My war against Gen.Hoepner

[mc3744]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

I agree with MC3744. The isolation and taking of Darwin, Aust is the key. If you can grab that quick then you prevent all sorts of trouble. Those four towns in NW Australia produce enough supply that they can sustain themselves. The Aussies can chose to counterattack but they will weaken themselves elsewhere to do this. It is good to make those Aussies choose where they will fight!

There is no supply production in Northern Australia that I'm aware of. Or did I miss something? [&:]

As a matter of facts the Aussie cannot choose to counter attack, because the distance between Alice and Daly prevents this.
To counter attack by land he'd go out of supply, hence he'd loose 50% of his attack force, plus he would have no air support because you are not allowed to build new airfields. Trust me, I've been there [;)]
Hence Northern Australia can only be retaken by sea. And that will buy the Japs A LOT of time and will prevent any bombing of DEI airfields for even more time.

[hawker]

I agree with Terminus.PH is waste of time.I will let him his "precious" battleships and use KB for conquering DEI.MC,thanks for tips.I dont have enough courage to take northern Australia.My initial attack also not in Central pacific.I will take a "close formations stile".Conquer Malaya,DEI and philippines and start extracting supplies.Then i will start offensive on central pacific with my "tight formations"I mean 100k+ troops with baby KB as close support and KB as distant support.What do you think?

[ADM Halsey]

Because your Return on Investment is too low. The KB will spend a butt-load of time getting back to the real warzone after not inflicting a lot of damage on Pearl. Let the USN make the trip across the Pacific, into your backyard, and then whack them with LBA, KB, SS's, etc... In the meantime, use your resources to destroy the much more immediate impediments to your conquest of the SRA: the Royal Navy, the Dutch and the US Asiatic Fleet.

Yes, I understand that aspect. I go for the supply cut right after the Attack on Pearl. Take Johnson Island to get an idea of what is heading that way from Pearl. Then stat the island hopping to Christmas island.

Just stating what I am doing at the moment. I just do not hang around for more than a turn or two at Pearl.

[DuckofTindalos]

In my first game as Japan, I did attack PH. It was only on my second attempt that I decided to not go for it, and I've been happy with the results. Several USN battleships and birdfarms are resting comfortably in Davy Jones' locker, far, far away from Hawai'i, victim of not only the KB, but my battleships and landbased aircraft.

[mc3744]

ORIGINAL: hawker

I agree with Terminus.PH is waste of time.I will let him his "precious" battleships and use KB for conquering DEI.MC,thanks for tips.I dont have enough courage to take northern Australia.My initial attack also not in Central pacific.I will take a "close formations stile".Conquer Malaya,DEI and philippines and start extracting supplies.Then i will start offensive on central pacific with my "tight formations"I mean 100k+ troops with baby KB as close support and KB as distant support.What do you think?

Please bear in mind that I'm no expert at playing the Japs (or the Allies!). My point of view is the Allied one.

Australia takes really no courage [;)]. You'll find 200-300 assault point in Darwin. A couple of divisions (or even one division and one Rgt) and it's done. Nice and easy. Nothing he can do to stop you.
If you don't take it, it'll be his starting point for the couter offensive. From Darwin even B-25 can hit Timor.
Please allow me to ask you to reconsider. It's an easy job and it pays a lot.

You play insideout. The problem I see with that is that while you hit the inside the outside gets stronger.
While if you start hitting the outside the inside doesn't grow a bit. But again this is as seen from the Allied perspective.

If I now GH he'll fortify a couple of key atolls in CENPAC, mines, fortifications, CDs, lots of assault points, the works.
By the time you are done in Malaya, DEI and PI those chosen atolls may be beyond your reach, hence the Pacific may remain open. Than you can still go for the points but not for the sealing.

Anyway judging form my war with Hoepener it doesn't look like I'm that big a general, hence you may want to forget my suggestions [:'(]

[hawker]

Thanks very much MC.[&o].But,let me explain,if i manage to make a short work on Malaya,DEI,and philippines in that way i can make a tremendous force to overhelm Northern Australia and fortified gains in meantime.Second,I ll try to use my elite pilots of KB very rarely.Only when is apsolutely needed.Baby KB will be engaged.I will isolate Australia in late 1942(i hope).If my plan works,in time when he attacks i will be ready and fortified with pool of excellent pilots on my disposal.[8D]

[mc3744]

ORIGINAL: hawker

Thanks very much MC.[&o].But,let me explain,if i manage to make a short work on Malaya,DEI,and philippines in that way i can make a tremendous force to overhelm Northern Australia and fortified gains in meantime.Second,I ll try to use my elite pilots of KB very rarely.Only when is apsolutely needed.Baby KB will be engaged.I will isolate Australia in late 1942(i hope).If my plan works,in time when he attacks i will be ready and fortified with pool of excellent pilots on my disposal.[8D]

It's not like you have to convince me [:D]
It's your war after all [:)]

Anyway, once again my two cents. [:'(]

Late '42 is, indeed, late.
If your read the Italian Job AAR you'll see that not even Hoepner, which I dare say is an outstanding player, managed to conquer CENPAC after May.
Once the Allies bring a couple of divisions plus support on an atoll you need at least 5-6 Jap division to take it. 100k men won't be enough.

By February Darwin will have at least 1.000-1.500 Assault points, plus fortifications.
By May he can easily get there 2-3 Australian HQ divisions by land. And that ends your chances to take it.

I'm not saying that going for CENPAC and/or Australia is necessarily the best strategy. What I'm saying - IMHO of course - is that unless you do it early, you can forget about it, especially vs. Hoepner.

[hawker]

Thanks MC.My first turn is tomorrow.I am still developing strategy.I know that he is though.He expects i think that KB will attack PH.He will be really surprised to see six CV in the waters of North Australia[8D].Thank you for your tips[&o].I concider to take Darwin in plans

[mc3744]

ORIGINAL: hawker

Thanks MC.My first turn is tomorrow.I am still developing strategy.I know that he is though.He expects i think that KB will attack PH.He will be really surprised to see six CV in the waters of North Australia[8D].Thank you for your tips[&o].I concider to take Darwin in plans

I'm an Allied Fanboy, but this time I'll make an exception [:D]

Good luck [:)]

[hawker]

Ok.The thinking is over.I just send my opening move.I am planning blitz on Malaya,DEI and Phillipines.Major landings will be done in Khota Baru,Kutching, Aparri,Vigan,Laong,Lingayen,Legaspi.Also,Miri,Jasselton,Pontianak,Singawang is attacked. Whole Mindanao is attacked and if it goes as planned within ten days all Phillipines except Manila and Bataan will be in Japanese hands.Major naval bombardments will support landing at Davao (5 battleships and escorts).Kuchin will be hevily bombard with heavy crisers and destroyers. KB will hunt renegade ships from Phillipines and support our landings at Borneo.Baby KB wil be formed at Philipine sea.Two divisions and two eng.units sail toward Palau for upcoming invasion of Darwin.Whole submarine fleet is dispached around Wake for support landings.The plan is,conquer Phillipines asap,then use those divisons in CENPAC.I am not attacking PH.It si waste of preious time
Stay tuned.

[hawker]

Any tips guys?

[hawker]

AFTER ACTION REPORT FOR 7-8 december 1941

Today is great day for empire!!.
Bait invasion force in Singawang reach their destination and unloal two SNLF,during the night GH dispatched POW and Repulse along with escorts in Singawang.They manage to sink three of our brave ships (3 AP).But,the day is come,bright day.With first morning shine 29 nells take off from Saigon,direction Singawang.The result is four torpedoes for POW and four for Repulse,both heavy damaged [:D]. None of these two will never see motherland again.
Kuching fall 8.12. Tomorrow will two Oscars squadron and one Nate squadron land in Kuching to protect our interest in north Borneo.
Singawang,Miri,Brunei,Jasselton and Sandakan is also in our hands. After repairs extraction of goods will start.Large tanker force assembling in Saigon ready to establish supply route.

MALAYA

21. mixed reg,4. mixed reg. along with 18 div. land in Khota Baru.In first attack we manage to make 1-1.Within two days Khota Baru will fall.
4. mixed regiment will stay there.21. mixed regiment along with 18. div. will march north.

PHILIPPINES

He start to make run with ships to south.KB sunk 3 AKs and one tanker in Celebes sea,baby KB sunk 3 more ships in Surigao straight.Tomorrow baby KB will steam south to catch five more ships.Not a single ship cant escape.
During the night 3 DDs from HK try to attack our invasion force in Battan islands.But they only attack 4 CA and 10 imperal navy destroyers[:D].They quickly sunk.
CA Houston surprised two APs and MSW in Sulu sea.MSW is sunk and APs run away. Tomorrow,CA Houston will meet her destiny.
Aparri.Laong,Wigan,Lingayen,Legaspi are in our hands.We start to move south.Within a month all Philippines will be in our hands,except Bataan,troops there will be starved to death.
Whole Mindanao fall today,we start to dispatch Bettys and Zeros in Davao to catch renegade ships if they evade KB and baby KB.

Wake is fall,but he manage to surprise invasion fleet with CVs,i am already dispatch 20 submarines around Wake.Maybe we got lucky.

Stay tuned.More to come soon.

[hawker]

AAR 7-8 DECEMBER

Some interesting AAR from past days,

Day Air attack on TF at 37,63

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 36
D3A Val x 74
B5N Kate x 90

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Siaoe, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage[:D]
AK Pasir, Torpedo hits 5, on fire, heavy damage[:D]
AK Sipirok, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage[:D]
TK Angelina, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage[:D]

Day Air attack on TF, near Pontianak at 24,57

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 29

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 2 destroyed, 20 damaged

Allied Ships
BC Repulse, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage[:D][:D]
BB Prince of Wales, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage[:D][:D]

Night Time Surface Combat, near Batan Islands at 46,47

Japanese Ships
CA Maya, Shell hits 1
CA Ashigara
CL Natori
CL Kuma, Shell hits 1
DD Satsuki
DD Minazuki
DD Fumizuki, Shell hits 1
DD Nagatsuki
DD Asakaze
DD Harukaze
DD Matsukaze
DD Hatakaze

Allied Ships
DD Scout, Shell hits 24, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Thanet, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Thracian, Shell hits 11, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Day Air attack on TF, near Wake Island at 85,72


Allied aircraft
F2A Buffalo x 3
SBD Dauntless x 29[:@]


Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Katori, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
PG Ikunta Maru
DD Oite, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Tatuharu Maru, Bomb hits 1
PG Fukui Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CL Tatsuta, Bomb hits 1
DD Mochizuki

[hawker]

AFTER ACTION REPORT FOR 09.12.1941

MALAYA

Today Khota Baru is conquered.After repairs I plan to put there 4 squadrons of bombers and 2 squadrons (1 Oscar and 1 Nate).
My plan is push west to Kuala Lumpur while 5. div march from Singora.That plan need to be develop.
What you think folks?

PHILIPPINES

He just underestimate the power of Japanese fleet.During the night he try to surprise invasion force at Legaspi with 4 destroyers.But,he find only Ca Myoko,CA Haguro,CL Yura,CL Kinu and destroyers.Allied destroyers quickly sent below the sea.[:D]
He runs from Phillipines in every direction.I put Bettys in Davao and Palau.KB has a bad weather today[:@],but baby KB along with Bettys manage to sink two more AKs. One damage allied AK sink this afternoon north of Sandakan.
Next plan is simple,after i finish catching the renegade ships i am going for Rabaul and PM.Darwin is cancelled becouse Darwin and Australia take lot of troops and we gain little in return.
Invasion fleet for these two objectives is already at sea.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Legaspi at 45,54

Japanese Ships
CA Myoko, Shell hits 2
CA Haguro
CL Yura
CL Kinu
DD Kuroshio
DD Oyashio
DD Hatsukaze
DD Natsushio

Allied Ships
DD John D. Ford, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Peary, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Pillsbury, Shell hits 10, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DD Pope, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Legaspi at 45,54

Japanese Ships
CA Myoko
CA Haguro
CL Yura
CL Kinu
DD Kuroshio
DD Oyashio
DD Hatsukaze
DD Natsushio

Allied Ships
DD John D. Ford, on fire, heavy damage
DD Peary, Shell hits 24, and is sunk
DD Pillsbury, and is sunk
DD Pope, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Legaspi at 45,54

Japanese Ships
CA Myoko
CA Haguro
CL Yura
CL Kinu
DD Kuroshio
DD Oyashio
DD Hatsukaze
DD Natsushio

Allied Ships
DD John D. Ford, Shell hits 9, and is sunk
DD Pope, Shell hits 35, and is sunk

Day Air attack on TF at 47,57

Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 24

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
AV Langley, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AS Otus, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AK Princess of Negros, Bomb hits 2, on fire
AK Palawan, Bomb hits 1, on fire
PG Asheville
TK Gertrude Kellogg

Day Air attack on TF at 47,57

Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 5

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
MSW Quail, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Day Air attack on TF at 47,56

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 12
G4M1 Betty x 9

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AO Pecos, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Day Air attack on TF at 46,56

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 2
G4M1 Betty x 8

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Paz, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage

Ground combat at Kota Bharu

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 44864 troops, 536 guns, 16 vehicles

Defending force 7208 troops, 40 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 24 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Kota Bharu base !!!



Allied aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft losses
Hudson I: 2 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
396 casualties reported
Guns lost 8

Allied ground losses:
138 casualties reported
Guns lost 10

[hawker]

Brunei-44 oil out of 300[:@][:@][:@][:@][:@][:@][:@]
How i can repair this?

[George Patton]

Hi mc.

But you spoke to me (or was Hoepner...) about Australia in CHS. You told me that we need an house rules down there. Not landing in Australia until march '42 to avoid the problems that you have encountered.

[George Patton]

The result is four torpedoes for POW and four for Repulse,both heavy damaged . None of these two will never see motherland again.


Don't be to sure about that.
In one of my other game, PoW and R took a lot of torpedoes and bombs and they still floating, heading back to Karachi.
PoW took another torpedo from a jap sub under way, but she's still alive!

[mc3744]

ORIGINAL: George Patton

Hi mc.

But you spoke to me (or was Hoepner...) about Australia in CHS. You told me that we need an house rules down there. Not landing in Australia until march '42 to avoid the problems that you have encountered.

I did indeed and I confirm my opinion.
Btw I checked and Feb '42 would be enough. The first Australian HQ units che get to Darwin by late Jan '42 (by land).

But GH doesn't share my view - as far as I understood - and in fact he has asked for no such house rule.
Hence going for Darwin is an open option and one that should be taken.

[hawker]

AFTER ACTION REPORT FOR 10.12 1941

Few good things and one bad.
We dispatch surface fleet to catch renegade ships from Philippines.This tactics prove to be useful.

Night Time Surface Combat at 48,56

Japanese Ships
CA Myoko
CA Haguro
CL Yura
CL Kinu
DD Kuroshio
DD Oyashio
DD Hatsukaze
DD Natsushio

Allied Ships
AK Sagoland, Shell hits 12, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk[:D]

-----------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat at 48,59

Japanese Ships
CA Myoko
CA Haguro
CL Yura
CL Kinu
DD Kuroshio
DD Oyashio
DD Hatsukaze
DD Natsushio

Allied Ships
AV Langley, Shell hits 6, and is sunk[:D]
AK Palawan, Shell hits 14, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk[:D]
AK Princess of Negros, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk[:D]
------------------------------------------------------------
KB and baby KB manage to criple several more ships

Day Air attack on TF at 51,60

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7
G4M1 Betty x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 5 damaged

Allied Ships
AVD Childs, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
PG Tulsa
---------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 51,60

Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
MSW Tanager, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 49,58

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 22
B5N Kate x 26

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied Ships
AK Don Jose, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 48,59

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 17
G4M1 Betty x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 3 damaged

Allied Ships
AK Princess of Negros, on fire, heavy damage
AV Langley, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
These Bettys are from Davao

Day Air attack on TF at 51,60

Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 4

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AVD Childs, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 50,58

Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 10

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Bisayas, Torpedo hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 33,55

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 13
G3M Nell x 5

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
TK Mindanao, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AK Corregidor, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x G3M Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G3M Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 49,59

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 18
B5N Kate x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
AS Otus, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

He move ships in every direction bat not a single ship manage to escape yet.
Invasin of Philippines are going well.After we finish unloading troops will start to advance south.

MALAYA

He start to retreat towards Singapore.Our recons only see the empty bases.It seems that he run more rapidly than we could follow[8D]
Tomorrow Khota Baru will be ready for aircrafts.5th div. dtart to advance towards Alor Star.

I did one stupid thing in pacific.I simply forgot to cover my transports with four cruisers from Guam.CA Houston attacks my transports south of Guam.In these transports are complete combined fleet HQ.I am lucky that Houston not sink them

Day Time Surface Combat at 62,69

Japanese Ships
MSW Asahi Maru #2, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
MSW Bisan Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
PG Oi Maru
PG Takunan Maru #3
PG Takunan Maru #8
PG Tamo Maru #6
PG Tamo Maru #7
PG Yachiyo Maru
PG Hong Kong Maru
ML Katsuriki
AP Aikoku Maru
AP Hokoku Maru
AP Kaisho Maru, Shell hits 15, and is sunk
AP Karimo Maru, Shell hits 2, on fire
AP Keisyo Maru, Shell hits 3, on fire
AP Kinjosan Maru, Shell hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
AP Kiyoshima Maru
AP Kureha Maru #3
AP Taganoura Maru
AP Michiyu Maru
AP Rozan Maru

Allied Ships
CA Houston, Shell hits 2

Japanese ground losses:
1324 casualties reported
Guns lost 9
[:@][:@][:@][:@]

BURMA-INDIA

I plan to push north with four div.two eng. reg. and support units.Assembling point is Bankok.Idea is to blitz north to Rangoon.After securing Rangoon move fast further north.

[hawker]

AFTER ACTION REPORT FOR 11.12.1941

Today we hit more ships running from Philippines.He try to run with several ships along north coast of Borneo but Nells from Saigon are on full alert,cripling 3 more ships.

Day Air attack on TF at 30,53

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 16
G3M Nell x 10
Ki-21 Sally x 20

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
AK Compagnia Filipinas, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage[:D]
MSW Whippoorwill, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage[:D]
MSW Finch, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage[:D]

More damage and sinking ships north of Palau:

Day Air attack on TF at 52,65

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 9
A6M2 Zero x 22
D3A Val x 10
G4M1 Betty x 8

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Magallanes, Bomb hits 8, on fire, heavy damage
-----------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 54,58

Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 14

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
TK Gertrude Kellogg, Bomb hits 1
PG Isabel, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
-------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 49,61

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 13
G3M Nell x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
AS Otus, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage (sunk during next hours)
-------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 54,62

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 1
B5N Kate x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
MSW Lark, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
---------------------------------------------------

CHINA

ALERT!!!!
9 units seen north of Canton.Canton is almost without defence because of attack on HK.1 div from HK gain orders to forced march in Canton.I think that he make a bad move here.I will paradrop in Wuchow to cut his rear.With any luck nine of his units will be in trap.[;)]

MALAYA

5th division reach Alor Star.We make rapid advance south.

JAPAN

Invasion force for Rabaul sail from Kagoshima