From Here It SEEMS Like an Eternity...Imperial Japan's Thoughts

[John 3rd]

Welcome to THE BEGINNING of a, hopefully, long and enduring AAR! This campaign is being played as a 1.801 stock scenario. The chief antagonists were to be myself, John 3rd, and Moses vs. Robert Davidson and Marc Bennett (Tabpub and Capt. Mandrake); however, Moses has had to bow out so it will be one versus two.

We have agreed upon a fairly standard set of House Rules. Limits have been placed on ASW TF size, number of aircraft and base size (50-1), and realistic measures controlling Allied 4EB (10,000 Ft minimum ceiling).

A Note about my AAR style:
I ran an AAR between myself and Wolfpack for a period of time and plan to follow that format. I am not a computer guru who adds all sorts of frills (fancy maps, pictures, and cool stuff) to their AAR. I'll will write my thoughts, plans, overviews, and occasionally ask for advice from the sage members of this august Forum! [8D] Additionally, you wil NOT endless combat reports attached to this AAR! Those drive me nuts! I will provide a, hopefully, cogent synopsis of the action.

Myself:
I've been in education for 15 years as a High School teacher and Adjunct Professor of Military History. My love has always been the navy in World War Two. I cut my reading teeth on Paul Dull's Battle History of the Imperial Navy, At Dawn We Slept, and other well known titles. Loved it so much, I followed that passion into College and got my Masters Degree in Military History. My Thesis was on the US Treaty Navy between World War One and Two.

With this as background, I LOVE this game! The chance to try differing things, re-work Japanese industry, and do 'better' then the Japanese has an allure that I cannot avoid...YUM!

As a Japanese player, I am NOT gamey with my moves. Might be bold as Hell but nothing I do will be abusive of the game.

Enough about this, let us shift to THE PLAN (projected December thru February):

1. Pearl Harbor I will be launching a standard PH attack. Do not like the Manila attack because the Japanese chose not to do it. What would this game be like WITHOUT that opening move??!! Would love to sink a bunch of American SS but will stay to the historical opening.

Once I have hit PH, the KB will split. CarDiv 2 (Hiryu/Soryu) and CarDiv 5 (Shokaku/Zuikaku) will quite opening head for the Southest Pacific. I hope to draw attention there and, perhaps, get an early engagement with the American CVs. The KB will prowl around there covering my opening moves in the Central and SE Pacific Theatres.

In what I hope to be a surprise, CarDiv 1 (Akagi/Kaga) will move north for 3-4 days and refuel. They will then move between the US and Hawaii and HOPE to get lucky! Would love to sink a large convoy, damaged ships coming out of PH, or anything moving over from the West Coast.

2. Central Pacific I have ordered a concentration of shipping and troops at Kwajelein. There will be lite forces there (4CL and 8DD) and some reinforced LBA. Initial objectives will be:
A. Wake
B. The Gilberts and Baker Island
C. Canton

The KB will be covering these operations.

3. SE Pacific Have really bumped up the striking power here. I've ordered the 1st Fleet HQ, Combined Fleet HQ, 4th Inf Div, an Engineering Reg, 16th Army HQ, some Artillry units, several Base Forces, and smaller Infantry/Construction units to Truk. Additionally, the naval component has been added to as well: 4CA, 1CL, 8DD will cover operations here. Have added some LBA assets here as well...

Objectives:
1. Rabaul
2. Northern New Guinea and the Solomons
3. Port Moresby
4. Luganville
5. Noumea

The KB may be calle dupon to help in these operations...

4. Eastern DEI Have stregthened Palau with Fleet assets: the mini-KB (2CVL and 2CVE with 52 Zero and 62 Kates), 2 older BB, 3CA, 3CL, and 16DD fill out this section of the Fleet. I have also moved several stronger SNLF units here as well as a couple of Base Forces.

Objectives:
1. Mindanao
2. The Bases heading into Amboina
3. Amboina
4. Timor

5. Western DEI Many of the smaller units I have moved to Truk and Kwajelein come from this area so it is a little weaker then normal. All the remaining IJN BB and Fleet units are located here.

Major Targets:
Singapore: I want to TAKE OUT Singapore quickly! No less then 6 Inf Div will be used in the attack! Two will take the normal northern approach while 4 will land at Kuantan. I prefer the middle landing site on the eastern coast. Get that AF up and running and life becomes VERY hard for the Allied players! Perhaps a little gamey but I doubt it.

Philippines: There will still be landings here but I do not intend to do much until Singapore and Java are gone.

I will make a grab for Palembang and Kuching pretty quickly.

Once Singapore is gone, I will take Java.

6. Burma There will be units driving north here but it will be of tertiary importance. Want a couple of the AF Bases there to sink anything going into or out of Rangoon.

7. China This is my weakest area. Moses is a GREAT land warfare tactician and I had counted on him running areas 5-7. I will try normal procedures here in clearing the rail-line. As soon as I have Political Points available, I will pull Brigades out of China and send them to garrision Pacific Islands and strengthen attacks elsewhere.

A Note on Landings. I HATE GAMEY opening landings! [:@] I will only be landing at a few sites on Dec 7th. Attacks elsewhere will begin LOADING on the 7th and then move out. I want my opponents to have a chance to organize themselves over the first few days before I utterly DESTROY them! [:)]


Economy:
1. I am expanding, moderately, repair yards, naval shipyards, shifting Frank Research to Tojo/Tony, bumping Zero production, and dropping a bunch of USELESS aircraft production to focus on what I will need. Will explain more here as things develop.


I think that is about it.

Have sent the opening turn to my worthy opponents and we are awaiting Tabpub's return from his Aussie sojourn...

Questions???

[castor troy]

Great to see you´re doing an AAR again. Looking forward to following it!

[ny59giants]

Are your LCU's being loaded from their original home ports and sent across the ocean or are you using a non-historical to allow you to move them part way to their destination??

I'm glad in CHS with extended maps that ships from Hawaii don't have to go only to the WC and can have the lower sys damaged (about 40 or less) sent to WC via Panama. [:D]

I like that your focus is more naval than land since many Jap players use the "game mechanics" to conquer China/India and use those freed up units to fortress the islands in the Eastern Pacific for the eventual American counter-offensive.[&o]

[John 3rd]

Thanks Castor!  Am looking forward to doing this again.
 
NYGiants59--The only thing I am doing with repositioning my LCUs is taking them from where they currently are at--like Taan--and sending them to Palau where they will begin loading on the 7th for their missions.  The 1st Turn warping function drives me nuts.  I've participated in a few of the threads panning it and getting into discussions about whether this TF would have been spotted approaching Palembang BEFORE the opening attack.  I don't believe in that. 
 
Example:  My Wake Attack will occur about the 11th/12th of December.  I will unload the existing TF and then RELOAD it with the Invasion Force I want for the attack.
 
I'll generally follow Japanese Doctine and not leap beyond the range of LBA unless I have CV support.  This is also realistic.
 
Does that answer your question??

[1275psi]

Of course Tabpub has to survive his holiday 1st!
[:D]
After he left me he already had sore feet -then he went bush bashing, walked all over canberra -has caught a cold, and jammed more sights and things and night clubbing into 3 weeks than I could handle in a year!

Man he has stamina!

Really looking forward to the game -but keep on tabpubs back to actually write some AAR!.
have fun.

[John 3rd]

Thanks for the note!

Hope you didn't run him TOO ragged. He might be in a delicate emotional state and I don't want to push him over the edge with immediate Japanese victories and horrendous Allied losses! [:D]

I've sent the turn and am waiting for them to return it so I can get this AAR rolling...

[FeurerKrieg]

Good luck! Sounds like you have some good opening plans.

[John 3rd]

Dateline:  Early December 1941
 
From:  Imperial HQ, Toyko
 
Attention All Units:  "Climb Mount Niitaka!"
 
The Emporer requests that we bow our heads for a moment to mark this historic moment for the Empire of Japan.  Let us all pray to our ancestors for Divine Protection and Providence over the well-laid plans of the Imperial Army and Navy.
 
BANZAI!
 

[John 3rd]

Translation to above Memo:  Taptub is FINALLY ready to start this Campaign!
 

[John 3rd]

After a LONG wait, the war has finally begun!

Commander Fuchida's triumphant transmission was picked up in the Inland Sea of Japan just a few minutes ago! Tora! Tora! Tora! The Imperial Fleet led by the Kido Butai has struck the very heart of American Naval Power at Pearl Harbor.

These are the preliminary results of the attack:

The US Battleship Force has been dealt a crippling blow:

Name 800Kg Bombs---TT---250Kg Bombs
Arizona 3--2--6 Heavy Damage
Nevada 5--1--5 On Fire
Tennessee 5--2--6 Heavy Damage
W. Virginia 4--2--5 Heavy Damage
Oklahoma 4--5--6 SUNK! Credit must go to the Akagi's TT Daitai (4TTs)
Maryland 6--3--12 Sinking Condition
California 4--3--10 Sinking Condition
Pennsylvania 2--3--6 Heavy Damage

If American Damage Control is not up to thier normal high standards, there is the real possiblity of two more BBs sinking--BANZAI!

Other Ships Hit:
CA New Orleans 1TT On Fire
CL Helena 1B
DD Dewey 1B Heavy Damage
DD Downes 1TT Heavy Damage
DM Breeze 1B Heavy Damage
DMS Perry 1B On Fire
PT-Boat 1B SUNK
AP--U.S. Grant 1 800Kg B On Fire

The American Airfields were heavily hit and nearly 70 planes are claimed destroyed (39 Fighters--15 Bombers--15 Recon).

Japanese losses were fairly lite: 28 Planes (7 Zero, 11 Val, 10 Kate).

After recovering the 2nd Wave, Admiral Nagumo (following orders) has split his victorious force into two pieces:

CarDiv 1 Akagi and Kaga, CAs Tone and Chikuma, CL Abukuma, and 3DD are headed to hex reference point 113,55 to rendezvous with Tankers and 3DD for refueling. They were ordered to move to this pint at Full Speed so American Recon might not spot them. They will then fuel and raid along the Hawaii--US West Coast sea lanes.

CarDiv 2 and 5 Hiryu, Soryu, Shokaku, Zuikaku, 2BC, and 6DD have taken a direct (in-the-open) course towards Johnston Island. They are to divert American attention in their direction and hide the movement described above. These CVs will aid SE Pacific/Central Pacific Operations.

On the whole, the Pearl Harbor raid has exceeded expectations with ALL US Battleships sunk, sinking, or heavily damaged. It is a GREAT start! BANZAI!

[John 3rd]

Tomorrow I will post initial operational moves and plans.
 
Changes made to the economy, production, and other facets will also be covered.
 

[Wellard]

So nice to see someone playing in the spirit of the game for a change.I too have got fed up of Japanese gamesmanship which in my view just spoils the enjoyment of the game for the Allied player(s)

[John 3rd]

Thanks for the thought Wellard! I get sick of the first turn crap! This is a conservative and REAL beginning to the campaign.

I believe that my opponents will play by the rules as well. If I don't get carried away (like upgrading all my Army DB into 2EB, strategic bombing in China, etc...) then they won't. It should be a FAIR and fun game.

Got furious this morning. I spent nearly an hour typing in the AAR landings and plans and when I sent it to the AAR---I LOST IT--'time expired and logged off.' DAMMIT! How can I preventr that from happening? I will re-type it this afternoon.

[Wellard]

I find if I have long posts(like in my RPG forums) that it's easier to do the whole thing on Word Pad then cut and paste.

[John 3rd]

Roger and Nomad just said similar things in the Support Forum.  Oh, well...
 
Have a bit of a crabby Nine-Month pregnant wife (Don't get me wrong--I would be too if I was a big as her and carrying a baby in 100* heat) who just yelled down.  So...got to go get groceries with the family and then re-write what I had done earlier.
 

[John 3rd]

Found out that I have a few minutes so I will hit the Philippine Operations.
 
Landings
I have landed at Batan (with no Covering Force) and Aparri (1 CL and 5DD Covering).  The Batan (as normal) garrision surrendered immediately.  Aparri is getting an SNLF, large BF, and several smaller units.  The Philippines is to be a backwater until Singapore and Java fall.
 
The only place I plan to take fairly quickly here is Mindanao.  I have a Brigade and large BF loading at Palau to land in Davao, another Invasion Force of a Brigade is loading at Camranh Bay to hit Cagayan, and a smaller SNLF will take Dadjangas.  These units should be enough to clean out Mindanao within 2 weeks.
 
Air Action
Imperial Japan had a decent opening day.  Unfortunately, the Americans were tipped off about the incoming attacks from the Pearl Harbor and had moved their planes.  Navy Air Forces struck Manila and Clark Air Fields to good extent.  Army units supported the landing at Aparri.  Throughout the day, a total of 16 P-40s were destroyed in exchange for only 1 Zero, 1 Betty, and 1 Nell.
 
A large strike is planned for whatever Manila Bay still holds tomorrow.
 
Will cover the other operations when I get back.
 
 
 
 

[Wellard]

 
TORA,TORA,TORA

[John 3rd]

[font="times new roman"]December 7, 1941[/font][/b]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]Having already covered the Pearl Harbor attack and opening Philippines moves, I now shift to the rest of the Pacific by Theatre:[/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]Malaya[/font][/b]
[font="times new roman"]The Imperial Army, with a substantial Covering Force (2 BC, 6 CA, 1 CL, and 10 DD), landed on the shores of Kuantan.  The initial landing consists of 2 Inf Div, 1 Eng Reg, and 1 Base Force.  Within a week, another pair of Infantry Divisions, with more support units, shall land here as well.[/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]Traveling through Thailand and Northern Malaya are yet another pair of Divisions with Tank support.  These units shall be the hammer from the North while the anvil will cross the peninsula ASAP to, hopefully, cutoff retreating units.  If this fails, then the drive to Singapore shall begin. [/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]The plans are for Singapore to fall no latter then January 1, 1942.[/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]In the air over the peninsula, a series of strikes occurred.  The following northern air bases were struck by Dive Bombers or 2-Engined Bombers of the Imperial Army:  Khota Bharu, Alor Star, and Georgetown.  A large strike hit Singapore itself from Saigon.  These attacks, coupled with ineffectual counter-attacks, led to the loss of over 25 British aircraft (11 F, 7 B, 10 TB).  Only one Army Bomber was lost on this day.  Unfortunately, word of the great strike at Pearl Harbor also allowed for the British to somewhat disperse their planes.[/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]Large strikes are planned for tomorrow at Georgetown (Recon showed 40+ planes there) and a Port Strike at Singapore.  A significant number of Nells were left on ‘ship attack’ for anything that presents itself as a target.[/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]Total Aerial Losses:[/b]  Japan 38 and Allies 159[/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font][/b]
[font="times new roman"]China[/font][/b]
[font="times new roman"]A number of small, nuisance air strikes were made here at Changsha, Nanchang, the crossroads (grid reference 46,35) and Hong Kong.[/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]There are A LOT of troops moving throughout China.  Offensive Operations will commence within 10 days.[/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]Hong Kong—A large Invasion Force is marching these.  Two Inf Div, 2 Art Reg, and an Eng Reg will be there tomorrow.  The hope is for Hong Kong to fall within 3 days.[/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]Southeast and Central Pacific[/font][/b]
[font="times new roman"]A gathering of shipping and reinforcements is occurring at Truk and Kwajalein.  Initial plans from Truk are the capture of Kavieng and then Rabaul.  Kwajalein shall Invade Wake and Midway Island.[/font]
[font="times new roman"]These operations shall be covered by KB-1 (Hiryu, Soryu, Shokaku, Zuikaku).  It is thoroughly expected to find the American Carriers, who were not at Pearl harbor, somewhere in this area.[/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]New Landings Planned[/font][/b]
[font="times new roman"]Palau is loaded Invasions Forces for the following areas:[/font]

[font="times new roman"]Davao--1 Brigade and 1 Base Force[/font]
[font="times new roman"]Danjangas—1 NLF[/font]
[font="times new roman"]Morotai, Weda, Sorong—1 NLF[/font]
[font="times new roman"]Amboina—3 SNLF and 1 Base Force[/font][/ol]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]Amboina is the prize here.  If High Command can capture this within 10 days, then the eastern exit from the DEI will be closed.[/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]Covering these landings are several Naval Task Forces:[/font]

[font="times new roman"]KB-3[/b] 2 CVL—Ryujo, Zuiho, 2 CVE—Hosho, Taiyo (total planes 110:  51 Z, 12 V, 53 K), 2 CA, and 6DD have been ordered to move SW of Davao and intercept fleeing Philippine shipping.[/font]
[font="times new roman"]2 BB (Fuso, Yamashiro), 2 CA, 1 CL, and 8 DD shall cover the landings.  Most of this force will accompany the Amboina Landing Force.[/font][/ol]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]Industrial Notes[/b] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]1.  Conversions            Work has begun on converting 20 7,000T AKs into MLE, AS, AR, and AE configuration.  Despite some who think the war shall be won quickly, Adm. Yamamoto Isoroku has seen this to be a pressing need to help later in the war.[/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]2.  Fighter Research      A great amount of fighter research has been shifted on more promising designs:  Tony, Jack, Tojo, and A6M3a are the chief beneficiaries of the change.  Just a few months earlier with any of these designs can only help…[/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]3.  A number of lesser aircraft designs have been discontinued and others expanded.[/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]4.  Naval Construction  The CV Shinano has been stopped, CVs Junyo, Hiyo, and Shoho have been accelerated, and 2 of the new ‘Moon’ class of DDs have also been accelerated.[/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]5.  Naval Expansion      Naval Yards are being expanded in a gradual manner as well as Ship Repair facilities.[/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]I do believe that is everything.[/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]Questions???       [/font]

[castor troy]

John,

hope you didn´t convert too many AKs into AEs. What are you planning to do with them? I always found them completely useless!

[IS2m]

Good AAR, I will be reading this one with interest.