The Imperial Way - Anachro (J) vs. AcePylut (A) DBB-C

[Anachro]

The Imperial Way



I seem to have bad luck with PBEMs, with my previous partners for Japan and Allied PBEMS either becoming too busy to continue or cutting communication entirely. Luckily, I have gotten into contact with this forum's AcePylut who has generously offered to be my PBEM partner in a new set of dual AARs. Don't quite know how I will write this one and hopefully it will stay active.

Rules and Setting

DBB-C with Stacking Limits
December 7th, 1941 A-historical Start

1. No strat bombing till 1943
2. No 4-E bombing below 10k feet
3. Restricted max altitude for fighters 20k till 1943?
4. PP must be paid for restricted units, except those crossing borders between US//CAN, burma/thailand.
5. Allied First turn rules"
1) no carrier hunting first 2 turns
2) no creation of new allied TFs on turn 1
3) no changes in AF forces barring training setup (to simulate december 7th surprise)
4) can move naval TFs already in existence

[Anachro]

Strategy

I do not aim to be flashy, nor will I try to go for an a-historical knockout and auto-victory through Australia or India (unless the opportunities become extremely favorable). My goal is to quickly conquer and then setup a defensible perimeter. This entails keeping the KB alive as long as possible and refraining from further offensive operations once desired areas have been taken. This will preserve resources and maintain combat assets. Mostly, I think I will stick to the DEI, CenPac, and Burma. I remain undecided regarding how far into the South Pacific I should push. All in all, it should be somewhat historical. I will try to avoid the mistakes of Japan historically, however.

To open, I will make a strong, fast push for Malaya to cutoff the fleeing British Indian Corps before it can escape, utilizing the Mersing gambit. Once this is accomplished and Singapore has fallen, the 25th Army will push South into the DEI quickly. This will ease the taking of Burma as well. Elements will go to reinforce the PI as needed.

So Pac and Cen Pac outermost perimeters are currently defined as Rabaul/Port Moresby and Wake Island respectively. This is open to change.

[Lam0ttePicquet]

Good Luck Anachro.
I will keep an eye on your AAR. I should learn more about Mersing gambit [;)].

[Anachro]

Our Protagonist

Say hello to the Akigumo, the intrepid Kagero-class destroyer that will be at the center of this story (hopefully).



Displacement: 2553 tons
Length: 388 Feet
Crew: 240 officers and enlisted men
Max Speed: 35 Knots

Boasting six 127-millimeter guns (two forward and four aft), four Type 96 25-millimeter AA guns, a capacity of thirty-two depth charges, and, most importantly, eight center-mounted torpedo tubes armed with the fabled Type 93 long-lance torpedo, it is a lethal ship. More importantly, as is usual it is also beautifully named. Akigumo means Autumn Cloud in Japanese, a name which strikes me as a wonderful endearment that plays up to the wabi-sabi aesthetic found in much of Japanese art, but also one that contains within it a sense of foreboding for the winter (and defeat) of Japan to come. I know this is my hindsight suggesting this. Historically, it was sunk on April 11th, 1944 by the submarine USS Redfin, but let's see if we can beat that record.

Her captain in our game is Commander Yamagami Kanzaburo, a highly skilled and daring naval captain that at times can be too adventurous for the safety of his crew. He is aggressive to an almost worrying degree. I suspect it's to compensate for his unusual name. Nonetheless, the crew should be in good hands.

I chose Akigumo for two reasons.

First, it is relatively new and the last of the Kagero class, having only been launched in April and officially commissioned on September 27th, 1941. This means that it is an untested ship with an untested crew (or so that is how I will role-play it) with much to prove. We all know the story of Zuikaku and Shokaku, arguably two of the best carriers in the world in their time; they were derided by the sailors of the more prominent Akagi, Kaga, Hiryu, and Soryu. Akigumo should find itself in a similar situation. Second, it is definitively a battle-line destroyer that is geared towards surface action and not mere escort duty. Since surface combat (and the Type 93 Torpedo) was such an integral part of Japanese destroyer doctrine, I want to show this in the AAR. Rest assured, I will not go out of my way to give Akigumo safe duty in order to preserve it for the AAR.

Good luck, Akigumo. Bon voyage and fair seas!

P.S.

If you are interested in an anthropomorphic representation, below is the depiction of Akigumo in the fun Japanese online naval game, Kancolle Collection.

[Anachro]

December 4th, 1941
Somewhere north-west of Luzon

Home Port: Hashira-jima, Hiroshima, Japan
Course: South-west
Attached to: TF 141
Mission: Surface Combat
Orders: Escort Kuching invasion force and take the utmost precaution in maintaining operational secrecy and integrity.

----

Seaman Fourth Class Kobayashi Satoru looked out upon the open sea before him as the last rays of moonlight gave way to what was likely to be the beginnings of a gloomy morning. He was on watch – for what he did not know – but he had lost a bet and now found himself gloomily looking out upon an empty sea as the battleships Hiei and Kirishima, heavy cruiser Chikuma, and other destroyers of the task force sailed nearby.

He was new to seamanship, having just enlisted, but he was already beginning to wonder why he had signed up. The NCO’s seemed to think a beating solved everything and his senior shipmates seemed to take it as their holy duty to play excessive pranks on new blood. Most annoying, he was bored with the nothingness and dull routine that now made up his life. Still, he admitted, it was better than breaking his back bending over in a rice field back home.

“Something’s afoot.”

He looked over at a jumpy, paranoid old salt named Sato (he didn’t know the man’s first name).

“What?”

“Something’s afoot. Why the heck are we out here? Not to deliver cargo with that big fleet behind us, I tell you!”

Kobayashi shrugged. He didn’t care where they were going, to be honest; and, frankly, was annoyed at having to deal with the man’s bothersome outbursts. Suddenly, however, something in the distance caught his eye and he yelled out in excitement.

“Submarine!”

Sato looked over, scrutinized the object, and laughed.

“Aho! That’s no submarine. It’s just some local trawler, probably Filipino or some sort.”

It didn’t matter. The fleet was alerted and shouts rang out. All Sato could do was laugh as they got closer to the trawler, making sure to remember how Kobayashi caused an international incident over some fisherman. But then he noticed the Hiei was training its guns on the trawler and he fell silent.

"What is Hiei doing?"

A few seconds of restless waiting and then bam! The Hiei let forth a single salvo that seemed to obliterate the enemy vessel. From so far away, such a shot seemed miraculous, but the two sailors were in no state to admire such gunnery. Kobayashi looked over at Sato in wonderment and Sato could only reply with a sigh.

“Something’s afoot…and clearly we didn’t want that trawler to tell anyone.” His voice took on a somber tone “Kobayashi, I think we just saw the opening of a war…if a few days earlier than everyone else.”

They weren’t headed for Bangkok on some simple supply effort. That was now certain.

Day Time Surface Combat, near Laoag at 78,69, Range 23,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Hiei
BB Kirishima
CA Chikuma
DD Akigumo
DD Kagero
DD Isokaze
DD Sazanami
DD Ushio

Allied Ships
xAKL Dai Lee, Shell hits 1, and is sunk

Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 28,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 23,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 23,000 yards
xAKL Dai Lee sunk by BB Hiei at 23,000 yards
Combat ends with last Allied ship sunk...

[Anachro]

December 7th, 1941

Location: Off Kuching
Course: Remain-on-station
Attached to: TF 141
Mission: Surface Combat
Orders: Protect Kuching invasion force and assist in landings if necessary.

Bridge of Akigumo, 0800 hours

Yamagami Kanzaburo, Commander, Destroyer Akigumo, Imperial Japanese Navy, looked out through his binoculars as the first wave of boats began to hit the beach. Men of the 143rd Infantry Battalion scurried out and up the sand as fast as possible to begin the opening act in what was a microcosm of an elaborate dance going on throughout the entire Pacific. The escorts accompanying the main assault force had been softening up Kuching all morning and the decision had been made to finally begin the assault.

From the look of things, the base was lightly defended and would fall soon enough. Still, Yamagami remained on guard. Intelligence estimated a powerful British force nearby, including the powerful and new Prince of Wales; and the Dutch were not too far off. Situated where they were at Kuching, Yamagami and his fellow sailors were on the precarious edge of war. They had to be ready.

“The landing looks to be successful, sir.” The statement came from Lieutenant Mori Keitaro, an aide and communications officer.

“Maintain watch.”

“Sir.”

He wanted to strike out at something; and yet there was nothing for him to do on this glorious sunrise of a new world order but to sit and watch and wait. Frustrating. Later on, enemy air formations appeared, the first signs of life from the adversary, and that frustrated him even more. Nothing he could do.

--

Diary of Seaman Fourth Class Kobayashi Satoru

We had been sitting around all day watching and waiting when suddenly a group of what looked to be six enemy two-engine fighters – someone nearby identified them as Blenheims – appeared on the horizon. We gawked at them as it was our first real confrontation with the enemy and then hustled into action to unleash anti-air fire as they got closer. Little good it did us, the planes, high as they were, took no damage from what proved to be a feeble barrage. Nonetheless, we could be thankful for the inaccuracy of the enemy. Ten or twelve bombs were dropped from a great height above the Hiei only to splash harmless around it. If this is the power of an airplane, then I think we have nothing to fear from them. It was quite comical.

I believe we will remain to complete the unloading of the force and then move, to Malaya perhaps, or so scuttlebutt says.

[Rio Bravo]

Anachro-

Well written and interesting.

Have a fantastic interesting war.

Best Regards,

-Terry

[Bif1961]

The first shots fired are against a AKL, I think bigger things are afoot.

[Anachro]

December 8th, 1941

Location: Off Kuching
Course: Remain-on-station
Attached to: TF 141
Mission: Surface Combat
Orders: Provide cover for Kuching invasion force

Commander Yamagami looked out from the bridge of his ship, glancing over the smoldering fortifications along the coast line before him. The departing sun was casting its final rays over the now-calm waters of Kuching and, as if in response, the Rising Sun flag of the Japanese Empire hung in makeshift fashion over the remains of the barracks that had once symbolized British power on this far-flung colonial outpost. Here and there, pockets of resistance signified by outbreaks of small-arm fire remained to give testimony a desperate retreat by the enemy, but the great cacophony of shell blasts and explosions which had a reached a crescendo but an hour before had ceased.

It had been a bloodbath for the British garrison. Imperial Japanese Army doctrine stressed lightning speed and offensive initiative; and in this case it had proven exceptionally effective in reducing the enemy strong points while giving them no reprieve for retrenchment. As a result, much of the British garrison was either dead or captured with but a small, broken remnant left to flee west to Dutch-held territory. Though he’d rather not give any credit to the army, it had achieved a total victory here to mark the start of Japan’s great crusade.

Yamagami was satisfied, but mostly because it meant this particular duty was done and he would soon have his ship underway for duty elsewhere. He certainly understood the necessity of covering an invasion force, but barring the appearance of enemy forced to oppose it, such a duty was boring. It did not help that there had been no enemy airplanes today to at least breakup some of the drudgery. He and his ship were meant to be out with the battle fleet, wherever it might be. With obvious impatience, Yamagami looked over to his staff waiting nearby.

“Mori, any word from the admiral?”

The young, junior officer politely stood at attention and reported.

“None, sir. We remain under our original orders to escort the invasion fleet.”

Yamagami sighed. Well, it made sense; it wasn’t like they could simply abandon the transports. Still, it irked. To take his mind off the frustration he turned his attention an object glowing brightly orange nearby. The Johore Maru had taken a glancing shell from one of the coastal batteries earlier in the day and while the situation was thought to have been minor at the time, the small damage had somehow turned into a blaze.

“How's the Johore Maru?”

“Sir, the damage parties we send over are still hard at work trying to stamp out the flames, but she’s wooden and burns easily. The situation remains precarious.”

“Damn! It’s going to be a tough war, lieutenant; and we can’t afford to lose one ship when enemy we face can build hundreds at a time. If she is forced to be scuttled, the whole crew will be doing extra training on damage control for the next few weeks!

“Sir!” said Mori in affirmation.

If such a small shell could cause such a loss, Yamagami thought, what does such brittleness mean for our future?

[Anachro]

December 9th, 1941

Location: Off Kuching
Course: Remain-on-station
Attached to: TF 141
Mission: Surface Combat
Orders: Provide cover for Kuching invasion force

The Johore Maru was fighting for her life. Throughout the morning, Kobayashi had watched the effort to save her with an avid interest. It wasn't just the sound of the flames amid the silence of morning that drew him; here was a reminder of a future that could potentially be his and that of his ship, the Akigumo. All things are ephemeral, of course, but the war meant that one’s temporal existence could be further shortened. Such thoughts produced a chill within him.

His shipmates weren’t given to such reflections. Some focused on their tasks in mute silence. Others avidly discussed how quickly the transport had burst into flames, glossing over the implications for other boats. Kobayashi’s partner, old Sato, simply went about his work with gruffness, cracking a salty joke here or there to break up the gloom of the scene nearby. Little by little, Johore Maru had begun to re-establish some semblance of order as her peril slowly faded through hard work and the men regained some of their cheer.

Suddenly cries rang out from lookouts on the Akigumo, engaged as she was in anti-submarine duty.

“Torpedo wake!”

Kobayashi saw it. On the starboard side something was speeding towards the stricken ship. It was too late to do anything. All too soon an explosion range out as the ship disappeared in an eruption of water. All the effort to save her and the Johore Maru’s fate seem inextricably tied to the bottom of the sea.

She went down in under five minutes.

------------

Yamagami wheeled around to look outward as the sound of the explosion reached the bridge
.
“Status report! Where did that come from?”

“Topedo wake with estimated direction 60 degrees starboard of the Johore Maru.”

Yamagami ordered the Akigumo to be turned toward the indicated direction.

“Prepare to release depth charges and signal the other ships that we will do so!”

The Akigumo sped in the direction and as it got closer the sonar officer adjusted and readjusted his readings.

“Twelve degrees starboard, 1,000 meters. Submarine certain.”

Yamagami had the ship re-adjust its course accordingly, proceeding at 12 knots. Eventually the sonar officer indicated a bearing right below.

“Boost speed to 21 knots!”

The men released charges as the ship sped forward to escape the resulting explosions. A few charges were dropped in this way and afterward the ship hung around to check for any telltale signs of a successful hit. No debris or oil rose to the surface however and Yamagami was miffed. They spend the next twenty minutes patrolling the waters and trying to pickup a new sign of underwater activity, but none appeared. The submarine had escaped.

"Sir, Hiei is signaling us requesting a status update on the submarine."

Chagrined, Yamagami replied, "Answer with 'Apologies, signs of damage inflicted are negative and submarine is assumed to have escaped."

The reply came in soon after. "Understood, Commander. Fall into for formation with a course of north-by-northwest. We are under orders to move out."

Akigumo quickly complied and Kuching slowly drifted into the darkening distance.

[Anachro]

December 10th, 1941

Location: South China Sea, north of Sarawak
Course: North
Attached to: TF 141
Mission: Surface Combat
Orders: Rendezvous with the Mobile Fleet and merge into its escorting force

Akigumo slid smoothly into formation as dusk began to set, casting a lovely scarlet glow upon the rolling waves of the South China Sea. She was merging with the Mobile Fleet, or Kido Butai, to provide further covering protection for it as it made its way westward towards new targets. Six carriers - the entire might of the Japanese naval air arm - moved majestically in parallel rows, surrounded on all sides in loving protection by the Hiei, Kirishima, and various other escorts.

Bridge of Akigumo, 1500 hours

"Look at it, Mori. Isn't it glorious?" said Yamagami as he and his lieutenant looked out from the cramped bridge.

Mori politely coughed at the question from the commander. "It certainly is, sir."

"They say that the U.S. Pacific Fleet's entire far-eastern sub fleet was sunk by these ships now before us. Looking at them person, it's easy to believe such an outrageous feat."

"Yes, sir. If I may be so bold, it makes you wonder about the future role of surface ships like our own. I would hope to not be stuck on escort duty forever..."

Yamagami laughed. "Bah! Mori you are such a stiff and too much of a worrywart! The carriers might have sunk all those subs neatly lined up at anchor in Manila Bay, but we have yet to hear of any success against a warship at speed in open water. You saw the reports coming from the Ryujo. All those torpedoes launched at that American cruiser and only one, ineffective hit. I admit, air power is gaining in importance, but it seems to still have a long way to go before it supplants the surface fleet. And what of all those atrocious attempts to bomb the transports off Kuching?"

Mori simply nodded. "As you say, sir."

Nonetheless, even Yamagami felt a chill at the sight of the carriers and what they potentially meant. His was a destroyer meant for battle; and he wanted to make sure he tested her. It would be a sad day to be bombed from the air before any appropriate response could be leveled against the enemy. He silently reminded himself to pay extra attention to the responsiveness of the crew for future actions. Speed was the greatest asset of a destroyer.

The Akigumo continued on with the Kido Butai westward.

[Anachro]

December 11th, 1941

Location: Southeast of Singapore
Course: North
Attached to: TF 1
Mission: Carrier Escort
Orders: Escort and protect Mobile Fleet

Diary of Seaman Fourth Class Kobayashi Satoru

A lot of activity today. In addition to the various minutiae of running a ship such as rigging this or that, the petty officers seemed to be under orders to pay particular attention to us. The commander perhaps told them we were too lax and a result we were being taken to task for any minor mistake and, moreover, encouraged through harsh rebukes to do everything faster and more efficiently. It's annoying, but if nothing else it suggests high expectations of us. Sato complained about it, but he always complains so that's nothing new. For my part, I hope to do my duty and prove those expectations well-founded.

As part of these new efforts to improve the crew, I was put on the 25mm AA gun for part of the training. Using his favorite phrase about never having enough gunners, it seems Petty Officer Yamashita expects me to become proficient at the device. What's frustrating, however, is that he expects me to train without using any ammunition, claiming it must be conserved for real action. Instead of live fire, it's all esoteric lectures on how to hold, reload, deal with a jam, or speeches on doctrine for downing an incoming plane. He says once back on the home islands we can do real practice, but for now I'm stuck with theory. A strange way to learn.

If the above, seems excessively dull, that's because it was. Nonetheless, the tedium was broken by getting to watch the operations of the nearby carriers. In the morning, a good number of them took off and headed in a westward direction and the men cheered. Later in the day, they came back a little shot-up and a few less. One even overshot the runway and ditched into the sea. The men cheered less on seeing this, but the sight of it all raised our respect for the pilots - to face such danger day after day must take a lot of bravery. We later learned they they had struck Singapore, encountering heavy flak but managing to sink a number of transports and other auxiliary ships. A happy thing, but for me personally its somewhat strange. So far the war seems so far away, despite just were we are; and the faraway strike by the carriers and our role in it makes me wonder if we'll ever see enemy surface ships in-person. A war of long distances...

[Anachro]

December 12th, 1941

Location: East of Singapore
Course: East
Attached to: TF 1
Mission: Carrier Escort
Orders: Escort and protect Mobile Fleet

Kobayashi huddle in-doors with much of the rest of the crew as a heavy rainstorm battered the ship. Normally, this meant at least some relaxation, but Petty Officer Yamashita was having none of that. If they couldn't run through some brainless drills on the anti-air gun, they'd do some studying instead.

"What's this?" asked Petty Officer Yamashita.

Kobayashi looked at the picture of a plane presented before him. An all-metal monoplane.

"A Buffalo fighter.

"Good. And this one?"

"A Swordfish torpedo bomber"

"Good. Keep it up. Now, what's this..."

Kobayashi groaned internally, but he continued to go through the pictures, making mistakes here or there. He understood the necessity of proper identification, but Yamashita had already been making him do this for hours and he was thoroughly sick of it. Meanwhile, he could hear the drone of fighters outside as the carriers continued to conduct operations against Singapore despite the rain. He wished he could join them - anything to escape this! But there was no release; there was only the harsh noise of storm and the rocking of the ship amid the rolling waves. Kobayashi continued his studies.

[Anachro]

December 13th, 1941

Location: South China Sea
Course: East
Attached to: TF 1
Mission: Carrier Escort
Orders: Escort and protect Mobile Fleet back to home waters.

December 14th, 1941

Location: South China Sea
Course: East
Attached to: TF 1
Mission: Carrier Escort
Orders: Escort and protect Mobile Fleet back to home waters.

[Anachro]

December 15th, 1941

Location: South China Sea
Course: Northeast
Attached to: TF 1
Mission: Carrier Escort
Orders: Escort and protect Mobile Fleet back to home waters.

Diary of Lieutenant Mori Keitaro

Course: Northeast
Weather: Cloudy and Overcast

We continue to escort the mobile fleet back to Kure. Given our distance from enemy areas of strength, the duty is relatively easy and so the commander has taken the opportunity to train the crew to every greater lengths of preparedness. I'm sure this training will become even greater once safely within the confines of the Inner Sea. I too am practicing the reading of signals. In the war of great sacrifice that is to come, we are all the razor's edge and must stave off any potential mistake. I am grateful that the commander realizes this. Stil, I am trying to better understand him.

It's clear that he has a fine naval mind, but he seems to completely discount the value of air power. Just today the carrier air wings aptly displayed their lethal potential by sinking the fleeing supply convoy out of Hong Kong (which reportedly fell last night). These were ships in motion, but the Commander dismissed any lesson as needed. His excuse: these were slow ships and planes had still not proven they could hit a warship at speed. At some point, such excuses and defensive logic becomes nothing more than denial...

[Anachro]

December 16th, 1941

Location: South China Sea
Course: Northeast
Attached to: TF 1
Mission: Carrier Escort
Orders: Escort and protect Mobile Fleet back to home waters.

Diary of Lieutenant Mori Keitaro

We continue northeast towards Kure. Weather is still overcast. No sub activity seen in the vicinity by either our lookout or anti-submarine efforts in the air. So calm it's almost as if there is no war going on...

[kaleun]

Suscribed

[Anachro]

@kaleun: Thanks [;)]

------------

December 17th, 1941

Location: East China Sea
Course: Northeast
Attached to: TF 1
Mission: Carrier Escort
Orders: Escort and protect Mobile Fleet back to home waters.

The men had guessed that Akigumo was headed back to Japan early into the trip. These suspicions had then been further reinforced upon rounding the coast of Formosa and continuing onward without stopping. FInally, today, the commander happily informed the crew that they would indeed be heading to Kure and the whole ship became agitated from excitement. For his part, Kobayashi had already begun daydreaming about what he'd do when he got there. Most urgently, he felt the need for a nice, hot bath. In short, he and the rest of the crew stunk! On top of the fact that water was a precious commodity needing to be conserved, room was scarce on any ship in the Imperial Japanese Navy and this was particularly true for a destroyer. Thus, the idea of an on-board shower was ludicrous. As such, the men did not take any showers for the duration of a ship's time at sea. While he understood the necessity, this went against the extreme importance placed on personal hygiene in Japanese culture and Kobayashi felt repulsive. Perhaps he'd go to one of Hiroshima's nearby bathhouses.

That might be the plan, at least, if he were granted leave. Who knew what the Commander might or might not grant? Kobayashi was thoroughly sick of learning the in's and out's or the anti-air guns, as well as memorizing identifications of other planes and just wanted to relax. Worryingly, today the Commander had seemed agitated and gave orders to the officers to once again conduct drills on crew responsiveness and preparedness. It seemed Kobayashi would be working all the rest of the way to Kure...

[Anachro]

December 18th, 1941

Location: East China Sea
Course: Northeast
Attached to: TF 1
Mission: Carrier Escort
Orders: Escort and protect Mobile Fleet back to home waters.

Diary of Lieutenant Mori Keitaro

Mostly uneventful. It's good to be back in home waters; the men cheered as we passed by Amami Ooshima. The captain is disturbed by the reports received yesterday and is preparing to conduct additional training back at Kure. I hope the men get some shore leave, but who knows what he will do under such a mindset.

[Anachro]

December 19th, 1941

Location: South of Kagoshima
Course: Northeast
Attached to: TF 1
Mission: Carrier Escort
Orders: Escort and protect Mobile Fleet back to home waters.

On the Deck of Akigumo

The crew let out a general cheer and Kobayashi cheered with them as the first vestiges of land began to appear on the horizon. He was supposed to be on lookout for enemy planes or subs, but was caught up in the moment. This happy mood only grew more jubilant as the ship strayed closer to the coast of Kyushu and seemed to permeate the entire task force. It seemed to Kobayashi that those flyboys patrolling above the carriers were doing excessive acrobatics in their excitement. There was something about these seas and these islands that lifted the spirit of every Japanese man. The south might be lush and vibrant, but Japan itself had more subdued tones to it that suggested a nature altogether more refined and mysterious, subtly conservative. It felt like home, but then again, it was home. It had been fifteen days since he had seen it last.