Castles in the Sand - Spidery(J) vs MrKane(A) no MrKane please

[Spidery]

May 18th 1943

Air Losses: 1 Japanese, 1 Allied, 0 Pilots
Japanese occupy:
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:
Allies land at:

Subs

Quiet

Solomons

Liberators drop 30 mines at Rabaul at night but AMc clear 28 of them quickly. Complete failure of night CAP to engage[:(]. I still haven't been able to drop mines from my planes[:(].

Burma

I try an attack at Warazup. Bad move! I had hoped for losses in about the 2::1 ratio. As it is, I inflicted less damage than I would have bombarding while taking lots of losses. Losses on my forces are exaggerated, looks like I lost about 260 devices, about 80% of what is reported.

Japanese ground losses:
13899 casualties reported
Squads: 288 destroyed, 566 disabled
Non Combat: 21 destroyed, 89 disabled
Engineers: 22 destroyed, 39 disabled
Guns lost 124 (15 destroyed, 109 disabled)
Vehicles lost 22 (9 destroyed, 13 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
117 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 15 (1 destroyed, 14 disabled)
Vehicles lost 22 (5 destroyed, 17 disabled)

At least I may be able to buy out the 15th Division on the cheap[:D].

Engineering

Onnekotan-Jima forts to 4. Mukden forts to 5 (planning for against the Soviets).

R&D

Quiet

Reinforcements

LSD Nigitsu Maru. SS RO-107.

[Spidery]

ORIGINAL: mind_messing

Guam forts to 6. Not sure whether to keep on to 7 or expand the airfield to 8. Expanding the airfield gives a strong defensive point but also gives him an airfield for free if he takes the Marianas.

Guam is the island you really want to make difficult in the Marianas.

Saipan and Tinian max out at airfield 7, but Guam maxes out at 8, giving it the important x2 aviation support bonus.

MrKane can make the airbase useless with heavy bombing, but the only way he's going to knock the forts down is if he lands and pays the price in attacking.

Well he can only bomb it once he has a foothold on the islands but I think building the forts is the priority.

[Spidery]

May 19th 1943

Air Losses: 6 Japanese, 3 Allied, 1 Pilots
Japanese occupy:
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:
Allies land at:

Subs

Quiet

Solomons

14 PB4Y-1 Liberators try a night attack from 3000 feet at the ships at Rabaul (targetting the cruisers). 1 shot down by a Tojo and 1 downed by flak, no hits scored. 2 A6M2-N, 2 Ki-44-IIc lost.

There are a lot more mines at Rabaul than I expected, another 133 are cleared and still showing an enemy minefield. Just how many mines can a Liberator hold? Or has he had some subs laying mines as well?

A resupply convoy makes it through and unloads a needed 20,000+ supply.

Burma

I forgot to cancel the bombardment at Warazup and a heavy artillery unit is lost.

Problems getting supply to Northern Burma.

Engineering

Babeldoab forts to 5.

R&D

Quiet

Reinforcements

CV Taiho

[Spidery]

May 20th 1943

Air Losses: 63 Japanese, 37 Allied, 19 Pilots
Japanese occupy:
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:
Allies land at:

Something is definitely wrong here. I get two new Aces but they are both on the carriers which are not involved in the combat.

Subs

Quiet

Solomons

Lightnings, Wildcats and Corsairs sweep Rabaul.

Raid detected at 44 NM, estimated altitude 41,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 119
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 12
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 36

Allied aircraft
P-38F Lightning x 25
F4F-4 Wildcat x 63
F4U-1 Corsair x 54

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K1-J George: 6 destroyed
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 4 destroyed
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 11 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 12 destroyed
F4U-1 Corsair: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
21 x P-38F Lightning sweeping at 39000 feet

Possible sighting of BB moving West South of the Gilberts.

Given that I can now field 150 N1K1-J (once repairs are completed) at Rabaul I am tempted to pull all the army fighters off CAP until they can be upgraded to Franks.

Burma

Corsairs, Warhawks sweep Katha

Raid detected at 20 NM, estimated altitude 38,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 35
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 39
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 37
Ki-84a Frank x 3

Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 35

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K1-J George: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 7 destroyed
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 6 destroyed
Ki-84a Frank: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1 Corsair: 3 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
17 x F4U-1 Corsair sweeping at 36000 feet

Between the two combats air losses for the day:
26 Ki-44-IIc, 17 Ki-43-IIb, 14 N1K1-J, 1 Ki-84a versus 25 F4F-4, 9 F4U-1, 2 P-40K, 1 P-38F. 58 to 37 so barely okay for a VP basis and he is taking losses in aircraft models that are becoming obsolete.

Engineering

Quiet

R&D

Quiet

Reinforcements

SS I-39

[MrBlizzard]

I got a theory I suspect that mrkane uses only top quality pilots in this sweeps, he trains them with ambush against bombers in early war and when they became top-guns they sweep you. In early war he avoids accurately air combat. Now that you're in defence you can't have top-guns everywhere so he has better planes and better pilots, no strange to have results like these...
It seems he's also very conservative in offensive... No real action till now, he's probably waiting to have hellcats on all CVs and then he'll come with everything for a strategic target, maybe really Marianas or Kuriles (I bet Marianas). I would put mines in all Marianas together with ACMs and also heavy art bought from Manchuria.
Good luck

[Spidery]

ORIGINAL: MrBlizzard

I got a theory I suspect that mrkane uses only top quality pilots in this sweeps, he trains them with ambush against bombers in early war and when they became top-guns they sweep you. In early war he avoids accurately air combat. Now that you're in defence you can't have top-guns everywhere so he has better planes and better pilots, no strange to have results like these...

Certainly he has very highly trained pilots, but I'm not sure his navy pilots will be that super as he hasn't had many chances to use them to gain kills. His Lightnings are packed with experts I am sure, when we were fighting over Darwin he mentioned he had a few triple Aces. My N1K1-J are mostly still flown by pilots in the 75+ experience area so not rubbish.

He gets these results because the Corsair totally out classes my aircraft. I think he uses the older models lower to cancel out the dive bonus for the N1K1-J and without they find it difficult against the Corsair. Fortunately, he gets very few Corsairs. Another problem is that the Tojo and Oscar out climb the N1K1-J and that tends to mean they take much of the fight.

It seems he's also very conservative in offensive... No real action till now, he's probably waiting to have hellcats on all CVs and then he'll come with everything for a strategic target, maybe really Marianas or Kuriles (I bet Marianas). I would put mines in all Marianas together with ACMs and also heavy art bought from Manchuria.
Good luck

I'm sure he will come for somewhere important but I'm not sure it will be the Marianas.

One thing I don't understand is that he is making no effort to target Magwe.

[Spidery]

Upgraded to 1.7.11.23x10

May 21st 1943

Air Losses: 2 Japanese, 1 Allied, 0 Pilots
Japanese occupy:
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:
Allies land at:

Subs

I-8 puts a torpedo into BB West Virginia[:)] near Nanumea and is damaged to the tune of 15/9/0 so will return to base. Later, I-170 takes a shot at her again but misses[:(], damage to the tune of 21/16/6 will send her back to base as well. Reports are of 2 BB and 4 DD heading towards the Solomons, one of which is now damaged.

I have one more sub in the area which will see if he redirects the West Virginia for repairs.

Subs are spotted South of Japan and an xAK is damaged by a torpedo from SS Haddo 15/43/9 damage so should make it to Kobe. Was carrying supply to Balikpapan and lost half of it.

Solomons

Quiet

There are a lot of night time spots of Kingfishers and other aircraft spotting my ships at Rabaul. I'll put some Night CAP up higher and see if I can get any of these.

Burma

Allies have started bombardment attacks at Warazup after my errors. Losses are okay.

Engineering

Quiet

R&D

Ki-84r to 6/45.

Reinforcements

Quiet

[Lowpe]

In general, I think you want your NF with up firing guns to be flying below the level of the bombers...not that it matters with only 2.[:D]

[Spidery]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

In general, I think you want your NF with up firing guns to be flying below the level of the bombers...not that it matters with only 2.[:D]

If my NF were below his bombers they would be submarines[:D]

I keep everything low to counter low-level strikes. High-level strikes miss anyway. I have some other fighters on night CAP, even though they take losses, because the possible targets are too valuable.

[Spidery]

The fuel and oil stocks in Japan are sufficient to last about a year after oil supplies are cut off.

This makes it possible that strategic damage to HI will mean I can't actually use all the fuel I have accumulated. I have a feeling it would have made some sense to expand some HI.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Spidery

The fuel and oil stocks in Japan are sufficient to last about a year after oil supplies are cut off.

This makes it possible that strategic damage to HI will mean I can't actually use all the fuel I have accumulated. I have a feeling it would have made some sense to expand some HI.

Well, start burning the fuel then! Go wild with KB. Obvert had everything left but supplies really...I think he was low on vehicles too come to think of it and this in a scen 1 game.

[Spidery]

Well, start burning the fuel then! Go wild with KB. Obvert had everything left but supplies really...I think he was low on vehicles too come to think of it and this in a scen 1 game.

Too early to do that but something to think about. It does mean my convoys run with many escorts and I keep ASW forces at sea etc. despite little sub threat. Also means I don't mind using the Yamato etc.

Trouble is that fuel is supply (in that it converts 1->1 when passed through HI). In this game, with refineries not producing supply, without the later changes to DBB to add extra supply generation, etc. supply production is on the low side and I need all the supply I can save.

My strategy was to capture the DEI early, defend Magwe heavily, conserve fuel, etc. I think I may have missed a point that with that strategy it is best to build some HI.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Spidery
My strategy was to capture the DEI early, defend Magwe heavily, conserve fuel, etc. I think I may have missed a point that with that strategy it is best to build some HI.

I think it was to win the air war.[:D]

How much would you have increased the HI if you could do it again?

Do you think your fuel situation is so strong because of the ACM fuel fix?

[Spidery]

May 22nd 1943

Air Losses: 5 Japanese, 0 Allied, 3 Pilots
Japanese occupy:
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:
Allies land at:

Subs

Quiet

Solomons

6 PB4Y-1 try a night strike at shipping. No effect.

Burma

Try a strike at the Allied air base at Silchar. Night strikes fail to fly. Sweep finds no enemy. High-level bombing has little effect.

Engineering

Sorong airfield to 6. Saumlaki forts to 5. Ambon forts to 6.

R&D

Quiet

Reinforcements

SS I-182, SC CHa-33

[Spidery]

Sub wars

I just don't seem to be getting the results described in other AARs.

My raiding subs hardly ever find targets and quite often don't engage, even if they are in the same hex as a nice juicy convoy at the end of the turn. On the other hand, they aren't spotted by air ASW and are rarely damaged by surface ASW. I've lost 9 subs so far in 1943 but 7 of those were in the vicinity of Allied carriers. Claimed kills for the subs in 1943, 14 ships: 2 AO, 1 AKA, 1 BB, 1 DD, 1 SC, 2 ACM, 1 CM, 4 AK type and 1 AM to a mine.

His subs attack the shipping from Japan out to Marianas, Truk, etc. and from DEI towards Rabaul but avoid the main convoy areas. Most of his subs operate as spotting/support with his fleet. He, mostly, avoids getting close to my air ASW. However, I usually have a few subs spotted each day and some ASW assets in hex with them but frequently they don't engage and when they do actual hits are as common as hens teeth. It seems to need 3 hits from a Type 2 DC to kill a sub.

Claimed Allied subs lost for 1943 are 2 both to air ASW and therefore unconfirmed. Total losses to Allied subs in 1943: 14 ships, 1 xAP, 3 PB, 1 CA, 1 AV, 1 SS, 4 TK, 1 SC, 1 AO, 1 DMS.

So, how do I get my subs to engage more often and how do I get my surface ASW to engage and score hits more often?

[Spidery]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: Spidery
My strategy was to capture the DEI early, defend Magwe heavily, conserve fuel, etc. I think I may have missed a point that with that strategy it is best to build some HI.

I think it was to win the air war.[:D]

How much would you have increased the HI if you could do it again?

150 points built at the start of the war would now have paid off their supply cost and would give a million more supply at mid 1944. So something like 100 to 150 would seem okay.

Do you think your fuel situation is so strong because of the ACM fuel fix?

The ACM fix saves about 30,000 fuel a month. It was applied in December so that is only about 150,000 fuel and would have had about 350,000 more fuel had it been there at the start. Magwe has been running about 10 months longer than I expected so that is about 750,000 fuel. I took the DEI maybe a month early so that is about 500,000 extra oil converted to fuel. Any more is down to fuel conservation.

[GreyJoy]

The only real "secret" for subs is to have a non-existant passive D/L and a very high active D/L

Also, after mid 1943, the best allied prays are the CVEs, which are mainly the slower ships in their offensive arsenal.
The point is that, to get on them, you need to find them and flood their path with subs before their air ASW spots you...which is pretty hard to do

To be honest I find that, after the first months, the best way to use the jap subs is to keep them in swarms, close to the front lines and to use them in connection with the main fleet.
In my former game against QBall I even managed to score 7 hits with the midget subs using this strategy. Not a winning one, mind you, but at least you score some hits

[Spidery]

May 23rd 1943

Air Losses: 3 Japanese, 19 Allied, 2 Pilots
Japanese occupy:
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:
Allies land at:

Subs

I-32 sinks TK Capsa near Karachi

Solomons

Endo Det shoots down a Kingfisher at night over Rabaul.

Allies sweep Rabaul with Corsairs and Lightnings but this time I only have N1K1-J on CAP. 2 N1K1-J lost for 8 P-38F and 7 F4U-1. An excellent result[8D], probably also got some of his better pilots.

Will he now try a low level bombing run so that I need to put some planes up to go after that?

Burma

Helens night bomb Silchar from 30,000 feet. Allied Beaufighter night fighters can't reach the bombers and they have a clear run. 1 B-25D1 and 1 P-47D2 destroyed on the ground. Cripes, Thunderbolts, I wasn't expecting to see those before July.

An AMc is hit by a Dutch sub near Rangoon and remains afloat, but with 61/93/14/44 damage she isn't going to make the three hexes to Rangoon.

Engineering

Quiet

R&D

Quiet

Reinforcements

An 11,600 capacity TK.

[Spidery]

Thanks GreyJoy,

I have been keeping 1 or 2 subs up near Karachi and they have done okay. I have a few subs operating between San Francisco and Pearl and they have managed an occasional hit. A few keeping watch down near Perth. Most of the rest are spread out around the Marshalls and Solomons waiting for a chance on the enemy. When he attacks they can concentrate pretty quickly.

Also, every sub that leaves Truk now takes a little supply to drop at one of the isolated bases before starting its sub patrol.

The subs are still doing well in terms of VP of ships sunk against VP lost. I'm just aware that they will be less effective later so wan't to get as much as possible out of them early.

Picture shows all task forces

[Spidery]

I could scuttle the damaged AMc to save its captain: lets have a look at him:

CPT Hiranoa V.: Leadership 14, Inspiration 11, Naval 17, Land 2, Air 3, Admin 24, Aggression 10

Maybe I won't bother!