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I've been wanting to test another composition of CV TF's.
Maybe someone has already tried it and can tell me how it would have worked out:

If Japan got 3 CVs and you put one in each TF with a good AA escort. Then you would order group 2 & 3 to follow nr 1.
When the 3 TF's engaged a US TF with, lets say 2 CV's, only one of the Jap CV's would risk getting hit in each strike and the remaining CV's could pound the single US TF.

The way I understand it is that all flak in the hex will fire at the attacking ac's. This will make 3 TF's in a single hex put up a formidable barrage. All ac's launched from the 3 TF's will also work together and thus the overall effect of the 3 groups would be a lot better than that of a single one.

Guess there's a catch....the more units the more possibilities of confusion and things going wrong, but it's an interesting idea!

Comments?

I'm just starting a new game in PBEM where I'm the Japanese. We're doing Sec 17 and the starting forces for Japan are really tiny. Two CV's and a CVL, a couple of cruisers, and around 25 transports.

I'm sure heavy forces will eventuly arive, but it's going to make any operation to take PM a reall mess.

What's the latest date in which the Japanese could get away with taking PM? What would you suggest as a min force to take it? And is it more important to take Buna or Gili Gili first?

Could you do just as well by isolating PM and launching a operation aganist Luganville instead?

Very good notes on task forces, but I am curious about a couple things:

What about the IJN CS's? Mogami's composition did not consider them for surface or Air Combat. I typically assign one CS to every CV group I can, figuring it's a good flak platform, as well as a large amount of floatplanes for Search. Am I off base, or are they a good compliment to a CV group? Otherwise, the only use for them is ASW as far as I can tell.

Mogami, you also used CL's in the CV groups. I have never done that, because they contribute so little flax value. What is the reason to have them in a CV group? I use the CL's in bombardment or surface groups, because they are decent as surface combatants.

Also, the IJN DD's have widely varying capabilities, the Kamikazes are much better AA platforms than the Fubuki's, etc. etc. I tend to separate the classes and use certain classes specifically on certain missions, like: Matsuki (Fast Transport only), Fubuki (surface combat, fast transport), Kamikaze (CV escort), and so on. That's maybe too much detail for the TF composition, but something to consider.

PLaying Allies, my TF's are totally different, since most Allied CL's are great AA platforms, the DD's tend to be more uniform, etc.

Originally posted by SoulBlazer
What's the latest date in which the Japanese could get away with taking PM? What would you suggest as a min force to take it? And is it more important to take Buna or Gili Gili first?

Historically the Japanes had until May 15th to take Port Moresby. Realistically your window of oppertunity probably closes around late June or early July, depending on variable ship reinforcement.

Gili Gili should be taken on day 3 of the scenario. Day 1, load Fast transport. Day two unload troops at Gili Gili. Day three attack and capture the empty base. If you think he will air lift troops in you can use your zeros to fly LR-CAP over the base and shoot down his planes. Either way, he will get so few troops in that you should have no problem taking the base on day three.

Also, use a fast transport group to capture the doot next to Port Moresby about a day before you attack Port Moresby. This will remove any chance of the allies retreating when you take Port Moresby. You will get thousands of prisoners this way.

Could you do just as well by isolating PM and launching a operation aganist Luganville instead?

I think the entire Western half of the map hinges on taking Port Moresby. I would make it top priority.

Yamamoto

Can you take PM without Gili Gili?

Particularly when Lae has been bombed into the stone age and PM is well supplied and has 150+ aircraft? (Late May)

I think it is a critical piece in reducing PM before taking it. Without Lae as an effective base for aircraft, or Gili Gili, interfereing with PM resupply is difficult.

Mogami, you also used CL's in the CV groups. I have never done that, because they contribute so little flax value. What is the reason to have them in a CV group? I use the CL's in bombardment or surface groups, because they are decent as surface combatants.

Also, the IJN DD's have widely varying capabilities, the Kamikazes are much better AA platforms than the Fubuki's, etc. etc. I tend to separate the classes and use certain classes specifically on certain missions, like: Matsuki (Fast Transport only), Fubuki (surface combat, fast transport), Kamikaze (CV escort), and so on. That's maybe too much detail for the TF composition, but something to consider.

Ditto. I do the same thing you do, Q-Ball.

Hi, I am not a numbers cruncher. I put the CL's in TF's as destroyer leaders. I try to have a CL for at most every 4 DD's (sometimes I go as many as 6 DD per CL) Because this is what IJN CL's were used for.

I use the CS in "Scout" TF's. The TF's have
CS
2-3xDD
CL
They move a day ahead of my aircombat or other TF's (with retire on, do not react) Also I will send them into "holes" in land based search areas. They also preform ASW in advance of tranport TF's.