Empire strikes back- NJP vs Wargmr Game over :-)

[njp72]

PNG/Rabaul

Mike is smashing me here but I have refrain from a decisive engagement at this stage.

Fortress Rabaul has now been renamed make the bad man stop Rabaul as we are getting battered.

He has paid a price especially in APs/AKs but after two days of constant punishment, my surface fleets were combat ineffective and I had to with draw them.

Once my SAGs withdrew the airfields have been subjected to constant bombardments from the air and the sea.

Really a text book play on how to crack Japanese defences and Mike is very good at it.

I lost 3 x CAs and 4 x CLs, hence my reluctance to continue the slogfest.

[njp72]

Update 30th Aug

Well August is turning into a real slugfest as Mike smashes his way through the defensive belt around PNG.

Aircraft losses are heavy for both sides as he sweeps and suppresses my main airbases.

I continue to refrain from targeting his CVs but continue to go after the softer targets. In the last 2 days alone (second tier) 40 APs/AKs have sunk through combined KB and land based air strikes.
Unfortunately they were empty

I am very confident I can continue this war of attrition as my surface forces are not involved, only subs and aircraft.

I am husbanding my surface forces in anticipation he tries a large flanking move on either the Kuriles or the DEI.

It is another great game against a very talented opponent.

[njp72]

The main theatre of action

This is where it is all happening. Just about all of the USN involved here.

Once again is not air that is hurting me here but naval bombardments by BBs on my main airbases.

KB sorties down occasionally once I can confirm that it has not been detected and his main CV forces are replenishing. I still maintain excellent naval search coverage over the area.

I try to mix up amphib resupply convoys with surface groups in an attempt at deception as well as probing his air search patterns. KB is then usually tucked just behind awaiting an opportunity.

I have to be careful as I sense Mike has realised my preference for softer targets and my lay a trap.

[njp72]

And finally a snap shot of the industry.

My R&D spend is largely complete and hopefully I can commence building up supply.

I'm not interested in ploughing large amounts of supply into jets or late war aircraft. My philosophy with PDU-off is one of sheer numbers focusing on the Oscar, Zero, Tojo, Frank, George and to a lessor extent Tony.

I am also stockpiling large amounts of engines for my key types.

I am a true believer that quantity has a quality all of its own.

[njp72]

Update 12th Oct

Quiet but unfulfilling months for the Empire. No disasters sustained since the last update but the Allies make good progress.

Broke my cardinal rule of not engaging his fleet CVs but the opportunity for an ambush around PNG was too tempting. The result was -200 a/c for the empire and a few scattered bomb hits on 4 of his CVs. Nothing too serious for Mike at all. Broke through the CAP reasonably well but the flak was murderous and my boys really struggle to hit fast moving warships. CVEs and AP/AKs are still the way to go.

Economically the situation is looking good and new airframes are now entering the battlespace (Frank and Tojo 2C) which should make a difference.

I'm frustrated but still enthusiastic at the challenges Mike will be facing soon as he moves towards the stronger belt of defences.

[njp72]

China- the slaughter continues.

My aim here is to eliminate every Chinese unit in the game and I should have this accomplish by next month.

Satisfying but hardly material to the Allied war effort. Still it will be one less theatre I will have to worry about in 44

[njp72]

Burma- still incredibly quiet.

I have commenced an orderly withdrawal as I sense real danger building here. Hardly sighted a unit, warship or plane but sig int indicates a big build up.

I'm not waiting to get flanked so the withdrawal has commenced.

[njp72]

Dutch New Guinea

The theatre of action. Mike is engaged in clean up operations against my isolated outposts including Rabaul and there is very little I can do about it. Once the brutal battles of Aug 43 subsided my local forces were shattered and I decided I wouldn't reinforce a losing position.

The next line of defences are again mutually supporting and in depth which will make it hard to crack. The only pleasing outcome was confirmation from Mike that I hurt him in the battles in Aug which probably bought me an entire week of rest!

As you can see he is already pushing hard to the NW of the map again.

[njp72]

Central Pacific

These positions have held up well and I think Mike is only probing half hearted here. The nasty surprise of the atoll assaults on Naru have dampened his enthusiasm for the islands.

Still supplying these outposts is starting to become a real issue thanks to his subs and now Fletcher raids.

I am tempted to cut my losses and concentrate on making Truk a impossible fortress.

[njp72]

Update late October

Nothing much has happened over the last 3 weeks. Losses have been minimum for both sides as force preservation is the call of the day.

I suspect this will change soon but we are going to enter late 43 with both fleets largely intact. I suspect this does not auger well for the Empire but at least KB is fully operational and upgraded.

During this lull in action I have attempted to address a key weakness of mine regarding R&D for aircraft. Playing all of my games with PDU-Off I have failed to realise how important R&D is for the Japanese. Well despite some disasters, the new airframes are now trickling in.

- Frank A is now operational and the R version will arrive in approx. June 44
- Tojo IIC now operational. Having said that I found the IIB very serviceable in 43.
- A6M5 B operational- C arriving in Jan 44.
- Next George version arriving in Feb 44
- Oscar line a mess- a real stuff up here though the III arrives in the next month.

I am confident Mike will get a tough fight in 44, at least initially

[njp72]

China, sweet China.

This theatre is now finished and it is with great relief I can switch my attention elsewhere.

Last game he destroyed me by counter attacking via Hong Kong and linking up with Chinese forces.

Not this time- there is no one left to link up with

[njp72]

PNG

He is stalled here for a little while. Mike will have to deploy his fleet CVs to break the stalemate.

In the interim I will continue to build up the neighbouring bases and snipe at resupply convoys with limited success.

[njp72]

The main push- Central Pacific

He has switched his main offensive from the PNG sector to the central pacific. Mike is leading with CVEs which he knows is always a tempting target for me.

I suspect it is a trap with the fleet CVs just tucked in behind but not detected.

Either way I don't intend to lose my fleet for these secondary positions.

[Lowpe]

Thanks for the update, I was getting worried.[:)]

Here is hoping that your revamped air r&d strategy will really make a difference.

How many Frank A are you producing?

If you are behind the curve on Oscars, don't sweat it. Their time to shine is rapidly disappearing. Depending when you get the IV, you maybe better off staying with the III and doing something else with those factories.

The Ki84b I think can really make a difference in the end game. Much better Escort than an Oscar, except for the SR3 and it can shred bombers unlike the Oscar which by then has devolved into a special use fighter.

[njp72]

Thanks Lowpe your advice and feedback are always welcomed and appreciated.

With the Frank A the factories are repairing up to 200 a/c a month. Currently it is producing 120.

I ploughed nearly all my effort into the Frank R and not the Frank B which I am now realising may have been a mistake.

Overall the defensive perimeter is in a far better state than last game.

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Thanks for the update, I was getting worried.[:)]

Here is hoping that your revamped air r&d strategy will really make a difference.

How many Frank A are you producing?

If you are behind the curve on Oscars, don't sweat it. Their time to shine is rapidly disappearing. Depending when you get the IV, you maybe better off staying with the III and doing something else with those factories.

The Ki84b I think can really make a difference in the end game. Much better Escort than an Oscar, except for the SR3 and it can shred bombers unlike the Oscar which by then has devolved into a special use fighter.

[Lowpe]

In a pdu on game the Frank B is probably a luxury.

But a close look at their stats and incredible range makes it a worthwhile addition.

Tough to research being a stand alone plane, but I bet it is very rewarding. Can you imagine getting these bad boys 6 months early. Even three months. Definitely worth a look if you can spare the factories and supplies.

Still, getting the Frank R early is just as rewarding if easier to do.

I would double the Frank A production off the bat..takes so long to increase.[;)] Of course, they can all go to the Frank R when it arrives.

Plus you have the horrendously large Army fighter expansion coming in 44.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: njp72

- Tojo IIC now operational. Having said that I found the IIB very serviceable in 43.

Can you share your experiences with the Tojo IIb....wing cannons right? Big honking inaccurate ones!

[njp72]

Thanks Lowpe, apologies other commitments have kept me away from replying sooner.

The Tojo IIb despite its highly inaccurate cannon has been most useful in countering the P40K. I found the P40K to be a most unpleasant surprise and when coupled with competent pilots, started to put to an end my aggressive policy of sweeping.

Conversely Tojo IIB has been a very effective defensive fighter against allied sweeps which has been most useful in strategic locations. It has even performed very well against P47 sweeps. Tojo IIC is now replacing the IIB and I am hoping for an even better performance.

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: njp72

- Tojo IIC now operational. Having said that I found the IIB very serviceable in 43.

Can you share your experiences with the Tojo IIb....wing cannons right? Big honking inaccurate ones!

[njp72]

2 Dec 43

Nothing has really happened since the last update.

Mike is intent on mopping up isolated garrisons in the Marshalls and PNG before he makes his next move. Whilst he is doing that, I am madly reinforcing the rest of the islands cramming them full of infantry, arty and armour.

The IJN and the USN are completely intact minus a few DDs and CLs. I hold about a 20K advantage in VPs which should be a useful buffer for the nightmare about to come.

Of course he can land anywhere he wants to but it should be one helluva of a fight

I have plenty of fuel and supplies and I will post a snap shot soon. R&D is also going quite well with the FrankR in particular making strong progress.

2 quick questions for the esteemed audience:

1. How do you get the oil to flow from Urumchi in China?

2. How effective is the ohka?

Thanks all.

[Skygge]

Either way I don't intend to lose my fleet for these secondary positions.

I think that is the right decision.
I find the only thing that can slow down an allied Island hopping advance is a viable Japanese Carrier Force.

If the allied can navigate at will without needing to look over their shoulder,then the Japanese defensive ring
is too easily penetrated, and many more Japanese bastions can be bypassed.