Naval Bombardment in "P" Beta

[Quixote]

Playing with the P version of the Beta in PBEM (started this PBEM with this version), and naval bombardment has at least a bug or two. I've noticed a few odd results in bombardment, but until this past turn hadn't really looked into them. I've had multiple bombardment TFs "saying" they are bombarding, but nothing actually happens. By nothing, I mean not only no result, but no ammunition expended either. I'm providing a screenshot with one example, but going back and looking at my saves, I have a least a couple of others that mimic this. Different TFs, different compositions, different locations, different approach runs (on one, the TF even started in the bombardment hex - only 1 of 3 ships used any ammo, despite the fact that all were in the same TF, and all were DDs.)

I'll attach saves in the next two posts. Take a look at Koepang and Port Moresby this turn (and as usual, thanks Michael for the beta, and for your time and effort on it. Even with the occasional bug, the beta is fantastic.)

[Quixote]

December 16th turn.

[Quixote]

December 17th turn.

[Quixote]

Thanks for looking at them whenever you get a chance.

[Cpt Sherwood]

This may not be an answer, but what is the DL of Koepang? It looks like you did not have a float plane spotting for the bombardment.

[Quixote]

The DL at Koepang was poor. The DL at Port Moresby for the 3 destroyer group was good. The DL at Wake in the opening action of the war was the same that it always is in the opening action of the war, regardless of settings. In stock and previous betas I've played, the DL level didn't produce these results, so I'm guessing it's something else.

(On the float plane question, I am admittedly lazy. I only set them to spot for bombardments that I feel are really important, because I unfortunately have a tendency to forget to then re-set them when the bombardment is completed. They subsequently fly around for the next 3 or 4 or 10 turns trying to take pictures of bases that are either out of range or which I already own.)

[Quixote]

More problems with bombardments, both with this TF and others on the same turn. I have the save for this, too if it will help.

[Banzan]

Edit: Made a misstake when reading the given info.

Nothing to see here anymore.

[Captain Cruft]

I am experiencing similar results using the official patch, so I don't think it's a Beta thing only.

[1EyedJacks]

In regards to the DD: Are you allowing escorts to bombard?

[Quixote]

ORIGINAL: Captain Cruft

I am experiencing similar results using the official patch, so I don't think it's a Beta thing only.

Odd. I didn't see this at all in my last PBEM. That was several months ago, but also using (an older) beta. I haven't tested this out in stock, but I may have to give it a try.

[Quixote]

ORIGINAL: 1EyedJacks

In regards to the DD: Are you allowing escorts to bombard?

In the screenshot I posted above the escorts allowed to bombard is set to on, and in all of the other bombardments this was set to "on" also to allow the DDs to bombard. For some reason though, they still didn't do it.

[michaelm75au]

Nothing has changed in bombardments for sometime from memory - last major thin was in 1108r9 (last official patch)

I'll look at the saves when I get a chance.
Been extra busy at work (reason for lack of my responses), and had bad case of flu last few days and still not over it.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: michaelm
...had bad case of flu last few days and still not over it.

Take care of yourself!!!

[michaelm75au]

The PM bombardment force used up ammo - they started full and were low afterwards.
The Koepang force is "bombarding" but failing to get a 'target' lock resulting in no ammo expenditure.
--
Koepang has no DL, no spotters, no enemy force in hex, so is missing target. When this happens, no ammo is being expended. I think that originally ships were expending ammo with no effect, which made bombardments fairly impotent in some cases.
Next turn, the 'target lock' is better and hits result (as shown in casualties) CA (didn't fly spotter as ground troops help with DL) and 2xDD using ammo. The CA was in the red for its main guns.
--
I have found one case where this could fail. If a ship doesn't fire ANY weapon on its first firing passes, it won't shot anymore. As ships start firing from extreme range and move in this might account for it. Extreme range has affect on 'target lock'.
A mixed TF with long ranged ships could cause the shorter range ones not to get closer fire. Probably why the PM TF of only DDs seems to work compared to the CA/DD one.
---
The above initial Bombardment of Koepang with the simple change. All but one of the DDs didn't use any ammo - bad dice for it's 'lock'.
Naval bombardment of Koepang at 68,116

Japanese Ships
CA Myoko
DD Shirakumo
DD Wakaba
DD Suzukaze

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

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 24
Port hits 2
Port supply hits 2

CA Myoko firing at Koepang
DD Shirakumo firing at Koepang
DD Wakaba firing at Koepang
DD Suzukaze firing at Koepang

[PaxMondo]

Thanks for the explanation (and I think fix) here.

Happy BDay!

[Lokasenna]

Nice detective work.

[Quixote]

Michael,
Thanks for taking the time to look at this. You should be able to tell from the number of times your beta is downloaded that your work is appreciated by many, even if most of us (me included) don't say thank you often enough. Hope you're feeling better, and that work doesn't remain too crazy for too long.