Incredible CD unit

[Buchon]

I didn't take notes so I´m sorry.
I was playing -again- the Guadalcanal scenario with japs and one of my CD units sunk up to four allied destroyers.
It was a unit -8th Coastal Gun Regiment- that were at Lunga and has been forced to retreet to Tassafaronga. I began a base construction there and I had achieved a level 2 port and a level 1 fortification. Then I stopped it and went on with the airfield construction when the AI send there two consecutives bombardment TFs. One of them had a BB, a couple CAs and some destroyers; and the other one only CAs and DDs.
The CD's main guns were 5.5 in. and the combat summary showed more than 400 rounds fired, witch dozens of hits on almost every attacking ship, including the BB and the CAs. Finally, two DDs from each TF were reported sunk, and some others damaged.
I haven't seen an Allied bombardment TF since then.

[2ndACR]

DD's are VERY easy to sink with ANY CD unit. Looks about normal to me.

[Buchon]

Yes, that right.
What I find odd is that no more than 20 guns were able to achive so many hits.

[Greco, Thomas A]

In two different PBEM games I had CD guns attack with over 1100 guns. Once at Dutch Harbor my opponent lost 20 jap AKs and once at Midway I lost 2 jap CAs. At Midway game stated 1134 guns and the other was (I think) 1177 guns. Is this an intended result?

[kayjay]

The numbers of guns you see are not *just* CD guns - switch over to HTH and take a look - you will find a large assortment of 'guns' down to heavy AAMG. Against ships the guys doing the damage are the 3", 4.5", 5" and up guns in the CD units. In this game they are very effective against DDs and smaller ships (in spite of the fact that in WWII not a single US DD was lost to coastal gun fire, AFAIK no IJN DD was either).

CD guns woudl rarely return fire against a ShoBOm mission - it reveals their location, the woudl wait until the landing force was in range.

[Twotribes]

At Wake the shore guns accounted them selves fairly well, even without range finding equipment.

[Pier5]

True, but you could throw a rock to the transport they sank, which in 1962 was still sitting on the reef, with the paint somewhat tattered, but the Imperial chrysanthamum (sp, wtf) still gleaming on the bow. Also, they were old naval deck guns mounted on concrete slabs with integral sights far superior to field artillery.

Let's not look for excuses here. The CD vs. bombardment TF is a complete fiasco, with units with expanding CD guns and field artillery able to engage moving warships which is totally impractical.

Pier5

[Mike Scholl]

ORIGINAL: kkelley

The numbers of guns you see are not *just* CD guns - switch over to HTH and take a look - you will find a large assortment of 'guns' down to heavy AAMG. Against ships the guys doing the damage are the 3", 4.5", 5" and up guns in the CD units. In this game they are very effective against DDs and smaller ships (in spite of the fact that in WWII not a single US DD was lost to coastal gun fire, AFAIK no IJN DD was either).

CD guns woudl rarely return fire against a ShoBOm mission - it reveals their location, the woudl wait until the landing force was in range.

I believe the IJN did lose one old DD at Wake.., but that sounds right otherwise. DD's
might close in and shoot it out successfully with some of the smaller, mobile, CD units
scattered around the Pacific; but they generally avoided "snake-pits" with heavy perma-
nent Coast Artillery Emplacements for "health" purposes.

[kayjay]

I will concede the Hayate (lost at wake) was classed as a DD (at 1200 tons half the size of a US DD)
however
"The invasion force consisted of three light cruisers, six destroyers and two transports carrying an Imperial Marine detachment, under the command of Rear Admiral Kaijou Sadamichi. Approaching from the south, the cruisers and destroyers began shelling the atoll at 0522 that morning. A little more than forty minutes later the force had approached to within 2,500 yards of Wake, and the transports were moving in, closely escorted by the destroyers. Having held their fire during the Japanese bombardment, at 0610 the Marine gunners came to life"
ref:
The Defense of Wake
by Lieutenant Colonel R.D. Heinl, Jr., USMC
Historical Section, Division of Public Information
Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps
1947

at 2500 yds who needs a rangefinder? But note the tactic of holding fire by the shore batteries.

[Ron Saueracker]

ORIGINAL: Pier5

True, but you could throw a rock to the transport they sank, which in 1962 was still sitting on the reef, with the paint somewhat tattered, but the Imperial chrysanthamum (sp, wtf) still gleaming on the bow. Also, they were old naval deck guns mounted on concrete slabs with integral sights far superior to field artillery.

Let's not look for excuses here. The CD vs. bombardment TF is a complete fiasco, with units with expanding CD guns and field artillery able to engage moving warships which is totally impractical.

Pier5

Agree.

[Dereck]

On December 11, 1941 the Japanese attacked Wake Island and the Marine coastal defense battery A hit Rear Admiral Kajioki's flagship, the light cruiser Yubari driving her away badly damaged and Battery I sank the destroyer Hayate, the first Japanese ship to be sunk during World War II.