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This turn saw the advance of the George - 1 week before it should have arrived
The annoying thing is that all factories converted to production immediately so I can't convert them to research other ac which is a pitty.
Well, we'll have loads of George's ready in no time if nothing else

The best thing to do with your R&D factories is to move them to the next generation of planes. The ONLY way you can move them forward without totally damaging the factories is if it is the next generation plane. You should have some R&D working on the next generation of Zero (3 factories of 30 to 45 size each). Then have one or two factories actually producing the Zero. Just be careful not to allow your fully repaired R&D factories to convert to production.

I would recommend you look at what future airframes have multiple upgrades and ensure that you have the R&D set up for them so you can use this feature to the fullest.

ORIGINAL: PzB
What I do notice is that CAP fighters from Buna intercepted enemy raids on PM (leaky CAP) but the fighters in Lae did not (range 4 hexes).
Does anyone know what the range limit for leaky CAP is?

According to manual - 2 hexes, but IIRC it was somewhat overhauled in one of the patches.
In WITP all bases in area were undeveloped, in Guadalcanal Scenario most are cut to 0, but in full map, I see, that you have two bases north of PM, which have great potential. TONYs are so short legged, that currently the only places to use them, are Burma, and New Guinea, as it is hard to find islands, which are near enough. Burma is currently closed for combat, and before you can use them, they will be probably rearmed to new models anyway. So either you use them now, at PM area, or they will rot in pools until end of war.

Since main reason, in combat animations, for fighters, not to engage bombers, are either damage during closing, or break off, because of defensive fire, I was wondering, if armour will give any advantage, during attacks on bombers. So you could also use Oscars IIb for it. They do not have much weaker firepower, than early TOJO/TONY.

Actually, now is the interesting time for Japan, GEORGEs, A6M5s, armoured Oscars, and soon TOJOs with cannons. Whole Japanese Airforce will be rearmed. I am wondering, if Allies will send THUNDERBOLTs, with droptanks, as escorts. That could be interesting...

Only 3 large enemy bases in the Fiji Area - PagoPago is one of them but not a lot of enemy troops or activity there.
Andy has also built Tahiti so I can't roam around in the area without carrier support. Our search planes and uber long range recons keep an eye on the place though.

Not good. What we need is THE PLAN!
When Line Islands fall, there will be undoubtedly, huge convoys to Australia. Now, what can Japan do to interdict them, without investing large resources (like KB)?

Luftwaffel... LOL.  Yeah, the morning dose of this AAR is always most welcome.  Coffee, Croissant, and last nights AAR news got already instated as daily routine.  Now wonder, if there were an "AAR of the year" award, this would surely be one of the prime candidates...

Inquisitors thoughts about the Fiji Area are quite interesting.  Surely once the Line Islands fall, which probably will go hand-in-hand with a CV clash and KB surely retiring for repairs and refit, Andy will start sending larger convoys more directly to OZ -- especially if he won the CV clash.   Adding more bases as hazards around Fiji would delay this process.   But ultimately Andy will overrun all advanced bases.  Since this is quite predictable, maybe it would be wise to start thinking along those lines, and how to already prepare such that you can even gain some benefits then?  Maybe by having some surface raiders stand by for OPs near CONUSA once the last of the blockade islands fall?   I suppose the first of his convoys will not have a heavy guard, yet that depends on the preceding CV clash...

Agree ny59, I need a research plan! The Frank is 5-6 months away, maybe we can accelerate it next.
For Navy fighters I'm not sure, the next Zero model maybe.

I've not spotted any major convoys to Oz from the Central Pacific, me thinks Andy is supplying the area via Perth and New Zealand, Sydney.
Last time one of our raiders encountered and sank a single merchant in the Central Pacific it expended enough ammo to abort mission and RTB!!!
- Raiders there don't work, can at most sink 1-2 ships if you're really lucky.

Developing bases close to PM isn't a good idea, the large number of Allied bases in Northern Oz can easily suppress them.
Why I use Lae to a limited extent is that it's at the extreme end of Allied escort fighters range.
Tony's and George fighters have high service ratings, so they have to be kept rather stationary at major air complexes and used as bomber interceptors and
air supremacy fighters. Having them in the pools is ok as long as we keep the good pilots, there will be a need for them...soon!

When we get an opportunity to fight in a favorable geographical and tactical position I will employ the Air Force en masse, like in Burma.
It's also possible to deploy the KB to boost CAP over bases like PM; sending in 300 A6M5 Zero's would make lots of holes in the enemy bomber streams [:)]
- Still a potentially dangerous and wasteful way to use the elite pilots.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Jun 26, 43

Sub-ASW Attacks

ASW attack near San Francisco at 218,70

Japanese Ships
SS I-36, hits 6

Allied Ships
AM Constant
TK Gulfwave
TK David McKelvy
xAK Singu
xAK Oakbank
xAK Nurmahal
xAK Kutsang
xAK Comliebank
xAK Nisqually
xAK General Fleisher
xAK Santa Isabel
xAK Cape John
xAK Trade Wind
xAK Nancy Lykes
xAK Alcoa Planter
xAK West Portal
xAK San Angelo
xAK Maliko
xAK Makena
xAK Corrales
xAK Dorothy Luckenbach
xAK Steel Scientist
xAK Mobile City
xAK Dakotan
DD Edsall
KV New Westminster
AM Firm

SS I-36 is sighted by escort
DD Edsall fails to find sub, continues to search...
KV New Westminster fails to find sub and abandons search
AM Firm fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Edsall attacking submerged sub ....
SS I-36 eludes ASW attack from DD Edsall
DD Edsall fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Edsall fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Edsall attacking submerged sub ....
DD Edsall cannot establish contact with SS I-36
DD Edsall fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submarine attack near San Francisco at 218,70

Japanese Ships
SS I-36

Allied Ships
xAK Exchange, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

xAK Exchange is sighted by SS I-36
SS I-36 attacking xAK Exchange on the surface
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Night Air attack on Magwe , at 57,47
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7
J1N1-S Irving x 2
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 22
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 10

Allied aircraft
Wellington Ic x 19
Wellington B.X x 4

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Wellington Ic: 6 damaged

Oil hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Wellington Ic bombing from 7000 feet
City Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x Wellington Ic bombing from 7000 feet
City Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x Wellington B.X bombing from 7000 feet
City Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Endo Det with J1N1-S Irving (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 35 minutes
13th Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 10 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 2 minutes
64th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 22 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 8000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 8 minutes
282 Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 7 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 7000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 30 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Magwe , at 57,47
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7
J1N1-S Irving x 1
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 22
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 10

Allied aircraft
Wellington GR.VIII x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Wellington GR.VIII: 5 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Wellington GR.VIII bombing from 7000 feet
City Attack: 6 x 250 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Endo Det with J1N1-S Irving (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Raid is overhead
13th Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (10 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
10 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
64th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 22 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 8000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 14 minutes
282 Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (7 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 7000
Raid is overhead

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130
Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 41 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17F Fortress x 3
B-24D Liberator x 39
B-24D1 Liberator x 28
B-25D1 Mitchell x 12
B-26B Marauder x 10
P-38G Lightning x 17
P-38H Lightning x 25

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 45
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130
Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17F Fortress x 12
B-24D1 Liberator x 3

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 8
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130
Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 9

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
5 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Runway hits 8
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130
Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 41 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 12

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 10
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130
Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 11

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 6
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Invasions - Ground Combat

Amphibious Assault at French Frigate Shoal

TF 344 troops unloading over beach at French Frigate Shoal, 170,101

Allied ground losses:
Guns lost 3 (0 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Vehicles lost 19 (0 destroyed, 19 disabled
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at French Frigate Shoal (170,101)
Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 246 troops, 3 guns, 80 vehicles, Assault Value = 50
Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0

Allied adjusted assault: 3
Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 0)
Allied forces CAPTURE French Frigate Shoal !!!

Combat modifiers
Attacker: op mode(-), shock(+), leaders(-), disruption(-)

Assaulting units:
762nd Tank Bn /24
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

I've gone through the list C&G!

Unfortunately I don't get any unrestricted George units until mid September 43!
I had hoped the 45 ac size 202 Ku S-1 would do the trick, but in Scen 2 it doesn't upgrade to the George, not even via the Zero A6M5.
The 1001 Ku U-1 upgrades to the A6M5c in september 44...path doesn't go via the A6M5 at all.

So until the 345 KU S-1 and S-2 arrives in September I'm stuck with 2 restricted Jack & George units in the Home Islands.
Accelerating the George therefore makes little sense for all of you playing scen 2.

The George looks very promising though, max range with drop tanks is 12 hexes and it wields 4x20mm cannons and 2 machine guns.
This makes it usefull nt only as a bomber interceptor but also as a air supremacy fighter and high end bomber escort.

ORIGINAL: cap_and_gown

I am playing scn #1, so things may be different. And I am up to Jan. 1944, so I am ahead of you as far as reinforcements, though not in plane research! But here are the squadrons I have upgraded to Georges so far. (As soon as the J2M3 Jack comes out 2/44 I am going to start upgrading them to that plane.)

Yokosuka Ku S-1, S-2 - these are permanently restricted to the Home Islands
301 Ku S-2; 345 Ku S-1 & S-2; 381 Ku S-1 - all of these need to be withdrawn July 10, 44
341 Ku S-1

Also, 202 Ku S-1 will upgrade to the George N1K2 model, but needs to first get to the A6M5 Zero.

Also, check squadron 1001 Ku U-1. It starts out as a Tina squadron but can upgrade to Zero's (A6M5 required, I believe).

ORIGINAL: PzB

I've gone through the list C&G!

Unfortunately I don't get any unrestricted George units until mid September 43!
I had hoped the 45 ac size 202 Ku S-1 would do the trick, but in Scen 2 it doesn't upgrade to the George, not even via the Zero A6M5.
The 1001 Ku U-1 upgrades to the A6M5c in september 44...path doesn't go via the A6M5 at all.

So until the 345 KU S-1 and S-2 arrives in September I'm stuck with 2 restricted Jack & George units in the Home Islands.
Accelerating the George therefore makes little sense for all of you playing scen 2.

The George looks very promising though, max range with drop tanks is 12 hexes and it wields 4x20mm cannons and 2 machine guns.
This makes it usefull nt only as a bomber interceptor but also as a air supremacy fighter and high end bomber escort.

ORIGINAL: cap_and_gown

I am playing scn #1, so things may be different. And I am up to Jan. 1944, so I am ahead of you as far as reinforcements, though not in plane research! But here are the squadrons I have upgraded to Georges so far. (As soon as the J2M3 Jack comes out 2/44 I am going to start upgrading them to that plane.)

Yokosuka Ku S-1, S-2 - these are permanently restricted to the Home Islands
301 Ku S-2; 345 Ku S-1 & S-2; 381 Ku S-1 - all of these need to be withdrawn July 10, 44
341 Ku S-1

Also, 202 Ku S-1 will upgrade to the George N1K2 model, but needs to first get to the A6M5 Zero.

Also, check squadron 1001 Ku U-1. It starts out as a Tina squadron but can upgrade to Zero's (A6M5 required, I believe).

The George is very good. Surprisingly good for a plane with a top speed of ~360 mph. The Jack J2M3 looks like it might also be good with a service rating of 2 instead of 3. I am currently testing it in battle. First outing was not that great, but may be because of the pilots or other factors. Also, the Jack has quite a high climb rate.

The 202 Ku-S1 will upgrade to the N1K2 model, not the N1K1.

I wasn't sure about the 1001. I got some A6M5c's early when I got the 1945 Unryu's. I downgraded most of them to the A6M5 so there were some in the pool that could be used to upgrade the 1001.

Speed isn't as much of an indicator of capability in AE. The model is much more subtle than that. I recently had rather slow Ki-100 IIs in battle vs P51Hs. Other planes involved on my side were A7M2s, J7W1s, Ki-84rs, N1K5Js... All of the above had a top speed of 30 to 80 mph faster than the Ki-100 II. In the end though the Ki-100 II took far fewer losses per plane involved in combat than any of those types. Pilot quality wasn't appreciably better either. In fact it was definitely worse than the J7W1 squadron.

Hmm, gotta love a complex model which isn't amenable to being simply disected.

ORIGINAL: Nemo121

Hmm, gotta love a complex model which isn't amenable to being simply disected.

+1
[&o]

Amen [:'(]

Ok I'll be getting those A6M5c's on the Amagi in 3 months or so, can consider upgrading the transport unit then.
Those Mavis transports are very usefull though!....

A rather interesting turn as we enter July[:)]

The Taiho arrives equipped with crack aircrews, average exp for the pilot group varies between 79 and 82 [&o]
I accelerated 2 Unryu's in exchange for completing the Taiho, had to halt a CL but that's ok.
- The Taiho is usually a lucky ship.

I now have confirmation; Andy is using sub packs. Woud fit his style perfectly, why micro manage 170 subs if you can use 40 tf's of 4-5 subs instead.
Today a sub TF did something as foolish as entering Singapore, I have mined the base to the south of the place so no way around I guess.
5!!! enemy subs were reported to hit mines and 2 were reported sunk today [:D] Wunderbar!!

A large Air HQ also arrived in the Home Islands, could change its HQ and release it and now it's enroute to New Guinea to complete the air complex build-up there.
At Christmas Island engineers completed the final expansion project; base is now maxed out with an AF size of 8.
Midway is also in the process of building forts.

Got some 70 R&D on the Frank, will increase this somewhat and accelerate it at least a month - getting it in December instead of January.
The next Tojo is also ready for production, hope some of the factories auto upgrade.


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Jul 01, 43

Sub Attacks

Very funny..first the I-59 expends all her ammon on a AKL (says something about the botched ammo levels on some ship types refusing to use
torpedoes on this little hulk twice. Then glorious I-162 race in and launch 4 torps against the flaming hulk, Bravo Brave Samurai [8|]

Submarine attack near Johnston Island at 167,112

Japanese Ships
SS I-159

Allied Ships
xAKL Mapele, Shell hits 8, heavy fires

xAKL Mapele is sighted by SS I-159
SS I-159 attacking on the surface
SS I-159 low on gun ammo, Yoshimatsu, Tamori breaks off surface engagement and submerges
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Johnston Island at 166,112

Japanese Ships
SS I-159

Allied Ships
xAKL Mapele, on fire

Captain of SS I-159 elects not to launch torpedoes at this target
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submarine attack near Johnston Island at 165,112

Japanese Ships
SS I-162

Allied Ships
xAKL Mapele, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

xAKL Mapele is sighted by SS I-162
SS I-162 launches 4 torpedoes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Pearl Harbor at 178,111

Japanese Ships
SS I-9, hits 13

Allied Ships
KV Dundas
AM Oracle

SS I-9 is sighted by escort
I-9 diving deep ....
KV Dundas fails to find sub, continues to search...
AM Oracle fails to find sub and abandons search
KV Dundas fails to find sub, continues to search...
KV Dundas fails to find sub, continues to search...
KV Dundas attacking submerged sub ....
KV Dundas fails to find sub, continues to search...
KV Dundas attacking submerged sub ....
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 327 encounters mine field at Singapore (50,84)

Allied Ships
SS O24, Mine hits 1, heavy damage
SS Scorpion, Mine hits 1
SS Sawfish, Mine hits 1
SS Pargo, Mine hits 1
SS Tautog, Mine hits 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

We hit Horn Island again!

Morning Air attack on Horn Island , at 91,128
Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 48 NM, estimated altitude 32,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 16

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
16 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 30000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Horn Island , at 91,128
Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 23 NM, estimated altitude 32,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 32

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
32 x Ki-45 KAIa Nick sweeping at 30000 feet *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Horn Island , at 91,128
Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 41 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 27

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses

Allied ground losses:
4 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 20

Aircraft Attacking:
27 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 4000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Horn Island , at 91,128
Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 36
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 36

Allied aircraft
no flights

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied ground losses:
4 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 28

Aircraft Attacking:
36 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 4000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Reinforcements!

Got some 70 R&D on the Frank, will increase this somewhat and accelerate it at least a month - getting it in December instead of January.
The next Tojo is also ready for production, hope some of the factories auto upgrade.

If the Tojo factories don't automatically upgrade to the newest model in just a couple of days, you can do so manually. Hit the "J" and sort by "Air" only. Click on the current Tojo model and then select the newer model that is in the right hand column. You can do this ONLY for those airframes that have another model for them to upgrade. AE is not like the old WITP when you had to wait sometimes days or weeks for it to happen.

ORIGINAL: PzB

We hit Horn Island again!

Morning Air attack on Horn Island , at 91,128
Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 48 NM, estimated altitude 32,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 16

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
16 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 30000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Horn Island , at 91,128
Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 23 NM, estimated altitude 32,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 32

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
32 x Ki-45 KAIa Nick sweeping at 30000 feet *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Horn Island , at 91,128
Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 41 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 27

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses

Allied ground losses:
4 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 20

Aircraft Attacking:
27 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 4000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Horn Island , at 91,128
Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 36
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 36

Allied aircraft
no flights

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied ground losses:
4 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 28

Aircraft Attacking:
36 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 4000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

No problem with getting sweep to go in and escort to coordinate with the bombers here...

Considering Nemo's comments on the ki-100, and previous debates on p-39 vs p-40 I'm starting to wonder just what the air model takes into account.

Well, if you look closer you can also see that one of the bomber groups got separated and went in alone. I also set a Zero group to provide escort today, this didn't show up.
- By using multiple sweep and escort groups the FUBAR risk goes down... [;)]

ORIGINAL: aprezto
No problem with getting sweep to go in and escort to coordinate with the bombers here...

ORIGINAL: Xxzard

Considering Nemo's comments on the ki-100, and previous debates on p-39 vs p-40 I'm starting to wonder just what the air model takes into account.

ask the responsible [:D]

Two of the Tojo II factories autoconverted to the B version; not sure whether I should expend resources on manually converting the others.
Is the upgraded armament worth a complete replacement of all Tojo'? My thought is to equip a handful of Tojo units with the B version as bomber interceptors.

We now also got the Rex float fighter in production, it will replace the old Rufe's.
A few new Zero units appeared with outdated ac and low skilled pilots; I put em on 2 large carriers and ordered them to resize to 72 ac.
Want to use these units to make the units carrier trained and provide KB replacement pilots.

I've also been plundering about a new scheme; What if I placed only fighters on the KB, in 2 months we can have 800 Zero's.
If Andy send in a 500 ac strike he will loose so many planes that his production keels over, rendering his carriers useless.
- Then we can replace our fighter losses with the now standby carrier strike squadrons.
Absolutely a risk that this can backfire, but we all know that the KB will eventually loose the battle against a growing Allied carrier force.

Several more subs were reported sunk by mine the day after 5 of the were reported snooping near Sinagpore [8D]

I've now merged several understrength divisions in China and am planning to release them before issuing reinforcements for them.
A little in doubt were to place our troop reserves; Central Pacific - Solomons - New Guinea is no a high priority area. Timor and islands up to Singapore and New Guinea have
already received quite a lot of reinforcements.

Christmas Island holds a large garrison; 870 AV.
Not sure if I should stay with this garrison or reduce - increase it.
- If we want to give Andy a fight for the place it should be strong enough to withstand an attack as long as we hold sea and air supremacy.
This way we will always have time to get the Fleet in place before it falls.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Jul 03, 43

Air Combat

The first airstrike on Carnarvon from Geraldton, now a size 9 af, today.
- We only have light units here as it's not a defendable place.

Morning Air attack on Carnarvon , at 49,133
Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Allied aircraft
Beaufort VIII x 24
B-17E Fortress x 6
B-17F Fortress x 12
B-24D Liberator x 8
B-24D1 Liberator x 15

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
4 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 18
Airbase supply hits 8
Runway hits 99
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Carnarvon , at 49,133
Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 49 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 9
B-24D Liberator x 7

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 26

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Carnarvon , at 49,133
Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 9

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 17

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
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Morning Air attack on Carnarvon , at 49,133
Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 35 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 22

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
22 x P-38G Lightning sweeping at 30000 feet
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ORIGINAL: PzB
I've also been plundering about a new scheme; What if I placed only fighters on the KB, in 2 months we can have 800 Zero's.
If Andy send in a 500 ac strike he will loose so many planes that his production keels over, rendering his carriers useless.
- Then we can replace our fighter losses with the now standby carrier strike squadrons.

Very gamey.

Why?

Because it never was done doesn't mean it couldn't have been done?
It's certainly stretching it, but so is moving the entire Royal Navy to the Central Pacific!

Two of the Tojo II factories autoconverted to the B version; not sure whether I should expend resources on manually converting the others.
Is the upgraded armament worth a complete replacement of all Tojo'? My thought is to equip a handful of Tojo units with the B version as bomber interceptors.

As long as the factory can auto-convert to the next generation of that airframe, it does not cost you any resources.

I've also been plundering about a new scheme; What if I placed only fighters on the KB, in 2 months we can have 800 Zero's.
If Andy send in a 500 ac strike he will loose so many planes that his production keels over, rendering his carriers useless.
- Then we can replace our fighter losses with the now standby carrier strike squadrons.
Absolutely a risk that this can backfire, but we all know that the KB will eventually loose the battle against a growing Allied carrier force.

I don't consider it gamey. Even though it wasn't done in RL, I plan my re-sizing around the need to mix and match what goes on a CV. I like to add Zero and TB and take off DB as needed.

Yes, NY - my question was whether it is worth converting some of the Tojo's that doesn't auto convert!

Thx for the input, I'm just asking the question; is it gamey or should players be allowed to freely choose how to equip their carriers?
Andy says that he's against House Rules in general, we only have some...exceptions.

ORIGINAL: PzB

Why?

Because it never was done doesn't mean it couldn't have been done?
It's certainly stretching it, but so is moving the entire Royal Navy to the Central Pacific!

exactly - it's a simple fact that most people believe that the Allied have to be superior by 44 - which they are anyway - but that doesn't mean that the Japanese player can't come up with ideas and new ways to counter the increasing Allied "growing confidence and growing strength in the air"! [&:]

many things the Japanese did in the real war was simply stupid - the player does not have to repeat their mistakes...(although many would like to see that from a Japanese player and become angry if they don't)

for example I see people complaining about the increased ASW power of Japanese Escorts in the late war - that they actually attack and sink subs, just like the Allies do - that's something I don't understand: why complain about it? and say that the game is bugged? - if a Jap player escorts his convoys properly (which they didn't in the real war) then he should be rewarded for it! - if you're playing the Allied you can't expect to get the same result and tactics which were used in real war! [:-]

and getting the Royal Navy into the Central Pacific would have NEVER been possible in reality - not only due to certain range and speed problems of the RN ships but simply because the politicians would have never agreed to this "undefended" Indian Ocean!

sorry for the rant, guys - I apologize in advance, but it had to come out sometimes [&o] -

it's a fact that the game gives the player only so many options - and he should be allowed to use those!

R.