rkr1958 -> RE: Historical Global War AAR #2 (4/2/2015 11:49:24 PM)
|
Sep/Oct 1939. Axis #7. China Sea. I know I've broken a cardinal rule and spread IJN forces in the China Sea across several (really all five) sea boxes. There is a method to my madness. This spread is the composite of three naval missions. The first two are transport and protection. The first transport task force consists of two TRS and 1 AMPH in the 3 box escorted by 1 cruiser to match the allied threat to the area (1 single CW cruisers). If Japan and the CW were at war, which they aren't, I would have put more cruisers and added BB's and CV's to the escort. Essentially I would have assessed the risk significantly more serious that I have now. But, since they weren't at war I put what I though might be the minimum escort. Too risky? The second transport task force includes a single TRS escorted by 1 cruiser. Same logic used for transport task force 1. Now the third mission is convoy protection. And I generally follow the strategy I about to, attempt to, describe for the CW and USA. In box 0, with the CPs, I put the number and composition of ships that I think can adequately defend against the threat is or could materialize at sea there. In this specific case the threat is from a single RN CA from a neutral CW. For For the allies, the threat to convoys often consists of u-boats and submarines (e.g., German + Italian threat to Cape St. Vincent). So in the case the escort task force would need to consist of cruisers with good ASW values. So this takes care of the ships in the 0 box. For the remaining ships (those in the 1 and 4 box), I then form a second task force composed of the same type and number of ships as I put in the 0 box. I place all but one of those ships (usually a cruiser) in the 1 box and "break off" from this second task force a heavy cruiser which I place in the 4 box. I do this to give myself better search potential. When the turn ends the forces in the 0 box have to return to base. Those in the 1 box will be kept at sea and moved down to the 0 box and the one cruiser in the 4 box is moved down to the 3 box. So when the next turn comes I'm not rushed to get more escorts to the 0 box to protect my CPs, I already have those forces there. So, when it's convenient I move the lone cruiser in the 3 box (which was in the 4 box last turn) to rejoin his task force in the 0 box. I then move another equivalent task force out to sea there and to the 1 box except for one cruiser who breaks off to the 4 box. Where possible I follow this strategy for the CW, USA and Japan in critical sea areas. I'm interested to know what you pros think about this "strategy". [image]local://upfiles/31901/19377CE4C8DC4DBC9722F419A022DE4D.jpg[/image]
|
|
|
|