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

[topeverest]

6 million is a good number. Fact is game is usually over from strategic bombing, and the empire doesn't defend Japan.

It would be interesting if there were no strategic bombardment and Japan proper had to be invaded. Then I think supply would be a very important factor

[Lowpe]

July 31, 1943

No night bombing.

Fairly quiet day...normal heavy bombing by the Allies in Burma; Marshalls, Solomons. Plenty of sweeps. Another 4 four E downed by flak and ops losses.

[Lowpe]

Aug 1, 1943

No night bombing.

Nothing to report! Very quiet, except for the normal Allied bombing, that is.[:D]

[DanSez]

If it is quiet - how about a review of any ships you have accelerated or ships due out of the yards in the next few months. Do you rush any carriers, destroyers, tankers?

Need all the instruction possible. I am about to launch my own first Scenario 2 PBEM game.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: DanSez

If it is quiet - how about a review of any ships you have accelerated or ships due out of the yards in the next few months. Do you rush any carriers, destroyers, tankers?

Need all the instruction possible. I am about to launch my own first Scenario 2 PBEM game.

Not sure I am the one to go to for this...I kind of took a more sedate path or roleplaying path:

Nothing really extravagant here, I inherited everything being made. Everything.[X(] I turned off the really late carriers and all xakls, but left everything else on including the xaks that can convert to tankers. Initially, I accelerated destroyers or escorts which could be.

After sinking a few of the Allied carriers and getting the SRA, and realizing the game might last until 44; I decided to turn back on all warships, call it victory disease or roleplaying but it makes no sense to me that Japan would stop their production at the height of their power; however nothing was really accelerated. I even made the first two SSTs, ships which are notoriously terrible.

Currently, I have the Taiho accelerated and should get her in a month which is late by most JFB standards. I also need tankers, and have gone to accelerating those too now. And have turned off the SSTs, but I suspect I will make them too, eventually.

The game has an ebb and tide for useful ships depending on playstyle; currently I really need Es and Destroyers and motor gun boats. When I took over the game a year ago, July of 42, I could have used more carriers and battleships and minesweepers.

I have come to really appreciate some ship designs and their upgrades: the training cruisers especially so, since they go to super escorts.

I used Iboats aggressively early, hitting Allied ports in packs, and that worked well when there was a shortage of Allied ASW ships, but alas no more. Now the subs run supply sometimes, but are my distant eyes and ears and pickets a role they will probably fill for the rest of the game. Some are dedicated to supporting the KB.

When I get my next turn, I will post more as I am sure there is plenty for me to learn here.

[Lowpe]

August 2, 1943

No night bombing. Moonlight 3 percent.

Japanese has heavy concentrations of planes at Bangkok (500); Truk (400).

Allies bomb Burma, Marshalls, and lower Solomons. No challenge from the Japanese air forces.

In China, another Corp is forced to surrender.

[Lowpe]

A typical day on the front lines in Burma...

[Lowpe]

I will probably turn the RO subs back on at some point...

[Lowpe]

August 3, 1943

No night bombing.

We try to stage CAP traps over Pegu and Toungoo, but for some silly reason the planes shift over outside their range, and cover Tuang Gyi where they are shredded by Corsairs flying sweeps, and the Pegu squadrons shift over to Toungoo and get some licks in.

Lightnings sweep Rabaul, and lose 11, but for the day 40 Japanese fighters are lost for only 14 American fighters and 3 Wellingtion GRVIIIs.

[Lowpe]

The much reduced Islands of Kwaj and Roi get invaded at the same time! They are trashed by the bombers,and naval bombardments before the invasion really begins. Shore guns do manage to get a couple of Cruiser hits...

[Lowpe]

Uh oh!

[DanSez]

Thanks for the update.
Your game is at an interesting point (build wise as well as the strategic problems faced) so I hope you don't mind a question or two about how the ship build queue works.

I really would like to build the Shimakaze sister ships (which were cancelled in real life but are in the build listed under Blue Prints in the early game).

You are at the point those Shimakaze sister ships could have been produced. In your game build queue, what does it say for the Shimakaze sisters:
ID 14411 DD Arikaze
ID 14412 DD Takakaze
ID 14413 DD Satsukaze

Do they have to be accelerated to leave the Blue Print phase or do they just shift over at some date to be in queue and then they will appear on their own?

And do you have any suggestions about how many ships in queue you actually allow to be built and how many you Stop or Halt?

Pardon my querries, I do not mean to side track your narrative, but if the game has slowed down a little I would appreciate a little shared perspective.

thanks in advance[&o]

[Lowpe]

Aug 4, 1943

No night bombing.

Some Fletchers wander too close to Bangkok...

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: DanSez

Thanks for the update.
Your game is at an interesting point (build wise as well as the strategic problems faced) so I hope you don't mind a question or two about how the ship build queue works.

I really would like to build the Shimakaze sister ships (which were cancelled in real life but are in the build listed under Blue Prints in the early game).

You are at the point those Shimakaze sister ships could have been produced. In your game build queue, what does it say for the Shimakaze sisters:
ID 14411 DD Arikaze
ID 14412 DD Takakaze
ID 14413 DD Satsukaze

Do they have to be accelerated to leave the Blue Print phase or do they just shift over at some date to be in queue and then they will appear on their own?

And do you have any suggestions about how many ships in queue you actually allow to be built and how many you Stop or Halt?

Pardon my querries, I do not mean to side track your narrative, but if the game has slowed down a little I would appreciate a little shared perspective.

thanks in advance[&o]

I am looking for the sister ships, but I don't see them, don't have access to Tracker. I am playing scenario 1 equivalent (scen6). I am using the swift Shimakaze!

Ships advance out of blueprint stage automatically unless you select stop from normal. Under stop the blueprints will be developed, but the ship will not start building. Does that help?

[DanSez]

... just reread your post - it might be the increased difference in Scenario 1 vs Scenario 2 that allows those deleted ships the possibility to be built.

Thanks again.
I was thinking a whole Destroyer Division of Shimakaze would be useful in the Marshal/Gilbert defense or as a counter force in the Bay of Bengal. in some ways it is the Japanese version of the Fletcher, but you only get the one (unless the 21[X(] other blue printed models can be pushed up the queue somehow). There are also other destroyer models deep in the Tracker Blueprint ShipProd.cvs file which were cancelled ships in real life.

Most of those extra ships (example for the first 6 or so Shimakaze which are supposed to 'Start Building' 269 days past Dec 08, 1942) are look to have a 'start' dates from '43 on to mid '45 . I am not sure at this point that means they shift from Blue Print to Queue. Still, being so far down the list, if they are added to the bottom of the queue and don't get any build points unless specifically accelerated over other ships in the queue, or have to Halt/Stop a whole lotta stuff for those ships to rise enough to get NavSy build points.

Again, sorry for the diversion -- no more questions from me for awhile. Let's get back to the main show.
[:)]

[edited for clarity]

[Lowpe]

Aug 5, 1943

No night bombing.

Normal Allied bombing in Marshalls, Solomons, and Burma. Three or four Allied bombers downed to flak, and ops. No Japanese challenge.

In the Marshalls, an Iboat closes with two (single ship task forces, again) LCT and sinking sounds are heard. Then the Allies get retribution unfortunately...

The LCTs don't show up as sunk, and not a good trade, two 1 vp craft for an 8 point sub.

[Lowpe]

Betties finish off the damaged Fletcher. So far, every Fletcher I have sunk has been with torpedoes. This is my third sunk, only hundreds more to go.[:D]

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: DanSez

... just reread your post - it might be the increased difference in Scenario 1 vs Scenario 2 that allows those deleted ships the possibility to be built.

Just checked Tracker and only one Shimakaze. I might pair her up with the Tone for some surface raiding off Perth. I have some plans for some other raiding with non-traditional assets there too, but it will take me a month to put together.

A whole bunch of Shimakaze's would be a good trade for one super heavy battleship.

[Lowpe]

Allies are definitely flexing their muscles all over some tidbits from across the Empire.

Burma: Stalemate, but the Allies bomb daily and only Bangkok is currently being defended in depth with air forces. Transports are flying supplies to the cut off units around Lashio and they are fighting, but losing. The 1st Tank Division is in reserve, and the 4th ID in deep reserve. Heavy IJN presence to deter a landing at Tavoy or south; BB Ramillies seems to have made good her escape as an Iboat couldn't penetrate the screens south of Ceylon. Lucky ship (hit by three torpedoes and bombs).

Vinh line: Engineers are starting to arrive to build up this fall back line. AA for some of the air bases unloading at Haiphong.

Oz: Quiet. Raiders being sent to off Perth.

Solomons: Lower bases bombed daily, forces being flown out. Supply convoys unload tons at Umboi and Rabaul safely.

Marshall: Flying out troops. Ponape and Kusaie each have a division plus...will be tough nuts for him to crack I think.

Marianas: A Division is safely unloaded at Guam, all bases building, supply and fuel flowing in. KB here.

Kuriles: Quiet.

China: Allies starting to recon with American planes deep into China. Fighters stand ready, AA just now arriving for most bases.

Luzon, et al. Developing huge air bases...lots of shipping, ground forces very weak.

SRA: recon shows all quiet.

[topeverest]

Can you give more details on your Mariana's force deployment and defense strategy? The battle seems imminent.