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The Darwin port attack on the 29th was a let down as the commander decided to load bombs rather than torpedoes:

I think torpedoes are only used in port attacks during the surprise attacks on December 7th. Experienced groups will sometimes use 800kg bombs in port attacks after that.

Some minor thoughts on the economy.

Have you turned some armament production off? You may as well produce and stockpile them now as you will need them later.

You may want to think about expanding vehicle production a bit as you want to run it throughout the war for maximum efficiency and I think what you have won't cover production, upgrades and losses.

You could turn all of the naval and merchant ship yards on to build some pool. This gives you flexibility to accelerate builds or to allow for when accelerated builds start costing x3. Later you can turn them off to empty the pool as your last ships are completed.

Your engine production seems low. It is more effective to expand early, as long as supply is available, so they produce as long as possible. You also need to expand a bit if you are to get the engine bonus.

Generally, storing things in pools that you know you will use is just as efficient as storing HI and easier to manage.

Hope some of that helps.

What ships are you halting or accelerating?

CVE and CV are good candidates for acceleration. Also, you have a shortage of DD that have the Type 2 depth charge that can attack the deepest diving Allied boats so accelerating some of them may be a good idea. There may be merit in accelerating some TK or AO so you can shift all the oil and fuel in 1942, before the sub menace gets too bad, and avoid stockpiles accumulating in the SRA that you have to move later through troubled waters.

Southern SRA:

The Darwin port attack on the 29th was a let down as the commander decided to load bombs rather than torpedoes:

Morning Air attack on Darwin , at 76,124

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 44



Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
TK Gertrude Kellogg, Bomb hits 2, on fire
DD John D. Edwards, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
PT TM-8, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AM Eland Dubois, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AVP Reiger, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Edsall, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AM Ipswich, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Raranga, Bomb hits 1, on fire
PT TM-5, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
PC Zeeman, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
xAKL Corregidor, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
PT TM-4, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk

With Gorontalo secured the Allied Manado garrison surrendered when cut off on the 30th.

I've not seen a 2E load TT for a port attack. Kates don't either after PH. They do load 800kg bombs though, which are pretty useful. They penetrate most any armor. My high exp pilots in IJN 2E with 800kg bombs have had some pretty good strikes on ports.

What bombs were these dropping?

ORIGINAL: obvert

Southern SRA:

The Darwin port attack on the 29th was a let down as the commander decided to load bombs rather than torpedoes:

Morning Air attack on Darwin , at 76,124

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 44



Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
TK Gertrude Kellogg, Bomb hits 2, on fire
DD John D. Edwards, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
PT TM-8, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AM Eland Dubois, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AVP Reiger, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Edsall, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AM Ipswich, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Raranga, Bomb hits 1, on fire
PT TM-5, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
PC Zeeman, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
xAKL Corregidor, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
PT TM-4, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk

With Gorontalo secured the Allied Manado garrison surrendered when cut off on the 30th.

I've not seen a 2E load TT for a port attack. Kates don't either after PH. They do load 800kg bombs though, which are pretty useful. They penetrate most any armor. My high exp pilots in IJN 2E with 800kg bombs have had some pretty good strikes on ports.

What bombs were these dropping?

It's not just Kates which load 800-kg bombs on port attacks, if they pass a check. I believe the criteria is 70+ average experience, and then passing the check?

I had Nells load 800-kg bombs on a port strike at Darwin, I think against HexHead. It wrecked some stuff at anchor. Devastating offensive weapon early if you know where the Allies are spread too thin on fighters. Darwin is one of the areas where it can be difficult to get fighter coverage for at least a month.

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

ORIGINAL: obvert

My high exp pilots in IJN 2E with 800kg bombs have had some pretty good strikes on ports. [:)]

It's not just Kates which load 800-kg bombs on port attacks, if they pass a check. I believe the criteria is 70+ average experience, and then passing the check?

I had Nells load 800-kg bombs on a port strike at Darwin, I think against HexHead. It wrecked some stuff at anchor. Devastating offensive weapon early if you know where the Allies are spread too thin on fighters. Darwin is one of the areas where it can be difficult to get fighter coverage for at least a month.

I think you missed the last part there. [;)]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the comments.

The 2 x Betty groups had 70 Av. EXP and hit the port with 250/60KG Bombs only.

Spidery: I'd turned off 240 x ARM production to save on materials but I understand your logic now - build them and they're in the pool and can't be lost! I've turned them back on.

Vehicles - I expanded Kanazawa slightly but what level of production do you think I need?

Nav/Mer SY's - I was planning to convert some of the MER SY to NAV SY. At present I've converted 50 and was planning on 200 total as I'm not planning on building any more AK's. I get your logic once more though so have turned on Osaka's 233 MER SY again.

Engine's - I've expanded some already (see attached screenshot). From my calculations this should take in to account the need for an R&D bonus.

Good to have thoughts though! [:)]

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

ORIGINAL: obvert

My high exp pilots in IJN 2E with 800kg bombs have had some pretty good strikes on ports. [:)]

It's not just Kates which load 800-kg bombs on port attacks, if they pass a check. I believe the criteria is 70+ average experience, and then passing the check?

I had Nells load 800-kg bombs on a port strike at Darwin, I think against HexHead. It wrecked some stuff at anchor. Devastating offensive weapon early if you know where the Allies are spread too thin on fighters. Darwin is one of the areas where it can be difficult to get fighter coverage for at least a month.

I think you missed the last part there. [;)]

D'oh. Sure did. So uh, +1, I guess?

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna




It's not just Kates which load 800-kg bombs on port attacks, if they pass a check. I believe the criteria is 70+ average experience, and then passing the check?

I had Nells load 800-kg bombs on a port strike at Darwin, I think against HexHead. It wrecked some stuff at anchor. Devastating offensive weapon early if you know where the Allies are spread too thin on fighters. Darwin is one of the areas where it can be difficult to get fighter coverage for at least a month.

I think you missed the last part there. [;)]

D'oh. Sure did. So uh, +1, I guess?

ROFL! +1 too!

Engine's - I've expanded some already (see attached screenshot). From my calculations this should take in to account the need for an R&D bonus.

I have dropped a message in my AAR with my current (April 1942) figures. However, actual demand is going to depend upon your R&D plans.

Vehicles I increased to 180 but I don't have the experience to know whether this is sufficient. I just looked at the graphs in Tracker. Again, it probably depends upon your plans.

You should be ashamed, beating on your Old Man like this [:-]







[:D]

ORIGINAL: Lecivius

You should be ashamed, beating on your Old Man like this [:-]







[:D]

Nay, you should be proud! And so should he!!

Hi All,

The invasion of Mersing is underway..........

Malaya/Burma:

Japanese troops waded ashore at Mersing on 4th January 1942. The journey there had been relatively un-eventful under the watch of a CA SC TF and 1/2 of KB.

A series of LBA raids from Allied held Malaya had only led to 1 x AK (carrying supply) being. The rest of the time the 20-30 Zeroes on CAP did their job and have claimed 35 enemy planes (including 15 x Buffalo on a sweep over Singapore on 3rd) shot down for the loss of 3 x friendly.

We'll attack on the 6th and I'm quite confident of success based on this:

Ground combat at Mersing (51,82)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 2525 troops, 27 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 105

Defending force 38633 troops, 339 guns, 204 vehicles, Assault Value = 1398


Allied ground losses:
25 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Assaulting units:
22nd Australian Brigade
30 Battery/3 HAA

Defending units:
38th Division
4th Division
2nd Tank Regiment
21st Div /5

Further north in Malaya Japanese troops are advancing on Alor Star and Taiping.

In Burma troops have now marched overland and reached Moulmein finding no opposition as yet.

-----------------

Luzon:

The Clark Field attack on 1st January was very disappointing:

Ground combat at Clark Field (79,76)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 20445 troops, 248 guns, 310 vehicles, Assault Value = 737

Defending force 16580 troops, 296 guns, 420 vehicles, Assault Value = 537

Japanese adjusted assault: 277

Allied adjusted defense: 796

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 1)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
4635 casualties reported
Squads: 60 destroyed, 149 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 32 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 27 (2 destroyed, 25 disabled)
Vehicles lost 16 (2 destroyed, 14 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
1149 casualties reported
Squads: 11 destroyed, 131 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 23 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 23 disabled
Guns lost 19 (1 destroyed, 18 disabled)
Vehicles lost 30 (5 destroyed, 25 disabled)

It doesn't really change the picture here except I'll be resting and sitting tight around Clark Field for longer than planned. From the south a Jap division is advancing on Manila to see what's there.

Daily air raids from Aparri keep Clark, Manila and Bataan supressed.

-----------------

Rest of SRA:

Ambon's Netties have continued to pummel Darwin's harbour for the past 4 days and have reported sinking 10-15 enemy ships there (AK, AO, TK, DD, PT). They'll stand down now as mission accomplished.

Mini-KB is escorting an invasion force heading towards Balikpapan. 2 x SNLF Units will land on 6th January.

We also continue to occupy a bunch of the multitude of empty bases around Ambon and north of Darwin.

------------------

SoPac:

Things will start to move down here soon as Guards Mixed Bde has reached Truk and is readying for embarkation on transports bound for Rabaul. The other half of KB will escort this force.

------------------

I've attached a screenshot of my engine requirements/production.

Hi All,

Malaya:

Mersing was occupied by the Japanese on the 6th and a small runway was completed by over 200 engineers 2 days later. An Oscar Sentai is on hand to provide local CAP and begin sweeps over Singapore.

With supply flowing ashore the Infantry are starting to march westwards to cut the rail line from Singapore and the rest of Malaya.

Allied LBA did manage to attack the transports off Mersing on the 6th despite some Zeroes being in CAP. Annoyingly 2 x AP were sunk and some men lost at sea. 16th Infantry Rgt lost 1/4 of it's men and will remain at Mersing as local garrison and to take replacements.

In the north troops have nearly reached Alor Star and Taiping.

--------------

Luzon:

Troops have reached Manila and scouted the defences:

Ground combat at Manila (79,77)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 15005 troops, 146 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 498

Defending force 19192 troops, 211 guns, 158 vehicles, Assault Value = 424

Japanese ground losses:
39 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled



Assaulting units:
16th Division
Kure 1st SNLF

Defending units:
71st PA Infantry Division
1st PA Infantry Division
41st PA Infantry Division
51st PA Infantry Division
2nd PA Constabulary Regiment
Manila USAAF Base Force
USAFFE
II Philippine Corps
Cavite USN Base Force
PAF Aviation

Very unlikely we'll succeed in Luzon as is but the aim is to keep the Allies supressed and to whittle them down in time. I'll risk an attack tomorrow although don't expect to succeed.

---------------------

Balikpapan:

We attacked on the 7th and secured the base and the vital oilfields for only limited damage (6 centres). There was no Allied interference in the invasion with Mini-KB on hand. Mine's and CD guns did sink 1 x PB, DMS and AKL along with heavily damaging DD Yugiri though.

---------------------

SoPac:

Things will happen here soon as KB left Truk on the 8th with a SC TF guarding invasion forces for Kavieng and Rabaul.

---------------------

Burma:

The attached screenshot shows he situation here as 33rd Division crawls through the jungle advancing in Pegu from the east as 55th Division elements reach Moulmein with Cavalry forces speeding SW to occupy Tavoy.

Hi All,

Things continue to progress as planned across the board.....

SoPac:

Japanese expansions begin in this theatre with successful invasions of Kavieng, Rabaul and Lae. All bases were secured easily under the cover of KB. KB moved further south to a position SSE of PM on 15th January. Search planes located a TK at PM and also a small convoy heading north from Australia. This convoy turned out to be a gold mine as it was a bunch of freighters carrying 60 x P40E and 30 x Banshee (presumably for PM). All were sunk.

The PM TK turned out to be a small convoy of AK/TK and CL/DD escort. The Dutch CL's Java and Sumatra were sunk along with 5 x AK/TK.

We'll consolidate the gains we have, occupy the empty bases and await the arrival of 20th Division from Korea (will be bought out tomorrow) and then go for PM.

-------------------

SRA:

Empty bases around the Celebes and Timor continue to be occupied.

Kendari fell on the 12th and Samarinda with the Balikpapan forces on the 14th.

Makassar invasion forces are 2 days out escorted by Mini-KB and a SC TF.

-------------------

Luzon:

Status quo here (as planned) with Japanese and Allied forces in stalemate at both Manila and Clark Field.

-------------------

Malaya:

With Allied forces effectively severed in 1/2 Malaya should be a relative walk in the park. The Mersing Japanese forces are sitting at Johore awaiting the northern forces to join them.

The northern prong smashed through Alor Star (11th), Georgetown (14th) and Taiping (16th) on their way south.

--------------------

Burma:

Thankfully Pegu was only lightly defended by 2 x Allied units and 2 x IJA Rgt's assaulted the base successfully on the 11th. I don't believe Dad has realised the risk of just sitting in Rangoon (which he seems to have done). The main Japanese forces in the region are gathering at Pegu (just Mergui to take further south) whilst a IJA Regiment from 55th Division is moving NE towards Toungoo. She'll continue to move north, then west and then south towards Rangoon.

Gotten used to all that red yet? [:D]

I have strangely got into the Japanese side 'relatively' easily I feel. I'm now in the routine and swing of things to ensure I check industry, convoys and FACS etc.

Fun! I remember playing my father in Stratego with fondness. Hope you don't cause your father any palpitations, Speedy! [;)]

I think he's beginning to grasp that a human player is much different from the AI[;)]

Hi All,

SoPac:

The current venture of KB part 1 came to and end on 21st January. Zeroes swept over PM on 20/21st and covered Kate raids on the airfields and port. 12 x P40E were reported shot down for the loss of 3 x Zero and 3 x Kate (not a great trade). A SC TF formed around BB Mutsu and Yamashiro shelled PM before heading back with KB to Truk to replenish. They encountered and sank DD Van Nes and heavily damaged the airfield.

CL Katori was scuttled on 22nd January after she was heavily damaged and flooding by 2 torpedoes from SS Tuna NW of Rabaul.

--------------

Malaya:

Japanese forces are continuing to march southwards down Malaya, smashing enemy piecemeal units along the way, and are nearing Kuala Lumpur and Temuloh.

--------------

Burma:

Mergui was easily secured by 144th Rgt on 23rd as the main Japanese units in the region sit at Pegu facing off the main Allied forces at Rangoon.

112th Rgt marched NE of Pegu and took Toungoo on 23rd. She'll continue to march NE to the Mandalay region.

--------------

SRA:

Makassar was invaded on 21st under the cover of mini-KB.

The first attack went in on 23rd and breached the main enemy defences.

Quiet elsewhere in the region.

Enough fuel has accumulated at both Miri/Brunei and Balikpapan that the first convoys left full for Japan on 22nd January.