Never Thought I'd Start Another One - tc464 (A) vs. Mike (J)

[Mike Solli]

Just got the turn back. Hopefully, another ambush happened.

[PaxMondo]

23 Aug 42

Today, 20 B017Es were sent against the airfield at Madang. This time, 4 B-17s were shot down for no loss, but they got through to cause more light damage to the airfield. The Nicks are doing good work, but the airfield damage is creeping up and the number of ready defenders decreases daily. Only 13 Nicks and 2 Zeros remain active here with 23 and 7 down respectively.

IJ just never has enough ENG devices, not much you can do about it.

You're doing the right things and getting the right results. Couple more days, if you can keep enough Nicks in the air, and his 4E force will be ineffective. Gonna be tight ....

SRA

Sixteen Nells tried to bomb Darwin again today, but 16 P-40Es were waiting for them. They managed to shoot down one bomber, and the bombers attack on the airfield was ineffective. So much for night bombing of Darwin.

What altitude and moonlight did you have? I generally have pretty good success ... but night bombing requires high EXP/Skill pilots and Leaders. Think +70.

Other Stuff

I'm recently realized something. I'm using the "extended" map. There are a LOT of extra bases, mainly dot bases. the SRA is full of them. I'm still clearing them out. This is a pain in the butt.

They added a LOT of new bases all over in stock. Are you sure its extended map?

I think the easiest test is: Do you have separate Subic and Clark bases? If so, then extended. Otherwise just normal.

[PaxMondo]

25 Aug 42 - Really quiet turn today.
Side note: In 18 years, a draftee who was in the process of becoming an MP and will eventually serve in the ETO, will have a son...

Thus we have MIKE!!!

[PaxMondo]

26 Aug 42
Ted really went for Madang today. There were a total of 7 air raids totaling 41 fighters, 71x 4E bombers and 62x 2E bombers. The first raid was the biggest and included all the fighters. The airbase was trashed, but my 22 Nicks and 5 Zeros did well. The lost no planes shot down and shot down 6 fighters, 4x 2E and a single 4E bomber. They did lose 4 Nicks and a Zero on the ground over the course of the bombings. The airfield is closed with 6 Zeros and 15 Nicks damaged and stuck there. I'm sending a couple ships in a fast transport TF to grab them. There are 28 engineers there to work on the damage.

I think that qualifies as "All In".

[PaxMondo]

27 Aug 42
Reinforcements
Boy did I screw up. I forgot about all of the ships below. As of 11 Sep 42, they're still sitting in port. *Sigh*
SS I-33, Glen sub, going to send her to SE Fleet. I currently have only 2 Glen subs there.
TK Kyokuho Maru, Type-1 TM (8150 capacity), will be stationed at Fusan to move oil to the Home Islands.
DD Kiyonami, Yugumo class, KB escort, fortunately, she showed up at Yokohama, where KB1 is stationed.

Mike, uhhhh, did you have a SENIOR moment?

[sfatula]

The Nicks seem to be doing a lot better, did you replace the leader or no? Just curious.

[BBfanboy]

I don't think you can load aircraft on a FT TF. Have to switch to Transport or Air Transport.

[RangerJoe]

I don't think you can load aircraft on a FT TF. Have to switch to Transport or Air Transport.

If a player made a Transport or Air Transport TF using a ship or ships that can be in a Fast Transport TF, loaded the air unit, then changed the TF to a Fast Transport TF it should work.

[PaxMondo]

I don't think you can load aircraft on a FT TF. Have to switch to Transport or Air Transport.

If a player made a Transport or Air Transport TF using a ship or ships that can be in a Fast Transport TF, loaded the air unit, then changed the TF to a Fast Transport TF it should work.

The devs used this a lot with the starting amphib TF's for IJ in s001 and s002 to get AMc's into the TF's (among a couple of other things). AMc's are specifically NOT allowed by rule, BUT they were actually present historically so the dev's shoe-horned them in.

So, it's bending a game rule to use it, but the dev's did, so ...

[Mike Solli]

I don't think you can load aircraft on a FT TF. Have to switch to Transport or Air Transport.

Yep, you're right, of course. I changed the TF to something else. I believe it was Air Transport, and it worked.

[Mike Solli]

They added a LOT of new bases all over in stock. Are you sure its extended map?

I think the easiest test is: Do you have separate Subic and Clark bases? If so, then extended. Otherwise just normal.

Yep, Subic Bay and Clark Field are separate bases. Definitely extended.

[Mike Solli]

27 Aug 42
Reinforcements
Boy did I screw up. I forgot about all of the ships below. As of 11 Sep 42, they're still sitting in port. *Sigh*
SS I-33, Glen sub, going to send her to SE Fleet. I currently have only 2 Glen subs there.
TK Kyokuho Maru, Type-1 TM (8150 capacity), will be stationed at Fusan to move oil to the Home Islands.
DD Kiyonami, Yugumo class, KB escort, fortunately, she showed up at Yokohama, where KB1 is stationed.

Mike, uhhhh, did you have a SENIOR moment?

More and more frequently.

[Mike Solli]

The Nicks seem to be doing a lot better, did you replace the leader or no? Just curious.

Yes, I did replace the leader. Thanks for the suggestion.

[Mike Solli]

Geez, trying to update this AAR and I just got the 19 Sep turn. Way behind!

[PaxMondo]

More and more frequently.

Well, you're officially a member of a large and growing club. Welcome!!!

And in case you forgot, there are NO FEES!!!

[PaxMondo]

Geez, trying to update this AAR and I just got the 19 Sep turn. Way behind!

Yes, you are!!! Dying here for updates!!!! Put the Grandkids down, open up the toy cupboard for them or put on their favorite Disney disc on autoplay and get us some AAR updates!!!

[Mike Solli]

28 Aug 42

Sub War

Nothing to report.

5 Fleet

Nothing to report.

4 Fleet

Nothing to report.

SE Fleet

The multitude of Allied bombers focused on Madang. The damaged planes there (14 Nicks and 4 Zeros) were all missed. Any repaired planes are flown out.

Thirty-three 4E bombers were sent after Tulagi to suppress that airfield. Fortunately, they didn't cause much damage. My Dinahs there are still providing naval search to the south and I have 15 Zeros there to try and turn back a bomber or two.

The main body of the Nick sentai is currently resting at Rabaul, with a handful of replacements repairing at Truk and the damaged Nicks at Madang.

I have no ambushes planned for tomorrow.

SRA

Nothing to report.

Burma

That irritating Allied AMc was still sitting in Cox's Bazaar harbor clearing bunches of mines that I just laid. I finally got an Ansyu PB there and she sank her with one shot! Saki for the entire crew! I'm down to 273 (of 450!) mines left. I'm sending more CMs to make up the difference. That puny little harbor is very important to my invasion of India!

China

The IJA bomber force is keeping the airfields at Lanchow, Chungking, Kweiyang and Kunming full of holes. When the damage is high, they switch to giving the troops headaches.

Other Stuff

Nothing to report.

[Mike Solli]

29 Aug 42

Sub War

Nothing to report.

5 Fleet

Nothing to report.

4 Fleet

Nothing to report.

SE Fleet

Fifteen Zeros met 18 B-17Es over Tulagi. They traded a loss (WIA) and did minor damage to the airfield. Later, 15 more 4E bombers showed up. My 4 Zeros still airborne were unable to do anything. More light damage resulted. The damage is slowly increasing, unfortunately.

SRA

Nothing to report.

Burma

Three torpedo laden Beauforts came in low at Cox's Bazaar to try and torpedo the PB that sank the AMc, but missed. They were escorted by Hurricanes. I had Tojos flying CAP, but they were too high. They did manage to shoot down a Hurricane for no loss though.

In the afternoon, the Beauforts returned, escorted by 9 Hurricanes. My Tojos, still flying high, were aware that this might happen again and shot down 4 Hurricanes and 2 Beauforts for no loss. Banzai!

China

My bombing continued. I'm moving forces to focus on Kweiyang (4 hexes SW of Chungking), along with Lanchow. The 1 Tank Division and 14 Tank Regiment are at Kunming, with 33 Division marching there (slowly). When they arrive, I'll attack to take that base. It has 100 HI and 80 LI there. I'd like to deny it to the Chinese. Whatever I capture undamaged is a plus.

Other Stuff

The Ha-44-IIb R&D advanced to 9/42. I will not produce any of this model. I have 7x 30 factories working on the IIc model now, which is the one I want as soon as possible. I also have factories producing 210 Ha-34 engines, which is exactly what I need for 90 Tojos and 60 Helens a month. The Helen IIa (the model I want) also becomes operational in 9/42. I'm delaying production of this model until the Tojo IIa becomes operational in mid-December 42. I have 522 Ha-34 engines in the pool and produce 7 a day, just enough to accelerate the Tojo R&D factories. I have a 69 of the Ha-44-IIa in the pool and 90 in units. This will (have to) last until the IIc model becomes operational. I'm still producing 60 Oscar (IIa model now) per month and anticipate producing that throughout the war. I'm not doing any R&D on them.

[Mike Solli]

30 Aug 42

Sub War

Nothing to report.

5 Fleet

Nothing to report.

4 Fleet

Nothing to report.

SE Fleet

I tried an ambush at Salamaua. I usually try ambushes when I see a small number of bombers (unescorted) that hit a base multiple days. This time Ted got me. I had 8 Zeros run into 13 Wildcats, who bounced me. I lost 5 fighters and pilots. Ouch.

In the afternoon, 8 more Zeros showed up and ran into 18 P-39Ds on a strafing mission. They shot down only one plane, but damaged a lot of them. The next day, only about half a dozen would strafe.

Ted must have seen me send TFs to Madang so he sent his bomber force to demolish Madang's port.

SRA

Nothing to report.

Burma

No action today.

China

More bombing and maneuvering.

Other Stuff

Reinforcement
14 RGC Independent Brigade (RGC Army), combines with the RGC Capital Brigade to form the 2 RGC Capital Division. This unit will move to Shanghai to relieve 35 Division for use at the front.
AG Hayasaki

[Mike Solli]

31 Aug 42

Sub War

Nothing to report.

5 Fleet

Nothing to report.

4 Fleet

Nothing to report.

SE Fleet

The bombers went for Gasmata (my forward fighter/FB base) today. The Nicks weren't there at the time, but they got 15 Zeros on the ground. Fortunately, I have spares. The Zeros were on an attempted ambush (that didn't pan out) and I had 47 Oscars stationed at Rabaul on LRCAP over Gasmata. We all know how good Oscars are against 4E beasts. They managed to shoot down 2 escorting Wildcats, and didn't lose any of their number. They probably damaged a lot of bombers but none were shot down. Gasmata's airfield is out of business for a while.

Here's damage at my bases in the area (port-airfield-runway):

Madang: 57-72-84
Tulagi: 0-29-42
Gasmata: 0-75-99

Fortunately, I've planned for this and have moved my planes back to other already prepared airfields. Hollandia, Manus, Kavieng and Rabaul.

SRA

Nothing to report.

Burma

No action today.

China

Bombing and maneuvering...

Other Stuff

Nothing to report.