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

[Mike Solli]

2 Mar 43

Sub War

Nothing to report.

5 Fleet

The runway damage is down to 10 but the service and port are still at 100. I have 152 engineers there, but they're a bunch of slackers.

4 Fleet

The 9 PB4Y-1s visited Johnston Island again. I'm moving a chutai of Georges to Johnston Island. They'll get there in 2 days. I'm also considering moving a naval guard battalion there as reinforcements.

SE Fleet

The 37 heavy bombers switched to Tulagi's troops, along with the 16 Mitchells. I'm still trying to figure out a way to ambush them but I don't have the ability to put a lot of fighters in the area. Maybe I can overload Buin for a short time? I only have 32 AS there.

SRA

Nothing to report.

Burma

Nothing to report.

China

There was still a supply shortage, so the bombardment (which usually causes massive kills) did little. Total destroyed squads was only 6. Fortunately, a large load of supply arrived today. Tomorrow's bombardment should be back to normal.

Also, a 27k supply convoy just arrived at Shanghai and will begin unloading tomorrow. An 18k supply convoy will arrive there tomorrow and the special 50k supply convoy will arrive the day after tomorrow. That's a total of 95k supply, which should keep them in artillery ammo for a bit.

Raw AV:
Japan: 5064 (+146)
China: 1351 (+14) - Boo!
Enemy strength: 255k (-3k)
Enemy units: 71 units (+1)
Guns: 284 (+9)

Other Stuff

The N1K2 George just became operational. I'm keeping 5 operational factories on the K2 and the 13 R&D factories have been upgraded to the K5. That model uses the Ha-43 engine which won't become operational until 6/43. I anticipate the K5 becoming operational ~8/43.

[PaxMondo]

... I want lopsided odds in my favor, not an even contest.

Oh yeah, even steven and your hits on him repair ... his hits on you, not so much ...

[PaxMondo]

2 Mar 43
5 Fleet

The runway damage is down to 10 but the service and port are still at 100. I have 152 engineers there, but they're a bunch of slackers.

the higher the level, the longer is takes to repair ....

.... Maybe I can overload Buin for a short time? I only have 32 AS there.

I do it all the time, the challenge is getting the damaged a/c out afterwards ... I'm always prepared to lose a/c, just not pilots ...

The N1K2 George just became operational. I'm keeping 5 operational factories on the K2 and the 13 R&D factories have been upgraded to the K5. That model uses the Ha-43 engine which won't become operational until 6/43. I anticipate the K5 becoming operational ~8/43.

I can't remember, but does the K5 have SR=3? If so, you may want to keep some K2 in production.

[Mike Solli]

2 Mar 43
5 Fleet

The runway damage is down to 10 but the service and port are still at 100. I have 152 engineers there, but they're a bunch of slackers.

the higher the level, the longer is takes to repair ....

.... Maybe I can overload Buin for a short time? I only have 32 AS there.

I do it all the time, the challenge is getting the damaged a/c out afterwards ... I'm always prepared to lose a/c, just not pilots ...

The N1K2 George just became operational. I'm keeping 5 operational factories on the K2 and the 13 R&D factories have been upgraded to the K5. That model uses the Ha-43 engine which won't become operational until 6/43. I anticipate the K5 becoming operational ~8/43.

I can't remember, but does the K5 have SR=3? If so, you may want to keep some K2 in production.

Should have figured it takes longer for higher level ports/airfields to repair.

Sometimes, if I have damaged planes stuck someplace, I'll move all the pilots from the damaged fragment to the unit. The un-piloted repaired aircraft can still transfer.

The K4 does have SR 3 but some of the stats are better. Still debating.

[Mike Solli]

3 Mar 43

Sub War

The I-157 put down an xAK west of Perth. Looks like there aren't any escorts over here.

5 Fleet

The runway is repaired and the service is down to 90, but the port is still at 100. Just waiting for the airfield to be completely repaired so the port starts getting cleared.

4 Fleet

The 9 PB4Y-1s hit Johnston Island again today. I put some Georges there to give them a warm welcome tomorrow.

SE Fleet

Twenty-seven 4Es and 16 B-25s hit Tulagi again today. I could put 31 Georges there now but I'm going to wait and put 31 Georges, 42 Tojos and 42 Nicks over Tulagi tomorrow or the day after. I'l do it for just one day, but I want to whittle down the heavies a little bit more.

SRA

Nothing to report.

Burma

Nothing to report.

China

The bombers didn't fly due to weather today. The bombardment was sub par destroying only 5 squads. What happened? It's pretty irritating.

Raw AV:
Japan: 5177 (+113)
China: 1420 (+69)
Enemy strength: 256k (+1k)
Enemy units: 73 units (+2)
Guns: 293 (+9)

Yesterday, the 259 Brigade returned with 27 infantry squads. Today, two more units returned. The increase tells me that one was most likely a small corps (~50 AV) and the other was a support unit.

I'm attacking tomorrow. The weather report says it's supposed to be good weather. I really hope so.

Other Stuff

Reinforcements
DD Fjuinami, Yugumo class, KB escort
DD Hayanami, Yugumo class, KB escort

[Mike Solli]

4 Mar 43

Sub War

Nothing to report.

5 Fleet

The runway is repaired and the service is down to 70...

4 Fleet

Seven Georges met 9 PB4Y-1s over Johnston Island and shot down 2. Unfortunately, all 7 are now damaged and sitting on Johnston's air strip. I was able to get 2 more from that chutai that were at Maleolap, so there will be an active presence there tomorrow.

SE Fleet

I'm glad I didn't go after the heavies which were bombing Tulagi. They went after Lunga's troops today. If he hits them a couple more days in a row, I'll probably set up an ambush.

SRA

Nothing to report.

Burma

Nothing to report.

China

The bombers did fly today to soften up the Chinese prior to the deliberate assault. They destroyed a meager 3 squads and disabled another 51.

I learned that yesterday's two new Chinese units were actually 3 new and one destroyed:

New:
51 Chinese Corps - It started the attack with 51 AV and ended up with 39 AV after the attack.
13 Base Force
12 Construction Regiment

Destroyed:
7 Construction Regiment.

Today saw another successful deliberate assault. The final odds were 2.30:1 and the forts were reduced from 4 to 3. Six enemy units were destroyed (in addition to the above). I lost 511 infantry squads destroyed and another 562 disabled. I'm not too worried about that. I'll get an 81 experience full strength division in 4 days. My supply is sufficient again with about 45k already offloaded and another 50k that will begin offloading tomorrow. In a week's time, I'll be stronger than I was today, thanks to the fresh division. I did move 7 of the 22 divisions toward Neikiang because they are pretty weak. They total 119 AV. They may not participate in the next attack, but they will be back for the attack after that. There is one additional full strength division that is 10 days out. It will not make it for the next attack.

I'll find out tomorrow how much AV the Chinese lost.

Raw AV:
Japan: 5259 (+195) - pre-attack
China: 1487 (+67) - pre-attack, that additional AV was from 51 Corps and 13 BF.
Enemy strength: 257k (+1k)
Enemy units: 67 units (-6) - The attack stated 6 destroyed units, so no new units arrived today.
Guns: 275 (-18)

Other Stuff

The Ki-84a Frank R&D advanced to 12/43 and will become operational no later than 5/43. Of the 18 R&D factories, only 5 are completely repaired.

[PaxMondo]

The K4 does have SR 3 but some of the stats are better. Still debating.

I build the K5, but also keep the K2 in production for a bit. I can use K2's on atolls fairly safely, but K5's ... that SR3 pretty much means no ... or if I do, they are there for a while. For me Atolls are more touch and go, I move a group there for a week for CAP Trap or something like that and then bail out ... Once I have the A7M, I don't need the K2's anymore ... the K5 also become problematic at that point ...

[Mike Solli]

The K4 does have SR 3 but some of the stats are better. Still debating.

I build the K5, but also keep the K2 in production for a bit. I can use K2's on atolls fairly safely, but K5's ... that SR3 pretty much means no ... or if I do, they are there for a while. For me Atolls are more touch and go, I move a group there for a week for CAP Trap or something like that and then bail out ... Once I have the A7M, I don't need the K2's anymore ... the K5 also become problematic at that point ...

I had already upgraded the 13 R&D factories to the K5, so I'm stuck. If I downgrade them, they become damaged and I lose about 30% of the factory. Dumb mistake. So I'll keep the 5 K2 and have 13 K5. I do agree with you. Once I get the A7M the George production stops altogether. Assuming there is sufficient supply, I'll probably convert some or all the George factories to J7W1 R&D.

[sfatula]

The K5's are decent for strategic bomber defense. I don't like the sr3 of the k5. I use the k2 for a while longer.

[Mike Solli]

5 Mar 43

Sub War

Nothing to report.

5 Fleet

Nothing to report.

4 Fleet

The 2 flyable Georges met 5 PB4Y-1s over Johnston Island resulting in 1 damaged on each side, so I'm down to 1 flyable. Hopefully, a couple more will be repaired tomorrow.

SE Fleet

Twenty-two unescorted heavies bombed Lunga's troops. I based 31 Georges and 42 Nicks at Buin to try and ambush them tomorrow. I'm hoping 30 of them arrive. If they do, I'm confident I can down more of the beasts.

SRA

Nothing to report.

Burma

Nothing to report.

China

Today's bombing/bombardment destroyed only 9 squads. There is sufficient supply there, but only just enough. There is 70k supply at Shanghai, so it should move out to Chungking in a day or two.

Raw AV:
Japan: 3616 (-1932)
China: 1251 (-230)
Enemy strength: 254k (-3k)
Enemy units: 68 units (+1)
Guns: 246 (-29)

Here are the six units that were destroyed in yesterday's assault:

39 Chinese Corps - will return with 57 AV
2 Base Force - will return with 13 AV
21 Base Force - will return with 13 AV
8 Construction Regiment - will return with 1 AV (didn't realize they had combat engineers)
3 Group Army
30 Group Army

Other Stuff

Reinforcements
xAKs Tsurushima Maru, Hoshin Maru and Toan Maru, Std-B, will convert to TK.

[PaxMondo]

I had already upgraded the 13 R&D factories to the K5, so I'm stuck. If I downgrade them, they become damaged and I lose about 30% of the factory. Dumb mistake. So I'll keep the 5 K2 and have 13 K5. I do agree with you. Once I get the A7M the George production stops altogether. Assuming there is sufficient supply, I'll probably convert some or all the George factories to J7W1 R&D.

5 on the K2? should be more than enough ... and getting the K5, yes. It is a little better overall from the K2, so no worries. You're good, no mistake here that I can see ....

[Mike Solli]

Tanker Update

My losses to date have been mercifully low:

TK Losses.jpg (146.76 KiB) Viewed 352 times

The one big one (Type-1 TL, 11,600 capacity) just blew up. That sucked. Of the others, 3 were Manzyu TM (7950) and a single Type-1 TS (1250).

Here's what I have available:

5 Tonan Whalers (15,350 + 1467 cargo), 15 kt
8 Type-N TL (12,800), 15 kt
9 Type-1 TL (11,600), 18 kt
15 Type-1 TM (8150), 14 kt
11 Manzyu TM (7950), 12 kt
6 Std-B (4275), 14 kt
17 Std-C (2850), 12 kt
30 Type-1 TS (1250), 12 kt
10 Juyusen YO (500), 10 kt

In production (I won't complete all unless my losses skyrocket):

12 Type-1 TL
13 Type-1 TM

So, how do I use them?

My goal is oil first, fuel second. The idea behind that is that the oil will allow the refineries in the Home Islands to produce longer after Japan is cut off, creating more supply there.

My major hubs are Singapore and Babeldaob, neither of which is ideal. Singapore first.

The port is level 9 so everything will flow there, but I use Ranger Joe's sneaky method of setting everything at Johore Bahru (except supply) to accumulate. That way, the fuel, oil and resources ignore Singapore (unless I drop stuff off there) and it heads east. That works well except for the accumulation that happens in Singapore itself. Everything from Palembang goes either to Singapore, Saigon or CRB. The latter two bases send their stuff east very nicely. Palembang is pretty well drained except for resources (which isn't critical) with 45 F (thousands), 24 O and 1380 R (that's 1.38 million).

North Sumatra sends everything to western Malaya north of Johore Bahru.

Singapore has quite the amount of stuff: 617 F, 507 O and 1315 R. That stuff gets shipped primarily to Saigon and CRB with a small amount going directly to Hong Kong. The Hong Kong convoys are being phased out because enemy subs are being increasingly spotted in the South China Sea. This is mainly what I want more large tankers for. Singapore needs to be drained. What I think I'm going to do is to have the tankers go to Saigon and CRB and the resources shipped to Hong Kong. I can afford to lose resource ships more than tankers.

Miri ships oil to CRB and splits its fuel between CRB and Manila (when needed).

Second is the Babeldaob hub. Tarakan hauls oil to Babeldaob. (Yes, that is the only refinery I have shut off. I want the extra oil in the Home Islands.) Balikpapan uses the Manzyu TMs to haul fuel to Truk and Babeldaob. That's why they've lost 3 so far. They have to skirt the deep hexes south of Balikpapan, which is always teeming with enemy subs.

Babeldaob also gets the oil from Babo and Boela (which I have completely rebuilt). Between the 2, there were 9 oil fields that were damaged. Since Ted has yet to bomb an oil field this game, I decided to spend the 9k supply to get 90 extra oil a day. Anyway, all the oil and resources from those two bases goes to Babeldaob. Babeldaob's port is limited to level 5, which I have maxed out. That's only 60k shipping. Currently, the backlog isn't bad with 20 F, 36 O and 57 R there. At one point, there was over 250k fuel there. I was able to shift some TKs to haul more from Babeldaob to the Home Islands. There usually are a backlog of ships in port with no place to dock. Again, oil has priority.

Finally, there's Java, its own little micro economy. Currently at Soerabaja (where the shipping operations happen) there are 40 F, 23 O and 312 R. I have to shift some TKs here when I need to drain the place (I did so recently), but I'd love to have a couple of Type-1 TLs stationed here for that purpose. I have 2 of them that will be completed in 5 and 6 days. That's where they are headed. They haul to Babeldaob, but I could just as easily send them to Saigon if the backlog is bad at Babeldaob.

So, why am I building the tankers I'm building? I'm building 3 types.

Std-B - I've completed 6 of 12 xAKs which are all converting to TK. They are 14 kts, so they can be easily escorted by Ansyu PBs. The first 3 finished conversion and just arrived at Truk. Their mission will be to haul fuel to the frontier (Rabaul and Kwajalein primarily). The three that arrived today will be stationed in Ominato and will haul fuel where needed up north (Adak primarily). The final 6 have not yet had their missions determined. They will arrive 16, 30 and 60 days from now in pairs.

Type-TM - Also nice speed at 14 kts. They will haul O/F from places like Palembang. They're smaller so they can load up more quickly. I have some large TKs hauling from Palembang and it's not optimal.

Type-1 TL - These are the big boys and fast (18 kts). I need 2 at Soerabaja and the rest at Singapore to drain that base.

I'm trying to use the Chinese magic highway as much as possible, but there are a few snags. One is Hong Kong. It's "blessed" with a level 8 port so a lot of stuff is hoarded there. Right now there is 46 F, 202 O and 2544 R. I'm using the 5 Tonan Whalers and 12 Limas to haul oil and resources to the Home Islands. I'd like to replace the Limas with something larger, like the Yuen-N, with a capacity of 4083 cargo and 200 fuel/oil and a 15 kt speed. I can then break up the Tonans into several different TFs and not have one big, happy target tooling around.

The "end" of the Magic Highway is actually 2 places, Fusan and Pt. Arthur. The oil tends to accumulate at Pt. Arthur and the fuel and resources move on to Fusan. I'm currently using 6 Type-1 TMs in 2 TFs between Pt. Arthur and Nagasaki to haul oil and 1 Type-1 TL hauling fuel from Fusan to Fukuoka, along with up to 5 YOs hauling oil from Fusan to Fukuoka. I'd like to increase the number of Type-1 TMs hauling oil from Pt. Arthur. Two more will be completed in 10 days and will be added to that mission.

Comments? Suggestions?

[RangerJoe]

You don't have to ship to Saigon and CRB if you don't want to do that, you can just drop stuff off farther up the Malay peninsula and it will flow on the Magic Highway.

You might need to haul resources from Jahore Bahru if they are stockpiling there.

[Mike Solli]

You don't have to ship to Saigon and CRB if you don't want to do that, you can just drop stuff off farther up the Malay peninsula and it will flow on the Magic Highway.

You might need to haul resources from Jahore Bahru if they are stockpiling there.

Joe! You're alive!

I use Saigon and CRB because the ports are big there.

The only thing that accumulates at Johore Bahru are resources and I don't really care about that.

[RangerJoe]

You don't have to ship to Saigon and CRB if you don't want to do that, you can just drop stuff off farther up the Malay peninsula and it will flow on the Magic Highway.

You might need to haul resources from Jahore Bahru if they are stockpiling there.

Joe! You're alive!

I use Saigon and CRB because the ports are big there.

The only thing that accumulates at Johore Bahru are resources and I don't really care about that.

I am alive but my Internet barely is alive!

[Mike Solli]

6 Mar 43

Sub War

The I-171 spotted a TF with some LSTs in it near Lunga. Not sure if it was loaded or empty but she launched 10 torpedoes at DDs 3 different times during the day. The only hit was a DC. She took enough damage to head home.

5 Fleet

The airfield is almost repaired. Soon the engineers will work on the port. That demolished port is really slowing thing down.

4 Fleet

The bombers didn't return to Johnston Island. I suspect he's going to send a bombardment fleet.

SE Fleet

My ambush over Tulagi showed promise at the start. There were 22 Georges and 31 Nicks and they ran into only 8 heavy bombers. I thought the odds were good that I could get some. Well, sometimes ambushes don't really work out. This one didn't. We traded a George for a B-17F and most of my fighters were damaged.

Only 6 Georges and 10 Nicks were still in the air when the next raid came in, composed of 16 B-25D1s escorted by 7 Corsairs. My fighters engaged the Corsairs very briefly then passed through to the bombers. At a cost of 2 Georges, 15 Mitchells were shot down. Banzai!

Another flight of 10 heavy bombers came in unmolested.

SRA

Nothing to report.

Burma

Nothing to report.

China

Raw AV:

Only 66 bombers (of over 200) flew today and destroyed no squads. The bombardment did destroy 27 though.

Japan: 3834 (+218)
China: 1338 (+81) - Another unit arrived today. Yesterday's reinforcement was 83 Corps (57 AV).
Enemy strength: 250k (-4k)
Enemy units: 69 units (+1)
Guns: 260 (+14)

Other Stuff

Nothing to report.

[Mike Solli]

Here's a pic of what I see when I bombard Chungking. Note the relative weakness of the combat units there. I foresee a collapse of the Chinese army there after another couple of attacks.

China.jpg (2.36 MiB) Viewed 263 times

[Mike Solli]

Quick update on the enemy 4E bombers in action...

Other than 3 LB-30s that harass Dutch Harbor from somewhere in Alaska and the handful of PB4Y-1s that were attacking Johnston Island from Hawaii (but have stopped), the only other heavy bombers I see are B-17E/F and B-24D/D1.

Here's what I estimate is still flyable:

B-17E: 8
B-17F: 28
B-24D: 0, maybe a couple
B-24D1: 63, replacements are 33 monthly, the rest are finished with replacements and get new aircraft only if a reinforcement squadron arrives with that plane type.

So, about 100 enemy heavy bombers are active in SE Fleet AO.

I calculate this by opening up the game as the Allied side and add in all replacements and reinforcement aircraft then subtracting out the losses shown in the aircraft loss screen from my game. It's close enough for government work.

While I'm at it, here are the numbers for fighters:

P-38F: 0
P-38G: 65 with 20 per month through May, the P-38H starts in June at 20 per month
P-39D: 294 with 25 per month through June, haven't seen them in a while, the P-39N1 starts in June at 70 per month
P-40E: 139, I suspect they're used as trainers now
P-40K: 342, 65 per month through July, haven't seen them lately either. Don't think they stand up to my fighters.
Hurricane IIc: 209, they don't do well to the Tojo

And we may as well show the 2E bombers too.

B-25C: 14
B-25D1: 0, 10 per month through Aug 44, I think I demolished the only ones in theater recently.
B-26: 19
B-26B: 20
Blenheim IV: 111
Wellington Ic: 60, haven't seen a British 2E bomber in a while. They can't last to the Tojo either.

There are tons of F4F-4s (603), SBD-3s (452) and TBF-1s (363). He'll never run out of any of them.

The Albacore has 39 available. I suspect he's keeping them on his carriers.

So, there it is.

[PaxMondo]

[quote="Mike Solli" post_id
Here's what I have available:

5 Tonan Whalers (15,350 + 1467 cargo), 15 kt
8 Type-N TL (12,800), 15 kt
9 Type-1 TL (11,600), 18 kt
15 Type-1 TM (8150), 14 kt
11 Manzyu TM (7950), 12 kt
6 Std-B (4275), 14 kt
17 Std-C (2850), 12 kt
30 Type-1 TS (1250), 12 kt
10 Juyusen YO (500), 10 kt

[/quote]

I think in stock the Type-N is 19/15 and I convert all of these to AO while I still have a KB ... but in this mod, maybe this is changed. I don't have it setup to open.

I hate the Type-1 TS ... they are very inefficient.

[PaxMondo]

I am alive but my Internet barely is alive!

Ach, sorry to hear ... I went through that earlier this year ....