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

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

Isn't the KAI Dinah a night fighter? Why have it on daytime CAP?

The night fighter is the Ki-46 III KAI Dinah. This one is a normal fighter.

However, it has pretty much failed at every role I had foreseen for them, with the exception of being a dedicated night fighter with 10% CAP or rear area bomber protection.

[Lowpe]

I don't often use 30percent CAP rating, I go higher with a rest percentage too.

However, thanks to radar, this unit yesterday survived the lightning sweeps (actually downing 3) and then engaged the bombers following and splashed three of them.

And despite all the action, and losing 4 planes themselves, their morale is still good.

Should I adopt the 30 percent CAP where I have strong radars?

[ny59giants]

I mainly use 40% CAP and 20% Rest. This seems to keep numbers up for prolonged A2A battles. Maybe go up to 50% CAP and 20% Rest depending on the number of strike typically encountered.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

I mainly use 40% CAP and 20% Rest. This seems to keep numbers up for prolonged A2A battles. Maybe go up to 50% CAP and 20% Rest depending on the number of strike typically encountered.

Thanks. I will give it a try.

Mostly, I want to minimize sweep damage and still have planes to hit the bombers coming over. A heavy CAP percentage usually means stronger performance against the sweepers, but batters the squadrons so heavily that there is little left for the bombers and their morale is shot.

To counter the wave after wave of night bombing runs that the Allies like to use, I simply put a squadron on 10 percent cap very low. This works well, since they can't climb to engage his 30,000 foot bomber sweeps, but is low enough to really disrupt the low altitude bombing runs without losing too many planes.

[Lowpe]

Turn is away, and the IJA is attacking the Chindits again, more planes to the rear area Burma fields. The Dinah sweep did tell me that his CAP is very high, and now I have accumulated 2 full squadrons of low naval Helens, plus 3 squadrons of Betties, and can fly in another 50 Kates not to mention 100 dive bombers in the area. Ramree is getting 5K supplies and my airbases are pristine once again. So I can pull the trigger on a pretty big attack at Akyab if I choose to, and the airfields don't get trashed this turn.

The KAI Dinah squadron will get splintered and sent to 3 bases to provide night time CAP at 10% freeing up better fighters for daytime duty.

I am beefing up Kusaie Island with a full infantry divison...they left Rabaul and should be there shortly. Mini KB is in the area along with a BB Group providing cover and then it is on to the Port Moresby invasion. I would hate to lose Kusaie while I am taking Port Moresby.

[Lowpe]

Feb 2, 1943

Smoke curled up lazily into the cloudy skies. To fight in such circumstances perturbed General Sakurai --a widely respected military genius, but a driver of men and not a leader. And his division, the elite 33rd Division, was not in as good shape as the junior division, the 2nd, led by the upstart Colonel Hilda. Hilda was always exhorting his men with talks, while Sakurai focused on the real work - troop movements, flanking, communications, plans.

And in this case, the attack on Tuang Gyi, Sakurai liked the results. The Chindits had parachuted in and managed to take the town but only with the help of another parachute unit the 503rd -- Americans.

It took a week to dislodge the pesky Chindits, but only a day to knock out the Americans. Casualties had been exceedingly light while the paratroopers suffered heavily. And now they where in the jungle without supplies suffering some more. Good!

The 2nd Division would pursue, elements of a 3rd Yokosuka SNLF would secure the town for a little while, and Sakurai would be off for the real battle at Prome and Rangoon. Sakurai was tightening the noose around the Allied forces in southern Burma according to plan. His plan.

When the rain came, in torrential sheets of water, Sakurai only smiled. Let the Allies come, let them overextend themselves. Sakurai was waiting, and planning.

[Lowpe]

No night Allied bombing runs.

No allied day bombing runs. This is the second or third day of rest. Something is up. Moonlight very low.

Burma...lots of things to do here. Several bases have no detection levels on them. Ramree is resupplied and has no detection level.

Allied troops moving in the open...

Akyab is inviting...

45th Recce is in the jungle up against 750 AV of fresh troops....

2 Chinese Divisions, weak are in Shwebo....

Decisions.[:)]

[Lowpe]

5th Air Division, Headquarters, Magwe. Feb 2, 1943. Commanding officer: Lt. General Ohara.

Magwe's generous runways bristled with planes. Close to 350. Armored Helens refueled and rearmed for the raid on Akyab's port on the morrow. Tojo's and Zeroes were in position. The pilots were ready.

Near bye airfield's hosted swarms of fighters. Each was at their capacity. None over. A new standard operating procedure was in place, more reliance upon the new radar sets allowed more pilots to stay on the ground awaiting the enemy. Would it work?

Finally, Burma had gone from a neglected backwater with a handful of combat units to a bristling arsenal. Planes, ships, and men flowed into Burma by road, rail, ship, and plane. The Allies have had their way here for too long. The victorious armies of Java had arrived.

Tomorrow, barring a huge Allied night strike (and lousy weather), the Empire would strike back!

[Lowpe]

I am heartened to see yesterday a big increase of oil at Fusan. I decided to add another 2000 unit tanker to pull the oil from Fusan to the home islands.

Now, if only I could get more fuel into Manchuko and Korea....dropping some off in Shanghai. But soon, the HI will scream more fuel...

The last Val factory shut down...they converted into fighter research. Judy should become operational in 2 days.

Troops started loading for Port Moresby...Katherine abandoned. Australia in full scale retreat....but heavy volume of radio traffic at Sydney, Adak twice. More ships to the North Pacific...would he invade in the winter?

[Lowpe]

Feb 3, 1943

No night time air strikes.

The Allies launch their rested bombers at the Imperial Guards Division, dug in the jungle, east of Prome. They are facing off against a 1000 allied afvs.[X(]

The Lightning sweep comes first over Toungo and down go 10 Zeroes and Tojos, but with the new settings other fighters take their places (albeit not many) and manage to inflict some damage on the bombers...actually kind of impressed the fighters got there at all since they were flying from Magwe and Pegu areas.

The Allied attack just misses a 1-3, and gets a 1-2. However, since the Allies are almost all tanks the losses inflicted are disappointing. ART is still several days away...If he has the supply he can force me out of this hex by grinding tanks attacks.

Disappointingly, the big air attack by the Empire was grounded. Sigh. Detection on
Magwe is only 1 out of 10. Might have to hit the airfield there and not the port to support the Imperial Guards. Ships are on their way to bombard, taking a circuitous route to avoid the Allied pt boat swarm.

IJA forces take another city in the Changsha pocket, inflicting large losses on the Chinese again. No supply for them.

Everything is spotted 10/10 at Rabaul. First time he has overflown it in a while. The KB, the Invasion fleet, etc. Expect fireworks in the Marshalls.

[Lowpe]

Burma...near Prome.

Allied armored thrust, 1000 afvs, supported by an American Infantry division are pushing east from Prome into the Imperial Guards Division. Massive bomber strikes hit them yesterday, but the Guards held.

South east of Prome four heavy artillery units will arrive today, in time for an attack on the 35th Recce unit...right behind them is the 1st Tank Division, 4 Armored units, AA and tons of Artillery.

Two infantry divisions are in reserve, and one may go with some artillery to Toungoo, although if the Guards fail to hold the Allied mechanized thrust will most likely stay on the road and head north east towards Magwe. Two armored units are heading down that road to support the Guards...

The Empire's air forces are hitting Akyab, most on the airfield there, while fresh fighters will strive to protect the Imperial Guards. A night strike is ordered on the Prome airfields...which house a lot of Allied fighters.

The Navy has sortied, after hitting Rangoon yesterday, with 4 CA, 2CLs, and 11 DD to circle around and hit Akyab...another surface group is leaving Singers with 2 BB, 2CA, CL and destroyers. They will swing wide and look to come at Akyab from the Indian Ocean.

Can the Japanese Army stem the tide...will reinforcements, especially artillery and AT guns reach the front fast enough? Can the air force achieve air superiority or failing that get some good licks in? Can the Navy close Akyab?

Stay tuned for these answers and others...the fate of the Empire hangs in the balance!

[Lowpe]

Economic notes:

I dropped 10,000 units of fuel at Shanghai, and presto, bango, it all showed up at Fusan. So I have started drawing fuel down just a little at Fusan again.

Oil, fuel and resources seem to flow nicely out of Saigon, Cam Ranh Bay, and bases along the Chinese coast...so I will start dumping everything out of Singers into Saigon and Cam Ranh Bay. Hopefully it won't go sneak back to Singers...

I have managed to operate in China without dumping in any supplies, but now with increased air activity in closing the Changsha pocket, I am sending over some supplies...I don't feel so starved right now, I just crossed the 4,000,000 level. 100 days to add a million supplies...

In China we added 10 more light industry to the empire! Things continue to go very well here. Circled are upcoming attacks...

[CaptBeefheart]

Wow, some epic fighting going on. Do you reckon that armored column near Prome is well supplied? If so, the supply must come from Akyab. Personally, I've never sent Allied troops that far without securing Ramree as a supply hub first.

Cheers,
CC

[Lowpe]

Feb 4, 1942

Will wonders never cease....Betties flying from Bangkok at night actually hit the airfields at Prome and Akyab damaging planes (they must be truly over loaded) and runways! Including some Lightnings.[:)]

No other night attacks, but then during the day massive dogfights over the Imperial Guards Division, dug in the jungle facing over 1000 AFVs of the Allies east of Prome.

The P40k came first, and then the bombers. In addtion, bombers hit Magwe and Moulmein. No Lightning sweeps.

The Japanese fighters penetrate the bombing runs, causing some significant damage on Allied bombers for the day, and more importantly protect the Imperial Guards Division from all but the last wave of bombers (62 B25c's [X(]) -- but that wave only does 40 casualties. Job well done fighters!

But is it enough, can the Imperial Guard Division hold fast? 1,000 AFVs struggle thru the jungle assaulting their position. Additional Allied forces are racing to reinforce...

[Lowpe]

In bitter hand to hand fighting, the Imperial Guards Division makes their stand. 50 Allied vehicles are disabled or destroyed! The Guards hold fast.

South of the Guards, the counter attacking force is getting ready to head for Prome. If I pull the trigger now, it won't be the massive attack on Prome I had envisioned since the 1st Tank Division is south of Pegu right now and all the artillery isn't there yet, but I would have a 2-1 advantage in vehicles, guns, and better in infantry if the recon is to be believed.

If I start all that maneuvering what will the Allies do?

[Lowpe]

West of Prome, the surface bombardment group is spotted by Allied naval search. This is a powerful group, but if the Allies repeat past strategies they will sortie their battleship and cruisers to protect Akyab.

Also, in the Straights of Malacca an American sub gets great intel on another powerful fleet approaching...2 battleships, cruisers, light cruisers and destroyers.

Burma is definitely hot right now!

But in the Marshalls, fighter sweeps and heavy bomber raids hit Kwaj. He is systematically targeting the airfields. Will he land at another island?

[MrBlizzard]

This is really nice to read, you both planned an offensive in the same hex at almost the same time!
PS very nice your maps almost each turn, your readers appreciate [8D]

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: MrBlizzard

This is really nice to read, you both planned an offensive in the same hex at almost the same time!
PS very nice your maps almost each turn, your readers appreciate [8D]

Glad you like it.[:)]

Near Green Island the invasion force of Port Moresby gathers. Battleships, carriers, light cruisers, destroyers, transports, merchants, landing ships, patrol boats all meet up before heading on to Port Moresby.

Troop prep should be 90 percent for invasion day.

I let the mini kb be spotted south of Kusaie, hopefully to deter American moves in the Marshalls. Since Moresby's airfield is 100 percent damaged, and no Allied ships are sighted from naval search, all carriers are going to meet near the Marshalls for defense there.

Tomorrow, the crack 48th Division will land on Kusaie making it a festung...

The invasion will need to rely upon land based air coverage from Buna, Lae, Rossel and Rabaul. I hope that isn't a mistake![X(]

[Lowpe]

The elite 4th Chinese Corp puts up stiff resistance despite no supplies. Well, the bombers didn't fly...advanced weather strikes again.

Why, why would they head out of the good terrain and into the open. Forts, perchance?

Egads, I have bagged over 50 units in China...can I do the same in Burma?

[Lowpe]

Light a candle for tomorrow's ops in Burma! On your knees and pray.[&o][:D]

I really don't know what to expect except that something unexpected will happen.[:)] Usually if Allies spot a bombardment force they cluster lots of little ships around likely target (Akyab) and for the last two times they have moved in a BB/CA force with very few destroyers in a blocking position. Please, oh, please do that again and let the planes fly!

Occasionally, he will fly his planes out of the threatened base. Not sure he will do this, since he probably wants to keep up the aerial bombardment of the Imperial Guards.

So, I have designed the op for tomorrow:

First off: night air defenses -- CAP at 10% at both Magwe and Moulmein with a splinter of 12 planes. KAI Dinah's at Magwe, and A6M5c at Moulmein (really lousy morale though).

During the night 40 Betties will strike at Prome very low. Going for the airbase.

A squadron of Sallies will attempt to drop mines on Akyab from Magwe.

5 Destroyers will race in near to Akyab and look to thin the mgb herd some, and then retire to Moulmein. The CA/CL force and escorting destroyers (12 ships) will retire to the west.

A CL is bombarding Rangoon.

Daytime: I didn't launch the counter attack. I will wait, and hit harder, I hope.



But:

2 Squadrons of Zeroes will sweep Akyab at 24K.

2 squadrons of Helens are on low naval attack from Magwe (and yest they are trained), alternate target is some of those juicy Americans moving in the open.

2 squadrons of Betties and Nells are on naval attack with torpedoes. 2K altitude.

Nicks are on naval strafe.

Escorts should be plentiful except at some of the longer ranges, and if they find ships at the longer ranges then I need not worry about enemy CAP I think.

Same level of CAP over Moulmein and Pegu and Magwe.

It will be bloody! I moved an Infantry division by rail to Toungoo, where it will act as a reserve.