Racing the Sunrise: RA 4.0--Japanese Side

[John 3rd]

This shot shows the current state of construction. As soon as Yamato is complete I shall accelerate the late-war CVs and jostle the arrival dates of my three Shokaku-Kai carriers:





The picture also demonstrates the Japanese added construction as well. Under 4th Circle the Kaigun gains the 3 Sho-Kais, 2 new BC, 2 new CAs, and 4 more CLs (improved Agano-Class). Remember that there is no Shinano and no Taiho in this Mod.

[Historiker]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Date Sep 11 1942??? [X(]

[John 3rd]

Ooooops. Changed. Have no idea where I pulled that other VP Screen from. It should make much better sense now.

Thanks Historiker!

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
Suva Area
January 22, 1942

The second portion of the double punch at Suva shipping arrives in the form of BC's Kongo and Haruna with a CL and 4 DDs. They only find three ships (each in a TF) but it is a NICE haul! The BCs make short work of AOs Neches and Kanawha as well as AP Santa Barbara. Adding to the toal from the BBs yesterday makes this a pretty productive two days for the Kaigun with NO LOSS.

Shipping is spotted at Noumea. HECK: I've got lots of ammo left. Vector my heavies into that Port for some hunting!

[John 3rd]

January 23, 1942---Bataan: BANZAI!

Let the Australian adventure TRULY get underway..

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
January 22-23, 1942

Two outstanding turns played this weekend. Lew was wrapped up with his New Mexico Lobos and their bid within the tournament. Unfortunately things didn't work out for his team.

North Pacific
Attu gains the attention of two bombardments. The first is led by CL Helena and 3 DD while the second is BB Warspite and 4 DD. Minimal damage is done to the base.

There is an opportunity up here to bloody this portion of the Allied Fleet. Attu is progressing past Lvl-1. Am thinking of bringing in an Air Flotilla with TTs and trying to sink a few nice ships. Will have to fish around a bit for this but will see. Also have CV Junyo coming in fairly soon along with CVL Nisshin. Could up north be their 'Training' Cruise? Hmmm...probably not. Need to keep my eyes on the prize with Australia. Think it is better to opt for that Air Flotilla.

Central Pacific
Nada

South Pacific
As detailed earlier, BCs Kongo and Haruna sweep into the Suva area and sink two AOs as well as a large AP carrying troops. Nice work. Not much damage is done tot he AF.

Shipping spotted at Noumea so the BCs shall visit there tomorrow.

The New Caledonia Invasion Fleet is now 50% of the way to target. The Escort TF (2BB, 2 CA, 1 CL, 8 DD) caught-up and now the run-in towards La Foa and Koumac can really begin.

Land at Woodlark on the 23rd.

Lew is trying to put up a fight over Port Moresby. Several P-40 units have been flown in-and-out attempting to keep the fight going. I am flying Zero Sweeps, using Zuikaku's fihgters, from Madang. Shortly after the Sweep the strike arrives from Rabaul. Normally this consists of 27 Zero and 36 Bombers. The aerial fight and AF damage has been seeing 4-6 Allied Fighters and several A-24/Vindicators being destroyed each day. This is great. Want to see those Pools being whittled down before the main fight begins in Australia.

Philippines
Bataan: The last organized resistance ends with 34,448 Allies surrendering. Have any of you induced the end of ALL resistance on Luzon by January 23, 1942? WOW! BANZAI Baby!!!

Cagayan: My reinforcing Inf Div is about to enter this hex in Mindanao. Once it link-up with the 65th Brigade and 90th Inf Reg then the Allies shall be done for here as well. Figure 3-4 days for this to happen.

Within a week I shall have SIX Inf Div looking for something to do. The BEST part of this is that they are all at 85% or better in TOE strength.

Java
Troops moving.

Cocos Isle: A TF is approaching and I am sure Enterprise is nearby. Move my two CVs so they are six hexes away to strike the AK--APs coming in. To spice it up, I send in a BC and 3 DD to sweep Cocos and drive the TF away from the base. Will definitely see action here next turn...

Malaya
Imperial Guards are about to enter Malacca. Once those week units are destroyed then it is time to seriously look at moving into Johore Bharu. If he has his Aussies here then a forced retreat could spell a QUICK end to Singers as well.

Australia
Wyndham falls on the 23rd.

Corunna Downs falls on the 23rd as well.

Move to pick-up the 2 TK Reg used at Derby/Corunna and move them over to Wyndham so they can drive on Katherine.

China
Am housecleaning the units behind the lines (take hex 87,48 East of Sinyang) and preparing for the next action (Sian). Have got 4 Inf Div at Nanyang right now. Launch an attack on the 23rd and get a 1-1 and drop the Forts to ZERO. Next attack will take that base and then we are ready to move NW on Sian.

SS Operations
I-3 spots a STF of 3 CL and 3 DD moving up the east coast of Australia near Canberra on the 22nd.

Ro-33 SINKS AK Hailzones at Cocos with 2 TT on the 23rd.

I-4 sinks AP Kota Agoeng with 2 TT near Channel Isles off the West Coast of USA. Troops on board!

I-5 nearly does the same thing to the same convoy by hitting AP Kota Baroe with 1 TT (troops on board) one hex farther out from Channel Isles.

Engineering:
Changchun AF-4
Tarawa AF-2
Oosthaven AF-3 (finally)
Bihoro Pt-2

Damaged CV/CVLs
Soryu 15 Sys--36 Flot--0 Eng
Zuikaku 17 Sys--2 Flot--2 Eng
Shoho 37 Sys--53 Flot--2 Eng
Zuiho 7 Sys--38 Flot--31 Eng

PLANNING:

OK. Here we go. According to plan things are well on-track right now. Australia is a four-stage operation:

1. Mid-January: Take NW Australia (my 'normal' move), force troops to be committed up into Central Australia to keep me from driving down past Alice Springs. Build-Up Corunna Downs for use my aircraft and Paras with Stage 3.
2. Mid-February: Land at Cairns on the NE Coast with 2+ Inf Div to draw troops from the east Coast north. Goals are to drive south to Townsville and gain useful AF for Naval Para Operations supporting Stage 4.
3. Early-March: Land at Geraldton with 2+ Inf Div and rive towards Perth drawing more troops up the NW Corner of Australia. Operation to be supporting by the 1st and 2nd Raiding Regiments (Para) of the Army.
4. Late-March: DROP THE HAMMER by landing 6 Inf Div on either side of Sydney. SNLF Para Assault Division to support.

OOB:
Eastern Australian: 33rd, 38th, 48th, 21st, 56th ID plus the China Inf Div I have already bought out and is sailing to Rabaul currently.
Western Australia: 16th, 2nd, 4th ID.

Have 3 Inf Div at Malaya that will be free for movement once that Campaign is completed. Plan to send the Imperial Guards to reinforce 55th Inf Div assault in Burma. Will also have bought out two more Chinese Inf Div by Phase Four.

The 9th Air Fleet will support the Eastern Operations and shall depart Kyushu about February 5th. 11th Air Fleet is deployed now at Derby and will support the Western Operations.


Am really open for comments and ideas now. Bataan is gone and I have these troops--for the most part--NOW! This Operation WILL take place so I can use all the help I can get. What does the Imperial General Staff have to say?

[BigBadWolf]

Sounds like a plan. Too bad my honorable opponent Squamry is reading this, so I can't use it in our game. Or maybe I should apply reverse psychology?

What about China? My opponent is on offensive there and he's doing rather well, I'm ashamed to say....

[seille]

All i can say is you are very fast John !
I´m eager to see how the australian adventues works.

[John 3rd]

So AM I!

I've got to bring enough power to the final landing to grab bases FAST, however, the other landings have got to be strong enough to force him to move stuff toward Alice Springs, Perth, and Townsville. Have got to clear the board.

The CVs will work to blockade and intercept shipping and reinforcements. Really want to account for an American CV or two before Stage Three or Four...

[obvert]

This will be fun to watch!

I like the plans. It's amazing you can do this so early. That I think is certainly the key. Just looked in an Allied Scen 1 game, and not sure if this mod is similar, but at that time the Aussies have only a bunch of understrength brigades and some small armor units. Unless a lot of US stuff gets here before that, you could have an easy time of it after landing.

I'm feeling a bit envious of this position you've achieved! It would be a LOT of fun to have southern OZ secured by May and mop-ups in June. Can't wait!

[ny59giants]

The question will be if phase 2 or 3 wakes up Lew to the possibility of Australia being invaded AND can he get significant reinforcement in there?? He gets the new AIF Infantry squads at 55/month starting in Feb '42. He has the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Divisions to upgrade. Will he send the 5th and 6th Divisions to India from Aden?? His small armor units will be upgraded at the time of the invasion. They will help even though they don't have the raw Assault Value. How much pressure can Lew apply from India into Burma?? How many pets and small children will John need to sacrifice to the "dice gods" for this to work??

Lots of good questions to be answered.

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: obvert

This will be fun to watch!

I like the plans. It's amazing you can do this so early. That I think is certainly the key. Just looked in an Allied Scen 1 game, and not sure if this mod is similar, but at that time the Aussies have only a bunch of understrength brigades and some small armor units. Unless a lot of US stuff gets here before that, you could have an easy time of it after landing.

I'm feeling a bit envious of this position you've achieved! It would be a LOT of fun to have southern OZ secured by May and mop-ups in June. Can't wait!

This is not a foregone conclusion and the correct question is how much US material and troops can he get there? I know that one major convoy dropped troops off at Christmas and then the SAME convoy went on to Suva. These are the APs I have been hitting and sinking.

To help the cause, I have deployed nearly a dozen I-Boats into NZ and Aussie waters. I have another 8-10 on the way. Once I consolidate Exmouth and take Noumea, I will make them Sub bases for quick turn around of missions for a force multiplier.

The KB--CarDiv1 and CarDiv5 will work the waters between NZ and Aust while whatever CVs I can scrape together will do the same around Perth and south of there.

[John 3rd]

Answering Michael's points, I need to make it LOOK like I am heavily pushing into Burma. We must convince Lew to commit those two Aussie ID to there and NOT Australia.

There will be over 4-500 planes committed to this attack. I WILL have aerial supremacy!

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Answering Michael's points, I need to make it LOOK like I am heavily pushing into Burma. We must convince Lew to commit those two Aussie ID to there and NOT Australia.

There will be over 4-500 planes committed to this attack. I WILL have aerial supremacy!

Will you use sigint subterfuge and what are some of your ideas for this? I'm almost afraid to prep for anything I really want knowing how good the info reports are for the Allies. I always use waypoints far from the destination and at times only begin prep when the units are on the ships.

[Squamry]

I'm interested in your view of China as well. As BBW says I've had some success in China in our game, but I do not think I would be able to do that in GC1 or 2. Some isolated units have gone on the rampage. If the Chinese can get at the rear/garrison troops they can do ok, even with no supply. If they face frontline troops they get kicked badly around the park.

Because of the extra numbers I really think it is important for Japan to clear all the "partisan" corps from their rear, but you don't want to be too distracted from the main production targets in China. Osolated corps can be striong enough to be a real nuisance and will take a while to die. Supply is such a rare commondiy for the Chinese every effort should be taken to reduce their industrial capacity. I was only half joking when I suggested that Lew deliberately got many thousands of troops to surrender. Too many mouths to feed.

[John 3rd]

From Day ONE I have had units prepping for any invasion point I can think of: Columbo, Trivandrum, Akyab, Perth, Port Kembla, etc... I am hoping for signals 'clutter' to mask the ones I truly want. Have to say that I have been prepping two for India to every one for Australia. Keep in mind that I shall still have the Invasion Bonus for my Landings. This is the key to the whole thing...

Michael (NY GIANTS) is starting an RA 4.0 game right now and has found that most of the Chinese and Indian units are starting at full strength. There is no rhyme or reason to this. Some are but not all. It means I've got to go back through and change things back to how they are supposed to be. Even with this bonus to the Allies, I have truly pushed Lew around in this theatre. I think he simply HATES China and lets me do it knowing I'll declare a Cease Fire at some point.

You are correct in clearing out the units behind the Japanese Line. Will do that once the Sian Operation is fully underway.

[Historiker]

I always use some units to masquerade my intentions. An opponent asked me once whether I want to invade the West Coast, because 3 Divisions planned for San Francisco [;)]

Garrisons may fight less good if unprepared, but if you scatter your preparings this way, you might hide your intentions - that's my hope [;)]

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
January 24-25, 1942

The Philippines have been a very pleasant surprise in this campaign to date. I have to admit I may try going for the early knockout HERE instead of Malaya from this point on. A massed commitment of 6 ID really took care of business quickly.

North Pacific
Have a STF at Attu covering a supply convoy. AF is moving up towards 2 at a 10% clip a day.

Central Pacific
An I-Boat spots shipping at Christmas Isle. Send my small Strike Force of 6 DD after whatever might be present there. It is a risk but perhaps I can get lucky and tangle with a supply or troop convoys. More TK and AOs would be nice to sink as well...

South Pacific
No major action. Sweep into Noumea with BBs and find nothing. No air presence either. KNOCK WOOD but this looks like an easy grab. I have a pair of BBs protecting the La Foa and Koumac Invasion Forces. They are 2 days away presently. My CVs made it to Rabaul, picked up new planes, fueled, replenished sorties. To an immediate turn-around to cover the Landings and then they'll get some time to rest before making a sweep of the Eastern Aussie coast.

Hitting PM every day and knocking down P-40s for little cost.

Grab Woodlark and begin to take those bases in the Central Coral Sea area.

I-3 reports a STF moving past Sydney on the 25th. She states it is made up of 5 US DDs. Could this be a Carrier TF? Hmmm... It is far enough away from New Caledonia that I should have my CVs present if this TF takes swipe in that direction.

Philippines
All Luzon Infantry and Artillery headed to Manila for R&R and then loading. MSW are working on the mines at Bataan. Lost a MSW to them on the 24th. Lots of shipping just waiting to get into the Port once the mines are dealt with.

NOTE: While waiting for Bataan to fall I expanded the Repair Yard there to 40. Had the supply and always like yards that are closer to the action. It is ready for business once the mines are clear.

The 16th ID takes Cagayan on its first attack on the 25th. Mindanao is now clear as well. Order shipping down here to grab the 16th. It, and a Tk Reg, will reinforce the Java Campaign. 90th Inf Reg moves down to clear up the stalemate at Tarakan while 65th Brigade will deal with the Central Philippines.

January 25, 1942 and the Philippines are MINE. BANZAI!

Java
Troops moving with Bombers hitting Soerabaja and troops concentrations.

Cocos Isle is ever productive as BC Kirishima sinks an AK before delivering a NASTY bombardment. CVs are now moving around Cocos slowly moving NW.

Malaya
Will take Malacca next turn.

Burma
I've got 55th ID concentrated with a Tk Reg at Moulmein. Order it to cross the river and advance on Rangoon.

China
Take hex 86,47 and force a retreat there clearing the road.

Attack Nanyang twice on these days. The attacks drive the Forts to ZERO and just barely misses the 2-1 result. Will rest and attack again in a few days. Have got Bombers hitting this area every day.

Sub Ops
I-156 hits AK Khandalla with 1 TT near Cocos.

Engineering
Mersing AF-1
Madang AF-3

Reinforcements:
Maizuru completes DD Niizuki. Order it to Kobe to wait for Junyo, Nisshin, and Yamato.

Damaged CVs
Soryu: 14 Sys, 36 Flot, 0 Eng
Shoho: 36 Sys, 53 Flot, 2 Eng
Zuiho: 5 Sys, 38 Flot, 31 Eng
Zuikaku: 17 Sys, 1 Flot, 2 Eng

[ny59giants]

Damaged CVs
Soryu: 14 Sys, 36 Flot, 0 Eng
Shoho: 36 Sys, 53 Flot, 2 Eng
Zuiho: 5 Sys, 38 Flot, 31 Eng
Zuikaku: 17 Sys, 1 Flot, 2 Eng

Can we get the major damage for each??

[John 3rd]

Sure:

Soryu: 36 Flot
Shoho: 53 Flot
Zuiho: 38 Flot and 31 Eng
Zuikaku: Flot 1 and Eng 1