Defenseless: Between the Storms Japan

[SierraJuliet]

Maps for me as well.

Definitely your planning strategy.

As you have an aggressive approach I'd be interested to hear your view on managing the economy. Things such as what you will prioritize in merchant/naval building and your preferences for aircraft production.

[John 3rd]

That makes a bunch of sense. I will detail the Hawaii Operation after I get our next turn in.

As stated at the beginning, this is a play test of BTS--Air. Gregg and I played BTS--Heavy until the end of 1943. Have a good feel for that Mod. This one is air heavy and I thought I would show the CV and Capital Ship construction on the next two screen shots.

You will see the 1942 construction is about the same with the addition of a CVL and a Shokaku CV. The following year, 1943, sees big changes with then the emergency construction of the Hiryu's cranking up in 1944 and 1945.

The ONLY Capital Ship that isn't a carrier is a BC that arrives in a few days. After that, it is ALL carriers and cruisers for the duration of the war. Is that good? Is it bad? Only time and testing will tell.

The screenshot is pretty small. Sorry about that...

CV-BC Construction.png (697.88 KiB) Viewed 234 times

[John 3rd]

Here is the end of 1944-45:

CV Construction 2.png (654.89 KiB) Viewed 233 times

[John 3rd]

Think this is more readable. These are the cruisers and small CS built during the war: CA, CL, CLAA, and CS.

Cruisers 1.png (1.17 MiB) Viewed 232 times

[John 3rd]

Rest of the cruisers:

Cruiser 2.png (1.19 MiB) Viewed 231 times

[John 3rd]

Sorry for how small the screenshots are. Tried to enlarge it but no luck...

[PaxMondo]

No worries! Even I can use the ZOOM key. Win +

[PaxMondo]

Wow! 90 DUR CV's!!! I can see why the shift to the Unryu/Hiryu class CV's at 61 DUR.

[SierraJuliet]

Screen shots looking good on my screen.

That is a swag of carriers to look forward to. Do the Allied navies also look forward to extra decks for their aircraft?

[John 3rd]

Wow! 90 DUR CV's!!! I can see why the shift to the Unryu/Hiryu class CV's at 61 DUR.

Yep. Those are four Shokaku-Kai Class CVs. Big, beautiful, tough and VERY EXPENSIVE. Shift to the smaller CVs once the Emergency Naval Plan is ordered. Quick, cheaper, and still carry a reasonable air group...

[John 3rd]

The Americans get more CVE. CVL, and a couple of the Midways. Each CAV/CLV is convertible to a CVL and a number of AO and AS are allowed to convert the CVE. A great amount of it is player's choice. I love leaving it to the player to make decisions during their match.

[PaxMondo]

I love leaving it to the player to make decisions during their match.

Me too!

[Mike Solli]

Who else is reading this? I know Ranger Joe, Chickenboy, Sierra Juliet, and Pax are but need to know who else.

Also would like to know what people would like to know or see within the AAR? Where do I need to provide details? What are you interested in??

I'm following along too!

[Mike Solli]

That makes a bunch of sense. I will detail the Hawaii Operation after I get our next turn in.

As stated at the beginning, this is a play test of BTS--Air. Gregg and I played BTS--Heavy until the end of 1943. Have a good feel for that Mod. This one is air heavy and I thought I would show the CV and Capital Ship construction on the next two screen shots.

You will see the 1942 construction is about the same with the addition of a CVL and a Shokaku CV. The following year, 1943, sees big changes with then the emergency construction of the Hiryu's cranking up in 1944 and 1945.

The ONLY Capital Ship that isn't a carrier is a BC that arrives in a few days. After that, it is ALL carriers and cruisers for the duration of the war. Is that good? Is it bad? Only time and testing will tell.

The screenshot is pretty small. Sorry about that...

CV-BC Construction.png

What about DDs?

[John 3rd]

December 8, 1941
Combat Report

SS Operations
I-21 hits TK Gulfhawk with a TT near PH.
I-159 sinks TWO AKL (Marundu and Lyemun) at Ligga

Hawaiian Area
CARDIV1 makes a clean escape moving NE. It will fuel on the 10th and then move towards the West Coast as a blocking force.

CARDIV2 and 5 move very obviously SW passing Oahu. An American SS takes a shot at Zuikaku and misses her.

The 2 BC and 2 CB arrive about midnight and slowly open fire. Their gunnery is heavily disrupted by counter-battery fire from American CD. Though the CD doesn't score a single hit, the bombardment is upended. Gunners are forced to fire on enemy guns and do very well. A total of 22 enemy guns are destroyed or damaged as well as 41 vehicles. Though disappointing, I am sure it serves to wake up the enemy!

Should note that CL Abukuma and a DD hit a mine. The CL is not seriously damaged but the DD is seriously damaged.

Central Pacific
Four TFs have now cleared the Marshalls and are halfway down from Truk as they head for a rendezvous east of Lunga.

Two TFs have departed Saipan carrying 2 SNLF Assault Brigades and two pairs of Base Forces and Construction Engineers. These two TFs head for Midway.

Having taken Guam, another TF loads its Assault Brigade and will move on towards Wake.

DEI
After taking Cotabato on the 7th, Paras now descend on Ternate and easily grab that base. A TF carrying Base Forces and Engineers depart Babeldoap for Ternate.

A Fast TF carrying Base Forces and Engineers approaches Cotabato and will unload tomorrow. A powerful Covering Force of the 4 Kongo-Class BC protect this unloading. Several Asiatic STF are nearby at Jolo so we protect the valuable FTF first and will then go after the enemy. Cotabato receives 27 Zero and 18 Vals for its Lvl-2 AF.

The CVE TF works its way down the east side of the Philippines and sinks two small AP.

The CVL TF that hit Manila moves SW away from Manila heading towards Singapore to provide air support for the Palembang landing. While moving, the TF launches as extreme range strike at the American warships at Jolo and manage to hit CLV Charlotte with a single bomb.

Big action occurs at Manila where over 100 Betty/Nell hit the port and sink a lowly AM. No CAP anywhere in the Philippines attest to resting these boys for a bit of time.

Malaya Area
Japan takes Kuantan in a 28-1 assault. Over 100 Fighters move into the AF and will fly CAP/LRCAP over Kuantan and Mersing.

Kuantan shipping immediately begins loading two regiments, 2 artillery units, and a tank unit to grab Mersing. A STF moves to protect the shipping along with the disguised Fast TF carrying the Inf Brigade destined for Palembang.

In a great piece of work, 54 Topsy drop Paras onto the surprised defenders of Malacca capturing the base in an 8-1 attack! ALL Allied retreat is now blocked and cutoff from Singapore. BANZAI! Fly in nearly 50 fighters for CAP over the Sz-1 AF. Topsy shift to flying in more infantry and a base force.

Strikes fly against shipping at Kuantan and Japanese fighters and floatplanes down about 20 planes.

Across the sea, Japan lands at Kuching and will capture the base tomorrow. Follow-on TFs will land a large pair of base forces on the 10th. Expecting an Allied response, the 4 BB and Invasion TF move NE away from Kuching.

Japan detaches two groups of 4 DD to sweep towards Palembang to mess with anything moving in that area. Four DDs depart Mersing and four DDs depart Kuching. Coming from the north and east, these TF might run into all sorts of things...


So far...so good...

12-8-41 Charlotte.png (1.15 MiB) Viewed 139 times

[John 3rd]

Malaya

12-8-41 Singers.png (764.97 KiB) Viewed 138 times

[John 3rd]

Here are the moves along Borneo and from Mersing:

Palembang 12-8-41.png (1.12 MiB) Viewed 134 times

[John 3rd]

There will be serious action near Mindanao tomorrow!

12-8-41 Mindanao.png (905.38 KiB) Viewed 133 times

[RangerJoe]

One thing that I mentioned to someone else would be to reduce the durability of the Japanese submarines but then give them a 0 day refit to increase their durability. That is just to reduce their cost, the cost of producing submarines should not be 3 times the cost of a destroyer of equivalent tonnage. That could also make it harder to discontinue useful submarine production. I do not know how the mini-submarines are produced but if they also use shipyard points, then the same thing could be done there.

Also, some of the CVEs that in the normal game are being produced were conversions of existing ships, just like the Junyo and Hiyo but I don't know how a person would handle that.

I do like what you have done.

[PaxMondo]

In a great piece of work, 54 Topsy drop Paras onto the surprised defenders of Malacca capturing the base in an 8-1 attack! ALL Allied retreat is now blocked and cutoff from Singapore.

Wow!! Great job!