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

[Mike Solli]

Do you have Pt. Blair? That makes a nice airbase to control the water in the area. You can set the Betties there for 1 hex less than Akyab. Anything coming down the coast would have to run the gauntlet.

[Lowpe]

Never had Port Blair. Never had Rangoon. Sigh.[:(] I was still fighting for Java in November of 42.

I have been remiss in putting up pictures of Burma, but it will have to wait till tomorrow.

I decided to go with the Betty strike only...

Broke down and will ship some supplies to China...that big attack north of Kweiyang really drained the supplies throughout China. Amazing.

[Mike Solli]

In your next game, use your paratroopers to take Victoria point as soon as you can, then fly in some AS. Then use those same paratroopers to take Pt. Blair. Fly in some AS, engineers and I like to send in the 91 Naval Guard for an initial garrison. Build up that airfield to level 4 and you will rule the seas there for a long time. I'm convinced that the Allies can't hold Rangoon if you have Pt. Blair either.

[DanSez]

Great advice, but Lowpe never had that chance.

He took this game over after the previous PBEM opponent gave up the game.
It has been an interesting "recovery" as he had to beat off an attack/invasion of the Kurile Islands (Islands between Japan and Alaska), and he finished the conquest of Java and even pushed into Northern Australia. Plus a push thru Central Burma and almost cutting off/taking Rangoon, but by then the ebb and flow of the game stated to shift towards the Allies.

Realistic R&D - OFF, which has helped him somewhat get some Night Fighters going and played in the decision to go for the 2 late war planes so hard.

[Lowpe]

June 26th, 1943

No night bombing.[:)]

I realize with horror I left lots of damaged ships in port at Georgetown, where the Allied bomber force could come calling. Uh oh!

During the day lots of bombing in the Marshalls, Ponape, etc., etc. Thankfully nothing in Burma...yet.

Because in the afternoon Betties fly[X(]. The Empire will not roll over for those Commonwealth dogs! And wonder of wonders, some Oscars fly escort for them. And even more wonder of wonders they pick a good target (I think): enemy shipping at Calcutta.

But there are 14 Martlets on CAP. How will the Oscar IV do? Can the Betties penetrate and deliver their deadly fish? Where are the other 30 Betties? Stay tuned...(posting timer, argh!)

[Lowpe]

Sailors in Calcutta harbor can only watch the elaborate dance of death scant thousands of feet over their heads, and with each passing minute the deadly Betties get closer...evasive action, battle stations, klaxons blaring, nervous men check their AA guns one last time because the Betties are coming...the Betties are coming.

[Lowpe]

The Martlets are kept busy by the Oscars, and the Betties make their approach unmolested...

Cargo ships! Banzai!

[Lowpe]

Of such little things does Japan find victory in! Why his ships would be carrying fuel is beyond me...but that means they were loaded with supplies too. Sinking sounds heard.

[Lowpe]

Japan loses 9 fighters on the ground at bases bombed in the greater Marshalls, while the Americans lose four (4) big four engined beasties. It is not a fair trade however, as airfields are damaged and supply stocks destroyed.

The Allied tank juggernaut is now just 45 miles from Lashio...nothing can stop them in time. Allies have so many units they can just envelop me and cut supply. A few RTA splinters will hold the road, paying the ultimate price to delay the re-opening of the Burma road.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: DanSez

Great advice, but Lowpe never had that chance.

He took this game over after the previous PBEM opponent gave up the game.
It has been an interesting "recovery" as he had to beat off an attack/invasion of the Kurile Islands (Islands between Japan and Alaska), and he finished the conquest of Java and even pushed into Northern Australia. Plus a push thru Central Burma and almost cutting off/taking Rangoon, but by then the ebb and flow of the game stated to shift towards the Allies.

Realistic R&D - OFF, which has helped him somewhat get some Night Fighters going and played in the decision to go for the 2 late war planes so hard.

Thanks Dan! [&o] I also took Port Moresby...but now I will be losing things left and right.[:D]

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

In your next game, use your paratroopers to take Victoria point as soon as you can, then fly in some AS. Then use those same paratroopers to take Pt. Blair. Fly in some AS, engineers and I like to send in the 91 Naval Guard for an initial garrison. Build up that airfield to level 4 and you will rule the seas there for a long time. I'm convinced that the Allies can't hold Rangoon if you have Pt. Blair either.

+1 on Port Blair.

In this game, it was held by a full division since day one of my takeover. No troops with any prep, and I prioritized taking Rangoon over Port Blair and simply couldn't get Rangoon. I tried though![:)]

Read the first page or two of the AAR to get a feel for how bad Japan was...

[Lowpe]

American Carriers near Nauru now. They have been steaming around fully detected for more than 1 week.

[Lowpe]

Damaged ships at Georgetown...within heavy bomber range of the Allies. Only one squadron of Dinah's giving night CAP.

They will be headed to Singers at dawn!

[Lowpe]

Does it cost supply to resize an air squadron on a CS/AV?

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Does it cost supply to resize an air squadron on a CS/AV?

Not that I know of. Only to take the planes.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Does it cost supply to resize an air squadron on a CS/AV?

Not that I know of. Only to take the planes.

Many thanks![:)]

I am actually resizing air squadrons! I am a gamey sob![:D] Actually, I checked our HR, which I basically have forgotten, and we don't have any. My predecessor resized several and I am wondering now if I can load those huge squadrons back on a carrier and downsize them a little.

How long does it take to resize? Days? Week? Does the CS need to be in port or in a task force? HQa needed?

[mind_messing]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Does it cost supply to resize an air squadron on a CS/AV?

Not that I know of. Only to take the planes.

Many thanks![:)]

I am actually resizing air squadrons! I am a gamey sob![:D] Actually, I checked our HR, which I basically have forgotten, and we don't have any. My predecessor resized several and I am wondering now if I can load those huge squadrons back on a carrier and downsize them a little.

How long does it take to resize? Days? Week? Does the CS need to be in port or in a task force? HQa needed?

Plonk them on a CV, click the resize button a couple of times till a pop up window appears, then simply put in the size of squadron you'd like, click OK and they'll resize the following turn.

[Lowpe]

Hm., I did something wrong. It has been a turn, and the unit will resize when conditions are met.

[Lowpe]

It is hard to tell from the Burma map above, but I have 6 Heavy Cruisers and destroyers at Tavoy undetected. They are going in for a bombardment of Rangoon. 8 Hexes.[:(] 91 aggression leader in charge, absolute, direct, and flee after bombarding are the settings.

I also set it to flank speed.[&:] Not sure that actually does anything.

The Allies have sent plentiful planes into Rangoon...

I have almost every squadron flying some portion of LRcap over the cruisers. Bombardments are so darn iffy!

I also have CAP over Moulmein, sweeps of Moulmein, and bombers set to hit his 3 small ships at Moulmein. I figure it is some type of cap trap, but my local minesweeper isn't sweeping the mines there (it is disbanded in port); but I thought they did that under computer control.[&:]

Haven't gotten the turn done this early in the day in a long time, perhaps there is a chance the Tiemanj can flip it before I go to bed. Don't hold your breath though.

I haven't mentioned it in a while, but I really do want to thank Tiemanj who is simply an excellent opponent. Please support his AAR (within reason, no spoilers). [:D]

[Lowpe]

Plane news:

I moved two small Tojo factories, that weren't producing, and moved them to the Ki-102a. My experience with Downfall with m-m shows me the absolute need to be able to meet the Jugs and this plane, although slow, can fly very, very high. I don't plan on building a lot of them, but I think they will will work well in conjunction with the Ki-202 and its insane rate of climb.

I am really close to getting George and Irving-S NF. George will go to Burma, and I will sweep there, or attempt it. While Irving-S will go to Burma/Indochina/SRA to protect resources. Probably Medan first. However, I am having trouble resizing the squadron to 20. Perhaps they will upgrade this turn. They might make an appearance protecting major airfields.

My Pete project, disrupting night fighters, is progressing and some are actually on duty at Bangkok. They sure can't fly far.[:D]

KAId Nicks are researching, my best factory is at 17 started July, 42. Not promising. I might get these guys sometime in Jan 44? Hopefully!

80K fuel is leaving Soerabaja today for Cam Ranh Bay. What a short run...I think I am doing well at getting oil/fuel into Indochina/China, with the exception of getting the oil out of Singers. Lots there, and I focusing more on other areas right now. Part of me is afraid to load tankers at Singers for fear it will pull resources back from Indochina.