BACK IN BUSINESS - PzB goes East again(st) Andy Mac

[pat.casey]

Have to agree with cap_and_gown. Last time you fought his armor he had limited bases in the area and you had the KB there to hit him hard. Inland in australia your base situation is not so hot and his is pretty good. Assuming his bomber situation isn't terrible (which it might be but its tough to assume), I think it more likely he'll have air superiority than you.

[Mynok]

Sector 3 holds 3000 AV and is the strongest sector. If I get bypassed and outmanouvered it's possible to withdraw to the northern ports and evacuate.

To add to others' observations, you should really rethink this. I don't think you're retreat options are very good at all from this area. Darwin is your only safe exit point and as you already know, it is a long, long walk from this sector.

You do NOT want to strand 3000AV because he cut off your escape route with paras and 4E bombers.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: cap_and_gown

ORIGINAL: witpqs

I couldn't hazard one...

More likely refuse to on a public forum. [;)]

Right! Actually it depends on too many things that are hidden. What is he doing with air group training, base building, fortifications, replacements, how much is being airlifted in and on and on...

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: aprezto

It is extremely hard to capitalise on a Chinese victory unless it involves surrounding the Japanese forces, cutting off their supply and destroying them.

Good advice! [:D]

[aprezto]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

ORIGINAL: aprezto

It is extremely hard to capitalise on a Chinese victory unless it involves surrounding the Japanese forces, cutting off their supply and destroying them.

Good advice! [:D]

It appears I am learning from a master [;)]

[PzB74]

I'm well aware of this fact; Andy has only built Bundaberg to a size 7 af.
Charleville is a size 2 and the next sizeable base i Brisbane.

So I'm not worried about 4E bombers attacking from long range without escorts as of yet.
- Too few and undeveloped airfields.

In return we have 4 well developed fields to attack from; if it will be enough I don't know.
I have expanded ports in NE Oz and Townsville is a size 5 by now with extra capacity to the north.
So with enough ships I can embark a lot of troops rather quickly if we need to get out of Dodge.

I find this a somewhat risky but necessary strategy; just don't feel that we can give up Oz before Andy clearly
shows that he is rady and able to kick us out. Think about what the Jap mentality would be here in RL!-)

[bklooste]

Dont waste research on the George too few squadrons can use it

[janh]

I like this spirit. This AAR is one of the two most interesting since it focuses on the AUS theater so much (the other one was Seydlitz try with Russia -- I hope one day someone repeats that with the latest patch to see how it really would work). #

Andy's AUS strategy has many possible routes. If I were him, I would see two only real options: Retaking the eastern ports in the short term, and then, at the time when his CV air becomes unbearably superior, just bypass Darwin and isolating the Japs there till the end of war -- kind of using them there like a training ground. Option two would be keeping the situation as is, maybe staging some probing attacks and just binding strong Jap forces there until his fleet is strong enough to completely isolate them. Thereafter, cut them off from supply, and either attack them with economically small forces when they are starving, or even leave them there as cheap bombing targets pinned by weak holding forces are while his fleet begins unobstructed but fast island hopping through CentPac. However, both options require uncontested superiority on the water, and in the air.

An advance in the west seems to me hardly promising (what strategic benefits would he get for taking that risk?) and the center sector is more of a long term threat (jump-off base to the DEI) if you still have sufficient naval assets to simply evacuate the eastern ports in that case. What is your armor, and where is it placed in S2 and S3? What is its quality? Can it contest the M3 and M4s, or whatever the AUS and US armor and cavalry can field? How severe do you think would the strain on supply for an allied advance through S2 to Darwin be? Does the nick have anti-armor capability (like the ju87G with the external 3.7cm)?

[PzB74]

I actually think the high quality of the George and its ability to tangle with the best to be a good investment.
100 Crack fighters manned by 100 crack pilots will hurt enemy bomber and CAG groups trying to hit high value targets and main bases.

Hm, I've spent more time analyzing the situation in Oz, China and Burma. This is truly a difficult call.
- Since Townsville is surrounded by a very good railnetwork and is a size 5 port supported by further size 3 and 2 ports to the north the capacity to
load troops is actually higher than what is provided from Darwin.

Nice to have you join the discussion janh! Oz is interesting, it provides a new challenge.
I have no plans about leaving 5000 AV in Oz to whither on the wine, hopefully no more than 10% of this strength has to be sacrificed in order to win as much
time as possible (well into 43).

We have more than enough naval transports to pick up all our troops and the Combined Fleet still rules the waves.
Not convinced the Nicks are great tank busters and I got 78 of them in Burma leaving only 1 restricted formation in the HI's for training.
- It will be very difficult to defeat the immense Allied armored force in Oz, but we can hurt it and delay it.
Supplies is not an issue for Allies in Oz, fuel is as I understand it. When Zone 3 is lost of evacuated I will eventually have to pull
back from Alice Springs in order to avoid being cut off. When all Allied troops can converge on Zone 3 I will be forced to pull back towards Darwin.

Jap tanks are outclassed but my experience is that tank quality in WitP doesn't count for as much as it does in other wargames.
The Japanese armored force is divided as follows:

1 Tank regiment in the Home Islands will be dispatched to Christmas Island.
1 Tank Company is in Truk

Some tank units are left in China, but the bulk is in Burma and Oz.
- In Burma I have put together a tank corps compromised of 1 Tank division, 1 Tank Brigade, 3 Tank Regiments and 3 Tank Recon Regiments.

In Oz there are no tanks in Zone 1, all tanks are divided between Zone 2 and 3 as follows:

Zone 2:
3 Tank Regiments and 5 Tank Recon Regiments totalling 290 tanks (177 Medium Tanks Type 97, 80 Light Tanks Type 95 and 33 Tankettes.

Zone 3:
5 Tank Regiments and 2 Tank Recon Regiments totalling 336 tanks (2 Medium Tanks Type 1, 185 Medium Tanks type 95, 144 Light Tanks Type 95 and 5 Tankettes.
The core defenses in Zone 3 is the 2 full infantry divisions and 9 infantry regiments and brigades.

I will figure out the load cost of all Zone 3 units, add 30% and gather a fleet that can evacuate it when required.
Heavy cargo ships for the tanks, fast troop ships for the infantry and support units, fast naval transports for the rear guards and air transports for inland
and emergency evacs.

A skilled evacuation like those performed from Dunkirk, Sicily and Baltic states is an art in itself.


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Sep 08, 42

Air Combat

We give the Chinks lots of pepper but they eat the pain...

Morning Air attack on 4th Chinese/B Corps, at 80,53 (Hengyang)
Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 44 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 28
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 16
Ki-48-IIa Lily x 3
Ki-49-Ia Helen x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 damaged

Allied ground losses:
47 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Ki-49-Ia Helen bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
7 x Ki-49-Ia Helen bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
23 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
3 x Ki-48-IIa Lily bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 100 kg GP Bomb
5 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

Also attacking 4th Chinese/C Corps ...
Also attacking 4th Chinese/B Corps ...
Also attacking 4th Chinese/C Corps ...
Also attacking 4th Chinese/B Corps ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 4th Chinese/B Corps, at 80,53 (Hengyang)
Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 47 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 18
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 16
Ki-48-IIa Lily x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 5 damaged

Allied ground losses:
18 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
18 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
9 x Ki-48-IIa Lily bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 100 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 45th Chinese Corps, at 83,48 (Ichang)
Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-Ic Sally x 25
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 22

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
128 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
25 x Ki-21-Ic Sally bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
22 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 10000 feet *
Ground Attack: 2 x 100 kg GP Bomb

Also attacking 2nd Chinese Corps ...
Also attacking 75th Chinese Corps ...
Also attacking 87th Chinese Corps ...
Also attacking 45th Chinese Corps ...
Also attacking 2nd Chinese Corps ...
Also attacking 45th Chinese Corps ...
Also attacking 2nd Chinese Corps ...
Also attacking 75th Chinese Corps ...
Also attacking 45th Chinese Corps ...
Also attacking 2nd Chinese Corps ...
Also attacking 45th Chinese Corps ...
Also attacking 2nd Chinese Corps ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

Andy shock attacks again at Ichang and despite heavy losses achieve a 2-1 odds and reduce fort levels to 2!
- It's now seems very possible that he will be able to kick us out of this town. It's annoying but not very decisive.
Got a reserve Bde that can march into Ichang in 2 days.

Ground combat at Ichang (83,48)
Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 175 troops, 26 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 605
Defending force 57001 troops, 386 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1895

Allied ground losses:
10 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
34th Division
57th Infantry Brigade
51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion

Defending units:
18th Chinese/A Corps
68th Chinese Corps
32nd Chinese Corps
18th Chinese/B Corps
87th Chinese Corps
2nd Chinese Corps
75th Chinese Corps
67th Chinese Corps
45th Chinese Corps
18th Chinese/C Corps
26th Group Army
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Ichang (83,48)
Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 56094 troops, 386 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1894
Defending force 17888 troops, 168 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 605

Allied adjusted assault: 1254
Japanese adjusted defense: 472

Allied assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 4)
Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 2

Combat modifiers
Defender: experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-)

Japanese ground losses:
1515 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 111 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 76 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Vehicles lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
4113 casualties reported
Squads: 25 destroyed, 446 disabled
Non Combat: 10 destroyed, 278 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 20 disabled

Assaulting units:
87th Chinese Corps
32nd Chinese Corps
18th Chinese/B Corps
2nd Chinese Corps
75th Chinese Corps
68th Chinese Corps
67th Chinese Corps
45th Chinese Corps
18th Chinese/A Corps
18th Chinese/C Corps
26th Group Army

Defending units:
34th Division
57th Infantry Brigade
51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
------------------------------------------------------------

Australia

I have reviewed Allied bases in Zone 3.
- There are actually 6 bases (5 size 4 and up) in the area.

We got 4-5 bases that are developed, but these are further up the road.

[Mynok]

Well, Townsville sure does look like a Dunkirk. All that open land to the west is going to be dead meat in the face of his armor. Does not look like he will be too hard pressed to encircle Townsville.

Just remember that he can work up an airfield quite quickly if he puts a mind (and Seebees) to it. Best have that evacuation fleet docked and ready to load when his attack hits.

[janh]

It is very good to study the tactical and strategic situations, and have reaction plans to make sure you're not caught unaware.  But reacting to the enemy, you're unlikely going to win the battle.  Just recall the old Grant wisdom: "I am heartily tired of hearing what Lee is going to do. Some of you always seem to think he is suddenly going to turn a double somersault, and land on our rear and on both our flanks at the same time. Go back to your command, and try to think what we are going to do ourselves, instead of what Lee is going to do."

The question is only, how to turn any of the possible attacks Andy might stage around and regain initiative quickly?  What would happen if you allow him a tank drive north, while simultaneously you prepare an invasion of to be determined forces behind his line?  Could you cut him off somewhere?  Force him to change plans and react instead?

[PzB74]

The danger with armored formations is that they can cover the entire map while in pursuit of retreating units.
So I can not allow our troops to be defeated and that's why most of them are already in strategic movement mode.

Townsville is hard to defend, but the wooded area around Bowen and the rocky ground to the west is defendable.
Yes, the ships are gathering in Rabaul.

The next phase would be to wait for Andy to make his move; he will have to decide were and when to strike and do it
very convincingly in order to implement Operation Shōwa (the evacuation of Zone 3). Hopefully we can delay this for some time.

A contingency and counter-attack plan is always a good thing.
- I need to get the Combined Fleet up from the Home Islands before it's feasible though.

When faced with superior ground forces it is limited what can be achieved.
To conduct a landing behind Allied lines is not very tempting, at least not close to major LBA formations.
- A smaller surprise landing or para attack is doable but with a garrison unit and forts it will be hard to achieve much.

A trust south from Alice Springs with our armor is something that could work though!

[PzB74]

57 Chinese units in Hengyang...I'm starting to regret following your adivce about staying [:'(]
We've managed to build 2 fort levels and there are some 51k troops in the city. Everything now depends on the state of the Chinese
mass Army. Hopefully this will hurt more for them than for us but I'm not convinced!-)

2 more days until a light carrier joins the fleet, the Musashi is 89 days out and I'm looking forward to using the yard capacity on
carriers instead of another bomb magnet. If the Japs had laid down 4 more carriers instead of the Yamato and Musashi the war would have been
very different.

I'm scrounging search and asw units to send into the Central Pacific. So much ocean to cover and so few ac!


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Sep 09, 42

Air Combat

Again we hit the Chinese troops and inflict more disruption and casualties.
113 bombers is 95% of all attack ac available to the Chinese theatre.

Morning Air attack on 72nd Chinese Corps, at 80,53 (Hengyang)
Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 23
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 16
Ki-48-IIa Lily x 3
Ki-49-Ia Helen x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 5 damaged

Allied ground losses:
154 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 11 (0 destroyed, 11 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Ki-49-Ia Helen bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
7 x Ki-49-Ia Helen bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
23 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
3 x Ki-48-IIa Lily bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 100 kg GP Bomb

Also attacking 4th Chinese/C Corps ...
Also attacking 4th Heavy Mortar Regiment ...
Also attacking 3rd Heavy Mortar Regiment ...
Also attacking 4th Chinese/B Corps ...
Also attacking 9th War Area ...
Also attacking 4th Heavy Mortar Regiment ...
Also attacking 9th War Area ...
Also attacking 4th Heavy Mortar Regiment ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 4th Heavy Mortar Regiment, at 80,53 (Hengyang)
Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 26 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 16
Ki-48-IIa Lily x 9

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
26 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Ki-48-IIa Lily bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 100 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 53rd Chinese Corps, at 81,52 (Siangtan)
Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-Ic Sally x 21

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
65 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
21 x Ki-21-Ic Sally bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

Also attacking 100th Chinese Corps ...
Also attacking 53rd Chinese Corps ...
Also attacking 100th Chinese Corps ...
Also attacking 53rd Chinese Corps ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 67th Chinese Corps, at 83,48 (Ichang)
Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-Ic Sally x 25

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
78 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
25 x Ki-21-Ic Sally bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

Also attacking 2nd Chinese Corps ...
Also attacking 67th Chinese Corps ...
Also attacking 2nd Chinese Corps ...
Also attacking 67th Chinese Corps ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on 75th Chinese Corps, at 83,48 (Ichang)
Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 18

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
5 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
18 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 10000 feet *
Ground Attack: 2 x 100 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

Another shock attack and the Chinese strength is quickly ebbing.
Tomorrow a reserve brigade march into Ichang and after looking at the depleted state of the Chinese formations
I think this will be enough to hold the city. Those 600+ combat squads destroyed or disabled today can not be made good.

I did a quick summary and the Chinse Ichang Army has suffered the following combat squad casualties in the last 3 days:
Squads destroyed: 125
Squads disabled: 1605
Total squads out of action: 1730!! [X(]

Ground combat at Ichang (83,48)
Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 52018 troops, 386 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1540
Defending force 16744 troops, 168 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 523

Allied adjusted assault: 459

Japanese adjusted defense: 243

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 2)
Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-)

Japanese ground losses:
1988 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 119 disabled
Non Combat: 10 destroyed, 94 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Vehicles lost 4 (0 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
6422 casualties reported
Squads: 72 destroyed, 526 disabled
Non Combat: 52 destroyed, 401 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 27 disabled

Assaulting units:
75th Chinese Corps
32nd Chinese Corps
2nd Chinese Corps
87th Chinese Corps
45th Chinese Corps
67th Chinese Corps
18th Chinese/B Corps
68th Chinese Corps
18th Chinese/A Corps
18th Chinese/C Corps
26th Group Army

Defending units:
34th Division
57th Infantry Brigade
51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A remnant is driven back and out of the railroad hex.

Ground combat at 79,55
Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 4638 troops, 38 guns, 12 vehicles, Assault Value = 179
Defending force 2914 troops, 23 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 97

Japanese adjusted assault: 143

Allied adjusted defense: 57
Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), op mode(-), leaders(+), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
96 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
1107 casualties reported
Squads: 45 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 42 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units retreated 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
14th RGC Temp./B Division
17th/B Division
20th RGC/B Division

Defending units:
50th Chinese Corps
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Mynok]

ORIGINAL: PzB
2 more days until a light carrier joins the fleet, the Musashi is 89 days out and I'm looking forward to using the yard capacity on
carriers instead of another bomb magnet. If the Japs had laid down 4 more carriers instead of the Yamato and Musashi the war would have been
very different.

Not if they don't fix their pilot training program too. [:'(]

[PzB74]

I think an increased focus on carriers would also have been reflected in an increased naval pilot training pilot as well, not?

[inqistor]

Considering, that in Hengyang there are only 383 supply left I would guess China supply situation is critical (or Japan in China ). Plus you just got some industry in the city, so even less for China.

I don't see many of your subs east of Australia, PzB. Do you actually try to catch all those desperate convoys from West Coast, that must deliver new units on daily basis?
I also see, that Charleville is pretty isolated. Have you considered to send few small tank units to cut it off for a while? When Allies will try to get back LOC it should be easy to bombard them, thus delaying offensive even further.
And I would not worry about 4E bombers now (well, at least for base attacks). Probably too few of them, and you should have enough Tojos to counter.

[PzB74]

I sent 20 subs hunting the East coast of Oz..results were very very slight.
Now the subs are changing hunting grounds, the West Coast and PH is probably a safer bet.

Almost captured Charleville earlier on, Andy saved it by railing in troops and I pulled out.
Now there are 30 units and lots of forts there so it's "closed"...!-)

I'm sure Andy has his challenges but that he's taking his time to build his strength and strike
when he's ready.

I've shipped in a lot of supplies to China and is continously doing so. The frontier bases are still rather
hard to supply. Hopefully the 52 Chink units will not have enough supplies to attack efficiently; then we're looking at a carnage.

Upgraded another 2 Oscar units to Tojos and got a large Oscar formation sitting in Rabaul that's destined for upgrade and Oz if required.
So yes, local air superiority should be ours for some time to come as long as we're not outbased [;)]

[FatR]

Bombing Chinese from 10k feet is suboptimal, I think. 10k is for enemies that have Boforses and whatever. Chinese, on the other hand, have almost no AA weapons capable of reaching even 6k. And attacks from 6k do considerably more damage.

[CapAndGown]

For search AC, use both IJA and IJN recon units. If you use those you will have plenty of search capability. Of course, they will need to be trained on naval search first. Once you get the Dinah III model, your recon AC will in some ways be better than the Emily's. Very long range and much less likely to be down for repairs. Irvings are OK as well, though they don't have the range of the Dinah III's.

[castor troy]

ORIGINAL: PzB

I think an increased focus on carriers would also have been reflected in an increased naval pilot training pilot as well, not?

they couldn´t even equip their existing carriers with pilots and aircraft, what would you make sure they would with an additional four CVs?