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

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: witpqs

The clarity provided in a thread on the matter recently is that they do react but will never actually attack as part of that reaction. The game engine made it difficult to implement, and programmer time ran out.

So the TF might react in one phase, and attack in another phase or even the next day -- that is if they stay in the proper hex?

The two (reaction and later attack) being unrelated except for the benefit of the reaction putting the ASW TF in a more favorable hex for later action - makes sense to me.

[Lowpe]

Dec 1, 1943

Well, a blunder today. I got an email from Jocke earlier that the file I sent last night wasn't good. I worked on the turn over two computers yesterday, and quickly sent him what I thought was the correct file, only to find out when we ran the turn, it was missing about 50 orders...including 150 plane CAP for my fast transports at Kavieng.

Well, with no LRCAP, we lost quite a lot. Including a troop loaded AP that went blundering about on her own near the home islands.

Sigh.[:(]

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

On Your question about #8 I was getting higher dls

With the same skills and number of planes searching over a sufficiently large sample size?

[Lowpe]

No turn from Jocke till tomorrow or even later.

I did some more testing of double bombardments:

I was able to routinely get double bombardments from destroyer and cruisers only TF out to range 6 with the remain on station order.

I was unable to get slow battleships to double bombard even starting at range 0.

I even had some task forces stay in bombardment mode after the 2nd bombardment and they would have bombarded a third time.

I continue to be amazed at how poor even 70 skill naval search pilots are at detecting submarines thru the Naval Search. It does happens, but oh the holes!

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

On Your question about #8 I was getting higher dls

With the same skills and number of planes searching over a sufficiently large sample size?

Yeah, size 36 squadrons skill 50ish. N about 15.

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

On Your question about #8 I was getting higher dls

With the same skills and number of planes searching over a sufficiently large sample size?

Yeah, size 36 squadrons skill 50ish. N about 15.

Odd. I'm still inclined to think it's a fluke, but maybe not.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna




With the same skills and number of planes searching over a sufficiently large sample size?

Yeah, size 36 squadrons skill 50ish. N about 15.

Odd. I'm still inclined to think it's a fluke, but maybe not.

Very well could be...for example say a high inspiration leader? Didn't even look at the them.

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

ORIGINAL: Lowpe




Yeah, size 36 squadrons skill 50ish. N about 15.

Odd. I'm still inclined to think it's a fluke, but maybe not.

Very well could be...for example say a high inspiration leader? Didn't even look at the them.

I'm thinking more just random chance.

[Lowpe]

Jocke offered me a redo on the last turn, so I could put in my missing 50 orders...and I refused. This is war, and the orders were lost in transit, and Jocke was in position to capitalize. He has the turn, and I will most likely see a turn from him tomorrow or Saturday at the latest.

It could be bad, as I attempt to fast transport troops off of New Britain. As least the fighters are flying LRCAP over the TF...but it still has to avoid a surface engagement and get away from Rabaul. Looking to rescue about 5000 men...and fast transports are somewhat unreliable. Also, I never picked up troops from a non base hex before.

Cross your fingers.

On the good news front the A6M8 starts production. Different engine, and 2 250 pound bombs...looking forward to using her. Another fighter I didn't get a chance to use against Tiemanj (Frank R being the other).

What is next to look for: Ki100, Judy 3, Grace [:)], Nick D, Irving Sa, are all nearing production...along with the Sen Baku.[;)]

[Lowpe]

Dec 2, 1943

Clash of the super sized task fores![X(]

Between Manus and New Britain!

[Lowpe]

Carnage in the Air!

[Lowpe]

Butchers Bill in the air!

Today will come the Thunderbolts...and most likely the bombers.

[Lowpe]

Fast Transport mode, with low threat threshold, means a minimal slugfest. Aoba has 21 system damge...

Disappointed to see the encounter happened at Manus, as the task force had orders to load some of the troops on New Britain in a non-base hex. Means the TF just sat in Manus and never left. I guess I can't rescue them by ship until they make a base.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Manus at 101,119, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Atago
CA Maya
CA Aoba, Shell hits 6
CL Noshiro
DD Akizuki
DD Tamanami
DD Suzunami, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Fujinami
DD Urakaze
DD Shiratsuyu
DD Samidare, Shell hits 1
DD Kawakaze
DD Hatsushima
DD Ariake
DD Ayanami
DD Minazuki
DD Matsukaze, Shell hits 1
APD Minekaze
APD Yakaze
DD Uruyuke, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
CL Boise
CL Denver, Shell hits 1
CL Montpelier, Shell hits 1
CL Mobile, Shell hits 1
DD Abbot
DD Ammen
DD Aulick
DD Beale, Shell hits 1
DD Bennett, Shell hits 1
DD Chevalier
DD Conway
DD DeHaven
DD Bailey
DD Conyngham, Shell hits 1

Reduced sighting due to 21% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 21% moonlight: 11,000 yards
Range closes to 28,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 28,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese radar detects Allied task force at 28,000 yards
Range closes to 26,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 26,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese radar detects Allied task force at 26,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...

[Lowpe]

All my rescue ships...can't rescue![:(]

[jwolf]

Kind of ironic with all those ships on both sides, and none of them ended up damaged very much. The fans are disappointed! [:'(]

I guess Jocke is OK using the Hellcats like that since the pools are deep.

[Lowpe]

My fairly standard low CAP, Allies standard sweep at max altitude by HR.

Of interest I think is the altitude bands that the defenders are flying to.

Morning Air attack on Magwe , at 57,47

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 19 NM, estimated altitude 32,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J2M3 Jack x 19
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 30
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 9
Ki-84a Frank x 25
Ki-84r Frank x 39

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 36

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IV Oscar: 2 destroyed
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 1 destroyed
Ki-84r Frank: 4 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 10 destroyed

CAP engaged:
381 Ku S-1 with J2M3 Jack (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 11 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 7000 , scrambling fighters between 23000 and 32640.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes
1st Sentai with Ki-84r Frank (0 airborne, 11 on standby, 23 scrambling)
5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 9000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 29000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes
54th Sentai with Ki-43-IV Oscar (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 18 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 4000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 33600.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 37 minutes
73rd Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 17 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 9000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 31000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes
246th Sentai with Ki-44-IIc Tojo (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 9000 , scrambling fighters between 30000 and 32540.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 14 minutes

[Lowpe]

Dec 3, 1943

Started the final two conversions to float plane hybrid battleships. That means four battleships are currently undergoing the conversion.

A raft of other warships have started their Dec upgrades.

Another testimony to low, layered CAP, as Magwe extracts their pound of flesh. Allies are horrendously strong in the air, a byproduct of the West Coast invasion. Well over 1,000 Fighters in theater for the Allies, and that is just on the front lines.

[Lowpe]

First squadron converts to A6M8. Most will be in the New Guinea area first, KB second, there everywhere else last.

Messed up, my Frank B factory upgrades to Frank R, and produced a plane. I think that is the 2nd time I have pulled that boneheaded mistake...and another reason why playing Japan can really punish you quite quickly. R&D planes need to be set to production off.[:)] Then at least you have a day to fix your mistake.

Pulling the fighters back out of Magwe, about 20 damaged on the ground. It is not about protecting the oil anymore there, but rather attriting the humongous Allied fighter strength. I don't have enough size 5 runways in Indochina (but I am getting there) as they eliminate the morale loss from malaria (or greatly reduce it).

Allies are very cautious with their best fighters, often sweeping first with lesser but plentiful planes and saving the better planes (or more fragile like P38) for later days. A good tactic.

Moving a lot of AA to the oil in the SRA...it will hang there till June of 44 pretty much when it will start to make an exodus back. Maybe sooner depending upon game circumstances.

I need more Jacks and Georges, but won't get them for a long time. 1 squadron of George in Indochina, the other is making its way to New Guinea area. Did upgrade a third squadron to Ki61d.

My top of the line fighters look like this:

6.5 Sentai of Frank
2 Sentai of George
1 Sentai of Jack
3 Sentai of Ki61d Tony
1 Sentai of A6M8
4 Sentai of Oscar IV or thereabouts

And that is it, everything is lesser planes, I am even still flying A6M2...The air war in PDU off is quite challenging. The bombers and their effectiveness isn't really changed that much...not much of an effective difference between a Sally and Helen. Light Bombers are still pretty effective as trainers, ASW, Chinese clean up.

I am really taking pains to have only 70 defense pilots flying on the front lines.

[Lowpe]

Further thoughts on the low layered CAP. Next month the Allies will get even higher sweeps, and I can't compete with that at all.

I think perhaps the strongest makeup of planes is the Frank R flying high cap (9K & 7K) and George flying low CAP (4K)

You only need one George squadron per base, and at least 2 Frank squadrons. Anything less will normally get eaten up alive by sweeps except for unexpected CAP traps.

The bloom is off the rose for me and Tony. She is great bomber killer, but what a flying brick down low. Much prefer the more fragile Oscar IV. Tony has become for me deep defense, strafing, and anti Carrier cap traps (important roles no doubt)...you really need to avoid being swept with them. That will change a bit, but not much, when the KI100 arrives. The plane just can't dance.[:(]

I think perhaps most JFBs in a pdu off game are perhaps better served by skipping the Tony line all together, and putting those r&d facilities into the Grace. Skimp a little on Jill and Judy and really get the Grace early and in big numbers as long as you don't sacrifice your Frank and Sam r&d. Or a fantasy fighter.[;)]

[Lowpe]

December 1943 Economy...

humming once again! You can see the uptick in supplies, the long, horrible, depressing, mind numbing experience of losing 20 divisions is finally done. It really flat lined my supply growth.

Oil is diminishing and fuel strong. Resources are good, but man I still need to get tons back to hungry Honshu.