Beware the Dorniers! Scen 17 Tier 3 (Lowpe vs AI (Spoilers))

[Lowpe]

Almost June, 1942

Will be getting the A6M3 in June at a rate of one per day. Not much, but will help. I can't keep my fighter squadrons filled out.

Nicks finally making it to the front lines, one squadron to Rabaul area, a Chutai to Ambon area.

Djambi taken, but 50 oil facilities damaged.

A6M8 r&d going strong with now 8 repaired size 30s, but still don't have engine bonus yet. Only one Tojo IIa factory repaired and researching. Everything else is still repairing.

[PaxMondo]

Yes, it is very difficult to keep up with fighter losses … the air war is far more aggressive than PBEM simply because Andy AI has far more AC and will use them. Watch your economy. Easy to over extend. Control your usage by your pace of advance …

almost 500K sorties already, that's a lot of supply. as you have the chance, post your industry

[Lowpe]

Economy.

I have expanded my naval builds a bit.

I have kept my vehicle product on the lowish side.

I have not really been running around all over with the IJN.

I am building all ships (even merchants). Accelerating some CVs as points allow.

I have had to spend a lot on rebuilding oil and some shipyards. Not rebuilding anything else generally speaking.

My Manchuko garrison is strong really only pulled some engineers out.

China is much quieter than normal.

[PaxMondo]

Ahh, that explains a lot … (China). Interesting so far how it is playing out … not being involved in China is helping with your supply issues and certainly helping to ease your AC requirements. Of course, not taking down China early also has costs …

really interesting. When do you plan to have George and Frank?

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

Ahh, that explains a lot … (China). Interesting so far how it is playing out … not being involved in China is helping with your supply issues and certainly helping to ease your AC requirements. Of course, not taking down China early also has costs …

really interesting. When do you plan to have George and Frank?

Won't be getting them super early.[X(] Only 5 on Frank A, 3 on George, 2 on Jack.

But halfway thru June I will get the engine bonus for A6M8 (which is already at 4/45) so I will be getting them early 1943 and they will do typical George work albeit at shorter ranges. Since the AI doesn't sweep, I should be ok.

I also have 5 on Tony for the armored Army interceptor...should come in late 1942. Once I get the 61-Ia, I will move most of the r&d facilities to Frank A or Ki94.

Plus four on Tojo IIa, once they arrive in July (guessing), I will move most of those r&d facilities over to Frank or Ki94 or perhaps a Kamikaze.

My r&d is definitely not pbem optimized, and the AI might very well really destroy me come 1943, but I think I should be okay if just barely.

Other than Sam, I have not decided upon late war fighter. To be honest, I am thinking rockets for giggles.[:)]

I have gone kind of heavy Peggy, Frances. I want to see if you can actually bomb Allied forces in 1944. Would like Patsy too...I also want to go heavy Grace.

Plus I will have a semi strong FB base, not up to pbem madness levels, but strong...with 5 factories on Randy.

[PaxMondo]

those rockets aren't much giggles … the short range is a real downside, even in the HI they are hard to use effectively. And the DUR, well you lose about 30% per mission. The climb rate though is insane, so they make interceptions, just that you lose so many pilots and aircraft in every encounter …

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

those rockets aren't much giggles … the short range is a real downside, even in the HI they are hard to use effectively. And the DUR, well you lose about 30% per mission. The climb rate though is insane, so they make interceptions, just that you lose so many pilots and aircraft in every encounter …

As part of a low layered cap, I bet they will play their part very well. We will see if we get that far.

Your experience mirrors Mr. Kanes, but I will be using them differently I think.

[PaxMondo]

they will, just that the losses will be really high, I mean we're talking single digit DUR. I tested them way back, the results were depressing. you know how you can lose 10% of your pilots to auto-kami attacks? Well with these rockets are like losing more like +30% per mission. The losses are hard to sustain … just my experience. If the rockets would actually down the aircraft they hit, it would be less painful. But just like the other auto-kami attacks, rarely does the fighter hitting the bomber cause the bomber to be lost … anyway, just my experience. looking forward to '45 when you get them!

[8D]

PS: If you've already sandboxed them and figured out how to use them and avoid the losses, please share. It wasn't that I couldn't get them to be useful, its just their losses were always too high …

[Lowpe]

May 31, 1942

Northern tip of Java secured.

BB spotted steaming north, north west in Java sea...I would like to get the Yamato into this group, but she is at Balikpapen. Fast BB Hei is at Batavia and would be savaged by the Prince of Wales if the fight turned into a slugfest.

No troop convoys to protect around Batavia...

Tjilatjap is a very strong Allied air base...Japanese fighters really need some rest at Kalidjati and Batavia.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo


PS: If you've already sandboxed them and figured out how to use them and avoid the losses, please share. It wasn't that I couldn't get them to be useful, its just their losses were always too high …

It has been so long since I actually played with them, but you are certainly doing a good job of talking me out of them.[:)]

The other area I want to play with for giggles is the big gun planes.

[RangerJoe]

I have a question that might sound stupid or strange, presuming that the Japanese had good intelligence, why would they attack against such odds? Yes, you are occupying the territory but it is neither quick nor easy. Think if you had a human opponent!

[Lowpe]

June 1, 1942

Allies flexing their air muscles on Java...no way can I fight these kind of attacks.[:(]

In other news, A6M3 starts production, I am mulling increasing it to size 60 from 30. That would be able to keep 1-2 squadrons active per month until the A6M8 arrives.

Next fighter to look forward to is the Tojo IIa in August maybe sometime in July.

A squadron of Nicks arriving in Rabaul have caused the Allies to stop attacks there -- without any combats. AI is pretty good at this.

5th Carrier Division headed for radar upgrades, will be out of action for a month.



Morning Air attack on Kalidjati , at 50,99

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 9

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIa Trop x 24
Hurricane IIb Trop x 22
P-40E Warhawk x 17
Beaufighter VIc x 6
B-25C Mitchell x 52

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 damaged
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 2 damaged
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed on ground
G3M2 Nell: 1 destroyed on ground
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb Trop: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed
B-25C Mitchell: 7 damaged

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

I have a question that might sound stupid or strange, presuming that the Japanese had good intelligence, why would they attack against such odds? Yes, you are occupying the territory but it is neither quick nor easy. Think if you had a human opponent!

Why climb Mount Everest? [;)]

[Lowpe]

June 2, 1942

Allied combat ships getting better, but we still manage to sink two Leander class light cruisers, but it costs us a decent destroyer and many damaged:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Batavia at 50,98, Range 4,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Hiei, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 1
DD Arashio, Shell hits 1
DD Ushio, Shell hits 18, and is sunk
DD Namikaze
DD Karii
TB Otori, Shell hits 3, on fire

Allied Ships
DD Karachi, Shell hits 1
DD Basque
CL Artemis, Shell hits 3
CL Aurora, Shell hi
Night Time Surface Combat, near Kalidjati at 50,99, Range 4,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Mikuma, Shell hits 4
CA Kumano
CL Jintsu, Shell hits 3, heavy fires
CL Yura
CL Abukuma, Shell hits 1, on fire
CL Tatsuta
DD Wakaba
DD Asakaze
DD Matsukaze
DD Sawakaze
TB Hiyodori
TB Kari

Allied Ships
DD Karachi, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Basque
CL Artemis, Shell hits 5, heavy fires
CL Aurora, Shell hits 9, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk

Night Time Surface Combat, near Kalidjati at 51,99, Range 6,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Mikuma
CA Kumano, Shell hits 1
CL Jintsu, heavy fires
CL Yura
CL Abukuma, on fire
CL Tatsuta, Shell hits 1
DD Wakaba
DD Asakaze
DD Matsukaze
DD Sawakaze
TB Hiyodori
TB Kari

Allied Ships
DD Karachi, on fire
DD Basque, Shell hits 11, and is sunk
CL Artemis, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

[Lowpe]

June 6th, 1942

Well, the chances of Japan picking up more territory is starting to look decidedly bleak.[:)]

[Lowpe]

Near Batavia, Yamato swings into action:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Batavia at 49,97, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Yamato, Shell hits 1
DD Oboro
DD Yukaze
DD Namikaze, Shell hits 1
TB Sagi, Shell hits 2

Allied Ships
CA Vincennes, Shell hits 2
DD Walke
DD Shaw
DD Preston, Shell hits 2
DD Baroda
CL Antigone, Shell hits 1

And at Padang, west coast of Malaya..those destroyers are pretty heavily damaged.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Padang at 44,85, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Mikuma, Shell hits 3
CL Yura
DD Wakaba, Shell hits 2
DD Asakaze, Shell hits 3, heavy fires
DD Matsukaze, Shell hits 1, on fire
TB Hiyodori, Shell hits 2, heavy fires
TB Kari

Allied Ships
DD Merapi
PG Yarra, Shell hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD La Triomphant, Shell hits 7, heavy fires
AKA Edinburgh Victory, Shell hits 3, heavy fires

Allied ground losses:
12 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Japanese Ships Reported to be Approaching!
Allied TF begins to get underway

[RangerJoe]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

I have a question that might sound stupid or strange, presuming that the Japanese had good intelligence, why would they attack against such odds? Yes, you are occupying the territory but it is neither quick nor easy. Think if you had a human opponent!

Why climb Mount Everest? [;)]

Because it is THERE! [:'(]

That said, I have yet to try a human opponent. Playing the Allies in this scenario just might give me a chance. [8|]

[Lowpe]

June 10, 1942

Forced two stacks of 5 units each of Dutch defenders into the mountains, and are now moving southeast...

TF Mogami looked to bombard all the air strength at Tjilatjap, but runs into three enemy task forces...

Carrier Division 1&2 moves closer to Batavia and finds heavy cruisers and light cruisers...

Japanese fighter strength has recovered at Batavia, and for some strange reason there was only one moderate attack on the carriers, task force Mogami wasn't attacked in any strength and Zeroes from Batavia easily protected it while the damaged destroyers were neglected totally.

PS: Tjilatjap is only size 2 runway, seriously over stacked with 350 planes there.[:(]

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

PS: Tjilatjap is only size 2 runway, seriously over stacked with 350 planes there.[:(]

That's not over stacked; that's a skyscraper!

[RangerJoe]

The airfields must be using a parking garage. Time for night bombing . . .