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

[Mike Solli]

I learned something over a decade ago while I was playing the old WitP. There was a very active guy named Mogami who was very good at the game. One thing in particular he mentioned that I never forgot. He said that if you did not (as the Japanese) want to contest air space in a certain region, pull all of your aircraft out. A lot of people would keep some fighters in an area they weren't trying to contest. That simply caused unneeded plane and pilot losses. I try to do that as much as possible. It just so happens that the two places where I have large air forces (not counting China where the Allied Air Force is defunct), I am trying to contest things. First is SE Fleet AO, where I can occasionally gain air superiority temporarily to ambush the enemy bombers. The second is Burma, where there is a phony war occurring right now. I'm happy with that until I can upgrade about 75% of the fighters with the Tojo IIc. I also will place a George unit there eventually too. Right now, Ted has more fighters than me, but they are inferior to my new models fighters, but not the old ones that are currently holding the line. I'm happy with the lack of fighting until I upgrade. Then, I'll start to whittle down his air power.

[sfatula]

Needless fighting also wastes supply in several ways, including repairing planes. And you are doing very well with that. And you are doing very well with your pilots (IJN)!. Hopefully that helps make '43 more painful for him than it otherwise might be.

[Mike Solli]

You mention supply. I scrimp and save wherever I can, but use it when necessary. I'm keeping Chungking well supplied because I want to take Chungking. Then I can reduce the amount of supply I send there. I am increasing supply. It's over 3.1 million, which is nice for this mod. My hope is still to have >4 million going into 44.

[Mike Solli]

28 Dec 42

Sub War

The I-35 has been chasing a TK convoy for a few days now. Two days ago, she torpedoed and sank a full, 14k capacity TK. Today, she got another 14k TK loaded with fuel. I'll bet Ted is yelling at his computer. I no longer see the convoy but I have 3 subs in the area looking for it.

The I-157 sank an xAK and xAKL off the NW coast of Australia. I suspect they were supplying the north coast of Australia.

5 Fleet

I sent a fast transport TF to Adak to drop off some additional supply, but those 2 pesky PT boats scared them off. A bombardment TF is arriving tomorrow. Hopefully, they'll sink them.

4 Fleet

Nothing to report.

SE Fleet

Ted's night bombers destroyed half a dozen planes on the ground today. It's really irritating. I've moved out everything I don't need there. By the way, the Petes didn't even fly today.

Two xAPs arrived at Talsea with 2 AS battalions (from Tokyo). I had a sentai of Tojos flying LRCAP over the TF. Ten Beaufort VIIIs came in to bomb the transports. The Tojos were too high to intercept them. Fortunately, the bombers missed. I lowered the height of the Tojos. They should get butchered if they come back tomorrow.

Over Madang, 15 Spitfires met 9 Zeros and shot two of my planes down (2 WIA) for no loss to the Spitfires. If they return tomorrow, they'll meet 9 Zeros and 42 Tojos. I hope they come back!

Thirty-five 4E bombers hit Lunga and Tulagi.

Finally, KB2 took its sweet time today and is 10 hexes from Luganville. Let's see if they launch tomorrow...

SRA

Nothing to report.

Burma

Nothing to report.

China

My tanks attacked Kienko again today, wearing the defending Chinese Corps down further. They didn't get enough to secure the town, but they'll attack again when they get more supply.

The bombing/bombardment today destroyed 64 squads.

Raw AV:
Japan: 4365 (+7)
China: 4502 (-84)
Enemy strength: 299k (-3k)
Enemy units: 91 units (no change)

Other Stuff

Reinforcements
I-36, Glen sub, allocated to SE Fleet AO.

[RangerJoe]

You can supply Adak with a Fast Transport TF which will also bombard and I believe will result in an enemy bombardment as well. You can include battleships in that task force.

You might also want to consider the weather there. I do believe that it is the season for blizzards from Mother Nature. Personally, I think that Blizzards from someplace called Dairy Queen would be better but your troops are Japanese so they may not want those. I presume that you have experienced blizzards from Mother Nature?

[Mike Solli]

You can supply Adak with a Fast Transport TF which will also bombard and I believe will result in an enemy bombardment as well. You can include battleships in that task force.

You might also want to consider the weather there. I do believe that it is the season for blizzards from Mother Nature. Personally, I think that Blizzards from someplace called Dairy Queen would be better but your troops are Japanese so they may not want those. I presume that you have experienced blizzards from Mother Nature?

I'm going to move some surface ships to sit at Adak until those 2 PT boats are destroyed. They don't have torpedoes, but the PBs on a fast transport mission continue to run away. Very irritating.

[Mike Solli]

29 Dec 42

Sub War

Nothing to report.

5 Fleet

The 2 torpedoless PT boats drove off the 4 PB fast transport again today. Tomorrow, both bombardment TFs are hitting. If they don't destroy them, I'll send a dedicated surface TF to the hex to kill them.

4 Fleet

Nothing to report.

SE Fleet

Well, the 6 Petes flew CAP. One was shot down (WIA) but they were present for all 9 enemy attacks. They did absolutely no damage to either the airfield or my planes. May just be coincidence or something more. Either way, they are scheduled to fly again tomorrow. By the way, the night attacks on Rabaul included 26x 4E and 29x 2E bombers.

Ted has stepped up his fighter sweeps. Fortunately for me, they are spread out all over the place and in no more than squadron size:

Salamaua: 14
Lunga: 9
Finschafen: 10 escort + 3 sweep
Lae: 15

I'm going to consider ambushing them here and there with a sentai of Tojos while my Georges continue to repair.

Only 8x 4E hit Lunga today. Weather? Rest? Don't know.

SRA

Nothing to report.

Burma

I just upgraded my first 30 plane Tojo IIc sentai here. In retrospect, I should have waited and upgraded a 42 plane sentai.

China

The bombers didn't fly today, the slackers. The bombardment killed 41 squads.

Raw AV:
Japan: 4371 (+6)
China: 4464 (-38)
Enemy strength: 300k (+1k)
Enemy units: 91 units (no change)

Other Stuff

Nothing to report.

[sfatula]

The Petes will not do anything, except, disrupt the bombing. How did the bombing do? They should be there for all bombing runs as they will never climb enough to get to the B17s if you put them low, or shouldn't. I guess they did at least once since you lost one. But the more important part is, did they hit any planes on the ground?

For your fast transports, did you change the threat tolerance?