Matrix Games Forums

I am quite new to this game (1 month playing comp and three PBEM short scenarios).

When I see this message "TF can't unload here" I know that it is because I gave commander permission to retire. Yesterday I had Tanaka lead my invasion of Port Moresby with retirement allowed. He started the invasion on 10. May 1942. He had a fleet consisting of 2xCA (Myoko, Haguro) 4xDD (Kagero class) and 9xAP carrying 144th RGT and 2 ENG battalions. This was PBEM and my opponent had moved it's TF from Bribane (2xCA, 1xCL and 2xDD) to intercept my invasion.
On the first turn Tanaka noticed them and witdrew during the night just to return during the day. There was a brief skirmish without much hits. He managed to unload some of his forces.
On the following turn he did the same, withdrew during the night, came back during the day. This time Tanaka mannaged to get quite a few shots (with penetration) on the enemy CAs. Thanks to the armour on his own cruisers they were still undamaged, and DDs unhit. He of course also unloaded some additional troops.
Now I was happy and I thought nothing can go wrong. To my grave disapointment the next day there was the dreaded "TF can't unload" and my fleet started to withdraw towards Rabaul.
During all of the turns he had LR CAP over his force.
What can you tell me why did he decided to retreat after he basically cleared the area free of enemy surface groups.
I would suggest to the developers to add some additional info as to why commander decides to retire.

Thanks,

Branko

Hi,

I am in the middle of a PBEM, and my opponent has been struck by this message for the first time.

Do anyone has a bit more information about when a TF decide to do that that ?

Is that only happening if a TF is in "Retirement Allowed" ?

Does having an "best suited for invasion TF" leader help ?

Does the leadership/inspiration value of the TF commander affect the likelyhood of this TF behaviour ?

Is that because my CV are around (and equivalent to the "TF is retreating because of enemy CV" message ?)

How to solve the problem ?

Thanks in advance.

Cat

If you were sitting in a transport and enemy heavy cruisers were around
I think you would flee also, you were basically evenly matched with no
other support combatants around so the natural thing to do is withdraw.
Your task force did exactly as it should have, your combatants attacked and delayed
the other task force from destroying your transports in place and allowed them to withdraw unscathed.
You can force the task forces to stay with the do not retire option and an aggresive commander but you do risk losing some transports and troops as well, It is always better to have a task force of surface combatants following your transports during the invasion.
There are times when you want to force feed the troops in but you will lose men and
ships that way, You may want to consider fast transports with capital ships and destroyers if it is a crisis situation, which your apponant was doing against you.
If there are carriers around then you will want to high tail it out as you will lose all your ships and men in the process, If the enemy carriers are sighted even 30 hexes away
the transports will retire as they can be run down fairly quickly from a CV force.
hope this helps.

ORIGINAL: CatLord

Is that because my CV are around (and equivalent to the "TF is retreating because of enemy CV" message ?)

In short Yes.

It also happens when a transport TF is subject to surface and air attacks as well. Essentially what is happening is that the TF is trying to unload troops/supplies, but is also trying to retire at the same time.

Setting 'do not retire' helps, as does 'do not react'.

Basically it's better when invading a port to keep your surface combat units and APs in seperate TFs. Only keep a few warships in the AP TF to protect from subs, and maybe fire back at enemy Coastal defence (CD) guns. To the game, the logic is as follows: Transport TFs always try to avoid engagement with enemy surface/CV TFs or air attacks, no matter how many warships there are in that TF. Thus your transport TF will always try to retire if it runs into enemey surface units or takes too many attacks from aircraft. Having an aggressive TF commander only decreases this probability, it does not remove it. Surface TFs on the other hand actively seek out enemy units to fight. Having your warships and APs in different TFs means that the enemy surface TFs fight your surface TF first and if yopu win, they won't be able to attack the transport TF, which then won't try to retire.

Well stated........

Thanks for your answer guys [:)]

Cat

For the orginal poster, that TF might be low on ammo. It has fought a couple of battles, and if low it will retire regardless of your orders.

Not sure he is still reading after more than a year... [:D]

Cat