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

[Spidery]

June 20th 1942

Air Losses: 2 Japanese, 1 Allied, 1 Pilots
Japanese occupy:
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:

China

Heavy airfield attack launched on Kweiyang. Airfield shows 32 damage and had 8 supply hits reported. No Allied aircraft seen.

Bombardments continue, still don't understand why the Chinese are bombarding on the Kienko road. They take a few disablements each day - do they gain lots of experience?

DEI

Found an isolated Dutch unit on Sumatra and am attacking it.

Engineering

Wenchow airfield to 4.

Economy

Adequate fuel reaches the HI in Manchuko.

Reinforcements

DD Teruzuki.
An 8150 size Tanker.

[Spidery]

Overall base control

Look closely and you can see all the yellow dots where supply is short. In some places, this shortage is just because troops move in and out of the base as I am migrating forces to the Burma and Kweiyang fronts from the North.

There are a surprising number of dot bases that haven't been taken bu auto-capture. I have some small forces moving to take them and may restart using para fragments to occupy them all.

[Spidery]

Burma Front

Almost have a continuous line here. We seem to be glowering at each other in the Jungle but neither can advance. My forces are pretty weak in places.

I am building up Ramiree Island and Moulmein in the rear to protect against amphibious attack. Also strengthening some spots in Malaysia but Sumatra is weakly held. Port Blair is well defended.

[Spidery]

China

This where most of the action is but it does seem slow motion fighting in molasses.

A: He has 3 strong Corps here plus a load of shattered units here. I am bombarding each turn and killing squads from the shattered units. I have two full strength Divisions present so if he moves too many of the strong Corps out I will try an attack against the residue.

B: Allies bombard here each turn, I don't see why as he is unlikely to be able to budge my forces and he is just damaging his own.

C: I tried to take this hex to block the escape from A but it isn't to be. Slight worry that when he reaches it with the corps from A he may be able to push me out. I think we are both overstacked in this hex.

D: Blocking the attack on Kunming. I have cut the hex side from Chungking and may try some slow motion attack to get behind it.

E. I will soon have three Divisions here and was planning an attack but he seems to be abandoning the position.

F. Moving a lot of artillery and small armour units slowly through the woods plus a few AA units.

G. This is only 1 unit so I may try an attack with 2 Divisions against it.

H. When the slow push in the Kweiyang area makes progress this whole area may become untenable for the Chinese. Experience suggests MrKane will evacuate before I can trap many forces here.

A problem I have in the Kweiyang area is that if I push armour into the rough area it is exposed to Allied bombers. Only Patung and Tuyun are available for LRCAP. I really need to take Kweiyang first.

[Spidery]

Australia

Stalemate here.

I am a bit worried by Katherine as it could be cut by an armoured thrust around the side. If I move a force out to keep a watch for this it will, probably, be smashed by B-17Es. I run recon occasionally to look for this and have evacuated most forces back to Darwin.

Katherine is held by the 48th Division (93 experience!), an AF unit, 4 AA and a Corps HQ behind level 3 forts.

Darwin is held by the 16th Division, 2 Armour units, 2 AA units, 3 artillery units, 5 AF units and some engineers, also with level 3 forts.

[Spidery]

Aleutians

Adak has the 54th division, an air flotilla and various other forces behind level 3 forts.

Amchitka currently has a third of the 57th division but the remainder is en route. There are only a few other units here and the forts are at level 2.

Other bases have trivial forces.

The task force is a single small tanker running fuel to Adak to supply subs.

[Spidery]

How about some maps?

Obvert, any more maps you would like to see?

I'll give a general economic round-up at the end of the month.

[Spidery]

June 21st 1942

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

China

Heavy airfield attack launched on Kweiyang. Airfield shows 88 damage and had 12 supply hits reported. No Allied aircraft seen. Thunderstorms are forecast so will tail back to a maintenance level of attacks and fix aircraft. Aim now is to keep Kweiyang closed.

Bombardments continue.

Australia

B-17E visit Fenton attacking ground units. Damage is light. Flak downs one B-17.

Pacific

AMC Aikoku Maru takes a torpedo from a Dutch sub[:(], moderate damage 8/33/1[:)]. A few SNLF troops onboard are lost. It should unload at Kavieng without problem and return to the yards for fixing.

Various other ineffective ASW attacks.

My subs are not finding anything, time to relocate them to new hunting grounds.

DEI

Eliminated the Dutch unit.

Engineering

Allies expand Daly Waters to 7 and other bases for the VP.

[Spidery]

June 22nd 1942

Air Losses: 64 Japanese, 14 Allied, 30 Pilots
Japanese occupy:
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:

China

Some air strikes at Kweiyang go in before the sweeps (sweeps from 2 hexes away, strike from 10). The Allies fly CAP and the strikes suffer. The sweeps then clear the CAP so the last strikes are okay.

Bombardment does well at Tienshui.

Allies have vacated the hex West of Kweiyang. Now reports 100,000 troops and 220 guns in Kweiyang for 10 units. I can over stack now with 4 divisions or wait for the artillery train to arrive.

Small bombing run by Mitchells on forces towards Kunming. Not sure if this was exploratory or for damage.

Burma

Allies sweep Magwe with Lightnings and Hurricanes. The defense does well, only 2 Lightnings are shot down but 9 Hurricanes also go down.

Australia

Lightnings sweep Darwin defended by Oscars and A6M2s. My aircraft are slaughtered.

Pacific

More ineffective sub action. I have 5 DD equipped with Type 2 DC. 2 are in the Rabaul area and the others are heading that way. However, the DD with the ineffective DC keep engaging instead.

Engineering

Nothing significant.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Spidery

How about some maps?

Obvert, any more maps you would like to see?

I'll give a general economic round-up at the end of the month.

Good to see. I just can't tell often only by reports what is going on. Looks interesting in Burma. That is quite a front.

[Spidery]

June 24th 1942

Air Losses: 4 Japanese, 2 Allied, 0 Pilots
Japanese occupy: Batan Island
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at: Batan Island, Catundanes

Over 200 turns!

China

Same old attacks.

Burma

Quiet

Australia

Quiet

Pacific

Near San Francisco I-30 puts a torpedo into an xAK. No sinking sounds and no cargo losses reported.

Near Rabaul, Haddock spends more time diving deep and sounding depth charges explode above.

Engineering

Onnekotan-Jima to 2, Tienshui to 3, Amchitka Island to 4. Allies expand Cooktown to 4 and various others.

R&D

Ki-44-IIc now 9/43 (expected 11/42).

[Spidery]

June 25th 1942

Air Losses: 1 Japanese, 4 Allied, 1 Pilots
Japanese occupy: Catundanes
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:

China

Same old attacks.

Experimental bombardment at Kweiyang:

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 40883 troops, 316 guns, 51 vehicles, Assault Value = 1312

Defending force 66142 troops, 237 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1713

Japanese ground losses:
18 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

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

Assaulting units:
59th Division
40th Division
36th Division
21st Ind.Mixed Brigade
3rd Army
28th Field AA Machinecannon Company

Defending units:
37th Chinese Corps
28th Chinese Corps
79th Chinese Corps
68th Chinese Corps
8th Chinese Corps
2nd Prov Chinese Corps
4th War Area
6th War Area
32nd Group Army

Can I attack here? I expect he has at least forts 4. He probably is in supply. I have Army and Command HQ both 100% prepped for the base. I think I need to wait until I have some artillery and air power has softened up the defense for at least a week.

Burma

Quiet

Australia

Quiet

Pacific

Inconclusive ASW action.

Engineering

Magwe expands airfield to 8, that will be useful. Allies expand Perth to 8 and some other places.

Economy

Both Mukden and Harbin are short fuel for HI.

R&D

Nakajima Ha-45 now 2/43.
Aichi Ha-60 now 8/42.

[Spidery]

Last turns sigint report looks like:

SIG INT REPORT FOR Jun 25, 42

Radio transmissions detected at Los Angeles (225,76).
Radio transmissions detected at Anchorage (181,36).
Heavy Volume of Radio transmissions detected at Pearl Harbor (180,107).
Heavy Volume of Radio transmissions detected at Pearl Harbor (180,107).
Heavy Volume of Radio transmissions detected at Pearl Harbor (180,107).
Heavy Volume of Radio transmissions detected at Sydney (90,167).

Three heavy volume of traffic messages at Pearl! Does this mean something interesting is going on (like invasion forces loading) or is it just chance?

It ups the Detection on Pearl to 3/1 and mouse over reports: 211 ships in dock (identifying PG and DE in the list), only 28 fighters, 6 bombers and 3 auxiliary.

How accurate is that likely to be?
Does the absence of any heavy ships listed mean there are none in dock?

[Mike McCreery]

ORIGINAL: Spidery

Last turns sigint report looks like:

SIG INT REPORT FOR Jun 25, 42

Radio transmissions detected at Los Angeles (225,76).
Radio transmissions detected at Anchorage (181,36).
Heavy Volume of Radio transmissions detected at Pearl Harbor (180,107).
Heavy Volume of Radio transmissions detected at Pearl Harbor (180,107).
Heavy Volume of Radio transmissions detected at Pearl Harbor (180,107).
Heavy Volume of Radio transmissions detected at Sydney (90,167).

Three heavy volume of traffic messages at Pearl! Does this mean something interesting is going on (like invasion forces loading) or is it just chance?

It ups the Detection on Pearl to 3/1 and mouse over reports: 211 ships in dock (identifying PG and DE in the list), only 28 fighters, 6 bombers and 3 auxiliary.

How accurate is that likely to be?
Does the absence of any heavy ships listed mean there are none in dock?

With the 3/1 detection level I would not count on the info being complete.

[Spidery]

June 26th 1942

Air Losses: 2 Japanese, 4 Allied, 1 Pilots
Japanese occupy:
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:

China

Good strike softening up Kweiyang.

Unescorted Allied bombers are intercepted but not fast enough to get any hits on them.

Burma

Wellington bombers hit the oil at Magwe at night and knock out 12 points of oil production. One bomber is shot down by flak, despite having 150 heavy flak guns there.

Is it worth repairing? 1000 supply and it produces 10 oil that becomes 9 fuel that in turn is 9 supply and HI so that is a pay back in 112 days. It is unlikely I can keep Magwe running until October so probably not worthwhile.

Allied bombers also hit some of the troops in the Jungle.

Australia

Quiet

Pacific

A raiding force of carriers finds an unescorted xAK convoy between Pearl and the West Coast and sinks 16 ships. Unfortunately, there is no interesting cargo - I think they were heading for San Francisco empty. Even more regrettably, Glens spot a much better looking convoy outbound. No chance of attacking that as the raiders will head for safety.

Engineering

Amami Oshima airfield to 1. This will become an ASW base eventually.

[Spidery]

ORIGINAL: Wargmr

ORIGINAL: Spidery

Last turns sigint report looks like:

SIG INT REPORT FOR Jun 25, 42

Radio transmissions detected at Los Angeles (225,76).
Radio transmissions detected at Anchorage (181,36).
Heavy Volume of Radio transmissions detected at Pearl Harbor (180,107).
Heavy Volume of Radio transmissions detected at Pearl Harbor (180,107).
Heavy Volume of Radio transmissions detected at Pearl Harbor (180,107).
Heavy Volume of Radio transmissions detected at Sydney (90,167).

Three heavy volume of traffic messages at Pearl! Does this mean something interesting is going on (like invasion forces loading) or is it just chance?

It ups the Detection on Pearl to 3/1 and mouse over reports: 211 ships in dock (identifying PG and DE in the list), only 28 fighters, 6 bombers and 3 auxiliary.

How accurate is that likely to be?
Does the absence of any heavy ships listed mean there are none in dock?

With the 3/1 detection level I would not count on the info being complete.

Agreed, one of the interesting, and difficult, things I find is how much attention to pay to all the small snippets of information obtained. Unconfirmed sightings, radio transmissions at bases, etc. It must be even worse for the Allies when you add in coastwatcher sightings and decrypts.

[Spidery]

June 27th 1942

Air Losses: 0 Japanese, 2 Allied, 0 Pilots
Japanese occupy: Truscott (air drop)
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:

China

More softening up of Kweiyang, airfield now shows as 100% damaged.

Allied bombers strike at the resources at Haiphong - not sure why as I am swilling in resources.

Burma

He continues to bomb in the jungle.

Australia

Quiet

Pacific

Ineffective ASW.

Engineering

Taiping airfield to 6 and Allies continue to accumulate VP.

Economy

A lot of oil is moved from Urumchi, I think to Fusan. Given that I have no luck moving fuel but oil is moved, I have turned the refineries off.

[Spidery]

Managing pilots has been taking too much time. So I am trying to set up an assembly line for pilots.

For example, IJAAF fighter pilot training might run as:

At Mukden there are 166 Nates. These groups take pilots from the replacement pool and train them using escort training. When the pilots reach an air skill of 70 they are moved to Group Reserve.

At Kobe there are 102 Nates. These groups take pilots from the group reserve of the Mukden groups and train them using Ground attack at 100 feet. When they reach a defense skill of 70 they are transferred to general reserve.

At Palembang, Rangoon, Bangkok, Soerabaja there are groups with various older models that fly CAP and take pilots from the general reserve with the least experience. When the pilots reach experience 65+ they are released back into general reserve.

Front-line groups take the most experienced pilots from general reserve.

Is this sort of assembly line likely to work?

I'ld like to carry on like this so that, eventually, each base only has one sort of training going on. This should make it easier to check progress.

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: Spidery

Is this sort of assembly line likely to work?

I have similar training program running from over two years. I must say it is very effective.
I usually harvest my pilots once in week.

What i learn is that You don`t need to train them to 70 in air skill. 65 is my goal, after that they move to train defense. When they finish that they start flying CAP in rears. Flying CAP not only building XP but also air skill will reach 70 very fast

[obvert]

In fact, it seems much quicker to train to 40exp and 60 air skill if you have time to let them fly CAP somewhere. I just never have this time. Mine go right to the front.

Your assembly line should work well, but why? Why not just train to approximately 65-70 air skill and then change them to train strafe/defensive skill for a few weeks, then ready? Seems like more clicks to take them out of one group into another, then into reserve.