A family affair - Speedy vs El Padre

[Speedysteve]

IJAAF:

[Speedysteve]

Hi All,

A 'quieter' day overall.

In SoPac the only action was over New Caledonia (P38F sweeps over Koumac = 3 x P38F losses vs 4 x Ki-43-IIa losses) and over New Guinea (My Nicks shot down 2 x 4E for no loss). KB and Transports now NW of New Caledonia heading NW.

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Burma:

The Allies moved quicker than I expected and are now 46 miles away from Taung Gyi! My Bde will likely get smashed back before it can move the final 20 miles. As 31st and 11th Divisions are not in Burma yet 1st Tnk Division is joining 38th Division moving away from Mandalay to fortify Taung Gyi. The Allies can't break through here.

I'm also considering pulling back from Mandalay/Meiktila and Prome altogether and spreading my troops for Jungle defence further south. Tomorrow may determine this with the Allied strength approaching Taung Gyi.

In the Air 25 x Ki-43-IIa's provided CAP over my Bde and mauled over 40 un-escorted Allied bombers claiming c.20 shot down for the loss of 4 friendlies.

Tomorrow 24 x Ki-43-IIb will sweep over my retreating Bde whilst 25 x Tojo IIa provide LRCAP. LBA from Rangoon will attempt to bomb the Allied troops east of Taung Gyi.

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Submarine Warfare:

SS Jack was reported sunk by LBA off Hokkaido.

[PaxMondo]

You have a plan and it is well thought out, that is the most important thing. I will make only two comments, both on LB's.

Helen: I build the entire war. It is your heaviest hitting bomber with 4x250 @ 11 range. Everything else is only 75% of that load or less. This is a big deal. It means it will take 4 groups of another model to do the same damage as 3 Helen groups. In '45 I am always seemingly short of LB groups for ground support missions.
Nell: I also build them the entire war. They are a great long range night bomber. They are a great fill in for NavSearch Patrol as I never have enough Patrol groups to meet my needs.

You have a plan here. Things will happen during the course of the game for you to adjust, but that's ok. Haiving a plan is critical for success.

[PaxMondo]

Burma/SE Asia
You've seen enough AAR's to know your danger here: don't get enveloped and lose any units. Choose what units you plan to lose in Singers (assuming you will defend it) and those move south. All the others need to move EAST once you get to Moulmein/Rahaeng.

BTW, I hate Burma! [:D]

[Speedysteve]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

You have a plan and it is well thought out, that is the most important thing. I will make only two comments, both on LB's.

Helen: I build the entire war. It is your heaviest hitting bomber with 4x250 @ 11 range. Everything else is only 75% of that load or less. This is a big deal. It means it will take 4 groups of another model to do the same damage as 3 Helen groups. In '45 I am always seemingly short of LB groups for ground support missions.
Nell: I also build them the entire war. They are a great long range night bomber. They are a great fill in for NavSearch Patrol as I never have enough Patrol groups to meet my needs.

You have a plan here. Things will happen during the course of the game for you to adjust, but that's ok. Haiving a plan is critical for success.

Thanks.

I plan to keep both the Helen and Sally producing probably until war end tbh. The Peggy T production will be from the current R&D as will the Patsy.

Agreed on Nells. I have over 100 of them in my pool and aim to continue to use Nells as Recon after Frances have arrived. They're my eyes west and SW in SRA at present as there's not enough Patrol Sqn's!

[Lowpe]

Speedy,

take a glance at NJP vs Wargamers current AAR. They are Jan 1 1945 thereabouts.

You should get a good insight into what the air war will look like then, just read the last two pages of NJPs AAR. Won't take long.

[Speedysteve]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

Burma/SE Asia
You've seen enough AAR's to know your danger here: don't get enveloped and lose any units. Choose what units you plan to lose in Singers (assuming you will defend it) and those move south. All the others need to move EAST once you get to Moulmein/Rahaeng.

BTW, I hate Burma! [:D]

I *think* I can hold Dad at Taung Gyi. I've just got the turn back and he has the following approaching:

Ground combat at 60,48 (near Taung Gyi)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 20553 troops, 264 guns, 591 vehicles, Assault Value = 888

Defending force 3143 troops, 32 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 78

Allied adjusted assault: 698

Japanese adjusted defense: 106

Allied assault odds: 6 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1380 casualties reported
Squads: 35 destroyed, 22 disabled
Non Combat: 31 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 8 (4 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Units retreated 1


Allied ground losses:
207 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 28 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
268th Motorised Brigade
25th Indian Division
254th Armoured Brigade
88th Indian Brigade
103rd RAF Base Force
167 Wing

Defending units:
4th Ind.Mixed Regiment

I currently have 200 AV at Taung Gyi (1/2 strength Division + this battered Bde) but a full strength 1st Tnk Div is 47 miles out followed by 38th Division which is 64 miles out. they provide an extra 800 AV behind level 2 forts. 31st Division will be at Rangoon in 2 days time able to provide a further 350+ AV. 11th Division is about 3 weeks out giving another 350+ AV.

The only reason I will hold here is with a view to potentially surrounding Dad's units IF they march west into Taung Gyi. If they do I will try to sneak a unit in behind their entry to close the door.

If not I will move south from Mandalay, Meiktila and Prome to the 'Jungle defence line'.

[Lowpe]

The dirt road down to the railroad south of Chiang Mai is somewhat important to hold. All he has to do is send one of those armored units down to isolate Chiang Mai.

You only need the Tank Division to hold Tuang Gyi, or the Infantry Division with some artillery over 10cm. Given what is already there.

Of course you need some AA too.

Both the Tank Division and the Infantry division is too much IMHO, better to keep one in reserve. Reserves, are incredibly important.

My thoughts.[;)]

[Speedysteve]

Thanks[8D] 4 x additional AA Bn's are en route to Burma already for use up here.

I'll see which way Dad moves after this turn before I re-act in Burma.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Speedy

Thanks obvert. Re: later war bomber killer - I planned to use the Ki-102b Randy for that role. you think it would be better to use the Tony 100 I/II for that instead?

You will like the Randy, but it's a two engined plane. Twice as expensive and not as flexible in terms of use as the Ki-100. Not service 1, in other words. Slightly more durable which can be good of course.

I just want to check to make sure you get how the R & D works on a long line like the Tony, A6M, Ki-43, etc. Please disregard if this is already part of your considerations. Not meaning to be pedantic, just making sure cause I didn't get it for most of my long game and missed out on some things.

The advantage of a long R & D line is that you only have to research the first plane. So even with the Ki-44, I research the IIa. Usually like 5 x 30 factories. When those are repaired, so quite early in game, I can switch them right up to the Ki-44 IIc. Thus the IIc can then arrive much more easily, and with less spent on R & D since you're starting earlier with repaired factories, than if you started researching that airframe directly with more that repair over a year or more.

So about 5/42 when the first ones are repaired I'd switch 2 x 30 to the IIc and let those continue researching the IIc while the other 3 x 30 researched the IIa until it became available. Then I'd have a choice of letting them also research the next models (IIb or IIc) or changing to production. The most efficient path is to let them change into production, getting 90 Ki-44 IIa per month, which is decent for air supremacy in 42, then getting the 2 x 30 R & D to push the IIc ( at 660/year starting in 5/42) from 3/44 to about 7-8/43.

This is perfect because then you don't have to research (or produce) the crap Ki-44 IIb at all, and can switch IIa production factories up through it to the IIc because it's arrival date is 7/43.

It's obviously too late for all of that with several lines, but not for the Ki-100. Just research the next plane in line for the Tony (Ki-61 Ic), which will be repaired really quickly, then switch to the Ki-100. You could still push it into the zone where you'll need it, late 44 into 45. You've already committed to 30 Randys. That's enough really. Then use the other 30 you've planned and up that to 60 for the Ki-100, researching through the Tony line, and you'll get more planes for around the same price.

-----

One last thing. Your recon production is really low. I make a lot more and run out constantly.

[Speedysteve]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Speedy,

take a glance at NJP vs Wargamers current AAR. They are Jan 1 1945 thereabouts.

You should get a good insight into what the air war will look like then, just read the last two pages of NJPs AAR. Won't take long.

Wow. Just wow. Epic batttle around Saishu-to. I've played Allies 3 times into late 44 but this is my first Japanese game on AE. In short I can easily lose 100's of planes a day at the end game. Age old adage - if I knew what I know now 2 years ago I'd have done things differently. Despite that I'm optimistic to take as much as I can with me. I think as a starter I'll stick with production plans I posted above in a phased manner bearing in mind supply.

Any thoughts on my plane choices/initial production levels?

I'll start to plan engines soon...

[Lowpe]

Not to imply that NJP has done anything wrong, but I wanted you to see the scale of air attacks and losses.

In addition, I wanted you to see that you can't coast into 1945 with 600 plane fighter builds...because at most you can increase fighter production 1/30th of a plane per day per facility.

And then you could have the builds right but screw up the engines. Or vice versa.[X(]

If that happens to you it is too late generally speaking.

PS: I also wanted you to read about the Tony, and what people think about it.

[Speedysteve]

Agreed. If only I could have built the stockpiles with unlimited resources, fuel, refineries and HI from 1942.....[:D]

With what you've said (and also obvert - thanks for the above re: Tony 100 and recon (agreed thinking on it my Army Recon production could do with a boost which I'll do. Also - yes I now bout the R&D stuff. To be fair I didn't fully understand the implications of all this until part way through my game.)

I'll assign 2 x 30 facs to Tony for upgrade to Tony 100's. Is it worth skipping right until the Tony 100-II or to the 100-I for production (produce some of this whilst R&D the Tony II)?

[Lowpe]

I base a lot of my plane research to these dates:

Countering Lightnings in late 1st Qtr 42

Countering Corsairs in 1/43

Countering Jugs in 7/43

Countering B29 in 2/44

If you can do that and get the Sam, then you will be in good shape in the air.

[Speedysteve]

I'm a bit late on some of that. Hindsight and all that[;)]

Just implemented the start of my production increases - increased George 1 production to 120 and upped Frank a R&D to 150 facs etc as per my above screenshots.

Will work out new engine requirements tomorrow/Friday[X(]

[Speedysteve]

Hi All,

SoPac:

KB & Co are midway between Koumac and Milne Bay and will refuel from AO's tomorrow.

15 x Zero's sweep Terapo from Gasmata and do pretty well. Pilots report in shooting down 8 x P38G and 2 x Kittyhawk III for the loss of 3 friendlies. A follow up raid from Rabaul consists of 65 x LBA to keep the Airfields down.

P38 sweeps over Koumac claim 4 x Ki-43-IIa for a reported 4 x P38F.

60 x B24D Keep closed Noumea down.

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Burma:

As reported above the Allies rout my Bde back into Taung Gyi.

Air combat around Taung Gyi results in the loss of 2 x Oscar IIa, 6 x Tojo IIa for a reported 7 x Hurri IIC, 3 x P40K and 1 x Spit Vc.

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Submarine Warfare:

SS Porpoise sank SC CHa-40 off of Toyohara.

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Elsewhere:

Intel randomly reported a small convoy off Carnarvon 2 days ago. A convoy collecting my Bde at Port Hedland dispatched 3 of their escorts to investigate. All went well before the escorting DD threw a torp into one of my DD's. Its doubtful she'll make Port Hedland (64/76(27)/56(34)):

Night Time Surface Combat, near Carnarvon at 49,133, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Mochizuki, Shell hits 1
DD Akikaze, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
E Tsuga

Allied Ships
DD Hobby, Shell hits 18, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Empire Hamble, Shell hits 23, heavy fires, heavy damage

[Speedysteve]

Here's my engine calculations of needs give or take. There's some flexibility built in as some models will produce then stop or be replaced etc.

I think whatever I need to dedicate more R&D facs (I have 5 dormant engine R&D facs) to produce Ha-43's immediately. I also need to massively ramp up Ha-35's and Ha-45's immediately and to a lesser extent Ha-32's.

I figured there's no time like the present as it's good to have the pools of engines.

Thoughts?

[Speedysteve]

Hi All,

Not too much action to speak of this turn.

SoPac:

4E pummel Buna and Noumea.

A P38F sweep loses 1 plane over Koumac for no friendly loss.

KB and Co are south of Rossel Island taking on fuel from AO's.

---------------

Burma:

No air action from either side.

The Allies don't appear to be moving anywhere from their position east of Taung Gyi. Strange. 38th Division is continuing to move to Taung Gyi (currently at Meiktila). 1st Tank Div is heading back to Mandalay. 31st Division will begin to unload at Rangoon tomorrow. Need to think where to send her.

--------------

China:

I haven't posted an update on China so here goes. I've been relatively restrained in China as we all know the Japanese can take China if they want to. I have made gradual inroads but in a restrained manner. I aim to take Changsha and Sian though.

Chengchow fell today after a 2 month siege with heavy Chinese losses. This lot netted what seems like 800 VP's or so:

Ground combat at Chengchow (88,44)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 100994 troops, 842 guns, 398 vehicles, Assault Value = 3268

Defending force 92923 troops, 130 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1854

Japanese adjusted assault: 1138

Allied adjusted defense: 401

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Chengchow !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: leaders(+), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
8633 casualties reported
Squads: 20 destroyed, 1008 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 65 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 98 disabled
Guns lost 49 (5 destroyed, 44 disabled)
Vehicles lost 20 (1 destroyed, 19 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
120799 casualties reported
Squads: 2156 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 7050 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 55 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 176 (176 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 40

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Speedy

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Speedy,

take a glance at NJP vs Wargamers current AAR. They are Jan 1 1945 thereabouts.

You should get a good insight into what the air war will look like then, just read the last two pages of NJPs AAR. Won't take long.

Wow. Just wow. Epic batttle around Saishu-to. I've played Allies 3 times into late 44 but this is my first Japanese game on AE. In short I can easily lose 100's of planes a day at the end game. Age old adage - if I knew what I know now 2 years ago I'd have done things differently. Despite that I'm optimistic to take as much as I can with me. I think as a starter I'll stick with production plans I posted above in a phased manner bearing in mind supply.

Any thoughts on my plane choices/initial production levels?

I'll start to plan engines soon...

Yep. It's hard to get a handle on, so the games that get there are pretty good reference points even if different than yours.

As you might have noticed in those battles Japan wants to be able to strike form the HI effectively with LBA. You'll need escorts that you're willing to lose. Lots of them. Oscars and A6M, but also those Ki-100 can be good and the older Jacks, Franks and Georges once you're full up on the new models.

You should also consider training a lot of pilots in low naval bombing for kamis, basic fighter skills for escorts, and of course naval bombing and torpedo. Ground bombing is less of a need then and you'll likely have a lot anyway leftover.

[Speedysteve]

Hi All,

Hi Obvert - Good call on pilot training. Haven't planned ahead for Kami training. Is it just low naval that is used for determining pilot effectiveness for them?

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SoPac:

KB and the BB's continue to refuel south of Rossel Island.

4E pound Noumea again.

Oscars continue to fight over Koumac claiming 5 x P38F/G for the loss of 3 friendlies.

----------------

Burma:

35 x Tojo IIa sweep over Mandalay claiming 3 x P40K/Spit V for the loss of 3 friendlies.

Recon now indicates the Allies east of Taung Gyi are marching west towards my base and troops. 38th Division will reach the front line here tomorrow. 31st Division is unloading at Rangoon.

Tomorrow Rangoon LBA (escorted by Zeroes) will attempt to bomb enemy troops near Taung Gyi. Tojo IIa's will provide LRCAP over Taung Gyi and 32 x Oscar IIb will sweep the skies over the enemy Taung Gyi troops.

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Other stuff:

I converted 3 x 80 engine facs to R&D Ha-43's and increased Ha-35 production by 50. Got to do this in stages to make sure I don't burn too much supply.

2 x 30 R&D facs converted to Tony 1b.

SS I-22 escaped attack by SS Pike near Efate.

One of my large TK's was missed by a US Sub near Formosa too.

SS Sailfish reported hit by LBA near Truk.

End of month report: