Ocean of Blood. FatR (J) vs. Bigred (A).

[FatR]

Air Production

A6M3 just entered production. As it doesn't have much advantages over A6M2, I was in doubt whether to actually produce it, or wait for A6M3b, but finally decided in favor of it. A6M3s will be delivered to naval air units in Home Islands (one of which can upgrade to fighters from floatplanes through A6M3).

Sally and Kate production was expanded slightly to keep up with the demand. Also, a small plant was repurposed from Ki-57-I to L3Y2, to keep the only unit that operates the latter up to strength (we have a slight surplus of Army transport planes anyway). Production of Betties and Emilies is turned on and off intermittently, as engine availability allows.

[FatR]

Rising Sun Over Luzon

Bataan fell on February 4th:

Ground combat at Bataan (78,77)
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 56260 troops, 705 guns, 544 vehicles, Assault Value = 1806
Defending force 37644 troops, 893 guns, 622 vehicles, Assault Value = 781
Japanese adjusted assault: 2055
Allied adjusted defense: 459
Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 1)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Bataan !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
No Allied losses

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), preparation(-), fatigue(-)
experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
3530 casualties reported
Squads: 37 destroyed, 132 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 182 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 7 disabled
Vehicles lost 48 (7 destroyed, 41 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
46138 casualties reported
Squads: 2350 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 4128 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 253 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 608 (608 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 883 (883 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 36

Assaulting units:
20th Infantry Regiment
7th Tank Regiment
16th Recon Regiment
4th Tank Regiment
21st Division
38th Division
9th Infantry Regiment
48th Division
16th Engineer Regiment
65th Brigade
Sasebo 1st SNLF
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
14th Army
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Mortar Battalion
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
1st PA Infantry Division
21st PA Infantry Division
71st PA Infantry Division
41st PA Infantry Division
51st PA Infantry Division
57th PS Infantry Regimental Combat Team
31st Infantry Regiment
31st PA Infantry Division
Manila Bay Defenses
26th PS Cavalry Regiment
4th Marine Regiment
194th Tank Battalion
3rd/12th PA Inf Battalion
45th PS Infantry Regimental Combat Team
2nd PA Constabulary Division
91st PA Infantry Division
81st PA Infantry Div /4
200th & 515th Coast AA Regiment
Far East USAAF
Bataan USN Base Force
II Philippine Corps Corps
Provisional GMC Grp
I Philippine Corps Corps
Clark Field USAAF Base Force
Cavite USN Base Force
USAFFE
201st PA Construction Battalion
1st USMC AA Battalion
1st PI Base Force
301st Construction Battalion
88th PS Field Artillery Regiment
14th PS Engineer Regiment
Manila USAAF Base Force
202nd PA Construction Battalion
803rd Engineer Aviation Battalion
301st PA Field Artillery Regiment

I don't know why Allies on Philippines consistently got the leader bonus in combat, but this didn't help them. Notably, OOB improvements for Japanese in this mod didn't influence my Luzon campaign at all. The ahead-of-schedule victory at Hong Kong and the rapid deployment of 21st Division were the most decisive factors, that enabled me to inflict defeats on Allied forces before they all concentrated in a single hex.


Three Battles in One Day

On 4th Japanese also shock attacked in Singapore and Cagayan, but without the expected success. At Cagayan our forces failed to draw in enough supply after a shock attack on a previous day. At Singapore British took much heavier losses, but AV balance remained fairly close. Well, I hope 40th Brigade, now one turn from Mersing can tip the scales.

I hoped that I'll be able to make a short detour to Canton area with 14th Army troops and use 25th Army to take Java, but no such luck. 14th will load for westen Java, preparing for Batavia.


China Troubles

A massive Allied army blocks the way to Sian. We're about to catch its rearguard, and hopefully it won't be able to slip away on the next turn. Heavy air raids will be launched to block its movement.

In the south, two divisions reached Pucheng before Chinese reinforcements. Two are reported to defend the city. A deliberate is ordered for the next turn, and about 200 aircraft, including Nells from Honshu will fly ground attack to support it.

[FatR]

On Losses in Ground Combat

While waiting for the next turn I was writing a detailed analysis of Japanese casualties on Luzon and elsewhere, but accindentally refreshed the page and it was gone. So, I'll just summarize its conclusions as bullet points:

1)Full Divisions > Brigades of the same AV and >>> elements of regimental level of the same AV. SNLFs get knocked out easiest of all due to being so small and are of little use in major battles.

2)Smaller units recover much faster than large ones (relatively to their size), but also are likely to suffer a reduction of experience in the process, because they lose squads so easily.

3)Experience is very important in minimizing losses, even if we talk about the difference between 60 and 80.

4)Japanese armor sucks. It takes large losses very easily. These losses are replaced at rapid rate, but as a result IJA's tank regiments are likely to actually lose experience in heavy combat. I intend to stash those tank regiments that can be formed into tank divisions later somewhere safe.

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: FatR

Sub Victory!

On January 27 Japanese subs made up for their lack of success since 9th of the same month, sinking 2 xAKs, a small Dutch xAP and DD Tjerk Hiddes in one day. More importantly, a whole unit of P-400s became fish housing alongside with one of xAKs sunk near San Francisco. I wonder if pilots perished with the planes. Either way, the unit should be gone either permanently or for a very long time.

.

A few will die, but most will eventually show up back in the pools.

[topeverest]

Thanks for the AAR and the thorough strategic view. A few questions...
1. IMO the Hawaii inner islands are a major committment beyond the reasonable capabilities of the empire unless something is given up. I have not had success doing this against a well rounded PBEM opponent. I think it already is too late to invade there with the intent of actually taking the islands.
2. reagrding Oz as a conditional venue. How do you intend to try to win the game? You wont get enough VP's in Hawaii even if you are successful. This may be a strategic gap in your plan, because even if you execute the plan, you cannot achieve automatic victory.
3. why go on the defenive at all in fall of 42 if you dont have to?
4. If you are seeking the decisive CV battle, how are you planning to draw out the enemy? Are you going to go for an objective he has to defend?

[FatR]

1)I don't aim to win by points, although this might be a side effect if my plans work perfectly. I actually want to play into 1944-45.

2)As I said at the very beginning, the invasion of Hawaii is my primary bet for provoking an early carrier battle. Since then I measured my opponent and came to the conclusion that while drawing Allies out by going for South Pacific might be possible, Geoff is measured in his aggressiveness and capable of stratetic retreats, therefore the threat to something as important as Hawaii is necessary to force a response.

3)As about Hawaii being untakeable, so far I detect the Allied buildup at Suva and Pago Pago, not on Hawaian islands. Oahu might be a mega-fortress bustling with troops already, but we'll see. As about the forces necessary, all initial Japanese target are either taken or doomed. I'm about to storm my first airfield on Java and don't expect Singapore and Cagayan to hold much longer. Northern Sumatra, and the isolated Northern Oz can be taken with minimal ground forces. I believe I'll be able to free 7 very experienced divisions and 5-6 combat engineer regiments for Oahu, and land them en masse. The thing that bothers me most is potency of coast defenses there... the latest patch doesn't seem to mitigate the power of CD guns.

4)I intend to continue offensive actions as long as the balance of forces permits. In particular, if Oahu either falls or is deemed impossible to take (but the Pacific Fleet is trashed), I'll swing south towards Fiji, not because I need it or intend to hold on it, but to destroy the Allied forces there. Another possibility, depending on overall strategic situation, is deploying some of the Southern Army forces to China, which I really want to overrun entirely, thus securing the Western Resource Area that cannot be cut off by Allied amphibious advance and freeing a huge amount of troops, but might not be able to, because of the stronger Chinese OOB.
This is because the offense is naturally superior to defense, particularly in the island war, where the defeated defender tends to lose all of his troops or being forced to rebuild them from scratch, at lower experience. He, who has strategic initiative, can fight battles on his own terms. If my Stage 2 (Hawaii) goes well, USN won't be able to challenge IJN again until late 1943 and the US airforce will be heavily attrited. Why not to use this chance to ravage their forces, isolated on various islands, if the commitment of ground forces to an amphibious assault on Oahu is either obviously suicidal, or just ended with the fall of the island?

[topeverest]

Good luck Admiral,

You have a detailed battleplan and have considered the opportunity costs associated with it.

Banzai!

[FatR]

Java is invaded by the end of the first week of February!

Well, so far there is only 146th Regiment ashore at Loemadjang, but arty and engineers and air support will land on the upcoming turn (I didn't land them immediately to avoid extra losses from landing on an enemy-held beach). The main body of Tainan Ku and some bombers are already transferred to the captured level 4 airfield, which we'll put to good use.

Dutch forces seem to be moving to retake Loemadjang, but as it is an open hex, and there are over 150 Japanese 2E bombers within range, I very much doubt they will be able to. This decision might be a blessing for Japanese. Just in case, I'm sending some combat engineers from Kendari to reinforce and 4th Regiment might be directed there too, instead of Palembang, depending on what enemy strength we'll see.

Dutch aviation did not try to interfere, fearing the presence of KB. PTs and subs did, but ineffectually. However, I lost over half-dozen of planes and Shokaku-3 group leader when I tried to put a lot of planes on search, hoping they'll clear the Dutch mosquito fleet... a bad idea, as it happened, because Geoff raided his CAP on the same turn.


China Battles

You can see the situation on the map below. Unfortunately, Japanese forces were unable to catch any Chinese stragglers on the road to Sian before they joined the main Chinese force, which might well exceed 7000 AV (against Japanese 3600). I have much doubts about the possible outcome, considering forested terrain. Meanwhile, Chinese are trying to threaten our flanks. Too bad for them, that I left 116th division at Nanyang. Their force is very much doomed unless it turns back.

In the south, the fist Japanese attack dropped the forts at Pucheng to 1 and revealed that the enemy is short on supply. Unfortunately, the reemergense of AVG (with loss of about 15 Japanese bombers because my fighters once again decided not to show up), means that the next assaults won't have equally good air support. Weather is bad too. IJAAF will concentrate on shutting down Changsha and Wenchow for the moment, because this sort of losses is simply unacceptable and I operate too many bomber units from too many airfields to cover them all.

[FatR]

February 8: The Day of Choice

Two things happened on February 8th. First of all, my main Chinese army suffered a tremendous defeat in the forest hex directly southeast of Sian, losing about 19k to 4 in a failed shock attack at 12:1 odds (despite having less than 2:1 inferiority in unmodified AV). Distressingly, once again the enemy got a positive modifier for leaders. I don't know how Yubari manages this. Disruption is extremely heavy and I'm even afraid that a Chinese counterattack might cause a rout. If not, this is still a very bad development.

It doesn't mean that I'm going to abandon the Sian offensive. After we recover and clean up our flanks, we'll try a push through Taiyuan-Yenan, where the terrain is less detrimental to the attacker, once we break from Taiyuan, which cannot be reinforced by Chinese in time, as we have a rail connection to there. Japanese will be able to utilize their aviation better in that terrain as well.

On a positive note, 3 KNIL regiments marched to Loemadjang and were hit my massed naval and air bombardments, losing over 1.5k troops. Two of them were shown reduced to 0 AV during their attepmt to bombard my troops (in which another 200+ Dutch were blown away by counterfire). This is an excellent development, as these regiments represent a very large part of Dutch AV on Java. This opens the possibility of conquering Java by landing just 1-2 extra divisions, besides troops already moving from Eastern DEI. This also means, that most of 14th Army can proceed to Hawaii and start taking the outlying islands as soon as it marches back to Manila. As about KB ships, only Chitose needs a visit to a shipyard, after being rammed by Taio, the rest can be repaired locally at Truk and Kendari.

I'm strongly inclined to start preparing for the initial stages of the Hawaian Operation (let's call it Operation HI thereafter), namely the invasion of Midway, followed by a move to inner islands, immediately. If anyone has any comments on this, I'd like to hear them.

[FatR]

Hawks Versus Falcons

During the last two days (February 8-9) fierce air battles rage in the skies over Changsha, with 54th Sentai, 54th Sentai Det A, 10th and 87 I.F. Chutais challenging 2nd and 3rd AVG squadrons. A2A losses are reported as 9 Ki-43-Ic, 18 Ki-51 and 2 Ki-32 on Japanese side versus 18 P-40E (plus one destroyed on the ground). Ops losses make picture somewhat worse for Japanese, but as we fly the same planes against other targets, it's hard to say if all of their ops losses were in the battle over Changsha. As Ki-51 groups were recently stripped of elite pilots, I consider this turn of events my victory. Allies cannot sustain this sort of aircraft attrition until late 1942, even if their pilots mostly survive. Although an expansion of Ki-51 production to patch holes in 1E bombers sentais might be in order...

Anyway, what's interesting about these air losses is the rate of fighter exchange that is quite unfavorable for Allies. Most of my Hayabusas sweep at 15k (due to the out altitude houserule), while the rest escort, and AVG patrols at 20k. Results, though, speak for themselves. They are better that the results I got with Oscars strato-sweeping AVG against AI. My units aren't the greatest as far as pilots are concerned, and I even doubt we have an edge of all, considering, that AVG must be chock-full of aces by now. We don't have much of numerical edge as well, because 54th Sentai just recently upgraded to Ki-43 and has less combat-ready aircraft than a Chutai (although this means that it can rotate even mildly fatigued pilots out of combat).

While this clearly proves that high-altitude sweeps are overrated, I'm not sure about the exact reason for our success. Ki-43-Ic has the greatest MVR advantage over P-40E at 15k and below, so that might have influenced the outcome. It is possible, that AVG got highly fatigued, due to changing airfields at least three times in a row before that and having only one turn to rest. It is also possible, that flying from a bombed and damaged airfield increases fatigue and reduces morale. It almost surely influences pilot losses. By the way, did you know that pilots can be killed on ground? They can. I lost several when American cruisers bombarded Shikuka in this game, there can be no other cause for these losses, because my fighters there never engaged the enemy in the air.

In other news, I massively expanded my aircraft research program on the last turn. It seems, that having very small research factories (smaller than 8-16) makes no sense, because large ones repair faster. Aside from the initial investment, research is free, so this shouldn't harm my economy.

[bklooste]

ORIGINAL: FatR

February 8: The Day of Choice

I'm strongly inclined to start preparing for the initial stages of the Hawaian Operation (let's call it Operation HI thereafter), namely the invasion of Midway, followed by a move to inner islands, immediately. If anyone has any comments on this, I'd like to hear them.

Im all for taking these early and attrioning him in Hawaii.

Taking Midway and Johnson with Divisonal sized units will tip him off that something major is up try to use "just enough" or take the Hawaii island very soon after so he doesnt have time to reinforce .

For Hawaii you will want mainly IJAAF units which may need to come from China making that theater more difficult.

[FatR]

Air Battle of Kwajalein

On the morning of February 10, my useless searchplanes finally spotted what they saw as entire US end-war fast carrier fleet time-travelled to 1942, parked right next to Maloelap (see the map below). Well, judging by the composition of enemy strikes, they were wrong, and only 4 initial USN carriers came to visit Mandates, probably accompanied by a large surface force. I had no planes on Naval Attack and that was for the better, considering the enemy might. Unfortunately, there were a fast Type-N TL class TK and a slow AO unloading at Kwajalein. Their destroyer escorts drew the lion's share of incoming divebombers to themselves (only DD Kuretake was moderately damaged by a single bomb hit while dodging their attacks), but enough bombers remained to sink both tankers, a large Ansyu PB and an AMc. CL Tatsuta, upgrading at pierside, was damaged as well during the port attack. Chitose Ku handled the attackers roughly, and is credited with 14 kills in exchange for 5 Zeros and 3 wounded pilots, but was unable to stop the endless waves of American planes. Overall Americans are reported to have lost 8 carrier fighters and 18 divebombers (mostly SBD-3s) during the day - distressingly, none of them to flak.

At other time, I would have called this a stinging tactical defeat. At the moment, I'm glad to see Allies losing some of their crack carrier pilots as well. KB-2 is currently at Truk, but Ryujo and Taiyo are repairing at the pierside. Taiyo doesn't have a fighter airgroup anymore, as well. I'm not inclined to confront the entire USN carrier force with only 2 true CVs anyway, even under LBA cover. Particularly because some of KB-2 DD escorts are now sailing with damaged Chiyoda to Home Islands. I've flown the Ryujo fighter group, as well as Tainan Ku elements from Truk and Rabaul to Kwajalein. If the enemy carrier planes impale theselves on CAP (over 70 Zeros) on the next day, I might rethink my stance. KB-1 which just reloaded planes at Kendari, will also move to Truk immediately, in case Yubari plans something greater than a raid. Just this turn one of my subs took an unsuccesful shot at large convoy, full of APs and escorted by at least one CL, leaving Pearl, and the possibility of a suicide invasion cannot be discounted in any case.

To contest possible surface bombardment, 9 old DDs present at Kwajalein were formed into an SCTF. I did not include any of the two CLs available in it, as those are much more vulnerable to enemy air and are very unlikely to do anything to modern USN cruisers. Destroyers at least can dodge their shots. Also, midget sub TFs were promptly formed for Kwajalein and Roi-Namur.

[FatR]

Naval Battle of Kwajalein

During the night of 11th USN cruisers attempted to bombard Kwajalein. I expected an attack on Roi-Namur more, as the latter doesn't have a CD unit. So, my DDs were patrolling at Roi-Namur. However, coast defenses succeeded at preventing serious damage. On the morning, my force of old DD caught with enemy and bravely attacked:

Day Time Surface Combat, near Kwajalein Island at 132,115, Range 20,000 Yards
Day Time Surface Combat, near Kwajalein Island at 132,115, Range 20,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Mutsuki
DD Kisaragi, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Yayoi
DD Mochizuki
DD Oite
DD Hayate
DD Asanagi
DD Yunagi, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Asagao
DD Fuyo

Allied Ships
CA Indianapolis
CA Louisville, on fire (that's from the duel with shore batteries)
CA New Orleans, Shell hits 3
CA Minneapolis, Shell hits 2
DD Gridley, Shell hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Maury
DD Benham, Shell hits 1
DD Ellet, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage

Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions: 30,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 20,000 yards

There were sinking sounds later during the turn, so at least one of American DDs went down, likely Gridley. Yunagi and Kisaragi are only moderately damaged, but will need voyage to a shipyard.

Allied carriers launched no further air attacks during the turn. My subs launched torpedoes at the American warships three times, but scored no hits.


Other Fronts

In China Yubari pulled out his forces on Central Plains in time. But we managed to crush a Chinese corps at Foochow. AVG does not attempt to oppose bombing of Changsha anymore, and continues to lose planes on the ground.

At Loemadjang we smashed Dutch regiments and will move out on the current turn.

[FatR]

Updating plans for China

Well, alas and unfortunately, my attempt at blitzkrieg in the north has failed (I believe it would have been successful against stock Chinese forces, except maybe if the Allied player started evacuating Central Plains on December 7th). Looks like Sian alone can resupply the Chinese roadblock force at the moment and odds during the last assault were so bad, that I doubt even the most methodic air bombardment, combined with thorough recon of enemy troops, can fix them.

Fortunately, Yubari did not launch an immediate couterattack. Maybe Chinese forces were out of supply. By now, I think, his chance is lost, as my troops, slowly retreating at combat mode, pulled enough supply and partially recovered their disruption. This means that 4/5ths of my lost AV will be recovered fairly soon.

This means, that Japanese will be able to keep the initiative still, using their superior mobility (both due to railroads in their rear and to air interdiction of Chinese movements). Unfortunately, this initiative is stiffled by the presence of Chinese forces in the central China, where they hold Sinyang and sit in positions against Hankow and Wuchang. In combination with 6500+ AV up at Sian, this creates too much of a treat to radically redeploy my northern army, which is necessary if we're to take Sian, which is still is my main target.

But Sinyang, unlike Sian, is quite vulnerable to encirclement. And I believe that Chinese supply situation there already should be quite bad. Therefore, before launching another strategic offensive to the North, I believe, I should and can remove this thorn. This is not likely to be a fast victory, though, because I need to leave enough force behind to stop likely Chinese counterattacks from the north.

In the southern China, a major Chinese force races to relieve Pucheng before my reinforcements arrive. Exactly as planned, say I! While my attempt to take Pucheng on cheap has failed, I noticed, that Japanese aviation was quite effective in merely rough terrain, at least with good recon. Effective enough to cause disruption that was noted in the combat report in just one day. Therefore Pucheng is a far better place to fight the decisive battle for Southern China than Chuhsien or Wenchow, positioned at the forest. As we just retook Foochow as soon will have a line of communications from the coast, my forces aren't going to be cut off. Also, it is a city hex, so even without my armor sitting on the roads in Chinese rear (which it does, to also serve as a tripwire for any new offensives), Chinese should be supply-starved there.

If we win at Pucheng, then weakly-held Chuhsien and Wenchow will be overtaken soon enough. While initially I launched offensive actions in southern China merely to prevent Chinese for doing whatever they want (i.e., eliminating my scattered garrizons), at the moment this battle became much more strategically important. By winning it, Japanese will destroy alot of Chinese AV, thus contributing to the long-term goal of attriting their army, and free a significant amount of infantry, including garrizons at places like Hangchow (that will become deep rear, suited to garrizoning with Chinese puppet troops) for operations elsewhere.

[FatR]

Punishment from the Heavens for Evil Surface Raiders

On February 13th Yubari tried to sent CL Phoenix and some DDs to raid Kurile waters. Unfortunately for him, someone on Allied side had blundered, and the raiding taskforce ended it its movement for 14th one hex from Paramushiro, where I, after the previous northern waters raid, placed a small units of Mabels, as well as Mavises on sea attack. Japanese planes sortied and Mabels hit Phoenix with 2 250-kg bombs, causing heavy fires. I didn't really hope that she will go down just from that, unless my planes manage another attack on the next day, which they didn't, but sinking noises and Seagulls recorded as destroyed on ground verified, that we can scratch one modern CL from USN list. In all likelyhood, the Allied TF tried to run for the hills at full speed and this aggravated the damage taken from the air attack. Amusingly, the intelligence reported that the ship sunk was CL Leander.

This is the first major USN loss outside of Pearl Harbor, and a quite timely one. These "light" 15x152 USN crusers are among the best Allied surface units in 1942.
The less of them we'll meet around Hawaii, the better.

Also, I'm noticing that Yubari, perhaps, uses moving TF full speed too much. While this was, as far as he told me, the factor that allowed for his surprise raids, my subs spotted his warships sailing in damaged state a few times, and in the naval battle of Kwajalein even Aliied ships undamaged by shore batteries were smoking. This probably contributed to the likely loss of two modern USN DDs there.



The Battle of Pucheng Continues

The Chinese horde tried to unseat my besieging forces on February 15, but while aviation failed to cause truly major damage to Chinese due to bad weather, my reinforcements arrived in time to repel the attack.


Singapore Disappointment and Japanese Movements

Allied managed to rebuid the forts there to 3 and even with 40th Brigade the new Japanese assault ended in serious defeat. I'm hauling the artillery park of 14th Army to Mersing, to provide some necessary punsh for the Yamashita's army. Thankfully, we don't need to resolve this siege quicky anymore.

Meanwhile, 21st Division and 65th Brigade approach weakly-defended western end of Java, elements of 16th Division are preparing to reunite at Cagayan, and 38th plus 48th Divisions just have loaded for Truk, which will serve as the jump-off point for their move to Hawaii. Some fast transports and escorts are returning from DEI to Tokyo, to pick up a regiment released from Manchukuo for Midway (its preparation level is nearly 80). Combined Fleet is at Truk, but will need at least a week, more likely 10 days, to repair accumulated system damage on the key ships.

[LoBaron]

How could I miss this AAR? Great presentation, very good thoughts, and really a good read!
 
I like the monthly hero unit award. [;)]
Keep that up please.
 
Good luck in your war!

[LoBaron]

Btw: You got one significant point about altitude bands (like to leave that out of another post....^^)
 
Its not the band where performance is best for the plane but the band where the performance delta is most favourable that counts.

[FatR]

Aircraft/Engines Production Plans

It's not the end of the month yet, but let's outline my long-term air production plans now, so I'll have a reference for myself. My current aircraft production looks like this:



If I had a chance to redo everyhing, I would have kept Ki-30 as IJAAF's light bomber (better range, plus strictly superior bombload - a single 250-kg GP bomb has better effect and accuracy than four 50-kg GP bombs combined, never mind penetration), and produced some Ki-21-Ic to alleviate the demand for Mitshubishi Ha-32 engine. While building Mitshubishi Ha-5s instead of Ha-31s (the stock of the latter is enough to sustain Ki-46-II production until it is replaced with Ki-46-III, and the only other plane I produce that uses Ha-31 is Ki-51). But what's done is done.

[FatR]

And Engines Production:

Do note, that I'm ramping up the production of Nakajima Ha-34s already.

[FatR]

Land Bomber Program

As you can see from above, Mitshubishi Ha-32 remains and will remain a bottleneck. I'm alternating between producting Emilies and Betties, and make the latter at the moment to prepare for imminent losses at Hawaii. Thankfully, neither of these types suffered heavy losses past the first week of the war, because I'm cautions with my naval aviation - unlike IJAAF pilots, who only have high GrdB skill (and it is easy to improve in the process of bombing the enemy at the moment), Navy pilots have at least NavB, NavT and GrdB at decent levels, and therefore they are far more valuably.

Returning to the production plans, I do not intend to increase Ha-32s production to fully keep up with the demand, as this will put an undue strain to my economy when I will be forced to reconvert plants later. Instead, I plan to convert the smallest Sally plant (24/month) to Ki-49-Ia when the latter becomes available. While it is somewhat worse than Ki-21-IIa, for bombing Chinese it will do just fine, and will need a stock of them for ASW purposes later in the war, when they get MAD (the only IJAAF level bombers to get any detection devices). That will leave me with 350 Ha-32s per month and 364 required per month, so if I just shut off the small 6/month secondary facility for Emilies (or convert it to make Babses for the time being, if losses in IJN recon units will become too high), the production of engines will be able to keep up).

When Ki-49-IIa becomes available, I'll convert one of 36/month Sally facilities to it, thus allowing the engines to stockpile for the production of mid-war plane types, that use Ha-32, such as E15K and N1K1. Late in the war the massive Ha-32 factory potential will be useful as well, fueling production of Betty and Francis modifications that appear in 1944, as well as Jills. The third and final Sally facility will be converted to either Ki-49 or Ki-67-Ia (T), if the latter is sufficiently advanced, sometime in late 1943-early 1944, unless my opponent manages to muster enough airforce in China before that to make a concept of "China bomber" obsolete. I do not intend to ever repurpose my existing Ha-32 facilities (as a result, the production of Yasukuni - IJN's Ki-67 - will get the axe).

The production of Ki-49s (I'll shot for around 100/month once IIa model becomes available) will be fueled by their own huge Nakajima Ha-34 plant. I won't ever need to convert it, so one enormous factory will suffice. And I don't intend to convert it because I plan to use Ki-49-IIa and IIb throughout the entire war. Compared to Ki-67 they have less range, less guns and less speed, but better payload and better service rating. Ability to carry 4 250-kg bombs instead of 3 might matter quite a lot, considering, that the bombload on these planes in cut in half when flying skipbombing missions and that, AFAIK, the game allows you to make the attack roll against an enemy ship once per bomb.

I'll build Ki-67-Ia(T), though, because I have a dream of the fleet of torpedo-carrying IJAAF planes. It has great stats compared to Betties or early Francises, too. In fact, I'm investing a lot into researching this plane. In this mod Ia(T) just upgrades to IIa without losing the ability to use torpedos, so I won't need to forbid its factories from upgrading.

Ki-51 will remain in production for the entire war at 40/month, to serve as an advanced trainer for IJAAF, if nothing else. Navy will build its usual single-engine carrier planes. The only major foreseeable problem there lies in the fact that B6N1 uses really rare Nakajima Ha-44 engine. I'll probably convert a few small engine research plants to it temporarily, so that they can be easily reconverted to whatever is needed later. One small (15-20/month) plant will be left to produce Ha-44s after B6N1 is phased out, in hope that Japan survives long enough to deploy Ki-94-II.