Racing the Sunrise: RA 4.0--Japanese Side

[John 3rd]

Here is the bottom half with most of the Army production on it:

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: BigBadWolf

You are not accelerating anything?

I am holding off on acceleration until I get the CV (Nisshin and Junyo) and Yamato completed. As soon as they are done then I will work to bring ships in together. With the 3 Sho-Kais coming in in 1943 I want to get them bunched up. Same can be said for the Unryus. Will build EVERYTHING including the pair of CBs. Every ship SHALL be built so they can die gallantly!

[Historiker]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

ORIGINAL: BigBadWolf

You are not accelerating anything?

I am holding off on acceleration until I get the CV (Nisshin and Junyo) and Yamato completed. As soon as they are done then I will work to bring ships in together. With the 3 Sho-Kais coming in in 1943 I want to get them bunched up. Same can be said for the Unryus. Will build EVERYTHING including the pair of CBs. Every ship SHALL be built so they can die gallantly!

[:D]

What's your prefered way of accelerating? Which phase of production?

[John 3rd]

Far distant is cheapest.

Will move the 2nd and 3rd Sho-Kai to early-June. The first 3 Unryus will be targeted for a late-Dec/early-Jan 1944 completion date.

Want to complete to two Tone-Kai CAs as well as the remaining 6 Agano-CLs. Good ships that can be highly useful.

To do this, I am slightly expanding my yards and putting off some of my SS Construction. Keep in mind that Stanislav completely re-tooled the SS production into much more useful subs. WANT them but will hold off for about 6 months as I get everything else organized and moved forward.

[John 3rd]

Here are the major surface units to be completed:

[John 3rd]

DDs come in pretty quickly in 1942 and then early-43. After that the Japanese shift almost exclusively to 2nd line DDs.

We premise a greater specialization of building with longer runs and more ships. The Kagero's (Pt Arthur) and Moon-Class (Maizuru) DDs are clearly evident here. Notice that Pt. Arthur is a major DD producer.

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
January 9, 1942

All three American CVs are now known for their rough whereabouts. Lexington sits in an Aussie Port somewhere trying to heal her damage. Her planes have been mercilessly shot down attacking the KB off Rockhampton (Most of her Buffalo, ALL of 1 SBD Squadron, and most of the Vindicators she carried on Dec 7th). CV Enterprise made her appearance off Cocos Isle about 10 days ago. Indian Ocean or near Perth.

CV Saratoga?

North Pacific
As suspected over the last 4-5 turns, Saratoga IS up in this vicinity. On the 9th she FINALLY flies some strikes. I bet Lew was beside himself when he saw me clear the vast majority of my shipping out of the region. Sara attacks and sinks an AV just arrived at Attu (but it didn't disband as ordered) using 6 F4F and 12 SBD. At and same time 9 Devastators hit a pair of AK at Adak as they unload supplies.

Order everyone AWAY towards Paramushiro Jima. My valuable AO heads NNW and two small groups of AK take differing routes towards PJ. The 4 AK at Adak disband into the Port.

A force of 12 Zero and 21 Kates move into PJ in case he is foolish enough to move west. A Daitai of Betty will soon join them from Kyushu.

EXCITING to know where the 3rd CV is. This means I can send Zuikaku to Rabaul for repairs and have my other 3 CV of the KB wreak HAVOC in the South Pacific. BANZAI!

Central Pacific
No news.

South Pacific
KB refuels tomorrow and then will head due west. The convoy spotted approaching Suva continues west TOWARDS the Fleet. YUM! I am hungry. Time to intercept is two days. Detach Zuikaku and 3 DD for Rabaul as described above. She may provide Zero CAP for the Milne Landing.

The Milne Landing Force is holding off for two days as Vindicators and some A-24 make their presence known out of Port Moresby. No damage but I do need CAP. Order my Betty and Nells (36 Planes) as well as a full Daitai of Zero to hit PM tomorrow.

Rabaul is building up as three TF unload troops and supplies here. Two more TF are on the way and a TK TF is now shuttling fuel to the base.

The remains of the 144th Inf Reg and large Base Force intended for Luganville but dropped at Lunga are loaded and now headed southeast to fully join-up with their units at Luganville. Fly in two Mavis Chutai to bring Search Coverage to this area so KB knows where to strike.

Philippines
Bataan: Air Strikes and Bombardment continues to wreak havoc on the troops here. A Deliberate Attack as soon as another ID arrives.

Eastern/Central DEI
Hiryu and Ryujo will arrive at Koepang tomorrow and refuel/reprovision.

The Dempasar Invasion Force lands tomorrow. Have another small Invasion Force moving to land at the small Java Port directly acrost from Dempasar.

Soerabaja: Four separate attacks angle in on the Dutch DDs present in the hex. Nells--Betty: No hits, Kates: Hit Kortenaer and Piet Hein once each, 21 Vals from Soryu's Air Group SINK both DDs.

Batavia: My wounded Chickies arrive at Batavia but Shoho gets the joys of a 500lb bomb hit from a Swordfish as a force of 4 Hurricanes and 2 Swordfish manage to evade my CAP of 22 Zero! Useless! If he tries anything NOW, 90 Fighters will find his planes and I am sure they will be able to achieve SOMETHING against those planes...

Cocos: 7 DDs sweep the hex but find no targets.

Malaya
Hex 49,76 falls to the Imperial Guards. The Tk Regiment follows the coast and Imp Guards move down the highway. 18th ID leaves Temoluh heading SW.

Burma
Troops gather at Moulmein.

Home Islands
The presence of Saratoga brings about a flurry of orders. 6th JNAF BF is loaded on Fast (18 Knot) AKs for Paramushiro Jima. 8th Combined SNLF (with GREAT CD) will be loaded tomorrow and sent to the Aleutians when the coast is clear. Two 24 Planes Jake Search Planes units are reraded at Tokyo to move north for serious air search. Alreay detailed the movement of other aircraft.

Damaged CVs:
Will do a daily chronicle to watch their repair status. Batavia: 2 Fleet HQ with nearly 450 Naval Support, Sz-6 Port, and an AR. Stand down the carriers and hook them up to the Repair Ship.

Soryu: Sys 26, Flot 38, Eng 3
Shoho: Sys 43, Flot 59, Eng 2
Zuiho: Sys 14, Flot 38, Eng 32


Thoughts? Comments? Suggestions???

[ny59giants]

My wounded Chickies arrive at Batavia but Shoho gets the joys of a 500lb bomb hit from a Swordfish as a force of 4 Hurricanes and 2 Swordfish manage to evade my CAP of 22 Zero

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

My wounded Chickies arrive at Batavia but Shoho gets the joys of a 500lb bomb hit from a Swordfish as a force of 4 Hurricanes and 2 Swordfish manage to evade my CAP of 22 Zero

Yaaa---Yaaaa-Yaaaa: SHUSH!

Darned side seat drivers...

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
January 10, 1942

Lew makes the ole college try at getting to my CVs in Batavia but all for nought. Looks like there is going to be some serious action around Suva.

North Pacific
Saratoga moves away and he sends in STF to Attu. No luck. My Cargo TF and AO make clean their escape. Have to see what he intends after this. Would like to hold Sara's attention up here for while but know she cannot get to anything vital for at 10-14 days. This is GOOD to know.

Central Pacific
Christmas is becoming a beehive for shipping. My I-Boats are getting cracks at various ships nearly everyday. Would love to put together TF of several cruisers and DD to make a solid hit here...will think on that some...

South Pacific
Two Japanese TF approaching Luganville. My Air Search there picks up at least 3 TF unloading at Suva with several warships spotted. YUM!

KB refuels and moves SSW of Noumea. This will take two days before I can attack. Intend to swing up on Suva from the SW. Zuikaku makes herself highly useful by being spotted heading towards Rabaul. Perhaps this will tell Lew it is OK to move west or stay longer at Suva. Since Zuikaku only has 3 DD as escorts right now I detach a CL and 3 DD from Rabaul to thicken her Screen some.

Port Moresby is hit by 15 Zero and 11 Betty. No opposition and they make a bomb run on the AF.

LOTS of shipping unloading or about to unload at Rabaul right now.

Philippines
Bataan gets hit by 90+ bombers and a 3rd ID FINALLY arrives. Order a Deliberate Attack for tomorrow. Have high hopes to lower Forts and, perhaps, get a 1-1 on the first assault here.

65th brigade is now headed to Mindanao and 2nd ID is almost loaded for Java.

Eastern DEI
Quiet. Hiryu and Ryujo will arrive at Koepang tomorrow.

Central DEI
North of Borneo, Balabac falls. That unit has been taking bases and I send it to grab the base SW of Tarakan.

The Denpasar Landing goes on without any interference. Looks GOOD. Will attack with 21st Brigade tomorrow.

Java
My noble opponent gives it the old college try as he sends 26 Fighters and 5 Bombers towards Batavia for my CVs. DENIED! Nearly 65 Fighters shoot down 16 planes for the cost of 2 Oscars. Bump CAP another 10% for tomorrow to, hopefully, teach the lesson about leaving my babies alone. To make a hit against the CVs even more difficult, I clear out Merak's Harbor of nearly 40 vessels and send them to Batavia's Harbor.

CV Healing:
Soryu moves from 26-38-3 to 25-36-3: Like seeing improvements in Sys and Flot.
Shoho sees improvement as well: 43-59-2 to 43-53-2
Zuiho goes slightly the wrong way: 14-38-32 to 14-38-33

China
The net closes on Loyang as it is now surrounded. Two Tk Regiments and an ID move into the road hex going to Sian. I order the 4 Inf Div, Army HQ, and 2 Artillery units to launch a Deliberate Attack.

If these are not enough then 2 more ID will join the attack from Chenchang in 2-3 days.

SS Ops
I-162 sinks AK Empire Raja with 3 Torps near Trivandrum.

[ny59giants]

Lew should have sent one group of fighters on sweep first. They may have not survived, but maybe they would have knocked your CAP level down somewhat.

[John 3rd]

True.

As we spoke yesterday, I have started an AF suppression campaign in Java. Looks like that strike flew in from the nearby base. Had recon check out the three closest AF and will do so again. I've got 3 27 plane Daitai of betty-Nell and a 36 Plane Sentai of Lily assigned to hit AF this turn. He won't be able to keep this up very long so we'll see what happens. Great way to finish off his striking power in the area I suppose!

[John 3rd]

Frustrating couple of days. I've had Friday, Saturday, and Sunday off but haven't seen a turn from Lew. REALLY want to play a turn and have been Jonesing badly...

[BigBadWolf]

While waiting for the turn, could you tell us a bit about Empire's R&D program?

[John 3rd]

Great Idea. Will make a few screenshots and Post them with thoughts/ideas.

Just heard back from Lew after three days of silence. He had been out without planning it so things are OK. Isn't that weird? You play with someone back-and-forth for years, get to know them and their lives somewhat, and then realize that if something happens to them you have no way of finding out if their has been an accident or tragedy. Makes one think a bit...

[John 3rd]

Here is the first screenshot for aircraft research. For planning purposes I expect to be in a knockdown-dragout air war of attrition over Australia by April 42. This is why I've seriously bumped production of A6M2, Oscar, Val, Kate, and Sally. Paras shall be used so I've got Topsy and Tina producing in higher numbers then normal. Air Search shall be a priority so Jakes are cranking out at nearly 50 a month with Mavis and Emily coming along as well. Will need to add some to the army recon birds. Betty and Nell are already in good shape at this point. Need decent numbers in the pools for the coming fight.

Looking forward we shall certainly need MISTER Tojo ASAP. There are five different locations working on the plane. My intention is to START production with about 200 planes a month. I shall also shift to Helen's quickly too. Like those planes over the Sally so am already raising production there.

[John 3rd]

Tojos are the 1942 solution but I need to bring my Franks forward as well as George. Got to look FORWARD so here are the Frank research centers:

[John 3rd]

George's are solid aircraft and so we work to bring them forward as well.

Remember that there is no Jack in this Mod as the Zero breaks into two differing development lines. The CV-variant goes from M2 to M5 while the Interceptor ground-based variant moves from M2-M3-M4. The M4 is a new Zero with differing characteristics. I used them to decent success in Lew and I's game that ran until May 1943.

[John 3rd]

While scrolling through the aircraft research screen I saw a bunch of things I need to cancel or change. For discussion's sake let me throw out a few questions for the readers:

1. What other aircraft do YOU consider essential in late-42, 1943, 1944? Is there a hidden gem (F, B, TB, etc...) that you think needs to be invested in seriously at the start of the war.
2. How about Army Recon Birds?
3. I favor Tina and Topsy for my Transports but I know others have far different opinions. Thoughts there?

Open to all sorts of possibilities...

[John 3rd]

I've already detailed my warship building planes so I don't need to go into that so how about OTHER things?

1. It is always good to develop some more Heavy Industry but I don't like to drawdown the Home Islands more then needed so I like to bump it in other locations on the map. Usually I add some in Manchuria, occupied China, and Indochina-Thailand.
2. Like to further develop those Repair Yards away from the Home Islands as well. Manila, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Soerabaja shall all be--at least--doubled in size.
3. Don't really see the value of increasing Light Industry. Does anyone have a strong feeling on that?

Feeding the economy is a job onto itself. I've already got regular convoys running from Sakhalin, Korea, and China. Am re-arranging the the TK for moving oil and fuel from the DEI. Will have to pull more AK over to haul resources as well. This will be a difficult one as I've converted a BUNCH of AK into transports so I can move large numbers of troops around for the coming Australia Venture. Got to watch that!