Spanking Lowpe (NJP72 vs Lowpe (A))

[Lowpe]

Japan is the master of Kamikazes....but here our air defenses are good enough. I wonder if this is planned or just the normal tough flight coordination from the controllers.

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[Lowpe]

The slowly arriving fighters is from LRCAP I am speculating...by watching the replay, after I read the good combat report (sent in addition) I am able to see where the bombers are coming from.

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[Lowpe]

Chikuma? Java's shipyard is in the 30s....

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[Lowpe]

Only three or so enemy fighters contested the bombing run...

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[Lowpe]

18 ships in Canton port....they probably can ship supplies down by boat if they want to.

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[Lowpe]

Pretty quiet turn....lost too many planes chasing after Chikuma...as some SBDs flew in without air cover late in the afternoon.

Tsinkiang, and Foochow are now level 8 runways, while Amoy jumped to 5.

For Japan Soochow is now level 2.

[Lowpe]

Japan establishing a MLR against our Ningpo area...which I think is good as long as I can hold.

We have lots on our plate....

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[Lowpe]

Three PT boat squadrons are hunting the Chikuma, and now we also spot this task force too...should they raid the probably mined port, or head down the channel?

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[T Rav]

Nobody likes to clean up.

I was a Private in the Army with a mop in my hands. Inevitably, I had to do it, because it needs to be done and no one else is there.

I did the Sergeant Infantry stuff too, but dirty floors still need to be mopped up.

I mopped as a Lt Col too...

Clear the rear.

Best
T Rav

[RangerJoe]

Nobody likes to clean up.

I was a Private in the Army with a mop in my hands. Inevitably, I had to do it, because it needs to be done and no one else is there.

I did the Sergeant Infantry stuff too, but dirty floors still need to be mopped up.

I mopped as a Lt Col too...

Clear the rear.

Best
T Rav

The job is not done until the paperwork is finished. Whether it comes from Georgia Pacific or Charmin!

One time in a nursing home, I was in the hallway after the evening meal while others were still in the dining room, I loudly said that someone peed the floor. The LPN on duty came looking crestfallen so I pointed to a single pea on the floor. She chuckled and said "You got me, I thought that I would have to mop the floor!"

That said, clearing the rear would free up units for the Allies while the Japanese would have to consider buying them back with the attendant weapons points, vehicle points, supply costs, and probably lower experience for the rebuilt units. Depending upon what is on Java and Sumatra for industry, that could be a nice supply source for the Allies not to mention that size 30 shipyard. You also have a Dutch base to use at Flores for a PBY/Kingfisher base.

[Lowpe]

Nobody likes to clean up.

I was a Private in the Army with a mop in my hands. Inevitably, I had to do it, because it needs to be done and no one else is there.

I did the Sergeant Infantry stuff too, but dirty floors still need to be mopped up.

I mopped as a Lt Col too...

Clear the rear.

Best
T Rav

The job is not done until the paperwork is finished. Whether it comes from Georgia Pacific or Charmin!

One time in a nursing home, I was in the hallway after the evening meal while others were still in the dining room, I loudly said that someone peed the floor. The LPN on duty came looking crestfallen so I pointed to a single pea on the floor. She chuckled and said "You got me, I thought that I would have to mop the floor!"

That said, clearing the rear would free up units for the Allies while the Japanese would have to consider buying them back with the attendant weapons points, vehicle points, supply costs, and probably lower experience for the rebuilt units. Depending upon what is on Java and Sumatra for industry, that could be a nice supply source for the Allies not to mention that size 30 shipyard. You also have a Dutch base to use at Flores for a PBY/Kingfisher base.

this is scenario 2, and early, so Japan would buy everything back, I would. He has been very stingy building bases, even deep in his territory.

[Lowpe]

Nobody likes to clean up.

I was a Private in the Army with a mop in my hands. Inevitably, I had to do it, because it needs to be done and no one else is there.

I did the Sergeant Infantry stuff too, but dirty floors still need to be mopped up.

I mopped as a Lt Col too...

Clear the rear.

Best
T Rav

Sounds like you led from the front!

[Lowpe]

Well, turn is away....

With Foochow now level 8, and moonlight on the rise, and the thunderstorm front moved away from Honshu, the British will start night bombing. Both targets tonight have severe storms....moving about 500 engineer equivalents from Tsinkiang to Foochow and then onto Ningpo. Want to rush level 9 at Foochow and then Ningpo.

At Okayama we are doing a low level precision strike on a Sam factory and the Naval Shipyards, while at Nagasaki, which intel is predicting a heavy night fighter presence, we are bombing from 30k manpower. I am not really expecting any hits, but I would like to be pleasantly surprised. I think those British 250# bombs might do really well at low level night bombing given they are more accurate, and we have radar....well, it is a thought.

Sending more ships and guns and supplies to Ningpo....expecting more small ship encounters. I hope our transports and supply ships get thru.

Trying to ambush the Chikuma in the SRA...

The only IJ we are bombing, other than Honshu, is on Luzon as we cycle thru a horrendous number of TOE upgrades to our Engineering units. If the ground crews are resting, seems fair to rest the planes too.

I got to thinking that I have no clue what the PDU off upgrade path is like for Japan in this mod....the large George factory was a tip off as in the stock game only a handful of squadrons get that option. Then I thought, wasn't there a mod that put the George on Carriers? Sounds like John, but could be here too. Could that explain the Sam's lackluster research and development program...(or is it all in Harbin?).

Don't tell me, as I would like to be surprised. The accuracy of recon planes as kamikazes is a bit of a surprise.

I have got Ponape, Java, SRA clean up in general, Manila and Clark AFB, southern Luzon, Hong Kong & Canton, bypassing and encircling the Guards Tank Division, Wenchow, Batan Island, Formosa, and more planned out....In Amoy harbor are 150 barges, crew training....their exp is less than 25, I need more LCI which can get to 40 and of course are faster and longer legged.

[RangerJoe]

My understanding for the George in PFU OFF is that after some of the land based IJN fighter units get upgraded, some of them can then use the George even if it does not initially indicate that they would be able to use the George.

[Lowpe]

Jan 31, 1944

We miss the Chikuma...but manage a nice clash:

Day Time Surface Combat, near Salajar at 66,107, Range 18,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
xAK Koei Maru, Shell hits 9, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Mikage Maru, Shell hits 11, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Kanko Maru, Shell hits 9, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Shinwa Maru, Shell hits 3, on fire
xAKL Tonegawa Maru, Shell hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Biwa Maru, Shell hits 9, and is sunk
xAK Ekkai Maru, Shell hits 4, on fire

Allied Ships
DD Aaron Ward
DD Buchanan, Shell hits 2, on fire

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[Lowpe]

Japan is trying to cut off the 3rd Marines at Chusien....the IJA is up to 3 units and one is the 2nd Tank Division I believe. The 50th Tank Brigade (c150) General Lees, has punched thru from Chuisen and is assuming battle formation in the rough terrain. The Yank 41st Division will march in, in reserve mode, along with some Indian armored cars and Australian General Lees. I guess at some point I should let my armor upgrade.

Meanwhile, our forces make Ningpo, except for some AKEs that are one hex short. You should note that the Deathstar is really just a name for my most forward CV fleet. It has only 300 planes in it!

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[Lowpe]

The South China Sea is a super highway carrying supplies and troops forward. It is a real eye opener for this old JFB.

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[Lowpe]

The trail of tears...the once proud and mighty Burma garrison, that invaded India in the early months of 1942, are without supplies, marching thru the mountains, being bombed....I sure hope we get VPs for starvation. Too grim for you?

Even better, we force the IJA into the mountains, pretty much by maneuver....no really great clashes.

The last Japanese possession falls, the IJA troopers lack the strength to retreat.

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[Lowpe]

Feb 1, 1944

one month down....and it was a bloodbath.

There is 50 destroyers in ports getting emergency repairs, plus CVs, CVEs, BBs,Cruisers and countless subs....Impossible to pull this off without ARs, ADs, ASs, AEs and AKEs plus the Liberty ship conversion to troop transports in mass. ARDs are enroute, but haven't arrived yet. Plus the Replenishment air squadrons are such a blessing.

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[Lowpe]

Another deadly kamikaze strike....these guys strike terror into the skippers of the combined fleets. They never miss, even when destroyed by point blank AAA they still fireball into the ships. The only chance is to get them on approach in the air at 36K feet. This was a near run thing, as all the Oscars save one fell from the skies...but they prevented the Hellcats from closing with the Judys as they made their approach. My fault (maybe, as we had adequate time to intercept) as I should have split the Langley's squadron of Hellcats into thirds and put some on CAP at 30k. I have done that with the Deathstar, but use full squadrons there. I dislike using 1/3rds on CVs or CVLs. I had a small night fighting Corsair squadron I had on night duty, probably should have put them high ...but if those Judy Recons attack at night with a 100% hit probability it would be a real bloodbath.

The Langley survived until the afternoon, when damage control parties were cut off and isolated in the boiler room while it flooded...I might hunt up the color text from the text file. A grim death for brave pixel sailors.

This the fourth ship that lists Kamikaze as the major damage dealer...a Fletcher, the Beale, a merchant, and some small ships. But they have hit all the time and damaged many more.

Japan has asked me if I want to ban the practice, as it clearly seems an exploit...but once you change a squadron to Kamikaze you can't go back (unless you jump in the editor I guess and I don't want to). So I will tell him its fine, puts the absolute fear back into Kamikazes, which quite frankly were pretty lame prior. I will have to hunt and peck to find the plane factories and devote more assets to counter. Part of the game.

The threat radius is insane on these converted recon kamikazes....with drop tanks.

The Flak in this TF was pretty strong, with 8 updated Fletchers and a Baltimore plus an updated Essex. Not good enough. Langley took 11 Hellcats to the grave with her. Sad.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Laoag at 80,68

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 117 NM, estimated altitude 38,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 30 minutes

Japanese aircraft
D4Y1-C Judy x 5
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 16

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 27

Japanese aircraft losses
D4Y1-C Judy: 3 destroyed
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar: 4 destroyed

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
CVL Langley, Kamikaze hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
CV Intrepid, Kamikaze hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x D4Y1-C Judy flying as kamikaze

CAP engaged:
VF-10 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 32000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes
VF-32 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 9 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 5000 , scrambling fighters between 29000 and 33000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVL Langley