Try, Try Again

[neuromancer]

Fresh from a sound beating (in less than two months!) by LordHawke, I've been encouraged to keep at it.

To that end, we have more violence. I'm presently fighting two games. I think I'll start an AAR for this one, and I might start the second one once the other starts to heat up.

As with my last AAR (battling n00bs) I am trying to write this report in the style of a article I've found on the second world war. However I am also doing it as if written by a historian chronicling the events as they happen, publishing it as a (semi-)dispassionate article in some journal or newspaper in 1942.

The article I am basing the style on is here, for those that are interested:
WW2+55

For the inital posts, I will just quote entire sections of the actual article, concentrating on Pacific Theatre elements, or points that may have a bearing on the Pacific front (such as Wasp running Spitfires to Malta). As the game proceeds I will focus down on the Coral Sea area, and change it for the actual game of course.


In this game, we have the following:
Sc 17,
Allies - me (I shall be Admiral Loken again, a Canadian in the Royal Navy)
IJN - madflava13
100% commitment both sides
Very Variable Reinforcement (although so far it looks pretty standard, both games have almost identical reinforcement schedules for the first few weeks!)
Allied Damage Control ON
IJN Sub Doctrine OFF
Advanced Weather ON
Fog of War ON
1 Day Turns


So, let's get to it!

[madflava13]

I'm the mysterious Admiral Chris running the IJN side of things. I've played UV since it came out, but my experience with PBEM has been almost entirely on the Allied side, so this should be interesting.

Depending on how Admiral Loken wants me to contribute to this AAR, I may change my style.

For now, my initial goals are straight forward:
1. Locate and sink the Allied CVs.
2. Capture and consolidate Lunga, Buna and PM
3. Attrit the allied surface forces
4. While building up my bases, disrupt the Allied buildup

I recognize these are fairly generic goals, but I will get more specific as the game unfolds - I don't want to give away any of my plans too early!

[neuromancer]

April 26th, 1942:

The Associated Press sends out a note to all its sportswriters to avoid using military phrases like "defeated," "overcame," or "bombed" in baseball copy, as the real battles are not taking place in baseball stadiums.

A US garrison arrives to hold Fanning Island in the South Pacific, relieving five NZ officers and 108 enlisted men.

With the failure of Operation Bowary, Winston Churchill asks President Roosevelt to let the carrier USS Wasp make a second dash to Malta to deliver Spitfires. "Without this aid," Churchill says, "I fear Malta will be pounded to bits." Malta's defense, he adds, is aiding Russia's defense, where the worst winter in 140 years is ending.

- - - -

April 27th, 1942:

As President Roosevelt outlines US war economy measures, the Office of Price Administration takes title to all 500,000 new 1942 cars in stock. The nation's production lines have already switched over to weapons, and OPA doles them out from government warehouses to bonafide applicants, like country physicians. By July 1944, only 30,000 will be left. Most Americans have to get by on three gallons a week on car rationing. Civilians are also rationed to two pairs of shoes a year, and shoes are soon third on American hijackers' lists, behind liquor and rayon.

As the Japanese storm towards Lashio in Burma, Chinese defenders pour out, making it impossible to hold the Burma terminus of the Burma Road, China's lifeline.

The air raid on Tokyo is a hot topic of speculation, while the Japanese have confirmed that a raid occured, the Americans have not. President Roosevelt tells the American people, "It is even reported from Japan that somebody has dropped bombs on Toyo and on other principal centers of Japanese war industries. If this be true, it is the first time in history that Japan has suffered such indignities."

In Burma, Gen. Joseph Stilwell asks for and gets permission to withdraw his 100,000 Chinese troops to India.

- - - -

April 28th, 1942:

In the Philippines, the Bataan Death March is wrapping up, as PoWs are herded onto packed, slow-moving rail box cars for the final trip to Camp O'Donnell. The captives are packed tightly in the metal cars, and suffer from heat in addition to their other miseries. The trains move slowly, and Filipino PoWs are able take advantage of frequent stops to make escapes, by pretending to be local residents. Filipino citizens shower the PoWs with all sorts of food and drink. In some cases, the Japanese guards drive the locals back, but then the people throw food through car doors.

- - - -

April 29th, 1942:

The RAAF base at Tulagi in the Solomons radios Coastwatcher Don McFarland on Guadalcanal that many Japanese ships are heading for the Solomons.

The Japanese attack Lashio in Burma with 30 light tanks, a few guns and two battalions of motorized infantry, and seize the town. The 3,000 Chinese defenders retreat up the Burma Road to their homeland. By now all Allied forces, Indian, Burmese, British, and Chinese, are bogged down in retreat with a mass of civilian refugees and criminal gangs, who add to the chaos with looting and murder.

In the Philippines, the Via Dolorosa ends as the Death March survivors reach Camp O'Donnell, an unfinished Philippine Army base. Camp commandant Capt. Tusneyoshi screams at the PoWs that Japan will fight the Americans for a hundred years to defeat the British and Americans, and that all PoWs are eternal enemies of Japan, completely at the mercy of the Emperor. Anyone who does not obey regulations will be shot to death. All PoWs must remove rank insignia and salute all Japanese guards, regardless of rank. The Americans nickname Tsuneyoshi "Little Hitler."
The Bataan Death March is over.

To celebrate Emperor Hirohito's birthday, the Japanese commence a seven-day bombardment of Corregidor, starting at 7:25 a.m. All kinds of guns, joined by bombers (83 sorties, 106 tons of bombs), hammer the island in the heaviest bombardment yet. One 240mm shell plunges squarely down a tunnel's ventilation shaft into the gasoline tank of a searchlight's generator, roasting to death the searchlight's CO, Lt. Stanley O. Friedline, and five of his men.

In the Malinta Tunnel hospital, bottles and small items crash from shelves as the concrete walls vibrate. Dust rises in a choking cloud, forcing nurses to cover the patients' and their own faces with wet gauze. The nurses remain calm. Shells wreck wooden buildings, AA rangefinders, ammo dumps, phone lines, and silence 12-inch mortars.

- - - -

April 30th, 1942:

More than 125,000 Japanese-Americans, many of them American citizens with sons in the military, mark their 30th day in relocation camps across the American West. Executive Order 9066, signed on Feb. 19th, banned Japanese-Americans from the Pacific Coast.

On March 27th, they were given 48 hours to dispose of their homes, businesses and furniture. All razors and liquor were confiscated, and investments and bank accounts forfeited. The Japanese-Americans thus lose $70 million in farm acreage and equipment, 35 million in fruits and vegetables, and savings, stocks, and bonds beyond reckoning.

On March 30th, the Army evacuated persons "of Japanese ancestry" to 15 assembly areas, including Pasadena's Rose Bowl and Santa Anita's racetrack. Families were housed in horse stalls in the latter, then moved to 11 huge "relocation centers" in desolate areas.

The average Japanese family is now living in an "apartment" measuring 20 by 25 feet, without stove or running water. Each barracks block shares a comunity laundry, mess hall, latrine, and open shower stalls, which is embarrassing to the traditional Japanese women.

Surrounded by barbed wire, searchlights, and armed guards, the Japanese-Americans will while away three years in dreary tracts teaching children, holding church services, and attending 2,120 marriages, 5,981 christenings, and 1,862 funerals.

The Supreme Court supports this mass evacuation, calling it a proper exercise of the power to wage war. Also supported by a wide range of Americans, including columnists like Damon Runyon and Westbrook Pegler, the military, the Nevada Bar Association, and Idaho Gov. Chase Clark, who tells the press that "Japs live like rats, breed like rats, and act like rats."

Despite this, the Japanese Americans accept this mistreatment with formidable stoicism. There are no riots or disturbances in the camps. Internees work for little or no pay planting trees and painting Army recruitment posters. To the confusion of their guards, internees assemble each morning to raise Old Glory and salute it while their Boy Scout drum corps (every camp has one) plays the National Anthem.

In New Zealand, No. 14 Fighter Squadron is formed at Ohakea. The same day, New Zealand begins evacuation plans for civilians in case of invasion. The nation also begins rationing silk, stockings, and sugar, and camera film is scarce.

General William Slim's British troops in Burma cross the Irrawadda and destroy bridges and boats behind them as they retreat.

- - - -

May 1st, 1942:

Guadalcanal Coastwatcher Martin Clemens has to find a way to hide a four-engine seaplane. 300 natives cover it with palm leaves.

In Canada, all-black regiments of US Army engineers struggle to build a highway across 1,645 miles of mountains and forests to link Alaska with the rest of the world. The Alaska Highway's highest point will be a 4,212-foot pass in the Canadian rockies. More than 10,000 men work on the project. The 35th Engineers has to march 325 miles, carrying equipment on its backs, through -35F windstorms, to its work site. Despite the weather, the crews create 18 miles of pioneer road each day.

Japanese troops of the 33rd Division reach the Chindwin River in Burma, but do not cross the river. Gen. Slim counterattacks with tanks and two infantry brigades. While the 1st Burmese Division plans this, the Japanese attack division HQ. Maj. Gen. Bruce Scott has to fight his way out with his essential documents. Even so, his 63rd Brigade attacks Monya, driving the enemy back but not gaining the town. In any case, Mandalay falls to the Japanese, as they continue their advance.

More rationing in New Zealand: clothing, boots, shoes, hosiery, and knitting yarn. Women are now employed for railway work and as hotel porters. Aliens interned in New Zealand number 160, including 90 Germans, 29 Italians, and 29 Japanese, who while away the time playing cards and speculating about Axis chances.

Japanese Navy casualties in their offensive to date have been 23 warships, none larger than a destroyer, and 67 transport and merchant vessels, less than 350,000 tons, far lower than expected. Conquests have taken Japan to the edge of Australia, India, and Hawaii.

In response to the reports of large numbers of Japanese forces headed for the Coral Sea; Britain, New Zealand, Australia, and the United States begin to send forces to the area as quickly as can be managed. For now it is not as quick as desired, but it is still a reasonable force. The forces are placed under the overall command of Admiral Loken of the Royal Navy. Inexperienced and with little combat command under his belt, he is still tasked with turning back the "Yellow Tide".

With thunderstorms raging outside, Admiral Loken's first orders from SWPAC HQ annoy many people under his command as he begins a rapid reshuffling of the forces in his operaional area. He has determined that success or failure in this region centers around Noumea and Brisbane as his primary operational bases. What he has not made clear is what he is willing to sacrifice to maintain the security of those two locations.

[madflava13]

I'll let Admiral Loken fill in the details, but the elements of the 8th Area Army secured Dobadura last turn - construction of an airbase there is already underway. Combined fleet troops are landing at Woodlark Island as well and we will have that territory in hand shortly.

Further north, several convoys are steaming to the south, fully loaded with troops, base forces and engineers to establish even more inroads into the Coral Sea. There are IJN carriers and surface forces in support of several of these operations...

[neuromancer]

May 2nd, 1942:

Japanese ships close in on Tulagi, so Guadalcanal Coastwatcher Don McFarland packs his bags from Barande, piles his gear into the plantation truck and drives into the interior to his Gold Ridge hideout, where a kerosene refrigerator is waiting. While McFarland sets up the new base, his colleague Ken Hay, stays at Berande to wait, and at Aola, Martin Clemens packs his gear and waits.

The Monya battle rages on, as the British continue to counterattack, despite their exhaustion from the long and debilitating retreat in Burma. The counterattack drives the Japanese back, but does not stem the tide.

The US War Department mobilizes Hollywood to set up a Photo Signal Deatchment under director Frank Capra, in which seven scriptwriters will prepare a series of films called "Why We Fight," to explain the origins and development of the war to the public.

The four-day bombardment of Corregidor intensifies. During one five-hour period, the Japanese rain 12 240mm rounds per minute, for a total of 3,600 rounds, onto the Geary-Crockett batteries, gradually eating through the magazines. The M1908 12- inch moratrs are rendered inoperative, but the M1890s still work. Crews empty the magazines of their powder charges, but at 4:27 pm, a 240 mm shells crashes through and detonates among 1,600 62- lb. full section powder charges. The blast shakes the Rock and sends 13-ton mortars flying like pebbles. One travels 150 yards to land muzzle down on the golf course for a hole-in-one. A gaping crater remains where the mortars stood. The Japanese, elated by the huge explosion, cease fire. Geary Battery is out of the game.

In the Coral Sea, things are quiet. Patrolling Hudsons and Catalinas report little, only one unverified siting of a ship. Which some discount as a US sub recharging its batteries.

The handful of administrative staff at Buna report troops landing at the Dobadura beach about 30 miles from Buna. The staff immediately pack their equipment and drive for Port Moresby. And meanwhile at Port Moresby, C47 transports are flying in and out of the air base on an hourly basis.

- - - -

May 3rd, 1942:

In New Guinnea Japanese troops have secured the Dobadura beach. A local that watched the impressive - if unopposed - landing indicated that the only shots fired were when a young Japanese soldier was surprised by a particularly noisy bird. His squad figured he should have stopped shooting after the first couple rounds, thus leaving the bird in better condition for supper.

Hudsons report Japanese ships at Woodlark Island. The rest of the squadron makes two passes at the ships, and although at least three ships were spotted including a transport, only a single bomb from one Hudson hit an escorting Minesweeper causing heavy damage.

The C47s continue to fly in and out of Port Moresby. In the confusion 3 aircraft crash killing the pilots, and the troops being transported.

In the United States, tornadoes kill 22 people in Oklahoma.

On Corregidor, Japanese shelling continues. Gen. Wainwright radios Gen. Douglas MacArthur in Australia: "Situation here fast becoming desperate." The submarine USS Spearfish glides in from Australia to take out the last 14 nurses and some important personnel. Col. Louis J. Bowler, offered a space on the sub, refuses. "Send a nurse," he says. Along with the evacuees goes a roster of all those alive on Corregidor and a list of recent promotions, which gives the families of those more money in their allotments.

[neuromancer]

May 4th, 1942:

HMNZS Achilles and HMNZS Leander arrive in Vila, and stay there for two weeks, assisting to unload ammunition from storeships to barges, and providing AA protection while American Seabees build roads, barracks, supply dumps, and a workable airstrip.

On Corregidor, the Americans, down to one week's water, are ready for the worst. AA guns are out. Telephone lines are out. Rations are down to a little canned salmon and rice. Showers are out. The last Navy gunboat, Mindanao, has been sunk. The last two PBYs from Australia have flown in to evacuate 50 passengers, including radio intercept specialists and nurses. Wainwright expects the invasion next evening, during the full moon.

Japanese troops invade Mindanao at Cagayan and press south along the Sayre Highway, a dirt track.

At Port Moresby more transports continue to fly in and out. The Japanese have decided that this should not go unopposed, and have started harrassing these flights with A6M2 Zeros. One Zero, one P-39D Airacobra, and one C-47 Dakota are all shot down, the last including 37 regimental supply officers, and 17 boxes of files.

[neuromancer]

May 5th, 1942:

The island of Midway is a sandspit beyond Hawaii, a former alighting point for Pan American Clipper seaplanes. Now it is packed with two battalions of Marines and one of Marine Raiders, light tanks, PT boats, barbed wire, machine guns, B-17 bombers, and a variety of aircraft ranging from the new and nimble TBF Avenger torpedo bomber to the useless F2A Brewster Buffalo fighter. During the day, Midway fires off its housekeeping traffic by radio to Hawaii. Interestingly enough, the trans- Pacific cable is still intact to Japanese-held Guam, and periodically a bored American radioman bats out an obscenity to the Japanese, who fire angry-sounding gibberish back.

The Japanese hurl 16,000 rounds on Corregidor in 24 hours. "The island shook as the big shells landed," says Lt. Dayton L. Drachenberg, of the US Army Air Corps. "as if the victim of a continuous earthquake, with trees, limbs, rocks, and other debris crashing and flying in all directions."

On the opposite Bataan shore, the 4th Division, under. Lt. Gen. Kenzo Kitano, the worst division in the whole Imperial Army, 11,000 strong, lacking amphibious training, waits for the barrage to lift. They have only enough boats to land two battalions, 2,000 men, simultaneously. Each Japanese soldier of the 61st Regiment will carry four days of supplies on his back. Even so, the Japanese have thousands of bamboo ladders to scale cliffs, and their artillery has torn apart American searchlights, landmines, machinegun positions, and barbed-wire defenses.
"It took no mental giant," writes Wainwright, "to figure out that the enemy was ready to come against Corregidor."

That evening, the Japanese shellfire switches to the north shore. The Americans send out troops to man all beaches at 9 p.m. Their sound locators pick up the noise of landing barges being warmed up in Bataan half an hour later.

The defending Americans, a motley collection of Marines, Soldiers, Sailors, civilians, and Filipino scouts, wait with Enfield rifles and bomb chutes designed to hurl 39-lb. air bombs onto the beaches. Frank Gomez goes into battle wearing "a World War I helmet, a white piece of line for my belt, a safety pin that was to hold my canteen to the line. A Filipino Sailor gave me a big horse blanket. I stripped my gas mask bag...that was my ditty bag, just room for a change of clothing, soap, if any, and a few canned goods, like salmon or dry chocolate."

Currents and winds sweep the invading force away from their beach, and under the moonlight, the Japanese become easy targets for the Americans, who open up with everything from rifles to 75mm guns, inflicting heavy casualties. Nearly 70 percent of the invading Japanese are killed. But the remaining 30 percent, acting as "human bullets," storm ashore, and fight a vicious battle with the defenders, forcing the Americans back off the landing beaches by midnight.

In the Coral Sea, Rear Adm. Frank Jack Fletcher does what he does best: refuel his ships, while the Japanese forces continue to plod south towards Russell Island and Port Moresby.

Editor's Note: This isn't really relevant, but it was such an amusing little snippet that I left it in.

Japanese carriers are reported operating in the vicinity of New Guoinea, but their exact count and position is unclear.

800 Japanese troops make another impressive - and unopposed - landing at Woodlark Island, securing it for His Imperial Majesty's forces. The S Class submarine S-37 slips up on the task force just as it finishes unloading troops via boat, and puts a Mark 10 torpedo into the flank of a troop transport. The transport has a large hole and taking on water, but doesn't sink. S-37 reports however that the previously damaged minesweeper did sink during the night. This is the first ship lost in the campaign, but certainly won't be the last.

A6M2s don't intercept any transports flying into Port Moresby today. To make up for the absense of the Japanese fighters, a Dakota pilot noses his craft into the runway, and flips the plane in a pyrotechnial crash. Another 39 Royal Australian Army support personel are killed in the crash.

[madflava13]

I'm hoping things will heat up here in the next few turns. To that end, I've disengaged Shok, Zuik and Shoho. They had been covering the landing of troops at Dobadura, but now will fade off the Allied screens - only to appear somewhere else, well rested and hungry for a fight.

Most of my landings will be in drips and drabs for a little while until the heavy units arrive from Japan. In the meantime, I am hoping to attrit neuromancer's fleet so my landings won't be opposed. Neuromancer's LBA is deadly accurate this game as well, something I need to look into. Maybe a bombardment will cure them of that?

One thing I never appreciated, as I never play the IJN side, is how few escorts Japan has in the region. I have 3 different operations planned that are waiting on sufficient escorts in order to start. Hopefully at least one of them will get underway in the next week...

[neuromancer]

Sorry, I've been meaning to update this with the action over the last few days. So far its still been pretty quiet. This game madflava has been very cagey, not half as aggressive as LordHawke was last game, but as I was expecting hyper aggressive, that may be a good thing on his part.

This game my subs have not been that exciting, but yes, my Hudsons have been doing amazingly well. Although in one case they pounded the crap out of a crippled ship while ignoring the group that was a little further out, and unharmed.

And it looks like our battle groups are playing hide and seek in the Coral sea.

- - - -

Its interesting, my other game has been more violent so far. Including losing a CA, CL, and DD from a Fast Transport group that got too close to his carriers. And he's refused to pay the bill I sent him for the damages! [:D]
My subs are being a real pest in that one, and the air war over Port Moresby has been quite violent - cost him a lot of Nells early on.

[madflava13]

Cagey... I like that. I'm saving up my pilots and air units. Building strength. Waiting... When I see a weakness, I will pounce. And I think I see one right now...

[neuromancer]

ORIGINAL: madflava13

Cagey... I like that. I'm saving up my pilots and air units. Building strength. Waiting... When I see a weakness, I will pounce. And I think I see one right now...

I wouldn't do that. Could be a trap...
[:D]

[LordHawke]

ORIGINAL: neuromancer

ORIGINAL: madflava13

Cagey... I like that. I'm saving up my pilots and air units. Building strength. Waiting... When I see a weakness, I will pounce. And I think I see one right now...

I wouldn't do that. Could be a trap...
[:D]

Hi neuro,

Strange isn't it? In our 2nd games, both of us seem to be facing opponents who don't quite like the *direct* approach. [>:] Wonder why...

Well, hope you get to scratch a flattop or two soon. [;)]

[madflava13]

Only fools rush in... [:'(]

I've got a weird set of reinforcements here - the variations were very kind in some respects, very unkind in others. Without going into too much detail, I'll just say this: I prefer to wait until I have air cover before I make major moves.

Some elements are in place, others are aways off. I'll be making one major move shortly. Results should be obvious within a few turns.... [8D]

[Shadow of the Condor]

originally posted by LordHawke
Hi neuro,

Strange isn't it? In our 2nd games, both of us seem to be facing opponents who don't quite like the *direct* approach. Wonder why...

[&:] And here I thouht I was being al direct and stuff...

[madflava13]

As I mentioned a few posts back, I hoped things would be heating up soon. Well they have, and will continue to do so. Admiral Loken's forces made an appearance in the northern Coral Sea... My CVs may have just been spotted elsewhere. We'll see if it's too late for him to react...

(I'll let him share the details)

[LordHawke]

ORIGINAL: madflava13

Admiral Loken's forces made an appearance in the northern Coral Sea... My CVs may have just been spotted elsewhere. We'll see if it's too late for him to react...

I have a bad feeling about this.... deja vu, neuro?

[madflava13]

ORIGINAL: madflava13

For now, my initial goals are straight forward:
1. Locate and sink the Allied CVs.
2. Capture and consolidate Lunga, Buna and PM
3. Attrit the allied surface forces
4. While building up my bases, disrupt the Allied buildup

I recognize these are fairly generic goals, but I will get more specific as the game unfolds - I don't want to give away any of my plans too early!

Well I think it's time to review my progress to date (5/19/42). I've captured Buna/Dobadura and the buildup of an airbase there is well underway. It's no secret that this base will be vital in any push I decide to make against Port Moresby.

Lunga/Tulagi have fallen to me, and I am well on the way to having a major base there as well. Several base forces, engineer units along with supporting infantry and CD units occupy Lunga. I have big plans for this base. Those plans might involve Zeros and Betties. [:D]

Although I've located the Allied CVs (they're currently running and hiding in the mid-Coral Sea), I have not managed to sink one yet. Their time will come.

I've also managed to attrit the Allied surface forces and interrupt Neuromancer's buildup. To this end I sent Shok, Zuik and Shoho, along with accompanying escorts on a long end around to the Luganville/Noumea area. They left port almost a week ago and just in the last few turns appeared near the Allied bases. Strikes against Luganville's port were inconclusive, but a strike against a convoy escorted by the Astoria went well. The convoy was hit near Koumac, and I'm glad to report Astoria, along with Adm. Fechteler (sp?) was sent to the bottom of the sea.

This last turn I followed up with an attack on Noumea's port - no CAP was present and two American heavy cruisers were badly damaged. Several convoys were sited on the other side of the island, so I may strike them next. The Vals that sited them reported at least one AK hit and on fire. Or I may tear off into the Coral Sea to get Adm. Loken's carriers which are hiding in a most cowardly fashion.

In the meantime I am busy setting up supply convoys to my major bases, as well as increasing my focus on ASW. In the next week or so, major units of the Combined Fleet are due into Truk, so I hope to keep the pressure up. I'm also in the planning stages for two major operations. They are a few weeks off, but I will need time to assemble the necessary forces.

[madflava13]

The Imperialist Dogs of the American Fleet were handed yet another defeat today. Fresh off their stunning victories around the enemy base at Noumea, His Majesty's skilled "Falcons from the Sea" handed the cowardly American carrier forces a sobering loss. The American ship Lexington is known to have sunk, and the Yorktown is believed to be following shortly. Details to follow.

IJN Intelligence released the photograph below.

[madflava13]

Check it out:

[neuromancer]

Sorry I haven't posted in a while, I've not been on the forum much in the past week. I really have to go over the past week or two and do a proper AAR. Especially now that we've had a proper CV battle!

Some thoughts first:

I have a bad feeling about this.... deja vu, neuro?

Yes, and no. I was being more careful this time. Had a proper commander for the carriers, and didn't engage until my air groups were at least reasonably rested. Actually, in the air, my boys did pretty good, probably took half as many air losses.

Of course, I'll lose more when they return to the CVs, and with both CVs at least badly messed up, I'll lose most of the surviving planes anyway. But I have an easier time replacing planesthan he does (I'm more concerned about skilled pilots).

All things considered, the number of hits on ships was probably similar, but he was concentrated on two while I spread out over 3. Plus of course his torps do more damage.

If Yorktown stays above water, I will actually have done better than historical, so that makes me happy (the damage to the IJN CVs was negligable in the actual Battle of Coral Sea).

Although I've located the Allied CVs (they're currently running and hiding in the mid-Coral Sea), I have not managed to sink one yet. Their time will come.

And it did!

My Wildcat crews were pretty tired after earlier engagements near Lunga, I wanted to let them rest up a bit before they went against the IJN carriers. I think it was the right choice. I didn't want to not have the battle at all, because I really didn't like LordHawkes's Death Star, so I wanted to reduce the D.S. some while it was still a mangable size.

Sunk CVs would have been preferable, but damaged enough to return to Tokyo will do.

I've also managed to attrit the Allied surface forces and interrupt Neuromancer's buildup.

Not that much actually...

I think the worst was when his carriers popped up near Noumea and smacked a few CAs in port or escorting some transports. One died, and two are going back to Pearl. Points wise for sunk shipping, we are pretty close though.
Well, were. With Leington down, he leaps ahead. But I'm not that concerned yet.

At any rate, my CVs were behind him, and so I started to move to cut him off, and force an engagement.
Which just happened.

attack on Noumea's port - no CAP was present

Yeah... the Marine fighters hadn't shown up yet.
Want to try again though? It'll be more interesting this time...
[:'(]

In the meantime I am busy setting up supply convoys to my major bases

Oh goody! Fodder for the S boats!
They've been kinda bored lately.

as well as increasing my focus on ASW.

Bah, doomed to failure!

All your ship belong to us!

Oh wait... that's supposed to be your line. Sorry.

- - - -

Okay, I've only seen the combat summary, but it looks like Lexington is down. Yorktown is pretty beat up, but she might make it to port (and she might not, I won't know for sure until I see my turn).

This time at least, unlike against LordHawke, I got some decent licks in as well.

The Imperialist Dogs of the American Fleet were handed yet another defeat today. Fresh off their stunning victories around the enemy base at Noumea, His Majesty's skilled "Falcons from the Sea" handed the cowardly American carrier forces a sobering loss. The American ship Lexington is known to have sunk, and the Yorktown is believed to be following shortly. Details to follow.

And my counter report:

"In the Coral Sea, the Japanese carrier group operating there had apparently grown tired of bombing barely armed transports and ships anchored in port - repeating their old tricks from Pearl - and were running from the New Caledonia area when Carrier task force "YL" cut them off and forced an engagement. In the battle that ensued, many Japanese aircraft were destoryed, and all three Japanese carriers were hit, including severe damage to one. On the US side, the carrier Lexington was badly damaged and sunk. Yorktown was also heavily damaged, but is expected to make it back to Noumea for repairs.

"Admiral Loken indicated that this battle was at worst a marginal defeat, and at best a draw. He regrets the loss of Lexington and many of her crew, but feels confident that Yorkton will live to fight again. He praises the air groups for superb performance, particularly in damaging all three of the enemy carriers. He further adds that Yorktown is close to a major friendly port, while the Japanese ships are not. He also added with a grim smile that there are a few hungry S boats between the enemy carriers and port."