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

[sfatula]

So, Pax, if you are going to build 300 Georges a month, you are telling me that rather than the research groups being all the optimal 30 size, you are going to addon 270 more factories for one group? Is that correct? That is pretty expensive if so! I was not suggesting that one should change them a lot. I was merely saying if you had a group doing nothing, as Mike has, it can be cheaper to use those for extra production by changing what there were building.

Yes, I realize the example was not reasonable, and I said it was not but was just an example.

[Mike Solli]

[...]

For example, I have 18x 30 George factories. Five are the K1 in production (but turned off because I have plenty right now). Thirteen are in K2 R&D. Soon, the K2 will become operational. At that point, I'll upgrade the 5 operational factories to the K2 and the 13 R&D factories will upgrade to the K5.
[...]

What is the reason to let all 5 of the K1 factories sit idle? I would understand leaving ~2 turned off on the K1 in case you loose more of them than expected to be able to restart some production, but do you need all of the normal production as a reserve? The other turned off factories could help advancing the K2 (and thereby the research start for the K5) at least a little bit and then stay on K2 production, or am I missing something?

That's a good question. In this case, I have 43 N1K1s in the pool. The N1K2 will become operational in 7 days. I could upgrade the 5 idle factories now, but I want them in my pocket until I can upgrade my first unit to the K2. That's 7 days beyond when it becomes operational. So, those 43 planes need to last 14 days. They most likely will, unless Ted decides on an offensive against Rabaul. Then, I'll lose some on the ground and in the air. IF things go badly, I'll need to turn production back on (but that's doubtful). If I upgraded them to the K2 R&D tomorrow, I would get the K2 operationally 1 day earlier. I can live with getting the K2 a day later and upgrade those factories in a week.

I'm not worried about getting enough K2s, when it becomes operational. Let's say my K1 pool runs out around when the K2 becomes operational. I can let all 18 become operational and upgrade one of the 31 plane units in 2 days. The K1s from that unit go to the pool. Problem solved. I lose only 2 days R&D on the K5.

[PaxMondo]

So, Pax, if you are going to build 300 Georges a month, you are telling me that rather than the research groups being all the optimal 30 size, you are going to addon 270 more factories for one group? Is that correct? That is pretty expensive if so! I was not suggesting that one should change them a lot. I was merely saying if you had a group doing nothing, as Mike has, it can be cheaper to use those for extra production by changing what there were building.

Yes, I realize the example was not reasonable, and I said it was not but was just an example.

No, 300 George/month = 10 x size 30 factories for me. Why? requires RnD to obtain. My examples were of production where no RnD was done or required.

[Mike Solli]

22 Feb 43

Sub War

Nothing to report.

5 Fleet

Nothing to report.

4 Fleet

Nothing to report.

SE Fleet

Russell Island was the focal point in this AO today, and it wasn't in my favor. I let my fighters get spread out, which is a good way to lose planes and pilots as the Japanese player. The first attack at Russell Island was by 57x 4E bombers and was opposed by 4 Nicks and 3 Georges. All 3 Georges were lost. Ted went after the Japanese paratroopers there in a big way.

The next attack there was 21 more heavy bombers opposed by a single Nick, which was shot down.

That attack was followed by several more heavy bomber raids of 33, 7 and 18 bombers for a total of 136 heavy bombers. Ouch. I think that is his entire heavy bomber force in this AO.

Then, 11 B-25s escorted by 10 Wildcats arrived and were met by 3 Nicks. A Nick and Wildcat were shot down.

An Allied sweep of Lunga by 8 Corsairs met 3 Georges and all 3 Georges went down.

In all, the Nicks lost 1 KIA and 1 MIA. The Georges lost 3 KIA, 1 MIA and 1 WIA. Not a good day at all.

I decided to pull by fighters back to Rabaul to concentrate them, take some replacement aircraft and try to rest them somewhat and fix their sagging morale.

That turned out to be a good decision.

SRA

Nothing to report.

Burma

Nothing to report.

China

Today's bombing/bombardment destroyed 27 squads.

Raw AV:
Japan: 5966 (+655) - another division arrived making 20 infantry divisions in all.
China: 1713 (-50)
Enemy strength: 272k (no change)
Enemy units: 88 units (no change) - the 10 Construction Regiment arrived yesterday.
Guns: 391 (+24)

Other Stuff

The Ki-84a Frank R&D advanced to 11/43 and will become operational no later than 5/43. There still are 5 of 18 R&D factories fully repaired giving me 10% a day with the engine bonus.

[Mike Solli]

23 Feb 43

Sub War

Nothing to report.

5 Fleet

Nothing to report.

4 Fleet

Nothing to report.

SE Fleet

The Allies demolished the Japanese paratroopers at Russell Island. Other than an Allied sweep or two, no enemy air power flew. That was good. It gave my fighters a chance to rest and repair aircraft.

Tomorrow won't be so quiet...

SRA

Nothing to report.

Burma

Nothing to report.

China

Today's bombing and bombardment destroyed 71 squads. It was a pretty good day.

Raw AV:
Japan: 7043 (+77)
China: 1688 (-25)
Enemy strength: 269k (-3k)
Enemy units: 88 units (no change)
Guns: 363 (-28)

Other Stuff

The N1K2-J George R&D advanced to 5/43 and is expected to become operational 3/43.

[Mike Solli]

24 Feb 43

Sub War

Nothing to report.

5 Fleet

Nothing to report.

4 Fleet

Nothing to report.

SE Fleet

The morning started off with a Corsair sweep of Lunga, but no one was home. Just about all my fighters were in search of the enemy over Rabaul. The pilots couldn't understand why they were all recalled to Rabaul. It had been quiet there for weeks. Just the occasional Catalina spying on them.

They heard them before they saw them. There were 68 enemy heavy bombers heading right for Rabaul. And they were escorted by the newest model Lightning, the P-38G. What those Americans didn't know was that almost the entire fighter and fighter bomber power of the 23 Air Flotilla and 5 Air Division were waiting for them. A total of 47 Nicks, 64 Tojos and 67 Georges were in the air.

It wasn't a complete massacre, but it was brutal. The Lightnings tried to hold off the Japanese, but were overwhelmed losing 10 of 15 planes. The fighters then tore into the bombers shooting down 11 while flak got another. What was really odd, was that the bombers targeted the ground troops doing nothing.

The pilots thought that was going to be the end of the battle, but they were mistaken. Another raid of 13 bombers ran into 164 Japanese fighters. This time 7 bombers went down and flak got 2 more. A Tojo and George were lost, but both pilots were recovered wounded. Again, the bombers went after ground troops.

The third raid was 11 Liberators opposed by 134 Japanese fighters. Four were shot down and flak got another. Ground troops again.

The last raid was 6 Liberators opposed by 105 fighters. One was shot down and flak got another.

It was a glorious day for the Japanese fighter corps! In all there were 98 enemy heavy bomber sorties and 28 bombers were lost, all for a cost of 2 fighters shot down and 2 WIA. A handful were written off.

Ted is going to be pissed.

SRA

Nothing to report.

Burma

Nothing to report.

China

Today's bombing/bombardment destroyed only 18 squads.

Raw AV:
Japan: 6101 (+58)
China: 1672 (-16)
Enemy strength: 270k (+1k)
Enemy units: 88 units (no change)
Guns: 348 (-15)

Sixteen of the 20 infantry divisions are in Chungking and the remaining 4 should arrive tomorrow. The deliberate attack will occur the day after.

Other Stuff

Reinforcement
63 Sentai, 36 fighters, 51 Air Division, this unit will train elite pilots in defense.