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

[koniu]

R&D
Somehow r&d is one of few most enjoyable parts of game.
My plans to introduce new planes in next few months.
This list including only planes that i will produce and i am r%D them. There is few planes that arrive also but i am not researching them or they arrive at normal original arrival date so no need to write about them.

September 43
Ki-67Ia Peggy

October 43
D4Y3 Judy

November 43
P1Y2 Frances

December 43
none

January 44
Ki-84r Frank

Q1 of `44
D4Y4 Judy
Ki-67Ia(T) Peggy

Q2 of `44
Ki-102b Randy
B7A2 Grace

Q3 of `44
Ki-84b Frank

Q4 of `44
N1K5-J George

Very late `44 or early `45
A7M2 Sam
Ki-83
J7W1 Shinden
Ki-115a Tsurugi

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: koniu

R&D
Somehow r&d is one of few most enjoyable parts of game.

+1

[koniu]

22-23 Aug 43

Burma
Enemy units pop up in hex south-west of Taung Gyi. I have in jungle south of Taung Gyi only one IR. So far i don`t see that Docup is trying to cut of Taung Gyi but just in case i have there ID moving. Because of weather i have no reckon flights in Burma from 2 days. So i see units but from few days i can see if they moving.[:(]

Burma again start to be interesting. Ramree Isl., Taung Gyi siege. Many things will be happening there in next weeks and months.

China
Artillery bombard in entire China. I need that to check what defenses Docup have in area and where i can retreat ID or Two to use those units in other places.

DEI
I planing to rebase KB closer to DEI. Also i sending two slow BB and two CA to area as fast reaction force. In last weeks i rebase from Japan ~200 planes of all types to DEI. More is planed to tranfer.

Marshall Islands
I am sending 2CA, 2CL TF to bombard Wotje and Maoeolab. Wheater i blocking my bombers and i cant allow that base to repair.

Salomon's
I set another CAP trap again it fail. I see that Docup have CA TF in Milne Bay. No sign of enemy BB and CV.

[koniu]

Tomorrow it can be very interesting turn in Salomon's.

Docup have CA TF in Milne Bay hex and some cargo ships .
Tomorrow two DD TFs will clean waters from PTs in two bases that are between open sea an Milne Bay. Last turn Yamato and 3 fast BB and 5 DD take position 9 hexes from Milne Bay.

Plan is that DDs will clean path to Battlewagons from PTs. Battleships should end night phase one hex from MB and on morning enter hex engaging enemy cruisers. Reatret is not planed but i thing there will be no air counterattack. I was testing that few times. Every time no bombers on naval attack. If i am wrong i will lose some ships today.

LCAP ordered but Yamato TF will have to retreat at lest 1 hex toward Rabaul from MB or he will be out of LCAP range.

It going t be fun. Stay tuned. Turn is in in box but i am siting in job for another 5h[8D]

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: koniu

Tomorrow it can be very interesting turn in Salomon's.

Docup have CA TF in Milne Bay hex and some cargo ships .
Tomorrow two DD TFs will clean waters from PTs in two bases that are between open sea an Milne Bay. Last turn Yamato and 3 fast BB and 5 DD take position 9 hexes from Milne Bay.

Plan is that DDs will clean path to Battlewagons from PTs. Battleships should end night phase one hex from MB and on morning enter hex engaging enemy cruisers. Reatret is not planed but i thing there will be no air counterattack. I was testing that few times. Every time no bombers on naval attack. If i am wrong i will lose some ships today.

LCAP ordered but Yamato TF will have to retreat at lest 1 hex toward Rabaul from MB or he will be out of LCAP range.

It going t be fun. Stay tuned. Turn is in in box but i am siting in job for another 5h[8D]

Just watch repaly. Big disappointment. Destroyers nicely clear path to battleships but BB TF commander decide that he will retreat from air threat and he return Rabaul.

Treat tolerance was maximal (newer retreat) and aggressiveness of commander was 85. Damn.

[PaxMondo]

[:(]

[obvert]

Hate that stuff!

Did you have a LR CAP over them? Wonder if that would help them make a better choice.

[Crackaces]

What happens is that you get your MLR established, they sustain losses, you need to recycle units to the front to hold your front. Similar to Burma. Those units you pull out have to get rebuilt to put back in, or you have B17's operating from Fusan

I can say that the game will end sooner in that case before the B-17's start pounding the Home Islands from Fusan (N=2) [8D] The number of Allied victory points gained in the process, and the occupation of Southeast Asia cutting off the DEI leads to an early IJ demise before even starting the Home Island bombing campaign.. unless one plays beyond the auto-victory conditions ... [:'(]

The point being that Burma/Thailand is an extremely critical area in this game [I emphasize game because in real life seizing a rail network takes more than 10 paratroopers and 1 day [8|] Thus the Allies must be kept out of the "Plains of Thailand" or the IJ is done ...

[koniu]

26 Aug 43

Very interesting turn in Burma
Docup is moving from open hex toward jungle hex south of Taung Gyi. If he capture that hex Taung Gyi will be cut off from supplies. I am bombing enemy troops in open to slow them down. I need week when entire line will be secure again.

Today i send 54 Ki-49 to bomb enemy. Docup set CAP trap. I lost 44 Helens.
No big problem, planes can be replaced and i have more ~1000 trained pilots trained in ground attack and because ground bombing become more useless every day i can live with those loses.

Losing those bombers was not given for free. 45 N1K2 and 42 Ki-84a sweep that hex shotting down 67 enemy fighters for lose of 21. Those where mostly 1gen fighters P-40 etc. But i also shotdown 14 F6Fs and 5 F4U. Without radar warning enemy CAp is not much afective
Strangely George fight better. Pilots quality was equal for both squadrons and Georges arrive firs and they kill more for smaller loses that Frank.

Two bombers units will retreat to rebuilt and new units arrive. I need to slow down enemy.

Morning Air attack on 6th Australian Division, at 58,48 , near Magwe

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 32,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K2-J George x 45

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 26
P-39D Airacobra x 18
P-40K Warhawk x 16
P-40N1 Warhawk x 14
F4F-3 Wildcat x 11
F4U-1 Corsair x 30
F6F-3 Hellcat x 25

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K2-J George: 5 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIc Trop: 3 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra: 6 destroyed
P-40K Warhawk: 7 destroyed
F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed


---------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on 6th Australian Division, at 58,48 , near Magwe

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 35,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-84a Frank x 42

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 15
P-39D Airacobra x 2
P-40N1 Warhawk x 13
F4F-3 Wildcat x 8
F4U-1 Corsair x 29
F6F-3 Hellcat x 20

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-84a Frank: 4 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIc Trop: 2 destroyed
P-40N1 Warhawk: 3 destroyed
F4U-1 Corsair: 1 destroyed
F6F-3 Hellcat: 5 destroyed

And bombers slaughter

Morning Air attack on 6th Chinese Corps, at 58,48 , near Magwe

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 28 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 27

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 9
F4F-3 Wildcat x 8
F4U-1 Corsair x 21
F6F-3 Hellcat x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 14 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 1 destroyed by flak

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 16000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

---------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on 150th RAC Regiment, at 58,48 , near Magwe

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 20

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 1
F4F-3 Wildcat x 3
F4U-1 Corsair x 10
F6F-3 Hellcat x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 8 destroyed, 2 damaged

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 16000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

[obvert]

If they have the dive the Georges should kill more I'd think due to the better guns, and in a longer more even altitude battle the Frank might have the edge. I'm seeing that in mine at least.

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: obvert

If they have the dive the Georges should kill more I'd think due to the better guns, and in a longer more even altitude battle the Frank might have the edge. I'm seeing that in mine at least.

You are right. I lose 11 Georges and 10 Franks.
~40 enemy planes was shot down by Gorges and only ~30 by Franks but when i watch closely battle animation N1K2 most of the time was fighting against old planes and few F6F.
When Frank was sweeping most of his opposition was build on F6F and F4U and he still was victorious.

I have some small hopes for "r" version. He allow me to sweep above enemy. If everything go well "r" will be available in January 1944[8D]

[koniu]

27 Aug 43

Burma
I sweep again hex with enemy troops that trying to cut off Taung Gyi. This time to opposition. Bombers manage to hit chnise division . I hope that will slow them little.

Rammre Island (Salomons)
Ki-49 bomb port sinking AM

China
90 N1K1 sweep Changsha. Shotting down 40 enemy fighters for six Georges.
After them arrive bombers damaging heavily AF.

Morning Air attack on Changsha , at 82,52

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 28 NM, estimated altitude 34,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 40

Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 21
P-43A-1 Lancer x 22
Hurricane IIc Trop x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K1-J George: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 5 destroyed
P-43A-1 Lancer: 2 destroyed
Hurricane IIc Trop: 1 destroyed

---------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on Changsha , at 82,52

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 38 NM, estimated altitude 32,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 46

Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 7
P-43A-1 Lancer x 8
Hurricane IIc Trop x 9

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed
P-43A-1 Lancer: 1 destroyed
Hurricane IIc Trop: 2 destroyed

---------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on Changsha , at 82,52

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 25
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 8
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 12
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 58

Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 1
P-43A-1 Lancer x 3
Hurricane IIc Trop x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 5 damaged
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 9 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed
Hurricane IIc Trop: 1 destroyed
P-66 Vanguard: 3 destroyed on ground
Lysander II: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied ground losses:
7 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 26
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 109

---------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on Changsha , at 82,52

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 35 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 9
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 19

Allied aircraft
P-43A-1 Lancer x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-66 Vanguard: 1 destroyed on ground

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 9

[koniu]

28 Aug 43

China
I bomb Changsha again. Last turn i start moving two LCUs groups toward Changsha.
I have no plans to move to city i only want to check docup reaction.

In last email he write me that it is to late to Japan to start offensive. But i also see troops moving out of city.

Or he is week in city and what to scare me or he strong and want me to attack.

I have 4000AV there buy i see 150k troops in city. so probably 3000-4000AV and for sure behind forts. so probably 15000+ adjusted AV

I think i will just bombard city from air burning supplies. Kingdom for knowledge how Changsha supplies situation looks.

Burma
All my bombers and most of sweps not fly becouse of weather.

R&D
Ki-84r advance to 5/45

Japanese aces

Japan have 88 pilots with 5 or more kills
47 navy and 41 army
67 still alive

[koniu]

Just to remember what happen 74 years ago

[koniu]

29 Aug 43

Burma
Docup still marching to cut of Taung Gyi from south. I know that he have Australian ID, Chinese ID and Tank unit. Maybe around 1000AV.

Japanese defense in hex is currently week Inf regiment and artillery unit.
Reinforcements are 16 miles from hex. Marching 5 miles daily. So i need 3 more days. 4th day cavalry will arrive giving me 600AV in hex. I also marching with AT units to support defenders.Bombers bombing enemy hoping to slow it down.

If Docup manage to cut me off. It will cut of in Taung Gyi and area north of it with 4 ID, 3 IR and half of tank ID. Stressful times.

China
I forgot to cancel movement to Changsha and i have 4000AV siege city. Stupid koniu.
Because i already there i will bombard him to check his defaces. I will not attack city. It was never planed.

R&D
D4Y4 advance to 11/44

[koniu]

30 Aug 1943

Burma
I was so tired last day and i made mistake. Plan was to sweep hex SE of Magwe with 160 Fighters. Only 45 Georges sweep there. All fighters from Rangoon go against Magwe. I check my pre turn orders. I accidentally click on Magwe as target. 30 Franks and 17 Georges lost together with 40 good pilots. My boys manage to shot down 33 enemy fighters. Mostly P-40 and Hurricanes IIc but also 8 F4U and 3 F6F. Sweeping allied base even with numeric advantage is not good. With superior radar 3 from 4 sweep waves arrive below defenders. Maybe i will try that when Ki-84r arrive allowing me to sweep at 39k ft.

Enemy troops still not enter hex south of Taung Gyi. that is good news. AT guns arrive, in two days Inf Div will be in place. Another ID Just star marching north as reserve.

Docup every day bombarding Taung Gyi. He taking more loses from me but it burns my supplies. Last turn 500. I have lot of supplies in Burma but biggest problem is distribution. Supplies should go north but they just return to Bangkok.

I have 1300AV in Taung Gyi(2 IDs and 75% of Tank Division), enemy have 1800. 3 ID and armored regiment.

China
I bombard Changsha. I was not nice view. 650 soldier killed, 11 squads lost over 20 disabled. I will sit there for few days and later retreat to starting position.

Today will be no turn i took one day vacations from game. To much mistakes. I start doing turns automatically withouts rethinking my moves first and that is wrong.

[Quixote]

Today will be no turn i took one day vacations from game. To much mistakes. I start doing turns automatically withouts rethinking my moves first and that is wrong.

It's easy to fall into this trap, and I don't think it matters which side you play. Taking a one day break to get some perspective is not a bad idea.

[koniu]

31 Aug 43

Burma
19 Ki-44IIc Tojo shot down by P-47. Leaky CAP. Only 4 pilots KIA and 3 P-47 shot down.

R&D
Ki-49IIa upgrade to Ki-49IIb.

Allies New Toys
B24D1 Liberator upgrade to B24J Liberator - production 65/month
F4U-1 Corsair upgrade to F4U-1A Corsair - production 78/month

[koniu]

1-2 Sept 43

Burma
1th was quiet but on 2th i set CAP trap to protect my boys south of Taung Gyi.
I lost 40 Tojos, 6 Franks and 9 Geroges but only 10 pilots We shot down 6 P-47 and 16 P-38
Docup have there 2 ID. Should i move another units or i Should hold with forces i have?

Ground combat at 58,49 (near Taung Gyi)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 18343 troops, 136 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1294

Defending force 17648 troops, 201 guns, 57 vehicles, Assault Value = 591

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

Allied ground losses:
23 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
6th Australian Division
6th Chinese Corps (900AV)[X(]

Defending units:
33rd Infantry Regiment
18th Division
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
8th RF Gun Battalion

Intelligence
8 months after CV battle of Milne Bay:
Previous report of sinking of CVE Nassau incorrect. Intelligence reports ship is still in service
Two TT hits and 250 kg bomb and still ships survive

TOE upgrades
Lots of AA units upgraded to 12cm T03 AA guns. Most of them is placed in places like Palembang. Soerobaja etc. Empire curently have 92 12cm guns.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: koniu

1-2 Sept 43

Burma
1th was quiet but on 2th i set CAP trap to protect my boys south of Taung Gyi.
I lost 40 Tojos, 6 Franks and 9 Geroges but only 10 pilots We shot down 6 P-47 and 16 P-38
Docup have there 2 ID. Should i move another units or i Should hold with forces i have?

Ground combat at 58,49 (near Taung Gyi)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 18343 troops, 136 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1294

Defending force 17648 troops, 201 guns, 57 vehicles, Assault Value = 591

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

Allied ground losses:
23 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
6th Australian Division
6th Chinese Corps (900AV)[X(]

Defending units:
33rd Infantry Regiment
18th Division
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
8th RF Gun Battalion

Intelligence
8 months after CV battle of Milne Bay:
Previous report of sinking of CVE Nassau incorrect. Intelligence reports ship is still in service
Two TT hits and 250 kg bomb and still ships survive

TOE upgrades
Lots of AA units upgraded to 12cm T03 AA guns. Most of them is placed in places like Palembang. Soerobaja etc. Empire curently have 92 12cm guns.

Those 12cm guns are gold! I'm sure you know about all of the other upgrades too, but the IJAAF base forces upgrade bigger, the small base forces gain extra support and small AA guns. The Chinese expand a lot of units.

About your contested hex with the Aussies and Chinese, I thikn you're fine if you can build forts there and there is no threat of him reinforcing with another division. A small tank unit would be good agains the Chinese though. If it's +2 terrain he'll need 3:1 AV to even begin pushing you out.