RADM Yamaguchi's Diary (Pls no affins or cheesesteak)

[RADM.Yamaguchi]

I'll stop the armaments and expand the vehicles? or should i convert some armaments to vehicles?

Yes i plan on using Tojo IIc in burma mostly. Maybe N. Australia if needed.

the 16th Army in N. Australia. 15th Army in reserve. All the Southern Army divisions and regiments are also in a mobile reserve. they are all full strength exp 80+ mor 97+ fat 2-

the 14th Army in Rangoon having evacuated out of Akyab. Their almost full strength but exp 70 mor 70.

the 21st Army is in S china clearing Nanning.

the 25th Army pushed east from Mandalay and is headed for Kunming.

i was trying to clear the rail in mid china with the rest.

[RADM.Yamaguchi]

Now that my farcical E australia and W burma excursion is over i have started the search for the allied CVs again. 2 are up in alaska last i knew. i went looking for them near NZ a couple of days ago and this happened.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Jun 27, 42
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I sent a BB TF into Auckland but they were waiting
Night Time Surface Combat, near Auckland at 115,185, Range 8,000 Yards

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
SOC-1 Seagull: 2 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CA Chikuma
CA Mogami, Shell hits 1
CA Mikuma, Shell hits 1
CA Kumano, Shell hits 2
DD Isonami, Shell hits 5, on fire
DD Shikinami, Shell hits 3, heavy fires
DD Ayanami
DD Asagiri, Shell hits 1, on fire

Allied Ships
BB Mississippi, Shell hits 4
BB Warspite, Shell hits 8
CA Vincennes, Shell hits 12, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Russell, Shell hits 20, and is sunk
DD Craven
DD Gridley
DD Dunlap
DD Fanning
DD Mahan
DD Aylwin, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
DD John D. Edwards, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Paul Jones
DD Parrott, Shell hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
That seemed to go pretty well. I had another BB TF of 4 more CAs and 4 DDs but they turned tail and ran.
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Auckland at 115,185, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Isonami, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
DD Shikinami, heavy fires

Allied Ships
BB Mississippi
BB Warspite
DD Craven
DD Gridley
DD Dunlap
DD Fanning
DD Mahan
DD John D. Edwards
They found my hurt TF again and beat them up again.
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Auckland at 115,185

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 41
B5N2 Kate x 30
D3A1 Val x 22

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk IA x 15
P-38E Lightning x 7
P-40E Warhawk x 23
F4F-4 Wildcat x 53

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 11 destroyed, 2 damaged
D3A1 Val: 2 destroyed, 5 damaged
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
P-38E Lightning: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 3 destroyed

Allied Ships
BB Mississippi, Bomb hits 6, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
BB Warspite
I had a KB light covering the BB TFs that was supposed to stay out of range of Auckland. I suspected a CAP trap. But Yamaguchi wasn't going to listen to orders and closed in.
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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Auckland at 115,185

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 51 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 36
B5N2 Kate x 110
D3A1 Val x 24

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk IA x 14
P-38E Lightning x 2
P-40E Warhawk x 15
F4F-4 Wildcat x 40

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 11 destroyed, 8 damaged
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed, 7 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk IA: 3 destroyed
P-38E Lightning: 1 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed

Allied Ships
BB Warspite, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 6, and is sunk
BB Mississippi, Torpedo hits 6, and is sunk
DD Mahan, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Fanning, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Craven
DD Gridley, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Dunlap, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
Luckily we got another strike in in the afternoon. Turned out ok.

I would like to continue these kinds of raids all over if i can.

[RangerJoe]

A very nice job!

[inqistor]

ORIGINAL: RADM.Yamaguchi

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Auckland at 115,185

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 51 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 36
B5N2 Kate x 110
D3A1 Val x 24

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk IA x 14
P-38E Lightning x 2
P-40E Warhawk x 15
F4F-4 Wildcat x 40

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 11 destroyed, 8 damaged
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed, 7 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk IA: 3 destroyed
P-38E Lightning: 1 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed

Allied Ships
BB Warspite, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 6, and is sunk
BB Mississippi, Torpedo hits 6, and is sunk
DD Mahan, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Fanning, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Craven
DD Gridley, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Dunlap, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
Luckily we got another strike in in the afternoon. Turned out ok.

I would like to continue these kinds of raids all over if i can.

So, that is 9 total BBs sunk so far? Half in the theater already.
Where are from those Wildcats reported? Seems a lot for land based units. Like 3 full units scrambled with good warning time. Probably 5, or even 6, considering patrol rotation.

From what program your report tables come off? Seems there is some hiccup at April, and you have one month too many. If you use Tracker, it will tell you expected usage of Armament, and Vehicle points for reinforcements only. It would be probably cheaper to convert something into Vehicle, but if you are planning to conquer some aircraft factories, they will convert after conquest.

And you shouldn't use unrestricted units in China. Well, probably better to move them east from Burma, than trying to cross jungle into India, but still, why don't load them on ships, and conquer some islands?

[RADM.Yamaguchi]

Hi Inquistor, Thanks so much for your input. I'm really not familiar enough with how far i should push or how i am doing so far.

I think it's only 7 BBs and 7 CAs that i have sunk. With fog of war you never know but i've been trying to watch for float plane losses on days when they are reported sunk.

i've just been using excel for my reports. I'll go back and add april. I tried tracker before but i'm not that good at computers and i had a hard time installing it this time.

I was using the 21st in China because it began in Cam Rahn Bay and it was a short run up to china. I really blew it early in the game by not attacking in china for quite a while. i think i'm really far far behind. I'll shoot you a picture and you can tell me how badly i'm doing there.

[RADM.Yamaguchi]

here's china - not a lot of progress - that's why i was using unrestricted troops to a degree

[RADM.Yamaguchi]

I'm not sure what islands to go for.

Midway?
Johnston?
Palmyra?
Pago Pago?

I've got most of the rest.

Or up north

Dutch Harbor?
Cold Bay?
Kodiak?

Or in the Indian Ocean

Ceylon?
Diego Garcia?

[RADM.Yamaguchi]

My navy is fairly intact:
I've lost:
1CS, 1CA, 1CL, 12DD, 4TB, 9APD, 18AP, 49AK/AKL, 1TK, 5SS, 3AV, 11DMS, 24PB

[RangerJoe]

Ceylon should trap and destroy some Commonwealth units. Maybe even help destroy part of that shipyard on port strikes.

Diego Garcia would interfere with convoys from Cape Town.

Take Socotra and build up the airbase to level 4. With a source of torpedoes, long ranged Nells could damage a few ships from Aden to Karachi besides interfering with the Cape Town to Karachi route.

[inqistor]

ORIGINAL: RADM.Yamaguchi

here's china - not a lot of progress - that's why i was using unrestricted troops to a degree

What are those yellow exclamation marks? Supply shortage?
Those red ones at the coast are definitely lack of garrison. It damages your Bases, and cost you 1 VP per turn each.

China is PITA, but you have to make lots of shuffling. There are lots of low experienced collaboration permanently restricted units. You can divide some of them, and put every third at different Base for Garrison requirements.
Fight in the mountains is waste of time. Even if you take the Base, you will have to fight with those same forces over every next hex along the road.

You want Wenchow (great target for frequent Yamato visits, you can reload at Shanghai, but that would wreck the industry. Also it is in range from Formosa. You can move there some restricted short range bombers from Japan), and should probably hit plains west of Changsha. Take a route from Nanchang, but avoid forests. So far, it seems you have clear road to Sian from SEE. Generally seek clear terrain, and Bases with industry.

As for island - you are seeking to wreck maximum damage. If there are some short range planes at Midway for example, they wouldn't be able to evacuate by air. You want to hit large USMC units, as they will get murderous firepower in 1944.
Ceylon seems to be best target. Probably too many defending units to evacuate most of them, island have some industry, and you would probably catch large stockpiles of fuel. Problem is that India is too close, and all Air Units from that Front will concentrate there.

EDIT: Remember about HQs. Corps, and Command HQ in range, planning for the same target, can double your AV.

[RADM.Yamaguchi]

Thanks inqistor

One comment before i reply.

I HATE WEEKEND MORNINGS WITHOUT A TURN TO WORK ON!!

I'm going to have to start skipping friday and saturday night turns in order to save them for the following morning. Further slowing down our already slowing game.

[RADM.Yamaguchi]

Man, i'm so sad about Bill Brown's passing. He always was quick to help anybody here. You could tell he really cared about others.

It really makes an old man like me stop and pause. I think there's more beyond this life on earth and he seems like one who will do well in it.

[RangerJoe]

Yes, Bill will me missed.

No updates for awhile? If you want a lot of people posting to make your opponents nervous, just as someone to post a picture of a tree. You might be able to get 5 or 6 pages of posts . . . [:'(]

[RADM.Yamaguchi]

Hi Joe, not much going on here. turns have slowed way down and i finished extracting myself from E. Australia and Akyab. Trying to get my fighter production back up after running low on engines to keep bonus. A6M5c in 8 days, Ki-44-IIc in 4 days.

I've never been impressed with Vals. Now that i can resize all my CV groups what do you think of dumping them and resizing the zeros and Kates. I thought i would just resize the kate squadrons to whatever the torpedo capacity was and have the rest be Zeros. For example the Shokaku (72) has 45 torps. so 45 Kates and 27 zeros. Akagi (81) 45 kates 36 zeros. Then i can resize all the val squadrons to 81 and leave them on land to harrass invaders.

[inqistor]

VALs are great against unarmored ships. But beware their second iteration, it gets range cut.

KATEs are quite bad with bombs. So you would have only one strike with them, until torpedoes run out.

You generally don't need lots of ZEROs, unless you go against enemy CVs. And in that case, you want as much attack planes, as possible. You have to take enemy out in first strike.

For land based planes, BETTYs beat all with torpedo, and their huge range.

[RangerJoe]

ORIGINAL: inqistor

VALs are great against unarmored ships. But beware their second iteration, it gets range cut.

KATEs are quite bad with bombs. So you would have only one strike with them, until torpedoes run out.

You generally don't need lots of ZEROs, unless you go against enemy CVs. And in that case, you want as much attack planes, as possible. You have to take enemy out in first strike.

For land based planes, BETTYs beat all with torpedo, and their huge range.

Supersize them all on the Akagi, I think that you can set them to size 90 and it will do so. Just don't go max for the ship but manually input 90.

One third of each group on the ship. Vals for search and ASW. Kates work great against ships at 1000 feet with two bombs. The others can train and/or perform work from shore bases. Plus, think of a CAP trap using the carriers with nothing but supersized fighter groups after putting the bombers ashore . . .

G3M3 Nells have a range of 21 with torpedoes . . .

[RADM.Yamaguchi]

Inquistor thanks for the ideas.

Joe you seem to always know how to max everything out. i keep cycling CMc-AMc-CMc-AMc for mines like you suggested. i'd hate to be the allied player that plays you in a PBEM if you ever do one.

i thought i remember my kates doing well at 1000 with bombs. i was going to form them into super squadrons where possible exp 80 so they get a chance at 800kg

i may want to equip cvs with alot of kates with torps for a thrust at the allied cvs if i can pin them down

[RangerJoe]

I have OCD - Obsessive Cat Disorder!

Really, you want to be as efficient as is possible. Are you sending your 81+ pilots to Tracom? Keep a few in a training squadron to increase the average experience and skills but check out this thread:

https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=4761962

[RADM.Yamaguchi]

About time for an update. I have been truly sucking at this game.

It's July 30, 1942. since my last update i've lost tons of airplanes, another CA (OUCH), a few DDs, the allies are making incursions into burma, i'm struggling to make any headway into china, they have retaken Raoul Is and Canton and are about to take Baker. And i have my production so screwed up i haven't produced a single fighter plane in over a month. Other than that everything is just peachy.

[RADM.Yamaguchi]

I have a plan though. Yes i'm stupid enough to start one more game just to show how bad i really am. No really, i'm trying to learn from my mistakes and hopefully the new mistakes i make won't be as bad as the mistakes i made in this game. It'll probably confuse the hell out of me playing two games at once but we'll see.