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

[PaxMondo]

I consider the attack successful. The odds were 1.57:1 and the forts were reduced from 5 to 4. That's a step in the right direction. I am now going to attack every 7 days.

Very SUCCESSFUL!!


BANZAI!!!

[PaxMondo]

The Lily is one of those love/hate things. You either love them or hate them. I'm in the latter group.

Curious what you use for land based aircraft for ASW then (early on)? Surely not those other useless bombers as the range is so small?

I don't know that anyone loves Japanese bombers, esp. the starting ones. Excluding naval attacks with torpedoes, we all like that.

I use the Mary and Ann for 1E ASW and naval search. They carry a 250 kg bomb. When I start to get my 2E bomber numbers increasing, I use the Sally (both models) and the Helen. Eventually, when I abdicate the air to the Allies, the IJA bomber force becomes primarily an ASW/naval search force. Losses are low and they become great Kamikazes later.

I use them for training. Once I get my bomber pilots trained to +50 skill ground, then I move them to any of those lousy 1E bomber groups and have them bomb CHI positions. That does 2 things: trains up the pilot exp (much faster than training) and keeps the CHI troops low on supply and morale. Essentially pins them in position. Yes, it uses more supply than straight training, but the EXP gain is faster and keeping the CHI units pinned until I can get around to killing them is worth it. I need a LOT of high exp LBA pilots in the late war for night bombing ...

[sfatula]

If bombing the Chinese, it makes sense to use 1E for that as it will use less supply than a 2E Lily bombing. Also needs a smaller airfield. Makes sense.

[Mike Solli]

If bombing the Chinese, it makes sense to use 1E for that as it will use less supply than a 2E Lily bombing. Also needs a smaller airfield. Makes sense.

My problem is that I'm no longer building any IJAAF 1E bombers. They're slowly being attrited away. I'm (very) slowly converting the 1E units to 2E, when I have the PPs and planes in the pool.

[PaxMondo]

If bombing the Chinese, it makes sense to use 1E for that as it will use less supply than a 2E Lily bombing. Also needs a smaller airfield. Makes sense.

The big advantage for me is number of planes for the AF size and that I can use AF=2 bases of which there are a lot, so I can lower the range => lower ops losses. In 42 and into 43 before I take all of CHI I can "harvest" 100's of pilots with ground bomb skill/exp > 70 ... and they all become my potential night bombing pilots in '44/45. Oh, not to mention all of those permanent VP's too.

[Mike Solli]

28 Feb 43

Sub War

Nothing to report.

5 Fleet

Still moving ground forces around. It's pretty difficult with Adak's port at 100% damage. I have 148 engineers at Adak and the repairs are still really slow. The runway is at 49% and the service is at 100%. It'll be awhile before they get to the port, the slackers.

4 Fleet

Ted has (finally) taken an interest in Johnston Island. He sent 9 PB4Y-1s there and hit the port, sinking the SCM there. Now the mines will start to degrade. My defenses there are a NG battalion, an AS company with a company of Marines and an engineer company with a platoon of combat engineers, all behind level 4 forts. A battalion of infantry won't do it. I don't think a single regiment will do it either, at least not without a lot of additional effort. We'll see.

SE Fleet

Thirty-three heavy bombers hit Tulagi's troops and 15 B-25s hit Lunga's troops.

SRA

Nothing to report.

Burma

The usual supply shortage at the front. The supply seems to arrive in pulses and the army eats it as fast as it arrives.

China

There's been a chronic slight shortage of supply at Chungking since the last attack, and it shows in the artillery barrage. Today's bombing/barrage destroyed only 8 squads. That ain't gonna cut it. In addition to the two TFs that haul resources from and bring supply to Shanghai, I'm sending an additional 50k supply there in a "special" TF. I won't attack until the supply arrives and there's ample in Chungking.

Raw AV:
Japan: 4755 (+143)
China: 1322 (+35) - That's going the wrong way!
Enemy strength: 258k (no change)
Enemy units: 70 units (no change) - 16 Construction Regiment was destroyed yesterday. Yay!
Guns: 306 (+7)

While the Chinese AV is pretty much static, mine is increasing nicely, with an additional 840 AV in 2 full strength divisions (one is 81 experience!) enroute. They won't make it for the next attack though.

Other Stuff

The A6M5c R&D advanced to 8/44 and is expected to become operational 7/43.

[Mike Solli]

If bombing the Chinese, it makes sense to use 1E for that as it will use less supply than a 2E Lily bombing. Also needs a smaller airfield. Makes sense.

The big advantage for me is number of planes for the AF size and that I can use AF=2 bases of which there are a lot, so I can lower the range => lower ops losses. In 42 and into 43 before I take all of CHI I can "harvest" 100's of pilots with ground bomb skill/exp > 70 ... and they all become my potential night bombing pilots in '44/45. Oh, not to mention all of those permanent VP's too.

I have a LOT of IJAAF bomber pilots in the pool. Their ground bombing skills are >70 but the experience isn't that high.....yet.

Edit: I have a lot more than I thought. There are a BUNCH sitting in the units bombing Chungking. I need to swap them out.

[Mike Solli]

Japanese Economy as of 1 Mar 43

Oil

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This is looking good. Note the large positive change in oil in the Home Islands. I began hauling oil from Pt. Arthur to Japan. Now, 10% of all oil is in Japan. Also, the oil in Pt. Arthur is being replaced as it is pulled out. That means the Chinese Highway is working. Nice!

Finally, note the change in the total amount of oil. The change is almost exactly the same. The only fluctuation I see is because of the different number of days in the month. Each row is for the 1st of the month so it really reflects the previous month. A 34 day reserve is much better than the 12 day reserve of the previous month.

Supply

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There's not much to say here other than it's increasing nicely and that over half of it is in the Home Islands!

Fuel

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There was a decrease here, which I anticipated. The Aleutians campaign finally concluded. There were a LOT of combat ships moving around constantly including most of the BBs and CAs, along with KB 1. That used a lot of fuel. This month will probably be rough as well because the two replenishment fleets will need to replenish their stocks. I'm getting the fuel from outside the Home Islands, so the Home Island % should increase next month.

Resources

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Not much to say here. There's a 7.5 month reserve in the Home Islands.

[PaxMondo]

I have a LOT of IJAAF bomber pilots in the pool. Their ground bombing skills are >70 but the experience isn't that high.....yet.

Edit: I have a lot more than I thought. There are a BUNCH sitting in the units bombing Chungking. I need to swap them out.

My experience, for whatever it is worth ...

Training moves skill quite nicely, but exp is slow.
Missions improve exp nicely, but skill is slow.

So, for bombers (all including DB/TB) I train the skill up in training groups, but once I have my skills pretty close (>60), I put them into my CHI bombing groups and drive up the exp. DB/TB pilots get EXP this way, no Nav skill, but they do pick some ground bombing skill up ...

Ditto for fighters, I put them into rear area bases on CAP to finish their exp growth. I get use out of them, prevent sneak attacks (AI is really quite good at those), and grow their EXP ....

[Mike Solli]

I have a LOT of IJAAF bomber pilots in the pool. Their ground bombing skills are >70 but the experience isn't that high.....yet.

Edit: I have a lot more than I thought. There are a BUNCH sitting in the units bombing Chungking. I need to swap them out.

My experience, for whatever it is worth ...

Training moves skill quite nicely, but exp is slow.
Missions improve exp nicely, but skill is slow.

So, for bombers (all including DB/TB) I train the skill up in training groups, but once I have my skills pretty close (>60), I put them into my CHI bombing groups and drive up the exp. DB/TB pilots get EXP this way, no Nav skill, but they do pick some ground bombing skill up ...

Ditto for fighters, I put them into rear area bases on CAP to finish their exp growth. I get use out of them, prevent sneak attacks (AI is really quite good at those), and grow their EXP ....

That's a GREAT idea, Pax! Right now I train the following:

TB: NavT 70+, NavB 60+, GrdB 60+
DB: NavB 70+, GrdB 60+
Nell: NavT 70+, NavB 60+, GrdB 60+
IJAAF Bombers: GrdB 60+ then to China to get to 70+

This idea will save a lot of time and get experience to 70+ too, which I couldn't get my way.

Thanks!

[Mike Solli]

1 Mar 43 - Pretty quiet turn, unless you're a Chinese soldier in Chungking...

Sub War

I-121 and I-122 dropped off 80 little presents at Tulagi today, but an Allied TF was present and caught I-122. I-122 didn't even bother to launch any torpedoes. She took light damage and will get away tomorrow.

I've decided to change my submarine tactics. The Allied ASW is becoming too powerful. What I'm going to do is to use the Glen subs to spot where my naval search can't see, and have some fleet/RO subs with each Glen sub to go after targets of opportunity. Sort of form sub divisions of 1-2 Glen subs and 3-4 fleet/RO subs.

5 Fleet

Nothing to report.

4 Fleet

Johnston Island was visited by 9 PB4Y-1s today going after the port. They got a couple of port points with 1 remaining. I have little in the way of engineers there, but they'll work on the port. A thought occurred to me about 5 am when I was laying in bed. I have an AS company there with 8 AS. Tomorrow, the N1K2 begins building. In 2 day's I'll have enough to refit a 9 plane chutai. I'm going to do that and fly it out there to give a little warm welcome to the Navy Liberators. I'm also tempted to do it with the K1 now, but their service rating is 3 vs. SR 2 for the K2. I haven't gotten the turn yet to make that decision. I'm leaning toward using the K1 now...

SE Fleet

Thirty-five 4Es hit Lunga's troops and 16 B-25s hit Tulagi's port. Tulagi is screaming for an ambush but the Mitchells were escorted by 7 Wildcats and 4 Corsairs. The fighters are tied to the bombers as escorts, so I may be able to cause a little damage. Gotta figure that out. The two options are basing them at Tulagi (not optimal with a damaged airfield) or Buin (airfield is fine but they may stray to Lunga). Gotta think about that.

There have been some interesting proceedings down here lately. The 4 damaged Aobas are still 2 days out from Truk, where they'll repair for their next mission. Here's the damage, if anyone is interested:

Aoba: no damage
Kinugasa: 7-0-0-0
Furutaka: 16-5(5)-6(1)-0
Kako: 22-16(6)-10(3)-0
Shinonome: 1-0-1-0
Usugumo: 2-0-1(1)-0
Shirakumo: 16-6(6)-12-0
Isonomi: 2-0-1-0

Overall, not too bad. I'm going to send some BBs and more CAs to Truk, just in case they get the opportunity to pounce on someone. I prefer to have my ships be at least a class above what they encounter. I didn't know about the enemy CA, but I had quantity of 8" guns (24 to 9) over the enemy so I got lucky there.

As I mentioned earlier, there are 2-3 enemy CVEs at Russell Island, but there are additional fighters there to protect them. I don't think it's worth taking heavy KB plane losses for a few CVEs.

Now, yesterday I spotted an enemy CV TF with 166 fighters and 100 bombers to the south, about 6 hexes south of Rennell Island. I lost them today. (I think they moved west.) What's really interesting was that I had KB 2 sitting undetected west of Ellice Islands waiting for an opportunity to pounce on someone. I bailed and sent them north again because I didn't want to head west to ambush someone with a superior enemy carrier force between KB 2 and Truk. KB 2 has 105 Zeros, 51 Vals and 51 Kates. I don't like those odds. I want overwhelming odds much better. I'd have tried if I had the combined KB. I will soon.

SRA

Nothing to report.

Burma

Nothing to report.

China

There still is an ammunition shortage at Chungking, so the barrage is less than optimal. Bombing/barrage destroyed only 19 squads.

Raw AV:
Japan: 4918 (+163)
China: 1837 (+15)
Enemy strength: 825k (no change)
Enemy units: 70 units (no change)
Guns: 275 (-31)

The enemy AV is going in the wrong direction, but 27k supply is arriving at Shanghai tomorrow and 17k more the day after. The 50k special supply convoy is about half full at Nagasaki.

Current composition of the enemy forces in Chungking:

33 Chinese Corps
3 Cavalry Corps
8 Base Forces
5 Artillery Regiments
2 Heavy Mortar Regiments
2 AT Gun Regiments
2 AA Regiments
2 Construction Regiments
13 HQ

Other Stuff

KB 1 is currently at Yokohama repairing its minor sys damage and will be ready to steam in 3 days. I'm sending it to Truk to team up with KB 2 where I will try to surprise the enemy carriers.

[PaxMondo]

... and get experience to 70+ too, which I couldn't get my way.

Thanks!

You are welcome. You technically can train to 70 exp, but it takes MONTHS to accomplish ... double digit months and sometimes that first digit is NOT a 1.

Using them in missions can drive up exp to 70 in just a few weeks ... can be days if your opponent will obligingly send unescorted lousy CHI bombers to feed your Nates ...

[PaxMondo]

... What I'm going to do is to use the Glen subs to spot where my naval search can't see, and have some fleet/RO subs with each Glen sub to go after targets of opportunity. Sort of form sub divisions of 1-2 Glen subs and 3-4 fleet/RO subs.

This is pretty much SOP for me from the war start ... I will attack with glen subs as well, BUT they are always in a group of 3 - 4 subs where their primary role is Scout.

KB 1 is currently at Yokohama repairing its minor sys damage and will be ready to steam in 3 days. I'm sending it to Truk to team up with KB 2 where I will try to surprise the enemy carriers.

I'm stunned that you have been able to keep them separate for so long. I can rarely allow the KB to be broken up past about May 42 .... you're almost a year later. AMAZING!!!!

[Mike Solli]

... What I'm going to do is to use the Glen subs to spot where my naval search can't see, and have some fleet/RO subs with each Glen sub to go after targets of opportunity. Sort of form sub divisions of 1-2 Glen subs and 3-4 fleet/RO subs.

This is pretty much SOP for me from the war start ... I will attack with glen subs as well, BUT they are always in a group of 3 - 4 subs where their primary role is Scout.

KB 1 is currently at Yokohama repairing its minor sys damage and will be ready to steam in 3 days. I'm sending it to Truk to team up with KB 2 where I will try to surprise the enemy carriers.

I'm stunned that you have been able to keep them separate for so long. I can rarely allow the KB to be broken up past about May 42 .... you're almost a year later. AMAZING!!!!

I've been too aggressive with my subs lately and have lost a few as a result.

Ted has been VERY conservative with his carriers. I have yet to see a US CV by name and only Formidable, Illustrious and Hermes among the Brits. Hermes was sunk and Formidable took a few hits but did not sink. They're just hanging out on the periphery and always down south. He has his 6 pre-war CVs still. I think he's waiting for his Essexes to begin arriving. I have all my carriers and 3 more CVs are coming in June. I have quite the gaggle of carriers, but they are Japanese carriers.

Time to run a turn.

[PaxMondo]

Ted has been VERY conservative with his carriers. I have yet to see a US CV by name and only Formidable, Illustrious and Hermes among the Brits. Hermes was sunk and Formidable took a few hits but did not sink. They're just hanging out on the periphery and always down south. He has his 6 pre-war CVs still. I think he's waiting for his Essexes to begin arriving. I have all my carriers and 3 more CVs are coming in June.

I have to admit that this strategy of Ted's is a winning one, and one that the IJ cannot easily defeat. If he can avoid any carrier clashes until early '44, his DeathStar at that point is (almost) unstoppable.


But, you already know this ... so we watch fervently to see how Mike will work this one out!

[Tanaka]

Ted has been VERY conservative with his carriers. I have yet to see a US CV by name and only Formidable, Illustrious and Hermes among the Brits. Hermes was sunk and Formidable took a few hits but did not sink. They're just hanging out on the periphery and always down south. He has his 6 pre-war CVs still. I think he's waiting for his Essexes to begin arriving. I have all my carriers and 3 more CVs are coming in June.

I have to admit that this strategy of Ted's is a winning one, and one that the IJ cannot easily defeat. If he can avoid any carrier clashes until early '44, his DeathStar at that point is (almost) unstoppable.


But, you already know this ... so we watch fervently to see how Mike will work this one out!

Yes and the only answer to this is for the IJN is to be very aggressive with their carriers the firstest with the mostest. You can't be conservative vs conservative and have any chance as Japan...

[sfatula]

Yes and the only answer to this is for the IJN is to be very aggressive with their carriers the firstest with the mostest. You can't be conservative vs conservative and have any chance as Japan...

The tenacious one is right! Find a way to sort of make him engage in a situation that is to your advantage, maybe in range of some LBA or CAP.

[GrosserKreuzer]

Do early (US) carrier losses actually matter for the size of the DeathStar later in the war? With CVs that sunk prior to 44 getting replaced after 1.5 years, I think only small and british carriers are permanent losses.

Sinking a US CV still reduces the allied capability for the ~1.5 years.

[Mike Solli]

Yeah, I happened to have KB split, which I don't like to do. It was only because of Adak. It was a nice opportunity. He had no idea my carriers were in striking range but it would have been an even contest. I want lopsided odds in my favor, not an even contest.

[Mike Solli]

Do early (US) carrier losses actually matter for the size of the DeathStar later in the war? With CVs that sunk prior to 44 getting replaced after 1.5 years, I think only small and british carriers are permanent losses.

Sinking a US CV still reduces the allied capability for the ~1.5 years.

Your last sentence is the key. Delay, delay, delay...

Delay the inevitable.