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

[koniu]

Turn send.

I am starting Timor/Ambon operation.

Troops are loading on ships.
Troops will sail from Soerobaja with SAG and 4 CV support. In firs wave i will land in Waingapoe, Koepang, Lautem and Saumlaki. (in all those bases i have seen enemy movements. So far no reinforcement spotted)
Last target will depend of situation. If allies will send fleet i will probably deley inwasion to moment i will land in Ambon i there will be small resistance i will land in first wave.

When all targets will be secured i will land in Ambon with 2 ID. I want make it fast. Estimated enemy forces in Ambon ~200AV with unknown forts. Mine field present wit CD guns.

[Saros]

Have you given any thought to the late war fighters? The stars of the show are the '-83, shinden and the Karyu jet. Even a couple of small factories can advance them decently as they are so far away even if it will take a while to get the research factories repaired.

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: Saros

Have you given any thought to the late war fighters? The stars of the show are the '-83, shinden and the Karyu jet. Even a couple of small factories can advance them decently as they are so far away even if it will take a while to get the research factories repaired.

As i playing with PDU ON, my r&d factories currently focusing on 4 fighter models

Ki-44 Tojo
A6M Zero
N1K George
Ki-84 Frank

So i have abandon for now 45/46 year models
Later (middle `43) I planing to convert few Ki-44 and A6M R&D factories to research those models. Tojo will be ready in March and will free at lest 6 factories also A6M will be almost ready around June with at lest 6 more factories to covert.

I also thinking about A7M but it will depend if i will have or not KB

[koniu]

10 MAY 42

Indian Ocean

MKB found and sunk AKV. Air loses showing 7 Beaufort I destroyed on ground[:D]

China

North of Ichang my troops attack enemy forces. But i forgot to change ops mode to defend and this is what i have:
Ground combat at 82,47 (near Ichang)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 37033 troops, 310 guns, 126 vehicles, Assault Value = 1298

Defending force 32644 troops, 220 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1068

Japanese adjusted assault: 340

Allied adjusted defense: 1516

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 4

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
Attacker: op mode(-), fatigue(-)

Japanese ground losses:
3712 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 373 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 25 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 42 disabled


Allied ground losses:
901 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 88 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 11 (2 destroyed, 9 disabled)

I am almost sure that i change it. Now i ordering my troops to return to Ichang[:@]

[koniu]

Little about DEI fuel situation:

Sumatra
All oil centers repaired, i am repairing refineries. i two weeks i will be at 100% of production capability.

Palembang is almost empty of fuel(50k). I shipping out to Singer more than i am producing.
In Singer i have now 120k of fuel.
I thinking to start transporting oil.

Borneo
Miri still repairing. Currently 6k fuel and 64k oil in base.
Tarakan 6k fuel and 23k oil
Balikpapan 54k fuel and 128k oil. Some repair needed to refinery
I also planing to transport some oil to HI.
One tanker already is transporting oil from Miri to HK because P.Arthur is using more than Manchuria is producing

Java
Some oil centers and refineries need to repair.
6k fuel and 53k oil on island. I use fuel to HI and to refuel ships in Soerbaja so no shipping for now.

Hokaido
Fuel enough to sustain HI, Oil 6k and steady.

Bolea, Babo
On max stocking limit of fuel so no production from oil centers.
I will not send there tankers until Ambon is taken.

So far i lose two tankers and one oilier.
I hope i will open Singer-P. Arthur road but probably not until 3Q42 or 4q42 or newer.

[koniu]

Still at work[:@]. Turn in mailbox[:D].
It is going to be interesting turn.
I have ordered almost 150 Ki-21 bombers escorted with 100 fighters and 90 fighters on sweep to attack Chittagong AF. Base is 9/10 DL and reckon is showing 108 enemy bombers and only 8 fighters from at lest 3 days. As what i see all allied fighters in Burma probably lcap Prome from Akyab or protecting Mandalay.


Second Big AF attack ordered in China 120 bombers escorted by 50 fighters and 40 on sweep will attack Changsha AF. ~50 enemy fighters there but they not CAPing. Probably[&:]

I hate waiting to play turn

[koniu]

Two day summary
11-12 May 42

Burma
Because of bad weather planes stay on ground on 11.
12 May they fly[:'(]

Coordination was perfect. In firs wave 73 Oscars sweep Chittagong finding empty air.
Few moments later 124 Ki-21 escorted by 54 Oscars arrive and attack AF
Rapport saying:
B-26 Marauder: 4 destroyed, 22 damaged
Wellington Ic: 2 destroyed, 13 damaged
Blenheim IV: 8 destroyed, 36 damaged
C-47 Skytrain: 1 destroyed

I pay for it with 2 Ki-21 and two pilots lives. Result should be better but bombers fly with reduced bomb load as it was max range.

3 IDs with 6 art units arrive to Prome. Enemy still in hex. Deliberate attack ordered.
200 fighters will cover air over Prome. I am expecting heaves raid as Prome is open hex.

Ki-21 retreated to back area.

Indian Ocean
MKB stay in position to save fuel. Radio silence ordered. We will wait until allied cargo ships will feel save again.

Timor
KB1 4 hexes of Timor covering invasion. First landings tomorrow. PT sooted Timor ports. Many rapports from B5N bombers about hits to those PT. tomorrow 3xDD will sweep sea in Koepang.

Truk
KB2 refueled and today will sail north. Plan is to refuel in HI next raid Aleutian Island and after action return with CV to HI and start refitting them.(Radar upgrade)

If i know allied Intel he already know that i preparing for Adak, so maybe i will found there some naval forces. This fast raid maybe also will make him think that Adak. preparations are fake

Home island
i am lack of patrols and from last few turns I am have many rapports about oil slicks, shadows in water in area between Tokio, Hokkaido and in Kuriles but i cat mark position of them on map i need to find solution to finding those ships
I have also subs attacks around Hokkaido and at lest one sub in Kuriles

I send my Patrol Planes to Hokkaido to naval search area around island and to patrol Kuriles. I am sending also few PB to Kuriles.

I will sit in weekend ad rebase my FP and patrols to cover as much area as passable with ASW ans NSerch misions but for now i will use G3Ms squadrons from Yokohama to patrol area around central Japan. As they are training squadrons and i want them to train torpedo attack i will use naval attack order with 20 search and 80% train


China
I am bombing Chines AFs. Best target is Nanyang. AF is level 1 only. 120k troops in city so also many supplies it city and that make effectiveness in destroying supplies higher.

Kukong souranded. More chinas troops is leaving city to west.
1200AV Japanese forces are marching across woods to close last retreat road from City
1000AV is marching to city to reinforce Troops there.

Sub actions
6 sub actions on 11.
Allies lost 3 xAKL and xAP. I have lost xAP near HI

R&D
A6M3a advance to 11/42
Ki-49IIa advance to 6/42 (in 20 days i will produce 90/moth and when i will have more engines 120)

[koniu]

13 May 42

Shock in Japan.[X(]
DOCUP just make classic Doolittle raid. and sunk 7xAK
CV Hornet 100nm east of Ominato

Carrier battle near Tiomr.
British carrier out of range to attack. Kates out of range to use torps.
I have sunk 2 US destroyers and score 9x250kg hits to CV Formidable.
No information about damage or fires
All hists are to fly deck but i have massage

"Carrier support unable to supply air cover.."

More detail later in need drink it is my firs carrier battle

[koniu]

Docup emailed my that he was thinking about hitting Tokyo, but in last he decided to attack TFs around Hokkaido.

I wish he attack Tokyo as port was empty with few TB only

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: koniu

i am lack of patrols and from last few turns I am have many rapports about oil slicks, shadows in water in area between Tokio, Hokkaido and in Kuriles but i cat mark position of them on map i need to find solution to finding those ships
I have also subs attacks around Hokkaido and at lest one sub in Kuriles

You need to increase your naval search. With more planes and better pilots, these spotting will resolve into sub spottings. This will increase the sub DL and then allow you to attack with your surface ASW forces. Takes a bit to get everyone experienced enough. And takes a LOT of air groups flying NavSearch. I typically put the float plane groups to this purpose. Jakes have good range and you have a lot of groups.

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

ORIGINAL: koniu

i am lack of patrols and from last few turns I am have many rapports about oil slicks, shadows in water in area between Tokio, Hokkaido and in Kuriles but i cat mark position of them on map i need to find solution to finding those ships
I have also subs attacks around Hokkaido and at lest one sub in Kuriles

You need to increase your naval search. With more planes and better pilots, these spotting will resolve into sub spottings. This will increase the sub DL and then allow you to attack with your surface ASW forces. Takes a bit to get everyone experienced enough. And takes a LOT of air groups flying NavSearch. I typically put the float plane groups to this purpose. Jakes have good range and you have a lot of groups.

Thanks i was doing this but with no effect. Probably to low xp pilots.
I was training some pilots in Serch/ASW. I have at lest 30 pilots with both skill 60+ so i will use them.

[koniu]

13 MAY 42

BURMA
Only one thing to rapport here.
Victorious attack on allied troops in Prome:

Ground combat at Prome (55,50)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 40122 troops, 449 guns, 143 vehicles, Assault Value = 1335

Defending force 11736 troops, 135 guns, 50 vehicles, Assault Value = 464

Japanese adjusted assault: 709

Allied adjusted defense: 131

Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Prome !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1268 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 67 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled

Allied ground losses:
3441 casualties reported
Squads: 137 destroyed, 69 disabled
Non Combat: 122 destroyed, 37 disabled
Engineers: 36 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 63 (59 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Vehicles lost 46 (45 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Units retreated 4
Units destroyed 2

JAVA
Imperial Guard ID still resting before final attack on Dutch troops in Malang

2 ID and one IR loaded on ships in Soerabaja tomorrow will sail toward Ambon. In two days they will join with SAG support. and in 4 days they will start landing.

CHINA
Bombardments and troops movements. Situation in Kukong is getting hot

PACIFIC
Quiet. Mostly logistic. KB2 north of Truk sailing to HI.

INDIAN OCEAN
MKB holding position on middle of allied routes and waitting.

TIMOR SEA
On morning invasion force meet KB1 north west of Timor. On TF break and start unloading units on Soemba.
Whether was good enough to fly.
Patrol planes from KB spotted three enemy TFs. Firs six hex south build from two US DD, Second 8 hexes south with CV and 6 support ships and third 9 hex south form from cargo ships.

Commander decide to send most planes vs enemy CV and some planes vs destroyers.
Only DD ware in torpedo load range.

There is result:

Morning Air attack on TF, near Broome at 65,122

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 117 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 49 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 32
B5N2 Kate x 16

Allied aircraft
Martlet II x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Martlet II: 3 destroyed

Allied Ships
CV Formidable, Bomb hits 4
DD Vampire

and

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 34 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 23
B5N2 Kate x 35

Allied aircraft
Martlet II x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Martlet II: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CV Formidable, Bomb hits 5
DD Vampire

Later G4M from Kendri attack enemy CV finding none air opposition as CV damage is not allowing planes to fly

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Broome at 65,122

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 39 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 13

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
CV Formidable
CL Newcastle

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 12000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

Carrier support unable to supply air cover..


CV Formidable have at lest 50 cumulative system and flotation damage. He can do two things.
Sail west to India but if he do MKB from Indian Ocean will try to find him.
Sail to Darwin. I think he will do that as it is only 12 hex distance and he can have air cover tomorrow from LBA

KB will sail south trying to find CV Formidable but i will hold distance from Darwin

Planes from KB sunk also two DD in nearest TF and G4M from Kendari sunk AG


HOME ISLAND
Docup Doolittled me. CV Hornet appears from nowhere near Hokkaido and attack cargo ships sinking 6 xAK and few PB and SC.
Nothing big but i need to rebuild cargo TF when he leave area.
Lucky all TK where out of range of allied bombers. Tomorrow i will sat all planes to naval attack but probably on morning allied TF will be deep in Pacific.

Lesson learned. I will send ships to north Pacific as warning system.

ASW TF north of Hokkaido sunk enemy SS

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: koniu

Lesson learned. I will send ships to north Pacific as warning system.

Yes. GJ/rader AAR has shown the vulnerability of the northern route (again). IJ must protect that route. I like to take Adak as the sentinel in the Aleutians. The allies cannot come via the northern route as long as I hold Adak. If they come in force against Adak, I then have +90 days to be able to reinforce the kuriles/hokkaido/sakhalin.

[koniu]

14 May 42
Bloody day

Home islands
Enemy CV is gone

Pacific
BB Matsu took torpedo. Lucky for me damage are 3/10(5)/0/0[:D]

Burma
Enamy bomber raid vs troops in Prome. Very low damege on ground. 5 B-17 shot down

Timor
Entire day air loses 85 planes most of them in Timor area. Allies 40 planes
If price for that day was to high history will tell

Morning Air attack on TF, near Darwin at 73,124

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 109 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 40 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9 this escort size is depressing
B5N2 Kate x 24
D3A1 Val x 16



Allied aircraft
Martlet II x 2
Buffalo I x 4
Beaufighter Ic x 2
B-339-23 x 13
Kittyhawk IA x 2
P-400 Airacobra x 17
P-40E Warhawk x 20


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 5 destroyed, 1 damaged
D3A1 Val: 5 destroyed, 2 damaged
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
Martlet II: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CV Formidable, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1


and

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Darwin at 73,124

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 108 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 40 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 35
B5N2 Kate x 38
D3A1 Val x 40



Allied aircraft
Martlet II x 1
Buffalo I x 5
Beaufighter Ic x 2
B-339-23 x 14
Kittyhawk IA x 2
P-400 Airacobra x 15
P-40E Warhawk x 12


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 8 destroyed, 1 damaged
D3A1 Val: 4 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Martlet II: 1 destroyed
Buffalo I: 2 destroyed
B-339-23: 3 destroyed
P-400 Airacobra: 2 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CV Formidable, Bomb hits 7, Torpedo hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Newcastle, Bomb hits 4, on fire
DD Panther
DD Paladin
DD Vampire
DD Vendetta


Fuel storage explosion on CV Formidable
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Formidable


and

Morning Air attack on TF, near Derby at 64,127

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 85 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 31 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 32
B5N2 Kate x 13
D3A1 Val x 5



Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 6
P-40E Warhawk x 18


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 7 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 3 destroyed
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed

Allied Ships
AKE Liberty Glo, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
xAK Bellerophon, Bomb hits 6, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk

KB1 still operational
He lost most of fire power but still i have 120 planes ready to fly
It must be neygh to support Ambon invasion

[Erkki]

Congrats Koniu! One bad girl less to fight. [;)]

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: Erkki

Congrats Koniu! One bad girl less to fight. [;)]

Thanks
Victory is nice but price is high

Planes: 24xA6M2, 36xB5N2, 21xD3A1
Pilots: 33xKIA, 6xWIA, 31xMIA

In other hand i have now big advantage in Indian Ocean. British forces have here only 1 CV and 2BB and 1 CA and dozen of CLs, and i do tot think that allies will send US Carries to reinforce area. So MKB is enough to control waters.
Now i will try to blockade west coast of OZ for while and hunt for shipping in area

[PaxMondo]

If you got the Formidable, the price is worth it ... do you know for sure if you did?

Edit: 4 Torpedo hits ... maybe. I ignore the bomb hits on the Brits .. they are armored like BB's so that 250kg bombs don't always penetrate. I don't see follow on attacks on her escorts without her present ... did her air groups show up in the report as ground losses?

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

If you got the Formidable, the price is worth it ... do you know for sure if you did?

He took 8 bombs but with armor they do not count. and they all hit fly deck without penetration

4 torpedoes.
first hit belt armor penetration "listening counter flooding" or something like that [:'(]
Second belt armor penetration and critical damage
Third belt armor penetration fuel storage explosion
Forth belt armor penetration under water line explosion

leaving planes reporting another fuel explosion

No planes destroyed on ground but i do not know i there was any
On map enemy TF still showing 3xCV 8 fighters and 6 bombers

Not know about sinking sound as i watch it without sound
And he is marked on list as sunk

After 4 torpedo hit almost half of my planes still with ammo focused on other ships scoring 4x250kg hits to CL. Two bounce from armor and two penetrate with critical damage but there was only to waves of attack thirth wave fly to Derby[:@]

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: koniu

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

If you got the Formidable, the price is worth it ... do you know for sure if you did?

He took 7 bombs but with armor they do not count. and they all hit fly deck without penetration

4 torpedoes.
first hit belt armor penetration "listening counter flooding" or something like that [:'(]
Second belt armor penetration and critical damage
Third belt armor penetration fuel storage explosion
Forth belt armor penetration under water line explosion

leaving planes reporting another fuel explosion

No planes destroyed on ground but i do not know i there was any
On map enemy TF still showing 3xCV 8 fighters and 6 bombers

Not know about sinking sound as i watch it without sound
And he is marked on list as sunk

After 4 torpedo hit almost half of my planes still with ammo focused on other ships scoring 4x250kg hits to CL. Two bounce from armor and two penetrate with critical damage but there was only to waves of attack thirth wave fly to Derby[:@]

These two:
Second belt armor penetration and critical damage
Third belt armor penetration fuel storage explosion

Yeah, you may have gotten her. Still, I would want to see either of the DD's escorting her ... if I saw them alone, then I would definitely count her as sunk.

[koniu]

He is at lest badly damage. I have sub waiting 1 hex of Darwin. I also sending three more.
That kind of damage can by only repaired in Sydney? And this is long trip home.
One is sure i will not see that ship for long time if at all. If it was US CV he prabably will sunk 2 times from bomb hits only. Formidable took 17x250kg bombs probably without any major damage.



It is middle may and what i see Docup is starting offensive moves(sending CV to intercept Timor invasion, Doolittle Raid etc).
I was thinking where can i expect his summer offensive.

North passage maybe in `44. We all read GJ ARR and we can see how that passage is danger for both sides[8D]
Burma - it will bloody but my forces are big enough there. So as in China area.

I think he can try in three places. Marshal`s or Salomon's if he decide to go in traditional way. 30% chance to each.

And third place. I think most likely. Timor/Ambon area 40% for that. It is my soft spot. Why?
He still have it in his hands(not for long) so i will have less time to prepare. If he be successful he will cut me off from fuel. Alsothere is good side, this area is esy to defend in 42 for japanise platers as i can have there lots of LBA support, so it will be blody for both sides.
To capture it he will need to use CV force and with my LBAs and KB i will have shacne to stop him.

What do you think?


Navy pilot situation:
After last turn loses i need to replace them.
For now it is no problem i have ~50+ good fighter and 100+ bomber pilots ready in reserve and in squadrons that i can relocate.
I have also at lest 150 pilots with skill ~70 and XP 47-49 who are going be ready soon.
So probably July squadron reorganization is covered to.