Hirohito's Honor

[PaxMondo]

Re: feedback on the Intel data assessments - You are correct in your overall assessment of their usefulness, but you can find some gems if you know what they look like.

Well, we agree that overall it isn't much. As for gems ... that may be a bit of a stretch ...

Coastwatcher reports of x# of ships are likely baloney, submitted so that their handler will tell them where he hid a bottle of sake near their base. But if the details are more like the class of ship or especially its name, there is a good chance that is accurate. Or if the same report of a number of ships is repeated several days in a row, it is likely to be mean there are some ships there.

Name of a ship? I think in the 10,000's of turns that I have run I have seen that once? Maybe.

Class of a ship? Ok, yes, not every game, but yes this I have seen.

Yes, persistent report of "ships" at a port does likely mean that there is something there. Kayaks, surf boards, canoes, and Hobie cats are commonly counted as DD's ... Joking aside, yes, but the what is always the debate. You almost have to know what was in the area to know what might be there. For example HK: the ports nearby, no matter what they say, (and as you can see above, they are saying a lot) they are likely MTB's ... everything ocean going is trying for Batavia ....

On SIGINT, if a radio intercept shows a location in a sea hex it could be a sub. I look for corroboration in the Ops report from a patrol aircraft or recon of a land hex. To me, it seems like SIGINT comes from new orders being given to enemy units, necessitating some exchange of messages so credibility is whether it fits with a likely deployment/routing change by the enemy. And a final piece of fleeting corroboration - sometimes during the turn execution the game will briefly show a sighting of an enemy ship or TF on screen but not show it afterwards because the DL is too low. Some players watch for these and pause the turn execution while they write down the location and type of vessel.

Sigint is truly something that does exist, and very much how you describe above. it can be very useful in determining intents ... but at the same time, the margin of error is huge due to all the "inference" that you have to make. I use it much like you describe above ... try to correlate spotting and these intercepts.

Caveat: against the AI, this is much less relevant because the AI can/does form TF's without notice and form them with ANY ships from ANY location.

And of course it is important to get searchers trained to get more accurate Intel reports. Recon squadrons send only two aircraft to their assigned hex per turn - one morning and one afternoon. If they have additional aircraft they should be training in Recon or, if pilots or airframe are getting fatigued, assigned to rest. Any unassigned pilots will be wasting time on standby - not getting trained and not getting rested.

Recon/NavSearch: This is the IJ bread and butter and you have to work these two very hard.

Recon: As you can see from the ops reports, I'm already heavily invested here and it will stay that way. Again, somewhat limited by your Babs production at start, but your inventories of recon planes is actually pretty good. I hate using the early Dinah's (2E, so twice as expensive to operate), eventually I'm forced to. I work hard to get the Dinah III ... best recon in the game for either side IMO. And in this mod, it upgrades and gets better ...

I have extensive pilot training programs and this is one category where I expect to lose a lot of pilots ... I fly them routinely into hazardous areas knowingly because I need to know what is there and I am perfectly prepared to lose some planes/pilots to do so.

Search aircraft are a bit more tricky because search can always be done. Once there is a decent amount of search on expected enemy vectors, some pilots could be assigned to training. Trouble is, I think the distance set for search also gets applied to training so aircraft fatigue has to be monitored closely. And if weather is Thunderstorms or Severe Storms at home base, the whole airfield is closed to avoid ops losses. That includes transfers in or out.

NavSearch: At the start, like this game, you just don't have much. Pete/Dave range of 4 is what you have. Jakes have to go to ships initially, the KB needs eyes as a priority. So, you are some months before you really start to have enough Jakes/Mavis to be able to cover your sea lanes appropriately. To me, this is the NUMBER 1 reason why Manila strike on Day 1 is the most important.

As with recon, I have extensive pilot training programs and this is another category where I expect to lose a lot of pilots ... I fly them routinely into hazardous areas knowingly because I need to know what is there and I am perfectly prepared to lose some planes/pilots to do so.

[PaxMondo]

Maintenance, repair, upgrades, and conversions ... all of these require SY's of some sort and this has been a focus of this mod.

Those of you who have read "The little Ship that Could" by Herb will be best prepared for what follows. Herb 's background is as a stoker, a member of the black gang. He brought that first hand experience to his AAR. Further, Herb is a model builder, he built a 1/72 Yamato from scratch. To build the model, he did extensive research into the IJN and specifically the engineering plants that they used. I also dug into the engineering aspects of the IJN. If you want a treat, read this:

USNTMJ-200H-0416-0521 Report S-01-12 Kampon boilers.pdf

(9.6 MiB) Downloaded 6 times

Besides the boilers, it also covers a great deal of the engineering spaces in the IJN.

The summary is this: the Kampon boilers were a low pressure boiler design. Likely driven by the steel quality that the zaibatsu would provide. These were based upon a British design. The boilers themselves were a decent design, their power generation for the pressures ran at were fine. The issue was that they lacked many of the maintenance convenience items found on USN boilers and to some extent on British boilers. This meant that in-service maintenance was more difficult, often not done as often as it might, thus refits at yards were both more frequent and more extensive. How often would have been dictated by sea hours logged on the boilers. Historically as it turns out, this was moot for most of the IJN as they simply ended up as fishing reefs before they needed their first refit. In the stock scenarios, the allied maintenance schedule is built into the arrival and departure of the ships throughout the timeframe. The IJ has NONE of this.

This mod adds the maintenance of the IJN into the equations. First, some horrible (but necessary) assumptions:
1. refit for all ships on an annual basis. This is simply an aggregate estimate, some might argue 9 months others 18 months, I chose 12 months for this mod.
2. to "incentivize" these refits, they contain upgrades. Most upgrades are to AA and radar. At least one, and not more than 2 upgrades include new boilers/fireboxes representing a pressure increase in the boiler system.
3. This pressure increase allows for the engineering systems to be re-adjusted to suit the needs of the ship. For the same size, higher pressures means more power and higher efficiency of the engine systems. So:

• keep the size and use the power for more speed

• allow the boiler to shrink to hold speed which means more room for other items like fuel storage (range), ammo, other stores.

• higher pressures means higher efficiency of the engine systems, so there will be a range increase in almost all cases.

There are some limitations put on these. Almost all of this is handled out-board of the game engine.
1. Conquest, control, repair, and operation of acquired assets must be attained before upgrades can be done. For example, most of the 3/42 and later upgrades require that the PI and Sian or DEI areas be controlled with those resources repaired and flowing.
2. The DUR of the RSY MUST exceed that of the ship. Meaning that Yamato cannot be refit until an RSY is at least 232. At game start, the largest ship that can refit is the Shokaku, anything larger cannot.
3. The total amount of shipping that can be in refit at a port in limited to sum of shipping tonnage to be less than the TOTAL SY (TSY = NSY+MSY+RSY) *1000. Thus Nagasaki can handle TSY = 400 + 233 + 90 = 723,000 tons of shipping max, while Okayama can only handle 345,000 maximum. It may at first appear that this may not be of any impact, but please remember that the IJN has 400,000 tons of BB at war start and another 400,000 of xAK Aden, that 800,000 tons of shipping right there ... and yes, ALL of these ships have to refit ... annually. So, there needs to be planning about when they go into refit and where ....
4. Most of these refits are ~30days, but the big ones replacing boilers, those tend to be +60 days.
5. There are a lot of conversions available in the game and again ... 60 - 180 days is not uncommon.
6. Yes, there is a 1942 refit because the Army junta did not plan on putting all of the IJN into refit prior to the war, in fact, from the TROM of most of the ships, they were already PAST DUE for refit at the war start.

Obviously, there is a war going on. In the early going, IJ is on the offensive, she cannot afford to put her entire navy into port (assuming the size is there), so the planning/scheduling of these refits is both crucial and challenging. To add some incentive for the first refit, and only a partial refit at that, early radar is included in it.

[PaxMondo]

Radar,

We've discussed this already to some extent. Japan had the tech, in fact, a key part of it (the cavitron or cavity magnetron) was invented (ok, maybe a bit strong, but a major advancement was made) in Japan in the mid-30's. The IJA had no interest in it ... the IJN though ...

So, the early IJ radar is much less capable as compared to the US and even the British models both in range and % identification. It will progress in 4 or 5 steps until the final version which will not quite meet the capability of the US models. To accomplish this, two things have to happen, one of which is written into the scenario, the other is up to the player.

The first is that the Emperor will appeal to the people of Japan to support the war effort, and one part of that will be the limits on personal radios. The parts are needed for the war effort. Public radios will be maintained in public areas for both news and entertainment.

The second, again as before, requires certain base goals to be attained. Rare earth minerals are the requirements here along with gold and silver.

Radar Guided/Aimed Guns
At this time, the mod does NOT allow for radar guided guns for the IJ. That is something that I am still researching and debating about.

(If I decide to move forward, this would take a long time to implement. AFAIK, the USN radar guided is hard coded. That being the case, I would need to do a lot of testing to back out how much the devs thought it should add to the Hit%, and then translate that to the accuracy field in the device, and then use some percentage of that for the IJ ...IOW a fairly LARGE project.)

[PaxMondo]

17Dec41 Colonel Kotani Etsuo, Intel Assessment Director - Cont'd: S. China

Things haven't changed much in the last week.

411217 S China.jpg (318.25 KiB) Viewed 161 times

First, Hong Kong remains the key objective. Still showing +13,000 troops, +10,000 guns. Still no idea what is there, but it's a LOT. Daily raids from Canton are keeping the airport closed. Still some small craft present, but everything else is either sunk or fled. 52nd Div has unloaded and will begin marching to HK in a couple of days to join 38th and 104th Divs already there. 2nd div should arrive in Canton tomorrow, 7th div a day behind that, and the fiasco of TF118 has already been reviewed. Still to load is 18th Div. 9 div's total ... will it be enough?

2nd major focus is clearing the LOS from Hankow NE through Sinyang -> Chengchow -> Anyang and then on to Fusan. Progress is slow. 34th Div supported by 4 Bde/Rgmt are working their way slowing north under LGen Anami of the 11th Army Corps. Delays are happening as he tries to avoid river crossings to conserve his troops. While there is some concern about these delays, he's committed to being clear in time for the Chengchow attack, thus conserving his troops is warranted as long as he meets that timetable.

Foochow/Tsinkiang/Amoy - the focus here is to hold Amoy at all costs and the bases to the west towards Canton (Swatow, Chaochow). Several CHI div's have already occupied Foochow. We are preparing to depart Tsinkiang and hold the line at Amoy until we have troops free from HK to repulse the attacks. The reason to hold the South cost in its entirety is to prevent supply leakage inland to the CHI forces. Inevitably some will always leak, but without a port the leakage is severely diminished.

Everywhere else is just holding the line, not allowing the CHI forces to rest or gather. GAR forces in the area are still building up, but they are mostly in place.

[PaxMondo]

17Dec41 Colonel Kotani Etsuo, Intel Assessment Director - Cont'd: N. China

North China, a fiasco of epic proportions. Timetable? So far off, may as well forget it. Why? Simple, they were ready, far more than even the most pessimistic view except one ... Eichi-san called it, but no one of the prior regime had wanted to hear it.

411217 N China1.jpg (402.63 KiB) Viewed 151 times

All 3 axis of attack are now visible, if only at their very beginnings. Enemy positions are all spotted and enemy strengths are estimated via recon.

Langchow/Urumchi: Working to clear the LOS from Pieping -> Kweisui. Currently have a CHI unit blocking the RR ... 26th Div is moving to push it aside. Building up airfield at Kweisui to support ops in the North.

Sian: Troops are massing at Tsingtsing. 1st Army, LGen Iwamatsu commanding, is assembled there supported by 20th and 11th Divs. Also a number of Bde's and Garrison units as each base will need to be garrisoned due to all the CHI troops to the north.

Chengchow: Assembling at Kaoping, this is the main thrust to clear our LOS Fusan -> Singapore and take CK. Kaoping AF is being expanded to support operations. Units are disembarking trains and moving to assembly areas. First target, Tsiaotso, shows 2 units, +10,000 troops. Loyang has 10 units, +65,000 troops. NCPC Army, Gen Wang commanding, leads the Tsiaotso attack.

[PaxMondo]

Re-reading "The Little Ship that Could"


For those who want to know how to coordinate air attacks, from Master Herbie himself:

"I want to step out of the story here, and comment on the game.
I rarely, very rarely have any co ordination issues, or bombers arrive before fighters, or unescorted strikes.

This is how I do it.

1/ I spend vast amounts of PP on making sure that squadrons are assigned to air HQ's in range
2/ I try to never, ever overstack a field
3/ for a big day like todays effort:
I first stand down every group in the game
Then, in the order I want planes to fly, I issue the orders, ie Ogowas' eagles to sweep, then the bombers , I select a bomber group, select its fighter group, always from the same field. I always start closest to the target, working out in range.

If groups are over 10 fatigue, they are not selected!

If groups are under 80 moral, they are not selected!


This, I confidently say, after 4 years of war, works."

https://forums.matrixgames.com/viewtopi ... 5#p3477665
.

[PaxMondo]

17Dec41 His Majesty the Emperor Hirohito - Tokyo Palace

My subjects, today I come down to you to inform you of a great number of difficult realities that the divine kingdom must unite against.

As you are aware, the previous government, against my wishes, has entered us into a war with the allies of America and Europe. It is a war that will test us to our very core, a war in which Bushido in its original pure form is our only hope. It is a war that will require each and every subject of this great kingdom to contribute that which is required. If we do, if we are able to resurrect our true Bushido, then I am confident of the outcome for our great people.

As previously reported, I have met with and accepted his return to command of Torreno Abe in the new rank of General. General Abe has pledged to recruit and train the pilots that we will need for this war. In the past, there was some whisper of Abe's fidelity. How one of the greatest recent heroes of our nation fell victim to this has been addressed; now let me now cast all of those remaining whispers aside. Torreno Abe is the very definition of Bushido; his loyalty is to his subjects first as it should be, and to the nation second. Many have forgotten the second part of the oath of feudality; the receiver promises to provide and protect. Too many use the oaths to promote themselves; hopefully this error is something that I have been able to recently correct.

As of today, a number of industries are now nationalized. These include all oil and oil products, electronics and radios, and all vehicles. All current inventories are now federalized. I know that this will create some burdens upon you, but in each case they are very necessary. More specific details will follow, but here are my reasons for this.

Oil and Oil supplies: simply put, we need all of this for our war effort. Public transportation will be funded at 1941 levels, but private needs will be severely constricted. Vehicles in a similar manner, all private vehicle sales are now cancelled. Commercial vehicle sales to support production efforts will be reviewed for approval. Our troops require vehicles to supply themselves. Finally, radios are desperately needed throughout our armed forces. "Public" radios will be supplied to neighborhood gathering places that submit an application.

In light of the oil policy, I will inform you now that there will NO shortage of residential coal this winter, nor in any winter while this conflict is with us. How can I promise this? I know that none of your husbands and sons would be willing to be warm knowing their families are not; thus I can tell you that in this you will be prioritized above all others.

Finally, I wish to state that I have supreme confidence in my War Council and the current government. I have taken measures to date to ensure that they are respected and their direction followed; and I will continue to take measures in this regard until all are united in our efforts.

Thank you.