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

[Lowpe]

April 12, 1943

No night bombing.

American submarines sink an xak off China (hauling resources), and an AV in the PI. At least it wasn't an oiler.

Massive air strikes on Prome this day again. Not shown in the picture is the 100 plus fighters on CAP in the province.

Two back to back heavy aerial bombardments -- will he unleash the tanks on the IJA?

[Lowpe]

We get a daytime bombardment of Akyab, no Allied response.

The Rangoon bombardment moves into position and gets spotted. The Madras surface group fails to find the Nestor and company and is undetected. Another cruiser forces is off Akyab and can bombard but is spotted -- they failed to find any night time traveling cargo ships.

The Oscars don't fly against the ships, although plenty are spotted at Calcutta.

[Lowpe]

In China, the IJA destroys a Cavalry Corp and heavily damages two other Chinese Corp, while at the main event, Prome, the allies decide upon a probing bombardment attack. Between the two attacks, and a shore bombardment and some bombing I picked up 20 victory points and only lost 2 lcu vp. [:)]

They would have been better off with a deliberate attack and get those tanks into action I think.

I have to get my airforce and fighting in Prome, just not sure on the strategy. He has so many planes there...

[Lowpe]

Little disappointed in my turn. I accidentally set a air sentai to upgrade to Tojo IIc, one which I just upgraded to KAI Dinahs, and they had just finished repairing last turn. Don't know what I was thinking.[&:]

I look for them, and sure enough they upgraded to Tojo IIcs, despite only 10K supply (there is an air hq present). But the worst part is only about 30 percent of the Dinah's went back into the pools. [:@] Maybe not that bad, 10 more planes show up in the pool on the 2nd day.

I thought about doing lots of things this turn, but ultimately decided in bombarding Akyab and Rangoon, and that is about it. Perhaps a little attack in China. I am clearing out some WR terrain, and the Chinese really love to hide there and not retreat, they get decent damage done to the IJA each turn in disablements.

[Lowpe]

Attacks in the planning stages: Using my air force in unexpected places (I hope):

Using Port Moresby, Rossel Island I am thinking of hitting the Australian airbases with Betties escorted by A6m2s. Some are exactly 14 hexes away, Cairns 11 hexes. The deeper strikes might be made with Emilies unescorted.

Built up airbases are Cairns, Townsville, Bowen, Bundaberg, Brisbane.

I have held off, because I fancied a raid against some light industry there for victory points, but I am hesitant to bomb industry for fear the Allies will start to bomb my industry.

From Port Hedland I could also hit Perth.

So for now, this is a back burner plan, but if Magwe oil is bombed this is the payback 300+ bombers hitting Oz industry.

[Lowpe]

April 13th, 1943

No night bombing.

Major bombing of Prome, followed by a another bombardment attack. That he can fly 300 planes from Prome, bombard two consecutive days, doesn't bode well for the theory that the Allies can't support 80 units below Akyab, I don't think the monsoon will slow him.

IJA trashes two Chinese corp, but then in a surprise move 3 Chinese Corp attack east across a river from Chungking and get a 2-1 on one of the weaker IJA Divisions forcing them to retreat. I should be able to trash those three corp before they sneak across the river back to the capitol.

Three submarine attacks against tankers or oilers, with one hit right next to Nagasaki. Never saw the submarine...

None of the IJN bombardments go off...one of the CA forces stops two hexes short of Akyab, lucky it has LRCAP and also lucky I have shot down most of his anti-shipping planes and he is bombing Prome so heavily.

[Lowpe]

The Japanese air force will stage a few raids, port attacks on Chittacong and Akyab looking to destroy supply ships, plus a damaged submarine. 150 fighters will provide cap at Prome, this will be bleeding CAP not LRCAP...it seems to work better at engaging his bombers rather than the heavy CAP presence that the Allies are flying out of Prome.

This will be a good test for the Tojo IIc as they make up the bulk of the fighters. Every group at a different altitude between 9K and 15K.

Betties will attack Prome at night, very high. No hope of doing runway damage given the number of engineers there, but it will eat his supplies a little and with all those bombs perhaps some planes will be damaged.

Like any good JFB, I am just waiting for the other shoe to drop.[:)]

[Lowpe]

Downfall lessons learned:

Any Japanese aerial attack against Allied carriers must be coordinated (and big) to have any chance of success. Flying from the same very large airfield, with an HQ is very important, as is picking leaders. Everything is very lethal: Allied planes, Allied flak. Does this also mean come in at the same attack altitude? The Oscar IV might be a good escort plane here with its high cruise speed -- I have heard, but never personally seen, an escorting plane "sweep" ahead.

EDIT: It just happened in our Downfall games, A6M8s sweeping ahead and then escorting the bombers in -- a very good thing and I need to figure out how to get that to happen more often

The Irving, because it is slow, does at least last through 10+ night bombing waves to keep disrupting each successive attack. The Denko got plain worn out. Not sure which is better.

Japanese night attacks against ships seem never to hit. Port attacks, Airfield attacks ok, but Naval nope. Even the Ohka miss.

Escort carriers can be hit by IJN subs at night. Living thru the rest of the day might be tough.

B29s always get thru...

[Lowpe]

Fighter notes:

Well, my air force is growing since I really only have been using the fighters somewhat aggressively and no carrier engagements. I am up to 1000 land base air fighters, with the IJNAF well supplied with A6M5c, and the IJAAF looking better with the Tojo IIc however that will probably change after the next days heavy losses at Prome (I am guessing).

200 fighters are Nates and Claudes that do training. Rear area defenses are Nicks, Oscars, Tony and older Tojo IIa. Night CAP is KAI Dinah.

I am back over 500 engine pool for the Ha-35; but only researching Irving and Oscar IV I believe. Oscar IV will be my IJAAF kamikaze of choice.

Oscar IV and George should come on stream in the latter half of 43 at about the same time, followed by Tony Ki100i. So it will be a very tough 1943 and 1944 in the air. The fate of the Empire will rely upon the last generation planes very early.

R&D into Sam J and Ki202 is going well with the Sam J winning, over 10 percent of factories finished and one as high as 7. I suspect the 202 will overtake the Sam J's lead eventually.

[Lowpe]

April 14th, 1943

No night bombing attacks. There are now 450 Allied planes at Prome.

Akyab bombardment, not very effective despite spotters. Rangoon not bombarded, this is the third consecutive day those bozos have meandered around within striking distance of Rangoon, and they will end up paying the price as Allies attack later in the day. They stop one hex short...I wish I knew why some bombardment runs do this -- it has cost me 1 bb in the Kuriles and two CA in the Marshalls during this game.

IJA bombs Akyab and Chittacong and finds the Nashville.

[Lowpe]

Prome:

The first wave of bombers...I end up losing 2 fighters for every Allied plane.

[JocMeister]

I would say thats a very a good Japanese ratio. Remember the allied pools are extremely fragile. Bomber pools especially. One bad day is all it takes... [:)]

Is he using Escort for his fighters?

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

I would say thats a very a good Japanese ratio. Remember the allied pools are extremely fragile. Bomber pools especially. One bad day is all it takes... [:)]

Is he using Escort for his fighters?

Just some odd Hurricanes and Wildcats...

[JocMeister]

Rest is on LRCAP? Flying from where? Prome itself?

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

Rest is on LRCAP? Flying from where? Prome itself?

Yep, from Prome. I think it is CAP, and not LRCAP. The P40K grow to 50-60 fighters for example.

[Lowpe]

I am sitting on two big Sentais, 42 each, ready to sweep or CAP. Just not sure how to get maximum damage here. Perhaps two higher level altitude sweeps by them will whittle down the fighters?

Then the Allied fighters protecting the bombers will be weakened and I will get at more bombers? Maybe.

I am still in awe that he can get so many supplies down here to support 80 units, 450 planes, bombardments, etc.

I have got 1 division on a train out of Singers, 2 fresh naval guards units to bolster defense against paradrops, more AA and ENG on the way. One month to the monsoon.

Maybe one day my night bombing at Prome will fly...moonlight is strong.

[JocMeister]

Can you sweep above his CAP with something?

[Lowpe]

In good news across the Empire:

The fully loaded oil tanker at Nagasaki has their fires put out (44) and will survive. 3K oil burned up, but the other 4K will offload, then drydock time.

The Sam J continues to r&d very nicely. Can't say the same about Irving which is 2 points away from being repaired for a month now.

Myojo, Betty 3a (armored), Ki100I, Oscar IV, all proceeding nicely.

Fusan oil is now close to topping 20K. Fuel at 15K-25K. Continue to increase shipments out. I started a tonan whaler to see what will happen, she won't stay for more than one trip (awaiting escorts) before heading back to the DEI.

In less than good news I unload 40K supplies into Burma, 5K stay, the rest migrates out and down to Singers. I am going to have to play with the stockpile functions I think.

[ny59giants]

In less than good news I unload 40K supplies into Burma, 5K stay, the rest migrates out and down to Singers. I am going to have to play with the stockpile functions I think.

Having a Command HQ will add 25k to your supply.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

In less than good news I unload 40K supplies into Burma, 5K stay, the rest migrates out and down to Singers. I am going to have to play with the stockpile functions I think.

Having a Command HQ will add 25k to your supply.

I guess in Theory.

5th Fleet is at Moulmein, 3k supplies, Southern Army is at Raheng with 7k.