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

[Lowpe]

Burma:

Continues to be a grinding war of attrition at Prome. IJA loses 6 lcu vp, Allies lose 13.

Three units across from Ramree...worrisome.

It looks like a a division is moving into Prome as reinforcements.

The Magwe push gets full movement today...the infantry divisions are now at 20 mile in. Still only one lcu defending.

[Lowpe]

Marshalls


American paratroops, 4AV, take a dot base. Should I do anything about it?

[Lowpe]

Recent ship losses:

My ASW planes are starting to do some good work as their experience and skills have improved from rock bottom when I inherited the game.

One of the American subs is listed as scuttled in Tracker.

Prince of Wales is still alive and in Madras currently.

[Lowpe]

March 9, 1943

Lots of submarine action...

Night bombing of Magwe goes in, the KAI Dinah raises to the challenge only 3% runway damage but 5 planes are lost on the ground to 1 Mitchell loss.

Prome is swept again to no defense by the Allies.

[Lowpe]

Here are some night fighting results at 10% moonlight:

Thunderstorms at Magwe have to help a little. The first wave, the Dinahs aren't up, and the bombing is effective, but for the following waves of bombers at Magwe the Dinah contests the strikes reducing damage, after the 2nd wave there is no more damage done.

Next door, there is no night fighters intercepting, and the bombing is much more effective. Plus it is clear weather, and less Flak.

Anyhow, I am so pleased with the performance of the Dinah KAI at 10 percent CAP, in the past Magwe would have suffered heavy losses.

[Lowpe]

Another bombardment attack in Prome...I put any artillery with high disruption, disablement, or low toe into reserve and only had to put two units there this time. I am shipping out two large reinforcement groups to Burma with AA and ENG and supplies from the HI. I am sending several of the 20mm machine cannon units for non-balloon AA defense. They might surprise the Allies.

Working on combining night search, daytime ASW aerial search with a dedicated hunter killer groups to nail Allied submarines. Worked real well near Rangoon, now working on clearing out Hong Kong and Pescadores. Combined arms.

Deliberate attack in China should yield nice results this turn as I move west to the mountains.

KB at Guam for now in port. I think with the sinking of Hermes, Allies will be very reluctant to risk anymore CVs. I would like to be more offensive, but this is a scenario 1 limited resource game and just don't feel like I can expend the fuel.

Oil tops 3 million reserves...supply 4 million...fuel 2.3 million.

[Lowpe]

March 10, 1943

No allied air attacks.

Another meatgrinder bombardment at Prome. I lose 5 lcu vp, Allies 9.

Allies up to 50 fighters at akyab and none at Prome.

[Spidery]

Oil tops 3 million reserves...supply 4 million...fuel 2.3 million.

Do you think that is a comfortable level of reserves at this time? Do you have a target level you would like?

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Spidery

Oil tops 3 million reserves...supply 4 million...fuel 2.3 million.

Do you think that is a comfortable level of reserves at this time? Do you have a target level you would like?

I guess I am pretty pleased with this amount, as long as it keeps growing for all 1943. I would like more fuel...

I remember reading Obvert's AAR and he went in to 45 with 2.5 million supply I seem to recall, and within 5 months it was all but gone. He was happy with 2.5 but it goes so fast...if he had supply the war wouldn't have ended for him.

So my goal is to get to 6+ million supply for 1945 with industry still intact on the Home Islands. Mostly.

To do that I will build every night fighter possible, staff night fighters with Tracom pilots, and hope to get 2 end war planes in early 45. Obvert came real close to stopping the bomber war, but he had a late start with night fighters and no uber planes.

Defend the Bonins, Kuriles, and Marianas heavily.

I am amazed that Magwe is still pumping, in fact oil production must be close to 99% across the empire. I am adding oil each day...

Supply is actually close to 4.3 million, I add 10K a day.

I see your stats and I think our supply difference is your aggressive use of r&d, and full air force. My air force is woefully understaffed.

[Lowpe]

Burma

I definitely get the impression that the allies can't manage the harsh losses in the air war, and are somewhat suffering supply problems at Prome. Why else would he not have 60+ fighters in Prome? Cap trap...I have stopped bombing it, but have bombed adjacent to it.

Well, this turn I am doing a high altitude bomb run on Prome designed to eat his supplies, hopefully making my ground bombardment less costly for me. I am debating adding bombardments at Rangoon to eat even more supplies.

[Lowpe]

Aussie buildup. Not unexpected. I plan on leaving when the Allies push forward.

[Lowpe]

March 11, 1943

Allies heavily bomb Magwe at night. The Dinah does stellar service protecting the base, wave, after wave!

Then the IJN returns the favor at Akyab...out of the blue![:)]

[Lowpe]

The Allied air forces in Burma try to followup the night bombing raids against Magwe with a major air assault on the Magwe push...but the Empire's fighters stand ready and are there in depth!

The timely IJN bombardment of Akyab really cut down Allied fighter strength...

Meanwhile, the Helen's go in at Prome at 26K and use up precious supplies, allowing the artillery to followup in the afternoon.

[Lowpe]

The air war losses for the day.

[Lowpe]

I do lose a xak to a submarine attack...

But a good day! [:)]

[Lokasenna]

How do you have an Oil surplus? It's the one thing I can never have enough of. Always running a deficit, even without repairing Miri, etc.

[Spidery]

I remember reading Obvert's AAR and he went in to 45 with 2.5 million supply I seem to recall, and within 5 months it was all but gone. He was happy with 2.5 but it goes so fast...if he had supply the war wouldn't have ended for him.

So my goal is to get to 6+ million supply for 1945 with industry still intact on the Home Islands. Mostly.

Late war seem to need 25,000+ supply per day which is about what is produced by industry. Presumably, once the War in Europe finishes and the Soviets attack that will go up some more and the industry will soon be toast. So 6 million supply (or fuel that can be converted to supply) seems to be what is needed at the end of 1945. You look well on the way to that, you only need to save 7000 or so per day for the rest of 1943.

I see your stats and I think our supply difference is your aggressive use of r&d, and full air force. My air force is woefully understaffed.

Possibly, but I think it is mostly due to me not getting 1.5 million supply generated from refineries in that version of DBB-C.

I assume your oil surplus and stockpiles reflect that you haven't had access to the Rangoon refineries?

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Spidery
Possibly, but I think it is mostly due to me not getting 1.5 million supply generated from refineries in that version of DBB-C.

I assume your oil surplus and stockpiles reflect that you haven't had access to the Rangoon refineries?

I thought your LI was increased to offset that loss.

Oil is growing because refineries at Magwe are damaged and no Rangoon.

[Spidery]

I thought your LI was increased to offset that loss.

No, we started with the DBB-C version before that change was made.

[Lowpe]

March 12, 1943

Only 3 Allied bombers make a night run.

During the day, the Allies bomb the Magwe push again, not much fighter coverage and no sweeps, so the Empire knocks down a few bombers. There are however 40 Allied fighters protecting Prome from an aerial bombardment which I don't bomb.

The meatgrinder that is Prome continues...Japan loses 6 lcu vp, Allies 11.

Well, it didn't take too long for the B25D1 to make an appearance. I have to shoot down 33 a month![X(]