Well, China is done. Lots of shuffling to free up some divisions for offensive ops. It'll take a while though. At any rate, the wife and I are out to a nice seafood restaurant. Celebration for the job.
Today my boss asked me if I'd like to go to Afghanistan. He said it may not be a request later. Ah well, such is life. I told him to throw in a promotion with the request. [:D] I need to tell my wife about the request. She ain't gonna be happy. [:(] Maybe I'll wait until after dinner. If I do go, I'm getting a laptop.
Actually, it was nice in a weird sort of way. I was asked for my name.
Invasions tomorrow.
Well, that's one hell of a job you got! Good luck to you and stay safe. (From the wife I mean) [:D][:D]
Actually, it was nice in a weird sort of way. I was asked for my name.
Always nice to have the respect of your peers. congrats on the offer, condolences on the location. been there a long time ago, can't imagine it has changed any. it was still circa 1900's when I was there ...
I have a very close friend there. He works for the Hush hush inspecting construction on sensitive sites. If you want a no bullshit assessment of the situation, I will hook you up via email with him. He's not scheduled back till May.
ps mike if you want me check with him and provide you an email drop me a pm.
The ships that don’t begin with DC racks will probably sit in port a lot. There’s no real reason to use them. Their main threat will come from subs. The others will be assigned duties mainly based on their endurance and speed. These ships will primarily escort merchant shipping.
KB (not sure where it’ll be based)
There will eventually be KB 1, KB 2 and Mini KB (MKB). Each will have more or less constant companions. Initially, they’ll form from a growing pool of ships:
4x Kongos
Tone & Chikuma
Tatsuta & Tenryu (after they upgrade to CLAAs)
Abukuma
10x Shiratsuyu
6x Hatsuharu
All Yugumos
All Akitsukis
The DDs assigned to KB are there for a reason. The Shiratsuyus and Hatsuharus have an endurance of 6000 and the Yugumos, 5000. The Akitsukis have 8000+ (can’t remember exactly) and are AA/ASW platforms. Once I get enough built, the Yugumos will accompany MKB and the longer ranged DDs will accompany KB.
Battle Fleet (based at Davao)
All BBs (minus the Kongos)
4x Atagos
4x Mogamis
Kitakami & Oi
Jintsu
6x Asashio
10x Kagero
6x Fleet subs
2x Glen subs
This force is designed to augment the fleets based around the map as needed. The subs assigned to the Battle Fleet will accompany them to pick off cripples and/or scout ahead of the fleet.
These guys are to keep tabs on the RN in the Bay of Bengal. An occasional foray along the Bengal/Indian coast isn’t out of the question, dependent on Allied air power, of course. They are destined to get 2x Glen subs eventually.
3 Fleet (based at Truk)
4x Aoba
Ashigara
Nagara & Kuma
Sendai
19x Fubuki (I & II)
8x Fleet subs
2x Glen subs
9x RO class subs
These guys are the main force for SE Fleet. The RO class subs will be based out of Rabaul/Pt. Moresby and will foray south of those bases. The fleet/Glen subs will look for prey and keep tabs around the Allied SLOCs at New Zealand and the Tahiti areas.
The main body of 3 Fleet will most likely be augmented by a slice of the Battle Fleet most of the time. There will probably be a part (or all) of KB assigned here as well.
4 Fleet (based at Kwajalein)
7x Glen subs
5x Fleet subs (midget carrying)
The midget carrying subs will send their packages far and wide to harass Ted and maybe get a hit or two. The idea is to force Ted to use valuable ASW assets to protect his bases instead of going after my subs.
Most of the sub reinforcements will be assigned here. There will be 1-2 subs assigned off the US west coast to get lucky once in a while. There will also be 2-3 subs in the sea lane between Pearl and the west coast. Other subs will be sent on recon missions to various bases in the central Pacific to keep tabs on them. Obviously, there aren’t enough subs here.
5 Fleet (based at Ominato)
Kiso & Tama
13x Minekaze
6x Fleet subs
This force is mainly escort for my excursions in the Aleutians. The subs are to keep tabs on Ted up there as well as take the occasional pot shot at the odd ship Ted sends there. They are first priority to get reinforcement Glen subs. My intent is to have 3 sub divisions, each with 2 fleet subs and a Glen sub. 1-2 divisions will be deployed while the third rests.
Fleet Oilers
Fast Oilers
7x Fast AO
Yubari
12x Mutsuki
Slow Oilers
10x Slow AO
Natori
9x Kamikaze
The fast oilers are pretty much dedicated to KB. The slow oilers will work with the other fleets (or KB) as needed and may carry oil or fuel to the Home Islands during lulls.
Other ships
4x minelaying subs: These guys will be assigned at various places to place their goodies at Allied ports of call on occasion. I estimate that once the pool is burned through, they’ll average 1 placement a month. Not a lot, but they have been pretty successful in the past.
CS: I’m sure how I will employ them after the first few months of the war. They’ll probably be allocated as needed to various fleets. Their ultimate fate is to become CVLs.
My intent is to upgrade DDs as soon as they can. The 9x Fubuki I will all be in port by 31 Dec 41, the 12x Mutsuki by 31 Jan 42 and the 4x Tomozuru by 29 Feb 42 for upgrades. That’s 25 valuable escorts that are basically worthless until they get their DC upgrades.
The other ships will upgrade as the situation allows, but I’ll upgrade as soon as possible if I can. The other exceptions are the Tatsuta and Tenryu. They will get their CLAA upgrade as soon as they are eligible.
Off to work the turn….
I'm done with the air. Was working on the invasion fleets a bit as well. I'm going with the delayed Mersing gambit. I'm going to send in an infantry regiment, a tank regiment and a couple of support units at Kuantan early on. The rest will accumulate and land at Mersing. The goal is to cut the peninsula and prevent the withdrawal to Singapore. I'll land around 10 Dec give or take. The concern is Force Z. If they head NE, there could be trouble, but I suspect Ted will flee with them toward Java. That's his typical move. He won't expect Kaga reinforcing MKB though. If I can find Force Z with the carriers, he's dead meat. Should be an interesting opening for me. [:D]
I will take Miri and Singkawang early. Then I'll push to Tobali to establish an airfield that can keep fighters over Batavia and Palembang. Most of my extra construction units will get pushed to Tobali early to get the airfield up and running.
I haven't done much in the Philippines but my main landing will be at Lingayan. I'm also attempting an air drop at Cabanatuan with the Yokosuka 1 SNLF. After that, I'll push supply and some air support there to establish some Nates and Zeros in the center of the island. Lingayan will be my main bomber field until I can take Clark. In the south of the Philippines, I'm forgoing the landing at Legaspi to send the 16 Div and the stuff from Babeldaob to Batangas. This will cut a PA division off from Manila. Hopefully, a division + will be cut off in the north of the Philippines as well. I'll push on Clark and try to cut off the troops in Manila from the rest of the army. Divide and conquer.
Elsewhere, the 144 regiment is heading directly to Truk and then Rabaul. I'll have enough PPs to get the Gds Bde in 4 days, which will also head to Truk by fast xAP. 10 days later, the 90 regiment leaves Manchuoko for Truk as well, also by fast xAP. Those 3 units will take Rabaul and Pt. Moresby in short order.
I'm assigning a Naval Guard to the bolster the SNLF in the Wake invasion force. They'll wait for 4 CAs and KB to arrive at Wake to take it. Then KB will replenish at Truk and head south to support the Rabaul/Pt. Moresby invasions.
I should finish the invasion fleets tomorrow and work through most of the warship movements.
I'm done with the air. Was working on the invasion fleets a bit as well. I'm going with the delayed Mersing gambit. I'm going to send in an infantry regiment, a tank regiment and a couple of support units at Kuantan early on. The rest will accumulate and land at Mersing. The goal is to cut the peninsula and prevent the withdrawal to Singapore. I'll land around 10 Dec give or take. ...
Be watching this with interest. It works (too well) against the AI, so I don't use it. Curious to see how it works in PBEM. I'm always worried that the opponent might sniff this out. If he moves any forces into Mersing in advance of your landing .... but maybe he can't get anything there fast enough? Never really looked at the allied OOB there in detail.
Since you are doing a great job in laying out everything, what are your plans for all your Air HQs?? The one at Saigon goes to Malaya and the other one in IndoChina goes to Singkawang (need the command range here), IMO. Fast transports and/or FT TF is the best option.
In the SRA one being placed at Koepang closes off Darwin from the west. I like to capture Denpasar off the SE tip of Java to isolate the island. My second Air HQ to close off the eastern end of the SRA goes initially on Ceram (Ambon or Boela). But if you want to get a little more aggressive, then either Dobo or Taberfane work well.
One more important item to direct and plan there, Mr OCD [:D], is your Ind Eng Rgt. As anyone who has played Japan after the Allies, is the lack of enough engineers to expand bases. After the Gds Bde and 90th Rgt, I would be buying these guys out. I try to get around 150 engineers (engineers plus vehicles) at important bases.
Can you imagine the number of ejections and personal foul calls if the IJA and IJN had played a football game? Or the number of bench clearings if they played a baseball game? [:D]
Since you are doing a great job in laying out everything, what are your plans for all your Air HQs?? The one at Saigon goes to Malaya and the other one in IndoChina goes to Singkawang (need the command range here), IMO. Fast transports and/or FT TF is the best option.
In the SRA one being placed at Koepang closes off Darwin from the west. I like to capture Denpasar off the SE tip of Java to isolate the island. My second Air HQ to close off the eastern end of the SRA goes initially on Ceram (Ambon or Boela). But if you want to get a little more aggressive, then either Dobo or Taberfane work well.
One more important item to direct and plan there, Mr OCD [:D], is your Ind Eng Rgt. As anyone who has played Japan after the Allies, is the lack of enough engineers to expand bases. After the Gds Bde and 90th Rgt, I would be buying these guys out. I try to get around 150 engineers (engineers plus vehicles) at important bases.
Let's see, air HQ:
3 AD: Malaya
22 AF: Singkawang - eventually Pt. Blair.
5 AD: Philippines - eventually the southern SRA.
21 AF: Kendari initially then Koepang.
23 AF: Ambon maybe. Not sure yet. It'll eventually end up in Rabaul.
11 AF: This is the important one. I haven't decided on where it should go.
I like Denpasar. Put a Zero daitai there and that would tear through the Dutch air force. Never thought of that before.
Engineers. Yeah, I pull them from Manchuoko as often as I can. 150 eh? Sounds like a nice round number. [:D] You're right. You never have enough of them.
Heh, I just realized that I was babbling in the wrong AAR. [:D] Anyway, this is the correct one. Sheesh, I need some sleep. Anyway, Ted has the turn and I expect to get it by morning. I'll begin posting as soon as I run the first turn. I hope I didn't make any serious errors. I know there have to be some but as long as they aren't serious I'll be happy. Both times I tested the turn, a Dutch sub sank an xAK bound for the Malayan coast. If I can isolate most of the CW army in Malaya from Singapore, it's worth it. I'll be landing most of 2 divisions (5 & 18) at Mersing along with a bunch of support units on 8 or 9 Dec. All that will be against an Aussie bde. I expect to trash it taking Mersing and then trash the second Aussie bde cutting the Malay peninsula. Once I move into Singapore (assuming I'm successful), I don't expect to be opposed by more than 400 AV.
Mike, what is the reason for sending CVL Ryujo to Takao? You could have sent it to Cam Ranh Bay and upgraded on 8 December and then it would be with CV Kaga. The Command HQ - Southern Army HQ - is well within range and reduces the airfield requirement.
I think that the two obligations you have are to be good at what you do and then to pass on your knowledge to a younger person
Mike, what is the reason for sending CVL Ryujo to Takao? You could have sent it to Cam Ranh Bay and upgraded on 8 December and then it would be with CV Kaga. The Command HQ - Southern Army HQ - is well within range and reduces the airfield requirement.
No clue, Dan. I wasn't thinking and did this early on. Never changed it. My mistake. Actually, it'll work out. Those Zeros will have a chance to have their damage repaired while the Ryujo steams toward Malaya (yeah, that's what I'll tell myself). [:D]