I thought I was doing Great! oops

[Misconduct]

So far my campaign hasn't been reset, 3 months I have learned a lot in game, I secured Shortland and islands around it, started a huge invasion of Gilbert Island, except my luck finally runs out. The KB decides to finally show up, is now between Gili Gili and Shortland pretty much tearing my butt apart, Entire Solomons chain have airfields with single F4F/SBD group to help keep islands secure, or so I thought.

Any Ideas how I can coordinate my 50 P38s/150 B24s to get rid of the darn KB? Its pretty much only thing I have for defense, other then hoping they run out of fuel.

[khyberbill]

Is this a PBEM or against the AI?

[Misconduct]

AI

[Misconduct]

My First mistake was leaving shortland alone instead of moving up the 1st MAW to reinforce shortland's Airwing, which is stationed at Lunga, My 4 carriers are off Gilberts taking care of business.

[heenanc]

I think it could be done by putting P38's on escorts 0%cap and B24's on Naval attack 0% search (as long as you have other search planes) The zero's just can't shoot down the B24's in sufficent number to be effective that's from my experience any way (as a previous allied player) you may not make much differents the first time but you will soon enough.

[Misconduct]

Well my main problem is the B24s/P38s don't fly to the TF, only to Rubaul, and mostly against crappy AK's. I can't seem to figure out how to get them to hit the task force.

[Yamato hugger]

More fighters.

[khyberbill]

AI

Usually, the KB will come to you if you are playing the AI and wait. As for attacking it, you will need excorts for your bombers, or they will find a softer target.

[wdolson]

You also need search planes to keep the detection level on the KB high.  If the TF isn't a known quantity, strikes won't fly against it.

As for running out of fuel, the original game AI did allow TFs to run out of fuel.  That's been fixed in AE.

Bill

[Misconduct]

ORIGINAL: khyberbill

AI

Usually, the KB will come to you if you are playing the AI and wait. As for attacking it, you need excorts for your bombers, or they will find a softer target.

Ah was hoping 50 p-38s would be enough, guess not, biggest mistake I made was not moving the 1st MAW up when I had the chance, I let it slide thinking 4 squads F4F's and SBD's on shortland and around it would be enough to prevent an attack, was horrible wrong.

I did lose quite a few AVD's not much to care about, and 3-4 MSW's, its a lesson learned If I would of had the 1sT MAW moved up, could of had over 150 F4F's and 100 SBD's on short land, I spaced them out to protect my shipping lanes, I thought wrong.

[khyberbill]

As for running out of fuel, the original game AI did allow TFs to run out of fuel. That's been fixed in AE.

Interesting, how has that been fixed?

[Misconduct]

The KB Retreated back to rubaul saving me some time, good thing it did any human player would of cut me in half right then.

[wdolson]

As for running out of fuel, the original game AI did allow TFs to run out of fuel. That's been fixed in AE.

ORIGINAL: khyberbill
Interesting, how has that been fixed?

There is more monitoring of the state of an AI TF and if it's running low on fuel, it will go to a port capable of refueling it and top off the tanks (or use a replenishment RF if there is one available). You'd have to ask Don about the details.

Bill

[Misconduct]

ORIGINAL: Yamato hugger

More fighters.

Something good did come out of this, the KB Was untouched up till now, I had so many F4F's thrown at the KB I wore down the CAP, finally B24's throw some bombs at them, unescorted.

Looking at my logs, around 30 A6M's were downed, 30 VAL's, 20 Kates. Those few ships are worth the experience I took from the Japanese.

[cyberwop36]

For me, in the early war against the AI, the Australian Beaufort V-IX's are the key to killing Jap CV's. I get as many as I can in area, converting and re-HQing as needed.

P-40's and Kittyhawk I grouped as escorts and at least 1 Catalina at each base with attack aircraft.

Level 4 airfield, enough AV support, do not over stack airfield [50 planes per level], Beaufort's set to range 4. Do that and they carry torpedoes.

Wait, and the silly AI will sail the KB right up on them and eventually skewer itself. A human would stand off with the greater range Jap planes.

A couple Beaufort torps and then your DB's and other LB will start hitting and finish them.

Only use your CV's when your land based air can attack too. Stay outside Jap land based air.

After doing this I almost feel bad killing the AI KB anymore. I've reset turns to let them get away. The AI will destroy it's CV forces sailing right into land based air traps. Because after they are gone you build up, get Hellcats and are unstoppable. But I guess that's pretty much what happened after Midway.