From Here It SEEMS Like an Eternity...Imperial Japan's Thoughts

[Grotius]

Yeah, Perth is a long way to go for a Fast Transport TF. I take it you'd have no air cover to provide the TF? I can't remember where your CVs are now.

Is air transport an option?

[ny59giants]

I'm about to give advice to my RHS PBEM opponent. [:D]
 
Forget about using your ships for Fast Transport. It's not worth the risk. You have already felt the effects of going up against the Beauforts and other torpedo carrying LB. I would use your subs set at full speed with Perth as their destination (Sub Patrol vs Transport). Once there, change over to Transport and load up (remember to click on "do not unload"). You will get a higher amount of sys damage, but I have ran mine up to the low 40's without getting sunk (not our game, but my other PBEM in mid 8/42). They can be repaired after you are done. There is a faster turn around time vs going with only mission and/or cruise speed. 
 
Now, one of my trade secrets is out. [;)]

[John 3rd]

Good, sound, and thoughtful advice gentlemen. 
 
Comments:
1.  I will boost my speed on the I-Boats.  Michael--ANY troops I get out will be better then none!  I've got 20 I-Boats in groups of 4 making these runs.  Next lift should start in about 3 game days--approx Nov 1st.
 
2.  You guys have my agreement about the risks outweighing the benefits for a Fast Transport run from Koepang to Perth.
 
3.  The KB will begin to reform in Toyko Bay starting November 1st and then will sail.  Since I know that Brit CVs are at Perth, I COULD stage a raid there; however, he does have nearly 300 planes present.  I don't think ANY on CAP.  Perhaps I could sneak-in, strike, and run away!
 
Only other option would be to try to do something REALLY sneaky with the KB and get into his supply lanes somewhere and wreak a little havoc...
 
Thoughts
1.  I cannot believe that my opponents have done NOTHING for nearly 6 weeks.  Have I hurt them that badly that they can't?  I doubt it.  Are they simply conservative?  perhaps...
 
2.  I am trying to spring a surprise next round in Burma.  I moved two Sentai of Tonys to Mandalay and Lashio.  These 144 planes are at about 70 in XP and I am going to try to interdict the bomber stream coming into my troops.  The Allies have moved three units (a Brit Division, Art Reg, and support unit) into the hex where the roads turns south to Mandalay from Myitkyina.  I attacked there a few days ago and got a 1-1.  Since then I have sent another Inf Div, 2 Inf Brigades, and 2 Art Regiments--they will attack as my Tonys try to slow down the aerial assault.  It will be bloody!  Adding to this, I have 54 Zero and 150 Bombers (various types) who are going to hit the Allied ground units there at the same time.  Perhaps I can knock the troops back into the trail they emrged from...
 

[ny59giants]

Forgot to add, have the subs bring supplies to Perth. Evey little bit helps. [:D]
 
Do you have the base at Perth??  If so, then the subs set to transport will stay there after they unload supplies. If not, they will drop them off and start heading back. Thus, you would need to change them to patrol and have them go back to Perth. Then, you can chnage them to transport and do your evac. You may lose part of a day or two doing it this way. You can try it or go with the other method I described.

[John 3rd]

My Allie Nate and I managed to spring a trap on the Allies that actually worked! 

Having watched the endless Allied bomber stream nail our ground units for 2-3 weeks, we moved 4 Sentai of Tony (144 planes) to Lashio and Mandalay.  We set them on LR CAP at the location of where the railline turns south from Myitkyina towards Mandalay.

October 28, 1942 dawns bright and clear and the FURBALL commences!  Five major Allied raids come in throughout the day and our Tonys dive from out of the sun to slash through them!  The Allies send a total of 95 Fighters (mainly P-40/Hurricanes/Spitfires) and 282 bombers of various type.  Each of the five raids is met by between 16 to 47 Tony.  By the late-afternoon, the scores ends at 51 Allied Fighters (30 P-40/20 Spitfires/1 Hurricane) and 28 Bombers (total 85 planes) for 34 Tony (with only 23 pilots killed or wounded)!   A quick tally of the scores indicate a 2.4 to 1 kill advantage.  Not bad for late-October 1942.

Now the Allies are going to swing back and so we shift ALL the Tony to Mandalay and set them on LR CAP--Range 0.  Any Allied counterattack should meet up with 100 Tonys.  That might be bloodily fun to watch...

Taking advantage of the dogfighting overhead, a Japanese raid of 24 Zero and 67 Bombers hit the ALLIED troops for 250+ Cas.  This is the first Japanese attack on Allied troops in nearly two months. 

The combination of heavy Allied planes losses and a Japanese aerial ground attack greatly heartens the Japanese troops who launch a major counterattack of their own and manage to get a 4-1 ground assault on the 2nd UK Infantry Division, Carabeeners Tk Brigade, and an Artillery Regiment driving them back onto the rainforrest trails to the north. 

Japanese bombers shift their attention 60 miles to the east where a lone Japanese Infantry Division has been holding off no less then seven Allied ground units.  The 3 Inf Div, 2 Inf Brig, and 2 Artillery Regiments victoriously wheel to the east and advance towards these troops with high hopes of driving THESE troops back into Myitkyina...

A few days should tell for the results...
 

[FeurerKrieg]

Great to see you plan work in Burma!