JFB in charge of the USN??? BtS Lite ver. 4.5 Kitakami (A) vs Falken (J)

[Kitakami]

Jan 18th, 1942

Last turn saw much less activity on the ground, but a lot of activity in the air. Also, I now know where three out of the five carrier forces are. To add to that, IJA 38th Inf Div is currently being transported in no less than 17 ships towards Palembang (SigInt).

Anyways... IJN air attacked and sank minor units around Java, and land air sank a couple of launches trying to flee Singapore. Also, two previously bombed ships gave up the ghost.

[Kitakami]

In the air, few Allied pilots were killed, but many were wounded. I much prefer it this way than the other way around, of course. Losses go up whenever IJN flattops come around to play.

[Kitakami]

The problem with running out of fighters is that then enemy bombers can do whatever they wish... as long as one does not have good AAA. Mine is not what I'd like, but I did sneak in one 36x Bofors Rgt into Palembang, which does help. Did not dare to ship HAA, as it would eventually be destroyed, and I didn't want to lose it.

Still, air losses were in favor of the Allies once again, so one way or another I am making due with what I have.

[Kitakami]

Accumulated air losses are good. I just want to keep eroding IJN pilot quality.

[Kitakami]

Ok... now the juicy part.

The DEI:

The Hiryu and Soryu are covering the Palembang beach head from the south, while the CVLs seem to either be waiting for the transports or refueling in Miri. Either way, that is a lot of naval air I can't compete with.

What I am planning to do, is to order an alpha strike as soon as I have the transports in range. I have kept my TBs, MBs, and HBs training, waiting for the next wave. Hopefully my fighters will last until then. I am certain I will not be able to destroy the transports before they hit the beaches, but I am sure going to try to sink them once they do, and I am going to pound the ground with all available level bombers at the same time. If I can disable enough enemy squads, I will be able to last a lot longer... or so I hope

There is also an amphibious landing that will hit either Tarakan or Tandjoengselor, probably this turn. Not much I can do there, except brace myself. There was no way I could reinforce Borneo. The only thing I did was to turn off all refineries, so there is not much fuel anywhere, except in Sumatra. Even Soerbaja, which has been the refueling point of Allied surface forces, is low on fuel.

[Kitakami]

Malaya:

Even with air attacks on Singapore, fort level is now at 3.51. I will stop at 4, I think, so that I can conserve some supply. The rest of the peninsula is now Japanese.

The Philippines:

Took Oroquieta back, and ordered supplies to be accumulated there. If the 500+ supplies that are in Zamboanga move to Oroquieta, my units will have something to eat for a little bit.

In Manila there are only 7.5K IJA troops, plus 100 guns and 40 or so vehicles. My esteemed opponent seems to be cleaning up everything else before focusing on Manila. Also, with the 38th IJA Inf Div absent, it will be a while before Manila is taken. Meanwhile fort lefel is 3.16 and rising.

Burma:

Another quiet turn.

China:

There was only one Japanese attack, in Chengchow. Supplies are low, and fort level was reduced to 2. It currently is 2.33. I know I will lose this battle. I only want industry there to be damaged along my units (146 engineers in the place).

Japanese Deliberate attack at Chengchow (88,44)
Japanese ground losses:
* 3044 casualties reported
*** Squads: 21 destroyed, 189 disabled
*** Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 72 disabled
*** Engineers: 0 destroyed, 44 disabled
*** Guns lost 28 (1 destroyed, 27 disabled)
*** Vehicles lost 75 (1 destroyed, 74 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
* 1400 casualties reported
*** Squads: 15 destroyed, 30 disabled
*** Non Combat: 26 destroyed, 37 disabled
*** Engineers: 13 destroyed, 1 disabled
*** Guns lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)

[Zecke]

ORIGINAL: Kitakami

Ok... now the juicy part.

The DEI:

The Hiryu and Soryu are covering the Palembang beach head from the south, while the CVLs seem to either be waiting for the transports or refueling in Miri. Either way, that is a lot of naval air I can't compete with.

What I am planning to do, is to order an alpha strike as soon as I have the transports in range. I have kept my TBs, MBs, and HBs training, waiting for the next wave. Hopefully my fighters will last until then. I am certain I will not be able to destroy the transports before they hit the beaches, but I am sure going to try to sink them once they do, and I am going to pound the ground with all available level bombers at the same time. If I can disable enough enemy squads, I will be able to last a lot longer... or so I hope

There is also an amphibious landing that will hit either Tarakan or Tandjoengselor, probably this turn. Not much I can do there, except brace myself. There was no way I could reinforce Borneo. The only thing I did was to turn off all refineries, so there is not much fuel anywhere, except in Sumatra. Even Soerbaja, which has been the refueling point of Allied surface forces, is low on fuel.

Nice looking next time Brunei and Miri over 1943-44 take

Balikpapan and tarakan also i take late 42

[Kitakami]

The Solomons, Papua New Guinea, and islands nearby:

The Aus transport TF successfully fled Port Moresby, even though the IJN CVE TF moved to intercept. I am going to try to intercept that TF. Range is a little far, I only have 1 hex of wiggling room, but I will try. If the CVEs remain in place (possible) or move W/SW (unlikely), they will face a nasty surprise. If they retreat, well... them be the breaks!

[ny59giants]

Warning: When you normally capture a base with Heavy Industry (HI), half of it is destroyed. However, if the base is empty of enemy troops or auto flips to Japan then it is totally destroyed [down to (0)1]. I had that happen to me at many bases in southern India. I'm posting this in both AARs. I would suggest that any base with HI have to have some Allied troops there to prevent this.

[Kitakami]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants
Warning: When you normally capture a base with Heavy Industry (HI), half of it is destroyed. However, if the base is empty of enemy troops or auto flips to Japan then it is totally destroyed [down to (0)1]. I had that happen to me at many bases in southern India. I'm posting this in both AARs. I would suggest that any base with HI have to have some Allied troops there to prevent this.

Hmm... not kosher. I will make it a point NOT to abandon a base with HI if I can avoid it. Need to look at Java mostly, as China, India and Manila are garrisoned.

[Kitakami]

Preview for next turn:

IJA 38th Inf Div landed in Palembang over the last turn, and has an AV of 330+. Don't have the turn yet, but the combat report showed it.

Also, there was a Japanese bombardment attack in Manila, and over 3k IJA troops were disabled. I wonder if an Allied deliberate attack would be in order? If there are still only a bit over 6k enemy troops there, it just might...

Will write more whn I get the turn.

[ny59giants]

Manila: You need to resist the temptation to attack here and in many other places. Why? Just looking at Assault Value doesn't tell the whole story on what your actual combat power you have or not. Most Allied troop have below 50 in experience, so their AV is halved when attacking. Manila is Urban hex. Look at your Filipino troops show this. On Luzon, I almost never attack as Allies because of this and the need to conserve supplies. Your Chinese, Indian, and Aussie troops are in the same boat.

Hit the "D" button to pull up the database. Select Infantry. Look at your current and future Anti-Soft and Anti-Armor values for your infantry troops. It's not until the '43 squads come out that they really pack significant punch and are ready to take on the Japanese.

[Kitakami]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants
Manila: You need to resist the temptation to attack here and in many other places. Why? Just looking at Assault Value doesn't tell the whole story on what your actual combat power you have or not. Most Allied troop have below 50 in experience, so their AV is halved when attacking. Manila is Urban hex. Look at your Filipino troops show this. On Luzon, I almost never attack as Allies because of this and the need to conserve supplies. Your Chinese, Indian, and Aussie troops are in the same boat.

Hit the "D" button to pull up the database. Select Infantry. Look at your current and future Anti-Soft and Anti-Armor values for your infantry troops. It's not until the '43 squads come out that they really pack significant punch and are ready to take on the Japanese.

Good points on experience, anti-soft, and anti-armour. I will refrain. Thanks!

[John 3rd]

You are using a lovely map. Who's is it and what is the map specifically? (I know ChemKid has several this is why I ask.)

[Kitakami]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd
You are using a lovely map. Who's is it and what is the map specifically? (I know ChemKid has several this is why I ask.)

It is one of his, you have a good eye
As to which one, I do not recall. You will have to go to his thread and check all versions out. Sorry, I really do not remember which one it is :/

[Kitakami]

A question for the peanut gallery:

I have a fighter unit in Palembang. I want to defend bombers coming from other bases to bomb Japanese units in Palembang. What orders should I give those fighters? I guess I am a little rusty

[BBfanboy]

If you own Palembang, just set your fighters on CAP and they will oppose any enemy fighters that show up.

[Kitakami]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy
If you own Palembang, just set your fighters on CAP and they will oppose any enemy fighters that show up.

Just to be clear... I do not want to mess this one up. All the fighters based in Palembang on CAP, and all other fighters nearby on escort?

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Kitakami

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy
If you own Palembang, just set your fighters on CAP and they will oppose any enemy fighters that show up.

Just to be clear... I do not want to mess this one up. All the fighters based in Palembang on CAP, and all other fighters nearby on escort?

Now I am not clear about what you mean by "other fighters nearby".
Fighter missions that can do CAP are "Escort" and "Sweep".
If you set the mission Escort, range 0 and the CAP % to 50%, half your fighters will stay at the base to do CAP and the other half will be available to escort bombers if there are any leaving from the base or nearby bases. If there are no bomber mission to escort, 50% of the aircraft will start off the first CAP cycle of the day while the other half rest. When the first half come down to refuel/rearm, the second half will go up to replace them. And so it cycles to day's end.

If your "nearby fighters" are one hex away you could set them to CAP with range 1 and some of them will help out with CAP at the original base, but some will also be patrolling other hexes on adjoining hex sides. You can set LRCAP to get them to exclusively go to the original base.

If there are bombers flying but you don't want CAP to escort from a base, set a Sweep mission range 0 and then set the CAP % and target hex.

[Kitakami]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy
Now I am not clear about what you mean by "other fighters nearby".
Fighter missions that can do CAP are "Escort" and "Sweep".
If you set the mission Escort, range 0 and the CAP % to 50%, half your fighters will stay at the base to do CAP and the other half will be available to escort bombers if there are any leaving from the base or nearby bases. If there are no bomber mission to escort, 50% of the aircraft will start off the first CAP cycle of the day while the other half rest. When the first half come down to refuel/rearm, the second half will go up to replace them. And so it cycles to day's end.

If your "nearby fighters" are one hex away you could set them to CAP with range 1 and some of them will help out with CAP at the original base, but some will also be patrolling other hexes on adjoining hex sides. You can set LRCAP to get them to exclusively go to the original base.

If there are bombers flying but you don't want CAP to escort from a base, set a Sweep mission range 0 and then set the CAP % and target hex.

The airfields I mentioned as "nearby" are 5-7 hexes distant. So I am flying escort with the (few) fighters I have in those airfields.