Islands of Destiny: RA 5.0 Japanese Side

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: Lecivius

I was just in LaSalle Saturday, looking at a pickup

We have initiated a trace and are bumping security around the caboose. Steps MUST be taken to protect the Emperor's health...

[Lecivius]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

ORIGINAL: Lecivius

I was just in LaSalle Saturday, looking at a pickup

We have initiated a trace and are bumping security around the caboose. Steps MUST be taken to protect the Emperor's health...

Aye, Gawd save the Emperors caboose [:D]

[John 3rd]

That would be the HOLY CABOOSE!

[John 3rd]

Good news.

I managed to limp down into the Man Cave and get a turn done and sent to Dan. Haven't been down here for 2+ days. Rather missed it...

The last of my TK TF just passed Formosa heading for the Home Islands. I have brought in four big Fuel/Oil TF over the last two weeks delivering nearly 650,000 Fuel/Oil. Plan on sending them back to Singers/Soerabaja, loading them, bunching them into several huge TF and them fighting them thru enemy lines. Will detail the thinking on that at a later time. Bottom line is we've brought enough fuel/oil home to carry the economy for a good amount of time.

[Lowpe]

Great.

If you get the time, can you show us what the Sam looks like in this mod. I know you are banking a lot on the plane, and in symons and stock it is still inferior to the Allied CV fighters.

Also, how is Grace coming along?

And finally, what planes are you using as kamikazes? Have you been training pilots since the beginning of the game for them?

thanks

[John 3rd]

Don't have time to answer the major questions you pose so I'll do that when I get home after work.

May 18, 1944--MILESTONE--the last ZERO rolls off the production line in Japan. All the differing variants have been used to this point but now everything, for good or for ill, is staked to the Sam.

[pws1225]

I'd say it's for the good. [:)]

How's the ankle doing?

[adarbrauner]

In a few words, and without elaborating right now, I would:

- station the Fleet, after completion of upgrade if it is known when it is expected for and if not too late, in a place like Ulithi (good name), or Guam (safer) with oilers, naval and air support etc. plus the biggest possible number of land based fighters + recon (without knowing how big is the airfield actually from here);

the aim should be not to seek for the "final clash", no no, for heaven's sake, no need;

but rather to attrite US carriers air might, with a stand off confrontation - possibly using some expendible bait in between the two fleets, to attire enemy airplanes over a good cap trap. I'd load only or mostly fighters on the carriers for the occasion;

the closeness of bases like Palau-Peleliu or Yap, if developed, may likely add to additional fighter numbers to be employed.

The model would be the Battle for the Marianas (Philippine Sea), where Adm. Toyoda and Ozawa thought or tried to engage the Us Task force from superior range, exploiting the superior range of their airplanes and the availabilty of the bases array in the area;
only, that here IJN's situation is many times better than that at the time - and therefore I'd avoid employing attack aircrafts attempting to desperatly hit enemy's carriers, thus getting dangerously close, for the time; because I think we have still time and haven't run out of it, Mr Cochrane!!

and, may the occasion arise or be found, I'd "poke"/ raid/harass enemy's supply chain, for example around Ternate, when enemy's main carrier fleet position is known being engaged somewhere else for example around northern eastern Borneo (some cautious forays by mini KB in the area may entice Mr Dan to come there); a sort of mice-cat game;

the risk here is that of a surprise attack by Dan's Carreir fleet on ours while moored - maybe using also a pincher move from East-south east, but with a good recon and caution that may be avoided

about the land campaign, as I've written already before, I'd send the greatest number possible of units in Luzon and start fighting, fighting hard, with greater losses and even big losses for Japan, because:

1- I believe that it easier for Japan to rotate and resupply; Dan doesn't have a Formosa or home Islands at close hand

2- as already written previously, I'd prefer ceirtanly to fight, and fight strong, the allies here rather than in any other location close home or even at home, very simple;

also, I firmly still believe that Dan's dispositive is still precarious logistically, and any substantial and/or prolongued forced consumption of his logistics-supply may have the most desirable consequences, not least to gain TIME for us, urging Dan to slow/stop.

Also, that for sure shall place big pressure on Dan, and he may make more mistakes here or there to be exploited.

[adarbrauner]

Edit: time to unleash the Kamikaze and the falling cherry blossoms has not come yet

[AcePylut]

John I did something like this before and it worked… for the Decisive battle – do you have any major capital ships that you can “afford” to lose, as long as you win the CV battle?

I ask because instead of putting “everything in one hex and hoping for the best”… what if you had your CV’s trailing a fleet (by 1 hex) or something juicy enough to suck up the major Allied Strike?
I.e. if you had 2 BB’s, 2 CA’s, and 8DD’s… and they were followed by your Carrier Fleets by a hex… perhaps the allied main strike would target the SCTF instead of the CVTF (Cap set to range 1). Of course, you’d pretty much have to accept that everything in the SCTF fleet is lost – but if that means blunting the Allied CV force while your CV’s remain relatively unscathed… it would be worth it. It would gain you massive amounts of *time* while Dan builds up his CV fleet to another unstoppable force.

Just a thought. not sure of it's validity - you may end up losing the SCTF for nothing in return and then be kicking yourself in the pants.

Have you done any massive night-bombing raids yet? HOw is/was that plan working out?

I did a Downfall Scenario as Allies. I had a “center hex” consisting of my main CV fleet. Then, in the six hexes surrounding the main CV fleet, I had a fleet of ~ 2CV 2CVL. Cap was set to “1” for the Main CV fleet. Cap was set to 2 for the surrounding. I figured that instead of having a strike get through to target a hex full of 50 carriers, I’d sacrifice 2 fleet CV’s and 2 Baby CV’s. It worked pretty well… but then again, so does everything for the Allies at that stage of the war.

[Grfin Zeppelin]

Not sure what a carrier battle is supposed to accomplish right now.
For glory perhaps ?

[AcePylut]

Another thought would be to maybe replace your SCTF BB’s with some AO’s you aren’t really going to need anymore. Seems as if they have a way of attracting the enemy planes 

Should the IJ win a CV clash, the Japanese gain time. Japs win a CV clash, the US is forced to move forward more slowly and more cautiously. Remember, the goal is not to “control the entire map”. The goal is to have more VP at the end of the war. The timing of a CV clash has to be just right and conditions need to be favorable to present a decent chance of success – but with every passing month, the chances of the IJ coming out on top decrease. A CV clash that’s lost? What does Canoe gain that he doesn’t already have? An open shot to Formosa, Okinawa?

[adarbrauner]

ORIGINAL: AcePylut

I.e. if you had 2 BB’s, 2 CA’s, and 8DD’s… and they were followed by your Carrier Fleets by a hex… perhaps the allied main strike would target the SCTF instead of the CVTF

I'd use AKLs and PBs instead....

P.S. and edit: in this way i would also get rid of them not to see them anymore, thank you, at least they've given and proved some usefulness in this world;

sorry only for the crews.

[adarbrauner]

ORIGINAL: AcePylut
Of course, you’d pretty much have to accept that everything in the SCTF fleet is lost – but if that means blunting the Allied CV force while your CV’s remain relatively unscathed… it would be worth it. It would gain you massive amounts of *time* while Dan builds up his CV fleet to another unstoppable force.

My idea is primarly to "eat up" enemy's fighters, and missions allowance, in a mega good fighter CAP, only;

let be understood though, that if some 2-350 US embarked fighters results downed in the CAP trap, nothing withold from chasing the enemy fleet to launch naval attacks;

this should require the availability of sizeble kamikaze sentais at Mindanao and Babeldaob, and the rotation and exchange of fighters squadrons with the attack ones, thay may have been "parked" somewhere in the meanwhile, i.e. Marianas, on the decks;

[Grfin Zeppelin]

ORIGINAL: AcePylut



A CV clash that’s lost? What does Canoe gain that he doesn’t already have?

Total operational freedom and the ability to land where he wants whenever he wants while advancing on multiple axis.
The only thing holding him back is the fact John still has a sizable carrier force.

Gambling his carriers away for dubious results is the last thing he should do at this point.

[Xargun]

ORIGINAL: Gräfin Zeppelin
Total operational freedom and the ability to land where he wants whenever he wants while advancing on multiple axis.
The only thing holding him back is the fact John still has a sizable carrier force.

Gambling his carriers away for dubious results is the last thing he should do at this point.

I've always wondered if at some point in 44 or 45 if it would be better to dock the IJN CVs somewhere 'safe' and offload the air groups and just use them. Never had a game go that long but often wondered if that would be a viable strategy to protect the VPs for the ships, yet retain the majority of their use.

[Grfin Zeppelin]

ORIGINAL: Xargun

ORIGINAL: Gräfin Zeppelin
Total operational freedom and the ability to land where he wants whenever he wants while advancing on multiple axis.
The only thing holding him back is the fact John still has a sizable carrier force.

Gambling his carriers away for dubious results is the last thing he should do at this point.

I've always wondered if at some point in 44 or 45 if it would be better to dock the IJN CVs somewhere 'safe' and offload the air groups and just use them. Never had a game go that long but often wondered if that would be a viable strategy to protect the VPs for the ships, yet retain the majority of their use.

If you have deep pools in pilots thats not a bad idea for a meaningfull operation. You could even upgrade all the fighter squadrons to Georges for such an operation.

[adarbrauner]

ORIGINAL: Xargun

ORIGINAL: Gräfin Zeppelin
Total operational freedom and the ability to land where he wants whenever he wants while advancing on multiple axis.
The only thing holding him back is the fact John still has a sizable carrier force.

Gambling his carriers away for dubious results is the last thing he should do at this point.

I've always wondered if at some point in 44 or 45 if it would be better to dock the IJN CVs somewhere 'safe' and offload the air groups and just use them. Never had a game go that long but often wondered if that would be a viable strategy to protect the VPs for the ships, yet retain the majority of their use.

Not yet in this game and scenario.

The circle hasn't been tied enough yet.


+ 1 to Grafin

[John 3rd]

Once again I go off to limp my way to work and find a HOST of Posting.

GREAT thinking team.

Here is my current planning. It is May 18, 1944. My upgrades shall be done about June 1st. I will have a strong force that can handle just about anything BUT a direct CV--CV Clash. OK.

Planning:
1. Move the Fleet to either Saipan or Daito Sato. Either site puts me just a two day steam from hitting targets in the Central Philippines.
2. While waiting for the completion of upgrades, run all my empty TK/AO thru the growing gauntlet to Singapore. Load as much fuel/oil as possible. Preferably we would like another 500-600,000 total. If I can get this quantity back to the Home Islands I should be able to fight into 1945. It is the economy--RIGHT Michael??
3. Continue changing out Fighters to the current George-2, Sam for CV Air, and Frank. Begin to form a core of air strength somewhere 'safe' like Java or Singers.

Action:
1. If Dan moves his 1.0x10^6 away from Legaspi and Naga make a direct move against those targets. Plan is similar to what is described above. Have several Bombardment TFs leading the CVs where they can CAP TRAP the surface assets while staying reasonably safe. Pending on results hit the bases as hard as possible while releasing the Kamikazes and LBA Fighter escorts to sow a bit of chaos.

2. If this doesn't present itself then split the TK/AOs into a 'fast' and a 'slow' mass of shipping, load as many Fighters as possible over it, and shot thru his southern portion of the salient. Like run it past Ambon/Sorong heading for Babeldoap. With masses of Fighters overhead and surface assets joining as it breaks past Dan's line and into the Pacific this could also serve as a powerful lure and great CAP Trap.

3. Additional thinking could pivot around a group of sacrificial AKLs/PGs serving as bait.

Ground Forces
1. The reserve in the south will be used to cut the southern portion of the salient off to stop the running of convoys from eastern Australia to the Philippines.
2. Division-Sized reinforcements headed to both bases in Hainan, Formosa, with pairs of Brigades establishing defenses on several islands that can be seriously built up (Daito Sato and that base NE of eastern Okinawa. have a bunch of Brigrades coming in right now that I can immediately use: NICE!
3. The units I am losing in Burma/Thailand are being bought out and rebuilt then immediately directed to needed bases.
4. Several TFs have been dispatched to Truk/Rabaul and the Aleutians to pull out the last good sized Infantry units, Air HQ, and any Base Force/Eng units.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: Gräfin Zeppelin
You could even upgrade all the fighter squadrons to Georges for such an operation.

Have you posted this gem of advice on the "OT: Cars" thread, Grafin?