Couple questions

[pertsajakilu]

HI!

Advices which I got helped to counter Allies at least some time. My heavy industry and oil reserve recovered.
I have managed to even sink few subs, but now it seems that Allied subs are regrouped and losses are rising so I must do something to that.

I have seen first Superfortresses, so can someone to tell me which Islands must be defended. I mean islands where Allied can put b-24 and b-29 bombers and hit my industry. Saipan and those nearby Islands? Philiphines? I have found Gekko to be quite a good against heavy bombers. Any other good planes against unescorted bomber raids? Unfortynately most midwar Japanese planes seems to be quite underdogs.

About ship productions. How merchant ship and sub production is working? Are there some max number of ships and then production ceases. Or is it that you get more ships in pool even if it exceed historical values. I assume that there is max number for units, but do the pool increase till the end of the war if production goes well and losses are low. Oh and I forgot CD types of ship. Is production limited to somehow?

Do sub groups get replacements from ship pool? I have never seen any sub in ship pools.

Huh... lots of questions again. I try to find these thing from manual, but the game has gone ( v 3.2 ) so many changes and I think that ver 3.2 notes do not mention much of ship production.

Pertsajakilu

[boba]

I usually use Ki-45 for defence against allied bombers. It has good durability and cannon ratings. This two ratings, combined with high experience, are most important for your air squadrons which will oppose Allied bombers. But don't expect too much, Japanese planes are inferior to American since mid '43 (and still I prefer to play Japanese than Allies [:D] )
Use Kuomitang bases in China to train your fighter (and bomber too) squadrons...

ORIGINAL: pertsajakilu

I have seen first Superfortresses, so can someone to tell me which Islands must be defended. I mean islands where Allied can put b-24 and b-29 bombers and hit my industry. Saipan and those nearby Islands? Philiphines? I have found Gekko to be quite a good against heavy bombers. Any other good planes against unescorted bomber raids? Unfortynately most midwar Japanese planes seems to be quite underdogs.
Pertsajakilu

[LargeSlowTarget]

You must hold Saipan, Tinian, Guam, and everything between them and the home islands to keep the heavy bombers from pounding your industry to dust. The Allies may still mount attacks from China or the Aleutians, but these will be minor in comparison to the raids from the Mariana islands packed with B-29s. Try to capture the size 4 bases in China, and defend Paramushiro.
I use the Ki-45 as bomber interceptor, its production starts early enough to built up a pool, to train airgroups and to discourage bombing raids against the SRA (oil!) from Australia or the CBI. Don't transfer airgroups to CEA or 6th Area Army bases from outside - once in China, they cannot be transfered out again.

Re ships, there is a max number of ship groups ('icons in port') generated at Nagoya, San F. and Colombo (the database has 998 slots for individual capital ships and ship groups for DDs, MCS etc.). I also think there are hardcoded limits on the ships added to the ship pool. Ship construction depends on the availability of ship production points (see 'industry' overview) which are linked to heavy industry output (and hence resources/oil stocks) and the quantity of damaged ships in ports. Lots of damaged ships will slow down new construction.
Sub groups seems to grow automatically over time if you keep losses down, I've seen wolfpacks rising from six boats in 1941 to twelve in 1945 without player input.

Hope this helps.
LST

[El_Rojo]

Reading the manual, it doesnt suggest that durability is an important factor to stop bombing raids. The manual says this matters in whether a plane is damaged or destroyed. (and the pilot killed).
The manual is very unclear about this, but it does say IF a hit is scored. Further manuevrability is never mentioned in the manual. So my hypothis is that a planE scores a hit based on a contest of maneuvrability and its experience. Does anybody know if this is sort of true?
If maneuvrability works only defensive, than my guess is that high experience is the most important. If maneuvability works also offensive than using high maneuvrable planes would be very important. A bomber returns from his mission (damaged) if hit, without dropping the bombs. And that is the objective of CAP defense. Whether you destroy the plane is of lesser importance.

You durability rating does come in to play in the factor whether your defensive planes are destroyed. Except for the obvious thing that the japanese production by that time is overstressed, for a home defense it should be less important because you are closer to the replacements then a fighter squadron that is operating at the front line. You don't even need ships (supply) to deliver the replacements.
The cannon rating decides whether you destroy the bomber squadron. That might be usefull because the bombers are operating far from home, and if the americans can't deliver supplies easily this might strain the supply line.
Durability is very important to keep your experience levels up. (just as cannon rating is to keep the enemy experience down). For a Japanize this means that his experienced squadrons should fly the durable planes. And his inexerpienced pilots should fly the less durable planes, because for an exerpienced airgroup the loss of a pilot is far more serious.

But, what is also my personal question, the formulae for hitting planes is the most important. Does anybody know that formula? For hitting the bombers makes him fail there mission. Destroying the bomber is of second consideration. But neighter durability nor cannon are suggested to matter directly in hitting the bomber, in contrast to destroying it. (though durability seems to be very important in keeping your experience up.)

[pertsajakilu]

ORIGINAL: boba

I usually use Ki-45 for defence against allied bombers. It has good durability and cannon ratings. This two ratings, combined with high experience, are most important for your air squadrons which will oppose Allied bombers. But don't expect too much, Japanese planes are inferior to American since mid '43 (and still I prefer to play Japanese than Allies [:D] )
Use Kuomitang bases in China to train your fighter (and bomber too) squadrons...

I used KI-45 too, but now my pool is nearly empty. But still I found Gekko better it has better stats in every category. I have two trained Gekko squadron and I am going to use them as a fire brigade when heavy bombers are overhelming. Puter seems to be "teleporting" his heavy bomber squadrons where situation seems to be favourable. I had good results with Gekko + Ki-44 combination. I mean my own losses were low and reasonable amount of bombers were shot down. I have now 1 Raiden squadron and it was first time in action. Results were good against b-25's so ( I was surprised ) and p-38 escorts didn't cut them to pieces. So I will experience Gekko + Raiden combination against heavies. Durability seems to be lifesaver.

Most air attacks against ( feb 1944 ) air attacks against shipping are nearly useless. Couple of hits and lots of AA losses. My Betty pool is also depleted so I am removing them from front line duties. KI-67 seems promising. Durable so AA losses should be fewer.

Now I also encountered Hellcats ( lot of them ) first time. I had 2 KI-44 + 1 A6M5 + 1 D4Y squadrons when allied CV task force with 4CV ventured nearby. It was like banging a head against wall. Not a single D4Y survived to drop a bomb.

Another nasty plane is p-47. I try to avoid that plane when possible. When playing Allies I love it, but now it's hard one to beat.

Pertsajakilu

[boba]

As LST mentioned, I prefer Ki-45 'cause it becomes available early in war and it has regular production (I'm in may '44 and I have around 200 of them in pool), so by the time it has to deal with Allied bombers I usualy have 2-3 squadrons trained to 80 exp. Ki-84 is also good, it has higher production than Ki-45 but it comes in '44 so you don't have enough time to traine eneogh squadrons. Gekko is a good fighter but with such a low production it has (I don't switch A6M5 factories to them) you may found yourself soon with depleted pool. Ki-44 and Ki-61 are also good against bombers, but their range 2 usually means they must be placed in exact base which is attacked.
Attacks with LBAs against American CV TFs (and it applies also almost to any other TF) are pretty much useless, if your Aircrafts by some miracle manage through CAP and AA they usualy can't hit anything or don't cause damege if they hit anything. In my current game, my CV aircrafts only menaged to sink one CV (Yorktown) in more than 6-7 engagments, with severe losses to them. I had much better results with my Subs positioned in defencive role (4 CVE, 1CA, 2CL sunk, 3-4 CV an CVL and numerous other ships including some BBs damaged). Now I'm waiting for Kamikazes to become available to see if they can be of some help. Anyone know which are the bases (except Saipan) whose fall will trigger Kamikazes?

ORIGINAL: pertsajakilu

I used KI-45 too, but now my pool is nearly empty. But still I found Gekko better it has better stats in every category. I have two trained Gekko squadron and I am going to use them as a fire brigade when heavy bombers are overhelming. Puter seems to be "teleporting" his heavy bomber squadrons where situation seems to be favourable. I had good results with Gekko + Ki-44 combination. I mean my own losses were low and reasonable amount of bombers were shot down. I have now 1 Raiden squadron and it was first time in action. Results were good against b-25's so ( I was surprised ) and p-38 escorts didn't cut them to pieces. So I will experience Gekko + Raiden combination against heavies. Durability seems to be lifesaver.

Most air attacks against ( feb 1944 ) air attacks against shipping are nearly useless. Couple of hits and lots of AA losses. My Betty pool is also depleted so I am removing them from front line duties. KI-67 seems promising. Durable so AA losses should be fewer.

Now I also encountered Hellcats ( lot of them ) first time. I had 2 KI-44 + 1 A6M5 + 1 D4Y squadrons when allied CV task force with 4CV ventured nearby. It was like banging a head against wall. Not a single D4Y survived to drop a bomb.

Another nasty plane is p-47. I try to avoid that plane when possible. When playing Allies I love it, but now it's hard one to beat.

Pertsajakilu

[LargeSlowTarget]

Anyone know which are the bases (except Saipan) whose fall will trigger Kamikazes?

AFAIK Saipan does not trigger Kamikazes. According to the manual, only the fall of bases in Japan (including the Kuriles, Iwo Jima and Okinawa), the Philippines, Borneo and Palembang on Sumatra will trigger the deliberate one-way-missions.

[boba]

Damn, it seems to me that when Kamikazies become available war is already lost for Japane... Than again, this is historical fact. Oh well, I guess I'll need to rely only to "normal" aircraft squadrons (as weak as they are [:(] )

ORIGINAL: LargeSlowTarget


AFAIK Saipan does not trigger Kamikazes. According to the manual, only the fall of bases in Japan (including the Kuriles, Iwo Jima and Okinawa), the Philippines, Borneo and Palembang on Sumatra will trigger the deliberate one-way-missions.

[LargeSlowTarget]

There is a somewhat gamey trick to exploit the PW system - leave one base in the Philippine Islands in the hand of the Allies and voila - Kamikaze trigger starting January 1944. You may just leave alone the division on Panay (or is it Mindoro?), or you may bottle up the US and PI forces at Bataan. Do not take the base (you may launch a few attacks to force the surrender of the weak PI divisions at Bataan, but be carefull not to overrun the PI division and Marines). Bomb the place to hell in order to reduce supplies and hence the readiness of the besieged Allies, and they will not be able to conduct a counterattack, which means that a brigade should be enough to contain them (besides, nice live-fire training ground for inexperienced airgroups...).

[Capt. Harlock]

There are two other bases which will trigger Special Attack Missions: Sakhalin Is. and Paramushiro. If you can lure your opponent into taking one of the above, give him Paramushiro--Sakhalin is worth Oil Points to you.

One other thought: the Betty-launched Ohka's become available in January 1945. I don't think the Allied possession of bases affects that.

[crusher]

if i remember correctly there is a house rule about leaving a base in allied hands. i think it was if P.I. is not capture by 1 Jan 43 Japan forfits game. against a.i.anything is fair.

[boba]

ORIGINAL: crusher

if i remember correctly there is a house rule about leaving a base in allied hands. i think it was if P.I. is not capture by 1 Jan 43 Japan forfits game. against a.i.anything is fair.

I'm not sure if forfit rule is entirely justified but I agree about unfairness of leaving bases uncaptured just to trigger Kamikazes...

[LargeSlowTarget]

Yep, it's unfair in PBEM, and against the AI it shouldn't be necessary at all if you don't screw up as Japanese player. I'm not a friend of Kamikaze units anyway, just wanted to point out a possible abuse of the game system in context with the question asked about the 'trigger-bases'.

[pertsajakilu]

Sometimes I see 800kg bombs used along with torpedoes in same attack. Do anybody remember why ( I mean reason ) this weapon is selected? Just curious, I am glad to see them dropped.

Now I have sunk 12 Allied BB's, do anybody remember without looking the manual how many ( US ) are there? I can check it by myself from manual, but if somebody remember. It can make my life easier when bombardment attacks are done by lighter ships. Yamamoto ( the ship ) have been very effective and lucky. It has directly sunk 2 BB's and damaged several.

I do not remember how many sunken BB's were British. There is lot of battlewagons left if most of them were British.

Some time ago I received a tank division ( in Tokyo). Divison's exp is low ( 43 ) and size of it is huge 5000 something. How do You use it? Or is it just an another division? It reqiures a lot of merchant capasity to ship that division somewhere.

Pertsajakilu

[LargeSlowTarget]

There are 25 USN BBs and two USN BCs, as well as 14 RN BBs and two RN BCs and one Free French BB in the obc41.

Edit: D'oh, forgot the BC Hawaii which never commissioned IRL, but is in the obc in case the war takes longer in PW. So that's three USN BCs.

[LargeSlowTarget]

For record-keeping of ships sunk and afloat I use an Excel spreadsheet listing all capital ships (CL and larger). I find it useful, so why not sharing it with others... sent me an email to Taffy-03@gmx.net if you want it.

[El_Rojo]

ORIGINAL: crusher

if i remember correctly there is a house rule about leaving a base in allied hands. i think it was if P.I. is not capture by 1 Jan 43 Japan forfits game. against a.i.anything is fair.

Such elegance in creating house rules . Since it is PBEM, you can just as well agree that Japan is not allowed to use his kamikaza until manual decided that the conditions are met, that means another base is captured. Or is the thrust so low between players and we believe that all in war and love is allowed. In that case I would like to point out it is a game, not a real war .

Why do I say this, the game is already worse enough in forcing standard strategy......it doesn't need to be worser.

[pertsajakilu]

ORIGINAL: LargeSlowTarget

There are 25 USN BBs and two USN BCs, as well as 14 RN BBs and two RN BCs and one Free French BB in the obc41.

Edit: D'oh, forgot the BC Hawaii which never commissioned IRL, but is in the obc in case the war takes longer in PW. So that's three USN BCs.

Auch..... 25 Battlewagons. I have never paid attenttion how much there are US battleships. Enough when You are playing Allies
Perhaps I forget my great idea of sinking US battleship fleet.

Pertsajakilu