Reasons for TF´s not bombarding

[LoBaron]

Ok heres the situation:

I am playing Guadalcanal scen PBEM as Japanese and had a trap lying in wait for the Allied supply TF approaching under CV cover
to Lunga AB.

The CV battle went well, supported by some lucky sub action and on the next day I wanted to commence phase 2 of the plan
which was shutting down Lunga with 2 Bombardement groups.

I doublechecked every setting because I knew there were still some allied CV´s lurking around and I wasn´t sure if my honoured opponent Rob
wouldnt risk unloading under heavy Lunga aircover despite the outcome of the battle.

The distance to target was same for both Bombardement groups, one arriving from Rabaul and going round the southern tip of
Guadalcanal containing Tanaka´s CAs, the second force contained a BB and should have arrived from the east passing Tulagi in the process.
Distance was calculated with a 1 hex safety margin to still let the TF´s be on the return leg even if delayed by surface action so both TFs
were set to reach Lunga, bombard the base and be out of danger after the second naval movement phase.

What happened was that Tanaka bombarded as ordered and was returning north with a TF now designated as surface combat which is
as it should be. The second TF that should approach via Tulagi also made the whole trip as it seems (checked fuel consumption), was also designated
as surface combat TF and on the way back to the north but they didn´t bombard. No combat report, nothing.
Both were set to waypoint/threat tolerance High/Absolute.

As a result and Tanaka preferring to hit the coastal defense instead of the AB the next day my sweeping Zeros were caught offguard and
I bet Rob had an entertaining replay watching my carrier ace pilots going down in flames above Lunga. [;)]

Does anyone have an explanation why the BB TF did not do as I tolde them?

[khyberbill]

Does anyone have an explanation why the BB TF did not do as I tolde them?

No, but I have paid a heavy price most every time I used a complex plan in AE and now I use KISS!

[freeboy]

u r sure they where set to threat tolerance of direct? open the screen, if you can reload the game, and look under tf routing and tell us what the settings are.. I had one WEIRD round of tf not obeying orders in an early ai game... had to redo all the orders and base settings cause I did not see the tf routing .. good luck

[LoBaron]

ORIGINAL: khyberbill

Does anyone have an explanation why the BB TF did not do as I tolde them?

No, but I have paid a heavy price most every time I used a complex plan in AE and now I use KISS!

Hehe well my dear opponent Rob is far too cunning and so at least a bit of complexity is reqiured in my operations.

ORIGINAL: freeboy

u r sure they where set to threat tolerance of direct? open the screen, if you can reload the game, and look under tf routing and tell us what the settings are.. I had one WEIRD round of tf not obeying orders in an early ai game... had to redo all the orders and base settings cause I did not see the tf routing .. good luck

Yes, totally sure, as said I double/triple checked because this operation was too important too be screwed by a false setting.
I´m beginning to suspect that they didn´t bombard because of the Allied CV presence...

[khyberbill]

I cant speak to the scenario you are playing but bombardments are really toned down in AE. My foe likes to run a few BBs in at night to bombard northern Oz ports etc and the results have been mild disruption. Not even an annoyance.