Allied Carrier task force with PBEM

[Marshall]

My first PBEM game,
as it is totally different then fighting the AI, I had a mind breaker last evening about the Carrier task force setup in a PBEM game.
Should I stick to the speed as I do with the AI? or use BB for heave AA, as my opponent took the manila opening, all my BB's are in tact at PH.
Just trying to get these pesky Jap submarines out of the PH area somehow.

In my AI games I always go for the CA and DD escorts, fast moving, however in PBEM game it might be more rewarding to have a huge BB fleet with the carriers in 42 for AA protection.
But they are slow
any tips here?

My opponent sunk almost all my ships around the Phils, and is now landing at Kendari. this PBEM is making me lose sleep [>:][>:]

Never had a Manilla variant done to me ever, so im confused as my first allied moves was always to extract the most valuable CU's and ships and setup camp in Australia.
no such thing possible now everything afloat has been sunk by the imperial naval in the Central Pacific.

this is besides the question of the carriers

[dr.hal]

Hi Marshall. Glad you are enjoying things even at the expense of your sleep! As for what to do with those BBs. First and foremost I would never ever stick those slow fat targets with the CVs. That's asking for trouble, no........ that's begging for trouble. Those BBs have the older weapons systems and their AA fire might seem high, but it is of low altitude and not as effective as it would seem. So I would save those BBs for a rainy day.... get them through their January upgrade and then see how things stand. But that's just me. Hal

[ny59giants]

You can check out my AAR as I have just posted what mine looks like in May '42. I usually have a CV, 2 to 3 CA/CLs, and 8 DDs. CVs get priority on DDs and then those fast AOs (spd 18) in my CV Replenishment TF. Transports get the old DDs from the SRA and in USA that you will need to convert over to APDs (takes 24 days). They have 6 ASW devices each and are your best ASW platforms for the first 6 months (non-British).

[Lowpe]

Just leave the slow BBs in port -- they are incredible torpedo magnets. Save them for shore bombardments/amphibious invasions later.

You should train their float plane pilots up on recon and then ASW -- their starting skill is low, really low.

You took a pounding in Manila, but on the other hand your Catalina fleet is intact, your shipyard at Pearl is empty, and you have lots of planes, fighters, bombers at Pearl that you normally wouldn't have. It is not all bad!

Good luck, have fun, and remember the Allies can take a terrific pounding early on and still win.

PS: I would be tempted to use the the BBs in a shore bombardment of northern Japan aka Lokasenna's recent example...they could really do some damage to the unprepared Japanese player. But no hurry, you don' want to give the IJN subs a target around Pearl this early.

[Mike McCreery]

Hi Marshall,

The trick with your carriers is not to need AAA protection. If you are needing it then you are in the wrong place.

Everybody is quite right about the slowness of the BB's. They are torpedo magnets, slow you down and compete for valuable fuel.

They are great for bombardments!!

[Marshall]

thank you all for the advice
it is my first pbem game, so I will hold them back and let them be upgraded in januari
I will take the advioe on the DD and the APD upgrades
The float planes and fighters are great to have indeed, I am moving planes to Nouma area and trying to build up north Aus with whatever I can still salvage from the DEI.

the seas around Phil are like a huge swimming pool, so many ships sunk there, it must be crowded with rubber rescue boats

[Mike McCreery]

ORIGINAL: Marshall

thank you all for the advice
it is my first pbem game, so I will hold them back and let them be upgraded in januari
I will take the advioe on the DD and the APD upgrades
The float planes and fighters are great to have indeed, I am moving planes to Nouma area and trying to build up north Aus with whatever I can still salvage from the DEI.

the seas around Phil are like a huge swimming pool, so many ships sunk there, it must be crowded with rubber rescue boats

One more bit of advice. Expect your enemy to move much farther and faster than the AI. Expect to lose a lot more ground than you want to. If the Japanese player wants he can take Noumea and Suva no problem. In the game J3 is playing he has almost taken the entire SE pacific.

You need to watch what your opponent is doing and try to react to it as he will be much more coordinated than then AI.

Oh, and have fun!!!

[Lecivius]

Agreed. A good place to fortify is the Line Islands. It's further back than historical, but this ain't history [;)] It's closer to your supply lines, and a LONG way from his. Consider Fiji as a way station as well.

[dr.hal]

One thing to keep in mind is the fact that the old BBs are not completely useless. Once upgraded you can move a few up to the Alaska area and they can play havic with any Japanese move up in that area (unless they commit a CV). The trick is to use these old slow targets (or magnets as some have said) where you have air cover and they can do some good (however protect them with your old four pipers). In one of my recent games the California sank two Jap BBs (and only suffered moderate damage to herself) defending the islands up north.

[rook749]

ORIGINAL: Marshall

My first PBEM game,
as it is totally different then fighting the AI, I had a mind breaker last evening about the Carrier task force setup in a PBEM game.
Should I stick to the speed as I do with the AI? or use BB for heave AA, as my opponent took the manila opening, all my BB's are in tact at PH.
Just trying to get these pesky Jap submarines out of the PH area somehow.

In my AI games I always go for the CA and DD escorts, fast moving, however in PBEM game it might be more rewarding to have a huge BB fleet with the carriers in 42 for AA protection.
But they are slow
any tips here?

My opponent sunk almost all my ships around the Phils, and is now landing at Kendari. this PBEM is making me lose sleep [>:][>:]

Never had a Manilla variant done to me ever, so im confused as my first allied moves was always to extract the most valuable CU's and ships and setup camp in Australia.
no such thing possible now everything afloat has been sunk by the imperial naval in the Central Pacific.

this is besides the question of the carriers

I would check out the advice people gave me at various points in my AAR (in sig below). I am also a 1st time PBEM with WiTP:AE and a lot of little and big things people pointed out to me may also help you. The best advice I can give you is to decided on your defense points and then move heaven and earth to get at least a division worth of units to each. An Allied Division plus parts, with supply 75 fighter, mines and PT boats will usually be ignored by the Japanese if its not in his main line of advance and gives you a point to counter attack from in late '42/Early 43. Even if he digs it out you will be trading for time and P-39s/P-40s for good carrier pilots.