The First Team: Take Two!

[John 3rd]

Thanks guys--this "MANIC" Japanese player cannot wait to 'keep up the skeer!'  [:D]

As to industrial questions, I would defer to Brad on some of those questions.  He has masterfully run this economy and I credit it to him.  The Tojo/Tony question is a good one.  I just looked at the August 3rd turn and saw Tony bounced up to 178 as Oscar factory converted over to Tony.  The replacement of Oscar with these excellent aircraft shall truly help us.

As to the next area for research A6M5 would be fine and useful.  What about Betty 2/Judy/Jill?
 

[John 3rd]

Haven't done a base-by-base map in quite a while and think the Aleutians are a PERFECT place to start! Chronology:

Winter 41-42
The Japanese land at Attu and Amchitka to begin base construction

Spring 42
The rest of the islands between these bases are taken over by the Japanese and base forces/construction units move in.

Summer 42
A scare shakes the Japanese Command as to how vulnerable the Aleutians are. Orders are cut for 2 Chinese Independent Brigades to reinforce Amchitka and Attu. Increased recon determines that every Allied base is empty.

"Operation Shoestring II" occurs in June as every base from Cold Bay west is taken.

Late-July spots the increased Allied build-up around Cold Bay and the Invasion of Cold Bay.

Here is the current deployment and status of Japanese forces:

[USSAmerica]

Got my fingers crossed for you, John!  [8D]

[bigbaba]

maybe it would be better to go for the A6M5? imho, its important to get a replacement for the A6M2 and A6M3 as carrier based fighters. judy and jills are a upgrade to val and kate, but to get them close to the enemy carriers, you need good fighter planes. although the A6M5 is a bit weaker then the hellcat, its definitly a upgrade to the earlier versions without any armor. the betty 2 isnt worth the research because it is brings very little upgrades to the betty 1

[Q-Ball]

A couple aircraft production notes, but good report:

1. I'm not that worried on Nakajima engines, though we may expand a few. The number "required" is inflated by Oscars and A6M3, models we are not actually building at the moment. In the near term, we are probably going to run the A6M2 pretty skinny, because it will be obsolete with the A6M3a. The M3 factory is idle, and will remain so.

We can also manipulate Naka consumption by turning Helen on/off. For this reason, I expanded Sally, so that Sally is the main IJA Bomber.

The other thing is that I don't anticipate producing 420 Tojos/mo after the first couple months. We expanded production to get it early, which we didn't unfortunately. We will probably produce for 3 months at that level to fill out all units and create a pool, then ramp down.

BTW, I had no idea Oscar auto-upgraded to TONY in this Big B Version! The last game I played, Oscar I upgraded to Oscar II. WOW! I have to check that out. We need more Kawa engines if that is the case.

2. On IJA Bombers, we stopped producing the Lilly awhile ago. The factory is idle. We may even convert the factory soon once we get a pool of Sallys, we need some Lilly pool for reinforcements.

3. As far as researching new Aircraft, we are not in a hurry to do so. IMO, the planes worth spending supplies on to get earlier in 1943 are the Jack, Francis, Jill, Judy, Zeke in that order. From what I understand, you can't really get an advance until approx. 3-4 months before actual date. We can work slowly now on Jack to have R&D factories complete by 7/43 or so, we'll probably go JACK first. All of those models are relatively late in 1943; the early 1943 adds are not planes worth spending supplies to get earlier.

As to G4M2, I look for other's opinions, but I don't think it's worth spending supplies for upgrade. The only difference is a slightly increased bombload, that's it. The Betty though is still not a good land bomber, especially when the Allies have Corsairs and Spits and other nasty planes, so I don't see that as worth it.

[John 3rd]

This is why I always defer to my partner in crime!  He has already seen most of this and made plans for dealing with it.  AMAZING! 

Jacks for the Navy and Franks for the Army--a wonderful combination.  [&o][&o][&o]

We will get Taiho, Unryu, and Katsuragi prior to the advent of A6M5, Judy, and Jill.  Figure we get the trio in June 1943.  With these 3 CV and CVLs Chitose and Chiyoda will can downgrade their planes to M3a, Val, and Kate while using the new planes as a 'pool' to ugrade several of our best Daitai at that point.  Should serve to help some at that point.

[Hornblower]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

This is why I always defer to my partner in crime!  He has already seen most of this and made plans for dealing with it.  AMAZING! 

Jacks for the Navy and Franks for the Army--a wonderful combination.  [&o][&o][&o]

We will get Taiho, Unryu, and Katsuragi prior to the advent of A6M5, Judy, and Jill.  Figure we get the trio in June 1943.  With these 3 CV and CVLs Chitose and Chiyoda will can downgrade their planes to M3a, Val, and Kate while using the new planes as a 'pool' to ugrade several of our best Daitai at that point.  Should serve to help some at that point.

A good partner is as important and a good Foe in this game... and good luck..

[Q-Ball]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

This is why I always defer to my partner in crime!  He has already seen most of this and made plans for dealing with it.  AMAZING! 

Jacks for the Navy and Franks for the Army--a wonderful combination.  [&o][&o][&o]

We will get Taiho, Unryu, and Katsuragi prior to the advent of A6M5, Judy, and Jill.  Figure we get the trio in June 1943.  With these 3 CV and CVLs Chitose and Chiyoda will can downgrade their planes to M3a, Val, and Kate while using the new planes as a 'pool' to ugrade several of our best Daitai at that point.  Should serve to help some at that point.

Thanks, but it's a LOOOOOOOOOOOONG haul from the Tojo to the Frank. A long, interminable, pride-swallowing haul. I have 500 Franks in my pool in my other PBEM, I wish I could move a few over!

Even then, a good Frank pilot will most just trade 1-1 vs. Allied, on a good day, and if you have numbers

[John 3rd]

Don't I know with Dan and I's game!
  

[ny59giants]

BTW, I had no idea Oscar auto-upgraded to TONY in this Big B Version! The last game I played, Oscar I upgraded to Oscar II. WOW! I have to check that out. We need more Kawa engines if that is the case.

Brad,
I expect you to know how to use Tracker to see what auto upgrades to what. If John made this comment, then.....

[John 3rd]

FINE!  That would be my UNPAID Therapist speaking...

[Q-Ball]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

BTW, I had no idea Oscar auto-upgraded to TONY in this Big B Version! The last game I played, Oscar I upgraded to Oscar II. WOW! I have to check that out. We need more Kawa engines if that is the case.

Brad,
I expect you to know how to use Tracker to see what auto upgrades to what. If John made this comment, then.....

No, he's right. I hadn't checked that, because Big B 1.4, the Oscar I auto upgrades to the Oscar II. Had I known that it upgraded to the Tony, I would have built more Kawasaki engine lines. We have a stockpile, but a production deficit.

Also, we need to turn those factories on, they are currently OFF; I had turned off all Oscar production awhile back, in anticipation of the Tojo/Tony.

[John 3rd]

I noticed that with the turn just run and got a few back on.  Brad you need to go through and see how many I missed.

Was just adding up totals for the warships in the Home Islands and those on the way. In about 2 weeks we will have the Kaigun at a strength of 8 CV, 4 CVL, 4 CVE, 4 BC, 8 CA, 4 CL, and 53 DD. THIS is the force that will move north to engage the Americans...

[John 3rd]

Well my wife and I have taken our shot and it sits with the Judge.  Things went about as well as could be expected.  Got to enjoyably cross swords with the DDA.  That was fun!  He will Rule on Monday and we shall then see.

Feel like I am waiting on one of Cuttlefish's installments...waiting...waiting....

[marky]

hang in there John, i know the feeling when it comes to legal battles(long story)

[John 3rd]

One never knows until they are inside the system.  You have touched on the same subject that four people on the Forum have shared with me in the last couple of days. Thanks.

 

[John 3rd]

The build-up in the Aleutians has truly began. We are moving planes, ships, and troops into the Theatre in a reasonably thought out manner. The screenshot doesn't detail the planes moving there. We have or are adding 36 Zero, 27 Betty, and 72 Tojo. Total planes in theatre are about 110 Zero, 110 Betty, 40 Helen, 27 Emily, 27 FP, and then the new Army fighters when they arrive.

The Americans have began a ground bombing campaign on Cold Bay. A force of 24 B-17 hit it today from Kodiak. We also know that there are B-25s present there too. Am thinking of placing a Sentai of Tojo at Cold Bay to provide a robust CAP against these unescorted attacks.

Have been flying a LR CAP there from Umnak but that tends to be hard on the pilots and planes. The Zeros are not too effective against the attackers. Tojos could make a real impact.

Here is the screenshot:

[Hornblower]

well looks like we're going to get some sustained action...

[John 3rd]

After so little action during the previous months I truly welcome it IF it is on OUR terms!  We'll see what takes place.  The Americans have a lot of shipping at Kodiak.  I TRULY wish the KB was available to attack there right now!  There are about 60 Fighters (Wildcats and P-40) flying CAP at Kodiak presently.  We could sweep that aside and sink a bunch of ships.  Ah, well...

When we do commit the Fleet it will be in an organized, concentrated manner that could/should crush this offensive in its tracks.

[John 3rd]

It is not often I get the chance to report a successful Japanese Submarine attack upon a warship.  August 4th I got the chance to provide that to you not once but TWICE!  Up in the north I-31 put a Torpedo into DD Dale and escaped without damage while NW of Australia I-22 did the same to DD Whipple.  I-22 took 7 DC for its effort but will make it home without issue.  Two days later there are no reports of sinkings but I am hopeful!

Thought I would copy an up-to-date sinking tally of the Japanese Sub Force to August 6, 1942:


The First Team
IJN Submarine Sinkings
August 5, 1942  

Ro-Class  
Ro-34                         
ML Krakatau  

Ro-63                         
AK  

Ro-64
AK Damaged  

Ro-68                         
AK    

Early I-Boats  
I-4                              
AK  

I-5                              
ML Gouden Leeuw
AK Damaged  

I-6                              
6 AK
AK Damaged  

I-7                              
AK
TK Damaged
PG Damaged  

I-8                              
AK  

I-10                            
TK    

Middle I-Boats  
I-16                            
AK
AK Damaged
MSW  

I-17                            
AK
AK Damaged  

I-18                            
AD Dixie
AK Damaged  

I-19                            
AK  

I-22                            
AK Damaged
DD Whipple Damaged  

I-26                            
2 TK Damaged
AK  

I-27                            
2 AK
AK Damaged  

I-29                            
AK Damaged  

I-31
DD Dale Damaged  

I-53                            
AP  

I-54                            
DD Evertsen    

Minelayers  
I-122                          
DD Electra Damaged  

I-124                          
2 AK    

Late I-Boats  
I-153                          
5 AK
AK Damaged  

I-154                          
2 AK
AK Damaged  

I-155
AK  

I-156                          
AK
AP  

I-157                          
ML Rigel
AP Damaged  

I-158                          
3 Damaged AK  

I-159                          
AK Damaged
AP  

I-162                          
AK  

I-164                          
AK  

I-168                          
AK  

I-172                          
AK  

I-173                          
PC Kiwi
AK
AK Damaged  

I-174                          
AP  

I-175                          
AP Damaged  


Sinkings (45 Total w/26 Damaged)  
AK      32
AP       5
TK       1
PG       1
MSW   1
DD       1
ML       3
AD       1

Notice that we have two I-Boat ACES with at least 5 sinkings each. Pretty decent work for nine months of fighting.