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

[Lowpe]

Aug 8, 1943

Recon suggests there maybe an AK at Buna, and although it is a level 8 air force no fighters have been present for awhile....so it is targeted.

Quite the disappointment, but a sunk ship no matter how small is welcome.[;)] Especially when there are no losses for Japan.

[Lowpe]

A very close run thing. Just couldn't put out the fire...Captain Orita has been sacked. Those responsible for letting Captain Orita remain in charge have been sacked.

[Lowpe]

PDU off joys:

Fighter Bombers -- Nicks are nearing the end of their life in this game. 5 Lilly IIb/IIc squadrons will convert to Randy FB eventually, but the Nicks go mostly NF and they have to go there as the night fighters are precious.

A few late arriving size 10 training squadrons in 45 arrive, but the Nick's days are numbered.

Nicks are widely regarded as excellent Kamikazes....but not in this game.[;)]

[Lowpe]

Here is a comparison of the Nick and Randy.

I like planes with big guns, even if they miss.[:)] Actually, I think they do okay against bombers but horrible against fighters....from personal observations.

I have no research into the Randy FB;[X(]. I just had to put the r&d into the night fighter programs. I will have some eventually, once the A6M8 arrives (it is now advanced to 1/45). So we won't be seeing the Randy 102b early if at all. Maybe one month early.

Ideally, I would have like the plane around 4/44 to counter the B29 deep strikes -- but that is simply too great an expenditure of supply and r&d facilities.

[Lowpe]

Turn is away, and I think the Allies are poised to launch a major attack on Magwe, the runways around Magwe, Rangoon, etc. That or, the preparation for a major invasion at Pegu is possible, especially if the Allies know the whereabouts of the KB.

Over 250 Allied Fighters at Akyab...over 800 in theatre. Hordes of bombers.

So, I took a decided gamble today. A big gamble, and stood down the CAP over Magwe, and instead I aim to destroy two tank units in the open trying to close off the hex between Shwebo and Katha.

I converted one Oscar IIb squadron to IV and sent them to Moulmein to get used to their new planes.

My hope is the Allies sweep heavily Magwe and meet nothing...this day. However, I never get this lucky, and am counting on the Allies being timid yet.

Nothing will surprise me here, except if my gambit is successful.

[Alfred]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

A very close run thing. Just couldn't put out the fire...Captain Orita has been sacked. Those responsible for letting Captain Orita remain in charge have been sacked.

Captain Orita was not the problem. You have made him a scapegoat.[:)]

See my post in this thread

tm.asp?m=3963993&mpage=1&key=fire&#3964157

for ship fire fighting.

Alfred

[Lokasenna]

The Randy-b is OK. You don't get all that many FB squadrons. If you're crunched for R&D factories, one of the first places I would cut R&D is FB's. I'd rather have the Randy-a, for example.

[Lowpe]

Aug 9, 1943

We try...

[Lowpe]

Left these guys a Rabaul a day too long. This will be ugly, the shore bombardment will be painful as the cd guns and mines I am sure will disappoint.

[Lowpe]

Well done, Allies. I wonder where these AA units had gotten too.

Very disappointing amount of damage done by some of the best Japanese bombers too.

[Lowpe]

I should have flown higher...in hindsight.

[Lowpe]

No bombardment of Rabaul...damage could have been a lot worse.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Alfred

tm.asp?m=3963993&mpage=1&key=fire�

for ship fire fighting.

Alfred

Ok, I added that to my drive of tips. I remember reading it a ways back. So, perhaps the crew was more to blame, but Orita let the ship get hit with a torpedo in the first place. Actually, I don't know how I missed changing him a lot earlier than this.

Glad to have you back!

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

The Randy-b is OK. You don't get all that many FB squadrons. If you're crunched for R&D factories, one of the first places I would cut R&D is FB's. I'd rather have the Randy-a, for example.

You and M-M make a persuasive case for the 102A![&o]

I double checked, and I have two size 30 r&d facilities going after the 102a.

[Lowpe]

August 10, 1943

Quiet day...a focused long range strike perhaps?

[Lowpe]

Run away!

[Lowpe]

I have been sneaking some merchants up and down the coast past Tavoy, and I wonder if these bombers are set to attack shipping?

Yesterday I moved a destroyer squadron into position, and today I may move them within shouting distance to see if I can entice a strike.

I would bomb the runway, but there is a lot of AA present.

[Lowpe]

It seems likely that tomorrow will see some good fireworks somewhere, and the possibility of a bigger clash on the following day even greater.

With great sadness I withdrew the Endo Detachment, saving the pilot Endo who was spectacular night fighter irl. So that leaves me with 9 planes in one squadron. I guess I will split it apart so as to cover three bases: Rangoon, Magwe and one other? Medan maybe? Bangkok?

I am starting to distribute the 20mm machine cannon AA...units I like very much indeed, even if most JFB's think they are utter trash. I don't. I think there is an application for every Japanese unit in the game. These make for good rear area defense against paratroops, soaks on islands, and soaks for units moving in the open, and port defense against dive bombers.

The Frances are starting to roll off the production line, but it will be 2 weeks or so before any squadron can fly them.

I only have 1.3 squadrons left to upgrade to the Frank A. The last full size squadron is in the North Pacific and I am flying them back. I won't use Franks on islands. I could have saved them for Alaska, but I think I may abandon Alaska shortly.

[Lowpe]

August 11, 1943

Our narrow focused naval search spots a large convoy just off map, a little east of the expected ambush zone...and bad weather and distance scrub some squadrons!

[Lowpe]

The Long Arm of the IJNAAF strikes![8D]