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RE: Australia Invaded! - 7/27/2014 10:57:57 AM

Lowpe

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Burma

The KAI Dinah interferes with another night bombing raid on Magwe, although a Nell is destroyed on the ground.

The Empire's night bombing attack runs into stiff AA over Prome and six are ultimately lost for damaging a handful of Lightnings. Prome now size 3 airfield.

The cruiser bombardment force hits Akyab hard, but there are only a handful of planes there. The delay in the followup bombardment allowed him to escape with all those damaged bombers. Sigh.

Allies moving some troops out of the contested jungle with the Imperial Guards division. Have to revise my plans here, no war of movement here now.

The Nells sortie and attack ships at Calcutta...no monsters, but minnows.

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Post #: 1411

RE: Australia Invaded! - 7/27/2014 11:26:30 AM

Lowpe

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Burma:

A heavy bombardment fleet lurks off Akyab, should I target Akyab again looking to degrade the port, supplies and runways there even more. Or, perhaps I should hit Cox's which is a level 9 air field in the hopes of hitting his planes?

It looks like we are gearing up for a titanic struggle at Prome. Allies have 19 units there, but low on boots on the ground. Lots of AA now, and ENG as the airfield is size 3 now. The Allies have another 5,000 men and lots of vehicles east of Prome in the jungle for a total of 26 units, 1300 afvs, 25,000 men.

I have a stronger force, but really dislike the idea of fighting in the clear.

Akyab looks to have 3 units, but one of which is probably a division. Cox's has nothing but ENG and maybe one AA. And he gets weaker as I head north...Diamond Harbor is weak.

I need to figure out a strategy here....

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< Message edited by Lowpe -- 7/27/2014 1:49:16 PM >

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Post #: 1412

RE: Australia Invaded! - 7/27/2014 12:00:47 PM

ny59giants

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Shwebo - From my experience, it is very hard for the Allied to get supplies into this base just through the northern jungles of India/Burma. His troops outside the base will be OK, but not in the base itself.

Cox's Bazar or Akyab - Hit the base with the most aircraft. Even in early '43, the Allies cannot afford high attrition rates. Since neither base is on a RR, they will stay there in damaged condition unless moved out by sea. Hit the base at night with Helens, too.

Clear terrain - you should do well here as he doesn't have the terrain benefit. Not until April or May will he have enough of the '43 Rifle Squads stockpiled to start upgrading his Indian divisions. His tanks are good now, but he doesn't get enough of them. Use attrition as your friend now before its too late.

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Post #: 1413

RE: Australia Invaded! - 7/27/2014 12:16:52 PM

JocMeister

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I agree with Michael. He can�t really sustain something like this in Burma without Ramree Island or getting supplies in by sea... If I was your opponent I would be very nervous right now...Have you considered trying to cut Prome and Rangoon off from the North and isolate his troops there?

By now you clearly have taken the initiative back and most likely have a psychological advantage over your opponent. Its still early 43 (right?) and you can still go toe to toe against allied LCU. If you could cut off and destroy those 19 units you could buy 12-18 months of peace and quiet in Burma.

Is it doable?

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Post #: 1414

RE: Australia Invaded! - 7/27/2014 12:54:41 PM

Lowpe

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quote:

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Shwebo - From my experience, it is very hard for the Allied to get supplies into this base just through the northern jungles of India/Burma. His troops outside the base will be OK, but not in the base itself.

Cox's Bazar or Akyab - Hit the base with the most aircraft. Even in early '43, the Allies cannot afford high attrition rates. Since neither base is on a RR, they will stay there in damaged condition unless moved out by sea. Hit the base at night with Helens, too.

Clear terrain - you should do well here as he doesn't have the terrain benefit. Not until April or May will he have enough of the '43 Rifle Squads stockpiled to start upgrading his Indian divisions. His tanks are good now, but he doesn't get enough of them. Use attrition as your friend now before its too late.

Thanks so much!

Shwebo will be shock attacked either today or tomorrow. There is a heavy CAP presence, plus I am bombing Shwebo today weather willing. I don't see how those two understrength Chinese units can hold especially against armor.

Hitting Cox's. Going after the planes!

Okay, full on grinding attack into Prome! It will be bloody in the Air I expect. I wish I had a better armored Army fighter than the Tony, but onward and upward.

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Post #: 1415

RE: Australia Invaded! - 7/27/2014 12:58:25 PM

Lowpe

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quote:

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

I agree with Michael. He can�t really sustain something like this in Burma without Ramree Island or getting supplies in by sea... If I was your opponent I would be very nervous right now...Have you considered trying to cut Prome and Rangoon off from the North and isolate his troops there?

By now you clearly have taken the initiative back and most likely have a psychological advantage over your opponent. Its still early 43 (right?) and you can still go toe to toe against allied LCU. If you could cut off and destroy those 19 units you could buy 12-18 months of peace and quiet in Burma.

Is it doable?

I hope so. New plan is a two division, plus art, at, attack west from Magwe once those Americans are a little further south down the dirt road. Target the supply road. I will railroad them in and get them going a little after the assault into Prome.

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Post #: 1416

RE: Australia Invaded! - 7/27/2014 1:08:07 PM

Lowpe

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Major river crossing in central China for tomorrow!

If I can occupy these last two major supply generators for China, it should all be over on this theater except for the ugly scrum at Chungking....

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Post #: 1417

RE: Australia Invaded! - 7/27/2014 1:20:03 PM

Lowpe

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Port Moresby and environs

Looking okay here.

I think the Allies are simply going to let this area be and focus on the either the Kuriles or the Marshalls to Marianas to Bonins approach. I could be wrong, but he really hasn't fought much over Northern Oz, Moresby or the Solomons.

Got to decide on the garrison for Moresby. Wake CD unit is available...

Milne Bay amphibs are spotted, and now have a generous LR CAP in case he switches his low level bombers to hit them. Those bombers must have a horrendous morale -- they are making my pilots aces left and right.

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Post #: 1418

RE: Australia Invaded! - 7/27/2014 2:32:22 PM

Lowpe

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Marshalls

All quiet. I have spotted a battleship two days running at Makin.

Americans spotted the KB...so will go dark. This probably will stop him from doing anything rash, except for maybe a high speed cruiser run looking to engage the carriers in a night battle.

I have disbanded all the minisubs that were working in the Mili area. He has up ASW patrols spotting them heavily now, making them more than worthless. The mini-subs managed to sink one cargo ship for no losses. The best I have ever done with them.

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Post #: 1419

RE: Australia Invaded! - 7/27/2014 3:23:43 PM

Lowpe

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A few r&d notes:

With the completion of the A6M5c research, I have managed to move factories over to the Ki-202 and J Sam which will be a big focus for late war home island protection. I have 8 and 5 size 30 factories delving into their mysteries at present and look to grow that number substantially as I mothball other factories.

I realize the Ki-202 maybe a huge waste...a risk I am willing to take. If I told you my goal for this plane you would call me crazy. Maybe you already do.

I have the Myojo up to 1/45 currently. I may switch some factories from them into -J Sam or Ki-202.

The Tojo IIc is up to 5/43 and can't come quick enough. Ki 101i is 1/45. The Oscar IV is at 6/44.

I don't think George or Frank will come more than a month or two early. The A6M5c just has to carry the weight.

In night fighters progress is slow.

The best factory is 20/30 for the Irving with 3 others close behind and a fourth lagging badly.

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Post #: 1420

RE: Australia Invaded! - 7/27/2014 4:17:23 PM

Lowpe

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Feb 11, 1943

Where are the planes?

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Post #: 1421

RE: Australia Invaded! - 7/27/2014 4:29:43 PM

JocMeister

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My guess would be another base!

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Post #: 1422

RE: Australia Invaded! - 7/27/2014 4:32:33 PM

Lowpe

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Lousy mine layers.

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Post #: 1423

RE: Australia Invaded! - 7/27/2014 4:34:39 PM

DanSez

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Thanks for the R&D update. I am very curious about the R&D OFF option and how that has helped/ impacted your resurrection of the Japanese fortunes.

If I could interrupt for a question:

When you swapped from A6M5c to KI-202, do those factories have to "repair" or are they fully repaired and are generating R&D points?

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Post #: 1424

RE: Australia Invaded! - 7/27/2014 4:37:57 PM

Lowpe

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quote:

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

My guess would be another base!

Quite correct. While IJA bombers are punishing the Chinese in Shwebo, every Allied bomber and fighter hit Magwe.

Wave, after boring wave. The fighters do well, trading 3-1 on Lightnings, and 2-1 on P40Ks, but are eventually overwhelmed after disrupting the first two bombing runs.

21 Allied planes downed, against 34 Japanese. Half a dozen 4E's downed, and 4 Lightnings.

Magwe, is, of course, quite closed. Again.

< Message edited by Lowpe -- 7/27/2014 5:40:34 PM >

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Post #: 1425

RE: Australia Invaded! - 7/27/2014 4:46:36 PM

Lowpe

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In China, the river crossing is costly. 100 bombers hit them quite hard, but the Chinese still have some fight left....

Probably should not have crossed with some smaller units, and simply bombed him for longer. Actually, I was quite surprised at how fast the troops made the crossing.

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Post #: 1426

RE: Australia Invaded! - 7/27/2014 4:48:37 PM

JocMeister

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Ouch indeed. Thats a lot of destroyed squads!

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Post #: 1427

RE: Australia Invaded! - 7/27/2014 5:03:41 PM

Lowpe

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quote:

ORIGINAL: DanSez

Thanks for the R&D update. I am very curious about the R&D OFF option and how that has helped/ impacted your resurrection of the Japanese fortunes.

If I could interrupt for a question:

When you swapped from A6M5c to KI-202, do those factories have to "repair" or are they fully repaired and are generating R&D points?

Going from a fully repaired, manufacturing plant to a r&d plant I lost 7 points of factory each time and they became all broken. If I was moving to the next generation plane, they would have stayed fully repaired. I would lose more if it was a 2e or 4e conversion.

For example. Size 30 A6M5c production plant goes to a size 23 r&d plant for the Ki202 fully broken.

I inherited a huge mess with r&d and plane creation. So far, they only plane I have gotten more than one month early is the A6M5c -- which has made a huge difference.

The main advantage of realistic r&d off is letting me switch from manufacturing to r&d. Gives a lot of flexibility.

I really cranked out the A6M5c for a month before switching those size 30 plants to something else. Really helped. With Realistic R&D on, I would not have been able to do that. I am currently doing the same thing with Judy.

Overall, I am pretty pleased with my r&d choices, which were heavily influenced by the AAR contributors. Most choices have yet to play any part in the game as of yet. Looking forward to what swarms of Myojos can do. Thanks obvert!

Because I inherited so many bad choices, I decided early on to play with the plane model as much as I can while focusing on a couple of mainstays. Helen IIa. Mainstay. Tojo IIc will be a mainstay until I can get the KI-100I, the Oscar IV, and ultimately the Sam J and Ki202.

Jacks aren't being researched at all. George a little and Frank even more although one factory of Franks is 140!

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Post #: 1428

RE: Australia Invaded! - 7/27/2014 5:13:05 PM

Lowpe

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quote:

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

Ouch indeed. Thats a lot of destroyed squads!

Really trashed one Independent Brigade. Down to 13% TOE.

The Divisions are in good shape over 80%, the artillery not too bad. I am across. He can't counter attack. I should have waited and pounded him by air for longer...

I will move a few units back across the bridge to recover.

Down 50 victory points for the day...

< Message edited by Lowpe -- 7/27/2014 6:13:50 PM >

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Post #: 1429

RE: Australia Invaded! - 7/27/2014 6:24:25 PM

Lokasenna

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Poor little Dutch CM.

Do you know if you have sunk them all? If you sink all of them, the big Allied pool of big-boom VH/Dutch mines is completely unusable.

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Post #: 1430

RE: Australia Invaded! - 7/27/2014 6:43:16 PM

Lowpe

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

Poor little Dutch CM.

Do you know if you have sunk them all? If you sink all of them, the big Allied pool of big-boom VH/Dutch mines is completely unusable.

Five big ones, and one coastal.

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Post #: 1431

RE: Australia Invaded! - 7/27/2014 7:14:09 PM

Lowpe

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A few more thoughts of plane r&d.

1. Auto vic is kind of out for me.

2. Supplies are the critical component in defending Japan in 45.

Hence, I need to preserve my fleet, conserve supplies, and protect supply generation.

So I decided to enhance research in the A6M5c, Tojo IIc, Oscar IV, and the Ki-100I. These are the planes that will get me to the late game where I will have Frank, -J Sam, Ki 202. They first line of research gives you the biggest research edge -- they are generational and many of them were being built when I inherited the game.

So, I could build a factory to size 30 in 30 days for Oscar Ic currently in production. Then run it down the line to the Oscar IV where it is fully repaired from day one.

Right now, since Judy 1 is available, I can do the same thing. How important is it to get to Judy 3 or Judy 4? In 30 days I could have as many size 30 factories r&d'ing Judy 4 as I want as long as I spent 30K supplies repairing them. Pretty powerful.

I have allocated a lot of factories to night fighters. I probably should have focused more here, as the allocation is spread out too much. 4 on the Irving, 1 on Nick, 1 on Dinah, 3 on Frances, 2 on Peggy. I should have researched the Nick more...1st army night fighter, and many squadrons already in play convert to it.

So, now I am starting to move those early changes into late war fighters. I want the last generation plane early, before the Home Island industry gets totally trashed, which means early, early 45. To do that I need at least 10 factories size 30 with engine bonus. 15 factories would be better. That comes at a steep cost!

I have been willing to cede the air war earlier, for future defense. It is really only with the advent of the A6M5c that I can compete in the air at all now. And if the Allies revert to night bombing, I can't compete.

Finally, you don't have to fight in the air everywhere. Use AA, construction units, and let the Allies hit you. Look to hit them back in a manner that preserves your planes: bombardments, night bombing, attacks and defense thru good terrain.

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Post #: 1432

RE: Australia Invaded! - 7/27/2014 7:22:39 PM

Lokasenna

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The Judy 3 is the one you really want in the Judy line SR1 instead of SR3 like the first two in the line. Obviously Judy-4 is best with 800kg payload...

I wouldn't supercharge your D4Y3 R&D by burning lots of supplies on both building Judy-1 and building eventual R&D factories to switch to Judy-2/Judy-3/Judy-4. Simply because you're going to need those supplies later. Be content with the D4Y1 upgrade from the Val, switch your KB search units to the Kates (to save the Judy on SR3 for strikes only), and be patient. The 500kg SAP bomb packs more punch, penetration, and 33 vs. 32 accuracy compared to the USN 1000lb payload.

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Post #: 1433

RE: Australia Invaded! - 7/27/2014 7:28:20 PM

JocMeister

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I can�t remember but you didn�t have an altitude HR did you?

If you didn�t it won�t matter too much what you do. He will be able to place all his fighters above you which means you will suffer pretty badly no matter what AC you have. I would focus on a model that you could produce in insane numbers and make sure you have the pilots to man them.

Its only one thing important in the air war. Highest wins. Every time. All the time. Some people will claim otherwise but after playing through a full PBEM it pretty much comes down to that. Sure you can layer your CAP and do this and that but in the end it won�t matter much as good pilots, faster allied planes and the benefit of "the dive" will tear through pretty much anything you put up. Your one advantage is numbers. Its the Achilles heel of the allies. Even in 45 his numbers will be limiting him. Play with that in mind.

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Post #: 1434

RE: Australia Invaded! - 7/27/2014 7:30:19 PM

Lowpe

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On the Judy. I was merely trying to illustrate how realistic r&d works.

I have two size 30 factories on later Judy. One size 140 on model 1. I inherited it.

Not planning on doing anymore here. It is the late war fighters I really need/want. Then max night fighters.

My kb search is the Judy -C.

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Post #: 1435

RE: Australia Invaded! - 7/27/2014 7:36:40 PM

Lowpe

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quote:

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

I can�t remember but you didn�t have an altitude HR did you?

If you didn�t it won�t matter too much what you do. He will be able to place all his fighters above you which means you will suffer pretty badly no matter what AC you have. I would focus on a model that you could produce in insane numbers and make sure you have the pilots to man them.

Its only one thing important in the air war. Highest wins. Every time. All the time. Some people will claim otherwise but after playing through a full PBEM it pretty much comes down to that. Sure you can layer your CAP and do this and that but in the end it won�t matter much as good pilots, faster allied planes and the benefit of "the dive" will tear through pretty much anything you put up. Your one advantage is numbers. Its the Achilles heel of the allies. Even in 45 his numbers will be limiting him. Play with that in mind.

+1.

I don't fly my planes over 25K, and generally almost always below 15K. Allies run night bombing sweeps at 30K (which I have countered), and sweeps at 35K. Bloodbath ensues.

Large airfields, flak, radar, and numbers are the key.

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Post #: 1436

RE: Australia Invaded! - 7/27/2014 8:00:49 PM

Lokasenna

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

quote:

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

I can�t remember but you didn�t have an altitude HR did you?

If you didn�t it won�t matter too much what you do. He will be able to place all his fighters above you which means you will suffer pretty badly no matter what AC you have. I would focus on a model that you could produce in insane numbers and make sure you have the pilots to man them.

Its only one thing important in the air war. Highest wins. Every time. All the time. Some people will claim otherwise but after playing through a full PBEM it pretty much comes down to that. Sure you can layer your CAP and do this and that but in the end it won�t matter much as good pilots, faster allied planes and the benefit of "the dive" will tear through pretty much anything you put up. Your one advantage is numbers. Its the Achilles heel of the allies. Even in 45 his numbers will be limiting him. Play with that in mind.

+1.

I don't fly my planes over 25K, and generally almost always below 15K. Allies run night bombing sweeps at 30K (which I have countered), and sweeps at 35K. Bloodbath ensues.

Large airfields, flak, radar, and numbers are the key.

Bring those Jugs down to 10k and they don't fly so well... only 15 Maneuver (granted, that's at all bands...) on the P-47D25, and only 13 on the P-47D2. They're still really fast and have insane guns, but I'd rather fight them down low than up high. Stacking the CAP is probably the only thing you can do to fight them. Get numbers on them and I think you'll do alright.

That's how I fight P-38s and it seems to work OK. Bring them down low and engage with something that's on roughly equal footing with them (like Nicks against the Lightnings).

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Post #: 1437

RE: Australia Invaded! - 7/27/2014 8:01:18 PM

Lokasenna

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

On the Judy. I was merely trying to illustrate how realistic r&d works.

I have two size 30 factories on later Judy. One size 140 on model 1. I inherited it.

Not planning on doing anymore here. It is the late war fighters I really need/want. Then max night fighters.

My kb search is the Judy -C.

140/mo is insane. You'll only need to produce for like 2-3 months and you're done with them forever.

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Post #: 1438

RE: Australia Invaded! - 7/27/2014 9:18:00 PM

JocMeister

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

Bring those Jugs down to 10k and they don't fly so well... only 15 Maneuver (granted, that's at all bands...) on the P-47D25, and only 13 on the P-47D2. They're still really fast and have insane guns, but I'd rather fight them down low than up high. Stacking the CAP is probably the only thing you can do to fight them. Get numbers on them and I think you'll do alright.

That's how I fight P-38s and it seems to work OK. Bring them down low and engage with something that's on roughly equal footing with them (like Nicks against the Lightnings).

The problem with fighting P47s is that they are usually piloted by the elite allied pilots. I don�t think I ever put someone below 70EXP/70Air/70 DEF in one. So first they get "the dive" and after that the speed and DEF skill means that most of the time they can avoid getting dived on in turn. I think the game labels it "evade" but I can�t remember the exact term. The P47 was pretty much unbeatable (not seldom 10-1 or better score) before we introduced the "Max 32k altitude". After that they were still doing great but not insanely great.

I know Erik tried a lot of things like putting armored fighters down below (the engine seems to very often(?) make the sweepers dive on the lowest placed CAP) to increase surviveability and whatnot but I�m not sure he found something that really worked. I know I really didn�t like the later models of the Jack. Quite often (despite ALT advantage) it would climb above the sweeps and dive on my sweepers. Besides the Frank -R which was made a super fighter due to our 2nd MVR HR its the only Japanese fighter I really was concerned about in the later stages of the war. Not sure the Frank -R would do so great without that HR. Stats arn�t awesome. But good with Japanese late war standards.

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Post #: 1439

RE: Australia Invaded! - 7/28/2014 2:58:14 AM

Lowpe

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Feb 12, 1943

No strikes by Allies. Night attacks by Japan fruitless.

For some odd reason, Allies strike hard at Magwe again. Why? They closed the airbase yesterday, and bombed the airfield again today. All planes had railroaded out.

For some odd reason, the sweeps came last, in the pm. I actually do great with the Lightnings, but the last sweep of the day, P40Ks do well. Still, a very expensive day for the Allies...for no appreciable gain.