Lambs to the slaughter (Lowpe (J) vs Jocke; BillBrown (A)) Finished

[Lowpe]

Burma...getting to be time to pull back to the Jungle and leave Magwe...

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

So the Allied cruisers armor deflected the 20 cm shells quite well, but not the 40 cm shells! [8D]

The battleships kind of under performed, except for soaking off all those 6" shell hits. Mostly they fired at long range and missed, except for a couple of salvos.

I always hate seeing the 36cm and 40 cm shells going thru the superstructure...I like the hull penetration rounds that slow those fast light cruisers down.

[PaxMondo]

At this point (end 43) I feel I am lucky to get draws with SCTF actions. Allied radar just makes these uneven at best. I don't think it is the 8" bouncing off as much as just very few hits compared to those fast fire 6" on the allied cruisers....

[Lowpe]

Pax, you are definitely correct that these task forces are incredibly hard to beat as Japan. I would much rather have seen 4 heavy cruisers.[:)]

Still, I think I put one under, and that is sweet if I can get everything else away.[;)]

17 days and the Ikomo steams away from Kobe!

5 Days and the Frank R enters production!

But what I really need is all my of 40 experience infantry divisions to reach 99 morale and 55 training![;)]

[Lowpe]

Incredibly nasty ships...most AFBs really don't use them correctly. Unfortunately, Jocke does...although putting two DMS in the task force undoubtedly helped the fight for Japan this day.

[dave sindel]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Incredibly nasty ships...most AFBs really don't use them correctly. Unfortunately, Jocke does...although putting two DMS in the task force undoubtedly helped the fight for Japan this day.

Lowpe, can you explain in more detail the highlighted comment ? As a "new" AFB, I'd appreciate your insights on proper use.

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: dave sindel

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Incredibly nasty ships...most AFBs really don't use them correctly. Unfortunately, Jocke does...although putting two DMS in the task force undoubtedly helped the fight for Japan this day.

Lowpe, can you explain in more detail the highlighted comment ? As a "new" AFB, I'd appreciate your insights on proper use.

Surface combat. They were called "machine gun cruisers" for a reason.

Their weakness is, oddly, AA. But only somewhat. Later in the war, they get upgraded and lose some armor in favor of AA, IIRC. Same reason as some of the older BBs - adding the additional AA weaponry made it too top-heavy, so they had to ditch some armor plating.

[dave sindel]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

ORIGINAL: dave sindel

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Incredibly nasty ships...most AFBs really don't use them correctly. Unfortunately, Jocke does...although putting two DMS in the task force undoubtedly helped the fight for Japan this day.

Lowpe, can you explain in more detail the highlighted comment ? As a "new" AFB, I'd appreciate your insights on proper use.

Surface combat. They were called "machine gun cruisers" for a reason.

Their weakness is, oddly, AA. But only somewhat. Later in the war, they get upgraded and lose some armor in favor of AA, IIRC. Same reason as some of the older BBs - adding the additional AA weaponry made it too top-heavy, so they had to ditch some armor plating.

Thanks Loka. I have a couple of SCTFs speahearded by these CL's running around with several Fletchers in the TF, so that sounds like the proper use. The ones I have in Air Combat TF's will be reassigned...

[Lowpe]

I hear you Dave, but I got two turns to finish first...will replay more in a day.

Escorting cargo ships, invasions, etc....pairing them up with diverse groups of cruisers, etc. Putting them with CVs.

[Lowpe]

Oct 26, 1943

Rabaul...Manus sees heavy sweeps, especially at Manus and Japan really only has Zeroes and some Tojo there, they do well versus the Lightnings and Corsairs...

Franks intercept more Warhawks over the skies in Burma...

A heavy aerial day...

and the Allies are coming with the Kitchen sink at Rabaul...they have task forces there, they have task forces on the way, and they have carriers hanging around...heavy with fighters and lighter with bombers.

What will happen!

[Lowpe]

Lots of plane losses today...but really not too bad.

Stay tune for a huge fight at Rabaul on the morrow...

[Lowpe]

October 27, 1943

The first destroyer...with not that much ammunition, arrives and finds a few minesweepers at Rabaul...

[Lowpe]

The Allies have pulled back from Rabaul...a resupply mission...while Japanese battleship, cruisers and light cruisers and destroyers prowl around Rabaul...in the afternoon the strike comes![X(]

About 220 fighters rise to give battle...

[Lowpe]

Close to 600 plane strike...if the KB messed with that, no amount of land based air will tip the tide for a Japanese victory....especially given the better fighters the Allies have.

[Lowpe]

On our approach the IJN sinks the SS Swordfish (forced to surface and sunk!), and in return the Allied strike claims a destroyer...

Most of the fighter losses are in Alaska where some Zeroes were left on CAP by mistake...I would have wished for better destruction of the Allied escorts, but oh well...it goes to show the inferiority of this Japanese fighter mix currently.[:(] PDU off joys![;)]

[Lowpe]

This sentai is a little further back, at Manus, but did not sortie despite Jakes spotting the Allied forces during the night. They did fly twice against cruisers at Darwin...

Moonlight is next to non-existent so it really should be no surprise they didn't fly.

They are my high experience torpedo strike planes...and I guess they need a better commander.

[Lowpe]

This destroyer is in danger of going down too...and with the nicely coordinated strike, and many ships lightly damaged, I simply didn't shoot down enough planes to make it worthwhile.

If the Allies would have lost 200 planes...well, then, phase 2 would have started...but I will retreat even though the KB is not sighted off to the east.

A failed plan....but I think a neat try.

[Lowpe]

Not much of a win here, but it is a win. The Allies like to really concentrate their forces so here is another minor raid. I don't think the Allies really even notice it however.

[Lowpe]

The Hellcat really does rule the skies currently!

Two months for the A6M8...and probably 4-6 months for the Sam....but of course they just close the gap a little. They won't dominate.

[Lowpe]

Scant few days left until the Frank R starts production.[:)] 6 full Fighter squadrons initially.

I am going to assign to r&d factories to the Randy FB, which I currently don't have any. Many Lilly IIc squadrons (around 4+ I recall) will upgrade to the FB. I never used the Randy 102b before but it will most likely be an deep base anti bomber role.

I have not thought deep enough on what to do with the others...Kikka? It is the only kamikaze plane that actually might see some use. The Myojo might but only 2 sentai there. Karyu is another option as Olorin actually started r&d this in 1941 (only one factory). The Ki94II is the best option, as I already have several factories r&d her, and she has plentiful squadrons that fly her....getting her another month early would be great.

Frank A will stay in production, a few notable squadrons fly her till the bitter end including the wonderful 200th Sentai.

The Tojo IIc remains in vigorous production, these squadrons mostly upgrade to the Frank B which will probably arrive in 3rd quarter 44.

For Navy fighters still no Jacks or Georges flying although both have been available to produce for months and months. Stuck with A6M5c as my best fighter....and they do well in a anti bomber role, but that is about it. I really miss Jack and George.

There is one squadron of Frances out and about, and one squadron of Peggy.

Two squadrons of Ki61d; and because of the upgrades only a few squadrons of Oscar IVs.

PDU off isn't for the feint of heart! It is easy to make mistakes costing supply, 1943 seems particularly rough for Japan in the air. I am super worried about night bombing once the B29s arrive....as I think Japan is really nerfed in PDU off there although I have taken all the proper precautions.