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

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: mind_messing

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

Cool to see the Yamatos in action. Only seen them a couple of times in all my games. [:)]

They're good ships once in the battle, but if they get any significant damage it's costly, and the repairs are loooooonng.

That's my take on the Yamato's, and the reason why they've yet to see combat. If any serious damage is going to keep them in the docks for the best part of a year, I want them to be lobbing shells at a target that's really worthwhile.

Part of my problem is that I don't really know what I want out of the Yamato's. I can't quite decide if they're for bombardment duties only, or if they should be used to whack the hoards of Allied DD/CL task forces. They're nigh untouchable to the guns of all but the biggest Allied ships, but a couple of torpedoes can put them in the yards for the best part of a year.

The Musashi's first engagement is the sort of stuff that keeps me from using the Yamato's actively: surprised at 3,000 yrds by Allied ships with working torpedoes...

I am hoping that with a lot of screens and operating independently I can minimize the torpedo risk. No torpedoes went towards the Musashi in any encounter. I was more worried running the guantlet of Allied subs, and then returning as the Musashi was shedding escorts fast, and in fact ended up with only one.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

Yeah, but that was kind of bittersweet. First I got all the Iowas sent to the yards because of the AEs inability to handle movement properly and then you lost both Yamatos to the same thing.

The game engine does it a lot. Bombardment task forces are just so chancy.

[Lowpe]

Celebrating the Anniversary today...wife is sick with cold so subdued.

Swim my son got 3 seconds and one first, exceeded his seed time in one event the rest were as seeded. Good showing cause he was sick. Next up League finals and then States which he looks like he will make unless he gets sicker.

Extra time to do the turn....Allied commander is flying cross country and his flight got bumped...no turn until Tuesday most likely.

I have decided to simply bombard Car Nicobar with Cruisers and pull back to the relative safety of Sabang and Phuket staging area for another push once the Yamoto and Musashi are reloaded. Musashi might be out, since I think I should repair the damage while it is relatively minor and not let it accumulate.

Swamping the Andamans to Rangoon with subs, and sub minefields. Maybe I can catch something.

Still no major indication of where the Allied tank army is heading, 2 British/Commonwealth units did head south down the dirt road...but no idea on the other 24 units.

[Lowpe]

These ships are 1 vp each. They are kind of unpleasant as they can actually steam 2 hexes at cruise speed and make 17 hexes between stops.

The Allies are making plentiful use of them.

[Lowpe]

Here is a closer look at two British ships now residing on the bottom -- I like the Fiji Class!

In the recent Musashi battles, I think the Kenya might be in trouble too. She took at least one 46cm hit, and several others. The Yamoto last year put down two British light cruisers with one hit so here is hoping!

[mind_messing]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Here is a closer look at two British ships now residing on the bottom -- I like the Fiji Class!

In the recent Musashi battles, I think the Kenya might be in trouble too. She took at least one 46cm hit, and several others. The Yamoto last year put down two British light cruisers with one hit so here is hoping!

The 46cm shells are killers, but it depends where the Kenya was hit. If it went through the deck and you got "critical damage" or a likewise report, then the Kenya is in the yards for quite some time. It might sink if it gets a few bad rolls on damage control. If it landed in the superstructure, forget it - a bunch of systems damage and no more.

I've had a dinky 850 tonne E-class ship take a 16 inch shell to the superstructure and have only 18 points of systems damage to show for it. I remember saying to Loka that there shouldn't have been anything left above the waterline.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: mind_messing

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Here is a closer look at two British ships now residing on the bottom -- I like the Fiji Class!

In the recent Musashi battles, I think the Kenya might be in trouble too. She took at least one 46cm hit, and several others. The Yamoto last year put down two British light cruisers with one hit so here is hoping!

The 46cm shells are killers, but it depends where the Kenya was hit. If it went through the deck and you got "critical damage" or a likewise report, then the Kenya is in the yards for quite some time. It might sink if it gets a few bad rolls on damage control. If it landed in the superstructure, forget it - a bunch of systems damage and no more.

I've had a dinky 850 tonne E-class ship take a 16 inch shell to the superstructure and have only 18 points of systems damage to show for it. I remember saying to Loka that there shouldn't have been anything left above the waterline.

No turns due to winter weather and travel, so I went back and watched the fight over again, this time a lot less hurriedly than I did the first time.

Kenya took 1 46cm hit, destroying radar and causing fires below deck and also took two 15cm belt armor penetrating hit causing severe damage. Most other hits were either in the superstructure or bounced off. So my guess she will live, if the subs don't get her.

The Danae had severe casualties to the damage control parties which lowers the crew's experience.

The Musashi was just so impressive, but on closer examination in the first fight,the Kenya did get off one torpedo attack on the Musashi.[X(]





Newcastle above the Kenya, the Suffolk below.

[Lowpe]

October 1, 1943

No night bombing.

Iboats get several encounters with landing craft in and around Rangoon, but no damage inflicted.

Allies bomb Chiang Mai, and a small group hits Trinkat's runways.

An IJN APD, 4vp, collides with a mine at Trinkat and sinks. Several days ago an 11 VP xAP, one of the fairly little ones got torpedoed by a sub near Trinkat, the fires caught up and I was forced to scuttle her, and to make for three bad things, a damaged Iboat founders in the CentPac trying to head for safety.

Look what search has discovered all moving west....18 hexes from Saipan, but closer to Marcus![X(] All things considered, it is a pretty weak force for tackling something as big as the Marianas.

[Lowpe]

7 Allied units have now made contact in the jungle road east of Tuang Gyi, most seem to be hanging back. Checking to see how supply flows?

[Lowpe]

IJA does an artillery bombardment at Chungking: 300 casualties inflicted, about 5 destroyed, for 7 casualties on the IJA side.

72 units and 3200 AV at Chungking....is this doable to conquer you think? I can bombard, and bomb to deplete the supply and then probably 10 deliberate attacks to get the forts down with horrendous losses on my side not to mention all the attacks it would take to finally destroy everyone.

Do I have enough time, or should I simply just siege it and save the supplies?

[Lowpe]

Okay! I am sitting here pondering my moves; listening to a YoYoMa Cello solo and I need to cobble together my response to the Allied fleets off Marcus.

Hmmm., it really is quite a weak force.[&:] The KB matches up well, and throw in the numerous airports at the Marianas one could not ask for a better clash. But is it an invasion or a raid? There is only one large BB/CA fleet and no indication of an invasion...and therein lies the rub.

For, if it is only a raid, I would rather fight the Deathstars planes with my my land based planes and not risk any of the KB. Even a 1-2 trade in carriers would greatly benefit the Allies and without the lure of an amphibious invasion I just don't want to tangle with the Allies. Remember, one of my goals is to have a fleet in being to delay invasions which means that can't fight now in Oct of 43 and expect to remain a fleet in being.

Now adding to the complications the 46th Division is unloading at Tinian today, arrived yesterday and is definitely within an airstrike range tomorrow, although it is not spotted today, it has had two run ins with subs on their approach. Is this simply a raid in force an attempt to get some transports? If so he would pay a heavy price in lost planes I think.

Now, on the other hand, if there are 3 divisions enroute, this would simply be the gift that keeps on giving unless he is bringing a whole lot more to the fight than what I have spotted.

Thanks for letting me ramble here, helps me to make up my mind.

[mind_messing]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Do I have enough time, or should I simply just siege it and save the supplies?

Grit your teeth and do it. Those 72 units will need to sit at Chungking to keep the Chinese penned in anyways, so you'd be as well having the city (and the VP's, industry and strategic freedom that does with it).

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: mind_messing

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Do I have enough time, or should I simply just siege it and save the supplies?

Grit your teeth and do it. Those 72 units will need to sit at Chungking to keep the Chinese penned in anyways, so you'd be as well having the city (and the VP's, industry and strategic freedom that does with it).

The date is late, but at the very least you should close the hex sides and maybe probe his forts. Beginning the investment now, at this date... I'm not sure it's worthwhile. Then again, maybe.

You wouldn't need your entire army to keep the Chinese cooped up in the Chungking valley. Only a few thousand AV at most if you pick your hexes carefully.

[Lowpe]

I put the fighters up in the Marianas, and left some dangling bait just in case the Allies come calling with the deathstar. Plenty of bombers are resting today, just in case things heat up. Enhanced search some.

I have very close to 100 Georges flying CAP, not to mention all the A6M5cs, Oscar IVs, and Tony KI100-I flying lower CAP. If the Deathstar comes their airforce would be severely mauled at which point I can exercise lots of options.

Personally, I think it is a move to Bombard/Invade Marcus or perhaps a raid on Truk/Eniwetok. In which case, I am just a little slow in getting the heavy infantry to Marcus (they are loading on the HI now), but the construction engineers are leaving --one unit is unloading at Saipan, the other is getting picked up tonight and heading for Iwo so a Naval Guard and IJNAF group is pretty much it. Not even mines, not that they ever did me any good.

I have a respectable surface fleet hanging back 6-7 hexes from the Marianas and a lesser one from Marcus...if the opportunity presents itself they could race in for some torpedo strikes tomorrow.

A new deliberate attack at Trinkat against the Chindits and paratroopers there after a bombardment by the Fuso I hope. Fuso has to run the gauntlet of Allied subs...

I have a plan for getting a surface group to stand off from Ceylon 5-6 hexes and make runs into the southern tip of Ceylon each night looking for either cripples or reinforcements. I will need to use some cargo ships for fuelers, but I have the area under observation by both Norms and Glens and I feel there is an opportunity there. It would probably take three or four runs before an engagement unless my timing is superb.

The Tone is getting their RS forward torpedo tubes fixed at Singers and she will be ready for service in 3-5 days. The next up will be Musashi for some pierside repairs...while the Yamoto heads back to the fray.

[Lowpe]

Chungking, I am going to bombard again, and bomb the airfields. I suspect forts are respectable...they have been everywhere in China.

[Lowpe]

New Milestone: A squadron of Mustang's swept some Oscars. 7 Mustangs downed for 4 Oscars. That won't last, with newer models coming online down the road, but I will take it!

Nick D factory repaired and researching.

Peggy T still has one factory to repair and then they can r&d. Been at 1 factory for 2 months now it seems.[:D]

Next Jill arrives, still have 10 engines to use up for the last model and then we will advance the factory.

Should have my only Sentai of Jacks up and running about sometime this month. Probably send them to big base in Marianas.

[Lowpe]

Oct 2, 1943

No night bombing.

The Fuso goes into bombard the Chindits at Trinkat, and after three other ASW teams clash with subs, there is a Dutch sub in Trinkat itself and lines up the Fuso for a shot and hits.[:@]

The bombardment goes off, and only 25 casualties inflicted, bombing by Helens very low inflicts 6 casualties and a 1-2 attack nets no advantage for Japan on Trinkat other than the Paratroopers are starting to rebuild their assault value.

I managed to look at the Fuso, after the turn, and surprise, surprise only 6 flood damage 2 of which major! Imagine that![X(]

Elsewhere, it looks like the Allied fleets are all headed to Marcus, where I successfully fast transported off another construction unit, but Marcus is doomed with 60 AV defending. I would put up a picture, but I accidentally closed out of the program before saving, and now I have to watch everything again.[:-]

At Hanoi, I guessed right from looking at the detection levels and moved the transports and sent in 2 Sentai of Oscars and 1 of Nicks, it works out kind of...trade 14 Oscars and 4 Nicks for 12 Lightnings, but the Oscars are too high to hit the 4Es that follow much and 3 Oscars are destroyed on the ground. My bad for not putting in a sentai of Georges at high altitude. It really is a black science, combating Allied 4Es.

And then the Allies moved their tanks forward, no artillery, and they trash the remains of the troops east of Tuang Gyi, who retreat towards Chiang Mai (but whether that is into the jungle or across the river I have no idea yet). Racing troops there, but I simply can't stop his tanks -- they have trashed two divisions, two regiments and a tank regiment. Running a tank army down a dirt road in the height of the monsoon against decent IJA infantry (43 squads). Wonderful.





Love the pagoda![:)]

[Lowpe]

There goes Marcus Island, now he will have search up to the Bonins, etc.

[Lowpe]

Funny, sad.

[Lowpe]

Burma

The monsoon is still with us, but it really only seems to hinder me.

Bleak here as well...Will pull back to Rangoon/Pegu giving Allies Burma Road.[:(][:(]