jwilkerson(Jpn) Moses (Allies)

[jwilkerson]

The only other area with any action is the Aleutians.

Up here, we have been operating one of our small carrier groups and some surface forces. The surface forces have made 4 sweeps of Atka (1 hex SE of Adak) but not encountered any Allied shipping. This at least means that newly arriving supplies to Atka should be minimal. This turn we finally got a tiny bit of action as an Allied surface group sweep Adak and hit 3 mines. Our sweep of Atka got stuck by an SBD unit and our cruiser Naka took one bomb hit, she should be able to control the damage and RTB. In fact, our whole force including the two oilers are out of gas and so we will have to RTB to gas up. The primary purpose of our surface and carrier units comming to the Aleutians this time was to cover the landing of the 35 IMB at Kiska and this operation is complete. The next operation will cover a large supply convoy also going to Kiska.

====

Meawhile, KB is refitting at Tulagi.

Supply and fuel are building up nicely in the Home Islands and we are putting together some convoys to move some of the surplus to the front.

Aircraft pools are stable, despite the fighter losses in Burma, but we have turned Zero and Oscar production back on to recover the recent losses.

[jwilkerson]

7/26/42

Air War continues in Burma, the Oscars have been "spelling" the zeros for a few days, to the detriment of the Oscars. The zeros are back on duty as of today.

In China, both sides land forces are resting after the recent "musical hexes" show. We lament the retreat of the Chinese stack one hex outside Canton, this was a most important "traning range" for our fighters. We look for a replacement.

Here is a shot of the capital ships of KB at refit in Tulagi. The KB is ready to come out if needed. Planes have been training up at the "Russel Islands" training range. We are however, a bit short of fuel at Tulagi, more on the way.

For those (other than myself) who are sitting on the edges of their chairs awaiting the arrival of Tony/Tojo, still no joy. I'd estimate we've "researched" several hundred Tony's since the start of the war, but best case, we will get a few days of advancement, if any.

[racndoc]

jwilkerson....this thread is a very good read. You have made great progress with minimal loss of capital ships...especially in a game with a historical first turn.

Ive just started my first "serious" campaign game as Japan and Im using your production spreadsheet as a "Gold Standard" reference. Once you start doing a daily spreadsheet the production intricacies become much more readily understandable.

I was wondering how much supply you expended in repairing all the oil production centers in the SRA. Im not attempting near the AC expansion that you have done yet my supply levels are running 200,000-300,000 below what you had in late Dec. 1941.

Also, did you push your rd levels for the Tony/Tojo to just over 100/mo to get the early entry die roll? What levels of Tony/Tojo production do you anticipate come 8/42?

In addition, as of 5/29/42 you were running a max of 13,711 HI which should require about 2285 oil per turn. Your spreadsheet shows oil production of 2372 per day yet your oil reserve is 1.28 million and dropping. Any thoughts?

[jwilkerson]

ORIGINAL: AdmSpruance

jwilkerson....this thread is a very good read. You have made great progress with minimal loss of capital ships...especially in a game with a historical first turn.

Ive just started my first "serious" campaign game as Japan and Im using your production spreadsheet as a "Gold Standard" reference. Once you start doing a daily spreadsheet the production intricacies become much more readily understandable.

I was wondering how much supply you expended in repairing all the oil production centers in the SRA.

This one is easy!!! Answer: NONE - at least not on purpose. I did not have the supply - nor do I still - to be able to afford such a luxury. My general policy is to never repair any oil/resource center anywhere on the map. I have slightly increase HI at a few spots in Japan, but I want any such expansion to be far away from early places the Allied 4EB might be able to hit.

Im not attempting near the AC expansion that you have done yet my supply levels are running 200,000-300,000 below what you had in late Dec. 1941.

I pulled very little supply out of the home islands in the first month or so, lived on shoe string until I could supply most of my needs from the front. Only recently have supply levels reached the point in Japan where I am pulling out any significant amounts.

Also, did you push your rd levels for the Tony/Tojo to just over 100/mo to get the early entry die roll? What levels of Tony/Tojo production do you anticipate come 8/42?

Well, I didn't push to 100/month but I did produce well over 300 Tony's from an R&D perspective. But this will not result in any significant advancement. Not sure why.
As to production levels. Note that I distinguish between production capacity and actual production levels as I have boosted capacity for key types above what it will normally run at. But after Oscar-I production shifts over to Tony's, I will have about 300/mo capacity of Tony/Tojo and I'm hoping that will be enough.

In addition, as of 5/29/42 you were running a max of 13,711 HI which should require about 2285 oil per turn. Your spreadsheet shows oil production of 2372 per day yet your oil reserve is 1.28 million and dropping. Any thoughts?

Well oil and resource reserves can be misleading as I believe the amount being carried on the ships is not included. So if I have 3 convoy's with 100,000 oil each on them, then there is 300k of oil not included. I suspect that overall oil reserves are increasing even though sometimes the numbers don't show that. But I keep watching it!!!

[jwilkerson]

7/30/42

In CBI, the air battles continue. Actually, overall this was a pretty good turn, the amount of Allied bombs that hit their targets was probably as low as it has ever been. Maybe Moses is taking a break ! [;)]

In the Aleutians, for once, our subs did their jobs. The I-4 and the I-25 between them got six hits on two Allied AK and sank both!!! [8D]

Meanwhile, our big Kiska supply convoy is two hexes West of Kiska, heading in next turn, covered by the Mutsu group and a CL/DD group.

Yammy, Musashi, Ryuho, Chuyo and several new DDs will all be arriving in a turn or so. This will enable us to make up one more light carrier group and give us the 16 carriers we will have to fight with for the next year. Also, this will give us the 12 BB/BC we will have to fight with for the rest of the war.

Still no Tony/Tojo. We sure hope they show up sometime in August!!

[jwilkerson]

8/1/42

Well Moses' airfarce took the whole turn off in CBI, nary one offensive mission - whew - what a clear sky we had - for one turn anyway!

Also finally, the Tony and Tojo were released to production. We've pulled out four Nate/Oscar groups with 80+ EXP to wait to get converted. Of course getting the Oscar-I factories to shift over to Tony's is the first order of business. Sacrifice another Chicken!!!!

[:D]

[jwilkerson]

8/3/42


Strategic Level: Well good news for the home team - two of the four Oscar-I factories converted over to Tony, so now Tony production is running at 224/month. Tojo production is 76/month. So it will still be a couple of weeks before our first four 36 plane groups are in action in Burma, but we can feel the drum roll. Also the 14ID was released today from Manchuria, this unit is slated to go to SE Asia, probably Andaman at this point. This is our second big division we've released so far this year and we're hoping for a couple more if we can squeeze 'em in. Also Yammy and Musashi arrived this turn. They will "warm up" in the Aleutians and see if they can't get lucky and tag some USN BBs up there.

Burma: Well we lost a pile of zeros and oscars on the ground this time as Moses expanded his air offensive across most of our Burma airbases. But overall this is exactly what we want. We want to trade pilots for Akyab and Akyab was very ineffectively bombed this turn. And we only lost two zero pilots in Burma this turn, so we call this a win.

Everything else is pretty quiet.

[jwilkerson]

Monthend reports.

Here is an overall view of our resources. The only troubling area is oil, the reserves aren't rising much. I actually think they are rising, but I think what is aboard the convoys is not counted. But we will need to watch this area closely over the next month or so to make sure things improve.

[jwilkerson]

And here is a view of Burma to include the Andaman Sea area.

We consider that Burma cannot really be held unless we own the Andaman Sea. This means we need a strong defense of the Andamans, Nicobars and Sabang. Hence these areas are being built up and will be garrisioned with Bde+ combat units.

We have significant ASW assets in the Andaman Sea, particularly in the Gulf of Martaban area and we have damaged three of Moses' subs here in the past few weeks. We also have our only (4 unit) submarine minelaying unit operating out of Georgetown(an MLE based at GT) mining Akyab and a surface ML group mining Rangoon, Andaman, Nicobar and soon Sabang (as well as VP, Tavoy and GT itself eventually).

Currently in Burma we have about half of the Navy Fighters and About half of the Army Fighters. Within a few weeks we hope to introduce significant numbers of new Army fighters, Tony and Tojo into Burma to extend our defense of this important buffer zone.

The Western Fleet combat navy is refitting at Singapore (after returning from the PM Op) and will come out in support shortly.

[jwilkerson]

Oops, I didn't do a very good job of snipping that last screen shot.

Well anyway, here is a summary of our linelaying strategy, which you can almost see in the above.

Minelaying Strategy.

One of the attributes of our defense is minelaying, and by this I mean mining our on bases to make them more difficult targets for invasion. Because we have only 4000 active minefields available in the game, and because we expect that Moses is also engaging in defensive mining, we will not heavily mine our deep rear areas early on and we will also not mine with individual minelayers, but only in groups. These two tactics will optimize the use of the available 4000 slots. As minefields disappear the slot becomes available for use. Unfortunately it is difficult to manage the use of the slots, because there is no "minefield slot utilization report"

We converted a number of AK to MLE during the first six months and most of these are now deployed as follows:

Paramushiro
Entorofu
Kwajalein
Makin
Tulagi
Rabaul
Koepang
Georgetown
Darwin

And I think there are four others "in reserve" in the homeland. Most actively we are mining the Polyneasian area, the Aleutians and from Georgetown, we are using the 4 ML subs to mine Akyab. Ideally we want a 7000 mine field group at the base. Once this level is reached, we will keep try to resow occasionally, but the main group will move to other spots. Currently we don't actually have this level anywhere, so practically we are stopping at about an average of 5000 mines. Kwajalein, Wake, Truk and Kiska all have 5000+ ... most other areas that are mined at all are around 3000. Akyab is only at about 800, but the sub MLs don't carry so many mines.

[PzB74]

Minelayers...that's a sore point [:(]
Lost em all and it's impossible to convert or build new ones!

I see the necessity of keeping a lid on the number of ML's but I don't see why ML's can't be 're-generated' like MSW's?
The ability to conver msw's to ml's if the number of ML's fell below 10 would also been a good idea.

Joe, someone in my AAR mentioned that Jap radar equipped HA subs could be bugged and that they might not arrive.
Have you ever heard about this - maybe this is something that has been patched?

What program are you using to map all the industrial outputs? Think me needs it [:'(]

Nice AAR, keep it up - reading with interest! [8D]

[jwilkerson]

ORIGINAL: PzB

Minelayers...that's a sore point [:(]
Lost em all and it's impossible to convert or build new ones!

I see the necessity of keeping a lid on the number of ML's but I don't see why ML's can't be 're-generated' like MSW's?
The ability to conver msw's to ml's if the number of ML's fell below 10 would also been a good idea.

Joe, someone in my AAR mentioned that Jap radar equipped HA subs could be bugged and that they might not arrive.
Have you ever heard about this - maybe this is something that has been patched?

What program are you using to map all the industrial outputs? Think me needs it [:'(]

Nice AAR, keep it up - reading with interest! [8D]

ML - Well we consider these to be strategic assets, so the ones operating at the front are protected with surface and ASW assets. Haven't lost any yet. While I believe that playing MITP (Mines In The Pacific) isn't very historical - this is just one of many aspects that aren't historical (400+ B-17s in the pool being another).

HA Subs - No idea - I've never gotten that far, nor have I heard any reports about them not arriving. It has not been patched since I've been on board.

What program to map outputs? Uh, an obscure little ditty called Microsoft Excel !!! [:D]

[PzB74]

Excel!! LOL...that must take _A Lot_ of time [:'(]

I used my ML's to mine perimeter bases. Subs, enemy LBA and surface forces slowly picked em all off [:(]
Now I can only use subs to mine the inner perimeter....

[Andy Mac]

You minelayers vulnerability was much appreciated [:D][:D]

[jwilkerson]

8/7/42

Tony's 60+
Tojo's 20+ ... we want to commit 4 full groups to Burma and the first commitment, so this will require 144 planes. Still need a few more turns of production.

In China - well it is our turn to runaround and cause some excitement. Ichang and Wuchang (2 hexes NW of Canton) both looked potentially vulnerable and by threatening both, the huge 42 unit stack at Changsha has to decide which way to go. Looks like he is sending about 10 units from Changsha to the South, so we will withdraw here back to Canton, but we will continue to make an effort towards Ichang, if we can pin both of his flanking forces. We will know this turn if we can. Otherwise it is back to the barn for us as well. Of course even if we take Ichang, that isn't such a great prize, so industry or resources, so really just another point of vulnerability spreading our forces more and concentrating his more. But it gives us both something to do.

In Burma - the Zero and Oscar groups continue to plummet in terms of EXP .. several have been pulled out to China for the Army to Manilla where we are setting up a Navy Fighter training school. The Tony/Tojo's might just barely be in time, but not by much.

In the Aleutians we are commiting three carrier groups and two BB groups. The Shok/Zuik grp are out of refit and will attack next turn, in conjunction with the Unyo/Shoho group. The Mutsu grp and the Yamato/Musashi grps are approaching. And the Chuyo/Ryuho grp are just forming up at Tokyo.

In CENPAC we are sending the KB from Tulagi to Kwajalein. There have been a number of "nibbles" lately on the perimeter from Wake down to Baker and we want to be better placed to intervene if he tried a landing somewhere in the forward zone. We have four carrier grps in the KB at this point (6xCV, 2xCVL)

I'll post screen shots next turn.

[jwilkerson]

8/11/42

Aleutians: A bit of action.
The Unyo/Shoho group staged a hit and run attack on Atka, sending a Zero Sweep in to knock down some of the fighters, absorbing two strikes by SBDs which bounced one bomb off the Unyo obtained a 10/2/4 result and launching two strikes against Atka knocking down a few defending fighters. All in all this group performed its mission, which was to prep the Atka defenders for the main attack the next day, by the Shokaku/Zuikaku group. Shok/Zuik also absorbed a strike, and launched one of their own, sinking two USN DDs. The afternoon strike was cancelled due to weather.

Next turn we will send in a detachment of the screen from the Shok/Zuik group for a surface sweep of Atka, and the following day a surface sweep by the Mutsu group will go in as well. These surface forces will be covered by both carrier groups.

The Yamato/Musashi group will arrive at Kiska for next turn, and the Chuyo/Ryuho group is in route.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/09/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Atka Island , at 98,37
Sweep by the Unyo/Shoho group

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 18

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 12
Kittyhawk I x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
Kittyhawk I: 3 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 96,33
Strike on the Unyo/Shoho group

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 18

Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 16
Kittyhawk I x 9

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless: 6 destroyed, 4 damaged
Kittyhawk I: 3 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CVE Unyo

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
2 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
2 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Atka Island at 98,37
Strike by the Unyo/Shoho group

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 9
B5N Kate x 6

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 10
Kittyhawk I x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 1 destroyed
B5N Kate: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Lang

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 96,33
Strike on the Unyo/Shoho group

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 16

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 11
SBD Dauntless x 5
Kittyhawk I x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
SBD Dauntless: 5 damaged
Kittyhawk I: 2 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CVE Unyo, Bomb hits 1, on fire 10/2/4

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Atka Island at 98,37
Strike by the Unyo/Shoho group

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 15
A6M3 Zero x 8
B5N Kate x 4

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 7
Kittyhawk I x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 1 destroyed
B5N Kate: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied Ships
AK Empire Homer

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/10/42


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Atka Island , at 98,37
Sweep by the Unyo/Shoho group

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 12

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 9
Kittyhawk I x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 94,37
Strike on the Shok/Zuik group

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 32

Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 2
Kittyhawk I x 4

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless: 1 destroyed
Kittyhawk I: 4 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Atka Island at 98,37
Strike by Shok/Zuik group

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 13
D3A Val x 44
B5N Kate x 24

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 7
Kittyhawk I x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val: 2 damaged
B5N Kate: 2 destroyed, 8 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 4 destroyed

Allied Ships
AK John C. Calhoun, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Lang, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Wilson, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage Sank
DD Farenholt, Bomb hits 15, on fire, heavy damage Sank
AK George H. Williams

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[veji1]

You can see that WITP was exported from UV, a smaller scale game : This kind of action is where the game engine is at his best : Small number of ACs, ships, etc... = great realistic an fun outcome.

Keep it up.

[jwilkerson]

8/13/2007

Aleutians: Well, our three surface groups went in this turn but results were disappointing. Moses pulled the supply ships out so we only got 2xDD, 1xAVD, 1xPT. But at least he wasn't unloading supply, that was the purpose of our operation, but we were hoping to get a few supply ships in the process. Over the next two days, we will regroup/refuel at Kiska. The Yamato/Musashi group have arrived and the Chuyo/Ryuho group are enroute from Paramushiro.

[jwilkerson]

8/13/42

Aleutians again, we aren't particularly fond of single PT taskforces - but I suppose they make sense sometimes, like if you just created some and there was only one in the pool. But I had a guy cover one base with 50 single TF PT boats once, and I hope I don't ever see THAT again! [;)]

[jwilkerson]

8/13/42

CBI:

In China we are attacking at Ichang. I still question whether we even WANT this place. It spreads out our defense and concentrates his offense, bad for us. But it gives us another airbase, closer to his "rear area" so that aspect might be useful, at least in the short run. Well, we got everybody running around, so we might as well "do something" [:D] we have four divisions attacking (1200 AV) and will drop an airborne unit for good measure.

In the mean time our "diversion" in the South will be getting hammered by 14 Chinese units on its way back to Canton. And farther North our blocking forces will get hammered by Moses' sortie from Sian.

In Burma, everything is socked in, which is good for us. At Bangkok, we have started the conversion of the first four fighter groups to Tony/Tojo, so those will be in action within the week.

Elsewhere:

KB has transferred to Kwajalein with its fully loaded oiler group (150k gaz) .. there is a convoy of 98K fuel one day out to the West.