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

[Lokasenna]

Orange = improved skill during this calendar month

Green = improved skill on last turn

[kkoovvoo]

I rechecked, Loki is right. Each month on 2nd day you see only green numbers.

[Lowpe]

Many thanks guys![&o]

Haruumph! Invasion Moulmein?[X(] I don't think so, but I am putting everything inplace for the decisive battle there. It would be ugly, sweeps, escorts, naval missions to hit there but not Rangoon (I don't fancy flying into 300 fighters there!).

But I am making other plans in case it is simply a resupply mission to Rangoon and bombardment of Moulmein, which I think is more likely.

The IJN is sortied and drinking fuel.[:(] The planes are on the tarmac. It could be bloody!

[Lowpe]

Sink the Prince of Wales: 7 I boats are chasing the Prince of Wales! Can I get lucky? I have lost track of how many times I torpedoed that ship - six? seven? It is a lot since July of 42.

Massive air strikes set for Moulmein +1. Otherwise the turn is normal...I still think it is a supply convoy to Rangoon plus an escorting surface group. Mini subs at Moulmein.

Funny note: I had an local minesweeper clear mines unmolested by the British motor launches that are also in Moulmein. Nobody bothered anyone! They must have come to an understanding.[:)]

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

Did you try forming the CS in a TF, setting the air unit to resize, then disbanding the TF immediately? That usually instantly resizes the air unit.

All in the same turn? They are on a CS now. I saved the game, set up a task force, resized the group, and disbanded but no joy.

Now, I have flown the squadron off the CS to Saigon and see if that will do anything.

Yeah, all in the same turn. Doesn't work every time, but most of the time it does. In my game, I just increased the size of 3-4 FP ship based units and they all worked. No clue why it doesn't work sometimes.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli
Yeah, all in the same turn. Doesn't work every time, but most of the time it does. In my game, I just increased the size of 3-4 FP ship based units and they all worked. No clue why it doesn't work sometimes.

I tried it, but it didn't work. Then, I simply flew them off Saigon. I guess I will move them eventually to Singers with the CS and try there.

Odd.

[Lokasenna]

I did all of my resizing at very large bases - Tokyo, Kure, Truk, Rabaul...

I imagine there are requirements to resizing, I just haven't looked in the manual to see if there are any [:D]. Mostly I did mine in Japan somewhere because it was a very central location (many units are in the HI themselves), and there would be no issues with force upgrading units from Petes to Jakes due to AF size or supply numbers.

[Lowpe]

June 30, 1943

An Iboat finishes off a cripple west of Singers.

[Lowpe]

More I-boat goodness; but where is the Prince of Wales!

[Lowpe]

Lots of night bombing at Pegu; then during the day there is bombing all over in the Marshalls and a few Rufes are caught by a Lightning sweep.

In China, another third of a division is forced to surrender.

At Tavoy Allies attack again and get a 1-20 result. Poor boys.[:)]


And the big success! I follow Mike S.'s instructions to the letter and the Jakes resize at Cam Ranh Bay. No idea why they wouldn't before.

[Lowpe]

Burma!

[Lowpe]

Question: Should I try for a night strike with torpedoes and really increase my night naval search in hopes of catching the POW at Akyab before she disbands?

Should I try to aerial mine Akyab realizing it is difficult to get to work?

Should I put together a Kate port strike on Akyab in the hopes of penetrating the 50 fighters there and putting some bombs into the ships there, hopefully another fish in the POW? AA there is probably fairly nasty. 50,000 troops and 300 guns. Ugh.

Should I do all three, plus hunt with submarines?

There are simply so many Allied troops here in Burma, it is really starting to make my headspin. Over 125![X(]

[Lowpe]

A beautiful sight! NF in one day, maybe even some for tomorrow the 1 of July.

Some of those factories will go to r&d the Irv Sa radar version which does pack another 20mm cannon and won't be totally worthless until the radar kicks in June of 44.

I think I will get the Sa Irv sometime in November 43.

I believe my first use of the 20 Irvs will be to try and catch the Allied forces over an airfield in Burma to let the opposition know I have them. He may not know how few squadrons I have? This might prevent some night attacks....here is hoping!

Then again, their miserable performance might encourage him to bomb more at night. You never know!

[Mike Solli]

If you get that to work, please share the details. I have had absolutely no success with aerial mining.

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Should I try to aerial mine Akyab realizing it is difficult to get to work?

[Lowpe]

Okay, I am trying lots of things.

2 squadrons on aerial mining.

Several squadrons on night naval attack. Still a big naval strike at Moulmein in case he comes visiting and stays for the day.

A small strike at Akyab port with 100 fighter escort.

Sending subs into harms way in the hopes of catching the POW.

I have 0 expectations of anything working other than the port strike, which will most likely yield no results other than lost planes.

But, hey! You gotta try![:D]

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

If you get that to work, please share the details. I have had absolutely no success with aerial mining.

Roger Wilco! Err, that is not very Japanese. How about: Hei!

[Lowpe]

With the advent of Night Fighter production, I thought I would review Obvert's builds.

This is from the end of the war, so I have no idea how many factories were destroyed that built these planes:

Irving-S: 235
Irving Sa: 349
Frances S: 119
Nick KAId: 36
Dinah III KAI: 314
Zero -S: 249
Judy-S 2


I think that is it. He had small pools of Irving left (around 30), 100 plus Zeroes, and 60 Frances at the end.

Obvert seemed to rely upon the Dinah as the Army NF; and complains bitterly about its poor performance, inability to keep squadrons filled, and poor kills total.

I have devoted a much bigger share of the industry to NF; and should be able to keep my squadrons filled at least until the factories are bombed.

My goal is simply to delay the destruction and make it as costly to the Allies as possible. If I can do this, then my large investment in night fighters will pay off.

[Spidery]

So that is about 1300 NF built over about 18 months with groups that can support 284 ready planes and with 200 or so in pools. About 70 NF a month being built, that is lower than I would have guessed.

Do you plan to use the A6M5d-S to resize navy groups?

[Lowpe]

July 1, 1943

A new month.

The only night bombing is by the IJAAF: Dropping aerial mines!

[Lowpe]

The Helens drop about 11 mines, the rest stray. The Betty squadron doesn't fly, because they upgraded to G4M3A. Helens flew out of Bangkok, plenty of supply and size 4 port and 7 airfield with an Air Dvision HQ present.

An Iboat tries to penetrate a screen at Akyab, fails, and takes about 31 points of engine damage from a destroyer.

The port attack on Akyab gets past the CAP, but does no damage. Lost Oscars...

Another Chinese Corp surrenders, 300+ squads destroyed.

South west of Lashio in a tank battle the Japanese are forced to retire south down the road, where infantry are digging in. Tuang Gyi gets an allied bombardment, losses light, while two tank regiments head in to bolster the defense. Allies now have 16 units there.

I got all my settings right and now will produce George and Irving-s; none accidentally upgraded to research the next generation.[:)] Although, they probably will in a few days.