::Felix, Ferdinand and FRUPAC:: obvert (A) v Greyjoy (J)

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

You will soon grow to love your Fletchers. [&o] They can do everything well rather than you have to choose a specific Class of DDs as Japan to do a specific mission. I keep my pre-war DDs with my CVs and allow the Fletchers to go mainly in SC TF with your modern CLs and BBs.

I can tell you all about them from the other side, and now I get to start learning how to use them myself. [:)]

It's been really fun getting new toys for the Allies, things I know more about and have a deeper connection to than to the Japanese stuff. My grandpa was making ships during the war, and as they roll of the slipways in Portland I get a proud kind of feeling even just seeing them enter the game.

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

You will soon grow to love your Fletchers. [&o] They can do everything well rather than you have to choose a specific Class of DDs as Japan to do a specific mission. I keep my pre-war DDs with my CVs and allow the Fletchers to go mainly in SC TF with your modern CLs and BBs.

I can tell you all about them from the other side, and now I get to start learning how to use them myself. [:)]

It's been really fun getting new toys for the Allies, things I know more about and have a deeper connection to than to the Japanese stuff. My grandpa was making ships during the war, and as they roll of the slipways in Portland I get a proud kind of feeling even just seeing them enter the game.

Yeah, the Fletchers and the Cleveland Class CLs are something the Japanese just can't deal with. However, they still come with "craptacular" crew skills until 1944. Something I don't really get. But in the end, it seems that the ships are so much better that the crew skills do not matter as much. I forget if you are playing a Babes scenario but with the fixed AA, I find that it really pays to hold old Allied BBs out of the war and just keep upgrading them. They eventually become AA pin cushions and are really valuable ships in every aspect but night combat. Something they should avoid.

The game more than anything else taught me how totally outclassed the Japanese were in every aspect of the war. The US eventually just buried them under the weight of material.

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]Sept 27 - 28, 1942[/font]

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[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font] The I-22 finishes off APD Gregory. None of our subs get a shot at the mini-KB near Nauru as it backs out of range.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]INDIA: [/font] Bombing continues slowly at Bellary as troops move that direction. This was originally designed as a feint, but something has a move marker coming out of Bellary, so I wonder if it's working so well he's evacuating rather than reinforcing. I wanted him to move troops here in lieu of towards the tip of India, where I'll be sending a bunch of armor and some other good stuff. Looks like I should get a divisions or two over to make this an actual thrust if his troops do indeed leave.

I'm sending about 70k troops to Benares to begin working on that half of the map. From reading his previous AARs I know Nick pays very good attention to troops levels at critical bases, and notices big drops or jumps in numbers. The next two days should provide him with some interesting things to think about and I'l be able to see if something starts shifting around on his side to compensate.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SO PAC: [/font] The Japanese go all in with what they have at Rekata Bay and shock attack!! [X(]

Just enough of the 112th Cavalry Rgt is flown in to repulse the attack at 1:3 and give the Japanese another 30 squads out of commission. Since this is two small naval units that means 75% of their squads are disabled or destroyed currently. I'll try to get the rest of the Cavalry in before hitting back. I don't want to turn a good day into a bad one, and the Japanese won't likely recover too quickly here.

This could be significant. If Nick sends in more that's another TF that has to negotiate the gaggle of subs and soon mines, and possibly PTs, here. They'll also not be prepped and will have to face a stiffer unit that has some arty with it. If he brings in BBs he'll have to face the same and those are precious commodities for Japan. This is such a good area to fight for in for the Allies if it hasn't been really built up, and it's easy to see why it was the turning point in the war.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CHINA: [/font] The bombing of troops is getting painful. About 30-40 squads disabled a day when the weather is clear. Praying for rain!

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SIGINT:[/font] Through putting together SIGINT reports and troops names that have just invaded bases in the mid-Solomons, I've learning that Nick may be playing a bit of a dangerous game here. He's taking the garrison from rear bases to battle these Allied incursions, and I'd bet nothing has yet replaced those troops. So if the Rekata Bay battle for instance takes some time, regardless of which way it goes, there could be several rear bases with simply a base force and a construction unit sitting there with several air groups in it. I'm going to take a look around and start prepping my paratroops for the smallest garrison out of Buin, Torokina and Shortlands.

If i remember correctly air groups have an AV equal to the number of pilots, but I've never seen this in play, so I wonder if that is actually true?

[font="Trebuchet MS"]TOROKINA

34th Const Co is located at Torokina(109,130).
45th Field Const Co is located at Torokina(109,130).
46th Field Const Co is located at Torokina(109,130).
48th JNAF AF Unit is located at Torokina(109,130).
49th Field Const Co is located at Torokina(109,130).

BUIN

46th Naval Guard Unit is located at Buin(109,131).
44th JNAF AF Unit is located at Buin(109,131).

SHORTLANDS

Maizuru 3rd SNLF is located at Shortlands(110,132).

REKATA BAY

Maizuru 3rd SNLF - (previously at Shortlands) 9/42
46th Naval Guard Unit - (previously at Buin) 9/42

VANGUNU

Guards Mixed Brigade (previously at Rabaul) 9/42
42nd Naval Guard Unit [/font]

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Sept 27, 42
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Sub attack near Kirakira at 114,141

Japanese Ships
SS I-22, hits 1

Allied Ships
APD Gregory, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
APD Ward

SS I-22 launches 4 torpedoes at APD Gregory
I-22 diving deep ....
APD Ward fails to find sub, continues to search...
APD Ward attacking submerged sub ....
SS I-22 eludes APD Ward by diving deep
Escort abandons search for sub

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Ground combat at Rekata Bay (113,134)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 2773 troops, 31 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 65

Defending force 966 troops, 37 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 39

Japanese adjusted assault: 12

Allied adjusted defense: 46

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 3 (fort level 0)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-)
Attacker: shock(+), fatigue(-)

Japanese ground losses:
194 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 27 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
70 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
Maizuru 3rd SNLF
46th Naval Guard Unit

Defending units:
A Coy/NG Rifles
112th Cavalry Rgt /1
70th Cst AA Rgt /3
Horn Isl Base Force /1

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Morning Air attack on 23rd Air Flotilla , at 55,33 , near Rajshashi

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 44 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 18
P-38E Lightning x 2

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
235 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 10 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Ocean Island at 127,137

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17D Fortress x 3

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Yukaze

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-17D Fortress bombing from 6000 feet
Naval Attack: 8 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Sept 28, 42
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Night Naval bombardment of Lunga at 114,138

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 11 damaged
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed on ground
H6K4 Mavis: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
CL Honolulu
CL Helena
DD Hammann
DD Anderson
DD Hughes
DD Aaron Ward

Japanese ground losses:
251 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 27 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 22
Port hits 7
Port supply hits 1

SOC-1 Seagull acting as spotter for CL Honolulu
CL Honolulu firing at Maizuru 2nd SNLF
CL Helena firing at Lunga
DD Hammann firing at Lunga
DD Anderson firing at Lunga
DD Hughes firing at 53rd Naval Guard Unit
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/font]

Ships Lost:

[font="Trebuchet MS"]Loss of APD Gregory on Sep 27, 1942 is admitted[/font]

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[font="Trebuchet MS"]It looks like this mini-KB is heading off back to Truk or Ponape, but I can't be sure, so all TFs are suspended for now. Also, a raider groups of what looks like CL/DD are out in between Cent Pac and So Pac and could go for either tomorrow. Nick knows due to the B-17 bombing that I know they are there, so maybe now he won't send them in. I have TFs in place just in case. Can't wait to get a PBY group onto Ocean Island. I'll start flying some support there in the next few days and get some subs to drop supply. [/font]

[obvert]

Based on the recent SIGINT report, have a look at this!!!!!! [&o][X(][&o]

[obvert]

and this!!!!! [8D]

[BBfanboy]

Ain't it nice to have a sub with working torps!
Looks like two hits in two attacks? Any bonus explosions?

[JocMeister]

Niiiiice! [&o]

[obvert]

Wow! Never expected such direct impacts from SIGINT, but this is surely direct and it makes a huge impact!

The Truant is the only non-US sub heading down here, so a bit of good luck that it found the KB with it's working torpedoes, and then found (what looks to be) Kaga, the slowest of the KB CVs. No sinking sounds were heard, and Kaga and Akagi are both pretty tough. I had Akagi take two and make it home easily, so this may not result in a sinking, but I'll keep working on it!

This is off the coast of Sumatra, still about 15-20 hexes from 41,87, where these subs are heading, and the hex SIGINT gave. So the KB has been moving into position in the IO and looks ready to get involved somehow. This changes the force relationship a bit, as whether the Kaga makes it or not, it'll have significant repurcussions now.

I'll be sending in all available subs, including some longer range Dutch subs and any other Brits in the area especially. I know one Dutch sub is on placement near here. His closest port will be Sabang, and there will be LBA nearby, unfortunately. I'm sending subs into the straits and right up as far as they can go before hitting known minefields. The hunt is on!

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Ain't it nice to have a sub with working torps!
Looks like two hits in two attacks? Any bonus explosions?

There were explosions in the replay, but not sure that indicates anything extra like fuel or ammo storage explosions. I haven't seen a correlation that was not cable, but maybe I've not paid attention, either.

Either way, we're going after her, and if her speed is down at all that should help the chase and in any further contact.

if you remember the Yorktown took two in the deep South Pacific, and she managed to get through hordes of IJN subs to make it back to PH, so there's no guarantee of getting another shot.

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Ain't it nice to have a sub with working torps!
Looks like two hits in two attacks? Any bonus explosions?

There were explosions in the replay, but not sure that indicates anything extra like fuel or ammo storage explosions. I haven't seen a correlation that was not cable, but maybe I've not paid attention, either.

Either way, we're going after her, and if her speed is down at all that should help the chase and in any further contact.

if you remember the Yorktown took two in the deep South Pacific, and she managed to get through hordes of IJN subs to make it back to PH, so there's no guarantee of getting another shot.

If there was any fuel or ammo explosions it will be listed in the CR.

And if you remember I lost the York to only 2 TTs recently...so nothing is given beforehand.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Ain't it nice to have a sub with working torps!
Looks like two hits in two attacks? Any bonus explosions?

There were explosions in the replay, but not sure that indicates anything extra like fuel or ammo storage explosions. I haven't seen a correlation that was not cable, but maybe I've not paid attention, either.

Either way, we're going after her, and if her speed is down at all that should help the chase and in any further contact.

if you remember the Yorktown took two in the deep South Pacific, and she managed to get through hordes of IJN subs to make it back to PH, so there's no guarantee of getting another shot.

If there was any fuel or ammo explosions it will be listed in the CR.

And if you remember I lost the York to only 2 TTs recently...so nothing is given beforehand.

I hadn't remembered from seeing it in turn, but now that I've got the report, here it is!! Fuel storage explosion!!!

So that'll surely add some reduced speed, extra fires and more float damage. Looking good.

Here is the CR:

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Sept 30, 42
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Sub attack near Sabang at 33,70

Japanese Ships
CV Kaga, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
BB Haruna
BB Kongo
CA Furutaka
CA Chokai
CA Atago
CS Chitose
DD Hagikaze
DD Arashi
DD Hamakaze
DD Naganami
DD Tatsuyuke
DD Inazuma
DD Kasumi
DD Yamagumo

Allied Ships
SS Truant

Fuel storage explosion on CV Kaga
SS Truant launches 6 torpedoes at CV Kaga
Truant diving deep ....
DD Tatsuyuke fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Inazuma fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Kasumi fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Yamagumo fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Yamagumo fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Yamagumo fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Yamagumo attacking submerged sub ....
DD Yamagumo fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/font]

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]Sept 29 - 30, 1942[/font]

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[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font] The Swordfish gave the first indication that the intel from a few days ago might actually pay off when on the night of the 29th it launched at two TFs, including the CA Takao. All missed.

Then on the 30th Truant comes through on the SIGINT tip in a big way! They're having a bit of a party at Station Hypo HQ in Honolulu! Now 6 subs within a two day travel to Sabang will be on the hunt, with more piling on from 4-5 days away. I just had a thought that Nick could stash her at the absolute closest port on one of the islands off the coast of Sumatra. I'll head that way with one US sub as well.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]INDIA: [/font] At last Nick sends in protection for his troops in the clear and the two sweeps and one bombing run meet heavy LR CAP of Oscars and Zeros. The P-38Es that I have left cut through the Oscars, but not enough so that the bombing run is safe. Loses on the day are about even, but we lose some B-25C and P-40K that I don't want to be without right now. Sweeps are off for tomorrow, then I may bring in more reinforcements, as it's a good place to sweep where he's away from radar coverage.

Bellary had indeed been vacated at least for now. I'll head in with armor and see if this is real, or if it's some kind of trap where he rails in a division or two after we get to the city.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CENT PAC: [/font]The mini-KB bugged out and shipping runs resume to the Gilberts. Some stuff is being flown in to Ocean, and I'll risk a convoy soon with some surface protection. Wildcats now have drop tanks as of Oct 1, so I can just barely LR CAP Ocean as well.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SO PAC: [/font] Our CV TF moving up through the New Hebrides nearly suffers the same fate as Kaga when the I-10 is sighted by escorts new Luganville. I'll pull this back to avoid search if possible, and also to mis-direct another subs in the area. I'm curous how Nick will react, as the TF has a 4/4 DL, but also he got the report of what ships are here from the sub, and with the CLAA it's obviously a CV TF. He can't know how many though, and so risking anything less than the full KB will be suspect. As long as there is no definitive intel this could be great and give a lot of possibilities to the use of surface ships in the Solomons. I could even risk a dash for Tulagi since I have a full division prepped and some AP/AK ready to go at its base in Suva. In a week I could invade both Lunga and Tulagi.

I'll at least get this idea moving and prepare what I can to see how Nick is moving in the background.

The Cavalry has made it fully onto Rekata Bay, and I think it's best not to strike now, but to build a few forts and wait to see how the next week plays out. The Kaga hit changes a lot and the CV sighting for the Japanese also means he has to really think before sending out BBs and valuable surface ships to the Southern Solomons. I've got three cruiser TFs and the CV TF in the area so could tangle with just about anything as ing as the main KB is in the Indian Ocean. Here we go!

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CHINA: [/font] The first DA by the troops in the Chikhiang hex is a bit too code to a 1:1 for my comfort, but the Japanese take worse casualties that include 50 vehicles destroyed or disabled. I've got another unit still arriving, so hopefully that will tip the next attack more in our favor. Also, the best part of this one was that it didn't reduce forts. At forts three this is a tough place to attack and bombing is not too effective. With each loss of a fort it'll get a lot easier.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SIGINT:[/font] The China HQ is being at Henyang makes me think he doesn't plan to go to the mountains just yet,but will focus on Kweiyang and that route. Not that this will help the defense much, but good to know, anyway.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]China Expeditionary Army is located at Hengyang(80,53).[/font]

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Sept 29, 42
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Sub attack near Sabang at 33,70

Japanese Ships
DD Harukaze
DD Fumizuki
DD Kamikaze

Allied Ships
SS Swordfish

SS Swordfish launches 2 torpedoes at DD Harukaze
DD Harukaze fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Kamikaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Kamikaze attacking submerged sub ....
DD Kamikaze is out of ASW ammo
DD Kamikaze is out of ASW ammo
DD Kamikaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

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Sub attack near Sabang at 33,70

Japanese Ships
CA Takao
DD Ariake
DD Hatsuharu
DD Takanami
DD Katsutade
DD Tadeshiwa
DD Hayate
DD Oite

Allied Ships
SS Swordfish

SS Swordfish launches 4 torpedoes at CA Takao
DD Katsutade fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Tadeshiwa fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Hayate fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Oite fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

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Ground combat at Chihkiang (78,50)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 34119 troops, 458 guns, 1132 vehicles, Assault Value = 1256

Defending force 40185 troops, 145 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1264

Japanese adjusted assault: 1098

Allied adjusted defense: 1300

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 3)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), leaders(+), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1183 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 199 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 28 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 15 disabled
Vehicles lost 55 (1 destroyed, 54 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1403 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 121 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 26 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
18th Tank Regiment
34th Division
17th Tank Regiment
23rd Tank Regiment
3rd Tank Regiment
12th Tank Regiment
17th Division
9th Tank Regiment
13th Tank Regiment
19th Tank Regiment
15th Tank Regiment
11th Tank Regiment
6th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
Tonei Hvy Gun Regiment
12th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
3rd Hvy.Artillery Regiment
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Hvy.Artillery Regiment
1st Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
9th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
4th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
11th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
4th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
13th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
13th Army
20th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
25th Chinese Corps
4th Chinese Corps
45th Chinese Corps
46th Chinese Corps
23rd Group Army

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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Sept 30, 42
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Morning Air attack on 1st Raiding Regiment, at 55,32 , near Patna

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 38 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 32
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 73

Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 15
P-40K Warhawk x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 5 destroyed, 5 damaged
P-40K Warhawk: 2 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
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Morning Air attack on 1st Raiding Regiment, at 55,32 , near Patna

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 32
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 23

Allied aircraft
P-38E Lightning x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38E Lightning: 1 destroyed

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Morning Air attack on 1st Raiding Regiment, at 55,32 , near Patna

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 41 NM, estimated altitude 23,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 32
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 14

Allied aircraft
P-38E Lightning x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 1 destroyed

No Allied losses

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ASW attack near Vanua Lava at 121,149

Japanese Ships
SS I-10, hits 5, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CA San Francisco
CA Salt Lake City
CA Pensacola
CLAA San Juan
CLAA San Diego
CLAA Atlanta
DD Meredith
DD Bancroft
DD Lardner
DD Duncan
DD Laffey

SS I-10 is sighted by escort
I-10 diving deep ....
DD Bancroft fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Lardner attacking submerged sub ....
DD Bancroft attacking submerged sub ....
DD Lardner attacking submerged sub ....
SS I-10 eludes ASW attack from DD Lardner
DD Duncan fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Duncan attacking submerged sub ....
DD Duncan fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/font]

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[font="Trebuchet MS"]Air osses for the 30th aren't terrible, but it's been impossible to get a MB pool of anything lately. I have to use them to bomb troops, and this is just going to happen a bit I guess. [/font]

[JocMeister]

Get used to your bomber pools being empty. [:)]

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

Get used to your bomber pools being empty. [:)]

Especially with PDU-off!

I do have some plans to conserve, and I'll be using some planes that in a PDU-on game I wouldn't probably choose. Hopefully the diversity of a PDU-off game works to my advantage there, needing to use everything at least a bit.

One good things is that my pilots pools are burgeoning right now. Combat has been limited, but I'm getting some good stores built up at least.

[JocMeister]

I don´t think PDU ON or OFF will make much of a difference. In our game ALL my MB and HB pools was empty. [:)]

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

I don´t think PDU ON or OFF will make much of a difference. In our game ALL my MB and HB pools was empty. [:)]

I haven't said much about my plans regarding bombing. I've got to keep Nick off balance as I think he's a better Japanese defender than I ever was, and I can't simply bomb every turn, even facing A6M and Ki-43 for much of the game. I have to keep him guessing, keep him shifting and off balance.

My usage will be less than was common for the Allied bombers in our game, and I'll be trying to use the bombers more in smaller packages spread over many targets, not usually multiple days in a row for the same target. There will be exceptions of course, but that is the loose plan. Less usage, hitting around the big bases and not taking them on unless it's absolutely necessary. I tried it once already to see mainly just how bad it would be, and it was pretty bad.

This all could change as I move forward and discover that doesn't work, but that's the general idea now. We'll see. I could be at 0 in the pools for the entire game too! [:)]

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

Get used to your bomber pools being empty. [:)]

Especially with PDU-off!

I do have some plans to conserve, and I'll be using some planes that in a PDU-on game I wouldn't probably choose. Hopefully the diversity of a PDU-off game works to my advantage there, needing to use everything at least a bit.

One good things is that my pilots pools are burgeoning right now. Combat has been limited, but I'm getting some good stores built up at least.

Yes, really requires a bit more attention to detail but in the end I think it is more of a nightmare for Nick.

[Q-Ball]

Allies do not get a free lunch with PDU-OFF. It hurts the Allies, no question. But I also think it hurts Japan much more. The impact to Japan:
--Oscar remains primary IJA fighter for most of the war
--Sonia remains in service with many units
--Several fighters which are PDU-ON mainstays, like Tojo, George, are much less important, and can only be used by a handful of units
--HELEN is barely used; most MB units are stuck with un-armored Sally
--Production is much, much more fragmented and complicated

I think it's more realistic, but defintely Japan hurt more than Allies

[veji1]

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

Allies do not get a free lunch with PDU-OFF. It hurts the Allies, no question. But I also think it hurts Japan much more. The impact to Japan:
--Oscar remains primary IJA fighter for most of the war
--Sonia remains in service with many units
--Several fighters which are PDU-ON mainstays, like Tojo, George, are much less important, and can only be used by a handful of units
--HELEN is barely used; most MB units are stuck with un-armored Sally
--Production is much, much more fragmented and complicated

I think it's more realistic, but defintely Japan hurt more than Allies

And it makes a successful first 6 months of war so much more important. with PDU on Japan can still undertake strong operations in all 42 and has a dominant airforce, not throughout the map, but at the point of choice, in 43. with PDU off, once the zero becomes outclassed (so fairly quickly), Japan is stuck, can't do much offensively with his airforce and has already a hard time defending his bases. If he has managed 6 strong first months were he bottled up the central plains, occupied norther Australia and properly garrisonned SOPAC, well he can from then on somewhat compensate with the general slowdown effect on operations that PDU off brings. But if his first 6 months have been lacklustre... summer 42 is not a nice experience already.

Here Greyjoy got unlucky/failed in China, got stuck too far forward in India (and got very unlucky with utterly trashed production) and has left the SRA dangerously exposed already, with a negligent SOPAC... This will make for a painful game.... with PDU on japan can still right a ship in the second half of 42, without.. gulps...

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ORIGINAL: veji1

And it makes a successful first 6 months of war so much more important. with PDU on Japan can still undertake strong operations in all 42 and has a dominant airforce, not throughout the map, but at the point of choice, in 43. with PDU off, once the zero becomes outclassed (so fairly quickly), Japan is stuck, can't do much offensively with his airforce and has already a hard time defending his bases. If he has managed 6 strong first months were he bottled up the central plains, occupied norther Australia and properly garrisonned SOPAC, well he can from then on somewhat compensate with the general slowdown effect on operations that PDU off brings. But if his first 6 months have been lacklustre... summer 42 is not a nice experience already.

Here Greyjoy got unlucky/failed in China, got stuck too far forward in India (and got very unlucky with utterly trashed production) and has left the SRA dangerously exposed already, with a negligent SOPAC... This will make for a painful game.... with PDU on japan can still right a ship in the second half of 42, without.. gulps...

These are a lot of assumptions above about my opponents force compositions and capabilities that I've not discussed here. I hope they are conjecture and not from his AAR. I will assume they are simply your thoughts on the game, but the part on the SRA is odd for me to read because I've not mentioned it since Java fell and I have no idea what he has there or not. It's certainly not 'exposed' with the KB sitting off of Sumatra! [:D]

He has not yet failed in China, for sure. He's had a few tough attacks, but so did I in my several Japanese games, and still made very good progress there. What may hurt him is not the distance travelled but the supply and resources consumed to do it. He's flying a lot of missions, bombarding and attacking a lot there.

He didn't occupy the deep Indian area much and only had to retreat (successfully, I might add, without major loss of troops or equipment) to a more defensible position once the Allies got strong enough to contest. He's far from done there if he wants to stay, and until the Allies can successfully make amphibious landings in Ceylon and behind him in Burma or the Andamans, India continues to be a source of HI, supply and extra oil. He's spent a lot but has also defended well when challenged and at this point is certainly more powerful there still. That's where you'll find the Tojos.

So Pac is open, but if he picks his spots, doesn't go all in and fight for it all, this could be an advantage for Japan. So Pac is what cost Japan too much in the actual war, and bled them of good pilots and men. It costs to fight so far from home, and he's smart in my opinion not to have built it up. It's experience, not negligence.

So I can't say yet what direction this game will go, and I have ultimate respect for my opponent who has shown tenacity, skill and a rare ability to 'read the leaves' and make the right call at the right time in playing Japan before. PDU-off will be hard on his side, but it will also mean that I'll be using FM-1/2 on my CVEs (which nobody ever does!), and P-40s and P-39s in 1944. The P-38s that are restricted remain that way and are lost, so I only get the very limited production runs (which total 104 airframes to date). By the time I'll have an advantage in the air, the Allies always have an advantage in the air, and I'll need it! [;)]