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

[Spidery]

Aircraft Pools and Production


Pools of obsolete aircraft unlikely to be used (unless as Kamikaze): Ki-27b, B5N1, G3M2, Ki-36, Ki-59, A5M4. Most everything else can be utilised. G3M3 and D3A1 have comfortable pools to cover losses, most others are just handling day to day losses and upgrades.

[Spidery]

September 2nd 1942

Air Losses: 5 Japanese, 10 Allied, 2 Pilots
Japanese occupy:
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:
Allies land at:

Sub Wars

Allies manage another dud, otherwise quiet.

China

A few small bombings.

Chengtu attack reduces forts to 1 but result is 1:2 and I have messed up and allowed the 13th Chinese Corps to reinforce. Will have to hold off attacks for a turn. A recon regiment used in the attack is wrecked.

2 divisions obliterate the 8th New Chinese Corps East of Chungking.

Movement shows forces moving on Niekiang so will evacuate.

Burma

Allies attack in the jungle, a few A6M5 bleed over and down 5 Blenheims for the loss of 1 A6M5.

Australia

Quiet

Pacific

B-17E strike at Rossel Island at night for limited effect.

Increased sub spottings around Truk and the Solomons - may be first signs of an attack.

Engineering

Darwin forts are now 5, don't think I can afford to increase them to 6.

R&D

Quiet

[Spidery]

September 2nd 1942

Air Losses: 9 Japanese, 10 Allied, 5 Pilots
Japanese occupy:
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:
Allies land at:

Sub Wars

Quiet

China

Target airfields, now aim to keep all three remaining Allied airfields closed. 2 P-38E are destroyed on the ground at Chungking.

An attack at some badly bashed up Chinese forces achieves:

Attacking force 42871 troops, 580 guns, 134 vehicles, Assault Value = 1297

Defending force 59245 troops, 124 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1329

Japanese adjusted assault: 879

Allied adjusted defense: 51

Japanese assault odds: 17 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
1591 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 114 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 35 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 100 (6 destroyed, 94 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
15875 casualties reported
Squads: 666 destroyed, 83 disabled
Non Combat: 762 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 23 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 16 (16 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 8

Unfortunately, there was a retreat path open that has moved the enemy in an awkward direction.

Allies are attempting to cut supply routes to the forces attacking at Chengtu. Allies have moved into Neikiang hex.

Burma

Allies try a sweep but find nothing.

Australia

B-17E strike at Horn Island in the day and are met by Ki-43-1c, 3 losses to 7 B-17E shot down (6 Air-Air, 1 ops). I can take that[:D]!

Pacific

Quiet

Engineering

Quiet

R&D

Quiet

[Spidery]

September 4th 1942

Air Losses: 5 Japanese, 3 Allied, 3 Pilots
Japanese occupy:
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:
Allies land at:

Sub Wars

Quiet

China

Supressing airfields and targetting some troops. Attack at Chengtu reduces forts to 0.

Ground combat at Chengtu (75,41)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 30426 troops, 478 guns, 972 vehicles, Assault Value = 1021

Defending force 28541 troops, 190 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 542

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 612

Allied adjusted defense: 777

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 0)

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

Japanese ground losses:
1075 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 90 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 22 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 13 disabled

Allied ground losses:
1125 casualties reported
Squads: 75 destroyed, 59 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 24 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 10 disabled
Guns lost 17 (1 destroyed, 16 disabled)

Destroy two isolated headquarter units.

Burma

Allies try another sweep but find nothing.

Australia

B-17E strike at Nookanbah, completely unoccupied.

Pacific

Quiet

Engineering

Singapore airfield to 9 (not sure it was worth it!). Amami Oshima to 3.

R&D

D4Y4 to 12/44
A6M5c to 4/44

[Spidery]

September 5th 1942

Air Losses: 8 Japanese, 3 Allied, 2 Pilots
Japanese occupy: Babuyan(air drop)
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:
Allies land at:

Sub Wars

Quiet

China

Keep pushing.

Burma

Allies try another sweep but find nothing.

Australia

B-17E and B-17F strike at Nookanbah.

Pacific

Quiet

Engineering

Allies expand Tarawa to 3.

R&D

B6N2 to 8/43.

[Spidery]

September 6th 1942

Air Losses: 16 Japanese, 2 Allied, 9 Pilots
Japanese occupy:
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:
Allies land at:

Sub Wars

Quiet

China

Drive back a force near Kunming into the mountains.

Continue to target airfields and push at Chengtu. Concern growing of Allied counter-attack.

Burma

Try to counter the Allied sweep but it goes bad.

Australia

Quiet

Pacific

Quiet

Engineering

Quiet

R&D

Ki-43-IIIa to 5/44.
Ki-43-IV to 10/44.

[Spidery]

September 7th 1942

Air Losses: 5 Japanese, 3 Allied, 3 Pilots
Japanese occupy: Chengtu[8D], Burias(air drop)
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:
Allies land at:

Sub Wars

Quiet

China

Chengtu falls at last and with the industry largely intact[:)]. Will immediately move some fighter cover in. Supply is going to be a problem here for a while.

Unfortunately, most of the attackers (including both tank divisions) have lots of disruptions and need some weeks to recover[:(].

An attack on the Kienko road does not do well but a good attack in the plains.

Chungking airfield is reporting as 83 damage and Kienko as 42 so I should be able to keep these closed and use the air force to destroy Chinese in the open. This should keep Niekiang safe.

Plan now is to clear the East bank of the Jialing while recovering at Chengtu and holding at Neikiang. Will then try and cut across the middle of the plains.

Burma

Quiet

Australia

Quiet

Pacific

Quiet

Engineering

Akyab forts to 4. Will stop there.

R&D

Ki-44-IIc to 3/43

[Spidery]

Liquids

The current state of shipping liquids back to the home isles. Fuel is mostly under control but there are some oil stock piles. I hope to clear this down to maintenance levels before the Allies get better torpedoes.

Fuel & oil from Miri/Brunei/Tarakan has been dropped on Luzon or Formosa.

Fuel from Java and Balikpapan is sent to places to be used.

Oil from Sumatra is sent to Malaysia. Fuel is set to Malaysia or all the way home.

Code: Select all

Malaysia 490,000 oil 128,000 fuel
 Luzon    174,000 oil  89,000 fuel
 Burma     54,000 oil  29,000 fuel
 Sumatra   48,000 oil  86,000 fuel
 Java      19,000 oil
 Borneo    37,000 oil  62,000 fuel
 Formosa   13,000 oil 162,000 fuel
 Mindanao  10,000 oil

[Spidery]

R&D Progress

Some estimated dates for aircraft being available.

Fighters

Code: Select all

A6M5c         5/43
 A7M2          7/44
 N1K1-J        3/43
 N1K2-J        8/43
 J7W1         12/44
 
 Ki-44-IIc    11/42
 Ki-43-IV      5/43
 Ki-84r        9/43
 Ki-83         9/44
 Ki-94-II     12/44

Night-Fighters

Code: Select all

 J1N1-S       10/43
 A6M5d-S      12/43
 J1N1-Sa       4/44
 P1Y2-S        7/44
 S1A1          6/45
 
 Ki-45 KAId    1/44
 Ki-46-III KAI 3/44
 Ki-102c       2/45

Bombers

Code: Select all

B6N2         12/42
 D4Y4          4/43
 P1Y2          9/43
 B7A2          1/44
 B6N2a         2/44
 
 Ki-115b      11/44

[GreyJoy]

wow...lots of RnD efforts!!!!
Just be carefull that all those supplies spent on those RnD factories will hunt you down in 1944/45, so keep in mind that your first propriety will be keeping the flow of fuel/oil to the HI as safe as possible. Keep the focus on that target

[Spidery]

September 8th 1942

Air Losses: 7 Japanese, 0 Allied, 5 Pilots
Japanese occupy:
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:
Allies land at:

Sub Wars

Lots of Allied attacks on ASW task forces that miss followed by ineffective ASW attacks.

I-20 locates an interesting task force, East of Ndeni, but misses:

Sub attack near Vanikoro at 128,145

Japanese Ships
SS I-20, hits 8

Allied Ships
xAP Matsonia
BB Mississippi
BB West Virginia
DE John D. Edwards
DE Edsall
DE Bulmer
DE Alden
AM Sonavati
AM Madras
AM Geelong
xAP Tabinta
xAP Empress ' Asia
xAK Mulbera
DD Le Triomphant
DE Gilmer
DE Humphreys
DE Litchfield

Damage to I-20 is 29/41/0 so should be able to make safety.

China

No Allied bombing of Chengtu.

Keeping airfields closed and targeting Chinese forces in the open. This is costing a few aircraft in flak and ops losses.

Allies launch a bombardment attack at Neikiang to probe:

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 33615 troops, 124 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1075

Defending force 15225 troops, 171 guns, 104 vehicles, Assault Value = 467

Allied ground losses:
1195 casualties reported
Squads: 24 destroyed, 52 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

On that basis, I may as well launch my own bombardments. Still it is a threat to the base.

Trying to eliminate 2 Chinese Corps

Ground combat at 79,44 (near Patung)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 23825 troops, 173 guns, 204 vehicles, Assault Value = 791

Defending force 20474 troops, 96 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 418

Japanese adjusted assault: 710

Allied adjusted defense: 16

Japanese assault odds: 44 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
382 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 21 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled

Allied ground losses:
2765 casualties reported
Squads: 97 destroyed, 54 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 26 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 12 (7 destroyed, 5 disabled)

Burma

Quiet

Australia

Quiet

Pacific

Lots of Allied task forces spotted East of Ndeni. No reports of carriers. Looks like something may be up.

Engineering

Quiet

R&D

Nakajima Ha-45 to 11/42.

[Spidery]

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

wow...lots of RnD efforts!!!!
Just be carefull that all those supplies spent on those RnD factories will hunt you down in 1944/45, so keep in mind that your first propriety will be keeping the flow of fuel/oil to the HI as safe as possible. Keep the focus on that target

Absolutely, keep the fuel and oil flowing, and avoid wasting it. Protect the LI and the aircraft factories.

There are very few factories that I plan on changing between lines, so most factories will be expanded once only. That means I have about 1,000,000 supplies needed to fix all the factories (or about 5% of the production in rest of 42/43/44).

The SRA produces about 27,000 supply in the form of fuel/oil per day so these costs come down to the margins around when that production is lost.

[Spidery]

September 9th 1942

Air Losses: 7 Japanese, 5 Allied, 3 Pilots
Japanese occupy:
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:
Allies land at:

Sub Wars

Allies sink a 1250 size tanker in the Sea of Japan.

China

No Allied bombing of Chengtu.

Air attack tempo is reducing as planes need repairs. Allied forces are continuing to threaten Neikiang.

Chinese losses are heavy from air and ground attack.

Burma

Quiet

Australia

B-17E try attacking transport task forces at Horn Island and Saumlaki. They score no hits (bombing from 10000 feet). At Horn Island, Ki-43-1c intercept them and shoot down 4 planes for the loss of 1[:)].

Lightnings sweep Port Moresby, nobody is there (lucky they didn't target Horn Island).

Pacific

There are now at least 10 task forces near Ndeni. Two Mavis are lost to CAP.

I can't tell how many task forces there are because the display isn't big enough to show the list[8|].

4 sub reportings in the Solomons. Begins to look like Tulagi may be the target.

No signs of CVs.

Engineering

Allies expand Ndeni to 2.

R&D

Quiet


Allied forces in Ndeni area. Note that the list for the Eastern hex is truncated so there could be even more task forces there.

[Spidery]

September 10th 1942

Air Losses: 49 Japanese, 6 Allied, 11 Pilots
Japanese occupy:
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:
Allies land at:

Sub Wars

Quiet

China

Allies keep quiet.

A Chinese Corps is destroyed.

Airfields are getting repaired so need to divert from bombing ground troops to hitting airfields. Nicks will continue strafing.

Burma

Quiet

Australia

Quiet

Pacific

A lot of search planes are lost to CAP. It is now confirmed that he is attacking Tulagi and that Allied carriers are in the area. 6 of the old BB bombard Tulagi during the day and some Nells and Oscars make suicidal attacks. The bombardment damages all the Mavis at the base and more than decimates the defending engineering units. A few Nells get through but score no hits, A mini-sub takes a pot shot on the approach and is badly damaged. It is also out of fuel.

Sightings are of many task forces including two carrier forces but it is not clear if that is all his carriers.

He may planning on a double attack and also hitting Buin or Rossel Island. All aviation assets will be sent to Rabaul and set to a relatively short range strike so if he comes closer they may get a pot shot. Surface shipping will pull back closer to Rabaul and subs flood the area.

Engineering

Quiet

R&D

Quiet

[Spidery]

Upgrade to 1.7.11.23x4
MrKane is reporting having sync issues the last few turns

September 11th 1942

Air Losses: 2 Japanese, 16 Allied, 1 Pilots
Japanese occupy:
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:
Allies land at: Lunga

Sub Wars

Quiet, except in South Pacific.

China

Another Chinese Corps destroyed on the East bank[:)]. Nets over 100 LCU VP for the turn[:)].

Good deal of bombing, also supply arriving at front lines so will attack again.

Chinese defenses are crumbling and his move out of Chungking is giving me the opportunity to weaken a lot of his troops.

Burma

Quiet

Australia

A group of supply ships was off-loading at Horn Island, its air cover has been moved to Rabaul and it was sent to Port Moresby. However, dive bombers struck at it and all 4 ships are lost[:(].

Pacific

Allies land at Lunga, looks like a nice base for him to develop. 1st Marine Division is seen to land.

I-155 takes a shot at an AMC, misses, and is sunk[:(].

I-32 is retiring hurt (34/57/5).

RO-65 sinks an ACM.

Still only reports of 3 CV operating in this area. Lots of attacks against subs from carrier aircraft.

Engineering

Quiet

R&D

Quiet

[Spidery]

September 12th 1942

Air Losses: 5 Japanese, 3 Allied, 0 Pilots
Japanese occupy:
Allies occupy: Lunga
Japanese land at:
Allies land at: Tulagi

Sub Wars

SS Herring sinks a DMS near Rabaul.

Various ineffectual attacks.

China

Chinese unit on the Chengtu-Neikiang road turns out to have zero AV and is driven back.

Other attacks make progress but are quite costly taking about even losses with the Chinese.

Bombing at Kienko sees no flak. Airfields are now well closed again.

Burma

Quiet

Australia

Quiet

Pacific

Allies auto-capture Lunga and land the 2nd Marine Division at Tulagi.

Lots of attacks on my subs getting some hits. Many Allied subs located at the Western end of New Britain and I lose a DMS. Allied task forces have vanished, apart from that seen at Tulagi.

Engineering

Buka airfield expands to 3 and some fort building.

R&D

Quiet

[Spidery]

September 13th 1942

Air Losses: 272 Japanese, 314 Allied, 223 Pilots
Japanese occupy:
Allies occupy: Pentecost Island, Tulagi
Japanese land at:
Allies land at:

Pacific

A CV engagement happens near Munda. KB rushes South and the Allies drift North. Day finds the forces some 80 nautical miles apart and massive air strikes fly both ways, LBA also joins in but despite getting a lot of aircraft through CAP does little good. The only loss on the day is a mini-sub abandoned at Tulagi.

CV Status:

Hiyo 10/6/5
Junyo 7/0/4
Shoho 24/7/5/4
Zuiho 48/59/13/7
Hiryu 41/18/20/6
Soryu 59/19/31/88
Zuikaku 51/44/39/7

Also damaged:
BB Hyuga 28/4/7
CA Suzuya 25/0/0
CA Kinugasa 43/21/11
AV Kamoi 25/7/1
And an AKE that is doomed

Soryu will be scuttled but the rest can be saved if protected from the Allied next strike.

Hiyo, Junyo, Akagi, Kaga and Shokaku can make up a reasonable strike force if I can find the planes for them.

Ryuho and Ryujo are too far away to join in.

What is the best thing to do with the surface combat task forces? Should I send them in amongst the Allied forces to cover the carriers and, possibly, do some damage. Or do I send them on a path that takes them through Allied areas at night and out again for the day. Or do I keep them back with the carriers?

Most of the LBA morale is shot but the aircraft diverted from damaged carriers are good and pose a threat to the Allies if they pursue.

Damage to Allies:

CA Quincy, Torpedo hits 1
CV Lexington, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CA Chester

CA Portland, Bomb hits 3, on fire
CV Illustrious, Bomb hits 3
CV Wasp, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CV Lexington, on fire
CA Quincy
CV Yorktown
CV Saratoga, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CA Indianapolis, Bomb hits 1
Fuel storage explosion on CV Saratoga

CV Enterprise, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
BB North Carolina, Bomb hits 2
CV Hornet
CA Salt Lake City
DD Downes

CA Louisville
CV Lexington, on fire
CV Saratoga
CA Chicago
CA Chester, Torpedo hits 1

CL Leander
BB Warspite
CL De Ruyter, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage

Aircraft losses suggest that about 2 carriers worth of aircraft diverted but had nowhere to land. So that is Enterprise and Wasp not flight capable but the other 6 carriers are probably in a position to pursue my damaged ships.

Engineering

Rabaul airfield to 8.

R&D

Quiet

[Spidery]

Rabaul is at level 8, Buka is at level 3 but only has 8 aviation support. Both have torpedoes available.
Rossel Island is at level 4 and has some torpedoes available.

[Lowpe]

Wow, looks like you won that round if you can get away with IJN damage control. Well done.

What do you think the prospects are for your BBs? I would be cautious with them...risk/reward ratio doesn't seem good to me with Warspite and North Carolina basically undamaged plus two CVs unhurt too.

Plus, I think you would need to send the BBs near Tulagi to catch him -- further away from your bases....

You have given him a bloody nose...be happy and conserve your forces for more important real estate.

IMHO. Free advice is cheap and often wrong. [:D]

[pws1225]

Nicely done! And for more free advice, I agree with Lowpe that it would be best to keep your BBs under LBA and CV cover.