Speedy's Japanese war discussion

[Boomer Redleg]

I think you still want to build at least a few of the different air frames based on your reinforcement schedule. For instance - look at the Tony air groups in the picture. It seems to me you would want to build at least 60 of the Ib, 45 of the Ic, and maybe 30 of the Id air frames so you can bring those 15 air groups into the game. Afterwards you can upgrade each air group to an air frame of your choice but to get those air groups into the game you have to have the air frames - right?

[Puhis]

You don't have to build any planes to get airgroups. Every IJA airgroup arrive with 2 planes. If playing PDU on, player can change plane model immediately.

[Speedysteve]

Ok. Thanks guys. I've decided I'll run an AAR with this game and will start it shortly!

A quick Q - how is it best to manage the situation whereby a future plane you've R&D arrives but it is a later model than a currently producible plane?

For example.

Take the A6M5.

Let's say I manage to get this in service before the A6M3/A6M3a are in service. It will cost me a lot of damaged facs and supply to upgrade the A6M2 facs to the A6M5 as I can't upgrade directly, correct?

How is it best to manage this?

[Spidery]

Let's say I manage to get this in service before the A6M3/A6M3a are in service. It will cost me a lot of damaged facs and supply to upgrade the A6M2 facs to the A6M5 as I can't upgrade directly, correct?

The A6M2 doesn't upgrade to the A6M5. So in this case you need to treat it as if it were a separate line.

Generally, I think supply conservation is best by rolling research factories into production and only changing between lines when you must. I plan on having very few R&D factories change between models.

For example, you could build 2 A6M2 factories one of size 60 and the other of size 30. When the A6M5 is available let 3 R&D factories roll into producing that. Switch off the A6M2 factory. Assuming you have nothing researching the Helen transport, when that is available switch the 60 factory to producing that and it will become a size 42 factory that will cover that. When the Emily is available switch the 30 factory to that and you will have a 21 factory that probably covers production of that.

If you have a factory that is producing something you don't want any longer switch it off and just look it as being 70% the size and available for reassignment to something else. Don't think that it is currently producing a Navy fighter so should next produce a Navy fighter.

[Speedysteve]

Thanks Spidery.

So in general you'll always have a 'rolling batch' of Facs sitting there idle waiting for one R&D project to finish, those R&D facs you turn into live production of that plane (in batches of 30) and then the idle facs you had dormant you now switch onto R&D the next plane.

At the same time you switch of the old model production facs and re-assign to other types when needed?

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Speedy

Thanks Spidery.

So in general you'll always have a 'rolling batch' of Facs sitting there idle waiting for one R&D project to finish, those R&D facs you turn into live production of that plane (in batches of 30) and then the idle facs you had dormant you now switch onto R&D the next plane.

At the same time you switch of the old model production facs and re-assign to other types when needed?

I'm not sure what you mean by 'rolling batch' of factories.

Assuming Realistic R n D/ON, If you research the A6M5, you have 3 x 30 factories in research. Say you have Spidery's example above for A6M2 in production, 1 x60 and 1 x 30 factories.

When the A6M5 research is finished you may either keep them as research factories or let them turn into a production factory. So say you'd like to keep researching the next model. You could keep 1 x 30 factories in research and move 2 x 30 into production. For your A6M2 factories you would either shut them off or change them into another model, either the A6M5 or another airframe.

So you could this way end up with1 x 30 A6M5b in R n D, 2 x 30 A6M5 in production, 1 x 42 A6M5 (changed from the A6M2 and needing to repair for 42k supply over 42 days) and 1 x 30 production turned off (previously A6M2, ready to change to something else, needing 21k supply and 21 days to repair after the change for 21 factories).

[Spidery]

ORIGINAL: Speedy

Thanks Spidery.

So in general you'll always have a 'rolling batch' of Facs sitting there idle waiting for one R&D project to finish, those R&D facs you turn into live production of that plane (in batches of 30) and then the idle facs you had dormant you now switch onto R&D the next plane.

At the same time you switch of the old model production facs and re-assign to other types when needed?

Obvert says what I meant to say clearer.

There are some aircraft that you don't research but still want to produce (e.g., transports, recon planes, float fighters). The factories that are assigned to produce "obsolete" aircraft, and can't be upgraded in line, I plan to keep idle and then assign them to these models as they become available.

[Puhis]

BTW, fastest way to get A6M5 R&Ds is to research A6M2-N... Rufe factories upgrade to A6M5, at least in stock games.

IMO that's just stupid and more or less "gamey" way to get A6M5 fast. [:)]

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Puhis

BTW, fastest way to get A6M5 R&Ds is to research A6M2-N... Rufe factories upgrade to A6M5, at least in stock games.

IMO that's just stupid and more or less "gamey" way to get A6M5 fast. [:)]

With the immediate upgrade possibility it'll be even earlier than I thought possible. I'm starting to understand where certain frames can get over a year ahead now.

By about 3/42 you could have an A6M2-N factory repaired and range it to A6M5. Or several factories.

If you want the A6M3a then you can use the A6M3 and do nearly the same thing, also eventually upgrading to A6M5 if you want to. In about 8/42 when the A6M5 arrives you could just change all of the R n D to the A6M8 and get that in late 43 with enough factories.

I would think an Allied player on the other side would not be too pleased to see them that soon though. But for Dad ... [;)]

[Speedysteve]

Thanks guys,

Think I'm slowly getting my head around all the Japanese shenanigans [;)]

There's still a lot of work I need to put into my aircraft and engine configuration but that will take months whilst I slowly tweak and get enough supply (with me hopefully not expanding too quickly!)

[Terminus]

ORIGINAL: Speedy

LCU assignment and preparation is progressing well. With us having played a historical first turn I'm sticking with most of the historical assignments:

25th Army and 16th Army (- babeldaob units prepping for Mindanao) to Malaya with addition of 4th and 21st Divisions. I'm likely to try the Mersing Gambit with these divisions + 2nd division.

14th Army to Luzon. I just want to hole up the Allies here.

15 Army to Burma.

I have to think what extra forces to send to SoPac to take PM.

All of the little rinky dink SNLF forces will take the tiny unoccupied bases and the larger Babeldaob SNLF units will take Ternate at first.

Still to plan where to place the Air Flotillas but thinking Jolo and Ambon first off.

Still to plan IndoChina forces in depth. Will probably assign the spare Bde/Rgt towards Borneo or Sumatra.

This will be phase 1.

Why do you want Port Moresby? It's very difficult to supply and build into a useful airfield, and conversely the Allies won't have anything to put there that can threaten you for a looooooooooooooong time. Your objective is economic resources, and PM is outside the SRA.

[Terminus]

Your objective is to take the DEI and keep the Allies out of it. Their main axis of advance will be from Northern Australia, and you can interdict it from Timor and Ambon, which are both much easier to make bases out of than Port Moresby. The Penguin has reduced Darwin to starvation rations in our game with torpedo bombers out of Timor. He also has PM, but has done nothing to increase his air strength there, presumably because its not worth his time.

[Speedysteve]

Hi T,

In the guise of the Japanese I want everything [;)]

The DEI is the focus but my initial thoughts for phase 4 is to take PM, northern Australia and maybe something around SE India (Calcutta area). It does depend on how successful and quickly Phases 1 and 2 are.

[John 3rd]

For me the key to Phases 3-4 is a QUICK fall to Singapore. If you cannot free-up those troops quickly then what is the point?

[Speedysteve]

Yup agreed. It's all about speed and conducting the ops maximising enemy losses whilst minimising your own. Hence my aim to smash Malaya early.

[Cribtop]

Wow, great thread. Good luck! Will follow your AAR.

[Speedysteve]

Thanks Cribtop. See you in there [:)]