Matrix Games Forums

Some of you may be asking why I'm "risking" MKB on a wild goose chase to get some cargo ships, a tanker and a few old DDs? Well, there are a couple of reasons. Those DDs are a royal pain to the couple of subs I have in the area. They haven't sunk any of my subs (yet) but the damage caused is keeping them (all 2 of them) in the repair yard more often than I'd like. The initial reason was to take care of some of the ASW forces there. Catching the full supply convoys was a nice bonus. It hurts Darwin, which, I suspect, was the destination of the convoys.

The second reason is more strategic. I want Ted to react to me as long as possible in different areas as spread out as possible. If I can get him to divert assets to back water areas, then I'm happy. MKB isn't going to last against any Allied carrier TFs, but in an area where he doesn't have much, they can definitely cause damage, with little risk. I'm confident that the 2 damaged DDs are gone. I hope to get a clean sweep tomorrow and sink the remaining ships in the area.

So, MKB is going to continue to appear here and there to keep Ted guessing and looking over his shoulder. It's also extra experience for the air crews too. In the above attack, I ended up losing 1 Zero, 1 Val and 1 Kate, all to op losses with a single Val pilot WIA. I'll take that.

One other thing about MKB. They have 162 very good fighter pilots on board. Over time, I cull some of the very good pilots and replace them with 70+/70+ pilots. That will give me a stronger pool to replace any KB pilots I need to replace.

RangerJoe wrote: Wed Sep 23, 2026 12:11 am Try having Canton and other bases stockpile oil to try keep it from going to Hong Kong.

Just keep pulling resources from Korea as much as is possible but don't have returning cargo ships come back empty. Even returning transports can haul resources. If they have to travel then at least have them earn their fuel.

I have never been able to haul resources on an AP/xAP/APD type unless it had an xAK/AK type in the Transport TF. Of course, most of Japan's Transports are xAKs converted to carry more troops, but I thought I should mention it for newer players on the Allied side.

BBfanboy wrote: Wed Sep 23, 2026 3:27 pm

RangerJoe wrote: Wed Sep 23, 2026 12:11 am Try having Canton and other bases stockpile oil to try keep it from going to Hong Kong.

Just keep pulling resources from Korea as much as is possible but don't have returning cargo ships come back empty. Even returning transports can haul resources. If they have to travel then at least have them earn their fuel.

I have never been able to haul resources on an AP/xAP/APD type unless it had an xAK/AK type in the Transport TF. Of course, most of Japan's Transports are xAKs converted to carry more troops, but I thought I should mention it for newer players on the Allied side.

Good info, BB. I have found this to be true as well on the Japanese side. Often, if I'm sending a unit to Truk, I'll use xAKs instead of xAPs so I can detour to Babeldaob to pick up resources or fuel.

A little update.

A couple of days ago, a new Chinese unit appeared in Chungking. It was the 10 Chinese Base Force. They do have a small infantry contingent (40 squads, I think) but what it appears with is minor in the grand scheme of things. It's definitely much better than a large infantry corps. I've been pretty lucky lately.

4 Feb 43

Sub War

I-121 and I-122 entered Rennell Island and dropped off their 80 mines to hopefully cause a headache (and some holes in ships) to Ted. On the way out, they ran into an ASW TF. I-121 unsuccessfully tried to torpedo a DD and took some minor damage in return. They're headed back to Truk for repairs and to prepare for their next mission.

5 Fleet

The BB TF bombarded Adak a day late. They're headed back to Attu to replenish and return. I'll set them to stop within range of Adak and then arrive the next day, when I'll attack again. I think the end is near for the Allies.

4 Fleet

KB 2 didn't launch against that enemy TF that's still working its way west. The two TFs are only 6 hexes apart and steaming toward each other. I think they didn't attack because the weather in the Allied hex was heavy rain. I hope to engage tomorrow.


SE Fleet

The Georges and Nicks successfully intercepted some 4E bombers over Lunga today. Ten Georges and 37 Nicks caught 7 B-17Es, shot down 3 and turned the rest into Swiss cheese. A handful remained after that engagement and encountered 24 more heavy bombers. They shot down a B-24D before being driven off. A lot of the planes were damaged (not surprisingly), but none were lost. I pulled out the flyable planes back to the relative safety of Rabaul. Let's see what Ted does tomorrow. I will take 4 heavy bombers shot down plus a few more op losses for no loss.

SRA

MKB had an interesting day today. MKB 1 moved east in the deep water toward Pt. Headland and MKB 2 headed south just a couple hexes. I did that in case there were survivors from yesterday to catch them whichever way they fled. It turned out there were no survivors from yesterday. I'm not surprised. Every ship that wasn't sunk outright was hit by at least 2x 250 kg bombs and heavily damaged with heavy fires.

Today, MKB 1 found two TFs in Pt. Headland composed of 3 DDs (Nizam, Van Ghent and Encounter). The first attack of 39 Vals (with 23 Zeros escorting) left Nizam burning and the other two barely afloat. Immediately after, I heard sinking sounds. That was Van Ghent. The second attack of 23 Zeros and 54 Vals put down the other two DDs. Clean sweep so far.

I did see that there are no more TFs in the area but Pt. Hedland has 7 ships in port, possibly a CL, an AS, 2 CMc and 3 x AKs. Tomorrow, I'm setting everything for naval attack and putting the Kates on a secondary mission of port attack. Let's see what happens...

So far, the score is 5 DDs, a PG and a TK plus some cargo ships, all for 1 DB pilot WIA.

Pt. Hedlands airfield is currently level 8. I was worried about enemy fighters but I recon the bases around Darwin and see no fighters there. I also noticed a TF at Darwin. I'm putting 27 Nells at Saumlaki on naval attack hoping to attack whatever is there. They'll have some Oscars as escort. Let's see how that works out...

Burma

Nothing to report.

China

Today's bombing/bombardment destroyed 27 squads.

Raw AV:
Japan: 3790 (+267)
China: 2026 (-61)
Enemy strength: 270k (-5k)
Enemy units: 90 units (no change)
Guns: 435 (+24)

Other Stuff

I made some air adjustments today:

I increased the Ki-46-III factory from 15 to 30.

I converted the Glen factory (no longer needed) to D4Y1 Judy and increased its size to 30. In a month, I'll upgrade it to the D4Y2 R&D. That will accelerate it by 3 months to 1/44. Then I'll upgrade the factory to the D4Y3. By then, I'll have 500+ Ha-33 engines in the pool to accelerate the R&D. Also, I'll add 4 more factories from the Tojo when the Ha-43 pool runs out. So, the advancement will be even sooner. I'll figure that out later when I have more time.

Finally, I increased the Ha-33 engine factories from 150 to 210. I'll need a lot more of them.

On this day, my Dad turned 26. He was in the States training and preparing for deployment to England and then to France during Operation Overlord. I'm glad he survived the ordeal or I wouldn't be here spouting all my blather about this wonderful game.