Matrix Games Forums

23-24 March 43

Burma
I have found 40 enemy bombers in Dacca AF. No CAP no flak. Perfect weather, 8k feet altitude all pilots with skill 70+, and what? Not even single hit to enemy planes. Zero, nada.

Morning Air attack on Dacca , at 56,38

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 63 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 122

No Japanese losses

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

Airbase hits 23
Airbase supply hits 12
Runway hits 37

Salmons
I have setup air trap near Tagula Island. Day earlier i found that Tagula have ~40 bombers so i send small TF(3xDD) close to island. I have also re base 250 fighters to Shorthands and they get order to LCAP destroyers. Plan work perfect. Allies lost almost 70 planes for lose of 6 A6M5 and 2 Ki-44. One pilot KIA and one WIA

Morning Air attack on TF, near Woodlark Island at 106,133

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 104
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 16

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 3
TBF-1 Avenger x 5

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
TBF-1 Avenger: 4 destroyed

---------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on TF, near Woodlark Island at 106,133

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 102
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 16

Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 20
F4F-4 Wildcat x 15
SBD-3 Dauntless x 23

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 3 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 15 destroyed

Japanese Ships
DD Isonami

---------------------------------------------

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Woodlark Island at 106,133

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 101
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 15

Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 18
F4F-4 Wildcat x 9
SBD-3 Dauntless x 5
TBF-1 Avenger x 14

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
P-40K Warhawk: 4 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 5 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed
TBF-1 Avenger: 3 destroyed
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
DD Isonami
DD Hatsuyuki
DD Sazanami


China
I have attack and lost. I will need to move some artillery and troops to get trough.
Ground combat at 82,39 (near Sian)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 46524 troops, 457 guns, 769 vehicles, Assault Value = 1776

Defending force 39701 troops, 318 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1475

Japanese adjusted assault: 1002

Allied adjusted defense: 1851

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
2174 casualties reported
Squads: 16 destroyed, 505 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 35 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 32 disabled
Vehicles lost 20 (1 destroyed, 19 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
978 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 94 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled

R&D
N1K1 Geroge advance to 4.43 today. Can i hold research process for next few days. I dont want to R&D it to safe engines.

25 March 43

Salomons
One DE less. I-175 made good job today. Damage to sub is light she will continue patrol
Sub attack near Milne Bay at 101,134

Japanese Ships
SS I-175, hits 9

Allied Ships
DE Litchfield, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DE Chew

Port Moresby is bombed everyday. All Papua bases south of Lae(including) are closed.

I sea enemy SAG in MB hex i will set few bombers on night attack. MB have 160 fighters so day attack is useless. I will also not risk surface action. I have try few time and it not go well. Also i cant react every time i see enemy ships. I must left some me surprise element

DEI
I see some xAP ans few combat ships in Darwin. I will observe to be sure it is not FOW

Burma
From tomorrow Rammre Is. will be garrisoned. I whant my rears secured.

I lost one Ki-44 when enemy sweep above jungle and find lonely Tojo. I think Docup is trying to fight with LCAP over Shwebo). Everyday i am intercepting transports above that base.

Burma will be hot in few weeks(if her decide to start offensive during monsoon). My reckon planes detected 100k troops marching to Burma. They still have at lest month before arrive to Burma but that scare me lot.

China
I am bombing small units that Docup left behind in Yenan area. Mostly ENG and HQ units. I am killing them slowly giving good practice to pilots.

26 March 43

Burma
Ramree Is. is now garrisoned.

Nort OZ
Another turn i see two BB TF in Darwin hex. Probably FoW as it is 2 ship TF.
But is see more ships in North OZ. Some Tankers, Transport ships etc.
I am sending more search planes to area.

Salomon's
Some sub have been damaged by DEs near MB. I am changing hunting ground.
I-160 sunk 1 hex from Rabaul, one. He was heavily damaged near Sydney 5 week ago. She travel so far to sunk 1 hex from safe port[:(]

Home island
After quiet mounts again i see subs around Japan. I have many Ki-49 flaying ASW, lot of naval search. I am sending just converted Es to action.

All shipyard are working in full power. In days i will have all 4 Heavy Cruisers repaired. 10 destroyers will also be ready to back to Pacific. 3 battleships need more time. One will return to combat in month, one in 60 days but Kongo still need 6 months


KB
In 4 days three CV and three CVL and three CVE will start refits. In 14 days two new Unryu carriers will arrive. I will create TF together with cruisers and destroyers i have in Japan and i will sail to Truk. I am planing to have 8 CV KB reedy to combat around 20 April(that should give me ~500 plane carrier force). I think Docup will be able to have ~450 planes if he use one CV he is left(Saratoga) and 6-8 CVE he have in Pacific (Lexington probably is out of action for few months, BIg E also need some time to repair so not earlier that June, July)

KB will defend Salomon's or Marshals as those are most probable places to future invasions wit CV force, and that is main target of KB when it is still rather easy to sunk his CV[8D].

Last days are looking quiet. I think Docup is waiting for Hellcats so i am suspecting first movements on his side in late April or early May. After he upgrade most of CV group to new fighter

80% of CV group upgraded to D4Y1 and 20% to B6N1

Fuel reserve on Pacific is 30k, but tanks are full. 70k will arrive in 10 days, another 70k on 20 days.

27 March 43

Burma
I am bombing allied bases and troops in central Burma
I hope that he have supply problem.

Another transport to Shwebo intercepted, that good. Docup is sweeping above my empty bases and jungle troops trying to capture my leaky CAP but he is avoiding direct confrontation.

DEI
Today i have "main body" sound when search planes spotted TF in Darwin hex.
As i know that mean they detect capital Ship (CV or BB) right?
It look like those two BB detected earlier are really BB. Now they are in 5 ship TF

Those can be two BB i damage during MB battle sailing for repairs to of map in British territory of not damaged ships rebased to use in future ops. I am moving more planes and big ships closer to that area.

Salomon's
Taiho TF rejoin with rest of KB. TF was detected (on sea in destination hex) but before turn end TF was auto disbanded in port (base have 0 DL) i hope Docup did no notice missing TF that was visible during air phase.

koniu

28 March 43

Burma
More rides on enemy AF. More Ki-49 lost. I hope i am burning some supplies allies have.

Planes reckon Colombo 30 ships in port. Some CLs and DD and many cargo ships. I will reckon all bases on cost of India i am in range. I hope to find bigger ships.

Salomon's
I send A6M5 and Ki44 (total 120 planes) to sweep Tagula. result is not good.
25 planes (23 A6M and 2 Ki-44 lost) for 14 on enemy side. 19 pilots KIA. Something defenetly go wrong

I had numeric advantage of first wave, 56 planes against 50 i have surprise effect as there was never more than 20 enemy planes at once in air. I was flying equal planes compeering to enemy (P-40E, F4F4, and Kittyhawk III) so speed was not biggest factor there (351mph of Zero vs 360 of P-40/Kittyhawk and 318 of F4F) Even when Tojo arrive, sadly as last, I lost 2 planes fighting with 40 Tojos against 6 enemy planes. Units where rested with fatigue below 10, morale was 95 or better. Units commanders where good. Pilots with average XP above 60 with some at lower 50 and some at high 70 (balanced mix of pilots)

R&D
N1K2 advance to 7/44

Pilot training
From today i have only one unit training army bomber pilots in ground and ASW and 3 on naval. Other units are focusing on low naval for future kami use.

EDIT:
Two days before N1K1 George arrive. Last turn show up that i need that plane desperately.
It will not change balance of air war but George is better i all except SR.
I hope armor, extra speed and firepower will help.

Maybe next try just sending the Tojos for a day. At least you know they will have a distinct advantage. Then once you wear down the opposition, bring all groups in again. In spite of the advantage you have at this stage in certain aspects, the Japanese planes are still fragile, with no armor, and unless you have either numbers or more speed (Tojo) you could get these results. You didn't mention altitude either, and if you can't get above them your outcome will be mixed.

ORIGINAL: obvert

Maybe next try just sending the Tojos for a day. At least you know they will have a distinct advantage. Then once you wear down the opposition, bring all groups in again. In spite of the advantage you have at this stage in certain aspects, the Japanese planes are still fragile, with no armor, and unless you have either numbers or more speed (Tojo) you could get these results. You didn't mention altitude either, and if you can't get above them your outcome will be mixed.

You can be right with attitude.
We have second best maneuver altitude rule but if i remember I have few massages that he is diving on my planes from 33k ft. So probably some planes where able to climb before i hit him.
I was sweeping at 31k

If I remember rightly the earlier P-40 can't go above 20k with 2nd best maneuver band, but I may be wrong. If I'm right, you might check to with him to see if he's accidentally setting them higher, or in report I guess it should list their original altitude settings.

ORIGINAL: obvert

If I remember rightly the earlier P-40 can't go above 20k with 2nd best maneuver band, but I may be wrong. If I'm right, you might check to with him to see if he's accidentally setting them higher, or in report I guess it should list their original altitude settings.

I am 99,9% sure he give them proper CAP altitudes. When i be at home i will check combat rapport to be sure. I think they just go higher because they have 14 minutes radar warning. Enough time to climb 13k ft up from 20k CAP.

You are correct P-40E and is allowed to fly CAP at max 20k but Kittyhawk III(British name for P-40K?) and F4F can CAP at 31k. Not sure about Kitty

29 March 43

Burma
Japanese bombers attack and heavily damage Dimapur AF. They also destroy 6 C-47 Skytrain on ground and damage 10 more.

I return 4E bomb and close Chiang Mai AF. No plaes lost.


Salomon's
Two SAG? TFs and Transport TF approaching Tagula. All troop, planes and ships in full alert.
Tomorrow can be very interesting day.

I holding my main forces in shadow as i am not sure what exactly is there but i am sending small fast reaction force to intercept him.

30-31 March

Salomon's
Docup reckon dot base that few day ago KB was anchored. Lucky i rebased it.
I will not risk KB detection, i am moving it out of reckon range.

Amphibious TF is unloading In Tagula. 100 fighters in base and at lest two SAG so i will not engage right now. I have only few CL in range so chance against enemy CA.

China
I am moing using north road toward Lanchow. I cross all riwers north of Paotow without takin major loses, in few wekks ai soil cout of Lanchow from central China

R&D
B6N2 advance to 5/43
N1K1 enter production 150/month

End of month is good occasion to summary economy

Koniu,
 
Overall, I think your economy looks great.  Some random thoughts/suggestions, use as you see appropriate.
 
1. Armaments.  Keep building them.  They are like HI, you can't lose them.  As a rough estimate, it takes about 100,000 ARM to build a new IJ Div.   If you look at '45, you get a LOT of new divisions.  you need a pretty big pool of ARM or these will only come in at 1/3 strength.  There is a plot in tracker to show your ARM requirements .v. your current production.  Make sure you are always slightly above that line (you have to plan for some combat losses, neh?)
 
2.  With 175 A6M5 in your pool, I wouldn't build any more.  That is enough to replenish 6 entire CV's.  I generally keep about 120 of each of my current CV type ac in pool and then produce only to maintain that.  When all the Unryu's are built, I then move that up to about 180 of each.  Having extra D4Y's and B6N's is ok as they are really good kami's.  A6M's though are really obsolete at this point and just mediocre kami's.
 
3.  Ditto Oscar IIa.  You are likely just using these as LR escorts ... and how often do you use them in that role?  Again, a very mediocre kami.  Save your HI.
 
4.  Appears that you have decided upon Ki-84b / Ki-83 and J7W1/A7M2 as your final fighters.  All Good.  Having said that, 3 of these 4 use the Ha-43 and the Ki83 uses 2xHa43.  You will need to get a lot of production on this engine.  I suggest you have at least 3 factories on this engine, and be sure that they are in separate cities so that one nuke won't eliminate your fighter production.
 
5.  So right now, I would suggest your fighter production be mostly Tojo/George.  When Ki-84a is available, then Frank/George until Sam arrives and then Frank/Sam.  Add in the Ki83 and J7W1 as they come on board.  You already know that until the Ki83/J7W1 arrive, you cannot compete against the Corsairs/Spits/Bolts/Stangs.  It is a long time before you get those new planes ... so prepare yourself for a lot of losses in the meantime.  Remember, when you do get them you will still be at a disadvantage, just not nearly as bad, and that you will need GOOD pilots in them at that time.

Thenks Pax,

1. Here is how it look in tracker. I can speer some more HI to build them as soon i will have Unryu completed so i move some of it to armor and armament. If i read it as should be i am always above. I must remember only about loses. I need also remember that when allies will start bombing campaing of Home Island, production will be criples. I will turn on some production.


2. I have already stooped them. Tracker table is from before i do that. 175 A6M5 in pool plus many will return to pool when i upgrade LBA units to N1K1.

3. I am building them strictly for future kami or to escort kami attacks. I always think that with 250kg bombs they are decent kami planes. or at lest cheaper (i we watching from balanced production side not HI cost) as they use Ha-35 engine and i have many factories of that engine and after A6M5 stopped i am only building Ki-45 that is using Ha-35

4. Actually i have 4 and soon it will be 5 factories spreed in 4 cities. Sooner or later i will have to expend those factories (160 engines/month is not enough)

5. Nothing to add here

Last thought: 250kg isn't terrible, but isn't that great.  When you send kami's they use a target list just like any other Naval attack: CV>BB>CA>...  by '44 allied ships and damage control is such that is takes a lot of 250kg hits to do much.  Just like your NavAttack, your best kami's are those using +500kg.  The 250kg are ok, but ....
 
just keep that in mind when you are doing your kami builds.  Yeah, I definitely have a LOT of 250kg kami's in my final mix ... but I am trying to get as many 500kg and 800kg kami's as I can.  Oh, and 2x250 != 1x500kg at all.  it just 2x250 kg that may bounce off.  1x500kg will penetrate.

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

Last thought: 250kg isn't terrible, but isn't that great.  When you send kami's they use a target list just like any other Naval attack: CV>BB>CA>...  by '44 allied ships and damage control is such that is takes a lot of 250kg hits to do much.  Just like your NavAttack, your best kami's are those using +500kg.  The 250kg are ok, but ....

just keep that in mind when you are doing your kami builds.  Yeah, I definitely have a LOT of 250kg kami's in my final mix ... but I am trying to get as many 500kg and 800kg kami's as I can.  Oh, and 2x250 != 1x500kg at all.  it just 2x250 kg that may bounce off.  1x500kg will penetrate.

OK. But all planes available in `44 that fly with 500kg or 800kg bomb are navy planes. For army all of them are using only 250kg.
Only Ki-119 and Ki-115 are using 800kg bomb (available in 12/45 and 6/45). So there is not big chose for `44 and early `45 and Oscar not looking so bad.

At lest Oscar will eat some of CAP and allow D4Y to get trugh it.

1-2 Apr 43

Burma
In air and ground quiet. But search planes from Rangoon detect CV TF sailing toward Calcutta. It look like 2 or 3 CVE. Docup is not in position to tray CV actions in that area so i think he just what me to see them there. I will move ~100 navy bombers closer to Burma.

Salomon`s
Port Moresby is lost. Docup is bombing base from air and sea every day. Supplies almost zero. I think PM is place where next allied landing in Salomon`s will have place as it not require CV support and will give lvl 3 AF to allies.

Marshals.
I hear sinking sound. Tracker i showing USN sub that sunk near Maoeolap after 250 kg bomb hit. That is good.

China
We have here WW1 situation, Chinese dig in in mountains i am still not sure that i want to fight there.

Air production.
first 10 N1K1 Gorges in pool. In 8 days first Sentai from Salomon's will upgrade to it.

KB
Short term plan for KB is to stay undetected. I think it is most powerful weapon of Kido Butai right now.

Medium term plan is to intercept probable allied invasions in Pacific area or be ready to move at full toward DEI

Long term plan is to die with glory durring huge CV clash

KB have now 180 F, 148 DB and 104 TB


Refits
CV Kaga beginning refit in shipyard at ***
CV Hiyo beginning refit in shipyard at ***
CV Akagi beginning refit in shipyard at ***
CVL Ryujo beginning refit in shipyard at ***
CVL Zuiho beginning refit in shipyard at ***
CVL Ryuho beginning refit in shipyard at ***
CVE Taiyo beginning refit in shipyard at ***
CVE Unyo beginning refit in shipyard at ***
CVE Chuyo beginning refit in shipyard at ***

ORIGINAL: koniu

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

Last thought: 250kg isn't terrible, but isn't that great.  When you send kami's they use a target list just like any other Naval attack: CV>BB>CA>...  by '44 allied ships and damage control is such that is takes a lot of 250kg hits to do much.  Just like your NavAttack, your best kami's are those using +500kg.  The 250kg are ok, but ....

just keep that in mind when you are doing your kami builds.  Yeah, I definitely have a LOT of 250kg kami's in my final mix ... but I am trying to get as many 500kg and 800kg kami's as I can.  Oh, and 2x250 != 1x500kg at all.  it just 2x250 kg that may bounce off.  1x500kg will penetrate.

OK. But all planes available in `44 that fly with 500kg or 800kg bomb are navy planes. For army all of them are using only 250kg.
Only Ki-119 and Ki-115 are using 800kg bomb (available in 12/45 and 6/45). So there is not big chose for `44 and early `45 and Oscar not looking so bad.

At lest Oscar will eat some of CAP and allow D4Y to get trugh it.

Aren't the hits from a kami bigger than the bomb load? I've always assumed so, but I haven't seen this mentioned, come to think of it. A plane full of fuel hitting loaded with bombs is surely more damaging than just the bombs? I would also think a 2E should be given a larger boom than a 1E. A Kate more than an Oscar, by some factor. An Emily would make a very big boom!

Thinking of that, how many groups, or maybe what percentage of groups do you change to kamis, Pax? I know you can't change back, so you don't want to get stuck with all kamis, especially if you get short of pilots.

China
We have here WW1 situation, Chinese dig in in mountains i am still not sure that i want to fight there.

Where? Do you need to, or can you just cut off their supply and let them sit?