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Attempting a fast transport rescue to save a sliver of the Imperial Guards Bde at Alexandrovsk. I haven't been lucky, and can't remember if this is even possible (from a enemy base). But the ships have their orders, they are not really expendable, and hopefully can pull a fast one of the deadly Soviet CD guns. Difficult decisions...

Preparing for the fight with the US Navy in the Aleutians now. troops and supplies are loading or enroute, awaiting the TF Shokaku and the IJN to restore some balance there although I am outnumbered and outgunned, but I will be cunning if possible.[;)]

The Yamoto is green lighted, and work resumes.

A worthless r&d factory has been switched to Rufe...in anticipation of production starting next month. Need them badly. More engine growth, Tojo doesn't use the Ha35 in this game, but I will have one factory making them. Need to be ready.

AA has finally arrived, so the Boela invasion will leave in a day or two.

I generally move my troops in reserve (no pursuit) mode, sometimes, especially if combat is likely, I might use move mode or reserve no pursuit or combat (if enough progress has been made).

It is important to note that fort building occurs after movement and combat, so there is a slight advantage to arriving in combat mode (if enough progress has been made) to jump start the building process.

This is the case in the escape of the Kotou pocket, troops working their way thru the woods will switch to combat mode and start digging in as they only have a mile to go.

Lashio and Wenchow attacks again today. I am going to have to pull the two good IJA divisions out of Burma now, send them to Singers, and replace with Thai troops. Not ideal, but Japan is making do with the tools at hand. Perhaps the greatest shock of the game to me, is that Obvert ceded Rangoon without a fight.

I suspect in 5 or so days that Hailar will flip to American control (in north central Manchuko). This will give the Americans a nice air bridge from China, since my northern attack on China failed thanks to British bombers. I will revisit this, but it won't be in time to stop the Americans from getting a lot thru if they so decide.

One of the weaknesses of the Soviets is a lack of recon and naval search planes with legs. Not true for the Brits or Yanks though. Can Yank subs rearm and refuel at Soviet ports? I need to look that up.

Speaking of subs, I really beefed up the ASW patrols in the Straits of Malacca, enough, that I suspect the 4E bombers will target my larger runways after a day or two...perhaps this will take a little heat of Palembang.

What Alfred said is basically what I have been trying to say.


Lowpe - what are B-17 losses like so far? How's that A6M5 R&D? [;)]

Below are the B17 losses to date.

Obvert was the victim of a continual night bombing campaign in his game against Jocke. In that game, night bombing was prohibited, and then allowed at some later date catching Obvert behind in production and research. But the campaign devastated Japan. So, he fully understands what a persistent and targeted night bombing campaign can do.

Here, this is 1942, and there are no night fighters for a long time. Obvert merely needs to bomb at 2000 feet say twice a month at the major manpower centers on Honshu. He has already bombed oil and refineries at 2000 feet at night. Will he do this? Or will he pick and chose say the refineries? Honshu oil production? R&D? Shipyards? Naval Yards? Repair yards? Vehicle production? or just whatever low hanging fruit to generate VP?

I doubt very much he will come during the day, except at what he thinks is weakly defended bases, and this to force me to allocate fighter protection both day and night.

Yes, he might have to curtail Soviet offensives to conserve supplies, but it won't cost that much to run 2-4 100 plane raids at 2000 feet each month or to keep up a rotating smaller unit constant night bombing campaign. B17Es and soon B24s will also generate about 3 fighter kills or more to each bomber I can bring down with fighters at night. No 12cm AA guns for a long time yet, and if I don't have radar and searchlights present in the hex that is bombed at night, the AA doesn't fire.

No, about the only hope is poor Allied play which I think is very doubtful.

A6M5?

Will come on its historic date of 4/43. I am stopping all Zero research at the A6M3a.

The Jack will come in 1942 sometime.

Being a longtime lurker in WitP forum, I just want to drop by and thank you, Lowpe, for your amazing AARs, they are the reason while I keep being interested in this game, and if I ever play it, your AARs will be my primary source of reference, as they should be for any scrub JFB like me. Keep on fighting!

ORIGINAL: Lowpe
Can Yank subs rearm and refuel at Soviet ports? I need to look that up.

No, they cannot. Been there done that. Proper AS disbanded does not help either.
He can capture and flip Rashin though

ORIGINAL: GetAssista

ORIGINAL: Lowpe
Can Yank subs rearm and refuel at Soviet ports? I need to look that up.

No, they cannot. Been there done that. Proper AS disbanded does not help either.
He can capture and flip Rashin though

That is good to know. He tried taking Rashin and was rebuffed. Thank goodness.

ORIGINAL: Ardi

Being a longtime lurker in WitP forum, I just want to drop by and thank you, Lowpe, for your amazing AARs, they are the reason while I keep being interested in this game, and if I ever play it, your AARs will be my primary source of reference, as they should be for any scrub JFB like me. Keep on fighting!

With Japan, just keeping biting. Eat an Elephant one bite at a time.

Thanks for the kind words.

How are you treating the Palembang action now?
a) just try to hold it somehow and continue as usual
b) actively try to bloody his nose there

Originally this looked to me like it was just a "let's see if I can grab this for cheap" op by the Allies and I would have strongly advocated a), but given your recent reports, it looks like he is really bringing something serious there. Which means also great opportunities for b).
And with mobile assets still being in limited supply for the Allies at this stage, if you catch the ones he brought there would mean you could thin out your defenses for a decent while and continue your conquest there with way less risk of traps and backstabs.
Or still just hold down there, and throw everything on the Soviet situation?

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: DanSez

I would wager that the vast majority of the Japanese Players have failed a morale check or two if they have played PBEM games.

That does not mean to quit the game and walk away. Morale keeps you looking for those opportunities, for those victories on the margins. Lack of morale is to just finish the turn.

I would give Lowpe credit (along with a couple of others) of keeping my PBEM games going when the results were rough.

I watched My Little Pony: The Movie and now I am right as rain. My only regret is that I can't rename my CV as the Pinkie Pie as AFB's can.

Friendship is good. An 88mm is even better.

March 11, 1942

Clash at Tobali! Nice weather and both sides open up at 11,000 and rapidly close to 4,000 before drifting back and then breaking contact.

In the early dawn, another clash!

Bad news...21 Zeroes engage and the Nates do most of the fighting.

Hmm.

Manchuko...

Incredible!

Butchers Bill...couldn't even knock a Yank bomber down over Palembang which took about 12% damage to the runway. Houston is listed as sunk, but she is still around and kicking.

Still making forward progress, but it is clear the Allies are throwing everything they have at Sumatra.