Mike & Mike - USS America (A) vs. Mike (J)

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Definitely look at dedicated kamikazes, I suspect you will have some great opportunities with them with the 2 day turns.

I agree.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe
12 factories on George seems excessive.

12*30 on N1K you should expect to see this plane early '43. You will need a lot of Ha-45's, so plan accordingly.

Getting them this early, I presume you will be pulling KB air groups off and equipping them with N1K's to support early '43 activities. It is an effective tactic as long as the other side doesn't twig to it. 6 - 8 extra IJN fighter groups with N1K's in early '43 can really rip up the allies air force with sweeps. This would also suggest an India adventure? [;)]

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe
You will want to build lots of the last generation fighter, something that is very expensive with the Ki83. I suspect you will wish you had a single engine final gen fighter if you make the end game.

It is a mark against it. But using the same engine as A7M and J7W does help. And it gives you an escort fighter which you otherwise totally lack. The catch for me is always: what are they going to escort? Such lousy end game IJA bomber choices.
I mean Helen is 4x250, Peggy is 3x250. Yuck!

It does allow you to sweep most B17/B24 bases. And sweeping can really pare down the escorts, so it gives you one more tactic that otherwise you don't have.

Anyway, good luck!

[BrucePowers]

Hi Mike. I just wanted to say hi. I will probably not visit your AAR too often if at all. I want to follow the other Mike and I don't want to spill any beans on someone inadvertently if I know too much information.

After My one try at an email game with you guys in the past I really do not want to try another one. I find them too time consuming. I still keep in touch with you, Mike and Bob Trappaso. I had the pleasure of visiting Bob last summer in Virginia and hope to do so this summer.

I wish you well in the game but I will be routing for the other guy[:D]

[Bif1961]

Glad you have found a worthy opponent to practice what we use to call lessons learned. One Brit pilot pointed out at a conference it isn't a lesson learned if you do the same thing again, it is only a lesson observed, and then ignored.

[Uncivil Engineer]

Mike - I'm following this AAR because I'll surely learn something. But, I'm totally confused about your engine and airframe plans - would it be possible to post a screen shot once you get them organized?

Airborne ops in China sounds like a good idea, but since you can only drop on bases will there be anywhere to drop? Deep Burma sounds more promising to me.

[RangerJoe]

Ankang may be undefended. It is 2 hexes away from Sian. Even if it is occupied, the defenders aren't that good. There are a few bases that don't have much for defense.

[rustysi]

12*30 on N1K you should expect to see this plane early '43. You will need a lot of Ha-45's, so plan accordingly.

I think 12 George factories are too many. I got the plane with six R&D sites in mid Mar '43.

I'll keep the Oscar for its range. I don't seem to have much luck with it though. I'll accelerate it somewhat, not sure how many factories though.

Its maneuverability is nice too. For what its worth I dedicated two R&D sites to this aircraft. I'm currently flying the IIb in Apr '43. I think the IIIa is up to Apr '44, but would have to check. At any rate with the engine bonus and two factories the aircraft advances to production every 25 days.

And it gives you an escort fighter which you otherwise totally lack. The catch for me is always: what are they going to escort? Such lousy end game IJA bomber choices.
I mean Helen is 4x250, Peggy is 3x250. Yuck!

Anyone ever develop the torpedo version of the Peggy? I totally neglected it in my game, but lately I've been wondering. I get it that Japan will have a difficult time with offensive strikes late in the game. But wouldn't it be better if any hits were with torps?

Oh, I just had an epiphany. Develop the Peggy(T) from the beginning instead of the PeggyI. Get those up and running. Along with a bunch of Helens at 1K, strike his CV's. I know it'll be slaughter (for my aircraft), but I can fantasize can't I?[:D]

[rustysi]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

ORIGINAL: rustysi

My goal is to get to the A6M5c as soon as possible for its armor.

Really surprised at your commitment to this airframe, considering you weren't even sure you'd produce it in your game with Ted.

I just wasn't in such a hurry. I've retired just about all the A6M5s there now. Just a couple baby carriers still sport them, until the M5c pool gets built up enough to trade them out.

I think I'll still try to use them in tandem with the M5b. I'm not sure how much the difference will be, but it has better maneuverability and a bit more speed. No armor though. Oh well, I'll see.

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: Uncivil Engineer

Mike - I'm following this AAR because I'll surely learn something. But, I'm totally confused about your engine and airframe plans - would it be possible to post a screen shot once you get them organized?

Airborne ops in China sounds like a good idea, but since you can only drop on bases will there be anywhere to drop? Deep Burma sounds more promising to me.

lol, so am I. [:D] I haven't had a lot of time to work it all out. I got the turn yesterday and just sent it back to Mike. I'll post the turn results and should have time tomorrow to work out the air plans. The wife set up to go out with another couple tonight. I have to be social tonight. [8|]

I have 3 para units right now. One is headed toward Burma. They'll be used to take Pt. Blair and one is heading to China. The third one is in reserve, for now.

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

Ankang may be undefended. It is 2 hexes away from Sian. Even if it is occupied, the defenders aren't that good. There are a few bases that don't have much for defense.

Thanks for that info. I'm looking at possibilities right now.

[RangerJoe]

Then there is a dot base I think three hexes north. One hex away from the dirt path that links Chungking and Sian through the mountains. It would impede the flow of oil to Chungking and speed the attack on Chungking since you would then control the route into the center plains. Just one city in the open and you will have a complete path for your units.

I looked at this for my new Japanese game. I am sending the raiding regiment to China to start this.

There are also bases with just a base force in the city.

[Mike Solli]

You guys are sneaky. [:-] [;)] [:D]

[RangerJoe]

Observe and report. Then call in artillery, airstrikes, and/or point out to the Dumb A$$ Tankers (DATs) where the enemy is . . .

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: rustysi

12*30 on N1K you should expect to see this plane early '43. You will need a lot of Ha-45's, so plan accordingly.

I think 12 George factories are too many. I got the plane with six R&D sites in mid Mar '43.

It depends upon his plans. 12*30 means a chance for Jan/Feb which is nice, but that ain't the complete reason. 6*30=180. So, you can only convert maybe 4 groups per month to N1K. 12*30 means you can convert at least 8 groups to N1K in the first month. If he has plans for India, he would be moving on that target towards the end of 42. Think of the impact of suddenly having 8 groups of N1K turn up Feb 15 43 and start sweeping. In one or two turns, and this is a 2 day turn game, so even more of a chance, you might obliterate the allied fighters in India before the allied player can even react.
6*30 means 8 groups won't show up until late May or June.

This is why I tend to go big or leave it alone. If I RnD a plane, I want a serious contribution, else I just wait for the plane to arrive historically.

Its all about strategy at this point and the ability to open up tactical options.

[RangerJoe]

This is why I tend to go big or leave it alone.

Why use a little hammer if you have a big one?

Also, the engines built gets you to the magic 500 engine level to help with research.

[DanSez]

A note of concern on your setting of 'Realistic R&D On'

With a 2 day turn, what happens to R&D factories for a plane that advances to production on Day One -- will you not get the chance to move them to another R&D program, conversion to production and lose those R&D plants for the rest of the game?

[RangerJoe]

I believe that there is a setting which allows for the next plane to be researched and not to allow the research factory to go into production.

[rustysi]

ORIGINAL: DanSez

A note of concern on your setting of 'Realistic R&D On'

With a 2 day turn, what happens to R&D factories for a plane that advances to production on Day One -- will you not get the chance to move them to another R&D program, conversion to production and lose those R&D plants for the rest of the game?

Good point.

[rustysi]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

I believe that there is a setting which allows for the next plane to be researched and not to allow the research factory to go into production.

Not so sure. I just had a problem with this in my one day turn game. I tried something that didn't work and had to change it. I think the only way it works is to let it go to production and use the grace day to revert it back. That may not work in two day games. It could be I didn't go through all possibilities.

I opened a thread on it not too long ago. Had quite a few screen shots to show what I had done.

Edit: Here's a link to it.

tm.asp?m=4580065#