Sqz stands down. The AAR is now concluded. Sqz (A) vs. obvert (J)

Post descriptions of your brilliant victories and unfortunate defeats here.

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SqzMyLemon
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RE: A pick up game and it's not Lowpe! Sqz (A) vs. obvert (J)

Post by SqzMyLemon »

July 9/44:

Other than the abandonment of Taung Gyi, the turn was quiet. Only a British submarine DC'd off the coast of Burma suffering five near miss hits. System damage is 12% so off to Calcutta for repairs.

Ordered a deliberate attack against Taung Gyi just in case the base doesn't auto flip. I'll start to redeploy troops once the base control changes. Taung Gyi is currently a level 3 airbase and I'll begin expansion immediately. Supply will be a limiting factor on air operations, but it will be nice to have another forward airbase.

The air force in Burma will begin tactical bombing of weaker Japanese positions. I just want to win small tactical air engagements here, in the short term.

Australia:

The supply situation for Allied forces in Northern Australia is improving. With Normanton and Mornington Island having large airbases now, I've deployed as many transports as the fields will hold. Daily supply runs to Tennant Creek is helping improve the logistical situation. I should be able to start conducting limited fighter operations from Fenton and Katherine. The next target is Darwin. Japanese air strength at the base ranges from 100-120 aircraft on any given day. There are also currently 20+ ships in port. I'll be ordering sweeps and bombing of the base within days. An all out effort will be made to suppress Darwin's airbase and allow the Japanese defenders to be bombed daily. Time to make life unpleasant.

Luck is the residue of design - John Milton

Don't mistake lack of talent for genius - Peter Steele (Type O Negative)
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RE: A pick up game and it's not Lowpe! Sqz (A) vs. obvert (J)

Post by SqzMyLemon »

July 10/44:

Burma:

Taung Gyi auto flips and Erik hopes I enjoy the malaria and monsoon that goes with liberating the base. I also inherit level 6 forts, so that frees up quite a bit of AV on my end.

Toungoo has been reinforced heavily with Japanese troops. I'll leave a strong force in the wooded hex northeast of the base, but the bulk of my army will shift west again to put pressure on the hex between Prome and Toungoo. I will fight in the 2x terrain and attempt to clear the hex, then contest Prome from the east.

Burma will still be a grind, but conditions now will allow me to fight in better terrain and with adequate supply.


Australia:

Allied air units will redeploy and operations to fully suppress Darwin's airbase will commence next turn. There are 21 ships in port that I'd like to target as well. I will risk combined sweeps and bomber attacks on the same day, in an effort to get to those ships. If I just sweep first, I believe there will be no ships left in port to bomb the following day. I'll accept the losses if the turn goes bad, as I'm sure it will.


Thoughts:

Elsewhere, Allied preparation continue for the next big push continue. I do have smaller operations planned for the Marshall's in the meantime.
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Don't mistake lack of talent for genius - Peter Steele (Type O Negative)
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RE: A pick up game and it's not Lowpe! Sqz (A) vs. obvert (J)

Post by Lokasenna »

Hrm. You spent all that time moving east to the hex outside of Toungoo, now you're doing to go back west? Why?

Why wouldn't you put pressure via the road down from Taung Gyi?
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RE: A pick up game and it's not Lowpe! Sqz (A) vs. obvert (J)

Post by SqzMyLemon »

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

Hrm. You spent all that time moving east to the hex outside of Toungoo, now you're doing to go back west? Why?

Why wouldn't you put pressure via the road down from Taung Gyi?

Two reasons. Supply and terrain. I don't want to be fighting in 3x defensive terrain and the supply situation worsens the farther east my troops move. I only wanted to liberate Taung Gyi to cover my flank, now that that is accomplished my original offensive to force a gap between Prome and Toungoo seems more feasible. I'm trying to get Japanese troops to shift to create openings I can exploit. Erik still has the interior lines of communication and can reinforce wherever I choose to move faster than I can. I'm trying to keep his troops near Taung Gyi, away from my ultimate goal. Burma now is one big diversion to tie down as many Japanese troops as possible, and advance towards Rangoon without trashing my Commonwealth forces fighting in 3x terrain.
Luck is the residue of design - John Milton

Don't mistake lack of talent for genius - Peter Steele (Type O Negative)
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RE: A pick up game and it's not Lowpe! Sqz (A) vs. obvert (J)

Post by SqzMyLemon »

The July 15/44 turn is away. Heavy bomber attacks against Darwin were ordered on the 14th, but weather over Darwin scrubbed the missions. I have kept my orders the same for the 15th, but had to stand down two LRCAP fighter squadrons due to fatigue. I added one more to compensate, but against the Japanese CAP I need all the numbers I can get. I'm waiting for Groote and Merauke to reach level 8 airbases which will allow more aircraft to be involved in future raids. This is the start of a dedicated air campaign to suppress Darwin and bomb the Japanese defenders into dust.

Initial recon of Esperance shows no Japanese defenders. I'm going to send in a small amphibious force, rather than march overland as initially planned.

The last of my forces assigned to Mindanao and the Marianas have left San Francisco. I'm fully prepped for Babeldoab, Guam and Tinian. I'm at various stages of prep for other targets in the area. Targets in the Philippines include Davao, Cagayan, Cebu and some of the other island bases. It probably won't be until late August that I can move. I'd like to wait until October when all my CVE's can have their AA suites upgraded. I don't know, it may be worth the wait to do so, at least before I move against the Philippines and Marianas. I can't wait until October to hit Babeldoab though. That needs to happen before the end of August. I'd like to be entrenched in the Philippines and Marianas before the end of the year.
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RE: A pick up game and it's not Lowpe! Sqz (A) vs. obvert (J)

Post by SqzMyLemon »

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

I will risk combined sweeps and bomber attacks on the same day, in an effort to get to those ships. If I just sweep first, I believe there will be no ships left in port to bomb the following day. I'll accept the losses if the turn goes bad, as I'm sure it will.

I'm officially insane. I keep trying for tactical surprise with combined sweeps and bombing attacks and I get burnt every time. Bombers go in first and get hit hard, unescorted bombers get wiped out and fragments pad Japanese stats yet again. Allied sweeps fly last and encounter no CAP left to engage. My own fault.

I lose 46 bombers to hit three ships in port...stupid of me to expect anything remotely like reality in this game. The air model has taken tactical surprise away from a player, if it always sends Allied sweeps in last. It just kills me how the AI prioritizes missions. Bah...ridiculous.
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RE: A pick up game and it's not Lowpe! Sqz (A) vs. obvert (J)

Post by witpqs »

Bombers go in first and get hit hard, unescorted bombers get wiped out and fragments pad Japanese stats yet again. Allied sweeps fly last and encounter no CAP left to engage.
You should have read my AAR! [:D]
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RE: A pick up game and it's not Lowpe! Sqz (A) vs. obvert (J)

Post by SqzMyLemon »

ORIGINAL: witpqs

You should have read my AAR! [:D]

I am reading your AAR, just haven't got to that part yet. Andav mentioned I am having the same troubles you did with sweeps. I just don't get it and I'm frustrated as all get out. I could accept this once in awhile, but every time?

Did you just sweep until no opposition then bomb? Did you give up on trying to hit ships in port, or loaded airfields?

Am I way off base thinking this neuters any tactical surprise I may get on my opponent, because I have to telegraph all my bombing targets with sweeps for days on end first?
Luck is the residue of design - John Milton

Don't mistake lack of talent for genius - Peter Steele (Type O Negative)
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Lowpe
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RE: A pick up game and it's not Lowpe! Sqz (A) vs. obvert (J)

Post by Lowpe »

Did you do any of the things/tactics I previously mentioned?

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RE: A pick up game and it's not Lowpe! Sqz (A) vs. obvert (J)

Post by SqzMyLemon »

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Did you do any of the things/tactics I previously mentioned?

When I can, yes. In this case I can't fly from the same base and no air HQ. But this is happening all the time to me, whether I have all of your suggestions in place. It is inexcusable for the AI to continue to handcuff me like this. It does not happen to Erik, his sweeps come first, then his escorted bombers, and they aren't flying from the same bases either. My raids get chopped up the more aircraft I use and I get slaughtered. I just want some sweeps to fly first, in this case I had 75 P-47's and 25 P-38's from three different bases and all swept last despite being closer to the target than the bombers. Even if I trade 1:1, or heck even 1:2, against the CAP, my bombers would be facing a hell of a lot less fighters, but no, they get sacrificed every time no matter what I do. I can't conduct combined missions and it sucks big time and totally unfair. I never used to have these problems, something has changed that I don't know the fix for. I've never seen it in any of my other games where it's so consistent that my sweeps don't fly first.

I hope this doesn't come out wrong, but I'm not an idiot, insane apparently, but not an idiot. I don't have a frigging clue what works and doesn't in this game anymore. Even if I order only two squadrons to attack the same base, from the same base, same HQ...etc., the bombers reach the target before the sweeps almost every time no matter what I try.
Luck is the residue of design - John Milton

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Lowpe
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RE: A pick up game and it's not Lowpe! Sqz (A) vs. obvert (J)

Post by Lowpe »

I don't understand why you couldn't have:

Assigned one bomber to a night run.

Assigned some LRCAP.

Assigned escorts to your bombers.

Why you can't have an air HQ with your bombers. They make a huge difference. I don't know if your bases are overstacked squadron or plane wise and what the morale, fatigue and ledership of your squadrons are. It is hard for me to comprehend that you would undertake a major bombing campaign without an HQa with great skill in 1944 as the Allies.

If your bombers are going in at a lower altitude than your fighters are sweeping, that can account for the timing problems.

Why, knowing that there are enemy fighters at the base, and in numbers, simply sweep a day before the raid. It is Darwin, as I understand it, those high SR Japanese planes aren't going anywhere.

Attempting a shore bombardment. I don't recall seeing a map of what you have nearbye, but even running in a Fletcher task force to bombard at night can really cause havoc.

You are giving us very partial information and blaming the AI, but Japan isn't having the problem. So I would posit it isn't all the AI's fault.

This is all constructive criticism. I just got butchered in the air, probably worse than you. Bad weather, sweeps coming later, being outplayed. To me, that you don't have complete control over the units is one of the games greatest attractions.[:)]

One thing you can try is, if there are no ships in the area, assign your bombers to naval strike first and airfield strike secondary mission. Of course the field the bombers pick to hit will be commanders discretion but with some selective recon and range settings you can finesse that. Your bombers will hit in the afternoon, after the morning sweeps.
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RE: A pick up game and it's not Lowpe! Sqz (A) vs. obvert (J)

Post by SqzMyLemon »

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Jul 15, 44
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Darwin , at 76,124

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 63 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 21 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 6
A6M5b Zero x 45
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 49
Ki-84a Frank x 37

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 3
B-24D1 Liberator x 22
P-38J Lightning x 69

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5b Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
B-24D1 Liberator: 2 destroyed, 12 damaged
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 destroyed by flak
P-38J Lightning: 3 destroyed

Japanese Ships
LST T-113, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
LST T-115, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Port Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
2 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Port Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Port Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
2 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Port Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Port Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
S-305 Hikotai with A6M5 Zero (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 12000.
Raid is overhead
Ominato Ku S-1 with A6M5b Zero (7 airborne, 22 on standby, 13 scrambling)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 9000 , scrambling fighters between 3000 and 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes
16 planes vectored on to bombers
19th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (6 airborne, 14 on standby, 17 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 9000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes
9 planes vectored on to bombers
26th Sentai with Ki-43-IIIa Oscar (22 airborne, 17 on standby, 10 scrambling)
22 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 5000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 32 minutes
13 planes vectored on to bombers



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Darwin , at 76,124

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 68 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 5
A6M5b Zero x 35
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 42
Ki-84a Frank x 33

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 6
B-24D1 Liberator x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5b Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 2 destroyed
B-24D Liberator: 1 destroyed by flak
B-24D1 Liberator: 7 destroyed, 4 damaged
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 destroyed by flak

Port hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Port Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
2 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Port Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
S-305 Hikotai with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 82 minutes
Ominato Ku S-1 with A6M5b Zero (0 airborne, 2 on standby, 3 scrambling)
27 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 9000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 13000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 34 minutes
19th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling)
30 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 9000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 18000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 37 minutes
26th Sentai with Ki-43-IIIa Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 19 scrambling)
19 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 5000 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Darwin , at 76,124

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 29 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 2
A6M5b Zero x 12
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 27
Ki-84a Frank x 17

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 10
P-38J Lightning x 22

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar: 2 destroyed
Ki-84a Frank: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Port Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
S-305 Hikotai with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 2 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 6000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
Ominato Ku S-1 with A6M5b Zero (8 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
8 plane(s) intercepting now.
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 9000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes
7 planes vectored on to bombers
19th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (10 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
10 plane(s) intercepting now.
7 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 9000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes
6 planes vectored on to bombers
26th Sentai with Ki-43-IIIa Oscar (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 19 scrambling)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 5000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 13000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 34 minutes
23 planes vectored on to bombers



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Darwin , at 76,124

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 35 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 1
A6M5b Zero x 9
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 21
Ki-84a Frank x 14

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Port Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
S-305 Hikotai with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 6000.
Raid is overhead
Ominato Ku S-1 with A6M5b Zero (7 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 9000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes
19th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (7 airborne, 0 on standby, 2 scrambling)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 9000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 18000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes
26th Sentai with Ki-43-IIIa Oscar (17 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
17 plane(s) intercepting now.
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 5000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Darwin , at 76,124

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 15 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 1
A6M5b Zero x 8
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 18
Ki-84a Frank x 12

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5b Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 1 destroyed by flak

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Port Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
S-305 Hikotai with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 6000.
Raid is overhead
1 planes vectored on to bombers
Ominato Ku S-1 with A6M5b Zero (8 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
8 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 9000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Raid is overhead
26th Sentai with Ki-43-IIIa Oscar (9 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
9 plane(s) intercepting now.
9 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 5000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 59 minutes
7 planes vectored on to bombers
19th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (7 airborne, 0 on standby, 2 scrambling)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 9000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 18000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 42 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Darwin , at 76,124

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 1
A6M5b Zero x 6
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 14
Ki-84a Frank x 10

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 8
P-38J Lightning x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5b Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 5 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 1 destroyed by flak
P-38J Lightning: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Port Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
S-305 Hikotai with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 6000.
Raid is overhead
26th Sentai with Ki-43-IIIa Oscar (13 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
13 plane(s) intercepting now.
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 5000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers
19th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 9000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 52 minutes
8 planes vectored on to bombers
Ominato Ku S-1 with A6M5b Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 9000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Darwin , at 76,124

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5b Zero x 3
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 6
Ki-84a Frank x 8

Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 7
P-38J Lightning x 4

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 5 damaged

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
26th Sentai with Ki-43-IIIa Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 5000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 13000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
19th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 9000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes
5 planes vectored on to bombers
Ominato Ku S-1 with A6M5b Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 9000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Darwin , at 76,124

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 77 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 26 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5b Zero x 2
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 4
Ki-84a Frank x 5

Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 19

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5b Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 11 damaged

Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 9

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
10 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
26th Sentai with Ki-43-IIIa Oscar (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 5000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 9 minutes
19th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 9000 , scrambling fighters between 12000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 20 minutes
Ominato Ku S-1 with A6M5b Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 9000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Darwin , at 76,124

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 37 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 2
Ki-84a Frank x 2

Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 8
P-38J Lightning x 1

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 5 damaged
P-38J Lightning: 1 destroyed

Runway hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
26th Sentai with Ki-43-IIIa Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 5000 , scrambling fighters to 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 22 minutes
19th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 9000 , scrambling fighters between 12000 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 13 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Darwin , at 76,124

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 27 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 2
Ki-84a Frank x 1

Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 8

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 3 damaged

Runway hits 3

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
26th Sentai with Ki-43-IIIa Oscar (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 5000 , scrambling fighters to 12000.
Raid is overhead
19th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 9000 , scrambling fighters to 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Darwin , at 76,124

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 42 NM, estimated altitude 36,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 1

Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 21
P-47D25 Thunderbolt x 23

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar: 1 destroyed

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
21 x P-38J Lightning sweeping at 31000 feet *
23 x P-47D25 Thunderbolt sweeping at 31000 feet *

CAP engaged:
26th Sentai with Ki-43-IIIa Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 5000 , scrambling fighters to 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 44 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Darwin , at 76,124

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 28 NM, estimated altitude 32,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Allied aircraft
P-47D25 Thunderbolt x 23

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
LST T-115, and is sunk

Aircraft Attacking:
23 x P-47D25 Thunderbolt sweeping at 31000 feet



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Darwin , at 76,124

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 67 NM, estimated altitude 34,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 20 minutes

Allied aircraft
P-47D25 Thunderbolt x 23

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
23 x P-47D25 Thunderbolt sweeping at 31000 feet

There was escort, LRCAP and sweeps assigned for all groups. Ok...it's just me. I have no clue what I'm doing.
Luck is the residue of design - John Milton

Don't mistake lack of talent for genius - Peter Steele (Type O Negative)
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Lokasenna
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RE: A pick up game and it's not Lowpe! Sqz (A) vs. obvert (J)

Post by Lokasenna »

The problem is the healthy number of Franks, even though it's just the Frank-a model. P-38s are relatively useless and toothless against anything but Zeroes and Oscars. Tojos and Tonys will beat them, Franks even more so. And Franks eat bombers for breakfast.

You need at least Corsairs on sweep here, if not Jugs. It's the only way. You've got the Jugs in position - just act like you're going to bomb next time. Recon heavily a day or two prior, and then only sweep.

Keep in mind that your opponent has a limited number of fighter units. Inflicting losses or damage on them will drop their morale (which impacts performance), not to mention the time spent to bring new airframes out of crates. If gaining Darwin is your goal, you can achieve air superiority here.

Make sure to keep an eye on his other bases if you can, to see if he is shifting assets around to meet you as you attrit his forces at Darwin.
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RE: A pick up game and it's not Lowpe! Sqz (A) vs. obvert (J)

Post by SqzMyLemon »

July 16/44:

After the debacle the day before, I stand down all bombers and fighters excepting the P-47's. I resort to the cheap tactic of sweeps at maximum altitude (42k) sweeps and achieve 3:1 air losses against Darwin. You'd think I'd feel better with that loss ratio, but instead I just feel dirty.

I won't be flying higher than 31k from here on out, and told Erik he can fly at whatever altitude he wants. I'm done with the air model and I won't talk about it anymore in this AAR. That being said, I appreciate the efforts to help. I'm taking a break, hopefully a long break, from posting in this AAR. I am just fed up with how this game is progressing and care not to discuss it anymore.
Luck is the residue of design - John Milton

Don't mistake lack of talent for genius - Peter Steele (Type O Negative)
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Lokasenna
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RE: A pick up game and it's not Lowpe! Sqz (A) vs. obvert (J)

Post by Lokasenna »

Welp, best of luck.
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Lowpe
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RE: A pick up game and it's not Lowpe! Sqz (A) vs. obvert (J)

Post by Lowpe »

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

Welp, best of luck.

Yep, not much more you can say.
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RE: A pick up game and it's not Lowpe! Sqz (A) vs. obvert (J)

Post by SqzMyLemon »

I gave myself a two week timeout to relax and try to figure things out before posting again.

I've been experimenting with some settings, but truth be told, I have no idea why my air units are being committed the way they are. I've definitely started to just perform sweeps missions on certain days, then ordering bombing attacks on follow up days. On the days my bombers go in, sometimes the sweeps go first, others they don't. Same target, same settings but different results each day.

So I tell myself daily to stop fighting the air model and go with what it does. I have started sweeping at max altitude and my fighters are getting at least a 2:1 now. I haven't tried a heavily capped base though. I am trying to discipline myself away from hitting the stronger Japanese capped targets, because then everything gets screwed up and my bombers get shredded. I've started more night bombing as well. Results aren't great, but at least I'm not losing 40-60 bombers per raid.

I'm concentrating on turns in both my games and there isn't much free time to update the AARs.

I'm just done fighting the mechanics. I'll go with what works and right now that is sweeps at maximum altitude. If I drop down in altitude, it's rinse and repeat with massed escort and LRCAP.

Not much has happened, I liberated Darwin...again, but have since pulled back to avoid naval bombardments. The base remains in Allied control so far. I destroyed a number of tanks and equipment Erik couldn't air transport out.

I have a large resupply mission underway for Ponape with all my carriers and CVE's committed to provide cover. So far 40k supply has been unloaded on day 1. I'm also withdrawing U.S. 93rd Division from Ponape for deployment elsewhere. I'll continue to unload supply until the amphibious task force loads up the division, then I withdraw. No sign of KB yet and I'm taking a completely defensive stance. All fighters to 100% at range 0 over my carriers. I'm playing against a Japanese eight hex strike. I've left my transports to rely on Ponape's own land based CAP, but I figure if large Japanese strikes come they will go after my CVs.

There was some good news during the approach to Ponape. I had mistakenly positioned a few small supply and support task forces ahead of my carriers and they were spotted. I decided to pull these task forces back to meet up with my carriers, but forgot to change the orders for an ACM and it went on ahead to Ponape. Erik sent in a small four destroyer surface TF to catch my lead supply transports, instead they find and sink the lone ACM and end up within range of my carriers. It looks like three of the destroyers in total were sunk.

I also set a long range Vindicator naval strike from Gove and it caught a small Japanese transport task force, sinking two xAKLs and a PB.

I'm happier with my play of late and moving forward I hope to avoid any more drama. I just need to accept the game for what it is and play accordingly.
Luck is the residue of design - John Milton

Don't mistake lack of talent for genius - Peter Steele (Type O Negative)
Aurorus
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RE: A pick up game and it's not Lowpe! Sqz (A) vs. obvert (J)

Post by Aurorus »

The "air" ratings or your squadron and HQ commanders is the check that is made for coordination. Leadership checks determine how many bombers fly, but escorts will link up with bombers only if both make their "air" HQ check. Sweeps will proceed raids if the sweeping fighters, HQ, and bomber squadrons all make their "air" check. The Air HQ needs to be in command range of both the sweeping fighters and the bombers in order to add its "air" rating to the check. Without an HQ in command range of both the sweeping fighters and bombers, both squadrons can make their check and still fail to coordinate properly. It becomes random without an HQ which arrives first. Using bombers of the same type in a combined raid improves the effective "air" rating of the squadron commanders and the likelihood of coordination. This is, I believe, how the AI works, more or less.
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RE: A pick up game and it's not Lowpe! Sqz (A) vs. obvert (J)

Post by SqzMyLemon »

July 30/44:

Central Pacific:

Supply at Ponape has reached 110k. All but 2400 cargo of U.S. 93rd Division remains to be loaded. Transports will remain one more day to unload the last of the supply. The carriers have already been issued their marching orders and they will head ESE to support amphibious landings in the Marshall Islands.

Burma:

Troops are being reorganized for the push against Prome. I've chosen three options:

1. Mass everything and assault the wooded 2x terrain hex between Prome and Toungoo, then directly west to Prome avoiding any river crossings.
2. Use the unrestricted Chinese units to launch a river crossing directly against Prome, followed by the rest of the army the next day.
3. Maneuver to cut the rail line from Prome to Rangoon and see if Erik withdraws.

Erik has committed all the Japanese armour forward in Burma. There are 1500 AFVs at both Prome and Toungoo with another 250 AFVs in the wooded hex. I could be facing over 3000 enemy AFVs. Erik may not like me massing my ground units, but what choice do I have when I face this kind of opposition? No stacking works both ways and if Erik has 1500-2500 AV in any one hex, I need at least a 3:1 to even have a chance. Factor in forts and terrain and that jumps up to at least 5:1. I really dislike playing without stacking limits.

Thoughts:

I'm risking one titanic naval battle to get Allied forces onto Mindanao and bypass the formidable defences now in the Marianas, Babeldoab and New Guinea. In light of this, I will not move until October, after all my CVE's upgrade their AA suites. I'm going to need every flattop, AA gun and aircraft to pull this off. It's not how I wanted to play the game, but by virtue of how things have developed, I feel I have no choice. I'm fully prepped for all my objectives, but I have to make sure they arrive intact, that will require the strongest navy I can muster. Two more months of sitzkrieg, then all hell will break loose.

In the meantime, I apply as much pressure as I can with limited means until the big day.

Luck is the residue of design - John Milton

Don't mistake lack of talent for genius - Peter Steele (Type O Negative)
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Lowpe
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RE: A pick up game and it's not Lowpe! Sqz (A) vs. obvert (J)

Post by Lowpe »

Sqz, this game is a lot like golf -- very humbling at times.[:D]

Glad to see you posting again![&o]
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