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Somebody in this forum once told me you shouldn’t ever mess with Bombardment TF orders, that it mucks with the algorithm that gets them in and then out at night safely. Waypoints and safety tolerance levels and such, I mean.

But I have a strong surface TF based at Lunga, and the IJN has parked a multiple CV Air TF at Shortland Islands, conducting air strikes on Tassafronga and Tulagi because it wants to kill all its best pilots (I guess). I’d really like to get at it with the Bombardment TF, but the plot always does a round-abouty route in, and/or bails on the mission. Should I intervene with Direct Route orders, risk tolerance and maybe waypoints? If it mucks up the mission, that Surface TF of mine is going to get pounded.

Bella wrote: Sun Aug 25, 2024 4:44 pm But I have a strong surface TF based at Lunga, and the IJN has parked a multiple CV Air TF at Shortland Islands, conducting air strikes on Tassafronga and Tulagi because it wants to kill all its best pilots (I guess).

Killing off its best pilots? How does that old quote go?... "Never interrupt your opponent when they're making a mistake".

Platoonist wrote: Sun Aug 25, 2024 4:51 pm

Bella wrote: Sun Aug 25, 2024 4:44 pm But I have a strong surface TF based at Lunga, and the IJN has parked a multiple CV Air TF at Shortland Islands, conducting air strikes on Tassafronga and Tulagi because it wants to kill all its best pilots (I guess).

Killing off its best pilots? How does that old quote go?... "Never interrupt your opponent when they're making a mistake".

Right. True enough, and that’s been the last three days. But if I can get in there like a fox in a henhouse, I can make all those pilots homeless.

Platoonist wrote: Sun Aug 25, 2024 4:51 pm

Bella wrote: Sun Aug 25, 2024 4:44 pm But I have a strong surface TF based at Lunga, and the IJN has parked a multiple CV Air TF at Shortland Islands, conducting air strikes on Tassafronga and Tulagi because it wants to kill all its best pilots (I guess).

Killing off its best pilots? How does that old quote go?... "Never interrupt your opponent when they're making a mistake".

I do believe that Napoleone Buonaparte said that.

Bella wrote: Sun Aug 25, 2024 5:30 pm

Platoonist wrote: Sun Aug 25, 2024 4:51 pm

Bella wrote: Sun Aug 25, 2024 4:44 pm But I have a strong surface TF based at Lunga, and the IJN has parked a multiple CV Air TF at Shortland Islands, conducting air strikes on Tassafronga and Tulagi because it wants to kill all its best pilots (I guess).

Killing off its best pilots? How does that old quote go?... "Never interrupt your opponent when they're making a mistake".

Right. True enough, and that’s been the last three days. But if I can get in there like a fox in a henhouse, I can make all those pilots homeless.

But why do you want to bombard Shortland Islands?

RangerJoe wrote: Sun Aug 25, 2024 5:39 pm

Bella wrote: Sun Aug 25, 2024 5:30 pm

Platoonist wrote: Sun Aug 25, 2024 4:51 pm

Killing off its best pilots? How does that old quote go?... "Never interrupt your opponent when they're making a mistake".

Right. True enough, and that’s been the last three days. But if I can get in there like a fox in a henhouse, I can make all those pilots homeless.

But why do you want to bombard Shortland Islands?

I barely care about Shortlands except maybe to reduce/damage the airfield, and that’s a worthy target. The real goal is to tangle with the IJN Air TF bombarding Lunga. Recce shows CA types and below as escort for the multiple IJN carriers (I’ve sunk a bunch of his BBs) and I’m taking in two BBs along with the others. Hoping to do a Midway with 14” guns.

So, my question was…….should I play around with Bombardment mission settings? I should explain that in the interest of game play I do not replay game turns if things don’t turn out my way. Started doing that a ways back. More fun. But according to my nerd honour system, I’m allowed to ask advice.

If you want just a stab at the IJN carriers but not having your ships hang around the target hex in daylight, change the Bombardment TF to a Surface Action TF and order it to proceed full speed to the destination hex the carriers are in, with orders to return, direct routing, reaction range = 0. Bombardment TFs are for hitting bases, not chasing enemy TFs. If a Bombardment TF runs into surface opposition it may not fight as well as a genuine surface action TF. However, it may change into a surface action TF depending on leader aggressiveness.

LargeSlowTarget wrote: Sun Aug 25, 2024 7:03 pm If you want just a stab at the IJN carriers but not having your ships hang around the target hex in daylight, change the Bombardment TF to a Surface Action TF and order it to proceed full speed to the destination hex the carriers are in, with orders to return, direct routing, reaction range = 0. Bombardment TFs are for hitting bases, not chasing enemy TFs. If a Bombardment TF runs into surface opposition it may not fight as well as a genuine surface action TF. However, it may change into a surface action TF depending on leader aggressiveness.

Doesn’t that mean they’ll charge up the Slot in daylight? They’ll get smashed by Kates and Val’s.

Bella wrote: Sun Aug 25, 2024 7:41 pm

LargeSlowTarget wrote: Sun Aug 25, 2024 7:03 pm If you want just a stab at the IJN carriers but not having your ships hang around the target hex in daylight, change the Bombardment TF to a Surface Action TF and order it to proceed full speed to the destination hex the carriers are in, with orders to return, direct routing, reaction range = 0. Bombardment TFs are for hitting bases, not chasing enemy TFs. If a Bombardment TF runs into surface opposition it may not fight as well as a genuine surface action TF. However, it may change into a surface action TF depending on leader aggressiveness.

Doesn’t that mean they’ll charge up the Slot in daylight? They’ll get smashed by Kates and Val’s.

They will run up at night. Give the surface combat task force some LRCAP. If you sink the aircraft carriers, are they going to resurface to launch aircraft? If the aircraft carriers are heavily damaged, they will not launch aircraft.

But don't forget the threat setting of High or Absolute.

If those 14" guns are on slow US BBs instead of Prince of Wales, they have little chance of getting enough shots off to score hits before the enemy runs away. And the escorting vessels have a nasty habit of getting between the carriers and your BBs. Now if you could slow them down with torpedo hits ... bring your subs ahead of your SCTF. Anything to raise the DL on the enemy TF, including night searches.

It is rare to be able to ambush CV TF with surface combat TF.

Former tends to have escorts, sometimes fast BBs but usually at least CAs. Those will try to screen the carriers.

Sometimes it works, but odds are not on your side that happening...

Sardaukar wrote: Mon Aug 26, 2024 5:49 pm It is rare to be able to ambush CV TF with surface combat TF.

Former tends to have escorts, sometimes fast BBs but usually at least CAs. Those will try to screen the carriers.

Sometimes it works, but odds are not on your side that happening...

Good to know. Seems I can’t get the Bombardment TF to even leave Tulagi. The commander knows something I don’t, obviously.

Bella wrote: Mon Aug 26, 2024 8:53 pm

Sardaukar wrote: Mon Aug 26, 2024 5:49 pm It is rare to be able to ambush CV TF with surface combat TF.

Former tends to have escorts, sometimes fast BBs but usually at least CAs. Those will try to screen the carriers.

Sometimes it works, but odds are not on your side that happening...

Good to know. Seems I can’t get the Bombardment TF to even leave Tulagi. The commander knows something I don’t, obviously.

Because it is a bombardment TF and you probably don't have your threat tolerance set properly.

Sardaukar wrote: Mon Aug 26, 2024 5:49 pm It is rare to be able to ambush CV TF with surface combat TF.

Former tends to have escorts, sometimes fast BBs but usually at least CAs. Those will try to screen the carriers.

Sometimes it works, but odds are not on your side that happening...

To expand on this comment, better way to disrupt CV operations might be to send in several light and fast SCTFs, like CLs and DDs. Assuming they have good enough night experience already accumulated. Torpedo attacks and night fighting can be really effective against an enemy whose main concern is to flee. An there is more chances to catch a CVTF with several groups of yours. Slow BBs might not be able to reach the enemy in the first place, not to mention dodge the air attacks the next day if they spend enough action points fighting.
Positioning sub patrols on retreat routes naturally goes together

GetAssista wrote: Tue Aug 27, 2024 3:34 pm

Sardaukar wrote: Mon Aug 26, 2024 5:49 pm It is rare to be able to ambush CV TF with surface combat TF.

Former tends to have escorts, sometimes fast BBs but usually at least CAs. Those will try to screen the carriers.

Sometimes it works, but odds are not on your side that happening...

To expand on this comment, better way to disrupt CV operations might be to send in several light and fast SCTFs, like CLs and DDs. Assuming they have good enough night experience already accumulated. Torpedo attacks and night fighting can be really effective against an enemy whose main concern is to flee. An there is more chances to catch a CVTF with several groups of yours. Slow BBs might not be able to reach the enemy in the first place, not to mention dodge the air attacks the next day if they spend enough action points fighting.
Positioning sub patrols on retreat routes naturally goes together

Sounds like something to try. Thanks