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RE: Kuriles liberated - 6/4/2014 10:49:07 AM

Lowpe

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Dateline: Tjilatjap, Nov 29, 1942:

Pounded for two months by forces of the IJN, the reinforcements meant to save Java have only slowly starved, scrounging for shells, bullets and c-rations.

1 American Division
2 Aussie Divisions
3 British Brigades
7 Aussie Art Regiments
3rd Aussie Motor Brigade
4th Aussie Cavalry Brigade (still dangerous)
Plus support units.

A good day!

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Post #: 841

RE: Kuriles liberated - 6/4/2014 8:46:06 PM

Lowpe

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This is about my 3 month anniversary of taking over the game. Just comparing the Tracker chart raw numbers my basic resources trend are:

Resources +4 million -- no problems
Oil -300,000 2.3 million
Fuel Unchanged 2.4 million
Supply -500,000 -- growing 10K a turn now. 3.1 million

Supply took a big hit with all the industry changes, repairing Miri and Brunei, and repairing the horrendously damaged Army.

I have doubled Japanese victory points to a much better 34,000.

The ratio now stands just shy of 1.5 to 1 -- a far cry from the almost 1-1 I inherited.

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Post #: 842

RE: Kuriles liberated - 6/5/2014 10:43:15 AM

Lowpe

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Nov 30, 1942

Bagged another tanker, off Karachi, today. Not even escorted. Allies have lost 16 tankers and 8 oilers according to intelligence, but I suspect it might be higher.

Allied 4e bombers take the day off in Burma, and at Magwe the runway is pristine and there is close to 160 Japanese fighters there...they are detected 9/10 so there will be no surprise there just grueling high level sweeps I bet. I am CAP at between 8 and 11 thousand feet.

Allied counter battery fire at Tjilatajp rolls really well and destroys a dozen guns and vehicles. Time to dig in a little, I think, bomb from the air and shore some more. Not all the troops are there yet. There is enough supply to keep his AA guns firing.

Another minesweeper shows up west of Java, but for the second day the Betties don't fly. Probing here.

The Tone is one to two days out from Sabang, returning with no ammunition and 8000 less units of fuel after her long range raiding. Total tally: xAKs x2, AMC x3.

The Myojo is now up to 6/45.

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Post #: 843

RE: Kuriles liberated - 6/5/2014 10:57:54 AM

Lowpe

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How to put a cost on ship raids? The Tone had a very successful cruise sinking 5 ships worth close to 100 victory points but consumed 8000 units of fuel or the potential of 16,000 supplies if that fuel could have fed the heavy industry in the HI at the end game -- assuming of course that there is still heavy industry left to fuel.

Does a raid like that even actually hurt the Allies? Slow them down? The xaks they won't miss, AMCs are always tough to use except for landings so they might sting a little.

Is Japan better off simply turtling on defense, conserving supplies and fuel, and launching major counter strikes as the Allies invade progressively closer to the HI.

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Post #: 844

RE: Kuriles liberated - 6/5/2014 11:18:48 AM

Spidery

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

How to put a cost on ship raids? The Tone had a very successful cruise sinking 5 ships worth close to 100 victory points but consumed 8000 units of fuel or the potential of 16,000 supplies if that fuel could have fed the heavy industry in the HI at the end game -- assuming of course that there is still heavy industry left to fuel.

Does a raid like that even actually hurt the Allies? Slow them down? The xaks they won't miss, AMCs are always tough to use except for landings so they might sting a little.

Is Japan better off simply turtling on defense, conserving supplies and fuel, and launching major counter strikes as the Allies invade progressively closer to the HI.

It is 2 fuel for 2 supply with HI. So 8000 units of supply, not 16000.

At the end in 1946, assume you need about 75,000 VP to prevent the Allied win (your view of the number may differ). So at 100 VP for 8000 supply you would need 6,000,000 supply to get 75,000 VP. You get about 50 million supply during a game so that sounds like a good rate for supply investment in VPs.

I doubt it hurts the Allied cause much by itself but do that, or something similar, 20 times and the Allies will be hurting.

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Post #: 845

RE: Kuriles liberated - 6/5/2014 12:08:41 PM

Lowpe

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Spidery

It is 2 fuel for 2 supply with HI. So 8000 units of supply, not 16000.

I doubt it hurts the Allied cause much by itself but do that, or something similar, 20 times and the Allies will be hurting.

Oops, you are right.

8000 fuel is equal to one long range sub patrol and that might yield 1-4 ships if you are lucky.

If it causes the Allies to deploy PT boats other surface ships in the rear, hesitate about sending supply, oil, and troop convoys out, deploy air assets in search and asw, then the answer is yes. Otherwise, you are always fighting against a fully prepared Allied force on grounds of his choosing.

Plus, every now and then you might nail a troop ship, or in my case I was aiming for a CVE.

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Post #: 846

RE: Kuriles liberated - 6/5/2014 8:21:30 PM

Lowpe

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During November 1942, IJN sank:

2 CV, 1 BB, 3 CA, 2 CLAA, 1 CL and 45 lesser ships. I have sunk four AP so far, and they seemed to have disappeared from the front line duty.

Japan lost the Junyo, 1 good tanker, and 12 smaller ships.

Batavia fell and the Kuriles were liberated from Allied presence.

December plans: I have a few things in the works to take advantage of my naval strength relative to the Allies, plan on capturing Tjilatjap and then some limited offensives. Build defenses, establish better search, upgrade my airforce with new frames. Save supplies.

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Post #: 847

RE: Kuriles liberated - 6/6/2014 10:49:33 AM

Lowpe

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Dec 1, 1942

Allied bombers try a night attack and score one destroyed Tojo and one or two runway hits. No fighter opposition, and moonlight was in the 40s.

The Nick B comes out as well as the Dinah fighter and production starts for both models at a modest 30 a month. That raises total Nick production up to 60. This Lilly IIb is at 77% and will start shortly. Most IJN players avoid the Dinah fighter like the plague, but I am going to give her a limited tryout.

Spidery makes a good point about mine tenders and fuel usage. I have been maintaining my minefields and will definitely look at this and probably change my policy substantially.

Talking about fuel usage, I have about 10 cruisers out raiding, and I am sending out a large (for me) destroyer raid this day.

The Kiso closed with another Aussie minesweeper and sank her off Java. Those ships make for good early war ASW platforms, but by now I suspect they are getting replaced by better Allied ships. They are good minesweepers and I wouldn't use them as probes.

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Post #: 848

RE: Kuriles liberated - 6/6/2014 10:54:09 AM

JocMeister

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Trying to catch up on your AAR. Pretty impressive stuff turning that wreck you took over around.

Well done!

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Post #: 849

RE: Kuriles liberated - 6/6/2014 11:40:03 AM

Lowpe

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Here is picture of the Gilberts...

Lots, and lots, and lots of PT boats, but there are some gems to nail in there like some xaps, some destroyers and at least one light cruiser. Of course there is a lot of enemy air around too.

I am going to try and sneak 7 cruisers thru here and to the north and get into the Allied backfield. This will coincide with a large destroyer raid in the Gilberts backed up with land based air providing cover only.

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Post #: 850

RE: Kuriles liberated - 6/6/2014 11:59:38 AM

Lowpe

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quote:

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

Trying to catch up on your AAR. Pretty impressive stuff turning that wreck you took over around.

Well done!

Thanks!

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Post #: 851

RE: Kuriles liberated - 6/6/2014 9:23:39 PM

Lowpe

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I have alluded to taking advantage of my relative naval strength right now, and have several surface ships out raiding. I am also going to attempt the real foolhardy, depending upon the ability of the first wave of raiders to penetrate deep into the Pacific behind Allied front lines and to that end the KB is heading east....it will have two goals which may or may not get realized:

1. To provide a backup wave to the heavy cruisers that are leading the way. Here, I anticipate hitting convoys between the west coast and Pearl with cruisers and then have the KB follow up to engage any capital ships the Allies throw against the cruisers. Would I be jinxing myself if I thought thought I could bag another CV?

Surely he has them near Pearl, and sending them full speed after surface raiders (with one obvious exit route) would be a low risk operation to Allied eyes.

2. I need to do some research here, because I have never done it before, but to send the KB to bomb Seattle. Have the heavy cruisers screen instead of raid, and attempt to firebomb the city. I already am gathering submarines there, but the stars would really need to align for this to happen. But if I could destroy some of the Boeing factories how neat would that be?

My guess is that I simply can't send in enough Kates to really damage the city, but I am willing to try and the pilots are busy training for it.

So things to discover are: the maximum range I can be from Seattle and target the city with Kates. I anticipate a full speed overnight run in followed by normal range air attacks.

Option 2 is really kind of pie in the sky, but I am putting it out there. This is probably a waste of fuel, but I am going to give it a try and see how it develops.

This is the major operation planned for December (along with Port Moresby & Tjilatjap) designed to set the Allies back just a little and buy me more time rebuilding my air force to act as a counter punching force for the rest of the game & and I should be able to invade, loot and pillage Ceylon in very early 43 if I choose to.

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Post #: 852

RE: Kuriles liberated - 6/6/2014 9:45:08 PM

Lokasenna

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

I have alluded to taking advantage of my relative naval strength right now, and have several surface ships out raiding. I am also going to attempt the real foolhardy, depending upon the ability of the first wave of raiders to penetrate deep into the Pacific behind Allied front lines and to that end the KB is heading east....it will have two goals which may or may not get realized:

1. To provide a backup wave to the heavy cruisers that are leading the way. Here, I anticipate hitting convoys between the west coast and Pearl with cruisers and then have the KB follow up to engage any capital ships the Allies throw against the cruisers. Would I be jinxing myself if I thought thought I could bag another CV? Surely he has them near Pearl, and sending them full speed after surface raiders (with one obvious exit route) would be a low risk operation to Allied eyes.

2. I need to do some research here, because I have never done it before, but to send the KB to bomb Seattle. Have the heavy cruisers screen instead of raid, and attempt to firebomb the city. I already am gathering submarines there, but the stars would really need to align for this to happen. But if I could destroy some of the Boeing factories how neat would that be?

My guess is that I simply can't send in enough Kates to really damage the city, but I am willing to try and the pilots are busy training for it.

So things to discover are: the maximum range I can be from Seattle and target the city with Kates. I anticipate a full speed overnight run in followed by normal range air attacks.

Option 2 is really kind of pie in the sky, but I am putting it out there. This is probably a waste of fuel, but I am going to give it a try and see how it develops.

This is the major operation planned for December (along with Port Moresby & Tjilatjap) designed to set the Allies back just a little and buy me more time rebuilding my air force to act as a counter punching force for the rest of the game & and I should be able to invade, loot and pillage Ceylon in very early 43 if I choose to.

A full speed run in will be unnecessary - you won't be able to set to City Attack from that far out. I would guess that you could set them to City Attack on Seattle from ~12 or 14 hexes, per the Kate's extended range + 1 phase of cruise speed. My sole data point for this guess is my SBD extended range of 8 + 1 phase of cruise = 12 hexes, which was how far out I was able to set mine.

Unfortunately, you will need to bring your AOs along for this, since you don't have any of the Aleutians (particularly Adak). However, you may catch him off guard.

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Post #: 853

RE: Kuriles liberated - 6/7/2014 12:31:56 PM

Lowpe

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Dec 2, 1942

Once again, this time at less than 40 percent moonlight, Magwe is bombed. A few damaged planes and maybe a runway hit are all that are registered. The Allied bombers are flying in at 20,000 feet plus or minus because of the all the AA units...no night fighters deployed.

Severe storms overnight give way to a heavy rain during the day while the main event occurs over the skies at Magwe as Allied fighters come in from everywhere. 13 waves of planes assault Magwe, this is good since I really need to start wearing down Allied fighters here, if I plan to take Ceylon in a month or so.

The Japanese fighter CAP is set at between 9,000 and 11,0000 feet. The Oscars are set the lowest, the Nicks the highest. While most of the Allies are set very high. Some of his sweeps are set at staggered altitudes and this I think hurts his effectiveness.

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< Message edited by Lowpe -- 6/7/2014 1:46:02 PM >

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Post #: 854

RE: Kuriles liberated - 6/7/2014 12:38:36 PM

Lowpe

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Despite numerous Radar sets, not once did they spot a raid coming in. Hopefully that will change soon as the first AA Regiment unpacks at the train station -- they have the best radar set so far: the Ta Chi 3.

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Post #: 855

RE: Kuriles liberated - 6/7/2014 12:51:10 PM

Lowpe

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The final fight of the day...I though my planes were going to get demolished having fought all day and then facing Lightnings, but that was not the case...

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Post #: 856

RE: Kuriles liberated - 6/7/2014 12:59:54 PM

Lowpe

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I wonder if flying sweeps with different air frames degrades the better planes a little?

Here is the losses for the day...Allies can't be happy. I expect more night bombing, and hopefully a couple days breather. We shall see...

I am stretched really thin here at Magwe. It represents 25% of all my fighters, there are no reserves to rotate in...I have stopped building A6M2 for now, and supplies at Magwe are running low. The Nicks I moved out to Lashio to recover a bit...their morale had taken a solid hit.

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Post #: 857

RE: Kuriles liberated - 6/7/2014 1:09:19 PM

Lowpe

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna
Unfortunately, you will need to bring your AOs along for this, since you don't have any of the Aleutians (particularly Adak). However, you may catch him off guard.

I plan on using freighters to refuel prior to going in, but also have some oilers around too, but a minimum number of them.

My lead cruisers are pretty far to the east and haven't been spotted or run into anything yet. Pretty soon I will need to decide if I go for Seattle or not since I will need to reign in the raiders.

I have spotted nice unescorted supply xaks on the Pearl to west coast run with glens, and also a large SC,DD task force of 8 ships...so there is plenty of fish in the water. And I can only guess at the amount of shipping he needs to support the Aluetians...

The raid in the Gilberts is moving ahead with nothing spotted, and cruisers are going to visit Perth today which maybe a mistake...surely since the raid on Albany he has some defenses up...

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Post #: 858

RE: Kuriles liberated - 6/7/2014 1:28:42 PM

Spidery

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quote:

I wonder if flying sweeps with different air frames degrades the better planes a little?

I think there may be a problem with flying lightnings and other aircraft that can't reach the same altitude. I suspect the combat takes place at a lower altitude, which removes some of the advantage the lightnings have.

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Post #: 859

RE: Kuriles liberated - 6/7/2014 4:47:48 PM

Lowpe

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Dec 3, 1942

Just one sweep at Magwe, after the ritualistic night time bombing now under 30 percent moonlight. Radar spotted the raid! Those TaChi's work.

Lightnings and Hurricanes mix it up, and it seems fairly even with about 9 Hurricanes and Tojos lost respectively, 3 lightnings and an Oscar.

Freed up some emergency stockpile of supplies, so that should flow into Magwe this turn, where supply is getting rather low.

An American sub hit and sank a 4 vp xakl near Shanghai.

None of the raiders are spotted anywhere, Perth was empty and the heavy cruisers there are heading back to Java and will bombard Tjilatjap...

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Post #: 860

RE: Kuriles liberated - 6/7/2014 9:54:02 PM

Lowpe

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Dec 4, 1942

Only one sweep with Hurricanes of Magwe. We trade them in numbers slightly favoring me...I rotate in a fresh Oscar half squad and stand down some of the poor morale squadrons. The combat replay shows 3 fighters lost for each side, the air loss screen shows 9 for the Allies and 8 for Japan...I am going to have to abandon Magwe shortly to let the planes and pilots all recover, but I am very pleased with their efforts so far.

Radar picks up the raid, once again.

And there is the normal night time bomber attacks on Magwe for little damage to no fighter opposition. 2 Blenheims and one B17 get destroyed. It is getting really dark now...

Just in time, too, I have 10 destroyers, 1 CA, 1 CL almost within striking distance in the Gilberts but his xak, xap move away leaving a task force of 2 CA, 1 DD which I think in reality is really 1 CA, 2 DD. North is a bunch of pt boats, sc, and dd. Let us see if I can get within striking distance without being spotted.

A force of 5 heavy cruisers is still steaming east followed by the KB which will reunite shortly and be full strength once again.

Orders have been issued for a deliberate attack on Tilatjap. 3500 assault value versus 3 allied divisions....I have 3-4 more divisions that are enroute, but they are the lower morale not quite full strength divisions that had been savaged 4 months ago...should be interesting.

A sub gets a shot off at the heavy cruiser returning from Perth but misses...

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RE: Kuriles liberated - 6/7/2014 10:03:10 PM

Erkki

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What happened in the air was probably high fatigue pilots after the long flight at high altitude.

Which planes got the most kills? I'm guessing Ki-44s... Best speed and climb. You might want to actually watch those long replays to get an idea on whats happening.

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Post #: 862

RE: Kuriles liberated - 6/7/2014 10:27:18 PM

Lowpe

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Tojo is doing the killing, they are the best pilots by far and the best plane and in the majority.

It is interesting that one squadron really bears the brunt of the initial dive attacks. Sometimes it is the lowest squadron, sometimes the middle, and sometimes the highest. But with CAP stacked between 9-11K, they really are all rather close together.

One thing this seems to allow, is for the biggest Sentai, 42 Tojo's, to assemble relatively unhurt and really enter combat with some pretty good numbers...they have lost only 2 planes over all these attacks and their morale is still sky high. It is their pilots getting the lion share of kills...and experience gains which simply makes them that much tougher.

It really is nice to be fighting in the air with parity for now at least...although I cannot sustain it. I suspect if he goes back to high altitude only Lightning sweeps I will take it on the chin, again. Allied pools are probably pretty good, while mine are at rock bottom.

But I need to do this, if I wish to take Ceylon in a month or so...

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Post #: 863

RE: Kuriles liberated - 6/8/2014 1:07:38 AM

Lowpe

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Dec 5, 1942

7 percent moonlight and Allied night time bombing is very effective destroying 9 Tojo's on the ground, the B17s were particularly effective as the Allied bombers moved down to 16,000 feet testing the AA effectiveness.

Magwe's runway is damaged to 17 percent, and I have pulled back my fighters to rest and recuperate. Magwe is once again unprotected by fighters.

Not unexpected.

Elsewhere my surface raiders are still invisible and they are going into the Gilberts in two two groups...a destroyer group and another cruiser/destroyer group. They will both have long range CAP from Zeroes flying from Nauru.

The first deliberate attack goes in at Tjilatjap, and I roll really well getting a solid attack in.

Three more divisions, one combat engineer and another HQ are moving towards Tjilatjap while the troops take a day or two off.

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RE: Kuriles liberated - 6/8/2014 11:33:49 AM

Lowpe

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Dec 6, 1942

The raid at the Gilbert's head in...the night is pitch black (7% moonlight), and the Chokai and company sweep aside a few feeble PT boats...

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RE: Kuriles liberated - 6/8/2014 11:37:45 AM

Lowpe

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And the wolves are amongst the sheep!

But then disaster strikes....the Chokai blunders into a minefield and is hit. Uh, oh!

Can they make good their escape?

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RE: Kuriles liberated - 6/8/2014 11:41:20 AM

Lowpe

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And slightly to the north of the Chokai, a destroyer engagement concludes...

The Allied Commanders, Smoot, manages to disperse the fleet and engage the raiders in an inconclusive night battle...whoever Smoot is, he deserves a medal.

After the battle, the IJN destroyers head back to Nauru Island and safety as daylight arrives so does the comforting drone of Zeroes circling lazily over the task force...

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RE: Kuriles liberated - 6/8/2014 11:48:35 AM

Lowpe

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The damaged Chokai doesn't make it far and has to fight the Ellet and Benham. Smoot really showcases his talents maneuvering to great effect against the Japanese raiders...

and with this engagement the Chokai and company escape is too short. In the afternoon, escorted torpedo bombers and dive bombers find them their Zero CAP doesn't show up and the Chokai goes down with two torpedoes in her and two destroyers are sunk by dive bombers.

A raid gone bad...

The Ellet was crewed by real sailors! She must have gotten 90% of all hits...her gunnery was excellent, she even hit the Chokai with a dud torpedo!

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Post #: 868

RE: Kuriles liberated - 6/8/2014 2:35:08 PM

Lowpe

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Magwe is bombed again at night, with 7 percent moonlight, damage to the airfield is up to 16 percent. If I defend against the night bombers I will lose on average 3 fighters a night. If I don't defend, he can damage and destroy even more planes on the ground. What a pickle...fighters removed to the south to recover and repair. They are spotted at Pegu - so I suspect Pegu might get bombed tonight instead of Magwe.

I lose another PB to Allied submarines...I believe I have sunk about 5 Allied submarines in the last two weeks, but they keep coming...and there is a submarine screen in the pacific far off from Seattle...where my raiders are headed, followed by the kb, with AOs and other misc. ships...surely he will get a radio fix on something there, but I am plowing ahead.

Those two Benham class destroyers really put up a fight...