Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee, Docup(A)-Koniu(J)

[paullus99]

Even best case, she's out of the war for a while.....and you still have to get her back to a decent shipyard for repairs....through sub-infested waters.

[koniu]

Miracle in Miri

[PaxMondo]

If I can get a ship with fire into a port > 0 with some NavSupport I can usually save the ship. Especially if SYS DAM < 50 ...

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: koniu

Miracle in Miri

BANZAI!!!

[&o][&o][&o]

[koniu]

I also take my revenge on subs in Miri area.
I send over 200 planes from KB to ASW mission. Over 75 attacks, 20 reported hits

[PaxMondo]

Wow! Great job. Never used the KB like that before ... I don't have my KB pilots trained in ASW. I might need to start doing that ...


[&o][&o][&o]

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

Wow! Great job. Never used the KB like that before ... I don't have my KB pilots trained in ASW. I might need to start doing that ...


[&o][&o][&o]

I have over 200 navy pilots trained in ASW with XP ~60. In last turn just moved bomber pilots to pool and replace them with ASW trained. Maximal range, altitude 1000ft, ASW at 100%

I am pretty sure they sunk. In AM phase i seen 4 sub icons on map, i hear sub sinking sounds. On PM phase only two icons where visible. Again sinking sounds.

When combat replay end and i look at map no sub icons in Miri area.

To have better DL on subs i send over 50 FP and bombers on search both day and night

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: temagic

Spent the whole day reading this AAR. Amazing! Goes to show though, that regardless of how well one fights, in air, on land, at sea, the allies, with enough tenacity, will win the war...

Now, enough of my defeatism. Keep it up koniu, it's a great read.

Thanks. You are welcome to wist this AAR anytime You wish

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: koniu

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

Wow! Great job. Never used the KB like that before ... I don't have my KB pilots trained in ASW. I might need to start doing that ...


[&o][&o][&o]

I have over 200 navy pilots trained in ASW with XP ~60. In last turn just moved bomber pilots to pool and replace them with ASW trained. Maximal range, altitude 1000ft, ASW at 100%

I am pretty sure they sunk. In AM phase i seen 4 sub icons on map, i hear sub sinking sounds. On PM phase only two icons where visible. Again sinking sounds.

When combat replay end and i look at map no sub icons in Miri area.

To have better DL on subs i send over 50 FP and bombers on search both day and night

Ahh, that makes more sense ... you swapped them out. Good job!

[koniu]

I want to start small debate about A6M5 family.
I am only interested in this fighters as carrier plane. (all LBA are using N1K2 or J2M5)

I have pools full of all 3 types and try to be sure what version will be best for KB.
What is most important for KB plane - speed, armor or firepower. What proportion is best.

[mind_messing]

RE: A6M5 line

Personally, I'd go for the A6M5c if you made me make a choice.

The loss of speed won't matter much: you can still catch torpedo and dive bombers, and the Hellcat is going to be much faster than all the A6M planes anyways. I'd trade the added armour and better guns for the loss of 12km/h and a few points of maneuver.

The future for the KB lies in the A7M2, though.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: mind_messing

RE: A6M5 line

Personally, I'd go for the A6M5c if you made me make a choice.

The loss of speed won't matter much: you can still catch torpedo and dive bombers, and the Hellcat is going to be much faster than all the A6M planes anyways. I'd trade the added armour and better guns for the loss of 12km/h and a few points of maneuver.

+1.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: mind_messing

RE: A6M5 line

Personally, I'd go for the A6M5c if you made me make a choice.

The loss of speed won't matter much: you can still catch torpedo and dive bombers, and the Hellcat is going to be much faster than all the A6M planes anyways. I'd trade the added armour and better guns for the loss of 12km/h and a few points of maneuver.

+1.

I agree with one qualification. I liked having a mix of the A6M5b and the A6M5c. The 5c has much shorter range, and for strikes against land targets the 5b allows longer range. Also, even against naval targets, 8 hexes is the max range for the 5c, and you don't always want to be pushing the max range in an engagement. The 5c were more the planes I would use over the CVs, but some would go out to take the hits with their armor and stay long enough to let the bombers get through too.

The pilots and planes do get extra fatigue always on max range settings, and this can be a strain, maybe causing more to be compromised if the hunt for battle lasts a few days, which it often will in the late game.

[koniu]

Thanks for help.

KB
I decided i will use mix of 5c and 5b. I think it will be best mix for KB. Good speed and decent firepower of b, and armor and great firepower of c should give best results.
Even against F6F they should do good job especially (i check that)if worst KB fighter pilot have XP 76[:D] and half of pilots is 80XP+ veterans. F4U is different story.
Also i found that i don`t have enough c to fill entire KB so ~100 planes will stuck on b[8D]


KB enter new home on south Philippines. They need to refuel and in 48h i will have 1100 planes ready to fight. 450 fighters (A6M5b/c) and 650 bombers (350 D4Y4 and 300 B7A2)

KB have now 19xCV/L, 2xBB, 3xCA, 6xCL, 45xDD
I next few day 4 more battleships and 4 cruisers with destroyer escort will join fleet. It will be something like 75% of imperial navy. I am preparing for decisive battle.

CV Hiyo will survive. In last days they manage to reduce flotation to 47 points[&o], and CV Hiyo is now in half way to Manila
I don`t count on luck this time. Ship is escorted by over 20 super Es.

[koniu]

Hi. I back
Only small teaser before later today i will make big summary.
I was planing to do that in Sunday but after Saturday historic victory against Germany 2:0[&o] in UEFA Euro Qualifications i was not in condition to do anything.


From most important news.

Game date is not in 16 July
Empire lost air control over Moulmein. After 2 days of naval bombardment and next 2 days of 4E raids base is closed. But we not give up without fight.

CV Hiyo will probably survive. Only thing that can sunk her now is allied sub.
She is now 7 days from Japan.

Marianas defenses are ready.

IJN preparing to decisive battle. Forces are starting to gather in one place

Allies starting to be very aggressive everywhere

[koniu]

Burma

Japan lost air control over Moulmein. First Allies naval bombard for two days.
DDs, CLs, CAs, BBs. Everything allies have. I cost me something like 50 Tojo's.

Night Naval bombardment of Moulmein at 55,55

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 58 damaged
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 7 destroyed on ground

Allied Ships
BB Richelieu
BB Queen Elizabeth
BC Renown

Japanese ground losses:
93 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 4 (2 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 5 (3 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Airbase hits 14
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 14
Port hits 2
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 1

Next day air bombardment start. P-47 sweeping, lot of escort and LCAP fighters. I decide to use that on my favor. Franks sweep all hexes with allied presence in Moulmein area . In few of them we capture some leky CAP. Over 60 allied planes shot down for 3 Franks.

Afternoon Air attack on 6th Australian Division, at 56,53 , near Pegu

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 43,270 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-84r Frank x 33

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 23
P-40K Warhawk x 22
P-40N26 Warhawk x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-84r Frank: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIc Trop: 10 destroyed
P-40K Warhawk: 6 destroyed
P-40N26 Warhawk: 4 destroyed


Lot of action on Ground. Some allied units cross river north of Japanese positions and now moving south. Bypass move cost allies ~2-3 weeks. I will not fight there. Troops retreating to Moulmein, there i will fight. 2x terrain, fort 6, 4000AV in base, river crossing, all troops 100% prepared to that base. Docup probably again will try to bypass my lines.

[koniu]

DEI

Mostly quiet but two days ago Fletcher's bombard Ambon. Damage to AF was light. I lost 15 fighters and 20 transports. Base is operational and from now base is protected by SAG.

Night Naval bombardment of Ambon at 76,109

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
H8K2-L Emily: 57 damaged
H8K2-L Emily: 4 destroyed on ground
Ki-57-I Topsy: 5 damaged
N1K2-J George: 35 damaged
N1K2-J George: 3 destroyed on ground
Ki-49-II KAI Helen: 24 damaged
Ki-49-II KAI Helen: 5 destroyed on ground
Ki-84r Frank: 44 damaged
Ki-84r Frank: 11 destroyed on ground
Ki-57-II Topsy: 17 damaged
Ki-57-II Topsy: 5 destroyed on ground

Allied Ships
DD Twining
DD John Rodgers
DD Renshaw
DD Abner Read
DD LaVallette
DD Kidd
DD Eaton
DD Ammen

Japanese ground losses:
4 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 38
Airbase supply hits 12
Runway hits 62

I am reinforcing Ambon and Namlea garrisons. Everything is air lifted. Simultaneously i am evacuating ID from Biak (ID is moved to Ambon) and i transporting Mixed Brigade to Biak.
Loots of squads is transported. Over 200 transport is in air aver turn.

More troops is sailing to area. Id will land in Manado, Brigade in Ternate.

[koniu]

Salomon's.
Not many action i las weeks.
Last turn i naval sweep Lae. Itr was surprise for me. I find CL TF. After short battle Japanese TF manage to retreat without major damage. On AM phase TF was attacked by DB but LCAP shoot them all. I slowly start preparing evacuation of Rabaul

Day Time Surface Combat, near Lae at 99,126, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Yahagi, Shell hits 3
DD Sazanami, Shell hits 3, on fire

Allied Ships
CL Gambia, Shell hits 1
CL Achilles
DD Thatcher
DD Trathen
DD Frazier
DD Kalk
DD Hughes
DD Anderson, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Hammann

------------------------------

Morning Air attack on TF, near Finschhafen at 100,126

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 42 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K2-J George x 8
Ki-84r Frank x 17

Allied aircraft
A-24 Banshee x 14

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
A-24 Banshee: 9 destroyed

[koniu]

Map of Marianas
Everything is in place. It will not be better. Each base have between 700-1000AV with forts 6 or 7

[koniu]

Marshals
Ares is no longer my concern. Allies can have it