I need all the help I can get 1st ever PBEM Guadal Campaign (J)

[Derfflinger13]

Turn 5 Back

August 11th 1942
Another quiet day with no sightings of the US CVs. My Subs are near enough in position so any movement due south of GC should be picked up. (Any experiences US players care to admit their favoured approach into GC?)
Some SCs find SS38 but fail to find her.
CVs arrive in 10 days. 5x CAs and Mutsu arrive in 6 days. I suppose I should use Mustu as a floating oil storage tanker at Rabaul?

Nervous that I've yet to get eyes on the US carriers... He knows when my CVs will arrive so perhaps he will try to ambush them before they get in range of Rabaul air cover? Would US carries take the even odds against my 2x CV and 1x CVL? I know US carriers could take more planes...

[BBfanboy]

US CVs and transports will be operating primarily between GC and Espiritu Santo or Noumea. If there is no sign of the transports it is highly likely the CVs retired with them to replenish and to protect them. This is the time your CAs should have dashed to GC to bombard or to sink any shipping there. You may have waited to long, or you might have a few days left to do that. You do not want to let his troops develop forts, so bombard the airfields - he can't build forts until the airfields are repaired.

[GetAssista]

ORIGINAL: Derfflinger13
Nervous that I've yet to get eyes on the US carriers... He knows when my CVs will arrive so perhaps he will try to ambush them before they get in range of Rabaul air cover? Would US carries take the even odds against my 2x CV and 1x CVL? I know US carriers could take more planes...

Classical trick to use for CV awareness is to check detection levels on your subs. CVs are usually flying a lot of NavSearch, and spot your subs in the process. So if you disperse subs into the area you can guess pretty ok if there are CVs present and approximately where. Just put thoose subs away from major Allied bases so that land based search from short legged planes not interfere. Catalinas can go long but he does not have many.

You can shift land based LRCAP cover for your CVs from Truk to Rabaul together with moving CVTF. But do not fret too much about ambush (and do not use too much LRCAP, it is not that effective and accumulated pilot fatigue quickly). Your pilots and planes are pretty good, better than Allied ones (at least in stock scenario), it is risky for him to fight your non-depleted group far from his bases

[Derfflinger13]

ORIGINAL: GetAssista

ORIGINAL: Derfflinger13
Nervous that I've yet to get eyes on the US carriers... He knows when my CVs will arrive so perhaps he will try to ambush them before they get in range of Rabaul air cover? Would US carries take the even odds against my 2x CV and 1x CVL? I know US carriers could take more planes...

Classical trick to use for CV awareness is to check detection levels on your subs. CVs are usually flying a lot of NavSearch, and spot your subs in the process. So if you disperse subs into the area you can guess pretty ok if there are CVs present and approximately where. Just put thoose subs away from major Allied bases so that land based search from short legged planes not interfere. Catalinas can go long but he does not have many.

You can shift land based LRCAP cover for your CVs from Truk to Rabaul together with moving CVTF. But do not fret too much about ambush (and do not use too much LRCAP, it is not that effective and accumulated pilot fatigue quickly). Your pilots and planes are pretty good, better than Allied ones (at least in stock scenario), it is risky for him to fight your non-depleted group far from his bases

Thanks for the tips!

[Derfflinger13]

Turn 6 back

Renewed bombing raids at Lae and Buna both targeting the airfields. I’ve no aircraft there at all. Given focus on GC this is not a problem right? Unless it is a sign of him preparing to approach Rabaul from that direction?

An xAKL was sunk just North of Hollandia with a couple of hundred supply, nothing major.

The area around Rabaul and Buin is a hive of activity with both areas due to receive cargos and tankers in the next few days. My CAPs will remain vigilant.

Henderson Field Bombardment Group
5x CA, 2x CL, 2x DD (3x more DD and 1x CL able to join from Buin if you guys recommend it)
The ships are due to travel on the western side of the slot and hit GC from Western approach. I’ve 3 subs 6 hexes off GC to south West and 7 due south.
Do I need to get my 30x Zeroes at Buin to fly LRCAP for the day of the bombardment or should it be a night attack and this not required?

T-9 Days until CVs...

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Derfflinger13

Turn 6 back

Renewed bombing raids at Lae and Buna both targeting the airfields. I’ve no aircraft there at all. Given focus on GC this is not a problem right? Unless it is a sign of him preparing to approach Rabaul from that direction?

An xAKL was sunk just North of Hollandia with a couple of hundred supply, nothing major.

The area around Rabaul and Buin is a hive of activity with both areas due to receive cargos and tankers in the next few days. My CAPs will remain vigilant.

Henderson Field Bombardment Group
5x CA, 2x CL, 2x DD (3x more DD and 1x CL able to join from Buin if you guys recommend it)
The ships are due to travel on the western side of the slot and hit GC from Western approach. I’ve 3 subs 6 hexes off GC to south West and 7 due south.
Do I need to get my 30x Zeroes at Buin to fly LRCAP for the day of the bombardment or should it be a night attack and this not required?

T-9 Days until CVs...

You needn't worry about a land approach to Rabaul - there is not enough time in this scenario to pull off the series of marches required. The base across from PM is ripe for attack from land, air, or sea, but you cannot really cover both GC and Buna. If you can kick him off GC, then you can muster forces for Buna.

I would not bother adding the CL and DDs - they don't have enough gun power to really do much for the bombardment. They could go in ahead of the bombardment and sweep the area for PT boats and small ships that might delay the bombardment TF and use up its ammo.

Bombardments are tricky to pull off. If you want to do a night bombardment and retire to max distance possible during the naval day phase, you need to start with your bombardment TF set as a SCTF so it does not make the run-in to target on its own. Send your SCTF close enough to the target to reach there in one movement phase at flank speed. The distance will depend on the speed of your slowest ship. At this point fuel your small ships before the turn of the bombardment. Flank speed uses 4X fuel per hex traveled so your short-legged ships can run low and fuel and stop the Bombardment TF to draw fuel from the bigger ships - not good when you are sitting off an enemy base!

Once you have your SCTF small ships refuelled and are the right distance from target, switch the TF type to Bombardment and click on the target. Set at least one of your float planes on night recon, range 0 so it can spot for the bombardment force. The AI will handle the run-in, bombardment and run-out plus any encounters with enemy TFs during the turn. You will have no control over what happens.

PS - when you set the TF to "Bombardment" there is a new line at the bottom right of the TF screen that says "Min Bombardment" with buttons on either side to increase or decrease the figure (up to 25). This sets your minimum stand-off distance from shore and is really only needed if the enemy has CD guns that fire at bombarding ships. In most cases just leave it set to 0. If you touch it at all you can only reduce the range to 1.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

ORIGINAL: Derfflinger13

Turn 6 back

Renewed bombing raids at Lae and Buna both targeting the airfields. I’ve no aircraft there at all. Given focus on GC this is not a problem right? Unless it is a sign of him preparing to approach Rabaul from that direction?

An xAKL was sunk just North of Hollandia with a couple of hundred supply, nothing major.

The area around Rabaul and Buin is a hive of activity with both areas due to receive cargos and tankers in the next few days. My CAPs will remain vigilant.

Henderson Field Bombardment Group
5x CA, 2x CL, 2x DD (3x more DD and 1x CL able to join from Buin if you guys recommend it)
The ships are due to travel on the western side of the slot and hit GC from Western approach. I’ve 3 subs 6 hexes off GC to south West and 7 due south.
Do I need to get my 30x Zeroes at Buin to fly LRCAP for the day of the bombardment or should it be a night attack and this not required?

T-9 Days until CVs...

You needn't worry about a land approach to Rabaul - there is not enough time in this scenario to pull off the series of marches required. The base across from PM is ripe for attack from land, air, or sea, but you cannot really cover both GC and Buna. If you can kick him off GC, then you can muster forces for Buna.

I would not bother adding the CL and DDs - they don't have enough gun power to really do much for the bombardment. They could go in ahead of the bombardment and sweep the area for PT boats and small ships that might delay the bombardment TF and use up its ammo.

Bombardments are tricky to pull off. If you want to do a night bombardment and retire to max distance possible during the naval day phase, you need to start with your bombardment TF set as a SCTF so it does not make the run-in to target on its own. Send your SCTF close enough to the target to reach there in one movement phase at flank speed. The distance will depend on the speed of your slowest ship. At this point fuel your small ships before the turn of the bombardment. Flank speed uses 4X fuel per hex traveled so your short-legged ships can run low and fuel and stop the Bombardment TF to draw fuel from the bigger ships - not good when you are sitting off an enemy base!

Once you have your SCTF small ships refuelled and are the right distance from target, switch the TF type to Bombardment and click on the target. Set at least one of your float planes on night recon, range 0 so it can spot for the bombardment force. The AI will handle the run-in, bombardment and run-out plus any encounters with enemy TFs during the turn. You will have no control over what happens.

PS - when you set the TF to "Bombardment" there is a new line at the bottom right of the TF screen that says "Min Bombardment" with buttons on either side to increase or decrease the figure (up to 25). This sets your minimum stand-off distance from shore and is really only needed if the enemy has CD guns that fire at bombarding ships. In most cases just leave it set to 0. If you touch it at all you can only reduce the range to 1.

An excellent primer on how to effectively conduct bombardments, BBfanboy. [&o]

The only things I would add would be:

1. If you are certain that the enemy would not have DP artillery or CDs, I'll have my escorts bombard too. Their weight of mass isn't comparable to the 'big boys', but every little bit helps.

2. If you can, arrange for several days of LBA recon of the target in question. Getting DLs up to "9/10" really improves the efficacy of the naval bombardment. You should have IJAAF reconnaissance assets in Rabaul that can reach the 14 hexes to Lunga.

[HansBolter]

Haven't seen it mentioned yet and not sure if you are aware, but setting a float plane embedded in the TF (one of the cruiser float planes) to night recon of the target will enhance the bombardment.
You will get a message in the combat results the xx plane is spotting.


Also setting a stand off distance can be important for saving anti-aircraft ammunition, if that is a concern.
With distance set to zero and escorts set to bombard, the TF can use up a significant amount of anti-aircraft ammo.

I typically stand mine off to keep the ships from expending 20mm and 40mm rounds at the shore.

[inqistor]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

PS - when you set the TF to "Bombardment" there is a new line at the bottom right of the TF screen that says "Min Bombardment" with buttons on either side to increase or decrease the figure (up to 25). This sets your minimum stand-off distance from shore and is really only needed if the enemy has CD guns that fire at bombarding ships. In most cases just leave it set to 0. If you touch it at all you can only reduce the range to 1.

Actually, 0 means default, and is NOT closer, than 1. With 0 setting, ships will fire at maximum distance for their shortest range guns. If you want best results, set distance to 1.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: inqistor

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

PS - when you set the TF to "Bombardment" there is a new line at the bottom right of the TF screen that says "Min Bombardment" with buttons on either side to increase or decrease the figure (up to 25). This sets your minimum stand-off distance from shore and is really only needed if the enemy has CD guns that fire at bombarding ships. In most cases just leave it set to 0. If you touch it at all you can only reduce the range to 1.

Actually, 0 means default, and is NOT closer, than 1. With 0 setting, ships will fire at maximum distance for their shortest range guns. If you want best results, set distance to 1.

Did not know that - thanks inq!

[Derfflinger13]

Turn 7 back

12 August 1942

From the turn there is little to report. It seems wherever I 'see' a allied task force it is just a sector where my fleets are - are these allied as in to me, or as in the enemy? May help me clear up some confusion between the airforce and navy department...
B17E do another run in on Lae and Buna.
Another couple of small transports sunk north west of New Britain but they're all torps not going into more valuable assets. My key Tankers and Transports are heavily escorted. 10k fuel is soon to depart from Babeldaob.

***
Submarine attack near Cape Gloucester at 101,124

Japanese Ships
xAKL Tatibana Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS S-42

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

xAKL Tatibana Maru is sighted by SS S-42
SS S-42 launches 4 torpedoes at xAKL Tatibana Maru


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submarine attack near Cape Gloucester at 101,124

Japanese Ships
xAK Sonobe Maru #2, Shell hits 4

Allied Ships
SS S-44, hits 3

Japanese ground losses:
33 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled

xAK Sonobe Maru #2 is sighted by SS S-44
SS S-44 attacking on the surface
Moore, J.R. decides to submerge SS S-44 due to damage
***



Thanks everyone for your advice on the bombardment run, really appreciated. The only thing I haven't been able to do, since I jumped the gun, was get my DDs refueled. But this is the situation as it stands below (check out attached image - any idea how I get this embedded to show up without having to open the attachment??):

The task force (Red) is set to SCTF for now. Then I will set it to bombardment (distance 8 hexes) at full speed. I have a float on the Chokai and on the Aoba set for Night Recon range 0. Bombardment set at range 1. My Sub net (blue) is in place but no sign of carriers in these waters so far... I have 10 Rufes from Shortlands on some last minute recon on Lunga (admittedly didn't have them doing it before but irl it would have made sense to so thanks for pointing that one out!)

Will send this turn off. Then if there are any glaring errors or the whole thing should be called off then I will be able to abort before they run in tomorrow...

Thanks again to everyone for the advice really great community here and I appreciate it all!! [&o]

Over and out.

[BBfanboy]

Your search aircraft likely have inexperienced crews with low NavS skills. The will therefore make lots of errors in sightings, like spotting a pod of whales and reporting "seven Allied ships at XX,YY". Similarly, they will misidentify your ships as enemy ships. And if they see actual enemy ships they will misidentify the types, often reporting TKs and AOs as CVs. And of course they will miss seeing the enemy if the weather is the least bit uncooperative. Welcome to the haphazard world of naval search! Pay attention to the detection levels on enemy TFs - if you get above five the info is much more reliable.

Allied means the other side - Japan has no Allies in this scenario.

To embed a picture in the post: (it will always be at the bottom of your post, so do the text first):
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[inqistor]

I think, that you should put one submarine directly into Guadalcanal port, unless US have there mines (are there mines in this Scenario?). I vaguely recall, that I have put there also Midget Submarines (directly on patrol). It's hard to find use for them anyway.
One thing, you can be sure, that US ships are there regularly, is Guadalcanal itself.

Also, if those B-17 attack unescorted, try LRCap of those attacked bases. But get it out, after first battle, to avoid sweep.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: inqistor

I think, that you should put one submarine directly into Guadalcanal port, unless US have there mines (are there mines in this Scenario?).

There are mines in this scenario. For the Japanese at least. Quite a few submarine-delivered mines in the inventory to be used. I honestly haven't checked the other two ship-based mines yet. Guess what I'll be doing next turn? [:)]

[Derfflinger13]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: inqistor

I think, that you should put one submarine directly into Guadalcanal port, unless US have there mines (are there mines in this Scenario?).

There are mines in this scenario. For the Japanese at least. Quite a few submarine-delivered mines in the inventory to be used. I honestly haven't checked the other two ship-based mines yet. Guess what I'll be doing next turn? [:)]

How do i use mines? Ship or sub based...

[Derfflinger13]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Your search aircraft likely have inexperienced crews with low NavS skills. The will therefore make lots of errors in sightings, like spotting a pod of whales and reporting "seven Allied ships at XX,YY". Similarly, they will misidentify your ships as enemy ships. And if they see actual enemy ships they will misidentify the types, often reporting TKs and AOs as CVs. And of course they will miss seeing the enemy if the weather is the least bit uncooperative. Welcome to the haphazard world of naval search! Pay attention to the detection levels on enemy TFs - if you get above five the info is much more reliable.

Are search Arcs useful? I assume focusing on one section of sea increases the chance of you finding something? At the risk of not scouting another patch of blue...

How do I check the detection level? Where is that in the game interface please?

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Derfflinger13

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Your search aircraft likely have inexperienced crews with low NavS skills. The will therefore make lots of errors in sightings, like spotting a pod of whales and reporting "seven Allied ships at XX,YY". Similarly, they will misidentify your ships as enemy ships. And if they see actual enemy ships they will misidentify the types, often reporting TKs and AOs as CVs. And of course they will miss seeing the enemy if the weather is the least bit uncooperative. Welcome to the haphazard world of naval search! Pay attention to the detection levels on enemy TFs - if you get above five the info is much more reliable.

Are search Arcs useful? I assume focusing on one section of sea increases the chance of you finding something? At the risk of not scouting another patch of blue...

How do I check the detection level? Where is that in the game interface please?

You have asked a perennial question on this forum. About half the community swears setting arcs is more effective and about half swears that leaving things set at "random arcs" lets the AI find the enemy anywhere within range. I use random arcs when I have no solid intel on enemy whereabouts but if I get a solid sighting I might set search on a narrow arc to try and re-acquire the target. Has to be worth it though - I am not going to stop all-round search for some xAKL!

D/L is shown when you mouseover a TF or base.

[Derfflinger13]

Turn 8 back

Nothing to report this turn other than the frustration that by switching my taskforce from Bombardment to Surface Combat I somehow put retirement allowed back on and the destination was reset to Rabaul and this has taken them backward. So annoying, and perhaps another day in which the US will spot the taskforce, and certainly another day to repair the airfields... The CAs should be in position at the end of the turn and complete the bombardment run as planned (I have attached the bombardment run again below, hoping it will appear in the text instead of an attachment...

[inqistor]

You can probably, hide those ships disbanded in one of numerous bases, and then sprint to bombard. Just mouse-over your bases, and check which have detection levels shown - those are the one US were scouting, so you shouldn't put there anything.

If you'll see detection level, where you have ships disbanded, you can expect visit of 4Es on port attack, and those are horribly accurate.

[inqistor]

ORIGINAL: Derfflinger13

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: inqistor

I think, that you should put one submarine directly into Guadalcanal port, unless US have there mines (are there mines in this Scenario?).

There are mines in this scenario. For the Japanese at least. Quite a few submarine-delivered mines in the inventory to be used. I honestly haven't checked the other two ship-based mines yet. Guess what I'll be doing next turn? [:)]

How do i use mines? Ship or sub based...

You have to create mining TF in one of large ports, with ships, which can use those mines (there are special submarines, but every one of them can carry mines in torpedo tubes). Check if you have any ACM/CM ships, those are mine-layers, and should have mine devices listed under armament.