Japanese Intelligence Reports (NO OLIs allowed)

[Xargun]

Alrighty.. I will use this thread to post the behind the scenes ideas and moves I am planning. I trust Oli not to peek so I feel this will be a safe place to bounce ideas off you guys...

Xargun

[Xargun]

It has been 3 weeks since the war against the western Imperialists begun...

My naval losses are higher than expected especially in subs (of which I've lost 6 I-class boats) and the heavy cruiser Kinugasa. A couple of the sub losses were because I didn't move the sub after it was spotted, the rest have been by chance of running into a deadly allied ASW TF - Oli has one in the DEI with like 8 DDs in it, making it very deadly. He also has a couple smaller ones around Hawaii.

The CA Kinugasa was lost in a bold move by me to sieze the Shortlands before Oli could do anything in the Solomons. I sent an NLF to the island on 2 APs with only 2 PGs for protection. I landed and captured the island easily. Behind them followed the Kinugasa, 3 DDs and a base force on more APs. The turn after landing Shrtlands, Oli showed up with 1 CA and 3 CLs (I believe). They hammered my first TF of 2 APs and 2 PGs [all but 1 PG have been lost so far] - the survivors fled 1 hex east. I moved them back the next turn with my second TF as well - thinking the CA and 3 DDs would be enough to protect them. They ran into the Aussie cruiser TF and since they were a Transport TF they fled. The CA and 3 DDs I believe stayed behind to protect the transports which was the only good thing that happened. The APs escaped any harm and managed to offload the entire Base Force safely. The Aussie cruisers hammered on 1 DD and the CA. The CA basically fired 1 salvo from her main guns and nothing else.. The Kinugasa took a good beating from the enemy 6" guns. In the parting shots, my DDs report hits on 2 of the CLs with torpedoes - I believe these are good hits, as the enemy force retreated and hasn't been seen since.

I now have the Shortlands and it is fairly secure - I doubt Oli will risk anything to take it back this early and if he does he will be in for a shock. The compliment of the Shortlands is the 8th NLF, 102nd IJNAF Base Force and (my ace) the 5th Cst Gun Rgt. If he tries anything I hope the CD guns will blast his invasion TF keeping the base safe. I plan on moving more men there but it is a good distance from Truk and I have to stay out of air range from Rabaul.

I have also lost 7 APs (6 1500 size, 1 3000 size). These losses do not worry me as I have plenty of more APs in reserve.


Currently I have a lot of ships in repair ports [only ships with 10+ sys damage]:

Shanghai: 2 APs
Hong Kong: 3 APs (plus I enlarged the repair yards to size 52 total)
Camranh Bay: CS Chiyoda - just repairing float damage before heading home for repairs
Saigon: 1 AP
Kwajalein: 1 AK - repairing float damage before heading home
Kuching: 1 SS - repairing float damage before heading home
Hiroshima: 1 DD
Jaluit: 1 DD - repairing float damage before heading home
Truk: 1 PG
Shortlands: 1 PG - trying to repair float damage before heading home
Osaka: 3 APs

I have 2 AKs heading to Truk for flooding repairs
I also have 1 AP heading to Nagasaki for general repairs

Of all the ships in actual repair yards I expect them all to return to duty within a month. Once CS Chiyoda makes it to a repair yard she should take around a month to repair (22 damage). DD Hayate (at Jaluit) is waiting in the large port for flooding to be repaired, then will slowly make her way back to Japan for major repairs (currently has 71 sys damage). PG Choan Maru (Shortlands) is not expected to stay afloat much longer, but I hope (97 sys, 83 flt).

I am moving a division of troops into Manilla in the next turn or two to cut off any escape from Clark Field. I am also moving a second division into Naga to finish off the 2 PI Divisions and BFs there. Troops from Lingayen are taking the long way around to arrive in Clark Field to avoid the river crossing. I have also pushed all PI forces in the north to the small base along the coast (Tuego - something or other). I have several combat units approaching to quell this last bastion of enemy troops in the north.

The KB was split after leaving PH. 3 CVs are now NE of the Solomons playing overwatch for the rest of the supplies/fuel/troops landing on Shortlands. Those CVs are now heading back to Truk for a few days rest and resupply. Then they will either support further landings in the area, or head for Tarawa to support the upcoming invasion of Canton.

2 CVs are heading back east towards Hawaii. I am taking a gamble here. I am moving them between Pearl and the West Coast in an attempt to catch some ASW DDs out playing as well as some possible PH victims despite what Oli said about them being on the west coast already.

The last CV is heading west to Saigon, where she will join up with the baby KB to support operations in the DEI - namely the invasion of western Borneo - which is underway now.

Currently I have 2 plans in motion right now. The first is to slowly expand in the Solomons and maybe grab Guadalcanal before Oli does. It will make a nice airbase for my Nells/Betties to harrass shipping from. The second is the invasion of Canton Island. It will take place in mid January, as soon as the troops have sufficiently prepared for it. Currently I have 2-3 Naval Guard units and 2-3 SNLFs assigned to the invasion. I am bringing overwhelming firepower so I can take the base quickly.

I have shipped out numerous BFs from Tokyo and Japan to my forward locations - Palau, Kwajalein, Truk, Saigon. Usually I wait til these units fillout to ship them off, but I'm not waiting this game. I want them in place quickly so they can build airfields and forts.

My first load of resources from China arrived and successfully unloaded in Nagasaki. Also my first TF of oil left Brunei and is heading for Japan. Only 27,000 units of oil, but that is enough for Japan to run for almost 3 days. I don't need the oil yet, but I don't want it stockpiling up at bases.

Thats it for now. If you have any questions please post in here if you want an answer... and offer any advice freely as well.

Xargun

[Speedysteve]

Hi Xarg,

Just a quick thought on the 2 CV's in the East Pacific. Isn't it a bit risky? I mean if he has all of his CV's toegther they would overpower yours if they bumped into each other I would have thought.

Regards,

Steven

[Xargun]

ORIGINAL: Speedy

Hi Xarg,

Just a quick thought on the 2 CV's in the East Pacific. Isn't it a bit risky? I mean if he has all of his CV's toegther they would overpower yours if they bumped into each other I would have thought.

Regards,

Steven

He only has 2 CVs right now.. I sunk one at PH during the first week of the war. And I doubt he has his CVs out and about PH.. Either in port on the west coast or somewhere around Noumea is my guess.

Any other thoughts ??

Xargun

[Xargun]

I am preparing an end of month report with information from the first month of the war for your comments [:'(] Should have it ready over the next couple days.

Xargun

[Mike Solli]

Whenever I invade I have air support. I like to have Zeros and Nells/Bettys. Have you taken Rabaul? You'll need it and have to upgrade the airfield to level 4 as soon as possible. Do that and station 2-3 Zero daitai and 2-3 Nell/Betty daitai in Rabaul, and you'll be able keep the Allied navy 11 hexes away from there for a couple of months while you clean out the area. Also base your Ro class subs out of Rabaul and they can clean up on cripples. Rabaul is easy to support logistically from Truk and regular supply convoys to Truk will keep it supplied. Rotate your ground units from the Solomons to Truk to alleviate the malaria problems and you should be able to cause the Allied some major grief for quite a while. As the Allied strength grows, you'll need more air units, but with conservative use of your air power, your air strength will actually grow. Using Mogami's training method, you can also train your replacements.

[Mike Solli]

Rabaul can be a tough nut to crack. Help it along by sending 4-6 BBs from Japan to Truk and team them up with about 4 CAs and some escorts to bombard Rabaul prior to invading it. Don't forget a CVL or two (I like to use Ryujo) for some close air support . Move your two AEs from Japan south and take either Kavieng or Admiralty Is. Station the AEs in one of those two bases to resupply your bombardment group. You'll get many more bombardments a lot quicker and take Rabaul more quickly.