The Hive - Cruft PBEM (Japan, Scen 2 Beta + Stacking Limits)

[Captain Cruft]

Festungs

I really like the idea of bases that are "unassailable" other than by air attack, from which Torpedo Avalanche squadrons can sally forth. The requirements are that such bases need to be standalone islands equipped with substantive CD guns, combat LCUs of all types, naval support and AA.

Tsushima is the best place ...

It currently has a Fleet HQ and will be getting an Air Flotilla when I have one spare. It can accomodate a Swarm of Shindens or other interceptors for air defence.

I have also stationed paratroops there both as a defence against their Allied counterparts and as potential counter-invasion forces.

[Captain Cruft]

The LCUs currently present.

[Captain Cruft]

Iki-Shima is the next most suitable location.

[Captain Cruft]

LCUs.

[Captain Cruft]

Other possible Festungs are Pescadores, Saishu To, Sadogashima and Oki Shoto. I mostly just have engineers building at these places currently though.

[Captain Cruft]

Ship Construction

No piccies since it's quite simple ...

Yamato/Musashi BBs NO
Taiho/Shinano CVs YES Normal
Unryu CVs YES Accel
Akitsuki DDs YES Accel
Shimakaze DDs YES Accel
All other DDs YES
Long-range SS NO
Short-range SS YES

Merchant building is a bit random, some xAKs have been turned off everything else is on.

[Captain Cruft]

Pilots

IJN: TRACOM 146, Reserve 125, Replacement Exp = 40
IJA: TRACOM 55, Reserve 478, Replacement Exp = 33

Not all the guys in the Reserve are of high quality, but the IJA in particular has a large pool of well-trained LowG pilots.

One pleasing thing: Quite recently the replacement experience of the IJN pilots stopped declining and actually started increasing. I am guessing this is TRACOM in action.

The only "golden boys" (80+ exp pilots) in the field are the KB airgroup leaders. Everyone else gets immediately shoved into TRACOM as soon as they cross the magic threshold.

[FDRLincoln]

I am doing shipbuilding a little different. Although I have Musashi halted currently (mid-December 1941), I want Yamato and will restart Musashi at the appropriate time. I have accelerated some carriers and destroyers. I also want at least some of the long-range subs.

Your festung idea is intriguing as well. What are you doing in the Kuriles? I am looking to fortify this area to prevent him from taking the northern route.

[Captain Cruft]

BBs are mostly pointless in this game other than as bombardment platforms, and they're not even much good at that really. A bunch of CLs and DDs is better. You can build and/or accelerate an awful lot of useful ships for the cost of a Yamato.

Japan starts the game with a useful number of long-range subs. I see no reason to build more unless the existing stock becomes seriously depleted. The I-400s in particular are a grandiose project which is very expensive and the game doesn't even model what they were supposed to do anyway.

The short-range subs on the other hand are a vital component of what I have called Torpedo Avalanche.

As to the Kuriles as I said they worry me badly. I am still working on the plan up there, perhaps I will post some details when I'm feeling more comfortable with it ...

[FDRLincoln]

Well, Yamato is too far along the construction path for me to cancel. It would be an unwarranted waste to break her up considering what the Empire has already invested in her.

I agree the I-400s are a waste. The other fleet boats have their uses in my view, esp. early in the war. I do like the short range subs and unlike many players I don't intend to cancel them.

I see you are investing in the Ki-83. I like that plane a great deal and am planning a similar investment!

I don't like the rocket fighter based on the ME163 and am going to cancel rocket development in favor of speeding up something else. The jets I am undecided about.

[Saros]

With the new patch single engined light bomber groups can be upgraded to Fighter-bombers for a PP cost. Have you considered using Nicks in the same fashion as you are using the Oscar groups? I would think they would work pretty well especially the later models with the 20mm and 37mm cannons in the nose to strafe with.

Also what steps are you taking to protect the SRA? Without the oil/fuel flow your industry will fail pretty swiftly and if you let the allies get a foothold within Heavy bomber range of the oilfields they will be burned down in pretty swift order.

[Captain Cruft]

You don't have to break up the Yamato, it retains what has already been built. Halt really means Pause, and you can always re-start.

Saros,

I do have some stuff in the SRA, but I'm not going to fight hard for most of it. The whole thing is just an extended raid. Note the HI pool, which even at this early stage is big enough to build around 9,000 single engine fighters if industry stopped dead tomorrow.

As to the oilfields note the HR regarding City Attacks. However, he could probably achieve much the same effect by bombing the oil ports, whose throughput is inadequate to begin with.

Yes Nicks will be doing the hugging the ground routine too.

[Captain Cruft]

Saros (again),

I must thank you for pointing out the light level bomber conversion thing. Being lazy I had not fully investigated what this means. Having now done so it is clear that it is an absolute dream for the Hive, or indeed any other Japanese player.

Assuming sufficient PPs, I can convert every IJA airgroup on the map (except recons and transports) into either fighters or fighter bombers. Swarms beyond my wildest dreams ... [8D]

It would not surprise me if this change causes some controversy once everyone realises what it means.

[Saros]

It does take a LOT of PP's though. For approx the cost of 3 bomber groups converted from Medium bomber -> Light -> FB you can buy out a division. Also do Nicks still use 250kg bombs at strafing level? I have never had the opportunity to try them out as I need them too badly as bomber destroyers.

Also if you lose the SRA earlier than most you will likely struggle with producing enough supply once the HI shuts down. I know for me at least (scen 1) its is really difficult to expand anything substantially without cutting deeply into the supply I need to run the war.

[PaxMondo]

Saros, I beleive this is Scen 2, so not quite the challenge with supply as scenario 1 early on.  Later though, the pilot expense ... I guess we'll see.

[Captain Cruft]

I am unlikely to want to buy out any more divisions. Most of my PP expenditure goes on changing leaders and occasionally changing the HQ of sub-units in order to rebuild their parent.

Nicks do indeed deploy the 250kg bomb at 100ft.

[Captain Cruft]

So, the new plan ...

Nick production has been doubled.
Randy R&D has been tripled.
Sonia production remains the same. I still need a training aircraft and the 12 plane Chutais are very useful for recon.

All level bomber IJA airgroups will be converted to fighter bomber as soon as possible except where they are still flying useful legacy bombers.

I suspect that eliminating level bombers from the ground war may have a long-term positive effect on supply usage.

[Captain Cruft]

Oct 31 1942

The Oscar Swarm faces its first challenge ...

My opponent is a big fan of the CAP Trap, and has inflicted it on me numerous times in China. Well he now seems to have come up with a way to do a Flak Trap too. Last turn I noticed a new unit had moved into the disputed hex to the NW of Liuchow, but I presumed this was simply to open up the hex-side so his troops could escape. Prior to this all hex-sides had been red.

Well that may well be the main purpose, but this unit, which is just another Corps or Division, also seems to be bristling with AA guns somehow.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on 93rd Chinese Division, at 74,54 , near Liuchow

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 32 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 139

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 28 damaged
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 7 destroyed by flak

Allied ground losses:
532 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 35 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 54 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 1 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
18 x Ki-43-IIa Oscar bombing from 100 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
19 x Ki-43-IIa Oscar bombing from 100 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
15 x Ki-43-IIa Oscar bombing from 100 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
16 x Ki-43-IIa Oscar bombing from 100 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
19 x Ki-43-IIa Oscar bombing from 100 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
20 x Ki-43-IIa Oscar bombing from 100 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
16 x Ki-43-IIa Oscar bombing from 100 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
11 x Ki-43-IIa Oscar bombing from 100 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb

Also attacking 8th Chinese Corps ...
Also attacking 59th Chinese Corps ...
Also attacking 28th New Chinese Division ...
Also attacking 46th Chinese Corps ...
Also attacking 39th New Chinese Division ...
Also attacking 14th Chinese Corps ...
Also attacking 93rd Chinese Division ...
Also attacking 8th Chinese Corps ...
Also attacking 59th Chinese Corps ...
Also attacking 28th New Chinese Division ...
Also attacking 46th Chinese Corps ...
Also attacking 39th New Chinese Division ...
Also attacking 14th Chinese Corps ...
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Actual losses were 19 planes, out of 139 which flew. Which is a 13.7% loss rate. Ouchie.

[Smeulders]

Ouch, that might hurt once you go up against Commonwealth or US stacks with attached AA guns. Even the best equipped Chinese Corps is nothing in comparison.

[Captain Cruft]

I'm going to stick with it. The primary target of the low level attack is in fact supposed to be airfields, but the Chinese aren't offering any in range.