IATB-BS-SN for anyone interested

[Historiker]

This is again an IATB-scenario basing on CHS. Its "I am the Boss - Best Start - Strike North" Download here

It's a mod to make Japan more potent, but the Allies also have a lot of additional ships and possibilitys. As the Allies may reinforce their positions and the time is working for them, it's different but not simply a boosted Japan.
As I love Battleships, the Japanese have more new BBs instead of CVs [;)]

It's compareable with IATB-SN except some significant changes:
The Japanese immediately joined the first World War and siezed ALL of Germany's asiatic Colonys. As they then sent the Kongo's to Europe to join the Home Fleet, the then allied British support their annexation of the former German Colonys.
Consequently, Northern Guinea, Rabaul and Western Samoa is Japanese from the beginning!
The Japanese intially wanted 70% of the US tonnage at Washington 1922. They may have achieved this but the US intelligence had broken the Japanese code and consequently knew that the Japanese will also accept 60%. This hasen't happened. So the Japanese demanded 70% - and they were successfull!

12 BBs instead of 10: Haruna, Hiei, Kirishima, Kongo, Fuso Yamashiro, Hyuga, Ise, Mutsu, Nagato, Settsu, Kawachi-Replacement
94.500ts CVs: one additional Soryu: Adzuma
238.000ts CA; Additional CAs/CLs: Chiyodagata (Takao), Kasuga (Takao), Fujijama (Mogami), Moshun (Yubari)
Subs and DDs as before (already 70%)

BBs:
1922:
Haruna, Hiei, Kirishima, Kongo, Fuso Yamashiro, Hyuga, Ise, Mutsu, Nagato, Settsu, Kawachi-Ersatz (Higara) im Bau
1930:
Haruna, Hiei, Kirishima, Kongo, Fuso, Yamashiro, Hyuga, Ise, Mutsu, Nagato, Kawachi-Ersatz; Settsu BU; Settsu-Ersatz (Higara) in Bau, delayed
1936:
Haruna, Hiei, Kirishima, Kongo, Fuso, Yamashiro, Hyuga, Ise, Mutsu, Nagato, Kawachi-Ersatz; Settsu-Ersatz
building: Yamato, Musashi, Shinano (all Higara 1929 design - the ugly one [;)])
1941:
Hiei, Kirishima, Kongo, Fuso Yamashiro, Hyuga, Ise, Mutsu, Nagato, Kawachi-Ersatz; Settsu-Ersatz, Yamato, Musashi, Shinano
Building: Yashima, Shikashima, Hatsuse (all Higara 13 design, the design of 1921 modernized. 45.000ts without the Washington limitations)

CVs, CVLs:
1936:
Hosho, Kaga, Akagi, Ryujo, Soryu, Hiryu, Adzuma
1941:
Hosho, Kaga, Akagi, Ryujo, Soryu, Hiryu, Adzuma, Zuikaku, Shokaku, Chitose, Chiyoda, Nisshin (Chitose), Mizuho (Chitose), Zuiho, Taiyo, Asahi (Shokaku), Tsukuba (Shokaku)

The first 3 additional ships, Yamato, Musashi and Shinano were built of the design that was already used to replace Kawachi and Settsu.
The new ships ordered after their completion aren't 64.000ts monsters like the Yamatos as the difference between the IJN and the USN isn't that big. Also, the smaller ships can be built faster and are cheaper.
As the shipbuilding industry wasn't that inactive within all the years, it's more potent than IRL and can not only build the historical carriers but also two additional Shokakus.

But there are more changes in the storyline:
IRL, Germany made attempts in 1937 to solve the crisis between China and Japan. Both weren't interested in a full scale war initially, not even Japan. Japan was in fact prepareing for a war against Russia.
The german delegation achieved to negotiate a stable peace. Germany helps the Chinese to massively increase their production and equip them with material. They delivered ~190 PzKpfw II to equip 5 tank batallions. They also helped the Chinese to establish a small production line for that light tank in Nanking, where 6 of them are produced per month.
They also equipped China with many planes. Discharged He-51 and Ju-86 were delivered and the Chinese were helped to establish production lines for Ju 52/3m, Ju 87B, Me 109E and Do 17. They also sold 3 subs of the U II class.
Japan instead has the option to buy any exported Chinese ressources. They are delivered to Shanghai. Japan was granted the right to establish bases at Canton, Shanghai and on the island Hainan. Consequently, except this three places, Manchuria and the old german Colony of Tsingtao, no Japanese troops are within China. They are freed to fight Russia.
As China is tied close with Germany, China itself may not attack Japan until April 1944.
The Chinese also have their 2 old CLs and 5 old german Torpedoboats.


The biggest change apart from the other changes in IATB is the Dutch Fleet.
As Japan annexed all German colonys, the Dutch feel the greedy Japanese eyes on their Colony. Consequently, the historic Dutch Naval Expansion program of 1938/39 was started 10-15 years earlier and is complete. (They might have huge financial problems to fulfill it, but that doesn't matter here.) The British also sold them HMS Hermes to build another Courageous which was sunk instead of the Glorious (and I don't have to find a new name [;)]). So the Glorious will arrive within 3 month instead of the Hermes.
So the Dutch have this additional ships:
1 CVL with the capacity of 20 planes. Equipped with US planes, both airgroups have a maximum size of 20 to allow the player to decide the combination of both airgroups at will.
3 BCs equipped with 9x28cm
The Jacob van Heemskerck will arrive as planned with 15cm guns
3 DDs Isaac Sweers
3 SS
7 PGs
7 MSW/SCs

Here the informations about CHS-IATB:
1. IATB:
IATB means "I Am The BOSS". The player should have a maximum of freedom of choice. That means, for the Japs, that there are nearly no restrictions in upgrading the air groups. If you want, you may have every single fighter unit equipped with Zeros and every single LB unit equipped with G4M. The Allies also have many more options. USAAF may use USN and USMC fighters, the chinese can be equipped with A-20, B-25C, P-36 and P-40, the Dutch with Kittyhawk I instead of Kittyhawk III, The russians may fly Hurricans, Spits and P-40s as well - which are produced in huge additional numbers, etc.
The Japanese player has several additional ships - but has to pay for everyone of them. If he wants additional Carriers, he must stop other ships instead. More Destroyers? - for maybe fewer Cruisers... All ships take that amount of time as if they were laid down on 12/7/41. Carrier conversions were ordered immediately, so they arrive quite early and make Japan significantly stronger!

The Allies recieve MANY additional Carriers and Cruisers - but Cruisers and Carriers no longer respawn. This will make players not waste old ships to get new ones and a carefull player may have many more ships than ususal as the respawn carriers now get built even if the earlier ship wasn't sunk. Also the Langley reconverts to an auxiliary Carrier with very bad capabilitys - but still a carrier...
The Japanese recieve many more ground units - but all without any equipment. This system allows the Japanese to benefit from a more efficiant economy. Producing more vehicle points now allows you to have more tanks and not only to have a bigger pool. This system was tested with bigbaba and works fine as intended!

The planes now have their accurate ranges and payload. Allied 4es are even more deadly with many more bombs and bigger range, Allied DBs and TBs/Torpedo carrying LBs now have a range greater than 5. The data was taken from RHS and Empire Ablaze (2e fighters).
The map economy from RHS was implemented with many additional ressource and oil centers. Moreover, as the centers are mostly splitted, a damanged palembang doesn't mean you'll have to wait until 44 to recieve full production, you can repair it faster if enough supplies available. Moreover, ressource and oil centers close to the coast are now in coastal hexes. So far, it was impossible to get the ressources of Clark Field to the Home Islands, now most of the ressources just one to two hexes away from the sea are transfered to harbours.

Moreover, there are many additional planes. All of them were theoretically possible. Some of them were indeed in Japanese hands and not produced for some reasons like the Ju 88, the Me 109 and the He 100, others are of german origin and later versions of this planes like Me 109G, 109K and the never produced Me 109Z.

To even this, the allies recieve many more of their best fighters - and earlier (Spitfire 2/42, Mustang 12/42) as well.



2. Strike North:
Japan attacks Russia instead of the Allies. It's already at war with China but can now concentrate fully on the continental warfare.

This changes a lot and makes the game totally differen - and that's why I want to play it now!

1. Japan has limited ressources and has to crush the Russians ASAP, before their oil is gone. As final prize, the base Magadan west of Kamtchatka has a (really) huge amount of industry, oil and ressources. This base mustn't be conquered before Krasnoyarsk is captured. Then, it'll reflect the ressources, oil and industry of european russia now under axis control. This will make Japan independant from imports - and change the whole game once more!

2. As Japan shows once more its aggression, the Allies reinforce their positions. While they aren't at war, Japan mustn't attack their shipping. Consequently, they can send additional troops to PI, Malaya, Burma, Australia...
As soon as Japan and the Allies are finally at war, the Japs won't have the chance to overrun half of asia any more. Instead, their home islands are within range of 4e bombers, huge fleet bases may be not far off their Islands etc.
So while Japan has a lot of advantages, it isn't all that one handed. The additional month also made all Allied units in DEI, PI, Malaya, Burma and Inda strengthen morale and take care of their disabled sqzads. Just imagine what a phillipinean army can do without disabled squads, with fine morale and with additional US troops on their side...

I guess Japan will have overrun both Russia and China in mid 42, so after that, two armies from well prepared positions may encounter each other. No more "Japs totally rule the sea at first and then have to hide from 43 on"...


House Rules:
- No on-map training by bombing abandoned or bypassed bases. Fighters and Fighter-Bombers mustn't do bombing runs for training at all. This is done as the reinforcement pool will give the Japanese superior replacements for 42 but then, they'll be only slightly better than chinese ones...
- No construction of fortifications larger than 3 except in China and Russia as long as the Allies and Japan aren't at war. Construction of ports and airfield is allowed at will.
- Reinforcement have to be assigned to the command of the base they defend as soon as they arrive. E.g. a US Division for PI must recieve USAFFE command immediately after arrival. The Allied player must take care he doesn't send troops without haveing enough political points (This should make it more difficult to do a ahistorical "simply send all to PI"). The Allies recieve 75 PP per day which should allow them one division + support units to be transfered per month. No tricks here: no upgrading of airgroups, transfer the first repaired plane to another base to reassign it and then send the rest... Only when the full PP is available transfer is allowed!

Allied support for China and Russia:
- The allies may ship supplies to China or Russia, but Japan has the right to sink them. The same for transport planes - japan has every right to hinder conterband entering enemy territory
- Both British and US may send 10 airgroups EACH to China (British) and Russia(US). They may circle at will to give new "volunteer" units training in combat.
- Both GB and US may send each 5 aviation regiments to China/Russia via air or sea (and Land from Burma).

Peacetime rules:
- The Allies have to prevent provocations. They must order the airgroups to train to avoid attacks on Japan.
- The Allies are allowed to declare war (one day before the first strike) between 7/42 and 8/42. I would recommend that every side writes an AAR and the audience in the Allied AAR must vote for a date. This should prevent an allied intervention too early and still guarantee some surprise. Japan may attack any time.
- The Allies mustn't set their Cap higher than 30%. If Naval searched has spotted an enemy fleet close to the base <6 hex, it may be raised by 20% each day. As soon as the fleet disappears, it has to be reduced back to 30% by 10% each day.
- The subs at Manila must stay there. The rest of the fleet can be based anywhere at will with the following rules: Battle Squadrons have to stay together - no splitting of the BBs, at least 4BBs per harbour. BBs and CVs may only be based in harbours size 9, CAs and CLs only in harbours size 6 and bigger, DDs only in harbours size 4 and bigger. Ships may travel between the ports but must be disbanded then immediatly. No docking if disbanding is possible.
- Fleets have to stay in ports of their nation (PI=US) (except the ships that are already in foreign harbours like the French Destroyer. British ships may travel to DEI, Australia and New Zeeland, but the ships of that nations have to stay in their countrys. Airgroups only in their own nations airfields except the CW.
- The merchant fleet may do whatever expected to be necessary. If closing Chinese or Russian harbours 4 hex or less, they can be sunk without a casus belli for the allies.
Naval search only by PA at their maximum altitude and with 50% (both sides) as long as Jap-Allies aren't at war.


Some of the Sources:
Spek, John D.: The Dutch Naval Shipbuilding Program of 1939. In: Warship international 1988, page 68-83.
Krebs, Gerhard: Japans Deutschlandpolitik 1935-1941. Eine Studie zur Vorgeschichte des Pazifischen Krieges, Hamburg 1984.
Sander-Nagashima, Berthold: Die deutsch-japanischen marinebeziehungen 1919 bis 1942, Hamburg 1998.

[Historiker]

Any suggestions?
Anyone interested in testing it? I will play both sides.

[JeffroK]

As New Zealand occupied Samoa on Aug 30 1914 & Australia took Rabaul&nbsp; Sept 13 & Madang Sept 30 it would have taken another war for japan to get control of them.

As it was it took to Oct 7 for japan to occupy the Marshall & Caroline Is.

I will give it a bash, but my computer only plays AI

[JeffroK]

Warning 1.    Turn off Historical 1st turn

[JeffroK]

You still have japanese forces in Taiwan , French Indo China  on offensive missions.

Check the movement orders for LCU a Hailar (and others) for destination, 1 has a 2540 mile march ahead of himself.

Is the KB deliberatly north of Okha?

The IJN subs are in their IRL positions around PH and are getting sunk by the dozen.

Might be my PC, but I got a CTD when I tried to view the Chinese subs in Tsientsin

[JeffroK]

Tried again from a new start, when accessing the Chinese subs I got a CTD again.

Is there some ship art missing????

[Historiker]

yes, maybe...
But In a PBEM with IATB-SN, my opponent also told me he gets a CTD when clicking the soviet subs (no chinese there). In my PBEM IATB, my opponent gets no CTD clicking the soviet subs.

I really don't understand why, because I've changed nothing with the soviet subs!

[John 3rd]

I like the fact that you have Mizuho and Nisshin coming in as CVLs.

Good luck with the Mod.&nbsp; Will there be an AAR?

[Historiker]

If I play it: yes&nbsp;[;)]

Like to do a testgame?

[ny59giants]

But In a PBEM with IATB-SN, my opponent also told me he gets a CTD when clicking the soviet subs (no chinese there). In my PBEM IATB, my opponent gets no CTD clicking the soviet subs.

I really don't understand why, because I've changed nothing with the soviet subs!

When I took Big B's mod to fit on RHS 6 maps, the Indian brigades changed to their full TO&E being the Aussie divisions all by it self [&:] (its the next higher number in the Editor). I had to go back and reset them. You could resend him the location file from your mod or if he knows how to use the Editor, to go in and verify the subs have the valid bit map art. I had this problem years ago when Iron Storm first came out and some of the maru's around the Society Islands did not have the valid bit map art.

[JeffroK]

If you delete a slot, everything moves up a spot BUT anything linked to the slot number stays the same.
&nbsp;
ie:&nbsp; If you delete an aircraft in slot 99, the data in slot 100 moves up to 99, but the squadron stays linked to the aircraft in slot 100.
&nbsp;
I tried linking that Chinese subs (which had a bit map of 0 ) to a Russian Sub but still got a CTD.
&nbsp;
Solution , dont manually use the Chinese subs (I dont view combat replays anyway)
&nbsp;
Historiker, this mod is very interesting, its not often I fight in Russia, but there is a lot of work in the game resetting units to avoid attacking the Western Allies, KB aircraft still have orders to attack PH!!
&nbsp;
Your use of Magdalan to represent Europe seems to be duplicated in another base near Vladivostock.

[Historiker]

Your use of Magdalan to represent Europe seems to be duplicated in another base near Vladivostock.

Magadan shouldn't have any european ressources anymore. The route is too far and if ressources from russia are brought to the Home Islands, it's not needed to transport them that far.

ATM, I think of a version that assumes Russia is already defeated. I have a testgame IATB-SN which is quite boring as nothing happens... [>:]

If you delete a slot, everything moves up a spot BUT anything linked to the slot number stays the same.

ie: If you delete an aircraft in slot 99, the data in slot 100 moves up to 99, but the squadron stays linked to the aircraft in slot 100.

I haven't deleted any slots, I simply replaced them when I changed something.
Well, I'll have to do some more tests but it seems that the art is the reason for CTD, no?

[JeffroK]

Magadan shouldn't have any european ressources anymore. The route is too far and if ressources from russia are brought to the Home Islands, it's not needed to transport them that far.

You should edit your opening post then
&nbsp;
&nbsp;haven't deleted any slots, I simply replaced them when I changed something.
Well, I'll have to do some more tests but it seems that the art is the reason for CTD, no?
&nbsp;
Just an assumption based on something I screwed up in the past
&nbsp;
I'm unsure about the art being the problem, needs more checking.

[el cid again]

ORIGINAL: JeffK

Magadan shouldn't have any european ressources anymore. The route is too far and if ressources from russia are brought to the Home Islands, it's not needed to transport them that far.

You should edit your opening post then

 haven't deleted any slots, I simply replaced them when I changed something.
Well, I'll have to do some more tests but it seems that the art is the reason for CTD, no?

Just an assumption based on something I screwed up in the past

I'm unsure about the art being the problem, needs more checking.

Magadan is at the base of a large river (four times the flow of the Mississippi) and it is there as the port for itself and two other cities upriver - which generate "Asian" resources as their reason for existence. Magadan was added by me - stock ignores the whole idea - and it is always a sideshow. However - it is significant for two reasons: (a) a source of resources and (b) as a possible air base or naval base for either sides. The REASON for resources at Magadan is - that is where they are. The more significant reason for having this river (which IS navigable to ocean ships) is that it is a potential base area of some significance in some situations - and should be a strategic consideration even when not. The Russians can sort of "retreat" there even if driven from Amur province. The Japanese can use it for resources - if they feel the need - without risking the major opposition of engaging near the Trans Siberian RR. In any campaign where the politics makes sense - the Allies might even use as a bomber base.

[JeffroK]

ORIGINAL: el cid again

ORIGINAL: JeffK

Magadan shouldn't have any european ressources anymore. The route is too far and if ressources from russia are brought to the Home Islands, it's not needed to transport them that far.

You should edit your opening post then

 haven't deleted any slots, I simply replaced them when I changed something.
Well, I'll have to do some more tests but it seems that the art is the reason for CTD, no?

Just an assumption based on something I screwed up in the past

I'm unsure about the art being the problem, needs more checking.

Magadan is at the base of a large river (four times the flow of the Mississippi) and it is there as the port for itself and two other cities upriver - which generate "Asian" resources as their reason for existence. Magadan was added by me - stock ignores the whole idea - and it is always a sideshow. However - it is significant for two reasons: (a) a source of resources and (b) as a possible air base or naval base for either sides. The REASON for resources at Magadan is - that is where they are. The more significant reason for having this river (which IS navigable to ocean ships) is that it is a potential base area of some significance in some situations - and should be a strategic consideration even when not. The Russians can sort of "retreat" there even if driven from Amur province. The Japanese can use it for resources - if they feel the need - without risking the major opposition of engaging near the Trans Siberian RR. In any campaign where the politics makes sense - the Allies might even use as a bomber base.

que'

[JWE]

ORIGINAL: JeffK
que'

que' indeed Jeff.

Largest river in Magadan Oblast is the Kolyma – a relatively small, wide but very shallow, river, not particularly navigable, that flows North to the East Siberian Sea.

Magadan city was never much of anything. Not really much of anything even now. Never developed as a port (although the Sovs tried in 1931) because the holding ground is totally unsuitable for development. It was and remains a fishing port (see Magadan Port Authority, UN/LOCODE: RUGDX).

Mining in the uplands of the Oblast, primarily moderate grade tin and tungsten ores, with some gold and silver. Worked commercial and by four Gulags, but only raw ore extracted and shipped elsewhere by rail. No records of State Factories established in Magadan Oblast apart from pre-processing centers at the mineheads. Few exist even today.

[JeffroK]

And was the site of one of the many GULAGS.

[JWE]

Gosh, yeah. Apparently one of the worst. Seems those were some of the poor pukes that tried to build something at now Magadan city back in ’31, ’32. Woof !

Anyway, looked back at the old Sov records. Never could find any mythical rivers at Magadan. A few marshy streams outflowing at Arman, Ola, and Yana, about 20-30 km east and west. Did find references to an ore-barge terminal at Magadan, built by Gulag labor in ’31, ’32, but silt and ice forced its closure, as impractical, in ‘38. Currently, a fair (by Sov standards) road goes from Magadan to Sokol/Palatka, can’t imagine what that was like in ‘40.

Magadan is realistically a port-1, with nothing practical behind it. A very, very nasty part of the world back then.

[Kereguelen]

ORIGINAL: JWE

Gosh, yeah. Apparently one of the worst. Seems those were some of the poor pukes that tried to build something at now Magadan city back in ’31, ’32. Woof !

Anyway, looked back at the old Sov records. Never could find any mythical rivers at Magadan. A few marshy streams outflowing at Arman, Ola, and Yana, about 20-30 km east and west. Did find references to an ore-barge terminal at Magadan, built by Gulag labor in ’31, ’32, but silt and ice forced its closure, as impractical, in ‘38. Currently, a fair (by Sov standards) road goes from Magadan to Sokol/Palatka, can’t imagine what that was like in ‘40.

Magadan is realistically a port-1, with nothing practical behind it. A very, very nasty part of the world back then.

The Soviet Naval Base in this area was not named after Magadan but after Nagajewo (Nagayevo) [Bay] (which makes it somewhat difficult to look after if one searches for information about Magadan) and had 4x 152mm and 11x 130mm Guns for its defense. Don't know how useful the port was, but it seems that at least the Soviet Pacific Fleet considered the location not completely unimportant.

[DuckofTindalos]

ORIGINAL: JWE

Gosh, yeah. Apparently one of the worst. Seems those were some of the poor pukes that tried to build something at now Magadan city back in ’31, ’32. Woof !

Anyway, looked back at the old Sov records. Never could find any mythical rivers at Magadan. A few marshy streams outflowing at Arman, Ola, and Yana, about 20-30 km east and west. Did find references to an ore-barge terminal at Magadan, built by Gulag labor in ’31, ’32, but silt and ice forced its closure, as impractical, in ‘38. Currently, a fair (by Sov standards) road goes from Magadan to Sokol/Palatka, can’t imagine what that was like in ‘40.

Magadan is realistically a port-1, with nothing practical behind it. A very, very nasty part of the world back then.

Still is, methinks...