John 3rd
Posts: 17178
Joined: 9/8/2005 From: La Salle, Colorado Status: offline
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BANZAI! The Reluctant Admiral design team have just released RA 4.0 for any player who is interested. My personal thanks go to JWE and the Dabes Team for their hard work and pleasant help in making RA conform to Da Babes and allowing us to use the AB's splendid Extended Map and Stacking Units. Agreeing to host us on the Babes site makes the experience even better. THANK YOU BABES Team! This version of RA brings the final changes to the Mod as we postulate what Adm Yamamoto might have done to the IJN Land-Based units. Here is the Scenario Description: The Reluctant Admiral is a Japanese 'what if' scenario based upon a greater contribution by Adm. Yamamoto Isoroku. The premise of the Mod is that Yamamoto exerted a much greater influence first on the Japan Naval Aircraft Industry, then as Deputy Navy Minister, and finally as Navy Minister itself. Yamamoto chooses, at great risk to his life, to forego command of the Combined Fleet and dedicate himself to preparing Japan for a war he didn't want. He adds two new slipways for Fleet construction to facilitate a different, final pre-war expansion of the Kaigun. New and expanded Naval Yards, Heavy Industry, and Armaments are added at tremendous cost for the Japanese economy as the Admiral attempts to prepare Japan for a possibly long war. In so choosing to do this Yamamoto then changes the 4th Circle Building plan replacing the 3rd and 4th Yamato-Class Battleships with three improved Shokaku-Class CVs and a pair of Kawachi-Class fast Battlecruisers, two Tone-Class CAs, an accelerated Agano-Class deployment, and additional destroyers. Quick, reasonably cheap carrier conversions are moved forward seeing all of the pre-war CVs/CVLs deploy by December 7th or at slightly earlier dates in 1942. The Japan Naval Air Arm is changed so that everything is staked to the Zero Airframe with a specialization of the Zero into a Land-Based Interceptor as well as CV-Based Fighters. Research and production expansion is achieved by streamlining the air industry (cutting several models) while bringing forward second generation aircraft: Judy, Jill, etc… By great effort the IJNAF deploys nearly all new aircraft on December 7th. RA 4.0 now brings his ‘vision’ to the IJN’s Land Component. He reorganizes the SNLF units into a Brigade-Sized offensive force and—knowing it will be a war of attrition—converts many Naval Guard into enhanced units with Coastal Defense artillery for a stronger defensive unit. Additional small units are added to the IJN’s Troops and support units better reflecting Yamamoto's foresight into base building, defense, and expansion needs. The foresight of the Admiral paysoff during 1942 and early-1943 as new ships, aircraft, and ground units enter into the Japanese Order-of-Battle, however, the cost is steep. Though expanded and using modern aircraft many Japanese Naval Air units start with their experience lowered to reflect the dilution of the experienced pilots into new units. Supply and fuel reserves start at a much reduced state. The Japanese MUST take the DEI as fast as possible. In a major change over the previous two versions of Reluctant Admiral, the 3.0 postulates more of Yamamoto’s influence upon the wartime Kaigun. First class destroyers are accelerated and emphasis is shifted to the AA Akizuki-Class at the expense of the more balanced Yugumo’s. Manpower is at a premium within the Fleet so Submarines, Escorts, and ASW forces all see a major retooling reflecting the Japanese quality over quantity belief. Yamamoto chooses the immediately useful projects, including 2nd-class destroyers, fast transports and coastal defense fleet, at the expense of large destroyers and subs offered by the stock, historical choice. It should be noted that not all the changes are for the Japanese. The Allies see continued major changes in their starting locations, new air units, several ground units, a CLAA conversion for the Omaha-CL, a pair of additional CVLs, and options for nearly 10 CVEs. The added warships reflect a ‘stopgap’ counter to the increased Japanese strength found at war’s start. How well can YOU do to use these new tools OR how well can you stop the Japanese Navy in its tracks as the Allies? Designer's notes: 1. RA 4.0 is now fully compatible with Da Babe’s Modifications and may be used on the Extended Map with any other Babes feature. 2. Production is 'on' for this scenario 3. Garrison requirements have been raised in China as well as India to, hopefully, better reflect the political environment of the regions. Scenario Designers: Stanislav Bartoshevitch (FatR), Michael Benoit (NY59Giants), John R. Cochran, III (John 3rd), Juan Gomez (JuanG), Ben Kloosterman (BK), John (JWE), EJ (SuluSea) and John Young (Red Lancer) I chose the title of my AAR following my penchant for using excellent book titles. In a lot of ways Williford's Racing the Sunrise truly got this variant of RA running. His details of the American attempts to reinforce the Pacific bases prior to the Japanese attack is masterfully done. The accounts of how many of the Central Pacific and South Pacific bases weren't ready at the time of Dec 7th really kicked my thinking into high gear. The Allied player will now find Canton, the Line Islands, and several other locations starting in a thoroughly different manner. This AAR will be reflecting one of two Campaigns I start this week. My long-running RA 2.0 game with Adm Nelson (Lew) was stopped in May 1943 so we could start a new game. Since I had sank nearly all of his CVs, he found this to be an excellent idea and I look forward to the challenge of playing him again. We both know each other which should produce a bit more drama within the campaign. The other RA Game I had running was 3.0 and was taken over by Soli Invictus (Roland). It had gotten to October 1942 but will not restart as well. With having a hard enough time of writing one AAR, I had to chose which campaign would receive my pen. I've started Turn One work that will match about 80% for each of the two games with the remaining 20% swinging to the differing objectives of each new game. Will hold off describing the GRAND DESIGN until tomorrow and allow Adm Nelson to comment now if he choses...
< Message edited by John 3rd -- 1/12/2012 5:08:36 AM >
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