RE: Burma Bungle!

Matrix Games Forums

Forums Register Login Photo Gallery Member List Search Calendars FAQ

My Profile Inbox Address Book My Subscription My Forums Log Out

RE: Burma Bungle!

View related threads: (in this forum | in all forums)

Logged in as: Guest

Users viewing this topic: none

Printable Version

All Forums >> [New Releases from Matrix Games] >> War in the Pacific: Admiral's Edition >> After Action Reports >> RE: Burma Bungle!

Page: << < prev 58 59 [60] 61 62 next > >>

Message

<< Older Topic Newer Topic >>

RE: Burma Bungle! - 8/27/2014 7:03:43 PM

Lowpe

Posts: 22133
Joined: 2/25/2013
Status: offline

April 1, 1943

No night bombing raids. Rangoon bombarded by IJN CAs.

During the day, the intrepid Lilly IIb flies into harsh weather to disrupt Allied shipping at Akyab....really like these guys!

Attachment (1)

(in reply to Lowpe)

Post #: 1771

RE: Burma Bungle! - 8/27/2014 7:18:24 PM

Lowpe

Posts: 22133
Joined: 2/25/2013
Status: offline

Allies bomb Prome, the Magwe push, for light losses, and sweep and bomb the airfield at Raheng.

A decent day in the Air.

Although a full Sentai of Nells were on naval attack, none did because of the weather? But those plucky Lilly IIb did, and even when their escorts stayed at home.

Attachment (1)

(in reply to Lowpe)

Post #: 1772

RE: Burma Bungle! - 8/28/2014 11:00:34 AM

Lowpe

Posts: 22133
Joined: 2/25/2013
Status: offline

April 2nd, 1943

No night air attacks. Moonlight very low, but that never has stopped the Allies before.

This is the first day, in a long, long time Japan loses no airplanes.

It probably won't last, but my troops are threading their way thru the jungle ridge in an attempt to cut the main supply road to Prome. Can't believe there aren't troops hiding there in the the jungle...

The Allies just have thrown everything forward...I would love to do an end run and land behind him in India, but the time for that is gone... To do it, I would need to strip the lower DEI, Solomons, and CentPac, Kuriles of Infantry Divisions. That would give me 5 full divisions, plus the KB to shepherd the invasion fleet so I would probably trade that operation off versus losing the Marshalls or worse. Plus, Allies would spot the prep and fleet with plenty of time to move about.

Prome's airfield is even larger.

KB sleeping at Kavieng. MiniKB at Marianas. Super BBs at Etorufu in Kuriles.

Attachment (1)

(in reply to Lowpe)

Post #: 1773

RE: Burma Bungle! - 8/28/2014 11:17:58 AM

Lowpe

Posts: 22133
Joined: 2/25/2013
Status: offline

I was re-reading Obvert vs Joc's excellent AAR...Oct 44; Marianas just invaded, Tavoy landed on which grows into a great foot race the Allies win and cut off 20+ divisions in Burma/Indochina/China. Obvert correctly identifies the Tavoy landing as a crisis, but while he is talking about that he is also considering rebuilding the oil production at Palembang!

Allies also have Mindanao which puts bombers in range of Hong Kong, all the DEI, etc. Allies also have Rangoon, and Tavoy is very close to Bangkok's large airfield.

Hindsight is 20-20, but Obvert definitely had victory disease. He had kicked Jocke's buct all over the place, but by June/July 45 Japan is out of supplies, Korea invaded, and Allies win. The Allies are just so staggeringly strong, their pace of advance can be stunningly quick, but the biggest enemy is Japan's mindset.

I need to be super careful here in Burma and not get destroyed. That I don't have Rangoon, puts a lot of resources/industry/oil/fuel at major risk. At some point the Allies will cotton on to this and start hitting me at my weakest point in a scen1 game: oil and fuel. Especially given my exceptionally weak fighter forces.

So, here I am in April 43 thinking of sweeping offensives in Burma, what am I thinking? Somebody slap me.

I guess I can dream a little, but I really need to focus on the offensive defense and economy.

(in reply to Lowpe)

Post #: 1774

RE: Burma Bungle! - 8/28/2014 2:44:58 PM

Lowpe

Posts: 22133
Joined: 2/25/2013
Status: offline

I am looking at places to send construction units to with the goal of creating stumbling blocks, strongpoints, etc.

With Rangoon and Port Blair in Allied hands, and probably there for the rest of the game, the entire north DEI and western China are vulnerable to heavy bomber attacks eventually.

Magwe is worth defending as long as it pumps on 280 oil per day. The refineries there are scrap metal. Once the oil is destroyed, a retreat to the jungle will be called for.

In China I will push west into the mountains...but definitely running out of time there.

The lower DEI are safe for now, Allies don't seem interested here at all.

So that leaves the Solomons, Marshalls, Kurile defensive line. Behind them the Marinas, Bonins, Mindanao line -- but how does this line anchor at Babeldoab or Sorong?

Sorong makes for a nice heavy bomber base threatening all the lower to mid DEI -- especially those targets not threatened by Rangoon. Sorong needs to be built up to anchor the Babeldoab to Marianas line.

With two adjacent dot bases, it may present another stumbling block.

Attachment (1)

(in reply to Lowpe)

Post #: 1775

RE: Burma Bungle! - 8/28/2014 4:45:25 PM

JocMeister

Posts: 8262
Joined: 7/29/2009
From: Sweden
Status: offline

I don�t think you need a slap.

The allied Achilles heel will always be the air force. I was hurting so badly for planes throughout the war it was silly. Open up an allied game and check how many fighters the USAAF gets. A good example is between July and November (going by memory) the USAAF gets 80(!) planes per month. You can blow through that in just a day of heavy fighting.

Its the only thing the allies are short of and they will be throughout the game. If there is one place where you should be fighting its the air.

Besides, allied LCUs are just as susceptible to lack of supply as Japanese. If you can cut him off from supply he will be in serious problems.

(in reply to Lowpe)

Post #: 1776

RE: Burma Bungle! - 8/28/2014 5:57:33 PM

Lowpe

Posts: 22133
Joined: 2/25/2013
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

I don�t think you need a slap.

The allied Achilles heel will always be the air force. I was hurting so badly for planes throughout the war it was silly. Open up an allied game and check how many fighters the USAAF gets. A good example is between July and November (going by memory) the USAAF gets 80(!) planes per month. You can blow through that in just a day of heavy fighting.

Its the only thing the allies are short of and they will be throughout the game. If there is one place where you should be fighting its the air.

Besides, allied LCUs are just as susceptible to lack of supply as Japanese. If you can cut him off from supply he will be in serious problems.

Japan air losses are 10K, but Allies are 7K. I have done better than my predecessor, but not by all that much...at least my fighters can down 4es now, which I was so worried about earlier, and I have been able to minimize night bombing of airfield somewhat, but you were quite correct that Allied bombers are a paper tiger force...maul them and they go away for a while. In addition, their effectiveness is really tied to experience level of pilots.

This day the IJN is attacking Port Calcutta. He has 3 units there, 54 guns. I am going after the ships in Port with Betties and Nells. Those planes drop so many bombs it is always fun watching the replay. Helens are bombing Prome and its concentration of 300 planes at night from 30K. Not expecting much.

The Wake CD guns are unloading at Umboi, well half of them (the rest are in Kendari). Even with AKs and naval support those big guns take a while to unload. Umboi, Rabaul, Ponape are all going to be nasty.

I am struggling with naval search in the Gilberts....I lose planes left and right flying over his bases, and or I lose them on the ground when the 4es come. I have resorted to using floats for night naval search, and will break down and set search arcs to avoid his big bases.

(in reply to JocMeister)

Post #: 1777

RE: Burma Bungle! - 8/28/2014 5:59:58 PM

Lowpe

Posts: 22133
Joined: 2/25/2013
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

I don�t think you need a slap.

The allied Achilles heel will always be the air force.

I believe Koniu released a text document with all the planes the Allies get. I have it, and the formatting makes it somewhat tough to read, but the Allies do get lots of planes. Just not lots of the highly desirable ones...at least to satisfy AFB.

< Message edited by Lowpe -- 8/28/2014 7:00:43 PM >

(in reply to JocMeister)

Post #: 1778

RE: Burma Bungle! - 8/28/2014 7:48:05 PM

Sangeli

Posts: 1132
Joined: 3/29/2012
From: San Francisco
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Lowpe
I need to be super careful here in Burma and not get destroyed. That I don't have Rangoon, puts a lot of resources/industry/oil/fuel at major risk. At some point the Allies will cotton on to this and start hitting me at my weakest point in a scen1 game: oil and fuel. Especially given my exceptionally weak fighter forces.

Burma is certainly a difficult challenge to hold Burma without getting destroyed when you've already lost Rangoon. But if you prepare a retreat east towards Lashio/Taung Gyi I think you can avoid getting your units in the north destroyed. It's pretty isolated but with 3x terrain and that backdoor road to Taung Gyia from Thailand it's definitely defendable. I think it may force the Allies into actually having to push you from Northern Burma as the Allies are feeling a lot of pressure I'm sure to aid in China. Otherwise if he bypasses you then you could eventually knock out China and launch offensives from northern Burma with those units...not a good situation for the Allies.

(in reply to Lowpe)

Post #: 1779

RE: Burma Bungle! - 8/28/2014 8:56:37 PM

Lowpe

Posts: 22133
Joined: 2/25/2013
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Sangeli
Burma is certainly a difficult challenge to hold Burma without getting destroyed when you've already lost Rangoon. But if you prepare a retreat east towards Lashio/Taung Gyi I think you can avoid getting your units in the north destroyed. It's pretty isolated but with 3x terrain and that backdoor road to Taung Gyia from Thailand it's definitely defendable. I think it may force the Allies into actually having to push you from Northern Burma as the Allies are feeling a lot of pressure I'm sure to aid in China. Otherwise if he bypasses you then you could eventually knock out China and launch offensives from northern Burma with those units...not a good situation for the Allies.

I never lost Rangoon, for the simple reason it was never conquered.

I like your advice, thanks.

I don't have the reserves I would like, and am hard pressed as to where to find them. Quite a few unrestricted units in China tied up in reducing Changsha and pushing west into the mtns...new purchases are going to Burma but it isn't enough.

Most every base is now paratroop proof, a depleted Chindit units is at Prome, another Brit paratroop in the jungles...

Everything in Burma changes overnight IF I can actually cut of all those units south of Akyab. I am not holding my breadth, but it is the first area of the map I look at each turn.

(in reply to Sangeli)

Post #: 1780

RE: Burma Bungle! - 8/28/2014 9:18:21 PM

Lowpe

Posts: 22133
Joined: 2/25/2013
Status: offline

Aside:

I continue to learn lessons from the Downfall game with m-m.

I think IJN submarines are only good against convoys in the deep sea far away from land base air. Even then, they really are victory points ready for plucking by the Allies. There may be a use for the Torpedo carrying submarines if I make it that far.

There is B29 extended range, and then there is Thunderbolt extended range and then Thunderbolt LRCAP range. Can the Ki-202 stand up to the Thunderbolt perhaps trading 2 or 3 202s for each Thunderbolt - that is the 64 million dollar question.

Irving is a decent NF when there are no other choices, but get Myrt, Frances, soon and ditch Irving. Denko looks nice, but SR4 doesn't cut it. Frances looks the best, but is expensive. Myrt is much better than it looks on paper. Plan to augment normal nightfighters with regular fighters switched over with the aim of disrupting attacks.

After lots of night bombing attacks versus Allied shipping, one pilot so far has been willing to die for the Emperor and he missed or was destroyed by flak. No night bombing of ships achieved any hits.

There are so many Allied units, it is easy to suffer turn fatigue. Perhaps this is simply because I haven't played 4 years to get here, but still...wow.

Recon, Naval search, day and night, is still King!

Ok, Captain Obvious out.

(in reply to Lowpe)

Post #: 1781

RE: Burma Bungle! - 8/28/2014 10:09:29 PM

mind_messing

Posts: 3393
Joined: 10/28/2013
Status: offline

In the defence of the IJN, everything floating is toast by this point.

I'll second the motion about the Myrt. It perhaps isn't the best night fighter, but it is the best all-round IJN night fighter by far.

As a point of reference, I've lost 2 Ki-201's to Ops losses, and that squadron has five kills from one engagement.

As a general note about the air war - it wouldn't be this skewed in a campaign starting from December 7th. Any good Japanese player will have a big pool of trained fighter pilots to draw upon, rather than me stocking frontline squadrons with rookies and telling them to learn to fly or die and having every rear-area squadron train frantically in the hope of gathering a few hundred fighter pilots with decent skills.

I'm finding it an excellent educational exercise into what the late-game is going to be like.

(in reply to Lowpe)

Post #: 1782

RE: Burma Bungle! - 8/28/2014 11:29:54 PM

Lowpe

Posts: 22133
Joined: 2/25/2013
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: mind_messing

In the defence of the IJN, everything floating is toast by this point.

Is there a safe place to hide the Navy? Russia will be getting active, so my guess is nowhere.

I'll second the motion about the Myrt. It perhaps isn't the best night fighter, but it is the best all-round IJN night fighter by far.

Pax likes the Myrt, and he is the end war Japan expert. It must be the speed.

As a point of reference, I've lost 2 Ki-201's to Ops losses, and that squadron has five kills from one engagement.

That particular fight was a mistake for me, as the Thunderbolts flew two consecutive days, so perhaps slightly better results than normal, but the 201's are great end war planes -- a potential game changer.

As a general note about the air war - it wouldn't be this skewed in a campaign starting from December 7th. Any good Japanese player will have a big pool of trained fighter pilots to draw upon, rather than me stocking frontline squadrons with rookies and telling them to learn to fly or die and having every rear-area squadron train frantically in the hope of gathering a few hundred fighter pilots with decent skills.

Agreed, the air war to start has Japan with tons of obsolete planes,and very poor pilots. Allies start with most units having 35 to 50 morale. However, there are only 2-3 Thunderbolt squadrons forward in Downfall at start. I am disappointed in the few fights the Oscar IV has had against bombers.

I'm finding it an excellent educational exercise into what the late-game is going to be like.

One final note: I had been hoping to use strafing runs by Nicks/Oscars to engage Fletcher task forces. Have to rethink that one...Allied flak on down low is fearsome.

< Message edited by Lowpe -- 8/29/2014 11:57:24 AM >

(in reply to mind_messing)

Post #: 1783

RE: Burma Bungle! - 8/30/2014 12:24:35 AM

Lowpe

Posts: 22133
Joined: 2/25/2013
Status: offline

Economy:

I am not happy with my vehicle pools, or lack thereof. I have 190 factories, if you remember vehicle factories where never expanded from Dec 7th 41 to when I took over Aug 42. So I am going to expand vehicle production again gradually -- maybe all the way up to 240. I will do it slowly,over time, so I can crunch numbers more fully.

Armaments: I have 182K. To conserve HI I idled 170 factories which I am going to turn back on. I have a lot of heavy artillery at risk in Burma, and replacing just the normal bombardment damage for them is quite expensive. I don't want to be short in 45.

Naval: Early on I cancelled all the xakl ships, but left most everything else on but underfunded. I will take a closer look here...

Supplies: The major worry. Any advice at savings here are appreciated. I am on target to hit my goal of 6 million supplies, but more would be nicer. A lot of that supply will get consumed by final generation fighter builds and engine builds for the bloodbath that will be 45 and beyond.

This is the Japanese conundrum. You need VP to avoid AV, and to get VP you need to spend supplies. But you need to conserve supplies to fight in 45.

Below is Obvert's ending tracker economy shot -- scenario 1. He made it to July 1, but he was in no position to fight the Soviets...maybe you simply can't be in a scen 1 game.

Attachment (1)

(in reply to Lowpe)

Post #: 1784

RE: Burma Bungle! - 8/30/2014 4:30:59 AM

Lokasenna

Posts: 9297
Joined: 3/3/2012
From: Iowan in MD/DC
Status: offline

RE: Supply conservation...

Almost everything uses supply. Save it everywhere you can. Only run recon every other day, for example. Or 2 days out of every 3. This saves on planes as well as the supplies to fly the actual mission. Be sure you have extra pilots in all of your units. This will save on ops losses, and thus on replacement aircraft. All of that kind of thing is "small potatoes", sure...but it might add up to about 100-200k supply during a game, or maybe more. And in September 1945, that sure seems like a lot, right?

Big stuff? Don't have 8x30 R&D factories for the Ki-202

. I think R&Ding multiple generations is what kills Japan. Pick stuff and stick with it from the beginning. 5x30 factories is 150k supply, plus whatever you had to spend to expand them. That really adds up. Also daily bombardments...make sure that what you're doing with the bombing/bombardment is worth it. If you aren't getting any casualties, or very few, maybe you need to stop bombarding. It burns a lot of supply if you aren't careful.

(in reply to Lowpe)

Post #: 1785

RE: Burma Bungle! - 8/30/2014 10:25:28 AM

Lowpe

Posts: 22133
Joined: 2/25/2013
Status: offline

April 3, 1943

No night attacks.

Allies bomb the Magwe push, and sweep there to with Corsairs again. No defense other than AA. Dug in troops in the jungle ridge are tough to to hit.

Allied recon in this area is really poor, as during the replay troops in the open are not spotted, as is the troops to the north attempting to cut the supply road.

The Calcutta raid goes well...trading one Betty for some good hits including fuel explosions and fuel on fire. The Nells hit the AM Quail in another raid.

Attachment (1)

(in reply to Lokasenna)

Post #: 1786

RE: Burma Bungle! - 8/30/2014 10:34:00 AM

Lowpe

Posts: 22133
Joined: 2/25/2013
Status: offline

China: Destroy 100+ combat squads. Chinese squads that is.

Shipping: Lose an xakl to a mine.

Burma:

25% of the way to cutting off the road. Surely he has troops hiding in the jungle trail to the north.

I am starting to plan fall back positions in Burma. I really don't like how exposed my troops are...if I can make it to the Monsoon or better yet cut his supply line.

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by Lowpe -- 8/30/2014 11:45:23 AM >

(in reply to Lowpe)

Post #: 1787

RE: Burma Bungle! - 8/30/2014 10:43:34 AM

Lowpe

Posts: 22133
Joined: 2/25/2013
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna
Big stuff? Don't have 8x30 R&D factories for the Ki-202 . I think R&Ding multiple generations is what kills Japan.

I understood everything else, many thanks, but not these two. Those 202 r&d factories are going to build the plane. I plan on building a lot of them. How is that wasted supply? I don't think you fully understand how deeply committed I am to the 202 for the end game. Sink or swim here.

Multiple generations: The factories upgrade for free to the next generation. How is that wasted?

R&D in general: If I could do it over again, I would pick one each armored fighter 2nd gen plane to r&d, Ki84a, and the rest would go to the final generation planes. Strike that, I would play pdu off.

(in reply to Lokasenna)

Post #: 1788

RE: Burma Bungle! - 8/30/2014 12:16:58 PM

Lowpe

Posts: 22133
Joined: 2/25/2013
Status: offline

The raid on Calcutta was nice, but also there was 130 aux planes there. I am coming to the conclusion, that on these deep strikes to go for everything at the base: port and airfield.

I am also rethinking the Patsy, too late for this game, but deep strikes seem to work very well. But I can use Emily in this role...

Would there be any point to fire bombing Calcutta or striking at Ledo oil? No victory points, but it would feel good. Vindictive and nasty. Unfortunately, he might trash Magwe oil.

I have 3.3 million oil. Gadzooks!

< Message edited by Lowpe -- 8/30/2014 1:22:36 PM >

(in reply to Lowpe)

Post #: 1789

RE: Burma Bungle! - 8/30/2014 2:38:26 PM

Lowpe

Posts: 22133
Joined: 2/25/2013
Status: offline

The Nick b model production facility is moved on to research the C model. I like the C, the cannon is more accurate than the B model, packs a hefty punch compared to the 20mm cannons on the A model. Nicks will now for me provide rear area bomber defense and move forward to attack targets of opportunity on the ground and at sea.

I expanded all vehicle factories by 1.

Sending even more men to Burma...KB is dark...working on troop and economic transfers. Nothing offensive planned for the day. Working on establishing a better deep recon of Allied bases...and I am thinking about hitting Madras with Emilies. I am going to use subs with floats to provide recon...

I am moving into China several fighter squadrons. They will splinter and start sweeping the capitol where there are still 50plus fighters to worry about.

(in reply to Lowpe)

Post #: 1790

RE: Burma Bungle! - 8/30/2014 2:49:15 PM

Lowpe

Posts: 22133
Joined: 2/25/2013
Status: offline

Probably my last post about the KAI Dinah.

I upgraded, or downgraded depending upon your view of the KAI Dinah, my last planned squadron. It will break down into thirds and provide night coverage at airfields and industry centers.

My attempt at sweeps with the plane failed. Granted I only tried it once. Long range escorts -- the Oscar and Zero do it cheaper. Strafing ships: no bombs or armor Nick & Oscar better.

But night CAP before there is night fighters. Bingo! Can't shoot down anything, but it can disrupt the attacks.

Almost all Dinah KAI losses have come from being bombed during the day, while the planes sat idle at the air fields. This is great, because the Allied bombers had to fly thru daytime fighters to hit the airfields because he couldn't close them during the night!

Attachment (1)

(in reply to Lowpe)

Post #: 1791

RE: Burma Bungle! - 8/30/2014 3:31:20 PM

Lowpe

Posts: 22133
Joined: 2/25/2013
Status: offline

A few IJN long term builds:

I am building the handful of I400 series subs, the aircraft carrier submarines. I have searched, but I cannot find anyone mentioning these subs much.

Do they actually launch planes with Torpedoes? What is the supply of torpedoes on the ship?

They are a 33 point build, for a long, long time and as such are quite expensive, but they look like fun!

I am sorely tempted to accelerate the first one.

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by Lowpe -- 8/30/2014 4:36:33 PM >

(in reply to Lowpe)

Post #: 1792

RE: Burma Bungle! - 8/30/2014 3:35:06 PM

Lowpe

Posts: 22133
Joined: 2/25/2013
Status: offline

Late war carriers:

I simply cannot bring myself to cancelling these guys...if I can make it that far, they might get one strike in before being destroyed.

Attachment (1)

(in reply to Lowpe)

Post #: 1793

RE: Burma Bungle! - 8/30/2014 5:13:15 PM

Lokasenna

Posts: 9297
Joined: 3/3/2012
From: Iowan in MD/DC
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

quote:

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna
Big stuff? Don't have 8x30 R&D factories for the Ki-202 . I think R&Ding multiple generations is what kills Japan.

I understood everything else, many thanks, but not these two. Those 202 r&d factories are going to build the plane. I plan on building a lot of them. How is that wasted supply? I don't think you fully understand how deeply committed I am to the 202 for the end game. Sink or swim here.

Multiple generations: The factories upgrade for free to the next generation. How is that wasted?

R&D in general: If I could do it over again, I would pick one each armored fighter 2nd gen plane to r&d, Ki84a, and the rest would go to the final generation planes. Strike that, I would play pdu off.

RE: multiple generations - by generation I mean separate lines, not new versions of an existing plane. E.g., 1st Gen = Oscar/Zero, 2nd = Tojo/Jack/George, 3rd = Frank/Sam, etc. Those aren't hard categories or anything, but in general to me 1st generation is something that's bordering on obsolete at war's start, 2nd generation are the models that are in R&D at war's start and come out in '42-'43, and 3rd generation are the "wonder planes"... A 4th generation would be like Ki-201, -202, maybe even Ki-83. What I mean by generation is you finish R&Ding one line, but you don't need 180 planes/month plus the production of the previous model, so you swap some to the next generation of plane...and then they get damaged, and need repair.

I understand that you're committed to the -202, I just think it's not going to do all that well. Placing my chips early on that one

. The Karyu is more expensive (*2), but I think it would do more than twice as well. Maybe I'll be wrong.

(in reply to Lowpe)

Post #: 1794

RE: Burma Bungle! - 8/30/2014 5:25:59 PM

Lowpe

Posts: 22133
Joined: 2/25/2013
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna
I understand that you're committed to the -202, I just think it's not going to do all that well. Placing my chips early on that one . The Karyu is more expensive (*2), but I think it would do more than twice as well. Maybe I'll be wrong.

I understand now.

Well, you didn't like the Dinah KAI and I found a good use for them.

But, you definitely weren't wrong either.

Actually, you are correct about the 201. In downfall it is an absolute beast, and probably should be a staple research for every Japan game you want to go the distant.

As in everything you need numbers, and the 202 is half as expensive and rams really well. Hopefully, being paired with Sam-J the 202 numbers will be telling. If it fails, it will be spectacular. I wonder what kind of Kamikaze it will make? No bombs, but speed to beat the band...

(in reply to Lokasenna)

Post #: 1795

RE: Burma Bungle! - 8/30/2014 6:32:56 PM

Lowpe

Posts: 22133
Joined: 2/25/2013
Status: offline

April 5th, 1943

No night attacks.

Continue sinking Allied submarines, this time in the PI.

Allies bomb Prome heavily, light damage, thanks a little to severe storms. Allies sweep Moulmein. I want him to keep doing this until I stage a nice CAP trap with Tojo IIc.

Allied Air Transports move back to Ledo, from Calcutta.

Dirt road defenders finally show up. Shucks. I will try and stalemate him to the monsoon, and hopefully thru the wet season, then I will most likely have to pull back. If not sooner.

Attachment (1)

(in reply to Lowpe)

Post #: 1796

RE: Burma Bungle! - 8/30/2014 7:59:08 PM

Lowpe

Posts: 22133
Joined: 2/25/2013
Status: offline

I continue to expand vehicle construction by 1 point per factory again.

Sweeps and LRCAP in China. Hopefully a nasty surprise for the Chinese Air Force.

Other than that, I am getting bombers in place and rested to hit Ledo and Calcutta again. No fighters there, they are all at Prome. Will also recon Madras and hit it too.

Continue to watch my factories repair in r&d. Slow going.

I actually drained Fusan of all resources, idling the light industry there. I still am not getting enough oil and fuel into Fusan to rely upon it for growing inventories in the HI. Not having Changsha slows transfers across China perhaps?

I put a tanker in Shanghai to suck oil for the HI, and it went from 4 oil to 6000 overnight...drawing from Hong Kong. Hong Kong is not really drawing much from Indochina. So will the Shanghai oil now flow to Fusan? Probably go back to Hong Kong.

For some odd reason, all the supply I dropped at Bangkok ended up back at Cam Ranh Bay, 70K. I need that to filter up the railroad from Bangkok, not there. Naval HQ probably pulling it.

Hokkaido has been sucked dry, moved 4 million resources in 120 days with but three escorts ships give or take, the rest unescorted in onesies and twosies. I lost 1-2 xaks I think to subs. I did have an additional 3-4 SC or PC patrolling off Ominato, but never much.

Some people feel this an exploit, moving resources across china, but he does have a good shot at my cargo ships, since the vast majority of them are unescorted around the HI. He needs to race in and out in one day, rather than patrol hither and thither keeping DL on his subs. What works well is to set a waypoint in the convoy lane, move in and out in one turn...or simply to flood an area overnight with several submarines and then get out of dodge. Plus mixing up the area of attacks works well too.

Plus he is doing well with his submarines in the PI, and tankers from DEI. He needs to change up his strategies a little and sometimes he seems to want to use them with the fleet too.

Supposedly, in a level 8 air force or higher one of the engineer units with aviation support with go mutant, but I can't get that to work. Is there a trick?

< Message edited by Lowpe -- 8/30/2014 9:03:33 PM >

(in reply to Lowpe)

Post #: 1797

RE: Burma Bungle! - 8/30/2014 8:13:03 PM

JocMeister

Posts: 8262
Joined: 7/29/2009
From: Sweden
Status: offline

Any idea what that lone unit is?

(in reply to Lowpe)

Post #: 1798

RE: Burma Bungle! - 8/30/2014 8:28:48 PM

Lowpe

Posts: 22133
Joined: 2/25/2013
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

Any idea what that lone unit is?

Nope, I may bomb it when the troops are closer to entering the hex.

I am going to be moving another infantry division, one that is resting at Soerabaja, up to Burma, and I am also sending odds and ends there as well. I will be trying to form up the 2nd tank division, which is scattered all over creation, but really I have to face facts and recognize I am overmastered here in burma.

I hoped supply would be a bigger problem for him...maybe with the monsoon?

The Allies have sent lots of US forces, saved their original British/Burma/Commonwealth forces from destruction, and those that I did nail hard on Java is simply not enough to slow down the Allied juggernaut in this theater. At least there isn't many Aussie troops here...

Being on the jungle ridge dirt road is just a great way to lose those troops of mine. But Magwe is still pumping oil, 280 something a day, and I want it. So for now, more troops to Burma, build up a better defense in depth, and look for opportunities to hurt him in the air. I do have reserves in Mandalay, but never enough.

(in reply to JocMeister)

Post #: 1799

RE: Burma Bungle! - 8/30/2014 8:47:45 PM

Lowpe

Posts: 22133
Joined: 2/25/2013
Status: offline

Just some quick math on Oil reserves. I have 3.4 million in the system and it is growing. If I can get all that back, that is over one full year of oil for the HI production.

I guess I am rapidly approaching the point where maybe the Magwe oil field is no longer as important, if I can siphon the oil in the system back.

Isn't that shortsighted thinking? What would an early loss of the Palembang oil do to me? So it becomes more of a question of how long can I protect the oil flows and the industry on the HI, and keep the oil flowing from the DEI and Burma to the HI.

Confused? Good, I am.

< Message edited by Lowpe -- 8/30/2014 9:48:12 PM >

(in reply to Lowpe)

Post #: 1800