This is my viewpoint on a 2 day turn cycle Scenario 15 game between myself as Japan and Alikchi as the Allies.
More will follow when I have some time, including screenshots.
For now, a very brief summary:-
China: Kicking butt
PI: Slow going but not a problem
Malaya: Nearly all taken
DEI: Slow going, the enemy is fighting back! Problematic
NG/Solomons: Slow going (deliberately)
Gilberts: All taken
I have no intention of advancing further in this area for the moment. My primary objective has been obtained: Changsha is a) the second biggest supply producer in China and b) a large airbase from which Sally Force can flatten the industry at Chungking.
I intend to form a line Admiralty Islands - Emirau Island - Kavieng - Rabaul - Green Island of multiple redundant Betty bases. The idea being to tempt the Allies into moving forward before they are really strong enough ...
Pic shows the fleet in Kwajalein just prior to setting out.
First will be a landing on Baker Island (undefended) then we shall pay a serious visit to Canton Island. Alikchi is building this base up as fast as he can - there are at least 4 fighter groups there already. Recon also shows a "CV" in harbour, I'm doubtful about that though.
Regardless of what's actually there we shall leave the place a pile of rubbled coral, and if the US carriers should try and intervene so much the better [;)]
Tactics
My carriers are split into 2 groups of 3, both with just over 200 planes. This should reduce the chances of an un-coordinated attack to less than 1%. Adms Nagumo and Yamaguchi are in command. For target preparation I have 6 BBs (4 Kongos + 2 Mutsus) in the able hands of Adm Hashimoto. This bombardment group will go in first, initially at night, to be followed up by carrier strikes during the day.
Looking pretty good overall (I think ...). I keep fiddling with ship building but can't seem to find an equilibrium. Shedloads of ARs have been ordered.
R & D is turned off for all planes except those that arrive within the next 6 months or so. Dinah and Topsy (!) production have been increased, Nates have been stopped.
Operation Flagellate is on its way and has not thus far been spotted - Baker Island should fall this turn. There are lots of ships around Canton Island (APs, DDs etc.) and the "CV" has disappeared from the harbour. I am guessing this is just reinforcement/supply activity. It would be somewhat ironic if the USN went for Baker Island at the same time as me.
Elsewhere my opponent has promised an event at Amboina. A bombardment perhaps? After the last attempt which resulted in the Pennsylvania receiving three torpedoes I would have thought not. The Betties are on full alert anyway.
Well, Baker Island is ours. I have decided to cancel the bombardment of Canton Island though. It's just not worth it for what would amount to a delay of about a week in the US advance through the Central Pacific. Also I am beginning to feel the need for extra help in the DEI region where, as the title says, I have been dithering [:)]
Speaking of which, the promised Amboina event turned out to be just air attacks on the airfield. OK so some of these came from the Lex/Enterprise combo ... Result was 9 planes destroyed on the ground (Zeros & Betties) for a cost of 10 SBDs and 8 LB-30 Liberators. I'll take that, but it would have been even better if the Betties had struck back. Clouds stopped 'em though [:(] An additional 27 Betties plus c.60 high experience Anns (superb anti-shipping planes) have been flown in for next turn. On the off chance that a counter-invasion is coming I have diverted the three CVLs from Palau at top speed as well.
Meanwhile, far away in Burma, Pagan became a size 2 airfield this turn. Oscars & Sonias will start reducing the airbase at Mandalay from next turn. Once we have eradicated the planes, stopped the building of fort and gotten a few supply hits the 33rd & 55th Divisions will move over the river in preparation for the assault. Or at least that's the plan ... [;)]
Or more accurately, an addition to the existing plan.
I had not up until now considered attempting to hold Lae as an airbase. This was based on my UV experience where the base is basically completely untenable right from the word go.
However ... in WitP there are mitigating factors:
1) PM only starts at size 3 airfield.
2) Japan has vastly more re-deployable assets.
3) IJA pilots are not completely useless.
So, I have decided to allocate the task of PM-suppression to the IJA air force flying out Lae. OK, so I have yet to actually take the place yet, but this should happen within the next few turns (Maizuru 4th SNLF will be fast transported from Rabaul). Engineers will follow to build the airfield to size 4. Once done IJA long-range fighters (Oscars/Tojos) and 100+ level bombers (Lilies/Sallies) will be installed. Port Moresby will then be bombed ... Lae will be bombed back ... And so on ...
Hopefully this will delay the onset of any offensive out of New Guinea. As a desirable side-effect, if the Allied air effort is concentrated on reducing Lae it may allow Rabaul prolonged operation as an anti-shipping airbase. Not to mention allowing more time to build the backup bases at Admiralty Islands, Kavieng etc.
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This plan illustrates some of my fundamental "WitP doctrines":
a) Nells & Betties are anti-shipping weapons. They never bomb airfields, only Naval Attack or occasionally Port Attack (for the 800kg bombs, only if high value targets present).
b) Lilies, Sallies, Helens & Peggies are base flatteners. They only ever do Airfield Attack or Port Attack (or occasionally City Attack).
c) Due to their small bombloads, IJA level bombers must be massed to be useful. 100+ bombers at a base at least.
Japan eventually gets about 400-500 IJA level bombers. They have four tasks:
a) Airfield suppression in Burma/India - keep the Brits at bay, essential.
b) Airfield suppression in SWPAC/SOPAC - keep the US/Aussies at bay, essential.
c) Airfield suppression in China - keep the US at bay (if they are there), essential.
d) Destruction of China industry - stop the Chinese going on the offensive by reducing their supply-making power. This is a luxury which can only be afforded when tasks a), b) & c) are going well.
