JFB in charge of the USN??? BtS Lite ver. 4.5 Kitakami (A) vs Falken (J)

[Kitakami]

I know Japanese losses are less than reported, but this should give you an idea of how the air war has been going. The Huricanes were lost when their base fell, just like the Wildcats. The Catalinas are losses form the Pearl Harbor attack. The Warhawks are mostly losses in the Philippines.

[BBfanboy]

You are barely a week into the war and Allied air losses are normally much higher than the Japanese. You have kept pretty even with them so you are doing very well so far.

[Kitakami]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy
You are barely a week into the war and Allied air losses are normally much higher than the Japanese. You have kept pretty even with them so you are doing very well so far.

Yes, I was surprised about that. I wonder if it is gameplay, or if Japanese pilot exp. should be tweaked upwards a little bit.

[Kitakami]

Getting old. Finished yesterday's turn relatively early, but forgot to send it to my esteemed opponent. Sent it almost at midnight, local time.

Got the combat replay for Dec 17th. Lost Honk Kong 8 days early, not a good sign. Zeroes and Kates attacked Singapore's harbour defense launches. Gave a lot more than I got with my fighters there. Mersing was invaded by engineers and artillery. I have two Aussie Bdes there, so if he did not send any infantry or tanks, I could have a chance to bloody his nose there. We will see. Air war over Mindanao still seems to be somewhat in my favour.

More details when I get the turn.

[Kitakami]

Dec 19, 1941:

Last turn was lighter in losses, although they will soon mount up in China. A number of the units in the plains are being blocked from retreating towards Chinese lines.

Lost Lingayen, Lucena, Cotobato, Balabac, Kuching and Aitape. Didn't lose any units last turn, though. Also, all three CarDivs from KB have vanished from sight. This is a bit worrisome. The CVLs are north of Borneo, covering the landings there and keeping me honest. The CVEs have not been seen yet.

Anyway, this is what happened last turn:

[Kitakami]

First turn nothing allied was sunk. It was the best time to (hopefully) sink something Japanese, then:

[Kitakami]

The air war seemed to be in the Allies favour, and a little more pronounced this time:

[Kitakami]

Pilot losses were light this turn. That was beginning to worry me:

[Kitakami]

Japanese fighter losses have begun to mount up. That might make my esteemed opponent increase fighter production soonish, which might make him nervous regarding his supply stockpiles. Also, many of those pilots were lost over Allied bases, which means most of them were lost.

[Kitakami]

This is Malaya at this point. With the exception of Mersing, everything outside Singapore is speed bumps. My esteemed opponent landed mostly artillery, engineers and armour in Mersing... too strong to assault, to weak to take Singapore by themselves. The Aussies are making a fighting withdrawal now.

[Kitakami]

And these are the Philippines. Trying to save as much supply as possible for Bataan. I have been able to conserve my fighter squadrons in a half-decent fighting shape, which has racked up enemy air losses. On the ground it is a steady Japanese advance as it should be. That Hong Kong capitulated 8 days early is not good, but them be the breaks.

[anarchyintheuk]

I don't remember if there is a surplus of refining capacity in Australia in this mod. If so, you might want to ship oil there as well.

[Kitakami]

ORIGINAL: anarchyintheuk
I don't remember if there is a surplus of refining capacity in Australia in this mod. If so, you might want to ship oil there as well.

Checking...

In this scenario, 10 oil go into a refinery, and 9 fuel come out. There is no supply produced so, strictly speaking, shipping oil to Australia would be a waste. However, if it is oil coming out of the DEI, and not from the USA, I think it is a good thing to do if fuel has been shipped out.

In this mod Australia has a deficit of 450 oil/day. But at this point the USA has a deficit of 2470 oil a day, which needs to be addressed before any oil can be shipped out. Currently, stored oil will be enough for 15 days (7 turns). After that, refineries will operate at sub-optimal capacity.

[Kitakami]

Dec 21, 1941

One of those turns when the war advances, but not much happens. Lost Bayombong, Masbate, Kudat, Pucheng, Babo, and Manowkari. Japanese troops continue to land in Mersing, but the Australians have done their job, everything of defense value besides them is in Singapore, along 50K+ supplies. Fortress Singapore is a sure way to lose those troops, but if the initial assault is botched, it will take some time for the island city to fall.

Elsewhere, Palembang has not been attacked yet, and a few commando units from Borneo and other islands have been flown to Java to better defend it. Same with the 61st Philippine Division and Cagayan, and the troops starting in Rabaul and Port Moresby. Flying boats have more uses than I had anticipated (Cagayan currently is at +80 base AV, for example).

Although undependable, subs have been moved to choke points and likely avenues of attack. Japanese ASW assets are not that great at the stat of the war (with the exception of a few ships I use exclusively as TK and AO escorts), so I am being a bit bold with them. CVs, CAVs, CLVs, and CVEs have begun gathering at two (three with Colombo) bases. Out of harm's way for the time being, because I need to fill them with planes and train their pilots, but it is a start. Shipping fuel from the USA has begun. Soon the P-38Es will begin their long trek towards India too.

The rest can better be told in images:

[Kitakami]

Naval losses were extremely light. The two AMc boats were lost in the strait between Sumatra and Malaya. Not a path Allies can take anymore, I guess. We will see if the rest of the TF can escape without being destroyed.

[Kitakami]

Pilot losses aren't terrible, but they are fighter pilots, so I am not at ease with them. It feels like a waste this early in the war to get a pilot to a half decent proficiency level only for Zeroes to kill him.

[ny59giants]

Bataan or Manila: The great debate when playing with SL is which will be the final holdout? Each has their pro and con. I usually go with Manila due to its significantly higher SL.

[Kitakami]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants
Bataan or Manila: The great debate when playing with SL is which will be the final holdout? Each has their pro and con. I usually go with Manila due to its significantly higher SL.

An interesting question, and one I must answer in the next turn or two. What do others think? Playing with stacking limits.

[Kitakami]

Air losses continue to favour the Allies. Not by much, but on the long run I can replace far more than my esteemed opponent can.

[ny59giants]

Its not the loss of pilots that hurt the early war efforts as you will get plenty of USA Army fighter pilots due to multiple withdrawal of air groups in the first 6 months. It will be how many airframes you lose. I hope you are planning to switch old planes for the P-38s on the West Coast. Those planes are the best you get, especially when sweeping, until the George comes out in fall '42. Ask John 3rd how much he hates those planes?? [:D]