Rookie Problems - Operation Shoestring

[DanielAClark]

This time has also included a new son...so, definitely more important things than the game...

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: DanielAClark

This time has also included a new son...so, definitely more important things than the game...

On that, I will concede you have your priorities right. Enjoy your time with him - they soon just want to get away from you and try to trash the house!

[RangerJoe]

Just remember why kittens are better than babies.

1) Kittens use a litter box![:D]

[DanielAClark]

13 October

Unloading of supplies completes at Port Moresby.

Our forces on the Trak bombard the enemy as a means of assessing their strength. There is a blocking force here, but only enough to stop the 30th brigade. If I can free up enough political points...the 32nd infantry division should be able to smash this easily.

The enemy sends 20 Zeroes and 6 Kates against Milne Bay. Our CAP does not get engaged by the Zeroes and downs a Kate. The remaining attack breaks off.

Our B17s hit Lae.

Bad weather over Guadalcanal and the slot means no air attacks on Tassafaronga.

Hornet is back on station south of the slot...and our surface raider force of USN cruisers is heading into Tassafaronga for another night sweep to keep the enemy transports out.

Canberra arrives in Sydney harbor and is repairing system damage pierside...she will be out for 2 weeks. Achilles and Leander head back to Espirito Santo, to be able to be called upon at need.

[DanielAClark]

14 October

The enemy sends 20ish zeroes a half dozen kates and 2 Betties against Milne Bay. They get 4 runway hits in exchange for losing a zero and a Betty.

We have some damaged planes.

Our B17s are working over Buna, Lae, and Tassafaronga. Our cruisers dont go in to tue slot overnight yet.

Not much happening at the moment. I am accruing PPs...and the air search shows no enemy ships approaching.

[BBfanboy]

That's quite a gap between reports. Everything OK there?

[DanielAClark]

Life with new baby who doesnt like to sleep...not much time for gaming.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: DanielAClark

Life with new baby who doesnt like to sleep...not much time for gaming.

Been there, done that, my sympathies... but it is worth it in the end! [:)]

[DanielAClark]

Just realized PDU is on...so I do need to be paying attention to plane upgrades...

So all those P39s could become P40s and P38s...and other upgrades too.

More research required.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: DanielAClark

Just realized PDU is on...so I do need to be paying attention to plane upgrades...

So all those P39s could become P40s and P38s...and other upgrades too.

More research required.

Don't fiddle with the factories - you can't really change those other than inadvertently shutting them off. Just watch your pools, the rate of replacements and new production and the end dates so you don't partially upgrade a unit only to find there are no more of that type coming. And of course, use 'downgrading' of restricted units in the USA to put better aircraft into the pools for front line units to use.

[DanielAClark]

Just a reminder, this is the Guadalcanal campaign, not the Grand Campaign.

[DanielAClark]

...and now I think PDU is off, and its just that some squadrons can be upgraded.

Like I said...rookie problems.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: DanielAClark

...and now I think PDU is off, and its just that some squadrons can be upgraded.

Like I said...rookie problems.

Not a problem once you figured it out. It's part of the reason I recommend new players try out the smaller scenarios before tackling the GC.

[DanielAClark]

15th and 16th October

Now that our resupply mission to Port Moresby is over...we send back the B26s to the field and shuttle out some fighters.

The RAAF P40 squadron at Milne Bay is cycled out and replaced with USAF P40s.

I start fiddling with search radius and move up a second squadron of Catalinas to Milne so that I can do day and night searches.

We lower the bombing of Tassafaronga to 5000 feet...and still no AA. Our bombardments (from the marines and the 8 inch cruisers) have no visible effect...the jungle covering all.

I plan to next plan some supply pumps into Milne and Tulagi...and be more aggreasive with air search.

I also plan to take more risks with my bombers and freighters...I have too many sitting idle. Especially in Australia.

Enemy plane activity seems to be a large daily Zero escort of a few Kates at Milne...and that is it.

[BBfanboy]

To make your bombardment of Tassafaronga more effective you need to raise the DL of the target and keep it raised with continuous Recon, Bombing and Bombardment. Having your own troops in the hex helps too.

[DanielAClark]

18 October

B26s and B25s bomb the track. B17s continue the bombings of Buna and Lae.

P38s are heading into Port Moresby for recon over New Guinea.

The Japanese send 50 zeroes to escort the obligatory 3 Kate raid on Milne Bay. Our P40e's meet them and do a creditable job...but now fatigue is setting in.

1st USMC division bombards Tassafaronga...the B17s work it over as well.

I have a transport arriving tomorrow at Lunga Point to begin producing PT boats there. Supplies are also inbound to Tulagi.

[DanielAClark]

19 October

No enemy raid on Milne Bay.

We lose an xAK to an air dropped bomb...but no intel or combat report was received.

Hornet moves due west of Tassafaronga..


...and we receive word from our naval search that a CVE is spotted just east of Buka and Bougainville Island.

Coastwatchers reported that Rabaul harbor was briefly empty...though several CAs are currently known to be present.

Could be an interesting few days...

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: DanielAClark

19 October

No enemy raid on Milne Bay.

We lose an xAK to an air dropped bomb...but no intel or combat report was received.

Hornet moves due west of Tassafaronga..


...and we receive word from our naval search that a CVE is spotted just east of Buka and Bougainville Island.

Coastwatchers reported that Rabaul harbor was briefly empty...though several CAs are currently known to be present.

Could be an interesting few days...

When your ships get hit but no combat is reported, it is from enemy search planes getting lucky with their bombs. Look in your Ops report for the aircraft sighting and mention of the attack.

Be a little wary of the search report of a CVE - if the DL is not high, that could be a CV or one of several CVs. At any rate, the presence of CAs could also be a danger to your Hornet TF if it is not well escorted against enemy SCTFs. Get your own Night and Day search up to avoid surprises. Cruiser and BB FPs are good for the night searches around the TF.

[DanielAClark]

20 October

Bad weather comes in. My day / night search patterns lose sight of the enemy CV group.

Our B17s continue bombing various targets in New Guinea...while the B25s and B26s hammer the track.

Hornet, with Washington and SoDak head back south of Henderson Field. Leander and Achilles are patrolling SE of Henderson...and I will be bringing up a SAG from Noumea of four Northampton class cruisers.

Soon I should be able to be producing PT boats at Lunga Point.

The 'sunk' xAK continues its journey today...then sinks at the end of the round (again without attack animation or Ops report...

[RangerJoe]

If a ship or sub is bombed during the Naval Search and/or ASW Search, there is no animation nor is it included in the combat report.