Forlorn Hopes: The Japanese Respond

[Miller]

Jesus, I'm glad my game against Dan isn't so complicated. My planes just fly and die[:D]

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
September 22-24, 1943
 
The Redo
Dan and I have played out the turns from the 20th-24th and are now back at it.  Action has occurred everywhere else but we froze the Fleets at Iwo Jima and Saipan.  Those restrictions are now off and we get ready for unrestricted warfare again.
 
The Bonins
 
Chichi Jima/Tori Shima  I have 50-60 bombers hitting the troops on these bases everyday.  Tori Shima gets a Sentai of Nicks hitting the Port as well.  I want to keep the units there occupied and prevent dan from Fortifying Tori Shima.  IF I do counterattack, this will be essential.  Tori Shima has an RCT, Eng Unit, and AA Unit (about 10,000 men) on it.  Chichi Jima has just a Marine Raider Btn and very small Con unit (1200 men).  Dan does nothing to protect these bases so my units will keep hitting them until I decide otherwise or Dan changes his tactics.
 
Iwo Jima  The Battle Fleet is located here but Dan has sortied a number of his previously damaged vessels east towards Midway.  Not to sure of numbers but it makes for a good target to go after.  Will explain later.
 
He appears to have about 48 F6F and 24 Corsair based here with a similar number of B-24 and PBY.  The AF is Sz-4 so 200 is maximum.
 
 
Pagan and the Marianas
 
Pagan  I still have my 180 Army Fighters here as well as two dozen Kate flying ASW.
 
Saipan  The mechanics of the Fleet and Ground Forces have been shifting out and exchanging planes as fast as possible.  As of the 24th, they were only 50% completed within their tasking.  The earliest the Kido Butai can sail will be the 29th.  I have--literally--had to change 200 Jacks over for 200 A6M3a/A6M5 and it is taking time. 
 
With this depressing realization, I decide to send a CTF after Dan's eastward moving TF.  I selected my least experienced carriers.  CV's Unryu and Amagi, CVL Zuiho, BC Haruna, CAs Nachi and Ashigara, 1 CL, and 7 DD depart on a sprint run NE past Marcus.  They depart on the 24th at full speed (6/6) and should be able to strike on the 26th.  I re-embark their DB and TB and hope they can get some experience while sinking some of the ships I have damaged.  I am sure that Adm Ozawa is up for the task.  Plane complement for this expedition is 62 Zero (A3a)--48 Val--44 Kate.  The experience for these guys is all in the low-60s.  They will be far enough away to note a move by Dan so they can run if needed.
 
ASW Results
Dan has discovered the same thing I did when I sent my SS into the waters around Iwo Jima.  Bunches of planes set on ASW will destroy ANY SS group!  During these days my DB/TB get SEVEN LBA hits on American SS.  The Dragonet and Dorado are sunk with 2 more damaged.  Dan seems to want these guys to stay in the area so I expect to see more hits and sinkings!  YEA...
 
 
The Home Islands
 
Shipyards  My BB-Hybrids will be done at the end of the month (8-9 Days).  There are 9 DD in Tokyo Bay so Hyuga and Ise will have a decent escort when they are complete.  Just have to figure out a use for them...
 
Convoys   There are a whole host of convoys carrying resources and oil ranging to the western side of Japan.  dan's move in grabbing Iwo has sure changed out shipping lanes!  HI and production is HUMMING along thanks to my various Economic Ministers!  You guys ROCK!  Will cover that when we get to the end of the month.
 
ASW Action  I've formed about 5 ASW TF each containing 7 warships.  I try to get their ASW number up to about 30-35 and send them on their way.  This has just gotten underway and my truly good ASW ships are just now coming down the slipways.  They will help a lot as they are finished.  There are also a number of aircraft doing ASW work.  All have their experience at 70-80, fly @ 1,000 Ft, and have their range set at 50% (if normally 8 then it is set to 4).  There are American SS moving around along the southern/eastern edge of the Home Islands and I expect to start seeing them take hits as well.
 
Okinawa  Though not part of the Home Islands officially, I have been rapidly increasing the garrision on this base.  Losing it would be catastrophic so I have Engineers, Con Btn, and Inf heading here as quickly as possible.
 
 
China
 
Northern Area  Dan still does nothing to stop my training up in this region.  I have 4-600 planes flying missions and gaining experience.  He keeps his fighters down in the southern area so I avoid that.
 
I have troops moving on the northern Chinese city of Paotow.  Once I capture that (there are only 4 units in it), then I can threaen the enture northern perimeter of China.  I hope that it will force Dan to move more troops north.
 
 
Indochina/Burma
This area has turned into one big front with Chinese and Allied forces threatening the right (Hanoi), center (Pisanoluke), and left (Moulmein) of the Japanese position.  Let us hit on each area:
 
Hanoi/Haiphong  Dan looks like he may be coming back for more action.  There are 25 units directly east of Hanoi and maybe more coming.  I am not too concerned.  Hanoi is well supplied, Forts @ 9, and has a defense strength of about 1,600.
 
Pisanoluke  I have been driving those 3 Chinese Corps northwards for the last couple of weeks.  Originally they were stopped one hex NE of the city but the work of the 3rd TK Division, 7th Armored Regiment, and 2 Infantry Divisions have driven them back to the primitive trails 4 hexes above Pisanoluke.  This mission is accomplished so I pull the Armored and Infantry Divisions back to Bangkok to reform and prepare to deal with the next threat.  They are the Theatre Reserve right now.
 
Moulmein  No sign of attack brewing here yet.  There are a BUNCH of troops in Rangoon (refitting probably) but nothing has moved across the river yet.  Moulmein is the same as Hanoi; however, its defense strength is closer to 2,500.
 
Elsewhere  I have troops at all the smaller bases going into Malaya and towards Saigon.  Don't want another Parachute drop to interfere with movement and resources.  Construction units are increasing the Forts at various chokepoints for eventual usage.
 
 
The Jack Crisis
1.  Thanks for everyone's help with the chaos over the last few days.  You guys were great!
2.  Once Dan understood the situation and how stupid I had been he was cool with things.
 
 
 
 
 

[ny59giants]

Here is the latest Naval Shipbuilding. We are doing well!!

John,
You can accelerate one of those Unryu CVs and then all three once the 2 BB hybrids get finished, I think. [;)]

[ny59giants]

Here is the Global overview. Please note a gap of a few game turns. However, we have finally reached a reserve of over 100,000 HI. [&o][:D][&o]

[ny59giants]

Here is the latest overview. We may need to turn back on some of the Merchant Shipbuilding.

[ny59giants]

Here is the latest Air Production numbers.

Any of my fellow economic ministers see anything here or elsewhere that needs adjusting??

[ny59giants]

Finally, the latest on LCU Production.

A special thanks to Damain and Floyd for the latest version of WitpTracker to make this much easier. [&o]

[n01487477]

Michael,
You've brought the economy back from the brink! I know there are still Oil/supply issues to deal with, but kudos for getting up to speed so quickly on the finer points of WitpEconomics. Still a bit more to learn, but, all goes well.

I hope John has been paying attention...[;)][:D]

Any chance of getting some engineers to those Oil repairs ?
Aircraft
Those Judy's are looking good for about 5 mths production ... nothing you can do about the A6M5's now, pity we didn't discover that a while ago ...

Ships

You can accelerate one of those Unryu CVs and then all three once the 2 BB hybrids get finished, I think.

To accelerate Kasagi,Aso and Ikoma = 657/turn
After Ise and Hyung built save 210 + 120 = about 340 (DD's and CL Noshiro) ... so still not enough.

How about a different tack ... see my proletarian, meat and potatoes 5 point plan. [:D]

So in sequence: (days are from now)
1. Accelerate CL Yahagi
2. Wait until BB's are built. D +10
3. Accelerate Ikoma to catch Aso until Noshiro is built. D +20
4. Ikoma normal, Accelerate Mushashi.Stop Yahagi (if needed) D +55 (and she's built)
5. Accelerate all CV's and normal Yahagi (build time D +300 )
Make sense or is it flawed ?

LCU
And lastly, so the readers realise, there is a small bug with the Reinforcement switch on the LCU panel, "On" is actually "Off" ... I still think you can tone down the Armament production, you have three times the requirement at present ... this should cover any TO&E for the new units too ...

Lastly re: my post about Sasebo ... can you go to the Base screen, click on Sasebo and then give is a Resource History in the next big update, I'm interested in whether it is keeping supplies?[:D]

[ny59giants]

To accelerate Kasagi,Aso and Ikoma = 657/turn
After Ise and Hyung built save 374 + 120 = about 500 (DD's and CL Noshiro) ... so still not enough.

How about a different tack ... see my proletarian, meat and potatoes 5 point plan.

So in sequence: (days are from now)
1. Accelerate CL Yahagi
2. Wait until BB's are built. D +10
3. Accelerate Ikoma to catch Aso until Noshiro is built. D +20
4. Ikoma normal, Accelerate Mushashi.Stop Yahagi (if needed) D +55 (and she's built)
5. Accelerate all CV's and normal Yahagi (build time D +300 )
Make sense or is it flawed ?

Maybe flawed or not?? [;)]
I accelerated the CL Yahagi and CV Ikoma this turn (after this was posted). My math shows that you are not taking into consideration the points already being spent on ships. You seem to be doing Dur x 3 = "x" while I'm doing Dur x 2 = "y." Thus, to accelerate the 3 CVs = 146/each. They already have the 73 taken into account. 73 now plus 146 to get to the x3 cost of accelerating.

Thus, when the 2 BB hybrids complete in less than 10 days, I get 210 points back. The CV Ikoma cost me 146 & CL Yahagi cost me 66 (total 212). Thus, I'm -2. But I have 2DD finishing and get their 51 points. So, I'm up by 49. Add the 49 to my 164 I'm not using every day and I'm up 213. Thus, I can add the 2nd CV. Eventually, they will get close enough to the 3rd CV and I should be able to add that one and get all 3 CVs to come down the slipway about the same time.

So, whose math is correct?? [&:]

[John 3rd]

Damn...I go away and run errands for our weekend trip, come home, and find yet another highly detailed economics discussion going on!  [:D][:D][:D]  I think for all my subsequent campaigns I will HIRE an Economics Minister to handle all this.
 
It amazes me with everything that has been discussed and learned over the last couple of weeks what COULD have been done with my economy if I had known what to do on December 8, 1941!  Pretty crazy thoughts.  Cannot wait for AE.
 
Can I--hopefully--assume that Tracker will work with AE??!!
 
 

[n01487477]

Oops, I concede some points ... I kept switching between aggregate and surplus on the right side of my brain, programming on the left & marking at the back ... (women -always in front ![;)] )
[edit] New thoughts - Damn need to think before I write !!
So
3 CV accelerated will cost an additional 438 points/day
2 CV = additional 292 pts/day
1 CV = additional 146 pts/day

Saving on 2 * BB's = 210; Noshiro 99; DD's about 100; Total= 400 & after Mushashi 180 extra.

As there are many ways to skin a cat ... I just thought getting BB Mushashi early and then accelerating was an alternative.Both seem to work, although in your scenario only 2 can accelerate until Musashi is built.[edit] or maybe NOT ... maybe all 3 can !!!

Sorry, for my slip up & correcting me! DOH! Stupid Brain

Can I--hopefully--assume that Tracker will work with AE??!!

Floyd and I would love to support AE, but that is up to the community wanting it and the AE team (the file will be encrypted)... We want to enhance AE, it looks like it will be more complex, but in conjunction with this utility, maybe a little more accessible... we have more to do with the utility and plenty of suggestions ...

[John 3rd]

It would be great if you guys can get it to run with AE!  I am just starting to figure it out but the amount of information is simply staggering...
 

[ny59giants]

Well John,
What ships do you want accelerated??  CVs, Mushashi, CL, soon to be available DD, or PCs??  I was going with the CVs as the Allied CV numbers are just going to grow. I was figuring on the 3 CVs coming out in together in 8/44 (314 days) by staggering the acceleration to get them aligned and get the other ships completed.
Minister Benoit

Edit: Our 2nd CV will start to be accelerated in 11 days (after the 2 hybrid BBs are done). [:)]

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants
So, whose math is correct?? [&:]

It all depends on the time frame. For acceleration, the total cost is as follows:

Time remaining <Dur*10, cost is 3x Dur.

Time remaining >Dur*10 to Dur*20, cost is 2x Dur.

Time remaining > 2x Dur, you can't accelerate.

[n01487477]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli


It all depends on the time frame. For acceleration, the total cost is as follows:

Time remaining <Dur*10, cost is 3x Dur.

Time remaining >Dur*10 to Dur*20, cost is 2x Dur.

Time remaining > 2x Dur, you can't accelerate.

Mike, I'm pretty sure you are wrong about this: MikeMike and I tested and retested this ... but for the sake of clarity I will do it one more time for all the doubters.

1. Ships are able to build if their durability * 10 < delay. These ships can be
accelerated, at triple the durability cost.

2. Ships not in the first group, but can be built at accelerated if durability * 30 < delay. The
cost to accelerate these equals durability.

3. More than 30 * Durability - cannot accelerate

I'll get back to you with the results ...

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: n01487477

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli


It all depends on the time frame. For acceleration, the total cost is as follows:

Time remaining <Dur*10, cost is 3x Dur.

Time remaining >Dur*10 to Dur*20, cost is 2x Dur.

Time remaining > 2x Dur, you can't accelerate.

Mike, I'm pretty sure you are wrong about this: MikeMike and I tested and retested this ... but for the sake of clarity I will do it one more time for all the doubters.

1. Ships are able to build if their durability * 10 < delay. These ships can be
accelerated, at triple the durability cost.

2. Ships not in the first group, but can be built at accelerated if durability * 30 < delay. The
cost to accelerate these equals durability.

3. More than 30 * Durability - cannot accelerate

I'll get back to you with the results ...

You may be correct. I'm trying to remember this from the cobwebs of my old brain. [:D] Question about #2 though. For ships between 10x dur and 30x dur, isn't 1x dur the cost for normal building and 2x dur for acceleration?

[Mike Solli]

Here's how I understand it:

[n01487477]

Original: Mike Soli
You may be correct. I'm trying to remember this from the cobwebs of my old brain. Question about #2 though. For ships between 10x dur and 30x dur, isn't 1x dur the cost for normal building and 2x dur for acceleration?

*Ships in this group are not building at normal, but their delay is reducing -1 each turn. A ship is only building normally when durability *10 <= delay
*Confirmed for > *10 - *20 = 1 * durability ... if you want I can test between 20-30 if you want, but I think you can see ...

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
September 26, 1943
&nbsp;
The action has begun!&nbsp; The good news is that I hit Dan's ships moving east from Midway.&nbsp; Bad news is that I lost the American Fleet...[:o][:o]
&nbsp;
KB and Bettys!
My inexperienced CV TF strikes the American ships and manage to sink an MLE going TO Iwo, an LST, and hit 4-5 AK.&nbsp; My Bettys from Marcus hit over a dozen ships with Torps as well.&nbsp; Four ships in total were sunk:&nbsp; MLE. LST, and 2 AK.
&nbsp;
In case Dan reacts--or there are CV out there I don't know about--I move the CV TF NE eight hexes.&nbsp; They will still be close enough to hit shipping and far enough from Midway and Iwo to&nbsp;not get any form of surprise.&nbsp; Hopefully those ships and the Bettys can sink 10-20 ships total for this action.
&nbsp;
Where did they go?
Last I saw of the American Fleet, it was 2-3 hexes SW of Iwo.&nbsp; There were APs in the formation and now it has disappeared.&nbsp; I move a Betty Daitai and Emily Chutai to Legaspi for added recon.&nbsp; Sortie a number of smaller AK to form a Picket Line.&nbsp; I'll locate them this coming turn.
&nbsp;
IF he is moving west towards the Philippines, then there will be a fight for wherever he goes.&nbsp; NO MORE FREEBIES!&nbsp; He has split his Fleet with going east and west and I will&nbsp;capitalize on it.&nbsp; The Kaigun--following the original plan--will move out in 2 days for battle.&nbsp; I HOPE to interpose it between Iwo and the American CVs!&nbsp; I wish I had more&nbsp;Zekes within the formation but it is time to fight.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
LBA is moving as well.&nbsp; There are 200 high-performance fighter in the Philippines with more on the way.&nbsp; I've got over 100 bombers there to but will wait to move more until I see where he is going.&nbsp; There is a carpet of bombers flying ASW from Kyushu-to-Aparri looking for enemy SS.&nbsp; They can be pulled pretty easily.
&nbsp;
Objective?
I still think another invasion would be foolhardy but that didn't stop the Americans from taking Iwo and making it basically unassailable.&nbsp;&nbsp;Possiblities:
&nbsp;
1.&nbsp; Okinawa&nbsp; Highly doubtful since I lost him on Recon.&nbsp; It is getting stronger and should be OK.
&nbsp;
2.&nbsp; Luzon&nbsp;&nbsp;A real possiblity for attack.&nbsp; My ground strength is highest here and Dan HAD to&nbsp;leave&nbsp;troops back at Iwo so this is a middle-ground pick.&nbsp; It is well supplied, fortified, and has lots of ground units.&nbsp; It is ready enough.
&nbsp;
3.&nbsp; Mindanao&nbsp; This island is far weaker then Luzon but both targets (Davao and Cagayan) are decently fortified and have an&nbsp;Engineer Regiment as well as several base forces.&nbsp; The 4th Inf Div I pulled two weeks ago from the east coast of Australia is about 5-6 days from landing there.
&nbsp;
4.&nbsp;&nbsp;Palau&nbsp; Good-sized Port and AF and very weak.&nbsp; Dan had an SS parked there for about 10 days.&nbsp; Might have been doing recon...
&nbsp;
We should know next turn about these questions!
&nbsp;

[John 3rd]

I hate sitting around and WAITING for a turn.&nbsp; My brain has been on this so much I actually had a dream about the stupid game!&nbsp; Is anyone willing to admit being that much of a Geek?
&nbsp;