Newbie in Pacific War

[jco]

Dear everybody,

First of all, i'd like to introduce my self as a newbie who want to learn playing wargames that has deep strategic elements, like this one.
I have witp and played it for several turns ^_^ and it brought me overwhelming with so many stuffs i should manage, because i am new in this type of game.

When i looked around in Matrix website. I found Pacific War. This is the predecessor of witp, right ?
So, i would like to learn and play this Pacific War game before playing witp.
Please teach me how to play this game [&o]

I have read the tutorial as stated in the manual page #55.
For the first time, i am playing against the AI as the Allied on Campaign 41.
To minimize managing everything for the first time, i only control ABDA, Malaya, and SW Pacific HQs. Computer controls the rest.

1. Information about enemy troops strength ?
After 3 turns running, it seems i will be defeated in Phillipines and Malaya [:(]
My entire SW Pacific army is isolated in Clark Field, after Manila fallen to the Japs from Legaspi.
How can i know about the strength of Japs troops in Manila?
Does using SigInt is the only way to predict the strength of enemy troops?

2. Two Air target from a base ?
The whole Borneo completely under Japz control. What i am planning to do is only bombing the airfield at Balikpapan from Surabaya with Catalina.
I think, i can not give order to attack airfield and port in one turn by air groups from a base (Surabaya in this case), can i ?

3. Relocating troops ?
I still have Dutch troops in Medan.
I'd like to relocate this troops to reinforce Palembang.
Since there is no path for land marching from Medan to Palembang, i should use vessels, right ?
What should i build for the TF, evacuation or transport ?

4. Damage and repair ?
Meanwhile, in Malaya, i think it will fallen to the Japz soon, though i still hold Kuala Lumpur with 298 combat value army.
I can save BB Prince of Wales with 33 damage and BC Repulse with 32 damage escorted by several DDs back to Colombo.
Can i repair them in Colombo base ?
Does 33 damage is a serious damage or not ? concerning the 100 durability of BB Prince of Wales and BC Repulse have. Is it corelated ?

Thank you for the answer..

Regards,
jack.

[Capt. Harlock]

ORIGINAL: jco


1. Information about enemy troops strength ?
After 3 turns running, it seems i will be defeated in Phillipines and Malaya [:(]
My entire SW Pacific army is isolated in Clark Field, after Manila fallen to the Japs from Legaspi.
How can i know about the strength of Japs troops in Manila?
Does using SigInt is the only way to predict the strength of enemy troops?

Even SigInt does not give you a good idea of enemy troop strength: it reports on only one unti, and there could be several. The best way is to watch during combat execution: windows will pop up showing the strength, experience and readiness of LCU's in ground combat. (Set the display to go slowly.)

2. Two Air target from a base ?
The whole Borneo completely under Japz control. What i am planning to do is only bombing the airfield at Balikpapan from Surabaya with Catalina.
I think, i can not give order to attack airfield and port in one turn by air groups from a base (Surabaya in this case), can i ?

No, I'm afraid you can't. Worse still, Catalinas won't bomb at all. (They're good for anti-submarine work and spotting enemy TF's)

3. Relocating troops ?
I still have Dutch troops in Medan.
I'd like to relocate this troops to reinforce Palembang.
Since there is no path for land marching from Medan to Palembang, i should use vessels, right ?
What should i build for the TF, evacuation or transport ?

Evacuation TF's can do the job in one turn -- IF you're lucky. Transport TF's are more reliable.

4. Damage and repair ?
Meanwhile, in Malaya, i think it will fallen to the Japz soon, though i still hold Kuala Lumpur with 298 combat value army.
I can save BB Prince of Wales with 33 damage and BC Repulse with 32 damage escorted by several DDs back to Colombo.
Can i repair them in Colombo base ?
Does 33 damage is a serious damage or not ? concerning the 100 durability of BB Prince of Wales and BC Repulse have. Is it corelated ?

Damage is given in percentages, not damage points. Your two ships are at about one-third damage -- I would not advise sending them into combat. I would put one in Colombo and the other in Calcutta, but if the japanese take Rangoon, Calcutta can be bombed.

[jco]

Dear Everybody,
 
Thank you very much Capt. Harlock for your answer to my questions.
 
1. Information about enemy troops strength
Okay, i got it.. or i could use battle report from the utils menu also, right ?
 
2. Two Air target from a base.
So, i cannot give order for multiple target from one base, acknowledge.
Yes, i just realized it after running several turns that Catalinas won't bomb at all [:D]
I realize too that they're very usefull to spot TF (as their role in searching and patrol, right ?) and send the information to my bomber & fighter airgroups to attack the enemy TF, thank you [:D]
 
3. Relocating Troops.
So, i can use both types of TF, evacuation and or transport. But, transport TF is a better one, right?
Is there any differences for the ships involved in an evacuation or transport TF?
 
4. Damage and repair.
Ouh, so it is percentage, not damage point? Okay, acknowledged.
I just sent BB Prince of Wales and BC Repulse both to Colombo  (i set base and destination to Colombo) for repair. But, in the next turn, they're gone? I cannot find them in port or around Colombo. Where did they go? Disbanded or scutled by the computers (SEAC HQ is under computer full control) ?? [&:]
 
5. LCU attack?
To break the siege i sent major squads of LCU from Clarkfield to Manila. They're fighting for several turns. But, from the battle report, it seems that The Japz who always had the initiative to attack. My troops look like only defend. Is it depend on the commander's aggresiveness or what happen? [&:]
And after several turns most of my troops surrendered after disruption. How come ? Is it related to supplies going low ?
 
6. Subs Warfare ?
From your info about Catalina, that it is good for Anti-submarine warfare.
Would Catalina attack the enemy subs group when spotted?
 
7. HQ Reinforcement ?
I just have experience with this HQ Reinforcement order, because i would reinforced Kendari with more LCUs. I choose Kendari base and click HQ Reinforce, I got several Hudson and Buffalo airgroups (don't know where they came from.. from pool, i supposed ?)
And suddenly appeared huge TF with 3 CV : Enterprise, Lexington and Saratoga located North of Australia, destination and base : Kendari, attached to ABDA..
Wow!! [X(] How come this could be happened?
I do not want them, because i realize they're more needed to Central or SW Pacific HQ, not in East Indies theater.
And how can i get more LCU ?
 
That's all for now.. and thank you for the answers.
 
Regards,
jco.

[LargeSlowTarget]

jco, you may want to go to this site: http://www.geocities.com/bigblueiii/pacwar.html[/align] [/align]Scroll down to the bottom and download the huge zip file containing assorted docuiments with hints and tipps for PacWar.[/align] [/align]Some answers:[/align] [/align]3.: Evac TFs will load troops at the destination and leave the same turn, while transport TF will stay at the destination hex for one turn and thus will be subject to enemy reactions for a longer time.[/align] [/align]4. Areas under computer control usually lead to weird results - units from areas under AI control may end up at the opposite end of the map. Most players control everything themselves for this reason.[/align] [/align]5. The US and Philippine units at the start of the sceanrio have low exp, are low on supplies and the commanders available at the start are not good - do not expect that they will hold against a determined Jap attack.[/align] [/align]6. All patrol and bomber types except heavy bombers automatically watch out for enemy subs. Details see documentation mentionend above.[/align] [/align]7. HQ Reinforce will select air, surface and ground units the AI deems 'available' and sends them to the base for which reinforcements have been requested. So if you look around you will find AI-created TFs with warships and cargo-TFs with ground units on their way to the 'reinforced' base. Usually this command grabs units you want to keep elsewhere and generally only serves to screw up your own plans, so it is advised not to use 'HQ Reinforcement'.[/align]

[jco]

Dear everybody,
 
Wow !! Thank you Mr. LST for your documentation package...
Hohoho LST (Large Slow Target) ??? no wonder it is slow if there are 4 beautiful women on board ^_^
Anyway, i am reading your documentation especially PacHints...
 
This is like i am having new lesson at school [:D]... but surely, i like reading a book especially military related.
 
Okay, choosing HQ reinforcement will screw up my plans.. Acknowledge.
 
Suppose, i am planning to withdraw LCU at Malaya, for example, to Palembang. In Port Malaya and so in Palembang, i have several APs. Now, what should i do ?
 
1. At Palembang, create Transport TF, then send it to Malaya to collect some LCU. (and it needs 1 turn). Then at the next turn, load TF with LCU, and set destination to Palembang, right ?
 
or,
 
2. At Malaya, create Evac TF, Load TF with LCU, then set destination to Palembang ?
 
3. Could i create Evac TF at Palembang, then set destination to Malaya ? Is it automaticly that LCU will loaded to the Evac TF and then back again to Palembang in 1 turn ?
 
Regards,
jco

[LargeSlowTarget]

Just to put the honor where it belongs - it is not 'my' documentation, the documents have been written by other people. I have just gathered them into a zip file and provide a place to download them.[/align] [/align]If you want to withdraw LCU via evac TF, it is option 3 - create the evac TF somewhere else and set destination to the base with the LCUs you want to evacuate. The TF will move to the destination, pick up as many troops of one LCU located at the base, and sprints away from the base towards the home base. Of course there is a range limit the evac TF can travel in a turn, so create the evac TF at a home base close to the destination but outside the immediate danger zone. Make sure the evac TF has enough capacity to load the entire unit, or you will end up with LCU fragments. And of course, if there are several LCUs at the base, you need several evac TF to get them out. If you by circumstances you can form only one evac TF and you want to save a particular unit, make sure it is the only LCU at the destination base, or the evac TF may chose to pick up a different LCU then the one you want.[/align]

Oh, and if you have APs at Malaya as well, you can create a normal cargo TF and load a LCU in addition to the evac run. May save you two LCUs from a threatened base.

Be aware that there are restricted commands and LCUs belonging to them cannot be loaded onto ships (e.g. West Coast units).

[Capt. Harlock]

ORIGINAL: jco

Dear Everybody,

Thank you very much Capt. Harlock for your answer to my questions.

1. Information about enemy troops strength
Okay, i got it.. or i could use battle report from the utils menu also, right ?

Yes, but the battle report will only give you the totals of the infantry squads, artillery pieces, and armored vehicles there. The pop-up windows during combat execution will identify the individual units and give experience and readiness levels. (You gotta read fast, though!)

3. Relocating Troops.
So, i can use both types of TF, evacuation and or transport. But, transport TF is a better one, right?
Is there any differences for the ships involved in an evacuation or transport TF?

No, in both cases you need AP's, APA's or lots of smaller ships like APD's. (MCS ships will NOT work.) If you are lucky enough to already have transport ships at the base you wish to evacuate, it is better to create a Transport TF, load the LCU's, and sail away. Beware of Cargo TF's, because if the base is under enemy Air Zone of Control, they won't move.

[Capt. Harlock]

ORIGINAL: LargeSlowTarget

6. All patrol and bomber types except heavy bombers automatically watch out for enemy subs. Details see documentation mentionend above.

And the Devil is indeed in the details. The manual says:
Searching for Enemy TFs
Land-based search missions will be flown
by all eligible Patrol aircraft, Heavy
Bombers of all nationalities, and all IJN,
USN and USMC Bombers (Dive, Torpedo
and Tac Bombers).

In other words, British, Japanese Army, and USAAF bombers do not search. Alas, the hordes of B-25's, and the long-range Wellingtons are no good when looking for surface TF's or subs. (Single exception: USMC Mitchell squadron.)

And there's more:

Searching for Enemy Subs
Aircraft Max Range is halved (quartered
at night).
Heavy Bombers may never detect enemy
sub groups.

Since aircraft ranges are rounded down, the range three Allied dive-bombers and torpedo bombers are limited to a single hex outside of their base. What this boils down to is that for much of the early game, Catalinas are the only effective land-based ASW planes for the Allies. (The Japanese Nells and Betties can give reasonable service, provided they belong to IJN squadrons.) Later, the Vengeance dive-bombers and the TBM (not TBF) torpedo-bombers can give a two-hex search range.