::Felix, Ferdinand and FRUPAC:: obvert (A) v Greyjoy (J)

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]IJNAF-RnD[/font]

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For the IJN side the A6M line is maxed out. This is good for point defense, but not so great for anything offensive. The shorter range of the later models actually can be a problem over days of flying with drop tanks and hunting a strike. I found that I had to continually monitor plane fatigue to make sure I wasn't sending out broken goods when launching a strike since their max range is 8 hexes. This can also be a problem when supply gets low and drop tanks are unavailable on land. Transfer distances are shorter and all of this means it's tougher to shift around and be as fluid as when you can toss an A6M3a group from So Pac to Perth in two days.

The Jack and George will be difficult to say the least with what I have to fight them with, and I just hope he can't use too many groups for them at this stage. The service 3 will take a toll though, and if he uses them in isolated spots, like Madras, that could go against him if I can ever actually shut the place for a day.

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]IJNAF-RnD-bombers[/font]

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The plane I was worried about is the Judy line, as he's already gotten the D4Y1. It isn't so bad now, as the D4Y3, which is the big jump to being able to get the perfect 8 hex strike is still far off. The Grace doesn't look to far forward, and the rest I'm not really so worried about.

The D4Y1 is still faster than any naval or marine fighter the Allies have, so that is a problem.

[Blue Army]

Great AAR - most exciting and really enjoying it, even for one who doesn't own WItP or know the rules[:)]

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: mic211

Great AAR - most exciting and really enjoying it, even for one who doesn't own WItP or know the rules[:)]

Thanks! It's fun to do when I have the time. I had a lot more when the game started, but every once in a while I can do some extra.

[panzer cat]

ORIGINAL: obvert

[font="Times New Roman"]IJNAF-RnD[/font]

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For the IJN side the A6M line is maxed out. This is good for point defense, but not so great for anything offensive. The shorter range of the later models actually can be a problem over days of flying with drop tanks and hunting a strike. I found that I had to continually monitor plane fatigue to make sure I wasn't sending out broken goods when launching a strike since their max range is 8 hexes. This can also be a problem when supply gets low and drop tanks are unavailable on land. Transfer distances are shorter and all of this means it's tougher to shift around and be as fluid as when you can toss an A6M3a group from So Pac to Perth in two days.

The Jack and George will be difficult to say the least with what I have to fight them with, and I just hope he can't use too many groups for them at this stage. The service 3 will take a toll though, and if he uses them in isolated spots, like Madras, that could go against him if I can ever actually shut the place for a day.

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Using drop tanks increase a/c fatigue! 3 years playing this game and I still learn something new every week.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: panzer cat

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Using drop tanks increase a/c fatigue! 3 years playing this game and I still learn something new every week.

I think it's not just drop tanks but the longer distances in general. With drop tanks though I note it going up a lot more quickly if they're used daily.

If for example you have units set for 50% CAP 25k alt at 0 hex distance, they will stay in the 8-12 range for a good while. If you increase that to 1 hex you'll notice a difference in the airframe fatigue and the pilot fatigue. At lower altitudes the fatigue will be less. For CVs you often have to keep groups flying at a distance for many days, and this is when I notice problems.

I was acutely aware of this during the past few turns as I'd had my F4F-4 groups all set to 50% CAP at range 5 while they traversed the area from Melbourne to Esperance. Once they got to Esperance about 2/3 of the Wildcats had 40-50 fatigue!! Then I had to set them for 7 hexes, with drop tanks, and prayed nothing struck because those were a lot of planes in need of rest.

This is especially true of the late war IJN CV fighters, as the A6M5c, the A6M8 and the A7M2 all have only an 8 hex max range which is of course what you want for the KB, so you have to keep them on that for days sometimes and they do get worn out.

[BBfanboy]

Nice of you to post the screenies of the aircraft database ... but .... I can't see anything identifying which pic is which model of aircraft.
I find the whole database interface non-user-friendly.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Nice of you to post the screenies of the aircraft database ... but .... I can't see anything identifying which pic is which model of aircraft.
I find the whole database interface non-user-friendly.

[8|]
You are supposed to have passed your aircraft recognition qualification!

[:D]

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Nice of you to post the screenies of the aircraft database ... but .... I can't see anything identifying which pic is which model of aircraft.
I find the whole database interface non-user-friendly.

[8|]
You are supposed to have passed your aircraft recognition qualification!

[:D]

Ha! Yes.

The top info is missing in some as I had to scroll down to find the date area. On the bombers all of the info is there, and on some of the fighters. I forget that I 'm familiar with the models of Japanese aircraft a bit more intimately than many players who don't venture into Japanese AARs as much! [:)]

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]IJAAF-RnD-bombers[/font]

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This is the only one of the IJAAF bombers I'm concerned about, and its arrival is still a good way off. Even after arrival it'll take 3-4 month to get pilots well trained in torpedo delivery.

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]Feb 27 - 28, 1943[/font]

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[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font] Thresher misses I-156 near Esperance and the IJN subs appear to fall back.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]OZ:[/font] In the SW corner of OZ things have settled a bit. Most of the stuff in unloaded and the rest will slowly be moved across the piers of the size three port, two ships at a time as they dock and disgorge. No air strikes occurred, and Nick says he was thwarted by weather. Probably a good thing for us, because even with 200 fighters on station, 300 escorted bombers might get through to hit a few things. Now with Spits on high CAP and a bunch of AA in the base it's less likely he'll set them to go. He's also scarpered from Kalgoorlie.

Most of the good amphib ships have gone over the horizon back to Melbourne, and they're needed elsewhere now. I've got to pay the piper on one that won't make it back for it's disband date. The CVEs will hang on until the other ships unload and another TF arrives. There is nothing I can see on the horizon, yet. The fields should go to level 3 in a few days and more fighters will move in, and then the CVEs can head back. I'll leave some surface forces nearby. The port has 198 mines right now with a few more on the way just in case.

Troops are now about 3 weeks short of Kalgoorlie, but I'm loath to let the tanks loose as the LR Netties could still give them some pain from Perth.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]INDIA: [/font] The 4Es hit Dambulla to make sure that stays closed, and no planes were around to thwart us there. He's got 400 fighters in Madras now, which makes me think there could be some offensive missions planned. I've moved back a bunch of the 4Es to Bombay.

last turn I tried some port mining at night, and it worked! Much less than I'd set, with a lot of groups losing their way due to night, but madras, Trincomalee and Diamond Harbor all got some. I'll keep this up to see if has an effect. I know when I was on the other side it was often in the sweeping that I'd lose ships, but it did make me tentative about what I would bring into the base. That was with 500-1,000 mines dropped by B-29s though. This is a pinprick comparatively.

I'll also be sweeping Colombo to see how that goes with the Corsairs, Lightings and one P-40K group. One goal is to see how the P-40K can stand up to good Japanese fighters.

Through bombardment I found out the unit introduced to Madras is the Southern Army HQ!! Very interesting.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CENT PAC: [/font] A big CV presence appears at Ponape when I recon the base. This looks like the whole mini-KB including the Junyo, Hiyo and a Soryu class CV. I've gone in for one bombardment at Nauru with a home base of Nekefutau so they can get out of the area quickly. That base has been really useful in this game as it's got a good size 4 port and it's well out of the combat zone.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SO PAC: [/font] Supply and some troops moving around, but nothing major. The IJN is back at Buin in strength, but I won't pull the trigger this time. Once the light gets lower I mitt send in some PTs if he's still there. Or he may use Musashi and slam some poor developing dot base like Panggoe.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CHINA: [/font] Changsha is getting pummelled. The troops in the mountains are holding by a thread. At Chungking I've got nearly 4k AV and some of the Corps are fresh with lots of arty still in them. The base is surrounded on the four clear hex sides, but I've just moved into the forest fought hex off road and also own the hexes not the gray road SW. That should allow me to move forces in and out if he lets that continue.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SIGINT:[/font] Aha! it's finally on land! The 4th is still on a boat though.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]Imperial Guards Division is located at Broome(62,127).
36/4th Division is loaded on a Akasi Cargo class xAK moving to Port Hedland.
33/4th Division is loaded on a Aden Cargo class xAK moving to Port Hedland.
2/4th Division is loaded on a Akasi Cargo class xAK moving to Port Hedland.[/font]

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Feb 28, 43
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Night Air attack on Madras , at 35,40

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 37 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 3

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-24D Liberator laying Mk 13 Mine from 9000 feet

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Morning Air attack on Dambulla , at 30,47

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 36 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 16
B-17E Fortress x 15
B-17F Fortress x 17
B-25C Mitchell x 3
B-25D1 Mitchell x 3
B-26B Marauder x 3
P-400 Airacobra x 23
P-40E Warhawk x 25
P-40K Warhawk x 45
F4F-4 Wildcat x 22

Allied aircraft losses
B-17F Fortress: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 36

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Ground combat at Changsha (82,52)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 48109 troops, 552 guns, 240 vehicles, Assault Value = 2566

Defending force 83429 troops, 268 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1880

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

Allied ground losses:
83 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Assaulting units:
116th/C Division
3rd Tank/A Division
116th/B Division
116th/A Division
3rd Tank/C Division
58th Division
13th Division
59th Division
3rd Tank/B Division
68th Division
60th/A Division
70th Division
60th/C Division
12th Army
6th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
Tonei Hvy Gun Regiment
11th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
1st Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
12th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
10th Mortar Battalion
51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
1st Mortar Battalion
2nd Hvy.Artillery Regiment
4th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
11th Army
52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
5th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
26th Chinese Corps
79th Chinese Corps
59th Chinese Corps
94th Chinese Corps
2nd Chinese Corps
18th Chinese Corps
3rd New Chinese Corps
6th War Area
29th Group Army
27th Group Army
30th Group Army
9th War Area
14th Construction Regiment
19th Group Army
5th Construction Regiment
17th Chinese Base Force

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[font="Trebuchet MS"]Here is a shot of Esperance right now. All is well for the time being. We even inherited 3 forts when the base turned over without a fight. [:)][/font]

[ny59giants]

Moving out from Esperance would include at least two heavy and maybe two light AA units to keep the bombers ineffective.

More micro-management time !! [:D] You can see the availability of your various CW troop (Ind, Aus, Brit) with the Rifle '43 version coming on line. You will need to plan of which division get them first and develop plans to rotate them. I would use the "Stockpile" option for them to save enough to upgrade in the next few months. A full division can be divided and allowed to upgrade. BEWARE of some of the other devices in the division that can do so and then have the Stockpile option to "Y" for devices like the AT, 25 pound guns, and the small AA.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Moving out from Esperance would include at least two heavy and maybe two light AA units to keep the bombers ineffective.

More micro-management time !! [:D] You can see the availability of your various CW troop (Ind, Aus, Brit) with the Rifle '43 version coming on line. You will need to plan of which division get them first and develop plans to rotate them. I would use the "Stockpile" option for them to save enough to upgrade in the next few months. A full division can be divided and allowed to upgrade. BEWARE of some of the other devices in the division that can do so and then have the Stockpile option to "Y" for devices like the AT, 25 pound guns, and the small AA.

It'll be a bit before we can get over to Kalgoorlie. I agree it would take some good protection.

I've been thinking about the upgrades and I'l start with some divisions that aren't quite filled out and work up to full divisions. That way the ones filling out can continue to take replacement while others fill out. If not they'll be stuck small for a long while as the 42 squads won't be around anymore.

[BBfanboy]

About your ship that has to be withdrawn, you could detach it from the Amphib TF and set it to run full speed to Melbourne or wherever it can disband. You don't really care if it gets system damage at this point. Don't need to refuel it either! Swap out the captain for a poor one if it can be done without cost of PP.

[JocMeister]

Time for your CVs to hit Ponape...?

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Moving out from Esperance would include at least two heavy and maybe two light AA units to keep the bombers ineffective.

More micro-management time !! [:D] You can see the availability of your various CW troop (Ind, Aus, Brit) with the Rifle '43 version coming on line. You will need to plan of which division get them first and develop plans to rotate them. I would use the "Stockpile" option for them to save enough to upgrade in the next few months. A full division can be divided and allowed to upgrade. BEWARE of some of the other devices in the division that can do so and then have the Stockpile option to "Y" for devices like the AT, 25 pound guns, and the small AA.

Remember to start small. You need only build up the squads for one battalion for each nationality (actually two is better) disband the first battalion and you now have about 70 upgraded squads. Upgrade the second battalion and disband, and you now have just about enough squads to start replacing brigades and split up divisions. Turn off replacements for all units that can take infantry during this period to ensure you do not drop down below the 108 minimum needed. Do this correctly and you should be well on your way to fully upgraded army withing two months of actually getting the first squad.

I typically break down most all independent battalions but you should always plan ahead and rebuild at least one or two before your new squad type comes on line.

If you have some depleted Indian divisions that are restricted, it may be best to disband one or two of them. You can then fully fill out the rest of your divisions. The real benefit is that you will eventually get the cadre back and can then change it's HQ to a unrestricted HQ for practically nothing before rebuilding. You will have to weigh the loss of the unit to the current fight but are reaching a point where you need to plan for the offensive coming a year from now. A full Indian division costs over 2,000 PPs to buy out and I find you reach a point where PPs really become your limiting factor.

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: crsutton

Remember to start small. You need only build up the squads for one battalion for each nationality (actually two is better) disband the first battalion and you now have about 70 upgraded squads. Upgrade the second battalion and disband, and you now have just about enough squads to start replacing brigades and split up divisions. Turn off replacements for all units that can take infantry during this period to ensure you do not drop down below the 108 minimum needed. Do this correctly and you should be well on your way to fully upgraded army withing two months of actually getting the first squad.

I typically break down most all independent battalions but you should always plan ahead and rebuild at least one or two before your new squad type comes on line.

Doesn't work for every nationality, but I've had success using base forces for this.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: crsutton

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Moving out from Esperance would include at least two heavy and maybe two light AA units to keep the bombers ineffective.

More micro-management time !! [:D] You can see the availability of your various CW troop (Ind, Aus, Brit) with the Rifle '43 version coming on line. You will need to plan of which division get them first and develop plans to rotate them. I would use the "Stockpile" option for them to save enough to upgrade in the next few months. A full division can be divided and allowed to upgrade. BEWARE of some of the other devices in the division that can do so and then have the Stockpile option to "Y" for devices like the AT, 25 pound guns, and the small AA.

Remember to start small. You need only build up the squads for one battalion for each nationality (actually two is better) disband the first battalion and you now have about 70 upgraded squads. Upgrade the second battalion and disband, and you now have just about enough squads to start replacing brigades and split up divisions. Turn off replacements for all units that can take infantry during this period to ensure you do not drop down below the 108 minimum needed. Do this correctly and you should be well on your way to fully upgraded army withing two months of actually getting the first squad.

I typically break down most all independent battalions but you should always plan ahead and rebuild at least one or two before your new squad type comes on line.

If you have some depleted Indian divisions that are restricted, it may be best to disband one or two of them. You can then fully fill out the rest of your divisions. The real benefit is that you will eventually get the cadre back and can then change it's HQ to a unrestricted HQ for practically nothing before rebuilding. You will have to weigh the loss of the unit to the current fight but are reaching a point where you need to plan for the offensive coming a year from now. A full Indian division costs over 2,000 PPs to buy out and I find you reach a point where PPs really become your limiting factor.

As a matter of fact I have built up some battalions. And I have got some 30-60% strength Indian brigades. And I do have some 20-40% strength divisions as well if I need them. I'll probably not disband these though as I've already paid for them once! Even if they don't fill out infantry squads completely ever, they still get a ton of other useful things. Even excess support can be useful, and there are a lot of small, less well defended bases I'll need to take or to garrison.

After my last struggles with the 42 squads I decided I'd be more prepared this time. One of the other benefits of having lost so many troops early is that I already have a good number of units bought out to unrestricted HQs. If I can get some of the others this time around I'll have a lot of free troops to send in 44.

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ORIGINAL: JocMeister

Time for your CVs to hit Ponape...?

My Cvs aren't close enough to do this right now. I wish! [:)]

[Lokasenna]

RE: aircraft recognition training -

I have these from way back. --edit--

Two decks, sold singly - aircraft and ships. Really cool decks. Only played with them a few times as I don't want to bang them up too badly, but they're neat to pull out on occasion. Probably should've pulled them out while the GF's parents were in town, her dad would've really appreciated.

I knew which planes were which in the screenies .

EDIT: ah, here's the ones I have.
http://www.amazon.com/Naval-Airplane-Sp ... ref=sr_1_1