Matrix Games Forums

1 OCT 42

Burma
Another sweep over Akyab. Another time i am little disappointed.
10 Tojo's for 8 Hurricanes. Lucky only 4 pilots KIA

B-17 send Magwe AF to middle-ages. In process they destroy on ground 15 Tojos.

Palembang/Singer
Mines in Singer and Palembang cleaned but i lost 2 xAK before minefield was gone. I forgot to change rout to them. My fault.

China
Troops marching toward targets. Chines troop leaving positions and retreating toward Sian.

Marshals
Finally after 13 days of waiting in shadows enemy BB from Maloelap decide to try to move to PH.Lower I give you map of current situation.


Docup decide to split them in two TFs. First slower with damaged second with other two BBs.
On morning both TF find them self in bad situation only 5 hexes from KB [:D]
KB planes launch to attack but probably because of bad whether only 20% of planes decide to fly.
But result is promising. BB Tennessee sunk, if not he will. BB Pennsylvania eat another two TT(3 total). He is definitely out of action and my subs will hunt. Last BB Warspite is undamaged.

Now in nedd to decide do hunt BB Warspite or leave here alone and return Truk. I have almost no fuel. She will probably sail with full speed to hide under air cover from Johnston Island or will sail south. It all depend how many fuel she have. I am sure that she move with full speed at lest 26 hexes so probably fuel is low.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Maloelap at 142,117

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 65 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 24 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 18
A6M3a Zero x 32
B5N2 Kate x 10
D3A1 Val x 15

Allied aircraft
OS2U-3 Kingfisher x 2


Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 1 damaged
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
OS2U-3 Kingfisher: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
BB Pennsylvania, Bomb hits 10, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Reid, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk


And second attack

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Maloelap at 149,116

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 116 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 43 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 34
A6M3a Zero x 32
B5N2 Kate x 18
D3A1 Val x 24

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 4 damaged
D3A1 Val: 7 damaged
D3A1 Val: 2 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
BB Warspite, Bomb hits 2
BB Tennessee, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 7, on fire, heavy damage

Nice work. Your patience paid off big here! Banzai!!

I say go for it if you can make it home or if you have other ships to come refuel the CVs on the return trip.

ORIGINAL: obvert

Nice work. Your patience paid off big here! Banzai!!

I say go for it if you can make it home or if you have other ships to come refuel the CVs on the return trip.

Orders given. I will hunt BB Warspite. If i do good math we both are on low fuel. But i will be able to sail for one maybe two days on full speed and still will be able to return to Marshals(i hope).
I will not send AOs. That job will be given to BB TF. They will refuel in Truk today and sail toward Marshals to join with KB when they arrive and give all fuel to Carriers.

I chose semi aggressive tactic. I think he will sail toward Johnston to hide under air protection there. KB will take position in safe distance from island to avoid LBA attack but KB position will cover biggest area as passable.

Planes will only fly with 7 range(torpedoes). Bombs are useless against BB.
40% CAP rest of planes will be on escort.

Biggest danger to me. KB being intercepted by Warspite on naval battle or unescorted air raid intercepted by enemy CAP. We will see.

2 OCT 42

Marshals
Day start very good. My subs find wounded BB Pennsylvania and finish what KB cant do.

Submarine attack near Maloelap at 143,117

Japanese Ships
SS I-2

Allied Ships
BB Pennsylvania, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage

and

Submarine attack near Maloelap at 143,117

Japanese Ships
SS I-23

Allied Ships
BB Pennsylvania, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

This time i am sure she sunk. ok 99.9%

And then days start.

First i almost had hart attack when BB Warspite was detected only 40nm from KB
But SC TF escorting KB enter game.

Day Time Surface Combat, near Johnston Island at 155,112, Range 20,000 Yards

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
Walrus II: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CA Tone
CA Nachi, Shell hits 1
CA Mogami, Shell hits 1
DD Asashio, Shell hits 1
DD Arashio
DD Hatsuharu

Allied Ships
BB Warspite, Shell hits 22, Torpedo hits 5, and is sunk
DD Bancroft, Shell hits 14, and is sunk
DD Perkins, Shell hits 9, heavy fires, heavy damage

Perfect battle. Damage to Japanese ships require week in port to repair nothing danger to them. I think BB Warspite was out of fuel.

After naval battle KB start what he is doine best.

For my big surprise planes detect BB Tennessee. After 7 TT hits she was still on surface. But not for long.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Johnston Island at 151,115

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 30 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 18
A6M3a Zero x 24
B5N2 Kate x 9
D3A1 Val x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
BB Tennessee, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk

Another two TF where detected close to Johnston Island

Morning Air attack on TF, near Johnston Island at 160,112

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 6 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 16
B5N2 Kate x 10

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
xAK Mangola, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Koomilya, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk

and second. This was DD Perkins, only survivor or earlier naval battle. This time we encounter CAP from Island

Morning Air attack on TF, near Johnston Island at 161,112

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 13 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 19
D3A1 Val x 13

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 25

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
DD Perkins, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk

Docup decision to send BB TF to Marshals was very bad decision.
He send 4 BB and 4 DD. None of them return
In two weeks allies lost 4 BB, CL, and 5 DD. Japan lost 2 DD.
Japanese subs damaged also two allied CV and another BB.

And that not over. Docup decide to close Roi-Namur. He send liberators fro Wake. But they come without escort.

Morning Air attack on Roi-Namur , at 132,114

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 25
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 12
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 17

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 26

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed, 7 damaged
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 5 damaged
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 3 destroyed, 14 damaged

Tracker is showing 14 Liberators shot down. No damage to AF.

Burma
I was not perfect day. Docup decide to sweep Rangoon. Firs almost 50 P-38 sweep. I hold groun but lots 8 planes for only 5 P-38
Few moment later almost 50 B-17 attack AF. AF open but i do not think i can hold more than 2-3 day.
Half of planes need repair so only 60 fighters will fly tomorrow. One thin to notice B-17 are flying on extended range(half bomb load)

I am sending reinforcements from China and DEI (80 planes total).


In summary. It was good day. But i start worry about Burma. I think Docup will try some moves soon.

Today air loses

Docup will have to revert to a mainly land based campaign for a while with all the losses in CVs and BBs around Ambon and the Marshalls plus the damaged CVs... It would be wise to focus your attention and pour troops in Burma... Even without naval superiority the allies can turn it into a festering ulcer for the Japanese. You don' t want to be defending Thailand in early 43...

s

ORIGINAL: veji1

Docup will have to revert to a mainly land based campaign for a while with all the losses in CVs and BBs around Ambon and the Marshalls plus the damaged CVs... It would be wise to focus your attention and pour troops in Burma... Even without naval superiority the allies can turn it into a festering ulcer for the Japanese. You don' t want to be defending Thailand in early 43...

Yes. I am sending everything available to Burma right now.
8 div already in place. Two more resting and taking replacements in Java.(2-3 week until land in Burma).

1 Tank Div will land in Burma in 3-4 weeks currently waiting to sail to singer. He is still not combined. because one of tank regiment is in /singer already(need upgrade to combine with rest of unit)

Two more ID will land in Burma in 2 months after i recapture Wotje and Maoelap in Marshals. If needed i will cancel that operation and sail to Burma asap.

i think 13 divisions will be enough. Also i am re-basing more planes to Burma. In 5 days i will have 300+ planes.


Hoe many troops allies can have in Burma right now?

That is a great day for you! The 4Es were a nice icing as well after getting all of the BBs.

Docup seems continually a bit careless with forces and you are definitely punishing him for it. It'll be interesting to see whether all of these losses will make him more cautious or have the opposite affect and make him even more reckless in an effort to get something back.

3 OCT 42

Burma
52 B-17 attack Rangoon AF. This time they have no fighter escort.
Only 60 fighters defending base today. They fight well. 17 B-17 shot down for only 9 fighters and 2 pilots KIA.[:D] allied bombers suffer 33% lose ration. Nice

30 fresh fighters arrive today to Rangoon. Tomorrow i will have 110 fighters in air.
75 more fighters will arrive in 3 days.

In two days i have shot down 37 heavy bombers. I want few more days like that

Hey Koniu,

congratulations to your results! Your opponent got a bloody nose at the Marshalls and his B17 are falling in crowds from the sky. Do you have any opinions on the Ki-45?

Thanks to all of your hints some days ago. I started a mining campaign all over my important bases. But as usual I have some questions. [;)] An ACM is maintaining an existing minefield but this ship type is not sweeping enemy mines in a base, right? The AMc is sweeping mines, but do I need to set them in a TF or are they also working disbanded in the port?

Sebastian

ORIGINAL: obvert

That is a great day for you! The 4Es were a nice icing as well after getting all of the BBs.

Docup seems continually a bit careless with forces and you are definitely punishing him for it. It'll be interesting to see whether all of these losses will make him more cautious or have the opposite affect and make him even more reckless in an effort to get something back.

I wish he will try payback fast. But i do not think he will.
After last turns i think he will back to earlier tactic. No major operation. Small rides in places where he can hurt me without major risk to him. Pacific is now in my hands for next months i think. It is giving me time to build better.

Now his attention will be focused on Burma and China

ORIGINAL: sj80

Hey Koniu,

congratulations to your results! Your opponent got a bloody nose at the Marshalls and his B17 are falling in crowds from the sky. Do you have any opinions on the Ki-45?

Thanks to all of your hints some days ago. I started a mining campaign all over my important bases. But as usual I have some questions. [;)] An ACM is maintaining an existing minefield but this ship type is not sweeping enemy mines in a base, right? The AMc is sweeping mines, but do I need to set them in a TF or are they also working disbanded in the port?

Sebastian

ACM will only tend mines. To do that he need to be anchored in port. Also that port need to have fuel reserve. Tending mines require fuel. One AMC tend 150 mines. Number of mines and AMC in port is shown in port menu

AMc is minesweeper. To do that he need to be in Minesweeping TF. For minesweeping you can also use AM, DMS, YMS.
Also ships like PB, SC or DD sweeping mines but they are not designed to that so risk of being hit by mine is bigger.
Remember any ship can be minesweeper at lest once

First Ki-45 units will start flying in Burma in 3 days. So i not have opinion right now. But one is sure they are not good vs fighters but against bombers they are. Having guns and armor is most important to shoot down them

My tactic will look like that.
Ki-45 flying 1-2kft higher than bombers. For me it will be 11-12k ft because Docup is flying with heavies on 10k).
Ki-43 flying between 5-15k. They are not good bomber killers but flying on those attitude range they will force enemy fighters to dive on them. and will secure air agains low bomber rides.
Ki-44 will fly 15-31k. They will try to kill enemy fighters. When ennmy figters will dive on Ki-43 Tojow will have chnce to dive on them and shot down. An later attack bombers.

From my experience i can say that layered CAP like that is giving best result. Right now i am able to have 1:1 kill ratio against enemy sweeps that way. It is good also to have layer no more that 3-5k of each other

4 OCT 42

Quiet. Few sub attack but all torpedoes miss.

China offensive is moving forward. Reckon planes spotted enemy troops marching from Changsha in NW direction. Ichang maybe? I will watch them closely.

Docup write me that last turn B-17 ride to Rangoon happens because he forgot to cancel orders. I will not cry because of that.

Air battle above Saumlaki. 15 F4F-3 vs 21 A6M3a. We lost 2 planes each

.I made comparison of navy force.
It looks like Japan still have advantage on seas. If we give to that central position of Japan that allow me to transfer ships faster I am still in good position.

................Allies.......Japan
CV/CVL......5/0.........8/4
CVE.........2...........3
BB..........14..........11
CA..........13..........17
CL..........18..........21
DD..........114.........98

5 OCT 42

Another quiet day.

I china 1900AV of Japanese troops enter Nanyang. 3 chines ID in City. Tomorrow i will bombard and if enemy force will be small i will attack. If not i will wait for reinforcements.

Sian AF is closed. It will secure my troops advancing from north from air attacks and allow to focus my air force on Nanyang

6 Oct 42

Marshals

At night BB TF bombard Wotje. AF is empty. Minor damage to base. It was planed as day bombardment but i must do something wrong. Good news Wotje is not mined. I have 5 DMS in that TF and they found nothing

Almost 300 LBA and KB fighters sweep Wotje and Maloelap. In Maloelap almost 80 enemy fighters but they not flying. Plan is to keep those bases damage with minimal cost to me. 4 ID 4 days from Truk. They will rest in base for week or two and i will start invasion.

Burma
Burma air force rebuild. I must say last days air battle is won by japan. 40 planes lost but less than 15 pilots KIA and almost 20 4E bombers shot down and Docup now know that even when he use P-38 it will not be easy

China
It looks like Chinese troops are in full retreat. They abandon Nanyang. I have capture it without fight today.
Nanyang offensive is now Sian offensive. All units start preparing to Sian now.

7 Oct 42

Very quiet.

Only combat animation worh of notice was unsuccessful sub attack on CA Nachi near Marshals.
Nachi is main hero of battle with Warspite. Torpedos from his tubes where first that hit enemy BB.

R&D
Ki-44IIc advance to 11/43
A6M5B advance to 3/44

From two days i am working to make cleaning in my pilots stock.
I am checking all air groups - all even single one is not missed.

Army.
Easy to do.
Fighter groups are in perfect point. They training only two skill so it is easy.

Bombers pilots are also where they should be.
From beginning of October only 1/3 of training bomber groups is training ground bombard. I have in reserve 300 pilots with that skill 70+.
2/3 of planes is focusing mostly on Navbomb and Lownav attack training. I have also two groups training ASW.
Fronline units while not flying are set to train ASW and Nserch.

Navy
Situation with figter pilots is ok.

Many to do with bomber groups. I have many pilots with TNAV skill in DB units. I need to replace them with pilots with only Naval skill.

Tracker is showing almost 100 pilots in wrong type of air group. Also KB pilots will have inspection. For next week pilots will changing groups to be sure hey are doing for what they are trained.

It will take many h of work but i think in end it will do good to pilot performance.

Mainly i want to avoid situation of having bomber pilots on patrol/reckon group or fighter pilots in bomber group.
Most cleaning is needed to navy bombers. I hope i will do it in week maybe 10 days.

8 OCT 42

DEI
Air battle over Saumlaki. 4 A6M3a fight against 18 F4F.
All zeros lost for 2 F4Fs. Three Japanese pilots WIA. Last one is ok.


Marshals
KB one day from Truk. Again we are out of fuel. Tankers will arrive in 4 days.

Sub attack DD from KB TF today. CVs where not spotted. But Docup is not stupid he know that it was KB.

First ID is unloading in Truk, tree more will arrive in 3 days. After i will prpere enugh ships i will land in Marshals.

China
Sian offensive moving slowly. Docup retreat troops to rough/tree terrain.
Heavy bomber raid ordered.
I watching closely to south china. I hope Docup will not decide to start offensive there. I have enough troops there to stop him but he can give me big head pain by that.

Manchuria
All sub units of 1 Tank Div have new command and i will transport them to Singer. They art loading on ships today.

R&D
Probably telling that 10 time but for 100% Ki-44IIc Tojo will enter production on 1/43
Also i have now 500+ Ha-35 engines so Zero research will move faster.
First D4Y1 30(0) R&D factory repaired.

Enemy CVs.
Position unknown. Status of two damaged one unknown. They should be already repaired.

Japanese CV
6 in Truk or will anchor tomorrow. Akagi will sail to Japan for refit.
2 in DEI they will sail to Truk in week.
3 CVL in Truk. After refueling they will sail to DEI.

9-12 OCT 42
Very quiet days.

Burma
In Burma i moving more troops toward defensive positions. No moven=ment on Allied side.

DEI
Few b-17 raids on Tionr bases close AF. Nothing more.

Marshals.
Also quiet. Two small allied TF arod marshals. I will try to intercept them with my cruisers.

2 ID in Truk and 2 land in Ponape. I am waiting when more fule will arrive. Invasion on Wotje and Maolelap planed on 1 week of November.

China
My troops moving toward Sian. Chinese troops in full retreat. They escaping west.
I do not know if they are so week or Docup is pulling me in a trap.

I do not manage to fight single battle so far. When i ordering attack in this same turn he is moving out of hex.

ORIGINAL: koniu

My troops moving toward Sian. Chinese troops in full retreat. They escaping west.
I do not know if they are so week or Docup is pulling me in a trap.

I do not manage to fight single battle so far. When i ordering attack in this same turn he is moving out of hex.

That's bad news. You need to be disrupting his forces and keeping their morale low ... are you are to bomb them as they move?

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

ORIGINAL: koniu

My troops moving toward Sian. Chinese troops in full retreat. They escaping west.
I do not know if they are so week or Docup is pulling me in a trap.

I do not manage to fight single battle so far. When i ordering attack in this same turn he is moving out of hex.

That's bad news. You need to be disrupting his forces and keeping their morale low ... are you are to bomb them as they move?

I am bombing them all the time. But there is to many of them.
Also I am sure that some of those units are disabled. I have one small battle with Chinese single ID few days ealier. His AV was "0"

Now i am for sure capture them as they running trough hex without road so i am much faster. Problem is that his troops are creating huge stacks of units. i have in front of me two big ones of 100-120k man. They prabably have around 2000AV each in terrain they are now it is 6000AV(adjusted). I can have against it two group of 2200Av each.

We will see.

Even if he run away he have many troops around Yenan. An i will cut of them from main forces

Lower you have map. Numbers represent units/soldiers for China and AV for Japanese. In circles units i wand to cut of and destroy
(sorry for bad quality of map)