April FSO: Ketsu Go

[Nefarious]

Greetings, Registration for April's FSO is now open and you can edit your squad side and ride preferences.

http://ahevents.org/fso-setups/37-pacific-theatre/219-ketsu-go.html

Please note the specific rules for the B-29 and other aircraft.

Registration will close on the 24th.

[DaCoon]

Looks like a very fun tour.       

[gyrene81]

uh...where's the betty?    weren't they used til the end of the war.

[oakranger]

uh...where's the betty?    weren't they used til the end of the war.

Unless they use the betties as defensive, this is a basic bombing raid on Jap land.

[gyrene81]

Unless they use the betties as defensive, this is a basic bombing raid on Jap land.

guess that eluded me with the ki-67 being in the lineup...i'm guessing they were used as bomber interceptors too?

[Krusty]

The betty was used until later. However, the version we have is the early version with no fuel tank protection. It's a far cry from the later more powerful and stronger Bettys in service in 1944/45.

[Krusty]

Greetings, Registration for April's FSO is now open and you can edit your squad side and ride preferences.
http://ahevents.org/fso-setups/37-pacific-theatre/219-ketsu-go.html
Please note the specific rules for the B-29 and other aircraft.
Registration will close on the 24th.

I see a number of possible historical inaccuracies. P-47Ns never flew with 425rpg option, needing every bit of weight savings they adhered to the 267 rpg (and even had this printed on the gun bays). In a setup like this, no doubt the overload guns will be used to best continue fighting longer and more effectively. They abused the oveload ammo in BoG recently, having P-47Ds orbiting for quite a long time, harrassing and vulching, etc. None of that would have been possible with historic ammo loadouts. Less ammo requires planes to RTB earlier, rotate escorts in and out, allows for gaps in the defenses, etc.

You mention 24 max B-29s.... I see this is with formations "on".

24 formations of B-29s could effectively wipe out half the IJA forces and still flatten the target several times over. I helped do some testing not too long ago to see how they performed at alt. They are very overpowering without any escorts at all. I think 24 of them without formations would still be an awful lot. Remember each plane carries 20,000lbs of bombs. Each formation carries 60,000lbs with 1000 rpg ammo loadout. You can fire nonstop for almost 2 minutes straight with that much ammo.

I was able to gun down repeated attempts to attack my B-29 formation by Ki61 and N1K2s before they were able to fire a shot, and I'm by no means a good gunner.

I express great concern over the setup with that many B-29s in it and that many planes escorting them. Taking on a P-51 in a Ki-61 can be fun. Taking on a B-29 in one not so much.


Any chance of substituting B-24s for the remaining frames if the 29s prove so overwhelmingly unstoppable?

[Nefarious]

We discussed this pretty thoroughly with the CM Team, BTW Krusty, Thank you... I appreciate your testing with some of the CM's.

The forces of B-29s will have to be split up, 24 Formations of B-29s will not be attacking 1 Target. Going into Frame 1, There will be three targets for the B-29s... Equally divided that would put 8 Formations over each target. (24 Ships). This can be raised or lowered going into frame 2 depending on the results of frame 1 and the same goes for the ALT CAP, It can be raised or lowered depending on the results.

In regards to your testing with Fuzeman and TracerX, I don't think it really represents enough of the FSO type engagements we see, 1 or 2 aircraft attacking any heavy bomber formation (B-17/B-24/B-29) are bound to take losses or make it seem impossible. While there may be some engagements of 1 or 2 aircraft trying to attack a larger formation of B-29s, There will also be coordinated attacks of multiple squads of Japanese aircraft in FSO.

We all know about the massive B-29 raids over Japan and the difficulty the Japanese forces had trying to engage them... It was a extremely difficult task, but successes were had and we will work to find the right balance should the Frame 1 results show them impossible to bring down.

As far as the P-47N goes, I'm not to familiar with the historical load outs of the P-47N. I know there has been talk of this in the past few FSOs and BOG, but I'm just not that knowledgeable about them. Shoot me a link to the discussion or a website and I will consider changing it, if it is indeed true.

I've flown some of the missions that we will see in this event while testing the last few weeks. Many of the USAAF targets will take just under 60 minutes to fly too. Allied Escort should be wary about loitering over Japan for too long or they will not make it home and will be counted as lost. So in regard to the P-47Ns time over target because of there ammo load outs, time may make that a non-factor... But as I mentioned, shoot me a link about the N's ammo.

As far as the Ki-67 is concerned, the Japanese will have USN Fleets to target over the course of the event, So I included the Ki-67 so the Japanese could bomb or torpedo them. But for the most part, The Japanese will be on the defensive.

I hope that answers some of your questions.

[Debrody]

Here comes the zeek vs b29   

[Spikes]

We discussed this pretty thoroughly with the CM Team, BTW Krusty, Thank you... I appreciate your testing with some of the CM's.

The forces of B-29s will have to be split up, 24 Formations of B-29s will not be attacking 1 Target. Going into Frame 1, There will be three targets for the B-29s... Equally divided that would put 8 Formations over each target. (24 Ships). This can be raised or lowered going into frame 2 depending on the results of frame 1 and the same goes for the ALT CAP, It can be raised or lowered depending on the results.

In regards to your testing with Fuzeman and TracerX, I don't think it really represents enough of the FSO type engagements we see, 1 or 2 aircraft attacking any heavy bomber formation (B-17/B-24/B-29) are bound to take losses or make it seem impossible. While there may be some engagements of 1 or 2 aircraft trying to attack a larger formation of B-29s, There will also be coordinated attacks of multiple squads of Japanese aircraft in FSO.

We all know about the massive B-29 raids over Japan and the difficulty the Japanese forces had trying to engage them... It was a extremely difficult task, but successes were had and we will work to find the right balance should the Frame 1 results show them impossible to bring down.

As far as the P-47N goes, I'm not to familiar with the historical load outs of the P-47N. I know there has been talk of this in the past few FSOs and BOG, but I'm just not that knowledgeable about them. Shoot me a link to the discussion or a website and I will consider changing it, if it is indeed true.

I've flown some of the missions that we will see in this event while testing the last few weeks. Many of the USAAF targets will take just under 60 minutes to fly too. Allied Escort should be wary about loitering over Japan for too long or they will not make it home and will be counted as lost. So in regard to the P-47Ns time over target because of there ammo load outs, time may make that a non-factor... But as I mentioned, shoot me a link about the N's ammo.

As far as the Ki-67 is concerned, the Japanese will have USN Fleets to target over the course of the event, So I included the Ki-67 so the Japanese could bomb or torpedo them. But for the most part, The Japanese will be on the defensive.

I hope that answers some of your questions.

They get formations too? LOL.

[Nefarious]

Here comes the zeek vs b29   

The only way that will happen is if the CIC's assign them against the B-29.

The way the event will be setup is the USAAF will attack targets West of the 9 Line and the USN/USMC will strike targets East of the 9 Line on the Japan Terrain (Which is a new Terrain from the Terrain Team BTW). So the Zero does not have to be used against the B-29 unless the CIC assigns them specifically.

[Debrody]

No japanese fighter can catch the b29, even at 21,9k.
What would be the side ratio?

[Viper61]

Krusty brings up a good point on the B29 against the IJN plane set.  I've flown a few sorties in the MA with the B29 at 32K and devastated what I aimed at and the reality was at 32K the B29 was almost impossible to reach or catch.  And with a million bombs on board you don't have to be a good bombardier either.  Just start dropping on one side of the base and stop dropping on the other.  Then turn around and go after what you missed on the first drop!! 

Also good set up Nef with the distribution of B29 power into different target areas.  That will help.

I know normally in the late war pacific scenario's "Air Spawns" are used.  If so i suggest that these air spawns be kept low 5K or 10K max and not the normal 15 or 20K level or not used at all unless required due to the map.  If the B29's have the time to climb up to 25K or higher the IJN AC wont have a chance unless they just happen to be going into them head on and with altitude.  Once they turn they'll probably never catch them.

High flying B29's also provide a significant advantage to the ALLIED side in how their squads are tasked.  High flying B29's could probably make it in and out of the target areas without escorts.  "If" the ALLIED commander planned this way then this would free up squads to conduct more "low level" activities.  And this could swing the match ups even more to the ALLIED side at the different targets.

So if the scenario can control the height in which the B29's are used it will probably be more fair.  In my opinion the fun level for all will be in keeping them low and accessible to the IJN side.  Also I would jack up the points to the IJN side for destroying them as well.

Should be a fun scenario     

[ghostdancer]

Unfortunately with airspawns their location and altitude is hard coded into the terrain when we make them. The setup CM doesn't have the ability to say have the spawns be at 10K this frame and 20K the next frame.

[Nefarious]

No japanese fighter can catch the b29, even at 21,9k.
What would be the side ratio?

The Axis will have an advantage, that is TBD until more squads update there preferences and numbers.