RADM Yamaguchi's Diary (Pls no affins or cheesesteak)

[RADM.Yamaguchi]

This is my first attempt at a AAR for my new game with affins and cheesesteak.

It is a stock scenario 2 game with the following house rules:

1st turn:
japanese may not target american CVs
KB may only attack one port
no landings such as colombo
allies may not create new task forces

otherwise:
pay PPs to cross borders
sweeps limited to 20,000 ft.

[RADM.Yamaguchi]

Both affins and cheesesteak seem like very capable opponents. They must be pretty good friends because i don't know of any other way to share one side of a PBEM game.

My tendency is to try to keep things somewhat under control but i strive to be efficient and make the most of the japanese resources.

Turn 1 has been run and the results were ..... ok.

[RADM.Yamaguchi]

I personally took leadership of a slightly smaller yet marginally faster KB from Nagumo. He was assigned to take Kaga and rendevous with all the CVLs and CVEs to cover the landings in Malaya.

KB approached Pearl Harbor from the southwest and waited until only two hexes away to strike thereby limiting the allied response time. Against doctrine all available KB and submarine float planes were order to recon pearl harbor port. I spent considerable political points to replace inferior air leaders with only the best available. Perhaps that helped our results. With the fog of war it difficult to be sure.

The results were:

Morning Air attack on Pearl Harbor , at 180,107

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 119 NM, estimated altitude 22,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 39 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 55
B5N2 Kate x 117
D3A1 Val x 108

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 19 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 8 destroyed by flak
D3A1 Val: 12 damaged
D3A1 Val: 2 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
OS2U-3 Kingfisher: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
BB Tennessee, Bomb hits 12, heavy fires
BB Arizona, Bomb hits 11, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires
BB Oklahoma, Bomb hits 11, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
BB Nevada, Bomb hits 7, Torpedo hits 3, heavy fires
BB Maryland, Bomb hits 7, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
BB California, Bomb hits 6, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
BB Pennsylvania, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
BB West Virginia, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
CL St. Louis, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
CL Helena, Torpedo hits 1
CL Honolulu, Bomb hits 1
CL Raleigh, Bomb hits 1
DD Reid, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Ralph Talbot, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Downes, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DM Montgomery, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
DM Pruitt, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
AV Tangier, Torpedo hits 1
CM Oglala, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
xAP St. Mihel, Bomb hits 1
xAK Laida, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
PT-20, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk

On the island of formosa, great squadrons of naval attack aircraft were gathered and orders were given to attack the port at Manila.

Again all available recon aircraft were put to the task of identifying targets in the port.

The results were:

Morning Air attack on Manila , at 79,77

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 32 NM, estimated altitude 2,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 36
G4M1 Betty x 81

Allied aircraft
P-26A x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 4 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 5 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed by flak

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
SS Pickerel, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
SS Seawolf, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
SS Pike, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage
SS Sculpin, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
SS Salmon, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
SS Sailfish, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
SS Shark, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
SS Tarpon, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage
SS S-40, Bomb hits 2, heavy damage
SS Stingray, Bomb hits 2
SS S-37, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
SS Sargo, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
SS Swordfish, Bomb hits 1
SS Perch, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
SS Snapper, Bomb hits 1
SS Spearfish, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage
DD John D. Ford, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
DD Pillsbury, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Pope, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
AV Langley, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
AVD Childs, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
TK Gertrude Kellogg, Bomb hits 1, on fire
TK Mindanao, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
AO Trinity, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAP Neptuna, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAP Rochambeau, Bomb hits 2
xAK Ethel Edwards, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Yu Sang, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAKL Sagoland, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAKL Paz, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAKL Don Jose, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAKL Princess of Negros, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
PG Asheville, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
PT-32, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
PT-34, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
PT-33, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AM Lark, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AM Whippoorwill, Bomb hits 1, on fire

[John 3rd]

Solid Open. Good Luck.

[RADM.Yamaguchi]

With intricate planning and complete radio silence many task forces were formed and sailed undetected to their destinations

From east to west the following troops were landed at these locations:

Guam: 5th Base Force
Rabaul: Kure 1&2 SNLF, Sasebo 1&2 SNLF, support troops
Manado: 144th Inf Rgt, 15th Base Force

In the philippines:
Davao: 2nd Base Force, Support troops
Cagayan: 65th Bde, 2nd Tank Rgt, 1st Base Force, support troops
Batangas: 16th Div, 8th Tank Rgt, support troops
Iba: 21st Div, 33rd Div, support troops
Lingayan: 4th Div, 2nd Div (less 111/4th Inf Bat), support troops
San Fernando: 48th Div, 4th Tank Rgt, 7th Tank Rgt, support troops

In Northern Borneo:
Jesselton: 15th NG
Beaufort: 15th NG
Brunei: 41st Guard Bat
Miri: 16th NG
Kuching: Sasebo 3&8 SNLF, Yokosuka 4th SNLF,
Sambas: 11th SBF
Singkawang: 143rd Inf Rgt, support troops
Pontianak: 124th Inf Rgt, support troops

In Eastern Malaya:
Mersing: 5th Div, 1st Tank Rgt, support troops
Kuantan: 56th Div (less the 146th Inf Rgt) support troops
Kota Bharu: 18th Div, support troops

All landing were covered by surface combat units usually included with the task force and either nearby fighter LRCAP or non typical float plane cap where necessary.

Allied response was light.

Force Z was attacked by 33 Nells but at the extreme limit of range and no hits were made.
CA Houston and CA Boise are unaccounted for and all efforts are being made to find them.

Torpedo hits were limited at pearl harbor but many submarines may have been eliminated at Manila. All in all today will go down in the books as a great start to the war.

[RADM.Yamaguchi]

John 3rd thank you for your kind wishes.

Regarding air research my thoughts are to develop the following research facilities:

2 Ki-45AIa Nick - i like to use them in the small light bomber squadrons for bomber defence and train in naval attack when i can for the future
2 AM63 Zero - to get a little jump start on them
9 AM62-N Rufe - to get the A6M5-c Zero ASAP- I'll let 1 of them produce Rufes
9 K-44-IIa Tojo - to get the Ki44-IIc Tojo ASAP - I'll let 1 of them produce the IIa
6 B6N1 Jill - to get the B6N2 Jill ASAP
6 D4Y1 Judy - to get the D4Y3 Judy ASAP
8 N1K1-J George - to get it ASAP
8 Ki-84b Frank - to get it ASAP

That's all i have for now. Any other ideas would be appreciated.

[Anachro]

You can make 5 Rufe R&D factories 5x30, quickly repair them to 30 each, and then advance them along their advancement path all the way up to A6M8 for early research and acceleration of A6M8 Zero's without any cost. Some consider this gamey, of course. You'll have A6M8s by early '43. This can be done with other aircraft, though not as effectively. Take a look at the Japanese a/c wire charts posted somewhere in this forum.

[RADM.Yamaguchi]

I thought the A6M5c was thought to be superior? I think it has one more gun and a little longer range. Does the A6M8 manueverability make up for that?

[Anachro]

Better speed, bigger bomb load, better maneuver. Other more advanced Japanese players can weigh in more on this. The bomb load is better for kamikaze's later on. Either way, using the 5x30 Rufe RD factories works for both, looking at this chart. You can choose to advance the 5c first and then switch over those factories to the A6M8. Note the below is for Scenario 2.

[RADM.Yamaguchi]

Anachro,

Thank you. That's very helpful. I didn't realize the speed difference. As i read speed becomes very important.

[mind_messing]

A few thoughts:

- The A6M8 isn't worthwhile IMO. The 14mph extra speed and 250kg bombs isn't worth the reduced range (which means tactical flexibility) and lesser gun value, plus there are engine considerations with the Ha-33 versus Ha-35. On top of that the Zero line is dead weight after late 1943.

That's all i have for now. Any other ideas would be appreciated.

Going big on the Tojo is old meta, and I'm not sold that it works. I know I'm not alone in this, so I'd make sure you've fully considered the implications of this strategic chouce here.

You're missing a couple key airframes in you Air R&D.

- P1Y1 Frances: you need a replacement to the Betty/Nell ASAP. They're good airframes but slooooow.
- Peggy T: late-war army bomber that slings a torp, very nice.
- D1Y1-C: upgrade to the woeful Babs and an excellent search/recon plane.
- Lily IIb: IJA dive bomber to help with anti-shipping strikes in the mid-war.

You also need to consider at least one late war fighter for IJA and one late war fighter for IJN. Plenty good candidates to pick from.

[Bif1961]

Good luck to all three of you. It is fitting that there are two Allies as in the later war that would help with the division of effort.

[jdsrae]

- D1Y1-C: upgrade to the woeful Babs

That's a bit harsh, Babs has got good legs

[mind_messing]

ORIGINAL: jdsrae

- D1Y1-C: upgrade to the woeful Babs

That's a bit harsh, Babs has got good legs

True, but both the Dinah and Judy Recon have legs far, far longer. Plus I like using my recons in the NavS role as well, so the extra range really makes a difference.

[jdsrae]

Just checked and Babs’ legs are longer than Judy’s 11:7 (normal radius). Myrt has 14 normal radius do you mean that one?
Judy-C arrives late 42, the only reason for them I can see is to build just enough to resize some IJN recon groups on a CV.

[RADM.Yamaguchi]

I like the idea of resizing them but do i really need to spend research on them. Can't i just wait until i get them naturally. I thought spending research on planes only made sense on fighters and some bombers.

btw i agree with the peggy(t)

is the speed on the frances worth the decrease in range? i always found it difficult to judge the impact of naval bombers speed on their success in hitting targets.

[mind_messing]

ORIGINAL: jdsrae

Just checked and Babs’ legs are longer than Judy’s 11:7 (normal radius). Myrt has 14 normal radius do you mean that one?
Judy-C arrives late 42, the only reason for them I can see is to build just enough to resize some IJN recon groups on a CV.

Judy-C does 17 hexes normal with droptanks, and 21 hexes at extended range. That's a H6K for 1/4th the cost.

Myrt is even better, with 23/29 hexes (and radar).

Blows the Babs out the sky

I like the idea of resizing them but do i really need to spend research on them. Can't i just wait until i get them naturally. I thought spending research on planes only made sense on fighters and some bombers.

btw i agree with the peggy(t)

is the speed on the frances worth the decrease in range? i always found it difficult to judge the impact of naval bombers speed on their success in hitting targets.

I like to push the Judy-C forward and then wait for the Myrt recon naturally. It helps as the first Myry model arrives on 8/44 and its radar actives two months later.

With the Frances, it's absolutely essential IMO. It's over a 100kph faster than the Nell, and between 50 to 80kph faster than the Betty models. Plus it has armour. A massive improvement all round.

[RADM.Yamaguchi]

ORIGINAL: mind_messing

ORIGINAL: jdsrae

Just checked and Babs’ legs are longer than Judy’s 11:7 (normal radius). Myrt has 14 normal radius do you mean that one?
Judy-C arrives late 42, the only reason for them I can see is to build just enough to resize some IJN recon groups on a CV.

Judy-C does 17 hexes normal with droptanks, and 21 hexes at extended range. That's a H6K for 1/4th the cost.

Myrt is even better, with 23/29 hexes (and radar).

Blows the Babs out the sky

I like the idea of resizing them but do i really need to spend research on them. Can't i just wait until i get them naturally. I thought spending research on planes only made sense on fighters and some bombers.

btw i agree with the peggy(t)

is the speed on the frances worth the decrease in range? i always found it difficult to judge the impact of naval bombers speed on their success in hitting targets.

I like to push the Judy-C forward and then wait for the Myrt recon naturally. It helps as the first Myry model arrives on 8/44 and its radar actives two months later.

With the Frances, it's absolutely essential IMO. It's over a 100kph faster than the Nell, and between 50 to 80kph faster than the Betty models. Plus it has armour. A massive improvement all round.

That sounds good. Maybe 2 factories for Judy-c just to move it and 4 Frances. Of course i wouldn't run them all in production but just to bring them forward faster?

[jdsrae]

You can go all in with your research factories on fighters, but then when something you want to build becomes available you need to change a production factory to it.
By setting 1 research factory to the things like Judy-C that you want to build, it might come a month or two early but the main benefit is it will fully repair over time and start producing 30 aircraft/month as soon as it is available.
You should have about 25 more research factories so consider using them in ones and twos to set up your preferred non-fighters for production.

MM I’m sold. My RADM Aircraft Research Plans didn’t think about drop tanks...
I’ll fix that tonight. Babs —> Judy-C —> Myrt
Cheers

[mind_messing]

ORIGINAL: RADM.Yamaguchi

ORIGINAL: mind_messing

ORIGINAL: jdsrae

Just checked and Babs’ legs are longer than Judy’s 11:7 (normal radius). Myrt has 14 normal radius do you mean that one?
Judy-C arrives late 42, the only reason for them I can see is to build just enough to resize some IJN recon groups on a CV.

Judy-C does 17 hexes normal with droptanks, and 21 hexes at extended range. That's a H6K for 1/4th the cost.

Myrt is even better, with 23/29 hexes (and radar).

Blows the Babs out the sky

I like the idea of resizing them but do i really need to spend research on them. Can't i just wait until i get them naturally. I thought spending research on planes only made sense on fighters and some bombers.

btw i agree with the peggy(t)

is the speed on the frances worth the decrease in range? i always found it difficult to judge the impact of naval bombers speed on their success in hitting targets.

I like to push the Judy-C forward and then wait for the Myrt recon naturally. It helps as the first Myry model arrives on 8/44 and its radar actives two months later.

With the Frances, it's absolutely essential IMO. It's over a 100kph faster than the Nell, and between 50 to 80kph faster than the Betty models. Plus it has armour. A massive improvement all round.

That sounds good. Maybe 2 factories for Judy-c just to move it and 4 Frances. Of course i wouldn't run them all in production but just to bring them forward faster?

I used one factory for the Judy-C. My reasoning is that it's not absolutely critical to get it early, but it's nice to have a factory ready to produce on the day it activates. 30/month seems about right production-wise for me anyways.

It's better (IMO) to go put more factories in to the key airframes where every month counts. The Judy-C a month or two early doesn't make much difference, but the Frank or George do.

MM I’m sold. My RADM Aircraft Research Plans didn’t think about drop tanks...
I’ll fix that tonight. Babs —> Judy-C —> Myrt
Cheers

The Myrt is a little hidden gem. I intend to use it in conjunction with the Ki-74 Patsy for late-war antics.