Castles in the Sand - Spidery(J) vs MrKane(A) no MrKane please

[FeurerKrieg]

ORIGINAL: Spidery

ORIGINAL: Feurer Krieg

Ha-45 stockpile now at 505 and accelerating R&D.

What's the relationship between engines and aircraft R&D? I think I've seen it mentioned, but haven't taken the time to try and dig it up.

Once you have more than 500 engines then each factory that generates a point of R&D instead generates 2 points but uses up one engine.

Thanks - I didn't know that - one more factor to add to my R&D plans.

[Spidery]

December 5th 1942

Air Losses: 0 Japanese, 5 Allied, 0 Pilots
Japanese occupy:
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:
Allies land at:

Pacific

I-8 attacks a task force of 3 CLAA and 8 DD near Pearl Harbour. Suffers a minor hit.

Burma area

Blenheims hit Myitkyna airfield.

China

Bad weather grounds air support at Chungking and the attack is quite bloody but reduces forts to 2:

Ground combat at Chungking (76,45)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 182832 troops, 2076 guns, 701 vehicles, Assault Value = 5327

Defending force 171563 troops, 156 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1634

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese adjusted assault: 1521

Allied adjusted defense: 865

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
10243 casualties reported
Squads: 58 destroyed, 877 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 103 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 84 disabled
Guns lost 54 (4 destroyed, 50 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
19979 casualties reported
Squads: 569 destroyed, 217 disabled
Non Combat: 535 destroyed, 951 disabled
Engineers: 19 destroyed, 15 disabled
Guns lost 56 (46 destroyed, 10 disabled)
Units destroyed 14

On the road to Paoshan, push the Chinese back across the Mekong:

Ground combat at 67,44 (near Tsuyung)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 16780 troops, 370 guns, 1013 vehicles, Assault Value = 865

Defending force 13924 troops, 163 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 51

Japanese adjusted assault: 458

Allied adjusted defense: 166

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
24 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
3809 casualties reported
Squads: 69 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 220 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 15 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 43 (36 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Units retreated 3

The defense across the Mekong is one corps recently moved into the hex plus the forces retreated from this battle. The attackers are mostly in good shape. Unfortunately, the target hex is mountains across a river and has an SL of 20000 so I'll only be able to send the tanks and artillery.

Australia

Darwin bombed.

Engineering

Quiet

R&D

Quiet

[Spidery]

December 7th 1942

Air Losses: 1 Japanese, 2 Allied, 1 Pilots
Japanese occupy:
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:
Allies land at:

[>:]

Pacific

Quiet

Burma area

Quiet

China

Just usual bombardments at Chungking.

Australia

Darwin bombed.

Engineering

Cocos Islands forts go to 5(think I'll stop). Warazup forts go to 3.

R&D

Quiet

[Spidery]

December 8th 1942

Air Losses: 0 Japanese, 5 Allied, 0 Pilots
Japanese occupy:
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:
Allies land at:

Pacific

Three separate cruiser task forces bombard Rossel Island. Damage is minor. I-2 fails to penetrate screens as they approach. I-4 takes a shot on the CA Australia as they withdraw but misses.

Three task forces are spotted near Baker Island and include a report of BB and CV present although aircraft numbers reported are small.

Burma area

Quiet

China

Ground attacks against Chinese forces moving in the mountains do very well, e.g.:

Morning Air attack on 5th War Area , at 70,45 , near Kunming

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 3
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 16

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
437 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 46 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

I wonder if they were in move mode? Other strikes have similar success.

Australia

Darwin bombed.

Engineering

Quiet

R&D

Quiet

[Spidery]

Some Defensive Planning

Pagan (forts 3, air 2)
Combined 8th SNLF CD, 2 AF Units, Air Division, Army HQ, Garrison Unit, 2 construction battalions

Saipan (forts 5, air 4)
Air flotilla, Naval fortress, 2 base forces, 54th Infantry division, AA regiment, howitzer regiment, port unit, af unit, construction battalion

Tinian (forts 4, air 4)
AF unit, 2 construction units

Rota (forts 4, air 2)
Small naval guard unit, engineering regiment, construction unit

Guam (forts 3, air 2)
2 SNLF units (one upgrades to a special base force with CD guns in 2 months), base force, construction battalion.

The air division will be moved from Pagan to Saipan to cover all the bases. A Division should be sent to each of Guam, Tinian and Rota in the next two months. (One is in the Aleutians, one is in China heading for Canton and the third in China and needs to be bought out).

Very small forces will be dropped at each of the dot bases near Pagan.

Together, that should be enough to protect against a surprise assault throughout 1943. Once he destroys Magwe I will move some AA but at the moment AA is needed at more important spots.

[Spidery]

December 9th 1942

Air Losses: 6 Japanese, 1 Allied, 5 Pilots
Japanese occupy:
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:
Allies land at:

Pacific

Quiet

Burma area

Quiet

China

5 Helens are lost to flak attacking the Chinese forces holding the Mekong. However, it is worth it because the tanks shock attack across the river and, just, manage to drive the defenders back[8D].

Ground combat at 66,44 (near Paoshan)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 11016 troops, 310 guns, 934 vehicles, Assault Value = 526

Defending force 21848 troops, 219 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 492

Japanese adjusted assault: 599

Allied adjusted defense: 292

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
165 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 21 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Vehicles lost 46 (1 destroyed, 45 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
8320 casualties reported
Squads: 199 destroyed, 25 disabled
Non Combat: 179 destroyed, 26 disabled
Engineers: 24 destroyed, 15 disabled
Guns lost 36 (27 destroyed, 9 disabled)
Units retreated 4

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
15th Tank Regiment
23rd Tank Regiment
9th Tank Regiment
2nd Tank Division
8th Tank Regiment
11th Tank Regiment
10th Mortar Battalion
12th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
Tonei Hvy Gun Regiment
12th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
20th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
5th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
21st Ind.Mixed Bde /1

Defending units:
1st Chinese Corps
54th Chinese Corps
14th Chinese Corps
5th Chinese Corps

The artillery is in a good state so can start moving that forward and the tanks can catch up once they've recovered a bit (about 30-40 disruption). An infantry division being sent across the mountains to approach Paoshan no longer needs to. What remains to be seen is how strong the defense of Paoshan will be.

Australia

Quiet

Engineering

Quiet

R&D

Quiet

[Spidery]

December 10th 1942

Air Losses: 0 Japanese, 5 Allied, 0 Pilots
Japanese occupy:
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:
Allies land at:

To add to all the other worries, MrKane seems to have stopped flying Lightnings much. Is he planning on using them en mass somewhere? Sweep Rabaul alongside a major assault in the area? Go for a crushing attack on Magwe?

[>:]

Pacific

Seem to be more activity around Tulagi but still no signs of carriers.

Burma area

Quiet

China

Usual bombardments.

The 3rd Tank Division forms up, will use PP to derestrict this but haven't decided where to send it. It will need a while to bring itself up to full strength.

Australia

Darwin hit, 3 4E shot down.

Engineering

Quiet

R&D

Quiet

[Spidery]

December 11th 1942

Air Losses: 0 Japanese, 3 Allied, 0 Pilots
Japanese occupy:
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:
Allies land at:

[>:], no air strikes launched anywhere today.

Pacific

Quiet

Burma area

Quiet

China

Usual bombardments.

Australia

Quiet

Engineering

Quiet

R&D

A6M5c to 12/43

[Spidery]

December 12th 1942

Air Losses: 1 Japanese, 0 Allied, 0 Pilots
Japanese occupy:
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:
Allies land at:

Pacific

Recce over Tulagi suggests few aircraft present.

Burma area

Quiet

China

Usual bombardments.

Liberators bomb Chengtu from 32000 feet and miss.

Australia

Quiet

Engineering

Quiet

R&D

Quiet

[Lowpe]

Do you think you are in the pre-Essex doldrums? Where the Allied player is going to hold off on moves in the Pacific in anticipation of the Essex. While they wait, they are picking invasion locations, prepping, moving supplies and troops up, but not trying to really risk anything.

[Spidery]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Do you think you are in the pre-Essex doldrums? Where the Allied player is going to hold off on moves in the Pacific in anticipation of the Essex. While they wait, they are picking invasion locations, prepping, moving supplies and troops up, but not trying to really risk anything.

Could be. He may not want to use his CV until he gets the Hellcat. It doesn't really explain why he has cut back on the use of Lightnings and 4E bombers. It is possible his Lightnings are busy running LRCAP over places I don't attack.

I still think if he was planning a gradual push he would be doing that so it is more likely some big attack will be launched. E.g. Kuriles just as winter ends.

I know that the Allies get lots of assets. However, I have some big changes over the next few months as well. The N1K1-J (February), the D4Y4 (April), the Ki-84a (May), plus I should take Chungking and release lots of troops and aviation support and take Paoshan to give the overland route to Burma.

[Spidery]

December 14th 1942

Air Losses: 5 Japanese, 1 Allied, 3 Pilots
Japanese occupy:
Allies occupy: Nookanbah
Japanese land at:
Allies land at:

Not a good day as a lot of little things go wrong.

Pacific

Recce confirms 211 fighters 86 bombers and 50 recce at Tulagi. More task forces. 4 planes lost on recce or naval search[:(].

Burma area

More Allied advances in the Jungle[:(]. I expect they will test my defenses soon.

China

Usual bombardments.

The forces moving in the Tsuyung area manage to enter the hex that will cut them off at the same time as my forces do and I'm not sure mine will be strong enough to hold[:@].

Australia

Allies occupy Nookanbah and may move on Derby and Broome[:(].

Engineering

Amami Oshima to 4. Will allow basing Helens for ASW in this important area.

R&D

Quiet

[Spidery]

ASW Planning

A basic ASW team consists of:

A size 4+ air base with:
2 AF Units
20 Jakes on 60% night naval search 6000 feet range 6 with 70+ naval search skill
27 Helen IIa on 50% day ASW 2000 feet range 10 with 70+ ASW skill
A task force of 1 E and 2 SC on react 2 with a commander with 60+ naval skill and aggression

I aim to put these at:
Wakkanai
Amami Oshima
Taihoku
Takao
Nagasaki/Sasebo
Shanghai
Hong Kong
Samah
Cam Ranh Bay
Singapore
Palembang (Billiton might be better)
Soerabaja
Balikpapan

[mind_messing]

ORIGINAL: Spidery

ASW Planning

A basic ASW team consists of:

A size 4+ air base with:
2 AF Units
20 Jakes on 60% night naval search 6000 feet range 6 with 70+ naval search skill
27 Helen IIa on 50% day ASW 2000 feet range 10 with 70+ ASW skill
A task force of 1 E and 2 SC on react 2 with a commander with 60+ naval skill and aggression

I aim to put these at:
Wakkanai
Amami Oshima
Taihoku
Takao
Nagasaki/Sasebo
Shanghai
Hong Kong
Samah
Cam Ranh Bay
Singapore
Palembang (Billiton might be better)
Soerabaja
Balikpapan

Don't neglect your major fleet bases as well. I'd add Babeldoab, Truk, Rabual and Kwajalien onto that list. They're all bases that you'll have fairly high traffic of both warships and merchantmen going through.

[Spidery]

Don't neglect your major fleet bases as well. I'd add Babeldoab, Truk, Rabual and Kwajalien onto that list. They're all bases that you'll have fairly high traffic of both warships and merchantmen going through.

Thank-you. They get treated a bit differently. There is enough naval search at these bases (except Babeldoab) to give a consistent idea of Allied activity.

So the ASW coverage there will fluctuate depending on demand. There are big gaps between bases that can't be covered by Helens. So Nells will work ASW over them on demand but they also need to cover naval search and attacks. DDs can be detached from fleets when they are spare.

[Spidery]

December 14th 1942

Air Losses: 49 Japanese, 5 Allied, 43 Pilots
Japanese occupy:
Allies occupy: Munda(air drop)
Japanese land at:
Allies land at:

Pacific

A group of Nells launch a night attack against a task force at Rennel Island, 35 find the target and with no CAP up get an easy run into target big xAPs. All miss[:@].

Another group of Nells and Betties mess up and launch a day strike against another task force at Russell Islands[:@]. CAP massacres them but 10 manage to get through and launch against more transports. All miss[:@].

I-158 is damaged near Pearl Harbour and will have to head for base.

I-18 finds and sinks a 5000 ton xAK near Baker Island[:)].

USA paras drop on and take Munda unopposed (or they could have come by sub).

Burma area

Quiet

China

At Paoshan the initial attack is pretty good[:)]. Disruption in the attackers is in the 10-14 range so they are ordered to attack again:

Ground combat at Paoshan (65,45)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 11977 troops, 328 guns, 935 vehicles, Assault Value = 524

Defending force 25073 troops, 232 guns, 101 vehicles, Assault Value = 450

Japanese adjusted assault: 837

Allied adjusted defense: 1459

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 3)

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

Japanese ground losses:
47 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Vehicles lost 13 (2 destroyed, 11 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
2049 casualties reported
Squads: 89 destroyed, 55 disabled
Non Combat: 32 destroyed, 58 disabled
Engineers: 17 destroyed, 28 disabled
Guns lost 37 (13 destroyed, 24 disabled)
Vehicles lost 17 (5 destroyed, 12 disabled)

Assaulting units:
9th Tank Regiment
8th Tank Regiment
12th Tank Regiment
3rd Tank Regiment
2nd Tank Division
11th Tank Regiment
14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
Tonei Hvy Gun Regiment
20th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
5th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
12th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
12th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
10th Mortar Battalion
21st Ind.Mixed Bde /1

Defending units:
14th Chinese Corps
1st Chinese Corps
54th Chinese Corps
5th Chinese Corps
104th RAF Base Force
China Air TaskForce
33rd Base Group
102nd RAF Base Force
16th Chinese Base Force

Australia

Quiet. Why has he stopped bombing Darwin?

Engineering

Quiet

R&D

Quiet

[Spidery]

December 15th 1942

Air Losses: 0 Japanese, 1 Allied, 0 Pilots
Japanese occupy:
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:
Allies land at:

Pacific

Quiet

Burma area

Quiet

China

At Paoshan a 1::1 is achieved and forts are reduced to 2[:)]. However, disruption and disablements amongst the tank regiments is higher so they will be pulled out and the 1st Tank will join the 2nd Tank in a day or two. As I haven't been bombing the airfield, the Allies may be able to build forts 3 again.

At Chungking some reinforcements have pushed the Chinese strength back up:

Ground combat at Chungking (76,45)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 6999 troops, 530 guns, 344 vehicles, Assault Value = 2045

Defending force 164657 troops, 97 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1380

Allied ground losses:
1156 casualties reported
Squads: 54 destroyed, 44 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)

However, in 3 days time should be able to launch a 12 division attack against the Chinese (maybe 4 days if there are supply delays).

Australia

Quiet

Engineering

Chengtu to 7, Onnekotan-Jima to 3.

R&D

Ki-43-IIIa to 1/44, Ki-43-IV to 4/44.

[FeurerKrieg]

Ki-43-IIIa to 1/44, Ki-43-IV to 4/44.

Why both? Given they are only three months apart, and the -IV has CL cannons and armor (iirc), why bother with the -IIIa?

[Spidery]

ORIGINAL: Feurer Krieg

Ki-43-IIIa to 1/44, Ki-43-IV to 4/44.

Why both? Given they are only three months apart, and the -IV has CL cannons and armor (iirc), why bother with the -IIIa?

So I can upgrade -IIb factories to produce the IV. But I may produce some of the -IIIa because it has the best range without drop tanks of the IJA fighters. It may not have been a good idea to research them at all. I expect both to be available in June 1943.

[Spidery]

December 16th 1942

Air Losses: 1 Japanese, 3 Allied, 1 Pilots
Japanese occupy:
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:
Allies land at:

[>:]

Pacific

Quiet

Burma area

Quiet

China

Bombardments

Australia

Quiet

Engineering

Allies expand Katherine to 9, Chittagong port to 8.

R&D

D4Y4 to 2/44.