Castles in the Sand - Spidery(J) vs MrKane(A) no MrKane please

[Spidery]

ORIGINAL: temagic

Thanks for writing this AAR Spidery. I'm enjoying it. Was following Cribtop's excellent AAR but as it is now closed after he secured a Japanese victory, I've been visiting many AARs here on this forum looking for the new Jap AAR one to follow. With yours, I've found it.

Thanks again. Reading AARs is the only way I can enjoy this game (I own it, but can't play it due to mental health issues). It's a great game though.

Glad you enjoy it.

What do you have in theater in Burma? I might have missed it, but was it two divisions and one cav regiment?

Too little[:D] Two divisions, 4 armoured/recce units and sundry AT guns and small stuff plus a shed load of AA. Another division is about 15 days from arriving. 2 regiments and 2 brigades are heading from China and will arrive in about a month. 2 Divisions in China are slated to move to Burma once they have eliminated isolated Chinese forces.

If you could write a summary of your division placements it would be greatly appreciated.

1 at each of Horn Island, Port Moresby, Cocos Islands, Port Blair, Noumea. 1/3 with the rest of the division to come as PP are available at each of Adak and Amchitka Island. 3 in North Australia. 2 in Burma plus one on route. 2 divisions that start with split HQ have not been rebuilt and are spread around.

Been a good game thus far. Too bad you lost the Kitakami and that CV raid on northern Japan was a pain. Also, you seem to be dropping pilots in bulk[8D]. What are your plans for taking out the mobile airfields the allies have used to attack the Home Islands?

Keep posting[:)]

The Kitakami loss was really stupid.[:(] The CV raid was a gutsy move by MrKane that I quite enjoyed.

I have lost 485 pilots (KIA or MIA) and 852 aircraft. In this time I have had about 1000 pilots graduate from basic training. So my loss rate is about what I expected and I have no problem with it as such. What annoys me is the number of times I have lost aircraft without doing damage to the Allies. However, it is all a good learning experience.

I have no plans for taking out the CVs. My original plan was to do so well in China to force the Allies to attack in 42 with inadequate strength, to avoid the auto-victory, and get an ambush in. Everything depends upon what MrKane does.

[Spidery]

April 21st 1942

Air Losses: 0 Japanese, 1 Allied, 0 Pilots
Japanese occupy: Erromango(auto)
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:

[>:]

Turns are quiet because I have taken to grounding aircraft if the forecast is for thunderstorms. This gives them a chance to recover plane fatigue. However, I'm not sure if there is any correlation between the forecast and actual weather.

China

Lots of ground attacks, in no cases are the Chinese forced back but all have useful results. On the road between Lanchow and Kungchang a unit of 30cm guns manages to lose nearly all of its tractors - expensive.

Engineering

Allies expand lots of bases. Notable are Chittagong to airfield 5. Auckland to airfield 7 (useful VP multiplier for Allies).

R&D

Start research on the H8K2. Plan to jump from H6K4 direct to this as the final PA model. Won't have engine bonus for a couple of days.

[Spidery]

April 22nd 1942

Air Losses: 0 Japanese, 1 Allied, 0 Pilots
Japanese occupy:
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at: Merauke

[>:]

China

Quiet

Burma

CAs bombard Cox's Bazaar. Mostly disrupt troops, 1 vehicle destroyed. Confirms 6th Australian Division is there.

Pacific

A CV task force is detected by a Glen just North of New Zealand.

Engineering

Quiet for a change.

R&D

A6M5 accelerated to 9/42.
Mitsubishi Ha-43 accelerated to 5/45.

[Spidery]

Engine Production

Engine production at the moment:

Ha-31 - 55
Ha-32 - 210
Ha-33 - 193
Ha-34 - 291
Ha-35 - 401

R&D
Aichi Ha-60 - 40
Ha-43 - 120
Ha-45 - 120
Ha-44 - 110

According to my calculations I need to expand Ha-35 production by about 40 more and Ha-33 by quite a bit more but the other producing factories are sufficient.

For example, with the Ha-34 I am currently producing 15 Helen 1a and have 5 Tojo and 3 Helen factories using the R&D engine bonus. So the pool at the moment remains steady at about 650. When the Helen IIa comes into production there will be increased demand but the pool should stay above 500 until the Tojo IIc is researched. At that point demand will have dropped so I will change a factory over to a new aircraft. The Helen transport comes available about the time I will change from producing Tojos to Franks so demand won't increase particularly.

[Spidery]

April 23rd 1942

Air Losses: 3 Japanese, 2 Allied, 0 Pilots
Japanese occupy: Merauke, Lolobato
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:

China

Quiet

Burma

Quiet

Pacific

Two transport task forces are found near Norfolk Island by Nells from Noumea. 3 xAP and 2 xAKL are sunk, all small stuff for only 18 VP.

Engineering

Manila airfield to 4. Prome airfield to 2. Christmas Island IO airfield to 1.
Allies expand Ledo airfield to 5 and lots more.

R&D

Ha-32 pool exceeds 500 and starts contributing engine bonus.

[Spidery]

April 24th 1942

Air Losses: 0 Japanese, 4 Allied, 0 Pilots
Japanese occupy:
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:

Allied air losses include two Catalinas lost to flak. The Allies most days suffer small ops losses of DC-2, Hudson-III(LR), and Catalinas. I expect this indicates some aircraft are flying supplies over the hump.

China

Quiet

Burma

Quiet

Pacific

Quiet

Engineering

Quiet

R&D

Not much here either

[Spidery]

April 25th 1942

Air Losses: 1 Japanese, 1 Allied, 0 Pilots
Japanese occupy:
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:

China

An attack shows promise in the woods West of Ankang.

Burma

Drive the 9th Burma Rifles Battalion back across the river near Imphal.

East Pacific

A most peculiar series of surface combats somewhere East of Pearl. It starts with:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Hilo at 196,116, Range 9,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Samidare, Shell hits 1, on fire
AMC Asaka Maru
AMC Kiyosumi Maru
AMC Nosiro Maru, Shell hits 1
AMC Saigon Maru

Allied Ships
CV Formidable

Improved night sighting under 75% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 75% moonlight: 12,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 9,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
DD Samidare engages CV Formidable at 10,000 yards
DD Samidare engages CV Formidable at 10,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
AMC Nosiro Maru engages CV Formidable at 12,000 yards
AMC Nosiro Maru engages CV Formidable at 12,000 yards
AMC Asaka Maru engages CV Formidable at 12,000 yards
Allied Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...

Continues with a series of battles during the night from which the Formidable flees while inflicting significant damage with its 4.5 inch guns. The DD Samidare launches its torpedoes in the first attack but misses. A single 15cm hit is scored on the Formidable.

In the day the combat is:

Day Time Surface Combat, near Hilo at 196,114, Range 18,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
AMC Asaka Maru, Shell hits 12, on fire, heavy damage
AMC Kiyosumi Maru, Shell hits 3
AMC Nosiro Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire
AMC Saigon Maru, Shell hits 2

Allied Ships
CV Formidable, Shell hits 1 [a belt armour hit from a 15cm gun]

This time the CV doesn't flee but instead closes the range and rains shattering fire on the AMC. One of the AMC still has its torpedoes on board never using them through 5 engagements[:@]. A couple of the ships may be able to make it to safety if not attacked again but most are doomed[:(].

Why is the Formidable traveling unescorted?

I conclude that AMC do not make effective raiders[8|].

South Pacific

American carriers raid Noumea. SS I-160 (in for repairs) and 2 AMc are sunk outright and an AV takes serious damage. Despite having 50 heavy AA guns at Noumea, no Allied planes are shot down by flak.

The Nells and Zeroes at Noumea fail to launch any attacks.

Engineering

Shimushiri-Jima airfield expands to 3.
Lots of expansions by Allies. Suva reaches level 8. Chittagong level 6.

[Spidery]

Trying to decide why the Formidable was there by itself. The only thing I can think of is that it arrived at Cape Town he transferred it off map and it had entered from the off map entry box.

Which means it is probably heading West.

[setloz]

Did DD Samidare split from the TF after taking just one shell hit in the first engagement?

The AMC have very poor crew experience and therefore might not get a roll to launch torpedoes. They are decent at hitting unescorted transports but will sink at the sound of a DD and upwards.
However, if the AMCs survive these encounters they should have increased crew skill which should net better results next time.

[Spidery]

ORIGINAL: setloz

Did DD Samidare split from the TF after taking just one shell hit in the first engagement?

The AMC have very poor crew experience and therefore might not get a roll to launch torpedoes. They are decent at hitting unescorted transports but will sink at the sound of a DD and upwards.
However, if the AMCs survive these encounters they should have increased crew skill which should net better results next time.

The DD split after the night and three shell hits that had set it to fires, heavy damage (it is at 72/24/16 with 36 fires and 2400 nautical miles to safety; it is doomed).

Only one AMC has a real chance of making it to safety and that gained experience from 33/23 to 58/49! It is also the one with unused torpedoes.

I had a look at the AMC experience and when it left Osaka 6 weeks ago it was 22/18 so it picked up a fair bit from just sailing.

[Spidery]

Spot the carrier competition.

In the picture below the hex marked "CV" is where the last combat with the Formidable occurred. As you can see there are three subs in a position to intercept, none have Glens. To the East near Los Angeles there are two Glen equipped subs. The sub nearest Hilo has been spotted. The sub SW from that is low on fuel and the others have adequate fuel for any action.

So, any suggestions where to send the subs to get an intercept - I have been very poor at this so far!

[Spidery]

April 26th 1942

Air Losses: 2 Japanese, 3 Allied, 1 Pilots
Japanese occupy:
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:

China

Some concentrated bombing near Chihkiang does well at disrupting forces.

East Pacific

2 AMC succomb to flooding. The damaged ships blunder into a task force containing the CV Saratoga, 3 CA and 12 DD. No shots are exchanged. Aircraft from the Saratoga damage the DD fatally. However, the least damaged AMC looks like it may have got away, except that subs have detected another task force coming from San Francisco direction.

South Pacific

The carriers retreat directly from Noumea. LBA fails to attack but RO-61 manages to put one torpedo into CV Yorktown[8D]. RO-61 reports the CV as sunk - who are they kidding[:D]?

DEI

In the Malacca straits, a Dutch sub puts a torpedo into an xAK taking part of the 52nd division to Burma. It has a good chance of making it to one of the small ports in Malaya and off-loading the troops.

Engineering

Allies expand Katherine airfield to 4.
Forts at Truk expand to level 4.

Allied Carriers

Yorktown and at least one more near New Zealand.
Saratoga and Formidable near Pearl Harbour.

Reinforcements

CVE Unyo

[Spidery]

April 27th 1942

Air Losses: 18 Japanese, 3 Allied, 8 Pilots
Japanese occupy: Great Sitkin Island (auto)
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:

China

Accidentally leave a Sally group on ground attack and it is chewed up by LRCAP.

East Pacific

The DD Samidare succumbs.

South Pacific

RO-60 puts two torpedoes into CA Australia - fires, heavy damage reported and it seems to have been detached to an escort task force[8D].

I-16 puts a torpedo into CV Enterprise[8D].

Both RO-60 and I-16 are damaged in counter attack but should be able to reach safety for repairs.

The CV task force is located so may be able to get another attack against it.

DEI

Another Dutch sub attack in Malacca straits sinks an xAK carrying part of the 52nd Division. Troops are rescued but still lose quite a few devices.[:(]

An ASW attack against a Dutch sub is ineffective.[:(]

Engineering

Allies expand Daly Waters to 4, Kalemyo to 5.

Allied Carriers

Yorktown, Enterprise and Hornet near New Zealand.
Saratoga and Formidable near Pearl Harbour.

[Spidery]

What use are Barges?

I have some 70+ of these that I can deploy but I can't see what use they have. They have a range of 3 hexes and are less fuel efficient than any xAKL in moving supply or troops. Any suggestions as to when to use them?

[Spidery]

April 28th 1942

Air Losses: 1 Japanese, 1 Allied, 0 Pilots
Japanese occupy:
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:

China

Shock attack across the Wei river does not go well with loads of disruptions and limited damage to Chinese.

An attack in the mountains South of Lanchow is a disaster. Disablements are bad but it is expensive because the tractors of a number of artillery units are destroyed.

Pacific

After the hectic sub-activity of the last few days it goes quiet.

DEI

More ineffective ASW action with Dutch subs.

Indian Ocean

I-4 is damaged trying to penetrate a convoy screen off the coast of Oman.

I-153 has a field day at Trivandrum. It inflicts heavy damage on three xAK. It breaks off out of gun ammo and with only 2 torpedoes left. In each case, vehicles are reported lost. Subsequently three ship sinking sounds are heard.

Engineering

Saigon expands to 8. Allies expand Townsville to 5 and lots of bases for their VP value.

[Spidery]

Strategic thoughts

CV Yorktown and Enterprise have each taken one torpedo hit and will need a little care. They can probably either be fixed at a forward base, such as VaVa'U, with a large ARD or by retreating to Pearl Harbour. In either case they are probably only out of it for a week or two.

CV Saratoga and Formidable are over towards Pearl Harbour.

CV Hornet is probably with the Yorktown and Enterprise as it was seen at VaVa'u a few days ago.

SigInt reports Heavy Volume of Transmissions at VaVa'U.

Barring SigInt, I think MrKane has had no reports of the location of any of my carriers for at least 2 weeks.

He could launch attacks against the Aleutians, Marshalls/Gilberts, or New Hebrides with CV cover.

I could keep my carriers hidden and hope to ambush one such operation; I could try an Indian Ocean raid; I could carry out my original plan of targeting Australian industry; I could try a raid on VaVa'U.

Any thoughts?

[Mike McCreery]

I believe that the Australian industry is not really that important a target as the allies have no lack of supply and transport capabilities. The only reason the Japanese would have to bomb it is if you actually wanted to try to take the whole continent IMO. Otherwise, it really will not have an overall strategic effect.

His carriers are your most important objective IMO. He is an experienced player so you have to be careful but going after those would be the best tactic. However, many JFB's sail back and forth across the world trying to catch the Allies and wasting alot of fuel in the long run.

I would recommend deciding where to strike rather than reacting to Mr. Kane.

As to the specific tactics, I dont know enough to give you advice on that.

[Spidery]

The point of attacking Australian Industry is, primarily, the VP value. 2000 VP of strategic damage increases the chance of AV in 1943 (although I think that unlikely) but also adds 4000 VP to what the Allies need to accumulate.

Note that as this is DBB-C the Allies have less transport capability than in other scenarios - but probably still have sufficient.

[Spidery]

April 29th 1942

Air Losses: 4 Japanese, 0 Allied, 2 Pilots
Japanese occupy: Umboi Island(auto)
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:

China

Night strikes against Chungking meet some fighters on CAP and score no hits while losing 1 Lily.
Night strikes against Kunming start some fires.

Attack at Sining discovers the Allies with full supply, which comes as a bit of a surprise.

Pacific

Three subs try to attack task forces but fail to penetrate the screens. I-3 is damaged and will return to Truk for repairs.

Allied subs are spotted in the waters near Noumea.

An additional sinking sound is heard which I think means the CA Australia has sunk.

An AKE has to be scuttled as it succumbs to fires from the Allied carrier attack. Unfortunately, it has supply on board.

A large convoy of 30 ships is found near Hawaii.

DEI

More ineffective ASW action with Dutch subs.

Burma

Allies have pulled out of Cox's Bazaar and are heading back towards Chittagong. Bombardments hit Cox's Bazaar without doing any good.

The 52nd division is unloading at Akyab.

Engineering

Patung airfield to level 1 (will be at level 2 by the time aviation support arrives).
Allies expand Chittagong to level 7. Bombay port to 8.

[Spidery]

April 30th 1942

Air Losses: 2 Japanese, 3 Allied, 0 Pilots
Japanese occupy:
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:

China

Air attacks followed by a land attack gets a 1:1 result near Chihkiang but can't be continued the next day because the attackers are low on supplies. Supplies are still a major problem throughout China.

Pacific

I-175 puts two torpedo into CLAA Atlanta near Pearl Harbour, "fires, heavy damage", so may sink.

Another sub attack on the big convoy near Hawaii fails.

More allied subs are spotted near Noumea.

DEI

A good hit is scored on SS KVIII in the Malacca straits. However, it later manages to sink a tanker, one of the 7950 capacity tankers.

Dutch SS KX hits a mine at Merak and is probably sunk.

Burma

An Allied task force of a CA, 6 CL and 7 DD attack the convoy unloading at Akyab. They get radar detection at 20,000 yards and approach to 9,000 yards to open fire with surprise. 5 xAK, a DMS, an APD are lost with only 1 DD lost by the Allies. About 100 support squads from the 52nd division are lost.

RO-63 gets a chance to attack, launches 6 torpedo at CA Exeter and misses with all of them.

The Allied task force vanishes into the night.

Engineering

Lots of Allied expansions.

R&D

Ki-44-IIa enters production and a research factory rolls into production, it will be expanded to 50.
G3M3 enters production and the existing G3M2 factory upgrades to it and will be expanded to 45.
Ki-45 KAIa enters production a factory will change to it and expand to 30.