The PBEM is between yourself and your opponent. So, I wohn't comment on those things.
However you have very good advice here and take those into your heart.
You will suffer B29 losses even in higher alltitudes. Personally cut my losses and went in low mostly since despite the losses they are actually hitting something.
Once you get more of those B29's I would not bomb Manpower.. well maybe Tokyo and few other cities but would go for more specific targets instead.
Also get in the range so you can use your 4E bombers againts Japan. To recap "B29 will hurt him a lot eventually but it will be B17's B24's along with P51 that will utterly destroy his economy).
That is kind of blunt but really would say as much after completing two games.
What was your hit rate when going after specific targets like say an engine factory? I´ve been fiddling a bit in a sandbox and it seem REALLY hard to hit anything when you chose a specific factory?
I have closed hex sides using things like AA units, which don't have any AV. I did not try it with river crossings though, because they'd get murdered in a forced shock (I assume).
Look at us! Three guys (me , you, witpqs) with, combined, probably 12 years playing this game, and we're still wondering about stuff like this. [:)]
It would help if the map made it easier to see the "inside door" and "outside door" at higher rez. I know witpqs uses a magnifying glass, but I can never seem to keep one around.
I'm pretty sure too a no-AV LCU won't work. Some AA has some though.
I have closed hex sides using things like AA units, which don't have any AV. I did not try it with river crossings though, because they'd get murdered in a forced shock (I assume).
Look at us! Three guys (me , you, witpqs) with, combined, probably 12 years playing this game, and we're still wondering about stuff like this. [:)]
It would help if the map made it easier to see the "inside door" and "outside door" at higher rez. I know witpqs uses a magnifying glass, but I can never seem to keep one around.
I'm pretty sure too a no-AV LCU won't work. Some AA has some though.
Just tried. A EAB unit won´t flip the side. So I added a single squad (1 AV) to it. Still no flip. So there must be something more to it that triggers the flip.
When I tried yesterday using full RGT they also got completely wiped out in the crossing. But they did flip the hexside in the process!
I have closed hex sides using things like AA units, which don't have any AV. I did not try it with river crossings though, because they'd get murdered in a forced shock (I assume).
Look at us! Three guys (me , you, witpqs) with, combined, probably 12 years playing this game, and we're still wondering about stuff like this. [:)]
It would help if the map made it easier to see the "inside door" and "outside door" at higher rez. I know witpqs uses a magnifying glass, but I can never seem to keep one around.
I'm pretty sure too a no-AV LCU won't work. Some AA has some though.
Just tried. A EAB unit won´t flip the side. So I added a single squad (1 AV) to it. Still no flip. So there must be something more to it that triggers the flip.
When I tried yesterday using full RGT they also got completely wiped out in the crossing. But they did flip the hexside in the process!
I will check again, but I did it to Sydney against the AI with a couple of small AA Rgts. The ones with about 24 guns each, nothing else but Support squads. It's possible I was under latest official.
Look at us! Three guys (me , you, witpqs) with, combined, probably 12 years playing this game, and we're still wondering about stuff like this. [:)]
It would help if the map made it easier to see the "inside door" and "outside door" at higher rez. I know witpqs uses a magnifying glass, but I can never seem to keep one around.
I'm pretty sure too a no-AV LCU won't work. Some AA has some though.
Just tried. A EAB unit won´t flip the side. So I added a single squad (1 AV) to it. Still no flip. So there must be something more to it that triggers the flip.
When I tried yesterday using full RGT they also got completely wiped out in the crossing. But they did flip the hexside in the process!
I will check again, but I did it to Sydney against the AI with a couple of small AA Rgts. The ones with about 24 guns each, nothing else but Support squads. It's possible I was under latest official.
I tried using an AA unit just now. The problem is that it has no AV. They don´t even trigger a combat sequence. They just "bounce back" with losses, just as the EAB.
EDIT: Now I got it to work. I made an error in the editor regarding the units already in place in the hex I was crossing into. I can flip the hex side both using an AA unit and a EAB. None with AV. Since they lack AV they don´t initiate regular shock attack and don´t get destroyed. Bug/Exploit?
Turns out baby number two is due in early April! [:)] I really hope Erik and I have wrapped this up by then. Because the saying goes: One baby is heaven and two is hell! I don´t think one baby is heaven so I really don´t want to find out what the version of hell is in the saying! [:D]
Wasn´t really planned to have two babies so close together but it looks like my "little soldiers" are potent ones! [:D]
Puts the game a bit into perspective when you realise I might have TWO children during the one and same PBEM!
Turns out baby number two is due in early April! [:)] I really hope Erik and I have wrapped this up by then. Because the saying goes: One baby is heaven and two is hell! I don´t think one baby is heaven so I really don´t want to find out what the version of hell is in the saying! [:D]
Wasn´t really planned to have two babies so close together but it looks like my "little soldiers" are potent ones! [:D]
Puts the game a bit into perspective when you realise I might have TWO children during the one and same PBEM!
[font="Verdana"]Stratigic bombing - Problems and dilemmas[/font]
______________________________________________________________________________
So I spent a good amount of time trying stuff out. Probably done a couple of hundred bombings with different setting now. Boring as hell but very enlightening. I have found some big problems with my current plan/idea.
All test were done at extended range using 10 B29 squadrons totalling 100 planes.
We have some facts that are set in stone that limits us and what we can do:
-We can only bomb during the night.
This was definitively confirmed in my tests. Just as the regular 4Es the B29s were apparently built using papermaché. Against a CAP of 100 fighters (mix of Georges, Franks and Tonys) I lost 40-70 B29 per raid regardless of altitude (5k-35k). This is obviously unsustainable and impossible.
So all further testing was done at night. The following facts emerged:
- Aircraft factories are very close to immune. Both by fire and direct attack. The hit rate on these factories were abysmal on direct attack. This is ruled out.
- HI is very, very hard to hit directly too. While not as hard as aircraft factories it is still not worthwhile to pursue them directly. This is also ruled out.
- Manpower is the only thing worthwhile to hit with a night bombing campaign. But only when manpower and HI are concentrated in very big numbers. This leaves only 2 targets viable where the returns justify the losses. Tokyo and Osaka/Kobe.
It won´t take Erik long to realise what targets I go after and concentrate his NFs at these location. It can´t be helped as this is the only viable option right now. But I might throw in an occasional direct HI attack from time to time just to stay a bit unpredictable.
Obviously the data will change once I can get closer and start operations within normal radius. That will not only double the bombload but also quicken the pace of operations as plane and pilot fatigue will drop.
This has led to some frantic action at Allied HQ. I´ve given operation "Hulk Smash" the go ahead. More on that tonight. Its quick, crude and dirty but I hope it will speed up the fall of Luzon considerably.
[font="Verdana"]Stratigic bombing - Problems and dilemmas[/font]
______________________________________________________________________________
So I spent a good amount of time trying stuff out. Probably done a couple of hundred bombings with different setting now. Boring as hell but very enlightening. I have found some big problems with my current plan/idea.
All test were done at extended range using 10 B29 squadrons totalling 100 planes.
We have some facts that are set in stone that limits us and what we can do:
-We can only bomb during the night.
This was definitively confirmed in my tests. Just as the regular 4Es the B29s were apparently built using papermaché. Against a CAP of 100 fighters (mix of Georges, Franks and Tonys) I lost 40-70 B29 per raid regardless of altitude (5k-35k). This is obviously unsustainable and impossible.
So all further testing was done at night. The following facts emerged:
- Aircraft factories are very close to immune. Both by fire and direct attack. The hit rate on these factories were abysmal on direct attack. This is ruled out.
- HI is very, very hard to hit directly too. While not as hard as aircraft factories it is still not worthwhile to pursue them directly. This is also ruled out.
- Manpower is the only thing worthwhile to hit with a night bombing campaign. But only when manpower and HI are concentrated in very big numbers. This leaves only 2 targets viable where the returns justify the losses. Tokyo and Osaka/Kobe.
It won´t take Erik long to realise what targets I go after and concentrate his NFs at these location. It can´t be helped as this is the only viable option right now. But I might throw in an occasional direct HI attack from time to time just to stay a bit unpredictable.
Obviously the data will change once I can get closer and start operations within normal radius. That will not only double the bombload but also quicken the pace of operations as plane and pilot fatigue will drop.
Looking on the bright side - once he masses all his fighters at Tokyo and Osaka ALL THE OTHER HOME ISLAND BASES ARE UNDEFENDED. Unless he pulls back all his fighters from Bangkok and Manila, he likely does not have enough to cover everything.
Your findings here strengthen the case for taking Formosa - you need those bases to get shorter legged 4E into the fight.
Daytime needs P-51s. It's that simple. That's what they were there for. On IWO quite a bit, but they were there. Get closer. (Echooooooooo . . . [:)])
Manpower fires add up.
I haven't counted hexes, but are there any viable targets not in the HI that are in range? Shanghai? Canton? HK? Don't discount supply denial, and don't discount the pressure his HI bank is under from pilot tax in 1945. You don't get VPs for China, but I doubt those cities have NFs. Bottom-line, you have to stick and jab for awhile longer. Don't start milk runs over two cities.
Edit: Congrats on the baby. If you time it right you can name her "Enola." (If a boy, "Boch.")
Interesting finds JocMeister. How did your B29's do on defence against CAP at night?
Obviously there's a load of factors involved (aircraft numbers and relative experience of both sets of pilots to name 2) but my latest night's raid on Tokyo was very interesting. I shot down 19 x enemy CAP for no B29 loss! This was when I raised my altitude to 20K (his CAP was lower). Only 1 night's bombing but also noticeably fewer hits on manpower and fires when bombing at 20K as opposed to 10K. Hope you don't mind me posting a segment from the CR!
Night Air attack on Tokyo , at 114,60
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 75 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes
Japanese aircraft
J1N1-S Irving x 8
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 17
Ki-45 KAIc Nick x 15
Ki-61-II KAI Tony x 13
Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 21
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 20000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 20000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 20000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 20000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 20000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 20000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 20000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
CAP engaged:
S-812 Hikotai with J1N1-S Irving (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 22000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 14 minutes
20th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (0 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 25000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes
21st Sentai with Ki-45 KAIc Nick (3 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 24000 and 26000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 10 minutes
70th Sentai with Ki-61-II KAI Tony (0 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 15000 and 23000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 7 minutes
Interesting finds JocMeister. How did your B29's do on defence against CAP at night?
Obviously there's a load of factors involved (aircraft numbers and relative experience of both sets of pilots to name 2) but my latest night's raid on Tokyo was very interesting. I shot down 19 x enemy CAP for no B29 loss! This was when I raised my altitude to 20K (his CAP was lower). Only 1 night's bombing but also noticeably fewer hits on manpower and fires when bombing at 20K as opposed to 10K. Hope you don't mind me posting a segment from the CR!
I don´t mind at all Speedy! [:)]
Here is the disastrous raid on Nagoya:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Nagoya , at 111,60
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid detected at 61 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes
Japanese aircraft
J1N1-S Irving x 14
J1N1-Sa Irving x 23
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-29-25 Superfort bombing from 9000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
2 x B-29-25 Superfort bombing from 9000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x B-29-25 Superfort bombing from 9000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-29-25 Superfort bombing from 9000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
CAP engaged:
S-804 Hikotai with J1N1-Sa Irving (9 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
9 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Raid is overhead
S-812 Hikotai with J1N1-Sa Irving (3 airborne, 9 on standby, 2 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 9000 , scrambling fighters between 3000 and 9000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 53 minutes
S-851 Hikotai with J1N1-S Irving (4 airborne, 9 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 13000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes
Some CAP have air radar
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Nagoya , at 111,60
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Japanese aircraft
J1N1-S Irving x 6
J1N1-Sa Irving x 19
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-29-25 Superfort bombing from 9000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
CAP engaged:
S-804 Hikotai with J1N1-Sa Irving (8 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
8 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Raid is overhead
S-812 Hikotai with J1N1-Sa Irving (9 airborne, 0 on standby, 2 scrambling)
9 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 9000 , scrambling fighters to 9000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes
S-851 Hikotai with J1N1-S Irving (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Raid is overhead
Some CAP have air radar
So of the 40 planes that arrived 8 where shot down by NFs. Another 2 lost to OPS. I´ll try upping the altitude to see if I can get better results in survivability! Can´t sustain losses like that.
Hmm. Interesting. It's weird how it goes as I also had several planes damaged but none lost. On the slip side I shot some NF down but you didn't. I guess logically Erik's pilots have better experience than the ones I faced....be wary of upping the altitude as I say I noticed a marked dropping off of bomber accuracy on manpower at 20k
Turns out baby number two is due in early April! [:)] I really hope Erik and I have wrapped this up by then. Because the saying goes: One baby is heaven and two is hell! I don´t think one baby is heaven so I really don´t want to find out what the version of hell is in the saying! [:D]
Wasn´t really planned to have two babies so close together but it looks like my "little soldiers" are potent ones! [:D]
Puts the game a bit into perspective when you realise I might have TWO children during the one and same PBEM!
Gratulerar! [:)]
... du får nog dock se till att göra slut på kriget innan #2 anländer, annars misstänker jag att din tid för AE kommer att käkas upp [:'(]
“Not mastering metaphores is like cooking pasta when the train is delayed"
