Fast TF troubles

[Bombur]

-I´m playing a small scenario against a human opponent (Guadalcanal campaign). I´m playing IJN. I´m following a defensive approach, allowing the enmy to advance and inflicting him the highest possible losses with my LBA, surface ships and carrier based aircraft. In Nov/42 the enemy already captured Munda and disembarked in Buin (but was unable to capture him). When he disembarked in Buin, he used a fast transport TF. For some strange reason, this TF was still in Buin when the dawn arrived, and suffered multiple attacks by Betties based in Rabul, resulting in the loss of the North Carolina. A few weeks after, he sent a surface fleet to engage my BB´s (which were making frequent visits to Buin) at night. In the same day I´ve sent the Yamato, plus two Kongos and some smaller ships to Buin. Both TF´s set to retirement allowed. However, while my fleet arrived at night and returned at full speed as expected, my enemy´s force arrived there at daylight (no surface combat). The unfortunate ships found themselves attacked by 180 bombers coming from a IJN CV force in the vicinity. The South Dakota sank and the Washington was crippled. A CL was sunk also. In the third event, a IJN fast TF force was sent to Buna for a ressuply mission. Instead of moving a few hexes in the first day, and making the fast movement in the following day, the fast TF arrived at daylight, in the same turn I ordered it to depart, and suffered some air attacks from New Guinea bases (only one CL damaged). The question is, why all those fast TF´s are arriving at daylight instead of night? Did someone have the same trouble?

[rogueusmc]

Are the TFs set to donot retire?...if so, there ya go. I did the same thing a few times.

[Bombur]

ORIGINAL: rogueusmc

Are the TFs set to donot retire?...if so, there ya go. I did the same thing a few times.

-They were set to retirement allowed, according to my opponent. In example#3 I verified the save game and they were also set to retirement allowed.

[tsimmonds]

What probably happened was this: he began his turn within one day's steaming of the DH, and he refueled after he made his orders. Refueling confuses the hell out of FT and bombardment TFs. You should always refuel the turn before. Then, to be safe, when you do go you should first select the DH and then load your troops (if it's a FT).

[Antoine]

I had this problem in UV. The devs explain that commander of the TF can override orders if they think the area is safe and will go directly to the target without waiting for the night: it is a FAST transport TF not a SAFE transport TF. So if the IA think that the commander will think it is safe because no planes were detected and no CV, even if we players absolutely know that they must go at night, there is a chance the TF will come in daylight. So stupid. The manual was in error on this point.

[Bombur]

ORIGINAL: irrelevant

What probably happened was this: he began his turn within one day's steaming of the DH, and he refueled after he made his orders. Refueling confuses the hell out of FT and bombardment TFs. You should always refuel the turn before. Then, to be safe, when you do go you should first select the DH and then load your troops (if it's a FT).

-In example #3 the TF was fully refueled before it departed. In example #2 too. My "enemy" had doubts on to what extent his ships were refueled in example #1

[Bombur]

ORIGINAL: Antoine

I had this problem in UV. The devs explain that commander of the TF can override orders if they think the area is safe and will go directly to the target without waiting for the night: it is a FAST transport TF not a SAFE transport TF. So if the IA think that the commander will think it is safe because no planes were detected and no CV, even if we players absolutely know that they must go at night, there is a chance the TF will come in daylight. So stupid. The manual was in error on this point.

-Yes, but the target (in this case Buin) is only 5 hexes from the bigger concentration of Betties in the Pacific. How will the commander believe he can arrive at daylight?