Spanking Lowpe (NJP72 vs Lowpe (A))

[Lowpe]

Do these guys load instantly, like planes on air transport? I think i just loaded them up clicks ago this turn? I didn't pay attention then....

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[Lowpe]

Turn is finished....lots of sweeps, more night bombing at Shanghai....the massive transfer of the heavy bomber fleet and Lightnings to Foochow, another invasion of Formosa, the beachhead at Kagi will be reinforced by landing craft first time I have ever attempted that...it could be a disaster if Japans guns put up some fire. Not sure what will happen.

Hoping to cut a path so our troops at Wuchow can retreat.

[BBfanboy]

Do these guys load instantly, like planes on air transport? I think i just loaded them up clicks ago this turn? I didn't pay attention then....

a.jpg

IIRC, they take the normal amount of time for loading, but with very little equipment it doesn't take long - one turn should do it in a size 7+ port.

[Lowpe]

Do these guys load instantly, like planes on air transport? I think i just loaded them up clicks ago this turn? I didn't pay attention then....

a.jpg

IIRC, they take the normal amount of time for loading, but with very little equipment it doesn't take long - one turn should do it in a size 7+ port.

I was playing around with it....and ended up actually crashing the game. reloaded, and sure enough I hadn't loaded the HQ until this turn, at which point I got the picture posted above, interesting the task force is loading which is what I think an air transport task force looks like. Anyhow, we went with the invasion tonight, so I hope they make it there in time....

[Lowpe]

Going forward I have lots of options:

1. kind of historical, take Okinawa and push forward on the western islands.

2. invade up river into China's river system...Hankow is built to level 9,but Japan hasn't really built anything else.

3. Invade anywhere in the Yellow Sea, maybe everywhere? Port Arthur is an 8 runway, while Keijo is a 9 nothing else built up. Keijo to Tokyo is 16 hexes, normal range for the B24J.

4. Go for Kyushu perhaps Tsuhumi (really potent CD guns).

5. Cut Korea in half and take the lower part quickly to aid our strategic bombing goals.

Attacking Korea means they can use the Garrison there...but might give me a chance to activate Soviets early (which would mean just more clicks).

[BBfanboy]

Do these guys load instantly, like planes on air transport? I think i just loaded them up clicks ago this turn? I didn't pay attention then....

a.jpg

IIRC, they take the normal amount of time for loading, but with very little equipment it doesn't take long - one turn should do it in a size 7+ port.

I was playing around with it....and ended up actually crashing the game. reloaded, and sure enough I hadn't loaded the HQ until this turn, at which point I got the picture posted above, interesting the task force is loading which is what I think an air transport task force looks like. Anyhow, we went with the invasion tonight, so I hope they make it there in time....

I just noted that you have one Amphib Force HQ loaded on 2 AGCs. The normal calculation is a boost from the AFHQ and another boost for the AGC carrying it. Having it on two AGCs may have messed up that calculation and caused the crash? Seems like the designers would not have considered calculations using 2 AGCs when the HQ and one AGC are designed to fit (in the unmodded game).

[BBfanboy]

Going forward I have lots of options:

5. Cut Korea in half and take the lower part quickly to aid our strategic bombing goals.

Attacking Korea means they can use the Garrison there...but might give me a chance to activate Soviets early (which would mean just more clicks).

I moved Manchukuo garrison to China to trigger the Soviets and IIRC, the Korea Garrison is considered part of the Manchukuo Garrison. So drawing Manchukuo troops to Korea will not change the garrison numbers but destroying the troops will!

[Lowpe]

Feb 9th, 1944

Our landing craft test failed....shame, but understandable.

Will take advantage of the moonlight to raid all the economic centers left in China within normal range. Each target will get one radar pathfinder and other heavy bombers. Wish the weather was better...some has DL some doesn't. Or I might simply concentrate and target both the HI and LI at Shanghai in one uber raid....will think on it.

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[Lowpe]

IIRC, they take the normal amount of time for loading, but with very little equipment it doesn't take long - one turn should do it in a size 7+ port.

I was playing around with it....and ended up actually crashing the game. reloaded, and sure enough I hadn't loaded the HQ until this turn, at which point I got the picture posted above, interesting the task force is loading which is what I think an air transport task force looks like. Anyhow, we went with the invasion tonight, so I hope they make it there in time....

I just noted that you have one Amphib Force HQ loaded on 2 AGCs. The normal calculation is a boost from the AFHQ and another boost for the AGC carrying it. Having it on two AGCs may have messed up that calculation and caused the crash? Seems like the designers would not have considered calculations using 2 AGCs when the HQ and one AGC are designed to fit (in the unmodded game).

I wanted to make sure the HQ all loaded....on the day of the load, the unit disappears from the base as soon as load troops button is accepted (but it was spread across two ships). But now at the beachhead, the task force fully loaded the HQ into one ship, and loaded supplies in the other.

Interesting. I searched briefly on the forum and came across a post by Michaelm years back where this problem was brought up, and Michael said in his testing the HQ does fully load -- I probably didn't give it enough time on the Kagi invasion.

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[Lowpe]

Need more radar here at Swatow...and I just transferred in 2 squadrons of Lightnings (which were standing down resting after relocation, I almost never fly a mission after relocating). But we got some Airacobras here...unfortunately I had range set to 2 or 3, instead of 0...I was worried about our offshore shipping concentrations. Not watching the replay, not really sure but I guess quite a few planes were in another hex....but it looks like we got one Judy before they began their attack runs. Now I have to get some low cap there and more radar. Only one set there right now if that plays a role....only a few ships equipped with radar present (3 counting the one that sunk).

I went back and double checked, the Kamikaze raid yesterday with 2 Fletchers and one radar set at the base gave us 49+ minutes of warning. Hmmm::

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 176 NM, estimated altitude 31,480 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes
____________________________________________
Todays attack:

Morning Air attack on TF, near Swatow at 81,62

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 49 NM, estimated altitude 36,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
D4Y1-C Judy x 4
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 11

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 3
P-39D Airacobra x 9
P-40K Warhawk x 5
FM-1 Wildcat x 8
F4U-1 Corsair x 7
F6F-3 Hellcat x 6

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

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
DD Porter, Kamikaze hits 3, and is sunk

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

CAP engaged:
VF-17 with F4U-1 Corsair (7 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(7 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 36000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 36000.
Raid is overhead
2 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-9 with F6F-3 Hellcat (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(6 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 30000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 30000.
Raid is overhead
6 planes vectored on to bombers
VC(F)-41 with FM-1 Wildcat (8 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(8 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
8 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 35500 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 35500.
Raid is overhead
No.261 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIc Trop (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 35000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 35000.
Raid is overhead
3 planes vectored on to bombers
343rd FG/11th FS with P-40K Warhawk (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 29000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 29000.
Raid is overhead
4 planes vectored on to bombers
8th FG/80th FS with P-39D Airacobra (9 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(9 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
9 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 32000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 32000.
Raid is overhead
4 planes vectored on to bombers

[Lowpe]

Ok, doesn't look like I got any Judy kamikazes in the air first...but only 3 hits. Hmmm....Japan said they tried things with settings and pilots to make them less deadly.

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[Lowpe]

Interesting sweep here. Japan seems to like 8k and very high altitude in their defenses. I brought these P40Ks in at 29 and it seems the Franks didn't play much of a role in the fight....

Morning Air attack on Canton , at 77,59

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 11 NM, estimated altitude 29,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 36
Ki-61-Id Tony x 5
Ki-84r Frank x 10

Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M8 Zero: 4 destroyed
Ki-61-Id Tony: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-40K Warhawk: 2 destroyed

CAP engaged:
252 Ku S-1 with A6M8 Zero (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 8000 , scrambling fighters between 28000 and 37000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes
202 Ku S-1 with A6M8 Zero (2 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 8000 , scrambling fighters between 31000 and 43000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes
221 Ku S-1 with A6M8 Zero (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 8000 , scrambling fighters between 23000 and 32000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes
331 Ku S-1 with A6M8 Zero (0 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 8000 , scrambling fighters between 29000 and 37100.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes
85th Sentai with Ki-84r Frank (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 38000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 38000.
Raid is overhead
251 Ku S-1 Det A with A6M8 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 8000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 8000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 7 minutes
29th Sentai with Ki-84r Frank (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
8 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 38270 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 44000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes
78th Sentai with Ki-61-Id Tony (0 airborne, 1 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 8000 , scrambling fighters between 32000 and 45000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes

[Lowpe]

Accidentally sent this squadron in...39 experience pilots. Sheesh.

Morning Air attack on Canton , at 77,59

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 10 NM, estimated altitude 47,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 36
Ki-61-Id Tony x 5
Ki-84r Frank x 13

Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 12

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire VIII: 4 destroyed

CAP engaged:

[Lowpe]

Better pilots:

Morning Air attack on Canton , at 77,59

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 37 NM, estimated altitude 43,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 17
Ki-61-Id Tony x 2
Ki-84r Frank x 7

Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M8 Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-61-Id Tony: 1 destroyed
Ki-84r Frank: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire VIII: 1 destroyed

[RangerJoe]

Accidentally sent this squadron in...39 experience pilots. Sheesh.

Morning Air attack on Canton , at 77,59

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 10 NM, estimated altitude 47,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 36
Ki-61-Id Tony x 5
Ki-84r Frank x 13

Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 12

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire VIII: 4 destroyed

CAP engaged:

Sssshhhhh.......IT happens!

[Lowpe]

Never saw this before

Sub vs Sub: SST Argonaut attacking SS I-156 at 88,63 - near Taihoku

Japanese Ships
SS I-156, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SST Argonaut

SST Argonaut launches 2 torpedoes at 3,000 yards

[BBfanboy]

Never saw this before

Sub vs Sub: SST Argonaut attacking SS I-156 at 88,63 - near Taihoku

Japanese Ships
SS I-156, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SST Argonaut

SST Argonaut launches 2 torpedoes at 3,000 yards

That is pretty uncommon for an SST to do the attacking. Their mission is usually transport but they do carry a small number of torps. It's all about US radar superiority! He who detects first ambushes first.

[BBfanboy]

Need more radar here at Swatow...and I just transferred in 2 squadrons of Lightnings (which were standing down resting after relocation, I almost never fly a mission after relocating). But we got some Airacobras here...unfortunately I had range set to 2 or 3, instead of 0...I was worried about our offshore shipping concentrations. Not watching the replay, not really sure but I guess quite a few planes were in another hex....but it looks like we got one Judy before they began their attack runs. Now I have to get some low cap there and more radar. Only one set there right now if that plays a role....only a few ships equipped with radar present (3 counting the one that sunk).

I went back and double checked, the Kamikaze raid yesterday with 2 Fletchers and one radar set at the base gave us 49+ minutes of warning. Hmmm::

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 176 NM, estimated altitude 31,480 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes
____________________________________________
Todays attack:

Morning Air attack on TF, near Swatow at 81,62

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 49 NM, estimated altitude 36,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
D4Y1-C Judy x 4
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 11


Allied Ships
DD Porter, Kamikaze hits 3, and is sunk

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

Possibly germane to this issue - the Porter class were designed to counter the main gun batteries on other 'super-destroyers' like the German Z class and the Fubukis. Their gun mount did not allow enough elevation to use in the AA role - where the 5"/38 excelled. So all Porter had for air defence was the medium and light AA.

[BBfanboy]

Accidentally sent this squadron in...39 experience pilots. Sheesh.

Just blame it on Commodore Klique Fateeg ...

[RangerJoe]

Never saw this before

Sub vs Sub: SST Argonaut attacking SS I-156 at 88,63 - near Taihoku

Japanese Ships
SS I-156, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SST Argonaut

SST Argonaut launches 2 torpedoes at 3,000 yards

That is pretty uncommon for an SST to do the attacking. Their mission is usually transport but they do carry a small number of torps. It's all about US radar superiority! He who detects first ambushes first.

Not just that but submarines traveling in areas under their side's control would be more likely to travel on the surface, be spotted, and then attacked.