I do not think you can afford to give him two days of sweeps here. If you do then Docup will likely withdraw without issue before your KB can engage (unless you are cutting off his retreat). I'd go after him ASAP. Every time you miss a decisive engagement gives the Allies an opportunity to bring more firepower to the battlefield in the next possible battle.
Next turn it is impassible. First i have already send turn to Docup, second KB just arrive to port and they refuel using op points so thy need wait at lest one day before move back on sea.
Also if i wait two more day i will have extra 90 planes. Hiyo and Ryujo just finish repairs
Has there been any action in the DEI of late? Or has Docup put his full weight into the Kuriles?
No action in DEI since Docup move in North.
I still see ship traffic in Ambon area but they are mostly cargo ships (i guess). No air activity
Another place when we have naval/air operations is Marcus Island. But it end as total disaster for allies. On this small atoll Allies lost full ID and second ID (still on island) suffer 50%+ losses. Add to that lose of two tanks brigades and You will see how atoll landing can go wrong
And of course there is action in Thailand. Currently allies are pushing toward Hanoi
Another place when we have naval/air operations is Marcus Island. But it end as total disaster for allies. On this small atoll Allies lost full ID and second ID (still on island) suffer 50%+ losses. Add to that lose of two tanks brigades and You will see how atoll landing can go wrong
Atolls are tough to take. I don´t think landing a full ID on a 6k atoll is the best solution either. And in this case I don´t think Docup should have landed there at all. He needs a level 9 AF within 4E range of the HI if he has to have any chance of doing better then a defeat.
Battle above Ketoi-jima continue, and i start losing it.
In last days i lost 150 fighters for 100 enemy. Last turn was disaster my crack 80+XP pilots flying K-83 lost 28 planes and shot down 7 enemy fighters[:(]. Docup bring his best pilots and planes (P-47N) to protect base.
On 30 April he move big surface force to Ketoi-jima hex. At lest 4 BBs, couple CAs and CLs and huge number of smaller ships. They are still there. He protecting them under 200+ planes CAP from base.
But i have plan.
In 4 days i planing to strike against those ships.
I send all Ki-83 to rest but is still will sweep Ketoi-jima with K-84r. I will not change that to keep Docup focusing on those sweeps not allowing him to fly offensive mission.
I believe with proper concentrated sweep force (with probably huge loses) i will be able to neutralize that CAP and get trough with enough bombers to attack capital ships he have in hex.
Plan
I will sweep with elite groups (250 Ki-84r and 250 Ki-83). Even if they Dont reduce CAP to zero they should do enough big holes in it to get trough.
KB reinforced to 900 planes and ~1000 LBA planes will fallow (not earlier i hope) sweeps and go after BBs and CAs. I am rearming KB and all LBA groups to focus on TT attacks. Over 1000 pilots to move.
It can end with huge victory or disaster. Biggest problem i will have is Docup move back with DS. But i believe i have week before it will back.
From secondary news. Docup is moving nice looking fleet north of Ambon. I don't see carriers. I plan some naval strikes for next days but i will keep my focus on North Pacific.
Sorry guys for little chaotic reports last weeks or even months. I still appreciate writing here and replays from You are one of few things allowing me to continue this game so don`t think I forgot about You all
I will inform You about major incidents and operations but in last weeks many turns looks like turn earlier so i not reporting about not important stuff. I think this AAR will look like that. Every few played turns i will report in single post what happen in last days.
When something important like major op will happen i will post daily reports with maps and all that stuff to keep You all as good informed as passable.
Battle above Ketoi-jima continue, and i start losing it.
In last days i lost 150 fighters for 100 enemy. Last turn was disaster my crack 80+XP pilots flying K-83 lost 28 planes and shot down 7 enemy fighters[:(]. Docup bring his best pilots and planes (P-47N) to protect base.
I've had similar results at times. 2E fighter malus is what I believe is showing here. Sadly, Ki-83 is one of the very few choices for late war IJ offensive fighters, so it is what it is .... [:@]
Nice action in Celebes Sea
Docup under minimal air protection from LBA move north and land on Talaud-eilanden
Japanese planes launch for attack. Some get trough Morning Air attack on TF, near Talaud-eilanden at 79,97
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid detected at 68 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 22 minutes
Japanese aircraft
B6N2 Jill x 34
N1K2-J George x 23
Ki-84r Frank x 49
Allied aircraft
P-38H Lightning x 1
P-51D Mustang x 1
F6F-3 Hellcat x 1
Japanese aircraft losses
B6N2 Jill: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged
B6N2 Jill: 3 destroyed by flak
Allied Ships
APA Sumter, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
AKA Alcyon, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
APA Barnett, Torpedo hits 1
AKA Mercury, Torpedo hits 1
AKA Thuban
APA La Salle, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AKA Almaack
But more interesting thing happen more south near Morotai. Docup left behind some heavy ships in that hex. Some Japanese bombers where in range. No CAP
Morning Air attack on TF, near Morotai at 80,101
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid detected at 95 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 26 minutes
Japanese aircraft
B7A2 Grace x 33
Japanese aircraft losses
B7A2 Grace: 4 destroyed, 6 damaged
B7A2 Grace: 2 destroyed by flak
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Morotai at 80,101
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid detected at 116 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 34 minutes
Japanese aircraft
P1Y2 Frances x 36
Japanese aircraft losses
P1Y2 Frances: 10 damaged
P1Y2 Frances: 6 destroyed by flak
Allied Ships
CA Chicago II
BB Indiana, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CA Baltimore, Torpedo hits 1
DD Bache
BB South Dakota, Torpedo hits 1
BB Washington, Torpedo hits 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Morotai at 80,101
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid detected at 118 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 32 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy x 21
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy: 5 destroyed
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy: 5 destroyed by flak
Allied Ships
BB South Dakota
BB Indiana, Kamikaze hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
BB Washington, Kamikaze hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Morotai at 80,101
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid detected at 43 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy x 15
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy: 5 destroyed
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy: 1 destroyed by flak
Allied Ships
BB South Dakota, Kamikaze hits 3, on fire
DD Conner
DD Claxton
BB Washington, Kamikaze hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
Wow. This is far too late in the war to expose BBs to air attack without any real CAP at all. And those APAs are also very valuable. Seems to me those fleets didn't have any dedicated LRCAP even if it was available. Also it suggests a shortage of CVEs for the Allies. Docup still has much to learn I think.
Wow. This is far too late in the war to expose BBs to air attack without any real CAP at all. And those APAs are also very valuable. Seems to me those fleets didn't have any dedicated LRCAP even if it was available. Also it suggests a shortage of CVEs for the Allies. Docup still has much to learn I think.
CAP was present over invasion fleet. No CAP above BBs. I think Docup plan to move BBs together with invasion but he mess something with orders.
I just did not show all waves of Jap planes. At beginning over enemy fleet there was 100+ enemy fighters. But because of combat and range after few waves CAP was reduced. I lost 200 planes to get those few AKA and APA hits.
ORIGINAL: Sangeli
Also it suggests a shortage of CVEs for the Allies...
I suppose the origin of this shortage is couple pages back in the thread [:D]
Stil no excuse for Docup to not bring 2,3 CVE to have some range 0 CAP and not only LCAP.
He could suspect some resistance but i believe he underestimate Jap presence in area. I am focusing defense on North Japan but i will not give him free victories in other places.
I don't want to sound rude, but you should stop this game. Docup is understandably traumatised by successive losses, but right now he is just throwing s*** to the fan to see what happens, not playing focused anymore.
I don't want to sound rude, but you should stop this game. Docup is understandably traumatised by successive losses, but right now he is just throwing s*** to the fan to see what happens, not playing focused anymore.
I think that happens to most games at points. A player failures their personal morale check, doesn't mean it is forever, as the player would merely quit.
I think in this case the Allies were hoping Japan's strength and attention were elsewhere.
Game continue. Whatever Docup is trying to do in DEI it is now secondary for me.
At this point of war his moves whatever South or East of Manila are almost irrelevant to war. I need to focus on protection of Home Island
4 May 1945
Japanese planes sweep again over Ketoi-jima. 43 Franks lost for 27 enemy planes.
CAP trap in North China. Jap fighters shot down 30 Chinese 2E bombers. I believe Docup is now out of bombers for those groups.
Last preparations for counterattack on enemy fleet in Ketoi-jima hex. Bombers, sweep and escort fighters are on place (2000 planes total). KB will move today on sea (900 planes). What is worry me is that i believe I saw DS during replay ~10 hexes West of Ketoi-jima. It look Docup moving another resupply TFs toward Ketoi-jima and DS is giving air LCAP. I will try to avoid DS encounter if passable - but will not run. My goal is to kill his surface ships.
Game continue. Whatever Docup is trying to do in DEI it is now secondary for me.
At this point of war his moves whatever South or East of Manila are almost irrelevant to war. I need to focus on protection of Home Island
+1
So be sure that you don't have units sitting out there when you need them close to home.
Any thoughts on how to handle the USSR? Their entry is just around the corner now.
Prayer. [:D]
Seriously, armor and LBA ground attack (meaning control of the air) are the only things that can slow/delay the SOV units.
All the IJA ground attack pilots that you trained up and all the Helens that you built for the last 4 years into all the LBA air groups that you now have ...
you need 100's concentrated all the time.
