A rookie's first match in Coral Sea

[Icechuck]

May 13, 1942

S-40 sights enemy escorts, presumably leading the IJN CV force, but is detected and forced to dive before an attack can begin. This does confirm that the enemy is withdrawing north. Both of my carriers are withdrawing to their base at Noumea. I am not willing to potentially face 1 Fleet Carrier and the Light Carrier Shoho with just half my strength. With one enemy CV probably being dead, or atleast crippled, and the invasion defeated I will take my victory and withdraw.

May 14, 1942
The enemy TF is sighted withdrawing north towards Rabaul close to the shores at Munda by a passing Catalina patrol. They enter the same hex as a US Submarine, but no attack is made. With that, the game ends and I get to see the scorecard. The final tally is a Decisive Allied Victory, with the USN scoring 1606 points to the IJN's 258.

Closing results:
In total the IJN lost 91 aircraft, with the US losing 63. Viewing the intelligence reports from the battle, I can see Shokaku sunk on the 13th so there was no need for my submarine hunts, and examining the TF nearby Submarines shows that it's just Zuikaku. IT looks like after initially losing some of her aircraft the Shoho withdrew to Truk, where she remained for the duration of the battle. My fears of a CVL + CV versus my lone carrier were unfounded. However, looking at the Zuikaku's remaining air capability, she would've smashed me if it came down to a carrier engagement. No allied ships were lost in the battle. In the transports, the IJN lost the entirety of the Kure 3rd SNLF and 144th Infantry Regiment on the 8th of May. Overall, for a first battle I'm very content, and if I think this happened in a grand campaign, I could not complain at all. A damaged but recoverable CV for an IJN Fleet Carrier and a strategic victory through the protection of Port Moresby seems really good.

Thank y'all very much for the input, and I hope I made a good first impression of my gameplay and AARs. I'll probably move onto Guadalcanal, and then run both this and Guadalcanal from the IJN perspective.

[Platoonist]

One question I have, is there anyway to merge the depleted squads from Yorktown that have landed on Lexington into the existing units on Lexington, or do I just need to handle these smaller units as well as the full-strength ones?

No, you can't merge individual squadrons although you can disband them in port. (Which I wouldn't do as carrier squadrons are rather precious) However, in the campaign game replacement aircraft would likely be available in a major port to bring a depleted squadron back up to strength in planes pretty quickly.

[RangerJoe]

The Yorktown should not be able to operate aircraft while the Shokaku should sink. Normally three bombs should not sink her but that gasoline explosion does not help. You can see if she did sink by the number of carrier aircraft "ground" losses. If she can not operate aircraft and the other carrier gets too full, you will see OPs losses.

Why didn't your dive bombers not have fighter escort or was your strike broken up into waves?

You should draw a line between those enemy carriers and Rabaul to try and catch the Shokaku with submarines if she does not sink.

I'm confident that Yorktown can withdraw safely. I already have all US submarines in the area forming a wall between Rossel Island and Munda, which is the only route Shokkaku could take to withdraw for Rabaul. The ones who won't make it to the defensive line in time are moving more northwards to block between Woodlark Island and the Shortlands.

Regarding Lexington, all the dive bombers and fighters have a max range of 6 currently set, the strikes were staggered (the unpictured strike from Lexington was escorted) and I believe the escort for the second (unescorted) strike got lost in the weather, as the weather is still being uncooperative with my goals.

One question I have, is there anyway to merge the depleted squads from Yorktown that have landed on Lexington into the existing units on Lexington, or do I just need to handle these smaller units as well as the full-strength ones?

Save the game first but then disband the fragments which should give you a choice of air units to send the planes and aircraft to if there are multiple air units that can receive them. You need to make sure that the Lexington does not go over 115% of its plane capacity otherwise you can only send aircraft to another base or ship that can receive them. But if you are unsure of something working, save the game and then try it. The AI/computer does not care if you do that at all, you won't hurt its feelings whatsoever.

Yes, weather does prevent air units from linking up.

Land Based Aircraft (LBA) only types take up 4X the space on an aircraft carrier as carrier capable aircraft do, be careful with the first Corsair since it is not carrier capable. You don't have to worry about that plane since it only shows up in 1943. But that is one way to get aircraft to a captured airbase if there is no airbase close to the receiving airbase so no ship hasto go to that base and unload them, an AV can carry planes and unload them intact but other cargo ships and transports have to disassemble them. So those little CVEs are useful for doing that while also staying away from dangerous areas.

But the computer will send the damaged ships usually on a strait line directly to the base so against the computer you can just line up your submarines. Don't expect a human to do that.

[BBfanboy]

Firstly - Congratulations on a well-fought campaign. You kept the main aim in mind (defeat the invasion plans) while minimizing your own losses!

Your question "One question I have, is there anyway to merge the depleted squads from Yorktown that have landed on Lexington into the existing units on Lexington, or do I just need to handle these smaller units as well as the full-strength ones?" needs a bit more discussion.

You are probably aware of the 90 planes + 115% limit for the number of aircraft aboard Lexington before flight operations cease (no room to land). You might not know about the 5 squadron or part thereof limit. Essentially, if you get to six or more squadrons flight ops cease. Since you cannot transfer aircraft between squadrons without disbanding some of them, I think you best option is to send the least effective squadrons (use drop tanks if you can) to Port Moresby or other Allied base that has air support. Keep close to the 90 aircraft limit on Lex.
Now you have a nearly intact CV (some sorties used) and can consider taking on the remaining IJ carrier. The Japanese carrier will not have had any replacement aircraft and if it took on the squadrons from the damaged one it would be overstacked by squadron count. If they are more than 14 hexes from their own base they will not have been able to fly off excess squadrons. That means you would be justified in seeking out the remaining carrier with your sole carrier.

[RangerJoe]

Firstly - Congratulations on a well-fought campaign. You kept the main aim in mind (defeat the invasion plans) while minimizing your own losses!

Your question "One question I have, is there anyway to merge the depleted squads from Yorktown that have landed on Lexington into the existing units on Lexington, or do I just need to handle these smaller units as well as the full-strength ones?" needs a bit more discussion.

You are probably aware of the 90 planes + 115% limit for the number of aircraft aboard Lexington before flight operations cease (no room to land). You might not know about the 5 squadron or part thereof limit. Essentially, if you get to six or more squadrons flight ops cease. Since you cannot transfer aircraft between squadrons without disbanding some of them, I think you best option is to send the least effective squadrons (use drop tanks if you can) to Port Moresby or other Allied base that has air support. Keep close to the 90 aircraft limit on Lex.
Now you have a nearly intact CV (some sorties used) and can consider taking on the remaining IJ carrier. The Japanese carrier will not have had any replacement aircraft and if it took on the squadrons from the damaged one it would be overstacked by squadron count. If they are more than 14 hexes from their own base they will not have been able to fly off excess squadrons. That means you would be justified in seeking out the remaining carrier with your sole carrier.

Yes, I should have mentioned disbanding the fragments and not the actual unit itself. The man from Big Canada Land is correct.

If you are going to dispatch any full squadrons to a land base, if at all possible send those torpedo planes due short range. Then go carrier hunting with extra fighters on board . . .

[Ditchwalker]

I've really enjoyed reading through your adventure. Thanks for sharing.

[Szut]

Thanks for this AAR and the comments. This is a very helpful scenario and a good reference topic for newcomers.