Bill Brings Banzai 2

[BillBrown]

I do want to make two things clear.

1. My opponent requested this scenario.

2. I have played this scenario as the Allies. And before someone jumps in with some comment
about it being a JFB wet dream scenario, let me assure you that the Allies get a lot of extra
goodies also. It is a fun scenario and pretty well balanced.

[John 3rd]

Thanks Bill. People have to play it to see that.

Do you have any specific issues, concerns, or questions I can help with? Michael will jump in as well I am sure.

Will your opponent do an AAR?

[Bif1961]

Good luck and have fun.

[Cheesesteak]

Good Luck! Curious to see how this mod plays out for you.

[BillBrown]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Thanks Bill. People have to play it to see that.

Do you have any specific issues, concerns, or questions I can help with? Michael will jump in as well I am sure.

Will your opponent do an AAR?

No problem John, I wanted to try and stop the comments from people who might only see my side and don't see the Allied
side. I think that Japan has a harder time in this scenario than a scenario 2.

I do not know if he will, he mentioned it, but we have a ways to go before we start and he is about to go on vacation.

I don't of much, there does seem to be some missing art files, but that is not that bad. I was surprised that there
were no dedicated IJN or IJA training units, but I will have to get by without them.

[durnedwolf]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Thanks Bill. People have to play it to see that.

Do you have any specific issues, concerns, or questions I can help with? Michael will jump in as well I am sure.

Will your opponent do an AAR?

Hi John. I was wondering how many tons of resources you need to be bringing to Japan per day with this scenario to keep the wheels on the economy. It's not the same tonnage as in stock Scenario 2 - right?

[John 3rd]

Files sent! Game ON!

DurnedWolf: Will look and see if I can answer that.

[BillBrown]

OK, files received. A couple of minor blemishes, but nothing that affects the game. Now, time to get down and start doing the turn, instead of just looking about and making volumes of notes.

[BillBrown]

Continuing on, here are my R&D engines

[BillBrown]

Here is a new picture of the starting airframe builds that includes the engine type

[BillBrown]

For anyone playing Japan with this scenario, make sure you look at all commanders. Especially air unit commanders, both ship based and land based. Doing some tests, and some units did not fly, aggression
in the 20's will do that.

One other thing, KB is broken into two TFs, both with 2 x CVs and 1 x CVL. In total they have less bombers than the stock 6 x CB KB.
Stock has 108 Ftrs, 135 DBs, and 144 TBs. The combined KB TF in BTSL have 126 Ftrs, 102 DBs, and 132 TBs. This makes a Pearl Harbor
attack a bit weak.

[ny59giants]

KB was broken down into multiple CarDiv of 2 CV and 1 CVL. The other 1/3 of KB is at Babeldoab. John and I had series of conversations about this years ago. The Aso Class CVL was the outcome for the CVLs to go with the 8 Shokaku Class CVs. We have both read "Shattered Sword" multiple times and took the concept of the CVs being the strike force while the CVLs provided CAP over the CarDiv.

[BillBrown]

Don't take these things as complaints, but as information for someone playing the scenario as Japan.
I am trying to balance out a Pearl Harbor attack. So far I have used the Vals to attack the airfield,
so next I will see haw they fare in a Port attack. I am wondering if I should just plan a 2 day attack.

[Bearcat2]

ORIGINAL: BillBrown

For anyone playing Japan with this scenario, make sure you look at all commanders. Especially air unit commanders, both ship based and land based. Doing some tests, and some units did not fly, aggression
in the 20's will do that.

One other thing, KB is broken into two TFs, both with 2 x CVs and 1 x CVL. In total they have less bombers than the stock 6 x CB KB.
Stock has 108 Ftrs, 135 DBs, and 144 TBs. The combined KB TF in BTSL have 126 Ftrs, 102 DBs, and 132 TBs. This makes a Pearl Harbor
attack a bit weak.

You can the change the Babeldoab TF [Hiryu/Soryu 2 CVL's TF3?] to attack Pearl instead of Manila, just don't forget to change the plane settings from Manila to Pearl if you want a stronger attack.

I forgot to add that you might want to test the Chitose's float planes [24] attacking Pearl's airfield if you send TF3 to Pearl if you are doing practice attacks

[John 3rd]

I have really used my FP in the current game against Sean. As asked, I shifted the big CS's from 2x12 Jake to 1x12 Jake and 1x12 Pete. Rufe is OK for limited defense and, perhaps, ASW but once you get to Rex then you have a decent (not great) CAP augment to your forces. In my match with Sean, I have four of my biggest AV working with APs and AKs. They provide about 30-40 Rex for CAP and have done pretty good. They are murder to any PBY or Search Planes!

The Mod starts with the 3 original Chitose-Class CS with the 4th coming in already converted into a CVL. Those ships make excellent recon/air search assets, however, they are needed as CVLs. In the 4th Circle Plan the Japanese add four smaller CS that only carry 12 FP. One is meant to be attached to each of the Carrier Divisions. These CS are built on a CL-sized hulls (6,000T) and are decent little ships. Since there is no Tone-Class FP CAs in the Mod, these help cover that loss.

The carrier build for Japan embraces the planned RL adoption of the Carrier Division comprising 2 CV and 1 CVL. Commander Genda had already seen the need for more fighters and proposed this very change near the time of Midway. You'll note that the Aso-Class CVL only carries 30 Zeros and and 6 Recon Judy. Taking a 'normal' plane complement, a Japanese Carrier Division has approximately 78 Zero, 48 Val/Judy, 48 Kate/Jill and 6 Recon Judy. If these are Shokaku- or Shokaku Kai-Classes then you gain six more Recon Kate or Judy. Makes for a balanced force. I link them up into 2-3 three TFs for strength but yet operational flexibility.

Probably too detailed a Posting but all these ships and organizational concepts were actually planned or debated as RL possibilities for the Kaigun.

[RangerJoe]

As far as sanity goes, I like to tell people in the fields of social work and especially mental health two things:

1) I can walk through walls;
2) I hear disembodied voices, especially which I operate a motor vehicle. These voices entertain me, tell me what is going on in the world, and predict the future.

Of course, it is easier to walk through walls when the door is open. I don't hear the disembodied voices, however, when the radio is off.

Some of them laugh at my definition of stress: "The inability to choke the shit out of someone who so desperately needs it!" If someone give me a funny look, I just ask "Are you married? Have children?" Then they understand. Sometimes someone will occasionally look concerned and ask if I plan on hurting someone. I simply state that I have not gathered the tools yet nor made plans.

For the game, have fun. I have not tried any BTS scenarios but I have tried the RA one. I will pop in from time to time, on both sides probably, so I will try to remember not to get into the possibilities but maybe make inane comments as well as other ones.

[John 3rd]

The CLV/CAV additions to the Fleets are marvelous little touches.

Allowed at the London Treaty, Japan gets two CAV, USA gains two CLV, and GB has two as well that are then given to NZ and Australia. When we originally added them the Hybrids were very capable, good ships. Unfortunately, that isn't how the design SHOULD have gone so Michael and I had to dial them back. We lowered amount of sorties (reflecting poor amounts of bomb/TT storage) and lessened their main gun storage capacity as well. They can fight but not for very long.

All three classes are created from planned ships for each fleet. The Japanese have the G.6 design as a heavily armed CA (3x2 8") with CVL plane complement (15,000T), the American have a CL armament (3x3 6" guns) and CVE plane complement (11,000T), and the Brits go with a CA (2x2 8") with CVE plane complement (10,000T). All six make for a serious addition to any convoy, help for a CTF, or as a raider.

All six can be fully converted into carriers and this is allowed fairly early in 1942 for all three navies.

The plans come from the following works:
a. G.6 Jentschura's Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy
b. American CLV is from Jordan's Warships After Washington
c. Royal Navy is also from Jordan

The entire, highly detailed discussion and planning of the CAV/CLV ship concept is beautifully described in Layman and McLaughlin's The Hybrid Warship: The Amalgamation of Big Guns and Aircraft. This is THE SOURCE when it comes to the Hybrid topic. It is a hard to find and expensive book...

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

As far as sanity goes, I like to tell people in the fields of social work and especially mental health two things:

1) I can walk through walls;
2) I hear disembodied voices, especially which I operate a motor vehicle. These voices entertain me, tell me what is going on in the world, and predict the future.

Of course, it is easier to walk through walls when the door is open. I don't hear the disembodied voices, however, when the radio is off.

Some of them laugh at my definition of stress: "The inability to choke the shit out of someone who so desperately needs it!" If someone give me a funny look, I just ask "Are you married? Have children?" Then they understand. Sometimes someone will occasionally look concerned and ask if I plan on hurting someone. I simply state that I have not gathered the tools yet nor made plans.

For the game, have fun. I have not tried any BTS scenarios but I have tried the RA one. I will pop in from time to time, on both sides probably, so I will try to remember not to get into the possibilities but maybe make inane comments as well as other ones.

Damn Ranger Joe, your Post touching on the 'Are you married? Have children?' comment about put me into hysterics. It is for those two PRECISE reasons I have not been on the Forum much. Life is way busy and highly demanding for the above described reasons!

[John 3rd]

OK. Done--for the moment--hijacking this AAR. Sorry Sir...

[BillBrown]

A few posts to discuss IJN CV fighters.

first, the A6 only goes to the A6M5