Mosquito fleet

[Edward75]

PT with torpedoes, guns or asw weapon, mini-subs, Barges.
When, in which case and how to more effectively use these ships in game? What were your experiences, successes, failures?

[m10bob]

I like to have my PT boats (with torpedoes) loiter near my bases which I think might be invaded at night by the enemy.
If he is foolish enough to attempt a landing without surface combat ships as escort, those PT's will play havoc on his troop carriers, and often the PT's will thwart an enemy landing entirely!

[Encircled]

PT Boats - goodish early on v Amphib without decent naval escort, as the games goes on and the allies get more can make it very hard for the IJN to bombard bases without danger to their heavier ships

Mini-subs - always been a fan of loading them up on the big subs and trying for that lucky hit on a ship in port. Biggest thing I ever hit though was an xAK. Not sure they are worth the VP losses to be honest

Barges - great for supply runs in the DEI and Solomons

[Mike Solli]

PT Boats: I always use them with torpedoes and place them at my bases where I expect an enemy invasion. I consider them one use weapons. I did have one torpedo a BB once and live to tell the tale!

Midget Subs: Early on, I'll send them to enemy bases to try and get lucky. That usually wasn't successful. Later in the war, on the defensive, I place them in bases where I expect enemy ships to visit. We'll see how that goes. Note that if the sub is damaged or uses its torpedoes and survives, and can't repair or reload due to the size of the port, you usually can disband it so it repairs and then becomes available at some time in the future.

Barges: Good in places where you don't have to move far. You can disband them at the destination hex and rebuild them elsewhere.

[Lowpe]

Barges are incredibly great at moving troops super fast, even overnight under threat of enemy air attack.

PT Boats: early on I convert them and use them in ASW role. Then, I would preferably save them for end game when the Allied battleship fleet is pounding you daily. Grouped in TFs of 2-3 they can run in, launch torpedoes and do very well. I also have used them to get CVE fleets to avoid them right into CD gun units....I got 10 CVEs once.[:)]

Midgets are best used where they can run into an amphibious landing spot and run out again and disband. I have used them to penetrate harbor, with the occasional success. Once they get DL, disband them if you can't lose the dl.

Minefields, CD guns are force multipliers for both PT Boats and Midgets.

[Edward75]

It is strange that PT with asw weapons can not be created in ASW TF. And how to use them in such a role is unclear.

What are losses of barges when landing in port where there are CD guns?

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: Edward75
What are losses of barges when landing in port where there are CD guns?

Most or all, I would suspect. They're made of tin foil, or maybe paper. I've never tried it, so that's just a guess.

[m10bob]

ORIGINAL: Edward75

It is strange that PT with asw weapons can not be created in ASW TF. And how to use them in such a role is unclear.

What are losses of barges when landing in port where there are CD guns?

CD guns at a base are of tremendous value to the defender against ANY invading ships!
They will eat landing craft for lunch!
This is where any invader should plan a "Bombard" mission to soften up the intended landing zone.

[wegman58]

I just had a Royal Navy MGB damage an I-Boat with torpedoes!