My first go at this game, very enjoyable!

[Randy Stead]

After much research and discussion in this forum, I finally felt ready to have my first go at this game. Following good advice, I chose the Coral Sea scenario. Good advice for a newb. I got to try my hand at carrier ops, learning how to set search arcs, merge groups, engage in surface combat. Much fun.

I merged the two carrier groups and moved them west by northwest toward Port Moresby. I then detached a cruiser and destroyer to beef up the other task force and sent it toward PM. No carrier action until the third day. They got lucky with the weather, light rain over me, heavy thunderstorms over their fleet. Lexington got heavily damaged, Yorktown had a lower amount of major damage to two systems. Just enough to hinder flight ops. My Lexington planes diverted to PM and some to Yorktown. I got a single 1,000 pound hit on Shokaku. Heavy damage, hoped she would sink later.

Meanwhile, the other group intercepted the small TF that was going to shore bombard PM. I heavily damaged the CL and that group withdrew. Later, the group hit the transport force and immediately sank 10. The other 3 sank on the way home. While this was going on the IJN carriers were tracking my cripples and later got a couple of hits on Chicago in the surface group as it withdrew toward Oz. I should have routed it further west. Lesson learned, keep away from IJN CV groups.

Yorktown made it back to Noumea but could not repair her damage. I guess because the port didn't have proper facilities? Have to dig more into that. The minor damage to her escorts was quickly repaired at Noumea. I then sent them to Brisban to meet up with the other survivors. I had toyed with the idea of forming them into a surface group and running at the CV group. However I think that would have been a bad idea.

There were a few bombing runs on PM out of Rabaul and another base. The Wildcats from Lexington and the P-40s that I sent over from Oz knocked out quite a few Nells over several days.

The battles petered out and in spite of attempts to get my SSs to get some licks in there was no successful submarine combat with the exception of one sub damaging merchantman.

Final result Allied major victory. Points:1224 to 690. I got 64 for damage to land units, plus some more for ships and planes. The IJN sank CV Lexington, CA Chicago and DDs Phelps and Dewey. The entire transport group were sunk and Shokaku was damaged.

I have learned a few lessons from this first run through. At first I had some confusion with search arcs but I got it sorted out. I forgot to set search arcs for the surface units that had planes, but almost every turn I got messages about weather preventing searches anyway. I'm guessing I had worse than average weather, but even with adverse weather I may have had better results with my carriers if they had been handled differently. Still, PM was saved and I did have the pleasure of sinking that entire invasion force.

[rustysi]

Fun, ha. Just wait, it gets better.[:D]

[Randy Stead]

I've just had my first hit of crack. I want more.

[Ambassador]

Well done ! WitP AE is a tough game to master, and starting small is indeed the best way.

Losing only Lexington is a historical result for that battle. It shows the superiority of the Japanese CVs in the early war, thanks to the elite pilots and range (and efficiency of the Kates).

Repairing major damage on capital ships needs repair shipyards, and large enough. Yeah, size matters. In a full campaign, a damaged CV/BB/CA usually requires to go to PH, and even to West Coast if it’s heavily damaged. Check Alfred’s Ship Repair 101 (Here)

[Randy Stead]

Thanks for the link, Ambassador. I've printed it off and put it into my growing AE binder, a collation of miscellaneous game documents. I will give that section another read in bed tonight.

[pontiouspilot]

Don't be afraid to jump into a PBEM. Even if you get thrashed at first it's much more rewarding than AI can ever be.

[Ambassador]

I suggest you play again the Coral Sea scenario, as the Japanese. And maybe one or twice more as either, to test different strategies. It’ll be faster.

Next step would be the Guadalcanal scenario, it’ll teach you ground combat and a bit more logistics.

[rustysi]

ORIGINAL: Randy Stead

I've just had my first hit of crack. I want more.

Don't joke, its not that far off.[X(]

[rustysi]

put it into my growing AE binder

Only one????[&:] Oh wait, you're new.[:D]

[Ambassador]

ORIGINAL: rustysi

put it into my growing AE binder

Only one????[&:] Oh wait, you're new.[:D]

I stopped printing mine, I couldn’t lift it anymore ![:D][:D]

[Dili]

Nice.
Search arcs in ships are fixed to game orientation and do not take in account ship movement orientation and direction. I prefer to not use them.

[RangerJoe]

ORIGINAL: Dili

Nice.
Search arcs in ships are fixed to game orientation and do not take in account ship movement orientation and direction. I prefer to not use them.

I agree. Plus most of the float planes do not have long ranges and will automatically search within four hexes. You are better off putting at least one VS squadron at 50% search which was historically done, the rest wait with baited breath for Naval Bombing. Also, do not attack past the distance that your carrier fighters can go.

In one sense, sinking the troop loaded transports is better than sinking the Shoho. Invasion called off, time to leave.

[RangerJoe]

I sent you a pm, no need to answer it. It has good advice for every married man. [;)]

[Randy Stead]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

I sent you a pm, no need to answer it. It has good advice for every married man. [;)]

Thanks for the PM. Yes, all time tested and true, though my wife gets suspicious if I do that. Or looks for the attached string.

[Randy Stead]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

ORIGINAL: Dili

Nice.
Search arcs in ships are fixed to game orientation and do not take in account ship movement orientation and direction. I prefer to not use them.

I agree. Plus most of the float planes do not have long ranges and will automatically search within four hexes. You are better off putting at least one VS squadron at 50% search which was historically done, the rest wait with baited breath for Naval Bombing. Also, do not attack past the distance that your carrier fighters can go.

In one sense, sinking the troop loaded transports is better than sinking the Shoho. Invasion called off, time to leave.

Not bothering with arcs would make things easier. Though, my rookie mind worries about that one arc. "Where's Strawberry 9?"

[Randy Stead]

Second run through as Allies even more spectacular, with some last second heartbreak that ruined a shutout. Hockey term.

The score this time 1587 to 657.

I think I caught the transport task force early when it was divided, or appeared divided. I don't know if the AI sends it from two ports and merges them at sea, but the first air attack from my carriers caught 4 ships alone, damaging them. My subs scored about four successes, with hits and a couple of sinkings.

There was one carrier battle, the IJN hit me first, then I struck back at the same time. I always have a heart attack getting hit first, wondering if my counter-strike will make it. The weather gods were messing with me again. One group of 11 DBs missed the TF altogether, and I think they may have been the margin. I got 6 hits on Zuikaku, which limped off with heavy fires. Shokaku got plastered with 8 hits, heavy fires, heavy damage. CA Haguro got two hits, all from bombs. My TBs are only good for target practice, it seems. Perhaps I am doing something wrong there. More reading needed?

I got Hobart nearly back and one hex out from Townsville the flooding overwhelmed her. Yorktown sank in the same hex as Townsville. I wonder did she sink because I may have forgotten to auto-disband, or if she just died within sight of shore. Lexington was hit hard but made it to port, where she now sits unable to repair due to lack of facilities. Does Brisbane have a shipyard capable of repairing a USN CV? Moot point for the scenario as that hex is off map anyway.

I figured it was going to be a quiet game until conclusion but the sneaky IJN sent the balance of the transport fleet to PM. They were spotted by a Catalina rounding the cape. I quickly got a heavy surface group together, since the CV escorts were now free without the CVs to protect. They got the transports in an action about dusk and finished off the lone survivor in a night action. Again, the entire transport group destroyed at sea. Nice.

Well, that is enough for today. Two scenarios. Will have to try it from the IJN viewpoint. Though I have a queasy feeling. For some psychological reason I can play Axis in other games; Germany-Italy, but I find myself reluctant to play as Japan. Can't say why, just do. But I didn't feel that way as a teenager playing Avalon Hill's Midway board game.

One question, which I am sure I can find in the manual or a supplement. I had SS S-44 in Brisbane. She would not reload the 21 inch Mark 10 torpedo. Is that due to the port size at Brisbane? Is there another port in the Coral Sea scenario where you load that size torpedo aboard? Or perhaps I did something wrong or am misunderstanding. I'll be reading the manual again at bed time.

I'm also wondering about ships that make it back to a port in a heavily damaged state. Will getting into port and "anchored" prevent it sinking? If I recall correctly, Townsville is not large enough to dock a big carrier. Must you have a berth big enough to dock it to save it from sinking, or is it merely sufficient to get it into port and anchor it?

Wow, what a day! I finally got to grips with this game and it was a blast. As eager as I am to get into the grand campaign, I still have some boot camp to do. Then some advanced boot camp before I put to sea.

P.S. A few more details. The IJN sank Hobart and Yorktown. IJN lost 21 ships, including a CL, about 3 or 4 DDs to planes and subs, the rest were transports and the minesweeper that goes to Port Moresby. I think even Henry Fonda might approved of that exchange.

P.P.S. I am looking up the data for the torpedo to get its size in terms of rearm points. Then I will need to find a port that has the relevant size. Off now to the newb guides, where I may find the answer before someone answers this.

[Randy Stead]

An ancient wise man said, "Seek and ye shall find."

I sought, and I found...

In the manual, section 20.1.2.2 Ship Rearmament Table, lists the 21 inch torpedo [Mark numbers not given, but since the Mk 14 has its own entry, I will assume this line is all other 21 inch eels] at a rearm cost of1620. That means I need a port of size 7 to reload. Or, a tender with appropriate support at a smaller port. I have not yet looked up what tenders could carry the Mark 10 as supply, but the Tenders column lists: AE, AKE, AD, AS. Off now to check out those vessels to see if they can fit the bill.

As for the Coral Sea scenario, it seems that you get only the torpedoes at start, unless you can hook up with a tender. It feels rather rewarding to dig up the answers yourself. Of course help is always welcome, but I think you probably remember better if you put in the work yourself.

[RangerJoe]

Put your damaged ships into an "Escort Task Force" and set the speed to "Cruise." Also set them to "Auto Disband." Head for the nearest friendly port, preferable with an airfield with fighters. It is safer that way.

The early American Torpedo Bombers (TBs) were bad and so were their torpedoes. The torpedoes got fixed later and the Avengers came in. Early on for the US, the ship killers are the 1,000 pound bombs.

Catalinas on night search as well, maybe some even set to Naval attack with torpedoes. Yes, they did that as well.

Set your B-17s to Naval Search even if poorly trained. At least they will tell you if ships are out there - even if they can't tell the difference between a native canoe and a Battleship.

[RangerJoe]

ORIGINAL: Randy Stead

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

I sent you a pm, no need to answer it. It has good advice for every married man. [;)]

Thanks for the PM. Yes, all time tested and true, though my wife gets suspicious if I do that. Or looks for the attached string.

That is what the banners are for. Besides, you probably only did that previously when you did something wrong - at least, according to her. Show her the pm even.

The reason for the silk ones is that they will last and the only things needed are to keep them out of the direct sun inside and dust them.

[Randy Stead]

All good advice, Joe, both in game and out of game.[:)]

Those poor torpedo bomber crewmen. Even by Midway they were flying coffins. One crewman survived at Midway, George Gay I think his name was. He watched the 3 IJN CVs get plastered by the DBs and then later was fished out of the water.

Agree about the B-17s. I've seen that advice several times in my travels. Keeps them off the ground at least. Did you ever play the Avalon Hill board game Midway? They had a provision in that game for "B-17s attacks." I think you rolled a 5 or a 6 and you got a hit on one ship. I think even that was too generous and my play mates agreed so we took that out of the rule book.

Well, my digging seems to have paid off. I cannot find any way in the Coral Sea scenario how you can rearm your subs with 21 inch torpedoes. There is no size 7 port in the game [of which I am aware] at which you could rearm, nor are there the appropriate tenders that could let you do so at a smaller port. So, unless I am mistaken, the only sub torpedoes you will get to fire are the ones already at sea. I would love to be proven incorrect.