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

[koniu]

Turn send

I have split KB in half ~340 planes in Single TF.


Two M5 fighter squadrons flying 100% CAP with range 0
Rest of A6M5 are set to CAP 40% range 7. M3a and M2 are flying CAP 30% range 7
On average i should have 50% planes on CAP.

50% of fighters is in 13k rest is creating layered CAP 6-18k feet

DB are on 13k with 10-20% search range 7 (i know 60kg bomb on range 7 but DB presence should help TBs to have better score rate)
TB are on 13k range 7 10% search (all using TT)

Naval search is enhanced by 15 E13A1 from CS Nisshin

[PaxMondo]

[koniu]

I had send turn 2h ago and i was already checking my TF setting three times to be sure all was set as should be.

Waiting is killing me[:@]

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: koniu

I had send turn 2h ago and i was already checking my TF setting three times to be sure all was set as should be.

Waiting is killing me[:@]

[:D]

Believe me, I know the feeling.

This is the fun moment though that gets the heart racing. I love this part of the game.

[koniu]

We got them[:D]

Morning Air attack on TF, near Johnston Island at 153,114

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 19
A6M5 Zero x 12
D3A1 Val x 23

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
YMS-102, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
YMS-103, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk

BANZAI!! BANZAI!!


And seriously. Allied carriers run away. Big disappointment

[obvert]

Ha!

Yes, not quite as exciting as seeing a CV in the sights. [:D]

[koniu]

24 DEC 42

Marshals
KB split all over Pacific. SC TF decide to move 13 hexes (movement bug).
1 half of KB move 9, second half 4(they refuel on sea)
Lucky no enemy around.

Today we will upgrade to 1119h patch. That should fix those problems


R&D
First N1K1 George factory repaired. I have 500+ Ha-45 engines so engine bonus will work.
I am expecting George entering production no later than 6/43. 70% chances are for May. 30% for April
I think i will build 150 of them

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: koniu
First N1K1 George factory repaired. I have 500+ Ha-45 engines so engine bonus will work.
I am expecting George entering production no later than 6/43. 70% chances are for May. 30% for April
I think i will build 150 of them

Tally up how many groups can convert and set your build based upon that.

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

ORIGINAL: koniu
First N1K1 George factory repaired. I have 500+ Ha-45 engines so engine bonus will work.
I am expecting George entering production no later than 6/43. 70% chances are for May. 30% for April
I think i will build 150 of them

Tally up how many groups can convert and set your build based upon that.

All navy fighter groups can convert to George.[:D]
On beginning that upgrade is blocked for KB
But it looks like moving group to ground AF is unblocking George for all KB fighter units.
I have check all my navy fighter groups one by one(KB, LBA in front line and those in Japan working as training groups) all can upgrade to all George versions

Production size will depend of situation. I will keep Zero in production as long as KB will be live, so i will need lees N1K. If KB go down i will produce more Groerge.

I have 14x30 George factories. 5 will move to production and 9 to R&D K2.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: koniu
All navy fighter groups can convert to George.[:D]

Sweet!

Yep, convert them all then. A6M series is way outdated. George is a LOT better, best Navy fighter you get until Sam. And that is a long time coming.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: koniu

I have 14x30 George factories. 5 will move to production and 9 to R&D K2.

Not a lot of benefit moving to K2 and K5 versions. I do it of course, but I don't expend a lot of effort on it.

You gain 10 mph each upgrade which is fine, but not earth shattering. Then your ranges move around a little bit. Some positive, some negative. Not much though. Armament also moves a bit, K2 loses two little MG's and the K5 gains a couple decent MG's.

Still the 4x20mm cannon is the big deal. It's almost double the allied fighter armament and enough to bring down 4E's.

[Erkki]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

ORIGINAL: koniu

I have 14x30 George factories. 5 will move to production and 9 to R&D K2.

Not a lot of benefit moving to K2 and K5 versions. I do it of course, but I don't expend a lot of effort on it.

You gain 10 mph each upgrade which is fine, but not earth shattering. Then your ranges move around a little bit. Some positive, some negative. Not much though. Armament also moves a bit, K2 loses two little MG's and the K5 gains a couple decent MG's.

Still the 4x20mm cannon is the big deal. It's almost double the allied fighter armament and enough to bring down 4E's.

K2 does have service rating of 2. Well worth R&Ding IMHO. [;)]

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Erkki

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

ORIGINAL: koniu

I have 14x30 George factories. 5 will move to production and 9 to R&D K2.

Not a lot of benefit moving to K2 and K5 versions. I do it of course, but I don't expend a lot of effort on it.

You gain 10 mph each upgrade which is fine, but not earth shattering. Then your ranges move around a little bit. Some positive, some negative. Not much though. Armament also moves a bit, K2 loses two little MG's and the K5 gains a couple decent MG's.

Still the 4x20mm cannon is the big deal. It's almost double the allied fighter armament and enough to bring down 4E's.

K2 does have service rating of 2. Well worth R&Ding IMHO. [;)]

Yep, that too. I know that some players really swear by low SR's. Me? I've never had that much trouble with SR's.

Since I'd have the R&D factories ready, I'd research the K2 & K5. But, truthfully, once I get the K1, I'm all focused on getting the A7M Sam. The KB is just looking to waste pilots until you get the SAM. If the George was CV capable ... [8D]

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

ORIGINAL: Erkki

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo



Not a lot of benefit moving to K2 and K5 versions. I do it of course, but I don't expend a lot of effort on it.

You gain 10 mph each upgrade which is fine, but not earth shattering. Then your ranges move around a little bit. Some positive, some negative. Not much though. Armament also moves a bit, K2 loses two little MG's and the K5 gains a couple decent MG's.

Still the 4x20mm cannon is the big deal. It's almost double the allied fighter armament and enough to bring down 4E's.

K2 does have service rating of 2. Well worth R&Ding IMHO. [;)]

Yep, that too. I know that some players really swear by low SR's. Me? I've never had that much trouble with SR's.

Since I'd have the R&D factories ready, I'd research the K2 & K5. But, truthfully, once I get the K1, I'm all focused on getting the A7M Sam. The KB is just looking to waste pilots until you get the SAM. If the George was CV capable ... [8D]

Yes having George CV capable would be nice. He will eat F6F for breakfast.
I think we should be allowed to have it CV capable( as different line from LBA George) Somewhere in middle `44 i think.
Only reason George is not CV capable is that Japan in that time was not needing CV planes as much as LBA.
In alternative future like my game (Untouched KB in `43) they probably will adopt N1K to CV duty.

Newerless N1K is much better for all A6M versions. And i want to give best planes for my boys asap.
Plan is to have N1K1 in June `43, N1K2 in December `43 and N1K5 in June `44(different engine so no bonus for that).
Also i whant to have Frank A in DEC43/Jan44. and R version in secon half of `44.

SR should not be a problem. It is not for Ki-45 even on overstocked AF without enough support. So they should handle SR 3. And K5 with 22 gun value i what i should have.

I my test scenario few monts ago killing 4E with K5 was like taking candy from kid if we comparing to A6M.

I think it will be hard game to Docup when he will facing hordes of N1K5 and Ki-84r in second half of `44.

I know i am abusing game engine little but i have pay for all with supplies and HI.

[koniu]

25-26 DEC 42

Burma
First time from at lest 10 days enemy planes show up in Burma.
They bomb LCUs near Akyab with no harm to them.

2 Tank Div arrive Rangoon. I have big hopes for that unit. He have 750AV (bug in earlier beta Patch). Docup is know about it but not know where units is. Together with 1 Tank Div i have 1100 AV of Panzer units in Burma plus 10 ID and some smaller combat units. Together ~6000AV

I air i have 320 fighters (70% Ki-44IIa) and 120 Bombers


KB
Rejoined again slowly sailing to Truk. I will upgrade rest of units to A6M5 when arrive there.

Plane production.
I have halt production of all combat models. I have 1 month reserve of A6M5, Ki-44 factories are waiting to upgrade to IIc model in 5 days. Also Ki-43 and Ki-45 poll have enough planes

Navy and Army bomber polls are full with at lest month production in reserve of all plane types.

I also shot down some engine factories to safe HI.

Fuel/Oil
I have moving more fuel with cargo ships right now. That allow me to move some tankers to transport oil to Japan.

Currently i have 1M of oil in Japan and 800k in DEI
Also i have 2,3M of fuel in Japan(200k grove in last 6 weeks)
Palembang production do not keeping up[:D] On Sumatra I have only 50k fuel and 70k oil.
And many TK TFs is loading.

On Java i have some fuel for naval operation in south DEI and 100k of oil (need transport that to japan)

Burma is producing fuel strictly to KB need in Pacific. I have there 100k fuel and two big AO TF loading in that moment. I have also 300k of oil waiting to send to Japan

Right now it is looking good. I am able to keep DEI dry with fuel also I am able to move some oil to Japan. Reserves in Japan are bigger every day (fuel, resources) or i manage to keep them from drooping (oil).

I have adjusting shaping paths. Cargo and TKs are using now little longer but safer paths close to coast, trying to stay in shallow waters.
ASW air units are giving cover in almost 90% of path they are sailing. So far i see only few ASW air attack but also i do not see many sub attack. No more than 5 in last two week and most of them attack ASW TF not tankers.

[PaxMondo]

Get some more ASW TF's working in conunction with your air ASW along your shipping paths.  You will see even fewer allied subs and you will damage them and send them home very quickly.  I don't kill all that many subs that I know of, BUT I can keep them in transit and repair; neither mode is hurting my transport TF's.  [;)]

[koniu]

27 DEC 42

BB Kongo enter dry dock in Japan. 320 days of repairs

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ORIGINAL: koniu

27 DEC 42

BB Kongo enter dry dock in Japan. 320 days of repairs

Yuck! That's not great.

Question: have you guys moved to 1119g or h and is the movement issue figured out? We're about to upgrade I think.

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: koniu

27 DEC 42

BB Kongo enter dry dock in Japan. 320 days of repairs

Yuck! That's not great.

Question: have you guys moved to 1119g or h and is the movement issue figured out? We're about to upgrade I think.

We are now playing 19h and i have not seen strange behavior so far. But we have played only few turns under h version.
According to Michaelm it was not 100 perfect routine check in TF movement and he fix it.


Kongo situation is bad. In total it will be over year until ship will return to service. I take me 2 months to move it from Marshals to Japan and 11 months of repairs.
So Kongo will return in December `43 Not best time to be big fat Japanese BB

[Saros]

There actually was a carrier capable George designed but I don't think it ever made it to prototypes, the N1K3-A Shiden KAI 2, Model 41. I dont think it would have been available any time before mid '44 at the earliest and the earlier versions would have never worked flying from a carrier. Read up about all the problems they had with landing gear sometime.

That being said it would be really nice to have something to replace the zero if you still have flattops to place them on.