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Hello all, I am a couple of weeks into playing / learning WPO and I must say I am fascinated. What a great game. I had a situation happen the other night that perplexed me though. I am playing as Japanese in "Phase I" scenario. I have taken Midway, and position a Surface Combat fleet in the hex to intercept any American fleet / transports. The ideal situation occurs - my 4 Kongo class BC's and a couple CL's and DD's get into surface combat with an American fleet of AP's and 2 DD's. I am thinking that I will sink their entire fleet, right? I sunk 1 DD and 1 AP before the engagement ended with a comment that they had broken off. How can slow AP's disengage from a fast Battle Fleet? Shouldnt I have been able to mop up ? Is there something I did wrong?

Welcome to the club!
It is very much dependant on TF composition and leader stats. Usually it is better to split BCs and CLs to different TFs. Magic 8. [:)] tm.asp?m=1007609

Was it a night combat? During the night even slow ships have chance to escape.

We'll never know if strange combat results are caused by bugs or poor combat engine routines or if they are extremely advanced ones, since there is always a logical answer that explain every result...
Often I'm still surprised by the outcome of certain battles, but after the initial emotional reaction, I'm usually able (sometimes with the help of my PBEM opponents [;)]) to find an acceptable explanation...

In your case, for example, the logical answer is that the 2 escort DDs charged at full speed your TF, trying a torpedo run. Your battleline was disrupted in the attempt of keeping them at safe distance. In the meanwhile the enemy transports scattered and began to run away.
After you sunk the first DD, the other one escaped, then, after regrouping, your TF was able to find only 1 of the transport, sinking it.

Here's my suggestion (for what it worth...)
As general rule keep in mind this:
- For powerfull TF, sub TF and scout TF that should try torpedo runs choose always agressive commanders. This will increase the number of attack, the number of round per attack and the number of shots fired per round.

- For ASW, transport or passive scout TF a cautious commander (agressiveness < 40-45) is the most recommended.

i'm sorta new to all the little details, but i was under the impression it'd be better to have ASW TF's with aggressive leaders so they aggressively prosecute subs...

ORIGINAL: Flanker Leader

i'm sorta new to all the little details, but i was under the impression it'd be better to have ASW TF's with aggressive leaders so they aggressively prosecute subs...

Yes well, the problem here (which Pkunzipper ran into [:'(]) is that in WPO there is no guarantee that your enemy won't show up with your battleships to whack your ASW group. Your agressive commander will see an opportunity for glory and nice medals and awards and will charge the battleline with torpedoes. And 9 times out of 10 he will be mauled.. badly.

Grrr.... he did it again! [:@]

When I tried to do the same with him he moved his TF the turn that my BB TF arrived...

ORIGINAL: String

ORIGINAL: Flanker Leader

i'm sorta new to all the little details, but i was under the impression it'd be better to have ASW TF's with aggressive leaders so they aggressively prosecute subs...

Yes well, the problem here (which Pkunzipper ran into [:'(]) is that in WPO there is no guarantee that your enemy won't show up with your battleships to whack your ASW group. Your agressive commander will see an opportunity for glory and nice medals and awards and will charge the battleline with torpedoes. And 9 times out of 10 he will be mauled.. badly.

Oh I *love* doing that. Especially since both SS and BB tend to show up pictured as "BB" on the map Talk about true combined arms tactics!

Remember, that you are talking about a hex that covers a tremendous amount of area. A skilled, but careful transport commander will be wary of a night attack, have his distroyers aggressivly patroling and have his transports ready to scatter at the first hint of action. This makes sense if you think about it. Leadership is very important here and your careful and cautious leaders have important roles just as well as your aggressive leaders.

I am discovering that surface fleets with "skilled" but careful commanders will often times get away from powerful enemy surface fleets with very little damage. This is important for the Allies early in the game when they are so outnumbered.