Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee, Docup(A)-Koniu(J)

[PaxMondo]

Yep, I usually do pretty much the same ... HAte the D3A2 ...  [:@]

[koniu]

6 APR 42

I have stop production of A6M2. 160 in pool so for now it is not necessary to produce them.
I will save some HI and when new gen of fighters arrive i will not find me self with 500 M2s in poll

Navy fighter pilot pol very small. 28 pilots in reserve. All first line squadrons are 110% full with trained pilots, rest is in training mod. I have at lest 150+ fighter pilots with XP ~(48-49) and skill around 65-70 but i will train them as long as passable.

Mostly logistic and movements.
In Java troops marching to Soerabaja. AF support unloaded in Batavia today so AF is operational. Ships that bring AF eng`s now will start load 2 ID and sail to Singer. There they will wait for CV and sail to Burma.

G3Ms from Kendari sunk xAKL and xAK in Ambons port. I star blockade of Ambon from sea.

On Mindanao he win battle in Cagayan and force my Inf Regiment to retreat to Butuan. His forces are 400AV spread between 9 units.
He is moving his troops to Butuan hoping to kill my unit that he force to retreat. I will not stop him. I have surprise for him in Butuan. Fresh ID waiting for him and i what to fight him in open ground of Butuan and not jungle of Cagayan. He have no recon so he is going to place he will die.

KB east of Milne bay will sail south. Recon 3 day in row spotted CA TF in Townsville hex. I will try to find and sunk them tomorrow. Later i will sail more south.

I ams sending more Eng units to Marshals and Gilbers. I will try to fortify there little faster.

First Ki-49-I in pool[:D] Ki-49-IIa 52% toward 7/42 gaining 4-5% daily

Edit:

Docup send squadron (14 planes spotted) of P-38E Lightning to China. We fight last day losing 3 Oscars to 1 Lightening. I hate them they are fast and flying very high and this is not best side of Ki-43.

[koniu]

7 APR 42

KB 10 hexes from OZ east cost. I set leading TF on cruise instead of full and they are out of bomber range[8|]. At lest i save fuel.
Zeros have sweep Coast bases finding P-39D Aircobras. 22 enemy planes shot down. We lost 6 (3 on air and 3 ops). KB will sail south now.

DD Fubiki attacked by enemy bombers south of Ambon. He was hit by two 1000lb bombs[:@]. He have chance to survive but must suppress fires first and have luck tomorrow with bombers. Damages are 63/52/3/32. I will give him LCAP tomorrow rest of fleet will sail little south.

Invasion TF with engineers sailing to Moulemein is 6 hex from target. They will arrive tomorrow and i hope they will unload also. They are detected but Docup should not know where we are sailing.

70 fighters in Rangoon. I have luck today because i have only 30 fighters on escort duty but lucky weather help me and mission did not fly[:D]. Tomorrow I will sweeps city.

koniu

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: koniu

6 APR 42

I have stop production of A6M2. 160 in pool so for now it is not necessary to produce them.

Wow, for this date, this is really good. How many factories to you have on the A6M2?

ORIGINAL: koniu

Navy fighter pilot pol very small. 28 pilots in reserve. All first line squadrons are 110% full with trained pilots, rest is in training mod. I have at lest 150+ fighter pilots with XP ~(48-49) and skill around 65-70 but i will train them as long as passable.

I frequently start to mix this level (50/70 exp/skill) pilots into my front line groups. EXP gain is really slow in training once they get to 50 EXP, whereas in combat EXP gain can be pretty fast. If my frontline groups are not too busy, then I set them with 30% train. I find that my low EXP pilots will gain 1-2 EXP /week this way. Faster than leaving them in training. Of course, if they see action, they can gain EXP even quicker. Just a thought ...

[koniu]

Wow, for this date, this is really good. How many factories to you have on the A6M2?

I have 125 factories. I think i t was little to much, but now i can do nothing about it. I will lose 1/3? of them when i upgrade to A6M3 line.
Now i am sure that A6M3a will be available in 9/42.There is small chance to 8/42 but i will not count on it

In army i think i will be able to have Ki-44-IIc Tojo (with armor) on 4/42 (11 months earlier)

I frequently start to mix this level (50/70 exp/skill) pilots into my front line groups. EXP gain is really slow in training once they get to 50 EXP, whereas in combat EXP gain can be pretty fast. If my frontline groups are not too busy, then I set them with 30% train. I find that my low EXP pilots will gain 1-2 EXP /week this way. Faster than leaving them in training. Of course, if they see action, they can gain EXP even quicker. Just a thought ...

I am arleady doing this. 1/3 of pilots in groups (fighters, bombers) is ~50XP and 2/3 is 65+.
Only KB have 100% elite pilots

I am sending pilots to poll when they reach xp 50 in training. Most of them is around 65-70 in skill and 60-65 defense in that point of training.

PS. good day for WITPAE. We play today 3 turns

EDIT:
Mindanao situation change. he stop his troops so i am moving ID and we going to him.

[koniu]

8 APR 42

Heaviest air loses to me in entire war.

First I have fall in air trap in China.
Later heavy air fights over Rangoon and east coast of Oz.

Air lostes are:
36 Ki-48
30 A6M2
7 Ki-21
5 Ki-43

We lost today 86 planes to 32 allied planes. 30 pilots KIA and 30 MIA
First time in this war i have more lost planes that allies 1408 vs 1398[:(]

Amphibious TF arrive to Moulemein but not unload i hope hey will unload tomarow and sail south on morning

[PaxMondo]

Ouch. Those are heavy losses. Well, recover and restart ... good luck!

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

Ouch. Those are heavy losses. Well, recover and restart ... good luck!

Biggest disappointment for me is A6M performance. I have in those units fresh and experienced pilots and they lost 1:3 ratio[:(] Entire live i read about superior role of A6M in pacific war in first half of 42 but i am losing Zeros 4 time faster than Oscars . I need to replace them with M3 asap. They should do better.

36 Ki-48 lose is hard but planes can be replaced. For those squadrons i was not using best pilots (50-60XP) so it is no disaster but losing 50 pilots in day is punch in nose to me.

I now will retreat squadrons to save place for few days to recover from wounds. Only fighters in Burma border will stay in place to give lcap to Moulemein. I hope they will survive next day and i can start repairing base

[obvert]

How are you using the A6M? What is the fatigue/moral of your pilots?

I think it has a distinct advantage in the early war.

1. Don't use them to sweep long distance every turn.

2. Don't fly anything but defensive missions if your moral dips into the 80s or fatigue goes over about 15.

3. If you get mauled one turn, don't fly back the next looking for revenge. Wait. Surprise. Catch them off guard. Get a numbers advantage.

4. Do fly with greater numbers than your opponent if possible, especially on offensive missions.

5. Do sweep with larger units than your opponent fields. If you send in 4 sweeps of 12 planes, that is not as effective as one of 36.

6. In early war you might want to use large Nate groups and early Oscar models in defensive roles and save the A6M to sweep as a full unit without splitting the unit into different missions.

7. Sweep before your bombing missions AND escort your bombers. Often your high quality A6M groups will fly early and clear the air before the bomber/escort groups arrive. Escorting fighters perform badly, and they work better if the defending CAP has become fatigued or depleted by a previous sweep.

The only times I've lost any significant numbers of planes is when I didn't sweep first, didn't have multiple groups working together, and did't check all of these factors before flying a mission into enemy territory.

8. Be patient. Check the weather to make sure your planes will fly when you want them to. Change leaders. Wait for pilots to be in peak condition. Train defensive skills and exp if needed by putting them on training sweep 100ft at 100% for about a week.

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: obvert

How are you using the A6M? What is the fatigue/moral of your pilots?

I think it has a distinct advantage in the early war.

1. Don't use them to sweep long distance every turn.

2. Don't fly anything but defensive missions if your moral dips into the 80s or fatigue goes over about 15.

3. If you get mauled one turn, don't fly back the next looking for revenge. Wait. Surprise. Catch them off guard. Get a numbers advantage.

4. Do fly with greater numbers than your opponent if possible, especially on offensive missions.

5. Do sweep with larger units than your opponent fields. If you send in 4 sweeps of 12 planes, that is not as effective as one of 36.

6. In early war you might want to use large Nate groups and early Oscar models in defensive roles and save the A6M to sweep as a full unit without splitting the unit into different missions.

7. Sweep before your bombing missions AND escort your bombers. Often your high quality A6M groups will fly early and clear the air before the bomber/escort groups arrive. Escorting fighters perform badly, and they work better if the defending CAP has become fatigued or depleted by a previous sweep.

The only times I've lost any significant numbers of planes is when I didn't sweep first, didn't have multiple groups working together, and did't check all of these factors before flying a mission into enemy territory.

8. Be patient. Check the weather to make sure your planes will fly when you want them to. Change leaders. Wait for pilots to be in peak condition. Train defensive skills and exp if needed by putting them on training sweep 100ft at 100% for about a week.

Thanks. Another lesson learned. I will star rotate my squadrons more to give them time to rest and to build morale.
Now i know that big part of air losses is my fault.

[koniu]

9 APR 42

air units after last turn resting. China bomber units on rear healing wounds.
Only fighters are on duty.

DD Fubiki sunk today in Kendari port, his wound ware to severe.

Eng units fully unloaded in Moulmein. I now have in base 110 engineers and 55 air support.
They already repair 30 AF points. 4 units with 120 air support marching from Raheng.
Amphibious TF 3 hexes south of Moulmein returning safely home. One ID unloading in Tavoy. Invasion protected by Heavy SAG.

Patrols spotted enemy SAG west of Prome sailing south to intercept Moulmein invasion.
5 ships spoted (CA+4 ships). 50 G4M1 launch to attack but because bad weather they not find any targets.

KB in middle of Coral Sea. DL drop to zero so we will sail more south.

[koniu]

10 APR 42

KB is returning to Truk. Kaga had collision with Light Cruiser last turn. Damage are small but both ships need repairs. Lucky no major damage to both ships.
I will use this time to get some fuel to Truk from Borneo. I will use AO`s to do that.

ID 75% unloaded in Tavoy. On ships are now only support squads and few guns. Tomorrow they will start marching north. Moulmein AF operational, 45 A6Ms will CAP AF from enemy planes. When more air support arrive i will send there more planes.
MKB 4 days from Singer. So in 2 days Amphibius TF with 2 ID will sail from Singer to Moulmein. Because MKB is faster and if my math is correct they should meet with MKB just in moment when they enter enemy patrol range so in 6-7days i will land. and in 12-14 days i will have ~2500AV (4ID,6Reg,6Tank,6Arty) ready to strike Rangoon and 300 AV marching in jungle to north Burma.
In next 3-4 weeks i will have another 2 ID in Burma and more art and aaa units.

Plan is to enter with ID and arty units to Rangoon and Tanks and Reg will try to cut off retreat to Rangoon garrison. If we get lucky maybe hi will retreat to open ground without road or at lest he will try to awoid cutting units in Rangoon and he retreat from city leaving small garrison only. All ID are 100% prepared to Rangoon. I will check commanders before attack i have also HQ in range.

Another ID bought. They are loading on ships and in ~2 weeks will land in Burma.

In last weeks my subs get little atrited so i have lost my long range ayes. New subs are sailing to position but it take some time when i will have them in patrol areas.
I also have no luck with subs around India. British ASW is good. I already lost 2 subs there and 4 more is repairing in Singer.

From 3 days i am loading Units from Onotoa. I use to small number of ships to do that.
Next time will use smaller ships but with grater numbers. I hope thy end loading today and leave area. I have nothing to support them in case of enemy raid. Patrols do not find anything but i do not want to risk staying there any longer longer

ENG unit will land in two days in Eniwetok. They will build fort asap and land in another island in Gilbert's. I will be faster from spreading units between couple island and slowly building forts (I also have singe eng units on other island but they building very slow) When Eng end his work they will be replaced by Inf unit. I will use max stock limit.
I will use this method around Salomon sea too. I prefer to have few good fortified island with for 5-6 vs many with fort 3.
I have also mine layers in area. When time come i will mine islands.

I just notice that Wake CD unit never arrive, because i have not capture Wake. Do they should arrive in Tokyo in that case?

[obvert]

In last weeks my subs get little atrited so i have lost my long range ayes. New subs are sailing to position but it take some time when i will have them in patrol areas.
I also have no luck with subs around India. British ASW is good. I already lost 2 subs there and 4 more is repairing in Singer.

Not sure how you're using them. British ASW is the best in the early going. You might try setting them out from the ports you're stalking in the open ocean, where it's deep especially.

Good to see you're getting serious about Burma. Should still be sufficient time to push him back into the jungle and set up defenses. Once you have them moved out, it's much tougher to get back in due to supply issues.

[obvert]

In last weeks my subs get little atrited so i have lost my long range ayes. New subs are sailing to position but it take some time when i will have them in patrol areas.
I also have no luck with subs around India. British ASW is good. I already lost 2 subs there and 4 more is repairing in Singer.

Not sure how you're using them. British ASW is the best in the early going. You might try setting them out from the ports you're stalking in the open ocean, where it's deep especially.

Good to see you're getting serious about Burma. Should still be sufficient time to push him back into the jungle and set up defenses. Once you have them moved out, it's much tougher to get back in due to supply issues.

[koniu]

Not sure how you're using them. British ASW is the best in the early going. You might try setting them out from the ports you're stalking in the open ocean, where it's deep especially.

Good to see you're getting serious about Burma. Should still be sufficient time to push him back into the jungle and set up defenses. Once you have them moved out, it's much tougher to get back in due to supply issues.

Now i know, those shallow water are deadly. I am changing tactics now and changing hunting ground on safer ones. I have now almost 10 damaged subs repairing in ports. And 4 returning home to repairs.

Burma is my priority now. Next few weeks going to be interesting. I am also soon will start offensive in China. KB must rest and repair damage i have also small reserves of fuel in Rabul and Truk so next weeks will focus on ground war.

PS. Docup send me next turn with information about sync bug. I have no detail but i think he saw ghost naval battle.
So that can be only near Rangoon, Gilbert's or Salomon`s are in other places i do not have naval forces right now

[koniu]

11-12 APR 42

Allied CV TF attack ships loading troops in Onota. I have lost 2xxAK, 2xAP and CL. Next day enemy SAG in few naval battles catch and sunk DD. Also 1000 troops die on that ships. 1 LCU destroyed, i have bough it for 1PP in Tokyo. It was two enemy CVs so i think rest of them is refitting. Probably in PH

B17s attack PM. I lost 2 A6M(both pilots WIA) for 1 B17 destroyed and 6 damaged. No damage to base.

I other places quiet. Most of my AC is resting.

Around 120 allied fighters in Burma. Troops still marching north. 2 ID invasion TF sail today slowly north with heavy SAG support. MKB will catch them in 2 days.

I have spend 2h today doing logistic stuff. I set almost 20 new ASW TF around HI and fuel transport routs. Biggest problem i have found is lack of supplies in Thailand/Indonesia area. Cargo TF are loading in Korea and will transport in ~14 days supplies to Bangkok.

KB two days from Truk



In week i will have three 30(0) A6M3 R&D factories. They will start researching A6M3a.
When other factories going be ready i thinking about accelerating A6M5c. With factories i have i will be capable to accelerate it to 5/43 or i can go directly to A6M8 and accelerate it to 12/43 if lucky. What do you think?

In six days Ki-49IIa will advance to 7/42

I will also skip R&D of Ki-44-IIb version and i will accelerate directly to IIc. That 40mm cannon of IIb is waste of ammo and armor of IIC i worth o having it in 3/43

[koniu]

13 APR 42

Allies sweep Moulmein.
I have lost 10 Oscars to 1 P-38 and 3 P-40[:@]

Many units arrive today. Most important for me are Air HQ. I will transport one to Tabiteuea. When AF on island will build to lvl 2 bombers and fighters will fly in. Next time when allies show up i will wait for them.

[koniu]

I forgot to tell that eng units land in Eniwetok and in day one they build fort to size 2. TF still is unloading supplies. Second TF is 2 days from Marshall`s. They will start building Tarawa and one other island(not remember name). Garrisons are preparing in HI and will be transported in few weeks.
Air HQ that arrive today will be loaded in few days and sail to Tabiteuea. I will transport there also eng units to speed base build.

I have problem is Kendari, a have lack of Air support and most of planes is not operational. Support is sailing but it will take few days. I hope Docup is still thinking that i have there operational planes[8|]

In Java troops gathering before enter Soerobaja. I hope i have enough troops to take city. I think it will be long siege.

ID attack enemy troops in Mindanao. They reduce fort to one. Enemy forces 15k man in 350 AV. They should be almost out of supplies so it should not take long. they are also surrounded so will not retreat This is last big resistance point in Philippines. Rest are only small singe units.

I prearranging units to Timor and Ambon. I thing i will land there in middle may.


China
I am move my units to attack. 4500AV is moving to position. In south i have 2500AV waiting for orders. They will enter to game in few days. For now they are resting.
When i return home i will give map of my plan. I hope attack will force Docup to use some planes from Burma in China. That will give better chances to operation in Burma.

For now planes are not flying. Thunderstorms in Burma and China, so pilots are resting. Only fighter pilots flying CAP but llimited by half from normal. Whether is bad but i will not risking loosing bombers on ground. I heave move them behind enemy bombers range until whether will be better

KB
KB anchored in Truk. He have 80% fuel in tanks and no reserve. AO`s are loading in Borneo and Manila and I should have 120k fuel in Truk in two-three weeks.
Kaga after collision need 20-25 days of repairs. Rest of Ships need between 5-10 days

Burma
Troops still marching. I transferring more fighters to area. Docup is moving some troops from Rangoon to north. From days he holding 2 small xAKL in Rangoon Hex doing nothing?.
I thing he try to force my navy bombers to attack(70 Fighters in Rangoon) but they are resting waiting to better whether. He also jumping his fighters between Burma basses trying to catch me in trap.

[koniu]

14 APR 42

-Allies send 4Es to Kendari. They attack port heavy damaging AV and sinking xAKL.
No plane lost in process.

-After 300kg bomb hit from Dutch plane, I-155 sunk north of Java.

-Enemy SS sunk xALK near Ominato.

-Good news PM build fort to lvl 1.

-MKB need to stay in Singer for one more day. He need to refuel because today port was out of fuel points.


If not counting Kendari raid, planes stay on ground everywhere. Almost entire map is under bad whether.

[koniu]

15 APR 42

Another quiet day.

JAVA
Japanese bombers attack Soerobaja AF again. They destroy 10 dutch planes on ground. AF is in 50 damage.
Units waiting 1 hex from city for ID. Division will join with rest of forces and in 2 day they will march together to city.

BURMA
Allied bombers have return to area. They do not fly today but intel is showing 30 bombers in Chittagong.
I have now 200 fighters in Moulmein and Chiang Mai and next 50 will arrive in 2 days.
Ground troops marching on position. 300AV forces marching toward Taung Gyi are now 3 hexes from target.
MKB sail today from Singer, Invasion force is near Phuket.
My plan is to support invasion force with CA,CL SAG and with fighters from Moulmein and Chiang Mai and Betty`s from Bangkok. MKB will take position N-NW from Port Blair. With BB SAG. If Docup decide to counterattack he will need to be in range of LBA or MKB or in best case both
Whether is better, tomorrow bombers will return to action.

CHINA
My forces enter wooden hex east of Changsha. I have now 4100AV(130k man) in hex vs 35k of enemy.
Docup is moving troops from Changsha to hex. I will deliberate attack today. I what to use number advantage.I he manage to bring more troops to hex tomorrow, they mus stay in "move" to do that. I suspecting fort lvl 3-4 so it be interesting. All units are rested with no disruption. All commanders good. two HQ units with good commanders in range. In last days i spend around 100PP to change them to good ones. attack will be sported by 100 bombers. They will bomb from 6000ft. Last turn during attack there was no AAA in hex.
I have also advantage in Art. 1000 vs 150 guns.

MINDANAO
Next day of siege. ID attack enemy in Cagayan. We lost 100 men and one squad destroyed and 9 disabled. Enemy loses are 24 destroyed, 34 disabled. And 500 men lost. Tomorrow unit need to rest.

KB
On vacation in Truk. All ships will repair damages in 10 days. Only Kaga will stay with Engine 1 major damage. I need dry dock to repair that. Fuel will arrive in 2 weeks.

PS: After upgrading 2 Sentai(90 planes) to Ki-43 a have no planes in pool. I am building 4/day so if nothing major will happen i will be ok.
Worst case scenario - i will need to downgrade some Sentai in china to Ki-27