The Hive - Cruft PBEM (Japan, Scen 2 Beta + Stacking Limits)

[Captain Cruft]

Game-wise I'm not averse to the Scen 2 economy. However I do feel the need to always point out that it is a fantasy.

To be honest, I can't even remember the dialogue we had when setting up the game. It was a long time ago.

[Captain Cruft]

28 Nov 1943

A good day for the bad guys.

For some reason there is no air cover at Koepang. The Lilies had a better day and were joined in their efforts by Nells out of Soerabaja. I couldn't have wished for better targeting, most ordnance was delivered into the attack transports.

CA New Orleans also has one less 20mm AA gun mount than before. This attrition of hard to repair AA mountings is very important.

Even more pleasingly, a sub puts a fish into a DD and gets away with only minor damage.

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Koepang at 68,116

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 31
Ki-48-IIc Lily x 19

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-IIc Lily: 16 damaged
Ki-48-IIc Lily: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
APA J. Franklin Bell, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA New Orleans, Bomb hits 3
APA Sumter

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x Ki-48-IIc Lily releasing from 1000' *
Naval Attack: 2 x 100 kg SAP Bomb
8 x Ki-48-IIc Lily releasing from 2000' *
Naval Attack: 2 x 100 kg SAP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Koepang at 68,116

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 30 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M3 Nell x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M3 Nell: 6 damaged
G3M3 Nell: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
AKA Virgo, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
APA Wayne, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Sterope, Torpedo hits 1
DD Fanning
CA New Orleans

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x G3M3 Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

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ASW attack near Taberfane at 82,120

Japanese Ships
SS I-175, hits 2

Allied Ships
DD Kimberly, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Murray

SS I-175 launches 2 torpedoes at DD Kimberly
DD Murray attacking submerged sub ....
DD Murray cannot reach attack position over SS I-175
DD Murray fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Murray fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Murray attacking submerged sub ....
DD Murray cannot establish contact with SS I-175
DD Murray fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

[Captain Cruft]

Formosa

I recently received the 20th Sentai. This unit is compatible with the 1st Air Army entry requirements and so has been stationed at Takao to train up along with the rest of the groups. There are 21 Sentais now, which currently comprises 763 fighters, but this will increase to 1029 planes in March 1944. This is only 3 months away now, just about enough time to train the pilots up in Air and LowN.

The Ki-43-IIIa Oscar will become available for production in 3 days time. This aircraft with its 8 hex 2 x 250kg bomb delivery capability will form the offensive component of the Swarm. I will not be producing the Ki-43-IV at all.

Takao now has 407+22 eng/veh installed with several more units on the way.

I am moving all the mobile heavy flak from Tokyo and Yokohama to Pescadores, which is the IJNAF backstop for the IJAAF's Takao. Eng and av support will follow. There is already a fleet HQ present.

Special Base Forces with 8cm DP Guns are being despatched to Hengchun and Orchid Island.

[Captain Cruft]

Fort Building

I already mentioned the over-building of forts out in the Pacific. Here is what is going on in other places ...

Home Islands:-

Osaka 7.95
Kobe 6.63
Hiroshima 6.12
Tsushima 8.31

Manchukuo:-

Harbin 6.41
Mukden 6.43
Yenki 7.0

China:-

Shanghai 6.49
Hankow 7.50
Wuchang 6.22
Changsha 6.60
Canton 6.18
Hong Kong 6.02

Hainan, Formosa and Ryukyus:-

Kiungchan 6.17
Pescadores 6.25
Takao 6.93
Naha 6.05

Philippines:-

Manila 7.81
Clark Field 6.66
Cagayan 6.26

Malaya, DEI:-

Singapore 8.01
Brunei 7.29
Batavia 7.31

There are several more places I would like to go beyond size 6 but these are still currently grinding their way to that level.

[obvert]

I like it!

I have nearly every decent base in China at or over level 6! [:D]

The HI are getting there, and Formosa and the DEI are getting closer for important bases. Not sure how many I'll take over level 6 though. The supply drain is huge!

[Captain Cruft]

Yes well I haven't blown my stash trying to invade anywhere inappropriate

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Captain Cruft

Yes well I haven't blown my stash trying to invade anywhere inappropriate

Ha! Come on, I left Fiji alone!

You're right though. Your fuel and stores are looking great. You should even catch up on points a bit when he has to bang against the wall you're building now.

Even in my game with it's extravagances of inexperience, I have a good amount of supply. I'd just rather use it on changing up airframe and engine factories. Too many unknowns there for my first time through. Level 6 most places is plenty high. There are a few surprises though where I dared go higher.

[Captain Cruft]

Remember that Allied troops (except Chinese) are worth twice the points. More fort levels = more points, simples.

[Captain Cruft]

29 Nov 1943

I sent in another surface detachment to Boela. However this time the opposition was a bit stiffer. Two battleships no less, accompanied by the dreaded Boise.

One Japanese DD was sunk in return for little damage caused, and I feel I was lucky to not get annihilated. The ships which escaped should be OK though the two damaged ones will need a repair yard.

In the day phase the attack out of Ternate got quite badly mauled by his newly installed CAP at Boela. However we did deliver fish into a transport and CL Columbia.

I also lost two subs in the Banda Sea today (not shown). His destroyer ASW is getting horrible now.

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Boela at 80,110, Range 1,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Nagara
CL Natori, Shell hits 20, on fire
DD Hatakaze, Shell hits 5, on fire
DD Oite
DD Hayate
DD Yunagi, Shell hits 10, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships
BB Massachusetts, Shell hits 2
BB Alabama, Shell hits 8
CL Boise
CL Cleveland
DD Hazelwood
DD Hutchins
DD Jenkins, Shell hits 1
DD Pringle
DD Renshaw
DD Ringgold
DD Saufley
DD Stanly, Shell hits 1

Reduced sighting due to 7% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions and 7% moonlight: 1,000 yards
Range closes to 23,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 5,000 yards...
Range closes to 3,000 yards...
Range closes to 1,000 yards...
CL Natori engages BB Alabama at 1,000 yards
BB Massachusetts engages CL Natori at 1,000 yards
DD Yunagi engages BB Alabama at 1,000 yards
DD Yunagi sunk by DD Stanly at 1,000 yards
DD Hatakaze engages DD Stanly at 1,000 yards
DD Hatakaze engages DD Ringgold at 1,000 yards
DD Jenkins engages DD Hatakaze at 1,000 yards
Range increases to 2,000 yards
CL Natori engages BB Alabama at 2,000 yards
BB Massachusetts engages CL Natori at 2,000 yards
BB Alabama engages DD Hayate at 2,000 yards
CL Boise engages CL Natori at 2,000 yards
DD Ringgold engages DD Hatakaze at 2,000 yards
DD Hayate engages DD Saufley at 2,000 yards
DD Hatakaze engages DD Pringle at 2,000 yards
DD Hatakaze engages DD Hutchins at 2,000 yards
DD Hayate engages DD Hazelwood at 2,000 yards
Task forces break off...

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Boela at 80,110

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 78 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 25
P1Y1 Frances x 42

Allied aircraft
P-38H Lightning x 8
F4U-1 Corsair x 11
F6F-3 Hellcat x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 8 destroyed
P1Y1 Frances: 14 destroyed, 19 damaged
P1Y1 Frances: 2 destroyed by flak

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
CL Mobile
CL Montpelier
xAP Nathaniel Bowditch, Torpedo hits 1
DD Russell
CL Columbia, Torpedo hits 1

Allied ground losses:
11 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x P1Y1 Frances launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
13 x P1Y1 Frances launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

CAP engaged:
VF-17 with F4U-1 Corsair (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 7 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 3 minutes
VF-33 with F6F-3 Hellcat (7 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 22000
Raid is overhead
VF-38 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 8 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 1 minutes
VMF-111 with F4U-1 Corsair (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 3 minutes
348th FG/341st FS with P-38H Lightning (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 8 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 22000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 7 minutes

[Captain Cruft]

The survivors of the clash at Boela. Considering the Natori got hit by a 16in shell she's not looking too bad.

[Captain Cruft]

Soerabaja

Now that he has Koepang, which is already a size 4 airbase and can go to size 9, it is only a matter of time before 4Es arrive over Soerabaja. Therefore I am withdrawing South Western Fleet and its motley bunch of ships to Batavia. It's a shame to lose the repair yard but there you go.

Tankers will continue to pull out the hydrocarbons, covered by Jacks of the 22nd Air Flotilla.

[Captain Cruft]

1 Dec 1943

This was a turn where nothing happened, well except for the Ki-43-IIIa Oscar going into production (210 per month).

Next turn might be interesting though. Look what has popped up between Ponape and Kusaie Island. He has not bombed Ponape at all so I will see what damage I can do with 160 fighters and 70 odd torpedo bombers.

[seille]

What is the weather forecast for this region and when will you post the battle ? Can´t await it !

[Captain Cruft]

Forecast is Clear, not that it makes a huge difference.

I would expect the turn back later today, but it might not be until tomorrow.

[seille]

So you think the torpedobombers hit good during thunderstorms or rain ??
Not in my AE-world [:D]

I can remember 57 Kates of KB with good pilots trying to hit a allied CA TF during heavy rain.
Not a single torp hit the enemy warships.

[Captain Cruft]

Yes but the weather in the hex can be anything. The forecast is basically irrelevant.

Anyway, we shall see. I struggle to understand why he is going in without trashing Ponape first, particularly after what happened at Maloelap.

[Captain Cruft]

2 Dec 1943

Well it didn't quite turn out as I hoped. No strike launched from Ponape (possible because too many fighters got allocated to CAP) and instead he attacked the airfield with 4Es out of Rabaul combined with Sweeps off his carriers (108 x Hellcat). I had 80 or so Jacks in the air which did well considering, at least against the bombers (which came first), and Ponape remains open. However I did lose a lot of planes on the ground.

The most important thing - 44 x B-24s were eradicated. I will take that and keep trying to get a strike off against his CVs if they should hang around. I will have nothing on CAP this time though since I seriously doubt whether his bombers are in a state to fly again immediately. He could have some spares ready though in which case I will just take the knock. Getting a shot at the carriers is more important than protecting the already damaged airfield.

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Morning Air attack on Ponape , at 119,113

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 72 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 24 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J2M2 Jack x 84

Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 27
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 36

Japanese aircraft losses
J2M2 Jack: 4 destroyed, 15 damaged
J2M2 Jack: 7 destroyed on ground
P1Y1 Frances: 13 destroyed on ground
B6N2 Jill: 11 destroyed on ground
A6M5 Zero: 7 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 5 destroyed, 3 damaged
PB4Y-1 Liberator: 4 destroyed, 3 damaged

Airbase hits 18
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 47

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
9 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
252 Ku S-1 with J2M2 Jack (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 40 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes
282 Ku S-1 with J2M2 Jack (0 airborne, 3 on standby, 32 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes
284 Ku S-1 with J2M2 Jack (0 airborne, 2 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 11000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 13 minutes

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Morning Air attack on Ponape , at 119,113

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 23 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J2M2 Jack x 40

Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
J2M2 Jack: 1 damaged
J2M2 Jack: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
284 Ku S-1 with J2M2 Jack (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 35 minutes
252 Ku S-1 with J2M2 Jack (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
19 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 84 minutes
282 Ku S-1 with J2M2 Jack (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
18 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 76 minutes

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Afternoon Air attack on Ponape , at 119,113

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 21 NM, estimated altitude 31,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J2M2 Jack x 27

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 36

Japanese aircraft losses
J2M2 Jack: 6 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 2 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
22 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 27000 feet

CAP engaged:
252 Ku S-1 with J2M2 Jack (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 10 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 15000 and 31000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 14 minutes
282 Ku S-1 with J2M2 Jack (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 7 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 24000 and 30000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes
284 Ku S-1 with J2M2 Jack (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 7 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 15000 and 24000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 9 minutes

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Afternoon Air attack on Ponape , at 119,113

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 13 NM, estimated altitude 31,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J2M2 Jack x 12

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 36

Japanese aircraft losses
J2M2 Jack: 3 destroyed

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
36 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 27000 feet

CAP engaged:
282 Ku S-1 with J2M2 Jack (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 21000 and 22510.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 28 minutes
252 Ku S-1 with J2M2 Jack (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 15000 and 32000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 66 minutes
284 Ku S-1 with J2M2 Jack (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 23510 and 33000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 48 minutes

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Afternoon Air attack on Ponape , at 119,113

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 42 NM, estimated altitude 29,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J2M2 Jack x 3

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 36

Japanese aircraft losses
J2M2 Jack: 2 destroyed

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
36 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 27000 feet

CAP engaged:
284 Ku S-1 with J2M2 Jack (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes

[obvert]

That's a very good day agains the 4Es. He's likely not going to use those here again soon, but I would bet some sweeps and bombardments will happen in the next days. I'd get what groups you have out before the base is closed and you have to withdraw them.

[Captain Cruft]

In fact he did re-visit with the 4Es, and I had no CAP up. Therefore more planes destroyed on the ground and no strike against the CVs either, for the third day running. That has been quite frustrating, perhaps I just never had enough escorts?

I will move the bombers out but keep hanging on with the fighters. It would be most unlike him to send the bombers in 3 days on the trot. There is no sign of a bombardment either. He is probably wary of the fortress and mines.

[obvert]

Not sure why you're not getting strikes. Could be many things. Group leaders/moral/fatigue. HQa leaders skills. Not enough escorts maybe. Weather. Once there is damage on the fields it'll be much harder to get them to go for sure.