Tales from the First Time -DanSez (J) vs Przemcio231 (A) - no Przemcio231 please

[DanSez]

Celebes Sea 15 May, 1942

Two stubborn pockets of defenders remain.
The NavGuard units that take Manado will then move South to help clean up the Timor area.

To the North, after the last of the Phillipine Island defenders outside of Bataan are elimated, those forces will come to down and join with others to invade the Allied pocket south of Tarakan.

[DanSez]

Now -- about the 'Unconventional Ops'
I am sure this must have been tried before and it is not over yet, but here is the back ground:

OPs Ndeni:
Goal:
A. Ndeni used as a diversion while building up Shortlands, Mundi, Nauru Island and Ocean Island.
B. Draw Allies into surface or air actions when profitable.
C. Evacuate Ndeni LCUs

Starting 7 May, 1942:
Two fleet groups have assembled around Nauru Island and Ocean Island.
The Plan was
A. Move carrier assets close, but just out of LB range and nudge the Faux Reinforcement TFs closer to Ndeni. Zero LRCAP would intercept and decimate Allied Bombers, meanwhile search would look for enemy movements.
B. After reducing LB assets, then either raid Lunga or Luganville or Nouema (or all 3), depending on Allied force disposition.


KB (Akagi, Shokaku, Zuikaku, Hiryo, Soryu), CarDiv 3 (Honsho and Taiyo), and CS Mizuhio are present.
2 SCTFs with BBs for muscle and/or bombardments.
Faux Reinforcement TFs are 1 'Amphip' TF - empty and 1 small Cargo TF with supplies. They may or maynot pick up troops at Ndeni or may just dump supplies as the situation develops.

[DanSez]

Next Day... 8 May, 1942

Recon reveals:
an intercept line of SS (6 spotted)
and in Luganville -- Allied Fleet Carriers!

Now getting drawn out of my OPs box reacting to Carriers or sacrificial SCTFs only to be pounded by LBA and Carrier counter-strikes does not sound like a health future.

I call out 2 more ASW TFs to hurry South from Nauru Island and change the destination orders to not cross the SS intercept line. Instead I mount heavy Naval and ASW search.

[DanSez]

9 May, 1942

The sub-plot thickens

With maxed out searches, I spot another line of SSs (at least 9) rushing from the West.
At this point I have an old Geek Flashback to a game whose name escapes me, but you are faced with a hord of zombies and you back up around the board, blasting away at the last square you were in, to kill as many as possible before you got surrounded and eaten.

It looks like the Allied Fleet is content to wait for me to come within LBA range, and why not, that is what I would do. So time to change the plan.

I decide to draw those subs into a killing zone. All but 1 fleet carrier's Kates and Vals are put on ASW patrol (1000 ft). Let's see if 250kg bombs can do some damage to sub hulls.

[jwolf]

I am very curious how the "sub war" will play out. In my game as Allies we are about a month behind you and I have tried repeatedly to swarm major Jap surface or carrier forces with subs -- as many as 20 of them. So far the results have been a total failure. It's very rare that a sub will even attempt to attack, and I have scored not one single hit. I don't think you have much to fear from the subs, but maybe in the hands of a good Allied player it's a lot different.

An alternative theory is that the Allied subs are intended primarily for recon although I would suppose you are already within range of some Catalinas.

[DanSez]

ORIGINAL: jwolf

I am very curious how the "sub war" will play out. In my game as Allies we are about a month behind you and I have tried repeatedly to swarm major Jap surface or carrier forces with subs -- as many as 20 of them. So far the results have been a total failure. It's very rare that a sub will even attempt to attack, and I have scored not one single hit. I don't think you have much to fear from the subs, but maybe in the hands of a good Allied player it's a lot different.

An alternative theory is that the Allied subs are intended primarily for recon although I would suppose you are already within range of some Catalinas.

I would rather face this pack of subs now before the torpedoes improve so in that way I think Allied High Command is making a big mistake --


Fast forwarding to current game time (17 May, 1942 orders phase):

I got between 8 and 12 (sub reported hit) messages every turn, most of those hits by Kates and Vals, a few by the Petes and Jakes from CS Mizuhoi. I got at least one 'sub sinking' sound - might have missed another as I don't always run with speakers up loud enough to hear it. I turn it down from the air/land combat bangs and whistles.

[DanSez]

After posting the above ...
all his subs flee South.
Allies had enough or a breech in OPSEC?

Either way, a bunch of them have gotten their bells run and I got to advance my ASW skills on pilots and ships.
A victory, no but an interesting exchange.

Now time to decided the next step...

[DanSez]

ORIGINAL: jwolf

I am very curious how the "sub war" will play out. In my game as Allies we are about a month behind you and I have tried repeatedly to swarm major Jap surface or carrier forces with subs -- as many as 20 of them. So far the results have been a total failure. It's very rare that a sub will even attempt to attack, and I have scored not one single hit. I don't think you have much to fear from the subs, but maybe in the hands of a good Allied player it's a lot different.

An alternative theory is that the Allied subs are intended primarily for recon although I would suppose you are already within range of some Catalinas.

I will say this --

The concentration of Allied Subs to a few ports or against one target will cause delays, but it also allows the Japanese player to concentrate ASW and escort gaining valuable experience. The weak (non-Dutch) SS torps have not been much of a threat so far. Once Reliable US Trops become available, I am sure the mob-tactic will be more successful. You want your boats to get experience and to survive until those better torpedoes arrive.

In this latest action, tracker claims 3 SS sunk. But that is pretty unreliable. I am counting on 2 going down for good and about 6 or 8 damaged enough to have to go to repair yards.

Where are the nearest Allied Repair Yards?

[Mike McCreery]

Auckland, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Pearl

Repair ships could be anywhere however.

Edit: Allied subs are tough little bastards :]

[DanSez]

ORIGINAL: Wargmr

Auckland, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Pearl

Repair ships could be anywhere however.

Edit: Allied subs are tough little bastards :]

Thanks.
Suva area is probably a supply hub/repair stop at this point.

Should I wait a couple of turns, letting those subs go into repair mode, and then raid Suva?

I thought about charging down that direction now but I'm not sure where Allied Carriers are. The last thing I want to do us throw the KB into an Allied free first strike situation. Instead I am going with the Faux Reinforcement plan to wear out some of his LBA for the next 3-4 turns.

I found a lot of fighters stationed in Lunga flying cap over a BB,CA,CA: SCTF which would certainly trigger Naval strikes into that mess.

Thanks for the reply.

[Mike McCreery]

ORIGINAL: DanSez

ORIGINAL: Wargmr

Auckland, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Pearl

Repair ships could be anywhere however.

Edit: Allied subs are tough little bastards :]

Thanks.
Suva area is probably a supply hub/repair stop at this point.

Should I wait a couple of turns, letting those subs go into repair mode, and then raid Suva?

I thought about charging down that direction now but I'm not sure where Allied Carriers are. The last thing I want to do us throw the KB into an Allied free first strike situation. Instead I am going with the Faux Reinforcement plan to wear out some of his LBA for the next 3-4 turns.

I found a lot of fighters stationed in Lunga flying cap over a BB,CA,CA: SCTF which would certainly trigger Naval strikes into that mess.

Thanks for the reply.

It really depends on how well established Suva is. It can go to a lvl 9 airfield and a lvl 5 port which makes it important if he doesnt control Noumea which can go to lvl 7 for resupply/repair.

However, if he has a strong CAP you may be just wasting good naval air crews on it.

The Allies do not stop getting subs so making an attack against a base which he may or may not be using to repair them on an unknown timetable is probably not the best course of action for very precious carrier resources. And if you are not sure the location of the Allied carriers, getting into a pissing match against an unsinkable carrier (suva) and whatever lies out there unknown, well...

[DanSez]

18 May, 1942: China

Supply is a limiting factor.

I have bought out and transferred about 6 to 8 smaller units from Manchukko, and a couple of air units (a fair sized Sally Bomber unit).

It is to the point I am pulling supplies from the Home Islands and Pescadores into Shanghai and Wenchow.

[DanSez]

Southwest China has not changed.
How important is the flow of supplies from Indochina for the war effort here?

[DanSez]

ORIGINAL: Wargmr
...

However, if he has a strong CAP you may be just wasting good naval air crews on it.

The Allies do not stop getting subs so making an attack against a base which he may or may not be using to repair them on an unknown timetable is probably not the best course of action for very precious carrier resources. And if you are not sure the location of the Allied carriers, getting into a pissing match against an unsinkable carrier (suva) and whatever lies out there unknown, well...

Good points. Thanks.

[DanSez]

From the 'Noob' perspective:
It takes a lot of organization to keep your troops moving, supplies flowing and controling the operational tempo. Reading the AARs of the most experienced players is both inspiring at what can be done and depressing when I see how far I have to go to gain that skill.

The idea that someone can just pick up this game and master it in a year, two years or even three: that just isn't going to happen.

But, that doesn't mean you can't have fun, or that you won't eventually become a good player. You just have to stick with it. I am really enjoying the mess I am making.

And speaking of messes:
19 May, 1942 - Singapore
Still in enemy hands. I pulled out two of the more beat up IDs to rest and get some replacements. They should be back in line in the next 5-6 days. This should be enough for the final assaults. Way Late by any reasonable time table but it will still be a welcomed day to finish the job - for the first time.

19 May, 1942 - Bataan
Another boil on the map of Japanese expansion. The last elements of the 28th Division should be loaded up and transported to the Phillipines in the next week. Once rebuilt as a complete ID, I will start a series of DAs to see how much starvation and isolation and non-stop bombing has hollowed out the huge force still holding out in defiance of the inevitable.

19 May, 1942 - Batavia
Only recently have I started bombing this last bastonge on Dutch resistance. I expect fort levels to be crazy, and the place to be completely usesless once subdued.

Too slow, not organized correctly, forces not focused on the right targets... guilty on all counts, but this experience will make my next campaign a better effort.

[DanSez]

R&D Note: 19 May, 1942
A small example of the difference in Realistic R&D ON vs OFF

Ki-49-Ia Helen (30 factories: 1 large Sentai in field: 14 frames in pool)
Ki-49-IIa Helen (3x30 fully repaired: 55% toward next advance: current DOA 7/42)
no engine bonus

To continue in this configuration: 3 R&D points per day it will take 15 days to get to the next model.
That would be 3 June. In a Realistic R&D ON situation I would be stuck with keeping the factory (city) that is currently in production -- in production.

(the advantage of Realistic R&D OFF)
I moved the current model Ki-49-Ia production to R&D mode. I don't need any more unarmored Helens than what this one Sentai will use.
With 4 R&D points per day it will take 12 days to get to the next model.
That would be May 31st.
AND when I am making that shift, I can choose any of the 4 to shift to a production or R&D line without consideration of what was production/R&D before.

A small difference, but I can get the armored Helen's out a couple of days quicker and also get two more days of potential repair in on the factories that shift models.

I made a lot of rookie mistakes in laying out my Production and R&D factories. With Realistic R&D OFF, I hope to shift the burdens of supply demand around better. Harbin and Sapporo have been very difficult to keep in supply for repairs. A better plan from the start might have avoided some of this.

Example: A factory/city like Sendai has a lot of supply and only one Air Frame factory.
My Mistake was putting a frame there that is a slow producer - A6M2-N Rufe. I want some Float Fighters but this should have been in more of the more crowded industrial complexes where it's lower demand on supply would have helped ease that city and instead have a larger single Frame factory established in Sendai (like the armored Lily or one of the Helen or Oscar or Tojo coming online next month).

Lessons learned along the way.
It is not just frames and engines for the future, it is also city, supply and how large is the industrial complex that seems to have influence on how quickly you can repair and ramp up your production lines.


(correction)
I have 2 Sentai with Ki-49-Ia. One I got as a reinforcement and one that I upgraded, which was the one I was thinking of).

[ny59giants]

Operational tempo is a very difficult skill to master. Its easy to waste days to a week or more waiting for 12 knot transports to get where they are needed. You capture Singapore early and all your shipping is still at Saigon or CRB. Never mind that you don't have any minesweepers resting at Mersing to go in and get the port operational. So all that effort to capture Singapore is for naught as you waste 7 to 10 days waiting on minesweeping and transports to arrive with extra supplies and fuel. Still have the t-shirt from doing this. [:D]

[witpqs]

Still have the t-shirt from doing this.

I think I got the t-shirt, the sweat pants, the suit jacket... you get the idea! [:D]

[DanSez]

Ship Production Notes:

18 May, 1942:
BB Yamato arrives at Hiroshima/Kure

Her sister ship will probably never see battle.

I have been using Musashi's production points to accelerate DDs and CVs.

At this stage of learning the game, I have no idea why any Japanese player would want to play Scenario 1's restricted ship queue vs a human PBEM opponent, but after gaining some mastery of the other parts of the game, maybe a very good player would like the added challenge. Anyway, I digress....

Here is the results of not producing Musashi and having the Scenario 2's greater ship queue to manipulate
First up DD: Tracker report from the 19 May, 1942 orders phase
RED - the accelerated Shimakaze line.

[DanSez]

Ship Production Notes: (cont)

And the freed up points used for CV production: from Tracker report 19 May, 1942
RED - Accelerated Carriers
BLUE - these may not be built. At this time turning them ON or OFF does not impact the Naval Ship Yard build points queue.
GREEN - If I turned Shinano Acceleration OFF, then all 4 of these carriers would be delivered in Jul 1944. It is tempting to plan on moving them all as a block to some earlier 44 date. Still thinking about this decision.