Defeating the Devil !!! ( aka Damian )

[Nemo121]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/19/42

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Naval bombardment of Ponape [Nanyo], at 73,80

Japanese Ships
DD Kiji
DD Namikaze
DD Yunagi
DD Hayate
DD Inazuma
DD Kawakaze
DD Harusame
DD Shigure
DD Shiratsuyu
CL Tatsuta
CL Kitakami
CL Abukuma
CL Isuzu
CL Jintsu
CL Sendai
CA Furutaka
CA Kinugasa
CA Haguro
CA Chokai
CA Takao
CA Tone
BB Hiei
BB Haruna


Allied ground losses:
137 casualties reported
Guns lost 5
Vehicles lost 4

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 11
Port hits 9
Port supply hits 8

That's pretty much all of the CAs the IJN has left. Good, a big naval committment here means weaker naval committments elsewhere. I can definitely take advantage of this in the near future.

This was a really nicely planned move though as these BBs etc ended the turn back in the same hex as his CVs. Given the rather random nature of retreats from bombardment it was a good piece of planning to do this. He's really learning to cover all his bases.

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Coastal Guns at Jaluit [Nanyo], 82,88, firing at TF 1111
TF 1111 troops unloading over beach at Jaluit [Nanyo], 82,88


19 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
AP Waipawa, Shell hits 3, on fire


Allied ground losses:
139 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

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Coastal Guns at Jaluit [Nanyo], 82,88, firing at TF 1111
TF 1111 troops unloading over beach at Jaluit [Nanyo], 82,88


66 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
PC Navajo, Shell hits 4, on fire
AP Wahine, Shell hits 6


Allied ground losses:
91 casualties reported

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ASW attack at 68,81

Japanese Ships
DD Kiji
DD Namikaze
DD Yunagi
DD Hayate
DD Inazuma
DD Kawakaze
DD Harusame
DD Shigure
DD Shiratsuyu
CL Jintsu
CA Chokai

Allied Ships
SS S-34, hits 3, heavy damage

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Day Air attack on Okha [Sakhalin I] , at 76,27


Allied aircraft
IL-2 Shturmovik x 105
LaGG-3 x 19
MiG-3 x 17

Allied aircraft losses
IL-2 Shturmovik: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Airbase hits 10
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 88

I'm keeping Okha closed and, as a bonus, wasting its supplies. It may take a while but if the opportunity presents itself Okha could make a good base for my bombers... It'd be expensive to take but in the end stages of the war everything I try to do will be expensive so no reason not to do it.

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Day Air attack on Peking [Cent China] , at 54,29

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 9

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 39

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 8 damaged

Heavy Industry hits 5

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Day Air attack on Pucheng [Cent China] , at 49,40

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 15
Ki-32 Mary x 12
Ki-15II Babs x 2

Allied aircraft
P-51B Mustang XP x 6
P-38G Lightning x 2
Hurricane IIc x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zeke: 7 destroyed
Ki-32 Mary: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-51B Mustang XP: 1 damaged
Hurricane IIc: 1 destroyed

I won't be here tomorrow as I expect the enemy will mount a major fighter sweep by then. In the meantime I'll bring my P-51s, Hurri IIs and P-38s into action along the Marshalls/Palau axis.

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Day Air attack on Pucheng [Cent China] , at 49,40

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44III Tojo x 7
G4M1 Betty x 68
Ki-43-II Oscar x 4
Ki-32 Mary x 30
Ki-48-II Lily x 27

Allied aircraft
P-51B Mustang XP x 3
P-38G Lightning x 1
Hurricane IIc x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 3 destroyed
Ki-43-II Oscar: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIc: 6 destroyed

Allied ground losses:
4 casualties reported

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 49

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Day Air attack on Pucheng [Cent China] , at 49,40

Japanese aircraft
B5N2 Kate x 21
Ki-21-II Sally x 9

Allied aircraft
P-51B Mustang XP x 3
P-38G Lightning x 1
Hurricane IIc x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 2 destroyed
Ki-21-II Sally: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIc: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 2

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Day Air attack on Tarakan [Borneo] , at 34,60

Allied aircraft
Pe-2 x 100

Allied aircraft losses
Pe-2: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
4 casualties reported

Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 70

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Day Air attack on Makassar [Celebes] , at 30,70

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
TBM-1 Avenger x 69

Japanese aircraft losses
L2D2 Tabby: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
TBM-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
40 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 46

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Day Air attack on Morotai [NEI] , at 43,68

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49 -I Helen x 15

No Japanese losses

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Day Air attack on Cagayan [Mndno] , at 43,59

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 11
Ki-48-II Lily x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
6 casualties reported

Runway hits 3

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Day Air attack on Taytay [Palawan] , at 40,54

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 11
Ki-48-II Lily x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-II Lily: 1 destroyed

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Day Air attack on Eniwetok [Nanyo] , at 77,78

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 58
Ki-264 Angel x 83

Allied aircraft
P-51B Mustang XP x 3
Mosquito NF x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 3 destroyed
Ki-264 Angel: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-51B Mustang XP: 2 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed
PBY-5 Catalina: 4 destroyed
Catalina: 1 destroyed
Pe-2: 1 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
Seafire II: 2 destroyed

Allied ground losses:
17 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 168

*sigh, these KI-264s are really paying their way. They are devastating, don't require any tactical nicety and are attrition-friendly.

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Day Air attack on Wake Island [USA] , at 85,72


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 72


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
4 casualties reported

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 65

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Day Air attack on Wake Island [USA] , at 85,72


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 19


No Allied losses

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 13

Keeping Wake suppressed.

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Day Air attack on IJA Chishima Fortress, at 82,33


Allied aircraft
P-35A Hawk x 15


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
14 casualties reported

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Day Air attack on IJA Kiungshan Fortress, at 39,41


Allied aircraft
B-26A Marauder x 14
Lancer x 3


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
6 casualties reported

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Day Air attack on IJA 10th Mountain Gun Regiment, at 39,41


Allied aircraft
B-26A Marauder x 24
Lancer x 2


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
9 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

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Day Air attack on JAAF 11th AirSect HQ Engineer Aviation Battalion, at 41,75


Allied aircraft
Wirraway CA-1 x 6


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
4 casualties reported

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Day Air attack on IJN Kure 3&5 CSNLF Brigade, at 76,27


Allied aircraft
LaGG-3 x 9
MiG-3 x 21


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
28 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

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Day Air attack on IJN Jaliut Naval Stn Battalion, at 82,88


Allied aircraft
A-20B Boston x 9
B-24D Liberator x 9
B-25D Mitchell x 9
Beaufort VII x 5
SBD-3 Dauntless x 23


Allied aircraft losses
B-25D Mitchell: 1 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
45 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Vehicles lost 1

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Day Air attack on ROC 78th Field Army , at 50,40

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 2
Ki-32 Mary x 5
Ki-48-II Lily x 12

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
4 casualties reported

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Day Air attack on TF, near Lautem [Port Timor] at 33,77

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 12
Ki-43-II Oscar x 15
Ki-49 -I Helen x 7

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Sloet van de Beele, Bomb hits 1
AK Van Heemskerck

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Sub attack at 39,60

Allied Ships
SS O19


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Ground combat at Skovorodino [SIB]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 25170 troops, 555 guns, 494 vehicles, Assault Value = 2850

Defending force 66628 troops, 1040 guns, 33 vehicles, Assault Value = 1817



Allied ground losses:
16 casualties reported
Guns lost 2


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Ground combat at Kwajalein [Nanyo]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 4357 troops, 44 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 104

Defending force 72728 troops, 2369 guns, 1033 vehicles, Assault Value = 1198



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Ground combat at Jaluit [Nanyo]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 952 troops, 13 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 1

Defending force 1810 troops, 69 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 52



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Ground combat at Skovorodino [SIB]

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 49598 troops, 920 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1817

Defending force 136127 troops, 1834 guns, 823 vehicles, Assault Value = 2850


Japanese ground losses:
8 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


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Ground combat at Bankha [Sumatra]

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1738 troops, 26 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 78

Defending force 5571 troops, 1 guns, 5 vehicles, Assault Value = 178



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Ground combat at 25,44

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 4981 troops, 72 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 179

Defending force 7449 troops, 35 guns, 8 vehicles, Assault Value = 202



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Ground combat at 32,36

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 3599 troops, 172 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 95

Defending force 2942 troops, 0 guns, 47 vehicles, Assault Value = 28


Japanese ground losses:
4 casualties reported


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Ground combat at Jaluit [Nanyo]

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 1810 troops, 69 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 52

Defending force 952 troops, 13 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 1

Allied max assault: 106 - adjusted assault: 102

Japanese max defense: 0 - adjusted defense: 2

Allied assault odds: 51 to 1 (fort level 2)

Allied forces CAPTURE Jaluit [Nanyo] base !!!

Japanese aircraft
no flights

No Japanese losses

Japanese ground losses:
686 casualties reported
Guns lost 7


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Ground combat at Ulithi [Nanyo]

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 21 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2

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

Allied max assault: 0 - adjusted assault: 2

Japanese max defense: 0 - adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Ulithi [Nanyo] base !!!

A nice paradrop into an unguarded base along his inner perimeter. I'm going to feed troops in using floatplanes and once I have a division or so there it should be pretty safe ( as it is an atoll ).

Tomorrow my main force begins loading for the invasion of Truk... I'm also goading Damian into attacking Kwajalein. I'll let him do so, it'll cause massive losses and he'll be happy and in so doing he'll find he's out of position to stop the invasion of Truk ---- which is my next focus point.

[BJStone]

Hello Sir!

While waiting for AE to come out I thought I'd look at your mod. Wow!

I have a few questions regarding ASM rounds and 24" Torpedos that some of the Japanese air units sport.

I assume hitting with a torpedo is based on a pilot's skill but I'm not sure what the chance of a hit with an ASM round is. Could you share your observations please?

Also, is the damage relatively the same between the two?

I've also noticed that the Marlina and a few other LB have 6 engines while the graphics at least appear to be 4E aircraft. Are you working on some graphics for some of the Japanes air units?


Regards,

BJ

[Nemo121]

Hi BJStone,
 
1. Torpedoes: Yes, the algorithm for calculating hit% for 24" torpedoes is the exact same as for other air-launched torpedoes.
 
2. ASMs ( or  PGMs in the game's parlance ) are calculated basically as more accurate bombs. The accuracy is a function of crew experience and altitude as well as munition-specific factors ( all munitions are rated for their own accuracy ). So, essentially, a plane dropping 250Kg bombs might be more likely to hit with them at a given range than if it were dropping 500 Kg bombs ( which have slightly lower munition-specific accuracy ). It should be noted though that the primary determinants of whether or not a bomb hits are crew experience and altitude.
 
So, I modelled PGMs by modifying the weapon data itself and then comparing several thousand attacks with the best data available for German success with those munitions. I assume that the IJN's version is an early version of the German technology and thus made it only 1/2 as effective as the mature technology. Due to the effect of altitude the "rules" associated with the Ki-264 B stipulate that it not be used at lower than 20,000 feet. This is because the hit% is calibrated to be what I wish it to be at 20,000 feet. If you go lower then the hit % gets higher than is desirable.
 
So, overall the hit % is quite low for the HS-293 BUT when it does hit a single hit will render any US CV hors de combat and seriously damage any BB.... So it is a very good weapon for Japan in 1944 as the bombers don't have to go to low altitude and take massive FlAK losses but can, instead, fly up at 20,000 feet relatively free from FlAK and still get good kills on anything the Allies have.
 
 
Damage:
No, the damage is most definitely not the same between the two. The HS-293 PGM is capable of penetrating deck armour of any CV out there and if it does so ( which it should ) a single hit should suffice to stop flight operations. It will not, however, result in significant flooding. So, a single hit or even two hits should see a very heavily damaged CV but the CV should survive.
 
The G9M's torpedo, on the other hand, will cause very significant flooding. So there's a higher chance of the ship hit sinking in the short term but in the long term 1 to 2 torpedo hits are less likely to result in severe damage than 2 x PGM hits. Why? Because of the way damage is handled in-game and the effect of belt armour on warhead attenuation.
 
 
Personally I'd rather hit ships with G9Ms as I'd prefer fewer sinkings and increased delivery platform survivability BUT from the introduction of proximity fuses on US AAA shells I think that the Ki-264 B is probably the more survivable platform and thus more likely to survive multiple sorties and actually provide more hits and damage per HI expended.
 
So, you have a dichotomy between efficiency and effectiveness with the balance shifting over time and measured against HI investment. That's the nature of this mod for the Japanese. Better weapons allow more effective HI utilisation and utilising the limited HI you have is utterly crucial to long-term survival. Right now, in this game, Damian is running on the ragged edge and by opening this front I expect to push his losses beyond the level that his pilot and airframe production programmes can cope with. As a result I expect his air force to collapse in 4 months time ( by the end of April his air force should be impotent in a strategic sense --- albeit the 360 pilots he gets per month will allow it to remain tactically and operationally viable even then ).
 
 
Marlina and the Ki-264 series have 6 engines NOT because they actually would have them in real life but as a means of showing the difficulty the Japanese would have in creating such a large 4-engined bomber at this time in their technical development. It makes this bomber 50% more expensive than similar late-war 4-engined bombers as it is reasonable to assume that, in reality, each Ki-264 would have required a LOT of extra effort, certainly more than 3 times as much as the G4M- Each G4M costs 72 HI, each Ki-264 costs 216 HI.
 
So, to build 1 Ki-264 per day requires 1.2 times the daily investment as building a Shinano class CV. As you can see these Ki-264s are massively expensive but, IMO, having 365 Ki-264s built in a year and doing that for the 3 years of war before Shinano would be available is a hell of a lot more useful than Shinano in mid-44. With this mod though you get to make the choices. You can have lots of subs, lots of BBs and CAs, lots of CLAAs, lots of DDs optimised for ASW and SC TFs, lots of fighters or strategic bombers OR you can have a strong army. If you are really good and plan things perfectly you can have 4 of the above, most players will only ever get 3. Pick the right 3 and you'll stay competitive into 44 and 45. Pick the wrong 3 and you'll ruin your economy and be battered into submission early.
 
It is, to a large extent, an economic mod.
 
 
 

[Capt. Harlock]

With this mod though you get to make the choices. You can have lots of subs, lots of BBs and CAs, lots of CLAAs, lots of DDs optimised for ASW and SC TFs, lots of fighters or strategic bombers OR you can have a strong army. If you are really good and plan things perfectly you can have 4 of the above, most players will only ever get 3. Pick the right 3 and you'll stay competitive into 44 and 45. Pick the wrong 3 and you'll ruin your economy and be battered into submission early.

And of course, you can't be completely certain which are the right 3, because you can't be certain what kind of game your opponent will play. (Assuming you're not going against the AI.) Sounds like a pretty realistic dilemma.

[Nemo121]

Well, the whole point of good strategy is that there's no such thing as the right three. There's simply something which works for you and something which doesn't.
 
In addition to the whole issue of whether you choose the right three there's also the issue of the phasing of your airpower. E.g. In this game Damian chose to develop his airpower to a great extent early in the game. Since auto-upgrades are very limited in this mod by investing so heavily in these early planes ( A6M2, Ki-109, Ki-48 II ) he committed a LOT of supplies to dead-ends. His gamble was that he would win such victories that he would gain all the supplies he needed to retool his factories in the first half of 1943 to make the planes he needed to stay competitive throughout 1943.
 
In my game vs Hartwig I have taken a very different approach, limiting my development of early-war fighters ( Ki-109, Ki-44 II, A6M2 etc ) and twin-engined bombers in order to be able to focus more heavily on strategic bombers and 1943-generation fighters. In other words I went for a strategic bomber force and only sufficient fighters to support limited offensives in 1942 as the cost of that decision.
 
Personally I think the best mix is a focus on CVs, CLAAs in 1942, the IJA throughout and a delayed build-up of the IJAAF and IJNAF in 1943. In return for this I have given up on the submarine fleet and the surface combat capability of my fleet. I couldn't have everything so I decided to be strong enough to withstand the Allied riposte in 1943 and gamble that operational acumen would gain me the victories in 1942 that others will win by front-loading their production ( at the cost of sacrificing their ability to mass-produce in 1943 ).
 
 
Also, I think that if the Japanese player chooses wisely he can shape the battlefield such that even when he doesn't have the initiative the fight will still be the type of fight he has designed his force to fight and win... of course the Allied player can be dynamic and shape his offensive to avoid that sort of fight ( e.g. How I am avoiding Damian's CVs since, quite frankly, they would simply crush my fleet if they ever met ) but I question how many will do so --- even though it is indicated.

[BJStone]

Hi Nemo121,

Thanks for the explaination regarding my last post. I could see myself spending a lot of time counting 'beans' in this mod. [:D]

I don't suppose you have a write-up of this mod with call outs to some of the new items you have in here such as your CLAAs and those bombers? I looked in your google site where you have the game files posted for a write-up but did not see anything there.

I'll try to start from the beginning of this AAR and look for any insights you have regarding the mod. If you've already posted a write-up somewhere could you share the link?


Regards,

BJ

[Nemo121]

BJ,
 
Well, I think getting the logistics right would definitely help in-game. With that said though I think that a bean counter is not going to do well in this mod as there focus will be at too low a level and thus while they'll maximise their output from what they do they'll end up doing the wrong combination of things. This mod is all about giving the player as much choice as possible, irrespective of whether or not those choices are good choices. In effect I give players a lot of opportunity to play out the rope but there are many hidden pitfalls just perfect for turning that rope into a noose which chokes them to death.

Some of these pitfalls are pretty obvious ( over-expand and have too much capacity and what you actually build will be less than if you hadn't expanded at all ) while others are much, much more subtle --- such as the Ki-45 Ia... When it appears it requires 72 planes to outfit 2 big sentai which appear within a week. Since you can only produce it for about 2 weeks prior to this you need production of at least 150 planes per month to get those sentai at full force - or 75 if you only want one sentai at full force.... BUT are the "free pilots" you get by doing this worth the 450,000 tons of supplies you are spending on this plane? Might it be better to accept that you lose those pilots but only gradually build to the full force total?
 
So, there's lots of stuff which looks simple and obvious and like a great idea BUT when actually tried you'll find that it doesn't work as well as it should. Sometimes this is due to you perhaps not using the planes optimally but more often it is because you fell into one of the traps liberally scattered about.
 
To highlight all of these traps would really take the fun out of finding and avoiding them though...
 
 
As to the CLAAs etc... Hmm, if you look for my posts you should find a couple of AARs which use my mod which I posted to. GBL's AAR is one I posted to explaining various bits and pieces.
 
If you have any questions you can ask me here. I'm fine with answering anything here --- although sometimes I might be a tad obfuscatory and opaque in order to not do all of the work for the player . I think you'll enjoy outwitting a trap more if you find it for yourself and then work your way around it yourself.

[BJStone]

Hi Nemo121,

Are there other 'rules' like the 20k rule for dropping ASMs in this mod that one should follow?

I've seen a lot of 'house rules' used by players. Do you have recommendations for this mod?


Regards,

BJ

[Nemo121]

BJ,

Aye, the rules are as follows:
 
1. Unless the Germans attack the Soviets on December 7th then the Soviets should stay on the defensive until probably 1st July 1942. Soviet units can redeploy within their own borders of course.
 
2. No Soviet offensive missions from Soviet inland airfields ( a game bug prevents the Germans bombing them in return ).
 
3. NO aerial mining ( a game bug prevents them being intercepted ).
 
4. NO port attacks by the G9M ( that bigger torpedo would just bury itself in the dirt ).
 
5. NO auto-victory. The Japanese should be able to achieve auto-victory by the end of 1942 in this game ( in my game vs 2ndACR/Hartwig I think I am 50,000 points vs 10,000 points and pretty much guaranteed a big win at the end of 1943 if we were allowing for that.
 
6. NO Ki-264Bs below 20,000 feet.
 
 
That's it. Apart from that use as many PTs in a group or 4-engined bombers for naval attack as you want. Its all fair game.
 
Basically the idea behind the mod is to give freedom of action and allow require rules to fix game bugs or things which can't be allowed for within a mod.
 
 
Today saw massive aerial losses. I lost about 440 planes ( mostly Lancers, P-40Es and obsolete bombers ) in return for about 140 Ki-44 IIIs, Ki-43 IIs and Ki-109s. Since these allied planes are now almost useless I figure I might as well get use out of them while I can. These units will be rebuilt and back in action by the end of January replete with F6Fs and Corsairs.
 
The F6Fs won't be a match for the Ki-44 IIIs but they will help me whittle them down and I should be able to convert a few USAAF units to Corsairs which will help immeasurably as well.
 
In the meantime I plan to withdraw all my bombers for R&R in India and Java and set one last fighter trap... Damian's current response to this attack will be to bomb my airbases with Ki-264s. So, I'll leave 1 or 2 airbases with shedloads of fighters instead of bombers and then we'll see how he likes running into a fighter trap.
 
In other news I'm giving serious consideration to just punching north unexpectedly now in spite of my inferior fighters etc... I'm not sure it is worth it though as in 1 month's time I'll have so many more capable fighters. It kills me to sit still and let the Japanese recover though. Absolutely kills me.
 

[ny59giants]

In other news I'm giving serious consideration to just punching north unexpectedly now in spite of my inferior fighters etc... I'm not sure it is worth it though as in 1 month's time I'll have so many more capable fighters. It kills me to sit still and let the Japanese recover though. Absolutely kills me.

[Nemo121]

I know, I know... Head says sit still and upgrade, heart says "Rip his head off and feed him to the sharks".
 
I know he is too strong for this though, but maybe subterfuge will get me there?

[BJStone]

ORIGINAL: Nemo121

BJ,

Aye, the rules are as follows:

1. Unless the Germans attack the Soviets on December 7th then the Soviets should stay on the defensive until probably 1st July 1942. Soviet units can redeploy within their own borders of course.

2. No Soviet offensive missions from Soviet inland airfields ( a game bug prevents the Germans bombing them in return ).

3. NO aerial mining ( a game bug prevents them being intercepted ).

4. NO port attacks by the G9M ( that bigger torpedo would just bury itself in the dirt ).

5. NO auto-victory. The Japanese should be able to achieve auto-victory by the end of 1942 in this game ( in my game vs 2ndACR/Hartwig I think I am 50,000 points vs 10,000 points and pretty much guaranteed a big win at the end of 1943 if we were allowing for that.

6. NO Ki-264Bs below 20,000 feet.


That's it. Apart from that use as many PTs in a group or 4-engined bombers for naval attack as you want. Its all fair game.

Basically the idea behind the mod is to give freedom of action and allow require rules to fix game bugs or things which can't be allowed for within a mod.

I think I understand all but #1... I can understand No Soviet Union, Soviet start on day 1, or even Soviet starts if X happens. What is the significance of the 1 July 1942 date?

[floydg]

ORIGINAL: BJStone

ORIGINAL: Nemo121

BJ,

Aye, the rules are as follows:

1. Unless the Germans attack the Soviets on December 7th then the Soviets should stay on the defensive until probably 1st July 1942. Soviet units can redeploy within their own borders of course.

2. No Soviet offensive missions from Soviet inland airfields ( a game bug prevents the Germans bombing them in return ).

3. NO aerial mining ( a game bug prevents them being intercepted ).

4. NO port attacks by the G9M ( that bigger torpedo would just bury itself in the dirt ).

5. NO auto-victory. The Japanese should be able to achieve auto-victory by the end of 1942 in this game ( in my game vs 2ndACR/Hartwig I think I am 50,000 points vs 10,000 points and pretty much guaranteed a big win at the end of 1943 if we were allowing for that.

6. NO Ki-264Bs below 20,000 feet.


That's it. Apart from that use as many PTs in a group or 4-engined bombers for naval attack as you want. Its all fair game.

Basically the idea behind the mod is to give freedom of action and allow require rules to fix game bugs or things which can't be allowed for within a mod.

I think I understand all but #1... I can understand No Soviet Union, Soviet start on day 1, or even Soviet starts if X happens. What is the significance of the 1 July 1942 date?

I'm guessing you should replace "Germans" with "Japanese"... [;)]
And after you do that, I suspect it's a balance issue.

[Nemo121]

*chuckle* Aye Floyd... Definitely replace Germans with Japanese
 
As to why July 1st 1942... Purely a suggestion for balance. Notwithstanding this players are free to decide on whatever suits them. This is a sandbox mod not a set of immutable laws.

[floydg]

ORIGINAL: Nemo121
*chuckle* Aye Floyd... Definitely replace Germans with Japanese

You were just inches away from one of the more famous lines from the movie Animal House.
(http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077975/quotes towards the top).

[Nemo121]

Well, last turn I took Jolo with an AP convoy ( Damian seems to think it was an FT TF but it comprised ordinary APs and AKs - fast ones but still nothing but APs and AKs ).

Today he ripostes --- but does so in an expected manner....

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/29/42

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Jolo [Jolo] at 39,59

Japanese Ships
LCM AG-1721A
LCM AG-1724A
LCM AG-1725A
LCM AG-1726A
LSD Mayasan Maru, Shell hits 30, on fire
LSM SS 12
LCM AG-1751N
LCM AG-1755N
LCM AG-1717A

Allied Ships
MSW Toowoomba
MSW Whyalla, Shell hits 3
MSW Burnie
MSW Jan van Amstel

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Okha [Sakhalin I] , at 76,27


Allied aircraft
IL-2 Shturmovik x 28
LaGG-3 x 9
Yak-1 x 9


Allied aircraft losses
IL-2 Shturmovik: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

Runway hits 22

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Pucheng [Cent China] , at 49,40

Japanese aircraft
D3A2 Val x 5

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
4 casualties reported

Runway hits 4


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Pucheng [Cent China] , at 49,40

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 6
A6M2-N Rufe-FF x 6
Ki-32 Mary x 9

No Japanese losses

Runway hits 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Pucheng [Cent China] , at 49,40

Japanese aircraft
B5N2 Kate x 17

No Japanese losses

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 7

Lots of Japanese training going on.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Hong Kong [UK] , at 43,42


Allied aircraft
A-20B Boston x 69
B-17E Fortress x 9
B-26A Marauder x 11
Blenheim IV x 19
IL-4C x 14
SB-2M x 6


Allied aircraft losses
B-26A Marauder: 1 damaged
IL-4C: 1 damaged

Resources hits 6

HI and Resource hits on Hong Kong. I want to be sure of starving the IJA out of Canton.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Hong Kong [UK] , at 43,42


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 6
B-24D Liberator x 143
Wellington IC x 86


Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 3 damaged

Heavy Industry hits 71

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Jesselton [BrNBno] , at 35,56

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 7
Ki-48-II Lily x 50

Allied aircraft
P-51B Mustang XP x 3
P-38G Lightning x 3
P-39D Airacobra x 10
P-40B Tomahawk x 9
P-40E Warhawk x 3
Mosquito NF x 3
Beaufighter VIF-NF x 4
Kittyhawk I x 13
Lancer x 29
Spitfire VB x 15
Wirraway CA-1 x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zeke: 7 destroyed
Ki-48-II Lily: 36 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38G Lightning: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
P-40B Tomahawk: 2 damaged
Mosquito NF: 1 damaged
Beaufighter VIF-NF: 2 damaged
Kittyhawk I: 6 damaged
Lancer: 4 damaged
Spitfire VB: 1 destroyed, 8 damaged

In the end only a single Ki-48 II got through. I think this mostly shows the utter difference between Ki-44 IIIs and A6M2s. The Ki-44 IIIs utterly dominate while the A6M2s are meat on the table.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Jesselton [BrNBno] , at 35,56

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-II Lily x 33

Allied aircraft
P-51B Mustang XP x 3
P-38G Lightning x 2
P-39D Airacobra x 10
P-40B Tomahawk x 9
P-40E Warhawk x 3
Mosquito NF x 3
Beaufighter VIF-NF x 4
Kittyhawk I x 13
Lancer x 29
Spitfire VB x 14
Wirraway CA-1 x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-II Lily: 15 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40B Tomahawk: 1 damaged
Lancer: 1 damaged
Spitfire VB: 1 damaged

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Makassar [Celebes] , at 30,70


Allied aircraft
Beaufort VII x 52


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
4 casualties reported

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 37

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Morotai [NEI] , at 43,68

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49 -I Helen x 16

No Japanese losses

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Cagayan [Mndno] , at 43,59

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44III Tojo x 15
Ki-48-II Lily x 6

No Japanese losses

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 6

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Roxas [Panay] , at 43,55

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 16

No Japanese losses

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 5

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Taytay [Palawan] , at 40,54

Japanese aircraft
Ki-32 Mary x 27
Ki-21-II Sally x 41

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-32 Mary: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-21-II Sally: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 8 destroyed

Allied ground losses:
9 casualties reported

Runway hits 34

Hmm, 48 fighters on CAP but none flew. *sigh* C'est la vie.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Taytay [Palawan] , at 40,54

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 33

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 3 destroyed

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 6

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Jolo [Jolo] , at 39,59

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-II Sally x 4

No Japanese losses

Runway hits 3

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Etorofu [Japan] , at 76,36


Allied aircraft
IL-2 Shturmovik x 53


Allied aircraft losses
IL-2 Shturmovik: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
30 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 15

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Ponape [Nanyo] , at 73,80

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49 -I Helen x 12

No Japanese losses

Runway hits 6

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Ponape [Nanyo] , at 73,80

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 29

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 5 damaged

Runway hits 15

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Ponape [Nanyo] , at 73,80

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 33

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 16

In about a week's time I expect to be able to send my CVs to stand 5 hexes or so from Ponape and launch a nice surprise LRCAP mission to catch many of these bombers. In the meantime Damian will be allowed to keep the airbase here suppressed.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Wake Island [USA] , at 85,72


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 12
B-24D Liberator x 3


Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged

Runway hits 10

Keeping Wake closed as I have a spare CV transiting at high speed carrying 5 squadrons of fighters into Kwajalein to help my CVs replenish their fighter defence.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on IJN Kure 5th SNLF, at 76,27


Allied aircraft
MiG-3 x 25


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
5 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on ROC 21st Field Army , at 49,40

Japanese aircraft
Ki-15II Babs x 1

No Japanese losses

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 25,65

Japanese aircraft
B5N2 Kate x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
AK Matang, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 38,58

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44III Tojo x 6
B5N2 Kate x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 3 damaged

Allied Ships
MSW Jan van Amstel
MSW Burnie
MSW Toowoomba
MSW Whyalla, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 38,58

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 8
B5N2 Kate x 15

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
MSW Jan van Amstel, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Whyalla, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 36,56

Japanese aircraft
B5N2 Kate x 20

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 3 destroyed, 6 damaged

Allied Ships
AK Exceller, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
DD Iroquois, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP Manunda
AP President Adams, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage


Allied ground losses:
14 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

At Jolo my APs and AKs pay the price necessary for the success of the ground troops.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 36,56

Japanese aircraft
B5N2 Kate x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied Ships
APD Whipple
AP President Polk, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Allied ground losses:
13 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Jesselton [BrNBno] at 35,56

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 18
Ki-44III Tojo x 10
D3A2 Val x 18
B5N2 Kate x 34

Allied aircraft
P-51B Mustang XP x 3
P-38G Lightning x 2
P-39D Airacobra x 10
P-40B Tomahawk x 9
P-40E Warhawk x 3
Mosquito NF x 3
Beaufighter VIF-NF x 4
Kittyhawk I x 13
Lancer x 29
Spitfire VB x 14
Wirraway CA-1 x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zeke: 8 destroyed
Ki-44III Tojo: 2 destroyed
D3A2 Val: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 6 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 3 destroyed
P-40B Tomahawk: 7 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed
Mosquito NF: 2 destroyed
Beaufighter VIF-NF: 3 destroyed
Kittyhawk I: 1 destroyed
Lancer: 11 destroyed
Spitfire VB: 4 destroyed
Wirraway CA-1: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
AK Malda, Torpedo hits 1
AK Empire Ortolan, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Demodocus, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

The 10 x Ki-44 IIIs made a massive difference to this raid. Still, over the course of the next month they'll begin running into F6Fs and Corsairs instead of P-40Bs and Es and that's a whole new kettle of fish.


Allied ground losses:
54 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 25,65

Japanese aircraft
B5N2 Kate x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
AK Ban Ho Guan

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 36,56

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 16
Ki-44III Tojo x 9
D3A2 Val x 14
B5N2 Kate x 35

Allied aircraft
Lancer x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zeke: 1 destroyed
D3A2 Val: 1 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Lancer: 2 destroyed

Allied Ships
AP Varsova, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Iroquois, on fire, heavy damage
APD Alden
AP Aorangi, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
APD Pope
AK Exceller, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Chitral, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
APD Parrott
AP President Adams, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage


Allied ground losses:
66 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 39,60

Japanese Ships
LCVP AG-1436A, Shell hits 1, on fire

Allied Ships
SS O19


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Skovorodino [SIB]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 26012 troops, 559 guns, 494 vehicles, Assault Value = 2851

Defending force 83566 troops, 1220 guns, 435 vehicles, Assault Value = 2396



Allied ground losses:
11 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Kwajalein [Nanyo]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 4481 troops, 45 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 104

Defending force 63531 troops, 2219 guns, 950 vehicles, Assault Value = 1127



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Skovorodino [SIB]

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 49509 troops, 922 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2395

Defending force 136982 troops, 1838 guns, 824 vehicles, Assault Value = 2851


Japanese ground losses:
11 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Bankha [Sumatra]

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1805 troops, 27 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 82

Defending force 5758 troops, 2 guns, 5 vehicles, Assault Value = 182



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 25,44

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 4981 troops, 72 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 179

Defending force 7199 troops, 34 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 190



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 32,36

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 3613 troops, 175 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 95

Defending force 2418 troops, 0 guns, 35 vehicles, Assault Value = 18


In the meantime my CVs are retreating to Kwajalein and will refuel, replenish and begin changing their fighter groups over to F6Fs and Corsairs. It'll take at least 3 weeks for this to be accomplished. Once it is I think I'll go for another deep strike... I have my targets already chosen and I think they'll come as a surprise to Damian and most people reading.

[ny59giants]

Your using the tactic of surprise?!?
 
What a novel concept for you.

[Nemo121]

hehe. Well, most of the time I think I pretty much telegraph my moves by chatting about them with my opponent - my view is that any good plan should have so many possible options that even if the enemy knows about them all they can't actually defend against them all --- plus, obviously, in knowing about them all one may actually sow the seeds whereby one defeats them using the option chosen. etc etc, yada yada yada

[Alfred]

ORIGINAL: Nemo121

hehe. Well, most of the time I think I pretty much telegraph my moves by chatting about them with my opponent - my view is that any good plan should have so many possible options that even if the enemy knows about them all they can't actually defend against them all --- plus, obviously, in knowing about them all one may actually sow the seeds whereby one defeats them using the option chosen. etc etc, yada yada yada

True, up to a point. A lot depends on the calibre of the opponent. I daresay that with some opponents, the odds of accurate high level intel assessment from them is such that too much "loose talk" is counter productive.

Not all good plans have many possible options. Personally I suspect that when your good plans have limited options regarding implementation, discussion from your end is considerably more circumspect.

Alfred

[Nemo121]

Well even if the good plan doesn't have many options there are other possible plans which the enemy could fear. I have no problem with mentioning possible plans I amn't intending to follow to mislead when the plan I am following has little flexibility.
 
In addition the best players are prone to double-think and over-think. So sometimes giving a bit too much information can still work out. It has to be finely judged though.