I need all the help I can get 1st ever PBEM Guadal Campaign (J)

[inqistor]

If you have any damaged transports, put them into decoy. That way it would look, that TF got more damages, than planes actually caused. And load some unimportant Base Force onto it. Enemy will see troop loses.

Make this TF big, but from cheap ships, you don't want to lose more, points, than you can get back by sinking some US CV.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Derfflinger13

At 8 hexes will my Kates still go in with torpedoes?
How do I get my LBAs involved in the fight? On the turn I send the KB charging in I set them to extended range where I think/know his carriers are?
I only have my 4 operational BBs and about 8 CAs. How should I split these between decoy defence and protecting my carriers?

Is there any value in actually trying to take Milne Bay at this point? Or should it just be the decoy run then my main invasion fleet goes for PM when my carriers have struck the decisive blow on his flattops?

Bombs only at 8 hexes.
You set your long range bombers to Naval Attack and arm them with torpedoes (if you expect the enemy to be within the range the bombers can carry them) or bombs for longer range. Ensure you have max Naval Search operating between GC and your decoy forces/KB. Move subs into the intervening space as well.

Except for Yamato, BBs are too slow for escorting your carriers. Your CAs are quite capable of turning back Allied surface forces and are fast enough for escort.

BBs are part of the decoy or a bombardment force. The trouble with bombardment is you use up your "burrets" (TM - Cap Mandrake) and then your BBs are vulnerable to just about any old SCTF. But keep in mind he cannot risk leaving his transports at GC totally naked so he will leave many of his best SCTF ships there.

[Derfflinger13]

ORIGINAL: GetAssista

ORIGINAL: Derfflinger13
At 8 hexes will my Kates still go in with torpedoes?
How do I get my LBAs involved in the fight? On the turn I send the KB charging in I set them to extended range where I think/know his carriers are?
I only have my 4 operational BBs and about 8 CAs. How should I split these between decoy defence and protecting my carriers?

Is there any value in actually trying to take Milne Bay at this point? Or should it just be the decoy run then my main invasion fleet goes for PM when my carriers have struck the decisive blow on his flattops?

Extended range means half bombload which means no torpedoes. But PM is isolated, so if you have a good bombardment run into detection level of 10/10 supplemented by the bombing campaign you can significantly reduce his CAP

Milne Bay is worth quite some points and controls much of the PM approaches. Surely it is a viable target at any moment

Thanks GetAssista. Do you think I should take Milne Bay before I hit PM? I.e. He will know its coming. and he will have a chance to reinforce it as he knows I need it to win the scenario. Or Does having milne bay give me an opportunity to hit any reinforcement groups...

[Derfflinger13]

ORIGINAL: inqistor

If you have any damaged transports, put them into decoy. That way it would look, that TF got more damages, than planes actually caused. And load some unimportant Base Force onto it. Enemy will see troop loses.

Make this TF big, but from cheap ships, you don't want to lose more, points, than you can get back by sinking some US CV.

Good advice, I will do that, and keep an eye on VPs. Thanks !

[Derfflinger13]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

ORIGINAL: Derfflinger13

At 8 hexes will my Kates still go in with torpedoes?
How do I get my LBAs involved in the fight? On the turn I send the KB charging in I set them to extended range where I think/know his carriers are?
I only have my 4 operational BBs and about 8 CAs. How should I split these between decoy defence and protecting my carriers?

Is there any value in actually trying to take Milne Bay at this point? Or should it just be the decoy run then my main invasion fleet goes for PM when my carriers have struck the decisive blow on his flattops?

Bombs only at 8 hexes.
You set your long range bombers to Naval Attack and arm them with torpedoes (if you expect the enemy to be within the range the bombers can carry them) or bombs for longer range. Ensure you have max Naval Search operating between GC and your decoy forces/KB. Move subs into the intervening space as well.

Except for Yamato, BBs are too slow for escorting your carriers. Your CAs are quite capable of turning back Allied surface forces and are fast enough for escort.

BBs are part of the decoy or a bombardment force. The trouble with bombardment is you use up your "burrets" (TM - Cap Mandrake) and then your BBs are vulnerable to just about any old SCTF. But keep in mind he cannot risk leaving his transports at GC totally naked so he will leave many of his best SCTF ships there.

I have been bad with my terminology here. So I have Yamato (27kts) AND 3x Kongo Class (30kts, Kirishima (29kts)). So should I put Yamato and Fuso into the decoy or all of them? and leave my 3x CAs with the carriers?
either way I'll be careful with my bombardments to prevent them from losing out to likely SCTF intervention.
My carriers and LBA have their missions set...
KB is moving north of admirality island to be positioned north west of Rabaul for the run to the south. all LCUs are ready at Rabaul. My decoy fleet awaits advice from high command for making the feint on Milne bay...

[Derfflinger13]

20th October 1942

Reports have come in from our brave troops on Tassafaragona of a massed air attack coming from the south west. These reports have been corroborated by distress signals from AV Kamoi as it came under heavy attack at Shortlands. A report from one of our submarines in the Coral Sea have triangulated the position - the US carriers are at Sea!

High Command, What is our plan? Plan A is start the decoy to Milne Bay to draw the carriers north towards KB and our LBAs. (What should I be considering at this stage beyond making sure all my CBAs and LBAs have the right missions set?) What could be Plan B? Wait for them to come further north before committing KB?

***
Afternoon Air attack on Tassafaronga , at 113,137

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 62
SBD-3 Dauntless x 100
TBF-1 Avenger x 42

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 13 damaged

Japanese Ships
PB Nikkai Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage

Port hits 12
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 4
***


The situation as it stands below. Please send proposals to the Commander-in-Chief by 0000.

[BBfanboy]

You cannot wait for him to do what you want. He won't. You must provoke him with some kind of bait that makes it seem worth the risk of moving where you want him. Much depends on Shokaku and Zuikaku remaining unseen until you strike, so keep them just close enough to scoot in to strike when he moves.

I forgot about your Kongos, and I thought you had posted that you had 8 CAs so that is why I was suggesting the CAs could protect your fleet carriers. You decide on the right mix of SCTF punch and CV escort. Personally, when times are this desperate I would go with the SCTF punch and when he moves his carriers to strike, have your Kongos go after his carriers . What have you got to lose when he is winning the scenario anyway? You need to sink his carriers!

[Derfflinger13]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

You cannot wait for him to do what you want. He won't. You must provoke him with some kind of bait that makes it seem worth the risk of moving where you want him. Much depends on Shokaku and Zuikaku remaining unseen until you strike, so keep them just close enough to scoot in to strike when he moves.

I forgot about your Kongos, and I thought you had posted that you had 8 CAs so that is why I was suggesting the CAs could protect your fleet carriers. You decide on the right mix of SCTF punch and CV escort. Personally, when times are this desperate I would go with the SCTF punch and when he moves his carriers to strike, have your Kongos go after his carriers . What have you got to lose when he is winning the scenario anyway? You need to sink his carriers!

Good point. I do have 8 CAs. 3 with KB, 3 in the SCTF you see above and 2 at Rabaul. I will organise the escort properly and have the Kongos steam after his carriers.

I’m going to go for it, as I’m yet to submit this turn. KB was undetected in the last turn. If they get spotted I’ll check in. Otherwise I’ll update you on the operation ASAP.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Derfflinger13

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

You cannot wait for him to do what you want. He won't. You must provoke him with some kind of bait that makes it seem worth the risk of moving where you want him. Much depends on Shokaku and Zuikaku remaining unseen until you strike, so keep them just close enough to scoot in to strike when he moves.

I forgot about your Kongos, and I thought you had posted that you had 8 CAs so that is why I was suggesting the CAs could protect your fleet carriers. You decide on the right mix of SCTF punch and CV escort. Personally, when times are this desperate I would go with the SCTF punch and when he moves his carriers to strike, have your Kongos go after his carriers . What have you got to lose when he is winning the scenario anyway? You need to sink his carriers!

Good point. I do have 8 CAs. 3 with KB, 3 in the SCTF you see above and 2 at Rabaul. I will organise the escort properly and have the Kongos steam after his carriers.

I’m going to go for it, as I’m yet to submit this turn. KB was undetected in the last turn. If they get spotted I’ll check in. Otherwise I’ll update you on the operation ASAP.

Caveat - my advice is intended to say what I see as the tactical/strategic problem and what I might do to try pull off a desperate victory. You must apply your own judgement and use what you think might work and come up with other ideas you can use. In all cases, you will likely suffer some losses but there is a chance of inflicting heavy loss on him so you need to do something risky before he consolidates his positions.

[Derfflinger13]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

ORIGINAL: Derfflinger13

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

You cannot wait for him to do what you want. He won't. You must provoke him with some kind of bait that makes it seem worth the risk of moving where you want him. Much depends on Shokaku and Zuikaku remaining unseen until you strike, so keep them just close enough to scoot in to strike when he moves.

I forgot about your Kongos, and I thought you had posted that you had 8 CAs so that is why I was suggesting the CAs could protect your fleet carriers. You decide on the right mix of SCTF punch and CV escort. Personally, when times are this desperate I would go with the SCTF punch and when he moves his carriers to strike, have your Kongos go after his carriers . What have you got to lose when he is winning the scenario anyway? You need to sink his carriers!

Good point. I do have 8 CAs. 3 with KB, 3 in the SCTF you see above and 2 at Rabaul. I will organise the escort properly and have the Kongos steam after his carriers.

I’m going to go for it, as I’m yet to submit this turn. KB was undetected in the last turn. If they get spotted I’ll check in. Otherwise I’ll update you on the operation ASAP.

Caveat - my advice is intended to say what I see as the tactical/strategic problem and what I might do to try pull off a desperate victory. You must apply your own judgement and use what you think might work and come up with other ideas you can use. In all cases, you will likely suffer some losses but there is a chance of inflicting heavy loss on him so you need to do something risky before he consolidates his positions.

I understand. Don’t worry I have learned a lot through doing things myself this campaign. This is just a moment where I need to successfully combine arms to have a chance or pulling it off and I’ve only achieved piecemeal operations thus far, so I’m running it by you guys to understand tactical ideas I might not consider/have considered.

[inqistor]

Well, you have parity in CV attack planes (his 142 vs your 152). So your main advantage is longer range, and knowledge of his position.

You see several his TFs at GC. Are they big? Worth attacking? Are you doing recon at GC? I don't see planes icon. Are there fighters protecting base? What size of airfield does Shortlands have?

Don't get too attached to specific plan. Only results are what counts, and you need to get control of the seas (and don't lose too much LCUs in the way), by forcing his Carriers to retire. It may even happen, if he uses too much ammo, and would have to rearm.