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

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: koniu

After seeing other players economy (especially Obverts). I will give today when return from job, detailed rapport about my economy.

All Japan economy fun boys please prepare to give me some advise.[:'(]

Ready and waiting, although I can only comment on the current status, not the future.

Do you know something i do not [;)]

What forces do you have on each island?

As for your fighters, since you haven't sighted CVs yet, and no LBA is in the area, you could put them on escort NO CAP 30% rest and if there is no action they will heal up a bit for tomorrow or the next day.

Right now there are only some small garrison units there i do not thin they will hold longer that few days. Probably they will fall on day firs shock attack.

As i say in 7h from now i will give more details. I hope i will hit him hard today. I already have there CV fighters form KB2 and some Kate and G4Ms. Making 60-70 bombers in torpedo range. All 90 fighters are set to escort bombers. Air HQ is in base and pilots are mostly veterans with fatigue below 10 so i hoping for coordinated strike todays.

Also 36 G3M3 from Tabiteuea should be in torpedo range tomorrow. So if everything go as planed it will be bloody day.
From My experience when LBA mange to get trough CAP to drop torpedo they have decent hit ratio vs capitol ships.
And what i see if they will have decent Zero escort with mostly 70+ XP veterns they going trough enemy CAP lake hot knife through butter.


I hope i will kick his ass like in last time when he lost his CV.
I need luck for that but if i manage to do that. I will give me few extra months of quiet.

If he decide to invasion he must have his all 4 CVs there so ~360 planes.
I have half o that. But my planes are better with better pilots and they are LBA so i think he have only small advantage.

I do not want stoop invasion as this is probably impassible but i what him to pay huge price fore taking that island.

[koniu]

Economy chart

[koniu]

Air production

[koniu]

R&D

[koniu]

Navy ship production

[koniu]

Merchant ship production

[koniu]

Ship losses

[koniu]

Air losses

[koniu]

8 Aug 42

Marshals battle
Attack was synchronized but only half of bombers fly. I am little disappointed as it cost me 40 planes and 30 pilots and i manage to hit only one torpedo. I was hopping for more.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Maloelap at 138,116

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 83 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 29 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 52
A6M3a Zero x 25
B5N2 Kate x 27
G4M1 Betty x 6

Allied aircraft
F2A-3 Buffalo x 12
F4F-4 Wildcat x 72

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed
A6M3a Zero: 4 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 6 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak
G4M1 Betty: 3 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
F2A-3 Buffalo: 3 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 4 destroyed

Allied Ships
CA Quincy
CV Lexington
CV Saratoga, Torpedo hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
9 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 13000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
10 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

I am retreating my air forces to Truk. Air groups need replace planes and pilots and i will return with full KB in 8-10 days.
I have no firepower to attack again. And probably tomorrow he will bombard AF so it is better to retreat

As to my chances of defending islands, i must say i have none as i do not have more that 200AV in entire Marshals.

I hope Saratoga is damage enough to be forced to retreat. I am sending all available SS to try to find her.
I will be able to gain air superiority when KB arrive and will land with ground forces to secure island i will have in my hands when he land.

Only hope is KB they give me advantage in air

Time to regroup and return with full power.

[obvert]

So it is an invasion supported by CVs? Wow. Still, you're in good shape.

Is he still flying Buffaloes?!! You must have worn him pretty thin for that. I notice your lost plane numbers are pretty high for your date. I'm in October and our air losses, both IJ and Allied, are noticeably lower than in your game. Seems he's either very aggressive or likes to throw his forces around haphazardly. I would try to keep CAP somewhere close and just guess where he'll bombard. He can't hit all of the islands, right? Then see if some bombers will fly, or even just set a CAP trap rather than removing everything. Are his CVs in the forward force or behind? You could set your bombers to shorter range if the CVs are held back.

By that date you should have an SNLF or Naval Guard unit on every island, plus a few of those nice 120AV garrison units on some forward bases. Where are they all? [;)]

But really, if he gets an island or two, you can get it back at this point. You have to start right now though and get major forces into the area, including but not limited to the KB. If he wants these, how will he resupply them assuming he has prepped enough to take them and you can't hit any amphibs going in. Start prepping mobile divisions for everything in the Marshalls now, since you don't yet know what he'll hit. You will not be able to move until 2-3 months from now, but your window gets smaller as you get closer to 43. It'll take him a while to prep for new invasions as well.

You should also plan to start heavily reinforcing Ponape, Kusai, and other nearby islands. 42 is your time to rule this area. Get some stuff over there and kick him back out!

[koniu]

I made lots of mistakes. One of biggest was not building deference in Marshal's. Rookie mistake. Next time i will do better.

Firs step get KB to combat asap and gain air control over area. maybe we sunk some CV or big ships Later try to retake whatever he capture.
To make this happen i have to take Ambon as that will free 5 ID. I hopping doing this to end of month.

I will take week to have full KB in place also they do not have enough fuel but in tree days 65k will arrive to Truk.
I also need take out my fighters from Saumlaki as they stuck there after last battle(another rookie mistake) and docup today bombard island from sea disabling almost 30 more planes(50 disabled total on island) And they repair very slow as AF infrastructure is heavy damaged.

He have 3 reedy CV and one damaged. He will not be able to control Marshals without them. Subs will try to find Saratoga. If i manage to damage that ship more or sunk it i will gain extra advantage.

[koniu]

9 Aug 42

Marshals
Maloelap fall today.

Pre-Invasion action off Maloelap (136,117) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

262 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
BB Warspite, Shell hits 27, on fire
BB Tennessee, Shell hits 12
BB California, Shell hits 4
BB Pennsylvania, Shell hits 5
xAK Howell Lykes
xAK General Fleisher
AP U.S. Grant
DD Bulmer

Japanese ground losses:
378 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 21 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 15 (2 destroyed, 13 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
7 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

and

Invasion Support action off Maloelap (136,117) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

60 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
BB Warspite, on fire
BB Tennessee, Shell hits 8
BB California, Shell hits 4
BB Pennsylvania, Shell hits 5
xAK Howell Lykes
AP U.S. Grant
DD Bulmer


Allied ground losses:
13 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled



and

Ground combat at Maloelap (136,117)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 9441 troops, 197 guns, 281 vehicles, Assault Value = 441

Defending force 2593 troops, 47 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 31

Allied adjusted assault: 145

Japanese adjusted defense: 22

Allied assault odds: 6 to 1 (fort level 4)

Allied forces CAPTURE Maloelap !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-), fatigue(-)

Japanese ground losses:
2981 casualties reported
Squads: 34 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 119 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 38 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 67 (67 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 4


Allied ground losses:
1465 casualties reported
Squads: 50 destroyed, 162 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 27 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 24 disabled
Guns lost 46 (13 destroyed, 33 disabled)
Vehicles lost 25 (4 destroyed, 21 disabled)


My plane do not fly. Probably to low morale. I now probably retreat. But not sure for 100%
Forces sailing to Truk but i will take some time.

I am sending BB TF to Marshals. I will try to intercept invasion force but while loading back on ships.

I lost 25 2E navy bombers when they decide to fly unescorted to attack anamy ships in Ndeni and Darwin. I forgert to cjhange their range last turn.

Look at they enemy losses i i have ther dicent combat units i will be bloodbath. Big mistake, big mistake of my.

[koniu]

I have start preparing two ID to Maloelap. I am also preparing two ID divisions for Jaluit, Wotje and Roi Namur and Kwajalein in case he will take one of them also.

Those division are still in Manchuria but until they prepare i will have enough PP to buy them. Invasion not sooner that 2 months. I will also send one or two units of Tojo to Truk asap.

I am also shipping troops to Tarawa and Tabiteuea they will land in week there.

Obvert: have found those garrison units and i am preparing them to new targets in pacific. I am sending more eng units also.

Plan for next 2-3 weeks is. Gain air superiority above Marshals and suppers Maloelap and other islands he will probably take as i think he have more troops still on ships.

Maybe I will be able to force him to CV battle or at lest hold him to reinforce his new bases


Right now i have retreat all units from Marshals. They are in mess with low morale and they refuse to fly. Only search planes stay on position.

I have also 6 SS in area maybe they hit something. 5 more subs is sailing.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: koniu

I have start preparing two ID to Maloelap. I am also preparing two ID divisions for Jaluit, Wotje and Roi Namur and Kwajalein in case he will take one of them also.

Those division are still in Manchuria but until they prepare i will have enough PP to buy them. Invasion not sooner that 2 months. I will also send one or two units of Tojo to Truk asap.

I am also shipping troops to Tarawa and Tabiteuea they will land in week there.

Obvert: have found those garrison units and i am preparing them to new targets in pacific. I am sending more eng units also.

Plan for next 2-3 weeks is. Gain air superiority above Marshals and suppers Maloelap and other islands he will probably take as i think he have more troops still on ships.

Maybe I will be able to force him to CV battle or at lest hold him to reinforce his new bases

Sounds good. I still think it's too early for him to be here in the Marshalls without major losses to your CVs. You can bleed the place dry with bombardments and suppress fort building. By the time you come back it could be a smoking shell of an island. But I forget the stacking limits there. If he can keep a division on the island, two might not be enough to retake it.

Nice to see that the CD guns were in working order, too bad they only shot at BBs!

I know you're now saving up to buy divisions out of Manchuria. Later, the garrison units there are a cheap way to get decent amounts of AV. I think they cost less than a regiment. Of course there are a ton of engineer units in Manchuria as well, and they are cheap.

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: koniu

I have start preparing two ID to Maloelap. I am also preparing two ID divisions for Jaluit, Wotje and Roi Namur and Kwajalein in case he will take one of them also.

Those division are still in Manchuria but until they prepare i will have enough PP to buy them. Invasion not sooner that 2 months. I will also send one or two units of Tojo to Truk asap.

I am also shipping troops to Tarawa and Tabiteuea they will land in week there.

Obvert: have found those garrison units and i am preparing them to new targets in pacific. I am sending more eng units also.

Plan for next 2-3 weeks is. Gain air superiority above Marshals and suppers Maloelap and other islands he will probably take as i think he have more troops still on ships.

Maybe I will be able to force him to CV battle or at lest hold him to reinforce his new bases

Sounds good. I still think it's too early for him to be here in the Marshalls without major losses to your CVs. You can bleed the place dry with bombardments and suppress fort building. By the time you come back it could be a smoking shell of an island. But I forget the stacking limits there. If he can keep a division on the island, two might not be enough to retake it.

Nice to see that the CD guns were in working order, too bad they only shot at BBs!

I know you're now saving up to buy divisions out of Manchuria. Later, the garrison units there are a cheap way to get decent amounts of AV. I think they cost less than a regiment. Of course there are a ton of engineer units in Manchuria as well, and they are cheap.

Ok he can have ID on island but what if i can suppress him to resupply those bases. They will burn supplies fast. And wihout supplies they will not do good combat. And if add to this bombardment even if i not take that island his units will be out of action for long time. Right now he is overstock base by 400%

PS. Does forts reset when base is taken? Or he will start with fort 4 lvl.
PS2. Garrison units is about 30-40 PP cheaper than Regiment

[obvert]

Yes, forts reset. He'll be at zero, and might only get as far as forts 1 if you're diligent and regular about bombardments.

That's what I was wondering, if the stacking would put him over with a division on the island. So yes, if he's 400% over-stacked, he can't keep it there. Get the CVs in fast and try to hit him on the way out, or the next wave coming in.

Yes, supplies will be his curse. Funny, since this is the one thing the Allies have in abundance, but getting them there will be the problem.

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: obvert

Yes, forts reset. He'll be at zero, and might only get as far as forts 1 if you're diligent and regular about bombardments.

That's what I was wondering, if the stacking would put him over with a division on the island. So yes, if he's 400% over-stacked, he can't keep it there. Get the CVs in fast and try to hit him on the way out, or the next wave coming in.

Yes, supplies will be his curse. Funny, since this is the one thing the Allies have in abundance, but getting them there will be the problem.

I will return to Marchall`s in 10 days max. I am Concentration Doctrine fun boy i we spooking about use of CV so i will not attack until i will have all available CV in place.
Fuel will arrive to Truk in two days. 3 CV from DEI in five days. So in 7-9 days i will strike (5xCV and 3xCVL).

I will not strike earlier as i want to avoid suicide attack against overwhelming enemy forces. An also i need to give some rest to my air group as they have no combat capability right now.

[koniu]

10 Aug 42

Good news from Marshall area.

Sub attack near Maloelap at 136,116

Japanese Ships
SS I-22

Allied Ships
CV Lexington, Torpedo hits 1, on fire fuel tank explosion reported
CA Quincy
CL Detroit
CLAA San Diego
DD Craven
DD Walke
DD Mustin
DD Drayton
DD Mahan
DD Ellet
DD Maury

Both Saratoga and Lexington are listed as sunk. I hear sinking sound last turn but it was probably xAK Howell Lykes hit by CD gins last turns.
At lest i have disable two enemy CV. I will hunt for Lex tomorrow.

[obvert]

Banzai!!!! Nice work. I hope you can get more in there and finish him off!

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: obvert

Banzai!!!! Nice work. I hope you can get more in there and finish him off!

I have 5 subs in 1 hex range. I will cover all passable retreat directions. I am also building picked line around PH in case they will manage to run me in Marshals.

Also bad news. 30 enemy fighters spotted on Maloelap.