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[yamo]

Not going for the kill...the Army will have something to say about that.  But not making the mistakes Japan made the first time...priceless.

[Erkki]

I'm a little worried that both sides had two carriers heavily wounded.  What if the Americans don't lose either carrier?

Good job on the Saratoga!

Luckily Akagi is not in danger of sinking, and her speed has fell only 3 knots. No fires, no below water damage. Ryujo is in a pretty bad condition but only small fires, if the crew can stop them she should make it at least to Jaluit for repairs. She cant be moved far and closest drydock is at Formosa. If she survives the fires and makes it to Jaluit there are 2 repair ships at Truk, and a floating dry dock at Kure yards that can be, if necessary, moved to help her out. Will take a month or more but we dont need to lose a carrier. Her air groups diverted to Woitke(which, unexpectedly, does have a base force with an aviation support section!). It was Ryujo's B5N2s that went in the last and sank the Saratoga - and also took a horrible toll of 11 out of 18 shot down. Zeroes are all OK.

Not going for the kill...the Army will have something to say about that.  But not making the mistakes Japan made the first time...priceless.

Yeah I know I'm doing Nagumos, but I rather keep Ryujo alive than make sure all 3 of the US CVs are dead and get an extra cruiser or two. Yorktown and Enterprise both ate a torpedo and some bombs, their decks are closed for sure, they are of no threat. In the detailed combat report, one of the Yorktowns (Yorktown or Enterprise) suffered a fuel storage explosion after the torpedo hit. Probably Yorktown, judging from reported damage. Even if either one of them, or even both which I doubt, makes it out alive, they will need half a year of repairs and rebuild and retrain the air units from scratch. Lots of crack well-trained pre-war USNAF pilots died today.

BTW we're getting CV Junyo in 2 days. 

EDIT: not going to let the Americans out this easy, though, some of them are probably still in range of B5Ns tomorrow morning, and Kwajalein's G3M2 section of 9 planes is ready with their torpedoes. They have range of 15 so at 15-20 knots max the Amis are not out of their range before afternoon, if even then.

EDIT2: the only, very only, torpedo dropped by a US plane(by a Devastator) during the battle, a MK14 torpedo with 80% dud rate before they start to get fixed from late 42 until mid 43, was a hit, AND not a dud! The one that hurt Ryujo.... Other Devastators used 500lbs bombs. They were out of torpedoes after yesterday's slaughter...

[Erkki]

This truly was a decisive battle.

Carrier reinforcements that I'm aware of:

Japanese:
CV Junyo in 2 days
CV Hiyo in 55-ish days (or 110 if I decide to not accelerate)
CV Taiho, armoured carrier, April 1943
3 x Unruy CVs from Sept 43 to Jan 44

Allies:
CV Hornet: within 2 weeks
CV Wasp, 3 or 4 months
6 x CV Essex class ships from mid-43 to Dec 43
20 x CVE and CVL from Nov 42 to Nov 43

+

2 more British Indomitable Illustrious class carriers during 42

At the moment, Allies have just CVL Hermes and (I think) one proper British carrier intact. Both at Sri Lanka, India or Mombasa. They are smaller than the US ones and while they have good fighters(Sea Hurricanes and British import version of the F4f Wildcat, the Martlet) their offensive power of Swordfishes downright sucks. Only good thing about those carriers for the Allies is their heavy armour.

Gentlemen, we have won a Decisive Victory. The Sea is ours.

Edit:

question related to our CV production. CV Shinano is already laid, but her construction has been halted for the last 2½ months. Her completion date at normal rate of construction would have been early December 1944. We now have the resources to build both Yamato and Musashi with no hurry, and no need to accelerate the Hiyo, or well, anything at all! I have been considering continuing with the Shinano. What do you think? 255 NSY points a day. Junyo and Hiyo are just 84, Unruy class carriers 90. But the Shinano, is BIG! Arrives very late but now we can expect to actually have some carriers and planes left until mid 1944. 

Accelerating, ie. double the rate of build, costs 3 times the NSY points. Accelerating Shinano eats the points big time... Maybe build her at normal rate until Yamato is finished, then accelerate her for a month or two?

[EuchreJack]

Hm, what else could you be using those points for?

I was reading up on Japan's airforce, and apparently one problem in airplane combat was that they never upgraded their planes.  And they were outnumbered, but you've taken care of that for now.  So, would not building the monster aircraft carrier allow you to field a more advanced airforce?

Or, will you need a monster aircraft carrier to put your new airfleet on?

EDIT: Ok, I did a little wikiresearch.  Seems Shinano was a support carrier instead of an attack carrier IRL.  It's big because it was originally suppose to be a battleship, but was converted mid-construction into a carrier due to the loss at Midway.  Oh, and it apparently is very suseptable to torpedoes, especially from submarines (cause of sinking IRL, design flaws part of cause).  So if you do build it, keep it under heavy escort.   

I'd almost be inclined to build it only because Shinano was Takeda's home turf, and he was so dwarfy!  Giant battleship-turned-carrier, also seems quite dwarfy.

[Erkki]

Hm, what else could you be using those points for?

I was reading up on Japan's airforce, and apparently one problem in airplane combat was that they never upgraded their planes.  And they were outnumbered, but you've taken care of that for now.  So, would not building the monster aircraft carrier allow you to field a more advanced airforce?

Or, will you need a monster aircraft carrier to put your new airfleet on?

No need to accelerate Hiyo but getting the armoured Taiho early(earlier than 43/4) would be nice... Or more Unruys. There are 6 of them, IRL the Japanese only finished 3. At normal rate of building, first of them start arriving about the time the Allies can challenge Kido Butai again, with the Essex class, new British carriers and the horde of CVEs.

Unfortunately only carrier-capable fighter we can realistically count on is the Zero.  Unlike the ones now in use, its later versions will be more durable and armoured. And with even greater range... but performance doesnt improve at all after the next model, M3, and we're stuck with it. A5M4 is outdated(used by training squads), A7M is not even being designed yet. Most likely war is over when it comes available(1945/7). It could be accelerated but waste of resources to get to build about 50 of them before the war is over.

Carrier capable bombers(also able to use land bases), D4Y will start replacing D3A from late 42, B6N1 starts replacing B5N from early 43. Looking at just range, ordnance and speed they're better than their American equivalents but they are also extremely vulnerable, as was seen today.

Land based Navy and Army air units get to fly better planes later. Ki-44, Ki-45 and Ki-61 fighters and Ki-49 bomber for Army, N1K, J2M fighters and G3M3 and G4M2 long range bombers for Navy a little later. Ultimately the Army will use Ki-84 Hayate fighter which can in good hands do 1:1 vs. even the very best the Allies have.

Greatest problem might be making all the good pilots we now have to survive to fly those better planes later...

EDIT: Ok, I did a little wikiresearch.  Seems Shinano was a support carrier instead of an attack carrier IRL.  It's big because it was originally suppose to be a battleship, but was converted mid-construction into a carrier due to the loss at Midway.  Oh, and it apparently is very suseptable to torpedoes, especially from submarines (cause of sinking IRL, design flaws part of cause).  So if you do build it, keep it under heavy escort.   

I'd almost be inclined to build it only because Shinano was Takeda's home turf, and he was so dwarfy!  Giant battleship-turned-carrier, also seems quite dwarfy.

Yeah lucky torpedo hit. Big and well armoured in game... Not as durable or armoured as step-sisters Yamato and Musashi but still, presumably as it reads so in the paper, easily harder to kill than other Japanese carriers, American, and even those British. Not that armour really matters if the enemy can bring 500 aircraft carrying torpedoes and theres just 20 Zeroes defending.

[Erkki]

Almost forgot, In 1942 we also get 2 x CVE and CVL Ryuho. None of them come with organic air groups and those CVEs are pathetically small and slow so they're not worth accelerating. They wouldnt get used anyways.

[EuchreJack]

IRL the Shinano could launch roughly 120 planes for defense.  It also had giant guns that worked as both anti-aircraft and ground-target IRL.

In game, is there a distinction between support and attack carriers, and if so what does that mean?  It seems the Real-Life Shinano was meant more to fix and refit carrier planes instead of launch them on the attack.  Sort of like a floating full-service airport.

[Erkki]

IRL the Shinano could launch roughly 120 planes for defense.  It also had giant guns that worked as both anti-aircraft and ground-target IRL.

In game, is there a distinction between support and attack carriers, and if so what does that mean?  It seems the Real-Life Shinano was meant more to fix and refit carrier planes instead of launch them on the attack.  Sort of like a floating full-service airport.

Nope, Shinano can be used for either role. Different thing if you want to use it alone vs. 40 but now it might arrive in time to help.

edit: also no full size Allied amphibious operations before late 43.  Without the carriers they need to fight within the range of their land based air. Wont stop them doing island hopping but big scale invasions are out of order until they can deal away with the Kido Butai. This is great, no need to keep huge reserves in Sumatra and Java once they're ours.

[Sheb]

So, now that their carriers are down, what are your plan? Rushing the islands? A raid on Hawai and/or the West Coast? Do you know where their crippled carrier will go for repair?

[Hyo]

Actually, the West Coast is now a rather tempting course of action now that most of their navy is down. Congratulations- you finally got the decisive battle that the Japanese had always wanted, .

In any case, is it possible for you to make an assault on Hawaii and capture it? It might be a very handy base later, and it also means shortening the Allies' range by quite a bit.

[Sheb]

I don't think invading Hawaii is possible. Too many airplanes, ships and troops there. Of course, if you could do it, the Pacific would practically be yours.

[Erkki]

So, now that their carriers are down, what are your plan? Rushing the islands? A raid on Hawai and/or the West Coast? Do you know where their crippled carrier will go for repair?

10 days at seas, 2 days of running at flank speed and the battle have left some damage... KB will head first to Nagoya or Tokyo via Truk. Indian Ocean raid would tempt me, or even splitting the carriers to do 2 simultaneous or for even better effect, staged raids far from each other. One to Fiji/East coast AUS, one to Indian Ocean maybe.

Actually, the West Coast is now a rather tempting course of action now that most of their navy is down. Congratulations- you finally got the decisive battle that the Japanese had always wanted, .

In any case, is it possible for you to make an assault on Hawaii and capture it? It might be a very handy base later, and it also means shortening the Allies' range by quite a bit.

That'd be like having hands full in Europe and Africa and opening a 3rd front in East Europe.  With the CVs down its a possibility, but only once more important objectives have been achieved.

I don't think invading Hawaii is possible. Too many airplanes, ships and troops there. Of course, if you could do it, the Pacific would practically be yours.

Its their main forward Naval, air and supply base. Guaranteed to be defended until death. In addition to the main base at Pearl Harbour, the other islands have air fields as well, that can support each other and naval ops. Suppressing them all would be a challenge of its own...

[Erkki]

February 29th

China: The Japanese push has reached Sian! Chinese keep retreating in the middle and South.

Burma: Japanese attack at Moulmein fails again, but despite the jungle and fortifications the Allies take about 30% more losses. We'll try again tomorrow.

Andamans: Port Blair invaded! 1% landing casualties. Defenders seem to be just one Indian brigade and an aviation support battalion. We should be able to overwhelm them tomorrow.. CVE Hosho moves between Andamans and Rangoon, a force of 3 cruisers and 6 destroyers sweep ahead. 3 enemy convoys reported in the immediate area.

Marshalls:

Kido Butai egresses... CVL Ryujo is detached form the main formation and given an escort destroyer. Damage control parties manage to fix system damage, but the flooding continues. She'll reach Jaluit tomorrow afternoon, naval support engineer sections have been prepared.

Enemy naval units retreat, they're too far for the aircraft to attack. Looks like the enemy also left a surface combat force behind to protect the egressing carriers? Or then those are the damaged cruisers. Naval search H6K reports 2 carriers still alive. Total number of sighted enemy ships has dropped from 20 to just 10. The other carrier is probably just a misreport.

[Zrk2]

Ahhh, decisive victories, I think getting those carriers built should be a high priority, but smashing China should probably be priority #1, because it sounds like you have the island hopping well under control.

[yamo]

Build lots of fast surface fleet ships smaller than BB.  And subs...build lots of subs.  gut reaction. :p