Downfall PBEM - Cruft vs. Fallschirmjaeger (no FJ pls)

[Nemo121]

The J7Ws and J2Ms won't do anything as night fighters.... Your night fighters are most effective when:

1. You place them over radar sites.

2. They are well-rested.

3. Their own radar begins working ( October 45 ).

Just yesterday I shot down 6 Allied bombers at no cost out of about 100 which attacked one of my cities. Just give it time and trust in the night-fighters and their building of experience.

Even if they don't get kills they will disrupt the aim and greatly decrease the effectiveness of the enemy bombers - which is one of their main aims after all.

The J7Ws are too important for daytime defence to be wasted on night-time defensive missions.


One question though:
How come you are down to untrained pilots so quickly? I have a reserve of 600+ 70 A2A skill pilots in mid-October. Admittedly about 400 or 500 of them are graduates from training but some of my original high-quality pilots still remain.

[Captain Cruft]

Alikchi! I thought you had left these parts ... Welcome

Nemo,

I have a large reserve of trained pilots, but I have filled up all airgroups which are using second-rate planes with pilots out of the pool, and now from those in the pipeline as well. Most of these guys are either doing formal training or the live-fire kind by virtue of being on CAP.

This I believe will mean that less HI is consumed every month for the pilot training program. The idea is to get 'em on the map so that they train up using supply rather than pure HI.

As I posted above, I have numerous 30-40 exp pilots who have kills, and flying some quite duff hardware too.

Basically, until I can equip a squadron with one of the designated "best of breed" aircraft for its type and nationality it will be staffed mostly with numptys.

[Captain Cruft]

Turn 8 - September 8 1945

The Empire strikes back!

Much to my extreme surprise, and despite a horrendous bombardment by the US battle fleet, the stranded Shobu Army Group has re-taken Vigan. Woot!

[Captain Cruft]

We destroyed over 130 planes on the ground [X(]

[Captain Cruft]

Meanwhile, my "high tail it up the Yangtze" plan ran into trouble. I should have set full speed and split the TFs up more based on speed. FJ must have anticipated the move since the US carriers snuggled up to the Chinese coast and had another field day.

[Captain Cruft]

Turn 9 - September 9 1945

Nothing much to report for once.

Up the Yangtze the US CV fleet managed to sink a few slow or damaged ships which were lagging behind. This episode is now over, and despite horrendous losses I have managed to get a lot of ships to "safety", but of course they aren't much use being stuck in China. Strange doings really!

I tried another experiment, which was using some A7M3-Js on low level (100ft) naval attack. These planes have a top speed of 403 mph but seem to be pretty useless as fighters for some reason, even with elite pilots. I wondered if the bizarre UP cannon they are equipped with might help repel diving fighters.

Well it didn't, but nevertheless 1 out of 7 attacking planes got through to deliver its bombs, escorted by a motley crew of fighters out of Shanghai. There were no hits, but I actually find this quite encouraging since the pilots were 40 exp semi-numpties without NavB or LowN training and the target was an Essex class CV, which is no slouch in the flak department.

Worst case I think these planes with their 2 x 250kg bombs might make a useful kamikaze, later on.

[Captain Cruft]

Turn 11 - September 11 1945

This was the turn where I decided to try and do something about the CVEs blockading Formosa.

[Captain Cruft]

It went quite well, with type 91 torps delivered into 5 CVEs, subject to FoW.

[8D]

More later ...

[Captain Cruft]

Here's the tale of the tape.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on TF, near Hengchun at 84,68

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Japanese aircraft
     P1Y2 Frances x 19


Japanese aircraft losses
     P1Y2 Frances: 14 damaged

Allied Ships
     CVE Kitkun Bay
     CVE Manila Bay, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire
     CVE White Plains, Torpedo hits 1
     CVE Kalinin Bay



Aircraft Attacking:
     19 x P1Y2 Frances launching torpedoes at 200 feet
              Naval Attack:  1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

Raid detected at 47 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Pescadores at 82,63

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 22,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 33 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     Ki-43-IV Oscar x 56
     Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 32
     Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy x 24



Allied aircraft
     FM-1 Wildcat x 16
     FM-2 Wildcat x 76


Japanese aircraft losses
     Ki-43-IV Oscar: 5 destroyed
     Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 1 destroyed
     Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy: 2 destroyed, 7 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
     FM-1 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
     FM-2 Wildcat: 5 destroyed

Allied Ships
     CVE Kadashan Bay, Torpedo hits 1
     DD Lardner
     CVE Fanshaw Bay
     CVE Rudyerd Bay
     CVE Petrof Bay, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage



Aircraft Attacking:
     15 x Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy launching torpedoes at 200 feet
              Naval Attack:  1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
      3 x Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy bombing from 18000 feet
              Naval Attack:  2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb,  4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
      6 x Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy bombing from 18000 feet
              Naval Attack:  2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb,  4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
VC(F)-20 with FM-2 Wildcat (3 airborne, 8 on standby, 5 scrambling)
     3 plane(s) intercepting now.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 15000 and 19000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes
     4 planes vectored on to bombers
VC(F)-27 with FM-2 Wildcat (3 airborne, 8 on standby, 4 scrambling)
     3 plane(s) intercepting now.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 15000 and 16000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes
VC(F)-68 with FM-1 Wildcat (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 5 scrambling)
     0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 16000 and 22000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 39 minutes
VC(F)-76 with FM-2 Wildcat (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 5 scrambling)
     0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 15000 and 22000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 38 minutes
VC(F)-77 with FM-2 Wildcat (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 4 scrambling)
     0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 14000 and 18000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 35 minutes
VC(F)-78 with FM-2 Wildcat (3 airborne, 7 on standby, 4 scrambling)
     3 plane(s) intercepting now.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 18000 and 23000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes

Banzai! - Hirabayashi J. in a Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy willing to die for the Emperor

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVE Petrof Bay

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Pescadores at 82,63

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 33 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     Ki-43-IV Oscar x 12
     Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy x 17



Allied aircraft
     FM-1 Wildcat x 6
     FM-2 Wildcat x 29


Japanese aircraft losses
     Ki-43-IV Oscar: 2 destroyed
     Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy: 6 destroyed, 8 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
     FM-2 Wildcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
     CVE Fanshaw Bay, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
     CVE Kadashan Bay
     CVE Saginaw Bay
     CVE Rudyerd Bay



Aircraft Attacking:
      7 x Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy launching torpedoes at 200 feet
              Naval Attack:  1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
      5 x Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy launching torpedoes at 200 feet
              Naval Attack:  1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

CAP engaged:
VC(F)-20 with FM-2 Wildcat (2 airborne, 4 on standby, 3 scrambling)
     2 plane(s) intercepting now.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 14000 and 20000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 34 minutes
     5 planes vectored on to bombers
VC(F)-27 with FM-2 Wildcat (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 3 scrambling)
     0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 12000 and 17000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 37 minutes
     6 planes vectored on to bombers
VC(F)-68 with FM-1 Wildcat (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 21000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes
     4 planes vectored on to bombers
VC(F)-77 with FM-2 Wildcat (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 21000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 22 minutes
     1 planes vectored on to bombers
VC(F)-78 with FM-2 Wildcat (2 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     2 plane(s) intercepting now.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 12000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes
     4 planes vectored on to bombers

Banzai! -  in a Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy willing to die for the Emperor

[Captain Cruft]

Note: There was another day-time attack which went up against a CAP of Corsairs and Bearcats and got trounced.

All these attacks were out of bases on the Chinese coast, which he has been ignoring while seemingly focused on pummeling Formosa and Pescadores into dust.

The night attack was triggered by the subs you can see in the picture above. These are special "recon subs" i.e SSTs which cannot attack and have careful commanders.

Overall I was quite stupendously pleased with these results, and the attacks will be repeated. The bomber groups are mostly intact, it was the IJA Oscars and Tojos which took the brunt of the losses chewing through the herds of Wildcats.

[Captain Cruft]

Turn 12 - September 12 1945

Not much going on. Shanghai was bombed with 100+ planes destroyed on the ground, and I have an A6M2 with a kill. LOL

[Cribtop]

Well done on the CVE attacks. You are having success with night attacks triggered by subs. I note 40% of your torp hits came from night attacks.

[Captain Cruft]

Our operational research department has taken note ...

One reason for playing this scen is it makes for intense training which you can then apply to the GC.

[CaptBeefheart]

Good to see an AAR with this scenario. I did it as Allies vs. AI and it seemed like there was an inexhaustible supply of Japanese aircraft. I had some pretty good aces at the end of the day, but lost a few CVEs and one CVL, with a couple of CVs in the yard, in the process. When over 1000 kamikazes strike in multiple waves eventually the uber-CAP dwindles to single digits. Also, USN shipboard flak is nowhere near as effective as historical in my humble opnion. Another thing I found out was that xAKs can load troops, so a lot of the troops from Stateside were brought over that way due to a shortage of APs.

I bypassed the Pescadores and Tsushima, although contemplated dropping a couple of para units on Tsushima, of which the Allies have plenty. I found out that bases with CDs and support units, without inf units, can be taken fairly painlessly with sufficiant paras; Eben-Emael in action.

Best of luck.

Cheers,
CC

[Captain Cruft]

Turn 13 - September 13 1945

Still relatively quiet.

The radar-equipped P1Y2 Frances' attempted another night torpedo attack, however unfortunately this time the target was the British CV fleet. A much harder target than a couple of CVEs, and as a result they were beaten off by the flak with heavy losses. With 60 odd planes remaining they still remain a potent force though, and I have some spare NavT pilots and planes which I can boost them with if it seems justified.

Shanghai was bombed again, this time the port was the target with predictable carnage resulting. Lots of AKs and CMcs were sunk or badly damaged, these ships being too slow to even attempt fleeing up the Yangtze.

Overall we seem to have reached something of a hiatus. I am unable to get rid of his blockades and can only move a small amount of stuff eastwards using air transport. The only question is what will he do next? I think from his play so far that he is definitely not the patient type, so perhaps I have some "hoovering up" landings in the Ryukyu islands to look forward to. These ought to be possible without massive preparation on the part of his ground troops.

[Captain Cruft]

Turn 14 - September 14 1945

Another day another CVE eats an 18in torpedo


-------------------------------------
Night Air attack on TF, near Orchid Island at 86,68

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Japanese aircraft
     P1Y2 Frances x 13


Japanese aircraft losses
     P1Y2 Frances: 5 damaged

Allied Ships
     CVE Marcus Island, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire
     CVE Hoggatt Bay
     CVE Steamer Bay



Aircraft Attacking:
     13 x P1Y2 Frances launching torpedoes at 200 feet
              Naval Attack:  1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 36 minutes
-------------------------------------


The sunk ships report says that 4 CVEs have been sunk, but I don't believe it. Or at least not yet. That's not the point though anyway, the point is to get the blighters to go away and stop blockading my ass ...

[Captain Cruft]

Note for JFBs

Here is a list of all planes which sport the lovely combination of an air to ship radar and the Type 91 18in torpedo:-

G3M3 Nell (H-6)
G4M2a Betty (H-6)
G4M3a Betty (H-6)
P1Y2 Frances (H-6)
B6N2a Jill (N-6)
H6K5 Mavis (H-6)
H8K2 Emily (H-6)

You can build some of the planes well before the radars (which you can't accelerate) become available in Oct/Nov 1944.

[Captain Cruft]

Turn 15 - September 1945

Banzai!


The CV fleet hits paydirt deep out in the Pacific.

A CLAA and a DE were sunk alongside a bunch of xAKs and LSMs etc. No troops though, just supplies and fuel.

It almost feels like 1942 again [:'(]

[Captain Cruft]

Turn 16 - September 16 1945

Some of the CVs strayed too far south and attracted bombers out of Midway.


Three 500lb bombs were delivered through flight decks. The Ibuki sank right away but the Ryuho is only lightly damaged. Needless to say I will be moving northward for next turn ...

[Captain Cruft]

The Scores on the Doors ...


I am losing 100 planes a day. Somehow I don't think I'm building quite that many to replace them.