AI AO on the Attack! (calling Andy Mac...)

[ADB123]

I've started a fresh Patch 3 Campaign Game against the AI in order to test out some Bright Ideas that I have. I like testing Bright Ideas against the AI instead of against a PBEM opponent because most of the time my Bright Ideas turn out to be Not Very Bright Ideas. And I also get to see when the AI has a Not Very Bright Idea of its own.

Well, it's only been two Game Weeks and the AI has already come up with a very strange NVBI. The KB has sailed off to the West, so I've sent out small transport TFs to provide supply to the various islands in the Eastern Pacific. One of those transport TFs – a single xAKL and an AM just reached Midway when I got an alert that an Enemy TF was spotted.

I assumed that the enemy TF was one of the typical small surface combat TFs that the AI sends out rather effectively early in the game. But when the Combat Animation appeared there was something quite different facing off with my transport TF – some long, non-combat looking ship. Was it some sort of PB? No, it turned out to be a lone, unescorted Japanese AO.

Huh? [&:] What is an AO doing all by itself at Allied Midway?

The two TFs looked at each other and went the opposite directions.

But I also had a DM arrive at Midway at the same time to drop off some defensive mines. The wayward AO once again confronted the US TF, but this time the two ships started to close in on each other.

Huh? [&:][&:][&:]

The AO started to shoot at the DM with its AA guns, and the DM started to shoot back with its 4 inch gun. Pretty soon the DM had hit the AO with a half dozen 4 inch shells, while the AO hit the DM with one AA shell.

At this point the DM's skipper decided that enough was enough and ordered the ship to break off combat.

BUT – the AO's skipper decided to chase the retiring DM!!!!!!!!! [X(][X(][X(]

HUH???????

The DM then turned around and put another half dozen 4 inch shells into the AO, and this time when the DM's skipper decided to go home, the AO's skipper did the same.

(I had a pecular vision of sea-borne remake of Monte Python's Holy Grail at all this.)

So alls well that ends well, but I do have to ask Andy Mac – why did the AI decide to try to use an AO as if it were a combat ship?

[Andy Mac]

No idea that is certainly a weird one

[sprior]

Huh? What is an AO doing all by itself at Allied Midway?

It's sent there in an historical start. Why? Don't know. If you want to look it starts in the same hex as KB. A bombardment TF of 2 DDs starts in the same place and goes there too.

[jetjockey]

Bet ya didn't know that the "A" in AO meant "Attack Oiler[:@]"

[jrlans]

Ahh thank god for aggressive COs . . . err . .  .

[chesmart]

Kamikaze Oiler trying to blow up Midway

[wdolson]

That's one of the weirder ones I've heard.  That class of ship should not be looking for a fight.

Bill

[ADB123]

ORIGINAL: sprior

Huh? What is an AO doing all by itself at Allied Midway?

It's sent there in an historical start. Why? Don't know. If you want to look it starts in the same hex as KB. A bombardment TF of 2 DDs starts in the same place and goes there too.

The 2 DDs did bombard Midway on December 8. I just can't figure out why the AO is there a week later. I've never seen that in any other start against the AI.

[ADB123]

ORIGINAL: jrlans

Ahh thank god for aggressive COs . . . err . .  .

I've love that CO to be in charge of one of my surface combat TFs... Imagine if he actually had a CA under his command... [:D]

[Grotius]

We used the historical start, and my opponent actually steered his CVs toward Midway and sank that AO on day 2 or so. I had ordered the AO to retire toward Truk; guess I should have sent it toward the Home Islands instead.

The other AO, and the two DDs, managed to escape.

[carnifex]

I had a different AO situation also around Midway. Scen 2 vs AI.

On 12/23/41 search planes out of Pearl detect enemy task force due NW about 8-9 hexes. Enterprise and Lexington are in Pearl and Saratoga is 10 hexes due NE heading from San Fran and also covering a huge cargo and troop convoy. The convoy is ordered due south and all three CVs to meet and engage the enemy.

On Christmas Eve the air strike catches a Japanese replenishment TF. Over the next two days, remnants are hunted down and sunk. The CV's circle around near Midway, looking for a fight and retire to Pearl. I could afford to be brave because I can account for almost all the enemy CV's. KB is pounding Rabaul, and the rest are harassing the Dutch.

I wish the AI hadn't done that. They're gonna be hurting for those tankers. Still it was good practice for my Buffalo jockeys har har

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Lihue at 178,96

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 27 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes


Allied aircraft
F2A-3 Buffalo x 10
F4F-3A Wildcat x 12
F4F-3 Wildcat x 13
SBD-3 Dauntless x 24
TBD-1 Devastator x 15


Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 damaged
TBD-1 Devastator: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
AO Kyokuto Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
AO Toho Maru, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Akebono, Bomb hits 1
AO Kokuyo Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
DD Amagiri
AO Ken'yo Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
AO Shinkoku Maru
AO Toei Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage



Aircraft Attacking:
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
11 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
15 x TBD-1 Devastator bombing from 5000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
5 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring AO Kyokuto Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring AO Toho Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring AO Toei Maru


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Midway Island at 164,83

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes


Allied aircraft
F2A-3 Buffalo x 10
F4F-3A Wildcat x 12
F4F-3 Wildcat x 13
SBD-2 Dauntless x 9
SBD-3 Dauntless x 15


Allied aircraft losses
SBD-2 Dauntless: 3 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Amagiri, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Akebono, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AO Nippon Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
AO Shinkoku Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires



Aircraft Attacking:
7 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
5 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Akebono
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring AO Nippon Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Amagiri
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring AO Shinkoku Maru


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Midway Island at 164,83

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes


Allied aircraft
TBD-1 Devastator x 15


Allied aircraft losses
TBD-1 Devastator: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Akebono, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
AO Shinkoku Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Amagiri, heavy fires, heavy damage



Aircraft Attacking:
15 x TBD-1 Devastator bombing from 5000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Akebono
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring AO Shinkoku Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Amagiri

[Rapunzel]

The same happend in my last AI game. It seems like the AI does not move the kb replenishment tf.

[jazman]

Here comes the AO Death Star exploit.

[LoBaron]

ORIGINAL: ADB123

I've started a fresh Patch 3 Campaign Game against the AI in order to test out some Bright Ideas that I have. I like testing Bright Ideas against the AI instead of against a PBEM opponent because most of the time my Bright Ideas turn out to be Not Very Bright Ideas. And I also get to see when the AI has a Not Very Bright Idea of its own.

Well, it's only been two Game Weeks and the AI has already come up with a very strange NVBI. The KB has sailed off to the West, so I've sent out small transport TFs to provide supply to the various islands in the Eastern Pacific. One of those transport TFs – a single xAKL and an AM just reached Midway when I got an alert that an Enemy TF was spotted.

I assumed that the enemy TF was one of the typical small surface combat TFs that the AI sends out rather effectively early in the game. But when the Combat Animation appeared there was something quite different facing off with my transport TF – some long, non-combat looking ship. Was it some sort of PB? No, it turned out to be a lone, unescorted Japanese AO.

Huh? [&:] What is an AO doing all by itself at Allied Midway?

The two TFs looked at each other and went the opposite directions.

But I also had a DM arrive at Midway at the same time to drop off some defensive mines. The wayward AO once again confronted the US TF, but this time the two ships started to close in on each other.

Huh? [&:][&:][&:]

The AO started to shoot at the DM with its AA guns, and the DM started to shoot back with its 4 inch gun. Pretty soon the DM had hit the AO with a half dozen 4 inch shells, while the AO hit the DM with one AA shell.

At this point the DM's skipper decided that enough was enough and ordered the ship to break off combat.

BUT – the AO's skipper decided to chase the retiring DM!!!!!!!!! [X(][X(][X(]

HUH???????

The DM then turned around and put another half dozen 4 inch shells into the AO, and this time when the DM's skipper decided to go home, the AO's skipper did the same.

(I had a pecular vision of sea-borne remake of Monte Python's Holy Grail at all this.)

So alls well that ends well, but I do have to ask Andy Mac – why did the AI decide to try to use an AO as if it were a combat ship?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZa9fZa5hdA

[LST Express]

[:D] that video is hilarious!

[c_m_kwong]

At first i thought the smaller cat was radio controlled....

Back to topic, I had a similar experience in the game (after first patch)

An AO fired back on my sub, which missed its torpedo salvo, and my sub was sunk by the AO [:(].