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That is why I always train up some Dinah III squadrons for naval search

I do this with all of those units.

Yeah, the Jake's need to disappear when there's heavy opposition. But not all, I've used some in night search to attempt to keep DL's up. I've also produced some of the recon versions of the Judy. They do better than the Jake's in heavy traffic because of their speed. They suffer too, but not as badly as the Jake's.

I've also produced some of the recon versions of the Judy.

Speaking of which, their use has put me above 500 for the use of the Aichi engines. Thinking about this for my next game when it comes to their production. Maybe I will get them to something over 500 for the engine bonus for the first Judy bomber types.

BTW, I've taken to using them on one of the CVL conversions that doesn't have an air group or torps (not until it upgrades), for use in night search. And while I'm on the subject I do this too with the Mogami(?) after her conversion to a CS (of sorts). She'll carry 10 Jakes.

Hi Mike,

Glad you're up again.

One warning about the late war when you get to it:

In my game with Castor Troy, I was sending invasion groups to atolls and included a bunch of the rocket armed LCI(G)s. I'm not sure how well late war things were tested in this game but these little ships were like dropping a nuke on those islands. Pretty much made any invasion a pushover no matter the fortification level of the island. Casualties of the bombardment literally in the 1000s.

Not sure how to house rule something like this.

ORIGINAL: Mundy

Hi Mike,

Glad you're up again.

One warning about the late war when you get to it:

In my game with Castor Troy, I was sending invasion groups to atolls and included a bunch of the rocket armed LCI(G)s. I'm not sure how well late war things were tested in this game but these little ships were like dropping a nuke on those islands. Pretty much made any invasion a pushover no matter the fortification level of the island. Casualties of the bombardment literally in the 1000s.

Not sure how to house rule something like this.

I haven't had the privilege of using those ships but I would guess that the only way to control them would be in TF size and number of TF's allowed to bombard the target....GP

Probably. I think I had 20-30 of them in each group.

I really didn't feel bad about it at the time as he had been handling me roughly the whole game.

ORIGINAL: Mundy

Hi Mike,

Glad you're up again.

One warning about the late war when you get to it:

In my game with Castor Troy, I was sending invasion groups to atolls and included a bunch of the rocket armed LCI(G)s. I'm not sure how well late war things were tested in this game but these little ships were like dropping a nuke on those islands. Pretty much made any invasion a pushover no matter the fortification level of the island. Casualties of the bombardment literally in the 1000s.

Not sure how to house rule something like this.

Good to see you, Mundy. Thanks for the info. I'll add it to the 1945 folder. [:D] Seriously, I haven't had any experience with them. Wonder if mines will make a significant dent in them?

Still working on the easy stuff. Did all the Ansyu-C, Kiso and To'su xAKLs.

Ansyu-C: All will be converted to PBs. Originally, I liked them for their (relatively) long range as faster (14 kt) escorts, but eventually realized that they were excellent for fast transport TFs. Capacity of 1000 was nice and they usually could get in and out without being spotted in 1 ship convoys. I'll use them in both capacities.

Kiso: I converted 52 to ACM, 31 to PB with 16 currently in TFs. The survivors of those remaining 16 will be converted to PBs. None will remain as xAKLs.

To'su: 48 converted to ACM, 43 to PB with 1 in a TF. It'll convert to a PB if she survives. None will remain as xAKLs.

I converted more to ACMs than last game. They will maintain defensive minefields until that base becomes a frontline base. The ACMs at the frontline bases are doomed to die.

Total breakdown:

Ansyu-C: 68 PB, 39 xAKL until they reach a port where they can convert.

Kiso: 48 PB, 52 ACM, 16 xAKL

To'su: 46 PB, 42 ACM, 1 xAKL

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli
Good to see you, Mundy. Thanks for the info. I'll add it to the 1945 folder. [:D] Seriously, I haven't had any experience with them. Wonder if mines will make a significant dent in them?

Thanks.

Castor and I are about to flip sides and try again, so I need inspiration from the Japanese side.

Ansyu C eat a lot of fuel, are 10vp, I have started to change how I use them because of those two factors.

I really don't find 14knot cargo only fast transports that safe or useful especially during the amphib bonus. Every now and then they are...still, less than a 1K vp, and if you get use out them go for it.

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Ansyu C eat a lot of fuel, are 10vp, I have started to change how I use them because of those two factors.

I really don't find 14knot cargo only fast transports that safe or useful especially during the amphib bonus. Every now and then they are...still, less than a 1K vp, and if you get use out them go for it.

Yep, I knew the fuel and VP arguments against them would appear. I am aware of that. I use them as fast transports to get supply to front line places. They can usually drop it off and get out of Dodge in a day.

I am reallocating the cargo ships to haul supplies. I'm trying to minimize use of the fuel hogs in places where the larger, more fuel efficient ships work well. Mainly the Home Islands area.

Well, the Ansyu-Cs as PBs can also carry supplies when they escort. For amphibious TFs, they can also carry supplies as well. In order to use them as escorts with supplies, they have to be in a FT TF first loading supplies, then transfer or simply be disbanded into port to wait for the other ships. If there is a minesweeper there, they can go into a minesweeping TF with no minesweepers. They work slower but they can take a mine hit and disband into the port. The Ansyu-C PB can also lay mines.

The To'su xAKls can also be converted to a small minelayer with free mines as well with some escort capability I do believe. You can convert them to something else, then back to the CMc again with another load of free mines. The only thing that can't convert back and forth is the ACM. Once there, no more conversions.

Personally, I skip the first two Judy dive bombers because of the engines and that also means the Judy recon. I might have to rethink that, at least for the recons.

More easy stuff done. Kwantung Air Force figured out. Basically, I put different aircraft types at different bases. Fighters, medium bombers, light bombers, recon and transports and got AS moving to cover each base sufficiently. There's just enough for everyone.

The medium bombers are stationed at Jehol. Their training will be bombing of any Chinese in range. They kept their Sallies and Lilys.

Fighters are all Nates at Harbin. Light bombers are Idas & Sonias at Mukden. Transports are Theresas (36 are just enough for the 4 chutai) at Tunghua. Recon are Babs at Mutenkiang.

Everyone will rest until their morale is 100. Then the training begins!

CEA Air Force is done too. Just gave them rookies to fill out their ready rooms (trial by fire). They will fight with what they have for now. Crappy planes now are better than damaged upgraded planes. They'll get "better" planes later. They always get the cast offs, but they'll give up their Idas and Sonias for Marys and Anns.

Now on to the first real challenge: R&D!

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

Personally, I skip the first two Judy dive bombers because of the engines and that also means the Judy recon. I might have to rethink that, at least for the recons.

I'm planning on allocating some R&D factories to the D4Y1 (3 tentatively) and keep the 40 and 80 Ha-60 engine factories going. The engine will accelerate from 10/42 to 6/42. The R&D factories will change to something else. I'll convert 1-2 operational factories to the Ha-60 to build the pool up to 500 to accelerate the D4Y1 & 2. I'll figure out when I can get the 2 & 3 the same month. Once I stop accelerating the 2, I'll stop building the Ha-60. I'll use the engines for the 1 (a little bit) and the 2 and recon models. It's the D4Y3 that I really want.

You don't have to do the separate research and development factories versus the production factories for the engines.

Edit for:

Here is a pretty Tunisian!

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

You don't have to do the separate research and development factories versus the production factories for the engines.

Ok, can you explain that please? Until an engine is operational, it's R&D. Unless you're talking about letting an R&D factory become operational when the time comes. But you lose the ability to convert the R&D factory to a different engine.

Edit: By the way, she has always been one of my favorites.

I'm looking for suggestions on (of all things) IJAAF transports. I really like the Helen transport, but that means more Ha-34 engines for the duration of the war. What do you guys think?

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

You don't have to do the separate research and development factories versus the production factories for the engines.

Ok, can you explain that please? Until an engine is operational, it's R&D. Unless you're talking about letting an R&D factory become operational when the time comes. But you lose the ability to convert the R&D factory to a different engine.

Edit: By the way, she has always been one of my favorites.

I think that you edited the wrong post, I think that you meant to mention that the Helen transport has always been one of your favorites.

As far as I know, engine factories are different that air frame factories. You should be able to switch from production to R & D if you need to. Save the game, try it to find out, then you will know. I am being harassed by someone on a different matter.

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

I'm looking for suggestions on (of all things) IJAAF transports. I really like the Helen transport, but that means more Ha-34 engines for the duration of the war. What do you guys think?

Mike, I run wild with Thalias. I absolutely love them. They're available immediately and use HA-35, an engine you're plentiful of in late game (especially if you don't go for Oscar).


Personally, I keep a 20 or 25 factory for the Thalia since I lose many of them (I use them a lot even if they're supply-intensive). Pool kept at 40 +/-10. If you don't lose tons of TRs like me, you can get away with 15/month I think.

Their big assets are: very good range for imperial standards, immediate availability, HA-35. It also depends very much on how you do use them. F.ex. Type-C Divisions are fully air-transportable.


In line of principle, I go very very very heavy with the Oscar line and ditch altogether the Tojo one (or produce a token amount), which messes up a little bit the engine planning.



I'm very keen to have the lowest possible amount of different models, so the immediate availability of the Thalias is another positive aspect for me.
Initially there are some Topsy-equipped groups around but it uses the HA-5, which used also by the Ann, a plane I do love immensely (together, bizzarrely enough, with the Mary). Thus, Topsy and Sally transports are used until pool are exhausted and that's it. The short-legged ones (I don't have the game in front of me: I think they're the Theresa but I might be wrong) are not used at all and they are probably the only planes I let rust in the warehouses (I use even the Jeans!).


Hope it helps

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

You don't have to do the separate research and development factories versus the production factories for the engines.

Ok, can you explain that please? Until an engine is operational, it's R&D. Unless you're talking about letting an R&D factory become operational when the time comes. But you lose the ability to convert the R&D factory to a different engine.

Edit: By the way, she has always been one of my favorites.

I think that you edited the wrong post, I think that you meant to mention that the Helen transport has always been one of your favorites.

As far as I know, engine factories are different that air frame factories. You should be able to switch from production to R & D if you need to. Save the game, try it to find out, then you will know. I am being harassed by someone on a different matter.

I'm unable to convert an R&D factory (engine or airframe) to an operational one and vice versa.

I was speaking about Claudia, not Helen. [;)]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli
I'm unable to convert an R&D factory (engine or airframe) to an operational one and vice versa.

I was speaking about Claudia, not Helen. [;)]

Uhm? What do you mean?