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

[Mike Solli]

20 Jan 43

Sub War

The Shad put two torpedos into an empty Aden class NE of Vigan sinking her. The torpedoes are better now. I can't wait for the Etorofus to start showing up. The first one shows up in 61 days. The sunk ship was part of a CS convoy moving resources from Manila to China.

5 Fleet

Supply continues to land at Adak.

4 Fleet

Nothing to report.

SE Fleet

Something new was spotted today. Fourteen Dauntlesses flew from Rennell Island to bomb the troops at Lunga. That was in addition to the 36x 4E bombers also hitting Lunga's troops.

SRA

Nothing to report.

Burma

Nothing to report.

China

Raw AV:

Today's bombing/bombardment destroyed 70 squads.

Japan: 2536 (+146)
China: 2889 (-37)
Enemy strength: 291k (-1k)
Enemy units: 90 units (+2 units) - Interesting that the AV still decreases with 2 new units.
Guns: 452 (-49)

Other Stuff

Reinforcement
AMc Suzuya Maru #2, Ha'chi class, just another local minesweeper.

[Mike Solli]

21 Jan 43

Sub War

Ted always keeps a few (at least) subs in the straights off Balikpapan in an attempt to get a full (or empty - he's not picky) tanker. I have 8 SCs there. Ch-18 finally got lucky hitting Sturgeon with a depth charge there.

5 Fleet

The supply issue at Adak has finally been resolved. I'm attacking tomorrow, coinciding with two BB bombardment fleets. I have a lot more supply enroute so I can attack more frequently.

4 Fleet

Nothing to report.

SE Fleet

The 14 Dauntlesses returned to Lunga again today, followed by 32x 4E bombers. Other than some enemy fighter sweeps over Tulagi and Madang, that was all the action down here.

SRA

Nothing to report.

Burma

Nothing to report.

China

Today's bombing/bombardment destroyed 36 squads.

Raw AV:
Japan: 2589 (+53)
China: 3092 (-37)
Enemy strength: 292k (+1k)
Enemy units: 90 units (no change)
Guns: 489 (+37)

Other Stuff

Reinforcements
7 Air Division HQ (4 Air Army), destined for the Marianas
68, 70, 72, 108, 109, 113 JAAF AF Battalions, Southern Army, 2-3 are destined for Cox's Bazaar so they have radar, the rest haven't been allocated yet.
112 JAAF AF Battalion, General Defense Army, Home Islands
115 JAAF AF Battalion, 4 Fleet, not allocated yet

[Mike Solli]

Finally figured out the two units that reappeared:

5 Construction Regiment
78 Chinese Corps - 256 AV

It's interesting that when these two units appeared, the AV increased by 256, but the raw AV never was in positive territory. Still, gaining free AV for the Chinese sucks.

I'm getting close to doing another attack. I have a full strength division (404 AV) 15 miles from Chungking and another (419 AV) 189 miles out and a third (387 AV) 276 miles out. I'll definitely wait for the first to arrive. Not sure about the second.

[RangerJoe]

If dive bombers are dive bombing Lunga, then it is time to fly in a lot of 25 mm autocannons!

[PaxMondo]

Edit: I lied. This is for Rabaul, not Cox's Bazaar. Coz's Bazaar has no radar present. That will change, but it'll take time.

[PaxMondo]

Searchlights (probably doesn't matter during the day): 24

Now that is a GOOD question. I have never checked, nor have I ever read anything in reference to them.

Having said that, searchlights should not provide advance warning, but they should provide improved accuracy of the AA (better elevation reading). One of these days, maybe ....

[PaxMondo]

20 Jan 43
... I can't wait for the Etorofus to start showing up. The first one shows up in 61 days. ...

I know, I'm always anxious for these as well ....

[PaxMondo]

21 Jan 43

Ted always keeps a few (at least) subs in the straights off Balikpapan in an attempt to get a full (or empty - he's not picky) tanker. I have 8 SCs there. Ch-18 finally got lucky hitting Sturgeon with a depth charge there.

Do you have a FP group or 2 at Bali on NS or ASW? Air Search combined with ASW-TF really works for me. I can keep almost any area sterile with that combination.

[Mike Solli]

21 Jan 43

Ted always keeps a few (at least) subs in the straights off Balikpapan in an attempt to get a full (or empty - he's not picky) tanker. I have 8 SCs there. Ch-18 finally got lucky hitting Sturgeon with a depth charge there.

Do you have a FP group or 2 at Bali on NS or ASW? Air Search combined with ASW-TF really works for me. I can keep almost any area sterile with that combination.

I have a lot there:

3 SC ASW TF
3 SC ASW TF
2 SC ASW TF (one was sunk by a sub)
9 Sonia on ASW at Balikpapan
12 Mary on ASW at Samarinda
9 Jakes on naval search at Donggala

[Mike Solli]

If dive bombers are dive bombing Lunga, then it is time to fly in a lot of 25 mm autocannons!

Good idea. I need to get some 25mm down there for just that purpose. I'll find some to buy and send there.

[PaxMondo]

I have a lot there:

3 SC ASW TF
3 SC ASW TF
2 SC ASW TF (one was sunk by a sub)
9 Sonia on ASW at Balikpapan
12 Mary on ASW at Samarinda
9 Jakes on naval search at Donggala

With those assets, all the SS should be visible to you every turn. If they aren't ...

Try putting all your AC on NavSearch and the Mary group on Night NavSearch (if you have pilots with NS). If you don't, then you can try keeping them on ASW with the Mary group on NIGHT. I don't have as good success with ASW, but ... YMMV

The idea is to find those SS and keep them "lit" ... maybe you get air bomb hits on them, maybe not, but keeping the DL up will allow your ASW TF's to prosecute them (I would set my max react = 3). You don't want the DL to drop overnight. If the ASW TF's are based out of Balikpapan and you have an AGP with enough supply, you should be good. Your ASW TF's should need DC re-supply about every other turn until the SS are gone ... Good Luck

[RangerJoe]

I have a lot there:

3 SC ASW TF
3 SC ASW TF
2 SC ASW TF (one was sunk by a sub)
9 Sonia on ASW at Balikpapan
12 Mary on ASW at Samarinda
9 Jakes on naval search at Donggala

With those assets, all the SS should be visible to you every turn. If they aren't ...

Try putting all your AC on NavSearch and the Mary group on Night NavSearch (if you have pilots with NS). If you don't, then you can try keeping them on ASW with the Mary group on NIGHT. I don't have as good success with ASW, but ... YMMV

The idea is to find those SS and keep them "lit" ... maybe you get air bomb hits on them, maybe not, but keeping the DL up will allow your ASW TF's to prosecute them (I would set my max react = 3). You don't want the DL to drop overnight. If the ASW TF's are based out of Balikpapan and you have an AGP with enough supply, you should be good. Your ASW TF's should need DC re-supply about every other turn until the SS are gone ... Good Luck

One way to keep the ASW TFs resupplied and rearmed is to have a waypoint for the base which will have the TF fully refuel. If you have a spare ASW ship then that can be in port repairing or waiting to replace one that needs repairs. In the shallow waters, those little SCs with the weak depth charges but with 8 ASW are pretty good. I just like to have an ASW ship with a larger gun with two of those little SCs just in case the submarine wants to play on the surface.

Any ASW aircraft should fly at 1000 feet or even 100 feet.

Against the computer, I have had success putting an ASW TF on a one hex patrol where I knew the enemy submarines like to visit. While the ASW TFs will react towards a submarine, they do not actually attack as part of the reaction. It was not put into the code.

[Mike Solli]

Joe, I changed the height of the ASW planes around Balikpapan from 6k to 1k. Let's see what that does. I'm concerned about fatigue at that height. I have "hit" subs dozens of times, probably hundreds. I usually get 4-6 "hits" a turn but have yet to have confirmation of a sub actually being sunk by one of those hits.

[Mike Solli]

22 Jan 43

Sub War

Rough day for the submarine service on both sides, but mainly ours.

Right off the bat, I-34 found a really big xAP, the Empress Australia, SW of San Francisco and couldn't get a shot at her. She settled for missing DD Laffey with 2 torpedoes. In a long battle, she was hit twice with depth charges and forced to the surface where she was hit with several shells, mainly small caliber. She launched torpedoes at the xAP, missing her each time and then slipped beneath the waves. She still survives though, heavily damaged at 21-75(56)-12(7)-0. She's limping toward Kwajalein. IF she survives (doubtful), it'll take 2-3 months to reach port.

Then, just SW of Lunga, RO-63 was caught by some ASW DEs and hit twice by depth charges. In an action strangely similar to the one above, she was forced to the surface where she futilely launched torpedoes at some DEs and was hit multiple times by small caliber shells, then she also slipped beneath the waves. She also still survives but her damage is extreme at 11=92(60)-2-0. She's 2 weeks out from Rabaul, if she makes it.

Finally a little good news. A US sub, the Stingray, had been harassing my shipping south of Singapore. I formed an ASW TF of 4 E Otoris to hunt for her, and they struck gold today, hitting Stingray with a depth charge. I have over 50 aircraft on overlapping naval search and ASW there. She's nowhere to be found now, which is somewhat concerning. Hopefully, she was hit hard enough to head for the hills.

5 Fleet

Two BB TFs bombarded Adak in preparation for my glorious assault to take the island. The one good thing was that Haddock, damaged and in port, was struck 3 times and left heavily burning and damaged. After the turn, I no longer see anything in port. Maybe she sank?

The deliberate attack. Yeah. 1:2 odds and fort level 3, which didn't decrease. I lost a bunch of disablements in just a couple of the divisions. Ted allegedly lost 43 squads. One of the brigades was trashed and made combat ineffective. That's about it. I'll continue to drop off supply and let them rest and do it again, probably over and over.

4 Fleet

Nothing to report.

SE Fleet

Lunga was visited by Dauntlesses, escorted by Wildcats and Corsairs again today. I did buy out 6 MG companies from Kwangtung Army. Each has 6x 20 mm guns. Not sure how effective they'll be, but they are headed to the front. It will take a while to get them anywhere useful though.

Lunga was also visited by 31 heavy bombers, the only 4Es I saw today. The other heavies, who hit Rabaul a while ago, are still licking their wounds.

By the way, Rabaul is fully operational and the planes are rotating in and out of Truk to rest and get their morale back up.

SRA

Nothing to report.

Burma

Another sentai and chutai have been upgraded to the Tojo IIc.

China

Today's bombing/bombardment destroyed 48 squads.

Raw AV:
Japan: 3116 (+527) - Another division arrived. I'm pulling one out. It has only 47 AV of a possible 310 AV. Fortunately, only 19 infantry squads have been destroyed. Most of the division is disabled. And yes, I bought it out.
China: 3059 (-33)
Enemy strength: 293k (+1k)
Enemy units: 90 units (no change)
Guns: 468 (-21)

Other Stuff

Nothing to report.

[Mike Solli]

23 Jan 43 - Quiet day, unless you were troops in Lunga or Chungking.

Sub War

At the start of the turn, something sank and it wasn't mine. Haddock or Stingray? I don't see either.

5 Fleet

Nothing to report.

4 Fleet

Nothing to report.

SE Fleet

The 14 Dauntlesses bombed Lunga. The heavy bombers were a no show. Resting for the big event? Only time will tell. I see nothing that suggests an invasion fleet is approaching.

SRA

Nothing to report.

Burma

Nothing to report.

China

221 bombers hit Chungking, which is normal. The bombing/bombardment destroyed 74 squads. The vast majority of the losses are by bombardment. Today, only 1 loss was by bombing, but they do disable a lot. Today's disablements were 180 by bombing and only 12 by bombardment. That's always how it goes. Bombardment always has very few disablements.

Raw AV:
Japan: 3190 (+74)
China: 2993 (-66)
Enemy strength: 293k (no change)
Enemy units: 90 units (no change)
Guns: 462 (-6)

Other Stuff

The N1K2-J George R&D advanced to 1/44 and is expected to become operational 3/43.
The B6N2 Jill R&D advanced to 4/43 and is expected to become operational 3/43.

A second Frank R&D factory (of 18) completed repairs yesterday. I'm now gaining 4% per day. The remainder are at:

28, 3x27, 2x26, 25, 23, 2x22, 2x21, 2x20, 17, 16

The absolute latest I'll get the Frank is 7/43. I anticipate getting it in the spring. I hope to get it when I run out of the Ha-34 pool (and the Tojo production drops from 7 to 3), by April 43.

[RangerJoe]

Joe, I changed the height of the ASW planes around Balikpapan from 6k to 1k. Let's see what that does. I'm concerned about fatigue at that height. I have "hit" subs dozens of times, probably hundreds. I usually get 4-6 "hits" a turn but have yet to have confirmation of a sub actually being sunk by one of those hits.

While fatigue can become an issue, a percentage of rest should take care of that.

With the ASW aircraft flying lower, it won't see as much but more importantly the enemy submarine won't detect the airplane as soon. This gives the ASW aircraft a greater chance of hitting the submarine.

As Allies, a Val on search from a Japanese aircraft carrier spotted and sunk a Dutch submarine!

[PaxMondo]

Joe, I changed the height of the ASW planes around Balikpapan from 6k to 1k. Let's see what that does. I'm concerned about fatigue at that height. I have "hit" subs dozens of times, probably hundreds. I usually get 4-6 "hits" a turn but have yet to have confirmation of a sub actually being sunk by one of those hits.

A key reason that I choose NavSearch over ASW ... I let my ASW-TF's get the hits and they have a higher kill %. The ol' "slips beneath the waves" is frequently seen.

A damaged SS that escapes to repair is a real loss for me. They come back when there are already TOO many allied SS in the sea. Sure, get a reprieve, but the future return is lousy.

[PaxMondo]

23 Jan 43 - Quiet day, unless you were troops in Lunga or Chungking.
A second Frank R&D factory (of 18) completed repairs yesterday. I'm now gaining 4% per day. The remainder are at:

28, 3x27, 2x26, 25, 23, 2x22, 2x21, 2x20, 17, 16

The absolute latest I'll get the Frank is 7/43. I anticipate getting it in the spring. I hope to get it when I run out of the Ha-34 pool (and the Tojo production drops from 7 to 3), by April 43.

You're getting there!!!!

[Mike Solli]

Joe, I changed the height of the ASW planes around Balikpapan from 6k to 1k. Let's see what that does. I'm concerned about fatigue at that height. I have "hit" subs dozens of times, probably hundreds. I usually get 4-6 "hits" a turn but have yet to have confirmation of a sub actually being sunk by one of those hits.

A key reason that I choose NavSearch over ASW ... I let my ASW-TF's get the hits and they have a higher kill %. The ol' "slips beneath the waves" is frequently seen.

A damaged SS that escapes to repair is a real loss for me. They come back when there are already TOO many allied SS in the sea. Sure, get a reprieve, but the future return is lousy.

My ASW aircraft have no confirmed sub kills so far. Only DCs and hitting subs in port have done it. I'm pretty sure the sinking sound I heard the other day was Haddock, badly damaged in Adak harbor and hit by a bombardment TF a few times to do the deed.

Ideally, I like Naval Search and air ASW blanketing an area with some surface ASW TFs. Now, having that many assets available is the real issue. I do have a lot of SCs coming in the next 90 days along with a few Etorofus. Can't wait for them! Another issue is that I'm no longer producing any IJA 1E bombers. They're dwindling. I use Anns and Marys as ASW/naval search and am digging into Sonias too now. I'm going to have to start converting some 1E sentai/chutai into 2E units. That puts a strain on my Helens and Sallies. I produce 2 of each a day. Initially, the Sally was going to be temporary. It's still going strong. I have one sentai of Lily in China still. It'll eventually get replaced with the Helen and it'll be used for training/ASW/naval search in the Home Islands.

[Mike Solli]

23 Jan 43 - Quiet day, unless you were troops in Lunga or Chungking.
A second Frank R&D factory (of 18) completed repairs yesterday. I'm now gaining 4% per day. The remainder are at:

28, 3x27, 2x26, 25, 23, 2x22, 2x21, 2x20, 17, 16

The absolute latest I'll get the Frank is 7/43. I anticipate getting it in the spring. I hope to get it when I run out of the Ha-34 pool (and the Tojo production drops from 7 to 3), by April 43.

You're getting there!!!!

Slowly but surely! I'd really like to get the Frank by April 43!