Here we go again! tc464 (A) vs. Mike (J) - No tc464

[Mike Solli]

Yeah, I saw that.  I'll upgrade the tank regiments one at a time after I get the remainder of the Tank Divisions, in 3 weeks.

[CapAndGown]

I turned off most armaments when they hit about 85k and left about 100 building. I am now up to Feb. 1944 and still have 75k in armaments. Don't fret over them. Vehicle production is a bigger issue. Here I ended up having 180 factories and built up to a 25k reserve. I have shut down 90 factories and have been running on that for quite a while. The point reserve has fallen to about 20k at times, but them climbed again.

To check out your future needs and whether your current production will meet them, check out the LCU production section of Tracker. There are some charts there that project what your vehicle and armaments points will be in the future compared to how many you need for reinforcements.

By the time you get to 45 you should stop thinking about holding lots of reserves. It would not make sense to end the game with an 80k armament point reserve.

[Captain Cruft]

cap, have you upgraded all your base forces?

[CapAndGown]

ORIGINAL: Captain Cruft

cap, have you upgraded all your base forces?

Yes

[Mike Solli]

2 Jun 42

Well, I learned something today and it cost me some pilots in Burma.  I had placed 4 air units at Toungoo (where I have 120 air spt and the 3 Air Division HQ).  They are 2 Oscar Sentai (84 Oscars), 1 Zero Daitai (27 Zeros) and 1 Nick Chutai (12 Nicks).  The airfield is still level 1 but close to level 2.  I thought I had set all the air units to range 0, just in case, but it turns out I left one Oscar Sentai at range 5.  I didn't think they would fly out of their hex at a level 1 airfield but I was wrong.  They flew handfuls of planes out 3 hexes to cover attacks on Meiktila and Magwe.  In the end, I had 7 Oscars shot down and another 6 lost (op losses and written off).  I had 2 pilots KIA and 8 more WIA.  I shot down 1 Warhawk, 7 Hurricanes and 1 Blenheim IV.  It could have been much worse.  That Sentai is now set to range 0.  Before anyone mentions it, yeah, I know that airfield is overstacked.  I realized it as I was writing this. *Smacks self*

Australia

Three PT boats visited Broome again.  I still have 2 CAs and 2 DDs there.  This time the PTs got close enough to launch their torpedoes.  Fortunately, they all missed, but so did all of my shells.  The PTs got away.

I did shoot down a B-17 over Katherine.  Rare occurance.  The forces there are heading north and south to various destinations.  In an email, Ted did mention about how long it takes to send forces north along that road.  Not sure where those "forces" are.  We'll see.

I did a sweep of Darwin.  No transports were flying in.  I have Darwin cut off from all supply.  It's only a matter of time.

SE Fleet

I did a search of all the Mavis/Emily units available.  I ended up taking some from 21 Air Flotilla, stationed in the Southern SRA.  I took 1 chutai (12 Mavis) and 1 detachment (2 Emily) and transferred them to 23 Air Flotilla (SE Fleet).  It cost only 16 PP total.  The Mavis will do naval search and I'm going to use the Emilys to snoop Vava'u and the surrounding bases that appear likely to house the enemy.  I'm pretty sure it's Vava'u though.  There are a bunch of TFs around it again.  I have 2 subs there with 3 more enroute.  Another 3 will refuel and head there in a few days.  I'm restructuring my sub allocations for SE Fleet and 4 Fleet (Central Pacific) it include more coverage around Vava'u.

[Mike Solli]

I forgot about KB!  KB 2 arrived at Truk. (KB 1 and the replenishment fleet are one turn out.)  All of the troops that took Ndeni also arrived.  They sucked the fuel dry from Truk. [X(] There's enough in the replenishment fleet to top off KB 2 and the one TF that didn't get all the fuel it needed, but Truk definitely needs more fuel.  I've got all the xAKs I can spare moving fuel toward Truk, but that's damn inefficient.  I really need those Std-Cs to be converted.  They'll come in handy.  That's still 2 weeks down the road though. [:(] Ted made a comment to me this morning that I'll be getting a migrane in the SE Fleet area soon.  I don't think he realizes how much I have in the area.  The weak link for me down there is ground forces.  If he lands somewhere, I won't be able to take it back from him any time soon.  I have the Guards Bde and 90 Infantry Regiment, along with a bunch of SNLFs and Naval Guards.  The problem is that there is a lot of ground to protect.  I'll have to rely on KB and the 23 Air Flotilla to defend.  If I can catch the TFs at sea, I can kill off some troops, which will set Ted back more than killing ships.  I suspect the 1 Marine Division is in the mix somewhere.  If he's using his carriers, then he'll have a mix of Avengers (~36) and Devastators (~54).  I'm surprised he's committing them without waiting for more Avengers. 
 
I pulled out Baby KB back to Balikpapan to refuel, along with their replenishment fleet (13 kt AOs).  They'll head to Truk as well.
 
I suspect Luganville will be his forward base for his LBA.  He's building it up.  Hopefully, he'll focus his attention on Ndeni (sacrificial lamb).  I was thinking of putting the Mavis there, but they can easily be stationed at Lunga.  I'll check distances this weekend.  I realy need to get smarter on Allied aircraft.
 
I'm now reconsidering sending both Shokaku and Zuikaku back for refit.  I'll most likely send just one.  I really want that air radar.  That'll give me 5 CVs + Baby KB with the following:
 
222 Zeros
147 Vals
196 Kates
 
Land Based:
98 Zeros
81 Bettys
12 Mavis
2 Emily
15 Babs
8 Jakes
 
The problem for land based aircraft is a shortage of forward air bases.  Tonight I plan on working out a plan for them.  I suspect most of the combat will involve the naval air.

[ny59giants]

Where are your non-restricted Val and Kates?? Have you re-sized them?? I would think about customizing your CVs within KB. I would probably take off some Vals and add in more Zeros and Kates. Yes you want a strong fist to hit with, but you want survivability.

I use the double capacity AKs to haul fuel. I have built Babeldoab up to max and drop off fuel there and allow the AOs to go to and from there to Truk so If I need to use them as AOs, they can.

[Mike Solli]

Let me check tonight.  I believe I have resized just about everything I can.  I may have some restricted units that I haven't changed to non-restricted in order to resize them.  I suspect I don't have the PPs right now.  12 Air Flotilla can change, correct?

[SqzMyLemon]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Where are your non-restricted Val and Kates?? Have you re-sized them?? I would think about customizing your CVs within KB. I would probably take off some Vals and add in more Zeros and Kates. Yes you want a strong fist to hit with, but you want survivability.

I've tried to do that with the CV Junyo with a capacity of 51 or 53 aircraft by removing the Kate's and trying to get larger Zero and Val contingents, but both will only resize to 19 aircraft each for a total of 38/53. Is there something I'm missing or doing wrong? I'm limiting moves like this to the smaller carriers to stay within the boundaries of roughly 27 aircraft per unit and not create super carrier air groups.

I've also resized the independent Val and Kates units for LBA duty, although maybe I'll plunk them on those CVE's for an extra bomber group to accompany KB.

Edit: Also is there a limit to the resize option? I see some units that were previously resized now say they have "no resize remaining." That may be something to look out for it you don't have the flexibility to change them as often as you like.

[crsutton]

The Japanese player really can't salivate over upgrades as the Allies are upgrading at the same time to better devices. They type 1 medium tank is better but when compared to the upgraded opposition (57mm gun, grant tank, lee tank, sherman tank, M10-not to mention the great upgrades to Allied squad AT capabillity) you are looking at a minus net gain. Japanese tanks are most effective early in the war when, the Allies have low exp, morale and fewer At assets. By 1943, Japanese tank units really can only run roughshod in China as even an Indian infantry brigade can beat up on any Japanese tanks.

The same can be said about your experten pilots. My personal feeling is that the time to use them is early in the war when the Japanese are looking for decisive gains and hold a qualitative edge over Allied aircraft. Yes you can save them for your Franks and Georges but you will be looking at Allied planes that are even better. Given the numbers and quality that you will face, I would expect them to die all that faster. In the end, even an average pilot in a P47 is going to be dangerous and you will be facing even greater numbers.

[SqzMyLemon]

crsutton...pooh Leave it to Mr. Grinch to ruin all JFB's warm and fuzzy feelings about upgrading over the holidays [8|]. [:D]

Actually, I've often thought the same. No matter how the improvements come down the pipeline Japan's always playing catch up. Then again considering 40% of my airforce are Nate's and Sonia's any improvement will still be felt with glee

[Mike Solli]

To me, anything is better than nothing.  Gotta look on the bright side. [:D]

[erstad]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

To me, anything is better than nothing.  [:D]

Gotta disagree. A lot of our "anythings" are merely targets and opportunities for Allied VPs - therefore worse than nothing. Especially later in the war.[8|]

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: erstad

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

To me, anything is better than nothing.  [:D]

Gotta disagree. A lot of our "anythings" are merely targets and opportunities for Allied VPs - therefore worse than nothing. Especially later in the war.[8|]

Yeah, I can't disagree with you. But if you're going to attempt a fight somewhere, you may as well have the best you can scrape together.

[Mike Solli]

3 Jun 42

No real turn at all. Two US subs allegedly hit mines at Hakodate. Nothing was reported as sunk.

I did get another xAP reinforcement.

Ted didn't launch a plane in Burma at all. That was really odd. Maybe he thought I was going to put up a bunch of fighters after the misfire of yesterday.

I decided to send Shokaku back to upgrade along with a CL and some DDs. The rest of KB will repair at Truk while I look for Ted to make a move in the SE Fleet area. The Mavis chutai can cover a lot of water. I feel better with them flying out of Shortland Island.

I shut off the Aichi Ha-60. I have almost 300 engines and the TBO is 187. That will save about 2250 HI a month.

Really odd turn. Probably the quietest since the war started.

[Mike Solli]

4 Jun 42

The sub was heated up a bit. The hot I-11 found a large unescorted xAK and sank her off Colombo. The I-19 found a smaller xAK east of Hawaii and sank her too.

My concern about Luganville was correct. Seven B-25s from Luganville visited Ndeni but didn't do any damage. Once I get some air support to Lunga (in a few days) those B-25s will find a reception committee.

Down in Australia, two groups of 3 PTs each visited Broome. The first ran away almost immediately and the second vanished minus 1 of their number.

The Ha-44 factory accelerated to Mar 43.

[Mike Solli]

5 Jun 42

Reinforcement: I got another Std-C xAK which is now converting to a TK! Yeah!

Those 7 B-25s visited Ndeni again, to no avail. I'll let him get comfortable and then knock him back a bit. Seven B-25s aren't doing much.

I attacked Cagayan, the last Allied controlled base in Mindinao. Ted has the 102 PA Division, 102 PA Regiment, 3 PA Constabulary Regiment, a BF and a HQ. I have 2/3 21 Division, 146 Regiment (56 Division) and some artillery. I got 3:1 odds but he had level 3 forts, which were reduced to level 2. I'll continue to attack tomorrow.

KB has replaced all of it aircraft and pilots. In addition, just about every daitai in KB has 4 spare aircraft. I'm still short a few DBs but that'll be fixed in a day or two. I'm repairing as many ships as I can. They can all go out now, but until they're needed, repairs will continue.

I've decided to form Panzergruppe Burma with the 1 and 2 Panzer Divisions. The remainder of those divisions arrive in about 18 days in Kwantung Army. I've decided to transfer the 1 Panzer Division first for one reason. 2 Panzer Division has a Tank Regiment in Australia currently heading toward Darwin from Katherine. As I get PPs, I'll transfer units and ship them from Pt. Arthur. So far, about half of the 1 Panzer Division is assigned to 15 Panzer Army (all that are currently on the map). When it's ready to go, it'll have a total of 385 tanks assigned.

[Mike Solli]

Oh yeah, my score jumped 370 this turn and, for the life of me, I can't figure out why.

[pat.casey]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

Oh yeah, my score jumped 370 this turn and, for the life of me, I can't figure out why.

Big flattop finally sink in transit or something?

[Mike Solli]

I wish. If I remember correctly, you don't get points for bases if they don't have supply. Singapore was practically out of supply and a large convoy arrived dumping ~50k supply. That probably did it.