TF's "Hiding" in port

[designer1]

Hi.

New player here going through the campaign for the first time against Japanese AI. The AI has taken Gili-Gili. Now it has placed a CV, a BB and some other ships in that hex - presumably in port. My coast watchers spot them every turn, and then the TF's show up if I bomb the port, but naval attack orders will never send my planes after them.

How can I get at them? My bombers have tons of supply, good morale, plenty of AC support, etc.

[DoomedMantis]

Is the task force docked or actually disbanded at the port?

[designer1]

I can't really tell if they were docked as a TF or disbanded. If they were disbanded, my planes hitting the port should have had a chance to hit them, but as I understand it, TF's docked at a port but not disbanded aren't hit by port attacks. So how does one hit them?

[DoomedMantis]

If the task force is dispanded then you wont get any reports saying it exists. As you are getting these reports then it must just be docked. As such the game as I understand it is meant to attack from naval attack and not port attack, although there is a chance to get collateral damage for docked ships from port attack (disbanded tack forces get hit this way). What might be happening is the planes are looking for ships out to sea rather than in port and therefore shying away from port, though I doubt this as I have on several occassions attacked task forces (and been attacked) while 'docked'. What might be happening is that the coast watchers are noticing the ships, but this info is not being passed onto the airbase from which the bombers are based. I have noticed that info from coast watchers is very rarely acted upon, whereas ship sitting from planes are.

Hope this helps

Doomed

[NorthStar]

The problem might also be escorts.

If there is significant CAP at the base (either from an Air Field or from the CV you feel is there) your bombers may be refusing to attack becasue they can't get adequate fighter escort.

[XPav]

The AI sailed three cruisers and some destroyers up to a level 0 port (which it declared barge hub for some reason) and docked them.

They disappeared and were not attacked by any ships nearby.

This seems rather odd.

[designer1]

Thanks to all for their replies.