Defenseless: Between the Storms Japan

[John 3rd]

Worth a try. What does one need to build PT-Boats? Is it supply and Port size? Not sure...

Where is my rulebook???

[John 3rd]

Found it! Pages 107-108. Nice.

[PaxMondo]

Found it! Pages 107-108. Nice.

Yeah, pretty sure you will meet the supply requirement given your operational intent ....

[John 3rd]

I get all excited for turns this week and then....nada...Gregg has real life and WORK biting him in very personal locations.

My answer was easy: QUIT!

Don't think that was the right one...

[PaxMondo]

I get all excited for turns this week and then....nada...Gregg has real life and WORK biting him in very personal locations.

My answer was easy: QUIT!

Don't think that was the right one...

So easy for some to say that ... whereas he, likely, has that onerous thing commonly referred to as a "mortgage". Not all of us are sandwich franchisee LORDS!

[RangerJoe]

I get all excited for turns this week and then....nada...Gregg has real life and WORK biting him in very personal locations.

My answer was easy: QUIT!

Don't think that was the right one...

So easy for some to say that ... whereas he, likely, has that onerous thing commonly referred to as a "mortgage". Not all of us are sandwich franchisee LORDS!

Maybe someone was referring to quitting the game and not quitting working . . .

[John 3rd]

OK.

Boredom.

This is a JAPANESE Fanboy AAR so...with nothing else to do...how about answers to the following question:

What are your two FAVORITE classes of real-life Japanese warships?

First
I will begin by saying that Kongo's have always been one of my favorite Japanese warships. Their rebuild made them fast battleships but I just see them as beautiful enhanced Battlecruisers. Excellent CV escorts and magnificent bombardment vessels. They had a great service record and proved pretty tough for their BC handicaps.

Second
Have always liked the Moon-Class AA destroyers. Those 3.9" inch guns were ahead of their time. Good speed and large size made them very stable for a DD! Didn't build enough but I like their lines and they just look darned mean with those four large turrets.

Bring it on! What do you like and why???

[RangerJoe]

Personally, concerning World War II, any Japanese ship that became a reef. But the battleship that blew up in a harbour is a very good one!

[PaxMondo]

OK.

Boredom.

This is a JAPANESE Fanboy AAR so...with nothing else to do...how about answers to the following question:

What are your two FAVORITE classes of real-life Japanese warships?

First
I will begin by saying that Kongo's have always been one of my favorite Japanese warships. Their rebuild made them fast battleships but I just see them as beautiful enhanced Battlecruisers. Excellent CV escorts and magnificent bombardment vessels. They had a great service record and proved pretty tough for their BC handicaps.

Second
Have always liked the Moon-Class AA destroyers. Those 3.9" inch guns were ahead of their time. Good speed and large size made them very stable for a DD! Didn't build enough but I like their lines and they just look darned mean with those four large turrets.

Bring it on! What do you like and why???

Yeah, Kongo's and Shimakaze ... Shimakaze as it proved what IJ could have done ... 40 kts ... yeah, baby, that's got some foam curling on the bow there!!!

[BBfanboy]

Among the IJN CAs, I liked the Mogami class. The Atago forward superstructure was just too massive but the much smaller Mogami superstructure was more elegant. And that rail yard on the quarterdeck to handle planes was cool on my plastic models! Also must like the 34 knot attributed speed.

And the Agano CLs were cool - nice balance, fast and maneuverable. Maybe it was Tameichi Hara's (author of Japanese Destroyer Captain) assignment to one that clinched it. Sure, it was sunk during the attack on Yamato, but the number of torp and bomb hits Yahagi took was stunning!

[John 3rd]

I think that the Agano-Class is one of the prettiest cruisers built. They looked lean, fast, and MEAN! I agree. That Hara was the skipper of Yahagi was pretty cool. In the game, I always find him and move him to a CA. Seems appropriate to give him something BIGGER but still carrying TTs.

The Mogami's as 6" cruisers were pretty fearsome. I start them in the Mods as designed and allow for an 8" upgrade. If you want to take four excellent cruisers out and make them CAs...go ahead...I like them with the smaller guns!

[John 3rd]

Shimakaze is the ultimate Samurai expression of a DD! At 40 Knots, 3x5 TT tubes, TT reloads and three twin turrets, she was a BEAST!

[PaxMondo]

Among the IJN CAs, I liked the Mogami class. The Atago forward superstructure was just too massive but the much smaller Mogami superstructure was more elegant. And that rail yard on the quarterdeck to handle planes was cool on my plastic models! Also must like the 34 knot attributed speed.

And the Agano CLs were cool - nice balance, fast and maneuverable. Maybe it was Tameichi Hara's (author of Japanese Destroyer Captain) assignment to one that clinched it. Sure, it was sunk during the attack on Yamato, but the number of torp and bomb hits Yahagi took was stunning!

I'm with you here ...

Mogami class, definitely my fav cruiser ...

Hara - read his book first over 50 years ago, maybe over 60 years now ... a LIBRARY book, something rare now ... got me hooked.

[John 3rd]

I have it right here on the shelf behind me!

Also have ZERO!. It shaped my reading and love of WWII as well.

How about the old Bantam War Books??!! I still have 2-3 here on my shelves as well. Think my first Junior High book report was over one of those. I have Queen of the Flattops about the Lexington.

[PaxMondo]

I have it right here on the shelf behind me!

Also have ZERO!. It shaped my reading and love of WWII as well.

How about the old Bantam War Books??!! I still have 2-3 here on my shelves as well. Think my first Junior High book report was over one of those. I have Queen of the Flattops about the Lexington.

Got paperback versions of both (Hara and Lex) ... on the shelf too ...

[John 3rd]

Very bored! Did some scenario fixes and don't have much else to do right now...

[PaxMondo]

Very bored! Did some scenario fixes and don't have much else to do right now...

Neverending that ... Totally understand why/how it takes the devs so long to release an update on this monster ...

[John 3rd]

YES! Got a turn...

[PaxMondo]

YES! Got a turn...

Whoo-Hooo!!!

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
January 1, 1942

After a week, a turn finally arrives. No blame here. RL work has totally intruded upon my opponent's life so I understand. Doesn't make it any better but at least I understand.

NoPac
Have two small STF moving towards Umnak and Dutch Harbor. See if they come onto anything.

CenPac
The last major convoys are approaching Midway and Wake. Once they are fully reorganized then we load and prepare to move east.

The carriers in this area will join up tomorrow. CarDiv1 needs to refuel and reprovision then we will move back out.

Following advice given, I form up and begin loading to transport TFs who will then produce MTB's to help protect the landing sites.

EVERY Minelayer I can find is loading up as well. They will help layer the defense as much as possible.

SoPac
Kido Butai finds the lone US DD Benson and sinks her with a strike of 31 Zero and 15 Val.

In a critical mistake, I do not have a nearby AKE for air sorties to be replenished. Will be careful with the CVs until I can fix that. Have two new AKE conversions departing Japan and am bringing the one in Kwajalein down to Luganville to cover for the moment.

Everything is unloaded at this point and I keep striking LaFoa to keep Forts from being built. There is a Brigade about 5 days away. Have decided to pull an ID out of Mindanao and send it to New Caledonia to destroyed the troops at LaFoa. It will begin loading at Cagayan tomorrow.


Got to get to work. Will finish this when I get home...

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