Eagle vs. Sun - The REAL Story

[Canoerebel]

5/1/42 - Colorado John and Georgia Dan have decided to square off for a third game. We've played Scenario 15 twice, but this time we're going with 17. John takes the Japs. Settings: Jap Ship Commitment 140%, Allies 100%; Jap sub-doctrine off; Allied damage control on.

The Japs begin with 15 bases/3410 points; the Allies 15/2780.


It has been awhile since I've played this scenario, but if memory serves the Japs have a decided advantage early on (though not as big as in 19). John should be able to take PM and has a decent shot at L'ville or T'ville. The question is whether he will be somewhat timid after our last two games. I don't think so. John is aggressive and I believe he knows that he has the edge as the game begins.

My strategy will therefore be defensive early in the game. Nearly all aircraft are set to train. I am not completely passive, however. I am sending the Kanga troops from Wau to Marilinan and, via FT, a detachment of Aussie infantry from Brisbane to GG. More than anything, these are intended as probes at pressure points to see how the Japs react.

I will avoid carrier clashes for a LONG time. If John makes a move toward L'ville or Austrailia fairly early in the game (say July), I may let him come and, as a counter, prepare a large force to strike on the other side of the map. But that's a long time off.

[Canoerebel]

5/2/42 - All quiet on the Coral Sea Front. Just as scripted, the Japs landed troops at Lunga and GG. That should open GG to the Allied FT mission. If all goes well, the upcoming Jap attack will meet with a surprising repulse. The Kangas are a few turns out of Marilinan. Quiet elsewhere.

[Canoerebel]

5/4/42 - Yesterday the Japs captured Lunga unopposed, but failed to take GG (suffering 30 casualties to 2 for the Allies). Today the Japs bombarded the Allies at GG without effect. The FT TF that delivered the Allied unit to GG returned to Cairns. I'm sending it back to GG to recover the expeditionary force although I may scrub the mission. Not sure yet. Kangas still three turns out of Marilinan. No Japs yet at Buna or Tulagi. US CVs at Noumea. No sign of big Jap ships yet.

[Canoerebel]

5/6/42 - On 5/5, Jap CVs spotted just east of GG. Accordingly, I recalled my two transport convoys (heading to PM) and my FT convoy (heading to GG). The latter somehow did not get the message. It didn't head to GG, nor did it head back to Cairns. It just sat still and got hit by Jap Vals and Kates. The error is probably on my part (in failing to confirm that I had actually given the orders) as opposed to a computer glitch. I seem to do a few of these each game. The Japs sank Australia and I scuttled Chicago and Hobart (both of which had 93+ flooding).

The Jap CVs are between GG and Townsville now. Dangerous risk for John. Lucky hit by a Hudson or B-17 will ruin his day. In hopes that his CVs may hang around and lose a few more aircraft in various missions (it lost 5 or so attacking the ill-fated FT TF), I've sent the US CVs on an intercept course.

Kangas arrive Marilinan next turn. GG will probably fall in a turn or two. Jap unit landed at Tulagi.

[Canoerebel]

5/7/42 - Jap CVs remain exposed midway between GG and Australia. Vals bombed the Allied infantry at GG. US CVs are at least two days away from action unless the Japs make a move towards New Caledonia. Ordinarily I wouldn't think of initiating a carrier battle this early in the game, but if the Japs say south of GG, I will. I've moved some PBY squadrons from Efate to T'ville to help search.

The Japs lost 5 Kates and Vals in the strike vs. my FT convoy. Would like to soak off a few more so I left a DD at T'ville in hopes it might attract John's attention. This would be a good time for John to head south on one of his wild raids.

Bombers from PM and Cairns have hit a Jap TF at and near Lae the past two turns scoring a few hits.

Kangas will attack Marilinan this turn.

[Canoerebel]

5/8/42 - Japs CVs withdrew to a point 5 hexes east of GG. I don't believe the Japs have spotted the US CVs yet. Hoping to entice them back south, I have ordered the two supply TFs back to PM as bait (but they have a long way to go - neither is closer than Rockhampton).

Kangas occupied Marilinan without opposition. Have ordered them on to Nadzab. One squadron Dakotas will air transport part of 7th Brigade to Buna.

None of these little offensive gambits has any chance of a meaningful stand against the Japs. A very experienced Jap opponent would simply smile and salivate over what they would recognize to be a weak dispersion of Allied troops. John is still a bit inexperienced, however, and I am hoping that he will overcommit or overreact to these probes.

[Canoerebel]

5/9/42 - Admiral Spruance went bezerk, disobeyed orders, and went off at full speed far, far to the north of where I positioned my CVs....and I get to pay for his mistake. Or was it mine?

As you may recall, on 5/8 the Jap CVs withdrew to a point due east of GG. My CVs were far to the SE and I ordered Spruance to steam NNW at low speed to hang around in the middle Coral Sea in case the Japs came back for more. Instead, the Japs moved north nearly to Shortlands, but somehow Spruance ended up ESE of GG about 10 hexes - a good ten or fifteen hexes north of orders. I assume that this came about due to Spruance's reputation as an aggressive officer. If so, this is my doing since I had set the CV TF to react.

The Japs got up one air strike at maximum range. The US planes were out of range. Yorktown took 2 bombs (38/16 damage) and Lexington took one (minimal damage). The Japs lost 20 Vals and 8 Kates.

If Lex and York make it home, I'll call it even (since I'm an optimist). However, York's speed is down to 20 knots and the Japs can catch her. The question is, Will they? I've ordered the CVs to steam due south to Brisbane. Let's see if the Japs follow. It will be a bad day if York can't put up CAP and the Japs move within range.

Elsewhere, a Jap shock attack at GG meets with a repulse (more Jap than Allied casualties). US bombers continue to hit miscellaneous shipping near Fincshafen. PM's bombers have scored 10 or 20 hits over the past three turns. They're giving a much better account of themselves than usual (probably because the Japs aren't putting up CAP).

[Canoerebel]

5/10/42 - It is my unpleasant duty to report that Admiral Spruance once again refused to obey orders and insisted on confronting the Japs CVs. The Allies got in the first strike, scoring three hits on the CVL and one on a CV, but the Japs then tore into Lex and York. I've scuttled one and the other will in all likelihood bite the dust next turn.

I am embarrassed to have lost my two CVs in this fashion, but I certainly never intended for the admiral to take them right to the enemy's front door. They were ordered to remain safely within the heart of the Coral Sea to take on the Japs only if the Japs ventured too far south.

Either way - my fault or crazy computer glitch - the Allies are off to a bad start and I'll have my work cut out for me. Nuts.

Elsewhere, two Jap APs succumbed to damage inflicted by PM's bombers. Not even a smidgeon of solace.....

[Miller]

I thought no matter how aggresive the commander as long as "do not react" is set they would not steam towards the enemy.......

[Canoerebel]

5/11/42 - No, certain commanders are so aggressive that they react despite your best efforts to the contrary. I've had it happen four or five times. It is equally frustrating that on occasion you cannot successfully order a carrier commander to disengage and flee. He'll simply react and come back to the fray. Spruance is probably my favorite Allied commander, but I'll think twice before ever putting him in command of a CV TF again (unless I'm sure it will be at equal or superior odds).

Meanwhile, York sank and GG fell. The Allies are feeling blue today.

[anarchyintheuk]

It would have been justice if he had gone down with the ship. Even thought his CVTF's have done the same thing to me, I still use him. Maybe I should rethink that.

[Canoerebel]

5/12/42 - Jap CVs hang around to pick off DD Anderson as it fled towards Cairns. Now I face about three months of game-time watching the Japs run-amock while the most I can hope to do is parry and occasionally get in jab. It's going to be a LONG, unenjoyable spell.

Here's the weirdest "Spruance goes nuts" instance I've ever had. I'm currently playing Scenario 19 against Sneaky Jap. He has the Japs at 140% and I have the Allies at 100%. I guessed right that he was making a move on L'ville and I had previously deposited an Aussie division there. Sneaky came with what had to be the largest invasion fleet I've ever seen - everything including all his MLs, PCs, etc. In awe, I sent my CVs (all 6) south to a point just north of Noumea, accompanied by a separate large combat fleet. As Sneaky moved close to L'ville, I decided to send both my CVs and combat ships due west, out of harm's way, where ultimately they could strike New Guinea or other points while the Japs invade L'ville. I ordered the combat TF to steam west to a point near Koumac with the CVs set to follow and not to react. The combat TF was also on orders not to react. Unfortunately, it did and, to compound the error, the CVs followed. So instead of my two potent TFs heading west out of harm's way to nip at the Jap's heels, the combat TF reacted and steamed right into L'ville and the CVs followed suit. The result was a specacular naval battle with both sides taking huge losses - the Japs in DDs and APs (plus two CVs and a CVE) and the Allies losing all six CVs. Holy cow what a mess. And it never should have happened. That was probably in 7/ or 8/42 and we're now at 12/23/42 and I still don't have anything to fight with (although I've managed to re-take EFate and Wunpuko, L'ville will fall shortly, and while Sneaky was in SOPAC I managed to cobble together an invasion force that re-took both PM and GG which I still hold). I am behind 12700 to 7700, but I'm determined to mount a comeback.

[anarchyintheuk]

I was going to say keep your head up, but if you can survive that other game, you can survive this one.

BTW, did you have Lee as your SCTF commander?

[Canoerebel]

I don't recall the exact makeup of the fleets. I probably had Spruance commanding the surface TF with Mitchner commanding the CVs. When the Jap combat ships arrived in L'ville, my "do not react" surface TF that had been ordered to a point near Koumac reacted and proceeded straight to L'ville (making it that very turn) and the dadgum "do not react" CVs followed their lead. It was so ridiculous that I could almost muster a chuckle, but it's hard to chuckle when six CVs go down.

[Canoerebel]

5/14/42 - The long, slow march to parity is just beginning (sigh).... The Jap CVs continue to patrol the central Coral Sea. The two Allied supply TFs are finishing unloading at PM and I'm trying to figure out how they're going to get home safely. Jap bombers are hitting PM every turn, but the good guys are giving a fair account of themselves. Aussie-based B-17s went hunting in Rabaul Harbor and hit an AP. Kangas will arrive at Nadzab next turn on their rather hopeless mission to cause the Japs some heartburn. Next report in, say, 3 months.....

[AmiralLaurent]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

5/11/42 - No, certain commanders are so aggressive that they react despite your best efforts to the contrary. I've had it happen four or five times. It is equally frustrating that on occasion you cannot successfully order a carrier commander to disengage and flee. He'll simply react and come back to the fray. Spruance is probably my favorite Allied commander, but I'll think twice before ever putting him in command of a CV TF again (unless I'm sure it will be at equal or superior odds).

Meanwhile, York sank and GG fell. The Allies are feeling blue today.

The only way to control at 100% CV TF is to order them to follow another TF with 'no react' orders. There they won't move at all towards enemy CVs.

In your case, I would have a small DD TF lead the CVs in Coral Sea. Or after the first day and damage to your CV I would have ordered them to follow a TF sitting in Noumea or Brisbane.

[Canoerebel]

Not so. As noted previously, the CVs were set to follow a surface group. Both the surface group and the CVs were set to "do not react". The surface group reacted and went to L'ville and the CVs followed. The CVs promptly went to the bottom.

5/15/42 - Jap Nells and Betties from Rabaul sank three APs at PM. The other supply TF is hung up just south of PM with the Jap CVs closing in for the kill. I've ordered them to return to PM. I hope I will outwit the Japs who may move south toward Australia (to cut off the supply TF's most likely line of retreat). I've loaded Cairns and Cooktown with most of my bombers. Long shot to hit a Jap CV with LBA, but gotta try.

[Canoerebel]

5/17/42 - On 5/16 the Jap CVs indeed moved south toward Australia halting just five or six hexes north of Cooktown. You may recall that I loaded up Cooktown and Cairns with everything I could in hopes that my air commander would have sense enough to call for a major strike against the two lonely Jap CVs just off the coast. Nah, everyone stayed home except the B-17s, which hit some PCs at GG.

Meanwhile, Jap LBA hit the AK TF at PM, sinking two and damaging others. I disbanded the TF and parked the ships in the port.

As the turn ended, the Allies received the good news that CVL Shoho sank at Shortlands and the Kangas took Nadzab.

On 5/17, the Jap CVs moved to a point midway between PM and GG, but again the Allied bombers smiled and waved. This time the B-17s and some medium bombers flew missions to Rabaul Harbor, sank a MSW and damaged five or six transports. Nice, but what're they doing up there when CVs are on the doorstep?

I"m air transporting some of the 7th Brigade to Wau to guard the back door while the Kangas are touring Nadzab. Still don't know exactly what I hope to accomplish, but little probes sometimes accomplish big things.

[Canoerebel]

5/19/42 - My worthy opponent thinks I'm behind the 8-Ball. Remarked he in a recent email: "I just noticed the updated on ships sunk. I cannot believe that I got BOTH Lex and York! That puts you into a VERY tough situation...YIKES..." He needs to be taught a lesson.....

The Japs are reconning Buna, Nadzab and Wau. Good move by John to figure out what I'm doing and whether these contingents pose a serious threat to the Japs.

I don't know yet whether I'll reinforce New Guinea or whether I'll pull some of my troops out and concentrate on the defense of Australia and New Caledonia until the cavalry arrives late in the year. I'm leaning toward the latter, but there's still a little time to see if the Japs make any mistakes that create opportunities.

Enterprise and Hornet due to arrive in Pearl tomorrow. That's another painful reminder of what I've squandered already in this game. Instead of posing a threat to the Japs, the presence of two Allied CVs will be more a concern to me lest I blunder again.

Jap CVs seem to be heading back to Shortlands.

[Canoerebel]

5/21/42 - No combat the past few days. The Kangas at Nadzab and the 7th Brigade contingent at Wau will march to Salamaua to give battle to a Japanese infantry unit there. Part of the 7th remains at Buna. Enterprise and Hornet have not been released yet and probably will not for 9 more days (when a number of CAs arrive in Pearl). So Allies won't have carriers for at least a month. Major ground reinforcements will arrive at Brisbane (32nd, 41st divisions) and Noumea (Marines and others) in about 55 days. That is about when the big Jap push should come. [>:]