ORIGINAL: GreyJoy
ORIGINAL: ny59giants
GJ - You just learned that a having extra PBY groups at a base is important. I don't know how you were set up PBY-wise around Lunga/Tulagi when you were surprised by KB.
What percentage were they set on Naval Search?
How many PBYs did you have there on search?
Were you using defined search arcs?
What are the experience levels of your PBY pilots?
Leaders of your PBY groups are ...
Do you have any 4e bombers trained up on Naval Search to supplement your PBY efforts??
The expensive lessons that almost all players have gone through regardless of how many post we read of another players demise. [8|]
You're right mate. As for every thing in life you have to bump your head on it to "get it", no matter how much you "think" to know...
I had 12 Cats at Lunga and 8 at Tulagi...the search arcs were 270-90...i didn't place more cause i felt i had to have every part of my "chain" protected so i'm having them at PH, Johnston, Palmyra, Baker and Canton, Pago, Suva, Lungaville, Ndani and Noumea...obviously they're never enough...[:-]
No i don't have 4Es on naval search...cause i'm saving all of them for India...and when at the beginning of the game i've placed 4Es on Naval Search everybody told me was a mistake cause they are too precious....well...truth is always in the middle right? So probably it would have been well worth this time to expend some of them in that role...
Ok, i'll pay more attention on these datails... but there's so much to care about that i don't understand how you guys can do it[>:]
Still thanks!
Regarding to your little KB incident. I usually have a rule of thumb to count a base KB proof. Either one lvl 9 Base with at least 500+ fighters and enough DB and TBs to threaten him AND heavy surface protection (at least 4 PT forces and two more heavier surface TFs) or 2 lvl 8 bases + a smaller one only stuffed with some catas (1 squad) and the rest filled with fighters and DBs/TBs. 1 lvl 8 base and at least 2 lvl 6+ bases and if possible one another smaller base. As the lvl 9 base you need for each base at least 2-3 PT boat TFs and 2-3 surface forces a little heavier with enough reaction.
All bases have to be next to each other.
It is easier in 1943 as the quality of your fighters get much better so in 1942 add another 100 fighters or so.
To move your way up the solomons to rabaul you do not need any carriers as long as you do not plan to assault any heavy defended enemy bases. Best tactic is to first establish a KB proof base. (I had Lungavilla and the neighboring bases all developed to lvl 8. Next step is to slowly develop every base up to lunga. I usually did it the following way. First move a HQ with nav support in range (SOPAC,CENTPAC) or so to provide naval support to the bases which you want to develop next. Then drop 2-3 engeneering units in a small TF consisting only of xAKl and small xAPs (APDs) with 20k supply or so. The TFs have to be small enough to be not a really worthy target for KB and against netties protect them with some LRCAP. The force has to be small enough to not be a problem if lost. So i developed Kirakir and Steward island that way.
The jump to Lunga was the following way. First Develop Lunga, Tasaafa., Tulagi, Roussel and Thousnad ship nay to the max. First again with 2-3 engineering units for each base. As soon as they reach a critical level (3-4) AF size add some more engineering units and a base force and some fighters + PBYs + some PT fleets for each base. Evenly distributed between all bases. As soon as you have a KB proof interlocking system (Lunga + Tass lvl 8, Tulagi lvl 6) move in a strong fighter force and DBs/TBs and max out all bases with fighters/dbs/tbs again evenly distributed. Russel + Thousand + Aki act as pure fighter bases with all the scouting assets (PBYs). Rennel Island acted as Sweep base for 8 P38 squads to sweep Japanese hold bases. All this transportation with small TFs or through air.
As soon as you have everything secured the big convoys start to roll in to transport all you needed assets. Tulagi acts as a good supply hub and base for further operations, but again first guard it then move enough stuff in. Next development step is Munda and the 3 other bases around it. Again first drop some small engineering stuff in the dot bases. If a dot is enemy you can paradrop to capture it. If one of the bases is enemy controlled just ignore it and develop your bases around the enemy base. Again as soon as the bases are big enough move more engeneers in and some baseforce stuff + fighters. On the way you can take rekata and Ontong. Ontong is a perfect spotting base for PBYs to see enemy fleets early.
Next jump then is to Shortlands and Treasure/Torokin. Again first develop with small forces the move some more stuff in. But your main assault hub should remain Lunga with Renell Island as the 4E base (as it is lvl 8). Always when you develop a new group of bases have one of your HQs close to get the naval support.
I do not like Rossel and Taluga as they are to far away from an own KB proof system to really jump there and Rossel and Taluga (lack a third base there) are to small to get KB proof them self.
In my PBEM i took over in 1/43 with all US carriers sunk and KB in full action so i had to rely heavy on KB proof ground bases.
Oh and you need a lot of fighters (800+) to have enough assets to protect your hub (500+) and have some support to sweep (100+ P38) and to guard you new developed bases. This could be a little problem with your meat grinder at Karachi. And every sub not needed in India should swarm the complete are between your bases an Rabaul and between your bases and Truk.
In addition (thats the reason why you need so many bases around lunga) use your recon forces. If you scout KB in Truk and next turn you do not see it it might do something crazy, same goes for Rabaul and every other big japanese base in the area. Then at begin of 1943 when the hellcats arrive you can think about a fight with KB (still a defenesive fight perfered close to your bases) and you can start to think about taking the rabaul area. That still will be a meat grind as it will a part of the defensive perimeter of you opponent.
As soon as you control Kavieng at it is lvl 9 you can lock down Truk and with that the entire central pacific.
Solomons are the perfect area to assault without carriers and as you plan to use the carriers in India i think it is quite a good area to develop. It is a plan for at least 6 months and you do not need to hurry so do it methodical and slowly. You only need 3-4 divisions for invasions and guard duties, a lot of engineering units which are not needed in India, some base forces and fighters/DBs/TBs and some 2E in anti naval role and 4E (8 squads as a lvl 8 base can only hold 8 squads). Fighters should be Australian ones and Navy/Marine ones and will be the biggest problem for you to properly guard you movements.
You subs which are not in Karachi area should be used to swarm the area between you bases and rabaul/truk. Not to sink KB but if Reder uses ASW you notice a moving KB and if not you might get a combat report which tells you that KB is on the move. And all you big supply convoys moving to your desired supply hub should always take the extra long safe route
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