Ship repain - Japan

[borner]

this falls under the "I shoudl know this....." heading, but......


if both Rabaul and Truk are a level 9 port; does it make a difference where to send damaged ships? Or do they both repair them at the same rate?

[Kingfisher]

It makes a difference in that Rabaul is more likely to experience damage from air raids, and may result in the ships being damaged from the raid.

[Nomad]

Makes no difference, except if the Allies have B-17/B-24s in range of Rabaul. Remember that B-17/B-24s can fly from Cooktown to Rabaul. [:)]

[borner]

just for kick I tried this against IKE in my current game..... suffered 10% op losses. Such strikes are possible, but not recommended unless you have a very high value traget in port.

[xj900uk]

Also need good escort like high-flying P38's
The Zero's (even later model A6M5's) can not shhot down many 4E's per se, but can damage a lot which can't make it back to Cooktown (or PM!) withouth crashing en route - I always tend to loose a few operationally that way.
Truk is definitely safer until late in the game if most of New Britain is lost, although sending back if damaged is probably the best option as Truk can't do upgrades (whilst Nomuea can)

[Miller]

As the IJN, early in the game I never leave any valuable ships in port at Rabual or Shortlands until PM is captured. It is to easy for B17s based there to put carriers out of action sitting in port....

[Kingfisher]

I could be wrong, but I don't think the IJN ever based their carriers at either Rabaul or Shortlands, perhaps for the very reason they were within range of LBA.

[xj900uk]

S&K were based at Shortlands temporarily in the 2nd half of '42 whilst operations were proceeding against Lunga & Guadacanal.
Don't think they were permanently based there though, more likely they used it for temporary refueling and repairing

[Kingfisher]

Combined Fleet doesn't list them entering Shortlands during '42. Either they were at Kure, Truk, the battle area east of Guadacanal, or in transit either to or from these locations.

When did they make port at Shortlands?

[xj900uk]

I have them listed twice, in October-November '42 where they docked for emergency repairs and fuel. I presume this was after the battles of Eastern Solomons and Santa Cruz. I don't believe they stayed very long though, presumably it was enough to take on oil and make some emergency hull repairs