Once Again into the Breach - Mike (J) vs. tc464 (A)

[Mike Solli]

23 Jun 42

Sub War

The Ro-62 picked off another xAKL off Pt. Moresby today.

SE Fleet

The B-17s trashed Buna.

Other Stuff

If you recall, I've had 5 subs hit by depth charges. All 5 will survive. Here's their states:

I-123: 64-12(12)-7-0, currently repairing at Dutch Harbor.
I-158: Fully repaired at Soerabaja. Back in action.
I-18: 42-45(28)-7-0, 4 days out of Kwajalein.
Ro-34: 17-5-0-0, 1 day out of Singapore.
Ro-64: 16-38(29)-0-0, 4 days out of Rabaul.

Palembang's forts reached their goal of level 6. All construction is done there. Airfield is 5 and port is 4. The remaining engineer regiment is headed to Babo to increase it's port to level 2 and to build forts there. I can't get the oil out of there fast enough.

[Mike Solli]

While waiting for the turn, I've been planning and plotting. I have decided to convert the 31 Sentai from Anns to the Nick FB. It'll cost 270 PPS to do but I have 1500 in the pool after changing all the units from the 1 & 2 Tank Divisions from Kwantung to 25 Army.

Anyway, the Nick has armor and a 20mm cannon. I'm sending it to 5 Air Division (SE Fleet AO). I'm hoping it will have an impact on the B-17s. Can't hurt.

I'm also flying in engineers to Goodenough Island and Salamaua to build up their airfields to level 2. Should have started this long ago.

[Mike Solli]

24 Jun 42

Sub War

The I-ll caught the British TK british Motorist and hit her with 4 of 6 launched torpedoes. Very nice and another TK gone.

Burma

5 Oscars caught 9 Hurricanes escorting 66 2E bombers over Imphal. Once again, the Hurricanes prevented the Oscars from reaching the bombers and 2 fighters were lost on each side.

A convoy of supply just reached Rangoon. I hope the supply will diffuse throughout Burma giving the bases there enough to resume airfield construction.

Other Stuff

The 31 Sentai converted to Nicks and I replaced the pilots with fighter pilots, some of the best in the reserve as well as an elite pilot, led by the best commander available. They'll travel to SE Fleet area once the planes repair. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they may do a little damage to the B-17s.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

The only thing I haven't done is to put rookies in KB. I need to do that because they rarely fight. Gotta do that next turn.

Yep,

Only way. Too many groups there that you have to use for training when the KB isn't on a tactical mission. Pain shuffling the pilots around, but otherwise ...

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

While waiting for the turn, I've been planning and plotting. I have decided to convert the 31 Sentai from Anns to the Nick FB. It'll cost 270 PPS to do but I have 1500 in the pool after changing all the units from the 1 & 2 Tank Divisions from Kwantung to 25 Army.

Anyway, the Nick has armor and a 20mm cannon. I'm sending it to 5 Air Division (SE Fleet AO). I'm hoping it will have an impact on the B-17s. Can't hurt.

I'm also flying in engineers to Goodenough Island and Salamaua to build up their airfields to level 2. Should have started this long ago.

Watching to see if this works for you. I've only had limited success.

[Mike Solli]

No other options Pax. The Nick now and the Tojo come August are all that are on the horizon for awhile. I'm bringing in some 10 cm. AA guns but I have no confidence in them either.

[Mikawa]

Mike, I believe you we're thinking about this earlier....how about a fast bombardment TF hitting the airfield his bombers are based on - if on the coast. Could use subs to determine if mines are present and use KB for long range CAP. Not without risk, but could buy some time.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

No other options Pax. The Nick now and the Tojo come August are all that are on the horizon for awhile. I'm bringing in some 10 cm. AA guns but I have no confidence in them either.

I know. '42 is a tough time against the 4E's as the IJA fighters are so undergunned. Difficult.

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

No other options Pax. The Nick now and the Tojo come August are all that are on the horizon for awhile. I'm bringing in some 10 cm. AA guns but I have no confidence in them either.

I know. '42 is a tough time against the 4E's as the IJA fighters are so undergunned. Difficult.

So You telling `43 and `44 will be easier Wait it will not. I have no problems with 4E only when they stay on ground.

PS. For me Ki-45 is performing well against 4E as long as he not need to face enemy fighters.
Also Ki-44IIc is working well. But true is that until N1K1 George Japan have no 4E killer.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: koniu

So You telling `43 and `44 will be easier Wait it will not. I have no problems with 4E only when they stay on ground.

LOL!!!

You're right of course!

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

While waiting for the turn, I've been planning and plotting. I have decided to convert the 31 Sentai from Anns to the Nick FB. It'll cost 270 PPS to do but I have 1500 in the pool after changing all the units from the 1 & 2 Tank Divisions from Kwantung to 25 Army.

Anyway, the Nick has armor and a 20mm cannon. I'm sending it to 5 Air Division (SE Fleet AO). I'm hoping it will have an impact on the B-17s. Can't hurt.

I'm also flying in engineers to Goodenough Island and Salamaua to build up their airfields to level 2. Should have started this long ago.

Nicks have been decent when just against 4Es, and have nie LR CAP range too. Best not to get them into scrapes with sweeping fighters though. Strangely, the few times I've put them into sweeps they did very well, probably because the numbers were present and the armor and high durability let them stay i nthe battle much longer than an Oscar, zero or even a Tojo.

A very versatile plane. I'm still building the Ia and will continue to do so for ground attack and even shipping attacks at low level and in the kami role once that is available.

[Empire101]

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

While waiting for the turn, I've been planning and plotting. I have decided to convert the 31 Sentai from Anns to the Nick FB. It'll cost 270 PPS to do but I have 1500 in the pool after changing all the units from the 1 & 2 Tank Divisions from Kwantung to 25 Army.

Anyway, the Nick has armor and a 20mm cannon. I'm sending it to 5 Air Division (SE Fleet AO). I'm hoping it will have an impact on the B-17s. Can't hurt.

I'm also flying in engineers to Goodenough Island and Salamaua to build up their airfields to level 2. Should have started this long ago.

Nicks have been decent when just against 4Es, and have nie LR CAP range too. Best not to get them into scrapes with sweeping fighters though. Strangely, the few times I've put them into sweeps they did very well, probably because the numbers were present and the armor and high durability let them stay i nthe battle much longer than an Oscar, zero or even a Tojo.

A very versatile plane. I'm still building the Ia and will continue to do so for ground attack and even shipping attacks at low level and in the kami role once that is available.

+1
I've found that the Nick does have some success against the 4E's and its high durability makes it quite versatile in other roles.
You just have to keep them away from Allied fighters thats all!![:)]

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: Mikawa

Mike, I believe you we're thinking about this earlier....how about a fast bombardment TF hitting the airfield his bombers are based on - if on the coast. Could use subs to determine if mines are present and use KB for long range CAP. Not without risk, but could buy some time.

I've confirmed that the B-17s are based at Townsville. I'm sending an Ro class sub there to see if it's mined. I'm going to move 8x CAs to bombard the place. I'll see if I can scrounge up more. BBs would be nice but they're too slow. I'll do as you suggest and LRCAP them with KB. Right now KB is just the Soryu. The Akagi and Kaga are headed to Japan to upgrade and the Shokaku and Zuikaku are headed back from upgrading in Japan. Sho & Zui will arrive in a couple of days. Then I'll move the fleets out to the SE Fleet area to do the dirty deed. [;)]

[Mike Solli]

I intend to keep the Nicks away from enemy fighters. Right now, Ted uses his B-17s unescorted. I'll have them LRCAP over an airfield and wait for the B-17s to arrive. They will. [;)] [:D] They're still repairing in Bangkok. Once repaired, it'll take a few days to get to Rabaul.

[Mike Solli]

25 Jun 42

Sub War

The I-11 caught an xAK off the US west coast and put a torpedo into her. It was 11 hexes off the coast so hopefully she'll sink.

Burma

Good ole MKB was sitting 4-5 hexes away from 2 ASW TFs for several days and never launched. I sent the dopes home. Ridiculous. [8|]

I had 6 Oscars (woopee!!) catch 94x 2E bombers and they shot down 2 Wellingtons. Today was the day I needed 50 fighters over Imphal. [8|] Rotten supply situation. [:@]

Other Stuff

The Nakajima Ha-45 advanced a month to Aug 43. They are used for the Grace, Myrt, George, Frances, Peggy and Frank. I'm going to need a lot of them. [X(]

I added rookie fighters to KB. Hopefully, that'll get me more fighter pilots down the road.

[ny59giants]

For some reason, I've had good luck, at times, getting fighters to shoot down bombers when they are set 3k below the bombers. You might try setting a group there.

[Mike Solli]

26 Jun 42

Short and tough day today.

Over Imphal, I traded 3 Oscars for 3 Hurricanes escorting some 65x 2E bombers. [8|]

Pt. Moresby started out well with 28 Oscars shooting down 3x P-40s for no loss. Then, a small force of 9 Betties escorted by 11 Zeros went after a convoy in Pt. Moresby. They were countered by 21x P-39Ds and 3x P-40Es. The Zeros couldn't hold them off, losing two of their number. The Allied fighters then proceeded to shoot down 8 Betties. The last remaining Betty missed. There were no Allied losses. [:@]

In Australia, 2x B-26s were shot down over Daly Waters by Zeros. Ted determined the Zeros were stationed at Darwin and sent 6 B-17s there to visit. They did light damage to the airfield, and a B-17 and defending Zero were shot down.

Reinforcement: 54 JNAF AF Unit - Headed to Rabaul.

[Mike Solli]

27 Jun 42

SE Fleet

Ted sent his 58 4E bombers to Salamaua again trashing the place. Just one more target for Ted to send his bombers after.

Over Pt. Moresby, 28 Oscars met 7 P-40s, shooting down 3 Allied fighters for no loss.

A night Sally bombing raid destroyed 2x A20As on the ground. Ted has bombers at PM now.

Burma

The highlight of the day occurred here. I located 2x 27 plane Zero daitai in positions to LRCAP Imphal and it worked like a charm! They were rested and sent 52 planes to scour the skies over Imphal. Ted sent a daily bombing raid to my army there, and this time it was unescorted! [:D] Here are the dirty details:

52 Zeros - 1 op loss and no pilots lost.

12 Beaufort V - 4 shot down.
28 Hudson IIIa - 12 shot down and 1 op loss.
38 Blenheim IV - 2 shot down and 1 op loss.
16 Wellington Ic - 6 shot down and 1 op loss.

29% losses! I suspect it will make little difference, but it did give my Zeros some valuable experience and I hope Ted will pause for a bit. It was fun to watch. [:D]

[PaxMondo]

BANZAI!!!!
 

[Empire101]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

29% losses! I suspect it will make little difference, but it did give my Zeros some valuable experience and I hope Ted will pause for a bit. It was fun to watch. [:D]

I bet it was!!! [:D]

Banzai!!