My plan early on was to reinforce Port Moresby and win the battle of the Coral Sea. It was scarily realistic as to dates etc, but I won it. Shokaku and Shoho went down, while the US carriers went back to Pearl with some damage....PM was defended, and soon reinforced with 7th AUS div, various support troops, and eventually 3rd Aus div as well. 7th Aus marched to Buna and recaptured it from the enemy, who at the end of May landed troops on Gili Gili, which I had not reinforced. They took it. I moved planes and engineers to Buna, and it's doing quite nicely. For the last 6 weeks the battle of Gili Gili has raged. Jap reinforcement has been constant to the point where they have an operating level 2 airbase and around 20000 troops. I pounded the place, and, believing erroneous recon reports, landed 3 Aus div with support troops thinking I could take it. This was 3 weeks ago. They are still there - I can get supplies in at night but it's difficult to run more than fast transport groups. The AI is making a stand over this.....it has bombarded PM, sent heavy carrier support to help Gili Gili and constantly resupplies and reinforces. I've done well in what can only be a limited response. My 2-carrier TF has stood to the south, interdicting the PM bombardment forces and the supply runs, helped by 180 aircraft at PM. I've mined the approaches to Gili Gili, catching the Hiei in the process, and in 2 long range air duels have sent Kaga and Soryu back to Japan, and sunk Ryujo. 6 Jap CAs have sunk, and I've won several night battles off Gili Gili with cruiser/destroyer forces on bombardment runs. It seems as though Gili Gili is my Guadalcanal.
The problem is this: I think I can maintain the force at GG, just, and it's causing real attrition to the enemy which I know benefits me in the long run, but it's getting harder. Do I pull the troops out or continue the battle? While the foe is occupied entirely with the death struggle at GG, should I run the 1st Marine div into Guadalcanal? I just about have the resources to do it....the Japs have started the airbase there. Would it pull Jap resources away from GG and let me win the base? Buna, GG and PM mutually supporting and I win. Or would the foe let me have an easy ride on Guadalcanal, where I could build up forces and threaten his supply line through Shortland etc. I've been playing this constantly since I got the game, and don't want to mess it up now. I guess I'm glad I wasn't making these decisions for real, although it seems pretty real when you're staring at the screen wondering what to do.
Ideas please - a free week's hospitality in the most beautiful bit of England to the most helpful. Incidentally, this game is the most amazing experience in the universe........I'm using historical settings, micromanaging everything myself and having a whale of a time!!!!!!!!!!!
One gripe. When Saratoga appeared I was real pleased - a chance to equalise the carrier air balance. I brought her out to join Enterprise and Hornet south of GG, forgot to switch off "react to enemy" and she promptly rushed 400 miles into the area south of Gasmata to engage 6 Jap carriers. Guess what happened.......it's not something I'll do again, but it would not have happened in the real world. I guess it's the game system's way of allowing the AI to function, but it's mighty frustrating to watch. Trouble is, at 4 in the morning you start to forget things.
Kids at school today told me I looked tired.......I told them it was the ravages of war.
