Forlorn Hopes: The Japanese Respond

[John 3rd]

Opening Round of the KB's "tour across the Pacific" starts rather smashingly.

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: vettim89

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

I've seen that.  If any Allied FB reads this always remember OIL is NOT your primary target!  Hit the resources, heavy industry, and shipyards...

The AFB Guide to the Japanese Economy:

THIS is FUNNY and totally accurate!

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: flaggelant

ORIGINAL: n01487477
[*][*]If things get critical we coud even turn off the Nakajima plants and save another 723HI/day, your reserves should last 3 months at least.

[*]LCU's will all come in full strength, reinforcements to existing troops is unlikely to really dent that as your supply levels are so low.

Any Q's comments ... as I am often incorrect [;)]

Cheers to one and all ...
Damian

a quick Q;

i didn't see current armament levels, but doesnt the above mean that you guys are OK in armament?
if i look at the imense armament production and related HI cost, wouldn't that be a great industry sector to save on HI consumption? (lasting a couple months longer is IMO worth way more than receiving the last reinforcements to japan in full strength, since it is fortified as it is)

Don't know if i overlooked something in the assumption? still learning a lot over here [&o]

Thanks to ramping up production in Armament and Vehicles, I have enough of both to fully outfit any troops I have coming in. This is a good thing. Problem is they'll be well armed but have nothing to eat...I think that is a bad thing...

[Nemo121]

Ouch, that situation looks horrid but, it should still be possible to thread the needle for a few more weeks and extend the game through skillfull play.

Damian: I find it highly surprising that your air force is still in the fight. I was certain it would break long before now so I think it would be worthwhile writing up what you are doing as it would, I think, be of benefit to others when they start being pressed against the wall.
 
My hypothesis is that you are running your units down into the ground ( say a 36 plane Sentai gets run down to just 2 planes and 2 pilots and then building them up by filling with raw recruits ( as your pilot pools must be absolutely dry by now ) and despatching them to training.
 
If you have 4 units in rotation to provide 1 unit at the front then I think this sort of rotation ( 1 unit being written down before being rebuilt with trainees and 3 units which have recently been rebuilt with raw recruits but now at various stages of training ) should be feasible.
 
I'm basing this no the fact that your loss rate per sortie ( except at SG and Cagayan and over China ) is over 3% which is the maximum loss rate possible which is compatible with worthwhile experience gains in the IJA or IJN airgroups.

[John 3rd]

December 16, 1944

Beyond the sinking east of Iwo Jima there was some decent action elsewhere:

India
Ahmadabad  The city falls to a Japanese TK Reg.  I can now pull troops away from Bombay and head for this city before moving on.  The goal is to now concentrate the army, move north, and then east. Imagine Zenophon and his 10,000 Greeks!

Naval Air
The Japanese continue hitting small targets.  After the 3 AK and 3 LST were hit yesterday, the Formosa Strait sees another attack by Peggy Bombers hits 2 more LST.  A Kamikaze nails another LST west of Kadina, Okinawa.

ASW
The TK make it through their first of the 3 day sprint heading for the Home Islands.  There are 19 TK fully loaded moving with 8 new PC as escorts.  The ships are divided into 3 TF.  Day One sees SS Springer put a Torp into one TK and then the SS is pounded by 14 DC and is heavily damaged.  No aircraft appear over the convy.  Day Two will be critical because on the 3rd Day I will have LR CAP over the Tankers.  The next turn will be key to the success of this Operation.

Number 99!!!  Off the coast of Miri an ASW TF of 7 modern PC crush SS Spirit with an aggressive attack sinking it with 23 DC!  Just need one more for 100 Allied SS Sunk.  How about that??

[n01487477]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

ORIGINAL: flaggelant

ORIGINAL: n01487477
[*][*]If things get critical we coud even turn off the Nakajima plants and save another 723HI/day, your reserves should last 3 months at least.

[*]LCU's will all come in full strength, reinforcements to existing troops is unlikely to really dent that as your supply levels are so low.

Any Q's comments ... as I am often incorrect [;)]

Cheers to one and all ...
Damian

a quick Q;

i didn't see current armament levels, but doesnt the above mean that you guys are OK in armament?
if i look at the imense armament production and related HI cost, wouldn't that be a great industry sector to save on HI consumption? (lasting a couple months longer is IMO worth way more than receiving the last reinforcements to japan in full strength, since it is fortified as it is)

Don't know if i overlooked something in the assumption? still learning a lot over here [&o]

Thanks to ramping up production in Armament and Vehicles, I have enough of both to fully outfit any troops I have coming in. This is a good thing. Problem is they'll be well armed but have nothing to eat...I think that is a bad thing...

Good points ... In a nutshell John has enough stored to provide these LCU's will full equipment etc.

Nemo wrote:
Damian: I find it highly surprising that your air force is still in the fight. I was certain it would break long before now so I think it would be worthwhile writing up what you are doing as it would, I think, be of benefit to others when they start being pressed against the wall.

Nemo: yeah I will write up what I've done and send you a copy

[John 3rd]

...and on the very next day we get to the magical number 100!

[John 3rd]

Thanks Damian.  Always appreciate the help and advice.  Will do that on January 1, 1945.

[John 3rd]

Just one more day to go and the TK should be able to unload. Cannot believe I am getting them home! (KNOCK on wood!!!)

[n01487477]

John,
no probs, always glad to lend a hand and learn in the process ...

Did you decide to do what I suggested with the shipbuilding ?

Damian

[edit] and I can't believe you are still allowed to get TK's through ... [;)]

[John 3rd]

I cannot believe it either. You know just how important 175,000 Oil is to my economy?!! It could provide me with another month of production without eating into my stockpile.

As to warship construction I will finish those few DDs that are nearly done and then go with your ideas. They make sense to me.

This screenshot reminds us the war is also still happening in the FAR SE Pac!

[John 3rd]

This is the last of the screenshots. Need to decide where I want to go next!

[FOW]

I notice from the Tracker images that several items (HI, Planes, Resources etc) are showing as 'REPAIRING'.
Is this a good thing given the low supply levels?
I realise most won't repair as supply is under 10k in most bases, but once the oil arrives the extra supply generated might get eaten up by repairs

[Q-Ball]

ORIGINAL: FOW

I notice from the Tracker images that several items (HI, Planes, Resources etc) are showing as 'REPAIRING'.
Is this a good thing given the low supply levels?
I realise most won't repair as supply is under 10k in most bases, but once the oil arrives the extra supply generated might get eaten up by repairs

Steve is right, you definitely shouldn't be repairing Resources, and probably not most things. By reparing resources, you trade 1000 supply for 180 resource points and 180 supply over the next 6 months. Sound like a fair trade? Not to me.

It takes 1000 supply points to repair every point of industry, I would only be repairing Oil in the Home Islands.

[John 3rd]

Those are basics guys.  To my knowledge--I have nothing repairing.  On my next turn I will survey around to be safe but there isn't much sucking down what few supplies I have in the Home Islands.
 

[John 3rd]

The troops are within their new lines. I am still trying to pull units from the trails near Kanshien to a more useful location but it is taking FOREVER!

[John 3rd]

Hot Diggity darn! Just got a free month of oil into the Home Isles.

Have another set of convoys with both resources and oil that will form-up in about a week for their run to Dai Nippon.

[John 3rd]

I order recon flights of Midway, Eniwetok, Ponape, Iwo Jima, Chuichi Jima, and Paramushiro Jima looking for the Kaigun's next target. This recon might spook Dan some. Will have to see...


Here is the action in a remote corner of the Pacific:

[SierraJuliet]

Way to go John.... glad you didn't throw in the towel recently or we wouldn't have seen KB excelling at raiding or the magic 100 come up for submarine kills.

[John 3rd]

Thanks.

Did my recon this turn:

Midway: 115 Fighters on CAP, many convoys present in hex, 87 Ships reported in its impossible-to-have-harbor
Wake: 35 Fighters on CAP, several small TF present, 3 Ships in its impossible-to-have-harbor
Eniwetok: 55 Fighters on CAP, several small TF present, 37 Ships in Harbor
Iwo Jima: GET THIS! 78 Fighters on CAP, 47 Units present, several TF present, and 287 Ships in the IMPOSSIBLE-to-have-harbor

Thinking on the recon:

1. Eniwetok could provide some sinkings without much risk to my Planes. Could simply overwhelm it.

2. Iwo Jima could be possible in conjunction with LBA. Essential attempt Operation Harusame again.

3. Midway would be tough but there are numerous--I am certain--full TF present. I could create a strong STF of CA-CL-DD to hit Midway while the CVs close in and try to bounce those convoys out of the hex so they don't have CAP and my CBA could sink them. That could be interesting...

Any operational thoughts here?

Here is the current India situation: