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I’m about to do an Operation Hailstone strike on Truk. Recon shows several BB and CA in the port, not in TFs. To attack these ships, should I set my Dauntlesses and Avengers to Naval Attack or to Port Attack?

Bella wrote: Sun Jan 04, 2026 10:08 pm I’m about to do an Operation Hailstone strike on Truk. Recon shows several BB and CA in the port, not in TFs. To attack these ships, should I set my Dauntlesses and Avengers to Naval Attack or to Port Attack?

Maybe airfield attack? What do you think?

I don’t know, which is why I’m asking.

Naval Attack with Port Attack as secondary for safest option, if you want to hit both disbanded ships and possible TFs.

If you are sure IJN ships are all disbanded, put Port attack as primary. It is bit more risky, especially if IJN TFs appear, more so if they are CV TFs... Then you are "SOL".

Bella wrote: Sun Jan 04, 2026 10:08 pm I’m about to do an Operation Hailstone strike on Truk. Recon shows several BB and CA in the port, not in TFs. To attack these ships, should I set my Dauntlesses and Avengers to Naval Attack or to Port Attack?

Naval attacks only attack ships in a TF, port attacks only attack port facilities, (inc yards, sup, fuel) and ships anchored in them with possible secondary effects on port support troops and the city. Torp a/c set to port attack will normally carry bombs, using torps is extremely rare and you have no control, ex 1st turn.

Don't forget to send a few squadrons sweeping in advance. Like Halsey form a Fast BB TF to catch any fleeing ships.

I have been doing a lot of research on Hailstone and the attack can be replicated in game. Historically 75 Hellcats started sweeping and strafing, then each carrier attacked independently. So every half hour a different ship of the 9 carriers would launch a strike, just 96 miles away, 2 - 3 hexes. Some had Torpedoes for Naval Attack, along with the DBs and Fighter escort who then strafed the AF at the end of their missions.

Some strikes had fragmentation and cluster bombs to attack the buildings and facilities. So in game you have assign
Primary and Secondary missions to individual ship squadrons. Just like history you can hold back a little because on day 2 you have better reconnaissance and you keep a few planes on long range search in case the KB is around.

What the US pilots did is circle overhead for 20 min. selecting targets. Then small groups would attack their targets, followed by the fighters for protection who then strafed the closest AF.

Sounds like great advice. Thanks.