If RA is anything like DBB (AA wise) you don´t really need CAP to defend. Massed AA can do wonders and after the Japanese lose 10-15 planes per turn for a couple of turn they usually give up. AA is very potent. [:)]
But it makes me wonder what 12 cm will do to the B29? Slow the overall pace of the air campaign?
I've only seen the combat replay and combat report. I'll focus this on the Air Battle for Sabang, since that's really the key to everything.
IJA Sweeps: Tojos sweep in waves, the biggest consisting of 150 fighters. That one does a number on Allied fighters, downing a mix of F4F, P40-K, P40-E, and P-39E. None of the P-38G are lost in combat. The Allies lose roughly 20 fighters (maybe more when I get to see Ops losses). Japan probably loses 15 or so Tojos.
IJN Netties: The sweeps are followed by two modest attacks by torp-carrying Betties escorted by some Zeroes. The Allied CAP knocks down all the Betties, but one did manage to get through and attack Maryland but is downed by flak before launching the torpedo. The big question is whether seeing that one Betty lining up on Maryland gives John the idea of sweeping with the KB and LBA and having all available bombers set to hit the Allied ships in port. I rate this as a high possibility. But for now the best thing I can do is keep the ships in place, protected by CAP (Allies should be able to put up a big number again) and flak (lots of AA units plus ship flak).
Sustainable?: Next turn I'll look carefully at aircraft replacement rates, especially the F4F, P-40K, P-38G, and early Corsairs (just now coming online) to see if how long the Allies can hold out with judicious allocation. IE, if the Allies are losing 20 aircraft a day, can replace 15, and are performing well overall with the Japanese growing fatigued, we might hold out for months. I don't think the prospects are that rosy, but it bears looking in to.
Achilles Heels? For the Allies its fighter pools. For Japan its probably the Kaigun - mainly capital ships. Right now the Kaigun is in harm's way. The Allied airpower is still strong. The Allied Navy is still strong. The waters are choked with mines and Allied subs. I want to promote this environment as long as possible to take shots at capital ships and destroyers. If it looks like Sabang's fighter position is tenuous, the Allies might consider a Death Star vs. KB match off the coast of Sabang on the supposition that I might not get a better chance to whittle down the KB more. Before I do that, I'll open the MOD to see what Japane gets in the way of capital ships. (Alot of Kaigun power is currently out of commission - in addition to ships sunk as shown in the post yesterday, I recall that Mutsu was hammered and that Yamato took a torp in December.
Towards that End: I sent out several surface combat TFs from Sabang. I also had a bombardment TF set to hit an IJ lodgment at Phuket. This TF collied with an IJN CL/DD TF. The Allies greatly outgunned the opposition, but results weren't particularly impressive. Still it is a whittling process. Here's the combat report:
Night Time Surface Combat, near Phuket at 48,69, Range 10,000 Yards
A pity about the British/Australian CA losses, and you're a bit short on bombardment batteships at the moment. But if Java is the heaviest CL lost, then I'm assuming Boise and her fellow CL's are still top of water. Not bad.
Civil war? What does that mean? Is there any foreign war? Isn't every war fought between men, between brothers?
This is how Sabang shapes up at the moment. A few notes:
The two "CV" listed as being in port are actually CVE Sangamon and Long Island.
There were 100+ ships in port recently. I had worked on getting as many out of the way as possible before KB showed up. BB California and quite a few AO/TK ran afoul of John's subs.
The Allies do have alot of capital ships at Sabang at the moment. A tempting target for John.
Attachments
SabangSta..010343.jpg (145.21 KiB) Viewed 263 times
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
IJN carriers available at start for this mod (RA, Scenario 70). Standard.
Unfortuantely, there's no button to click on to find out what carriers become available. I don't want to ask John for that info, so I may ask NYGiants if he has the info handy.
Attachments
IJNCarrie..tRAMod.jpg (130.74 KiB) Viewed 263 times
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
Japan gets 19 CAs at start, and I think that's all it gets in the game (unless RA adds some to the OOB; I can't check the OOB, as noted in previous post, so I'm not positive). I've sunk seven CAs to this point, so that's going to be a major concern for John. That's certainly achilles heel info.
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
A pity about the British/Australian CA losses, and you're a bit short on bombardment batteships at the moment. But if Java is the heaviest CL lost, then I'm assuming Boise and her fellow CL's are still top of water. Not bad.
Here's the Allied CLs sunk to date. As for Boise, it's very strange. She's not on the ships sunk list. Nor is she on the roster of ships in the game. What's happened to her? Did John leave her out of RA? Surely not. Probably I've forgotten something (perhaps she's in drydock and so not listed?)
Attachments
AlliedCLs..010343.jpg (104.9 KiB) Viewed 256 times
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
ORIGINAL: Canoerebel
Unfortuantely, there's no button to click on to find out what carriers become available. I don't want to ask John for that info, so I may ask NYGiants if he has the info handy.
I believe that is only an issue on Dec 7th 1941. So just go to the next turn.
Great to see this epic struggle back in play. Best of luck, CR.
EDIT: That's some fantastic AA you have at Sabang. I would think that would put the hurt on airfield and ground attacks. However, in my limited experience ground AA doesn't seem to help a lot against port strikes (such as second- and third-day Pearl Harbor strikes, for instance). I'd love to be corrected by someone with more experience.
Changes to naval OOB have not included the large capital warships since this game first started. In RA, Japan get 6 Shokaku-kai Class CV with 75 plane capacity.
Japan gets 2 BC of the Kawachi Class. The first should now be available and the second by mid-43 at the latest. Knowing how John loves to have pairs of large warships, the second will be seen relatively soon, IMO.
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