A Japanese Debacle - Sqz (J) vs. fcharton (A)

[SqzMyLemon]

In my experience, conducting both morning and afternoon strikes are rare. I also find the number of aircraft assigned to any particular strike varies considerably. I typically have Nagumo in charge, so perhaps his air skill is the problem? I'd like to get more consistent performance from KB, but I find it's a crapshoot what flies, and whether I'll get one or two air phases worth of attacks in. I have always felt KB doesn't perform as well or as consistently as it should in my games. I'm not blaming the mechanics here, I'm just finding the proper combination of settings and leadership elusive to implement.

[HansBolter]

I simply can't agree with you all that it is rare.

Just watched it happen last night and the night before as I ran one turn each night.

I'm playing scenario 40 Ironman Ported to Babes and the AI is invading Dutch Harbor.

I had the Hornet at Kodiak so I made a high speed run to get in range and for two straight days all three bomber squadrons flew against non-CV targets in both day phases of both turns.

While my example only covers two days this is consistent with what I see every time my carriers find themselves in a target rich environment.

I simply don't find it to be a rare occurrence.


Afterthought:

One thing that may be having a big impact is range.

I like to in close for my strikes (especially when operating TBDs...although in he example above Hornet had TBFs).

I was striking from a range of two hexes.

Perhaps it's easier to pull off two short range strikes in a day with a given squadron than two long range strikes.

[SqzMyLemon]

Hi Hans,

I'm not disputing what you say. I'm just highlighting my own experiences with KB. Trust me, I want to be in the crowd that says multiple strikes occur regularly [:D].

Range probably is a factor. In my case with the British battleships, I believe I was four hexes away and only got one strike. I'm just trying to find the sweet spot where multiple strikes occur for me more often, I haven't had much success yet.

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

I simply can't agree with you all that it is rare.

Just watched it happen last night and the night before as I ran one turn each night.

I'm playing scenario 40 Ironman Ported to Babes and the AI is invading Dutch Harbor.

I had the Hornet at Kodiak so I made a high speed run to get in range and for two straight days all three bomber squadrons flew against non-CV targets in both day phases of both turns.

While my example only covers two days this is consistent with what I see every time my carriers find themselves in a target rich environment.

I simply don't find it to be a rare occurrence.


Afterthought:

One thing that may be having a big impact is range.

I like to in close for my strikes (especially when operating TBDs...although in he example above Hornet had TBFs).

I was striking from a range of two hexes.

Perhaps it's easier to pull off two short range strikes in a day with a given squadron than two long range strikes.

Yes, as I've posted before (I think in this thread, actually) I think range is a big part of it. If you're only a few hexes away, you may see both AM and PM strikes. If you're sitting out at 8 hexes, your planes are only going to fly in 1 phase. Striking from 2 hexes away is quite close.

Edit: I'm reviewing the manual because I know I read it somewhere. I haven't found anything explicit yet, however I have found these.

P.163 - "more likely to attack a TF that is within 180 miles (5 hexes).

P.163 also says that the importance of the enemy shipping (CV, BB, cruisers, transports, and then other ships - in that order) affects likelihood of a strike as well.

[Yaab]

I think you can see two attacks provided the enemy TF sits in one hex. I have seen a Zero group fly two Naval Attack mission from Takao to Hong Kong in one day. That is a 10 hex attack. The target TF was patrolling in the Hong Kong hex.

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: Yaab

I think you can see two attacks provided the enemy TF sits in one hex. I have seen a Zero group fly two Naval Attack mission from Takao to Hong Kong in one day. That is a 10 hex attack. The target TF was patrolling in the Hong Kong hex.

I've seen LBA launch 2 strikes from distances like that a lot of times. It's the CV strikes against naval targets that don't seem to like happening in both AM and PM (with the same units - again, I see CV TFs launch strikes in both AM and PM but different units will be used in each).

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

Land targets can only be struck once a day, naval targets can be struck twice a day.

I see afternoon attacks following morning attacks on port strikes. So unless my install is bugged, sorry, not accurate.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

I don't know about knock out, but you know Francois ... he has a plan. And with him as the allies, you cannot allow him to execute that plan. You have to guess his plan and then counter it before he executes ... tough to do.

So sit back, look at the map, and think Francois.

Ha, find my inner Francois!

I really have no sense of Francois' play style yet. Since I bailed on Australia, I feel he's just coasting along. There's no doubt he's getting the logistics in place for a move, but since I still have to deal with the DEI and Philippines, he's got plenty of time to prepare.

I'm surprised at the lack of a move against the Solomons, especially considering how weak my position is there. I plan on going back into Australia though, particularly Darwin and the northeast, so maybe that will mess up his timetable somewhat. It's clear to me he's going to defend Darwin, so that's where I'll focus once I free up some divisions.

I never think of Solomons as a target on either side, so I'm not surprised. Not seeing anything is the worst of all possibilities. It means he is planning and staging something. The longer it goes, the bigger it is. Think Mr. Kane. You never want to let him sit back. Gotta provoke him into committing forces where you want, don't let him choose where. Hmmm ... what could you do .... ????

[HansBolter]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

Land targets can only be struck once a day, naval targets can be struck twice a day.

I see afternoon attacks following morning attacks on port strikes. So unless my install is bugged, sorry, not accurate.

By the same squadrons? That's not supposed to be possible.

Perhaps I wasn't sufficiently clear in qualifying "by any given squadron", but since that is the focus of the discussion I didn't feel it was necessary.

[SqzMyLemon]

Game continues.

I now officially suck with Japan. Not that I was ever great with them.

Question. My first Ki-61 Tony R&D factory is fully repaired at 30x0. I switched to the Ki-61b model no problem, but when I tried to switch to the Ki-61c the factory went to 0x(21). Should I not be able to switch from b to c to d then Ki-100 without incurring damage? Am I misunderstanding the upgrade path?

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

Game continues.

I now officially suck with Japan. Not that I was ever great with them.

Question. My first Ki-61 Tony R&D factory is fully repaired at 30x0. I switched to the Ki-61b model no problem, but when I tried to switch to the Ki-61c the factory went to 0x(21). Should I not be able to switch from b to c to d then Ki-100 without incurring damage? Am I misunderstanding the upgrade path?

The upgrade path does not go through the -c model. It skips that one and goes to the -d...

I use Tracker to make sure I have my paths right as there isn't a good way to see it in-game.

[SqzMyLemon]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

Game continues.

I now officially suck with Japan. Not that I was ever great with them.

Question. My first Ki-61 Tony R&D factory is fully repaired at 30x0. I switched to the Ki-61b model no problem, but when I tried to switch to the Ki-61c the factory went to 0x(21). Should I not be able to switch from b to c to d then Ki-100 without incurring damage? Am I misunderstanding the upgrade path?

The upgrade path does not go through the -c model. It skips that one and goes to the -d...

I use Tracker to make sure I have my paths right as there isn't a good way to see it in-game.

Thanks a ton for that. I run tracker, but don't spend the time dissecting it like I used to. Luckily, I always save before mucking around with factory upgrades, so I'm still at the Ki-61b model and fully repaired.

[GetAssista]

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon
Thanks a ton for that. I run tracker, but don't spend the time dissecting it like I used to. Luckily, I always save before mucking around with factory upgrades, so I'm still at the Ki-61b model and fully repaired.

You can also go to intelligence screen in game and click on Aircraft replacement pool. Next upgrade in the chain is shown in the right column, either upgrade or the airframe itself if there is no further chain

[SqzMyLemon]

We've reach June 10, 42.

My overall game play continues to suck.

I'm completely stalled in China. A deliberate attack at Lanchow with 800 AV against 1200 AV of Chinese troops received a whopping 1:4 odds and another Japanese division has been wiped out as a result. These troops were 100% prepped with two HQ's, so I failed yet another roll. I'm ready to give up on China and let Francois use it as a bombing base to pummel Japanese industry. My own fault though for trying to play China differently. I should have exploited China's initial weakness like every other player does and I'd be sitting pretty. Instead, it's a stacking limits in 3x terrain or river crossing nightmare.

I'm finally moving on Port Blair with a fully prepped division. I expect to get slaughtered.

I'm also launching the first deliberate assault against Manila. I'm not fully prepped and I expect to get slaughtered.

Any important ground assault I've launched in the game has resulted in horrible odds and wiped out Japanese divisions. I don't expect anything to change.

I'm coasting along without much to look forward to. I've hated this game from the first turn and I'm hoping this will be over points wise by the end of 1943. I don't even have 2:1 as it stands right now. My worst game ever as Japan and I hardly care anymore.

[SqzMyLemon]

Yes, I'm in a bad mood today. [:D]

[Bif1961]

You learn from defeats then you do victories.

[SqzMyLemon]

ORIGINAL: Bif1961

You learn from defeats then you do victories.

No, this isn't really about a defeat, or being beat my opponent. I'm a better player than this, but I've lost my way. The only person beating me right now, is me. Francois just has to sit back and watch me continue to flounder until he makes his move. This will be an easy Allied win, resulting from poor play on my part in every aspect of this PBEM, hence my frustration. The sooner it's over, the better.

[Encircled]

Could you not turn it around?

[SqzMyLemon]

ORIGINAL: Encircled

Could you not turn it around?

I should clarify. I never quit and for the most part I always try.

My heart's just not in it. Can I turn things around? Sure, if I start getting some rolls, if I can overcome some roadblocks relatively quickly and painlessly, and start applying some pressure on my opponent.

It comes down to the will, and right now the proper attitude just isn't happening.

[Encircled]

Yeah, it tough when you know you are not mentally "on it".