Taxcutter -> RE: Into The Unknown Taxcutter vs. Ironman (7/10/2017 2:35:25 PM)
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July 7, 1943 update: Starting to get ahead of the 6/43 refits. While these have been going on, I've taken the chance to optimize some aspects of the war. All of my main logistics hubs are well-stocked and I've moved some smaller cargo ships into the hub ports and relegated my Liberty ships to long-haul duty. I am getting a handle on air superiority, at least where land-based air is concerned. From an air standpoint the Solomons Sea is my lake. Unescorted bombers pummel Port Moresby, Buna, Rabaul, Torokina, Shortlands and Gasmata. Ironman has a 15-plane fighter sentai at Lae but he is not aggressive with it. My two stud FGs in Burma seem to be getting the better of Ironman. He still has plenty of Oscars, but the aircrew quality is diminishing. I'm maintaining a pretty steady 5:1 kill ratio on fighters, even though I keep siphoning 30-kill aces into TRACOM. I now have 20 such aces in TRACOM and could double that in a week. I now cn even use Beaufighters as bomber-killers without excessive losses. I have six Beaufighter (day) aces. Probably when newer airframes become available I'll use these guys s the cadre of a more aggressive fighter scheme. For now, I'm stuck with slow-filling pools. Now that the pool is filling I loaded my FG of P47s and shipped them to the Noumea. I'm not entirely sure what to do with these clumsy, short-legged beasts. Probably top-altitude CAP for now. Pratt Double Wasps over the Solomons Sea. P47s, Hellcats, and Corsairs. I've developed two auxiliary air combats TFs. five 18 knot CVEs loaded with fighters were sent via Panama to Aden. I'll use these to help cover convoys into Rangoon when the Burma Road opens. I loaded up six 16 knot CVEs with fighter and torpedo bombers plus the USS Independence in order to (for now cover) by counter-invasions of Attu and Kiska. Ironman occasionally launches nuisance raids in the Adak area with a force of five CVL and about 80 planes. Once refits are done I'll use my CV force (now 7xCV) to smash Lae and generally crunch coral around the Solomons Sea to build up carrier plane crew experience. I've lost track of KB again but last time I spotted them KB had 8xCV and his air crew have to have astronomical experience ratings. For now I'll welcome any visits he cares to make into the Solomons Sea with its clouds o fighters I used some smaller Marine units and picked off the Ellice Islands. In the near future, I have invasions planned at Kiriwina Island, Buna, Torokina, and Shortlnds. Buna will set up a mega-invasion of Port Moresby with the entire Aussie I Corps. I have seven (sorta-supplied) Indian divisions being down on Rangoon and three big Chinese Corps moving to clear out the northern end of the Burma Road. Ironman's position in Burma is brittle. In China, Ironman is rolling back some of my over-extended units along the Formosa Straits ports. Machts nichts. They were targets of opportunity taken mostly for nuisance value. at least I'm forcing Ironman to attack against double and triple terrain. Busy time in the Pacific. After months of a slack tide, I'm beginning to roll.
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