Islands of Destiny: RA 5.0 Japanese Side

[zuluhour]

No doubt CR, but I did find the aircraft highly useful against the IJA in northern Burma after there was some parity in the air superiority dept..I'm not sure but I like to think the Lysanders operating out of Imphal on random recon (for the most part) allowed some very effective raids on IJA units north of Mandalay in the jungles. It was really fun when the IJA was trying to retreat out of the jungle after cloasing the fields in the central plains. As RAF CnC I would hold on to these for those "special" occasions.

[artuitus_slith]

There is a use for every aircraft, just have to find its niche. Wirrarways are great for training bomber pilots, but also make good ASW planes in the right spots, such as between Tasmania and Melbourne or the Torres Straight area. Even a 100lb bomb hit on a sub is bad news for the sub.

Any older obsolete aircraft or lightly armed (read RAF) bomber is a liability in the face of strong fighter defense, but once Air superiority has been achieved they can be effective. Personally I treat the Brit bombers much like the first generation Japanese bombers, hit where the enemy's fighter strength is weak or accept high losses (preferably for higher rewards).

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: crsutton

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

He has also been using Vengeance Bombers. Don't know this aircraft but it does appear to die fairly easily.

It's a single-engine dive bomber. The Brits liked them for their accuracy, but they didn't have much in the way of defensive armament.

Built in Tennessee but considered obsolete and inferior by the Army air force so it was palmed off on the Allies. Not a very good plane. In game terms it only carried 500 lb bombs which also makes it inferior. I found it to be pretty useless and replaced it as soon as I could. I still have 200 in my pools in 1945. That plus my useless whirraways and boomerangs constitute my troika of the inane..

The Empire would gladly take some! A lot better than a Sonia!

It goes 273, so slow, but carries 2 x 500 and 2 x 250 pound bombs out to 5 hexes, 2 x 500 out to 6 hexes. Not too bad for coastal defense along the IO, some work against troops in the open in Burma. It has armor, which no IJ DB has ever!

[GreyJoy]

Yes, I agree here. They will fall like flies if opposed, but so will every DB in front of Japanese fighters. But it still carries a decent bombload. Can be usefull in ASW roles but also in Burma when you achieve a decent air superiority.

[John 3rd]

Hello All.

I think a discussion on oddball planes and their potential uses is great. Remember one on Japanese Marys and Idas just a while back. Mighty useful.

We're at 14 OCT 42 and the 48th will arrive at its hex to attack the 41st US and those other Brigades. I Open the next three days at the store so we're only getting in a single turn each day. Will Post on events tonight when I can.

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: crsutton

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock



It's a single-engine dive bomber. The Brits liked them for their accuracy, but they didn't have much in the way of defensive armament.

Built in Tennessee but considered obsolete and inferior by the Army air force so it was palmed off on the Allies. Not a very good plane. In game terms it only carried 500 lb bombs which also makes it inferior. I found it to be pretty useless and replaced it as soon as I could. I still have 200 in my pools in 1945. That plus my useless whirraways and boomerangs constitute my troika of the inane..

The Empire would gladly take some! A lot better than a Sonia!

It goes 273, so slow, but carries 2 x 500 and 2 x 250 pound bombs out to 5 hexes, 2 x 500 out to 6 hexes. Not too bad for coastal defense along the IO, some work against troops in the open in Burma. It has armor, which no IJ DB has ever!

Yep, don't get me wrong. They were plenty useful until better planes came along. Beggars cannot be choosers. But now I have pools full of whirraways, boomerangs, and the DB with little use for them. And, most amazing is that Australia is still producing the Anson and will continue to do so until Japan surrenders. Pretty little plane and useful in a training group but I got over 200 of them now......I would be much happier if I could convert that factory to something more useful to the war effort. Perhaps ice makers....

[inqistor]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

October 7, 1942

I just did a mouse-over of the Burma Theatre from Akyab south and from Katha south. I counted---can you believe this???--SEVENTY-FIVE Allied Units!

This is late 1942, and he have 75 units in Burma? So what he have left in India? You need to control, like 5 hexes to cut whole front.

How is he going to stop you from landing on whole coast behind his lines?

He has also been using Vengeance Bombers. Don't know this aircraft but it does appear to die fairly easily.

Yeah, it seems to be only Allied plane, which die like flies from AA fire.

[zuluhour]

John, great AAR, easy to follow. I could not help but read the opposing one as well so I can only post "trivia". But I can say I am following IJ AARs for the obvious reason. Learn the other side so I can give that a whirl someday. So, with that said, What happened in Burma???????

[John 3rd]

Thanks Zulu. Yes: I have read the dark side as well. Truly do learn things.

Had a terrible couple of days at work doing 38 in 4 days with a 5th yet to go. Probably a 48-50 hour week going on...

Did no turn yesterday or the day before. Apologized to Dan about that.

Got one in today with, hopefully, two more this afternoon.

[John 3rd]

The 48th staggers into hex 56,47 on October 15th after being subjected to repeated attacks as it moved into the hex. Yesterday and today has seen the 48th rest and disruption has come down below 40%. Order a Shock Attack for the 18th. The delight here has been Dan's fixation on the 48th has allowed me to bring the 16th ID at near full strength. IF we drive the enemy back with the 59th and 48th then that is great. If not, we shall win the hex the day after when 16th enters the hex.

The Allies are in hot pursuit from the hex to the north. Four units are TRYING to get into 56,47 but are getting hit by airpower to slow them down.

Must do a detailed entry due to his opening up several hexes that I shall move into to add pressure to the west side of the Irrawaddy. Also look to open the road to Katha and Ledo.

The real story here is the air battle over 56,47 this day. The day begins with 36 Zero (lower Altitudes) and 47 Tojo (high Altitude). After reading Greyjoy's AAR I change my LRCAP to add Sweeping as well so all planes get into the act. HOLY COW it works today! A total of 16 air attacks occur between the Allies and Japanese forces. In short, the Allied Forces are massacred! We finally get into the Allied Bombers inflicting solid losses on those damned B-25s. He must have about 100 in theatre now. It is an excellent day where SIXTY-FOUR Allied planes go down to 32 Japanese (16 of those to Op Losses). Japan only loses 6 pilots for the day.

Thank YOU Greyjoy!

Here is a screen shot of the first aerial contest of the morning:

[John 3rd]

Here is the breakdown of the plane type losses as noted from the game:

[John 3rd]

I MUST win this ground fight quickly because my Fighter and Bomber units desperately need rest. Morale is OK but my airframes are terrible. Many of the units are operating at 50-60% of their authorized strength. Once 56,47 resolves I shall withdraw 4-5 units for R&R and cede air control over the Dan for a few so they can rest gain reinforcements and then come back into the fray. To be certain he is stung by today's losses and morale within those units will be hard hit as well.

[zuluhour]

Congradulations on a hard fought day! I will be experimenting with the CAP settings as well now in defense of the Burma road.

[John 3rd]

The 4th Circle Plan truly kicks in with the arrival of a pair of Tone-Kai CAs. The additions to RA for 4th Circle are 3 Shokaku-Kai CV (no Tiaho and no Shinano), 2 Kawachi BC, 2 Tone-Kai CA, and 8 Agano CLs. These two CAs come in together in 3 days and will immediately depart for Tulagi where the KB is now present.

[John 3rd]

Here are my current leaders in A-t-A:

[John 3rd]

Here is the screenshot of new airframes that came available in 9-42 with everything else coming in the next six months:

[Cap Mandrake]

John;

Are any of the airframes accelerated?

[John 3rd]

Hey Capt!

The Jills have advanced two months at this point. I sank the vast majority of my Research into Tojo, Frank, and Jill. Have shifted some that Research over to Peggy and Frances. There are so many Zero Models within RA I am letting them come in at there own speed. WANT the M4! It is a good and--for the Zero--fairly rugged Interceptor.

[kjnoel]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Hey Capt!

The Jills have advanced two months at this point. I sank the vast majority of my Research into Tojo, Frank, and Jill. Have shifted some that Research over to Peggy and Frances. There are so many Zero Models within RA I am letting them come in at there own speed. WANT the M4! It is a good and--for the Zero--fairly rugged Interceptor.

Probably a really dumb question..... but how come you have the A5 in sep 42 but the A4 doesn't turn up until Jan 43?

[John 3rd]

It is the differing production lines for the Zero:

Naval Variant: M2, M5, M5b, etc...

Interceptor Variant: M3, M3b, M4, etc...

We could of and probably SHOULD have completely changed the designations but decided to stay as close to historical as possible there.