CL Boise On Steroids?

[FAdmiral]

I remember a scenario I created using "Destroyer Command" where I had
2 Brooklyn class cruisers go up against the "Bismarck". I used a v pattern
in closing with my 2 cruisers firing all the way. The Bismarch could not aim her
main guns towards both ships at once. I WON the battle without losing either
cruiser. Rate of fire was the KEY and keeping all 30 6" guns on the target....

JIM

[Terminus]

I'm sure the Bismark was scuttled...[:D]

[wild_Willie2]

In fighting steel I LOST the YAMATO in a night action with 4 Brooklyn CL's.....
 
They plinked me to death, using their radar controlled guns to start fires and demolishing my upper deck.  I lost my BB to the ensuing fires without even seeing them....
 
I REALLY hated that mission...

[pauk]

ORIGINAL: Terminus

I'm sure the Bismark was scuttled...[:D]

she was sunkled!

[Terminus]

Scunked!

[pauk]

i have no choice and must admit you are right, for the first time!

[ctangus]

Here's how to handle Boise: [8D]

12/11/41
Day Air attack on TF at 64,59
Japanese aircraft
B5N2 Kate x 23
Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 damaged
Allied Ships
CL Boise, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage Sinks!

[Accipiter]

I've sent multiple CVLs againt the Boise in the early days of my RHSEOS campaign.  All I had to show for it was about 2 dozen lost Kates over the course of 3 days of fighting.  All the while the Boise was alone without aircover or escorts.  A monster of a ship.

[niceguy2005]

ORIGINAL: ctangus

Here's how to handle Boise: [8D]

12/11/41
Day Air attack on TF at 64,59
Japanese aircraft
B5N2 Kate x 23
Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 damaged
Allied Ships
CL Boise, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage Sinks!

No doubt air power is the safest method.

[Icedawg]

23 Kates?

How did you get 23 Kates onto the Ryujo (I assume that's where they came from) so early in the game (only four days in)? The max # of aircraft in Ryujo's Kate section is 19, so you clearly had another unit aboard. How did you transfer that unit all the way to Palau (or the general vicinity thereof) so early on? Did you take a few small undefended airfields in the Philippines with paratroopers and leap-frog a Kate squadron from Japan (or the one stationed on the Hosho perhaps)?

While I'm on the topic of the Ryujo, what is the best strategy for using her early on? Is she better used to hunt down allied ships in the Philippines and Dutch East Indies, or to provide air cover for transport TF's in the same area? With just one section of Kates and one section of Zero's, it doesn't seem as though her original compliment of aircraft will be sufficient to do either.

Currently, I lean towards transferiing her Kates to Palau, then transferring a second Zero squadron from Takao to her decks. Doing so gives me a potent little CAP assemblage of 50+ Zero's scouring the skies over those invasion forces immediately bound for Amboina, Kendari, Tarakan and Balikpapan. Without this supplemented CAP, my invasion forces usually take a slight-to-moderate beating from Martins and Hudsons on the way to their destinations. With this extra CAP, they ususally make it to their landing sites unscathed.

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: Icedawg

23 Kates?

How did you get 23 Kates onto the Ryujo (I assume that's where they came from) so early in the game (only four days in)? The max # of aircraft in Ryujo's Kate section is 19, so you clearly had another unit aboard. How did you transfer that unit all the way to Palau (or the general vicinity thereof) so early on? Did you take a few small undefended airfields in the Philippines with paratroopers and leap-frog a Kate squadron from Japan (or the one stationed on the Hosho perhaps)?

While I'm on the topic of the Ryujo, what is the best strategy for using her early on? Is she better used to hunt down allied ships in the Philippines and Dutch East Indies, or to provide air cover for transport TF's in the same area? With just one section of Kates and one section of Zero's, it doesn't seem as though her original compliment of aircraft will be sufficient to do either.

Currently, I lean towards transferiing her Kates to Palau, then transferring a second Zero squadron from Takao to her decks. Doing so gives me a potent little CAP assemblage of 50+ Zero's scouring the skies over those invasion forces immediately bound for Amboina, Kendari, Tarakan and Balikpapan. Without this supplemented CAP, my invasion forces usually take a slight-to-moderate beating from Martins and Hudsons on the way to their destinations. With this extra CAP, they ususally make it to their landing sites unscathed.

Instead of transferring the Kates off, you may want to consider attaching the CVE Taiyo to the TF and put a daitai of Zeros on board. What good is a carrier TF with no offensive punch?

[Icedawg]

But the Taiyo is way up near Sasebo. It's going to take a week or two for her to get into the action from way up there. (I guess I should have mentioned I only play the Dec 8th scenario (no 1st turn Jap movement bonus). It seems as though the Dec 7th scenario never gives any kind of Pearl Harbor results close to the real thing so I don't bother playing that one.)

[Nikademus]

ORIGINAL: niceguy2005

Is it a bug or was the Boise's armor actually that thick?

Her armor stats are not the issue. Even 2in of armor in the game is enough to stop most light caliber weapons regardless of range . That leaves DD's and some older CL's with only their torpedoes for defense and even LL's can't always hit.

[ctangus]

ORIGINAL: Icedawg

23 Kates?

How did you get 23 Kates onto the Ryujo (I assume that's where they came from) so early in the game (only four days in)?

Those were HI based Kates I bought out & sent to Pagan. Boise was fleeing east after I'd spotted her on the 7th & 8th and some floatplanes put a couple bombs into her.

While I'm on the topic of the Ryujo, what is the best strategy for using her early on? Is she better used to hunt down allied ships in the Philippines and Dutch East Indies, or to provide air cover for transport TF's in the same area? With just one section of Kates and one section of Zero's, it doesn't seem as though her original compliment of aircraft will be sufficient to do either.

Beats me - I'm a Japanese newb myself! [:'(] Though I'm using her (with Zuiho & Hosho) mostly to provide air cover.

[tsimmonds]

Is she better used to hunt down allied ships in the Philippines and Dutch East Indies, or to provide air cover for transport TF's in the same area?

Who says you can't do both? She and Zuiho make a good early team; together they have what, 46 VF and 30 VT? Toss in Hosho and Taiyo as well, if you don't mind the loss of speed.

[Ian R]

Armor:
 
Don't forget USN ships were getting STS armor, which worked better than anyone else's. The armor ratings may well take that into account.
 
 

[Icedawg]

If I were to play a Dec 7th scenario (with the first turn movement bonus), I would. However, I only play the Dec 8th scenario, so it would just take way to long for the Zuiho, Hosho and Taiyo to get far enough south to help out. I like to try to take some of the important resource and oil bases as quickly as possible, so all I have in the immediate area is the Ryujo (at least for the first two weeks or so). If I didn't care about taking those bases so quickly, these other three carriers plus the Ryujo would definitely be grouped into one TF.

[tsimmonds]

IMHO, you are giving up an awful lot just to make sure you sink a couple of old battleships.[;)]

[Icedawg]

I agree with you. The turn one movement advantage is HUGE compared to a couple of these obsolete ships, but I am one of those "historically-accurate psycho's" [:D] and it just bothers me like crazy to see the Dec 7th strike turn out so ahistorical.

[crsutton]

The Brooklyn's incredible rate of fire was due to automatic loaders in the main turrets. However, I thought that some of the early ships of this class did not have auto loaders in the early stages of the war. Does anyone know about the Boise? I can't find a source.