Rodan {A: witpqs} vs. Godzilla {J: Andav} - Japanese side

[Andav]

10-Oct-1943

KB is retiring to the south where we will try to shake off detection levels. I forgot to take a screen shot.

Wa

[Andav]

11-Oct-1943 - 14-Oct-1943

Not much happening between the 11th and 13th. The 14th saw some sharp submarine action. When I use the IJN submarines, I try very hard to avoid shallow water. It seems to be more of a death trap then deeper water. The waters off the coast of Burma saw most of the action.

Score one for the good guys!

Sub attack near Akyab at 54,44

Japanese Ships
SS I-37, hits 4

Allied Ships
DD Quadrant, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage

Things go down hill quickly.

ASW attack near Akyab at 54,44

Japanese Ships
SS I-31, hits 15, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CA Cornwall
DD John Rodgers
DD Wadsworth
DD Thatcher
DD Stevens

I did drop some mines from subs.

TF 439 encounters mine field at Cox's Bazar (54,43)

Allied Ships
PG Hindustan

1 mine cleared

One for the bad guys.

Submarine attack near Akyab at 54,44

Japanese Ships
SS I-181, hits 33, and is sunk

Allied Ships
DE Encounter
DE Decoy
DE Arrow

Missed an AK between Johnston Is and the Marshalls.

Sub attack near Johnston Island at 155,114

Japanese Ships
SS I-9, hits 2

Allied Ships
xAK St Essylt
SC PC-578
xAK Kooringa
xAK Hermion
xAK Ozarda
xAK Havildar
SC PC-1081

More pain by Burma

ASW attack near Akyab at 54,45

Japanese Ships
SS I-175, hits 13, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Nepal

Wa

[Andav]

15-Oct-1943

Not much to report. KB is shifting position to counter something which has become annoying.

I ordered sweeps over Cox Bizarre to see if I can attrit the fighters there. Only 79 are showing via recon. The cream of the IJA and IJN will take part. About 150 fighters total. I am hoping for a large coordinated sweep by the IJA at the very least since they make up most of the numbers.

Of note. I need this engine to move along the next generation of fighters.

Device Mitsubishi Ha-43 advances R&D


Wa

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Andav

15-Oct-1943

Not much to report. KB is shifting position to counter something which has become annoying.

I ordered sweeps over Cox Bizarre to see if I can attrit the fighters there. Only 79 are showing via recon. The cream of the IJA and IJN will take part. About 150 fighters total. I am hoping for a large coordinated sweep by the IJA at the very least since they make up most of the numbers.

Of note. I need this engine to move along the next generation of fighters.

Device Mitsubishi Ha-43 advances R&D


Wa

I always had worse performance with large coordinated sweeps, and technically it is called a cooperative sweep. I can't remember really what it means, just that is what you are supposed to call it. [:D]

[Andav]

16-Oct-1943

Sweeps over Cox's Bizarre where not Cooperative. There were several waves with the Georges going in first followed last but not least by 60 Franks who faced only clouds.

It is interesting to see the defense includes P-51As, P-40N1s and F4U-1As. I do not think I have seen these in the game yet. They might ave too short range to sweep the places he has been sweeping and bombing over the last several weeks.

Wa

[Andav]

16-Oct-1943 cont.

The butchers bill. This is too many Georges lost for the number of planes destroyed. I will drop the IJN from these in the future and just use the IJA.

28 total pilots lost. 13 MIA, 3 WIA and 12 KIA.

Wa

[Lowpe]

Think twice about that. You lost 30 georges but did net 9 corsairs, 10 lightnings, 2 jugs, and 2 mustangs plus other fighters.

You aren't going to get a better ratio defending against his sweeps.

Rather try not using such a huge sweep, but select only a few well rested squadrons and rotate them. Also sweep bases you might find leaking cap...

[Andav]

In my previous game, one rather large mistake I made was not including ASW training for medium bomber pilots. I did search and then naval bombing I think. While search was good, I should have developed a much better search and ASW trained pilot corp which could be swapped out once all of the landing bombing in China was done. This game I made certain there were pilots training on map for Search and ASW. I am now reaping the benefits of those pilots. Over near the Home Islands, I have a skilled group of pilots guarding those waters where oil and fuel will transit from the SRA. Over near Burma, there are also several groups which are skilled.

Here is an example of one squadron.

Wa

[Andav]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Think twice about that. You lost 30 georges but did net 9 corsairs, 10 lightnings, 2 jugs, and 2 mustangs plus other fighters.

You aren't going to get a better ratio defending against his sweeps.

Rather try not using such a huge sweep, but select only a few well rested squadrons and rotate them. Also sweep bases you might find leaking cap...

I think the Franks would have done just as well and the IJA pilots are more plentiful. I 100% agree I will not do better against his sweeps. I have to be very careful to set those up layered. I also can pretty much only LRCP against his sweeps since 4Es will follow and close the airfield. I do like defending in the air in Burma because the railroads allow damaged planes to be transferred back to other bases which are in better shape.

Wa

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Andav

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Think twice about that. You lost 30 georges but did net 9 corsairs, 10 lightnings, 2 jugs, and 2 mustangs plus other fighters.

You aren't going to get a better ratio defending against his sweeps.

Rather try not using such a huge sweep, but select only a few well rested squadrons and rotate them. Also sweep bases you might find leaking cap...

I think the Franks would have done just as well and the IJA pilots are more plentiful. I 100% agree I will not do better against his sweeps. I have to be very careful to set those up layered. I also can pretty much only LRCP against his sweeps since 4Es will follow and close the airfield. I do like defending in the air in Burma because the railroads allow damaged planes to be transferred back to other bases which are in better shape.

Wa

+1 except that in my experience it takes the Frank R to sweep as good as a George. Of course a lot depends upon altitude of defenders and your sweep too.

[Andav]

17-Oct-1943 and 18-Oct-1943

Very slow turns. Pretty much nothing happened. Dog days of 1943 I guess.

From the previous day's combat over Cox, we are celebrating:

CPO Minowa O. (201 Ku S-1/1) Pilot becomes Double Ace 10 kills; stationed at Moulmein

And mourning:

PO1 Matsuo E. (201 Ku S-1) Ace Dies 5 kills; stationed at Tuyun
PO1 Matsuo E. (201 Ku S-1) Pilot becomes Ace 5 kills; stationed at Tuyun

Wa

[Andav]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: Andav

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Think twice about that. You lost 30 georges but did net 9 corsairs, 10 lightnings, 2 jugs, and 2 mustangs plus other fighters.

You aren't going to get a better ratio defending against his sweeps.

Rather try not using such a huge sweep, but select only a few well rested squadrons and rotate them. Also sweep bases you might find leaking cap...

I think the Franks would have done just as well and the IJA pilots are more plentiful. I 100% agree I will not do better against his sweeps. I have to be very careful to set those up layered. I also can pretty much only LRCP against his sweeps since 4Es will follow and close the airfield. I do like defending in the air in Burma because the railroads allow damaged planes to be transferred back to other bases which are in better shape.

Wa

+1 except that in my experience it takes the Frank R to sweep as good as a George. Of course a lot depends upon altitude of defenders and your sweep too.

I have the second model George producing. I have about 45 in active service now. it is slightly better then the original version. I might give it a go.

Wa

[Andav]

19-Oct-1943

Not much happened. Truk was bombed. Burma was quiet in the air. KB is now lurking looking to pounce.

Wa

[Andav]

20-Oct-1943

A pretty quiet turn. While I would like to say I had this ambush perfectly setup, I really did not know this sub was still down here. Most of the RO-boats are doing supply runs since they tend to be sunk pretty quickly.

Submarine attack near Torres Islands at 119,147

Japanese Ships
SS RO-62

Allied Ships
TK Pan Scandia, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires

Sweeps over Cox are ordered for tomorrow. There are 3 groups of second generation Georges with elite pilots. 63 planes total. 9/10 Recon shows just over 100 fighter. I have 3 groups of Franks in the wings for the next days.

Wa

Edit: Spelling and stuff

[Andav]

Looking at Tracker, the earliest turn I have loaded in this database is 489. We are currently on 683. RO-62 has been on station at hex 119,147 since turn 489 at least. 200 days circling the same hex. [:(]

I have sent them back to Saipan for some R&R.

Wa

[Andav]

21-Oct-1943

Sweeps over Cox are not in our favor. We lose 28 Georges over 3 waves in return for 17 mixed P-47D2, F4U-1 and F4U-1A. This is the Allies A-Team I think. Certainly none of the P-40/Hurricane/P-39 riff raff we have seen before. The IJA will try tomorrow from a higher altitude.

Wa

[Andav]

22-Oct-1943

Sweps went over Akyab and found second stringers. Franks did not do so well. Everyone is standing down now.

Wa

[Bif1961]

Well you were keeping them honest.

[Andav]

23-Oct-1943 to 27-Oct-1943

We have been flipping turns a bit. There have been a few highlights.


KB and Company wandered down the west coast of New Guiana and found this little AVP. For once it did not send an alpha strike for one single ship.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Merauke at 89,124

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5b Zero x 7
B6N2 Jill x 2

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AVP Pollux, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk

Allies invade Wake Island. I have withdrawn the CD unit here so it was not well garrisoned. Still they hold one turn.

Ground combat at Wake Island (136,98)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 7994 troops, 134 guns, 70 vehicles, Assault Value = 250

Defending force 2367 troops, 28 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 54

Allied adjusted assault: 144

Japanese adjusted defense: 23

Allied assault odds: 6 to 1 (fort level 5)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 0

Combat modifiers
Defender: forts(+), disruption(-), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-)

Japanese ground losses:
575 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 23 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 7 (1 destroyed, 6 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
837 casualties reported
Squads: 14 destroyed, 69 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 19 (5 destroyed, 14 disabled)
Vehicles lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)

I needed a change of shorts after this one. The only hit was a dud ... Phew ...

Sub attack near Kofiau at 79,107

Japanese Ships
CV Zuikaku
CL Oyodo
DD Tamanami
DD Kiyonami

Allied Ships
SS Paddle

SS Paddle launches 6 torpedoes at CV Zuikaku

On the 27th, Georges were ordered to sweep Akyab. We score 2:1 against the second stringers.

Wake also falls.

Wa

[Andav]

28-Oct-1943

Franks where up over Akyab today. We did a very high sweep hoping for the bounce. While we did get the bounce, the A Team was on duty today so we give more then we received. Everyone stands down today.

Morning Air attack on Akyab , at 54,45

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 12 NM, estimated altitude 34,514 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-84a Frank x 41

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 5
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 37
F4U-1A Corsair x 36

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-84a Frank: 10 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb Trop: 1 destroyed
P-47D2 Thunderbolt: 3 destroyed
F4U-1A Corsair: 2 destroyed

Morning Air attack on Akyab , at 54,45

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 46 NM, estimated altitude 37,514 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-84a Frank x 34

Allied aircraft
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 27
F4U-1A Corsair x 28

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-84a Frank: 5 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1A Corsair: 1 destroyed

A while back, I was complaining about HI in China needing fuel to run. I ended up dumping 60k fuel at Shanghai and have not seen a failure message since. This is good news.

Wa