Guadalcanal it is - A Beginner's PBEM (no Reaper)

[SigUp]

After playing against the Guadalcanal scenario against the AI proved to be a little bit unsatisfying for learning purposes, I've decided to try my luck with PBEM. I guess that's still the best way to make real progress, even though I might get crushed. While I am taking the Japanese side (perhaps not the most prudent choice for a beginner) my Allied opponent is Reaper who is getting back into the game and wants to have a go at Guadalcanal before heading to a GC. The only house rules agreed for this game is the restriction for 4E on the deck and fragment drops.

Then on to the game. As the Japanese commander the three broad objectives formulated in advance are:

1) Hold Tassafaronga as long as possible with the least amount of troops.
2) Launch an attempt to capture Milne Bay.
3) Don't get Kido Butai killed out there.

On day one cargo ships were sent out to begin absorbing the supplies located on the remote islands and ship them to Rabaul. The xAKL from the Shortlands was sent to collect supplies from Buka, while the xAKL in Rabaul was sent to Talasea. At the same time a little cargo convoy is being prepared in Truk to ship about 12,000 supplies to Rabaul. At Rabaul the APDs were loaded up with supplies for a fast transport run to Tassafaronga the next day.

The three subs located in Rabaul are steaming to the vicinity of Guadalcanal in the hope of interdicting the US task forces. The surface ships stay in port until the position of the American carriers is confirmed.

In the air the A6M3 squadron was flown to Lae (with the 6 plane A6M2 squadron heading to Rabaul) and ordered to conduct a fighter sweep over the Kokoda Track, but failed to get into the air. The Type 99 Vals at Rabaul received orders to conduct ASW operations and found two USN subs to the south and east of Rabaul, while the Type 1 Bettys had their duties split between naval search and supply flights to Tassafaronga. The planes on Tulagi were evacuated to Rabaul while the Type 2 Emilys began extracting the 129th JNAF AF Unit off the island.

The Horii Group meanwhile decided to test the strength of the Australians and bombarded their positions, only to discover that the Aussies were apparently marching back towards Port Moresby.

[DanSez]

Good luck.
The non-grand campaign scenarios have a lot of good lessons.
In this one especially:
1. Conserve your forces but don't be afraid to attack
2. Watch fuel and supplies
3. Act with a plan, not just to be doing something.


(edit-spelling)

[SigUp]

7th August 1942

Still no traces of the US carriers, which is slightly unsettling, although American torpedo bombers were reported to have been sighted over Lunga. Meanwhile the invasion force was sighted about 80 miles south of Guadalcanal. In preparation for the upcoming landing the USN heavy cruisers began shelling Lunga in the afternoon. Led by Vincennes, Quincy and Astoria the barrage caused 199 Japanese casualties in the non combat and engineer department. Furthermore the airstrip and port were heavily damaged with 24 airbase hits, 53 runway hits and 23 port hits.

In the air the A6M3s stationed at Lae decided to launch a sweep over the Kokoda Track despite a thunderstorm in the area. On two separate occasions one Kittyhawk and one P-39D were downed for no loss. The aircraft losses table also indicated another Kittyhawk as operational loss. The Americans in the meantime visited Rabaul with five B-17s, but were forced to turn back against a CAP of 12 Zeroes.



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A quick question at this point, is there any use for CL Katori?

ORIGINAL: DanSez

Good luck.
The non-grand campaign scenarios have a lot of good lessons.
In this one especially:
1. Conserve your forces but don't be afraid to attack
2. Watch fuel and supplies
3. Act with a plan, not just to be doing something.

Thanks. I agree with the importance of balancing the need to save the strength versus attacking. Especially since after losing Lunga the Japanese player has to make some kind of an offensive move. The biggest challenge for me will probably be dealing with the American carrier superiority in this theatre. I hope I get lucky and my subs manage to whittle down their numbers a bit.

[durnedwolf]

Hi SigUp,

Are you using search arcs for your Patrol Aircraft? Arcs will help you search specific areas of the map for the allied carriers. It looks like you pulled your FF and PA from Tulagi? That might be part of the reason for not seeing the allied carriers.

You have three subs that are pre-loaded with mines. What I don't remember is if you get additional mines later in this scenario... Also, one of your subs at Truk will carry a midget sub. Midget subs do not often score hits in my experience, but they might be a great head-game against your opponent.

Did you remember to add torpedoes to the 11th Air HQ at Rabaul? you'll want torpedoes for your Bettys if you plan to use them once you find Reaper's carriers.

[SigUp]

Hi DW,

thanks for the reply, yes I am using search arcs, but perhaps I just suck at utilising them, because a turn later and I still haven't found them. [&:]
I've pulled both the Mavis and the Rufes from Tulagi. I thought about leaving the Rufes, but feared that I would potentially overstay the welcome and leave them getting whacked by the bombardment. Attached below is a screenshot of the search arcs.

Yes, the three I-subs on Rabaul are preloaded with Type 88 mines. I have them going as patrol, but I think I can still change them and have them lay mines. Haven't added the torpedoes to the air HQ yet as I don't intend to have the Bettys charge into a carrier CAP at this moment.

[DanSez]

I don't think you get any more mines.

You should convert some AGs and AKEs right away...
I don't think there is enough time in the scenario to convert ARs or ASs.

[DanSez]

You will need 20k supplies in Rabaul to get aircraft replacements.
Either that or you have to transfer units to Truk.

[SigUp]

A mini-convoy with 13,000 supplies is on its way from Truk to Rabaul. Regarding the conversion, what is the idea behind that conversion (and which ships should be chosen for the conversion)?

[DanSez]

AKEs help reload Battleships and Subs (large weapons)
AGs are Repair ships - they will help reduce a few points of Minor system/engine damage. You don't have Shipyard facilities in this game and you have to send ships back to Osaka to repair even 1 point of major damage unless you have a repair ship.

Kyushus or Yusens or Adens (not sure how many of each you have) I think are good AKEs - convert the slower ones.
You need 3 or 4, most will be stationed at Rabaul to reload BBs if you are running down the slot to bombard Lunga, or bombarding Milli(sp?).

I don't recall what ships I converted in my Guadalcanal games, but suggest you open up the ships screen, toggle All Ships (they will disappear) toggle AK/AKL and those ships show up, open up the top one and cycle thru the ships in port to look at the possible conversions. Try not to convert your fastest ships if possible but meet your need.

I also suggest you convert all of your Ansyus to Fast PBs and 4 or so Kisos to slow PBs for convoy and ASW work. You can base the short legged Kiso PBs at Shortlands to patrol the path your ships will travel from Rabaul toward Lunga, or around the Rabaul area as a lot of supply ships will be coming and going thru that port.

The fast PBs will free up the DDs from having to work cargo runs.

[SigUp]

Thanks for the heads-up with the PBs, I'll take a look at it. Regarding the other points, Rabaul is a level 7 port with 240 naval support. If I'm interpreting the table right I can rearm even Yamato's 46cm guns without additional AKEs. Is there an extra benefit from having a couple of AKEs stationed there? Then with the repair ships, Akashi will arrive as reinforcement a couple of days later, additionally I think that Rabaul and Truk can repair up to 5 major damage. Do additional repair ships increase the damage that can be repaired?

[DanSez]

ORIGINAL: SigUp

Thanks for the heads-up with the PBs, I'll take a look at it. Regarding the other points, Rabaul is a level 7 port with 240 naval support. If I'm interpreting the table right I can rearm even Yamato's 46cm guns without additional AKEs. Is there an extra benefit from having a couple of AKEs stationed there? Then with the repair ships, Akashi will arrive as reinforcement a couple of days later, additionally I think that Rabaul and Truk can repair up to 5 major damage. Do additional repair ships increase the damage that can be repaired?

The last Guadalcanal game I played (stock - patch x9) neither Truk nor Rabaul would repair major damage. Maybe that has changed.

As to AKEs - I believe they help in the speed to reload as well as socking away reload supply in the AKEs. If you only want to reload one BB, then it might do so but most task forces also includes CAs CLs DDs - having AKEs there to assist will get more ships reloaded. Any extra cushion in naval support will help.

[durnedwolf]

In this scenario I think you'll get a repair ship somewhere in the first 10-20 days. Check your Ship availability to confirm.

[SigUp]

8th August 1942

The Marines successfully landed on Guadalcanal and Tulagi for little to no losses. The carriers still went unsighted, while four APDs dashed in and out of Tassafaronga Point with supplies for the troops there.

9th August 1942

On Guadalcanal and Tulagi the US forces shocked the Japanese units into submission. At Lunga the Japanese forces registered 2,363 men casualties against only 146 Americans, while the detachments on Tulagi were wiped out. The USN carrier force still went unconfirmed, but a sub reported a sighting by a Dauntless and the suspicion is that the US carriers are located south of Stewart Island. Subs are ordered there to check up on it. Meanwhile Type 1 Betty attack bombers reported a hit on a Kent-class CA and the destroyer Dewey while on their regular patrol flights.



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ORIGINAL: durnedwolf

In this scenario I think you'll get a repair ship somewhere in the first 10-20 days. Check your Ship availability to confirm.

Yes, Akashi will arrive at Truk in four days.

[SigUp]

10th August 1942

The US carriers were finally located. The hunch that they were sitting near Stewart Island and Kirakira proved to be correct. Instead of meeting the carriers, however, I-16, one of the two subs sent to investigate, stumbled across a TF built around USS Quincy and HMAS Hobart and suffered eight depth charge hits. In the meantime the rest of the invasion force seems to have left the waters around Guadalcanal. I hope the carriers will stay for another day, with the Japanese sub swarm closing in on their location.

In other news, the convoy with over 13,000 supplies from Truk to Rabaul ran into S-38 near Mussau Island and the Aden-class Tokishima Maru was sunk with 4,700 supplies on bord, depriving Rabaul of the chance to hit 20,000 the next few days. As a reaction the Rufes that are at Rabaul will be sent to Kavieng to keep that lane under surveillance, while a ASW group heads for the location.

At Truk the naval staff will be very busy with conversions over the next few weeks. A number of cargo ships are refitted into PBs, while three xAKs are set to become AKEs, with another couple of ships turning their cargo load into troop load.

[Cribtop]

If the Allies lose this scenario it is usually because IJN subs sink a carrier or two. Keep after those flat tops!

[Yaab]

ORIGINAL: SigUp

8th August 1942

The Marines successfully landed on Guadalcanal and Tulagi for little to no losses. The carriers still went unsighted, while four APDs dashed in and out of Tassafaronga Point with supplies for the troops there.

9th August 1942

On Guadalcanal and Tulagi the US forces shocked the Japanese units into submission. At Lunga the Japanese forces registered 2,363 men casualties against only 146 Americans, while the detachments on Tulagi were wiped out. The USN carrier force still went unconfirmed, but a sub reported a sighting by a Dauntless and the suspicion is that the US carriers are located south of Stewart Island. Subs are ordered there to check up on it. Meanwhile Type 1 Betty attack bombers reported a hit on a Kent-class CA and the destroyer Dewey while on their regular patrol flights.



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ORIGINAL: durnedwolf

In this scenario I think you'll get a repair ship somewhere in the first 10-20 days. Check your Ship availability to confirm.

Yes, Akashi will arrive at Truk in four days.

I am sceptical of the "ship reported HIT messages". In my December 7, 1941 tests, I counted five such messages against an Allied xAKL TF off Luzon. My trigger-happy Netty-Betty pilots were all 70 exp and 70 torpedo skill, but when I switched sides, this single xAKL registered no hits and suffered no damage. I thought I could replace Naval Attack mission with Naval Search mission and count on those hit reports during search for ship sinkings. Now I tend to think otherwise - some form of Naval Attack is needed, and this means higher air losses.

[BBfanboy]

Surely you jest, Yaab?
Tokyo Rose always tells me that a single search airplane can sink "Two Carriers, a Battleship, and numerous cruisers and destroyers".
You're not calling her a liar are you! [:-]

[jmalter]

Hi SigUp, you'll learn a lot in this scenario. Based on my historical knowledge of this campaign, you'll need to use all possible assets to bring reinforcements & supplies to Tassafaronga, while using your air & CV assets to detect & destroy Allied TFs.

Also too, the maps in your screen-caps are rather handsome - please tell me how you modded your files, to get the the maps.

[SigUp]

ORIGINAL: jmalter

Hi SigUp, you'll learn a lot in this scenario. Based on my historical knowledge of this campaign, you'll need to use all possible assets to bring reinforcements & supplies to Tassafaronga, while using your air & CV assets to detect & destroy Allied TFs.

Also too, the maps in your screen-caps are rather handsome - please tell me how you modded your files, to get the the maps.

Yes, that's the primary focus for Guadalcanal, although I do want to keep the option open of capturing Milne Bay. The dream scenario of course is Port Moresby, but I guess for that to happen I need to get lucky against his carriers and gain naval superiority. The map is the work of chemkid, you can download it here.

ORIGINAL: Yaab


I am sceptical of the "ship reported HIT messages". In my December 7, 1941 tests, I counted five such messages against an Allied xAKL TF off Luzon. My trigger-happy Netty-Betty pilots were all 70 exp and 70 torpedo skill, but when I switched sides, this single xAKL registered no hits and suffered no damage. I thought I could replace Naval Attack mission with Naval Search mission and count on those hit reports during search for ship sinkings. Now I tend to think otherwise - some form of Naval Attack is needed, and this means higher air losses.

I'm not counting on the Bettys having hit anything. Even if they did it's probably only minor damage. With the US carriers around (and me not having Kido Butai yet) I am happy to let them fire away while on naval search. No risk of getting the entire squadron shot down by the carrier CAP.

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Surely you jest, Yaab?
Tokyo Rose always tells me that a single search airplane can sink "Two Carriers, a Battleship, and numerous cruisers and destroyers".
You're not calling her a liar are you! [:-]

Tokyo Rose never lies. The American propaganda is very successful in hiding all those losses. [:D]

[SigUp]

ORIGINAL: Cribtop

If the Allies lose this scenario it is usually because IJN subs sink a carrier or two. Keep after those flat tops!

Unfortunately they got away this time. I hope the sub that arrived at New Caledonia this turn can get lucky when the carriers return to Noumea to refuel (is Luganville usable for this purpose?).

11th August 1942

The ASW force sent out after S-38 found that pesky little sub at the same spot and one patrol ship scored a hit. The USN torpedoes meanwhile showed their unreliability, as Grayling's fish found TK Matsushima Maru (after evading DD Yayoi on its way to Rabaul), but failed to explode. Further Truk - Rabaul runs will be ordered to avoid this area. A third sub was spotted 40 miles west of Buka and an ASW squadron was sent there to dislodge it.

The US carriers seem to have retreated out of the area. Aerial reconaissance failed to find them and subs I-171 and I-174 at Kirakira only stumbled upon DD Helm and Dewey. But this perhaps opens up the chance to run down a few CAs down the slot and keep the airstrip on Guadalcanal out of commission. The airfield damage is still at 31 if the information is correct.

2nd Kus-1 returned to Lae to sweep the Kokoda Track, but no Allied fighters showed up. The group will fly back to Rabaul the following day.