BTS Play-Testing

[John 3rd]

Think these are the bases that Michael are adding to the China side of the Mod. Michael? Is that correct??

[Nomad]

Yes, I do think they are a part of Big B's China setup.

[John 3rd]

This is my list of changes or checks:

Checked Dutch DDs and they SEEM to be OK. Please check this.

Fixed the Ki-43, Ki-27b, and A5M4 doubling the 1990-1991 device effect.

Corrected Ki-43 IIc variant to 2 20MM cannon and NOT 2 20MM Cannon AND 4 7.7MM

Followed up on the advise from our new reader and improved/added to the CLAA upgrade of the Aoba-Furutaka Classes. They lose their aft 8" Gun and secondaries but then pick-up six 100 turrets (2 aft, 2 Port, and 2 Starboard). They are out of service during the conversion for a quite a while.

Bearn-Class CVL STAYS a CVL.

Kido Butai Organization is more historical for leadership: KB-1 Nagumo, KB-2 Yamaguchi, and KB-3 is a new guy (Nomato I think).

Air Flotilla HQ at Saipan

Checked Omaha-Class CL to CLAA Conversions and they are good.

The base questions brought up by Nomad are China additions be Michael.

[John 3rd]

Michael and I chatted a couple of days ago and he posed an interesting query.

Right now the Japanese Carrier TFs are arranged:
Etorofu
KB-1 Akagi, Amagi, and CVL
KB-2 Hiryu, Soryu, and 2 CAV
KB-3 Shokaku, Zuikaku, and CVL

Cam Rahn Bay
KB-4 2 CVL

KB-1 to 4 all have the 1st Turn Speed Bonus

Babeldoap
CVE TF 3 CVE

He proposed a reorganization of the carriers to the following:

Etorofu
KB-1 Akagi, Amagi, 2 CVL
KB-3 Shokaku, Zuikaku, and 2 CAV

Saipan
KB-2 Hiryu and Soryu

Cam Rahn Bay
KB-4 2 CVL

Babeldoap
CVE TF 3 CVE


His thinking is that placing KB-1 to -3 is overkill on Pearl Harbor. Freeing up CarDiv2 to effectively free lance by placing them at Saipan with the Speed Bonus makes for interesting possibilities: You still use them to crush PH OR use them elsewhere (say Manila).

What does everyone think about this?

[John 3rd]

Other arrangements are OPEN for discussion!

[John 3rd]

Have always based the RA and BTS carrier deployment on Fuchida and Genda's desire to create a 2 CV and 1 CVL CarDiv Organization.

[Nomad]

All I can say is that I was overwhelmed at PH against Michael. I feel he could have stayed for days and pounded PH if he wanted. Any ship too damaged to set sail would be sunk.

[ny59giants]

All I can say is that I was overwhelmed at PH against Michael. I feel he could have stayed for days and pounded PH if he wanted. Any ship too damaged to set sail would be sunk.

Dec 7th saw 44 TT hits resulting in Mississippi being sunk.

Dec 8th saw just Kates hit the AF while two Zeros groups swept the skies before they arrived.

Dec 9th saw Kates hit the port again. Arizona and Oklahoma were sunk.

Dec 10th saw KB leave, but I would have stayed longer if this was a full length PBEM.

Ken had a CV TF and SC TF approaching the Gilberts and Marshalls, but Ms Nell was waiting. [:)]

[Kitakami]

I did not fare terribly in Pearl's port (1 sunk, all damaged heavily), but I fared terribly in the airfields. Had John pressed his attack on the port, I would have lost most of the BBs.

Having said that, I am a total Allied n00b. So if anyone could send a primer or some advice on how to play the Allied side, I'd be much obliged.

[John 3rd]

OK. Time to shift to the economy. Jorge and I are at Dec 19, 1941. I have purposefully not touched ANYTHING until this last turn. In watching, the economy was adding nearly 2,000 HI a day to the beginning total. This is good.

I started on shipyards last turn. We were running at about 300-350 point deficit. To end that, I stopped construction on an Owari-Class BB and the 2nd B-65. Doing that brought me within a few dozen shipyard points. To start a slow shipyard expansion I raised five of the small shipyards from their little 4-6 starting number to ten. Net gain was 28 points.

Japan starts with 2 CVL (Nisshin and Ryujo) less then two months away. Nisshin comes in on Christmas. After that we have Junyo and Hiyo coming in during the late-Spring. Conceivably we could wait until those are complete and then re-start the B-65 without issue. Think to make things easier, the Shipyards could be bumped a further 50-75 to make a total increase of about 100. Doing that would not be TOO expensive and by May 1, 1942 we'd have a clear idea as to whether that is enough.

Merchant Yards are very different. I am having a devil of a time on January 1944, with Sean, keeping any points at all. Have shut down nearly everything except Tanker construction. This experience makes me think that Merchie Yards might need some additional help. Not sure if it is worth it or not...I have more then enough ships in 1944 to move everything so the concern might be moot.

Thoughts???

[John 3rd]

As Michael alluded to earlier, the starting aircraft production needs serious work as well as R&D. This is a realm that need serious work.

When I get my next turn from Jorge, I'll Post some screenshots and then we can talk about it.

[Kitakami]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd
Merchant Yards are very different. I am having a devil of a time on January 1944, with Sean, keeping any points at all. Have shut down nearly everything except Tanker construction. This experience makes me think that Merchie Yards might need some additional help. Not sure if it is worth it or not...I have more then enough ships in 1944 to move everything so the concern might be moot.

Thoughts???

I would not expand merchant yards. As you wrote, there are more than enough ships to do what they must. I would not even bother building the smallest 2-3 xAK classes coming down the pipeline.

[Kitakami]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd
As Michael alluded to earlier, the starting aircraft production needs serious work as well as R&D. This is a realm that need serious work.

When I get my next turn from Jorge, I'll Post some screenshots and then we can talk about it.

Turn sent.

[btd64]

Buy the way, the Kitakami class CL needs a look at the Torp numbers. Or is 40 correct for the number of torps it can fire???....GP

[btd64]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

As Michael alluded to earlier, the starting aircraft production needs serious work as well as R&D. This is a realm that need serious work.

When I get my next turn from Jorge, I'll Post some screenshots and then we can talk about it.

I look forward to this conversation....GP

[Kitakami]

ORIGINAL: btd64
Buy the way, the Kitakami class CL needs a look at the Torp numbers. Or is 40 correct for the number of torps it can fire???....GP

20 Long Lances per broadside. Nasty critters if they can get into fiing position.

[btd64]

ORIGINAL: Kitakami

ORIGINAL: btd64
Buy the way, the Kitakami class CL needs a look at the Torp numbers. Or is 40 correct for the number of torps it can fire???....GP

20 Long Lances per broadside. Nasty critters if they can get into fiing position.

OK then. Hopefully I can experience this soon....GP

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: btd64

Buy the way, the Kitakami class CL needs a look at the Torp numbers. Or is 40 correct for the number of torps it can fire???....GP

Twenty per side. She, Oi, and Kiso have that starting configuration. I took these early CLs and made three Training Cruisers so we don't need the Katori-Class and then the other three are TT-CLs.

Running Jorge's turn and then we shift to aircraft production and R&D.

[btd64]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

ORIGINAL: btd64

Buy the way, the Kitakami class CL needs a look at the Torp numbers. Or is 40 correct for the number of torps it can fire???....GP

Twenty per side. She, Oi, and Kiso have that starting configuration.

Check....GP

[John 3rd]

Here is the first screenshot of Japanese Aircraft construction: