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

[Derfflinger13]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

By the way, you know you have to 'buy' torpedoes at the HQa for the Betties to use them properly, right? This takes supply.

I did not know this... I have now purchased Torpedoes at Rabaul and Buin.

[Derfflinger13]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: Derfflinger13
I have 100+ Betty's at Rabaul - I will now put them on a bombing campaign against Lunga to keep the pressure up.

Be careful with these. Unescorted Betties are easily shredded by CAP. Make sure that either the Lunga airfield is CLOSED for business before using these or that they are escorted (drop tanks on Rabaul A6M2s can reach). Expect heavy OPS losses even for 'successful' missions. Don't forget that you have sizeable reserves of Nells that can be swapped out for Betties in a squadron or two if losses mount above replacement value.

IMO, Betties are better employed as torpedo bombers at moderate ranges (where they can be escorted).

Thanks for this information Chickenboy. I will try one run this turn from Rabaul to see how it works out, in terms of fuel consumption, loss rates and fatigue. I will have them escorted from Rabaul and LRCAP from Buin and Shortlands.

[Derfflinger13]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: Derfflinger13
At this stage though I knew his carriers were inbound...

Meanwhile I tried to keep Henderson Field out of action from any upcoming duels:

***
Night Naval bombardment of Lunga at 114,138 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3P Wildcat: 6 damaged
F4F-3P Wildcat: 1 destroyed on ground
SBD-2 Dauntless: 4 damaged
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 damaged

6 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
CA Furutaka
CA Aoba
DD Kawakaze
DD Harusame

Allied ground losses:
157 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 21 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled

Airbase hits 10
Airbase supply hits 9
Runway hits 16
Port hits 5
Port supply hits 2

E13A1 Jake acting as spotter for CA Aoba
***

Not bad, but IMO, BBs make much better bombardment platforms. The Japanese CAs are deadly night fighters and can more than hold their own against the Allied CAs at this stage of the war. If you have BBs for bombardment, I would save CAs for SCTFs.

It is at this stage that I realise I must've left some of my Zeros on LRCAP over Lunga... The pitiful escort sees my bombers mauled.. Sorry chaps [:(]

Yes. A significant error. When a CV battle is a possibility, avoid alternative missions for your fighters (e.g., LRCAP or sweep missions). Similarly, don't use your CV DBs for airfield attacks when you are in proximity to enemy ships. When time comes for a coordinated strike, you don't want any disadvantages in your numbers of anti-shipping attackers.

This wasn't pleasant viewing as you might imagine! It also raised two points for me. Firstly, had I really stripped the carriers bare of that many escort ships? I think that was a big error. Secondly, I had all 4 of my carriers in one task force... My opponent clearly did not. Do people have a view on what is best? Should I have had four separate task forces, one for each carrier? Also, any typical advice of how many supporting ships a carrier should have?

The escort ships (particularly Yamato) would have helped soak off enemy attackers and also provided some valuable AAA. Having 3-4 CVs in a Japanese carrier TF isn't a big deal. It was unlikely that you were over the coordination threshold and accrued coordination penalties. This can be found in the manual for more detail.

Also, it looks like you are very close to the enemy carriers. By my rough math either 2-3 hexes? The Allied TBs are limited to 5 or 6 hexes for their torp loads. While the Allied DBs can fly 7 hexes, they can't be escorted that far. It would have been a lot easier to shred incoming DBs that were unescorted had you been at least 6 (and better yet 7) hexes distant.

***
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Rennell Island at 114,142
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 62

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 38
SBD-3 Dauntless x 69
TBF-1 Avenger x 31

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 9 destroyed, 10 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed by flak
TBF-1 Avenger: 5 destroyed, 9 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Mutsu, Bomb hits 1
CV Shokaku, Bomb hits 4
CV Zuikaku, on fire
DD Tokitsukaze
CVL Ryujo, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
CVL Zuiho
BB Kirishima, Bomb hits 2
CL Sendai, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
BB Hiei

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVL Ryujo
***

Not too bad. Yeah, you'll lose Ryujo (Were any of her planes diverted to fields in range or other flattops? Look around), but Hornet is in a bad way and a mission kill most likely.

On a related note, I've found that having my submarines south and southwest of Lunga, along the retreat path to either Noumea or Brisbane is a much more fertile ground for picking off cripples. You mentioned a sentry line far to the North. Move them down where they can put some real hurt on the Allied fleet! It's much better than acting as a picket (which they don't do particularly well).

Thanks Chickenboy, this is all really useful information and opinion which I will take forward, and certainly will certainly refer back to time and again!

So I can safely assume that you're hooked now? [;)] Go ahead and get the number of a good divorce attorney, babysitter and pizza delivery service. You're going to need them all with this game. [;)]

Yes. That is a safe assumption. [:D]

And so many boys made it home safe:

[Derfflinger13]

ORIGINAL: inqistor

Not bad results, despite lack of escort.

First thing - if you have fire on ANY ship, immediately disband it in nearest base (even dot). Japanese ships tend to be bad at putting fires out at open sea.

This scenario is too short, to make repairs, so you will not see Hornet again, but you probably should vector all submarines into area to catch them withdrawing. All your CVs, with combined damage less, than 50 are still able to make strikes. You can also try to intercept his CVs with your Combat TFs. Quite risky, but two good hits, and planes will not fly.


And as for BETTYs - don't. If there are sizeable CAP, your loses will be horrendous, and you will not close airfield anyway. You can eventually try night attack, but not too low, or AA will eat you. Your level bombers should fly from lvl 4 airfield, to carry full bombload (or torpedoes). You can try with lvl 2 airfield, but you can then use only normal range, with half bombload.

Thanks Inqisitor. At the end of that turn (I had already sent it) I had them run high speed north. Consumption of fuel yes, but out of harms way because Zuikaku was out of action (Its air arm couldn't land. So while in my previous post a number of boys made it back to Buin, some landed on Shokaku but she was only carrying 2/72 so I would just be Shokaku (16 Zeroes) and Zuiho (8) with the bombers. I will post aircraft losses shortly.)

Both Carrier Taskforces are within 6 hexes of Rabaul where they will disband - and be safe. I have an ARD about 8 hexes out. So if I can't leave Rabaul for a while then maybe I can do some more repairs with that?

[Derfflinger13]

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

And the dynamic of the campaign changes entirely in one afternoon.

Gotta love this game.....


Oh, and recon will never give you assault value, just a heavily fog of war influenced troop count that can be very misleading.

A huge troop count can sometimes be a single front line combat unit and a huge stack of base forces and engineers.

Bombing and bombarding can give more detailed information as the targeted unit is listed, but the intel is limited to one or two targeted units.

Thanks Hans, that's really useful, I will remember that! I really didn't do any bombing beforehand which I will remember to do in future to try and gauge a little more intel.

[Derfflinger13]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

You switch airframe types in a squadron by using the Upgrade function.

Even is sometimes it turns out to be a downgrade [:)]

Do it at a base where you have an HQa and >20,000 supply and AF> size 5.

Hans is right-sometimes you are so short on top notch airframes that you have to 'upgrade' to a lesser airframe. There's not too many negative comparative differences between the Betty/Nell; B5N1/B5N2 and D3A1/D3A2 (actually, I prefer the D3A1 better for it's slightly longer 'normal' range). So these can be exchanged without too much operational setback. The same cannot be said for the A6M2/Claudes-there's a major performance difference here...

Interesting. Rabaul is only AF Size 4. So I would have to transfer the Bettys to Truk. I have them planned for a bombing run this turn (a test run for me) and then I will do that the following turn.

[Derfflinger13]

ORIGINAL: GetAssista

Screenshot with ship damage, we need screenshot with ship damage, cause you had so many smaller bombs hitting your CVs, plus fires. Condition of your main ships is the single most important info after the battle. And Aircraft losses statistics for the day would be telling to

Damage Screens as requested:

[Derfflinger13]

ORIGINAL: GetAssista

Screenshot with ship damage, we need screenshot with ship damage, cause you had so many smaller bombs hitting your CVs, plus fires. Condition of your main ships is the single most important info after the battle. And Aircraft losses statistics for the day would be telling to

Aircraft losses to date:
(sorry I didn't take it the turn before so the 'today' losses aren't representative of the battle. Are these figures 'true' or my Japanese Intelligence best estimates??

[Derfflinger13]

Turn 40 back

After the battle my carriers have fled north and will be in Rabaul tomorrow (15th September). Nowt else happened on this turn save for his carriers sending a lot of sorties at a group of 5 destroyers I had on a high speed run into Lunga (which I had, in error, failed to put on Direct Routing and thus ventured too far south). One DD is severly damaged, the rest are fine and will continue the run in and then retreat north themselves.
I won't post the reports here as there are a lot and the summary above suffices.


The situation as it stands (navy wise) is below. I have highlighted my Sub routes in Green. The reason for the many going north is that I suspect his Carriers will outrun my subs moving south (that aren't already due south of them) so I am better to try and hit is APDs en route to reinforce Lunga. I will have a sizable CA SCTF available to bombard/run into Lunga tomorrow. If his transports are still there I will try and catch them, although they're heavily escorted according to my intelligence. (7x Cruisers)

I look forward to hearing all you have to say about my multiple responses following the carrier battle.

Thanks everyone! [:)]

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: Derfflinger13

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

By the way, you know you have to 'buy' torpedoes at the HQa for the Betties to use them properly, right? This takes supply.

I did not know this... I have now purchased Torpedoes at Rabaul and Buin.

A quick way to tell if something is amiss for your Betties scheduled for torpedo strikes: Check the Betty unit page. If they're set to 'use torpedoes' and the line is yellow, you're probably good to go. If the 'use torpedoes' is in red, then there's a problem with supply from the HQa or the range to the HQa is too far or....or...

Same with your CVs. Check the Kate unit page after they've delivered a couple torpedo attacks. If the 'use torpedoes' line is red, you likely have less than a full load of torpedoes on board and they should be switched to bomb attack.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: Derfflinger13

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

You switch airframe types in a squadron by using the Upgrade function.

Even is sometimes it turns out to be a downgrade [:)]

Do it at a base where you have an HQa and >20,000 supply and AF> size 5.

Hans is right-sometimes you are so short on top notch airframes that you have to 'upgrade' to a lesser airframe. There's not too many negative comparative differences between the Betty/Nell; B5N1/B5N2 and D3A1/D3A2 (actually, I prefer the D3A1 better for it's slightly longer 'normal' range). So these can be exchanged without too much operational setback. The same cannot be said for the A6M2/Claudes-there's a major performance difference here...

Interesting. Rabaul is only AF Size 4. So I would have to transfer the Bettys to Truk. I have them planned for a bombing run this turn (a test run for me) and then I will do that the following turn.

Yeah, that's weird. But you *can* upgrade from Rabaul. Not sure if that's a scenario-specific thing or some combination of other factors that I can't suss.

[Derfflinger13]

That makes sense now thanks. I did think things were amiss earlier in the game when they were red but didn’t think to ask. A good time to have them fixed up!

[inqistor]

ORIGINAL: Derfflinger13

Damage Screens as requested:

Generally, Full Speed almost always results in small damage, so it can actually shut down your barely operational CV. And you should avoid fast speed, when you have Floatation Damage, as it can make it worse. Anyway, watch out for ships with endurance in red. They could have too few fuel, and whole TF will slow down, to refuel this ship. Hatsuyuki should be in different TF.

And, since US don't have now to escort one of CVs, you can expect to meet strong Surface Combat TF at GC. Take that into consideration, when composing another bombard run. But keep your TF at 15 ships at max, because more can results in lots of collisions during combat.

You will see fragments of air units from sunk Carrier. They will have weird size, and probably far too much pilots. If you are short of airframes, you can disband this unit directly into other one, at the same base/ship.

[BBfanboy]

Re: the ARD - check the capacity - I think it is only big enough to handle a DD. It cannot contribute repair points to ships that do not fit within it. An AR will contribute such points to the port capacity if it does not have a ship assigned to it.

Your two big carriers are probably mission killed because you cannot repair the flotation damage by the scenario end, unless you want to risk using them damaged and slowed down ... not that you have any aircraft to put on them anyway! Allied carrier aircraft losses are also pretty high so their carriers may not be a factor in the rest of the scenario. Could be a SCTF slugging match!

Rabaul probably has an Air HQ that allows the upgrades and torpedoes that a Level 4 AF normally does not.

As for the torpedo selection for Kates on a CV turning red, they will automatically switch to bombs when the torps supply runs out, even if that means part of the squadron carries torps and part has bombs. Set the TB altitude for a bombing mission and the ones armed with torps will still drop down to 200' to drop their torps.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy
As for the torpedo selection for Kates on a CV turning red, they will automatically switch to bombs when the torps supply runs out, even if that means part of the squadron carries torps and part has bombs. Set the TB altitude for a bombing mission and the ones armed with torps will still drop down to 200' to drop their torps.

While this is true, it's not universal. Kates set to torpedo attack must make an experience roll (or the squadron leader must make a successful roll) to switch over to bombs in this setting. 'Mixed' attacks are also prone to more fragmentation as the groups are flying separate attack profiles. Or they may not fly at all given 'conflicting orders'. In my opinion, it is best to reduce the odds of a fragmented (or non-existing) attack package by giving them uniform orders, lest the roll not be in your favor.

[tarkalak]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy
...
Yeah, that's weird. But you *can* upgrade from Rabaul. Not sure if that's a scenario-specific thing or some combination of other factors that I can't suss.

For replacements you need an airfield with 20000+ supply within double the aircrafts' transfer range. I think that upgrades are the same, i.e. as long as you have big and supplied enough airfield around you can upgrade in every airfield.
I might be wrong though

Also according to the scenario notes you can send ships to be repaired at Japan, but I am not sure how that happens.

[Derfflinger13]

ORIGINAL: tarkalak

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy
...
Yeah, that's weird. But you *can* upgrade from Rabaul. Not sure if that's a scenario-specific thing or some combination of other factors that I can't suss.

For replacements you need an airfield with 20000+ supply within double the aircrafts' transfer range. I think that upgrades are the same, i.e. as long as you have big and supplied enough airfield around you can upgrade in every airfield.
I might be wrong though

Also according to the scenario notes you can send ships to be repaired at Japan, but I am not sure how that happens.

Yeah I can send ships back from Truk to Osaka but the days of repair basically make it impossible to repair within the campaign I think. I will check for these upgrade conditions when I get the next turn back!

[Derfflinger13]

ORIGINAL: inqistor

ORIGINAL: Derfflinger13

Damage Screens as requested:

Generally, Full Speed almost always results in small damage, so it can actually shut down your barely operational CV. And you should avoid fast speed, when you have Floatation Damage, as it can make it worse. Anyway, watch out for ships with endurance in red. They could have too few fuel, and whole TF will slow down, to refuel this ship. Hatsuyuki should be in different TF.

And, since US don't have now to escort one of CVs, you can expect to meet strong Surface Combat TF at GC. Take that into consideration, when composing another bombard run. But keep your TF at 15 ships at max, because more can results in lots of collisions during combat.

You will see fragments of air units from sunk Carrier. They will have weird size, and probably far too much pilots. If you are short of airframes, you can disband this unit directly into other one, at the same base/ship.

I am out of the danger zone now but in future I will make sure Hatsuyki and the like are separated before such manoeuvres are attempted in future.
Good point about the SCTF. Once I have got the CVs back to Truk I will repurpose the BBs. Although, I hit Hornet that means he has a fully operational Saratoga and Lex hanging about... How soon should I expect his aircraft losses to be replaced?
I will look for pilots hanging around too.

[Derfflinger13]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Re: the ARD - check the capacity - I think it is only big enough to handle a DD. It cannot contribute repair points to ships that do not fit within it. An AR will contribute such points to the port capacity if it does not have a ship assigned to it.

Your two big carriers are probably mission killed because you cannot repair the flotation damage by the scenario end, unless you want to risk using them damaged and slowed down ... not that you have any aircraft to put on them anyway! Allied carrier aircraft losses are also pretty high so their carriers may not be a factor in the rest of the scenario. Could be a SCTF slugging match!

Rabaul probably has an Air HQ that allows the upgrades and torpedoes that a Level 4 AF normally does not.

As for the torpedo selection for Kates on a CV turning red, they will automatically switch to bombs when the torps supply runs out, even if that means part of the squadron carries torps and part has bombs. Set the TB altitude for a bombing mission and the ones armed with torps will still drop down to 200' to drop their torps.

I'll check the ARD. Will be good to keep my DDs in tip top given their high risk roll of running supplies into Lunga now.


I will try and create a strategic overview for you guys so you can see where things lie and what state my fleet and air arm are in.


Next turn in...

[Derfflinger13]

The next stage in the drama unfolds! So I lost the carrier battle, which was, I admit, both disheartening and my own fault. Despite this I want to show the Japanese spirit and make sure I keep the pressure on at this stage of the battle for Guadalcanal.

I do have a couple of issues:
1) I have run out of fuel. Which is to be expected given my perhaps excessive use of bombardment runs (too used to the freedom of Hearts of Iron style naval conflict!). I am still bringing in the last major chunk from Babeldaob and I suspect there is a total of 6-8,000 in the outlying islands in drips and drabs. I will bring the majority to Truk to refuel my major task forces and then the remainder to Rabaul for my supply runs into GC. A good lesson in fuel conservation for later campaigns.
2) My Carriers are gone, his are not. As we all know, that is never a good situation.
3) His B17Es and newly arrived B24s are going to crush any forward airfields I have - starting with the bombing of shortlands today.


So the plan is to use my cruisers to hamper his resupply of GC. Use my subs closely around GC to try and capture any big units coming in or transports laden with troops and supplies. I have some subsen route to Brisbane to try and hit Hornet, which no longer appears on the Sunk Ship list... The Battleships will do a run into GC soon to keep the airfield down as I run my own supplies in, but with the fuel situation this won't be able to happen often.

So, the turn. September 15th 1942

I am going to put this slightly out of chronological order to add to the excitement!

I will start with the fact that his carriers haven't gone anywhere:

***
Morning Air attack on TF, near Tulagi at 114,137

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3
A6M3 Zero x 1

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 29
SBD-3 Dauntless x 27
TBF-1 Avenger x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
A6M3 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 11 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 destroyed by flak
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Haguro, Bomb hits 3, on fire
CA Kumano, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Maikaze, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Tone, Bomb hits 1
DD Amagiri
CA Myoko
***
Morning Air attack on TF, near Lunga at 113,139

Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 6
TBF-1 Avenger x 7

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Maya, Bomb hits 3
CL Tenryu
***
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Tulagi at 114,137

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 2
A6M3 Zero x 1

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 16
SBD-3 Dauntless x 20
TBF-1 Avenger x 15

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 8 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Haguro, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Amagiri
CA Tone
CA Myoko, Bomb hits 1
DD Maikaze, on fire, heavy damage
CA Kumano, on fire
***
Haguro is in a bad way. I am not sure she will make it... I am interning her in a local base to put out fires, then will limp back to Rabaul.
A lot of damage has been dealt out here. But at least my SCTFs had some fun first!


Firstly a exciting Heavy Cruiser engagement:

***
Day Time Surface Combat, near Lunga at 114,138, Range 20,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Tone, Shell hits 1
CA Chikuma, Shell hits 1
CA Myoko
CA Haguro
CA Kumano, Shell hits 3
CL Jintsu, Shell hits 1
DD Hatsukaze, Shell hits 3
DD Yukikaze, Shell hits 1
DD Maikaze, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Amatsukaze
DD Murasame
DD Akatsuki, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Uranami, Shell hits 1, heavy fires
DD Ayanami
DD Amagiri
DD Yuzuki, Shell hits 1, on fire

Allied Ships
CA Pensacola, Shell hits 1
CA Astoria, Shell hits 7, on fire
CA Quincy, Shell hits 2
CA Vincennes, Shell hits 1
DD Swanson, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Helm
DD Mugford
DD Ralph Talbot, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Henley, Shell hits 1
DD Patterson, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Jarvis, Shell hits 2
DD Ellet
DD Phelps, Shell hits 1
***
Then I pounce on one of his supply convoys and leave them burning hulks... Think they'll make it home?

***Day Time Surface Combat, near Lunga at 114,139, Range 20,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Maya
CL Tenryu
DD Tanikaze, on fire
DD Natsugumo, on fire
DD Yunagi
DD Akikaze

Allied Ships
APD Gregory
AP Zeilin, Shell hits 17, heavy fires, heavy damage
AP Hunter Liggett, Shell hits 7, heavy fires
AP American Legion, Shell hits 3
AP Heywood, Shell hits 10, heavy fires, heavy damage
AP George F. Elliot, Shell hits 6, heavy fires
AP Fuller, Shell hits 2
AP Neville, Shell hits 6, heavy fires

Allied ground losses:
443 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 26 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 40 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 3 (2 destroyed, 1 disabled)
***


And then there is the crème of the crop... This made the pounding my CAs got from his carriers a lot more bearable! [;)]


***
Day Time Surface Combat, near Lunga at 114,139, Range 19,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Maya, Shell hits 1
CL Tenryu, Shell hits 2
DD Tanikaze, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Natsugumo, Shell hits 2
DD Yunagi
DD Akikaze, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
APD Colhoun, Shell hits 11, and is sunk
AP McCawley, Shell hits 24, and is sunk
AP Barnett, Shell hits 14, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AP President Jackson, Shell hits 18, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AP President Adams, Shell hits 9, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AP President Hayes, Shell hits 29, and is sunk
AP Crescent City, Shell hits 24, and is sunk

Allied ground losses:
10962 casualties reported
Squads: 364 destroyed, 308 disabled
Non Combat: 348 destroyed, 310 disabled
Engineers: 33 destroyed, 17 disabled
Guns lost 182 (163 destroyed, 19 disabled)
Vehicles lost 43 (38 destroyed, 5 disabled)
***

Let me know your thoughts, both on the turn and more strategically. What can I do to make his life most difficult given my somewhat restricted operational capabilities?