Gaishu Isshoku: John 3rd vs Cribtop Between the Storms

[HansBolter]

He is getting lots of advice from those of us who regularly play the Allies so I'll have to limit my comments here in your AAR.

While I may not know the competitive head to head side of the game very well I do have considerable experience with the Allied side and my BTS game is nearing the end of May '42 so I am able to clue him in to many of the Allied goodies you have added.

[John 3rd]

Thanks Hans. I have watched the people Posting onto his thread so I know he is getting lots of advice. This is a good thing.

How is your game going?

My 'gut' feeling is Dwain will play a highly cautious game allowing me to massively expand while looking for places to sting and move. I must hit him where he doesn't expect or do something that demands a fight. Perhaps Ceylon will be that trigger. I hate the ground war in this crazy game and just anyone knows that; THEREFORE, I am going to try and make a play into India. Have given it lots of thought and this time I am going to attempt to take Eastern India. Ceylon will be step one and then we shall properly invade the sub-continent. This should come as a real surprise since most people know that I have always ruled out India as a major target. I want the industry and resources of the east so we'll take a shot and see what happens. Will Post more on this germ of thinking later...

How is that for OPPOSITE thinking?!!

[John 3rd]

Just got the turn. Time to kick the tires and light the fires!

BANZAI!

[ny59giants]

Tires on a CV!?! Is that your 'secret weapon' to win the war?? [:D]

[HansBolter]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Thanks Hans. I have watched the people Posting onto his thread so I know he is getting lots of advice. This is a good thing.

How is your game going?

My 'gut' feeling is Dwain will play a highly cautious game allowing me to massively expand while looking for places to sting and move. I must hit him where he doesn't expect or do something that demands a fight. Perhaps Ceylon will be that trigger. I hate the ground war in this crazy game and just anyone knows that; THEREFORE, I am going to try and make a play into India. Have given it lots of thought and this time I am going to attempt to take Eastern India. Ceylon will be step one and then we shall properly invade the sub-continent. This should come as a real surprise since most people know that I have always ruled out India as a major target. I want the industry and resources of the east so we'll take a shot and see what happens. Will Post more on this germ of thinking later...

How is that for OPPOSITE thinking?!!

Game is going OK. The poor AI isn't up to the task. You warned me.

I have a very hard time being totally passive in the first six months.

I have hit June of '42 and the Allies have 20K VPs to the Japanese 11K.

The Japanese have expanded to historical limits with the exceptions of Burma (totally stymied) and Timor ( I did my usual Sir Robin to Timor with the British Army and Air from Malaya, the Dutch Army and Air and the Phillippine's Air) and wake (AI failed to take it and I reinforced).

I have sunk 1 CV and 2 CVLs and 2 BBs and 2 BCs and 4 CAs and 10 CLs.

The poor AI just keeps sending surface TFs into enemy waters without air cover.

I'm enjoying all the new toys, but will likely go back to AndyMacs Iron Man Ported to Babes next.

The AI in AndyMacs Iron Man games is on steroids and can at least make me fight a little harder.

I should really be playing competitively.

However, I have no internet at home ( I post from work).

I also wouldn't be able to keep up the pace most players require as it is rare that I have enough mental energy left after work to play on a weeknight.

I do most of my gaming in marathon sessions on the weekends.

[John 3rd]

Turn TWO is done and there are no major surprises just LOTS of sunk Allied shipping!

Will detail in a bit...

[John 3rd]

December 8, 1941

Japan's SS arm had a good first day of combat operations:

Ro-
Ro-33 SINKS AKL Siquijor off Magallanes
Ro-65 SINKS AKL Isla Philipinas and AKL Surigao at Zamboanga

ML-SS
I-122 has a GREAT day: SINKS AK Mariso in TWO attacks, SINKS TK Aldagonda, AND AKL Siberoet off Oosthaven
I-124 SINKS AS Canopus near Lubang

I-
I-155 SINKS AP Hong Peng near Merak
I-165 SINKS AK Bintang near batavia

A solid day's work sinking 1 AS, 1 TK, 1 AP, 2 AK, and 4 AKL.

[John 3rd]

The second day of the war went just as well as second day of the war might go. Nearly forty enemy ships were sunk. As one would expect, the Philippines was where most sank to the briny deep. From heavy weights Fuso--Yamashiro and Haruna--Kongo down to TF of DDs, the waters around the Philippines and N/NW Borneo are alive with Japanese warships. Nice notes in the sinking are that all three of the American AS were sunk.

In a 'different' area for sinkings this early, a pair of Japanese AMC (SW of Suva) catch an AM, 2 big AKs, and a TK. They quite nicely take care of business and then head for Jaliut to load up with troops. Nice to see the AMC's do well. We've got another pair operating of the NW coast of USA. See if anything happens there...

WEATHER was a huge help for the Allies this day. No raids hit the Philippines, CARDIV2 was socked in as it traversed the central Philippines, and about half of the Malay raids did not occur. Having CARDIV2 not do anything was a bit frustrating but it saved Torps and sorties that will be needed later.

Kuantan fell quite easily. We'll get all the troops of those two IDs consolidated and then bounce Mersing.

Pin Pr*cks:
1. I left two damaged AKs at Kuantan which were then promptly sunk by an SS.
2. The two Brit DDs from Hong Kong get into one of the convoys heading for Mersing and manage to sink the only two non-valuable ships in the TF. A little luck there.

CV Movement:
1. CARDIV1 and 5 move near Laysen and refuel. CVs to move SW towards Johnston.
2. Already detailed CARDIV2.
3. CARDIV3 (3 CVLs) move two hexes from Kuching and cover the final approach of the 21st ID for the landing there.
4. CVEs leave Saipan and head for Truk to upgrade its Claudes to Zeros.

Invasion Forces:
1. Mindanao will be hit by 3-4 differing Invasion TF.
2. Three IF heading SW from Babeldoap.
3. Three IF moving from Truk to the Admiralties and Lae.
4. Four IF depart Pescadores and Formosa heading for Luzon.
5. Two ID depart Japan heading for Rabaul and Mersing.

[John 3rd]

The Philippines

[John 3rd]

Malaya--Borneo

[Q-Ball]

Interesting, Kuantan, then Mersing? I suppose that's a little safer than a landing right on Mersing, which is risky if you don't have CV support or some other way to provide CAP. By taking Kuantan, you can CAP the landing at Mersing from there. I also think landing at Kuantan without aircover is doable, just not Mersing.

[John 3rd]

I covered Kuantan from Patani with 18 Zero and 50 Oscars.

Kuantan fell today so it gains 80 Fighters who'll fly CAP so the transports can finish unloading and then be ready for LRCAP with Mersing.

The real key to this whole thing will be taking Kuching tomorrow and then cutting off troops in Malay with a Paratroop drop in Malaya. If I can move FAST this will make Malaya FAR easier.

[Kitakami]

That is what I should have done. Instead, I landed at Kuantan, and then moved westward to cut the peninsula in two. It is now early January and I am still moving south from Kuala Lumpur :/

Instead of going for Kuching, I went for Singkawang, and set up an airbase there. Then I moved westward by land to take Sambas and Kuching. The reason were lower AV, no CD guns, and a 3-rated airstrip instead of a 2-rate. It worked for me, at least.

[John 3rd]

That is what I usually do as well. In this case I wanted to grab something that, hopefully, won't have a surface battle involved. Singkawang is the obvious target and I'd shot a STF over there to try and stage an early fight. By hitting Kuching I hope to avoid that immediate battle. There is a BB in both the STF protecting the Invasion Force as well as in the Invasion Force. Additionally, Kuching is slightly closer to Cotabato and my Tina's need to be able to fly in Paras so I can then stage the drop into Malaya. Will grab Kuching, move in planes, and then swing around to Singkawang in a couple of days.

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
Dec 9, 1941

The standard opening of things continue in Cribtop and I's campaign. No major excitement this day but lots more sinkings happening.

Three Japanese 'Hunting Groups' each score sinkings as they prowl around West and SW of the Philippines. These groups account for a total of: 1 AM, 7 AKL, 1 PG, 1 PC, 2 AP, 2 AK, and 2 TK.

CARDIV2 (NNE of Tarakan) jumps in and bags 4 AKL for use of their 250 Kg Bombs

The biggest event of the turn comes when three Japanese CA and 3 DD find CL Marblehead and DDs Bulmer and Barker at Soerabaja. The American group is simply overwhelmed by 8" shells. All three are sunk.

Weather clears so bombers rip into Malaya and Luzon. Events look pretty good. The best result comes in when Manila's port is smashed by 32 Zero and 97 Betty/Nell. Down goes an AVD and AO, The Japanese sink SS Saury, Skipjack, Stingray, and S-37. The sub bag is now 8 confirmed sinkings from Manila. NICE!

SS Ops
I-122 AG Canopus is sunk near Buizenzorg
I-159 SINKS AMc Pro Patria at Muntok
I-121 SINKS AKL Lipis by gun action and then damages AKL Pahang

Land Ops
1. Fast TF takes Nauru Isle
2. FTF lands three units at Lae
3. Kuching Landing occurs without issue. It will easily fall tomorrow.
4. Supply and reinforcements begin arriving at Cotabato.
5. Kuantan TF arrive and begin to finish their unloading.
6. Mersing Invasion Force is two days away.

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
Dec 10-11, 1941

Things are starting to pick-up with the Opening of the War. Dwain and I are getting in a solid, regular one a day for turns.

Time to go regional:

North Pacific
Troops, fuel, and supply moving en masse to Paramushiro Jima and Etorofu.

Central Pacific
KB
The carriers make a very obvious sweep south passing Johnston (on the EAST side) and moving into range of Palmyra. They plaster an AP and AM on the 10th. Now...they will fade towards the Marshalls for a few days LOOKING like we are out of the area. NOT! CARDIV1 and 5 will refuel and move due east searching for early reinforcement convoys heading for the Line Islands. Three separate Invasion Forces have departed the Marshalls for Christmas Isle.

Midway--Wake
Both Invasion Forces are about halfway. Each has a BB, CL, and a few DDs embedded in the Landing Force. The three CVEs will provide CAP over the Midway TF.

Ocean
Falls on the 11th

South Pacific
Lae
The Fast TF of CAs/CLs/DDs arrive at Lae and drop off a small Inf unit, Base Force, and Construction Bn. The falls on the 10th and Float Planes immediately move in.

Manus
Falls on the 10th

Madang--Hollandia
Both bases are invaded on the 11th by small Base Force Coys. Big AV of 9 but it is enough to take the bases. Want to set-up an air bridge from the DEI to Rabaul/Lae ASAP.

Philippines
Luzon
Manila
Heavy Port/AF attacks both days with two more SS sunk and damage done to nearly 12 more ships still present. On the 11th USAF P-40s appear and get hounded by Zeros.

San Fernando
Fall to the 48th ID on the 10th

Laoag--Aparri
Invaded on the 11th.

Cebu
Most of the Phil P-40s are here. A Sweep of 42 Zeros is planned for the 12th. Should be a bloodbath!

Mindanao
Cotabato
Reinforcement and supplies arriving. The two Chutai of kates based here do RAL with Bombs both days hitting and sinking a couple of ships each day.

Zamboanga
Falls to the 90th Inf Reg on the 11th.

Eastern DEI
CARDIV2
These three CVs sweep around eastern Celebes and will cross the sea between Java and Borneo over the next few days. They will then link-up with the 3 CVL operating near Malaya.

Morotai
Falls on the 11th.

Central DEI
No action YET. Have an Inf Regiment and a Brigade loading at Cam Rahn Bay to take Tarakan and Balikpapan next week.

Western DEI
Kuching
Consolidate position there and then lift the 21st ID from here and send it to Singkawang.

Singkawang
Invaded on the 11th.

Palembang
I consolidated three STF into a massed Fast TF of 6 CL and 6 DD and brought in nearly an entire regiment. The ships achieve complete surprise on the 11th and the base will fall on the 12th. NICE! Never tried that before. Three Base Forces and an HQ unit is already at sea to make this my priority AF in the area.

Malaya
Dwain is racing away.

I have a large Invasion Force of nearly 100 ships about to land tomorrow. They carry two reinforced ID. Embedded within it are several cruisers, DDs, and DMS. Lots of AM activity every day that I have reconned the base. A STF also rides shotgun in case something STUPID occurs!

CARDIV3 covers this TF with about 20+ Zero (as well as more from Kuantan).

SS Ops
12-10
I-156 SINKS AP Australia Star with 3 TTs near Koggala
I-123 sinks AP Candesa near Lucena

12-11
I-121 hits TK Semiramis near Toboali

That is our present situation!

[John 3rd]

KB's small strike sinking an AM and AP on the 11th:

[John 3rd]

Operational Planning

One of the things that I like to use in te early phases of the war is all sorts of unit prep work aimed at misdirection. I am about to buyout six TK Reg in Manchuria to send into the India Offensive. The only thing is, is that they are all set to prep for NE and NW Australia. We'll even pick them up and send them to Singapore to make it LOOK like they might be participating in an Aussie Landing. It isn't much but the mental side of this game cannot be over emphasized enough at times...

[John 3rd]

Don't know how clear this will be but I thought I would do a world map shot showing the SS Deployment:

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
December 12, 1941

The Japanese storm ashore at Mersing with two heavily reinforced ID. They are protected by LRCAP from Kuantan and CARDIV3. The British attacks are NASTY with large numbers and some success. The Japanese lose an AK and have another damaged. This is countered by the Brits losing over 60 planes to the Japanese CAP. Their one modern fighter squadron is CRUSHED this day.

By days end (after four Allied strikes), the ABDA Force loses 17 Buffalo, 15 Hurricanes (YES!), 17 Vildebreest, 8 Hudson, and 4 Blenheim. This day sees the crippling of Allied air in Malaya. NOT BAD!