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

[Spidery]

Economy

In the last month I have shipped 80,000 liquids more than have been produced from overseas to Japan. This increasing the stockpiles by 80,000 fuel and 30,000 oil. However, I still have a back log of 790,000 oil and 530,000 fuel to shift.

I am wondering whether it is better to shift more to intermediate points, Luzon and Formosa. That way, in 1943 I can run big convoys under heavy ASW cover to move that to Japan. Currently have 324 days of fuel and 214 days of oil in Japan.

[Spidery]

P1Y1 or P1Y2

An R&D factory on the P1Y1 is nearly fixed and I need to decide whether to research that or go for the P1Y2.

Advantages of P1Y1: faster, available sooner, slightly better range.
Disadvantages of P1Y1: SR 4, uses the Ha-45 instead of Ha-32, will not get radar when available.

The Ha-45 won't be producing an engine bonus for a couple of months and is in great demand.

The SR of 4 will make it less effective as a search or ASW plane but I'm not sure how important it is in the strike role.

Relative to the current G3M3, the P1Y1 provides better survivability against inferior range. The G3M3 probably is better in the search and ASW roles but worse in the strike role.

[Spidery]

October 15th 1942

Air Losses: 12 Japanese, 3 Allied, 1 Pilots
Japanese occupy:
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:
Allies land at:

Mystery Sinking

Something Allied sunk and judging by the VP totals for the day it may have been worth 20 or so points. There is a c.XI-W float plane as reported lost on the ground so I'm guessing some Dutch cruiser.

Pacific

AO Shiretoko has two lucky misses as SS Pollack attacks twice, hits twice, but both are duds.

I-31 attacks a big xAP near Fiji but the one hit fails to explode (duds can happen to everyone!)

Burma

Allied CLs bombard Akyab.

China

More Chinese surrender. Gathering forces for the attack on Chungking.

Wellingtons strike at armoured car unit moving along the back-road from Chengtu to Tsuyung.

Australia

Darwin is flattened by 4E. I hadn't realised I could withdraw aircraft and lost some oscars on the ground.

Two 4E are shot down by flak.

Engineering

Quiet

R&D

Nakajima Ha-44 to 12/42 (which is when it will enter production). This is only needed for the Ki-94-II so not for a long time.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Spidery

P1Y1 or P1Y2

An R&D factory on the P1Y1 is nearly fixed and I need to decide whether to research that or go for the P1Y2.

When would you get the P1Y2 if you r&d it? Do you have anything researching the G4M3a? And if so when do you think you would get that plane?

[Spidery]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: Spidery

P1Y1 or P1Y2

An R&D factory on the P1Y1 is nearly fixed and I need to decide whether to research that or go for the P1Y2.

When would you get the P1Y2 if you r&d it? Do you have anything researching the G4M3a? And if so when do you think you would get that plane?

Nothing on the GM3a. Only advantages over the P1Y2 are lots more guns and a slightly better normal range but at the cost of speed and durability.

Haven't checked recently but expect would have the P1Y2 about 9/43. If I went with the P1Y1 I would have that about 6/43.

[Lowpe]

The H6 radar is available 6/44...so:

I think maybe I would go for the Y1...range, availability, solid strike plane -- and work to transition to the Y2 prior to the advent of the radar.

[Spidery]

October 16th 1942

Air Losses: 2 Japanese, 3 Allied, 1 Pilots
Japanese occupy:
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:
Allies land at:

Pacific

Quiet

Burma

Quiet

China

Much the same.

At Tsuyung the attack doesn't go well and need to swap out infantry divisions.

Australia

He has moved the bombing altitude up to 15000 feet at Darwin and the runway is repaired a little. Service damage 100, runway 18. Supply is falling though.

Engineering

Allies expand Tassafaronga to 2.

R&D

B6N2 to 4/43

Production

Nakajima Hikari stocks are exhausted, production of the B5N1 stops with 84 in pool.

[Spidery]

October 17th 1942

Air Losses: 3 Japanese, 7 Allied, 2 Pilots
Japanese occupy:
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:
Allies land at:

Pacific

Quiet

Burma

Night strike at Chittagong destroys 3 Hurricane IIb on the ground.

Allies sweep Akyab, blank. I sweep advancing forces, blank - confirms presence of 6th Australian Division.

China

Much the same.

Australia

Darwin plastered, 1 B-17E downed.

Engineering

Quiet

R&D

A6M5b to 11/43
D4Y4 to 8/44

[Spidery]

October 18th 1942

Air Losses: 10 Japanese, 2 Allied, 3 Pilots
Japanese occupy: Wyndham(air drop)
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:
Allies land at:

Pacific

3 Allied CL bombard Rossel island, 3 oscar lost. Not sure where they came from or went to!

I-18 takes a shot at an xAP near Palmyra but misses.

Burma

Quiet

China

Much the same.

Australia

Allies abandoned Wyndham so I air dropped to take it. Seem to have captured about 1000 supply, if that will flow to Darwin it would be good.

Darwin plastered, 1 B-17F downed.

Engineering

Quiet

R&D

Quiet

[Spidery]

Some Chinese units are stubborn. 380::1 odds and no retreat nor surrender.

Ground combat at 76,41 (near Chengtu)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 17775 troops, 350 guns, 177 vehicles, Assault Value = 886

Defending force 4732 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2

Japanese adjusted assault: 380

Allied adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 380 to 1

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

Allied ground losses:
2121 casualties reported
Squads: 141 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 74 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
6th Division
1st Division
4th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
26th Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
22nd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
15th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
11th Ind.Hvy.Art Battalion

Defending units:
75th Chinese Corps

[Spidery]

October 19th 1942

Air Losses: 9 Japanese, 9 Allied, 1 Pilots
Japanese occupy: Port Hedland(air drop)
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:
Allies land at:

Pacific

Another fine mess, a group of CL are sent to raid Lunga. They decide to only go half way there and are subject to vicious air attacks. A small amount of LRCAP turns up but the CL Yubari is sunk, CL Jintsu will be scuttled, and CL Nagara has taken some damage but should be okay.

The group is attacked during the night by Catalinas to no effect. What is the secret for getting night naval attacks? I don't seem to be able to manage them.

Some Betties night bomb Lunga and destroy 1 Anson on the ground.

I-3 spots a group of 6 DD moving North-East from Pearl. Yesterday, a sub in the area was 10/10 detected at what seemed too far from Pearl so I wonder if carriers are moving from Pearl that way.

Burma

Quiet

China

Attack at Tsuyung goes badly.

Ground combat at Tsuyung (68,46)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 17703 troops, 335 guns, 302 vehicles, Assault Value = 570

Defending force 18300 troops, 118 guns, 17 vehicles, Assault Value = 379

Japanese adjusted assault: 353

Allied adjusted defense: 700

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
1735 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 137 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 30 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 12 disabled
Vehicles lost 13 (1 destroyed, 12 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
613 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 29 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 31 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled

Assaulting units:
27th Division
9th Tank Regiment
23rd Tank Regiment
3rd Tank Regiment
21st Ind Engineer Regiment
Tonei Hvy Gun Regiment
10th Mortar Battalion
14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
5th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
20th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
12th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
12th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
3rd Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
14th Chinese Corps
NCAC
33rd Base Group

Elsewhere, various Chinese forces are destroyed.

Australia

Darwin has a rest from bombing for a day.

Minor air drop to take Port Hedland and prevent it being a free base for the Allies.

Engineering

Quiet

R&D

Quiet

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Spidery
What is the secret for getting night naval attacks? I don't seem to be able to manage them.

They do seem tough. In no particular order I suspect the following: weather all along the route, moonlight, detection levels, leaders, size of the airbase, supplies, morale, enemy air strength, air hqs, air frame, size of the target task force. Questionable: does the search planes fly from the same airbase.

heck, with advanced weather on my planes have a tough time finding ships during the daylight![:D]

[Spidery]

October 20th 1942

Air Losses: 7 Japanese, 4 Allied, 2 Pilots
Japanese occupy:
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:
Allies land at:

Pacific

Allied cruisers find the damaged CL Nagara. Unfortunately, a Magazine Explosion finishes her before the fight really gets started.

Burma

KVII scores two hits on the CM Hatsutaka as she heads to Akyab to lay more mines. She sinks.

China

Mush the same

Australia

Much the same.

Darwin is now in the red for supply. However, I have 900+ at Wyndham that I hope will flow there.

Engineering

Allies expand Rennell Island to 3.

R&D

Quiet



China & Burma

Allies are attacking in Burma and I am moving troops laterally to improve defense and build a second line in the jungle.

The 2nd Tank is heading down the minor road to Tsuyung to try and help break through there.

First Chungking attack is about 7 days away.

Various Chinese forces, that are not surrounded, are being reduced.

[Spidery]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: Spidery
What is the secret for getting night naval attacks? I don't seem to be able to manage them.

They do seem tough. In no particular order I suspect the following: weather all along the route, moonlight, detection levels, leaders, size of the airbase, supplies, morale, enemy air strength, air hqs, air frame, size of the target task force. Questionable: does the search planes fly from the same airbase.

heck, with advanced weather on my planes have a tough time finding ships during the daylight![:D]

Weather is a big problem for all night attacks as you only get 1 phase to have good weather instead of two.

His attacks were with Catalinas which gives the advantage that they can search and attack. However, I have tried it with Mavis as well without luck.

I think one big factor may be range both from the search craft and for the attack craft.

[Lowpe]

The longer the range, the more chance bad weather can impact the attack. At least according to the manual.

I lost an CL to a magazine explosion...they seem prone to them.

[Spidery]

October 21st 1942

Air Losses: 5 Japanese, 10 Allied, 1 Pilots
Japanese occupy:
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:
Allies land at:

Pacific

A sub layed mine at Lunga sinks the DMS Hovey.

4 Catalinas attack a supply convoy unloading at Kwajalein and 2 Petes and 2 Zeroes manage to shoot 2 of them down.

What looks like a bombardment group is spotted South of Rossel Island.

A sub manages to shoot down an Anson.

It is no wonder my aerial ASW is ineffective:

Ki-49-IIa Helen from 90th Sentai attacking an Allied DD at 102,124

I think you need your eyes checked[:D], that is a sub not a destroyer.

Burma

An Allied unit has entered one of my hexes in the jungle.

China

Concentrating on Tsuyung airfield, damage is now 25.

A Hudson taking supplies to Tsuyung is shot down by an Oscar on LRCAP from Kunming.

5 days before the first attack at Chungking: will have 12 divisions, 7 engineering regiments, 26 artillery units available for about 200,000 stacking in a 160,000 SL hex. Should I bombard the day before or no?

5 additional divisions will arrive in the following weeks to cycle out the most heavily damaged divisions.

Also have another 10 artillery units heading there and will arrive in 2 weeks.

Australia

I-26 puts two torpedoes into TK Genota near Perth but one duds and the tanker looks like it will survive.

Engineering

Langsa to 2. Allies expand Taberfane to 3.

R&D

Quiet

Kawasaki(early) engine pool is exhausted, Ki-32 production stops.

CV Repairs

CV Hiryu is at Manila with 22/6/2 damage, 18 days needed to finish fixing system damage, and 15 days of upgrade due - is it worth moving it to a shipyard now?

CV Zuihaku is at Ulithi with 48/5/16 damage and some weapons damage, 71 days to fix system and minor engine damage. At what point is it worth moving it to somewhere better?

CV Junyo and Akagi are 3 days from finishing repairs at Yokohama. The rest of the carriers are at sea.

[Lowpe]

Regarding damaged carriers the Hiryu is probably good I don't see you saving a lot of total time sailing her to a better shipyard...unless she is headed for that region.

At Ulithi, I would feel comfortable moving her at cruise speed depending a little on local sub threats...as long as she is well escorted.

No advice on China bombardment. How many guns do the Chinese have?

[Spidery]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Regarding damaged carriers the Hiryu is probably good I don't see you saving a lot of total time sailing her to a better shipyard...unless she is headed for that region.

At Ulithi, I would feel comfortable moving her at cruise speed depending a little on local sub threats...as long as she is well escorted.

No advice on China bombardment. How many guns do the Chinese have?

Thanks lowpe,

There is no shipyard at Manila (it was trashed in the attack) so I need to get to a shipyard for the upgrade and to fix major damage.

I have seen no Allied subs around Ulithi so the only likely risk would be those in transit. There are very few subs operating against the resource convoys. So far I have seen 1 sub near South Formosa, two or three between Formosa and Japan, 1 or 2 on the route from Japan to Truk and 1 operating North of Japan. If I head to Singapore I will be moving through waters in which I have seen no subs.

I think he has about 800 guns but most of these will be AA or AT. One of the ART units and one of the AT units has been destroyed. My experience is that artillery out of supply does very little damage in counter-battery fire. I'm concerned that I will be giving his troops experience. The good defenders should all be at national experience level, which I think is 45 for Chinese. I normally like to bombard for one turn because of the increase in supply demand it forces so that the follow up attack is against forces partially out of supply. However, most of his defenders will be at zero supply anyway.

Game is on hold for a week as I am away from home and without the computer with the game on it.

[Spidery]

October 22nd 1942

Air Losses: 2 Japanese, 9 Allied, 1 Pilots
Japanese occupy:
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:
Allies land at:

Pacific

Betties launch a night strike against cruisers at Lunga. With no escort, some turn back in the face of fierce CAP, however 15 push on and the CAP is unable to get in to position to prevent the attack. All 15 approach and launch torpedoes, and ... all miss[:@]. Do Betties/Nells ever score hits?

SS S-38 is spotted in the Rossel Island base and a DD scores a hit with a Type 95 DC. A sub is spotted in the Milne Bay base, is he mining my ports? Suddenly realise I have no minesweepers left in the South Pacific.

Burma

Quiet but lots of Allied units now moved into my hexes in the Jungle.

Burma reinforcements.

I reckon to have the 6th Division arrive by sea in about 3 weeks and am diverting the 53rd division to get there in about 4 weeks. The 63rd Division is at Saigon and marching there, will take another 7 weeks to get there. The 2nd and 1st Tank are going to try and blast their way through Tsuyung and Paoshan but it will take them at least 9 weeks, they will be followed closely by the 24th and 27th divisions and a pile of artillery. I have an unrestricted independent brigade at Kunming that I can fly its lighter parts over and the rest will have to slog through the jungle.

After that, it will depend how the battle of Chungking goes.

China

Same old.

Australia

More heavy bombing of Darwin airbase. I need to get some supply in by fast transport. This should be straightforward but I don't trust the way the game plays enough to risk this.

Engineering

Allied expands exciting spots such as Vancouver.

R&D

A6M5c to 2/44

[Spidery]

October 23rd 1942

Air Losses: 16 Japanese, 7 Allied, 14 Pilots
Japanese occupy:
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:
Allies land at:

Pacific

Catalinas try a night attack on task force at Rossel Island, Zeroes on CAP are ineffective but no hits scored.

Helens claim hits on a sub near Rabaul and sub sunk sounds are heard later[:)]. Intel claims this as the SS Porpoise but the air crew claimed it as the O16.

Burma

Quiet

China

Air attack at Tsuyung goes badly as some Lightnings appear on CAP and the sweep, from Kunming, goes in after the bombers from Kweiyang[:(]. Most of the losses are obsolete Lilies but lost a lot of bomber pilots despite having forces in the hex.

Australia

No attacks this turn

Engineering

Oosthaven to 3, Soerabaja to 8, Shwebo to 4. Allies expand Fenton to 5 and Tulagi port to 2.

R&D

Quiet