Matrix Games

quote:

ORIGINAL: slane

Once again I’m back with a question about something that I thought that I understood.

Which is better to assign your warfare task forces, cruise speed or mission speed? Cruise is the obvious answer but how does that make your task forces respond?

What I gather from the manual is that on mission speed if an enemy task force is encountered the allied task force at some point will go to full speed and attempt to engage the enemy task force. What I don’t get from the manual is will a task force set to cruise speed do the same thing?

I ask because I currently have a British TF patrolling between Rangoon and Port Blair set to mission speed. As it runs out of endurance it drops back to Colombo to refuel and repair. Invariably it has “major” damage that requires it to sit out and repair for several days leaving a hole for the Japanese to move through. I realize that ships HAVE to be repaired but will setting the speed to cruise lower the damage caused by simple sailing but still allow it to respond aggressively to threats?

As always thanks ahead for everyone’s help and suggestions…

quote:

ORIGINAL: Jorge_Stanbury

Is there a chart of the different mission types and the specific behaviour if mission speed is selected?

I understand that something like a Surface task force at mission speed will cruise most of the time but change to full speed if neede (according to circumnstances); but I would like to double check that my assumptions for the rest hold;
example: bombardment and fast transport as far as I understand will only move at night at full speed... I am not sure if this means that in 1st phase it will move at full speed and no movement for the second phase

quote:

ORIGINAL: ADB123

quote:

ORIGINAL: slane

Once again I’m back with a question about something that I thought that I understood.

Which is better to assign your warfare task forces, cruise speed or mission speed? Cruise is the obvious answer but how does that make your task forces respond?

What I gather from the manual is that on mission speed if an enemy task force is encountered the allied task force at some point will go to full speed and attempt to engage the enemy task force. What I don’t get from the manual is will a task force set to cruise speed do the same thing?

I ask because I currently have a British TF patrolling between Rangoon and Port Blair set to mission speed. As it runs out of endurance it drops back to Colombo to refuel and repair. Invariably it has “major” damage that requires it to sit out and repair for several days leaving a hole for the Japanese to move through. I realize that ships HAVE to be repaired but will setting the speed to cruise lower the damage caused by simple sailing but still allow it to respond aggressively to threats?

As always thanks ahead for everyone’s help and suggestions…

In general, use "mission" for normal sailing. Use "cruise" when you want to save fuel, or if you want to minimize damage growth on an already damaged ship.

BTW - Is that Brit TF under computer control? If so, set it to "human" control.

A fundamental Rule of this game is to NEVER set Anything to Computer control.

If you want continuous coverage, use multiple TFs, and set them to "patrol" around a limited area.

Also, remove short-range ships and use the longest range ships that you have.

Good luck.

quote:

ORIGINAL: ADB123

BTW - Is that Brit TF under computer control? If so, set it to "human" control.

A fundamental Rule of this game is to NEVER set Anything to Computer control.

If you want continuous coverage, use multiple TFs, and set them to "patrol" around a limited area.

quote:

ORIGINAL: witpqs

One further clarification in case you played WITP (before WITP-AE). As you know there are 2 naval movement phases each day (turn). Except for the December 7th, 1941 turn which is special and has only 1 naval movement phase.

In WITP Mission speed meant commander's choice based on the situation, but if nothing unusual happened it was 1 phase at Cruise and 1 phase at Full.

In AE Mission still means commander's choice, but if nothing unusual happens it's almost always 2 phases at Cruise. So, use Cruise if you want to force the TF to go Cruise (as in the example with moving badly damaged ships given above). For normal usage you can order Mission speed free of worry about excess fuel consumption and wear and tear on the ships (because TFs set to Mission will go Cruise 99% of the time anyway).

Hope that made sense.

quote:

ORIGINAL: KPAX

Kinda as a side note, watch your SCTF in the Rangoon to Port Blair runs. You will learn to (if you already do not) hate those Betty. They will tear up your SCTF in a heartbeat.

It is probably cheaper (fuel-wise and repair-wise) to just set up two single sub TF each patroling a couple of hexes in front of both ports. Hold the SCTF close by and rush in if they get attacked.

Also, set up a PBy on Port Blair and for sure some NavS on Rangoon if it is still early. That should keep things at bay, at least for a few turns until you can react.

One more ting, Rangoon (I think) gets some of those tiny little combat ships with really short legs. Set up a small SCTF at Port Blairand at least you know when they are there and if the AI does not send in any Bombardment TF or more heavily guarded transports they may scare them away. Those little SC ships are pretty much worthless, may as well try to get some use out of them.