Pauk's corner: sake break for Japanese fanboys

[Sneer]

i train my pilots to 75
it takes too long with 75-80 zone and often high ops can keep you too long in training mode

[Nemo121]

Hmm, I think it would be better to just decline combat on the periphery and train your pilots to 80% ( preferably 90%+). After all when you commit 70% Exp pilots you tend to lose the battle anyway so why not just decline to fight, lose this battle but 1 month down the road, when the next battle arises, you can comit 80 to 85% Exp pilots and actually stand a chance of checking the Allies.

Remember, operational art is not only the art of accepting favourable battle. It is also the art of declining unfavourable battle.

[Sneer]

you loose many pilots to ops losses - even at good conditions at short range and without enemy
so if you loose 1-2 pilots you need to spend 2-3 weeks  to cover this when whole sqn is at 80
it is economicaly justified to go 75 -80 but not higher - diminishing returns are too high

[Nemo121]

I just put all training squadrons on "Accept no replacements" and then send them into combat when they hit 80%+. Currently my main training base is boasting an average attrition of less than 3% and boasts slightly over 600 pilots with more than 80% experience. Of course that is skewed a little by the fact that most of my units there didn't start with 25% experience but started with 45 to 50% experience.
 
If they go to a subsidiary area I just add in untrained pilots once they arrive ( so a 33 pilot bomber daitai might get 3 x 30% experience pilots once it arrives). These untrained pilots absorb most of the AAA losses and the core of my force remains relatively unscathed. If committed to a main theatre where the 30% pilots won't survive long enough to do anything the unit is left untopped-up and is pulled back and rebuilt when its losses reach 50% plus.
 
I may well be doing things in an inefficient way though of course. It is working fairly well for me so far with most of my bomber and fighter squadrons maintaining experience levels greater than 80% at all times even in the face of extremely heavy losses ( something on the order of 600 planes per month for the first 6 months of combat... of course the Allies are losing more heavily... about 1,000 planes per month for the first 6 months). When the operational tempo lessens I expect to be able to field a lot of 90+ Experience fighter and bomber squadrons within a very short space of time.

[pauk]

hi guys, both of you have valid points, but everything will depend on situation. I have no many training grounds/camps available... so i guess it is better to have 100 75 exp pilots than 30 in the 80s.

In the late 1942 and start of the 1943 there is no opportunities like you've described Nemo,....[:)]



AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/30/42

I've tried to harras enemy fighters in Burma, but Navy LBA are just laughable when it comes to "ground bombings"...

Night Air attack on Myitkyina , at 36,28

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 20

Aircraft Attacking:
20 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 6000 feet


Using advantage of Allied defeat in the skies over Chungking. I will not send unescorted bombers for to much longer...

Day Air attack on Kunming , at 39,33

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49 Helen x 24

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49 Helen: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

Allied ground losses:
21 casualties reported

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 13

several heavy airstrikes on Chungking, but there wasn't anything left to destroy...

Day Air attack on Chungking , at 43,32

Japanese aircraft
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 36
Ki-21 Sally x 26
Ki-49 Helen x 60

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 1 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 1 damaged

Allied ground losses:
124 casualties reported

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 101
---------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Chungking , at 43,32

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 46
Ki-21 Sally x 54
Ki-49 Helen x 48
Ki-46-II Dinah x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 1 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 2 damaged


Allied ground losses:
71 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 50
-----------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Chungking , at 43,32

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21 Sally x 82

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 5 damaged


Allied ground losses:
118 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 77
------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Chungking , at 43,32

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27
Ki-21 Sally x 97
Ki-49 Helen x 63
Ki-46-II Dinah x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 1 damaged

Allied ground losses:
86 casualties reported

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 101

One chinese unit tried shock attack on my division at Chungking-Yunan road... but it was too much for them. Several enemy units approaching from Chengtu and will arrive on time to reinforce blocking force in the hex north of Chungking.

Ground combat at 41,32

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 6418 troops, 25 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 165

Defending force 22673 troops, 238 guns, 8 vehicles, Assault Value = 453

Allied max assault: 326 - adjusted assault: 14

Japanese max defense: 326 - adjusted defense: 263

Allied assault odds: 0 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
22 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Allied ground losses:
620 casualties reported
Guns lost 3


PROPAGANDA WARFARE

Here is what Andy and me said to each other. You decide if all of it is a truth[;)]

ANDY: (day one of the Chungking massacre)

Hehehe Attritional Battles I am willing to fight .....bring it on !!!!

PAUK:

finally you are willing to fight... i accept the challenge, but you will
run out of the China!

ANDY:

I am not the one dodging the fight where were you at Myktinia or Tarawa,
Narau or Perth only at Akyab did you fight back so 1 out of 5 attacks not
that great a record.

If you seriously expect me to fight you on your terms with inadequate resources and inferior equipment you are crazy.

Look at China I cannot compete with 200 top line fighters my P40B, P40E, P38, and Spitfire pools are all empty after a mere two days and you still have 300 ish operational fighters in theatre.

I will wait bide my time and bushwack another training school in the future

PAUK:

hehehe,

you have sense for humor: Only lunatic would fight at Mykitinia, level 2 AF
with several big Allied AFs nearby and 500 air monsters....

As for Tarawa i couldn't fight there because i haven't got any troops there.
You caught me unprepared (well done) When i brought several divisions to Truk you already
had 40.000 there...

Narau, common, who needs this useless island? I don't sacrify my pilots for
nothing (you can afford yourself to loose hundreds of bombers just to drain my KB crack pilots) while your carriers are in the safety. Japanese did mistake in RL when they assigned KB air groups for ground targets (Midway).

Sorry but i'm aint so stupid:)

Perth... hehehe... another dead trap....only the lunatic would do that....

Actually it seems that you are underestimating Allies capatibility and
overestimated Japan ones. I saw several AARs where Allies re-captured Lunga, PM or establish strong foothold in SRA (Northern Guinea) or succesfully invaded Malaya/Burma.
Or you just overestimated me as a player:)?

Hm, your pools are empty? (this goes to the propaganda warfare, i think. I
could check losses and allied fighters rate to confirm that)

I wouldn't have enough fighters if you forced me to bleed in attrition
battles during last 7 months. Lots of Army fighters are trained to the crack level (80+) and my IJA AF isn't even decimated. It is pay off - you turned to Sir Robin, Japan have enough time to train his air crew.

I'm looking forward for next bushwack in the China... this time i would be
prepared and you will loose not only 250 planes:))))

ANDY: (last post)

Not over estimating the Japanese I know the risk I would be running now I have been
in this position before and have went for it.

If I attack outside of LBA now with only Wildcats for cover I will lose carriers that will put my min attacks back to 44 that is unnacceptable. I am well ahead of schedule at present and the only thing that worries me is your pilot training and I have plans to deal with that...

Allies in 42 or early 43 can only attack in 1 of two ways

1. If they have surprise and guarantee no IJN involvement for 4 - 5 days
(i.e. as per Tarawa I only attacked when I knew where KB was)

2. If they are within LBA range of P38's on LRCAP at minimum

Anything else is suicide Wildcats v Zeroes is a waste of time for the allies
and why compromise a mid - late 43 offensive by taking crippling carrier
losses when there is no need.

IRL the allies lost 2 carriers around Lunga against a cut down IJN Fleet
post Midway after they had attacked with surprise.

Why take that risk ?

PAUK (last response):

i understand.... i'm pretty patient guy, i can wait:)

[Nemo121]

[:D] There may be if your planning from 7th December 1941 made sure there would be. I may be wrong but I am pretty sure that I will be able to maintain a minimum of 10 allied units within 2 hexes ( most within 1 hex) of large airfields in India, China, DEI and Pacific for training purposes.
 
Of course this is only possible if both China and India are knocked out of the war and Australia kept somewhat neutered so I do accept the general point you are making that it is extremely difficult to continue such training as time goes by.
 
I think that the overall situation is that your opponent must be having fits of frustration at the moment . You are putting up a very spirited, finely judged and skilful fight.

[pauk]

[:D], Actually i planned that in PI and DEI. PI bases are almost evacuated (i can do nothing about that since new ASW routine introduced), while i have one unit in DEI which Andy cant pick up because it is inland. I have one camp in China 2 hexes from Ichang but if Andy tries to deblocade unit he will probably succed....

thanks for encouragment and kind words... i'm only a humble Emperor's servant who sometimes listening to advices (thanks Sneer, Nemo and last but not the least PzB)...[:)]



AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/31/42


Air attack on Yunan with 50 bombers, 35 Tojos guarded them. Chungking was attacked with 110 bombers and 23 Tonies.

I've sent Chijoda and Chitose to Osaka and they gone for convertion - but they will come in 330 days[&:]. I've looked in manual and it says 180 days for them and 330 for Ise and Hyuga[&:]...

does anyone know the truth?

Jack enters into production, 394 is too much, i will convert some of them to Zekes (based on PzB experience)....

One more question - do i need to start Oscar II production - waiting for 12 sentais of oscars (one of them is 77th Ftr Sentai which already exists from the first day of the war!?

will they autoconvert or i must have 36 O IIs in the pool?

EDIT

forgot to mention that Andy told Mr. Churchill to sort off, again. This was paid with 2600 PP (BB+ 2 DD) and Mr. Churchill awards him with another withdrawl. But to be honest i must admit that old good Churchy was merciful this time: only CLAA and two DDs are required [:D]

[PzB74]

Me thinks you're doing a great job as defender of Empire Pauk [;)]
Good work in China, you've gained air superiority for another 3-4 months..until Corsairs arrive in numbers.
Then your training camps will be in trouble. So try to place some of your best units in reserve for a rainy day.

The first 6 months of 1943 is still a time for you to take the war to the enemy - if you want to that is!
I felt that it was first after May/June 43 that it became truly difficult to lauch successful offensives.

My defensive efforts have been hurt by the neutralization of the KB for a while, but it forced me to learn
how to defend without it. This is something which will become inveitable by 44-45.
Andy WILL sniff out the weak spots in your defensive line and inch his way forward by brute force.
One thing: look after your minelayers! While msw's are plentyfull I'm running out of their cousins...[:(]

I'm producing some 250 Oscar IIs pr month, and I'm constantly in low supply [;)]
They're falling out of the skies like ripe fruit! The lack of long range escorts will become a major pain when
the A6M2 is phased out.

[Sneer]

tony is range 6 ....

[PzB74]

Not in my game, 2 - max 3 [8|]
Still, max range of 6, same as the Zeke, is insufficient when you got naval bombers that can
carry torpedoes 11-15 hexes. It's crucial to hit the enemy from bases that are out of enemy heavy/P38 range.

[Sneer]

looks like older zero family planes have their value in 44

[String]

ORIGINAL: Sneer

looks like older zero family planes have their value in 44

Nah, its more useful to upgrade them to zekes and let the Oscar II (with 10 hex range) to do the dieing.

They all die the same vs. corsairs anyway

[Ursa MAior]

pauk-sama

(Sama is the more respectful version of san.) And of course this applies to Sneer, PZB and other IJn gurus as well.

Could you tell me (even in PM) how to imrpove Japan's factories (planes, engines, naval shpyards), I mean what to improve small or big factories/shipyards, repair shipyards do they worth it, converting mrchant to military or vice versa, ship production, researching planes etc.).

THX in advance.

[Sneer]

you have no other choice as to improve Nakajimas to sth like 800-900 at the end of42
than fighters production
zeros to sth like 200
oscars to 100-150
some armament would be ok too
during first 6months no HI improvement
remember that many of industries you capture will be damaged and oil+res have priority
all depends on your current and estimated supply situation
if you plan to keep tempo with offensive you are always limited
repair shipyard are nice but it is always bonus investment - so it is last on the list
you may want to accelerate carriers by increasing naval production
building outright industry is one idea - but too costly one
second - if you don't have merchant shipping losses high - converting some of merchant shipyard / i have 845 merchant and 1520 naval /
if you decide to improve HI improve smaller ones rather and if you feel safe  - improve HI in china  (no points for allied for its destroying)
in historical variant there is little room to improve HI as any new centers lower your reserves and sooner or later you will loose access to oil
in moderate variant like whole china  and part of OZ/India  i think that 15.5-16 k is enough - it will keep your oil in reserve untouched but resources will fall slowly
 
as far as planes - after zeros and oscars - you will see and know - just not too much at once
and always every turn look what happens to your pools
 

[pauk]

ORIGINAL: Ursa MAior

pauk-sama

I think that i like Pauk-sama[:D]... no problem i will answer here because i want that community see how smart guy I am[:D]

Depends if you play with PDU or PDU off. I'm playing with PDU so here is what i'm doing:

1. expanding nakajima engines. Latter expanding Mitsubishi and Kawasaki. Aichi will be expanded as well (but i need them for Judy so it isn't priority). I'm looking at the engines as the money in the bank - so if you have enough supply do not hestiate to expand them to 1000 engines each (but not at once!). You will need them, trust me... generally speaking it's better to expand several minor factories than one big (if you expand 3 small factories you will get 3 engines more instead 1 for one big fac expanded)... but keep an eye on supply level!

2. I've decided to research Jack - expected allied air terror in the late 42 and 43... it is better fighter than Zeke which comes 6 months latter. But, keep in mind that Zekes have one advantage - they are replacement planes for your CV Zeros!... rd isn't crucial, but i wanted to see how it works and with 400 rd points i get only 2 months - you decide if this cost of supply worth (400.000 supply).

3.expanding naval shipyards, IMO, is must at the start of the game. If you want to get your ships earlier you will have to expand shipyards as much as possible. But keep in mind that naval shipyards are huge consument of HI! I always stop Shinano and RO class subs at the start of the game and accelerate Taiho and 3 Unryus (those CVs which consumes 68 NS points - if it is ship accelerated it consumes 3x68 points, i believe)

4. As Sneer pointed, welcomed bonus. But rather than that, convert merch. ships to the AR ships at the start of the game. I currently have Singapore, Hiroshima, Maizaru, Osaka, Tokyo and Truk with 4 ARs in the each base. Two more are in Shangai and couple more arrives. At the start of the game i suggest converting 16 AR (and accelerating them). Keep an eye on merch. ship. points to make sure if you have enough points to accelerate ships (that goes for naval shipyard points too).

5. converting merch shipyards - only small ones and not all of them (better to convert few smaller shipyards than one big shyards (same as engines).

6. expanding HI - 2500 Oil is enough 15 000 HI. I'm slowly expanding HI because i have 2 800 oil. But keep an eye on resouces as well.

7. watch your overall supply situation. i have 2.7 million and this isn't perfect, but can live with that. You can expand your industry even if you fall below 2 million but only if you are 100 % sure that you will capture lots additional of resource centers (1 resource center provides 1 supply in the base) - like northern Aus or India....

PZB

you are righ. We are playing with PDU and i will get what i asked for. Thats why Konichiwa go was approved - but i messed (see picture below).

Andy constantly repeats, i will wait for the Hellcats. I will have Tahio in the middle of the february so i could penetrate deep in his lines. The question is where - he done good job of covering his area... do you have a cunning plan?[;)]

EDIT: i'm catious with my MLs. using them for mining Marshalls area, Solomons, southern NG and Burma/Malaya... i just hoping that they arent torpedo magnets from allied subs

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/04/43

Andy gets tired of type 88 mines....i need to place them in less obvious places.


TF 1038 encounters mine field at Tarawa (85,91)

Allied Ships
MSW Lockeport
MSW Igonish
MSW Vireo
MSW Turkey
MSW Swallow
MSW Pursuit
MSW Latrobe

INDIA/BURMA

Traffic in India waters increasing. Two Zero daitais ordered to escort my LBAs but no outstanding results there. I'm dissapointed with LBA performance too - they are 75+...

Day Air attack on TF, near Diamond Harbor at 28,23

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 54
G4M1 Betty x 29

Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 1
P-40B Tomahawk x 20

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 12 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed, 14 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane II: 1 destroyed
P-40B Tomahawk: 7 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Van Galen, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Isaac Sweers
DD Tjerk Hiddes, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage

5 ships reported in DH... Andy's moves could mean that he will try something in Burma....

Ghost unit defeats Chinese... I messed there too. Forgot to send units on Burma road (via Lashio) earlier and cant be sure that Burma road is still closed (only one hex between Myitkina and Yunan is AJ owned)...


Ground combat at 37,30

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 988 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 29

Defending force 724 troops, 7 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0

Allied max assault: 48 - adjusted assault: 2

Japanese max defense: 13 - adjusted defense: 5

Allied assault odds: 0 to 1


Allied ground losses:
8 casualties reported

CHINA





Mess. my units are encircled but i do have a plan (no need to panicking!). Rescuing forces sent but it will take a month till arrives on Chengtu-Chungking road.

Andy currently have 7 or 8 units (these are "lumberjacks" from north) so they should be fatigued and understrenghted. He left only two units at Chengtu. When i offered him a house rule "no Chungking and Chengtu" attack (he asked only for Chungking) i didn't think that he would exploit that and left Chengtu without proper garnison knowing i can't attack him. Yes, he offer me a counter-favoure "no 4E bombers in China, no attacking japanese bases in China" but i doubt that 4E bombers would have enough supply and air support in China...

But to be honest i must admit that he honours my gracious [:D] offer for China house rules and allowed me one div from CAA that could be sent in the Burma without paying PP. Also, he didn't attack my AFs in China so i could concentrate on offensive missions (although i think he just fears attack me because every time when he done that he got serious spanking).
right now i won't complain because in this situation i wish i have weak enemy that i can rescue my troops....

[Honda]

ORIGINAL: pauk
Jack enters into production, 394 is too much, i will convert some of them to Zekes (based on PzB experience)....

One more question - do i need to start Oscar II production - waiting for 12 sentais of oscars (one of them is 77th Ftr Sentai which already exists from the first day of the war!?
will they autoconvert or i must have 36 O IIs in the pool?

Good for Jacks, keep them like that for a month or two or three and then swich to George r&d! It's almost a Hellcat. It will be your main navy land based figher till the end of the war. Don't put them on CVs. It would be gamey. Like puting Hellcats or Corsairs on CVEs. And Zeke's will be just left for KB purposes so no need to expand their production. You'll even be able to switch some production away from them.

Oscars...I suggest you form a few units, keep production of some 100 a month. The point is they are your only long-range escort later on when you deplete the A6M2/3a pools. Yes, that makes them cannon fodder, but everything about them spells cannon fodder so they are clearly the best candidates for the job. No need to train them also. Exp 90 or 20, all the same in the end.

[PzB74]

I don't think George's and Jack's function on carriers...they can be loaded and unloaded, but not operated like Corsairs!
Yep, Oscars are just as good (pathetic) as A6M2s in 43-44 [8|] I sent in 80 as bomber escorts a few days ago and all fell out of the skies
without shooting down a single enemy plane. All the bombers were also chased off [:D]

I produce 280 Oscars pr month and have to consider increasing it. In fact I'm increasing ac production at such a high rate that it's
impossible to produce enough engines to create a large reserve. Almost 3000 ac produced pr month now.

Plan a carrier strike into his flank Pauk! Cut of his troop/supply convoys for a while and sink as many as possible.
'The slot' between the Marshalls and the Solomons is my favorite - lots of enemy life blood streams between PH and New Zealand.
Before you do this, send a couple of cv's into the Pacific between PH and the US West Coast. That will make Andy feel safe 'on the other side' [:D]

[Ursa MAior]

THX guys.

One more thing which naval yards are worth expanding? Small ones, big ones or does not matter?

[Sneer]

smaller industry is more convinient 

[Ursa MAior]

You mean expanding smaller naval yards, since they are less likely to get bombarded by 4e LBAs later, but still contribute the same amount to shipbuilding?