CL Richmond safe! No...CL Richmond sunk

[George Patton]

I've sent CL Richmond in a suicide mission to recon Midway with his scout plane. Today the CL has been attacked by a total of 34 Nell. 20 Nell damaged and no score. Now I know what Bern has in Midway: 27 Nell and 5 Zero.
The problem is that with my combat file Richmond escaped safely from the attack. But when I loaded the new turn, Richmond resulted sunk.

[wild_Willie2]

escaped safely from the attack. But when I loaded the new turn, Richmond resulted sunk.

Combat replay bug, is this PBEM or AI ??

[Feinder]

You used a CL for that?

Ouch.
-F-

[Ron Saueracker]

ORIGINAL: Feinder

You used a CL for that?

Ouch.
-F-

Look at his avatar!

[tsimmonds]

ORIGINAL: Feinder

You used a CL for that?

Ouch.
-F-

Richmond is, er, was an Omaha class, perfect for the job.

The only question I have is, did you trade her in for a Baltimore class, or a Cleveland?[;)]

[acmejeff]

You should always have your Japanese counterpoint send you the Combat Report text file in addition to the replay. The text file is going to be a more accurate account of what happened. Not as much fun to read it compared to watching the replay but at least the information will be better.

[esteban]

ORIGINAL: irrelevant

ORIGINAL: Feinder

You used a CL for that?

Ouch.
-F-

Richmond is, er, was an Omaha class, perfect for the job.

The only question I have is, did you trade her in for a Baltimore class, or a Cleveland?[;)]

I think you only get replacement CAs/CLs for your American CAs that are sunk. Sinking the Richmond is pretty much a dead loss to the Allies.

So now you know what the Japanese had on Midway on that turn, but with Nell and Betty range the Japanese player can have 4-5 squadrons of Nells and Betties and 3-4 squadrons of Zeros on Midway and ready for combat within two days.

[goodboyladdie]

Light Cruisers traditionally had a scouting role. The Omahas were built as "classic" Cruisers. I use mine for long range scouting (where LBA can't do the job), bombardments and commerce raiding, because they don't always attract air attack. It is mostly successful, but in my PBEM with Scout1 I found the KB in Tarawa by accident. 111 shell hits later, I was down a light cruiser, but: a) I know where the KB, b) I have a nice new CL or CA with greater AA/gunpower/durability to look forward to in a couple of years and c) I put three shells into one of his CVLs which did a lot of damage and really pissed him off!

They are amongst the more expendable platforms and hitting back where you can to annoy the Nip is important early in the war. When you are looking at having to wait a long while to even try to regain the initiative, anything you can do to hold up his plans should be considered, though admittedly I would not have used a CL to recce Midway if an LBA platform was in range.

[George Patton]

I knew his LBA where in Midway, but I didn't know how much of them. I wanted to strike the island with my CV and maybe land the 2. USMC division, but with no idea of what he had there, I preferred to sacrifice the CL instead of a CV.

[Mynok]

Catalina's can't reach Midway from Hawaii?

[Nikademus]

ORIGINAL: wild_Willie2

escaped safely from the attack. But when I loaded the new turn, Richmond resulted sunk.

Combat replay bug, is this PBEM or AI ??

out of sync.

tsk tsk....sacrificing a whole CL just to see how many planes there. [:-] Not even Tiornu would do that to an Omaha class CL.....then again, maybe he would.... [;)]

[niceguy2005]

ORIGINAL: George Patton

I knew his LBA where in Midway, but I didn't know how much of them. I wanted to strike the island with my CV and maybe land the 2. USMC division, but with no idea of what he had there, I preferred to sacrifice the CL instead of a CV.

Ideally you would use your Coronados for this. Do they have the range to reach?

CLs are used well in this role, but what about an AVD and some Cats operating from the French Frigate Shoals?

Usually if I am using CLs for recon I will use 2 with 2-3 DD escorts. Gives a much greater AA punch and doubles the seaplanes available. Of course, it also quadrouples the number of targets for the Nells to shoot at.

[Mistmatz]

Interesting tactic to sacrifice an asset for information on that scale, wouldnt come to my mind but thats maybe just my style of play...

So the question is how would one scout allied bases as japanese players in case you have no Glen equipped subs around? Can the japanese afford the loss at all? I doubt it, but maybe you think different?

[Mike Solli]

Ain't no way I'd sacrafice a Japanese ship (even a Japanese CL) for that mission.

[Mike Solli]

There's no real reason for the Japanese to do that. The Emily has a range of 24 hexes, so it's not really a concern.

[castor troy]

No way I would do it with an Allied CL either! [X(][:-]

[niceguy2005]

ORIGINAL: castor troy

No way I would do it with an Allied CL either! [X(][:-]

ideally not. This is what Patrol planes or LB-30 or B-17s are for.

However CLs are very imortant TF screening forces. My CVs never leave home without a CL TF leading the way.

[goodboyladdie]

The Omaha class have such poor AA values that scouting and raiding are really all they are good for. They do not have the legs of the later CLs either. The thing that really makes them expendable is the fact they will be replaced with a late war CL or CA, whereas if you keep them safe, they will still be a load of crap at the end of the war. Gamey, I know, but in real life, naval commanders tend to follow the traditions of the service and are far more aggressive than we are. How many allied players would risk a Coral Sea or Midway with the air groups available in early 1942? I have read enough AARs to see how much that tends to hurt!

[Ron Saueracker]

One of the main reasons why ship crew factors should have been modelled. It would double the VP easy. Also,, we can't get planes to fly because of morale issues or whatever, but a guy sends a CL on a pointless mission guaranteed to cost the loss of the ship and crew and off it goes!~ LOL[:D]

[Ron Saueracker]

ORIGINAL: goodboyladdie

The Omaha class have such poor AA values that scouting and raiding are really all they are good for. They do not have the legs of the later CLs either. The thing that really makes them expendable is the fact they will be replaced with a late war CL or CA, whereas if you keep them safe, they will still be a load of crap at the end of the war. Gamey, I know, but in real life, naval commanders tend to follow the traditions of the service and are far more aggressive than we are. How many allied players would risk a Coral Sea or Midway with the air groups available in early 1942? I have read enough AARs to see how much that tends to hurt!

Only because IRL the situation was not dependent on screwy A2A or fake CAP capabilities or unwarranted Japanese strike coordination etc.