Castles in the Sand - Spidery(J) vs MrKane(A) no MrKane please

[Spidery]

ORIGINAL: pontiouspilot

It's not time yet to get outa northern Aust but in my view there comes a point where it becomes a quagmire for the Japanese player. It can be a wonderful distraction for the IJA vs the Allies early on but the risk is that it becomes a huge POW camp if not timely getting out.

Agreed, the question is to get the timing right[:D].

[Spidery]

ORIGINAL: obvert

China

Sweeps hit Chungking followed by some city attacks. The H81-A3 outclasses the Oscar by a mile and the pilots must be trained up by now. Fortunately, most bombers are targeted against ground units instead of attacking Chungking, even so 21 oscars and 11 sallies are traded for 5 H81-A3.

Every Japanese player gets jumped occasionally. You have to move forward, and airstrikes can help you. The question is here, what are you bombing? Also, if the Allies move fighters in you have to either sweep a lot and turn off the bombers or just recon the place and see what is there.

Every time you lose 30 planes that is 30 kills and a lot of experience for the Allied pilots. This adds up quickly.

I've been bombing industry at Chungking and have knocked out about 90 LI. That is a useful dent in the Chinese supply situation.

The problem in China is that he can base his fighters at Chengtu and then shift them to a base for a day. Chengtu is too far to reach (but I may try some mass night raid next time conditions look good). I keep sweeps covering the attacks but they just didn't perform well - it was the first time my attack and his fighters met each other.

In Burma, again he can out sweep me over Magwe but until he clears my fighters he doesn't seem to want to risk bombing it. So I'm on the same guessing game - when to fly. I now have 78 8cm and 4 10cm AA at Magwe so I will be interested in seeing how effective that can be when he sends his bombers.

In both places it looks like things will change later in the year as the Ki-44-IIa becomes available in May and the A6M5 in June.

[Spidery]

What to do with PP?

I landed at Adak and Amchitka with only 1/3 of each division targeted for there. I have just over 200 AV at each location because of the miscellaneous small stuff. Forts are at 2 so far.

I now have 1700 PP accumulated so I can buy out the rest of one of those divisions, and build up the defense, or I can use it to send a complete division to Burma. I can't make my mind up as both places seem to need the extra defense.

[Spidery]

April 10th 1942

Air Losses: 0 Japanese, 1 Allied, 0 Pilots
Japanese occupy: Sabang
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:

Quiet. No air action anywhere

Pacific

3 xAKL are sunk by the I-1 using gunfire in Seward harbour.

DEI

Captured the last base on Sumatra.

China

Evidence of Chinese pulling back from defensive positions along the river South of Kweiyang and of sending troops towards Kunming.

Engineering

Tinian airfield to 4.
Cocos Islands airfield to 2.

[Spidery]

April 11th 1942

Air Losses: 3 Japanese, 0 Allied, 0 Pilots
Japanese occupy:
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:

Australia

B-17E hit the airfield at Nookanbah. There is noone there and no supply to lose.

Get 6 supply hits attacking Katherine airfield.

China

Night strike at Chengtu damages some fighters but do not destroy any. Various ground attacks do well.

A cut off Chinese Corps is eliminated near Nanning. Other ground attacks do well enough to continue them tomorrow.

Burma

A CA force is sent to bombard the Allied force moving along the road towards Akyab. It ends the turn in the hex next to Akyab without firing any guns and with destination reset. Is it possible to bombard forces not in bases? Given it seems unseen, I think I'll try and bombard Chittagong.

Night strike on Kalemyo is ineffective.

Engineering

Allies expand Bombay port to 7, Bombay airfield to 9, Suva airfield to 7, Bangalore airfield to 6.

R&D

Nakajima Ha-45 advances to 5/43.

[GreyJoy]

Does he use 4Es against Ground Troops? If so, I think you should ask for an HR that prevents that...at least on clear terrain.
In our game I restricted myself to use 4Es ONLY on base targets (AF, ports or facilities) and the land war has become much more balanced (and fun!)

It is possible to bombard forces not in a base hex, but you have to set it to "non retire"...so you need to provide a LOT of air cover... pretty dangerous when the enemy is far away from a decent AF of yours

[Spidery]

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

Does he use 4Es against Ground Troops? If so, I think you should ask for an HR that prevents that...at least on clear terrain.
In our game I restricted myself to use 4Es ONLY on base targets (AF, ports or facilities) and the land war has become much more balanced (and fun!)

I prefer not to have HRs (the only one we have is not to replace the Glenns on subs). He has hardly used 4E at all so far. He has bombed ground troops but I had some AA with them and he lost a plane for very little effect. Of course, that was just a few 4E at extended range not a massive strike.

It is possible to bombard forces not in a base hex, but you have to set it to "non retire"...so you need to provide a LOT of air cover... pretty dangerous when the enemy is far away from a decent AF of yours

Thank-you, that is good to know. My force anyway got stuck at the destination and wasn't noticed so that would have been okay.

[Spidery]

April 12th 1942

Air Losses: 24 Japanese, 1 Allied, 20 Pilots
Japanese occupy: Kitha Island(auto)
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:

Australia

Attack on Katherine meets CAP and suffers.

B-17E bomb troops ineffectively.

Pacific

A KV is sunk by I-29 near Seattle.

China

Various attacks on ground forces by land and air do well enough.

Looks like Chinese moves South of Kweiyang were just minor alterations and not a retreat.

Burma

CA force bombards Chittagong damaging some aircraft and facilities but not destroying any planes.

Confirmation that more troops are heading for Akyab along the coast road.

Allies sweep Magwe but there are no fighters on CAP.

Engineering

Paramushiro-Jima expands airfield to 2.

[Spidery]

April 13th 1942

Air Losses: 1 Japanese, 1 Allied, 0 Pilots
Japanese occupy: Cox's Bazaar(auto)
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:

Australia

Quiet

Pacific

Allies clear a sub-layed minefield near Seattle but lose an AM.

RO-64 gets a shot at a good looking xAP but misses.

China

Chungking gets hit at night again. A small Chinese corps is mauled.

Burma

I flew some fighters to Akyab and this seems to have triggered Cox's Bazaar to swing to Japan.

The Allies have an infantry division heading into Akyab down the road and have forces leaving Chittagong along the road. Also the forces at Kalamayo have dropped so he may have moved into the Jungle - will have a look.

I plan to land an armour unit at Cox's Bazaar and then send it down the road to close the back exit from Akyab as soon as the Allies enter Akyab. That will give me about 3 weeks before relief can arrive with the Australian division out of supply. If I can bombard it during that time I may be able to do some serious damage.

Engineering

Noumea airfield to 4. Onnekotan-jima airfield to 1.

R&D

A6M5 accelerates to 10/42.

[Spidery]

April 14th 1942

Air Losses: 5 Japanese, 0 Allied, 3 Pilots
Japanese occupy:
Allies occupy: Cox's Bazaar(auto)
Japanese land at:

Air losses include 3 recce planes lost to flak - need to find where that is.

Australia

Quiet

Pacific

Quiet

China

Destroy a Chinese Brigade outside Sinang.

Force back the Chinese cutting the mountain road between Kungchang and Tienshui.

Both Kungchang and Sinang are open for attack.

Raging fires at Chungking destroy another 7 LI.

2 Divisions enter Kweiyang but are probably not strong enough to attack - however, there is a corps 100% prepped for it with them and a command headquarter is 100% prepped for it also so when do attack may get a good roll.

Burma

Cox's Bazaar can't make up its mind and switches back to the Allies.

Lightnings again sweep Magwe and find no aircraft flying.

There are a lot of forces being commited to Burma and I'm not sure how best to defend as I don't have that much here yet.

Engineering

Adak Island airfield to 2. Port Blair to 3.

Allies expand various including Chittagong to 3, Dimapur to 3, and Voroshilov to 5 - first Soviet expansion.

[Spidery]

April 15th 1942

Air Losses: 2 Japanese, 1 Allied, 0 Pilots
Japanese occupy: Finschhafen(auto)
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:

[>:]

Burma

Recce in Burma shows:

22 units 43000 men 548 gun 578 vehicle at Chittagong
13 units 34000 men 195 gun 197 vehicle at Kalamayo
1 unit 760 men 3 guns 41 vehicles at Cox's Bazaar
1 unit 18000 men 207 gun 131 vehicle near Akyab
Another 6 small units in the jungle

This seems quite a lot but I have no idea whether that means he has commited extra forces to Burma front.

Engineering

Rossel Island airfield to 2. Port Blair to 3.

Allies expand various including Alice Springs airfield to 5 and another Soviet base.

[Spidery]

April 16th 1942

Air Losses: 1 Japanese, 2 Allied, 0 Pilots
Japanese occupy: Vanau Leva(auto)
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:

[>:]

Burma

CA Bombard Cox's Bazaar and the 50th Tank Brigade there. Destroy 3 vehicles and disable some other devices. Not totally effective use of supply but informative.

Australia

B-17E now fly from Alice Springs to hit troops North of Katherine at extended range. I'm surprised he isn't using B-17D as they would be at normal range. I am moving more AA to the area and concentrating force.

Engineering

Allies expand some bases.

[Spidery]

April 17th 1942

Air Losses: 3 Japanese, 2 Allied, 0 Pilots (a MIA pilot is found[8D])
Japanese occupy:
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:

[>:]

Pacific

East of New Zealand I-3 hits a PC with a torpedo but it fails to detonate [:@].

Burma

Lightnings sweep Magwe and find no one there again. The bombers must come soon! Over 100 heavy AA guns wait for them.

The Australian division has stopped the move into Akyab preventing closing the door on it - must be waiting for reinforcements.

Australia

More B-17E strikes doing little damage.

Nuisance attacks launched against Daly Water and Katherine air fields.

Engineering

Toyohara port expands to 4, may help empty resources from Sakkhalin.
Allies expand some bases. Daly Waters to 3, Chittagong to 4.

SigInt

Two useful radio intercepts: at 181, 124 and at 142, 179. These are interesting because yesterday I located an enemy task force at 180, 119 and today engaged a task force at 145, 179 so these both are suggestive of a track on a convoy.

[Spidery]

April 18th 1942

Air Losses: 2 Japanese, 3 Allied, 2 Pilots
Japanese occupy: Kungchang
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:

Pacific

Near VaVa'u, I-169 takes a shot at the CV Hornet, misses[:@], and is sunk by the counter attack. The first sub lost[:(].

I have a few subs in the area that may try for an attack. Also, this puts one carrier in the South Pacific and where there is one there are probably more.

Burma

Bombers hit Katha airfield for minor damage.

Australia

More B-17E strikes doing little damage.

China

Kungchang is taken with the shattered Chinese forces retreating into the mountains.

Engineering

Allies expand some bases.

SigInt

Some careless radio operators on the Allied side as get SigInt of heavy traffic from 181,129. I have a sub at 180,129.

R&D

Ki-49-IIa advances to 6/42.

[Spidery]

April 19th 1942

Air Losses: 0 Japanese, 0 Allied, 0 Pilots
Japanese occupy:
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:

[>:]

Burma

CA bombard Chittagong and destroy a few devices of the 70th British and 216th Indian divisions.

The Australian division that was next to Akyab has vanished.

Australia

More B-17E strikes doing little damage.

China

Attack at Sining does damage and will attack again once re-supplied.

Engineering

Buna airfield to 2.
Allies expand some bases.

Reinforcements

CV Junyo - This has a cruise speed slower than any of the current carriers so may be put in its own task force.

DD Akizuki

[setloz]

ORIGINAL: Spidery
CV Junyo - This has a cruise speed slower than any of the current carriers so may be put in its own task force.

Isn't it more efficient to join Junyo with the baby KB?

Having it in its own taskforce increases the risk of having that taskforce react on its own and not benefit or add to the KB CAP/strike force.

Just finished reading your AAR, very good read

[Spidery]

ORIGINAL: setloz

ORIGINAL: Spidery
CV Junyo - This has a cruise speed slower than any of the current carriers so may be put in its own task force.

Isn't it more efficient to join Junyo with the baby KB?

Having it in its own taskforce increases the risk of having that taskforce react on its own and not benefit or add to the KB CAP/strike force.

Just finished reading your AAR, very good read

I won't leave it by itself in waters where there is a CV threat but it increases mobility keeping it separate elsewhere.

When the Hiyo is finished it can join it. Just these two CV have a cruise speed of 14 instead of 15 so do 8 instead of 9 hexes normally.

I have added some more DB to it and intend to use it for some special operations intended to net a few extra VP.

[Spidery]

Just finished reading your AAR, very good read

Glad you enjoyed it - I know it is a bit dry.

[Spidery]

April 20th 1942

Air Losses: 3 Japanese, 2 Allied, 0 Pilots
Japanese occupy:
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:

Pacific

I have a SCTF of AMC sitting between San Francisco and Pearl Harbour. It encounters a task force but no engagement takes place - gives away its position to no gain [:@]

Burma

The Australian division that was next to Akyab confirmed retreated to Cox's Bazaar.

Australia

Managed to shoot down 2 Kittyhawk over Katherine for no loss. Sent some Mary in at their ceiling which is above the Kittyhawks with Oscars at high level LRCAP. The fight takes place at the limits of the Kittyhawks' altitude.

B-17E hit again. Now all my forces are in hexes with at least some heavy AA.

Allies have moved some troops to Port Hedland. An xAK is sunk by Mavis using torpedoes.

China

Some night raids on Chungking do small damage.

No ground combat anywhere.

Engineering

Fenton airfield to level 1. Canton airfield to level 8.
Allies expand some bases.

Reinforcements

Another 8150 sized Tanker arrives.

R&D

Ki-44-IIc advances to 2/44 (expect this will be available 11/42).

[temagic]

Thanks for writing this AAR Spidery. I'm enjoying it. Was following Cribtop's excellent AAR but as it is now closed after he secured a Japanese victory, I've been visiting many AARs here on this forum looking for the new Jap AAR one to follow. With yours, I've found it.

Thanks again. Reading AARs is the only way I can enjoy this game (I own it, but can't play it due to mental health issues). It's a great game though.

What do you have in theater in Burma? I might have missed it, but was it two divisions and one cav regiment?

If you could write a summary of your division placements it would be greatly appreciated.

Been a good game thus far. Too bad you lost the Kitakami and that CV raid on northern Japan was a pain. Also, you seem to be dropping pilots in bulk[8D]. What are your plans for taking out the mobile airfields the allies have used to attack the Home Islands?

Keep posting[:)]