Matrix Games Forums

Well Nomad and I are going at it on scenario 2 using Andy Mac's Variant Rule system. We decided on 100 points per side.

I will try to update this AAR every day or two, but Nomad and I are doing 2-3 turns a day and that's keeping me very busy.

We started on Aug 31st and are chugging along. I will update with more info in a bit.

Xargun

(Reserved for Variant Point Spending)

Here is where I spent my 100 points. Probably not the best but I am completely new to this. I thought about buying extra CVs or such, but then I have to build them and I can barely afford what I am building now. I considered making some giant Base Forces or CD units, but ran out of points.

E1 5 Add size 30 AC Factory=> Ki-84r Frank x2; A7M2 Sam x2 20
E2 3 Add size 30 Engine Factory=> Mitsubishi Ha-43 x1; Nakajima Ha-45 x1 6
E4 5 Add 50 Oil Source=> Hirosaki/Aomori 5
E5 5 Add size 30 new repair yard (2 size 15s)=>Truk size 15; Babeldoab size 15
E6 2 Add 100k Supply 1
E7 2 Add 100k Fuel (Split between Babldoab and Truk) 2
E9 1 Add 250k Resources => Tokyo x2 2
A3 4 Add 10 XP to pilots for 1 year [Buy each year] [IJA/IJN] 42,43,44 12
A9 2 Add 1 size 25 air unit in 1942 (July 42-Dec 41) 3 units of A6M2 Zeros 6
L2 3 Accelerate land device by 6 months=>Type 3 Medium Tank 6/44 to 1/43 9
N4 10;5;3;2;2;1;1 New ship in 1943=> 5 Akitsuki DDs 5
N5 NA;8;5;4;3;1;1 New ship in 1942 (July - Dec)=> 5 Akitsuki DDs 5
N7 2;1;0.5;1 Change class of ship to another class 20
N12 2 Increase mine availability by 50 / month=> Type 93 2
TOTAL 100

Ship Class Changes:
CV Kaga to Shokaku Class
CV Hiryu, Soryu, Junyo and Hiyo to Akagi Class
CVL Shoho, Ryuho and Ryujo to Ryujo Class
Convert 2 baby TKs (1250 capacity) to 2 Whalen Class Tankers
Change 10 DDs to Akutsuki class (9 with KB, plus Amagiri)

Xargun

(Reserved for Aircraft R&D)

With 81 Aircraft R&D factories I spent them as below:

A6M3 Zero x5 (path to A6M5c Zeros)
A7M2 Sam x20 (end game Naval Fighter)
B6N1 Jill x5 (path to B6N2a Jills)
D4Y1 Judy x5 (path to D4Y4 Judys)
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x5 (path to Ki-44-IIc Tojos)
Ki-49-Ia Helen x5 (path to Ki-49-IIb Helens)
Ki-84a Frank x20 (end game Army Fighter)
N1K1-J George x16 (path to N1K5-J Georges)

(Reserved for Ship Conversion)

I thought the SAM and Frank factories were genius fully repaired R&D factories 60 points a month so 2 month acceleration for every 3 game months that pass that to me was a good move from turn 1

I really wasnt sure if the points on the tank were worth it but it was your choice.

9 points to get a tank in early 43 was a large investment

Wow! That's pretty wild stuff. I really like upgrading the carriers. This should be interesting to watch. I haven't checked yet, but is Nomad doing an AAR as well?

Subscribed!



Edit: Found it!

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

Wow! That's pretty wild stuff. I really like upgrading the carriers. This should be interesting to watch. I haven't checked yet, but is Nomad doing an AAR as well?

Subscribed!



Edit: Found it!

TBH I looked in the Deaniks(J) vs Evoken(A) AAR - as suggested by Nomad and saw what he did and looked into it. For a small investment of points I greatly enlarged my CV air wings.

Yeah he is - which is the main reason I'm doing one... It is always better to be able to see both sides.

Xargun

ORIGINAL: Andy Mac

I thought the SAM and Frank factories were genius fully repaired R&D factories 60 points a month so 2 month acceleration for every 3 game months that pass that to me was a good move from turn 1

I really wasnt sure if the points on the tank were worth it but it was your choice.

9 points to get a tank in early 43 was a large investment

Yeah I thought hard about that. But getting the best IJA tank in late 42 could mean a huge difference in repelling the US invasions with their damn tanks. Plus it will make even a bigger difference in China

The planes will be huge... Along with the 40 R&D factories I assigned to them I hope to get them early. Just hope I have the engines ready for them in time too.

Xargun

Only going to go backwards to the first turn as the rest can be summed up easily. The turn starts with the US SS Thresher launching 4 torpedoes at the Akagi [X(] Luckily no damage was scored but it woke me right up and I should have noticed then that Nomad was going to fight - but I did not.

Morning Air attack on Pearl Harbor , at 180,107

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 70 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 26 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 55
B5N2 Kate x 144
D3A1 Val x 131

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 24 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 4 destroyed by flak
D3A1 Val: 18 damaged
D3A1 Val: 5 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
PBY-5 Catalina: 110 damaged
PBY-5 Catalina: 4 destroyed on ground
B-17D Fortress: 41 damaged
B-17D Fortress: 1 destroyed on ground
B-18A Bolo: 28 damaged
B-18A Bolo: 4 destroyed on ground
A-20A Havoc: 13 damaged
A-20A Havoc: 2 destroyed on ground
P-40B Warhawk: 23 damaged
P-40B Warhawk: 4 destroyed on ground
SBD-1 Dauntless: 23 damaged
SBD-1 Dauntless: 4 destroyed on ground
B-17E Fortress: 11 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed on ground
C-33: 1 damaged
C-33: 1 destroyed on ground
F4F-3 Wildcat: 7 damaged
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed on ground
O-47A: 11 damaged
O-47A: 1 destroyed on ground
P-36A Mohawk: 6 damaged
R3D-2: 1 damaged
OS2U-3 Kingfisher: 3 destroyed

Allied Ships
BB California, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
BB Arizona, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 5, and is sunk
BB West Virginia, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
BB Oklahoma, Torpedo hits 5, and is sunk
CA San Francisco, Torpedo hits 1
BB Tennessee, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
BB Pennsylvania, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
BB Nevada, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CL St. Louis, Bomb hits 2, on fire
BB Maryland, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AV Curtiss, Torpedo hits 2
CL Helena, Torpedo hits 1
xAK Florence D., Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AS Pelias, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AV Tangier, Bomb hits 1
CL Raleigh, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CA New Orleans, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AD Dobbin, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Allied ground losses:
12 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Repair Shipyard hits 5
Airbase hits 15
Runway hits 67
Port hits 20
Port fuel hits 7
Port supply hits 1


As normal routine for me I change all of my Vals to attacking airfields and other 'soft' targets -- sooo tired of seeing their bombs bounce of CAs and BBs so its not worth it one turn one. This PH strike may have been my best ever - at least according to my side of FoW. Looks like I plastered the runways, killing a bunch of planes, and hammered the old BBs hard. Every BB reportedly struck buy at least 3 torpedoes as well as a plethora of 800 kg bomb hits. FoW report 2 sunk, but I think the count may be higher. But if not, they should be out of action for 18+ months. Several smaller ships were most likely sunk as well (AV Curtiss, AV Tangier, AS Pelias, AD Dobbin). A few cruisers took some torps and bombs as well.

Xargun

I don't honestly remember the EULA for the forums - been nearly 20 yrs since I joined, but I am putting this here as a warning to readers that I do swear in my posts - nothing to bad, but you will see me post hells and damns and the like. If this language offends you then I suggest you do not read / follow my AAR. I try to keep it clean, but those words will most likely be used.

Xargun

This was the past turn I just executed this morning. After four or five days of not much action, the Allies strike back with some planes in the air and a surface action near Tawi Tawi intercepting a lightly escorted TF heading for Jolo. The first encounter my TF escaped any attacks, but the allies ran them down and engaged again.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Sandakan at 71,88, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
APD Hagi
TB Otori
TB Hayabusa
xAK Atago Maru, Shell hits 3, heavy fires
xAK Meiyo Maru
xAK Santos Maru, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Zyuyo Maru, Shell hits 1
xAKL Hidaka Maru
xAKL Raizan Maru, Shell hits 5, on fire

Allied Ships
CL Java, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CL Tromp
DD Evertsen
DD Van Ghent

Japanese ground losses:
145 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 9 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Overall the TF returned fire quite well striking the Java with a torpedo. The Santos Maru and Raizan Maru both sunk costing me about 1/3 of an AF Coy.

I hope to post some pictures today as we all know pictures give a better view.

Malaya:

My troops are still moving south capturing a ton of new dot-bases as we go. I would say these are pointless, but Andy has added a bunch of Resources and LI to most of these bases so I will not turn down extra Resources and Supplies as Japan ever. I still have units loading on transports from Japan for Malaya, but I think the last couple are loading now and should arrive before the invasion of Singapore. I'm hoping the extra troops make the taking of that island fortress easier and quicker.

I just landed a BF at Kuantan and will be taking that undefended airfield this turn. I then plan on moving in as many bombers as I can and begin bombing Singapore to stop the building of forts.

Luzon:

The secondary area of attack is the Philippines. I have landed on the northern half of the island and just took San Fernando this turn. I also landed at Mauban and took it. I have troops within reach of Manila but not enough firepower to avoid him kicking me back out so I am waiting til I can move on both Clark Field and Manila together - thus the troops from Manila will be cut off - recon shows 6 units at Manila and 12 at Clark Field.

I am wondering if he has pulled all his aircraft from Luzon as I havent seen any allied planes since I smashed 30+ warhawks on a sweeping mission with 30+ highly trained zeros. I have nightly bombed both Clark and Manila airfields and not even damaged a single plane. I believe I am trying a daylight raid on Clark this turn - so we will see if he has abandoned or not.


Burma:

I am only sending roughly 200 AS into Burma right now - prioritizing Singapore first. I should be taking Tanbaya (another dot-base) this turn. My troops are almost to Tavoy and then I will roll up then coastal road to Pegu and then wait until I take Singapore and reinforcements arrive.


DEI:

I have taken the small bases along the north coast - Hollandia down to Madang, as well as Manus Island. I tried to land at Shortlands but some allied ships were waiting and sunk my invasion force. Same damn thing happened at Tarawa.


China:

I took Hong Kong on the first attack and captured the base 100% intact - so I got a nice bump of HI and the fully functioning Repair Yards. Nomad seems to be pulling back all of his forces in China - possibly to better defensive positions? He completely abandoned Wuchow - which I probably wouldn't get to for 6 months or so as I usually start in the north and work downwards along the rail. But I will take the 60 LI.


General Notes:

It took me many turns to realize Nomad wasn't just going to pull back with his navy like most of my previous opponents have done. But he is actively engaging me. This cost me several small, under defended invasion TFs but now I am escorting my invasions better. It has also cost him a lot of damage to his CL fleet and a few DDs.

KB is back in Japanese territory and taking a couple days at Truk to rearm, refuel and replenished lost aircraft. They are also repairing some minor damage while I'm here -- that size 15 repair yard that I bought here is already paying me back !! KB will then proceed into the DEI to support the invasions of Tarakan, Samarinda and Balikpapan to secure the oil rich fields there.

Xargun

The extra dots were mostly to help the AI with pathing

Since Nomad and I have no house rules I can bring as much of the Kwangtung garrison into china I want which sounds good. The downside is he can move all of china in Burma and bring the entire Indian Army down to play. I know some of India requires garrisons but how big is the Indian Army in 41 and 42? Should I be worried? I'm not sure if he will cross the border first or if he is simply waiting to see what I will do in China.

What do you guys know about this situation?

Xargun

ORIGINAL: Andy Mac

The extra dots were mostly to help the AI with pathing

Understood - I like them mostly... But they are slowing me down in Malaya

Xargun

The Indian Army is not well trained, needs devices which there may be shortages of those shared Commonwealth devices besides the Indian only devices.

Some updates (with pictures as promised)...

Main Intelligence Screen


Sunken Allied Ships


Sunken Japanese Ships


Top Air Losses



Xargun

The turn started off with some action in the Sulu Sea. Last turn I spotted two enemy TFs - one at Jolo and one coming out of the Makassar Straight. I pulled my amphib TFs back to Puerto Princessa and sent in my surface TF to clear the way figuring the BB Kongo and BB Haruna would demolish whatever Cruiser-lead fleet the allies had up their sleeves. I also moved in the baby KB (mostly sans torpedoes) to try to pick off survivors.

My warships encountered the enemy ships from Jolo and after many minutes of fighting managed to only sink the DD escort. But Kongo did land one shell from the big guns on CL Tromp ! The return fire from the enemy ships did not even leave a mark on the heavies paint. The biggest pain here was the amount of torpedoes we expended for 0 hits. Those things don't grow on trees you know.


Day Time Surface Combat, near Tawi Tawi at 72,88, Range 21,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo
BB Haruna, Shell hits 2
CA Chokai, Shell hits 1
DD Fubuki
DD Usugumo
DD Isonami
DD Shirayuki
DD Hatsuyuki

Allied Ships
CL Tromp, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Evertsen, Shell hits 10, and is sunk


A few minutes later baby KB in the western Celebes Sea detected the 2nd enemy TF creeping along the northern coast of Celebes and attacked. Some how the AI decided to only send Kates without torpedoes at this target -- which unfortunately turned out to be the BB Prince of Wales and BC Repulse !!

Morning Air attack on TF, near Gorontalo at 71,96

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B5N1 Kate x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N1 Kate: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
BC Repulse, Bomb hits 1
BB Prince of Wales


Not sure how good a 250kg bomb will do against the Repulse, but at least I got a hit ! A moment later more Kates flew against the Tromp - and despite the torpedoes missing, they did manage to land 5 bomb hits... The Tromp shouild be either beneath the waves or crippled now.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Jolo at 74,90

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B5N1 Kate x 17
B5N2 Kate x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
CL Tromp, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage


I am pulling everything back from the Sulu and Celebes Sea - Nomad cannot fail to notice I did not have torpedoes in the majority of the attacks and may push with Force Z. I hope he does -- KB is 2 days away from the area and has plenty of torpedoes to sink anything the Allies have in the area. Would be nice to cross off those two heavies before the year is out.

To add some insult to injury I-124 caught CL Java near safety...

Sub attack near Soerabaja at 56,103

Japanese Ships
SS I-124

Allied Ships
CL Java, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Van Ghent



Xargun

Luzon:



I am moving 3 tank rgt into Iba and the rest of the forces there are moving south into Clark Field. I want him to either commit to Bataan or Manila for his last stand -- I am hoping its Bataan. Recon shows 10 units in Bataan, 17 now in Clark and 6 still in Manila. Once I move into Clark, his forces in Manila and south are cut off. While probably not enough firepower to take Clark right away, I am moving a Bde and 2 Rgts into it (500 AS). Once Iba falls and the tanks come into Clark the extra 100+ AS should be enough to take the base.


Malaya:


A lot more complex than Luzon - the Malaya Theater is my main focus right now. Roughly 4-5 Infantry Divisions of mixed troops are on the ground with another 1.5 divisions enroute (which should be the last of the troops for here). On the map I have marked known locations of enemy subs that I have been avoiding as much as I can.

Kuala Lumpur fell into my hands last turn with no defenders in it. Temuloh is held by a small unit and will be swept away by the 2 Rgts moving down the rail.

Most of my Divisions are sitting in rail cars zipping down the lines and will continue to do so until we get near the end - when they will debark from their comfy train rides and put their asses on the front lines for the charge into Singapore itself. I plan on waiting for all the troops to mass at Johore Bahru and cross as one large force. I am hoping I can take Singapore within a couple days of crossing over.


South Pacific:

I have just taken Nauru and Ocean Islands - they make quite a bit of resources which gives my ships something to carry home after bringing supplies and troops south to Truk.

I am thinking of making a daring strike for Luganville or Tulagi soon - but am not sure if I should risk my ships without some sort of air cover. Maybe bring the baby KB down to Truk - rearm their torps and head south ??

In this version Truk is much nicer I think - its port and airfield are already maxed out at 7 and 5 respectively. With the size 15 repair yard I put there is will make forays south a lot less riskier.


Economic:

I am going fine - already starting some resource convoys from Port Arthur and Hakodate. Usually I forget to do this early and run out of resources in the home islands causing up to a week of non-production at Tokyo -- which is one of the reasons I bought the extra Resources with the variant rules.

I do not like the supply situation - lossing around 20-25k supplies per day despite producing 25k a day. But some of the aircraft and engine factories are finishing up their expansions leaving only the R&D ones to go - which is a lot easier on my supplies.

We have passed several days (it is now Jan 5th, 1942) since my last post and lots has happened. My trap for Force Z failed - he did not take the bait and I missed my chance to bag them, but he did send in more cruisers for me to gobble up. Over the course of four days the KB hammered allied warships in the Celebes Sea.

Jan 1st, 1942:
Morning Air attack on TF, near Jolo at 73,94

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 30 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 18
B5N2 Kate x 27
D3A1 Val x 47

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 damaged
D3A1 Val: 4 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Pope, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CL De Ruyter, Bomb hits 1
CL Mauritius, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 1
DD Stronghold
DD Vendetta
DD Banckert

Morning Air attack on TF, near Jolo at 73,94

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 30 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B5N2 Kate x 27

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 5 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Stronghold
DD Pope, on fire
CL Mauritius, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DD Vendetta
CL De Ruyter, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Jan 2nd:
Storms covered the area and no air attacks were launched - I was unhappy and thought I missed my chance to finish the cruisers off.

Jan 3rd:
Morning Air attack on TF, near Donggala at 70,96

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 67 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 25 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 36
D3A1 Val x 21

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 3 damaged

Allied Ships
CL De Ruyter, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Mauritius, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage

Jan 4th: The finishing touches
Morning Air attack on TF, near Gorontalo at 71,96

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 48 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 36
B5N2 Kate x 18
D3A1 Val x 19

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Walrus II: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CL Mauritius, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk

Xargun

Luzon:

Luzon is mine except for Bataan, Clark and Manila. I have troops at Clark and Manila but not sure I have enough to take either location. Manila reports 6 enemy units, Clark has 17 and Bataan has 11. I may try to shift troops and take Manila and then simply wait on Clark until Singapore falls and reinforcements flood the area.


Malaya:

Four allied bases are left north of Singapore and I am taking Mersing unopposed this turn. Recon has shown little to no enemy units in the bases outside Singapore - so I should be outside Singers in a week to ten days. It takes two days for my tanks to move to the new base and then a day to take it - rinse and repeat. The bulk of my firepower is sitting in rail cars and will unload once I take Johore Bharu.


Borneo:

The bases on the north-east coast of Borneo are all mine and I have just invaded both Tarakan and Singkawang. I was all worried about minefields and forgot about the CD guns at both locations and they hammered my lightly escorted invasion fleets. So far I have lost 2 ships with another 3 heavily damaged and burning. Only good thing is my surface TF ran into more allied cruisers around the north-western coast of Borneo. In the middle of a thunderstorm the two forces fought it out.

Day Time Surface Combat, near Singkawang at 55,87, Range 5,000 Yards

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
Walrus II: 2 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CA Takao
CA Atago, Shell hits 7
DD Maikaze
DD Nowaki
DD Arashi
DD Hagikaze
DD Asashio
DD Oshio

Allied Ships
CA Exeter, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
CL Glasgow, Shell hits 10, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Low visibility due to Thunderstorms
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms: 6,000 yards

I got lucky with an opening barrage of long-lances that actually hit - three torpedoes hit the Exeter and she broke in half and sunk. Without that lucky hit the fight could have gone much different. The damage to the Atago was minimal (6 sys and 6 flooding).

Xargun