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#1 LordSunderland

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Posted 21 August 2016 - 04:29 AM

Hi As a newbie playing the Solomons campaign solo, the threads in this forum are helpful on a couple of the areas I have been struggling with. However I have a couple of additional questions.

My current battle is a new moon scenario, ( which I would have thought would favour the IJN) but with rolled visibility at 24,000yds, which I am limiting to 20,000yds. No Squalls.

 

The USN, up against a IJN DD and CA/CL force, have  a BB and three CA's plus a large DD force.

 

The USN rolled  to detect using the North Carolina R+ radar very early on. (which there is generally a high chance)

 

As far as I can tell that means the USN can now at the least keep the IJN force detected virtually for the rest of the game?

 

So the USN sent in a couple of their DD's closer to launch starshells at the IJN CA's, whilst Nth Carolina hung back. (Reading the threads below the DD's didn't need to get closer, they could have just fired at the blips with a 100% chance of illuminating.) Given the starshells illuminated a couple of IJN CA's at some 16000yds from the BB, I take it that because the IJN CA's are illuminated they are visible out to the maximum visibility in that go, ie 20,000 and as such is visible to any and all US forces who then automatically acquire?   The fact that the I played it that way and  one IJN CA was pounded in that one go.

 

My question is that now those individual ships have been acquired because they have been lit up, does that mean they continue to keep being acquired automatically in later goes unless the range opens to more than 20,000, or the IJN can get some smoke in between them and the USN?

 

The same goes for searchlights, ie once a ship has been illuminated, does that mean it is visible out to the maximum range that go, and once acquired in that go continues to be tracked as a Acquired target in later turns.

 

I have played it that way, but it feels that the USN can then simply detect relatively easily with multiple forces checking, shoot starshell, and then keep those forces acquired to be be pounded at long range? The fact that USN would struggle to acquire on the chart beyond 8000yds for a non illuminated target is then almost irrelevant?

 

Or have I got this wrong and the ships need to be acquired every round- ie I need to be continuously firing starshell- which I accept would then reduce the lives of my DD's.



#2 Cpt M

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Posted 22 August 2016 - 08:36 PM

"As far as I can tell that means the USN can now at the least keep the IJN force detected virtually for the rest of the game?"

 

That would be correct.  The later search radars (R+) were highly capable.  In your case, having the North Carolina (with its R+ search radar) gives the USN a decided advantage.

 

 

"So the USN sent in a couple of their DD's closer to launch starshells at the IJN CA's, whilst Nth Carolina hung back."

 

Actually, only the division detecting the targets can fire starshells.  If your DD divisions had also detected the IJN force, then they can fire starshells.  In this case, only the division with the North Carolina can fire starshells ((usually using the North Carolina's secondaries).

 

 

"Given the starshells illuminated a couple of IJN CA's at some 16000yds from the BB, I take it that because the IJN CA's are illuminated they are visible out to the maximum visibility in that go, ie 20,000 and as such is visible to any and all US forces who then automatically acquire?"

 

That would be correct.  Once the starshells are deployed any ships illuminated are considered acquired and be fired on.  Keep in mind, when a division flagship acquires a target

formation (even under starshells), all ships in her division automatically acquire (and fire on) the closest target vessel.  Firing ships can attempt to shift fire once each Game Turn to
preferred targets in the acquired formation (this is covered in section 1.12.6). 
 

 

"My question is that now those individual ships have been acquired because they have been lit up, does that mean they continue to keep being acquired automatically in later goes unless the range opens to more than 20,000, or the IJN can get some smoke in between them and the USN?"

 

Yes, once acquired a ship stays acquired until it is either obscured or moves beyond the limit of visibility.

 

 

"The same goes for searchlights, ie once a ship has been illuminated, does that mean it is visible out to the maximum range that go, and once acquired in that go continues to be tracked as a Acquired target in later turns."

 

Searchlights can illuminate contacts out to 5000yds (9000yds for Japanese searchlights). Each ship can illuminate one target to Port and one target to Starboard at the beginning of the Gunnery Phase (as long as it has working searchlights; those can be knocked out in combat).  Once beyond the maximum range, the target ceases to be acquired.
 
 
"I have played it that way, but it feels that the USN can then simply detect relatively easily with multiple forces checking, shoot starshell, and then keep those forces acquired to be be pounded at long range? The fact that USN would struggle to acquire on the chart beyond 8000yds for a non illuminated target is then almost irrelevant?"

 

It might seem irrelevant from a USN viewpoint, but look at it from the IJN viewpoint.  Let's say under a full moon, you (the USN) automatically detect the IJN at 12000yds (using your R+ search radar).  The IJN will have also automatically acquired you and will be able to fire at full effect (including torpedoes!).  So the benefit is about even.

 

One further note:  I would advise using a D20 for USN detection and acquisition for any early war games.  This reflects the USN's lackluster night combat abilities of the time and the early experience with the newly developed radars.  Most (if not all) commanders were unfamiliar with radar and repeatedly failed to utilize it to its full effect.  I would also use the flashless powder optional rule for the USN (the USN did not fully equip its ships with flashless powder until late '42.  See Optional rule 1.12.10).

 

 

 

 

 



#3 LordSunderland

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Posted 25 August 2016 - 05:27 PM

Thanks. I have been using the flashless powder rule- I will think about using the D20 point- particulalry for radar detection

To clarify on the searchlight point when you say " Searchlights can illuminate contacts out to 5000yds (9000yds for Japanese searchlights). Each ship can illuminate one target to Port and one target to Starboard at the beginning of the Gunnery Phase (as long as it has working searchlights; those can be knocked out in combat).  Once beyond the maximum range, the target ceases to be acquired." I am assuming when you say beyond maximum range you mean the 20,000yds in my example, not when they move beyond searchlight range (5,000 or 9,000), ie once lit up and acquired they can be tracked in later goes even if the searchlights are off so long as they stay within 20,000 yds.

 

 

Great game , having a blast!



#4 Cpt M

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Posted 29 August 2016 - 07:13 PM

" I am assuming when you say beyond maximum range you mean the 20,000yds in my example, not when they move beyond searchlight range (5,000 or 9,000), ie once lit up and acquired they can be tracked in later goes even if the searchlights are off so long as they stay within 20,000 yds."

 

Yes, that is correct.  Once acquired, a target will stay acquired until it is either obscured (ie, by a smoke screen) or is beyond maximum visibility.  This reflects the tendency for the eye to track and retain an object even in low light conditions after it has been identified.

 

Obviously, if the target moves beyond the illuminated range of a searchlight, the firing ship(s) would lose the 1 row adjustment for firing on an illuminated target.  The ship(s) still using searchlights, however, would still be considered illuminated if fired on (which is why using searchlights is generally not a wise move).






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