Tora Tora Tora - EdM is welcome too!!!

[marky]

[:)]

sounds good ta me

[dennishe]

OK. Back to the AAR. Things are quiet. My troops are en route to Truk, from where an attack on a yet unkown location will be initiated. I'm waiting for recon results from my Glen subs, but so far they did not launch any recon mission yet. Don't know what to think of this (EDIT: they were still on 50% naval search, they flew the next day when I decreased naval search to 0%). Further, my troops are taking out small pockets of resistance in the DEI and the Philippines. Luzon will be completely isolated soon.

I don't like fighting in China and usually I go on the defensive early and as the allies usually give up some ground to build up a decent defense. However, playing with Japan there are some interesting targets around, such as Lanchow. I started a northern campaign in China in December to take it and it is about to become fruitfull. Those resources, oil and HI are very important to me. I want a strong independent Chinese economy. That will make things a lot easier. Lanchow is about to fall and a large amount of Chinese troops is cut off from the south....

[marky]

if u bring in sum troops from manchuria as i did u can get alot done with time and air support, although at the cost of decent casualties [:D]

[dennishe]

I'm tranferring my troops from Manchuria to the Pacific, as soon as I have the political points. The first division has been activated. Further I want to keep a reserve in Manchuria that is far larger than the limit (just in case of attrition or something else). What exactly is the deal with the garrison limits in China? Is there any penalty if I leave these cities empty or with too little troops?

Further I have started to build up the outer perimeter. This is the situation at Wake. I'm still mining the place. As soon as the fortress strenght is above 6, I will move the construction units to the next location (Tarawa, Maloeap or Kwajalein). I have several of these groups moving throughout the entire Pacific. KB will be tied up for a while and in case of an early opportunistic invasion of the Allies (I took Kupang and Tarawa back in june 1942 in an other game and never gave these places up again despite desperate attacks of the Japanese at Tarawa). Wake should hold on for a while.

[2ndACR]

In China, you can abandon any base without resources or industry. They will get heavily damaged (empty bases) and that is no big deal. But you do not want to abandon any of the resource/industry bases. No sense letting those get damaged.
 
I move the mongolian cav divisions from manchuria to garrison the smaller bases, and make alot of use splitting brigades to garrison others. I also shift Naval Gaurd units for garrison duty to free up the Mixed Regiments and other forces for redeployment. Looks like Wake has about 500 AS points.

[dennishe]

Wake is defended pretty well. I think it is one of the most important bases in the outer defense perimeter. If Wake falls the Allies can directly move on to the Marianas. And from there Japan can be bombed. For now Wake is save but later on I will bring in more troops. We do not have houserules which enables me to defend Wake with a "unhistorical" and unrealistic amount of troops.
 
Wake island will be more crowded with Japanese than the Tokio subway
 

[dennishe]

Again, there is an enemy CV spotted near Kiska island. This time however I have Vals and Zeros waiting for him. Hopefully all planes will fly and not stay on the ground due to bad weather. That could turn things into a disaster after all. My reinforcements to defend Kiska island against an Allied invasion is still very far away. Further the Allies have established an airfield on the Aleoutins just outside of Val range. Soon I will sweep the place with my Zeros. But first they have to escort my Vals to put some bombs into the flattop(s)....

[dennishe]

The Allied CV TF is not engaging Kiska Island. He moved to the Southwest, blokking the approach for reinforcing Kiska. He knows that I'm moving a mixed regiment in. Stupid Allied intelligence! [:@] Don't know exactly what to do now. I'm definitively not moving in the regiment, until the waters around Kiska are safe. KB is at Rabaul and will stay in that area to support further advances (I dont want to postpone this now the Allies are still very weak). MiniKB is at Palau and I'm moving it north. However, the experience of some of the pilots is rather crappy and I'm not willing to send it to battle. Especially, If they are going to face more than one carrier (there is at least one but it could be more). Perhaps the presence of Japanese CVs will scare him away. But it may also want him to engage me. Especially if he knows the whereabouts of KB. For now I'm moving the 4th mixed regiments to the Kurils. If the blokkade of Kiska is followed by an invasion, the regiment will be needed for the defense of the Kurils. Perhaps I should go for a nothern campaign after all. Or just go carrier hunting in the northern waters with KB.

[2ndACR]

Watch the months up north. I would welcome any invasion during winter months up north. He will take 3X normal losses just in the invasion. Also, make sure you do not do it either. Castor Troy wrecked 2 RCT invading a base during the winter months up there.

What does mini KB consist of? I build a mini KB using the 2 slow CV's (25 knots) I think they are Junyo and the next one, plus slow CVE's and CVl's. I have found that even all the CVl's and CVE's (all you have until mid 42) anyway are more than a match for 2 allied CV's. If I have 2 CVE's, then 1 carry's Zero's and the other Kates. My mini KB can normally put 80-100 Zero's and 100+ Kates into the air. Just watch those strike sorties, 2 good strikes and run for home.

Also, I would place enough fast AP's to lift the 4th Mixed in one lift. Use flank speed when you make your move so they maximize the movement per turn. They have plenty of fuel.

[castor troy]

ORIGINAL: 2ndACR

Watch the months up north. I would welcome any invasion during winter months up north. He will take 3X normal losses just in the invasion. Also, make sure you do not do it either. Castor Troy wrecked 2 RCT invading a base during the winter months up there.

Now you tell people! But who told me? When I was told, two RCTs were already wrecked! [;)][:D]

[dennishe]

I'm taking things slowly and wait with transporting in the 4th mixed regiment until I'm sure what the enemy CV(s) are doing and where exactly they are (My patrol planes lost them, but I'm sure they are still out there). I'm moving Glen subs north to map the area and have a Mavis squadron at Kiska. MiniKB consists of 3 CVLs and a CVE. I have another CVE at Sasebo and a CV becoming operational in a few days (It's still 2/18/1942). MiniKB is going to strike from the north with long range cap from the Zero's stationed at Kiska. If the enemy CV(s) come to close also the Vals at Kiska will strike. If the pilots on the new CV are OK, they will join the party as well. But first I want to know whether they are not facing 4 enemy CVs.....

[2ndACR]

The new CV should be Junyo and she has roughly 60ish experience pilots. The CVE at Sasebo.....if that is Honshu (the one that carried 11 a/c) I would just leave her there. Your 3 CVL's should have roughly 80 Zero's on them IIRC. And roughly40 Kates. The CVE could have 27 Zero's or 27 Kates on board. Either way, a very respectful strike force. 1 CV really does not stand a chance, even 2 CV's could be in serious trouble against it. Plus, the Allies have not even gotten their first AA upgrade yet. Range 5 strike would be the perfect against him, but it is hard to do.
 
Not faulting you on pausing the transports, I would too. Was just saying that I would use the fastest AP's I had when I did go for it.

[dennishe]

The Junyo just arrived and does have good Val and Zero pilots (seventies) and poor Kate pilots. Rendevouz of the air combat TF will take place at/around Tokio from where it will escort the 4th mixed brigade to Kiska island. Haven't seen the Allied TF in a while, but I think it is still around. The CVE in Sasebo is not the Taiyo of 11a/c, but can carry 30 aircraft (forgot the name of the ship already). However, it does not have any assigned to it. I'm thinking of tranferring Claudes (that will be tranferred into Zero's) from the home islands command to this CVE.

[2ndACR]

Okay, yeah the 30 a/c CVE's are the best. I have never had any adverse ops losses off the CVE's when using land based Zero's, Vals or Kates off them. But you have to watch the ops points. They can only get off 3 strikes and then they are empty. I always convert a Claude unit in the HI and transfer them to that ship or even base one of the HI Kate units off her.
 
I try and keep the same speed ships together. So the 25 knot CV's are paired up, Shokaku and Zuikaku are paired, Hiryu and Soryu    and last but not least Akagi and Kaga get paired together at all times. The CVL's (fast ones anyway) are either augments to each CV division or used enmass as a strike force.

[dennishe]

The CVE Taiyo is also underway to Tokyo with 27 Zero's on board. This makes miniKB (or better mediumKB) consist of 3 CVLs, 2 CVEs and a CV (KB itself consists of 6 CVs). I feel confident to take on an allied CV TF now.....

[dennishe]

The war is going great. I'm winning on all fronts. Here is an overview of the results so far:

DEI: almost completely secured except for Samarinda (will fall very soon) and some of the smaller one hex. islands in the DEI (will be taken soon). I have started to move out oil and resources on a large scale.

Burma: I have advanced into Rangoon. There is heavy fighting there. The odds are in my favour now and I think it will fall soon. I have 3 divisions in the area and several tank regiments. Mandalay is next...

Malaya: has been taken a long time ago

China: I took the cities in the north. Next is Sian...

North Pacific: I took Kiska island and Attu island. I'm not planning further advances here. Kiska will be reinforced soon by a mixed regiment. Allied CVs are spotted in the region. The reinforcement will be escorted by miniKB.

The Philippines: No action on the main island yet. I let them starve some more. It has been completely isolated. It is bombed daily and will be a training ground for my pilots for the next months.

Southwest pacific: All main targets (Rabaul, Gili Gili, PM, Lunga, Shortlands and Tulagi) have been taken. Thursday island will be next. A major operation to take Luganville and Noumea is planned for the next week. These actions are supported by KB. (Marky: I will not go for PH. I think it is too risky and I don't want to take too large risks while I'm ahead. I'll save this strategy for another game. I think taking PH is better if you bomb the place directly from the beginning anyway.)

Central Pacific: I took Guam, Wake and the Gilberts. Wake and Tarawa are being fortified. I'm thinking about taking Baker island. However, I do not want to do this without support of KB. Perhaps later....

[dennishe]

The invasion of Noumea goes OK. KB destroyed a lot of planes on the ground and my troops landed at the hex next to Noumea itself. Another invasion of Luganville did not go well. My troops stumbled upon a coastal defense unit and got pounded. The only thing they can do now is waiting for reinforcements.
 
In the north the allied carriers were indeed triggered by the reinforcement TF of Kiska island. A massive carrier battle was initiated and dispite a lot of AKs and APs are/will be sunk, the first round was definitively in my favour. No damage to my BBs and CVs at all (all sys damage below 10):
 
Day Air attack on TF, near Kiska Island at 92,35
 
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 15
 
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 17
SBD Dauntless x 85
TBD Devastator x 28
 
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
 
Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless: 4 destroyed, 4 damaged
TBD Devastator: 2 destroyed
 
Japanese Ships
AP Chowa Maru, Bomb hits 1,  on fire
AP Keisho Maru
AK Boko Maru, Bomb hits 1,  on fire
AK Hozan Maru #5
AP Koyo Maru, Bomb hits 2,  on fire
AK Zuiko Maru, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
AP Neikai Maru, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
AK Bichu Maru, Bomb hits 3,  on fire,  heavy damage
AK Manko Maru, Bomb hits 1,  on fire
AK Teikin Maru
AP Iburi Maru
AK Teibo Maru, Bomb hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage
AK Kenyo Maru
AK Toyama Maru
AK Yoko Maru, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
 
Day Air attack on TF at 91,36
 
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 64
 
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 16
SBD Dauntless x 76
TBD Devastator x 41
 
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed, 4 damaged
 
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 12 destroyed
SBD Dauntless: 30 destroyed, 16 damaged
TBD Devastator: 22 destroyed
 
Japanese Ships
BB Nagato
BB Fuso, Bomb hits 1
CVL Shoho
CVL Zuiho
CVL Ryujo
CVE Hosho, Bomb hits 1
CVE Taiyo
CV Junyo, Bomb hits 1
 
Day Air attack on TF at 93,36
 
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 37
D3A Val x 16
B5N Kate x 43
 
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 58
 
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 15 destroyed, 1 damaged
D3A Val: 3 destroyed, 9 damaged
B5N Kate: 15 destroyed, 13 damaged
 
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 13 destroyed, 6 damaged
 
Allied Ships
CV Hornet, Bomb hits 1,  on fire
CV Enterprise
CV Yorktown
CA San Francisco
 
Day Air attack on TF at 93,36
 
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7
B5N Kate x 17
 
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 22
 
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
B5N Kate: 5 destroyed, 7 damaged
 
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 6 destroyed
 
Allied Ships
CV Yorktown, Torpedo hits 1
CV Enterprise, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire
DD Perkins
 
Day Air attack on TF at 93,36
 
Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 5
 
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 21
 
Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
 
 
Allied Ships
CV Enterprise, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
 
Hopefully, the Enterprise is not capable of launching planes anymore. This would increase my odds for a great victory. I'm moving my carriers further east. Hopefully there will be a next round

[dennishe]

For a moment I thought I lost the enemy CVs. The Hornet was spotted the next day in the south of Adak island. No attacks were lauched and she dissapeared the next day. The Enterprise was discovered in the very north. There was no cap and she became an easy target for my Vals and Kates. Critical damage has been reported. Hopefully she will sink or be in port for a year......

Day Air attack on TF at 100,34

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7
D3A Val x 12
B5N Kate x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val: 4 damaged

Allied Ships
CV Enterprise, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage

Day Air attack on TF at 100,34

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 30
B5N Kate x 19

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate: 2 destroyed, 4 damaged

Allied Ships
CV Enterprise, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage

I'm pulling my carriers back. They lost quite some planes and I need replenishment.

[dennishe]

03/16/1942: The invasion of Noumea is going according to plan. The 16th Army landed at Caledonia with a division, a tank regiment and an engineer regiment. Noumea is hold by a NZ brigade and a base force. There are no forts. I should be able to take it soon. The invasion of Luganville did not go very well. My SNLF stumbled upon a coastal defense battalion, which pretty much destroyed the invasion fleet. The troops that managed to get to land are not capable of taking it. I have another division as a floating reserve near Lunga, but do not want to send it in agains a coastal defense battalion. First KB, and bombardement runs by CAs and BBs will soften the defenses and then another SNLF will land at Lunganville, to reinforce the troops that already there and take the island. The troops defending Etafe have not been identified yet. I'm hoping not to find a full size division there. If the Allies hold Etafe, it is easy for them to put pressure on Noumea and Luganville, which are within fighter range. I want to take it as well. As soon as the situation at Noumea is secured and the defenses of Etafe has been identified, I'm sending in the 18th division (floating reserve).

The Enterprise sank by the way......

[dennishe]

Auch! this one hurts. Losses at KB were too high. Hopefully one more strike will close down Etafe field for good. Within two days a surface TF with 2 BBs and several CAs will strike Etafe as well. There are two units there. One of them is a base force. Quite a lot of troops, guns and vehicles though, comparable what is found at Noumea. There is at least a regiment or brigade there. Perhaps a division. Hopefully, we take Noumea soon. I have the 18th division nearby afload and the 21st is being transferred into the region. An large airbase at Noumea would be fantastic. A special base force landed at the island today.
 
 
Day Air attack on TF at 72,110
 
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 74
 
Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 6
P-40B Tomahawk x 2
P-40E Warhawk x 7
 
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged
 
Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless: 5 destroyed
P-40B Tomahawk: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 6 destroyed
 
Japanese Ships
DD Kuroshio
 
Day Air attack on Efate , at 73,109
 
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 23
D3A Val x 96
B5N Kate x 134
 
Allied aircraft
F2A Buffalo x 2
P-40B Tomahawk x 2
P-40E Warhawk x 10
 
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
D3A Val: 9 destroyed, 16 damaged
B5N Kate: 10 destroyed, 8 damaged
 
Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 5 destroyed
 
 
Allied ground losses:
39 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
 
Airbase hits 8
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 72