OLD WPO FAQ (No longer updated)

[Tankerace]

I used the default experience for the first run, with the exception that I gave the British slightly lower night experience values. It would seem to me that of all three navies, the US would have the worst eperience, followed by the Japanese, then the British. The British had been fighting all through WWI, with some of her ships up to 1920 during the RUssian Revolution. Japan hadn't fought a major naval battle since 1905, and the Americans since 1898. I'll probably tweak the experience some though, as I think they might be a tad unbalanced.

The scenario was by no means finished when I played it (some things still need to be tweaked), however I felt that it was complete enough to be playable, which it was.

I am, in a way, hesitant to tweak some experience ratings though, as Jutland did show the British were not adept at night fighting. However, 24 battleships sunk in one night is a bit too extreme for me.

However, what it did show is that to produce a Jutland, you can't concentrate into 1 or 2 TFs. You must play like I did, having 3 or 4 battle squadrons, then use the Follw TF command to move them as a unit. This way, you get several battles and can possibly reproduce a Jutland. If you have 1 TF vs 1 TF, you won't, but 4 vs 2 did far worse than Jutland in the test AAR.

[mlees]

Japan hadn't fought a major naval battle since 1905, and the Americans since 1898. I'll probably tweak the experience some though, as I think they might be a tad unbalanced.

Some American dreadnoughts gained valuable experience operating with the Grand Fleet in 1918. "Jane's Battleships of the 20th Century" has a write up on page 150-151 on this. If you don't have the book, I can post it for you. Basically, the Yanks start out pretty green, but were eager to learn, and by the summer of 1918 were considered up to snuff. Granted, by 1928 some of this experience would have evaporated, but that goes for the British, too, IMO.

[Tankerace]

I have it. You'll also notice that the same passage indicates that to call the Americans poor would be an understatement. Unrealistic US training, terrible shooting. The British were pretty disdainful of us, the only reason they really liked us was that Admiral Hugh Rodman (comming the US forces) was keen to do everything the British way.

Also, low experience also helps simulate crappy 1920's fire control, especially on British ships. This was so bad (evenn 1941) that the Hood, using the Dreyer fire control table, never (according to observers on the POW) never hit anywhere NEAR the Bismarck. That probably hadn't been different 19 years previous.

Plus, while the US gained experience, that was limited to the so called "6th Battle Squadron", which is only a small portion of the US fleet.

US experience is lower, but its not drastic. It is enough that early on they won't perform as well, but after a while we get our heads out.

[mlees]

Cool beans!

[Tankerace]

Thought you guys would like a screenie, here is the top down view of all Japanese planes in War Plan Orange, sans the B1M1 (which is identical to the B1M1) and the C1M (which is a recce plane, and should never need to have a top down view, although one is included.)



This is an old screenie, I'll probably touch up the planes before release.

[Tankerace]

How did you come up with Japanese ship start locations?

This I mainly did from guessing. All research told me that Tokyo and Osaka are the main ports. Since Japan is the "aggressor" in War Plan Orange, this also gave me some 'poetic' liscense.

How did you come up with British ship start locations?
Same as above. I gave the Brits a small fleet of tin cans, then in late 22 portions of the then Mediterranean Fleet, and in 1925 what I would assume to be the bulk of the fleet. (The Grand fleet, sort of).

How did you come up with American ship start locations?
This is based on fact. Americans are good paper-pushers (myself included) in that we keep track of every roll of toilet paper. Battleship and Armoured Cruiser starting locations are taken from different sources, while protected cruiser, destroyer, destroyer minelayer, gunboat, minesweeper, and submarine start positions and arrival dates are taken from the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, or DANFS. I have researched each carefully. Some ships, decommed in "red-lead row" of Philadelphia make an appearance in 1924, some in 1925, and still others do not. All ships decommed at Pearl or Sandiego before 1 June 1922 start with a damge of 10 at the respective port.

To further note, in August of 1922 a large force of US Destroyers arrives in Colombo. These represent mostly US Destroyers transiting the Mediterranian, that historically arrived in Cavite or Shanghai on 26 August 1922. Since there is a chance those ports will be overrun by then, they instead arrive at Colombo. Here, the player can either send them to the China Station or Asiatic Fleet, or use them in conjuction with British ships.

[Tankerace]

For a moment I want to discuss aircraft effectiveness in War Plan Orange. It can be a double edged sword. On the whole, it isn't very effective. Planes are flimsy, short ranged, and carry light loads. Yet, if one is to view airpower as nothing more than a novelty, he is inviting danger. I did a test just now, and I want to share the results. Note this large strike coming in from Manila and Bataan (This is from the PBEM scenario called Clash of Titans, starting January 1 1929. It assumes the war has gone on for at least a year.)



The ships at the receiving end were a bunch of destroyers. The Army Planes (The P-1 and -3 Hawks, DH-4s, and MB-2s) were bombing at 5,000 feet, the Navy planes )F6C-1 and -4 Hawks, T4Ms, and O2U Corsairs bombed at 10,000. Of all those planes (even the fighters attacked), 100 in all, only a single 24lb bomb hit was scored by one of the DH-4s. 100 planes, at 2 altitudes, dropping 4 kinds of bombs scored a single hit. Not very convincing, eh?

Now, note this attack:


Attacking a similar fleet, these planes managed to score 2 bomb hits (100lb) and 1 Torpedo (18"Mk 6).

Note this attack:


These British planes scored 3 hits with torpedoes in 2 attacks.

Those we against a force of around 6 destroyers. Note this Japanese attack:


Attacking the HMS Anson twice, they sank her with 4 torpedo hits and 2 or 3 bomb hits. Not the spectrum (and don't think the Japanese have it better.... I have seen the results reversed). The fact is that aircraft, while generally ineffective, can still get their blows in. Air Bases are limited, base forces are limited, construction units are limited, and planes are limited. Use them wisely. Don't use them to the exclusion of your battle fleet, but don't use your battlefleet to the exclusion of your planes. Your carriers can't win the war, but they can influence the battle that turns the tide.

I hope this has provided insight, and shown off some new WPO artwork. Enjoy.

[Tankerace]

Since the topic of Japan's resources have come up, I'll explain.

Since the period of WPO is before WW2, and the Sino Japanese war, Japan is assumed to have a good reserve of fuel and supplies. At the beginning, there is a stockpile of around 600,000 tons of fuel in Japan. Japan does produce fuel, which amounts to roughly 4,000 tons per day in country. This is a yearly production of 1,460,000 tons. So, while Japan will always have fuel, there may not be enough of it for when you want it.

To offset this, you need to take bases in China, or for sure the PI. They produce a lot of fuel. Granted, while after you capture the base it doesn't produce fuel, from the start of the scenario to when you capture it, there should be a good stockpile of fuel. Manila, Davao, Bankok, Brunei, Tilitjap, Soerabaia, and Kendari all have good starting stockpiles just for this purpose. If you take the PI in say, 6 months, you will get around 400-800,000 tons of fuel, more than double your starting reserves.

I have also done the VPs in a way that you can either take the DEI or the PI, not necessarily both. It comes down to 1) How many VPs do you want, versus how much fuel do you want to take. If you are willing to wait for the fuel to be produced, then just grab the PI and hold it. Or, if you want more, go for the gold.

If anyone thinks the 1,400,000 yearly for Japan is excessive, that is 1/8th the fuel output for Mare Island alone. Its enough to get by, but small enough to make you want to get more.

[The Gnome]

Seems like an interesting mod here. One question I have is:

How much will the surface combat routines be reworked?

I dislike the model they use in WitP for surface combats as it seems more attention was paid to the Air-Surface routines. I hope WPO will flesh things out for surface combatants.

[Tankerace]

The routines will not be reworked. However, if you organize your TFs into divisions instead of actual TFs, then you can reproduce Jutland like battles (See the Pacific Jutland AAR).

While the surface routines aren't exactly how I would like, based on the rather unexpected results I discovered in my AAR, I think they will do quite nicely.

[Brady]

WoW I am impreased with the work and love that has been put into this and sincerly look forward to having a go at it, TY for the hard work, I will spend more time over hear digesting all this over the weakend.[:)]

[Tankerace]

Glad to hear it Brady. This thing started out as a small little scenario with a few US dreadnoughts, a few new graphics, and it grew into all of this. Im still surprised at it all, in all honesty.