Reinforcing Port Moresby - February 1942

[Dereck]

It's February 1942 and I'm already looking for plans/ideas on how to reinforce Port Moresby.

Currently I have a sea infested with submarines to deal with and also a lack of available forces. Now, historically, the Japanese didn't make a land move against Port Moresby until around the summer of 1942 but I'm pretty sure the AI isn't set up to follow historic timetables and don't think I'm going to be given much time to build it up.

Now, like my ASW campaign in the other thread I am on a tight shoestring for assets at the time and this is basically all the Southwest Pacific has available:

Port Moresby
- Sparrow Force Battalion
- Port Moresby Defense Brigade
- No. 112 RAN Base Force
- 6 catalinas of No. 20 RAAF Squadron
- 4 Wirraways of No. 24 RAAF Squadron (being sent to Australia for rest and gaining of equipment/pilots)
- 24 P40E Warhawks of 24th FG/2

Brisbane
- Southwest Pacfic HQ
- Australian I Corps HQ
- No. 103 RAN Base Force

Sydney
- 30th Australian Brigade

What do other Allied players do to reinforce Port Moresby and when? Bear in mind I'm not playing against a human opponent in PBEM but against the AI.

Thanks

[Feinder]

If you want to throw everythign you can into PM, there are 3 Bird Btns. One is at Rabaul. Two are at Darwin I think. You might also look at some of the units in SoPac. There is a NZ Bde and USMC Btn down there. The AI doesn't tend to push that far south, but yes, he will go for PM. Also, you can start loading 2nd USMC Div asap. Not sure it's necessary to commit it to PM (and it would take about 6 weeks to get there).

Also, that Aus Corps HQ is nice. It'll make up your support deficit nicely.

-F-

[DuckofTindalos]

It probably isn't necessary to send the 2nd Marine Division to PM. The AI won't send enough LCU's against you to require all that firepower.

[niceguy2005]

Agreed, PM won't need that much firepower. Keep a small (emphasis on small) cruiser force in the area to raid incoming transports. When you sink half his landing force you will need half the defense.

If Rabaul still stands consider sending your PM forces there quickly. With all your "bird" battalions and some base forces you can repulse the AIs initial invasion. When the 30th AUS Bde shows up that is all the reinforcements you need. If you hold Rabaul you won't have to fight the entire Solomons campaign and that really shortens the war. Warning though, the AI will send the KB you will need lots and lots of fighters...lots!

[RUPD3658]

Sewing mines would not hurt either.

[Tom Hunter]

Build up Thursday Island too, you can bomb and even LR CAP Port Moresby from there.

[Dereck]

ORIGINAL: Feinder

If you want to throw everythign you can into PM, there are 3 Bird Btns. One is at Rabaul. Two are at Darwin I think. You might also look at some of the units in SoPac. There is a NZ Bde and USMC Btn down there. The AI doesn't tend to push that far south, but yes, he will go for PM. Also, you can start loading 2nd USMC Div asap. Not sure it's necessary to commit it to PM (and it would take about 6 weeks to get there).

Also, that Aus Corps HQ is nice. It'll make up your support deficit nicely.

-F-

I know the AI will go for Port Moresby. My last game I had it pretty built up as far as air power went when it sent a bombardment task force and a carrier force around to attack it. I had no carrier forces closer than Pearl Harbor (*doh*) but did have a surface force with some battleships in it. I did a hail mary type air assault with all my planes (fighters, bombers whatever) at 1,000 feet naval attacks and actually damaged the carriers though did a number on my planes too. THen, to top it off, when I was trying to get my surface force out of the way it ran smack dab in the middle of the Jap AI carrier force and I ended up sinking 4 Jap carriers in a night surface action - something as lucky (and as stupid on the AI's part) won't happen again I don't think.

USMC Battalion?

2nd USMC Division is already "in garrison" at Suva allocated to retaking the Solomons when it's needed. The Lark Battalion at Rabal has been cut off and I haven't been able to get it, or the other battalion to a base to evacuate before the damn Jap AI takes the bases on me [:@] ... I've basically written them off but wondering if I should send a sub or two to try to take a cadre off but probably won't.

Tentative plans to reinforce Port Moresby:

1. 3rd NZ Brigade transferred to Southwest Pacific command (beginning of my ANZAC army)
--- ship to Auckland from Christchurch to await escort by US carriers
--- ship to Noumea under carrier escort

2. Australian I Corps
--- ship from Brisbane to Noumea

3. Australian 30th Brigade
--- ship to Noumea from Sydney

4. Combine 3rd NZ Brigade, 30th AUS Brigade and AUS I Corps into one task force and send to Port Moresby
--- transfer first from transport AKs to AP for quicker unloading at Port Moresby

5. Having Lexington and Yorktown provide CAP coverage against Japanese air attacks from Rabaul
--- try going north (unfortunately near Rabaul air coverage) to try to miss most Jap subs along Australia coast

6. Once troops landed haul a$$ out of the area

[Dereck]

ORIGINAL: niceguy2005

Agreed, PM won't need that much firepower. Keep a small (emphasis on small) cruiser force in the area to raid incoming transports. When you sink half his landing force you will need half the defense.

If Rabaul still stands consider sending your PM forces there quickly. With all your "bird" battalions and some base forces you can repulse the AIs initial invasion. When the 30th AUS Bde shows up that is all the reinforcements you need. If you hold Rabaul you won't have to fight the entire Solomons campaign and that really shortens the war. Warning though, the AI will send the KB you will need lots and lots of fighters...lots!

Well Rabaul has already fallen and I actually WANT to fight the Solomons campaign to be honest.

[Dereck]

ORIGINAL: Tom Hunter

Build up Thursday Island too, you can bomb and even LR CAP Port Moresby from there.

Currently I'm using Thursday Island as a seaplane base to TRY to locate any Jap subs that try to go through the area there into the Coral Sea.

[BLUESBOB]

I don't have the game in front of me, so forgive my not being able to give exact details. In the game I'm currently playing it's also early Feb., 1942. What I've been able to move into PM is one Austrailian Brigade, one NZ Brigade, one Australian Tank Regiment, an RAAF unit, and a USAAF unit from the Philippines. I evacuated all my forces from Rabaul and put them in Gili Gili.
I only have Catalinas and Hudsons operating at the moment, all doing naval and ASW patrol. I have Wirraways, but other than just placing them on naval attack, their not much good. Due to some shuffling around of supply, PM currently has approx. 30,000 supply points. With time, all my units should fill out by the time the Japs get there. It's takes some management, but PM can be made into a very formidable place in a very short time.

P.S. I forgot to add that I have the CL Adelaide, three British DD's, and 9 PG's also stationed there. Aux. ships are two MSW's and an AVD. There are also two Dutch subs operating out of PM.

[Feinder]

There's a USMC Def Btn at Suva or Upolu or Togaro or one of the SoPac bases. And if you're really desperate, one of the USN BFs in SoPac starts with some infantry squads already in it (again, it's somewhere in SoPac). Just going from the top of my head tho. I don't have the game/map/OB here.

-F-

[niceguy2005]

If Rabaul has fallen, I would not put all my forces into one big transport TF. I would ship in reinforcements peacemeal, but quickly. If KB shows up while your carrier group and transports are all sitting at PM you done for. Also, while transports unload at PM they will be under constant threat from Rabaul. Is Rabaul a size 4 AF yet? If so, any ships going to PM will be subject to constant TB attack and supplies could become a problem. I would stage out of Townville or Cairn and FT and airlift forces into PM.

Also, if you are going to fight for PM you really need also to fight for Gili Gili. With Rabaul, Lae and Gili Gili in Jap hands you will loose the air war for PM

Really, one Bde with support in PM and one surface TF based out of Cairns will probably be all you need, with sufficient air support. You will need 2 FG minimum to battle it out in the air. One should be P-40Es

What size is the AF at PM?

[Dereck]

ORIGINAL: niceguy2005

If Rabaul has fallen, I would not put all my forces into one big transport TF. I would ship in reinforcements peacemeal, but quickly. If KB shows up while your carrier group and transports are all sitting at PM you done for. Also, while transports unload at PM they will be under constant threat from Rabaul. Is Rabaul a size 4 AF yet? If so, any ships going to PM will be subject to constant TB attack and supplies could become a problem. I would stage out of Townville or Cairn and FT and airlift forces into PM.

Also, if you are going to fight for PM you really need also to fight for Gili Gili. With Rabaul, Lae and Gili Gili in Jap hands you will loose the air war for PM

Really, one Bde with support in PM and one surface TF based out of Cairns will probably be all you need, with sufficient air support. You will need 2 FG minimum to battle it out in the air. One should be P-40Es

What size is the AF at PM?

The Japanes carriers are between Singapore and Java right now. I have the Java Sea and the seas between the PI and Celebes/Borneo littered with picket submarines and flying the Dutch patrol planes all over so I've been keeping a good eye on the Jap carriers (even managed to be able to position a Dutch sub to put a torpedo into the Akagi).

Right not Port Moresby is only a level 3 airfield. I've been hesitent to send many supply convoys there with all the Jap subs outside of my Australian ports and limited AKs in the area (though more are coming as I group all my merchant ships together in staging ports to figure out what I have).

[niceguy2005]

And the baby KB?

I still say that putting all your eggs in one basket is VERY risky.

[Dereck]

ORIGINAL: niceguy2005

And the baby KB?

I still say that putting all your eggs in one basket is VERY risky.

This is the AI. From my last game (without fog of war) the AI only had the carriers there when it was done with Java and Borneo. It's a calculated risk, but with my air patrols and sub pickets I'm willing to take that risk while Java and Borneo still need to be captured. I can alter my plans if my search planes locate any ships in the area I should be leery of.

Afterwards is when I lay in wait to ambush the Jap carriers.

[siRkid]

ORIGINAL: Tom Hunter

Build up Thursday Island too, you can bomb and even LR CAP Port Moresby from there.

I did this in my PBEM game and it worked like a charm. I lost PM very early in the game but with air cover and bombing raids from Thursday Island I was able to retake PM without much problem.[:D]

[siRkid]

I know some of you will cring at this but you could evacuate some of the Duth garrisions and move them to PM to bolster its defense. It does not cost very many PPs to reassign them and you can get some avaition support that way to.

[captskillet]

I'd send 30th Aus and more planes to PM.........get it up to level 5 AF so's you can get some B-17s in there and MORE real fighters (hopefully you got your planes out of the Phil.)

[Nikademus]

PM is vulnerable to a siege so i'd be cautious about putting too many eggs in one basket. A division's worth of ground pounders is a good upper limit along with a good sized base unit or two, an AA unit and a FA regiment. Put 5 forts or more behind them and you have a tough obstacle for the Japan player (assuming you can maintain at least minimal supply) He'd need around 3 Divisions worth to root them.

Airpower requirements further define the LCU limits.

[niceguy2005]

I agree, I wouldn't even commit a full division, but AA and ART is a good idea. ALso did I say don't forget the fighters? In my games with the AI we had mini battles of brittian over Rabaul and PM.