Red Storm rising.. Aztez (J) vs Ctangus (A) CHS 155

[aztez]

ORIGINAL: Historiker

Did I say something differend than RUPD3658? [;)]
As soon as he realizes you've cut him off, your two small units won't be enough, so why don't you send more?

The landings in Calcutta can't be made before Russia is done, and than you'll have the units for such an operation. ATM, I would send every free unit to russia, that it get's crushed asap.
Good luck - and do you see? He looses fighters AND bombers if you let him come - and your shot down pilots have a good chance to survive!

[:D][:D]... basically yes! [8|] ...I would like to send more but one thing I might have forgotten to reveal is that currently my intel shows 22 Russian units stacked at Borzya. I think Chuck might launch an strike for himself.

Agreed. I do need a lot more assault value than at my disposal currently.

True. I think fighters perform better when placed on defensive duty. I wonder when the hammer will fall on Bangkok and Rabaul. It ought to be soon. (Gut feeling)

Thanks for compliment too... little optimistic thought here and there don't do any harm! [:D] ...I wish I just could get my production up and running too.

[VSWG]

ORIGINAL: aztez

I think fighters perform better when placed on defensive duty.

Actually, no. Fighters on sweep perform better than fighters flying CAP (and CAP performs better than fighters on escort duty). If your base has many radar devices though, your fighters will have a higher chance to bounce the enemy planes, and more fighters will scramble.

[trollelite]

An aircraft shot down in the air just equals an aircraft destroyed on the ground, and you don't need to worry AAA. Soviet have many bombers, which induce their owner to launch mass air-strike. 

[aztez]

VSWG: Good info. Allthough I sometimes wonder what works and what doesn't. The results are sometimes very odd... a'la Moulmein sweep mission.

trollelite: Yeah. Chuck is definately massing his bombers in Russia.

I did the turn this morning before work but I don't have exact results with me at work.

Couple of developments though:

1) P38's visited Rabaul and I lost some Zero's which basically I cannot afford to do. Than again I don't want to give up Rabaul for free.

2) My submarines and recon planes spotted heavy activity near Gilberts last turn. I think US CV's are enroute. The question is whether I should move some Betty's into Marshall's and Gilbert's. (They have to flow unescorted mostly though) I wonder whether I could get lucky here with Betty's penetrating his CV CAP and inflicting some damage. This would buy me a lot of time I think if succesfull.

..and I do have Mini KB parked at Truk. However this might be dangerous operation... but maybe just maybe LBA Betty's + Mini KB could succeed here??? Any thoughts??? I know the odds are not in my favour but I need some positive moments for the empire soon!

3) I knocked down a fort in Vladivostok but the losses were still quite high.

4) Those BB's heading into Burma were bombed from Rangoon. Thankfully Beauforts didn't launch torpedoes. I'am not going to STOP this mission though... 1 BB TF will hit Rangoon while other 1 BB TF will hit Moulmein.

..the economical aspect is depressing.. by this I mean aircraft production. [:(] ..it is really not coming along with adequate pace and I'am having very serious trouble of keeping even decent CAP. (Basically at the moment this is disastrous)

More details later on.

[Historiker]

ad2
If you want, let the Bettys try, but when you riskt the Mini KB, you'll loose it! With some CVLs and CVEs, you have no chance against allied CVs...

ad4
Have you started this bombing run because of me? I hope not, because with him having air superiority there, you might loose some BBs... I hope you have some A6M2 with LR CAP over them?

[aztez]

ORIGINAL: Historiker

ad2
If you want, let the Bettys try, but when you riskt the Mini KB, you'll loose it! With some CVLs and CVEs, you have no chance against allied CVs...

ad4
Have you started this bombing run because of me? I hope not, because with him having air superiority there, you might loose some BBs... I hope you have some A6M2 with LR CAP over them?

ad2: I think I will start sailing KB into Southern Pacific to link up with Mini KB.

Also why not gamble not much to loose.. I can move 200-300 Betty's into Marshalls. As I cannot provide escorts for them though. BUT ... as said MAYBE just MAYBE.. If these would succeed I might be able to finish the job even with mini KB.

ad3 Actually, yes!!! [:D][:D][:D] ...well those BB's should hit their targets next turn in the morning phase so IF I'am lucky (Which is about time) than there wohn't be many LBA's flying afternoon!

[Historiker]

yes, 200-300 should be a quite powerful surprise against allied CVs
Expect to loose half of them, but if that sends 1-3 allied CVs in their underwater bases, it's a success

Ad4
ouch [:D] But don't blame me, if it goes wrong [;)] I said you should do this against russia, not against the whole RAF
Very, very risky...[:-]

[aztez]

ORIGINAL: Historiker

yes, 200-300 should be a quite powerful surprise against allied CVs
Expect to loose half of them, but if that sends 1-3 allied CVs in their underwater bases, it's a success

Ad4
ouch [:D] But don't blame me, if it goes wrong [;)] I said you should do this against russia, not against the whole RAF
Very, very risky...[:-]

No.. you wohn't be blamed instead you will be brought into Military courts to recieve your sentence!!! [:D][:D][:D] ... now we need some GOOD dice rolls so it might even pay in dividens. IF no than....

Yeah. It might be worth a shot... Allthough I do not have replacement pools for Betty's in good order it still might work out nicely. Those Betty's + Nells will be flown into their positions next turn.

Mini KB will also saild towards the area just in case an opportunity present itself. KB will sail in full speed too... IF his carriers are still around when both of these forces link up.. than.. Banzai... [:D]

[aztez]

Ok. Nothing in this PBEM is going my way.... when I say nothing... I mean nothing. [8|][:(][:@] x 1 000 000!

Now time for the update ...and than I need something positive to think about... at the moment this doesn't provide it.. GrrrrRr. [:(]


Game date is 1st of August 1942
 
 
Russia
 
 
Vladivostok
 
 
Day Air attack on Vladivostok , at 65,33
 
Japanese aircraft
Ki-51 Sonia x 59
Ki-21-II Sally x 23
Ki-48-I Lily x 23
Ki-49 Helen x 52
Ki-48-II Lily x 27

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-51 Sonia: 3 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 1 damaged


Allied ground losses:
54 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 80

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Vladivostok

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 217226 troops, 1078 guns, 80 vehicles, Assault Value = 3842

Defending force 113296 troops, 975 guns, 149 vehicles, Assault Value = 2048

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 8

Japanese max assault: 3746 - adjusted assault: 2670

Allied max defense: 2102 - adjusted defense: 6727

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 8)


Japanese ground losses:
6556 casualties reported
Guns lost 77
Vehicles lost 1

Allied ground losses:
1598 casualties reported
Guns lost 28
Vehicles lost 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Vladivostok, at 65,33

Japanese Ships
CL Kinu
CL Isuzu
CL Kashii
CL Katori
BB Yamato
BB Yamashiro
BB Fuso


Allied ground losses:
207 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 24
Port hits 11
Port fuel hits 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Vladivostok , at 65,33
 
Japanese aircraft
Ki-51 Sonia x 60
Ki-21-II Sally x 20
Ki-48-I Lily x 21
Ki-49 Helen x 49
Ki-48-II Lily x 26

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-51 Sonia: 9 damaged
Ki-48-I Lily: 1 damaged


Allied ground losses:
23 casualties reported

Airbase hits 10
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 123

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Vladivostok, at 65,33
 
Japanese Ships
CL Sendai
CA Mikuma
CA Mogami


Allied ground losses:
468 casualties reported
Guns lost 10

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 13
Port hits 6
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Vladivostok, at 65,33
 
Japanese Ships
CL Yubari
CL Tatsuta
CL Tenryu
CL Tama
CA Kumano
CA Chokai


Allied ground losses:
440 casualties reported
Guns lost 5
Vehicles lost 3

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 20
Port hits 5
Port supply hits 2


Khabarovsk
 
 
Day Air attack on Khabarovsk , at 69,29
 
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 13
A6M3 Zero x 23
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 51
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 15
Ki-51 Sonia x 49
Ki-21-II Sally x 11
Ki-46-II Dinah x 8

Allied aircraft
I-16 Type 24 x 26
MiG-3 x 11
LaGG-3 x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 5 destroyed, 1 damaged
A6M3 Zero: 4 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 13 destroyed, 2 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 7 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-51 Sonia: 2 destroyed, 19 damaged
Ki-21-II Sally: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
I-16 Type 24: 8 destroyed, 10 damaged
MiG-3: 5 destroyed, 1 damaged
LaGG-3: 4 destroyed, 6 damaged

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 44

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Khabarovsk , at 69,29
 
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 17
A6M3 Zero x 23
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 50
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 12
Ki-51 Sonia x 59
Ki-21-II Sally x 15
Ki-46-II Dinah x 10

Allied aircraft
I-16 Type 24 x 12
MiG-3 x 6
LaGG-3 x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
A6M3 Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-51 Sonia: 2 destroyed, 18 damaged
Ki-21-II Sally: 4 damaged
Ki-46-II Dinah: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
I-16 Type 24: 14 destroyed
MiG-3: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged
LaGG-3: 6 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
11 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 4
Runway hits 45


Kiamusze
 
 
Day Air attack on Kiamusze , at 66,29

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3
A6M3 Zero x 16
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 8
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 6

Allied aircraft
MiG-3 x 63
SB-2 x 129
R-12 x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
A6M3 Zero: 12 destroyed
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 10 destroyed
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 6 destroyed
Ki-46-II Dinah: 2 destroyed
Ki-49 Helen: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
MiG-3: 9 destroyed, 5 damaged
SB-2: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
11 casualties reported

Airbase hits 8
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 30


Iman
 
 
Day Air attack on Iman , at 67,31
 
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 14
A6M3 Zero x 17
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 10
Ki-30 Ann x 47
Ki-51 Sonia x 25
Ki-49 Helen x 23

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-30 Ann: 1 destroyed, 19 damaged
Ki-51 Sonia: 6 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
IL-2 Shturmovik: 6 destroyed
DB-3T: 1 destroyed

Airbase hits 12
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 35

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Iman , at 67,31
 
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 18
A6M3 Zero x 20
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 7
Ki-30 Ann x 33
Ki-51 Sonia x 22
Ki-49 Helen x 20

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-30 Ann: 2 destroyed, 12 damaged
Ki-51 Sonia: 4 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
IL-2 Shturmovik: 4 destroyed

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 24


Ok. Regular turn I guess. Chuch does possess a lot bombers and that is beginning to show.
 
Next turn another ground assault is scheduled at Vladivostok.
 
 
South Pacific
 
 
Rabaul
 
 
Day Air attack on Rabaul , at 62,90

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 86

Allied aircraft
P-38F Lightning x 24
F-4 Lightning x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 15 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38F Lightning: 11 destroyed, 2 damaged

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Rabaul , at 62,90
 
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 81

Allied aircraft
P-38F Lightning x 13
F-4 Lightning x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 9 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-38F Lightning: 6 destroyed, 1 damaged

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Rabaul , at 62,90

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 76

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 48
B-24D Liberator x 48
P-38F Lightning x 55
F-4 Lightning x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 45 destroyed
G3M Nell: 11 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 10 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 4 damaged
P-38F Lightning: 7 destroyed, 13 damaged
F-4 Lightning: 1 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
187 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Airbase hits 24
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 92

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Rabaul , at 62,90
 
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 36

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 39
B-24D Liberator x 35
P-38F Lightning x 34
F-4 Lightning x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 13 destroyed, 7 damaged
G3M Nell: 8 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 4 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 7 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 4 damaged
P-38F Lightning: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
27 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 9
Runway hits 59


[X(][X(][X(][:(][:(] ...talk about hammer. Well now I have withdraw from Rabaul which I really do hate to do and since my Aircraft pools are total disaster these losses really hurt a lot!
 
Well, KB is set on course towards Southern Pacific. (Minus CV Soryu)... CV Zuikaku has 15% sys damage but she is sailing since I need it. Mini KB has left Truk... A lot Betty's will be deployed at Kwaleijin and Majuro. I think I can gather around 300 LBA bombers.
 
So, if he comes we will duel it out for sure.
 
 
Burma
 
 
IJA BB recieve the hammer too
 
 
Naval bombardment of Moulmein, at 30,34


Allied aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 6 destroyed
Kittyhawk I: 1 destroyed
Lysander I: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CA Atago
CA Takao
BB Kongo


Allied ground losses:
1906 casualties reported
Guns lost 32
Vehicles lost 5

Airbase hits 11
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 32

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Rangoon, at 29,33


Allied aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft losses
Mohawk IV: 4 destroyed
Wellington III: 4 destroyed
Buffalo I: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CL Yura
BB Ise
BB Nagato


Allied ground losses:
1262 casualties reported
Guns lost 20

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 32

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 25,37
 

Allied aircraft
Swordfish x 11


Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo, Torpedo hits 2,  on fire
CA Atago

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 25,37


Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 14


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Asashio
BB Kongo,  on fire
CA Atago

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 26,35
 

Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 27
Beaufort I x 23


Allied aircraft losses
Wellington III: 3 damaged
Beaufort I: 1 destroyed, 10 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Nagato, Torpedo hits 2
BB Ise, Torpedo hits 3,  on fire

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 27,38
 

Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 43
Beaufort I x 15
B-25C Mitchell x 28


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
CA Atago
BB Kongo, Bomb hits 3,  on fire
DD Hatsuyuki
CA Takao

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 25,38
 
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 3

Allied aircraft
Swordfish x 5

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish: 5 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Ise, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
BB Nagato


Ok. As said everything is going the worst possible way. The initial strikes didn't cause enough harm.. actually very disappointing bombardment runs... the only weather prevented was the Zero squadron from flying the CAP... so usual day at the office.
 
BB Ise is propably going down... Nagato and Kongo need serious repair time on docks.
 
 
Other NEWS
 
 
The economy in regarding aircraft production doesn't meet demand on hand at the moment. Fighter pools are empty and a lot of the bombers are out of aircraft. I did consult Pauk and he said that the only way to improve was turn small factories into production. Thus I have changed most transport etc factories into Zero's, Sally's and Betty's. It might be too late though.
 
The Medan base was captured at Sumatra.
 
Balikpapan and Banjarmasin are under invasion. Too bad that Chuck is contesting the landings at Balikpapan. (I have ordered some Oscars and Zeros to fly CAP over the TF) ..nothing else I can do.
 
(See piccie about Vladivostok)

[trollelite]

As a matter of fact, I am preparing a good present for my opponent on russian campaign, that means, 30 division + 10 engineer regiment + every single tank of Japan. 10 divisions not enough to assualt 9 level fort even this is hold by chinese.
 
OK, another incredible thing is your high loss on A2A battle, do you use exp 30 pilot? This is the only explanation I can think.

[aztez]

Quick update.
 
 
The economy is bad as it can get. I do NOT have any Zero's, Oscar's or Tojo's in the pools. The only fighters I have are 11 Tony's which have just entered the production. That is not much isn't it [:(]
 
Basically 11 Tony's per 2 turns isn't going to cut it either. At the moment most of my fightes are Claude's and Nate's... it is not helping too much that Gumma has very very low amount of supplies and oil. [:@] ...cannot understand why since I do have some in stock at Osaka and Tokyo. Go figure... anyway, as you can expect Í'am not very happy about the game... I really need something positive to happen and QUICKLY... and I need aircraft which seem not be forthcoming either. [:(][:(][:(]
 
Trollelite:  That force should be enough. Those armoured units will be good idea. Intresting to see whether you can crush the Russians.
 
..and No those pilots were not exp 30... well not at the beginning anyway. (Now most of them are 40-50 exp) So, again I doubt I got the good dice rolls.
 
 
Game date is 6th of August 1942
 
 
Russia
 
 
Hailar
 
 
Day Air attack on Hailar , at 63,22
 
Japanese aircraft
no flights
 
Allied aircraft
I-153 x 30
Pe-2 x 107
R-12 x 6
 
Japanese aircraft losses
C5M Babs: 3 destroyed
Ki-46-II Dinah: 2 destroyed
 
Allied aircraft losses
Pe-2: 7 damaged
 
Japanese ground losses:
90 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
 
Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 37
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Hailar , at 63,22
 
Japanese aircraft
no flights
 
Allied aircraft
I-153 x 17
Pe-2 x 117
R-12 x 6
 
Japanese aircraft losses
C5M Babs: 5 destroyed
 
Allied aircraft losses
Pe-2: 9 damaged
 
Japanese ground losses:
166 casualties reported
Guns lost 4
 
Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 92
 
 
Vladivostok
 
 
Day Air attack on Vladivostok , at 65,33
 
Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 7
Ki-51 Sonia x 75
Ki-21-II Sally x 24
Ki-48-I Lily x 22
Ki-49 Helen x 50
Ki-48-II Lily x 27
 
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-51 Sonia: 4 damaged
Ki-21-II Sally: 1 destroyed
Ki-48-I Lily: 1 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 5 damaged
Ki-48-II Lily: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
 
 
Allied ground losses:
54 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
 
Airbase hits 11
Runway hits 147
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Vladivostok
 
Japanese Deliberate attack
 
Attacking force 214598 troops, 1036 guns, 80 vehicles, Assault Value = 3718
 
Defending force 111222 troops, 938 guns, 150 vehicles, Assault Value = 2060
 
Japanese max assault: 3634 - adjusted assault: 1907
 
Allied max defense: 2131 - adjusted defense: 9039
 
Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 8)
 
 
Japanese ground losses:
7306 casualties reported
Guns lost 65
Vehicles lost 1
 
Allied ground losses:
2036 casualties reported
Guns lost 61
Vehicles lost 6
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Vladivostok , at 65,33
 
Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 11
Ki-51 Sonia x 55
Ki-21-II Sally x 22
Ki-48-I Lily x 22
Ki-49 Helen x 43
Ki-48-II Lily x 25
 
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-51 Sonia: 3 damaged
Ki-48-I Lily: 3 damaged
Ki-48-II Lily: 1 damaged
 
 
Allied ground losses:
36 casualties reported
 
Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 120
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Vladivostok , at 65,33
 
Japanese aircraft
Ki-51 Sonia x 54
Ki-21-II Sally x 22
Ki-48-I Lily x 21
Ki-49 Helen x 47
Ki-48-II Lily x 26
 
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-51 Sonia: 9 damaged
Ki-48-I Lily: 1 damaged
Ki-48-II Lily: 1 damaged
 
Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 74
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Vladivostok, at 65,33
 
Japanese Ships
CL Sendai
CA Mikuma
CA Mogami
 
 
Allied ground losses:
411 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
Vehicles lost 1
 
Runway hits 10
Port hits 2
Port fuel hits 1
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Vladivostok, at 65,33
 
Japanese Ships
CL Kinu
CL Isuzu
CL Kashii
CL Katori
BB Yamato
BB Yamashiro
BB Fuso
 
 
Allied ground losses:
2200 casualties reported
Guns lost 34
Vehicles lost 5
 
Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 37
Port hits 15
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 3
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Vladivostok, at 65,33
 
Japanese Ships
CL Yubari
CL Tatsuta
CL Tenryu
CL Tama
CA Kumano
CA Chokai
 
 
Allied ground losses:
330 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
Vehicles lost 2
 
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 28
Port hits 2
 
 
Iman
 
 
Day Air attack on Iman , at 67,31
 
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 35
Ki-30 Ann x 27
Ki-51 Sonia x 17
Ki-49 Helen x 19
 
Allied aircraft
I-16 Type 24 x 17
MiG-3 x 11
LaGG-3 x 12
Yak-1 x 31
 
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 8 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-30 Ann: 5 destroyed, 12 damaged
Ki-51 Sonia: 3 destroyed, 3 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 6 damaged
 
Allied aircraft losses
I-16 Type 24: 1 damaged
MiG-3: 1 damaged
LaGG-3: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Yak-1: 4 damaged
 
Runway hits 3
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Iman , at 67,31
 
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 27
Ki-30 Ann x 24
Ki-51 Sonia x 17
Ki-49 Helen x 16
 
Allied aircraft
I-16 Type 24 x 15
MiG-3 x 7
LaGG-3 x 11
Yak-1 x 6
 
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged
Ki-30 Ann: 3 destroyed, 12 damaged
Ki-51 Sonia: 2 destroyed, 4 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 2 damaged
 
Allied aircraft losses
I-16 Type 24: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged
MiG-3: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged
LaGG-3: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Yak-1: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged
DB-3T: 2 destroyed
 
 
Allied ground losses:
13 casualties reported
 
Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 1
 
 
Kiamusze
 
 
Day Air attack on Kiamusze , at 66,29
 
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3
A6M3 Zero x 5
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 13
 
Allied aircraft
MiG-3 x 60
SB-2 x 153
R-12 x 6
 
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 5 destroyed
A6M3 Zero: 5 destroyed
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 9 destroyed
Ki-30 Ann: 1 destroyed
Ki-46-II Dinah: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 1 destroyed
 
Allied aircraft losses
MiG-3: 8 destroyed, 3 damaged
SB-2: 1 damaged
 
Japanese ground losses:
27 casualties reported
 
Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 18
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kiamusze , at 66,29
 
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 12
A6M3 Zero x 16
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 15
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 5
 
Allied aircraft
MiG-3 x 42
SB-2 x 165
R-12 x 5
 
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed, 1 damaged
A6M3 Zero: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 10 destroyed
Ki-46-II Dinah: 3 destroyed
 
Allied aircraft losses
MiG-3: 12 destroyed, 7 damaged
SB-2: 4 destroyed, 8 damaged
 
Japanese ground losses:
14 casualties reported
 
Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 68
 
 
Another not so good turn here. Next turn another ground assault is ordered againts Vladivostok. As you can see Russian airforce is gaining upper hand here. I didn't fought out this with +30 exp pilots as asked though but now I'am crushed.
 
1 IJA division is loading in Tokyo and will head out to Manchuko. Another IJA division is entering the theatre from China.
 
 
South Pacific
 
 
Rabaul
 
 
Day Air attack on Rabaul , at 62,90
 
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 13
 
Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 46
B-24D Liberator x 42
P-38F Lightning x 43
F-4 Lightning x 1
 
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 8 destroyed
G3M Nell: 2 destroyed
 
Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 6 damaged
P-38F Lightning: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged
 
Japanese Ships
SS I-11, Bomb hits 1
AP Shinkoku Maru, Bomb hits 1,  on fire
SS RO-60, Bomb hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
SS RO-68, Bomb hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
APD Akikaze, Bomb hits 1,  on fire
AP Sanpuku Maru, Bomb hits 1,  on fire
 
Japanese ground losses:
59 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
 
Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 10
Port hits 2
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Rabaul , at 62,90
 
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8
 
Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 33
B-24D Liberator x 42
P-38F Lightning x 38
F-4 Lightning x 1
 
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 5 destroyed
G3M Nell: 1 destroyed
 
Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 3 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 4 damaged
 
Japanese Ships
AP Sanpuku Maru, Bomb hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage
SS I-9, Bomb hits 3,  on fire,  heavy damage
SS RO-62, Bomb hits 4,  on fire,  heavy damage
APD Tachikaze, Bomb hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage
SS RO-60, Bomb hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage
SS I-121, Bomb hits 1,  on fire
AP Yamafuku Maru, Bomb hits 1,  on fire
SS I-122, Bomb hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
APD Akikaze, Bomb hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
SS I-11, Bomb hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
APD Hakaze, Bomb hits 1,  on fire
 
Japanese ground losses:
78 casualties reported
 
Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 22
Port hits 3
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 1
 
 
The remaining fighters could not do anything.. easy kills for US Airforces. Just shows how good things are.. damn I had forgotten these ships into Rabaul harbour.. oh well... [8|]
 
 
DEI
 
 
Balikpapan
 
 
Night Time Surface Combat, near Balikpapan at 31,64
 
Japanese Ships
MSW Eguchi Maru, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
MSW Himejima Maru,  on fire,  heavy damage
MSW Kongo Maru #2
MSW Kyo Maru #1, Shell hits 10, and is sunk
PG Idzumo
PG Iwate
PC Ch 28, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
PC Ch 31, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AP Kokuryu Maru, Shell hits 12, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AP Mizuho Maru
AP Ural Maru,  on fire
AP Taizan Maru
AP Ussuri Maru
AP Nichibi Maru,  on fire,  heavy damage
AP Tamaki Maru
AP Teiryu Maru, and is sunk
AP Toko Maru
AP Aiyo Maru
AP Heizan Maru
AP Yamatsuki Maru
AP Nagaragawa Maru
AP Nichiryu Maru,  on fire
AP Zukai Maru,  heavy damage
AK Saiho Maru
AK Nagano Maru
AK Osaka Maru
AK Tasmania Maru,  heavy damage
AK Tsurushima Maru
AK Kaga Maru
AK Kokoku Maru
AK Sakito Maru
AK Asosan Maru
AK Fugi Maru
 
Allied Ships
CL Java
CL Sumatra, Shell hits 1
CL De Ruyter
CL Tromp
DD Banckert
DD Van Nes
DD Witte de With
DD Evertsen
DD Kortenaer
DD Piet Hein
 
Japanese ground losses:
12 casualties reported
 
 
Great... the Dutch surface TF made an hit and run assault. In the morning these ships were nowhere to be seen and my Betty's came empty.

Add salt to insult.. allied LBA fighters and bombers hit several transports near Balikpapan. The ground combat resulted to 0:1 odds so now my troops are stalled for the moment being.
 
 
Other NEWS
 
 
My submarines lost contact on the proposed Allied CV's. I guess this might have been false alarm in overall.

[Mistmatz]

Are you aware that you're loosing piecemeal all over the board?

You really need to focus on one campaign and put every effort in it. It's not helpful loosing precious planes here and there and not having enough left for your campaign in Russia. Think of the proverb "march divided - strike united" - currently you're striking (or trying to) in too many places. Uncovered landings in DEI and sending LBA after some phantom, while in Russia you cannot keep the AFs closed are some of these things.

Sorry for the harsh words dude, but you really need to focus. And you probably need some time to regroup your Russian operation, maybe even stall for a while and get sufficient airpower over there. If you have enough supply work your way through Vladivostok without aircover for the time being, maybe an ambush by KB fighters every once in a while and then come back with an airforce worth mentioning.
If you let the russian airforce continue to drain your pilot pool you'll be doomed when the US come back into play.

Now get out and kick some allied ass! [;)][8D]

[aztez]

Mistmatz: Wise words and no offense taken. I know a lot of blunders have been made. I really should have played few months vs AI before and it would have prevented a lot of these errors.
 
This is good training game for the next IJA game that I will propably start vs Erstad. (That will be one tough game since Dave is good)
 
I'am still very suprised how stiff resistance Russian airforce have put up. I doubt they are this strong in Stock.
 
I did actually put up fighters to fly cover over those TF's in DEI. Those pilots just refused to fly though. [8|]
 
Yeah! I need withdraw. A bulk of my bombers have already withdraw from Russia as are those beaten up fighter squadrons. Too bad that 85% of my fighter force is now Nate's and Claude's.
 
Way I see it I have 2 major things to accomplish...
 
1) Start building up aircraft pools. I need fighters and I need bombers. Basically these pools are dry now.
 
2) Start building up pilot exp. At the moment I'am stuck with 40-50 exp squadrons which cannot stand up and fight. I have already started training them at China and DEI.
 
I still do have some 100 Zero's at Bangkok. These squadrons have experince around 60 exp... so the questions is whether I should let him bomb Bangkok to dust? I don't know whether I want them to be killed for nothing and at the moment Bangkok is not that important.
 
Than there is the South Pacific. I think US CV's were feint and not accurate intel so Chuck might be coming through North.
 
I cannot fight him at Solomons either.. well at least not with the airforce I got. But what I can do is mine the place to death.
 
Hmmm.. a lot of bad things has happened... and maybe Chuck will make an mistake himself.
 
What is worrying me though is the fact that how fast do the aircraft pool arise.
 
Thanks for the input! [:)]
 
 

[aztez]

The emergency cabinet meeting were held at Emperors Palace in Tokyo.

Recent developments and news from the front have caused a lot of public protests around the country.

Thus this meeting had to held. The meeting went from dawn to late evening... and resulted to the following statement.


"This meeting has caused us to make changes into our war cabinet. "Aztez" will remain the Prime Minister and thus make all the final decisions. Unfortunately rest of the war cabinet were held responsible and thus sacked/executed. The new member as a minister of war in the cabinet will be....


Nemo121

....[&o][:D][:D] !!! His duty is to make the evaluation of the initial affairs of state and make a lot of suggestions regarding economy and war strategy!" ... this was released info was released to Ctangus to.

I really have made a mess of somethings but these can be fixed.

I'am very grateful to Nemo121 for giving me the chance to learn the ropes regarding Japan. I mean you really cannot not find more aggressive and skillfull teacher to any novice playing Japan!

As said I will run the big show but Nemo121 has a great say on things so his words carry a lot of weight.

We have agreed that every 4th turn file will be send to him for an evaluation... so I will be doing all the micromanagement stuff.

I already have 5 pages of printed paper to read from Nemo121.... some very good tips/suggestions and advice! I will study these papers I printed out very carefully and make a lot of changes to the ongoing game. I'am actually now FULL of energy and I think Ctangus will have his hands full soon enough! [:D]

So... I really do want to thank Nemo121 for taking the time and effort and helping this novice to get things in the road again! [&o][:)] ... I can already recommend this to any Japanese player who is feeling not so great about his abilities.

..I will start working on the turn tomorrow.. now too tired after work and I have been struck by the flu... oh, I did inform this development to Ctangus... he might be a bit shell shocked.

...more about the initial changes later on once the 1st turn is done.... Stay tuned!

[Mistmatz]

The public protesters are happy about the recent developments and hope for the best. [:D]

Although they wonder if there is any chance that they will get to see the documents of the newly assigned Minister of War?

[Lecivius]

Don't feel to bad, as a n00b I've been reading & learning from your work and mistakes [:D]


Any way we can get a synopsis of the corrections/suggestions made by the indomitable Nemo121?

[Nemo121]

I've discussed it with Aztez and he has cleared me to post a synopsis here. In addition I like that as I don't want anyone saying to him that I'm micro-managing his play at all. He asked me to give him help with the economy and some strategic ideas and that's what I'm going to stick to doing - obviously I'll also point out a few useful tricks along the way.


Basic underlying concepts:

1. A Japanese player MUST be more efficient than an Allied player. At all times a Japanese player must try to achieve several different goals with a single unit or deployment whereas the Allies have such overwhelming force they can be inefficient and still succeed.

2. Japan has no strength in depth and thus by this stage of the war its only option is to seek to pick a theatre, throw its full weight into it and seek to defeat the single Allied thrust there so decisively that any further thrust must be delayed for many months, allowing Japan to build up another pool of experienced pilots and front-line planes and achieve local superiority in another theatre before the first theatre can become active again.

3. Committing pilots to action in anything but the best planes available is murder. So, if your best planes are Tonys and Zeroes then sending them in in Nates and Claudes is wasteful and inefficient.

4. At ALL times the Lanchester Law reigns supreme. So, 100 Tonys will achieve far more at far less cost than 100 Nates and in so doing the many surviving pilots will gain more experience and shift the results curve even more to the right.

5. He who defends everything defends nothing.

6. He who only defends gets picked apart piecemeal.

7. The doctrine of decisive battle is still a valid one albeit that a decisive battle can only be of operational or strategic significance and not of significance at the national policy level - as we had previously hoped.


So, Aztez's problems are as follows:
1. He is committed to all fronts and is being pressed on all of them. His committment ( the activation of the Soviets ) cannot be undone BUT we can remove several of these fronts from reckoning.

2. His forces are penny-packeted out and insufficient to the tasks allotted them. This can be ameliorated by drawing down forces where possible and concentrating them for decisive effects.

3. His economy is in tatters - his production is misallocated, this will be fixed.

4. His pilot pools are empty, he has almost no front-line fighters left and most of his good pilots have already been killed flying Nates and Claudes against front-line Soviet and British fighters. This can be fixed by ruthless economic prioritisation and massive pilot training.



So, let us look at the various theatres:
Australia, India and CONUSA cannot be knocked out of the war. China and the Soviet Union CAN be knocked out of the war by a concentrated resource bombing campaign. The Soviet Union is defended by excellent fighters at the present so strategic bombing cannot occur there yet. So our first resource bombing target will be China.

This will also allow us to train up our bombers at minimal cost and without massive losses to escorting fighters.

Far too many of our best combat divisions are committed to holding Chinese forces back and garrisoning our bases in China. Where possible one should rely on terrain and fortifications and preparation to free up our forces. E.g. 2,700 AV of Chinese troops can, at best,mass 5,400 AV when shock attacking ( and they rarely, if ever, get over half this maximum ). With wooded terrain and level 9 forts we get a x 9 combat bonus. So, we can hold 5400 AV with just 600 of our own. If we add in a preparation bonus ( which doubles AV ) +/- a HQ we see that we can easily expect to hold Chinese forces with 1/4 or less the number of forces if we just pick our chokepoints wisely and build up their fort levels. In many places in China we are holding Chinese forces with equal AVs of Japanese forces or AVs of 66% the Chinese AV. We should pare that down to 50% initially and 33% in the medium term.

In addition far too many of our best combat divisions are split into 3 and garrisoning 3 different towns. We have loads of relatively worthless NLFs etc which can be given this task and free up our major combat divisions for other regions.

By adopting a defensive posture we can free up a large number of troops for Korea and Thailand ( which we will need in both theatres ) and by adopting a resource bombing strategy we can force the Chinese to run out of supply which benefits us as follows:
1. Allows us to draw our forces down below even the 33% level I advocate in the medium term and
2. Prevents the Allies from mounting bomber raids on the mainland from China in 1943/44.



B. Soviet Union.
Go on the defensive, build up forces on the choke points and wait for 300 front-line fighters with 70Exp pilots to be available. Then break the Soviet CAP over one of their bases and break the Soviet fighter reserve when it is thrown in. At this point in time commit all of the bombers from China to the Soviet front, close the airfields at major resource centres and begin bombing the resource centres.

After a short while split your bombers between China and the Soviet Union but keep them committed there until the resources in both places are bombed into the stone age. Eventually the Soviets will get desperate and they will launch Shock Attacks --- but you will resist them since you will have strongly reinforced all of the crossing points with those divisions you freed up from eastern China.

Once the Soviet Shock Attacks have failed once or twice the Soviets won't have the supply to repair disablements and try again and you can quietly let this theatre run down... Gradually removing divisions as PPs allow.

Again this strategy will prevent the US from basing bombers in the Soviet Union in 43 and 44.



If managed properly these two actions should allow you to free 4,000 to 5,000 AV within 6 months for committment to other fronts, will train your bomber forces up to a very high standard AND remove the threat of Allied LBA bombing the mainland from 2 of the main strategic directions ( west and north ). So by January 1st 1943 I would suggest that the above plan, if ruthlessly implemented, could result in you reducing a 5 front war to a 3 front war ( PNG/Java, Thailand/Java, Pacific ). With a 3 front war it is MUCH easier to achieve massive local superiority in 1 theatre while the other 2 theatres are quiet, win the battle in the first theatre and then rebuild before either of the other 2 theatres becomes active.


Where will all these extra divisions and pilots etc go? Let's worry about that in January 1943.



Pilots and plane situation:
1. Stop producing any old generation planes ( you are producing Oscars. If they aren't the best planes then don't produce them. Concentrate on the best you have as that will maximise your pilot survival and quality and damage done to the enemy. )

2. Withdraw ALL fighters from the front lines and send them to train in China and over Sumatra, Phillipines etc. Commit the bombers, as discussed, to China and then the Soviet Union. Why withdraw them all? Simple, if you don't you will get sucked into A2A combat to "protect this base or that unit". By basing them all far away from the front you can avoid temptation. In one month ( the time it will take to get enough fighters to win superiority over the Soviet Union ) you can create close to 200 new fighters but if you lose 100 to attritional fighting over that time you'll have to wait two months before taking on the Soviets and a lot more can happen in two months than one.

3. You have problems with getting supply to Gumma and a couple of other critical economic hubs in Japan. Basing bombers and transports at these hubs and setting them to fly SUPPLY missions will help train your transports AND suck supply to Gumma and these other 2 bases ( this is yet another example of efficiency-killing two birds with one stone, solving an economic problem whilst also aiding training and safeguarding your bomber force ).

4. Expand Tojo and Tony production. Also expand Zero production. At the least you should double production of each of these planes now. STOP Oscar production, it is wasted HI.

5. You are sitting on massive merchant and naval shipyard pools. Stop all naval and merchant shipyard production. You have excess here, use it up before you cut absolutely essential areas.

6. You have turned off a lot of fighter and bomber production. This is essential, far more essential than the shipyards, where you have an excess. Turn all fighter and bomber production on. You need full daitais and sentais to gain the benefit of pilot training.

7. You are making about 4 times as many Mitsubishi as you need and have a stockpile of about 2,000 of them - enough to fill 10 months production IIRC. Stop all mitsubishi production for now and let the stockpile run down.

By doing this you will move from requiring over 50% more HI than you produce per turn to saving something like 70% of your HI per turn. So, a 50% deficit becomes a 70% surplus. In the medium term you can turn production of shipyards etc back on as required and balance things out again but for right now you want modern fighters at all costs. This will get them for you.


Convoys:
Your convoys are too small to be efficient. Calculate out the journey time to Japan from a given base and then calculate out how many days that takes at cruise speed. Look at the oil and resources produced per day at the base multiply by the number of days the trip will take and add 50% to cover for loading and unloading times.

That figure is the OIL or RESOURCE capacity you need in a convoy you will create at a Japanese port and which will make that run from today until the day the war ends.

E.g. 500 oil per day at a base x 30 days round trip = 15,000 oil x 50% = 22,500 oil. So, create a tanker TF which can carry 23,000 tons of oil and give them ONE low-ASW capability escort ( this is important). never put more than one escort per TF on these milk runs.

Gather all the high ASW rated vessels in hunter-killer TFs and actively send them out to hunt submarines which are spotted by your floatplanes etc. You will kill far more by hunting them down with TFs comprising a dozen high-ASW vessels ( which gain experience and ability with each attack they make) than by penny-packeting the ASW forces out to give each convoy 2 ASW vessels.


Well that's about it for now. By January 1943 I think you can have a smoothly functioning convoy system, a lot of dead Allied subs, a China and Soviet Union which boast large armies but no supplies for offensives and a large group of trained pilots flying top of the line planes capable of locally defeating Allied thrusts in series. If the Allies get their game together and master simultaneity then you are screwed but very few players master simultaneity if one reads the AARs.

[aztez]

As you can see a lot of good suggestions to any newbie/rookie Japanese players. Never thought about many of these restrictions but they do make a lot of sense.
 
I would like to make it clear that the final decisions will lay on me so any blunders made in operational level are due to my decisions.
 
Currently at work so unable to comment in detail what suggestions are put in use and such. I can say however that there are so much information to digest that I need to work very carefully with the next turn.
 
..and I do greatly appreciate Nemo's input and help. He has no obligation to do so in any level.
 
I will start working on the turn later tonight and hopefully everything is done tonight... but at the latest tomorrow Chuck shall recieve it.
 
This game will continue to bitter end in 1945's and 1946's so... a lot of intresting days and turns ahead! [:)]
 
 

[aztez]

Mistmatz: LOL.. the public are indeed in good mood.
 
Lecivius: [:D][:D][:D] ...yeah.. this has been a bumpy ride so far. Things will take another twist now.

[Mistmatz]

Thanks for sharing your thougths and plans to both of you.

Nemo121's summary is very good, although I'm not so optimistic that in Jan/43 the situation will be turned around. However situation should improve considerably and that is what counts and what is needed. Good luck!


EDIT: wrong year