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

[SqzMyLemon]

Before I get to the replay, here is the Resource History screen for Japan. I'm back in the green with 8112 supply being added to the stockpile. Whew! Thanks again for all the help in the AAR and via PM. Now to move the economy and war production forward once more, but at a slower pace to allow the supply stockpile to recover.

[SqzMyLemon]

Sub Ops:

So much for not risking assets over the fight for New Guinea and the Solomons.

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Sub attack near Deboyne Islands at 104,134

Japanese Ships
CL Kinu, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Amagiri

Allied Ships
SS Grouper

The light cruiser in moderately damaged. If I can avoid further attacks she'll head for Truk then Japan for repairs.

China:

More air bombings and a bombardment attack near Chengtu to see what I'm up against. Looks like three strong Chinese Corps, but they may not be dug in from the results. AAR follows:

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Ground combat at 73,42 (near Chengtu)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 708 troops, 41 guns, 44 vehicles, Assault Value = 1245

Defending force 28339 troops, 42 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 821

Allied ground losses:
72 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
27th Division
35th Division
69th Division
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Hvy.Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
71st Chinese Corps
53rd Chinese Corps
85th Chinese Corps
2nd War Area

Burma:

The 33rd Division sends the Commonwealth Bn. back into Akyab. AAR follows:

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Ground combat at 55,45 (near Akyab)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 13350 troops, 144 guns, 47 vehicles, Assault Value = 448

Defending force 96 troops, 12 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 2

Japanese adjusted assault: 461

Allied adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 461 to 1

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

Allied ground losses:
87 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 11 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 4 (4 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
33rd Division
5th RF Gun Battalion

Defending units:
Rangoon BAF Battalion

Dec. 31/42:

Sub Ops:

Two Allied submarine attacks dud on a TK and xAKL. It's only going to get worse from here on out.

China:

The bombing campaign against Chungking has been achieving poor results for a week now due to poor weather. Overcast conditions today allowed for somewhat better damage against Chungking's airbase and a few squads were destroyed on the ground.

An effort to flank south of the defenders blocking the road to Kunming achieved success today. AAR follows:

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Ground combat at 69,49 (near Kunming)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 17237 troops, 134 guns, 134 vehicles, Assault Value = 645

Defending force 11384 troops, 69 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 422

Japanese adjusted assault: 500

Allied adjusted defense: 142

Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
432 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 55 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Vehicles lost 10 (1 destroyed, 9 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1703 casualties reported
Squads: 87 destroyed, 61 disabled
Non Combat: 119 destroyed, 60 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 5 (2 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Units retreated 2

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
8th Armored Car Co
4th Ind.Mixed Regiment
116th Division
2nd Tank Regiment

Defending units:
56th Chinese Corps
29th Group Army

Production:

Ki-44-IIc Tojo advances R&D to 12/43.

As already noted, supply is back in the green and I can slowly get my R&D back on track. I'll also begin shipping out small supply TF's to try and take some of the recent strain off bases being without supply for some time.

Thoughts:

A moderate success in China finally after weeks of heavy losses trying to get to Kunming. I'm going to try and maneuver around the blocking forces and apply more pressure on the remaining Chinese forces. I can now invest Kunming from the southeast and will swing further forces west to swing up behind the base defences.

I'll try and provide some screens later. There is Allied activity in a few areas that needs to be addressed. It's been a long time coming, but we've finally reached 1943. I think the war and game really gets interesting now.

[SqzMyLemon]

Question. Do I want to produce the A6M5 over the A6M3a. What's more important at this stage, speed or range for KB's fighters?

[Lokasenna]

You want the armor on the A6M5c more than anything else. Until you get there, I'm not sure it matters which you produce.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

Question. Do I want to produce the A6M5 over the A6M3a. What's more important at this stage, speed or range for KB's fighters?

The A6M5 is much better for it's durability. You'l notice a difference right away. Yu don't need the extra range of the 3a as much on the KB.

You'll still want some A6M3a for range with LBA. I continued making 30 or so for a while even late.

[SqzMyLemon]

1943 enters with a whimper.

China:

Only more bombings in China to report.

New Guinea:

A port strike against Milne Bay inflicts no damage and a bomber is lost to FLAK. Sweeps of Zero's and Tojo's find the skies over the base empty.

Production:

The Ha-45 engine has entered production with eight units being built on the first day. I'll monitor supply use before I think of expanding any of the three factories dedicated to this power plant. I should be able to build up quite a stockpile before any are needed for an airframe. Next up is the Ha-43. With six factories I should be able to advance this engine nicely.

[SqzMyLemon]

I'll build both the A6M3a and A6M5 in the short term. There are a number of air units that need to be fleshed out with more A6M3a's and if I switch completely to the M5 it will take twice as long to upgrade KB's aircraft.

On a non-game note, I finally wrapped up the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson. 14 books in total! I get to start a new book today which is always exciting. I think something on history is due up. Not sure if I'll stick to WWII, it might be time to change it up with the Civil War or the Zulu uprising perhaps.

[ny59giants]

A book I would recommend is "The Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895" by S.C.M. Paine. She does a good job of doing background leading up to the war and how this war set up the various wars leading up to WW2. It gave me a better understanding of the still simmering conflicts between China, Japan, Russia, and Korea. Lots of pent up animosity going on over there. In the USA, we tend to focus more on European history and not the Far East. I need some more education here.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants
"The Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1985"

[&:] I had no idea they were at war for so long...

[;)]

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

I'll build both the A6M3a and A6M5 in the short term. There are a number of air units that need to be fleshed out with more A6M3a's and if I switch completely to the M5 it will take twice as long to upgrade KB's aircraft.

On a non-game note, I finally wrapped up the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson. 14 books in total! I get to start a new book today which is always exciting. I think something on history is due up. Not sure if I'll stick to WWII, it might be time to change it up with the Civil War or the Zulu uprising perhaps.

On a total non-sequitur: I recently downloaded (free)-the original Bram Stoker's Dracula. Riveting and very well written, particularly for a book that's nearly 150 years old.

[SqzMyLemon]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

I recently downloaded (free)-the original Bram Stoker's Dracula. Riveting and very well written, particularly for a book that's nearly 150 years old.

I read it too and remember being completely caught up in the story and thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

I'll build both the A6M3a and A6M5 in the short term. There are a number of air units that need to be fleshed out with more A6M3a's and if I switch completely to the M5 it will take twice as long to upgrade KB's aircraft.

On a non-game note, I finally wrapped up the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson. 14 books in total! I get to start a new book today which is always exciting. I think something on history is due up. Not sure if I'll stick to WWII, it might be time to change it up with the Civil War or the Zulu uprising perhaps.

On a total non-sequitur: I recently downloaded (free)-the original Bram Stoker's Dracula. Riveting and very well written, particularly for a book that's nearly 150 years old.

If you want more in that vein, I highly recommend Masterpieces of Terror and the Supernatural, edited by Marvin Kaye. Gives you a taste of the classic horror writers.

[SqzMyLemon]

Another quiet turn except...

Sub Ops:

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Submarine attack near Singkawang at 56,87

Japanese Ships
E Otori
E Kasasagi

Allied Ships
SS Pickerel, hits 6, on fire, heavy damage (3 direct DC hits)

SS Pickerel is located by E Otori
Pickerel bottoming out ....
E Kasasagi fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Kasasagi fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Kasasagi fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Kasasagi attacking submerged sub ....
SS Pickerel forced to surface!
E Otori firing on surfaced sub ....
E Otori firing on surfaced sub ....
E Kasasagi firing on surfaced sub ....
E Otori firing on surfaced sub ....
E Kasasagi firing on surfaced sub ....
E Otori firing on surfaced sub ....
E Kasasagi firing on surfaced sub ....
E Otori firing on surfaced sub ....
E Otori firing on surfaced sub ....
E Otori firing on surfaced sub ....
Sub slips beneath the waves (No sinking sound so no celebration yet) [:-]

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ASW attack near Singkawang at 55,87

Japanese Ships
E Otori
E Kasasagi

Allied Ships
SS Pickerel, hits 3, and is sunk

SS Pickerel is located by E Otori
E Kasasagi firing on surfaced sub ....
Sub slips beneath the waves (Now I can celebrate )

Production:

I'm slowly turning back on a number of R&D factories, repairing those closest to reaching production. The second last George factory begins R&D.

Supply levels continue to rise with the third straight day of gain. The bull market has returned. [8D]

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon
Supply levels continue to rise with the third straight day of gain. The bull market has returned. [8D]

Cool.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

Sub slips beneath the waves (Now I can celebrate )

Glad you're getting some now!

Three direct hits in my experience almost always sinks the sub outright. Two direct hits will get it into a crippled state. One direct will send it home.

If you have ASW air in the area as well, the ones that are crippled seem to be picked off pretty frequently by the air patrols shortly after an ASW attack. I even see the name of the sub in the HIT message occasionally. Good eyes on those Japanese pilots. [;)]

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

I'll build both the A6M3a and A6M5 in the short term. There are a number of air units that need to be fleshed out with more A6M3a's and if I switch completely to the M5 it will take twice as long to upgrade KB's aircraft.

On a non-game note, I finally wrapped up the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson. 14 books in total! I get to start a new book today which is always exciting. I think something on history is due up. Not sure if I'll stick to WWII, it might be time to change it up with the Civil War or the Zulu uprising perhaps.

On a total non-sequitur: I recently downloaded (free)-the original Bram Stoker's Dracula. Riveting and very well written, particularly for a book that's nearly 150 years old.

If you want more in that vein, I highly recommend Masterpieces of Terror and the Supernatural, edited by Marvin Kaye. Gives you a taste of the classic horror writers.

I've read a fair amount of H.P. Lovecraft's stuff. Big fan. My wife knit me a Ctuthlu balaclava for shoveling out the driveway. [8D] I noticed that this compendium also has J.R.R. Tolkein too. Wha? [&:] One hardly thinks of him as a horror / terror writer of short stories.

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy




On a total non-sequitur: I recently downloaded (free)-the original Bram Stoker's Dracula. Riveting and very well written, particularly for a book that's nearly 150 years old.

If you want more in that vein, I highly recommend Masterpieces of Terror and the Supernatural, edited by Marvin Kaye. Gives you a taste of the classic horror writers.

I've read a fair amount of H.P. Lovecraft's stuff. Big fan. My wife knit me a Ctuthlu balaclava for shoveling out the driveway. [8D] I noticed that this compendium also has J.R.R. Tolkein too. Wha? [&:] One hardly thinks of him as a horror / terror writer of short stories.

Yeah, that one was weird. The editor has a short preface to each entry. I think in the preface for the Tolkien one he basically said "This is only here because I like it", or something to that effect. Good collection though. It introduced me to Lovecraft (I've since purchased his whole collection) and I was glad that I re-read or read for the first time some of the other classic horror stories. I especially liked the monster/vampire stories from the beginning, and I can't believe Hop-Frog got left out of all the Poe we read in school. Over the summer I found a book of old fairy tales at a book sale in Vermont, published way back in the beginning of the 20th century, that has the original Childe Roland in it, among other things. Folk history is fascinating.

I'm getting a Cthulhu cross-stitch from somebody to hang somewhere in my domicile. I debated getting one of those Cthulhu hats/masks from Etsy, but not for what they were charging.


And back to the action.

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

Sub slips beneath the waves (Now I can celebrate )

Glad you're getting some now!

Three direct hits in my experience almost always sinks the sub outright. Two direct hits will get it into a crippled state. One direct will send it home.

If you have ASW air in the area as well, the ones that are crippled seem to be picked off pretty frequently by the air patrols shortly after an ASW attack. I even see the name of the sub in the HIT message occasionally. Good eyes on those Japanese pilots. [;)]

Or picked off on the surface. I had one get hit by a depth charge and a day or so later get caught by DDs on the surface, apparently unable to submerge.

[SqzMyLemon]

The next turn is off to Jocke, but he's swamped getting things ready before his wedding and of course his other AAR is way more exciting at the moment than this PBEM. He sent me a note on Sunday but I don't know if there was supposed to be a turn attached. I haven't asked as I know he's busy and I'll just wait to hear back.

So in the meantime I've been working on my 1:700 Shokaku. I'm a little disappointed with a photo-etch set that seems to be somewhat damaged. I never noticed originally but the safety nets that run around portions of the deck did not form correctly and missing much of the mesh detail. The set is now out of production from the original manufacturer so I'm not sure if I'll try and track down another set or simply soldier on with what I have. I most likely won't replace the set as I spend enough on models as it is. I'll see if I can come up with a homemade remedy. The kit will need some filler here and there, but most pieces have been cleaned up, sanded and just awaiting gluing. I hope to have her ready for priming and painting by Friday. The next few evenings will be dedicated to some sub-assemblies and completing as much photo-etch as possible, but tonight I will be drilling out a hundred or so portholes. If I stay on track I'll post some pictures prior to painting. I have an actual wooden flight deck for the kit so am curious to see how it looks as well.

[ny59giants]

Can you post some picture of her so far??