Slitherine

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ORIGINAL: Lowpe

quote:

ORIGINAL: Chris H

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ORIGINAL: Aurorus
..... to Frank production in the first couple of turns: something around 10-12 factories size 30.

There is no point to expanding the Frank in the first few turns.

Totally disagree. Frank and Sam are two of the most important planes, perhaps most important planes Japan gets. You need to research them from day 1 pretty heavily if supplies at the base allow you to. If not from day 2 when the supplies are in.

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ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

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ORIGINAL: Lowpe

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ORIGINAL: Chris H

quote:

ORIGINAL: Aurorus
..... to Frank production in the first couple of turns: something around 10-12 factories size 30.

There is no point to expanding the Frank in the first few turns.

Totally disagree. Frank and Sam are two of the most important planes, perhaps most important planes Japan gets. You need to research them from day 1 pretty heavily if supplies at the base allow you to. If not from day 2 when the supplies are in.

+1

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ORIGINAL: Chris H

Not to it's important just it's not necessary to do it from the start.

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ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

quote:

ORIGINAL: Chris H

Not to it's important just it's not necessary to do it from the start.

Why? Every day delay is a day you will not have them. As the IJ, you want them ASAP, not eventually. I'm not following you here ...

quote:

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

For stock type scenarios:
If you go big, 15*30 or 18*30 factories, from the start you can expect it mid '44-ish. Anything earlier would require a lot of luck. If you are playing stock type scenario, it is worth it. If PDU OFF, for sure go 18*30 or more as ALL IJN fighter groups will upgrade to A7M giving your overall fighter forces a huge upgrade. In PDU On, 15*30 is more appropriate as N1K is a very good interim LBA fighter for the IJN. OR if you plan to ground your KB, you may choose to go only 12*30 and focus more on getting the N1K earlier which can be an effective strategy.

A lot of this is about your overall strategy. There is NO single recipe for the IJN. Experience with the game will give you more options, not fewer.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Numdydar
- you get to see rivalry between IJN and IJA as very few IJA squadrons will upgrade to any IJN AC. Which leaves you in the beginning having to use Nates as escorts in some locations. At least I did as they were better than nothing lol.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Numdydar
People will tell you that PDU Off impacts the Allies as well. And that is true. But the Allies still won with PDU Off so I would not call that a real reason to play a game with PDU Off. Unless you want the experience I have listed above. Just plan on losing sooner than later.

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ORIGINAL: Aurorus

quote:

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

For stock type scenarios:
If you go big, 15*30 or 18*30 factories, from the start you can expect it mid '44-ish. Anything earlier would require a lot of luck. If you are playing stock type scenario, it is worth it. If PDU OFF, for sure go 18*30 or more as ALL IJN fighter groups will upgrade to A7M giving your overall fighter forces a huge upgrade. In PDU On, 15*30 is more appropriate as N1K is a very good interim LBA fighter for the IJN. OR if you plan to ground your KB, you may choose to go only 12*30 and focus more on getting the N1K earlier which can be an effective strategy.

A lot of this is about your overall strategy. There is NO single recipe for the IJN. Experience with the game will give you more options, not fewer.

One cannot, in any way, put 18 factories on A7M2 in PDU:off. No air group can upgrade to the A7M2 until they first upgrade to the A6M8. One cannot skip steps in PDU:off on the upgrade tree. Therefore, if you advance the A7M2 to 4/44, it will be of no benefit, because no group will be able to upgrade to it until the A6M8 is available in 8/45. Furthermore, in PDU:off, one has to produce all sorts of planes, not just a couple of models. This limits the number of factories that can be dedicated to R&D. There are simply not 18 factories available. One needs 10-15 for Frank. One needs a handful for Oscar (or Frank is not so helpful, since one has to upgrade many squadrons through a few Oscars before converting to Franks). The Tony and Tojo are very helpful and one gets 300 or so of these planes (more in DBB), so it is better to put 2-4 factories of 30 on Tony and Tojo rather than 1 factory of 45 or 60, which costs the same amount of supply but will generate no R&D, because it will have to convert to production.

PDU:off is a different animal altogether, and it is very difficult to find more than 4 factories to assign to the A7M2. What is more, in DBB, all the land-based squadrons go from Zeros to A7M3-J, which is very frustrating and foolish design decision by the makers of DBB (since these late-war upgrades are all hypothetical).

What one can do in PDU:off is advance the A6M8 to 9/43 or so (after going through the tree from A6M5 to A6M5c), and then convert 4 or 5 additional factories to Sam. The best that can be hoped for on Sam in PDU:off is about 9 or 10/44 by my estimation. The advantage, however, is that the Japanese naval air will be competitive throughout 1943, flying A6M8s against Hellcats.

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ORIGINAL: PaxMondo


First, I only reference stock scenario 1. There are so many mods, they are what they are. DBB is a mod. Put together by Henderson team members, but still a mod.

Never said you don't need interim A6M. I stated almost ALL IJN FIGHTER will upgrade to A7M. Unlike any other late model. Many IJA upgrade to Frank, but far from all. Only a few groups upgrade to your other air models. You like flying A6M until '45, that's ok. I hate it. And 5x30 Sam will not get you 10/44 unless you are shot with luck. That's 11 months pull in, you will be lucky with a 5x30 plan after A6M8 to have 2 factories repaired and generating RnD pts by 10/44 with that plan. Arrival date will be more like 4/45 ... without engine bonus.

Putting 8 factories on Oscar (production + RnD) and 8 on A6M (production and RnD). Then big on A7M. You should see A7M mid '44 (+15 months pull in). Getting A7M before mid-year in '44, particularly in a PDU OFF game makes a difference. I've gotten it earlier than that, but it is luck. Just remember, the statistics in this case are a one sided curve. It matters ...

Because it is PDU-OFF you need to assign a factory each to a lot of other models: George, Nick, Tojo, Tony, et al. But just one. Easy to size a single factory correctly, just needs to be planned for, and most of those models come later ... plenty of time.

My overall belief is that getting a new model 1 or 2 months early is a very minor benefit, player tactics and skill will easily be more important. Getting a key fighter model a year early can make a difference on par with player tactics. It won't cancel out poor or sloppy play, but it will both mitigate marginal play and enhance those good days into great days. IJ only needs a few really great days to clip the allied wings.

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ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

Totally disagree.

We play a lot differently. No prob.

I'm enjoying reading your AAR. Hope you are able to go the distance.

Good Luck.

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ORIGINAL: GetAssista

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ORIGINAL: Numdydar
- you get to see rivalry between IJN and IJA as very few IJA squadrons will upgrade to any IJN AC. Which leaves you in the beginning having to use Nates as escorts in some locations. At least I did as they were better than nothing lol.

Umm, IJN can never use IJA planes and vice versa as far as I can recall. PDU status does not matter.

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ORIGINAL: VigaBrand

@Pax: Could you explain, why you R&D the Oscar series? I read often that there will be very bad and obsolete.

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ORIGINAL: Numdydar

This is spot on.

PDU Off is a real nightmare for Japan. I've played exactly one CG with PDU Off and will never do so again. The whole time I played I had to wonder 'what wee these morons thinking?'

There are some benefits to playing a PDU Off game though.

- you get to see rivalry between IJN and IJA as very few IJA squadrons will upgrade to any IJN AC. Which leaves you in the beginning having to use Nates as escorts in some locations. At least I did as they were better than nothing lol.
- have the experience of fighting the war with absolute crappy AC as you will need them to get some squadrons to upgrade to the AC you do want
- Almost everything has to be researched due to the above. This includes most engine factories. So you get to see and use almost every AC that Japan made during the real war and form your own opinions about each of them.

Based on my experience with Japan, playing a PBEM with PDU Off is a recipe for a quick loss. Against equal players anyway.

Even with PDU On I just made it into '45 in my last PBEM game. Although I was playing someone a lot better than I too. Since he is not on the forums much I can claim that and no one will be around to tell me otherwise

People will tell you that PDU Off impacts the Allies as well. And that is true. But the Allies still won with PDU Off so I would not call that a real reason to play a game with PDU Off. Unless you want the experience I have listed above. Just plan on losing sooner than later.

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ORIGINAL: decourcy2

Why is it unrealistic? The Japanese army leadership liked the Ki44, pilots didn't like it's lower maneuverability, but that could have been overcome. American pilots hated how big the P47 and P38 were and got used to it, and British pilots hated the Hurri after flying the Gladiator. The Ki44 was simple to produce, the Ki61 a bit less so, but they could have built more. The Ki61 production was more a reflection of Nakajima's power in the Japanese 'government'.

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ORIGINAL: Aurorus

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ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

Totally disagree.

We play a lot differently. No prob.

I'm enjoying reading your AAR. Hope you are able to go the distance.

Good Luck.

I hope so too. I have two games going ATM, and both of my opponents are capable and committed to the game, so I have high hopes. These have certainly been the toughest games that I have played so far.

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ORIGINAL: VigaBrand

@Pax: Could you explain, why you R&D the Oscar series? I read often that there will be very bad and obsolete.

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ORIGINAL: geofflambert

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ORIGINAL: Aurorus

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ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

Totally disagree.

We play a lot differently. No prob.

I'm enjoying reading your AAR. Hope you are able to go the distance.

Good Luck.

I hope so too. I have two games going ATM, and both of my opponents are capable and committed to the game, so I have high hopes. These have certainly been the toughest games that I have played so far.

You have two games going ATM? What's your password?

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ORIGINAL: Chris H

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ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

quote:

ORIGINAL: Chris H

Not to it's important just it's not necessary to do it from the start.

Why? Every day delay is a day you will not have them. As the IJ, you want them ASAP, not eventually. I'm not following you here ...

I'm a little sceptical about how quickly factories repair which is at the heart of this, approx. 63% as stated by InfiniteMonkey. I'm currently testing this in game, well as much as I can from one game anyway. If the 63% is correct then I should see the existing Frank factory fully repaired around June 43.

When I started my current game I change three more Frank factories from the start but planned to expand all a year before they were due, Apr 43. Having read the article it was impossible to do much about it so I decided to stagger instead, one I did at that point, Aug 42, the next will be Dec 42 and the final one Apr 43. Not a specifically accurate experiment but it will satisfy my curiosity.

But that's not the real reason I will not do it from the start. For me there are other intermediate a/c and engine expansions more important not to mention other supply requirements for your precious supply before the Frank. I will in future consider doing so if my test gives me any indication that the 63% is correct but supply will still be the critical factor so any expansion would not occur for 3-4 months.

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ORIGINAL: Aurorus

quote:

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo


First, I only reference stock scenario 1. There are so many mods, they are what they are. DBB is a mod. Put together by Henderson team members, but still a mod.

Never said you don't need interim A6M. I stated almost ALL IJN FIGHTER will upgrade to A7M. Unlike any other late model. Many IJA upgrade to Frank, but far from all. Only a few groups upgrade to your other air models. You like flying A6M until '45, that's ok. I hate it. And 5x30 Sam will not get you 10/44 unless you are shot with luck. That's 11 months pull in, you will be lucky with a 5x30 plan after A6M8 to have 2 factories repaired and generating RnD pts by 10/44 with that plan. Arrival date will be more like 4/45 ... without engine bonus.

Putting 8 factories on Oscar (production + RnD) and 8 on A6M (production and RnD). Then big on A7M. You should see A7M mid '44 (+15 months pull in). Getting A7M before mid-year in '44, particularly in a PDU OFF game makes a difference. I've gotten it earlier than that, but it is luck. Just remember, the statistics in this case are a one sided curve. It matters ...

Because it is PDU-OFF you need to assign a factory each to a lot of other models: George, Nick, Tojo, Tony, et al. But just one. Easy to size a single factory correctly, just needs to be planned for, and most of those models come later ... plenty of time.

My overall belief is that getting a new model 1 or 2 months early is a very minor benefit, player tactics and skill will easily be more important. Getting a key fighter model a year early can make a difference on par with player tactics. It won't cancel out poor or sloppy play, but it will both mitigate marginal play and enhance those good days into great days. IJ only needs a few really great days to clip the allied wings.

You do not really need 8 factories on the Oscar, in my opinion. The object is simply to advance Oscar enough to convert squadrons out of Oscar to Tojo, Tony, and especially Frank. Many squadrons convert to Frank directly from the IIa or IIb, so the IIIa is not completely essential and the IV is completely optional. I have 4 on Oscar in my two games currently (though these are DBB where the upgrade paths differ slightly from stock and are more favorable to the IJA). I am beginning to think that 4 may be enough in stock as well.

The point of Tony and Tojo R&D is to advance the later models, because there are 5 or 6 Oscar squadrons that convert to later model Tonies and Tojos without first converting to the early model Tonies and Tojos. If you do no Tony or Tojo R&D, these squadrons will be stuck on Oscar until 1944. Since you want your Tony and Tojo production to scale with the number of available squadrons, it makes more sense to put 2-4 factories on each, using the extra factories for R&D, and converting these to production as more Tony and Tojo squadrons become available. You also get many more months advancement for your 3rd generation fighters this way than if you put these factories on Frank or a late-war dream plane. It is simply more efficient in every way.

Converting an additional 3-4 A6 factories to Sam in 1944 can, by my estimation, bump up Sam to late 1944, on average. The supply use is not really excessive, since 4-5 factories on Sam will only produce 120-150 planes, and the IJN will certainly want many more than this when the plane is available.

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ORIGINAL: Lowpe
...There is a window there in 2nd and 3rd Quarter 1944 to engage the Allies in a CV clash on favorable terms if you have Sam. It is a small window, and you need to force it open.

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ORIGINAL: Aurorus

The problem, Infinitemonkey, is the armament of the Oscar (and eventually its speed, the same problem with the Zero). The machinegun is not sufficient to down high durability U.S. fighters to say nothing of 4-Es. The Zero, with its cannons, can shoot down the enemy. Japan must try to maintain air superiority through 1942 and be competitive in 1943. This cannot be done with Oscar because Oscar does not deplete the allied fighter or bomber force pool. This is why Tony and Tojo are essential "bridges" to the Frank. Tony is excellent against 4-Es, and Tojo will get kills in air-to-air combat.

In my opinion, the Zero 3 and Zero 3a are not very important, since the Zero's primary role is as a CV fighter. Higher altitude manueverability is not critical to the Zero. The Zero remains useful because of its cannons and low-medium altitude manueverability. The A6 series is not fully obsolete until Corsairs appear over allied CVs.

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ORIGINAL: InfiniteMonkey


Comparing the Oscar to the Tony or Tojo is an apples to oranges comparison.

As Japan, you need to fulfill 3 roles with fighters:

CAP (interceptor) - The ideal aircraft maximizes speed and gun power while exhibiting good climb, armor, durability and Service Rating. The idea is simple, they have to be able to climb to engage and destroy sweeps and bombers while exhibiting survive ability and sustainability. You will not see me assigning CAP roles to fighter groups flying Oscars. This is where I send my Tojo's, Tony's, etc. as well as my best pilots.

Escort- The single greatest attribute for the aircraft used for this purpose is RANGE. Un-escorted Japanese bombers, regardless of model, will not survive long against allied CAP. Any strike that occurs outside the range of the fighter's ability to escort are dead meat. In this role ANY fighter is better than NO fighter. The fighter's role is to be ablative armor for the bombers. Your goal is not to shoot down CAP, it is to occupy the CAP long enough to allow the bombers to make an attack run and drop their bombs/torpedos on the target. The 12/14 range of the Oscar IIb and IIIa gives up 1 hex to the A6M3a's 12/15 extended range, but gains speed (22 mph in IIIa) and armor (both IIa and IIIb). This is where I use my Oscar's and where they are best suited of all Japanese planes for much of the war. Note here that I am not saying they are good - I am saying they are the best escorts you get for a long time as Japan.

CV escort/CAP The fighters used for this role have a couple characteristics that are non-negotiable. 1) They must be Carrier Capable (so pretty much has to be IJN A6M/A7M in Scen 1), and 2) They must have a range with Drop tanks of at least 8 (max attack distance in game for carrier strikes). After those two requirements are met, I look the best combo of a variety of attributes with a preference for speed, gun power, armor, durability, and maneuver in that order.

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ORIGINAL: Aurorus

I think that comparing Oscar to Zero is apples to oranges because the Zero is a carrier fighter that serves as both a CAP fighter and as an escort. There are other factors to consider such as altitude. Naval air battles are somewhat restricted in altitude and often occur at lower altitudes than LBA battles.

As for using air in support of ground operations, the issue is not so simple as you present. With or without escorts, any type of bombing will be very costly in a theater where you are at a significant disadvantage in numbers. If you cannot achieve a numbers advantage, you will soon be unable to fly any offensive missions: with or without escorts, because all of your planes will have been destroyed. Flying into heavy CAP will get your escorts destroyed, and you will not be able to do this often. In order to bomb a target, you must sweep that target, which means that you are not limited by the range of your escorts. Rather, you are limited by the range of your sweeping fighters.

Oscar is a very poor sweeping fighter. It is slow, has two machine guns, depends upon manueverability for survival, does not climb very well (especially compared to Tojo), and has a very low effective ceiling (because it depends on manueverability for survival). The two machine guns can be effective against slower allied aircraft, but the Oscar lacks the speed to sustain bursts at close range, which you can see in the air-to-air replay. What happens is that Oscar damages planes, but gets destroyed in return. The inevitable result is that the Japan loses air superiority in theaters where only Oscar is present, and offensive air operations become impossible at any range.

Tojo is fast, has 4 machine guns, and a much higher effective operational ceiling. It can bring its guns to bear and get kills. (It is also a very good, even excellent, CAP fighter.)

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ORIGINAL: Aurorus
If Japan exploits Tojo and Tony production it creates an unbalanced game that will not be enjoyable for many allied players, and enjoyment is the entire point of the game.