Bombur(J) vs. AdmSpruance(A) : Nik Mod 9.1 GC

[racndoc]

Bombur and I are just starting a new campaign game with the Nik Mod 9.1(Scenario 41). Settings will be as follows:

2 day turns
Historical first turn on
Advanced weather off
Auto sub ops off
Japanese sub doc off
Allied sub doc off
FoW on
Allied Damage Control on
PDUs off
Stock Map(AB maps not available for this scenario yet)

HOUSE RULES:

No sub borne invasions
Invasions and paradroops only allowed at base/dot hexes
ASW TFs max of 6 ships
Aircraft stacking limited to 50x airfield size

Ive never played 2 day turns before and have not played the Nik Mods(other than CHS) so this should be a new experience. Bombur on the other hand has played several 2 day turn scenarios and is something of an expert on the various Nik Mods so I will defer to his commentary on this current Nik 9.1 versus the previous Nik Mods.

I will try to compare and contrast Nik 9.1 versus CHS 2.08 and stock scenario 15.


SET UP COMPARISONS


ALLIED HEAVY BOMBER AVAILABILITY:

B-17/LB-30 production was scaled back from 95/mo in Stock Scn 15 to 16/mo in CHS(plus 10 A-29s/mo) but with the initial pool of 60+ B-17s/LB-30s in CHS and full strength reinforcement bomber groups the Allies can put 150+ 4E bombers into the SRA by late Dec. 1941. In the Nik Mod B-17/LB-30 production is scaled back to 21/mo with no initial pools and the new bomber groups arriving on the west coast are only at partial strength. I will be fortunate to have even 50 operational 4E bombers in the SRA by New Years 1942.


ANTI-AIRCRAFT ARTILLERY:

I found that the AAA in CHS 2.08 Nik Mod was almost a gamebreaker as the base/eng units retreated down the Malayan peninsula to Singapore upgraded and filled out to max TOE with all the available supply creating a "super flak trap" there. This also occurred to a more limited extent in Java, Sumatra and Luzon. In this Nik Mod the base/eng units in the SRA/PI/Malaya do not upgrade or take on replacements until 2/42.
In addition, Nik reduced the AA firepower in 9.1 by recalibrating all the AA weapons.


AIRCRAFT PRODUCTION:

In 5.0, Nik greatly reduced Allied replacement rates for mid war aircraft as with the advent of PDUs, the Allies could convert all their airgroups to the best available planes such as P-38s or B-24s. In 8.0, Nik tweaked Japanese aircraft production to "limit the alleged over capability of Japan player to build large #s of advanced airframes (and first generation aircraft)".

With both players having their aircraft production capabilities scaled back we decided to leave PDUs off.


FORTIFICATIONS:

In 8.0 Nik removed the fort levels in Rabaul,Malaya, Sumatra, Borneo, Java and the parts of the PI to "better represent" Allied unpreparedness and also to facilitate a more historical timetable for Japanese expansion. Since this could be affected by abuse of the first turn movement rule we decided to go with a historical first turn.


ASW:

In 9.1 Nik reduced the lethality of early war depth charge attacks in deep water for both sides.


A2A COMBAT:

Will be discussed as the AAR proceeds.

[racndoc]

12/7-12/8/41


CENTPAC:

The Japanese surprise attack at Pearl Harbor inflicts only moderate damage on Battleship Row. The USN losses are DD Ralph Talbot in port and an AK just offshore. KB in turn suffers minimal losses in aircraft....only 5 A6M2s, 4 Kates and 3 Vals are lost over Oahu.

Overall, the Japanese surprise attacks on airfields at Oahu, Clark and Singapore result in 168 Allied AC destroyed on the ground. The Allies have lost 214 AC altogether vs 24 Japanese AC.....fairly light aircraft losses for the first 2 days of the war.

Bombur gets a couple of bad die rolls for his assault at Wake Island and the valiant 1st USMC CD Battalion is on the verge of pushing the 51st Naval Guards back into the sea.


MALAYA:

Japanese assault troops unload for the last 2 days at Khota Bharu. SS KXII puts a fish in DD Arashio.

RAF Hudsons score a hit on DD Arashio and leave it burning and heavily damaged. A single bomb from a Blenheim bounces off BB Kongo.


PI:

Japan captures Batan and lands at Aparri, Vigan and Legaspi. SS S-39 sinks an AK with a torpedo off Legaspi.

B-17s score a lucky hit on CS Chitose and leave it afire.


CBI:

Bombur gets a couple of good die rolls on his assault at Hong Kong and reduces the fortifications from lvl6 to lvl1.


Here is a screenshot of the carnage at Pearl Harbor:

[racndoc]

12/9-12/10/41


CENTPAC:

KB withdraws off to the west and Pearl Harbor is able to begin rebuilding.

A Japanese assault TF captures Makin so CA Pensacola is ordered to hit the transports there on 12/11.

Guam is captured and MSW Penguin is scuttled to avoid capture.

The Marines at Wake Island mop up the remnants of the 51st Naval Guards:
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51st Naval Guard Unit Wiped Out at Wake Island by attrition!!!



PI:

B-17s score a bomb hit on an AP off Legaspi.

A Philippino division is rushed into Legaspi to prevent its capture.

43 P-40Es based at Manila were placed on LRCAP over Clark to evaluate the A2A combat in this mod but evidently Bombur was resting his air force in Takao or poor weather intervened so there was no combat. The P-40s are ordered to remain on LRCAP over Clark tomorrow.

The Allies begin "Operation Swoop and Scoop"....AKs are sent to bases throughout the PI to pick up supplies for transport to Manila.


CHINA:

Hong Kong repels IJA assaults on consecutive days.

Bombur appears to be massing his troops on the road to Yenen....nearby Chinese LCUs are ordered to reinforce here.


MALAYA:

Bombur sends the IJAAF and his bombardment TFs to hit the Allied airfields at Khota Bharu and Kuantan but all the Allied aircraft in Malaya were staged to Singapore and Georgetown and consequently no aircraft were destroyed on the ground. Surprisingly no Japanese LRCAP is flown over Khota Bharu or Singora. The entire RAF was placed on naval and port attacks and the Japanese invasion forces were hit hard.

Blenheims and Hudsons scored bomb hits on DD Amagiri, a MSW and an AK. The Vildebeests torpedoed an AK and put 3 fish in BB Haruna:

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Day Air attack on TF, near Khota Bharu at 24,45


Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 2
Vildebeest IV x 9
Blenheim I x 3
Hudson I x 8


Allied aircraft losses
Vildebeest IV: 1 destroyed, 7 damaged
Blenheim I: 1 damaged
Hudson I: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo
CA Atago
BB Haruna, Torpedo hits 1


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Day Air attack on TF, near Khota Bharu at 24,45


Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 2
Vildebeest IV x 2


Allied aircraft losses
Vildebeest IV: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Even the Blenheim IFs draw blood with a port attack on Kompong Trach:

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Day Air attack on Kompong Trach , at 29,44


Allied aircraft
Blenheim IF x 12


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Hokusho Maru, Bomb hits 1
AP Iburi Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Port supply hits 2


DD Arashio, hit hard by Allied air yesterday, sinks in the South China Sea.

[racndoc]

12/11-12/12/41


PHILIPPINES:

Bombur and I finally have our first big A2A combat of the war with modern aircraft. A major raid from Takao is intercepted by the P-40Es on LRCAP over Clark Field. The outnumbered, inexperienced P-40E drivers are no match for the IJN's best pilots:

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Day Air attack on Clark Field , at 43,51

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 44
G3M Nell x 36
G4M1 Betty x 27

Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 24

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged
G3M Nell: 3 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 9 destroyed, 6 damaged
B-17C Fortress: 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
65 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 17


The Japanese come back and hit Clark the next day with less bloody results:

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Day Air attack on Clark Field , at 43,51

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 43
G4M1 Betty x 49
Ki-46-II Dinah x 5

Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 19

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 5 damaged
Ki-46-II Dinah: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged
P-35A: 1 destroyed
P-40B Tomahawk: 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
91 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Airbase hits 4
Runway hits 42

Evidently the fatigue from the first day's battle was a factor in the relative performances in the 2nd day's battle. The P-40Es will be withdrawn to gain some experience and then they will test the A6M2s again. Im going to get the AVG into combat in the next few days to see how experienced pilots do against each other.

Japan captures Vigan and Aparri.


MALAYA:

The IJAAF turns its sights on the airfield at Georgetown but the RAF has mostly staged into Alor Star. Still, Bombur destroys 2 Wirraways and 3 Vildebeests on the ground.

The RAF continues to pound the the invasion fleets off Khota Bharu and Singora, scoring bomb hits on CL Kashii and an AP and a torpedo hit on CL Sendai:

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Day Air attack on TF, near Songkhia at 24,43

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 18

Allied aircraft
Swordfish x 3
Buffalo I x 10
Vildebeest IV x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 5 destroyed
Vildebeest IV: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Uranami
CL Sendai, Torpedo hits 1, on fire


The Buffaloes are no match for the experienced Oscar pilots.


Even the Blenheim IFs get into the action with a substantial port attack at Kompong Trach. In over 15 games of WitP this is the best result Ive seen for the Blenheim IFs in December 1941:

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Day Air attack on Kompong Trach , at 29,44


Allied aircraft
Blenheim IF x 10


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
TK Kaijo Maru #2, Bomb hits 1
AK Shinzui Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AK Hikosan Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AK Iwashiro Maru, Bomb hits 1

Port hits 1



CENTPAC:

I made a mistake in entering my orders for the CA Pensacola raid on Makin(I forgot to turn off the patrol order) so she was still sitting there when daylight came and suffered the full fury of a daitai of Nells:

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Day Air attack on TF, near Makin at 85,89

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 22

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 1 destroyed, 14 damaged

Allied Ships
CA Pensacola, Torpedo hits 5, on fire, heavy damage


CA Pensacola quickly sinks and becomes the first capital ship lost by the Allies.


COMMENTS:

Bombur told me that he feels as if the A2A is working better in v9.1 as opposed to v8.0 but that there are still some A2A imbalances. Not being very familiar with the Nik Mods Im not sure what these imbalances are but Im sure he will describe them as soon as he returns from vacation.

I have a screenshot here of the air losses so far. After 6 days of war Japan enjoys a 53:5 advantage in aircraft destroyed in A2A combat.

[Bombur]

Bombur sends the IJAAF and his bombardment TFs to hit the Allied airfields at Khota Bharu and Kuantan but all the Allied aircraft in Malaya were staged to Singapore and Georgetown and consequently no aircraft were destroyed on the ground. Surprisingly no Japanese LRCAP is flown over Khota Bharu or Singora. The entire RAF was placed on naval and port attacks and the Japanese invasion forces were hit hard.

Blenheims and Hudsons scored bomb hits on DD Amagiri, a MSW and an AK. The Vildebeests torpedoed an AK and put 3 fish in BB Haruna:

-Yes, the IJN suffered horrendous losses in the first days. Chitose was also heavily hit in the Philipinnes and I don´t know if she will survive. I didn´t put Oscars in LR-CAP because in the less bloody Nik A2A model the LR-CAP is almost useless (it is useful, however to cause op losses to your fighters. Spruance made a smart movement with RAF and he inflicted me a lot of damage. I´m trying to hit his airfields but he is rotating his aircraft.

[Nikademus]

can you post the specific plane losses?

thx

[racndoc]

12/15-12/16/41

Nik...here are the air to air losses so far after 8 days of war:

JAPAN:

5 A6M2s, 5 Oscars


ALLIES:

15 P-40Bs, 12 P-40Es, 12 Buffaloes, 9 P39As, 4 Mohawks, 3 P-35As, 2 Hudsons, 2 Vildebeests, 1 Blenheim IV.

Overall Japan enjoys a 65:10 advantage in A2A combat.

I tried my first offensive fighter mission of the war by ordering the AVG P-40s to sweep the Japanese airfield at Songkhia:

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Day Air attack on Songkhia , at 24,43

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 20

Allied aircraft
P-40B Tomahawk x 21

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 3 destroyed, 4 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40B Tomahawk: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged

Results were too bad on the first day for equal numbers of aircraft but fatigue was a factor in the next days sweep:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Songkhia , at 24,43

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 18

Allied aircraft
P-40B Tomahawk x 16

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
P-40B Tomahawk: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged

In most of the air battles involving fewer than 10 AC per side the usual results are a few damaged AC per side with very minimal A2A losses.

Here are all the aircraft losses so far:

[Bombur]

Oscars I vs P-40B´s are achieving a draw in the air. Estimates are 4x3 kills for the P-40B´s. Overall A2A kill rate is 6,5:1 for Japan, and some level bombers were shot down by Oscars. Buffaloes are losing to the Oscars at a kill rate close to 6:1. Result seems better than the four versions of your mod I´m still running C2C (1/11/42 for the 4 versions-lot of delays). Your v9.0 has 131 vs 6 A2A kills for Japan, the version with decreased dur for bombers (similar to your v9.1) has 69 vs. 6, the version with equalized guns and decreased dur for bombers has 154 vs 7, and the version with halved speed and mvr for all aircraft achieved 55 vs 11(at the cost of horrendous losses to AA fire).

[Nikademus]

thx...... The indiv battle ratios look pretty good for the time period. Good to see the Oscar preforming like a fighter aircraft.

[DuckofTindalos]

Instead of like an Origami swan that's been doused in gasoline, you mean?[:D]

[Nikademus]

ORIGINAL: Bombur

Oscars I vs P-40B´s are achieving a draw in the air. Estimates are 4x3 kills for the P-40B´s. Overall A2A kill rate is 6,5:1 for Japan, and some level bombers were shot down by Oscars. Buffaloes are losing to the Oscars at a kill rate close to 6:1. Result seems better than the four versions of your mod I´m still running C2C (1/11/42 for the 4 versions-lot of delays). Your v9.0 has 131 vs 6 A2A kills for Japan, the version with decreased dur for bombers (similar to your v9.1) has 69 vs. 6, the version with equalized guns and decreased dur for bombers has 154 vs 7, and the version with halved speed and mvr for all aircraft achieved 55 vs 11(at the cost of horrendous losses to AA fire).

Good....hopefully as the bell curve trends toward increased leathality as the game progresses the bombers won't start suffering too much. Mid-line tests using the [still!] upcoming Guadalcanal scenario [mid-late 42 period where most Allied fighters have their optimal firepower] show G4M's getting hammered by gun value 18 /high exp Wildcats and they are giving serious grief to the Zeros at long range as well.

Late war will further increase the lethality.....but i did leave the earlier version of the mod available for late war scenarios should the bloodiness factor inch too high in 43-44

[Nikademus]

ORIGINAL: Terminus

Instead of like an Origami swan that's been doused in gasoline, you mean?[:D]

indeed.