored to the Indian Ocean, leaving the Pacific free for the US Navy to get it's feet back under it and start being annoying. Also, you just said that your current fuel situation is painful. If you try to conduct an operation before getting the HI built back up, you will be sweating over every fuel point - Singers (for the offensive) or the Home Islands? The tighter you stretch your fuel situation, the more dangerous a few subs with working torpedoes can be. It doesn't take much pressure to break something stretched taught, and your fuel flows sound like they're awfully tight. Also, what's your "out"? Are the IDs going to stand and die, or are you going to try to either evacuate them (bring back the naval issues) or march them to Burma (good luck getting anything viable)? If you're not trying to pull a Rader and take the whole thing, you are signing up for 3 years in contact in India; that's a lot of opportunity for attrition, and the Allies tend to do attrition better than the Japanese.

Down scope, resume lurking...

Boy...I slipped back to Page TWO. Have been busy without a lot of time to devote for the AAR. Sorry!

The 'what then' point of the above Post is excellent. My plans to invade and take eastern India is more of a massive diversion then anything else presently. Want to take those big eastern India cities and gain as much from them as possible. IF we can take eastern India then this will serve to keep the Allies focused trying to take it back while I can further dig-in along the coast and in Burma itself.

Aircraft committed will be primarily Army once the initial phases are done. Will keep a core of Naval Strike Aircraft over here to make any sortie into the Bay of Bengal COSTLY. If we can keep this region into 1943 then the Japanese are way ahead.

The Fleet commitment will scale back until I am keeping just some medium-light forces present to guard the sealines and occasionally raid. Don't see the CVs staying beyond the initial capture of Viza and Cocanada. Figure the boys are aggressive enough that they will come and attack some point of the Pacific portion of the Empire as soon as they realize the vast bulk of the Fleet is in the IO.

Current Game date is April 24th. Will work to get a solid update done ASAP.

[John 3rd]

Here is the current VP Screen:






VP Score: 26,757 to 9,182

Manila has now fallen, however, the entire Dutch Army has not yet surrendered at Soerabaja. That will be a big bump in VP.

Ships Sunk: 646 Allied to 197 Japanese

[John 3rd]

The Empire as of April 24, 1942:

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
April 12-27, 1942
Aleutians

The North Pacific continues to bear fruit for Japan as the Allies work to make Cold Bay and Dutch Harbor viable bases. They have moved 4EB into Anchorage and these planes periodically attack Umnak. Fighters (P-39 and (CRAP!) P-38s are at Cold Bay. Little TF are being run in by both sides as the fighting slowly builds.

Japan
1. I've moved in Base Forces to Attu and Adak so these bases can stage planes into Umnak.
2. An Air Flotilla just unloaded at Umank and this will make the Allied case a bit more desperate!
3. Air commitment: 39 Zero, 12 Kate, 12 Val, and 12 Emily. A Daitai of Betty are about to move here presently. Umnak just went to Lvl-3.
4. Kaigun: a STF of 2 CA, 1 CL, and 6 DD just arrived at Umnak. CARDIV3 will move into the waters, for the 3rd time, in two days. Am planning on bringing 5-6 I-Boats up here within a month or so.
5. Have two Brigades earmarked up here: Kawafuto and a Manchurian Brigade. Both are prepping for Cold Bay.

Allies
The small TF moving about the area are watched by my Emily as ships go into Kodiak, Anchorage, and then stage down to Dutch Harbor or Cold Bay. The small Northern Air Force has inflicted the following losses: (4/19) DD Kane and two AK sunk along with a pair of AP hit by 3 Bombs each while carrying troops, (4/22) an AK is sunk, (4/23) two AKL sunk, (4/25) an APD is hit at Dutch Harbor, (4/26) DD's Litchfield and Pillsbury are sunk and CL Honolulu is by 5 Bombs (NICE!!!) at Cold Bay, and (4/27) an AK is sunk at Cold Bay.

Nice attrition up here. Bagging 3 DDs and smacking Honolulu is nice. I might use the CVs approaching for a Port Strike at Cold Bay to finish off Honolulu. Will think on that for a bit...

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
April 12-27, 1942
South Pacific

The aggressiveness of my opponents cannot be overstated in this game. They look for any opportunity to get in a shot. Many times they have paid for this with high losses but they do manage to occasionally land a solid punch. This just recently occurred at New Caledonia.

The Japanese took Luganville and Efate without contest and then dropped off two Naval Guard at Koumac. No issue there either. Problems happened once we reach Noumea and found the two Free French units reinforced by a small Inf unit and Artillery Regiment. I decided to wait for reinforcements and then attack. Two SNLF Assault Brigades arrive at La Foa and then move on to Noumea. An additional Naval Guard and SNLF Coy are arriving at La Foa when they encounter CA Canverra, CL's Hobart, Leander, Adelaide as well as 3 DDs. The entire convoy (1 APD, 3 PB, 10 AK, and 2,579 troops are wiped out. CRAP! Noumea falls the next day bringing in 5,031 Allied POWs.

The rebuilt and rested 2nd ID is unloading at Noumea presently. The two SNLF Assault Brigades and the 2nd ID will land at Nadi within 10 days and then take Suva. Escort shall be provided by 2 BBs and 15 lesser ships.

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
April 12-27, 1942
Philippines

The Allies retreated into Manila as their 'fortress.' The Japanese LIKED this since it opened the Allies up to air and NAVAL bombardment. In total, 5 BBs were rotating hitting this base starting on the 12th. Over 130 Bombers added to the rising disruption. An attack on the 14th yileds a 1-1 result dropping Forts to 1 (CAS: Japan 3,919 to 481 Allied). The 9th ID (from Manchuria enters the contested hex on the 16th and the 18th sees a 2-1 assault following massive bombardment by all 5 BBs doing 932 Cas and GET THIS 9,449 Fires. The base surrenders with Casaulties being 6,227 for Japan and a MASSIVE 75,258 POWs. WOW!

Southern Army HQ moves into Manila as well as 90,000 supply. All 5 IDs and support troops set to rest and regain their strength. Have watched the Assault Value rise by nearly 100 a turn for the last 6-7 turns. Will begin moving most of them to Singapore for the India Operation starting May 1st. The remaining units will finish off the Central Philippines and then move on to Darwin to help there.

[Lecivius]

Just to show I lurk as well, " Kaigun: a STF of 2 CA, 1 CL, and 6 DD just arrived at Umnak."  Do you mix CA's & CL's?  I thought the line of thought was to keep away from mixed packages.