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

[Lowpe]

Turn is away, nothing really risky today.

Moving the Tone surface group from Singers to fast transport some troops out of the Andamans; moving a destroyer group to the Bonins to pull out another unit.

Tanker convoy spotted at Cam Ranh Bay -- put up a good CAP there.

Moved some Nick Ds down to Nagoya.

Looking to sweep; sent 40K of supplies to China; looking to replenish supplies in Bonins, Okinawa, Luzon and Formosa.

Sent the KB to Nagsaki for minor repairs...no recon on Nagasaki at present.

Wiped out 400 Chinese squads yesterday. Still more to go, but every VP is golden.[:)] China, the gift that keeps on giving. I moved a full division to Pakhoi...worried about coastal invasions.

[Alpha77]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

ORIGINAL: MrKane

Best defence of B-29 was altitude, they were flaying high and most of Japan fighters did not have time and climb ability to reach them before they drop bombs and turn back. However it seems to me that in this game nobody is using them this way, most of players are using them the same way as they use B-24. If you flaying B-29 at 10k is is not surprise they will get broken by empire fighters They role is to bomb city form high altitude or low at night. They are not tactical bombers in game as they were not RL.

I remember watching an interview with a B29 pilot that flew a lot of missions over the HI. He said they never, ever worried about Japanese fighters. He said they were flying in low though (don´t think he specified what he meant by "low") and could usually see Japanese fighters trying to climb to intercept altitude long after they already dropped their bombs. But the B29 were so fast the fighters could never catch up.

Not entirely true, you can watch videos on youtube eg. about downed B29s [:)] Later Jap planes were quite good, but low in number and training suffered too.

Also later the altitude of B29s were changed to lower, you can read the reasons also in the nets. I can´t remember right now.

[Alpha77]

Noted more Jap side experts in the AARs, so please can you read that thread, esp. the question regarding production... thanks. I have arm and veh points in the pool but seems not much is produced Ca. over 40000 arm points, they just pile up it seems. More detail: tm.asp?m=3905893

Edit: Put the question here too:

"
It seems I do not produce much if anything for the weapons & squads pools. I have veh&arm points however. Some stuff is produced but consumed right away again, even if I turned reinforcements OFF to all my units. Reason I wanted to pool some stuff and then give it to the units I want or that need them most.... While the engine & plane part of production works fine and stuff goes to the pool to be consumed like I want to....I also learned meanwhile that repairing the damaged research center will take ages so the Jap does not really get advanced plane a year or so earlier...

Is there some kind of threshold of points I need before eg. tanks, med art or better squads are produced ? Yes I have some non Jap squads in the pool....

ALSO: Is there a list how much eg. a tank type or as 15cm how cost in arm points ? And the production of this stuff is pre-programmed or random ? Seems I cannot influence it what I wanna have build, eg. no AA guns but therefore arty " quote end

[leehunt27@bloomberg.net]

Lowpe- on your point about withdrawing Japanese troops back to the Home Islands from around the Empire- I found it relatively easy to withdraw as well-- too easy. Seems like its very difficult for the Allies to recon troop movements off islands or be aware of transport planes-- that's probably a minor issue with the game engine (though very minor, its the greatest wargame ever). Like 50 Topsy transport planes flying in and out of a cut off island should come up somehow on the Allied intel report. In my next game as the Allies I will be sure to try and prevent such well managed retreats. My opponent has landed several times with division(s) at various bases to find them virtually empty. Very satisfying as the Japanese player and immensely frustrating as the Allies! I'm guessing your opponent will do that a few times as well. I noticed you highlighted a bunch of islands to put brigades on- this begs another question- do you spread out your defenses and try to hamper his every effort, or concentrate on a few islands with strong airbases?

Interesting points on the B-29's over the last couple pages 187-188. In my mid 1944 game my opponent's B-29's have proven somewhat useless and I managed to shoot down 1/3 of a squadron once (he admitted as much). I was terrified of them coming, but now not so much. That might change by mid 1945, but hopefully I can keep them at a distance till then.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Alpha77

Noted more Jap side experts in the AARs, so please can you read that thread, esp. the question regarding production... thanks. I have arm and veh points in the pool but seems not much is produced Ca. over 40000 arm points, they just pile up it seems. More detail: tm.asp?m=3905893

Edit: Put the question here too:

"
It seems I do not produce much if anything for the weapons & squads pools. I have veh&arm points however. Some stuff is produced but consumed right away again, even if I turned reinforcements OFF to all my units. Reason I wanted to pool some stuff and then give it to the units I want or that need them most.... While the engine & plane part of production works fine and stuff goes to the pool to be consumed like I want to....I also learned meanwhile that repairing the damaged research center will take ages so the Jap does not really get advanced plane a year or so earlier...

Is there some kind of threshold of points I need before eg. tanks, med art or better squads are produced ? Yes I have some non Jap squads in the pool....

ALSO: Is there a list how much eg. a tank type or as 15cm how cost in arm points ? And the production of this stuff is pre-programmed or random ? Seems I cannot influence it what I wanna have build, eg. no AA guns but therefore arty " quote end

Most Japanese production is built and send into the field, built for demand, not to the pools.

Demand can come from reinforcing units arriving or units drawing replacements -- then the appropriate costs are paid and the device enters the map.

Costs (in HI, Arm, Vehicle points) are detailed in the manual. You might need tracker to see individual load costs per device.

Do some searches it is pretty well laid out in the forum. I have a turn to watch, perhaps tomorrow I will give a more detailed answer....

[Lowpe]

April 1, 1944

Another month done! Woohoo.

More night bombing in Nagoya. The Nick Ds I flew there last turn don't fly, that seems to be a constant game routine, the first night following a base transfer and the NF don't fly. Good to know....

I think we nailed one Ventura, lots evaded. Stat wise the Ventura isn't great in a head to head comparison versus the Irving Sa. The squadron of Irving Sa are being flown by Tracom guys...so pilot differential can't be that great. The Ventura pilots must have great defense skill, although I have heard tell that only applies to fighter planes.

Guess it is just a crackerjack squadron with night modifiers...perhaps radar will help in two months?

Look at the paltry bomb load!

[Lowpe]

All torps miss versus a destroyer. I think they are heading east.

[Lowpe]

George, let me count the ways I love you![:)]

[Lowpe]

A good day in the air, almost....the 4E beasties were shot down over Nagoya.

[Lowpe]

Complacency bites me once again.

20 B29s attack the Port at Tientsen. 2 BB repairing damage and 3 empty CVE go down. In truth, I guess I forgot about them...and didn't think they had been spotted.

No port is safe now.



That was 200 500# bombs. If I would drop 200 250kg bombs I would never get the same result; I know because I have done it.

PS: I guess this stupid move earns me the Blunder Hat[X(]

[Lowpe]

Well the retreat continues. The 4th ID looks like they are in trouble as about 2000 additional Allied AV enters there hex today.

They are 34 miles into their retreat...dare I switch them into a faster mode of travel and try to avoid the lopsided attack? 13 miles on good roads into a clear hex. The clear hex of death was bombed, but that was all the action here for today.

[ny59giants]

I don't understand the use of his carrier capable Corsairs for land based sweeps. IMO, they are best use on my CVs as CAP only planes. They are better than Hellcats and should make any efforts by you against his CVs even more costly.

"IF" you try to move 4th ID faster in Thailand, you will pay the price. [:-]

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Complacency bites me once again.

20 B29s attack the Port at Tientsen. 2 BB repairing damage and 3 empty CVE go down. In truth, I guess I forgot about them...and didn't think they had been spotted.

No port is safe now.



That was 200 500# bombs. If I would drop 200 250kg bombs I would never get the same result; I know because I have done it.

PS: I guess this stupid move earns me the Blunder Hat[X(]

Ouch, that hurts. [:(]

Btw, didn´t someone very recently warn you that the greatest B29 asset was their range? Wonder who that was... [;)]

[Alpha77]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: Alpha77

Noted more Jap side experts in the AARs, so please can you read that thread, esp. the question regarding production... thanks. I have arm and veh points in the pool but seems not much is produced Ca. over 40000 arm points, they just pile up it seems. More detail: tm.asp?m=3905893

Edit: Put the question here too:

"
It seems I do not produce much if anything for the weapons & squads pools. I have veh&arm points however. Some stuff is produced but consumed right away again, even if I turned reinforcements OFF to all my units. Reason I wanted to pool some stuff and then give it to the units I want or that need them most.... While the engine & plane part of production works fine and stuff goes to the pool to be consumed like I want to....I also learned meanwhile that repairing the damaged research center will take ages so the Jap does not really get advanced plane a year or so earlier...

Is there some kind of threshold of points I need before eg. tanks, med art or better squads are produced ? Yes I have some non Jap squads in the pool....

ALSO: Is there a list how much eg. a tank type or as 15cm how cost in arm points ? And the production of this stuff is pre-programmed or random ? Seems I cannot influence it what I wanna have build, eg. no AA guns but therefore arty " quote end

Most Japanese production is built and send into the field, built for demand, not to the pools.

Demand can come from reinforcing units arriving or units drawing replacements -- then the appropriate costs are paid and the device enters the map.

Costs (in HI, Arm, Vehicle points) are detailed in the manual. You might need tracker to see individual load costs per device.

Do some searches it is pretty well laid out in the forum. I have a turn to watch, perhaps tomorrow I will give a more detailed answer....

Thanks no need to explain more, figured it out meanwhile. And good luck with the game....[:)]

[Lowpe]

Yeah, Joc, just call me stupid.[:D] I deserve it.[;)]

This is like the fourth time he has done a long range port attack. I think about all the ships I threw away thru stupid stunts, undefended ports and goofy bombardments and it really shames me.

Turn is away...not much to report. Over 12.7K AV on Honshu now. I still have lots of dribs and drabs and heavy device units to retreat all over the map. Just so many clicks...sigh.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

I don't understand the use of his carrier capable Corsairs for land based sweeps. IMO, they are best use on my CVs as CAP only planes. They are better than Hellcats and should make any efforts by you against his CVs even more costly.

"IF" you try to move 4th ID faster in Thailand, you will pay the price. [:-]

I took your advice, after initially thinking about moving them to a faster mode. I suspect they will get shock attacked...and it won't go well; but better than if I put them into another mode and they got attacked.

I have been so ineffective at attacking his ships, I don't think he cares...

[witpqs]

I don't understand the use of his carrier capable Corsairs for land based sweeps. IMO, they are best use on my CVs as CAP only planes. They are better than Hellcats and should make any efforts by you against his CVs even more costly.

Depends on his pools. He might have to. At this point he has a lot of Corsair production and might feel he has to help out on land with them. P-47D25 production has been running for a month, but will only be for three more months. He might be budgeting his a/c.

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

I don't understand the use of his carrier capable Corsairs for land based sweeps. IMO, they are best use on my CVs as CAP only planes. They are better than Hellcats and should make any efforts by you against his CVs even more costly.

Depends on his pools. He might have to. At this point he has a lot of Corsair production and might feel he has to help out on land with them. P-47D25 production has been running for a month, but will only be for three more months. He might be budgeting his a/c.

Yeah, if he has done any research he will know of the abysmal USAAF replacement rate in late 44.

[Lowpe]

April 1st, 1944


No night bombing. Allies sweep Honshu. Sweeping multiple bases and not hitting my strong points. Another 20 top line Allied fighters lost for 40 Japanese ones.

Over in Indochina, I don't try to race out of the jungle road, and the troops stand up to a 12-1 attack with surprisingly light losses, they are now 1 mile away from making it to the clear hex of death, and should be in Bangkok in two days. Everyone there.

On reflection, if I would have had the 4th ID change their movement mode, they would have made it to the clear hex, but not in combat mode.

Any which way you look at it, I am happy. I believe I will have a complete withdraw from the forward positions without any units being cut off.

[Lowpe]

New line in Indochina...