Battle of Savo...RSRD

[Armistead]

Finally saw some great surface action. I picked up a large jap TF in the slot and paced it to Savo. All in all 3 allied TF did battle with it. Pretty amazing to watch 5 Takeo's take on the Kent's and Northhamptom's.
I was able to get right in the fray and help out taking out 2 Takeo's and one Kuma.

Only strange thing was several ships ended up dead in the water on both sides within hundreds of yards of each other...after the battle, in that they stopped firing at each other. Planes from both sides would fly over and attack and then the ships would open up. If I would of had more torps I would have had a time.

Next patrol caught the 10 dd's that bombed Henderson field. Finally hit and sunk one of those fast suckers. US planes came in mass and sank several of them.

Great battles and some of the best SS's I've got. Not to mention ROW Sound mod 9 the battle sound was awesome. Nothing like hearing two fleets open up with everything. Probably the most enjoyable patrol I've had with RSRD. Great Job!

[runningdeer]

You got me primed and ready to play my career this morning. Sounds like exhilarating action.

I'm in 1943, on my second patrol...using RSRD for the first time. I'm also using the ROW sound mod 9, applied it yesterday, I've heard that the sounds of battle are really cool.

I hope that during this career I'll come across, or find the Yamato, or even just find action like you did.

:ping:

[Armistead]

You'll get a lot of messages about TF in the slot during the Solomons campaign. Playing RSRD I go to the historical battle sites., just takes some time to learn to be in the right place at the right time. Hang around about 30 miles WNW of Savo in the slot and you'll get plenty of action. Too many times you go to a patrol zone and you never see historical battles or can't reach them in time. That's why I seldom go to patrol zones, get bored and usually chase ghost or lone merchants. I'll usually do the patrol zone if it's close on my return to port for the points.

Only thing with lot's of action, ships and all the guns, my CP slows some. I can still battle when it's hot, but it takes some work. Get around 30 ships fighting it puts a load on your CP.

I never saw surface fleet battle because I always attacked the japs coming down the slot. If you want to see the surface battles take place don't get trapped under by dd's by attacking too soon, just track them from the flank at a distance until US TFs attack. They may go faster, but you can keep them on radar. They will eventually slow down when the battle starts giving you plenty time. If you time it right you can join the battle or watch it. The good thing is US surface forces damage or leave many jap ships dead in the water and you can finish them off, so save some torps. Be careful the surface battles take place close. I let go a spread at a Takeo and one hit a Allied CA.

Several missions the dd's will bomb Henderson field. Some go around Tulgari like going around the block and then come back from the west to attack. US planes will attack them in mass during the day, so you can pick off some stranglers.

Be there August & Sep of 42, you'll see a lot of action late Aug. Think I picked this JTF up Aug6/42 and tracked it down the slot. The Jap TF will go around Savo, so that's where I cut them off. The Japs are the 7 ships where my pointer is. There is a small group of 4Allied ships SE, one the japs just sunk and the larger Allied TF is coming from the NE. You can actually go in to battle beside them. Hopefully I can find the historical battles coming up in OCT and NOV.
http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu235/Armistead1424/SH4Img2009-05-09_180645_500.jpg

[Armistead]

SS of my second patrol that shows what was left after two surface battles. The best dates to watch surface battles is Aug 5-8, Aug 28/29 and Sep 11/12, all 42.

The remaining JTF are retreating back up the slot. Also watch out for planes, during the day a lot of US and some jap planes show up and if you're using TMO...as u know jap planes will get you deep.
http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu235/Armistead1424/SH4Img2009-05-10_050733_125.jpg

[Armistead]

http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu235/Armistead1424/SH4Img2009-05-09_175914_843.jpg

[Armistead]

http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu235/Armistead1424/SH4Img2009-05-09_182906_031.jpg

[runningdeer]

SS of my second patrol that shows what was left after two surface battles. The best dates to watch surface battles is Aug 5-8, Aug 28/29 and Sep 11/12, all 42.

The remaining JTF are retreating back up the slot. Also watch out for planes, during the day a lot of US and some jap planes show up and if you're using TMO...as u know jap planes will get you deep.

Dang it...I started this career in '43. So I've missed these surface battles. But I may well restart my career...beginning earlier. I've never seen a surface battle in my careers and it sounds interesting and exciting. Better than hunting single merchants.

Also, my realism settings are more difficult than ever, for the first time I have to worry about limited fuel, etc. In a way I like the realism of it but then It means that I cannot stray from my objectives, to explore the map or whatever. I had to leave the Sulu sea before my objective was complete...just to fuel up, then go all the way back to finish things.

Anywho...thanks for the intel. It'll make things more exciting in my careers.

[Armistead]

I play at 90%, use the cam now for SS's. You have plenty of bases down south.

I thought I was going to lose my Sub Tender. We finally took Tulgari as a base. I fought 5 dd's, sinking 4 with torps, but took some damage. I led the remaining dd in range of our ships at Tulgari. They fought it out. The one jap dd took out two US. His rounds hit my subtender many times. I finally got one torp in him and the gunboat finished him off.

One thing I learned, the Subtenders don't fight back. Never used their guns. Course I'm sure the game would have still refitted me even if the tender got sunk, but it was funny.

Another good historical battle is Guam. I found the jap TF there with 4 carriers. They knew I was trailing them. They had planes coming and going attacking me, one time over 24 planes.

Solomon's is the only place I've been able to make large surface action happen.