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

[Mike Solli]

6 Oct 43

Sub War
5 Fleet

Nothing to report.

4 Fleet

My thundering herd is still chasing the US carriers east. They're catching up but not quite there yet. I think he's short on fuel because he spent quite a bit of time tooling around the Central Pacific. We'll see what happens.

SE Fleet

I moved KB1 farther away from Hollandia, but it wasn't far enough. 30 Zeros from KB1 intercepted about 180x 4E bombers. They didn't lose any and actually shot two bombers down. The bombers trashed Hollandia's airfield. [:D]

I have a double row of RO class subs guarding the path to Aitape. There's been an ASW TF in the area, but it hasn't connected with any subs. KB decided to take matters into their own hands and launched several attacks against the TF sinking 2 DDs and a DE. The remaining DE got away.

SRA

Nothing to report.

Burma

I swept Akyab with 42 Franks, shooting down 4 Hurricanes for no loss.

The 4 Helen sentai hit Ledo in 3 attacks, increasing the airfield damage to 55%, destroying 2 transports and damaging another dozen. That should slow things down a bit.

China

I'm still bombing China daily with ~150x 2E bombers. I have 5550 AV in the hex with more divisions heading there. I'll attack when it's >6k AV. There still are 3 forts remaining in Chungking.

Other Stuff

Nothing to report.

[ny59giants]

Ledo - Yes, many Allied players have huge number of C-47s there flying supplies to China. However, the big AA Bde from Ceylon and a few more heavy AA go there for me. So, about 150 heavy AA guns defend against what you just did. If you were playing me, you would have stopped after the second day. [:D]

[ElvisDaKing]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

4 Oct 43

The B6N2a R&D advanced to 3/44 (will become operational 12/43).

Hi Mike
I did same, keeping R&D for B6N2a for months but realized that B6N2a performance are completely identical to B6N2, except that it carries a N-6 Radar...
Unfortunately N-6 Radar is not available before October 1944...
So it does not worth spending time R&Ding B6N2a, and eventually consuming Ha-32 engine if you have the engine bonus, to get the B6N2a 10 months in advance.
I think it is OK to R&D the B6N2a but only for a few months, so you can start producing it around July 44, so get your squadrons already equipped when N-6 Radar become available...

You can then reallocate the R&D factories and start researching another airframe, B7A2 Grace ?, and save also some Ha-32 engines...


Correct me if i am wrong, but radar does not increase bombing accuracy, it only helps to detect/raise DL when on naval search, am I right ?

[rustysi]

ORIGINAL: rustysi

The US carriers launched 16 Avengers against Maleolap, then 28 SB2Cs against Wotje and finally 15 SBDs against Maleolap. No lasting damage to either side. Beside any CAP and bombers reserved for anti-ship duty, the US has available 27 Hellcats, 28 Helldivers, 15 Dauntlesses and 15 Avengers. I can't figure out what types of carriers are playing here.

CVE's? Looks like he's trying to increase the experience levels of some of his pilots.

Other things that came to mind. He's testing your defenses in the region. He's attempting to draw strength from the Solomon/NG area.

[rustysi]

The Cod is near and dear to my heart. She's docked on Lake Erie in Cleveland as a museum.

Great he's giving me another site I'd want to visit. What shape's she in. I was on the one in SF, don't remember her name, but she had a lot of her equipment gutted. Nothing in the torp room etc.

I wanted to go to the Air Force Museum in Dayton(?) this spring, but didn't make it. Sites are set for the fall, we'll see. At any rate I could add a day to head to Cleveland for the sub.

[Falken]

Hi Mike,

You don't know me, but I just wanted to put this out there. I know that a lot of people have told you this, but it is really true, and I also wanted to thank you for this amazing AAR. You not only organize your AAR by fleet areas (which I really like), but you really do provide us your "thinking" of why you do things, and I cannot tell you how much this helps in understanding how things work in WITP.

Like others, this is the AAR that got me started playing the Japanese, and finally understanding the industry and economy, and now i'm hooked. So thank you for persevering in the long standing game, but in continuing to have a really good outlook on the game, and it's opportunities.

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants_MatrixForum

Ledo - Yes, many Allied players have huge number of C-47s there flying supplies to China. However, the big AA Bde from Ceylon and a few more heavy AA go there for me. So, about 150 heavy AA guns defend against what you just did. If you were playing me, you would have stopped after the second day. [:D]

Morning Michael. Yeah, that is definitely a great tactic. The Japanese don't have a counter to that, other than bombing from the stratosphere. I just got back the 14 Oct turn so he may have done something like that. I'll explain what I'm doing when I get around to updating the AAR, hopefully soon.

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: ElvisDaKing

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

4 Oct 43

The B6N2a R&D advanced to 3/44 (will become operational 12/43).

Hi Mike
I did same, keeping R&D for B6N2a for months but realized that B6N2a performance are completely identical to B6N2, except that it carries a N-6 Radar...
Unfortunately N-6 Radar is not available before October 1944...
So it does not worth spending time R&Ding B6N2a, and eventually consuming Ha-32 engine if you have the engine bonus, to get the B6N2a 10 months in advance.
I think it is OK to R&D the B6N2a but only for a few months, so you can start producing it around July 44, so get your squadrons already equipped when N-6 Radar become available...

You can then reallocate the R&D factories and start researching another airframe, B7A2 Grace ?, and save also some Ha-32 engines...


Correct me if i am wrong, but radar does not increase bombing accuracy, it only helps to detect/raise DL when on naval search, am I right ?

Morning Elvis,

That is a good idea. I have plenty of Ha-32 engines fortunately. I'm only 1.5 months away from completing the B6N2a though. I could use the factories for something else, but I hate wasting supply on fully repaired factories to change them when I haven't completed that airframe. I need to think about it a bit.

To be honest, I'm not sure what the radar for this airframe does. Anyone know for sure out there?

I currently have 4 R&D factories for the Grace: 1x30, 26(4), 23(7) and 21(9). The R&D is about to do its first advance to 11/44 in 2 days.

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: rustysi

ORIGINAL: rustysi

The US carriers launched 16 Avengers against Maleolap, then 28 SB2Cs against Wotje and finally 15 SBDs against Maleolap. No lasting damage to either side. Beside any CAP and bombers reserved for anti-ship duty, the US has available 27 Hellcats, 28 Helldivers, 15 Dauntlesses and 15 Avengers. I can't figure out what types of carriers are playing here.

CVE's? Looks like he's trying to increase the experience levels of some of his pilots.

Other things that came to mind. He's testing your defenses in the region. He's attempting to draw strength from the Solomon/NG area.

After he retired the carriers, we discussed it a bit. I'll talk about it when the time comes.

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: rustysi

The Cod is near and dear to my heart. She's docked on Lake Erie in Cleveland as a museum.

Great he's giving me another site I'd want to visit. What shape's she in. I was on the one in SF, don't remember her name, but she had a lot of her equipment gutted. Nothing in the torp room etc.

I wanted to go to the Air Force Museum in Dayton(?) this spring, but didn't make it. Sites are set for the fall, we'll see. At any rate I could add a day to head to Cleveland for the sub.

Take a look online. Looks like the Cod is in really good shape. They just got a two engines from the Stingray for spare parts. Does this mean she's operational?! [X(] Apparently they got a torpedo for her as well. Wonder if that's operational too... [:D] Gotta defend from them damn Canadians! Never know when they're going to invade! [:D]

My son and I are going to a Browns game this fall. I think we're going to make a stop there to visit. He's never seen her. Can't wait! [:)]

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: Falken

Hi Mike,

You don't know me, but I just wanted to put this out there. I know that a lot of people have told you this, but it is really true, and I also wanted to thank you for this amazing AAR. You not only organize your AAR by fleet areas (which I really like), but you really do provide us your "thinking" of why you do things, and I cannot tell you how much this helps in understanding how things work in WITP.

Like others, this is the AAR that got me started playing the Japanese, and finally understanding the industry and economy, and now i'm hooked. So thank you for persevering in the long standing game, but in continuing to have a really good outlook on the game, and it's opportunities.

Hi Falken. I really appreciate that. I really love this game but sometimes I feel like the AAR is just a bunch of 'I killed a handful of planes' type of AAR. It's good to hear that people get some good things out of this. Thanks a lot. [:)]

Edit: I just realized you're from Canada. I want to make it clear that the comments about Canada above were just a joke. Canada is a wonderful country to visit.

[RangerJoe]

Hi Falken. I really appreciate that. I really love this game but sometimes I feel like the AAR is just a bunch of 'I killed a handful of planes' type of AAR. It's good to hear that people get some good things out of this. Thanks a lot. [:)]
You have gotten me interested in playing the Japanese and an idea of how to handle their economy. I would not want to start PBEM playing as Allies until I actually have an idea of what the other side is capable of.

Edit: I just realized you're from Canada. I want to make it clear that the comments about Canada above were just a joke. Canada is a wonderful country to visit.
To visit, yes. But I never stayed there too long . . .

I had been thinking, to make the game more of a challenge, to play Japanese and set it up nice and maybe win, then flip it and play the other side. I used to do that in PACWAR.

[Lowpe]

Radar on torpedo bombers helps I believe with night attacks.

I also think they help the DL of daytime attacks and that helps greatly in prioritizing targets.

At least that is my experience. I suspect there is also a benefit in ASW. In fact, the boost in DL might even help land/port/runway bombing too.

Disparity in radar is a huge tactical asset to the Allies, but for the most part nobody really notices.

[RangerJoe]

I like to use the Hudson III as an ASW platform. I figure that the radar should help even though the bombs are 250 pounders.

I am even using the Whirlaways around Sydney with their 100 pounders on ASW. Half are training, half are flying missions at 1000 feet. They claim to be getting hits. At least they are spotted for my ASW TFs.

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

I had been thinking, to make the game more of a challenge, to play Japanese and set it up nice and maybe win, then flip it and play the other side. I used to do that in PACWAR.

Playing the Japanese isn't challenge enough?! We ARE going to lose. It's just how painful will it be to the Allies...

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Radar on torpedo bombers helps I believe with night attacks.

I also think they help the DL of daytime attacks and that helps greatly in prioritizing targets.

At least that is my experience. I suspect there is also a benefit in ASW. In fact, the boost in DL might even help land/port/runway bombing too.

Disparity in radar is a huge tactical asset to the Allies, but for the most part nobody really notices.

I know radar helps. So, I want it. [:D]

[RangerJoe]

quote:

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

I had been thinking, to make the game more of a challenge, to play Japanese and set it up nice and maybe win, then flip it and play the other side. I used to do that in PACWAR.



Playing the Japanese isn't challenge enough?! We ARE going to lose. It's just how painful will it be to the Allies...

I only tried the Japanese for a month or so. I play as Allies against the computer. I want a little more of a challenge plus knowing what the Japanese can do and how hard it is for them before I were to do a PBEM.

[Mike Solli]

Back to the war...

7 Oct 43

Sub War
5 Fleet

Nothing to report.

4 Fleet

It appears that the US carriers are done probing my defenses. They're headed east and all of my subs are to the west. They're chasing with the hopes of catching up with the carriers.

Ted later told me that the carriers were doing recon by bombing to find out what kind of defenses I had. At this point I still had no idea of the make-up of the US TF.

SE Fleet

There was no Allied bombing at all today. Ominous...

SRA

The Dutch rust bucket KXII attempted to traverse the gap between Java and Sumatra. She hit a mine at Merak. Probably cleaned some barnacles off the hull.

KB1 is heading back to Babeldaob for replenishment. KB2 is at Saipan.

Burma

My daily sweep of Akyab netted a Hurricane (of 4 that rose to meet my Franks). Not much going on here, but I want to wear down the Brit fighters strength that built up during the monsoon season. I'm surprised to still see Hurricanes. Don't they have anything better?

My Helens hitting Ledo had a few Franks as escort today. In the early raids, the Franks did well, but the later raids took some hits from the P-40N5s defending. In all, I lost a Frank and 17 Helens to 7 P-40s shot down. I'll start sweeping tomorrow. I'm not worried about the IJA bomber losses. I have hundreds of trained pilots and bombers sitting in the pools. My IJA bomber losses have been incredibly low.

China

Just prepping for the next deliberate assault on Chungking....

Other Stuff

Reinforcement: 51 Construction Company rebuilt.

The Ki-84r Frank R&D advanced to 2/45 (will become operational 2/44).

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

quote:

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

I had been thinking, to make the game more of a challenge, to play Japanese and set it up nice and maybe win, then flip it and play the other side. I used to do that in PACWAR.



Playing the Japanese isn't challenge enough?! We ARE going to lose. It's just how painful will it be to the Allies...

I only tried the Japanese for a month or so. I play as Allies against the computer. I want a little more of a challenge plus knowing what the Japanese can do and how hard it is for them before I were to do a PBEM.

I understand. I've never played as the Allies. I played the first week against the AI once or twice but don't know much about them. I am seriously toying with the idea of playing the Allies against a human opponent, just to learn of some of their capabilities.

[Mike Solli]

8 Oct 43

Sub War

At Saumlaki, a PB hit the Dutch KX once. She had been hanging around there and the PB had gone to investigate.

A couple other things happened, but it's better to discuss them later.

5 Fleet

Nothing to report.

4 Fleet

Of the 8 subs chasing the US carrier TF, the I-22 finally caught up with them. She came to periscope depth and what filled her periscope? The Essex! 8 torpedoes later....they all missed. [:@] Ted said he almost choked when he saw that. [:D] I came to learn that the TF was composed of Essex and Lexington. He had removed an Avenger squadron and added another Hellcat squadron. So, there were 3 squadrons of Hellcats, 1 SB2C, 1 SBD and a TBF. He was hoping to see what I had out there and try and kill some of my bombers. At any rate, I'll continue to chase them to Pearl but won't get another shot at them. I've since rearranged my sub force to form a screen west of Pearl to try and spot anything coming out of there in the future.

SE Fleet

The bombers came in droves to demolish Aitape's port. Ted really doesn't want me to send any more supply there. [:D] There were some 230 sorties. [X(]

SRA

The KXII wasn't sure she hit a mine so hit another one at Merak again to make sure. [:D]

Burma

The Akyab sweep netted 2 of 3 remaining Hurricanes.

The Ledo sweep netted 6x P40N5s (of 11) for a loss of 3 Franks.

Continuing with both missions...

China

I've decided to wait until my AV exceeds 6k before attacking Chungking again. Not sure if that's better or to hit more frequently. I have more divisions in the area, so I can swap them out to recover more quickly and still keep my AV up.

Other Stuff

Reinforcements:

2 Independent SNLF Company, rebuilt, heading to Jolo.
8 Independent SNLF Company, rebuilt, heading to Talaud-eilanden.