Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee, Docup(A)-Koniu(J)

[koniu]

13 APR 43

Burma
Enemy bombers, unescorted try to attack Rangoon AF. 10 newer return home
Morning Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 32 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 25
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 15
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 13
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 6

Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 14

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged

Salomons
100 Liberator close Gasmata

China
Japanese tanks force to retreat 5 enemy divisions in north china. They do that without destroying them making that even bigger victory. I kill probably most of inf squads those units have.
Ground combat at 87,32 (near Ningsia)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 2340 troops, 0 guns, 350 vehicles, Assault Value = 196

Defending force 14675 troops, 183 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 261

Japanese adjusted assault: 152

Allied adjusted defense: 73

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: disruption(-), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+), fatigue(-)

Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 40 (1 destroyed, 39 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
5850 casualties reported
Squads: 260 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 258 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 11 destroyed, 14 disabled
Guns lost 25 (12 destroyed, 13 disabled)
Units retreated 6

[koniu]

15 Apr 43

Salomon's
N1K1 lost his combat virginity today.
It goes pretty good. No George lost. All loses are taken by Tojos, probably because his low maneuverability 4 pilots KIA

Morning Air attack on Tagula Island , at 104,137

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 191 NM, estimated altitude 31,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 57 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 45
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 42

Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 18
F4F-4 Wildcat x 45

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 4 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 4 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 4 destroyed

Allies are unloading troops at Fergusson island. Ned to stop that.

[koniu]

16 APR 43

Salomon again are hot. Docup is unloading troops on Fergusson Island. Probably to build another AF. I send today air attack. For 60 planes and 35 pilots i manage only to sunk xAP and damage enemy BB.
Near Munda Es heavily dagae allied sub. I moving more bombers and ships toward Salomon's.

Morning Air attack on Fergusson Island , at 102,132

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 44 NM, estimated altitude 35,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 42

Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vc Trop x 8
P-39D Airacobra x 20
P-40K Warhawk x 16
F4U-1 Corsair x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 7 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire Vc Trop: 1 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra: 3 destroyed
P-40K Warhawk: 7 destroyed
---------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Fergusson Island at 102,132

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 66
G3M3 Nell x 19

Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vc Trop x 4
P-39D Airacobra x 4
P-40K Warhawk x 2
F4U-1 Corsair x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 10 destroyed
G3M3 Nell: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged
G3M3 Nell: 1 destroyed by flak

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
xAK El Madina
CA Hawkins
xAK Itria
CL St. Louis
xAP Clan Macquarrie, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied ground losses:
33 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
---------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Fergusson Island at 102,132

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 27
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 9

Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vc Trop x 3
P-39D Airacobra x 2
P-40K Warhawk x 1
F4U-1 Corsair x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 5 destroyed
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 3 damaged

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
xAP Mildura
xAK El Madina
xAK Borgfred
---------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Fergusson Island at 102,132

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 19
B6N1 Jill x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
B6N1 Jill: 4 damaged
B6N1 Jill: 2 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
BB Mississippi
BB New Mexico, Torpedo hits 1
---------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Fergusson Island , at 102,132

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 32,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 36 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 36
N1K1-J George x 45

Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vc Trop x 1
P-40K Warhawk x 1
F4U-1 Corsair x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire Vc Trop: 1 destroyed
P-40K Warhawk: 1 destroyed
F4U-1 Corsair: 1 destroyed

[koniu]

I forgot to mention.
Tomorrow night SC TF (3xBB, 3xDD) will attack ships near Fergusson Island. I manage to sneak them without detection 7 hexes from enemy so if lacky it shoul be able to retrea from combat on morning from bomber range
I hopping that Docup will be forced to retreat New Mexico from combat or if he stay he will be slow enough to be easy target for fast Japanese Battleships.

I know that biggest threat for my forces are modern US Cruisers and destroyers but i just dont want to think about it.

Moonlight is at 92% and weather forecast is good so i hope Japanese spotters will do hisjob.

On morning 50 Georges will sweep again Ferguson Island. Also 30 Tojos should sweep from Rabaul where they retreat to replace planes they lost in last 2 days. Two small figter units will sweep dot bases aroun Fergusson Island to weeken enemy CAP over main target.
50 bombers will strike at day. I set one unit to try luck at night.

KB is warming engines. If i need more air support KB will join but KB will be not used until situation will be critical. Right now risk for KB is much bigger from potential gains.

[koniu]

17 Apr 43

Coccos Island.
30 Zeros sweep island. After them 15 Betty's arrive bombarding AF. Few moments later another 13 Betty's. Last wave was intercepted by training Group. 7 bombers shot down

I hate when that happen.I cant LCAP Coccos and escort is not passable. I sending Yamato to close AF

Salomons
BB TF arrive to Fergusson Island and was intercepted by enamy Criusers.
After long but boring battle only one hit is worth of mentioning. CA Indianapolis was hit with 36cm shell (deck armor penetrated)

Later 4 enemy DD intercept Battlesips. We sunk two but one of my destroyers was seroulsy damaged. TF divide and BBs have to move with only one DD as escort. It not end well and one of BB eat TT. (only 5 major damage so 2-3 week in shipyard max)

Few moments later another DD was sunk by allied sub.

On morning TT bombers from Rabaul attack ships around Island. They manage to sneak below CAP and hit 5 enemy Transports.
After that i lost around 15 bombers when enemy fighters finally manage to dive.


When day end Allies lost 2 DD and few Cargo ships and one damaged CA and 7 planes.
Japan lost two DD(Fubuki class) and damaged BB plus 32 planes and 20 pilots.

Biggest disappointment was that fighters from Rabaul and Shortlands refuse to sweep


Computer problem
I have big problem with my PC. Prabably PSU or overheating because he is randomly reseting.
Sometimes when i try to start windows, sometime he is working well for many h and sometimes he working 5, 10, 20 minutes.

[1275psi]

Scene one, pdu off, all carriers advanced..............equals big pain in the neck!, your CVs are one shot wonders for a while.

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: 1275psi

Scene one, pdu off, all carriers advanced..............equals big pain in the neck!, your CVs are one shot wonders for a while.

Hi.
We are playing PDU ON, but You are correct about CVs. For me CVs are one shot weapon right now and black hole that is sucking tons of so precious fuel:)

[obvert]

Coccos Island.
30 Zeros sweep island. After them 15 Betty's arrive bombarding AF. Few moments later another 13 Betty's. Last wave was intercepted by training Group. 7 bombers shot down

I hate when that happen.I cant LCAP Coccos and escort is not passable. I sending Yamato to close AF

Good solution to a silly problem. I'd myself have a chat with the opponent about using training intentionally to avoid your sweeps. I assume this is due to the fact that you've swept and bombed before and he can't do anything but lose those planes, so now he's using the intricacy of the game knowing he's out of LR CAP range.

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: obvert

Coccos Island.
30 Zeros sweep island. After them 15 Betty's arrive bombarding AF. Few moments later another 13 Betty's. Last wave was intercepted by training Group. 7 bombers shot down

I hate when that happen.I cant LCAP Coccos and escort is not passable. I sending Yamato to close AF

Good solution to a silly problem. I'd myself have a chat with the opponent about using training intentionally to avoid your sweeps. I assume this is due to the fact that you've swept and bombed before and he can't do anything but lose those planes, so now he's using the intricacy of the game knowing he's out of LR CAP range.

I don,t know if he is using it intentionally.
I know that it work for both players but when i bombing I am scoring few AF hits and sometime i destroy planes and after that AF is still open. As Japan i cant afford sending group on train instead of CAP. We know how it will and when Liberators arrive.

[koniu]

Cocos
We have not binding conversation about Cocos situation with Docup.
I know Docup was set them to avoid sweeps and destruction on ground and bomber bounce was thing he was not planing. I will not force any solution. I will not force him so chose between CAP, staying on ground or withdrawing those units.
If he propose solution i will return to that topic. I know that whatever we will decide will have impact to my groups when i start defending those isolated Pacific Islands.

Tomorrow Yamato will hit Cocos AF and that should finish Cocos problem at lest for some time. Also i will replace Zero unit from Christmas Is IO with Oscar unit becouse i planing to upgrade that unit to George soon and George don`t have range.

Burma
It is quiet right now. How long Docup can hold offensive? Monsoons are coming so in less than month any offensive move of big units will be difficult for allies. Not impasible but difficult

Firs units are upgrading to George. I planing to have ~80 Georges in Burma by end of month. Together with 350 Tojo's and 30 Nick i will be hard nut to crack for allies.
Even with P-38 and F4U and soon F6F.


On 15 May 43 Allies are getting three units of P-47(restricted for US territory). 72 planes total.
It is bad news because with PDU ON he will downgrade those units and i will probably see those planes sweeping me by end of May.

George PR
I trying to make George looking better that he i reality is.
I write Docup how lucky i am getting that wonderful planes. How he is fast and how his guns destroying everything they hit.
Also first unit that get them have best of the best pilots navy have(unit average XP 81). So when they sweep they eat alive P-40, F4F and all planes He have in air.

Good PR is half of success. You dont need to be good. They only need to think you are.

Air Production factories
I have 3 A6M5 factories (80,60,60) They are not producing right now as Zero is replaced in LBA units with George.
I have 4 Ki-49IIa factories(40,40,40,40) They are producing but i think there is to much of them

I am planing to switch one A6M5 (60 size) and one Ki-49(40 size) factory to different model but i am not sure it that is good for my economy.
I am thinking to switch them to George or Judy or Jill. George is almost certain but i don`t know what i will need more DB or TB i future.

[obvert]

George PR
I trying to make George looking better that he i reality is.
I write Docup how lucky i am getting that wonderful planes. How he is fast and how his guns destroying everything they hit.
Also first unit that get them have best of the best pilots navy have(unit average XP 81). So when they sweep they eat alive P-40, F4F and all planes He have in air.

Good PR is half of success. You dont need to be good. They only need to think you are.

I love this![:D]

So much though like what some real commanders did in terms of propaganda and deception in the war. I agree that the perception of strength is often almost as important as strength itself.

[koniu]

I back. It will be quick summary of last few days. I am doing it from memory so no details only big picture of situation.

18-23 APR 43

Burma
On air and ground quiet. More allied troops is moving trough jungle.
Firs unit of George is flying CAP in Mandalay. Second unit will upgrade tomorrow and in week should fly CAP in Magwe. In next two weeks i should have 80 N1K1 in Burma.

On sea fast transports are moving supplies to Ramree Island. I want to build some forts there ans supplies are not moving by land.

I have detect enemy TF on Bengal see. He was gone next day but DL show it as CV TF. Today i see another TF but DL is to low to say what it is.

Cocos Island
Yamato close that base. But bombers from Island manage to hit BB with two 250 kg bombs. Those where lucky shots as they destroy 12,5cm and 15cm turrets.

Two Japanise DDs intercept and sunk 2-4 enemy Cargo ships near Cocos. Tomorrow they will bombard Island and they will return to Singer for repairs.

Mini KB is sailing toward Cocos. 180 plane force. Docup lost NSerch in that area so i will sneak with MKB to IO and will hunt for enemy ships sailing toward Oz.

China
Tank Div capture Lungcha cutting of Lanchow from main China. I will air transport some AV support and rebase some fighters there to defend my tanks. I need for that 2-3 days. If necessary i will rebase my fighters even without AV support.

Salomons.
I am unloading 70k fuel in Rabaul to use in future ops.
Hyuga eat another TT (first in battle near MB) when sailing to truk for repairs. I am changing direction and BB will bypass Truk and sai direcly to Japan for repairs. They will take 3-4 months. I lost 3 DD in series if battles. I start to fiil consequences of losing so many DD in war. I am aceelerating all wvaible DD from first day i am able to do that

In air battle Gergoe engade huge enemy air porce. 13 Gerge lost for 12 enemy fighters.
Only F4U is beter form N1K1. P-40 or F4F is no match for it.

KB
Unryu and Amagi sailing to meet KB. In three days i will have 600 planes force on decks.
All DB upgraded to D4Y 80% of TB upgraded to B6N.

R&D
N1K2 advance to 4/44
B6N2 will enter production in 2 days.

Air/engine production
I am slowly expending Engine production of Ha-45, Ha-33 and Ha-32 to ajust it to futer plane production.

[koniu]

24 APR 43

Burma
Another Fast transport unload supplies in Ramree ISland. This time 24 F4U sweep.
I have no CAP as destroyers retreat to Rangoon at night. I will think about CAP trap. Maybe Docup will send some bomber on naval attack

I resigning from using Full speed. Ships accumulate to many damage so cruise speed only.

25 P-38 sweep hex East of Mandaley shotting down 4 Tojo from leaky CAP


DEI
MKB refueled in Batavia and tomorrow will enter IO. 75 Fighters and 90 bombers.

Salomons.
Bombers hit PM (i think Docup will land there soon) More bomber hit Gasmata.

5 B-25D1 attack LBs at 100ft south of Rabaul (5 LB lost). 32 A6M5 intercept. They where not able to dive fast enough to intercept before bombing run but after attack all 5 shot down.

Damn. I lost 5 Zeros from B-25D1 defensive fire. There is definitely something wrong with those bombers. Lucky no KIA or WIA.

China
Docup send B-25D1 on low attack again my tanks in Lungcha No damage but 50 units disruption. Only 3 Oscars intercept (they are on 10 hex LCAP). 2 B-25 shot down but 2 Oscars lost on process. 1 pilot KIA.

I now see why many Jap players are not liking D1 version. So far against unescorted bomber i lost 7 planes. So 1:1 kill ratio. Even B-25 or B-29 has not so many kills.

Tomorrow Lungcha will have 20 fighters on CAP. Transport planes are airlifting AV support.


WitpTracer.
Third time during game Tracker has crash destroying database from last 4 months.
At lest he will now load much faster.

[obvert]

Damn. I lost 5 Zeros from B-25D1 defensive fire. There is definitely something wrong with those bombers. Lucky no KIA or WIA.

It's hard to see unless isolated like this, right? Anyway, It's unlikely to change, due to the model, so we must adapt. If you know their usual altitude make sure you're slightly above to hopefully limit head-on attacks.

Sorry about your tracker. That sucks.

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: obvert

Damn. I lost 5 Zeros from B-25D1 defensive fire. There is definitely something wrong with those bombers. Lucky no KIA or WIA.

It's hard to see unless isolated like this, right? Anyway, It's unlikely to change, due to the model, so we must adapt. If you know their usual altitude make sure you're slightly above to hopefully limit head-on attacks.

I can leave with that. At lest they are not so durable so it is easier to kill them comparing with B-24 or B-29. Imagine B-29 with those front pointed guns. Allies will not need fighters at all.

ORIGINAL: obvert
Sorry about your tracker. That sucks.

Not big problem. Lucky i was able to fix tracker but sadly not database. I cant imagine playing without it.This is very useful toll without it managing economy will be almost impassible. When i load few next turn i will be again able to see what is going on in Empire. Right now i stop all changes i was planing in air/engine production to avoid doing stupid things

[koniu]

25 Apr 43

Java/Sumatra
MKB leaving Batavia was detected probably by sub. DL 6/6
Cocos have no planes and Navserch not detect any enemy ships in distance of 20 hex so i have no luck this time

Salomons
I am moving BB TF to position. Plan is to bombard Tagula Island. I see there 70 fighters and 30 bombers and 30 axillary planes. I will sweep close to Tagula. Maybe Docup will reinforce base with more fighters

Christmas Island
2 days ago reckon subs detect heavy concentration of enemy ships there.
No carriers detected but DL is showing CAs, DDs, APs, NW direction (Gilberts?, Marshals?)
I have 3 subs with float planes fallowing them. LBA are warming engines. More search planes re-based to area

Also i have heavy radio traffic in Johnston Island. Tomorrow i will have subs with FP in range. If there is invasion force there i will find it

[koniu]

27 APR 43

Docup write in email that "it might be a long night"
Something goes wrong as allied forces don`t do nothing at night

Burma
Enemy TF 4 Hex from Ramree Is. It looks loke Bombardment TF. I see CA and DDs. Second day of air bombardment of Ramree Is. ID is untouched only get some disruption.

Salomon's
BB TF bombard Tagula Island

Night Naval bombardment of Tagula Island at 104,137 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
OS2U-3 Kingfisher: 6 damaged
OS2U-3 Kingfisher: 1 destroyed on ground
F4F-4 Wildcat: 29 damaged
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed on ground
Kittyhawk III: 21 damaged
P-38F Lightning: 34 damaged
P-38F Lightning: 3 destroyed on ground
P-38G Lightning: 54 damaged
P-38G Lightning: 3 destroyed on ground
P-40K Warhawk: 40 damaged
P-40K Warhawk: 3 destroyed on ground
P-40E Warhawk: 27 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed on ground
B-25D1 Mitchell: 1 damaged
PBY-5 Catalina: 1 damaged

2 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
BB Fuso
BB Nagato
BB Haruna

Allied ground losses:
122 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 22 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 11 (4 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Vehicles lost 13 (5 destroyed, 8 disabled)

Airbase hits 18
Airbase supply hits 9
Runway hits 31
Port hits 1

On morning Bombers from Shortlands and Munda attack Tagula to finish job

Morning Air attack on Tagula Island , at 104,137

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 42 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 13
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 22

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 7 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-38F Lightning: 8 damaged
P-40K Warhawk: 1 damaged
Kittyhawk III: 1 damaged
Kittyhawk III: 1 destroyed on ground
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 damaged

Runway hits 2

and another wave

Morning Air attack on Tagula Island , at 104,137

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 107 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 37 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 9
G4M1 Betty x 19

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 4 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-25D1 Mitchell: 1 damaged
P-38F Lightning: 4 damaged
P-38F Lightning: 1 destroyed on ground
Kittyhawk III: 2 damaged
P-38G Lightning: 12 damaged
P-38G Lightning: 1 destroyed on ground
P-40E Warhawk: 7 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed on ground
P-40K Warhawk: 2 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 2

Tracker is showing 37 enemy planes destroyed. But only 13 P-38 are worth to speak

4E bombers attack Shortlands
Morning Air attack on Shortlands , at 109,131

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 46 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 6

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 24
B-24D1 Liberator x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 7 damaged
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 destroyed

Airbase hits 29
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 36

In was lucky and none of 120 planes i had on Shortlands AF was not hit or damage. Shortlands are still open.

I see enemy SAG East of MB. Tomorrow Shortlands going to be defended by BB TF (they still have ammo in white colors) in case Docup will want to revenge Tagula. Rabaul is defended by CA TF and horde of LB.

[koniu]

28 APR 43

Burma
CA and CL bombard Ramree Island without effect to Japanese troops.
Night Naval bombardment of Ramree Island at 54,48

Allied Ships
CA New Orleans
CL Santa Fe

Port hits 14
Port supply hits 3

Indian Ocean
I-27 detect enemy CV sailing south from Diego Garcia
Sub will fallow enemy trying to find his destination. I am suspecting Cocos Island
MKB will hold position for one ore day and i enemy TF will move toward Cocs i will strike.
There You have battle plan

[koniu]

29 APR 43

Not combat actions today so i decide to give some statistical data.

At beginning Fighter pilots summary (later today bomber pilots)
Table is showing all pilots empire have (units and reserve)

- Pilots with XP 50-100 are trained with Air 70+ and DEF 60+ and have XP at lest 50
- Data "Training (AIR trained to 70+, DEF in training)" represents all pilots that end AIR skill training (70 or more) and are waiting or are in middle of DEF skill training
- Data "Training (AIR training) represent all pilots during AIR skill training

[koniu]

Bomber pilots summary.
Those are all bomber pilots empire have.

Trained mean that major skill is at lest 69-70 and XP 50 (or very close)
In navy around half of Torpedo trained pilots have Naval skill close to 70 but they are not included in Naval part. For 200 pilots in navy with ground skill it is secondary skill(they are count also in naval and torpedo part).

All navy pilots are also trained in Search skill - 50-60% of them have that skill between 50-70

Some of navy torpedo and naval pilots have XP 47-49 they will spend few days training Naval search until XP reach 50

Low Naval. 150 pilots have skill 70 and XP 50+. Rest are pure Kamikaze pilots with skill 50-60 and XP ~30-40