Matrix Games Forums

OK, here is the situation. Its my first game, scen 17, 200% commit levels for both sides, hard AI, currently October 5, 1943. The JApanese navy is all but gone, retaining an estimeated 2 carriers, 9 battleshps, and 30 or 40 cruisers, destroyers, subs, and auxillary craft (An overall estimate of 50 ships. I(the US), have captured the entire Solomon Island chain, and have recently captured the whole of Bougainville. I have turned Buka, the northern most tip of the island, into one hell of an air base. At last count 985 aircraft. Rough Estimates (Im not at the game, so these are not exact figures) 120 F4Us, 180 P-38Gs, 40 P-38Js, 30-40 P-47Ds, 24 P-40Es, 40 P-39Ds, 60 SBDs, 20 TBFs, 220 B-25Js, 40 B-17 E and Gs, 40 B-24 D and Js, 30 PBYs, 40 PBY4s. These are all I can remember really, haven't seen it since last night. Now, since doing this, I launched a massive raid on Rabaul, and in 4 days the airfield was destroyed, and all but 50 Japanese plaes at the base (origianlly like 400) were shot down or destoyed. Seing this threat, the Japanese sortied a force of 2 Battleships (Kongo class), 4 cruisers, and 4 destroyers to intercept a large transport force resupplying Buka. In the night action, 1 Australian CL and 12 American DDs attacked. All the destroyers either were sunk or sank later in the night, and the cruiser had to be scuttled, but on the Japanese side all 4 destoyers were crippled, 1 cruiser badly hit, and 1 battleship torpedoed. The ensuing air action (both from Buka and my 3 carriers in the vicinity) sank 3 cruisers and the destoyers. So the 2 battleships made for Rabaul. Seing them in port, I launched everything at the base's port facilities. This resulted in the destruction of 4 more destroyers, 3 more cruisers, and the demolition of the battleship Kongo (Haruna, the accompanying ship either sank or escaped to Truk). Kongo, in 3 different attacks, sustained a total of 97 bomb hits. Before she was confirmed sunk, the port was registered as 100% destroyed, and the anchor icon removed. My question is, are these ships 1) at sea, 2) sunk or detroyed, 3) still there but unusable, or 4) somehow elsewhere? Thanks again. (Also, what happens if I destroy Truk Harbor, as I have my 24s and PBY4s bombing the crap out of it at extreme range. Once I take Rabaul Ill add in the B17s as well.)

Destroying the harbor (100% port damage) simply means that the Port is not usable to load or unload Fuel/Supply/Troops. It will not stay at 100% if there are enough Engineers (as contained in an ENG unit) and they have sufficient supply to repair the damage.

The anchor sign is gone because no more ships are sighted in port, as they have either sunk or been formed into TF's.

When you capture an enemy base, all enemy ships at anchor are then sunk.

I knew that, I just figured that since it disappeared as soon as it hit 100% and they didn't have time to form a TF, and none were sighted by Air search, I figured they must have sunk. Well, thanks for the tip.

From what I saw, they are NOT sunk.

They magically teleport back home and appear as future ship reinforcements.

Hi Tanker Ace
why are you baseing close to 1000 planes at a 200 plane airbase ?
build up the bases around Buka and spead them out some

Bville is a great airfield island

HARD_Sarge

I should have done that, yes, but at the time I took Buka, and built it into an airfield, Shortland Island still had a small enemy garrison, Buin had only just fallen, and the non-base parts of B'vill were still hotly contested. Plus I put everything at Buka so that

1) The entire approach into the South Pacific from Truk could be covered
2) The Airbase at Rabaul and the Barge hub at Kavieng could be destroyed
3) B-24s from Buka could pound Truk
4) PBY's could attack enemy submarines as soon as they left Truk
and finally
5) The largest airbase, being so relatively close to Truk, would be a very tempting target for enemy bombardment.

All of these objectives were met, especially 4 and 5. To bombard Buka (and later Rabaul) Japan sacrificed 6 battleships of which 4 were sunk, their last 2 CVs (both sunk) and about 20 smaller ships (almost all sunk or so severly damaged as to be rendered useless). In addition to this, aroughly 7 to 10 Japanese subs were either sunk or damaged to the point were the Japanese submarine force was negligable (Before it had been a thorn in the side, quite unlike my subs). If I were playing a human opponet, or this gamble had happened earlier, I would not have concentrated so many planes, as if I had lost it, well. Yeah. It would really suck.

Hi Tanker ace
well I can understand your thinking, but the game is suppost to havea neg to numbers of planes able to be flown out of a over crowded base

and you are way over crowded

for the other targets beside Truk, you know planes from different bases will join up when attacking the same target ? so baseing 17's at one base, 24's at another and 25's at a 3rd, along with fighters based on there range, will still put most of them over the target at the same time (hassle is weather and what not)

HARD_Sarge

I understand that, but at the time Buka was the closest base to Truk, and even then the 24s were at extreme range (the 17s and 25s couldn't make it). I do agree tho, and next time will spread them out considereably. I usually like to have one base a bomber base, and another a fighter base, but in this case I just had to stick 'em all together. COulda went bad tho in all reality. Such is the advantage of hindsight I suppose.

No Hassle, just wanted to make sure why you were doing it, if it was a thought out plan and it worked the way you wanted, all the more power to you

for me, when I got for Buka, I also send out smaller raids to drop off CB's/Raiders on the side hexes to get the other bases started up, and normally I have Bruin by that time also, so am flying CB's into there to speed up the base, then once that is done, can move them to each base in turn, and can have a real power house going on Bville, of course, as you say, only the 24 can hit Truk, but that is not in my basic plans
how many planes do you get into the air during a turn from that base ?

HARD_Sarge

About 90%. A typical raid, not counting CAP, air search, and ASW will be 140 F4Us, 140 P38s all types, 180 to 220 B-25s, and about 30 B-17s and 24s apiece.