problems with RFB super mod

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by cush

I thought of refuelling but it seems there's no proper base in Midway (at least in RFB).

There wasn't one at the beginning of the war. There was nothing there but a seaplane base for commercial flying boats to refuel. It took awhile for the naval supplies to be imported.

I don't know if this is reflected in the game or not.

Originally Posted by Daniel Prates

Hum. In TMO and stock, there is. Weird.

Unfortunately in stock there is also a full-fledged naval base, something Midway has never had at all. Midway's "harbor" consists of a shallow bay which can hold next to nothing. Even when I was there in 1970 our little destroyer had to tie up at one of the piers outside the bay.

[Daniel Prates]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

There wasn't one at the beginning of the war. There was nothing there but a seaplane base for commercial flying boats to refuel. (...) Midway's "harbor" consists of a shallow bay which can hold next to nothing. Even when I was there in 1970 our little destroyer had to tie up at one of the piers outside the bay.

So yamamoto's plan there in 1942 was nothing but an attempt to lure US carriers out? I mean, the island itself, if captured, would change praticaly nothing?

[WernherVonTrapp]

Originally Posted by Daniel Prates

So yamamoto's plan there in 1942 was nothing but an attempt to lure US carriers out? I mean, the island itself, if captured, would change praticaly nothing?

Actually, the Japanese had every real intention of invading and occupying Midway. Attu and Kiska were also strategic initiatives and not diversions as was once believed. Yamamoto actually had his sights on Oahu.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by Daniel Prates

So yamamoto's plan there in 1942 was nothing but an attempt to lure US carriers out? I mean, the island itself, if captured, would change praticaly nothing?

Yamamoto's plan was for a large single battle that would wipe out the US fleet, leaving him in control of the Pacific and within easy striking distance of taking over Hawaii. You have to remember that Yamamoto didn't know we were reading his mail and knew what he was up to at that point.
http://battlestations.eu/index.php/e...midway?start=1

Midway itself was secondary. That said, if they captured the island it could change everything. Just because we didn't have a full-fledged base there yet didn't mean they couldn't build one.

[Daniel Prates]

[barkhorn45]

The book "Shattered Sword"put it clearly,even if the japanese had captured midway it would have required that every need would have to be shipped in.And since it did'nt have any natural resources all supply ships would have to return empty,quite a strain on an already overstreched merchant fleet.
By the way the above book is in my opinion a "must read"if you are interested in the midway campaign.

[Sailor Steve]

An excellent point. On the other hand if he could have sunk all three of our carriers he would have had free reign at least for awhile. But then we would have sent a handful of subs to patrol the area around Midway, potentially sinking every supply ship he could have sent, which would have tied up destroyers as kaibokans didn't have the range to make the trip.

Either way it wouldn't have been easy for him, even if he had pulled it off.

[WernherVonTrapp]

Originally Posted by barkhorn45

The book "Shattered Sword"put it clearly,even if the japanese had captured midway it would have required that every need would have to be shipped in.And since it did'nt have any natural resources all supply ships would have to return empty,quite a strain on an already overstreched merchant fleet.
By the way the above book is in my opinion a "must read"if you are interested in the midway campaign.

I just finished reading that book. Best book I ever read about the PTO. The book also offers compelling evidence that it would've been practically impossible for the Japanese to succeed in their invasion landings at Midway (even if they triumphed in the carrier battle) and for a myriad of reasons, not the least of which was alluded to by Sailor Steve (an all encompassing, exposed coral reef).

The IJN had no Higgins boats, no amphibious tractors and hadn't even conducted any practice landings or drills in preparation. They had no experience in such an amphibious landing against a well entrenched defense, as Midway was. Wake Island was not nearly as heavily entrenched/defended and we know how difficult that was for the Japanese. I could go on and on, even listing the numbers of troops, artillery and heavy weapons at each side's disposal, but my typing isn't currently up to the task right now.

[Daniel Prates]

Of the 'grand decisive engagement' doctrine -in other words, the intentions of Yamamoto - I am very aware. Also, of the historical meaning of this battle, as it was his intention to wipe out most of the american CV force, it not all of it, and eventually the opposite happened.

What I was left pondering is: did the japanese really care one bit about the island itself, other than being just a purpose for drawing in the american fleet?