Once Again into the Breach - Mike (J) vs. tc464 (A)

[Mike Solli]

Michael, great idea. I have finished the turn yet.

[Mike Solli]

Ok, Soryu has a new Captain, 66 Leadership and 60 Admin. She's got the AR working on her. Hiryu is still at sea. Her Capatin's Leadership is 64. Don't know the Admin.

The Tinas were too far to reach Truk today. They'll get there tomorrow. I forgot all about using Naval HQs. I have 4 Fleet & SE Fleet HQs available. I'll use 4 Fleet because it's smaller. The commander's leadership/admin are 59/70. Best admin available.

Edit: I got the 8x H6K2-L there. They'll start moving the 4 Fleet. It'll help.

[ny59giants]

Work on expanding Rabaul's port size. [;)]

I know that Admin rating is important, but I hope my memory was correct on Leadership skill and that it wasn't Inspiration. [&:]

[Mike Solli]

Inspiration is 73 so either way it's good.

[obvert]

Wow. Bad subs. Bad.

That is not a good few days. A miracle it wasn't worse though. Looks good for Soryu.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

Ship losses for Dec 41:

With the Allied ship VP's at 665, I'm guessing a fair amount of FOW on this list. What do you think? Maybe 2 BB's? That would be about 400 pts depending upon which ones ... so maybe 3 BB's tops?

[Mike Solli]

Yeah, I figure 2-3 BBs sunk but Ted keeps saying I did really well at PH. I was at 7 until a few days ago. PoW and 6 US BBs.

[Cribtop]

Well, I can't tell whether you had bad luck to get hit or good luck to save Soryu and maybe even Hiryu. Fingers crossed for them!

[Mike Solli]

I know what you mean, Cribtop. [:D]


1 Jan 42 Aircraft & Engine Update

While waiting for my turn (and the fate of CarDiv 2), I thought I’d assess the state of my airframe and engine production as well as look ahead 6 months to see what changes will need to occur. I’ll do it by engine type since that seems to make the most sense to me.

Hitachi Amakaze

This engine is used for the Glen. I was given advice to build out the pool as quickly as possible to free up the Glen factory for other uses. Taking this advice, I increased the Glen factory to 20. Currently, there are 19 Glens in the pool. The engine pool is 108, so this should take about 5 months to complete.

Nakajima Hikari

This engine is used only for the B5N1 Kate. I built up a Kate factory to size 16 and will use up the engines. There are currently 88 in the pool. There are 84 Kates in the pool, which is a lot, but I’ll continue to build them until I empty the engine pool. Then I will be able to convert the Kate factory to something else.

Nakajima Ha-5

This engine is used only for the Ki-57-I. I am using up the engines for this aircraft. The airframe factory size is 20 and the engine pool is 79. The engines will be consumed in about 2 months, allowing the airframe factory to upgrade. This brings us to…..

Mitsubishi Ha-31

This engine is used for the Ki-46-II, which has a monthly production of 20. In Mar 42, the Ki-57-II comes online. I will not upgrade the Ki-57-I to the –II until all of the Ha-5 engines are consumed. At that point, I’ll upgrade. I suspect that there will be a large number of the -I in the pool so the –II probably will not begin producing for a while after it comes online.

Currently, the engine production is at +5 need and the pool is 257. I am going to shut it down until the pool drops to 100. That will save 720 HI a month. There is not a great need for this engine throughout the war. In May 43 the Nick FB comes online and in Apr 44 the Nick NF comes online. I don’t expect to produce many of either plane. In addition, when the Dinah upgrades to the –III, the engine requirement changes, reducing the need for this engine further.

Mitsubishi Ha-32

There is a substantial need for this engine. The Betty series and Sally series use it throughout the war. In addition, the Emily comes online in Jul 42, which will probably use 40 engines a month. The Jill, Jack and Francis series also will use them throughout the war. I expect to increase production on this engine periodically throughout the war.

Currently production is at 100, -40 need with a pool of only 12. I am going to increase the engine factory by +50 to give me a 10 engine surplus per month. When the factory increase is complete, I will re-assess.

Mitsubishi Ha-33

The need for this engine will increase over time. Currently, this engine is used for the Val, Jake, Nell, Mavis and Tina. In Apr 42, the H6K2-L factory will come online, but few of these will be produced. Later in the war, the Judy, Tabby, Dinah –III, Ki-100 Tony and Randy series will need this engine. Also, the A6M8 will use it if Ted doesn’t surrender by then.

In the short term, there is a shortage of 84 engines a month, assuming 100% production from all current airframe factories. Given its need later in the war, I will increase production by 90 now and reassess around Dec 42, when the Dinah –III comes online. By then, a nice pool should exist.

Mitsubishi Ha-34

There is currently no need for this engine. Production is at 10 with a pool of 10. I am increasing it by 150 for the onset of Helen production in Apr 42. The only other airframe that needs this engine is the Tojo series, which begins production in Sep 42. I will increase production to support this airframe, which I plan to use in abundance. I estimate production of the Tojo to be 60-80, which will increase the engine production by that same amount. The monthly requirement for this engine may be as high as 240 by the end of 1942. Fortunately, it shouldn’t increase after that.

Mitsubishi Ha-35

Currently, I’m in good shape with the mother of all engines. Once all factory increases are complete (in 8-26 days), there will be a surplus of 12 engines per month. That’s assuming the Ki-48 is producing, which is not a given. The Ki-48 is currently off. While the Lily is off, the engine surplus is 80 per month. With a nice surplus of 141 engines currently, I’m in good shape. Many more engines will be needed though, as there are many important aircraft that will use it. This includes the Zero series and Oscar series. Other minor aircraft include the Kate (until the Jill comes online), Irving, C5M2 Babs, and Lily. I don’t expect to produce the Lily much more, if at all though. It all comes down to the number of Zeros and Oscars that will need to be produced.

Here’s the rollup:

Ha-32: +50
Ha-33: +90
Ha-34: +150

Ha-31: Off for ~4 months
Ki-48-Ib: Off for ??? – possibly indefinitely.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

Hitachi Amakaze

This engine is used for the Glen. I was given advice to build out the pool as quickly as possible to free up the Glen factory for other uses. Taking this advice, I increased the Glen factory to 20. Currently, there are 19 Glens in the pool. The engine pool is 108, so this should take about 5 months to complete.

Let me preface my comment here by reminding you that I play AI and I've only made the GC into early '43 once and end of '42 once ... not far. However, in both of those games I had to build additional Amakazes to support my Glen production ....

It might be me and how I use them ... I use them a lot in the role of deep recon ... and I lose a lot to CAP because of it. But for me, those Glen subs are serious intel sources that I use mostly in that role ... and then in the more traditional role of convoy scouting.

Anyway, I tend not to lose the Glen boats very quickly, but I do lose a lot of Glen's ... from memory alone here as I don't have a savegame handy ... I think I built over 200 Glens in that game that ended in early '43 and had only 40 or so in the pool. I think I had lost only 2 of the Glen boats at that time, so most of them were still in service.

So, yes I also increase Glento about 20/month ... but I keep the Amakaze factory online and building as well for a while ...

YMMV ... depends on how you use them ...

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli
The only other airframe that needs this engine is the Tojo series, which begins production in Sep 42. I will increase production to support this airframe, which I plan to use in abundance. I estimate production of the Tojo to be 60-80, which will increase the engine production by that same amount.

PBEM Scenario 1, PDU ON, 7/1943. My Tojo IIa production is 183/month and I need every last one of 'em. I think you'll find that this airframe is the answer to your early-midwar fighter woes and you should crank out a ****load of 'em. 60-80/month won't come close to your needs.

[Mike Solli]

Pax, I'll keep track of my Glen losses vs. production. So far I haven't lost any, but then, it's still pretty early.

Chickenboy - Sheesh! How many Oscars are you producing?

[Mike Solli]

1 Jan 42

Sub War

I think I sank a Dutch sub off Cam Ranh Bay. At least it's showing up as sunk. I also believe I may be hitting some subs around Rabaul. I have a daitai each of Bettys, Vals and Kates on ASW duty only 3 or 4 hexes out vectored to 150-210. That's 63 planes in that small area. A chutai of C5M2 Babs are flying Naval search over that area as well. I'm getting lots of "hits" on subs. Some of them have to be real. Nothing showing up as sunk but all I want is for them to keep their heads down and not take out the Hiryu.

5 Fleet

Nothing new to report.

4 Fleet

Nothing new to report.

SE Fleet

Things are good with the Soryu. She's repaired a lot of flot damage. Now she's at 28-36(36)-15(9)-0. She's looking good.

Wakaba is 2 hexes out from Rabaul and I see 2 Allied subs in her hex with 1 to the north of her. She's running the gauntlet. Her damage is about the same at 10-77(67)-24(17)-0. One or two more days to go.

Hiryu is still 4 hexes out. Her damage is a hair better in flot at 33-79(63)-28(16)-0. She has two ASW TFs escorting her and there are another 3 between her and Rabaul. I'm hoping the subs are too harried to get a shot at her between the ASW TFs and planes. If she takes another shot, she's done for.

Still keeping fingers crossed.

Mindanao

Nothing new to report.

Philippines

The bombardment is taking it's toll on the enemy. Two of the infantry units are now combat ineffective and 3 of the remaining 4 are pretty weak. I'm doing a DA tomorow.

Borneo

I took Samarinda today. The Oil is at 99(1). In addition, I destroyed 6 B339Ds and 1 139WH-3 on the ground. Banzai!

Tobali

I successfully landed the 22 Air Flotilla HQ there. I'm working on the airfield but need more engineers. I'll fly some in. I used Yamada Det to LRCAP the base while I landed the HQ. Sure enough, 11 Vildebeests flew out of Palembang unescorted. I got 8 of them and the remaining 3 missed. Yamada Det gained 2 more elite pilots today.

That BC is showing up at Batavia again. It's just sitting there all alone. I think Ted doesn't know I can see it. My Nells won't fly against it unfortunately, but they can only use bombs so it probably wouldn't do any good anyway. I have a sub 2 hexes away that's been sitting there in case she decided to sortie. I've decided to send the sub into the hex to get a shot at her. I'm hoping there aren't any mines there.

Burma

The forces continue into Burma meeting no resistance.

China

Nothing new to report.

Malaya

The 18 Division moved into Tumuloh over a river so a SA ensued. The last 4 Allied units in Malaya surrendered. The 18 Div took no losses to 1522(269) Brit/Indian losses. Now just Singapore remains.

The IG, 2, 5, 18 and 38 Divisions will attack Singapore. The 56 Division and 3x tank regiments are headed to Burma.

Other Stuff

I increased the Ha-32 factories by 50, Ha-33 by 90 and Ha-34 by 30 (with 120 more coming later). I also turned the Ha-31 factory off for awhile.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

Pax, I'll keep track of my Glen losses vs. production. So far I haven't lost any, but then, it's still pretty early.

Chickenboy - Sheesh! How many Oscars are you producing?

~100 / month (IIb) model. The extras will make for fine Kamikazes later.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli
The only other airframe that needs this engine is the Tojo series, which begins production in Sep 42. I will increase production to support this airframe, which I plan to use in abundance. I estimate production of the Tojo to be 60-80, which will increase the engine production by that same amount.

PBEM Scenario 1, PDU ON, 7/1943. My Tojo IIa production is 183/month and I need every last one of 'em. I think you'll find that this airframe is the answer to your early-midwar fighter woes and you should crank out a ****load of 'em. 60-80/month won't come close to your needs.

I'm with CB here ... I was producing 120 Tojo + 80 Oscar => 200 IJA fighters/month.

[Cribtop]

Mike, I suggest keeping some minimal Glen production. I also use them for deep recon and suffer losses. Can't imagine going the whole war with only 100ish Glens.

[ny59giants]

Did you take the air groups off Soryu and place the Vals and Kates on ASW duty?? I would have assigned them the arc that Hiryu is coming into Rabaul from and used max range for them at 1000' and hope they would have at least increased their DL so your ASW TF would have a better chance.

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Did you take the air groups off Soryu and place the Vals and Kates on ASW duty?? I would have assigned them the arc that Hiryu is coming into Rabaul from and used max range for them at 1000' and hope they would have at least increased their DL so your ASW TF would have a better chance.

Yup, that's exactly what I did. And Soryu's Zeros are flying LRCAP over Hiryu on the off chance that Ted sends some planes over. He hasn't so far.

[Mike Solli]

Ok guys, you convinced me about the Glens. I'll figure that out in May-June when the engines run low. [:D]

200+ fighters. How the hell do you pay for that with your HI?! I need more!

[obvert]

Wow. If Hiryu makes that's huge! God luck with her.

With Glens I have no idea how many I'll need, but I have lost I think 3 in two months so far. I have the original engine factory on at 11 per month, and the Glens producing at 20. I was planning to turn both off and change them up once the plane production caught up to the engines and exhausted them. I thought I might be at 150-170 Glens by then.