November FSO- Too Little, Too Late- Philippienes December 1941

[Saxman]

Almost would like to see SOME sort of additional strike craft for the Allies on this. Knowing you're going to see B-17s makes planning a bit easier for the Axis (as easy as attacking B-17s in a Zero can get, at least).

[Anaxogoras]

Almost would like to see SOME sort of additional strike craft for the Allies on this. Knowing you're going to see B-17s makes planning a bit easier for the Axis (as easy as attacking B-17s in a Zero can get, at least).

Despite what happened in the actual conflict, this is going to be a rout in favor of the allies with only a 45-55 split, so I wouldn't worry about it.  Whatever confidence I had in the A6M2, and it wasn't much, was completely eroded away in the Coral Sea scenario where everyone flew both sides at some point.

[Reschke]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:NicholsField.jpg

Looks like armed Texans.

A-27 (NA-69) 1939 = POP: 10 ordered by Siam, but were instead impressed by the Army, redesignated A-27 [41-18890/18899], and assigned to the Philippines, where they were destroyed in Japanese bombings during Dec 1941.

A-27 information
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_A-27

Note the part where it states that it was the attack version of the BC-1 which later evolved into the Texan.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BC-1A

[Plazus]

P40s escortin B17s... This should be quite interesting. 

[gyrene81]

Should be renamed Turkey shoot.

Is it too late to reconsider the side percentages or maybe discuss the airframes available?

The Ki-43 is missing...and although we don't have the type1 available maybe allow for 1 squadron of Ki-43s?
Rather than have all P-40s maybe set the limits of the P-40Es to 2 squadrons and toss in 2 squadrons worth of Brewsters and some TBMs or SBDs?

If nothing else set the sides to 60 - 40?

[Baumer]

This will be fine gentleman, the B-17's will be very limited and the targets that they will have to attack are going to be very difficult to hit.

Has anyone tried sinking a CV group with a single B-17 and 100lbs bombs (don't forget to take 100% fuel)? Give it a try offline and don't forget the B-17 and B5N will get bonus points for landing at the end of the frame.

Also the P-40E's will be very limited and have to carry ordinance to boot. The vast majority of Allied pilots will be in P-40B's for most of the time so the balance should work out fine.

[Anaxogoras]

Also the P-40E's will be very limited and have to carry ordinance to boot. The vast majority of Allied pilots will be in P-40B's for most of the time so the balance should work out fine.

Even then...

Not every FSO is supposed to be fair!

[gyrene81]

Also the P-40E's will be very limited and have to carry ordinance to boot. The vast majority of Allied pilots will be in P-40B's for most of the time so the balance should work out fine.

I'm not a balance person...I just think there are some planes missing and the sides need to be a bit more lopsided in favor of the IJN, but no biggie...should be a good fight.

And I stand corrected on the number of B-17s during the initial hostilities for the Philippines...records indicate it was 35 serviceable (no versions).

But then the Japanese came with both land and carrier based planes...5th Air Group and 11th Air Fleet with a total of 604 aircraft including small numbers of recon and seaplanes. I believe the mix of bombers to fighters was pretty much 1 to 1 (1 fighter to 1 bomber).

[Baumer]

Well the interesting thing about this is that the Philippines had ample warning about what happened at Pearl Harbor. They even scrambled all the B-17's early on the 8th when there were enemy contacts on radar. However, just before noon they all RTB'ed for fuel. The radar at Clark field spotted IB enemy planes more than 140 miles out. For some unexplained reason only the pursuit squadrons were alerted, and the bombers just sat on the ground during the attack, with over 1/2 destroyed.

In the aftermath of Pearl Harbor many generals and admirals had to face court inquiry's about what happened at Pearl and were removed from command. There was never an inquiry into what happened in the Philippines and why so much equipment was allowed to be destroyed when ample warning was given.

As for the balance, I believe that most people would rather have a fair and balanced FSO rather than fight a "historically accurate" FSO. I try to balance them as best I can, but to have one side with a clear disadvantage would only drive away participants in my opinion. I hope we'll be getting some new planes to fill out this plane set as well but for now this will have to do.

[Anaxogoras]

Sub the Brewster for the Ki-43!

 

[gyrene81]

Sub the Brewster for the Ki-43!

 

Say what?     

Dork...

[morfiend]

 Sounds interesting Baum,given the limited planeset and no real substitutions available I think you've done the best you can.

 Sure it would be nice to have more A/C options but the fact is we dont,I think we play the hand we're dealt and have fun.Otherwise just dont bother,I know Mr Baumer always puts way to much work into these events and with some of the responses I've seen it makes me wonder why he'd even bother.

   

[ghostdancer]

I think I have come up with a solution for subbing in the Ki-41.

All allied pilots will be give a two bottles of Grey Goose vodka and must finish it before frame. I am sure we will have some of them report they encountered Ki-43s in the frame.

[haasehole]

allied pt boats sounds fun... will the axis ships be able to man the ships guns ? 

[gyrene81]

Sounds interesting Baum,given the limited planeset and no real substitutions available I think you've done the best you can.

Actually there is 1 plane missing for the Japanese (aside from the useless sea planes and scouts)...although I have yet to find the exact numbers my investigations thus far leads to speculation that 1 squadron based on Formosa was equipped with Ki-431A's from the 5th Air Group...everything else in the Japanese set is good.

The rest of the setup appears to be accurate as to available planes with the exception of a few A-27s which could be sub'd with SBD's or Brewsters...but they weren't a reported factor in the ensuing battles.

What's going to be really interesting is what the objectives for each side will be...pork the FH!!!