Once Again into the Breach - Mike (J) vs. tc464 (A)

[rustysi]

I would say its about time to start concentrating KB back together.

+1

fast APs to counter invade,

Japan hasn't any AP's, at least in stock, the best she has are some AK's which need to be converted from xAK's. Have you converted any of these Mike? I do about half, as I know these vessels are quite valuable as cargo movers, but you do need some better assault ships.

[Zorch]

ORIGINAL: rustysi

I would say its about time to start concentrating KB back together.

+1

+2 time for a massive carrier battle.

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

Obvert, I understand what you're saying but Ted has a habit of sneaking into a base close to my main bases and building it up with a billion engineers. Then he shoves droves of fighters there and my base gets overwhelmed. I need to take Tabiteuea back. I should have taken it months ago but neglected to do so (yes Michael, you warned me).

I like to do the same as Allies, but the most effective strategy against that I've seen is to move the Japanese base back. This does two things.

1. It shortens the LOC as the game goes on and forces the Allies to extend into area protected only by CVs, thus giving the KB opportunities to arrive by surprise and take advantage of proximity to their own LBA and bases.

2. Changing strong points forces the Allies to reprep for targets somewhere else down the line, but it also obscures somewhat where those strongpoints might relocate.

Why do you need anything in the Marshalls or Gilberts at this point in the war?

It's hard for me to give up terrain. It's something I'll need to learn to do, probably sooner rather than later. I have 4 turns to post. I'm not withdrawing from there....yet.

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants_MatrixForum

One thing that I have realized (and I suspect he’s realizing too) is that he’s invading with too few troops. My forts allow a couple Naval Guards/SNLFs to hold off a division for a good period of time. Does he have a shortage of AP(A)s at this point in the war? I haven’t a clue. I haven’t seen him invade with more than a single division and an engineer regiment at any one time. Can he haul more? I suspect so, but I’m not sure at all.

The Allies (Americans) start off with about 15 or more APs that can convert to APAs in 3/43. I hide mine at Mare Island until I can do so. He will get about another dozen APAs by mid-43 (he gets one or two per month until '44 starts the flood - after Normandy invasion is over). So, he can load two to three full divisions depending on how many you (Japan) have sunk. He gets some APs and LSI to use but they don't unload as fast. When you see Ted invade with these ships, does he have any LCUs with Nav Support squads (these speed up the unloading process for LCUs and supply)? He should be loading his 'assault forces' with minimal supply and then have 2 or 3 TFs with just supply unloading next to them (this should mean he unloads troops in two days or less and then gets them out of danger). Even though they are slow (11 knots), the LST is ideal to use.

Japan's counter - Do you have any Tina's (or Topsy) within range to airlift troops into base? Do you have a full division with enough fast APs to counter invade, if possible? You would need some degree of air superiority to do this, but it is something to plan for.

I would say its about time to start concentrating KB back together. Having 4 parts almost got me into trouble. [:-]

I'll have to check to see how many APs I've sunk. I can't even guess right now.

I have plenty of xAPs available. I've lost few to none. I'm moving them around to use them.

I have Tina's right now, but just one unit of 27, stationed at Truk. It's moving either units or supply. Working on a second that I got just this month.

I agree about concentrating KB. It's addressed in the next few turns I'll post in a bit.

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants_MatrixForum

Can you break down and post what your pools are by types of airframes and what you are producing?

Example: FPs - How many Jakes do you have and how many are you producing?

I'll get that info. Probably a day or so.

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: rustysi

I would say its about time to start concentrating KB back together.

+1

fast APs to counter invade,

Japan hasn't any AP's, at least in stock, the best she has are some AK's which need to be converted from xAK's. Have you converted any of these Mike? I do about half, as I know these vessels are quite valuable as cargo movers, but you do need some better assault ships.

I haven't converted any xAKs to AKs.

Michael was referring to xAPs, I'm sure.

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: Zorch

ORIGINAL: rustysi

I would say its about time to start concentrating KB back together.

+1

+2 time for a massive carrier battle.

Oh yeah. Time to post some more turns. [;)]

[Mike Solli]

18 Jul 43

Sub War

The I-17 caught an outbound convoy and put 3 torpedoes (in two separate attacks) into an xAK sinking her.

I know the Allies have an endless supply of cargo ships, but I still wonder if sinking so many has any effect on them. He’s still sending them out unescorted. You’d think he’s stick one old DD with each convoy. Are there that many convoys (or that few DDs)?

5 Fleet

Nothing going on here, but he’s sending what seems like a lot of resupply convoys to Dutch Harbor. I may send a bombardment fleet there to slow things up a bit. We’ll see.

4 Fleet

Things are getting interesting here. I have my invasion fleet still headed to a point SW of Kwajalein along with KB2 and a bombardment fleet that had been pulled from KB 2 (2 Kongos and 3 DDs). There’s a surface force at Tabiteuea, a cruiser force I think. I’m going to move KB2 to 7 hexes north of there to try and hit it. I have Judies on the decks so at 7 hexes they still carry 250kg bombs and the Kates carry torpedoes. We’ll see what happens.

I spotted the US CV TF two hexes east of Rossel Island heading east. Now that’s interesting. Not sure what is going on with them but I think they’re going to try and ambush my Tabiteuea invasion force. I’m also not sure of its composition. At this point, there are the 6 pre-war CVs plus Essex and the CVL Independence. He just got the Yorktown II on 7/12 but I doubt she’s available yet. Here is the damage sustained to his carriers so far:

Lexington: 4/27/43 – 1 torpedo and 1x 500kg bomb. I assume she’s repaired (probably not but I don’t want to take any chances.
Enterprise: 6/22/43 – 1 torpedo
Essex: 6/26/43 – 1 torpedo

So, assuming one of the 3 is available, we have 5 pre-war carriers and the Independence, or about 183 fighters, 180 DBs and 105 TBs.

KB2 (Soryu, Shokaku and Zuikaku) is in the area as described above and was spotted by a sub yesterday. KB1 (Akagi, Kaga, Ryujo and Hosho) is moving to the area and is a few days out after supporting the operation at Timoeka. MKB2 (Junyo, Hiyo, Shoho and Zuiho) is moving into the area (still a few days out) after refitting in the Home Islands. When together, they’ll have 309 (A6M3a, A6M5 and A6m5c) fighters, 125 DBs (Val and Judy) and 159 TBs (Kate and Jill). Ted saw KB1 north of Timoeka just a couple of days ago and MKB2 hasn’t been seen in well over a month.

The only other carriers are MKB1 (Ryuho, Unyo and Chuyo, with Taiyo on her way to Singapore after being damaged by a sub torpedo). I really don’t want them in action against US CVs anyway. They’re too fragile, plus they have only 9 fighters, 27 DBs and 21 TBs.

I flew 18 G3M3 Nells from Truk to Maleolap in case they can get a long range shot at some surface ships. They can only carry bombs from there but they can go a long way with those bombs.

Potential exciting times coming…

SE Fleet

Ted’s bombers focused on Talasea today hitting that airbase with 127 sorties. That’s perfect! Kavieng was visited by only 23 sorties and Rabaul had 46 sorties. All bases except Talasea repaired damage:

Manus: 98-100-39, down 18 runway
Kavieng: 80-100-79, down 3 runway but more engineers are landing tomorrow.
Rabaul: 44-100-51, down 21 runway
Talasea: 0-100-98, runway up 2

A few more days and Rabaul’s airfield will be back in business!

SRA

Timoeka is ours! Overnight, a 4 CA bombardment fleet pounded the Marines there then elements of the 2 Raiding Regiment landed and took the base. The 4 Marine Raider Battalion and 808 Engineer Aviation Battalion were destroyed! Banzai!! [:D]

I scrounged an SNLF company and an engineer company to garrison the place and build some forts.

I’m keeping an eye on things but there’s no enemy naval activity to the east other than a single sub at Merauke. Probably afraid of my carriers (rightly so).

Burma
China

Nothing to report.

Other Stuff

Reinforcements:
958 Ku T-9 – 3 plane Jake unit. I’ll increase it to 9 and make it an ASW unit.
xAK Shiretoko Maru – Std-B, will convert to a TK.

[Mike Solli]

19 Jul 43

Sub War

The I-34 caught a supply TF a few hexes to the east of Dutch Harbor and headed there, sinking an xAK.

5 Fleet

Nothing to report.

4 Fleet

KB2 moved to a point 7 hexes north of Tabiteuea, hoping to catch that CA TF, but they weren’t there! They were spotted halfway to Ocean-Nauru Islands headed toward them, 8 hexes away from my carriers! Darn! I moved KB2 to a point 7 hexes away from both of those islands hoping to catch the US cruisers there.

The US CVs were spotted 5 hexes south of Guadalcanal still headed in an easterly direction. I have a screen of Glen subs spread out to the east hoping to keep track of them as they sweep around to attempt to ambush me.

KB1 and MKB2 are still headed to rendezvous with KB2 SW of Kwajalein.

SE Fleet

The TF (1 xAK & 1 PB escort) started dumping its engineers off at Kwajalein, but were visited by 18 SBDs, hitting the xAK with 3x 1000lbers and the PB with another one. The xAK went down but the tough old Ansyu PB is still hanging in there but badly damaged and burning fiercely. She saved some support squads, but all 48 engineers had landed safely! Nice!

The Allied bombers focused on Kavieng today with 128 sorties while Manus was visited by 36 SBDs and Rabaul saw only 8x B-25s. This was wonderful news since Kavieng’s airfield damage was still quite high. Current damage:

Manus: 99-100-31, runway damage down 8
Kavieng: 80-100-98, runway damage up 19
Rabaul: 44-100-18, runway damage down 33!
Talasea: 0-100-96, runway damage down 2

I’ve decided to start defending Rabaul once again. Even though the service damage is 100, the runway is in pretty good shape. I moved 53 Georges to defend. Yeah, their SR3 sucks so they won’t repair for a long time, but they’ll get good shots in for at least a couple of days.

SRA
Burma
China

Nothing to report.

Other Stuff

Nothing exciting.

[Mike Solli]

20 Jul 43

Sub War

A couple hexes south of Kobe, the Ch-44 hit the Pargo with a DC.

A hex NW of Rabaul, the Growler sank a Kiso class PB. I don’t even remember what she was doing there, but she ain’t there anymore!

In the Balikpapan gap, the Greenling put two torpedoes into the Ch-17. There weren’t even matchsticks left. One of her sister ships hit the sub with a DC.

Finally, 3 hexes east of Dutch Harbor, the I-177 surfaced and sank an xAKL. Target practice.

5 Fleet

Nothing to report.

4 Fleet

The damn Allied cruiser TF moved back to Tabiteuea and KB2 was out of range. Sheesh. Fifteen Nells did pay them a visit though….and missed. I do know the TF contains CAs Portland and Indianapolis and CLs Helena and Achilles now. I moved the Nells to Roi-Namur because there’s an air HQ with torpedoes. Hopefully, they have a chance to use them. Tabiteuea is still in normal Nell range of Roi-Namur.

I lost sight of the US CVs. The only thing I can figure is that they continued south to come up from the south or SE. We’ll see.

SE Fleet

The Allied bombers focused on Kavieng for the second day in a row! Kavieng saw 130 sorties.

My 53 Georges did a decent job, shooting down 3 of 13 P-38Gs on a sweep mission and 4 of 11 B-24Ds, losing 3 of their own and a few more OP losses (2 KIA, 2 WIA).

Current damage:

Manus: 100-100-25, runway down 6
Kavieng: 82-100-98, no change, 130 wasted sorties! Yay!
Rabaul: 44-83-0, runway down 18, service down 17
Talasea: 0-100-91, runway down 5

As I feared, the Georges took a hit, with only 24 still available of 53 yesterday (3 shot down and another 4 op losses, but lots damaged). I flew in 29 Tojo IIcs and 7 A6M5s to augment the defense.

SRA
Burma
China

Nothing to report.

Other Stuff

The D4Y3 R&D advanced to 3/44 (will become operational in 11/43). 3x30 factories.

Just maneuvering out in the central Pacific trying to ambush the ambusher.

[Mike Solli]

21 Jul 43

Sub War
5 Fleet

Nothing to report.

4 Fleet

Well, we had a rain out today. The US CVs reappeared today, and they ended up 5 hexes from KB2! His carriers were under clear skies, but mine were hidden in thunderstorms. No play time at all! That was fortunate for me, because he outnumbered me. I’m confident he has 3 CVs (Saratoga, Yorktown & Hornet) and 1 CVL (Independence) because of the number of fighters and bombers my intel said he had in the TF. My estimate is 120 Hellcats vs. 99 Zeros and 180 bombers (108 Dauntlesses and 72 Avengers) vs. 108 bombers (54 Judies and 54 Kates).

KB1 and MKB2 will both reach Ponape tomorrow. KB2 is doing a full speed run north to be within a couple hexes of Ponape. Then they will come down together. If Ted sticks around, I’m definitely going after him. Combined, the 3 TFs have 309 fighters, 125 DBs and 159 TBs. I’ll have 180 fighters on CAP and another 120 available as escorts. All three TFs have full loads of torpedoes and the replenishment fleet is there too. I’m ready!

Ted’s cruiser TF bombarded Ocean Island today. It turned out that there are 2 CAs (Indianapolis and Portland) and 3 CLs (Helena, Achilles and Leander). They caused 12 port damage. Ocean Island has no engineers, but that’s not really an issue.

SE Fleet

Things are looking up here too. There were 136 wasted bomber sorties on Kavieng’s airfield, an already destroyed airfield. Here’s the damage report:

Manas: 100-100-14, runway down 11
Kavieng: 82-100-98, no change
Rabaul: 44-47-0, service down 36!
Talasea: 0-100-85, runway down 6

I moved some more Tojos to Rabaul. Ted is avoiding Rabaul, which is great. Damaged planes are repairing now too. Very nice!

The US CVE fleet is still in the area, but not visible right now. I estimate there are 6 CVEs totaling 126 fighters and 54 torpedo bombers. It’s a nice little potent force, but still vulnerable. I have a 45 plane Betty daitai sitting at Truk that’s available to fly to Rabaul should the opportunity arise. If I see it within range of Rabaul, I may try a sweep or two to whittle down the fighters somewhat.

SRA
Burma
China

Nothing to report.

Other Stuff

The N1K2-J George R&D advanced to 2/44 (will become operational 9/43). Current factories are 6x30, 25(5), 21(9), 18(12),

Another Ki-84a Frank factory completed repairs. There are now 1x55, 4x30 plus 25(5), 17(13), 7(23), 1(29). The new estimate for the “a” model to become operational is 8/43 and 1/44 or 2/44 for the “r” model.

A couple AMs were confirmed sunk, one at Gasmata on 5/8/43 by CD guns and one at Dutch Harbor on 6/1/43 by a 250kg bomb.

Looks like I dodged a bullet today. I hope the US carriers stick around for another couple of days. Then I can crush them.

[ny59giants]

You have to be aggressive now and for the next 6 months or so. Once '44 truly gets going it may be too late.

BANZAI!! [&o]

[Mike Solli]

I'm coming to that realization too, Michael. I really need to damage or sink that TF to keep the odds in my favor for a little longer.

By the way, what's with the new name?

[Mike Solli]

Ted's comment when he sent me the last turn: I think there’s going to be a brawl.

My response when I sent the turn back to him: Not today. Rained out. Maybe tomorrow?

And his response when he sent me the upcoming turn: I’ll pass, but thanks for asking. You posted this quiet little event on Facebook, and now I see an ocean full of red ships, all heading southeast.

[:D]

[Bif1961]

Sounds like he plans on avoiding a fight if he only has 3 CVs and 1 CVL, he is asking to be crippled and then delayed until 44 before he can start his counter-offensive.

[Mike Solli]

Yeah, I believe he wanted to smack around my invasion fleet. He's definitely not a stupid opponent. He's running. There won't be a ship in sight, so I will go after his little base now unopposed.

[Mike Solli]

I forgot to post the screen shot of our carriers thumbing their noses at each other.

[ny59giants]

I bought TOAW4 (The Art of War 4) recently from Matrix. There is new way to have just one user ID and PW. The unexpected result is the "MatrixForum" being attached to my ny59giants. My AE opponent, Gen Patton, was a play tester for it. One thing I like is the manual is twice the size of the AE manual and hardcover.

KB - you may need to recombine and keep her in a position that is a full speed run away a launch position of 7 or 8 hexes away from DS or whatever TF you are targeting in the future.

KB's TBs - I train up in NavT and then NavB. Now, while I'm waiting I'm going for a third skill, ASW. One is to prepare for potential very heavy Allied sub presence. Another reason is that with limited use of those pilots in combat, I have some with experience only in the mid-50s. This third skill will raise it to mid-60s. I would micro-manage your KB pilots once KB returns to port overall. Get the 'best of the best' in there as you may get only one good shot in.

[Mike Solli]

Here's this morning's email from Ted: Running into Shokaku in Kwajalein is what got my attention. I’ve got some of the Coronado flying boats now, and they have been just dandy at long range searches. So I redirect a couple of those units and all of a sudden you’re all over the place

I did a full speed run the day you lost me. Your carrier group was getting close to my cruisers and I was hoping to slug it out right there. Then your group is under the clouds. Ah well. Trouble is, I can’t account for your other CV’s, so I have to make assumptions. Blame EOD 😊 (“Assume worst case until proven otherwise”)


So, he didn't know about my carriers. He probably does now with all the naval search, but maybe not because they are north and west of Ponape at the time of the screen shot. Anyway, he's definitely running. I should have stayed back for another couple of days. Then he would have seen the full strength of KB. Ah well. So be it. I'll figure out a way to draw him out, maybe. He is sneaky.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants_MatrixForum

I bought TOAW4 (The Art of War 4) recently from Matrix. There is new way to have just one user ID and PW. The unexpected result is the "MatrixForum" being attached to my ny59giants. My AE opponent, Gen Patton, was a play tester for it. One thing I like is the manual is twice the size of the AE manual and hardcover.

Curious about that, too, Mystery solved.[:)]