Frolicking in the kiddie pool: Gary (Allies) vs the AI

[GaryChildress]

I've been pretty intimidated by the AE beast and haven't really gotten into a game yet even though I've had the game almost since it first came out. This will be my first real go at AE. I've decided to try out Nikademus' Guadalcanal mod. Hopefully I'll be able to handle this smaller scenario. I'm a little apprehensive, though. AE is a LOT more complex than the original so I've decided to do a game vs the AI in case this turns into a disaster.

First off I'll be playing as Allies and the AI will command the Japanese

Settings:

FoW: ON (of course)
Adv Weather: ON
Allied Damage Control: ON
Player Defined Upgrades: ON
Reliable USN Torpedoes: OFF
Realistic R&D: ON
No Unit Withdrawal: ON
Reinforcements: FIXED
Auto Sub Ops: ON

All Facilities to Expand: ON
Auto Upgrade: OFF
Auto Accept Replacements: OFF

Turn cycles: 1
Difficulty: Historical

Show Clouds: OFF

So here goes...

[GaryChildress]

TURN 1:

I noticed that the Allies were already prepped to head to Lunga and Tulagi and just wanted to dive into things as quickly and easily as possible so I simply advanced to the next turn without doing anything.

TURN 2:

I notice that Luganville and Efate are low on supplies. AE has handy little exclamation marks that denote a base is running low. So I set up two supply TFs from Noumea to those two locations. Unfortunately I have only 2 AKs at Noumea, however, they are fairly large ones with 6000 plus supply cargo capacity. So I set one AK in each TF. The one to Noumea I place 3 SCs as escorts and the one to Efate I have 2 anti-sub capable PGs. Hopefully I won't need these escorts for just a small trip but I have no idea what the Japanese have sub wise for this scenario, so I'll play it safe.

Meanwhile I'm hunting around for AKs. It appears I really don't have many. Although they are not hurting yet, I want to get supplies to Port Moresby and Milne Bay before things start heating up.

Ureeka! I find 13 AKs in Sydney and 1 in Brisbane. There's only about 30,000+ supply in Sydney so I create a small TF of 3 AKs in Sydney capable of carying about 14,000 in supply total. This will be my Port Moresby relief TF. In Brisbane I begin loading the AK and give it an escort of 2 Austalian DDs located there. This TF will head to Milne Bay. I don't have any escorts for the Port Moresby force. I hope I won't need any. This should be interesting. I hate to send 14,000 in valuable supplies unprotected but I don't have anything in Sydney to protect them with. [:(]

[GaryChildress]

TURN 2 cont...

I've decided to have my Sydney -> Port Moresby TF stop off in Brisbane first before continuing to PM. There I'll have them pick up some escorts. Meanwhile in Noumea I set up a TF of 7 DDs, the highest endurance ones I have, and send them to Brisbane in hopes they can rendezvous in time with the Sydney TF.

So that pretty much sums up my activity for Turn 2. It's off to Turn 3 now.

[GaryChildress]

TURN 3:

My first dose of combat, albeit a very tame dose...

The Japanese are trying to break through to Port Moresby via overland route. The Japanese lose the battle horribly... [:'(]

[GaryChildress]

TURN 3 cont...

My Lunga invasion force is almost at its destination. The 3 carrier TFs and cover forces are already in position. Just waiting for the slower amphibious landing force to get there. Meanwhile I discontinued the loading of supplies at Noumea, as now Noumea is getting low. I'll send the Luganville and Efate relief TFs with just over 3,000 supply apiece out of the 6000+ capcity for each transport. That should hold out for a little while.

It looks like Noumea and Sydney are my major supply producers so I'm hoping supplies will replenish there over time.

That pretty much wraps up turn 3.

[ny59giants]

I don't know if the AI is smart enough, but I was helping John 3rd get use to AE by playing this mod and I didn't have a SC TF being followed by CV TF. Thus, a few BBs in his SC TF were able to do some serious damage. Now, regardless of what side I play, my CV TF(s) has a SC TF ahead of it.

[GaryChildress]

A lot of shooting and banging going on this combat phase. Most notably one of Brady's beloved midget subs scored a hit on DMS Southard and sank it near Tulagi this turn! Ouch!

Lunga and Tulagi have been invaded. Nothing much to report yet on those actions.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Aug 08, 42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Tulagi at 114,137

Japanese Ships
SSX Ha-3

Allied Ships
DMS Southard, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
AP President Bowen
AP Harris
DMS Hovey


SSX Ha-3 launches 2 torpedoes at DMS Southard
Ha-3 bottoming out ....
DMS Hovey fails to find sub, continues to search...
DMS Hovey fails to find sub, continues to search...
DMS Hovey fails to find sub, continues to search...
DMS Hovey fails to find sub, continues to search...
DMS Hovey fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Tulagi at 114,137

Japanese Ships
SSX Ha-4, hits 2

Allied Ships
APD Colhoun
AP Neville
AP Wharton
DMS Hovey



SSX Ha-4 launches 2 torpedoes at APD Colhoun
DMS Hovey fails to find sub, continues to search...
DMS Hovey fails to find sub, continues to search...
DMS Hovey attacking submerged sub ....
SSX Ha-4 eludes DMS Hovey by hugging bottom
SSX Ha-4 eludes DMS Hovey by hugging bottom
SSX Ha-4 eludes ASW attack from DMS Hovey
DMS Hovey loses contact with SSX Ha-4
DMS Hovey fails to find sub, continues to search...
DMS Hovey fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-Invasion action off Lunga - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

36 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
DD Helm
DD Bagley
AP American Legion
DD Henley
AP Hunter Liggett
AKA Alchiba



DD Helm firing at 81st Naval Guard Unit
81st Naval Guard Unit firing at DD Helm
DD Bagley firing at 81st Naval Guard Unit
81st Naval Guard Unit firing at DD Bagley
8cm 41YT DP Gun Battery engaging AP American Legion at 10,000 yards
DD Helm firing to suppress enemy battery at 10,000 yards
8cm 41YT DP Gun Battery engaging AP Hunter Liggett at 10,000 yards
DD Helm firing to suppress enemy battery at 10,000 yards
DD Helm fired at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 4,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Lunga

TF 143 troops unloading over beach at Lunga, 114,138


Allied ground losses:
43 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 7 (0 destroyed, 7 disabled)


0.5in M2HB AAMG x4 dropped into water during unload of 1st USMC/5th Rgt
12 Support troops lost in surf during unload of 1st USMC/5th Rgt /4


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-Invasion action off Tulagi

50 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
DMS Hovey
APD Little
APD Colhoun


Allied ground losses:
15 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


DMS Hovey fired at enemy troops
APD Little fired at enemy troops
APD Colhoun fired at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 5,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Tulagi

TF 147 troops unloading over beach at Tulagi, 114,137


Allied ground losses:
37 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled)


13 troops of a USMC Rifle Squad 41 lost from landing craft during unload of 2nd USMC/2nd Rgt /3


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Lunga - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

50 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
DD Helm, Shell hits 1
DD Blue
DD Henley
AKA Alchiba


Allied ground losses:
36 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


DD Helm firing at 81st Naval Guard Unit
81st Naval Guard Unit firing at DD Helm
DD Blue firing at Kure 3rd Naval Guard Unit
Kure 3rd Naval Guard Unit firing at DD Blue
DD Blue fired at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 6,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Tulagi

21 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
DMS Hovey
APD Little
APD Colhoun


Allied ground losses:
36 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


DMS Hovey fired at enemy troops
APD Little fired at enemy troops
APD Colhoun fired at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Tulagi at 114,137

Japanese Ships
SSX Ha-5

Allied Ships
AP Neville
AP Wharton
DMS Hovey



SSX Ha-5 is sighted by escort
Ha-5 bottoming out ....
DMS Hovey fails to find sub, continues to search...
DMS Hovey fails to find sub, continues to search...
DMS Hovey fails to find sub, continues to search...
DMS Hovey fails to find sub, continues to search...
DMS Hovey fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Tulagi at 114,137

Japanese Ships
SSX Ha-5

Allied Ships
DD Buchanan



SSX Ha-5 is sighted by escort
DD Buchanan fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Tulagi

23 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
DMS Hovey
APD Little
APD Colhoun


Allied ground losses:
14 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


DMS Hovey fired at enemy troops
APD Little fired at enemy troops
APD Colhoun fired at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at 99,130

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 6748 troops, 70 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 210

Defending force 3023 troops, 30 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 137



Assaulting units:
15th Engineer Regiment
Yokoyama Tai
144th Infantry Regiment
Horii Group
I/55 Mtn Gun Rgt

Defending units:
30th Australian Brigade


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Lunga (114,138)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 2583 troops, 18 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 93

Defending force 10716 troops, 217 guns, 130 vehicles, Assault Value = 444

Japanese ground losses:
7 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled



Assaulting units:
Kure 3rd Naval Guard Unit
81st Naval Guard Unit
13th Naval Construction Battalion
11th Naval Construction Battalion

Defending units:
1st USMC Amphb Tank Bn /1
1st USMC/1st Rgt /2
1st USMC/5th Rgt /2
3rd USMC Def Bn /1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Tulagi (114,137)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 948 troops, 10 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 33

Defending force 5865 troops, 108 guns, 30 vehicles, Assault Value = 245

Japanese ground losses:
7 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled



Assaulting units:
Det - Kure 3rd SNLF
14th Naval Construction Battalion
129th JNAF AF Unit

Defending units:
2nd USMC/2nd Rgt /1
1st USMC Parachute Bn /1
1st USMC Raider Bn /1

[GaryChildress]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

I don't know if the AI is smart enough, but I was helping John 3rd get use to AE by playing this mod and I didn't have a SC TF being followed by CV TF. Thus, a few BBs in his SC TF were able to do some serious damage. Now, regardless of what side I play, my CV TF(s) has a SC TF ahead of it.

This will be my test of the AI basically. We'll see how well the AI plays. Very prophetic post regarding SC TFs. I lost a DMS this turn to a midget sub. [X(]

[GaryChildress]

August 9:

I noticed a single squadron of Kittyhawks based at Milne Bay and decided to move them to Port Moresby to beef up air cover there. having my air resources spread out thin doesn't seem like a good idea, better to concentrate my airpower I would think.

I'm second guessing my decision to send my 7 fleet DDs to Brisbane for convoy duty. I'm thinking I probably should have chosen DDs with the least endurance instead of the greatest. But they're already there so too late to change now unless I just want to burn fuel needlessly running DDs back and forth.

After glancing around and surveying the map I make no other changes this turn. Time for the next combat phase.

[GaryChildress]

Combat phase:

One of the midget subs was sunk. Not a good trade off, however, for the Allies. Although according to the point score, the midget sub is worth 6 points and the DMS worth 5. I would think it should be the other way around and the midget sub worth less.

Not much else to report. An air raid on Lunga from the US carriers and some more ground fighting.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Aug 09, 42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Tulagi

45 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
DMS Hovey
APD Little
APD Colhoun


Allied ground losses:
24 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


DMS Hovey fired at enemy troops
APD Little fired at enemy troops
APD Colhoun fired at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 5,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Lunga
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

13 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
AKA Betelgeuse, Shell hits 1
DD Henley
AKA Alchiba, Shell hits 1



8cm 41YT DP Gun battery firing at AKA Betelgeuse
8cm 41YT DP Gun battery firing at AKA Alchiba


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Tulagi at 114,137

Japanese Ships
SSX Ha-5, hits 5, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Monssen
DD Buchanan



SSX Ha-5 launches 2 torpedoes at DD Monssen
Ha-5 bottoming out ....
DD Buchanan attacking submerged sub ....
Debris floats to surface in area of attack!
Escort abandons search for sub

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Tulagi

22 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
DMS Hovey
APD Little
APD Colhoun


Allied ground losses:
16 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


DMS Hovey fired at enemy troops
APD Little fired at enemy troops
APD Colhoun fired at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Lunga
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

14 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
AKA Alchiba, Shell hits 3
DD Henley



8cm 41YT DP Gun battery firing at AKA Alchiba
8cm 41YT DP Gun battery firing at AKA Alchiba


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Tulagi
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

5 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
DMS Hovey
APD Little
APD Colhoun



DMS Hovey fired at enemy troops
APD Little fired at enemy troops
APD Colhoun fired at enemy troops


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Lunga , at 114,138

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 42 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 45
SBD-3 Dauntless x 54
TBF-1 Avenger x 30


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
21 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled



Airbase hits 12
Runway hits 56

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 5000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
15 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 5000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
1 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
5 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Tulagi
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

7 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
APD Little
APD Colhoun



APD Little fired at enemy troops
APD Colhoun fired at enemy troops


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at 99,130

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 438 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 211

Defending force 3028 troops, 30 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 138



Assaulting units:
Yokoyama Tai
15th Engineer Regiment
144th Infantry Regiment
Horii Group
I/55 Mtn Gun Rgt

Defending units:
30th Australian Brigade


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Lunga (114,138)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 2580 troops, 18 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 94

Defending force 10747 troops, 217 guns, 130 vehicles, Assault Value = 449

Japanese ground losses:
28 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled



Assaulting units:
Kure 3rd Naval Guard Unit
81st Naval Guard Unit
13th Naval Construction Battalion
11th Naval Construction Battalion

Defending units:
1st USMC/1st Regiment
1st USMC Amphb Tank Battalion
1st USMC/5th Regiment
3rd USMC Defense Battalion


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Tulagi (114,137)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 942 troops, 10 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 33

Defending force 6003 troops, 108 guns, 30 vehicles, Assault Value = 245



Assaulting units:
Det - Kure 3rd SNLF
14th Naval Construction Battalion
129th JNAF AF Unit

Defending units:
1st USMC Parachute Battalion
1st USMC Raider Battalion
2nd USMC/2nd Regiment

[GaryChildress]

August 10:

My transports are finished unloading at Lunga and Tulagi. I received a new AK in Noumea a couple turns back and am now loading it with supplies to head to Lunga. Already one of my ground units at Lunga is short on supply. Apparently the amphibious transport force wasn't carrying much in the way of provisions.

I've recalled all my cover TFs along with the Amphib TFs back to Lunga to refuel and get ready for the next round. I left only the Enterprise TF on station, actually moving it to the south of Lunga hopefully to try to avoid any Japanese subs that might now be headed that way.

So far the Japanese have been fairly quiet other than the fighthing near Port Moresby and the midget subs. I hope things don't stay too quiet for too long or this could be a real snooze fest. But it's still early in the game. The AI should have plenty of time to pick things up if it is going to at all.

I survey the map again real quick and then end the turn again.

[GaryChildress]

Not much to report during the combat phase. Search planes and one of my subs did manage to spot what looks like a small Japanese TF near Rossel Island. Not sure what the AI is going to do with it, maybe swing around the horn to get to Port Moresby? This turn I'm sending Enterprise TF to intercept.

Meanwhile I've toyed around a little with search arcs. Not sure what I'm doing yet. I tried the on map method and am a little confused. I see green search arcs and blue ones. What do the different colors in the search arc mean? [&:]

[Bradley7735]

I think they are AM/PM search routes.

FYI, I think the search arcs are still broken and will be fixed with patch 6. You might want to leave your groups searching a 360 range. Someone correct me if the search arcs were fixed in the last patch. I don't use them, so don't remember for certain.

[PaxMondo]

Definitely fixed in the beta ...not sure about the last official patch ...
 

[GaryChildress]

I'm using the latest official patch so maybe they are still broken. Good thing to know. I'll have to go back and take my planes off their arcs.

My anticipated first carrier attack against an enemy TF didn't happen for whatever reason. The enemy is sitting two hexes away. I'll leave my carriers there for one more turn to see what happens.

Lunga has been captured by the Allies. Japanese on Tulagi are still holding out, though.

[GaryChildress]

August 12, 1942:

I scratched all the search arcs and went back to basics. I also moved some PBYs to Milne Bay (I think I did that last turn and forgot to make note of it in this AAR). From there I should be able to see any IJN traffic trying to head to Port Moresby (if indeed the AI is interested in PM). My lunga relief TF is on its way with 6000+ supplies. One of my cruiser TFs is being sent along to cover the AK while it unloads. The Port Moresby relief TF with 14,000+ supplies docked in Brisbane and I added 2 PGs and 2 DDs to the 3 AKs in the TF to give them some cover. The DDs have an AA rating of 147 apiece and ASW of 6 apiece. I'm not too worried about sending fleet DDs to do convoy escort at this point as I have plenty in Noumea now that the different TFs are returning there.

I left Enterprise TF on station to try to see if I can attack the small IJN TF to the north east of it.

Time for the combat phase...

[GaryChildress]

Well, just about nothing happened during the combat phase, at least not the air attack on the Japanese ships I was hoping. Looks like the Japanese ran back toward Rabaul. Looks like Enterprise TF is right on the edge of a storm front. The Japanese ships are in clear weather but I assume no attacks were launched because it's currently raining over the carrier group?

There was some more fighting near Port Moresby along the trial to Buna, also the marines attacked at Tulagi again. Tulagi is still holding out even though Lunga fell on the first attack. IIRC wasn't it the other way around IRL and Tulagi fell quickly while the Japanese on Lunga held out?

No submarine combat this combat phase.

[Bradley7735]

Make sure you have some planes in your CV task force on search. You have to get the DL of the enemy task force up to launch a strike. Even though my SBD's are awesome ship killers, I tend to keep a minimum of 10% on search. Sometimes 20%. I think search planes from other sources (ie, PBY's) don't guarantee a strike from nearby CV's.

Fighting on Tulagi was pretty tough IRL. The marines captured Henderson Field very quickly (I view this as the LCU's retreating to Tassafaronga.) You should check your supplies on Tulagi. If they are low, rest your troops and land more supplies before attacking again.

[GaryChildress]

Finally some action!! My cover force screening for the Lunga supply TF ran into an IJN TF. Glad the cover TF got there first. Results were probably historically on mark. The Allies largely lost their first encounter with the IJN.

On the left side we have CA Chokai, CL Yubari and DD Yuzuki. On the right are CA Canberra, CA Australia, CA Chicago, CL Hobart, DD Selfridge, DD Patterson and 3 other DDs.

Not a good show for the Allies. Canberra is heavily damaged with 54 float damage and DD Patterson is sunk. Canberra is being escorted back to Noumea and the rest of my TF has retired. On the Japanese side DD Yuzuki is on fire and Chokai sustained mild damage from 6 shell hits.

This really took me by surprise. I was getting ready for what I thought would be a pretty tame scenario. We'll see how the rest pans out. Fortunately Saratoga TF is in the area and I've sent them a little north of Tasafaronga to try to intercept the IJN TFs in the area (looks like there are 3 TFs, 2 at Tasafaronga and 1 at Tulagi). My supply TF is holding just south of Lunga until Saratoga can clear the area. I just hope I didn't get Saratoga too close to Rabaul. Rabaul has Bettys stationed there and in this same turn they attacked my convoy at Milne Bay, sinking the AK loaded with supplies. Ouch!! [:(]

I'll need to set up another TF for Milne Bay and this time give them some fighter cover! [X(]

[GaryChildress]

ORIGINAL: Bradley7735

Make sure you have some planes in your CV task force on search. You have to get the DL of the enemy task force up to launch a strike. Even though my SBD's are awesome ship killers, I tend to keep a minimum of 10% on search. Sometimes 20%. I think search planes from other sources (ie, PBY's) don't guarantee a strike from nearby CV's.

Fighting on Tulagi was pretty tough IRL. The marines captured Henderson Field very quickly (I view this as the LCU's retreating to Tassafaronga.) You should check your supplies on Tulagi. If they are low, rest your troops and land more supplies before attacking again.

Yeah. My supplies on Tulagi are running in the red right now. I'm hoping that Saratoga TF will stave off any further incursions by the IJN while my supply TF unloads on Lunga. Then maybe about half full I'll send it over to Tulagi to dump off some supply there. Lunga is low but not as bad as Tulagi.