Sardaukar's 6th (public) GC vs IJ AI (Newbie friendly)

[Sardaukar]

I'll start 6th public Grand Campaign as Allies vs. evil empire's Artificial Idiot soon.

This time it'll be Modified Scenario 30 (DaIronBabes, port to DaBigBabes of Hakko Ichiu), giving IJA/IJN more assets and aggression. I have neve played this (or other Iron variants, so should be an experience for me too).

I did modify few things:

E-ships (IJN Escort): Reduced number of DC throwers, they were over the top in my last GC (modded DaLightBabes) even with this same modification.

Type 2 DC: accuracy reduced from 7 -> 6 for same reason as above.

Argonaut: made minelayer sub for whole war, switching to more lethal Mk 12 later (hopefully it works)

Allied mines: Removed end dates of mine production, to give limited mine capability to Dutch minelayer subs etc. (O19, 20 mainly) even later.

I'll try to explain more about my decisions (like I did with my old and outdated and even more outdated previous GC) here:

https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/view ... 5&t=328956

[Sardaukar]

Settings are:

AI Difficulty: Hard (supply benefits to AI)

Facilities to expand: OFF (you want to turn on this base by base (or HQ by HQ, that is easier for some areas), not have it suck your supplies immediately, especially in China)

Automatic Upgrade: ON

Replacements: OFF

2-day turns, first turn is 1-day turn (gives AI some more edge and slows down operations while speeding the game up)
Historical First turn: ON

Fog of War: ON

Advance Weather: ON

Allied Damage Control: ON

Player Defined Upgrades: ON

December 7th surprise: ON

Reliable USN Torpedoes: OFF

Realistic R&D: ON

No unit withdrawals: OFF

Reinforcements: FIXED

[BBfanboy]

Doesn't Automatic Upgrades set you up for key ships starting an upgrade when you don't want them to? And perhaps in a place that is not secure?

[Sardaukar]

Doesn't Automatic Upgrades set you up for key ships starting an upgrade when you don't want them to? And perhaps in a place that is not secure?

It does.

But as Supreme Operational Commander, I think I won't have a say when upgrades are scheduled by rear-echelon mofos.

I have had this thing in all campaign games, I think it is realistic way to insert some delays to operations. And if I really need some ships, I can always set them not to upgrade.

[BananaConvention]

I look forward to following this. Will this be a written AAR or in video format like I am doing for mine? Either is good!

[Sardaukar]

I look forward to following this. Will this be a written AAR or in video format like I am doing for mine? Either is good!

This will be written one like previous ones. I am old-fashioned and like reading.

[Sardaukar]

Some house rules:

- 4-engine bombers cannot attack lower than 6000ft until 1943. They will be used mainly for Naval Search and ASW (can drop to 1000ft for ASW)

- 2-engine bombers can attack at 1000ft.

- no 100ft naval attacks (skip bombing) until 1943. Attack bombers/fighter bombers excepted (they do that automatically).

- no floatplane naval attacks (some Catalinas can do night naval torpedo attacks from May 1942, so called Black Cats, might not be that useful in game)

- units will have to pay Political Points (change to unrestricted HQ) to cross borders to outside their operational area.

[Sardaukar]

STRATEGIC CONSIDERATIONS:

INDIA AND CEYLON: Ceylon and SE India are "must keep". Reinforcement convoys for Singapore and instead routed to Ceylon and India.

BURMA: Will not be reinforced. Allied units will conduct fighting withdrawal to Chittagong/Imphal areas. Akyab/Cox's Bazaar defence is "will be seen later".

CHINA: Will defend in good ground.

With China it is vital from start NOT to change target that units are preparing for. When that reaches 100, units will start to train to national basic experience value. See manual 8.2.1.4 Objectives.
This is very important for Chinese units, since they often start with abysmal experience and morale. Keep an eye on morale too, low-morale units are destroyed or surrender easily. When units are at acceptable levels of exp/morale, then you can start to change preparation.

MALAYA: Will evacuate 8th AUS Division to Australia, they will be very useful later. Anything later than historical surrender day of Singapore is beneficial. Will not be reinforced.

DUTCH EAST INDIA: Will not be reinforced. Dutch units will be concentrated to beneficial/important places, though.

AUSTRALIA and PAPUA-NEW GUINEA: Have to keep Perth and Brisbane (plus anything south from Brisbane. Since this scenario is with reinforced Japan and more aggressive scripts, have to see about Port Moresby and Darwin. Units from Rabaul and Kavieng plus mainland PNG will be evacuated/concentrated to Port Moresby. Darwin is usually my main submarine base as is Brisbane. Have to see if I can keep North Australia.

SOUTH PACIFIC: Have to keep New Caledonia and Suva. Auckland in NZ will be supply and fuel hub for South Pacific and Australia.

CENTRAL PACIFIC: Wake I. is indefensible. Midway and Johnston I. might be too, depending on AI. Hawaii is obviously in need of reinforcements and is vital. My main submarine base there is usually Midway, but have to see if I can keep it.

NORTH PACIFIC: I usually will have submarine base in Adak I. This will also depend how AI is going to operate in this area.

First 6 months of war will be fighting retreat while adhering to Adm. Nimitz's axiom of "calculated risk" and "strong attritional tactics". Those interested in that can read: https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/cgi/v ... nwc-review

[Sardaukar]

Here is a strategic map of starting situation:

- YELLOW is line of "may hold" (Burma is from start "no-go" since not planning to reinforce).
- BLUE is line of "should hold"
- RED is "have to hold"
- GREEN is major routes of supply
- BLACK is major routes of fuel supply

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[Sardaukar]

Some changes:

Historical first turn: ON

First turn: 1-day turn

Following turns: 2-day turns

In addition:

- Fighters on CAP or Sweep will fly on their best maneuver altitude. Thus, no high-altitude sweeps. CAP might be slightly adjusted upwards if MVR difference is small, but not over 20 000ft.

[Sardaukar]

Pearl Harbor was not USN friendly....and PoW &Repulse got hit near Malaya too:

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[Sardaukar]

Outright sunk list is small, but e.g. BB California probably won't make it. There is also good probability of follow-up strikes. Full combat report of day attached.

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[Sardaukar]

RELEVANT PARTS OF COMBAT REPORT:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Dec 07, 41
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Midget Sub attack inside harbor of Pearl Harbor!!!

Japanese Ships
SSX Ha-22, hits 2

Allied Ships
BB West Virginia, Torpedo hits 1
PC Taney

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Morning Air attack on Pearl Harbor , at 180,107

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 111 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 36 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 32
B5N2 Kate x 144
D3A1 Val x 126

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 damaged
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed by flak
B5N2 Kate: 5 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 3 destroyed by flak
D3A1 Val: 13 damaged
D3A1 Val: 4 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
P-40B Warhawk: 1 destroyed, 22 damaged
P-40B Warhawk: 6 destroyed on ground
B-17D Fortress: 28 damaged
B-17D Fortress: 2 destroyed on ground
B-17E Fortress: 13 damaged
PBY-5 Catalina: 79 damaged
PBY-5 Catalina: 13 destroyed on ground
SBD-1 Dauntless: 30 damaged
SBD-1 Dauntless: 5 destroyed on ground
B-18A Bolo: 32 damaged
B-18A Bolo: 6 destroyed on ground
A-20A Havoc: 31 damaged
A-20A Havoc: 2 destroyed on ground
O-47A: 5 damaged
O-47A: 3 destroyed on ground
P-36A Mohawk: 20 damaged
P-36A Mohawk: 4 destroyed on ground
C-33: 1 damaged
C-33: 1 destroyed on ground
F4F-3 Wildcat: 11 damaged
R3D-2: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
BB Nevada, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
BB West Virginia, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
BB California, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
BB Arizona, Bomb hits 6, Torpedo hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
BB Maryland, Bomb hits 7, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
BB Tennessee, Bomb hits 10, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
BB Pennsylvania, Bomb hits 12, Torpedo hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
BB Oklahoma, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
SS Dolphin, Bomb hits 1
CL Helena, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Shaw, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Dewey, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DM Tracy, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CL Detroit, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CL Raleigh, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CL Phoenix, Torpedo hits 1
DD Reid, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Jarvis, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Monaghan, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CL St. Louis, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1
DM Preble, Bomb hits 1, on fire
PG Sacramento, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AVD Thornton, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AV Wright, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CA New Orleans, Bomb hits 1
DD Patterson, Bomb hits 1, on fire
PT-27, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Schley, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAP St. Mihel, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Allied ground losses:
25 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Repair Shipyard hits 7
Airbase hits 48
Runway hits 91

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Morning Air attack on Wake Island , at 136,98

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 6 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 27

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 2 destroyed, 9 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 2 damaged

Allied ground losses:
8 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 22

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Morning Air attack on Clark Field , at 79,76 (at least Clark was not annihilated...)

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 29,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 25
G3M2 Nell x 36
G4M1 Betty x 27

Allied aircraft
P-40B Warhawk x 1

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
P-40B Warhawk: 1 damaged
P-40B Warhawk: 1 destroyed on ground
B-17D Fortress: 1 destroyed on ground
O-47A: 1 destroyed on ground

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 20

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Mersing at 52,82

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 33 NM, estimated altitude 24,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 9

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
G3M2 Nell: 1 destroyed by flak

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
BC Repulse

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Morning Air attack on Davao , at 79,91

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B5N1 Kate x 12

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AVD William B. Preston, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Mauban, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Montanes, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied ground losses:
11 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Port hits 1

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Morning Air attack on Kota Bharu , at 51,75

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 33

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27b Nate: 1 damaged
Ki-27b Nate: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
Hudson I: 1 destroyed on ground

Airbase hits 8
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 27

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Morning Air attack on Georgetown , at 49,74

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 5 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 1 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 27

Allied aircraft
Blenheim IF x 2
Buffalo I x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IF: 2 damaged
Buffalo I: 5 damaged

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 16

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Morning Air attack on Kota Bharu , at 51,75

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 22

Allied aircraft
no flights

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Hudson I: 4 damaged
Hudson I: 1 destroyed on ground

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 6

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Morning Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 18

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
xAK Mundra, Bomb hits 6, on fire
xAKL Agnes, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Hermelin, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
xAK Indira, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires
xAK Chilka, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires
xAKL Chaksang, Bomb hits 1
xAKL Ardent, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
HDML 1103, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Mersing at 52,82

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 47 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 27

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 3 destroyed, 7 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed by flak

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
DD Express
BC Repulse
BB Prince of Wales, Torpedo hits 1

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kota Bharu at 51,75

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 5

Allied aircraft
Swordfish I x 2
Hudson I x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish I: 1 destroyed

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Patani at 51,73

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 7 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 6

Allied aircraft
Blenheim I x 4
Hudson I x 4

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim I: 1 destroyed

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kota Bharu at 51,75

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Allied aircraft
Vildebeest III x 5

Allied aircraft losses
Vildebeest III: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo, Bomb hits 2

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Mersing at 52,82

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 24 NM, estimated altitude 26,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 9

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
BC Repulse, Torpedo hits 4, heavy damage
BB Prince of Wales

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Ground combat at Batan Island (85,70)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 2780 troops, 27 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 69

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 45

Allied adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 45 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Batan Island !!!

Combat modifiers
Attacker: shock(+)

Assaulting units:
Sasebo 1st SNLF
24th JAAF AF Bn

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

There were also some air attacks on Rangoon, Alor Star and Kota Bharu that damaged quite a few planes.

Only problem is that I might not be able to evacuate damaged planes from Kota Bharu before capture.

[Sardaukar]

NEXT:

One annoyance is that I used all Political Points (abbreviated PP) sorting out Pearl Harbor air unit commanders, since I suspect follow-up strikes today from Kido Butai (KB, Mobile Strike Force, IJN main carrier formation).

ORDERS FOR us WEST COAST, CANADA AND NORTH PACIFIC:

Generally, San Francisco will be responsible for sending troops and supply out. Seattle will do all for North Pacific. Los Angeles will be responsible for sending fuel out, thus lot of tankers and oilers will concentrate there.

- setting all bases to expand (easy to do when clicking base, selecting "Show bases in same HQ" and setting bases to expand what you want from buttons at bottom.

- setting permanently restricted (and this time restricted too) air units to train applicable skills and to draw pilots from "Replacement" (absolute rookies). These units will be used as training units for pilots. This time I'll mainly train Naval Search with bombers and Escort of course with fighters. All train 100% with range 0.

- setting some ASW TFs in main harbours. Never know when those nasty midget subs pay visit and as long as TF is not docked, they gain experience. USN ships are quite inexperienced this stage (especially night).

- starting to set units to be shipped abroad to strategic move and marching them to San Francisco.

This is reason why I like Adak I. as submarine base. It is only base relatively close to North Japan that can be built to Port size 8 with Air size 7.

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[Sardaukar]

My system is to sort out Pearl Harbor first and then work out clockwise. Not much I could do there now, air defence is set and all damaged ships are set to Pierside.
It is pointless to choke PH repair shipyard with BBs that will take many months to repair. They will be sent to West Coast large shipyards when their flotation and system damage gets lower.
Not to mention PH vicinity is usually swarming with IJN subs for a while.

NEXT:

AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, SOUTH PACIFIC and PAPUA-NEW GUINEA (there is very little to do in CENTRAL PACIFIC, so sorting that out same time)

- port, AF and fort building in many bases (be careful not to overdo, supply is still scarse)

- rerouting TFs that are in area

- sending more supply to Suva

- setting out air Naval Search and ASW.

- setting small ASW TFs for major ports

- sending armoured units from inner Australia to bases that I think might be vulnerable West Australia (Perth, Geelong, Caernavon) and North East Townsville etc.

- consolidating all Base forces in North Australia to Darwin.

- sending some infantry to reinforce Darwin

- air evacuation of Rabaul and Kavieng, units to Port Moresby. PNG land units will march there too.

- laying some mines in Rabaul (if Japanese don't get there first...)

[Sardaukar]

For those wondering what CV Lexington and Enterprise are doing:

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[Sardaukar]

One of things for amusement is to see if AM Penguin makes it (surprisingly often she does!)

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[Sardaukar]

3rd AUS Brigade packing for Darwin (these diggers are right now almost as bad as Chinese troops...better pack more Vegemite!)

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[Sardaukar]

My typical concept of Naval Search combined with ASW. This only really work well with units having 10+ planes. But this way they train ASW pretty well same time.

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[Sardaukar]

NEXT:

DEI aka Dutch East Indies.

DEI is bit difficult case, since you don't have similar freedom of movement as in Australia. Your units are similarly restricted, but scattered into different islands. That makes air transport only viable way to gather some units. Even that had limitations, since you cannot airlift heavy weapons.

I have limited air transport capability, but will try to concentrate air support to Batavia and Soerebaja.

- Dutch bombers set to 1000ft Naval Attack with 20% Naval Search.

- deploy submarines. There are obvious chokepoints later, like Makassar Strait, where they can be very effective.

- use your minelayers from start, mine Palembag, Kuching, Balikpapan etc.

- you have some Surface Combat TFs, they can be very effective before IJN/IJA can establish air dominance in area. Even after that, small TFs with few DDs can make hit & run attack. Also, some ships like PG Soerebaja can be useful against landings (it has 2x28 cm guns).

- sending transports to Singapore for future evacuation of Australians

- sending some support elements like AS and ARD to Darwin. ARD (floating dock) cannot travel itself, so you need to put it into TF with ships having enough endurance (this simulates it being towed). It can only travel 1 hex per phase.

- using all tankers (TK) to evacuate as much fuel as possible to Australia before losing oilfields (mainly Palembang and Balikpapan)

- do not try to enlarge ports/AF, you are losing DEI anyway, so don't do enemy's job for them.

- don't forget to withdraw your cruisers and destroyers to Australia later. You should also get USN units from Philippines.

- I am sending as many units to Palembang in Sumatra that I can, to make it more harder to invade and to cause damage.

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