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Hi

This is my first AAR.

I am playing the Japanese versus CV2.

I have never played the Japanese before so some help from you guys would be welcome.

I don't have a clue about Industry management which expansions are necessary?

The game is scenario one, with a non historical start.

Only one port attack on Dec 7th.

Already formed task forces may be moved.

China is live.

No 4E bombers on naval attack below 10,000ft.

Political points must be spent to move restricted units across borders.

PDU on.

No artillery death stars.

Standard settings otherwise.

Time to plan my first turn, it may take a while.

At the moment I am planning on using the following Divisions for Singapore

Imperial Guards
4th Div at Osaka
33rd Div at Nagasaki
21st at Shanghai
38th Div after Hong Kong
65th Brigade at Takao

Do you think this will be enough?

Good luck, cookie monster.  Thanks for doing an AAR - they take alot of time, but it's wondeful to have such a broad selection of AARs to read.
 
Five divisions is probably enough.  Be sure to include some tank units.  As you advance down the Malay peninsula, you may find yourself in a situation where you can use the "reserve" feature to follow up victories with quick advances, thus cutting off Allied units that may be trying to get down to Singapore.  It doesn't always work that way, but in both my games as Allies I've ended up with a bunch of my units getting caught and eventually destroyed or passed by the Japanese.
 
If you don't already know what the "Mersing Gambit" is, do some checking in various AARs.  It is very effective, but also considered pretty gamey (at least if done in the first few days of the war).  You'll need to decide whether or not to do and, if so, when.

Thanks for the reply I do know the Mersing gambit I might attempt it when I can fly some LRCAP over Mersing.

I've been reading Mike Solli's AAR it has a lot of useful start setup info.

So Ive completed turn one.

It took a long time about six hours, Ive just sent the turn to CV2.

Ive held up the Wake Invasion to combine with the Makin invasion plus wait for KB support.

Ive stopped the Miri invasion as I cant cap it at the mo and dont want it strategically bombed.

I am going to land on Ambon and have a base force and Air HQ coming from Takao.

I have gathered up all the ships and redirected them to Tokyo so I can organise some takforces for resources etc shipment. As a new Japanese player I do not know where the convoys are needed at the moment.

As the picture shows my first conquest in China is to take Chengchow. There's alot of Chinese around the country I will have to see where they go. I am moving forces to free up the 21st Division at Shanghai from garrison duty. This div will go to Singapore.

So now just to wait for the turn back.

CV2 can move formed task forces so he'll probably save Force Z plus China is live so he can move anything.

Good luck! Mike is the industry/convoy expert so you are in good hands following his advice. Just make sure you read deep enough into his AAR as he modified his Home Islands convoys based on experience.

It's very overwhelming playing Japan at first, so many places to invade before the Allies get their defenses in order. Try to think about where you want to be in each AO by the end of the amphib bonus on April 1.

ORIGINAL: cookie monster

At the moment I am planning on using the following Divisions for Singapore

Imperial Guards
4th Div at Osaka
33rd Div at Nagasaki
21st at Shanghai
38th Div after Hong Kong
65th Brigade at Takao

Do you think this will be enough?

Cookie: Good luck. Some adds I would make:

1. 2nd Division: Use this one for Singapore. Much of the Division is already 100% prepped! It's all around Sendai, unload the convoys that are loaded already, combine the division, and send it to Malaya.
2. 18th Division: It's already loaded and headed to Malaya; you may as well use it there.

The day started well with a midget sub attack in Pearl Harbour.

Putting a torp into a battleship was nice. All other midgets died and none returned to their carriers.

Now for the Pearl Harbour strike.

Not exactly the best strike not many Kates carried torps although alot of 800kg bomb hits on battleships were made.

Morning Air attack on Pearl Harbor , at 180,107

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 47 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 68
B5N2 Kate x 144
D3A1 Val x 126



Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged
D3A1 Val: 10 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
PBY-5 Catalina: 8 destroyed on ground
B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed on ground
A-20A Havoc: 1 destroyed on ground
P-36A Mohawk: 2 destroyed on ground
P-40B Warhawk: 8 destroyed on ground
B-17D Fortress: 1 destroyed on ground
B-18A Bolo: 2 destroyed on ground
O-47A: 1 destroyed on ground
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed on ground
C-33: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied Ships
CL Helena, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
BB West Virginia, Bomb hits 8, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
BB California, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires
BB Pennsylvania, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
BB Oklahoma, Bomb hits 8, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Detroit, Bomb hits 1
BB Tennessee, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
BB Maryland, Bomb hits 9, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DMS Zane, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CL Raleigh, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
DM Preble
BB Arizona, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
BB Nevada, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Downes, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA San Francisco, Torpedo hits 1
PC Reliance, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
CA New Orleans, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AVP Swan, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage


Allied ground losses:
23 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled


Repair Shipyard hits 2
Airbase hits 51
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 174
Port hits 19
Port fuel hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x A6M2 Zero bombing from 100 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
8 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
City Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
27 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Port Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
15 x A6M2 Zero bombing from 100 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
8 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Port Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
27 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 9000 feet
Port Attack: 1 x 800 kg AP Bomb
4 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 15000 feet
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Port Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
18 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 9000 feet
Port Attack: 1 x 800 kg AP Bomb
4 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 15000 feet
5 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Port Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
18 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 9000 feet
Port Attack: 1 x 800 kg AP Bomb
18 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
27 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 9000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
14 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
27 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 9000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
9 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Port Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
9 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Port Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
9 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Port Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
12 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Port Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
7 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
4 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 15000 feet
7 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
8 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Port Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Port Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb

Next target was Clark Field I really wanna destroy the Phillipine airforce plus I have to keep the airfield permanently damaged so he can't build forts there.

It's the best defensive terrain at x3 combat modifier.

Morning Air attack on Clark Field , at 79,76

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 56
G3M2 Nell x 36
G4M1 Betty x 54



Allied aircraft
P-26A x 1


Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-26A: 1 destroyed
B-17D Fortress: 1 destroyed on ground
O-47A: 1 destroyed on ground
P-40B Warhawk: 3 destroyed on ground
P-35A: 1 destroyed on ground


Allied ground losses:
15 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled


Airbase hits 36
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 74

Hong Kong was also blasted. I really wanna slow fort construction here. 38th Division is wanted in Malaya after H.K.

Morning Air attack on Hong Kong , at 77,61

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 44 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 7
Ki-36 Ida x 27
Ki-44 Tojo x 6
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 12
Ki-51 Sonia x 24



Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-36 Ida: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Walrus II: 1 destroyed on ground



Airbase hits 28
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 119

Aircraft Attacking:
24 x Ki-51 Sonia bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 50 kg GP Bomb
27 x Ki-36 Ida bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 30 kg GP Bomb
12 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 100 kg GP Bomb

A few other airfield attacks were made.

A dutch sub managed to sink a medium sized xAK with troops on board.

Another Dutch sub got 7 DC hits.

As CV2 could move task forces at sea he placed these subs right in the path to Kota Bharu.

Landings made at Kota Bharu and Appari. I am just getting the 2nd and 3rd waves organised, and making sure they have SAG support.

Here's the total losses for the day.

Due to a ok Pearl Harbour strike I decided to strike again on day 2. My carriers have lots of torps left and are next supporting the Wake invasion and then onto Port Moresby.

The day started with 4 IJN Destroyers meeting the 3 British destroyers from Hong Kong, after alot of shots fired the task forces disengaged.

AKL Regulus was gunned down outside Midway Island.

Clever CV2 used some minesweeps to sweep Bataan from the sub laid mines.

TK Gulfdawn was spotted near Noumea and one torp hit home.

One AKL was gunned down outside HK by a passing destoyer task force.

An ineffective night attack on Singapore was launched although an AP took a bomb hit.

An also ineffective night attack on Clark field airfield was launched.

A sweep was carried out at Clark by 27 Zero's x5 P35A were destroyed.

Crafty CV2 used float planes to bomb my taskforces unloading at Vigan and Appari in the Phillipines.

A sweep of Singapore found 39 Buffaloes on cap, 5 were destroyed.

A number of raids were launched at taskforces in Manila harbour an AS was torped twice a TK was sunk and a PG.

Next followed a raid at Hong Kong. I have no idea how CV2 got the AVG there so quickly he had only one turn available to move them.

Afternoon Air attack on Hong Kong , at 77,61

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 25 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-36 Ida x 15
Ki-44 Tojo x 9
Ki-51 Sonia x 13



Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 3


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-51 Sonia: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
H81-A3: 1 destroyed



Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 26

I have to bomb Hong Kong to stop the fort construction. My ground forces have already entered HK may the bombardments begin.

Finally the Pearl Harbour strike went in on the afternoon.

Afternoon Air attack on Pearl Harbor , at 180,107

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 45
B5N2 Kate x 108
D3A1 Val x 127



Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 8 destroyed, 17 damaged
D3A1 Val: 3 destroyed, 6 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-17D Fortress: 1 destroyed on ground
B-18A Bolo: 1 destroyed on ground
PBY-5 Catalina: 1 destroyed on ground
B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied Ships
BB Oklahoma, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
BB Tennessee, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Patterson, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CL Raleigh, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CA New Orleans, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1
DMS Wasmuth, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
BB Nevada, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
DD Dale, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
BB Pennsylvania, Torpedo hits 3, heavy damage
CL Honolulu, Torpedo hits 1
BB West Virginia, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
BB California, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
BB Maryland, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
CL St. Louis, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
BB Arizona, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CA San Francisco, Torpedo hits 1
AV Curtiss, Torpedo hits 1
DD Reid, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
CL Phoenix, Torpedo hits 2, on fire



Airbase hits 11
Runway hits 82
Port hits 7

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
16 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Port Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
12 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Port Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
27 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 9000 feet
Port Attack: 1 x 800 kg AP Bomb
6 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
17 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Port Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
12 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
17 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Port Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
10 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
23 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Port Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
6 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
1 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Port Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
8 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
4 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 20000 feet
6 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
11 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
4 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 20000 feet
6 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
1 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
8 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
12 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
8 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Port Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb

As you can see the majority of Kates carried torpedoes and some the 800KG bomb. Battleship row was trashed loads of torp hits and BB Nevada sunk.

It was kinda costly in Kate pilots though, but the BB's should be out of use till 43 now.

Notice in the picture the burning battleship row, nice touch I thought.

As you can see the KIA numbers today were high.

I realised a second PH strike would be costly in pilots however the first strike was ineffective. Perhaps a Dec 8th scenario start would be better because the damage is historic then.

CM, I'm looking forward to this AAR! [:D] It's always fun to see Allies get trashed.  [;)]

I sent you my updated convoy ideas for the Home Islands.  There are some other things to consider too.  (There are always other things to consider, but keep in mind that this game is 1600 turns long.  You don't have to do everything now, but don't put off too much!)

To'su, Kiso and Ansyu-C class xAKLs:  I recommend converting all of them, and as soon as possible.  What should they be converted to?  That's a tough question.

Ansyu-C - This one is easy.  Convert to PBs.  They're the nice, long range, 14 kt PBs that'll be your work horses.

Kiso & To'su - This is the tough part.  Some need to be PBs but I'm still torn.  Kiso has a nicer range but only 11 kt speed, so it slows down the 12 kt xAKs (and you have lots of those).  The To'su has a 12 kt speed but short range.  I recommend some To'su PBs for the short range convoys to Honshu and some Kiso PBs to escort your 10 kt xAKs.

Some of the Kisos and To'sus need to be converted to ACMs and (in my opinion) some AMcs.  You start with 33 ACMs of various flavors.  They all work the same way, and they probably won't move very much once they arrive at their destination port, so speed is pretty much immaterial.  I convert whatever is handy at the time.  I'm not sure how many ACMs I've converted, but I'd say it was around 15-20.  There are several places they're needed, just to mess with your opponent's sub war.  There is a string of 3 or 4 islands in a row near Yokosuka that head due south.  I like to place 1 ACM in port along with some mines.  Make sure to have fuel in the base!  Otherwise, the ACM won't work and your minefield will deterioriate.  Any Allied subs transiting the area will most likely travel through one of those hexes.  You can take out the occasional sub that way.  Also, in the Tsushima Straight, there's an island (between Fusan and Shimonoseki).  Stick an ACM & minefield there (along with Fusan and Shimonoseki).  That'll prevent some Allied sub movement into the Sea of Japan from that area.  I've sunk at least 3 Allied subs from mines so far in my game.  Always fun when that happens. [:D]

Edit: I forgot the AMc. You start with ~12 or so DMS. The life of a Japanese minesweeper is exciting......and short! I convert some AMcs to place in strategic ports just in case. Gotta keep the life blood flowing. Enemy mines hinder that.

Thanks Mike for the info and the confidential private message.

I need all the help I can get from you JFB's.

The day started well with the CA Louisville ina a Jap subs sights.

Yesterday I noticed that Tarawa had a enemy task force present so I sent the sub to take a look.

Sadly only one torpedo hit home.

Next a sub of the coast of Singapore gunned down an akl which was carrying troops. I guess CV2 is evacuating Singapore.

An ineffective sweep of Singapore was carried out.

I had most of my airforce tasked with ground attack of the troops at Khota Bharu. Over 100 bombers launched.

Clark Field was found with no cap and also bombed to prevent fort construction.

Kates from my CVL below Jolo managed to torpedo and sink a Dutch minelayer and an AKL.

Ground forces arrived at Hong Kong and began to bombard, although the airforce didnt bomb today probably due to bad weather.

The attack at Khota Bharu went well.

Ground combat at Kota Bharu (51,75)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 4939 troops, 40 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 172

Defending force 3102 troops, 24 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 89

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 166

Allied adjusted defense: 2

Japanese assault odds: 83 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Kota Bharu !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: forts(+), leaders(-), disruption(-), preparation(-)
fatigue(-), morale(-), experience(-)
Attacker: leaders(+)

Japanese ground losses:
30 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Allied ground losses:
1186 casualties reported
Squads: 73 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 79 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 17 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 16 (16 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 3 (3 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 3


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
56th Infantry Regiment
12th Engineer Regiment
5th JAAF AF Coy

Defending units:
FMSV Brigade
8th Indian Brigade
3rd ISF Base Force

Notice all the disruption and fatigue they had an adjusted assault value of two, thanks to all the bombers flying ground attack.

Other news lots of Tosu's made into PB's and Kiso's some to PB and some to ACM.

Kate production has been expanded to 32 and Val production doubled to 24.

Transports are arriving for the 21st Div at Shanghai and 33rd Div at Nagasaki.

The day starts with a surface battle between 6 Jap destroyers and some PT boats which were hanging around near Iba in the Phillipines. No hits were scored.

Next an allied tanker hits a mine I laid at Merak near Batavia.

Unfortunately the yesterday torpedoed CA Pensacola intercepts my Tarawa invasion convoy, which was stationary north of Tarawa. I noticed yesterday its detection was higher although it didnt say task force spotted. I forgot about the Ca's float planes.

My PB screened the transports effectively however she sank after the battle.

In the daytime my destroyers got better and sank 3 PT's and 3 probable Hong Kong MTB's.

A couple of Allied subs showed up North of the Phillipines and bounced duds off my ships no DC hits were scored.

Next a Dutch sub shows up and puts two torpedoes into a Air Combat CL. The CL later sinks the first warship to be sunk so far.

Sweeps carried out on Singapore 2 Buffaloes shot down for one Zero, Clark Field again has no cap and Hong Kong has some of the AVG present.

Bettys sink some AK's near Legaspi.Hong Kongs airfield and port is bombed to prevent fort construction. Tomorrow the ground bombing begins.

Mini KB sinks numerous ships around Tarakan

Tomorrow we'll move North away from any LBA and subs.

Allied forces captured Ichang in China. It was a useless base so I evacuated to free up troops to capture industry in Northern China.

A dastardly deed has been commited by my opponent he has blocked the Thai railroad stopping my spearhead which was on the trains. I will have to get the forward elements to march thru the jungle to retake the town.[:@]

As you can see he has arrived at Chumphon blocking the railway. A sneaky move. One for the AFB's to remember.