Wait... What! (NO Chris)

[GetAssista]

Now for some specifics. Almost no CV Sam, and too few factories to George and Frank-a to my JFB liking. Those are your most important airframes. Some plans for the dedicated kamikaze airframes would be nice too.

In general, you seem to want your R&D all over the place with not enough concentration on what is critical for Japan - fighters. It is not clear if you are playing PDU On or Off, but most of the unimportant airframes (transports/recons/patrols/level bombers) do not really deserve research, and you can produce them by rearranging older production factories as soon as they become available historically. And many do not deserve production at all like some of Randy's or A6M3, or non-torp Peggy. Exotic jets/Shindens are also debatable.

ORIGINAL: Uncivil Engineer
3) Yeah, 30 is my target for just about everything (or multiples of 30 for engines). As you can see, many of the cities don't have much supply at start so production and/or research can't be increased (or can't be increased much).

What I see is a lot of cities with lots of supplies and less-than-30-size R&D factories. Which is a good thing so far by the way since you might want to change your R&D priorities

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: GetAssista

Now for some specifics. Almost no CV Sam, and too few factories to George and Frank-a to my JFB liking. Those are your most important airframes. Some plans for the dedicated kamikaze airframes would be nice too.

In general, you seem to want your R&D all over the place with not enough concentration on what is critical for Japan - fighters. It is not clear if you are playing PDU On or Off, but most of the unimportant airframes (transports/recons/patrols/level bombers) do not really deserve research, and you can produce them by rearranging older production factories as soon as they become available historically. And many do not deserve production at all like some of Randy's or A6M3, or non-torp Peggy. Exotic jets/Shindens are also debatable.

ORIGINAL: Uncivil Engineer
3) Yeah, 30 is my target for just about everything (or multiples of 30 for engines). As you can see, many of the cities don't have much supply at start so production and/or research can't be increased (or can't be increased much).

What I see is a lot of cities with lots of supplies and less-than-30-size R&D factories. Which is a good thing so far by the way since you might want to change your R&D priorities

+1

[Uncivil Engineer]

ORIGINAL: GetAssista

Now for some specifics. Almost no CV Sam, and too few factories to George and Frank-a to my JFB liking. Those are your most important airframes. Some plans for the dedicated kamikaze airframes would be nice too.

In general, you seem to want your R&D all over the place with not enough concentration on what is critical for Japan - fighters. It is not clear if you are playing PDU On or Off, but most of the unimportant airframes (transports/recons/patrols/level bombers) do not really deserve research, and you can produce them by rearranging older production factories as soon as they become available historically. And many do not deserve production at all like some of Randy's or A6M3, or non-torp Peggy. Exotic jets/Shindens are also debatable.

ORIGINAL: Uncivil Engineer
3) Yeah, 30 is my target for just about everything (or multiples of 30 for engines). As you can see, many of the cities don't have much supply at start so production and/or research can't be increased (or can't be increased much).

What I see is a lot of cities with lots of supplies and less-than-30-size R&D factories. Which is a good thing so far by the way since you might want to change your R&D priorities

OK, I've already increased R&D at cities with large supply. Since the turn hasn't gone off yet, I can still make changes.

[Uncivil Engineer]

ORIGINAL: GetAssista

It is not clear if you are playing PDU On or Off, but most of the unimportant airframes (transports/recons/patrols/level bombers) do not really deserve research, and you can produce them by rearranging older production factories as soon as they become available historically.

PDU on and Realistic R&D.

OK, question on IJN recon/patrol aircraft. At start the Jake seems preferable to Pete, Alf, and Dave. I've already changed Pete production to Jakes and will replace all Petes, Alfs, and Daves over time. Meanwhile, many of the older planes will train ASW, recon, and search. Those on the "front lines" and on ships will do their normal jobs.

The Jake replacement that does not (I assume) require research, the Jake -1b, becomes available 11/44, and increases the gun value of the Jake. What about Norm? Does it just magically become available 8/43? Or must it be researched? Since it's in R&D on Dec 7 I assume it must be researched to become available. I haven't made it as far as 8/43 in a game yet to find out. If research is not required, I can change that factory to some naval fighter.

Next question - Rex? Seems to be a replacement for the Rufe, but it has less range and bomb load, but increased durability. Looks like something I can do without. Replace it with a naval fighter, too?

IJN land-based patrol craft - Start with C5M2 Babs - decent range and SR 1. The first available replacement, Judy -1C 10/42 gives up range and maneuverability for slight increase in durability and SR 2. CV-rated, but can also be used on a runway. Next is Irving-C - better range, gun, and durability than Babs, but less maneuverable and SR 2. Is it needed? Finally, the Myrt. CV rated like Judy, and much better range. Does it need to be researched to replace the Judy -1C, or does it magically become available? One of these (Judy -1C, Irving-C, or Myrt) needs to be available to replace the Babs, or more Babs need to be produced.

[BillBrown]

No aircraft model has to be researched. They all have an availability date and that is when you will be able to start building them.
The R&D only works to make them available before that date.

[Uncivil Engineer]

ORIGINAL: BillBrown

No aircraft model has to be researched. They all have an availability date and that is when you will be able to start building them.
The R&D only works to make them available before that date.

Yikes! Been playing this stupid game about 10 years, and DID NOT KNOW THAT!

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Uncivil Engineer

ORIGINAL: BillBrown

No aircraft model has to be researched. They all have an availability date and that is when you will be able to start building them.
The R&D only works to make them available before that date.

Yikes! Been playing this stupid game about 10 years, and DID NOT KNOW THAT!

Ouch.

That is why we were suggesting a very focused RnD on a short list of planes that can make a REAL impact upon your game. These are generally fighters. Which ones will vary based upon your strategy. George, Frank, Sam are common ones to focus on, but don't think that there isn't some thought needed to decide which ones.

These have been discussed at great length in several other threads recently. You should review the discussions to get a good perspective.

[Uncivil Engineer]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

ORIGINAL: Uncivil Engineer

ORIGINAL: BillBrown

No aircraft model has to be researched. They all have an availability date and that is when you will be able to start building them.
The R&D only works to make them available before that date.

Yikes! Been playing this stupid game about 10 years, and DID NOT KNOW THAT!

Ouch.

That is why we were suggesting a very focused RnD on a short list of planes that can make a REAL impact upon your game. These are generally fighters. Which ones will vary based upon your strategy. George, Frank, Sam are common ones to focus on, but don't think that there isn't some thought needed to decide which ones.

These have been discussed at great length in several other threads recently. You should review the discussions to get a good perspective.

Good thing for me the first turn hasn't been sent yet. My opponent is on a trip to the Baltic and won't be home til April 26, so I have restarted from scratch and have 11 days to re-do everything.

Question on Sam - A7M2 is no better than A6M5c, so I assume you would want to research the A7M3-J for its gun? I tentatively have 8 factories for this. Also, 8 for Frank, George, and Rufe, 6 for Tojo, and 5 for Judy and Jill. That leaves a few for other stuff I'm still undecided on.

Here's my understanding on how the Rufe to A6M8 series works - starting with 8 Rufe factories researched to 30(0), the Rufe becomes available in April 42 (not likely that it will advance to March). On April 1, one factory goes into production and the other 7 convert to 30(0) A6M5 and stay repaired. These generate 210 research points per month, allowing the M5 to advance ~2 months every month, and becoming available in about Oct 42, maybe Sep (advancing 10-11 months from Aug 43 in 5-6 months).
When the A6M5 research is complete, 1 factory goes into production (and all A6M2 producing factories convert to A6M5, for ~120-140 A6M5 per month) and the other 6 convert to 30(0) A6M5b and stay repaired. These generate 180 research points per month, advancing the A6M5b a month every 17 days (100/6). Thus, the A6M5b advances from Jun 44 to mid 43. Rinse and repeat with the A6M5c. Is this right?

[GetAssista]

ORIGINAL: Uncivil Engineer
Question on Sam - A7M2 is no better than A6M5c...

Really? JFBs would cry blasphemy. What kind of mod are you playing?
Just look on the stats once again, now paying attention to where it really matters - speed, climb and durability

Almost nobody researches A7M3-J because it is a non-CV model which does not benefit from A7M2 R&D in stock scenarios.
Your description of R&D process is correct. There can be a shortcut (switching factories to later models at some point w/o researching intermediate ones to production) but it comes with its own drawbacks plus you really need to discuss it with your opponent cause many view it as too much of an advantage

[Uncivil Engineer]

ORIGINAL: GetAssista

ORIGINAL: Uncivil Engineer
Question on Sam - A7M2 is no better than A6M5c...

Really? JFBs would cry blasphemy. What kind of mod are you playing?
Just look on the stats once again, now paying attention to where it really matters - speed, climb and durability

Almost nobody researches A7M3-J because it is a non-CV model which does not benefit from A7M2 R&D in stock scenarios.
Your description of R&D process is correct. There can be a shortcut (switching factories to later models at some point w/o researching intermediate ones to production) but it comes with its own drawbacks plus you really need to discuss it with your opponent cause many view it as too much of an advantage

You're right - I was really only looking at gun value and range. Thanks for the info.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Uncivil Engineer

ORIGINAL: GetAssista

ORIGINAL: Uncivil Engineer
Question on Sam - A7M2 is no better than A6M5c...

Really? JFBs would cry blasphemy. What kind of mod are you playing?
Just look on the stats once again, now paying attention to where it really matters - speed, climb and durability

Almost nobody researches A7M3-J because it is a non-CV model which does not benefit from A7M2 R&D in stock scenarios.
Your description of R&D process is correct. There can be a shortcut (switching factories to later models at some point w/o researching intermediate ones to production) but it comes with its own drawbacks plus you really need to discuss it with your opponent cause many view it as too much of an advantage

You're right - I was really only looking at gun value and range. Thanks for the info.

This is what I see for Scen 1 … these are not the same plane at all ….
392 takes the Hellcat out of dominance, and it can stand with the F4U.
A6M is outclassed badly by the F6F …

The A7M3 is a weird duck … an NF but not classed as one. 10 knots faster, but gives up a lot of maneuver. And the 30mm type 5 has poor accuracy. Range and effect are great, but against other fighters I have not had great success. It does do well against 4E's, but you have other AC at that time that do as well. I'm not a fan.

[Uncivil Engineer]

Let the game begin !!

My opponent has returned from his Baltic trip and had 10 days with the Dec 7 turn (and some computer hiccups that caused delays) and we have finally finished Turn ONE. The aircraft losses for Dec 7 are shown below - this is with NO surprise. His fighters and bombers could fly, but not attack any Japanese base. So, the Warhawks on Luzon flew CAP and the B-17s flew naval attack (although they didn't hit anything). Betty losses were due to some bombing missions being flown before all the sweeps.





Edit to add: I'm not displeased with these results. Let's hope it can continue (or improve).

[Uncivil Engineer]

Here's the situation in and around Malaya before the Dec 8 turn and some planned actions for Dec 8.




Edit to add: It looks like Force Z is headed out of the area, along with most of the ships in port at Singapore, probably empty. Although in range of his torpedo bombers at Singapore, the 4 CV TF under Nagumo was not attacked. It will move NW on Dec 8 to maybe pick off some runners, but also fly LRCAP over the Kuantan invasion TF going in with cover from BBs Kongo and Haruna. Four other BBs will cover the Mersing force prior to its landing on Dec 9. Allied air power on Malaya seems to be diminished from what I recall from other games, so he may have flown some out to Palembang, or elsewhere.

The Japanese suffered one major disaster (not shown on the map); the 7 oilers supporting the KB were moving from Etorofu to Cam Ranh Bay, but ran into 3 British destroyers fleeing Hong Kong. The 2 IJN escorting DDs sustained minimal damage, but ALL SEVEN AOs WERE SUNK (VP = 7*28 = 196). OUCH! Four CVs and 4 BBs went through the same space without incident. Either my routing was poor, or he got lucky (or both).

2nd Edit: There may be mines at Mersing, as a CM was sunk there by carrier DBs.

[Uncivil Engineer]

The Dec 7 landings on Luzon (slightly different from my previous post concerning this):




Edit to add: The 2 regiments of 16 Div that start at Amami Oshima are enroute to Atimonan, but show Legaspi as destination (Atimonan is a waypoint.) The Miura Det from Babeldaob is also enroute with same deception. He may not get intel on these TFs and if he does it may not make any difference, but I've got to try something to counter his code breaking advantage. The plan is to get 16 Div fully formed at Atimonan before moving through Lucena and Batangas to Manila.

In the meantime, Tanaka and Kanno have already recombined into 2 Formosa Rgt at Vigan. After capturing that base on Dec 8, they will move to join the rest of 48 Div enroute from Pescadores to San Fernando, with amphib assault expected on Dec 9. If possible I want 48 Div in contact at Clark Field when 16 Div captures Manila. If he tries to defend both, his Manila defenders may have no retreat route. We'll see how he plays it.

I haven't decided on a mission for 65 Bde, yet. Landing at Iba or Batangas are my 2 favorite options, depending on which division (16 or 48) needs reinforcement. They'll load as soon as transports are available.

[Bif1961]

Good luck now that the hot war has begun, instead of the sitzkrieg you were facing while your opponent was on vacation.

[AleRonin]

Good luck and thanks for the AAR [:)]

[Uncivil Engineer]

Dec 8

The Kuantan landing went in as planned. One of the Dutch subs tried to interfere and took 7 hits for its effort.

Sub attack near Kuantan at 51,79

Japanese Ships
DD Hibiki
CA Takao
DD Michishio
DD Akatsuki
DD Arashio

Allied Ships
SS KXII, hits 7

The Makin landing was unmolested. Vigan, Aparri, Naga, Miri, Brunei, Puerto Princessa, Makin and Kota Bharu were all captured. Laoag on the NW tip of Luzon was captured by air drop; these guys will be extracted by air on Dec 9. Langkawi (near Alor Star) flipped to Japanese control. About 5 transports were sunk by air attack, the most significant being

Morning Air attack on TF, near Manila at 79,77

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 57 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 21 minutes

Japanese aircraft
D3A1 Val x 25

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
xAP President Madison, Bomb hits 16, and is sunk

Allied ground losses:
10 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 32 destroyed, 23 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 65 (36 destroyed, 29 disabled)

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP President Madison

I'm not sure what he loaded at Manila, but it's at the bottom of the bay now.

The landing at Atimonan is a day behind schedule and will go in on Dec 9, as well as the landing at Mersing. The amphib TF carrying the Guam landing force shows Wake as its destination, as does the amphib TF carrying the Tarawa landing force. Both will change to the true destinations when they get close to the waypoints.

CarDiv 1+ (CV Akagi, CV Kaga, and CVL Ryujo) will leave the east coast of Luzon for Saipan, then Truk, to keep an eye out for US carriers. And support operations around Rabaul.

[AleRonin]

I'm not sure what he loaded at Manila, but it's at the bottom of the bay now.

Lot of vehicles, I would say a BF or a tank bn.

[Uncivil Engineer]

ORIGINAL: AleRonin

I'm not sure what he loaded at Manila, but it's at the bottom of the bay now.

Lot of vehicles, I would say a BF or a tank bn.

He has 388 AFVs at Clark, so it's likely not one of the tank battalions. But, did he really think he could evacuate something from Manila with 2+ carriers sitting off the east coast of Luzon? It seems his fighters have left Luzon, too. Probably in central Philippine Islands or Mindanao. Or he could have bought them out. But, why would he?

[Uncivil Engineer]

Here's the latest (0200 Dec 9) in China -



Edit to add: Looks like a lot of Chinese units are heading for higher ground and not waiting for the Japanese to push them in that direction.

Phase 1 of my plan is to get all Chinese units SE of the red line (my future defensive front) out of there, by either retreat or destruction. Preferably retreat so they don't respawn at Chungking. Once both railroads are open for Japanese use all the way to Shanghai and Wuchang, then Phase 2 (the encirclement of Changsha) begins. In the southern part of China we'll prod the Chinese to move west, and try to keep those units from reaching Changsha. That last part might not be achievable.