How to not wage war: Japanese example (No Fallschirmjager)

[Puhis]

So, suddenly I found out playing another PBEM game as Imperial commander. Apparently one game is not enough.

Anyway, this is my first AAR, and I’ll bet it’s going to be good example how to not wage a war… [:D]

Scenario 1:
1 day turns
Historical 1st turn
PDU: off
Advanced weather: off (sick of never-ending storms…)
Usual other options.

House rules:
· Army 4E bombers can’t fly naval attack missions below 10000 ft
· Max altitude of fighters 25000 ft
· No strategic bombing in China
· Player must pay PPs to move restricted units out of Manchuria, China, India etc.
· No night airfield/port bombing if moonlight is less that 50 %
· No super-CAP carriers by replacing bombers with fighters
· No para fragments etc.


PDU off is interesting. Basicly Japanese player must produce every army fighter models, it's not Tojos everywhere. Most of army bomber sentais flying Ki-51 Sonias will keep flying those obsolete planes no matter what. Apparently close support planes were much more useful IRL than in this game, when there's only one ground bombing per day.

Well at least it's easy to decide which squadrons are set to training.

[Puhis]

Dec 07, 41

PEARL HARBOR:
According to reports, all battleships are badly damaged. Carrier striking force is heading home, unless US carriers show up somewhere…

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Pearl Harbor , at 180,107

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 160 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 53 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 68
B5N2 Kate x 144
D3A1 Val x 126

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 damaged
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed by flak
B5N2 Kate: 9 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 2 destroyed by flak
D3A1 Val: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed on ground
P-40B Warhawk: 13 destroyed on ground
B-17D Fortress: 2 destroyed on ground
B-18A Bolo: 4 destroyed on ground
SBD-1 Dauntless: 6 destroyed on ground
PBY-5 Catalina: 18 destroyed on ground
O-47A: 2 destroyed on ground
P-36A Mohawk: 3 destroyed on ground
A-20A Havoc: 5 destroyed on ground
R3D-2: 1 destroyed on ground
F4F-3 Wildcat: 2 destroyed on ground

Allied Ships
BB California, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
BB Nevada, Bomb hits 6, Torpedo hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
BB Oklahoma, Bomb hits 10, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
BB Tennessee, Bomb hits 11, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA San Francisco, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
DM Tracy, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
BB West Virginia, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
BB Pennsylvania, Bomb hits 15, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
BB Maryland, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
BB Arizona, Bomb hits 12, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires
DM Sicard, Bomb hits 1
AV Wright, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AV Curtiss, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CA New Orleans, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CM Oglala, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
xAKL Hirondelle
CL Honolulu, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
PT-26, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
CL Helena, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
AR Vestal, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DM Preble, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
PT-20, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
DM Gamble, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
SS Cachalot, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
DD Reid, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
DD Ralph Talbot, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Monaghan, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CL Phoenix, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
AVD Thornton, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Mugford, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Raleigh, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
SS Dolphin, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage
CL Detroit, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DM Breese, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Cummings, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Selfridge, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Allied ground losses:
13 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Repair Shipyard hits 1
Manpower hits 5
Fires 3063
Airbase hits 47
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 218


FORCE Z:
Was spotted NE of Singapore, and G3M2s and G4M1s from Saigon were ready!
BB Prince of Wales took only 2 torpedo hits, and BC Repulse 6 torpedo hits. However, according to reports damage were not severe. Presumably both ships survived.

Buffalos and heavy flak protected capital ships well; Buffalos shot down 6 G3Ms and 7 G4Ms. Intensive accurate flak cost us 13 planes, 5 G3Ms and 8 G4Ms. G4Ms withdrawn from combat.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Mersing at 52,82

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 74 NM, estimated altitude 28,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 29 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 18

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 2 destroyed, 13 damaged
G3M2 Nell: 2 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales, Torpedo hits 2
BC Repulse, Torpedo hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x G3M2 Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
5 x G3M2 Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Mersing at 52,82

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 114 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 40 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 27

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed, 16 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 3 destroyed by flak

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

Aircraft Attacking:
20 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Mersing at 52,82

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 18 NM, estimated altitude 25,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 3

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 2 destroyed


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Mersing at 52,82

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 69 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 24 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 12

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 3 destroyed, 9 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
BC Repulse, Torpedo hits 4

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo


PHILIPPINES
Perfect surprise, hardly any enemy fighter were flying. Bombing results were not that good, only a few fighters were destroyed on ground. Apparently B-17s survided.

Batan island captured, first zeros arrived.


Air losses today:

[d0mbo]

Good luck! Show those infidel imperialists!

[Puhis]

Future objectives:

MALAYA:
Obviously Singapore ASAP. 2 regiments and combat engineers are now planning Mersing invasion.


BURMA
All 15th Army units, supported by a tank regiment and C regiment of Imperial Guards division, are moving towards Burma. Their order is not to rest before Mandalay is ours.


PHILIPPINES
1st objective is Clark field. Vigan and Aparri invasions are taking place in a 2 days, and Lingayen invasion 2-3 days later. As soon as adequate transport ships are ready, 21st division from Shanghai is shipped to Luzon.

Other objectives are Davao, Dadjangas and Jolo.

IJN cruisers supported by CVL Ryujo are setting course to Celebes sea.


SOUTH PACIFIC/MARSHALLS
Tarawa and Wake invasions are postponed, because US carriers might be nearby.

4th division is now planning Port Moresby and Tulagi invasions.


CHINA-plan:
1) Secure current positions, and push back Chinese units. Many IJA divisions and brigades
need combat experience.
2) Capture and secure rail lines in Central China.
3) Longer term objective is Sian. Army must release units by destroying Chinese troops in Southerns China. Also major troop reorganization is needed to release divisions from garrison duty.


PILOT TRAINING
War time pilot training is starting immediately. Skilled bomber and fighter pilots from Home Islands and Manchuria are set to pilot reserve, because those areas there's no immediate threats.