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Hi-Playing US, v1.804, scen.15, 5/43. I'm about to invade Bonins prior to taking on Iwo. ( I hold Saipan, Tinian & Guam plus Pagan.) I have a huge problem with the AI's coastal defence guns shredding my amphibious TFs. ( In one game I"m playing, invading Saipan, after 8 days of prelim bombardment, I still had over 16000 casualities in 4 days due to coastal batteries.)

I've used large amphib TFs, 20-25 ships, with a mixture of Inf, Armor & Eng.+ HQ units in the same TF.

1. Should I keep only one type unit, say Inf. to a TF?
2. Are smaller TFs better? If so, what is optimal size, to minimize coastal gun loss? Remember, I don't have all the APs I'd like, so I have some large AK TFs to load a Div.
3. Is there any way to combine, say 3 RCTs into a div.?

Thanks in advance, Hugh Browne

1. No.
2. No.
3. No.

Supposedly if you have an AGC with a amphibous command loaded it will help reduce casaulities. I have tried to use this but there are problems.
1. You can only load Amphibous commands on an AGC at SF. If the AC is in any other location it will not load on an AGC, it will load onto a AK, AP or maybe an LST.

Sorry sent message berfor completed, To continue
2. If you have a AGC with an amphibous command on board in the TF it will automatically unload a portion of the AC on first contact with the hex to be invaded. This even if you check "Do Not Unload" for that TF. This is part of the quirk in the program that automatically partially unloads all TF's the first day no matter what.
3. If you put the TF with the AGC one day behind the main attack force then you can not get the benefit of the AC for reducing casualities in the first wave.
4. If you put the AGC with an onboard AC in the first wave and it unloads a part of the AC then you can not reload the AC to the AGC even after you take the hex. You have to load the landed portion of the AC onto a AK of AP sail them with the AGC to San Fran to get them back onto the AGC. This is a real pain in the ****.