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

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: koniu

In two days i will have Death Star KB in service.

Questions is how create TFs to have best offensive and defensive power.
I thinking about creating 3 TFs. 2xCV+2CVL, 3xCV+CVL and 3xCV+CVL

They will move together in single hex. That should keep max plane number near 200 and will reduce coordination penalty to minimum.

Or maybe it will be better to keep them in Single TF?

I arrange them in 2-3 according to speed of the CVs. So there is a fast one, just in case I need it, and a slower one with the Kaga, Junyo, Hiyo and Hosho plus others at 25 knots. That also lets you use the slow BBs if you wish. I like the CS cruisers in there as well. I think the extra search and ASW helps let the KB planes do the striking.

Thanks i plan everything now.

[koniu]

Future of war.

China
Slowly forward. I have no desire to crush China but it will be nice to win few more battles

Burma
Preparing to defense. 1 Tank Div already in Burma. Second fallowing in 2 weeks. I will move more ID from Pacific to support defense of Burma. I think i can give good fight for some time but i will not hold i middle of Burma (open ground)for long. Defenses are week there because i capture Burma to late and when i start building forts i have not enough time and eng units.

After last patch managing planes on Jap side is much easier without that extra intel allies have earlier. So i am starting to fight more aggressively


Summatra/Java
Preparing defenses for late war. Right now area is safe and no need of holding Major forces there. Java is building forts and AF. In Sumatra i am building ring of AF around Palembang

Timor/Ambon
Soft spot of my defenses.
Priority is to reinforce Timor, Soemba and Saumlaki. If i lose them Docup will have Java in range of 4E. Also he will make difficult to me to supply pacific fleet with fuel from Borneo.
Right now I am reinforcing Timor, Troops will also land i Soemba. By end of Year i should have there nice AF net and Some graound troops behind dicent forts.

As for short plans i am moving some big ships in to area. Docup is moving lots of ships between Darwin, Derby. I will operate from bases north of Timor. Main mission intercepting enemy cargo and combat ships in Deby/Darwin area. He is moving all his ships from West. East approach is secured by my suface riders. And they not detect enemy ships moving trough Arafura Sea for weeks

I thinking to bombard Derby. Only fighters on AF and big number of ships in port (50-100)
Right now i am gathering ships in Bima port. Docup is not reckoning it and distance allowing me to try interception around Derby or bombard without need to get closer earlier. Also they will give support to transport ships. Docup is good with naval sweeps when i am unloading.

Area should be secure for some time. Without British CV and US CV on Pacific offensive will be risky. But i will move some fighters and try to fight 4E.


Coral Sea
I am building defenses and AFs. Area should be secure for some time. If allies try offensive there i have KB one day from area.

I sending more LCU to area and more supplies. I think Coral Sea or Marshals going to be first place of allied major offensive in Pacific.

Marshals
i will abandon invasion of Wotje. Probably will try to land on Maoeolap to capture that lvl 4 AF back. But not decided yet.
I am moving back two ID from Pacific. They will sail to Burma. Also i will move One Zero units to Kendari.

Meby i will send KB to raid shiping aroun Jonston island. I see huge numbers if ships there. Hit and runk action could be niece but must wait first for fuel.





I will not see allied major offensive fore while. Docup Probably will wait when more CV will arrive.
He will use that time to build fuel and supplies reserve for spring offensive and sometimes try naval raid or CV raid forcing me to use KB and my fuel reserve.

I think most action we will see in Burma and China. I also suspecting lot of Air war in DEI and Marshals. Docup have there lots of P-38 and B-17

[koniu]

Hi, we are now in 22 Nov 42 so i will give fast summary of last 4 days

Burma
On 21 Docup sweep with 50 P-38. My fighters intercept them.
Loses are high (36 planes and 13 pilots) but i manage to shutdown 10 P-38. It is half of his month reinforcements. I do math and he have now no more than 120 P-38 in service. Maybe less if he was forceed to withdrawal some P-38 units before he upgrade units to different plane. Supply low again.

Cocos Island
Docup send supply to Cocos. We sunk one of cargo ships. I sending CA+DD TF to watch closely. Next time we will intercept them.

Timor/Ambon/Kendari

I am moving lot of supplies and troops. I want to move one of Air HQ more south. I what to start fighting air war there. Maybe i will shot down more P-38. They are deadly but allies get only 20 of them so few raid like in Burma an he will have empty pool.

We sunk two British AV and AM. I was hoping to intercept Cargo TF near Derby but i miss it

Coral Sea
Quiet. Very Quiet.

Marshals.
I sunk few allied ships patrolling area East and south of Marshals. CA TF intercept and sunk Allied Cargo ships near Wotje(7 ships). I think Docup is low in supply.

Wotje and Maoelap AFs are closed. Without Carriers he will not have chance to repair them. I will have only 50 fighters in Marshal from now. Enough to defend abse and support bombers when bombing. In case of emergency i have KB in range with 240 fighters.

Kongo will today sail to Truk. I good to see her on see but we need to repair those tree big holes in her before he will fight again.

Johnston island
It look like Docup is preparing island to defend against invasion . But invasion will newer happen. I have few subs hunting i that area.

China
I must rethink my future plans. Right now quiet

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

ORIGINAL: koniu

[It looks that new patch is working perfectly. Docup not even knew that i transfering fighters.[:)]
Next time he will think twice before will send planes.

Great news!!!!

I have now confirmation from Docup. I transfer planes to three reckoned by allies bases (DL was betwen 5-9) in Burma and Docup send me massage that he not see them or icon in base until next turn.

Personally i think that fixing this was best fix in unofficial beta patch.

[koniu]

23 NOV 42

Japan
BB Haruna enter Kobe shipyard. 108 days for full repair

Burma
Heavy allied sweeps but they found empty air.

Cocos Island
We sunk xAK in Cocos anchor

DEI
Reckon plane found enemy units in dot base between Soemba and Timor. I will bomb them tomorrow. I will reckon all dot basses in area in case i miss more dutch units when i was capturing that area.

Marshals
BB Kongo TF detected and attacked. One of destroyers hit by TT but no explosion.
In two days Kong will arrive to Ponape

China
Qiuet

R&D
Ki-44IIc advance to 5/43

[sj80]

ORIGINAL: koniu

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: koniu

In two days i will have Death Star KB in service.

Questions is how create TFs to have best offensive and defensive power.
I thinking about creating 3 TFs. 2xCV+2CVL, 3xCV+CVL and 3xCV+CVL

They will move together in single hex. That should keep max plane number near 200 and will reduce coordination penalty to minimum.

Or maybe it will be better to keep them in Single TF?

I arrange them in 2-3 according to speed of the CVs. So there is a fast one, just in case I need it, and a slower one with the Kaga, Junyo, Hiyo and Hosho plus others at 25 knots. That also lets you use the slow BBs if you wish. I like the CS cruisers in there as well. I think the extra search and ASW helps let the KB planes do the striking.

Thanks i plan everything now.

Hey koniu,

to split the KB into several groups can be a good idea. But you have to remember that if one TF reacts the others may not react. In worst case one TF reacts to the enemy while the others remain in position. In this case you're going to lose the reacting group in a carrier clash. I've seen that behavior a long time ago in one AAR in this forum, but I don't remember which one it was.

Sebastian

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: sj80

ORIGINAL: koniu

ORIGINAL: obvert




I arrange them in 2-3 according to speed of the CVs. So there is a fast one, just in case I need it, and a slower one with the Kaga, Junyo, Hiyo and Hosho plus others at 25 knots. That also lets you use the slow BBs if you wish. I like the CS cruisers in there as well. I think the extra search and ASW helps let the KB planes do the striking.

Thanks i plan everything now.

Hey koniu,

to split the KB into several groups can be a good idea. But you have to remember that if one TF reacts the others may not react. In worst case one TF reacts to the enemy while the others remain in position. In this case you're going to lose the reacting group in a carrier clash. I've seen that behavior a long time ago in one AAR in this forum, but I don't remember which one it was.

Sebastian

Thanks, I will remember that.
Reaction range is useful when want carrier battle. But it can be also dangerous.
Doses TF will react if i will give them reaction range 0?

So far i newer use reaction range for CV TF. Only for SAG TF and they react maybe few time only.

[sj80]

ORIGINAL: sj80

Thanks, I will remember that.
Reaction range is useful when want carrier battle. But it can be also dangerous.
Doses TF will react if i will give them reaction range 0?

So far i newer use reaction range for CV TF. Only for SAG TF and they react maybe few time only.

I found that thread with interesting comments to reaction range: tm.asp?m=3021666
Regarding to your question the most interesting comment is: "High Aggressiveness TF commander often overrides reaction set = 0". It seems to be a good idea to choose Air Combat TF commanders with same aggression level.

Sebastian

[koniu]

24 Nov 42

Burma
Another day of bombing. I can do nothing now about that. I want to give firs few days of rest to pilots and move 42 extra Tojo's from China first

Formosa
Big Tanker eat TT. Lucky he was empty and because of size no danger of sinking. I will split TF and tanker will continue trip to Singer where he will enter shipyard.

Marshals
Kongo one hex from Ponape. She will spend there few days under care of AR because temporary flotation star failing again (nothing dangerous)

KB
Rejoined. 8 big CV, 4 CVL. (672 active planes)
-255 fighters (100 already upgrades to A6M5, rest still using A6M3a, 200 pilots with XP 70+ )
-227 dive bombers
-190 torpedo bombers.

I will seek for carrier battle in Marshals. I this will happen there i will have also support of 120 fighters and 80 naval bombers(with torpedoes from ground AF. Next time Docup show near Marshals one i us will not be happy.

I spend ~150 PP to new air group commanders for KB units. I have 8 units with commanders of air skill 30 or less now all commander have at lest air skill 60

Pilot training
Army pool is empty i am starting to drain pilots from of map flight school

[koniu]

Sorry for not updating this aar bur RL last days is not allowing me that.

25-29 Nov 42

Burma
We have big air battle over open fields. We fight well losing planes in 1:1 ratio so if you fight over your AF is good. But then P-38 show up and end party. At the end of day 28 planes lost for only 11 allied.

I have unload 100k supplyies in Rangonn. Again soldiers have something to eat.

Java
Having minefield in Merak was good move. Second SS sunk in month. Last day SS Guardfish find two mines.

Timor
I have transport 10 ID to Timor and some smaller units to secure other targets in area targets in area. Another ID is preparing but i will spit that unit and secure three bases.

B-17 send Koepang back to middle ages but i already sending 100 Tojos and 90 Zeros to fight over Timor. But this will take week. Ki-44 have very short range.

Coral Sea
Very quiet. Nothing is happening there. To quiet for me.

DD John D. Edwards sunk after torpedo hit near Noumea

Marshals
Quiet. I am keeping enemy AF closed. Docup was trying to send supplies but with 90% loses in ships, from last few days quiet. I see two Cruiser TF behand G3M range but i do not reacting

China
I am bombing he is not. We are in impasse.


R&D
K-44IIc advance to 4/43 (math is showing that he will enter production on January 10)
4 factories of D4Y repaired (bomber will be available in February)
2 factories of B6N repaired (bomber will be available in March)

KB
Anchored is safe location. Curently changing commanders.

[koniu]

30 Nov 42

Burma
Allied bombers push me out of open ground in Burma. Last ground unit die today. I was newer planing to fight in open ground.

North OZ
SS I-124 sunk after trying to attack enemy convoy near Derby

China
We again close Sian AF

Pilot training
Accelerated training for 45 IJ Navy pilots from month-cycle 10
IJ Navy instructors accelerate training of 72 pilots from month-cycle 10
IJ Navy instructors accelerate training of 137 pilots from month-cycle 8
IJ Navy instructors accelerate training of 107 pilots from month-cycle 5

Replacements
Few figter air groups resizes. Also DB and FB groups arrive

[koniu]

1 DEC 42

Burma
Bombers attack AF. AF operational but it looks like /docup will try to cles them all.
Planing Air trap again in few days. This time 230 fighters will take part in it. Right now looking for pattern.

Burma have now 50k+ supplies.

Enemy crisuer TF sweep water south of Rangoon but my BB TF miss it.

China
First enemy raid from two weeks(when i shot down 30 enemy planes)
They attack troops in Ichang. 40 fighters in unplanned CAP (leaky cap) intercept
enemy. First two sweep waves of P40K and Hurricane IIc. I gaet 1:1 kill ratio. Nice.
Later 10 A-20A1 Havoc escorted by P-39D try to strafing attack. Again we intercept them shoting down one P-39 and one Havoc. No damage on ground

Docup must have done something wrong with setting because 16 unescorted Blenheim IV attack Hankow. We shutdown 12.

Japanese loses 7 fighters (4 pilots)

Malaya
E escorting tankers sunk on shallow waters SS Grunion

Timor
Koepang AF almost repaired. 3-4 days and 150 fighters will fly there.

[koniu]

2 Dec 42
This turn will be probably redone.
We upgraded to 1119 patch and it mess with ac bomb load. Half of my units start to fly with 15kg bombs[:@]

I do not know if that affected allied ac group but i suggested to Docup to downgrade to 1117e and replay 2 DEC turn again under old patch version.

Waiting for Docup decision but i think he will agree that best solution is to redone turn

EDIT
We decide to redo 2 DEC turn under 17e patch

[koniu]

2 DEC 42
Turn redone after bomb load bug introduced in 1119 patch. We back to 1117e and will stay on it for while.

Burma
Docup is bombarding Bases in North Burma
Today he miss and no damage make to base.
It looks like Docup is LCAP bases that he is bombing. I will not CAP but sweeping own base can be good chose. Usually he have 10 enemy fighters on LCAP - easy target for Tojos.

Marshals
I will soon try another landing on Marshals. Prabably Wotje first and Maoeloap later
I am keeping bases closed and bombing ennemy troops there.

Results are promising. This is how standarg bombing looks
Morning Air attack on 54th Coastal Artillery Regiment, at 135,115 (Wotje)

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 69 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 21 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 33

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 7 damaged

Allied ground losses:
40 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 18 (8 destroyed, 10 disabled)
Vehicles lost 15 (2 destroyed, 13 disabled)

Bombardment of Maoelap looks like that also. I have two ID ready to land on those atolls. This time i will split them and only 2/3 will land id first wave and 1/3 of ID will be in reserve

China

I am bombing 3 chines ID on open East of Sian
they taking heavy loses every day losing 500 man/day. I am disabling also ~30 squads dayly
I will in few days rebuild 3 Tank Div in Hankow. Because i don`t have PP to buy them from China i will send them to fight in open fields east of Sian.

12 Oscars sweep Shaoyang. We find 11 P-39D. 7 planes shot down for 1 Oscar (pilot KIA)

Kongo
Tomorrow she will sail from Penope to Truk. Enegine damage repaired to 15. Flotation 58 and more repairs reguiering shipyard. Sys damage down to 49


28 ID
After disastrous landing in Wotje mont ago, division is taking replacments in Tokyo.
When they arrive to tokyo Toe was 23% and onlu 34 comabat squads in unit. Now it look much better. To speed up replacements ID is splinted

[koniu]

3 DEC 42

Burma
Heavy bombers close Bhamo. Few days need for repairs.

Tojos sweep hex east of Akyab. They shot down one P-39D (leaky CAP probably)
Morning Air attack on 2/13th Field Regiment, at 55,45 , near Akyab

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 43 NM, estimated altitude 25,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 42

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed


Timor
Koepang repaired. In two days i will start defending it with 200 fighters.

Marshals
Continuous bombardment of Wotje and Malelap.
From 4 days i try to send G3 and G4 bombers against cruiser TFs east of Marshals. Fourth time they launch and are unable to locate targets.

I send SC TF (2xCA,2xCL,2xDD) to intercept. Currently in Roi-Namur Hex

China
Ki-43Ic sweep Chungking. Few days earlier i saw there 20 fighters.

Morning Air attack on Chungking , at 76,45

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 44 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 12

Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 5
P-66 Vanguard x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
H81-A3: 2 destroyed
P-66 Vanguard: 2 destroyed

Bed time for Chinese troops East of Sian. They must be in mess. 500+ KIA every day and 60+ disabled squads. I even start killing them.

Units in circles cut of from road connection to Sian. I planing to kill them all.

[koniu]

4 DEC 42

Burma
Lashio AF closed. I have never seen so many bombers so far. I think 100+ heavies

I have detected enemy CL TF near Rangoon, will try ti intercept them tomorrow on sea or from air

Marshals
Finally Bombers find targets.
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Maloelap at 145,115

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 12
G4M1 Betty x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
CA Quincy, Torpedo hits 1
CA Minneapolis, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Henley
DD O'Brien
DD Edsall

Japanese cruisers are undetected. I will try to intercept Cargo ships and if lucky cruisers
.

[koniu]

5 DEC 42

Marshals
CA TF manage to capture some cargo ships early morning:
Day Time Surface Combat, near Maloelap at 146,117, Range 25,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Chikuma
CA Nachi
CL Isuzu, Shell hits 1
CL Abukuma, Shell hits 1
DD Naganami
DD Asashio

Allied Ships
DMS Hopkins, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
DMS Zane, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Ensley City, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Makiki, Shell hits 28, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Mokihana, Shell hits 14, and is sunk
xAK Olopana, Shell hits 7, and is sunk

And all good thing end and nightmare start
What last day look like Small forces in reality was forward guard for carrier TF

Morning Air attack on TF, near Maloelap at 147,117

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
F4F-3A Wildcat x 9
F4F-4 Wildcat x 23
SBD-3 Dauntless x 34
TBF-1 Avenger x 15

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
CL Abukuma, Bomb hits 1, on fire (WILL SUNK TOMORROW FROM FIRE)
CA Chikuma, Bomb hits 3, on fire (SUNK FEW H LATER)
CL Isuzu, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires (WILL SUNK TOMORROW FROM FIRE
CA Nachi, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
DD Naganami, Bomb hits 2, on fire MINIMAL DAMAGE WILL RUN FOR LIFE
DD Asashio WILL RUN FOR LIFE

Now decision should be made. Move KB or Not. I do not think enemy will stay in are.
Decisions, that why i love that game.

Picture of day.
I have rebuild 2 Tank Div in Singer. Or something go wrong or it is very nice unit.
Look at Tank numbers almost everythin is dubble of TOE. When all Tanks going to be active unit will have 850AV 2,5 of normal Tank Div) I am not complaining but i think i will tell Docup abot that.

[obvert]

That sucks about the cruisers. Yuck.

Are your CVs in the area?

PS - I WANT that tank division! How did you do that?! [:D]

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: obvert

That sucks about the cruisers. Yuck.

Are your CVs in the area?

PS - I WANT that tank division! How did you do that?! [:D]

Thak sucks. I have KB two days on flank. But i decide to stay in port. Whay?
-Docup will not stay in area that long.
-If i fallow I will be probably forced to fight in close proximity of LBA from Johnston Island and that is now biggest denger for KB (4 allied CV, CVE and LBA making 1:1 in planes numbers)
-fuel is low (tanks on 100% but no reserve in Truk)
-I want to keep KB in shadows. This is probably biggest weapon Japan have right now. Lack of knowledge where KB is.

As for 2 Tank Div. It is probably bug. Because before rebuilding numbers of devices was like TOE. After rebuilt everything double. Best thing is that i get all those tanks and guns for free. No HI or devices poll used.

[koniu]

6 DEC 42

Burma
Another day of bombing in north Burma.
After last patch it is taking forever. Today 11 separate waves to watch.

China
Nothin major. But I do not know where 60 enemy fighters are. I reckoning ale major chines AF but so far nothing

Marshals
I think i have hart attack. Enemy CL intercept my amphibious TF. I must say i am lucky.
Only one ship sunk and ~1500 death. It could be much worst because a have two(2) ID (50k man) sailing to Kusie. CRuiser FT escorting those ships not manage to intercept enemy fleet.

Now they will split in small TFs and run toward Truk. All available combat ships in area will give support.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Kusaie Island at 122,117, Range 9,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Hamakaze
DD Nowaki
DD Arare
DD Harukaze
DD Matsukaze, Shell hits 3, on fire
xAK Kokuryu Maru
xAK Kotohira Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire
xAK Tempei Maru
xAK Yae Maru
xAK Tamaki Maru
xAK Nittai Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire
xAK Kyokko Maru
xAK Hiyama Maru, Shell hits 3, on fire
xAK Teiryu Maru
xAK Teisen Maru
xAK Gosei Maru
xAK Igasa Maru
xAK Kiyozumi Maru
xAK Nojima Maru
xAK Shinwa Maru
xAK Zyuyo Maru, Shell hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage (sunk later)
xAP Teiko Maru
xAP Montevideo Maru
xAP Ussuri Maru
xAP Ural Maru
xAP Baikal Maru, Shell hits 1, heavy fires (still on small fire)
xAP Tango Maru
xAP Kasado Maru
xAP Kowa Maru
xAP Teifu Maru
xAP Teika Maru
xAP Teison Maru
xAP Teibi Maru
xAP Teiritsu Maru

Allied Ships
CL Trenton
DD Bagley
DD Helm, Shell hits 7, heavy fires
DD Jarvis

Japanese ground losses:
976 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 49 disabled
Non Combat: 16 destroyed, 78 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Vehicles lost 11 (4 destroyed, 7 disabled)


Two DDs from last day battle manage to reach safe waters but they engage enemy destroyers at night.
Tanaka is to aggressive for escort duty i think [:'(]
Night Time Surface Combat, near Maloelap at 147,117, Range 4,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Naganami
DD Asashio, Shell hits 1, on fire

Allied Ships
DD Blue
DD Fanning

Both CLs damage during CV attack still on surface. Abukuma arrive to nearest port. Fire go down from 80 to 50. Maybe will survive. Second cruiser Isuzu cripled 200nm from port take serous damage from fires. Prabably will sunk tommarow.