Nomonhan Redux: Seydlitz (Japan) vs. MBatch729 (Allies)

[seydlitz_slith]

Later in the turn a Russian sub got a shot off at Shokaku....

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Sub attack near Olga at 115,48

Japanese Ships
CV Shokaku
DD Suzukaze
DD Samidare

Allied Ships
SS ShCh-113



SS ShCh-113 launches 4 torpedoes at CV Shokaku...
ShCh-113 diving deep .......
DD Suzukaze fails to find sub and abandons search...
DD Samidare fails to find sub, continues to search......
DD Samidare fails to find sub, continues to search......
DD Samidare fails to find sub, continues to search......
DD Samidare fails to find sub, continues to search......
DD Samidare fails to find sub, continues to search......
Escort abandons search for sub...

[seydlitz_slith]

There were three other sub actions during the turn, none did any significant damage.

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Submarine attack near Manus at 103,118

Japanese Ships
AMC Kongo Maru

Allied Ships
SS Tambor



AMC Kongo Maru is sighted by SS Tambor...
SS Tambor launches 4 torpedoes at AMC Kongo Maru...


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ASW attack near San Diego at 226,80

Japanese Ships
SS I-21

Allied Ships
DD Walke
DD O'Brien



I-21 diving deep .......
DD Walke attacking submerged sub .......
DD O'Brien fails to find sub and abandons search...
DD Walke fails to find sub, continues to search......
DD Walke fails to find sub, continues to search......
DD Walke fails to find sub, continues to search......
DD Walke fails to find sub, continues to search......
DD Walke fails to find sub, continues to search......
Escort abandons search for sub...


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ASW attack near King Island at 80,172

Japanese Ships
SS I-18, hits 14

Allied Ships
DD Stuart



I-18 bottoming out .......
DD Stuart attacking submerged sub .......
DD Stuart fails to find sub, continues to search......
DD Stuart fails to find sub, continues to search......
DD Stuart fails to find sub, continues to search......
DD Stuart attacking submerged sub .......
DD Stuart is out of ASW ammo...
DD Stuart is out of ASW ammo...
DD Stuart is out of ASW ammo...
DD Stuart is out of ASW ammo...
DD Stuart is out of ASW ammo...
Escort abandons search for sub...


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[seydlitz_slith]

In Russia, my airstrikes continued at Vladivostok, Voroshilov, Mishin, and Spassk. He had fighters in the air again at Spassk and there were light casualties on both sides. He actually did a Mig-3 escorted strike of MBR-2 seaplanes at the KB but the zero cap shot down several of the planes before they could reach the carriers and the strike aborted. All told, aircraft losses were higher for both sides this turn than they have been for about a month of game time.

[seydlitz_slith]

The vals will be the hardest to replace as I am only making about 12 vals per month and there is no other dive bomber type to transfer land based units to in order to free up replacement aircraft.

On land, we both bombarded at Mishan and it turns out that we both have a little over 500 AV there.

Here is the bombardment attacks at Voroshilov. He is continually getting a little weaker. As such, I have held moving my infantry units to an attack stance. If I can keep weakening him with bombardment perhaps I can delay using the infantry units, allowing them to gather as many replacements as possible.

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Ground combat at Voroshilov (112,45)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 2033 troops, 263 guns, 133 vehicles, Assault Value = 2290

Defending force 55626 troops, 1485 guns, 229 vehicles, Assault Value = 1414

Japanese ground losses:
Guns lost 4 (2 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 8 (4 destroyed, 4 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
1147 casualties reported
Squads: 12 destroyed, 21 disabled
Non Combat: 83 destroyed, 29 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 17 (3 destroyed, 14 disabled)
Vehicles lost 33 (22 destroyed, 11 disabled)

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Ground combat at Voroshilov (112,45)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 51498 troops, 1398 guns, 194 vehicles, Assault Value = 1380

Defending force 97390 troops, 924 guns, 714 vehicles, Assault Value = 2290

Japanese ground losses:
359 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 21 destroyed, 43 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 55 (33 destroyed, 22 disabled)
Vehicles lost 35 (11 destroyed, 24 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
19 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)

[castor troy]

Why not doubling Val production? Or even moving it up to 48?

[Smeulders]

Is there any sight of the allied carriers ? With the KB still near the Russian coast, there must be some opportunities for him to strike.

[seydlitz_slith]

ORIGINAL: castor troy

Why not doubling Val production? Or even moving it up to 48?

The factory expansion has bee nordered but hasn't been completed. The order that the game prioritizes repairs is baffling.

[seydlitz_slith]

ORIGINAL: Smeulders

Is there any sight of the allied carriers ? With the KB still near the Russian coast, there must be some opportunities for him to strike.

Most likely he is still in hiding because he still has mostly Brewstar fighters but also because in our witp game together I twice surprised him and sunk all his carriers when he thought it was safe to pull an op.

[Smeulders]

ORIGINAL: seydlitz

ORIGINAL: Smeulders

Is there any sight of the allied carriers ? With the KB still near the Russian coast, there must be some opportunities for him to strike.

Most likely he is still in hiding because he still has mostly Brewstar fighters but also because in our witp game together I twice surprised him and sunk all his carriers when he thought it was safe to pull an op.

Actually, you can get all the buffaloes of your carriers after only 10 days and by the end of february he might even have gotten rid of the F4F-3A even with PDU off. That second reason is a good one though. Anyone who has seen that happen to him will be very careful indeed before coming out to play.

[erstad]

The factory expansion has bee nordered but hasn't been completed. The order that the game prioritizes repairs is baffling.

There is no prioritization of factory repairs. If you have 10K of supply in the hex, it will repair a point a turn. I suspect you either have insufficient supply or repairs are turned off.

(Well, I supposed if one only had 10K and there were N factories awaiting repair and only one of the N could repair, then there might be a question of priority. But if there's sufficient supply, all N will repair)

[Anthropoid]

This is a GREAT AAR Seydlitz! [:D]

[seydlitz_slith]

ORIGINAL: erstad

The factory expansion has bee nordered but hasn't been completed. The order that the game prioritizes repairs is baffling.

There is no prioritization of factory repairs. If you have 10K of supply in the hex, it will repair a point a turn. I suspect you either have insufficient supply or repairs are turned off.

(Well, I supposed if one only had 10K and there were N factories awaiting repair and only one of the N could repair, then there might be a question of priority. But if there's sufficient supply, all N will repair)

I thought as you do, but AE has proven otherwise. Even with sufficient supplies in the hex and repair turned on, it is not repairing everything as expected. Had I known this would be the case I would not have touched R&D factories at all until all of the active factories were expanded. I have found no logic as to what it repairs and does not repair in a turn. You would think that with 54000 supply in the hex that every factory would repair a point every turn.

[TheElf]

ORIGINAL: seydlitz

Here are some examples from early in the conflict with more aircraft. If you noticed in the examples above, I usually killed the biplane only when I had them very heavily outnumbered.

Again, I will give you all combats on that date that involved fighters on both sides so that you can get a clearer picture.

First, 12/27/41...the first turn that the soviets were active:

Thanks for posting these. It really helps

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Morning Air attack on Vladivostok , at 112,46

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 40
G3M2 Nell x 15
G4M1 Betty x 45



Allied aircraft
I-15bis x 4
I-153 x 47
I-16m24 x 30


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed
G3M2 Nell: 5 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed, 15 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
I-153: 3 destroyed
I-16m24: 1 destroyed
Allied Ships
xAK Svyatozar, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
SS ShCh-105, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage
xAK Karlotta, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Rekordnyi, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
SS ShCh-107, Bomb hits 1



Port hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
19 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 12000 feet
Port Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
20 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 12000 feet
Port Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
15 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 12000 feet
Port Attack: 1 x 800 kg AP Bomb
5 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 12000 feet
Port Attack: 1 x 800 kg AP Bomb

CAP engaged:
32 SAD/5 IAP with I-153 (9 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(11 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
9 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 18000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers
34 SAD/47 IAP with I-153 (11 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(14 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
11 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
32 SAD/48 IAP with I-153 (7 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(7 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 18000
Raid is overhead
32 SAD/75 IAP with I-15bis (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 18000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 10 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers
10 BABr-TOF/19 IAP with I-16m24 (2 airborne, 4 on standby, 3 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes
7 planes vectored on to bombers
29 IAD/304 IAP with I-16m24 (1 airborne, 3 on standby, 3 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 36 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers
70 IAD/305 IAP with I-16m24 (1 airborne, 4 on standby, 3 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 36 minutes
7 planes vectored on to bombers
70 IAD/306 IAP with I-153 (1 airborne, 3 on standby, 3 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 18000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
29 IAD/307 IAP with I-153 (1 airborne, 4 on standby, 3 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 18000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 37 minutes
5 planes vectored on to bombers
70 IAD/308 IAP with I-16m24 (2 airborne, 3 on standby, 2 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 11000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes
5 planes vectored on to bombers

Training flight from 70 IAD/308 IAP has been caught up in attack

2 to 1 odds Zekes to Russians and you manage a draw in Fighter to fight Combat. Even manage to catch a training unit in the mix. your raid seems less than affected. If I were your opponent I'd be irritated.

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Morning Air attack on Sakhalinskaya Rifle Brigade, at 128,37 (Okha)

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 13
B5N2 Kate x 110
D3A1 Val x 113



Allied aircraft
I-153 x 1


Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 damaged
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed, 12 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
I-153: 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
82 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Aircraft Attacking:
16 x D3A1 Val diving from 10000'
Ground Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
20 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 9000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
21 x D3A1 Val diving from 10000'
Ground Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
20 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 9000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
5 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 9000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
15 x D3A1 Val diving from 10000'
Ground Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
12 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 9000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
15 x D3A1 Val diving from 10000'
Ground Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
15 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 9000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
23 x D3A1 Val diving from 10000'
Ground Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
23 x D3A1 Val diving from 10000'
Ground Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
19 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 9000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
19 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 9000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
4 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 12000 feet

CAP engaged:
8 OIAZ-PVO with I-153 (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Raid is overhead

In severe weather this lone Ruskie has no chance.

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Morning Air attack on Voroshilov , at 112,45

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 56 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 36
Ki-36 Ida x 16



Allied aircraft
I-15bis x 9
I-153 x 18


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27b Nate: 10 destroyed
Ki-36 Ida: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
DB-3T: 1 destroyed on ground



Runway hits 10

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x Ki-36 Ida bombing from 11000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 30 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
32 SAD/75 IAP with I-15bis (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 18000 , scrambling fighters between 14000 and 18000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers
32 SAD/5 IAP with I-153 (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 3 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 18000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes
32 SAD/48 IAP with I-153 (0 airborne, 9 on standby, 0 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 18000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 18000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes

Russian EW detects the raid at 120 nm and scrambles fighters to 6k' above the reported contact. Numbers are close to even here, but there are two separate groups of Russian fighters. Looks like the Biplanes got the jump on escorting fighters. This is a known issue where Escorts tend to come out on the short end of the stick, especially against Radar supported CAP. I AM curious what EW device the russians are using here?

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Morning Air attack on Hailar , at 107,30

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 6



Allied aircraft
I-153 x 16
SB-2 x 22


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27b Nate: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
I-153: 1 destroyed



Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 5

Aircraft Attacking:
22 x SB-2 bombing from 15000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 100 kg GP Bomb
3 x I-153 sweeping at 15000 feet *

CAP engaged:
9th Sentai with Ki-27b Nate (2 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 18000 , scrambling fighters between 14000 and 18000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 9 minutes

Out numbered nearly 3 to 1 and the Nates manage to trade 1 for 1. Not bad. Hard to say how many of the CAP actually managed to intercept. The report leads me to believe on 2 did...

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Afternoon Air attack on Hailar , at 107,30

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 23 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 5



Allied aircraft
I-153 x 14
SB-2 x 4


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27b Nate: 1 damaged
Ki-36 Ida: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
SB-2: 3 damaged



Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x SB-2 bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 100 kg GP Bomb
12 x I-153 sweeping at 15000 feet *

CAP engaged:
9th Sentai with Ki-27b Nate (1 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 18000 , scrambling fighters to 18000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 9 minutes

Again it looks like only 1 Nates actually gets in before the raid egresses. I doubt all 3 SB-3s were damaged by CAP, AAA maybe?

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12/28/41 Day 2 of the invasion
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Morning Air attack on Rybolov , at 113,44

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 33,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 9



Allied aircraft
I-153 x 13


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27b Nate: 1 destroyed




CAP engaged:
34 SAD/47 IAP with I-153 (0 airborne, 9 on standby, 0 scrambling)
9 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 20000 and 31000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 44 minutes

A high altitude sweep. Probably to get above the pesky CAP? Problem is here the Nate MVR is 11 Vs the I-153's 20. Even if the Nate manages a good speed check at best it will put the two on even terms. Nates loses here. At 10-15k' the Nate has it's best MVR vs. the I-153. It isn't a LOT better, but it is better than 2 to 1 in favor of the I-153.

Still you only lost 1 Nate....

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Morning Air attack on Hailar , at 107,30

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 23 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 16



Allied aircraft
I-153 x 14
SB-2 x 7


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-36 Ida: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
SB-2: 2 damaged



Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 8

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x SB-2 bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 100 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
9th Sentai with Ki-27b Nate (1 airborne, 4 on standby, 11 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 18000 , scrambling fighters between 2000 and 18000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 36 minutes

Hard to say again how many Nates actually get involved, and for how long. The fact that only one is airborne doesn't bode well. I would have to watch the replay to see how the combat developed. Could be they got up, but not into a favorable position for a coordinated attack. No losses though : )

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Afternoon Air attack on Voroshilov , at 112,45

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 29,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 17



Allied aircraft
I-15bis x 16
I-153 x 36


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27b Nate: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
I-153: 1 destroyed



CAP engaged:
32 SAD/5 IAP with I-153 (3 airborne, 10 on standby, 6 scrambling)
13 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 18000 , scrambling fighters to 18000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 10 minutes
32 SAD/48 IAP with I-153 (0 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling)
10 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 18000 , scrambling fighters to 18000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 43 minutes
32 SAD/75 IAP with I-15bis (2 airborne, 11 on standby, 0 scrambling)
13 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 18000 , scrambling fighters to 18000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 38 minutes

Outnumbered 3 to 1. This is not good. Yet you manage a 2 to 1 result. Not sure if FOW is at play. Is it?

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Afternoon Air attack on Hailar , at 107,30

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 10 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 11



Allied aircraft
I-153 x 11
SB-2 x 13


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SB-2: 1 damaged



Aircraft Attacking:
13 x SB-2 bombing from 15000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 100 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
9th Sentai with Ki-27b Nate (1 airborne, 2 on standby, 8 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 18000 , scrambling fighters between 12000 and 19000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes

Late detection. 3 minutes.... Best case the CAP gets to the Raid as it egresses, but the SB-2 was a fairly fast bomber for it's day...

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Afternoon Air attack on Voroshilov , at 112,45

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 10 NM, estimated altitude 31,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 24



Allied aircraft
I-15bis x 16
I-153 x 33


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27b Nate: 4 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
I-15bis: 1 destroyed



CAP engaged:
32 SAD/5 IAP with I-153 (7 airborne, 0 on standby, 6 scrambling)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 8 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 18000 , scrambling fighters between 15000 and 25000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 9 minutes
32 SAD/48 IAP with I-153 (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 6 being recalled, 6 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 18000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 44 minutes
32 SAD/75 IAP with I-15bis (7 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 6 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 18000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 38 minutes

Again outnumbered. The Nates would have to have detected the CAP and intiated combat since the raid was detected with only 3 minutes to spare. I'd be curious to know the EXP level of the USSR units. I assume your Nates at this stage are ~ 65-70 EXP?

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Afternoon Air attack on Voroshilov , at 112,45

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 29 NM, estimated altitude 28,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 17



Allied aircraft
I-15bis x 10
I-153 x 17


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27b Nate: 1 destroyed




CAP engaged:
32 SAD/5 IAP with I-153 (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 6 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 18000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 42 minutes
32 SAD/48 IAP with I-153 (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 5 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 18000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 44 minutes
32 SAD/75 IAP with I-15bis (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 18000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 36 minutes

I'll stop here.... see my conclusion at the bottom.

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12/29/41 Day 3 of invasion ****Note use of zero sweeps in combat here*****
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Morning Air attack on Vladivostok , at 112,46

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 39 NM, estimated altitude 27,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 33



Allied aircraft
I-153 x 15
I-16m24 x 34


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
I-153: 2 destroyed
I-16m24: 8 destroyed



Aircraft Attacking:
21 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 27000 feet

CAP engaged:
10 BABr-TOF/19 IAP with I-16m24 (0 airborne, 5 on standby, 4 scrambling)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 11 minutes
29 IAD/304 IAP with I-16m24 (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 3 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 34 minutes
70 IAD/305 IAP with I-16m24 (0 airborne, 5 on standby, 4 scrambling)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes
70 IAD/306 IAP with I-153 (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 3 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 12 minutes
29 IAD/307 IAP with I-153 (0 airborne, 5 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 38 minutes
70 IAD/308 IAP with I-16m24 (1 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Raid is overhead



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Morning Air attack on Vladivostok , at 112,46

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 31,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6



Allied aircraft
I-153 x 1
I-16m24 x 2


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
I-153: 1 destroyed



Aircraft Attacking:
5 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 26000 feet

CAP engaged:
10 BABr-TOF/19 IAP with I-16m24 (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 37 minutes
70 IAD/305 IAP with I-16m24 (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Raid is overhead
70 IAD/306 IAP with I-153 (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Rybolov , at 113,44

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 31,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 5



Allied aircraft
I-153 x 13


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27b Nate: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
I-153: 1 destroyed



CAP engaged:
34 SAD/47 IAP with I-153 (0 airborne, 9 on standby, 0 scrambling)
9 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Hailar , at 107,30

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 19 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 15



Allied aircraft
I-153 x 12
SB-2 x 19


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27b Nate: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
SB-2: 1 damaged



Runway hits 5

Aircraft Attacking:
19 x SB-2 bombing from 15000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 100 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
9th Sentai with Ki-27b Nate (1 airborne, 4 on standby, 10 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 18000 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 18000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 35 minutes
6 planes vectored on to bombers



----------------------------------------------------
12/30/41 Day 4 of invasion
----------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Voroshilov , at 112,45

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 42 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 34
G3M2 Nell x 26
G4M1 Betty x 25



Allied aircraft
I-15bis x 29
I-153 x 48


Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 4 destroyed, 11 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed, 8 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
I-15bis: 2 destroyed
I-153: 2 destroyed
DB-3T: 1 destroyed on ground


Allied ground losses:
4 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 12
Aircraft Attacking:
22 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 11000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
19 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 11000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
32 SAD/5 IAP with I-153 (0 airborne, 12 on standby, 8 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 18000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 18000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes
21 planes vectored on to bombers
32 SAD/48 IAP with I-153 (5 airborne, 10 on standby, 7 scrambling)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 18000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 18000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes
14 planes vectored on to bombers
32 SAD/75 IAP with I-15bis (0 airborne, 14 on standby, 9 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 18000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 18000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 39 minutes
20 planes vectored on to bombers
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Voroshilov , at 112,45

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 40 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-Ic Sally x 14
Ki-27b Nate x 28



Allied aircraft
I-15bis x 20
I-153 x 26


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-Ic Sally: 1 destroyed
Ki-27b Nate: 3 destroyed




CAP engaged:
32 SAD/5 IAP with I-153 (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 10 being recalled, 7 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 18000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 39 minutes
7 planes vectored on to bombers
32 SAD/48 IAP with I-153 (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 18000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 39 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
32 SAD/75 IAP with I-15bis (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 10 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 18000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 43 minutes
14 planes vectored on to bombers

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on 4th Border Defense Fortress, at 116,42 (Kotou)

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 22 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 15



Allied aircraft
I-15bis x 13
SB-2 x 13


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
I-15bis: 3 destroyed
SB-2: 5 destroyed, 5 damaged



Aircraft Attacking:
6 x SB-2 bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 100 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Tainan Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (15 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
15 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 16000
Raid is overhead

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Bikin , at 117,42

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 200 NM, estimated altitude 22,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 75 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 10
B5N2 Kate x 102
D3A1 Val x 67



Allied aircraft
I-15bis x 28
I-16m24 x 63
Mig-3 x 9


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 21 destroyed, 31 damaged
D3A1 Val: 8 destroyed, 24 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
I-15bis: 1 destroyed
I-16m24: 3 destroyed
SB-2: 1 destroyed on ground



Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 41

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x D3A1 Val diving from 10000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
14 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 19000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
9 x D3A1 Val diving from 10000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
13 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 19000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
7 x D3A1 Val diving from 10000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
12 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 19000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
8 x D3A1 Val diving from 10000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
9 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 19000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
8 x D3A1 Val diving from 10000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
14 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 19000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
13 x D3A1 Val diving from 10000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
10 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 19000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
7 IABr-TOF/6 IAP with I-15bis (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(14 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 9 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 69 minutes
9 planes vectored on to bombers
18 IAP-PVO with Mig-3 (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(9 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 6 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 70 minutes
9 planes vectored on to bombers
7 IABr-TOF/39 IAP with I-15bis (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(14 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 11 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 67 minutes
14 planes vectored on to bombers
69 SAD/300 IAP with I-16m24 (2 airborne, 11 on standby, 16 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 13000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 37 minutes
20 planes vectored on to bombers
69 SAD/301 IAP with I-16m24 (3 airborne, 11 on standby, 15 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 23000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 70 minutes
22 planes vectored on to bombers

You have two things that are really hurting you. The Nates BEST performance comes below 10k', both IRL and in game terms. This is by virtue of the fact that it's light frame, low wing loading, and small non-supercharged engine are in harmony with with other in denser air. It's MVR stat is 41 vs the I-153's MVR of 53. The way A2A works the Nate needs to regularly use it's higher topspeed in A2A checks to REDUCE the I-153's better MVR value. BEST case scenario it could HALVE it from 53 to ~26.5. This would yield a MVR Delta of nearly 2 to 1 (Nate would remain at 41). Lesser speed checks would still potentially yield slightly less advantage and sometimes even terms. Then it would come down to LDR, numbers, Pilot EXP, and altitude or DL bonuses.

The OTHER issue is you are not getting the numerical superiority you need. This plays a big role, especially in early offing. LDR stats and overall unit EXP and MOR count too. 2 to 1 odds can be bad. Couple that with a russian opponent with EW support and it might just be too much for our poor nate. MVR is by no means king.

Canvas your units for leaders and change out any that are weak. Keep your Nate units to a Max of 15k, but preferably below 10k'. This isn't unrealistic as the war in China and even Nomonhan was not a high altitude conflict. Limit your offensive operations to one target at ta time. You can't afford to be dispersed. Unity of effort and force economy must be priority.

- Instead of sweeping or Bombing several AFs/targets daily, focus your air assets to the max extent possible (allowing for defensive ops too), and only assault in good weather and every other day. Or at intervals that maximize your advantages and effect the kind of results you are looking for.

- Move an Air HQ in and maximize you air coordination bonuses the best you can.

- You need a numbers advantage to be effective with Nates and Oscars. Make sure you have enough AV support and AFs are healthy (ie, not damaged from your initial attacks).

- Upgrade Nates to Oscars ASAP!!!!

[erstad]

You would think that with 54000 supply in the hex that every factory would repair a point every turn.

R&D factories are different, but are you saying with 54000 supply in the hex a regular factory is not repairing a point a turn? That would seem like a bug, have you posted a save?

[seydlitz_slith]

No, I haven't. I have seen other random comments in other posts that make want to assume that some things are WAD. There must be other factors that are not obvious.

[seydlitz_slith]

Just to let you guys know, I am currently out of town and will return Sunday night. I have done the last turn that Mark sent, but where I am staying has a different type of email connection and provider that is blocking me from connecting with my outbound mail server. The game and posts will resume Sunday evening after I return home.

[seydlitz_slith]

I am back, and we have processed a couple of turns where very little happened. However, this turn, I had an interesting series of sub combats and I launched a shock attack at Voroshilov.

[seydlitz_slith]

Turn 80 24 Feb 1942

Write down this name: LCDR. Tsunayoshi Ogawa

He is evidently the Japanese equivalent of Mush Morton.

This turn, while commanding the I-164 off of Tobali, Ogawa made three consecutive night surface attacks during the same naval phase and sank three allied merchant vessels. There were other Japanese subs in adjacent hexes that also engaged in single attacks, but both missed.

Here we go:

Attack 1:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submarine attack near Toboali at 51,93

Japanese Ships
SS I-164

Allied Ships
xAK Zannis Cambanis, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage



xAK Zannis Cambanis is sighted by SS I-164...
SS I-164 attacking on the surface...

[seydlitz_slith]

Attack 2:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submarine attack near Toboali at 51,93

Japanese Ships
SS I-164, hits 2

Allied Ships
TK Harpa, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage



TK Harpa is sighted by SS I-164...
SS I-164 attacking on the surface...

[seydlitz_slith]

Attack 3:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submarine attack near Toboali at 51,93

Japanese Ships
SS I-164

Allied Ships
xAK Wing Sang, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage



xAK Wing Sang is sighted by SS I-164...
SS I-164 attacking on the surface...