Intelligence Gathering

[b17fly]

What is the best way to gather what the enemy is up too? How do you keep track of were the CV's are and going? The Jap AI always seems to show up were you are thinnest and I spend most of my time countering. I move CV's to central pacific and the Japs show up at Midway in April of 42. I move my CVs near Midway the Japs show up in Port Moresby. The game seems to lack the code breaking aspect of the war. I think political points should be invested for intel????

[ndworl]

It's a trade off. The AI is stupid and can't win. So the game favours the AI in a number of ways, including enhanced production and omniscience. You're still going to win, but it will be a bit harder. The alternative would be a stupid Japanese player, which you could get by asking for one in a PBEM game (and good luck with that) or by playing both sides.

[Yaab]

b17fly, you can use Intel Monkey for analysing intelligence:
tm.asp?m=3175431

[blueatoll]

Here's my most successful use of Allied Intel - fb.asp?m=3578547. That turned the tide in the Coral Sea and Guadalcanal. You can make it work but you have to watch closely for patterns of naval movement. If you get the name of an actual ship in your SigInt, it is almost always correct info. More generic information about naval movements in SigInts should really be taken with a large grain of salt.

It's significantly more difficult for land units as units from all over the Empire can be planning to attack Rangoon, Burma, etc. Knowing where those land units are requires near encyclopedic knowledge of geography, spreadsheets, and the ability to discern what units, if any, are even remotely within striking range of their planned target. Frankly I don't find that worth it except to see where HQs are planning to attack. That gives a bit clearer picture of reality.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Yaab

b17fly, you can use Intel Monkey for analysing intelligence:
tm.asp?m=3175431

Thanks, Yaab! [:)]

And the web site is in the Sig below.

[gap23518]

Don't post here too often...I overlooked this game many years ago and am glad I "discovered" it again.
Having a lot of fun but I do see that Japan sure reacts to your planned moves and goes to where you aint...so Im thinking of playing in a chaotic
style that will turn the ai to a mass of jelly!
Actually it seems to rely on luck. I had a small group of cruisers and destroyers wandering SW of Midway. They were returning from
checking out Wake (im new to the game and just learning the system) and I had no logical reason to be out at Wake with
such a force but returning to PH I ran across a small IJN CVE w/ small escort and took out the carrier, a cruiser, a destroyer
and damaged the rest!
Sure its not real but its real fun!

[pontiouspilot]

The Allied player generally has great intel advantage. Cross reference the Sig Intell screen with sightings from operational screen and you should be on top. In addition the most critical intel will be what your search planes/subs see. They will spot the TFs just take details of composition with a grain of salt.

I have played the Japanese several times and their sig intel was meaningless.

[AW1Steve]

The best way to gain intelligence on the Japanese is patrol , recon and picket as much as you can! You need to set up a "base line fence" of forward island/bases. From those islands you need to project all the patrol planes you can. Subs laid out in "picket lines" can go forward even further. And between them place PC, SC and even mine craft in picket lines. The idea is to make a series of "trip wires" that will give you time to consolidate your forces to oppose the enemy , or more likely during your early days , time to evacuate the area. His KB can go anywhere he wants , pretty much unopposed, so the best defense against it is to no be there when it comes calling. As you get stronger you strengthen the line , and eventually you expand it forward. Later when you long range patrol aircraft you can start RECONing his bases. PBY's , Hudson LR's and even Hudsons are your friends. Even DO24's . B-18's can be used for short range. LB-30's are great for MPA and RECON. And even if you don't always know where his KB is , knowing where it's not is also useful.

I believe Fredrick the Great said "Time spent on Reconnaissance is never time wasted". I make it my mantra.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: pontiouspilot
I have played the Japanese several times and their sig intel was meaningless.

90% of IJ SigInt is worthless, 'tis true. However, the other 10% can be very worthwhile.

Occasional radio intercepts of convoys at sea with grid coordinates can allow you to 'hunt the lines' of their most likely destination and route. Some unexpected LCU radio intercepts can pinpoint unseen Allied units slinking through the underbrush otherwise undetected.

[geofflambert]

If you're the Japanese, follow the maxim "He who gathers, shall not reap." I'm paraphrasing the Bible there, so it must be true.

[bigred]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

ORIGINAL: Yaab

b17fly, you can use Intel Monkey for analysing intelligence:
tm.asp?m=3175431

Thanks, Yaab! [:)]

And the web site is in the Sig below.

good job witpqs...
[&o]

[pontiouspilot]

...and I think it also says: "and be it known that those that sew will have no holes in their soles."