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

[Drakanel]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

You may be asking for a carrier ambush here... he's got perfect DL on you, so he knows it's just 2.

I absolutely agree. I'd move away, DL 10 is way too risky. He knows what you have there.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

I don't think I have seen anyone work on kamikazes in a pdu off game...some research here for you to enjoy.

Aren't the Toka and Tsurugi groups you're looking at training groups? Anything of 10 planes is definitely training, so those can't fly kami missions. They can train the pilots though! [;)]

Tsurugi are all Shinbutai size 10. That would be a complete bummer if not a single Tsurugi eligible squadron could fly as a kamikaze. So they will probably stay Spruce.

Olorin had two r&d factories for the Tsurugi -- makes me glad I switched them even more!![:)] Can you imagine spending 60K supply for two factories and 4 years of game time only to have them as trainers. Ugh!

Your late war experience is invaluable![&o]

[Lowpe]

I never really used AKVs before as Japan, and only a few times as the Allies.

I noticed that ships don't repair over time on an AKV.

Pilot training continues while on an AKV, but I guess at reduced rate of gains.

If I click on the squadron, and then the pilots, it causes all planes to leave the ready state.

It is, of course, exceptionally dangerous using an AKV. You can minimize the risk by removing pilots and keeping the planes to a minimum, but if it does become sunk by a submarine then it will cost PP to bring back to life.

The West Coast operation is the definition of danger, and I am really doing a lot of things I would never, ever do.

Look below and see 3 beautiful Tojo IIb squadrons heading to California![X(]

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Drakanel

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

You may be asking for a carrier ambush here... he's got perfect DL on you, so he knows it's just 2.

I absolutely agree. I'd move away, DL 10 is way too risky. He knows what you have there.

The point is to show a fragmented KB prior to the West Coast Operation.

The strike force as pictured is well within land based air coverage. I was very comfortable thinking that there were very few if any submarines.

A few pages back I posted on my tactic of showing carriers to Jocke...this is all part of the plan.

Yes it is dangerous, but I am hoping to set the stage for a big payoff. First, and foremost I want Jocke to feel comfortable keeping 2 American fleet carriers in the Bay of Bengal. With the addition of the 2 he has lost, this will make the West Coast operation all the more possible.

[tiemanjw]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

I never really used AKVs before as Japan, and only a few times as the Allies.

I noticed that ships don't repair over time on an AKV.

Pilot training continues while on an AKV, but I guess at reduced rate of gains.

If I click on the squadron, and then the pilots, it causes all planes to leave the ready state.

It is, of course, exceptionally dangerous using an AKV. You can minimize the risk by removing pilots and keeping the planes to a minimum, but if it does become sunk by a submarine then it will cost PP to bring back to life.

The West Coast operation is the definition of danger, and I am really doing a lot of things I would never, ever do.

Look below and see 3 beautiful Tojo IIb squadrons heading to California![X(]

If you are minimizing your group sizes, why use AKVs at all? You can transport "disabled" A/C on any xAK, and they unload just as quick. Where an AKV shines is in landing a fully operational unit the day a base is captured (no assembly required). By minimizing your group size, you will need to import your A/C, and they will be just as disabled.
Also, you can only draw in up to 12 A/C at a time, and only once per week. So those size=36 or whatever Tojo squadrons you have there will take most of the month to come to full strength.

To minimize risk split the group into thirds. That way if one is sunk, the others can be rebuilt. CVEs are good for this too... and you can fly off - no need to go all they way to the port. Of course this is more useful for the allies, with their hundred+ CVEs.

[Grfin Zeppelin]

I noticed that ships don't repair over time on an AKV.

You are demanding a bit to much here from these ships. [:D]

[Lowpe]

The two most important planes in a PDU off game for Japan and as such should see the vast majority of your R&D budget.

The Frank A will obviously get here early, perhaps in June 43 or sooner. The Sam given its later date is much tougher to get early, and you also need the A6M8 and previous versions of A6. There are a few squadrons that upgrade from the 5c, but most are the A6M8.

So, on Dec 7th, 1941 I encourage every JFB to heavily invest in the Frank A. You should start some Sam r&d, but you can wait as long as you continue to transition r&d factories to the Sam as the game progresses.

The Oscar Line, the A6 line, the SenBaku, and the Tony should also be researched. Irving-s and Nick-d, Judy, Jill and Grace.

Not much reason to go further afield on planes. If the game is going well, you can think about the Ki94II and Sam J.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: tiemanj

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

I never really used AKVs before as Japan, and only a few times as the Allies.

I noticed that ships don't repair over time on an AKV.

Pilot training continues while on an AKV, but I guess at reduced rate of gains.

If I click on the squadron, and then the pilots, it causes all planes to leave the ready state.

It is, of course, exceptionally dangerous using an AKV. You can minimize the risk by removing pilots and keeping the planes to a minimum, but if it does become sunk by a submarine then it will cost PP to bring back to life.

The West Coast operation is the definition of danger, and I am really doing a lot of things I would never, ever do.

Look below and see 3 beautiful Tojo IIb squadrons heading to California![X(]

If you are minimizing your group sizes, why use AKVs at all? You can transport "disabled" A/C on any xAK, and they unload just as quick. Where an AKV shines is in landing a fully operational unit the day a base is captured (no assembly required). By minimizing your group size, you will need to import your A/C, and they will be just as disabled.
Also, you can only draw in up to 12 A/C at a time, and only once per week. So those size=36 or whatever Tojo squadrons you have there will take most of the month to come to full strength.

To minimize risk split the group into thirds. That way if one is sunk, the others can be rebuilt. CVEs are good for this too... and you can fly off - no need to go all they way to the port. Of course this is more useful for the allies, with their hundred+ CVEs.

I am going to be using the AKVs on the invasion of the West Coast & I wanted practice using them now, as they ferry the squadrons to forward bases.

PS: I will have those squadrons full strength in one day.[:)]

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: tiemanj

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

I never really used AKVs before as Japan, and only a few times as the Allies.

I noticed that ships don't repair over time on an AKV.

Pilot training continues while on an AKV, but I guess at reduced rate of gains.

If I click on the squadron, and then the pilots, it causes all planes to leave the ready state.

It is, of course, exceptionally dangerous using an AKV. You can minimize the risk by removing pilots and keeping the planes to a minimum, but if it does become sunk by a submarine then it will cost PP to bring back to life.

The West Coast operation is the definition of danger, and I am really doing a lot of things I would never, ever do.

Look below and see 3 beautiful Tojo IIb squadrons heading to California![X(]

If you are minimizing your group sizes, why use AKVs at all? You can transport "disabled" A/C on any xAK, and they unload just as quick. Where an AKV shines is in landing a fully operational unit the day a base is captured (no assembly required). By minimizing your group size, you will need to import your A/C, and they will be just as disabled.
Also, you can only draw in up to 12 A/C at a time, and only once per week. So those size=36 or whatever Tojo squadrons you have there will take most of the month to come to full strength.

To minimize risk split the group into thirds. That way if one is sunk, the others can be rebuilt. CVEs are good for this too... and you can fly off - no need to go all they way to the port. Of course this is more useful for the allies, with their hundred+ CVEs.

I am going to be using the AKVs on the invasion of the West Coast & I wanted practice using them now, as they ferry the squadrons to forward bases.

PS: I will have those squadrons full strength in one day.[:)]

Except that the planes you take into them have to "repair" from being replacements...

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Gräfin Zeppelin

I noticed that ships don't repair over time on an AKV.

You are demanding a bit to much here from these ships. [:D]

AKVs don't repair the planes over time I meant.[:)]

[Lowpe]

Issued orders for one of the last carrier events prior to the West Coast Operation. This takes place in Oz, and should be a rude surprise for the Allies I hope, and even if it flubs, it accomplishes several important goals.

It follows my rules of not wandering outside of land based air coverage & I am hoping the carriers are only spotted for one day.

However I am using a few more carriers, basically 4 fleet carriers plus land based air.

Slogging thru all my ship upgrades, especially important are the APDs with radar, as I want to max the radar on ships for the West Coast operation. All carriers upgraded, All battleships but one ready for operations.

Right now I am pretty confident I can accomplish my goals on the West Coast. It will be bloody, nerve racking, and I will suffer losses, but I feel good but overworked. Of course that can change very quickly.[:)]

On the plane front I have expanded the Ha33 engine even more: now up to 370 per month (12 a day). This is such an incredibly important engine for the entire game...I may take it to 400. I am hoping that my very early expansion of this engine will allow the pools to expand a huge amount prior to the very heavy expected use with the Ki100, Judy, A6M8 and others.

My Ha35 factories stand at 715.[X(] No choice but to crank it so high because of the West Coast invasion. Also, it has to be high because I plan on fielding 7-8 Lilly IIb bomber squadrons. Most JFBs don't do this.

I am in the process of building up land based air (anti invasion) planes in Burma/SRA area. Of course the danger period will be during the West Coast invasion. With the fall of China AV looms, and I feel Jocke has been planning a big move to counter it...most likely there will be my big move and Jocke's big move happening at the same time.

Should be fun.

[Olorin]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Right now I am pretty confident I can accomplish my goals on the West Coast. It will be bloody, nerve racking, and I will suffer losses, but I feel good but overworked. [:)]

That's the spirit

P.S. How many enemy troops are inside Chungking? 2/3 of the Chinese Army seem to be dislocated.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Olorin


P.S. How many enemy troops are inside Chungking? 2/3 of the Chinese Army seem to be dislocated.

By design.[;)] 44 Units there, 10 or so at Chengtu. Not weak by any means.

SL is I think 160,000 and my recon with 9/10DL is showing 70K. Surely there are more than that. Chinese AA is there.

Once my artillery has rested for a day or two or three I will start artillery bombardments and we shall have good intel. Half the artillery is still up at Kienko.

[Lowpe]

Allied ASW here is very weak, only the midget carrier spotted, and that very low.

I have no clue if these are good patterns to search. There are a few Glens scouting.

I have never really figured out if it is better to have the Glens fly at night or during the day? My default has been night, just to cut down on losses from CAP.

I bet it is better to search an area during the day, and have 2-3 regular Iboats patrolling the same area. The glen sub basically becomes the leader/spotter and the others follow along so to speak.

Here is hoping that Lanchow falls today, and that the facilities aren't heavily damaged.

[ny59giants]

Jocke should have an 18 plane FP group down there with highly ASW skills pilots. I do that for all my major hubs to prevent what you are doing. The Americans should be getting enough SC now to deploy.

[HansBolter]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Jocke should have an 18 plane FP group down there with highly ASW skills pilots. I do that for all my major hubs to prevent what you are doing. The Americans should be getting enough SC now to deploy.

I do the same with my Kingfishers. A lot of players downplay their effectiveness due to the limited range, but they are great for protecting the waters two hexes out from ports.

[Lowpe]

Getting to be the end of October.

Not much exciting happens here, as Jocke is taking two days off for family.

I missed a 2-1 on Lanchow by a measly 20 AV. Next time.[:)]

The Allies have their British CVs plus Yanks, hanging out hugging the beaches here. In a day, two at max, I will have 10 Iboats and Rboats here ready to swarm the area.

With Daytime aerial search, plus targeted night time search, I have high hopes despite the shallow waters. Willing to lose a few Iboats for a hit or two on a CV.

I have 5 destroyers refueling today, 8 hexes away. I am willing to run them in at flank speed and rely upon land based air coverage for their retreat.

There is nothing ever good that happens when DLs remain for days on end.

[Lowpe]

Hiva Oa



That is 20 damage on an Iboat at Hiva.[;)]

[Lowpe]

For the first time in my PBEM career, I successfully used the F8 hotkey to turn combat summaries off and have the game process the turn while I did something else.

I watched the AAR previously, didn't save, and exited out of the game by mistake.

Pretty neat. Although watching the AAR is very important to better play.[;)]

[el lobo]

Lowpe, I posted this as a jpeg to retain formatting.

Again, a great AAR.