ENLIST TODAY (Docup (A) vs Koniu (J) No Koniu

[DOCUP]

situation 1

[DOCUP]

screenie 2

[zuluhour]

The air war is a tough nut for the Allies. I know I want to commit groups to the fight as soon as I can, but learned some serious lessons from the IJA in the PI and over Singapore. I guess I made 20-30 aces for Terry in 45 days. Anyway hang tough with me, I am 90 days ahead of you and groups are on the way. I am root'in fer ya!

[DOCUP]

ORIGINAL: Alfred

ORIGINAL: DOCUP

Rangoon
We loose 26 Hurris to his 5 Zeros[:@].  I had them on high low with decent pilots.  First his Oscars (10) sweept my 35 Hurris.  We don't shoot down one Oscar.  Next came his Zeros (26) to my 25 Hurris.  I shoot down 5 Zeros.  I am not for sure how many the Oscars Ic or the Zeros shot down.  What can I do to stop this maddness.  Rant over

Would need more data to provide meaningful commentary.[:)]

However I don't think it was necessarily the disaster you seem to think it was.

1. You were probably greatly mismatched in terms of pilot quality.

2. You did not specify which Hurricane model you were flying. The Hurricane I is greatly outclassed by Oscars and Zeros but can hold its own against Nates. The I model has a poor maximum speed and that is arguably the single most important performance characteristic for a fighter. Subsequent Hurricane models have a noticeable improvement to their maximum speed.

3. Generally speaking, layering your CAP altitude is the right thing to do. However to maximise the benefit you are generally better off having at least two different aircraft models present, sacrificing the less capable airframe down below and allowing the more capable airframe to sweep down on the enemy plane drawn down.

4. At first glance a 5:1 ratio in destroyed airframes is not a particularly good outcome. However there is more to be taken into account:

(a) being on the defensive over your own base you probably achieved a much higher per centage of pilot recovery. In terms of permanently lost pilots the ratio was probably more along 3:1

(b) you were almost certainly exchaning semi trained pilots for TRACOM quality Japanese pilots

(c) it sounds like you didn't pay close attention to the combat animation so you don't really know whether you dished out a lot of damage to the enemy aircraft, in particular the Oscars. It is quite likely some of the returning enemy aircraft succumbed to their damage and this would not be reflected in the combat report

I realise that many who post in the AE forum quickly rant whenever they encounter an unpleasant outcome. That isn't the way to ultimate success, instead a cool assessment of what transpired is always required. As the Allied player you are going to receive many unpleasant outcomes in the first 6 months of the war.[:)] As it is you don't seem to be doing too badly at this stage.[;)]

Alfred

Alfred:

I didn't think it was a disaster. I was hopeing for more out of them.

1. I'd have to agree with you here.

2. They were IIa (2 sqds) and IIb (2 sqds). I had them high and low with my best pilots on high (1 IIa, 1 IIb).

3. Will try that in the future.

4. No I didn't, I always look at the Air Lost List. I will try and watch both next time.

Agreed, Cussin and Fussin (ranting) dosen't help the game, but it makes me feel bette[:'(]. Now don't get me wrong I love this game. I can't stop playing it. I also understand that I will have my arse handed to me for a long time to come and then still after that. Thanks for your compliment about my game. As always thanks for your advise and kind words Alfred.

[DOCUP]

This is a review of 2 days
 
KB IO off Java
MKB unknown
 
DEI
He landed at Oosthaven.  One of his xAPs hit a mine.  The base was undefended.  He captured Praboemoelih.
 
Java
I had a SAG refueling at Tjilatjap.  The day before he hit a resupply TF and sunk 4 xAKs.  I had set up a small CAP here.  His Kates came in unescorted, the air lost screen has 23 Kates destroyed.[:D] 
 
Christmas Is
He sinks a TK.  I had an ASW TF of DD's here they didn't attack.
 
Burma
The first Jap unit is seen in Burma.
 
An RO sub takes 5 hits from my APDs in the middle of BFE.
 
Day 2
 
DEI
Oosthaven falls.  The wounded xAP is sunk by a Dutch sub.  I had planned to launch air strikes againist his TFs, but they left before we could strike.  I divided up the SAG in Java and sent them in 2 different directions.  He didn't attack.
 
Java
He sent his Zero's to sweep Soerabja.  11 Zero's lost, I lost 13 P40Es, 8 B339s, 3 Hawks.  I am happy with this.  Yes, I know the ratio is bad, but with him looseing the Kates and these Zeros.  He will have to leave the area to refill his sqds.  The best part is I didn't have my best P40E sqd there.  They were doing escort duty.  They will return to help out if he wants to sweep again.  If he stays in the area.  I might try and launch strikes againist him.
 
Christmas Is
An AO eats a TT, again the ASW TF didn't do a thing.  I have a good CDR in the TF.
 
Sweeps every where.  I have reports of a div prepping for PM, it is on it's way to Rabaul now. I plan to have some suprises for him here.

[DOCUP]

Thanks Zulu.  I will stand tall.

[DOCUP]

Koniu now has 3 bases with AFs.  Pbang is still shut down, but I won't be able to shut down all of his bases.  Units will now start to withdraw.  Pbang has 40 ships in port.  I think before my 4Es leave they will drop some respect here.  I have a few ships in the repair yards at Soerabja.  They are being taken off line and will try and be moved.  I have one CL that will stay and risk it, it has to much damage.
 
I am trying to get some AA units to PM.  I would like another eng unit but don't want to put to much here.  I think I will try and move forward to Noumea and Luganville.

[Alfred]

Don't overlook the Dutch AMc in your evacuation plans. Most of them are very short legged but can be usefully employed by the British and Americans to sweep locally their ports thereby releasing their minesweepers for escort or ASW missions. The Kiwis and Aussies have a reasonable number of them but not that many to spare for American use.

Alfred

[DOCUP]

Alfred, I am doing that as we speak.
 
8th Feb
 
KB close to Ambon
MKB unknown
 
Pbang
Great bombing raid look at pic below.  2 Oscars shot down for 1 B17E ops.  Bombing raids are a go again by 2Es.
 
CL Perth took a TT, it will make it back to port.
 
Singers
I see 70 ships in port with TK and AO.  I have ordered bombers to fly and attack the port, theres not many bombers that can attack.  I want to make him think twice about disbanding in ports close to my 4Es. 

[DOCUP]

A good day bombing. This should hurt him. Only 1 ship reported sunk from this but I heard sinking sounds thru the replay.

Also off of PM he landed Lae. I attacked with A24s and hit 3 xAKs.

[DOCUP]

Ok back from running errands.
 
I have been messing with my training sqds.  I am putting pilots with the same avg numbers in cerrtain sqds to train them.  Pilots that are trained are being moved to front line sqds.  Troops are being moved all over the map. 
 
Bataan
Almost out of supply but with 1150 AV behind soon to be 3 forts.
 
China
A Chinese biplane show down a plane and damaged 2 others today.  He is letting me evac the base above Chengchow.  I expect ground bombings in the open hex next to that base. He has troops moving towards it, one that is across the river so I am expecting a shock attack soon.  I have 600 AV there now might be interesting to see what happens if the attack happens.
 
Christmas Is
My ASW TF actually looked for that sub, but didn't attack.  Baby steps I guess.
 
Big E and Wee Vee are out of the yards.  They will be formed in there respective TFs and sent out into the war.  These are my 2 fav ships, so I expect good things.

[DOCUP]

10th Feb
 
KB unknown
MKB unknown
 
Singers
Our bombers hit the port uncoordinated, but no fighters are on CAP.  We put 2 bombs into BB Hiei, 3 into Kirishima.  All are deck armour hits, so I doubt I did any damage.  We did hit a tanker.
 
China
I have almost 3,000 AV in an open hex.  He swept with over 50 Oscars.  Koniu has 15 units moving towards this hex.  He will be here before I can get out.  I think I have enough AV to stop an attack.  I expect he will bomb tom.  So I have put up my fighters.
 
The rest of the  turn was quiet.  i hope I slowed down his future amphib ops with the raid on Pbang.   I will send one group of B17s to Burma.  P38s are up with avg air exp 69 def 69.  Lets see what these guys can do.  I am starting to hurt him more often now.  I have learned at this point in the game I should just go on the defensive and prepare ambushes for when he comes to me.

[zuluhour]

Hey Joe, Is he taking all the dot bases as well in thePI,DEI etc.?

[DOCUP]

Kurt No he hasn't.
 
This is for 2 days.
 
KB around Timor
MKB unknown
 
9 sub attacks in one day.  [:-]  he sank 2 TKs, xAK, damaged AMC, CL.  The KB finished off the CL.
 
The next day his sub puts a TT into a KV at Colombo.  The three other KVs did not like this and pounded the sub till it surfaced, then it put a hurting on 2 of the KVs with its deck gun.  I don't think this sub is sunk but I think it will before it gets to a friendly port.  I keep getting reports that my Havoc's are putting 500 lbers into subs.  There even popping up in my sunk list.  I think its mostly FOW.
 
Not much going on.  I will give better updates later this morn. 

[DOCUP]

13th Feb
 
KB south of Kendri
MKB unknown
 
Tulagi and Mouleimum captured.
 
Other than that not much besides his bombins in China, Bataan.  We dinged 2 subs outside PH.
 
The last few turns, I have been messing with my pilots.  I am rearrangeing them after what Alfred said about def for fighter pilots.  So a new program is in the works.
 
Pilot Training
I have moved my Air skill 68 and above to certain sqds to train on def. Those under 68 will work on either Air or Def.  I am trying to group all pilots together by numbers so I can hopefully get them out areound the same time.  Those few who have 68 and above in Air and Def are going out to war.

[zuluhour]

Kurt No he hasn't

This going to help later. It sounds like he is bull rushing as well he should, but attention to detail could derail him later. Hmmm Ive been reading.

[DOCUP]

Yea, he hasn't captured any of the bases around Tarawa.  I am trying to piece some eng units together to make a move up here.  I know he will come after PM and Java.  Maybe I can throw a monkey wrench into his plans by moveing up to the Gilberts early.  I don't want a fight, what I want is to throw him off his plan.
 
Kurt do you have any mine layers close to PM.  I know one of those units starting at PM has some 6 in guns.

[zuluhour]

Kurt do you have any mine layers close to PM. I know one of those units starting at PM has some 6 in guns.

Had no clue......I'll be looking now though. Thanks DOCUP.

[DOCUP]

No turn today.

Here is a screenie of points and such.

Low Nav trainins has been halted due to those sqds haveing to be withdrawn. I will find planes for those planeless pilots. I don't want to put them in 4Es due to the fatigue buildup.

[DOCUP]

IJN ship loses