Matrix Games Forums

1. What is the perpose of North CAC HQ? I've stopped the japs at mandalay, 14th Army is running that battle, SEAC incharge of the rear areas and I put north cac in Lashio. It seams unneeded.

2. Can my TFs replenish ammo at sea or only fuel?

3. When do the US torpedos become more effective?

4. What is the best way to attack retiring TFs?

5. When do the B-17s withdraw to europe?

6. What is the differece between a transport and cargo TF?

7. Any tips for managing my merchant marine would be appreciated.

I'm a new convert. I've become totally addicted (my wife is not amused:} I Love this Game.

Thanks in advance for any and all help

p.s. will the new game allow you to set waypoint for your TFs

Welcome to a cool but crazy game! Crazy in that you can spend absurd amounts of time playing.

I'm going to take a stab at questions 1 & 6 only and leave the rest to somebody who really knows.

1. North CAC is a historical HQ, with some units attached. The problem is that there is no land connection from Dimapur to Lashio, with or without a base called Myitkina in between, to give North CAC it's historical line of attack. Since there is only one line of march between India and Burma you really don't need the extra HQ. You could relocate it to the Aleutians or New Guinea or wherever, but it draws it's PPs from SEAC. You could assign it new units by activating the LCU at its new bases. Fortunately, these really cool programmer dudes have figured out how to move bases and install and delete march paths. They may put a new march path in northern Burma to make North CAC useful there.

6. Transport TFs will go into enemy air ZOC and unload stuff at enemy controlled bases. I think you can only load LCU onto a transport TF from a friendly base if it's got readiness of at least 50, but you can load LCU from an enemy controlled base if it has less than 50, which is one form of evacuation. Correct me if I'm wrong on this guys!

Cargo TFs are supposed to avoid enemy air ZOC, but can be forced to go through them by setting the home port the same and the destination port. Cargo TFs will load LCU with readiness less than 50 at a friendly base. I don't know if they will unload anything at an enemy controlled base.

One thing to note is that the HQ might be different for TFs formed in the same base according to the TF type. For example, at a South Pacific base in 1944 you might form a surface combat TF or air combat TF and see it assigned to 5th Fleet, a transport TF and see it assigned to 3rd Fleet, and a cargo TF and see it assigned to South Pacific. This may seem weird, but it's useful for getting the best type leaders to oversee the TF and give the different types of TF prep points. Also it helps with PP distribution. It's deep and complex and mysterious. So enjoy!

I'll take a crack at 2,4 and 5.

2. Replenishing ammo and fuel. I've never noticed a problem running out of ammo after a TF has replenished, so I'm fairly confident that replenish does both.

4. Retiring TFs. Retiring TFs can trigger air strikes as they move through your air combat ZOCs as they retire. Put army land based air squadrons in range on "naval interdiction," so they have a chance of attacking. Naval/Marine LBA will attack without prompting if the retiring TF triggers a reaction strike. If your CVs are already in range (2-3 hexes) of the retiring fleet, keep them "on station." If your CVs are in port, set them to "react" at maximum range, or you can try to guess which port the ships are retiring to and send your carriers there with "remain on station orders." I've had carrier strikes hit retiring ships -- I've never had a surface fleet react to a retiring fleet, tho.

5. B-17s are supposed to be withdrawn in mid/late '42. My experience is that they are withdrawn as B-24s become available to replace them. In some games I converted B-24 production to B-17s, and the Flying Fortresses have stayed with me the entire war. I haven't tried that with v2.2, tho.

I'll take #3 & #7...
US Torps-
I don't know the exact date, but US torpedos become more effective in mid-1943. (Earlier if you have Allied help on...) This reflects the historical change in exploders and torp technology.

Merchant Marine Help-
My advice is to keep any MCSs & TKs you don't need for transport missions in LA/Calcutta. Thats where routine convoys are formed. (Nagoya for Japan). Also, keep some DDs/DEs free in those ports as well so the computer can draw on them for escort duty. This is especially important for the Japanese player. I try to keep my older classes on Convoy duty and the newest guarding the flat-tops etc. I also spread out my patrol aircraft as much as possible over the busy routes for convoys. This increases SS detection. For example, I put PBYs on every Hawaiian Island and Johnston, as this is the hotbed of Jap sub ops. (I play Allies mostly).

I'd like to thank all you guys for all the help you've given me. This is a great forum, you make the game playable for newbies like me.

I've become addicted to this game and haven't play anything else for weeks. My wife and kids miss me:]

Thanks
Tony

p.s. Blackhorse are you a CAV man, I'm a 19D myself. I'm just in the guard now.

[ June 12, 2001: Message edited by: cyberwop ]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by cyberwop:
[QB]I'd like to thank all you guys for all the help you've given me. This is a great forum, you make the game playable for newbies like me...

p.s. Blackhorse are you a CAV man, I'm a 19D myself. I'm just in the guard now.[/B]

Tony,

Welcome aboard to the wonderful (and frustrating) world of PacWar.

Yes, I'm (ex) Cav. I was with the 11th Cav in Germany from 81-84. Left active duty in 86, and left the reserves in 93. Glad to meet another Trooper. Scouts out!