Turnaround? Lowpe (J) vs Tiemanj (A) Stock

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

I have trained a squadron of Jakes up on naval bombing, fly them to Ocean Island which has no runway, and will attempt to deliver a surprise to a small 2 ship task force. I don't think these are Fletchers, but you never know. Lots of search up...

Moved almost 400 fighters into the Raheng triangle of bases where the Allies spotted some fighters yesterday. Hopefully, he will try a repeat of Chiang Myi and I can get a little more favorable results thru quantity.

Jakes for me were the everything plane in the game against Jocke. I've not used them quite as much yet in my second game, but I haven't had as much opportunity yet either.

They are an ASW plane, a search plane on land and sea, night and day, and they performed recon by attacking naval units at distance even if they weren't successful.

As I had bases behind lines eventually, their LR transfer ability and decent payload allowed them to be used really well, as Jocke mentioned, against transports and tankers. They're not too successful hitting combat ships, but can let you know what's there.

The Norm is good too, and I had hopes for the Seiran, but it wasn't as successful in spite of having a much better payload of a torp or two x 250kg bombs.

Finally, all work well as kamis against transports.

I visited the Udvar-Hazy annex of the air and space museum on Monday. The Seiran is a really sleek plane. Wish it was worth something here.

The F4U-1D is way bigger than I thought it would be, too. Intellectually, I knew it was bigger than a Hellcat (also on display), but seeing it in person was something else. Also always thought that the P-38 was an enormous plane, and it's big (for a fighter), but it's displayed entirely underneath just a section of the port wing of the Enola Gay. Was a cool visit, but I didn't get too many pictures. I think I did grab pictures of all the IJNAF/IJAAF planes that were there, though.

They have a Kikka in the restoration hangar, as well as a Sikhorsky float plane that searched for KB on December 7. And a B-26 named "Flak Bait" [:D].

Also, I know you're building the Shusei, right? Or will be. Found out on that visit that Germany built a 10-minute rocket plane that looked pretty much identical, turns out the Shusei is a licensed copy of the Me-163 Komet.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna
Also, I know you're building the Shusei, right? Or will be. Found out on that visit that Germany built a 10-minute rocket plane that looked pretty much identical, turns out the Shusei is a licensed copy of the Me-163 Komet.

Sshhh! Plans were brought in by long range Iboat.[:)]

Looking at other Scenario 1 AARs, I doubt I make it that long to use which is one reason I put so much r&d into it. Obvert lasted, but he destroyed all the Allied carriers something I haven't done.

Museums are real nice. Here is this months picture from my wall calendar from USAF National Air Museum. Its not like I don't see this lousy plane bombing every day, it has to be on the wall in my office too!

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

I have trained a squadron of Jakes up on naval bombing, fly them to Ocean Island which has no runway, and will attempt to deliver a surprise to a small 2 ship task force. I don't think these are Fletchers, but you never know. Lots of search up...

Moved almost 400 fighters into the Raheng triangle of bases where the Allies spotted some fighters yesterday. Hopefully, he will try a repeat of Chiang Myi and I can get a little more favorable results thru quantity.

Jakes for me were the everything plane in the game against Jocke. I've not used them quite as much yet in my second game, but I haven't had as much opportunity yet either.

They are an ASW plane, a search plane on land and sea, night and day, and they performed recon by attacking naval units at distance even if they weren't successful.

As I had bases behind lines eventually, their LR transfer ability and decent payload allowed them to be used really well, as Jocke mentioned, against transports and tankers. They're not too successful hitting combat ships, but can let you know what's there.

The Norm is good too, and I had hopes for the Seiran, but it wasn't as successful in spite of having a much better payload of a torp or two x 250kg bombs.

Finally, all work well as kamis against transports.

I visited the Udvar-Hazy annex of the air and space museum on Monday. The Seiran is a really sleek plane. Wish it was worth something here.

The F4U-1D is way bigger than I thought it would be, too. Intellectually, I knew it was bigger than a Hellcat (also on display), but seeing it in person was something else. Also always thought that the P-38 was an enormous plane, and it's big (for a fighter), but it's displayed entirely underneath just a section of the port wing of the Enola Gay. Was a cool visit, but I didn't get too many pictures. I think I did grab pictures of all the IJNAF/IJAAF planes that were there, though.

They have a Kikka in the restoration hangar, as well as a Sikhorsky float plane that searched for KB on December 7. And a B-26 named "Flak Bait" [:D].

Also, I know you're building the Shusei, right? Or will be. Found out on that visit that Germany built a 10-minute rocket plane that looked pretty much identical, turns out the Shusei is a licensed copy of the Me-163 Komet.

Jealous!!

Here at Hendon they had the Ki-100-I out for a while when i first moved here! I have a pic somewhere I'll try to find. Awesome to see that plane!

[Lowpe]

Turn is away....I am curious to see what the Americans do with their carrier forces north of Nauru...

Burma...I set 50 Betties on torpedo naval strike low with 20 A6M2 on drop tanks with escorts, I am hoping to hit some shipping while his planes are busy near Magwe....

Near Magwee...the Magwe push is in danger as his units race north along the river and are now looking to cross the river into a dug in infantry division, tank regiment, AA and artiller. If these guys can't hold then uh oh. I foolishly didn't put the Magwe push on Reserve mode for movement and the bombing has slowed them down considerably.

I am moving a unit to cut off his armored spear head, so if my troops can hold then his spearhead will be encircled. I am bombing the armored spearhead, but my experience with Allied armor is that it is pretty immune to bombing.

Subs have disappeared from Singers area and I am shipping out massive amounts of fuel, resources, and oil to Hong Kong. I have drained Singers of fuel, now to do the same with oil. 100K oil leaves today...

[Lowpe]

June 5th, 1943

Night bombing of Magwe, no damage.

Helens bomb Allied troops west of Magwe, no damage.

Betties raid shipping at Akyab, and the armored Betty gets thru very well but gets a dud. Then, however, a squadron of unarmored Betties fly in with no escort and get butchered.

However, causing the Allies to break up their fighter coverage, allows Japanese fighters to eat there way thru the Allied bombers attacking ground units and we down 7 B24D1 and other planes.

In the Marshalls area, the Americans push 3 destroyers near to Ponape, but retreat with their CVs to Nauru. The CV are now within striking distance of hitting the Solomons, were I have several ships evacuating troops or dropping supplies. Only 120 fighters there...I am just guessing but I bet the Americans can put together 400 plus planes. And they are better planes, too.

Another Chinese Corp surrenders...

[Lowpe]

Turns done, a pretty important day coming up in Burma...as he is launching tanks across the River against my weaker tanks, and infantry division. At least they are dug in and are ready for combat with no damage. Still, Allied tanks are fearsome and I expect the worst.

If his troops don't make it, significant reinforcements arrive on the following day.

I need to remember to use reserve when moving troops susceptible to bombing.[:-] Doubles the movement. I wonder if this is an exploit?

I am staging a 200 plane night bombing raid against his ships. I expect absolutely nothing out of it. In my Downfall game, MM has sent hundreds of night bombing missions with maybe one hit...I have been remiss in doing my Downfall turn as real world and this game has taken a bite out of free time.

In the Marshalls we are set for naval strikes, took precautions versus the American Carriers making a dash towards the Solomons. I have 500-700 AV on Kusaie, Ponape and Truk islands.

KB dark. Moving a ton on oil and fuel to China. Fusan shipped 80K surplus oil in the last thirty days with very few tankers. Adding more capacity to the HI; Port Arthur holding steady at over 300K, down from a 400K spike. Most tanker convoys are now very big with AV, CL, and 50 to 90K+ oil/fuel being shipped.

The Allied butt kicking has started, and won't stop, and all I want to do is conserve my navy...use it on the perimeter and avoid head to head slugfests. Simply put, I don't think I can stop the Allies if they mass their ships and strike at one point: Kuriles; Lower SRA; Upper SRA. Marshalls I don't really care about anymore and I am flying troops out. I guess I am at my strongest near Tavoy, but I bet that is safe for another month or more with his carriers at Nauru.

The only way that I can see to keep the SRA oil flowing until June of 44 is thru Allied negligence...scenario 1 really stinks.[:D] Especially when you don't take Java until the end of 42.

I still have Darwin...I have had no troops there for at least a month. Big 740 VP swing, I wonder what the Allies could have let run out of supplies?

[Lowpe]

June 6th, 1943

Night bombing of Magwe. I set a Zero squadron on night duty and they simply climb and close too quickly with the enemy bombers and I lose several.

Japanese night bombing none.

During the day, the Allies sweep the troops of the Magwe push but only one lone Nick shows up! Uh-oh, those troops in the open are going to get pounded! The Nick dies to Lightnings, but then, faith in my local commanders returns as the Allies change targets and sweep and bomb Magwe where the local commanders have gathered every plane that can fly![:)]

The Japanese fighters outnumber the sweepers by 3-1, but still losses are heavy, but they do manage to close with bombers although those 4Es are tough to bring down and do significant damage to the planes on the ground.

What does this change of targets mean? I was totally expecting a forced river crossing with tanks into the open plains south of Magwe, the Magwe push having to make their own river crossing after having been pounded in the air for a week, and had overstocked Magwe with groups, and other near bye bases hoping to blunt the Allied air attacks on my ground troops.

90 Japanese planes lost, 60 Allied but I am ecstatic.

[Lowpe]

I have no clue why the Allies called off their forced river crossing and instead is heading north along the road.[&o]

One reason perhaps, is last turn I re-directed the 20th Independent Mountain Gun artillery unit to head southwest down the road, with the hopes of threatening the armored unit with encirclement. The Mountain Guns are fairly worthless, I think, but they look impressive on the map. This day they have reversed course and are trying to ford the river to Magwe...good luck with that guys.

The Magwe push, with high disruption from constant daily bombing, is just now 6 miles from crossing the river...and from there into the jungle.[&o]

The 20th Independent Mountain Gun will take it on the chin as it is only 10 miles into their crossing...but a small price to pay to save 2 divisions plus other assets.

Sloppy play on my part to have had it gotten this close...[:-] I will endeavor to be more conscientious in the future.

[Lowpe]

Over here at Nauru things have quieted down...

American bombers quiet since Nauru was taken...does this augur a relocation to Oz or simply resting for the next Island to take which has to be really either Kwaj or Roi.

Ailinglaplap will soon be an Allied major air base. Yuck.

[Lowpe]

Sad day, Northern Burma full evacuation begun! Exit, stage right! There goes 286 oil from Magwe. Looks like I will have +74 oil a day. I have 3.375 million oil...10% of that is on ships moving to either China or HI. I guess a small amount is headed to Luzon, too.

Now I need to go to stage two, which is denial of the Burma road. I need another month or two to progress in China.

Plus I need to worry about a southern invasion at Tavoy or further south.

[setloz]

I guess you're leaving a sacrificial unit there so that he has to actually DA to get the base instead of it reverting to allies by itself?

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: setloz

I guess you're leaving a sacrificial unit there so that he has to actually DA to get the base instead of it reverting to allies by itself?

Some paratroopers. Just a splinter. They drew the short straw.

[Lokasenna]

I bet he's going north because of supply. He may not be comfortable shipping in a large quantity of supply through Rangoon, right? As I recall, he's lost a lot of transports recently.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

I bet he's going north because of supply. He may not be comfortable shipping in a large quantity of supply through Rangoon, right? As I recall, he's lost a lot of transports recently.

Maybe, I know all those planes he flies out of Prome and all those units must eat a huge amount of supplies. Plus the cost of replacing planes albeit he does it at a lower rate than me.

No matter, northern Burma will be abandoned to the safer jungle line. Rangoon is solidly held, as is Moulmein. Artillery and AA is being distributed along the front lines and also the second line, and some even is heading back to Raheng. I figure I will have Magwe production for 5 more days.

I am a little worried about holding onto Lashio and the roads thereabout, but mostly it is RTA units. Hopefully they will look impressive in the jungle and the narrow roads an inhospitable place for the Allies to advance in.

I am a little surprised that he hasn't dropped paratroops into the abandoned bases...perhaps he doesn't know the extent of my pull back yet.

He certainly missed a chance to nail my troops in the open...he won't have that again until the race to Udon in this theater.

It is kind of funny how the turn worked out, I absolutely dreaded watching the replay figuring on the worst. Perception and misdirection are potent allies.[8D]

[Lowpe]

June 7th, 1943

No night bombing.

Allies bomb the Magwe push in Burma, and Kusaie. Japanese fighters have the day off...I notice his Corsair sweep is down to 17 planes and the bombers are about half strength from a week ago.

In Burma the Magwe Push makes it back across the river, heavily disrupted, but really no worse for wear and they should be able to make the jungle and relative safety from Allied bombers shortly.

Even the sacrificial 20th Independent Artillery should make it into Magwe, as the the Commonwealth motorized units are still south west of Magwe. Of course, they might get bombed into oblivion tomorrow too.

No real sub actions which is good since a lot of fuel and oil are on the high seas.

[Lowpe]

For the life of me I can't figure out how to defend the central plains around Magwe, even with the river crossing penalty so everything will fall back to the jungle lines...most have been moving that way for several days.

I was thinking of breaking the full divisions down into 1/3s. This is the Japanese divisions only and have 2 forward and 1 back. This way they will dig in past forts level 2 I hope. The RTA Divisions (full) seem to have no problem digging in past 2 as I have one at Rangoon at level 5 forts (they only have 4 engineers -- how do they dig so well?).

But this turn an IJA ID got to level 3 forts at Rangoon...they have been there as long as the RTA division mentioned above, but there are a whole lot more engineers there now too so that must help.

So scratch that plan, and instead I will make sure each defensive strong point on the roads has a construction engineer unit to help in digging in. I wasn't too crazy about breaking up the full division anyhow. I have plenty of construction units that were previously patching damaged runways.

Not 100% sure of what to do with the Tank Regiments. Fire Brigage perhaps? I am move some to Pegu for now, others might leave the theater all together....

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

For the life of me I can't figure out how to defend the central plains around Magwe,

I haven't seen a successful defense there either, so don't look at me for ideas. After I lose the Akyab -> Myitkyima line, I have to fall back to Moulmein -> Chiang Mai which I hate. If I lose Moulmein, everything north of there is at risk. So for me, Chiang Mai actually becomes more of a Rahaeng -> Vientianne line.

I hate Burma/Malaysia.


Give me half an excuse and I am bailing for Vinh and then Long San. Long San I can hold for quite a while and I have good retreat paths. For the allies to take it, they have to land behind me ... that gives me a good shot at their fleet. Tavoy is hard to defend. I can't get enough air assets in place fast enough without the allies seeing it coming. And then all of those AirSupport units are now tied up there and its going to take weeks/if not months to extract them. Cuts down on my mobility, which is the key to my defense.

It really boils down to the size of the perimeter and the speed with which I can react. Burma is too far, my reactions are too slow. I need my perimeter back at Long San to be able to mount an effective defense in the West. To the south, it is the PI.

Your biggest issue, obviously, is that this is all happening 12 months too soon. You have to fight out here at your perimeters because you need to hold the DEI for another 12 months ... a very tough goal. You're going to have to roll the die here on a few things, and the odds aren't really in your favor. So, all the typical defense stategies are not applicable. You can't bail, force preservation isn't paramount, getting oil from the DEI is. Every month of you owning Palembang is a big deal.

Watching this one for all those reasons ... this isn't the normal recycled AAR ... you're breaking some new ground here.

[Lowpe]

Hold the oil for 12 months...yep a tough order. I fear for Medan and Sumatra next.

No great plans for this turn other than the normal stuff...hiding the air force or concentrating it.

Moving to take up solid defensive positions in the jungle below and east of Magwe plains. Making sure some Artillery/AA/ENG are in the front line Jungle positions. I will put some in the fall back positions along roads -- will give the impression of a defense in depth.

Moving some AF bases back to Raheng...too many now that I am giving up the central plains.

Tanks to Pegu and Rangoon.

[Lowpe]

June 8th, 1943

No night bombing.

No sub action.

Allies bomb the Magwe Push troops now heading for the jungle. Most will make the jungle tomorrow.

Destroying two more Chinese Corp near Changsha. Whack-a-mole.

It looks like the 20t Independent Mtn Gun unit will not quite make good their escape west of Magwe. Everything else will.

[Lowpe]

June 9th, 1943

No night bombing.

No AM day bombing, except for one Helen Sentai in China, but then in the afternoon, the Allies turn their bomber might on Moulmein...

Zeroes and Tojo and Tonies...rise to the challenge. They perish against Corsairs and Lightnings but do terrific damage among the Allied bomber fleet. Heavy flak accounts for more...

Bloody day...