Another newbie...

[Gaius Duilius]

Hy guys!
First of all, I'm italian, so if I mispell something I'm sorry.
Now, I just bought WitP and I'm having a lot of fun with it. I'm currently playing against Japanese AI, and now I'm in the beginning of April 1942. To be exhaustive, I put a little recap of the game until now.
The attack at PH went well for me (I only lost Tennessee), and I managed to make a run for it with Force Z without leaving emty-handed (I managed to nail two heavy cruisers before running [:D]), so I'm not too much short of capital ships. The more pressing matter for me now is on the Burma front, because after capturing (surprisingly quickly) Malaya, the AI is making a major effort at Akyab and I'm not sure if I can stop him. At least I have something to fight with there (although I did the classic newbie mistake and left at Mandalay the Flying Tigers P-40 until it was too late so I lost them when the city fell [:@]). Now I'm waiting for his next move, as the Philippines just fell and I seriously doubt he will allow 120'000 soldiers to sit on their backs there.
I read a lot of AARs in this forum before buying the game, so I knew a thing or two before starting to play. At least I don't get angry when all my subs don't score any hits (apart from the Dutch ones, they're lifesavers! [&o]). But I'm still quite surprised by the confront between my losses and those of the AI : is it normal that up to April '42 I've been capable to sink warships and cargo ships to a number of 200? If it is, please excuse me. I'm just awed : the first thought I had in my mind reviewing the aircrafts I had in Singapore and the DEI was very bad, but they did the great part of the damage. I never thought Martins could be so sturdy with their 250kg bombs : they got the Riujo north of Java and the AI put it into Palawan to repair it. Giving my Martins the time to pour bombs until she foundered .
Ok, now that I'm done with it, let's get started with the questions :

1) Sometimes I got this MSW force in Australia and I want to refuel it when it returns to port after having had their asses kicked by the IJN subs (the AI got an awful number of subs there!); but their endurance numbers don't change and they remain red. What can I do?

2) I just decided that Andaman Islands are a good gunnery target for my four British BBs, so I ordered the task force to go there and bombard it, and I selected my CV task force (well, this is a grand name for it, but do I hate the Hermes!! ) to follow it to provide some air cover. The BB task force went and did what it was supposed to do, but I found out that Hermes and Formidable are still in port having some tea and crumpets... leaving my BBs at the mercy of the Bettys! For now they didn't get anything, but I fear for my beloved Prince of Wales...! Is it some sort of bug?

I already thank you!

[tocaff]

Welcome and don't worry about the spelling as we all make mistakes.

The AI does dumb things and it's common to be able to send a Surface TF out and catch an unescorted Transport TF and clobber it.  Watch out for heavy IJN units though as they're around somewhere.

Does the base where you are trying to refuel actually have any fuel?

When setting a TF to follow another TF it's a good idea to set the following TF to Patrol instead of Retire.  The following TF also needs to be fast enough to keep up or it'll be trailing along somewhere behind.

[Alfred]

ORIGINAL: Gaius Duilius
1) Sometimes I got this MSW force in Australia and I want to refuel it when it returns to port after having had their asses kicked by the IJN subs (the AI got an awful number of subs there!); but their endurance numbers don't change and they remain red. What can I do?

2) I just decided that Andaman Islands are a good gunnery target for my four British BBs, so I ordered the task force to go there and bombard it, and I selected my CV task force (well, this is a grand name for it, but do I hate the Hermes!! ) to follow it to provide some air cover. The BB task force went and did what it was supposed to do, but I found out that Hermes and Formidable are still in port having some tea and crumpets... leaving my BBs at the mercy of the Bettys! For now they didn't get anything, but I fear for my beloved Prince of Wales...! Is it some sort of bug?

(1) Check the following. I assume the "red" numbers you refer to are the individual ship fuel bunkers, not the distance in red to the TF Home Port.

(a) Did you have the ASW TF (comprised of the 1200 endurance Australian MSWs) set to automatically refuel from port?
(b) Did you manually click for the TF to refuel?
(c) Was there fuel stored at the port?
(d) TFs need supply to reload ammo, fuel to regain "endurance".

(2) Firstly, the Andaman Islands will only provide a gunnery target for your Bombardment TF if there are enemy units present there. Secondly, having an Air Combat TF in the vicinity will not really provide air cover for your BBs as it is most likely that the enemy aircraft will simply disregard the presence of the Bombardment TF and instead concentrate on your CVs. Regarding your specific issue, check the following:

(a) Had you actually given your CV TF a destination?
(b) Did your CV TF actually put to sea but had to return early because it had run out of fuel?
(c) Depending on how far your BBs are from Allied LBA, you can arrange for LRCAP to provide some protection for the Bombardment TF (which should have auto converted to a Surface Combat TF) against Bettys.

Alfred

[Gaius Duilius]

Why thank you!
For the 1) question, I really didn't check it out for fuel. My error, sorry.
About the CV protecting my BBs, I know that simply putting them in the same hex will do nothing. I set the fighter groups of the carriers to 'Long Range CAP', so they should provide some cover to the Surface TF. Anyway, if the Bettys want to try and get my CV, one, if they get the Hermes I won't be very much displeased (I hate it, I hate it, I hate it!! ), second, I have put two or three CLAAs in that TF, so it has quite a good AA capability. Besides, until the KB doesn't come in the Indian Ocean to annihilate my naval forces there, the only ships I can encounter there are some convoys, but I suspect there are some BBs at Singapore and Indochina. And although I have four ready BBs and another plus the Repulse undergoing repair, I want to be ready to get 'em if they want to make a tour of the Indian Ocean.
Maybe I spelled it wrong before, but I just wanted to send my BB task force to the Andaman Islands to bombard it, not to get any ships they had there (which disappeared very quickly, should I say). And I wanted Formidable and Hermes to go with them to give the Rangoon Bettys a better (defended [:D]) target. I already lost Revenge to planes, and I don't want to waste my capital ships, not there.
Tocaff, I wanted to say that my Surface TFs have done very little; apart from the run with Force Z to Khota Baru where I found out that Kongo and Haruna had left, so I took advantage of that and proceeded to sink Mogami and Mikuma plus one destroyer, my ABDA forces weren't able to pass through all the bombers the AI sent me. At least I managed to save a good part of the Dutch ships and the Boise, although I regret having lost Houston; with all the heavy cruisers the IJN has, I think I can't have too much heavy cruisers (but I guess it was the juiciest target the Japanese had, so alas!). The greater damage was done by my Vildebeest and Swordfish and Blenheims at Singapore before it fell, and by the DEI Martins and TVs. They aren't tough enough to go against carriers (apart from Riujo! [:D]) or battleships, but against the transports you have to love them! And not even mentioning all the cargos and tankers damaged, and all the minesweepers. I think sooner or later the AI will miss them (but in Australia, I'm already missing them! [:(]).

I wanted to ask you a honest opinion. In the Western Pacific I've got 5 US CVs (well, six counting the Long Island, but I'm gonna use it in combat only if my Fleet carriers get nailed), and after some serious thinking I've decided to put them as follows :

- two Air Combat TFs with two carriers each at PH, to do some raids on the Gilberts and the Marshalls and to be ready if the Japanese make a move for Wake (who didn't fall and that I hold as an advanced base) or Midway or somewhere else in the Northern or Central Pacific;
- the Saratoga with escorts at Noumea, because even if the AI is just wasting time conquering all my defenseless islands bases near Rabaul and sending some fighters and bombers to Port Moresby, I want to do some damage to his shipping there and have some serious naval force with with to counteract any moves from its part; if necessary, I'm going to send the other carriers there, but for now it seems like a good idea.
Do you think it's the right thing to do? Or am I making a mistake to divide my CVs? The KB is lurking near Timor (and I don't know why the heck it's sitting there, I evacuated all my ships there, no targets at all!), but if it decides to go for the Solomons or Port Moresby 1 CV against 6 are very despicable odds. Should I transfer Lexington there to reinforce my SW Pacific area? Or should I keep things as they are?
I already thank you!

[MBogdasarian]

In many games on the Pacific War which include China there is a distinction between the Nationalists and the Communists. Is there something I am missing in the current version (not the Admiralty version, just the updates of WITP).

Is there a role for the intelligence breakthroughs by the U.S.? It seems a good deal of success, especially at Midway (I suffered a reversed Midway at the hands of my very capable opponent and my planes did not even attack his carriers but the BB's instead!), was due to our intelligence breakthroughs.

I particularly "like" the advantages the Japanese enjoy early in the war. Their planes, ships, soldiers, and sailors, seem quite superior to the Allies, and if no Midway occurs for them they really beat up on the Allies, making for a good game. But, as my opponent and I have limited time for play, the day by day turns really lengthen the game. Have you any tips on speeding up? Clearly there is a huge compromise on the details.

In spite of having adequate resources at an airbase, including support and field size, it seems there are many occasions (the waters between Port Moresby and Cooktown, for example) where the Japanese operate with relative impunity despite what should be a very threatening array of Allied aircraft. Ideas on why the planes won't fly? Weather doesn't seem to be quite the answer.

What makes it worse is that the Allied aircraft, even though on naval attack, won't strike a fleet invading their very own hex (Port Moresby again). The deficiency has happened in other scenarios. Why?

Michael Bogdasarian

[Oldguard1970]

Hello Gaius,

I like to keep my CV TFs operating together until the KB has been hurt. If you split your CV's, you make it possible for the KB to earn a fine victory by hitting either set of CV TFs. (The expression in English is "defeat in detail".)

Have fun!

ORIGINAL: Gaius Duilius

Why thank you!
For the 1) question, I really didn't check it out for fuel. My error, sorry.
About the CV protecting my BBs, I know that simply putting them in the same hex will do nothing. I set the fighter groups of the carriers to 'Long Range CAP', so they should provide some cover to the Surface TF. Anyway, if the Bettys want to try and get my CV, one, if they get the Hermes I won't be very much displeased (I hate it, I hate it, I hate it!! ), second, I have put two or three CLAAs in that TF, so it has quite a good AA capability. Besides, until the KB doesn't come in the Indian Ocean to annihilate my naval forces there, the only ships I can encounter there are some convoys, but I suspect there are some BBs at Singapore and Indochina. And although I have four ready BBs and another plus the Repulse undergoing repair, I want to be ready to get 'em if they want to make a tour of the Indian Ocean.
Maybe I spelled it wrong before, but I just wanted to send my BB task force to the Andaman Islands to bombard it, not to get any ships they had there (which disappeared very quickly, should I say). And I wanted Formidable and Hermes to go with them to give the Rangoon Bettys a better (defended [:D]) target. I already lost Revenge to planes, and I don't want to waste my capital ships, not there.
Tocaff, I wanted to say that my Surface TFs have done very little; apart from the run with Force Z to Khota Baru where I found out that Kongo and Haruna had left, so I took advantage of that and proceeded to sink Mogami and Mikuma plus one destroyer, my ABDA forces weren't able to pass through all the bombers the AI sent me. At least I managed to save a good part of the Dutch ships and the Boise, although I regret having lost Houston; with all the heavy cruisers the IJN has, I think I can't have too much heavy cruisers (but I guess it was the juiciest target the Japanese had, so alas!). The greater damage was done by my Vildebeest and Swordfish and Blenheims at Singapore before it fell, and by the DEI Martins and TVs. They aren't tough enough to go against carriers (apart from Riujo! [:D]) or battleships, but against the transports you have to love them! And not even mentioning all the cargos and tankers damaged, and all the minesweepers. I think sooner or later the AI will miss them (but in Australia, I'm already missing them! [:(]).

I wanted to ask you a honest opinion. In the Western Pacific I've got 5 US CVs (well, six counting the Long Island, but I'm gonna use it in combat only if my Fleet carriers get nailed), and after some serious thinking I've decided to put them as follows :

- two Air Combat TFs with two carriers each at PH, to do some raids on the Gilberts and the Marshalls and to be ready if the Japanese make a move for Wake (who didn't fall and that I hold as an advanced base) or Midway or somewhere else in the Northern or Central Pacific;
- the Saratoga with escorts at Noumea, because even if the AI is just wasting time conquering all my defenseless islands bases near Rabaul and sending some fighters and bombers to Port Moresby, I want to do some damage to his shipping there and have some serious naval force with with to counteract any moves from its part; if necessary, I'm going to send the other carriers there, but for now it seems like a good idea.
Do you think it's the right thing to do? Or am I making a mistake to divide my CVs? The KB is lurking near Timor (and I don't know why the heck it's sitting there, I evacuated all my ships there, no targets at all!), but if it decides to go for the Solomons or Port Moresby 1 CV against 6 are very despicable odds. Should I transfer Lexington there to reinforce my SW Pacific area? Or should I keep things as they are?
I already thank you!

[Oldguard1970]

Hello Mbog.

1. There is no real distinction between Nationalists and Communists.

2. Allied intel is better than intel for the Japanese. It can be quite useful. However, the game does not provide the allies with the same intel advantages they had in real life.

3. Once you select one day turns, I think you have to stay with that setting. (I am not sure about this.)

4. "My planes didn't fly!" This is a cry that has been heard again and again in this forum. Many factors influence squadron attacks. They include, in no particular order: luck, attributes of the squadron leader, size of AF, state of AF repair, supply, overstacking on AF, coordination of multiple squadrons, morale (This is a big one. I try to stand down any squadron with less than 50 morale), fatigue (Another big one), defending fighter cover, weather, spotting, presence of air HQ, and probably several others. I do not think anyone other than a coder knows all of the elelments and how they combine. What seems to work for me is to concentrate on a single offensive mission per base and to ensure my squadrons have sufficient morale and low fatigue.

ORIGINAL: MBogdasarian

In many games on the Pacific War which include China there is a distinction between the Nationalists and the Communists. Is there something I am missing in the current version (not the Admiralty version, just the updates of WITP).

Is there a role for the intelligence breakthroughs by the U.S.? It seems a good deal of success, especially at Midway (I suffered a reversed Midway at the hands of my very capable opponent and my planes did not even attack his carriers but the BB's instead!), was due to our intelligence breakthroughs.

I particularly "like" the advantages the Japanese enjoy early in the war. Their planes, ships, soldiers, and sailors, seem quite superior to the Allies, and if no Midway occurs for them they really beat up on the Allies, making for a good game. But, as my opponent and I have limited time for play, the day by day turns really lengthen the game. Have you any tips on speeding up? Clearly there is a huge compromise on the details.

In spite of having adequate resources at an airbase, including support and field size, it seems there are many occasions (the waters between Port Moresby and Cooktown, for example) where the Japanese operate with relative impunity despite what should be a very threatening array of Allied aircraft. Ideas on why the planes won't fly? Weather doesn't seem to be quite the answer.

What makes it worse is that the Allied aircraft, even though on naval attack, won't strike a fleet invading their very own hex (Port Moresby again). The deficiency has happened in other scenarios. Why?

Michael Bogdasarian

[turkey]

I'm by no means an expert, but I do know that the best way you can provide CAP over your BB TF is to put the CV TF in the same hex with your fighters set to Escort, maybe 60%. The CV CAP extends over the whole hex, so all ships in the hex get protection. The Betties might well decide to go for your carriers but that is the risk. If you set the CV TF to follow your BB's (make sure Hermes can keep up!!) they will provide cover for the whole operation, but take care not to run your CV's onto a mine field or coastal guns depending on what your opponent has done to defend Andaman.