Large CV engagement

[DKF12]

07-02-1943
Full Campaign
Allied vs AI controlled Japan
Finally got to engage KB. 3 CV , 1 CVL, 2 BB, 3 CA, 1 CL, 8 DD
I had 5 CV, 2 BB,7 CA,5 CL,2 CLAA, 15 DD in 3 TF’s 2 TF in same hex and 1 TF in an adjacent hex.
The fleet carriers had half wildcats and half hellcats.Same kind of up grades on the DB and TB’s
Pilot experience was between 58 and 79.
The allied ships got hammered 3 CV hit ,1 major damage,2 BB major damage 1 CA major damage.
70 planes lost
Japan 65 planes lost
I got not one hit on any ship . Air group coordination was good.
What should I look to improve pilot training,better aircraft, better coordination between TF’s (put them all together)
Few of my bombers got thru the CAP and none landed a hit
Advice humbly accepted

[Platoonist]

I'll ask the first question. What difficulty setting are you on? Depending on the AI setting, the Japanese AI will get both logistical and combat resolution advantages.

Also keep in mind that if your naval forces were surprised, then a much smaller force can deal your units a deadly blow. Throw out all your expectations if you surprise or are surprised. Results are likely to be skewed in those cases. When surprise is not a factor, then all the elements of combat like range, commander, experience, weapons, etc. will play out relatively straightforwardly.

[BBfanboy]

And weather is always a wild card factor!

Lightning Strike-Hyena.jpg (31.64 KiB) Viewed 500 times

[RangerJoe]

07-02-1943
Full Campaign
Allied vs AI controlled Japan
Finally got to engage KB. 3 CV , 1 CVL, 2 BB, 3 CA, 1 CL, 8 DD
I had 5 CV, 2 BB,7 CA,5 CL,2 CLAA, 15 DD in 3 TF’s 2 TF in same hex and 1 TF in an adjacent hex.
The fleet carriers had half wildcats and half hellcats.Same kind of up grades on the DB and TB’s
Pilot experience was between 58 and 79.
The allied ships got hammered 3 CV hit ,1 major damage,2 BB major damage 1 CA major damage.
70 planes lost
Japan 65 planes lost
I got not one hit on any ship . Air group coordination was good.
What should I look to improve pilot training,better aircraft, better coordination between TF’s (put them all together)
Few of my bombers got thru the CAP and none landed a hit
Advice humbly accepted

Was only one hex of your taskforces hit? CAP may not coordinate well even one hex away.

[DKF12]

Difficulty is Hard
All TF’s involved met at night and avoided battle, then both hexes of Allied TF were attacked

[DKF12]

Both were attacked during daylight and yes was overcast and rainy

[BBfanboy]

Both were attacked during daylight and yes was overcast and rainy

If the Japanese side was hidden in Heavy Rain or the like that would affect the Allied side detection and strike a lot.

Did you have night and day naval search up? The Japanese side usually does and with longer range search aircraft they can get a bead on the Allies first and launch a morning strike. Allies usually launch in the PM when their daylight search locates the enemy.

[DKF12]

No I don’t have night search,will from now on.
I guess I want to get some idea’s on what experience level to have carrier pilots at,
I’ve read the posts on TF strike coordination but I haven’t found anything on what percentages to set fighters,Dive bombers and TP’s
Basically how to set up an air combat TF.

[BBfanboy]

Ideally the pilots should have 50+ overall Experience and 70+ in their Primary Skill (NavB, NavT, Air). Going back to Nav Search, getting a Detection Level on the enemy affects the success of the attack as well as finding the enemy. Higher DLs mean a better idea of what ships are present, what direction and speed they are going, and perhaps their TF formation. All that seems to be abstracted into a better chance to get hits.

[BBfanboy]

I went back to your original post and I don't see any mention of Air Squadron leaders. It is crucial to have leaders with excellent primary skill and very good to excellent Leadership. Inspiration and Aggression seem to help with getting through opposition fighters and flak.