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Another slow turn with not much up on my front. Allies testing my search with small ships, cap traps or simple probing?

I am starting to assemble the Betties for a strike against the industry in Oz. Who knows how long I will have the time to do it so I better get it in.

I have managed to assemble 80 or so Tojo IIc in the pools, will probably stop production shortly, especially if I can eke out until I get the Oscar IV.

Betty 3a advanced another month, will have them shortly with their shorter range but much better defensive armament and armor.

April 29, 1943

Getting close to the monsoon...will I make it?

No night bombing.

Lost a std c tanker outside Balikpapen. Subs spotted, destroyers reacted to them, blah, blah, wuff, wuff, the American sub still managed to nail a sub. Several air attacks, but who knows if any damage done.

During the day American carriers rushed forward and raided Nauru, and fighters sweep Wotje. 14 Zeroes lost, 17 Wildcats shot down or op losses. Good day in the Air as there were Lightnings involved in both fights but I think they were too high to do much.

At Prome the IJA is bombed heavily again, Flak damages a score or more and destroys 1 B24d, and then surprise, surprise the Allied forces prosecute a bombardment attack. They won't be happy...all that bombing hasn't softened up anything.

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Betty 3a advanced another month, will have them shortly with their shorter range but much better defensive armament and armor.

To me they are like slow Frances ... not really good at any role for me. I want range and bomb load for night bomber. I want speed, DUR, and bomb load for day bomber. 3a doesn't fit either very well.

The first Frances is SR4, not very useful. I had a lot of Betty factories when I started and simply leveraged them to get the Betty. No r&d Frances except for the night fighter.

I feel confident I will be able to use the Betty 3a effectively...given my style of play.

No great plans this turn. More recon of Oz, and I will probably lose a tank regiment near Daly Waters to massed bombing. It should be my only losses in northern Oz...

All capitol ships are in port...

During the day American carriers rushed forward and raided Nauru, and fighters sweep Wotje. 14 Zeroes lost, 17 Wildcats shot down or op losses. Good day in the Air as there were Lightnings involved in both fights but I think they were too high to do much.

This shouldn't happen much longer. The Hellcats (130/mo) came out on April 1st.

Have you seen any B25D1 attack bombers yet?? Having an effect anti-shipping capability out to 11 hexes is very helpful for the Allies.

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

The first Frances is SR4, not very useful. I had a lot of Betty factories when I started and simply leveraged them to get the Betty. No r&d Frances except for the night fighter.

I feel confident I will be able to use the Betty 3a effectively...given my style of play.

So, you will use it in the Frances role? Or .... ???

ORIGINAL: ny59giants
This shouldn't happen much longer. The Hellcats (130/mo) came out on April 1st.

Have you seen any B25D1 attack bombers yet?? Having an effect anti-shipping capability out to 11 hexes is very helpful for the Allies.

I haven't traded 1-1 on fighters often in the past either.[:D]


I downed a few B25d1 but he hasn't used them against ships yet.

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo
So, you will use it in the Frances role? Or .... ???

At this point I don't think I will make the Frances...

The 24th Air Flotilla was deep in planning; studying intelligence, stockpiling supplies, assigning ground support and organizing squadrons.

The Jungle hex to the east of Tavoy is very important to preserving the forces that are now in Burma...hence it is garrisoned now with some troops as a blocking force.

Tavoy is a better hex to defend, but it is subject eventually to naval bombardments. I don't think Tavoy is under any immediate threat, but having a block to the east eases my mind a little.

One of my main goals in the defense of Burma is not to have my troops cut off.

April 30, 1943

Allies night bomb in the Marshalls. 2 Fletchers catch a small cargo ship in the Marsalls. 3 squadrons from 3 different bases don't fly against them...

American submarine nails another standard c tanker conversion near Ternate...

Allies heavily bomb Prome again...

May 1, 1943

No night bombing.

Allies bomb Prome and Roi Namur. At Roi 3 Vals are destroyed; the rest of the squadron left the day before.

Allied 4e also bomb Merauke north of Horn Island.

The IJA wipes out a Chinese Corp in the central plains.

Burma

Stymied at Prome, the Allies are building up south and look to make a forced river crossing north of Rangoon.

Not unexpected. Although Personally I would get my tanks in the the clear and look to strike north towards Magwe, but Allies obviously want to cut off a lot of troops in Burma.

Burma, thy name is danger!

Allied submarines:

They are threatening my convoy routes everywhere now I think.

Here they could be quite dangerous since most fleets have no escorts. I think I have 3 dedicated sub chaser units in the area, and 4 squadrons doing anti-submarine work -- it is naval search, ASW, or night search.

I pummeled two more subs this turn one with a PB and another with planes.

I am going to switch my tanker convoys from smallish sized ones to very large and well protected.

DO you think you are in danger of mass isolation at this point?

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Burma

Stymied at Prome, the Allies are building up south and look to make a forced river crossing north of Rangoon.

Not unexpected. Although Personally I would get my tanks in the the clear and look to strike north towards Magwe, but Allies obviously want to cut off a lot of troops in Burma.

Burma, thy name is danger!

I cant believe you have gotten away with no escorts in the north. Thank your lucky stars on that one. That said, I would rethink the
protection scheme to minimize losses. You should be able to schoo those subs away with combined ASW air and naval.

ORIGINAL: topeverest

I cant believe you have gotten away with no escorts in the north. Thank your lucky stars on that one. That said, I would rethink the
protection scheme to minimize losses. You should be able to schoo those subs away with combined ASW air and naval.

If he starts probing with more submarines, I will move some more planes in to counter.

If I have to short escorts anywhere, and I do, then it will be on xaks carrying resources. They can usually take a torpedo and live...especially with ports so close.

ORIGINAL: topeverest
DO you think you are in danger of mass isolation at this point?

Absolutely.

A pretty quiet turn, bombing Chinese troops in open, moving troops to support positions in Burma, my Fighters in Burma number close to 400...I may fly over Prome and hit his bombers in a day or two.

I expect an invasion any day in the Marshalls...

I think the last remnants of the 2nd Tank Div arrive in Bangkok...maybe it can form up in a month or two.

Trying to build defenses and conserve supplies. Battlefleet in port.