Second Complete Coral Sea Scenario

[Canoerebel]

Like Grotius, I took the Allies against the Japanese AI in the Coral Sea scenario. The two played out much differently, so here is a brief summary -

Opening - Unlike Grotius, I order the two US CV TFs to rendezvous on a course taking them due west. My plan is to head toward Townsville or Cairns and then north if the Japs move on Port Moresby. The small CA/DD TF south of the carriers is sent to Townsville. An AV at Noumea is ordered to Koumac, but promptly takes five TTs from a sub and goes under. I put two PBY squadrons in PM with orders to search from 40 to 150 degrees.

The first few days: Several Jap TFs are sighted near Milne Bay on a course that makes it clear that the Japs are moving on PM. The Allied CVs rendezvous and continue west toward Cairns, then jink north. I set both Wildcat squadrons at 60% CAP. Both carriers refuel and the AOs then make for Cairns. A few Jap raids (LBA mainly, but some carrier air launched from a hex NNE of Milne Bay) hit PM's airfield with little effect.

The battle: The American CVs come within range of a Jap amphibious TF making for PM. In four attacks over two days, the Allies penetrate a CAP of 17-18 Zeros on LRCAP and savage the Jap transports. The Japs manage to land a much weaker ground force (Kure SNLF and part of a regiment). The force is much too weak to pose a threat to the defenders. There is no sign of Japanese carriers.

Aftermath: After two days of attacks, the American carriers move toward Cairns. A Jap sub puts a TT in CV Lexington, causing 9/14/29. Lexington and the other ships make it to Townsville without further problem. (After two days in port, damage was still 9/14/27, so damage control wasn't doing all that well in the level three port). Meanwhile, CA Chicago, a CL, and four DDs make two bombardment runs from Cairns to PM, further weakening the Japanese ground forces. An Allied counterattack at PM does 3x damage to the Japs (180 casualtiies to 60). It appears the Japanese invasion of PM is a total wreck. The Jap CVs never make an appearance.

Jap gains: The Japs do manage to seize an undefended Guadalanal.

Final Score: Allies 1147, Japs 209.

[Don Bowen]

...
A Jap sub puts a TT in CV Lexington, causing 9/14/29. Lexington and the other ships make it to Townsville without further problem. (After two days in port, damage was still 9/14/27, so damage control wasn't doing all that well in the level three port).
...

What are the damage types for these numbers. There are four now, not three.

[Canoerebel]

Wow, I didn't even notice because the fourth number was a zero - so it was 9/14/29/0.

I incorrectly thought the 29 was fires, but it was "engine damage." Fires were, in fact, zero.

I had been a little puzzled why the damage control parties hadn't been able to extinguish fires after three days in port, but now I know they had!

P.S. The Allies wiped out the Japanese at PM on a 120:1 shock attack on the last day of the scenario.

[Canoerebel]

Some things I learned without using the manual (meaning the interface is pretty user friendly and intuitive:

1) Waypoints (yay!) - I used these to set up my bombardment TF from Cairns hitting PM. I set a waypoint to the NW of Cairns and it worked well both times.
2) Search arc - easy to use. I knew the approximate location of the Jap ships, so I set the two PBY squadrons at PM to search an arc from 40 degrees to 140 degrees.

Another very nice feature: The game automatically saves a "pre-turn" file in slot two!

[Grotius]

Congratulations, Canoerebel! As I said in my AAR, normally I wouldn't split my CVs, but I noticed that they'd been pre-plotted to split up, and I was curious to see what would happen. Evidently your approach is superior. Anyway, thanks for posting.

[Canoerebel]

Thanks, Grotius. I had no idea what the best approach was. In all my UV games, I immediately lost every CV battle I engaged in, so I figured the same would happen in this game. After I opened the file at the end of the game, though, I found Zuikaku/Shokaku south of Lunga, and Shoho at Rabaul. The Japs never ever gave chase, so I got off easy.

Good luck with your Grand Campaign!

[John 3rd]

Soooooooo JEALOUS!  Want----to----play----NOW!
 

[Canoerebel]

You are my brother in celibacy!

Seriously, though, we will all give a rousing cheer when your exile ends. Come on back. By then I'll be an expert and you'll be a newb and you will be toast.

[vettim89]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

You are my brother in celibacy!

Seriously, though, we will all give a rousing cheer when your exile ends. Come on back. By then I'll be an expert and you'll be a newb and you will be toast.

OMG, its a WITP throw down right here on the forums. You gonna take that John? Are you? Huh? HUh?

(Vettim89 playing the role of Canoerebel's dweeby crony standing off to the side taunting his opponent)

[John 3rd]

I will not take that sort of abuse!  My Japanese Code dictates a powerful response to such challenges! 
 
This can be said since I JUST GOT HIRED FOR A JOB!!!  Next Tuesday will mark the first day of work for John-san since--GET THIS--September 20, 2007.  Could kiss the gentlement who has foolishly decided to hire me.  BANZAI!
 
This development means that my exile from WitP/WitP:  AE shall be sort-lived...
 

[Canoerebel]

Great news! Can you tell us about the job? Are you sure you want to take it? It means: (1) getting paid; (2) being authorized by your wife (one of the few women, by the way, not named after a Japanese airplane) to purchase AE; and (3) getting your tail whipped by moi.

[John 3rd]

Holy COW Dan--were you sitting on the Forum WAITING for the post?
 
The job is a dose of humble pie for me.  In 2007 I was on a pace (between being a Blackjack Pit Boss in a Casino and teaching at the Community College) to make about $80,000, this fine job is with Holiday Inn Express for--CATCH THIS--$8.50/Hour working at the Front Desk.  There is the probability of moving up to Assistant Manager about October 1st.  Considering I haven't worked in nearly 22 months this is wonderful and I will take it!
 
I will work ANYWHERE while on Work Release.  My out Date is early-February but I can now start moving that up by volunteering (can't volunteer unless you have a job).  If the GOOD Judge allows, I will shift to House Arrest at the end of the month and that will help Paula and the boys a BUNCH.
 
We will continue to be on financial Life Support until I can return to the casino.  Thank Goodness for my Father!  He is helping keep us a float.
 
A very NICE someone has offered to purchase the game for me and I will now take him up on that exceedingly kind offer. 
 
Paula and I are planning a trip out to attempt a rendezvous with players next summer.  She does not attack this game anymore after all the support and friendship that has been displayed here. 
 
That is the State-of-the-State right now...
 

[Canoerebel]

Okay! My hat's off to you for taking the job even though it's not exactly what you wanted. With that kind of determination you'll get back where you want to be eventually.

For that trip next year, come on down to Chattanooga and visit Chickamauga Battlefield. You'll have a blast, and it's closer to me than to NYGiants, who is a pesky Yankee-loving guy while I am a svelte, supple, crafty sorta guy in a humble way.

[John 3rd]

I hope to gather Michael, Paul and you for our meeting.  Not sure about Brad--he is much farther away.  How about us four nuts go do the tour (sans wife and children) of Chicamauga?  Would be great!
 
A job is a job.  This at least serves to open an income line for me and make life more pleasant at Work Release.
 
Must hop off and head back there now.  Will add more tomorrow when I am out.
 

[Q-Ball]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

I hope to gather Michael, Paul and you for our meeting.  Not sure about Brad--he is much farther away.  How about us four nuts go do the tour (sans wife and children) of Chicamauga?  Would be great!

A job is a job.  This at least serves to open an income line for me and make life more pleasant at Work Release.

Must hop off and head back there now.  Will add more tomorrow when I am out.

Love to, but I'm pretty far from you guys up here in Chicago. Most people pass through here at some point on travels, usually stuck at the airport.

I used to be a Civil War Reenactor, and I did go down to a reenactment once in Resaca; a bunch of us toured Chickamauga in full CW uniform. That turned some heads.

PS: I did just about the same thing you did Dan, I didn't want to tangle with Car Div 5, so I lurked Southwest of PM and waited for the invasion fleet, at a spot where Sho/Zui would have to drive way into Coral Sea to get the CVs. As it happened, we crushed the Invasion so bad that no Japs got ashore. Complete wipeout. Car Div 5 showed up south of Lunga and took out one of the replenishment TFs, but that's all they got. Game Over

[Mynok]

Good for you, John. Best of luck as you rebuild your life. Tell your benefactor I'd be happy to contribute to his gracious offer, as I'm sure others here would.

[USSAmerica]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Holy COW Dan--were you sitting on the Forum WAITING for the post?

The job is a dose of humble pie for me.  In 2007 I was on a pace (between being a Blackjack Pit Boss in a Casino and teaching at the Community College) to make about $80,000, this fine job is with Holiday Inn Express for--CATCH THIS--$8.50/Hour working at the Front Desk.  There is the probability of moving up to Assistant Manager about October 1st.  Considering I haven't worked in nearly 22 months this is wonderful and I will take it!

I will work ANYWHERE while on Work Release.  My out Date is early-February but I can now start moving that up by volunteering (can't volunteer unless you have a job).  If the GOOD Judge allows, I will shift to House Arrest at the end of the month and that will help Paula and the boys a BUNCH.

We will continue to be on financial Life Support until I can return to the casino.  Thank Goodness for my Father!  He is helping keep us a float.

A very NICE someone has offered to purchase the game for me and I will now take him up on that exceedingly kind offer. 

Paula and I are planning a trip out to attempt a rendezvous with players next summer.  She does not attack this game anymore after all the support and friendship that has been displayed here. 

That is the State-of-the-State right now...

Great news, all the way around, John! [8D]

[vettim89]

Did the same thing on my second try as Dan and Q-Ball. Lurked off PM out of Betty/Nell range then creamed the AMPH convoy and scooted away. Lost AO Neosho to a I-Boat off Townsville. THe AI does not seem to think that protecting that invasion force is important. THe IJN CV's were down by Lunga at games end and the CVL SHoho was in port at Rabaul.

One interesting wrinkle in the second game was that I sent the baby SCTF up to PM. It reacted to the remnants of the invasion force one hex off PM. WHat is interesting is that enough ops points were accumulated in that battle that the ship was still at see when the sun rose - one hex from PM. If this is consistent I am a very happy camper that SCTF can no longer run into a hex, engage in a STS battle and then end up 300 nm away by the time the AM air phase starts

[BrucePowers]

I played the Coral Sea scenario against the AI earlier. The AI took out the Yorktown on turn 2 (before she rendezvoused with the Lex) and then moved the cCarrier Div 5 away and let the lady Lex slaughter the invasion fleet over 2 days.

[BrucePowers]

ORIGINAL: vettim89

Did the same thing on my second try as Dan and Q-Ball. Lurked off PM out of Betty/Nell range then creamed the AMPH convoy and scooted away. Lost AO Neosho to a I-Boat off Townsville. THe AI does not seem to think that protecting that invasion force is important. THe IJN CV's were down by Lunga at games end and the CVL SHoho was in port at Rabaul.

One interesting wrinkle in the second game was that I sent the baby SCTF up to PM. It reacted to the remnants of the invasion force one hex off PM. WHat is interesting is that enough ops points were accumulated in that battle that the ship was still at see when the sun rose - one hex from PM. If this is consistent I am a very happy camper that SCTF can no longer run into a hex, engage in a STS battle and then end up 300 nm away by the time the AM air phase starts

That's where they ended up in my game.