Islands of Destiny: RA 5.0 Japanese Side

[John 3rd]

May 5, 1945

Two meetings occur for two very different purposes:

Army Ministry
General Tojo Hidecki meets with freshly appointed commanders of three units that are new or rebuilding within Tokyo. Major Kawashima commands the veteran 1st Tank Regiment (with about 40 Tanks), Lt Colonel Ishimari has assumed command of the new 112th Ind Mixed Brigade (50% Strength), and Colonel Tsukamoto has the 80th Ind Mixed Brigade (65% Strength). Though many other units are present in the area, nearly two dozen are entraining and moving towards possible invasion beaches to the west and south. Tojo knows these young men--all supremely confident, bold, and daring--can do their assignments. The day of action is set for May 10th.

After closing and locking the chambers, this secret meeting lasts nearly 3 hours. At its close, three Banzai cries fill the corridors and the men depart. They are flushed, excited and honored for this assignment.

They don't notice the pairs of binoculars watching them as they depart the building. Phones are raised to lips and code words are spoken...

Naval Ministry
A far different meeting occurs at the Naval Ministry. Naval Minister Yamamoto Isoroku finishes reading the casualty list from Battlecruiser Kongo's loss the previous day. So many men lost. So many thousands over the previous three-and-a-half years. For what purpose? For what good? The end is here. He councelled against this but still performed his duty to best of his ability. Now but one over-arching duty remains...

The doors opens to reveal five men. All are tired, careworn men that Yamamoto has known for years and--one--for decades. They are loyal to him, the Kaigun, and--most of all--Japan. Vice Admiral Tanaka Raizo is the boldest and winningest Admiral in the Surface Navy. Just days ago warships under his command sank an American Battlecruiser, several Light Cruisers, and American DDs. As all of them have, he has aged. Behind him comes the four Heavy Cruisers commanders who have brought their warships and crews to Tokyo Bay. All are veteran Captains that have protected carriers, escorted convoys, and fought against everything the enemy has thrown at them. They have survived. Their crews have survived. We have Captains Komura (Chikuma), Ijuin (Atago), Tanaka (Kumano), and Nabeshima (Maya). These Fighting Men are joined by Yamamoto's Chief-of-Staff and several SNLF Marine Commanders.

A toast is drank in honor of the Emperor and another for Japan. Taking a very deep breath Adm. Yamamoto begins speaking and the meeting last for several hours. There are no BANZAIs, no excitement, just stoic faces giving away nothing. The Captains leave the Ministry and head directly for there ships.

Satisfied that all that can be done has been, Yamamoto raises the phone and requests an audience with Emperor Hirohito and the day after tomorrow...May 9th.

[Lowpe]

Nicely done.[&o]

I hope all aspiring JFB's look at those Japanese fighter losses..as that is what it takes to remain competitive in the air.

3,000 losses of each Frank A and Frank B
3,000 losses of Sam and J -- a must have plane, the Sam not so much the J.
1,000 losses of first generation George
2,000 losses of the 2nd generation George

That is the kind of attritional air war needed to bleed the superior Allied frames down.

Frank R would have helped some at higher altitudes, and a Shinden or Karyu or Ki94 or Ki83 would have too, but it is the George (or Jack), Sam and Frank that really carry the burden.

Build them early and deep! I would add that John seemed to neglect fighter bombers, and Grace, and a dedicated Army kamikaze....the fighter bombers especially would have helped to slow down the strategic victory point loss-- which I need to point out that John did amazingly well, given that the Allies were in Luzon early.

[John 3rd]

Thanks Lowpe. Really appreciate it Sensei.

As said throughout the last six months or so of real time, the end of the game is something beyond my imagination. Soooooo much has been learned and internalized for 'next time' that I cannot even begin to describe it. My advice for all JFB is that you truly do not know this magnificent creation until you GO ALL THE WAY. It truly provides a far different perspective and makes for a completely different point-of-view for the beginning and middle of the war.

LOTS of things I would change. Those reveals will be done in my NEXT match. Well...maybe we'll hit some of those if Dan and I agree to a joint wind-down Thread talking about the match.

What do you think of that idea?

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd
What do you think of that idea?

BANZAI!!! BANZAI!!! BANZAI!!!

Erm...that's a fine idea, John. Look forward to a calm and rationale discussion and cross-thread pollination. [:)]

[JohnDillworth]

In a very ominous development, for the 1st time, Japan runs dry on its front-line fighters pools. That it has taken this long is testament to to the aircraft building industry but just shows we are getting right down to it gang...

Well that is due to your persistence in bringing oil back from the DEI and your opponents ignorance or indifference. I'm dying to ask him if he know what you were doing. You did a great job managing the late war economy considering you have never been here before. I'm sure you will make some early adjustments during your next match but you are to be commended for getting to the end with competitive fighter aircraft.

[John 3rd]

Agree with your points John. Appreciate the thoughts and comments.

Forgot to provide the following info:

May 5, 1945
VP Score

Japan 77,338 +136
Allies 153,699 +796

[Chickenboy]

977 points away (assuming you don't score any more). At a current net gain of 660 points per turn, we have the following estimates:

May 6:

Japan: 77,474
Allies: 154,495
Ratio: 1.9942

May 7:

Japan: 77,610
Allies: 155,291
Ratio: 2.0009

You can stem the tide for an additional day (to May 8) by getting 36 additional VPs or, of course, by limiting your opponent's daily VP haul by 18 VPs.

Chickenboy Maru.

[Chickenboy]

In reviewing stated dates, I realize there has been some duplication. CharlieVane also put in a bit for May 8-discovered only recently by my review. If he wishes, I'll cede May 8th and substitute May 7th instead. [:D]

Hortland picked May 3, so after tomorrow he loses the middle ground for a tie. There are other bets for May 11-13, but they're all smoking crack. [:'(]

[jwolf]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

There are other bets for May 11-13, but they're all smoking crack. [:'(]

Well, I picked May 11. No crack over here. [:D]

Q: Dan's score for May 5 in his AAR shows different numbers. This reflects FOW on losses? But then I wonder what are the "official" figures for determining the victory?

[John 3rd]

ERROR in score posting. I wrote with Japan in the 77,000 range when actually it is 79,000.

May 6, 1945
Japan 79,438 +100
Allies 156,631 +932

So sorry. Chickenboy Maru--could retabulate your predicted closing of the game?

[John 3rd]

May 7, 1945

VP SCORE
Japan 79,502 +64
Allies 157,171 +540

[BillBrown]

DO SOMETHING, drag out the game a few more days, [:)]

[anarchyintheuk]

I've got May 20. Heard good things about crack.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: BillBrown

DO SOMETHING, drag out the game a few more days, [:)]

Bill, I think he is. Otherwise he would be losing more than 1,000 vp a day.

[John 3rd]

We are TRYING. Just isn't much left to use...

[DanSez]

The 13th seems a long long way off in the future.

We need a stealth 5th columnist to go and suggest the Allies park a few of their abundant CVEs in a minefield to help clear it for invasion. [X(]

[John 3rd]

YES! Send them to Fusan and set them to 'patrol' IN THE MINEFIELD!

There are two small hopes for gaining enough VP to buy us a day or two:
1. The 5 CV TF just refueled at Marcus and heads due north. It will then move east.
2. Two CV and 2 CVL are 10 hexes from Diego Garcia and just refueled. They will do a spring to get past Diego and, if not spotted, shall head due to north into the India Convoy routes.

Not much hope but something...

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

ERROR in score posting. I wrote with Japan in the 77,000 range when actually it is 79,000.

May 6, 1945
Japan 79,438 +100
Allies 156,631 +932

So sorry. Chickenboy Maru--could retabulate your predicted closing of the game?

GAH! That totally messes up my victory dance, John! [:@][;)]

OK. Try this:

May 7:
Japan: 79,538
Allies: 157,563
Ratio: 1.981

May 8:
Japan: 79,638
Allies: 158,495
Ratio: 1.990 (need another 781 unilateral Allied points for 2.0)

May 9:
Japan: 79,738
Allies: 159,427
Ratio: 1.999 (need another 49 unilateral Allied points for 2.0)

May 10:
Japan: 79,838
Allies: 160,359
Ratio: 2.009 (683 VPs over autovictory 1945 2.0x cutoff)

With these new numbers, it appears those very reasonable and erudite individuals that picked May 11-13 were not, in fact, smoking crack. They are, in fact, so reasonable and erudite that I suspect they would be willing to part with their own promised ship naming in exchange for the allowance of Chickenboy Maru in the game.

ETA: Oi! Yamamoto! Get yer butt up to the Emperor and end this thing! Tootsweet!

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

We are TRYING. Just isn't much left to use...

I think you should start scuttling more of your remaining capital ships. Tomorrow please.

[Lecivius]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

We are TRYING. Just isn't much left to use...

I think you should start scuttling more of your remaining capital ships. Tomorrow please.

[:D]