RangerJoe
Posts: 13450
Joined: 11/16/2015 From: My Mother, although my Father had some small part. Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Lowpe quote:
ORIGINAL: BBfanboy quote:
ORIGINAL: Lowpe Opportunity... I have tried to oppose the IJ carriers with Enterprise and Lexington on turn two or three and they routinely accomplish squat. The IJ fighters mess up the attacks every time and there are not enough US fighters to hold them off. The IJ pro bombers have no such difficulties. Other than setting up a CAP trap, I see no opportunity. Who said anything about Big E going in....I maybe mad, but I am not crazy! I will strip out the cruisers and destroyers, and look for a night time encounter where the IJN is saddled with slow CVs and hope to do some damage, while the Big E and a destroyer flee like little girls. With one day turns it would be simple, but 2 day turns make it simpler and harder at the same time. Flank speed runs will almost never occur because who can afford the fuel usage and wear and tear over 2 days? I see some applications, but it is limited -- and this might be a case in point. Much easier to plot likely engagement hexes for a night time fight, but a lot harder to execute your escape. I think I can do it here, with a flank speed run with way points to engagement hex and then back along the expected path of the KB followed by a return to Pearl all at flank speed. Hopefully the SAG doesn't run out of fuel until outside of air strike range. Some type of ships will be dispatched to refuel the SAG form Pearl. Another complication is that if a cruiser eats a torpedo, 3 movement pulses at flank speed are probably death. And this early taking torpedo hits at night from the IJN is highly likely. Big E and a destroyer run to Alaska -- pretty straightforward escape. The other option is for the entire Big E TF to precede the KB to Midway looking to destroy things before veering off to Alaska. That is the safe option. Where is the fun in safe? Putting say two fleet carriers into repairs at Honshu for a month now is quite the opportunity! That is probably best case with the forces at hand. And quite frankly, pulling off this stunt off and only scaring the IJN this early is opportunity! It looks like he also merged the carriers with the tankers into the same TF. If so, they will be slow. You might want to send cruisers and DDs from Pearl that way - maybe to pick off cripples. The Big E can loops around and combine with new escorts and follow to try and pick off and damaged ships from any surface action. A replenishment TF would not hurt either. With the BBs available so soon, you might be tempted to use them but you have to consider their fuel usage. That said, think if they went through the Canal, to Cape Town, then to India if he were to push that way. There is plenty of oil/fuel that way plus you get to support the RN and get your BBs experience. In the meantime, you build up your fuel stocks in CentPac and SoPac.
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Seek peace but keep your gun handy. I'm not a complete idiot, some parts are missing! “Illegitemus non carborundum est (“Don’t let the bastards grind you down”).” ― Julia Child
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