A family affair - Speedy vs El Padre

[Lowpe]

Just play and have fun!

But it does get ugly fast.[X(]

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Speedy

You make it sound like I've woken up in another universe surrounded by Zombies like in Walking Dead[;)][:D].

Nah, don't mean that at all.

You're mid-43. Just time to assess where you are at and where you want to be.

The trick for playing IJ is that up through mid'43 you're in control. The allies have too little of everything. Starting at this point though, everything flips.
Like subs. Up until this point IJ subs rule! But pretty soon you will lose one almost every time they encounter an allied ship because the allied ASW gets SO much better.
Many players can't adjust and that hastens their downfall.

So, with aircraft up until now not only have you had better aircraft, but more of them. that's going to change. He's getting +200 Hellcats every month now, planes that will eat the A6M every day.


Time to adjust. That's all.

[Speedysteve]

Makes sense and thanks guys[8D]

[Speedysteve]

Hi All,

The action, once more, for the past few days focuses on SoPac and Burma.

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

SoPac:

All troops, for the PM invasion, were loaded aboard from Noumea by 25th May and the fleet escorted by KB nd BB's are heading NNW away from New Caledonia.

Over NG, Jap LBA keeps Terapo and PM subdued.

The Allies launch P38 and Corsair Sweeps over Koumac and PM. Fighter losses amount to 10 x Allied and 15 x Japanese (Zero/Oscar).

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

Burma:

In the Air the Japanese contest again on the 26th with George's over Mandalay and Tojo's east of Taung Gyi on my retreating Bde.

LBA, escorted by Zeroes, from Rangoon target 6 enemy units (an Indian Div, Inf Bde, 3 x ARM Bde and a BF) which headed east from Mandalay and are trying to flank my positions through Taung Gyi.

Losses are heavy on both sides but the enemy lost a reported 60 planes to my 46 (things were looking good for the day until the end when I lost 12 un-escorted Helen's from Rangoon). My George's did well shooting down a reported 40+ enemy fighters/bombers for the loss of 18.

On land, I have sent a 1/2 strength division to Taung Gyi, a full strength one is heading down from Mandalay, 31st Division is in the Malacca Strait's and 11th Division will leave Korea within 10 days for Burma. I hope to hold with 2 x Full strength/1 x 1/2 strength Division and 1 x 1/2 strength Bde at Taung Gyi backed by forts.

A sit rep is below:

[Speedysteve]

IJNAF Fighter Production:

Based on Pax's great analysis and help above I'm thinking of tweaking the current production as follows:

Current:

A6M2 - 86 p/m
George 1 - 90 p/m

Plan:

Need to increase current production as heavier combat is occurring more frequently over Burma in particular.

A6m2 - increase to 160 p/m until A6M5c (currently 120 x R&D. Expected ETA 10/43). (Or is it worth me converting the A6M2 production facs now to A6M3a then to A6M5 when that's available finally to A6M5c?) At that point I'll leave the 160 p/m making A6M5c and plan to shift 120 x R&D to A7M2.

George 1 - increase to 150 p/m until George 2 (ETA May-July 1944).

Worth producing any Jacks (aware of your posts above?)

Is it worth me converting my of my dormant R&D facs (those not researching NF's, transports, Recon etc) to other end of the line fighters OR to producing more current fighters?

Thoughts?

[GetAssista]

ORIGINAL: Speedy
Is it worth me converting my of my dormant R&D facs (those not researching NF's, transports, Recon etc) to other end of the line fighters OR to producing more current fighters?

Thoughts?

* There was a growing murmur from the crowd, and soon a familiar chanting becomes recognizeable
"Frank-A? Frank-A! Frank-A!!" *
[:D]

[Speedysteve]

IJAAF Fighter Production:

Current:

Ki44 IIa - 30 p/m
Ki43 IIb - 86 p/m

Plan:

Need to increase current production as heavier combat is occurring more frequently over Burma in particular.

Ki44 IIa - Increase to 60 p/m until Ki44 IIc model comes online (Currently R&D. Expected ETA 10/43). Then convert IIa production and increase to 90 p/m.

Use Ki43 IIB's only until I can get Ki84a (Currently R&D. Expected ETA 1/44). This leaves me in a quandary. Question: I could convert other dormant R&D facs to R&D Ki84a but would they repair quickly enough to make a difference to bring the entry date forward?

I don't see the benefit or value of the Tony I line in particular.

Ultimate Models:

Ki-84r (30 x R&D under Ki-84b which will convert) and Ki-83 (30 x R&D).

Unlike IJNAF there's more options for IJAAF fighters but I could do with suggestions on which way to move forward. Main quandary is the future and I'm thinking I should allocate dormant R&D facs but should I to Ki-84a's, Ki-84r's or Ki-83's?. Gut feel is Franka as the can arrive soon enough to make a difference but....

[Speedysteve]

ORIGINAL: GetAssista

ORIGINAL: Speedy
Is it worth me converting my of my dormant R&D facs (those not researching NF's, transports, Recon etc) to other end of the line fighters OR to producing more current fighters?

Thoughts?

* There was a growing murmur from the crowd, and soon a familiar chanting becomes recognizeable
"Frank-A? Frank-A! Frank-A!!" *
[:D]

LOL.[:D] How many facs of 30 and would they repair quickly enough to make the difference is the follow up question?[;)]

[Lowpe]

Don't allocate new facilities to the Frank R, select Frank A and when fully repaired to 30 advance them to Frank R, or wait until the Frank a starts production and advance them to R.

You need to look at what you plan on building...If you plan on building 150 Frank A a month, then I would expand now to accomplish that goal. Plus you need to figure out how many size 30 factories you want to advance to the Frank R model.

Does that help?

[Speedysteve]

Thanks. Yes aware best to go for earlier model then freely convert down the line. Sorry I should have been more specific in my question. As in should I convert some of my dormant R&D face to Franka with a view that they'll repair quick enough to make a difference on its arrival or convert to Franka with the view of them auto converting to to Frankr? I guess the ultimate question is with the plane due to arrive in 10 months time how soon do you think a size 30 fac would repair (roughly)?

Lastly, outside of Frankr and ki-83 any other planes you think it's worth focussing on?

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Don't allocate new facilities to the Frank R, select Frank A and when fully repaired to 30 advance them to Frank R, or wait until the Frank a starts production and advance them to R.

You need to look at what you plan on building...If you plan on building 150 Frank A a month, then I would expand now to accomplish that goal. Plus you need to figure out how many size 30 factories you want to advance to the Frank R model.

Does that help?

+1

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Speedy

Thanks. Yes aware best to go for earlier model then freely convert down the line. Sorry I should have been more specific in my question. As in should I convert some of my dormant R&D face to Franka with a view that they'll repair quick enough to make a difference on its arrival or convert to Franka with the view of them auto converting to to Frankr? I guess the ultimate question is with the plane due to arrive in 10 months time how soon do you think a size 30 fac would repair (roughly)?

Lastly, outside of Frankr and ki-83 any other planes you think it's worth focussing on?

Fighters. You've made decisions on the IJA. Now do the same for the IJN.

Yes, Rnd on the Frank r will make a difference depending upon how many factories you put on it. The Frank a factories will repair fairly quickly now as you aren't that far away from its date. How many you put on it depends upon what you want your ultimate production of that fighter to be. At this point, your RnD factories will be converting to production most of the time, so plan carefully.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Speedy

I don't see the benefit or value of the Tony I line in particular.

You need a service 1 fighter late and the Ki-100 is your best option. The Ki-43 IV is decent, but fragile, and the Ki-44 IIc does do well after about mid-44, in my experience. The guns on the Tony line are the attraction.

So just build 1-2 x 30 R & D on the Tony Ia and once they're repaired switch them up to the Ki-100.

[Speedysteve]

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: Speedy

I don't see the benefit or value of the Tony I line in particular.

You need a service 1 fighter late and the Ki-100 is your best option. The Ki-43 IV is decent, but fragile, and the Ki-44 IIc does do well after about mid-44, in my experience. The guns on the Tony line are the attraction.

So just build 1-2 x 30 R & D on the Tony Ia and once they're repaired switch them up to the Ki-100.

Hi obvert - I'm already focusing on the Ki-44 IIc (120 x R&D - will be due c. 1/44). My plan was for this to fill that role?

[Speedysteve]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

ORIGINAL: Speedy

Thanks. Yes aware best to go for earlier model then freely convert down the line. Sorry I should have been more specific in my question. As in should I convert some of my dormant R&D face to Franka with a view that they'll repair quick enough to make a difference on its arrival or convert to Franka with the view of them auto converting to to Frankr? I guess the ultimate question is with the plane due to arrive in 10 months time how soon do you think a size 30 fac would repair (roughly)?

Lastly, outside of Frankr and ki-83 any other planes you think it's worth focussing on?

Fighters. You've made decisions on the IJA. Now do the same for the IJN.

Yes, Rnd on the Frank r will make a difference depending upon how many factories you put on it. The Frank a factories will repair fairly quickly now as you aren't that far away from its date. How many you put on it depends upon what you want your ultimate production of that fighter to be. At this point, your RnD factories will be converting to production most of the time, so plan carefully.

Thanks Pax. Already done the IJNAF Fighters (above). Will now assess the bombers, recon and transports (mainly for the engine requirements moving forward).

[Speedysteve]

Here's the amended plan for IJAAF Fighters based on feedback:

IJAAF Fighter Production:

Current:

Ki44 IIa - 30 p/m
Ki43 IIb - 86 p/m

Plan:

Need to increase current production as heavier combat is occurring more frequently over Burma in particular.

Ki44 IIa - Increase to 60 p/m until Ki44 IIc model comes online (Currently R&D. Expected ETA 10/43). Then convert IIa production to IIc.

Use Ki43 IIB's only until I can get Ki84a (Currently R&D. Expected ETA 1/44). Aim to convert a further 60 x R&D for Ki-84a (giving 150 x Frank a which will convert to production. I'll also convert a further 60 x R&D to Frank a for conversion to Frank r.

I don't see the benefit or value of the Tony I line in particular.

Ultimate Models:

Ki-84r (30 x R&D under Ki-84b which will convert + 60 x additional which I'll add via Ki-84a line) and Ki-83 (30 x R&D + a further 120 x R&D which I'll convert to this line).

This then gives the following ultimate production:

Current:

Ki44 IIa - 60 p/m
Ki43 IIb - 86 p/m

Future:

Ki-44IIc - 180 p/m
Ki-84a - 150 p/m

Ultimate:

Ki-84r - 240 p/m
Ki-83 - 150 p/m

Thoughts?

[Speedysteve]

Actually rather than me going through each type and line by post I'll post a summary once I've worked them all out and summarise total figures and thoughts and ask for advice at that point.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Speedy

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: Speedy

I don't see the benefit or value of the Tony I line in particular.

You need a service 1 fighter late and the Ki-100 is your best option. The Ki-43 IV is decent, but fragile, and the Ki-44 IIc does do well after about mid-44, in my experience. The guns on the Tony line are the attraction.

So just build 1-2 x 30 R & D on the Tony Ia and once they're repaired switch them up to the Ki-100.

Hi obvert - I'm already focusing on the Ki-44 IIc (120 x R&D - will be due c. 1/44). My plan was for this to fill that role?

You should have the earlier Tojo factories upgrade to research the IIc, right? With anything that includes multiple models, the first one is all you need to research. those are done more quickly, then just change to the model you want.

The Tojo IIc is great form mid-43 to mid-44. Then it begins to be under-gunned vs the larger waves of Allied bombers you'll see and the late war fighters. Still somewhat useful as low maneuverable CAP, but not the killer it once was. It gets eaten alive by Spit VIII, P-47D2 and P-51B/D.

The Ki-100 has the centerline 20mm cannons, and is durable if not so quick. (In DBB it gets quicker, and turns into the seriously tough interceptor it was reported to be in the few opportunities it got in the war).

Your ultimate list is way under what you'll need late war. You\ll still have plentiful Ki-44 IIc around and can use them, but as I say, they're not so hot late.

You do need to still produce Oscars (and why stop, you'll still need long range escorts), plus a service 1 bomber killer, which is the Ki-100.

Ki-83 and Ki-84r are good sweepers, the Ki-84r is a good defensive interceptor, but after one day halfof your planes with be hanger-bound and you'll need those service 1 options, plus be able to swap groups out on rail lines.

[Speedysteve]

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: Speedy

ORIGINAL: obvert




You need a service 1 fighter late and the Ki-100 is your best option. The Ki-43 IV is decent, but fragile, and the Ki-44 IIc does do well after about mid-44, in my experience. The guns on the Tony line are the attraction.

So just build 1-2 x 30 R & D on the Tony Ia and once they're repaired switch them up to the Ki-100.

Hi obvert - I'm already focusing on the Ki-44 IIc (120 x R&D - will be due c. 1/44). My plan was for this to fill that role?

You should have the earlier Tojo factories upgrade to research the IIc, right? With anything that includes multiple models, the first one is all you need to research. those are done more quickly, then just change to the model you want.

The Tojo IIc is great form mid-43 to mid-44. Then it begins to be under-gunned vs the larger waves of Allied bombers you'll see and the late war fighters. Still somewhat useful as low maneuverable CAP, but not the killer it once was. It gets eaten alive by Spit VIII, P-47D2 and P-51B/D.

The Ki-100 has the centerline 20mm cannons, and is durable if not so quick. (In DBB it gets quicker, and turns into the seriously tough interceptor it was reported to be in the few opportunities it got in the war).

Your ultimate list is way under what you'll need late war. You\ll still have plentiful Ki-44 IIc around and can use them, but as I say, they're not so hot late.

You do need to still produce Oscars (and why stop, you'll still need long range escorts), plus a service 1 bomber killer, which is the Ki-100.

Ki-83 and Ki-84r are good sweepers, the Ki-84r is a good defensive interceptor, but after one day halfof your planes with be hanger-bound and you'll need those service 1 options, plus be able to swap groups out on rail lines.

Thanks obvert. Re: later war bomber killer - I planned to use the Ki-102b Randy for that role. you think it would be better to use the Tony 100 I/II for that instead?

[Speedysteve]

Hi All,

Ok. It's taken me a few hours to do this but here's my current thoughts and views on my production and plans.

To explain my methodology:

(R&D) = current level of facs assigned to R&D for this aircraft.

(Future R&D) = planned plane which will have R&D assigned to it (of this number of facs) once a previous model is in production.

(Max production) = Arbitrary level if I converted all of the previous lines production facs to this line once available (arbitrary since this can easily be changed). Useful for me to plan rough engine production plans though.

White cells = plane type currently in production

Yellow cells = intermediate/next gen plane in a production line.

Green cells = end of the line/ultimate plane model for aircraft type.

Please note the "Planned production quantity" column is what I immediately plan to increase/assign facs to for this plane type. For the R&D planes this will mean I'll be assigning the dormant fac lines (from recon, NF, transport plane types which I see no real urgent need to accelerate).

Thoughts before I implement this?