Matrix Games Forums

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

In this game it is 9/42 for both the IIa and the KI-44. Not sure why.

Perhaps there is a penalty for realistic r&d off...

Not in my game. Sounds like your database is different from mine (stock Scen 2 has both arrive 6/42, IIRC, while database updates have the Ki-44 as 6/2 and the Ki-44-IIa as 7/42).

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

In this game it is 9/42 for both the IIa and the KI-44. Not sure why.

Perhaps there is a penalty for realistic r&d off...

Not in my game. Sounds like your database is different from mine (stock Scen 2 has both arrive 6/42, IIRC, while database updates have the Ki-44 as 6/2 and the Ki-44-IIa as 7/42).

Could be the late arrival is because it is a Scen 1 game. Tojo arrives later in Scen 1 than in Scne 2 stock.

Hartwig

Yep. You Scen 2 guys have it easy!

A heavy plane loss day for the Empire. The Allies cap trap Rangoon, on the very day I switch a group of 30 Oscars from sweeping Rangoon to LRCAP the Ramree reinforcements. Heavy losses amongst the Sallies. It also didn't help that for the first time in several days the raids lacked cohesion going in piecemeal despite being at a large airbase with Air HQ present.

In Java, your typical heavy air fights -- ship losses below. The Soerabaja raid didn't go off again due to weather, daily sweeps there against no opposition.

Boise showed up only to be put down again. I hope.

The Yamato is kind of fun!

Java will probably be pretty ugly on the morrow...I suspect he will make a major effort down south.

Here is the Malang defenders. Troops are hopping off fast transports and wading ashore from amphibious landings as I type this. 1 full division plus support units and other odds and ends.

Their job is to secure Malang & defend -- hopefully tie up a greater number of Java's Allied defenders. If possible to invest Soerabaja -- but the main effort will be in the north with over 6 division already landed and two more scheduled to go in.

Java is sealed off with the mini KB to the north and west and the KB to the south and west. I suspect his carriers will show up again at some point.

An exciting day as furious air attacks at Malang result in several ships going down, but not before large reinforcements are landed and just in time -- the 6th KNIL Regiment attacks the paratroopers only to be met by lead elements of the greatly dispirited 38th Division -- still smarting from its disaster and near annihilation at Merak (they have a 23 morale [X(]). The 6th KNIL is denied, and the 38th has redeemed themselves somewhat and forts are now level 1.

Most ships will be leaving Malang for safer harbors now...if they can get away.

Meanwhile in northern Java two full, well rested and ready Divisions land at Kali and the elements of ABDA's motorized units attempt to retreat from the spearhead attack towards Batavia with 6 armored units, 2 combat engineers and a full division leading the way. In the distance, lead recon elements can see smoke rising over Batavia from uncontrollable fires for the second day as the IJN pound the city with heavy cruisers.

Batavia burns....foolish Dutch should have yielded. The horror...

And the best news of the Day....a thorn in my paw removed.

At Christmas Island in the Marshalls the Allies bomb with his heavy bombers and score hits on my light cruisers there...nothing too damaging but they will need some repair time.

In Java a relatively light day, one ship succumbs to bombing from yesterday, and he hits two or three more ships but no one in danger of sinking. Japanese shipping should be all gone from Malang on the morrow. No attacks in the north around Batavia and Kali.

I had decided to send the KB and SAG to Perth figuring his CVs' are there, but his search spotted two out of three groups. I bet there will be a mad exodus from Perth, but I won't waste the fuel going there now and try to hide from his search.

Plane losses for the day below.

The daily picture of Java.

I have got 9 divisions and support units with AF & Land HQs in both the north and south, over 1000 afvs, on Java. I should cut the north in half in a day or two, and invest Batavia so the starvation can start. I am sure the forts in Batavia are ridiculously high.

My ship losses have been very light about 10 xAPS and xAKs total. 2 PBs. Troops losses in transit amounted to less than 20 guns down south at Malang. My fighter losses have been heavy, however all in all I been very lucky.

Yankee carriers have limited planes giving me freedom of action but how to take advantage of that? Allied surface ship losses have been 2 BBs, 2-4 CAs of different types, a handful of destroyers, and an equal number of transports and cargo ships as my losses.

However, it is August 15 and I am not getting the production from Java and in fact using up a big chunk of my economy in building inferior fighters to win on Java instead of stockpiling.

Even if I win in Java, and I think it very likely, I am not sure at what I can do longer term. I have a year to hunt down his carriers, but I don't really have the fuel or supplies to burn doing it.

Well, first things first, win in Java and then take Rangoon....those steps are quite clear. Winning in China, so there is that.

Surface bombardments on Java keep the pressure on and are helping with the air war immensely.

But then, one missed click and you end up with this kind of mismatch to teach you humility.

Lots of troop movement in Java, things are going well except for screwing up with the Zuikaku. I don't think she will live to fight another day.

More heavy losses in the Air today as I lose every dogfight. One aspect is altitude as he sweeps at 30,000 plus and I fly my planes much lower. I did get some good results over Malang where his bombers came in first before the Wildcat sweeps...shooting down 7 each of the B26B and B25C planes.

I need to surface bombard Soerabaja, but I worry about the minefields there.

I have managed to cut off the north, and surround Bandoeng which probably has very high level forts. I also formed the 1st Tank Division there this day and once its rests will try a deliberate attack there after a few days of bombardments.

Malang is holding, where I have a 300 to 200 edge in AV, but most of the troops have a morale of 23. Hopefully, the Allies don't know this....[:'(]

His CA forces live a charmed life causing me untold grief...he does like to use flank speed a lot it seems.

Zuikaku. What a shame...Allied timing was perfect in hitting her. She went from 10% fires, to 67% to 99% fires in three days despite 8 destroyers and cruise speed.

She did make it back to port and safely offloaded her planes.

Big win for the Allies here.

Bandoeng...at least I have surrounded some decent units the Allies will miss on Java. If I can wipe them out.

China: Haven't really talked a lot about China, but bombing is starting up again with the squadrons freed from Manila but there is still some Flying Tigers left and I have to be careful...I am LRCAP the hex I bomb to make sure I get fighters there in addition to escorts and sweeps.

Wenchow has been bombed and bombardments were looking good so I probed his defenses with a deliberate attack and dropped his forts 2 levels...he got a nice boost from a HQ there.

Anyhow, I should be able to take this town and keep progressing in China.

The air war in Java is just tough. I pretty much need to concede defeat and hit his airbases with naval bombardments where possible and selectively protect some ground troops. I can't keep giving him easy kills. Hopefully, I can take the two surrounded airfields from him relatively quickly depriving him of those bases and more importantly the aviation support units.