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Another wave:

Afternoon Air attack on Colombo , at 29,48

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 32 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 20

Allied aircraft
B-17D Fortress x 7
B-26 Marauder x 12

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17D Fortress: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged
B-26 Marauder: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAK Amagi Maru, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk

Repair Shipyard hits 2
Port hits 1

I think we probably traded 1-1 on all the sweeps, don't have the finished turn as Japan needs to sleep on it.[;)]

A little disappointed as recon spotted a CVL in port yesterday.[:)]

I think quite a few squadrons of beasts didn't fly...need to check into their commanders. I don't think I have touched them that much, and unfortunately, the HQa they are assigned to aren't present.

This was one of later attacks during the morning, surprising to me a bit, but no doubt the IJ were tired and outnumbered:

Morning Air attack on Colombo , at 29,48

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 25 NM, estimated altitude 34,100 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 15
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 2

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 23

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed

Japan ran some destroyers (at least) into Bundaberg during the night, and are patrolling PT boats actually ran away. That is ok...so they might have been fast transporting or more likely looking to intercept a bombardment.

Night Air attack on TF, near Bundaberg at 96,154

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Allied aircraft
TBD-1 Devastator x 3

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Karukaya

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x TBD-1 Devastator launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp.

An interesting battle message, this over Colombo...bleeding CAP perhaps?:

Damaged Hurricane IIb Trop from No.135 Sqn RAF shot down on way home

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

An interesting battle message, this over Colombo...bleeding CAP perhaps?:

Damaged Hurricane IIb Trop from No.135 Sqn RAF shot down on way home

Get that one a lot

Normally for bombers for me!

ORIGINAL: Encircled

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

An interesting battle message, this over Colombo...bleeding CAP perhaps?:

Damaged Hurricane IIb Trop from No.135 Sqn RAF shot down on way home

Get that one a lot

Normally for bombers for me!

Or LRCAP over your base. Even 10% increases the OPs losses for the opponent - something for you to consider doing if you are not currently doing so. They don't even have to be your best fighters and they can be low as well.

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

An interesting battle message, this over Colombo...bleeding CAP perhaps?:

Damaged Hurricane IIb Trop from No.135 Sqn RAF shot down on way home

Just a message that tells you a damaged aircraft crashed after the battle. Doesn't come from fighters pursuing your aircraft or LRCAP or anything else. Just a damaged aircraft that crashed. The message is just there for the "feeling".

Air losses...not bad...not bad at all.

Darn KB keeps shooting down Cats...

Sweet!

His overall air losses continue to be 41% above yours. I don't see how that bodes well for the Japanese side this early in the war, when Japan is supposed to have the advantage in pilot experience and more agile aircraft. It only gets worse once you get more B-17s, P-38s, Spitfire Vs and P-40Ks - the leading edge of the Allied response.

While I understand the need for the Japanese player to be aggressive in the first 6-9 months, I always thought it needed to be tempered a bit with asset loss avoidance.

Where is the "Zero Bonus"?[&:]

Knocking on Bundaberg again...this time sweep the harbor with PT boats, then the Helena SAG, then three good sized bombardment task forces, followed by aerial bombing, shock attack with the LeeGrants, and general attack by most of the other troops, with the fractional divisional units still with militia (and about 50% or worse disabled) just bombarding.

Hopefully this cracks Bundaberg...there are a dozen aux planes there (damaged?).

On the southern tip of India, Tanjore is now a size 8 monster airfield, but I am simply pursuing some night bombing and daytime cap trap up at Mangalore.

Baker Island area the subs are accumulating their patrol areas...prep is set, a division is unloading at the Line islands, Gardner Island is being occupied by rangers, aviation to follow, paratroops are loading on a SST for another islands deeper in Japanese lines.

Noticed that the original Dutch bombers can upgrade to B25s, which I have a bunch, so will make another good ground bombing squadron or two in India with them. Very useful.

Moving on Comilla and Dacca.

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

His overall air losses continue to be 41% above yours. I don't see how that bodes well for the Japanese side this early in the war, when Japan is supposed to have the advantage in pilot experience and more agile aircraft. It only gets worse once you get more B-17s, P-38s, Spitfire Vs and P-40Ks - the leading edge of the Allied response.

While I understand the need for the Japanese player to be aggressive in the first 6-9 months, I always thought it needed to be tempered a bit with asset loss avoidance.

One sure needs to be aggressive as the Japanese but his overal playstyle is pretty much mirrored by his constant shock attacks on the ground and going for all the map at once, well...

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

His overall air losses continue to be 41% above yours. I don't see how that bodes well for the Japanese side this early in the war, when Japan is supposed to have the advantage in pilot experience and more agile aircraft. It only gets worse once you get more B-17s, P-38s, Spitfire Vs and P-40Ks - the leading edge of the Allied response.

While I understand the need for the Japanese player to be aggressive in the first 6-9 months, I always thought it needed to be tempered a bit with asset loss avoidance.

Overall the game feels very strange to me. This is a scenario 2 monster, and Japan should really still have the initiative, but it certainly feels I have it and Japan is reacting to my moves.

I think Japans initial goal was AV, he said as much, and he gamed it out to send just enough force to each area...but the Allies fought back almost everywhere delaying his timetable and inflicting solid damage and preventing I estimate about 4000VP in Australia, perhaps more with his losses there.

The Allies are so horrendously strong, especially if you don't simply throw away your forces early, especially your air force. Hitting the Catalina force at Pearl seems very powerful to Japan, and would make every counter move by the Allies harder thru early 42.

I still have yet to see Tojo IIa, but then the Japanese have yet to see P38s so I don't think PDU off is a factor. Rather it is the piecemeal IJ attacks across almost the entire map. The loss and damaging of his heavy cruiser fleet certainly hurts, they are so powerful for Japan...

Plans for Baker continue to improve...the ultimate goal is Tabiteuea and will have forces prepped for it to to leap frog an initial success, a lot of the Gilberts are very attractive.

Strongly agree about the search planes at PH. Having that naval search in '42 in the Pacific is IMO the greatest benefit to the Allies of no PH strike openings.

Early on in your opponent's AAR I told him that I thought his advance was too fragmented and not mutually supporting. From his answer I think you are right that he chose this approach largely due to his focus on the score. That however is a massive risk as it underestimates the very strong capabilities that the Allies can bring to bear even in the very early stages of the war. It sounds a bit paradoxical, but IMO the best way to achieve AV as the Japanese is to not chase it.

ORIGINAL: Lowpe


..Noticed that the original Dutch bombers can upgrade to B25s, which I have a bunch, so will make another good ground bombing squadron or two in India with them. Very useful...

It isn't the American version. You get only a single month of production, which has already ended. Plus it being PDU Off, you need to check that there isn't a RAAF or USA unit which is scheduled to use them.

Alfred

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101

Early on in your opponent's AAR I told him that I thought his advance was too fragmented and not mutually supporting. From his answer I think you are right that he chose this approach largely due to his focus on the score. That however is a massive risk as it underestimates the very strong capabilities that the Allies can bring to bear even in the very early stages of the war. It sounds a bit paradoxical, but IMO the best way to achieve AV as the Japanese is to not chase it.

It isn't going for AV that is his problem. It is not having a good strategy for garnering the necessary VPs.

There is a very strong corelation factor between real world military strategic objectives and AE's VP structure. A sound military strategy will garner VPs. Almost all Japanese players who pursue an auto victory get tunnel vision into believing that they must get an auto victory in January 1943 and as a consequence discard sound military strategy and tactics in order to grab all the low hanging VPs.

A Japanese AV in 1943 is only possible against a very weak Allied player. AV for Japan OTOH in 1944 is feasible, and has been achieved numerous times, when sound real world military strategy and tactics were adopted from the beginning.

In this match, the VPs currently held by Japan have a foundation built of sand. Ihe last quarter of 1942 ll witness a dramatic turn around in the VP ratios. This match will not last much after mid-1943 although Lowpe won't be in position to get an Allied AV before 1944.

Alfred

ORIGINAL: Alfred

ORIGINAL: Lowpe


..Noticed that the original Dutch bombers can upgrade to B25s, which I have a bunch, so will make another good ground bombing squadron or two in India with them. Very useful...

It isn't the American version. You get only a single month of production, which has already ended. Plus it being PDU Off, you need to check that there isn't a RAAF or USA unit which is scheduled to use them.

Alfred

If I recall correctly, there is one American unit that can use the Dutch B-25s or the American aircraft. There is ONE RAAF B-25 unit that uses the Dutch B-25s along with Dutch pilots. It comes in as a reinforcement.

The Dutch also get a version of the A-20 called the DB-7 but I am not sure which air units can convert to it in a PDU OFF game.

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

ORIGINAL: Alfred

ORIGINAL: Lowpe


..Noticed that the original Dutch bombers can upgrade to B25s, which I have a bunch, so will make another good ground bombing squadron or two in India with them. Very useful...

It isn't the American version. You get only a single month of production, which has already ended. Plus it being PDU Off, you need to check that there isn't a RAAF or USA unit which is scheduled to use them.

Alfred

If I recall correctly, there is one American unit that can use the Dutch B-25s or the American aircraft. There is ONE RAAF B-25 unit that uses the Dutch B-25s along with Dutch pilots. It comes in as a reinforcement.

The Dutch also get a version of the A-20 called the DB-7 but I am not sure which air units can convert to it in a PDU OFF game.

I have one Dutch B-25 sqn which is assigned to the RAAF - so its icon shows up Aussie Green. Stock Scenario 1.