S3 Series

Gentlemen,

Intelligence has intercepted a transmission from the クソ野郎 (kuso yaro) Allied command. The target for this week is Rabaul.

I encourage everyone to get into the arenas with the Advanced Flight Models and Test the new versions of the Ki61 and A6M3. Also, there should be a consideration for the Ki43, as one of our respected pilots has noticed it may out-perform the Reisen. Test them all, report back findings and bring forward any ideas, thoughts and plans.

~S~

The frame 2 engagement quickly went downhill. The biggest reason is probably that we knew the P-38G's were to be faster, but didn't fully realize what this would mean in live action.

My AAR of Frame 2

* The 4th FG sent 4 scouts to check enemy positions (oleddk followed us). As soon as we saw distant dots at max range we turned north, dropped tanks and went full speed. It took only around a minute until the P-38G's had caught us. All scouts were killed with ease except me, who flew furthest in front and managed to shake my attacker.

* What happened next is the entire japanese flight was ordered to intercept the P-38G's, but once it became clear how easy the Allied killed our scouts the order was changed to regroup at F25. With a normal match-up it would have been no problem, but with the vast speed difference this meant that half the japanese flight escaped (LF6 and 4th FG), while the rest were caught with ease and dispatched. Just watch =dobs= video of how easily they caught the AE's.

My advice for Frame 3

As such, in frame 3 it seems it has to be a fight or flee order way before we can make eyecontact. With the knowledge we had in frame 2, the order to regroup at F25 was a very sound one. I would have given it myself if in charge. But now that we fully realize the impact of the speed difference, we must decide much earlier what to do. Once visual is made an engagement order cannot be changed. All kokutais will have to fight to the last drop of blood or we'll have an engagement like in frame 2 where only half our airforce got tangled in. If we want to stay clear for the moment, this should be done at a 40 miles minimum distance from the enemy.

Cheers!
/Robert

Im for surrendering and retiring to the bar for some saki and sushi

Some thoughts:
A positive is obviously the fact that we know where they have to strike. I am assuming they have to hit Rabaul proper?
The vast majority of us were in zekes last frame so those that died (KIA) can still fly a Ki 61 this frame, if one so desires.
We need to seriously defend our radar for Rabaul, even at low altitudes. I would bet there will be a noe mission to kill radar before any/many enemy planes show on our dar.
Sacrificing airframes to scouting should be done by singles only. High risk, but possible high rewards. Even if all a single does is drag a gaggle of enemy fighters 10 miles or more away from their original flight plan. 6 loner scouts being sighted at differing locations might throw their timing and mission profile off.
From what I saw it seems as though they had 3 different waves of fighters engaging at differing time periods. This doesn't bode well for any engagement lasting more than one minute regardless of how many of us there are.
Maybe it is even time to think "outside the box", whatever that might be in this scenario ?
<S>

Well, if strikes are lower, so are we. I believe the KI has a better fm at a lower alt. Lets move the fight otta the p 38 fight envelope and into ours

I don't know if the A6M3 and Kis have been updated yet. Flew the A6M3 last night and man was she hard to roll. Now the Ki44 and A6M2 now that's another story.

Jman supposedly said that the current A6M3 in the Main is the same one that will be available in this weeks S3. I flew it last night as well and it isn't a viable airframe for S3 play... aileron roll can't be right I agree.

To Update All...I'll have basing and basic plan in place late this evening. The week escaped me.