Matrix Games Forums

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Thanks, but what about the question at hand?

I think that given the nasty weather forecast, 4 squadrons of 2 destroyers sent en echelon makes the most sense. Straight into Chittagong, where any severely mauled destroyer could find sanctuary but also maximizing the number of potential torpedo launches.

ORIGINAL: mind_messing

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Thanks, but what about the question at hand?

I think that given the nasty weather forecast, 4 squadrons of 2 destroyers sent en echelon makes the most sense. Straight into Chittagong, where any severely mauled destroyer could find sanctuary but also maximizing the number of potential torpedo launches.

As with everything else in this game, it depends.

In my experience, 4-6 tends to be the magic range for surface combat TF size that are going to fight a single battle and vanish. Any larger, you sometimes end up with ships that don't fire.

If you're planning for a series of protracted battles with multiple task forces, then larger is definitely better. Those ships that didn't get to fire in the first few encounters can expend their ammo, and there are more ships to break up the targeting routine.

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: Drakanel

To be fair, I read both AAR, so I don't comment too much on either But since you asked big vs small TFs....

I don't have much experience of the game, but it seems likely you will have low visibility. Keep in mind I'm rather inexperieced, but I'd do small squadrons to maximize intercept chances (more squadrons) and minimize the chances of collisions. Lack of visibility should also favor the most experienced crews (should be yours, right?)

Managing to put some nice torpedoes into those battleships would be very good for you.

I have only ever seen collisions with larger task forces, say over a dozen or more, and usually not combat task forces.

You aren't just whistling Dixie there, I need to damage his battleship fleet. I am hoping between some Long Lances, Iboats, RO Boats and Betties I can do some good. Debating about night naval attack, but the weather is really atrocious.

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: mind_messing

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Thanks, but what about the question at hand?

I think that given the nasty weather forecast, 4 squadrons of 2 destroyers sent en echelon makes the most sense. Straight into Chittagong, where any severely mauled destroyer could find sanctuary but also maximizing the number of potential torpedo launches.

As with everything else in this game, it depends.

In my experience, 4-6 tends to be the magic range for surface combat TF size that are going to fight a single battle and vanish. Any larger, you sometimes end up with ships that don't fire.

If you're planning for a series of protracted battles with multiple task forces, then larger is definitely better. Those ships that didn't get to fire in the first few encounters can expend their ammo, and there are more ships to break up the targeting routine.

I tend to agree with the caveat:

Fighting one battle and returning to port I think is a factor of mission and ammunition left plus other stuff. So the larger the task force, the more likely it is going to stick around and fight more because it carries more ammunition. Once the ammunition is depleted the orders to break combat come quite quickly, even before combat takes place.

It may also have to do with aggression, TF disposition settings, weather, detection levels, relative strength, damage, fuel levels. Sure I am missing a lot too, I bet -- I didn't even mention ops points remaining, but that might not influence it.

Anyway, I am experimenting with multiple small task forces -- MSTF. One, because of the weather, and two because I think they will retreat sooner and not extend the combat by rotating more ships into firing positions.

This game can't devolve down to who carries the biggest stick. There has to be a counter.

We shall see...

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

A present for Jocke.

Luckily she was empty, after having just delivered a fuel load.

Bad luck, what? I will check the Captain's stats in tracker and crew experience.

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

Do you play the Allies?

The P-40K is great. I actually get mad when it goes away and is replaced by the worse P-40N/P-40N25. What's great about the K is that:
1) Sure, its maneuver doesn't compare favorably with contemporary IJ models, but it has 30 Durability and better guns, plus armor.
2) Speed is good enough
3) Comes en masse, relatively speaking. You can lose 15 in a single fight and not be terribly bothered.

It's a good plane to anchor your CAP (literally - use it down low). The P-40E actually is also, but is limited by numbers.

If it were you how would you organize your 8 destroyers task force wise? Comments much appreciated. One big task force, multiple small task forces, 2 medium size task forces. I plan to max night naval search, day naval search. There is moderate rain coming down at Chittagong presently, with a forecast of thunderstorms. Moonlight is 71% and waxing. Oh, one more question, would you send all the destroyers in Chittagong, or one hex to the west hoping to catch them after the bombardment?

ORIGINAL: tiemanj

If it were you how would you organize your 8 destroyers task force wise? Comments much appreciated. One big task force, multiple small task forces, 2 medium size task forces. I plan to max night naval search, day naval search. There is moderate rain coming down at Chittagong presently, with a forecast of thunderstorms. Moonlight is 71% and waxing. Oh, one more question, would you send all the destroyers in Chittagong, or one hex to the west hoping to catch them after the bombardment?

Late again, as always - but for future scenarios:

I would go 1 TF of 2 DDs, and 1 TF of 6 DDs. Try to arrange it so the 2 DDs get there first, than the 6. Try to hit him 1 hex out of the target location AFTER his bombardment (so he has no ammo). Of course this means it happens in the day time and not night (which would be an advantage for the allied player in comparative skill level). But even in Japans case, I think it would be an advantage because
1) he will have very little ammo to defend him self with
2) it takes op points from the day phase (instead of the night phase), which can leave him more vulnerable to air strikes.