Hint:
PzB here is something you can try.
If you have decisive carrier superiority, and a fair number of undamaged carriers, form a CV TF and place it IN the Noumea port hex.
This has several benifits:
1) You don't need to fly LRCAP over Noumea as your CAP fulfills that function. This is VERY good at intercepting bombers flying in supply, since CAP can put a greater number of planes up and causes less fatigue.
2) You don't need to assign escorts to your bombers. Your CAP performs this function and does it quite well. Allows you to set greater numbers of fighters on CAP, as well as resting other squadrons.
3) Your bombers have less distance to fly and recover morale/fatigue faster.
Just make sure:
You keep the airfeild closed. Or as closed as possible.
Keep a surface combat TF in the hex to protect the carriers.
Make sure your carriers stay in the hex and do not react/withdraw if enemy surface TF's appear. I think setting them to follow a TF which will stay in the hex (like a transport TF) works best.
Make sure no mines & watch out for subs.
Also, its a good idea to capture a base close to Noumea. If you can unload supplies there your bombardment TF can use it resupply their main guns instead of making the long trek back.
Also gives you a retreat hex.
In time of war the first casualty is truth. - Boake Carter
All very good and sound advice!
I've managed to keep a tight CAP over Noumea and my carriers.
The problem is that no matter how big it is, the medium bombers will get through and score a vital hit now and then.
US subs are also taking a toll of my merchants. ASW planes have reported 2 hits so far.
The airfields at Noumea isn't really the big threat..they're mostly flying out of Koumac.
Getting supplies down and into Noumea isn't a problem either, the problem is that I can't get another 10k troops in + the supplies. Alas, it will be impossible to capture Noumea whatever I do.
You can capture whatever base you want to, but it's really of no importance as long as it's not one of the 'hubs' like Noumea.
That's a war winning objective! Take any other base and B17's will pound the Japs out of any base close to Noumea in no time.
Keeping the Jap fleet intact is important, so I'm not going to risk it for nothing. I still got 10 carriers and the war is far from lost even if I don't manage to capture Noumea. Currently the score is somewhere like 8000/4000.
"The problem in defense is how far you can go without destroying from within what you are trying to defend from without"
- Dwight D. Eisenhower
Don't think he wants to do that 'to me' :p
Good turn, hit several subs...I hope.
Killed ca 1300 men to 400. If I can keep this up, I got a chance.
So little opposition that I actually can run a supply routine + bring in fresh troops. I'm not giving up! His supply transports have to be pretty worn out by now.
"The problem in defense is how far you can go without destroying from within what you are trying to defend from without"
- Dwight D. Eisenhower
Attacking Level Bombers:
4 x B-25D Mitchell at 6000 feet
2 x B-25D Mitchell at 6000 feet
4 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
4 x B-25D Mitchell at 6000 feet
2 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
2 x B-25D Mitchell at 6000 feet
4 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Tomo at 51,66
Allied aircraft
B-25D Mitchell x 5
no losses
Japanese Ships
DD Takanami, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage
CL Naka
Attacking Level Bombers:
1 x B-25D Mitchell at 6000 feet
4 x B-25D Mitchell at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Noumea at 52,67
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 36
A6M3 Zero x 25
Allied aircraft
B-26B Marauder x 3
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
B-26B Marauder x 3 damaged
Japanese Ships
APD 2
Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Noumea at 52,67
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 35
A6M3 Zero x 15
Allied aircraft
B-25D Mitchell x 9
B-26B Marauder x 13
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
B-25D Mitchell x 1 destroyed
B-25D Mitchell x 3 damaged
B-26B Marauder x 1 destroyed
B-26B Marauder x 6 damaged
PO1 G.Minobe of EIII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 8
Japanese Ships
CVL Zuiho
CV Junyo, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CVE Unyo, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
Attacking Level Bombers:
2 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
3 x B-25D Mitchell at 6000 feet
3 x B-25D Mitchell at 6000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Noumea
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 70873 troops, 964 guns, 50 vehicles
Defending force 43828 troops, 327 guns, 165 vehicles
Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0
Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 0)
LTJG P.Matsunaga of CII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 9
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 679
Guns lost 4
Allied ground losses:
Men lost 944
Vehicles lost 1
6 Dakotas shot down this turn....
I got this feeling that it could be wise to retreat, but on the other hand I also feel that I can succeed! If I close of Noumea for another month or so and bring in supplies and troops - victory can still be achieved! Will this turn into another 'Guadalcanal'?
"The problem in defense is how far you can go without destroying from within what you are trying to defend from without"
- Dwight D. Eisenhower
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Noumea, at 52,67
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 3
Port hits 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Luganville at 53,53
Japanese Ships
SS I-5
Allied Ships
DD Hutchins, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Tomo at 51,66
Allied aircraft
B-26B Marauder x 3
Allied aircraft losses
B-26B Marauder x 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
CA Ashigara, Bomb hits 1
Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Tomo at 51,66
Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 3
Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress x 3 damaged
Japanese Ships
BB Hiei
Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Noumea at 52,67
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 42
A6M3 Zero x 10
Allied aircraft
B-26B Marauder x 3
no losses
Allied aircraft losses
B-26B Marauder x 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
AP Syoka Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Noumea at 52,67
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 42
A6M3 Zero x 10
Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 3
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 5 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress x 2 damaged
Japanese Ships
AP Sangetsu Maru
Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Noumea at 52,67
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 42
A6M3 Zero x 2
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 3
SBD Dauntless x 13
no losses
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 2 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 1 damaged
SBD Dauntless x 2 damaged
LTJG R.Morioka of CII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 5
LCDR C.Jordan of VF-71 is KILLED
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Noumea at 52,67
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 42
A6M3 Zero x 2
Allied aircraft
B-25D Mitchell x 9
B-26B Marauder x 11
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
B-25D Mitchell x 1 destroyed
B-25D Mitchell x 4 damaged
B-26B Marauder x 1 destroyed
B-26B Marauder x 11 damaged
LTJG N.Kamihira of DI-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 4
Japanese Ships
CV Junyo
Attacking Level Bombers:
4 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 52,54
Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 16
B-17E Fortress x 6
no losses
Japanese Ships
ML Saishu
ML Hirashima
ML Ikitsushima
ML Tsugaru
Attacking Level Bombers:
4 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
2 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 164th Regimental Combat Team, at 52,67
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 11
B5N Kate x 34
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 4
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed
B5N Kate x 4 destroyed
B5N Kate x 7 damaged
WO D.Hirusawa of EIII-1 Daitai bails out and is CAPTURED
Allied ground losses:
Men lost 7
Attacking Level Bombers:
12 x B5N Kate at 2000 feet
9 x B5N Kate at 2000 feet
9 x B5N Kate at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 164th Regimental Combat Team, at 52,67
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 22
A6M3 Zero x 6
D3A Val x 55
B5N Kate x 30
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 4
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed
D3A Val x 1 destroyed
D3A Val x 2 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 1 destroyed
LT U.Emerson of VF-71 is credited with kill number 5
Allied ground losses:
Men lost 41
Attacking Level Bombers:
12 x B5N Kate at 3000 feet
5 x B5N Kate at 3000 feet
10 x B5N Kate at 3000 feet
3 x B5N Kate at 3000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Tomo at 51,66
Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 14
Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 2 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 12 damaged
Japanese Ships
BB Haruna
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Tomo at 51,66
Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 3
Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress x 3 damaged
Japanese Ships
BB Kirishima
Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Noumea at 52,67
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 37
A6M3 Zero x 2
Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 8
no losses
Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 1 damaged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Noumea at 52,67
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 37
A6M3 Zero x 2
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 50
SBD Dauntless x 43
TBF Avenger x 16
Beaufighter VIC x 12
B-26B Marauder x 11
A-20B Havoc x 6
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 13 destroyed
A6M3 Zero x 4 destroyed
A6M3 Zero x 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 8 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 7 damaged
SBD Dauntless x 1 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 1 damaged
Beaufighter VIC x 2 destroyed
LCDR K.Asada of EIII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 10
LCDR R. Griffin of VF-2 bails out WOUNDED and is RESCUED
Japanese Ships
CVL Ryujo
CS Chiyoda
CVL Zuiho
CV Junyo
CVL Shoho, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
Attacking Level Bombers:
4 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
2 x A-20B Havoc at 5000 feet
4 x A-20B Havoc at 5000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
4 x B-26B Marauder at 5000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Noumea at 52,67
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 11
A6M3 Zero x 1
Allied aircraft
B-25D Mitchell x 7
B-26B Marauder x 9
no losses
Allied aircraft losses
B-25D Mitchell x 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
CS Chiyoda
CVL Ryujo
CVL Zuiho
Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
4 x B-25D Mitchell at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Noumea at 52,67
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 11
A6M3 Zero x 1
Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 3
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
CV Junyo
Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 52,54
Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 16
no losses
Japanese Ships
ML Saishu
ML Hirashima
ML Tsugaru
ML Ikitsushima
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Noumea
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 69603 troops, 945 guns, 50 vehicles
Defending force 45069 troops, 349 guns, 161 vehicles
Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 0)
ENS R.Takagi of CII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 5
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 305
Guns lost 1
Allied ground losses:
Men lost 730
Guns lost 1
Vehicles lost 1
US planes did pound my forces, but half the strikes got cancelled due to bad weather. All hits on the CVL Shoho, so I guess I was lucky. My light CV TF has done an excellent job as decoy thus far.
Situation didn't improve, so something has to be done and that soon!
"The problem in defense is how far you can go without destroying from within what you are trying to defend from without"
- Dwight D. Eisenhower
Hi, Watch out, you don't want to run out of AA ammo.
(In WITP replenshment TF's will be able to include AE (ammo ships) and reload gun ammo. Ship launched torpedos will still require a size 9/10 port or there will have to be an AD (destroyer tender) in a smaller port to reload torpedos)
I'm not retreating, I'm attacking in a different direction!
Enough AA ammo...but I took a couple of unnecessary hits today. Messed up the CAP a bit. No big damage fortunately, the Akagi and Kaga are tough ships.
Thunderstorms, that can be helpful. Should be able to pound Koumac to silence and maybe I can divert reinforcements there to capture it as well...decisions, decisions :p
"The problem in defense is how far you can go without destroying from within what you are trying to defend from without"
- Dwight D. Eisenhower
Be interesting to try this after the next patch where all those support troops would be adding to the defense (1/10 of number of sqds. )Baseforces at Noumea would add something like another RCT to defense at least. At the other bases would require a Rgt to capture (unless allies reinforce them)
I'm not retreating, I'm attacking in a different direction!
I think I got more support troops on Noumea than the US got..so that wouldn't have tipped the balance much.
What I would have needed: 2-3 more regiments (left at other bases...) and a somewhat earlier arrival. (Waited to let my CV's airgroups get replenished. Didn't really need it.
Bad weather, little action.
"The problem in defense is how far you can go without destroying from within what you are trying to defend from without"
- Dwight D. Eisenhower
Hi, Correct support troops only count on defense. SOPAC HQ and the baseforce that begins in Noumea provide 69 points toward defense. (Americal RCT is 80) There are other units there as well that would add to defense.
I'm not retreating, I'm attacking in a different direction!
Attacking Level Bombers:
4 x G4M1 Betty at 5000 feet
6 x G4M1 Betty at 5000 feet
4 x G3M Nell at 5000 feet
6 x G4M1 Betty at 5000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Koumac at 47,63
Japanese Ships
CL Sendai
CL Naka
CL Isuzu, Shell hits 5, on fire
DD Yugumo, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Kagero
DD Oyashio, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Hamakaze
DD Nowaki, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Mutsuki
Allied Ships
CA Louisville
CA Quincy, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CL St. Louis, Shell hits 1
CL Phoenix
DD Gwin, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Sims, Shell hits 1
DD Wilson, Shell hits 1
DD Case
Light damages to Jap ships, hopefully that CA have to go back to Pearl.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 164th Regimental Combat Team, at 52,67
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 13
D3A Val x 44
B5N Kate x 33
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 6
Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val x 2 destroyed
D3A Val x 6 damaged
B5N Kate x 3 damaged
LT U.Emerson of VF-71 is credited with kill number 7
Allied ground losses:
Men lost 69
Attacking Level Bombers:
12 x B5N Kate at 3000 feet
12 x B5N Kate at 3000 feet
3 x B5N Kate at 3000 feet
6 x B5N Kate at 3000 feet
Hi, Correct support troops only count on defense. SOPAC HQ and the baseforce that begins in Noumea provide 69 points toward defense. (Americal RCT is 80) There are other units there as well that would add to defense.
Ouch! I expected them to toss in some measure of defence to deal with the sub transport or fast transport sneak attack, but not enough to kick in almost an entire offensive combat unit to the pot. This is going to radically alter plans that are time established and proven.
