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

[koniu]

7 DEC 42

China
I have found lost enemy figters. Egzacly Ki-21 raiding chinise troop in nort china find them. 13 bombers lost

Marshals
Screening transport ships was success. No 100% success because it cost us DD and KB revile his position. But succes.

First at night we encounter CL+DD TF.I was almost sure of victory when disaster happen and DD eat torpedo
Night Time Surface Combat, near Ponape at 120,115, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Ashigara, Shell hits 1
CA Furutaka
DD Hatsuzuki, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CL Trenton, Shell hits 4
DD Bagley, Shell hits 1

On morning another Japanese TF react to enemy and finish what should be done at night
Day Time Surface Combat, near Ponape at 121,116, Range 20,000 Yards

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
SOC-1 Seagull: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CA Haguro, Shell hits 2
DD Kuroshio
DD Urakaze

Allied Ships
CL Trenton, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Bagley, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

This is 26 enemy CL sunk from beginning of war and 58 DD

But day don`t end
Two more DD where detected by KB planes and strike was ordered. It look like most of planes not find targets. Only 15 Vals fly and miss. Bad luck
Morning Air attack on TF, near Ponape at 122,116

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 24 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 27
D3A1 Val x 15

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
DD Jarvis

I have also rapport that DD Helm sunk near Kusie after numerous 250 kg bomb hits during search phase

Todays fallen
Huge 15k capacity TK sunk near Formosa. He lost battle with fires
xAP sunk near Ponope again fire from last day
DD Hatsuzuki torpedo hit from DD Bagley - revenged
CL Isuzu - fires after double 1000lb bomb hit

Survivors
CL Abakuma he is fighting with fire and winning. Today drop from 50 to 29.

[koniu]

7 DEC 42 continuation

R&D raport
all D4Y1 R&D factories repaired. Bomber will be available in 1 February 43
all B6N1 R&D factories repaired. Bomber will be available in 1 February 43
all Ki44IIc factories repaired. Fighter will be available in 1 January 43

P1Y1 factories average 75% repaired
N1K1-J factories average 70% repaired
Ki-67 factories average 50% repaired
Ki-84 factories average 45% repaired
Ki-67(T) factories average 30% repaired
B7A2 factories average 20% repaired
A7M2 factories average 5% repaired
Ki-83 factories average 2% repaired

[koniu]

8 Dec 42

Burma
Another day of Lashio bombing.

Koepang
P-38 sweep base. I have 80 fighters on CAP. We shot down 5 P-38 for lose of 9 Ki-44 and and 6 AM6. I must transport radar there to help CAP. (4 Japnais pilots KIA)

My plan is to force Docup to use P-38 to sweep and drain his pool of that plane. So far allies lost 104 P-38 of all types (60% A2A).
To protect island against naval bombardment cruisers are patroling waters around base.
Morning Air attack on Koepang , at 68,116

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 23 NM, estimated altitude 34,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 24
A6M3a Zero x 24
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 36

Allied aircraft
P-38F Lightning x 25

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
A6M3a Zero: 3 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 5 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38F Lightning: 1 destroyed

Subs sunk AK near Kendari. Bigest problem now is lack of escort ships. I cant escoer every TF on map

Marshals
Fleet returning to base. One of CA TF find DD Helm and damage it (Two 20cm hits). Later i heard sinking sound

Night Time Surface Combat, near Ponape at 122,116, Range 10,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Haguro
DD Kuroshio
DD Urakaze

Allied Ships
DD Jarvis, Shell hits 2, on fire

Enemy CV are near Jonhston Island. I have rapport from subs that they where falowed by caeier based planes.

R&D
D4Y1 advance to 3/43

Enemy loses
CA Quincy, CA Minneapolis are reported as sunk. Hig probability that CA Minneapolis sunk after two TT hits but i do tot think that CA Quincy also sunk

[koniu]

We are holding game until michaelm will check what is wrong with unit rebuild.

Details on Tech forum
tm.asp?m=3199206

[obvert]

It didn't look like e'd gotten to your thread yet. Have you heard from him at all?

[koniu]

Michaelm just write that he will fix rebuild bug in next patch.

We will probably continue game but hold with unit rebuild until new patch arrive


koniu

[koniu]

We back to play.
In my entire live i never seen support like Michaelm is giving.


About enemy carrier.

I insisted map mod that make all TF icon have that same color and in first look i miss enemy CV TF

They are 450nm East of Johnston island
Intel is showing 4 CV and 15 ships. 130 fighters and 60 bombers.

No idea what Docup is doing. maybe covering some naval operation in Jonhston.
I very close to send Combined Fleet to investigate that.

[koniu]

9 Dec 42

Burma
Another Lashio bombardment. Troops there are in mess but i don`t have there combat units only eng units.
Docup is sweeping Lashio with 50 P-38 every day. Because Lashino is closed i will have to LCAP
I have 50 Tojos in poll. Soon i will fight.


BB TF attacked near Rangoon. I will give him air cover tomorrow but TF will stay in area.
His presence forcing Docup to keep coastal AFs empty

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Bassein at 52,52

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 2,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Allied aircraft
PBY-4 Catalina x 9

Allied aircraft losses
PBY-4 Catalina: 1 damaged
PBY-4 Catalina: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
BB Ise

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x PBY-4 Catalina launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo


Horn island
SS RO-65 try to attack cargo ships unloading on island. After 14 hits taken must return for repairs.


Marshals
Again i lost contact with enemy CV TF

[koniu]

10 DEC 42

Horn Island
Japanese cruiser sunk cargo ships unloading on island
Day Time Surface Combat, near Horn Island at 91,128, Range 18,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Nagara
DD Natsushio

Allied Ships
AM Dubbo, Shell hits 9, and is sunk
xAK Charles McCormick, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk

Guadalcanal
US DD sunk two and damage one xAKL near island
Night Time Surface Combat, near Tassafaronga at 113,137, Range 4,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
xAKL Yamashimo Maru, Shell hits 3, heavy fires
xAKL Taisoku Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire
xAKL Kayo Maru, Shell hits 14, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Banckert, Shell hits 1

AND NOW ACTION OF DAY

Burma
I have send 260 fighters to LCAP air over Lashio.
All units have range set to 4 - distance between AF and Lashio, but it look like they disobey order and engage enemy bombers over Bhamo(distance 6 Hex)
Lucky for me enemy bomber arrive fragmented (we are playing 1119b patch that should fix that) also lucky for me most of bombers arrive before enemy sweeps

Morning Air attack on 20th Division, at 63,44 (Bhamo)

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 24
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 19
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 18

Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IV: 4 destroyed

---------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on 20th Division, at 63,44 (Bhamo)

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 24
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 19
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 16

Allied aircraft
Hudson IIIa x 16

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Hudson IIIa: 6 destroyed

---------------------------------------------

Afternoon Air attack on 20th Division, at 63,44 (Bhamo)

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 9 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 9
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 7
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 23

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIc x 12
Wellington Ic x 6
P-39D Airacobra x 4

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufighter VIc: 2 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Wellington Ic bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

---------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on 18th Division, at 63,44 (Bhamo)

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 2 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 0 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 14
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 59
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 16

Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 15

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x Blenheim IV bombing from 3000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb

---------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on 18th Division, at 63,44 (Bhamo)

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 4 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 1 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 14
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 59
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 16

Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 16

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
20 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

---------------------------------------------

Afternoon Air attack on 18th Division, at 63,44 (Bhamo)

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 2 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 0 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 9
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 7
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 16

Allied aircraft
Wellington Ic x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Wellington Ic: 2 destroyed, 7 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Wellington Ic bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb


---------------------------------------------

Afternoon Air attack on 18th Division, at 63,44 (Bhamo)

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 8 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 9
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 5
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 10

Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 4

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses


---------------------------------------------

Afternoon Air attack on 18th Division, at 63,44 (Bhamo)

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 9
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 5
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 8

Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 8
P-39D Airacobra x 1

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

---------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on Bhamo , at 63,44

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 20
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 14
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 84
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 16

Allied aircraft
Liberator II x 10
B-17E Fortress x 11
B-17F Fortress x 16

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Liberator II: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 4 damaged
B-17F Fortress: 1 destroyed, 15 damaged

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 6

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Liberator II bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bo


---------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on Bhamo , at 63,44

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 8
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 3
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 50
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 15

Allied aircraft
B-17F Fortress x 5

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17F Fortress: 5 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb

---------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on Bhamo , at 63,44

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 22 NM, estimated altitude 34,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 8
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 1
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 22
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 7

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 2 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 4 destroyed

No Allied losses


---------------------------------------------

Afternoon Air attack on Bhamo , at 63,44

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 33,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 10
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 31
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 11

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 20
P-39D Airacobra x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 3 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 4 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38G Lightning: 1 destroyed


---------------------------------------------

Afternoon Air attack on Bhamo , at 63,44

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 32,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 7
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 23

Allied aircraft
P-38F Lightning x 20
P-39D Airacobra x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 4 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38F Lightning: 1 destroyed


Air loses are heavy for both sides but i think allies will suffer more. I can replace all loses in one day. He don`t.
17 Japanese pilots KIA today

[obvert]

So maybe the new patch isn't quite working yet? I haven't loaded it yet, but will do tests before we try it. We're back on the official patch now. At least you got a lot of bombers in that one.

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: obvert

So maybe the new patch isn't quite working yet? I haven't loaded it yet, but will do tests before we try it. We're back on the official patch now. At least you got a lot of bombers in that one.

I think patch is ok.
In that air battle Docup was using at lest 5 or 6 different AFs to send planes. Some of them are 5 hex from target and some 10 or 15.
He use 8 types of different plane models flying on different attitude (3k, 6k and 10k) so coordination was problem but not because of patch.

[koniu]

I do not known if anyone have that knowledge, but.

We are now in Dec 42 and i what to know what my fighter pilot reserve is looking comparing to other players
Table is showing all active pilots in combat and training units and pilots from reserve poll and TRACOM.

I think navy look ok but army situation is not best.
I am thinking about sending some 70+ pilots to reserve to safe them for later and replace them with low skilled pilots.

[koniu]

11 DEC 42

Very quiet day

Burma
Only action here today.
~100 enemy figters (mostly Hurricanes IIc) sweep Bhamo. They found empty air.
Entire air force in Burma CAPing over Rangoon. They nedd replacment and rest for one, two more days

Ship building
I stoop accelerating CV Taiho. It will delay it for 40 days and allow me to spend 200 point to accelerate few DD and E and start building 4 SS (those with glen on board)

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: koniu

I do not known if anyone have that knowledge, but.

We are now in Dec 42 and i what to know what my fighter pilot reserve is looking comparing to other players
Table is showing all active pilots in combat and training units and pilots from reserve poll and TRACOM.

I think navy look ok but army situation is not best.
I am thinking about sending some 70+ pilots to reserve to safe them for later and replace them with low skilled pilots.

Tend to agree, you are pretty thin with Army pilots. No doubt reflecting your losses in Burma(?)

[koniu]

Thanks PaxMondo,

You are right, most of loses is taken during air war in Burma but also in China.

Situation is now better when Tojo is in service. Earlier i have big problems with P-39 sweeps. Oscar was losing 1:20 against them. Tojo is losing only 1:3,1:4, and because I have change tactic and now i fighting defensive war loses are relatively small. Mostly because i end with MIA pilots madness also more pilots is WIA and not KIA.

I also hoping that entering production of first armored army fighter in 20 days (Ki-44IIc) will reduce pilot loses little. (Or at lest not making them bigger when Corsairs arrive to combat units by end of January).
From January all army fighters, fighter-bombers and bombers produced will have armor.
Only China bombers (Ki-21) and some Oscars used as escort will not have it.

I lose so far 2500 pilots (1500KIA and 500 MIA and 500WIA) Those are high loses but we fighting aggressive war. Also at lest half of them are not army fighter pilots

Allies lose 4000 planes. Japan 4900. In A2A we lose 1300 planes each. That 900 planes different is in ground and ops loses. In most AAR those loses are showing up in spring of `43 and sometimes in summer of `43 and not in end of `42.

Also few months ago i have adjust training system. It allow me to speed up training process little. Right now i have net of specialized air units focusing is single skill. Most training Air(up to 68) some training Def(up to 60) after that most pilots have XP ~45. Those pilots are moved to two units flying 100% CAP. After two weeks they have XP 50 and Air skill is up to 70 and pilots is moved to reserve.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: koniu
I lose so far 2500 pilots (1500KIA and 500 MIA and 500WIA) Those are high loses but we fighting aggressive war. Also at lest half of them are not army fighter pilots

Allies lose 4000 planes. Japan 4900. In A2A we lose 1300 planes each. That 900 planes different is in ground and ops loses. In most AAR those loses are showing up in spring of `43 and sometimes in summer of `43 and not in end of `42.

Also few months ago i have adjust training system. It allow me to speed up training process little. Right now i have net of specialized air units focusing is single skill. Most training Air(up to 68) some training Def(up to 60) after that most pilots have XP ~45. Those pilots are moved to two units flying 100% CAP. After two weeks they have XP 50 and Air skill is up to 70 and pilots is moved to reserve.

Losses are similar to what I have experienced. Not sure if that is good or bad. [;)]

Training regimen is also very similar to mine. [8D] Makes me feel better. [;)] Maybe my system isn't so bad after all. [:D][:D]

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

ORIGINAL: koniu
I lose so far 2500 pilots (1500KIA and 500 MIA and 500WIA) Those are high loses but we fighting aggressive war. Also at lest half of them are not army fighter pilots

Allies lose 4000 planes. Japan 4900. In A2A we lose 1300 planes each. That 900 planes different is in ground and ops loses. In most AAR those loses are showing up in spring of `43 and sometimes in summer of `43 and not in end of `42.

Also few months ago i have adjust training system. It allow me to speed up training process little. Right now i have net of specialized air units focusing is single skill. Most training Air(up to 68) some training Def(up to 60) after that most pilots have XP ~45. Those pilots are moved to two units flying 100% CAP. After two weeks they have XP 50 and Air skill is up to 70 and pilots is moved to reserve.

Losses are similar to what I have experienced. Not sure if that is good or bad. [;)]

Training regimen is also very similar to mine. [8D] Makes me feel better. [;)] Maybe my system isn't so bad after all. [:D][:D]

That good to hear[8D].

I am thinking about moving good pilots to reserve and replace them with rookies but not sure about that.That will build enemy pilots XP fast for cost of bigger losses on my side.
Having those good pilots later when Frank arrive will be good but will give me nothing if they going to face P-47 with 90XP pilots trained on my rookies today

[obvert]

One thing that feels consistent is that a balanced group with some 60-70exp pilots and some 50-60exp will do well for me. This is because the more exp pilots will survive more often, and the lower exp pilots that do survive will gain exp. If the group is all exp pilots then some of those will by default be lost. If they are all lower exp they will be suspect against good pilots.

For your training. I value defense now above most other categories. For me it's a few weeks at low nav or strafe training to get defense to 70 after training air skill, and this will also push exp to 50. I never 'train' with flying them on CAP. They'll get that training in the field soon enough.

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: obvert

One thing that feels consistent is that a balanced group with some 60-70exp pilots and some 50-60exp will do well for me. This is because the more exp pilots will survive more often, and the lower exp pilots that do survive will gain exp. If the group is all exp pilots then some of those will by default be lost. If they are all lower exp they will be suspect against good pilots.

For your training. I value defense now above most other categories. For me it's a few weeks at low nav or strafe training to get defense to 70 after training air skill, and this will also push exp to 50. I never 'train' with flying them on CAP. They'll get that training in the field soon enough.

Thanks,I never think about having all best pilots in one units like having all eggs in one basket. Having more spread XP in units should allow best pilots to have better survive rate. I will make those adjustments in next turn.

[koniu]

12 Dec 42

Another quiet turn

In Marshals Japanese sub sunk another xAK trying to unload supplies in Maoelap.
KB first time from weeks have 100% fuel in tanks and what is unusual 30k reserve in Truk.
65k more fuel will arrive in week.

In china Japanese bombers attack multiple targets around Sian. It was reckon mission to check what is there. Tomorrow i will rest my bombers and fighters they going to be needed in few days. We will have ground battle[8D].

All fighter units move pilots. They have now full spreed of pilots. From 50 XP rookies to 70+ veterans. All 80+ pilots in Tracom.
Also training program will now focus more on training Def skill. Like Obvert say, soon it will be very useful skill.

Ki-44IIc advance to 2/43. In 12 days will advance to 1/43 and in 19 i will start producing it.
Now Question: How many planes i should produce in `43. Right now i am building 200 Tojos. If i should build more i can switch one or two R&D factories to production and if not i will convert all factories to research different planes.