APA, AKA etc

[LGKMAS]

Hi all, again asking for the wisdom of the forum.
I am shortly due to receive my first APAs and LSI L. p 276 of the manual states they carry large numbers of landing craft.
I hope this means those landing craft they use are part and parcel of the ship itself, I.E. factored into the ships capabilities and don't have to be provided from the pool of landing craft that are steadily building up.

[Ambassador]

ORIGINAL: LGKMAS

Hi all, again asking for the wisdom of the forum.
I am shortly due to receive my first APAs and LSI L. p 276 of the manual states they carry large numbers of landing craft.
I hope this means those landing craft they use are part and parcel of the ship itself, I.E. factored into the ships capabilities and don't have to be provided from the pool of landing craft that are steadily building up.

Their landing crafts are included in the game’s code, you don’t have to provide any craft from your pool.

Both types of ships (as well as others, like LSV, LSI(L), AKAs) are amphibious ships, and have a much better rate of unload « over the beach » ; this is explained in details, with the numbers for each category of ships, in the Manual, section 6.3.3.3.2. Amphibious Unloading, pages 127 & 128.

[LGKMAS]

Thanks Amb
I have previously read p 127 and 128 and that part was clear. but when I got to p 276, where it states they carry large numbers of LCs, I started to worry that I had missed something. Now I can breathe easy and carry on with my first full amphibious assault with purpose built ships etc. I have taken on board all the various suggestions as to make up and embedding other types etc. Now I just need some uninterrupted time to sort it all out, lay out the various task forces and find and assemble the ships that will make up those TFs.
not forgetting the troops that will do the actual assault! To date I have had neither the ships able to do a full amphibious assault, nor the opportunity so I have been focussed on other things. Now is the time to pull out all the advice, reread it, read it again and then make sure I understand what they are saying and am I understanding it correctly.

[Ambassador]

You’re not the first one to have such interrogations.

If you read a bit on how such operations were conducted, you’ll see what you have done. The key is to come with sufficient forces, especially if you invade an atoll, and to avoid a protracted battle which could lead to a counter-attack by the opponent (or an attack on your fleets).

Bunch of advices (in no way an exhaustive list) :
- load your units in separate TF, that you’ll assemble later ; it’ll be easier to allocate the ship loads that way
- do not load your assault troops in a minimum of ships : if you fill the transports, they won’t all unload in the first day, so better plan ahead and use twice as many ships as needed, to unload your assault troops twice as fast
- bring enough troops ; good rule of thumb is at least three times as much as the defenders : if there is a regiment, bring a division
- do not forget to bring tanks, engineers, artillery ; you most probably will have heavy forts, so you need all the support you need
- prepare all units, including Corps/Army/Command HQ in range, to provide combat benefits ; preparation will also help with the unloading
- load some AKA/LST with supplies only ; if you load both troops and supplies, the troops will be unloaded first and supplies last, so your first waves risk running out of supplies
- when you think you have enough ships with supplies, load a few more (doubly so for an atoll invasion)
- include enough escorts for all transports
- include specialized TF for minesweeping, ASW, SAG, Shore Bombardment... and support ships like AO, AR, AD, AKE/AE
- setting up a front-line support base on an adjacent dot base, using some FP to reinforce the Naval Search and ASW, and to use the Tenders mentioned above (before the end-game, AE can’t do underway replenishment)
- create PT boats once the operation start, to help protect your assault ships
- provide air cover - lots of it
- neutralize nearby enemy bases where possible
- bomb & bombard the target ; even if your planes and ships don’t seem to destroy or disband many devices, it will increase Disruption and Fatigue of the enemy units
- have your second echelon of base and engineer LCU ready to arrive as soon as the base is yours, as well as LBA (mostly Fighter squadrons at first)
- if invading an atoll (or anywhere, really, but especially for atolls) : have numerous Naval Support squads to help reembark the excess troops. Attacking an atoll requires to go over the stacking limits, so as soon sa the fight is over, you need to reembark any unneeded and excendentary troops to limit your supply consumption
- plan ahead for the next invasion ; often, your advance path will be clear for your opponent, and he can reinforce a base on the next line before you have troops ready to attack, if you wait for the amphibious assault to have concluded to start amassing and prepping troops for the next base.

I hope it helps.

EDIT : and recon, lots of recon. Try and keep the DL at 10/10.

2nd EDIT : and don’t invade a base you don’t need to. Any invasion is a commitment of assets, which can’t be used elsewhere at the same time (and need prep time before as well as R&R time after the operation), expenditure of supplies and fuel, and gives free intel to your opponent (as well as an opportunity to set up a strike on your fleets). So keep in mind your overall strategy, don’t just invade somewhere because you have an opportunity.

3rd EDIT : Alfred would be happy, for once we’re talking about the opportunity cost.[:D]

Add’l bit : if the enemy has significant CV or Surface assets, flood the area with available submarines. They probably won’t prevent his CV or BB/CA/DD from attacking you, but 1) you may be lucky and 2) they may pose a big threat for any crippled ship or any counter-invasion TF.

[LGKMAS]

Thanks Amba
Nearly all of what you advise is in posts I had previously downloaded but it does help concentrate the mind when they all appear in just one post.
After having to work on Burma nad PNG as my offensives due to a scarcity of ships for amphibious assault, I am seriously looking at planning the seaborne approach now, as I know I have to allow for transit times, loading times then transit to the objective etc etc etc. Not even mentioning bombardment and ACTF attacks to soften him up and sub patrols to sink any resupply efforts, etc etc etc. Although I start getting APA and AKA and LSIL and the rest next month, I really need to plan now on where they will end up. no more off the cuff reaction from now on. This is getting serious stuff.
I may have to dig through my footlocker and find the JMAP pam so I have a structured way forward.
Now I am starting to get serious assault forces, I am starting to feel more confident, but that may mean I am underestimating him. Still I do still have all 6 carriers as well as the CVEs arriving. But on my count he still has 6 fleet carriers and 6 CVL/CVE so there is still a threat out there. Decisions, decisions! McClellan, I feel your pain!!<gr>

[Ambassador]

What’s the date in your game ? If you’re getting APA’s (and remember a couple of AP/AK will also upgrade to APA/AKA, make sure they do), you’ll soon receive even more CV’s and CVL’s. Plus, your CV’s are bigger, so the initial 6 of the Allies field more planes than KB’s initial six. Plus, once you have trained pilots in F6F, SBD and Avengers, you’re in a better qualitative position compared to the IJN’s A6M, D3A and B5N. The differences between Hellcats and Zeroes, and between Dauntlesses and Vals, are particularly glaring.

In ‘43, the AAA situation is also decidedly more favorable to the Allies, with the multiple ‘42 upgrades having increased the number of 20mm Oerlikons and 40mm Bofors, the high number of 5-in/38, and the widespread upgrades of ships’ radars. More durable ships, more CA/BB to escort the CV (and providing better AAA platforms too), the Fletcher DD being better AAA defenses too...

[RangerJoe]

For the invasion, you can load xAKs with supplies if needed although they will unload much slower. They may not unload completely by the time the regular APAs and AKAs have unloaded but that is fine. Just stop the unloading and leave with the invasion TF if you haven't captured the base. If you have captured it and it seems safe to do so, they can form a separate TF and continue unloading if needed. Your follow-up units can come in be regular transports and cargo vessels.

If you are playing a human, recon everyplace that you can so the opponent does not have a clue where you are actually going. Have units already prepping for additional bases if the opportunity presents itself.