Post by georgeles on Mar 19, 2021 18:27:57 GMT -6
I am getting the hang of it, I think. But there are some things that I'm puzzled by, in handling battles.
1. Exactly what is the best use of CLs in a battlefleet action? They seem to get beaten up a lot. I use them to scout for the fleet before action, which works fine. Should I perhaps move them to Screen? Or would Support be better? The latter seems to lead to them charging with DDs, which leads to the pounding they take.
2. What's the best way to use DDs? Is Support or Screen more likely to get them to make torpedo attacks? And which makes them more likely to engage enemy DDs? My guess is that the former (attacking on their own) is what Support is for, and the latter is Screen's job. But I haven't seen that work yet.
3. Is there any benefit to DDs from having leaders (DLs or CLs)? I haven't noticed any. If that is so, is there any reason not to load DLs into certain divisions? That's pretty much how the Germans used there big DDs, and it's what the VWs amounted to.
4. I've been reading Friedmans book on early RN DDs. He says they emphasized "browning attacks", firing TT at long range at the enemy line. I don't see that in the game; I'm guessing the system would penalize them.
5. He also cites two different uses. Jellicoe preferred to have his repel German DDs; Beatty wanted them to charge the enemy, both to fight the DDs, but also to make the enemy line turn. (The latter was successful.) I don't really see that in the game; DDs seem to attack piecemeal. Does this mean I'm doing something wrong?
Those are the tactical questions I've got. The BB actions seem straightforward. The leading division does most of the fighting, and does tend to get pounded.
BTW, I notice in Jellicoe's Grand Fleet that he thought he might have to use a 180 degree turn-away, as Scheer actually did. It doesn't come out as something special to the HSF, as it's often presented. And this is not in discussion Jutland, it comes up early, when he's discussing how to use the old 3rd BS (King Edwards). One concern was that they would then be leading the line, exactly as happened at Jutland, for the HSF. I thought that's interesting. (Page 48, for the curious.)
1. Exactly what is the best use of CLs in a battlefleet action? They seem to get beaten up a lot. I use them to scout for the fleet before action, which works fine. Should I perhaps move them to Screen? Or would Support be better? The latter seems to lead to them charging with DDs, which leads to the pounding they take.
2. What's the best way to use DDs? Is Support or Screen more likely to get them to make torpedo attacks? And which makes them more likely to engage enemy DDs? My guess is that the former (attacking on their own) is what Support is for, and the latter is Screen's job. But I haven't seen that work yet.
3. Is there any benefit to DDs from having leaders (DLs or CLs)? I haven't noticed any. If that is so, is there any reason not to load DLs into certain divisions? That's pretty much how the Germans used there big DDs, and it's what the VWs amounted to.
4. I've been reading Friedmans book on early RN DDs. He says they emphasized "browning attacks", firing TT at long range at the enemy line. I don't see that in the game; I'm guessing the system would penalize them.
5. He also cites two different uses. Jellicoe preferred to have his repel German DDs; Beatty wanted them to charge the enemy, both to fight the DDs, but also to make the enemy line turn. (The latter was successful.) I don't really see that in the game; DDs seem to attack piecemeal. Does this mean I'm doing something wrong?
Those are the tactical questions I've got. The BB actions seem straightforward. The leading division does most of the fighting, and does tend to get pounded.
BTW, I notice in Jellicoe's Grand Fleet that he thought he might have to use a 180 degree turn-away, as Scheer actually did. It doesn't come out as something special to the HSF, as it's often presented. And this is not in discussion Jutland, it comes up early, when he's discussing how to use the old 3rd BS (King Edwards). One concern was that they would then be leading the line, exactly as happened at Jutland, for the HSF. I thought that's interesting. (Page 48, for the curious.)