Tora Tora Tora - EdM is welcome too!!!

[dennishe]

Well, I (Japan) started up a new game against EdM (allies). It will be my second attempt to play with the Japanese, with my first game being stopped in March 1942. So, things are new for me.

After studying some AARs I decided not to invade the Philippines on day one. I will take the "Lawrence of Arabia" approach as mentioned by Hirohito. As long as the Japanese have air superiority there is no need to invade the Philippines right from the start. I plan to use my troops for different purposes. From my game with 2ndACR I learnt that it is extremely important to take Java early. Before the allies can reinforce it with division from India or Australia. Further I want to take Rabaul, Guadacanal and Port Moresby early in the game and expand my territory from there. When Java and Malaya have been taken and I have some political points to make free two more divisions from China, I will go for Luzon. If EdM tries to reinforce Luzon early on in the game I might take a few bases and set up airbases at for example Legaspi and Aparri. I will use my bombers to close down Clark Field and keep it closed. Lets see how things go.

This map depicts my planes for December. The attacks depicted in yellow will commence on the very first day (except for Rabaul and Kita since I forgot them). The attacks in red will commence later in December. In addition, smaller size invasions in the Philippines will be initiated to capture bases such as Jolo to cut of the Philippines from DEI.

[Alfred]

Looks like a stock map.  Is this scenario 15?  Any particular HR being employed?
 
Alfred

[dennishe]

Yes, it is stock. Scenario 15. No houserules.

[dennishe]

I'm pretty happy with the outcome of turn one. I think I really hit him at PH with the BB Oklahoma sinking (I'm hoping that the BB California will sink as well, it was hit hard). Wake was the usual disaster. I send out more troops than usual, but only one a few troops unloaded. The invasion of Wake is going to last a bit longer than I hoped for. I do not know where his carriers are. I allowed EdM to move his ships at sea at turn one. They could be close, they could be far away. Anyway, I'm withdrawing KB to Wake to support the invasion. Initially, I was considering to stay another day at PH, but I don't think there is much to gain at day 2 anymore. Don't want to loose to many of my experienced pilots for a few more hits.
Invasions at Amboina and Khota Baru are ongoing. The invasion fleet for Kuching and Brunei still has to arrive. Guam was hit hard with MSW Penguin sinking. Batan island is mine. In addition I destroyed 232 of his planes. I think all in all a pretty OK result. More to folow.......
 
BB Pennsylvania, Bomb hits 4,  on fire
BB Arizona, Bomb hits 5,  on fire,  heavy damage
BB West Virginia, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 2,  on fire
BB California, Bomb hits 11, Torpedo hits 3,  on fire,  heavy damage
BB Tennessee, Bomb hits 6, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire
BB Maryland, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
AK Castor, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire
CA San Francisco, Torpedo hits 1
BB Nevada, Bomb hits 9, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
BB Oklahoma, Bomb hits 9, Torpedo hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage SUNK!!!!!
DD Aylwin, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
AV Tangier, Bomb hits 1,  on fire
CA New Orleans, Bomb hits 2,  on fire
DD Downes, Bomb hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
AK Florence D., Bomb hits 1
AS Pelias, Bomb hits 1,  on fire
CL Honolulu, Bomb hits 1
DD Conyngham, Bomb hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
CL Helena, Bomb hits 1

[dennishe]

Wel it is 12/10/1941 and I'm already a week behind schedule. I took Wake, Guam, Amboina and Hong Kong. Troops are still fighting in Khota Baru, Ichang and Yenen. My invasions of Brunei and Kuching haven't arrived yet. Apparently, the destination was too far for the 1st warp speed turn. Both invasions will definitively arrive tomorrow. Reinforcements to Kuching are underway. They'll bring contruction units, aviation regiments and supplies to build it up to a huge air force base, from which I want to controll the skies over the SRA. A similar base is already operational at Amboina. I'm afraid though that a lot of allied shipping has already escaped.

The strikes on the Philippines have more or less completely destroyed Clark field. However, Manila is still operational. I moved several squadrons of Sally and Lilly bombers to Batan Isl., from where Manila will be attacked. Paratroopers will take the base just of the coast of Manila (I forgot the name, it is a level 1 field). From there fighters and dive bombers will support the attacks on CF and Manilla and attack allied shipping in the region. In addition I have the 21st division and the 38th division in reserve. When things in the Philippine skies becomes too hot, I will bring these divisions ashore and build up an AFB at Appari. A surface fleet TF from Japan is en route to Formosa to potentially support these actions. The force will be too small to take the Philippines, but is too big for the Allies to trow me out.

Two more divisions will arrive in Truk soon and they will be used to take Rabaul, PM and Guadacanal. KB is also en route to the region.

One division will be used to take Kendari, Kupang and Lautern. It is currently unloading at Palau.

Further, I have three divisions available for Malaya and two for Java. By the end of January I have political points enough to activate another division from China. The Malaya campaign is supported by various brigades and tank units.

This means that I' may have to use the 21st division. This will leave Hanoi for the take by Chinese troops. If EdM goes for Hanoi, I guess I will have to take it back later. Is it true that this will activate 4 Vietminh division which come at 1/3rd of their strenght?

[2ndACR]

Sorry for the termination of our game with no notice. My personal life (almost divorce) really put me on the skids and sucked alot of life out of me. Things are better, but still rough around the edges. So again really sorry about that. Was a very fun game.
 
Yes, if he moves on Hanoi, you will get some Viet units. I have only gotten 3 though and they are at roughly 100 AV on arrival. I always ship the 4th Mixed Regiment to Hanoi on turn 3 or so by using returning shipping from Malaya landings. These also stay to load the 21st division. I always use the 35th brigade at Cahm Rahn Bay to hit Kuching as they are 100% preopped for it and there is just enough shipping there to do a single day unload.
 
Landings on Java are vital. Get there as fast as you can with as much as you can.

[dennishe]

Hi 2ndACR. Thanks for the info. I really enjoyed our game. We can always talk about continuing this game or start up a new one when you have time again

[John 3rd]

You get 1 Vietminh Division per invading unit up to a total of four.  They start at 1/3 strength but can become very useful with some training and new leadership.  Make sure you change the leaders if they do activate.
 

[2ndACR]

I may take you up on that offer once more of the dust settles and such. But AE looks very promising, so maybe a rain check after that is released. Things are just way to iffy right now for me to commit to anything and do not want to drop a game suddenly like that again.
 
I will be keeping track of this AAR and maybe contribute some advice if you want.
 
This a PDU game?

[dennishe]

I will definitively buy AE as soon as it is available and probably play it PBEM.

Yes, PDU is on. Wouldn't know what to do with all the obsolete Japanese planes. Now I'm mainly building:

Fighters: Oscars, Zero's
Dive bombers: Val's (don't know what to do with the army bombers; probably use Sonia's for ASW and the war in China)
Long range bombers: Bettys, some Nells and Helens, Sallys are on halt. Are Lillys useful (over Sallys and Helens)?
Recon: Dinahs
Transports: Topsys and Tabbys. Some of the long range float planes (forgot the name)
Torpedo: Kates
Floatplanes and patrol: didn't make changes yet. I won't turn of Glens.

I will definitively use this AAR to ask for advice now and then.

[2ndACR]

Okay.
 
Fighters are good, well only choices right now.[:D] I build 200 Zero's for quite awhile.
 
Sonias are useful even though short ranged, they have armor at least. Not good for ASW. Range way too short. Keep these in the 40 range.
 
Helens are the best you got right now for army bombers. I use Lilly's, but usually use a HR about converting them to Helens etc. But you do not have one, so upgrade away. I increase Helens to 60ish per month. You could do a few more since that will be your mainstay bomber for awhile. Helens are great for ASW once they hit the mid 80's experience wise. Put them at 2000 feet and they pound subs.
 
Tabby's are the best you get. I build roughly 30 per month. Topsy's roughly 20. Once they hit 100 in the pool, I stop production. I use 2 factories for each, 1 big one and another at about 12. The thought being that once I do not need a bunch, I convert the big factory to something else. It will take awhile before you get 100 in the pool because of all the upgrading you will be doing. I keep the 2 units of Tina's you will get that have 36 each in them. Produce about 6 per month or so. All the Tabby's and Topsy's will allow you once massed to lift a full Brigade in roughly 3 days.
 
Float planes...........streamline to Jakes and Alfs. I build 20 or so of each. Keep 1 Glen factory going for the subs. All others get changed to something else. Patrol is easy Emily's.

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: dennishe

I will definitively buy AE as soon as it is available and probably play it PBEM.

Yes, PDU is on. Wouldn't know what to do with all the obsolete Japanese planes. Now I'm mainly building:

Fighters: Oscars, Zero's
Dive bombers: Val's (don't know what to do with the army bombers; probably use Sonia's for ASW and the war in China)
Long range bombers: Bettys, some Nells and Helens, Sallys are on halt. Are Lillys useful (over Sallys and Helens)?
Recon: Dinahs
Transports: Topsys and Tabbys. Some of the long range float planes (forgot the name)
Torpedo: Kates
Floatplanes and patrol: didn't make changes yet. I won't turn of Glens.

I will definitively use this AAR to ask for advice now and then.

Use the Nates and Claudes for training! No need to waste good planes training the trash you end up putting in your daitai and sentai.

[2ndACR]

I never seem to suffer very many ops losses while training. I use frontline a/c too. I always see people say this, but have never experienced it. But then I also cut off as many occupied Allied bases as possible and use them for training. Not dot bases, but occupied bases. China is a favorite too. I fly actual combat missions, albiet safe ones.
 
Use level 4 or larger bases for training, place a air HQ there, good base force, keep range as short as possible. Fly the rookies at 10,000 feet until they hit the 50's exp and then drop them to 5,000 feet. Once they hit the 70's.........frontline they go.

[Mike Solli]

I use the obsolete planes to reduce the producition requirements.  You're right, the op losses are rather low, but why let all those Nates and Claudes sit around and rust, or worse yet be converted into a one resource each.

[jwilkerson]

Main reason to use obsolute aircraft for training is you then don't need as many new ones and can switch HI over to ships. The more HI you have building ships sooner the better!

[dennishe]

Using obsolete planes for training is indeed what I'm going to do now. With PDU on I can easily switch my squadrons from frontline planes to obsolete planes and back. The remark: "don't know what to do with the obsolete planes" was refering to when PDU would be off. In this case one has lots of squadrons with obsolete planes that cannot be upgraded to frontline planes. You can train your pilots well, but then cannot give them a decent plane. Or is there an easy way to switch pilots between squadrons?

[dennishe]

12/14/1941.  Things are going according to plan.
 
Borneo: The invasion fleet to Kuching was hold up by a bug and I had to take a detour. I made the mistake to go via a coastal hex and half of the division was unloaded one hex next to Kuching. The remainder of the division will finish the job soon anyway. Reinforcements, supplies, an aviation regiment and construction units are underway to build up Kuching to a large air force base. The 65th brigade, which just cleared Brunei will move on to Palembang, supported by planes from Kuching.
 
Malaya: Khota Baru has been taken and my units are moving on to Kuantan. At Alor Star allies are still resisting. Reinforcements just arrived at Songkia and will arrive tomorrow at Khota Baru.
 
The Philippines: San Jose is mine. I installed a squadron of Mavis patrol planes and a squadron of Claudes, which I put on naval attack at 100 feet to kill of PT boats as soon as the leave port. An invasion fleet is 4 hexes away from Jolo where another base will be installed. Clark Field and Manilla are pounded daily from bases at Formosa and Batan Isl. The 2nd and 38th division are preparing for a Philippinian invasion.
 
North Pacific: The invasion fleet is still underway.
 
New Guinea: Rabaul has just been invaded. The Australian units are still putting up a heavy fight. I want to pull the supporting force and the invasion fleet back to Truk soon. I'm afraid US Carriers will turn up. The first division arrives soon and will reinforce my troops at Rabaul and then go for PM and Lunga. A second divisions will arrive a few days later.
 
Pacific: Wake, Guam and Makin island have been taken. The rest of the Gilberts will follow soon. As soon as KB is available further operations will be carried out.
 
China: Hong Kong has fallen. There is still heavy fighting at Ichang and Yenen.  
 
So far I have not observed and sunk any allied shipping yet. I'm starting to wonder whether I was too late and they all got out safely. The first 3 days of the war I did not have any patrolling aircraft over the SRA. Now, planes from Amboina, San Jose and Brunei are patrolling over the SRA. Anyway, they can't be in OZ yet. I will get my change.
 

[dennishe]

Another one of my TFs got stuck in an hex. This time it is the invasion force en route to Kiska island. I detoured it. Hopefully, it will go further. In addition, the CVL at Palau does not want to load new planes. Palau has supplies enough and since I'm trying to load Claudes, there should be still enough of them. So far bugs are resisting my advances more than the allies.

Edit: Palau does not have supplies enough. Dispite a large resupply fleet it is out of supplies again. I'm having to many invasions going on right now. Within two days another big ass supply transport TF will be arriving (unless it gets stuck). Then my CVL will be back in action........

[dennishe]

Borneo: Kuching finally fell. I really messed up this invasion. TF got stuck in a hex. I detoured it. It unloaded half of the 48th division in a nearby hex and the remainder of the troops had to little supplies to do the job. Anyway, Kuching now has supplies enough and an aviation regiment is flown in. Further I have a base force there and some construction units. Also I have 27 Nells and 27 Zero's stationed here.

The Philippines: So far I left the Phillippines alone. For some reason the Sally's do not fly from Batan Isl., although it has a size 4 airfield, enough supplies and all planes are in perfect condition with an aviation regiment there. The invasion of the southern main island is being prepared and will commence within the next days. At Davao another airbase will be installed to further pound Luzon into the stoneage. The P40E's are becomming a bit of a treat since they started to attack my shipping. So far they didn't hit much, but that will most likely change in the future. I have two divisions and some backup divisions in reserve. It would be relatively easy to land somewhere on Luzon and install a base from where I can use divebombers to attack.

Malaya: The invasion of Malaya goes smoothly. At Alor Star his troops are still resisting, but that's no problem. It will make it easy for me to cut off his troops after I have taken Kuantan. Within two days the Imperial Guards and the 25th army HQ will land at Khota Baru.

Rabaul: So far I only did bombardement attacks yet. I have 4 small naval infantry units on land and am currently landing a special base force. Within two days my troops will be reinforced with a full size division. KB and a surface TF will support this landing. From there next stop will be Port Moresby, where my troops will be joined by a second division.

Amboina: Around Amboina my TFs are landing units at various less important bases to deny these bases to the allies. Invasions of Kendari and Medano will start soon.

Aleoutians: My invasion fleet is still on its way and nowhere near its destination. I have already a squadron of Jakes standing in the north of Japan to fly to Kiska as soon as it is liberated. For now I will use these bases to scout. No further attacks are planned in the Aleoutins for now, but hopefully these preliminary actions will draw some allied ships to the north

[2ndACR]

You were trying to avoid that sub near Kuching werent you? I gave up trying and just plow over it.
 
Don't land at Khota Butah, land right on Kauntan with those troops. Marching overland will kill you with fatigue and disruption. That will slow your advance to a crawl and he will run faster than you can advance. Trust me, I have tried it. Bombard Kuantan and then invade. Airstrikes will help too.
 
Place some transports (Tabby's and Topsy's) on Kuching and ship in the Para's. A ton of bases they can take in the DEI region. Be careful and do not take Tobali until all of Java is secure. Protect the resources at all costs. Once a base is secure, you can airlift heavy forces in (brigade or division) pretty quick if you mass your airlift. But have all the players in place before the drop, para's will not survive long if there are Allied troops in the area. Or wait until Palembang is secure. From there, you can recon Java and really grab a foothold from the air and avoid the sea invasion for awhile.