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

[Mike Solli]

Well, it turns out Ted did the turn and forgot to send it. We're getting old.

I want to make my "stuff" shipping more efficient and am starting with resources. I have 182 Aden class xAKs which I want to use to ply the waters with resources, at least at the smaller ports. In places, I have smaller xAKs at larger ports, which has to be really inefficient. I like to make the TFs at 1/2 the max size of the smaller port. I'm hoping this makes resource movement more efficient and uses less fuel. We'll see...

To make it as efficient as is possible, get the magic highway running. At least as many sections as is possible. By dumping resources past Singapore with no resources allowed to flow to Singapore, they will flow into Indochina. Since Haiphong generates resources, stockpile them there and haul them out. That will draw more resources there and at least shorten the trip. Hong Kong will also gather resources but the ultimate goal is to get the resources to flow to Fusan and if not there, have them flow to Port Arthur. Trying to use only shallow water for your convoy routes with lots of ASW air and ASW TFs to keep the submarine menace reduced - or sunk!

I've been working on getting that highway working. Resources are definitely flowing to Fusan, as is enough fuel to keep the fuel hauling TKs there working. Oil just won't do it. I'm going to transfer the TKs attempting to get oil from Fusan to Pt. Arthur and haul oil from there.

There are a lot of resources at Hong Kong. I suspect they are moving eastward from there if only because of the steady flow of resources to Fusan.

Singapore only receives fuel and oil by ship from Palembang and resources from the various small resource centers in the area. All of that then gets transferred by ship to CRB and Hong Kong.

I'll have to look more closely at Haiphong. I suspect the stuff flows through there eastward.

Other bases:

Medan - F/O/R go to Georgetown.
Miri/Brunei - to CRB and some fuel to Manila when needed.
Tarakan - Used to ship fuel to Babeldaob. Am shutting off the refinery so now oil will be shipped to Balikpapan
Balikpapan - Fuel to Balikpapan and Truk as needed.
Soerabaja - F/O/R to Babeldaob.
Boela/Babo - F/R to Babeldaob.

Babeldaob - The major hub for the SRA. Stuff gets shipped to the Home Islands two different ways. There are dedicated convoys hauling F/O/R to the Home Islands and any time some ground unit (or supply) gets shipped to the central Pacific, the TF goes to Babeldaob to haul something back to the Home Islands. I get a decent amount of resources and fuel back that way.

[PaxMondo]

Well, it turns out Ted did the turn and forgot to send it. We're getting old.

I want to make my "stuff" shipping more efficient and am starting with resources. I have 182 Aden class xAKs which I want to use to ply the waters with resources, at least at the smaller ports. In places, I have smaller xAKs at larger ports, which has to be really inefficient. I like to make the TFs at 1/2 the max size of the smaller port. I'm hoping this makes resource movement more efficient and uses less fuel. We'll see...

Tracker has this incredibly useful tool , CS Cargo Planning ...

Screenshot 2026-07-27 125821.jpg (212.34 KiB) Viewed 426 times

You can easily see the most efficient haulers you have for the port size(s) you are using. Not only saves time, but saves fuel ... a LOT of fuel if you use it correctly ....

PS: these are NOT Scen 1 values ... but you can still get the idea ...

[Mike Solli]

I need to give Tracker another try. Wish I was a computer geek...

[Mike Solli]

10 Dec 42

Sub War

Nothing to report.

5 Fleet

The 56 Division will land tomorrow.

4 Fleet

Nothing to report.

SE Fleet

Ted sent a couple small B-24D night raids to Rabaul. They destroyed an Emily on the ground. That's 144 HI gone! Pain in the ass...

There were 11x 2E and 97 P-39D sorties against SE PNG. I'm going to attempt to ambush some tomorrow.

SRA

Nothing to report.

Burma

Nothing to report.

China

There were 166 bomber sorties against Chungking, along with the daily bombardment. A total of 19 squads were destroyed. Not so hot today.

Raw AV:

Japan: 3411 (+10)
China: 5104 (-67)
88 Units (no change)
295k troops

Other Stuff

Reinforcement
SC Ch-38, headed to Truk.

[Mike Solli]

11 Dec 42

Sub War

The I-19 sank an xAK NE of Pearl Harbor today. She is one of a handful of Glen subs on permanent watch of the Hawaiian Islands.

5 Fleet

The 56 Division began unloading at Adak today, causing a lot of disabled squads. *sigh* On the bright side, the escorting 4 CAs and 1 CL killed 45 enemy squads and disabled another 131, at least.

4 Fleet

Nothing to report.

SE Fleet

Eight B-24Ds night bombed Rabaul again today, losing one to flak. I'll take it.

Thirty-four 4E bombers hit Tulagi, causing just a couple of points of damage to the port.

A sentai of 42 Nicks had a LRCAP mission in SE PNG. They ran into the enemy over Salamaua. The first enemy flight was 11 A20A1 escorted by 10 P-38F. Thirty Nicks pounced on them. The bombers got through, but the Nicks shot down 8 Lightnings for no loss. Nice!

The second enemy flight was 13 P-39Ds, jumped by 28 Nicks. Eight Airacobras were shot down for no loss.

The third attack was 26 Nicks vs. 40 P-39Ds. The Nicks had been accumulating damage from the two previous attacks and were also low on fuel and ammo and didn't do as well. They shot down 4 P-39s but lost 3 Nicks.

The last opposed enemy flight was 6 Nicks vs. 23 P-39Ds. A Nick was lost and no enemy were shot down.

Total pilot losses were 2 KIA and 3 WIA. I can live with that.

SRA

Nothing to report.

Burma

Nothing to report.

China

153 bomber sorties plus the bombardment caused the destruction of 28 squads.

Raw AV:

Japan: 3412 (+1)
China: 5077 (-27)
88 units (no change)
293k troops

Other Stuff

The B6N2 Jill R&D advanced to 7/43 and is expected to become operational 1/43.

The N1K1-J George R&D completed repairs on its 13th factory of 18. We're getting close!

[RangerJoe]

So the enemy lost 40 aircraft for you 4 Nicks? That is great, especially since during the second attack your fighters were outnumbered.

If you put your Emilys, plus any other flying boats and floatplanes, at a base with air support but no airfields then they can not be bombed! Bombarded by ships (maybe) but not bombed by aircraft. Unless they are equipped with wheels they should be at a port and not an airfield but the game doesn't work that way.

[Mike Solli]

12 Dec 42

Sub War

There are constantly 3 enemy subs sitting in Adak. Today, 2 were damaged. Not sure how badly. We'll see if they disappear and get replaced by others.

5 Fleet

The last of 56 Division offloaded at Adak. They have a lot of disabled but not many destroyed squads. They'll recover while 9 Division lands, starting tomorrow. The 9 Division is escorted by 3 BBs and 2 CLs so hopefully, this will be a smoother operation.

4 Fleet

Nothing to report.

SE Fleet

Twenty-four 4E bombers night bombed Rabaul today. A sentai of Tojos (IIa) opposed them and managed only to lose two planes (1 WIA) without doing anything to the bombers. Fortunately, the bombers missed too.

Thirty-five 4E bombers hit Tulagi's port again, causing little damage. That doesn't really matter because the port and airfield are trashed.

The enemy 2E bombers and P-39Ds hit a variety of targets at SE PNG. Eleven of the P-39Ds tried for Madang and ran into 9 Zeros. Only 8 went home. I keep trying to whittle away at the FBs but he seems to have an endless supply of them.

SRA

Nothing to report.

Burma

Nothing to report.

China

The bombardment and bombers destroyed 40 squads today. Four more artillery units arrived at Chungking today (2 medium and 2 heavy), bringing the total to 16 independent artillery units. Four more will arrive shortly.

Raw AV:

Japan: 3429 (+9)
China: 5020 (-57)
88 units (no change)
292k troops

Other Stuff

The Ki-44-IIc Tojo became operational today! I have 6 in the pool! (Somehow, one of the factories was switched to no production. I'l be able to outfit my first sentai in a week! It'll be SE Fleet AO. For those who forgot, I'm building 7 Ha-34 engines a day and am building 7 Tojos and 2 Helens a day for a total of 11 engines. The excess will come from the pool, which currently stands at 514. When the pool is depleted (end of March 43), I'll change production to 3 Tojos and 2 Helens a day.

The N1K1-J George R&D advanced to 1/43 and will become operational in 4 days! A week later, I'll outfit a 31 plane unit in SE Fleet AO with the George. I'm really excited to see how this changes things down here.

[sfatula]

The N1K1-J George R&D advanced to 1/43 and will become operational in 4 days! A week later, I'll outfit a 31 plane unit in SE Fleet AO with the George. I'm really excited to see how this changes things down here.

Greedy, lol. You already destroyed 20 planes (and maybe service losses or crashes) for 2 KIA on the 11th! I suspect you'll do even better!

[Mike Solli]

Sorry for being MIA, guys. My niece showed up last week and my free time for WitP dwindled quite a bit. We were able to run turns but I didn't have time to update here. So, here we go...

[Mike Solli]

13 Dec 42

Sub War

Nothing to report.

5 Fleet

Three BB and 2 CL bombarded Adak today, destroying 33 squads. 56 Division has completely landed and 9 Division is almost completely landed. Both have high disruption and fatigue and a lot of disabled squads. I'll need to let them rest and recover for awhile before attacking.

Ted has resumed bombardment at Adak daily. That's accelerating supply use on his part, which is good. Unfortunately, it adds to my unit's disruption. I guess it accelerates the timeline, but I'm not sure. I'll attack once my disruption is reduced.

Raw AV:
Japan: 1060 (+47)
US: 677 (-53)
Enemy units: 19 (no change)
Enemy strength: 47,680

4 Fleet

Nothing to report.

SE Fleet

Well, the new tactic of using 4E bombers in night raids was an outstanding success for Ted. In a total of 8 raids, only the first one had >6 planes. There were a total of 73 enemy 4E bomber sorties. That first raid was 36 bombers vs. 32 Tojo (IIa) and 24 Nicks. When it was all said and done, a total of 10 Tojos (4 KIA, 3 WIA) and 7 Nicks (4 KIA, 3 WIA) were shot down for no enemy bomber losses (maybe an op loss or two), along with 1 A6M2 destroyed on the ground. There were only a couple of points of runway damage that was easily repaired. That was absolutely disgusting. I'm not sure how to counter that. It certainly won't be with fighters flying night CAP. The only bright side is that they were IJA pilots which I have in an abundance.

An additional 33 enemy 4E bombers hit Tulagi's port. That's 106 enemy 4E bomber sorties. I just can't seem to get that number below 100.

SRA

Nothing to report.

Burma

Nothing to report.

China

160x 2E bombers and 24x 1E bombers hit Chungking. That, along with the artillery bombardment destroyed 27 squads.

Raw AV:

Japan: 3436 (+7)
China: 4958 (-53)
Enemy troops: 291k (-1k)
Enemy units: 88 (no change)

Other Stuff

Reinforcements
111 Ship Engineer Company, Burma Area Army, Rangoon, will stay there.
211 Ship Engineer Company, Burma Area Army, Rangoon, will stay there.
311 Ship Engineer Company, Burma Area Army, Rangoon, will stay there.
25 Special Base Force, SE Fleet, destination undecided.

[Mike Solli]

14 Dec 42

Sub War

At Adak, DD Sanae found S-31 and hit her with a depth charge. Did it sink her? No, but she is leaking more than normal for an S class sub.

The I-30, also at Adak, put a torpedo into LSD Shinshu Maru causing light to moderate damage: 5-31(28)-1-0. She'll head for the Home Islands for repairs.

5 Fleet

The no daily Allied bombardment caused light damage to both sides.

Raw AV:
Japan: 1063 (+3)
US: 681 (+4)
Enemy strength: 46,320 (-1,360)
Enemy units: 19 (no change)

4 Fleet

Nothing to report.

SE Fleet

A total of 58x 4E bomber sorties in 6 night attacks caused only a few easily repaired airfield points. Flak got a B-24D with a potential op loss.

Thirty more 4E bombers hit Tulagi's port. Still no sign of an invasion anywhere down here. KB2 is 12 hexes NE of Tulagi just waiting for a juicy target to pounce on. They are undetected.

SRA

Nothing to report.

Burma

Nothing to report.

China

Bombing and bombardment again.

Raw AV:
Japan: 3444 (+8)
China: 4931 (-27)
Enemy strength: 294k (+3k)
Enemy units: 88 units (no change)

Other Stuff

The Ha-43 engine R&D advanced to 2/44 and is expected to become operational 7/43.

Reinforcement
AMc Wa-7, To'su class, will be converted to a 12 kt PB.

[Mike Solli]

15 Dec 42

Sub War

The I-19 caught and sank an xAK NE of Pearl Harbor.

5 Fleet

Raw AV:
Japan: 1051 (-12) - enemy bombardment got lucky and disabled some infantry. They did use more supply though!
US: 685 (+4)
Enemy strength: 46,040 (no change)
Enemy units: 19 (no change)

4 Fleet

Nothing to report.

SE Fleet

Eleven enemy 4E bomber night raids on Rabaul totaling 54 bombers caused light airfield damage (easily repaired) and destroyed a Zero, Tina and Jake.

This is becoming irritating. I'm moving some planes to alternate airfields in the area and am moving engineers (from Rabaul) and additional AS (from Tokyo) to Talsea (3 hexes west of Rabaul) to build up that dot base to a fighter strip.

Nineteen 4E bombers hit Tulagi again.

In total, there 73 enemy 4E bomber sorties. I guess the night bombing is causing maintenance issues.

SRA

Nothing to report.

Burma

Nothing to report.

China

Raw AV:
Japan: 3445 (+1)
China: 4844 (-87)
Enemy strength: 290k (no change)
Enemy units: 88 units (no change)

Other Stuff

The A6M5b R&D advanced to 9/43 and is expected to become operational 3/43.

[Mike Solli]

16 Dec 42

Sub War

Nothing to report.

5 Fleet

Raw AV:
Japan: 1047 (+4)
US: 682 (-3)
Enemy strength: 46,720 (+680)
Enemy units: 19 (no change)

4 Fleet

Nothing to report.

SE Fleet

Thirty 4E bombers went after Tulagi again but were ambushed by a sentai of Nicks. They shot down only 1 bomber but apparently, another 3 were op losses. I'll take it. I was talking with Ted after the night debacle a few days ago and he said that he's having issues with the replacement rate as well as airfields to house the bombers. He said that there were 4 squadrons in Australia that have no planes. I need to keep pushing when I can to whittle down the bombers.

SRA

Nothing to report.

Burma

Three xAKs were on a routine supply run to Akyab and were ambushed by a dozen torpedo laden Albacores. I have a sentai of Tojos (IIa) there but they apparently were flying too high and the Albacores got through with no issues. They sank all 3 cargo ships.

China

Raw AV:
Japan: 3463 (+18)
China: 4814 (-30)
Enemy strength: 292k (+2k)
Enemy units: 89 units (+1) - It's AV will be added tomorrow. Everything shown is always in arrears.

Other Stuff

The N1K1-J George is operational! I have 5x 30 factories operational with 13x 30 still on R&D for the N1K2, which will advance 26% per day. This means it will advance 1 month every 4 days.

[Mike Solli]

17 Dec 42

Sub War

Nothing to report.

5 Fleet

Four BB, 2 CA and 2 CL bombarded Adak today killing 29 squads. Also, they put a shell into I-31, which is in port from damage incurred earlier. Nice!

Raw AV:
Japan: 1046 (-1)
US: 658 (-14)
Enemy strength: 46k (-1k)
Enemy units: 19 (no change)

4 Fleet

Nothing to report.

SE Fleet

The enemy night bombing 4Es took a break today. I guess night bombing takes a toll on the pilots.

There were 27x 4E sorties on Tulagi. The 18 Nicks were unable to down any, unfortunately.

SRA

Nothing to report.

Burma

Nothing to report.

China

Bombing and bombardment killed 68 squads today. Nice! Unfortunately, two more enemy units appeared in Chungking.

Raw AV:
Japan: 3462 (-1)
China: 4992 (+178) *sigh*
Enemy strength: 302k (+10k)
Enemy units: 89 units (No change) - I think a new unit arrived and another one died.

I have 9 divisions and 20 independent artillery units at Chungking with and additional 8 infantry divisions and 1 artillery unit enroute. The bombing and bombardment are taking a toll, but I won't attack yet. I have only 57k infantry there. I'd like to get it to about 100k before attacking. We'll see...

Other Stuff

Reinforcement
19 Army HQ, 2 Area Army, Burma

[Mike Solli]

18 Dec 42

Sub War

Nothing to report.

5 Fleet

Raw AV:
Japan: 1063 ()
US: 681 ()
Enemy strength: 46,320 (-1,360)
Enemy units: 19 (no change)

4 Fleet

Nothing to report.

SE Fleet

The night bombing raids resumed today. Nine attacks totaling 61x 4E bombers caused a total of 2 airbase points (easily repaired). No report of op losses, unfortunately.

A dozen F4F4 Wildcats swept Tulagi today. Interesting. I suspect they came from Rennell Island, just a few hexes away and up to level 3(5) airfield. My Nicks have retired to Truk to rest and replenish.

Today, 27x 4E bombers hit Tulagi.

I upgraded my first IJA sentai to the Tojo IIc! Unfortunately, I had to move them to Rabaul to do it. Hopefully, none will be destroyed by enemy bombing before I get to unveil them.

SRA

Nothing to report.

Burma

Nothing to report.

China

Today, 1 Tank Division and a tank regiment attacked a lone Chinese Corps at Kienko, the last remaining Chinese held base on the Chungking plain. They got 1:1 odds and reduced the fort from 2 to 1. Both sides lost two squads. They'll attack again after replenishing their supply.

Bombing/bombardment destroyed 2 Chinese squads.

Raw AV:
Japan: 3469 (+7)
China: 4930 (-62)
Enemy strength: 300k (-2k)
Enemy units: 91 units (+2)

Other Stuff

Nothing to report.

[Mike Solli]

19 Dec 42

Sub War

Nothing to report.

5 Fleet

Raw AV:
Japan: 1063 ()
US: 681 ()
Enemy strength: 46,320 (-1,360)
Enemy units: 19 (no change)

4 Fleet

Nothing to report.

SE Fleet

Fifty-eight 4E and 13 B-25C night bombers did no lasting damage to Rabaul's airfield but managed to destroy 6 planes on the ground.

Nineteen 4E bombers hit Tulagi again.

SRA

Nothing to report.

Burma

Nothing to report.

China

Bombing/bombardment of Chungking killed 62 squads today

Raw AV:
Japan: 3473 (+4)
China: 5184 (+254)
Enemy strength: 312k (+12k)
Enemy units: 91 units (no change)

Other Stuff

Then N1K2-J George R&D advanced to 10/44 and will become operational 3/43.

[Mike Solli]

A couple questions:

16.5 BASE FORCE REPLACEMENTS
Base Forces also receive replacements just as any ground unit does, but their expected full
strength level for the computer player can change during the game. Every friendly airfield with
at least one Base Force unit at the airfield will pick one Base Force to be its primary Base
Force. The primary Base Force will have its expected full strength value for aviation support
points change so that its expected value equals 30 times the current size of the airfield (never
greater than 250). This change in the expected value can cause replacement units to be built
even when losses have not been taken. This will provide sufficient aviation points to support
growing airfields.

Has anyone seen this happen?


16.4.2 SPECIAL CHINESE REPLACEMENTS
Chinese infantry units that are totally destroyed are recreated. When destroyed, the unit is set
to return to Chungking 30 days later at 1/3 of it’s TO&E strength. These replacement units do
not use up any units from the replacement pool. They represent the almost unlimited ability of
China to replace infantry units if needed.

Does this include destruction from attrition?

[Mike Solli]

Update on aircraft R&D:

Ki-84a Frank: 27, 25, 24, 3x23, 3x22, 2x21, 2x20, 19, 18, 17, 15, 13

A7M2 Sam: 16, 15, 13, 2x12, 7x11, 3x10, 3x7

B7N2 Grace: 20, 16, 14, 2x13, 11

[sfatula]

I have not seen the base force happen. I do see this though (I hi-lited):

...but their expected full strength level for the computer player can change during the game...

I presume it's speaking of the AI maybe?

[Mike Solli]

I have not seen the base force happen. I do see this though (I hi-lited):

...but their expected full strength level for the computer player can change during the game...

I presume it's speaking of the AI maybe?

I'm sure that's what that's for. I totally missed that part. Thanks!