The Gamiest Game in Town - EL (J) vs Rio Bravo (A)

[el lobo]

Pax,

Again a lot of great information and a lot to digest. I will get back with some of my thoughts later.

One comment though is that you are correct about me relinquishing initiative in early '43, or sooner. More on this later also.

Thanks

[Skygge]

I have had great use of the Rufe upthough 1942 and even start 1943 in several games.
I place them on the 4 CS cruisers as they can argument the CAP with some 80+ FF´s
Not that they will get many kills in a carrier vs carrier battle, but they can help break up allied airformations.

As long as the allied has a viable Carrier Force the Rufu´s can tip the balance in pitched carrier battles.
As float planes you can not be sure that they will fly - if in bad weather, but then again in bad weather you will
often find that there is no real battle at all.

[PaxMondo]

Rufe's are also useful as CAT traps. Put them on a dot hex with an AV in range of a CAT base and watch them chew them up. Really hurts the allies ... they can't afford losses at all ...

[Lowpe]

Rufes are good. +1.

Don't forget the BB conversions....turning them into AA platforms.

[Lowpe]

Ok, looked at your current plan...needs work, but you knew that. You should be strong in supplies.

I would keep both George and Jack production. Expensive yes, but some of the groundwork has been laid already and the Jacks use an available engine, and come very early.

I would boost your Nick production. Most, if not all, light bomber sentais can be converted over to Nick squadrons and ultimately Randy squadrons should the game last that long. That is a huge boost in your ability to intercept Allied bombers and protect bases. Also, you are going to be very weak fighting 4E bombers with Tojo and Oscar. The Nick will give you a little more muscle hopefully freeing up your Zeroes for other duties.

From mid 42 to mid 43 you will be relying upon the Tojo. Mid 43 Jack and George should come on line and help with the Hellcats and Corsairs and Lightnings and the Jugs.

Four factories for the Frank A...I don't recommend heavily researching planes past the Frank a (4/44)...as the game can change so radically which Pax mentions.

I would fill out the Judy research to size 30 factories asap. If you don't make it far both Jack and Judys make for decent kamikazes, but you really want to replace the Val.

I would get something researching the Nick D NF model. Earliest arriving Army NF.

[GetAssista]

ORIGINAL: el lobo
Thanks again GA.
So you are saying I should produce the Ki-44IIa and Ki-44IIc only, (just move the IIb r&d to the IIc)?
Yes
Will the higher maneuverability on the Norm help with asw?
It's FP with great range, an asset to your Navy and replacement for Jake
My thought on the Rufes is that if I am going to spend the money I am going to buy a more useful plane. I can still use the Rufe units for training. The units do come with some planes of their own don't they? [&:][;)]
What others said. You need those
When you say Mavises my eyes cross as not sure of which one you are talking. (Those, Helens, Peggys all tend to confuse me at times.) I'm not planning on r&ding any patrol or transports. If needed, I'll just produce them when they get here.
Nevermind, screenshot shows H8K1 Emily researched. Just turn repair on, this and its successor H8K2 are your best land based flying boats and Japanese equivalent of Catalina in usefulness, and also occasional torpedo planes
RE Judy, I think I see your reasoning here and will take a closer look.
What others said. You need those )
I still have a lot of studying to do on the balance of letting r&d go to production.
If your economy and conquests permit wrt supply, you can build exactly 1 R&D factory higher than 30 with the aim of switching it to production later, and having all others go into new R&D. All factories repair with same proportional speed no matter size, so this biggie will not lag wrt research output

Now for R&D factories you surely don't need: D3A2 Val (yuck! make sure D3A1 do not switch to this accidentally), M6A1 Seiran, maybe all H6Ks

Also, seems like you screwed your chance to chain R&D from Helen-Ia to Helen-IIa? Does it have a chain in your scen? Stock 1 has it. Oh well.. )

[el lobo]

ORIGINAL: Skygge

I have had great use of the Rufe upthough 1942 and even start 1943 in several games.
I place them on the 4 CS cruisers as they can argument the CAP with some 80+ FF´s
Not that they will get many kills in a carrier vs carrier battle, but they can help break up allied airformations.

As long as the allied has a viable Carrier Force the Rufu´s can tip the balance in pitched carrier battles.
As float planes you can not be sure that they will fly - if in bad weather, but then again in bad weather you will
often find that there is no real battle at all.

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

Rufe's are also useful as CAT traps. Put them on a dot hex with an AV in range of a CAT base and watch them chew them up. Really hurts the allies ... they can't afford losses at all ...

Welcome Skygge and thanks for dropping by.

I've read of others doing the same and it sounds interesting. Looks like the consensus is for the Rufe. My next turn is 4/1 so I should be able to build a couple of factories and fill-out the units.

A question for you, Pax, and anyone else. If you put them at a dot base, are they just by themselves, and if so how to they get Aviation Support or do they do OK with-out it?

[el lobo]

Everybody.

Thanks again for all your fantastic support. Hopefully in the next few days we can have a decent handle on R&D and move-on to production.

This whole R&D thing has been a lot of work but a lot of fun also. It would not have been possible without your help.

I will get to work on your suggestions and post back.

[Encircled]

Put them at a dot base with an AV

Hard to detect, tough to hit and the Rufes can give unescorted bombers/patrol aircraft a hard time

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Encircled

Put them at a dot base with an AV

Hard to detect, tough to hit and the Rufes can give unescorted bombers/patrol aircraft a hard time

+1

Husimi can convert to a good AV. You get a few to start as well. I go through a lot of them, but I also bag a lot of CATs.
Blinding the enemy is a great benefit.

[el lobo]

ORIGINAL: GetAssista

If your economy and conquests permit wrt supply, you can build exactly 1 R&D factory higher than 30 with the aim of switching it to production later, and having all others go into new R&D. All factories repair with same proportional speed no matter size, so this biggie will not lag wrt research output

Sorry GA but I am a uncertain about your terminology here.

When I see 1x30, I am thinking one group (location) of thirty factories. So when you say “exactly 1 R&D factory higher than 30” do you mean 1x31? If so I have not seen the mechanism to change the one extra to production and move the rest to r&d the next model.

Or do you mean 1x30 and 1x1? Or something else altogether?

Thanks

[el lobo]

ORIGINAL: Encircled

Put them at a dot base with an AV

Hard to detect, tough to hit and the Rufes can give unescorted bombers/patrol aircraft a hard time

Thanks and welcome Encircled.

[el lobo]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

ORIGINAL: Encircled

Put them at a dot base with an AV

Hard to detect, tough to hit and the Rufes can give unescorted bombers/patrol aircraft a hard time

+1

Husimi can convert to a good AV. You get a few to start as well. I go through a lot of them, but I also bag a lot of CATs.
Blinding the enemy is a great benefit.

I have four in the yard now and two more on the way. Will do some more when the ships free-up. But at 180 and 210 days I won't be seeing them for awhile.

[el lobo]

I was reluctant to produce the Rufe because I wanted to trim production. I also trimmed the Paul and Seiran for the same reason.

But I like the idea of being able be sneaky with all three of these float planes. So what is you thoughts on production of the Paul and Seiran?

[Skygge]

Both the Paul and the Serian can be fun and will make subs able to annoy the allied logistic. Send the subs to interdict mid ocean convoys - set the subs at low risk to avoid combat and hope their planes can hit something, and being far out at sea it might sink something.

They need be outside range of any CAP as that will eat these floatplanes up quick.

- I think neither are battle winners - just fun.

From start 1943 do on not waste your plane carrying subs on trying to get in torpedo range of strong (CV) allied taskforces. ASW will hurt them quick and hard. I find them better employed at gathering intel and interdicting logictic lines.

[PaxMondo]

I don't find any use for either of the Paul or Seiran, they are too short legged to be effective. Now if you are really going to bend the rules and load them on subs ... that generally crosses the line with most players. Only the Glen can be used as it was actually a 'knock down' plane. Wings and everything disassembled for storage in a long tube like hangar on top of the hull.

Rufe's have good range and from a dot base they can raise havoc ... just remember it is like arty, shoot and scoot. Same for these Rufe's ... you make contact, down a few CAT's, shift to another dot base. You stay too long, the allies will send a Fletcher flotilla to visit and ruin your day.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: el lobo

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

ORIGINAL: Encircled

Put them at a dot base with an AV

Hard to detect, tough to hit and the Rufes can give unescorted bombers/patrol aircraft a hard time

+1

Husimi can convert to a good AV. You get a few to start as well. I go through a lot of them, but I also bag a lot of CATs.
Blinding the enemy is a great benefit.

I have four in the yard now and two more on the way. Will do some more when the ships free-up. But at 180 and 210 days I won't be seeing them for awhile.

I only convert the Husimi, the Kyushu are too valuable for amphib along with all of the Yusen's.

[Skygge]

that generally crosses the line with most players. Only the Glen can be used

The Serian was actually build for submarines use and deployed as such.

..and I might have transgressed some code as I have filled out all my subs with Jakes in my game with Zuluhour. :/

[PaxMondo]

The Seiran was designed for those super-carrier subs that IJN gets which had actual full hangars on their hulls .... I think 3 of them are in the queue for late '45. No Float plane was able to work with any of the A/B/C/J class subs except Glen ... I don't think Paul was designed for any sub, but rather for the CS.

[el lobo]

Mar 29 to Apr 2, 1942, Turns 113 - 117

In the P.I.
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Japanese forces CAPTURE Bataan !!!

On Java.
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Japanese forces CAPTURE Tjilatjap !!!
Japanese forces CAPTURE Madioen !!!

In China
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Japanese forces CAPTURE Kukong !!!