Requiem for Tomorrow Wirraway (J) v DesertWolf (A)

[Wirraway_Ace]

For the men of the Imperial Japanese Navy, Army and Air Services, there will be no tomorrow, only a thousand todays.

[center]Come not tomorrow
Today will take everything
Only death remains[/center]

This is the Japanese side of the struggle between me (Wirraway_Ace) and my esteemed opponent, Omar (DesertWolf101).

The game is Scenario 1, with PDU off, stock map with stacking limits, and a handful of house rules.

[Wirraway_Ace]

Game settings:
FOW: ON
Advanced weather: ON
Allied damage control: ON
PDU: OFF
Historical first turn: OFF
Dec 7 surprise: ON
Reliable USN torps: OFF
Realistic R&D: ON
No unit withdrawals: OFF
Reinforcements: +/- 15

[Wirraway_Ace]

House Rules
Turn 1:
Allied player able to give orders to formed TFs and units in China on Turn 1
Japan cannot abuse the magic-move TFs (i.e. No turn-1 Mersing gambit, no CV TF hunting, etc.)

Remainder of the game:
Pay full PP cost to move restricted land units across borders
No supersizing of air groups (i.e. using Akagi to resize a squadron to 80 aircraft)
Transport fuel/oil only in TK, AO and in dedicated fuel/oil capacity of some xAKs
No strat bombing of LI, HI, resources and manpower centers in China; Oil and refineries are valid targets (we might add HI to the valid targets list too, since there were a few largish factories that could be effectively targeted)
No daytime PBY torpedo attacks
Airborne units must be fully assembled before making the next drop

[BBfanboy]

Wirraway_Ace: No supersizing of air groups (i.e. using Akagi to resize a squadron to 80 aircraft)

Did you discuss a maximum size for resizing or forbid it altogether?

And why PDU OFF? That really hampers the development of effective aircraft for the Japanese, no?

[Wirraway_Ace]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Wirraway_Ace: No supersizing of air groups (i.e. using Akagi to resize a squadron to 80 aircraft)

Did you discuss a maximum size for resizing or forbid it altogether?

And why PDU OFF? That really hampers the development of effective aircraft for the Japanese, no?

Thanks for the question, BB. It made me put it down in black and white.

Resizing is allowed to doctrinal sized sentai of 24-32 aircraft: 2 chutai of 16, 3 of 9, 2 of 12 are the common examples. I will not be resizing the Jake units beyond 9 or 12.

Why PDU-Off? Really just for fun, to employ all the different types of aircraft developed on both sides during the chaos of wartime manufacturing and the frenetic pace of technological innovation. The homogeneous and hyper-optimized air OOBs of PDU-On games get a bit monotonous. Yes, PDU-Off is much harder on the Japanese player, but has a feel closer to the reality the commanders faced. As the intro to the AAR suggest, I don't expect to win in the end. I intend to deal the colonial powers many decisive defeats, but recognize that fighting the world's foremost economic power, the world's most populous country, and a globe-spanning empire all at once might be a bit much, even for the Bushido-inspired soldiers, sailors and airmen of The Land of the Gods.

[Wirraway_Ace]

First comes the National Strategy.

From the hand of the prime minister, with divine guidance from the emperor, our national strategy:

Secure the Home Islands from strategic bombing attack and maintain the flow of key resources (oil, fuel and resources) from the Southern and Northern Resource Areas in order to maintain a military capability adequate to cause a negotiated peace under favorable conditions for Japan.

[Wirraway_Ace]

I will need the divine guidance of the emperor to figure out a way ahead on aircraft research in a PDU-Off game.

IJN Air Service

By war's end, approximately 1,200 AC can be upgraded to A6M5c and then the A6M8. By comparison, only 546 Sams, 279 Georges, 135 Jacks and 198 Shinden
DB = 414 Judys
TB = 399 Jills
DB/TB = 390 Grace
2E MB/TB = 198 Frances

IJA Air Service
891 Franks
853 Ki-43-IIb Oscars (w armor)
240 Tonys
179 Peggys
85 Patsys

I have not looked at the night fighters yet.

[Wirraway_Ace]

Engine Research
I am going to get out of the turbojet, rocket and argus engine research business and focus on the Ha-45 (4 factories researching at 30). I will increase the Ha-43, 44 and Kaw. Ha-60 all to 30. I will probably switch some Ha-45 research facilities to the Ha-43 when the Ha-45 is production ready.

[Wirraway_Ace]

Aircraft Research
I like to build and deploy in combat at least one operational sentai of each new aircraft model before discarding it for another model. We have the advantage of knowing in advance the exact stats on how well certain models will perform while the actual manufacturers, pilots and leaders had very imperfect information.

[Wirraway_Ace]

I think I have the aircraft research figured out. Some surprises in PDU off. It is no good researching the P1Y1 Frances line. Almost nothing will upgrade to it, and the first possible unit to equip arrives 43/10. Most Betty units remain Betty units the whole war. That is going to be fun! The Army will have to pick up the slack with the Peggy, Peggy T and Lily IIb. Of course, only two sentai will upgrade to the Peggy T, so it will be mostly bombs...
Researching dedicated Kamikaze aircraft looks like a waste.
I will definitely need to switch Ha-45 research to Ha-43 when the former becomes available. The Ha-43 is the key late war engine.

[Wirraway_Ace]

First turn is in the books.


I detached Hiryu to support operations in the DEI. When doing this in the past, I have often used Kaga because of her speed mismatch with the rest of the KB, but Hiryu has the capacity for what I have in mind and Kaga has a bigger Kate squadron giving the Pearl Harbor strike potentially nine more torpedoes. As it turned out, this didn't matter.
For the Pearl Harbor strike, RADM Yamaguchi used all the Kates on port attack at 10,000 feet while two of the Val squadrons attacked the port to suppress AA fire. The remaining Val units struck Hickam Field. The full strike was escorted by two Zero squadrons while two more bombed Hickam from 10,000 feet. Soryu was responsible for CAP over the TF.

In the Marshalls, the 6th Fleet ordered Makin taken, and the amphibious TF sprinted to the atoll, while the Wake TF and all valuable shipping left for Truk until the KB returns. Wargames in the fall showed the 6th Fleet area of operations at risk from enemy carriers, if these were not caught in the Pearl Harbor strike.

In the Philippines, the full weight of the 11th Air Fleet out of Formosa was ordered unleashed on Clark Field and Manila, both the aerodrome and port. Datais of the Tainan Ku have the mission to sweep the skies over Iba, Clark and Manila in advance of the bombers escorted by the 3rd Ku. A unit of IJAAF Sallys will also strike the port in Manila. The final blow against the Asiatic Fleet will come for the Hiryu airgroup. Landings are planned for Laoag in the north and Naga in the south, with strong naval covering forces.

CVL Ryujo steamed into the Celebes Sea and north toward the Sulu Sea. CVE Taiyo picked up a datai of Claudes and prepared to escort armor and infantry tasked with taking Cagayan and its large aerodrome on Mindanao.

SNLF units from Babeldaob and Truk were loaded on amphibious taskforces with orders to take Guam. The 144th Inf will bypass Guam and proceed to Rabaul from the Bonins. The 4th Div will be coming behind from Osaka to take Port Moresby.

Further to the west, typical landings are planned for Kota Bharu, Patani and Singora, but only with first wave forces. Most of the 25th Army will remain afloat to provide operational flexibility.

Far to the northeast, a force is steaming toward Adak Island in the Aleutians. D-Day is the 10th.

[Wirraway_Ace]

The first turn strikes did not go very well.

Only 2 Kate units carried torps during the attack on Pearl, with predictable results.

The strikes in the Philippines were beautifully coordinated (replacing a couple leaders in the air HQs and using only a single aircraft type per target does wonders) and the airfields were hit hard, but target selection in the port strikes was poor. The submarines were my target, but the pilots had mostly other ideas.

The landings in the Philippines were not opposed by the Asiatic Fleet.

Ryujo Kates caught and sunk Boise making her leisurely way past Mindanao. Houston sprinted to the NW east I think.

I had been testing using a JAAF AF Eng Co on a magic move TF located at Samah to support the Adak operation, but eventually decided it was not necessary since it could not get much past the home islands, and loading a base force from the home islands worked as well. But, I apparently forgot to change its orders. The small three ship TF making its way east from Samah stumbled into the RN DDs from Hong Kong. Two 14 pt Lima xAKs sunk along with a AKL and the company of troops.

The strikes in Malaya went well, as did the CAP over the invasion TFs.

[Wirraway_Ace]

First turn is in the books.

In China, I am moving my Chinese units to free up the Japanese units while buying armor units and Sallys from Manchukuo.

Armor will be massed in Taiyuan under the 1st Army (main effort), and drive toward the Sian plain through the mountains.

The 11th Army will conduct a supporting attack along the Sinyang - Nanyang axis. 12th Army will encircle Loyang.

In the south, 13th Army units will advance to take Chuhsien and Pucheng, cutting off Wenchow and opening ground lines of communication between Hangchow and Canton.

Once Allied forces in the Philippines and Malaya have been driven into their corners at Clark/Manila and Singapore respectively, the armor units employed in those campaigns will be redeployed to Hong Kong and the 23rd Army will drive north along the Wuchow-Liuchow-Tuyun axis toward Kweiyang.

[Wirraway_Ace]

Commander's Critical Information Requirements (CCIR):
Location of Force Z
Location of AVG
Location of Lexington and Enterprise

Priority 2nd phase operations:

Assemble a force to take Palembang as soon as Zuiho arrives from Kure to reinforce Hiryu, or sooner if practicable.

[Wirraway_Ace]

December 8th, 1941
Kido Butai fighters sweep Pearl Harbor. Allied losses of Mohawks and P40Bs are heavy, totaling 39 aircraft for loss of 6 zeros.
American fighters (P40s) from the the Philippines deploy to Hong Kong and provide CAP as the IJA approaches the outskirts of the city. These fighter aircraft pounce on the lightly escorted Sonias and Lilys, shooting down ten IJAAF aircraft. In Malaya, the British aggressively commit their two remaining squadrons of Buffalo Is in an inconclusive sweep over the Japanese forward airbase at Singora.

Kates from Ryujo attack shipping fleeing Manila in the South China Sea while G4M1s from Babeldaub range in to the Celebes Sea sinking small freighters fleeing south.

The enemy appears intent on attacking the landings at Vigan with PT Boats and the three small British destroyers have refueled back at Hong Kong and will likely sorte during the night. They may also attempt to strike the landing sites in the northern Philippines.

Recon identifies what appears to be the bulk of the AVG at Kunming. He will presumably move these front line fighters to Changsha along with the two squadrons of P40Es in Hong Kong. The enemy is planning on challenging the skies over China.

No sign of the B17s in the Philippines.

No sign of Force Z.

No sign of the U.S. carriers.

[Tanaka]

ORIGINAL: Wirraway_Ace

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Wirraway_Ace: No supersizing of air groups (i.e. using Akagi to resize a squadron to 80 aircraft)

Did you discuss a maximum size for resizing or forbid it altogether?

And why PDU OFF? That really hampers the development of effective aircraft for the Japanese, no?

Thanks for the question, BB. It made me put it down in black and white.

Resizing is allowed to doctrinal sized sentai of 24-32 aircraft: 2 chutai of 16, 3 of 9, 2 of 12 are the common examples. I will not be resizing the Jake units beyond 9 or 12.

Why PDU-Off? Really just for fun, to employ all the different types of aircraft developed on both sides during the chaos of wartime manufacturing and the frenetic pace of technological innovation. The homogeneous and hyper-optimized air OOBs of PDU-On games get a bit monotonous. Yes, PDU-Off is much harder on the Japanese player, but has a feel closer to the reality the commanders faced. As the intro to the AAR suggest, I don't expect to win in the end. I intend to deal the colonial powers many decisive defeats, but recognize that fighting the world's foremost economic power, the world's most populous country, and a globe-spanning empire all at once might be a bit much, even for the Bushido-inspired soldiers, sailors and airmen of The Land of the Gods.

Ah a brand new fresh PDU off game featuring two vets with good house rules. Count me in. Hard to find so thank you! PDU off is also my favorite type game for these reasons. I just started my very first PBEM PDU off game and I much prefer the realistic feel to Star Wars. Will follow this for tips! Count me subscribed!

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: Wirraway_Ace

First comes the National Strategy.

From the hand of the prime minister, with divine guidance from the emperor, our national strategy:

Secure the Home Islands from strategic bombing attack and maintain the flow of key resources (oil, fuel and resources) from the Southern and Northern Resource Areas in order to maintain a military capability adequate to cause a negotiated peace under favorable conditions for Japan.

Sounds really simple when you put it that way. [:D]

[Wirraway_Ace]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

ORIGINAL: Wirraway_Ace

First comes the National Strategy.

From the hand of the prime minister, with divine guidance from the emperor, our national strategy:

Secure the Home Islands from strategic bombing attack and maintain the flow of key resources (oil, fuel and resources) from the Southern and Northern Resource Areas in order to maintain a military capability adequate to cause a negotiated peace under favorable conditions for Japan.

Sounds really simple when you put it that way. [:D]

The Emperor is a big-picture guy.

[Wirraway_Ace]

ORIGINAL: Wirraway_Ace

I will need the divine guidance of the emperor to figure out a way ahead on aircraft research in a PDU-Off game.

IJN Air Service

By war's end, approximately 1,200 AC can be upgraded to A6M5c and then the A6M8. By comparison, only 546 Sams (and another 636 A7M3A-J Sams), 279 Georges, 135 Jacks and 198 Shinden
DB = 414 Judys
TB = 399 Jills
DB/TB = 390 Grace
2E MB/TB = 198 Frances (no squadrons are available for upgrade before the scheduled available date of 43/10; no use advancing)

IJA Air Service
891 Franks
853 Ki-43-IIb Oscars (w armor)
240 Tonys
179 Peggys
58 Peggy T
85 Patsys

I updated the message with the bold text.
Based on this reality, I went with a heavy research effort (post #9) on the both the Sam models (CV capable and not), the Frank, the Judy, the Grace, the Peggy, the George, A6M2-N/A6M5 and the Peggy T.

I have small research efforts continuing along historical lines, including the Tony, Jack, Jill, Helen, Nick and Emily.

[Wirraway_Ace]

As for ship conversions and build/stop/accelerate, I usually copy/paste from Mike Solli. Conveniently, he has a new AAR going, which facilitates the process. To show my fierce independence, I am doing fewer ACM conversions than he.