JFB in charge of the USN??? BtS Lite ver. 4.5 Kitakami (A) vs Falken (J)

[Kitakami]

I KNOW I have not downed that number of A6M2 planes, but it sure does look nice. This is a more conservative tally, which is probably closer to reality. Still, numbers favor me.

[Kitakami]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants
Its not the loss of pilots that hurt the early war efforts as you will get plenty of USA Army fighter pilots due to multiple withdrawal of air groups in the first 6 months. It will be how many airframes you lose. I hope you are planning to switch old planes for the P-38s on the West Coast. Those planes are the best you get, especially when sweeping, until the George comes out in fall '42. Ask John 3rd how much he hates those planes?? [:D]

See post #94 above... the matter is being taken care of, as per your evil, evil instructions

[Kitakami]

Finally the matter of VPs. Although I do not play with VPs as the goal, it is the measure for this game, so at least I will once or twice a month post how things are going:

[ny59giants]

When you get the P-40s in Australia next month, I do spend the PP to get good leaders to train up the pilots. I use them just to train pilots and defend the big island. Those P-40s will go into your pool once they withdraw in mid-March.

Any luck in deploying roving A-24 Banshee and Vindicators from size 2 AFs??

[Kitakami]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants
When you get the P-40s in Australia next month, I do spend the PP to get good leaders to train up the pilots. I use them just to train pilots and defend the big island. Those P-40s will go into your pool once they withdraw in mid-March.

Any luck in deploying roving A-24 Banshee and Vindicators from size 2 AFs??

Thanks for the tip on the P-40s. Will train pilots with them. As for the dive bombers, training the Banshees has been slow, and I think they need a bit more training still. I am not certain they can hit a large barn yet. The Vindicators are in the process of being deployed, though.

[Kitakami]

Dec 23, 1941

An interesting turn, with a couple of unexpected developments. First, a number of IJA bombers attacked Mersing over two days... unescorted. Fighters from Singapore bagged a number of them. Second, the SS Boomerang did something unexpected in the waters around Rabaul:

Sub attack near Rabaul at 106,125

Japanese Ships
CVE Ibuki, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Mikazuki
DD Ushio

Allied Ships
SS Boomerang

SS Boomerang launches 4 torpedoes at CVE Ibuki
Boomerang bottoming out ....
DD Mikazuki fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Ushio fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Mikazuki fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Ushio fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Ushio fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Ushio fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Ushio fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Ushio fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

I know one fish will not put the CVE under, but it will probably make my esteemed opponent to be a bit more careful.

There were also a couple of PT actions one hex from Subic Bay. Alas, there was no return for the loss of a number of boats, even though moonlight was low.

The rest of the turn went pretty much as expected. One thing I must decide now, though, is where to make my grand last stand in Mindanao. Enemy tanks have arrived at Cabanatuan, and other troops are marching towards Iba. So what do you guys think? Manila, or Bataan? Need to decide before sending this turn back. Here is the current situation in the Philippines:

[Kitakami]

Naval losses continue to be light, with the exception of the lost PT boats. Here is what happened last turn:

[BBfanboy]

Bataan has better defensive terrain but fighting in Manila could damage/destroy more of the industry that he covets...

[Kitakami]

Pilot losses continue somewhat light. I get worried because I don't have anything to replace the dead with, except very, very green recruits. I need to hold on until New Year's just to get a very few decent pilots from the training groups. Other groups are set to train, but they will take some time. Do note that all five Allied aces are USAF pilots.

[Kitakami]

These are the air losses for the turn. Total losses are reported by Tracker as Japanese 41 to Allied 11. Can't really complain with those odds.

[Kitakami]

Accumulated losses are also going in the Allies favour, at least so far. It will be another thing entirely when the IJN brings its land units to bear against the DEI, New Guinea, and Burma, I am sure.

[Kitakami]

Victory Points continue to be lost. Although this does not worry me, and it is par for the course, it does give a measure of things at this point.

[Kitakami]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy
Bataan has better defensive terrain but fighting in Manila could damage/destroy more of the industry that he covets...

Both are good points, and I am torn between them. Need to decide. Hmm...

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Kitakami

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy
Bataan has better defensive terrain but fighting in Manila could damage/destroy more of the industry that he covets...

Both are good points, and I am torn between them. Need to decide. Hmm...

With SL you should fight in Clark and Manila, but make sure to allow some planned retreats once it appears the battle in Clark is winding down. I put the stronger force there, and it's such good defensive territory it takes a good while to crack. Manila supply generation will help for a bit and the port can still refuel subs. This keeps the IJ force split also, so they cannot concentrate on one target.

Be careful not to overstack once you have to move back to Bataan, and consider supply in everything that you do there. Does it help to build high forts? Yes, but is it enough to build them past 3-4? I'm not sure. That's a lot of supply. Also make sure units aren't taking replacements.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Kitakami

Pilot losses continue somewhat light. I get worried because I don't have anything to replace the dead with, except very, very green recruits. I need to hold on until New Year's just to get a very few decent pilots from the training groups. Other groups are set to train, but they will take some time. Do note that all five Allied aces are USAF pilots.

It's incredibly useful and not hard to get the P-38Es upgraded to a USAAF group in the DEI early. Consider buying one out, sending to Java or Singers and letting it create havoc with the fragile A6M2, Oscars and Nates. In my game the one PS group that got them has wracked up 189 kills in 3 months for around 17 losses. [8D]

[Kitakami]

ORIGINAL: obvert
With SL you should fight in Clark and Manila, but make sure to allow some planned retreats once it appears the battle in Clark is winding down. I put the stronger force there, and it's such god defensive territory it takes a good while to crack. Manila supply generation will help for a bit and the port can still refuse subs. This keeps the IJ force split also, so they cannot concentrate on one target.

Be careful not to overstack once you have to move back to Bataan, and consider supply in everything that you do there. Does it help to build high forts? Yes, but is it enough to build them past 3-4? I'm not sure. That's a lot of supply. Also make sure units aren't taking replacements.

Obvert,

My esteemed opponent seems to want to bypass Clark and invest Manila directly. He has forces in Lingayen (taken) and Cabanatuan (has not taken it yet), but does not seem to be moving towards Clark Field. Instead, there is a movement arrow towards Iba since last turn. From the south, the advance stopped in Lucena, at least for the time being. They are probably waiting for the rest of the force to catch up. I have a token defense in Batangas, so I still have a few days before they get to Manila.

I will make my last stand in Manila. Although forts are only at 2 there, perhaps I will be able to get them to 3. I will transfer pursuit squadrons from Iba to Manila this turn.

[Kitakami]

ORIGINAL: obvert
It's incredibly useful and not hard to get the P-38Es upgraded to a USAAF group in the DEI early. Consider buying one out, sending to Java or Singers and letting it create havoc with the fragile A6M2, Oscars and Nates. In my game the one PS group that got them has wracked up 189 kills in 3 months for around 17 losses. [8D]

The 11th Pursuit Squadron of the 50th Pursuit Group is crated in the holds of the US Mahimahi, 27 days from arriving at Cape Town. Did not know which route to take, and I fear I sent them the long way into the war, but they are on their way. Besides their standard compliment of 25 fighters, there are 16 additional P-38Es in the reserves.

[Kitakami]

December 25th, 1941

The war keeps its pace on land. Two turns ago the Japanese took Dadjangas, Puerto Princesa, Tavoy, Georgetown and Ternate. This turn they increased their pace, and took Butuan, Mersing, Sandakan, Lunga, Rabaul, Singkawang, Manado, Temuloh, Mergui, Vanimo and Langkawi. For all the resistance I am putting up in the air, on land I am not doing that well, I think (with the exception of setting up defenses at key points).

IJN CVLs are 8 hexes W of Singapore, KB-3 is 4 hexes NW of Ambon moving W, and KB-1 is 3 hexes NE of Vautupu moving E. I fear they are covering an invasion of Canton Island and/or Baker Island. The other KB CarDiv is not detected at this point, although there is a strong surface force 13 hexes west of Johnston Island, moving NE, which might mean action against Midway.

On the land side of things, 17th Indian Div is now formed up, and marching from Rangoon towards Pegu, to join the 1st Burma Div and the 46th Indian Bde. Additional forces will pour in as available and allowed by enemy air. 18th Brit Div will begin downloading in Sumatra this turn. Will have to move 1-2 fighter units to cover them with LRCAP, but at least they are there. If allowed to reach Palembang before the enemy attacks it, it will be an interesting situation. Medan's defenders are in place, and only two commando units are still on their way to Palembang, where forts are at 1.33.

In China I lost two battle against stragglers with heavy losses on my side. They were to be expected, so I don't fret. However, the defenses of Wenchow and Wuchow were strengthened, and Ichang has been under Chinese bombardment for a few turns. The Japanese division there did not abandon their post. 5th & 6th Chinese Corps, and the 3rd, 7th & 8th New Chinese Corps have been transferred to NCAC command, and have begun arriving in Lashio. I have not recombined the divisions into corps yet, hoping this will allow them to absorb reinforcements more quickly. So far, 127 Chinese squads have reinforced these units (no other Chinese Inf units are set to accept reinforcements).

44th and 45th Indian Bdes have arrived in Colombo. One is earmarked for Diego García. The other one was planning for Port Blair, but it has already been lost. Where do you think I should deploy it?

Any and all comments are welcome.

[Kitakami]

Naval losses... I WISH this was true! Alas, with only one fish, I don't even hope she went down. However, it is one less CVE to worry about for the time being.

[Kitakami]

Pilot losses are getting to where I would like to see them each turn (as if it was possible). At least most aerial fights are over Allied bases right now, so I don't loose as many pilots as my esteemed opponent. Number of Allied aces increased to 7.