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

[Spidery]

April 9th 1943

Air Losses: 29 Japanese, 46 Allied, 14 Pilots
Japanese occupy:
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:
Allies land at:

Sweeps of Ledo and Buin are bloody. At Buin the sweeping N1K1-J meet lots of Lightnings and Corsairs and come off worse. Between the two battles the losses are:

16 N1K1-J, 9 Ki-43-IIb, 3 Ki-44-IIc traded for 18 Hurricane IIc, 6 P-40E, 5 Kittyhawk 1, 4 Spitfire Vc, 4 Hurricane IIb, 3 P-38F, 3 F4U-1, 1 Martlet II that is 28 for 44. I think it went about 14 for 34 over Ledo and 14 for 10 against the Corsairs and Lightnings over Buin. Altogether a good trade but lost some good pilots.

Fujita, R. died over Buin. Nagano U. got his 8th kill but failed to make it back and is MIA. At Katha, one IJN and an IJA pilot each make Ace status.

Subs

Ineffective ASW attacks on Finback and Tambor (by DD with Type 2 DC so I always hope for a bit of luck).

Marshalls

Quiet

Solomons, etc.

Air battle over Buin managed to down some of the Corsairs. 40 N1K1-J sweep against 35 Spitfire Vc, 14 P-38F, 50 P-38G, 32 F4U-1.

Burma area

Air battle over Ledo quite bloody. The first sweep is of only 3 N1K1-J and 10 Ki-43-IIb on LRCAP, for some reason the Oscars are reported as jettisoning ordance, is that LRCAP aircraft jettisoning drop tanks? Allies meet them with 159 Hurricane IIc, 75 P-40E and 53 other aircraft. Second sweep has 82 Ki-44-IIc and 10 Ki-43-IIb and there are still 275 aircraft against them. Third sweep is of 25 N1K1-J and 10 Ki-43-IIb, this does best.

Using drop tanks to raid Ledo has put Katha back in the yellow so no more strikes against Ledo until get more supply there. Despite the urgent need for supply in Burma it looks like another few thousand supply has been transferred to China[:@].

A night strike by Emillies at Columbo port. Only 4 arrive and all miss. It is annoying that seem to need to strike at extended range to get the better bomb load.

At Warazup a bombardment is reported as destroying 8 vehicles - hope they are tanks and not motorised support[:D].

China

Quiet

Australia & DEI

Quiet

Engineering

Allies expand Torokina to 2, Buin to 3, Lahaina to 9, Charters Towers to 7.

R&D

Ki-84a to 9/43

Reinforcements

SC CHa-12.

SigInt

A few turns ago I picked up sigint on the road South of Tennant Creek, now I have picked it up even further South, I suspect he is withdrawing the forces from Darwin area.

[Spidery]

April 10th 1943

Air Losses: 1 Japanese, 5 Allied, 3 Pilots
Japanese occupy:
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:
Allies land at:

Subs

I-164 puts a torpedo in AKV Athene off Oman. It looks like it was heading for Aden and is now off-map.

S-44 puts a torpedo in PB Eifuku Maru (42/73/8/12). It is now at Rabaul and if the fires can be put out may be saved.

Marshalls

Liberators hit Maloelap.

Solomons, etc.

A mistake in my orders has my planes bombing troops at Torokina. 10 F-4F are on CAP and 3 of them are shot down for no loss amongst my planes.

Burma area

Night strikes on Magwe and Katha have no effect and no losses.

Forgot to cancel orders for the night strike on Columbo but again scored no hits.

10,000+ supply flowed into Burma!

China

Quiet

Australia & DEI

Quiet

Engineering

Nothing significant.

R&D

Quiet

Reinforcements

SC Ch 4, SC CHa-10, TK Seishin Maru (a big one).

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Spidery
A few turns ago I picked up sigint on the road South of Tennant Creek, now I have picked it up even further South, I suspect he is withdrawing the forces from Darwin area.

How many of those troops do you figure where restricted?

I agree with you and think he will pursue a historical axis of advance...I had thought he would push hard once China fell, and in a sense he did taking Roi and Kwaj, but I expected a more aggressive move. Perhaps that was wishful thinking on my part, a chance to damage him prior to Essex and better fighters.

[Spidery]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: Spidery
A few turns ago I picked up sigint on the road South of Tennant Creek, now I have picked it up even further South, I suspect he is withdrawing the forces from Darwin area.

How many of those troops do you figure where restricted?

I agree with you and think he will pursue a historical axis of advance...I had thought he would push hard once China fell, and in a sense he did taking Roi and Kwaj, but I expected a more aggressive move. Perhaps that was wishful thinking on my part, a chance to damage him prior to Essex and better fighters.

I don't know the Allied OOB and don't plan to look at it. There were 25th, 24th and 32nd Infantry Divisions there that I assume are USA. 4th Armoured Brigade sounds like it might be British.

The fact that he hasn't made any great effort to destroy industry makes me suspect he plans to win by a knock-out punch. Or, he knows that we are playing a game with 3 million less supply so may be thinking that industry is less important.

My current concern is that if he pushes at Rabaul and up the New Guinea coast he could be threatening the Philippines before the reinforcements that start arriving in November can be deployed.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Spidery
I don't know the Allied OOB and don't plan to look at it. There were 25th, 24th and 32nd Infantry Divisions there that I assume are USA. 4th Armoured Brigade sounds like it might be British.

The fact that he hasn't made any great effort to destroy industry makes me suspect he plans to win by a knock-out punch. Or, he knows that we are playing a game with 3 million less supply so may be thinking that industry is less important.

My current concern is that if he pushes at Rabaul and up the New Guinea coast he could be threatening the Philippines before the reinforcements that start arriving in November can be deployed.

I thought I remembered a post with a picture or listing of troops, and thinking to myself that there were a lot of unrestricted troops there...which kind of surprised me at the time. Thanks.

Yeah, he could be threatening the PI by November...

Hey, I am very happy with Lilly IIb divebomber you have mentioned several times...would be great in defense of the PI...imho.

I like how Mr. Kane took Darwin prior to other adventures....perhaps that gives credence to a strong push on either side of NG...

[Spidery]

April 11th 1943

Air Losses: 156 Japanese, 15 Allied, 112 Pilots
Japanese occupy:
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:
Allies land at:

Subs

Lose a small TK near Rabaul.

Marshalls

Liberators hit Kusaie Island

Solomons, etc.

I send 3 groups of N1K1-J in as sweeps on Buin but this time they come of worse and do little to clear the way. I then send aircraft in on naval strike, for some reason half the escorts fail to fly, the attacks are massacred. A few planes get through to launch attacks but all miss.

Burma area

Allies drop to 14000 feet to target Katha at night. 1 Oscar lost on night CAP and 5 planes lost on the ground.

Try an attack at Warazup. Enemy has level 5 forts (how have they managed to get the supply to build them?). The brunt of the damage is taken by the 1st Tank that suffers heavy disablements. Destroyed devices are at about 4 Japanese for each Allied so VP wise this is barely okay.

China

Quiet

Australia & DEI

Quiet

Engineering

Etorufu to level 4, Paoshan to level 3, Allies expand Buin to 4.

R&D

Ki-43-IV to 9/43

The first night fighter R&D factory is fully repaired, an A6M5d-S one. That means will have the A6M5d-S by 1/44 and has there is another factory should be better than that.

Reinforcements

Quiet

[Spidery]

April 12th 1943

Air Losses: 6 Japanese, 0 Allied, 0 Pilots
Japanese occupy:
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:
Allies land at:

Subs

I-8 sinks an SC (2 VP) near San Francisco.

I-21 puts two torpedoes into AO Olwen near Karachi: one is a dud. Still with heavy damage, heavy fires and fuel cargo burning I think even Allied damage control won't be able to save her.

Marshalls

Quiet

Solomons, etc.

During the night there are reports of many task forces at Buin but come morning nothing shows.

I have the feeling some major assault is on the cards here. The worse case could be a successful attack on Rabaul but I think more likely is a series of attacks e.g. at Gasmata, Buna, Buka, maybe Milne Bay or Port Moresby or Kavieng. He has also been reconning the bases on the New Guinea coast such as Wewak and Lae so could also be an air drop to try and take one of those. I have 455 mines at Rabaul now so if he does try attacks there I hope to get some damage.

I am sending more transport planes down to evacuate some of the bases, mainly Rossel Islands as that is now bypassed. The Nicks I am pulling out and sending to protect industry at places out of range of Allied fighters. I am sending some more fighters over from Koepang. I am sending some more DD down to hunt the subs as he isn't moving them away despite my repeated attacks on them.

Burma area

Allies hit Katha at 14000 feet again. 1 Oscar lost on night CAP and 2 planes lost on the ground. I have 62 heavy AA here so I'm not sure why I am not getting any flak hits. Going to try and see if the N1K1-J has any luck on night CAP.

China

Quiet

Australia & DEI

Quiet

Engineering

Quiet

R&D

N1K2-J to 8/44

Reinforcements

Quiet

[Spidery]

April 13th 1943

Air Losses: 8 Japanese, 2 Allied, 2 Pilots
Japanese occupy:
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:
Allies land at:

Subs

No sinking sounds, and a small task force spotted, so the AO damaged yesterday may still be afloat.

Lots of claimed hits on Allied subs by air ASW in the Rabaul area.

Marshalls

Allies bomb Kusaie island, 1 Jake lost on the ground.

Solomons, etc.

Quiet

Burma area

Allies hit Katha and N1K1-J are allocated to night CAP. 2 aircraft lost on the ground and 3 N1K1-J in air-air. 1 Liberator downed by flak. So that is 5 VP for 2 VP, not quite the 2::1 needed but I'll try again for a while. Lots of N1k1-J damaged so this may not be so good.

Oscars bomb Ledo at night from 31000 feet. There are 12 Beaufighter VIf night fighters on CAP but they don't have the ceiling to reach the bombing fighters. No hits scored.

China

Quiet

Australia & DEI

Quiet

Engineering

Quiet

R&D

A6M5c to 6/43

Reinforcements

SC CHa-4

Sigint

Picked up radio traffic at 92,138. Looks like he may be moving forces North inside the great barrier reef - Horn Island or Port Moresby are on the cards.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Spidery
Allies hit Katha and N1K1-J are allocated to night CAP. 2 aircraft lost on the ground and 3 N1K1-J in air-air. 1 Liberator downed by flak. So that is 5 VP for 2 VP, not quite the 2::1 needed but I'll try again for a while. Lots of N1k1-J damaged so this may not be so good.

Oscars bomb Ledo at night from 31000 feet. There are 12 Beaufighter VIf night fighters on CAP but they don't have the ceiling to reach the bombing fighters. No hits scored.

Interesting tactics. I wouldn't think George would work, but you never know. Darn things have lots of guns.

High altitude bombing with Oscars at night.[X(] That is outside the box thinking!

I want to know if you have done 5 turns today like Joc?

[Spidery]

April 14th 1943

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

Subs

I-5 puts 3 torpedoes into the damaged AO Olwen sinking her (11 VP).

DD Arashi puts a Type 2 DC onto S-44 near Rabaul knocking out some torpedo tubes.

Lots of air ASW attacks and claimed hits on SS near Rabaul.

Marshalls

Allies bomb Kusaie island.

Solomons, etc.

Quiet, ominously so - is he resting his 4E before a big attack?

Burma area

Allies hit Katha, no damage or loss.

Oscars hit Ledo, no damage or loss.

Bombardment at Warazup trades 4 devices lost for 6 losses inflicted. This is a slow way of gaining VP! The previous poor attack here has allowed me to buy out the 1st Tank on the cheap, now where to send it? Dili is a possibility as it could help cover both bases on the East of Flores. Or Davao to start building defenses back there.

The way fuel, supply and oil move around drives me up the wall[:D]. 8000 supply flowed into Burma (nice), 8000 fuel flowed out (good), 7,500 oil flowed in from Indo-China (why!).

China

Quiet

Australia & DEI

Quiet

Engineering

Quiet

R&D

Quiet

Reinforcements

SS RO-106

[Spidery]

High altitude bombing with Oscars at night. That is outside the box thinking!

I'll try it for a couple of weeks around the full moon and see how it works out. If nothing else, the pilots are gaining ground bombing experience. If I could pick up 80 VP a day I would hit 1945 with about 90,000 VP which might be enough to hold on even if Japan collapses. I have about 8000 excess supply per day so my reckoning is if I get 1 VP for 100 supply I am doing okay. It is costing 30 supply a day for the bombing so that means I would like 1 hit per 3 days.

I want to know if you have done 5 turns today like Joc?

No, I'm always slower than Tom but Tom is currently slowed down because he says he has so much to move before his next big attack.

[Spidery]

April 15th 1943

Air Losses: 8 Japanese, 4 Allied, 4 Pilots
Japanese occupy:
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:
Allies land at:

Subs

Quiet

Marshalls

Allies bomb Kusaie island. 3 Zeroes from Ponape are on LRCAP. 1 Zero lost for 2 B-24D shot down.

Solomons, etc.

Quiet

At Rabaul, I have had 30 G3M2 on a night port mining attack against Buin for three turns, there are 210 Type 3 mines in pool, Rabaul is an airfield 9, average experience is 68. Is there anything else that has to be set because they are not flying?

Burma area

Allies sweep Myitkyna in force and some Oscars on LRCAP over Warazup are drawn in and lost.

China

Quiet

Australia & DEI

Quiet

Engineering

Quiet

R&D

B6N2a to 8/44

Reinforcements

Quiet

[Lowpe]

Port size plus naval support? Weather, morale? Port capacity?

[Spidery]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Port size plus naval support? Weather, morale? Port capacity?

Port 4 + 150 naval so can handle up to rearm cost of 850. The mine is 352 load cost so rearm cost should be 528. Could be weather but I have had night sightings over Buin so the weather at the target is okay. Could be morale as morale is only 78. Does port capacity have some effect? Could I be flying too many aircraft, any idea what the limit is?

I've never done port mining before, and can't find any statement as to what the requirements are, so I may be doing something silly. Is there a particular altitude to fly at?

[JocMeister]

Not sure. I did some aerial mining using B29s but never had any problems. And I flew them in the hundreds so I doubt its a numbers issue.

[Lowpe]

Stupid question here: How do you port attack to lay mines? The only way I know to lay aerial mines is thru the city attack option which means there has to be resources, factories present. Then the option to lay mines is either yellow or greyed out I think.

[Spidery]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Stupid question here: How do you port attack to lay mines? The only way I know to lay aerial mines is thru the city attack option which means there has to be resources, factories present. Then the option to lay mines is either yellow or greyed out I think.

I don't. I use city attack to try and lay mines. Select city attack, there is a "mine port" option bottom left, select that and the range of bases on offer includes all enemy ports in range. After selecting that the main group screen shows as port mining Buin but doesn't fly:

[Spidery]

April 16th 1943

Air Losses: 5 Japanese, 3 Allied, 2 Pilots
Japanese occupy:
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:
Allies land at:

Subs

DD Arashi puts 5 near misses on SS Haddock at Rabaul, including one that starts fires in the control room. However, no kill.

Marshalls

Quiet

Solomons, etc.

Allies bomb Buna find a few oscars on CAP. 2 Oscar lost for 1 B-17E and one Thalia destroyed on the ground.

Burma area

Quiet

China

Quiet

Australia & DEI

Quiet

Engineering

Quiet

R&D

Quiet

Reinforcements

Quiet

[Spidery]

April 17th 1943

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

Subs

Quiet

Marshalls

Quiet

Solomons, etc.

Allies sweep Horn Island, nobody there.

Burma area

Only 44 fighters reported at Ledo, I wonder where he has moved them to?

China

Quiet

Australia & DEI

Quiet

Engineering

Dadjangas airfield to 3, Waingapoe airfield to 3.

R&D

Quiet

Reinforcements

Quiet

[Lowpe]

The quiet before the storm?

We are on the same page for aerial mining. No clue why it isn't working.