Speedy vs Swift - Jap perspective. Fight to the death

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

It seems swift has abandoned Batavia due to my air pressure. Good good. Fewer planes to oppose my landings in the future.

Since the land operations are taking time but also don't require the navy to help it leaves my carriers free. I have hatched upon a minor operation for mini KB \along with a bombardment group formed around the powerful battleships of Nagato and Mutsu. I am going to bombard Darwin with Nagato and Mutsu whilst mini-KB will serach for any TF's and bomb the port if no targets are found.

[Speedysteve]

Here's what I mean with Burma. It seems swift has few defences in Burma. In captivity already are the forces that defended Moulmein and Rangoon.

I know I only have 2 divisions there but i'm thinking of pushing into India if I can.

What do you think?

[Speedysteve]

Operation Darwin -

Captain Izawa was on the bridge at the moment of impact. It was unexpected and caused a tremendous explosion on the rear of th flight deck. CVL Shoho was under attack from what was presumably medium bombers from Darwin. Izawa never expected this. The mission as simple. Proceed to within 240 miles of Darwin launch all Kates to attack the port. 1/2 the Zero's would protect the bombers, the other half the carriers.

Things had gone wrong with this mission form the start of the day. Initially a few of the Kates engines would not start so the attack was delayed by 30 minutes and then when all the bombers were in the sky 1/3 of them lost formation amongst the clouds and failed to reach the target. Accordingly the rest of the formation fearing enemy attack frittered away home.

Whilst this force was in the air 12 Hudsons escorted by 12 Australian Wirraways found mini-KB and attacked! There were 28 Zero's on CAP flying at 10,000 feet. They quicckly saw the attackers and dived to 8,000 feet. The Zero's were far superior to the Wirraways and 5 og them were quickly splashing into the sea. The CAP then quickly torer into the bombers shooting down five. Unfortunately the other 7 had rached release point and low and behold a 250lb GP bomb penetrated Shoho's flight deck. Damage 28/9/12.

Mini- KB will retire to Kendari. Nagato and Mutsu will attempt to shell the sh*t out of Darwin tomorrow night.

Burma -

LGEN S Yamamoto and his 2 divisions (33rd and 55th) had had a hard days marching. They were starting to enter a deep and heavily wooded landscape. Each mile further north meant more and more humid conditions. The plan was to march to Pagan quickly wipe out any resistance and then force march 60 miles to the east to attack from the flank the remnants of the BFF brigade which they had repulsed out of Taung Gyi nearly a week ago. From there the road to Mandalay would be open!

By dusk both divisions had reached the outskirts of Pagan. It was deserted. Not a single Allied Soldier in sight. Magnificent! Yamamoto wary of enterting an 'enemy' settlement at night ordered both divisions to rest fro the nigth and tomorrow they would occupy Pagan. GHQ will be happy that the resource production site will soon be in Imperial hands...........

[Sharkosaurus rex]

Don't forget that Darwin has 2x9.2CD guns and about 10x6inCD too. Also a few extra 6CD could have moved to Darwin from Wyndam and Derby, Broome.

[Speedysteve]

Good point Sharky. Hadn't thought of the guns! Just thought ah Nagato and Mutsu will be fine. They will be but I also have my cruisers set to bombard (not my DD's tho). Ca's should be fine but I also have Kitakami in there. Fingers crossed she makes it! Will find out tonight.

Thanks for the comments.

Do you prefer the above style opposed to CR report only?

Steven

[Sharkosaurus rex]

You'll be right- just a few dents. That shouldn't be able to fire many shots- that's the real killer with CD.

The biggest threat from Darwin at this stage of the war is the Australian Beaufort IX. Some of the Hudson units could have been converted by now and also 1-2 arrive as re-inforcements in Sydney. But how many planes can be support at Darwin is depended on your opponent. All of his planes will be on alert now.

Your AAR is good. They all take heaps of time. That the bad part.

[Speedysteve]

Shoho found out last turn that at present only Hudsons and Wirraways are present. Of course swift may have brought in some Forts last night. If not I should be fine from the air.

[Sharkosaurus rex]

Your BB and CA should be save enough from his B17s.
Because of the shorter range of the Beaufort IX- he might have had them on training/ASW but now he knows your closer they could have their mission changed.

How are your global supplies going? Are you still over 2mill? Or is this for your eyes only? Do you accelerate any ship production? AR, MLE, CV? (I like to accel the CV that are outside the normal production cost because you get the same benefit but at half the cost.) I think these things are what some people my like to read about. Also how is your minefield laying campaign going? Any heroic ML dropped their mines on PagoPago yet?

[Speedysteve]

Hi Sharky,

Sorry when I said Forts I meant Beauforts.

I'll look in to production figures tonight. I have accelerated the following off the top of my head:

CV Junyo.
CV Hiyo.
CVL Ryuho.

Once they are done I will accelerate CV Taiho + Unryu class if poss.

I have kept CV Shinano producing.

I have also accelerated any TK's and CVE's due within 6 months.

I have converted 10 AK's into AR's, a couple into AS's and a couple into MLE's.

I love minelaying subs (I-121 - I-124) but 2 of them got sunk in the opening days of the war inbetween Singapore and Java [:(] The other 2 laid mines at Johnston Island and have since then gone on a regular war patrol. One of them found an AK and fired a spread of fish at her which unfortunately missed. When they reach bingo fuel I will send them to Truk (which should be size 9 harbour by then) to re-stock with mines and these 2 will be used EXCLUSIVELY for mining operations.

Sub operations -

I have taken 2 policies since the start of the war.

1. SRA. Subs were placed in choke points and possible escape routes from SRA. The performed below par in this role with a few of rthem being sunk in the choke points. One notable success was I-157 (I believe) tagged Reulse with 2 fish outside Batavia harbour. Next day a patrolling MSW was blown out of the water by the same sub [:)]. Since most of the SRA has been taken and nearly ALL Allied hsips have left the area the subs have moved slightly further afield - 1 x 180 miles north of Darwin, 1 x 180 miles north of Derby. 3 in Bay of Bengal.

2. Main sub area has been focussed in 3 barriers.

a.) Inbetween PH and SF. This line has been FANTASTIC. Hard to say for certain but I believe I have sunk 2 x TK, 3 x AK, 1 x AS and hit at least another 2-3 ships. All for having 1 sub damaged - I-174 moving back to Kwajalein (90 flt might sink).

b.) East of PH to locate convoys going to South Pacific. Not as productive but a much bigger ara for convoys to disappear. Spotted 2 convoys and sank an AK.

c.) A rough area near Canton/Palmyra/Christmas Island. No sinking or hits AFAIK but did spot at least 1 if not 2 convoys and maybe even a warship TF heading to the South Pacific.

When I have cleared the SRA I may move my sub groups again. We'll see if swift reacts to anything. At present I feel like I would like to take Wake Island. I don't like it in Allied hands. Like a thorn in my side able to go to Marcus, Mariana's or Marshall's. Secondly, I would like to get PM and if possible the limit of my plans may be New Caledonia.

I'll get more production figures later tonight.

[Tom Hunter]

What you can't see in India can hurt you, don't assume that the Calcutta-Dacca area is empty just because you don't see anything there.

If you try to advance from Burma into North India your carrying supply over muddly mountain tracks, and the Brits are bringing it along railroad tracks. That means you lose.

On the other hand surrounding and destroying British units in Burma is a good policy because then they don't come back to kill you in the later part of 1942. If you don't shoot the Brits up enough they may use a combination of rested survivors and abundant airpower to come back at you much earlier than they did historically.

In the real war the British suffered major defeats because of unrealistic assumptions about Japanese capabilities, bad planning and intervention by Churchill. For example they unloaded the 18th Division into Singapore just in time for it to be captured. Its very easy for an Allied player to avoid these mistakes, and that makes the Brits a more serious threat to Japan than they were in the real war.

[Speedysteve]

Thanks for the advice Tom. Taken on board. Good points. I know of some units i've definitely taken -

The 2 brigades defending Moulmein (they start 120 miles NE of that I believe.)

The forces defending Rangoon. I surrounded and cut off those as well.

There are 2 brigades south of Taung Gyi that i've cut off (but not destroyed)

I've just taken Pagan and am advancing on Mandalay. Rather than go up the rail and across the river DIRECTLY into Mandalay i'm planning on crossing 60 miles west of Mandalay and the nadvancing towards it on the road. That way i'll avoid the river shock attack. Only thing I believe to be in Mandalay is a battered BFF Brigade and a couple of RAF Base Forces.

I've attached my current supply situation. What do you guys think? I haven't expanded a lot in Japan only the Armaments factories that start at a size of 0, converted useless engines to useful ones (Nakajima's I believe), Nate's to Oscar 1's and the other factory to Tony's.

I have kept a steady stream of Resource and Oil moving from the SRA to Japan. Some good and bad points here:

Good:

Palembang
Brunei
Miri
Tarakan
Balikpapan

Taken at full production capacity.

Bad:

Kuala Lumpur
Amboina
Clark Field

Taken at very low production potential

P.S. The bombardment of Darwin went off fine. Caused 450 casualties and destroyed 4 planes on the ground. Only received 2 light caliber hits on Haguro.

[Tom Hunter]

I've never played Japan, so I really can't provide intelligent comment on production.

My comments about Burma are based on my knowledge of British capabilities, and I have played them 4 times, so I think I have pretty good feel for them.

[Speedysteve]

I understand and once more thanks for your comments. I will accordingly not rush head long past Mandalay's rail (take Myitkina and that will be all for now). I will await further forces to provide support, cover, flanking etc. These will come from Singapore's future victors. Then we'll see.

I don't at present plan to wipe out India. If forces permit I would like to take New Caledonia and cut Australia from America. That operation will not be possible I would say until mid 42 (4 months time.) Since I need to take Manlia/Singapore - hopefully by end of Feb, Java - by mid April. At same time I will use IJN + divisions to take Wake back. By that time I will hopefully be in a position to move in the South Pacific.

Boy I miss those 2 warping divisions!

Japanese players - a feasible time table?

Steven

[Nikademus]

feasible but you cant really cut off Oz, just lengthen the supply line via New Zealand

[Speedysteve]

Agreed. From Noumea KB could have nice hunting grounds [8D]

[Nikademus]

yes though in that case a central drive would be recommended. I tend to feel that advancing ever farther into the Pacific only serves to increase Japan's vulnerability.

[Speedysteve]

The problem is though whatever Japan does they are doomed!

If I stay back to Guadalcanal as maximum advance. Who cares. The Allies will steamroller whatever. My theory for getting New Caledonia is that swift might actually worry about Australia and attempt to be too aggressive too early.

[Tom Hunter]

Unfortunately Hoepner has vansihed while on vacation, but he did some interesting things to mc3744 in the Central Pacific.

I'm becoming more and more sceptical of conventional wisdom in many aspects of this game, and one of them is the -If Japan takes a lot, she can't defend it- school. Because, after all, if Japan only takes a little she can't defend that against and enemy with 19 CVs, thousands of planes, 20+ BBs and nuclear weapons.

I don't think the question is how much or how little Japan grabs, but rather how many casualties Japan receives and inflicts. That is why I think Hoepners moves are interesting, he took a chunk of the Central Pacific and in the process destroyed more than 2 (if memory is correct) US divisions, with no major losses to himself.

That has two effects, it slows the US counter attacks, because those division are not there any more, and it scores a lot of victory points for Japan.

Of course if you opponent gets too aggressive too early you may get an opportunity to smash him up, but you may be able to create an opportunity to smash your opponent if you do the right things.

I don't think there are hard and fast rules to how to play the game, I think the rules of how to play should be consistent with your strategy.

[Speedysteve]

A glorious and sad day for the Empire after yesterday relatively quiet day.

Excellent news in China! It appears the Chinese have been outwitted! A massive army had been moved to Homan in the central-north of the country and concurrently a force of 5 brigades moved to within 60 miles of the pivotal city of Changsha further south. The Chinese reated violently to this and my force was suddenly faced by 4 chinese Corps. The greater skill of our men preevented the enemy from pushing us back but at the same time prevetned the brigades fromn advancing on Changsha.

Then a week ago GHQ hit upon a plan to moved on Changsha from the north-east whilst attnetion was diverted further south. 4 divisions, engineers and artillery battalions were massed in Wuhan and reached Changsha city itself 3 days ago. The enemy seemed surprised and only 3 poorly equipped divisions faced out forces. The commanders on the scene were orderd to be aggressive and to probe the enemy for weak spots. For 2 days the men laboured with artillery duels and scouting actions and then a brigade commander noticed the north wets of the city to be relatively unprotected! Surely not! further reon proved this to be correct. Incredible! on the 11th of February the mai nattack went in with forces pinning the defenders to the east and south shilst 2 divisions moved into the vacant north west side of the city. By midday the Chinese began rto recognise that the city had been extensivly penetrated and the defendersa began to withdraw to the west leaving an extensive netowrk of indutry and production behind untouched! The enemyh was pushed out of Changsha. A glorious victory!



Onto the bad news........

The heroic crew of I-174 succumbed to the flooding. The crew had battled for over 2 weeks to keep the boat from sinking. The bow of the boat was severely damaged by 2 DC's dropped by the destroyer Litchfield 480 miles north east of Pearl Harbour. The crew immediately locked tight all bow compartments and endured incredible hardships living in and maintaining he boat from the central and stern quarters. She appeared to be stabilised and was heading back to Kwajalein for emergency repairs. Unfortunately GHQ lost contact with the boat near Johnston Island. A tragic loss of a brave and heroic crew.

[Speedysteve]

Today marked the end of one of the hardest fought battles of the war so far. LGen Homma formally accepted the surrnder of the Allied forces defending Manila which inlcuded indigenous people and American soldiers.

The battle had lasted for 3 weeks with no let up.

The deciding facotrs were the Japanese air support which was relentless and always on call to break up any Allied threat. My men also had ample supplies and living quarters which cannot be said for the Allies. Over the past week the Allied showed a marked lack of endurance and the lack of food and ammuniation has forced them to capitulate today.

20,000 Allied soldiers were marched into captivity.......

Below is a phot from one of the last areas of fighting, the Manila Legislative Building.