Lambs to the slaughter (Lowpe (J) vs Jocke; BillBrown (A)) Finished

[Lowpe]

I have been dangling a BB task force at Akyab (no fighters presence at Akyab), hoping to draw out the British carriers.

Finally, Jocke took the bait. But nothing happens on either side. My LRCAP is untested, and the Netties don't fly from their new base (supply issue). Much ado about nothing.

But it does provide a roadmap for future operations. Jocke wants to hit back...

[Lowpe]

Japanese bombers knock out 2 catalina factories at Vancouver; now to burn them somehow. My assumption, not proven, is that damaged factories burn more easily than functioning factories.

Seattle burns again from a Sally raid...about 60 VP worth and 1700 fires remain.

More action on Luzon.

[Lowpe]

I am keeping the fires going at Seattle and Vancouver. At Vancouver the Allies contest the air space, must be worried about the Cat factories burning...I lose a fair number of Kates, the pilots are all dogs...perhaps 55 ground bombing but they keep the fires burning near 1000. At Seattle something goes up in smoke as another nice boost to the strategic VP happens.

Another Sally squadron is flying to Alaska and then Coal Harbor. Plus some dedicated recon planes.

Over in China, Oscars sweep into Sian, and take it on the chin by defending planes...the Oscar Ic really is a poor plane in dogfights. No firepower.

All of the Aluetians are conquered. Continue taking Alaska...

This is the end of April and a new month starts. Would be nice to have the Tojo IIa a now (a month early) but I decided to wait for its arrival in June and instead accelerate the IIb.

I have two Nick squadrons building up, one will go to India, the other to China. That will give me three Nick squadrons for sweeping.

What are the goals now: Bomb Seattle and Vancouver. Cut off and Isolate Ledo (rail line should be cut in 1-2 days. Clean up in SRA, Solomons. Distribute engineers and aviation support. Take Luzon. Trap the British fleet somehow... & take China. R&D.

In this game engineers and aviation support are restricted it seems. I am taking measures now, to put an engineer in the hive bases (thanks Cptn Cruft). This means forts are already building in Hokkaido, Bonins, Marianas, Okinawa, select Japanese Islands.

I also have setup Betty/Nell strike forces escorted by Zeroes. They should be able to punch thru any Carrier raid. One near Hokkaido. One in Burma. One in Java. One in Pearl. One in Solomons. Probably missing somewhere.

All my inherited damaged big ships (several BBs, Akagi) have been repaired.

Making progress on all fronts for now.

An interesting thing happened near Skagway...I lost an AK. The ship wasn't sunk, but rather scuttled according to the reports. I have no idea why and I am too lazy to open the txt reports to figure it out.[;)]

Jocke is an interesting and fun opponent.

[Lokasenna]

The AK probably ran into some rocks while landing. It happens, and they'll show up as scuttled.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

The AK probably ran into some rocks while landing. It happens, and they'll show up as scuttled.

That is neat. Thanks.

I had a midget sub blow up from a faulty battery bank once...[:D]

[Lowpe]

May 1st, 1942

Operations in India progressing. I will have trapped numerous Commonwealth units now that the rail line is cut, and this includes the 1st Burma Division.

[Lowpe]

In China, the Wenchow defenders are routed once more. I will leave them be for now...

[Lowpe]

Victory point ratio is just a hair off 3-1.

Another A6M3 factory repairs to 30. Advanced it to the A6M3a. So two size 30 factories going after the A6M3a; three after the A6M5 all with engine bonus. There is still one more factory repairing for the A6M3.

Three factories very close to being repaired (1-3 points off) for the Oscar IIa. I have not made a decision yet whether they will research the IIa or advance to the IIb (armor). A total of 7 factories researching for the IIa....so progress will come quick when they are all repaired.

Three factories researching for the Tojo IIb, and today they got the engine bonus for the first time.

Imperial Guards Tank Division is upgraded to modern tanks, and is heading for Canton for the push up the road to Chungking.[:)]

Have to spend some time mapping out my ship upgrades...

[Lowpe]

As my Oscar and Zero research runs its course...I believe I will be moving the research factories over into the Frank B...

6 Large sentai convert to it, mostly from Tojo IIc and Oscar although there is one Nick C sentai too.

That represents a large increase in firepower, and anti-bomber strength, and in my opinion too strong to be neglected.

Currently I have one size 60 factory repairing for it...moving new factories over sometime in 43 should prove beneficial in getting the plane in late 44. Of course this assumes I last that long.[:D]

[Alfred]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Victory point ratio is just a hair off 3-1...

Don't get too fixated on the idea of obtaining an auto victory on 1 January 1943. Whilst it is possible for Japan to win on that day with a 4:1 ratio the more likely scenario is a 1944 victory with a 3:1 ratio. Cribtop's AAR is a good example of forcing an Allied surrender in early 1944 due to the forthcoming auto victory.

The goal should be to cripple the Allies in 1942 to the point where they cannot claw back in meaningful terms VPs throughout 1943. Doing this may result in obtaining the 4:1 ratio in 1943 but what is important is the quality of the crippling. in 1942. Not all VPs are created equally. For Japan strategic, destroyed aircraft/ships/devices VPs are permanent and tend to be of the crippling kind. Real estate VPs can fluctuate due to supply considerations or Allied recovery and are not necessarily indicative of the war potential of the Allies.

Cripple enough in 1942 and the initiative should remain with Japan well into 1943 and if handled well, even into 1944. This is why total destruction of the Catalina factory is significant for it can cripple the entire British patrol aircraft capabilities until early 1944.

Alfred

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Alfred

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Victory point ratio is just a hair off 3-1...

Don't get too fixated on the idea of obtaining an auto victory on 1 January 1943. Whilst it is possible for Japan to win on that day with a 4:1 ratio the more likely scenario is a 1944 victory with a 3:1 ratio. Cribtop's AAR is a good example of forcing an Allied surrender in early 1944 due to the forthcoming auto victory.

The goal should be to cripple the Allies in 1942 to the point where they cannot claw back in meaningful terms VPs throughout 1943. Doing this may result in obtaining the 4:1 ratio in 1943 but what is important is the quality of the crippling. in 1942. Not all VPs are created equally. For Japan strategic, destroyed aircraft/ships/devices VPs are permanent and tend to be of the crippling kind. Real estate VPs can fluctuate due to supply considerations or Allied recovery and are not necessarily indicative of the war potential of the Allies.

Cripple enough in 1942 and the initiative should remain with Japan well into 1943 and if handled well, even into 1944. This is why total destruction of the Catalina factory is significant for it can cripple the entire British patrol aircraft capabilities until early 1944.

Alfred

I was thinking along either of two lines...a hail mary attack in nov/dec aimed at the west coast, but I count shipping and divisions it seems less and less likely which leaves the 1944 3-1 goal a possibility.

I got the fires up over 20,000 at Vancouver today, but the Catalina Factory remains at 2 (2). There is some kind of recon inflation where factories and industries seem to be inflated by 1 as there are only three points really there.

For the life of me, why doesn't Jocke repair the factory? He has the supplies to do so, but instead they sit destroyed day after day.

It seems the first heavy industry damage happened in Seattle in the last day or two, it would be nice for the fires to actually destroy some B29 factories. Long term I know, but it has a definite morale effect.

The good news is the weather has gone from absolutely lousy over North America to clear over Vancouver yesterday and light clouds over Seattle. May is coming in like a lamb.[:)]

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

...I believe I will be moving the research factories over into the Frank B...

I love the Frank B ... and this game clearly will support you keeping the initiative for a long time. When you lose it, the B model is still great for escorting coutner attacks.

[Lowpe]

The Oscar, love them or hate them, they are critical in a PDU off game. I finally got my first factory up to 30 and researching. Now the question becomes do I advance it to the more desirable IIb model, or further down the line, or leave it on the IIa version?

Only 4 squadrons upgrade to the IIa. 11 squadrons upgrade directly to the IIb. If I stick with the the IIa first, I should get the plane in June, and then have all 7 fully repaired factories going after the IIb which would likely arrive in late July if I can maintain the 500 engine bonus.

This plan seems much better to me than advancing the research to the IIb model right away. If all the Oscar IIa factories where only a point or two from repairing fully, then advancing immediately to the IIb might make more sense. But, alas, that is not the case here.

Then, how to use them? I should have several Tojo squadrons (3) to sweep, plus 4 Nick squadrons. So, as an escort for fighters, as LRCAP, and as bombers especially in places like China and Luzon. I think that will be the ticket.

[Lowpe]

Southern India

The 102nd RAF Base Force was destroyed today near the rail lines. A combined effort by the airforce and the 14th Tank Rgt wiped them out to the last man.

I am looking at an airdrop on either Tezpur or Imphal (which I think is empty). We bombed the airfield last turn very low and no flak at all. Taking that would put another nail in the coffin of the 1st Burma Division I hope.

I could combine a paradrop on Tezpur with the 14th Tank Rgt crossing in two days too. That would probably be more than enough to take the base from the weak defenders given a heavy aerial pasting.

My Four Division spearhead will now move on to threaten Calcutta, while reinforcements continue to arrive. I was willing to delay my attack on Calcutta, until the Commonwealth units in Southern India were trapped and ripe for destruction. I want the industry to the north of Calcutta...

My guess is Jocke is too experienced a player to leave supplies and oil for me to capture, or troops to surround and destroy barring a deep invasion. So I am going for a steady advance into India...with perhaps a few tricks thrown in.[;)]

I doubt I can get to Ledo prior to the 10 units marching thru the jungle make it there, but hopefully all the supply will be gone.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Only 4 squadrons upgrade to the IIa.

I think this is understated. I haven't played PDU OFF in years, but I don't recall difficulties in upgrading Oscar models once the group was in the Oscar line.
IIRC, if the model upgrades to another model (like 1c -> IIa), then once the group is in the "line" it will allow you to upgrade. So, because all the Oscar models upgrade in succession,
once you get a group into an Oscar model, you can then upgrade it as each successive model comes available. Irrespective of whether that specific model is in the group upgrade
path. So, what I expect is all of your groups that are now Oscar 1a -> 1c will be able to upgrade to IIa, plus those Nate groups which can upgrade to IIA.
Anyway, this is what I recall, and it is how I have set up my mod, but is has been a long time since I played it.

Guess we will have to wait and see.

[Lowpe]

Rested our American bomber force...

Consolidating Alaska, not much more now...

Waiting on Adak to finish their runway for an air bridge to America.

Prepping for a Prince Rupert Invasion possibly...

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe


Prepping for a Prince Rupert Invasion possibly...

Rupert is nice as it gives you a RSY .. small, but still quite handy. And you have those mountains that you can hold against the allied forces that will come.
However, by now, I would think the allies have at least 2 ID there or more. Very hard to take.

[Lowpe]

Here you go Pax...

[Lowpe]

Today I bombed Chungking pretty heavily, with several solid supply hits and damaged 2 DC transports planes there out of 10.

No turns for me this game today, as Jocke is busy and I have a long turn in my other game to finish off....

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Here you go Pax...

I know what Tracker says. I think that 6 more Ic groups will upgrade. Let's wait and see.