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I am not sure if either or both of the teams will start their own AARs or strategy threads. If they do I will add a link here to them. While both sides are welcome to look and comment in this thread if either side does set up it’s own the other side should keep out of that thread so that secrets can be revealed to the board.

This is the first instalment of the Big Team WitP game. I am going to have to be very guarded by what I add as both teams will be able to see this. I will therefore not be detailing any strategy or rear area movements. Nor will there be many screenshots that would be too revealing. However there may still be a considerable degree of intelligence gathered from this thread by both sides. As it is possible to tell which CVs are involved by the names of the squadrons and most naval attacks reveal the names of the principle ships involved I will reveal the names in this thread even if the ships themselves are not always spotted. Hopefully it will not favour one side too much over the other.

To help to reduce the threads Intel value I am going to post a few game days after the events so that position of vital forces are not known in real time.

As I cannot go in to strategy details, or the development of hidden traps or plans there is a danger this becomes just a list of dull combat replay reports. To combat this I am going to periodically focus on some of the Commands in detail. These will contain details of the in game histories of the forces they command. Sadly none of the participants hgave sent me any photos. But google images will surfice [:D]

As there were no orders to any forces apart from Kido Butai and the cancellation or delay of invasions this War starts off fairly slowly. Many of the Japanese ships are not in the thick of the action at the start and many of their LCUs lack transport to get in to the action as quickly as they might. So this is a slow starter.

Feel free to add comments and strategy tips. Both sides probably need them [;)]

7th Dec
Apart from the inevitable Submarines trying to get in on the action Kido Butai opens procedures as normal. But the Japanese have split her up. CarDiv 2 under the command of Admiral Feurer hit the port at Manila. While CarDiv 1 & 3 struck at both the Airfield and Port of Pearl.

Day Air attack on Pearl Harbor , at 112,68

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 64
D3A Val x 95
B5N Kate x 107

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 2
P-26A x 3
P-36A Mohawk x 3
P-40B Tomahawk x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed, 6 damaged
D3A Val: 4 destroyed, 33 damaged
B5N Kate: 7 destroyed, 20 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 4 destroyed
P-26A: 4 destroyed
P-36A Mohawk: 9 destroyed
P-40B Tomahawk: 25 destroyed
B-18A Bolo: 3 destroyed
PBY Catalina: 12 destroyed
SBD Dauntless: 5 destroyed
A-20B Boston: 2 destroyed
B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
BB Maryland, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
BB Oklahoma, Bomb hits 7, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
BB Nevada, Bomb hits 7, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
BB California, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
BB Arizona, Bomb hits 6, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
BB Pennsylvania, Bomb hits 10, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
BB West Virginia, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CL Phoenix, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CA New Orleans, Torpedo hits 1
BB Tennessee, Bomb hits 7, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DD Jarvis, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Litchfield, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Shaw, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CA San Francisco, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CL Helena, Bomb hits 1
CL Raleigh, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CL Honolulu, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DM Preble, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage


Allied ground losses:
46 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 18
Runway hits 69



The attacks were fairly damaging. Most of the Kate squadrons from both strikes carried either 800KG bombs or Torpedoes. Both of which can penetrate a Battleships skin. However despite wounding all 8 Battleships at Pearl none were sunk. The Zero & Val attacks on Pearls airfield destroyed a number of planes on the ground.

Landings at Legaspi, Vigan, Aparri and Bataan Island in the Philippines all got ashore. While at Khota Baru in Malaya the Japanese landed in force. Wake was eerily silent on the 7th. But the Japanese arrived in force at Hong Kong. Bataan island fell in the evening.

Light damage was done to Singapore airfield as almost 100 Nells struck. Clark Field was moderately damaged by bombers from Taiwan.

Day Air attack on Clark Field , at 43,51

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 71
G3M Nell x 32
G4M1 Betty x 53
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1

Allied aircraft
P-26A x 3
P-35A x 3
P-40B Tomahawk x 2
P-40E Warhawk x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-26A: 6 destroyed
P-35A: 7 destroyed
P-40B Tomahawk: 7 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 4 destroyed
B-17C Fortress: 3 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
28 casualties reported

Airbase hits 31
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 111

In total air losses were

Spotlight on the Commanders

Admiral Feurer from the Cruiser Tone organised possibly the most successful strike of the day from the decks of CarDiv 2 from a distance of about 100 miles SW from Manila. 8 Submarines sunk and other submarine and support vessels damaged.




Day Air attack on Manila , at 43,52

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 30
D3A Val x 36
B5N Kate x 36

Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val: 2 destroyed, 5 damaged
B5N Kate: 1 destroyed, 13 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 6 destroyed

Allied Ships
AK Capillo, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
SS S-38, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AS Holland, Bomb hits 1, on fire
SS Stingray, Bomb hits 1, on fire
SS Skipjack, Bomb hits 1, on fire
SS Seadragon, Bomb hits 2, on fire
SS Saury, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
PG Tulsa, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AS Otus, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AO Pecos, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Palawan, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
SS Pickerel, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
SS Shark, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
SS Tarpon, Bomb hits 1
SS Salmon, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
SS Seawolf, Bomb hits 1
SS Swordfish, Bomb hits 1
SS S-41, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
SS Sturgeon, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
SS Snapper, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

The Kates from Hiryu (BII-3) were the most successful. Sinking S41, Sturgeon & Snapper with Torpedoes. They also shared the kills of Pickerel, Shark & S38 with the Kates of Soryu (BI-3) and of Salmon with their own Vals (BII-2). The Vals from both ships shared the kill of Seadragon.

Meanwhile down on the Malayan peninsular the forces of General Kraft were landing at Khota Bharu. But they were not to go unopposed. Despite the 100 bomber raid the large British airbase at Singapore remained open. As did several auxiliary fields along the Peninsular. Arrayed against the invaders were bombers from the 1st & 2nd SEAC bombing groups and elements of the 2nd AAF Bombing Group.




With captured US flag [;)]

Air Marshall William ‘Fighting Bill’ Durrant’s bombers of the 2nd SEAC Bomber Group struck at the invasion forces and scored the only confirmed hit on the first day. The 2nd SEAC Bombing Group has not been given the cream of the crop. Consisting of two ageing Vildebeest squadrons (100th & 36th), one Swordfish squadron (4th AACU) and a squadron of modern Blenheim IV bombers (34th) all flying from Singapore.

The Vildebeest’s lacked the range to engage the transports and heavy warships lying off Khota Bharu. But not the Blenheims and Swordfish (carrying bombs) the latter of which struck the first blow for the allies with a confirmed 500lb hit on CA Suzuya which started some fires and minor damage to the Cruisers superstructure.

Bombers from the 1st SEAC and 2nd AAF Bombing groups also attacked the landings here and at Songhkia but no hits were scored.

8th Dec

Some rearrangement of the Japanese commanders was necessary after the first day when some senior commanders went on extended leave just at the wrong moment. Other Japanese commanders temporarily lost all Communication equipment and subordinates piecing together their last known communiqués directed their forces. We are now very short of Japanese Commanders if anyone is interested.

Long range naval bombers hit Clark Field and Singapore airfields again. But neither was closed. Shorter ranged army bombers began to support the landings in Malaya and northern Luzon. While long range Tina transports moved to Haan in order to allow para attacks throughout the Philippines and northern Borneo region.

Pearl was struck again on the 8th. But only only the planes of CarDiv 1 made the strike. Flying from a range of almost 250 miles none of the attacking planes carried Torpedoes or the heavier 800KG bombs and despite numerous hits damage was slight. Although Arizona did not look too good [X(]




Instead they met fierce resistance from the remaining fighters at Pearl, especially from the fighters of the 2nd USAAF Fighter Group led by Group Commander Blam. The 18th (flying Tomahawks) followed up a good first days performance (3 kills) with another XX kills on the 8th.

And Pearl struck back too. The 1st USM Bombing Group (consisting of VSMB-232 flying Dauntless Dive bombers) and elements of 2nd & 4th USAAF Bombing groups got off a strike against the Carriers. At extreme range the Dauntless Dive bombers could only carry 500lbers and although a hit was reported the shocked aviators reported the bomb hitting then bouncing off the flight deck of Kaga.

Day Air attack on TF at 109,65

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 19

Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 3
P-40B Tomahawk x 5
B-18A Bolo x 3
A-20B Boston x 3
B-17E Fortress x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless: 2 destroyed
P-40B Tomahawk: 2 destroyed
B-18A Bolo: 1 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CV Kaga
CV Akagi, Bomb hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 10000 feet
3 x A-20B Boston bombing at 15000 feet
1 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet

General F Krieg leading the assault on the Philippines established bases in north Luzon. Both Vigan and Aparri fell at the end of the 8th to the 65th Brigade and 48th Division respectively.

The landings at Legaspi were contested though as two Divisions from General Nibblick’s Philippine Command raced from Naga to shore up the defences. An all out attack by the Kure 1st SNLF was halted despite support from Admiral Alessandro’s 3 Heavy Cruisers lying just off shore.

Nice work, Hop!

Water nothing but water up to the horizon was to be seen only interrupted by a white crest which for the fraction of a second caught LT Hori's attention until it was dismissed as not being the object of his desire the grey hull of I-17 in the vastness of the central pacific.
His look moved over the various instruments but it was only one that he worried about the fuel gauge. Absently he patted on it but the needle would not move. The rest of the instruments showed that his Hitachi Tempu 12-cylinder was working properly as always and a quick comparison with his notes showed him that he was at the rendezvous location but I-17 was missing or late or sunk!!!
Hori immediately pushed those dark thoughts away what could possibly sink such a fine ship as I-17 that the americans still had at their disposal? After all the US fleet was destroyed and had it not been for Combined Fleets decision he would have reconned the enemy base and seen it himself.
'See something?' he absently asked his rear gunner Funaki
'Nothing Lieutenant!' Funaki replied and Hori nodded grimly while his thoughts trailed back to the accomplished mission.
They had launched four and a half hours ago with their E14Y and the order to reconnoit the US base on the Johnson Atoll. The weather had been a bit on the bad side since Dec. 7th just as if the dark clouds of war had not only effected the hearts of men but the weather as well. Nevertheless Hori deemed it sufficient enough to take off and carry out the operation and after two uneventful hours Johnson Atoll was to be seen; just a tiny speck on an endless blue plate that stretched in all four directions. But that speck was inhabited as sporadic and fruitless AA fire indicated during the first of two overflights. Hori and Funaki could spot the activity on this tiny place in the form of newly excavated gun positions and extension of the airstrip. A single ship lay off shore which Funaki identifid to be a freighter.
But that was it! Nothing spectacular on this isolated place that really was worth mentioning. Just for an instant Hori pitied the american soldiers stationed down there.
'No bar, no tea house, no place to meet women......' he mused.
'You want women on a submarine, Lieutenent?' asked Funaki but Hori had already caught the slight chuckle in his rear gunners vioce to know that it was meant as jest. Yet the carefree comment of the young gunner brought Hori's memory back to more peaceful days of pleasant conversation under pink cherry blossoms far, far away from a tiny float plane approaching bingo fuel.

'Lieutenant, at 4 o'clock' Funaki's agitated vioce shook Hori from his daydreams. He turned his attention to the right and after a few moments he spotted the most desired object in all of the world the grey steel tubus of I-17, 'no women, no cherry blossoms but home' he thought as he started turning his small plane towards the sub below.

*** At Port in Palau, Dec 18, 1941

Cpt Kato, on board the CL Kinu: Ensign - Signal the task group. Hatsushimo and Akikaze will lead out of port. Captain Miyoshi [on the CL Yura] will follow, and then us. Following us will be Wakaba and Yukaze.

Ensign: If I may, where are we headed, sir?

Kato: Truk. The Admiral apparently has plans for us near New Britain.

Scratch one flattop [:D] (but alas, it will return as an Essex Class CV [:(])

Edit: In total the big E took 14 250kg bombs and 8 torps !!!![X(] Would make Yamato jealous [:D]

'Any news from the Tone?' rear admiral Yamaguchi asked Captain Yokokawa of the Zuikaku.
'Nothing, Sir. Captain Okada of the Tone reports that radio contact with Lieutanant JG Ikura has been lost. For the last twenty minutes it was impossible to establish contact with the reconnaissance pilot. Shall we wait any longer Sir......?' the captains voice trailed off in a very suggestive way indicating that he had already made up his mind.

Rear admiral Yamaguchi contemplated his options and the pieces of information that he had received during the early morning. The Tone had launched the two E8 Nakajima in the morning who were supposed to establish contact with the enemy who surprisingly had attacked shipping at Makin and Tarawa yesterday. At 1800 yesterday they had changed course and given pursuit at full speed to intercept the enemy carrier in the morning. At 08:15 LTJG Ikura reported sightings at the horizon, then a few ships, then a course, then big ships, then ....nothing!
'Whats the meaning of this?' Yamaguchi said in a low voice to no one in particular while looking down on the deck which was filled with A6M2's; D3A's and B5N's warming up their engines and using up valuable fuel.
'Sir?' the captain of the Zuikaku interrupted in a somewhat impatient, yet not completely improper way.

The rear admiral turned to annouce his decision
'Turn into the wind and launch the first wave captain. Signal Shokaku to do the same.' he said and as soon as he had announced his decision he felt relieved. The time for decisions was over now the long wait would begin.

Hi,
what I kinda like in this game is that there is apparently no communication between the two teams since they are not mailing to each other but to the referee (Hoplosternum). In addition the allies have no intel on the japanese air balance number.

What mod is this game?

Are you still looking for japanese players? I wouldnt mind trying it so long as I dont have to run the Industry without at least assistance. [:D]

This is stock game. But it feels pretty good since there are all the things that happen like lack of communication, mismanagement opposing orders and the like. Hoplosternum is in charge of player recruitment if someone (flanyboy) is interested.