Tenno heika banzai! A 2x2 Da Big Babes from the Japanese perspective (Japanese fanboys only, please)
Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2010 8:49 pm
(If the esteemed Nomad and vettim89 wander to this AAR by mistake, may you kindly withdraw from it now)
Greetings all,
Although RL does not allow me to do a more detailed AAR, I will try to make one big post per month at the very least. I know it is not as palatable or as exciting as one post every few days, but I am sure the other three players would raise their complaints if I delayed my turn even more just because I am thinking, writing, and posting an AAR. But I digress... let us begin. Just understand that this AAR will be written from my point of view as the player in charge of logistics so, if it is not too exciting at times, please forgive me.
The scenario is Da Big Babes, 7th December start, non-historical first turn. The Allied team consists of vettim89 and Nomad, both excellent player that are already making us sweat, while the Japanese team consists of guctony and myself (Kitakami). I do not consider myself a great player, but I enjoy the game immensely and will do my best.
Originally, guctony took control of the IJN, while I took control of the IJA. But it was not easy going with my limited time, so we decided for a different split after a few turns: I now control the Home Islands, Korea, Manchuria and China, while my partner controls the rest. I also take care of most of the Empire's logistics so, if we lose because of a lack of war materiel, it will be my fault alone.
Point One:
As Japan, you can win the game by being good at combat but you will definitely loose if you are not extremely good at logistics. So I decided to tighten the belt at the beginning, hoping that we will be better off long-term. That meant doing several things:
1. All To'su hulls either have been converted or soon will be converted to xACMs. This is a one-way conversion, and I do that on purpose. It is the only class that can be converted to ACMs and, with defensive minefields degrading, and new mines being scarce, I do not intend to waste mines. Defensive minefields will play their part defending from invasions later, if I have anything to say.
2. The Ansyu and Kiso hulls have either been converted to PBs, or will be converted soon. The Kujira and Ha'chi hulls have been ordered to ports in the Home Islands, where they will sit until they can be converted to PBs. I will try to make convoy attack as costly as possible for our esteemed opponents.
3. Sub chasers have been grouped and located at strategic points. They will not do much in the beginning but, with luck, they will help the rest of the ASW system.
4. Minekaze, Momi, Wakatake, and Kamikaze hulls will be converted to APDs. 53 cm torpedoes are not the best in the IJN arsenal, so loosing that capability is not a grat loss, but gaining 18-knot escorts (for 18-knot transports) is, in my opinion, great gain. APDs faster than 24 knots will probably be used for fast transport task forces instead of as escorts.
Point Two:
Japan must be as efficient in its refitting as possible. So I will make it a point to send all ships to the yards as soon as refits become available. I know that means not letting my partner play with all the toys all the time, but I believe that it will help preserve those toys so, in the long run, he will get more mileage out of them.
Point Three:
Japanese airframe and engine production is an art form. Especially when losses are high, nothing must be wasted. In this game, it means several things:
1. Production of Ha-32 engines is critical at start. It will take months to ramp it up to the levels needed. Meanwhile, G3M3 Nell (Ha-33 engine) and Ki-48-Ib Lily (Ha-35 engine) will be built. Some people consider building one or both of those airframes a waste of resources, but I disagree. There is not enough production of G4M1 Betty or Ki-21-IIa Sally planes (due to lack of engines) to cover losses, much less to upgrade air units. Thus, the other two models become necessary. After the Ki-49-Ia and the Ki-48-II become available in April of 42, things should become easier. The first model helps because it uses a different engine, and the second one because it is armored.
2. All modern planes in units stationed in Manchukuo and not leaving the theater are replaced by older planes. At least in bombers, that will help cover some of the initial slack.
Point Three:
Japan's chokepoint is not planes as much as trained pilots so, from the beginning, the pilot training program must be, as everything else, as efficient as possible. That means putting a large number of air units on training, and transferring pilots to the reserves. Also, all pilots that reach an experience level of 81 will be sent to TRACOM.
Now, for the happenings of December, 1941:
The Pearl Harbor attack was one of the worst attacks I have ever seen, period. My analysis of the combat reports indicate that we did not sink even one BB. The only bright point of that day is that as far as my analysis of things can show, both the Prince of Wales and the Repulse were sunk on that day. Those two would have been far more dangerous to our operations that all the BBs in Pearl combined.
My partner suggested what he calls the "Mersing Gambit". I had never tried it in the past, so I agreed to it. We decided that doing that on turn one would have been ahistorical, so we settled for a turn 3 (I believe) invasion. This may be a good point to write that my partner is particularly aggressive. If we win, it will be because he cooked up unusually interesting ways to make the Allies' lives miserable.
Allied losses on their retreat from the Philippines were heavy. They included AVD William B. Preston, ASs Otus and Holland, AV Langley, TKs Mobilfuel, Manatawny, Gertrude Kellogg and Mindanao, and a couple of xAPs. The real treat, which occurred on the 23rd, was the bombing and, if I am correct sinking, of CV Lexington. Lady Lex had the misfortune of being found by Kido Butai, and was sent to the bottom along CAs Portland and Astoria. That gives me some respite.
But our aggressiveness had a price. Five troop transports, two mine cruisers, half a dozen subs, over 40 transports and other IJN units are decorating the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. That, in itself, is not that bad. But if you add the fact that Japan lost over 300 planes in the first month, I believe I have reason to worry. Still, it may be because my playing style is much more cautious, but I do think that we can ill afford to maintain that attrition rate.
China has been an interesting theater. I had never seen a brave Sir Robyn in that theater and, personally, I consider it unnecessary, at least in the scope I am seeing. We have lost Ichang, which I vacated, because I have not found a way to hold it yet but besides that, I have picked up several Chinese without damage to their production... which is the one thing I would prefer not to happen as an Allied player. There are two side effects of this. First, supply levels in China are shifting in my favor without much loss and, second, I am conducting operations that may bring some grief to our esteemed opponents. I will not take undue risks, but I think I can make more gains than the Allies would like us to make.
The following are some bases we have taken that may be of interest: Johnston Island, Rabaul, and Hong Kong. Singapore and Clark Field are under attack, and both should fall soon. There are other operations going on as I write this, but I will write about them in my next monthly report. There is something to be said in favor of discretion
The one thing that is driving the Japanese side to distraction is the much lowered air support. So much so that we have inadvertently left an airbase without any, just because we are trying to move more to frontline bases. But I am sure that will soon pass, as we get used to checking air and naval support on each and every important stack.
All in all, a very enjoyable game month for me and, hopefully, for the other players too. I wish I could do justice to this AAR but, sadly, I do not have the time.
Greetings all,
Although RL does not allow me to do a more detailed AAR, I will try to make one big post per month at the very least. I know it is not as palatable or as exciting as one post every few days, but I am sure the other three players would raise their complaints if I delayed my turn even more just because I am thinking, writing, and posting an AAR. But I digress... let us begin. Just understand that this AAR will be written from my point of view as the player in charge of logistics so, if it is not too exciting at times, please forgive me.
The scenario is Da Big Babes, 7th December start, non-historical first turn. The Allied team consists of vettim89 and Nomad, both excellent player that are already making us sweat, while the Japanese team consists of guctony and myself (Kitakami). I do not consider myself a great player, but I enjoy the game immensely and will do my best.
Originally, guctony took control of the IJN, while I took control of the IJA. But it was not easy going with my limited time, so we decided for a different split after a few turns: I now control the Home Islands, Korea, Manchuria and China, while my partner controls the rest. I also take care of most of the Empire's logistics so, if we lose because of a lack of war materiel, it will be my fault alone.
Point One:
As Japan, you can win the game by being good at combat but you will definitely loose if you are not extremely good at logistics. So I decided to tighten the belt at the beginning, hoping that we will be better off long-term. That meant doing several things:
1. All To'su hulls either have been converted or soon will be converted to xACMs. This is a one-way conversion, and I do that on purpose. It is the only class that can be converted to ACMs and, with defensive minefields degrading, and new mines being scarce, I do not intend to waste mines. Defensive minefields will play their part defending from invasions later, if I have anything to say.
2. The Ansyu and Kiso hulls have either been converted to PBs, or will be converted soon. The Kujira and Ha'chi hulls have been ordered to ports in the Home Islands, where they will sit until they can be converted to PBs. I will try to make convoy attack as costly as possible for our esteemed opponents.
3. Sub chasers have been grouped and located at strategic points. They will not do much in the beginning but, with luck, they will help the rest of the ASW system.
4. Minekaze, Momi, Wakatake, and Kamikaze hulls will be converted to APDs. 53 cm torpedoes are not the best in the IJN arsenal, so loosing that capability is not a grat loss, but gaining 18-knot escorts (for 18-knot transports) is, in my opinion, great gain. APDs faster than 24 knots will probably be used for fast transport task forces instead of as escorts.
Point Two:
Japan must be as efficient in its refitting as possible. So I will make it a point to send all ships to the yards as soon as refits become available. I know that means not letting my partner play with all the toys all the time, but I believe that it will help preserve those toys so, in the long run, he will get more mileage out of them.
Point Three:
Japanese airframe and engine production is an art form. Especially when losses are high, nothing must be wasted. In this game, it means several things:
1. Production of Ha-32 engines is critical at start. It will take months to ramp it up to the levels needed. Meanwhile, G3M3 Nell (Ha-33 engine) and Ki-48-Ib Lily (Ha-35 engine) will be built. Some people consider building one or both of those airframes a waste of resources, but I disagree. There is not enough production of G4M1 Betty or Ki-21-IIa Sally planes (due to lack of engines) to cover losses, much less to upgrade air units. Thus, the other two models become necessary. After the Ki-49-Ia and the Ki-48-II become available in April of 42, things should become easier. The first model helps because it uses a different engine, and the second one because it is armored.
2. All modern planes in units stationed in Manchukuo and not leaving the theater are replaced by older planes. At least in bombers, that will help cover some of the initial slack.
Point Three:
Japan's chokepoint is not planes as much as trained pilots so, from the beginning, the pilot training program must be, as everything else, as efficient as possible. That means putting a large number of air units on training, and transferring pilots to the reserves. Also, all pilots that reach an experience level of 81 will be sent to TRACOM.
Now, for the happenings of December, 1941:
The Pearl Harbor attack was one of the worst attacks I have ever seen, period. My analysis of the combat reports indicate that we did not sink even one BB. The only bright point of that day is that as far as my analysis of things can show, both the Prince of Wales and the Repulse were sunk on that day. Those two would have been far more dangerous to our operations that all the BBs in Pearl combined.
My partner suggested what he calls the "Mersing Gambit". I had never tried it in the past, so I agreed to it. We decided that doing that on turn one would have been ahistorical, so we settled for a turn 3 (I believe) invasion. This may be a good point to write that my partner is particularly aggressive. If we win, it will be because he cooked up unusually interesting ways to make the Allies' lives miserable.
Allied losses on their retreat from the Philippines were heavy. They included AVD William B. Preston, ASs Otus and Holland, AV Langley, TKs Mobilfuel, Manatawny, Gertrude Kellogg and Mindanao, and a couple of xAPs. The real treat, which occurred on the 23rd, was the bombing and, if I am correct sinking, of CV Lexington. Lady Lex had the misfortune of being found by Kido Butai, and was sent to the bottom along CAs Portland and Astoria. That gives me some respite.
But our aggressiveness had a price. Five troop transports, two mine cruisers, half a dozen subs, over 40 transports and other IJN units are decorating the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. That, in itself, is not that bad. But if you add the fact that Japan lost over 300 planes in the first month, I believe I have reason to worry. Still, it may be because my playing style is much more cautious, but I do think that we can ill afford to maintain that attrition rate.
China has been an interesting theater. I had never seen a brave Sir Robyn in that theater and, personally, I consider it unnecessary, at least in the scope I am seeing. We have lost Ichang, which I vacated, because I have not found a way to hold it yet but besides that, I have picked up several Chinese without damage to their production... which is the one thing I would prefer not to happen as an Allied player. There are two side effects of this. First, supply levels in China are shifting in my favor without much loss and, second, I am conducting operations that may bring some grief to our esteemed opponents. I will not take undue risks, but I think I can make more gains than the Allies would like us to make.
The following are some bases we have taken that may be of interest: Johnston Island, Rabaul, and Hong Kong. Singapore and Clark Field are under attack, and both should fall soon. There are other operations going on as I write this, but I will write about them in my next monthly report. There is something to be said in favor of discretion
The one thing that is driving the Japanese side to distraction is the much lowered air support. So much so that we have inadvertently left an airbase without any, just because we are trying to move more to frontline bases. But I am sure that will soon pass, as we get used to checking air and naval support on each and every important stack.
All in all, a very enjoyable game month for me and, hopefully, for the other players too. I wish I could do justice to this AAR but, sadly, I do not have the time.
