Iron Storm II - According to 1EyedJacks and Walkerd

[walkerd]

Thanks Terminus

Not sure what to do with it. I was thinking of mixing UK and US carriers together in 2 CV TF's, one of each but am thinking it might be gamey.

[Terminus]

I'd be very careful with the Ranger. She's horribly vulnerable, and not really capable of defending herself very well.

[1EyedJacks]

ORIGINAL: walkerd

Not sure what to do with it. I was thinking of mixing UK and US carriers together in 2 CV TF's, one of each but am thinking it might be gamey.

I don't think it'd be gamey - it's just a joint allied effort against a common foe; it would be sure to imporve international relationships between the allies![:D][:D]

Regarding my slooow attack, everything I've read shows Japan to have been rather methodical in their conquests. Also, in truth, there's something kind of fun in attacking with overwheling force - Japan seemed to only have that option during the first 18 months of the war.

[ny59giants]

Regarding my slooow attack, everything I've read shows Japan to have been rather methodical in their conquests. Also, in truth, there's something kind of fun in attacking with overwheling force - Japan seemed to only have that option during the first 18 months of the war.

In IS, the Japs need to be methodical due to the Allies having enough of a counter punch to hurt them. The Allies start out with some Beauforts, Spits, and BC's that can get in the way of an assault that gets too far ahead of LBA or KB support.

[1EyedJacks]

Hi Darren - yup - noticed the British CVs - I just can't seem to catch 'em![:D][:D]

For Singapore and Manila, as you noted, I'm bombing the ever-living daylights outta them. That and a LOT of support for my ground troops in the shape of HQ and ENG units really seems to make a lot of difference. I think I might have been GRAVELY underestimating the power of HQ...

I've been studying the flack in this game and a CHS game I'm playing with Scott1964. I'm not sure the A2A combat solution (I think this is Nick's) is the answer to the bloodyness of combat that they were trying to get away from... I think we just moved those kills from A2A combat to Flack. I wish I had another game going without the modified A2A combat - I'd like to see the comparisons between aircraft/pilots lost with stock A2A verses the modified A2A...

I'm going through pilots like beans through a gringo...[:(]

I've increased production to compensate for the losses of aircraft and will begin working on a training program for pilots. Of course this means that I'm burning through resources a little faster then I was planning but that's cool - part of the game is about overcoming adversity. I guess I'll just have to take a few of those resource/oil bases from you faster then I was initially intending. [:D][:D]

I've read Mogomi stating that training of pilots was designed with the training mission option for units but I also think that taking rookie pilots out to hit soft targets has some merit. Training is training but it's not the same as live fire. So far in this game and the CHS game w/Scott1964, I have yet to fly a mission in which some of my aircraft did not take flack damage...

So Darren, what do you think is gamey and what is not gamey for A2A? I *think* that the higher the average pilot skill level for an air group is, the less likely they'll die to flack (although I'm not sure why this should be...).

Would you be comfortable with a combination of both training missions and soft targets? That seems more realistic to me - maybe training missions until they reach 50% and then "soft" missions until they hit an experience level I'm comfortable with?

[1EyedJacks]

Here's something else I find interesting. Notice the Armament is now @ 675 and still there is 0 in stock... I've put all of the Kwantang, Home Defense, and Northern INF units on "no replacements" but still the SAA and China are eating up the units... Wow! I'm increasing this again (It started out around 500-and-something). I'm curious to see when I'll finally start seeing some surplus... I don't want to kick up my ARM production too high and waste resources but at the same time, I think it's slowing down the ability of my units to recover from damage aquired during combat operations.

This is not a whine - just an observation for anyone who might be considering this mod and planning to play Japan. Also note the Nakajima Engines. When I started out I was producing 100 engines less than I needed based on the opening production levels of this game. I did finally notice this (about a month later in game-time [&:]) and it is increasing to a level that I think I'll need soon, but this puts another crimp on getting aircraft out to replace those taken out by flack.

And I am REALLY enjoying this mod and the game w/Darren. It's cool to be able to talk w/him and discuss rules and stuff w/o some of the problems I've seen in other AARs. This is a fun mod with a lot of challenge for Japan. I am doing the slow and methodical approach right now and probably will do so for a while. But I hope to try some Japanese Blitzing later on - and I want to try to set up a few raiding TFs with Carriers and go after the allied shipping (I'm just playing with other ideas right now [;)]).

[walkerd]

ORIGINAL: 1EyedJacks

ORIGINAL: walkerd

Not sure what to do with it. I was thinking of mixing UK and US carriers together in 2 CV TF's, one of each but am thinking it might be gamey.

I don't think it'd be gamey - it's just a joint allied effort against a common foe; it would be sure to imporve international relationships between the allies![:D][:D]

Regarding my slooow attack, everything I've read shows Japan to have been rather methodical in their conquests. Also, in truth, there's something kind of fun in attacking with overwheling force - Japan seemed to only have that option during the first 18 months of the war.

I have been thinking about it and don’t think I will combine the CV's in the same TF. While a great tactic in real life the different protocols and procedure for both ship and aircraft operation would have been too different. Will see how it goes, maybe they could "work" on it.

As for slow the pace is fine, most players attack faster then realistically possible anyway. Certainly shows with the ship casualties. Me lots, you almost nothing.

[walkerd]

ORIGINAL: 1EyedJacks

Hi Darren - yup - noticed the British CVs - I just can't seem to catch 'em![:D][:D]

For Singapore and Manila, as you noted, I'm bombing the ever-living daylights outta them. That and a LOT of support for my ground troops in the shape of HQ and ENG units really seems to make a lot of difference. I think I might have been GRAVELY underestimating the power of HQ...

I noticed the bombing. Come and get me. Manila will fall, but did you notice the last combat result. Looks like I will last a few turn yet.

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Ground combat at Manila

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 159376 troops, 1514 guns, 201 vehicles, Assault Value = 3145

Defending force 90242 troops, 651 guns, 338 vehicles, Assault Value = 1689

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 3

Japanese max assault: 2970 - adjusted assault: 993

Allied max defense: 1674 - adjusted defense: 6385

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese ground losses:
6937 casualties reported
Guns lost 103
Vehicles lost 20

Allied ground losses:
1234 casualties reported
Guns lost 45
Vehicles lost 5

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ORIGINAL: 1EyedJacks
I've been studying the flack in this game and a CHS game I'm playing with Scott1964. I'm not sure the A2A combat solution (I think this is Nick's) is the answer to the bloodyness of combat that they were trying to get away from... I think we just moved those kills from A2A combat to Flack. I wish I had another game going without the modified A2A combat - I'd like to see the comparisons between aircraft/pilots lost with stock A2A verses the modified A2A...

I thought there was no change to Flack in this mod only in the AtA factors. Not sure if those factors would make Flack more dangerous, in fact I would have thought the opposite. By making aircraft more resilient to AtA they would absorb Flak damage better.

ORIGINAL: 1EyedJacks
I've read Mogomi stating that training of pilots was designed with the training mission option for units but I also think that taking rookie pilots out to hit soft targets has some merit. Training is training but it's not the same as live fire. So far in this game and the CHS game w/Scott1964, I have yet to fly a mission in which some of my aircraft did not take flack damage...

So Darren, what do you think is gamey and what is not gamey for A2A? I *think* that the higher the average pilot skill level for an air group is, the less likely they'll die to flack (although I'm not sure why this should be...).

Would you be comfortable with a combination of both training missions and soft targets? That seems more realistic to me - maybe training missions until they reach 50% and then "soft" missions until they hit an experience level I'm comfortable with?

I am happy for you to train anyway you like. You can not tell other people what is gamey, people need to determine if it feels right.

(Having said that there are some things that are so blatantly, obviously gamey – eg the exploit of first turn as in a certain game – that the only reason to argue other wise is bad sportsmanship in trying to exploit the game and your opponent)

So go ahead with what works for you. I promise your pilots will still die.

[walkerd]

DEI at the beginning of February

Smarinda has fallen and I am waiting for further attacks. The Dutch have a reasonable sized fleet, especially with the few remaining US ships in the area. I will try to bloody 1Eyejakcs nose as much as possible. Certainly has not worked so far (Palua and Rabaul)

[walkerd]

New Dutch CL's to play with. This one has seen better times. I think it took a torp while on the way to Palau and turned back. Still in the ship yard.

[walkerd]

Holding out in the Philippines.

All aircraft have gone and most of the ships. A few PT's remian from earlier failed operations.

Dont know how long it will last, the longer the better.

[walkerd]

ORIGINAL: Terminus

I'd be very careful with the Ranger. She's horribly vulnerable, and not really capable of defending herself very well.

True but it needs to earn its keep some how.

[walkerd]

10th Feb 1942

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Naval bombardment of Amboina, at 40,74

Japanese Ships
BB Settsu
CL Furutaka
CL Kinugasa
CL Aoba
CA Haguro
BB Haruna
BB Kongo


Allied ground losses:
109 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 15
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 5

Working over Amboina


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Day Air attack on Yenen , at 50,28

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 16
Ki-21-II Sally x 35
Ki-48-I Lily x 21

Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-21-II Sally: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed, 4 damaged
P-43A Lancer: 1 destroyed

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 5

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x Ki-21-II Sally bombing at 15000 feet
13 x Ki-48-I Lily bombing at 15000 feet
8 x Ki-21-II Sally bombing at 15000 feet
8 x Ki-48-I Lily bombing at 15000 feet
9 x Ki-21-II Sally bombing at 15000 feet
5 x Ki-21-II Sally bombing at 15000 feet
2 x Ki-21-II Sally bombing at 15000 feet
3 x Ki-21-II Sally bombing at 15000 feet

US P40’s that escaped Philippines are tried out in the front line. Looks like they don’t stand up to Zero’s.

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Day Air attack on 27th Brigade AIF , at 22,51

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 24
Ki-21-II Sally x 14
Ki-48-I Lily x 6
Ki-46-II Dinah x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-II Sally: 6 damaged
Ki-48-I Lily: 4 damaged


Allied ground losses:
18 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Ki-48-I Lily bombing at 15000 feet
14 x Ki-21-II Sally bombing at 15000 feet
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Day Air attack on Rangoon Force , at 29,33

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 11
Ki-21-II Sally x 20

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
41 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
20 x Ki-21-II Sally bombing at 10000 feet
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Day Air attack on TF at 108,76

Japanese aircraft
D3A2 Val x 26
B5N2 Kate x 23

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
MSW Robin, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
2 x D3A2 Val bombing at 2000 feet
4 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x D3A2 Val bombing at 2000 feet
4 x D3A2 Val bombing at 2000 feet
4 x D3A2 Val bombing at 2000 feet
4 x D3A2 Val bombing at 2000 feet
4 x D3A2 Val bombing at 2000 feet
4 x D3A2 Val bombing at 2000 feet

I thought I would make Johnston Island an ASW base. DD’s, MSW, AV and AD. Sent some engineers and spent a bit over a week working on the port and then KB decided to visit. Here I am trying to escape.

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Day Air attack on TF at 107,76

Japanese aircraft
D3A2 Val x 16
B5N2 Kate x 9

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AD Dixie, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x D3A2 Val bombing at 2000 feet
4 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x D3A2 Val bombing at 2000 feet
4 x D3A2 Val bombing at 2000 feet
4 x D3A2 Val bombing at 2000 feet
More ships fleeing Johnston Island.

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Day Air attack on Manila , at 43,52

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 20
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1

No Japanese losses

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Day Air attack on Johnston Island , at 104,78

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8
D3A2 Val x 156

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A2 Val: 1 destroyed, 7 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
PBY Catalina: 2 destroyed
OS2U-3 Kingfisher: 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
24 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1

Airbase hits 8
Airbase supply hits 8
Runway hits 64

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x D3A2 Val bombing at 2000 feet
25 x D3A2 Val bombing at 2000 feet
24 x D3A2 Val bombing at 2000 feet
22 x D3A2 Val bombing at 2000 feet
24 x D3A2 Val bombing at 2000 feet
23 x D3A2 Val bombing at 2000 feet
23 x D3A2 Val bombing at 2000 feet

This is the second bombardment of Johnston

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ASW attack near Pearl Harbor at 114,72

Japanese Ships
SS I-168

Allied Ships
DD Litchfield
DD King
DD Allen


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Ground combat at Manila

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 153983 troops, 1327 guns, 244 vehicles, Assault Value = 2910

Defending force 88497 troops, 631 guns, 334 vehicles, Assault Value = 1646

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese max assault: 2361 - adjusted assault: 439

Allied max defense: 1645 - adjusted defense: 9305

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 2)


Japanese ground losses:
3476 casualties reported
Guns lost 145
Vehicles lost 17

Allied ground losses:
1923 casualties reported
Guns lost 30
Vehicles lost 11

My opponent has his AV drop to less then 1/6. I on the other hand have mine multiplied by 6. Forts, HQ, and well prep points I guess.

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Ground combat at Amboina

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 10769 troops, 42 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 156

Defending force 3268 troops, 24 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 52

Japanese max assault: 162 - adjusted assault: 47

Allied max defense: 40 - adjusted defense: 49

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 2)


Japanese ground losses:
144 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Allied ground losses:
83 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

No idea why 1eyejack is having trouble. My units are low on supply. They are all prep points to 50 – 100%. Beyond that I should not be holding out as long as I have.


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Ground combat at Amboina

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1227 troops, 17 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 45

Defending force 10392 troops, 36 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 133

[walkerd]

My surprise this turn was an invasion of French Indochina. It was this or an assault on Hong Kong. I do not expect to achieve alot, just tie up enemy troops.

[1EyedJacks]

LOL! Regarding Johnston Isle:

Japanese intelligence - subs and glens - reported many CAs and CSs... Heving seen similiar reports near Borneo only to see said ships turn out to be British CVs, ADM. Nonuki Krabiatchi sent KB to Johnston Isle to "surprise the allied carriers." Sigh! Sorry to report no allied carriers were sighted @ Johnston. What also bummed me out was that I was riding the weather front - I don't *think* Darren saw me until I was about 3 hexes out...

So there KB wuz, just off of Johnston with no place to go and all these little bread-crumb-like enemy TFs heading NE... So KB started to follow the trail to...

[1EyedJacks]

Regarding Darren's invasion of Fench IndoChina:

What you don't see from the pic above is that one of those "liitle-white-boxes is a marker for 26 enemy units!

Suddenly my attention turns to China... LOL [:D][:D][:D] In truth, I think Darren might have caught me with my britches @ 1/2 mast...

[1EyedJacks]

So like, it's almost mid February and KB comes back to PH - the 2nd coming according to Zero. American fighters come out to see who's there and run into a butt-load of Zeroes on CAP - we shoot the crap outta them. But then no Katestake off to fly their missions... And then no Vals take of to fly their missions... Everyone looks to the flag bridge to see Adm. Hero-san scratching his head - and then a little light-bulb goes off near his head and he begins to turn red from embarassment... All of the Vals were to to Navel attack instead of Port Attack... [X(] And all of the TBs were still set on Port Attack @ Johnston Isle... [X(]

This wuz totally FUBAR...

So the next day... Vals from KB put more crators in the PH airfield. And Kates put more torps and 800 lb bombs into the flippin' American BBs that are already hammered from December 7th - just a little over a month ago. Do you know how many BBs were sunk? Come on - go ahead and guess... [8|]

[1EyedJacks]

NONE! Nada! Not one freaking BB goes down... This game is RIGGED! It's not right, it's not fair, it's not... Sigh!

What is sooooooo sad is that I am already dry-washing my hands in anticipation of the next turn with a manical gleam in my eyes - fingers crossed and my lucky rabbit's foot sitting on my laptop. Is that sad or what? [:D][:D][:D]

Here R the results from the last KB strike @ PH:

Day Air attack on Pearl Harbor , at 114,72

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 78
D3A2 Val x 169
B5N2 Kate x 238

Allied aircraft
P-400 Airacobra x 19

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 damaged
D3A2 Val: 9 destroyed, 76 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 34 destroyed, 145 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-400 Airacobra: 20 destroyed
B-25C Mitchell: 4 destroyed
A-20B Boston: 5 destroyed <--- Not much should B flying next turn...
C-47 Dakota: 3 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra: 4 destroyed
B-26B Marauder: 1 destroyed
P-40B Tomahawk: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
BB Oklahoma, Bomb hits 6, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
BC United States, Bomb hits 6, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
BB Idaho, Bomb hits 9, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
BB Arizona, Bomb hits 6, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
BB New Mexico, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
BB Mississippi, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CA Utah, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AVD Swan, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Bagley, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Cummings, Bomb hits 1, on fire
SS Bonita, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CL Raleigh, Bomb hits 1


Allied ground losses:
215 casualties reported
Guns lost 12

Airbase hits 26
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 162
Port hits 18
Port supply hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x B5N2 Kate bombing at 9000 feet
22 x D3A2 Val bombing at 2000 feet
22 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
24 x D3A2 Val bombing at 2000 feet
23 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
22 x D3A2 Val bombing at 2000 feet
23 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
23 x D3A2 Val bombing at 2000 feet
22 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
24 x D3A2 Val bombing at 2000 feet
24 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
23 x D3A2 Val bombing at 2000 feet
24 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
22 x D3A2 Val bombing at 2000 feet
22 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
16 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
14 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
6 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet

Some things to note here... All of the Vals targetted the Airfield - you can see that w/o problems.

Only 8 Kates attacked with bombs - the rest used torpedoes... By my count 42 bombs land true on enemy shipping...
11 torpedoes hit enemy ships @ PH. 238 Kates went out that day. All I can say is that I'm really-really looking 4ward to the next patch - I sure hope it addresses this problem. [&o][&o][&o]

[Alikchi2]

Good to see that you guys are enjoying yourselves [8D] This is fun to read!

I feel a little bad for not tending to me mod, I've been distracted by the WesWorld...

Regarding Nik's mod, I'm not sure. I didn't change the flak from the default game, only adding Nik's air-to-air combat modifications.

Singapore will be an awfully tough nut to crack.

[Terminus]

Nice to see you back, Alikchi-moto! Your PM box is full, by the way...