Pacific Debut - PetrOs (A) vs Arto K (J), no Arto K please

[PetrOs]

ORIGINAL: pontiouspilot

Your opponent will be gun shy after the 2 amphib ambush fiascos. If you "get in the head" of most Jap players early on with a couple lucky intercepts it can greatly change the complexion of the game. The Japanese can ill afford those early infantry/marine casualties.

I hope so! Its my plan - hit and fade ops until I can match the KB at least. Then I would probably jump to Marianas (thats why I want him to go other direction by luring him to Burma) or along New Guinea, or maybe Kuriles hopping. When I can get 6 US and 2-3 british carriers in one TF (+CVEs), it would likely change. But now, I use the best way to fight the japanese Octopus - hit him on its arms if he sticks them out too far.

[PetrOs]

Just some news
Its 27th of December, and we had some sync trouble. In my replays, the Chinese take Tsingkiang already 3 times, but looks like now its final, as the turn save shows Tsingkiang in my hands. Not for long, but about 100 killed jap squads, and damage to industry and manpower is probably worth it.

Else, he seems to have found a way to sweep my ship streams. Zeros at 100 feet strafing sunk 3 AKLs, but not without bad loss for them. Each japanese zero pilot dead is good now. Nells tried to go in at 100 feet too, but do it vs MLs in Batavia. I had a large cap of british and dutch fighters there, so not a single of 12 nells returned to Singkawang, for no losses to the cap. SLDR McKenzie of the 488th Squadron, the top and only ace of mine, downed two. He's now at 7 kills.

I am trying to get the only P40 squadron which is not reassignable to other HQ in the Philippines to try and lay a bomber trap over Manila and Clark, there are dozens of unescorted bombers there, only escort I saw for some turns were 9-12 Zeroes, coming quite late each turn. With Clark and Manila AFs down, I now got them to Bataan, which is size 1. So set them at CAP, 100%, max altitude, allowing to leach to neighbour hexes.

Trying mobile fighter patrols in China. Last turn a clash of 8 I-153s and 5 Hawk 75s with 12 Nates and lots of Sonias occured, trading one Sonia on one I153, with 2 Nates and 2 Sonias gone on ops. Not bad. I plan to upgrade AVG guys to P38Es and Lancers, to get the H81s to the chinese... In a few days, some free P40 and Aircobra squads arrive in CONUS, and will be shipped to India via Capetown, most likely to move on to China. I guess downing nates and sonias there is now easier to get rid of their aces, before they upgrade to armored helens, nicks, and tojos.

[PetrOs]

Its a new year eve, and lots has happened
Singapore gone. Most of the troops are however out.
Moulmein also gone, with japs showing up close to Pegu, trying to cut the RR. I move 1st Burma div in cover, while railing all out to Shwebo and then marching to Assam. Depending on what he got, I will or will not fight for Mandalay. If only Thais, then I will. My defensive line will be in Assam. I plan to do some stiff defence there. Each base will have 1 or 2 brigades in it, fully fortified. At least 1 BF, 1 AA and if possible 1 light armor and/or ART will be in each hex, too. 18 British, 1 Burma Divs and 254 Armor Bde would be in reserve, sitting in key points on the railroad, in Strat mode. 6th and 7th Australian divs would join that battlegroup too. I would try to get all dot bases also covered against Paratroops. I hope to use burmese batallions to replace some more useful troops in garrisons. Several US fighter units are moving in to Cape town, they will instantly deploy to Assam afterwards. I plan to make an interleaved CAP there, by at least 1 sqdn at each base. AVG would upgrade to Lancers and P38s for high altitude sweeping, while Hurricanes, Buffalos, Wildcats, P39 and P40 would care about CAP. I might move some ex-Philippines P40E units there, too. These are rested in Batavia, and are rather skilled by now, and have range with drop tanks to go there from DEI over Sabang.

Cocos islands are being reinforced, I plan to assemble an indian division there in a few turns, when the last, blasted brigade would reach it. With reinforcements, it should be able to hold an attack by all but at least one ID. The plan is to use 1 full ID, 1 separate brigade, and some AA, ART, CD and BF units there. If they get enough time for forts building, it would be good.

Port Blair was bombed first time. It has 2 brigades plus 3rd underway, 4 BFs, 1 ENG and AA units. 2 more AA (light and heavy) are being shipped by AMCs on fast transport.

Bad news is - he made 2 deliberate attacks in Clark. He got forts down to 1, even if he lost 8k men in each attack, I lost about 2k men in each. I however fear its not long any more. I now move several units from Manila to Clark, would probably abandon Manila at all...

He bombs Palembang now, with 1 CVL, 2 or 3 BBs, some CAs and CLs near Singkawang, probably invasion cover force. I however forced him out of Singkawang by 4E bombing - all my B17s and LB30 are flying out of Soerabaya. I killed about 15 his planes (Zeros, Nells and Sallys) on the ground, and 5-6 more Zeros and Claudes shot down in the air, only 5 fighters are now reported for the base, probably damaged ones. I did not lost a single plane there. I will bomb that base to oblivion now, to get experience. If he takes Palembang, I will blast it, too.

Is it actually better to target Oil or Manpower, to get better results?

KB is now near Guam, it was spotted by my sub, but it did not penetrate the screen, the torp hits on DD were dud anyways.... Would it go towards PH or Wake, or rather towards Solomons from there...

1 regiment just landed in Noumea, one more in Suva, to provide basic defences.

Aleutian first wave deployment is nearly done. 1 IR in DH, 1 IR in Amchitka, 1 Mountain IR in Umnak, 1 Bat+1 big TankBat in Adak, and 1 Mot Reg in Attu (3 days to be there actually). BFs, CD, ART, Eng and AA units are either there or in progress. Some P39/P40/P36 units will deploy there soon, Cats are moving in.

[PetrOs]

Is it actually interesting what I write? Anyone's reading?

Its 7th of January, a month is done. In the last few turns, some major action happened or is ongoing.

Pacific: He is trying to go for Wake. Now, KB is making goulash of my defense positions there. I have around 120 AV behind forts level 3, so not much damage is actually done. KB is 4-5 hexes to the north of it, while an invasion+BB force are standing several hexes to the south. I am going to take my risk, and my 3 carriers are being smuggled to strike the invasion, then run flank before KB can react. My TF is not yet detected.... He seems to have only 4 carriers there (have not seen Sho+Zui squadrons on bombing runs), so even if he reacts, I might have a chance to kill something before sunk. Of course, Ill flank out if spotted.

Burma - he taken Pegu with no resistance, I pulled back to Shwebo, to build forts there (now already 3) and would stand there behind a river... He started runs on Port Blair, so I moved 2 veteran P-40E squads there last turn for great effect. They butchered 14 Oscars, and 4 each Betties and Sallies. I have lots of engineers, so now no more damage remaining on the base, so it can be built. 3 Brigades there, plus NS dutch regiment in progress. One more Hurricane IIb squadron should unload from transport there. somehow, it did not unload last turn, despite being docked. Can it be that port size 2 is too small to unload planes?

Cocos islands are topped up with troops for good. 4 Brigades, BFs are there, 1 dutch Barisan regiment, Australian CD and more BFs are underway. I plan to pick up several more dutch regiments and place them on Cocos.

1 more turn and I get Australian division switched, it'd go to either Rabaul or PM. Australian Cav brigade, NZ engineers and US BF are soon to land in Lunga.

NorPac - all defense troops are deployed, they are now digging in. Despite winter time, forts are doing good progress, and airfields are slowly erecting.

Tom Lynch recovered enough to join his squadron. As he was leaving, he was not able to find Maria for last good bye, so when he moved to the woody spot near the town, which was used as a provisional airfield, he was in a grave set of mind. However, as he entered an old rusty Fokker trimotor, he was very surprised seeing Maria there, together with some walking wounded whom she was supervising. As the old plane started, and flew in just few meters over water, they were attacked by an Oskar, which killed one of the Filipino pilots and injured another. Tom scrambled to the cockpit, and grabbed the controls before it was too late, then nearly an hour of cat and mouse game with the japanese fighters. Nose engine was gone, one wing was shortened by a few inches, but they made it to Tarakan. He rejoined his squadron straggler section in Sabang, being jealous for the big hunt his buddies had over Port Blair. He also made arrangements to get Maria reassigned to their squadron's medical team.

Rajiv's division was busy. Trench digging, pillbox construction, tank obstacles - lots of physical work. His section was growing more mature, and the men's mood was much better since the new commander came. He got a good touch to the men, being real father figure to most recruits, and was good tactician, apparently.

John got some news that some of the Gamble mines sunk a sub near Wake

[Lokasenna]

I think you'll see a lot of lurkers, but not a lot of posting unless there are pretty pictures and exciting battles.

I think Cocos is a good place to hold against Arto. He is very deliberate, and if you reinforce there (as you have) you can probably make him pay given the large stacking level and atoll status of the base. He came for the islands very late in our game and hasn't taken them yet.

[BBfanboy]

I'm reading too, but during the initial onslaught there is not much to comment on that has not already been said in other AARs.
You seem to be doing the right things - saving key units and partial units while risking attacks/defence here and there to keep him from
too many free conquests.

Keep it up![:)]

[PetrOs]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

I think you'll see a lot of lurkers, but not a lot of posting unless there are pretty pictures and exciting battles.

I think Cocos is a good place to hold against Arto. He is very deliberate, and if you reinforce there (as you have) you can probably make him pay given the large stacking level and atoll status of the base. He came for the islands very late in our game and hasn't taken them yet.

I think Cocos is a good place to hold against Arto. He is very deliberate, and if you reinforce there (as you have) you can probably make him pay given the large stacking level and atoll status of the base. He came for the islands very late in our game and hasn't taken them yet.

Thanks for the info! I really hope to make him pay dearly in this case, and also keep it as a stepping stone for Java reconquest. My final plan is to place many dutch guys there, as long as no overstacking will happen. If I will have time, all other dutch will also be evacuated, probably to Diego Suarez, etc. They are not that bad in comparison to many commonwealth troops, especially in regards of experience (many of them 40-45, while many indians 20-30). Quite ok for island garrisons, etc. Not too good for direct frontline as no replacement squads however.

[PetrOs]

2 more turns, and its going hard on my fighters in Port Blair. He's sweeping daily with oscars at top altitude, and he lost plenty, but nearly all of my P40s and Buffaloes are damaged and not repairing fast enough. New Hurricanes are also there, but also not fast! I would probably try making my boys flying LR cap on something distant, until they recover enough planes. My forts building goes well, as after I bled some of his bombers, no more bombing happened.

My Wake counter invasion CVTF is spotted, 10/10. Despite being in range, it did not launch any strikes today ;( Looks like I need to run for my life now. Yorktown's TF is now near Johnson, and if KB will run behind Lex/Sara/Ente towards PH, I might try to slip Yorky in for some dive bombing... Risky business! He has a BB TF (or maybe its the fat convoy with support bombardment) in Wake hex, but no invasion as yet.. If i would have had more fuel on board of my carriers, I could have done a run towards Manila or NorPac to shake off KB, but they were still waiting for their fuel... I have an old AO with a few 4stacker DDs on the way, and I might sacrifice them to replenish my CVs if KB chases... Also, the screen got swapped with freshly refuelled CA/CLs but still just 4000km remaining, much less in full speed..

He is now pressing to Sian with lots of tanks and some IDs, and he crushed a chinese corps in bad terrain which was used as foreguard.

Sian however has 4k AV behind level 3 forts, and some 10 different corps and some corps spirits are coming there, too. Chinese SB-2 bombers are useless - they flew several attacks in last 5-10 days, but not a single time any reported losses from the enemy! I use 6k height and targeting troops in open...

[PetrOs]

And yes, I forgot the worst news - he landed in Palembang. According to my bombardment attack, it seems like a division there... I suppose he will take it next turn. I placed my B17 forces to stand down now, so they can rest and recover to burn Palembang next turn...

Just a question - what to aim for for max effect? Manpower? Or directly for Oil?

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: PetrOs

And yes, I forgot the worst news - he landed in Palembang. According to my bombardment attack, it seems like a division there... I suppose he will take it next turn. I placed my B17 forces to stand down now, so they can rest and recover to burn Palembang next turn...

Just a question - what to aim for for max effect? Manpower? Or directly for Oil?

You can try either Manpower or Oil. I forget which I targeted. I'm 90% sure it was Manpower.

[obvert]

Sian however has 4k AV behind level 3 forts, and some 10 different corps and some corps spirits are coming there, too. Chinese SB-2 bombers are useless - they flew several attacks in last 5-10 days, but not a single time any reported losses from the enemy! I use 6k height and targeting troops in open...

It's all about the pilots. However, you may not want to be doing much bombing with the Chinese air force just yet. It's going to be tight for supply in China no matter what, so wasting missions for no gain is going to hurt you. Pick your spots and if you need to bomb bring in Brit groups with better crews. Send the Chinese to India or far western China to train.

[LargeSlowTarget]

ORIGINAL: PetrOs

Is it actually interesting what I write? Anyone's reading?

Reading as well [:)]

Adding characters makes an AAR more entertaining.

Just one thing - there were no Germans fighting in Egypt in 1940, only Italians.

Sergeant Rajiv Singh [...]fought in Egypt in 1940's campaign, until being wounded in a hand to hand fight with 3 germans.

[PetrOs]

ORIGINAL: LargeSlowTarget

ORIGINAL: PetrOs

Is it actually interesting what I write? Anyone's reading?

Reading as well [:)]

Adding characters makes an AAR more entertaining.

Just one thing - there were no Germans fighting in Egypt in 1940, only Italians.

Sergeant Rajiv Singh [...]fought in Egypt in 1940's campaign, until being wounded in a hand to hand fight with 3 germans.

Thanks! Dang, I am a military historian and make such errors! ;( I meant early-mid 41 campaign of course...
Lets say, he's a veteran of the 3rd Indian Motor Brigade, wounded in the Meikili action on 6 April 41 There was a bayonet charge by the 18th King Edwards Own Cavalry in that action on german artillery, so all matches

[PetrOs]

Next turn, 8th of January

DEI: a good air attack. His BBs and CAs came too close to Batavia, and were attacked by my air. 1 BB got a torpedo hit, some CAs were hit by several 500lb bombs. Now the question - should I send my cruisers to chase, or no risk? My TF nearby has 2 CAs (Cornwall, Exeter), 2 more or less modern CLs (Hobart and Glasgow), 1 E-class, and 3 C class CLs, plus 1 american 4 stacker Alden, and one old british DD Stronghold. For sure, I will fly in 18 more swordfishes from Hermes, which is near Christmas Island.

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 2
Vildebeest III x 12
B-339D x 3

Allied aircraft losses
Vildebeest III: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Suzuya
CA Kumano
CA Mikuma, Bomb hits 2, on fire

Allied aircraft
Swordfish I x 4

Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish I: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo, Torpedo hits 1

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 4
Vildebeest III x 11
B-339D x 10
CW-21B Demon x 4

Allied aircraft losses
Vildebeest III: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Mogami, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CA Suzuya, Bomb hits 3, on fire

At Clark, he tried a deliberate. Got bloody nose, but also got my forts down to zero ;( I guess, one more try and its over there.

Ground combat at Clark Field (79,76)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 72157 troops, 909 guns, 669 vehicles, Assault Value = 2294

Defending force 54692 troops, 919 guns, 778 vehicles, Assault Value = 1637

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 690

Allied adjusted defense: 1639

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
4818 casualties reported
Squads: 164 destroyed, 576 disabled
Non Combat: 9 destroyed, 122 disabled
Engineers: 33 destroyed, 155 disabled
Guns lost 65 (5 destroyed, 60 disabled)
Vehicles lost 28 (5 destroyed, 23 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
2057 casualties reported
Squads: 28 destroyed, 303 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 58 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 23 disabled
Guns lost 39 (3 destroyed, 36 disabled)
Vehicles lost 16 (2 destroyed, 14 disabled)

Assaulting units:
65th Brigade
20th Ind. Engineer Regiment
47th Infantry Regiment
3rd Ind. Engineer Regiment
2nd Tank Regiment
48th Engineer Regiment
16th Infantry Regiment
21st Ind. Engineer Regiment
38th Division
1st Formosa Inf. Regiment
Sasebo 1st SNLF
16th Engineer Regiment
4th Division
7th Tank Regiment
9th Infantry Regiment
48th Recon Regiment
24th Infantry Regiment
2nd Formosa Inf. Regiment
16th Recon Regiment
4th Tank Regiment
20th Infantry Regiment
19th Ind. Engineer Regiment
1st Sasebo SNLF Coy
3rd Mortar Battalion
1st RF Gun Battalion
14th Army
18th Mountain Gun Regiment
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
48th Field Artillery Regiment
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Mortar Battalion
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
5th Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
91st PA Infantry Division
51st PA Infantry Division
11th PA Infantry Division
1st PA Constabulary Regiment
1st PA Infantry Division
4th Marine Regiment
57th PS Infantry Regimental Combat Team
194th Tank Battalion
41st PA Infantry Division
3rd/12th PA Inf Battalion
Kowloon Brigade
45th PS Infantry Regimental Combat Team
31st Infantry Regiment
21st PA Infantry Division
71st PA Infantry Division
31st PA Infantry Division
2nd PA Constabulary Regiment
14th PS Engineer Regiment
192nd Tank Battalion
26th PS Cavalry Regiment
Subic Bay Defenses
2nd PA Constblry HW Regiment
200th & 515th Coast AA Regiment
USAFFE
1st PI Base Force
Asiatic Fleet
I Philippine Corps
86th PS Coastal Artillery Battalion
PAF Aviation
II Philippine Corps
Provisional GMC Grp
Clark Field USAAF Base Force
803rd Engineer Aviation Battalion
1st USMC AA Battalion
88th PS Field Artillery Regiment
Far East USAAF
Cavite USN Base Force
301st PA Field Artillery Regiment

My cover corps stopped his battlegroup's advance in the woods south of Sian despite tanks and full ID there..

Ground combat at 84,42 (near Sian)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 11681 troops, 94 guns, 117 vehicles, Assault Value = 586

Defending force 15887 troops, 75 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 359

Japanese adjusted assault: 194

Allied adjusted defense: 577

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
485 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 18 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled

Allied ground losses:
352 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 30 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled

Assaulting units:
13th Tank Regiment
10th Tank Regiment
35th Division
11th Tank Regiment

Defending units:
36th Chinese Corps
27th Chinese Corps
5th New Chinese Corps

At Wake, my CVTF is returning to Johnson. His CVs moved a bit by about 4 hexes, from north of Wake to the East of it. My CVs are still spotted, but I have to reduce speed to normal due to fuel lack. Yorktown's TF moves to the north, towards Midway, to strike the transports in case his carriers try to chase mine.

[PetrOs]

8th January

Palembang was attacked by around 40 4engines from Batavia. It costed me dearly, as 9 B17Ds and 3 B17Es went down apparently according to aircraft losses screen. However, the difference shown in heavy bomber screen in Batavia is less?? With tracker not working in my case, I cant check... Anyways, I killed around 150 oil, and 150 refinery there, and fires are raging.... I now switched the bombers to fly by night, as I cant sustain such losses, even if these are less.

At Wake, he got bloody nosed. At first, 2 BBs (Ise/Huyga) tried to soften the landing, then his transports supported by 2 more BBs (Nagato/Mutsu) landed an infantry regiment. KB flew yet another massive raid. Then, the shock attack came at 1 to 4 ratio, and the regiment is useless - 56 squads destroyed, and about the same disabled. I still have around 60-70 AV there in 2 CD units and 1 CmbtEng unit. They got my forts down however, but unless he got much more troops standing by, its over. KB would need to reload soon, and my carriers are waiting near Midway. 3 BB+4CA bombardment group is also moving in position to react. An Inf.Regiment from PH is loading, to act as a relief force. I plan to move in the marine tank bat from San Diego there too, as long as it would not overstack.

In China, hes pushing on Sian. My delay units work well so far, holding against his hordes in good terrain...

Massive air battles at Port Blair. Maj. Tom Lynch's flight was not in the air however, and he had to watch, how his comrades got 9 oscars down, loosing 4 Warhawks, 1 Hurricane and 1 Buffalo. Hurricanes, despite being unexperienced, downed 7 of them. I paused fort building to complete airstrip level 2, so I could place more fighters there, now im at the limit and even overstacked a bit. I also move an air HQ there. 3 AA (2 heavy with 3.7"AAs, and 1 light with Bofors) regiments are nearly done with unloading the guns, and taken a good toll on his Sallies which came by night. North Sumatra dutch regiment and Medan CD unit are nearly done moving there, too. I will start ferrying other units from sumatra when I can. Currently 2 good indian brigades there (both at 105+ AV, 38 Exp both), BFF brigade (60AV and recovering, low exp at 25), and dutch regiment (70 AV there, 35 still in transports, 35 exp), plus 6 BFs, 1 CD. Air HQ is coming next turn, corps HQ would move in when my 2 AMCs fast transports would return from Air HQ run. 2 more AMCs are moving in, for fast transport duties together with CM Abdiel which just came and also could do troops movement. Next turn, 2 P-39 squads would come to Cape town, and a Hurricane to Aden, they would also go in. Lots of xAKLs are doing ferry jobs from India to PB.



Massive air battle over Batavia, which costed me 5 or 6 dutch and british fighters, and about the same number of Zeros to him. I would probably rotate the dutch out to Surabaya, and replace them with 2 crack ex-philippine US fighter units - one with Lancers, one with P40Bs. They both have great pilots inside, with many kills, and Lancers can stay above Zeroes and dive them. I also have 15 spare lancers and 35 spare P40Bs, and can get more by upgrading PH and West coast squads, while no more dutch spares there. My top ace, McKenzie, downed 2 more zeroes today, and is now at 9 kills. His squadron flies Hurries IIb now.



Rajivs' 1st burma division is digging in at Shwebo, behind the river. With 2 more brigades, it is a strong force. Its however only a small delaying action, to wait for 3 chinese corps to arrive. Arto took Rangoon now, but does not seem to have more then 2 inf and 1 cavalry regiments there. Probably not for too long I fear.

John's Saratoga is playing cat and mouse with the japs. Showing up to get the japs scared, then vanishing out of their search range, waiting to make a strike when KB would leave. With 4th carrier nearby, US CVs have about 390 planes, with around 40 fighters per CV. While not too well trained, it still could hit some japs. I have nearly twice the fighters then the KB has now, but he has much more and better punch. I would still prefer to wait for zero advantage to end before going for a battle.

[Lokasenna]

Nice raid on Palembang. You may want to consider saving the 4E's after your next raid, as he'll adjust to what you're doing and you can't afford a sustained loss rate. After mid-1942, you don't get seem to get many more B-17s until the end of the war.

As for the losses displayed vs. what you see in the groups - if you had Tracker working, it would be 100% accurate. What you see in the groups is accurate. The combat replay is subject to fog of war.

[PetrOs]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

Nice raid on Palembang. You may want to consider saving the 4E's after your next raid, as he'll adjust to what you're doing and you can't afford a sustained loss rate. After mid-1942, you don't get seem to get many more B-17s until the end of the war.

As for the losses displayed vs. what you see in the groups - if you had Tracker working, it would be 100% accurate. What you see in the groups is accurate. The combat replay is subject to fog of war.

Thanks! The tracker crashes while loading turns, and no reply for over a week in the support forum ;( If only the source code of it would be available, I would have fixed it myself, being a software developer/architect...

The B-17Ds would be phased out by attrition anyways, they would keep fighting for now however. Es are being supplied now, even if the squads are far from being full. By late 42 have B17Fs and mainly B24 to replace the remaining Ds and Es. As its PDU ON game, I can upgrade depleted B17 squads to B24 later.

Also, I deem Palembang being extremely critical for jap war effort, and I would be ready to trade in all of my 60 currently present HBs to a completely burnt down Palembang oil... repairing all those oil wells would eat millions of supplies, and not repairing them would deny lots of oil/fuel to his industry.

I also dont see too much risk on night strikes - Jap fighters are generally useless unless for some luck at night until the end of 42, main danger being the AA fire. Would monitor the losses closely, and see what I can do. I dont plan to stay too long in DEI area with my striking force for too long anyways, as I would need to destroy Magwe oil wells when and if he takes it.

[Lokasenna]

I see your post. For me, that error has always been solved by changing my batch file to look like this:

java -Xms512m -Xmx768m -jar "WitPTracker.jar"

I haven't yet had to increase those to -Xms768m -Xmx1024m, but that would be my next step... I have tried variations on this (Xms384/Xmx768, for example) but it hasn't worked. Need to bump each up at the same time, it seems.

[Lokasenna]

As for the raids...

He probably knows where you're flying from. I'd expect Batavia to be visited by bombers and/or SCTFs in the near future, if you keep up daily raids. Better to keep him guessing.

You'll also notice diminishing returns on your raids as more stuff gets damaged, so at a certain point it just won't be worth it anymore. Plus, his night CAP doesn't need to shoot any of your planes down to keep you from hitting anything.

[PetrOs]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

I see your post. For me, that error has always been solved by changing my batch file to look like this:

java -Xms512m -Xmx768m -jar "WitPTracker.jar"

I haven't yet had to increase those to -Xms768m -Xmx1024m, but that would be my next step... I have tried variations on this (Xms384/Xmx768, for example) but it hasn't worked. Need to bump each up at the same time, it seems.

As for the raids...

He probably knows where you're flying from. I'd expect Batavia to be visited by bombers and/or SCTFs in the near future, if you keep up daily raids. Better to keep him guessing.

You'll also notice diminishing returns on your raids as more stuff gets damaged, so at a certain point it just won't be worth it anymore. Plus, his night CAP doesn't need to shoot any of your planes down to keep you from hitting anything.

I tried that already, the error stays the same... Tried most combinations there in fact. Its quite limited by the fact its java 32 bit...

Soerabaja is covered by POW, a dozen cruisers and 18 destroyers, so surface battle has some good chances. A fat minefield is there too. He does not yet have bases from where he can escort in the bombers, and unescorted ones are welcome... I would be switching the base soon however, make him guessing is a good idea.