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I read what John posted in his AAR and made a list of the CV/CVL differences between Scenario 2 and RA. There are a few differences and they are subject to Japan being able to accelerate many of these ships. Also, the CV/CVLs start the game with a full air capacity on each carrier. Hope this is helpful.

Scenario 2.....Air Cap.....CV/CVL.....Air Cap.....Reluctant Admiral
41-Dec...........81...........Akagi........75...........41-Dec
41-Dec...........72...........Kaga.........81...........41-Dec
41-Dec...........63...........Soryu........63...........41-Dec
41-Dec...........71...........Hiryu........69...........41-Dec
41-Dec...........72...........Shokaku......72...........41-Dec
41-Dec...........72...........Zuikaku......72...........41-Dec
41-Dec...........48...........Ryujo........48...........41-Dec
41-Dec...........30...........Zuiho........31...........41-Dec
42-Mar...........30...........Shoho........31...........41-Dec
N/A...............................Nisshin......31...........42-Mar
42-Apr...........53...........Junyo........58...........42-Mar
42-Jul............53...........Hiyo.........58...........42-May
42-Dec...........31...........Ryuho........31...........42-Jul
N/A..............................Ryukaku......81...........43-May
N/A..............................Taikaku......81...........43-Jun
N/A..............................Renkaku......81...........43-Oct
44-Mar...........72...........Taiho.....................N/A
44-Aug...........63...........Unryu........63...........44-Aug
44-Aug...........63...........Amagi........63...........44-Aug
44-Oct...........63...........Katsuragi....63...........44-Oct
44-Nov...........72...........Shinano...................N/A
45-Apr...........27...........Ibuki........48...........44-Oct
N/A..............................Kurama.......48...........44-Dec
45-May...........63...........Kasagi.......63...........45-May
45-Jun...........63...........Aso..........63...........45-Jun
45-Jul...........63...........Ikoma........63...........45-Jun

Didn't he also dump all the naval R&D paths except the Zero and make it have better stats? I think an earlier mod version went too far and he dialed back speed maybe?

And does he have Yamato and Musashi on 12/7?

12/12/41 and 12/13/41

NoPac: An IJN carrier force is loitering south of Dutch Harbor. No enemy landings yet, but SigInt report an invasion force heading for Umnak. The Allies aren't thinking that far ahead. A Marine regiment at Seattle is loading for Coal Harbor. A second will be "bought" in about a week and then moved to Kodiak, if the path is still open. John nearly always goes heavy for the Aleutians, but so far it doesn't look like he was particularly emboldened by PzH's grabs in my previous game. Coal Harbor is just about secure now, and that means John will not be able to apply a lethal strike in that region.

CenPac: Wake fell immediately to some kind of beefed up amphibious brigade, but not before the Allies used it to help speed three PBY squadrons from Hawaii to the DEI. The KB loitered in plain view up until the 13th and then moved out of sight, heading south as if for Kwajalein or Truk. As reported previously, Enterprise strike aircraft finished off a small invasion fleet heading for Baker. A small USN CL TF met two armed merchant cruisers, doing enough damage to send that TF scurrying back to Kwaj. As noted previously, the enemy strike against Pearl was effective, but only if it had been followed up. The USN only lost Arizona. That's a poor tally if John is looking for auto vic points.

SoPac and SWPac: Ent and Lex have been steaming generally SW, engaging a variety of small enemy amphibious TFs in the vicinity of the Solomon Islands. French DD Triomphant finished off two xAKL just after they landed a force at Ocean Island. Overall, the Allies probably temporarily stopped the "rush" to seize forward bases in the Solomons. The Allies landed two Aussie battalions, a Marine CD, and two small base forces at Lunga. This is probably too ambitious a position, but it should pose a challenge for John at some point in the next few months.

DEI: BC Repulse, with 87 FLT damage, disbanded on the dot hex island between Billiton and Pontianak, somehow avoiding two powerful enemy combat TFs in the process. I don't see how Repulse can make it to Soerabaja and thence to Perth or Capetown or Colombo, but we'll try. Kuching fell on the 13th. Palembang has 170 AV. I should be able to get this up to about 200 or 250. Singapore has 65k supplies (merchant ships from Batavia and Soerabaja brought in 14k before enemy air power closed down that port). The retreat down the Malay peninsula is going well. No enemy incursions in the eastern DEI yet. Some support units are landing at Cocos. Two UK brigades are perhaps 12 days out (that's going to be a stout garrison of this island).

Philippines: John did a remarkable job of hunting down and destroying the ships fleeing from Manila. No matter which way they fled, he had ships positioned to squash them. Only a couple out of about 100 made it. PG Isbel made it to Palembang.

India: Troops have landed at Diego (100 AV) and are about five days away from Port Blair.

China: Nothing major yet. Two IJ divisions beat up on a CHinese corps northeast of Changsha, then four Chinese corps in a wooded hex stopped those divisions cold.

A late comment on the Allied efforts to keep tabs on Japanese naval construction IRL .
Did you know that Yamato and her sisters were responsible for construction of the Alaska class large cruisers (CBs)? The story sheds some light on how the US and others gathered Intel.

When the Japanese government tabled a budget in the Diet to construct the Yamato, Musashi and Shinano it wanted to keep the true size of these BBs secret. At the time the Naval treaties allowed construction of 35,000 ton BBs to replace exisiting old ships. The Japanese also could build small battleships to replace the Kongos, if they chose. So the budget showed three 35,000 ton BBs and three 27,000 ton BCs, similar to the German Scharnhorst, but armed with 12" guns. I think they were called the "Chibuchi" class in the estimates. Add 35K and 27K and you get 62K, the actual planned displacement of the Yamatos. Thus they Japanese could also account for all the steel they were shipping to the construction sites, knowing that Allied agents were watching this to get an estimate of construction progress.

When the US learned of the 27,000 ton BCs, they immediately authorized the Alaska class to match them. By the time the allies figured out that there really weren't any Chibuchi ships in the works, construction on the Alaskas had started. It was decided to give them a lower priority but to complete the first three because they would be excellent vessels for fighting the powerful Japanese CAs. When they finally did arrive, they served best as CV escorts with some bombardment duties on occasion.

So, not only did the US know of Japan's ship construction, it also knew about their imaginary ships! [8|]

I'm looking forward to seeing if the Repulse made it out of there.

The Japanese also could build small battleships to replace the Kongos, if they chose. So the budget showed three 35,000 ton BBs and three 27,000 ton BCs, similar to the German Scharnhorst, but armed with 12" guns. I think they were called the "Chibuchi" class in the estimates. Add 35K and 27K and you get 62K, the actual planned displacement of the Yamatos. Thus they Japanese could also account for all the steel they were shipping to the construction sites, knowing that Allied agents were watching this to get an estimate of construction progress.

When the US learned of the 27,000 ton BCs, they immediately authorized the Alaska class to match them. By the time the allies figured out that there really weren't any Chibuchi ships in the works, construction on the Alaskas had started. It was decided to give them a lower priority but to complete the first three because they would be excellent vessels for fighting the powerful Japanese CAs.

Personally, I've always been fond of the Alaska class; I'd rather have an extra unit than an extra Indiana-class BB. Does anyone know of an AAR with an Alaska vs. Kongo fight?

Bridge, HMS Repulse
Billiton Island
18 December 1941
 
Captain W.G. Tennant felt completely helpless.  With his badly damaged battlecruiser hove to and anchored near the small port on Billiton Island, smack in the middle of the Java Sea, there was absolutely nothing he could do to increase the chances of survival.  That the ship was still afloat was a miracle of the first order.  For days, powerful enemy combat task forces had passed nearby and lethal enemy carrier strike aircraft had crossed the skies.  None of them had molested his stricken ship.  He didn't even think the enemy had sighted the vessel, which could only be attributed to rain squalls and good fortune.  But their luck couldn't hold.  And even if it did, how could his vessel ever expect to limp across the sub-choked waters to Batavia or Oosthaven and then into the Indian Ocean.  The chances of surviving were nil.  He'd be doing his men a favor if he scuttled the ship and then evacuated the remaining crew to shore.  But he wouldn't do that.  He couldn't do that.  No.  They would instead try to finish up some temporary repairs and then strike out on a voyage that had to end in death.

12/14/42 to 12/18/42
 
John has pushed hard and far, scoring a few stinging blows and "pushing the envelope" in the way that might sting the Allies badly or turn on him in the form of a lucky sub strike or a fortunate Allied bombing mission.  We'll see.
 
DEI:  The Mini KB pushed into the western Java Sea.  I decided to keep two powerful combat TFs at Batavia, under the best fighter cover I could muster, to try to bleed incoming strike packages.  The IJN carriers launched a raid of 60+ Kates (with escorts) that fortunately did not carry torps, because most of them got through the CAP.  Pensacola and a few other vessels took light damage while the enemy lost perhaps a score Zeroes and Kates.  Overall this favors the Allies, but my ships will high-tail it tomorrow into the Indian Ocean on the chance that the Kates will be back with torps.  To the east, the Japs have landed at Boela and Ambon.  A carrier force nearby launched a raid that mauled CL Marblehead, which could make it to Soerabaja.  I think another amphibious move on Palembang is underway.  That base has 250 AV.  Early in the war, John attempted two paratroop drops in western Sumatra, but both failed.
 
SWPac:  I elected not to send my carriers along the north coast of New Guinea.  It looked like they could get hung up between carrier forces, so I pulled them back into the Coral Sea.  Now they'll move east.  I may reposition them closer to the West Coast.  The Allies lost CA Louisville while trying to sprint across that north coast.  The remaining cruisers retired east, bumped into a large enemy amphibious force near Atape, and destroyed it - sinking three PB and at least a dozen small troop transports.
 
SoPac:  Quiet except for a few enemy subs loitering at key islands.  The enemy did take Baker Island.
 
CenPac:  An enemy combat TF is nearing Midway.  The KB was last seen a hex or two from Truk.  I think John will send it to the DEI or the Solomons, wherever he thinks my own carriers were heading.
 
NoPac:  That third IJN carrier TF remains in the Gulf of Alaska.  Thus far it hasn't accomplished anything.  A Marine regiment has landed at Coal Harbor.  This should be enough to provide security barring an all-out enemy invasion, which isn't likely.
 
Indian Ocean:  Cocos Island has an Aussie CD force and 25 AV.  The Brit brigades (I'll land at least one, maybe two) is perhaps eight days away.  Port Blair has 350 AV - a stout number but comprised of Indian brigades.  Diego has 100 AV.  A detachment of the AVG has been providing effective CAP, thwarting a number of enemy missions. 
 
China:  Three Japanese divisions have thrown themselves against five Chinese corps near Changsha three turns in a row, suffering stinging repulses each turn, especially the last one (200+ squads destroyed).  John is making some headway well to the north (true) of Sian, but overall the Chinese have gotten the better of the early combat.

Bridge, HMS Repulse
Billiton Island 
20 December 1941

It was now or never.  Repulse would limp away from her temporary anchorage at Billiton Island on a NE course, despite the proximity of so many enemy carriers, combat ships and subs.  The engineers had begged for another day to make repairs, but the the airfield at Palembang might fall to the enemy tomorrow.
 
Captain W.G. Tennant understood there was almost no chance of success, but the forecast called for rain, which offered the slightest possibilty of concealment.  The big Japanese carrier TF was still posted north of Palembang, less than 200 miles to the west of Repulse.  The Dutch were reporting another, smaller carrier TF near Kendari, moving west.
 
Hope had vanished.  Tennant was resigned to his fate, but would do everything in his power to somehow extract his ship and his men from the paws of the lion. 

The tension builds.

Love it.

but the forecast called for rain, which offered the slightest possibilty of concealment. The big Japanese carrier TF was still posted north of Palembang, less than 200 miles to the west of Repulse. The Dutch were reporting another, smaller carrier TF near Kendari, moving west.

Make sure your tray tables are secured -- we are expecting turbulence![:D]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Bridge, HMS Repulse
Billiton Island 
20 December 1941

It was now or never.  Repulse would limp away from her temporary anchorage at Billiton Island on a NE course, despite the proximity of so many enemy carriers, combat ships and subs.  The engineers had begged for another day to make repairs, but the the airfield at Palembang might fall to the enemy tomorrow.

Captain W.G. Tennant understood there was almost no chance of success, but the forecast called for rain, which offered the slightest possibilty of concealment.  The big Japanese carrier TF was still posted north of Palembang, less than 200 miles to the west of Repulse.  The Dutch were reporting another, smaller carrier TF near Kendari, moving west.

Hope had vanished.  Tennant was resigned to his fate, but would do everything in his power to somehow extract his ship and his men from the paws of the lion. 

According to the JFBs any single-ship TF is invisible and immune from attack.

You'll be fine . . . [:'(]

Bridge, HMS Repulse
Off the NE Cape of Billiton Island
21 December 1941

Repluse was a burning wreck dead in the water.  That she was afloat at all was a testiment to her builders; her crew; her captain.  Early that morning, as she limped away from port, Japanese patrol aircraft had finaly given her all the attention she didn't want.  Two carrier raids followed - one in the morning and one in the afternoon.  They were Kates carrying bombs, fifteen of which hit home.  There was no chance for survival now.  A frantic message from HQ had urged Tennant to scuttle the ship so that he and the crew might be rescued.  Tennant was stubborn and defiant, but he felt that there was absolultely no possibility - absolutely not the slightest chance - that his ship would survive tomorrow.  The Japanese smelled blood and they'd be back in force.  Reluctantly, with vision strangely blurred, he gave the orders to destroy the papers and prepare to open the sea cock.  Repulse was finished, but perhaps her battle-tested and resolute crew could fight again. 

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Bridge, HMS Repulse
Off the NE Cape of Billiton Island
21 December 1941

Repluse was a burning wreck dead in the water.  That she was afloat at all was a testiment to her builders; her crew; her captain.  Early that morning, as she limped away from port, Japanese patrol aircraft had finaly given her all the attention she didn't want.  Two carrier raids followed - one in the morning and one in the afternoon.  They were Kates carrying bombs, fifteen of which hit home.  There was no chance for survival now.  A frantic message from HQ had urged Tennant to scuttle the ship so that he and the crew might be rescued.  Tennant was stubborn and defiant, but he felt that there was absolultely no possibility - absolutely not the slightest chance - that his ship would survive tomorrow.  The Japanese smelled blood and they'd be back in force.  Reluctantly, with vision strangely blurred, he gave the orders to destroy the papers and prepare to open the sea cock.  Repulse was finished, but perhaps her battle-tested and resolute crew could fight again. 

RIP brave Repulse

12/19/41 to 12/21/41
 
Repulse:  After absorbing 15 additional bombs, this ship's FLT damage increased from 85 to 96.  I elected to scuttle her in hopes of saving Tennant, who has good command ratings, but a flash message on the screen - one so fast that I didn't actually have a chance to read it - possibly indicated that he died or was "lost at sea."  I hope it's the latter.  I want him to command again. 

DEI:  John is moving furiously to grab territory.  4th Div. spearheaded an invasion of Palembang, which fell on the second try despite 235 AV (but sorry troops compared to the Japanese).  I don't think the oil wells suffered any damage.  I'll check again tomorrow.  The Japanese have also gobbled up Ambon and Boela.  CL Marblehead got trapped and clobbered (I'd forgotten I stationed a little combat TF at Kendari; forgot until Kates started attacking my helpless ships).  However, I think there's a good chance she makes it to Soerabaja.  I'm really glad the Allies made the effort to attend to Cocos quickly.  In three or four days, she'll receive a UK brigade or two (I'll have to measure troop capacity).  I have a small Dutch unit at Christmas - just enough to prevent the island from being a freebie.

Indian Ocean:  Quiet at the moment.  I'm hoping to send the third of the three UK brigades to Diego.  Madras Police Battalion will go to Addu Atoll.  Port Blair, with 325 AV, will require John to commit some time and troops.  A small IJ tank force took Moulmein, but John can't come further until he brings more.

China:  The Japanese whacked a Chinese corps near Kienko, but the Japanese suffered three or four repulses elsewhere.  John is kind of recklessly (IMO) using repeated shock attacks when he isn't sure they'll work.  The Chinese, as a result, have made some good stands and are already seeing units with some good experience.

NoPac:  The IJ carrier force in this region is near Umnak at the moment.  The Allies have finished reinforcing Coal Harbor, which is a huge piece-of-mind accomplishment for me.  Ultimately, I intend to push a bit in NoPac if John doesn't augment his naval force.  Ent and Lex are enroute - currently nearing Canton Island after departing the Coral Sea.  By the time they pass Christmas Island, Yorktown will have joined Sara at San Diego.  The combined force will be more than sufficient to handle the current IJ lineup in NoPac, permitting the Allies to ram some reinforcements into Kodiak, et al.

CenPac:  The Japanese landed an assault division at Midway.  Despite roughly 150 AV, the unit has failed on successive shock attacks to dislodge the Marines.  John will probably bring in a bombardment force or reinforcements.  I'll see what I can do, but I need time to get something ready to go.

SoPac/SWPac:  IJN subs nosing around Fiji, New Caledonia, etc. have sunk a couple of ships.  One came uncomfortably close to my carriers, but I don't think John picked up any intel.  Overall things are quiet in the Solomons and vicinity since John took a couple of hits on the chin here.  He's undoubtedly organizing a well-escorted counterpunch, but my guys have vacated the area, except for Triomphant, which is still loitering near Atape, New Guinea.

Overall Situation:  John is moving fast and hard.  One good thing is that he has committed alot of divisions already - in China, at Palembang, on Luzon.  I don't get the feeling that he's coming big and hard for a major objective early.  Instead, I get the feeling that he'll attend to the things he "has to have" before moving on to Phase Two, which is likely to be India or Oz or both or more.

Given events in your prior game with John, even a feint in NOPAC may bear outsized dividends. Indeed, I would prepare something up here and unleash it one week before your first "real" counteroffensive.

Given your estimate of Midway events, might the carriers be better used there than Kodiak? Especially if it's a naked bombardment TF?

Repulse:  After absorbing 15 additional bombs, this ship's FLT damage increased from 85 to 96.  I elected to scuttle her in hopes of saving Tennant, who has good command ratings, but a flash message on the screen - one so fast that I didn't actually have a chance to read it - possibly indicated that he died or was "lost at sea."  I hope it's the latter.  I want him to command again. 

I think you will see those messages in either the combat events file or the operations report file (or both).

Too bad about Repulse. She is one of the ships that I really enjoy saving; even more than the Prince of Wales.

Tennant might be lost. I think it has to do with the availability of forces to rescue, but I thought that scuttling was immune from that.

12/22/42
 
Reading the tea leaves:
 
SoPac/SWPac:  As expected, the Pearl Harbor-branch of the KB showed up in the Solomons, near Tulagi.  This is John's way of reestablishing order in the one region where he's had fits.  Of course, any Allied player would've seen this coming, so my combat ships are far away now.  More importantly, my carriers are moving north (both are currently just south of Canton Island) towards CenPac or NoPac.  In about ten days they should mate up with Saratoga and Yorktown, which will allow the Allies to go carrier hunting if the NoPac Mini KB remains in the place (currently, though, that outfit is in the western Aluetuains and may be moving to Japan).  I'm going to commit my carriers that way, though, hoping for a crack at it.  If it doesn't develop, the carriers can still be put to good use covering reinforcement missions to Kodiak et al or trying to help the situation at Midway, if still held. Judging by the disposition of enemy subs since the start of the war (posted at many Pacific Islands - Christmas, Palmyra, Pago Pago, Noumea, Fiji, Luganville), John has intentions of coming this way.  That is consistent with his fascination with the Pac War.  I expected him to do so, though I'm also making allowances for the possibility that he doesn't.
 
CenPac: Midway held against another attack and the Japanese amphibious force is in bad shape.  I'm sending a combat TF and minelayers.  An APD is enroute to Hawaii from West Coast to carry reinforcements, though that's gonna take awhile.
 
NoPac:  The Allies will either get a crack at enemy carriers or they'll be in a position to reinforce forward, which is useful.
 
DEI:  Mini KB at Billiton Island, stationed there to finish off Repulse, no doubt.  A Dutch unit landed at Cocos, bringing the AV to 60.  A Brit brigade lands tomorrow, which should take the AV to 180.  I'll land a second brigade if there's room.  I want to hold this island or force John to come very hard if he is going to deny it to me.  John isn't moving fast on Singapore.  On Luzon, the Allies are dispersed between Manila, Clark and Bataan.