DBB 28C. Co-prosperity sphere of happiness: Jorge (J) vs Revthought (A)

[Jorge_Stanbury]

South West Pacific theater got exciting this last turn;

After my cruisers bombarded Rabaul for a second night expending all ammo and returning to Truk... in the meantime I guess my opponent saw an opportunity to do some harm ro the invasion fleets and unleashed cruisers Dragon and Durban, followed by 4 USN destroyers... but he failed to spot another TF I had there; patroling the waters south or Rabaul. This TF was composed by battleships Hiei and Kirishima, of KB fame. The resulting battle ended with two cruisers and one destroyer sunk and another DD severely damaged.

Then the question is where is the KB?? I left it at Truk, I didn't want to risk it on secondary objectives, and I like to keep him guessing on its whereabouts. The fact that Hiei and Kirishima are here will make him nervous.

Dragon and Durban are very poor ships, and the same can be said about already sunk Marblehead, Danae, Java, Tromp and DeRuyter... however, considering how few ships are available to the Allies early on, this is a good win as it reduces his options to intercept my invasion fleets

[Jorge_Stanbury]

This is my available engine production; a reminder I am playing PDU OFF:

Building
Ha-31: 1 factory at 45(0), This is required for Ki-46 Dina, Ki-45 Nick, F1M2 Pete and Ki-57- Topsy.
I am building, monthly, 15 Petes + 15x2 Dinah = 45 in total. I am in balance at the moment, however, I will need more as I have a 30 plane Sonia factory turned off (enough inventory). I will eventually need to build some Topsy-II and a few Ki-45c and d.

Ha-32: 2 factories at 73(17) and 16(14), this is required for several important planes: G4M Betty, Ki-21 Sally, B6N Jill, H8K Emily and JM Jack.
I am running dangerously low on inventories. I want to increase this to 120 as a starting point (just enough to cover production of 30 Betties and 30 Sallies). Eventually, when the supply situation is less constrained, I will increase it to 150 or more.

Ha-33: 2 factories at 81(9) and 16(14). This is required for G3M Nell, H6K Mavis, D3A Val, E13A1 Jake among others
Since I stopped Nell production (enough inventory), I am just barely OK with 120 per month. I am using 40 for Jakes, 30 for Vals, 20 for Tinas, 40 for Mavis and 40 for Dinah; thus I need no less than 230, probably more, but supply is too low to increase it, so I will simply stop production Tinas or Mavis if inventory becomes too low

Ha-34: 1 factory at 26(4). This is required for Ki-44 Tojo and Ki-49 Helen, so not needed yet. Moreover these two are not popular PDU OFF models, therefore I most likely will keep this factory small

Ha-35: 3 factories at 190(0), 16(24), 16(4). This is required for several important models: A6M Zero, B5N Kate, Ki-43 Oscar, Ki-48 Lily, Ki-45 Nick, among others.
Difficult to say how many I will need. 240 is just barely OK for now as I am using: 60 for Zero, 100 for Oscar, 68 for Lily and 15 for Kate. I might be better with around 260 a month, but I want to be careful as I certainly don't want to overproduce, specially considering that I will likely turn off production of Zero and Oscars once they reach a certain level of inventory.

Not Building
Hikari will be spent on B5N1s

Ha-5 will be spent on Ki-57 I Topsy

Amakaze will be used on E14Y1 Glen.. however, I will need to leave a few for Q1W1 Lorna. squadron Sasebo Ku T-4 will need 7 planes and it won't upgrade to anything. So I will likely build no less than 20 Lornas which means I will have to save 40 Amakazes.

Hitachi early: used by underwhelming dog Ki-54 Hickory. Its inventory should be enough to cover the small production

Kawasaki early: used only by Ki-32 Mary and although I would be happy to build them all 85 in the pool, there are very few squadrons that use or upgrade to this model. Moreover, starting inventory of Ki-32 is high, thereby there is really no need to build any.

Kotobuki: obsolescent, used by Ki-27 Nate or A5M Claude, neither is in production or desired

[Jorge_Stanbury]

Air production - Army



Ki-43 Oscar will be built in important numbers as it is the main Army fighter (PDU OFF).
Sooner than later I will need to restart production of K-51 Sonia
Sally production might be turned off for a few weeks, this to improve Ha-32 inventory situation

[Jorge_Stanbury]

Air production: Navy


I am keeping Zero A6M2 production relatively small, as it doesn't upgrade.
I am resizing float plane squadrons, thereby I 'll need E13A1 and F1M2 in good numbers.
Nell inventory is high and loses small [:)], thereby no need to produce it yet
I am not building any recon plane yet. I simple don't have any leftover production line to build C5M2 Babs... at least all squadrons are at full strength, moreover in my Allied game experience, it is OK to run recon missions without a full plane complement; one or two planes are enough; not to mention JAAF abundant recon squadrons can take over in extreme need

[Anachro]

Thanks for your explanations on the air production/research, need to understand this better for my own Japan PBEM...

[Jorge_Stanbury]

The stupid commander of the battleship force covering Mersing invasion had the great idea of reacting to one DD parked at Singapore... Which meant they had to run a gauntlet against heavy caliber CD guns and mines

Losses so far:
- BB Hyuga at 99 fires, it will sink tomorrow
- 5 first class destroyers: 1 Yugumo, 4 Hatsuhara class
- 1 second rate destroyer: Momi class
- I-124 somehow also decided to get inside Singapore, hit 3 mines and sank

Well, at least this disaster was not due directly due to my orders. The AI will sometimes make some really weird decisions. It is a game, so I will simply move on

But I will also do some investigation on possible indirect ways I could have avoided this. I tend to prefer aggressive commanders and I was under the impression that react would avoid fortress/ known minefields.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval Gun Fire at Singapore - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

109 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga, Shell hits 16, Mine hits 1, heavy fires
BB Ise, Shell hits 10, Mine hits 1
BB Fuso, Shell hits 17, Mine hits 1, on fire
DD Susuki, Shell hits 5, Mine hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Wakaba, Shell hits 14, Mine hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Hatsushima, Shell hits 2, Mine hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Nenohi, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Hatsuharu, Shell hits 1, Mine hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Yugumo, Mine hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Allied ground losses:
175 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Singapore Fortress firing at BB Hyuga
BB Hyuga firing at Singapore Fortress
BB Ise firing at Singapore Fortress
Singapore Fortress firing at BB Ise
BB Fuso firing at Singapore Fortress
Singapore Fortress firing at BB Fuso
Singapore Fortress firing at DD Susuki
DD Susuki firing at Singapore Fortress
DD Wakaba firing at Singapore Fortress
Singapore Fortress firing at DD Wakaba
Singapore Fortress firing at DD Hatsushima
DD Hatsushima firing at Singapore Fortress
DD Nenohi firing at Singapore Fortress
Magazine explodes on DD Hatsuharu
DD Hatsuharu firing at Singapore Fortress
Singapore Fortress firing at DD Hatsuharu
DD Yugumo firing at Singapore Fortress


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval Gun Fire at Singapore - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

Japanese Ships
SS I-124, Mine hits 2, on fire, heavy damage



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 48 encounters mine field at Singapore (50,84)

Japanese Ships
SS I-124, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Singapore at 50,84, Range 14,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Fuso, Shell hits 1, on fire
BB Ise
BB Hyuga, Shell hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Yugumo, and is sunk
DD Hatsuharu, and is sunk
DD Nenohi, Shell hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Hatsushima, and is sunk
DD Wakaba, and is sunk
DD Susuki, and is sunk

Allied Ships
DD Isis, Shell hits 9, and is sunk

Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 28,000 yards
Range closes to 22,000 yards...
Range closes to 20,000 yards...
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 18,000 yards
Range closes to 16,000 yards...
Range closes to 14,000 yards...
Allies open fire on surprised Japanese ships at 14,000 yards
DD Isis fires at DD Nenohi at 14,000 yards
Range closes to 13,000 yards
DD Isis engages DD Nenohi at 13,000 yards
BB Fuso engages DD Isis at 13,000 yards
DD Isis engages DD Nenohi at 13,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards
DD Isis engages BB Hyuga at 10,000 yards
DD Isis engages BB Fuso at 10,000 yards
Swinley, C.S.B. orders Allied TF to disengage
Range closes to 9,000 yards
BB Hyuga engages DD Isis at 9,000 yards
DD Isis sunk by BB Ise at 9,000 yards
Combat ends with last Allied ship sunk...

[Anachro]

Damn...bad luck there. Did you have your reaction set above 0 or 1? I guess we found out why Yamashita came through the backdoor to Singapore.

[Jorge_Stanbury]

Yes I always put my TFs to maximum reaction, and never bother changing them afterwards, unless of course the TF become a cripple. But then, never before did any of my TFs react to the guns of Singapore.

And remember that if the leader is aggressive, then the TF will react regardless of the setting.

One potential "lesson learnt" is not to use "patrol" setting near ports. Patrolling TFs are more keen to react, better to use "remain on station" if being close to a defended port is unavoidable

[Lowpe]

What a horrible outcome, but what a great reaction!

I tend to like my naval commanders less aggressive for Japan.

[Jorge_Stanbury]

This was the setting; I initially thought it was Raizo Tanaka's folly, but then I realized he was leading the Kongos. The commander's aggressive rate is 68... not a lot for Japan

Big contributors = big mistakes:

- "Patrol" instead of "Remain on station", the later is less reactive.
- Threat tolerance absolute, routing normal: these two are usually good, as I didn't want them to run away from LBAs, but should be disabled when operating close to a fortress.
- Max react = 6 : Not needed in the particular task of covering Mersing landing

[Anachro]

I never set my max react to 6 unless I think its absolutely needed - i.e. I absolutely want to intercept another TF. For covering, I think you can stick with 1-2-3

[Lowpe]

A few thoughts, keep in mind this is PDU off:

I think your engine production is low. Now is the time, best bang for the supply buck, to expand engine production especially for the Ha33, and the Ha35 both incredibly important engines early to mid game.

The Ha33 is Tony (100I), Judy 3-4, A6M8, Randy as well as the others. I like to the get the engine bonus here and you will be making them to the game end.

I like the engine bonus for the Ha35, I feel you need to speed up r&d on the Oscar IIb which is an incredibly important plane early on as is the A6M3a or A6M5. A lot of squadrons jump from the the IIb straight to the Frank A.

Also, not mentioned is the Lilly IIb and IIc divebombers (for the ha35). You have many squadrons that upgrade to this plane if you elect to use them. Not every JFB likes the IIb however.

Jack is not an important plane in the game, first squadron arrives in 9/43 and there are only 4 squadrons available for the final version. A good plane yes, but limited by squadrons as is the George.

To me some of the planes you should plan on getting early are the Oscar IIb; Frank A; A6M3a or A6M5; Sam; Judy and Jill. Toss in Tony line if you like. The Sen Baku might be important since your non-CV groups go that path from the A6M2. The squadron upgrade path really rules your decision making as you know.

Just thinking ahead you need to counter Jugs & Corsairs in 43 -- that is Franks. For the KB to be a viable force in 44 you need Sam.

I like to keep the production of Sonia's going. Great plane in China...plus I have a theory on how to use them at the end game.

[Lowpe]

Remain on station means no reaction, except perhaps when in transit. Not sure there.

[Jorge_Stanbury]

Thanks for the advice, I will be increasing Ha-35 right away, as there is one production line at 190(0) that can be expanded; all others can wait a few days, as they are repairing

And I will look at increasing Oscar IIb, this was not at all in my original plans

"remain on station" TF can react, maybe it is the commander overruling the order (happens a lot with aggressive leaders), but I have definitively seen it many times.

[Jorge_Stanbury]

Slowly getting back to my feet after that horrendous Singapore fiasco. Last turn I detected an enemy TF moving close to Rabaul, I sent a strong cruiser TF to investigate. They found the Australian navy and dealt with it.
Problem is, the cruisers ended trashed too, they are, I believe, out of risk, assuming they reach nearby Rabaul without any submarine interference. That said, they are out of the war for some time, thus I had no other choice than to commit KB, hopefully for a brief time only.


Enemy status: I am sure Canberra is lost, the aircraft losses report an Australian float plane lost. Of the three cruisers present, Perth left lightly damaged, Adelaide is not float plane capable, leaving it to Canberra as the only alternative. I rebased the Nells from Roi Namur and they should take care of the two cripples.


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Dec 26, 41
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Rabaul at 106,125, Range 9,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Aoba, Shell hits 1
CA Kinugasa
CA Furutaka, Shell hits 1
CA Kako, Shell hits 1
DD Oboro
DD Uzuki
DD Kikuzuki, Shell hits 1
DD Yuzuki

Allied Ships
CA Canberra, Shell hits 7
CL Perth
CL Adelaide, Shell hits 1
DD Stuart, Shell hits 2, on fire


Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 53% moonlight: 11,000 yards
Range closes to 15,000 yards...
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 9,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 9,000 yards
CA Canberra engages CA Kako at 9,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages CL Adelaide at 9,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages CL Perth at 9,000 yards
CA Canberra engages CA Aoba at 9,000 yards
CA Canberra engages DD Yuzuki at 9,000 yards
DD Kikuzuki engages CA Canberra at 9,000 yards
CA Canberra engages DD Uzuki at 9,000 yards
CA Canberra engages DD Oboro at 9,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages CA Canberra at 3,000 yards
CA Canberra engages CA Furutaka at 3,000 yards
CL Perth engages CA Kinugasa at 3,000 yards
DD Kikuzuki engages DD Stuart at 3,000 yards
DD Stuart engages DD Uzuki at 3,000 yards
DD Oboro engages DD Stuart at 3,000 yards
Range increases to 5,000 yards
CA Kako engages CA Canberra at 5,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages CL Adelaide at 5,000 yards
CL Perth engages CA Kinugasa at 5,000 yards
DD Stuart engages DD Oboro at 5,000 yards
CA Canberra engages DD Kikuzuki at 5,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages DD Stuart at 5,000 yards
DD Stuart engages DD Oboro at 5,000 yards
Range increases to 6,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages CA Canberra at 6,000 yards
CA Canberra engages CA Furutaka at 6,000 yards
CL Perth engages CA Kinugasa at 6,000 yards
DD Yuzuki engages DD Stuart at 6,000 yards
DD Stuart engages DD Yuzuki at 6,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages DD Stuart at 6,000 yards
DD Oboro engages DD Stuart at 6,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
CA Canberra engages CA Kako at 10,000 yards
CA Canberra engages CA Furutaka at 10,000 yards
CA Canberra engages CA Kinugasa at 10,000 yards
CA Aoba engages DD Stuart at 10,000 yards
DD Kikuzuki engages DD Stuart at 10,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages DD Stuart at 10,000 yards
Range increases to 11,000 yards
CA Canberra engages CA Kinugasa at 11,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages CL Adelaide at 11,000 yards
CL Perth engages CA Kinugasa at 11,000 yards
CA Aoba engages CA Canberra at 11,000 yards
DD Stuart engages DD Yuzuki at 11,000 yards
DD Stuart engages DD Kikuzuki at 11,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages DD Stuart at 11,000 yards
Task forces break off...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Soerabaja at 56,103

Japanese Ships
SS I-165

Allied Ships
AMc Smeroe

SS I-165 is sighted by escort
I-165 bottoming out ....
Sub escapes detection


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Rabaul at 106,125, Range 9,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Aoba
CA Kinugasa, Shell hits 7, on fire
CA Furutaka
CA Kako, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Oboro
DD Uzuki
DD Kikuzuki
DD Yuzuki

Allied Ships
CA Canberra, Shell hits 10, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Perth
CL Adelaide, Shell hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Stuart, Shell hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage


Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 53% moonlight: 11,000 yards
Range closes to 15,000 yards...
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 9,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 9,000 yards
Getting, F.E. crosses the 'T'
CA Kako engages CA Canberra at 9,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages CL Adelaide at 9,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages CL Perth at 9,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages DD Stuart at 9,000 yards
DD Stuart engages DD Uzuki at 9,000 yards
DD Stuart engages DD Oboro at 9,000 yards
Range closes to 4,000 yards
CA Kako engages CA Canberra at 4,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages CA Canberra at 4,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages CA Canberra at 4,000 yards
DD Oboro engages DD Stuart at 4,000 yards
DD Yuzuki engages DD Stuart at 4,000 yards
DD Stuart engages DD Kikuzuki at 4,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages DD Stuart at 4,000 yards
CA Canberra engages DD Oboro at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages CA Canberra at 3,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages CL Adelaide at 3,000 yards
DD Stuart engages DD Yuzuki at 3,000 yards
DD Stuart engages DD Kikuzuki at 3,000 yards
DD Stuart engages DD Oboro at 3,000 yards
Range increases to 7,000 yards
CA Canberra engages CA Kinugasa at 7,000 yards
CL Adelaide engages CA Kinugasa at 7,000 yards
CL Perth engages CA Kinugasa at 7,000 yards
DD Stuart engages DD Yuzuki at 7,000 yards
DD Stuart engages DD Kikuzuki at 7,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages DD Stuart at 7,000 yards
DD Oboro engages DD Stuart at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
CA Kako engages CA Canberra at 10,000 yards
CL Adelaide engages CA Kinugasa at 10,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages CA Canberra at 10,000 yards
CA Aoba engages CA Canberra at 10,000 yards
DD Stuart engages DD Kikuzuki at 10,000 yards
DD Oboro engages DD Stuart at 10,000 yards
Getting, F.E. orders Allied TF to disengage
Range increases to 11,000 yards
CA Canberra engages CA Kako at 11,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages CL Perth at 11,000 yards
CA Aoba engages CA Canberra at 11,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages DD Stuart at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
CA Kako engages CA Canberra at 8,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages CL Adelaide at 8,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages CA Canberra at 8,000 yards
CL Adelaide engages CA Aoba at 8,000 yards
DD Stuart engages DD Kikuzuki at 8,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages DD Stuart at 8,000 yards
CA Canberra engages CA Kinugasa at 8,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages CL Adelaide at 8,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages CA Canberra at 8,000 yards
DD Stuart engages DD Oboro at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
CA Canberra engages CA Kinugasa at 10,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages CL Perth at 10,000 yards
CA Canberra engages CA Aoba at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards
CA Canberra engages CA Kinugasa at 9,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages CL Adelaide at 9,000 yards
CA Canberra engages CA Kinugasa at 9,000 yards
CA Aoba engages CA Canberra at 9,000 yards
DD Stuart engages DD Kikuzuki at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 11,000 yards
CA Kako engages CA Canberra at 11,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages CL Adelaide at 11,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages DD Stuart at 11,000 yards
DD Yuzuki engages DD Stuart at 11,000 yards
DD Stuart engages DD Uzuki at 11,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages CA Canberra at 12,000 yards
CL Adelaide engages CA Furutaka at 12,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages CA Canberra at 12,000 yards
CA Aoba engages DD Stuart at 12,000 yards
CA Canberra engages DD Kikuzuki at 12,000 yards
DD Oboro engages DD Stuart at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages CA Canberra at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
CA Canberra engages CA Kako at 8,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages CL Adelaide at 8,000 yards
CL Perth engages CA Kinugasa at 8,000 yards
CA Aoba engages CA Canberra at 8,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages DD Stuart at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 9,000 yards
CA Canberra engages CA Furutaka at 9,000 yards
CA Canberra engages CA Aoba at 9,000 yards
DD Kikuzuki engages DD Stuart at 9,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages DD Stuart at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
CA Canberra engages CA Furutaka at 12,000 yards
CL Perth engages CA Kako at 12,000 yards
DD Oboro engages DD Stuart at 12,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages DD Stuart at 12,000 yards
CL Perth engages DD Oboro at 12,000 yards
Range increases to 13,000 yards
CA Canberra engages CA Kako at 13,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages CA Canberra at 13,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages CL Perth at 13,000 yards
DD Stuart engages DD Oboro at 13,000 yards
CL Adelaide engages DD Oboro at 13,000 yards
Range closes to 12,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages CL Adelaide at 12,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages CL Perth at 12,000 yards
CA Aoba engages CA Canberra at 12,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages DD Stuart at 12,000 yards
DD Oboro engages DD Stuart at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards
CA Kako engages CA Canberra at 10,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages CL Adelaide at 10,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages CA Canberra at 10,000 yards
CA Aoba engages CA Canberra at 10,000 yards
DD Stuart engages DD Yuzuki at 10,000 yards
DD Kikuzuki engages DD Stuart at 10,000 yards
CA Canberra engages DD Uzuki at 10,000 yards
Task forces break off...

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Green Island at 107,129, Range 22,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Aoba, Shell hits 2
CA Furutaka, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Oboro
DD Uzuki
DD Kikuzuki
DD Yuzuki

Allied Ships
CL Perth, Shell hits 2

Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 28,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 22,000 yards
Japanese open fire on surprised Allied ships at 22,000 yards
CA Aoba launches Long Lance Torpedoes at CL Perth at 22,000 yards
Range closes to 18,000 yards
CL Perth engages CA Aoba at 18,000 yards
Range closes to 14,000 yards
CA Aoba engages CL Perth at 14,000 yards
CL Perth engages CA Aoba at 14,000 yards
CL Perth engages DD Uzuki at 14,000 yards
Range closes to 13,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages CL Perth at 13,000 yards
CL Perth engages DD Uzuki at 13,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards
CA Aoba engages CL Perth at 10,000 yards
CL Perth engages CA Aoba at 10,000 yards
CL Perth engages DD Yuzuki at 10,000 yards
CL Perth engages DD Uzuki at 10,000 yards
Waller, H.M.L. orders Allied TF to disengage
Range closes to 7,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages CL Perth at 7,000 yards
CL Perth engages DD Oboro at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 8,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages CL Perth at 8,000 yards
CA Aoba engages CL Perth at 8,000 yards
CL Perth engages DD Yuzuki at 8,000 yards
CL Perth engages DD Oboro at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages CL Perth at 12,000 yards
CL Perth engages DD Yuzuki at 12,000 yards
Range increases to 17,000 yards
CL Perth engages CA Furutaka at 17,000 yards
CA Aoba engages CL Perth at 17,000 yards
CL Perth engages DD Yuzuki at 17,000 yards
CL Perth engages DD Kikuzuki at 17,000 yards
CL Perth engages DD Oboro at 17,000 yards
Range increases to 21,000 yards
CA Aoba engages CL Perth at 21,000 yards
CL Perth engages DD Uzuki at 21,000 yards
Range increases to 25,000 yards
CL Perth engages CA Aoba at 25,000 yards
Range increases to 30,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages CL Perth at 30,000 yards
Task forces break off...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Torokina at 107,130, Range 19,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Aoba, Shell hits 1, on fire
CA Furutaka, on fire
DD Oboro
DD Uzuki
DD Kikuzuki
DD Yuzuki

Allied Ships
CL Perth, Shell hits 2

Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 28,000 yards
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 19,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 19,000 yards
CL Perth engages CA Furutaka at 19,000 yards
CA Aoba engages CL Perth at 19,000 yards
CL Perth engages DD Oboro at 19,000 yards
Hisamune, Yonejiro orders Japanese TF to disengage
Range closes to 17,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages CL Perth at 17,000 yards
CL Perth engages DD Kikuzuki at 17,000 yards
CL Perth engages DD Uzuki at 17,000 yards
CL Perth engages DD Oboro at 17,000 yards
Range increases to 22,000 yards
Range increases to 27,000 yards
Task forces break off...

[Jorge_Stanbury]

The Philippines:

[Jorge_Stanbury]

And Malaya

[Jorge_Stanbury]

And South West Pacific

[Jorge_Stanbury]

IJN Heavy Cruisers
Japan starts the war with 18 superb heavy cruisers. There are no replacements so, even though they are to act as the big brawlers of the Japanese empire, they will need to be used with care.

Classes
- 2 "carrier escorts": Tone and Chikuma were designed as float plane carrier escorts. They will remain in the important role of escorting KB.

- 4 "old cruisers": 2 Furukata, 2 Aobas, these are treaty cruisers at ~10K tons. They are the least armored, they carried the least number of 20cm guns and they are relatively short ranged. Better to keep them far away from the USN. They will form a cruiser division and guard Singapore/ Pt Blair.

A heavy cruiser division will be roughly 4 heavy cruisers and 6 to 8 of the best "fighting" destroyers. Each ship with a hand picked skilled skipper and lead by a skilled, aggressive commander.

- 8 "Myoko/ Takao cruisers": These 8 ships will form 2 cruisers divisions, they carry a heavy punch with 10 20cm guns and a very respectable armor. These 2 divisions will be stationed in the Pacific for the entire war. Likely one at Rabaul and another one at Truk.

- 4 "Mogami cruisers": These 4 cruisers are the newest and the very best the IJN can offer. Faster and more heavily armored than their cousins while keeping their powerful ten 20cm guns. They will be the spearhead of major offensives. I also envision them as distant support and scout for the KB. In this last role, scouting, I plan to attach one one Chitose cruiser as a way to increase exponentially its search and ASW capabilities.

So overall: One heavy cruiser division of 4 ships to the Indian Ocean, 2 divisions (8 ships) to the Pacific, 6 cruisers to support carrier operations

This is of course in the future; as of now I have them all mixed up.

[Jorge_Stanbury]

Destroyers
After the Singapore fiasco, where I lost 5 good destroyers and one second rate, I have the following available:

Carrier escorts = 12
2 Hatsuharas + 10 Shiratsuyus: These are slow, mediocre destroyers, but they have the longest endurance at 6,000. They will follow KB.

1st rate, >2,500 ton fighting destroyers = 24
5 Yugumos (in construction): the newest, the best IJN destroyers, they will escort heavy cruisers or battleship TF, but most likely they will be used to replace losses.

19 Kageros: amazing fighting ships, they will escort the 3 best heavy cruiser divisions.

1st rate ~2,000 ton fighting destroyers = 33
9 Fubukis: most will be used at Singapore/ Pt Blair, escorting the oldest heavy cruiser TF, as their short range endurance (4,000) won't be an impediment here.

10 Asashio: these will be the preferred battleship escort. Good endurance, but weak AA

10 Shikinami, 4 Akitsuki: these 14 ships will form the two strongest "Destroyer Divisions", composed of one or two light cruisers and 7 destroyers.

1st rate, ~1,500 ton fighting destroyers = 12
12 Mutsuki: these start the war without ASW capabilities; so kind of useless for anything other than hunting the Manila fleet. That said, after Feb 42, they will become really good, mid ranged, multi role escorts. As such they will take multiple tasks.

2nd rate, ~1,500 ton escorts = 22
13 Minekazes: these would be actually great ships, had they have a bit longer endurance. At 2,500 they really can't be used for offensive operations as they will become a liability with its constant refueling needs. Once the initial offensive is over, they will be used as transport/ invasion fleet escorts or for localized defense, paired with short range cruisers.

9 Kamikazes: with 3,600 endurance, they can also be used for multiple roles. Likely as reinforcements of destroyer divisions, to cover losses and to escort light cruisers, tankers or invasion fleets.

2nd rate, <1,000 ton escorts = 16
7 Wakatake, 7 Momis: These are too small for offensive operations, as much as possible, they will not be included in surface combat task forces. Instead, they will escort tankers, fast freighters and invasion fleets.

2 Momos: Ancient warriors, not ASW capable, they will still be used to escort merchants and/ or stay at port as some form of last resort reserve.

Again, this is the future, at the moment I have all kind of ships everywhere