Turnaround? Lowpe (J) vs Tiemanj (A) Stock

[Lowpe]

And to think, if the Americans would have run straight east on day 1 all his ships would have been safe (except for the submarines)...sometimes you can be too clever.

Better one or two sub attacks than carrier strikes...

[Lowpe]

The planes and pilots are pushed to their breaking point in the harsh winter weather, and the IJN calls off a second afternoon strike...despite the Judy-c sending in exact location of the cruisers (I love that plane)...

And now we need to decide if we stick around to finish off the cripples...perhaps it is time to send in surface ships and allow the KB some much need r&r. They have earned it.[:)] Plus, I have no idea where the other American CVs are, and my planes & pilots are in no shape to take them on although I don't think he has the planes to staff them unless he uses the survivors from the recent clashes here.

Elsewhere in the Empire, only a small 4e raid on Jaluit's port occur, and Magwe is spared while the Allies recon other airbases in Burma...

A minor battle in China, and a minor victory destroying 40 infantry squads and forcing a retreat. However, the Chinese actually bombard at Kweiyang and cause 1 disablement which is fine as it uses up his supplies.

[Lowpe]

Kamikazes:

I have 0 experience with the endgame. I have always meant to play some downfall, but have never really started.

Early on, I took Obvert's advice about the Myojo. Now, I have over 500 engines of the Ha-33, and it looks like I have way too much invested in Myojo, since I can only convert 2 units to the Myojo! This is all my fault for not being thorough.[:(]

Once a squadron of kamikazes fly -- is the unit totally destroyed needing PP points to be rebuilt? Or is highly unlikely the entire squadron flies and can be reinforced normally, and used again, and again?

I will have the Myojo available for use sometime in 43, and the only units are available in 1/45. I really messed up on this guys.[X(]

I guess I have a few factories that are now open to other planes...[:D]

[Lowpe]

Nov 5th, 1942

Allies unleash their 4es: Moulmein, Mandalay, Rabaul. He flies planes into Ambon, which I have been bombing daily for months on the backburner and they shoot down some supply planes, and he gets a CAP up China to down some planes (they were escorted by Tojo, but not enough).

So a tough day in the Air. I need to speed up my plans for Rabaul...troops are on the way but it will be a while yet.

Other than that a fairly quiet day given the recent fireworks. Subs sink another cargo ship off Perth...

[Spidery]

Don't understand your problem with the Myojo. You are playing PDU ON?

Different scenario, but every DB group I look at seems able to upgrade to it. Only problem is that it is not CV capable.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Spidery

Don't understand your problem with the Myojo. You are playing PDU ON?

Different scenario, but every DB group I look at seems able to upgrade to it. Only problem is that it is not CV capable.

You are right! I must have had my tracker filters set wrong or something. Woo..I am glad.

Doubly glad that I always wait a couple of days before making plane moves...that would have been embarrassing.[:D]

[Lowpe]

Nov 6, 1942

Cleanup in the Kuriles, I boat finishes of two cripples.

Other than that, a very quiet day with 4E only visiting Mandalay.

Lilly DB factory is repaired...should start making them one month early.

[Lokasenna]

Nice job. However, from the air losses on that day, only one CV went down (Enterprise, from your combat report). It's possible that all the planes simply diverted to his Kurile base, but I don't know about that as there are no planes sighted there on your turn.

So it's possible that Saratoga is alive, or perhaps sunk on the next day before your search patterns went out.

[CaptBeefheart]

Great turnaround, sir! I am surprised at the Allied aggressiveness, and you've handled it well. Kind of like aikido.

Do you think you could put a couple of screens of sunk ships, showing CA losses on up?

Thanks,
CC

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

Nice job. However, from the air losses on that day, only one CV went down (Enterprise, from your combat report). It's possible that all the planes simply diverted to his Kurile base, but I don't know about that as there are no planes sighted there on your turn.

So it's possible that Saratoga is alive, or perhaps sunk on the next day before your search patterns went out.

I feel comfortable it went down. The planes most likely couldn't fly to the base in the Kuriles since it has horrendous airfield damage from constant bombardments (often three groups a day). Attu is 13 hexes from the engagement...and the victory point jump points to 2 CV going down. Also the combat replay also points to it.

But you never really know.

Total damage to Saratoga was 3 torpedo hits, and 4 bomb hits. I doubt she could go that fast, and subsequent search hasn't spotted her.

[Lowpe]

Big ship losses. I really screwed up losing the Zuikaku, and also the Ise stopped their bombardment run 2 hexes short...

[Lowpe]

CA losses, too heavy...

[Lowpe]

The North is pretty darn empty right now...I don't see how Saratoga could have gotten away. She had the identical damage done to her that finished off Enterprise (4 bombs, 3 torpedoes).

[Lowpe]

I graduated my first 60 trained Army bomber pilots in the technique of naval bombing. They have been training up in Idas, but next month they will be assigned to the Lilly IIb dive bombers that will start to roll off the assembly lines.

The great thing about the Lilly IIB, is the ease with which you can train up the pilots, as opposed to the Peggy T, where you need to wait for the planes before you can start training in NavT.

If only I would have had two Sentai of the Lilly IIb either in defense of the Kuriles, the Marshalls, the Solomons, or in Java. Vals have done good work in the Solomons & off Java, didn't have the range for the Marshalls, and I couldn't get any to the Kuriles.

My goal is to have 5 sentai of Lilly IIbs.

I really am banking a lot of future defense on this plane. I bet I won't be disappointed.

Overall, next month is exciting with the advent of the Nick KAIb version, the Dinah KAI fighter, the Lilly IIb. I plan on building all three and will probably be happy with the Lilly, disappointed with the Dinah, and mixed with the Nick. But, I could be wrong.[:)]

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

Nice job. However, from the air losses on that day, only one CV went down (Enterprise, from your combat report). It's possible that all the planes simply diverted to his Kurile base, but I don't know about that as there are no planes sighted there on your turn.

So it's possible that Saratoga is alive, or perhaps sunk on the next day before your search patterns went out.

Your post so scared me, I went back and double checked ground losses amongst the SBD-3s.

Now, on Nov 7th, there are 397 SBD-3 losses, with an additional 40 or so ground losses and an additional 17 ground losses for the F4F post carrier engagement...so the Saratoga had to go down after the carrier engagement.

I feel better now.[:)]

I really need to retire the KB from the area...the planes fatigue levels are incredibly high even with 30% rest, this fighting in the winter seas is for the reckless and stupid....

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Commander Cody

Great turnaround, sir! I am surprised at the Allied aggressiveness, and you've handled it well. Kind of like aikido.

Do you think you could put a couple of screens of sunk ships, showing CA losses on up?

Thanks,
CC

Thanks.[:)]

I get a little sad looking at all my losses, this has been such a horrendously aggressive and bloody war and to a degree I am not used to that at this point...but I have asked a lot of the Navy and used them very very hard. Better to use them now, especially the light cruisers when they have an advantage in battle, than later against ugly Fletcher task forces.

Gradually IJN will be pulled back and the defense will rely more and more upon the air forces augmented by the Navy.

Allies have lost close to 100 destroyers, and I really wish I had the fuel to support some long range raids which have to be under escorted....I would even consider an air raid on Seattle air facilities for example -- probably wouldn't get there but it could be really spectacular.

Given Allied losses in BBs, I am trying to really develop the atolls to make them quite painful...or at least last long enough for good counter strikes with the KB and planes.

[Lowpe]

I believe I am going to take advantage of the recent carrier fight to get the Kagi and Akagi their 7/42 AA upgrades. 21 days out of action.

I am not too sure about this though. The ships will lose their big 20cm guns and and replace them with 20mm or 25mm -- not a good trade in my book...but I need to do the upgrade to unlock later upgrades which I do want.

The other option would be to get the air groups back up to snuff and do something with the KB, however that would eat precious fuel which is definitely in short supply...

I am undecided, and don't really need to make a decision for 3-4 days yet.

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

I believe I am going to take advantage of the recent carrier fight to get the Kagi and Akagi their 7/42 AA upgrades. 21 days out of action.

I am not too sure about this though. The ships will lose their big 20cm guns and and replace them with 20mm or 25mm -- not a good trade in my book...but I need to do the upgrade to unlock later upgrades which I do want.

The other option would be to get the air groups back up to snuff and do something with the KB, however that would eat precious fuel which is definitely in short supply...

I am undecided, and don't really need to make a decision for 3-4 days yet.

Do you have anything capable of making a landing somewhere? Is he weak anywhere on your perimeter? If so... I might try a spoiling action with the KB, since he's weak on CVs for the next 6 months. You don't even need to do it right now. You could wait. And you may not even need to land somewhere. But a raid on somewhere he's building up, sinking some more shipping and chewing up his aircraft pools a little bit, could do you a lot of strategic good.


RE: my previous post - I just wanted you to be sure [:)]. From the screenshot you posted of the air losses on the day immediately following, it doesn't look to me that two CVs went down. SBD, and particularly TBF, losses are far too low. Unless they landed on another American CV within range...

[Lowpe]

I have no clue where Hornet, Wasp and Yorktown are. A normal opponent would protect them, but then again this isn't normal.

I think there are three possible areas for a major attack: one is western Oz, Ceylon, or India. Port Moresby is already on my list and is more denial than anything else.

It will be another full month to clean up Java, perhaps even 6 weeks and that would free up 10 divisions, a ton of artillery and would coincide nicely with the new air frames coming on line. And I need the Art at Rangoon...

I need to capture oil, fuel or supplies to make any attack worthwhile.

[Lowpe]

Burma:

The Allied 4Es are pretty much bouncing around trying to devastate the Japanese air force or what is left of it in this area, as opposed to bombing Magwe. Perhaps this is good sportsmanship on Tiemanj's part, maybe we have a house rule on it that I don't know about, but he has bombed the oil only once so far. Perhaps, he is content to milk victory points by nailing my air force.

In this game, Japan doesn't have the huge extra stockpile of oil...

There are ten large gun AA units in Magwe, but even with all that, they cannot actually shoot down more than 1 or 2 bomber per heavy strike. Damage them yes, but kill them no. I am moving up two more AA regiments.

Magwe's airfield is repaired back to 60 percent, but other fields are suffering.

Other Notes:

I am sending two Tone class CAs on a run to raid convoys far off Perth...they seem to be lightly escorted, and I think there is little chance of running into a Carrier there with Hermes recently damaged.

American PT boats show up at both Tarawa and Makin.

A large sentai of Vals now fly out of Xmas Island 10, making any effort at Tjilatjap all the more perilous for the Allies.

The CVE Chuyo arrives in two days, and will eventually join the mini KB.

Two days for the first deliberate attack on Batavia.