Dear reader,
In this little thread you will find my experiences in my first ever PBEM game. Greycat has been willing to start a Guadalcanal game as the Allied side.
As an added rule, I have asked Greycat to use his 4E bombers only at 15.000 ft or higher for bombing runs, since that's abit more historical and i have hardly any...well... no means of countering them.
So off we go, but not without a pointer from someone who knows!
The man speaks the truth!
In fact i might take some of his advice.
Initial Stategy for the scenario:
- I will use Rabaul as my main base of operations, so i will have to haul supplies, fuel and troops from Truk (where the supply mostly comes in from off map sources).
- Rabaul will need to stay above the 20k supply mark, so i am able to fill up depleted air squadrons
Rabaul, central on the map and in my plans
- Truk will be my secondary base and will be used as an repair yard for my bigger ships. Not that i will need any repairs, of course.
Truk, on the edge to give me the edge (yep, thought long and hard about that one)
- Port Moresby and my mirroring base of Buna will be of secondary concern. The Horii group will retreat on Buna and dig in. I will build fortifications there to hopefully bind a lot of the allied troops.
Clauszewitz says: "Never fight a 2 front war!" I say: "If I fight on two fronts, so does the enemy, so we can win twice!!" Doesnt keep me from being on the defensive here though, I'm just being smart to keep the spirits of my troops high.
-Main area of operations will be Tassafaronga/Lunga. Here is where i will deal the allies a crippling blow that will win us the war once and for all.
-Shortlands will be my forward base to resuplly my troops on Guadalcanal. According to my advisor, Mr. Murphy (a native Japanese- I swear!- and the brother of the bloke who invented some law), DD's can make a Fast transport run from Shortlands and back in one day. We'll see.
- Keeping my Zero's alive as much as possible. I have only 35 zero's at start, i have based them all at Rabaul to fly cap and keep this a safe haven. I won't use them offensively, apart from my first turn (see below).
- The KB (or anyway, a bunch of CV's) will reinforce this theater after about 10 turns or so. I will keep them together to launch one blow to sink all the american flat tops at once. I'd like to keep them in one TF. But Murphy says that if something goes wrong, they might all go down. I think he's wrong.
Turn 1:
Shortlands:
- I will send some AK's to move the redundant BF at Kavieng to Shortlands. It can be used much better there.
- PA's will fly the AF battalion from Tulagi to Shortlands. I hope they will get them out in time.
-A few FP's on naval search to the south
Rabaul:
-DB's are on ASW patrol to the north to keep my Truk-Rabaul route somewhat safe
-LB's will do a port attack on Port Moresby, hopefully i will surpise the enemy and it will keep some planes on CAP.
-A6M2 group will Escort the Bettys
-A6M3 group will be flying CAP
-Fast transport TF with CL's, an fast AK and APD's is loading to make a run to Buna
Truk:
- A TF consisting of TK's and AO's will ferry supplies and fuel to Rabual. It's loading, and hopefully will set sail the next turn. DD's and PB's as escort.
- A unescorted TF will set sail for Kavieng to pick up the BF there, then move on to Shortlands.
-The CA's at Kavieng will meet up with this TF to provide escort.
- A group of Float Planes is flying ASW missions from here, to the south.
I have great advisors already on board, as stated above, but I am not to shabby about advice, so feel free to comment.
Turn 1 is sent to Greycat and i expect to have the first results in tomorrow.
Regards,
d0mbo.