New AAR - but not as good as Snigbert's

[IChristie]

First let me say that I am not playing with the latest beta version of the game - I got an earlier version so I could check the map graphics (problem is, the game is so **** addictive, I'm still playing it). Because of that, I'll keep the report pretty generic as I wouldn't want to start any firestorms over issues that have already been addressed.

The game is the 1942 campaign from the Japanese side. The game begins on 1 May 1942 and includes the "No Midway" variant so that ships involved in Midway "may become available" during the game.

As the game opens I find my resources pretty thin on the ground. The main fleet assets consist of Shokaku, Zuikaku, and Shoho, some 6 CA's and a few DD's in Truk and another small force of CL's and DD's at Rabaul.

In addition there are a few AP's (Transports) and various auxiliary craft including some minelayers that pique my interest.

The airforce is similarly thin on the ground with 25 zeros and about 50 bombers in Rabaul and patrol craft spread around in various locations. Ground forces are pretty thin as well with only one real combat ready formation on the ground and stationed in Rabaul.

At game start Guadacanal, Tulagi and Buna are all still in Allied hands. I decide to concentrate on the Eastern Solomons and leave New Guinea for now.

The first week of May is mainly spent getting my assets in gear and into the combat zone. I form an air combat TF with all three carriers, a heavy Surface combat TF around the three heaviest CA's and a light TF built around the CL's.

Routine convoys to supply Rabaul and Shortland Is. are formed, and an invasion fleet is loaded in Rabaul. A resupply convoy is also formed to follow the invasion fleet. Finally a base force unit is embarked in Truk to follow up the invasion. That's one lesson I learned early in playing UV - it's no good capturing bases if you don't send the infrastructure units along. Bases are useless without support units. If you want to see an operational squadron of aircraft disappear in a hurry, just try operating them from a base with no aviation support!

The invasion fleet sails for Guadacanal at the end of the first week with the CL's in close support. As it approaches the slot, the CV's sortie from Kavieng, staying north of Malaita, ready to intervene if needed. I do not really expect much opposition. I am wrong!

on 9 May the transports are anchored in Iron Bottom sound when a strike of devastator torpedo bombers appears (literally) out of the clear blue sky. An American carrier TF has stationed itself off the southern tip of Guadacanal. To further complicate life, bad weather grounds the aircraft both at Rabaul and aboard my carriers. The transports are sitting ducks! The only bright spot is that bad weather also seems to affect the enemy carriers and the only sorties of the day are by the devastators. They are not terribly effective although they do severely damage two transports - both of which later sink. However, none of the invasion force is lost

10 May - the invasion of Guadacanal is well underway. Ground forces secure Lunga. The American carriers move East and south, pursued by my carriers. In the battle of the Eastern Solomons UV style, the Americans are dealt a serious blow as both American carriers are hit by torpedoes. In return they manage to inflict only minor damage to the Shoho and shoot down about 30 planes.

11 May - The limping Yorktown is caught by Val dive bombers from the Shokaku and is sunk. The remaining carrier and her escorts moves rapidly south. Although the surface units sortie in the hopes of picking off stragglers, I call off the pursuit as fuel reserves run low and I am leary of ground based air from Espititu Santo.

12 May - The IJN submarine fleet earns its pay. Putting two more torpedoes into the already damaged Hornet causing her to sink on her way to Noumea for repairs. According to my intelligence reports there are no more US carriers in theater. The Coral sea is officially a Japanese lake! Right?

15 May - Wrong! The Americans sneak a CA bombardment force into Lunga, sinking a supply convoy including a tanker and disrupting the work on the airfield and port. If I had been looking I probably would have seen them loitering about at maximum cruising range the day before. In the morning they are gone again.

16 May - To forestall any more such sorties I move my heavy CA force to Lunga and also start vigorous mining operations off the eastern end of Guadacanal. I also redirect a fuel shipment to Lunga as there are no real fuel reserves on hand.

In the mean time several more transports and tankers have arrived at Truk. Naval Control of Shipping staff are kept busy forming convoys. More troops have started to arrive and I ferry them off to Rabaul to start the buildup for an invasion of New Guinea (Buna or Gili Gili... or maybe Port Moresby).

17 May - While all this is going on, the carriers (less Shoho, but including her aircraft) sortie again. This time to see if they can catch a resupply convoy recently spotted headed for Gili Gili.

18 May - The convoy disappears but the carriers launch several strikes against Gili Gili itself. Meanwhile Rabaul begins a round the clock bombing campaign of Port Moresby with one group of Nells attacking at night and Zeros escorting Nells and Betty's over again during the day. The Allies respond with P-39's and P-40's. Results are inconclusive with some losses on each side and some damage to the airfield.

20 May - The US cruisers return to Lunga. In a wild night in Iron Bottom sound the USS Portland and DD are sunk. In return however, two of my CA's and a DD are damaged severely enough to have to withdraw, leaving me with only 3 CA's and 5 DD's on station.

Off the New Guinea coast the convoy reappears - on its way outbound from Gili Gili. They are sitting ducks and the carrier air sinks or damages several transports and an escort. The carnage continues for two days as the convoy frantically retreats south. The final casualty succumbs at the mouth to Cairns harbour.

25 May - A relatively quiet week passes. The airfield at Lunga becomes operational - although not yet large enough for offensive operations. Airstrikes against Port Moresby continue without decisive result.

Reinforcements continue to arrive. The transport fleet has tripled in size in the last month. Particularly critical are the tankers and Oilers which are now madly ferrying fuel from Truk. More land reinforcements arrive and they are bundled on to waiting transports for the trip to Rabaul. I am still critically short of base support personnel with only one new unit having arrived. This means that I can capture and use only one new base unless I want to strip and already operating base.

In the afternoon of 25 May another US CA task force is spotted poised to make a run for Lunga. My heavies are still on station and in addition I order the light force to steam from Shortland Is. to Lunga - hoping that they will get into the action as well.

26 May - The second battle of Lunga goes decidedly badly for the IJN. Badly outnumbered the heavy force is mauled by the US TF which numbers some 5 CA's and 7 or 8 DD's. 2 of the remaining CA's are crippled and a DD is sunk. The light force also gets into the fray and loses a CL and a DD. In return the US loses one CA with at least two others hit - how badly is not known. The exchange is not altogether one sided but the battle of attrition is already going in the wrong direction. There are no replacements for my lost cruisers, which are, effectively, gone for the duration. The remaining force of 1 CA and 1CL and attending DD's is no match for the Americans if they return.

[mogami]

Hey don't sell your self short.. This is an interesting report.

Just so I am clear. This is a no Midway scenario/long campaign.

Whew sounds like a rough way to go for the US. But since the campaign starts in May I don't have a problem (with reality check)
Does the tactical/stratic situation in May mandate the Japanese build an airfield on Guadalcanal? (I always wonder why the Shortlands base was not built up strong enough to cover Guadalcanal before trying to build that base. ) (something to do with aircraft ranges Im sure)

As the US I would not send hvy units to disturb the Japanese while they were building the airfield on Guadalcanal. Likewise as Japan I would not have CA's out fishing that were not covering or supporting an active operation. (I'm a chicken).

When you are playing do you feel the enemy reponding. (hard to verbalize this question) I mean do enemy operations appear to be countering what you are doing or are they more like he is just conducting bussiness as normal, and the encounters are circumstancal?

How much intell on enemy ground combat units do you have.
How do you aquire more?
How long in advance do you know what reinforcments you will get? (from turn one do you have a schedule or is it random?)

Thanks for posting your AAR

[IChristie]

Bearing in mind that I have not participated in the design of the game itself and that I am playing an outdated beta version of the game, I'll just let you know my impressions:

1. There is no airfield at Lunga in May - it has to be built. Seaplanes can be based there immediately - once aviation support is available.

2. Intel varies depending on how much effort you put into gathering it (naturally). At it's most basic level you appear to be aware of the nature of the facilities at an enemy base and the presence of enemy ground forces, though not their composition or size. The more your a/c or ships sortie over (or near) the enemy base the better the intel appears to become. It appears to take ALOT of effort to get really accurate numbers on ground troops.

3. The AI does respond to my actions. That CV TF showed up the day the transports arrived off Lunga. Only bad weather and good luck (for me) staved off a real disaster. Likewise the US bombardment sorties started as soon as they could have been practically arranged.

A note about airbases. It takes a while to build them and at their smallest size they cannot be used to support offensive operations so you are safe going after a new airfield until it is big enough to fly bombers - which seems to take a few weeks based on my experience.

[mogami]

Thanks
At the begining of your game was the US building an airfield on Guadalcanal? (meaning if you had not invaded would an airfield have appeared at some point in the future?

CV's operating where your transports had just arrived means he spotted the TF. How long was it at sea (can you detirmion the orgin of the spotting units Air/Sub/coastwatcher type)
Or had combat already occured between ground forces and there was an elaspe of time long enough for his CV's to move?


I'm not clear on how long it took the transports to transit from Rabaul to Guadalcanal (sorry)

Do you have any long range recon at start? (where?)



I'm betting a Matrix CHAT about UV would attract a lot of chatters in the very near future.

[IChristie]

The "base" at Lunga appeared to be unoccupied by US forces at start to there was no active building going on.

The Invasion fleet took 4-5 days to transit (convoys move SLOWLY) and yes, it must have been spotted either by Catalina's or coast watchers.

I'm guessing that the The CV TF would have taken only a couple of days to steam from Noumea or Espiritu Santo to the location they launched their initial attack from.

I'm still playing that same game and I just had a disastrous turn where I sortied to intercept a US convoy and got ambushed by a covering force of carriers! The covering force was loitering in just the right spot to intercept my carriers yet remain out of land based air range. The AI in this game is not stupid!

[mogami]

Ah so there is no hurry as far as jumping on Guadalcanal to start with. (My desk is covered with maps of the South Pacific and I have been working up abstract operation plans for this game for months Using historical OB's and restricting myself to Ships aircraft and Landcombat units by need and making the plans require as little as possible.)(rather then making plans using what is available-my theory is all operations will expand to consume all the resources/time allowed, so I make plans using only the barest of requirments.

AI dangled some bait and caught a big one heh?

how much fuel/supply can you lift per week?
how many LCU

can any base support float planes or do they require support units? (how do the base forces function? )

[IChristie]

Man, do you ever need to get a hold of a copy of this game!

I have not added up the totals for fuel and supply lift capacity. It increases pretty rapidly in the first few weeks. I probably have 25 to 30 AP's (which average 2000 tons) and 10 to 15 Tankers (averaging 5000 tons).

Any AP class ship can carry LCU and capacity in troops seems to be equal to capacity in tons of cargo.

It appears that float planes can be based at any coastal base. You can actually fly them without the base force support but they'll all be out of action (awaiting maintenance) within about a week.

I'm not sure about the mechanics of base forces but each base force unit has an aviation support capacity which seems to be roughly equal to the number of planes that can be supported.

Joel or someone else on the design team could provide more and better information (and correct any misinformation I am providing).

[mogami]

Float planes can fly without a support base for a very limited time
(say fly to one base, then fly a recon, then return to base containing support units for maintenance.)

What are the geographical victory conditions? (what makes the player battle for specific bases?)

are bases always considered to be under one or the other players control? (an empty base, how does control switch?)

Are there any LCU considered airmobile/droppable?

What ship types can carry LCU (smallest LCU)(smallest support element)?

You are abeing a great help and I am utilizing this info so don't think you are wasting your time. The actual game wil of course is required to see an idea in execution but intill that time.....

[IChristie]

Yes, it appears that you can use float planes in that way. The IJN also appears to have a fair number of float plane tenders (AV's). I am experimenting with using them as floating forward bases - stationing them out in mid ocean to provide some more recon capability. It appears that he float planes on the ships can be given "recon" missions to investigate certain locations.

To tell you the truth I have not looked at the victory conditions closely. Posession of bases does accrue victory points. I have noticed that the value of the base is different for each side.

Bases appear to be owned by the last side that occupied them

Their are air droppable units (well, at least one - a US marine para unit). Most units appear to be air transportable - although they seem to have to leave heavy equipment behind. The game seems to allow units to be split into sub units.

It appears that any transport ship can carry LCU. Most AP and AK seem to be in the 1000/2000/3000 ton category. Their are also converted DD's (called APD's) that are faster and can carry 250 tons/troops. Each ship has individual characteristics and the speed of transports can vary from as low as 9-10 to as high as 15. Obviously the speed of a convoy is limited by the slowest ship so convoy composition is quite important.

I'm glad to help. I have been lurking on this forum for a while and I could see you guys were dying for some more AAR stuff. The beta test and development teams are probably going flat out trying to get the game released so I thought maybe I could fill in a bit.

[mogami]

Your doing great and I appreacate it alot.

What would be the smallest force required to transfer control of an empty base so that a float plane could use it?

Looking at Espirtu Santo. How many bases (empty/non built) are there within Float plane range.

Smallest IJN vessel capable of launching float plane (I have been using Aoba class CA in planning 4TF 1 CA each) Since the missions profile are not search area but fly overs of US bases.

How do recon planes report? (during mission or apon return) if lost is a cause reported (flak/cap or mystery)


Can a ships float plane operate away from ship or must it return after each mission?

How can subs do recon? or only report contact? (If a sub fired a deck gun at a island what kind of report would be generated?)

How does enemy unit data get displayed (land combat/aircombat/bombardment/recon can LCU conduct patrols (or must it inatate combat to get a report)

on ships 100 supply is also 100 men? How are AA/AT/FA guns measured? (1 gun=100 men/supply?) What are smallest arty units?



To give you an idea of what I have been up to while waiting here is excerpt from chapter in 'Mogami's Operational Proceedure in the South Pacific 1942/43"

"First course of action: an assement of the current (1st turn) has to be conducted. During this phase examine base limits, air ranges and supply level. The Operational Scheme will be to devise a period of intense Japanese activity aimed at securing specific victory conditions. Not less then 30 day window per victory attainment cycle. Depending on Campaign length, rate of resupply. Window will expand or contract the "Mogami Frenzy" (as the Operation Cycle wil be labeled).
Certain preconditions would be desired aside from simple fuel/supply levels.
An accurate assessment of US force capability is needed (but can be done during the quiet period of force buildup)
A reserve of aircraft has to be stored . Expect to take high loss at beginning of cycle decreasing before the reserve is expended.
Support Bases need to be developed. Shortlands is certain.(What others depending on what the map allows.)
Only ships air or ground units that contribute to the mission plan are to be kept within the Theatre. (No plan for ever trying to support more then the 4 fast BB's.) All other BBs will be kept at Truk as fuel storage unless Truk is exposed to air attack (then they will go back to Home Islands) 14' and 8' large enough for Bombardment and a surface battle with heavy units is to be avoided unless overwhelming conditions can be achived.
The Long Lance torpedo carried on DD's is to be the weapon at sea. Small IJN TF have the ability to inflict more damage then is sustained so there is no reason for risking a heavy unit for nothing. (they are to be preserved for the 'Frenzy')
Current study only looking at the US offensive in the Solomons? No offensive action to be directed at Port Moresby beyond air attack for interdiction. . Milne Bay depending on what can be done with very limited resource (as a diversion)
There has to be a valid reason for risk. Study what can be accomplished first without risk then at increasing levels of risk."


These are just the questions I ask myself before looking to even start a plan.

Since recon is first and foremost (you don't know what to send without knowing what it can run into)
are there dedicated airgroups/type
In a CV TF recon is flown by (floatplanes from escorting BB/CA)
and
Recon elements of CV's airgroups or just assigning a portion from an attack/figher group

Do LBA during bombing missions provide any intell beyond target damage (and flak/cap levels)(of course bpmbing shipping would reveal what ships were present but do they all show up?)
This would be incidental recon (bombers on way to Port Moresby fly over an Allied TF - does this occur?)
This is important because if not another mission just for recon would have to be flown. (no need to assign recon aircraft if 30 bombers flying there aready and they would report

[corbulo]

I can see from reading this that I need to get West Point Altas for WW2 in the Pacific, as I dont know where some of these places are. I am currently reading "Fire in the Sky" - Air War in the South Pacific, excellent.
Why did you go for Guadalcanal first instead of Port Moresby?

[mogami]

Speaking for myself the primary objective has to meet several critera
1. it has to be within friendly land based air range
2. a successfull operation will produce a new objective also within friendly landbased air range
3. the enemy has to believe it worth fighting over (since the main objective is to destroy enemy forces they have to be commited to defending the target)
4. Be as isolated as possible but still meet requirment #3 (to produce force superiorty at the point of battle)(isolated from the enemy rear/support)
5. Have predicable battle zones. Restricted waters allow concentration of force and increased chance for encountering the enemy after recon has been preformed to prevent suprise.

Port Moreby while meeting condition 3 provides too much support to the enemy and the distance almost guarentees discovery of TF headed toward it. The restiction only exists close to the target favoring an enemy concentrated air attack /suprise CV encounter.
There are enemy bases in front of Port Moreby. The battle zone is predictable in the enemies favor.

Guadalcanal. The possession of an airfield aids future offensive operations (to the side controling it) This means both sides will most likey contest ownership. It is within Landbase Air cover from more then one friendly base but at extended range for enemy. Restricted waters at point where enemy resupply occurs increases probility of units making contact at time of own choosing (but requiring escort/protection all the time. This is important to any plan incorperating attrition (versus the DV concept). Prior to sending forces into battle area acurate intell easier to aquire since smaller area needs to be searched. (very important that recon always goes deeper then the enemy believes possible.) Port Moresby operations would require a massive commitment just for this. Solomons much easier to predict enemy routes (when traversing enemy space you reduce their range/speed/recon needs while increasing your own-so control contested zone (operational airfield on target!!!!!) Port Morsby already operational rendering it safe from attack if defended properly. (the only real method with any chance would be to build airfields on NorthEast side of Owen Stanleys then build up force/supply and cross mountain but this would require a lot of time and material without much increase in chances for success. The base sticking out into the Coral Sea but isolated from Morsby (what name is it going by now? Milne Bay in PW) Is a consideration. In lays closer to friendly air and the shorter travel distance helps and I consider it a possible target instead of the Solomons (depending upon other considerations it might be primary but most likely a diversion as part of the recon/intell gathering stage. It should be possible to damage the enemy without sticking neck out too far. (I don't know its starting condition. IChriste has said Guadalcanal un occupied and unbuilt)
Guadalcanals starting status important because it allows 2 different approaches to the battle.
1. Try to build airfield before enemy can occupy
2. let enemy do the work and then take the base away.

first option requires alot more resources then second. Who ever is building the airfield has to maintain constant vigil and wear units down. The other side knowing when offensive actions will take place can gather stregth and send superiour forces (easier to fuel 1 large TF at intervals then maintain small ones all the time)

First option if successfull insures all future operations in area will be conducted with signifcant advantage. Now friendly TF have aircover during daylight. After night action crippled/damaged enemy ships in danger. LCU exposed to constant air attack. Force required to hold a base is smaller then what is required to capture it after enemy has had time to build and fortify it.


One important item I almost forgot. All my planning has been based on the historical timing and results of the battle of Midway taking place. In May 42 the allies are on the defensive. Without Midway there is no justification for them going over to the offensive. The Solomon's for Japan are an attempt to reclaim the initative lost at Midway.

[Snigbert]

I really hope if Ross Moorhouse reads this thread (and others on this board), he immediately adds Mogami to the top of his list of beta testers for WitP.

I thought myself to be *extremely* interested in this whole subject, but Mogami is unbelievable

[IChristie]

I thought myself to be *extremely* interested in this whole subject, but Mogami is unbelievable

Yes, I had thought about offering to play you Mogami, but now I'm wondering if that would be a good idea!

Let me see if I can add any more information that may be helpful to you. I understand your approach and it certainly seems to make sense. There are some other issues that you may want to tak into consideration.

1. US preponderance in material begins to really tell in the late summer. Particularly in air power. I have progressed into late June and I would say that lack of air power is becoming a real problem for the Japanese. This means that Japanese offensive moves need to be made early to exploit the US weakness.

2. Land combat seems to favour defense (this is just an impression). This would argue in favour the approach of taking undefended bases and developing them yourself.

3. All bases are not created equal. The size of airbase and port facilities that can be built "normally" is capped at each site. In many cases these are set at 0, meaning any airbase would be a major (read long and expensive in supplies) effort. Also, airbases of size 1 cannot support offensive operations so they are useful for protection of your own forces but not for attacking enemy invastion fleets. For instance, Lunga is the only base east of Shortland which can support an airbase bigger than 1. Most of the others are "beaches" (meaning no port) with airbase capacity of 0. It should also be noted that the size of the port has a major impact on the speed with which troops and supplies can be off loaded. This is particularly important when operating within the range of enemey land based air because your supply convoys are vulnerable while they unload.

4. One huge advantage for the Japanese is the range of their a/c.
For instance, Betty's, Nell's and zero's can all reach Port Moresby or Lunga from Rabaul. Only US heavy bombers can retaliate - which makes them sitting ducks for Japanese CAP. US air cannot reach Lunga from any US base outside the solomons but Lunga can be covered from Rabaul or Shortland.

5. Don't forget about base forces. The number of airbases you can operate is limited by the number of base force units available. For the Japanese this number is quite small initially (6 or 7 by late June). Also, many of these base forces support relatively small air contingents (40 Planes). The US base forces are more numerous and often can support larger air contingents. Base forces can be combined so you have to ask yourself whether it is better to build a few large bases or a number of smaller ones.

6. Airlift capacity. By late 1942 the US airlift capacity gets to be quite large. To the point where whole base forces can be airlifted in a single day. This give the the US a lot of flexibility in moving a/c around to spots where they are needed. I am pretty sure that the Japanese will not enjoy this advantage, both because of a lack of base forces and because of a much smaller airlift capacity.

There are other points I'm sure I will think of in a minute. For now, I should get back to work. I'll try to post another AAR tonight to bring the campaign up to late June.

[Erik Rutins]

Originally posted by IChristie

3. All bases are not created equal. The size of airbase and port facilities that can be built "normally" is capped at each site. In many cases these are set at 0, meaning any airbase would be a major (read long and expensive in supplies) effort. Also, airbases of size 1 cannot support offensive operations so they are useful for protection of your own forces but not for attacking enemy invastion fleets. For instance, Lunga is the only base east of Shortland which can support an airbase bigger than 1. Most of the others are "beaches" (meaning no port) with airbase capacity of 0. It should also be noted that the size of the port has a major impact on the speed with which troops and supplies can be off loaded. This is particularly important when operating within the range of enemey land based air because your supply convoys are vulnerable while they unload.

To add to Mr. Christie's excellent comments, it's worth noting for your planning that bases that support an airfield or port of a certain size can actually be expanded to a size up to 3 greater than that which can easily be supported. However, that takes a LOT more supplies, engineers and time than building up normally.

For example, Irau on San Cristobal is normally an undeveloped base with airfield 0 (1). This means that it could fairly quickly be expanded to a size 1 airfield. That's your very spartan fighter air strip. With a lot more effort, it could be expanded to 2 or 3, which will certainly support a very significant amount of fighter ops. Size 4 in this case is the absolute maximum, which is also the minimum to support level bombers and such without excessive operational losses.

For planning purposes as the Allies, if I were looking to expand it up to that maximum size 4, I'd ship in two or three construction battalions, a base force and many, many supplies. Then wait several weeks...

Regards,

- Erik

[Sinjen]

I agree, Mogami is with the program.

I have really enjoyed reading this.

[Snigbert]

I'm a little scared to play Mogami in PBEM too.

I think we beta testers should not play with him, in order to keep our reputation untarnished.

[mogami]

Under your pardon. You must note beside,
That we have tried the utmost of our friends,
Our legions are brim-full, our cause is ripe:
The enemy increaseth every day;
We, at the height, are ready to decline.
There is a tide in the affairs of men,
Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;
Omitted, all the voyage of their life
Is bound in shallows and in miseries.
On such a full sea are we now afloat;
And we must take the current when it serves,
Or lose our ventures





--------------------------------------------------------------------
Nay, you must name his name, and half his face must
be seen through the lion's neck: and he himself
must speak through, saying thus, or to the same
defect,--'Ladies,'--or 'Fair-ladies--I would wish
You,'--or 'I would request you,'--or 'I would
entreat you,--not to fear, not to tremble: my life
for yours. If you think I come hither as a lion, it
were pity of my life: no I am no such thing; I am a
man as other men are;' and there indeed let him name
his name, and tell them plainly he is Snug the joiner.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A online SPWaW battle interupted this post. I do not believe anyone has anything to worry about in PBEM games versus me and am really quite timid and meek and friendly and kind and generous brave thrifty clean and.......


OK back to questions: what was answer for float planes operating away from their parent ship? do they have to return at end of each mission?

Size of LCU needed to transfer control of empty base.

still digesting newest input on airfield construction.

[Mike Wood]

Hello...

Float planes operate as very small air groups of 1 to 6 planes. They need to return to the location from which they launched. Float plane groups can operate from ships or they can be transferred to bases and operate from there. As the Allied player, I usually hoist them off the crusiers and leave them at port, before I go on dangerous missions.

The number of troops required to change ownership of an ungarrisoned location depends on the skill, morale and supply of the invading troops. Usually two to four squads (about a platoon) will do the trick.

I loaded up a platoon of Marine Raiders onto a submarine (the Argonaut) with a few tons of supply and sent them to an unoccupied Japanese base and captured it. I then had the "S" Boat S-39 ferry in fuel. I also flew in some supply by PBY seaplanes. I used the base as a hidden PT Boat base. The base had no dock or airfield, but functioned fairly well as a refueling station for PT Boats and submarines. As I had no engineers there, I could not improve the location. I also had to send regular replacements for the Raiders, as malaria killed them off a significant rate.

Hope this Helps...

Michael Wood

[mogami]

Ah the old Argonaut, the crew of this ship will think themselves related to the Flying Dutchman when I am the US (doomed to a life at sea) Is the Narwhale around also? Would simply dropping the platoon off with supply have been of any value (coast watcher type spotting of enemy TF/air craft?
When you occupied the empty base did the Japanese become aware simply by a flag icon change or does it stay unknown
(can you tell an empty from a occupied base?)

Can IJN SS be used for troop movement too? (or just supply)
What is the smallest group of engineers that can preform construction? (no matter how slow)

What is needed at a base to refuel a ship/floatplane/sub