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Seems to me that he has thrown away TONS of aircraft....

He has indeed! But Rader isn't concerned about a/c losses. He knows he can trade 4 a/c of his own for every one of mine and still be able to stand...he's producing tons of modern a/c and all his strategy is based on this statement. I'm achieving a 2-1 exchange ratio...but it's never enough...he always have more fighters than me and, despite his pilots quality has clearly decreased, it's easy to get pilots with 70 Air skill and with his numbers he knows he can sustained more prolonged losses than me...and this strategy is sound and it's working

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

He has indeed! But Rader isn't concerned about a/c losses. He knows he can trade 4 a/c of his own for every one of mine and still be able to stand...he's producing tons of modern a/c and all his strategy is based on this statement. I'm achieving a 2-1 exchange ratio...but it's never enough...he always have more fighters than me and, despite his pilots quality has clearly decreased, it's easy to get pilots with 70 Air skill and with his numbers he knows he can sustained more prolonged losses than me...and this strategy is sound and it's working

Does scenaraio #2 cripple the USAAF production? If not .. then I am not sure it is as sound of strategy as you might think.... at least for scenario #1 and I look at the airgroup numbers and stuff coming .. If I were the IJ I would want as many forces as possible to resist ..From my perspective 1944 brings into play quality and quantity as well as the ability to project far into the IJ battlespace a la B-29 .. Just my uneducated opinion looking at WitP Tracker ... as a newbie clearly I have not been where you are yet ..

ORIGINAL: Crackaces

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

He has indeed! But Rader isn't concerned about a/c losses. He knows he can trade 4 a/c of his own for every one of mine and still be able to stand...he's producing tons of modern a/c and all his strategy is based on this statement. I'm achieving a 2-1 exchange ratio...but it's never enough...he always have more fighters than me and, despite his pilots quality has clearly decreased, it's easy to get pilots with 70 Air skill and with his numbers he knows he can sustained more prolonged losses than me...and this strategy is sound and it's working

Does scenaraio #2 cripple the USAAF production? If not .. then I am not sure it is as sound of strategy as you might think.... at least for scenario #1 and I look at the airgroup numbers and stuff coming .. If I were the IJ I would want as many forces as possible to resist ..From my perspective 1944 brings into play quality and quantity as well as the ability to project far into the IJ battlespace a la B-29 .. Just my uneducated opinion looking at WitP Tracker ... as a newbie clearly I have not been where you are yet ..

No, it does not cripple it. Allied production is the same in both scenarios. However it is fixed and it is impossible to match Japanese production in frames until about March 44 when the second generation P47 comes on line and the P51B.

Nov 27, 28 1943

A good turn.
We sunk with SS Capelin an enemy DD near Calcutta...

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Nov 27, 43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Diamond Harbour at 51,40

Japanese Ships
DD Hatsuyuki, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
E Sagi

Allied Ships
SS Capelin


Then, from PM, we sent a serie of sweeps over Buna...his leaky CAP did come in in pieces and we achieved a complete victory.... then the 4Es arrived and plastered the base...lost only 2 a/cs in these engagements, destroying something like 20 enemies...

He's evacuating Buna...his units are marching towards Salamua right when my troops are arriving in the hex between PM and Buna...

In India we moved a corp one hex east of Multan...and it seems that he's willing to come out and play...[X(]

Then the KB attacked our PTs at Rekata...KB lost 85 planes for not a single allied a/c shot down!!!![8D]


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Buna , at 99,129

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 32 NM, estimated altitude 35,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 2
N1K1 Rex x 6
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 2



Allied aircraft
F4U-1A Corsair x 12


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed
N1K1 Rex: 4 destroyed
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1A Corsair: 1 destroyed


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Buna , at 99,129

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 40,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K1 Rex x 3
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 4



Allied aircraft
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 25


Japanese aircraft losses
N1K1 Rex: 2 destroyed
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-47D2 Thunderbolt: 1 destroyed


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Buna , at 99,129

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 24 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 8



Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 97
B-24J Liberator x 62
P-40N5 Warhawk x 14


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 1 destroyed
Ki-46-II Dinah: 3 destroyed on ground

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
19 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled



Airbase hits 19
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 84


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Rekata Bay at 113,134

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 153 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 51 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 151
A6M5b Zero x 16
B6N2 Jill x 27
D4Y3 Judy x 53



Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 8
Kittyhawk III x 7
Spitfire Vc Trop x 5
P-38G Lightning x 8
P-38H Lightning x 7
P-40K Warhawk x 4
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 18
P-51A Mustang x 7
F4U-1 Corsair x 26
F4U-1A Corsair x 5
F6F-3 Hellcat x 37


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 12 destroyed
A6M5b Zero: 1 destroyed
B6N2 Jill: 9 destroyed, 2 damaged
D4Y3 Judy: 24 destroyed, 5 damaged

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
PT-254
PT-249
PT-358, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
PT-252
PT-103
PT-286
PT-278
PT-247

.

....

Looking at those air losses, I'm a bit "suspicious"...

Did you guys change sides and not tell us? [;)] [:D]

Seriously, it's astounding how well you are playing now, and in contrast, how poorly Radar is playing now. You have adjusted to the Game very well, and Radar seems to be making more and more mistakes as the game progresses.

ORIGINAL: ADB123

Looking at those air losses, I'm a bit "suspicious"...

Did you guys change sides and not tell us? [;)] [:D]

Seriously, it's astounding how well you are playing now, and in contrast, how poorly Radar is playing now. You have adjusted to the Game very well, and Radar seems to be making more and more mistakes as the game progresses.

The latest wasn't Rader's mistake...he said that he was mad for the fact that the Kb commander decided to send a full strike to attack PTs...and i can understand his frustration...

However my air guys, when not outnumbered or seriously fatigued, are able to really get the upper hand against enemy a/c...even the Franks, if fought under the right conditions, are not scaring me that much anymore[:)]

Thx for the kind words ABD...let's say that i learnt a bit the hard old way...by taking slap after slap...[:)]

I have to agree with the others. You have indeed proven C.S:Lewis correct;

“Experience is a brutal teacher, but you learn. My God, do you learn.”

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

ORIGINAL: ADB123

Looking at those air losses, I'm a bit "suspicious"...

Did you guys change sides and not tell us? [;)] [:D]

Seriously, it's astounding how well you are playing now, and in contrast, how poorly Radar is playing now. You have adjusted to the Game very well, and Radar seems to be making more and more mistakes as the game progresses.

The latest wasn't Rader's mistake...he said that he was mad for the fact that the Kb commander decided to send a full strike to attack PTs...and i can understand his frustration...

However my air guys, when not outnumbered or seriously fatigued, are able to really get the upper hand against enemy a/c...even the Franks, if fought under the right conditions, are not scaring me that much anymore[:)]

Thx for the kind words ABD...let's say that i learnt a bit the hard old way...by taking slap after slap...[:)]

GJ, something in the code may have changed, but unless it has, no aircraft will attack TF's that only contain PT's unless they are deliberately set to 100 feet altitude. Notice that KB attack was all fighters? Rader must have set them to go after your PT's. I'm sure he's mad, but only because he lost so many of his attacking planes. [:D]

ORIGINAL: ADB123

Looking at those air losses, I'm a bit "suspicious"...

Did you guys change sides and not tell us? [;)] [:D]

Seriously, it's astounding how well you are playing now, and in contrast, how poorly Radar is playing now. You have adjusted to the Game very well, and Radar seems to be making more and more mistakes as the game progresses.

I think you underestimate Rader who in spite of some tactical mistakes still holds a very big advantage. He has eliminated China from the war which is "very big" in my book and holds a stranglehold on India that GJ will not break for some time to come. It is 10/43 in the game and Rader hold a virtual lock on all industry and oil in Asia. His economy is booming, there is no threat to his interior shipping lanes or oil supplies. His capital ships remain untouched and he has so far held GJ to a one front counter offensive. It seems like madness but yet I am beginning to see a method to his madness. I think his grand strategy has been near perfect so far.

I am not a JfB so I will have to let others chime in who know the Japanese side better but to me, for Japan the whole deal is about taking and holding resources as long as possible. It seems to me that Rader has about "run the table" here. And it looks to be some time before GJ will get a crack at taking those resources back.

ORIGINAL: crsutton

ORIGINAL: ADB123

Looking at those air losses, I'm a bit "suspicious"...

Did you guys change sides and not tell us? [;)] [:D]

Seriously, it's astounding how well you are playing now, and in contrast, how poorly Radar is playing now. You have adjusted to the Game very well, and Radar seems to be making more and more mistakes as the game progresses.

I think you underestimate Rader who in spite of some tactical mistakes still holds a very big advantage. He has eliminated China from the war which is "very big" in my book and holds a stranglehold on India that GJ will not break for some time to come. It is 10/43 in the game and Rader hold a virtual lock on all industry and oil in Asia. His economy is booming, there is no threat to his interior shipping lanes or oil supplies. His capital ships remain untouched and he has so far held GJ to a one front counter offensive. It seems like madness but yet I am beginning to see a method to his madness. I think his grand strategy has been near perfect so far.

I am not a JfB so I will have to let others chime in who know the Japanese side better but to me, for Japan the whole deal is about taking and holding resources as long as possible. It seems to me that Rader has about "run the table" here. And it looks to be some time before GJ will get a crack at taking those resources back.

Agreed. While Rader is wasting ridiculous numbers of planes and pilots to (often at least seemingly) little gain, he just might be able to do that with his current resources and available oil and HI. We must also remember the pilot pools available to Japanese in Scen 2 and that each pilot pulled from replacement pool reduces the HI cost... Looking at the planes hes using, he apparently has done little to no R&D on early and mid war planes. But he just introduced Ki-100 - 3/45 plane! From the looks of it Rader has and is planning to fight the war well into 1945 using KB with A7M Reppus and Army Ki-84, Ki-83, J7W, perhaps even jets.

ORIGINAL: crsutton

ORIGINAL: ADB123

Looking at those air losses, I'm a bit "suspicious"...

Did you guys change sides and not tell us? [;)] [:D]

Seriously, it's astounding how well you are playing now, and in contrast, how poorly Radar is playing now. You have adjusted to the Game very well, and Radar seems to be making more and more mistakes as the game progresses.

I think you underestimate Rader who in spite of some tactical mistakes still holds a very big advantage. He has eliminated China from the war which is "very big" in my book and holds a stranglehold on India that GJ will not break for some time to come. It is 10/43 in the game and Rader hold a virtual lock on all industry and oil in Asia. His economy is booming, there is no threat to his interior shipping lanes or oil supplies. His capital ships remain untouched and he has so far held GJ to a one front counter offensive. It seems like madness but yet I am beginning to see a method to his madness. I think his grand strategy has been near perfect so far.

I am not a JfB so I will have to let others chime in who know the Japanese side better but to me, for Japan the whole deal is about taking and holding resources as long as possible. It seems to me that Rader has about "run the table" here. And it looks to be some time before GJ will get a crack at taking those resources back.

I play the Japanese as well as the Allies in pbems (and I've got a Scenario 2 game going as Japan) and to my mind Radar is frittering away his advantage with poorly chosen actions. He should be delaying GJ at minimal cost while waiting for GJ to stick his neck out in the wrong places. Instead Radar is wasting huge numbers of planes and pilots - even with Scenario 2 he will regret it.

Fundamentally, Radar has been playing AE long enough so that he should know what "works" and what "doesn't". But he hasn't been showing this in his Solomons/PNG defence. My guess is that he hasn't shifted his mindset over from Constant Advance to Resilient Defence.

ORIGINAL: Erkki

ORIGINAL: crsutton

ORIGINAL: ADB123

Looking at those air losses, I'm a bit "suspicious"...

Did you guys change sides and not tell us? [;)] [:D]

Seriously, it's astounding how well you are playing now, and in contrast, how poorly Radar is playing now. You have adjusted to the Game very well, and Radar seems to be making more and more mistakes as the game progresses.

I think you underestimate Rader who in spite of some tactical mistakes still holds a very big advantage. He has eliminated China from the war which is "very big" in my book and holds a stranglehold on India that GJ will not break for some time to come. It is 10/43 in the game and Rader hold a virtual lock on all industry and oil in Asia. His economy is booming, there is no threat to his interior shipping lanes or oil supplies. His capital ships remain untouched and he has so far held GJ to a one front counter offensive. It seems like madness but yet I am beginning to see a method to his madness. I think his grand strategy has been near perfect so far.

I am not a JfB so I will have to let others chime in who know the Japanese side better but to me, for Japan the whole deal is about taking and holding resources as long as possible. It seems to me that Rader has about "run the table" here. And it looks to be some time before GJ will get a crack at taking those resources back.

Agreed. While Rader is wasting ridiculous numbers of planes and pilots to (often at least seemingly) little gain, he just might be able to do that with his current resources and available oil and HI. We must also remember the pilot pools available to Japanese in Scen 2 and that each pilot pulled from replacement pool reduces the HI cost... Looking at the planes hes using, he apparently has done little to no R&D on early and mid war planes. But he just introduced Ki-100 - 3/45 plane! From the looks of it Rader has and is planning to fight the war well into 1945 using KB with A7M Reppus and Army Ki-84, Ki-83, J7W, perhaps even jets.

This needs to be clarified. Pulling pilots from the reserve pool does not reduce his HI "Tax" for pilots in training.

Unless he's pulling pilots straight from his training program into his airforce, which would wreak havoc on the average exp in his units.

ORIGINAL: Smeulders

Unless he's pulling pilots straight from his training program into his airforce, which would wreak havoc on the average exp in his units.

His logic probably being, "well the lower exp the quicker they train!". [;)][:D]

A day that could have meant the end of the japanese CA supremacy...ended up with a minor japanese victory...[:(]

We sniffed that Rader was going to raid Milne Bay again...so we went undetected with our best SCTF...2 fast BBs, 1 modern CA, 3 modern CL, 2 old CA and several Fletchers.... our CVs were in cover 2 hexes south of Milne...undetected...ready to smash him the next morning...

He arrived...with CAs and DDs...we suprised him...crossed the T with Lane (my second best SCTF commander) and closed the ranks...we started to hit with our modern CLs...at 2,000...so our hits were penetrating the CAs...then, suddenly...his CAs started to fire torps...2 torps immediately hit CA Witchita...leaving her dead on the water...then 2 hit CL Cleveland... we fired back...but our BBs didn't even engage... ...he kept of firing against my wrechted Cruisers... our DDs came in and sunk 2 of his DDs, damaging 2 more...but not a single torp against his CAs...nothing!

However...the battle ended with 1 Allied CA sunk, 1 CL sunk, 2 CLs damaged on our side... 2 DDs sunk, 2 damaged and possibly a CA sunk (6 jakes reported downed on the ground...) with 2 more damaged...

It wasn't a defeat...but considering what we had...the surprise...the T...it should have been defenetly better...[:o]


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Nov 29, 43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Milne Bay at 101,133, Range 3,000 Yards

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
OS2U-3 Kingfisher: 2 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CA Tone
CA Atago
CA Chokai, Shell hits 5, on fire
CA Myoko
CA Haguro, Shell hits 16, heavy fires
CA Mikuma, Shell hits 6
CA Furutaka, Shell hits 12, heavy fires, heavy damage *possibly sunk*
DD Shimakaze
DD Kishinami, Shell hits 2
DD Hayanami
DD Kiyonami
DD Hamanami
DD Harusame, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Yudachi, Shell hits 2
DD Hatsuharu, Shell hits 3
DD Takakaze, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
DD Hikokaze, Shell hits 2, on fire

Allied Ships
BB North Carolina
BB Indiana
CA Quincy
CA Wichita, Shell hits 12, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
CA Australia
CL Cleveland, Shell hits 3, on fire
CL Montpelier, Shell hits 28, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Santa Fe, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Fletcher
DD Abbot
DD Aulick
DD Bache
DD Beale
DD Saufley
DD Meredith, Shell hits 1



Poor visibility due to Rain with 7% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Rain and 7% moonlight: 2,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 24,000 yards
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 18,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese radar detects Allied task force at 18,000 yards
Range closes to 12,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 9,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese radar detects Allied task force at 9,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 7,000 yards
Range closes to 5,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 5,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese radar detects Allied task force at 5,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 3,000 yards
Lane N. crosses the 'T'
CA Furutaka engages CA Wichita at 3,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages CL Santa Fe at 3,000 yards
CA Haguro engages CA Wichita at 3,000 yards
CA Haguro engages CA Wichita at 3,000 yards
CA Wichita engages CA Chokai at 3,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages CL Santa Fe at 3,000 yards
CL Montpelier engages CA Haguro at 3,000 yards
DD Hikokaze engages CA Wichita at 3,000 yards
DD Takakaze engages DD Meredith at 3,000 yards
DD Hatsuharu engages DD Meredith at 3,000 yards
DD Yudachi engages DD Beale at 3,000 yards
DD Harusame engages DD Beale at 3,000 yards
DD Harusame sunk by DD Aulick at 3,000 yards
DD Hikokaze engages DD Abbot at 3,000 yards
DD Fletcher engages DD Hikokaze at 3,000 yards
DD Meredith engages DD Kishinami at 3,000 yards
DD Shimakaze engages DD Fletcher at 3,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages CL Santa Fe at 2,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages BB North Carolina at 2,000 yards
CA Wichita sunk by CA Haguro at 2,000 yards
CA Chokai engages CL Montpelier at 2,000 yards
CL Montpelier engages CA Atago at 2,000 yards
CL Montpelier engages CA Furutaka at 2,000 yards
CL Cleveland engages CA Haguro at 2,000 yards
DD Yudachi engages DD Meredith at 2,000 yards
DD Hikokaze engages DD Saufley at 2,000 yards
DD Saufley engages DD Yudachi at 2,000 yards
Magazine explodes on DD Takakaze
DD Takakaze sunk by DD Bache at 2,000 yards
DD Meredith engages DD Kiyonami at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 4,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages CL Montpelier at 4,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages CL Cleveland at 4,000 yards
CA Haguro engages CL Montpelier at 4,000 yards
CL Cleveland engages CA Myoko at 4,000 yards
CL Santa Fe engages CA Chokai at 4,000 yards
CL Montpelier engages CA Atago at 4,000 yards
CA Haguro engages CL Cleveland at 4,000 yards
DD Meredith engages DD Shimakaze at 4,000 yards
DD Fletcher engages DD Hatsuharu at 4,000 yards
DD Yudachi engages DD Aulick at 4,000 yards
DD Hamanami engages DD Bache at 4,000 yards
DD Aulick engages DD Hikokaze at 4,000 yards
DD Fletcher engages DD Hayanami at 4,000 yards
DD Hikokaze engages DD Fletcher at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages CL Santa Fe at 2,000 yards
CL Montpelier engages CA Mikuma at 2,000 yards
CA Haguro engages CL Santa Fe at 2,000 yards
CA Myoko engages CA Quincy at 2,000 yards
CA Chokai engages CL Santa Fe at 2,000 yards
CL Montpelier engages CA Atago at 2,000 yards
CL Santa Fe engages CA Tone at 2,000 yards
DD Kishinami engages DD Meredith at 2,000 yards
DD Hatsuharu engages DD Fletcher at 2,000 yards
DD Yudachi engages DD Beale at 2,000 yards
DD Hatsuharu engages DD Bache at 2,000 yards
DD Aulick engages DD Yudachi at 2,000 yards
DD Aulick engages DD Hayanami at 2,000 yards
DD Bache engages DD Kishinami at 2,000 yards
DD Meredith engages DD Shimakaze at 2,000 yards
Task forces break off...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Fergusson Island at 103,132 SS Robalo hit the CA Haguro...torp didn't explode...[:@][:@][:@][:@]

Japanese Ships
CA Haguro, heavy fires
CA Chokai
CA Atago
DD Hatsuharu
DD Yudachi

Allied Ships
SS Robalo


His CAs ended up by the end of the day at 7 hexes from my CVs...but they were under heavy showers and we didn't launch...[:@][:@][:@][:@][:@][:@]...useless to say the next day they slipped away towards the safety of Rabaul...



In India our tank corp decided not to go south east and suddenly turned east, crossing the river and exposing itself to his air attacks...f**k!!
It could really cripple my army if those damned tanks do not come back fast and in health....[:-]...

.

Our fighters swept Buna again...no opposition today...our 4Es arrived and bombed his retreating units....while our AUS II Corp arrived in the middle of the owen Stanley mountains...we now have to march towards Buna...only 46 miles left...

Munda operation on the way...we're loading at Ndeni the I US Corp, composed of 2 US Divisions, 2 FA units, 1 Eng Rgt, 2 Marine Tanks BNs and some CD guns...