Change HR. Limit to either 2nd best with no restriction on CAP or set 32k max. No reason to play with silly results.
If we decide to do that i will go with 32k rule for CAP and sweep. Why?
Entire goal is to minimize dive effect to realistic level. With 2nd best(without CAP limit) it will not change much. We still will suffer from P-47, Ki-84r sweeps.
It will be even worst for Japan. Still none of Jap planes cant CAP that high as P-47 and allied CAP hordes of P-51, Spitfires, and P-38 etc will CAP above them from start.
32k rule is more fair. Both sides will start in the same high. Planes stats will play bigger role. Especially climb. And attacker will still have advantage of entire unit already at 32k while CAP will have to climb. And with experience i have, even best interceptors like Ki-44 or Ki-84r or J2M ( and allied planes also) will be able to climb above sweep with minimal numbers only. SO both sides will have dive opportunities, let say equally. And in this point planes stats like speed, climb, maneuverability and of course pilot stat will play bigger role.
I will wait month or two if Docup not ask me about HR change i will seriously consider proposing it to him. But as i told earlier i think ball is now on Docup side.
If he lose few hundred planes during Ki-84r sweeps he will ask me.
HE know about 32K rule. Both You and JocMeister mention aboyt it in AARs and main forum.
I know zuluhour game aslo adopted that rule. It is matter of time that we will use it.
Change HR. Limit to either 2nd best with no restriction on CAP or set 32k max. No reason to play with silly results.
If we decide to do that i will go with 32k rule for CAP and sweep. Why?
Entire goal is to minimize dive effect to realistic level. With 2nd best(without CAP limit) it will not change much. We still will suffer from P-47, Ki-84r sweeps.
It will be even worst for Japan. Still none of Jap planes cant CAP that high as P-47 and allied CAP hordes of P-51, Spitfires, and P-38 etc will CAP above them from start.
32k rule is more fair. Both sides will start in the same high. Planes stats will play bigger role. Especially climb. And attacker will still have advantage of entire unit already at 32k while CAP will have to climb. And with experience i have, even best interceptors like Ki-44 or Ki-84r or J2M ( and allied planes also) will be able to climb above sweep with minimal numbers only. SO both sides will have dive opportunities, let say equally. And in this point planes stats like speed, climb, maneuverability and of course pilot stat will play bigger role.
I will wait month or two if Docup not ask me about HR change i will seriously consider proposing it to him. But as i told earlier i think ball is now on Docup side.
If he lose few hundred planes during Ki-84r sweeps he will ask me.
HE know about 32K rule. Both You and JocMeister mention aboyt it in AARs and main forum.
I know zuluhour game aslo adopted that rule. It is matter of time that we will use it.
It really does work better, and even though there were moments when Jocke must have been frustrated as the Franks and Jacks did have their good days, it always cam back to Allied quality, numbers and concentration, as it should. It was just more fun for both to have to work at the positioning, guesswork and other tactics rather than just sit back and go at 42k.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill
DEI
Allies undetected land in Lautem and after 3 days of attack mange to secure base.
They are now woners of base that can be build up to lvl 9. I am moving more hevy ships to area. To be able to engade him on sea and mybe keep Lautem closed for some time. At lest i hope
Marshals/Salomon's
Quiet. I have evacuated Port Moresby. Only few guns and 250 soldiers left there
Docup moving convoys between PH and Marshals. He should soon land in Roi-Namur.
Last turn heavy or better say Huge radio traffic is coming from PH. Invasion is coming i think.
I am evacuating everything south Rabaul and South East from Kusaie Island. Only Tarawa will be operational as long as passible and will be my ayes on Pacific
Burma
I am preparing major air offensive in Burma 250 Ki-84r already in place. I waiting only when pools will have at lest 50 planes so 2-3 days
Docup deliberate in Taung Gyi. My boys holding but soon i will start retreat from base.
I want to retreat in order when my troop are still in combat shape but not be forced to retreat
1. Attack Ground combat at Taung Gyi (59,48)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 30322 troops, 488 guns, 523 vehicles, Assault Value = 3168
Defending force 40254 troops, 462 guns, 790 vehicles, Assault Value = 1209
Assaulting units:
255th Armoured Brigade
150th RAC Regiment
20th Indian/B Division
3rd Cavalry Regiment
2nd British Division
81st (West African) Division
XXXIII Corps Engineer Battalion
16th Light Cavalry Regiment
254th Armoured Brigade
20th Indian/A Division
23rd Indian Division
1st New Chinese Corps
7th Australian Division
20th Indian/C Division
2/9th Field Regiment
25th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
8th Medium Regiment
6th Medium Regiment
20th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
65th Coast AA Regiment
26th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
6th Heavy AA Regiment
249th Field Artillery Battalion
30th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
Defending units:
33rd Division
18th Division
2nd Tank/C Division
57th Field AA Battalion
3rd Mortar Battalion
6th Air Division
52nd Field AA Battalion
1st JNAF AF Unit
15th JAAF Base Force
15th Army
1st Art.Mortar Regiment
60th JNAF AF Unit
2. attack
Ground combat at Taung Gyi (59,48)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 35364 troops, 592 guns, 1151 vehicles, Assault Value = 3448
Defending force 39901 troops, 462 guns, 787 vehicles, Assault Value = 1175
Quiet all over map. Small sweeps and bombing raids but nothing requiring more that single sentence.
I am observing small CV TF in Darvin hex(30-60 planes). I am not sure why Docup have that TF there. I dont think he will try another landing with CV support in DEI. Deep inside i think it is attempt to keep KB in this area and maybe land somewhere else. Sumatra, Indonesia coast??
I will think about that and maybe just in case i will move KB closer to Singer. Very confusing
Near Singer US Sub sunk xAP with troops sailing to reinforce Indonesia cost.
Other ships in convoy manage to save 1400 from 1600 troop on ship. In return Es heavy damage enemy sub. Some time ago i learn that it is good to have empty ship in convoy to save troop in such cases.
Last J2M R&D factory repaired. J2M5 will enter production in May. His job will be to support N1K2 and Ki-84r in defense of Empire until A7M2 show.
Another Quiet days.
Air ASW sunk allied sub near Kendari. I am moving more subs to potential starting points of allied invasions. With some luck maybe i buy few extra days for reaction.
Subs are heading to patrol North Pacific in case of GreyJoy style invasion in North, and toward IO in case of Sumatra invasion. I have some radio traffic in IO that need to be investigated. I have also subs on SE and SW corners of Australia in case Docup will move his fleet from one Ocean to another
Enemy CV TF back to Darwin. 10 ships (~60 planes).[&:]
I Burma i am ready to start sweep offensive. Tomorrow 168 Ki-84r will sweep. Day after tomorrow another 168 will repeat. Depending of shape of units i will also try day 3 and 4 sweeps. After that some rest and again sweeps.Rangoon have 200% of required air support that should help.
Burma
Franks sweep Maagwe. Result was good. Now i have to decide to give rest to my boys for one day or send them tomorrow. Units still have morale 95+ and fatigue is below 10.
Sumatra
xAK with ~20 guns of 3th Tank Div go down when xAK trasporting them was sunk by sub.
Coral Sea
South of Horn Island one of my subs find hevy enemy SAG sailing south.
BB Idaho confirmed.
Marshals
6 Beauforts shutdown when they try attack my Cruiser TF that close to much to enemy territory
This Frank seems to be the savior bird for Japan, not looking forward to seeing it.
So far i am happy with it.
I only sweep 3 time with "r" but i manage to shot down ~150 enemy planes for lose of 68 Franks in a2a and ~45 pilots. 70 of enemy loses are P-40 and Hurricanes but ~80 planes are Spits, Corsairs and P-47 and F6F - (allies get ~450/month of 3gen figters)
It looks Frank r is fighting equal combat against everything expect P-47 and only when P-47 is on dive(With ppor climb rate at 2k/min he dont have much dives as he nned 20 minutes to climb above frank). When Frank start to dogfight, P-47 is usually outmaneuvered. Spitfire is also good opponent as he is able to avoid many sweeps but other planes like F4U and F6F have trouble with Frank. P-40 have no chance. In last battles P-40 don`t shot down more that 1 or 2 Franks for lose of ~50 planes. I think P-38 can be hard opponent. With 3000+ climb rate, 44k max celling and 400+ speed he can have lot dives when on CAP.
Burma
14 was quiet but 15th have lot of air action.
What i learn today. Against Frank P-38 is crap. Even with P-38 on dive in 3 of 4 times Frank is wining side. Second P-47 is deadly but usually is out of position because of climb probably. I will replace loses today and rest for day or two and i will try gain in different place.
Afternoon Air attack on Ramree Island , at 54,48
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid detected at 29 NM, estimated altitude 42,270 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-84r Frank x 42
Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 16
Spitfire Vc Trop x 16
Spitfire VIII x 16
P-38H Lightning x 50
P-40K Warhawk x 24
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 25
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-84r Frank: 2 destroyed
Burma
Quiet. I preparing anther sweep session. Units arledy are at full power. But i need another 4 days until they will be ready to take replacements after combat.
So far sweeps look good. In last sweeps i exchange ~70 pilots for ~220 allied planes.
Defiantly cheaper that defending against P-47 sweeps.(in defensive battle i usually was losing 2 pilots for 3 enemy plane. Now i am losing 2 pilot for 6 enemy planes) Is not all about attrition.
100k troops in Magwe[X(]. They are marching toward Taung Gyi
Rangoon have now 336 operational Ki-84r. In 2 weeks it will be 392 because all groups will resize to 49 planes.
I start upgrading to R units in other areas. Burma have priority, now time for DEI.
Singer.
I lost TK full of oil near singer. ASW units rebased to area.
Marshals
Expected Marshal invasion is not coming. That is good. Longer he wait to take last base in area more time i have to prepare elsware
B-29
27 March 1944 first B-29 unit will show up. 3 days later He will start receiving B-29 reinforcements.
I still have month but I start preparing Oil defenses. All Oil fields will have day and night CAP. At lest 50 fighters will protect every base (N1K2, Ki-84a) in day and some nigh fighters in night.
I have N1K2 unit (45 planes resized) i will upgrade it to night fighter type.
Mostly Quiet day.
Only 3 things worth notice. Al in DEI
In Lautem hex i see some ships. DL is very low. They will be tomorrow back in Darwin so no reaction from my side. I must again fix my search arcs.
West of Darwin i see CV TF. 50 planes only. Not sure what they doing.
And last. Docup must do something wrong with his amphibious TF in area. Over 400 squads(combat and non combat) unloaded on jungle peninsula East of Bathurst Island, 500 KIA, 400 disabled squads. I have no intel about unit but number of disabled squads and devices suggesting at lest Infantry Regiment. Reckon showing 6000 troops landed there so it can be even Division.[:D] Someone will lose his command or at best will return to navigation school.
India
I see intensive movement of enemy ships in Caylon area.
I will reckon what he have there. What is worry me is unusual big number of TKs detected. Where are tankers there must be ships.
Burma
Quiet. I lost xAK returning from Rangoon to Singer
More ASW send to area
Timor area
Also Quiet. I am thinking about sweep action. 40 enemy fighters on Lautem. AF still have 40 damaged. This Lautem landing surprise me. I have nothing to counter this. I have only enough troops to hold what i have now. I am moving reinforcements but it will take time.
Japan
Probably first time during war allied subs start hunting ~Tokyo area.
I lost xAK and xAP was heavily damaged. I have 20+ E and 60 planes that will try to do something with it.
KB
Lots of heavy ships have major damage that cant be fix by AR. Nearest port to do that is Singer. I thinking to move there KB for week or two and fix my ships. I still should be close enough to Timor only Pacific will be open to allies, but i dont see major moves there from 3 months
It is a problem because some of CV and BB have reduced Speed because of damage.
And i will need speed
R&D
There will be no major planes arriving in ~9 months from now.
In June J2M5 will enter production(120month), In July Ki-102(50/month) will replace Ki-45 and B7A2 Grace(90/month) will add some quality to navy strike wing. Of course NFs will enter production but probably with normal arrival dates.
Biggest change in air is planed in very late 44 or early 45. I hope start producing A7M2 Sam(240/month) and Ki-83(150/month). I am also researching that 800kg bomb army bomber for kamikaze duty.
J7W1 should be avaible in middle of 1945
Ship Production
In 7 days from now i will stop building any merchant points.(only 200 in pool)
Last Tanker will live shipyard in 7 days, I will have enough of TKs for next few months.
I don`t need xAK so why waste HI. March is officially last month of civilian ship production in Empire.
DEI
Enemy troops moving from Lautem to Dili. Base will fall fast. I was not able to reinforce base. I mamage only to droop some supplies. But it will not last for long. I will facing there 500AV against 300AV on my side.
Battle of Salomon Sea
At 20th i send 4 DD TF toward Woodlark as air trap. Trap fail but my recon detect CL TF in Milne Bay hex. I dont want risk interception of my DD TF so on 21th as reinforcement i send CA TF. Cas find enemy Fletcher TF. After short fire exchange both TF retreat - Allied destroyers to Milne Bay but Japanese Cruisers stuck on middle of Salomon sea. They where attacked from air but CAP manage to hold bombers. Japanese DD retreat To Rabaul.
Night Time Surface Combat, near Rabaul at 106,128, Range 2,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CA Mikuma
CA Suzuya
CL Kitakami, Shell hits 1
CL Oi
DD Akatsuki
DD Ikazuchi
DD Inazuma
DD Yukaze, Shell hits 3
On morning 21th search planes found that enemy CL TF is 7 hexes from Rabaul. Orders was give fast to CA TF i have in middle of Salomon Sea. Flank toward Rabaul and merge with 4 DD there and prepare to defense of Rabaul waters.
In last moment my TFs merged. Few minutes later battle start.
Allied side have all advantages they need:
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 0% moonlight: 2,000 yards
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 24,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 2,000 yards[X(]
Yet battle not go so well.
When allied open fire at 2000 they start missing like i never saw. On other side Japan manage to launch sucesfoul Long Lance attack.
Firs TT salvo hit CL Montpelier starting ammo storage explosion. CL sunk immediately. Seconds later another TT hit CL Denver and DD Braine
Battle was long an bblody. At end Japan lost DD in exchange of Cleveland class CL and Fletcher class DD
Night Time Surface Combat, near Rabaul at 106,125, Range 2,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CA Mikuma, Shell hits 1
CA Suzuya, Shell hits 6
CL Kitakami, Shell hits 3
CL Oi
DD Yugumo, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Akatsuki
DD Ikazuchi, Shell hits 1
DD Inazuma
DD Mutsuki, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Yukaze
DD Susuki, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
Allied Ships
CL Montpelier, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
CL Denver, Shell hits 10, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Beale, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Braine, Shell hits 10, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Kidd, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Sigsbee, Shell hits 2
DD Strong, Shell hits 5, on fire
But it was not end. Sudenly on horiont DD TF show up.
Another blody battle start in with we both lose one DD.
Night Time Surface Combat, near Rabaul at 106,125, Range 8,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CA Mikuma
CA Suzuya, on fire
CL Kitakami
CL Oi, Shell hits 1
DD Yugumo, Shell hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Akatsuki, Shell hits 1
DD Ikazuchi
DD Inazuma
DD Mutsuki, Shell hits 1, heavy fires
DD Yukaze
Allied Ships
DD Nicholson
DD Swanson, Shell hits 15, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Sims
DD Hammann, Shell hits 1
Japanise commander decide to finsh job with remaning CL.
He ract toward enemy TF that stuck one hex north of Rabaul.
Night Time Surface Combat, near Rabaul at 106,125, Range 10,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CA Mikuma
CA Suzuya
DD Akatsuki, Shell hits 1
DD Ikazuchi
DD Inazuma
DD Yukaze, Shell hits 1
Allied Ships
CL Denver, Shell hits 8, and is sunk
DD Beale, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Kidd
DD Sigsbee, Shell hits 1, on fire
When day end Japan was short of two DD and two DD need repairs. (Cruisers are undamage)
Allies loses are heavier. They lost 2 Cleveland CLs, and 3 destroyers.
Allies lost arledy 5 Cleveland CLs. They shoul have now only two of them is service.
I must say in conditions i fight. Total supprise of Japanise TF, i must say it is great Victory
Burma
I start retreating from Taung Gyi. I will abandon base in 5 days max.
Another sweeps.
Not ban result. Especialy with 11 P-47 shotdown. Docup star using Aicobras. They are the same bad as same as P-40 or P-38
Only P-47 and Spitfire VIII are dangerous. F4U is not bad. F6F little better from P-40
Morning Air attack on Magwe , at 57,47
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 31 NM, estimated altitude 44,270 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-84r Frank x 42
Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 16
Spitfire VIII x 16
P-39D Airacobra x 25
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 25
F6F-3 Hellcat x 21
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-84r Frank: 5 destroyed
Burma
Quiet.
Milestone in air war today. After 2 weeks of sweeps in Burma. After shotting down 340 enemy fighters in exchange of 200 Franks and 100 pilots, Today Ki-84 don`t find CAP over Magwe.
Intel still shows 70 fighters in base but no CAP[:D]
Time to rest few days, replace loses and build pools of Franks.
Retreat from Taung Gyi is going ok. Docup is ground bombarding to slow me down but i am move steady 11 miles every day
PS. Again i forgot to end turn so we have delay again. I have good explanation. I bought new phone and i find that i still have child in me[:D]
