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

[koniu]

Because probably today was last day of battle i give You summary:

SHIP LOSES:

Allies

CV Victorious, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 7, on fire, heavy damage, and is sunk
CV Saratoga, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
CV Yorktown, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage (probably sunk)
CV Enterprise, Bomb hits 9, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage (probably sunk)
BB North Carolina, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 6, and is sunk
BB Indiana, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CLAA Atlanta, Bomb hits 2
DD Laffey, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
DD McCalla, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage not sunk
DD Lansdowne, Bomb hits 5, and is sunk
DD Lardner, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage (probably sunk)
DD Aaron Ward, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Gwin, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
DD MacDonough, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, (probably sunk)
DD Frazier, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage (probably sunk)
DD Russell, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Fanning, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, and is sunk
DD Ralph Talbot, Shell hits 1, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, and is sunk
DD Drayton, Shell hits 1, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk
DD Conyngham, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage (probably sunk)

Japan

DD Isonami, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk


AIR LOSES

Allies
~240 planes
90 F, 60 DB,, 70 TB, 16 4E

Japan
186 planes
52 F, 58 DB, 54 TB, 22 LB,

Pilots 79 KIA, 51 MIA, 23 WIA

Fighters - 18 KIA, 15 MIA, 7 WIA
Naval bombers - 36 KIA, 23 MIA, 8 WIA
Torpedo bombers - 25 KIA, 13 MIA, 8 WIA

[PaxMondo]

Nice action for this time of the war. HUGE victory. Well played!

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

Nice action for this time of the war. HUGE victory. Well played!

+1

I will think about those settings you used. Thanks for posting all of the info as it went. A big help for the rest of us too!

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

Nice action for this time of the war. HUGE victory. Well played!

+1

I will think about those settings you used. Thanks for posting all of the info as it went. A big help for the rest of us too!

Thanks. It move my morale to galaxy level and i ready for next few months of game.

And about setting. Are You telling about fighters?
General concept of that settings born when i test CV battles in my sandbox scenarios.

Having dedicated CAP fighters on range O give You certainty that those fighter will not go for "leaky CAP" and will stay above KB.

I also find that dedicated escort fighters (0% CAP) are more willing to escort bombers comparing with squads with mixed/escort CAP settings (personal impression)
Also good group commander with high Inspiration skill help send them in air

Rest of units(~50% of fighters) is standard 50/50 with most of units on attitude of bombers and some on low attitude. They are allowed to fly "leaky CAP". We see that "leaky CAP" above Tabituea and during BB Mutsu TF defense.

This work for me. As we see attack was escorted by 152 fihters and KB was defended by 135 fighters with most of them in air ready to defend(i have 38 minutes radar warning and last fighters where on position after 33 minutes with most of airgrups after 11-21 minutes from detection) . We also see 81 fighters defending Tabituea and BB Matsu.

But i don`t think settings win that battle. I think having more planes was major factor here. I think i have 5 planes against 3 enemy.
Also anamic enemy counterattack


EDIT:
KB and most of Surface force will now sail toward Rabaul. I hope Docup will not be to agresive there. In 4 next day Rabaul is defended only by two CA, CL and 6 DD.
KB need 4 days before will be in position. I am sending AO TF to meet them near Rabaul.

[koniu]

I made comparison how both CAPs reacted for major enemy waves.

Allies CAP

178 fighters on CAP
Raid was detected by radar
Estimated time to target is 30 minutes

CAP engaged:
VMF-211/A with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 4 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 9000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 36 minutes
VMF-211/B with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 9000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 7000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes
VMF-123 /A with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 13 minutes
VMF-123 /B with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 9000 , scrambling fighters between 2000 and 34000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes
VMF-216 /A with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 3 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 9000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 28 minutes
VF-2 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 8 scrambling)
22 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 21000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 21000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes
VF-42 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 4 scrambling)
25 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 2000 and 38800.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 44 minutes
VF-6 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 8 scrambling)
24 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 2000 and 38800.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes
VF-71 with F6F-3 Hellcat (16 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
16 plane(s) intercepting now.
12 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 16000 , scrambling fighters between 2000 and 38800.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 14 minutes
VMF-216 /B with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 3 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 9000 , scrambling fighters between 2000 and 34000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 37 minutes


Japan

135 fighters on CAP
Raid was detected by radar
Estimated time to target is 38 minutes

CAP engaged:
Kaga-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 11000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes
6 planes vectored on to bombers
Soryu-1 with A6M5 Zero (4 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 14000 , scrambling fighters between 16000 and 19000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes
12 planes vectored on to bombers
Hiryu-1 with A6M5 Zero (4 airborne, 9 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 14000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 20 minutes
13 planes vectored on to bombers
Shokaku-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 9000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes
10 planes vectored on to bombers
Zuikaku-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 14000 , scrambling fighters between 14000 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 20 minutes
11 planes vectored on to bombers
Junyo-1 with A6M5 Zero (3 airborne, 7 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 9000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes
10 planes vectored on to bombers
Shoho-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 13 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 7000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes
15 planes vectored on to bombers
Zuiho-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 14000 , scrambling fighters to 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes
6 planes vectored on to bombers
Taiho-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 14000 , scrambling fighters between 14000 and 19000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes
14 planes vectored on to bombers
Unryu-1 with A6M5b Zero (0 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 19000 , scrambling fighters between 13000 and 19000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 11 minutes
10 planes vectored on to bombers
Amagi-1 with A6M5b Zero (0 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 17000 , scrambling fighters between 16000 and 18000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes
10 planes vectored on to bombers

[obvert]

Having dedicated CAP fighters on range O give You certainty that those fighter will not go for "leaky CAP" and will stay above KB.

As I mentioned earlier it becomes harder when there are multiple TFs later in the war and they have the chance to be split for various reasons. Or even earlier in the war, as I found out in 42 recently.

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: obvert

Having dedicated CAP fighters on range O give You certainty that those fighter will not go for "leaky CAP" and will stay above KB.

As I mentioned earlier it becomes harder when there are multiple TFs later in the war and they have the chance to be split for various reasons. Or even earlier in the war, as I found out in 42 recently.

You are right but i was using single CV TF and still i keep half of my fighters with CAP 50% and range 7. I only have 3 from 13 squadrons on range 0 and 3 dedicated to escort so 7 squadrons still could fly leaky CAP

Also after reding so much about coordination in beta patch i am happy from level of coordination i have. Only ~20 bombers arrive uncoordinated and without escort and rest of planes strike in single wave

[koniu]

How You guys solving problem with low experienced bomber pilots.
When i train fighter pilots I am training air them def skill. Then i can send that pilots to fly some CAP missions and after week or two pilot have 50 XP and training is done.

For bomber pilots it is not so easy. Is there a way to train fast xp? I am not talking about training another skill. I want to have pilots trained with major skill(sometimes with secondary skill) and then build fast XP (the same way like CAP for fighters)

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: koniu

How You guys solving problem with low experienced bomber pilots.
When i train fighter pilots I am training air them def skill. Then i can send that pilots to fly some CAP missions and after week or two pilot have 50 XP and training is done.

For bomber pilots it is not so easy. Is there a way to train fast xp? I am not talking about training another skill. I want to have pilots trained with major skill(sometimes with secondary skill) and then build fast XP (the same way like CAP for fighters)

For TB I train TT, naval and some search and they get to 50 exp.

For DB I train naval and search and they get to 50 exp.

After training, if they are not in front line units, or if they are on CVs not in danger, I fly and train ASW, which brings up experience. Just flying 50% search will add some exp also.

For kami I train 60-65 low nav and 60-65 nav, and they get to 45-50 exp also.

[koniu]

25 May 43

Burma
Meiktila autoswitch to aalied hands cuting of Mandaley from rails. Stupid game engine. Closest enemies are 90 miles from bease and between them there is 70k Japanise soldiers. Stupid games engine.


Salomons
"From Combined fleet to RAMD Tanka.

Defend waters around Rabaul for all cost necessary.
Only You and Your ships stand between Rabaul and allied fleet.

Reinforcements already in move, they will arrive in 3 days

ADM I. Yamamoto"


Tanaka fight and fight well. Rabaul safe for one more day but for high price.
Night Time Surface Combat, near Rabaul at 106,125, Range 7,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Aoba
CA Furutaka, Shell hits 2
DD Sagiri
DD Amagiri
DD Oboro, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Minekaze

Allied Ships
CL Achilles, Shell hits 7, heavy fires
DD Van Galen, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Tjerk Hiddes


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

Night Time Surface Combat, near Rabaul at 106,125, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Aoba
CA Furutaka
DD Sagiri
DD Amagiri
DD Oboro, on fire
DD Minekaze

Allied Ships
DD Sims
DD Patterson, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk


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

Night Time Surface Combat, near Rabaul at 106,125, Range 7,000 Yards

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
E13A1 Jake: 2 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CA Aoba, Shell hits 26, and is sunk
CA Furutaka, Shell hits 5
DD Sagiri, Shell hits 2, heavy fires
DD Minekaze, Shell hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CA Hawkins, Shell hits 3
CL Cleveland, Shell hits 1
DD Walke, Shell hits 1
DD Jarvis, Shell hits 2
DD Preston
DD Flusser
DD Tucker

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

Day Time Surface Combat, near Rabaul at 106,125, Range 19,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Furutaka, Shell hits 6
DD Sagiri, Shell hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CA Hawkins, Shell hits 2
CL Cleveland, Shell hits 4
DD Walke
DD Jarvis
DD Preston
DD Flusser, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Tucker

Cruiser and two DDs lost
Tomorrow only 1 CA and 2 DDs will defend Rabaul.
KB 3 days from Rabaul. Closest SAG need two days.

[koniu]

Tomorrow another CA and two DDs will join Tanaka in Rabaul. I dont see more enemy TF in area so i hope it will be quiet day. CA Aoba was 4th CA lost lost during war, I lost also 5 CLs, 2 CS and 48[:(] Destroyers (this hurt much)

Victory in Battle of Gilbert Islands was huge and like all huge battles change war.
I think Pacific is safe for next 4-6 months. Allies have now 2 or 3 CV (still not know if Lexington sunk). So no invasion in deep sea for some time.

I think Docup will now focus on places where he can advance without CV support or use of CVE will be enough for him.

So Burma become major battleground. In 2-3 weeks i will retreat from plains to jungle.
I think South DEI is still an option(everything East of Timor). With proximity of LBA and CVE fleet offensive there is doable. Also Salomon's are still open for the same reason as DEI. Salomon's Island chain can be difficult for Docup but New Guinea Cost (PM, Buna, Lae, Woodlark are doable for him) Last turn i count 440 enemy fighters in Milne Bay, Tagula Island, Terapo and Ferguson Island. I have 300 in area(+300 KB) need to mve some more.

I plan to use time i buy in Marshals to reinforce second line of defense, reinforce Java and Sumatra, time to focus more on Kurile Islands and start preparing Philippines.
Also China will be hot soon. As soon as supplies start to move to China from Burma those millions of Chinese soldier will start to gain some fat and they will want to relise some of energy they gain.

I think Q4 of 1943 and Q1 of 1944 are going to be interesting


R&D
Third Ki-84a factory repair. I will have Frank in September 43` I plan to build 250-300 of them. IF another factory will repair in next few days Frank will be in August maybe.

N1K2-J George advance to 11/43 in 34 days i will start to build 250-300 of them.


I am currently building 600 Ha-45 engines. I need to add another 100 if not more.

[koniu]

As for next few days. KB with almost all ships is sailing toward Rabaul.
I need return there to balance. After that KB will hide in shadows somewhere between Salomon's and DEI with bigger focus on DEI. I will probably use KB to support reinforcing if North coast of New Guinea. I plan to land there with 600AV force Air HQ and some support troops in about 10 days.

3 CV will sail to Japan for refits.

[GreyJoy]

Don't overproduce the Frank Koniu. It's a good plane, but its SR=3 makes it difficult to use it in forward bases. It always needs to be backed up by other fighters with a more convinient SR, so i'd say that 200 Franks are more than enough

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

Don't overproduce the Frank Koniu. It's a good plane, but its SR=3 makes it difficult to use it in forward bases. It always needs to be backed up by other fighters with a more convinient SR, so i'd say that 200 Franks are more than enough

+1

That is about right on the numbers for me as well.

[koniu]

26 May 43
Nothing happen. No air, naval actions. Nothing.

27 May 43

Boela (Ceram)
Ki-45 and Ki-44 intercept enemy bombers. This time no free oil hits. 9 Medium bombers shot down for one Ki-45 lost

Afternoon Air attack on Boela , at 80,110

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 13
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 14

Allied aircraft
Mitchell II x 22
B-17D Fortress x 5

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Mitchell II: 6 destroyed, 2 damaged
B-17D Fortress: 3 damaged


Fighter Air production
I have decided to build 200 Ki-44c Tojo, 200 Ki-84a Franks, and 300 N1K2-J George.
It is still month before second George arrive and 3 months until Frank

[obvert]

The Tojo is still good for about another 6-8 months for you. It dropped off for me quite a lot after that.

What are your other IJN fighters? Just the A6M line or are you building the J2M as well?

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: obvert

The Tojo is still good for about another 6-8 months for you. It dropped off for me quite a lot after that.

What are your other IJN fighters? Just the A6M line or are you building the J2M as well?

I am currently building

Army:
200 Ki-44IIc Tojo (332 IIc + 115 IIa in reserve)
122 Ki-43IIb Oscar (for escort duty and future use as kamikaze) (~500 in reserve - of all models with 2x250kg bombs)
50 Ki-45 KAIa Nick (128 in reserve)

Navy
190 N1K1-J George (in month from now i will build 250-300 N1K2-J and he will replace all LBA groups) (93 in reserve)
140 A6M5 Zero (currently all factories shutdown) (150 in reserve)

I have decide to not build J2M line

[koniu]

28 May 43

Burma

Burma front in danger. 3 enemy units (36k troops)move from jungle to open hex East of Magwe.
I did not see them coming. Probably map colors and low resolution i am playing masc that move. Not good. I will be able to retret my troops but it will be more chaotic than planed.
Air force will try to slow down enemy troops.
Full retreat from plains ordered. Last units should arrive to jungle defense line in 3-6 days. Plains should be empty from Japanese troops in 3 days.
I am also retreating toward Prome all troops defending coastline. Only ID in Rammrre will stay there and will fight to last soldier.

4E visit Bangkok. I have there 12 Tojos only. All pilots in that units where green ones with XP 50-55. But they do good job. 8 Liberators newer back home and 3 more were lost by ops. One Ki-44 lost, pilot is ok.

Morning Air attack on Bangkok , at 56,62

Weather in hex: Light rain

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

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 12

Allied aircraft
Liberator II x 14
B-24D Liberator x 11
B-24D1 Liberator x 16

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

Allied aircraft losses
Liberator II: 1 destroyed
B-24D Liberator: 4 damaged
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 destroyed, 8 damaged

Light Industry hits 1

[koniu]

29 May 43

Burma
At night enemy cruisers bombard Ramree. I think jungle, fort lvl 3 and base at 0/0 negate all bombardment effect. No single squad hit. No disruption gain.
I need droop more supplies in hex.

Night Naval bombardment of Ramree Island at 54,48

Allied Ships
CA Shropshire
CA New Orleans
DD Monaghan
DD Lamson
DD Saufley


I send Ki-49 to bombard enemy troops that move out of jungle last day.
Combat raprt show 3 units, probably ~1000AV
9th Australian Division
46th Indian Brigade
17th Indian Division

Result was better than expected. No enemy flak at all. Not single shot. If i knew i would send my bombers lower. I will repeat tomorrow. This time i will heavily sweep sky above those units.
Another troops (11k), this time two hexes north move out of jungle. But priority are those on south only those troops can cut me of. Also troops from Shwebo are moving East

Morning Air attack on 17th Indian Division, at 56,47 , near Magwe

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 89

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
563 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 58 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 51 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Vehicles lost 14 (1 destroyed, 13 disabled)

Java
Another Zero unit upgraded to George. I have 200 N1K1 in service. U should have more but not like in reality KB squads still need to serve on carriers

Salomon's
Heavy bombardment of PM. Troops there are doomed.

Rabaul is now protected by CA and BB SAGs.

KB close to Truk refuel today and will sail straight toward new anchor ground.


Tarawa
I thinking about evacuating Air HQ from island to Ponape/Kusaie or to Truk. After last battle I am not expecting invasion in that area and when allies show up there in in about 6 months this area will be not worth of defending

[koniu]

30 May 43

Burma
450 Fighters(Tojo's and George's) sweep above enemy troops in open hex. No opposition air.
But unlucky none of 170 bombers fly[:@]. Weather probably.

48h until all troops from Mandalay and Magwe will move to jungle. I hate leaving 300 oil field in in Magwe but if i can kill 500 enemy men using only 80 bombers imagine what 200 4E will do to me.

Some bomber attack Ramrre and troops retreating from Akyab area but without efect to ground troops.

When troops arrive to jungle defense line i will not give even single mile of area without fight.

China
B-25D1 try to attack my tanks in north china. CAP intercept them but with 1:1 lose ratio.
5 bombers shot down for 5 fighters lost and 2 pilots KIA

Morning Air attack on 3rd Tank Regiment, at 80,32 (Sining)

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 8
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 18

Allied aircraft
B-25D1 Mitchell x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-25D1 Mitchell: 3 destroyed, 6 damaged