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

[rustysi]

Yeah, I like the George 2 for its SR2, but I'm not having too much trouble with the SR3, yet.[:D]

The five looks to be a really nasty bomber buster, with the 2 added CL heavy MG's. Ouch.[X(]

[rustysi]

I had mentioned it when the forts were gone, and the general consensus was to stick with deliberate assault.

Now that you mention it I seem to recall that.

[Mike Solli]

Yeah, can't wait for that one. It'll guard bases that are within range of enemy bombers but outside enemy fighter range. I want to preserve my IJN fighter pilots as much as possible. I have a lot training but not a lot that are available, only 100 or so that are 60+ exp, 70+ air, 70+ def.

The IJAAF is the frontline workhorse with the Frank a right now. I get the Frank r at the beginning of February 44. Can't wait!

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli




I do the same. The Ansyu-C all get converted to PB. It used to be because of their 6k endurance and 14kt speed, but I learned that they're amazing at fast transport, with a capacity of 1000.

They also are fuel hogs, sink easily, have no troop transport, and are 10 vp each. I would like them better if they had 3K fuel instead.

All true. But, with Japan's fuel situation, can't you say that about just about every Japanese hull? [:D]

Compared to other PBs, yes they have atrocious fuel/hex efficiency at 4.77 fuel per hex. However, compared to common xAK/AK types, here is the full list of classes that are (1) both more fuel efficient and (2) not Std-C or Std-D:

Ship (Endurance/speed) at fuel/hex

Std-A (8000/14kt) at 4.3/hex
Akasi (10200/12kt) at 4.25/hex

Kyushu (16600/18kt) at 3.36/hex (these are the nicest of ships... sadly I end up converting a lot of them to AR port queens)

Gozan (9600/10kt) at 2.9/hex

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

ORIGINAL: Lowpe




They also are fuel hogs, sink easily, have no troop transport, and are 10 vp each. I would like them better if they had 3K fuel instead.

All true. But, with Japan's fuel situation, can't you say that about just about every Japanese hull? [:D]

Compared to other PBs, yes they have atrocious fuel/hex efficiency at 4.77 fuel per hex. However, compared to common xAK/AK types, here is the full list of classes that are (1) both more fuel efficient and (2) not Std-C or Std-D:

Ship (Endurance/speed) at fuel/hex

Std-A (8000/14kt) at 4.3/hex
Akasi (10200/12kt) at 4.25/hex

Kyushu (16600/18kt) at 3.36/hex (these are the nicest of ships... sadly I end up converting a lot of them to AR port queens)

Gozan (9600/10kt) at 2.9/hex

You also have to consider how much they haul for that fuel consumption per hex. The Aden class are very efficient in terms of cargo carried per hex of fuel usage. All of the 18 knot big AK (Yusen A, Kyushu) are very efficient, as are the 15 knot xAK (Yusen N) and 14 knot xAK (Lima).

Ansyu-C are among the worst due to their small cargo capacity and high fuel usage, but, Japan does need more escorts.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: rustysi

Yeah, I like the George 2 for its SR2, but I'm not having too much trouble with the SR3, yet.[:D]

The five looks to be a really nasty bomber buster, with the 2 added CL heavy MG's. Ouch.[X(]

I'd not used the N1K5 in my previous end game. The biggest surprise here is not that it's good in defence, but that it's a killer as a sweeper too!

It's 39k max won't get it up over a lot of late war USAAF stuff, but it can top most Corsairs and Hellcats, and those are the most plentiful fighter airframes the Allies get late.

[Lowpe]

Ted mentioned the Chindits hitting Ramree island. He thought it was undefended. Thanks to whoever suggested I garrison it way back when. It was an air assault. Guess he will have to replace those paratroopers. I suspect those squads are hard to come by. I do have a naval guard headed there to reinforce the garrison, along with more engineers. The fort is level 3, but rising very slowly with only 12 engineers there.

I'm rethinking my defense in this area. I haven't seen an Allied ship SE of Ceylon in many months. I don't know what the status of the RN is right now, but I suspect he may try something. Most of my surface warships in the SRA are at Ambon. MKB1 was in the Aleutians recently and just arrived at Yokohama

That might have been me![:)] Burma is always the front that sees paratroop attacks by the Allies.[;)]

Burma is worth holding as long as Magwe is pumping out oil, and Rangoon processing some of it. However, it is an absolute trap lacking naval superiority.

As each month progresses in 1944, pull some more troops back to defend your line of retreat/bolster your reserves. Anything off road in Burma (i.e. in the jungle) is probably doomed. Think now, what will go to Singers and what will escape to Saigon.

[ny59giants]

Divide your infantry divisions in x3 terrain so they will build higher level forts. Recombine once Allies arrives

[rustysi]

Ansyu-C are among the worst due to their small cargo capacity and high fuel usage, but, Japan does need more escorts.

This and all above it is quite true, and as I get/convert more escorts more of the Ansyu-C's are 'retired'.

I'd not used the N1K5 in my previous end game. The biggest surprise here is not that it's good in defence, but that it's a killer as a sweeper too!

It's 39k max won't get it up over a lot of late war USAAF stuff, but it can top most Corsairs and Hellcats, and those are the most plentiful fighter airframes the Allies get late.

This doesn't surprise me either. It has a powerful array of weapons, and is a sturdy airframe. Just wish it had a bit more speed, but hey, ya can't have everything.

[rustysi]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

Yeah, can't wait for that one. It'll guard bases that are within range of enemy bombers but outside enemy fighter range. I want to preserve my IJN fighter pilots as much as possible. I have a lot training but not a lot that are available, only 100 or so that are 60+ exp, 70+ air, 70+ def.

The IJAAF is the frontline workhorse with the Frank a right now. I get the Frank r at the beginning of February 44. Can't wait!

I get what you're saying about the IJN pilots, but I guess my frame of reference is a bit different. I consider every LB IJN pilot as a CV pilot, so that gives me many more for my CV's. IOW I'll strip the land dry if I need to fill out my CV's. Doesn't mean I want to waste 'em though. As long as I get a 'positive return', I'm happy.

As for the Frank's, I didn't bother with the 'r'. I want the 'b', and its four 20mm cannon. I know its easier to go the other way, but...

Oh, and before I forget. That tip about the CAP 0 100% is fantastic. Experience in those units is climbing like never before. I'll have all those 50exp guys outta the reserve in no time.[8D]

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli



All true. But, with Japan's fuel situation, can't you say that about just about every Japanese hull? [:D]

Compared to other PBs, yes they have atrocious fuel/hex efficiency at 4.77 fuel per hex. However, compared to common xAK/AK types, here is the full list of classes that are (1) both more fuel efficient and (2) not Std-C or Std-D:

Ship (Endurance/speed) at fuel/hex

Std-A (8000/14kt) at 4.3/hex
Akasi (10200/12kt) at 4.25/hex

Kyushu (16600/18kt) at 3.36/hex (these are the nicest of ships... sadly I end up converting a lot of them to AR port queens)

Gozan (9600/10kt) at 2.9/hex

You also have to consider how much they haul for that fuel consumption per hex. The Aden class are very efficient in terms of cargo carried per hex of fuel usage. All of the 18 knot big AK (Yusen A, Kyushu) are very efficient, as are the 15 knot xAK (Yusen N) and 14 knot xAK (Lima).

Ansyu-C are among the worst due to their small cargo capacity and high fuel usage, but, Japan does need more escorts.

But they're also the only ones capable of dropping 1000 supply in any hex via fast transport [;)]. I was trying to say that you don't really convert them for their PB capabilities. You convert them for FT TFs and maybe long-haul convoys that you're not using actual DD/DMS/E-types on.

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna




Compared to other PBs, yes they have atrocious fuel/hex efficiency at 4.77 fuel per hex. However, compared to common xAK/AK types, here is the full list of classes that are (1) both more fuel efficient and (2) not Std-C or Std-D:

Ship (Endurance/speed) at fuel/hex

Std-A (8000/14kt) at 4.3/hex
Akasi (10200/12kt) at 4.25/hex

Kyushu (16600/18kt) at 3.36/hex (these are the nicest of ships... sadly I end up converting a lot of them to AR port queens)

Gozan (9600/10kt) at 2.9/hex

You also have to consider how much they haul for that fuel consumption per hex. The Aden class are very efficient in terms of cargo carried per hex of fuel usage. All of the 18 knot big AK (Yusen A, Kyushu) are very efficient, as are the 15 knot xAK (Yusen N) and 14 knot xAK (Lima).

Ansyu-C are among the worst due to their small cargo capacity and high fuel usage, but, Japan does need more escorts.

But they're also the only ones capable of dropping 1000 supply in any hex via fast transport [;)]. I was trying to say that you don't really convert them for their PB capabilities. You convert them for FT TFs and maybe long-haul convoys that you're not using actual DD/DMS/E-types on.

Absolutely, Loka! When I first started, I just saw them as PBs, but then I stumbled upon the Fast Transport capability and saw them in a whole new light.

[Mike Solli]

26 Dec 43

Sub War

Well, my Dunkirk operation to get troops out of Truk finally ran into a snag. An xAP loaded with Guards Division troops a hex from Rota got taken out by a sub, my first loss. Ted saw I was pulling troops out and stationed some subs off the Marianas. It was bound to happen. I've some ASW and naval search planes and ASW TFs there, but they're just not that effective. Anyway, I'm almost done pulling out the Gds Division and will probably just use fast transports to get odds and ends out (along with aircraft) from here on out.

5 Fleet

The Dutch Harbor invasion TF (a NG unit and engineer company) will hit tomorrow with Nagato & Mutsu supporting. Yamato and Musashi are headed to Japan for minor repairs.

4 Fleet

Tabiteuea fell to the Allies today. Other than that, it was pretty quiet.

SE Fleet

Hollandia was not touched today. Interesting.

Truk was hit by about 190 sorties, all against the port. Ted really doesn't want me to pull troops from there by sea. I have a bunch of air transports pulling troops out by air and he's neglecting the airfield, which is repairing nicely.

SRA

Fourteen Hellcats visited Saumlaki, encountering 2 chutai of Tonies. The Tonies didn't shoot anything down or lose any, but they did damage most of the Hellcats and drove off the remainder. I have, in total in the area, a sentai of Tonies and a chutai of Tojos. I'm probably going to convert the Tojos to Franks and pound on some Hellcats. The only problem will be the time it'll take to repair them. [8|]

Burma

Good day today. Over Kalemyo, I shot down a couple fighters for the loss of a Frank.

I sent a sentai of Franks to Akyab where they met 14 Hurricane IIcs, shooting down 11(!) for the loss of a single Frank. Nice. [:D]

China

Bombing and bombardment killed 34 squads (19 infantry) and disabled another 175. I'm going in with a deliberate assault tomorrow. I think this one will do it. Everything looks better (other than the disablements. Here's the status compared to the last deliberate assault:

23 Dec
Japanese Raw AV: 8384
Chinese Raw AV: 3859
Ratio: 2.17:1

Fat: 64.2
Disr: 21.5
Disab: 14.2

26 Dec
Japanese Raw AV: 7552
Chinese Raw AV: 2797
Ratio: 2.70:1

Fat: 60.2
Disr: 21.2
Disab: 18.1

We'll see (famous last words.) After this battle, I'll be able to buy out a 6th division.

Other Stuff

Nothing to report.

[rustysi]

Well, my Dunkirk operation to get troops out of Truk finally ran into a snag. An xAP loaded with Guards Division troops a hex from Rota got taken out by a sub, my first loss. Ted saw I was pulling troops out and stationed some subs off the Marianas. It was bound to happen. I've some ASW and naval search planes and ASW TFs there, but they're just not that effective. Anyway, I'm almost done pulling out the Gds Division and will probably just use fast transports to get odds and ends out (along with aircraft) from here on out.

You could also station some ASW type vessels in the Marianas to go and 'meet/merge' the single ship convoys some way out. Just a thought.

[Lowpe]

Mike, You are going to get burned using Franks from non-railroad connected air bases I think. But for now, you seem to be doing real well with that tactic...and heck what do I know anyhow.

Do you guys have a rule against night bombing?

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Mike, You are going to get burned using Franks from non-railroad connected air bases I think. But for now, you seem to be doing real well with that tactic...and heck what do I know anyhow.

Do you guys have a rule against night bombing?

You're right, using Franks like that at Hollandia do cause extra losses. I know that when I do that, a lot of the Franks will end up damaged and eventually destroyed by bombing. I ponder it a lot before doing it. My rationale is that I'm losing airframes but not pilots. Practically all of the enemy planes lost over my bases are lost pilots to him. In addition, it almost always causes Ted to stop what he is trying to do (usually beat up my ground forces) and go after the airfield. It's really a delaying tactic in addition to a CAP trap. Ted doesn't really know what my defenses are so he wants to beat up the infantry as much as possible. If he really knew that my defenses in Hollandia really are just a Naval Guard, he'd just send a division in and be done with it. I guess he wants to preserve his infantry.

No, we have no rule against night bombing. Are you thinking of something regarding that? I usually have some Betties/Nells on night naval attack in places and the fly on occasion, and occasionally get a hit. Probably not worth it, but it's the only option in places where he has fighters. I also sometimes bomb land targets at night, with mixed results. Ted doesn't often night bomb. I have no fighters on night CAP right now.

[Mike Solli]

As far as Allied infantry losses, there were 2 occasions where I had success:

I destroyed the 40 US Division and 2x separate infantry regiments at Adak when he invaded.

I destroyed just about all of the 9 Aussie Division at sea west of Australia.

They probably caused somewhat of a replacement problem. Not sure how bad though.

[obvert]

Using fast transport is one of Japan's best tactics that goes underused I think by many IJ players. I use fast transport for about 2/3 of early conquests. It sets the Allies back since you don't know if a combat TF, ASW, or transport is coming. The Ansyu do well in this regard, but so do the 19-20 knot minesweepers, and the bigger minesweepers outside of danger zones. They're too precious to use in the thick of it for fast transport.

Especially useful to use fast transport for pulling units in evacuations.

[Mike Solli]

27 Dec 43

Sub War

I had noticed small TFs heading to the small bases in the north of Australia on the west side so I sent RO-36 in to investigate. She found and torpedoed an xAK a hex away from Pt. Hedland and then went into the base and sank another xAK. Not bad for a worthless RO class sub! [;)]

Now, I see 2 Allied subs in the shallow hex south of Kobe. The Dutch O21 torpedoed and sank AM Wa-104. It probably wasn't worth the torpedoes expended. I have naval search and ASW along with a few ASW TFs there. Something is bound to hit one of those sub eventually. [8|]

5 Fleet

Something happened here that I have never seen before. I sent a Naval Guard to invade Dutch Harbor and they went in today. I thought everything was fine. There were the usual squads lost in the drink here and there, but nothing out of the ordinary. When I checked Dutch Harbor after the turn was done, there were no Japanese troops on the island! The NG was on the ships heading back to Adak! I checked and they had lost a few squads, but all of the remaining squads were disabled and heading for the hills. Interesting. Anyway, I'm probably not going to bother invading. I'll just use the base as a training target. It was pretty strange though.

4 Fleet

Some elusive American carriers attacked Tarawa today, 35 Avengers escorted by 22 Hellcats. I didn't get a good look at them so I don't have an idea of the composition. I have a few subs in the area and can see what appears to be a DD TF a few hexes south of Tarawa with an invasion force (LCIs?) a few hexes south of them. I'm going to try and pick off some of the transports. Tarawa is expendable, but putting some enemy troops in the ocean is always a good thing.

KB is too far away to make an appearance. That's too bad. I'd love to sink a few enemy carriers, even if they are only CVEs. It'll make him a bit more cautious.

SE Fleet

Hollandia was visited by 60x 2E and a couple dozen 4E bombers, doing minor damage to the airfield.

Truk was visited by some 180 bombers, going after the port again, but doing little damage. Flak got a few, which is always a plus.

I am still successfully pulling important troops out of Truk by sea and air. The damage to the port is slowing things down though.

SRA

Saumlaki seems to be Ted's focus down here. First, a handful of Hellcats swept the base, losing one to my Tonies there. Then, a couple dozen heavy bombers escorted by a handful of Kittyhawk IVs came in after the airfield doing minor damage. Three Kittyhawks didn't make it home. I had one Tony written off. I swapped out a fatigued Tony chutai (leaving one behind) for a fresh one and a Tojo chutai. Tomorrow, any visitors will meet about 40 Japanese fighters.

MKB2 is at Babeldaob, ready to go should the need arise.

MKB1 is at Yokohama repairing some sys damage. They'll be ready to go in a few days. They will head to meet up with MKB2.

Burma

I had flown in the 9 Air Division HQ to Magwe to beef up the AS there. I now have 4 fighter sentai there, 3 Franks and a Tojo. The Tojo is flying CAP while the Franks are sweeping Akyab, Cox's Bazaar and Chittagong tomorrow.

Today, a Frank sentai shot down 4 Hurricanes over Akyab.

I also have a Frank sentai at another airfield (can't remember which one offhand) that shot down 3 Spitfires over Kalemyo for the loss of a single Frank.

This AO is where I gain a LOT of IJAAF experience at the expense of the CW.

China

Ok, the big attack to take Chungking happened today, and fizzled. [:@] 1.95:1 odds this time. This is getting pretty frustrating.

Ground combat at Chungking (76,45)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 281059 troops, 3177 guns, 1878 vehicles, Assault Value = 7616

Defending force 239966 troops, 387 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2789

Japanese adjusted assault: 4169

Allied adjusted defense: 2139

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), supply(-)
Attacker: disruption(-)

Japanese ground losses:
22471 casualties reported
Squads: 56 destroyed, 2059 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 176 disabled
Engineers: 7 destroyed, 224 disabled
Guns lost 136 (2 destroyed, 134 disabled)
Vehicles lost 25 (2 destroyed, 23 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
20083 casualties reported
Squads: 423 destroyed, 1020 disabled
Non Combat: 391 destroyed, 572 disabled
Engineers: 7 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 29 (4 destroyed, 25 disabled)
Units destroyed 7

I need to take the time and rest my troops more. They're just too tuckered to do it. I may wait a week or so. The Chinese garrison is down to 90 units. I saw one infantry corps die, but don't know what else was destroyed.

I was hoping to destroy the Chinese garrison before the end of the year, but that ain't happening. [8|]

Other Stuff

Reinforcement: ML G-201, a motor launch with torpedoes! [:D]

[ny59giants]

Allied troop replacements (non-Chinese): infantry only
American - Both Army and Marines steadily go up during war, but not as much as some other. They get enough to rebuild a few divisions that are totally destroyed.

Indian - Probably the second most numerous as they go up to 90 rifle per month by '44.

Aussie - They are just the opposite of Indian troops. Start off very good through '42, but steadily go down.

British - very low throughout the war. They really cannot absorb a whole division being destroyed.