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RE: Let's start! - 9/10/2012 2:38:12 AM

Saros

Posts: 454
Joined: 12/18/2010
Status: offline

Rufe are worth producing at least a few of. One trick it is possible to do it to use the CS to resize all the Rufe groups to 24 planes (two floatplane groups that are AMC based can upgrade to it and you get another two as reinforcements.) This gives you 96 Rufes which can be split in to subgroups of 8 and placed on your AV ships with 9 capacity. More of these can be converted from 18kt xAK's. This gives you a halfway decent secondary CAP force to help cover landings.
The rufes wont do great against even USN buffaloes but are capable of shooting down most naval strike craft and its always a surprise to your opponent as the AV don't get reported as carriers by naval search.

(in reply to GreyJoy)

Post #: 781

RE: Hairy Asian Experiences - GreyJoy (J) vs. Mister X (A) - 9/10/2012 3:35:23 AM

Mac Linehan

Posts: 1484
Joined: 12/19/2004
From: Denver Colorado
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

quote:

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

With the advent of PP's required for plane changes, you should seriously consider keeping some 1E bombers in production. Ann or Mary are best. I produce both, Mike is looking to only produce the Mary.

Take a hard look at your starting engine pools. 31, hikari, and 5 you should have enough in pool not to have to build more.

You are shifting a LOT of factories here. Not disagreeing, but you will need to watch your HI supply levels like a hawk through Jan. It will be a tightrope to walk to keep your assaults in supply along with all of the factory builds you are looking to do not to mention the oil you will want to repair ....

I'm going to produce the Mary only because there are 85 engines in the pool for the Mary that can't be used by anything else. The Ann is better but the Mary will do for ASW.

Mike -

The Master Speaks!

I am several months behind the power curve; but am working hard at catching up!

Mac

_____________________________

LAV-25 2147

(in reply to Mike Solli)

Post #: 782

RE: Let's start! - 9/10/2012 3:38:39 AM

jeffk3510

Posts: 4132
Joined: 12/3/2007
From: Kansas
Status: offline

Hey GJ-

I haven't gotten to keep up with your game as much as the Rader one back in the day. Two kids under 2 1/2, hiring people at work left and right, buying new software... yada yada...

Thought I would drop in and say hey.

How do you like the stacking limits and DaBabes vs vanilla? Would you recommend switching to someone who only uses vanilla?

Talk to you soon.

_____________________________

Life is tough. The sooner you realize that, the easier it will be.

Currently chasing three kids around the Midwest.

(in reply to Saros)

Post #: 783

RE: Let's start! - 9/10/2012 10:45:42 AM

kjnoel

Posts: 104
Joined: 3/10/2011
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Saros

Rufe are worth producing at least a few of. One trick it is possible to do it to use the CS to resize all the Rufe groups to 24 planes (two floatplane groups that are AMC based can upgrade to it and you get another two as reinforcements.) This gives you 96 Rufes which can be split in to subgroups of 8 and placed on your AV ships with 9 capacity. More of these can be converted from 18kt xAK's. This gives you a halfway decent secondary CAP force to help cover landings.
The rufes wont do great against even USN buffaloes but are capable of shooting down most naval strike craft and its always a surprise to your opponent as the AV don't get reported as carriers by naval search.

I like lots of Rufes, resize them as above and hunt for every FP group that can upgrade to them. I don't split them up, however, but use them as 4E defence.... the cannon may not do much but it does something and, more importantly, they are not easily suppressed by 4Es. The Allied player will hopefully just see that there are fighters based at the airfield and keep meeting CAP so continue bombing what is basically a destroyed airfield. It seems to work quite well for me as long as I don't expect them to defeat the attacks....

(in reply to Saros)

Post #: 784

RE: Let's start! - 9/10/2012 12:48:36 PM

GreyJoy

Posts: 6750
Joined: 3/18/2011
Status: offline

Yes, thank you guys. I followed your suggestions and changed the Kate B5N1 factory into a Rufe one, producing 20 of them each months.
By mid May i should get the Tojo IIa...already at 48% research...not bad!

April 19, 1942

Huge enemy bombers formations above Akyab...more than 100!...heavily escorted... things are really bad now for me in Burma... Need to send more units there.

In China he managed to stop me i fear...i'm facing strong and well supplied units everywhere....

Lots of ships gathering at Cocos Island...another problem into my flank....

Cv Junyo arrived finally...will recombine with Kaga for the moment.

Now it's time to start reducing Batavia.... 40,000 enemies there...heavily entrenched...will be long

(in reply to kjnoel)

Post #: 785

RE: Let's start! - 9/10/2012 4:18:41 PM

obvert

Posts: 14050
Joined: 1/17/2011
From: PDX (and now) London, UK
Status: offline

Rufes can be very useful. Mostly when he does know fighters are around. Also, in the South Pacific they can fly from dot bases, which is great as the fields can't be hit. Only the support troops can be hit.

Also, on CS in the KB they can add extra CAP, especially layered low to hit slow TBs and leaving more zeros up high to duel with Wildcats.

_____________________________

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill

(in reply to GreyJoy)

Post #: 786

RE: Let's start! - 9/11/2012 8:11:34 AM

GreyJoy

Posts: 6750
Joined: 3/18/2011
Status: offline

April 20-23 1942

Things aren't proceeding well.

BURMA:
Here we're facing the first allied offensive. Every day not less than 100/120 bombers pound Akyab and my advancing troops near Katha. Every raid is very well escorted, mostly by Hurricanes and P-39s. Every time i try to ambush them, weather prevents any flight and i end up with empty jaws.
More important, while the bulk of the 15th Army is marching through the muddy trail that leads to Katha, the allies are advancing from Cox Bazar with 10k men and more allied units are spotted near Kalemyo.
Having only 50 Zeros in the area i cannot hope to stop this wave... i need the Tojos so to be able to flood the theatre with IJAAF units, thus freeing the zeros for SOPAC and other duties.

CHINA:
The offensive is over guys. Despite the "Hawk" operation was a success (in 3 days we've wiped out the presence of allied fighters in the whole theatre and bombed to dust Chungking), our ground attacks north of Sian, on the road that leads to Lanchow, all went very bad, obtaining a couple of 1-2 and one 1-3. He's well dug in, in +3 defensive terrain, and, under these conditions, the stacking limits favour the chinese.
We've already done more than what we expected at the beginning here in China, so i cannot complain, however it's hard to face a "lost victory"...
We're now re-organizing. I'm pulling out the 38th division, the 48th and the 37th (recently bought for 1100 PPs). They will rest at HK and get some replacements and then they'll be sent to Manila in order to start reducing Luzon once for all.

JAVA:
Batavia will be a great problem. I have 2100 AVs sieging the city, but Brad has 20 units, 40,000 men, 300 guns and 250 vehicles.... forts will probably be at 5 or 6 by now... i'll have to use the bombers intensively...which mean that i'll have to stretch my bomber army even more than now.

DEI-SRA:
I'm doing really poorly here. Makassar, Balikapan, Samarinda and all those islands between Koepang and Sosarbaja are in his hands. Cocos is, by now, a huge fortress and i have no forces to send to conquer those places (and, i remember u, the amphib bonus is over).
He's using this weakness of mine to punish me everytime he can. A Vindicator squadrons took off from Batavia on the 22nd and attacked my shippings at Palembang... luckly i had 22 Oscars on CAP there and he only sink one xAK.... but this constant menace keeps me from spreading my units on the frontlines where they would be very needed.

SOPAC/SWPAC:
Ndeni already reached level 2 AF...soon he'll start bombing my bases in the Solomons.
He's also sending CL raids against my shippings near Lunga...luckly the first time he arrived i sent a DD flottilla that managed to sink one of his DD and forced the two Omaha class CLs to retire...but he will come again with greater forces, be sure of that.

CENTPAC:
I'm still very weak here. some 4 Naval guard Units and another air HQ are arriving from Tokyo... but if he attacks here i have nothing to defend my tiny atolls...

NOPAC:
We managed to heavily reinforce Attu, Amitchika and Addak. Now He will need a major commitment to get these bases and this will leave me enough time to reinforce the Kuriles (where i'm sending an Air HQ and several AA units).
My CVs supported this reinforcement operation. I had kept my CVs in the shade, behind the curtain, showing him only the harmless PBs and xAKs full of troops... hoping to lure his surface forces or his CVs into a trap.... well, it didn't happen. Nothing showed up :-(

So now i have my 7 CVs there south of Attu... what shall i do? raid his LOC between PH and SF?...the risk is to burn a lot of fuel for nothing or, worse, to be caught in enemy waters, far away from home, and face a confrontation with his CVs... A raid at Seattle? to do what a part from revealing the position of my CVs? a Raid at PH?...tempting...but the flak is huge in DBB and there's a great risk of finding nothing of any value... any other ideas??

(in reply to obvert)

Post #: 787

RE: Let's start! - 9/11/2012 8:26:46 AM

obvert

Posts: 14050
Joined: 1/17/2011
From: PDX (and now) London, UK
Status: offline

For your CVs I would not commit them to a raid unless you find his LOC paths first. Use AVs or AMCs to locate something, and if it's juicy enough, then race in. Otherwise a lot of wasted fuel. If he also knows you're in the Aleutians, his ships are most likely moving far South anyway.

In China don't despair yet. In my game Jocke basically had me stopped, but I kept bombing, and bombing, and bombing. At one point he realized there were more squads in Chinese units than supply points in the entire region!

You can still do a lot with the air force. Hit centers where supply is largest, like Chungking, and keep bombarding troops with a mind to using up his supplies and wearing them down. You may get 10 1:2 DAs in a row, but once you get the 2:1 the floodgates will open. The key is to have good HQs nearby and keep refreshing new troops into the hex as you have been. His will not be able to move in and out as easily or you'll notice and attack when he's in transition and his units have no forts.

Most IJ players don't even get this far into China, so you've done incredibly well, but with all of those supply/fuel centers taken, he will not be able to run his HI in Chungking soon either. Keep it up!

_____________________________

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill

(in reply to GreyJoy)

Post #: 788

RE: Let's start! - 9/11/2012 8:43:03 AM

GreyJoy

Posts: 6750
Joined: 3/18/2011
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: jeffk3510

Hey GJ-

I haven't gotten to keep up with your game as much as the Rader one back in the day. Two kids under 2 1/2, hiring people at work left and right, buying new software... yada yada...

Thought I would drop in and say hey.

How do you like the stacking limits and DaBabes vs vanilla? Would you recommend switching to someone who only uses vanilla?

Talk to you soon.

Hi Jeff,

Always nice to hear from you mate!

DaBabes is a huge improvement in gameplay imho.

Flak finally works decently, even for the japs. Don't think you'll down many planes, mind you, but at least you damage and defend your bases.
Air bombing is also a bit lowered and you need a real commitment to close a base. Even the B17s need numerous runs to effectively put out of order a tiny level 3 AF
Then you have a lot less engineers and a lot less aviation support...which means your bases grow up very slowly and you cannot flood the areas with air units unless you really commit there (so that you don't committ in other areas which are left alone).
The pace of the game really slows down everywhere.

And, for the stacking limits, i think this is a major improvement. You cannot simply put everything into an hex. You always have to calculate how you assembly your armies... keeping a good balance between firepower, artillery, tanks and men. And, above all, a death star advance is impossible. You have to fight and sweat for every hex and there are no easy taking.

Burma and China are two theatres that will benefit the most with these limitations

(in reply to jeffk3510)

Post #: 789

RE: Let's start! - 9/11/2012 9:07:04 AM

GreyJoy

Posts: 6750
Joined: 3/18/2011
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: obvert

For your CVs I would not commit them to a raid unless you find his LOC paths first. Use AVs or AMCs to locate something, and if it's juicy enough, then race in. Otherwise a lot of wasted fuel. If he also knows you're in the Aleutians, his ships are most likely moving far South anyway.

In China don't despair yet. In my game Jocke basically had me stopped, but I kept bombing, and bombing, and bombing. At one point he realized there were more squads in Chinese units than supply points in the entire region! You can still do a lot with the air force. Hit centers where supply is largest, like Chungking, and keep bombarding troops with a mind to using up his supplies and wearing them down. You may get 10 1:2 DAs in a row, but once you get the 2:1 the floodgates will open. The key is to have good HQs nearby and keep refreshing new troops into the hex as you have been. His will not be able to move in and out as easily or you'll notice and attack when he's in transition and his units have no forts.

Most IJ players don't even get this far into China, so you've done incredibly well, but with all of those supply/fuel centers taken, he will not be able to run his HI in Chungking soon either. Keep it up!

Yup, i agree about the CVs. By now he must have all his 5 US CVs operating togheder... and in a "blind" confrontation far away from home, i'm not that sure my fragile CVs would prevail... better to move back to Truk and wait for his advance.

One thing about the R&D...
I have now 2 x 30 A6M3 fully repaired factories. I've made some tests and they can be moved to the A6M5 without damaging anything, so bypassing the A6M3a.
With those two factories i'll have 4x30 A6M5 factories researching at full speed... which means 120 R&D points every months... the A6M5 is scheldued to come online on 4/43... so i should get a month of advance every 20 days...so i should have it advanced easily to october 1942...2 months before the scheldued arrival of the A6M3a... do you think it's worth to bypass the A6m3a all the same?

(in reply to obvert)

Post #: 790

RE: Let's start! - 9/11/2012 9:24:10 AM

koniu

Posts: 2763
Joined: 2/28/2011
From: Konin, Poland, European Union
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

quote:

ORIGINAL: obvert

For your CVs I would not commit them to a raid unless you find his LOC paths first. Use AVs or AMCs to locate something, and if it's juicy enough, then race in. Otherwise a lot of wasted fuel. If he also knows you're in the Aleutians, his ships are most likely moving far South anyway.

In China don't despair yet. In my game Jocke basically had me stopped, but I kept bombing, and bombing, and bombing. At one point he realized there were more squads in Chinese units than supply points in the entire region! You can still do a lot with the air force. Hit centers where supply is largest, like Chungking, and keep bombarding troops with a mind to using up his supplies and wearing them down. You may get 10 1:2 DAs in a row, but once you get the 2:1 the floodgates will open. The key is to have good HQs nearby and keep refreshing new troops into the hex as you have been. His will not be able to move in and out as easily or you'll notice and attack when he's in transition and his units have no forts.

Most IJ players don't even get this far into China, so you've done incredibly well, but with all of those supply/fuel centers taken, he will not be able to run his HI in Chungking soon either. Keep it up!

Yup, i agree about the CVs. By now he must have all his 5 US CVs operating togheder... and in a "blind" confrontation far away from home, i'm not that sure my fragile CVs would prevail... better to move back to Truk and wait for his advance.

One thing about the R&D...
I have now 2 x 30 A6M3 fully repaired factories. I've made some tests and they can be moved to the A6M5 without damaging anything, so bypassing the A6M3a.
With those two factories i'll have 4x30 A6M5 factories researching at full speed... which means 120 R&D points every months... the A6M5 is scheldued to come online on 4/43... so i should get a month of advance every 20 days...so i should have it advanced easily to october 1942...2 months before the scheldued arrival of the A6M3a... do you think it's worth to bypass the A6m3a all the same?

I think A6M5 is best what Japan can have for CV groups before A7M.
Good range allowing to escort B6N bombers on max range and speed allowing to have decent fight capability in first half of `43. I cant say anything about 5c armored version. Dose he is better from M5 or not? What is more important speed or armor?

On other side A6M3a have bigger range making it better escort for G3 and G4 bombers. But for that you alco can use Oscar (some coordination problems may happen)

< Message edited by koniu -- 9/11/2012 9:30:11 AM >

_____________________________

"Only the Dead Have Seen the End of War"

(in reply to GreyJoy)

Post #: 791

RE: Let's start! - 9/11/2012 9:46:20 AM

goran007

Posts: 143
Joined: 9/3/2009
From: croatia
Status: offline

Hi Grey and all others.
I really enjoyed reading your ups and downs with Rader so i jumped to your ship again:)

I would recommend that you consider taking Christmas island for few reasons (PZB AAR):
Can be built in a strong base
Its on one of the most important strategic spots for harassing allies.
Just by taking it their supply lines will longer. Longer lines means more chance for your subs, more system damage to them and more important he will burn more fuel. All of his 12000 durability XAK wont be able to reach Pago Pago or some other hub from East coast and return without refueling.
Because of Christmas Island in IJ hands any major offensive action he takes in the Solomons will hard or nearly impossible and in Central Pacific impossible

Its a great tactical island because you can defend it even in 1944-1945
B29 can hit it from Pearl but only on extended range.
He wont be able to take it before 1944 because he will need more than 2:1 on carriers to be able to protect bombardment TF going from Pearl. Because of the range to Pearl, from air he will have to bomb from carries, using sorties and taking damage.
IJA 800 AV on there behind level 8 fort and with some AA, CD guns will take a hard toll on 2500AV needed to take it.

Retaking Christmas while you have KB intact will be hard for allies even in 1944 and you will have your chance of exploiting their mistakes.

For taking it at this stage start prepping big force and i recommend you don't scout it much. There is good chance he will oppose it with his carries so pack all air/naval/subs assets you have.

< Message edited by goran007 -- 9/11/2012 9:52:40 AM >

(in reply to GreyJoy)

Post #: 792

RE: Let's start! - 9/11/2012 9:51:42 AM

GreyJoy

Posts: 6750
Joined: 3/18/2011
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: koniu

quote:

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

quote:

ORIGINAL: obvert

For your CVs I would not commit them to a raid unless you find his LOC paths first. Use AVs or AMCs to locate something, and if it's juicy enough, then race in. Otherwise a lot of wasted fuel. If he also knows you're in the Aleutians, his ships are most likely moving far South anyway.

In China don't despair yet. In my game Jocke basically had me stopped, but I kept bombing, and bombing, and bombing. At one point he realized there were more squads in Chinese units than supply points in the entire region! You can still do a lot with the air force. Hit centers where supply is largest, like Chungking, and keep bombarding troops with a mind to using up his supplies and wearing them down. You may get 10 1:2 DAs in a row, but once you get the 2:1 the floodgates will open. The key is to have good HQs nearby and keep refreshing new troops into the hex as you have been. His will not be able to move in and out as easily or you'll notice and attack when he's in transition and his units have no forts.

Most IJ players don't even get this far into China, so you've done incredibly well, but with all of those supply/fuel centers taken, he will not be able to run his HI in Chungking soon either. Keep it up!

Yup, i agree about the CVs. By now he must have all his 5 US CVs operating togheder... and in a "blind" confrontation far away from home, i'm not that sure my fragile CVs would prevail... better to move back to Truk and wait for his advance.

One thing about the R&D...
I have now 2 x 30 A6M3 fully repaired factories. I've made some tests and they can be moved to the A6M5 without damaging anything, so bypassing the A6M3a.
With those two factories i'll have 4x30 A6M5 factories researching at full speed... which means 120 R&D points every months... the A6M5 is scheldued to come online on 4/43... so i should get a month of advance every 20 days...so i should have it advanced easily to october 1942...2 months before the scheldued arrival of the A6M3a... do you think it's worth to bypass the A6m3a all the same?

I think A6M5 is best what Japan can have for CV groups before A7M.
Good range allowing to escort B6N bombers on max range and speed allowing to have decent fight capability in first half of `43. I cant say anything about 5c armored version. Dose he is better from M5 or not? What is more important speed or armor?

On other side A6M3a have bigger range making it better escort for G3 and G4 bombers. But for that you alco can use Oscar (some coordination problems may happen)

mmm... very interesting thoughts Koniu!
The A6M3a has this great 15 range with droptanks... which is defenetly a must... but having the A6M5 that early may mean something....
The idea is to be able to produce both of them by december 1942.
I would probably swicth the actual A6M2 production to A6M3a once it becomes available, and use part of the R&D factories to produce the A6M5.
i think i'll simply leave 3*30 R&D factories for R&D the Zero line (so A6M5b and c) and convert 2 R&D factories into production.
I should so be able to produce 120 A6M3as and 120 A6M5s every month. Not bad indeed

(in reply to koniu)

Post #: 793

RE: Let's start! - 9/11/2012 9:58:26 AM

GreyJoy

Posts: 6750
Joined: 3/18/2011
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: goran007

Hi Grey and all others.
I really enjoyed reading your ups and downs with Rader so i jumped to your ship again:)

I would recommend that you consider taking Christmas island for few reasons (PZB AAR):
Can be built in a strong base
Its on one of the most important strategic spots for harassing allies.
Just by taking it their supply lines will longer. Longer lines means more chance for your subs, more system damage to them and more important he will burn more fuel. All of his 12000 durability XAK wont be able to reach Pago Pago or some other hub from East coast and return without refueling.
Because of Christmas Island in IJ hands any major offensive action he takes in the Solomons will hard or nearly impossible and in Central Pacific impossible

Its a great tactical island because you can defend it even in 1944-1945
B29 can hit it from Pearl but only on extended range.
He wont be able to take it before 1944 because he will need more than 2:1 on carriers to be able to protect bombardment TF going from Pearl. Because of the range to Pearl, from air he will have to bomb from carries, using sorties and taking damage.
IJA 800 AV on there behind level 8 fort and with some AA, CD guns will take a hard toll on 2500AV needed to take it.

Retaking Christmas while you have KB intact will be hard for allies even in 1944 and you will have your chance of exploiting their mistakes.

For taking it at this stage start prepping big force and i recommend you don't scout it much. There is good chance he will oppose it with his carries so pack all air/naval/subs assets you have.

Hi mate! Thanks for jumping in!! :-)

Christmas Is? It's nearly may 1942... isn't that too late? Christmas is an atoll...with a stacking limit of 30.000 .... i have no idea of what he has there...for what i know he could have for sure a couple of Marine CD units and a Marine regiment defending it behind 4/5 lvl forts.... and, above all, i would need to get there completely blind, far behind any mavis search arc and without any chance of reconning it... his fleet is completely intact, mind you... which means he could easily place several cruiser TFs and all his 5 CVs...and it's already a level 4 AF with 2 port... sincerly i don't feel confortable at all with this idea... What do the others think? .... i know i may be a bit coward here...a jap player should be defenely bolder ...

(in reply to goran007)

Post #: 794

RE: Let's start! - 9/11/2012 10:21:10 AM

goran007

Posts: 143
Joined: 9/3/2009
From: croatia
Status: offline

Considering his air/ground commitment to Burma, losses in Darwin, need to secure Australia/Pearl/Noumea/HUB and that Christmas after 5 months of fighting is only level 4 airfield he doesen't have more than a regiment, base fore and 1 engineer unit.

But anyways you should count on confronting 800 AV behind level 5 fort and 20-40 fighters.

What you need to be on safe side?
3 divisions + 1 on reserve
1 tank + few arty units + eng. unit

KB + mini KB
100 transports
full force of cruisers/destroyers
all the subs you can muster
Bombardment TF

If we are talking of this kind of forces imagine what he would need to recapture it later?
At this point your KB + mini KB is as strong as it will be, only way he can stop you is by committing all he has. If he does he will sunk bunch of transports (full of troops or if lucky empty) but you will get chance of getting his CV's.
Whatever he does you will have 3-4 times more AA guns, 2 times more fighters, 3:1 in surface combat and prob 5:1 in subs.
Choose you battles don't let him choose it for you and Christmas is great place to take and keep. :)

< Message edited by goran007 -- 9/11/2012 11:16:13 AM >

(in reply to GreyJoy)

Post #: 795

RE: Let's start! - 9/11/2012 11:19:21 AM

obvert

Posts: 14050
Joined: 1/17/2011
From: PDX (and now) London, UK
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

mmm... very interesting thoughts Koniu!
The A6M3a has this great 15 range with droptanks... which is defenetly a must... but having the A6M5 that early may mean something....
The idea is to be able to produce both of them by december 1942.
I would probably swicth the actual A6M2 production to A6M3a once it becomes available, and use part of the R&D factories to produce the A6M5.
i think i'll simply leave 3*30 R&D factories for R&D the Zero line (so A6M5b and c) and convert 2 R&D factories into production.
I should so be able to produce 120 A6M3as and 120 A6M5s every month. Not bad indeed

I like the A6M3a for the 2nd half of 42 with its range. It's durability is crap compared to the A6M5 and thus is won't survive many rounds with 4Es or tough Allied fighters. But the range with the G3M3 is critical so I still leave a few groups in use.

Just a note; the A6M2 factories only upgrade to the 'Sen Baku' in '44. If you change them to the A6M3a they will have to be completely rebuilt. I have a ton of factories for the A6M5 that came through R n D so I just turned my A6M2 off and will turn them on later after upgrading the 'Sen Baku' to later zero model down the line with no damage to the factories. It doesn't matter much, but in the beginning supply is critical as you know.

Also, as I found out the hard way, when you want to keep your R n D factories set them to 'no-yes-no' so they don't upgrade to production. I had my 3 x 30 A6M5 factories change to production and now I have to rebuild the R n D for the rest of the line. I'll only get the A6M5b a month or two ahead of schedule, but that's fine, it's just a waste of supply and HI.

_____________________________

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill

(in reply to GreyJoy)

Post #: 796

RE: Let's start! - 9/11/2012 2:32:06 PM

Canoerebel

Posts: 21100
Joined: 12/14/2002
From: Northwestern Georgia, USA
Status: offline

Since so much of the real war took place in CenPac and SoPac, many players are naturally drawn to these theaters. But most of the most experienced players have evaluated the map as a whole and have determined that, in AE, those theaters are of far less signficance than they were in the war. I cannot imagine taking a risk to stick my nose out as far as Christmas Island against a player of the caliber of Q-Ball. Christmas just isn't a target important enough to justify the risk. (That's not to say it might not become important. If Japan commits a large force and ends up winning a big battle, voila!, the theater assumed great importance; but it wasn't of importance in and of itself.)

(in reply to obvert)

Post #: 797

RE: Let's start! - 9/11/2012 3:09:57 PM

goran007

Posts: 143
Joined: 9/3/2009
From: croatia
Status: offline

Why is Pearl so important? If we remove repair shipyard from equation, what would IJ gain by occupying it? Someone could argue that pearl is irrelevant...

If IJ takes Christmas it closes shipping lines from Pearl to hub like pago pago or Suva, only way to supply future offensive operation in whole australia/solomon area becomes 20% longer and twice as dangerous. Between east coast and Pago Pago Allies don't have a single port where they retire and base recon aircraft/surface TF/repair ships.

Without it, considering how low allies are on tankers in 1942/1943 it makes nearly impossible to stock enough fuel/supplies in hub near Australia for 1943 offensive.

In the Pacific Allies can afford to loose every single base except Christmass and Pago Pago, loosing them means Australia will be cut off for good. Allies have enough shipping to go around and keep Australia supplied for defense but not for offensive operations until they recapture it, and Christmas can be defended by KB well in to 1944 and can even win war if allies make mistake.

If Japan can take it Christmas it becomes most important base in whole pacific. Its a shame Grey didn't take it earlier but for next 3 months he will still have odds in his favor.

At worst you will find there 5 carriers and 1 TF of cruisers. But you will have 100 transport ships and 7 battleships soaking up dive bombers that get through.

Just consider having it and placing surface TF patroling 30 hex deep to the east. Aircover of 50 betties and 50 zeroes covering against bombardment TF that could come only from Pearl direction. It would be hard nut to crack

At this point japan needs big carrier battle, if you don't force him to commit he wont come. If he doesen't come when you wont it, in 8 months he will have 100 transports + 8 battleships with full force of CV's and you will have to react.

< Message edited by goran007 -- 9/11/2012 3:46:48 PM >

(in reply to Canoerebel)

Post #: 798

RE: Let's start! - 9/11/2012 3:39:13 PM

goran007

Posts: 143
Joined: 9/3/2009
From: croatia
Status: offline

double post

(in reply to goran007)

Post #: 799

RE: Let's start! - 9/11/2012 3:44:05 PM

Canoerebel

Posts: 21100
Joined: 12/14/2002
From: Northwestern Georgia, USA
Status: offline

None of those bases are important in and of themselves. The Solomons aren't important. And it's quite possible to supply Oz other ways. Preferable, in fact. (Caveat: Of course, anywhere the two sides elect to concentrate and thus give battle becomes important even if they weren't important until then.)

There is nothing that GreyJoy can do that will force Q-Ball to give a carrier battle. Q-Ball may elect to give battle on terms he's satisfied with, or he might make a mistake (which is fairly unlikely), but there is no way that any Japanese operation in the Pacific would "force him" to give battle.

(in reply to goran007)

Post #: 800

RE: Let's start! - 9/11/2012 3:55:49 PM

goran007

Posts: 143
Joined: 9/3/2009
From: croatia
Status: offline

i am 80% sure that if Grey goes for Christmass in next 60 days good player like q-ball wont commit CV's to defend it. Allies just aren't ready to face KB yet, especially when it covers amph. operation.

What i know for sure that q-ball will need every single ship he will have in late 1943/1944 to recapture it and Grey wont loose anything if he doesen't react to it. That puts Grey in a very good position.

If q-ball cant go directly to hub's near Australia and goes to Panama-Pago Pago it will take a long time to build enough fuel for any operation.
Best protection of Solomons & Pacific is through holding Christmas.

< Message edited by goran007 -- 9/11/2012 3:58:59 PM >

(in reply to Canoerebel)

Post #: 801

RE: Let's start! - 9/11/2012 4:03:36 PM

Canoerebel

Posts: 21100
Joined: 12/14/2002
From: Northwestern Georgia, USA
Status: offline

Well, I don't want to hijack GJ's AAR any longer, so I'll close by saying (1) Q-Ball wouldn't bother with Christmas in 1943 or 1944; (2) the Solomons are irrelevant; and (3) no need to send fuel to Oz through the Pacific; better to send it via Capetown.

(in reply to goran007)

Post #: 802

RE: Let's start! - 9/11/2012 4:17:38 PM

JocMeister

Posts: 8262
Joined: 7/29/2009
From: Sweden
Status: offline

I don�t think the Jap player have any hope of "isolating" OZ whatever he does take or not. The allies have just way too much shipping available. Its simply no doable. You can ship more then enough fuel just using xAKs if needed. I don�t really know how much fuel I have at OZ since I havn�t checked. But I have never been low at any point. 2 million? 3? So I don�t agree with the fuel problem at all. The Jap player can never cover all the possible approaches to OZ taking Pago Pago and Christmas would be a nuisance at most.

I just hit April 43 and I have so much fuel and supplies everywhere I don�t really know where to put it anymore. And I have done so without using Christmas or Perth. So I�m pretty much in agreement with CR on this one. As an allied player you don�t need Christmas Island, Perth or Pago Pago for that matter.

(in reply to Canoerebel)

Post #: 803

RE: Let's start! - 9/11/2012 4:40:02 PM

GreyJoy

Posts: 6750
Joined: 3/18/2011
Status: offline

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Apr 24, 42

A very good day for the Empire in Burma.

We studied the composition of allied raids over Akyab and over my troops advancing towards Mytikina. Bombers fly from Calcutta, joined along the way by fighters from Chittahong (both sweeps and escort come from here), while the B26s take off from Ledo, escorted by Hurricanes IIb.
So i decided to try a little trick.
I moved a BB TFs near Akyab...i was very carefull not to be detected. A CLTF covered the BBs, just in case (even if i'm pretty sure Brad has evacuated most of his RN from the Bay of Bengal).
We arrived at night, sunk a stupid PT, and then smash the AF at Chittahong, destroying 25 planes on the ground and damaging many many more.

So when the day came, the bombers took off from Calcutta... but found 1 Zero Sentai and 2 Oscar Sentais there waiting for them...and they discovered they had no escort at all! We mauled them pretty well.

Then the B26s took off, escorted by the Hurricanes... once again they found Nicks and Zeros waiting for them on LRCAP from Mandalay. Another couple of good hits.

By the end of the day, 35 enemies have been shot down and 10 more are lost due to damage. We lost only 2 planes, saving both pilots

And we have our first Nick ace!!!...Nicks performed very well against the B26s for what i matters. Soon we'll have them in production (this was an experimental group).

The reinforcement of the Aleutinas has been completed. Now we have 260 AVs at Addak, 188 at Amicthika and 100 at Attu, along with several AA units.

Expanding my perimeter around Koepang now. Need to secure this area ASAP.

More base forces, AA units and port units are coming to Singapore to be then spread all over the DEI.

Enemy subs sunk the first TK of the war... near Miri...despite our ASW air and naval escort....

Troops are being sent to Makin, Tarawa, Kusiae, Onnekotan Jiima, Mylne Bay, Lae, Green Island and Wewak, while the first big resource convoy (250k tons) is reaching Sasebo from Singapore.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Chittagong at 55,41, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Nagara
CL Yura
CL Oi
DD Wakatake
DD Kuretake
DD Sanae
DD Asagao
DD Kuri

Allied Ships
HDML 1104, Shell hits 1, and is sunk

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Chittagong at 55,41

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort I: 9 damaged
Beaufort I: 3 destroyed on ground
Hurricane IIb Trop: 19 damaged
Hurricane IIb Trop: 1 destroyed on ground
SBD-3 Dauntless: 16 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 destroyed on ground
P-39D Airacobra: 41 damaged
P-39D Airacobra: 3 destroyed on ground
Hurricane I Trop: 33 damaged
Hurricane I Trop: 1 destroyed on ground
Hurricane IIa Trop: 32 damaged
Hurricane IIa Trop: 3 destroyed on ground
PBY-4 Catalina: 25 damaged
PBY-4 Catalina: 1 destroyed on ground
F4F-3A Wildcat: 19 damaged
F4F-3A Wildcat: 1 destroyed on ground
Mitchell PR.II: 5 damaged
Mitchell PR.II: 1 destroyed on ground

Japanese Ships
BB Ise
BB Fuso
BB Nagato
CA Suzuya
CA Mogami
CA Nachi

Allied ground losses:
280 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 36 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 19 (2 destroyed, 17 disabled)
Vehicles lost 16 (2 destroyed, 14 disabled)

Light Industry hits 1
Manpower hits 1
Resources hits 2
Fires 143
Airbase hits 38
Airbase supply hits 9
Runway hits 56
Port hits 6
Port fuel hits 3
Port supply hits 2

F1M2 Pete acting as spotter for BB Ise
BB Ise firing at Chittagong
BB Fuso firing at Chittagong
E13A1 Jake acting as spotter for BB Nagato
BB Nagato firing at 70th British Division
CA Suzuya firing at Chittagong
CA Mogami firing at Chittagong
CA Nachi firing at 70th British Division

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Akyab , at 54,45

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 21
Ki-43-Ia Oscar x 11
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 10

Allied aircraft
Blenheim I x 12
Blenheim IV x 38
Hudson IIIa x 13
Wellington Ic x 14
B-17E Fortress x 5

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim I: 3 destroyed, 5 damaged
Blenheim IV: 10 destroyed, 4 damaged
Hudson IIIa: 1 damaged
Wellington Ic: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 8
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 23

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on RTA Cavalry Division, at 61,43 (Katha)

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 15
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 14

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 16
B-26 Marauder x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb Trop: 3 destroyed
B-26 Marauder: 7 destroyed, 4 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
264th Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (14 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
14 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
15th Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (15 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
15 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 17000
Raid is overhead

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Akyab , at 54,45

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
Ki-43-Ia Oscar x 8
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 4

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 10

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 14

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
59th Sentai with Ki-43-Ia Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 8 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 19000 , scrambling fighters to 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 48 minutes
64th Sentai with Ki-43-Ib Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 4 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 17000 , scrambling fighters to 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 35 minutes
12th Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 9 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 17000 , scrambling fighters to 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 32 minutes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 14th Tank Regiment, at 61,43 (Katha)

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 11
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 8

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 16
B-26 Marauder x 25

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-26 Marauder: 1 destroyed, 7 damaged

(in reply to JocMeister)

Post #: 804

RE: Let's start! - 9/11/2012 5:07:49 PM

GreyJoy

Posts: 6750
Joined: 3/18/2011
Status: offline

About Christmas Isl... no guys, i won't go there. I have already made too many mistakes in this match to be able to risk this kind of adventure. Moreover, my fuel situation is far from being optimal and i need now to concentrate my efforts in order to secure the perimeter i've already conquered and make my economy flow steady.

My program now is the following:
1-Conquer and secure all those small bases between Sosarbaja and Timor.
2- Conquer Makassar and the Celebes
3- Conquer Balikapan
4- Conquer Padang and put an end to the resistance in Sumatra
5- Conquer Batavia
6- Conquer Cebu and Manila

All of this, defending Burma and the Solomons (the two fronts where the enemy is advancing fast), keep on grinding him in China and reinforcing the areas which seem to be secure for the moment (Gilberts, New Guinea, Southern DEI)...

really a lot to do... i'm already late.... cannot think of embarking in a risky project like the conquer of Christmas Island

(in reply to GreyJoy)

Post #: 805

RE: Let's start! - 9/11/2012 8:34:43 PM

Capt. Harlock

Posts: 5358
Joined: 9/15/2001
From: Los Angeles
Status: offline

quote:

We studied the composition of allied raids over Akyab and over my troops advancing towards Mytikina. Bombers fly from Calcutta, joined along the way by fighters from Chittahong (both sweeps and escort come from here), while the B26s take off from Ledo, escorted by Hurricanes IIb.
So i decided to try a little trick.
I moved a BB TFs near Akyab...i was very carefull not to be detected. A CLTF covered the BBs, just in case (even if i'm pretty sure Brad has evacuated most of his RN from the Bay of Bengal).
We arrived at night, sunk a stupid PT, and then smash the AF at Chittahong, destroying 25 planes on the ground and damaging many many more.

So when the day came, the bombers took off from Calcutta... but found 1 Zero Sentai and 2 Oscar Sentais there waiting for them...and they discovered they had no escort at all! We mauled them pretty well.

Then the B26s took off, escorted by the Hurricanes... once again they found Nicks and Zeros waiting for them on LRCAP from Mandalay. Another couple of good hits.

By the end of the day, 35 enemies have been shot down and 10 more are lost due to damage. We lost only 2 planes

Very cleverly done.

_____________________________

Civil war? What does that mean? Is there any foreign war? Isn't every war fought between men, between brothers?

--Victor Hugo

(in reply to GreyJoy)

Post #: 806

RE: Let's start! - 9/11/2012 11:45:23 PM

GreyJoy

Posts: 6750
Joined: 3/18/2011
Status: offline

R&D Choices...

The Tojo research is proceeding very fast and i need to take decisions right now...

So now i have the following situation:

Industries:
Tojo IIa = 60(0)
Tojo IIa = 30(0)
Tojo IIa = 25 (5)
Tojo IIa = 10 (6)
Tojo IIa = 14(2)
Tojo IIa = 10 (6)
Tojo IIa = 17(3)

Tojo IIc = 0(30)

Plus i have 550 Ha-34 engines stockpiled.

My goal is to keep 4 R&D points/day for the whole Tojo line and have at least 160 Tojo producing every months.

So my idea is the following:

Keep as R&D factories, researching Tojo IIc, the 30(0) and the 25(5) ones, while converting into production the 60(0), the 14(2) and the 10(6) factories (enlarging slowly the latters two).

What to do with the other 2 factories that are at the moment researching tojo IIa? Keep them as R&D factories and simply change the model (a couple of future bombers maybe).... or change them into production factories, in order to have 5 factories producing the Tojo IIa ?

Decisions, decisions, decisions....

(in reply to Capt. Harlock)

Post #: 807

RE: Let's start! - 9/12/2012 3:45:18 AM

Lcp Purcell

Posts: 78
Joined: 5/11/2009
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

So my idea is the following:

Keep as R&D factories, researching Tojo IIc, the 30(0) and the 25(5) ones, while converting into production the 60(0), the 14(2) and the 10(6) factories (enlarging slowly the latters two).

I have noticed research factories upgrade slowly, the further out the research the slower the upgrade, while production factories will upgrade a point per day (with enough supply) so I would be tempted to convert the just the fully repaired factories right before research completion. The 60 & the 30 if the 14(2) is repaired) and expand all the smaller ones which go into production. But then of course it's a question between immediate need and future benefit.

< Message edited by Lcp Purcell -- 9/12/2012 3:48:00 AM >

(in reply to GreyJoy)

Post #: 808

RE: Let's start! - 9/12/2012 7:34:22 AM

obvert

Posts: 14050
Joined: 1/17/2011
From: PDX (and now) London, UK
Status: offline

Since your Tojo IIc factory has no points repaired, just change it to Tojo IIa now. It'll repair quickly and then you can switch it through the models. Otherwise you'll have is still only 2/3 repaired in about a year.

_____________________________

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill

(in reply to Lcp Purcell)

Post #: 809

RE: Let's start! - 9/12/2012 8:21:13 AM

GreyJoy

Posts: 6750
Joined: 3/18/2011
Status: offline

Yes, i was thinking about it Obvert...i just hate to lose the HI points spent to get that factory up to 0(30)...

Anyway guys, here's a little and brief strategical overview.

May 1942 is approaching and the Empire has, more or less, reached its historical perimeter.

Batavia and Manila-Clark-Bataan are the only two strongholds left in the PI-SRA-DEI area. Padang (Sumatra) should easily fall within a week.
Batavia has 850 enemy AVs, while our sieging armies count 2200 AVs. We're now shifting some 200 bombers to this area to help reduce the defenders more quickly.

The weak spots that i see now in my perimeter are NW Oz, where he could easily advance from Port Hedland towards Broome and Western Sumatra, that could be a juicy target for him considering the fact that Cocos Is. is a stronghold in allied hands.

NOPAC has been secured (for the moment at least) with the addition of several garrison units at Addak, Amichitka and Attu, while we're building up the Kuriles (moving an Air HQ to Shimushiri Jiima right now).

The Gilbert/Marshalls have now my attention. Tarawa is well built and well defended and we're saturating all the atolls north of it with troops and engineers. I'm moving another air HQ in this area (Maloaep) and engineers are now being transfered to Makin atoll.
The idea is that, without any easy picking target, he will have to committ in force if he wants to advance here... If he choses the safest way (slowly frog-leaping from Tabiutea etc etc)...well, it would buy me a lot of time...Japan and our supply-fuel sources are far away from this area ;-)

The strategy for the Solomons/NG area is the following.
For the Solomons, i've created several interconnected bases (Tulagi, Lunga, Munda, Russell Island, Shortland, Buka), all of the able to lunch torpedo attacks (an Air Div HQ with range 5 is present at Munda). Each of them has a decent garrison (from 100 AVs up) with at least 3 forts. He can bomb my AFs from Ndeni, that's for sure, but if i spread my defences well (meaning having fighters all over these bases), i should be able to defend my skies for a prolongued time and so bleed his air units enough to stop his air campaign.

For the NG area, we've built Buna (level 3 AF), Gasmata (Level 3 AF) and we're building Lae. We'll build a couple more bases in Lae area and we'll then focus on Wewak. With an Air Div HQ present at Gasmata i can make any attempt to land on the western or southern coast of NG (say PM or Milne Bay) very very expensive for him.
Horn Island is still in my hands but i'm wondering if it's worth to leave a strong SNLF unit there... they are doomed anyway, so i'm thinking of being ready to airlift them back to PM once NE coast of Oz will become "hot".

I'm also not forgetting the Mariannas. A "Nemo style" surprise invasion of the Mariannas is something that always scares me... so i'm prepping the 53rd division (divided in 3 regiments) for the 3 main targets here (Saipan etc).

Burma, at the moment, is clearly the first place where he can start to inflic me headhaces.
During the bombardment runs at Chittaong and Cock's Bazar, we've spotted the 18th UK division and two full australian divisions. These are mighty units and they are now advancing towards Akyab. Akyab is clearly a problem for me. It's very difficult to resupply and it's very exposed both to naval and air bombings. I have there the 25th Army, composed of the 18th and the 2nd Divisions... i hate to have two experienced units stuck there defending that part of the empire... so i'm thinking of shifting them with the first two guards divisions that will become available (probably the 4th and the 6th). It will take time to move them out...hopefully, with the arrival of the Monsoon season, the operations will slow down a bit...
The other target is Mitikina...we just conquered an abbandoned Katha and we're now marching fast towards that base. Our Paras conquered an empty dot base north of Mitikina and immediately spotted an australian unit (green) of unknown strenght, marching through the jungle from the Indian Border...clearly he wants to reinforce Mitikina... but i think i can win this race. I have a full army (nearly 70,000 men), the 15th, advancing and i don't think he has anything strong enough to stop. The goal is to get there and conquer the base by the end of May... then my offensive operations in Burma will be over and we will be able to focus on building up our defensive line there.

(in reply to obvert)

Post #: 810