Islands of Destiny: RA 5.0 Japanese Side

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: MakeeLearn

Which IJ plane(s) has served you the best?

KNEW that was going to be asked.

I am very disappointed with the SAM-J. Doesn't seem to perform very well at all.

SAM is solid but not spectacular.

GEORGE performs well and seems to be very tough. Don't lose as many of them as I do SAM.

The FRANK is it. This plane is my best over-all performer.

Until now, I have always held that producing TONY as a complement to FRANK was a good idea. No longer feel that way. Really think streamlining all IJA Fighter production into the FRANK line makes the best sense and has the most bang for the buck.

This is all anecdotal commentary but it is my observations so far into 1945.

Other people's opinions?

[HansBolter]

I'm in early 44 of Andymac's Ironman ported to Babes (scen 40) and I'm finding Mr. Frank to be my toughest opponent.

[adarbrauner]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

I've got a bunch of Chutai that I might be willing to try using this interesting development. Could spread them around Moppo, Fusan, Nagasaki, and other bases on the west side of Kyushu.

DO IT


After a while of this VLow altitude cure, the Rebel Admiral may difersify and layer his caps, thus hopefully opening breaches also for big heavily ecorted high altitude raids.

PS, would you consider hard training some groups for Vlow Nav attack?

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

ORIGINAL: MakeeLearn

Which IJ plane(s) has served you the best?

KNEW that was going to be asked.

I am very disappointed with the SAM-J. Doesn't seem to perform very well at all.

SAM is solid but not spectacular.

GEORGE performs well and seems to be very tough. Don't lose as many of them as I do SAM.

The FRANK is it. This plane is my best over-all performer.

Until now, I have always held that producing TONY as a complement to FRANK was a good idea. No longer feel that way. Really think streamlining all IJA Fighter production into the FRANK line makes the best sense and has the most bang for the buck.

This is all anecdotal commentary but it is my observations so far into 1945.

Other people's opinions?

I agree. It's anecdotal commentary. [:'(]

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

January 5, 1945

In a rather interesting development, a small strike of 2 SAM and 8 JUDY attack the Allied Death Star. They fly in at 1,000 Ft, penetrate the 1,400+ CAP, and attack CA Pensacola. Three Judy fall to AA but two big 800 Kg bombs SMACK the CA. CAP does not interfere with the withdrawal afterwards.

Interesting...

Lovely! And interesting...[&o]

[MakeeLearn]

Until now, I have always held that producing TONY as a complement to FRANK was a good idea. No longer feel that way. Really think streamlining all IJA Fighter production into the FRANK line makes the best sense and has the most bang for the buck.

That's what I was thinking. When the Frank comes online stop all other IJA fighter models and max the Frank's production.

Franks, Georges and Zeros.

This is all anecdotal commentary but it is my observations so far into 1945.

It will vary depending on persons tactics.

[pws1225]

The FRANK is it. This plane is my best over-all performer.

I agree. The Frank-r is the best IJA fighter for the late war. And for the IJN, it has to be the Shinden. If possible, start R&D on this airframe as soon as practicable. It slices through Allied 4E formations like a hot knife through butter.

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: pws1225

The FRANK is it. This plane is my best over-all performer.

I agree. The Frank-r is the best IJA fighter for the late war. And for the IJN, it has to be the Shinden. If possible, start R&D on this airframe as soon as practicable. It slices through Allied 4E formations like a hot knife through butter.

Good notes!

[Lowpe]

Sam J is not going to be any better at killing fighters than the Sam. The added firepower will never come into play against fighters, but rather it is the bomber killer that cannot be bettered but it is so tricky getting them up against bombers.

Perhaps its greatest role is to augment night fighters. Have you tried it there?

Tony is deep defense, deathstar cap traps in unexpected places (sr1).

Oscar is low cap, in low numbers with 300 Franks flying over them. Also works well as deathstar cap trap in unexpected places.

No Jack in this game.

But, as always Frank and Sam are the most important planes in the Japanese tool box.

[John 3rd]

I have assigned the majority of my Sam-J to Night Fighting.

What is your opinion of the Jack?

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

What is your opinion of the Jack?

It is by far and away the best plane most JFBs never make. Criminal.

[John 3rd]

January 10, 1945
Pago Pago

Don't see THIS very often in 1945--let alone 1942! Vc-Adm Yamaguchi Tamon lets his presense be known at Pago Pago. A Japanese Strike of 73 Sams, 50 DB, and 49 TB run up against 65 American Fighters. Though losses ares serious, the Strike gets thru and nails a bunch of Tankers full of fuel. Six are sunk or in sinking condition when the strike leaves.

Yamaguchi--following his aggressive style--orders the ENTIRE escort to peel off in two Tfs of 1 CA and 4 Dds each to strike the port that has over 20 TFs in it with--what appears to be--very little escort. Bold? YES! STUPID? Probably...

It is 1945. Japan has fuel for a deep strike so why not...

At Lunga, 60+ Jill and 60+ Judy depart for Ndeni to replace losses on the carriers. AOs moves in to refuel the TFs the day after tomorrow. We'll strike the TFs tomorrow, refuel and consolidate the TFs, reload strike planes, and then go again.

[John 3rd]

The 'soft' underbelly of the Allied supply line. CRAZY! It is fun though. I have two AOs TFs full of fuel supporting the TF. Another 45,000 Fuel sits at Tulagi. We are here for a while gang.

[adarbrauner]

Wow man!

[John 3rd]

In the big scheme it is not much but a TF with 280 planes can DO something here whereas in the main theatre 280 planes is NOTHING. Am funneling more aircraft from the CenPac bases SE towards Lunga.

Nagato and Ise arrive at Saipan and will soon head for the Home Islands. The rest of the Fleet shall depart Soerabaja in 4-5 days escorting another massive Tanker TF (400,000 Oil/Fuel) and then head for home leaving the DEI for the last time.

[adarbrauner]

Never say never...

[John 3rd]

On the 9th we saw something interesting. Two KB TFs moved to Singakwang and got caught up in Allied SS. CV Renkaku (A Shokaku-KAI) took a Torp and a fuel storage explosion--result: SYS 10, FLOT 4 with no major damage. Same day saw CL Ishitaka take TWO TTs and her damage was an amazing SYS 18 and FLOT 21(8), NUTS!

TFs return to Singapore on the 10th. Heading to Soerabaja and then, as detailed earlier, heading for home.

[Lecivius]

A CL took 2 torps, for only 21 FLOT damage? Am I missing something? [&:]

[Chickenboy]

Not as impressive as the Japanese CV with a dreaded "Fuel Storage Explosion" that only had 10 SYS and 4 FLOT damage, none major. Then again, this is John's Mod. [;)]

[Lecivius]

The game is BORKED