Turnaround? Lowpe (J) vs Tiemanj (A) Stock

[mind_messing]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Hey, M-M:

The Hyuga can definitely only take float planes. Not sure about the line, but probably only take floats too.

That makes sense, considering that the ships keep the BB designation (and not CV) and apparently could launch it's compliment of aircraft but they had to land elsewhere.

Let me know on your thoughts about the performance of the converted ships. I'm not sure of the worth of losing so many 36cm guns, but I've not thought too hard about it.

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: mind_messing
It seems you and I both have developed some sort of Napoleonic obsession with artillery.

To tell the truth it doesn't really feel right. To strip Manchuko like this. I do have artillery there, but it is on the beaches protecting versus an Allied invasion.[X(]

Without artillery, especially the pieces 15cm and larger, there is no way to stall Allied tanks.

To be quite honest, it should be on Honshu shelling the Allied frontline than sitting on a Manchurian or Korean shoreline.

[Lowpe]

Don't have the PP to buy the rest of the artillery out, and it is of questionable size.

BB/CS: They do really ramp up the AA on them. The Floats not flying in poor weather is a worry, but an additional 20 Rex's did really well in their first combat fight.

But, I like them and you really have to work a miracle to get them in a favorable surface engagement at the end of the war and pretty much one fight and they are out for the rest of the war anyhow. This way they may save a carrier or two and hopefully have a longer useful life.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Don't have the PP to buy the rest of the artillery out, and it is of questionable size.

I hear you ... very $$$$$

[panzer cat]

I've enjoyed following your campaign with great interest. I expect to be in the same position in my game vs John B in late 43 or early 44. With the strat bombing and contested sea lanes around japan are you able to keep your industry running? Are you repairing factories in the home islands?


scott

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: panzer cat

I've enjoyed following your campaign with great interest. I expect to be in the same position in my game vs John B in late 43 or early 44. With the strat bombing and contested sea lanes around japan are you able to keep your industry running? Are you repairing factories in the home islands?

scott

I repaired some fighters and engine factories for a while. Now, not so much. Never touched industry or oil or refineries.

I stockpiled supplies and should easily make 45, but not long after that. I just don't have the troops to counter his focused attack as they are still in the reinforcement que.

[panzer cat]

I thought that would be the answer, just try to keep aircraft production limping along.[: Look on the bright side, no atomic bomb.

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: panzer cat

I thought that would be the answer, just try to keep aircraft production limping along.[: Look on the bright side, no atomic bomb.

Yet... clock's ticking.

[Lowpe]

May 10th, 1944

No night bombing.

I have descended to having festung air defenses, where I move the squadrons around. Today he bombed the runways at Nagoya and Tokyo with everything the Allies have near Honshu, while I swept Hakodate with Franks, and Sapporo with Georges. The Georges ran into Hellcats and Spitfires and got trashed, while the Franks did much better.

Out west Singers finally fell which can't bode well for me.



One goal is to keep the Allies hitting my airfields and not the industry. The next goal is amassing enough troops to keep the Allies on Shikoku and not split Honshu in half. 3000 AV of the IJA gathered and moving there now with plentiful AA.

[Lowpe]

A look at the far west.

My retreat continues and is looking half decent. Need to get some troops in the JR terrain on the roads near Cam Ran Bay.

Several shattered divisions resting and recuperating with even more moving back. 1st and 2nd Tank Divisions now in reserve positions recovering/or digging in.

I am out of the plains, and the Allied air forces really did a number on my troops. But for now, I feel pretty good here. Over 300 engineers at Vinh with forts nearing 5 -- it should be a strong brake.

[Lowpe]

May 11th, 1944

No night bombing.

Over Gifu heavy dogfights and bombing runs by the Allies. Today, Gifu was an pretty nice little air festung but flying mostly Oscars...still, they do good service as they survive a sweep by Jugs and nail quite a few bombers.

Franks sweep Hokkaido for the second straight day.

Overall, a very nice day in the air. Once again, the Allies are bombing runways and not factories. The first 700+ AV of IJA troops reinforce Shikoku with the AA still marching in. Defending in the open, call me crazy.

[ny59giants]

Crazy!!

Attested by a mental health profession...me!

[Lowpe]

Forgot to take any screen shots....Allies sweep and bomb selectively airports on Honshu. We lose 90 to the Allied 30, 25 on the ground. But the industry is ok for another day.

Allies have a carrier task force heading west to Daito, I am hoping some Kamikazes escorted by Franks can do a job on them tomorrow...

Heavy bombing in Thailand...but our troops are dug in and protected by AA. Might have achieved a temporary stalemate here for a while.

2500AV of troops digging in on Shokaku, with more AA arriving. One of the goals is to be a magnet for Allied bombers -- in effect protecting the industry of Japan by other means. Time will tell how stupid this is.[;)]

[Lowpe]

May, 1944 is almost half done. Still holding on, but it is getting ugly.

A Japanese air strike of 30 Kamikazes escorted by 50 Franks can't penetrate the 200+ Hellcat escort over American carriers near Daito. This TF is, I presume, slated to sail due west and destroy my remaining carriers. No pleasant.

Japan loses 60 planes, while the Allies lose 40 for the day.

My troops on Shikoku are bombed, but if they can get into the wood ridge due to the west, and I think they can, then that is wonderful terrain to protect Honshu from. The Allies did put 20 points of runway damage on the town....damage to the ground troops is light, and more importantly, Allied air assets don't harm any of Japan's remaining industry.[:)]

Allied planes are ranging out of Singers now...a few Zekes manage to drop quite a few, but we do lose a little ACM and a small 1500 ton oiler.

Saigon will soon come under threat, and I am not strong enough, at least I don't think I am, to hold for long there. Interestingly, the Allied major armor thrust is stalled on the jungle road, and is now pushing cross country. Time to unleash the artillery....

[Lowpe]

I am struggling with what to do with the KB (5 fleet carriers). I know the allies are sending over a strong CV fleet to kill it.

I could send it raiding deep into shipping lanes?
I could send it into restricted waters and attempt some surprise surface attacks?
I could bravely send it to its death in a head to head confrontation?
I could send it and disperse it to diverse ports to hide and run away?
I could try and sneak it to Shanghai and try to protect it in the seas to the north? Might also get a surprise surface attack here too.

Any thoughts or ideas?

[Lokasenna]

Is he using shipping around Thailand? If most of his CVs are near Japan and you don't want to fight them with KB at all, then you may as well send KB somewhere else so that he at least can't bag their VPs as easily.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

Is he using shipping around Thailand? If most of his CVs are near Japan and you don't want to fight them with KB at all, then you may as well send KB somewhere else so that he at least can't bag their VPs as easily.

Well, I used that thought and sent the KB to Miri a while ago. From there, they launched the a successful strike sinking two CVEs and one CVL near Singers. Needless to say all shipping has disappeared from the area, except under heavy CAP at bases.

Now the KB is refueled at Miri,but still needs more planes. The Allied CV force is south of Daito steaming due west.

[Alfred]

If you still have fuel stocks in the south pacific, send the KB to strategic bomb Australian industry.
 
Alfred

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Alfred

If you still have fuel stocks in the south pacific, send the KB to strategic bomb Australian industry.

Alfred

Ooh that's nasty!

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

I am struggling with what to do with the KB (5 fleet carriers). I know the allies are sending over a strong CV fleet to kill it.

I could send it raiding deep into shipping lanes?
I could send it into restricted waters and attempt some surprise surface attacks?
I could bravely send it to its death in a head to head confrontation?
I could send it and disperse it to diverse ports to hide and run away?
I could try and sneak it to Shanghai and try to protect it in the seas to the north? Might also get a surprise surface attack here too.

Any thoughts or ideas?

I think your best option would be to try and hammer through (together with LBA) some of his less protected TFs. He probably can´t cover every TF coming and going and some supply ones are bound to have less protection. 5 CVs won´t be enough to stand up to even smaller allied CAP/LBA. So I think you are best off keeping KB around your LBA at the HI.

At the very least the presence of KB will force him to keep a high CAP up over TFs/Bases within your LBA which will give him less to sweep with.

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

ORIGINAL: Alfred

If you still have fuel stocks in the south pacific, send the KB to strategic bomb Australian industry.

Alfred

Ooh that's nasty!

My only reaction is "Lol, yes, do this."