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Shadow of the Condor -> RE: DEBUTANT IN UV (3/24/2004 10:39:08 PM)
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quote:
originally posted by VALENT PHILIPPE
thinks for all your answers. i notice that i have to wait with my carrier until the japanese fleet was detectedbefore attack them.
the same lesson applies if the japanese attack lunga and not port moresby? i have to put my catalina in lunga airport, exact?
please answer me. thinks.
phil
Theoretically, yes. The same concept applies, but specifically about scenario 1, forget about Lunga. It's only worth 10VPs. It also has no air support troops (or troops of any kind for that matter). Any planes you transfer there will eventually be useless without maintenance, rearming, etc.
The goal of scenario 1 is learning carrier operations (remember, it's the Coral Sea scenario, not the Solomon Sea scenario [:)] ). The first priority is finding the enemy. Try this:
PM starts off being able to support 90 aircraft. It has a weak fighter squadron, a full strength level bomber squadron, two weak fighter bomber squadrons, and a capable (after they rest a day or so) dive bomber squadron. Ask yourself, what is the best use of each squadron? The level bomber squadron can be used to bomb Rabaul or Lae, but keep the objective in mind - find and destroy the enemy carriers. To that end, the level bombers are better used for search operations. The dive bomber squadron has teeth, and can hurt an enemy carrier, so keeping it at PM isn't a bad idea - leave it on naval attack ( I would recommend an altitude of at least 17000 feet - this way each attack wave has as many as nine planes and a better chance of scoring a hit giving the enemy gunners less time to react). The fighter squadron is severely understrength, and its doubtful you can get it in shape before 5/15. The same goes for the two P-39D fighter bomber squadrons. As I see it, those three squadrons are taking up valuable tarmac space on the runway. I would transfer those three squadrons south to Australia somewhere (Cairns, Townsville, etc.) Don't worry about having no fighters to provide CAP against Japanese bombing missions against PM from Rabaul. They'll be escorted, and your fighters will be eaten alive. Your engineers will keep the runways patched against bombing raids.
So what should go to PM? You have 4 PBY squadrons to start the game with. VP9 at Efate Port Vila, VP11 at Noumea, No. 20 RAAF at Townsville, and No. 11 RAAF at Cairns. They are the best of your search aircraft - even though some of the squadrons are understrength. Transfer them all to PM and set them to Naval Search. Transferring them to PM greatly extends your chances of spotting the carriers early and being able to watch them sail south towards the climatic carrier battle. For the short game of scenario 1, you can set them to 100% search, but for a long game, I rarely go beyond 50% search - it helps keep fatigue levels down. I haven't seen a difference in results or survivability whether they fly at 6000 feet or 20000 feet, (I like 20000 feet) so experiment and see what works for you.
Later, as you play longer games, you may prefer using PBYs for ASW (their slow cruising speed helps spot the subs). Speaking of which, don't forget you have four subs in the immediate area of the Coral Sea. You probably wouldn't get a shot off against the IJN carriers, but it's one more option you have.
The other land based aircraft of benefit this early is the B-17. You have four squadrons at Rockhampton at varying stages of readiness. The long operational range of the B-17 makes it a formidible search aircraft, and it's very capable of defending itself.
Try a game of scenario #1 using the B-17s from PM instead of the PBYs and comapre the search results. The down side of using the B-17s, however, is that any losses won't be replaced until at least August 42.
Remember, keep your focus on finding the carriers for the Coral Sea scenario.
Hope that helps [:)]
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