NOT JUST Submarines in the Pacific: FDRLincoln (Japan) vs. Bakerman (Allies)

[FDRLincoln]

Here is a look at Burma.

[FDRLincoln]

Two more divisions have arrived in Rangoon safely. I think I can hold him back now.

December 30, 1942.

A FEW THOUGHTS/QUESTIONS FOR JFBs:
***I've been using Japanese submarines in wolfpacks of a kind, usually packs of 3 or 4 subs with 1 or 2 equipped with Glens. So far, they don't seem to be any more effective than subs operating singly. Has anyone attempted to use wolfpack tactics with the Japanese submarine force?
***Is the early model Judy significantly more effective than the upgraded Val? I intend to keep the Val in production alongside the Judy if only because the Vals are easier to maintain.

[PaxMondo]

Judy = 500kg
Val = 250kg
 
Val's can't really hurt anything that is armored.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: FDRLincoln

Two more divisions have arrived in Rangoon safely. I think I can hold him back now.

December 30, 1942.

A FEW THOUGHTS/QUESTIONS FOR JFBs:
***I've been using Japanese submarines in wolfpacks of a kind, usually packs of 3 or 4 subs with 1 or 2 equipped with Glens. So far, they don't seem to be any more effective than subs operating singly. Has anyone attempted to use wolfpack tactics with the Japanese submarine force?
***Is the early model Judy significantly more effective than the upgraded Val? I intend to keep the Val in production alongside the Judy if only because the Vals are easier to maintain.

Definitely lose the Vals. Change production to Judys and build as may as you can. For naval attack you usually won't need a second day, especially with the KB, but you'll have enough still able to go if you do. Day two any damaged plane will stay damaged. It'll just take the Judys longer to repair. Not for use on small islands, but you can pop them in and out for quick attacks.

The Judy has a bigger bomb, which is huge, but is also a lot faster, also huge, so it all get through more often. Also, if you get a 7 hex attack with the Val you're dropping 60kg bombs. Not desirable.

As for the subs, operating in the same area with many single sub TFs works well, but extra subs in each TF just usually means you don't get to as many ships. Spread them out and move them in small patrols, but working together that way.

It makes sense to me just to see the different stats next to each other on these two planes to really notice the superiority of the Judy. The only thing th eVal has is slightly more durability.

[koniu]

Go For Judy.
With 343mph speed Judy is faster from F4F and only 30mph slower from F6F. And that can be difference between death or 500kg bomb hitting enemy CV. Also as obvert write there is huge, i say it again huge difference between 250kg and 500kg bomb.

250 kg bomb in my tests always never get trough BB armor and from time to time is penetrating CV or CA armor. 500kg bomb in most cases in penetrating CA, CV and and have decent chance to penetrate BB deck.

[FDRLincoln]

I hadn't thought about the bomb size issue. That is an excellent point. Judy it is!

[FDRLincoln]

Very bad day for Allied airpower.

Pisanuloke is built up as a major airbase for me. From here, my Sallys and Helens launch nighttime raids on his airfields in Burma. I knew he would try to put this airfield out of action, so I made sure to assign a crack Tojo unit (70-80 exp. all pilots) and a solid Nick unit (65-70 exp. pilots). There is also a lot of flak.

37 Liberators attacked the base in two waves.
The post-turn report records 19 Liberator losses.



Morning Air attack on Pisanuloke , at 58,57

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 35 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 40
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 16



Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 21


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 2 damaged
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 4 destroyed, 8 damaged



Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 3

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 11000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
11 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 11000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
24th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (1 airborne, 3 on standby, 36 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 32 minutes
264th Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (4 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 9 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Pisanuloke , at 58,57

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 25 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 34
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 8



Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 16


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

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 3 destroyed, 12 damaged



Aircraft Attacking:
5 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 11000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 11000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
24th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (17 airborne, 0 on standby, 8 scrambling)
17 plane(s) intercepting now.
9 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes
264th Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 11000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 46 minutes

[FDRLincoln]

Chengtu falls. Chungking is now the last major city in Nationalist hands, except for the stuff out in Western China and Mongolia.

The date is December 31st, 1942.


Ground combat at Chengtu (75,41)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 30442 troops, 297 guns, 1441 vehicles, Assault Value = 1278

Defending force 12634 troops, 111 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 138

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 1164

Allied adjusted defense: 175

Japanese assault odds: 6 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Chengtu !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
221 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 15 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Vehicles lost 12 (1 destroyed, 11 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
2337 casualties reported
Squads: 137 destroyed, 33 disabled
Non Combat: 245 destroyed, 100 disabled
Engineers: 37 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 72 (48 destroyed, 24 disabled)
Units retreated 4


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
1st Mobile Engineer Regiment
2nd Tank Regiment
3rd Tank Regiment
14th Division
1st Mobile Infantry Regiment
2nd Mobile Engineer Regiment
5th Tank Regiment
9th Tank Regiment
Guards Tank Division

Defending units:
24th Chinese Corps
71st Chinese/A Corps
1st Chinese Base Force
3rd Chinese Base Force

[FDRLincoln]

January 4, 1943.

Reading other AARs, it is apparent that while my Japanese Empire is currently holding its own, that won't last for much longer. I don't see how it is possible to stand up to the level of pilot losses that are occurring in other games, even if I keep the airframes going.

I'm aware of course that this is inevitable and I'm in for the long haul, but still....

Such a pretty empire I have. So doomed.

[FDRLincoln]

My laptop appears to be dying...flickering screen, PS/2 ports malfunction occasionally. I'm assuming the motherboard is on her last legs. I have a backup computer but AE isn't installed...Unfortunately I can't find my WITP-AE disc anywhere!

Hopefully I can limp this computer along until the disc pops up.

[FDRLincoln]

Never mind...my wife knew where the disc was.

Now I just need to make sure my mod files are backed up properly.

I will have more screenshots and updates from this game tomorrow. My opponent is making threatening noises about launching an offensive. Is this is an idle threat? He only has two American fleet carriers right now and KB is still fully intact. We'll find out.

[FDRLincoln]

Well my laptop screen is dead but I've got it hooked up to a monitor and can still play. I'll be looking for a new computer soon though. Sorry for lack of screenshots.

Not much has happened since last update. It is now January 13, 1943. I wiped out two surrounded Chinese divisions on the plains near Chungking. He has an estimated 600,000 troops in Chungking that are now isolated from the rest of Nationalist territory. What should I do here? Just bomb and starve them? Or go for the wipeout?

Burma is now a stalemate in the jungles. Lashio remains besieged but I'm working on a plan to fix this.

Judys now in production but it will take time to build up and replace KB's Vals. I am rather reluctant to deploy KB until the divebombers are upgraded but that will take quite awhile.

Question for experienced JFBs:
***Thus far I have not converted Chitose and Nisshin (my remaining pair of CS) to CVLs, but it just occurred to me that I've never gotten that far in a game before and am unsure what happens to the seaplane units they come with if I do convert. I'm sure it is in the manual somewhere. I rather like the CS as they are, very good scouting units paired with KB and mini-KB. Should I convert them?

[obvert]

Mizuho is the only one I converted. Many players convert them all. I only did that one because it improves quite a lot in the conversion, getting faster as well. The groups convert to fighter and TB groups.

I like the search increasing the DL on the opposing fleet, the ASW capability and the flexibility to be able to also carry FF for CAP if needed, which can help for instance set to 5k for defense against TB runs.

[FDRLincoln]

Obvert: I also use float fighters for low-level CAP against torpedo planes, though I haven't had the chance to test it yet.

I think I will leave them as they are. I like the seaplanes for scouting and ASW, plus the ships have a bit of AA and might attract bombs/torps that would otherwise hit carriers.

[FDRLincoln]

After a couple of fairly routine attrition weeks, January 19, 1943 was a very interesting day.

First, the Allies try to sneak some sort of bombardment/harassment force into Rangoon. But the defenses make them pay! First with mines:

TF 203 encounters mine field at Rangoon (54,53)

Allied Ships
CL Caradoc
DD Nestor
DD Napier, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 203 encounters mine field at Rangoon (54,53)

Allied Ships
DD Nepal
DD Van Galen, Mine hits 1, on fire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 203 encounters mine field at Rangoon (54,53)

Allied Ships
DD Nestor
CL Dauntless, Mine hits 1

[FDRLincoln]

Then swarms of Bettys:

Morning Air attack on TF, near Rangoon at 54,53

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 13
G4M1 Betty x 53
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 32
Ki-61-Ia Tony x 23

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 4 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
CL Capetown
CL Caradoc, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Nestor
DD Nepal

Aircraft Attacking:
24 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
27 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

[FDRLincoln]

More Bettys!


Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 52 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 18 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 12
G4M1 Betty x 48
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 36
Ki-61-Ia Tony x 23



Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 3 damaged

Allied Ships
CL Capetown, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Van Galen
CL Dauntless, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage



Aircraft Attacking:
22 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
26 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

[FDRLincoln]

Then....MIDGET SUBMARINES!! Very Japanese!

Submarine attack near Rangoon at 54,53

Japanese Ships
SSX Ha-9

Allied Ships
CL Dauntless, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage

CL Dauntless is sighted by SSX Ha-9
SSX Ha-9 launches 2 torpedoes at CL Dauntless

BANZAI!!

[FDRLincoln]

More Bettys attack an allied cruiser force attempting to run supplies to his isolated troops at Milne Bay (I hold all the surrounding bases)

Note the presence of Royal Air Force Spitfires here. Why aren't they in Burma? Interesting. This is the first I have seen of Spitfires and the A6M3 doesn't do so well.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 101,133

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 141 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 49 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 63
G4M1 Betty x 38

Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vc Trop x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 3 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 9 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire Vc Trop: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CA Astoria
CL St. Louis
xAKL Bidelia
CA Chicago, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Momba
CA Northampton



Aircraft Attacking:
19 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
18 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
8 x A6M3 Zero sweeping at 20000 feet
24 x A6M3 Zero sweeping at 16000 feet

CAP engaged:
No.457 Sqn RAF with Spitfire Vc Trop (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(8 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 8 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 16000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 22 minutes
No.54 Sqn RAF with Spitfire Vc Trop (0 airborne, 5 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 13000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes

[FDRLincoln]

Finally, one of the remaining Nationalist Chinese bases falls to the Imperial Japanese First Army.

Ground combat at Tienshui (81,38)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 24081 troops, 198 guns, 32 vehicles, Assault Value = 864

Defending force 5051 troops, 43 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 193

Japanese adjusted assault: 656

Allied adjusted defense: 97

Japanese assault odds: 6 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Tienshui !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), preparation(-), experience(-)
supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
616 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 23 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled


Allied ground losses:
2414 casualties reported
Squads: 69 destroyed, 86 disabled
Non Combat: 45 destroyed, 24 disabled
Engineers: 15 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 17 (6 destroyed, 11 disabled)
Units retreated 1


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
13th Division
35th Division
1st Army

Defending units:
38th Chinese Corps