I was just defeated at Leyte in the US campaign.
I suffered two defeats before at New Georgia, but with those I knew what I did wrong and tried a different approach.
At Leyte I though I was in for some tough land fighting, so I spent pretty much all my money on land units. Probably was a mistake - when the Jap fleets arrived, there is not much I could do. I lost the 3 allied ships within 6 or 7 turns and GAME OVER.
However, I don't think even if I had bought mainly attack planes before, there is no way I could have stopped these two huge fleets with what was at my disposal. I always thought that I would get some scriped reinforcements for the sea battle, but those never arrived.
In the end, this is what I had to bring to the battle (my own units):
1 BB North Carolina 42
1 CV Lexington
1 CV Yorktown
2 CA New Orleans
3 DD Gleaves
1 DD Fletcher
1 DD Clemson
1 SS Tambor
1 PT boat
4 Fighters
2 Avenger
2 Dauntless
1 GM2
How on earth am I supposed to win this one?
Leyte - how?
Moderators: The Artistocrats, Order of Battle Moderators
Re: Leyte - how?
Leyte (I think) is where you find out if your core choices so far are gonna take you on through the final missions and you really need a good naval, air and land core force to swing it.
For me my first priority was to send my carrier planes (and then land based aircraft) across the landmass to attack the fleet in the far left. So by the time that fleet had reached its exit point half of it was destroyed. This makes finishing it off when it shows up again on the other side a fairly quick business.
The real danger is the other fleet that shows up in the top right! I threw all my fleet and aircraft at those guys and just left my destroyers to act as a submarine defence perimiter - but it turned out there werent any subs for me anyway. Killing the fleet in the top right was mainly achieved with my aircraft but the enemy fleet did manage to damage the first two allied ships. This fleet will turn and run if you inflict enough damage on it.
You have two allied carriers in addition to your own, although you will need to supply the aircraft.
The fighting on the landmass itself gets harder once you cross the mountain ranges and you will need good artillery to go on successfully.
For me my first priority was to send my carrier planes (and then land based aircraft) across the landmass to attack the fleet in the far left. So by the time that fleet had reached its exit point half of it was destroyed. This makes finishing it off when it shows up again on the other side a fairly quick business.
The real danger is the other fleet that shows up in the top right! I threw all my fleet and aircraft at those guys and just left my destroyers to act as a submarine defence perimiter - but it turned out there werent any subs for me anyway. Killing the fleet in the top right was mainly achieved with my aircraft but the enemy fleet did manage to damage the first two allied ships. This fleet will turn and run if you inflict enough damage on it.
You have two allied carriers in addition to your own, although you will need to supply the aircraft.
The fighting on the landmass itself gets harder once you cross the mountain ranges and you will need good artillery to go on successfully.
Re: Leyte - how?
What do you make of my force composition then? Too light?
Funny, I never thought about attacking the enemy fleet while it was still west of Leyte. I saw now way for them to sail to the Eastern bay, so I chose to ignore them. Bad mistake...
So wearing them down, ok, that's a thought. But do I have enough of everything? I was doing fine on land, no problems there. Artillery is indeed the key.
For my core (I know there are two CVEs and a BB available as well):
Are two CVs good enough?
What about four to five strike aircraft and four fighters?
5 DD and 2 CA?
I would care to know what naval forces other players have for this map.
Funny, I never thought about attacking the enemy fleet while it was still west of Leyte. I saw now way for them to sail to the Eastern bay, so I chose to ignore them. Bad mistake...
So wearing them down, ok, that's a thought. But do I have enough of everything? I was doing fine on land, no problems there. Artillery is indeed the key.
For my core (I know there are two CVEs and a BB available as well):
Are two CVs good enough?
What about four to five strike aircraft and four fighters?
5 DD and 2 CA?
I would care to know what naval forces other players have for this map.
Re: Leyte - how?
Definitely get onto the first fleet still west of leyte as it will mean you can pretty much direct all your resources at the bigger fleet threat later on. I think the real danger is stopping the fleet in the top right before it gets in among the allied ships and sinks 3 for a game over.
I would also say try and avoid a straight up naval battle and use your airpower to take their ships down. Even though I had 3 carriers in my core I only brought 1 to this battle due to having 2 + 2 light already there. Carrier planes plus land based bombers is the best method I think as if you get in close for a ship on ship battle you are gonna lose too many.
At least you know where they are coming from now and can position for it.
I would also say try and avoid a straight up naval battle and use your airpower to take their ships down. Even though I had 3 carriers in my core I only brought 1 to this battle due to having 2 + 2 light already there. Carrier planes plus land based bombers is the best method I think as if you get in close for a ship on ship battle you are gonna lose too many.
At least you know where they are coming from now and can position for it.
Re: Leyte - how?
Not much of an issue for me, playing captain difficulty atm. Those 2 Japanese fleet was easy to handle.
Air power is the key for destroying naval units in this game. When the msg pop up I flew some torpedoes bombers to sink the battleship before they exit south.
The mistake I suspect you made in the north fleet is sending the small allied ship to engage them which is gunboats and DD clement. I didn't engage with those just ran away while my own fleet engage the northern fleet.
Thx
Air power is the key for destroying naval units in this game. When the msg pop up I flew some torpedoes bombers to sink the battleship before they exit south.
The mistake I suspect you made in the north fleet is sending the small allied ship to engage them which is gunboats and DD clement. I didn't engage with those just ran away while my own fleet engage the northern fleet.
Thx
Re: Leyte - how?
By the way my naval force for this battle is as below
South fleet 2 subs
North fleet
1 BB
2 CA
4 DD
Thx
South fleet 2 subs
North fleet
1 BB
2 CA
4 DD
Thx
Re: Leyte - how?
http://www.filedropper.com/campaign
^ my savegame. What do you think, can I survive Leyte? My Marines are still in bad shape/disrepair from New Georgia.
^ my savegame. What do you think, can I survive Leyte? My Marines are still in bad shape/disrepair from New Georgia.