Climb Mt. Niitaka - Xargun vs Mr Kane

[Aurorus]

ORIGINAL: Xargun

I did get notice that the Enterprise sunk - but did not get the VPs for it nor any aircraft showing up destroyed so its false. I have more subs converging on the allied CVs but they are a few turns away still. I only
have 2 Subs in the area - an attack sub and a float plane sub. The attack sub is moving to attack again, while I'm using the float plan sub to stay back a bit and maintain high detection levels.

The air war over Luzon can get dicey very quickly for Japan. Japan starts the war outnumbered there, actually. Many Japanese players do not consider this. They become obsessed with the submarines at Manila, which will be carrying mostly duds for the next year. Air superiority must be established and done so decisively.

At this point, you need to establish air superiority over China and, of course, Singapore. The Zeros and Oscars are similiar planes in that they rely on manueverability for success. Keep them in their best manuever bands. Don't go above 15,000 feet with these planes. Concede the altitude advantage to the allies, if they wish to take it. You defeat altitude advantage with good pilots and numbers. If you notice, on combat replays, diving fighters are often engaged by a different fighter than the one that they are targetting, before they complete their dive attack, if the lower altitude fighters outnumber their opponent.

Let the allies fly high. Flying outside your best manuever band increases fatigue and lowers morale. Most of their planes already are SR2. Add in additional fatigue for the pilots, and their airforce gets grounded very quickly. This is where airfield raids come into play. Once a number of their planes are on the ground, pound those airfields and keep the planes on the ground. This is how Germany almost brought England to her knees, until the lunatic in Berlin, decided to start bombing London.

[witpqs]

I agree it's likely Big E will not sink from that wound. Possibly she can make high speed but in AE the fuel burn for max speed is much more dramatic than in older WITP, so the cruise speed reduction will make her vulnerable. Can something catch her - the world wonders?! [:D]

I think it's 50% combined damage to shut down flight ops (or of course any Fires), so that is possible but unknown.

Resources - I haven't played the Empire in PBM but I thought you were flush with those once the usual expansion happened? I would have aimed for either Heavy or Light Industry or factories that you would be obliged to repair so early on.

[Xargun]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

I agree it's likely Big E will not sink from that wound. Possibly she can make high speed but in AE the fuel burn for max speed is much more dramatic than in older WITP, so the cruise speed reduction will make her vulnerable. Can something catch her - the world wonders?! [:D]
I think it's 50% combined damage to shut down flight ops (or of course any Fires), so that is possible but unknown.
Resources - I haven't played the Empire in PBM but I thought you were flush with those once the usual expansion happened? I would have aimed for either Heavy or Light Industry or factories that you would be obliged to repair so early on.

This is all new to me - never fought an enemy that was this aggressive - totally unprepared for it. I think he is targeting resources as they are easy VPs and if he crippled the industry some players would just quit. Since he hasn't
played me before he doesn't know which way I would fall in that instance.

To be honest I did not expect him to stick around this long [:@]

[Lowpe]

An experienced Japan/Allied player can pretty much risk almost all beginning ships and planes in playing very aggressively.

Also, it is far more fun.

[Aurorus]

ORIGINAL: Xargun


This is all new to me - never fought an enemy that was this aggressive - totally unprepared for it. I think he is targeting resources as they are easy VPs and if he crippled the industry some players would just quit. Since he hasn't
played me before he doesn't know which way I would fall in that instance.

To be honest I did not expect him to stick around this long [:@]

The allies must fight somewhere or try to slow the Japanese down in some way in 42 to avoid auto-victory. How they choose to do so varies from player to player and game to game. The better allied players, in my opinion, are more aggressive in 42. I doubt that he is too worried about you quitting. He can always find another game. He is probably staying far north, out of range of escorts from Tokyo, and there isn't much to hit up there except the resources. I notice, however, that he is only 11 spaces from Ominato, which is in "normal" range for zeroes with drop tanks. Another careless move there. Make mental notes of the details that he overlooks and try to find ways to exploit this information at your next naval battle.

Go get that Enterprise. Do you have any MTBs or TBs in the area?

[adarbrauner]

He won't be there anymore, starting from tomorrow.

That was an extended Dolittle raid [:)].

He's an expert Japan player, therefore he knows very well how eastern-northern Japan coast can be unguarded and prone to incursions.

He has fully achieved his goal- to force you to redeploy and desperse your forces also in defense of homeland.

The loss of the Enterprise, though, shall more than amply counter balance that in your favor.

He's taken far excessive risks in keepin the task force around Japan for such a long time. at the end, he's been unlucky and swallowed a torpedo.

Having exposed his replenishment fleet tough was CRIMINAL.

Now plan it well, together with the oilers that you've alredy encounterd, and good hunt, sink then all! He'll regret, painfully.

P.s.: in real life, Japan kept considerable forces ,at the beginning of the war, around domestic waters, just to confront such emergencies.

Some very stronk surface fleets had been immediately dispatched as the new of the raid has been diffused to get the Hornet out of her presumed position, to no avail

[Xargun]

I remember hearing that the Doolittle raid launched early due to a fishing boat spotting them. Is this true ? I am thinking of putting some worthless 100ton 'fishing' boats 15 or so hexes out as an early warning system. Would that be gamey ?

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Xargun

I remember hearing that the Doolittle raid launched early due to a fishing boat spotting them. Is this true ? I am thinking of putting some worthless 100ton 'fishing' boats 15 or so hexes out as an early warning system. Would that be gamey ?

I believe it was a picket boat not a fishing boat, or at least it was on picket duty not fishing, but yes. They launched early with consequences for the raiders.

Not gamey. It was done. Better feeling to it if they are at least sort-of military types.

[adarbrauner]

I think the raid was launched prematurely some 500 miles or more from Tokyo, that's 13-14 hexes in the game.

where medium bombers can't be accomodated on flaptop; i tried it; to resize only; not allowed;

[Xargun]

I've been watching my engine production lately and its going the wrong way - stockpiles are draining so I'm been going over my aircraft / engine plans in more detail to correct the issue before its too late. Cannot accurately plan engines until I have my aircraft plans locked down so here is my aircraft plans (including numbers where applicable):

CV Aircraft

A6M2 Zero (x120) until A6M5c Zero (x120) until A7M2 Sam (x100)
D3A1 Val (x40) until D4Y3 Judy (x60) until D4Y4 Judy (x60) [May not build D4Y3 depending on need when available]
B5N2 Kate (x50) until B6N2a Jill (60)


Land-base Fighters

A6M2 Zero (above) until J2M3 Jack (x100) until N1K2-J George (x100)
N1K5-J George (x60)
J7W1 Shinden (x100)

Ki-43-Ic Oscar (x120) until ki-44-44-IIc Tojo (x120) until Ki-100-I Tony (x120)
Ki-84a Frank (x??) until Ki-84r Frank (x??) [May wait until Ki-84r completely - depending on need]
Ki-63 (x??)


Night Fighters

J1N1-S Irving (x60) until P1Y2-s Frances (x60)
Ki-45 KAId Nick (x??) until Ki-102c Randy (x??)


Level Bombers

G3M2 Nell (x60) until G3M3 Nell (x60)
G4M1 Betty (x30) until end of war [Long range night bomber]
P1Y1 Frances (x60) until P1Y2 Frances (x60)

Ki-21-IIa Sally (x60) until Ki-49-IIa Helen (x60) until Ki-49-IIb Helen (x90)
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy (x??)


Recon

C5M2 Babs (x30) until C6N1 Myrt (x30) until C6N2 Myrt (x30)
Ki-46-II Dinah (x30) until Ki-46-III Dinah (x30)


Patrol

H6K4 Mavis (x30) until K8K2 Emily (x30)


Transport

L3Y2 Tina (x30) until L2D2 Tabby (x30)
H6K4-L Mavic (x30) or H8K2-L Emily (x30) [Should I build one or the other or both ??]
MC-21 Sally (x30) until Ki-49-II KAI Helen (x30)


Float
E13A1 Jake (x30) until E13A1b Jake (x30)


Please comment on my plans above - especially numbers. As I have said I have had little to no experience with late game (44+) and only a little experience with late 43 so my numbers may be way off.

[Xargun]

Going through my plans (working on engine need) I am noticing not much difference between the J2M3 Jack and the N1K2-J George (Avail dates are very close - 6 months diff not counting R&D). With R&D I could have either one at roughly the same time so instead of R&Ding both I think I will simply pick the George since I plan on using the N1K5-J George as well.

[Aurorus]

ORIGINAL: Xargun

I've been watching my engine production lately and its going the wrong way - stockpiles are draining so I'm been going over my aircraft / engine plans in more detail to correct the issue before its too late. Cannot accurately plan engines until I have my aircraft plans locked down so here is my aircraft plans (including numbers where applicable):

CV Aircraft

A6M2 Zero (x120) until A6M5c Zero (x120) until A7M2 Sam (x100)
D3A1 Val (x40) until D4Y3 Judy (x60) until D4Y4 Judy (x60) [May not build D4Y3 depending on need when available]
B5N2 Kate (x50) until B6N2a Jill (60)


Land-base Fighters

A6M2 Zero (above) until J2M3 Jack (x100) until N1K2-J George (x100)
N1K5-J George (x60)
J7W1 Shinden (x100)

Ki-43-Ic Oscar (x120) until ki-44-44-IIc Tojo (x120) until Ki-100-I Tony (x120)
Ki-84a Frank (x??) until Ki-84r Frank (x??) [May wait until Ki-84r completely - depending on need]
Ki-63 (x??)


Night Fighters

J1N1-S Irving (x60) until P1Y2-s Frances (x60)
Ki-45 KAId Nick (x??) until Ki-102c Randy (x??)


Level Bombers

G3M2 Nell (x60) until G3M3 Nell (x60)
G4M1 Betty (x30) until end of war [Long range night bomber]
P1Y1 Frances (x60) until P1Y2 Frances (x60)

Ki-21-IIa Sally (x60) until Ki-49-IIa Helen (x60) until Ki-49-IIb Helen (x90)
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy (x??)


Recon

C5M2 Babs (x30) until C6N1 Myrt (x30) until C6N2 Myrt (x30)
Ki-46-II Dinah (x30) until Ki-46-III Dinah (x30)


Patrol

H6K4 Mavis (x30) until K8K2 Emily (x30)


Transport

L3Y2 Tina (x30) until L2D2 Tabby (x30)
H6K4-L Mavic (x30) or H8K2-L Emily (x30) [Should I build one or the other or both ??]
MC-21 Sally (x30) until Ki-49-II KAI Helen (x30)


Float
E13A1 Jake (x30) until E13A1b Jake (x30)


Please comment on my plans above - especially numbers. As I have said I have had little to no experience with late game (44+) and only a little experience with late 43 so my numbers may be way off.

I would try to hold A6M2 production to 90. It is ok to set it to 120, but try to stop expansion at 90 if you are able to sufficiently maintain your squadrons with only 90 (it is hard to do, especially against your oppnent). The A6M2 factories never upgrade for free and it hurts when you shut most of them down only 10 months after expanding them. Oscar at 120 is ok. The Oscar factories will upgrade for free throughout the war, and Oscar has its purposes, especially as a fighter-bomber. So you will shut down and restart these factories from time to time as the war progresses. Val at 40 is ok. You will be short Vals to fill out your squadrons until mid February no matter what you do. You probably will not need 50 Kates. 30 should be enough.

I would focus on eather George or Jack and put only 30 in the other. I prefer George. I doubt you will ever field the Shinden. Better to focus exclusively on A7M2 Sam. You will not need 30 Mavis. 10 or 15 is enough. They are engine hogs. Try to use more Jakes- 1 engine versus 4 is a huge HI advantage. Ditto for C5M2s. 30 Dinahs seems high as well. 20 should suffice. The H6K4 Mavis transport is useless in PDU:ON, since your normal Mavis can function as a transport.

You will probably not need so many Frances. Though they later model is an excellent night bomber. If you want to pursue a late war night bombing strategy (which is what I recommend for PDU:on), then research into Frances is Ok to get the night bomber (it is the radar-equipped model). 60 Sallies and 90 Lillies is also high. Far too many engines. 30 of each should be enough.

For army transports just use the original Topsy until the obsolete engines run out, then switch to something else: either the new Topsy (to save political points) or the Thalia. The 2nd generation Topsy uses an important engine, (I forget which one), so it may be a no go. The MC-21 Sally has less range than the Topsy and Thalia. The Tina is your best transport, but alas it is navy. You only have 1 navy squadron of transports and only get 1 more, so 5 Tinas is enough for a month.

As I mentioned, your best 1943 fighter is the Ki-63 Tony. It is fast, with a high ceiling, uses 1 engine, and has 2 accurate cannons. It is the Japanese P-38. I would advise building some of these to bridge between Tojo and Frank. Because of its high ceiling, it also works well as the high fighter in layered cap with Tojo, Frank, and Oscar. Focus on only 2 end-war army fighters at the most. Frank is obvious. Everyone has their own opinion on the other. Lowpe and Pax would have a better idea than me which performs best.

[Aurorus]

One thing that I just remembered about PDU:on. The Mavis float plane is actually your best torpedo bomber and heavy bomber. Since you have already set production to 30. Go ahead and produce it. Fill out 2 bomber squadrons as Mavis and use them as torpedo bombers and heavy bombers. (They make excellent strategic bombers, BTW, carrying a larger payload than anything else Japan has). This will require a lot of engines, however, but I suspect the results will be worth it.

[Xargun]

Doing more number crunching at work I have no plans for the Aichi Ha-60 Engine other than the first two Judy models use it. So if I want to max out my R&D on the Judy I would need to build 500+ of this engine so it can sit in the pool once I move on to the later Judy models. 500 Engines I believe is 9000 HI wasted. Without expanding the factories building 500 engines will take 4 months to reach 500 exactly (start game with 125 engine factories set to Ha-60).

Is it wise to waste 9000 HI to speed up R&D on the Judy by roughly 6 months ?


Just check - same thing with the Tony line -- need the Kawasaki Ha-60 engine which I do not plan on using. This one is worse as the starting Kawasaki plant is only size 20 - I would need to spend considerable supply to expand this factory to hit the magic 500 in any reasonable time frame..

[Aurorus]

ORIGINAL: Xargun

Doing more number crunching at work I have no plans for the Aichi Ha-60 Engine other than the first two Judy models use it. So if I want to max out my R&D on the Judy I would need to build 500+ of this engine so it can sit in the pool once I move on to the later Judy models. 500 Engines I believe is 9000 HI wasted. Without expanding the factories building 500 engines will take 4 months to reach 500 exactly (start game with 125 engine factories set to Ha-60).

Is it wise to waste 9000 HI to speed up R&D on the Judy by roughly 6 months ?


Just check - same thing with the Tony line -- need the Kawasaki Ha-60 engine which I do not plan on using. This one is worse as the starting Kawasaki plant is only size 20 - I would need to spend considerable supply to expand this factory to hit the magic 500 in any reasonable time frame..

You start with 120 R&D into the Aichi. I leave this as is, and build it out until I have 500 engines. Then I shut off production of these factories (and I have never turned them back on). This pool will get you through the entire war with your Judies. You don't need to build out 500 Kawasakis. You get the first Tony model in March 43, I believe. If you set production to 60, you will speed up their arrival by two months give or take, without 500 engines in the pool. Then just build the engines as needed for the planes throughout 43. You do not need much R&D in the Tony to make it a top-of-line fighter on the date of its appearance. Another reason why Tony is good.

[Aurorus]

The airwar strategy that I support is one that focuses on the carriers and on your airforce in 1943. In my opinion, if Japan does not have twice as many VPs as the allies in Jan. 1, 1944, nothing that you do as Japan is going to result in victory. You can have your nice Sams and Ki-94s or even your jets in early 1944, but you are going to get overwhelmed by massive allied air, naval, and ground forces. You are going to lose. That is ok. Managing the Japanese retreat and defense is a fun, though frustrating, experience. Many Japanese players enjoy this aspect of the game. They like to have the best tools available for this portion of the game, because they enjoy it. There is nothing wrong with this approach to the game. It is a game, after all, and should be played in the way that brings the most entertainment to the player.

I know only one way to play, and that is to try to win. I want to force decisive battles as early as possible and have the best tools available for this portion of the game. It is a gamble. If it fails and Japan loses a decisive carrier engagement early, then I am in a poor position for the late game. That is the tradeoff of my approach, and these are the two schools of thought with regard to the Japanese grand strategy. I think the question really is this: what do you enjoy? Build your strategy around this.

[GetAssista]

ORIGINAL: Xargun
...so here is my aircraft plans (including numbers where applicable):

1. Research and use D4Y1 Judy asap, it is huge improvement over Val in the critical period of the war. Criminal to not do it! You can skip D4Y2 though
2. Build B5N1 Kate, you have a stock of obsolete engines for them, they are just marginally worse than B5N2, and just as good on ASW and land-based duty
3. Don't build Kawasaki engines and don't use intermediate Tonys, wait for Ki-100
4. Ditch Ki-43-Ic asap, at least make it into first armored version. And research further into Ki-43 line, they are the best long range bomber escorts in 42-43
5. Don't buld much Mavises, wait for H8K1 Emily
6. Dunno what are your rules WRT skipping intermediate airframes in R&D

[Xargun]

For late war (44 and beyond) what sort of numbers should I be looking at producing each month ? Mostly concerned with Fighters (regular and night) as well as bombers (including Dive and Torpedo). What is a 'usual' month expenditure of these assets including Kamikaze ?

[Xargun]

Another week has go by. When I don't have to work Mr Kane and I can really push out the turns.

Burma

I have about 200 AS sitting on my side of the river from Pegu waiting for reinforcements before moving further. At one time 10 units were waiting in Pegu.

My sweeps over Pegu and Rangoon have been successful with Oscars and not much air activity is going on for the Allies in this theater now. I am bombing airfields to prevent fort building in preparation of invasion.

Netties from Bangkok caught a convoy leaving Rangoon - spotted it arriving, but couldn't get strikes in. With an Air HQ at Bangkok torpedoes drove straight sinking 2 xAKL and 6 xAKs and 1 PG.


Malaya

I am now on the edge of Singapore. Just waiting for all my units to derail before moving into Singapore proper. Pushing up against the Stacking Limits at Jahore, yet I still have more troops. Trying to decide to push them all into Singapore at once, or move a horde and then move in a second, smaller group.

I am now successfully bombing the Singapore airfield at night, damaging and killing some fighters. Still a lot of fighters there and my last sweep proved a disaster for me. I figure another few days of night time bombing and I will sweep again.

Bases Captured: Kulong, and Mersing


Philippines

Conducting bombardments of Clark Field to little affect. Very few losses on the allied side, but I hope I'm burning their supply.

The weather was friendly for a few days and my night time bombing of Clark was successful destroying and damaging fighters there. Then I swept the base and finally mauled his fighter force there. Reports indicate over 30 P-40s were destroyed in one turn at a loss of 6 Zeros.


DEI

Have built a lvl 1 airfield at Sorong and based some fighters there. The resupply convoy brought in more engineers and was attacked by DBs from Ambon. My fighters mauled them claiming over a dozen aircraft without losing any planes or any bombs hitting my ships. It feels so much better when my fighters are performing as expected.


China

I am having little trouble with most of the fights so far in China - there are a few holdout positions in southern China that I will need to concentrate forces on but for now I'm moving good.

Bases captured: Yenan


Reinforcements

Got my first big batch of air groups arriving - 7 new air groups. Nothing big, but a bunch of Val groups. These will prove useful for training and island hopping in the DEI.

Also got 11 new land units in China - they are being filled out and moving to the battle lines.


Japan

Looks like Mr Kane has finally withdrawn from attacking Hokkaido - the allied TFs have not been seen in three days. I am moving fighters back to their bases to recover damaged planes and fatigue. In all he score 348 VPs by destroying resources. I'm sure that will hurt come '44 when I am hard pressed to move resources to Japan, but now its not a big deal. I am re-evaluating his attack and what I can do to prevent this from happening again. I am going with my picket idea as well as moving up the time table of building and garrisoning the Kuriles - starting with Etorofu. A newly arrives JAAF base force in Tokyo has been assigned to Etorofu and will be shipped as soon as its filled out.


Defensive Planning

I have been building up select bases that I have captured to level 2 forts now - as in the future I will not remember to build them up and any forts will help when my perimeter is shrinking. I have also been building up selective bases in Japan and Korea. Concentrating on Ports as needed and airfields and forts for the rest. I am building up to level 2 forts everywhere in Japan and then moving on - will come back later to build up bigger ones later.

[Aurorus]

Building up forts to 2 as you go is a good idea. At the moment, you seem to have too many engineer units. That will change as you begin to fortify. You will never have enough after April, so get them busy now and then move them forward.