Slitherine

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ORIGINAL: rustysi

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Yeah, I was surprised at the inability to kill Hellcats today.

Keep in mind that fighters assigned to escort duty are at a disadvantage. That coupled with a superior A/C and you can't expect too much. Besides as you said they did their jobs and kept his fighters off your bombers. OTOH your fighters should do a bit better against his escorting fighters. Don't expect miracles, but you might get 1:1 if you have a numbers advantage over him. Its why I like the Zero 5c, good firepower against a disadvantaged opponent. At least I hope it works. Looks good on paper. At any rate you don't really want to down fighters do you? Its bombers you want.

Created by the amazing Dixie

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ORIGINAL: rustysi

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ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

Ok, next topic of discussion: IJA fighters

Here's what I have producing. Note that the Frank will start producing in a few days.

Model/Pool/Production

Ki-44-IIc Tojo / 63 / 120
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar / 67 / 128
Ki-100-II Tony / 56 / 120
Ki-84a Frank / 0 / 120

What should I change? scrap? increase? keep?

Keep in mind that I'm in late '42 in my game.

This is how I see it. Too many Oscars. When Frank comes online cut them in half or less and put 'em to Frank. I like the Oscar for late war escort, but you shouldn't need too many. BTW the Ki-43-IIIa has the longest range of all the Oscars. As for the Tojo and Tony, I'd probably reduce them by 25% and put that to Frank as well. Remember as you start to field Franks the other model pools will grow and the more limited use will mean less loss as the Franks take over. Just my .02 Mike. Let's see what the pros say, and then make a more educated choice.

Created by the amazing Dixie

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ORIGINAL: rustysi

I've got a question for you. Where's that CVL that builds in November '42 without its air groups. They inexplicable come in a year later, mistake I assume, but whatever. That's another 30 plane CVL that could have some LBA fighter group on it to up your CAP.

Created by the amazing Dixie

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ORIGINAL: Zorch

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ORIGINAL: rustysi

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ORIGINAL: ny59giants_MatrixForum

Many of us had suggested and you agreed to get all your CV/CVLs back together. So I know you are kicking yourself for not following that "self" advice.

At least Mike had his other CVs within supporting distance. Ted didn't; he could have had the last strike if his other 2 or 3 CV/CVLs were closer.

Created by the amazing Dixie

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ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

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ORIGINAL: rustysi

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ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

Ok, next topic of discussion: IJA fighters

Here's what I have producing. Note that the Frank will start producing in a few days.

Model/Pool/Production

Ki-44-IIc Tojo / 63 / 120
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar / 67 / 128
Ki-100-II Tony / 56 / 120
Ki-84a Frank / 0 / 120

What should I change? scrap? increase? keep?

Keep in mind that I'm in late '42 in my game.

This is how I see it. Too many Oscars. When Frank comes online cut them in half or less and put 'em to Frank. I like the Oscar for late war escort, but you shouldn't need too many. BTW the Ki-43-IIIa has the longest range of all the Oscars. As for the Tojo and Tony, I'd probably reduce them by 25% and put that to Frank as well. Remember as you start to field Franks the other model pools will grow and the more limited use will mean less loss as the Franks take over. Just my .02 Mike. Let's see what the pros say, and then make a more educated choice.

People love the Frank. In all my years of playing this game, I've never had a Frank! This will be a first. I was planning on reducing the Oscar to about 100 in the pool and switch half or so of the factories to probably the Frank. I have only 2 sentai fielding the Oscar right now, one in China strafing troops with very good success and the other at Truk doing nothing. The Tony has been awful so far. They get shredded by the P47. The Tojo still is doing well against everything the Allies throw at them. They haven't fought the Hellcat yet though. The vast majority of the IJAAF is fielding the Tojo, but that'll change to the Frank soon.

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I bombarded again today. I’ve noticed their AV increased to about 15k while mine is still at 6k. I’ll let the supply replenish and then try a deliberate attack to see what I’m really up against. In the mean-time, I bomb daily with 130 or so Sallies.

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I suspected that was the case. Not sure which one though. First thought would be Wasp because she's the smallest. But look at the hits:

Yorktown: 2x500kg, 1x250kg, heavy fires, fuel storage explosion, don't think she sank.
Wasp: 2 torpedoes, 2x500, 1x250, heavy fires, heavy damage, fuel storage explosion.
Saratoga: 2 torpedoes, 5x500, 1x250, fires, heavy damage.

I'll take any (or all ) of them.

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CVLs Mizuho and Nisshin (21 F and 9 TB each)

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That's the Ryuho. She's currently at Ambon with 3 CVEs, in case Ted gets frisky there. Hosho will eventually move down there as well.

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I have Soryu carrying the M5c. They were set to 0 distance, to be used just for CAP over the TFs. Their range sucks. But in this case, the enemy carriers were all 2-4 hexes from my carriers. They would have flown escort. I wonder how they would have done?

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ORIGINAL: rustysi

Something else I just remembered.....

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CVLs Mizuho and Nisshin (21 F and 9 TB each)

You don't really need TB's on either of these two, they have no torp capacity. I'd either fill them with fighters or some combo of fighters and DB's.

Created by the amazing Dixie

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ORIGINAL: rustysi

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I have Soryu carrying the M5c. They were set to 0 distance, to be used just for CAP over the TFs. Their range sucks. But in this case, the enemy carriers were all 2-4 hexes from my carriers. They would have flown escort. I wonder how they would have done?

They are the first Zero with armor. Don't know how much that'll help, but....

Created by the amazing Dixie

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ORIGINAL: rustysi

Just a few things I wanted to say the other day, but forgot/ran out of time.

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I bombarded again today. I’ve noticed their AV increased to about 15k while mine is still at 6k. I’ll let the supply replenish and then try a deliberate attack to see what I’m really up against. In the mean-time, I bomb daily with 130 or so Sallies.

I think you may be a little premature here. Think I wait a while and just keep bombing/bombarding for a bit more.

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I suspected that was the case. Not sure which one though. First thought would be Wasp because she's the smallest. But look at the hits:

Yorktown: 2x500kg, 1x250kg, heavy fires, fuel storage explosion, don't think she sank.
Wasp: 2 torpedoes, 2x500, 1x250, heavy fires, heavy damage, fuel storage explosion.
Saratoga: 2 torpedoes, 5x500, 1x250, fires, heavy damage.

I'll take any (or all ) of them.

Been thinking about this as well. I still think its Wasp that went down, but the other two are in serious trouble. My guess is he looses at least one more even with no other attacks. I would suggest you try to dog 'em with whatever subs you have in the neighborhood, and from your screen shot there seem to be quite a few.

On a final note... I know I watch pilot fatigue closely, as I'm sure the rest of us do. One thing I learned the hard way a while back was to also keep an eye on CV A/C's fatigue levels. These really seem to ramp up after serious CV ops.

Created by the amazing Dixie

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ORIGINAL: Lowpe

How about fighter bombers? What are you making - r&d'ing there?

Created by the amazing Dixie

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ORIGINAL: rustysi

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That's the Ryuho. She's currently at Ambon with 3 CVEs, in case Ted gets frisky there. Hosho will eventually move down there as well.

Remember her air groups will arrive in Nov. '43.

Created by the amazing Dixie

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ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

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ORIGINAL: rustysi

Just a few things I wanted to say the other day, but forgot/ran out of time.

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I bombarded again today. I’ve noticed their AV increased to about 15k while mine is still at 6k. I’ll let the supply replenish and then try a deliberate attack to see what I’m really up against. In the mean-time, I bomb daily with 130 or so Sallies.

I think you may be a little premature here. Think I wait a while and just keep bombing/bombarding for a bit more.

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I suspected that was the case. Not sure which one though. First thought would be Wasp because she's the smallest. But look at the hits:

Yorktown: 2x500kg, 1x250kg, heavy fires, fuel storage explosion, don't think she sank.
Wasp: 2 torpedoes, 2x500, 1x250, heavy fires, heavy damage, fuel storage explosion.
Saratoga: 2 torpedoes, 5x500, 1x250, fires, heavy damage.

I'll take any (or all ) of them.

Been thinking about this as well. I still think its Wasp that went down, but the other two are in serious trouble. My guess is he looses at least one more even with no other attacks. I would suggest you try to dog 'em with whatever subs you have in the neighborhood, and from your screen shot there seem to be quite a few.

On a final note... I know I watch pilot fatigue closely, as I'm sure the rest of us do. One thing I learned the hard way a while back was to also keep an eye on CV A/C's fatigue levels. These really seem to ramp up after serious CV ops.

I haven't spotted the carriers up close since the battle. Still looking. Finding other ships though.

Aircraft fatigue is something I know nothing about. Can it decrease without maintenance? (Don't think so, but I really have no idea.) Anything in the manual I've missed? How about the forum?

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ORIGINAL: rustysi

Something else I just remembered.....

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CVLs Mizuho and Nisshin (21 F and 9 TB each)

You don't really need TB's on either of these two, they have no torp capacity. I'd either fill them with fighters or some combo of fighters and DB's.

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ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

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ORIGINAL: rustysi

Something else I just remembered.....

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CVLs Mizuho and Nisshin (21 F and 9 TB each)

You don't really need TB's on either of these two, they have no torp capacity. I'd either fill them with fighters or some combo of fighters and DB's.

Will the TBs have access to 800kg bombs while on either of them?

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Aircraft fatigue is something I know nothing about. Can it decrease without maintenance? (Don't think so, but I really have no idea.) Anything in the manual I've missed? How about the forum?

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CV/CVL air group management - I monitor both pilot fatigue and plane damage (time to repair). After prolong activity, I often have to fly off and transfer groups to a base to speed up recovery time. Often you will see 5 days or more time for planes to repair if on CVs. This is a very slow process. So, they go ashore. Your Judy and Jill with SR 2 or 3 need the extra time ashore to repair and recover, IMO.

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Can it decrease without maintenance?

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I haven't spotted the carriers up close since the battle. Still looking. Finding other ships though.

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Another approach is to 'downgrade' and then 're-upgrade' the airframes while in port. They'll act as if all the 'new' airframes are at "0" for maintenance once they're back on board. It may take a week or so to have all of them uncrated and available, so don't do this workaround if action is imminent.

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ORIGINAL: rustysi

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Another approach is to 'downgrade' and then 're-upgrade' the airframes while in port. They'll act as if all the 'new' airframes are at "0" for maintenance once they're back on board. It may take a week or so to have all of them uncrated and available, so don't do this workaround if action is imminent.

That's certainly another option, though I've never tried it, and I doubt it'll be any faster than the other method. Besides doesn't it expend supply to 'swap' A/C?

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Yeah, I know escort is tough on fighters. I'm always torn. Good pilots are shredded as much as mediocre pilots. It's a necessary evil.

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But I also believe that the 'uncrating' of new aircraft takes considerably less time than waiting for them to repair spontaneously.

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I just checked and my carrier aircraft are pretty fatigued. I need to make sure they're all stood down.

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This fatigued aircraft stat is curious. I still can't figure out what it means, but that's ok.