Days of Infamy--RA Scen 70

[John 3rd]

Thanks Stanislav.

The biggest thing I have found is to keep the SS moving about. Feel like Doenitz at times shifting my SS from area-to-area. I've got big groupings (12+) where the action is heavy (IO and Aleutians) but the rest are kept moving around in packs of 3-6 boats.

Have to get into your opponent's head and say 'where would I be moving supply and fuel right now?' It is this thinking that is leading me to shift my focus into the south and southeast Pacific for my next area of interest.

Also don't forget to use your Glens and AMCs. Most of the AMCs have floatplanes and that can really help to find a shipping lane...

[ny59giants]

To: Admiral Cochran

From: Retired Economics Minister Benoit

Re: Your economic woes

Admiral,

Due to your economic woes, this minister has answered the call from the Emperor to restore the economy to a well oiled machine. Tracker is your friend, not your enemy. [:D]

Minister Benoit

[John 3rd]

The above commentary is correct. Minister Benoit has been brought out of retirement (at his suggestion) due to the total and complete incompetence of the Imperial Government in fighting a war AND running an economy. One is going quite well and the OTHER...

Due to life being so NUTS I had decided to abandon the AAR, however, Minister Benoit's message provokes me to re-think that position and renew the log. This process, hopefully, will begin tonight or tomorrow.

Current Game Date is July 16, 1942.

Back as soon as time allows for a regional update and description of the horrific pain being inflicted upon my evil and vile Allied Opponent! [:D]

[John 3rd]

Just loaded Tracker for the 7/21 Turn and got this EXCELLENT news:





Bring in Mister Tojo one month earlier--THANK YOU!

[John 3rd]

The Aleutians have massively calmed down after I forced the surrender of 9,000 American troops NE of Cold Bay in early-June. The Japanese have withdrawn most of their extra units to the south, pulled all heavy combatants, and have spent the months of June-July shuffling units to differing bases and settling onto the defensive.

Two beat-up American units got away and are up at Port Heiden where I flew in 500 troops from 52nd Brigade to keep them from easily escaping. Bomb them with a Betty Daitai everyday and that is about it.

Major units committed in this region:
1. The Chinese 68th Inf Div, 52nd Brig, and about a Division's worth of additional units spread through the chain.

2. Main bases are Dora Harbor, Cold Bay, and Adak.

3. Aerial Component: 2 Daitai of Zero, 2 Sentai of Oscars, 2 Daitai of Betty, Chutai of Kates, and about 24 Mavis/Emily.

4. Naval Component: 2 CA, 2 CL, 8 DD, and 12 I-Boats.

There have a been a BUNCH of American SS around here and I have my Bettys and Kates flying 20% ASW getting hits about every other day. Not too bad.

After Lew made a fight up here the region really went Japan's way with the surrender of about 15,000 American troops in total and the sinking of a bunch of shipping.

Expect Lew to counterattack in this region. There are a bunch of units at Kodiak and Anchorage. My bases are all well dug-in, have over 20,000 supply, and I can readily reinforce them. Base Defense ranges from 100-350 in Assault Value...

[John 3rd]

This arena has heated up the last six weeks or so. I moved my CVs (CarDiv1 and CarDiv3) into the region and found the Allies heavily entrenched and quite strong at Canton, Pago Pago, and Suva. This recon netted about 10 merchant ships, the shooting down of about 100 Allied aircraft, and a big, fat 1,000lb Bomb on CV Junyo's deck.

Have got CarDiv1 (Akagi/Kaga/Nisshin)almost home so they can get their upgrades (adding 3.9" AA! [;)]) and CarDiv3 (Junyo/Hiyo) about 3 days behind them.

The recon showed Luganville and Efate empty of Allied units. To stretch the Allied supply lines as well as keep Lew nervous I just landed at Luganville and will take it tomorrow. Will see how he reacts...

The map below provides details for my major bases and their units in this region. Have at sea two major TF also detailed below:

[John 3rd]

The Battle for NW Australia is over.

The Japanese landed at Wyndham and then drove due east to grab Katherine. At this point there were just 3 Ing Brigade/Regiment in the assault. A lucky recon spotted not 1, not 2, but THREE Aussie Inf Div at Daly Waters moving north. As quickly as marching boots could move I dug-in at Katherine and held off these soldiers. They were at the end of their supply line and I had about 80 Fighters and 125 Bombers pounding them out in the open from Wyndham and Katherine. It was a near thing.

Finally had Java surrender so then I invaded Darwin with 38th ID and 3 other Inf Regiments. With nowhere to go I got a surrender of over 8,000 troops! Don't know why Lew didn't pull them earlier but I did bag them.

The 38th was immediately pulled for India Operations but the remaining 3 Inf Regiments then grabbed everything west to Exmouth Bay. Additionally, the 90th Inf Reg of Manchuria arrived and Imperial troops then drove south to capture Daly Waters about July 1st.

The 3 Aussie ID were forced to retreat three times, were bombed for days, and are a shambles. I am digging in at Daly Waters.

Gave serious thought to moving on to try for Tennant Creek but then I would be at the end of the supply line! Think this is good enough. Have started redeploying troops and aircraft to other locations.

I plan to keep 4 Reg/Brigades here with 1 TK Reg, and an Army HQ. This should suffice to hold things for quite a while...

[FatR]

I think landing at Luganville alone is not a very good idea. This is just extending the defensive line for little benefit. Then again, recently I have doubts about general value of New Caledonia/Fiji/Pago Pago/New Hebrides region. Even if you take it all, there is always another base which Allies can build up and from which they can stage a counterattack. Noumea is even reachable from Australia. Advancing further to Tahiti is logistically crippling and will leave Japanese perimeter outstretched and exposed.

Anyway, good to see this AAR back!

[John 3rd]

I concur with you Stanislav! Thanks for the thoughts.

I am making this move to keep Lew on his toes. My defense line starts at Lunga and Tabit. If my opponent shows any pattern to his operations he will respond aggressively where I can further bleed his aircraft and shipping. Call it an invasion designed to evoke a response. Now we'll see if it works...

Does feel nice to be updating the AAR again. Consider Minister Benoit's fault!

[John 3rd]

Submarine Tally Sheet
07-21-42

Ro-Class
Ro-60
AK Henry Grove 02-21-42 Christmas Isle
TK Mobil Fuel 03-11-42 Christmas Isle

Ro-63
AK Empire Hamble 03-07-42 Exmouth
AK Coast Farmer 03-14-42 Newcastle


Ro-65
AP 12-10-41 NE Aust

Ro-66
DD La Triomphant 02-03-42 Suva

Ro-68
AP Mataroa 02-02-42 Horn Island

Ocean Going-Boats
I-2
DD Schley 02-24-42 Suva
AK Florence 03-11-42 Suva

I-3
AP Ormiston (Partial) 12-09-41 106,169
AP 12-10-41 103,172
CL Boise 12-26-41 Balikpapan

I-4
AK Waipo 01-30-42 West Coast
AK Admiral Lewis 01-30-42 West Coast

I-6
AO Neches 01-10-42 West Coast
CM Oglala 02-19-42 Newcastle, Aust

I-7
APD Waters 12-09-41 West of San Diego

I-8
AK Meigs 12-17-41 Suva
AP Bloemfontein 12-18-42 Suva
AK Californian 01-17-42 Suva
AK Kansan 01-17-42 Suva
Part. AK 01-17-42 Suva

I-10
PG 03-23-42 Nagai Isle

I-15
CA Northampton 02-15-42 Cold Bay

I-16
AK Maldiva 01-31-42 Mandalore
AP Van Cloon 01-31-42 Mandalore
AK 02-19-42 Columbo
AK Steel Inventor 03-01-42 Mandalore

I-18
AK Bellerophon 02-01-42 India
TK Athelmere 03-09-42 Bombay
AK Baroda (Dam) 06-18-42 Cochin
TK British Colonel (Dam) 06-29-42 Karachi
TK Inge Maersk 07-01-42 Karachi

I-20
CL Enterprise 01-21-42 Ceylon
AK Chilka 02-26-42 Columbo
AKL Agnes 02-26-42 Columbo
AK Indira 02-26-42 Columbo
AKL Chaksang 02-27-42 Columbo
AK Edward Luchenbach 03-01-42 Columbo
AK Santa Elisa 03-01-42 Columbo
BB New Mexico (SUNK—3 Torp) 05-19-42 Madras

I-21
AP Mangana 04-23-42 Melbourne

I-23
AK Williams 05-10-42 Palmyra
AK Jacob Luchenback 05-16-42 Palmyra
TK Camden 07-01-42 Christmas Isle

I-26
TK Connecticut 03-04-42 Kodiak
DD Dent 05-24-42 Anchorage

I-32
TK Marina (Damaged) 06-12-42 Karachi
AK Nils Moller (Dam) 07-19-42 Karachi



Minelayers
I-121
AVP Poolster 12-08-41 NE Palembang

I-122
TK Iris 12-08-41 Off Bataan

I-123
AKL 12-09-41

I-124
AKL Bisangas 12-08-41 Off Jolo
AKL Anakin 12-08-41 Off Jolo


Regular SS
I-153
AS Holland 12-10-41 NE Soer
AO Tan 1 12-11-41 SE Balik
BB Warspite (SUNK—4 TT) 05-17-42 Columbo
AK Clan MacNeil 06-12-42 Ceylon
AK St. Essylt 06-12-42 Ceylon

I-155
CL Dragon 12-07-41 Muntok
CV Lexington (1 Torp) 04-07-42 Bay of Bengal

I-156
AP Hong Siang 12-12-41 Ceylon
AK Floridian 02-27-42 Ceylon
DD Van Ghent 03-11-42 Ceylon

I-157
AK Trieste 02-28-42 Koggala

I-158
AK Damaged 12-12-41 Kendari
AK Clan Alpine 01-02-42 IO
AKL 02-17-42 IO
AKL Ardent 02-26-42 Columbo
AKL Selma City 03-01-42 Madras
AKL Wosang 03-01-42 Madras

I-160
CV Saratoga (2 Torps) 04-17-42 Columbo
AK Hupeh 05-15-42 Trivandrum
AK Troilus 06-24-42 Koggala

I-162
AP Australia Star 12-16-42 DEI

I-164
AKL Santa Ana 03-02-42 Melbourne
CA New Orleans (1 Torp) 05-10-42 Madras

I-165
TK 12-10-41 East of Palem
DD Pakenham 05-13-42 Trivandrum
AK Jaaganga 05-17-42 Ceylon

I-166
AK Clan McDavish 07-01-42 Trivandrum

I-168
DD Monaghan 01-19-42 Suva
TK M. Storey 03-01-42 Kodiak

I-169
AK Coastal Farmer 12-16-41 Pago Pago

I-170
AK Havildar 05-19-42 Cochin
AK Clan MacBrayne 06-12-42 Trivandrum
AK Jalapol 07-01-42 Trivandrum

I-172
SS Argonaut 12-11-41 West of PH
AK Panaman 05-04-42 Victoria
AK Mount McKinley 06-12-42 Coal Harbor

I-175
AK Alcoa Polaris 07-11-42 Christmas Isle


Lost Boats
I-162 sunk by Brit ASW 07-29-42
I-29 sunk by Mines at Sydney 04-15-42

Totals
CV---Saratoga
BB—Warspite, New Mexico
CA—Northampton, New Orleans
CL—Boise, Enterprise, Dragon
DD—La Triomphant, Monaghan, Schley, Dent, Van Ghent, Pakenham,
SS—Argonaut
APD—1
AP—8
AK—36
AKL—10
TK—9
AO—2
AS—1
AVP—1
PG—1
CM—1


Comments:
1. From May 30th to July 21st the Japanese SS added 3 TK (2 more damaged) and 9 AK (with 1 damaged). My sinkings have slowed down but they still are happening.

2. Only losing two I-Boats to this point in the war is pretty amazing.

3. Am fighting more-and-more Brit ASW and I am having boats damaged but very few sunk to this point.

[BigBadWolf]

John, can you post little something about IJN destroyer classes and how do you use them?

[John 3rd]

Hey Sir.

I could certainly do that, however, I am getting ready for work. Let me get there and I'll Post something later in the day.

The one thing I will say is to try to gather your long-legged DDs with good AA to help your Carrier TF. At the start of the war you don't have TOO many DD that fit that description but there are enough to provide escorts for the carriers.

Will toss something specific out later when I get the chance.

[John 3rd]

Allied shipping has dried up near many Japanese bases; however, the recent capture of Luganville prompted a reinforcement of Noumea. There are 7-8 Japanese SS Patrolling the area and the Convoy was spotted about a day out of the base.

From Luganville out stood a Japanese STF built around the veteran BatDiv3. As expected the Allies made Port and were promptly crushed! All Allied ships were sunk (2 AP, 5 AK, and 2 AM) and nearly 1,000 casualties were reported as well as 24 planes destroyed.

Not too bad...

[John 3rd]

Japanese Carrier TF Organization
Late-July 1942

After the Battle of the Bay of Bengal (American losses: Enterprise, Hornet, Lexington, and Saratoga British Losses: Formidable and CVL Hermes) in April of 1942, the Japanese lost veteran CVs Hiryu and Soryu. Score: 5 CV and 1 CVL for 2 CV. Since that time the Allies haven't committed any carrier to a single situation and the Japanese just got their final 1942 carrier reinforcement of CVL Ryujo.

Many people have differing views of how to organize and use the KB once mid-to-late 1942 occurs. This Admiral has opted for the following TF Organization:

CarDiv1--Akagi/Kaga/Ryujo with 183 Planes

CarDiv3--Junyo/Hiyo/Ryuho with 165 Planes

CarDiv5--Shokaku/Zuikaku/Shoho with 174 Planes

CarDiv4--
(A)Nisshin/Zuiho with 60 Planes
(B)CVE Taiyo/Unyo with 58 Planes

Div 1-3-5 have at least a BC, 3 CA, 1 CL, 1 CS, and 8-10 DD

Div 4 works in two TF with a CA, CL, and 5-6 DD


Though the Allied Carriers have been sorely hurt there still remain Yorktown, Wasp, Indomitable, and several other smaller flattops. Any deployment of the Japanese CV will now consist of a minimum of two Divisions working together so that there is enough firepower to sink anything that they might encounter yet defend themselves well against incoming aerial assault.

Note: In RA the first CV Upgrade is a big one where the KB gets their old 5" guns removed and have new 3.9" AA guns added. This is a serious upgrade that removes each CV for over a month of game-time. CarDiv5 go in May and CarDiv1 in June...

[John 3rd]

In this game Lew and I agreed to a complete stopping of Offensive action during the Monsoon months in Burma. It has led to some interesting decisions and choices. Since the Japanese Offensive had to end June 1st, not all of Burma was taken. When the Monsoon ends on October 1st things will start anew.

I've used the downtime to dig-in, expand my AF, and stockpile supplies. Rangoon is being expanded to the maximum and I am pulling Oil/Fuel/Resources from it regularly.

The HR we agreed upon are pretty extreme and I really LIKE them. It is much more realistic then what the game tries and, in my opinion, fails to achieve.

[John 3rd]

India
July 28, 1942
Japanese Summer Offensive

The single hardest thing to update within this AAR is the all-out brawl that is eastern India! Seemingly a decade ago the Japanese staged the favored Left-Hook that Michael and I have spoken on for quite some time. While the Allies were fighting for southern Burma a Japanese Expeditionary Force attempted to grab Diamond Harbor, Calcutta, and Chittagong in a coups-de-main.

Didn't happen.

The Japanese came within a WHISKER of taking Calcutta (Shock Attack missing 2-1 by FOUR lousy points... ), however, the Allies were able to move units in and stabilize the front. Everything from Jessore east was taken except Ledo in the far east. The Monsoon stopped that from happening.

For a while things quieted down while the massive naval battle in the Bay of Bengal played out in mid-April. Japanese reinforcements took some serious time in arriving due to over-extending the army by attacking Java, NW Australia, Burma, finishing the Philippines, AND India. Big mistake on my part...

OK. Patience is a virtue so I decided to bring in BF, HQ, and Engineers. These guys have been building up every base and prepping for the summer offensive. Nearly 150,000 supply was brought in and on or about July 1st the campaign began. This is a BIG fight. Forces committed:

Army Forces
Southern Army HQ
2nd Area Army
2nd Army, 14th Army, and 25th Army
Infantry Divisions: 2nd, 4th, 5th, 16th, 38th, 48th, 68th (China), and 70th (China)
Brigades/Regiments: 65th, 17th, 21st, and 112th Reg
Tank Regiments: 7

The 1st Tank Division (Manchuria) and another Brigade (China) are currently at sea heading to India.

There are numerous Air Divisions, Engineers, Base Forces, and other support units spread throughout.

Over 500 Combat Aircraft (300 Fighters and 200 Bombers) have been in action in the Theatre.

It has been a wild ride over the last three weeks! The Japanese launched a diversionary attack grabbing Patna and drawing nearly a dozen LCU in that direction. Troops then crossed the river while the Main Body attacked toward Jessore and the 55,36 hex. The goal for the entire Offensive was Asanol.

Though stunned by the opening of the offensive, Lew quickly regained his balance and began counterpunching as fast as possible. He moved into the area every plane that can fly. Massive furballs have erupted with the Japanese holding a 2-2.5-1 advantage in victories. Allied pilot XP must be terrible. The major equalizer has been his medium bombers. Those damned things cause serious havoc with disrupting my troops! The 4EB haven't been too bad since I have 40-75 Fighters on CAP over my major bases at Diamond Harbor, Chittagong, and Dacca.

Two days ago the Japanese attempted to take hex 55,36 and failed badly. Lew's counter at Patna has retaken it and he is now driving towards Darjeeling and Rangpur. This is a major problem and it has succeeded in diverting me.

I've decided to move to counter his sweep against my Right and while re-establishing my line along the river. The map below details my objectives (Red), his counters (Black), and my planned live (pink).

The plan to counter HIS counter, hold the line, rebuild, and then attack again. Perhaps I can beat-up more of his units. Considering how much I don't like land combat this has been fun, challenging, and quite something to watch.

Allied UNITS mauled or Destroyed in this Campaign: 2 Indian Brigades, a UK Division, 3 Indian Brigades, an Aussie Division, and a UK TK Brig.

[ny59giants]

A book will be out in Summer '11 about the follies of land campaigns in India.[:D]

[BigBadWolf]

Oh, man, land war in Asia. China wasn't enough for you? [:)]

[ny59giants]

John will be going through summer school again this year on "How NOT to run the Japanese economy into the Ground."

He has gotten about a C- or D+ in ground combat, so he may need a class for that too. [;)]

[John 3rd]

I've got delicate feeling ya know...

I'd actually give myself a C+ on Ground Combat which is a full letter grade higher then normal. I have, after all, swept the Chinese out of all my objectives there.

With the economy...at least I didn't screw it up at the end of Dec 1941! It took almost ten months this time. That is four months longer then in Dan and I's game.

See there are improvements everywhere. They might be in remedial courses but they are improvements.