Matrix Games Forums

So I ask this out of complete ignorance:

I see where there are a lot of new classes of vessels. Many of them represent small vessels, e.g., motor launches, patrol craft, etc. With the exception of maybe subchasers, the stock game contained mostly the larger classes that were legitimate ocean-going vessels. Where were these small classes employed? For the U.S., would they have only been used around the U.S. coast and Pearl, or would they have gotten some to far-off bases to hunt subs in the local island groups? So, for example, would some of these smaller craft - typically shallow water or coastal vessels - have made there way to, say, Noumea, Guadalcanal, or Ulithi, for ASW or general patrol duties? PT boats would have been shipped on cargo ships, but these would have to make there own there own.

I guess this is all a long way of asking whether it is historically accurate to send your subchasers (and now equivalent small craft) out on the high seas with an AO or even an AK (to provide fuel for additional range) so they can patrol the Coral Sea, the Slot, or the Marshalls?

Historically many small craft sailed across the open seas to destinations. Others were carried on cargo or other larger ships. Some were "some of each".

Larger US Navy YP and most YO types were capable of ocean voyages. The larger YPs, mostly converted fishing boats, made extended voyages. Those out of Pearl ran up the island chain, some even to Midway. YOs out of Pearl ran oil and supplies to Midway, Johnston, Palmyra, Christmas Island. YPs were active all over Alaska, and many sailed to Noumea and Australia and thence to the Solomons, New Guinea, and beyond. Smaller YPs, mostly in the 70-80 foot range, traveled to advanced bases as deck cargo but then undertook significant voyages. Solomons and New Guinea stand out. However, these are not in the game - we've limited it to the "tuna boat" type will full seagoing capability.

British HDML were mostly transported as deck cargo, with the exception of those built in the Far East. A total of 9 very famous HDML of the Burma and Malaya RNVR and a few units under construction at Singapore represent all the HDML in the stock scenarios. The larger Fairmile B motor launches were the size of US subchasers and every bit as capable of deep seep operations (although they were generally used in coastal operations). British and Indian ML made significant contributions to the coastal war in Burma - many of these are in the game. Australian and New Zealand units operated in the Solomans and New Guinea but largely after combat had moved on. These are not in the game, nor the late war Canadian craft.

Coastal Minesweepers (AMc) and the similarly sized coastal transports (APc) were capable of ocean voyages. Most AMc stayed along the coast but could be transferred over longer distances. Some Japanese "coastal" minesweepers were converted from small merchant ships and capable of full employment.

Uses:
Build local minesweeping TFs with AMc at your major ports and leave them there.
Use small patrol types (YP, ML, HDML, even SC and MGB) for local ASW patrol
Escort small convoys, barge traffic, and landing craft Task Forces with the same ships

I'll bet some interesting uses fall out of game play and end up in future mods.

Another question re. small ships.....
 
most of us know the terminology for bigger ships (eg. we know what a DD is, CV, CL, etc, etc, etc). But, very few of us know the abbreviations for these 'small ships'. And it seems even within those who know there is little consistency. So..... is there IN THE GAME (not just in the manual!) a list of what is what? Or even better, on the individual ship screen could there be a description (eg. AMc [coastal minesweeper]). Is something like that in? Please! My brain is too tired to try memorising another 50 odd abbreviations!

Operating is not the same as making a trip. US Subchasers for example crossed the Atlantic to go to Mediterranean.

ORIGINAL: Flying Tiger

Another question re. small ships.....

most of us know the terminology for bigger ships (eg. we know what a DD is, CV, CL, etc, etc, etc). But, very few of us know the abbreviations for these 'small ships'. And it seems even within those who know there is little consistency. So..... is there IN THE GAME (not just in the manual!) a list of what is what? Or even better, on the individual ship screen could there be a description (eg. AMc [coastal minesweeper]). Is something like that in? Please! My brain is too tired to try memorising another 50 odd abbreviations!

No.

oh.

Apparently the economic downturn has resulted in a worldwide shortage of syllables.

Eh?

Sweet! HDMLs and Fairmile Bs! Will the British be able to deploy MGBs and whatnot for dashing displays of derring-do? Uh, if someone knows offhand, what types of British MGBs and MTBs if any are in the game?

You get BPB 60-footers and Vosper 72-footers, alongside the HDMLs and Fairmiles.

ORIGINAL: Flying Tiger

Another question re. small ships.....

most of us know the terminology for bigger ships (eg. we know what a DD is, CV, CL, etc, etc, etc). But, very few of us know the abbreviations for these 'small ships'. And it seems even within those who know there is little consistency. So..... is there IN THE GAME (not just in the manual!) a list of what is what? Or even better, on the individual ship screen could there be a description (eg. AMc [coastal minesweeper]). Is something like that in? Please! My brain is too tired to try memorising another 50 odd abbreviations!

You can find a complete list of designations used by the USN in WW 2 at http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/USN-ships.html

With the addition of coastal minelayers, do the controlled minefields in places like Manila Bay work any better than in stock? It has been a source of frustration seeing invasion forces sail on past the Corregedor fortifications, which should have been largely intact, unscathed. In the past I have attributed to the magical qualities of the KB.

Regarding YP. I have been to sea on them (granted, only for a day or two), so transPac should be feasible, if not particularly comfortable.

ORIGINAL: W T Door
With the addition of coastal minelayers, do the controlled minefields in places like Manila Bay work any better than in stock? It has been a source of frustration seeing invasion forces sail on past the Corregedor fortifications, which should have been largely intact, unscathed. In the past I have attributed to the magical qualities of the KB.

Regarding YP. I have been to sea on them (granted, only for a day or two), so transPac should be feasible, if not particularly comfortable.

In AE, as in WiTP, a minefield is a minefield. There is no recognition of “controlled” minefields. As in WiTP, the minefields in AE degrade with time. However, unlike WiTP, minefields in AE can be maintained by a new class of ships – a minefield tender (ACM). For this reason the absolute number of mines in AE has been reduced from WiTP.