Supplying Tassafaronga (JAP)

[d0mbo]

Guadacanal Scenario.

Basically: how do YOU do it?

So far not a single supply run has made it, due to the fact that it's out of LRCAP range from Rabaul, my base of operations.

All my attempts with APD's/fast AK's/heavy and light cruiser escorts etc. got Bombed/Torpedoed to pieces.

Is there some way to get my ships in and out at night for instance? Some way to get aircover?

Hints and tips are more than welcome.

Regards,

d0mbo.

[jwilkerson]

I've used submarines to make regular submarine transport runs from Truk to TASS. That will allow a very slow build up of supply, depending on how much bombing of TASS is done.

But to really build up the supply at TASS will require a full effort of the fleet covering a bunch of transports, even though you will still probably loose most of the transports, but with luck you might be able to unload a few 1000 supply.

I've been able to run a few DD on fast transport runs in an out, but you need to load them up first and then send them out. Also don't send too many at once or they will not unload in time and will get sunk in the morning. Getting Shortlands up to the point where you can make runs from there will help also.

Net/net, if you can decisively defeat the US carriers (meaning you have effective carriers left and they don't) then your supply problems will be solved. If you cannot do this then you supply problems will not be solved. This is really the same situation the real Japanese faced and it is no different in the scenario.

[dpstafford]

ORIGINAL: jwilkerson
I've been able to run a few DD on fast transport runs in an out, but you need to load them up first and then send them out. Also don't send too many at once or they will not unload in time and will get sunk in the morning.

Is there a way to calculate how many is too many?

[d0mbo]

in the manual there's a section referring to the unload capacity of harbors and their level (TASS is 1 AFAIK).... lemme check.... page 109? I think that's the amount of supplies unloaded per day.
 
Thanks for the replies
 
 

[Mynok]

Fast transport is what you want. That uses a special unload rate that has nothing to do with port size.

[d0mbo]

hmmmm... will have to check that out.
 
+ it seems my fleets have been reinforced bigtime. Now to figure out what to do with a bunch of CV's.
 
A quick Q: is there a reference list for all shipclasses/planes/unit abbriverations (sp?) like what does AMc mean? but i would really like all of them. is there a chart of some sort?
 
 

[Gilbert]

ORIGINAL: d0mbo

hmmmm... will have to check that out.

+ it seems my fleets have been reinforced bigtime. Now to figure out what to do with a bunch of CV's.

A quick Q: is there a reference list for all shipclasses/planes/unit abbriverations (sp?) like what does AMc mean? but i would really like all of them. is there a chart of some sort?

Damian has made this fine spreadsheet which will help you for sure. It is an Excel file. just rename the extension.

Regards
Gilbert

[d0mbo]

Wow, that's a goldmine!

Thanks for compiling that Damian.

And thanks for pointing it out to me Gilbert

d0mbo.

[SteveD64]

I'm having the same problem.  Fast transports are almost useless as they never seem to get out in time- despite what it says in the manual.  Bombardment TF's can make it out in time unless they run into some enenmy ships.

[SteveD64]

I've been able to run a few DD on fast transport runs in an out, but you need to load them up first and then send them out
 
I guess I don't know what this means, "load them up first and then send them out"?  How else could it be done?

[EUBanana]

ORIGINAL: CLEVELAND

I'm having the same problem.  Fast transports are almost useless as they never seem to get out in time- despite what it says in the manual.  Bombardment TF's can make it out in time unless they run into some enenmy ships.

The APDs you got are very slow. I think thats one problem. They can supply Rekata Bay just fine, as its farther from Lunga, but I don't think they are fast enough to go right into the lair of the capitalist beast and get away with it.

I put them in small flotillas too, 3-4 APDs each, they seem to certainly be gone by daybreak. Maybe that works better than One Big Flotilla.

[Nikademus]

Fast DD's and CL's are your best bet in a FT TF. In one playtest i supplied Tass and delivered troops purely by this means alone, just like in RL (mostly)

If the Allied player tries to camp a TF in the hex you may need to mix it up by sending in a surface force and/or carrier force to chase him off.

Position your sub force along likely approach routes to Tass to pick off key ships.

[SteveD64]

Time to scuttle the APD's then. 

[WITPPL]

1. Kill USN Carriers
2. Use smaller xAKs to supply

[Mynok]

ORIGINAL: CLEVELAND

Time to scuttle the APD's then. 

Not all fast transport is 'under the guns'. The APDs are VERY useful for supplying small bases.

[SteveD64]

I just ran some fast transport DD's and Cl's in and out. Worked like a charm (minus the APD's). Unfortunately the Allied AI has gone haywire and is trying to dock it's battleship fleet at Rabaul. Bummer that this scenario has to come to an end. Hopefully the patch will fix the suicide run of Colorado, Indiana and Maryland.

[herwin]

ORIGINAL: Mynok

ORIGINAL: CLEVELAND

Time to scuttle the APD's then. 

Not all fast transport is 'under the guns'. The APDs are VERY useful for supplying small bases.

Since I can't order fast transports to carry supply, how do I do this?

[Yamato hugger]

Well the problem with supply (and evacs) is that in a 46 mile hex, it is assumed that everything is being loaded/unloaded over 150 yards of beach. Something I vehemently disagree with. But this is the reason they wont unload and scoot before dawn.

[d0mbo]

Confirming a mixed fleet of DD's en CL's are very able at supplying TASS unharmed (unless they run into an allied TF of course). I run them from a base closer to TASS to make sure they get in and out in just one turn. Works like a treat!
 
just be sure to pick the mission fast transport and to choose only 30 knot+ ships. The 18 knot APD's WILL get slaughtered at TASS. How they fare at other bases i don't know. They DO seem terribly vulnerable to air attacks, despite their small size. Maybe too vulnerable?
 
 

[Mynok]

ORIGINAL: herwin

ORIGINAL: Mynok

ORIGINAL: CLEVELAND

Time to scuttle the APD's then. 

Not all fast transport is 'under the guns'. The APDs are VERY useful for supplying small bases.

Since I can't order fast transports to carry supply, how do I do this?

Huh? Something's wrong besides the mission.