Stopping the Juggernaut - Cruft vs Alikchi II (CHS)

[tsimmonds]

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.

AV at sea can operate those float a/c which are organic to them. In order to to use their air capacity to support seaplanes, they have to be at a base.

[CapAndGown]

Ohh! Well, then, this requires a rethink. Maybe they would best be used for convoy escort duty, then.

[tsimmonds]

Depends how many a/c they have. Some have a decent number of organic a/c (8-12); others (including the ones you can make by converting AK) only have one. They can all still support 12 seaplanes from a base however.

[Captain Cruft]

9 Jan 1942

The Maizuru 2nd SNLF at Upolu now has 2 non-disabled squads and the Deliberate Attack option is available! The empty base should be ours tomorrow. At this rate, it will only be another couple of months before the unit is back to full strength and can have another go at Pago Pago ...

--
Other than that it's still quiet. My troops are still stuck at both Kuala Lumpur and Clark Field performing bombardment attacks. The 4th Div left Shanghai for Lingayen today though so in about a week they will have arrived at Clark to help out.

It's probably worth mentioning that US air activity in the Philippines has now dropped off to almost zero. There are still planes at Clark, Manila, Bataan & Cagayan but I think they're mostly damaged except for the PBYs. Whether the units have been transferred out yet I can't tell.

--
The next significant op in the DEI will be a landing at Singkawang by the 12th NLF, recently arrived at Kuching. Unfortunately, in classic Crufty style, Kuching is very short of supplies so I'm going to have to wait until I can ship some more over from Saigon before proceeding.


Heavy Bombers

G1/Takao Daitai and their G5N Liz's are scheduled to perform an Airfield Attack at Manila tomorrow. Their average experience is > 80 and I will be very interested to see the results.

Loss Ratios

Air: 2 - 1
Ships: 3 - 1

[Captain Cruft]

Something I have completely neglected to mention is China.

First off, my one and only objective in this theatre is Changsha. The game may allow me to do more than this but I just don't think it's right.

Anyway, I have amassed a large force at the borders of the said city. However, Alikchi has spotted this and therefore amassed his own large force at the base. Plus he has installed one of the three AVG squadrons for air defence. This presents a problem since my personal "siege" method involves relentless airfield attacks to remove supplies and prevent building of fort, but the Japanese army air force in China has nothing that can go up against the AVG.

Given all this I thought I would try some night bombing with the various Marys and Anns that I have in China. Results have been, to say the most, disappointing. In the course of a week we have achieved two runway hits for a cost of 8 or so planes. Even worse, for some reason the pilots do not leap up in experience from doing this like they would from daytime attacks.

So, I will basically have to wait until I can release the Sallies from Malaya and the Philippines before I can start this business. Not to mention bringing in some Oscars for escort ...

BTW I will never employ IJN planes inside China, as part of my "no mixing of IJA/IJN air forces" idiosyncrasy.

[tsimmonds]

BTW I will never employ IJN planes inside China, as part of my "no mixing of IJA/IJN air forces" idiosyncrasy.

How will you go about training up your Zeroes?

[Captain Cruft]

ORIGINAL: irrelevant

BTW I will never employ IJN planes inside China, as part of my "no mixing of IJA/IJN air forces" idiosyncrasy.

How will you go about training up your Zeroes?

Using the Training option Until they get to 50+ exp then I will put them into combat. If there are any soft targets around in SOPAC or whatever then I may use them too. I don't expect Zeros of any ilk to be of much use beyond late 1942.

The other thing I will do is keep some reserve groups back from the front lines. These guys will just sit on their asses since they will be used in the defence of the Marianas. They will get priority on upgrades to Jacks and Georges.

[Captain Cruft]

10 Jan 1942

Upolu falls and to celebrate the Maizuru 2nd SNLF now has 6 live inf squads!

--
The 11th NLF (not the 12th as I stated earlier) will leave Kuching tomorrow to land at Singkawang accompanied by Adm Kurita's cruiser force.

--
I was a bit disappointed with the Liz's on their first outing. They will go again tomorrow.


Loss Ratios

Air: 2 - 1
Ships: 3 - 1

[Ron Saueracker]

A little more activity please on this CHS AAR...need a fix and have no access to my game at the moment.[:D]

[Captain Cruft]

Just waiting for turn ...

I am beginning to suspect my opponent must have a life or something

[Ron Saueracker]

Noooo! No lives allowed!

How's the ASW losses going so far?

[Captain Cruft]

I have lost 2 subs so far, both in the Singapore - Batavia region.

On the other hand, I have had good success attacking convoys from the West Coast, most of which seem to only have c.2 DDs as escorts. Doubtless this will change though ...

[Captain Cruft]

11 Jan 1942

Situation unchanged.

[Captain Cruft]

I really feel like Neck Tie is going out on a limb, despite the lack of interference from the USN. Just look at all that blue ocean ...

[Captain Cruft]

One of the Maizuru 2nd SNLF's ocean liners.

[Captain Cruft]

This AK suffered most at the hands of the 7th Marine Defence Bn. Still a useful ship though

[Captain Cruft]

Now for some general interest screenshots.

Some of the planes in the CHS look quite a lot different. The early Dinahs for instance.

[Captain Cruft]

I also really like the look of the Babs, which has even caused me to not particularly worry about upgrading them so quickly.

[Captain Cruft]

The Lily I looks nothing like the stock version. Note the "huge" bombload - no Japanese fanboyism here ...

[Captain Cruft]

The Sally is very different too. Again, note the almost worthless bombload.