Manifest Destiny - CHS 2.08, WITP 1.801 Scen 157 - Stay Out Bill!

Manifest Destiny - CHS 2.08, WITP 1.801 Scen 157 - Stay Out Bill! (Full Version)

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jwxspoon -> Manifest Destiny - CHS 2.08, WITP 1.801 Scen 157 - Stay Out Bill! (8/19/2006 8:18:36 PM)
Admiral Halsey (Bill W.) and I have decided to start a new game, using CHS 2.08 scenario 157, and WITP 1.801. In this thread I will relate my experiences as the supreme commander of the Imperial Japanese armed forces. I have previously played only 1 team game as Japanese, in which I was responsible for the Pacific Theater, so I have a lot to learn. Setup: Bill and I decide on a historical start, with Dec 7 surprise, PDU is OFF. In reviewing my forces I make a determination that the following are my long term strategic goals through the end of 1942: 1. Eject the allied forces from Malaya and the Dutch East Indies and push the Allies back North of Rangoon, and south into Australia. 2. Secure and fortify mutually supporting bases in the South Pacific in order to prepare for the eventual allied shift into an offensive posture. 3. Destroy Allied CV’s whenever and wherever possible. (I realize that the allies will respawn some of the CV’s that I destroy, but I must not think that way in this game) 4. Hold China and slowly expand where possible. 5. Secure and fortify the Phillipine Islands. I my dozen or so PBEM games as allies, I noticed a common thread among Japanese players. Often they try to expand too far and too fast, overextending themselves and essentially leaving themselves weak everywhere. I am determined not to let this happen. I am dividing my goals into several geographical areas of focus. 1. Central and South Pacific: Basically east of Rabaul and South of Midway is a block of millions of square miles of ocean and a few key islands that I must secure and fortify. My operations here will be aimed at preparing for my future defense. 2. Dutch East Indies – this is my breadbasket. I must take this carefully and without losing too many forces, and I must get the flow of oil and resources moving early into the home islands. 3. The Phillipines – A measured and careful campaign is necessary here in order to secure a strong defensive buffer for the home islands. 4. China/India – I have very little experience operating in China or India, so my plans are modest. Hold what I have, and then expand slowly. My specific short term goals going into the game: 1. Secure and resupply/reinforce my initial invasion points. Wake Island, the northern Phillipines, Kota Bharu. 2. Move fast and get the Hong Kong takeover finished early. 3. Lock down northwestern Borneo by air and sea to prevent reinforcement and resupply of Kuching and Singkawang. 4. Initiate follow on invasions of Kuching, Naga, Manado, Admiralty Islands and Canton Island. Ensure that enough forces are tasked to each of these invasions that there is no possibility they will fail. Turn 1: December 7th, 1941 Our forces have their orders and we can do little but sit and hope for a good outcome. It isn’t long before the first messages begin to trickle in. Our initial strike on Pearl Harbor goes well. While taking moderate losses (approximately 20 aircraft), our brave pilots sink the BB West Virginia as well as the submarine Tautog. Heavy damage is inflicted on the US ships moored there. [img]http://www.jwxspoon.com/pics/aar/120741phstrike.JPG[/img] Elsewhere all other invasions go well with the exception of Wake Island. Only a portion of our landing forces decide to attack, and it is not enough. Airstrikes against Singapore and the Phillipines are disappointing. Total damages for the day’s attacks are as follows: [img]http://www.jwxspoon.com/pics/aar/120741totals.JPG[/img] And so, on the morning of December 8th, we have our bomb damage assessments in hand as we begin to plot our orders… EDIT - Incidentally, we are already 10 days into the game, so I should be updating this relatively quickly.

jwxspoon -> RE: Manifest Destiny - CHS 2.08, WITP 1.801 Scen 157 - Stay Out Bill! (8/20/2006 4:17:48 AM)
12-8-41 Planning period: DEI Theater – [img]http://www.jwxspoon.com/pics/aar/120841DEI.JPG[/img] Plans here are to continue with the invasion of Kota Bharu and secure it asap. Airfield strikes will take place at every base in Malaya excluding Singapore. I am making a conscious decision to leave Singapore alone as I concentrate on rendering all other allied airbases in Malaya unusable. Once I am firmly established in Malaya, I will turn my attention to Singapore and will render that airfield unusable as well. I order an airlift of a base force into Singora to beef up aviation support presence there, and I transfer a squadron of Zeros in as well. These Zeros are immediately ordered to provide cover for the invasion fleet at Kota Bharu. This proves to be a wise decision. I begin shifting my paratrooper regiments into Saigon from their base at Kiungshan. I constitute the Kuching invasion fleets from Saigon and Camranh Bay. These are large fleets with a huge amount of forces I am loading on them. In the last half a dozen PBEM’s I have played, the Japanese player has repeatedly been defeated at or near Kuching. I am absolutely determined that this will not happen; consequently over 15 separate infantry formations as well as supporting engineers are tasked for the invasion. If I am successful in my plan to lock down northwestern Borneo from resupply or reinforcement, this should be a 1 turn invasion and capture of Kuching, giving me a huge tactical advantage in the northern DEI as I will own a level 4 airfield within just a few days of the start of the war. To this end, I constitute 2 surface combat groups. One is a large DD squadron, led by a CL. They will move at high speed to a position just north of Kuching and will intercept any ships attempting to mine or provide supplies or additional troops. (in my previous games as allies I would often move a brigade from Singapore into Kuching long before the Japanese forces could get there, resulting in a humiliating defeat for the Japanese early in the game) My second invasion force includes 2 BB’s and a mix of CA’s, CL’s and DD’s. They will first move at high speed INTO the Singapore hex, hopefully catching unawares any ships the Allies might have left in the port. Follow on moves will take this force deep into the DEI. My best case scenario would be to force an early confrontation with Force Z and, hopefully, put the Allied capital ships out of commission until at least I have Nells operating from Kuching. A small force of Naval infantry is sent from Camranh Bay to Brunei to secure this base. Brunei produces a nice amount of oil and will be an early present to the Home Islands. Finally my subs are ordered to set up blocking positions in the northern Java sea. Other theaters to come!

jwxspoon -> RE: Manifest Destiny - CHS 2.08, WITP 1.801 Scen 157 - Stay Out Bill! (8/20/2006 5:14:13 AM)
12-08-41 Phillipines Area Planning [img]http://www.jwxspoon.com/pics/aar/120841PIplans.JPG[/img] For the most part my strategy for taking down the Phillipines Island is straightforward, taking bases in the extreme north end of the Phillipines and working down south. The exception to this, however, will be Legaspi and Naga. The allies currently have a large amount of forces in place at Naga. My intention is to use my small Legaspi landing force to lure the enemy’s forces away from Naga. If successful, this will cause the enemy to move south and retake Legaspi just in time for my Naga force to land and occupy the enemy’s positions. It remains to be seen if this will work. My general air philosophy is to take down the enemy air power first in the northern half of the Phillipines. Consequently a large portion of my air forces based in Formosa will be targeting any allied bases that show active aircraft. I am blessed with a large number of recon aircraft and this makes my task easier. I do, however, leave some of my Nells and Betty’s on Naval Attack. Ryujo will move down to Palau and await the arrival of mini-KB, which is being constituted at Chichi Jima as soon as is practical. Hong Kong: Not showing on this map is Hong Kong. I set a large percentage of my combat forces in Canton to move into the Hong Kong hex. Once they arrive, I will use Deliberate Attack until I have reduced the fortifications sufficiently and will then Shock Attack to take the base. I expect Hong Kong to fall within a week’s time. Pacific Theater: [img]http://www.jwxspoon.com/pics/aar/120841PHplan.JPG[/img] My primary first week goals in the Pacific are to finish taking Wake Island and to secure Canton Island. My Canton Island invasion force is ordered to start loading at Kwaj. At Guam, I order my South Seas detachment back onto their ships and tell them to take Wake Island. My unhappy men at Wake are ordered into a defensive posture. KB will move to support the Canton Island invasion, stopping to pound first Johnson Island and then Palmyra along the way.

Ron Saueracker -> RE: Manifest Destiny - CHS 2.08, WITP 1.801 Scen 157 - Stay Out Bill! (8/20/2006 6:01:39 PM)
I'm playing Bill using CHS 1.06 and Bill is Japan. He has made a few major errors that are haunting him as it is March 1943 and I still hold half of Java and the all the islands along the Malay Barrier to Oz. He holds Amboina, and Kendari but they are smoldering craters and have been since early 42 and I'll tell you why in a bit. First, he placed too much emphasis on securing the Phillipines early. There is little or no need to seeing as this will just wither and die on the vine. Land troops on Luzon, maybe 30,000-40,000 max. Luzon is not overly important and you can gradually pound the forces there into oblivion. Mine the hexes leading to Manila as this is the best way to catch subs bringing in supplies and removing cadres of LCUs. Basing some Vals or Anns nearby on Naval Search is a must as well. Mindanao and Jolo are the key areas you need to invest early in the PI. Supports any move south and plugs the route from Manila to points south. Second, he took too long moving on Java and the DEI in general. One must grab the bases along the north coast of Borneo to close that escape route from the PI. Start with the eastern bases and move west to Kuching. Use troops many earmark for Luzon and for this. Once Mindanao is secure and can support 2E bombers, move on Tarakan and march slowly down Borneo's south coast. Further east, Amboina is a relatively easy mark early but Kendari really needs to wait until you have alot of supporting bases or KB in the DEI. Supporting bases...these I can't stress more. Bill failed to occupy and build up any of the bases next to Kendari, Amboina, in the Solomons...basically everywhere. As a result, the bases he paid so dearly for are basically useless to him because of Allied LBA, even the limited amount in CHS. In the DEI, Kendari and Amboina were gradually worn down by LBA and this was possible because they were isloated. Simply developing adjacent bases offers effective fighter defence and forces the enemy to choose from multiple targets...this usually ends up in the Allies not being able to close a base due to A2A related losses. Rabaul has been his for a year or so but it has been untenable due to the 24 B-17s at PM. Bill also had a fixation with grabbing Canton, Johnston, Palmyra and other Central Pacific outposts that really are of little to no importance. I like your idea to cruise south with KB because you might catch his two CV TFs. Other than that I think Midway is more important. Bill took Johnston but it is too close to Hawaii and basically became a target for LBA and cruiser bombardments until captured in early 1943. Midway is farther away from Hawaii, can monitor and harass the bases in Hawaii, and is less vulnerable to attack with a healthy KB. Here is the link to the old AAR to our ongoing game. I think Bill may emulate alot of the strategy I used against him in your game. Good luck and good games![:)] Bill vs Ron

jwxspoon -> RE: Manifest Destiny - CHS 2.08, WITP 1.801 Scen 157 - Stay Out Bill! (8/20/2006 6:45:15 PM)
Thanks Ron, This is my third game with Bill (2 are still ongoing) and he has become one of my favorite opponents, because he's not afraid to fight and handles winning or losing equally. He's consistent and an adult about the whole affair, which is so refreshing. If Bill has a fault tactically that I have seen it is that he is sometimes too aggressive. But that leads him to some good results in some games too, you'll see as I develop the AAR (we are actually far ahead in this game) that there are mixed results from it. I have to disagree with you on midway, I would much prefer to take Canton Island over Midway. Taking Canton Island, Baker and Tarawa and building them up gives you a lot of options in the south pacific. Baker and Canton Island in particular are nice because they can support each other. You're absolutely right about northern Borneo, it's so important to get a good start there. I'll try to get another couple of days in the aar done today.

Ron Saueracker -> RE: Manifest Destiny - CHS 2.08, WITP 1.801 Scen 157 - Stay Out Bill! (8/20/2006 6:52:50 PM)
Bill is my favourite opponent as well. I take beatings all the time as I enjoy defending more than attacking (hence I play Allies alot) and I'm actually going to get a chance as Allies to start offensives. Most Japanese players tend to throw in the towel as the inevitable highmark point passes. Nice that an opponent rides the downslope once in awhile. [:D] As for Midway, I was suggesting that this is more important than Johnston Is. Canton is a good seaplane base but is vulnerable to Samoa based B-24s.

jwxspoon -> RE: Manifest Destiny - CHS 2.08, WITP 1.801 Scen 157 - Stay Out Bill! (8/20/2006 6:57:35 PM)
I understand. That does, of course, assume he has Samoa. :)

jwxspoon -> RE: Manifest Destiny - CHS 2.08, WITP 1.801 Scen 157 - Stay Out Bill! (8/20/2006 7:37:35 PM)
12-08-41 Combat Week at a glance so far: Pearl Harbor Air Strike – heavy damage achieved Singapore Air Strike – limited damage Manilla Air Strike – limited damage Today (12-08-41) significant events: Aparri, Vigan, and Guam are taken Decoy force takes Legaspi – will enemy Naga troops take the bait? Enemy is using large #’s of P40’s on naval attack in the PI (Phillipine Islands). No results so far. Enemy is launching B-17 raids from Cagayan with no effectiveness. 2 unsuccessful Nell naval attacks on Prince of Wales near Muntok. My heavy surface combat force moves into Singapore Harbor, catching and sinking the armed merchant cruiser Kanimbla. 11:9 aircraft destroyed ratio for the turn, slightly in my favor. Not good enough. Things move according to plan. No real surprises yet, just the disappointing air attacks on Prince of Wales at Muntok. Bill is living dangerously and I hope he keeps them in range for next turn. I am quite pleased to catch and kill the AP Kanimbla. In other games I have seen the Kanimbla wreak havoc with unsuspecting PG/PC or MSW’s. Combat pic of the day: [img]http://www.jwxspoon.com/pics/aar/120841action1.JPG[/img] Orders: My heavy surface group is ordered to move to Muntok, hopefully to engage Force Z.

jwxspoon -> RE: Manifest Destiny - CHS 2.08, WITP 1.801 Scen 157 - Stay Out Bill! (8/20/2006 8:47:31 PM)
12-09-41 Combat Week at a glance so far: Pearl Harbor Air Strike – heavy damage achieved Singapore Air Strike – limited damage Manilla Air Strike – limited damage Decoy force takes Legaspi – will enemy Naga troops take the bait? Today (12-09-41) significant events: Laoag is taken in northern PI My Light Surface Attack force catches and kills a DM and an ML at Kuching Allied PT attacks on Legaspi are fought off – 5 PT boats sunk IJN Subs torpedo 2x AK, 1x AP, 1x MSW Force Z is spotted in the Java Sea Allied torpedo bombers hit Kota Bharu harbor, hitting several AP’s Enemy troops seen at Rahaeng! Many allied planes destroyed on the ground in PI Comments: I’m very pleased with my airfield targeting strategy in the PI. Manilla was hit hard and it was a good turn for killing Allied aircraft in the PI. No joy for my heavy surface force at Muntok. Repeated enemy air attacks yield no hits for the allies. I decide to push further south into the Java Sea in the hopes of catching Force Z. Enemy troops were spotted in the Rahaeng hex! Damn that aggressive allied player! My subs are really making a nuisance of themselves. My biggest problem with them is that some are running out of torpedos already. This brings to light an issue that I must address soon – AD’s to resupply my destroyers’ torpedos and AE’s for large ship ammo. I constitute a few transport TF’s to address this issue. Planning: All is moving according to schedule. I must react to the allied incursion at Rahaeng, and obviously the only way to get troops there NOW is to parachute them in, so the order is given. 1st Parachute Regiment will begin jumping into Rahaeng next turn. My heavy surface force will move south farther into the Java Sea. [image]http://www.jwxspoon.com/pics/aar/120941action1.JPG[/image]

jwxspoon -> RE: Manifest Destiny - CHS 2.08, WITP 1.801 Scen 157 - Stay Out Bill! (8/20/2006 10:32:10 PM)
12-10-41 & 12-11-41Combat Week at a glance so far: Pearl Harbor Air Strike – heavy damage achieved Singapore Air Strike – limited damage Manilla Air Strike – limited damage Decoy force takes Legaspi – will enemy Naga troops take the bait? Enemy troops attack Rahaeng Today (12-10-41) significant events: IJN Subs torpedo an AK Friendly DD hits a sub-layed mine in Saigon Airfield strikes against enemy at Singkawang, Kota Bharu, Alor Star, Manilla, Lingayen, Wake Island – many enemy planes killed on the ground. More allied torpedo hits in Kota Bharu harbor Strafing Zeros and torpedo bombing Nells catch 2 DD’s and a PG in the PI, hitting them hard. Heavy surface fleet is near Batavia – CA Atago takes a bomb hit but no serious damage. IJA Paras defend Rahaeng successfully. Enemy troops spotted at Sorong! Kota Bharu falls to Japanese forces. [img]http://www.jwxspoon.com/pics/aar/121041status.JPG[/img] 12-11-41 significant events: IJN Subs torpedo allied AS, AK Hvy Surface Fleet kills allied CA Exeter in surface action Enemy infantry spotted moving toward Canton, near Hong Kong Zeros strafe PT boats in Manilla harbor KB strikes Johnson Island port; airfield Comments: These are a great couple of turns. The real strawberry on the 10th is the 37:7 aircraft kill ratio. Most of those enemy aircraft are destroyed on the ground in the PI, which tells me my airfield targeting strategy is working. Bill’s move at Singora is unexpected and makes me unhappy; evidently he moved infantry forces from Alor Star to Singora. I immediately suspend further air transport to Rahaeng and begin using all available transport aircraft to move combat forces to help defend Singora. This turns out to be enough because on the 11th Bill is unable to take the base and takes quite a few casualties there. Taking Kota Bharu opens up another air base on Malaya, which is a good thing. On the 11th I get an unexpected gift, the allied CA Exeter decides to take on my heavy surface fleet. Exeter went down with all hands without scoring a single hit on my ships. With few torpedos left, and AAA ammo virtually exhausted, my Hvy Surface Group retires to an area north of Kuching and joins the Light Surface Group in order to support the upcoming invasion there. [img]http://www.jwxspoon.com/pics/aar/121141exeterdeath.JPG[/img] KB air units trash the port and airfields at Johnson Island for no losses. KB moves south; I order it to accelerate to full speed to possibly catch Allied transports at Palmyra. [img]http://www.jwxspoon.com/pics/aar/121141johnsonisland.JPG[/img]

jwxspoon -> RE: Manifest Destiny - CHS 2.08, WITP 1.801 Scen 157 - Stay Out Bill! (8/21/2006 1:25:54 AM)
Dec 12, 1941 Week at a glance so far: Pearl Harbor Air Strike – heavy damage achieved Singapore Air Strike – limited damage Manilla Air Strike – limited damage Enemy troops attack Rahaeng Enemy troops attack Singora 12-12-41 Combat: Enemy takes the bait! Naga forces move to expel Legaspi forces! IJN Subs torpedo the following: 3x AK, 1x AP, 1x MSW Allied sub torpedos AP near Camranh Bay Light Surface Force engages and sinks: 1x AP, 2x AK, 1x AS PI Surface Group engages and sinks: 1x TK, 1x AK Heavy Surface Group bombards Kuching Kuching invasion fleet begins unloading CVL Ryujo strikes Manado airfields Zeros strafe PT boats in Manilla Harbor Force Z sighted in Java Sea, moving north Comments: A good turn for my subs. Singora and Rahaeng are holding and we continue to strike enemy airfields. My 2 DD forces (each led by a CL) rack up enemy merchant shipping kills. Force Z is spotted moving North in the Java Sea. This could mean the enemy is going to try to interdict my invasion of Kuching. My Heavy and Light Surface Forces there are dangerously low on ammunition, but I must move them both into the Kuching hex in order to block access to my invasion fleet. The enemy bites on my decoy at Legaspi and moves large amounts of infantry to Legaspi from Naga. This is great, as my Naga invasion fleet is only a few days away. Planning: Landing on Naga should cut off the enemy forces at Legaspi. Landing on Manado will give me an important fighter base to cover subsequent operations in South DEI. KB is approaching Palmyra and I will prepare for an airfield and port strike there. I will, however, make them secondary strikes just in case there is a juicy naval target nearby.

jwxspoon -> RE: Manifest Destiny - CHS 2.08, WITP 1.801 Scen 157 - Stay Out Bill! (8/22/2006 12:37:00 AM)
12-13-1941 Combat Week at a glance so far: Pearl Harbor Air Strike – heavy damage achieved Singapore Air Strike – limited damage Manilla Air Strike – limited damage Decoy force takes Legaspi – enemy Naga troops take the bait! Enemy troops attack Rahaeng & are repulsed by my Paratroopers Enemy attacks Singora from Alor Starr and is blocked by Paratroopers KB moves south after striking Johnson Island Kuching invasion begins Today (12-13-41) Significant Events: Troop Transport hits an allied submarine layed mine in Saigon harbor. IJN Subs torpedo 3 Allied cargo ships (AK’s) IJA troops landing on San Fernando, in Phillipine Islands Airstrikes against Rabaul, Manilla, Tavoy Enemy Carrier attacks KB near Palmyra! Enemy CV Lexington and several escorts sunk near Palmyra IJN Carrier Akagi receives 1x1000lb bomb hit Comments: Wow. Big day. KB Speeds south after strikes against Johnson Island and catches the US Carrier Lexington. Lexington launches strikes. All but 3 SBD bombers are shot down; however one of the SBD’s manages to bomb our CV Akagi. Damage is negligible. Day Air attack on TF at 109,90 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 92 Allied aircraft F2A-2 Buffalo x 10 SBD-3 Dauntless x 34 TBD Devastator x 12 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 5 damaged Allied aircraft losses F2A-2 Buffalo: 10 destroyed SBD-3 Dauntless: 28 destroyed TBD Devastator: 8 destroyed Japanese Ships CV Akagi, Bomb hits 1 BB Kirishima Our return strikes are devastating: Japanese aircraft D3A2 Val x 85 B5N2 Kate x 98 Allied aircraft F2A-2 Buffalo x 9 Japanese aircraft losses D3A2 Val: 8 destroyed, 31 damaged B5N2 Kate: 9 destroyed, 33 damaged Allied Ships DD Flusser CV Lexington, Bomb hits 14, Torpedo hits 6, on fire, heavy damage CA Chicago, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage CA Astoria, Bomb hits 1 And the hits keep on coming. Lexington’s ability to launch aircraft is obviously eliminated after this first strike. Subsequent strikes do the following: CA Chicago, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage DD Drayton, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage CA Astoria, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage CA Portland, Bomb hits 10, Torpedo hits 5, on fire, heavy damage DD Mahan, Bomb hits 1, on fire [img]http://www.jwxspoon.com/pics/aar/121341lexington.JPG[/img] I had no idea the Lexington was near Palmyra and am amazed and gratified that the allies tried to fight. For no loss we have now eliminated 1/3 of allied carrier air capability in the Pacific Ocean. In other news, Force Z appears poised for a Kuching attack. I can only try and weather the storm with my surface combat fleets.

jwxspoon -> RE: Manifest Destiny - CHS 2.08, WITP 1.801 Scen 157 - Stay Out Bill! (11/6/2006 12:12:55 AM)
12-14-41 Week at a glance so far: KB catches Lexington CV group near Palmyra. Lexington sunk Today (12-10-41) significant events: KB cleans up on the remainder of Lexington’s escort ships. Huge surface battle at Kuching – Force Z versus Japanese heavy surface force. Kuching falls to Japanese assault. Hong Kong falls to Japanese assault. Comments: Another action filled turn. Force Z attacks at Kuching and is intercepted by two Japanese surface fleets. A wild melee ensues, with heavy damage being taken by both sides. Several Allied and Japanese fleet units are sunk. The Japanese lose the battleship Kongo to heavy and accurate fire from the Prince of Wales and Repulse. The allies take damage across the board but the largest ship they lose is the CL De Ruyter. My surface fleets were empty on torpedos and this made a big difference in the battle and probably cost me the Kongo. Still, the Allies were unable to break through into the invasion fleet and later in the day the allies lose Kuching as a result. I lose no time in placing bombers on the newly captured airfield at Kuching.

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