War Plan Orange

[herwin]

Japan declares war on US and UK. (See http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=1515389.)

The Japanese Prime Minister, Edwin Eugene Erwin, Baron of Sapporo, announced that the Emperor of Japan had agreed to a declaration of war against America, the British Commonwealth, and the Netherlands East Indies, the casus belli being inviduous racial discrimination against Asians in American, British, and Dutch areas and the American, British, and Dutch unwillingness to consider Japanese needs for access to resources. "In view of these continuing policies, and the three nation's unwillingness to consider valid Japanese needs, we are sorry that relations have come to this state." After a typically polite Japanese announcement and delivery of the declaration of war, Japan waited until midnight, December 7th, to begin hostilities.

Japanese strikes on Manila and Singapore surprised unprepared garrisons and sunk many ships, suggesting that it is lucky that the Japanese did not attack the American fleet in Pearl Harbor.

Biography of EE Erwin
The Baron of Sapporo was originally recruited from a career in the American oil industry by the government of the Meiji Emperor to create an indigenous oil industry in 1910. During the rule of the Emperor Tai-sho, his success in doing this brought him to the attention of the then emperor's eldest son, Hirohito, who later as the emperor Showa promoted Erwin to a position in charge of creating Japanese economic autarky. The Japanese work towards that end resulted in American, British, and Dutch opposition in the Far East, eventually leading to the current conflict. After the failure of General Tojo's government in China, Erwin was promoted to lead the current Japanese technocratic government.

[Wolfie1]

EERM Shoudn't this be in the WPO forum AAR's?

[herwin]

ORIGINAL: Wolfie1

EERM Shoudn't this be in the WPO forum AAR's?

No, this is a 1941 instance of War Plan Orange, played out using WiTP.

[String]

I'll be following this one with interest [:)]

[herwin]

On the second day of the war, Japanese invasions continue at Kota Bharu, Luzon, Guam, and Wake.

[Bliztk]

From:
CINCPACFLEET
To:
All Units
Code Name: War Plan Orange.
Execute Unrestricted Naval Air Warfare agaist the Empire of Japan.
This is not a drill. I repeat. This is not a drill.

[herwin]

On 10 Dec 1941, light USN surface forces sortie from Manila Bay and encounter both Japanese surface forces and air strikes, with a few survivors eventually retreating back to Manila Bay. Japanese warships rescue many survivors from the water. Legaspi, Guam, and Makin Island fall to Japanese landing forces, with the native inhabitants greeting their liberators with flowers and gifts of food.

[Bliztk]

USN Pacific Fleet reports many hits on enemy subs patrolling Hawaiian waters.

Meanwhile Nationalist Forces report a bloody repulse by the ROC forces at a Japanese attack on Wuhan

An attack on Hong Kong was also repulsed with heavy Japanese losses.

Allied intelligence remains worried, because only BB Haruna and CVL Ryuho had been spotted, the rest of the Japanese Navy remains undetected and uncommited.

The valerous defenders of Wake repulsed another attack. The VMF211 reports that Japanese ships have abandoned the scene

[herwin]

Events on 10 December continue inevitably.

Davao and Kavieng invaded.

As an aside--this is my first game as the Japanese player, and I'm running into some of the same problems with the AI that frustrated me as the Allied player:
a. A destroyer squadron commander deciding on his own initiative to make a side-trip to bombard the fort at Bataan while headed south to rendezvous with other forces. (Oops...)
b. A carrier TF commander deciding on his own initiative to not attack a target he was ordered to attack (twice).
c. An air unit commander deciding on his own initiative to not do a paratroop drop (twice).
d. An invasion TF that dropped off the troops but then left the landing zone without dropping off the supplies (occured twice).

How can the Japanese players stand this?

[Bliztk]

I have seen the same with TFs taking the wrong turn at Singapore, b and c maybe are related to the base being CAPed

Allied Command Report
Valiant CW forces report that CA Chokai ate a torpedo after a succesful Vildeeblest attack.
USAFFE reports that an unidentified enemy flattop was attacked succesfully by B-17s and left burning
We will continue reporting

[herwin]

ORIGINAL: Bliztk

I have seen the same with TFs taking the wrong turn at Singapore, b and c maybe are related to the base being CAPed

Allied Command Report
Valiant CW forces report that CA Chokai ate a torpedo after a succesful Vildeeblest attack.
USAFFE reports that an unidentified enemy flattop was attacked succesfully by B-17s and left burning
We will continue reporting

Fog of war...

[herwin]

On 11 December, 1941, Masbate was occupied by the Japanese, and Tarawa, Aparri, and Laong were captured. Three USN destroyers sank. On the other hand, the Chokai survived the torpedo attack with one systems damage. The bombed CVL was in even better shape...

The carrier TF commander and air unit commander continued to ignore orders.

[String]

ORIGINAL: herwin

Events on 10 December continue inevitably.

Davao and Kavieng invaded.

As an aside--this is my first game as the Japanese player, and I'm running into some of the same problems with the AI that frustrated me as the Allied player:
a. A destroyer squadron commander deciding on his own initiative to make a side-trip to bombard the fort at Bataan while headed south to rendezvous with other forces. (Oops...)
b. A carrier TF commander deciding on his own initiative to not attack a target he was ordered to attack (twice).
c. An air unit commander deciding on his own initiative to not do a paratroop drop (twice).
d. An invasion TF that dropped off the troops but then left the landing zone without dropping off the supplies (occured twice).

How can the Japanese players stand this?

With experience you'll start realising when the game accepts and does not accept orders. Air units not flying is quite usual. Airdrops not happening, less so. Probably was down to bad weather.

I've learned to keep supplies in a few separate ships so they land at the same time as the troops. Even if the ships withdraw some supplies get landed.

As for the destroyers... ouch! I've heard of it happening but i've never seen it myself.

[herwin]

ORIGINAL: String

ORIGINAL: herwin

Events on 10 December continue inevitably.

Davao and Kavieng invaded.

As an aside--this is my first game as the Japanese player, and I'm running into some of the same problems with the AI that frustrated me as the Allied player:
a. A destroyer squadron commander deciding on his own initiative to make a side-trip to bombard the fort at Bataan while headed south to rendezvous with other forces. (Oops...)
b. A carrier TF commander deciding on his own initiative to not attack a target he was ordered to attack (twice).
c. An air unit commander deciding on his own initiative to not do a paratroop drop (twice).
d. An invasion TF that dropped off the troops but then left the landing zone without dropping off the supplies (occured twice).

How can the Japanese players stand this?

With experience you'll start realising when the game accepts and does not accept orders. Air units not flying is quite usual. Airdrops not happening, less so. Probably was down to bad weather.

I've learned to keep supplies in a few separate ships so they land at the same time as the troops. Even if the ships withdraw some supplies get landed.

As for the destroyers... ouch! I've heard of it happening but i've never seen it myself.

I heard a few mumbles from your direction in the last game. Now I understand a bit better.

[herwin]

On 12 December, 1941, Kavieng and Nauru fall to battalion-level operations. Adelaide got into the troop convoy at Rabaul and chewed it up a bit. The 5th carrier division finally got around to hitting Wake. Where's the rest of the KB?

[Bliztk]

HMAS Adelaide, in a daring night action sunk the screening escort and one merchant from the invasion of Rabaul



Another night surface combat victory for the Allies forces

Meanwhile Australian Special Forces facing a superior enemy used a tactical withdrawal on Kavieng (New Ireland) to continue monitoring enemy forces

[herwin]

ORIGINAL: Bliztk

HMAS Adelaide, in a daring night action sunk the screening escort and one merchant from the invasion of Rabaul



Another night surface combat victory for the Allies forces

Meanwhile Australian Special Forces facing a superior enemy used a tactical withdrawal on Kavieng (New Ireland) to continue monitoring enemy forces

One DD lost but no merchies.

[herwin]

13 December 1941

The cruiser division providing distant cover for the Rabaul invasion convoy caught up with the Adelaide and sank her.

Alor Star and Victoria Point are captured by the Japanese.

A second day of heavy airstrikes descends on the port of Manila.

Naval bombardment on Kuantan.

The 5th carrier division takes another day off...

[Bliztk]

Allied Report:

Valiant HMAS Adelaide was sunk by a superior enemy cruiser force north of Rabaul, that force later did a ineffective night bombardment of Rabaul, with a Japanese cruiser being damaged by 6inch battery fire.

A new landing has started at Wake Island. The valiant Marines repulsed the new assault, but intelligence reports new waves of Japanese transports awaiting unloading.

Operation Alabama reports another success with three Japanese I-Boats reported damaged or sunk

Operation Alabama (now partially declassified) is the USN Pacific Fleet effort of cleaning the waters around of Hawaiian islands from the Japanese Submarine Fleet.

Nearly two dozens of Japanese subs have been attacked by allied air or ASW fleets, with two confirmed sinkings, and 3-5 more probable sinkings, based of the amount of debris and undewater explosions caused from the attacks

[herwin]

ORIGINAL: Bliztk

Allied Report:

Valiant HMAS Adelaide was sunk by a superior enemy cruiser force north of Rabaul, that force later did a ineffective night bombardment of Rabaul, with a Japanese cruiser being damaged by 6inch battery fire.

A new landing has started at Wake Island. The valiant Marines repulsed the new assault, but intelligence reports new waves of Japanese transports awaiting unloading.

I need to add that the Japanese landing force stormed ashore to the cheers of an audience of 5th Carrier Division sailors, watching from the anchored flattops and other escorts offshore.

Operation Alabama reports another success with three Japanese I-Boats reported damaged or sunk

Operation Alabama (now partially declassified) is the USN Pacific Fleet effort of cleaning the waters around of Hawaiian islands from the Japanese Submarine Fleet.

Nearly two dozens of Japanese subs have been attacked by allied air or ASW fleets, with two confirmed sinkings, and 3-5 more probable sinkings, based of the amount of debris and undewater explosions caused from the attacks

Right!...