PACIFIC WAR PLAYER CHECKLIST and TACTICS (version 8)

(The following review and extensive update is the courtesy of
T.Holsinger and M. Ballwin) 
 
(All HOTKEYS are listed on the HELP MENU (press / or ?)). 
 
NOTE:  The rule book and the game do not always agree.  The rules
were sent to the printers 4-6 weeks before the game was
published. There have been hundreds of changes in that time and
many of those are undocumented.  There are also many undocumented
changes AFTER the game was published. 

A.  REPORTS SUBPHASE 
 
1.  Review battles (ALT/B). 
2.  Use SIGINT (F5). 
3.  Check losses/score (F9). 
4.  Check sunken ships (F8). 
5.  Check ship pools (F4). 
 
B.  REINFORCEMENT SUBPHASE 
 
1.  Check for reinforcements. 
2.  Check replacement pools (F7). 
3.  Cycle through factories & upgrade planes (F6). 
 
C.  HQ SUBPHASE 
 
1.  Examine HQ's (ALT/F). 
2.  List HQ units (ALT/D). 
3.  Relocate HQ's (ALT/E). 
4.  Move HQ's to TF in the same square (ALT/S). 
5.  Assign new leader to HQ's (ALT/L). 
6.  Set HQ control (ALT/K). 
7.  Change base HQ (ALT/C). 
8.  Set HQ target (ALT/G). 
9.  List HQ aircraft (ALT/X). 
10. Assign HQ air leader (ALT/P). 
11. Reinforce HQ (ALT/R). 
 
D.  LAND SUBPHASE 
 
1.  Examine LCU's in sequence (S/W). 
2.  Divide LCU's (D on Unit Data Display). 
3.  Activate LCU's (A on Unit Data Display). 
4.  Assign leaders (F1 on Unit Data Display). 
5.  March LCU's overland (ALT/W). 
6.  Call for immediate sealift forces (ALT/T). 
 
E.  AIR SUBPHASE 
 
1.  Check enemy AZOC's (ALT/Z). 
2.  Check friendly AZOC's (SHFT/Z). 
3.  Examine airfields in sequence (Z OR A). 
4.  Set priority target base (B). 
5.  Set missions. 
6.  Transfer air units (ALT/A). 
7.  Upgrade old planes (C on Air Unit Display). 
8.  Transfer aircraft factory control (ALT/N). 
 
F.  TASK FORCE SUBPHASE 
 
1.  Examine ports in sequence (O OR P). 
2.  Examine existing TF's (N/G). 
3.  Unload TF's (U). 
4.  Replenish TF's (Y). 
5.  Transfer ships to new TF's (T). 
6.  Scuttle ships (S ON SHIP DISPLAY). 
7.  Disband TF's (R). 
8.  Check for isolated bases (ALT/O). 
9.  Create TF's to resupply isolated bases (C). 
10. Create cargo TF's to resupply bases in rear areas (C). 
11. Create replenishment TF's (C). 
12. Create combat TF's at friendly ports (C). 
13. Assign leaders to TF's (F1 on TF display). 
14. Load TF's with troops, supplies, aircraft or fuel (L). 
15. Set TF's destinations (D). 
16. Set TF's functions/move options (F). 
17. Reset TF's home bases as necessary (H). 
18. Reset sub control (Computer/Human) as necessary (E).
19. Adjust submarine patrol locations (ALT/M). 
20. Rebase all subs as necessary (ALT/M, R). 
21. Remove TF's that complete their missions (ALT/Y). 
 
A.  REPORTS SUBPHASE 
 
1.  REVIEW LAST TURN'S BATTLE REPORTS (ALT/B). 
 
a.  Although all movement/action appears to be consecutive in the
game during execution, it is actually concurrent for that week. 
Task Forces that appear to be in the same hex at the same time 
may NOT actually be in the same place, they may only be passing 
through that hex at different times during the week. 
Understanding this concept is critical for reducing frustration 
and increasing appreciation of the game. 
 
b.  To move a little faster do not follow the screen combat, but
rather wait until completion and use <Alt/B> to check out what 
happened. 
 
c.  When a base is captured all of the supply is lost but half of
the fuel is captured.  When a base is captured many of the ships
in the port will escape into a Task Force (TF) and head for the 
nearest friendly base.  The remaining ships will be destroyed in
port. 
 
d.  Moderate damage to a supply depot should destroy about 20% of
the fuel and 20% of the supplies at the base.  
 
e.  LCU's with HIGH ENTRENCHMENT levels will take few losses from
air bombardment.  Air strikes against entrenched LCU's can only 
hope for DISRUPTION (reduced readiness).  Disruption is not 
indicated on the after action Combat Report.  The rules on base 
disruption should read:  Base Disruption is reduced to ZERO 
before the start of each Execution Phase.  Bases that receive TWO
levels of disruption may not be supplied by routine convoys (they
will show up on the ISOLATED BASE display).  A base will never 
exceed level 2 disruption.  This is how to isolate an enemy base
and make it more vulnerable to attack on the ground. 
 
f.  The combat reports will usually have inflated claims of enemy
units destroyed.  Combat reports relate to the number of
personnel killed.  1 squad = 10 men, 1 tank = 3 men and one gun =
5 men. 
 
g.  The asterisks after a ship means additional penetration 
damage has been done to the ship.   Each "*" means 20% damage has
been done, so a "*****" means the ship is doomed.  The periods 
seem to indicate the end of combat from that ship for that round.

h.  Land combat is rather strange sometimes.  Look at the 
experience and readiness ratings of the Land Combat Units 
(LCU's).  If both of those are low, not many squads will attack 
OR defend. 
 
2.  USE SIGINT TO REVIEW ENEMY TASK FORCES (TF'S), BASES, AND 
LAND COMBAT UNITS (LCU'S) THAT HAVE BEEN SPOTTED (F5). 
 
a.  The information you receive by clicking an enemy TF is FREE 
SIGINT.  However, not all enemy TF's will be displayed because 
only those TF's (randomly) detected by radio traffic will show 
up.  TF's are also SPOTTED in the execution segment (if you watch
on higher detail levels you will see which TF's are spotted). 
 
b.  To use SIGINT put the cursor on an enemy port, TF or LCU and
hit F5.  Then hit the key corresponding to what you want to know
about (P--Port, A--Airfield, R--Army, H--HQ, T--TF). 
 
1)  The best selections have been to ask about enemy HQ's, 
because sometimes you get a message that the HQ is planning an 
operation and what the target is (no dates).  Use SIGINT to 
locate the important HQ's, then check on them each turn to see 
where they are targeting.  Once you know an HQ's plans, you can
count on it sticking to the plan for awhile and spend some 
SIGINT watching TF's that support that HQ. 
 
2)  Use SIGINT to check ports for task forces and troops.  You 
can click on a TF and select SIGINT.  Hit the 'T' and SIGINT may
tell you where an enemy TF is heading, what it is carrying and 
the names of specific ships in the TF. 
 
c.  The only way for the Japanese player to get intelligence on 
enemy bases is to attack them.  Only the Allies can get info from
SIGINT. 
 
d.  The Japanese usually keep their CV's in support of their main
effort. 
 
3.  CHECK LOSSES/SCORE (F9). 
 
4.  CHECK SUNKEN SHIPS (F8). 
 
5.  CHECK SHIP POOLS (F4). 
 
a.  Page 24 of the rulebook states that excess ships will be 
returned to the pool after a unit is loaded.  In this case the 
rulebook is wrong, the game was never programmed to do this.  The
game allows multiple ship units the OPTION of sending ships back
to the pool or taking ships from the pool.  The NUMBER of ships 
in a unit may be adjusted by moving ships into or out of the ship
pool.  The ship units may only alter their size while in a
non-isolated port.  The Ship Display will have (G)et Pool and
(T)o Pool functions.  (G)et Pool allows a ship unit to draw ships
from the pool.  The (T)o Pool function allows a ship unit to send
ships back to the pool.  CVE type ships may not use these
functions.  The normal limits for maximum ships in a unit will
still apply. 
 
b.  Ships in the pool are automatically allocated during the 
Routine Convoy Phase.  Japanese Routine Convoys (RC's) originate
in NAGOYA.  Allied RC's originate in LOS ANGELES (LA) and from 
the map edge south of INDIA.  All ships that participate in RC's
will end their turn in Nagoya, Los Angeles or Calcutta.  For 
ESCORTS to participate in RC's they must START their turn in 
Nagoya, LA or Calcutta.  Ships that are used in RC's may not be 
used by the player that turn.  BEWARE:  escorts that are sent to
one of the above cities will become unavailable to the player as
long as they see RC action.  The game allows escorts to be 
available for removal from RC duty during the first week of each
month. 
 
c.  The Commonwealth ships are colored differently than the U.S.
ships in the ship pools. 
 
d.  If ALL your MCS units are assigned to TF's then there will be
no routine convoys.  To keep MCS from being utilized for routine
convoys, put them in a TF and park it.  However, it's hard to 
find a way to use all your MCS in TF's.  There is not much YOU 
can do with ships in the pool.  These ships automatically flow 
into and out of MCS, AP, LST, (etc.) units as required. 
 
e.  The routine convoy system should be sending supplies and fuel
to bases with airgroups, HQ's, LCU's and ships (assuming that 
there no supply or ship shortage and that the bases are not 
isolated/disrupted).  Bases with HQ's which are close to their 
target bases will generally acquire a lot more supplies, 
especially if multiple HQ's have the same target.  Example:  
Johnston Island southwest of the Hawaiian Islands is the base HQ
for the Japanese 17th Army.  The 17th Army, Combined Fleet and 
South Seas Fleet all have a target base of one of the Hawaiian 
Islands.  Johnston Island may receive as much as 6000 points of 
supplies in one convoy phase if it was low on supplies at the 
beginning of the turn. 
 
B.  REINFORCEMENT SUBPHASE 
 
1.  CHECK FOR REINFORCEMENTS (IN SYDNEY, CALCUTTA, COLUMBO, 
KWEIYANG, KUNMING, SOERABAJA, AUCKLAND, AND MANILA IF ALLIED; IN
TOKYO, SHANGHAI, AND PORT ARTHUR IF JAPANESE). 
 
a.  Reinforcement ships are automatically activated if there are
enough shipyard points.  Ship production is affected by how many
damaged ships you are repairing in port.  More damaged ships in a
port means less ship construction points to be used for new 
ships, so they may appear later or not at all. 
 
b.  If under 'computer control', the artificial intelligence (AI)
may 'temporarily disband' badly depleted air groups.  These 
groups will show up as reinforcements on the next turn at San 
Francisco/Tokyo/Calcutta.  If you have no use for these groups 
you can disband them.  Their aircraft will go into the pool and 
the group will return as a reinforcement in six months. 
 
c.  Ship and armor/artillery production is handled by the 
computer and cannot be changed.  Armor/artillery can be affected
by bombing or oil and resource shortage. 
 
d.  British capital ships (carriers, battleships and cruisers) 
are periodically withdrawn from the Eastern Fleet.  This may 
happen at any time before 1944. 
 
e.  US CV's that are sunk return as Essex class, CVL's return as
Independence class, CA's as Baltimore class, CL's as Cleveland 
class and DD's as Fletcher class roughly one year later as 
replacements.  If the ships are not sunk they will not be 
replaced. 
 
f.  If an HQ is destroyed, it's subordinate units should be 
assigned to another HQ.  Most destroyed HQ's will return within a
month at the player's home country.  ABDA and Malaya AG will 
never return if they are destroyed.  At least one of them is 
withdrawn automatically even if they aren't destroyed.  Whether 
the Allied Player wants to preserve them depends on what the game
date is and how he wants to have his new HQ PP (Preparation 
Points) distributed. 
 
g.  Air groups that are at the base where reinforcements show up
(Calcutta, San Francisco, etc.) may not build up very quickly. 
It may have something to do about the number of PP available, but
move the land-based air (LBA) units to forward bases as soon as 
possible.  They fill out nicely when moved to another base.  Same
principle with respect to LCU's.  They fill out (get to their 
maximum size) very slowly at the reinforcement base, but grow 
rapidly at another base. 
 
h.  British ground reinforcements get rerouted to Auckland if all
other Commonwealth bases (such as Columbo) are captured. 
 
2.  CHECK REPLACEMENT POOLS (F7). 
 
a.  Replacement pool planes can be used to replace air groups 
with different planes.   After clicking on an air group, use the
CHANGE option to access the possible replacements from the pool. 
If the air group remains at a base with ample supply and the 
aircraft pool has the type of aircraft available for a particular
group, it will gradually fill out (replacements).  (As an 
example, you can always replace Hudsons and Sunderlands with 
Catalinas, but you cannot add new patrol squadrons until they 
show up at one of the reinforcement bases.  Check Calcutta, San 
Francisco and Sydney to see if there are any reinforcements 
there.)  Page 51 says land based air groups (LBA) can receive a 
maximum of 10 aircraft per group per turn as replacements.  It is
usually less.  It can take a long time to build an air unit up to
full strength.  A table also shows the supply cost for each type
of replacement.  Air groups on remote islands will continue to 
take on replacement aircraft as long there are supply points to 
spend. 
 
b.  The highlights on the planes don't mean anything, it was just
used to make for easier reading.  On the aircraft replacement 
display, every fifth line is highlighted to make it easier to 
read.  The data space set aside for aircraft names did not allow
completely spelling out of P-38F Lightning and SB2U Vindicator. 
 
c.  Air groups in San Francisco and other reinforcement areas can
be air transferred or shipped to different bases by ship.  New 
air groups that enter at San Francisco or elsewhere often only 
start with 4 aircraft.  Put these groups on Training missions as
soon as they arrive.  Move the air groups to San Diego, Seattle,
or Los Angeles if San Francisco gets above nine air groups.  Be 
sure to put those units on training missions as they fill out.  
When they grow to 50 for Army fighters, 40 for Army bombers, and
30 for Navy/Marine air groups, load those groups on cargo ships 
and ship them to the bases you want them to operate from.   Leave
the new Allied air groups at the West Coast ports until they fill
out.  Use similar tactics in India and Australia also. 
 
d.  Historically, the Marines converted most of their VMSB 
squadrons into VMTB squadrons during 1944.  This happens in the 
game and may be reconsidered later versions.  At this stage of 
the war, ground support was more important than bombing ships and
Avengers were better in that role.  Also, by 1944 American 
torpedo performance had improved dramatically. 
 
e.  The Japanese Oil Reserve is displayed when you view the 
Aircraft Replacement Pools.   To find out the OIL & RESOURCE 
levels press the F7 key - they are displayed at the bottom of the
screen.  Unless OIL & RESOURCE centers are isolated, the routine
convoy system will automatically ship the entire production of 
those centers back to Japan every week.  Supply and Fuel points 
are moved around on land automatically and slowly from hexes that
have high levels to hexes that have low levels.  Players have no
control over this.  As an example, the transportation links 
between India and Burma are almost non-existent.  The supply 
movement through heavy jungle is very slow.  Historically the 
Burma Campaign turned into a stalemate because neither the 
Japanese or British could keep a large force supplied in that 
area.   

1)  When oil production areas are reduced by bombing, they
rebuild up to a maximum of 5.  This creates a wildly unrealistic
way for the Allied player to win the game; bomb Palembang early
on and reduce its oil production from 45 to 5 for the rest of the
game.  This game feature is a major flaw which should be
eliminated as soon as possible.  Players should voluntarily
refrain from exploiting it.  Japanese players facing an Allied AI
opponent should keep lots of fighters guarding Palembang. 
 
2)  Fuel IS transported directly from base to base during the
Routine Convoy Phase but this is only done when the Oil Reserve
falls below 3000.  The way the rules are supposed to work (but
might not) is:  Heavy Industry consumes oil each week at a rate
of 25 oil per heavy industry point.  Oil reserves are converted
into fuel (1 oil converts to 4 fuel).  The fuel is used to stock
the depots in Japan.  Fuel is used whenever aircraft fly or ships
move.  If a city in Japan has fuel fall below 10,000 then 1000 
will be subtracted from the oil reserve and 4000 will be added to
the city's fuel depot.  Forming TF's to do transport oil or 
resources is a waste of PP.  Historically, the Japanese 
experienced an oil shortage AFTER they captured the oilfields and
BEFORE the Allied subs started taking their toll.  Keeping IJN 
TF's in port will NOT conserve fuel.  It is a preset system for 
the most part.   
 
3.  CYCLE THROUGH FACTORY CITIES TO SEE WHICH PLANES ARE BEING 
PRODUCED AND UPGRADE TO NEWER MODELS WHEN APPLICABLE (F6). 
 
a.  A NEW FEATURE, ALT/N CAN BE USED TO TOGGLE HUMAN/COMPUTER 
FACTORY CONTROL.  IF YOU DO NOT WANT THE COMPUTER TO 
AUTOMATICALLY UPDATE YOUR AIRCRAFT PRODUCTION, SET IT TO HUMAN 
FACTORY CONTROL. 
 
b.  New planes usually appear in San Francisco prior to the 
factory availability.  When the F2M, B-29, and P-47 aircraft 
appear for the first time in San Francisco as air groups, with 4
aircraft in each group, they appear a month or so before they can
be selected for production.  If they show up you should be able 
to convert a factory in a month or so to produce them. 
 
c.  If there are adequate supplies at a base and adequate numbers
in the aircraft pool then your air groups should receive 
replacements. 
 
d.  Air groups located in HUMAN CONTROLLED bases or ships will 
NOT automatically change their type.   If under COMPUTER CONTROL,
the computer automatically upgrades your air groups with new 
types of aircraft.  The computer will follow a historical pattern
in its upgrade decisions.  The advanced models you see showing up
in limited numbers are the prototypes of the new planes.  When 
they show up, the factories will be able to produce them soon 
afterward. 
 
e.  Even if your factories are under HUMAN CONTROL, the computer
will still change aircraft at bases or TF's that are under a 
COMPUTER CONTROLLED HQ. 
 
f.  The computer changes aircraft during the game in the most 
historical manner possible.  The Wellington is the only British 
bomber that changes to Liberators.  As for other British Tactical
Bombers, the Blenheims will change into Beauforts.  The Beauforts
and Beaufighters will not be changed. 
 
C.  HQ SUBPHASE 
 
1.  EXAMINE HQ'S (ALT/F). 
 
a.  Various Japanese Army HQ's are associated with a particular 
Naval HQ.  When a combat TF is formed in a port controlled by a 
Japanese Army HQ it will ALWAYS be attached to the Combined 
Fleet.  Japanese Combined Fleet HQ commands all surface combat, 
bombardment & air combat TF's.  When a non-combat TF is formed, 
it will be attached to the Army HQ's associated Navy HQ.  The 
14th, 15th, 16th, and 25th Armies are associated with the 
Combined Fleet.  The 17th Army is associated with South Seas 
Fleet. 
 
2.  LIST HQ UNITS (ALT/D). 
 
a.  When an HQ is destroyed (such as ABDA or Malaya AG) the units
subordinate to that HQ will automatically be transferred to 
another HQ. 
 
3.  RELOCATE HQ's (ALT/E). 
 
a.  To relocate a land HQ (such as SWPAC), place the cursor on 
the NEW location.  (The initial HQ location CANNOT be isolated.) 
Place the cursor on a target base (that is under SWPAC control),
pull down the HQ menu, choose CHANGE BASE and then pick SWPAC.  
Next reselect the target base and pull down the HQ menu again and
select RELOCATE HQ.  The HQ will immediately move to its new 
destination.  You can only move an HQ to a base it controls.  If
the HQ IS ISOLATED you can move the leader to a SWPAC base by 
putting him in charge of that base directly.  (This is how 
historically MacArthur moved his SWPAC and the Asian Fleet HQ 
back to Australia from the Philippines.) 
 
b.  You cannot move an ARMY HQ onto a TF because it cannot be 
located on ships. 
 
c.  Japanese players should not try to shift an army HQ's 
geographic area of authority away from what it was historically. 
The game's AI routines will try to shift things back when on 
partial or full computer control.  That wastes time and 
PPs.  Do it only temporarily for the bases containing land units
whose control you want to shift to a different HQ. 
 
d.  The Japanese Combined Fleet HQ controls most major combat 
task forces (TF's) regardless of where they are formed.  This 
means that placement of the Combined Fleet HQ is important. 
 
e.  It is possible for a base to belong to more than one HQ, even
if there are more than one HQ on the base.  This can only occur 
if the HQ's are related to each other (such as the Japanese South
Seas Fleet and the Japanese 17th Army).  Only the AI seems able 
to do this. 
 
4.  MOVE HQ'S TO TF IN THE SAME SQUARE (ALT/S). 
 
5.  ASSIGN NEW LEADER TO HQ'S (ALT/L). 
 
a.  There was a problem in early versions in that it was not 
possible to examine the leader of an HQ without losing the one 
you started with.  This has been corrected. 
 
b.  An HQ's leaders may gain experience.  They gain it FASTER if
they are NEARER to the action.  Leader ratings will go up if they
are involved in a lot of combat actions.  There is a very small 
chance that a leader will be promoted (usually the losing 
commander gets the promotion). 
 
c.  There are significant errors and possible bugs in the leader
database.  Some leaders are never available.  Others are
available only as base commanders and leave the game entirely if
removed from control of that base (Admiral Matsunaga at Saigon in
the 1941 campaign and Rising Sun scenario is an example - he was
historically only a rear admiral then).  Other leaders are listed
incorrectly in the rules as being available 12/41 when in fact 
they are not due until much later.  Also Dutch leaders are only 
available in ABDA bases and TF's with Dutch flagships.  Another 
major problem is that in the beginning the Allied Central Pacific
and South Pacific HQ's seem limited in the land leaders available
to them; only Marine leaders and the historic and the US Army
General Short. 
 
d.  Press the space bar or click the right mouse button to 
display the 2nd page of leaders. 
 
6.  SET HQ CONTROL (ALT/K). 
 
a.  When you run the HISTORIC first turn, all Allied HQ's are 
computer controlled and the human Allied player has NO control 
over what his HQ's or units will do on the first turn.  The 
Japanese have surprise in almost every land and sea battle during
the first turn even when not using the historic attacks. 
 
b.  Carrier TF's ordered to attack ships in port will almost 
always ignore enemy TF's in the same hex.  Carrier TF's ordered 
to attack enemy TF's will almost always enemy ignore ships in 
port in the same hex.  It is not possible to order carriers to 
attack any ships at sea OR in port in a given spot.  They will 
almost always only do one or the other.  Sometimes they will do 
both but this is rare.  Players seem to have little control over
this.  The best chance of hitting both seems to be to give a 
carrier TF a destination of the target hex, with a different home
port, a target of ships in port and set its return orders to 
leader discretion.  It might then remain on station and make 
reaction moves (maximum of one per turn) to nail an enemy TF that
comes within its reaction range. 
 
c.  The key to learning the game is to pick one HQ to run and set
the others to full computer control.  Gradually move the HQ's to
operational control and set their objectives, etc.  You may never
want FULL player control for all HQ's. 
 
d.  If an HQ is under 'Full Computer' or 'Computer Operational' 
control then the AI routines will automatically send 
reinforcement ships, planes and troops to the base where the HQ 
is located.  Problems sometimes originate in changing HQ's from 
full human control to one of the two varieties of computer 
control.  As an example, the US AI sometimes gets real excited 
about Wake Island if the Japanese does not capture it early.  You
may have to run Central Pacific Command (CenPac) on full human 
control in order to keep from making Wake the base HQ for CenPac,
which can result in it transferring most of the Pacific Fleet and
several LCU divisions to Wake.  One solution may be to transfer 
control of Wake Island to ANZAC or SEAC.  These HQ's do not care
what happens to Wake.  The Japanese Combined Fleet HQ has a 
similar fixation about Truk; it will continually attempt to 
protect it, or retake it, long after Allied forces pose greater 
threats closer to the Japanese Home Islands.  And the US AI 
somehow absolutely refuses to defend Johnston Island.  It seems 
to consistently disband any surface combat TF's sent there to 
protect the place, and remove airgroups based there.  The only 
solution to this is to set whichever Allied HQ controls Johnston
Island to full human control.  Hopefully these significant AI 
problems will be corrected in later versions. 
 
e.  If the HQ is under 'Computer Operational' control you can set
the 'target' and the AI will automatically try to capture (or 
defend) the target. 
 
7.  CHANGE BASE HQ (ALT/C). 
 
a.  One way to get more control of forces is to Change Base HQ 
from an undesirable HQ to a more desirable HQ, and only then 
begin creating TF's and activating LCU's under the control of 
that desired HQ.  It may be necessary to change a Base HQ before
changing that Base's control. 
 
8.  SET HQ TARGET (ALT/G). 
 
9.  LIST HQ AIRCRAFT (ALT/X). 
 
10.  ASSIGN HQ AIR LEADER (ALT/P). 
 
a.  The HQ air leader should only be selected if their air rating
is greater that the HQ commander.  Air HQ leaders handle air 
missions for that HQ's bases.  If your main HQ commander's air 
rating is as good or better than the air rating of the proposed 
air leader, do not utilize him.  Generally an air rating seems to
run back up the ladder to the HQ's commander level, so a local 
base leader's air rating are not REAL important.  When in doubt,
assign base leaders that have good air ratings in the hot air 
combat spots. 
 
11.  REINFORCE HQ (ALT/R). 
 
a.  Only the HQ that is commanding your MAIN EFFORT should use 
REINFORCE HQ. 
 
b.  The REINFORCE HQ routine will send ships and reinforcements 
to ANY non-isolated friendly base. 
 
D.  LAND SUBPHASE 
 
1.  EXAMINE LAND UNITS IN SEQUENCE (S/W). 
 
a.  LCU's automatically gain 1 experience point each turn until 
they reach 50.  Units of PHIL, DUT and IND nationality and all 
engineer units only gain experience up to 25.  CHIN units never 
gain experience in this manner.  Anything under 50 experience is
a BIG risk for LCU's attacking atolls.  If the LCU's miss a 
leadership check (or even two) they are history if there are any
decent Japanese on the island. 
 
b.  The routine convoy system should provide enough supply to 
keep army units at 99 readiness.  This assumes that the base is 
not ISOLATED.  If Adelaide comes up as a isolated base it is a 
bug and should be ignored. 
 
c.  There are no shore batteries in the game, though there may be
in a future version. 
 
d.  U.S. LCU's:  Grey LCU's are Marines while white units are 
U.S. Army. 
 
e.  When invading Japanese home islands watch out for 'militia'. 
ALL the Japanese home island bases will create new 'militia' 
units in their hex after the Allies take one.  The only way to 
stop this from happening is to have enough LCU's in the port over
a certain strength so the militia units do not form.  As an 
example, the unexpected arrival of the Japanese LCU's at Sasebo 
indicates the presence of 'militia'.  You must garrison bases in
Japan to prevent the militia from retaking them.  The militia can
show up whether the base is garrisoned or not.  The population of
Japan never becomes passive.  This is an undocumented feature. 
 
f.  Shifting control of land units from one HQ to another is a 
cumbersome process.  You can change the HQ commanding LCU's by 
changing the base HQ to the desired HQ with the ALT/C command, 
then activate the LCU's you want to be attached to the desired 
HQ.  The land unit first has to be inactive.  If the LCU is 
already activated, deactivate it with the activate command, then
reactivate it with the same activate command.  Always FIRST 
transfer control of the base the LCU is on to the desired HQ and
THEN activate the unit, at which point it should show up as being
attached to that HQ.  Reinforcements must also FIRST be removed 
from the base where they arrived to do this, as they generally 
arrive at a RESTRICTED home area base HQ where base control 
cannot be changed.  Failure to follow these guidelines will 
result in an HQ having units all over the Pacific and 
significantly reduce LCU's effectiveness in battle. 
 
2.  DIVIDE UNITS AS NEEDED (D ON UNIT DATA DISPLAY). 
 
a.  Dividing an LCU will decrease its combat effectiveness.  
Prior to separating an LCU division, increase it to an oversized
division. 
 
b.  Fractional LCU's that are stacked with their parent LCU may 
recombine with them automatically during the supply phase.  
Another method to reassemble divided divisions is to load both 
pieces onto the same TF, then unload them somewhere or just leave
them at the same base for awhile.  They will recombine
eventually. 
 
c.  The NEW unit you create when dividing an LCU should only 
receive replacements when it fall below 30 squads while the 
parent unit (original cadre) builds back to full strength. 
 
d.  Dividing Allied engineer units is especially effective.   The
replacements bring both old and new subunits up to workable size
quickly. 
 
3.  ACTIVATE ALL LCU's THAT WILL BE LOADED, MOVED, OR THAT WILL 
ATTACK (A ON UNIT DATA DISPLAY). 
 
a.  If there is a '$' sign next to the unit then it is NOT 
ACTIVATED.   LCU's are automatically deactivated at the end of 
the execution phase.  For them to attack enemy LCU's between the
time you activated them and the end of the phase, several 
conditions must be met:  there has to be enemy LCU's/bases in the
same area, sufficiently high odds or have an aggressive leader 
assigned.  To achieve numerical advantage, you need men, good 
troop quality and good readiness.  If a LCU is under 50 readiness
it probably will not attack. 
 
b.  The Chinese LCU's are a good example of poor leadership and 
readiness.  There is only one leader in China.  You cannot change
leaders there.  Chinese HQ's are examples of the restricted HQ's. 
It costs 120PP to activate a division or army attached to that 
HQ.  If your troop experience is less than 50, and you do not 
have a really good leader, your LCU's may be virtually useless 
(read p. 35 of the manual). 
 
c.  Activated LCU's may still not attack if the odds are bad.  
However, if the LEADER passes an aggressiveness roll they will 
attack at any odds.  If your leader is not aggressive AND has 
fails experience checks, then you may not have a sufficient 
advantage to initiate an attack.  There are 3 leader rolls 
involved in each land combat.  The failure to pass a leader roll
when low quality LCU's are involved may result in the units 
'failing to fight'.  This would explain why a 52 squad LCU 
failed to fight in one battle and while only a 2 squad LCU fought
in the next battle. 
 
d.  If you activate LCU's while your HQ's are low in PP, your 
readiness will be halved, further curtailing your offensive 
firepower.  You may activate LCU's without the necessary PP but 
you will lose half of the LCU's readiness in the process.  This 
really hurts the Japanese ability to attack in China and is quite
realistic. 
 
e.  An attack by LCU's uses a number of PPs equal to the land 
leader's land rating.  If there are not enough PPs, there may be 
no attack.  This also hurts the Japanese ability to attack in 
China.  If the "on the spot" commander fails an aggressiveness 
roll (random (10) less than aggressiveness), then he will be 
bypassed as commander and the commander of the controlling HQ 
will take charge of the hostilities.  This means the leadership 
duties will shift up the chain of command.  (See page 33, 
paragraph 4). 
 
f.  To get the Japanese to retreat you need 125:1 odds.  They are
tenacious units, and this IS historical.  They don't surrender. 
It is tough to get heavy damage in jungle when the effects are 
divided by NINE. 
 
g.  Sometimes you may see only 2 squads attack or defend.  Look 
closely at the 1st paragraph in column 2 on page 35.  If the LCU
fails both its experience check and its leader check then its 
readiness may be reduced to 1.  This happens when poor LCU's are
lead by poor commanders. 
 
h.  Check the rules on page 41:  Special Headquarters Movement 
Restrictions.  LCU's subordinate to restricted HQ's (ANZAC, West
Coast, China AG, Kwantung and Imperial GHQ) pay 10 times the 
normal activation cost.  When activated, these units do not 
change their HQ.  SOME LCU's may NOT be loaded onto ships.  You 
can move the LCU's in their home country but they take x10 PP to
activate.  These rules are necessary in order to keep the 
Japanese from pulling all their forces out of China and 
Manchuria, and the Allies from pulling their "Home Defense" 
forces out of Australia and the U.S. 
 
i.  At various times during the game, ANZAC LCU's will be 
transferred to the SWPAC HQ.  To determine when ANZAC units have
switched to SWPAC, click on the LCU as if you were going to 
activate it and look at the HQ's they are attached to.  If it is
ANZAC, the LCU is tied up in home defense duties.  If it is 
SWPAC, the LCU is released to go fight outside their home 
country.  To ensure the ANZAC LCU's transfer occurs, you may need
to put the Southwest Pacific HQ under computer control for one 
turn (either operational or total control).  You will need to do
this each time an ANZAC LCU is scheduled to be transferred to 
SWPAC.  (Until ANZAC releases LCU's, take a division from Central
Pacific Command, break it into smaller units, and use them to 
garrison the Solomons and New Guinea.)  When an ANZAC LCU 
activates it will switch to SWPAC control and may arrive as a 
reinforcement in Sydney.  Listed below is the ANZAC transfer 
schedule: 
 
1)  Apr 42 1st AUS Engr. 
 
2)  May 42 7th AUS Inf Div. 
 
3)  Sep 42 6th AUS Inf Div. 
 
4)  Nov 42 9th AUS Inf Div. 
 
5)  Jul 43 3rd NZ Inf Div. 
 
6)  Aug 43 8th NZ Inf Bde. 
 
j.  In the last year of the war the Japanese started transferring
divisions out of China and Manchuria for use in the Western 
Pacific.  The divisions transferred out of China will show up in
Shanghai (probably attached to 14th or 35th Army).  The divisions
transferred out of Manchuria will show up in Port Arthur. 
 
k.  When an LCU is ACTIVATED it will become attached to the same
HQ that controls the base.  This is not true for LCU's that are 
attached to RESTRICTED HQ's (such as ANZAC). 
 
l.  Inactive LCU's will always DEFEND in land combat.  Activating
in LCU does not help its performance while defending. 
 
m.  A computer controlled HQ may activate some of your LCU's. 
 
n.  Engineers DO NOT need to be activated in order to build 
airfields and ports. 
 
o.  The gung-ho 1st Marine Division is influenced by a 'minor' 
bug which keeps the LCU active. 
 
p.  LCU's can receive a maximum of 20 squads per turn as 
replacements if not isolated.  Thus if a division takes 50% 
losses in combat it will take 6 weeks to rebuild it to full 
strength. 
 
q.  Look at the type of terrain enemy LCU's are in.  Heavy jungle
and jungle terrain reduce bombardment effects drastically, so 
does entrenchment level.  Japanese jungle defense is really hard
to beat.  Weekly air strikes also do not impact much on jungle 
defenders.  To destroy Japanese LCU's you need lots of 
experienced LCU's, air strikes and shore bombardments.  If the 
enemy units drop to a readiness of 9-15% they are being affected. 
Do this turn after turn and you will see the odds climb until the
magic 125:1 odds shows up and the defender will be gone.  Another
secret to getting Japanese troops out of the jungle is to cut 
their line of supply.  This usually requires a surface combat TF
on station in the hex.  It does not have to be a good TF, use 
PT's or DD's or CA's when enemy air is around.  Once their supply
is cut, 3 or 4 divisions under a good leader can usually get 
125:1 odds in 3 or 4 turns. 
 
r.  If your LCU's have gotten into a battle with enemy units, you
CANNOT change their controlling HQ's UNTIL they have captured the
enemy base.  When you capture the base, an HQ is selected by the
computer.  The HQ that is selected by the computer for the base 
is the same as the one the lowest numbered LCU (in the game's 
database) is attached to.  The captured base gets assigned to 
that HQ at the end of combat phase.  Next turn, if you check your
units, they will still have DIFFERENT controlling HQ's.  What you
can do is look at the captured base, decide which HQ's the base 
should belong to, change BASE HQ if necessary, and then activate
the LCU's to get them all assigned to that HQ. 
 
l.  After combat or movement, you can activate a unit again to 
return it to an inactive status.  You can use that technique just
after capturing a base.  This makes LCU's have the same 
appropriate HQ's.  If the enemy is still in a base hex, after you
capture the base, you can activate your LCU's to turn these units
back to inactive status so they can dig in and wait for the 
supplies to roll in and restore their readiness. 
 
4.  ASSIGN LEADERS TO LAND UNITS (F1 ON UNIT DATA DISPLAY). 
 
a.  If there are LCU's belonging to various HQ's at a location 
and there is no onsite leader then the leader will be chosen 
randomly from among the represented HQ's. 
 
b.  Allied land leaders cannot command an amphibious assault - 
only the naval leaders of transport TF carrying the attacking 
troops can affect the initial landings.  If enemy resistance 
continues then an Army/Marine commander can be assigned to the 
base on the following turn.  Japanese HQ commanders command the 
troops making amphibious assaults (the aggressiveness of the 
Japanese naval leader commanding the transport TF is vital in 
determining whether the TF turns back under air attack though). 
 
c.  Both Japanese and Allied leaders have an equal chance of 
becoming casualties.  Leaders that are wounded in action will be
unavailable for 6-12 months while recuperating.  The game system
seems to inflict unusually high losses on friendly leaders from 
friendly air attack on enemy LCU's in the same hex, so be 
careful. 
 
d.  To see the available leaders, check the land units under the
control of each Allied HQ by pressing W on a ground unit under 
the control of each HQ and then press F1.  Press the space bar to
see more leaders if the screen is full. 
 
5.  MARCH LCU's OVERLAND (ALT/W). 
 
a.  Marching (or retreating) to another base requires the LCU to
start with at least a 50 readiness. 
 
b.  LCU's may not move from a hex containing enemy units to 
another hex or base controlled by the enemy (whether or not the 
latter contains any LCU's) unless they have 125-1 superiority in
the hex they are leaving. 
 
c.  You also cannot march an LCU from an enemy
occupied/controlled base to an enemy controlled/empty base and 
capture it.  CURRENTLY LCU's can ONLY march to a connected 
location IF either the starting OR ending location is FREE OF 
ENEMY LCU's. 
 
d.  The game system fosters holding attacks.  Moving a LCU into a
hex containing enemy units pins them down there.  An AI group of
enemy LCU's dug in on a large island with march paths, like 
Rabaul or the Philippines, can resort to sneaky tactics to force
base hopping.  After you obtain a toehold base with 7-8 friendly
LCU's, the AI opposition may retreat one turn to another base, 
then advance back 1 or more units effectively preventing your 
advance.  To prevent this, invade behind the AI forces to pin 
them down and prevent retreats and/or end-of-turn advances. 
 
e.  The marching paths in New Guinea are not exactly correct.  
Some parts of the island must have amphibious assaults to get to
bases.  Many New Guinea bases can be reached by marching from one
to another.  You cannot march to an enemy occupied base if there
are enemy units in the base where you are trying to march from. 
 
6.  CALL FOR IMMEDIATE SEALIFT FORCES (ALT/T). 
 
E.  AIR SUBPHASE 
 
1.  CHECK WHICH ENEMY BASES ARE EXERTING AIR ZONES OF CONTROL 
(AZOC) (ALT/Z). 
 
a.  Each time an undetected TF enters an enemy AZOC it will 
trigger searches and attacks by all enemy air groups in range.  
This point is very important because of the way TF Preparation 
Points (PP) work.  The best way to drive off an amphibious 
invasion is to hit the transport TF carrying the LCU's with as 
many separate airstrikes as possible, because each airstrike 
reduces the TF's PPs by 9.  A transport TF reduced to few or no
PP will likely retire or fail to unload.  The airstrikes need not
be strong; what counts is making them numerous.  This means that
you should spread your airgroups around on multiple bases within
a small area, preferably each with a bomber and a fighter
squadron (tactical, dive or torpedo bombers preferred), and with
a Patrol squadron covering them all.  If the HQ for that area
does not have an air leader, assign local leaders with air
ratings of 3+ to each such base.  You'd be surprised how
effective Allied airpower can be in defending Malaya, Java and
Sumatra from Japanese invasions in this fashion in 1941 and early
1942.  The counter to this is to reduce or eliminate the AZOC's
with massive airstrikes (6+ bomber and fighter squadrons in a
single raid) or naval bombardments by surface combat or
bombardment TF's with 4+ heavy cruisers or better.  It may be
necessary to pound defending airbases in this fashion for several
turns before a transport TF can get through.  The weakness of
this air defense tactic is that you need really strong airstrikes
from a single base to hurt enemy combat TF's.  Those rarely turn
back under air attack.  It is difficult to hurt enemy combat TF's
if you spread your airpower around on multiple bases to maximize
the number of strikes to reduce amphibious transport TF PPs. 
 
b.  Air Combat TF's will only cancel enemy AZOC if THEY ENTER 
THEM.  The AZOC will be cancelled AFTER the Air Combat TF 
triggers any reaction combat or movement.  As an example, in 
order to perform an effective amphibious assault in an enemy 
AZOC, you may need to send a Combat Air TF to the enemy base and
set the STANDOFF RANGE to ZERO.  This may (but might not) CANCEL
the enemy AZOC.  Your transport TF's might then follow and may be
immune to reaction air strikes.  Of course, your carriers will 
have to withstand the full brunt of enemy airpower. 
 
c.  After an enemy naval force retires they can no longer be 
targeted by aircraft in the normal combat phase - they may only 
be subjected to reaction attacks as they move towards their home
port. 
 
2.  CHECK WHICH FRIENDLY BASES ARE EXERTING AZOC (SHFT/Z). 
 
a.  If you have good air cover in an area, any enemy TF's 
entering your air zones of control (AZOC) will have a good chance
of running into any reaction forces you have sitting in port.  
Repeated bombing of a base will reduce the effectiveness of it's
AZOC.  A group of aircraft may not be enough to generate a AZOC 
at a disrupted base.  Try moving more bombers to the base and see
if a AZOC appears.  AZOC exerted by TF's are not shown (either 
friendly or enemy).  Only LBA AZOC are displayed. 
 
b.  All TF's are much more vulnerable to enemy aircraft, both 
from carriers and land bases, when they are not covered by 
friendly Patrol squadrons' AZOC. 
 
c.  The most important aircraft in the game are the patrol 
(reconnaissance) bombers.  Patrol planes do not do anything but 
patrol.  Just move them to a supplied base and they will start to
patrol.  They locate enemy TF's, reduce the effectiveness of 
enemy submarines and greatly enhance the effectiveness of combat
aircraft on bases containing the Patrol units (apparently 
including air defense).  You should IMMEDIATELY move a Patrol air
unit onto any newly conquered base.  It will then exert AZOC as 
well as providing targeting information concerning enemy TF's. 
 
d.  Fighters DO NOT exert an AZOC but fighter-bombers DO.  
However, friendly fighter AZOCs DO cancel enemy bomber AZOCs. 
 
3.  EXAMINE AIRFIELDS IN SEQUENCE (Z OR A). 
 
a.  The most important step in improving air bases is to get it 
from size 1 to size 2 (using an engineer unit).  This changes a 
base which can only handle one patrol squadron to a base which 
can handle two fighter, fighter-bomber, dive or torpedo bomber 
squadrons plus a patrol squadron.  The next is from a size 3 to 
size 4, because that lets tactical and heavy bombers operate 
there.  Building bases up to an airfield level of 4 allows you to
stage bombers from the U.S. to Australia, and points in between,
by successive air transfers from base to base.  Also, the bigger
the base the more aircraft that are active in your squadrons. 
 
b.  The larger the airfield rating of a base, the harder it will
be to destroy aircraft at that base.  The high airfield rating 
implies MORE air strips and a better ability to disperse the air
groups. 
 
c.  The engineer construction rate of airfields is unpredictable. 
Some airfield levels may increase from two to six in eight weeks
while other bases with more engineers, supply, and better terrain
may take up to three to four months.  The key is to have 1000 
supply points available for construction. 
 
d.  The maximum size for a land based fighter group is fifty 
aircraft. 
 
e.  The big-wigs in the Pentagon plan to send all B-17s to Europe
starting late 1942. 
 
4.  SET PRIORITY TARGET BASE (B). 
 
a.  To set a priority air target, hit 'B' while on a friendly 
airbase.  The screen should then show up that asks to click on an
air target, or hit 'C' to cancel a previous air target.  That 
should remove old air targets. 
 
5.  SET MISSIONS (D, N, NI, SA, OA, AB, T, D ON AIR UNIT 
DISPLAY). 
 
a.  When viewing air groups, following the group name/number 
there is a designation in parentheses such as (D-USA) or 
(T-USMC).  The T designates a Training unit and only holds four 
aircraft each.  The "D" stands for Day Combat, "NI" stands for 
Naval Interdiction, and so on.  Each AIR MISSION has a letter 
code.  When you see (D-USMC) at the top of the air group display
the 'D' stands for DAY mission (T=Training, N=Night, etc.). 
 
b.  You are not required to set a group's air mission.  All 
groups will start with a mission already set - usually Day 
Combat.  If nothing is next to the air group data on the display
then the group has a Day Combat mission.  An air group will 
remain active and perform it's assigned mission every turn 
without spending PPs every turn. 
 
c.  If you set tac-bombers or attack planes (not fighters) to 
Naval Interdiction, they will intercept spotted TF's that are in
range IF they have enough supply and fuel to do so.  Air groups 
with Naval Interdiction missions should only attack naval 
targets.  EXAMPLE:  a carrier has F4Fs, SBD's and TBF's - if the
SBD's have an NI mission then only the F4F's and TBF's would be 
allowed to attack an airfield.  The TF's target priorities would
not override this.  You can control this somewhat when CV's
launch planes.  Set the reaction range to 1 or 2 after giving
them a destination, and they won't attack until within that
range.  American and Japanese ARMY bombers will not attack ships
unless they have a Naval Interdiction mission.  Bombers with NI
missions should perform reaction attacks against enemy TF's that
enter nearby AZOC. 
 
d.  When torpedo bombers and Bettys attack from MAXIMUM range 
they will carry bombs instead of torpedoes.  This does not apply
to TBD's (Avengers). 
 
e.  Air groups with Training missions will not perform any 
combat.  They should be moved to the rear areas. 
 
f.  There is no reason to put patrol aircraft, such as seaplanes,
on Night missions. 
 
g.  With the exception of HEAVY BOMBERS, land based bombers are 
reluctant to fly daylight missions against targets defended by 
CAP unless they have a fighter escort or very good.  The mission
may get scrubbed.  On LBA attacking TF's:  the airbases need 
several things to detect, locate and attack a TF.  First, they 
need to be well supplied with supplies AND fuel.  When the gas is
gone, they don't fly!  Second, the airbases need to be protected
from enemy airstrikes.  (Those 2 **'s behind the name of a base 
means severe air disruption, reducing all flights from that 
base.)  Third, a patrol group is critical.  The more patrol 
groups that can see an enemy TF, the greater chance there is that
LBA will attack them.  Fourth, of course, you need planes that 
will attack TF's.  Tac-bombers will do it, but naval airgroups 
(dive and torpedo bombers) do the best job.  Fighters will 
perform sweeps over enemy TF's and will strafe non-combat units,
and tac-bombers will occasionally attack, but dive bombers have 
the best accuracy rating.  A good HQ leader is useful to keep the
reinforcements coming, too. 
 
h.  At close range (2-3 hexes) the air bases put up a few 
fighters (4-8) over any TF.  If you do not want fighters to move
away from their airfield, put them on naval interception (NI) 
missions.  Fighters may provide CAP over the base.   Fighters 
will not strafe/attack COMBAT TF's.   The only mission they will
perform, other than CAP, is strafe/attack are NON-COMBAT TF's. 
 
i.  Transport aircraft, at a well supplied base, can airdrop 
supplies to ALL undersupplied units.  They can supply up to two 
times their normal aircraft travel distance.  Transport aircraft
can airdrop supplies up to their maximum allowable distance to 
LCU's (to increase their readiness up to 49%) located with an 
enemy unit.  This is handy as long as you can neutralize the 
AZOC.  Transport aircraft will not drop supplies into an area 
covered by an enemy fighter AZOC.  Transport aircraft supply 
function is controlled by the computer. 
 
j.  Changing an air group's mission requires PPs.  If you do not 
have enough PPs, the mission can be changed but all the aircraft 
in the group become damaged. 
 
k.  Fighters over their own bases perform almost 3 times as 
effectively in kill rates. 
 
l.  Night mission bombing allows one to attack strategic targets
without encountering swarms of daylight interceptors.  The flak 
is halved and CAP is limited to those fighters assigned Night 
missions.  You can reduce supply capability to Rabaul (neutralize
it) by the use of night bombing with B-17s.  Night raids by large
numbers of B-29s can cause terrific damage to the Japanese cities
late in the war.  The Japanese can also use well trained Betty 
groups (experience 80+) to attack Allied TF's at night and avoid
CAP. 
 
m.  Army Air Groups will not attack LCU's if they have an NI 
mission.  Set your airfield target priority to Ground Attack to 
guarantee that bombers will attack LCU's.  Aircraft do not have 
their range multiplied x1.5 when attacking LCU's.  See the data 
card comments for page 21. 
 
n.  The higher the experience level of your air groups the better
they perform.  If your experience is below 70 you will not do 
very well.  Try putting some of those groups on training missions
in your rear areas, or don't deploy the groups to the battle area
until they have a 75 - 80 experience rating.  Taking losses may 
also keep your experience down as you receive replacements. 
 
o.  Airgroups can attack supply depots and airfields within 150%
of their rated range but can attack LCU's and task forces only 
within their normal rated range.  This means that a Lily with a 
range of 4 can attack supply depots and airfields at ranges of 6
but LCU's only at a range of 4.  Note that it is almost 
impossible to bombard the US supply depot on Bataan with aircraft
unless their bases are out of normal range.  There are usually so
many US LCU's in Bataan that the program will have all airgroups
attack the LCU's rather than the supply depot no matter what the
base target is.  This means that 4-hex range Lilys must be based
on Formosa (Takao or Chilung) if you want them to attack the 
Bataan supply depot, with Sallys being based on Okinawa.  
Hopefully this problem will be corrected in a future version. 
 
p.  Zero fighters have a range of 6 while most Japanese tactical
bombers (naval Bettys & Nells, Army Sallys & Helens) have ranges
of 5-9.  The most effective anti-shipping weapons are land-based
air (LBA) units - the US SBD Dauntless dive-bomber and the 
Japanese G4M Betty tactical bomber.  Dive-bombers are the most 
accurate anti-shipping planes (accuracy 9) and SBDs can deliver 
the devastating 1000 lb. bomb at 2 hexes range or a 500 lb. bomb
at 3 hexes range.  Bettys have a range of 9 hexes, an accuracy of
7, and can sometimes carry torpedoes.  American SBD dive-bombers
using 1000 lb. bombs can really hurt Japanese battleships.  
Battleship TF's seem excessively powerful in this game so it is 
essential for the Japanese to sink most of the old US ones at 
Pearl Harbor on the first turn.  Large battleship TF's have high
anti-aircraft ratings which greatly reduces the effectiveness of
air raids.   US battleships are almost invulnerable to Japanese 
250 kg. (550 lb.) bombs.  No Japanese plane uses a bigger bomb. 
Torpedoes are more effective but torpedo bombers are 
exceptionally vulnerable to AA fire.  The Japanese have nothing 
comparable to the 1000 lb. bomb.  Vals and Kates can attack at 4
hexes range only with 250 kg. bombs.  Val divebombers always use
250 kg. bombs.  Kates use torpedoes at ranges 0, 1 & 2 but 250 
kg. bombs at range 3.  Japanese planes do have a longer range 
than the US planes and will keep this advantage throughout the 
war. 
 
q.  Air squadrons from your base fight in the order that they are
listed at the base:  first squadron A fights the enemy, than B, 
then C, etc.  As an example, Allied squadrons are ordered in the
following manner: 
 
USMC Ftr, USMC Bomber, USAAF Ftr, USAAF Bomber, Commonwealth Ftr,
Commonwealth Bomber 
 
What does this mean?  If you put USMC bombers with Commonwealth 
fighters, for example, the fighters will not protect the bombers: 
the enemy does not have to fight through your Commonwealth 
fighters to get to the USMC bombers because they see them 
straight away. 
 
q.  Set fragile Bettys to NI (naval interdiction) missions to 
keep them from hitting defended enemy bases and taking horrible 
losses. 
 
6.  TRANSFER AIR UNITS (ALT/A). 
 
a.  Adding a patrol air group to an airfield should not count 
toward the maximum allowable number of units.   As an example, a
level four airfield can have four air groups, not counting 
transport or patrol planes, and each air group can have up to 
forty undamaged active aircraft.  But if there are already four 
air groups at the airfield, you cannot add another 
non-patrol/transport airgroup (even if all four of the others are
patrol/transport).  In order to add a non-patrol/transport air 
group, move out one group to reduce the number to three, transfer
the non-patrol/transport group to the airfield and then bring 
back the patrol/transport unit.  This appears to apply with all 
sizes of airfields. 
 
b.  The only aircraft that can be based at a size 1 airfield are
Patrol types. 
 
c.   Air groups may be moved around within China (those bases 
attached to China Exp. Force).  However, air group may not 
transfer OUT OF or INTO China or Manchuria.  Also, air groups in
China and Manchuria will not be allowed to disband.  Keep your 
air groups out of the China and Kwantung areas or you will lose 
control of them.  This is not really a bug, but a necessary side
effect of the restricted HQ functions. 
 
d.   Only heavy bombers and patrol bombers can fly directly to 
Oahu from San Francisco (SF), so if you have maxed out Oahu 
already, only the patrol planes will be allowed to go there.   
Move some planes from Oahu to the other islands, then try again. 
If the heavy bombers are not transferring, look at the size of 
the airport they are going to.  A size of 4 or greater is needed
to put the heavies there.  The shorter ranged planes (Dauntless,
P-40, etc.) must be loaded on a MCS or CS type ship to move 
across the big ocean gaps.  They will show up as damaged at their
new port when the TF gets there, but repair quickly.  CS type 
ships will unload the planes and have them ready to go 
immediately. 
 
e.  You can only get the nuclear mission as the Allies, and only
starting in August 1945. 
 
7.  UPGRADE OLDER PLANE TYPES (C ON AIR UNIT DISPLAY). 
 
a.  It is not possible to disband all the air units in China and
have them reappear in Tokyo 6 months later for reassignment, nor
is it possible to reequip them with biplanes to free up more 
modern types for the force pool. 
 
b.  You may not want to convert all of your Japanese carrier 
fighter aircraft A6M2 Zeros to A6M5 Zeros when they become 
available in 1943.  The A6M5 Zeros are fighter-bombers.  When 
they bomb airfields or TF's, the A6M5 may suffer horrendous 
losses due to flak.  The A6M5 may be only an adequate bomber when
attacking units with minimal flack protection.  A6M2s are also 
fragile, are more prudent vs. ground targets.  They are fine for
defensive purposes if you are not doing well.  You should keep 
one AC TF equipped with A6M2 for offensive purposes.  You should
also keep some ground based squadrons of A6M2s.  Otherwise, 
Bettys and Peggys will attack TF's without escorts during 
reaction air strikes. 
 
8.  TRANSFER AIRCRAFT FACTORY CONTROL FROM COMPUTER TO HUMAN OR 
VICE-VERSA (ALT/N). 
 
a.  Alt/N can be used to toggle HUMAN/COMPUTER factory control. 
If you do not want the computer to automatically update your 
aircraft production, set it to HUMAN FACTORY CONTROL. 
 
b.  Players should shift the production numbers of each type on 
an as needed basis while keeping at least one factory producing 
some of each type.  There will be times when a given type is 
taking exceptionally heavy losses and its replacement pool 
shrinks dangerously so it is important to keep one of each type 
in production. 
 
c.  Do not transfer all Japanese fighter production to Zeroes (a
Navy fighter), even though the Japanese Army fighter designs are
inferior until late 1942.  The Japanese Army fighter squadrons 
will not re-equip with Zeroes and will gradually vanish due to 
attrition. 
 
d.  Do not terminate production of the Japanese twin-engine Ki-45
Nick fighter-bomber in favor of the Ki-34-I Oscar fighter either. 
This is because of the game's use of air bases.  Fighters, 
fighter-bombers, torpedo bombers and dive bombers are the only 
combat aircraft which may be based on size 2 and 3 airfields.  
The Japanese have only one land-based torpedo bomber squadron 
from December 1941 through about May 1942, and no land-based dive
bombers (the US has lots of land-based Marine Corps dive-bomber 
squadrons).  The only way the Japanese can attack ships and 
ground units from size 2 and 3 airfields from December 1941 
through May 1942 is with the Ki-45 Nick fighter-bomber.  This 
makes a difference for Japanese AZOC.  Fighters DO NOT exert an 
AZOC but fighter-bombers do.  This is the ONLY redeeming virtue 
of the US P-39 Aircobra, and then only early in the war before 
many USMC SBD dive-bomber squadrons become available. 
 
F.  TASK FORCE SUBPHASE 
 
1.  EXAMINE PORTS IN SEQUENCE (O OR P). 
 
a.  In Campaign 41 or the Rising Sun Campaign, when you decide 
not to use the historical first move, there is a chance that some
of the US Fleet at Oahu will put to sea. 
 
b.  Look at the port of Los Angeles (LA) or Nagoya to see the 
ships used in routine convoys.  If you access the port display, 
and see a # sign next to a transport ID, this means that 
transport is being used for routine convoy duty that turn and 
will be unavailable for any missions.  If you want to verify 
this, access target base (B), you will see a one turn delay next
to it.  A delay flag is set to prevent it from being added to a 
TF.  When a port is expanded it may receive more supplies during
routine convoy supply and TF's based at large ports will receive
more PP.  Ports with HQ's present also receive additional 
supplies during the routine convoy phase.  The maximum 
fuel/supply level at a base is 50,000.  The routine supply 
situation is dependent on who the HQ leader is.  If your HQ's is
not receiving routine supply, consider changing leaders.  Routine
supply seems to take into account the HQ, the level of supply 
currently at the base and the MCS units in routine convoys.  
Obviously all bases can not receive routine supply each turn.  
Make sure to have lots of MCS in LA and you may receive routine 
convoys with supply. 
 
c.  The Preparation Point Allocation System is very complicated. 
It is vital to be aware that HQ Preparation Points (PPs) are not 
the same as TF PPs.  They are considerably different.  Read page 
32 of the manual VERY carefully.  Unused HQ PPs are accumulated 
from one turn to the next, subject to an upper limit for each 
side (and each HQ) which seems to vary according to game date.  
Unused TF PPs are NOT, repeat, NOT, accumulated from one turn to 
the next.  While HQ PPs are sometimes transferred to TF's, this
is rarely (if ever) done on a one HQ PPs to one TF PPs basis. 
PPs are allocated to TF's at the start of each EXECUTION PHASE.  
TF's will always have ZERO PP during the ORDERS PHASE.  ALL task
forces, including Cargo TF's, use PPs.  You CANNOT see how many
PPs the TF has been allocated.  Disbanding TF's will save PPs for
the HQ's that is listed on the TF's display.  Disbanding a TF
will PREVENT the TF's HQ's from spending PPs on the TF at the
start of the EXECUTION PHASE.  The PPs number seen when clicking
on a port is the PPs for HQ's commanding the port.  The first and
last TF PPs assignment rules are key, especially the last.  A
shortage of PPs indicates exhausted resources or unpreparedness
(at the start of the war).  Only NAVY HQ's will provide TF's with
PPs.  All PPs allocation is done by the computer.  The players
have no control over PPs allocation.  The Japanese maximum HQ PPs
is generally 125 compared to the Allied 200.  The TF PPs
assignment rules are designed to ensure that any given HQ
concentrates on only one or two major operations each week in
order to be historically accurate. 
 
1)  The first rule states that if a TF starts the execution phase
with their destination the SAME as their home base (which is 
under friendly control), the TF will receive 25 TF PPs.  The TF 
will gain additional PPs based on 2x the size of the port if the
TF starts at its home port.  The TF's HQ's will subsequently 
spend 1 HQ PP. 
 
2)  If the TF destination is DIFFERENT than its home base, then 
the TF will start with a MINIMUM of 5 TF PPs, with the following 
procedures used to assign ADDITIONAL PPs: 
 
a)  If a TF has a DESTINATION that is the SAME as its HQ's TARGET
it will receive an additional 20 PPs. 
 
b)  If a TF starts a move in its Home Port then it will receive 
PP bonus based on the 2x the size of the port. 
 
c)  A TF will receive 5 additional PPs if it has moved less than
60 hexes since it was last in port. 
 
c)  A TF will receive 10 additional PPs if it has moved less than
30 hexes since it was last in port. 
 
[(a), (b) and (c) are the only ways written in the rules which 
explain the known PP weakness of TF's which remain at sea at the
end of a turn instead of returning to port.  TF's which remain at
sea are known to be much weaker than TF's which return to port so
there may be some other factors at work here which are not yet 
known to the players.] 
 
d)  If the TF has a leader, add the Naval Leader's appropriate 
rating as additional PPs (air rating for AC TF, land rating for 
transport TF or naval rating for any other type of TF). 
 
e)  If a TF's HQ has more than 9 PPs, the TF will receive 5 
additional PPs plus the Naval Leader's rating.  However, 10 PPs
will subsequently be subtracted from the HQ's PPs.  Losing 10 
PPs/TF can greatly reduce an HQ's PPs fast.  This is especially 
critical if you are the Japanese player with all of your TF's 
attached to Combined Fleet.  Assuming you have done nothing else
with Combined Fleet's HQ's PPs, the first 12 TF's created may 
reduce the HQ's PPs to only 5 (125 HQ's PP - 12 TF's x 10 HQ's 
PP/TF). 
 
5)  TF's are NOT suppose to retain unused PPs from one turn to 
next.  The manual states that when TF's are away from home port 
for multiple turns, they will receive a reduced number of PPs.  
However, the manual also states forming a TF and leaving it in 
its home port for a few turns will increase PP allocation.  PP 
are NOT suppose to be carried over from week to week, but game 
play seems to indicate this may not be completely accurate. 
 
6)  If a HQ's is low on PPs then the TF will also have reduced
PPs.  However, a minimum of 5 PPs is ALWAYS allocated to TF's. 
 
7)  The number of PPs a TF receives at the beginning of the 
execution phase may greatly affect its movement and speed.  Once
reduced to below 10 PPs a TF seems to "abort" its mission.  A TF 
that starts the execution phase with fewer that 10 PPs may not 
move!  TF PPs are also deducted throughout the execution phase 
based on what happens to the TF.  PPs seem to be deducted when a 
TF undergoes ANY sort of air attack, engages in surface combat, 
or simply completes its mission (e.g., a transport TF may drop to
9 PPs as soon as it unloads at its destination).  This would 
explain why an large invasion TF can be turned back by a couple 
of otherwise ineffectual strafings by fighters.  It might also 
explain the problems with getting some transport TF's to a 
destination to carry out its mission.  For example, a reduced PPs
transport TF may not move through an enemy AZOC and may not carry
out its mission to unload.  A large AC TF containing CV's may act
as a meek, leaderless cargo group once it gets low on PPs.  The 
ability of ANY TF to carry out its mission is affected by its
PPs.  When low on PPs, even a SC TF, with the most aggressive
leader, will seek to hide from the enemy rather than attack. 
 
2.  EXAMINE EXISTING TF'S FOR DAMAGE, FUEL, AND THREAT LEVELS 
(N/G). 
 
a.  You can determine the vital statistics of any ship by 
examining the ship display.  Find the ship in question on the 
TF/PORT display.  Point the arrow at the ship and click the left
mouse button.  Dimmed or different color ships are actually 
British, Australian or Dutch ships. 
 
b.  The number of asterisk(s) displayed after a bomb, torpedo, or
gun hit reflects additional or critical damage has been 
inflicted.  Each asterisk represents about 20% damage to the 
ship. 
 
c.  You do not need a shipyard to repair.  However, the ports 
with shipyards get more repair points.  Some ports with shipyard
ratings include Sydney, Calcutta, the West Coast ports, and Pearl
Harbor.  These are good places to leave damaged ships.  One 
disadvantage in repairing ships in shipyard facilities is that it
may cause a delay in receiving 'new construction' reinforcements. 
If a non-shipyard port has enough repair points then there is no
problem EXCEPT that a shipyard port has a higher chance of 
accelerated repairs (since it has more repair points).  Ships 
should be placed in port or they will only perform at sea repairs
(possible 1 point per turn).  The higher the port rating, the 
quicker the ship is repaired.  Ports with a lot of repair points
will NOT expend their repair points over and over again on the 
same ship until all their points are gone.  If a port has 
sufficient repair points, it will automatically repair one damage
point per turn for each damaged ship in port.  Subsequently each
damaged ship in port will undergo two random checks with the 
possibility of removing two additional points.  As an example, 
the maximum a battleship can repair in 1 turn is THREE damage 
points.  Even though a port may have a number of excess repair 
points remaining after performing repairs on the battleship, it 
will not USE these points even if there are no other damaged 
ships in port.  The maximum number of damage points that will be
removed in this example is 3 but the odds are only 1 or 2 will be
repaired. 
 
d.  It is possible to obtain a critical hit on battleships.  This
will affect the outcome of the Pearl Harbor attack on the first 
turn.  It will also hinder attempts to send BB's charging through
heavily defended areas. 
 
e.  Computer-controlled TF's disband when they complete their 
missions.  Human-controlled TF's do not disband. 
 
3.  UNLOAD TF's AT DESTINATION BASES (U). 
 
a.  Transport TF's will only unload if their standoff range is 
zero.  Both Transport and Cargo TF's should unload automatically. 
The Unload TF feature is useful if you load a ship and then 
change your mind.  Be wary of unloading LCU's though, as that 
will reduce their effectiveness. 
 
b.  Oil cargo has one purpose in the game - to feed Japan's Oil 
Reserves.  Therefore the only place Oil can be unloaded is in 
Japan. 
 
c.  Unloading a TF containing an air group which overloads an 
airfield will increase the number of damaged aircraft.  Until the
situation is corrected, you will not have the FULL USE of any of
the air groups at that airfield. 
 
d.  When ships unload supplies in support of an amphibious 
assault, the supplies may be used in two different ways:  If the
assault units capture the base then the supplies are unloaded at
the port.  These supplies go into the base supply depot and may 
be used normally by LCU's, air groups and ships at the base.  If
the assaulting units failed to capture the base then the supplies
are unloaded 'over the beach'.  These supplies must be used 
immediately to raise LCU readiness (to a maximum of 49) or 
replace losses in the LCU's.  Those supplies that are left over 
are lost. 
 
4.  REPLENISH TF's IF POSSIBLE (Y). 
 
a.  CV's will always attempt to replenish their air groups while
in port.  You can get replacement A/C for CV's by returning to a
well supplied friendly port, or via a replenishment CVE group 
with ac:r as their load.  The port will require enough supplies 
for the normal replacement costs for the a/c types involved 
(generally 2-3 supply points per replacement aircraft) plus a 
buffer so the port isn't unsupplied.  Air units will not fly from
their land bases to carriers to replenish them.  The replacements
for CV's come from the aircraft pool for that particular needed 
plane type and not from active air groups.  The carriers also 
have to be in a non-isolated port in order to take on replacement
aircraft. 
 
b.  CVE's may replenish carrier air groups while AT SEA.  If the
carrier has depleted air groups and the Replenish TF has CVE's 
loaded with replacement aircraft ([ar:r]) are within range 
(usually about 10 hexes) the transfer should occur.  When you go
to replenish, select the AC TF to be replenished, then pick 
"Replenish" from the menu.  The CVE TF should automatically move
to the AC TF.  Now select "Replenish" a SECOND time.  There is no
special message to inform you that replacement aircraft are being
transferred.  Oilers and tankers can also refuel TF's in this 
manner. 
 
c.  To refuel long-distance missions, create replenishment TF's 
at islands along the way, assign them a Destination of the island
where you want them to be and a Home Base someplace else, and a 
Stand-0ff range of 1-2 hexes with a Remain On Station command.  
They can refuel any TF's passing by that need it if you order 
them to. 
 
d.  Replenishment TF's should periodically disband and then 
reform at a well supplied base.  It takes a lot of supply points
to load up those CVE's with replacement aircraft (20x200).  If 
supplies are not adequate then the CVE's will reactivate their 
own air groups. 
 
e.  The larger ships in a TF can refuel the smaller ships in it 
by pressing Y (provided they have more than 40 fuel points).  
Carriers, battleships and cruisers can refuel destroyers in their
TF this way.  Tankers, oilers and merchant vessels may also be 
able to refuel other ships in their TF in this manner.  Ships 
that are moved around with the Reinforce Base command are 
sometimes short of fuel.  Disbanding a TF does not always refuel
them.  You must ensure the TF includes a ship with enough fuel 
points to replenish the rest of the ships.  Check the fuel status
of the ships in a TF.  If some of them are low, press the Y key 
and check them out again.  If they are still low, disband the TF
and then create a new TF.  If there is a replenishment TF within
a number of hexes equal to about half the speed of the slowest 
ship in the replenishment TF, it will move to the TF you had the
cursor on when you pressed Y.  In some instances the
replenishment TF will not transfer fuel to the target TF.  In 
that instance, use the Transfer Ship command (T) to transfer a 
loaded oiler or tanker (AO/TK) from the replenishment TF to the 
low-fuel TF, then click on the low-fuel TF and press Y again.  
That will refuel all the ships in the low-fuel TF.  Do not forget
to transfer (T) the AO/TK unit back into the replenishment TF. 
 
f.  The Replenish command can also be used as a 'scenario' editor
to transfer ships and any cargo (airgroups, fuel, LCU's and
supplies) from one base to another.  Create any kind of TF 
and load the ships you want to move into it, but be certain to 
have an AO, TK, CVE, DD, DE or PC be the flagship.  If you want 
to transfer airgroups fuel, LCU's or supplies in this manner, the
TF must be a cargo or transport one.  Then load the AP's and/or 
MCS units with airgroups, troops, fuel and/or supplies.  Then 
create a replenishment TF at the same base, but be sure to answer
No when the program asks if you want it to create the TF 
automatically.  Then press Escape to not, repeat, not, load any 
ships from port into the replenishment TF.  Press Escape again if
necessary to get out of the TF creation menu.  Press the space 
bar to get the empty replenishment TF number at the bottom of the
screen.  Then press T to invoke the transfer ships menu, and 
press the space bar.  Move the mouse cursor to the TF you want to
transfer ships from and click on it.  Then click on the ships you
want to transfer into the replenishment TF.  Then create a TF 
(even an empty one) at the destination base (which must be no 
further away than half the movement value in hexes of the slowest
ship in the replenishment TF) and press Y.  That will drag the 
replenishment TF over. 
 
5.  TRANSFER DAMAGED (OR UNDAMAGED) SHIPS TO NEW TF'S (T). 
 
a.  You cannot change the leaders of TF's which have had ships 
transferred into them from another TF.  The TF must be disbanded
and then reformed. 
 
6.  SCUTTLE BADLY DISABLED SHIPS (S ON SHIP DISPLAY). 
 
7.  DISBAND TF'S AT DESTINATION PORTS (R). 
 
8.  CHECK FOR ISOLATED BASES THAT MAY REQUIRE SPECIAL CONVOYS IN
ORDER TO RECEIVE ADEQUATE SUPPLIES (ALT/O). 
 
9.  CREATE TRANSPORT TF'S (AND/OR TOKYO EXPRESSES, IF JAPANESE) 
TO RESUPPLY (ISOLATED) BASES IN RANGE OF ENEMY AIR OR SEA ZONES 
OF CONTROL (C). 
 
a.  Create supply TF's when building an amphibious assault force
(include MCS ships in TF) and to supply ISOLATED bases.  Also 
create TF's to move some supply to a base that has engineers 
doing construction work, but only if the base has a supply level
less than 1000.  If a base is not isolated, supply will get there
fine, either by routine supply convoys or overland.  Locations 
where your HQ's are located receive large amounts of routine 
supply. 
 
b.  The GET TRANSPORT function will automatically send ships and
reinforcements to ANY NON-isolated friendly port.  The GET 
TRANSPORT function will NOT work at a base that is isolated.  
When GET TRANSPORT is used, the ship units come from the nearest
eligible base.  If you want transports (AP) to show up, be sure 
that an LCU is activated at the base in question. 
 
1)  Activate a LCU before you AUTO-SELECT the Transport TF.  It 
should form a TF with an AP or LST unit of exactly the correct 
size to load the LARGEST ACTIVE LCU at the base.  If you select 
GET TRANSPORT and the PP level DOES NOT decrease by 10, no AP or
LST units showed up.  If it DOES decrease by 10, enough units 
showed up to move all your activated LCU's.  REMEMBER:  activate
the LCU's before asking for transports, or nothing will show up.
 
2)  GET TRANSPORT should only take units from areas subordinate 
to the requesting HQ or areas subordinate to computer controlled
HQ's. 
 
3)  GET TRANSPORT moves AP, APD and/or MCS units directly into 
the desired port.  These ships should be immediately formed into
TF's to prevent them from being moved the next time you use the 
GET TRANSPORT function.  You should receive extra MCS units each
time GET TRANSPORT is used.  In order to increase the number of 
AP's or LST's in a TF, you need a few initially in port.  Disband
some AP's or LST's out of a TF into port and then Get Transport. 
The ships in port will move to your base, where you can increase
their number from the pool.  You then can reinforce the unit from
the ship pool if there are equivalent units (small AP, medium AP,
large AP, LST, APD) in the pool. 
 
4)  If a British HQ uses the GET TRANSPORT command it will try to
find a BRITISH AP unit.  If all British AP's have been sunk or 
assigned to TF's then you will not receive any AP's.  The same 
applies to APD's. 
 
b.  For Transport TF's, the number of PPs will effect the 
READINESS level of combat troops that are unloaded.  This is very
important for Amphibious Assaults. 
 
c.  You cannot change the mission of a TF.  You must disband it 
in port and reform it with a new mission. 
 
10.  CREATE CARGO TF's TO RESUPPLY BASES IN REAR AREAS (C). 
 
a.  Cargo TF's behave exactly like Transport TF's with one 
exception:  Cargo TF's will never enter an enemy AZOC unless 
there is no other way to return to base.  Cargo TF's will always
try to avoid enemy AZOC's.  Unless you are PLANNING to penetrate
into enemy areas you should send your troops and cargo in Cargo 
TF's to minimize PPs use. 
 
b.  To get ships from Columbo to SF, create a Cargo TF, give them
a Destination of Perth and a Home Base of Suva.  When they get to
Suva they can be routed anywhere on the east side of the map. 

11.  CREATE REPLENISHMENT TF's (C). 
 
a.  Only CVE type ships may carry reserve aircraft to replenish 
carriers at sea.  In order to get reserve aircraft on a CVE, you
can manually assign the ship from a port (it must start the turn
manually attached to a port with an adequate supply level) and 
add the CVE to a Replenish TF.  You can also AUTO-SELECT a 
Replenish TF and get CVE's in the TF pre-loaded with replacement
aircraft (ac:r).  Oilers and tankers also come loaded with fuel 
when selected in this fashion.  After a replenish mission, you 
have to go back to a port, disband the TF and create a new 
replenish TF.  Aircraft replenish missions seem to be a one time
deal.  If a CVE is in a TF or shows aircraft squadrons, it's in 
escort mode, and you can't load replenishment aircraft.  Whenever
CVE's are NOT carrying reserve aircraft they will be able to 
operate with their normal complement of 2 squadrons.   CVE's may
carry replacement aircraft equal to DOUBLE their capacity. 
 
b.  CS ships do NOT perform replenishment missions.   CS ships do
NOT have the ability to LAUNCH fighters, dive-bombers and torpedo
bombers from their decks.  CS ships can only launch float planes. 
CS ships may TRANSPORT land based air groups. 
 
12.  CREATE COMBAT TF's AT FRIENDLY PORTS (C). 
 
a.  For Air Combat TF's the number of PPs will determine the 
number of FULL airstrikes the TF can launch and chances of 
achieving surprise. 
 
b.  For Surface Combat TF's the number of PPs will effect the 
chances of achieving surprise and which TF fires first. 
 
c.  For Bombardment TF's the number of PPs will effect the TF's 
chances of firing three bombardments instead of two. 
 
d.  When forming a Japanese combat TF in a port controlled by 
South Seas Fleet or North Seas Fleet, the TF will be attached to
Combined Fleet.  ALL Air Combat, Surface Combat and Bombardment 
TF's will ALWAYS be attached to Combined Fleet, no matter what HQ
controlled the base where the TF was formed.   All other types of
TF's (Transport, Cargo, etc.) will be attached to the Naval HQ 
that controlled the base.  The problem with Combined Fleet is 
that it is the only HQ that can control Combat TF's for the 
Japanese.  The main battle fleet was never entrusted to the 
backwater North Seas, South Seas or 8th Fleets.  Combined Fleet 
also transfers some of it's PPs to the subordinate fleets.  In 
order to build up the PPs for Combined Fleet you need to restrict
the number of TF's.  These TF's cost 10 PPs each and Combined 
Fleet pays for all of them, directly or indirectly.  This feature
was included to reflect the real-life logistical bottleneck that
the Japanese Navy experienced in 1942. 
 
e.  If you use the AUTO-SELECT TF feature when building any type
of task force the computer AUTOMATICALLY selects, as the
destination for that TF, the Target base of the originating HQ. 
For example, if you created a Air Combat TF at Oahu, with Oahu 
being under CENTPAC HQ, and CENTPAC has Wake Island as the HQ 
target, using the auto-select feature builds the AC TF, assigns a
leader, and sets TF the destination to Wake Island and assigns 
your home port as Oahu. 
 
f.  There is a limit to the number of AP UNITS and LST UNITS 
available.  The USN get a total of 5 Large, 7 Medium, and 8 Small
AP Units and 6 LST Units; the Brit get 2 Large, 3 Medium and 2 
Small AP Units and 1 LST Units during the entire war.  Look in 
the Appendices of the manual where it lists ship production 
times.  Any ship marked by an "x" and not a name is a single unit
and ones marked by "(#x)" is that # of units.  This is why a few
the USN only gets 6 PT boat units and each is limited to 10 ships
and the ship pool soon rises into the hundreds of PT's available. 
You cannot move them out of the pool since you cannot create new 
ship units. 
 
13.  ASSIGN LEADERS TO TF's (F1 on TF display). 
 
a.  If you are having trouble getting a particular leader, you 
might try changing the flagship to various ships in a TF to see 
if you can get a specific TF leader to come aboard. 
 
b.  Any TF that might see combat should have a TF leader.  Do not
assume that if you leave the TF leaderless then the leader of the
TF's HQ will conduct operations unhindered.  This assumption is 
incorrect because in surface combat, an HQ leader is NEVER used. 
Only a TF leader can effect the outcome of surface combat.  TF's
without leaders are VERY quick to withdraw and/or abort.  This 
includes Amphibious Transport TF's.  There are BIG combat 
penalties for not having a leader in a TF.  Leaderless TF's will
frequently abort their missions if attacked by a handful of 
bombers.  Leaderless TF's can be badly outclassed in surface 
combat (being surprised or the opponent will get the first shot). 
If no leader is present then a default rating of 2 is used.  In 
deciding if a TF will retire after being attacked, only the TF 
leader's aggressiveness rating can be used.  If the TF has no 
leader then a default aggressiveness of 3 is used.  When 
conducting amphibious assaults, 1 is added to a TF leader's 
rating.  If an HQ leader is used then 1 is subtracted from his 
rating if the HQ is located more than 10 hexes from the site of 
the assault.  For carrier air operations add 1 for a TF leader, 
subtract one for an HQ or HQ AIR leader that is more than 10 
hexes away from the battle. 
 
c.  You can include an American ship in a TF in a ANZAC TF and 
make it the flag giving you access to the American commanders for
that TF or vice versa for other nations by picking it as the 
first ship in the TF, or by changing the flagship to a ship of 
the desired nationality after creation of the TF.  It helps to 
toss in a few American merchant ships in ANZAC TF's so that you 
can use some aggressive invasion commanders. 
 
d.  Routinely cycle through all TF's at ports at the beginning of
each turn and disband them to free up their leaders.  Then create
new TF's in order of priority to make certain they get the 
appropriate leader. 
 
e.  The leaders of Japanese Amphibious TF's do not influence land
battles. 
 
14.  LOAD TF's WITH TROOPS, SUPPLIES, AIRCRAFT OR FUEL (L). 
 
a.  When LCU's are loaded onto ships a percentage number will 
appear for each ship unit.  This represents the percentage of the
combat unit that can be loaded onto that ship unit.  The LCU's 
lift capacity of a CS is 5 times its printed (aircraft) capacity.
 
b.  British transports can only carry British troops.  Japanese 
CL's and CS's can only load troops.  Any nationality ship can 
carry supplies. 
 
c.  To load an air group onto ships select a CARGO TF and load 
the group onto MCS, CVE or CS type ships.  AP type ships may not
transport air groups. 
 
1)  When an air group is loaded onto MCS type ships they must be
taken apart and CRATED for the journey.  Thus when they arrive 
they are NOT READY to fly (they are damaged). 
 
2)  Single engine aircraft that are loaded onto CVE or CS type 
ships are not crated.  The advantage of using CVE and CS ships is
that single engine aircraft are not crated (damaged or 
disassembled) on loading, and are immediately operational once 
unloaded at their destination.  This is very useful as a quick 
reinforcement strategy for airfields. 
 
3)  CS ships may only be used to transport LAND based air groups. 
When transporting air groups, the capacity of a CS type ship is 
equal to the capacity shown on the display x20.  You may need at
least three CS ships to carry an air group.  Examples of 
transport capacity include:  a CS with a capacity of 12 could 
carry 12 fighters (uncrated) or 8 tac-bombers (crated) or 6 heavy
bombers (crated).  CS ships are also a bit more survivable than 
typical MCS units, though not enough to send them into harm's way
without escort. 
 
4)  As an example of adding air groups on ships in a CARGO TF:  A
fighter takes up 20 cargo points, so a 30 fighter air group 
totals 600 cargo points.  A 8000 ton freighter has a load 
capacity of 100 (100 cargo points).  It takes six 8000 ton ships
to carry those 600 points.  Create a CARGO or TRANSPORT TF, don't
use AUTOSELECT, rather select the ships from PORT.  Select a ship
unit of 8000 ton cargo ships that has at least six ships in it 
and exit.  That TF you just created should be listed in the 
bottom right hand of the display.  Now select the LOAD TF Ships 
(L key or from unit menu), choose Air Group from Load choice 
menu, and then the air groups at that base are listed.  Select an
air group and it gets loaded on the ships.  Note that crating the
a/c for shipment damages them, but don't worry, they will be 
repaired/reassembled quickly at your TF's destination.  In your 
case select Oahu as TF destination.  Aircraft will be unloaded 
automatically at TF's destination.  You can adjust the number of
Cargo ships in groups when viewing them IN PORT (if port isn't 
isolated), so you can size those ship groups PRIOR to assigning 
them to a TF. 
 
5)  The number of MCS in a group will NOT change when planes are
added as cargo.  This was a mistake in the documentation that got
through in the manual. 
 
6)  Excess planes sent to a CS or MCS unit will go back to the 
pool for that type of plane. 
 
7)  Here is a list of transport costs for all types of aircraft:
 
a)  20 for fighter, fighter-bomber, dive-bomber and torpedo 
bomber. 
 
b)  30 for tactical bomber. 
 
c)  40 heavy bomber, transport and patrol. 
 
8)  It is wise to have AP/MCS groups carrying a particular LCU or
airgroup have more capacity than the minimum required to reduce 
losses to the LCU/airgroup cargo if the ship group takes losses 
to enemy action.  This is especially true if the TF is expected 
to see action. 
 
15.  SET TF's' DESTINATIONS (D). 
 
a.  The DEFAULT <D> feature is intended to make it easier to give
multiple TF groups the same destination, home port or target.  It
remembers the last destination picked.  As an example, if you 
assign 5 TF's to hit Guadalcanal, you target the first TF 
normally.  With the second TF, you hit <D>estination and the 
screen shows "...or <D>efault:  Guadalcanal." It eliminates a lot
of mouse-work (especially if your destination is a long way from
your starting point), as well as making it easier to switch the 
home port of a TF to the next target destination.  You can target
the TF, then <H> to change home Port and then <D> to set home 
port at the default destination. 
 
b.  When steering your ships around enemy bases it is best to 
retain as much control as possible.  Set the Destination and Home
Base so that your TF's dogleg around enemy bases. 
 
c.  Clark Field cannot be set as a TF destination because it is 
not a coastal area.  You must land units in one of the connected
bases and march them to Clark Field. 
 
d.  If you are having trouble with task forces aborting their 
missions due to low PP in the face of air attacks you can make 
the TF's home port the same as the destination.  The ships will 
not run away from their destination, even in the face of huge air
attacks. 
 
16.  SET TF FUNCTIONS/MOVE OPTIONS (F). 
 
a.  There is a limit of 15 different ship UNITS in a TF.  That is
one full screen.  Each UNIT can have multiple ships, depending on
what the ship unit is.  One UNIT can range from 1 to 50 ships 
(i.e., 1 BB to 50 MCS).  If you had a number of large AP groups,
that one fleet could have many landing field units (1 Marine Div,
37th Inf Div, 2nd Raider Btn, etc.). 
 
b.  Bombardment TF's will only bombard if their standoff range is
zero.  Bombardment TF's will never initiate surface combat.  
Surface Combat TF's will both initiate surface combat AND 
bombard.  A Surface Combat TF may only fire one (but usually two)
bombardments during a turn.  If you want to keep your options 
open, you should assign Surface Combat missions even to those 
TF's you expect to bombard. 
 
c.  Setting a Surface Combat TF standoff range to GREATER than 
ZERO will greatly REDUCE the chances of having surface combat 
with an enemy TF.  The best way to get a surface combat is to 
send your Surface TF's to friendly bases that you expect will be
invaded or use SIGINT to see where an enemy fleet is headed, and
set your destination there.  As long as enemy carriers or AZOC 
are around, going straight for a major enemy port with a Surface
TF could be problem.  Surface Combat TF's are fairly immune to 
air attacks (compared to carriers and merchants) since the enemy
aircraft tend to go for carriers and transports as a priority.  
On the other hand, one critical hit can kill a battleship.  
Surface combat opportunities are increased after one or both 
sides have their carrier forces exhausted.  Unless you achieve 
SURPRISE, an enemy Transport TF will always abort and withdraw 
BEFORE your Surface Combat TF can attack them.  It is possible to
catch an Air Combat TF in surface combat.  However, this should 
be a VERY RARE occurrence.  It is hard to force a surface combat
with carriers.  In all of WW2 it only happened twice (Norway 1940
and Leyte 1944). 
 
d.  STANDOFF RANGE relates to how many hexes you want a TF to 
remain away from a target or destination.  Its useful to use in 
order to stay out of the range of some land based bombers.  It 
can also be used to keep transports offshore until you wish them
to move in.  You can set the STANDOFF RANGE (how far from the 
target hex you want to be) when a TF's destination is different 
from it's home port (set base).  If you set the MOVE OPTIONS for
a TF whose destination is different from the home port, then you
will set a STANDOFF RANGE and give RETURN/REMAIN ON STATION 
orders.  A TF, whose destination is their home port, will have a
REACTION RANGE.  A TF that is eligible to react does NOT have a 
STANDOFF RANGE. 
 
e.  If you are on the same spot as your set base - you can REACT. 
Also a TF whose destination is the same as the home base is 
eligible to REACT.  If you set MOVE OPTIONS for this TF you will
only set the REACTION RANGE.  A TF will not perform a reaction 
move to a distance greater than it's reaction range (the MAXIMUM
reaction range is 15).  Reaction MOVES are NOT automatic when 
enemy TF's enter a AZOC within reaction range of a Combat TF.  
The enemy TF must be spotted before there is even a chance of a 
reaction move and the chance decreases with range.  For a 
reaction to be triggered, it is usually necessary for the enemy 
TF to plow through friendly AZOC (be detected) or move very close
to the reaction TF.  No reaction combat or movement will ever be
triggered by an undetected TF.  If a TF is eligible to react, but
never gets the chance, then it will never leave it's home port 
hex. 
 
f.  TF's are able to react while ON STATION, even with a 
destination different from their home port.  A TF REACTION should
happen if the RETURN OPTION is set to LEADER'S DISCRETION.  The 
TF's REACTION RANGE will be equal to their STANDOFF RANGE.  Since
reaction moves ONLY happen in friendly AZOC there should not be 
too many situations where reaction moves are suicidal. 
 
g.  Any TF, including AC and SC missions, seem to behave as Cargo
TF's when they are reduced to less than 10 PPs.  They may use 
Cargo TF paths, avoiding enemy AZOCs and any combat like the 
plague.  We have all been frustrated watching an enemy SC or 
Bombardment TF waltz in and hit a base right under the very nose
of a friendly SC TF put on station to prevent this from 
happening.  Once the enemy bombards and loses its PPs, it begins
moving like a Cargo TF and uses the 100 mile hex space to easily
avoid interception.  Check your Air Zones key to see how your 
patrol coverage is.  You need to do several things in order for 
your SC TF to successfully intercept enemy TF's utilizing a 
REACTION MOVE: 
 
1)  Your intercepting SC TF must have a home port the same as its
destination and have sufficient TF PPs, fuel and supplies to 
initiate combat. 
 
2)  You should have as a many patrol units spotting for TF's by 
creating AZOCs covering the hexes into which the enemy TF may 
move into. 
 
3)  Your SC TF should have a reaction range set to cover at least
the hex the enemy moves TO when spotted by air patrols. 
 
4)  Your SC TF should have an AGGRESSIVE leader (naval rating 
does not count until he is in battle). 
 
h.  Air Combat TF's ON STATION will perform REACTION AIR STRIKES
against TF's that enter nearby AZOC.  It is possible for more 
than one air combat TF to do a reaction strike against an enemy 
TF.  They would do so one at a time.  The first TF would react 
and resolve combat and then the second TF would react, etc. 
 
i.  If an Air Combat TF is supporting an invasion, set the 
standoff range to 0 or 1.  If raiding an enemy base set the 
standoff range to 2 or 3.  Make sure that the standoff range does
not exceed the range of any of the aircraft on the carriers. 
 
j.  If an Air Combat TF has a priority target set to attack a 
port, has more than 45 PPs and the enemy airfield at the target 
poses a threat, then the carriers will send their FIRST STRIKE to
hit the enemy airfield. 
 
k.  If there are TOO MANY carriers in a TF, then there is a 
problem of coordinating effective airstrikes.  What happens is 
that some or all of the carriers in the TF will launch HALF or 
QUARTER strength strikes or the AC TF's may not attack.  There is
a similar problem with coordinating large numbers of CAP.  The US
should only have two CV's and one CVL maximum in a carrier TF to
get a good chance to launch full airstrikes, though really good 
naval air leaders such as Halsey, Sherman and Mitscher have a 
good chance with 3 CV's to launch all their planes, either on 
attack or defense.  As an example, Halsey has a 75% chance of 
using all his fighters for CAP and launching all his planes 
against targets when he has three CV's in a TF.  The best US 
naval air technique EARLY in the war is to put three US carriers
in a single AC TF, give it an escort of at least a half dozen 
cruisers and a dozen destroyers (preferably more), assign Admiral
Halsey as its Leader, and send him where the enemy is most 
threatening.  There is also NO cooperation between two TF's with
carriers in the same hex.  They might fly some CAP over the 
other, but usually they do not. 
 
l.  In getting CV's to initiate strikes against other CV groups,
it is better to put them at a nearby base with a maximum reaction
range, instead of sending them to the target hex (where you 
anticipate the enemy TF will be).  Of course, if you KNOW the 
carriers are somewhere, go after them.  Another important factor
is the number of PPs the TF has.  In order for an AC TF (or any
TF for that matter) to initiate combat it must have sufficient
PPs, and it is by having significantly more PPs than the target
TF so that surprise can be achieved.  The rule is this:  Maximize
the number of PPs available to your most important TF's.  The
longer AC TF's are on station, the less chance the CV's attack. 
Plus NEVER put the airgroups on CV's on Naval Interdiction. 
Bases, yes, but not CV's!  AC TF's ALWAYS attack enemy TF's that
get close. 
 
m.  For long-distance deep strike missions (Doolittle Raid, 
raiding Tokyo with SBD's on carriers instead of B-25's, which 
will drive the AI running the Japanese berserk), include some 
oilers (AO) with the strike force and then, when the DD's are 
about to run out of fuel and you want to make a fast run into the
target, create two new TF's, one replenishment and one Air Combat
or Bombardment (depending on the mission) TF.  Then transfer (T)
ships out of the old TF into the two new ones and then refuel the
combat TF (Y).  You can also send the replenishment TF ahead and
then send the combat TF the next turn to catch up to it, refuel 
the latter, etc. 
 
n.  A Transport TF's decision to 'Retire' and not unload is based
on the TF leader's aggressiveness rating compared to the number 
of bombers that attack the TF.  If the TF has more than 9 PPs
then the aggressiveness rating is squared.  You should allow
retiring TF's to return to port before redirecting them back to
an enemy base because these TF's are very low on PPs. 
 
o.  Do not ignore your Patrol Crafts (PC's) when playing the 
Allied side.  Put the PC's on "reaction" status in small non- 
priority friendly ports that you do not want to lose too quickly. 
Unless the enemy arrives with firepower, the transports will 
abort their mission.  The Japanese tend to keep trying with the 
same force until some larger capital ships are in the area or air
power.  PC's are also great for soaking up land-based air attacks
such as damaging or shooting down a bunch of Bettys. 
 
p.  The best way to soften up a beachhead for an amphibious 
assault is in two turns.  On the first turn, put the enemy base 
under a friendly AZOC and bombard it with Air Combat TF's and 
Surface TF's.  The carrier AZOC keeps the enemy troops from 
receiving supplies to boost their readiness.  Air and surface 
bombardment tends to help wipe out enemy supplies.  During the 
second turn, bring in the troops ships.   Land combat occurs at 
BOTH the beginning AND at the END of the execution phase.  
Activated LCU's will not attack during the first phase unless 
they can get good odds or make a leader aggressiveness check.  
Since all damage during the phase is cumulative, most tough 
battles happen at the end of the execution phase.  It is usually
not a good idea to have more than one amphibious assault force TF
due to a lack of simultaneous attacks.  One LCU can be mauled 
terribly before the other LCU's land and clear the area.  It is 
much better to carry all the LCU's in one TF so that way they all
land at the same time, and live longer.  Another possible method
to get invasion TF's to their destination: 
 
1)  Make sure they are within ONE turn's movement to their 
target.  There is no advantage to having the TF formed for 
several turns before sending it to its target.  Send the TF as
soon as it is ready and loaded. 
 
2)  Form a BB Surface Combat or Bombardment TF and send it at the
target also.  One BB is enough, but the more the better.  Make 
the TF BB's and CA's with some DD's and/or DE's for AA and ASW 
protection.  Other ship types don't add much to the bombardment 
rating. 
 
3)  Form as many CV TF's and send them at the target with a 
standoff rating of 1, set to enemy airbases for a target. 

4)  Make sure all the offensive TF's have the best leaders 
available. 
 
5)  Form a resupply TF with extra MCS units, load them with 
supplies only, and send them after the target port also.  They 
need a leader too.  For several turns before the invasion, send 
CV TF's and SC TF's at the target.  They will damage the airbase,
LCU's, supply dumps, and shoot down any attacking planes from 
adjacent bases before the vulnerable invasion force gets there. 
 
q.  Move MCS to San Francisco (SF) instead of moving them to Los
Angeles (LA).  LA tends to accumulate many more MCS than it could
ever use, and every so often run a large convoy up the coast so 
the ships will be at SF where they are needed to load supply and
aircraft.  Also scour out the rear area islands every month or 
two, sending the extra MCS back to SF.  Get Transport works, but
it tends to give you 40-odd ship units, which is a waste for 
carrying a small squadron of F4Fs to Oahu or Tonga.  Sending the
ships to SF by hand uses your merchant ships more efficiently. 
 
r.  The computer will build lots of PT's, but you only can have 
so many PT groups, perhaps six or seven and those groups will 
only hold six to ten boats.  Use Allied PT boats in MTB TF's on 
the most advanced bases.  Set the TF with a reaction range of 3 
and this may deter enemy transport TF's.  PT boats also seem to 
draw enemy air strikes. 
 
s.  The SPEED at which a TF travels depends upon the PPs, number 
of ships and combination of ship sizes present in the group.  In
general TF's with a large number of ships tend to travel more 
slowly than those with few ships.  TF's with a combination of 
large and small ships seem to move more slowly that those with 
just large or just small ships.  For example, a group of 20 knot
transports will go 20 knots if left to themselves, but combine 
them with 35 knot destroyers and they'll be lucky to make 18 
knots.  This may be intended to simulate the difficulties of 
coordinating formation movement in larger TF's.  The map is 
deceiving for computing ship movements; a heavily modified 
Mercali scale was used.  Straight line distances are not 
necessarily the shortest.  Run some sample execution phases when
in preparing a turn to make certain that your TF's can actually 
make it to their intended destinations (this also helps in 
finding TF's whose destinations you forgot to set). 
 
17.  RESET TF's HOME BASES AS NECESSARY (H). 
 
a.  Changing the home base of a TF from an HQ computer 
operational control to an HQ under full human control does NOT 
give the latter control of the ship.  The artificial intelligence
(AI) will sometimes ignore any orders given to such ships.  The 
AI sometimes changes an HQ's objective all by itself when it is 
under computer operational control (a bug which will hopefully be
fixed in a future version).  To change the "control" of a TF, you
have to create it in a port under the control of the HQ you want
controlling it.  This means sailing to the port, disbanding the 
TF, then reforming the TF.  This will keep the TF under full 
human control (assuming the port they are reformed in belongs to
a full human controlled HQ). 
 
18.  ADJUST SUBMARINE PATROL LOCATIONS (alt/M). 
 
a.  Shipping lanes are in a constant state of flux.  Watch the 
opponent's merchant convoy routes during the turn execution 
phase, look for long delays, and place subs accordingly as 
reasonably close to the action.  Move the subs approximately 
every five turns at least one hex.  Moving subs too often means 
they're off patrol too much and too little means they will get 
destroyed.   You can also figure out where the busy areas are by
moving subs to an area and checking the number of 'attacks' they
make. 
 
b.  Watch the resolution of enemy sub battles (since these don't
show up on the battle reports) and pick out the main zones where
they are patrolling.  Shift engineers, bombers and maybe even 
some hunter-killer groups to the area.  The engineers will expand
airfields and planes will extend AZOC over the area.  Each side 
should be careful to cover all their convoy routes with friendly
AZOC to suppress enemy submarines.  This means keeping a lot of 
Patrol aircraft squadrons in rear areas and positioning them 
carefully.  Having more aircraft covering a given area helps, but
wider geographic coverage should have a higher priority. 
 
c.  Hunter-killers groups will make the subs move off your convoy
route.  Hunter-killer groups refer to AC TF's.  Use a stand-off 
range to settle an AC TF (and their zone of control) right on the
subs if a group is getting too many transports.  This is tactic 
is probably only viable for the Allies later in the war when 
ample AC TF's are available. 
 
d.  Shift escorts to the routine convoy ports as mentioned in the
manual (Los Angeles, Nagoya, etc.).  Make sure to move DD's to 
L.A. until the DE's start showing up.  If you have PT boats 
sitting in LA they will not get used on routine convoy escort 
duty.  Only the Japanese PC's (not Allied) can be used in
convoys.  American and British torpedo boats are strictly
offensive, so the computer will never them in routine convoys. 
You can manually assign PT's boats to TF supply type convoys you
create yourself.  Since PT boats did not carry much in the way of
depth charges or ASW electronics, they really were not suited for
convoy duty.  The Japanese player should send his subchasers,
possibly most of his torpedo boats and 5-10 destroyers to Nagoya
in the first few turns to serve as ASW escorts for routine
convoys. 
 
e.  Be careful to include ASW escorts for most Japanese cargo and
transport convoys.  This is less of a problem for the Allied 
player unless the Japanese player has his subs on human control 
or the AI running the Japanese in a solitaire game adopts a 
mercantile warfare strategy (which it does sometimes).  Also a 
group of Destroyers with a surface combat mission can be used as
ASW decoys if sent from port-to-port in areas of high sub 
activity.  Be sure carriers have plenty of ASW support.  ASW is 
factored into the number of DD's in port and the amount of air 
cover in the area. 
 
f.  Japanese subs were extremely effective during 1942 directing
their efforts against American capital ships.  Japanese subs are
maddeningly successful in picking off crippled Allied warships
enroute to dockyards for repairs.  Give injured aircraft carriers
a large ASW escort on their way home.  Allied submarines are less
capable at this initially.  Allied ASW technology improved as the
war went on and by 1943 Japanese sub successes were rare. 
 
g.  Control of your subs is not determined by HQ control.  Press
the 'E' key to toggle SUB CONTROL (Computer/Human).  This will 
determine who controls ALL of your subs. 
 
h.  The game allows the players to deploy subs at an extreme 
distance from their home base.  As the distance increases, the 
subs lose effectiveness.  Coastal submarines (RO,'S',K.XIV 
classes) have their patrol range doubled for the purpose of 
determining effectiveness.  Coastal subs have their patrol range
multiplied x8.  Thus they will be unable to attack at all when 
patrolling greater than 19 hexes from their home base. 
 
19.  REBASE ALL SUBS AS NECESSARY (alt/M, R). 
 
a.  The (G) for Get command on submarines at sea will show their
home port.  Historically, the subs would go out, patrol, then go
back to another port when changing locations. 
 
b.  In order to change the Home Port of a sub you must first move
the sub into it's new port.  First select the sub group.  Then 
move the sub onto the new port's hex.  Then enter SUB MODE 
(Alt/M) and press R or click the REMV button.  (Place the cursor
on the new base and pressing "R" for remove.)  On the next turn 
the sub should be available to return to patrol at the new home 
port. 
 
20.  REMOVE TF's THAT COMPLETE THEIR MISSIONS (Alt/Y). 
 
a.   Alt/Y routine will move the cursor to each TF that is in 
port and ask if you want to disband it.  It will put the TF icon
display on the screen to give you an idea what you are 
disbanding.  You should use this routine BEFORE you start forming
new TF's.  A ship is sitting in port (NOT in a TF) may still be 
damaged by bombers that are attacking the port. 
 
b.  Do not release troopships to rear areas.  Try placing cargo 
task forces into rear area HQ's so that they do not soak up 
carrier and combat forces PP.  This appears to be more of an 
issue with the Japanese than the Allies as they are more 
restricted on PPs in the long run. 
 
c.  If carriers are released to a port controlled by another HQ 
and that HQ is computer controlled, watch out!  That HQ leader 
will grab your CV and use it for his own nefarious schemes.  The
best thing to do is change the base to a non-computer controlled
HQ so that will not happen again. 
 
21.  PACIFIC WAR REPORTS 
 
There is a prototype scenario editor in the SSI section of the 
Games RT library titled PWReports.zip, uploaded by R.Baldwin15 
(Mitch Baldwin).  It can only modify saved game files.  Its use 
is recommended to repair mistakes (such as reducing the number of
aircraft in an airgroup to zero by first changing aircraft types,
thereby damaging all the aircraft, and then transferring it 
(ALT/A) to another base) or game bugs.  An example of the latter
is the way sunken Japanese seaplane tenders (CS) will rise from 
their watery graves and appear in response to Get Transport (T) 
commands.  You can resink them by assigning them a location of 0
(zero) in PW Reports.  Another possible use of PW Reports is to 
relocate all unused Japanese ships to Nagoya to keep the program
from spontaneously forming them into TF's during the Execution 
Phase, which it will sometimes do even if all Japanese naval HQ's
are on full human control.  The latter will utterly ruin planned
TF PP allocation and might seriously screw up a Japanese move. 
 
E-Mail Play  
  
1.  To play an E-Mail game, zip up the three save files (SAVEA, 
SAVEA.MD, SAVEA.CD for example) and e-mail them to your opponent. 
The most appropriate way is to send as an attached Xmodem file 
utilizing the E-Mail option on page 200 in Genie.  The Aladdin 
support program is available on page 110 in Genie.  It 
may save big bucks on reading and posting.  
 
2.  The honor system for E-Mail games is desirable.   When 
playing E-mail games the players should alternate watching the 
Execution Phase.  
  
GENERAL STRATEGY  
  
The general strategic objective of the Allied player in 1942-43 
should be to get US forces into a battle of attrition with the 
Japanese, especially one in which USMC dive-bomber squadrons can
hit Japanese shipping.  The general strategic objective of the 
Japanese player in 1942-43 should be to rest and rebuild oil 
reserves, and keep enough accumulated PP in Combined Fleet to 
allow one good counterattack in 1944 when Allied casualties 
increase 50% in victory points.  Don't use up fuel and PP, and 
risk key ships, defending the periphery.  Move fast early on and
then do as little as possible to conserve fuel. 

(The following is the courtesy of T.Holsinger) 

                AIRCRAFT TABLES FOR PACIFIC WAR

Here are the transport (MCS loading) costs for aircraft: 

        fighter         20 
        fighter-bomber  20 
        dive-bomber     20 
        torp-bomber     20 
        tac-bomber      30 
        heavy bomber    40 
        transport       40 
        patrol          20 


The number and types of aircraft assigned to carriers varied
wildly during the war.  The number of aircraft aboard a carrier
seldom matched it's capacity.  (Carrier plane loads may run
approximately 12 planes below capacity.)  The capacity of the
carriers is used, somewhat indirectly, to determine the size of
the air groups on board. Here are some of the AC complements you
can expect at various times during the war: 

 
FOR YORKTOWN/ESSEX CARRIERS 
 early 42:  27 VF, 36 VB, 12 VT 
 late 42:   36 VF, 37 VB, 15 VT 
 1943:      36 VF, 37 VB, 18 VT 
 1944:      43 VF, 27 VB, 18 VT 
 1945:      53 VF, 18 VB, 18 VT 
 
FOR SHOKAKU CLASS CARRIERS 
 early 42:  24 VF, 24 VB, 24 VT 
 late 42:   27 VF, 27 VB, 18 VT 
 1943-44:   27 VF, 27 VB, 18 VT 
 1945:      27 VF, 18 VB, 18 VT 

The historical airgroups carried by the British fleet carriers
(courtesy of Al Nofi from the Military RT) 
 
March 1945 
 
Illustrious     36 Corsair, 16 Avenger 
Indefatigable   40 Seafire, 9 Firefly, 20 Avenger 
Indomitable     29 Hellcat, 15 Avenger 
Victorious      37 Hellcat, 14 Avenger 
 
July 1945 
 
Formidable      6 Hellcat, 35 Corsair, 12 Avenger 
Implacable      48 Seafire, 12 Firefly, 18 Avenger 
Indefatigable   40 Seafire, 12 Firefly, 18 Avenger 
Victorious      37 Corsair, 14 Avenger 



MAXIMUM AIRFIELD SIZE TABLE         MINIMUM AIRFIELD SIZE        
                                    REQUIREMENT TABLE 
  Terrain   Max Size
#  Type     Airfield           Plane Type   Minimum Size Field 1 
1   Atoll     4                   Fighter              2 
2   Island    6                   Fighter Bomber       2 
3   Island    8                   Dive Bomber          2 
4   Mixed     9                   Torpedo Bomber       2 
5   Mixed     9                   Tactical Bomber      4 
6   Mixed     9                   Heavy Bomber         4 
7   Mixed     8                   Transport            2 
8   Jungle    6                   Patrol               1 
9   Heavy     4 
    Jungle 

(For more detailed plane list see version 1.07 in file section)

DB = Dive Bomber     HB = Heavy Bomber     TB = Tactical Bomber 
 F = Fighter         P  = Patrol           TR = Transport 
FB = Fighter-Bomber  T  = Torpedo          DUT = Dutch 
JA = Japanese Army           IJN = Imperial Japanese Navy
BC = British Commonwealth    USMC = United States Marine Corps
USN = United States Navy     USAAF = United States Army Air Force

JAPANESE PLANES  

Model Name  Type Avail Cost Rang Mnvr Cann Dura Load Carr Service
Ki27 Nate   F   12/41  2    2    19     2     7     1    N  JA 
Ki34IOscar  F   12/41  3    2    21     4     7     1    N  JA 
Ki45 Nick   FB  12/41  4    4    17     7    36    11    N  JA 
Ki51 Sonia  TB  12/41  3    2    12     4    24     4    N  JA 
Ki32 Mary   TB  12/41  3    3    11     4    19    10    N  JA 
Ki48 Lily   TB  12/41  4    4    10     2    20     9    N  JA 
Ki21 Sally  TB  12/41  6    5     9     6    38    22    N  JA 
Ki49 Helen  TB  12/41  6    5    10     7    40    22    N  JA 
Ki46 Dinah   P  12/41  4    5    17     1    15     0    N  JA 
Ki54 HickoryTR  12/41  5    3     9     0    18    12    N  both
G3M  Nell   TB  12/41  5    6     7     6    12    17    N  IJN 
G4M  Betty  TB  12/41  6    9     7     7    13    18    N  IJN 
H6K  Mavis   P  12/41  9   13     1     6    44    22    N  IJN 
A5M  Claude  F  12/41  2    2    19     2     7     1    Y  IJN 
A6M2 Zero    F  12/41  3    6    22     8     7     1    Y  IJN 
B5N  Kate    T  12/41  4    3    11     3    11    16    Y  IJN 
D3A  Val    DB  12/41  4    3    11     2    10     8    Y  IJN 
Ki57IITopsy TR   5/42  6    6    10     0    20    15    N  both
J1N1 Irving  F  10/42  5    4    18    16    38     5    N  JA 
Ki43 OscarIIFB  10/42  3    3    22     4    14    10    N  JA 
H8K  Emily   P  12/42  9   16     1    16    66    44    N  IJN 
Ki44 Tojo   FB   1/43  4    3    23     8    19     4    N  JA 
D4Y  Judy   DB   2/43  5    3    13     3    12    11    N  IJN 
Ki61 Tony    F   3/43  4    2    20     8    20     5    N  JA 
A6M5 Zero   FB   8/43  3    4    23    11    18     3    Y  IJN 
J2M  Jack    F   9/43  4    3    20    16    22     1    N  IJN 
B6N  Jil     T   9/43  5    4    12     1    13    16    Y  IJN 
Ki67 Peggy  TB   1/44  6    6    14    10    43    18    N  JA 
N1K2 George FB   4/44  4    3    23    16    23    11    Y  IJN 
Ki102Randy   F   5/44  5    3    21    16    34     6    N  JA 
Ki84 Frank  FB   5/44  4    3    22    12    21    11    N  JA 
P1Y  FrancesTB  11/44  6    8    10     4    39    22    N  JA 
B7A  Grace   T   1/45  5    5    17     4    25    18    *  JN 
A6M8 Zeke   FB   5/45  3    4    24    11    15     3    Y  IJN 

ALLIED PLANES 

Model Name Type Avail Cost Rang Mnvr Cann Dura Load Carr Service
Hurricane II  F 12/41  3    2    19   8    20    5    N   BC 
P-36A Mohawk  F 12/41  3    2    18   3     9    1    N US,DUT,BC
P-39 Aircobra F 12/41  3    2    17  13    25    1    N   USAAF 
P-40 Warhawk  F 12/41  3    3    19   8    24    3    N  USAAF,BC
CA3 Wirraway FB 12/41  2    2    12   6    20    5    N   BC 
Martin 139   TB 12/41  3    3     2   2    10   22    N   DUT 
Blenheim IF  FB 12/41  6    4    10   5    34    8    N   BC 
B-18A Bolo   TB 12/41  4    3     2   2    30   65    N   USAAF 
A-20 Havoc   TB 12/41  5    4    10  12    36   20    N  USAAF,BC
B-26 MarauderTB 12/41  5    4     9   8    45   48    N   USAAF 
Blenheim     TB 12/41  5    4     7   1    34   10    N   BC 
B-17Fly Fort HB 12/41  7    8     1  11    80   60    N   USAAF 
Hudson        P 12/41  5    5    10   2    32    7    N   all 
PBY Catalina  P 12/41  7    9     2   1    45   40    N   all 
C-47 Dakota  TR 12/41  5    4    11   0    20   40    N   all 
Gladiator     F 12/41  2    2    17   4    17    0    Y   BC 
Fulmar        F 12/41  3    2    18   8    20    0    Y   BC 
Swordfish     T 12/41  2    2     6   1    18    16   Y   BC 
F2A Buffalo   F 12/41  3    2    17   8    19     1   Y US,DUT,BC
F4F Wildcat   F 12/41  3    2    19  12    20     2   Y  USN,USMC
Vildebeast    T 12/41  2    2     3   2     9    22   Y  USN,USMC
TBD DevastatorT 12/41  4    2     8   2    18    10   Y   USN 
SB2UVindicatorDB12/41  2    3     8   2    16    12   Y  USN,USMC
SBD Dauntless DB12/41  4    3    13   4    22    12   Y  USN,USMC
Beaufort      TB 1/42  5    4     7   3    26    20   N   BC 
B-25 Mitchell TB 1/42  5    4     4   6    43    52   N   USAAF 
Wellington    TB 2/42  6    6     6   2    45    45   N   BC 
Albacore       T 5/42  4    3     6   2    20    16   Y   BC 
Spitfire VIII  F 6/42  3    2    24  12    27     2   N   BC 
B-24 LiberatorHB 6/42  7    9     1   9    60    90   N   USAAF 
TBF Avenger    T 6/42  4    3    11   4    23    20   Y   USN 
Sunderland     P 6/42  9   10     1   4    62    49   N   BC 
Beaufighter   TB 7/42  5    4    13  16    39    21   N   BC 
Vengeance     TB10/42  4    3    10   4    20    20   N   BC 
P-38FLightning F10/42  4    4    20  12    37    10   N   USAAF 
Seafire        F 2/43  3    2    23  12    24     2   Y   BC 
F4U Corsair   FB 4/43  3    3    22  12    26    20   Y   USMC 
FM2 Wildcat   FB 4/43  2    2    20  12    24     3   Y  USN,USMC
Barracuda      T 4/43  4    2     1   2    30    17   Y   BC 
F6F Hellcat   FB 6/43  3    3    23  12    27    20   Y   USN 
P-47Thunderbo FB 8/43  3    4    23  16    39    25   N   USAAF 
P-38JLightningFB 9/43  4    6    22  12    37    25   N   USAAF 
B-29Superfor  HB 9/43  9   10     1  16    75   150   N   USAAF 
SB2CHell-DiverDB 9/43  4    3    10   6    22    13   Y   USN 
TBM Avenger    T 9/43  4    3    11   4    26    20   Y   USN 
CA12Boomerang FB11/43  3    3    21   16   30     5   N   BC 
Firefly       FB12/43  4    3    19   16   25     4   Y   BC 
Mosquito VI   FB12/43  4    4    18   20   37    20   N   BC 
P-61Black Wid FB 5/44  7    7    20   16   44    64   N   USAAF 
P-51 Mustang   F 6/44  3    8    24   12   33    10   N   USAAF 
A-26 Invader  TB11/44  6    4    13   16   64    60   N   USAAF