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In my PBEM against IdahoNYer aka Ed I have an issue. We are fighting for Port Hedland, Ed has launched an overland attack from Exmouth along the coast and I have been pounding his LCUs with battleship bombardments several times.

However, the latest bombardment run against the LCUs in the coastal hex 56,129 next to Port Hedland did not happen, and I do not understand why not.

I have ordered this bombardment run a few turns ago, the TF should have bombarded during the next-to-last turn resolution - but it did not.

In the corresponding next-to-last orders phase I discovered that the TF was halfway back to base - still with bombardment orders and despite more than enough fuel, full ammo load and good leader etc.

So, I did order the TF to turn around again, still with bombardment orders for the said coastal hex, which still shows at least one LCU in it (my air had no problem attacking this LCU this turn) - but this time with orders to remain on target.

The latest turn resolution again shows no bombardment, but the TF is now sitting in the target hex with orders to remain - and bombardment orders still active.

Now the really odd part - in the order phase I can give orders to this TF to return to base or to move to any other hex (top picture) - but I cannot set the destination to the hex the TF is sitting in (in order to repeat the bombardment orders).
If I give orders for destination hex 56,129, the confirmation message says "TF 41 will move to hex 56,129" - but the subsequent TF screen shows as destination the home base hex at 68,116. I have tried several times to set the orders by clicking at different spots inside the hex - no change. I have also re-downloaded the save file and re-run the turn on a different machine - same behaviour. Also tried with normal and direct routing, different threat tolerances and Retirement allowed / remain on station combos - no joy.

This is decidedly odd, but before I shout "Bug!" I'd like to ask for possible explanations - thx.

When you are bombarding a coastal hex without a base, you virtually always have to set the TF to "Remain on Station".
You also need a good DL on the enemy before going in and have your float planes doing night and day recon (range zero, no target designated) to support the bombardment.

Thanks, I know that [:)]. I fly LBA recon from Broome / Derby and the float planes of the TF are on day and night recon. I have achieved good bombardments before, at night as well as - with cruise speed settings - in broad daylight in that very same hex, even without remain at target orders. The last attempt was with remain orders - but no joy. I'm puzzled because it has worked before...

I think there is also a chance element that can come up - the coast may not be approachable at that point (check for a red border using the F6 key) or the AI roll says the LCUs are too far inland to engage.
Or maybe it is just the weather precludes targeting. [&:]

You have set the TF to Cruise speed. I think that prevents it to sprint to bombard.

Thx for trying to help. However, the TF is already in the target hex, so no need to sprint anywhere. Furthermore, I have set cruise speed because this is how I have achieved daylight bombardments in the past - in that very same hex (so there is no hexsides "reachability" problem either).
The other TF visible in the screenies is a second bombardment force going to the same hex, and I can redo the order to bombard the hex without problem - but not for the TF which is already at the target hex.

Yeah, you cannot order bombardment of a non-base hex while you are in the hex, so I usually drive up to the adjacent hex, set my bombardment orders and then pick the target. Of course I can only do this when enemy air is neutralized.