I wouldn't worry too much about the PoW as you said last time he husbanded his major units and used mostly light forces to feint and probe. The Japanese CA's are very good at night fighting and the long lances are more of a threat to him then he is to you. Move forward with your plans speed is your friend and time is your enemy.
I read your post too late. Last night, before I went to bed, I plotted the fast BBs to move straight at PoW, with the CVs following, right down the pike from Mersing. Then today, when I finished the turn, I changed and cowered all the CVs behind the fast BBs and behind Mersing. I went ahead with Mersing landing, but called off the Singkawang landing and took up a position just north of Kuching.
I often put myself in the position of my opponent and try to think what I would do if I were him. If I were Apbarog, I would banzai charge PoW right at Mersing. He sees the 3 large amphib groups stationed nearby and knows that the Mersing landing must go off quickly to be successful. I think he may just charge. He was cautious last game, and he hates to lose assets. But... but... but... he is very intelligent fellow, and he also sees the amphib groups and Ryujo moving toward Ambon with speed. I think he may just try to make me pay for starting so aggressively. I have learned, over the years (mostly from playing poker) that aggressive play provokes aggression. This is a general rule, and people often will surpise you.
Since some find the behind-the-scenes logistical concerns more interesting than the battles, here is an obscure logistics issue that can cause a steady supply drain for a long-time. Gifu is an aircraft R&D center with numerous factories. In order to have a chance each turn to bring an R&D factory online, the base must contain at least 10K supplies. Gifu begins as a size 2 airfield, without a port, which means that it can only hold 9K supply without experiencing "spoilage" and losing supply each turn. So, one of my first tasks as Japan is to send engineers to Gifu to expand the airfield to size 3 and allow Gifu to maintain a supply level of 14K without losing supply to spoilage.
The plan for CentPac is to withdraw all assets to Truk and Saipan. The A5M4s of 24th Air Fleet, along with the HQ itself, will rebase to Truk and upgrade to Zeros. Truk will hold 27 Nells and 27 Zeros. A 9-Zero detachment will divert to Saipan and be joined by the Val unit bought out from 12th Air flotilla on the Home Islands. Matsunaga, who is an air 73, aggression 73 commander, will be moved from 22nd Air HQ to the 24th. He is one of only 2 Japanese Air HQ commanders that will launch Nells and Betties at CVs. In fact, he will launch Nells and Betties at anything, even an AMc, at any range. Whether they find their target or not... well... that is another question.
An SNLF from Truk will take Guam. The SNLFs that begin on transports at Kwajalein will unload to reinforce the base, in case Apbarog decides to move an amphibious group west from Pearl supported by the BBs. The longer-range subs around Pearl moved east and will form a cordon to try to prevent the APs that begin between Pearl and the West Coast from moving to Pearl to form amphibius groups for a Marshalls invasion. One of the mini-sub carriers will launch a mini-sub at Johnston Island this turn to try to cripple the AP there. Two others already launched mini subs at Lahaina, but were unsuccessful. The two remaining mini-sub carriers will move south to Christmas Island, wait two weeks, and then try to find some U.S. tankers there.
Here is the south pincer for the first phase of the DEI plan. What I did was magic move a bunch of "stuff" that I thought that I would need, without much regard for TF composition, to the same hex, and then on turn 2 sorted it all out into the various mission groups as best I could. I made sure to make one fast magic move amphibious TF by transferring fast APs into it and loading the 1st Formosa regiment with its divisional engineers onto the good APs. This will be the group that makes the move on Koepang.
Taiyo joined Ryujo and picked up the A5M4s from Babeldaob. A goup of Vals, bought out from China is transferring down via the Marianas to fill out Taiyo's complement of aircraft. I split Taiyo and Ryujo off from the CAs and gave them a separate group of DD escorts. The original escorts for Ryujo now form a CA SCTF to cover the western landings at Kendari and Makassar.
I just finished watching the replay for turn 2 and am contemplating my next move, so I will post a few comments and updates while I ponder. The fast BBs and the CA SCTF moved to cover the CVs and the Mersing landing. The CVs moved behind Mersing to the north to cover the initial landing, to catch any ships fleeing Singapore to the north, and to possible interdict by air allied units at Kluong, which is the bast just west of Mersing. I want to prevent these units from moving into Mersing rapidly, gaining control of that hexside, forcing me to attack them, and buying time for units to rail down to Singapore through Kluong.
Apbarog chose not to banzai charge PoW at Mersing. I wish he had. I would just as soon have it done with, even if PoW got through to the invasion force, than have to worry about the whereabouts of that BB through the entire DEI campaign. He also appears to have anticipated my initial plan to immediately move the CVs south (which was scuttled upon seeing the PoW in good health). So, he chose to try to have the undamaged ships from Singapore flee to the north. They fled right into the teeth of the KB, however, Again, KB launched in the AM and PM phases, and Nells and Betties hit the port and airfield at Singapore. I believe that every last allied ship that starts the game in Malaysi, Singapore, and northeastern Sumatra has been sunk. There were many, many strikes on the day. Here are the highlights from several of the larger ones.
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Morning Air attack on Singapore , at 50,84
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid detected at 37 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 9
A6M2 Zero x 28
B5N2 Kate x 87
Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 3 damaged
Allied Ships
ML No. 311, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
ML No. 310, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Silverbeech, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Demodocus, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
AMC Manoora, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Wulin, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AG Vyner Brooke, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DM Stronghold, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
TK Mobilfuel, Bomb hits 2, heavy damage
AM Ballarat, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
DD Encounter, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
TK British Judge, Bomb hits 1, on fire
MMS-51, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
Port hits 1
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Bengkalis at 48,82
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7
B5N2 Kate x 36
D3A1 Val x 67
Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 2 damaged
Allied Ships
CM Kung Wo, Bomb hits 13, and is sunk
xAP Hong Kheng, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAKL Marudu, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
AG Ban Hong Liong, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
TK Spirilla, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
xAP Klang, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
TK Pleiodon, Bomb hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage
PG Herald, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Kuala, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk
xAK Zannis Cambanis, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires
TK Pinna, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
KB is now out of torpedos, which will make PoW that much more difficult to contend with should he decide to leave it on station in the DEI. The AKE, yes Japan only has 1 to start the war, is steaming toward Babeldaob, but is a week away.
Also the stock pile of the 7.7 and the labor squads makes perfect sense as well.
I like the 7.7...it adds devices to the unit which allows the unit to soak more damage...i.e. the 7.7 mg is disrupted rather than the 8.8. Makes the unit a little less fragile. Same thing with tractors in artillery units.
Lol... you're a nut Lowpe... lol. Ok, use your 7.7 mm MGs, labor units, and tractors to soak damage... once. Then do not replace them. They use supply, armament points, etc... that could go to more useful items.
You are no doubt quite correct. And I must add, I don't stockpile labor squads either.[X(][:D]
They were added to eat, to slow down the tempo of the game, to overstack islands. I kind of like that. They do have a firepower of 8 -- so they aren't entirely worthless. [;)] They are my indentured Korean laborers - not a pleasant thought, granted, but they have their role to play in the war. Or they could be POWs put to work...my little Bridge Builders....good topic for a movie.
You are no doubt quite correct. And I must add, I don't stockpile labor squads either.[X(][:D]
They were added to eat, to slow down the tempo of the game, to overstack islands. I kind of like that. They do have a firepower of 8 -- so they aren't entirely worthless. [;)] They are my indentured Korean laborers - not a pleasant thought, granted, but they have their role to play in the war. Or they could be POWs put to work...my little Bridge Builders....good topic for a movie.
We are trying to liberate Asia from the Western colonial powers and create a co-prosperity sphere. There is no place in this for conscripted labor. Moreover, those original labor squads are certainly Vietnamese and Korean laborers, but who are the replacements? Are these Britsh PoWs from Singapore? I am not going to give these men rifles so that they have a anti-soft value of 8.
One of several oversights of mine on turn 2 was forgetting to send one squadron of Zeros down to Babeldaob to cover against the possibility of a B-17 raid from Cagayan. Apbarog did indeed raid Babeldaob's port with B-17 from Cagayan, and there were very effective, sinking several smaller ships and several damaging the ARD there. It will probably sink, and this is not helpful in any way to the empire. I switched a group of Zeros down there this turn. In my opening turn plans, I moved Chokai's squadron from Samah to the area just west of the Sulu Sea. I also formed up all the elements of the 143rd regiment that starts at Saigon into 1 TF with all the escort available at Saigon. This TF also magic moved just west of the Sulu Sea and has been at full steam. If it is not intercepted, it will land on Cagayan this turn, covered by Chokai and Sendai. Hopefully, my Zeros can damage a large number of those B-17s, and the 143rd can take the base and capture those bombers on the ground.
Chokai is a bit out of position, patrolling to the south of the amphib group. Note the waypoint that I set up for the amphib to be sure that it follows Chokai. Chokai should move ahead of the amphib group because Chokai's TF number is lower.
In China, he is withdrawing to better terrain everywhere. It will be difficult to trap many units in the open, especially with 2 JAAF base forces removed from China in this mod. That is half of all the Japanese aviation support in the Chinese theater. I need bombers to interdict his movement and provisioned bases are in short supply.
One of several oversights of mine on turn 2 was forgetting to send one squadron of Zeros down to Babeldaob to cover against the possibility of a B-17 raid from Cagayan.
I generally put all ships in port within B17 range into an escort fleet until I get the bases covered.
One of several oversights of mine on turn 2 was forgetting to send one squadron of Zeros down to Babeldaob to cover against the possibility of a B-17 raid from Cagayan.
I generally put all ships in port within B17 range into an escort fleet until I get the bases covered.
Yeah. It was a bad oversight on my part. I intended to transfer down some Zeros to cover the base, and I will have Kendari and other bases soon. So, I want to start moving some air-cover south. I forgot to move the Zeros in the multitude of things to do on turn 2. There were a couple other oversights as well.
The turn is away, though I am haunted (as I always am in the first few turns) that I forgot multiple things (which I did last turn). Among my oversights last turn was to leave an amphibious group following Ryujo and CAs on "return to base," so now this group, which was going to follow up the initial landing at Ambon is out in the middle of the ocean. The Ambon landing is unlikely to take the base and will be costly. Without this group, I have only 1 SNLF landing, loaded mostly on AKLs, which the coastal guns should hammer. The 1 SNLF will not be enough. I will not be bombarding Ambon, because both CA SCTFs will conserve ammo to lead the blitz toward Java.
In addition to the Ambon landing, TFs are moving at full steam and should make landfall at Cagayan, Kendari, and Singkawang today. Hiryu and Soryu have a few torpedos remaianing, so I linked them up with Akagi and Kaga to move southeast and cover the Singkawang landing, along with the fast BBs. Shokaku and Zuikaku will remain in the area of Mersing to provide CAP for that landing. The Heavy Cruisers will also cover the Mersing landing for at least 3 more days. I am bombing Hong Kong very heavily for one more day. I expect AVG to try some LRCAP there, but hope that it is not until tomorrow. I will stand down the bombers tomorrow and sweep with the Tojos and maybe Zeros from Takao. We shall see how this blitz develops... especially given my errors and lack of attention to all the details necessary.
By planning the first turn carefully, the Japanese player (in a game without reduced cargo capacity) will find exactly enough APs and AMCs on the home islands to load the divisions at Shanghai, Nagasaki, and Osaka, as well as the regiments at Sendai and the fragment at Iwaki. I like to send the 21-knot APs to Shanghai. The 17 and 18 knot APs go to Nagasaki, Sendai, and Osaka. All of these units are now loading. The division at Shanghai will move to Malaysia. The others will move to Java. Here is an image of the mass of Japanese ships steaming toward the DEI.
This is the follow up wave to the initial advance led by Ryujo's group. The idea, as I expressed, is to have Ryujo, her amphib groups, and the CAs open up a corridor through Ambon and Kendari to Java. These units will follow through that corridor and with luck, begin landing on Java by December 17th.
I just watched the replay and am pondering the next moves. My oversight last turn was to leave a group of Lillies that I was trying to find aviation support for to "groud strike" commander discretion. The result was, of course, that they flew into the heaviest CAP possible: to Rangoon from Bangkok. 10 Lillies were lost to AVG and a squadron of Buffalos. At least I confirmed the location of at least 1 squadron of AVG.
Landings went off at Singakwang, Ambon, Guam, and Sorong. The Ambon landing went about as I anticipated with the coastal guns sinking an APD (which are always fodder for coastal guns) and raking over several AKLs. Chokai's group encountered a few ships fleeing Mindanao and sunk them, including the AP Legaspi, which was carrying a base force of some kind.
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Siquijor at 77,87, Range 10,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CA Chokai
CL Sendai
DD Fubuki
DD Shinonome
DD Usugumo
DD Shirakumo
DD Isonami
Allied Ships
xAP Legaspi, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
SW of Pearl a submarine got off 4 torpedos at Enterprise, but alas, all four missed. It is a strange course that Enterprise has set, moving southeast. At least it appears as though it will not move toward the Marianas and threaten the amphibious groups now leaving the Home Islands that comprise the rear of the DEI blitz. It appears as though it may be headed to Christmas island, possibly to escort tankers or transport groups to Australia, or to link up with Saratoga. My AMCs are moving to Christmas Island, along with 2 mini-sub carriers and several other subs. I will have to re-route the 2 AMCs and send them west.
Here is the schwerpunkt of the southern arm of the blitz. The lost TF, that was to land at Ambon is slow-moving and badly out of position. Everything else is proceeding as anticipated and according to plan. Not shown on the map are a CA SCTF covering Koepang and an amphibious group that will land at Koepang tomorrow. I may make a landing at Makessar tomorrow as well. I will have to check fuel. Some TFs have been under full steam for 2 days and fuel will be an issue. Just behind Ryujo is a group carrying 11th air fleet and other support. I am undecided as to land it at Kendari or Makessar.
Using supply and fuel efficiently are keys to playing Japan well. Japan does not have enough supply to support large-scale engagements, maintain heavy air activity, and repair industry every day of the war. Japan must make decisive, quick moves in force at key moments and try not to rely on slow grinds to make advances or to counter allied advances.
Heavy Industry uses fuel. The Home Islands need imports of appoximately 5000 barrels of oil per day to run the refineries and produce fuel plus an additional 5000, or so, barrels of fuel. Fleets also use fuel. Japan will not produce enough fuel during the war to keep her whole fleet active every day or to fight extended battles far from home. To retain some strategic flexibility and allow for naval support for operations in Ceylon, India, Australia, or far into the South Pacific, fuel must be conserved at every opportunity. The best way to conserve fuel is to only refuel non-combat TFs when absolutely necessary. This is mostly a matter of muscle memory in TF creation: setting every non-combat TF to "do not refuel," "tactical refuel," or "minimal refuel." There is no reason to have support ships sitting in port with full fuel tanks. It is also a much greater loss when a cargo ship, with tanks overflowing with fuel, is sunk as opposed to a cargo ship running on near empty. Japan will lose many ships in the war, and if each one goes down full of fuel, the losses will mount substantially over the course of the war.
At the northern tip of the DEI blitz, we have taken Mersing and our ashore at Singkawang. 1 regiment of the 3 at Mersing attacked. The rest were held in reserve with pursuit on. The allied base force retreated and 2 regiments and 5th recon pursued. 5th recon arrived at Johore Baru in its pursuit. Will its AV of 54 be sufficient to hold the jungle hex for a day until the other 2 regiments arrive? Gnells and Betties and Kates and Vals from Shokaku and Zuikaku have been assigned to ground strike the allied units at Kluong and Johore Baru. 3 more regiments plus support will begin unloading at Mersing today. Construction engineers and Lowpe's constripted labor have begun work on an airstrip at Mersing to free up Shokaku and Zuikaku from covering the landing. Aviation support should begin to arrive at Khota Baru in 2 days.
Akagi, Kaga, Hiryu, and Soryu will move south, behind the fast BBs and either strike allied shipping or Batavia. Akagi group will sweep the base ahead of any possible PM airstrikes. Hopefully, I will not make any more careless mistakes. The next game that I play, I may use a much simpler plan to start the war. A quick start is nice, but there are so many things moving around at this point and so many clicks each turn that I have overlooked several important things.
Dec. 10th and no major errors by me: a first for me in this game.
I just watched the replay and am pondering my next moves.
Akagi group flamed some Dutch fighters over Batavia and then sunk two TKs that had managed to flee Singapore. The port at Batavia is mostly evacuated. Shokaku group bombed the Australian units in the hexes surrounding Singpore, as additional regiments and support began unloading at Mersing. Singkawang has fallen, and an air HQ and aviation support will begin unloading this turn. No attack on 5th recon holding the hex NE of Singapore. It will soon be joined by 3 regiments. A total of 1 full division plus 3 regiments will have landed at Mersing. Only 1 Australian brigade has been able to enter Singapore, which should give Singapore about 300 AV. I may cross the river with what I have here now rather than wait for additional reinforcements. Another division is en route from Shanghai.
In the south, I rerouting the initial Makassar TF to Ambon. It has an AMC and a CL, so it may hold up a little better against the coastal guns. The lost TF originally slated for Ambon will now go to Makassar. So the whole operation is slowed significantly. 1st Formosa regiment landed at Koepang with heavy CA cover. I expect Koepang to fall tomorrow. Kendari fell, and I am thinking that I will put 11th Air fleet at Kendari for the moment. They are in the hex and will begin unloading this turn. Ryujo group spotted a Dutch CL SCTF steaming SE about 5 hexes from Kendari. Kates from Ryujo put a torpedo into a Dutch CL. TBs from Samah stumbled across the DDs from Manila and fought an indecisive engagement near Tarakan. They then found a small AP and AKl carrying a base force and sunk it. A number of smaller alled TFS are spotted moving SE from Mindanao. A CA group may move to intercept. This ships are normally not worth wasting ammo, but he has been trying to smuggle base forces out of the Phillipines in small ships. 124th regiment landed on Cagayan, and I expect the base to fall tomorrow.
Search planes for the Zuiho group spotted the jewel-ships of the thundering herd from Manila headed east. Kates struck an AO and AP and a large AK. Yamashiro group, which includes 4 BBs and the CLs Oi and Kitakami sunk a lone, lead AP from the Manila group. Yamashiro group is 4 hexes away from the main body and will probably try to engage the herd tonight or tomorrow. Attached is the complete combat report.
Here is the situation with the thundering herd from Manila trying to flee east through the Phillipine Sea. The herd has 3 possible moves: directly east and make a run for it; SE and make for Rabaul; or retreat west. The most likely course of action, in my opinion, is to make a run directly east. So, I suspect that Apbarog will move SE instead. Yamashiro group will move to cover the SE. Hosho and Zuiho will take up a position to cover either an E or SE move. 4 subs from the Home Islands will fan out to cover the eastern route. Chokai will move out to cover the possible line of retreat and get out of range of low altitude P-40 naval strikes which could be launched from Iloilu next turn.
Here is the situation in the DEI. Scout planes from Ryujo spotted a Dutch CL SCTF due west of Ambon. Kates from Ryjo put one torpedo into a Dutch CL yesterday. I suspect that the CL group may flee to the south. The CA SCTF covering Koepang will move NW to try to intercept the Dutch CLs if they flee south. Hopefully the torpedo slowed the CL to movement range of 3 hexes per pulse.
11th Air Fleet and JAFBNs will begin unloading at Kendari this turn. Zeros, a squadron of Betties, and 12 Mavis have already been transferred to Kendari. They should receive aviation support as the TFs unload. I loaded 11th Air Fleet up with torpedos before loading them onto the APs, so the Betties should be torpedo equipped if the TF is able to unload the torpedos in the night pulse or the AM phase. The initial amphibious grp. also contained an AV which has put into harbor at Kendari to support the Mavis.
Akagi grp. will follow the fast BBs and take up a position just off the coast of Java. This is risky, but I am hoping to catch some ships that lingered too long at Java loading base forces, oil, or fuel. Yamamoto is in command of Akagi group and it contains 2 fast BBs, so if it should get into surface action, I am hoping that Yamamoto with his high naval skill will be able to prevent damage to the CVs. Tanaka is in command of the fast BB group that is covering Akagi grp.
At Singkawang, 22nd Air HQ is unloading along with 3 JAAF coys and an IJN aviation support battalion. A squadron of Nells and Zeros has already rebased to Singkawang. As with 11th, the 22nd was also supplied with torpedos before loading onto the AKs, so most of the DEI will now covered by Netties with torpedos.
SW of Babeldaob, another CATF will move to try to intercept the small allied TFs fleeing Mindanoa and Luzon.
Hopefully, the empire will find some more allied assets this turn and pounce.
