Stopping the Juggernaut - Cruft vs Alikchi II (CHS)

[CapAndGown]

I doubt your Nate factories are going to change to anything. Nates upgrade to Oscar IIb's in 1943.

You might also consider changing Paramsihiro Jima and Etorofu to Home Defense Froce. That way you don't pay PPs for the planes; any HDF unit can now move to these bases. Ditto with the Rykyus.

[Captain Cruft]

Nates upgrade to Oscar Is in the CHS.

[Captain Cruft]

I got bored with being on the verge of sinking so have changed my avatar to a more positive image of the Royal Navy

I wonder if anyone can guess what it is? There are ships of this class in the game BTW.

[Captain Cruft]

Here is another ship with the same name (which is my home town).

There is also a ship of this class in the game.

[Ron Saueracker]

SS I-157 is sunk by a mixed Anglo-Dutch-Australian ASW force to the west of Batavia. Six radar-guided depth charges were delivered by the inexperienced Allied crews.

I feel the need for another rant for ASW warfare model revisions! [8D] Screw the so called "tests"....we've been "testing" this since release and before in some cases.

[Captain Cruft]

Welcome back Ron

My subs are actually doing OK so far, they even evaded the escorts a few times.

[Captain Cruft]

1 Jan 1942

The 14th Army attack on Clark Field got 0 - 1 odds and casualties were about even. Of course the air support at Lingayen got socked in, not that it would have made much difference. I will now go to Plan B and ship in the 4th Div from Shanghai to help out. In the meantime the troops will bombard and the planes will continue to bomb the airfield.

--
Meanwhile the Sasebo Nth SNLF is landed at Manado and will attack next turn. No interference from the Dutch, indeed they have evacuated all their aircraft from the base.

--
Floatplanes from the Mobile Harassment Force (Op Neck Tie) will recon Canton Island as from next turn. This is just to see whether we are facing a base force or a couple of infantry divisions. Arrival of the invasion force is scheduled for the turn after next.


Aircraft Factory Upgrades

Two conversions happened today:

1) 29 x Ki-27 Nate --> Ki-43-Ib Oscar (Harbin)
2) 8 x H6K Mavis --> H8K Emily (Osaka/Kobe)

That leaves three still in the queue (excluding transports which I have not analysed):

3) 41 x Ki-27 Nate @ Gumma (Ki-43-Ib Oscar)
4) 20 x Ki-21-II Sally @ Nagoya (Ki-49 Helen)
5) 6 x A5M4 Claude @ Nagasaki (A6M2 Zero)

All the Nell and Betty factories have already been forcibly converted to either G5N Liz or P1Y Frances-rd.

Loss Ratios

Air: 2 - 1
Ships: 2 - 1

[Captain Cruft]

2 Jan 1942

The Sasebo marines took Manado without difficulty. Unfortunately the Dutch garrison retreated rather than surrendered so I'm going to have to keep the troops there for the foreseeable future.

--
SS I-26 sank AK City of Flint to the SW of Los Angeles, and survived the subsequent counter-attack from the two escorting DDs. Very pleasing.

--
Op Neck Tie is a go! The Jakes of The Mobile Paranoia-Inducing Force have revealed that, as I hoped and suspected, Canton Island is defended only by what looks like a USAAF Base Force. So, the marines land tomorrow.

As a bonus, a lone transport (AK Mexican) was spotted and sunk by the carriers to the south. Even better, either this ship or the one near the West Coast must have been carrying 16 x B-26B Marauders since the Intel Report shows these planes to have been operationally lost this turn. Cool


Aircraft Factory Upgrades

No upgrades this turn.

Loss Ratios

Air: 2 - 1
Ships: 2 - 1

Both ratios went up this turn (a rare event) but not by enough to make a difference in whole number terms.

[rtrapasso]

Think you have your date wrong - skipped from Jan 1 to Dec 2.

[Captain Cruft]

Oops, you're right. Corrected.

BTW we are currently experiencing a technical problem with combat execution freezing half-way through. If we can't fix it the game could be over

[Captain Cruft]

3 Jan 1942

Well, the problem with the combat execution was not in fact one of freezing. Rather it was a case of the first and last "DIVIDE CRIPPLED TFS" phases going from taking 10-15 seconds to taking 5+ minutes each. I have no idea why this should be the case but at least we can carry on ...

--
This was a good turn for Japan. Firstly, the Sasebo 7th SNLF once again disdained the use of ammunition and took Canton Island with a mere bayonet charge and Banzai! shout. I can hardly blame the various mechanics, cooks etc. of the USAAF Base Force for surrendering though, especially after experiencing a full air attack from the KB ...

One Catalina and 6 Lightnings (recon version) were also destroyed in this attack which was a very nice bit of icing on the cake.

The victorious marines have now re-mounted their ocean liners and will make their way to Pago Pago to hopefully repeat the performance.

--
Over in Malaya the brave Oscars of the 59th Sentai were somewhat surprised to meet a horde of Buffaloes on their daily visit to Kuala Lumpur. Presumably the nervous British commander had ordered the fighters to fly LRCAP over his "roadblock" from Singapore. Whatever the reason, for some reason the Oscars performed as if they were Zeros and shot down 14 of the tubby ones for the loss of only one of their own. Very pleasing indeed ... Less pleasing is the fact that whatever damage is done to the airfield at KL it appears to instantly repair before the orders phase. I can only presume that there are lots of engineers there, maybe even including some of the mysterious Allied "engineering vehicles"

--
Yet another good thing happened. This was the first really useful air attack by the 22nd Air Flotilla at Kuching. A large convoy was spotted heading south from either Singapore or Palembang in the region of Toboali. Several transports and a Dutch PG were hit with torpedoes in the subsequent attack.


Heavy Bombers

In only a couple more days I should have enough G5N Liz's to upgrade one of the Takao Daitais. In conjunction with this I have decided to make the 23rd Air Flotilla my "A Team" (A for airfield suppression) and so will allow all the groups to have pilots from the pool to keep their strength up. We'll see how that pans out later, obviously the KB will be wanting some pilots too ...

Aircraft Factory Upgrades

Nothing again.

Loss Ratios

Air: 2 - 1
Ships: 2 - 1

Once again the "fractional ratio" went up. All in all I'd say this was the best turn I've had so far

[Captain Cruft]

4 Jan 1942

Not much happened today. The most important event was the DIVIDE CRIPPLED TFS proceeding at normal speed. Alikchi said he had a TF with a land hex as a destination which may have caused the problem. Phew ...

In the game long-range I-Boats torpedoed a couple more AKs on the way out from the West Coast and, not be out-done, the 22nd Air Flotilla did well again, putting some more 18 inchers into some more transports and two Dutch CLs.

--
The 38th Div has now arrived at Naga and gthe entire 16th Army will Deliberate Attack tomorrow.


Loss Ratios

Air: 2 - 1
Ships: 2 - 1

[Captain Cruft]

5/6/7 Jan 1942

The management would like to apologise to the audience for the interruption in service (I have been busy). Fortunately, the 5th & 6th of Jan were very quiet days, with only the customary sound of Allied AKs slipping beneath the waves to break the monotony ...

--
Things are hotting up now though. Op Neck Tie has run into a problem, being the coastal guns of the 7th Marine Defence Bn at Pago Pago. I had bombed them once using the KB but it was obviously not enough. Therefore almost the entirety of the Maizuru 2nd SNLF (or whatever it is) was disabled at landing. Needless to say the automatic shock attack got nowhere as a result.

Luckily for me, the marines are mostly still all alive. I managed to re-load them onto the liners and will deposit them at next-door Upolo to recover (I only need one live squad to take this unoccupied base). In the meantime the KB will do a proper job of suppressing the coastal guns in conjunction with an ad-hoc bombardment force formed out of the Hiei, Kirishima and two 8in CAs.

--
Back in the Phillipines, despite me getting absolutely nowhere with my attacks at Naga, the Americans decided to withdraw this turn. So the base is now ours. The 16th Army will rest up for a bit and then proceed on to Manila.

--
Over in Malaya, the other Allied roadblock at Kuala Lumpur is continuing to prove just as tricky. This one doesn't look like withdrawing though, possibly because I have propelled the 18th Div down the rail line to cut them off from behind.


Heavy Bombers

G1/Takao Daitai (at Legaspi) are now the proud owners of 27 shiny new G5N Liz's. They are taking a few days to "work up" (i.e. wait for the planes to repair) then they will start trying out the new bomber with some airfield and/or port attacks on Manila.

Aircraft Factory Upgrades

Two more factories upgraded at some point over the last three days:

20 x Ki-21-II Sally @ Nagoya -> Ki-49 Helen
41 x Ki27 Nate @ Gumma -> Ki-43-Ib Oscar

This just leaves the small Claude plant at Nagasaki unconverted.

Loss Ratios

Air: 2 - 1
Ships: 2 - 1

The fractional ratios continue to creep up.

[Captain Cruft]

8 Jan 1942

Situation unchanged.

Except ...

Pago Pago is a lot more damaged than it was yesterday. Cost me 3 Vals though, grr.

I got it wrong about only needing one live squad to attack a base. The Maizuru 2nd SNLF (designation confirmed) is now fully landed at Upolu and has precisely one non-disabled inf squad but still cannot attack. Since the unit has enough supplies and support I am hoping that more squads will recover quickly so I can get on with it.

Phase 3 of Neck Tie also got under way today. The South Seas Detachment has departed Kwajalein for Nandi with c.35 prep points. It will meet up with the Akagi and Kaga TF in the vicinity of Nanumea atoll. I really don't like splitting up the Death Star like this but I cannot send the troops on to Fiji without air cover. Plus I am gambling that my opponent will not try to intervene at Pago Pago due to "KB Phobia".

Loss Ratios

Air: 2 - 1
Ships: 3 - 1 (!)

I'm not sure what tipped the ship ratio over 3. No major ships have appeared on the sunk list. It must just be the steady accumulation of AK sinkage

[Captain Cruft]

I have been thinking. My original intention with Neck Tie was just to be a raid - take the three bases and then disappear. This would be purely in order to slow the US down. However, the ghost of Lord Nelson must have visited me in my sleep because I am now considering turning it into a fully-fledged blockade.

Of course this is all assuming I can actually take the bases involved, which is looking a bit dodgy at the moment ...

Suva is the key. If you consider Canton Island and Samoa to be "the lines" then Suva is "behind the lines". It is a size 3 port where ships can be disbanded.

So ... Move in an AV to support Mavis/Emily floatplanes for search and then send the KB out to intercept any Allied shipping that passes by. Said shipping being either headed for Australia or attempting the inevitable counter-invasions. Maybe also move in an AR if one is available.

This way I might just be able to bring the US CVs to battle before they are ready.

[CapAndGown]

Ok, so where are your avs. [:'(]

[Captain Cruft]

ORIGINAL: cap_and_gown

Ok, so where are your avs. [:'(]

Well ... I use them to make instant float plane air bases in places with size 3 ports where I either can't or don't want to put a base force. They don't go to sea other than when transferring between places or, in a pinch, on a Fast Transport run.

My philosophy is to avoids subs rather than fight them so I don't use any form of ASW TFs. Important convoys are routed as far as possible so as to travel under land-based air search.

Right now I have an active AV at:

Eniwetok
Ulithi

Other places I may put them later:

Shortlands
Tulagi
Suva

Spares are currently at Kwajalein, Truk, Saipan and Palau.

Another thing I have done in past games is to put one at Jaluit and use the 101st IJN Base Force from there to populate Tarawa.

--
As for CS's, the fast ones go with the CVs and the slow one (Mizuho) with my "fleet train" (Replenishment TF) which accompanies them. CVEs Taiyo and Unyo will also be part of this fleet train once I get some "spare" Zero groups to put on them (6th Daitai with A6M3 Zeros). If the Mizuho were to be sunk I would probably substitute it with an AV though. In the CHS you get quite a lot more of these ships than in the stock scen

[CapAndGown]

ORIGINAL: Captain Cruft
As for CS's, the fast ones go with the CVs and the slow one (Mizuho) with my "fleet train" (Replenishment TF) which accompanies them. CVEs Taiyo and Unyo will also be part of this fleet train once I get some "spare" Zero groups to put on them (6th Daitai with A6M3 Zeros). If the Mizuho were to be sunk I would probably substitute it with an AV though. In the CHS you get quite a lot more of these ships than in the stock scen

I don't understand. From my understanding of the game, AV's cannot launch planes while at sea. They have to be docked. Thereforce an AV cannot substitute for a CS.

As to the fast CS's, I combine them with the CVs as well for use as my scouts and for ASW.

[Captain Cruft]

ORIGINAL: cap_and_gown

I don't understand. From my understanding of the game, AV's cannot launch planes while at sea. They have to be docked. Thereforce an AV cannot substitute for a CS.

Well, whether they are supposed to or not the planes do fly. This is proven by the fact that the pilots gain fatigue. You can also test it by getting the planes to fly an actual mission instead of Naval Search.

I am now puzzled since I thought you said your AVs were on ASW duty?

[CapAndGown]

They fly ASW patrols from ports located near likely sub infestations.