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

[Lowpe]

Those AA guns are in stock...at least my game of stock.

Late Game: 45. But it really starts to go downhill now and simply continues. The Americans just get so much ASW...and it is really good, too!.

In my downfall game I have lost one CVE to subs in a month and if memory serves it was an RO, too!; I need to check and see how many subs I have sunk. You always looks at losses in a neat victory point ratio to put things into perspective.[:)] I just got a turn in my inbox so I should get to it, at least watch the replay...

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Those AA guns are in stock...at least my game of stock.

Late Game: 45. But it really starts to go downhill now and simply continues. The Americans just get so much ASW...and it is really good, too!.

In my downfall game I have lost one CVE to subs in a month and if memory serves it was an RO, too!; I need to check and see how many subs I have sunk. You always looks at losses in a neat victory point ratio to put things into perspective.[:)] I just got a turn in my inbox so I should get to it, at least watch the replay...

You also have to look at how an opponent is using the items in question. If you look at 'Little Ship that Could' AAR Cantona is a master at getting subs to connect. Certain players have figured out good systems for using them, and I for one found some success against all of that massed Allied ASW, much to the consternation of Jocke at points! He would tell me "there are 120ASW points in that TF and you still hit the CV!"

They do get radar and that used with good air search and and a lack of good ASW or night search by your opponent can mean you score some hits. Or you just mass and let 5-6 die for one to get a hit. As Miller points out, it is worth it in VPs, and even more if you hit a CV or BB instead of a CVE. You won't stop the Allies late very much, but you can chip away as they move forward.

[Spidery]

September 23rd

Lightnings clear the day CAP over Balikpapan and the Liberators come in afterwards and destroy 50 points of oil production. Air losses: 18 KI-43 IV, 9 N1K1-J for 9 P-38G, 7 P-38F, 5 B-24D1. I don't have enough aviation support at Balikpapan and Samarinda to cover them both day and night well.

Damage an Allied sub near Iwo-Jima, but only 1 proper hit.

Lots of destruction amongst isolated Japanese forces on Java.

B7A2 to 5/44

Balikpapan has insufficient oil to operate the refineries (there are now 124 oil wells supplying 297 refineries).

E Hirado arrives.

Mitsubishi Ha-43 engines are now over 500 so providing bonus to N1K5-J research efforts.

[Spidery]

September 24th

Heavy sweeps of Magwe by Thunderbolts and Corsairs: 44 N1K1-J, 10 Ki-43-IIIa for 12 F4U-1, 9 B-47D2, not good at all. Do okay against the Corsairs first but then the Thunderbolts...

Allies eliminate the defenders at Banjoewangi. Heavy bombing at Kalidjati. The 48th Division at Madioen is trying to use shock attacks to eliminate itself [:D] but without success, yet.

RO-37 succumbs to prior damage.

[Spidery]

getting subs to connect. Certain players have figured out good systems for using them,

I haven't [:D]

I've hit CVs quite frequently, but never enough to sink them. Still, it is only time...

[Spidery]

lack of good ASW or night search by your opponent can mean you score some hits.

Never around his major assets. Until recently, he didn't seem to have much search around ports but now I can't get within 10 hexes of Pearl without getting 10/10 spotted. I can still linger quite close to a lot of places, but he probably doesn't have convoys there.

[Spidery]

But it really starts to go downhill now and simply continues. The Americans just get so much ASW...and it is really good, too!.

I've noticed that, used to be if he attacked a sub it was very unlikely to sink immediately and most times would have a good chance of making it to a base. Now, a sub attacked seems 50% likely to sink.

[Spidery]

September 25th

Allied DD launch a minor bombardment at Cheribon.

5 PB4Y-1 drop a bomb on an E at Hollandia, minor damage but small fires; I had a PB dangling at Aitape on the hope they would hit that under fighter cover but no such luck.

BB Musashi arrives and will immediately enter the yards to have radar fitted and another 12 25mm pea shooters.

Allies are taking C-46A commando losses, I wonder where they are flying?

Lots of radio traffic at Pearl Harbour - an invasion coming?

Ki-45 KAId Nick to 3/44

[Spidery]

September 26th

Allied forces sweep into the Makassar straits. The heavy cruiser force that was supposed to react to this does nothing and 3 of the better SC are lost.

An AK carrying part of an engineer unit is hit by a sub's torpedo off Woleai. Rather than diverting to Woleai she heads for Ulithi - not sure if will make it.

Thunderbolts sweep Magwe: 14 Ki-44-IIc, 10 Ki-43-IIb, 5 Ki-84a, 5 N1K1-J for 10 P-47D2

48th Division at Madioen eliminates itself and will be reformed then sent to Hokkaido to take reinforcements.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Spidery

September 26th

Allied forces sweep into the Makassar straits. The heavy cruiser force that was supposed to react to this does nothing and 3 of the better SC are lost.

Invasion fleet? [X(]

[Spidery]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: Spidery

September 26th

Allied forces sweep into the Makassar straits. The heavy cruiser force that was supposed to react to this does nothing and 3 of the better SC are lost.

Invasion fleet? [X(]

Destroyer bombardment forces, but I don't know that I can tell a fast transport force of APD from a raiding force of DD. A report of 7 ships 3 DD and 4 APD is as likely to be 8 DD as a fast transport force.

[Spidery]

September 27th

7 Fletchers try to raid Balikpapan. They encounter, and sink, a small PB on the approach but then run into Tanaka on the Mogami with 2 other CA and 4 DD. The battle does not go well. 2 Fletchers take hits from 20cm shells but no significant damage and will have no problem reaching Soerabaja. Mogami takes a 5 inch hit that knocks out one of its main gun turrets so will need some yard time. DD Isonami is hit by a torpedo[:@], the magazine explodes, and she sinks immediately. In the morning, Allied forces are 9 hexes from my dive bombers so no strike from them and the Nells at Kendari fail to strike - but I forgot to notice they had no torpedoes and they had poor bomber pilots so a good job[8|]

Allied PB4Y-1 strike at a cruiser force of mine at Aitape. Despite good RADAR detection, and overwhelming numbers, the N1K1-J are unable to close and do little damage to the Allied planes. However, they may have interfered with the attack because no hits are scored and flak takes care of some more: 9 PB4Y-1 lost for 4 N1K1-J and 1 N1K1.

Allies bomb heavily the forces at Cheribon attack and capture the base, giving them an airfield in range to fighter sweep Palembang. A few Franks had flown in to interfere but the Allied escorts protect the bombers: 9 Ki-84a for 9 P-40K, 4 P-39N1, 3 P-40E.

Some Nells out of Cocos Islands make an attempt on an AKV near Java. Allied CAP arrives too late to do any damage but no hits scored.

I am withdrawing most forces on Java to a last stand at Batavia, just leaving a division at Bandoeng

P1Y2 to 3/44

[Spidery]

September 28th

I-26 takes moderate damage (28/22/1) near Pearl and will return to the yards.

Various other sub action with no effect.

Supply at Rabaul only has 2 months left - that is barely okay, it will give me time to get most everything back from Eastern New Guinea. The troops at Rabaul are going to be abandoned (as, probably, will those at Manus and Buka).

Ki-84r to 5/44.

SS I-85 and SS RO-111 arrive.

[mind_messing]

Supply at Rabaul only has 2 months left - that is barely okay, it will give me time to get most everything back from Eastern New Guinea. The troops at Rabaul are going to be abandoned (as, probably, will those at Manus and Buka).

Air transport is the friend of cut-off troops. Fly out the infantry and what artillery tubes you can cram onto a plane and send them somewhere that needs reinforcing.

IJA units are a pushover once they're out of supply. Abandon Rabual, Manus and Buka as operational port and airbases, but get the troops back to fight another day (leaving behind a rear-guard strong enough to stop an air-drop, of course).

[Spidery]

September 29th

A damaged xAK surprises me by sinking in port at Ulithi - does seem to have offloaded its troops first.

An xAK is hit by a torpedo from SS Spearfish, in the South China Sea North of Palawan; she detaches in an escort task force and SS Spearfish attacks again and puts two torpedoes into her; she sinks. Heading back to home with just some resources on board so no great loss.

N1K5-J to 9/45

SS I-183 arrives

[Spidery]

September 30th

Allies bomb forces retreating from Kalidjati; not enough to stop them escaping before the attack.

Allied paras land at and take an undefended Sampit on the South of Borneo.

[Spidery]

September Overview

Allies have pushed forward in Java, and just landed on Borneo. More defenses have been thrown up. Damage to oil wells is less than I expected. Night bombing seems to have stopped and Allied bombers redirected to helping the ground troops take the rest of Java.

Ship losses for the month: 2 xAK, 1 xAKL, 1 AMc, 1 YO, 1 TK, 11 PB (mostly the Anryu class), 3 SS, 4 SC, 5 DD, 1 CL (one of the training cruisers).

Ships sunk claimed for the month: 1 CV, 1 BB, 2 CVE, 1 CL, 5 SS, 4 DD, 8 AM, 1 SC. Actual sunk I think is more like: 1 CL, 1 SS, 8 AM, 1 SC.

VP gain excluding bases: 1257:647 in Allied favour so only just better than the 2::1 ratio that I need.

Code: Select all

         Japan    Allied
 Total:  +344      +1350
 Bases:  -303        +93
 Air:    +500       +538
 Land:    +91       +482
 Sea:     +56       +237
 

[Spidery]

September Industry

The consequences of the Java invasion begin to bite. "Eq. Supply" is allowing for all oil and fuel converted to supply. Contrast with July when it went up by 182,452. Fuel usage should cut back next month as the evacuations are stopped and supply usage with no expansion of engines or aircraft needed. HI is beginning to accumulate rapidly as merchant production has stopped and some cut back on armaments and air production.

Code: Select all

 Oil:        -130,949
 Fuel:        +24,410
 Supply:      +43,873
 Eq. Supply:  -49,571
 HI:         +107,100
 Arms:         +8,617
 Vehicles:     +3,131
 

[Spidery]

An oddity in pilot training programme. The 10 month IJN pilots are less experienced than the 9 month ones.

[Spidery]

ORIGINAL: mind_messing

Supply at Rabaul only has 2 months left - that is barely okay, it will give me time to get most everything back from Eastern New Guinea. The troops at Rabaul are going to be abandoned (as, probably, will those at Manus and Buka).

Air transport is the friend of cut-off troops. Fly out the infantry and what artillery tubes you can cram onto a plane and send them somewhere that needs reinforcing.

IJA units are a pushover once they're out of supply. Abandon Rabual, Manus and Buka as operational port and airbases, but get the troops back to fight another day (leaving behind a rear-guard strong enough to stop an air-drop, of course).

Been using lots of air lift to recover units.

Rabaul though is adjacent to Namatani and Buka 2 hexes from an Allied base so both are subject to LRCAP that will shoot down transports. Also, there aren't, yet, many naval transports planes with the range needed.