Super Powerful CD Fortress

[NAVLT66]

I'm in early 1944 and am invading Saipan. I sent in a bombardment force of 7 BB's and 11 CAs and CLs. I also had 10 CVE's on a preliminary ground attack. Then I sent in the invasion force.

In one two day turn, the Saipan Fortress: damaged all 7 BB's, 5 CA's damaged, 5 AP's sunk with 6 more sinking. and 3 AK's sunk. All of this with no apparent damage to the fortress. Seems to me highly unrealistic.

Did I do something wrong, or is the game model for CD forts way out of wack?

Any comments would be appreciated.

[Schanilec]

I believe you need to set your aircraft to port attack to reduce the CD's.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: NAVLT66

I'm in early 1944 and am invading Saipan. I sent in a bombardment force of 7 BB's and 11 CAs and CLs. I also had 10 CVE's on a preliminary ground attack. Then I sent in the invasion force.

In one two day turn, the Saipan Fortress: damaged all 7 BB's, 5 CA's damaged, 5 AP's sunk with 6 more sinking. and 3 AK's sunk. All of this with no apparent damage to the fortress. Seems to me highly unrealistic.

Did I do something wrong, or is the game model for CD forts way out of wack?

Any comments would be appreciated.

What did you do beforehand to reduce the effectiveness of the CD guns? How long did your bombardment forces work over the island before sending in the invasion? Did you hit Saipan port facilities from the air for a bit first? IRL, several days of heavy naval bombardment on pre-ordained targets was needed before landing. Did you accomplish this?

What's the recon DL of Saipan? This will help naval and aerial bombardment efficacy.

I assume that you refer to xAP and xAK ships unloading assault troops? IRL, these were suboptimal invasion craft, hence the usage of the AKA and APA for supplies and troops in an invasion. xAK and xAP types take too long to unload and you'll be shot to pieces-rightly so.

I haven't seen anything in your post that suggests the Saipan CD effect on your invasion force is unrealistic or whacked.

[NAVLT66]

Thanks for the reply. I'll try to do a better job next time.

[jmalter]

'gainst a hvy target, you need month(s) of hvy prep. aerial bombing against the port target will knock out CD guns, but you need to target the airfield as well. the object is to cause damage to both port & airfield facilities, 'cos the defending engineers must work to repair that damage before they can get back to increasing their fortification build. you'll read about 'guns destroyed/disabled' in the combat reports, but you won't know if you've knocked out hvy CD guns, or light AA. continuous attacks will gradually reduce the guns, while slowing the fort-increase build.

then you got to add naval bombardment from BBs & CAs, beginning from long range, to duel w/ the CD guns. gradually decrease the range of successive raids, until you can also bring 5" stuff from your escorts into play. always assign your embarked float-planes to night-recon of the base you're bombarding, to get the spotter-plane advantage. if a spotter msg shows in your combat report, he's served for the entire TF, not just his own ship. continuous long-range recon of the target hex will help as well, to track the target's gun numbers.

when hitting the beach, include bulk combat ships for gunfire support in the amphTF. use slow BBs, or DDs, or anything w/ better than 5" MA. don't forget to use all the support landing craft such as LCI(G) & LSM(R). these ships engage the shore guns, preventing them from ruining your landing ships.

plan those landing-assaults carefully - different ship types unload more quickly. high-capability amph ships (LST, LSI, APA, AKA) can get in & out fast. lower-quality ships will take more than one turn to unload, they'll be under the gun for longer - in which case you need to be prepared w/ a 2nd wave of gunfire-support ships to merge into your amphTF for the 2nd turn of unload (most of your NGS ships will expend all their ammo, you must replace them).

best regards

[Shark7]

Also depends on the opponent. Is it the AI or a human? And what difficulty level if against the AI?

The human opponent will really dig in and get ready, as Saipan is a target he knows you need and he's going to make you pay to get it. The AI...well lets just say it gets a little help, especially on harder difficulty levels. [;)]