quote:

ORIGINAL: Arkan

I think you got it pretty much right. The AGC has to be in a different TF but in the same hex as the invasion TF. Since i guess the CVEs will only have to provide aircover for that single hex I'd say it doesn't matter in which of the 2 TFs you put them.
You already have 3 strong SC TFs, if you keep one of them with the transports you won't need a BB in the AGC TF, but i would add several DDs to both transport and all aircombat TFs against enemy subs and perhaps an additional ASW TF following the transport TFs so that enemy subs can be attacked without them attacking first.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Terminus

You should perhaps also consider adding a minesweeping task force. It's really first class annoying to have a valuable ship damaged or even sunk needlessly.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Terminus

Just send the minesweepers in alongside the bombardment TF's. That way they PROBABLY won't draw much fire. Also, if you have any DMS's left, use them instead of MSW's: much more survivable.

quote:

ORIGINAL: SGT Swanson

Does the US really have 10 CV's by this period provided they didn't loose any of the origionals? Something tells me that's not right.

They start with 4 (Enterprise/Sara/York/{Hornet-mid 42}) get 1 more (Wasp) by late 42. They get 5 more within a year? I know the Bunker Hill arrives somewhere in there, but the rest?

quote:

ORIGINAL: Sardaukar

Could send also CVE Escort TF with follow orders to your amphibious TF. They'll stay away from coastal fire but provide CAP. (My experience is that they don't suffer 50% CAP reduction in base/coastal hexes that pure Air Combat TF does).

quote:

CVE's belong in an Air Combat TF (with only CVE's and their escorts).

quote:

1941/12/06__1934/07_____1936/10_____1938/05_____USS Enterprise (CV-6)_______________Lexington

quote:

ORIGINAL: Arkan

Why do you think so? In this setup they are only supposed to provide CAP and I think for purely defensive purposes it's better to place them in the AGC transport TF. This way they can't move in another hex due to reaction. Air combat TFs are offensive in principle and they are said to react sometimes even if reaction range is set to 0. Also they can share their escorts with the AGC if you put them together.

quote:

You can't set them to fly CAP unless they're in an Air Combat TF.

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ORIGINAL: dereck

So, basically put my 2 available CVEs and AGC in an escort TF and have it follow my amphib TF onto the invasion hex?

quote:

ORIGINAL: ADM Halsey

quote:

1941/12/06__1934/07_____1936/10_____1938/05_____USS Enterprise (CV-6)_______________Lexington

In reference to the chat for the American aircraft carriers, the Enterprise was a Yorktown Class CV not Lexington Class.

To start in the Pacific there were the Lexington, Saratoga, Enterprise, and Langley. (which in this game is a seaplane tender) In the Atlantic they had the Hornet, Yorktown, Wasp, and Ranger (Ranger spent the entire war in the Atlantic)

quote:

ORIGINAL: AmiralLaurent

CVE aircraft fly in transport TF. I don't know what they do in escort TF. Also CVE operate at 100% in shallow waters, contrary to bigger CVL and CV.

I always have 6 DD per TF.

As for minesweeping, there are several ways to use minesweepers (or DMS):

_ sweeps in enemy waters, pre-invasion. Send them with orders 'retire' so they will operate at night and send at the same time bombardment TF with retire orders. If your bombard TF have orders 'escort don't bombard', they will stay farther from the target and be less exposed to mines.

_ sweeps in enemy waters, during invasion. You can either have the MSW in the transport TF or in a separate TF with orders 'do not retire' and following the invasion TF.

_ sweeps in friendly waters. Give orders to the MSW TF 'do not retire', 'do not refuel' and send them to the friendly base.

I will divide your transport TF differently.
1) an invasion TF, where I will include 2 cruisers for invasion suppressive fire, carrying the 2nd Marine Div, the tanks (loaded on AKs) and some combat engineers. You are missing them and they are really useful to destroy enemy forts.
2) a command TF with the ACG.
3) a reserve TF with the 33rd Div aboard and if possible another combat engineer unit.
4) a "second wave" TF with the Seabees and a base force aboard, and also tens of thousands of supplies.

Only TF 1) and 2) will sail into enemy waters while 3) and 4) will wait some hexes away. If necessary 3) will land troops also. 4) will only enter the Tarawa hex once the base is in US hands.

Another thing about your TF composition. To carry troops and especially unload them faster you should use first LST and LCI, then AP. Only tanks are better handled on AK than on AP. So the best here is to load takns on LST, marines on the remaining LSTs and the remaining grunts on AP. Then add some supply-laden AK to finish build the TF.
The best for loading invasion TF is to load every unit separatly, with orders 'do not unload'. Then merge them in "operationnal" TF, as you want them to sail. Don't forget to set orders back to 'unload' once they sail to the target.

quote:

SeaBees are the closest thing the Allies have to combat engineer units as far as I know.

quote:

ORIGINAL: cap_and_gown

Is your purpose here to have the V Phib HQ not unload? From my experience, anytime a transport carrying troops enters a coastal or enemy base hex, it will unload regardless of the "do not unload" setting. The only time "do not unload" seems to work for ground troops is when your transports are in a freindly base hex.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Arkan

quote:

SeaBees are the closest thing the Allies have to combat engineer units as far as I know.

As it was already said, SeaBees are pure construction engineers. But the Allies have 5 combat engineer regiments at the start of scen.15, one CentPac at PH, 3 West Coast and one in the Philippines. They get 3 more in India and as was also said before most allied divisions have some combat and normal engineers included.

quote:

ORIGINAL: AmiralLaurent

CVE aircraft fly in transport TF. I don't know what they do in escort TF. Also CVE operate at 100% in shallow waters, contrary to bigger CVL and CV.

I always have 6 DD per TF.

As for minesweeping, there are several ways to use minesweepers (or DMS):

_ sweeps in enemy waters, pre-invasion. Send them with orders 'retire' so they will operate at night and send at the same time bombardment TF with retire orders. If your bombard TF have orders 'escort don't bombard', they will stay farther from the target and be less exposed to mines.

_ sweeps in enemy waters, during invasion. You can either have the MSW in the transport TF or in a separate TF with orders 'do not retire' and following the invasion TF.

_ sweeps in friendly waters. Give orders to the MSW TF 'do not retire', 'do not refuel' and send them to the friendly base.

I will divide your transport TF differently.
1) an invasion TF, where I will include 2 cruisers for invasion suppressive fire, carrying the 2nd Marine Div, the tanks (loaded on AKs) and some combat engineers. You are missing them and they are really useful to destroy enemy forts.
2) a command TF with the ACG.
3) a reserve TF with the 33rd Div aboard and if possible another combat engineer unit.
4) a "second wave" TF with the Seabees and a base force aboard, and also tens of thousands of supplies.

Only TF 1) and 2) will sail into enemy waters while 3) and 4) will wait some hexes away. If necessary 3) will land troops also. 4) will only enter the Tarawa hex once the base is in US hands.

Another thing about your TF composition. To carry troops and especially unload them faster you should use first LST and LCI, then AP. Only tanks are better handled on AK than on AP. So the best here is to load takns on LST, marines on the remaining LSTs and the remaining grunts on AP. Then add some supply-laden AK to finish build the TF.
The best for loading invasion TF is to load every unit separatly, with orders 'do not unload'. Then merge them in "operationnal" TF, as you want them to sail. Don't forget to set orders back to 'unload' once they sail to the target.

quote:

ORIGINAL: ADM Halsey

Not a problem, I am a WWII naval history buff and read up on just about everything I can on the Pacific Theater.