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Battleships Run From Carriers in Suface Combat?
Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2025 1:32 am
by Outlander65
Playing against AI as Japan as I am trying to learn the economics of Japanese. In July of 42 I got a chance to put a surface combat TF in the path of a US task force that my search planes said had a CV in it. They met in the AM naval phase and it was every Japanese surface fleet admiral’s dream; 4 US fleet CVs with one BB and maybe a half dozen CLs and DDs. IJN had 4 bbs (2 16 in. And 2 14 in.) and the two little CLs that carry a boatload of long lances plus half a dozen destroyers. And they were LRCap from both carriers and land based air. The first thing that happens is both sides try to evade combat, and succeed. My TF leaves without firing a shot!! After the turn was over I was still seething so I went back to turn before and checked the tf out. Commander was a rear admiral with Naval 73 and aggression 59. Threat setting was Normal. Thinking maybe that was where I screwed up I changed threat tolerance to Absolute and re-ran the turn for giggles. Same damn thing happened. Tried it 3 more times and every time the same thing. Okay, what did I do wrong???
Re: Battleships Run From Carriers in Suface Combat?
Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2025 2:12 am
by dr.hal
Put the CVs in a separate TF and have it follow your SAG TF.... The problem is most likely a CV TF will almost always avoid a surface action........
Re: Battleships Run From Carriers in Suface Combat?
Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2025 5:37 am
by L0ckAndL0ad
In real life situation, it's not necessary that either side knows full enemy fleet composition in advance. Maybe IJN commander saw CVs as BBs and got scared? Or IJN ships were limited by a slower ship and couldn't pursue? CTF commanders would try to flee as fast as possible. In my understanding, pre battle intel on enemy force (DL) is also important. The more search planes the better.
In my AAR there's a massacre of CTF by battleships, you can see it's possible to do.
Re: Battleships Run From Carriers in Suface Combat?
Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2025 7:05 am
by RangerJoe
Check the ammo level on the Japanese surface ships, the lack of ammo is the only think that I can think of right now which would make the surface combat task force to evade combat.
Re: Battleships Run From Carriers in Suface Combat?
Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2025 2:53 pm
by Outlander65
I checked the ammo and everyone had full loads for main guns and torps. I also realized the US carriers ran directly over three i-boats before meeting the IJN BBs. Chalking this one up to just was not meant to be!
Re: Battleships Run From Carriers in Suface Combat?
Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2025 5:20 pm
by L0ckAndL0ad
Outlander65 wrote: Mon Jun 02, 2025 2:53 pm
I checked the ammo and everyone had full loads for main guns and torps. I also realized the US carriers ran directly over three i-boats before meeting the IJN BBs. Chalking this one up to just was not meant to be!
What's the max speed of your BB task force? Sub encounters should've given an additional DL also, I think.
Re: Battleships Run From Carriers in Suface Combat?
Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2025 8:17 pm
by Outlander65
US had speed advantage because I think all his ships could make 30 knots and my BB’s are in the mid-20s. But doesn’t explain why my TF evaded as well. Encounter began at 26,000 yards so well within range of their main guns.
Re: Battleships Run From Carriers in Suface Combat?
Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2025 11:33 am
by BenurH99
Outlander65 wrote: Mon Jun 02, 2025 1:32 am
Playing against AI as Japan as I am trying to learn the economics of Japanese. In July of 42 I got a chance to put a surface combat TF in the path of a US task force that my search planes said had a CV in it. They met in the AM naval phase and it was every Japanese surface fleet admiral’s dream; 4 US fleet CVs with one BB and maybe a half dozen CLs and DDs. IJN had 4 bbs (2 16 in. And 2 14 in.) and the two little CLs that carry a boatload of long lances plus half a dozen destroyers. And they were LRCap from both carriers and land based air. The first thing that happens is both sides try to evade combat, and succeed. My TF leaves without firing a shot!! After the turn was over I was still seething so I went back to turn before and checked the tf out. Commander was a rear admiral with Naval 73 and aggression 59. Threat setting was Normal. Thinking maybe that was where I screwed up I changed threat tolerance to Absolute and re-ran the turn for giggles. Same damn thing happened. Tried it 3 more times and every time the same thing. Okay, what did I do wrong???
try with DDs, its more a bombardement Task force, surfaces need DDs