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

[Lowpe]

Getting interesting in India...

I tried low level strafing with Oscars IIa and IIbs. However, I find that 40mm Bofors that an Indian or Commonwealth division has are pretty nasty to that particular tactic.

[Lowpe]

In a pdu on game, you could have a fair number of Rufe squadrons flying doing things like this.

However, I believe I only have 3 total squadrons, all size 9 or fewer.[:(]

I like Rufes, and find them viable for a long time in an anti-bomber role thanks to their cannons. Anywhere they can fight and Allied fighters can't escort or sweep they are sweet.

Also I think adding them to the CS ships for KB defense down low works really nicely too. The problem with this application is weather...

[ny59giants]

How has your success been when going after unescorted B-25 attack bombers? I tend to use them out near full range to go after shipping.

[leehunt27@bloomberg.net]

Its still mind blowing crazy funny to read posts talking about which West Coast bases to attack! Never before seen it in all my years of playing WWII games. Keep it up!

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

How has your success been when going after unescorted B-25 attack bombers? I tend to use them out near full range to go after shipping.

The B25 fly low and fast so the Rufes generally only get one pass...in circumstances where I think that might happen the Rufes need a high percentage flying CAP, but they will still drop those planes and even better disrupt the attack.

So far that Rufe squadron has 6 credited bomber kills, and now 3 op losses. I have withdrawn them and will let the grease monkeys work on them for a while.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: leehunt27@bloomberg.net

Its still mind blowing crazy funny to read posts talking about which West Coast bases to attack! Never before seen it in all my years of playing WWII games. Keep it up!

It is going to get really ugly, as Jocke will push on the other side of the world very heavily.

[Lowpe]

Last third of August....

Shocking across the river...not too bad. He will hold me up here for one more attack most likely then on the next city: Kweiyang.

[Lowpe]

Sian

[Lowpe]

Allies invade here. Suffer heavy disruptions.

[Lowpe]

This bombing run was at 20K and look at the effectiveness of Allied Flak. I suspect the Ceylon AA is here.

[PaxMondo]

Or he has moved some US flak, there are several units to move with larger than 3" guns in them.

[Lowpe]

Ok, here you can see India is getting quite interesting.

There is also a small 6 ship task force 7 hexes from Sabang. Spotted two turns in a row, but my bombers didn't fly, weather I guess.

I am making steady progress upgrading planes to A6M5, Oscar IIb, Vals, Emily and Helens. I am finding that PDU off eats up a lot of my time.[&:]

I am leaving one Chutai of 12 planes with the Oscar Ic for training purpose, as I will have about 120 of these planes in the pools.

I am hoping Ledo falls in two more attacks, or it could fall in the next attack with a good roll.

I am taking Alfred's advice and will hold in the good terrain around Ledo for as long as possible...and rely upon my good playing skills to prevent a Pegu/Tavoy invasion.

[Lowpe]

I have old Vals at Sabang, but I have set them to range 6 not 7 so they carry a full bomb load.

Today, I will move the planes away, and send in some surface ships to see if I can catch these ships trying to bombard Sabang.

Given CRvsJohn game, I need to watch this area very carefully. [;)]

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Given what I am doing on the eastern half of the map, I need to watch this area very carefully. [;)]

Fixed that for you.

[Lowpe]

Thanks Lok.[:D]

I miss a 2-1 on Ledo by a lousy 7 AV. I think I will attack again today as disruption and fatigue are acceptable. Still pondering it though.

Silchar to Ledo will be defended, with those troops having to make the long retreat thru the jungle to northern Burma.

Another good attack outside Kwieyang, will attack again today.

Neat upgrade happened today. I broke a large sentai of A6M2 into thirds, and one of the thirds automatically upgraded past the A6M3 to the A6M5 even though there weren't enough planes in the A6M3 pool to full fill out the splinter, but there was enough A6M5. Interesting, and this took place in Tokyo.

It maybe a mistake, but I have decided to focus production on the A6M5 instead of breaking it down between the A6M3a and A6M5. I am doing this for simplicity sake.

I think Jocke has an edge in ground forces here in India and he is pushing forward.

[Lowpe]

Hm., testing, testing. Jocke likes to test.

I sortied the Hiyo and Unyo but struck out. They will retire to Sabang for a while. I have been very fuel efficient with large warships lately.

[Lowpe]

I upgraded my Val production to model 2. It is an interesting plane that most Empire players skip. Not me.[:D]

I don't know how many squadrons will be upgraded to the shorter legged Val, as I have hopes on fielding several Judy squadrons too for the West Coast invasion.

Only time will tell if this is a mistake. Will having potentially three types of divebombers make CV coordination even worse?

[Lowpe]

I am expecting Jocke to let loose his bombers on me in India this turn. I am curious to see how well my troops fight off the bombers with just AA present.

Didn't happen.[8D]

[Lowpe]

Not sure how long I can keep shipping the oil out of Ledo, but it is nice to capture. Pity more troops didn't surrender.[:(] Double pity it isn't a source of supply from those refineries.[:(]

[Lowpe]

I like using strafing attacks versus the Chinese. Well, really against anyone lacking in AA.[:)]

Here you can notice an Oscar IIb strafing. My take on the effectiveness of pilot training: Strafing is the ability to suppress AA and or target AA and knock some out with guns/cannons. Low Ground is how accurate you are with the 250kg gp bombs.

I suppose this carries over to strafing ships, you need strafing and lownaval to be effective.