Hairy Asian Experiences - GreyJoy (J) vs. Q-Ball (A)

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

GJ, you want another good dose of encouragement?

Go back and read Cuttlefish's AAR for his game against Q-Ball.  If I remember correctly, Q-Ball invaded Timor hugely in October of '42.  By the end of '42, the wheels had come off for Japan (including a disastrous carrier battle near Ceram).

Son, compared to the Japanese in that game, you are standing in high cotton (that's a good thing if you're a southerner who plants cotton but doesn't have to get down in the dirt and work it).

Thanks Dan. I should be doing better, but i know, with modesty, that i could also be doing very worse. So yes, i love the encouragements...keep them coming[:D]

[Cribtop]

CR read my mind. The QBall vs Cuttlefish game was what I was thinking of in making my recommendation. I'd still push to base KB even closer to the front than Babel. Can you park at Manado without detection?

[GreyJoy]

Menado is infested by subs. However i've placed several LBA Vals and Kates group between Kendari and Menado, hoping that those guys will be spotted and identified by his subs so to make him think i'm closer than what i actually am... he may be forced to keep extra cautions [:)]
 
Dec 3 1942
nothing to report except for 166 ships spotted at Perth, along with several cruisers....mmmmmmm[8|]

[GreyJoy]

Air HQ and a CD unit are leaving Tokyo today to be redirected to Ambon. Gotta get ready asap! 2 Garrisons arrived at Kendari today and will be sent to Tabernafe and Christmas I.O., while 2 more base forces are getting to Lautem and to Ambon

[GreyJoy]

Dec 04, 42

In China we collected 2 more bloody noses, always in the same hexes (near Kunming and near Kienko). I'm now trying to flank those positions...but i have not many hopes... In the plains the divisions are finally arriving and my flanks are now secure...time is near now for a general offensive to cut Chungking from the rest of the plains.


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Ground combat at 80,40 (near Kienko)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 28340 troops, 416 guns, 226 vehicles, Assault Value = 776

Defending force 27694 troops, 169 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 595

Japanese adjusted assault: 659

Allied adjusted defense: 976

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1108 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 79 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 11 (1 destroyed, 10 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
482 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 43 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled

Assaulting units:
37th Division
26th Division
9th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
1st Mortar Battalion
14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
Botanko Hvy Gun Regiment
Tonei Hvy Gun Regiment
1st Army
4th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
5th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
40th Chinese Corps
41st Chinese Corps
14th Chinese Corps
64th Chinese Corps


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at 71,48 (near Kunming)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 16901 troops, 232 guns, 157 vehicles, Assault Value = 452

Defending force 15304 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 443

Japanese adjusted assault: 303

Allied adjusted defense: 910

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 3

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1228 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 178 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Guns lost 16 (3 destroyed, 13 disabled)
Vehicles lost 31 (2 destroyed, 29 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
333 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 29 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
22nd Division
60th/B Division
11th Army
20th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Hvy.Artillery Regiment
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
1st Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
7th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
93rd Chinese Corps
65th Chinese Corps
79th Chinese/B Corps
4th War Area
9th Group Army
34th Separate Brigade
79th Chinese/C Corps



In the DEI his subs are having some good days. 4 ships sunk in the last 5 days...[:@]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Kendari at 70,106

Japanese Ships
xAK Toko Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
E Saga
PB Yasushima Maru
PB Hakka Maru
xAP Miike Maru
xAP Suwa Maru
xAP Husimi Maru
xAK Hino Maru #3
xAK Terushima Maru
xAK Tarushima Maru
xAK Tenryu Maru
DD Kiku
E Hachijo
PB Bisaku Maru

Allied Ships
SS KIX, hits 3






In Oz, several BBs are spotted at Port Hedland...i can bet his CVs are very close now, even if my Glens, Mavis and Emilies haven't spotted them yet!

More planes are arriving in Southern DEI. We're getting ready

[crsutton]

Don't go so hard on yourself. Even scen#2 stock is very hard for the Japanese player to win vs a competent Allied player. This mod is made to put you under much more historical restraints. From what I see it is very tough for the Japanese player.

Once again, the Allied player need only "not lose his head" and be patient. This game is hard to lose if you follow that path-no matter the scenario.

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: crsutton

Don't go so hard on yourself. Even scen#2 stock is very hard for the Japanese player to win vs a competent Allied player. This mod is made to put you under much more historical restraints. From what I see it is very tough for the Japanese player.

Once again, the Allied player need only "not lose his head" and be patient. This game is hard to lose if you follow that path-no matter the scenario.

Thanks Crsutton, but don't worry, i'm not being hard on myself. As i said, i do like how i am performing, especially considering this is my very first attempt with Japan.
The great help given my by Micheal (NY59) during the first turns was priceless cause it gave me the chance not to screw up immediately my economy, which is now running pretty smooth considering the Mod we're playing.
Brad has been very smart not to risk anything and, with some insight, i know am happy not to have risked too much at the beginning...with an opponent like that, it would have been a suicide for me and now my Empire would be in tatters...while it's still fighting and it's getting ready to fight till the very end.

Holding the line in Burma and getting some pretty decent results in China, having kept the KB intact, is somehow a great achievement for me now that we're reaching the first year of war. 1943 will be tough, i know, but not as tougher that if i had risked and lost a carrier battle or a failed invasion early on.

[GreyJoy]

Dec 5 1942
 
Nothing interesting to report. Usual bombings in China and in Burma, while the naval activity of the enemy is raising in the Gulf of Carpentaria and near Exmouth. A BIG convoy containing several AP/AKs, AOs, TKs and various support ships has been spotted near Tasmania...going west. This means only one thing for me: the next big leap will be done from North Western Australia and not from the Gulf of Carpentaria.
We're sending a garrison to Dempassar and to Bali in order to cover the key islands south of Java. Christmas I.O. will be reinforced very soon and so will be Roti (the island one hex west of Koepang).
 
I'm waiting to buy out a regiment of the 68th Div which is now waiting at Shangai to be loaded... damned, PPs are never enough... 800 PPs for a tiny regiment [:@][:@][:@][:@]
 
Now between Sosarbaja, Timor and Ambon we have 200 Zeros, 50 Tojos, 100 between Kates and Vals and 100 Netties, plus some 60 Nicks for Koepang's defence against 4Es.
3 Air HQs are already present in the area, along with 2 Army HQs, 2 Divisions, 2 Bdes and several Naval Guard units. Artillery and support units are being sent from Singapore, along with some AKEs, AGs, ADs, ASs and CMs...
Makassar already has 110k fuel. 130k fuel are present at Kendari, 60k at Ambon and more 40k at Kopeang. A fat AO TF is waiting north of Ambon.
 
I think we're - almost- ready here.
 
Darwin, Tennant's creek and Daily waters are still in my hands, even if they'll fall at the very first attack

[GreyJoy]

R&D:
The Judy mk3 is advancing at 8 R&D points per day! [:D]
N1K1 is advancing at 6 R&D points per day...should be available by the end of Feb 43 [8D]
Jack should arrive by April 43
Tojo IIc will be available in numbers by the second half of 1943
 
I'm almost ready to upgrade the first two groups of CV-Vals into Judy1... but i'm scared...to upgrade them i'd need to move to a bigger base...and that would mean to risk of being out of position when the enemy arrives...[&:]
 
Can't wait to upgrade some of my LBA zero groups into Georges[&o]
 

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

About the R&D:

I need some advices here guys.

The Jack. I like to have this model and to use it, backed up with George, in order to use it's superior climb rate (and also to give some variety to my online models).
The first version of the Jack, however, arrives in May/43 and it has a service rating of 3, just like the first George. I was thinking of skipping immediately the first model, in favour of the second one that comes in mid 44...so to concentrate for having it by late 43, while the second model of the George will arrive somewhere in early 44, thus having a service 2 Navy fighters a bit before the arrival of the second variant of the George.
But the second Jack is even slower than the second George and with less mvr and a little less powerfull weapon package... What should i do? Live with the first Jack and simply don't care about the second version, waiting for the second George, or concentrate in having ASAP a service rating-2 Navy fighter? (consider that i have only 3 factories researching the Jack line, so it's all or nothing)

Trying to catch up after 2 weeks of no time to read! If I were you I would not wait even a second extra to get a replacement for the Zero. By mid 43 the Zero is dangerously outclassed by Corsairs, Hellcats and P38s. Although neither the George or the Jack has impressed me (so far) they are far better then the Zero. At least they can deal with most allied fighters of the time. At least in my game I feel the Zero has been struggling for quiet some time!

In autumn 43 I still fear the Tojos more then anything else.

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

About the R&D:

I need some advices here guys.

The Jack. I like to have this model and to use it, backed up with George, in order to use it's superior climb rate (and also to give some variety to my online models).
The first version of the Jack, however, arrives in May/43 and it has a service rating of 3, just like the first George. I was thinking of skipping immediately the first model, in favour of the second one that comes in mid 44...so to concentrate for having it by late 43, while the second model of the George will arrive somewhere in early 44, thus having a service 2 Navy fighters a bit before the arrival of the second variant of the George.
But the second Jack is even slower than the second George and with less mvr and a little less powerfull weapon package... What should i do? Live with the first Jack and simply don't care about the second version, waiting for the second George, or concentrate in having ASAP a service rating-2 Navy fighter? (consider that i have only 3 factories researching the Jack line, so it's all or nothing)

Trying to catch up after 2 weeks of no time to read! If I were you I would not wait even a second extra to get a replacement for the Zero. By mid 43 the Zero is dangerously outclassed by Corsairs, Hellcats and P38s. Although neither the George or the Jack has impressed me (so far) they are far better then the Zero. At least they can deal with most allied fighters of the time. At least in my game I feel the Zero has been struggling for quiet some time!

In autumn 43 I still fear the Tojos more then anything else.

I know Joc... but the zeros will be needed anyway. Georges and Jacks are both, in their first versions, a service 3 plane. That, added with the lack of AS suffered by Japan in this mod, will force me to use them ONLY in big bases with lots of AS support (so to say, Rabaul, Koepang, Rangoon, Mandalay, Sosarbaja etc), while the first line bases will be left to service 1 fighters mainly. Tojos alone won't have the numbers to hold the line from Burma to Southern DEI to SOPAC. they need to be backed up by Zeros (using the Tojos at high alt and the zeros between 15k and 20k)... that's how i see it.
So yes, Georges will be important, but the zeros will have their role for the rest of the war

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

About the R&D:

I need some advices here guys.

The Jack. I like to have this model and to use it, backed up with George, in order to use it's superior climb rate (and also to give some variety to my online models).
The first version of the Jack, however, arrives in May/43 and it has a service rating of 3, just like the first George. I was thinking of skipping immediately the first model, in favour of the second one that comes in mid 44...so to concentrate for having it by late 43, while the second model of the George will arrive somewhere in early 44, thus having a service 2 Navy fighters a bit before the arrival of the second variant of the George.
But the second Jack is even slower than the second George and with less mvr and a little less powerfull weapon package... What should i do? Live with the first Jack and simply don't care about the second version, waiting for the second George, or concentrate in having ASAP a service rating-2 Navy fighter? (consider that i have only 3 factories researching the Jack line, so it's all or nothing)

Trying to catch up after 2 weeks of no time to read! If I were you I would not wait even a second extra to get a replacement for the Zero. By mid 43 the Zero is dangerously outclassed by Corsairs, Hellcats and P38s. Although neither the George or the Jack has impressed me (so far) they are far better then the Zero. At least they can deal with most allied fighters of the time. At least in my game I feel the Zero has been struggling for quiet some time!

In autumn 43 I still fear the Tojos more then anything else.

I know Joc... but the zeros will be needed anyway. Georges and Jacks are both, in their first versions, a service 3 plane. That, added with the lack of AS suffered by Japan in this mod, will force me to use them ONLY in big bases with lots of AS support (so to say, Rabaul, Koepang, Rangoon, Mandalay, Sosarbaja etc), while the first line bases will be left to service 1 fighters mainly. Tojos alone won't have the numbers to hold the line from Burma to Southern DEI to SOPAC. they need to be backed up by Zeros (using the Tojos at high alt and the zeros between 15k and 20k)... that's how i see it.
So yes, Georges will be important, but the zeros will have their role for the rest of the war

We both have similar vision of fighters use in war.
Japanese player just cant switch only to George and Frank in some point of game.
Because of SR and lack of AV support he is forced to use combination of early war planes like Tojo and Zero with Frank and George.
Also we have to remember that this allow Japan to be more flexible with engine production also etc.

And now CAP settings.
Haw Are You setting You CAP? I am usually layering it by plane type. So better planes are flying higher. Also i think gap between layers cant be to big. I usually trying to have layer every 2-3k ft.
In Last few battles i have decided to skip high CAP because I have found that having most of planes around 15-20k and some units at 31k is not best solution. High flying cap is usually out of position to fight and is taking high fatigue.
Also planes like Tojo with 3800 climbing rate when having radar support are usually climbing above enemy attitude before sweep arrive so they will still dive on enemy after first bloody round when enemy is diving (usually they dive on planes from lower layers)

[GreyJoy]

Hi Koniu.
Usually for CAP i tend to place zeros and oscars between 12 and 20k, while the Tojos stay between 25 and 31k, in order to prevent the high alt sweeps. later in the game, when the enemy's planes max altitude performances will grow better (especially with the P47s) i'll place my CAP even lower.
 
To counter the fatigue levels i tendo to keep my CAP at 0 range, with always 10% on rest and not more than 30% on constant CAP. With these settings, even the Tojos operating at 31k feet never get more than 10% of fatigue (obviously all the squadrons have the pilots numbers maxed out).
 
 

[GreyJoy]

Dec 6,7 1942


So we've reached the fatal date. One year of war...FUGA TEMPORUM eh?!

It's confirmed that most of the allied fleet is moving from Sydney to Perth-Exmouth. 2 more big convoys are spotted on that route, containing every kind of ship (AO,TKs, AGs, AKEs, ASs, ADs etc etc etc)...

BUT enemy CVs are finally sighted near Noumea and a strong BB TF is confirmed around Townsville. Moreover, in the last two days, 160 4Es plastered for two days in a row WoodWark Island (East of Milne Bay).... what does this mean? Why he wants to shut down that AF? He wants to land at Mylne Bay? And if so, why all those ships (several BBs spotted near Perth too) are moving right to the other side of the continent?

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

Dec 6,7 1942


So we've reached the fatal date. One year of war...FUGA TEMPORUM eh?!

It's confirmed that most of the allied fleet is moving from Sydney to Perth-Exmouth. 2 more big convoys are spotted on that route, containing every kind of ship (AO,TKs, AGs, AKEs, ASs, ADs etc etc etc)...

BUT enemy CVs are finally sighted near Noumea and a strong BB TF is confirmed around Townsville. Moreover, in the last two days, 160 4Es plastered for two days in a row WoodWark Island (East of Milne Bay).... what does this mean? Why he wants to shut down that AF? He wants to land at Mylne Bay? And if so, why all those ships (several BBs spotted near Perth too) are moving right to the other side of the continent?

So far he's been pretty good at misdirection. Maybe he intends to land at BOTH, but will make you react first.

These are great pieces of intel. I'm sure you will now concentrate no these areas. But until you know how many CVs are in So Pac, or until you sight any in the IO, you're still only looking at a few cards and waiting for the river to fall.

[GreyJoy]

Don't have time... but the enemy is ready to invade New Guinea... but our silent hunter service keep on working well [8D]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Dec 08, 42
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Sub attack near Bowen at 99,145

Japanese Ships
SS I-8

Allied Ships
CV Wasp, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage *AMMO AND FUEL STORAGE EXPLOSION[8D]*
BB Prince of Wales
CA Salt Lake City
CA Indianapolis
CLAA San Juan
CLAA San Diego
DD Selfridge
DD Reid
DD Cassin
DE Edsall
DD Fox
DD Bulmer
DD Barker
DD Clark

Ammo storage explosion on CV Wasp
Fuel storage explosion on CV Wasp
SS I-8 launches 6 torpedoes at CV Wasp
I-8 diving deep ....
DD Fox fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Bulmer fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Barker fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Clark fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Clark fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Clark fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Clark fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Clark fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Clark fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Canberra at 87,173 *moving to Perth....*

Japanese Ships
SS I-29, hits 3

Allied Ships
BB Idaho, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
BB South Dakota
CL Nashville
CL Helena
DD Aaron Ward
DD Henley
DD Ralph Talbot
DD Russell

SS I-29 launches 6 torpedoes at BB Idaho
DD Henley fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Ralph Talbot fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Russell fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Russell attacking submerged sub ....
DD Russell fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Russell fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Russell fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Russell fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub




Daily Waters is conquered by the Australian forces against a SNLF unit....

[Cribtop]

If forced to choose, choose to defend the more vital eastern DEI over the Solomons/NG theater.

Posted the above before you put up your last. That double explosion deal on Wasp may well have been fatal. It also tells you a lot about his intentions.

[ny59giants]

CV Wasp is the most brittle of the early war American CVs. I lost her with three torpedo hits and an Ammo Explosion in the South Pacific to an I-boat in a prior game. She got back to port, but sunk before I has the chance to disband her.

He needs the CVs for an invasion of New Guinea, but not the rest of northern Australia, IMO. BB Prince of Wales tells me that as she has the 'best' AA value of any early war Allied BB. That TF also has 2 CLAAs. Lots of AA value to be used against any air strikes you would send that way.

[JeffroK]

All of this assuming that FOW is reporting correctly.
The mix of the west coast force is odd, could be all AK, AP or similar types.

[obvert]

Nice work. You're doing well with your subs this game.

One question. What is DE Edsall doing in there with Wasp? If it was in the same TF could that speed reduction have been a critical factor in getting to the CV?