Scen026 BabesLite-A Me against Imperial AI Emperor

[RangerJoe]

I keep each CV in its own TF at this point in the game. That way, each one is a separate TF to target. I have one follow the other with no separation for the best CAP defense. If you keep away from the KB, then you can have two CVTFs mutually supporting each other, one big raid instead of two separate raids so you can overwhelm the defense. Or the CVTFs can follow an ASW TF along with a small SCTF or two which could be augmented from the carrier screens if it is feasible. The Omaha Cls are good for this since they don't contribute much to the AAA screen plus they have torpedoes.

You might then have two different CVTF groups in different areas of operations. Just stay away from the KB.

You can divide the PBYs for better coverage as well.

[Lawless1]

Thanks RangerJoe, was thinking along those lines. Not sure about surface bombardment TF
Several DDs and one CL or CA are down for upgrades.

Have to see how many Omaha CL are present.

[RangerJoe]

The SCTFs can then bombard when just before the whole mess leaves. If that was good enough for Halsey, then it is good enough for me. The SCTF would then have AAA coverage. When the Fletchers come in, they are more durable and nimble and they are excellent for raiding in teams of two. Pair 4 Cleveland/Brooklyn/Helena type CLs with 8 Fletchers and you have a powerful task force. Just ask Japanese players how just ONE Boise [:@] does in the early stages of the war.

Of course, you can also augment Force Z and have it run with the carriers . . . [:D]

If you have two of the Carrier groups, you can have action in two different area spreading his rapid reaction forces thin or forcing the enemy to concentrate on one and leave the other alone. Against a human player it may not work but then again they are probably used to all Allied carriers being together.

[Lawless1]

Once again thanks for your input and thoughts.

It may be a week before trying anything. Several Transport TF are ferrying troops and supplies forward, so a little light in combatants.

Presently at PH I have the following: 4 CV (Enterprise, Yorktown, Sara and Lexington); 2 CA (St. Louis, San Francisco); 5 CL (Concord, Detroit, Trenton, Helena and Honolula) 15 DD. Also the five following BB; MD, ID, MIS,NM and Warspite.


My thinking if I go now, is to create two CVTF (2 CV, 1 CL, 1 CA, 6 DD), SCTF (3 Omaha CL 2 DD) for the raid on Marshal Islands. May send the BB with mine sweepers to bombard Wake. These would leave before the other TF and stay out of bomber range from the Marshals but hopefully picked up by search a/c to confuse the issue. The BB would not attack Wake until turn after air raid on the Marshals.


I wish subs could do a bombardment mission.

[RangerJoe]

Leave the BBs at home and protect Pearl. They are slow and take a lot of fuel. Use those BBs for bombarding bases that you are going to invade and that will be awhile yet.

There shouldn't be too much Japanese air power where you are going but keep your CAP up. Torpedo bombers can come in at any height but drop low when they attack. CAP set at 10,000 feet should be fine.

Use a VS squadron at about a 50% Naval Search. Use your VB Squadron n the other carriers as ASW. Use the Torpedo bombers as ASW. Have the bombers not flying those Search and ASW missions as Naval Attack. Once you get close to the targets, turn off the ASW and go to Naval Attack with a secondary mission of Port Strike to try and hit ships in port.

If your cruisers bombard, they will attack ships first. Set the bombardment range to 15,000 yards to stay away from minefields.

At least, that is what I would do and have done. Between missions like this, make sure that your pilots are training.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

Leave the BBs at home and protect Pearl. They are slow and take a lot of fuel. Use those BBs for bombarding bases that you are going to invade and that will be awhile yet.

There shouldn't be too much Japanese air power where you are going but keep your CAP up. Torpedo bombers can come in at any height but drop low when they attack. CAP set at 10,000 feet should be fine.

Use a VS squadron at about a 50% Naval Search. Use your VB Squadron n the other carriers as ASW. Use the Torpedo bombers as ASW. Have the bombers not flying those Search and ASW missions as Naval Attack. Once you get close to the targets, turn off the ASW and go to Naval Attack with a secondary mission of Port Strike to try and hit ships in port.

If your cruisers bombard, they will attack ships first. Set the bombardment range to 15,000 yards to stay away from minefields.

At least, that is what I would do and have done. Between missions like this, make sure that your pilots are training.

Per Alfred's recent posts, the way to ensure you stay at 15K yards during bombardment is to set "No Escorts Bombard". If you allow escorts to bombard they will close in as near as 6000 yards. If there is no fire from shore, the escorts might close in even closer.

[Lawless1]

ONE Boise does in the early stages of the war.

RangerJoe, saw that 1st hand, Boise Huston and some old four stackers play havoc the first few weeks of the war

[Lawless1]

Use a VS squadron at about a 50% Naval Search. Use your VB Squadron n the other carriers as ASW. Use the Torpedo bombers as ASW. Have the bombers not flying those Search and ASW missions as Naval Attack. Once you get close to the targets, turn off the ASW and go to Naval Attack with a secondary mission of Port Strike to try and hit ships in port.

I usually run 30% Naval Src 105 training for all DB, the TB are on ASW at 40% and 10% training. All FP are on night Naval Search.

Thanks for reminding me about Port string as secondary mission. Often I leave it rest.

[Lawless1]

duplicate post

[Lawless1]

Per Alfred's recent posts, the way to ensure you stay at 15K yards during bombardment is to set "No Escorts Bombard". If you allow escorts to bombard they will close in as near as 6000 yards. If there is no fire from shore, the escorts might close in even closer.

From that post, I stopped allowing the escorts to bombard. Partly to have ammo in case of air attacks after the TF leaves the area.

[Lawless1]

Sure like it when the IJ force just keep sending a/c as a training aid for my pilots


Air attack results on Normanton 11FEB42-15FEB42
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11FEB42

Afternoon Air attack on Normanton , at 86,138

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 26 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 4 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 4

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 7000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
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12FEB42

Morning Air attack on Normanton , at 86,138

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 64 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 22 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 16

Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 5 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed by flak

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 4

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 7000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
17th PS (P) with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 2 on standby, 12 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 3000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 35 minutes

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13FEB42

Morning Air attack on Normanton , at 86,138

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 36 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 14

Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 5 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed by flak

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 7000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
17th PS (P) with P-40E Warhawk (1 airborne, 2 on standby, 12 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 26600.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 35 minutes

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14FEB42

Morning Air attack on Normanton , at 86,138

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 33 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 11

Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed, 4 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed by flak

No Allied losses

Runway hits 3

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 7000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
1 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 7000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
17th PS (P) with P-40E Warhawk (1 airborne, 4 on standby, 12 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 3000 and 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 32 minutes

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15FEB42


Morning Air attack on Normanton , at 86,138

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 55 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 3

Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 28

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed

No Allied losses

CAP engaged:
17th PS (P) with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes
20th PS (P) with P-40E Warhawk (3 airborne, 15 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 11000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes



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[Lawless1]

A6M2 Zero and B5N2 Kate having a couple of goes at Horn Island


AIR ATTACK HORN ISLAND

13FEB42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Horn Island , at 91,128

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 37 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 11
B5N2 Kate x 8

Allied aircraft
P-35A x 17
P-40E Warhawk x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 3 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
P-35A: 2 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 5000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
34th PS with P-35A (1 airborne, 4 on standby, 12 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 7000 , scrambling fighters between 3000 and 27820.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 37 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
33rd PS (P) with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 5 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes
6 planes vectored on to bombers
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14FEB42

Afternoon Air attack on Horn Island , at 91,128

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 34 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
B5N2 Kate x 2

Allied aircraft
P-35A x 2
P-40E Warhawk x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-35A: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 5000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
34th PS with P-35A (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 7000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 7000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 10 minutes
33rd PS (P) with P-40E Warhawk (2 airborne, 5 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes

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[RangerJoe]

Get some light AAA (40mm Bofors) units to Horn Island. I think that they are air transportable. They do a good job on Kates at that altitude and an even better job on Vals. Put your fighters higher and they will even do a better job on the Zeros as they come out of their power dive.

Just think if Admirals Hart and Phillips had their way with the Asiatic Fleet surface ships and Force Z combined at Singapore . . . Believe it or not, Phillips was in Manila on 6 December 1941 discussing that very thing. That is way the AD and 4 pipers were moving to the DEI. The AD would have been left at Batavia while the 4 pipers would have joined Force Z. The rest of the surface vessels were also moving out of the Philippines.

Sometimes I state the obvious as a reminder because it is better than a" I forgot!"

[Lawless1]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

Get some light AAA (40mm Bofors) units to Horn Island. I think that they are air transportable. They do a good job on Kates at that altitude and an even better job on Vals. Put your fighters higher and they will even do a better job on the Zeros as they come out of their power dive.

Just think if Admirals Hart and Phillips had their way with the Asiatic Fleet surface ships and Force Z combined at Singapore . . . Believe it or not, Phillips was in Manila on 6 December 1941 discussing that very thing. That is way the AD and 4 pipers were moving to the DEI. The AD would have been left at Batavia while the 4 pipers would have joined Force Z. The rest of the surface vessels were also moving out of the Philippines.

Sometimes I state the obvious as a reminder because it is better than a" I forgot!"

How synchronous, just last night I was reading Ian W. Toll's Pacific Crucible and it had a quote by LCDR Jimmy Flatley on how to counter the Zero.

"Gain plenty of altitude before contact with the enemy VF. You can lose altitude fast but you can't gain it fast enough when up against enemy VF. Use hit and run attacks diving in and pulling out and up. page 376

May look at more flak for Horn Island currently Flak i2 85.

[Lawless1]

Sometimes I state the obvious as a reminder because it is better than a" I forgot!"

RJ and sometimes we can't see the forest because of the trees. I am still a noob and appreciate all the suggestion that anyone wishes to give.

Have many AA units still stateside, waiting to be bought out and sent to the tip of the spear.

Still don't have enough fighters in Australia to compensate for the lost of those soon to be withdrawn ABADA fighter units that pop up in Brisbane an leave a few months later.

[BBfanboy]

812 guns at Horn Island? Is the computer counting every rifle?

[RangerJoe]

I am still a noob but I can kick the computer in the . . .

You will get some light AAA units in Australia, check and see when. Also, when you combine the separate brigades/regiments, they will sometimes gain devices - including 40 mms.

How synchronous, just last night I was reading Ian W. Toll's Pacific Crucible and it had a quote by LCDR Jimmy Flatley on how to counter the Zero.

"Gain plenty of altitude before contact with the enemy VF. You can lose altitude fast but you can't gain it fast enough when up against enemy VF. Use hit and run attacks diving in and pulling out and up. page 376

That is what the AVG was taught and Chennault even sent that info to Washington DC - which ignored it, at first.

Even well trained pilots in P-39s can handle the Zero especially with altitude and the Zeros coming in at longer range which, for some reason, causes fatigue in the pilot. Especially with no lovely bar maids on the flight . . .
So put your planes at 20,000 feet on defense.

[Lawless1]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

812 guns at Horn Island? Is the computer counting every rifle?

I guess they armed the Hobbits

[Lawless1]

A small victory of sorts. The recapture of Cotabato.

The 101st PA Inf Div retreated from Malaytalay towards Cotabato. I sent the Div into Cotabato since it was lightly defended.

After three days of bombardment and the expected arrival of the 102nd PA Inf Div I ordered a delibrate attack.

102nd PA Inf Div, III Philippine Corp Hq and the 2nd and 3rd BF Eng retreated from Cagayan.

Bataan is ready to fall out of supplies and the IJA is still sending in troop and heavy bombing raids both day and night.

Have to decide if I want to send my PBY from Kopang to Cotabato to air more troops in. LCU on Cebu and the island to the north as well as some on Leyte, in addition to Bataan. Unlikely to get a full LCU unit from Bataan before it falls.

Have about 25 PBY that I can use. The Dutch transports migh be able to transfer to Cotabato, if so, they could be used to pickup troops on Cebu

Thoughts from anyone?



Ground combat at Cotabato (78,90)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 1614 troops, 16 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 21

Defending force 30 troops, 0 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 1

Allied adjusted assault: 3

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 1)

Allied forces CAPTURE Cotabato !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: leaders(+), fatigue(-), experience(-)
Attacker: leaders(-), supply(-)

Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Assaulting units:
101st PA Infantry Division

Defending units:
23rd Tank Rgt /6

[BBfanboy]

You might be able to use the Dutch Dornier Flying Boats as well as Cats, but I am not sure if you have to buy them out to operate them from Cotabato. If so, I think you can buy them out to unrestricted ABDA HQ fairly cheaply (25% of full cost).