The Oscar is not that bad in the AE and has a much longer range than the Tojo (Ki 44-IIa Tojo production starts 09/1942, Ki 43-IIa Oscar production starts 11/1942).
Ki 44-IIa has max (droptank range) of 20 hexes.
Ki 43-IIa has max (droptank range) of 33 hexes.
And you don't have the same number of A6M airgroups available for long-range missions in the AE as you had in WITP.
K
I don't see a huge need for LR Fighters. I will have some zero groups and keep a few oscar groups, but why would I keep the oscar as my main IJA fighter when its only advantage over the Tojo is its range - the Tojo has almost twice the firepower - and if I want to kill allied planes, I need better and bigger guns and the oscar just doesn't have it.
Recon:
For me Ki-46 II Dinah is the best recon, not Ki-15 Babs. Dinah also upgrades to new version while Babs has no upgrade.
You might want to know that few IJN recon squadrons that are flying C5M Babs (or whatever it is called, navy version of Babs) have no factory assigned for that airplane. One and only possible plane upgrade comes in 1944, so you will either have to get some small production of that plane or ground all squadrons once they run out of planes.
Yeah I just noticed that last night - I found one of the groups and noticed it was IJN and not upgradable. Looks like I will be producing some navy recon planes too.
ORIGINAL: Djordje
Transports:
For IJA I think MC-21 Sally is the best. Best mix of load capacity and range.
for IJN you will have to wait until April to start production of Mavis transport (as you have already said)
Bombers:
IJA: You don't need Ki-30 Ann, it is too weak and with small bomb load. Since you can upgrade anything you want with PDU on go for Ki-21 Sally until Ki-49 Helen becomes available. Don't worry about replacements for your China theater, you will have plenty of old aircraft since you will be upgrading front line ones with Ki-21. The other option is Ki-48, which is medium bomber with mediocre bomb load, but is the first plane to come with armor.
IJN: Keeping both Nell and Betty seems the best choice for me now. In my game I've converted all to G4M just to find out that as a consequence I have to increase engine production as well... Lots of supplies gone.
As for the Ann I was thinking it would be a cheap bomber and easy to replace in larger numbers should I need them. Perhaps I will build a few hundred and then stop - or simply build like 10-20 a month.
ORIGINAL: Djordje
Fighters:
Not much to say here, Zero and Oscar until better planes come.
Float planes:
You don't need Glens as Jake can go on subs too (although not historical, but PDU is on so...)
I didn't know the Jake would fit on the subs too.. May not need the Glens at all then.
I have a ton of factories available for retooling since I am considering any plane after 6-45 to be not needed - the game will be over by then and no new aircraft will be needed. So that gives me a total of 34 (if I counted right) aircraft factories I can change into something productive right now.
I also prefer smaller factories around 30-60 size over large factories (over 60) just for ease of keeping them running so I will have 2 or 3 factories producing Zeros, etc...
Which fighters do you guys like for 1943 ? I'm not sure what to go with as several of them are high in service rating.
My subs mined Soerbaja a few days ago and it finally pays off - an allied CM hits a mine !
Allied subs continue to score hits, and in this case a kill, off the coasts of Luzon. This sub hit the xAK with a torp, and then surfaced and put a couple more torpedoes and some shell fire into her sinking her. The civilian crew fought back as best they could, landing a couple hits on the enemy sub.
Submarine attack near San Fernando at 80,74
Japanese Ships
xAK Kazuura Maru, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)
Allied Ships
SS S-36, hits 2
Later in the day the same sub strikes again.
Submarine attack near San Fernando at 80,74
Japanese Ships
xAK Akiura Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
Allied Ships
SS S-36
My ASW TF at Vigan locates an allied sub and reports several hits by depth charges.
My troops do a banzai charge (shock attack) at Temnuloh and overrun the allied troops there forcing them to retreat and capturing the base.
More IJA troops perform another banzai charge at Moulmein with the same results. The british troops flee before them after suffering heavy losses and leaving a perfect base in my hands.
My troops landing at Dadjangas also shock attack and capture the base, driving the PA unit inland.
The allied ship hitting the mine letting Rob know they were there and he quickly sends out 2 TFs to clear them. In one turn I think they cleared them all - subs don't lay all that many mines [:@]
IJN RO-62, lying off the coast of Cairns, goes in for some action and is hammered by an allied AM defending the xAPs. The sub survives but is damaged.
IJN subs get back on the scoreboard and score some hits on xAPs off the coast of Port Moresby.
Submarine attack near Port Moresby at 98,130
Japanese Ships
SS I-16
Allied Ships
xAP Idomeneus, Torpedo hits 1
SS I-16 is sighted by xAP Idomeneus
SS I-16 launches 6 torpedoes at xAP Idomeneus
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submarine attack near Port Moresby at 98,130
Japanese Ships
SS I-16
Allied Ships
xAP Montoro, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
My troops at Taiping begin their attacks, lowering the forts.
IJN troops attack and capture Culion.
IJA troops capture Taytay as well.
Bases captured:
Mauban
Sandakan
Beaufort
Taiping
Iba
Ocean I
Wenchow
Georgetown
Sambas
Sorong
Tawi Tawi
Rabaul
Singkawang
Pegu
Base Construction:
Hong Kong - Port 9, Fort 3
Saigon - Port 6
Roi-Namur - Fort 3
Kota Bharu - Airfield 6
Ichang Airfield 4
Temuloh - Airfield 3
Vigan - Port 2
Marcus I - Fort 1
Wake I - Fort 2
Cam Ranh - Port 6
Takao - Port 6
Aparri - Port 4, Fort 3
Naga - Port 4, Fort 2
Rahaeng - Airfield 3
Guam - Airfield 3, Fort 1
Victoria Point - Fort 3
Moulmein - Fort 1
Rabaul - Fort 1
Ominato - Port 6
Pisanuloke - Airfield 2
Babeldaoh - Fort 3
Jaluit - Fort 3
China:
China is still a mess. I am slowly consolidating my troops and and should be taking my first couple interior chinese cities soon.
Burma:
My troops have just taken Pegu and are right outside Rangoon. From intel I think Rob has brought in a bunch of troops into Rangoon (along with supplies). I am thinking of sitting a division and just arty at the base and bombarding them for a couple weeks, while hitting the smaller bases around Rangoon and head north along the rail. I believe the nearby bases to be lightly defended - mostly base forces I think - so some real combat units rolling up to them ought to be able to take them quick.
Malaya:
My troops are moving down Malaya in good order I believe. Kuala Lumpur will fall next and I will rail in reinforcements and base forces. I am about to start my last air campaign in Malaya - targetting the allied air power in Singapore.
After Kuala falls, then Kuantan should follow.
Borneo:
Most of northern Borneo is mine. Only 1 base is left on the NW corner and my troops are heading for it next. Once the corner is secured and either Singapore is taken or the air threat destroyed I can move towards Palembang.
Repair efforts at Brunei and Miri are repairing oil production as fast as I can, but its hard to keep enough supply in the 2 bases to keep the repairs going. I have plenty of supply - just not there and the crappy ports (size 2 and 3) make it slow to offload it.
DEI:
I took Sorong and evacuated the decimated 3rd Base Force that was trapped there. They are now back at Babeldaoh and resting and taking replacements. My next moves will be Davao.
South Pacific:
I have taken Ocean I finally and am moving units around. I don't believe I will garrison Ocean I at all until I have more troops in the area. I am putting a Naval Guard unit on the other Island to protect the 100 resources there.
Other:
Not many ships have been lost by either side, although my subs have been having some good hunting grounds around the DEI and between Australia and Port Moresby. Many ships have been damaged, but only a few reported sinking.
The first of my CV actions will go off next turn after trying to bait the US CVs towards Rabaul. I am sending 2 CVs & 1 CVL into the Coral Sea looking for all the shipping I know is there -- my subs are heading back to Truk for more torpedoes. I hope to catch either an allied CV TF or a bunch of merchies. Although with my luck I will catch nothing. Oh well this move (if I find anything) will show Rob where some of my CVs are
I have troops at Clark Field and Manila. Everything else is mine except for Bataan. My troops at Clark are bombarding the enemy daily, causing minor damage - but they are basically just there to hold the enemy troops there while I concentrate on Manila.
Manilla is close to falling. The defensive forts are gone and my daily attacks and air strikes are whittling down the defenders. It should fall any day. Then I will give the troops a day of rest and then take Clark Field.
Ground combat at Manila (79,77)
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 22832 troops, 224 guns, 297 vehicles, Assault Value = 675
Defending force 20151 troops, 193 guns, 145 vehicles, Assault Value = 257
Japanese adjusted assault: 405
Allied adjusted defense: 223
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 1)
Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0
Allied Ships
xAP Maori, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
CA Australia
xAP Murada, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAP Mildura
xAP Mungana, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
CM Bungaree, Bomb hits 2, on fire
AMC Westralia, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage
Allied Ships
xAP Rangitata, Bomb hits 2, on fire
xAP Rangitiki, Torpedo hits 1
xAP Sarpedonia, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAP Taroona
xAP Queen Elizabeth, Bomb hits 2, on fire
AM Whyalla, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
I would rather have traded one of those xAPs for the CA Australia, but the bombers didn't like her for some reason. The CV TF is down to about 50% torps so I am moving south towards the troop TF I just beat up and plan on finishing it off before eascaping to the east.
I have moved a group of Zeroes to Rabaul and will begin sweeping the skies over PM for enemy fighters. I'm still not sure I want to take PM - especially with 2-3 allied CVs in the area. I may have to bring down the rest of my CVs from Truk and go CV hunting, but that will consume a lot of fuel and could be a complete waste of time. Perhaps I will take Lunga and more islands, and force him to come to me. What do you guys think?
China
In china Wuchow is close to falling...
Ground combat at Wuchow (76,57)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 11571 troops, 230 guns, 133 vehicles, Assault Value = 268
Defending force 6604 troops, 43 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 115
Japanese adjusted assault: 147
Allied adjusted defense: 90
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 2)
Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1
My invasion of Midway is very close. So far Rob doesn't seem to have seen me - not sure how he could miss 50+ ships but it seems he has -- either that or he has nothing in the area to stop it. He should have 1 CV but I doubt very much if he would risk it in a fight for Midway when he knows I have to bring several CVs to support the attack.
My CVs move into position for air strikes on Midway's airfield tomorrow while the bombardment TF and main troop TF move into strike position. The next turn will be important, as the CVs hit the airfield and clear the area of enemy shipping. Then I will send the BB's in to bombard and land the division of troops I brought. I hope to take the island quickly and then pull most of the division off and head them home, while landing a small base force to build defenses.
The next turn will be exciting... Actually I have it right now, but am at work, so I can't run it until lunch - unless I want to sneak it in -- which I might do.
About time for an update. But to your credit, Rob's been doing even worse. Did the invasion of Midway succeed?[&:]
Why yes... yes it did Succeeded better than I had hoped. I didn't get a chance last night to post any updates, but I will definately do so this evening.
Ok before I continue with my AAR I need to explain something. Jan 27th, 42 was run once and the turn went to Rob afterwards. Apparently I sent the wrong combat replay and Combat Report - which involved my CVs near Midway launching an air strike on the airfields on Midway - clearly giving my presence away (planned op). Not seeing this in any means, Rob continued with his turn and moved the Yorktown TF near Midway -- as he had seen some of my ships.
When Rob sent the turn back to me, he mentioned that I sent the wrong combat replay and report but no problem - just continue on. Well during the turn for the 28th, my 2 CVs found the Yorktown TF and shattered it - sinking nearly all the ships. I did not feel right about this, so Rob & I talked and we backed up to Jan 27th and picked up from there again.
As the IJA 7th Inf Div lands at Midway, US CD guns hammer the IJN troop ships
The first day of combat on Midway goes to the US defenders as they inflict over 1700 casualties on the 7th Inf Div -- yet the US defenders suffered 1200 losses as well.
Eastern OZ & Port Moresby:
My CV TF fled East and arrived 200 miles or so from Lunga where recon spotted an allied TF trying to unload troops -- sneaky little Rob. My planes stopped that real quick.
Allied sub, SS-36 attacks an IJN convoy of 3 APDs. They initial attack fails, and the APDs hound the sub, forcing her to surface with DC attacks and then hammer her with deck guns until she sinks !!
Malaya:
My first air sweep over Singapore is conducted by 11 Zeros. They run into an allied CAP of 5 Blenheim IFs and 22 Buffalos. The Zeroes quickly teach the british pilots a thing or two about aerial combat. As all 11 Zeroes headed home, they reported 8 british fighters destroyed.
IJA troops (supported by armor) shock attacked the allied troops at Kuantan and pushed them out of the base !! Over 1700 allied troops were killed or captured to roughly 350 japanese wounded.
US Pacific:
The 7th Inf Div refused to give up (in true samurai style) shock attacked the defenders of Midway Island again and this time overran them. Suffering over 900 wounded, the 7th Inf Div killed / captured nearly 4000 US troops from the following units:
6th Marine Defense Battalion
116th USAAF Base Force
27th Infantry Rgt / 2
China:
The 19th Chinese Corps shock attacked 2 IJA division (with support) and were easily defeated. The IJA units report no losses, but number the chinese casualties around 5500.
The Chinese shock attack Ichang but are repelled. IJA forces lose less than 100 and the chinese suffer over 1700 losses.
SS Grayling hits 2 mines near Yokohama and somehow lives - maybe she will sink on the way home
US Pacific:
SS Plunger is damaged at Midway
China:
Chinese troops capture Ichang days before IJA reinforcements arrive
Other:
Every day there are various air attacks in Malaya, Burma and China. Some inflict no losses, but some do. I try to give all land attacks against enemy troops air the air support I can muster within range - even if the air attack doesn't cause damage, they will still disrupt the enemy units, making the ground attack easier.
US subs continue to plague my ops here. So far they haven't damaged anything, but between misses and a few dudes its only a matter of time. My few DDs I can spare from the CV TF can't fend them off.
I am loading up troops as fast as I can to get below the 6000 troop limit. I have unloaded a small base force and they are in rest mode currently while I load up as many troops from the 7th Inf Div as I can. They are chewing through supply at a crazy rate being so overloaded.
DEI:
IJA Troops land at Davao (finally).
Malaya:
Once more my Zeros sweep over the skies of Singapore and engage the British. 10 Zeroes engage 4 Blenheim IFs and 21 Buffalos. This time 1 Zero falls to the british, but 6 british planes fall too.
Unlike some people who have been complaining, my Zeros are doing much better against early allied fighters as compared to WitP.
SW Pacific:
My Zeros flying CAP over Rabaul were rudely awakened when a large force of over 100 US warplanes were spotted heading in. In a fierce battle over the skies of Rabaul, 13 Zeros managed to shoot down 4 SBDs while only losing 1 of their own. The US CV Planes overwhelmed the defenders and hammered the runways. 4 Zeroes and 10 betties were destroyed on the ground -- at least the pilots are safe. aircraft are a LOT easier to replace than pilots for the japanese.
Looks like Rob's CVs tried to caught my 2 CVs and in failing they paid a visit to Rabaul instead. At least 2 US CVs were involved in the raid.
How was it the wrong turn? I'm curious because even though you sent the wrong turn, he made his CV plans accordingly. I wouldn't consider that a mulligan.
"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they've made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem."
I assume what he's saying is that the combat file/report he sent was from some different turn (or perhaps even a different game). As a result his opponent entered his orders "blind" without having seen the combat or operations report from the previous turn, assuming there was nothing of great interest. He never had the chance to see the sighting report.
I would absolutely offer a mulligan in such circumstances, and I would guess most PBEM players would. If the TF wasn't spotted in-game, or if it was but the other guy missed it, that's just part of the game. But if I accidentally sent the wrong file (or forgot to send the file) and the other guy entered his orders rather than delay the game, that's not fair, IMO.
Mili - Fort 2
Bunguran - Fort 1
San Fernado - Port 2
Wuchow - Fort 1
Pegu - Airfield 2 & Fort 2
Vigan - Fort 2
Takao - Port 7 & Fort 3
Kuching - Port 3 & Fort 2
Rahaeng - Airfield 4 & Fort 1
Tinian - Airfield 4
Babeldoab - Airfield 4
China:
China is still a mess - no surprise there. I am slowly consolidating my troops and working from the coastline inwards, trying to flush all chinese units out of my interior. My plan is to seize the railline and hold all the bases on it.
Burma:
I was sieging Rangoon but was forced out by a strong allied counter-attack. The attack mauled all 3 of my main infantry units there. I have pulled back to Pegu to reinforce and get replacements. The Imperial Guards Division has moved up the rail and taken Toungoo sealing off any easy escape for the forces around rangoon. Recon shows enemy troops all all 3 bases (Rangoon, Bassein and Prome). My guess is that these forces are mostly base forces and will be easy pickings.
A large allied infantry unit has moved onto the rail between Pegu and Buongoo and I have been bombing it since I saw it. This next turn I am attacking it with an armor unit to see what we have.
I plan on smashing the bases 1 by 1 and taking Rangoon last - once my troops are rested and ready to continue.
Malaya:
My troops in Malaya are doing good. I have just arrived in Johore Bahru with some combat strength and will be probing the defenses there this turn. I also have about 10 allied units trapped at Mersing and in the jungle near Kuantan.
Borneo:
Now that all of Northern and Northwest Borneo is mine I am slowly moving AV and base force troops to pontianak to build up the airfield there to support my invasion of Sumatra. Rob did bring the UK CVs into this area last turn to play, but they only got 1 xAK - which was almost empty of supplies anyways - the second xAK they damaged is in port and will survive.
DEI:
IN Dutch New Guinea I will be taking Babo this turn and then moving on to Ceram - where I do not believe any defenders wait -- I hope not, I am invading with a simple BF Coy with a few combat squads.
I believe the allies start with some small combat units at the 3 bases near PM and I think I will just let them sit there and rot - run them out of supplies and then take them out. With Betties at Rabaul I can close that area unless Rob wants to bring his fighters out to play, in which case my Zeros will make quick work of them.
South Pacific:
Not much has been going on here. Of all the areas, this is the one I'm paying least attention to. Just not sure what is worth taking that I havent already taken. I think I will build up Tarawa but other than that and moving resources out of Naura I don't see much to do here.
US Pacific:
Now this is what you were waiting for... East of Midway my CVs found the USS Yorktown. The weather was not kind to me and my first couple attacks (small groups) seemed to get lost in the weather and the US struck first.
Morning Air attack on TF, near Laysan Island at 169,92
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 12
SBD-3 Dauntless x 30
Japanese Ships
CV Shokaku
CVL Ryujo
CV Zuikaku
DD Oyashio
At first I thought I was fine my zeros should maul them - but they did not and around 20 SBDs made it past the CAP - and at this range they were probably carrying 1000 pounders :@] But somehow the Japanese Gods of war smiles upon the IJN and no US bombs hit. I'm still not sure how that happened, but I'll take it.
======================================================
Morning Air attack on TF, near Laysan Island at 166,88
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 30 minutes
My first air strike proved just as pitiful as Rob's was - but even less aircraft were on target.
==============================================
Morning Air attack on TF, near Laysan Island at 166,88
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid detected at 33 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes
Japanese aircraft
B5N2 Kate x 13
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 2
Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed, 8 damaged
Allied Ships
CV Yorktown, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
CA Indianapolis
DD Selfridge
My second strike came in and like historic midway, his CAP must have been elsewhere and my 13 lonely and brave Kates made their runs.. and what runs they made. Out of 13 torps, they claimed 4 hits !!!! I was very happy - at worst Yorktown was out of commission for a few months -- at best she was sunk.
=============================================
Morning Air attack on TF, near Laysan Island at 166,88
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid detected at 21 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
Japanese aircraft
B5N1 Kate x 6
Japanese aircraft losses
B5N1 Kate: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged
Allied Ships
DD Reid
CA Louisville, Torpedo hits 1
Since the next air strike did not mention the Yorktown at all I figured she was sunk.. I was wrong. The 6 Kates performed quite well hitting the CA with a single fish.
At the end of that turn my intel claimed the Yorktown - but due to other reasons I was not convinced... I adjusted the CVs position south figuring any survivors will be fleeing for Pearl and I was correct.. The next day was fun too.
===========================================
Morning Air attack on TF, near Laysan Island at 169,92
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid spotted at 24 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 19
B5N2 Kate x 32
D3A1 Val x 13
Allied Ships
CA Indianapolis, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Downes, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Selfridge, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Tucker
DD Phelps, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
======================================================
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Laysan Island at 169,92
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7
B5N2 Kate x 24
D3A1 Val x 18
Allied Ships
CA Indianapolis, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Cassin, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Tucker
DD Selfridge, on fire, heavy damage
DD Reid
At the end of this turn I had my confirmation of the Yorktown sinking - and the VPs for it were not correct I guess Rob scuttled her so I couldn't sink her. So I killed an allied CV, several DDs and damaged a pair of CAs.. Not bad. My aircraft losses were very light in fact.
Other:
So far the biggest problem I have is allied subs. They are everywhere and I can't seem to hurt them enough to drive them off. They aren't that effective, but it forces me to escort all my merchies around and its really slowly me down. My small air groups have no skills in ASW and it will be a while before they can train up (longer even with the training feature not working currently).
Succeeded better than I had hoped. I didn't get a chance last night to post any updates, but I will definately do so this evening.
