Interesting that with all of that Allied stuff floating around, a sub can still get in and do some damage. That will make this bittersweet for your opponent. All of those explosions don't look good for the Wasp.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill
This is all the sub action from the turn. I had absolutely no luck apart from the Wasp.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Aug 22, 43
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ASW attack near Roi-Namur at 132,113
Japanese Ships
SS I-170
Allied Ships
DD Renshaw
CL Santa Fe
DD McKee
DD Brownson
DD Terry
DD Ringgold
SS I-170 launches 4 torpedoes at DD Renshaw
I-170 diving deep ....
DD Terry fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Ringgold fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Renshaw fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Terry fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Terry fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Terry fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Terry fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
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ASW attack near Roi-Namur at 131,113
Japanese Ships
SS I-24, hits 8
Allied Ships
BB Colorado
CA Pensacola
CL Boise
CL Trenton
DD Conway
DD Abbot
DMS Dorsey
AM Herald
AM Heed
APA Cambria
APA La Salle
APA Crescent City
APA President Monroe
APA President Jackson
APA American Legion
APA Harris
AKA Castor
AKA Oberon
AKA Mercury
AKA Aquarius
DD Endicott
DD Meade
DD Gillespie
DD Bailey
SS I-24 is sighted by escort
DD Endicott attacking submerged sub ....
DD Endicott loses contact with SS I-24
DD Meade fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Gillespie attacking submerged sub ....
DD Bailey fails to find sub and abandons search
Escort abandons search for sub
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ASW attack near Roi-Namur at 132,113
Japanese Ships
SS I-172
Allied Ships
DD Mahan
DD Fanning
SS I-172 is sighted by escort
DD Mahan fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Fanning fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
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ASW attack near Roi-Namur at 132,113
Japanese Ships
SS I-172, hits 15, on fire, heavy damage
Allied Ships
DD Gridley
DD Mahan
DD Fanning
SS I-172 launches 2 torpedoes at DD Gridley
DD Mahan fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Fanning attacking submerged sub ....
DD Mahan attacking submerged sub ....
DD Fanning fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Mahan fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Fanning fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Fanning attacking submerged sub ....
DD Fanning fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Fanning fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
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Sub attack near Roi-Namur at 132,114
Japanese Ships
SSX Ha-23, hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
Allied Ships
CA Chester
BB New Mexico
BB West Virginia
CA Astoria
CL Helena
CL St. Louis
CLAA Reno
DD Hobby
DD Barton
DD Lardner
DD Lansdowne
SSX Ha-23 launches 2 torpedoes at CA Chester
DD Hobby fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Barton fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Lardner fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Lansdowne attacking submerged sub ....
Sounds of submarine breaking up detected!
Escort abandons search for sub
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Sub attack near Roi-Namur at 131,113
Japanese Ships
SS I-16
Allied Ships
CV Wasp, Torpedo hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Baltimore
CA Chicago
CLAA Oakland
CLAA San Juan
CLAA San Diego
DD Braine
DD Radford
DD Pringle
DD Philip
DD Nicholas
Massive explosion on CV Wasp
Ammo storage explosion on CV Wasp
Fuel storage explosion on CV Wasp
SS I-16 launches 8 torpedoes at CV Wasp
DD Radford fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Pringle fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Philip fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Nicholas fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
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ASW attack near Roi-Namur at 131,113
Japanese Ships
SS I-20, hits 3
Allied Ships
BB Indiana
CA Vincennes
CA Minneapolis
CLAA Juneau
CLAA Atlanta
DD Eaton
DD McCalla
DD Monssen
DD Gwin
DD Waller
SS I-20 is sighted by escort
I-20 diving deep ....
DD McCalla fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Monssen fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Gwin attacking submerged sub ....
DD Waller fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Gwin attacking submerged sub ....
DD Waller fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Gwin fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Gwin fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Gwin fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
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Submarine attack near Roi-Namur at 131,113
Japanese Ships
SS I-24, hits 28, and is sunk
Allied Ships
BB Indiana
CA Vincennes
CA Minneapolis
CLAA Juneau
CLAA Atlanta
DD Eaton
DD McCalla
DD Monssen
DD Gwin
DD Waller
SS I-24 is sighted by escort
DD McCalla attacking submerged sub ....
DD Monssen attacking submerged sub ....
DD Gwin attacking submerged sub ....
SS I-24 forced to surface!
DD Gwin firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Waller firing on surfaced sub ....
DD McCalla firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Monssen firing on surfaced sub ....
Sub slips beneath the waves
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ASW attack near Roi-Namur at 131,113
Japanese Ships
SS I-20
Allied Ships
CA Baltimore
CA Chicago
CLAA Oakland
CLAA San Diego
DD Bennett
DD Radford
DD Pringle
DD Philip
DD Nicholas
SS I-20 is sighted by escort
DD Radford fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Pringle fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Philip fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Nicholas fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Pringle fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
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ASW attack near Roi-Namur at 131,113
Japanese Ships
SS I-20
Allied Ships
CLAA San Juan
SS I-20 launches 6 torpedoes at CLAA San Juan
CLAA San Juan fails to find sub, continues to search...
CLAA San Juan fails to find sub, continues to search...
CLAA San Juan fails to find sub, continues to search...
CLAA San Juan fails to find sub, continues to search...
CLAA San Juan fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
The heroic I-16 makes another successful attack and escapes unscathed again. It will now retire to Truk to re-arm.
Weather prevented any air action.
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Sub attack near Roi-Namur at 131,113
Japanese Ships
SS I-16
Allied Ships
CL Columbia, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Balch
SS I-16 launches 8 torpedoes at CL Columbia
I-16 diving deep ....
DD Balch fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Balch attacking submerged sub ....
DD Balch fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Balch attacking submerged sub ....
DD Balch fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
I have changed my mind on the Ki-201. Given that Germany could have produced the Me-262 a lot earlier than they actually did it seems reasonable to suppose that Japan could have had it's second rate cloned version in the air by 1946 had history only taken a very slightly altered course.
The initial plan is to produce 30 a month, and given that I am only starting R&D now it won't get accelerated much if at all. If things get desperate later on I may expand this.
I had moved my two best IJA fighter groups into Moulmein, one flying the Ki-61b Tony the other the Ki-44-IIb Tojo. As I expected this caused him to Sweep the base with his massed P-47s and P-38s, which is generally the way he starts out attacking an airbase.
Well, I think we actually won this battle Having a radar really seems to help the CAP against Sweep, as does having very good pilots.
32 P-47 + 19 P-38 = 51
27 Ki-44 + 14 Ki-61 = 41
All the Oscars, Nells, P-40s and Hurricanes were lost elsewhere.
Very good. 1,25:1 ratio against P-47 and P-38 sweep above own base.
He lost (KIA) probably 30-40 good pilots You how many 20? with many of them WIA so they still will back to You.
I would also appreciate if You give us pre battle details (grup settings , pilots XP, etc)
CAP engaged:
1st Sentai with Ki-61-Ib Tony (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 24 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 17000 , scrambling fighters to 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes
64th Sentai with Ki-44-IIb Tojo (0 airborne, 9 on standby, 29 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters to 25000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes
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Morning Air attack on Moulmein , at 55,55
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 36 NM, estimated altitude 23,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 34
Ki-61-Ib Tony x 33
CAP engaged:
1st Sentai with Ki-61-Ib Tony (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
25 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 17000 , scrambling fighters between 17000 and 33000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes
64th Sentai with Ki-44-IIb Tojo (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
26 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 25000 and 34000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 44 minutes
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Morning Air attack on Moulmein , at 55,55
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 41 NM, estimated altitude 23,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 31
Ki-61-Ib Tony x 26
Allied aircraft
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 23
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 2 destroyed
CAP engaged:
1st Sentai with Ki-61-Ib Tony (5 airborne, 4 on standby, 7 scrambling)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
10 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 17000 , scrambling fighters between 17000 and 28000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 36 minutes
64th Sentai with Ki-44-IIb Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
24 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 19000 and 32000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 46 minutes
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Morning Air attack on Moulmein , at 55,55
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 46 NM, estimated altitude 29,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 27
Ki-61-Ib Tony x 18
Allied aircraft
P-38H Lightning x 23
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-61-Ib Tony: 2 destroyed
CAP engaged:
1st Sentai with Ki-61-Ib Tony (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 4 scrambling)
9 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 17000 , scrambling fighters between 20000 and 27000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 50 minutes
64th Sentai with Ki-44-IIb Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
21 plane(s) not yet engaged, 6 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 19000 and 26170.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 54 minutes
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Morning Air attack on Moulmein , at 55,55
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 50 NM, estimated altitude 41,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 26
Ki-61-Ib Tony x 10
Aircraft Attacking:
2 x P-47D2 Thunderbolt sweeping at 35000 feet
CAP engaged:
1st Sentai with Ki-61-Ib Tony (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 5 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 17000 , scrambling fighters between 21000 and 35000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes
64th Sentai with Ki-44-IIb Tojo (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 13 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
10 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 21000 and 36740.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 51 minutes
The last sweep is telling. The height is the deciding factor. Great result, but my opponent always comes in at over 31k, so always gets this kind of massively favorable kill ratio.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill
If I can trade 2 for 1 from this point on I'll be very happy.
Sweep vs. CAP is something I'm testing out at the moment in a sandbox. This is showing quite surprising results and it's still in progress, but one thing is very clear - the Ki-44 IIc is significantly better than its predecessors. This plane arrives in March 1944. The Ki-43 IIIa is also vastly better than the Ki-43 IIb, and will arrive later this year, can't remember exactly when.
We have decided to change our altitude house rule as follows:-
Nothing can fly above 27,000ft except for ...
Recon types.
4E bombers.
Designated "high-altitude fighters" i.e. those which do not exhibit a maneuver rating drop-off until the "32k+" band. These can go up to 35,000ft.
This will probably benefit him more than me but I just think it's silly to impose artificial per-plane restrictions.
Given this new rule, I have done some Sweep vs. CAP testing to see which of my potential fighter aircraft are the least useless.
Mostly I was seeing which army planes could stand up to the P-47N on a Sweep at 35,000ft, and the answer is not much, except for the Ki-201.
However, there were a couple of surprising results:-
1) The Ki-44 IIc is only slightly worse than the Ki-84a Frank, and with a SR of 1 compared to 3 it is a no-brainer as to which to prioritise.
2) The Ki-84r Frank is better than the Ki-83. So, although they both have a SR of 3, one engine compared to two makes for another easy choice, at least for defensive purposes. The Ki-84r can almost go 1 to 1 with the Jug, all else being equal. It is about 3-5 times better than the Ki-84a variant (under these rules).
I also tested the Ki-94 II, and it is basically identical to the Ki-84r.
