Port Strike during war

[attemptingsuccess]

I was thinking that it might be a good, or at least interesting idea if port strike battles can come up during a war, I was thinking that maybe there would be an increasing chance if you or the AI stay in port for several turns. 
There were plans to strike the German high seas fleet during WWI and the English attacked the port of Taranto during WWII so there is a historical basis for it.

[charliezulu]

First off, I do agree that port strikes should be more present in game, especially if you're declining battles frequently. It happened fairly often (Taranto, Mers el Kebir, Kure, Yokosuka, Hailstone, the half dozen carrier raids on Tirpitz, and arguably Casablanca, Desecrate One, and the Italian port raids to quote a previous comment of mine), yet in game it's fairly rare especially considering how often we go to war.

That said, it would need to be rebalanced. A late-game port strike by Japan against the player is a guaranteed loss of at few ships, and the planned port stike on Wilhelmshaven was expected to be an incredibly costly affair. There needs to be a valid counterplay of building coastal fortifications, having patrol vessels, land-based fighters actually providing good CAP, etc., otherwise it's basically a guaranteed win/loss without having to accept the initial limitations of being Japan.

[brygun]

I agree on having port strikes. We do have the surprise attacks but that is very nation limited.

There was an idea that the air strikes due to bombers could be an end of turn message possibility that BB/BC damaged/sunk by a wave of bombers.

A tactical battle though is interesting for the player. It could use similiar coding to the surprise attack just be on a smaller scale simulating that some of the navy is at sea. This also keeps the surprise attack as having its own benefit by being the bigger version.

[brygun]

A mid war port strike could sometimes have a mix of ships in the port and a group sailing a bit away from there. You could try to attack them badly split in a divide and conquer before they could group up.

[mobeer]

Port strikes could be good, but the player would need some control over port defences and at which port ships are stationed.

[sagaren]

Sept 21, 2021 3:26:10 GMT -6 mobeer said:

Port strikes could be good, but the player would need some control over port defences and at which port ships are stationed.

I think have automatically emplaced shore based AA positions would make sense in that case. The amount could be based on a combination of base size and purchased defense batteries. Any hostile plane making an attack on a port is automatically subjected to the barrage before facing whatever defenses the ships have.

[charliezulu]

Sept 21, 2021 5:38:09 GMT -6 sagaren said:

Sept 21, 2021 3:26:10 GMT -6 mobeer said:

Port strikes could be good, but the player would need some control over port defences and at which port ships are stationed.

I think have automatically emplaced shore based AA positions would make sense in that case. The amount could be based on a combination of base size and purchased defense batteries. Any hostile plane making an attack on a port is automatically subjected to the barrage before facing whatever defenses the ships have.

Alternatively (or additionally), after the appropriate technology, coastal artillery could switch to the similar DP version.  It'd require battery placement more aggressively concentrated around the starting position of the ships, but that lets the player directly invest in port defences.    

[wlbjork]

Light coastal artillery does switch to the DP version. Bigger guns gain 2 heavy AA guns (of 4" if memory serves) and I seem to recall all of them gaining a battery of light guns.

[sagaren]

Sept 21, 2021 21:47:21 GMT -6 wlbjork said:

Light coastal artillery does switch to the DP version. Bigger guns gain 2 heavy AA guns (of 4" if memory serves) and I seem to recall all of them gaining a battery of light guns.

Correct, but as they work now they only engage aircraft directly attacking them. Not nearby units.