Awakening the Giant - DesertWolf101 (A) vs szmike (J)

[Lowpe]

What do you b17 losses look like?

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

What do you b17 losses look like?

A lot like this:

[DesertWolf101]

Nice picture!

So far in the campaign I have lost 5 B-17D bombers. 4 of those were lost on the ground in Manila however and one was an operational loss while flying to another base. So in effect I have lost 0 heavy bombers thus far to air combat, although many of my bombers have had to go for repairs due to battle damage.

[DesertWolf101]

December 20, 1941

Malaya

The Indian forces at Alor Star that were previously cut off are finished off by Japanese forces. I did manage to evacuate about 20% of the two Indian Brigades with Catalinas, but I am annoyed at myself for allowing them to be trapped.

Borneo

Japanese forces land in simultaneous amphibious landings at Sinkawang and Kuching. I didn’t get much early warning with my naval search this time, so I wasn't expecting the operation to happen this turn. I did deploy minefields at both locations beforehand however and a small Japanese minelayer paid the price and sank.

Bad weather over Miri prevented my bombers from attacking. Not necessarily a bad thing though, as they could use the free day to rest and repair.

[DesertWolf101]

December 21, 1941

Borneo

10 Blenheim I bombers are annihilated as they attempt to hit the newly landed ground troops at Sinkawang. 5 Dorniers are also intercepted and dealt with by Japanese fighters when they attempt to hit Japanese ships off Kuching. Mike did well to cover his forces here with Zero fighters. Kuching and Sinkawang easily fall to the Japanese during the land combat phase.

The day of rest was good for my heavy bombers and their crew, as today they rack up another good result in the campaign against the Miri oil fields with 22 oil hits.

China

Chinese bombers continue their harassing raids across the country. Japanese air activity over China is minimal, so while my fighter boys are no longer getting much opportunity to rack up kills, at least the grunts on the ground are largely spared from imperial bombs for now.

Japanese forces are across the river south of Chengchow in force. They punish a rearguard Chinese Corps and are likely going to advance to take Chengchow and Loyang next.

[Sardaukar]

BTW, as said also elsewhere on forum, there is no downside converting ships to AG. They still carry cargo as before (sometimes gaining endurance too) and as bonus, can help repair transport ships and re-arm ASW ships.

[Yaab]

There is one minor downside of xAK to AG conversion. AG ships cannot participate in Amphibious and Fast Transport TFs.

[Sardaukar]

ORIGINAL: Yaab

There is one minor downside of xAK to AG conversion. AG ships cannot participate in Amphibious and Fast Transport TFs.

Well...as Allies, there will be AKA/AK ships for Amphibious or Fast Transport TFs. xAK unload so slow that they are almost a hindrance in those TFs.

[DesertWolf101]

ORIGINAL: Sardaukar

ORIGINAL: Yaab

There is one minor downside of xAK to AG conversion. AG ships cannot participate in Amphibious and Fast Transport TFs.

Well...as Allies, there will be AKA/AK ships for Amphibious or Fast Transport TFs. xAK unload so slow that they are almost a hindrance in those TFs.

I actually did end up converting the vast bulk of the ships that could do the AG conversion. I was impressed by the result of the conversion and figured that I could always convert back to standard xAK if needed.

[DesertWolf101]

Hermes

I haven't done much aircraft resizing in the past so I figured I better ask those more experienced than me. I am trying to resize the swordfish squadron on the Hermes to 20 aircraft - is that possible? I don't seem to be having much success doing so which probably means I am doing it wrong. Thanks in advance.

[Q-Ball]

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101

Hermes

I haven't done much aircraft resizing in the past so I figured I better ask those more experienced than me. I am trying to resize the swordfish squadron on the Hermes to 20 aircraft - is that possible? I don't seem to be having much success doing so which probably means I am doing it wrong. Thanks in advance.

Very possible.....either you guys are playing a mod that restricts that particular unit, or yes, you are doing it wrong[:D]

WIth the unit on Hermes, click on the "No Resize Allowed" text until you get a pop-up that allows you to type in the number of planes you want. It will say "Max 20".

[DesertWolf101]

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101

Hermes

I haven't done much aircraft resizing in the past so I figured I better ask those more experienced than me. I am trying to resize the swordfish squadron on the Hermes to 20 aircraft - is that possible? I don't seem to be having much success doing so which probably means I am doing it wrong. Thanks in advance.

Very possible.....either you guys are playing a mod that restricts that particular unit, or yes, you are doing it wrong[:D]

WIth the unit on Hermes, click on the "No Resize Allowed" text until you get a pop-up that allows you to type in the number of planes you want. It will say "Max 20".

Thanks Q-Ball. Once I do that, is the conversion immediate or do I need to wait until the next turn?

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101

Hermes

I haven't done much aircraft resizing in the past so I figured I better ask those more experienced than me. I am trying to resize the swordfish squadron on the Hermes to 20 aircraft - is that possible? I don't seem to be having much success doing so which probably means I am doing it wrong. Thanks in advance.

Very possible.....either you guys are playing a mod that restricts that particular unit, or yes, you are doing it wrong[:D]

WIth the unit on Hermes, click on the "No Resize Allowed" text until you get a pop-up that allows you to type in the number of planes you want. It will say "Max 20".

Thanks Q-Ball. Once I do that, is the conversion immediate or do I need to wait until the next turn?

You need to wait a turn, sometimes more (I don't know why). Once you get the message "(sqn name) resized to size 20") you will be able to bring in the extra planes and pilots. But first, check the unit again because once you get your manual resize order, it usually reverts to the game mandated sizing order like a resize on a certain month. To stop that from happening, change it to "No Resize Allowed".

[RangerJoe]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball




Very possible.....either you guys are playing a mod that restricts that particular unit, or yes, you are doing it wrong[:D]

WIth the unit on Hermes, click on the "No Resize Allowed" text until you get a pop-up that allows you to type in the number of planes you want. It will say "Max 20".

Thanks Q-Ball. Once I do that, is the conversion immediate or do I need to wait until the next turn?

You need to wait a turn, sometimes more (I don't know why). Once you get the message "(sqn name) resized to size 20") you will be able to bring in the extra planes and pilots. But first, check the unit again because once you get your manual resize order, it usually reverts to the game mandated sizing order like a resize on a certain month. To stop that from happening, change it to "No Resize Allowed".

You do not have to wait a turn. Form the CV/CS into a TF, resize the unit on the ship to the maximum carried by the ship, then disband. You may have to do it again. If there is only ONE aircraft in the air unit you may be able to do more than one unit. There is also a way to supersize them as well. Think of 96 Zeros causing in one unit causing 96 tears to unescorted Allied naval bombers . . . [:D]

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101





Thanks Q-Ball. Once I do that, is the conversion immediate or do I need to wait until the next turn?

You need to wait a turn, sometimes more (I don't know why). Once you get the message "(sqn name) resized to size 20") you will be able to bring in the extra planes and pilots. But first, check the unit again because once you get your manual resize order, it usually reverts to the game mandated sizing order like a resize on a certain month. To stop that from happening, change it to "No Resize Allowed".

You do not have to wait a turn. Form the CV/CS into a TF, resize the unit on the ship to the maximum carried by the ship, then disband. You may have to do it again. If there is only ONE aircraft in the air unit you may be able to do more than one unit. There is also a way to supersize them as well. Think of 96 Zeros causing in one unit causing 96 tears to unescorted Allied naval bombers . . . [:D]

I think we have differing definitions of "resize". Typing in the request to resize is not resizing in my books. You need to let the end of turn admin routines run to confirm the resize has been made. That makes it a new turn when it has been resized.

Are you saying that just disbanding the TF allows the AI to do the resize during the same turn you requested it?

[RangerJoe]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy



You need to wait a turn, sometimes more (I don't know why). Once you get the message "(sqn name) resized to size 20") you will be able to bring in the extra planes and pilots. But first, check the unit again because once you get your manual resize order, it usually reverts to the game mandated sizing order like a resize on a certain month. To stop that from happening, change it to "No Resize Allowed".

You do not have to wait a turn. Form the CV/CS into a TF, resize the unit on the ship to the maximum carried by the ship, then disband. You may have to do it again. If there is only ONE aircraft in the air unit you may be able to do more than one unit. There is also a way to supersize them as well. Think of 96 Zeros causing in one unit causing 96 tears to unescorted Allied naval bombers . . . [:D]

I think we have differing definitions of "resize". Typing in the request to resize is not resizing in my books. You need to let the end of turn admin routines run to confirm the resize has been made. That makes it a new turn when it has been resized.

Are you saying that just disbanding the TF allows the AI to do the resize during the same turn you requested it?

In a word, yes. You might have to make the TF again and disband for it to work. Then you can add the aircraft and new pilots.

If the air units have only 1 aircraft or less, you might be able to do more than one air unit but not super size them. If the aircraft is in reserve or in repair, it works better.

[DesertWolf101]

Thanks guys. In the times when I have done it before (during my Japanese 'Empire of the Sun' campaign) it worked immediately for me as RangerJoe describes it. This time it is not so I will give it a few turns and hopefully it will eventually kick in like you suggested BBfanboy.

I will definitely not abuse the technique though. Resizing squadrons from 15 to 20 aircraft is one thing, but creating supersized monster squadrons approaching a hundred aircraft is not for me. I'm also not going to use flank speed on off map movement. Nothing about this in my house rules with Mike, but just little things that don't sit well with me so I won't do.

[DesertWolf101]

December 22, 1941

Submarines

Some Dutch subs that moved into position around Sinkawang and Kuching scored some hits: KXV damaged AK Toho Maru with a torpedo and O16 sank TB Kari with a direct hit that led to a magazine explosion.

Borneo

Another good raid on Miri today. Next turn I will shift my bombing to a new target though. I am going to try to catch his aircraft on the ground at the newly captured base of Sinkawang. I am hoping for some good results there, let’s hope the weather holds and that my bombers aim is good.

Ambon

Battleships Hyuga and Ise bombard my troops at Ambon. Some Hudons had been flying harassing missions out of the base to hit Mike’s airfield at Ternate so maybe that’s what he was trying to shut down.

China

The Japanese air forces at Formosa launched large scale raids at my positions in Pucheng, Chuhsien, and Wenchow. Japanese forces are also coming into view as they advance towards the area.

[DesertWolf101]

December 23, 1941

Submarines

During the night off Kuching, Dutch sub KXV launches a spread of six torpedoes at heavy cruiser Takao but unfortunately no hits are registered.

Borneo

USAAF heavy bombers strain into the sky with heavy bomb loads, destination Sinkawang. As the newly captured Japanese airfield comes into view, a B-17E immediately takes a direct hit from the flak that rises up to meet them and spirals out of control. The rest of the bombers press on and ravage the airfield, destroying some 15-20 Nell and Zero fighters on the ground and damaging many more.

Philippines

Remaining P-40B and P-35A fighters tangle with a heavily escorted Japanese raid over Manila, taking a few Ki-43-Ia down but there are not enough American fighters to get to the bombers.

Dutch New Guinea

Japanese troops land at Sorong.

China

The Flying Tigers catch a Nate escorted Sonia raid near Loyang, but the Nates do surprisingly well. The H81-A3s overcome the escort in the end but the Nates put up such a good fight that the Tigers are only able to get two of the Sonias confirmed destroyed before the air battle ends.

Elsewhere, Japanese IJNAF bombers continue to actively strike Chinese positions in the southeast.

[DesertWolf101]

Upgrading Units

I am now starting to consider some upgrades to my LCUs. In my first and only Allied campaign, I did not really give much thought to this process so to be honest I don't really know it well enough. I know the basics, but are there some key pitfalls or other issues that I need to keep in mind about this? If this topic has already been discussed in depth before I am also happy to go read on it if a link is provided. As always, thank you guys in advance!