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Yamamoto's War: BtS Lite Kitakami-J v Revthought-A - No Revthought

 
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Yamamoto's War: BtS Lite Kitakami-J v Revthought-A - No... - 5/5/2016 10:12:31 PM   
Kitakami


Posts: 1302
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From: The bridge of the DNTK Kitakami
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Ok... after a rather long hiatus due to health reasons, I have come back to my favorite game ever (and the cheapest per hour too). I am as rusty as an old nail left in the middle of a wet field for a few years, so any and all comments are welcome. We are using the latest BtS version available, and there will be no Yamato or Musashi, which makes for a different, but interesting, start. Also, we will be doing 2-day turns, which makes games quite different (like having to order land units to combat mode when they have only traveled 30 miles, because otherwise next turn they will cross the river into enemy occupied terrain in travel mode.

Turn one has already been run. Results were... unexpected. One thing the Japanese player must realize about BtS is that quantity comes at a price, and that price is quality. The starting experience of the Japanese air arm has been lowered enough so that I did not expect to sink even one battleship in Pearl Harbor. So much so, that I was even tempted to leave the old battlewagons alone and send all three divisions of Kido Butai against Manila. In the end, I decided against it, but I did do something different due to the 2-day turns. I set all carrier attack planes to naval attack primary with port attack secondary. Especially in the Philippines I believe it is a wise course of action. Something else I did was to remain near Pearl for a second day of attacks. Unwise, I know, but I wanted to try something different.

Well the results were, as I wrote above, unexpected. First, my opponent was very conservative with his surface forces, and I found no carrier TFs (expected), and no cruiser TFs (unexpected). I did not even find Force Z! Still, what air attacks could not do, sub attacks kind of made up for. These are the combat results, by region:

Pearl Harbor:

- One midget sub sneaks in and scores a hit on BB Tennessee.
- BB Nevada hit by 2 torpedoes.
- BB Tennessee hit by an additional 5 torpedoes.
- BB Idaho hit by 1 torpedo, magazine explodes, and is reported as sunk.
- BB Arizona hit by 2 torpedoes.
- BB New Mexico hit by 4 torpedoes.
- BB California hit by 2 torpedoes.
- BB Oklahoma hit by 3 torpedoes.
- CA San Francisco hit by 2 torpedoes.
- CA Minneapolis hit by 2 torpedoes.
- CL Helena hit by 1 torpedo.
- CL St Louis hit by 1 torpedo.
- DD Ward hit by a total of 9 bombs and is sunk.
- 6 aircraft reported destroyed.
- Other minor units hit.

Interestingly, I see no report of Pearl Harbor being attacked on day 2 of the turn. I am not sure if I should be upset... or relieved!

Pacific

Little action here:
- BC Ranger hit by 1 torpedo. Reported sunk, but I don't believe it.
- Makin taken.
- 1st Sasebo Assault Div landed on Guam. Will assault next turn.

Philippines

Since the USN cruisers (2 CAs, 2 CLs, 1 CLV, plus escorts) did not seek battle, the Japanese naval air concentrated on Manila:
- SS S-38 hit by 2 bombs and reported sunk.
- SS Sargo hit by 2 bombs.
- SS Sturgeon hit by 1 bomb.
- SS Spearfish hit by 1 bomb.
- SS Sculpin hit by 1 bomb.
- SS Saury hit by 1 bomb.
- SS S-41 hit by 1 bomb.
- SS Seal hit by 1 bomb.
- SS Seadragon hit by 1 bomb.
- SS Spearfish hit by 1 bomb.
- SS Stingray hit by 1 bomb.
- DD Scout hit by 1 bomb and 1 torpedo, and reported sunk.
- DD Thanet hit by 1 bomb.
- A few transports hit but not sunk.
- Batan Island taken.
- Vigan taken, 65th Bde, 2x Tk Rgts, and elements of 48th Div landed.
- 18th Div on its way to southern Luzon.

Dutch East Indies

- Ternate taken by air assault by 1st Para Assault Div.

Malaya

- CL Durban hit by 1 torpedo near Muntok.
- Most of 5th Div landed in Singora. Rest will unload on turn 2... hopefully!
- 18th Div, engineers and artillery landed in Kota Bharu. Will assault on turn 2.
- 4th & 21st Div landed in Kuantan. Will assault on turn 2.
- Imperial Guards Div will start moving by rail next turn.
- Victoria Point taken by air assault by 1st raiding Rgt. Defenders eliminated.

Burma

- 55th Div will start moving by rail next turn.
- 2x Tk Rgts & 1 Arty unit waiting for 55th Div in Bangkok.

China

- Hong Kong forces arrived. Bombardment will start next turn.
- Pengpu assaulted and taken.
- Ichang evacuated.
- Tons of units moving to fulfill all garrisons, but maximizing front-line strength.

Losses:

Naval losses have been light so far. I can't complain in this respect.

- TK Kanze Maru sunk by submarine near Soc Trang.
- xAK Korei Maru sunk by submarine near Batan Island.

- xAK Teihoku Maru heavily damaged near Soc Trang.
- xAK Keihuku Maru heavily damaged near Takao.
- xAK Arimasan Maru heavily damaged near Takao.
- AD Gyoko Maru heavily damaged by a B-17 in Babeldaob.
- SS I-169 lightly damaged by DCs near Pago Pago.
- xAP Ural Maru lightly damaged near Kuantan.

Air losses, on the other hand, were unexpectedly heavy, probably because of the lower experience levels (I do escort my bombers). This rate of attrition cannot continue, or I will run out of planes very, very quickly.

- 28 B5N2
- 20 A6M2
- 17 G4M2
- 6 Ki-27b
- 8 D3A1
- 3 Ki-48-Ib

- 19 P-40E
- 18 P-40B
- 15 Vildebeest III
- 13 Buffalo I
- 5 PBY-5
- 5 F4F-3
- 5 P-36A
- 4 Blemheim IV
- 3 Do-24K-1

(I did not list other, minor losses)

All told, 650 TFs were active last turn. Some have arrived to their destinations, but there are literally hundreds moving everywhere right now.

I am not sure what to think of the turn. On the one hand I think my interior lines are somewhat secure. On the other, I did not sink as many enemy ships as I would have liked (if Tennessee goes down, I will call Pearl Harbor a Pyrrhic victory, though). PoW, Renown, and the USN cruisers in the Philippines / DEI area worry me. Yet, I damaged a lot of subs in Manila, and they will have to go through the gauntlet (Naval air against the port, and ASW assets waiting for them outside the bay) to get out of there. We will see if that works.

These are a few of the strategic decisions made before turn 1:

BB Repair Yards

Hiroshima & Nagasaki: 122 SY to repair 41cm rifles (4 ships).
Yokohama & Kobe: 102/100 SY to repair 40cm rifles (3 ships).
Shanghai & Tokyo: 63/62 SY to repair 36cm rifles (10 ships).
Later on:
Hong Kong & Singapore: 63 SY to repair 36cm rifles.

I am toying with the idea of stopping construction of a few SSs to accelerate some CVs and CVLs. I am not sure about this, though. Any thoughts on the matter would be welcome.

Aircraft research has been set, with a few plane types getting the main focus, and a few getting none. We will see what comes of this.


Thoughts?


< Message edited by Kitakami -- 5/5/2016 10:15:14 PM >


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RE: Yamamoto's War: BtS Lite Kitakami-J v Revthought-A ... - 5/6/2016 3:33:57 AM   
PaxMondo


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Subscribed and welcome back!

Sorry to read about your health issues, happy to read that they are behind you!



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RE: Yamamoto's War: BtS Lite Kitakami-J v Revthought-A ... - 5/6/2016 1:23:31 PM   
ny59giants


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Glad to see you're back and playing this mod. If you find any errors or have any questions about it drop John or me an email. Hopefully, we have only a few more left to discover.

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RE: Yamamoto's War: BtS Lite Kitakami-J v Revthought-A ... - 5/6/2016 2:37:30 PM   
Lowpe


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Iboats are very useful, especially early in the game. In the latter half they are still very important, if used somewhat differently.




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RE: Yamamoto's War: BtS Lite Kitakami-J v Revthought-A ... - 5/6/2016 3:25:31 PM   
Bif1961


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From: Phenix City, Alabama
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Welcome back.

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RE: Yamamoto's War: BtS Lite Kitakami-J v Revthought-A ... - 5/7/2016 12:54:55 AM   
John 3rd


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Subscribed and BANZAI!


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RE: Yamamoto's War: BtS Lite Kitakami-J v Revthought-A ... - 5/7/2016 12:58:05 AM   
John 3rd


Posts: 17178
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What Michael said is quite important. We have ventured far enough into our BTS-L that you are playing the cleaned up version of what we started.

You will note that the Japanese have started with two new 16" BBs in OPERATION and have another pair building. Originally the player started with the completed BBs but had no more after that. I quickly figured out that without several major vessels sucking off construction points then the Japanese player could accelerate ALL CVs without issue. That is not right so you now get to make CHOICES. Do you want another pair of spanking new BBs or do you want those CVs? Makes for a nice trade off set of choices...


< Message edited by John 3rd -- 5/7/2016 12:59:50 AM >


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RE: Yamamoto's War: BtS Lite Kitakami-J v Revthought-A ... - 5/7/2016 1:56:38 AM   
Kitakami


Posts: 1302
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Thank you all!

The only issue I have caught so far is the 21 upgrade for the Kitakami Class. I fixed it before starting the game. It comes about from the third (I think) upgrade pointing back to the second instead of pointing to itself.

I will post the turn 2 report soon, but in it the I-boats actually did quite well, so I am torn between accelerating CVs and completing the subs. Decisions, decisions...

Those BBs with 410cm rifles are awesome! I believe 4 of them will be more useful than Yamato and Musashi, especially since 2 of them are available at start. Their AAA suites are impressive too. None of them have seen action so far, but I am certain they will.

Once again, thanks for the welcome!

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RE: Yamamoto's War: BtS Lite Kitakami-J v Revthought-A ... - 5/7/2016 6:00:48 PM   
Kitakami


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December 9th, 1941

Pearl Harbor playing in Warner Brother Latin America. Would have preferred Tora! Tora! Tora! But at least it gives a bit of ambiance.

Turn 2 has shown me what well-placed I-boats can do. In the past I had often set them to Computer Control, but this game I decided against it. The result? Well...
- xAP Malaita, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage (mines laid in Port Moresby by sub).
- AMC Manoora, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage.
- xAP Candesa, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage.
- xAKL Loa Koeloe, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage.
- xAP Hong Peng, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage.
- xAKL Cebu, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage.
- TK Augustina, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage.
- xAKL Larut, Shell hits 27, heavy fires, heavy damage.
- xAKL Latouche, Shell hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage.
- xAP Camphuys, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage.
- CM Prins van Oranje, Mine hits 1, heavy damage (mines laid in 68,91 by sub).
- AG Albatros, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage.

Now, I know that most of them will not sink, and that not all turns will be like this one, but 12 ships hit by subs in the space of two days (one turn) is way above average for the Computer-controlled subs I have used in the past.

Pearl Harbor

My esteemed opponent has confirmed that Idaho went down, and that another BB (Tennessee according to my combat reports) still has fires and may go down too. That is not a bad PH attack, especially with lowered experience ratings on the bombers. I am glad I did not send those two CV divisions to Manila after all.

Pacific

I am being cautious here. Even though I put a fish in the Ranger last turn, there are to many additional Allied naval forces here, and I will not conduct operations unescorted by fleet carriers... well... not too many at least. Guam, Tarawa and Ocean Island have been captured. The Wake invasion force is leaving port soon.

Philippines

The one irksome Allied string of successes has been in Luzon. Those fat geese, better known as Catalinas, have been torpedoing not only xAKs. To top that off, the elderly S-40 hit a CL with a fish! I have now taken measures, but I must admit those planes are good at torpedoing slow, unescorted targets. On an unrelated note, all my youth I wanted to own and learn to fly one of those, perhaps inspired by watching too many episodes of Tales of the Gold Monkey on TV.

Laoag was captured.

My opponent tried to attack with his PT boats, but 6 have already been sunk, without any damage to show for it. One was even hit by a BB shell... I would have hated to be on that boat!

The Gauntlet. I call it that because getting out of Manila, if you are not in a sub, is like running the proverbial gauntlet. Surface forces waiting outside the bay, plus naval air hitting ships at port, do not paint a pretty picture for the Allies:
- xAKL Cetus, Shell hits 2, and is sunk.
- PG Tulsa, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk.
- AM Quail, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires.
- AM Lark, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk.
- xAK Si Kiang, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage.
- xAP Neptuna, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires.
- SS Seal, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk.
- DD Thanet, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage.
- PG Isabel, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage.
- AM Tanager, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage.
- TK Gertrude Kellogg, Bomb hits 1, on fire.
- xAK Capillo, Bomb hits 1, on fire.
- xAK Si Kiang, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage.
- AO Trinity, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires.
- SS Stingray, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage.

Dutch East Indies

Not much action here yet, with the exception of I-sub activity.

Malaya

Kota Bharu and Kuantan captured. Five infantry divisions plus other forces moving towards their targets here. My opponent seems to be evacuating forces from Alor Star, while I try to delay their departure with bomber ground attacks. Meanwhile my opponent has started clearing the mines in Singapore. He did not finish this turn though.

CVL-based Japanese naval aviators had a very good couple of days in the theater, sinking a number of Allied ships trying to escape to India:
- xAP Hong Siang, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk.
- xAK Demosthenes, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk.
- xAP Kelantan, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk.
- xAK Wing Sang, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk.
- xAKL Nam Yong, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk.
- HDML Panglima, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk.
- xAKL Raub, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk.
- xAP Le Maire, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk.

Again, I do not expect to continue with this success rate, but the sinking of the three xAPs is music to my ears.

Burma

Enemy pulling out of Tavoy. Japanese forces will get there very, very, late, but airfields and air units are being prepped for that front.

China

Hong Kong is being bombarded, both by land and by air. I have not played in so long, that I do not recall how soon to attack there. Any pointers?
Three other ground assaults took place, with a decent number of Chinese squads destroyed:
- Ground combat at 83,51 (near Wuchang):
--- Allied ground losses: 4791 casualties reported
--- Squads: 122 destroyed, 3 disabled
--- Non Combat: 118 destroyed, 0 disabled
--- Engineers: 6 destroyed, 8 disabled
--- Guns lost 26 (26 destroyed, 0 disabled)
--- Units retreated 1
- Ground combat at 88,45 (near Kaifeng)
--- Allied ground losses:
--- 782 casualties reported
--- Squads: 50 destroyed, 4 disabled
--- Non Combat: 16 destroyed, 0 disabled
--- Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
--- Units retreated 1
- Ground combat at 89,39 (near Taiyuan)
--- Allied ground losses:
--- 2283 casualties reported
--- Squads: 112 destroyed, 0 disabled
--- Non Combat: 62 destroyed, 1 disabled
--- Engineers: 2 destroyed, 2 disabled
--- Guns lost 10 (5 destroyed, 5 disabled)
--- Units retreated 2

I do not see much enemy movement in this theater. I may be ahistorically pushing harder than my opponent expected.

Losses

Naval losses continue to be light. Still, Catalinas and subs do pose a problem:
- xAKL Fukuei Maru sunk near Batan Island.
- xAK Tenzan Maru sunk near Vigan.
- xAK Arimasan Maru sunk near Laoag.

Air losses were as follows:
- 6 B5N2
- 6 A6M2
- 1 G4M1
- 3 Ki-27b
- 1 D3A1
- 2 Ki-48-Ib

- 15 P-40E
- 6 P-40B
- 20 Hudson I
- 12 Vildebeest III
- 7 Buffalo I
- 1 P-36A
- 6 Blemheim I
- 5 PBY-5 Catalina

A much better ratio than in turn 1, thankfully. The ratio in fighter planes, particularly, looks good now.

Well, that is it for now. I sent turn 2 to Revthought before starting this post, as to maximize the time he has to reply... perhaps I will get it back today :)

Cheers all!

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(in reply to Kitakami)
Post #: 9
RE: Yamamoto's War: BtS Lite Kitakami-J v Revthought-A ... - 5/7/2016 6:03:20 PM   
Kitakami


Posts: 1302
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Iboats are very useful, especially early in the game. In the latter half they are still very important, if used somewhat differently.



Lowpe, can you please expound on how are I-boats best used in the latter half of the game, please? Thanks!

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RE: Yamamoto's War: BtS Lite Kitakami-J v Revthought-A ... - 5/7/2016 6:20:44 PM   
Lowpe


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quote:

ORIGINAL: Kitakami

quote:

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Iboats are very useful, especially early in the game. In the latter half they are still very important, if used somewhat differently.



Lowpe, can you please expound on how are I-boats best used in the latter half of the game, please? Thanks!


Early on subs are very deadly against the unprepared Allies. You can really run riot.

In 43, the Allies start to get better and by then the aerial ASW is really tough, and by 44 even deep water is very dangerous for Japanese subs.

But subs can provide early warning, recon, minelaying, supply transit, pursuing cripples, and dilute enemy forces. They are still very valuable, just need to be used with care.

Find your Iboat funnies. The 14 knot minelaying subs; the Midget carrying subs; the subs that upgrade to Kaitens in early 45. Try to protect those and use them appropriately so you have them the whole game.

Find your Glen equipped Iboats. Let them become your eyes and ears. Get some pilots trained up on recon and naval search for them...they can sneak a peak of likely bases that will launch an invasion and also be the central sub of a hunting wolf pack.

Use your RO boats in coastal waters now, be very daring with them against Americans, less so the British and Aussies.

Always check your captains, quite a few of the sister's husband out there when they should be pushing paper back in Tokyo.





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RE: Yamamoto's War: BtS Lite Kitakami-J v Revthought-A ... - 5/7/2016 6:22:28 PM   
Kitakami


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Lowpe, many thanks!

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RE: Yamamoto's War: BtS Lite Kitakami-J v Revthought-A ... - 5/8/2016 3:43:23 AM   
John 3rd


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Within the first two weeks of the game I checked every SS commander and replace about 60% of them. As each I-Boat comes into service replace that leader as well. They will do incredibly well.

As to Lowpe's comments, I am beginning to agree and see the logic with him. My I-Boats and Ro- have done amazingly well when Dan is not actively using his escorts effectively; however, that is really beginning to change as we move into the Fall of 1943. Will Post my SS 'Kill' sheet sometime soon on the AAR and you'll be impressed.


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RE: Yamamoto's War: BtS Lite Kitakami-J v Revthought-A ... - 5/8/2016 2:40:27 PM   
Kitakami


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I will make it a point to check all sub skippers and replace those that need replacing. I will also use the funnies for their intended use, not as fleet boats. Thanks for the tips!

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RE: Yamamoto's War: BtS Lite Kitakami-J v Revthought-A ... - 5/9/2016 12:13:15 AM   
Kitakami


Posts: 1302
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I will make a complete report after I do turn 4 and send it to my esteemed opponent, but I wanted to whet your collective appetites:

The ugly: Among other things, air losses! Japan: 96. Allies: 127. That is a horrible attrition rate!
The bad: CVL Ryujo ate THREE fishes out of four launched by SS KXIII. The failed design did not sink, but she is damaged, badly.
The good: last turn my Jakes noticed the presence of an enemy CV at anchor in Palmyra. I decided to position my carriers between Palmyra and Pearl, 5 hexes from Palmyra. The result included this:
----- Day 1:
---------- CV Enterprise, Torpedo hits 3, heavy damage
---------- CV Lexington, Bomb hits 2
---------- CV Lexington, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
----- Day 2:
---------- CV Enterprise, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage

Lexington probably will get away, but the undamaged Shokaku, Zuikaku and Kushiro will pursue. I think I have a decent chance of bagging the Big E.



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RE: Yamamoto's War: BtS Lite Kitakami-J v Revthought-A ... - 5/9/2016 1:35:02 AM   
Falken


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Wow, bagging the Big-E in the first week of the war. Someone has learned a few tricks since your last game :)..... I am interesting in the air losses though... I don't remember us having that many losses in our last BtS game.... is this the new norm for v2.7?

(in reply to Kitakami)
Post #: 16
RE: Yamamoto's War: BtS Lite Kitakami-J v Revthought-A ... - 5/9/2016 1:48:09 AM   
Kitakami


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quote:

ORIGINAL: Falken

Wow, bagging the Big-E in the first week of the war. Someone has learned a few tricks since your last game :)..... I am interesting in the air losses though... I don't remember us having that many losses in our last BtS game.... is this the new norm for v2.7?


It was nothing but luck. I sent a CarDiv towards Midway and the other one towards Palmyra, hoping to catch one of the CV TFs. It so happened that CS Chiyoda was with the TF sent south... and I detected one CV (which seems to have been joined by the second one last turn).

As for plane losses, part of it is the 2-day turns. But even taking that into consideration, it has been a carnage. There is no way I can sustain these losses and keep groups full. We will see if the losses subside in a few turns.

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RE: Yamamoto's War: BtS Lite Kitakami-J v Revthought-A ... - 5/9/2016 2:10:50 AM   
Lowpe


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With 2 day turns, it really pays to pick less aggressive air leaders that don't blindly fly all the time.

(in reply to Kitakami)
Post #: 18
RE: Yamamoto's War: BtS Lite Kitakami-J v Revthought-A ... - 5/9/2016 7:07:55 PM   
Kitakami


Posts: 1302
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

With 2 day turns, it really pays to pick less aggressive air leaders that don't blindly fly all the time.


I had not considered this. Thanks for the tip!

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RE: Yamamoto's War: BtS Lite Kitakami-J v Revthought-A ... - 5/9/2016 11:50:03 PM   
Kitakami


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Ok... time for the full report for Dec 11-12, 1941.

The sub war

Submarines have been quite effective, on both sides. It is one of the reasons I am very happy at having sunk several USN subs in Manila. The more I get to sink, the less problems they will give me now... and later. Anyway:

- ML No. 311, Mine hits 1, heavy damage, at Singapore. The last damage done by turn-1 mines.
- SS KXI, hits 13, near Kota Bharu. If true, this makes me very happy.
- xAK Siantar, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage, near Toboali.
- xAK Jarapa, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, near Merak.
- xAP Mijer, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage. Another sub-laid mine doing what it should.
- xAKL Princess of Negros, Shell hits 9, near Balikpapan.
- SS I-154, hits 2, on fire; xAK Doryssa, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, near Pamekasan.
- AM Mildura, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage, near Port Moresby.
- SS I-172, hits 6, near Johnston Island.
- CA Maya, Torpedo hits 1, near Bataan. Ouch!
- xAK Nagara Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage, near Batan Island.
- SS I-170, hits 1 near Pearl Harbor.
- CVL Ryujo, Torpedo hits 3, heavy damage, near Kuantan. This one hurt! Ryujo will live, as long as she does not swallow another fish, but it is not a sure thing.
- xAKL Tatsuha Maru, Shell hits 3, on fire; SS Searaven, hits 1.

My esteemed opponent has been very good at ASW. I forgot to shift my subs, and I paid the price with several boats damaged. I am very, very rusty. It seems I have forgotten more things than I remember about how to play this game.

The Pacific

As I stated in a previous post, last turn my Jakes noticed the presence of an enemy CV at anchor in Palmyra. I decided to position my carriers between Palmyra and Pearl, 5 hexes from Palmyra. It was not one CV, but two, with their escorts. They tried to sail towards Pearl, and it was a rather bloody exchange:

- CV Enterprise, Torpedo hits 3, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage.
- CV Lexington, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires.
- CA Portland, Bomb hits 4, on fire.
- CA Astoria, Bomb hits 1.
- DD McCall, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires.
- CA Northampton, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage.
- DD Balch, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires.

I will pursue. I am of the mind that bagging one CV for sure is better than dividing the TF and going for a long shot. The fate of Lexington depends on her speed, and since I hit her with bombs only, I don't think she is slow enough for me to give chase. We will see.

The Philippines

If the action in the Pacific was hair-raising, what developed in the Philippines almost gave me a heart attack. The cruiser force I had covering the entrance of Manila Bay was attacked by Houston, Chicago, and their escorts! But Ameterasu smiled upon the admiral in charge, and this was the result:

Round 1: daytime surface action

- CA Maya, Shell hits 1.
- CA Chokai, Shell hits 12, on fire.
- DD Sagiri, Shell hits 3, heavy fires.
- CL Minase, Shell hits 2, on fire.

- CA Houston, Shell hits 2.
- CA Chicago, Shell hits 9, on fire.
- CL Marblehead, Shell hits 2, on fire.
- DD Barker, Shell hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage.
- DD Stewart, Shell hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage.
- DD Paul Jones, Shell hits 2, heavy fires.

Round 2: afternoon carrier air strike

- CA Chicago, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage.
- DD Barker, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage.
- DD Paul Jones, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage.

Round 3: daytime surface action

- CL Natori, Shell hits 1
- DD Fumizuki, Shell hits 2

- CA Chicago, Shell hits 22, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk.
- DD Paul Jones, Shell hits 11, and is sunk.
- DD Peary, Shell hits 4, heavy fires.
- DD Pillsbury, Shell hits 1.

Round 4: daytime surface action

- DD Peary, Shell hits 13, and is sunk.
- DD Pillsbury, Shell hits 6, and is sunk.

All in all, I can't complain. One USN CA and three DDs sunk, while only suffering repairable damage (bar a sub or a Catalina torp hit). The rest of the action in the area was rather one-sided:

- xAKL Escalante, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage.
- xAKL Sarangami, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk.
- xAP Elcano, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk.
- TK Manatawny, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage.
- xAK Governor Wright, Bomb hits 9, and is sunk.
- xAK Ravnaas, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage.

In Manila port:

- AO Pecos, Bomb hits 1.
- xAK Yu Sang, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage.
- TK La Estrella Caltex, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk.
- xAK Ethel Edwards, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires.
- TK Hai Kwang, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage.
- SS Sargo, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk.
- xAKL Don Jose, Bomb hits 1, on fire.
- ACM Colonel Harrison, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk.
- SS Spearfish, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage.
- AS Otus, Bomb hits 2.
- AS Canopus, Bomb hits 1, on fire.

My Manila Bay covering forces are running low on ammo, but their purpose is being fulfilled. They have bottled up the port's exit, and the IJN air is chewing ships up.

Dutch East Indies

I need air and surface covering forces to advance here. Meanwhile, I am strengthening Ternate.

Malaya

Japanese land forces are slowly moving forward. Meanwhile the Brits seem to have evacuated Alor Star, and are in the process of leaving only the barest speed bump in Georgetown.
At sea, things are a little different:

- xAK GG Van Vollenhoven, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk.
- xAK Neleus, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage.
- xAP Van Riebeek, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk.
- AM Astrolabe, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk.
- AM Octant, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk.
- xAK Tai Sang, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk.
- xAP Ipoh, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk.
- xAK Neleus, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk.
- xAK Laos, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage.
- xAK Silverbeech, Torpedo hits 1.
- xAP Kota Gede, Bomb hits 1.
- xAP Swartenhondt, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage.
- CM Kung Wo, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage.
- xAP Perak, Bomb hits 1, on fire.
- MMS-51, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk.

I have committed 5 divisions plus auxiliary units to this theater. I do not recall if this is enough or if I should commit a sixth division. Thoughts?

Burma

I made a grave mistake here. I sent two light bomber chutais to Bangkok to soften up Tavoy. Problem was, I did not send any escorts, so they were chewed up by Flying Tigers for two consecutive days. I lost about 10 planes in that one.

Besides that, I have one division plus auxiliary units moving towards Tavoy, plus an additional division en route from Japan towards Bangkok. No action yet.

China

Besides the air and artillery bombardment of Hong Kong, this is what happened:

Ground combat at 91,39 (near Chengting) - Japanese Shock attack
- Japanese ground losses:
--- 8 casualties reported
----- Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
----- Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
----- Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
- Allied ground losses:
--- 903 casualties reported
----- Squads: 47 destroyed, 11 disabled
----- Non Combat: 26 destroyed, 0 disabled
----- Engineers: 2 destroyed, 1 disabled
----- Units retreated 1

I am still shifting forces in the theater, and several of the big attacks have not started yet. Enemy forces have started to move towards defensive positions though.

Losses

Naval losses are still light (although damaged ships are beginning to mount up):

-xAP Takatiho Maru, (involuntarily) scuttled near Naga.

Air Losses continue to be huge:

- 18 B5N2
- 18 A6M2
- 13 Ki-30
- 10 Ki-32
- 9 G4M1
- 7 D3A1
- 4 Ki-48-Ib
- 2 Ki-57-I
- 2 Ki-43-Ib
- 2 E14Y1
- 2 E13A1
- 2 C5M2

- 36 SBD-2
- 30 F4F-3A
- 14 TBD-1
- 13 Hurricane IIb
- 9 SOC-1
- 9 F2A-3
- 8 Buffalo I
- 2 PBY-4
- 2 P-40E
- 2 B-17D
- 2 H81-A3

Plus single planes here and there. If I had not destroyed a carrier air group, the turn's balance would have been lousy.

Well, that is all for now. Any comments, suggestions, etc. are more than welcome :)

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(in reply to Kitakami)
Post #: 20
RE: Yamamoto's War: BtS Lite Kitakami-J v Revthought-A ... - 5/10/2016 3:44:39 AM   
PaxMondo


Posts: 9750
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I haven't played 2 day turns in a long time ... my biggest take away from it and still sticks with me was that I had to be FAR more conservative on offense ... especially with air elements.

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Post #: 21
RE: Yamamoto's War: BtS Lite Kitakami-J v Revthought-A ... - 5/10/2016 2:38:42 PM   
Kitakami


Posts: 1302
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From: The bridge of the DNTK Kitakami
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quote:

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

I haven't played 2 day turns in a long time ... my biggest take away from it and still sticks with me was that I had to be FAR more conservative on offense ... especially with air elements.


Wholeheartedly agree, Pax. I did not remember it being this bloody, but it is, so I'll have to find a way to slow down the attrition rate. Perhaps more sweeps and less air bombardments. Carrier operations, on the other hand, cause tons of damage when they have enough targets, so those will definitely stay, as long as CV TFs are well protected. A whole different tempo to 1-day turns, that is for sure.

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Post #: 22
RE: Yamamoto's War: BtS Lite Kitakami-J v Revthought-A ... - 5/12/2016 6:14:48 AM   
Kitakami


Posts: 1302
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From: The bridge of the DNTK Kitakami
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Ok... time for the report for Dec 13-14, 1941.

The sub war

The sub war seems to have had a lull. Last turn I shifted all my subs with enemy ASW forces on them, and that helped a lot. Still, a bit of activity:

- xAKL Lipis, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage, near Muntok.
- DD Dewey, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage, near Lanai.
- SS Sailfish, hits 1, near Busuanga.

- xAK Kiyama Maru, Shell hits 10, heavy fires, heavy damage, near Taihoku.
- xAK Hukko Maru, Shell hits 13, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage, near Saipan.

The one thing that has me nervous is that CVL Ryujo has not reached port yet. She should do so this turn, but subs are subs, and one may be lying in wait :/

The Pacific

The Big E was either very, very lucky, or very, very unlucky. Even with the floatplanes from the CVS, plus the floatplanes from the escorting cruisers, I was not able to find her. So, she is either sunk or she got away. Time will tell.

The CV TF hounding the wounded carriers did get into daytime surface combat, though, with the following results:

- DD Isokaze, Shell hits 2, on fire.
- DD Shiranui, Shell hits 1.

- DD Lamson, Shell hits 2, on fire.
- DD Porter, Shell hits 8, and is sunk.

The only thing worth mentioning about this combat is that the hybrid designs can surprise you:

- DD Porter sunk by CVL Kushiro at 30,000 yards :D

Then the air attacks started, but they were not as impressive as last turn’s:

- DD Balch, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk.
- DD Cushing, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage.
- DD Perkins, Bomb hits 1, on fire.
- CA Louisville, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires.
- xAP President Coolidge, Bomb hits 3, on fire.

I shifted a few hexes, and will stay in the area one more turn. Then I will sail the FT to port, and to marry the admiral to a third cousin, twice removed, of the Emperor’s wife.

One thing of note is that the only enemy air units attempting to cause damage to this task force are the Flying Fortresses based in Hawaii. A number was damaged by CAP.

Nauru Island was taken:

Ground combat at Nauru Island (127,128) - Japanese Shock attack
- Allied ground losses:
--- 47 casualties reported
----- Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
----- Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 0 disabled
----- Engineers: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
----- Guns lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)
----- Units destroyed 1

Wake got a night bombardment, in preparation for the amphibious assault that will take place in a couple of turns. 4 modern CAs, plus the Aoba and Kako CLs destroyed 4 squads and disabled 53 more. Whatever remains will not be able to do much against an assaulting SNLF brigade.

The Philippines

The Japanese land-based naval air has been pounding Iba, Clark Field, and Manila airfields since turn 1. Very few allied fighters are contesting the bombers now. The airfields are not at 100% damage, but they are damaged enough so that fortification levels have not been increased. I am close to send a Zero daitai south to Ternate.

Cagayan has been the target of a much milder air bombardment since the start, but the idea is to make the work of the invading forces (a week or so away) easier.

Ground combat at Naga (81,81) - Japanese Shock attack
- Japanese ground losses:
--- 18 casualties reported
----- Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
----- Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
----- Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
- Allied ground losses:
--- 855 casualties reported
----- Squads: 28 destroyed, 0 disabled
----- Non Combat: 30 destroyed, 0 disabled
----- Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
----- Guns lost 3 (3 destroyed, 0 disabled)
----- Units destroyed 1

In north Luzon, Vigan, Aparri, Laoag and Bayombong are in Japanese control. In south Luzon, Legaspi and Naga have been occupied, and 16th Div is moving northwards.

- xAK Hanyang, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk.

In Manila port:

- AO Pecos, Bomb hits 2, heavy damage.
- TK Gertrude Kellogg, Bomb hits 2, on fire.
- SS Sculpin, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk.
- AS Canopus, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage.
- xAK Si Kiang, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage.
- SS Seadragon, Bomb hits 2, heavy damage.
- AM Bittern, Bomb hits 1, on fire.
- SS Spearfish, Bomb hits 2, heavy damage.
- YO-41, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk.
- xAK American Leader, Bomb hits 1, on fire.
- xAKL Don Jose, Bomb hits 1, on fire.
- SS Stingray, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk.
- AS Otus, Bomb hits 1.
- AM Finch, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage.
- xAK Ethel Edwards, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage.
- SS Spearfish, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk.
- xAKL Sagoland, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires.
- SS Sturgeon, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk.
- xAK Capillo, Bomb hits 1.
- xAP Rochambeau, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires.
- xAP Neptuna, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage.
- AM Bittern, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk.

If anybody is wondering why my esteemed opponent does not get the ships out of the port, I have had two BBs plus other surface combatants blocking the exit from Manila Bay since turn 1. The first TF has expended its munitions, so I am rotating a new one in this turn. If I were him, I would have let the herd loose on turn two, as some ships would have gotten through, and the subs would have had an opportunity to fight back. The fact that he didn’t is to my advantage, of course.

Dutch East Indies

No action yet. The fact that Force Z escaped unscathed, and I have no idea where they are right now, makes me cautious. Ternate is now occupied by most of 1st Para Assault Div, 1x Eng Coy and 2x JNAF Coy.

Malaya

Alor Star was evacuated by the Brits, and it turned to Japanese control by itself. It seems that many units have taken flight towards Singapore. I will try to cut them off at Kuala Lumpur, but I may not be able to do it in time. I may have to land another division in Mersing to try to keep as many units out of Singapore as possible.

The enemy shipping losses are still mounting here (made possible by daily sweeps by one Zero and two Oscar units:

- HDML Pennigat, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk.
- HDML Panji, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk.
- xAK Persee, Bomb hits 1.
- HDML Pahalwan, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk.

Burma

Two tank regiments are one hex from Tavoy, with 55th Div one hex behind them. Other forces follow.

Chiang Mai’s airfield is being built up. It will one of the two main air bases in the area.

China

The Chinese are retreating in the Nanyang area. Japanese forces advance towards Nanning, Yenan and Changsha. Chinese forces are attacked as opportunities arise:

Ground combat at 84,52 (near Wuchang) - Japanese Shock attack
- Japanese ground losses:
--- 281 casualties reported
----- Squads: 1 destroyed, 19 disabled
----- Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
----- Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
- Allied ground losses:
--- 1855 casualties reported
----- Squads: 51 destroyed, 47 disabled
----- Non Combat: 50 destroyed, 0 disabled
----- Engineers: 2 destroyed, 3 disabled
----- Guns lost 11 (5 destroyed, 6 disabled)
----- Units retreated 1

Ground combat at 90,49 (near Pengpu) - Japanese Shock attack
- No Japanese ground losses.
- Allied ground losses:
--- 596 casualties reported
----- Squads: 12 destroyed, 0 disabled
----- Non Combat: 51 destroyed, 0 disabled
----- Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
----- Guns lost 17 (17 destroyed, 0 disabled)
----- Units destroyed 1

Ground combat at Hong Kong (77,61) - Japanese Deliberate attack
- Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2
- Japanese ground losses:
--- 670 casualties reported
----- Squads: 1 destroyed, 35 disabled
----- Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 8 disabled
----- Engineers: 4 destroyed, 24 disabled
----- Vehicles lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)
- Allied ground losses:
--- 382 casualties reported
----- Squads: 22 destroyed, 34 disabled
----- Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
----- Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Fortification reduction will take a bit, hopefully not too much.

Losses

Naval losses continue to be light:

- xAK Hukko Maru, near Saipan.
- xAK Kiyama Maru, near Taihoku.

Air Losses are lighter, but still uncomfortable:

- 6 Ki-48-Ib
- 6 B5N2
- 4 Ki-21IIa
- 3 D3A1
- 2 G4M1

- 4 Hurricane IIb
- 2 SOC-1
- 2 PBY-5
- 2 B-17D
- 2 Buffalo I

Plus several single planes.

Overall, I am advancing. In some regions at the expected pace, in two specific areas (DEI, SW Pacific) much slower. This last can’t be avoided without taking risks I’d rather not take.

The one HUGE question is… did I sink Enterprise or not? My opponent has said nothing about it, and I will not ask. At the very least he has two CVs that will spend a lot of time in the yards.

POLL

One question I have not answered and I’d appreciate your input on: taking into consideration the damage to the USN carriers, should I invade Midway, or not? This is the easiest moment to do it, but I am not sure if I should or not. What do you all think?


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Post #: 23
RE: Yamamoto's War: BtS Lite Kitakami-J v Revthought-A ... - 5/12/2016 7:55:49 AM   
obvert


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Midway

It's a good base for search and keeping an eye on Pearl. Not much else. Having it denies Northern CentPac search to the Allies. But why not? I have no reasons why not.

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Post #: 24
RE: Yamamoto's War: BtS Lite Kitakami-J v Revthought-A ... - 5/12/2016 3:40:37 PM   
Kitakami


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quote:

ORIGINAL: obvert

Midway

It's a good base for search and keeping an eye on Pearl. Not much else. Having it denies Northern CentPac search to the Allies. But why not? I have no reasons why not.


My thinking was it is a good flying boat but nothing else. Yet, your question is a good one: why not? I can't find a reason either. And with one enemy carrier probably sunk, and a Japanese CarDiv already in place, it may be the next target after Wake falls. It has to be now, or the cost of taking it goes much higher if a US CD unit is brought in.

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Post #: 25
RE: Yamamoto's War: BtS Lite Kitakami-J v Revthought-A ... - 5/12/2016 5:12:48 PM   
Kitakami


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Random thoughts on the mod and game so far:

- To have FIVE CarDivs at start is an important advantage. The CVLs covered Malaya, the Hiryus covered the Philippines, the CVEs covered the SW Pacific, and the Akagis and Shokakus attacked Pearl. The Akagis then moved to block reinforcements to Midway, while the Shokakus went CV hunting. The Shokakus will soon return to refuel and rearm, before deploying to the New Guinea area. The Akagis might go northwards after Midway is taken, to cover a landing on the Aleutians. The Hiryus will shift south to DEI waters, to cover landings there. The other two will be my reserves.

- There are eight CVs in the pipeline: two Junyos, two Shokakus, and four Shokaku-kais. The Junyos are meh compared to the rest, so I'll probably group them with CVEs, but the other six are top of the line (for Japan). There are also six CVLs in the pipeline: one Ryuho and five Asos. The Ryuho is a bit slow, but the Asos are fast enough to keep up with fleet carriers.

- The two Kushiro hybrids can and will be converted to full-fledged CVLs on 8 '42. They can carry 60 planes each and are very fast, so they will be a bit better than the Junyos! They will be ready a bit late to make much of a difference, though (270-day conversion), but I see no reason not to make the conversion.

- There is only one CVS in this game. It can be converted to CVL, but that might get delayed a bit. Three reasons for that. First, her floatplanes are incredibly useful (The Big E can attest to that). Second, she is the one ship capable of resizing land-based floatplane units to a size greater than 9. Third, with an increased number of CVs and CVLs, one more CVL is less critical unless a disaster happens. I will convert her, definitely, just do not know when.

- The fact that only one CVE costs build points is interesting. On the one hand, ships that cost build points can be accelerated. On the other hand, the five xAPs that can be converted to CVEs don't cost build points, and that may be important savings given all the added costs for the Japanese.

- The percentage of fast vs. slow BBs and BCs changed dramatically in this mod (as did the number of at-start heavies). The two Nagatos, the two Ises and the two Fusos are 25-kt battlewagons, as usual, but the four 30-kt Kongos have been joined by one 33-kt B-65, one 32-kt Amagi and two 30-kt Owaris (with the possibility of building one more B-65 and two more Owaris). But more important than speed perhaps is that Amagi has ten 40cm rifles, while the Owaris have 41cm rifles! The fast speed combined with big guns should not be underestimated. The thought of Adm. Tanaka Raizo leading a TF with four Owaris, two B65s and four Kongos against an Allied amphibious TF makes my mouth water.

- Cruiser force makeup also changed considerably. The Kitakamis are no longer huge torpedo platforms, there are no training cruisers, and the two Tenryus and two Kumas and are no longer CLs. On the other hand, the two Aobas and two Furutakas are now CLs and have nine 15.5cm rifles, and the four Mogamis are also CLs with fifteen 15.5cm rifles. In their stead, the Dai-Nippon Teikoku Kaigun gained two Niitaka and four Myoko CAs. There are only thirteen CAs at start instead of 18, but they are backed by 11 excellent CLs (including the starting 3 Tokoros, and compared to the rest of the Japanese CLs), so the overall balance is positive for the IJN. four Niitaka CAs are in the pipeline, along five Tokoro CLs.

- The two Kuma CMs can be converted to CLAAs on 8 '42. The six Nagara CLs can be converted to CLAA on 10 '42. The two Tenryu CMs can be converted to CLAAs on 12 '42. The Furutaka CLs and the Aoba CLs can be converted to CLAAs in 5 '43. Collectively, they will help a bit with fleet air defense in the mid- and late- phases of the war.

- Another important addition to the Japanese forces is the 9th Air Fleet. True, it starts as a non-factor, lacking training, but in a few months it has the potential to project a LOT of force. Currently considering to deploy it to the New Guinea-Solomons-New Hebrides area. We will see.

- One "minor" detail that might be overlooked is the IJN G5N2->G8N2 progression. Although the last model arrives in 4 '45 (unless research comes into play), the ability to deliver SIXTEEN 250 Kg bombs at 21 hexes might come in play to disrupt both Allied airfields and Allied LCUs. The last model even has an armor rating of 2. If we ever get to that point, I will let you all know how well these ladies perform.

Well, that is about it. The above are random thoughts that I think make BtS 2.7 an extremely interesting what if. I have not written anything regarding the changes to the Allies. That I leave for a more capable player but, should the writer post it here, it would be an honor.

Thanks all for reading my (probably muddled) thoughts :)

< Message edited by Kitakami -- 5/12/2016 9:04:40 PM >


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Post #: 26
RE: Yamamoto's War: BtS Lite Kitakami-J v Revthought-A ... - 5/13/2016 1:18:22 AM   
scout1


Posts: 2899
Joined: 8/24/2004
From: South Bend, In
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quote:

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Within the first two weeks of the game I checked every SS commander and replace about 60% of them. As each I-Boat comes into service replace that leader as well. They will do incredibly well.

As to Lowpe's comments, I am beginning to agree and see the logic with him. My I-Boats and Ro- have done amazingly well when Dan is not actively using his escorts effectively; however, that is really beginning to change as we move into the Fall of 1943. Will Post my SS 'Kill' sheet sometime soon on the AAR and you'll be impressed.



I assume you're replacing them as you return them to port ..... Pity this can't be a special turn 0 item for units at sea ....

(in reply to John 3rd)
Post #: 27
RE: Yamamoto's War: BtS Lite Kitakami-J v Revthought-A ... - 5/13/2016 1:56:45 AM   
PaxMondo


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quote:

ORIGINAL: scout1


quote:

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Within the first two weeks of the game I checked every SS commander and replace about 60% of them. As each I-Boat comes into service replace that leader as well. They will do incredibly well.

As to Lowpe's comments, I am beginning to agree and see the logic with him. My I-Boats and Ro- have done amazingly well when Dan is not actively using his escorts effectively; however, that is really beginning to change as we move into the Fall of 1943. Will Post my SS 'Kill' sheet sometime soon on the AAR and you'll be impressed.



I assume you're replacing them as you return them to port ..... Pity this can't be a special turn 0 item for units at sea ....

wouldn't be too realistic if you could ...

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Post #: 28
RE: Yamamoto's War: BtS Lite Kitakami-J v Revthought-A ... - 5/13/2016 2:06:37 AM   
scout1


Posts: 2899
Joined: 8/24/2004
From: South Bend, In
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo


quote:

ORIGINAL: scout1


quote:

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Within the first two weeks of the game I checked every SS commander and replace about 60% of them. As each I-Boat comes into service replace that leader as well. They will do incredibly well.

As to Lowpe's comments, I am beginning to agree and see the logic with him. My I-Boats and Ro- have done amazingly well when Dan is not actively using his escorts effectively; however, that is really beginning to change as we move into the Fall of 1943. Will Post my SS 'Kill' sheet sometime soon on the AAR and you'll be impressed.



I assume you're replacing them as you return them to port ..... Pity this can't be a special turn 0 item for units at sea ....

wouldn't be too realistic if you could ...


Agreed .... just that it would be a month or more to put good drivers in place once the pigboats start heading back to port .... unless their recalled earlier and not seeing that benefit at all ...

(in reply to PaxMondo)
Post #: 29
RE: Yamamoto's War: BtS Lite Kitakami-J v Revthought-A ... - 5/13/2016 11:14:01 AM   
ny59giants


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Status: offline
Midway - Since John 3rd and I are taking this mod out for a test drive, this base is great for forward deploying subs off the West Coast. Send in some fuel, an AS, and some Mavis/Emily and you can push forward from there.

The Allies get those two shiny BCs at start which need one thing...crew experience. They are down south of the Gilberts with two hybrid CLV. There is another of the hybrids at Darwin, the Aussie get one at Melbourne, and the Kiwi get one at Aukland. The Yorktown come in at end of Dec '42 with CVL King's Mtn. While not much, it does put pressure on Japan to make sure many of your invasions have proper escorts as the Allied Death Star can bite harder in early '42 than normal. You can convert those 18 knot AOs into CVEs (I don't) and some AKVs into CVEs (I do) in early '42. CV Wasp is a Yorktown Class.

French - Their small navy of 2 BC with escort arrive at Panama in May '42.

Allied aircraft purchases - JuanG developed and we implemented this into all three mods. It may cost 150 to 240 PPs to buy 12 to 18 aircraft, but it does help get you more of those nasty P-38s. My OCD-ness comes out when training pilots and they have been the best fighters through early '43 by far (all my double aces fly Lightnings). The Allies also get dedicated pilot training groups (3 USN, 2 Marines, 3 US Army, 1 Brit fighter).

13th Armored Div - Rather than have it come and then leave until '45 at end of Dec '42, I allow it to stay. It hasn't seen action yet in my game and it will eat up 6 months worth of Sherman replacements, but I want to see how good it can be to have an Allied heavy in the game vs Japan's four tank divisions.

China - I've increased the non-infantry devices by about 100%. Industry has less damage and places like Chungking get greater daily supply. I'm hoping the country can survive longer rather than be captured by late '42.

< Message edited by ny59giants -- 5/13/2016 11:21:37 AM >


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