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March 14, 1943:

After pressing the end turn button, I realized that my little idea near Noumea was a little stupid. I could have lost all the Pacific fleet. By chance, heavy rain has saved me once again. I was willing to do an air raid on top of Noumea with carrier based planes but this was definitely risky.

At least, a supply interdiction of 110 stockpile is a good number.

With heavy rain, I can move troops by naval transportation without risking enemy planes. As such, I reinforce my position in Espirito Santo.

I already know by a previous COMINT that an army is located in Noumea. A naval landing there will be very costly. I don't even know if it will succeed. Right now, Japanese have two ships in port and two ships doing night move. My best option would be to sink these ships so that I could do a port blockade.

It can be long to work but destroying or damaging ships or planes is good as long as the Japanese economy suffers in the long run.

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In India, the Australian tactical bomber is given the Navigator specialty. It is quite helpful to locate enemy ships. But, right now, I am using it against land units.

In China, I think the Japanese has stopped their offensive. They are just protecting what they have gained.

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In the news, the US submarines are continuing to attack the East China Sea convoy lane. As a result, 10 escort ships have been assigned to this convoy lane.

To my surprise, subs are not even damaged and they are even sinking 2 merchant marine. Not bad with torpedoes problems.

Looking at the numbers, this is interesting. First, Japan has only 187 merchant marine so did not invest much in this area since the beginning of the war. Second, they have only 10 escort ships meaning they are protecting fully only one convoy lane.

If I can sink just one escort ship, they won't be able to protect fully their merchants. See the table in the manual and read page 88 for more explanation.

Could it be that my opponent has concentrated all its production to land units for the assault in China not having enough for building more merchant marine or escort ships?

Looks like I have another way to attack him now. If I could reduce the merchant marine, and therefore reduce the Japanese economy, the collapse would be faster.

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April 11, 1943:

US submarines are back on station on the East China Sea convoy lane. Convoy escorts has been divided by two most probably to cover the South China Sea convoy lane. USS Swordfish is joining the party.

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In the New Hebrides islands, I am building an additional airfield north of Espirito Santo. And, I am putting plenty of AAA guns on top of it to welcome an air superiority unit coming from the west coast.

One objective, destroy the ships in the port of Noumea even if I am taking more casualties than the Japanese for now. The 6 AAA guns, given to them in the early turns, is now against me.

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April 25, 1943:

1 merchant marine has been sunk but still no escort ships. However, the USS Skipjack is taking one hit. Still no sign of new escort ship built. It is taking 210 days to build an escort ship. While it is taking 100 days to produce a submarine.

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A Japanese DD group is trying to engage the San Francisco cruiser plus its DD escorts in a night action around Noumea but the end result is no losses on each side.

Naval air strikes are finally paying off with the Aoba cruiser damaged in port.

In India, the 13th Bde Grp is severely repelled. Time to form a new defensive line.

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May 9, 1943:

Just to celebrate all the fixes of the Mark 14 torpedo in May 1943, hopefully this will be corrected to September 1943 in the next patch, US submarines are destroying 4 merchant marine as well as an escort ship.

If my opponent has not invested in escort ships, this may end up badly for him pretty soon.

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In China, with a combination of ground and land attacks, Japanese are continuing to keep the Chinese army at low effectiveness. This is a very good tactic to learn from. Yuejin is one of the best player out there imo.

In Noumea, a fleet of two ships has arrived but it was not intercepted by my planes around. This is strange. Looks like the cruiser damaged previously is back to Rabaul for repairs. 80 stockpile has been destroyed anyway by port supply interdiction.

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Using a COMINT on top of Rabaul, I identify the Philippines Army HQ as well as the Japanese 13th army. The Japanese 12th Air division is back in Rabaul as well certainly for repairs.

It was replaced by the 10th Air division in Noumea that must be an air superiority unit. Unfortunately for this air unit, after two combat against my two air superiority units, both having the ace specialty; the 10th Air division has lost 12 steps according to the report, 6 steps in each combat.

This means more units to repair for the Japanese economy. I am taking losses as well but I can sustain them.

With no Japanese tactical bomber in range, in my opinion, I am moving a fleet of 6 battleships in Port Vila. Next turn, my goal is to do a night move near the position of the DD group that is always exiting the port in night move.

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CrackingShow wrote: Tue Jun 28, 2022 2:40 pm

ncc1701e wrote: Mon Jun 27, 2022 9:20 pm In China, with a combination of ground and land attacks, Japanese are continuing to keep the Chinese army at low effectiveness. This is a very good tactic to learn from. Yuejin is one of the best player out there imo.

Well when you are in supply 1 hexes don't expect to have much efficiency!

Perhaps we should ask Alvaro to add roads in China?

May 23, 1943:

Another run of convoy attack this turn with 4 more merchant marine sunk. Since my subs are still at 100% effectiveness, I am leaving them on station. I just would like to see how deadly is the incoming plane in Kagoshima.

In China, another tactical victory for Japan. But, in India, the Allies are progressing. UK has now an armored unit that is strangely too good in jungle terrain. Japan has lost 6 and 5 steps in two land combats.

Will the production behind will follow to repair everything?

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Speaking of repairs, my spies near Port Moresby witness the return of the 10th Air division from Noumea.

In Port Vila, I am executing my plan. I am moving a fleet of 6 battleships in night move near the position of the Japanese enemy fleet. And, to prevent it to move north of Noumea next turn, I am positioning another fleet in night move to lock all the positions.

Next turn, there will be some naval actions. If the IJN is moving, all US carriers are in alert ready to swoop down on their prey.

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June 6, 1943:

Again some incoming ships in Noumea and, once again, no naval air interception from the US planes. I am wondering if there are flying. Since there is nothing in the Combat Logs, it is hard to tell.

No naval battle, the Japanese would rather withdraw than fight. Klingons would prefer to fight.

2 MM sunk but, at last, one of my sub is damaged. It is surprising my opponent is not using the sub hunter bonus by adding DD or CVL on the convoy lane.

In India, the UK armor division is badly damaged by a local counter attack.

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In India, I am still fighting anyway. And, in Noumea, I am staying in the same position even if there is no more night move. Most probably the air unit in Noumea will attack next turn.

In the news, Japan invades Milne Bay.

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June 20, 1943:

A Japanese division was destroyed allowing an advance. Ledo next turn?

More reinforcements coming in Noumea but still no air interception. I have asked an enhancement in the tech support forum. Naval air strikes are only starting to produce some good results.

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Time is running so I am looking for a decisive naval battle. My carriers are outside Noumea. They will do carrier strikes next turn if they survive.

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July 4, 1943:

In India, the Japanese is falling back once again. But, heavy rain is stopping all operations.

Using a COMINT, I see only 8 ships in Rabaul. So, 10 ships are out of port. Where I don't know but I must stay alert around Noumea, of course, since this is my main area of operation.

By the way, near Noumea, something was triggered but again I don't know what it is since the Combat Logs do not log this type of thing. Probably a probe to see if my fleets are in fleet mode or in raider mode.

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Noumea, at last some results. Three naval air attacks with mixed results but the carrier strikes are doing very good results. Second strike in particular is devastating for the forces located in the port.

At the end of this raid, there is only one damaged ship left in the port of Noumea.

I am going back to port but another fleet in raider mode, night move, starts another port blockade attempt.

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