Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee, Docup(A)-Koniu(J)

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: Erkki

How much force are you going to use invading Palembang? Everything you now have at Singapore or less than that, CVs or without? The Allies can reinforce it pretty quickly and build up the forts if they decide to...

Palembang will be difficult to capture. Intel is showing 21 units there (around 300AV I guess). I think that Docup reinforced Palembang with LCU`s from Java and maybe Australians from Singer. Enemy units are not problem if i want i can have 2000AV there. Problem are engineers units and fortification. I do not want capture Palembang with destroyed oil fields.

I have 3 Div in Singer and few brd`s. I will use around 800AV to capture Palembang and around 500AV to land in Java. Rest of unit will stay in Singer as tactical reserve. If everything will go good they will go to Burma. I have also 1 Div sitting in Truk preparing to PM, i will use them if everything go wrong.

Plan is to land in first few days of February. Now i need to give time to my units to get rest and replace some losses

I will use mKB and only on D-day to give extra air support. Later i will use only LBA`s. I arleady have 100 fighters and 120 bomber in range of landing zones.

[koniu]

18 Jan 42

I have landed in Rabul and Shortlands.

KB have refuel and now will sail to Java and Sumatra to hunt little.

Singer port is open. I have clear 270 mines in one day. Minesweepers will now start to clear landing zones in Sumatra.

[obvert]

Palembang will be difficult to capture. Intel is showing 21 units there (around 300AV I guess). I think that Docup reinforced Palembang with LCU`s from Java and maybe Australians from Singer. Enemy units are not problem if i want i can have 2000AV there. Problem are engineers units and fortification. I do not want capture Palembang with destroyed oil fields.

I have 3 Div in Singer and few brd`s. I will use around 800AV to capture Palembang and around 500AV to land in Java. Rest of unit will stay in Singer as tactical reserve. If everything will go good they will go to Burma

For Palembang I would use whatever you have available and then move to Java. It's a good defensive hex, and by this point it should be verging on 3 forts unless you've been bombing it. The more you put in there the more likely you can take it quickly and with a deliberate attack. if you have a prolonged struggle the facilities are more likely to be hit.

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: obvert
For Palembang I would use whatever you have available and then move to Java. It's a good defensive hex, and by this point it should be verging on 3 forts unless you've been bombing it. The more you put in there the more likely you can take it quickly and with a deliberate attack. if you have a prolonged struggle the facilities are more likely to be hit.

I really need to think about it. In this moment i have ~1300AV (2 DIV and 4 brg +some smaller units) 100% ready to attack. I have also few other units (1DIV and few brgd`s - ~800AV) but they need time to take replacements. I think they should be ready in 1-2 weeks.

Taking Singer cost me 20K man and 300 assault squads + 150 eng squad and some guns and vehicles. But as i can see from last two turns units are taking replacements with ~20 squads on day so it is good.

Probably you are right. Palembang is most important target for Japanese forces, at lest now.

[koniu]

19 Jan 42

Rabul and Shortlands taken. No enemy resistance. I will now retreat Fleet to Truk they need to refuel. Next job to them will be escorting transport ships with engineers and supplies.

One big mistake today. I have accidentally change range of my G3M2 in Kwajalein Island and they bombard Wake losing 7 planes in proses. 6 pilots die. Stupid mistake.

I now sure that i need more guns in Bataan. I have lost 700 men to 24 enemy soldiers in bombard attack. I will start loading guns from Singer today they should arrive to Bataan in 10-12 days.

In all bombings i have lost 13 twin bombers today.

[Erkki]

ORIGINAL: koniu

19 Jan 42

Rabul and Shortlands taken. No enemy resistance. I will now retreat Fleet to Truk they need to refuel. Next job to them will be escorting transport ships with engineers and supplies.

One big mistake today. I have accidentally change range of my G3M2 in Kwajalein Island and they bombard Wake losing 7 planes in proses. 6 pilots die. Stupid mistake.

I now sure that i need more guns in Bataan. I have lost 700 men to 24 enemy soldiers in bombard attack. I will start loading guns from Singer today they should arrive to Bataan in 10-12 days.

In all bombings i have lost 13 twin bombers today.

Counter bombardment tends to be more effective than the attacker's. Also they are most probably behind higher forts. It might be a good idea to not bombard other than to get an idea on their AV if the terrain isnt clear and no or low forts. Aerial bombing the airfield will burn their supplies almost as quick and stops them from building forts.

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: Erkki

Counter bombardment tends to be more effective than the attacker's. Also they are most probably behind higher forts. It might be a good idea to not bombard other than to get an idea on their AV if the terrain isnt clear and no or low forts. Aerial bombing the airfield will burn their supplies almost as quick and stops them from building forts.

I will try this new tactic.




Interesting thinks start to happen i China. I have 3,5k AV force around Chengchow. I will try to encircle city and catch china forces in trap.

[koniu]

As me and Docup have "only dot and base hexes invasions HR". I have question about Sumatra Invasion

Djambi north of Palembang is river port? If yes how big ships can go up river to make invasion. If no i have to think another places to invasion.

There is also Oosthaven and Benkoelen as option and of curse direct invasion to Palembang.

Any suggestion. A am expecting big forces in Palembang (21 units ~300AV) so direct invasion can be risky.

[Erkki]

ORIGINAL: koniu

As me and Docup have "only dot and base hexes invasions HR". I have question about Sumatra Invasion

Djambi north of Palembang is river port? If yes how big ships can go up river to make invasion. If no i have to think another places to invasion.

There is also Oosthaven and Benkoelen as option and of curse direct invasion to Palembang.

Any suggestion. A am expecting big forces in Palembang (21 units ~300AV) so direct invasion can be risky.

Unfortunately Djambi is not a coastal hex - it has no port so you cant send ships or land there. [:(]

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: Erkki
Unfortunately Djambi is not a coastal hex - it has no port so you cant send ships or land there. [:(]

Very bad news.



Any suggestion about landing tactics.
In 7-10 days i will have units ready to land, Transport an military ships are 5 days of Singer. KB east of Java sailing to singer. Mine-sweeping of landing zones start 2 days ago. I need few more days to be sure that there is no enemy mines.
Airfields are going to be fully operational in days. They are at "0" damage now but i need more aviation support.
I have 100+ fighters and 100+ bombers ready.

[Erkki]

ORIGINAL: koniu

ORIGINAL: Erkki
Unfortunately Djambi is not a coastal hex - it has no port so you cant send ships or land there. [:(]

Very bad news.



Any suggestion about landing tactics.
In 7-10 days i will have units ready to land, Transport an military ships are 5 days of Singer. KB east of Java sailing to singer. Mine-sweeping of landing zones start 2 days ago. I need few more days to be sure that there is no enemy mines.
Airfields are going to be fully operational in days. They are at "0" damage now but i need more aviation support.
I have 100+ fighters and 100+ bombers ready.

I would land at Palembang directly. You could reinforce the attack with paratroopers... Theres always the risk of massive minefield or CD unit moved from somewhere but the longer you wait the stronger Palembang gets.

BTW which version of the game you are playing? One of the betas in June or July I think changed the way the refineries work so that they dont generate supplies any more. That makes Palembang more vulnerable to a siege and overland invasion from say Oesthaven.

[koniu]

I am playing beta Q4 version. I will check if refineries produce supplies. But i think they only produce fuel.
Supplies are produced bu HI and LI

I do not want siege Palembang. I want to push out allies from Palembang asap. Every day of fights in city can damage oil fields.
I want to force them to retreat and kill them in open field

[obvert]

I do not want siege Palembang. I want to push out allies from Palembang asap. Every day of fights in city can damage oil fields.
I want to force them to retreat and kill them in open field

I would agree with Erkki. Go right in to Palembang itself. Just hit all of the entry hexes with DMS first to sweep the area, keep one or two CL in the amphibious force, and have a good amount of ASW and a SCTF with you. He'll be able to see you going in for a few turns, so he can send the kitchen sink if he wants to. And of course LR CAP in case the Beasts are in play.

[koniu]

It is going to be fun. Probably it is most important operation in this game stage. At lest until i decide to land in Hawaii[:D]

Priority is to secure oil field without damage.If i be lucky it is passable. If not and damage will be big it will be short war.

We will see

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: koniu

If not and damage will be big it will be short war.

Not necessarily. Just have a plan for supplies to be shipped there ...

[koniu]

20 Jan 42
Today is day to sting.

KB south of Makassar Strait spotted that Docup is trying to reinforce/evacuate Balikpapan.
In south enter of Makassar Strait enemy SAG spotted. Lower you have summary of 6 attacks made by KB

Morning Air attack on TF, near Bandjermasin at 62,101

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 76 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 28 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B5N2 Kate x
D3A1 Val x



Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 damaged
D3A1 Val: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
CL Danae, Bomb hits 23, heavy fires, heavy damage (Fact: in RL in October 1944 ship was transfered as gift to Polish Navy)
CL Durban, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Evertsen, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Vampire, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Stewart
DD Pillsbury, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Parrott
DD Scout, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

All hits expect 15 hits to Dane are made by 250kg bombs, Val use to attack 60kg because of max range
Now i will finish with those ships and i will try also to sunk that amphibious TF in Balikpapan.



mKB in the middle of Salomon Sea. They spotted CA SAG 3 hexes south but they not attack (weather was good for mKB and in SAG hex). I think that enemy SAG is returning to PM after raid to Shortlands(luck that i have retreat my fleet from there) mKB was not spotted and I thinking about sending them little south-west, maybe in morning my planes will find and attack that SAG before he enters PM port. I will use 2 DD SAG as forward guard to mini KB.

Another mistake with my G3M2 in Kwaialein Island. they attack Wake again because i forgot to change their secondary mission. My men are paying with blood for my mistakes. 10 planes lost 6 pilots dead.

[koniu]

21 Jan 42

My subs sunk TK and xAP near Pago Pago.
Sub commander must have bad day so he decide to free his stress to the enemy. After scoring two hits in xAP he launch 2 more torps. You think that is enough. No he launch one more. After 5 torp hits he surface ship and use 20 gun shells. [:@] What a waste of torps.

Docup is building base there. No ASW spotted. More subs on move.
He also building base on Christmas Island. He has already some planes and ships there.

I have lost xAK near Miri.

In china i have captured dot hex north of Loyang. Trap is slowly closing. My loses are 11 squad in 7 days and around 250 disabled. My units destroy 350 Chinese squads.

EDIT:
KB move little south, he will stay in range of 10 to soerebaja. I do not want risking air engagement with CAP in city. I do not know why but they not fly today. Baby KB will sail little south toward Guadalcanal. After that turn they will return to Truk for refueling.
In 2 days i will have 40 A6M`s and 27 G4M`s. and air HQ in Rabul. I will not start taking rest of Salomon`s without proper air support. I think that i will need Mama KB there so after Sumatra invasion KB will sail to Truk.

Landing in Sumatra in abot -7 days. I nedd to have many many ships to transport 4 divisions in one wave.

Question: In pilot training what is best level of XP and skill to send pilot to reserve

[obvert]

Question: In pilot training what is best level of XP and skill to send pilot to reserve

There are a lot of threads about this, but it seems most players use 50 exp 70 skill. Sometimes you need skill in several areas, so you might compromise at 60 skill in each. Skill goes up slowly after pilot experience reaches 50.

[koniu]

22 JAN 42

Quiet day.

3 enemy AMc`s sunk near Soerabaja. 2 by KB planes, 1 by SS.
I have lost 8 2E bombers when they attack Palembang and 20 A6M escorting ride do nothing to stop 10 enemy fighters. I have also sweeps above Palembang but with no reason they decided to sweep different base

Rabul is now SS base. AS will arrive in 2 days

koniu

[koniu]

23-24 JAN 42

23th was quiet. Standard bombings in China, Palembang, Rangoon.
KB bombard port in Batavia. They found xAP and sunk it.

24th is worst day ever for air losses. I was planing to attack open hex north of Rangoon. Plan was to send two sweeps over it and then bombers with air escort. But live have his own plan. From 40 fighters scheduled to sweep only two(2) arrive before bombers ride, and escort to bombers not fly at all. In PM phase 12 zeros sweep but it was to late.

I have lost 18 Ki-21 bombers and I have manage to shoot down 5 enemy fighters 10 pilots die, 7 MIA

KB attack TF in Christmas Island IO, and sunk xAK. 13 ship spotted anchored in port. so i will probably attack them later.

I thinking about sending 2xCL TF to Pago Pago raid, but i am no sure about that. Trip will take 6 days. My subs hunting around Pago Pago and i have no reports of enemy combat ships or any planes there. I have spotted there 2-3 TK`s and 2-4 xAK`s. Do you think it is worth of risking 2CL? Any advise?