Well, we're having a quiet spell. The KB is refueling, rearming, replenishing at Makin after the Convoy Raid. Preparations are underway for landings in Polynesia, I'll refresh memories on the plan for that shortly, but first some thoughts about air production.
I'll divide the discussion into two sub-sections, the first being the (mostly) non-combat aircraft. The float planes, patrol planes, recon planes and transports.
In terms of inventory we have plenty, though many are obsolescent types. But we also have adequate numbers of current types.
As to Float planes, the Jake is our first choice - due to its being the only member of this class with a 4x100KG bomb load and being second in class with regard to range. We have replaced many Petes with Jakes, though not all of the ship board Petes have been replaced yet. We still have plenty of Daves and Alfs operating and currently are replacing operational losses with same kind. Given the priorities we cannot afford to produce many of these types of planes and current production is actually completely shut down.
In the Patrol Plane category, we are still operating many Mavis though we have upgraded several groups to Emily. We have adequate numbers of both and production of this category is also completely shut down. We will use up all of the Mavis as they are very adequate for the mission.
In terms of transports, for the Army we like the Topsy's and for the Navy the Tabby's. The only exception is we will operate a couple of Mavis and Tina Groups for ultra long range. Also we will use Hickory's and Thora's for training on occasion. Thora's do have a good capacity (3000LBs) but have short legs, they might get some use later in China. Production in this category is completely shut down.
And in the Recon category, we are producing Dinah's. We would actually prefer Babs as they only cost one engine, but we are stuck with Dinah's though we will use all of the inventory of Ida and Babs, and we have been and we're gradually converting everything over to Dinah. Of course the three navy Babs groups need to wait for the Irvings and they are and we produce a few C5s on occasion to keep the Navy groups in business.
Overall we have no problems in this area, we have the inventories we need to operate and the capacities to replenish the inventories if needed.
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And the second installment will cover the combat aircraft. Fighters, DB, LB, FF and TB.
In terms of fighters, we are using Nates and Claudes exclusively in China. When we send a group to China for training, we convert it to Nates or Claudes. The group the trains up to the desired level (current 80) then departs and recoverts back to Oscars or Zeros. We want to have about 200 each of the current models and we do. Oscars are at 215 and A6M2+A6M3 are at 229. And we have plenty of Nates and Claudes.
In terms of Dive Bombers, for the Army we are making no more Dive Bombers. Ultimately they will all covert through the Lily over to the Sally, but we will use up the inventory of Dive Bombers, we like them all , though we like the Sonia the least, due to short range. Also the "armor" of the Sonia appears to have little purpose, the die very easily even to Chinese flak. As to the Navy, we want 200 in inventory, we have 194. We build a few every now and then to keep the inventory at the desired stocking level.
On to level bombers. The Sally is King for the Army. This plane can carry 4x250KG bombs making it the best overall bomber for the Japanese, so we will be using these for a long time, until the Peggy arrives. We choose to specialize in the Sally and not build but 60 Helens and we only built those to enable arrival of the Helen groups. I'd say in hindsite this was a mistake. The Helen is as good as the Sally and uses Nakajima engines. Being able to switch back and forth between using Nak and Mits engines would be better than having to use Mits engs for the Sallys. On the Navy side we're using up all the Nells, but will be using Betty's for a long time. And for both the Army and the Navy we have our 200 minimum in each category.
Float fighters, we will have our two Rufe groups and a few replacements, that is all we can do in this space.
===
So in Summary we are shooting to maintain our 200 in inventory stocking levels for the critical combat types and we have this level (or close to it) in all cases. As we dip below we turn production back on to replenish. as we approach 300 we shut production back down to save the HI points for the ships.
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Shortly the KB will come out of Makin to cover landings as indicated. We consider these landings to provide a "buffer for the buffer". We will not hold these Islands in force, but will commit minimum units. However, KB will be operating near this area until driven away and any early Allied landings will face heavy counter-attacks.
For those who haven't been following, the KB (since before the landings in Java) has consisted of
6 CV
2 CVL
7 BB
12 CA
and as many CL/DD as we can muster.
We will shortly replace the Zuikaku/Shokaku group with the Junyo/Hiyo group from the Home Islands. The new group will have sufficiently trained air groups (80+ exp) to operate with the fleet and the Zuik/Shok will be due for upgrade in July. Thereafter we will rotate Hiryu/Soryu due for upgrade in August and Akagi/Kaga due for upgrade in September. The Ryujo/Zuiho Group are not due for upgrade until 1943. So we will maintain 4 carrier groups on station continuously. The surface combatants will also be rotated out for refits will the carrier groups.
The Unyo/Shoho group will remain in the Home Islands primarily to support the Aleutians. And the Taiyo/Hosho group will remain in the West to threaten the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean.
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ORIGINAL: jwilkerson
As to Float planes, the Jake is our first choice - due to its being the only member of this class with a 4x100KG bomb load and being second in class with regard to range.
I thought the Jake carries 60 kg bombs instead of the 30 kg bombs other float planes carry.... [&:]
ORIGINAL: jwilkerson
As to Float planes, the Jake is our first choice - due to its being the only member of this class with a 4x100KG bomb load and being second in class with regard to range.
I thought the Jake carries 60 kg bombs instead of the 30 kg bombs other float planes carry.... [&:]
ORIGINAL: jwilkerson
As to Float planes, the Jake is our first choice - due to its being the only member of this class with a 4x100KG bomb load and being second in class with regard to range.
I thought the Jake carries 60 kg bombs instead of the 30 kg bombs other float planes carry.... [&:]
ORIGINAL: jwilkerson
As to Float planes, the Jake is our first choice - due to its being the only member of this class with a 4x100KG bomb load and being second in class with regard to range.
I thought the Jake carries 60 kg bombs instead of the 30 kg bombs other float planes carry.... [&:]
Yeah, you're right ... I guess I've been looking at too many mods/games/planes .. the real values for the float planes are:
Jake: 4x60KG
Pete: 2x60KG
Alf: 4x30KG
Dave: 2x30KG
And for the Army Dive Bombers
Ann: 4x100KG
Mary: 4x100KG
Sonia: 2x100KG
So for the float planes, the Jake still wins because 4 bombs are better (at ASW) than two and these are the heaviest available in the FP category anyway.
And for the Army DB the Ann is clearly the choice due to 4/5 hex range, the Mary is second due to 3/4 hex range and the Sonia brings up the distant rear with 2/3 hex range. And at least for me, I don't see the armor on the Sonia as helping - the Sonias seem to go down just as easily to Chinese Flak as the Anns/Marys. Wish the Japanese flak was as good as the Chinese but Nah - the Chinese got the secret!!!
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We captured three Allied bases this turn, two in Polynesia and also Thursday Island in the Torres Straight.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/23/42
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Night Air attack on Akyab , at 30,29
Allied aircraft
Blenheim IF x 7
No Allied losses
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Sub attack at 21,61
Japanese Ships
AP Kamikaze Maru, Torpedo hits 1 Transporting a piece of the 3rd Yok to Soerabaja
AP Tanba Maru
AP Oyo Maru
MSW Choun Maru #18
MSW Choun Maru #6
MSW Banshu Maru #52
Allied Ships
SS Porpoise
Japanese ground losses:
19 casualties reported
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Day Air attack on Changsha , at 47,36
Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 50
Ki-21 Sally x 52
Ki-15 Babs x 3
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Day Air attack on 9th Chinese Corps, at 49,30
Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 41
Ki-15 Babs x 1
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27 Nate: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged
Aircraft Attacking:
35 x Ki-27 Nate bombing at 2000 feet
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Day Air attack on 28th Chinese Corps, at 43,40
Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 67
D3A Val x 12
B5N Kate x 30
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1
No Japanese losses
Allied ground losses:
83 casualties reported
Guns lost 5
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Day Air attack on 808th Engineer Aviation Battalion, at 49,90 at Thursday Island
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21 Sally x 36
No Japanese losses
Allied ground losses:
76 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 2
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Day Air attack on TF, near Thursday Island at 49,90 The torpedo attack in the picture above
Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 11
Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 damaged
Allied Ships
MSW Whyalla
MSW Wollongong, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Cairns, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
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Day Air attack on Akyab , at 30,29
Allied aircraft
Hudson I x 3
No Allied losses
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TF 25 encounters mine field at Baker Island (94,92) This is our own minefield laid by our subs
TF 25 troops unloading over beach at Baker Island, 94,92
Japanese ground losses:
31 casualties reported
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Ground combat at Thursday Island
Japanese Shock attack Three airborne units go in - but can't quite do the job - scary
Attacking force 1415 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 73
Defending force 2790 troops, 0 guns, 17 vehicles, Assault Value = 2
Japanese max assault: 84 - adjusted assault: 24
Allied max defense: 0 - adjusted defense: 11
Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 1)
Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0
Allied ground losses:
24 casualties reported
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/24/42
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Night Air attack on Akyab , at 30,29
Allied aircraft
Blenheim IF x 5
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
5 x Blenheim IF bombing at 2000 feet
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Coastal Guns at Iloilo, 42,56, firing at TF 12
TF 12 troops unloading over beach at Iloilo, 42,56 Last major bastion in the central Philippines
73 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
CL Tama, Shell hits 1
Japanese ground losses:
968 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
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Coastal Guns at Iloilo, 42,56, firing at TF 12
TF 12 troops unloading over beach at Iloilo, 42,56
87 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
CL Tama
Japanese ground losses:
926 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Allied ground losses:
8 casualties reported
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TF 23 encounters mine field at Baker Island (94,92)
TF 23 troops unloading over beach at Baker Island, 94,92
Japanese ground losses:
78 casualties reported
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Day Air attack on Changsha , at 47,36
Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 43
Ki-21 Sally x 47
Ki-15 Babs x 4
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Day Air attack on 33rd Division, at 30,29
Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 7
B-25C Mitchell x 15
B-26B Marauder x 39
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
52 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
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Day Air attack on 33rd Division, at 30,29
Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 7
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
2 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
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Day Air attack on 9th Chinese Corps, at 49,30
Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 40
Ki-15 Babs x 1
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27 Nate: 1 destroyed
Allied ground losses:
8 casualties reported
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Day Air attack on 65th Chinese Corps, at 43,40
Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 69
D3A Val x 12
B5N Kate x 32
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1
No Japanese losses
Allied ground losses:
37 casualties reported
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Day Air attack on 2nd/A Division, at 12,94 In Oz .. our lurker down the Western Railway
Allied aircraft
PBY Catalina x 3
Martin 139 x 7
Hudson I x 38
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
84 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Vehicles lost 1
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Day Air attack on Thursday Island , at 49,90
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 49
G4M1 Betty x 4
C5M Babs x 1
No Japanese losses
Runway hits 2
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Day Air attack on TF, near Thursday Island at 49,90
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27
A6M3 Zero x 5
G4M1 Betty x 15
No Japanese losses
Allied Ships
MSW Whyalla, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Lismore, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage Next day's torpedo attack against the MSW
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TF 29 troops unloading over beach at Nanomea Atoll, 87,101
Japanese ground losses:
234 casualties reported
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Ground combat at Iloilo
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 2764 troops, 30 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 89
Defending force 9747 troops, 117 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 246
Allied ground losses:
17 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
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Ground combat at Nanomea Atoll
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 1570 troops, 14 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 73
Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0
Japanese max assault: 82 - adjusted assault: 80
Allied max defense: 0 - adjusted defense: 1
Japanese assault odds: 80 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Nanomea Atoll base !!! Northern most island in the Funafuti group
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Ground combat at Thursday Island
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 2253 troops, 21 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 99
Defending force 2780 troops, 0 guns, 18 vehicles, Assault Value = 2
Japanese max assault: 114 - adjusted assault: 71
Allied max defense: 0 - adjusted defense: 13
Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Thursday Island base !!! Whew - really close one - we also almost gave up hope with the PM turn of the second day started with two msgs telling us that both Wewak and Madang airbases missions were cancelled due to weather. Two of our three airborne units were flying out of those two bases ... so we had given up 2/3rds of our second day's reinforcements. Somehow, they were barely not needed.
Japanese ground losses:
25 casualties reported
Allied ground losses:
2867 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 7
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Ground combat at Baker Island
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 466 troops, 8 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 27
Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0
Japanese max assault: 36 - adjusted assault: 4
Allied max defense: 0 - adjusted defense: 1
Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Baker Island base !!! Another "occupation"
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A bunch of our subs arrived back at Kwajalein after the Convoy raid to the East. Kwajalein still has 2xAS and a Fleet HQ, so it is still a sub base. And the boats, included 4 Glen boats are not too badly messed up so we should have them back out in 1-2 weeks.
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2 day turns are definately a good choice. It will give the game smoother pace.
I noticed that you have an firm hold on Burma. Any plans regarding India's coastal bases? He really can't be too strong there yet.
If you intend to use it for a sub base, you should be expanding the port size a level or two.
I usually do, but this time, I'm trying to stick to my rule of not giving the Allies as much of a head start on building up "their" installations [:D] in the Marshalls. Kwaj was and is a base. Though anything with heavier than "green" damage will be pulled out and sent elsewhere. Like Truk has AS and AR and several fleet HQ and is level 9.
ORIGINAL: aztez
2 day turns are definately a good choice. It will give the game smoother pace.
I noticed that you have an firm hold on Burma. Any plans regarding India's coastal bases? He really can't be too strong there yet.
Given airpower we can see landings in India would not seem to be feasible without full naval support and we have moved KB to the East to oppose the primary enemy, the Americans. Actually, I'd say we only have a very tenuous hold on Burma. But we have plans to improve that. But it will take more good fighters and more engineers. More engineers are on the way, but for enough good fighters to truly wrest the air back from the Allies we will need the Tony's. They should come in sometime in the next 30-60 game days. We have piles of 80+ EXP Oscar units sitting around waiting to upgrade and now all of our Army units are either 80+ Oscars or they are flying Nates in China training up. The Zeros are (mostly) in the East with (most of) the Betty/Nell.
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I usually do, but this time, I'm trying to stick to my rule of not giving the Allies as much of a head start on building up "their" installations [:D] in the Marshalls. Kwaj was and is a base. Though anything with heavier than "green" damage will be pulled out and sent elsewhere. Like Truk has AS and AR and several fleet HQ and is level 9.
The combination of all "assistance" from repair ships (AR), depot ships (AS,AD,AGP) and Nvl HQ, cannot exceed 4 levels beyond the level of the port. Remembering this probably means that I am "over-assisted" in some places. Adjustments will be made!!! Thanks!
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One question. That looks like Subchaser's map, which has always been my favorite map graphically. Is it still based on the stock map? Also, the air-to-air screen actually features a little land in the background, which looks nice. Is that part of Subchaser's map too?
One question. That looks like Subchaser's map, which has always been my favorite map graphically. Is it still based on the stock map? Also, the air-to-air screen actually features a little land in the background, which looks nice. Is that part of Subchaser's map too?
This is totally stock game except for a bit of "window dressing" ... I can't recall exactly who did which of these pieces .. I got them all from ROGUEUSMC's web site oh a year ago probably. Maybe some is Subchaser, some Cobra, some Rogue, some Elf.
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Ok, well events are driving us to the conclusion that our next major operation will be an attempt on Port Moresby. I've never tried it this late, but the unplanned paucity of USN carriers continues to "lure" us on to "do something".
This slide will show the major force components that we will commit. The exact tactical plan is still being determined and I will post again on that later. It will still take 1-2 weeks to pull this together and get everyone within striking range of PM, but we expect some major fireworks once Moses gets wind of the plan, which hopefully he won't until he spots the invasion forces off Southern NG.
The three divisions (18, 20, 38) that are in the invasion force were well rested before being moved into theater, so they are almost full strength and thus provide about 1300+AV. Moses is currently showing 42000 troops, 300 guns and 50 AFV in the PM hex, so this looks like about 1-2 division equivalents with a pile of supporting arms (engineers and AA) and given the AA we feel over PM and the rapid repairs we see, this all tracks together).
KB will attain a "surge" strength of 8 CV, 2 CVL, 7 BB, 14, CA, etc. The Junyo and Hiyo have embarked decently trained airgroups (~80EXP) and will join in a few days. Shokaku/Zuikaku will depart for the Home Islands after this operation for upgrade. But temporarily we will have the largest carrier concentration of the war.
As "white noise" we have plotted almost every "spare" division we have (including all in Manchria and home islands) as planning to invade something somewhere between Nome and Noumea, so he has plenty of things to "defend".
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