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Never fight mega-KB (KB + the CVLs).

Yes combine your RN CVs with Allied CVs.

Never fight outside of your own LBA range, and certainly not within Japan's.

You have a fair chance at victory vs. KB (6 IJN CVs) if you have -all- allied flight decks, within LBA range, and with supplimental sqdns (like a few additional USMC SBDs). It's all about the number of planes you can launch. If you can't get at least 33% more planes in the air than Japan, don't engage.

-F-

Doesn't seem right. Shouldn't this be an rroberson thread?

ORIGINAL: Feinder

Never fight mega-KB (KB + the CVLs).

Yes combine your RN CVs with Allied CVs.

Never fight outside of your own LBA range, and certainly not within Japan's.

You have a fair chance at victory vs. KB (6 IJN CVs) if you have -all- allied flight decks, within LBA range, and with supplimental sqdns (like a few additional USMC SBDs). It's all about the number of planes you can launch. If you can't get at least 33% more planes in the air than Japan, don't engage.

-F-

however given a choice between fighter or SBD numbers i would pick fighters, tho i do love dauntlesses

plus for the obvious reason that sbds may drop more bombs, but more fighters will help prevent u from RECIEVING bombs, and help insure the SBD-express is there, on time, and able to make delivery to imperial flight decks[:D]

only reason i include RN carriers is cannon fodder

however given a choice between fighter or SBD numbers i would pick fighters, tho i do love dauntlesses

I like offense myself, and go with the SBDs. Also, the Fighter sqdns won't fit on your CVs after the July sqdn size expansion without exploding the capacity.

And as far as the RN CVs go, every plane counts. With 2x RN(33), 1x RN(45), and RN(20), you're talking about 45+ more torpedo bombers, plus fighters. Also, the RN CVs are immune to Vals, so any attacks that go vs. them are fewer bombs landing on your USN CVs.

-F-

I am the opponent of Ursa in this game. First I thought that he did not have any reaction set. But this was not the problem. The real problem for him was that I spotted him, but he did not spot me. My CVs were around Lunga and remained unspotted for about 6 days!

This is Andrews map. NDeni had no airplanes (no airfield icon). Luganville was also empty. Only 2 allied airfields were operating in the vicinity: Efate and Noumea. I do not know how many Catalinas were operating from these fields but it could not be too many. I had in the area 4 CV TFs, 1 SC TF and 1 ASW TF.
The battle happened at a range of 5 hex - which is very lucky for me. Allied CVs did not react because my CVs remained unspotted.

As for defending Lunga: it is a hopeless place for Allies in 42 IMHO.

3 US CVs in one TF in 1942...BAD ! You get serious disadvantage from coordination rule. Engaging KB before Flak upgrade and VF squadron re-sizing...BAD! Engage KB before late summer/autumn of 1942 at your own risk. Mostly you are in serious disadvantage from start and it usually leads to results like this.

BTW, if you managed to save Prince of Wales it makes the best Flak-vessel until SoDaks arrive and is reasonably fast to be with your CVs.

ORIGINAL: Miller

Do not even attempt to attack the KB until every ship has had its 10/42 upgrade and TBFs have replaced the TBDs. Its as simply as that really.

It never ceases to amaze me of the different experiences had by different players in the WitP world.

I totally disagree with the "run and hide till end of year" approach. The KB is tough but not invincible, even in summer of '42.

The one time I have played as the Allies the decisive battle happened in July of '42 around Rabaul. I was able to use 3 CVs in addition to land based a/c from PM, Rabaul and Guad. The KB came rushing in from Kwaj and got plastered over the next 4 days.

The IJN lost all but the Akagi and she was smoking big time. Allies had the Enterprise limping to Australia but the other two in relatively good shape.

The KB can be had before 1943![;)]

Yes, with careful planning and picking your fights KB can be defeated in early 1942. Especially if you fight inside your heavy bomber range. Those LB-30/B-17 units work fine against KB, soaking up fighters and giving your CV planes better chance. Of course those plans can be easily wrecked by day of bad weather...[:'(]

ORIGINAL: JReb
The one time I have played as the Allies the decisive battle happened in July of '42 around Rabaul. I was able to use 3 CVs in addition to land based a/c from PM, Rabaul and Guad. The KB came rushing in from Kwaj and got plastered over the next 4 days.

Well there's the perfect setup if ever I saw one. As Big B pointed out, it's the setup that's the key.

I agree with feinder, its all about offense and numbers as allies in early war. A few more of those basically obsolete wildcats will not stop the KB from smashing though your cap. You need to force YOUR bombers through, as many as possible, and then just take whatever your opponent dishes out in return. Only reason for adding more fighters would be to set them to escort and 0% cap imho. [;)]

Because of the coordination issue allies should keep only 1 CV per TF throughout 42 so this basically means only one carrier will get sunk per raid while you will get multiple hits on multiple enemy carriers. [:)] If one or two of them sink on its way back to port its a nice bonus.

RN carriers can be the weight that tips the scale in a carrier duel, especially if its late enough for you to have a couple of the squadrons flying seafires.

I have only had 3 carrier duels in my pbems so far, but the above tactic have worked pretty good. Worst result was two carriers sunk for me and 2 heavily damaged for IJN (1 fleet+1cvl+light damage to several others), which I think was acceptable since KB will be vulnerable to my LBA until those carriers are back.

ORIGINAL: Tetsuo
allies should keep only 1 CV per TF throughout 42

That's a good idea thanks.

As of Lunga we'll see. [:D]