Gaishu Isshoku: John 3rd vs Cribtop Between the Storms

[John 3rd]

Just gloating a bit now. Have never really looked at QUEEN ELIZABETH.

Here she is 8,900 Troops and 71 VP. Did we kill an entire Regiment, Brigade, big Base Force???

[HansBolter]

You dirty rotten scoundrel....preying on civilian pleasure cruisers.

This must be a violation of the Geneva Convention.

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

You dirty rotten scoundrel....preying on civilian pleasure cruisers.

This must be a violation of the Geneva Convention.

...I almost feel guilty! NOT!

[John 3rd]

Regional Report
The Aleutians
January 14, 1942

Weather has crushed my plans for going out to Kansas and spending time with my Mother so I am doing a thorough regional update.

Aleutians
Cribtop and I sparred over an encounter with his warships up here. He told me, as I suspected, that there were a small squadron of US ships here but he bugged out once the scale of what I had brought became apparent.

The screenshot details the current situation with markings for where we'll garrison troops and build bases at. Cold Bay and Dora Harbor will be the eastern edge of the perimeter, then we have Umnak, Adak, and Amchitka. As reinforcements arrive I shall build-up the bases and dig in. The major forces committed permanently here are the Kawafuto Brigade and an SNLF Assault Brigade. Will add an Air Flotilla and a few Base Forces to strengthen the air potential up here and that is that. As far as I am concerned, this is now a backwater theatre of operations for Japan. Will base an AS and 6-8 SS here as well as a small warship Task Force. Am giving serious thought to basing several AMC up here and use them to raid the sea lanes down towards Washington.

Kuriles
While we defend at the Aleutians, the Kuriles shall continue to be built-up. There shall be no Canoerebel repeat of smashing in the Japanese door from the NORTH!

[John 3rd]

I should have started with this Pacific Map detailing the current situation.

CENPAC
Midway
Midway is currently digging in nicely. A fuel and supply convoy is due within a few days and this will provide enough supply to carry the garrison for a few months while the fuel will serve to take care of the needs of the 12+ SS based out of here.

Wake
Have kept a Base Force here that is slowly raising the Forts and keeping the base 'active' for plane ferrying needs.

Line Islands
Have taken all of them and am capturing the various 'dots' in the area. Plan to build a seaplane base on one of the 'dots' SSE of Christmas to extend the Emily patrol line for convoy hunting.

Palmyra
This base will be held by an Atoll Defense unit and pair of Base Forces.

Christmas Isle
The MAIN BASE of this area. Christmas shall be held by two Infantry Regiments bought out from China, an Atoll Defense unit, several Base Forces, several Engineering units, and an Air Flotilla HQ. Really want this base to serve a thorn in Cribtop's side, as well as a major base of operations for me, through 1943. Am focused on building up Forts and the AF. An AS just arrived and 10+ SS will be based from here.

Will probably base 4-5 AMC/Hunting groups here as well. Am strongly considering adding several older DDs to the AMCs so they have fuel for range and provide some teeth in raiding. Have never tried this so it is new for me. Any suggestions would be welcomed on this topic.

[ny59giants]

Will probably base 4-5 AMC/Hunting groups here as well. Am strongly considering adding several older DDs to the AMCs so they have fuel for range and provide some teeth in raiding. Have never tried this so it is new for me. Any suggestions would be welcomed on this topic.

Naval Search and more Naval Search. Cannot hit what you cannot see. Thus, some Glen I-boats beyond Emily range and focus on some rows of hexes that Cribtop would have to run through vs being all over the place with search and ships. Concentrate your strike capability, but have something a little further north of this to scout for American CVs sheparding a convoy or two.

[John 3rd]

Regional Report
January 14, 1942
The FAR South Pacific

In what was meant to be a raid down to the Society Islands by the KB things have changed.

The commitment of the fuel needed for the extended operation is a little worrisome but since I have operated the Combined Fleet at cruise speed it has not been too bad. The Fleet currently consists of 4 CV, 1 CVL, a CAV, 3 BC, 4 CA, 3 CL, and 24 DDs. In a period just under two weeks, the Raid has netted 3-5 TK/YO, 3-5 AK/AKL, 3 smaller APs, 4 BIG APs (three of the President Class), and Queen Elizabeth. With the sinking of Queen Elizabeth, the Carriers move to their final disposition for a sweep going north from the Marqueses towards Christmas Isle. We'll form a Scouting Line and cruise north hoping to find more stationary--waiting--convoys.

The most radical departure from initial planning is a BANZAI attack at Tahiti. Two Naval Guards were used to grab a base NE of Suva and NW of Pago Pago (for the building of the seaplane base) and I decided--on the fly--to pick those troops up and shot them at Tahiti. The base has been reconned everyday for nearly 10 days straight and all I see is a single unit. We'll try to GRAB the base to deny it to Cribtop. If he wants it, he'll have to details troops, prep them, and then send them to take the base. Potentially this could really disrupt his plans for a couple of months. Imperial HQ judges it worth the risk. Two IJN Coy are being loaded by two AMC to run them in for Emily usage.

Course...first we have to CAPTURE Tahiti. This suicide mission should resolve itself with 3-4 days.

[John 3rd]

Regional Report
South Pacific
January 14, 1942

The apparent abandonment of the South Pacific by Cribtop leaves all sorts of Offensive possibilities. The 2nd ID, Imperial Guards Brigade, and an SNLF Assault Brigade have been the major components of the Offensive down here. The 2nd ID is departing for Aussie Operations so that leaves just the other two units. Am tentatively going to plan on capturing Luganville, Efate, and New Caledonia. Once again this will open up the South Pacific for potential raiding possibilities if interested.

No moves will take place until a few carrier decks can be freed up to cover the assaults.

[John 3rd]

Regional Reports
The Philippines
January 14, 1942

Everything has been moving swimmingly along in the Philippines. It has made so easy by his quick withdrawal to Manila. I have taken Luzon with just two ID and a Brigade. Mindanao is completely captured and the 56th ID will join the 2nd ID to invade Geraldton, AUST. Central Philippines has a pair of Regiments taking the bases. They prepare to grab Bacolod and Cebu. Will be lifting out the various engineers and base forces within the next 10 days or so for redeployment.

Had Dwain taken a more aggressive posture in Luzon I might have had to reinforce this area with more troops, however, he did not so life is good...

MSW are clearing the minefield at Bataan and then we'll pull a pair of BBs to start normal bombardment runs there. Manila will fall but at my leisure...

[John 3rd]

Regional Report
The DEI--Java
January 14, 1942

Also proceeding at a swimmingly HAPPY pace is the taking of the DEI. All major oilfields taken and NONE OF THEM were badly damaged. Thank Goodness. We've started oil convoys at the two minor oil points near Ambon, TKs are arriving at Tarakan/Balikpapan, and the first TKs have arrived at Palembang. Until Manila and Singers are taken the TKs will haul their valuable cargo to Cam Rahn Bay. Already have the BIG TK waiting at CRB for this to start.

The 14th saw the capture of Semarang, Java. This line is breached and we'll leisurely take Java now that the base is loaded with planes, troops, and supplies.

[John 3rd]

Regional Report
Malaya--Sumatra
January 14, 1942

Singapore
Due to my own useless stupidity, Singapore has not fallen. I had ordered the 6 ID committed to the attack (4th, 5th, Imp Gds, 18th, 38th, and 33rd) to follow the Imp Guards but somehow that got mixed up and 5 Art nits crossed over PRIOR to the Infantry and got smashed. Re-Ordered the Infantry and they crossed to Singers two days ago. I was surprised to find Forts at 3 so that isn't nice. A follow-on wave of units will cross in two days and we'll launch our first serious attack on that day. Southern Army HQ is at Johore Bharu and the 25th Army HQ is with the troops at Singers.

MUST get this done fairly quickly so the troops can rest 10-14 days before loading for Ceylon and East India. I've got shipping and warships positioned to enter Singapore as soon as it falls so they can rest and repair as well.

Sumatra
Paras grabbed two of the eastern shore bases and now a full Inf Reg is moving up the coast from TJB to that base at edge of the screenshot.

[John 3rd]

Regional Report
Burma
January 14, 1942

A total of 4 TK Reg have taken southern Burma. Same note here as the Philippines, ANY form of defense here would still have me down near Moulmein. I'll gladly take what I've got.

[John 3rd]

Regional Report
China
January 14, 1942

A month-long truce ended on January 8th. The RED arrows show the immediate objectives and then the black arrows show follow-on operations. The goal is to take Sian and Northern China. We want to capture those oil and mineral resources up there. In the process, perhaps, we can cripple the Chinese Army in the short run.

[John 3rd]

Naval losses have been extra-ordinarily light to this point in the war.

ALLIES: 5 CL, 4 DD, and 10+ SS.

JAPAN: 2 DD

That is it...

[John 3rd]

That's my update.

Questions?

[John 3rd]

Here is the current list of major ship reinforcements under construction presently. Have Yamato and Junyo coming in pretty quick...

[John 3rd]

With the winding down of the initial onslaught, it is a good idea to talk CV Deployment for the next couple of months.

Current Organization
KB-1
CARDIV1 (Akagi--Amagi--Ryukaku)
CARDIV5 (Shokaku--Zuikaku--CAV)
3 BC

KB-2
CARDIV2 (Hiryu-Soryu--CAV)
CARDIV3 (Ryujo, Zuiho, Shoho)
2 BC

Escort Carriers
CARDIV4 (Hosho--Ibuki--Taiyo)
CVL Nisshin

Re-Organization
The Americans should now have 4 CV, a CVL, and 4 Hybrids (2 CAV/2 CLV). This is a formidable force. To counter the possibility of them all working together the CV will be re-organized:

1. CARDIV2 (with 2 BC) will move to join KB-1 raising its power to 6 CV, 1 CVL, and 2 CAV. This KB-1 will hold the door open in the east and south Pacific.
2. CVL Nisshin will join CARDIV3 (making 4 CVLs) for support during the Ceylon Operation.
3. The Escort Carriers will travel with the Ceylon Invasion Fore and provide direct air cover to protect the landings.
4. All six old BBs will support this operation.

Reinforcements
CV Junyo and Hiyo will join the IO Operations as CARDIV6.
BB Yamato will also head this direction.

Conversions
1. All three CS will begin CVL conversion on February 1st.
2. Six large AP are scheduled for conversion to CVE on June 1st.

[John 3rd]

Still haven't seen a turn from EITHER of my opponents so we'll do more updating...

[John 3rd]

Here is the first of two screenshots regarding CURRENT building in my air industry.

The ZERO in RA/BTS divides from the M2 to a land-based (stronger) Interceptor variant as well as the more traditional CV-based versions. There is no JACK in this Mod so the ZERO design team stays strictly tot he ZERO for the entire war. There is both good and bad in that choice. I have all these lines running currently and will then divide them along the Land/CV Lines.

The VALS and KATES are bumped by me due to the extra flight decks as well as future needs for Kamikazes. Note the recon variant of the KATE being built.

I convert all of my FP over to JAKES so I am producing a bunch of them for this early in the war.

[John 3rd]

Here is the bottom of the development lines page.

NOTES:

Japanese Bombers are set at their continuous levels: NELL, BETTY, and LIZ.

MAVIS and EMILY production is rolling. I will be closing out the MAVIS line March 1st.

Have SALLY (46) and LILY (34) serving as my current production. SALLY and research factories will shift to HELEN in two months

Lots of Oscars being built. They will continue for a few months after MISTER TOJO comes on line.

Need to raise my DINAH numbers.

Not shown are my transports (Topsy 28 and Tina 12)


That is what is currently building.