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

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: 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.

Yep, but as you mention, the landing gear was a problem they could not get around for carrier duty. And George is not a small plane. I looked hard at a CV capable George for my mod, but in the end had to stay with the Sam. There really wasn't a better option coming for them ... a real limitation for the KB once the allies convert to F6F.

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

ORIGINAL: 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.

Yep, but as you mention, the landing gear was a problem they could not get around for carrier duty. And George is not a small plane. I looked hard at a CV capable George for my mod, but in the end had to stay with the Sam. There really wasn't a better option coming for them ... a real limitation for the KB once the allies convert to F6F.

Yes, i know but in theory, Japan was able to adjust N1K construction to make it CV capable.
Biggest reason they not do that is that they have no need to build new CV capable plane in that time. Lack of CV, trained pilots,etc. From `44 they where focusing on LBA types

But in game reality, in my current situation i should be able to spend resources to design CV capable N1K. It will nicely close that hole from point when F6F and F4U showing up to moment when A7M arrive(2 years of game play).

Without better plane, in few months KB will become one shot weapon. After one, if lucky two CV clash KB will end his existence and what remain from it will become burden to japan.

So because i do not need to have KB until war ends i decide to use it in combat sinking few Allied CV and BB in point of game when allies will notice losing those ships. That is better than having it in `45 against US meat-machine in time consuming tons of fuel)
In Summary i will seek for "decisive battle" asap

[koniu]

28 DEC 42

Burma
I have return to Mandalay with ground troops. I manage without Docup knowledge repair AF and start expending forts again. Today he detect those troops. I will fight for air above Mandalay with 100 fighters directly in base and 100 more from anther bases flying LCAP.

100 fighters will stay in reserve to rotate them.

Docup send night bombing raids to Rangoon but they score only few AF hits. Nothing big.

Formosa
I lost another Tanker (8000 tons) from TT hits.
Waters around Formosa are most dangerous for my ships. I must move trough those waters and Docup is concentrating his subs in area. I am moving more Surface and Air ASW units to area.


Marshals
KB attack ans sunk YMS near Eniwetok.
KB will return to Truk in three days to refuel. All 260 KB fighters are flying A6M5 now.
I have upgraded last unit in Truk today.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: koniu
Yes, i know but in theory, Japan was able to adjust N1K construction to make it CV capable.
Biggest reason they not do that is that they have no need to build new CV capable plane in that time. Lack of CV, trained pilots,etc. From `44 they where focusing on LBA types

Mmm, not sure I agree completely. They certainly tried to make N1K CV capable. The landing gear problem was insurmountable for them though. It would have been a major re-design of the plane. My conclusion was even with focus, at least a year and more likely 18 months. That means mid '44 to early '45. Basically, same time frame as the Sam. and Sam is better.

ORIGINAL: koniu
But in game reality, in my current situation i should be able to spend resources to design CV capable N1K. It will nicely close that hole from point when F6F and F4U showing up to moment when A7M arrive(2 years of game play).

As I note above, I agree. In my mod I decided against it because the timing becomes same as Sam. There is no doubt about the need for a Zero replacement. The issue is that back in 1939/40 they sat back on the laurels of the Zero instead of developing a new plane. N1K design starts in late '41 ... they get a prototype in '42 but the engine isn't ready. In '43 they get enough engines to test produce and then discover the landing gear issue for CV duty. Just too late. They had to discover the problem in '42, but couldn't as the Ha-45 was late. Very difficult to contort reality to see how a CV capable N1K is available in '43. As I note above, for my mod, I simply could not get there. Too many obstacles. And my mod is "blue sky" mod for IJ. [;)]

ORIGINAL: koniu
Without better plane, in few months KB will become one shot weapon. After one, if lucky two CV clash KB will end his existence and what remain from it will become burden to japan.

Yep. Most players reach same conclusion.

ORIGINAL: koniu
So because i do not need to have KB until war ends i decide to use it in combat sinking few Allied CV and BB in point of game when allies will notice losing those ships. That is better than having it in `45 against US meat-machine in time consuming tons of fuel)
In Summary i will seek for "decisive battle" asap

Yep. Just remember both of your stipulations for "burning" the KB. Some few players (PzB comes to mind) have been able to address both issues and so keep a healthy and active KB into '45 and get Sam on board. Yes, KB cannot stand alone against allied Death Star after '44, but with LBA it can and it moves faster than LBA to react to incursions.

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

Yep. Just remember both of your stipulations for "burning" the KB. Some few players (PzB comes to mind) have been able to address both issues and so keep a healthy and active KB into '45 and get Sam on board. Yes, KB cannot stand alone against allied Death Star after '44, but with LBA it can and it moves faster than LBA to react to incursions.

I have never planed to use and lose KB in some pointless CV clash. I planing to use it against enemy invasion fleet or if i will be sure of good chance of sauces in carrier battle. But losing KB must give me something.

Interdiction of invasion fleet will be best for that. Cooperation of surface ships, KB and LBA should give some good results. And all allied invasions in `43 (especially in central Pacific) will suffer from lack of LBA support)

Best result can be achieved before enemy land with troops, and that mean 2 max 3 days from detecting invasion forces. so KB must be 40 hexes from invasion target MAX.
Nothing is making Your day like US Marine Division on bottom of Pacific


Right now i trying to find place where Docup will land. No idea right now, but i will give my $ for south DEI or Salomon's where he can have some king of LBA support. Marshals are difficult. Because even with all his CV and CVE right now he in best can have 1:1 in air, and i am not counting Japanese LBA planes. It will be fun.

For me most critical will be DEI. I will need to fight there to last soldier. In Salomon's or Marshal's retreat is option in DEI not.

[koniu]

31 DEC 42

Truk
Torpedoes from SS Spearfish miss CV Hiryu by few meters. I was lucky today.

Burma
Japanese AF is fighting over Mandalay and Akyab with success.
Tojo's sweep Akyab shotting down 16 Hurricanes Ib for lose of 6 Tojos
It look like British polls are low. Docup is back to fly with Hurricanes Ib[&:]

Allies sweep Mandalay. Docups send 50 Hurricane IIc and 50 Lightnings
I shot down 30% of them. Interesting how long Docup will be able to keep those sweeps

In total we achieve almost 1:1 ratio in Burma.

8 pilots lost lives today and 22[X(] is WIA



Air Production
I have start producing Ki-44IIc Tojo

ASW
Air ASW start working. I have today around 10 attack on enemy sub and 4 hit confirmation. So it look good.

[koniu]

Anyone know what is needed for WIA pilot to back to active duty.

I know that they need drop fatigue to 0, but after that i have no idea.
I have pilots returning to units next day after fatigue drop down and many with fatigue 0 waiting from month to return to action.

Also WIA pilots are returning to units they get wounded but what happen when unit is full of pilots or units is no active anymore.

I have 550 WIA pilots and i want them back

[obvert]

Think of WIA as a nice pool of trained pilots that will eventually come back. Unfortunately I think they also lose exp points when wounded, right? Still, better than KIA or MIA.

I have about 800 MIA and about 700 WIA pilots right now. So a lot out there.

For you losing only 8 pilots KIA after losing 54 planes is pretty good, especially since only the Nick has armor. Envious you get the Tojo IIc so early! I'm still just getting them into groups now in 9/43.

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: obvert

Think of WIA as a nice pool of trained pilots that will eventually come back. Unfortunately I think they also lose exp points when wounded, right? Still, better than KIA or MIA.

I have about 800 MIA and about 700 WIA pilots right now. So a lot out there.

For you losing only 8 pilots KIA after losing 54 planes is pretty good, especially since only the Nick has armor. Envious you get the Tojo IIc so early! I'm still just getting them into groups now in 9/43.

Yest WIA pilots are losing XP. I have check few pilots and they losing ~8XP point.
I have one pilots WIA in last battle, for him it was third wound in 2 months. He drop from 70xp to 48xp( but he have air skill 79 and def 77)

I have right now 550 WIA and many of them is in middle 60xp so i hope they back asap to me. I have 500+ MIA but for me they are like death.

Having Tojo IIc is nice in 1/43. It cost me many supplies and HI (engine bonus) but i hoping to have better results with those two CL 12,7 MG. I have read in one of WAR ROOM topick that IIc is doubling kill ration againts 4E comparing to IIa.

And armor should give better chance of survival for my pilots. I will build 200 of them and slowly replace IIa model. I will start from Burma units.

For next 12 months IIc will by major army fighter. I have skip Tony line so before Frank arrive in Dec 43(i hope) i will not have anything better. Navy will give army some George support but for that i need 6 months.

[PaxMondo]

You can check the pilot replacements/reserve screen to get the date when they return.  They will lose some exp each month they are gone ... highly variable loss.  don't lose skill, or if they do, the skill loss is quite low compared to exp.

[Crackaces]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

You can check the pilot replacements/reserve screen to get the date when they return.  They will lose some exp each month they are gone ... highly variable loss.  don't lose skill, or if they do, the skill loss is quite low compared to exp.

I thought the biggest loss was when the pilot jumps out of the plane? and then some random number of days before they come back that has an attrition on experince that seems to be at the begining of the month? The Allies seem to use a similar algorithum. Funny thing sbout patterns in a world of randomness .. we sometimes see what we expect [8D]

[koniu]

I just want them back.
I am like goo father, i love them all. I not care how ugly or low experienced they are [:D]

PS. I always think they loose XP in turn they gain WIA status not every month.
At lest in tracker i have pilots WIA from more than month and they not loosing xp expect turn 1

[koniu]

1 JAN 43

Quiet. No action on sea. Random bombing missions.

Mandalay bombarded at night, all bombs miss.
Fresh units protecting Mandalay. Two senti taking replacement in Bangkok. They will be reedy in 2-3 days to back to combat. In Burma i have 300 fighters it should be enough to stoop Docup at lest before F4U will show up.

PS. Strange thing, i have not seen P-40s in action from month or more. Or he is using them in rears or building pool to offensive.

[koniu]

I have just found out that new `43 infantry units is available for production.
I think i will not upgrade until necessary. New squad have lower load cost(less supplies) but also lower anti-soft.

I will upgrade when unit will need replacements not sooner. `42 poll is empty and production ended so when major combat start i start loosing 42 squads i will be forced to upgrade.

[koniu]

2-3 Jan 43

Burma
Another quiet day.
I moving troop around. From today Mandalay have radar Ta-Chi Type 7. This is best ground radar japan will have. This should give decent 20-30 minutes warning.
Rangoon, Lashio and other Burma AFs waiting to upgrade. I want to have in all those bases type 4 or 7 radars.

East OZ
Japanese Sub sunk Australian CM

Timor area.
Docup stop reckoning in area. Strange, on his place i want to know what is going on.

Salomons
I am unloading supplies in Guadalcanal. CA TF and 50 fighters is supporting that operation.

Marshals
Normal day. I keeping enemy bases closed

Truk.
Docup is using subs to reckon base. Current DL 4/5.
KB refuel and today i will sail somewhere else to find new anchor. I am looking for good place to anchor KB. Somewhere in middle between Timor, Marshals and Salomon's.

R&D
B6N1 will be available in 3/43. February was option but I will not manage to have engine before march

First Ki-67 factory start researching. I should have that plane in December 43. Good range will make it good long range kamikaze(not cheap but good range)

Ship building
I have stop accelerating CV Unryu and Amagi. They will arrive in June
* Arrival dates are in polish

[PaxMondo]

Radar is a BIG help. 
 
Why did you stop accelerating your CV's?

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

Radar is a BIG help. 

Why did you stop accelerating your CV's?

Pax it is my mistake i think.
I will probably start accelerating them again.
I was sure that first Essex will arrive in July. But in July he will have 3 of them already, and i forgot totally about CVE (13 total) so two more CV in KB will be good. Especially with good pilots in air units they have on board

My plan was to keep numeric superiority in air, but i use wrong data. and I forgot that in July He will use F6F so that also is changing balance.

Also April will be critical for KB . Almost all carriers will get radars but it will require to send them to shipyard to almost month.
They are two ways to upgrade them. Spreed upgrade in few month making KB weaker but operational or sent all Carrier to Japan and upgrade them at once. In May i will have KB upgraded.
But that decision i will make in middle of march. I will depend from what will happen.

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: koniu

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

Radar is a BIG help. 

Why did you stop accelerating your CV's?

My plan was to keep numeric superiority in air, but i use wrong data. and I forgot that in July He will use F6F so that also is changing balance.

From my experience the Hellcat is a really good plane. Your Zeroes will struggle enormously against them even if you are using the A6M5. I have yet to see the impact in a Carrier battle but on land the difference is very noticeable!

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

ORIGINAL: koniu

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

Radar is a BIG help. 

Why did you stop accelerating your CV's?

My plan was to keep numeric superiority in air, but i use wrong data. and I forgot that in July He will use F6F so that also is changing balance.

From my experience the Hellcat is a really good plane. Your Zeroes will struggle enormously against them even if you are using the A6M5. I have yet to see the impact in a Carrier battle but on land the difference is very noticeable!

Yes, but in CV battle I will not face sweeps only CAP vs Escort duels.
And i think in that situations numbers are more important than planes. Of course F6F is better but in CV battle it will be not so significant like against sweep.

We will see soon.

[koniu]

Destroyers and "E"

IJN currently have 100 Destroyers. 32 of them are with KB, 26 is curenly taking December and January refits(AAA and ASW upgrades). They will back to action in 1-2 weeks. Another 28 is waiting to be send to take upgrades.
In production i have 6 destroyers(accelerated)


IJN currently have 28 "E". Most of them is escorting Tankers. Some are in shipyards currently converting to E class or taking refits.
In production i have 5 Es(accelerated)

By order of Yamamoto all DD and E have to be build ASAP. So they are all accelerated from firs day it is passable.
For most of ships it means they will be in service before original day of production so no extra cost for acceleration.

koniu