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

[Mike Solli]

Full load from a level 2 airfield? They're 2 engine bombers.

[jdsrae]

ORIGINAL: rustysi

27 E13A1 Jake

This is my insanity plane. I crank 'em up to 90 in two factories (one later goes to the Norm, I think). Then I resize tons of float groups over time. This plane has not stopped production since my games' inception, and I'm at the end of May, '43. I only have some 90 in the pools, and have maybe another half dozen units to convert to it. Then again I've said I do things that will curl some players toes. Even Miss Graffen referred to players who do this as 'idiots'. I did not take it personally.[:D]

Is that 2x45 or 2x90 Jake factories?
Asking for a friend to see if they are just as big an idiot as you, or twice the idiot!

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

Full load from a level 2 airfield? They're 2 engine bombers.

No, no, they are dive bombers![:D] Here is a picture from my game with Tiemanj. Just not a level two runway this time.

[Lowpe]

Hitting from behind the Allied offensive...

[Lowpe]

Mike, I was scrolling thru my old AAR and came upon this little gem. [:D]

[jdsrae]

Looks good Lowpe.
How does that compare to the alternative, which I figure is spending the PP to change those airgroups to FB like the Nick and using them between 100-1000ft?

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: jdsrae

Looks good Lowpe.
How does that compare to the alternative, which I figure is spending the PP to change those airgroups to FB like the Nick and using them between 100-1000ft?

Nicks have a seven hex range, so they can't hit those destroyer task forces that stand off 8-9 hexes, and they don't hit with bombs at the same level as the Lilly dive bomber and finally the bombs are general purpose.

You have to understand that the 100kg SAP is more powerful than the 6" guns on a Brooklyn. Not shabby at all!
I don't ever hear about how weak they are![:D]
Here is some more action, from the excellent Captain Cruft Hive AAR:

[Mike Solli]

Been working on the turn all afternoon. Lowpe, you should be happy to know that I allocated 3 R&D factories to the Ki-48-IIa so I can get some IJA DBs later on. [;)] I just spent a lot of supply setting up all my R&D factories. Notes later.

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Mike, I was scrolling thru my old AAR and came upon this little gem. [:D]

That's pretty funny. I had never gotten a game to 1944 at that point. I only hit 1944 (barely) in my other game. I am going to build a handful of them. [:D]

[jdsrae]

From memory, my plan is to build the two SST classes that have 80 and 100 capacity and then see how much I use them
All subs seem expensive in terms of NSY/HI points but I plan on building all SS as they’re at least a chance of torpedoing something

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: jdsrae

From memory, my plan is to build the two SST classes that have 80 and 100 capacity and then see how much I use them
All subs seem expensive in terms of NSY/HI points but I plan on building all SS as they’re at least a chance of torpedoing something

Yep, I build every sub that carries torpedoes. You are right, subs are expensive, but I suspect most sink more victory points than they are worth. It's early enough in this game that I can go back and keep track of how many VPs each sub sinks. Should be interesting.

I'm going to check the SST classes and decide which to build. I never looked that closely at them before.

[Mike Solli]

So here's my starting airframe R&D. Note that as lines are completed, or I achieve the model in a line I want to get, other models will be started. Yes, I will R&D night fighters, so don't flip out. [:D]

3 Oscar (not sure how far I'll take this one)
6 Tojo (to the IIc)
12 Frank
12 Ki-83

3 Lily (for the DB)

3 Peggy (T)

1 Helen (I kept this one because it starts with 15 repaired)

12 Sam
12 George

5 Rufe (for the Zero line)

3 Judy
3 Grace

2 Jill

Edit: They're all at size 30 with the exception of the single size 55 Frank factory.

[Lowpe]

I personally have never gone more than 2 size 30 on the lilly IIb...so you one upped me.

I like the plane a lot, but never go for more than 5 squadrons of them. So one factory would produce, the other gets rolled into the Ki94 or something like that. However, I might up the production to 45 if the Allied play merits their use heavily.

I generally throw two-three in the SRA/Burma area and two-three in the South Pacific. I use an Ida Sentai in Manchuko to train pilots from day 1 for them.

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

I personally have never gone more than 2 size 30 on the lilly IIb...so you one upped me.

I like the plane a lot, but never go for more than 5 squadrons of them. So one factory would produce, the other gets rolled into the Ki94 or something like that. However, I might up the production to 45 if the Allied play merits their use heavily.

I generally throw two-three in the SRA/Burma area and two-three in the South Pacific. I use an Ida Sentai in Manchuko to train pilots from day 1 for them.

Interesting. I based my decision on......nothing. [:D] Just a SWAG. The size 34 Lily factory is turned off and will sit until I get the DB version where it'll upgrade and start building. I'll move the R&D factories on to something else.

[Mike Solli]

20 Dec 41

Sub War

Just a lot of misses on both sides.

5 Fleet

I'm sending an SNLF, some engineers and some AS to plant the flag on Adak. It'll be awhile...

4 Fleet

The lousy 1/33 infantry battalion, which doesn't stick around very long, can't seem to take Guam. [8|] I had bought out the 90 Infantry Regiment for use in SE Fleet AO. They're currently loading at Fusan and will make a stop at Guam before heading to SE Fleet.

Ground combat at Guam (106,95)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 556 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 19

Defending force 771 troops, 0 guns, 32 vehicles, Assault Value = 10

Japanese adjusted assault: 6

Allied adjusted defense: 23

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 3 (fort level 2)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), leaders(-), preparation(-)
Attacker: leaders(+), leaders(-)

Japanese ground losses:
70 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
6 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Assaulting units:
I./33rd Inf Regt

Defending units:
Guam USN Base Force

Not sure what's wrong. They've lost 2 squads total, and are in good shape. Maybe the commander? Not really worth the PP cost to replace him since they go *poof* soon.

SE Fleet

Gasmata was taken with a small AS unit. I'll build up the airfield to level 2 and post some naval search there to keep an eye on things.

SRA

Philippines: Three MTBs were tooling around west of Luzon. I had a small surface force there waiting for just this occurrence. A CL and 5 DDs took them out. [:-]

There are no more P-40s left. I'll keep some Zeros around, just in case. The 23 Air Flotilla is destined for SE Fleet AO. Actually, the 23 Air Flotilla HQ will reach Truk in a few days. Anyway, bombers pounded Manila and Bataan without any resistance other than some flak. The important thing was 6 airbase supply hits at Manila. Gotta kill that supply!

Mindanao: Maneuvering to kill off the remaining Allied units. Then 16 Division will move to Luzon.

Malaya: One of 2 remaining flyable Buffalos was shot down. A handful of enemy bombers were destroyed on the ground at Singapore. The damn Vildebeasts continue to harass the transports unloading additional troops at Mersing.

I took Victoria Point with the RTA Cav Division!

Hong Kong: Another deliberate assault doesn't quite get 2:1 odds but grinds down the defenders some more. Soon...

Borneo: I continue to take the bases all around the coast. I also took Miri. Unfortunately, some damage was done to the infrastructure:

Oil: 122(178)
Refinery: 122(178)

Note that the oil and refinery begin the war at 150(150). So, it'll take 6 months to repair the oil. I'm not repairing any of the refineries. On 7 Dec, I began loading a convoy with 120k supplies for Miri. That convoy is 2 hexes off the coast of Miri and will begin unloading on 22 Dec. I want that oil repaired as soon as possible!

I've also dispatched 20x 1250 capacity TKs from Takao to start hauling oil and fuel as soon as possible. I'll have a number of ASW TFs and some naval search there as well to keep enemy sub DL up.

Finally, I posted 2 chutai of Zeros at Miri (I dropped AS off with the invasion force) to protect the place from enemy bombers. The US B-17s got out of Dodge early on. I wouldn't put it past Mike to send them to Balikpapan to take some shots at the oil.

Elsewhere: Manado was liberated. It's now housing some naval search.

Burma

The 2 RTA Division is one hex from Moulmein with elements of the Jp 55 Division behind them.

China

Still lots of maneuvering and gathering force with attacks here and there.

Other Stuff

Reinforcement: AMC Kiyosumi Maru

[821Bobo]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

Been working on the turn all afternoon. Lowpe, you should be happy to know that I allocated 3 R&D factories to the Ki-48-IIa so I can get some IJA DBs later on. [;)] I just spent a lot of supply setting up all my R&D factories. Notes later.

Ki-48-IIa is end of the upgrade path and doesn't continue to the dive version IIb(in stock scn)

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: 821Bobo

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

Been working on the turn all afternoon. Lowpe, you should be happy to know that I allocated 3 R&D factories to the Ki-48-IIa so I can get some IJA DBs later on. [;)] I just spent a lot of supply setting up all my R&D factories. Notes later.

Ki-48-IIa is end of the upgrade path and doesn't continue to the dive version IIb(in stock scn)

That's right! I saw that and forgot. Thanks for the reminder!

[Mike Solli]

Here are the idiots I sent to take Guam:

[Mike Solli]

21 Dec 41

Sub War

Lots of nothing but wasted torpedoes and depth charges on both sides. [>:]

5 Fleet

Nothing going on here.

4 Fleet

Nada

SE Fleet

I have an SNLF company moving down the northern coast of PNG capturing all the bases (exciting adventure for them). They just landed at Hollandia and will take it tomorrow.

A TF with 4 engineer companies arrived at Truk today. They were dispatched out to Wake, Kavieng, Madang and Manus to build airfields (forts in the case of Wake).

Two days ago, KB left Truk heading SE to possibly go on a grand tour toward Suva. They're NW of Nauru right now and unspotted. They'll continue SE for the next couple of days. My goal is to catch enemy shipping in the shipping lane between the US west coast and Australia, sink some stuff and disrupt the SLOC. I'd love to sink any warships in the area, but I'll take whatever I can get. They don't really have any other mission right now. I've always wanted to do this but never did....until now. [:D]. They're full up on fuel, bombs, torpedoes, planes and pilots!

SRA

I had sent a couple of surface TFs to bombard Ambon and Ternate. Two BBs and 3 CLs hit Ternate trashing the place and are heading back to Babeldaob.

Ambon was a bit more fun. The 4 BB TF ran into the PG Soerabaja, but she fled. Then they found 2 nice size empty xAPs and sank them. Finally, an xAKL blundered into their path and was put down. Finally, they bombarded Ambon killing some steps and generally trashing the place. They're headed back to Babeldaob too.

Philippines: Bombing of Manila and Bataan continued. An SNLF arrived at Bataan and will wait for the tank regiment that is behind them before attacking. The two recon dets belonging to 23 Air Flotilla are headed to SE Fleet AO. They'll be more useful there now. The rest of the 23 Air Flotilla will move there as airfields are set up. I have a lot of engineers and AS heading to Truk.

Mindanao: Getting close to cleaning up that island.

Malaya: Things are looking up. First, 2 of 3 flyable Buffalos were shot down. The bombing destroyed/damaged some planes, including destroying 4 and damaging another 3 Vildebeasts. That took the wind out of their sails and no Vildebeasts attacked my ships today.

Mike still owns Kuantan. I sent only a regiment there to take the place for the level 4 airfield. Not enough force. Eventually more troops will arrive there from the north to help the clowns take it, long after it's needed. [8|]

Hong Kong: Finally, Hong Kong was liberated with little damage to the infrastructure:

Manpower 5(0) - repairs turned off
Resources 59(1) - repairs turned off
HI 78(2) - added 20 to bring HI here to an even 100...in 22 days.
LI 213(7) - repairs turned off
Repair Yard 49(1) - I like even numbers so I'm repairing it. [:'(]

As a bonus, there was 225k fuel there.

Burma

Almost there!

China

Same ole thing.

Other Stuff

As I said earlier, I spent a lot of clicks and supply to get my air and engine R&D up and running. Fortunately, it's set for awhile.

[Mike Solli]

Here's KB, ready to go on their whirlwind tour of the South Pacific: