A Lemon rises in the East: SqzMyLemon (J) vs. JocMeister (A)

[SqzMyLemon]

ORIGINAL: koniu

Upgrade path
Ki-61-Ia Tony
Ki-61-Ib Tony
Ki-61-Id Tony
Ki-61-II KAI Tony
Ki-100-I Tony
Ki-100-II Tony

Thank you!

[SqzMyLemon]

Speedy, here's my most relevant R&D info as an example. R&D is so subjective and player driven this is only being provided as an example for comparison. I have spent a large amount on R&D, but that's a result of little to no combat against Allied forces for most of 1942. I'm playing for the late game so my R&D is tailored accordingly. I may never get the NE Turbojet aircraft, but wanted to try.

Engine production:

Ha-35 total production 400(0) currently producing 120/month with 622 in the pool.
Ha-34 total production 290(0) currently producing 150/month with 527 in the pool. (Probably overproduced this engine by 90 at least)
Ha-32 total production 270(0) currently producing 270/month with 509 in the pool.
Ha-33 total production 151(9) currently producing 151/month with 461 in the pool.
Aichi Ha-60 production 50(0) currently producing 50/month with 103 in the pool.
Ha-31 total production 45(0) currently producing 0/month with 64 in the pool.

Engine research:

Ha-43 total research 190(5) available 45/2
Ha-45 total research 260(0) available 43/2
Ha-44 total research 20(0) available 43/4
NE Turbojet research 140(0) available 45/10

Aircraft research:

N1K1-J George total research 151(29) with 14% complete, available 43/7
Ki-84a Frank total research 111(94) with 0% complete, available 44/1
Ki-83 total research 66(174) with 0% complete, available 45/10
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar total research 65(0) with 100% complete, available 44/5
J2M2 Jack total research 63(18) with 29% complete, available 45/5
A6M5 total research 62(0) with 40% complete, available 43/2
Ki-61-Ib total research 62(0) with 62% complete, available 43/4 (Note, I'll be switching this to the Ki-100-I when it next advances)
Ki-44-IIc Tojo total research 60(0) with 58% complete, available 44/2
A7M2 Sam total research 22(73) with 0% complete, available 45/6
J7M1 Shinden total research 17(88) with 13% complete, available 45/12
Ki-84b Frank total research 17(73) with 0% complete, available 45/3

I'm only producing these aircraft at the moment:

A6M3a 55(45)
Ki-49-Ia Helen 20(0)
Ki-49-IIa Helen 40(0)
Ki-46-IIa Dinah 30(0)
G3M3 Nell 30(0)
E13A1 Jake 40(0)
Ki-56 Thalia 30(0)

Everything else is turned off, which I do often. You can see I've got large numbers of engine factories turned off awaiting airframe R&D before ramping up production. I can produce 120 Tojo IIa's and 85 Oscar IIa's per/month, but there is no current need for replacements. As I'm playing for the mid/late war I'm investing in later aircraft, rather than produce large numbers of obsolete aircraft now. When the new DB, TB and fighters become available, then production will be geared towards creating large pools.

I haven't shown everything, especially bomber production, but I hope this gives you an idea of what I'm doing and the associated supply expenditure. It's quite a bit and I still have 852,000 supply to use for all outstanding repairs. I'll see if the economy crashes or not in due time. I'm taking a chance with my R&D so it's more on the extreme side. That's why I'm recommending a slower approach to you. You have plenty of time to sort things out, just don't be in a rush to do it all at once. I could because there's been almost no Allied moves for all of 42. The HI and supply I've saved have gone into R&D. If I was being pushed hard there is no way I'd be able to get away with as little aircraft production as I am. There's also no way I'd have been able to concentrate on mid/late war aircraft like this otherwise.

I'm also not worried about streamlining production. I want to try out a few models and see how they fair. Time will tell whether I crash the economy or not. Anyway, just some numbers for you to compare. I don't advocate doing what I'm trying, but it's there for all to see. Comments and criticisms always welcome.

[SqzMyLemon]

[:@] Double post!

[SqzMyLemon]

My other opponent seems to be AWOL again. I can't account for the lack of communication and the last few e-mails have gone unanswered. I won't speculate, but I do hope things are ok with him. I was playing the Allied side in the PBEM. I'll remain optimistic about hearing from him soon, but if I haven't heard anything by the New Year I'll have to acknowledge the game is most likely over.

If that is the case, would anybody be interested in a PBEM against myself with me as the Allies? I'm not sure I want to start another game as Japan as I believe a change of scenery is in order. I'm not planning on posting in the opponents wanted, because I'd like someone who's followed either of my AAR's as a potential opponent. In the meantime, I'm going to try and find out whether my other PBEM is dead in the water before committing to another game.

There's also the possibility of just completing my game against Jocke and then taking a break from WitPAE altogether. I've been putting a lot of time into the game for 4 years now and both PBEM's I've AAR'd have been rather on the slow side. I'm not sure I want to add a third to that list. My potential opponent would likely be the deciding factor as to whether I'd want to take on another PBEM. That's why I'm posting here first, to test the waters and see if anyone would be interested. If so, please PM me.

[SqzMyLemon]

Jocke sent a turn yesterday so we're back to the war.

China:

A Chinese Corps was destroyed east of Kienko during a deliberate attack. There are numerous opportunities to destroy a number of Chinese LCU's that are caught behind the lines. I will attempt to destroy them all despite the benefits to the Chinese from re-spawning. I need the VP's.

Production:

The Oscar Ki-43-IIIa advances R&D to 5/44.

Thoughts:

I'm losing ground due to Allied base expansions. I did have a 3:1 advantage in VP's, but that is being eroded almost daily. Why expanding bases that a Japanese player has zero possibility of occupying is rewarded makes no sense to me. It simply pads the total Allied VP's. Is this SimCity or a wargame?

[EHansen]

As long as you are using one of the latest betas, his units only come back with 1/3 support and infantry. They have no heavy weapons at all, so they are not that useful to him. They can stand and die giving you more VPs.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon
If that is the case, would anybody be interested in a PBEM against myself with me as the Allies? I'm not sure I want to start another game as Japan as I believe a change of scenery is in order. I'm not planning on posting in the opponents wanted, because I'd like someone who's followed either of my AAR's as a potential opponent.

Hmmm....[:)]

PM sent (Allied dog)...

[SqzMyLemon]

China:

Heavy bombing is the order of the day in the theatre with over 1200 enemy casualties. Chinese troops in clear terrain east of Chungking are the focus prior to a ground deliberate attack. The assault causes heavy Chinese losses and the enemy retreats northwest. AAR follows:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 79,44 (near Chungking)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 18066 troops, 126 guns, 11 vehicles, Assault Value = 1095

Defending force 24803 troops, 73 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 641

Japanese adjusted assault: 349

Allied adjusted defense: 36

Japanese assault odds: 9 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: disruption(-), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
742 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 76 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled

Allied ground losses:
7813 casualties reported
Squads: 228 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 431 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 10 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 8 (7 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Units retreated 6

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
63rd Division
27th Division
1st Ind.Mixed Brigade

Defending units:
59th Chinese Corps
76th Chinese Corps
3rd Group Army
Jingcha War Area
Red Chinese Army
14th Group Army

A smaller action near Kienko results in a destroyed Chinese LCU. AAR follows:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 80,40 (near Kienko)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 12021 troops, 94 guns, 32 vehicles, Assault Value = 431

Defending force 2112 troops, 13 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 16

Japanese adjusted assault: 91

Allied adjusted defense: 4

Japanese assault odds: 22 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: leaders(-)

Allied ground losses:
1619 casualties reported
Squads: 50 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 108 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 10 (10 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 3
Units destroyed 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
35th Division

Defending units:
82nd Chinese Corps
3rd Chinese Cavalry Corps
3rd Prov Chinese Corps
6th Chinese Base Force

These operations essentially are just mopping up Chinese forces caught behind my lines. The tough fights are still ahead. Japanese forces are re-deploying for a renewed attempt to break the stalemate east of Kunming. A number of divisions are withdrawing to rear area bases for replenishment and recovery of disablements. Japanese units are also moving to invest Chungking directly and will do so once all forces are in position. Aviation support is redeploying forward so a more concerted bombing campaign can be conducted against Kunming and area.

Screenshot of the Chinese theatre follows:

[SqzMyLemon]

I'm running into problems with fuel not reaching the HI producing bases in Manchuria. I'm losing roughly 400 HI potential daily. I'm reducing the amount of shipping at Fusan because it seems too much fuel is being drawn away from industry. It's not a question of being short of fuel, it's just stockpiling at Fusan and not being sent to industry. I've set the bases in question to stockpile fuel to see if that will draw it inland.

I've begun a concentrated effort on reducing fuel/oil stockpiles at Palembang, Miri, Brunei and Balikpapan. Fuel is stockpiling at Singapore and is transported to Japan with my large tankers, but I'm not using my smaller tankers as efficiently as I could be and that is leaving too much fuel/oil at the producing bases. I may also have to start shipping some fuel to China to get the HI producing again.

[obvert]

I you make an occasional drop in Port Arthur, Shanghai and Hong Kong that should cover it. I've had this happen a bunch too. Even with Fusan build up Port Arthur also hordes some and even with stockpiling on there is never much of a surplus in the inner Manchurian bases.

[SqzMyLemon]

I'll try Shanghai. I figure it should rail from there to where it's needed. Hong Kong worries me as it could simply migrate back towards Saigon/Singapore.

[Lokasenna]

I just don't turn stockpiling on. It screws with the automatic distribution and demand that is created by the industry's (HI or Refinery) mere existence. This does make my CS convoying from Fusan a little slower, but I'm also not having to drop anything but Supplies onto the mainland.

[SqzMyLemon]

I don't normally use stockpiling of fuel either. I've only just decided to try stockpiling fuel at the bases lacking it because they've been dry for weeks. Since I haven't been stockpiling fuel prior to last turn it can't be the reason for the shortage. However, I do use resource stockpiling at Fusan on a regular basis, because if I don't my transports quickly reduce the base to it's daily amount of 400. I just don't understand why Fusan is drawing so much fuel away from the factories when there is over 60k available. I think it has to be the amount of shipping I'm using at the port that's the problem.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

I don't normally use stockpiling of fuel either. I've only just decided to try stockpiling fuel at the bases lacking it because they've been dry for weeks. Since I haven't been stockpiling fuel prior to last turn it can't be the reason for the shortage. However, I do use resource stockpiling at Fusan on a regular basis, because if I don't my transports quickly reduce the base to it's daily amount of 400. I just don't understand why Fusan is drawing so much fuel away from the factories when there is over 60k available. I think it has to be the amount of shipping I'm using at the port that's the problem.

Not the problem, but rather the reason. 60K fuel is essentially zero if that is all there is at Fusan and nothing anywhere else except Singapore. So your problem is that you don't have enough fuel in Asia to run your HI. How much do you have in Singers? Saigon? HK? Shanghai? PA? Fusan? Need more data to be able to diagnose your issue. I would NOT make any fuel moves yet until the issue is understood.

Are your resources flowing from Asia into Fusan? Meaning, you are able to run all the resources your need for the HI from Fusan? If so, that is quite good.

[SqzMyLemon]

Not much to report.

The usual bombings in China.

A marked increase in Ops losses all over the map. I'm losing about eight aircraft a day, mostly bombers and floatplanes performing ASW or search missions. My settings for these units are generally 50% search, 20% train and 30% rest.

Production wise a number of developments.

The Ha-45 advances R&D to 1/43.
The D4Y1 Judy and Ki-43-IIb enter production.

Thoughts:

Another month end. Concentrating on getting fuel to Manchurian industry and reducing my Ops losses.

[Lokasenna]

Do these search/ASW units have extra pilots to help keep fatigue down?

[Spidery]

My settings for these units are generally 50% search, 20% train and 30% rest.

What kind of bases and what sort of range? I find that on small bases I need 40% search to avoid plane fatigue building up. Do you check plane fatigue occasionally? It is annoying that plane fatigue isn't readily visible and can build up while pilot fatigue remains under control.

[PaxMondo]

You have to keep the search range in normal range and below 20 hexes in any case to avoid massive plane fatigue. I generally run my Mavis/Emily at 17/18 range and my Nettie search groups at 15 hex with 30% rest. They can maintain this indefinitely.

I will go longer range for short periods when needed, but as you note the plane fatigue adds up fast.

[SqzMyLemon]

All my air units are maxed out with pilots. Those on the frontlines get experienced pilots only, no rookies to add to Ops losses. Pilot fatigue should be handled by the AI and rotating when necessary. Does the AI do this, or is it a player's responsibilty?

All my bombers on ASW/naval search fly from a minimum level 4 airfield. Floatplanes will operate at any level.

I don't often check plane fatigue. I add reserve aircraft whenever allowed so if the AI is only rotating pilots and not airframes that kind of sucks. I thought when aircraft were under maintenance it was the high fatigue airframes that were being worked on. Isn't that the whole purpose of performing maintenance? If not that could explain why I'm losing aircraft at the current rate.

All my aircraft operate within normal range or lower. It is rare that I will exceed normal range to perfom any kind of mission.

I honestly believe advanced weather conditions set to 'on' adversely affects Japan. The fact that Japan's aircraft are so fragile it stands to reason the tendency for poor weather conditions more often accounts for increased Ops losses.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

All my air units are maxed out with pilots. Those on the frontlines get experienced pilots only, no rookies to add to Ops losses. Pilot fatigue should be handled by the AI and rotating when necessary. Does the AI do this, or is it a player's responsibilty?

"Sort of" is all I can say. I don't know, but only suspect that it is handled randomly and it generally works.