Niitakayama nobore- Divepac(J) vs. Fallschirmjager(A)-[No FJ Please]

[DivePac88]

Hi again Folks... [:)]

I wasn't going to do an AAR this time, but as you can see I have changed my mind. This will not be a turn by turn, or action by action AAR. It will be more like a week by week, and operation by operation overview. But I will include some of the more interesting Actions that take place. Also if the prof-readers would leave my spelling and grammar alone please, as I don't really care (in a nice way) and won't be changing any mistakes. [:'(]

As for house rules we really don't have any, apart from paying PP's to move restricted units out of area/country. We did have the normal rules regarding what the Allied player can move on the first turn. So there is no restriction on my port attacks on the first turn, but I will only be attacking the port at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7. As I believe that the Allied airpower has to be dealt with first in both on Luzon, and the Malayan operations . I fell that most, if not all other rules aim to restrict good tactics and operational doctrine, also in real war there are no house-rules.

My grand strategy is pretty strait forward really, and that is to win the game. I think that fuel is Japans number one consideration, and all operations should be toward this guiding principle, or toward the protection of this resource. The only other main strategic and operational consideration, would be the destruction of the USN carrier force. There will be of course one or two operations that fall outside this strategy, mainly concerned with the clearing of Southern China.

We are playing the 'Hakko Ichiu' scenario two grand campaign, to make up for my stupidity. In my previous games I could be described as a bit of a plodder, or a safe player. But I do intend some changes in my command style in this campaign. Were as most of my command doctrines have not changed that much, e.g force-concentration have not changed. I do plan to speed up my operational tempo, and to move forward in some areas sooner than I used to.

Akagi and Tone steaming though heavy seas toward Pearl Harbour-

[DivePac88]

The Plan... first the major unit allocation.

Initial phase one and two allocation of divisions and Brigades;

48 division - fourteenth army - Luzon.

16 division - fourteenth army - Luzon.

65 division - fourteenth army - Luzon.

55 division - fifteenth army - Burma (minus one regiment).

33 division - fifteenth army - Burma.

21 brigade - fifteenth army - Burma.

56 division - sixteenth army - Mindanao, Makassar Strait area, Java.

2 division - sixteenth army - Northern Borneo, Southern Sumatra, Java.

38 division - sixteenth army – Hong Kong, Southern Sumatra, Java.

5 division - twenty-fifth army – Malaya.

18 division - twenty-fifth army – Malaya, Northern Sumatra.

IG division - twenty-fifth army – Malaya, Burma.

4 division - twenty-fifth army – Malaya.

21 division - twenty-fifth army – Malaya.

[DivePac88]

Well what are my early war goals, and major objectives going to be?

I have to factor in to these goals my belief that this campaign is all about fuel, or the lack of it. So of course my initial objectives will have to be the oil/fuel producing areas of South East Asia and the East Indies. Because of the important secondary need for resources, I will also have to secure the resource producing areas of this region too.

To Protect this region and the shipping that will have to transport the Oil/Fuel/Resources back to the Home Islands. I will have to neutralise all Allied Forces and Bases in this region, and across the shipping routes To/from this region also.

The Allied forces on Luzon will be pressed back on Bataan or Manila, and reduced by artillery and air bombardment by a force of two divisions and a brigade with lavish support. This will be more of a holding operation till the enemy is worn down enough to assault. Mindanao will be cleared as soon as possible by a full division with artillery and tank support.

Malaya and the base at Singapore will be captured as soon as possible by a force of five divisions with lavish support. In Burma, Rangoon will be captured as soon as possible by a force of two divisions and one brigade with artillery and tank support.

Northern Borneo and Southern Sumatra cleared when practical by a force of one division, with a reserve of another division if needed. Southeast Borneo and the Makassar Strait areas will be captured by a force of one division when practical. Java will be cleared by a force of four divisions (one from Korea), when these forces become available after their initial operations.

Tawau, Tarakan, Tandjoengselor, Ambon, Kendari, Samarinda, Balikpapan, Timor will be captured when practical by mixed Army and Naval forces. Operations in the New Guinea, Admiralties, Bismarck's, New Britain, and Solomon Islands areas will commence with the capture of Rabaul, and the bases on it’s approaches as soon as possible by mixed Army and Naval forces.

[DivePac88]

China

The Japanese nightmare that is called China, while Maybe not if I can keep focused. First up is a clearing operation, west from Shanghai to Hong Kong. Advancing to the river line of Nanchang, and to the south at Kanhsien. I also plan to capture the cities of Kukong and Wuckhow north of Canton. I consider this as a limited offensive with limited objectives, and want it executed quickly.

When the southern operation is completed this northern offensive will begin. This will be an operation to capture the City of Sian. I will use all the combat and support strength that I can muster in China, that is not needed for Garrison duty of course. I will also be capturing the northern cities of, Nanyang, Loyang, and Chengchow in this offensive.

This operation will initially be a three pronged affair, with one army size force advancing from Sinyang north to Nanyang. This force will either siege or capture Nanyang depending on the size of the Chinese force holding the city. A second army size force will advance west from Kaifeng to the crossroads south west of Chengchow. While a third army size force will advance west from Koaping sizing Tsiaotso, and then crossing the River to Attack Loyang.

If I get the timing right in this north operation, there is the possibility of trapping and destroying large Chinese forces. That is the main reason why I am running this operation after the southern one. Because I will have the large fifty-six day infantry reinforcement to China available. This will allow me to deploy Strong blocking forces off the main armies, to trap Chinese troop concentrations.

[USSAmerica]

Good luck, Des!  I'll be following as much as time allows to get a good Japanese perspective.  [:)]

[DivePac88]

Thank you Mike, I will try not to be too stiff, and make this as interesting read as possible. Also please feel free to tell me the hard truths about any thing that I am doing wrong. That also goes for everyone reading this, as there are a lot of people with a superior knowledge of this game that me. [:)]

[DivePac88]

Initial Air and Engine building, but still some changes to make-