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

[Mike Solli]

15 Mar 43

Sub War

The I-158 caught another xAKL east of Darwin and sank her with gunfire. I'm waiting for some ASW to rear its ugly head. I have 27 Nells just waiting for an opportunity.

5 Fleet

Nothing to report.

4 Fleet

Nothing to report.

SE Fleet

Twenty-five P-40Ks met 9 Georges over Gasmata. Unfortunately, the met only 3 Georges initially and they were shot down. The other 6 showed up and shot down 6 P-40s.

In the afternoon, another 25 P-40Ks showed up and met the 4 remaining flyable Georges shooting down 1. Pilot losses were 3 KIA and 1 WIA. That sucked.

I hope that those P-40Ks return tomorrow. I now have 28 N1K2s, 36 Tojos and 9 N1K1s waiting for them.

Another 25 P-40Ks swept Finschafen. I'll deal with them later...

Thirty-six 4E bombers hit Tulagi's airfield once again.

SRA

Nothing to report.

Burma

Nothing to report.

China

Today's bombing/bombardment destroyed 12 squads.

Raw AV:
Japan: 3837 (+308)
China: 1107 (+37)
Enemy strength: 245k (no change)
Enemy units: 68 units (no change)
Guns: 178 (-3)

The unit that returned yesterday was 89 Chinese Corps, with an AV of 57. That accounts for the increase in Chinese AV.

Other Stuff

Reinforcements
TK Jinei Maru, Type-1 TM, 8150 capacity, headed to Palembang to replace some Type-1 TLs pulling oil/fuel out.
TK Ayayuki Maru, Type-1 TM, 8150 capacity, headed to Palembang to replace some Type-1 TLs pulling oil/fuel out.

[Mike Solli]

16 Mar 43

Sub War

The Sailfish torpedoed and sank an xAKL east of CRB that was hauling supply to Samah.

5 Fleet

Four LB-30s bombed Dutch Harbor's port. This happens on occasion. Once I get Umnak's airfield built (AS still on its way from Japan), I'll put some fighters there to keep them honest.

4 Fleet

Nothing to report.

SE Fleet

Well, I got even with those P-40Ks, and then some. There were two flights. The first was a full squadron of 25. Emphasis on "was". They ran into 26 George 2s, 5 George 1s, 36 Tojos and 7 Rufes. At a cost of 1 Rufe (no pilot loss), 20 Warhawks were shot down. Nice!

The second flight was 18 P-40Ks. Seven of them were shot down for no loss.

The only other "action" here was a squadron of P-40Ks sweeping Finschafen and a squadron of Corsairs sweeping Tulagi.

It was a good day here.

SRA

Nothing to report.

Burma

Nothing to report.

China

Today's bombing/bombardment destroyed 50 squads. Finally!

Raw AV:
Japan: 4165 (+328)
China: 1105 (-2)
Enemy strength: 247k (+2k)
Enemy units: 68 units (no change)
Guns: 177 (-1)

With the reinforcements coming, the total AV is now 5415. The disabled squads are coming back nicely.

Other Stuff

Reinforcement
Burma Area Army HQ in Rangoon.

[PaxMondo]

16 Mar 43
Well, I got even with those P-40Ks, and then some. There were two flights. The first was a full squadron of 25. Emphasis on "was". They ran into 26 George 2s, 5 George 1s, 36 Tojos and 7 Rufes. At a cost of 1 Rufe (no pilot loss), 20 Warhawks were shot down. Nice!

The second flight was 18 P-40Ks. Seven of them were shot down for no loss.

BANZAI!!!!

[Mike Solli]

17 Mar 43

Sub War

Nothing to report.

5 Fleet

Nothing to report.

4 Fleet

Nothing to report.

SE Fleet

Today was interesting. When Ted sent the turn, he made a comment about the P-40K saying they were next to useless. Then, he sent 2 more 25 plane squadrons against Gasmata again. He lost a total of 30 planes shot down in the two engagements. My losses were 2 Georges (1 KIA), 2 Tojos (1 KIA, 2 WIA, one of them was from a landing accident) and a Rufe pilot KIA in a landing accident. That's 57 fighter pilots mostly lost in the past 2 days. I'd be in tears if I lost that many for no real gain. I wonder what his trained fighter pilot pool looks like.

SRA

Nothing to report.

Burma

Nothing to report. I need to whittle down his RAF fighter pilots. My IJAAF fighter pilots in this theater are really good. And I have a lot more in the pool. I also have a lot of Tojos in the pool too.

China

Raw AV:

Today's bombing/bombardment killed 57 squads. Very nice.

Japan: 4368 (+198) - Add in the reinforcement division and the 6 beat up divisions and the AV is now 5694 (+279).
China: 1103 (-2)
Enemy strength: 247k (no change)
Enemy units: 67 units (-1)
Guns: 181 (+4)

The 7 reinforcing divisions will arrive in 1-2 days.

Other Stuff

Reinforcements
CM Nuwashima, converting to an E.

[Mike Solli]

I've been playing this game for years and have finally come to the realization that the slow AOs just plain suck. Their 13 knot speed can't even keep up with MKB, who really needs to refuel if they're at sea for any length of time. I have 5 Type-1 TLs arriving 14-40 days from now and am going to have all of them convert to AOs. That will give me another fast oiler TF with a capacity of 52k fuel and a respectable speed of 18 knots. The 10 slow 13 knot oilers will haul fuel and oil from the SRA to Saigon or CRB. The conversion takes 30 days so the new oiler fleet won't be completely ready until the end of May.

[BBfanboy]

Then all you will need is the fuel to put in them ...

excited Christof Walz.gif (200.49 KiB) Viewed 361 times

[sfatula]

Well, he's lost 57 (+ops losses) of those useless P-40K in 2 days, soon, they will not be useless as he won't have any.

His action makes little sense to me.

[PaxMondo]

I've been playing this game for years and have finally come to the realization that the slow AOs just plain suck. Their 13 knot speed can't even keep up with MKB, who really needs to refuel if they're at sea for any length of time. I have 5 Type-1 TLs arriving 14-40 days from now and am going to have all of them convert to AOs. That will give me another fast oiler TF with a capacity of 52k fuel and a respectable speed of 18 knots. The 10 slow 13 knot oilers will haul fuel and oil from the SRA to Saigon or CRB. The conversion takes 30 days so the new oiler fleet won't be completely ready until the end of May.

Yep, totally agree and I do the same thing ...

[Mike Solli]

I've been playing this game for years and have finally come to the realization that the slow AOs just plain suck. Their 13 knot speed can't even keep up with MKB, who really needs to refuel if they're at sea for any length of time. I have 5 Type-1 TLs arriving 14-40 days from now and am going to have all of them convert to AOs. That will give me another fast oiler TF with a capacity of 52k fuel and a respectable speed of 18 knots. The 10 slow 13 knot oilers will haul fuel and oil from the SRA to Saigon or CRB. The conversion takes 30 days so the new oiler fleet won't be completely ready until the end of May.

Yep, totally agree and I do the same thing ...

Pax, you've been harping on me to do that for years. Sometimes, I'm really slow.

[Mike Solli]

Then all you will need is the fuel to put in them ...excited Christof Walz.gif

Agreed. To date, Ted has yet to bomb any of my oil fields. Even Magwe is pumping out oil at 100%. I have fuel and oil to ship. Now the SS menace is getting worse, but I'm slowly getting ASW platforms that are better than the PBs.

[Mike Solli]

18 Mar 43

Sub War

The I-38 caught the Empress Australia and launched only 2 torpedoes at her, which missed. That's too bad. That would have been nice.

5 Fleet

The last two divisions that are to leave Adak began loading today.

4 Fleet

Nothing to report.

SE Fleet

The only enemy activity today was a single Corsair squadron sweep of Tulagi.

SRA

Nothing to report.

Burma

Nothing to report.

China

Today's bombing/bombardment destroyed a measly 6 squads. Pathetic.

Raw AV:
Japan: 4889 (+521) - The 40 Division arrived today. The six beat up divisions will arrive tomorrow.
China: 1108 (+5)
Enemy strength: 247k (no change)
Enemy units: 69 units (+2) - Hmm...
Guns: 205 (+24)

The next attack will launch in 2 days. The current total raw AV is 5758.

Other Stuff

The N1K5-J George R&D advanced to 8/45 and is expected to become operational around 9 43.
The B6N2a Jill R&D advanced to 10/44 and is expected to become operational 12/43.

[sfatula]

I don't bother researching the 2a Jill, no real advantage. Slightly better gun, pretty much that's it.

[pbiggar]

The Jill B6N2a does receive N6 Radar device which becomes active in 10/44 as well. Too bad they cannot find the "on" switch before then.

[sfatula]

Yeah, it's so late though. I'd rather use the research groups for other things myself. But everyone has their preferences!

[Mike Solli]

I had 6 initially working on the B6N1 added the B5N1 factory when they ran out of engines for it. Transitioned to the N2 when the N1 was completed. When the N2 became operational, 4 of the 7 continued on with the N2a.

I like the range and the radar will come in handy, maybe. We'll see how the war is going by then. I should get the N2a by the end of 43.

[Mike Solli]

19 Mar 43

Sub War

Nothing to report.

5 Fleet

Only a little bit of one division left to load. They'll be loaded tomorrow and on their way to Yokosuka.

4 Fleet

Nothing to report.

SE Fleet

Two groups of Corsairs, 7 and 8 strong, swept Tulagi today. I have a sentai of Tojos at Buin, who can't quite reach Tulagi, 8 hexes away. There isn't enough supply at Buin for drop tanks. The N1K2 George can reach that far at extended range. I may 30 of them to Buin to take on the Corsairs. The issue is that 56 heavy bombers hit Tulagi today. If they continue to attack, I probably won't. That would not be advantageous to me. I'll keep close watch on what Ted does.

KB 2 is still out of snooper range to the east. I spotted what appears to be an invasion fleet leaving Luganville. They may be able to reach them tomorrow. Let's see what happens.

SRA

Nothing to report.

Burma

Nothing to report.

China

The bombing/bombardment today destroyed 20 squads.

Raw AV:
Japan: 5839 (+950) - The 6 "beat up" divisions arrived in Chungking.
China: 1431 (+323) - The 15 Chinese Corps arrived with an AV of 255. Worst possible timing.
Enemy strength: 256k (+9k)
Enemy units: 69 units (no change)
Guns: 153 (-52)

I'm not attacking tomorrow because a few of the divisions don't have full supply. I'll wait a day. They should be ok tomorrow. It really stinks that the huge Chinese Corps decided to arrive yesterday. There were allegedly 2 new units that arrived but I found only one.

Other Stuff

The Ki-84a Frank R&D advanced to 8/43 and is expected to become operational 5/43 (or possibly sooner). Nine of the 18 R&D factories are fully repaired giving 18% per day. My Ha-45 pool is still increasing and is up to 1895.

[PaxMondo]

19 Mar 43

5 Fleet
Only a little bit of one division left to load. They'll be loaded tomorrow and on their way to Yokosuka.

Assuming here that you are removing all of these ID's to recover quicker in the Tokyo/Yokohama area. How many will then get sent to Hokkaido as part of your ready reaction force for the Aleutians?

SE Fleet
Two groups of Corsairs, 7 and 8 strong, swept Tulagi today. I have a sentai of Tojos at Buin, who can't quite reach Tulagi, 8 hexes away.

I have never had much good luck with Tojo v F4U ... N1K v F4U has always been much better match up for me.

Raw AV:
Japan: 5839 (+950) - The 6 "beat up" divisions arrived in Chungking.
China: 1431 (+323) - The 15 Chinese Corps arrived with an AV of 255. Worst possible timing.

Crap. Yes bad timing, but this happens more frequently as you get close to taking the base ... they reappear after 30 - 45 days ... crap. crap. crap.

The Ki-84a Frank R&D advanced to 8/43 and is expected to become operational 5/43 (or possibly sooner). Nine of the 18 R&D factories are fully repaired giving 18% per day. My Ha-45 pool is still increasing and is up to 1895.

Whoo-Hoo!!! This is the plane to take on the F4U in '43 ... win win win ....

(how close are those other 9 factories to making 30?)

[Mike Solli]

Good idea about the reaction force. I'll have 4 divisions at Yokosuka when the last of them arrive. 2-3 most likely.

Yeah, it's probably for the best that the Tojo can't reach. I'll wait and see what he does over the next few days.

I've been REALLY lucky with returning Chinese units. Lots of support units and low strength infantry units. It was bound to happen.

Here is the status of the remaining 9 Frank R&D factories:

28, 27, 4x 26, 24, 22, 20

Edit: Those factories are gaining about 2 on average per turn.

[PaxMondo]

Here is the status of the remaining 9 Frank R&D factories:

28, 27, 4x 26, 24, 22, 20

Edit: Those factories are gaining about 2 on average per turn.

Oooo, so good chance that you will have 12 - 15 repaired factories within a week ... that will really impact the availability of Frank ... in a good way!

[Mike Solli]

Here is the status of the remaining 9 Frank R&D factories:

28, 27, 4x 26, 24, 22, 20

Edit: Those factories are gaining about 2 on average per turn.

Oooo, so good chance that you will have 12 - 15 repaired factories within a week ... that will really impact the availability of Frank ... in a good way!

Had the 28 and 27 increase today. I'm getting around 2 a day now.