RADM Yamaguchi's Diary (Pls no affins or cheesesteak)

[inqistor]

ORIGINAL: RADM.Yamaguchi

There was one aspect of this battle that really didn't receive much comment but i thought it was important.

I had removed all Vals from KB and upsized Kates and Zeros. Nobody seemed to care.

Enemy did the opposite. Most TBs seems to be removed from decks. US torpedoes have 50% failure rate in 1942, and Dauntless carries 1000lb bomb. Still not much luck.

Have you registered any hits with your JAKEs? I use them against unescorted raids but they haven't shoot down anything yet.

[RADM.Yamaguchi]

Hi inquistor, i was wondering why there were so few TBFs/TBMs. Good catch on that.

I was going to replace the CS jakes with Rufes but only got one done before the battle.

i don't think a Jakes going to do much but i always wondered about Petes. They have 2 Typ-97 MG mounted centerline.

[RADM.Yamaguchi]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

The Vals hit accurately, slowing down ships so that it is easier to nail them with torpedoes.

That makes sense. I was just thinking that i might only get one shot and i wanted my 1st try to maximize damage.

still have a lot to learn.

[RangerJoe]

ORIGINAL: RADM.Yamaguchi

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

The Vals hit accurately, slowing down ships so that it is easier to nail them with torpedoes.

That makes sense. I was just thinking that i might only get one shot and i wanted my 1st try to maximize damage.

still have a lot to learn.

So do we all!

[Bif1961]

The Japanese TBs also afford you to strike at a greater range at this point of the game than having a mixed attack with DBs and TBs. So not only do you hit the hardest but also outside of American and British attack range, if you can stay that far away, lacking reactions pulling you closer to them. Your decision to go all Zeros and TBs are tactically and operationally sound.

[RADM.Yamaguchi]

ORIGINAL: Bif1961

The Japanese TBs also afford you to strike at a greater range at this point of the game than having a mixed attack with DBs and TBs. So not only do you hit the hardest but also outside of American and British attack range, if you can stay that far away, lacking reactions pulling you closer to them. Your decision to go all Zeros and TBs are tactically and operationally sound.

Hi Bif, very good point about the range factor. I always use Yamaguchi (of course) for the KB. Aggression a little high but oh well. Hopefully he never pulls nearer than he has to.

[RADM.Yamaguchi]

i was wondering if anybody has a "best atoll defense protocol". 6,000 troops doesn't sound like very many.

I suppose:
minefield 150? 300? w ACMs?
Special Naval Base (CD guns, AV sup, NAV sup, Eng)
AA Rgt? Btn?
ARM Rgt?, Btn
ART Mortar? Mtn Gun? Rgt? Btn?
INF SNLF? Rgt?
PTs?
SSx?

[Q-Ball]

Local Air and Naval Superiority should be top of the list! Whomever controls the sea around it an air above it will eventually control the Atoll no matter what's on there

[Jorge_Stanbury]

what you need is mutually supporting airfields. you want airbases so that your LBAs are covering each and every base or dot base. You want those LBA bases at level 3 or 4, not a lot more because construction cost supply. Your LBA bases should be at least 15 hexes away from an important Allied base, otherwise you will be visited by heavy bombers. You want at least one or 2 small bases very nearby, these should be level 1 or 2, just to keep CAP even when he eventually craters the base.

you don't have enough mines or coastal guns for everywhere, so you will need these for the main bases; those where the LBAs are going to be deployed. 300 mines is not enough, half of the time he will just ignore them; you should aim for double those #s, so pick well the bases to receive guns and mines

In terms of LCUs, he will land with more than a division, so he will win against almost any naval guard or SNLF you field, therefore what you want is to put big LCUs only on the LBA bases, while the small or dot bases just have a SNLF or naval guard or anything small just to avoid cheap invasions. You also want to have some divisions at a rear echelon for counter invasions

You have one big advantage, a few weeks after he invades, you will be in a position to counter invade, with the KB in distant support. naval bombardment and air strikes kills supply quickly, if you have the KB nearby he can't resupply, while you can, so in the long term you will recapture the base

If you haven't done yet, convert your AKs into AK-ts; these are the closest you will get to a proper APA

[inqistor]

ORIGINAL: RADM.Yamaguchi

i was wondering if anybody has a "best atoll defense protocol". 6,000 troops doesn't sound like very many.

I suppose:
minefield 150? 300? w ACMs?
Special Naval Base (CD guns, AV sup, NAV sup, Eng)
AA Rgt? Btn?
ARM Rgt?, Btn
ART Mortar? Mtn Gun? Rgt? Btn?
INF SNLF? Rgt?
PTs?
SSx?

Best defense will be more airfields nearby. When Allies land, you will have no supply, or undisrupted soldiers on the island.
CD guns can be useful, when minesweepers come. Forget about artillery, Allies will land more and you will lose it in first counterfire. Japanese PTs can only engage during storm, don't count on it. Midgets can be fun, not very useful, but torpedo in enemy ship can help you if you have KB nearby.
Any island is probably a goner. But if you can retake sea control immediately, Allies will lose lots of troops because of overstacking.

[Bif1961]

Supplies are always important, even with the best defense not having supplies will undermine it all. Having forces pre-prepped to counter-land on those bases you are sure he will take like Rio-Namur, Kawajalein and Eniwetok is always a good idea. My opponent took those in early months of 43 and I took them back because I had air superiority, and use nearby base with AKEs to rearm my BBs to rapid turn around bombardments to wear him down while I gathered the shipping and force to land and take each one in turn. However, after 43, depending on the carrier situation that becomes more and more unlikely, but he is past most Atolls by then anyways, except Marcus and the Bonnis Islands. A good thing to have is a SNLF one of the bigger ones 90 AV, a smallish armor Rgt, mines 500+, mini-subs can be a wild card. Many of your Atolls have forts eventually and mentioned previously by other CD units are few and far between.

[RangerJoe]

Well, he has knocked the regular Allied carriers about and the Allies might get parity in 1944 . . .

The CVEs are brittle and while the Allies get a lot of them, I don't think that the Allies can go toe to toe with the KB until the Fall of 1943, if that. Unless, of course, the IJN losses carriers . . .

[RADM.Yamaguchi]

ORIGINAL: Jorge_Stanbury

what you need is mutually supporting airfields. you want airbases so that your LBAs are covering each and every base or dot base. You want those LBA bases at level 3 or 4, not a lot more because construction cost supply. Your LBA bases should be at least 15 hexes away from an important Allied base, otherwise you will be visited by heavy bombers. You want at least one or 2 small bases very nearby, these should be level 1 or 2, just to keep CAP even when he eventually craters the base.

you don't have enough mines or coastal guns for everywhere, so you will need these for the main bases; those where the LBAs are going to be deployed. 300 mines is not enough, half of the time he will just ignore them; you should aim for double those #s, so pick well the bases to receive guns and mines

In terms of LCUs, he will land with more than a division, so he will win against almost any naval guard or SNLF you field, therefore what you want is to put big LCUs only on the LBA bases, while the small or dot bases just have a SNLF or naval guard or anything small just to avoid cheap invasions. You also want to have some divisions at a rear echelon for counter invasions

You have one big advantage, a few weeks after he invades, you will be in a position to counter invade, with the KB in distant support. naval bombardment and air strikes kills supply quickly, if you have the KB nearby he can't resupply, while you can, so in the long term you will recapture the base

If you haven't done yet, convert your AKs into AK-ts; these are the closest you will get to a proper APA

Hi Jorge, I think i see what you mean. The remote islands/atolls i'll just leave a JNAF and some kind of NavGd as a speed bump. Bigger bases surronded by dots/bases i'll build up to mutually support.

i did convert all the AKs to Ak-ts.

[RADM.Yamaguchi]

ORIGINAL: inqistor

ORIGINAL: RADM.Yamaguchi

i was wondering if anybody has a "best atoll defense protocol". 6,000 troops doesn't sound like very many.

I suppose:
minefield 150? 300? w ACMs?
Special Naval Base (CD guns, AV sup, NAV sup, Eng)
AA Rgt? Btn?
ARM Rgt?, Btn
ART Mortar? Mtn Gun? Rgt? Btn?
INF SNLF? Rgt?
PTs?
SSx?

Best defense will be more airfields nearby. When Allies land, you will have no supply, or undisrupted soldiers on the island.
CD guns can be useful, when minesweepers come. Forget about artillery, Allies will land more and you will lose it in first counterfire. Japanese PTs can only engage during storm, don't count on it. Midgets can be fun, not very useful, but torpedo in enemy ship can help you if you have KB nearby.
Any island is probably a goner. But if you can retake sea control immediately, Allies will lose lots of troops because of overstacking.

Hi inqistor, that's good info about the ART. I'll use CDs where ic can.

[RADM.Yamaguchi]

ORIGINAL: Bif1961

Supplies are always important, even with the best defense not having supplies will undermine it all. Having forces pre-prepped to counter-land on those bases you are sure he will take like Rio-Namur, Kawajalein and Eniwetok is always a good idea. My opponent took those in early months of 43 and I took them back because I had air superiority, and use nearby base with AKEs to rearm my BBs to rapid turn around bombardments to wear him down while I gathered the shipping and force to land and take each one in turn. However, after 43, depending on the carrier situation that becomes more and more unlikely, but he is past most Atolls by then anyways, except Marcus and the Bonnis Islands. A good thing to have is a SNLF one of the bigger ones 90 AV, a smallish armor Rgt, mines 500+, mini-subs can be a wild card. Many of your Atolls have forts eventually and mentioned previously by other CD units are few and far between.

Hi Bif, yeah, i totally missed small armor, I only have one but i'll check for more.

[RADM.Yamaguchi]

I think i understand about the mutual air support.

Here is an example of what i was thinking.

A larger airbase (4or5) with an AirHQ with 5 hex effect surrounded by smaller Airbases(2) loaded with zeros/bombs/torps.

Kind of like a complete CV Task Force only on land.

[RADM.Yamaguchi]

it's been a couple days since the big battle and i got a message from my opponents. One is suffering a bit from SCLS but the other seems unperturbed and said they just need a bit of time to work things out. I think it's so cool to have two friends work together on this game. There are many many times i wish i had somebody else on my team to help me. Thank god for you guys on the forum and all your help.

[Lowpe]

re question on Atoll defense, quick answer is it depends.[:)]

Is the Atoll isolated or part of a chain.

Can the Atoll be bypassed or is its defense critical (Marcus and Wake come to mind as early critical isolated Atolls that may justify a strong defense).

On critical, isolated, atolls I have stopped invasions with a slightly overstacked mixed force defense. Given how naval bombardments work, the armored car unit generally speaking will never be targeted. Tanks would be even better.

Heavy Artillery
Cd guns
Some Mines
20mm AA
SNLF
JNAF Eng Unit
Armored Car unit.
High Forts

This defense will buy time for a response of some type and require a major commitment from the Allies to take. You should spot the invasion force 1-2 days out. Allies will normally unload everything in one turn and flee.

You have to decide what to invest in an Atoll defense and what its goals are to be. Road block, Stonewall, trap are the three major types that come to mind.

[RADM.Yamaguchi]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

re question on Atoll defense, quick answer is it depends.[:)]

Is the Atoll isolated or part of a chain.

Can the Atoll be bypassed or is its defense critical (Marcus and Wake come to mind as early critical isolated Atolls that may justify a strong defense).

On critical, isolated, atolls I have stopped invasions with a slightly overstacked mixed force defense. Given how naval bombardments work, the armored car unit generally speaking will never be targeted. Tanks would be even better.

Heavy Artillery
Cd guns
Some Mines
20mm AA
SNLF
JNAF Eng Unit
Armored Car unit.
High Forts

This defense will buy time for a response of some type and require a major commitment from the Allies to take. You should spot the invasion force 1-2 days out. Allies will normally unload everything in one turn and flee.

You have to decide what to invest in an Atoll defense and what its goals are to be. Road block, Stonewall, trap are the three major types that come to mind.

Hi Lowpe - thanks for the advice.

I think i will try this exact thing on one of the single atolls and just see what happens.

I figure that this whole game is just a learning experience for me and i'll learn more from failures than successes.

BTW, i'm reading a lot of posts in other AARs about some people getting really upset about some japan players that rearrange magic move task forces and land at places other than those historically.

I landed at mersing, kuching, lingayan and some other places on the first day. I don't think my opponents had anything wrong with that.

[Evoken]

ORIGINAL: RADM.Yamaguchi

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

re question on Atoll defense, quick answer is it depends.[:)]

Is the Atoll isolated or part of a chain.

Can the Atoll be bypassed or is its defense critical (Marcus and Wake come to mind as early critical isolated Atolls that may justify a strong defense).

On critical, isolated, atolls I have stopped invasions with a slightly overstacked mixed force defense. Given how naval bombardments work, the armored car unit generally speaking will never be targeted. Tanks would be even better.

Heavy Artillery
Cd guns
Some Mines
20mm AA
SNLF
JNAF Eng Unit
Armored Car unit.
High Forts

This defense will buy time for a response of some type and require a major commitment from the Allies to take. You should spot the invasion force 1-2 days out. Allies will normally unload everything in one turn and flee.

You have to decide what to invest in an Atoll defense and what its goals are to be. Road block, Stonewall, trap are the three major types that come to mind.

Hi Lowpe - thanks for the advice.

I think i will try this exact thing on one of the single atolls and just see what happens.

I figure that this whole game is just a learning experience for me and i'll learn more from failures than successes.

BTW, i'm reading a lot of posts in other AARs about some people getting really upset about some japan players that rearrange magic move task forces and land at places other than those historically.

I landed at mersing, kuching, lingayan and some other places on the first day. I don't think my opponents had anything wrong with that.

Yeah as a mostly allied player i see no issue with doing unhistorical landings as long as they are not super deep (Java,West Coast etc). In my japan game i invaded Bataan turn 1( very costly [:D] ) and my opponent was completely fine with that