Once Again into the Breach - Mike (J) vs. tc464 (A)

[Mike Solli]

10 Nov 42

Sub War: Lots of exciting interactions. Off Norfolk, The I-34 ran into an ASW TF but snuck away. The other two subs (I-35 & I-36) to the east of Norfolk are still chasing that merchant TF. The I-36 caught it (I think) and put down a moderately sized xAK. They're still chasing.

North of Rangiroa, I have 3 other Glen subs hunting. Today, the I-26 caught and torpedoed a fuel laden xAK. She's done for as well.

Off San Diego, yesterday the I-15 was surrounded by 3 enemy TFs. Well, she found one today. It was an ASW TF composed of the tiny SCs Ted seems to have so many of. [8|] She got away as well.

Overall, not a bad day. It was only xAKs that were sunk, but every kill helps and it's got to piss Ted off. [:D] Maybe he'll make a mistake somewhere.

5 Fleet: KB1 is still standing by.

SE Fleet: That Helen sentai that does the night bomb raid of Pt. Moresby hit paydirt again. They destroyed 2 fighters on the ground and damaged 3 more. [:D]

Today, 171 2E & 4E sorties hit Lae's troops. I'm glad he's wasting those bombing raids on a few, written off troops.

Ted swept Gasmata with 12 P40Ks and was opposed by 12 fighters (Zeros and Nicks). I ended up losing one of each with 2 pilots WIA. I guess it could have been worse.

Burma: Well the monsoon was probably why I was having such supply issues here, although the relative shortage of supply didn't help any.

Remember the dot hex NW of Katha I talked about yesterday? It's Kalemyo. I bombed the troops there and discovered the 118 RAF BF there. There's another unit there as well. I'll keep bombing until I discover who it is. If it's another support unit, I'll send in the infantry regiment to beat them up then withdraw again.

I also bombed Akyab and Cox's Bazaar's air fields again. Keeping the bases in ruins and also destroying precious supplies there.

China: I hit that poor Chinese army just north of Kukong and beat them up some more. The 33k remnants (14 units) of a once 140k strong army was pushed into Kukong to join the garrison there. That total army is 66k with 20 units. I'm hoping to push them out to the east and push them into Kanhsien, a base in clear terrain. I'm also hoping to push the scattered Chinese units south into that town and then surround it and bomb it with a single Sally chutai. They'll eventually starve off. A screen shot is below.

Other stuff

I had the Snapper and Sailfish show up as sunk today. The Snapper was hit by 3 DCs of Davao yesterday and the Sailfish was hit by DCs a while ago off the coast of Japan. She sank near Midway.

[Mike Solli]

Here's a better shot of China:

[Spidery]

I allocated 3 factories in Dec 41 and they are repaired to 3, 2 and 1

This seems particularly unlucky, assuming all went to size 30 in December and have always had enough supply the chance of a result as bad as this should be less than 1%. In my game, by May 1942, I have factories repaired for Ki-83 of 3, 2, 3, 3 and for the Ki-94-II of 2, 3, 3, 4. I expected that to deliver the aircraft at the end of 1944 or in January 1945 provided that the engine bonus was available.

The time to fully repair a factory averages at 63% of the time until the aircraft is due. So if you use one factory to work on an a/c due in 24 months it will be advanced by about 3 months (with engine bonus) if you set it for an a/c due in 48 months it will be advanced by about 6 months. On average, researching late war aircraft is not inefficient. Although they advance slowly, they have longer to benefit from being fully repaired.

Using upgrade chains is way fastest (e.g. Ki-43 IV, and Ki-84r). Without an upgrade chain, and given the engine bonus, it seems that there is little point having more than about 4 factories working on a model.

A difficulty with advancing the Ki-201 early is getting the engine bonus by the time the first factory is repaired.

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: Spidery

On average, researching late war aircraft is not inefficient. Although they advance slowly, they have longer to benefit from being fully repaired.

Spidery, I agree. This was my thought when I initially allocated factories to late war models early. I realize repairing would be slow, but not necessarily this slow. I haven't changed anything, but an still pondering what to do.

Thanks.

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

ORIGINAL: Spidery

On average, researching late war aircraft is not inefficient. Although they advance slowly, they have longer to benefit from being fully repaired.

Spidery, I agree. This was my thought when I initially allocated factories to late war models early. I realize repairing would be slow, but not necessarily this slow. I haven't changed anything, but an still pondering what to do.

Thanks.

This is making me want to switch up my R&D as well. I'd lose some of the HI I just expended to expand them all to factory damage for switching lines, but...

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Spidery

I allocated 3 factories in Dec 41 and they are repaired to 3, 2 and 1

This seems particularly unlucky, assuming all went to size 30 in December and have always had enough supply the chance of a result as bad as this should be less than 1%. In my game, by May 1942, I have factories repaired for Ki-83 of 3, 2, 3, 3 and for the Ki-94-II of 2, 3, 3, 4. I expected that to deliver the aircraft at the end of 1944 or in January 1945 provided that the engine bonus was available.

The time to fully repair a factory averages at 63% of the time until the aircraft is due. So if you use one factory to work on an a/c due in 24 months it will be advanced by about 3 months (with engine bonus) if you set it for an a/c due in 48 months it will be advanced by about 6 months. On average, researching late war aircraft is not inefficient. Although they advance slowly, they have longer to benefit from being fully repaired.

Using upgrade chains is way fastest (e.g. Ki-43 IV, and Ki-84r). Without an upgrade chain, and given the engine bonus, it seems that there is little point having more than about 4 factories working on a model.

A difficulty with advancing the Ki-201 early is getting the engine bonus by the time the first factory is repaired.

My Ki-83 did in fact come in 1/45 with three (30) factories allocated in the first months of game. The Ki-94 has not even fully repaired yet though.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

My first Judy R&D factory is fully repaired. I really want the D4Y3 model. I'm considering upgrading that factory to the Y3. When I get the Judy, I plan on converting the Val factory to the Judy. What do you guys think? Should I work my way up the models and build them as they become available or should I wait for the Y3? If go for the Y3, The Y1 will still be available in 4/43 but I'll get the Y3 earlier than the current 8/44.

My opinion? I want the Y3, but I also need the Y1 in quantity. The D3A1s are getting very old by January 1943 and need to be replaced sooner rather than later. So, research the Y1 with all available factories until the month before it's due. Then switch over to the Y2 and / or Y3 models.

I would absolutely switch the D3 production factory over to the Y1 when possible. Hang the modest cost in HI and supply.

[Mike Solli]

Hi CB. I definitely agree with you, but I have another piece of info that I didn't realize at the time I asked the question. When the factory added it's percentage, I got 2% I checked the engine pool and discovered the Aichi Ha-60 factories had been producing for quite a while. I have a bunch of engines in the pool. Oops. I shut them off so I'll build a bunch of D4Y1s and some of the D4Y1-Cs as well. I suspect I'll never use up all the engines but I can always use them as Kamikazes. I don't have the number right now but I want to say I have some 800 engines. That was a stupid mistake. Ah well, it's too late to do anything about it now. It does free up 2 engine factories for other uses. I'll take advantage of my mistake and build a bunch of the Y1 and use the engine advantage in the R&D too.

[Mike Solli]

Just looked at the Judy situation a little further. Apparently, the D4Y1 and Y2 use the Aichi Ha-60 engine. Also, the recon versions and a NF version use that engine. I have already begun building the D4Y1-C recon model, although only a relative few will be built. I guess I'll build some night fighters as well. Does anyone know if I can station Judy night fighters on carriers? Just a thought. Not that it will matter by mid-44. [:'(]

[PaxMondo]

Mike,

Per the editor, the D4Y1-C recon model is CV Capable. Pretty sure I read somewhere that is how they intended to use them before Midway.

[Mike Solli]

You're right Pax. I read that there were 3-4 on board the Soryu I believe. Not sure if they were used though. I never read anything else about them. If I was home, I could look it up in my reference books. I'll be able to check next spring. [:D]

I was curious if the night fighter version was carrier capable.

[PaxMondo]

Not CV capable in the editor.

[Mike Solli]

Too bad. Thanks for checking.

[PaxMondo]

Yeah, kinda funny because no reason not to keep the arresting gear. But then I bet night flight ops in '42 was pretty wicked ... wonder what Ian would say about it? No radar, no telemetry, no IR ... just following the phosphorescence to the LZ ... no way I would have done it. [;)]

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

Just looked at the Judy situation a little further. Apparently, the D4Y1 and Y2 use the Aichi Ha-60 engine. Also, the recon versions and a NF version use that engine. I have already begun building the D4Y1-C recon model, although only a relative few will be built. I guess I'll build some night fighters as well. Does anyone know if I can station Judy night fighters on carriers? Just a thought. Not that it will matter by mid-44. [:'(]

Also the Sieran FP TB uses these engines, so you'll likely want some late for that. I've built about 100 of those for use on subs and dot bases. Fragile things though.

[Mike Solli]

I just checked. I have 655 engines in the pool. I suspect I'll have a few left over. [:D]

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

I just checked. I have 655 engines in the pool. I suspect I'll have a few left over. [:D]

Sounds like 500-ish D4Y1/2 as kamis? [;)]

[Mike Solli]

That's what I was thinking, Lokasenna. [:D]

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli
I have another piece of info that I didn't realize at the time I asked the question....I have some 800 engines.

Ay, caramba! [:D] Quite a discovery! Now you'll need to build the Y1 and Y1-C in quantity to realize the value of the engine production.

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: obvert
Also the Sieran FP TB uses these engines, so you'll likely want some late for that. I've built about 100 of those for use on subs and dot bases. Fragile things though.

I just watched a really cool documentary about the "super subs" on discover channel I think it was. They had a Sieran pilot interviewed. Appearently the Sieran pilots were hand picked picked for the job. They were supposed to be the best the IJN had.

EDIT: Internet delivers. Here it is on youtube. [:)]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtP_dEGS6lM