Sardaukar's another Newbie Campaign 3rd take)

[Sardaukar]

Allied air attacks from Singapore.

Palembang is also frequently visited by now arrived British cruiser force.

[Sardaukar]

SW Pacific.

Captured bases by US Para attacks from Port Moresby as blue lines.

Amphibious assault targets circled in red. Going to hit Rabaul too with straight invasion, since I bet it's out of supply (plenty of planes, no air activity).

[Sardaukar]

WOW..this will get RADM Palliser promotion and VC! Even more remarkable is that he was not commanding SCTF but Bombardment TF. [8D]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Jun 01, 44

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Batavia at 49,98, Range 7,000 Yards

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 17 destroyed
D4Y2 Judy: 22 destroyed
B6N2 Jill: 9 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CV Kaga, Shell hits 35, Torpedo hits 5, and is sunk
DD Shiokaze, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CA Shropshire
CA Suffolk
CA Cumberland
CA Cornwall
CL Hobart
CL Emerald
CL Newcastle
CL Caradoc
DD Arunta
DD Warramunga
DD Quickmatch
DD Quiberon
DD Van Galen
DD Quadrant
DD Queensborough
DD Quilliam
DD Rapid
DD Redoubt
DD Rocket

Allied Ships Reported to be Approaching!
Japanese TF begins to get underway
Improved night sighting under 78% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions and 78% moonlight: 8,000 yards
Range closes to 22,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 22,000 yards
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 17,000 yards
Range closes to 12,000 yards...
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 7,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 7,000 yards
DD Shiokaze engages CA Cornwall at 7,000 yards
CL Hobart engages CV Kaga at 7,000 yards
DD Van Galen engages DD Shiokaze at 7,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages CV Kaga at 7,000 yards
DD Shiokaze sunk by DD Van Galen at 7,000 yards
CA Shropshire engages CV Kaga at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 9,000 yards
DD Van Galen engages CV Kaga at 9,000 yards
CA Suffolk engages CV Kaga at 9,000 yards
DD Warramunga engages CV Kaga at 9,000 yards
DD Van Galen engages CV Kaga at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
DD Quickmatch engages CV Kaga at 10,000 yards
DD Quickmatch engages CV Kaga at 10,000 yards
CL Caradoc engages CV Kaga at 10,000 yards
DD Rapid engages CV Kaga at 10,000 yards
DD Warramunga engages CV Kaga at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages CV Kaga at 9,000 yards
CA Suffolk engages CV Kaga at 9,000 yards
DD Quickmatch engages CV Kaga at 9,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages CV Kaga at 9,000 yards
CL Newcastle engages CV Kaga at 9,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages CV Kaga at 9,000 yards
DD Quadrant engages CV Kaga at 9,000 yards
DD Quadrant engages CV Kaga at 9,000 yards
Combat ends with last Japanese ship sunk...

[Sardaukar]

He then continued with his real mission, while RADM Lee smashed Rabaul again.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Batavia at 49,98

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-51 Sonia: 8 damaged
Ki-51 Sonia: 1 destroyed on ground

Japanese Ships
SS I-11, hits 2, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CA Cornwall
CA Cumberland
CA Suffolk
CA Shropshire
CL Caradoc
CL Newcastle
CL Emerald
CL Hobart
DD Rocket
DD Redoubt
DD Rapid
DD Quilliam
DD Queensborough
DD Quadrant
DD Van Galen
DD Quiberon
DD Quickmatch
DD Warramunga
DD Arunta

Japanese ground losses:
90 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled

Manpower hits 2
Heavy Industry hits 1
Fires 516
Airbase hits 48
Airbase supply hits 8
Runway hits 124
Port hits 1
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Rabaul at 106,125

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
J1N1-C Irving: 1 damaged
J1N1-C Irving: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-48-IIa Lily: 66 damaged
Ki-48-IIa Lily: 3 destroyed on ground
Ki-57-II Topsy: 9 damaged
Ki-57-II Topsy: 6 destroyed on ground
D4Y2-C Judy: 25 damaged
Ki-27b Nate: 31 damaged
Ki-27b Nate: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 27 damaged
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 3 destroyed on ground
Ki-46 KAI Dinah: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
ACM Banshu Maru #52, Shell hits 1, heavy damage

Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales
BB Indiana
BB South Dakota
BB Washington
CA Canberra
CA Australia
CA Louisville
CA Chester
CA Houston
CA Northampton
CA Indianapolis
CA Portland

Japanese ground losses:
1486 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 59 destroyed, 96 disabled
Engineers: 10 destroyed, 2 disabled
Vehicles lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)

Airbase hits 14
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 67
Port hits 37
Port supply hits 2

[Sardaukar]

OK, there is IJN CV force other side of Sumatra, west of Osthaven, Akagi detected by unfortunate B-25H pilots... I guess moving RN CV, CVL and 2x CVE to Singapore triggered "use CVs" script. Thus the Kaga was also at Batavia, I guess.

More curious thing...2 of B-29 units in Kukong lost a pilot when stood down..must be quite nightlife there... It'd also explain why they get lost so much during night missions..they are either stoned or drunk [:D]

(more plausible reason is that units were understrength, got replacement planes...but above explanation is way more cool...)[8D]

[Sardaukar]

June 12 sitrep.

Since some IJN CVs were sighted around Java, 5 CV TF under Mitcher will move temporarily to Perth to conduct Naval and Port attacks there (mainly Batavia and Soerebaja).

British subs have relocated to Singapore.

2 more RN CVs arrive in Aden, will relocate to Singapore to form RN CV TF with one CV, CVL and 2 CVEs already there.

4 IJA divisions were surrounded west of Pucheng in SE China, 2 already destroyed.

[Sardaukar]

Sitrep June 14 1944.

IJA has lost within a week in S/SE China 5 divisions and 1 Inf reg.

Just lost 1 SS and another heavily damaged to E-ships...dammit.

[Sardaukar]

Sitrep June 22 1944

Some actionpacked drama finally.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Billiton at 52,92

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 35 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 13

Allied aircraft
Mosquito FB.VI x 7

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Mosquito FB.VI: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CVE Chuyo

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x Mosquito FB.VI bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Billiton at 52,92

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 6

Allied aircraft
Mosquito FB.VI x 2
B-25H Mitchell x 6
P-51A Mustang x 6
P-51B Mustang x 12

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-25H Mitchell: 4 damaged
B-25H Mitchell: 1 destroyed by flak
P-51B Mustang: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
DD Akishimo, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CVE Shinyo, Bomb hits 1
CVE Unyo

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Mosquito FB.VI bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
4 x B-25H Mitchell bombing and strafing from low level
Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Billiton at 52,92

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 68 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 20 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 4

Allied aircraft
B-25D1 Mitchell x 6
B-25H Mitchell x 3
P-51A Mustang x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-25D1 Mitchell: 5 damaged
B-25H Mitchell: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
CVE Shinyo, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Hayashimo, Shell hits 1
CVE Chuyo
DD Satsuki
CVE Unyo

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing and strafing from low level
Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
3 x B-25H Mitchell bombing and strafing from low level
Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Loemadjang at 55,107

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 59
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 56
TBM-1C Avenger x 18

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
xAK Imizu Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Toko Maru, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
AG Irako, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Osaka Maru, Bomb hits 8, and is sunk
xAK Bingo Maru, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
xAK Omi Maru, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Malta Maru, Bomb hits 8, and is sunk

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Billiton at 52,92

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 47 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 3

Allied aircraft
Mosquito FB.VI x 14

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Mosquito FB.VI: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
CVE Unyo
DD Akishimo, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Nowaki

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x Mosquito FB.VI bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Soerabaja , at 56,104

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 26 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 3
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 4

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 57
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 28
TBM-1C Avenger x 36

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
SS I-5, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage

Port hits 5
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 1

[Andy Mac]

ORIGINAL: Sardaukar

ORIGINAL: Yaab

Looking at their TOE, with 36 AT guns, they are better suited for defense of Australia proper against a Jap invasion involving tanks.

Another thing is, they draw from CMF squad pool, not from AIF squad pool, latter will be stretched with 4 AIF divisions drawing from it. CMF pool with only 1 div in possible combat should be enough.

All the pools merge into one later and the CMF Sections become AIF Sections so don't waste them !!!

[Andy Mac]

Having read the AAR it sounds like the jap AI ran out of transport in mid war and after Moulmein had no LCU's in SEA - is that a fair assessment ??

[Sardaukar]

Sitrep June 24 1944

Bit of Carrier mayhem near Batavia. My ships took some Kamikaze hits. My ships are still aff functional..so will give it another round...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Tjilatjap at 51,104

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 119 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 50 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 3
B5N2 Kate x 30

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 58

Japanese aircraft losses
A5M4 Claude: 1 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 10 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 8 destroyed by flak

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
BB South Dakota
CV Hornet, Kamikaze hits 1
BB Indiana, Kamikaze hits 4, on fire
CV Yorktown, Kamikaze hits 1
BB Prince of Wales
CV Wasp

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B5N2 Kate flying as kamikaze
Kamikaze: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
11 x B5N2 Kate flying as kamikaze
Kamikaze: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
9 x B5N2 Kate flying as kamikaze
Kamikaze: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Batavia at 49,98

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 34 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 10

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 57
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 82
TBM-1C Avenger x 54

Japanese aircraft losses
A5M4 Claude: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 1 damaged
TBM-1C Avenger: 1 damaged
TBM-1C Avenger: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
CVE Taiyo, Bomb hits 12, heavy fires, heavy damage
CVE Unyo, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
CVE Chuyo, Bomb hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage
E No.22
DD Satsuki
CVE Shinyo, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
E W-28, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
E Wakamiya, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Akishimo
DD Hayashimo
E Manju
E Kasasagi

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Tjilatjap at 51,104

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B5N2 Kate x 6

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 54

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 3 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
BB Washington
CV Wasp, Kamikaze hits 2, on fire

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Batavia at 49,98

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 34 minutes

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 57
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 79
TBM-1C Avenger x 34

Allied aircraft losses
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
DD Hayashimo
DD Satsuki
DD Nowaki
E No.22
E No.3, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
E Manju, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
DD Akishimo, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Batavia at 49,98

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 72 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 31 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 18

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 39
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 52
TBM-1C Avenger x 35

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 2 damaged
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 1 destroyed by flak
TBM-1C Avenger: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CV Akagi, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
DD Hibiki, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Enggano at 44,96

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 34 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 19
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 27

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Akishimo, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Batavia at 49,98

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 63 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 9

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 56
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 76
TBM-1C Avenger x 50

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 5 damaged
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 1 destroyed by flak
TBM-1C Avenger: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CV Akagi, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Hibiki, Bomb hits 5, and is sunk

[Sardaukar]

ORIGINAL: Andy Mac

Having read the AAR it sounds like the jap AI ran out of transport in mid war and after Moulmein had no LCU's in SEA - is that a fair assessment ??

Pretty much. But this is with original 2012 AI file. Will try your 2012 files next time [8D]

[Sardaukar]

THE END!

Japanese threw the towel into ring and unconditionally surrendered June 24 1944.

There is no use continue, IJ is so beaten up when I checked them. No fuel, since they had lost almost all their TKs. Palembang was bombed to hell and most bases had 0 supplies.

But it was fun!

Thanks for watching! [8D]

[Andy Mac]

The AI never recovered from not taking the top 10 bases they must take in the expansion phase well don e for sticking it out an interesting read

[Sardaukar]

Next time I probably better let IJ AI have Rangoon and rest of Burma...just hate the supply hit in China.

Cannae at Moulmein was the beginning of the end. Might be better if I just retreat to Akyab/Imphal and see what AI does next...in new versions.

[Andy Mac]

On any variant of Scen 1 not sure how competitive the AI can possibly be - I was never able to guarantee in AI v AI games that all the 10 must take bases fall every time I had it a 80% success which makes scen 1 ok but not really a challenge unfortuantelty

[Alfred]

ORIGINAL: Andy Mac

On any variant of Scen 1 not sure how competitive the AI can possibly be - I was never able to guarantee in AI v AI games that all the 10 must take bases fall every time I had it a 80% success which makes scen 1 ok but not really a challenge unfortuantelty

Andy,

I think it would be a good idea if you explicitly identified which are the 10 must take bases. That way the next time someone complains about the "AI" they can be reminded it is their own fault. After all, historically Japan was not competitive even with possession of the 10 must have bases, how can anyone expect the "AI" to be more competitive without those bases than was the real Japan with those bases.

Alfred

[Ian R]

It's hard to restrict it to 10 without omitting somewhere such as Medan or Surabaya.

I wonder if I can get close.

Palembang, Djambi, Miri, Brunei, Tarakan, Balikpapan & the place next door.

?? Rangoon (to cut Burma Road), Singapore and Rabaul as dominant bases.

And Manila.

[Sardaukar]

In my game, AI got from that list all but Rangoon. That might have killed that script.

Plus the Cannae at Moulmein...

I'll be way more restrictive in next game until 1943 (apart from naval), and now that it'll fire with Andymac's 2012 scripts, should not be totally predictable.

[Andy Mac]

ORIGINAL: Alfred

ORIGINAL: Andy Mac

On any variant of Scen 1 not sure how competitive the AI can possibly be - I was never able to guarantee in AI v AI games that all the 10 must take bases fall every time I had it a 80% success which makes scen 1 ok but not really a challenge unfortuantelty

Andy,

I think it would be a good idea if you explicitly identified which are the 10 must take bases. That way the next time someone complains about the "AI" they can be reminded it is their own fault. After all, historically Japan was not competitive even with possession of the 10 must have bases, how can anyone expect the "AI" to be more competitive without those bases than was the real Japan with those bases.

Alfred

Not a bad idea I posted them before but it was many years ago

These are the 10 bases the AI must take to be competitive if you stop the AI taking one of them well done but your game will be short - I ruthlessly raised every location I could for 'sweeper' routines to ensure these are taken

My assessment of success of an AI Japanese script is how quickly and cost effectively it takes these 10 bases.

1. Singapore
2. Manila
3. Clark Field
4. Bataan
5. Palembang
6. Batavia
7. Soerbaja
8. Rangoon
9. Mandalay
10.Rabaul

if as an Allied player you still hold one of these bases by late 42 then the AI has lost - delay yes but ultimately the AI will throw everything it has to take these bases.

Others that are important to the AI's perimeter are

11. Port Blair
12. Port Moresby
13. Tarawa
14. Shortlands
16. Lunga
17. Akyab

You will still get a decent game if you hold these and stop the AI ever getting them but the AI will take heavy casualties trying to take them - these bases you can fight for but be aware the AI will not react as it should

e.g. PM if the allies have forted up PM and got massive SCTF's protecting the port the AI will sometimes bring KB but the script doesn't always fire - a player would go overland in some circumstances but again 'sometimes' only the amphib script will fire its a crap shoot and the AI can take heavy casualties until it gives up

Less of an issue on Ironman+ scenarios because the AI can afford to be a moron and take the casualties....and keep on coming