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

[koniu]

14 MAR 42

Java invasion
112 Infantry Regiment landed in Semarang. Plan was to land also with main forces in Kalidjati but i forgot about "do not unload" button and they stay on ships. I will unload them tomorrow.
Docup send one B-25C Mitchell to attack invasion fleet.

Burma
Bad week for navy pilots. Zeros sweep Rangoon. 9 A6Ms lost for 6 Hurricanes

Port Moresby
Another shock attack. Japanese losses 800 man to 500 allies.
Enemy forces reduced to 60AV. Japan have active 390AV.
I will rest for 1-2 days to reduce disruption


Allied ASW TF damage SS near Colombo. Ship will survive but need to return to Singer for repairs. Second SS damage from bomb hit near Soerabaja. SS will sail to nearest port(Balikpapan)

xAK lost in Salomon sea after torpedo hit from SS O16


8 allied ships (CL, DD + 6 more) detected in Canton Island. I think it is CA TF operating in this area 2 weeks earlier.

EDIT
I have at least 10eng unit sailing to Rabul. I will use them to build and fortify bases around Salomon.

I also think i have made mistake by retreating all naval units to Rabul from PM area. I will send few small SAGs there in next turn. They should scare allies from try to reinforce PM(but i do not think he will try). And if Docup send his naval units to intercept he will be in LBA range from Rabul. I have BB, 3xCA and 12 DD in Rabul i will send them south east of Rabul, they should be in positions in 2 days.

If he try to reinforce i will send reinforcements to PM. I have 300AV in Rabul and 1400AV resting in Manila. Some of units are preparing to PM in case they will be needed.

I will not retreat from PM. Now i have advantage in sea and air and this is only moment when i can win. I hope next attack will be successful.

[koniu]

15 MAR 42


PM
Bad news.
Docup reinforced PM with 44 Austtralian Bn(28AV) and 44 Indian Bde(102AV) [:@]. So my plan to stop that is to late. I will have to find reinforcement and sent them to PM ASAP.
PM have now 200AV enemy forces. I have 480.
Allies have bombarded me and lost more than me.
Zeros sweep PM 12 plane lost 14 P-40 shot down

Java
Almost all units on beach. It will take one more day to unload rest of them and supplies.
Docup send bombers to attack ships and ground units. He manage to score 500lb bomb in xAK. But damage is 1(one). Lucky ship[:D]

Two SS attack invasion fleet. One fire 2xtorps to BB but miss. ASW escort do good job. Scoring 9 and 12 hits to subs. Probably both sunk.

S-159 sunk after 300kg bomb hit last day

Burma
Quiet. I am sweeping but no allied planes in air

South Pacific
I-8 sunk enemy DD south of Suva

China
Lots of sweeps, bombing and movments.

KB&MKB
They will sail today to Gilbert's

[koniu]

16-19 MAR 42

Troops landed in Java. I am moving troops to Burma. (I waste 2 last months doing nothing with Burma). Docup group his forces in 3-4 bases leaving rest of bases empty. Paratroops preparing.

Soon I will send reinforcements to PM. MKB is in area to stop another attempts to reinforce PM by allies.

KB sailing east from Truk. He will sail north of gilbert`s and attack Canton Island base from north, north-east direction and if lucky cut of ships from gilbert's. I have spotted there naval forces i think it is allies forward base.
From there KB will sail to Gilbert's to support invasion of Tabiteuea and killing everything he meet there. Only reason Docup send there transports and CV is building base there so i have to stop this before he build up to much.
I everything goes OK, KB after invasion will meet AO`s near Guadalcanal and if KB will be not attrited to much i will sent them south to raid Pogo Pogo. After that they will sail to Truk stooping only for few days to support second PM landing

I am preparing units to Adak. Allies are building base there. I will also land in Luganwille(if i found free units)

In other places normal war day. Bombards, sub and ASW actions.

104(+30 more in 6 days) factories are now R&D Ki-49IIa so I should be able to build it in June

[Erkki]

ORIGINAL: koniu

16-19 MAR 42

--

104(+30 more in 6 days) factories are now R&D Ki-49IIa so I should be able to build it in June

Are there any fully repaired R&D factories? Only the repaired ones do any research... Big factories repair faster but small ones have less repairing to do. AFAIK Michaelm has confirmed the optimal R&D factory size to be 30.

[koniu]

I have three fully repaired 30 size factories, one fully repaired 14(that one from beginning) and one 24(6) so 6 more days and he will be fully repaired also.


All of my R&D factories are 30 size. Except that one 14 size, and few that start bigger on Dec 7

[Erkki]

ORIGINAL: koniu

I have three fully repaired 30 size factories, one fully repaired 14(that one from beginning) and one 24(6) so 6 more days and he will be fully repaired also.


All of my R&D factories are 30 size. Except that one 14 size, and few that start bigger on Dec 7

Ok, that explains it then. I've had bad luck with the Ki-49 R&D and have had a factory just 1 point from being repaired for over 2 months now... [:D] So no progress with the R&D.

[koniu]

Ok, that explains it then. I've had bad luck with the Ki-49 R&D and have had a factory just 1 point from being repaired for over 2 months now... So no progress with the R&D.

I use Ki-49-I factory to repair factories and when they are fully repaired i upgrade them manually to next model in path.
That factory 24(6) is Ki-49-I model and in 6 days i will manually upgrade to Ki-49-IIa

I doing this also with other planes. I have 6xA6M3 factories they should be fully repaired in June so after upgrade to A6M3a i will be able to produce ~180 points in month.
So A6M3a can be active in august/September if i will have luck

All my factories are set to first model in upgrade path. I also have in all R&D bases 10000+ supplies. I am not sure but I notice that in bases with 10k+ supplies, factories repair faster:)

[Erkki]

ORIGINAL: koniu

Ok, that explains it then. I've had bad luck with the Ki-49 R&D and have had a factory just 1 point from being repaired for over 2 months now... So no progress with the R&D.

I use Ki-49-I factory to repair factories and when they are fully repaired i upgrade them manually to next model in path.
That factory 24(6) is Ki-49-I model and in 6 days i will manually upgrade to Ki-49-IIa

I doing this also with other planes. I have 6xA6M3 factories they should be fully repaired in June so after upgrade to A6M3a i will be able to produce ~180 points in month.
So A6M3a can be active in august/September if i will have luck

All my factories are set to first model in upgrade path. I also have in all R&D bases 10000+ supplies. I am not sure but I notice that in bases with 10k+ supplies, factories repair faster:)

Yes, thats the way, the closer the date the quicker they repair. But its not guaranteed, just more likely. [:)]

[koniu]

Making R&D like this cost me around 200k supplies and 18k HI but i thing it will repay with better air performance in future and also i will be able to have some good planes even 6-9 months earlier

Because i am playing with PDU ON i will focus R&D only on few models
In fighters it is only Zero, OSCAR, Tojo and later Frank. I will also skip few middle models of Zero and Tojo to maximize acceleration of later better models

What can i say about repair rate of Ki-49I - from at lest 20-30 days(middle February) they are repairing 1 point one day ratio

[Erkki]

ORIGINAL: koniu

Making R&D like this cost me around 200k supplies and 18k HI but i thing it will repay with better air performance in future and also i will be able to have some good planes even 6-9 months earlier

Because i am playing with PDU ON i will focus R&D only on few models
In fighters it is only Zero, OSCAR, Tojo and later Frank. I will also skip few middle models of Zero and Tojo to maximize acceleration of later better models

What can i say about repair rate of Ki-49I - from at lest 20-30 days(middle February) they are repairing 1 point one day ratio

Well the cost to expand and repair factories is the same any way...

You dont think R&Ding N1K1-J or Ki-61 is worth it? N1K1-J is IJNAF's best fighter and Ki-61-Ic is the first single engine cannon-armed fighter for IJAAF. And the Ki-61-Id while it has crap performance it is service rating 2 and has best firepower out of all Army fighters(except Ki-84b, but 84a does not upgrade to it and its early 1945 plane...). No P1Y1, B6N, B7A or Ki-67-I(T) either? [&:]

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: Erkki

ORIGINAL: koniu

Making R&D like this cost me around 200k supplies and 18k HI but i thing it will repay with better air performance in future and also i will be able to have some good planes even 6-9 months earlier

Because i am playing with PDU ON i will focus R&D only on few models
In fighters it is only Zero, OSCAR, Tojo and later Frank. I will also skip few middle models of Zero and Tojo to maximize acceleration of later better models

What can i say about repair rate of Ki-49I - from at lest 20-30 days(middle February) they are repairing 1 point one day ratio

Well the cost to expand and repair factories is the same any way...

You dont think R&Ding N1K1-J or Ki-61 is worth it? N1K1-J is IJNAF's best fighter and Ki-61-Ic is the first single engine cannon-armed fighter for IJAAF. And the Ki-61-Id while it has crap performance it is service rating 2 and has best firepower out of all Army fighters(except Ki-84b, but 84a does not upgrade to it and its early 1945 plane...). No P1Y1, B6N, B7A or Ki-67-I(T) either? [&:]

I am accelerating also them but they have small numbers of factories. If you want i will show you screen with my R&D when i back from work, i can be lieing you little becouse my memeory is not so good in this area.
Do not worry and do not forgot about P1Y1, B6N, B7A or Ki-67 etc.
for now i can be wrong about number but wait few hours until i return home.
Maybe yo will advise me. for few planes it is still time to change something.

[Erkki]

And why in the world are you R&Ding the Ki-43 when you are soon about to start building the Ki-44? [&:][:'(] And if its for Ki-43-IIb's armor, well, you will be able to get both the Ki-45 and Ki-61 many months earlier. You might still want to keep building Ki-43 for (sacrificial) long range escort and naval attack/kamikaze(IIa and IIb have 2x250kg bombs) but for everything else it just gets shot down.

[:)]

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: Erkki

And why in the world are you R&Ding the Ki-43 when you are soon about to start building the Ki-44? [&:][:'(] And if its for Ki-43-IIb's armor, well, you will be able to get both the Ki-45 and Ki-61 many months earlier. You might still want to keep building Ki-43 for (sacrificial) long range escort and naval attack/kamikaze(IIa and IIb have 2x250kg bombs) but for everything else it just gets shot down.

[:)]

Good point. I was thinking about that in weekend. I was planing to make some adjustments in my R&D program.

My current R&d was made when i was rookie. I am still, but smaller one. If you whant I will appreciate your opinion when i give screens.

[koniu]

19 MAR 42

CL+DD TF near north-west Australia coast found and attack enemy cargo ships 1 xAK sunk 2 probably sunk. 1 xAK damaged. Two ships run away untouched. I will try to found them tomorrow and finish what i start today. also there is probably one more enemy TF in area he was spotted last night but not engaged

Japanese R&D program

[koniu]

20 MAR 42

Java
Bandoen. base captured. Allies lost 1600 man and almost 100 squads and 100 squads disabled.
My loses are 350 man and ~50 sq. disabled.
They retreat in Batavia direction to open hex.
Java is now cut in half. 20k allies in east part and 20-30k in Soerabaja area. First i will take Batavia.

Pacific
KB east of Makin, they move only one hex last turn.
Is there a way to stop fuel adjustment in TF until it is needed?
One of CV TFs was spotted by planes last turn. DL 3/3. According Combat reporter it was my own E8N planes from Jaluit.
Does friendly planes rise DL.(they have reported 8 allied ships), or it must be allied plane?

China
Lost of sweeps for both sides. No A2A combat.


PS.
I start to losses more planes that allies. Most of them is flak, and ops and occasional A2A. I have checked pilots in fighter units they have good XP but my loses are big.
Most i am disappointed with navy fighters in last 4 air battles they lost 3 time more planes that allies.

PS2.
Akagi gain +2 sys damage last turn it is now 11 and he start to smoke little[:@]

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: koniu

19 MAR 42

CL+DD TF near north-west Australia coast found and attack enemy cargo ships 1 xAK sunk 2 probably sunk. 1 xAK damaged. Two ships run away untouched. I will try to found them tomorrow and finish what i start today. also there is probably one more enemy TF in area he was spotted last night but not engaged

Japanese R&D program

Wow. How did you repair 23 Judy factories by March42? I never get them to repair so fast. Great job.

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

Wow. How did you repair 23 Judy factories by March42? I never get them to repair so fast. Great job.

It not as great as it looks all repaired factories are spreed between 5 factories . Best of them is 8(22) , so it is still log before they start R&D

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: koniu

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

Wow. How did you repair 23 Judy factories by March42? I never get them to repair so fast. Great job.

It not as great as it looks all repaired factories are spreed between 5 factories . Best of them is 8(22) , so it is still log before they start R&D

Ahh, ok, that makes more sense. Didn't see the unrepaired factory column.

[koniu]

Amphibious bonus is going to end so i start to make summary in what position i am.It is my first Big scenario game and second after Gauadal scenario so i was not expected much about game but i shoul be better.
I will give details on 1 APR but for now i can tell.

I made lot of mistakes. Biggest are.

-I have overpowered Sumatra and Java invasions and than make Burma campaign never happen. I now relocating units there but i will take some time. And to speed things i will be forced to land my forces close to Rangoon to avoid long land travel.

-I resign from Wake invasion and now it will take many more afford to take it. (i will try to use it as trap maybe)

- I push to little in Pacific( Gilbert`s etc.) Now i sure that Docup is building there.

- China. Not closing Burma road plus not being aggressive enough make my in impasse situation there.

What i make good(I think)

- I was taken most important targets DEI, Philippines, Singer. I have land troops in PM (still not taken) and i am building bases aroun Rabul area

- I not lost important ships (CV). Only 1 CA and 7 DD lost.

- I think that pilot training program is going good and Japanese economy is OK. Resources are transported to HI and i just start transporting fuel from DEI to HI. I also happy with R&D program.

Plans for the nearest future

-I am in middle of Gilbert`s operation i am planing to land in Tabiteuea before bonus will be gone. Troops will sail from Rabul today, 6 days to target so this give me 4 day window to land. Operation is combination of KB and surface units actions. KB sailing East and will enter area between Gilbert and Phoenix islands from north east direction trying to be between Allied forces and there retreat road when they will tray to stop invasion.

I will also want to land in April in Timor and start siege of Ambon.
20k man in Ambon. I will cut them off from home and destroy supplies from air. after that it should be ease to capture.

I am preparing unit to land in Adak

I will land in 3-4 days in Port Blair

In China I really hate China i am moving troops for now I am planing offensive around Changsha area. I will try to encircle Chinese units and force them to battle in open hex. Do i have say that i hate china and land operations.

Because i was to slow i will not stop my offensive at lest for few months at lest until allies grow in power. I will also want to try few CVL`s rides to south west cost of Oz to attack convoys there

[koniu]

21 MAR 42

Allies send 4E bombers to Chiang Mai. Small damage to AF but i lost 12 K-21 bombers on ground

Operation on Gilbert`s on move i will land in 6-7 days. Allied recon planes spotted both KB TFs detection 1/1 and 4/4 i will not change plans they are now six hexes east of Makin and will sail in east direction for ono or two more days. After that they will change direction to south and in 2-3 days attack Canton Island. At lest 20 ships there.
I hope that KB will take attention of allies and give easy landing in Tabiteuea. 3k man and 81 guns spotted there. I think they are mostly ENG and CD.

Dutch subs hit two TKs east of Borneo. One will not survive 95 flood and 99 fire. Another sub hit AKE south or Truk. 10% to survive. In both cases escort do not react.

BB Nagato with assistance of three CA`s bombard PM killing 500 allies. destroying 20 and disabling 100 squads. He also damage 28 P-39D Aircobra fighters