[font="Times New Roman"]2nd Maneuver Band HR[/font]
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This has been an interesting day. Jocke sent a message asking whether I'd consider removing our 2nd best maneuver band HR. I'll just include the relevant points from his email below and my response. Lets just say what we remember is not always as clear as it seems. [;)]
This is a long message so I'll break the second part out into a new post.
...
There has been a discussion in my AAR concerning our HR and the air war in general. Many people believe its a crappy HR and it messes things up regarding the air war. We both know that it does and when we talked about it in mid 43 we said to remove it once you got some AC with access to the highest MVR band.
I kind of understand you want to keep it in now since you can now mass produce a fighter with access to it and have gotten some good results with it. But personally I would like to remove it. We both have "enjoyed" the advantage about equal time and we both agree (at lest we did a while back) that its not a good HR basically making the aircraft not able to go up to the highest MVR band not able to live up to their true potential. This hurts the IJN and the USAAF equally hard. Both lacking a fighter with access to the highest MVR band.
I think its the most fair thing to do and I honestly believe it will not be more advantageous for one or the other side. We both dislike the HR and I would really like to see some more balanced results. Some airframes have really underperformed in our game and it would be cool to see the true potential of planes like the Shinden, P51 and Sams. With our current HR they will always have a secondary role behind the Franks and P47s.
I honestly believe removing the HR won´t be more advantageous for either side. I hope you belive I'm sincere when I´m saying that. That is my true belief. I have stated so in several places in my AAR. I can´t really explain why without giving away a little too much but take my word for it.
Cheers
J
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Hey Jocke,
It's interesting how we remember things vs how they really were! I've heard about the Tojo dominance for so long I began to believe it, at least until I looked through my AAR this afternoon. 
I'm sure everyone is saying how unfair this HR is to the Allies now that I can also get above some Allied planes. I get it, but I would argue it's been an entirely positive determining factor in Allied success up to this point. There was never a period of advantage from this HR for the Japanese. The HR has been instrumental to Allied dominance in the air through the past 18 months after the arrival of the P-47 for sure though, and that has changed the game completely. It will continue to benefit that plane throughout the game. I should have been the one asking for this to stop for years.
To be honest I have no idea what removing it would do to the game. That is the difficulty. Being completely objective I'd say it's been a huge advantage to the Allies in the middle game when it was most needed, and it kept me from most offensive sweeps for almost two years. Now I have some flexibility.
In 42 the Tojo arrived in August. Before that the A6M3 arrived in 6/42 with 31k ability, but all other Japanese planes before that were only 20k capable at best. The advantages of the early war fighters is maneuver and this is the weakness of both the P-40 and the P-39. Even given a higher altitude the Japanese fighters have 2-3x maneuver advantage.
The Hurri IIc was already in the game as of 6/42 so there was never a period of time when the Japanese (or the Tojo) could sweep over everything. The P-40K also arrived the next month and it gets to 31k with similar speed to the Tojo. The Corsair arrived in 1/43 with much better speed and 31k. Lets not forget the Hellcat arrived in 4/43 with the 31k+ altitude band as well, effectively starting the period when this HR was extremely positive to the Allies.
The great majority of P-40E losses appear to me to have been during escort missions when LR CAP was not present.
It's very instructive to look back through some of late 42-43 in my AAR. The Tojo dominance was minimal and incredibly isolated, and in fact by the time I had enough to sweep much the Brits had plenty of Hurri IIc and the US had a good number of P-40k. In fact the Tojo only did well when I had more numbers (very seldom actually), not because it was a better performer, especially not the Tojo IIa without armor and with weak armament.
I invite you to look into the first year of my AAR to see what was really going on then. It was pretty fun and neither of us knew what we know now. (Please look only up through January 43 for now, and I'll open the rest up as we go, just because I haven't looked to see if there are any pieces of sensitive information there after that point).
Direct links to air battles in 42-43 involving the Tojo. Some are defensive, others are sweeps. Very few sweeps were made by the end of January 43 that involved Tojos, and many included Zeros and Oscars in the mix.
I include here some Allied sweeps as well that involve the Tojo in defense. Many of these include Allied fighters set below their highest allowed altitude (coming in at 29k to a CAP at 31k), likely causing their marginal performance. These are ALL of the Tojo actions in Burma during this period. Seems to be pretty even to me overall, and there is never an action including planes where the 2nd best maneuver band HR lets one dive from higher than the defense is capable of going.
It's interesting to note that by the end of october 42 only 2 of 15 Japanese aces were IJAAF pilots.
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http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/fb.asp?m=3097320
1 september 42
Burma: A combined sweep of Hurri IIc and P-40E hit Katha today. The Oscar/Tojo combo worked wonders today and I'm trying to figure out which thing did the trick. I set the groups to 0 hex CAP. A radar equipped base force arrived two days ago. The CAP was layered with 12 Tojos on 50% at 31k and 42 Oscars on 50% at 15k.
For the day we shot down 7 Hurri IIc and 18 P-40E with NO LOSSES!!! I have to wonder if he neglected to pick a good group leader or the groups had low moral or some other setting on that side. The Oscars did most of the damage as well. So I guess there is hope in Burma, for now.
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http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/fb.asp?m=3098189
5 september 42
Burma: Not sure what happened here, but the first big Tojo sweep in Burma is a bust. There were thunderstorms, so maybe that was it. 10 Tojos down total for 6 Hurris.
Then to add insult to injury B-17s came into Rangoon and hit the base before our bombers could take off. 5 lost on the ground. Grrrr.
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Morning Air attack on Chittagong , at 55,41
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid detected at 43 NM, estimated altitude 35,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 42
Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 32
Hurricane IIc Trop x 15
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 3 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb Trop: 1 destroyed
Aircraft Attacking:
24 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 31000 feet
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http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/fb.asp?m=3113304
7 october 42
Burma: I also tried a Tojo sweep of Chittagong today that turned out poorly. Or at least only achieved parity. Losses were even here after ops were accounted for.
What I don't understand is that even though the CAP came up slowly, and numbers were always in our favor, we couldn't take advantage and get kills. The pilots are good, the planes are good. They did get a good radar warning, but the numbers were never in favor of the defense.
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Morning Air attack on Chittagong , at 55,41
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 112 NM, estimated altitude 33,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 30 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 84
Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 32
Hurricane IIc Trop x 16
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 2 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb Trop: 4 destroyed
Hurricane IIc Trop: 1 destroyed
Aircraft Attacking:
42 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 30000 feet
27 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 30000 feet *
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http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/fb.asp?m=3114637
16 october 42
Burma: I set up a massive sweep plan for Akyab, where at least two groups of Hurris have ben hanging out. Or out on a limb. Seems a bad place to keep them, so the sweeps were intended to be followed by a raid of 90 Helens. These did not fly due to weather, presumably.
The sweeps just about cleaned up on their own. I think I've figured something out here. Our fighters achieved 3 to 1 results, knocking down 22 Hurris in A to A and ops during the day.
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Morning Air attack on Akyab , at 54,45
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 38 NM, estimated altitude 34,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 33
A6M3a Zero x 30
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 36
Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 32
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb Trop: 8 destroyed
Aircraft Attacking:
30 x A6M3a Zero sweeping at 31000 feet
16 x A6M3 Zero sweeping at 31000 feet
CAP engaged:
No.135 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIb Trop (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 8 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 24000 and 32000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 34 minutes
No.136 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIb Trop (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 8 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 20000 and 36000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 36 minutes
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Morning Air attack on Akyab , at 54,45
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 38 NM, estimated altitude 34,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 74
Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 5
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb Trop: 1 destroyed
Aircraft Attacking:
36 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 31000 feet
38 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 31000 feet
CAP engaged:
No.136 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIb Trop (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 27000 and 34000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 28 minutes
No.135 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIb Trop (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 37000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes
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http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/fb.asp?m=3114641
17 october 42
Burma: Jocke moved the kitchen sink into Akyab today to make sure he dealt roughly with any more sweeping actions. Well, in an unexpected turn Tojos and A6M3 and 3a took it to the Allied planes for a second day in a row. Even the Lightnings suffered and were not very effective.
In total the Allies lost a bunch of planes again. See below. Of special note are the 9 Lightnings lost. Banzai!
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Morning Air attack on Akyab , at 54,45
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 34,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 31
A6M3a Zero x 29
Allied aircraft
P-38E Lightning x 25
P-38F Lightning x 24
P-40E Warhawk x 25
P-40K Warhawk x 47
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 3 destroyed
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
P-38E Lightning: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 4 destroyed
P-40K Warhawk: 2 destroyed
Aircraft Attacking:
24 x A6M3a Zero sweeping at 31000 feet
11 x A6M3 Zero sweeping at 31000 feet
CAP engaged:
49th FG/7th FS with P-38E Lightning (0 airborne, 9 on standby, 12 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is
31000 , scrambling fighters between 30000 and 32000.
[No maneuver band advantage]
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes
49th FG/8th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 11 on standby, 7 scrambling)
5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 29000 , scrambling fighters to 29000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 41 minutes
49th FG/9th FS with P-38F Lightning (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 12 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is
31000 , scrambling fighters between 31000 and 34000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes
51st FG/25th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 12 on standby, 7 scrambling)
5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 29000 , scrambling fighters between 28000 and 29000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 40 minutes
23rd FG/74th FS with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 12 on standby, 7 scrambling)
6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 20000 and 29000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 37 minutes
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Morning Air attack on Akyab , at 54,45
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 33,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 74
Allied aircraft
P-38E Lightning x 22
P-38F Lightning x 21
P-40E Warhawk x 16
P-40K Warhawk x 38
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 2 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
P-38E Lightning: 1 destroyed
P-38F Lightning: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed
P-40K Warhawk: 4 destroyed
Aircraft Attacking:
29 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 31000 feet
23 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 31000 feet
CAP engaged:
49th FG/7th FS with P-38E Lightning (0 airborne, 1 on standby, 4 scrambling)
17 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is
31000 , scrambling fighters between 29000 and 35000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes
49th FG/8th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 7 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 29000 , scrambling fighters between 29000 and 32000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 41 minutes
49th FG/9th FS with P-38F Lightning (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 4 scrambling)
9 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is
31000 , scrambling fighters between 29000 and 35750.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 40 minutes
51st FG/25th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
12 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 29000 , scrambling fighters between 29000 and 33000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 51 minutes
23rd FG/74th FS with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 4 scrambling)
6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 27000 and 29000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 43 minutes
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http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/fb.asp?m=3118229
28 october 42
Burma: I sent major sweeps over Akyab today. He's basing about 160 fighters here. Seems to many not to be on a rail line. The 3 CA hanging out at Port Blair will begin a bombardment run also.
On the day the Allies lost about 39 planes, and we lost about 28. Not bad. but most of his pilots are probably safe and sound.
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Morning Air attack on Akyab , at 54,45
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 16 NM, estimated altitude 35,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 5
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 42
Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 32
Hurricane IIc Trop x 96
P-40E Warhawk x 25
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 3 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb Trop: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed
Aircraft Attacking:
35 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 31000 feet
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Morning Air attack on Akyab , at 54,45
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 10 NM, estimated altitude 34,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 12
Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 26
Hurricane IIc Trop x 94
P-40E Warhawk x 18
No Japanese losses
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
1 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 31000 feet *
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Morning Air attack on Akyab , at 54,45
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 12 NM, estimated altitude 31,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 5
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 51
Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 24
Hurricane IIc Trop x 86
P-40E Warhawk x 15
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 3 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIc Trop: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed
Aircraft Attacking:
28 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 31000 feet
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Morning Air attack on Akyab , at 54,45
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 37,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 17
A6M3a Zero x 45
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 15
Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 20
Hurricane IIc Trop x 80
P-40E Warhawk x 10
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 3 destroyed
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb Trop: 1 destroyed
Hurricane IIc Trop: 4 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed
Aircraft Attacking:
27 x A6M3a Zero sweeping at 31000 feet
8 x A6M3 Zero sweeping at 31000 feet
11 x A6M3a Zero sweeping at 31000 feet
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Morning Air attack on Akyab , at 54,45
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 36,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 1
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 27
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 21
Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 14
Hurricane IIc Trop x 58
P-40E Warhawk x 6
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 2 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb Trop: 2 destroyed
Hurricane IIc Trop: 3 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed
Aircraft Attacking:
17 x Ki-45 KAIa Nick sweeping at 31000 feet *
7 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 31000 feet
