Logistics in the Pacific - USSAmerica (A), Mike (J)

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

ORIGINAL: SuluSea

Always great to read your AARs Mike!

Thanks. I appreciate that. For some weird reason, I really like to make AARs.

Military and government work habit: document, document, then document some more.[;)]

I think there's a shred of truth to that statement, Joe. [:D] Having experienced both, that could be it. [:'(]

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

I think delaying Yamato until Dec 1942 is the right move for Japan; I did that last game. I also halted Junyo even to bring Junyo/Hiyo in as a pair....I didn't see a need to accelerate them as USN unlikely to challenge KB in first 6 months. I also halted construction of most submarines except for half-dozen nearly complete float-plane subs

Doing all that allows you to accelerate all the CVs without adding additional Naval SY capacity....that gives you a large reinforcement of CVs just as the USN is also receiving CVs in 1943, and should keep the IJN competitive for longer

I did convert a bunch of Merchant SY capacity to Naval, bringing the Naval to 1501. I'm delaying the Yamato as you said. I'm also not accelerating any of the CVLs that come on relatively early either. Shinano is off. Taiyo is coming at a normal pace (for now). This is allowing me to accelerate all 6 of the Unryus and all 13 DDs that I can accelerate at this time.

With Mike's play style, I suspect I'm going to need it sooner rather than later.

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: rustysi

I now see 95(!) fighters at Rangoon. After liberating Singapore, I plan on sending a couple of bombardment forces there to turn those fighters into scrap.

IIRC this involves entering the river mouth to get there, and I don't think BB's can do that.

Hmm, didn't know that. Never tried to bombard Rangoon before. I have most of the CAs in the SRA. They'll have a job to do when the time comes.

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

I think delaying Yamato until Dec 1942 is the right move for Japan; I did that last game. I also halted Junyo even to bring Junyo/Hiyo in as a pair....I didn't see a need to accelerate them as USN unlikely to challenge KB in first 6 months. I also halted construction of most submarines except for half-dozen nearly complete float-plane subs

Doing all that allows you to accelerate all the CVs without adding additional Naval SY capacity....that gives you a large reinforcement of CVs just as the USN is also receiving CVs in 1943, and should keep the IJN competitive for longer

I don't think there is a cut and dry answer here....other than your builds (plane and ship and economy) should synergize with your overall game goals.

Some JFBs can use the super heavies really well...others not so much.

I have mirrored your strategy Q-ball in the past, and also done the exact opposite building the super heavies and submarines -- both strategies can work or really anything between.

Same holds true with CS-CV conversions. Here though I prefer to leave CS as CS and stuff them with float fighters....worked really well for me thru 43 into 44 but in 44+ I think having Sams on board a bit better...but again it depends upon what the strategies and game situation is. It is a long conversion.

I agree with you, Lowpe. But it sure is fun to discuss it with everyone. I've always had good luck with the Yamatos in the past. It's just a new tactic to try out for me. I'm still not sure what I'm going to do with the CSs, but I have some time. I'm leaning toward converting Chitose and Chiyoda and leaving the other two. We'll see how the carriers fare in the early game.

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: rustysi

ORIGINAL: rustysi

I now see 95(!) fighters at Rangoon. After liberating Singapore, I plan on sending a couple of bombardment forces there to turn those fighters into scrap.

IIRC this involves entering the river mouth to get there, and I don't think BB's can do that.

I addition to what I've said remember bombardment TF's can and will damage all production at a base.

Yep, but I'll willing to take that chance to get a chunk of the AVG on the ground. I can live with a damaged Rangoon.

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

I think delaying Yamato until Dec 1942 is the right move for Japan; I did that last game. I also halted Junyo even to bring Junyo/Hiyo in as a pair....I didn't see a need to accelerate them as USN unlikely to challenge KB in first 6 months. I also halted construction of most submarines except for half-dozen nearly complete float-plane subs

Doing all that allows you to accelerate all the CVs without adding additional Naval SY capacity....that gives you a large reinforcement of CVs just as the USN is also receiving CVs in 1943, and should keep the IJN competitive for longer

I don't think there is a cut and dry answer here....other than your builds (plane and ship and economy) should synergize with your overall game goals.

Some JFBs can use the super heavies really well...others not so much.

I have mirrored your strategy Q-ball in the past, and also done the exact opposite building the super heavies and submarines -- both strategies can work or really anything between.

Same holds true with CS-CV conversions. Here though I prefer to leave CS as CS and stuff them with float fighters....worked really well for me thru 43 into 44 but in 44+ I think having Sams on board a bit better...but again it depends upon what the strategies and game situation is. It is a long conversion

I can see the argument both ways. The CS Conversions are a whole subject to themselves! I can see the debate either way since they can be useful as CS and the conversion is very long, but they are clearly more useful in 1944 as CVL

Here we go! [:D]

[Mike Solli]

Just to bring you up to date quickly...

I've got a couple of turns to post. Mike is busy at work and packing to move into his newly built house in a couple of weeks. Mike said he _may_ get a turn done by ~6 Dec, but maybe not. That's fine. I'm pretty busy now with the grand sons, and life in general. So, I'll post the turns and we can babble while Mike works through RL. [:D]

[btd64]

Hey Mike, I'd still like to meet up sometime for lunch. Though it would have to wait until after Christmas....GP

[Mike Solli]

Definitely, Brian. Life has been crazy busy lately. Grandkids are incredibly time consuming.

[btd64]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

Definitely, Brian. Life has been crazy busy lately. Grandkids are incredibly time consuming.

Oh yeah, I do know about grandkids and time consumption....GP

[rustysi]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

ORIGINAL: rustysi

I now see 95(!) fighters at Rangoon. After liberating Singapore, I plan on sending a couple of bombardment forces there to turn those fighters into scrap.

IIRC this involves entering the river mouth to get there, and I don't think BB's can do that.

Hmm, didn't know that. Never tried to bombard Rangoon before. I have most of the CAs in the SRA. They'll have a job to do when the time comes.

Again, IIRC all you have to do to find out if the BB's can't make it is to include them in the bombard TF and you get a message 'can't make target' or some such.

[rustysi]

Grandkids are incredibly time consuming.

Oh yeah, I do know about grandkids and time consumption....GP

Yeah, but what a way to spend time.[;)]

[btd64]

ORIGINAL: rustysi

Grandkids are incredibly time consuming.

Oh yeah, I do know about grandkids and time consumption....GP

Yeah, but what a way to spend time.[;)]

Nothing beats it....GP

[Mike Solli]

Watching grandson #1 right now (every Tuesday, actually). He's taking a nap so I can update this AAR.

[Mike Solli]

16 Dec 41

Sub War

The Salmon caught and sank an xAKL with one of those rare working torpedoes.

The I-162 caught the PC Formalhaut sinking her in the southern SRA.

Off Makassar, the I-157 surfaced to finish off the xAKL Legazpi, not realizing she has her own deck gun. After a couple of minor hits from Legazpi, the I-162 submerged and slunk away leaving the Legazpi heavily burning. [8|]

5 Fleet

The Adak invasion force finally landed today. No enemy forces were present. We’ll liberate Adak tomorrow.

4 Fleet

The 61 Naval Guard landed at Nauru Island today and shock attacked and liberated it. The Naval Guard will re-embark and move to take Tarawa.

SE Fleet

The two crippled AMCs that were hit off Suva yesterday were staggering north in a feeble attempt to get away. The Vindicators hit Hokoku Maru sinking her. The Aikoku Maru needed no help and went down of her own accord later in the day.

Shortlands Island was successfully liberated today. The goal here is a fighter airfield in the short term with a long term goal of increasing it to level 4.

Tomorrow, we land at Rabaul.

SRA

Philippines: A sweep of Manila netted 4 of 5 enemy fighters for no loss. My intel sees only 2 enemy fighters in the Philippines. Enemy air power here is just about done. It’s time to move the remainder of the 23 Air Flotilla to SE Fleet AO and leave the air reduction of the enemy here to 5 Air Division.

There were 2 remaining Vildebeests (from Hong Kong) stationed in the Philippines that were continually harassing my shipping. I have a couple of DDs nearby to draw their attention. One was downed by flak today. We’ll see if the lone remaining TB does anything tomorrow.

Mindanao: Two tank regiments are at Cagayan and scheduled to attack tomorrow.

Malaya: My ground forces continue to flow south while the 3 Air Division continues to soften up the Commonwealth ground forces cut off and scattered around the countryside.

An unsuccessful para drop of Temuloh was snuffed out by the 22 Indian Brigade that was there. My intel failed me!

The Rest: Yet another xAKL was caught and sunk south of Mindanao by Nagara and her two accompanying DDs.

Near Tacloban, Kuma and 3 DDs found the two remaining Q boats and sank one. The other one is still out there somewhere.

The Aussies found the two Japanese BBs trying to scare off the enemy ships scattered around the southern SRA and mustered 3 Hudsons to attack them. They were unsuccessful.

Burma

Still no conflict. The AVG still is at Rangoon.

China

Movement and minor attacks here and there.

Other Stuff

Nothing new.

[Mike Solli]

17 Dec 41

Sub War

Nothing to report.

5 Fleet

Adak became Japanese without a fight and will begin building the airfield to level two, then forts to level 3, then port to level 3, then airfield to level 4. Those 36 engineers are going to be busy for awhile!

4 Fleet

The 2 Independent SNLF Company landed at Guam reinforcing the I/33 Regiment. Tomorrow, they’ll attack that thorn in the side rabble.

By the way, early on I set the Guards Brigade to attack Midway. I don’t plan on doing it, but if he gets intel on that, maybe he’ll send some reinforcements there. I have a line of subs between Midway and Pearl, just in case. Just some attempts to drive Mike nuts.

SE Fleet

The Rabaul invasion force completed its landing (144 Regiment, 15 Base Force & 35 JNAF AF Unit). The 35th starts over strength with 60 naval support attached. Nice! They will attack tomorrow.

Future invasion timeline:

Gasmata: 18 Dec 41
Finschaven: 19 Dec 41
Buna: 20 Dec 41
Pt. Moresby: 21 Dec 41

KB will be in the Coral Sea by 19 Dec 41 to clear the way and support the invasions. Also, the 4 Aobas are currently at the Shortlands with a full load of ammo (and torpedoes) should they be needed. None of the 6 TFs are spotted!

I suspect that if there are any Allied TFs in the area, they will hit the road when KB is spotted.

SRA

Philippines: I see 12 fighters at Bataan! It appears that Mike is reinforcing the fighter squadrons there. That’s outstanding! That’s more planes (and [somewhat trained] pilots) that won’t be available in more important theaters later. I’m pulling out the remainder of 23 Air Flotilla in a couple days and will leave the Nates (and eventually, Oscars) of 5 Air Division to finish them off. Nice experience for the IJAAF.

Mindanao: Successful attack at Cagayan:

Ground combat at Cagayan (79,89)
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 1035 troops, 0 guns, 159 vehicles, Assault Value = 92
Defending force 2985 troops, 4 guns, 50 vehicles, Assault Value = 96
Japanese adjusted assault: 92
Allied adjusted defense: 25
Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Cagayan !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
B-17D Fortress: 5 destroyed
SOC-1 Seagull: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 7 destroyed

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Allied ground losses:
627 casualties reported
Squads: 65 destroyed, 17 disabled
Non Combat: 98 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 38 (38 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 4

Assaulting units:
4th Tank Regiment
7th Tank Regiment

Defending units:
3rd PA Constabulary Regiment
3rd/101st PA Battalion
Cagayan USAAF Base Force
Mindanao Force Corps

Nice air units captured on the ground!

Malaya: Continued bombardment of the isolated British forces in Northern Malaya occurred. I’m not sure which rail line will be easier to clear. The eastern line has Temuloh occupied by an Indian Brigade, but I see them moving west to block the western rail line. Is it the infantry brigade, the AA unit or the base force, or all of them. Only time will tell. Two hexes north are the remnants of the 8 Indian and FMSV brigades, both in really bad shape and on the receiving end of multiple air bombardments daily. The 124 Regiment will arrive in their hex (from Kota Bharu) tomorrow and attack the day after. Hopefully, they’ll both be destroyed so I don’t have to worry about them anymore.

The hex to the NE of Malacca (still eastern rail line) has the remnants of the Mysore Battalion, the former Malacca garrison. They are being chased by the 91 Naval Guard, still a couple of days out. I hope the NG destroy them outright, but if not, I hope they retreat to the NW to Kuala Lumpur, on the western rail line. Either way, the NG will move to Kuala Lumpur to liberate that base.

If the Brits in Temuloh all move west to cut the western rail line, then I’ll perform another para drop to take that base. I think this is the best chance to open a rail line to Johore Bahru so the IG division can join the Singapore assault force.

33 Division is currently landing at Mersing and will march to Johore Bahru. When they (and IG Division) arrive there, there will be 4 divisions available to assault Singapore (along with 6 arty and a bunch of other stuff).

Everywhere Else: I noticed a nice pile of Dutch aircraft sitting in Batavia. I have no fighters to sweep them other than 18 Zeros at Singkawang, which would have to use drop tanks at extended range. That ain’t happening. I sent a daitai of Betties on a night raid. Only 5 showed up to the party but they destroyed a bomber on the ground while damaging another 4 bombers and a fighter. Tomorrow, a daitai each of Betties and Nells will attempt to hit them.

Burma

The AVG is still at Rangoon trying to (unsuccessfully) ambush my bombers.

China

Just maneuvering…

Other Stuff

I'm getting very close to launching my attacks on Merak, Oosthaven and Kaldjati. Once I have a foothold there, I can dump fighters and bombers at Kaldjati and suppress all the airfields, so I can begin to liberate the oil fields in the SRA. Just about all the invasion forces are loaded and at CRB, so it'll happen soon.

[RangerJoe]

Don't forget to have transports in TF set to have Midway as the final destination while they move elsewhere!

[Yaab]

Re xAKL Legaspi. Allied xAKLs should only have MGs at start.

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

Don't forget to have transports in TF set to have Midway as the final destination while they move elsewhere!

Ahh, very sneaky.

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: Yaab

Re xAKL Legaspi. Allied xAKLs should only have MGs at start.

That's right. I forgot. The damage was minor.