Too much Iron in my Diet - Mundy(A) vs KenchiSulla (J)

[Sangeli]

ORIGINAL: Mundy
Got two shots at his ships. The SBDs, as usual got creamed, while the B-25s slipped under his CAP. I don't favor Mitchells vs his warships, but if he's shipping supply in the middle of all this, it's hard to make assignments. I took the SBD-5s off their drop tanks.

No question its often hard to determine whether your planes are going to go after warships or merchant ships. I guess its really just a question of what you can afford to lose. If you have spare airframes and trained LowN pilots then it can pay to be aggressive. Otherwise you're probably better off holding back in these sort of situations when you're not sure. In this case it certainly helped that you had a number of different strikes going for targets at the same hex. It's a bit unfortunate that you can't get more fighters to sweep and escort to Lorde Howe. When the KB isn't protecting it you certainly could smash the base up I think.

[Mundy]

I don't want to push the bombers too hard. The pools there aren't as well stocked as I am on the fighter side. Some of my B-25 units (USAAF and RAAF), though are getting to be very good.

05 August 1943

Cannonfodder finally punches through Sydney and damages some aircraft with his last bombardment. I was thinking I was immune to harm at this point, but CF may have just been unlucky lately.

ight Naval bombardment of Sydney at 90,167 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 46 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 6 destroyed on ground
F4U-1 Corsair: 5 damaged
F4U-1 Corsair: 2 destroyed on ground
P-38G Lightning: 18 damaged
P-38G Lightning: 2 destroyed on ground
Spitfire Vc Trop: 5 damaged
P-39N1 Airacobra: 10 damaged

17 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
BB Kirishima
BB Hiei, Shell hits 1
BB Kongo

Allied ground losses:
463 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled

Airbase hits 3
Runway hits 13

This was followed up by KB hitting the heavy industry. He can do that all he likes, as I have all the Australian AH shut down to stop the fuel drain.

Morning Air attack on Sydney , at 90,167

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 159 NM, estimated altitude 22,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 41 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 125
B6N2 Jill x 172
D4Y1 Judy x 124
D4Y2 Judy x 58
D4Y3 Judy x 17

Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vc Trop x 7
P-38G Lightning x 5
P-39N1 Airacobra x 13
F4U-1 Corsair x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 4 destroyed
B6N2 Jill: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged
D4Y1 Judy: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
D4Y2 Judy: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-39N1 Airacobra: 1 destroyed
F4U-1 Corsair: 1 destroyed

Heavy Industry hits 6

Aircraft Attacking:
24 x D4Y1 Judy bombing from 18000 feet
City Attack: 1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
25 x B6N2 Jill bombing from 18000 feet
City Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
17 x D4Y2 Judy bombing from 18000 feet
City Attack: 1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
17 x B6N2 Jill bombing from 18000 feet
City Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
16 x D4Y2 Judy bombing from 18000 feet
City Attack: 1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
15 x B6N2 Jill bombing from 18000 feet
City Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
23 x D4Y1 Judy bombing from 18000 feet
City Attack: 1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
25 x B6N2 Jill bombing from 18000 feet
City Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
24 x D4Y2 Judy bombing from 18000 feet
City Attack: 1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
25 x B6N2 Jill bombing from 18000 feet
City Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
18 x D4Y1 Judy bombing from 18000 feet
City Attack: 1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
10 x B6N2 Jill bombing from 18000 feet
City Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
25 x D4Y1 Judy bombing from 18000 feet
City Attack: 1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
17 x B6N2 Jill bombing from 18000 feet
City Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
17 x D4Y1 Judy bombing from 18000 feet
City Attack: 1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
17 x B6N2 Jill bombing from 18000 feet
City Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
15 x D4Y1 Judy bombing from 18000 feet
City Attack: 1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
17 x B6N2 Jill bombing from 18000 feet
City Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
17 x D4Y3 Judy bombing from 18000 feet
City Attack: 1 x 500 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
VMF-212 with F4U-1 Corsair (1 airborne, 2 on standby, 2 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 14000 and 25000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes
No.82 Sqn RAAF with Spitfire Vc Trop (0 airborne, 3 on standby, 3 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 13000 and 22000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 35 minutes
35th FG/39th FS with P-38G Lightning (0 airborne, 2 on standby, 2 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 20000 and 21000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes
35th FG/41st FS with P-39N1 Airacobra (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 5 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 19000 and 21000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes

A sub bagged an xAK off Kyushu. Unfortunately the other sub shooting at a tanker had a dud. I'd rather sink the fuel haulers than anything else.

My raid on Lord Howe was unspectacular.

Morning Air attack on Lord Howe Island , at 100,169

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 37 NM, estimated altitude 22,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 36
Ki-84a Frank x 26

Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 18
P-38G Lightning x 11
P-38H Lightning x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-84a Frank: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
P-38G Lightning: 2 destroyed
P-38H Lightning: 1 destroyed

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

Port hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 20000 feet
Port Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 20000 feet
Port Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
2 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 20000 feet
Port Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
251 Ku S-1 with N1K1-J George (9 airborne, 20 on standby, 7 scrambling)
9 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 25000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes
25 planes vectored on to bombers
13th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (8 airborne, 18 on standby, 0 scrambling)
8 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 15000 and 27000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 9 minutes
10 planes vectored on to bombers



---------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on Lord Howe Island , at 100,169

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 24,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 26
Ki-84a Frank x 20

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 4
B-24D1 Liberator x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K1-J George: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged

Port supply hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 20000 feet
Port Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 20000 feet
Port Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 20000 feet
Port Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
13th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
19 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 20000 and 23000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes
251 Ku S-1 with N1K1-J George (13 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
13 plane(s) intercepting now.
13 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 26000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 43 minutes



---------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on Lord Howe Island , at 100,169

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 38 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 18
Ki-84a Frank x 15

Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-84a Frank: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 8 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Myoko, Bomb hits 1

Port hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 20000 feet
Port Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
13th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 4 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
7 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 14000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 60 minutes
251 Ku S-1 with N1K1-J George (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 7 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
9 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 17000 and 27000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 35 minutes



---------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on Lord Howe Island , at 100,169

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 11
Ki-84a Frank x 12

Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K1-J George: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 7 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 20000 feet
Port Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
13th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 4 scrambling)
8 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 14000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 54 minutes
251 Ku S-1 with N1K1-J George (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 7 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 17000 and 21000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 35 minutes

I'm resting these guys for a while. I have two more B-24 squadrons at Niue in from Pearl. It's so nice to see the Frank finally in action. Can I assume he'll have A7Ms on all his carriers by the time the year is out?

[Mundy]

Cannonfodder has been pounding Sydney for the last several days. KB has been split between the heavy industry and port, since he's found West Virginia sitting in drydock. She's been eating a bomb or two per day, but damage has been minimal, if any. She's stuck there for the next two months, at any point. All the planes are relocated, though it puts them out of range.

With his infatuation there, I'm getting prepped for a move on Baker. That island's been a bulge in my side for awhile now, and I'd like to keep his search ranges pushed back. I have one APA in Pearl, so I'll try to get most of a regiment loaded on that, but the rest of it will be on a shoestring, using the more commercial type transport. Most of my fighting transports are enroute to Cape Town, but I've been getting more almost daily. I'll funnel some extra towards Pearl to prep that up. I can still have a CVE and two battleships support this when I'm ready. Casablanca's enroute to Pearl from Tacoma. Maybe also HMS Victorious, as she's 40-50 days out. I can use her for something before she gets withdrawn.

Hornet's slowly healing at New Zealand (Auckland). Probably two months before I can contemplate moving her. She probably won't make the Ceylon thing.

I had something like five sub encounters last turn. One had duds and the rest simply missed. I can live with the dud torpedoes, but missing the target is really getting on my nerves. I may have to purge the sub leadership.

Most of the Ceylon mob is still 2-3 weeks from reaching Cape Town. In the meantime, I'll be moving as much supply as possible to India. With the last few 100k I've moved into India, supply has been moving in weird ways. Tanjore has about 20k+ on hand, while Madurai just has a few hundred. Both are occupied by troops and base units. My more inland bases in the north are filling out too, like Nagpur. Bombay still has an exclamation point at 30k. Karachi is at around 80k, so supply is departing there quickly.

Base units and supply have been enroute to Upolu, between Pago Pago and Savaii, to further bolster and diversify that area.

[BBfanboy]

Great that he is infatuated with WV at Sydney instead of sniffing around Auckland and finding Hornet! Have you been able to get any extra fighters to Auckland to help defend if he does start snooping?

[Mundy]

I'm pretty stocked with fighters in New Zealand right now. I could use extras, so I'll probably ship more when I get some.

[jwolf]

ORIGINAL: Mundy

I'm pretty stocked with fighters in New Zealand right now. I could use extras, so I'll probably ship more when I get some.

CF's usual tactic seems to be to wipe out the local air defense with a BB bombardment, leaving you highly vulnerable to the subsequent air strike. Unless you can play hide and seek with your fighters at nearby air bases, I don't know what defense you have against this tactic.

[Mundy]

I've been building up Hamilton, but yeah, I can't really stop the bombardments.

It does seem backwards to be at their mercy. B-25s won't cut it, either.

[Sangeli]

ORIGINAL: jwolf
CF's usual tactic seems to be to wipe out the local air defense with a BB bombardment, leaving you highly vulnerable to the subsequent air strike. Unless you can play hide and seek with your fighters at nearby air bases, I don't know what defense you have against this tactic.

Not just CFs tactic. Its a tried and true Japanese tactic that many players use. The reality is that with the KB around there is no counter to a BB bombardment like that. You just have to take the minimize the impact of the bombardment. Having inland bases is definitely the way to go here. If the KB isn't around there are ways to prevent bombardment but that doesn't seem to be CF's style; he keeps his naval assets concentrated. You're just going to have to accept that you won't be able to stop the KB and its pets for at least another year. Definitely makes 1944 a lot harder for the Allies.

[HansBolter]

I concur very strongly on the need for developed inland bases with sufficient aviation support to be able to rotate your damaged squadrons out of the trashed base.

Inland bases connected to the coastal bases by railroad is the key.

When you transfer the few ready planes out the disabled ones are crated and sent by RR to the new base taking them off the map where they cannot be destroyed by the next nuclear bombardment.

Then you get to watch him punch the wind with his next hit and recover your airforce sufficiently to start capping or even LRCAPing the targeted base again.

Don't both Sydney and Brisbane have inland bases behind them that can provide this function?

[Sangeli]

ORIGINAL: HansBolter
Don't both Sydney and Brisbane have inland bases behind them that can provide this function?

Don't think Mundy built up any inland bases in this region. Which means no CAP safe from bombardment during this current operation. But Mundy should be able to get a few ready in a few months.

What's the supply situation like in OZ? With HI turned off and supply being stockpiled in India it seems OZ might fall off as well. The whole SWPAC theatre is probably a no-go this game I think. Allies will be on the defensive here for a while.

[jwolf]

Canberra should do the job for Sydney. I don't know about an inland base near Brisbane. But over in NZ it's all coastal, right?

[Mundy]

I've got some bases under development behind Brisbane. Choices are a bit thinner behind Sydney, but Wagga Wagga has been built up pretty good. As mentioned, in New Zealand, two hexes south of Auckland is Hamilton, which I've developed pretty good. My planes are at Auckland, but will move quickly if stuff comes this way. The problem with the inland bases is that the planes' reach is curtailed quite a bit. As it is, all his ships are back at Lord Howe. Three short ranged subs are combing the area, but lately all my subs only care about taking shots at destroyers. That's getting old, too.

I'd say supply is adequate in Australia, but not overwhelming. Most supply seems to be concentrated at Sydney. Most places on the coast are in the 80-90k region.

I did misspeak on my battleship in Sydney. It's actually Nevada, who's stuck there for 162 days. Memory ain't what it used to be.

My southern India inland bases are stocking up a bit, two being in the 30k range right now. Trichinopoly and Tanjore. The former has no air support -- just engineers and is level 5, I think. I'm moving about 120 air support points there form Bombay now. I don't really want to populate them until I need them for fear of depleting them right away.

[Mundy]

15 August 1943

Fairly quiet. KB hit Sydney the last two turns but is back at LH now. I'm tempted to move fighters in. Runway damage is zero, but aircraft service is in the 90s, so I don't know how well they'll fly or not.

I did a quick headcount of heavy bombers in India, looking only at B-17s, B-24s and Wellingtons. Split between Bombay, Hyderabad and Nagpur (at 70,000+ supply, by the way), I have:

B-24- 120
B-17- 71
Wgtn 9

I also have 117 B-25 squadrons, plus a few Beaufort squadrons. It should be good when I cut them loose all at once. A P-38G squadron at Madras is upgrading to Hs, since there were 30 in the pool. I actually take a one hex range hit with them, but they'll cover Ceylon okay.

That one interior base at Ceylon, Dambull-something, is showing no troops there at all under recon scrutiny. I was planning to dump all my paras there when D-Day arrives

[Sangeli]

ORIGINAL: Mundy
Fairly quiet. KB hit Sydney the last two turns but is back at LH now. I'm tempted to move fighters in. Runway damage is zero, but aircraft service is in the 90s, so I don't know how well they'll fly or not.

That's the perfect time to launch a CAP trap since recon only shows the airbase damage so CF may not realize the runway is clear. You should not shy away from using those sorts of damaged bases as long as they are connected by RR to something else; whatever planes are damaged can be repaired elsewhere.

ORIGINAL: Mundy
I did a quick headcount of heavy bombers in India, looking only at B-17s, B-24s and Wellingtons. Split between Bombay, Hyderabad and Nagpur (at 70,000+ supply, by the way), I have:

B-24- 120
B-17- 71
Wgtn 9

I also have 117 B-25 squadrons, plus a few Beaufort squadrons. It should be good when I cut them loose all at once. A P-38G squadron at Madras is upgrading to Hs, since there were 30 in the pool. I actually take a one hex range hit with them, but they'll cover Ceylon okay.

That's a pretty good sized bomber force you have. Unfortunate though that the USAAF has to carry the brunt of the load because of heavy Wellington losses. This time try not to commit until AFTER your fighters have started sweeping a bit; since Ceylon is an island those fighters damaged from sweeps can't escape unless they are loaded up in a transport ship.

Where are your CVs now? Be sure to keep them out of sight as long as possible. The element of surprise is your best weapon here. If CF sees them and the KB disappears then there's a good chance they are moving back to the IO.

ORIGINAL: Mundy
That one interior base at Ceylon, Dambull-something, is showing no troops there at all under recon scrutiny. I was planning to dump all my paras there when D-Day arrives

Be sure you are reconning with planes that have cameras...don't make that mistake again. If it is empty though then its a good plan.

[Mundy]

1P Navy Libs are doing the recon, so I'm sure it's good. They've got the cameras.

No concerns about the service damage? I just don't want them sitting on the ground when they come again. I wish I had Jugs in Australia. They've been eating the A6M5's lunch so far. The nearest is in Auckland with two more in the Pago Pago network. The Spitfires I have there can add some backbone to the defense, I figure. I'm going to review leadership as I move them in, too. KB was sitting at LH itself, so I have at least a two day warning if/when they come. About 120 Zekes have been escorting.

Upolu has been building up next to Pago Pago. If I can scrounge up more engineers, I'll probably pick another base or two to build up.

All my fleet carriers, are at Cape Town. One more CVL may be enroute. There's a long list of TF buttons on the incoming route spot, so it's easy to lose track. Two more loaded troop convoys left Panama over the prior few turns, so that's still three weeks out. I would have loved to have Hornet involved, but she's repairing sys and eng at a snail's pace. She has about 35 flt which is all heavy. At this point, Sydney is out of the question.

I've had my bait SCTF sitting at Bombay, and they're still unspotted, which bodes well for security right now. I just don't want to cross paths with a sub when I start to make my move. I'll probably run the invasion out of Karachi, due to the supply issue. I'm hoping Colombo is loaded with goodies when I take it.

I'll have an APA and a few AKs at Pearl, and if CF still wants to mess with Australia, I'll be grabbing Baker. I'll just make sure that the infantry regiment is loaded on the assault ships and everything else can ride the commercial stuff. Any more assault ships in the states will head to Hawaii at this point. My two battleships at Pearl are about 50 days before leaving drydock with their upgrades. I want to use them both -- one to bombard, one to escort.

[Sangeli]

ORIGINAL: Mundy
No concerns about the service damage? I just don't want them sitting on the ground when they come again. I wish I had Jugs in Australia. They've been eating the A6M5's lunch so far. The nearest is in Auckland with two more in the Pago Pago network. The Spitfires I have there can add some backbone to the defense, I figure. I'm going to review leadership as I move them in, too. KB was sitting at LH itself, so I have at least a two day warning if/when they come. About 120 Zekes have been escorting.

Service damage really only affects how quickly your planes repair and I think morale (as in morale will reduce if stationed in a heavily damaged air base over over time). Since a CAP trap is only a one day affair, its not really relevant. A CAP trap like this isn't the domain of a Jug, however. Regardless of how good they are they are better suited for other roles. This is where you use your numerous P-40s. You can afford to lose them on the ground to BBs is there is an opportunity to shoot down KB pilots. Not to mention if they got shot up by Zeros you can recover many pilots still.

[Mundy]

Still wish I had Jugs there. Not enough in the pool yet to flip a squadron.

Funny how 40Es were in such demand before, and now I'm swapping units in the states to them. My 40K pool is very well stocked -- over 200, I think. Both of the N models are working up now too.

[Mundy]

17 August 1943

Mini update.

It looks like the whole Sydney thing may be moot at this point. All his carriers and such appear to be headed back towards Noumea, and they're about half way there. I'll think about an exploratory pounding of Lord Howe.

At Pearl, I have a CVE a few days out. When it arrives, I'll start re-staging the units for the Baker Island invasion down to Christmas Island. This whole thing is contingent on the what and where of KB.

Wasp (the new one) arrives at Cape Town. Three CVs and three CVLs are currently there. I'd say that's effectively 4 carriers worth of naval air. Lots of TFs are still inbound, so I'm looking at at least a month before everyone shows up. When the whole thing finally kicks off, it will probably all be out from Karachi.

Supplies at Sydney are down -- roughly 5,800. All the other major bases are in the 50 - 80k region. Probably all the repairs going on making this rough. After my big TF at San Francisco departs, I'll probably get a big mega-convoy of supply headed out. Cape Town is dedicated to India right now, so that's out.

[Sangeli]

ORIGINAL: Mundy
Supplies at Sydney are down -- roughly 5,800. All the other major bases are in the 50 - 80k region. Probably all the repairs going on making this rough. After my big TF at San Francisco departs, I'll probably get a big mega-convoy of supply headed out. Cape Town is dedicated to India right now, so that's out.

I don't think that repairing base damage eats up supply. However, I predicted this would happen when you said you turned off HI. HI accounts for a good deal of supply production in Australia so without it you're going to have shortages, especially given that your convoys seem to be stretched too thinly already.

I actually think Cape Town can supply Australia as well. Cape Town gets a lot of supply. More than you can probably ship out I think. Doesn't get a lot fuel, however. Which is why I refuel the convoys to India in India as to preserve the fuel for the convoys to Australia. With the Japanese deep into the SoPac I think you need to heavily utilize the Cape Town -> Perth convoy rout as its considerably shorter than any alternative.

[Mundy]

I've flipped on some of the HI in Australia. My issue before, was that they were sucking up all the fuel there. I'm running fewer ships there now, so I'll deal with it.

I don't know if there's that big of a time difference between using Cape Town and the States for Australia. I'd say about a week to 10 day difference. It's still 2-3 weeks just to get on the map from Cape Town, and at least another to make it to Perth. A convoy from the States I calculated at true distances came out to 30 days, but I'm not making a straight beeline like that either. India just needs too much supply right now for me to disrupt that. Almost all my xAKs for Cape Town are in transit right now anyway. I've got the right balance of transports split between San Francisco and Cape Town, so I'll leave things as is.

I'm kinda wondering if resources are holding back HI in India. Doing a quick survey at bases, I'm not exactly overloaded anywhere with them. There's not exactly any bases, including Cape Town, that are brimming with it either. I don't know if I want to set up some three month long route from the US to haul some there. It would need to be a mega convoy to make it worthwhile.