Need some advice!

[NorthStar]

Actually, I didn't lose any APDs, the scenario I am playing just doesn't seem to give me many. I have two in Noumea and one in Brisbane. Don't think any more have been released.

And my idea of using Tulagi didn't pan out. Right now, it has no airfield at all, and I don't have time to do anything about it. What fooled me was that there are PBYs stationed there, so it shows a little airfield symbol, even though there is no airfield.

Unfortunately, I have a possible game buster brewing, as my inexperianced mismanagement of the supply situation at Lunga looks like it will eat my lunch (or the lunches of the troops stationed there, at least).

When the game started, there were some Japanese troops on Guadalcanal, which disappeared a week or so in. I never spotted any major supply or reinforcement runs (except for a few barges) so I sort of forgot about them. Now, about 12 enemy units have appeared in the Lunga hex itself, includeing 4 infantry units and an artillery unit!

I am scrambling two infantry and an armored unit out of Noumea, but it will take 4-5 days for them to arrive, and I don't know if the one infantry unit already there (which has been without supplies for the better part of three weeks) can hold out that long. In addition, the Japanese carriers havn't been seen for 4 days or so, probably resupplying at Truk. They'll probably be back just in time to intercept the troop transports. Plus, there are still three BBs prowling the slot, which could hit the transports or the supply convoy currently at Lunga.

In order to delay as much as possible, I moved (6) B-17 units to Luganville and set them all on ground attack. They are just within normal range of Lunga. Also, there are (3) SBD groups and one TBF group on Lunga, which I have set to primary Naval Attack, secondary Ground Attack. And my two carriers, stationed about five hexes east of Lunga, have one fighter squadron a piece set for LRC (both have extra Marine F4F squadrons aboard) and all the attack planes set the same as those at Lunga. I'm hoping that will do some damage to the Japanese ground troops, and hold them off until I can reinforce. The only other thing I can do is find an infantry unit somewhere nearby, and use the four Dakota groups which have been ferrying supplies (there is a large supply convey unloading in Lunga now) to take it over. This may be throwing good money after bad, though, as they may just be swept up in the flood.

I may cheat here and play through a few days, get a feel for the Japanese intentions, and then back up and try a new tactic.

Or, I may just use this as an opprotunity to practice contested invasions. Though, without much ability to use LBA to cover the area, and with a deficit in carriers, I'm not sure if it will work. I'm develping Irau though, so that will help down the road.

Luckily, things seem to be going OK still in NG (knock on wood).

[von Murrin]

Actually, given your previous predicament, it sounds as though you're doing rather well. Your plan seems to be solid, and the only thing I really see worth commenting on is Lunga itself.

First, the Japs may be as low or lower on supply as/than you. If so, you may just be okay. Second, your a/c on Lunga are going to be completely wiped out if you lose the airfield. If your troops get attacked and start to show signs of cracking, get your a/c out immediately. Third, even a moderately sized DD TF (like 7-9 of them) can prevent a BB group from reaching the transports. You won't actually do anything to them (unless you get lucky), but you'll make them waste time that would have allowed them to engage your transports.

Again, nice work and keep us updated.

[Drex]

I have had success against barges by using my subs. They will surface and use their deck guns to good effect. I'll put a pack of them out there to intercept the large groups that can come down the slot.

[NorthStar]

. . but then, I guess if it didn't, it wouldn't be that much trouble.

I was worrying about the Japanese ground forces on Lunga. My first days bombing revealed that almost all of the units have about 500 mean in them. My forces in Lunga outnumber them siqnificantly, and I have more guns to boot. They have bombarded me for two days, and done almost no damage (100 loses at best). Conversely, two days of bombing have inflicted around 1000 casualties to them. Another few days of this, and I am tempted to attack them. I am using Dakotas to brind in a RCT and a Base Force from Luganville (the current base force is pretty beat up from lack of supplies, so I may rotate them back) and am still loading forces in Noumea, but I may abort that operation, as it would appear to be unnecessary. I am trying to use my APDs to run an AA unit up to Lunga, but for some reason it keeps trying to load a Base Force as well, so I've wasted about two days on this.

Meanwhile, a fairly large group of APs has appeared on its way to Buna! I have a large contingent marching overland from PM, but they'll be really tired when they get there. Unfortunately, the weather has been bad, and I have only gotten one mass strike against the TFs. Again, unfortunately, all my pilots decided to attach the same AP, so I got a torpedo hit, seven bomb hits, and something like 27 shell hits (strafing P39s) on it. I wish to boys had spread that damage out a bit, but oh well . . . .

Meanwhile, I have a surface TF in Brisbane which took some minor damage in my previous diversonary bombardment of Buna. I've headed them up, but it takes about 3-4 days to get to Buna from Brisbane, so they may be able to do some damage during the unloading, but not before. Similarly, the transports will probably reach Buna in the night, so my planes won't have another crack at them until they have begun unloading, either. The only thing I have in position to intercept is two subs in the hexes outside Buna. They may do some damage, but won't stop the transports.

Just out of curiosity, when my Surface TF arrives, what's my best bet. Should I use Bombard or Surface Combat? There is a CD unit at Buna, but I don't know if Surface Combat will let me avoid that. Also, won't Surface Combat use less amunitilon?

But, back to my oritinal problem, Lunga was just hit by 30 zeros and 30 vals, which probably means the carriers are on their way back! I move a B17 group to Lunga to give me a bit more range, but I need to decide if I should keep my carriers around, or withdraw them. With Lunga resupplied, I may have enough LBA to tip the odds in my favor. Especially if I can draw them far enough south (previously, they've actually moved into Lunga's hex, which would be enough) they can also be hit by B17s from Luganville. Should be interesting. . .

[daniel123]

I can't find this question covered any where. If the 3 Aus inf div HQ is assgned to SWPAC HQ and you get the I Aus corp can you reassgn 3 Aus div hq to 1 Aus corp HQ??

[von Murrin]

You don't need to. A Corps HQ will affect combat for any unit in a six-hex radius.