Using Kido Butai

[Q-Ball]

I am curious what some players do with Kido Butai after Pearl Harbor. There are a number of options, what does everyone do?

*Keep it together, or split it up? 3 IJN CV's are big enough to take on anything, unless Allies mass all CV's......seems unlikely an Allied player would risk a large CV battle before March '42. Or, alternative split could be group Zuiho, Ryujo in a separate TF, sort of a mini-KB; enough to sink shipping in the SRA.
*Where to send KB? Attack the RN in the Bay of Bengal? Cover landings in the Solomons? Wipe out shipping in the DEI? Maybe even another attack on Pearl.....Maybe all of these, but in what order?

It seems inevitable that KB will end up at some point in the Solomons/New Guinea later on, but what does everyone do in the first 3 months or so?

[tsimmonds]

Sorry, that's classified information. Halsey may be reading this[;)]

[Q-Ball]

....you could post and throw Halsey off the scent...."I Always send KB to the Bay of Bengal, Always Always Always"....and then BAM! Pearl Harbor II[:D]

[rogueusmc]

Loose lips sink ships....[:D]

I don't do anything with KB 'cept try and sink 'em.[8D]

[freeboy]

who is my oponent?

[von Murrin]

I'm not playing any PBEM's so there is no deception here.[:D]

In my Japanese campaign, I had them sail aimlessly offshore while my Wake invasion reinforcements unloaded. Once the island fell, I took off for the NEI and sank everything I could find. I then ventured into the Bay of Bengal for some lean hunting, and worked my way around the top (no, I never even considered going UNDER) Australia, to finally hammer Fiji. They were pretty beat up from ops damage by that point, so they're now sitting in home island ports for refitting.

I think I sank something like 60 ships.[:'(]

[Halsey]

That's why I posted the PP thread. That way I can pick the brains from all of those experienced players out there. [8D]

As far as KB in a PBEM, well, you won't see my CV's anywhere near them. Where they aren't, they will be![;)]

[AmiralLaurent]

Historical use of the KB was

7 Dec 1941: PH raid by Kaga, Akagi, Hiryu, Soryu, Shokaku and Zuikaku

21-23 Dec 1941: Hiryu and Soryu cove the 2nd Wake landing

23 Dec 1941: Kaga, Akagi, Shokaku and Zuikaku return to Japan from PH

29 Dec 1941: Hiryu and Soryu return to Japan from Wake

8 Jan 1942: Kaga, Akagi, Shokaku and Zuikaku leave Japan for Truk

12 Jan 1942: Hiryu and Soryu leave Japan for Palau

20-22 Jan 1942: Kaga, Akagi, Shokaku and Zuikaku launches raids against Rabaul, Kavieng and Lae

23-24 Jan 1942: Hiryu and Soryu launches raids against Ambon

30 Jan 1942 : Shokaku leaves Truk for Japan to pick up planes in Japan and for dock repairs (all month)

1-2 Feb 1942 : Kaga, Akagi and Zuikaku leave Truk to pursue the USN CV raiding the Marshals, then to Palau to join Hiryu and Soryu launches

9 Feb 1942: Zuikaku leaves Palau for Japan

19 Feb 1942: Kaga, Akagi, Hiryu and Soryu attack Darwin

25 Feb - 7 Mar 1942: Kaga, Akagi, Hiryu and Soryu support Java operations (moslty cruising south of the Island)

11 - 16 Mar 1942 : Zuikaku and Shokaku search USN ships (wrongly) reported off Japan

15 Mar 1942: Kaga leaves DEI for Japan for repairs

24 Mar 1942: Zuikaku and Shokaku join Akagi, Hiryu and Soryu at Starling Bay and all leave for the Indian Ocean two days later

5 - 9 Apr 1942 : Ceylon raids by Zuikaku, Shokaku, Akagi, Hiryu and Soryu

19 Apr 1942 : Zuikaku and Shokaku sail S from Mako (Pescadores) to cover the Port Moresby landing, while Akagi, Hiryu and Soryu sail to chase Doolitle raiders

So the KB was never 6 CV strong after PH and performs various tasks in the first 5 months:
_ landing covers 4 (Wake, Rabaul, Ambon, Java)
_ shipping hunt 1 (off Java)
_ raids 2 (Darwin, Ceylon)
_ search for the USN CV 3 (Wake, alert off Japan and Doolitle raid)

In the game, I have not choosen yet what to do with them. I definetly will have a two CVL TF (Ruyjo and Zuiho) for covering landings and will probably also use the KB for such major operations (Java coming to mind) but the Kido Butai remains my main weapon during these first months and their primary targets are USN CVs, so they will probably sail around Central Pacific and Australia, even if an Indian raid is possible if enough activity is seen here after I had seized Singapore and the DEI. I will probably use a 4-5 CV TF most of the times as one or tow CV will be repairing most of the times. I may reduce the size if I sink or heavily damage without damage to my own carriers several USN carriers.

[andytimtim]

ORIGINAL: von Murrin

I'm not playing any PBEM's so there is no deception here.[:D]

mr von murrin!,


when i recieve my copy i shall challange you!![:@]

[:D]

[RUPD3658]

I have split mine into 2 forces. One is 4 CVs wheile the second is 2CVs, a CVL, and a CVE.

I used one to provide air cover for the Malaya landings and raid Singapore and the surronding area. This group sunk the POW and Repulse as well as several supply ships trying to get through. (As a not I stuck a surface combat TF in the strait and they have blocked all shipping; just make sure you don't go through Singapore or the CD will get you).

The second group stayed off on Manila and intercepted fleeing ships.

Later I had both raid the port of Seorobaja (sp?) and took out a bunch of tranports and Dutch warships.

[von Murrin]

ORIGINAL: andytimtim

ORIGINAL: von Murrin

I'm not playing any PBEM's so there is no deception here.[:D]

mr von murrin!,


when i recieve my copy i shall challange you!![:@]

[:D]

Heh, I'm not so sure I'd accept. If ever there was a game in which dropping out would be a crime, this is it. This winter I may be in an excellent position to drop ALL my PBEM's for every game I own. You see, I'll be sparring with recruiters from the various services, asking which will let me become a chopper jockey. [;)]

Thanks for the challenge, though. I would otherwise likely pick up the gauntlet.[:'(]

[esteban]

Notice how KB spent a goodly chunk of time chasing supsected or actual (Doolittle Raid) Allied ships off of Japan. In a game, I wouldn't set KB on that at all, not even if they were in Japan at the time. Put long range recon in Marcus, Northern Japan and the Kuriles, and if you see anything coming, fly in several squadrons of Bettys and Nells, in case people decide to bomb anything.

Even if they Americans sneak through for a surprise raid, they won't stay. In early 1945, you can probably sail up and down the Japanese coast, with minimal/acceptable losses. In early 1942, thats signing a death warrant for your ships.

[Wilhammer]

The KB was used for much 'grand standing' strategy, IMO, historically.

Had been used an 'American' business like way, by keeping it concentrated and fully integrated into the Air/Land/Sea battle at the Operational Level, it could of crushed the Allies in Malaya, PI, and DEI much faster.

The raids by them made no sense in an Offensive Campaign.

[Grotius]

I haven't really played Japan yet. How many TFs compromise KB typically? Two?