Turnaround? Lowpe (J) vs Tiemanj (A) Stock

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: mind_messing

ORIGINAL: Lowpe


Hey, I realize it is small consolation for losing 7-1 in fighter planes, but I will take any silver lining each turn.[:)]

Play Downfall as Japan if you really want to find the silver lining in every turn [:D]

Too true[:D]

[Lowpe]

Aug 31, 1943

No night bombing.

Some Fletchers move forward, near Rabaul, and a sentai of Nicks C model strafe them. They get chewed up by flak, and really do no damage. It seems I need to train them at LowN to get bomb hits, and I think you may be better off using Oscar IV etc at 1000 feet trained in LowN as an antifletcher force (or Tojo or Ki100I).

Lilly db attack too, and miss, and suffer from the flak badly.

Strafing seems a good tactic only for barges, ptboats, etc.

Normal Allied bombing and bomb Udon in Indochina for the first time, Normal heavy attacks on Allied subs, especially in a ring around Truk. Dozens of reported aerial hits.

New month tomorrow.

[JocMeister]

I do the same as Micheal. Some CVs are fitted with Corsair using the very best pilots. Those are used for CAP only and never escort. That also saves your best fighter pilots when the engine launches a full strike at a couple of PBs/AMs/xAKLs under a 1200 plane CAP. [8|]

[Lowpe]

With Akagi in drydock, lousy subs, the Kb plus mini Kb fields over 600 well trained, experienced pilots. Flying Jill, Judy and Zero (a6m5c), plus one squadron of Judy C for more search. When the Akagi is out, that will be quite close to 700 planes or more.[:)]

Still, I would lose an engagement versus the American CV force...but still a potent weapon to be used appropriately.

Heavy radio traffic in the Gilberts from two locations, I feel a major operation in the works for Solomons. Probably upper Solomons. He may very well accelerate operations here since he knows the KB is in the area...I feel he wants a CV clash, and I aim to disappoint him except on my terms.

I really need to buy two more months of stalling, because I will then get a whole mess of unrestricted land troop reinforcements which I desperately need for SRA, PI, Kuriles, and Marianas. I will need to keep tabs on them, so I have convoys to move those troops forward to where they are needed right away!

[Lowpe]

Sept 1, 1943

New Month! Tomorrow the Ki100-I starts production, or finishes research.

No night bombing.

American CVs spotted in Marshalls. Only two however...

Not much bombing across the Empire, except Kusaie gets their normal treatment. 600 supplies consumed it seems from about 35 4Es bombers hitting it.

A few Fletchers raid and bombard Rangoon, no damage worth mentioning. Another group of DD are lining up for a run at Ponape or
Eniwetok or even Truk it looks like although Truk would be a two day run....

[Lowpe]

New month: got new pilots and put them to training, probably two more months of Naval pilots shortages for the training squadrons, then pilots start to flow.

Little worried that the CVs spotted this last day are part of a trap...either for my KB or for land based air. Still, I put a sentai of Helens trained at naval bombing to attack at 6,000 feet, plus one sentai of Betties with torpedoes, and 42 Oscars to escort...if they come within 11 hexes. Beefed up search even more, I seem to be doing that more and more.

Still working on coming up with a good way to nail those Fletchers 7,8,9 hexes away...I goofed and should have trained some low n, which I am now rectifying. Lilly divebombers get shredded by the flak, I thought they would do better to be honest. So, I am going to try some Helens at 6K, I tried them before at 10K and no misses, and flak wasn't too punishing. I don't expect Betty to hit with torpedoes, but if the fletchers are damaged first they might. I might also try to time a naval encounter with them, but when I have done that in the past the Yanks have evaded naval combat. Slippery, nasty ships, those Fletchers.

[Lowpe]

I broke down today, and am having the remaining DMS ships convert to E's. I got hammered hard with mines in 42, and expect to get hammered hard by them again, but for now I need to work on Allied subs and protect those tankers....

[Lowpe]

Sept 1, 1943

5.3 million supplies, another month of solid improvement. Can I get to 6 million? Well over 3 million oil, well over 2 million fuel -- not bad for a scenario 1 game.

My air forces have really grown, from my start July 42...and they eat supplies especially the heavy bombing runs on Chengtu. American 4e bombers really destroy/eat the supplies when they strike...

[Lowpe]

Sept 2, 1943

No night bombing.

Normal Allied bombing, especially heavy at Moulmein.

Yank CVs disappear...

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

I broke down today, and am having the remaining DMS ships convert to E's. I got hammered hard with mines in 42, and expect to get hammered hard by them again, but for now I need to work on Allied subs and protect those tankers....

You get to convert a few back, but I definitely regretted not having them mid-war and later. When yo start facing a lot of aerial mining you'll need (and lose) a lot of AM/AMc and the DMS are the only ships that get there fast and do the job without getting hit.

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

I broke down today, and am having the remaining DMS ships convert to E's. I got hammered hard with mines in 42, and expect to get hammered hard by them again, but for now I need to work on Allied subs and protect those tankers....

You get to convert a few back, but I definitely regretted not having them mid-war and later. When yo start facing a lot of aerial mining you'll need (and lose) a lot of AM/AMc and the DMS are the only ships that get there fast and do the job without getting hit.

Yeah... I have only converted about 8 or so. You get enough E's and potential PBs through the production system.

[Lowpe]

Sept 3, 1943

No night bombing.

Allies are surging their subs, now around Guam, and also near Singapore. We punish several, two different subs with 2 direct hits, lots of aerial attacks and hits...but they manage to sink an empty Toho class freighter near Singers, and get some good intel.

I rest my sweepers at Chengtu, and Allies CAP over Chengtu knocks down a few Helens.

Trash some more Chinese units...

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

I broke down today, and am having the remaining DMS ships convert to E's. I got hammered hard with mines in 42, and expect to get hammered hard by them again, but for now I need to work on Allied subs and protect those tankers....

You get to convert a few back, but I definitely regretted not having them mid-war and later. When yo start facing a lot of aerial mining you'll need (and lose) a lot of AM/AMc and the DMS are the only ships that get there fast and do the job without getting hit.

I was, am, worried about the mines. I have one DMS not converted, so I will hold off and also check into any that I can convert back. Unfortunately, my predecessor lost nearly all of them.[X(]

Disappointed to hear that AMs can't cut the mustard, so to speak. Could it be a matter or Leadership or Crew experience? Just checked and my AMs' have dismal experience in the low 40s, while the DMS is up over 60. Throw in bad leaders, no wonder they die...neat to develop a minesweeping training program.[:)]

[Lowpe]

Ok, a bigger training program is needed. The few AMcs' that are actively out in task forces have experience in the 50'ies, I obviously have found a major flaw in my anti mine operations.

Dock queens, are getting new orders tomorrow.[X(]

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

I broke down today, and am having the remaining DMS ships convert to E's. I got hammered hard with mines in 42, and expect to get hammered hard by them again, but for now I need to work on Allied subs and protect those tankers....

You get to convert a few back, but I definitely regretted not having them mid-war and later. When yo start facing a lot of aerial mining you'll need (and lose) a lot of AM/AMc and the DMS are the only ships that get there fast and do the job without getting hit.

I was, am, worried about the mines. I have one DMS not converted, so I will hold off and also check into any that I can convert back. Unfortunately, my predecessor lost nearly all of them.[X(]

Disappointed to hear that AMs can't cut the mustard, so to speak. Could it be a matter or Leadership or Crew experience? Just checked and my AMs' have dismal experience in the low 40s, while the DMS is up over 60. Throw in bad leaders, no wonder they die...neat to develop a minesweeping training program.[:)]

A lot of mine were PBs for most of the game and only converted back later when the threat became really apparent (nights of 1,000 plus mines dropped in a port in the HI by B-29s). So they had sailed around a lot, but trying to clear those fields I'd lose 1-2 a day. The AMs ran out fast, but there were a lot of PBs around to convert and no need for slow escorts anymore, so they got the call.

So if you can get some trained that would be great, but I know there aren't many good leaders for PBs available, and unless they run into a sub or something sailing around may not be enough.

I'd plan to have a few flotillas in the DEI, Chinese coast and in the HI too.

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: obvert




You get to convert a few back, but I definitely regretted not having them mid-war and later. When yo start facing a lot of aerial mining you'll need (and lose) a lot of AM/AMc and the DMS are the only ships that get there fast and do the job without getting hit.

I was, am, worried about the mines. I have one DMS not converted, so I will hold off and also check into any that I can convert back. Unfortunately, my predecessor lost nearly all of them.[X(]

Disappointed to hear that AMs can't cut the mustard, so to speak. Could it be a matter or Leadership or Crew experience? Just checked and my AMs' have dismal experience in the low 40s, while the DMS is up over 60. Throw in bad leaders, no wonder they die...neat to develop a minesweeping training program.[:)]

A lot of mine were PBs for most of the game and only converted back later when the threat became really apparent (nights of 1,000 plus mines dropped in a port in the HI by B-29s). So they had sailed around a lot, but trying to clear those fields I'd lose 1-2 a day. The AMs ran out fast, but there were a lot of PBs around to convert and no need for slow escorts anymore, so they got the call.

So if you can get some trained that would be great, but I know there aren't many good leaders for PBs available, and unless they run into a sub or something sailing around may not be enough.

I'd plan to have a few flotillas in the DEI, Chinese coast and in the HI too.

This is actually a good argument to produce those remaining Tosu/Kiso PBs/xAKLs in your MerSY queue. They only cost a few points (either 1 or 2 per day = 60 or 120 HI in total), and you'll lose a lot of them. They're short-legged and only 10-12 knot max speed, so perfect for HI mine defense. And minefield tending...

[Lowpe]

Sept 4, 1943

No night bombing.

Punish more Allied subs that are definitely blitzing, several cripples heading north from Singers, three others heading for Miri/Camh Ran Bay and one to Oosthaven.

Subs all over the Marianas to Woleai...

A tough day in the air for Japan, Lightning sweeps down several Nicks and then, a large Yank & Brit carrier strike at Truk. I am so happy! Why, you ask? Because I now know where the CVs are! I had been debating about sending more long range assets to search the North Pacific, Perth, Horn Island areas...

Bad timing, as always, on the Truk raid, having just upgraded Zeroes to George and they sat on the repair sheds and got pummeled, losing 9 on the ground.

[Lowpe]

Here are the CVs....the Kb is close, very close, almost too close. I have got goosebumps![X(]

[Lowpe]

These CV raids are great for me, they are like practicing carrier battles, without me risking my carriers and losing only a fraction of the planes...but it does raise experience for his pilots.

It seems like I need over 100, probably closer to 200 fighters to pose a good defense against CV raids, and need three hundred fighters for a raid on the combined American carriers...tall order.

[Lowpe]

I am moving away from his CV threat near Truk...and giving thought on how to give them a bloody nose at some point.

Deliberate attack at Chengtu, forts are down to 0, so with a lucky roll I should take the town.

Here is a list of the AMcs' in operation. As you can see the low experience ships are harbor queens; so I gave them all new orders and will track their experience gain over the next few weeks. Hopefully there will be some to report.