Islands of Destiny: RA 5.0 Japanese Side

[John 3rd]

The game simply needs to model Close Air Support as an assignment for aircraft. To me, that makes the most sense.

Moose: I don't fully agree with your statement above but I do understand it.

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

The game simply needs to model Close Air Support as an assignment for aircraft. To me, that makes the most sense.

Moose: I don't fully agree with your statement above but I do understand it.

I agree it needs to, but it doesn't and never will. We have to play the game we were given.

[Lecivius]

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

The game simply needs to model Close Air Support as an assignment for aircraft. To me, that makes the most sense.

Moose: I don't fully agree with your statement above but I do understand it.

I agree it needs to, but it doesn't and never will. We have to play the game we were given.

QFT

[John 3rd]

November 4-5, 1944

SS Action:
I-184 sinks SS Porpoise near Rangoon.

Night Bombing:
11-4
Maebishi is hit by 36 B-29. Over 40 Fighters contest the raids and AA is quite active. The planes come in at 2,000Ft. For the effort, no fires are started and only 1 Frank Factory Point is damaged. NICE. Three B-29 are shot down or don't make it back with another 20 or so damaged. Lose five Fighters.

11-5
Twelve B-29 attack Osaka and face 34 Fighters. Japan loses four and FOUR of the twelve are lost. ALL are damaged. There is a BUNCH of AA at Osaka. About 12,000 Fires are started.

Kobe gets visited by 9 B-29 who fight off just 6 Fighters. Three of nine are destroyed with no Japanese planes lost. Fires of about 8,000 total are started.

China
The western edge of the perimeter is beginning to collapse. Hex 83,60 holds barely over three straight days of assault. The 70th ID is wiped out in the hex west of 83,60 after being hit two days in a row by 100+ 2EB as well as 60+ DB and the Shock Attack of two IDs and 2 Tank Bn.

Not good but OK. Immediately by the 70th back and continue to fight for every inch of ground.

Just ran 35,000 supply past the Allied blockade and it is presently unloading north of Shanghai about four hexes upriver.

As said, this arena simply occupies the Allied Army for as long as possible. The only real damage being done to Japan right now are those bombing raids and that has not been TOO BAD so far...

Engagement Choices
The four dowager Battlecruisers and six DDs shall make it to Yokohoma tomorrow. They will be met by four more DDs. We shall be very tricksy and move them to Moppo (hiding in all the shipping clutter) and then unleash them. Think we'll go for a shipping strike at Ningpo. Course, he does not move the Allied CVs. They sit in the hex SW of Ningpo. Could send those fast ladies into that mess and try to get lucky...

Merchants or Warships? Is this Leyte Gulf? Any thoughts here?

Kido Butai
Have two CV TFs of 10 CVs moving away from the DEI. One is two days from Saipan and the other is passing Balikpapan.

A 3rd CV TF will depart Soerabaja in 3-4 days. The entire Fleet disbanded to work off some system damage as well as refuel and more then a few did a quick upgrade.

Am about to have BBs Nagato, Ise, and Nagato will be available for action and depart Soerabaja in two days.

The Fleet is going to rumble. The CVs will attack the next reinforcement convoy while and Capital Ships will engage around the Shanghai vicinity.

CENPAC
Am moving over 50 Emily into the bases at Marcus, Eniwetok, and Truk so I can get as much warning as possible regarding that reinforcement convoy.

Another 10,000+ troops, including 3 CD units, 2 Inf Reg, and 3 Base Forces, and an Air Flotilla depart Truk on the 4th. Yet again I am allowed to freely gather by-passed units and ship the back home for the final confrontation. Really do appreciate that!

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd
Merchants or Warships? Is this Leyte Gulf? Any thoughts here?

Whichever your decision, first decide if it is worthwhile to have a multivariable attack. LBA, kamikazes, carrier air, multiple SCTFs, LRCAP, the works. Go big or go home. If this is some backwater raid, it can be mounted on a budget. If it's anywhere close to the Allied front line, you've got to press home the attack or fail in the attempt altogether.

[John 3rd]

THAT is what I am thinking.

Am rotating a batch of Fighter Sentai/Daitai out to replace aircraft losses and rest. Have already got the TB, DB, and Kami pretty much ready. We'll then load up Moppo, Shanghai, and the base west of Shanghai. We'll try for a massive assault that will totally fail but be FUN to watch!

[Lowpe]

You have lots and lots of option, you don't have to do things that will fail. Unless you want to, I guess. But you have only experienced one percent of the endgame...Chickenboy's advice is very sound for the next invasion, but I fear your forces are so spread out you will never be able to react like that in time.

Why was there only 6 planes over Kobe...was your CAP at a higher elevation?

Where are your fighter bombers? I don't think I have seen them the entire game.

Have you thought about having roving night fighters (not just night fighters but day fighters too) on rotation. Every two days flip them to a new base, likely to be targeted, with like 200-400 fighters flying low trying to ambush some of the night bombers.

Your ability to do this is rapidly dwindling. You have to realize that now the Allies start growing their B29 force, and soon the B24 will most likely be in range and then long range 20 hex fighters will arrive. However, you probably only needed minimal daytime fighter coverage till then as long as he is sending a fair bit of the B29s at night. You can almost count the B29 squadrons as they come in, and really dedicate a ton of fighters to NF duty with very little risk.

[John 3rd]

I already am seeing the B-24 over Japan.

LIKE the idea of concentrating to try and nail the B-29s over a base.

Don't have a bunch of dedicated FB groups as of yet. Have the planes though...

[Yaab]

There is an easy fix for 4Es versus LCUs. Just tie bombing accuracy to the fort level of the bombed unit. If a unit stays in the same hex for 4 months and erects level 5 ground fortifications, it means the unit is a static target, which can be observed/photographed/surveyed and can be targeted by strategic bombers. If unit is moving on foot or has 0-2 level forts than 4Es should miss almost 90% of time.

[John 3rd]

Wow. Bet that idea will be pounced on! It does make a certain amount of sense to me...

[adarbrauner]

The idea is very good, but I'd change the probability to 70 %;
Also, I'd link it with density in the hex;

[Lowpe]

Here is to hoping we see some more action...3 days since the latest updates. It seems that the pace of the game has really slowed lately, a lot like my games![;)]

[John 3rd]

Had a very long couple of days at the stores:

Friday worked 1-10pm at Platteville then got up and returned to Open the store working from 7am-4:30pm yesterday. That is a lot of hours is just over 24 hours!

Adding insult to injury, I fell off a ladder yesterday while coming down it and really did a number on my right side (wrist, shoulder, and hip). At least a spread the damage! Sore as all HELL this morning as we get ready for church. Hate getting older!

To top it all off, we are hosting the entire church for a BBQ today so we'll have 40-60 of our closest friends here from Noon-3pm.

Terrible timing for work and getting damaged prior to a big party...

[John 3rd]

After a frustrating weekend, I got the turn off to Dan and now am headed off to work.

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: Yaab

There is an easy fix for 4Es versus LCUs. Just tie bombing accuracy to the fort level of the bombed unit. If a unit stays in the same hex for 4 months and erects level 5 ground fortifications, it means the unit is a static target, which can be observed/photographed/surveyed and can be targeted by strategic bombers. If unit is moving on foot or has 0-2 level forts than 4Es should miss almost 90% of time.

But then again, if a unit has been sitting in place for four months, then those guys are going to have dug some pretty deep holes. Accuracy would be greater but damage even less.

[zuluhour]

Can't help but think of ASL, the dreaded -2 for moving in the open

Falaise comes to mind

[palioboy2]

ASL?

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: palioboy2

ASL?

Advanced Squad Leader...a great, great game.

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: zuluhour

Can't help but think of ASL, the dreaded -2 for moving in the open

Falaise comes to mind

Could be quite accurate...

[John 3rd]

November 8, 1944

As the Japanese lines begin to crumble, the occasional bright spot still occurs. Dan is flinging his airpower at just about any hex with troops in it and we have been trying to get in a punch. THIS day is a GOOD one for Japan: