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

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy


Why are you R&Ding with 150 factories the D4Y2? It's an incredible waste of resources imho.
Always research the first model (the D4Y1) and get all the industries repaired ASAP, then skip directly to the D4Y3 which gives you the lovely extra range that enables you to use the 500kg bombs at 8 hexes[8D].
The D4Y2 is doesn't worth a dice imho.


and Ki-44c already online?? How many industries did you use to get that result??[&o]

I have personal rule that not allowing me to have later version of plane before earlier one, so i need to accelerate Y2 first for few months and them move forward Y3. I will use that time to build Ha-33 engine poll to use engine bonus with Y3 version.
I will have Y3 version in September `43

That same rule was applying when Tojo was accelerated. To have IIc in January i also accelerated IIb to January even i do not build single plane of IIb version.

I had 10x30 size Tojo factories and Engine bonus so i was building 600 r&d points every month. After plane was researched i change some factories to production and rest was changed to r&d George, Frank, Sam, and Ki-83

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

Also i'd suggest to devote some efforts on the KI-48b.... it's clearly the best IJAAF fighter out there

Are talking about Ki-84b [:D]

It will be difficult to accelerate it more that few 2-3 month right now.
I made mistake on beginning when i was delude by model letter. When i get some xp in game i now know that CL guns are what i need.

But probably it is to late to accelerate it more that 1-2 months now.
It is sad that b model is separated from Frank line. I will think about moving some factories from bomber research. I have few almost not repaired factories that can be converted to Frank "b" with low cost

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: koniu
It is sad that b model is separated from Frank line.

I agree. Easily the best IJ late war fighter ... good armament, decent speed. But so hard to research as it is a stand alone model like most of the other late war fighters.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: koniu

Resources, fuel, oil, etc

Looks good. 1.2M HI at end of '42 is doing well in managing the economy. congrats!

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: koniu

Armament and Vehicles

Wow, 12K VEH. I never have that many. [:(]

My armor units are heavily used and I'm always using a lot of VEH replacements. Again, great job.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: koniu

Naval production

CL's. Just a player preference, but I rarely build them. I can't find a use for them that a DD isn't going to do just as well for a lot less cost and a lot less VP's for the allies. The Akizuki's are just about as good as the Agano's for AA defense and the Yugumos about as good as the Oyodo. IJ CL's just have too little punch, they can barely go toe-2-toe against a Fletcher. Against a USN CL, they are dead meat. So, I can never justify the cost until late 44 and at that point they are simply VP's for the allies to harvest and I don't build anything in the IJN ... Just my thoughts.

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

ORIGINAL: koniu

Naval production

CL's. Just a player preference, but I rarely build them. I can't find a use for them that a DD isn't going to do just as well for a lot less cost and a lot less VP's for the allies. The Akizuki's are just about as good as the Agano's for AA defense and the Yugumos about as good as the Oyodo. IJ CL's just have too little punch, they can barely go toe-2-toe against a Fletcher. Against a USN CL, they are dead meat. So, I can never justify the cost until late 44 and at that point they are simply VP's for the allies to harvest and I don't build anything in the IJN ... Just my thoughts.

I will build those two but not last one. I think they can be useful in CV battle. In my sand box games. When i was trying different strategies of battle i found out that having CL with 2-3 DD few hexes closer to enemy is diverting to them good number of enemy planes. Usually about 40-50 bombers not seen that with DD only. Of course they die i that attack but better CL than CV. Having two of that king TF can divert 100 enemy planes and that can change battle result.

What i found also that CV plane coordination is working perfect if You have 100 or 1000 planes in TF. At lest i sew no difference. And i test it with different range to enemy, have planes with different cruse speed, pilot xp and attitude.

Strangely best results of CV clash i achieve when KB was split in two TF and they where parked is two neighborly hexes. CAP work good. I have lot of LCAP supporting CAP massages and usually enemy is splitting strike force in half trying to attack both enemy TF.
For me it was ending with very good results to KB.

On Other side KB will send two waves of attack. First as usually is slaughtered but second have rather easy job getting trough enemy CAP. And i see Docup is using multiple TFs in Single hex strategy.


Few times i sunk 6 enemy CV, dozens of Cruiser and DD for lose of 1-2 CV only that way. And i was flying against death star with 1:1 numbers and allies where using late war planes with good pilots and Essex CV fast BB and cruiser with `44 upgrades so not bad.


I will test more but slowly battle plan is grooving in my head.

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

ORIGINAL: koniu

Armament and Vehicles

Wow, 12K VEH. I never have that many. [:(]

My armor units are heavily used and I'm always using a lot of VEH replacements. Again, great job.

After last official patch obsolete vehicles are scraped to vehicle point 6 month after production end date.
In last few months i get that way ~8000 points or more.
Also i am not loosing many vehicles last days

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

ORIGINAL: koniu

Resources, fuel, oil, etc

Looks good. 1.2M HI at end of '42 is doing well in managing the economy. congrats!

Right now i am saving 3.5k HI in day. I will safe more when Taiho arrive in March and tree Unryu`s in April and May

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

ORIGINAL: koniu
It is sad that b model is separated from Frank line.

I agree. Easily the best IJ late war fighter ... good armament, decent speed. But so hard to research as it is a stand alone model like most of the other late war fighters.

I move few factories to research it. I am not expecting acceleration but at lest i will have repaired factories when "b" will enter production. Still main main Focus is on a-r line.
Plan is to have "a" in January 44 and "r" not later that q4 `44

[obvert]

What i found also that CV plane coordination is working perfect if You have 100 or 1000 planes in TF. At lest i sew no difference. And i test it with different range to enemy, have planes with different cruse speed, pilot xp and attitude.

Strangely best results of CV clash i achieve when KB was split in two TF and they where parked is two neighborly hexes. CAP work good. I have lot of LCAP supporting CAP massages and usually enemy is splitting strike force in half trying to attack both enemy TF.
For me it was ending with very good results to KB.

On Other side KB will send two waves of attack. First as usually is slaughtered but second have rather easy job getting trough enemy CAP. And i see Docup is using multiple TFs in Single hex strategy.


Few times i sunk 6 enemy CV, dozens of Cruiser and DD for lose of 1-2 CV only that way. And i was flying against death star with 1:1 numbers and allies where using late war planes with good pilots and Essex CV fast BB and cruiser with `44 upgrades so not bad.

Good to know.

Did you also test what happens if the Allies have theirs split in different hexes? It seems good but if they do it too, then I would think the benefit would go back to them with better planes, AA, and tougher CVs.

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: obvert

What i found also that CV plane coordination is working perfect if You have 100 or 1000 planes in TF. At lest i sew no difference. And i test it with different range to enemy, have planes with different cruse speed, pilot xp and attitude.

Strangely best results of CV clash i achieve when KB was split in two TF and they where parked is two neighborly hexes. CAP work good. I have lot of LCAP supporting CAP massages and usually enemy is splitting strike force in half trying to attack both enemy TF.
For me it was ending with very good results to KB.

On Other side KB will send two waves of attack. First as usually is slaughtered but second have rather easy job getting trough enemy CAP. And i see Docup is using multiple TFs in Single hex strategy.


Few times i sunk 6 enemy CV, dozens of Cruiser and DD for lose of 1-2 CV only that way. And i was flying against death star with 1:1 numbers and allies where using late war planes with good pilots and Essex CV fast BB and cruiser with `44 upgrades so not bad.

Good to know.

Did you also test what happens if the Allies have theirs split in different hexes? It seems good but if they do it too, then I would think the benefit would go back to them with better planes, AA, and tougher CVs.

I will test when find time.
So far enemy was in single hex, because i adjusting it to Docup behavior

[koniu]

28 Jan 43

China
Japanese bombers are attacking enemy troops marching forward Sian from north

Morning Air attack on 13th Chinese Corps, at 83,39 , near Sian

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-Ic Sally x 7
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 76
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 10

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
667 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 55 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 44 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled

Burma
Another sucesfoul air trap over Japanese troops south of Akyab.
I have luck today because enemy sweep arrive last.

Morning Air attack on 4th Division, at 55,46 , near Akyab

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 20
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 13
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 35
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 26
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 9

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIc x 14
Wellington Ic x 15
B-25C Mitchell x 32
B-26B Marauder x 11

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufighter VIc: 8 destroyed
Wellington Ic: 4 destroyed, 5 damaged
B-25C Mitchell: 11 destroyed, 7 damaged
B-26B Marauder: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
39 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled


and

Morning Air attack on 1st Division, at 55,46 , near Akyab

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 18
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 11
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 32
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 22
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 8

Allied aircraft
Wellington Ic x 12

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Wellington Ic: 8 destroyed
Wellington Ic: 1 destroyed by flak

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x Wellington Ic bombing from 3000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

But luck cant last forever

Morning Air attack on 1st Tank Division, at 55,46 , near Akyab

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 35,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 18
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 11
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 26
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 21
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 8

Allied aircraft
P-38F Lightning x 23

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 2 destroyed
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 4 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 4 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38F Lightning: 1 destroyed

All air groups still at morale 99 and fresh.
Japan lost today 6 KIA and 12 WIA pilots

[koniu]

Burma
I traing to find way to have batter results against P-38 sweeps when i am LCAP, like last turn.
Maybe sending AF unit with radar will help with defense above that jungle hex.
Now i am sending my fighters on deserved 20% rest and 40%CAP at zero range.

North Oz
I lost tracking of `150 enemy fighters. they are just gone. I will reckon intensively enemy strongholds around Solomons. Maybe they are there. I don like when Docup is moving his air unist. He do not doing it very often without reason.

Salomon's
I need two days on to have Major AF capable of torpedoes. Air HQ is unloading in Rabaul now and tomorrow I will load HQ again on different ships and sail to destination Base

Radio traffic
I have lot of radio traffic in south Pacific and Hawaii. Almost everyday but my subs not spoot eny enemy TF. Rest of map is very quiet. I hope those are only big cargo TF not invasion etc.

Entire combined fleet is in DEI so if he now attack In Pacific he will have few days easy before KB can show up there.
I have only few CA and DD in Truk.

KB
Fully refueled and repaired. All available DDs with radars are now in KB.
Now we wait. I hope he will attack in DEI. Please attack in DEI.


EDIT:
I just notice. 1001 post on forum. That go fast.

[koniu]

29 Jan 43

Enemy is advancing

Search planes detect many enemy ships in middle of Coral Sea. Enemy CAP confirmed (they shot down G3M3) So we have CV or at lest CVE there

In two days i can have in Rabaul 180x G3M and G4M and 180 fighters. Tomorrow half of that.

I have two Air HQ in Rabaul but one of them was planed for Shorthands but i am two days to late now. I can have fleet and KB there in 4-5 days

[GreyJoy]

Where is your KB precisely Koniu? Watch out with your Netties...don't throw them away attacking at too big distance

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

Where is your KB precisely Koniu? Watch out with your Netties...don't throw them away attacking at too big distance

KB is anchored in Ternate. And Heavy ships in bases close to it. I was hoping to crash enemy invasion in DEI on day 1

I have two routs toward Salomon's. North path - longer but safer and south trough Arafura Sea. Docup is not searching on Arafura sea. I had there two CL TF for weeks and they where not sooted. Tree days ago i send them to Java to to take refit
But i think south path is very dangerous if he detects me. To close to LBA

I will only use LBA bombers with proper fighter escort. So for me it is 15 or 12 hexes.
I have 90 A6M3a and 90 A6M5 ready to fly to Rabaul.

I also thinking about risking to transport Air HQ from Rabaul to Shortlands by sea I need two days for that. But if i do that i will have ability to attack allies deeper in south. If only i don`t refuel in Truk those transports with HQ i will have it already in place

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: koniu

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

Where is your KB precisely Koniu? Watch out with your Netties...don't throw them away attacking at too big distance

KB is anchored in Ternate. And Heavy ships in bases close to it. I was hoping to crash enemy invasion in DEI on day 1

I have two routs toward Salomon's. North path - longer but safer and south trough Arafura Sea. Docup is not searching on Arafura sea. I had there two CL TF for weeks and they where not sooted. Tree days ago i send them to Java to to take refit
But i think south path is very dangerous if he detects me. To close to LBA

I will only use LBA bombers with proper fighter escort. So for me it is 15 or 12 hexes.
I have 90 A6M3a and 90 A6M5 ready to fly to Rabaul.

I also thinking about risking to transport Air HQ from Rabaul to Shortlands by sea I need two days for that. But if i do that i will have ability to attack allies deeper in south. If only i don`t refuel in Truk those transports with HQ i will have it already in place

Take the northern route. For sure. He will be spotting you otherwise.
How are your garrisons in the potential landing sites? Munda? PM? Milne Bay?

To me 12 hexes is already too much for a proper coordinated attack. Several Betties will be turning back due to range or weather, several more will be proceeding alone and lose contact with the formation. I'd say don't go for more than 9 hexes.
Which are the ranges of the 2 HQs at Rabaul? With an Air Army HQ you can have up to 5 hexes of range and that means that northern Bouganville will be covered...if you have built some AFs there it won't be necessary to move the Air HQ to Shortland...

[koniu]

PM have 400AV behind fort 4
Milne Bay small SNLF garrison[:@]
Shortlands 200AV behind fort 5
Munda 200AV behind fort 4
Lunga 500AV behind fort 5

But only PM and Lunga can give some resistance. Short lands and Munda will not hold agains enemy ID for more than few days. I hope long enough to give time to KB.

One HQ have range 1 second 4

Salomons are my week point in defense. I have focused more on DEI . I am also paying for early war mistakes and lack of game experience.

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: koniu

PM have 400AV behind fort 4
Milne Bay small SNLF garrison[:@]
Shortlands 200AV behind fort 5
Munda 200AV behind fort 4
Lunga 500AV behind fort 5

But only PM and Lunga can give some resistance. Short lands and Munda will not hold agains enemy ID for more than few days. I hope long enough to give time to KB.

One HQ have range 1 second 4

Ok, have u built Buka AF?

200 AVs behind 4 forts in jungle hex isn't exactly a walk in the park if the garrison hasn't been ground bombed for weeks. If Munda is the target, you will get there in time if you run.

Milne won't hold but it's pretty close to Rabaul...9 hexes... enough to cause him some headhaces with your LBA.... do you have any surface asset nearby?