Not so good IJ combat ships (for severall reasons revealed in post)

[Hotei]

ORIGINAL: Alpha77

ORIGINAL: SheperdN7

Don't know why I see people using them in 8 ships TF's honestly makes a lot more sense to put them with a big fleet and to slug away at opposing forces.

Save the small TF's for hit and runs with CL's and DD's

Yes but the big sized TFs do not work well for IJN, as pointed out by several ppl not only in this thread. See the Kongo battle which was a big powerful TFs and they were lousy (for other reasons perhaps too). The smaller one worked indeed better as I corrected mistakes (even if the CO seems tohave no big influence to close or not). At least they dealed out some serious (gun)damage and most ships survived, contrary to the other fleet.

Well obviously I used the wrong moonlight % tho, as ppl also pointed out.
But does not matter it helped to decide to stop Mushashi and accelerate more useful stuff (CV,DD)

I wanted to stop using valuable SF ships for a while, but now the Allies (perhaps triggered by Yamato loss) bombard Tassa with good effect and as also pointed out there is not much one can do other than using SF fleets. I had 5 mini subs and a real sub there and mines. All these hit nothing....Must think about this.

Can you win and defend air superiority in the region at this time is the only thing you need to think about before making more plans.

[Alpha77]

ORIGINAL: Hotei


Can you win and defend air superiority in the region at this time is the only thing you need to think about before making more plans.

I like to have advise from experts on that one, how to get rid of the 500-600 Allied planes on Kira and Ndeni ? As can be seen the surface mission failed (ofc the plan would be as soon Allied ships are weakened to bomabrd the F out of Kira so destroy planes and airfields then yes, I believe you could say I had the upper hand. But with so many Allied planes right near there and massas of B17s I would say in the moment it is more in Allies favour. Even if the air war of attrition leans to our side (he is on the offensive so his pilot losses at least must by way higher)
Thanks[:)]

PS: I want to stay strong there to perhaps bag the stranded Allies at Guadalcanal... but I already consider to pull back some better troops from other places like Shortlands etc. I had prepped some troops for Kira too, but as the IJN failed pretty much I guess I can scratch the landing there. Cause of the enemy airpower I would not dare to land or send any ships in daylight.

[Alpha77]

ORIGINAL: mind_messing

ORIGINAL: SheperdN7

The fact that when combined, they have 18 of the most powerful guns in the game is enough for me to build them.

The problems with the Yamato's are legion, though

- How do you get them to fire on targets that are actually worth the cost?

So actually I did good, as she sank at least a US BB (ok, the coup de grace was probably the single crusier torp that hit Way better than in reality at least.[&o] But you forget to note that the ammo runs out pretty quick, I beleive in the 2nd batte phase she either did not hit or not fire any big shells anymore. She hit a lot of with her 15 and 12,7cm guns tho [>:]

I remember in my 1st campaign as IJ (vs.the AI) she sank an AM and ALK...when I checked the ammo of the big guns after that, 30-40% or so was gone for 2 tiny ships lol

[Hotei]

ORIGINAL: Alpha77

ORIGINAL: Hotei


Can you win and defend air superiority in the region at this time is the only thing you need to think about before making more plans.

I like to have advise from experts on that one, how to get rid of the 500-600 Allied planes on Kira and Ndeni ? As can be seen the surface mission failed (ofc the plan would be as soon Allied ships are weakened to bomabrd the F out of Kira so destroy planes and airfields then yes, I believe you could say I had the upper hand. But with so many Allied planes right near there and massas of B17s I would say in the moment it is more in Allies favour. Even if the air war of attrition leans to our side (he is on the offensive so his pilot losses at least must by way higher)
Thanks[:)]

PS: I want to stay strong there to perhaps bag the stranded Allies at Guadalcanal... but I already consider to pull back some better troops from other places like Shortlands etc. I had prepped some troops for Kira too, but as the IJN failed pretty much I guess I can scratch the landing there. Cause of the enemy airpower I would not dare to land or send any ships in daylight.

I am not an expert, I have never played an PBEM.
I just think you need to have a clear picture about the enemy strength, its capabilities and its intentions and then form a coherent strategy and a suitable doctrine.
You are fighting a superior enemy, you should fight him where he is the weakest, not where you have parity or worse, there you should be opportunistic and flexible in defense.

[Alpha77]

He is weakest in China and it will fall eventually [:)]

He is strongest in the south (I have not seen any major combatants anywhere for a while except there) he certainly likes to concentrate his stuff (contrary to the AI, so I needed to get used to that - this is my 1st full PBM). I have a pretty clear picture of both Ndeni and Kira (good D/L), again 500-600 planes and 20 ships at Kira and 250 or so at Ndeni. I tried to isolate the places with subs, my sub sunk an AKL recently so I am making progress [:D]

Subs are funny he started to shoot his guns at the AKL and I thought, ah a clever capt not wasting torps, but then after the AKL was crippled already by gun fire he fired a torp spread [:@][8|] Big succes: 1 VP [:D] It seems I sank CA Quincy perhaps near Ndeni 3 turns ago (2 torp hits could be enough or?)

[Hotei]

ORIGINAL: Alpha77

He is weakest in China and it will fall eventually [:)]

He is strongest in the south (I have not seen any major combatants anywhere for a while except there) he certainly likes to concentrate his stuff (contrary to the AI, so I needed to get used to that - this is my 1st full PBM). I have a pretty clear picture of both Ndeni and Kira (good D/L), again 500-600 planes and 20 ships at Kira and 250 or so at Ndeni. I tried to isolate the places with subs, my sub sunk an AKL recently so I am making progress [:D]

Subs are funny he started to shoot his guns at the AKL and I thought, ah a clever capt not wasting torps, but then after the AKL was crippled already by gun fire he fired a torp spread [:@][8|] Big succes: 1 VP [:D] It seems I sank CA Quincy perhaps near Ndeni 3 turns ago (2 torp hits could be enough or?)

You also seem to be pushing in India, dont over do it, just crushing China is a good objective if he is allowing it.
Keep a better win/loss ratio in the Solomons and dont commit valuable assets to do it.

[Hotei]

That concentration of allied assets seems almost a game killer to be honests, when you are over running Burma and India the British units should be there mostly even if Australia is also important for the empire.
I want to play a PBEM but this is one point that would kill a lot of the historical immersion that the game potentially holds.

One option would be that there are at least two allied players to create even some friction between the allies and their objectives.
British Commonwealth and DEI are a logical pairing, USA did not support the return of their colonial holdings and that is also a reason that was not a primary front for US forces.
Australia and New Zealand where in the US camp from the start but they never got the voice they wanted or felt deserving on the conduct of the war.

The Australian government's policy has been grounded on two facts. One is that
the war with Japan is not a phase of the struggle with the Axis powers, but is a
new war. The second is that Australia must go on a war footing.

Those two facts involve two lines of action - one in the direction of external
policy as to our dealings with Britain, the United States, Russia, the
Netherlands East Indies and China in the higher direction of the war in the
Pacific.

The second is the reshaping, in fact the revolutionising, of the Australian way
of life until a war footing is attained quickly, efficiently and without
question. ...

Now with equal realism, we take the view that, while the determination of
military policy is the Soviet's business, we should be able to look forward with
reason to aid from Russia against Japan. We look for a solid and impregnable
barrier of the Democracies against the three Axis Powers, and we refuse to
accept the dictum that the Pacific struggle must be treated as a subordinate
segment of the general conflict. By that it is not meant that any one of the
other theatres of war is of less importance than the Pacific, but that Australia
asks for a concerted plan evoking the greatest strength at the Democracies'
disposal, determined upon hurling Japan back.

The Australian Government, therefore, regards the Pacific struggle as primarily
one in which the United States and Australia must have the fullest say in the
direction of the democracies' fighting plan.

Without any inhibitions of any kind, I make it quite clear that Australia looks
to America, free of any pangs as to our traditional links or kinship with the
United Kingdom.

We know the problems that the United Kingdom faces. We know the constant threat
of invasion. We know the dangers of dispersal of strength, but we know too,
that Australia can go and Britain can still hold on. ...

Summed up, Australian external policy will be shaped toward obtaining Russian
aid, and working out, with the United States, as the major factor, a plan of
Pacific strategy, along with British, Chinese and Dutch forces.

http://john.curtin.edu.au/pmportal/text/00468.html


Other way is respecting the OOB and pay PP for all troops movement outside the chain of commmand.

[DRF99]

One option would be that there are at least two allied players to create even some friction between the allies and their objectives.

At the same time have two Japanese players who hate each other, hide information from each other, generally don't cooperate; one for the IJA, one for the IJN.

IJN: "Let's go to Australia"
IJA: "Screw you!"

IJN: "Let's go to India"
IJA: "Screw you!"

You can see the pattern here.

[Hotei]

ORIGINAL: DRF99

One option would be that there are at least two allied players to create even some friction between the allies and their objectives.

At the same time have two Japanese players who hate each other, hide information from each other, generally don't cooperate; one for the IJA, one for the IJN.

IJN: "Let's go to Australia"
IJA: "Screw you!"

IJN: "Let's go to India"
IJA: "Screw you!"

You can see the pattern here.

I expected that response and would be open for that but the Japanese player has to usually pay to get the extra LCUs in the game and only has one navy.

[Alpha77]

ORIGINAL: Hotei

ORIGINAL: Alpha77

He is weakest in China and it will fall eventually [:)]

He is strongest in the south (I have not seen any major combatants anywhere for a while except there) he certainly likes to concentrate his stuff (contrary to the AI, so I needed to get used to that - this is my 1st full PBM). I have a pretty clear picture of both Ndeni and Kira (good D/L), again 500-600 planes and 20 ships at Kira and 250 or so at Ndeni. I tried to isolate the places with subs, my sub sunk an AKL recently so I am making progress [:D]

Subs are funny he started to shoot his guns at the AKL and I thought, ah a clever capt not wasting torps, but then after the AKL was crippled already by gun fire he fired a torp spread [:@][8|] Big succes: 1 VP [:D] It seems I sank CA Quincy perhaps near Ndeni 3 turns ago (2 torp hits could be enough or?)

You also seem to be pushing in India, dont over do it, just crushing China is a good objective if he is allowing it.
Keep a better win/loss ratio in the Solomons and dont commit valuable assets to do it.

THANKS! I have only few naval assets there, as I saw that he sends everything to the south (even candian corvets, all RN & Aussie ships). I also suspect he uses off map movement for most convois I was not able to find much on map so far. Would be cool if we get some possibility to send eg. subs and raiders "off map" to at least disturb this a bit. Or a simulation of German/Italian disturbances. He does not even need escort off map which in reality they would need esp. vs. German subs. OTH the loss of some cargo ships even with fuel/supply will not disturb the Allies much, they have/get enough of all these. Only troop convois would be a valueable target imo (except good combat ships).

I reached my main goal in India (Calcutta and 3-4 surounding towns as perimeter), will establish defense now there. Or would it be better to try getting more ? However I find most of the nearer places have not much foghting for (HI,oil eg). Most only a bit LI and RES.

Still no solution for the south, I am outnumbered there. It perhaps was a mistake to commit 2 divs and all these ships. But as reported above he would now have the whole area otherwise and can build giant bases and then make my positions at shortlands/rabaul dangerous (would always need huge CAP but 4e get through anyway - means could not even keep ships there in port/repair. This in turn would mean, my PM position becomes outflanked and I would need to reatreat to Truk area (in 42 already). Or is this analysis wrong [&:]

However he has significant air assets in India too (just not much naval, they are in the south) I wonder are not a lot of US units also restricted (and air units) Seems he lot he can bring in 42 already.

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: Alpha77

" something is wrong with our damn torpedoes " ! We fired a lot of them and (I noted most cruisers and DD have empty torpedo magazines) but only a single one hit and exploded...

I have pics of the Yamato battles and more info what went wrong for unknown reasons and complete combat reports in my AAR if someone is interested. Link: tm.asp?m=4175198



But ok here I copy it too:



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 198 encounters mine field at Kirakira (116,140)

Japanese Ships
SS RO-63, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submarine attack near Kirakira at 116,140

Japanese Ships
SSX Ha-20, hits 9, and is sunk

Allied Ships
BB Idaho
CA Cornwall
CA San Francisco
CA Astoria
CL St. Louis
CL Dauntless
CL Hobart
DD Lang
DD O'Brien
DD Le Triomphant
DD Isaac Sweers
DD Selfridge
DD Flusser

SSX Ha-20 is sighted by escort
DD Le Triomphant fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Isaac Sweers attacking submerged sub ....
DD Isaac Sweers cannot establish contact with SSX Ha-20
DD Isaac Sweers loses contact with SSX Ha-20
DD Isaac Sweers loses contact with SSX Ha-20
DD Selfridge fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Flusser fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Isaac Sweers attacking submerged sub ....
DD Isaac Sweers loses contact with SSX Ha-20
DD Isaac Sweers loses contact with SSX Ha-20
DD Flusser attacking submerged sub ....
SSX Ha-20 forced to surface!
DD Flusser firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Le Triomphant firing on surfaced sub ....
Massive explosion on SSX Ha-20
Sub slips beneath the waves


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 257 encounters mine field at Kirakira (116,140)

Japanese Ships
SSX Ha-25, Mine hits 2, heavy damage



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Kirakira at 116,140, Range 8,000 Yards (why did the slower TF arrive first?)

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
OS2U-3 Kingfisher: 2 destroyed

Japanese Ships
BB Yamato, Shell hits 37, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Kinugasa, Shell hits 4, on fire
CL Kuma
CL Kiso, Shell hits 2
CL Oi
DD Nowaki
DD Hibiki, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Fumizuki
DD Oite
DD Hayate, Shell hits 4, heavy fires

Allied Ships
BB Idaho, Shell hits 38, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
CA Pensacola, Shell hits 1
CA Salt Lake City, Shell hits 2
CA Astoria, Shell hits 6, on fire
CA San Francisco, Shell hits 8, heavy fires
CA Australia, Shell hits 1
CA Cornwall
CL Leander
CL De Ruyter, Shell hits 1
CL Tromp, Shell hits 1
CL Hobart, Shell hits 2
CL Dauntless, Shell hits 4, on fire
CL St. Louis, Shell hits 1
DD O'Brien, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Henley
DD Jarvis
DD McCall, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Benham
DD Lang
DD Stack, Shell hits 4, heavy fires
DD Wilson, Shell hits 1
DD Flusser, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Selfridge
DD Isaac Sweers, Shell hits 4
DD Le Triomphant


Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 67% moonlight: 12,000 yards
Range closes to 20,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 20,000 yards
Range closes to 14,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 8,000 yards
Kingman, F.V. crosses the 'T'
BB Yamato engages BB Idaho at 8,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages BB Idaho at 8,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA San Francisco at 8,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA Astoria at 8,000 yards
BB Idaho engages DD Hayate at 8,000 yards
BB Idaho engages DD Oite at 8,000 yards
DD Fumizuki engages BB Idaho at 8,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CL Hobart at 8,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CL Tromp at 8,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CL De Ruyter at 8,000 yards
DD Hibiki engages DD Isaac Sweers at 8,000 yards
DD Hibiki engages DD Wilson at 8,000 yards
DD Jarvis engages DD Hayate at 8,000 yards
DD Hibiki engages DD O'Brien at 8,000 yards
Range closes to 4,000 yards
BB Yamato engages BB Idaho at 4,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages CA Cornwall at 4,000 yards
CL Oi engages BB Idaho at 4,000 yards
BB Idaho engages CL Kiso at 4,000 yards
BB Idaho engages CL Kuma at 4,000 yards
CA Salt Lake City engages DD Hayate at 4,000 yards
DD Wilson engages DD Oite at 4,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CL St. Louis at 4,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CL Dauntless at 4,000 yards
DD Nowaki engages DD Stack at 4,000 yards
BB Idaho engages BB Yamato at 4,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages BB Idaho at 4,000 yards
BB Idaho engages CL Oi at 4,000 yards
CL Kiso engages BB Idaho at 4,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA Astoria at 4,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA Salt Lake City at 4,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA Pensacola at 4,000 yards
CL St. Louis engages DD Fumizuki at 4,000 yards
DD Hibiki engages DD O'Brien at 4,000 yards
DD Stack engages DD Nowaki at 4,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CL Tromp at 4,000 yards
DD Benham engages DD Fumizuki at 4,000 yards
DD McCall engages DD Oite at 4,000 yards
DD Hibiki engages DD O'Brien at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
BB Idaho sunk by BB Yamato at 2,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA Australia at 2,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA San Francisco at 2,000 yards
DD Stack engages DD Oite at 2,000 yards
DD Fumizuki engages DD Isaac Sweers at 2,000 yards
CL Dauntless engages BB Yamato at 2,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CL Hobart at 2,000 yards
CL Oi engages CL De Ruyter at 2,000 yards
DD Hibiki engages DD Isaac Sweers at 2,000 yards
DD Lang engages DD Hibiki at 2,000 yards
DD Benham engages DD Oite at 2,000 yards
DD Hayate engages DD McCall at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 3,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA Cornwall at 3,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages CA Australia at 3,000 yards
CA San Francisco engages CL Oi at 3,000 yards
CL Kiso engages CA San Francisco at 3,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA Salt Lake City at 3,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA Pensacola at 3,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CL St. Louis at 3,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CL Dauntless at 3,000 yards
DD Stack engages DD Hibiki at 3,000 yards
CL Tromp engages BB Yamato at 3,000 yards
DD Le Triomphant engages DD Oite at 3,000 yards
DD Hibiki engages DD Flusser at 3,000 yards
DD Stack engages DD Hayate at 3,000 yards
Range increases to 4,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA Cornwall at 4,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages CA San Francisco at 4,000 yards
CL Oi engages CA San Francisco at 4,000 yards
CA San Francisco engages CL Kiso at 4,000 yards
CL Kuma engages CA Salt Lake City at 4,000 yards
DD Oite engages DD Le Triomphant at 4,000 yards
DD Fumizuki engages DD O'Brien at 4,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CL Hobart at 4,000 yards
DD Stack engages DD Nowaki at 4,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CL Leander at 4,000 yards
DD Le Triomphant engages DD Nowaki at 4,000 yards
DD Hayate engages DD Isaac Sweers at 4,000 yards
DD Hibiki engages DD Stack at 4,000 yards
DD Jarvis engages DD Fumizuki at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA San Francisco at 3,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA Australia at 3,000 yards
CL Oi engages CA San Francisco at 3,000 yards
CL Kiso engages CA San Francisco at 3,000 yards
CA San Francisco engages CL Kuma at 3,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA Pensacola at 3,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CL St. Louis at 3,000 yards
DD Fumizuki engages DD Jarvis at 3,000 yards
DD Hibiki engages DD McCall at 3,000 yards
DD Nowaki engages CL Tromp at 3,000 yards
DD Hayate engages DD Wilson at 3,000 yards
DD Hayate engages DD Henley at 3,000 yards
Range increases to 6,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA San Francisco at 6,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages CA Australia at 6,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA San Francisco at 6,000 yards
CL Kuma engages CA San Francisco at 6,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA Pensacola at 6,000 yards
DD Oite engages DD Benham at 6,000 yards
DD Fumizuki engages DD McCall at 6,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CL Hobart at 6,000 yards
DD Nowaki engages DD Stack at 6,000 yards
DD Hayate engages DD Le Triomphant at 6,000 yards
DD Selfridge engages DD Hayate at 6,000 yards
DD Fumizuki engages DD Flusser at 6,000 yards
DD Benham engages DD Hayate at 6,000 yards
Range increases to 9,000 yards
CA Australia engages BB Yamato at 9,000 yards
CL Oi engages CA Pensacola at 9,000 yards
CL Kiso engages CA San Francisco at 9,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA Salt Lake City at 9,000 yards
CA Pensacola engages DD Hayate at 9,000 yards
DD Oite engages DD Flusser at 9,000 yards
DD McCall engages DD Fumizuki at 9,000 yards
CL Hobart engages DD Hibiki at 9,000 yards
DD Nowaki engages DD McCall at 9,000 yards
CL Kuma engages CL De Ruyter at 9,000 yards
DD Nowaki engages DD Le Triomphant at 9,000 yards
DD Flusser engages DD Hayate at 9,000 yards
DD Hibiki engages DD Wilson at 9,000 yards
DD Lang engages DD Hibiki at 9,000 yards
DD Oite engages DD Jarvis at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA San Francisco at 12,000 yards
CA San Francisco engages CA Kinugasa at 12,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA San Francisco at 12,000 yards
CL Kuma engages CA San Francisco at 12,000 yards
DD Stack engages DD Hayate at 12,000 yards
DD Oite engages DD Stack at 12,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CL Hobart at 12,000 yards
DD O'Brien engages DD Nowaki at 12,000 yards
DD Stack engages DD Nowaki at 12,000 yards
DD Fumizuki engages DD Benham at 12,000 yards
DD Hayate engages DD Jarvis at 12,000 yards
DD Henley engages DD Oite at 12,000 yards
Task forces break off...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Kirakira at 116,140, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Jintsu, Shell hits 6, on fire
CL Yubari
DD Mochizuki, Shell hits 1
DD Tachikaze
DD Fuyo
DD Yugao

Allied Ships
CA Pensacola
CA Salt Lake City
CA Astoria, heavy fires
CA San Francisco, Shell hits 1, heavy fires
CA Australia
CA Cornwall
CL Leander
CL De Ruyter
CL Tromp, on fire
CL Hobart
CL Dauntless, on fire
CL St. Louis, on fire
DD O'Brien, on fire
DD Henley
DD Jarvis
DD McCall, heavy fires
DD Benham
DD Lang
DD Stack, Shell hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Wilson, on fire
DD Flusser, heavy fires
DD Selfridge
DD Isaac Sweers, on fire
DD Le Triomphant


Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 67% moonlight: 12,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
Range closes to 22,000 yards...
Range closes to 20,000 yards...
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
Range closes to 16,000 yards...
Range closes to 14,000 yards...
Range closes to 12,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 12,000 yards
Allies open fire on surprised Japanese ships at 12,000 yards (LOL)
CA Cornwall fires at CL Jintsu at 12,000 yards
CA San Francisco fires at CL Jintsu at 12,000 yards
CA San Francisco fires at CL Jintsu at 12,000 yards
CA Astoria fires at CL Jintsu at 12,000 yards
CL Dauntless fires at CL Jintsu at 12,000 yards
CL Leander fires at CL Jintsu at 12,000 yards
DD Flusser fires at DD Mochizuki at 12,000 yards
DD Henley fires at DD Mochizuki at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards
CA San Francisco engages CL Yubari at 11,000 yards
CL Jintsu engages CA San Francisco at 11,000 yards
DD Mochizuki engages DD Stack at 11,000 yards
DD Mochizuki engages DD Jarvis at 11,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages CL Jintsu at 11,000 yards
CA San Francisco engages CL Jintsu at 11,000 yards
CA San Francisco engages DD Yugao at 11,000 yards
DD Stack engages DD Fuyo at 11,000 yards
DD Fuyo engages DD Benham at 11,000 yards
DD Mochizuki engages DD McCall at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards
CL Jintsu engages CA Cornwall at 10,000 yards
CL Jintsu engages CA San Francisco at 10,000 yards
DD Flusser engages DD Fuyo at 10,000 yards
CA Salt Lake City engages CL Jintsu at 10,000 yards
DD Mochizuki engages DD Henley at 10,000 yards
CL Jintsu engages CL St. Louis at 10,000 yards
DD Mochizuki engages DD Le Triomphant at 10,000 yards
DD Fuyo engages DD McCall at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
CL Yubari engages CA San Francisco at 8,000 yards
CL Jintsu engages CA Australia at 8,000 yards
CA San Francisco engages CL Jintsu at 8,000 yards
CL Jintsu engages CA Astoria at 8,000 yards
CA Salt Lake City engages CL Jintsu at 8,000 yards
DD Stack engages DD Mochizuki at 8,000 yards
CL Jintsu engages CL St. Louis at 8,000 yards
CL Jintsu engages CL Leander at 8,000 yards
DD Selfridge engages DD Mochizuki at 8,000 yards
DD Mochizuki engages DD Stack at 8,000 yards
DD Henley engages DD Mochizuki at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 11,000 yards
CL Yubari engages CA Cornwall at 11,000 yards
CL Jintsu engages CA Australia at 11,000 yards
CA San Francisco engages DD Yugao at 11,000 yards
DD Stack engages DD Fuyo at 11,000 yards
CL Jintsu engages CA Salt Lake City at 11,000 yards
DD Jarvis engages DD Mochizuki at 11,000 yards
CL Jintsu engages CL Leander at 11,000 yards
Kozai, Torazo orders Japanese TF to disengage
Range increases to 12,000 yards
CL Yubari engages CA San Francisco at 12,000 yards
CA Australia engages CL Jintsu at 12,000 yards
DD Yugao engages DD Stack at 12,000 yards
CA Astoria engages CL Jintsu at 12,000 yards
DD Stack engages DD Tachikaze at 12,000 yards
DD McCall engages DD Mochizuki at 12,000 yards
CL Leander engages CL Jintsu at 12,000 yards
DD Fuyo engages DD Jarvis at 12,000 yards
Range increases to 13,000 yards
CL Jintsu engages CA Cornwall at 13,000 yards
CA San Francisco engages CL Jintsu at 13,000 yards
DD McCall engages DD Yugao at 13,000 yards
CA Salt Lake City engages DD Tachikaze at 13,000 yards
DD Mochizuki engages DD Stack at 13,000 yards
CL Jintsu engages CL St. Louis at 13,000 yards
CL Hobart engages CL Jintsu at 13,000 yards
DD Henley engages DD Mochizuki at 13,000 yards
DD Tachikaze engages DD O'Brien at 13,000 yards
Task forces break off...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Kirakira at 116,140

Japanese Ships
SSX Ha-16

Allied Ships
DD Henley
CA Cornwall
CA Australia
CA San Francisco, on fire
CA Salt Lake City
CL Tromp
CL Leander
DD McCall
DD Selfridge
DD Flusser, on fire
DD Wilson
DD Lang

SSX Ha-16 launches 2 torpedoes at DD Henley
Ha-16 bottoming out ....
DD Selfridge fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Flusser fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Wilson fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Lang fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Flusser fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Wilson fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Flusser fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Wilson fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Kirakira at 116,140, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Yamato, Shell hits 40, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Oite
DD Hayate, Shell hits 9, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CA Pensacola
CA Salt Lake City
CA San Francisco, on fire
CA Australia
CA Cornwall
CL Leander
CL De Ruyter
CL Tromp
CL Hobart
DD Henley
DD Jarvis, Shell hits 2, heavy fires
DD McCall, on fire
DD Benham
DD Lang
DD Wilson
DD Flusser, on fire
DD Selfridge

Improved night sighting under 78% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 78% moonlight: 12,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
Range closes to 22,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 22,000 yards
Range closes to 20,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 20,000 yards
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
Range closes to 16,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 16,000 yards
Range closes to 14,000 yards...
Range closes to 12,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 12,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 12,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA Cornwall at 12,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA Australia at 12,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA San Francisco at 12,000 yards
BB Yamato engages DD Lang at 12,000 yards
BB Yamato engages DD Jarvis at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards
DD Jarvis engages DD Hayate at 9,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CL Leander at 9,000 yards
BB Yamato engages DD Selfridge at 9,000 yards
DD Wilson engages DD Hayate at 9,000 yards
Range closes to 6,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA Australia at 6,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CL Leander at 6,000 yards
DD Jarvis engages DD Hayate at 6,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA San Francisco at 3,000 yards
DD Selfridge engages DD Hayate at 3,000 yards
DD Selfridge engages DD Hayate at 3,000 yards
DD Benham engages DD Hayate at 3,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA Cornwall at 3,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA Australia at 3,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA San Francisco at 3,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA Salt Lake City at 3,000 yards
DD Hayate engages DD Lang at 3,000 yards
Range increases to 4,000 yards
CA Australia engages DD Hayate at 4,000 yards
DD Flusser engages DD Hayate at 4,000 yards
Range increases to 5,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA San Francisco at 5,000 yards
CA Australia engages DD Hayate at 5,000 yards
DD Oite engages DD Jarvis at 5,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA Pensacola at 5,000 yards
Range closes to 4,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA Cornwall at 4,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA Australia at 4,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA Pensacola at 4,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CL De Ruyter at 4,000 yards
DD Oite engages DD Benham at 4,000 yards
DD McCall engages DD Hayate at 4,000 yards
DD Jarvis engages DD Oite at 4,000 yards
DD McCall engages DD Oite at 4,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA Salt Lake City at 4,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA Pensacola at 4,000 yards
DD Jarvis engages DD Oite at 4,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA Australia at 4,000 yards
Range increases to 7,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA Cornwall at 7,000 yards
DD Jarvis engages DD Oite at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 8,000 yards
DD Selfridge engages DD Oite at 8,000 yards
Japanese Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Kirakira at 116,140, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
E13A1 Jake: 6 destroyed

Japanese Ships
BB Yamato, Shell hits 48, and is sunk
DD Oite

Allied Ships
CA Pensacola
CA Salt Lake City
CA Australia
CA Cornwall
CL Leander
CL De Ruyter
CL Tromp
CL Hobart
DD Henley
DD Benham
DD Lang, Shell hits 1
DD Selfridge

Improved night sighting under 78% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 78% moonlight: 12,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
Range closes to 22,000 yards...
Range closes to 20,000 yards...
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
Range closes to 16,000 yards...
Range closes to 14,000 yards...
Range closes to 12,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 12,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 12,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA Cornwall at 12,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA Cornwall at 12,000 yards
CA Australia engages DD Oite at 12,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CL Leander at 12,000 yards
BB Yamato engages DD Benham at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards
DD Lang engages DD Oite at 9,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA Salt Lake City at 9,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA Pensacola at 9,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CL Hobart at 9,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CL De Ruyter at 9,000 yards
BB Yamato engages DD Selfridge at 9,000 yards
DD Lang engages DD Oite at 9,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA Cornwall at 7,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA Australia at 7,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA Salt Lake City at 7,000 yards
BB Yamato engages DD Henley at 7,000 yards
Range closes to 6,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA Cornwall at 6,000 yards
DD Oite engages DD Benham at 6,000 yards
DD Henley engages DD Oite at 6,000 yards
Range increases to 7,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA Cornwall at 7,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA Australia at 7,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA Pensacola at 7,000 yards
DD Oite engages DD Benham at 7,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA Cornwall at 7,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA Australia at 7,000 yards
BB Yamato sunk by CA Pensacola at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 9,000 yards
DD Benham engages DD Oite at 9,000 yards
Japanese Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...

Going to break it down to why I think your torpedoes did not do well. First good moon light and his radar spotted your TF at 20,000 yards meaning most of your torps were probably fired off at long range thus fewer hits. Your first TF had the T crossed on it thus less than optimal conditions for using torpedoes. You second TF was discovered at long range by radar then surprised-once again less than optimal conditions for torpedoes. If you had gone in on a darker night I suspect you would have done much better as his big mistake was using a TF that was way too large at night combined with a slow BB that would have made the whole TF more vulnerable to torpedoes. And then sometimes you just roll the dice bad.

Nice for him to trade Idaho for Yamato but if he had gone in with three eight ship TFs and left Idaho at home, he might very well had destroyed you.

[Alpha77]

ORIGINAL: DRF99

One option would be that there are at least two allied players to create even some friction between the allies and their objectives.

At the same time have two Japanese players who hate each other, hide information from each other, generally don't cooperate; one for the IJA, one for the IJN.

IJN: "Let's go to Australia"
IJA: "Screw you!"

IJN: "Let's go to India"
IJA: "Screw you!"

You can see the pattern here.

You have, this is exactly what I was thinking about for some time and the 2 positions did not want to co-operate in my mind. So I took a middleground, yes India but only smaller diversion in north aussie land. Well I do not hide information from myself I believe tho. What is clear that one of the ways to simulate the un-effective research and building assets for 2 different arms (eg. they could have concentrated on the Zero for both land and CVs, instead having Oscar too). You need more stripping of IJ factories, less resources at start, much less cargo ships with lower capacity and disable influencing research and building chosen by the player.

[Hotei]

ORIGINAL: Alpha77

ORIGINAL: Hotei

ORIGINAL: Alpha77

He is weakest in China and it will fall eventually [:)]

He is strongest in the south (I have not seen any major combatants anywhere for a while except there) he certainly likes to concentrate his stuff (contrary to the AI, so I needed to get used to that - this is my 1st full PBM). I have a pretty clear picture of both Ndeni and Kira (good D/L), again 500-600 planes and 20 ships at Kira and 250 or so at Ndeni. I tried to isolate the places with subs, my sub sunk an AKL recently so I am making progress [:D]

Subs are funny he started to shoot his guns at the AKL and I thought, ah a clever capt not wasting torps, but then after the AKL was crippled already by gun fire he fired a torp spread [:@][8|] Big succes: 1 VP [:D] It seems I sank CA Quincy perhaps near Ndeni 3 turns ago (2 torp hits could be enough or?)

You also seem to be pushing in India, dont over do it, just crushing China is a good objective if he is allowing it.
Keep a better win/loss ratio in the Solomons and dont commit valuable assets to do it.

THANKS! I have only few naval assets there, as I saw that he sends everything to the south (even candian corvets, all RN & Aussie ships). I also suspect he uses off map movement for most convois I was not able to find much on map so far. Would be cool if we get some possibility to send eg. subs and raiders "off map" to at least disturb this a bit. Or a simulation of German/Italian disturbances. He does not even need escort off map which in reality they would need esp. vs. German subs. OTH the loss of some cargo ships even with fuel/supply will not disturb the Allies much, they have/get enough of all these. Only troop convois would be a valueable target imo (except good combat ships).

I reached my main goal in India (Calcutta and 3-4 surounding towns as perimeter), will establish defense now there. Or would it be better to try getting more ? However I find most of the nearer places have not much foghting for (HI,oil eg). Most only a bit LI and RES.

Still no solution for the south, I am outnumbered there. It perhaps was a mistake to commit 2 divs and all these ships. But as reported above he would now have the whole area otherwise and can build giant bases and then make my positions at shortlands/rabaul dangerous (would always need huge CAP but 4e get through anyway - means could not even keep ships there in port/repair. This in turn would mean, my PM position becomes outflanked and I would need to reatreat to Truk area (in 42 already). Or is this analysis wrong [&:]

However he has significant air assets in India too (just not much naval, they are in the south) I wonder are not a lot of US units also restricted (and air units) Seems he lot he can bring in 42 already.

You should look for the convoys, now you could even sink them with surface assets if he has everything in the Solomons.
If the loss ratio is too high fall back and see what he does, keep his LOC under pressure and strike if he overreaches.

If he does not fight for India at all then naturally you should take it out, if that would mean winning the game.

[Alpha77]

ORIGINAL: crsutton


Going to break it down to why I think your torpedoes did not do well. First good moon light and his radar spotted your TF at 20,000 yards meaning most of your torps were probably fired off at long range thus fewer hits. Your first TF had the T crossed on it thus less than optimal conditions for using torpedoes. You second TF was discovered at long range by radar then surprised-once again less than optimal conditions for torpedoes. If you had gone in on a darker night I suspect you would have done much better as his big mistake was using a TF that was way too large at night combined with a slow BB that would have made the whole TF more vulnerable to torpedoes. And then sometimes you just roll the dice bad.

Nice for him to trade Idaho for Yamato but if he had gone in with three eight ship TFs and left Idaho at home, he might very well had destroyed you.

Thanks, well this is why I send in the small recon TF (faster!) but it arrived later. As written above despite the carnage going on with the main fleet battle, the small - recon TF which arrived for whatever reason after the slow TF was still surprised (not possible in reality, as all the fires, gunflashes etc. could seen from kilometers in the night, also I wonder why has main fleet not even notified small fleet of the enemy presence. Did IJ ships not have radios (I know they were bad and failed often... but we can assume ONE radio on all the ships should have worked sending out "WARNING...engaging enemy ships numbers xy, types xy, position zc.." so how could 2nd TF still be surprised ?

Yes I it is true I did not look at the moonlight value. My mistake, but I had to send back the ships then burning more fuel. So I decided to give it a go (esp. as these ships were from the bad list mostly) The jump off position at Tassa is far from safe for ships now (with also British planes present which have good exp and torpedoes right ? Also Avengers the Allies now have). Allied planes mostly get through a CAP imho, so I could have lost/damaged the ships if I had waited. Or needed to move them back, then in again etc. It was a deliberate gamble, to see if Yamato is worth something yes she is, but as written above better have good CAs then her Also my fuel supply at shortland is not THAT huge, if Yamato needed to refuel eg. But she is gone, problem solved. I will not use more BBs - they will become hotels for admiral at a safer place (like Yamato in reality)[;)]

[Hotei]

ORIGINAL: Alpha77

ORIGINAL: crsutton


Going to break it down to why I think your torpedoes did not do well. First good moon light and his radar spotted your TF at 20,000 yards meaning most of your torps were probably fired off at long range thus fewer hits. Your first TF had the T crossed on it thus less than optimal conditions for using torpedoes. You second TF was discovered at long range by radar then surprised-once again less than optimal conditions for torpedoes. If you had gone in on a darker night I suspect you would have done much better as his big mistake was using a TF that was way too large at night combined with a slow BB that would have made the whole TF more vulnerable to torpedoes. And then sometimes you just roll the dice bad.

Nice for him to trade Idaho for Yamato but if he had gone in with three eight ship TFs and left Idaho at home, he might very well had destroyed you.

Thanks, well this is why I send in the small recon TF (faster!) but it arrived later. As written above despite the carnage going on with the main fleet battle, the small - recon TF which arrived for whatever reason after the slow TF was still surprised (not possible in reality, as all the fires, gunflashes etc. could seen from kilometers in the night, also I wonder why has main fleet not even notified small fleet of the enemy presence. Did IJ ships not have radios (I know they were bad and failed often... but we can assume ONE radio on all the ships should have worked sending out "WARNING...engaging enemy ships numbers xy, types xy, position zc.." so how could 2nd TF still be surprised ?

Yes I it is true I did not look at the moonlight value. My mistake, but I had to send back the ships then burning more fuel. So I decided to give it a go (esp. as these ships were from the bad list mostly)

Now you are entering game engine limitations and over analysing it and actually it is totally possible a separate TF could get jumped on, especially at night.

Someone posted that the TF with the lower TF number will engage first, so micromanage those when you want them to fight in a specific order.
This needs some forward planning as you usually buy a commander for an important TF, planning beforehand the TF compositions,their roles and commanders is your doctrine for fighting battles in different conditions and against different enemies.
These would labeled Top Secret in real life and could be here also to a degree.

[Alpha77]

Yes looking for convois sunk some ships, but small Brit CV and Wasp surprised me 20 hexes east of Ndeni. My mistake I thought he had at least 1 or 2 bigger RN ships in their historical locations near Ceylon etc. But as I said it turned out every Brit ship there. We lost Junyo for 1 torp hit on the Brit and 3 bomb hits on Wasp (both not showing "heavy damage"). As I said IJ CAP is just too weak vs. the fast and experienced Allied flyboys. I learned my lesson now - the AI just does not intecept your missions or concentrates so much in 10% of the map. My mistake no doubt, PBM is a learning curve.

Yes you are also right with the commanders, I chose one with esp. LOW AGGRO but good naval for Yamato (and complete TF) so he tries to stand back and bring bigger guns out of reach of enemy ships to bear (our range is longer than 8 and 14 inch). Did not work looked like Yamato charged in Samurai fashion (perhaps Japanese code of honour and warrior spirit simulated in game, whcih leaves you open mouthed for the detail AE delivers [&o])

[Hotei]

ORIGINAL: Alpha77

Yes looking for convois sunk some ships, but small Brit CV and Wasp surprised me 20 hexes east of Ndeni. My mistake I thought he had at least 1 or 2 bigger RN ships in their historical locations near Ceylon etc. But as I said it turned out every Brit ship there. We lost Junyo for 1 torp hit on the Brit and 3 bomb hits on Wasp (both not showing "heavy damage"). As I said IJ CAP is just too weak vs. the fast and experienced Allied flyboys. I learned my lesson now - the AI just does not intecept your missions or concentrates so much in 10% of the map. My mistake no doubt, PBM is a learning curve.

Yes you are also right with the commanders, I chose one with esp. LOW AGGRO but good naval for Yamato (and complete TF) so he tries to stand back and bring bigger guns out of reach of enemy ships to bear (our range is longer than 8 and 14 inch). Did not work looked like Yamato charged in Samurai fashion (perhaps Japanese code of honour and warrior spirit simulated in game, whcih leaves you open mouthed for the detail AE delivers [&o])

Remember the crew experience also, what was it for Junyo and Yamato?

[Alpha77]

ORIGINAL: Hotei

ORIGINAL: Alpha77

Yes looking for convois sunk some ships, but small Brit CV and Wasp surprised me 20 hexes east of Ndeni. My mistake I thought he had at least 1 or 2 bigger RN ships in their historical locations near Ceylon etc. But as I said it turned out every Brit ship there. We lost Junyo for 1 torp hit on the Brit and 3 bomb hits on Wasp (both not showing "heavy damage"). As I said IJ CAP is just too weak vs. the fast and experienced Allied flyboys. I learned my lesson now - the AI just does not intecept your missions or concentrates so much in 10% of the map. My mistake no doubt, PBM is a learning curve.

Yes you are also right with the commanders, I chose one with esp. LOW AGGRO but good naval for Yamato (and complete TF) so he tries to stand back and bring bigger guns out of reach of enemy ships to bear (our range is longer than 8 and 14 inch). Did not work looked like Yamato charged in Samurai fashion (perhaps Japanese code of honour and warrior spirit simulated in game, whcih leaves you open mouthed for the detail AE delivers [&o])

Remember the crew experience also, what was it for Junyo and Yamato?

Junyo no idea. Yamato I believe in the 70ties, check how she arrives, I had one (night?)battle with her before I believe, she gained 2-3 more points I believe than with what she arrived. I thought in the 70ties is quite good. However I remember in the AI game I had a CL with 95 or so. Totally awesome what you can do to the AI with quick small TFs

But anyway, battle is over. I made mistakes, Yamato helped to sink a bigger Allied ship - I mean bigger than an AKL or AM for example (in reality not I believe?) so one must be content with the result. British ships have good exp too, so the gap was not that great I guess anyway (half the enemy were British,Dutch, Aussies with better exp then the US)

EDIT; sorry for my lax answer, this forum, matrixgames and the people are awesome, so here a pic. Turns out only 70 night exp. See also the cap´s values (low agr, good nav): Seeing the pic again, I realize I also lost lots of fuel with her and a very good floatplane unit (should have loaded planes off and only refueled what I needed for the short range mission and back to Shortlands before Harakiri)...

And HOTEI, you were right, the Yamato TF has a lower number than the recon TF (!) So i need to pay attention to these numbers in the future. THANKS.

[Alpha77]

See here masses of planes at Ndeni (plus ca. 150 more at Kira), see also all my subs trying to intercept some convoi going there. We perhaps sank CA Quincy with one of these:



Recon also said, ca. 250+ ships at Ndeni (as I said he likes to put most at one place LOL)..

[witpqs]

Yamato is the biggest ship in the game. How can she sink a bigger Allied ship?