Strategy Question - Invasion of Milne Bay

[Aerosol2207]

I am in July 1942 of the GC playing as the Allies. I was planning to launch my first offensive in July against Canton, but the surprise loss of the Hornet put me down to 2 active CV's while I wait for Enterprise to heal up so I postponed that operation and am planning to begin my offensive in the more decisive area of the Solomons once I am back to 3 x fleet carriers. My general idea is to hit Lunga first with 2 Marine Divisions and supporting units, then put my Aussie divisions into Milne Bay. However, my intel reports that the Japanese have at least a division (71st IJA Div) in Milne and I am wary of doing an amphibious operation against such a strong force as I am not sure I can muster enough AP's to achieve the old Napoleonic 3-to-1 (or is it even more for amphibious..?). So what I am thinking is to get in "behind" Milne by picking off some more weakly held islands, then using land based air to shut down sea lanes and give the 71st a month or more to hopefully weaken / starve from lack of supply - does this make sense in game terms? Is the AI even affected by such a lack of supply?

[Platoonist]

Is the AI even affected by such a lack of supply?

The AI's land units can be reduced to zero supply if cut off for long enough. But depending on how much they've got stored up at their base it can take a while. You may have to bomb Milne Bay as well. When reduced to zero internal supply they will attrit away rather slowly, but they will take a penalty in any land combat.

[BBfanboy]

Your game's difficulty setting affects enemy supply. At the Hard setting they get a little bit each turn. At Very Hard setting they get a lot. Don't even think about Ironman scenarios!

[RangerJoe]

Just bypass the enemy and hit them were they ain't.

[btd64]

Do you know where the KB is? If you do, do what RJ suggested. Hold on the Milne Bay op until you have 4 Australian divisions or go around them. What is your game difficulty set too?. Also bomb and/or bombard your targets....GP

[Aerosol2207]

I don't have a fix on the KB, but I have detected two distinct CV task forces - 1 has been operating up and down the Marshalls, from around Kwajelein down to Funafuti... where I spotted them just before loading up the transports to take Canton. This caused me to postpone that operation, I like to think maybe the Japanese had deduced from radio intelligence that something was about to take place at Canton but I realize the AI is probably not affected by their intel reports.

The second CV TF is currently in vicinity of Rabaul. I like the "hit em where they ain't" approach for now as the best I could hope for is a "fair" fight where if I lose they get to prey upon by best divisions sitting on transports. I will work my way up the Solomons, cut off Milne, and rely on land based air to the maximum extent possible until I can attrit their carrier force down. As it stands, Akagi is in Tokyo (sigint) with a torpedo and bomb hit suffered 2 months ago.. no idea on Japanese repair timelines in this game.. and I sank Junyo with a really wonderful surprise nighttime surface action off Midway. So I suppose that gives them around 4 fleet carriers out there plus the accompanying CVL's.

[Platoonist]

but I realize the AI is probably not affected by their intel reports.

One of the reasons I play against the Japanese AI for the most part is because that wealth of good Allied signals intelligence you get is likely wasted on the Allied AI.

[Bella]

Playing in mid-May 1942, the Kido Butai finally arrived and tried an invasion of Port Moresby. I had a small, relic surface British TF led by the Repulse hanging around Townsville and sent it in on a bombardment TF, but really just to try to injure/sink carriers. They got a couple shots in on the Akagi and Kaga, but Repulse was sunk. Still trying to think if it was worth it. They were all wiped out.

I sent my carrier groups in next. Lost the Lexington, sunk, a third of her air groups landing on Port Moresby, and 33 system and 16 flotation damage on Saratoga, but got strikes. Was hopeful. Played Japanese for a turn to see what damage I had done, and it wasn't as much as I'd thought. 22 System, 16 Flotation on Akagi, 11 System and 9 FL damage on Kaga. But half their air groups were gone, as well as on the Shikoku and Zuikaku and Hiryu. I called it a Coral Sea victory, killing all that IJN naval air. They will have trouble replacing them.

Historically, with the IJN still so dangerous at this period in the war, I thought I had come off pretty light, with good results.

I welcome comments.

[RangerJoe]

Playing in mid-May 1942, the Kido Butai finally arrived and tried an invasion of Port Moresby. I had a small, relic surface British TF led by the Repulse hanging around Townsville and sent it in on a bombardment TF, but really just to try to injure/sink carriers. They got a couple shots in on the Akagi and Kaga, but Repulse was sunk. Still trying to think if it was worth it. They were all wiped out.

I sent my carrier groups in next. Lost the Lexington, sunk, a third of her air groups landing on Port Moresby, and 33 system and 16 flotation damage on Saratoga, but got strikes. Was hopeful. Played Japanese for a turn to see what damage I had done, and it wasn't as much as I'd thought. 22 System, 16 Flotation on Akagi, 11 System and 9 FL damage on Kaga. But half their air groups were gone, as well as on the Shikoku and Zuikaku and Hiryu. I called it a Coral Sea victory, killing all that IJN naval air. They will have trouble replacing them.

Historically, with the IJN still so dangerous at this period in the war, I thought I had come off pretty light, with good results.

I welcome comments.

Leave the entire Kido Butai alone until you have carrier supremacy and/or land based air for a lot of help, or else mob the enemy carriers with lots of small dd, then dd and cl TFs before sending in the larger ships, get lucky.

I call it a defeat for you. Saratoga can't be repaired in Australia.

[PaxMondo]

Playing in mid-May 1942, the Kido Butai finally arrived and tried an invasion of Port Moresby. I had a small, relic surface British TF led by the Repulse hanging around Townsville and sent it in on a bombardment TF, but really just to try to injure/sink carriers. They got a couple shots in on the Akagi and Kaga, but Repulse was sunk. Still trying to think if it was worth it. They were all wiped out.

I sent my carrier groups in next. Lost the Lexington, sunk, a third of her air groups landing on Port Moresby, and 33 system and 16 flotation damage on Saratoga, but got strikes. Was hopeful. Played Japanese for a turn to see what damage I had done, and it wasn't as much as I'd thought. 22 System, 16 Flotation on Akagi, 11 System and 9 FL damage on Kaga. But half their air groups were gone, as well as on the Shikoku and Zuikaku and Hiryu. I called it a Coral Sea victory, killing all that IJN naval air. They will have trouble replacing them.

Historically, with the IJN still so dangerous at this period in the war, I thought I had come off pretty light, with good results.

I welcome comments.

Leave the entire Kido Butai alone until you have carrier supremacy and/or land based air for a lot of help, or else mob the enemy carriers with lots of small dd, then dd and cl TFs before sending in the larger ships, get lucky.

I call it a defeat for you. Saratoga can't be repaired in Australia.

If this is against AI, then about a draw. Yes, AI will struggle to replace the pilots with comparable exp and skills. If against player, then a clear loss. Players can recover from the plane and pilot losses without missing a beat.

[Sardaukar]

Always need to think ahead, e.g. where I can repair my carriers.

Lex and Sara are good example, since they don't fit into Sydney repair yard. Enterprise, Yorktown, Hornet and Wasp do.

[bradfordkay]

Always need to think ahead, e.g. where I can repair my carriers.

Lex and Sara are good example, since they don't fit into Sydney repair yard. Enterprise, Yorktown, Hornet and Wasp do.

And if your opponent concentrates on conquering from Luganville west on the map, do you just leave those two carriers out of the war?

[RangerJoe]

Always need to think ahead, e.g. where I can repair my carriers.

Lex and Sara are good example, since they don't fit into Sydney repair yard. Enterprise, Yorktown, Hornet and Wasp do.

And if your opponent concentrates on conquering from Luganville west on the map, do you just leave those two carriers out of the war?

No, you send them to attack Tokyo Bay!

[Sardaukar]

Always need to think ahead, e.g. where I can repair my carriers.

Lex and Sara are good example, since they don't fit into Sydney repair yard. Enterprise, Yorktown, Hornet and Wasp do.

And if your opponent concentrates on conquering from Luganville west on the map, do you just leave those two carriers out of the war?

You calculate the risk. If you have to use them there, you then know the risks. One would want them to PH or West Coast for serious repairs anyway.

[bradfordkay]

You just described the whole game, and - indeed, war - in a nutshell: it's a risk vs reward calculation.

At least by mid-war you get the 55,000 ton ARDs.