Condor Flies south for the war

BillBrown · Post by **BillBrown** » Wed Jul 16, 2003 6:22 pm

It is very sad to have the game beat you instead of your opponent. I really wanted to see how you fared taking TV. I just restarted a game as Japan and was going to somewhat follow your plan. Now I am not sure about it. I have seen a few of the transport anomolies myself.

Mike Wood · Post by **Mike Wood** » Thu Jul 17, 2003 12:10 pm

Hello...

We appreciate your frustration. I might suggest that in assigning one task force to follow another, you assign faster task forces to follow slower ones. Such as having surface and air operations task forces follow the transport task force. The artificial intelligence can handle this better, because the followers can keep up better. Also, in the case of air operations task forces, if one is assigned to follow a slower task force, it will not zip off after some enemy fleet, but will stay in the same hex.

Good Luck...

Michael Wood
___________________________________________________

Originally posted by Quark
8/11 its very depressing how this game has deteriorated...
Quark

AmiralLaurent · Post by **AmiralLaurent** » Thu Jul 17, 2003 2:35 pm

Agree with Michael. Now when I plan an invasion I have one transport fleet lead all other forces (other tranport, CV fleet, surface, MSW and so on). All CV are on patrol mode and will stop at a point some hexes of target, while bombardment and MSW TF will attack in advance. Then, I give every transport fleet the order to go to the target and change the status to retire (or they won't unload.

I still have some problems with FT TF on long ranges (ie more than two days trip) that sometimes did something strange. If the TF did something strange the first day, I give it the order to return to base to disband it, as it will usually did something strange also the next day. Or if there is no risk of naval battle, I create a new TF in this hex and transfer all ships into it. This new TF will be led by a ship's captain and not by an admiral but has always followed orders after.

There was also this day where a FT TF went on the bad side (SW rather than E) and was seen by Allied planes. My opponent decides to attack it with CV and sent them north but they met IJN CV instead and were all sunk. Thanks the bug for it.

Philwd · Post by **Philwd** » Sat Jul 19, 2003 9:25 am

We appreciate your frustration. I might suggest that in assigning one task force to follow another, you assign faster task forces to follow slower ones. Such as having surface and air operations task forces follow the transport task force. The artificial intelligence can handle this better, because the followers can keep up better. Also, in the case of air operations task forces, if one is assigned to follow a slower task force, it will not zip off after some enemy fleet, but will stay in the same hex.

Thanks for the reply Mike,
I actually started out having everything following my slowest transport TF but after a couple turns everything was strung out. The faster TF weren't keeping up. I figured it was due to DD refueling burning op points. Since I was approaching Oz I wanted to make sure all transports were under the air umbrella so I switched to follow the CVs and only moved then 5 hexes a turn. It seemed to work for the most part.
Going back through the turns I noticed something I hadn't before. It is mostly the 3000 cap freighters going off. And also the wierdness started turn after I detached the tankers but I had made sure everyone was topped off.

I really appreciate the response. I figure now I get to practice my IJN defense tactics:) .

Quark

Philwd · Post by **Philwd** » Sat Jul 19, 2003 9:38 am

8/12 Couple more transports torp'd getting back to Cairns. Condor isn't missing much anymore. He is also only bombing at night. I hope he tears up his planes doing that.

He hasn't realized yet I am bugging out. Radio intercepts seem to indicate a fear of me trying for Townsville or Rockhampton still. Radio intercepts also confirm the 32 and 41st div are present in full force and only the Sara is in theatre.

My navy is too beat up to contemplate chasing Sara down. Only 3 CVs still under 10 sys. Air sqdns ~75% strength. Every BB detached for repairs. 7 CA's laid up etc. I see lots of AKs heading Oz way. Moving troops??? I may get a wild hair and try for Luganville. All his LBA is in Oz. Somebody tell me I am crazy for even thinking it. My navy is too beat up.

Evacuation about 1/3 complete. More transport loading wierdness. I was in a hurry to finish the turn so I had just disbanded all the little TF and grouped all sizes of AP into one big TF as I have so few escorts still around. 1000 and 2000 cap APs loaded fine. 3000s seemed to. Next turn I found the 3000s had unloaded again except for the supplies. Looking back 2 turns ago it was the 3000s that unloaded and ran. Maybe that's it. I am putting them into their own TF again and will try once more to load up.

I am also taking Renell, Rossell and Irau to build up my perimenter.

Quark

AmiralLaurent · Post by **AmiralLaurent** » Mon Jul 21, 2003 10:13 pm

Hi, Quark,

interesting to see your 3000-ton AP seems to do all weird things. I never used them in invasions, only in convoys in "safe" waters (if any water is safe in UV), and I never saw transport fleets do things like you saw.

But I have allready seen a 3000-ton AP convoy load one day then unload one day and sail empty (at Truk, with home base Truk and destination one of the south bases).

Philwd · Post by **Philwd** » Tue Jul 22, 2003 9:04 am

Hi Amiral,
The 3000's worked this time by putting them in their own TF. Hasn't always worked though. I only used 4 or 5 in the invasion as they are too valuable to lose. I was just short 1 TF when setting up and they were in port. Interesting to note you also have seen unusual behavior in your 3000s. And its exactly what I have seen twice.

Ok game update time.

I've lost another 16 ships in the past 5 turns while the forums were down; 72 total. 7 to subs, 4 to a determined air attack by 16 SBDs and the rest to a DD raid last turn. I saw the DD's at Townsville and bugged out everything but forgot about the TF just coming into harbor

.

Condor has closed the airfield again. 7 planes left from Tainan Daitai. Don't want to lose those.

I just need one more run with 11 1000 transports and I'll clear the base. Tstorms next turn so maybe I'll get the airfield back open.

Condor admitted he's moved his Marine sqnds(Wildcat and SBD) over so maybe the Luganville attack isn't such a bad idea after all. If he has his USN, Marine, P-39, P400, B25, B26 and all his B17s there not much left at Luganville.

The gig may be up though. He did see the CVs go back for refueling and noticed all the activity at PM and GG. Radio intercepts from Chicago indicate Condor is wondering if I am leaving Oz. Propoganda department worked overtime to assure him they werejust stopping by the neighborhood station to fill up some thirsty ships.

Quark

Philwd · Post by **Philwd** » Fri Jul 25, 2003 8:56 am

up to 8/22 now.

Condor tried a repeat DD raid with a couple small forces meant to wear out any defenders. I had a new SC TF waiting built around the Maya . Revenge time. He lost 4 DD's:D and I had 1 DD damaged to 20 SYS. He also engaged an ASW force of PC/PGs and badly damaged 1. It will make it back to GG.

Only one more transport run is needed to move the rest of the troops off Cairns. I am moving the garrisons meant for PM and GG there directly now rather than try and move back later. I am also draining Cooktown and Cairns of supplies and moving them to PM and GG. Both >70K supplies now. This should also delay any attacks staged from there and give me opportunities at re-supply convoys.

I have taken irau, rossels and Rennel. Base at Rossels already(just a size 1 port) with an AV and Mavis sqn. Eng there headed to Irau to start on the forts.

I will commence random recon runs again so Condor won't know where I plan on heading. Also I want to know if he is building up. No activity at Wunpuko yet that I've seen. Does anyone know when the Irving replacements start?

Quark out

Philwd · Post by **Philwd** » Sat Jul 26, 2003 11:33 pm

8/23
Condor hits Cairns with large air raids. But nothing is in harbor except some PCs. He loses 50 planes to my 5. 17 Marine F4 shot down; pretty much rendering the sqn combat ineffective. I also put a 20 plane dent in those troublesome P-39s.

Last transport convoy hits Cairns tomorrow.

I've lost sight of Sara in the storms. Amazingly enough still no activity at Wunpuko or any other SOPAC base except Luganville.

Condor is curious about my activity at Rossel and is sending a sub. I am sending my CS ASW force as a response.

Woodlark and Buna built up as much as I'm going to. Dobadura, Kiriwina and Irau(just al ittle at Irau will be mostly forts).

Quark

Philwd · Post by **Philwd** » Tue Jul 29, 2003 5:29 am

8/28 now. Been quiet last couple turns. I had to leave Yugumo behind as a port attack left her too flooded to try for GG. Condor moved in very fast to retake Cairns once he realized I was gone.

Only thing going on is I am re-deploying my land forces and re-supplying forward bases. All are sucked dry of fuel. CV TFs steamed into Rabaul last turn just as I finished unloading 60K fuel. They drank all but 8K. Thirsty buggars.

Time to assess my losses with the adventure at Cairns. My CV airgroups overall at 75% but Hiryu at 40%. I lost parts of 2 HQ and totally lost the South Seas Detachment HQ. Didn't realize it until this turn and I sorted where all the units are. That sucks. I have already gotten the repalcements for the other 2 HQ.

I lost the entire 229th regiment except for 1 squad. The 8th Naval garrison is down to 24 squads. All other units had minor combat losses. The 35th Brigade is still at full strength.

My navy is mostly above 10 SYS but there are exceptions. The units at Truk are repairing nicely. Yamato is down 3 points in 2 weeks. I expect no major fleet actions for the next 45 days.

My LBA losses were negligible. I actually trained up many 50 EXP pilots to the high 60's.

That's about it. I need to sit back and plan my next move. Luganville still beckons.

Quark

Philwd · Post by **Philwd** » Wed Jul 30, 2003 1:41 am

That was the radio signal from Gen Hori as he vanished from the deck of the China Maru with his entire staff. As we found out later he had shown up on the USN ship APD Little. The bastard US even sent us a photo showing they had dastardly captured the entire HQ. An excerpt from the radio ransom demand;

"Oh yes, make sure the money is all used bills, and NO COPS!!! Or we'll mail the General home in little pieces!

Muahahahahahaaa!!"

Ransom photo is attached.

The ransom is to be paid and the General and his staff put ashore at Basilaki island.

Such is the fortunes of war

Quark

Philwd · Post by **Philwd** » Wed Jul 30, 2003 9:29 am

8/30

The General has yet to be released

. I do see the APD on its way though.

For the realm of the nearly unbelievable I just had 13 ships released today with my commit level low. I got the Hiyo, 1 CA, 4 CL and 8 DD!!!:D

My CVs sucked 50 fighters out of the pool today

. Most had a surplus of pilots though so hopefuly the drain on the pool won't be too bad. All Vals in the pool are gone also. Kates I didn't need all that many of even after the debacle of the second day's attack at Noumea.

I tried to have my Betty's attack a nice fat 7 tranport TF just arriving at Wunpuko. With a BIG escort as I knew Condor would have CAP up.

Well what happened is yes indeed I attacked Wunpuko and sank 1 transport and only lost 1 Betty in return. However my Betties also attacked Noumea 3 times sinking 3 ships!!!

No CAP up but I expect that to change next turn

. So I expect Condor to have to split his fighters making my life a whole lot easier in coming days.

All in all a fantastic turn. Got ships released and gave Condor a bloody nose only losing 3 Betties total.

In the realm of what to do next Condor does seem awfully weak over Noumea way. My ships are all beat up though. I'm going to wait a couple days and see if I can get a few points repaired on the CVs. I have 8 CA under 10 SYS with several more CL. If I can get several CVs near 10 a leapfrog invasion of Luganville and then Noumea might be feasible.

Quark

Philwd · Post by **Philwd** » Mon Aug 04, 2003 9:14 am

Up to 9/6 now. Been quiet. I finally picked up my wayward South Seas Detachment HQ.

Condor has been content to bomb PM and GG at night with dribbles of bombers. Although the largest raid has been only 10 planes he has succeeded in reducing GG's supplies from 75K to 54K. Condor sent his VIc's to PM and was rudely surprised by the 8 AA batteies there. 7 damaged 3 of which didn't make it back.

Since my pilot pool hit rock bottom when the CVs hit Rabaul I have been fairly passive in setting up night fighters. I need to preserve my pilots. I got 3 pilots sub 20 EXP. All are upper 20's now.

The only CV repairing at a good rate is Soryu. But she was already <10:( . Down to 3 now. I could really use those points against Akagi and Zuik. Looks like I will be laid up a while longer.

I am searching intensively. I can't afford to be surprised. My naval counterpunch ability is limited while my ships are all laid up.

Irau is getting a very large contingent of eng to build up the fort level quickly. Quick enough I hope to minimize the malarial effects.

Quark

wobbly · Post by **wobbly** » Mon Aug 04, 2003 12:15 pm

shoot me if I am wrong but I don't think it is fort levels that reduce malarial effects, i am pretty certain it is actually the building of the base itself that does that...

Philwd · Post by **Philwd** » Tue Aug 05, 2003 10:48 am

Wobbly,
Oops. I wasn't clear enough. I only plan on building a lvl 1 port to help with unloading. I want to build fast so I can scoot with those valuable eng units before they all die from malaria.

Quark

AmiralLaurent · Post by **AmiralLaurent** » Tue Aug 05, 2003 1:23 pm

Hi, Quark, an old question you ask about enineer reducing fort before asault. Mogami is not the only one to do that, see my report

Ground combat at Port Moresby

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 35534 troops, 415 guns, 32 vehicles

Defending force 22472 troops, 120 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 4

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 4)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 3

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 392
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 103

I had two ENG units landing in PM, the 38th Div unit and another unit (of Combined fleet) with some combat value. 38th Div was fully deployed to this attack (HQ was here, for example, don't know if it matters for engineers reducing FORT) and coming from Truk with no disruption before boarding ships. Actually all troops came directly from Truk. I choose Deliberate attck for one INF unit then click on all to attack.

So it still works in V2.30.

Philwd · Post by **Philwd** » Thu Aug 07, 2003 9:35 am

Thanks Amiral,
I also had my eng set to deliberate attack but still never got them to reduce fort levels. HQ were present. Had both 2nd div and 38th div there. Still not sure what I was doing wrong but I may get another chance this game to figure it out.

Game is now up to 9/8. Condor is trying more night attacks. I did set my fighters to night intercept but as I thought they didn't even fly.

2 TF full of eng will hit Irau in next 2 turns. 6 eng units total.

Question for folks out there? Have you noticed Rabaul as a size 9 port repairing ships faster than Truk? Right now I'm seeing a 2-3X faster repair across all ship types except BB(no BB at Rabaul) at Rabaul.

Quark

Veer · Post by **Veer** » Thu Aug 07, 2003 10:59 am

Originally posted by Quark
Question for folks out there? Have you noticed Rabaul as a size 9 port repairing ships faster than Truk? Right now I'm seeing a 2-3X faster repair across all ship types except BB(no BB at Rabaul) at Rabaul.

I noticed the opposite, esp for larger ships. In my latest scen, I had the Shok at Rabaul with 20 sys damage and the Nagato with 28 sys. Both stayed their for 2 weeks, Shok came down to 18 and Nagato didn't change. I then sent both to Turk - Shok gained 1 sys on the trip. It's now been 3 weeks. Shok is at 11 and Nagato is at 25.

Both bases are at level 9 port and 9 air. Rabaul actually has more Eng units. I even moved the Combined fleet HQ to Rabaul to see if it makes a diff.
Essentially I think repairs are just random.

Continue with the AAR guys - nice reading!

Philwd · Post by **Philwd** » Mon Aug 11, 2003 3:39 am

Looks like I've missed a few days. Up to 9/15 now.

Condor ran a BB force of North Carolina and Washington to bombard Irau. He sunk two PC in harbor and shelled the non-existant airfield causing absolutely no damage or casualties!!

The PCs I must have forgotten to tell them to run. I had moved out all ships and even ran a FT out with most of the eng. Condor also had 2 CV TF in the area so I bugged out with everything I could.

Condor ran 2 DMS in with the BB. They swept I think 6 mine fields on a fast approach with only 2 DMS. Ok Ok I know this mine warfare is not realistic. I laid too many mines and he swept too many but an Admiral has to vent. One DD hit a mine.

Of course my mighty air warriors on Lunga when faced by single CV task forces simply yawn and don't fly. Even with 100+ Zero escort. Condor has been bombing at night but only causing superficial damage. So the airfield damage should not be keeping me from flying. Must be the LBA flying into CAP thing again.

Condor also ran a BB force of a single destroyer into Rossel. I again saw him coming and had the air on Woodlark set to attack but they failed to even come out of the mess hall. The AAR said he hit the AV with a shell but FOW strikes again as no damage whatsoever. The AGs at Rossel had 2 of thier number sunk but the other 2 now have night experience of >60

. I think they just became my new ASW hunter killer force.

The whole 35th brigade is now at Lunga. I need to send a full regiment to Irau, just deciding which one. 6th div arrives in 30 days. Can I wait that long??

38th div arrived at Truk for extended R&R.

My CVs all of a sudden are reparing at up to 2 points/day at Rabaul. Junyo down 5 points in 3 days. If this keeps up soon I can contemplate an operation against Luganville.

Condor is using ALL his air search assets on recon. So I may be able to sneak a force close without him seeing.

Quark

Philwd · Post by **Philwd** » Thu Aug 14, 2003 10:13 am

kind of quiet the next two days. I build a lvl 1 airfield on Dobadura. 4 eng units there will build up to a lvl 3 then go to GG to finish forts there.

Condor's CVs retire enough so I can get my transports into Irau. lvl 1 airfield finished. 2 fort lvl complete. 6 eng units total plus 4 inf present. have completed 2 mine runs to replenish mines swept in recent BB attack.

9/18 I have 3 transport TF at Irau. I think Condor will rise to the bait and try another raid. I've decided to set a trap. My response to his last raids was decidedly understated for a reason. I wanted him to come back when I was better prepared for him. I've created Battle Group Soryu with 2 other low damamge CVs. It will move to the triangle formed by Rossel, Lunga and Irau. As Condor still is only using 1 sqn of B-17s for search I think I can get into position undetected.

9/19 T-storms. Not much happening. Battle group Soryu in place undetected. Hiyo gets 2 sys in one day. I continue to miss his subs with air attacks. I send a sub into Noumea to try for Sara just returning. I got whacked instead. 65 flot. May not make it to Lunga.

9/20 I see a single CV task force moving back to Irau!!!! Heavy CA/CLAA protection. T-storms again so he hasn't seen me. T-storms predicted for tomorrow. I am moving 5 hexes south to be in perfect range if he moves at cruise speed. 100 fighters set to protect Irau if he attacks there instead.

One freighter at Irau torp'd but was already empty. My DD actually fires back but misses.

I see a new turn has arrived. I'm so anxious to see the combat report I'm shaking.

to be cont....

Quark

Condor Flies south for the war

Help I've been taken hostage