PT and MTB how to bring them into ACTION!

[HvMoltke]

I tried in my several start learning games to provoke these small boats to really do anything. I put them near San Fernando and Vigan or Legaspi and the Dutch boats near Toboali and Billiton or Balikpapan , but they do nothing except being shot up.
Is there a way to bring them to fight. Many times they attack in bright sunlight, not in the night, or attack after they used all their torps.
The Germans used Marinefaehrpram, converted LCI/ LCIG in the Blacksea with success. They are slow targets and so they used them in the night. Is there the possibility to have a script which brings them to behave like Fast Transport?

[Alfred]

Never, ever, come with preconceived ideas that what worked in Europe can be exactly transferred to the Pacific.  Instead always look exactly at what you have before you on the screen.  What is the reaction range you have.  Where is the enemy going to.  What are the respective size of the potential opposing forces.  What level of moonlight applies.  The quality of TF leader.  The DL on enemy.  IOW all the usual considerations for any combat action.
 
Alfred

[kbfchicago]

HV,

Been playing since AE came out... have seen a few medal winning actions by PT boats. As Alfred summarized above the circumstances are a very large factor (range - can I get there under cover of darkness, what's the moon light, are there escorts, how many, what is the target doing - stationary unload or pass through, etc.) and you can help yourself with a decent, aggressive TF lead and good skippers. By default they tend to be duds so you'll pay a few precious PPs to swap them out. All for a long shot success...but when you get a success it is sweet! PTs will not win the war for you but I love them as a game within the game...as an allied player I live for poking the IJN in the nose with my PTs and forcing him to react to them! Sometimes the victory is just that, forcing him to react vs. an actual sinking...

Happy gaming and good luck getting that allusive PT run with multiple troop ships sinking! Kevin

[HansBolter]

You can't just "put them" anywhere and expect them to engage in battle.

You need to give then Patrol orders to enable the Reaction function.

Make their target hex a one hex patrol pattern.

Simply sitting in a hex does not mean they will react to anything.

Sensing them to a hex with a Do Not Retire or Remain on Station (forget which is correct nomenclature) order will cancel the Reaction function.

[BBfanboy]

Just a hunch, but I think Naval Skill plays a good part in how well the PTs will do in torpedo launches. Poor Naval Skill skippers seem to launch at maximum range and then tool around toothless as they stay with the TF. High naval skill and aggressions skippers try to close the range before launching.

As with bombers escorted by fighters, you have to engage and disorganize the escort screen for the enemy TF before you get a shot at the bigger vessels. Two PT TFs of six boats each seems to work better than one of 12 boats.

Another thing that will help is the upgrade that gives your PTs radar. Then you can set up on a moonless night and have a better chance of detecting and closing with the enemy.

[spence]

You can try to put the acceptable threat level at "ABSOLUTE" and insure they are set to "DO NOT RETIRE" but it seems you have to make sure every turn.

I wouldn't expect a lot from my PTs/MTBs if I was you. In a recent AI (I think) game I had two PTs home-ported in a hex attack an unescorted landing force in that hex, torpedo two transports and then withdraw from the hex.

[CaptBeefheart]

I've had occasional success with PTs torpedoing ships, although mostly their utility comes from soaking up rounds and ops points from enemy TFs. As Hans mentioned, you have to give them patrol orders (as with any surface TF you want to use for interception) without "Remain on Station" selected. You also want to select a TF commander with a high aggressiveness rating, I'd say at least 60 if possible, and as high a naval rating as you can get after that is satisfied.

Cheers,
CB

[HvMoltke]

Hi all
Thanx for all those ideas. I try them and will be back to record my success

[HansBolter]

ORIGINAL: spence

You can try to put the acceptable threat level at "ABSOLUTE" and insure they are set to "DO NOT RETIRE" but it seems you have to make sure every turn.

I wouldn't expect a lot from my PTs/MTBs if I was you. In a recent AI (I think) game I had two PTs home-ported in a hex attack an unescorted landing force in that hex, torpedo two transports and then withdraw from the hex.

Do Not Retire will prevent them from Reacting. A one hex patrol pattern will keep them on station in the hex and allow them to react to adjacent hexes (PT boat reaction range, like subs, is limited to 1 hex IIRC).

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: HvMoltke

Hi all
Thanx for all those ideas. I try them and will be back to record my success

Please post a screenshot of the units in question with their orders set too. It's easier to glean information about the unit from screenshots than from the limited information you provided in your first post.

[AcePylut]

I believe there is a legend that a PT boat put a torp into the Yamato in an AAR, and sank the Yamato.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: AcePylut

I believe there is a legend that a PT boat put a torp into the Yamato in an AAR, and sank the Yamato.

Not a legend, it was Greyjoy's AAR. Magazine hit, of course! Could happen to anyone but Greyjoy seemed to have all the luck!