Allies: Beware Lunga-Tulagi!

[Preacher]

Ah, Lunga...the big tease.

In my current campaign (scen 17 as Allies), I began with the strategy of maintaining PM while quickly seizing and building up Lunga and Tulagi. Spent the whole month of May doing just that. Thousands and thousands of infantry and support troops at Lunga/Tulagi (LT). Airbase at L was shaping up nicely with bombers being able to fly out and wreak havoc at Shortland by late May. Carrier TF parked NE of LT as mobile cover (Zuikaku already sunk, supposedly), just out of reach of Rabaul LBA. Things were good.

Then came June...and a hard lesson learned...

...He who controls the Slot controls the Solomons - and the Slot is a MUCH safer place - in May/June at least - for the IJN. Reasons:

1. Rabaul LBA can reach the length of the Slot, providing overwatch for anything friendly that comes down the Slot - or punishing anything enemy!

1a. Corollary to #1: the IJN CVs can reach out and touch T-L without exposing themselves (makes it incredibly difficult to keep the place supplied/supported!). They simply remain under Rabaul cover. To close within striking range of them is to enter LBA range. No, no, no.

2. In the first stages of the campaign, the IJN is clearly fielding many more capital ships than the Allies. In fact, the first BB for the Allies is not expected until mid-August or later in my game. Several IJN BBs have been spotted already - some engaged (Hiei is sunk, supposedly).

3. The implications of the 3 points above: early in the campaign, the IJN can send MULTIPLE massive heavy ship TFs down the Slot, covered by large CV forces (with all the Slot being covered by Rabaul LBA), and wreak devastation upon T-L. Apart from forming CA-heavy 'suicide' TFs to blunt the assault (or risking the Allied CVs), there isn't a whole lot that the Allies can do at this stage.

I may have to abandon T-L for now and concentrate on New Guinea.

I see why its called Iron Bottom Sound

Ricky

[AlvinS]

Preacher

Good info. The slot is a dangerous place if you don't control it.

I mistakenly allowed an Air Combat TF to move just one hex into range of Rabaul. I found out that CVE's make excellent kindling. One bomb went through the deck and hit the ammo storage then BOOOOM.:rolleyes: Torpedos took care of the other one.

Excellent sound effects when the ammo storage goes off. Anyway the fish are enjoying their new reef.

On the plus side I had a surface combat TF sink a Japanese sub with depth charges. That was a satisfying feeling.

[Philbill1]

I am playing the same scenario as you with no midway as the allies. I have control of the slot in late july (at least for the time being) with four US CV's. As an Englishman I have to compliment you Americans on producing such beautifull creatures
Phil

[Capitaine]

Sometimes, perhaps a repetition of historical strategy is not the best course. Just off the top of my head, the best reason for taking T/L might not be to enhance your position, but to prevent the Japanese from getting an even stronger LBA platform closer to your main bases. Perhaps "denial" is more important here than benefit? Thoughts on what would happen if Japan secured these bases?

[Preacher]

I was just thinking about that, Capitaine. Abandoning LT would allow the IJN to reach Luganville and beyond. Yikes!!! Until US heavy ship production catches up (and Wasp and Saratoga arrive - come on!!), trading blood for time in TL may be the way to go.

Sinking another IJN CV or three would help, too

So far i've spotted Shokaku, Zuikaku (reported sunk), Akagi, Shoho, Soryu, Hiryu, and one other.

I think I'll stay the course for now and see what comes of it.

Praying for thunderstorms,

Preacher

[dgaad]

Acquisition of Guadalcanal was a first step towards isolating Australia. With strong deployment of air groups on Guadalcanal, the Japanese would have been within striking range of Espiritu Santo, Santa Cruz, and Efate, the acquisition of which would have interdicted the US - Australia supply link. With Australia isolated, landings could have been made to secure the northern extremities of that Continent, such as the area between Darwin and Townsville. No one in Japan considered it possible to "conquer" Australia, but this would have in effect neutralized Australia, leaving the only possiblity of offensive action for the Allies, later when the material buildup had been completed, in the Central Pacific between the Marshalls and Midway.

Such a scenario would have created the most favorable conditions for Japan for a carrier fleet engagement in the Central Pacific, given the relatively predictable scope of Allied activity and the fact that any US Offensive would have had to deal with Japanese land based air in addition to carriers, the reverse of Midway for the Japanse.

Its important to note that the first efforts to create an airstrip at Guadalcanal occurred only AFTER the defeat at Midway. This is because the Japanese were now not superior in Carriers (after Midway's loss of 4 fleet carriers), and therefore favorable conditions HAD to be created for Japan to win the next carrier engagement. If the Japanese lost the next carrier engagement, in addition to the massive loss suffered at Midway, they knew they would ultimately lose the war.

So, the IJN thinking was to move immediately to secure the Guadalcanal/Santa Cruz/Efate area, which if successful would create the favorable conditions for a carrier engagement in the Central Pacific. It was very long range thinking, but totally inaccurate with respect to the already significant offensive power of the US South Pacific command, which pre-empted the Japanese move by landing at Guadalcanal just before the airbase was completed, and this thinking was also not backed up by IJN resources sufficent to do the job.

But, it is clear that the landing at Guadalcanal on August 7th was not part of an overall offensive plan by the US to march up the Solomons. It was a pre-emptive move. The buildup of American airpower happened only to protect Guadalcanal, and ultimately did not guarantee surface craft protection in The Slot, only the carriers could do that.

[dgaad]

BTW preacher its time to start heavily mining the Slot and the area around T/L.

[brisd]

I am still slugging my way through Scenario 17 as the IJN and it is mid Jun 42. I had been concentrating on taking Port Moresby and had set up my LBA in Rabual to do some ground attacks in preparation for my land battle there. I neglected to set a target (still learning) and instead of bombing PM they attacked Lunga! So, the Yanks had put at least one regimental team on that hell hole and my recon spotted a major reinforcement/supply in process. The IJN had recently received its major capital ship reinforcements the week before and I assembled a CA/DD bombardment force for Lunga. with a 4 CV TF in the Soloman Sea to add to the fun.
A night surface action ensued at Lunga and my 4 CA/6 DD TF was at 4000 yds with 2 DD's / 1 SC / 4 AK's. Of course I got the WORST end of the stick. CA Furutaka got hit by a 5" salvo from a scrappy US DD and TWO critical hits occured. These two ships got into a dueling match and the DD took numerous 8" and 4.7" shell hits but the DD kept firing and firing. The Furutaka took more and more critical hits and her sister ships seemed oblivious to the fight (maybe hidden in a rain squall?). I don't have the exact battle results as this was played late last night, but it appears the USN lost no ships in this encounter, the valiant US DD obviously is heavily damaged, the other US DD only a single hit. One other IJN CA suffered a minor hit or two. The IJN bombardment TF attacked at least three other unprotected USN AK TF's in the hex in subsequent battles that night, sinking 6 or more. As the morning came, the unlucky Furutaka sank in Iron Bottom Sound, its first victim.
Upon hearing of the first major loss to our forces, Adm Yamiguchi launched massive air strikes against all shipping in the area, bagging at least 6 more AK/AP's. And to top off this memorable turn, the brave solders assaulting Port Moresby CAPTURED it.

[Preacher]

You are right, dgaad. One thing I have neglected so far, to my shame, is my minelaying operations. That changes tonight!

Preacher

[dgaad]

Originally posted by Preacher
You are right, dgaad. One thing I have neglected so far, to my shame, is my minelaying operations. That changes tonight!

Preacher

If you have DM ships, they can lay large numbers of mines. Subs can only lay 8 mines apiece.

[Preacher]

Originally posted by dgaad


If you have DM ships, they can lay large numbers of mines. Subs can only lay 8 mines apiece.

Thanks. I have plenty of DMs. Problem will be getting them in there safely

However, I think I MAY have temporarily cleared the Slot. I did enough damage - reportedly - with the recent surface action and carrier battle that i *think* they are retiring toward Truk for repair/replenishment. Probably the window of time I need to get the DMs in and out.

Thanks,

Preacher

[Rob Roberson]

In my campaign I intentionally allowed the Japanese to build up Lunga Tulagi. I am playing it off as the area being unimportant, but frankly I have long been curious to see what would happen if the Japanese had completed their fighter strip thereand the americans did move in and seize it, so I let them. So far they haven't done much with it (in game) but Im sure they will in time.

[dgaad]

Originally posted by Preacher


Thanks. I have plenty of DMs. Problem will be getting them in there safely

However, I think I MAY have temporarily cleared the Slot. I did enough damage - reportedly - with the recent surface action and carrier battle that i *think* they are retiring toward Truk for repair/replenishment. Probably the window of time I need to get the DMs in and out.

Thanks,

Preacher

I use a staged approach with DMS under heavy weather. I like to get them within 5-7 hexes of the target hex, then set to retirement allowed and go for it. Oblique approaches work well for me. Don't try this at home, your results may vary. Consult a doctor if irritation or inflamation develops. This advice for topical use only. Induce vomiting if swallowed.

[IChristie]

When the serious US LBA starts arriving in fall '42 you will find out why you really want to hold on to Lunga. It's the only base between Rabaul and Luganville that can "nominally" support multi-engined bombers. There are other locations that can be built to size 4 but none that support that size under normal conditions (not even Shortland).

Once the tide of Marauders, Mitchell's and Fortresses start arriving you can quickly turn the tide in the slot... but only if you have a base for them. With enough bombers on Lunga you can close the port and airfield on Shortland very quickly. I believe B-17's can reach Rabaul in normal range (which they need either Gili Gili or Buna to do from New Guinea).

Also, once you have a decent carrier force assembled it also allows you to play "rope a dope" with the IJN carriers. Let them come in range of Lunga and beat up the airbase (which you will have defended well with AAA). They can shoot down all the planes they want, you just transfer more in (BTW, openning the airbase at the northern tip of the New Hebrides - the name escapes me right now - is necessary to provide a base from which fighters can stage into Lunga in one turn).

When you have bled off their bombers with flak and their fighters with LBA strikes, then sortie the CV's and deliver the knockout punch. The weakest point of the Japanese carriers is their air groups - they don't replace quickly and when they do the pilots are much lower quality.

On the other hand if you lose Lunga you will be force to try and invade, supply and retake it without the benefit of any significant LBA support (unless you build another airbase first). This negates the primary advantage of the allied side - massive superiority in LBA.

For my money, it is not difficult to see why Lunga was (and is) one of the strategically dominant bases in the area.

[Preacher]

Originally posted by Rob Roberson
In my campaign I intentionally allowed the Japanese to build up Lunga Tulagi. I am playing it off as the area being unimportant, but frankly I have long been curious to see what would happen if the Japanese had completed their fighter strip thereand the americans did move in and seize it, so I let them. So far they haven't done much with it (in game) but Im sure they will in time.

How far along are you in your campaign? Better yet, how developed is Luganville and Elaf Vila ??? (the one SE of Luganville). I've found that they won't waste resources on bases until they become a 'real' threat. Maybe they'll start pummeling you after their search a/c bring back word that those bases are becoming significant.

Just a guess. I know that they didn't really bother with my Lunga base until the airstrip reached level 2. Of course, that could have been because they didn't yet have the assets they needed in theater.

Keep it coming. This is a most interesting discussion, imho.

Preacher

[Von_Frag]

I did a pre-emptive stike on Lunga and sent the Americal division there early in the game with support and engineers. I had the airbase built up to 3 and had a squadron of P-39's, 2 of F4F's and 1 of SBD's if I remember. Well, the enemy didn't like this very much and sent huge land forces down to take it. Huge naval and air battles at see ensued. I came out on top of these but not on land. He took Lunga quite easily, I guess a division is not enough.

He sat on Lunga and did nothing with it for almost 2 months. I kept pressure by sending bombardment sorties and LBA from Luganville. I received the 1st marine didvision and moved the 32cnd over from Brisbane. I sent all that up, landed and took Lunga back in 3 days fighting. He didn't send much in the way of surface forces because I've really hurt him there. But my oh my what a flight of Betty's and Nell's can do to a transport fleet. I paid dearly for the privilidge of owning this malaria infested island.

Oh btw, I mined the crap out of the hexes around Lunga and Tassaforonga (sp?) and had the satisfaction of seeing BB Mutsu hit 4 Mk16 mines in his only surface attempt to interfere with the landings with surface forces.

Frag

[Preacher]

Originally posted by IChristie
(BTW, openning the airbase at the northern tip of the New Hebrides - the name escapes me right now - is necessary to provide a base from which fighters can stage into Lunga in one turn).

I've been getting fighters into Lunga the hard way. At this point they have only been appearing at Brisbane, which is too far away from any of the SOPAC bases to 'hop' across to Lunga (they'll only go to bases up the Aussie coast, then on to PM, but still can't hop across to the Solomons). So, I've been using the CVE Long Island as a ferry. I load her up with a/c, steam toward Luganville, then transfer them to Lunga when in range.

I'll get to work on the New Hebrides base, though, for when I start getting FS in at Noumea.

Oh, another way to get fighters in at Lunga: launch a massive carrier strike from nearby, then get your own CVs beat up to the point that the strikes can't return. The naval a/c will then divert to the closest base - being Lunga, of course. Works like a charm

Preacher

[Diealtekoenig]

I have noticed the opposite problem. I.e. the AI is unable to support its advanced bases without horrible losses.

Playing the long campaign/no Midway as the Allies I have seen the IJN grab several bases (Lunga and Gili-Gili) then get their forces shredded as the IJN try to keep these supplied.

By 8/20/42 I have sunk over 40 AP (I think that's about 1/3 of all the Japanese get for the entire game). I haven't sunk any CV but I have so shredded the Japanese CV Airgroups the Carriers are worthless. The Japanese AI has bases so far forward anything going near them gets sunk or shot down.

A lesson here may be not to advance too far.

[Preacher]

Originally posted by Diealtekoenig
A lesson here may be not to advance too far.

Could it be that in the race for Lunga, the first to arrive loses?

Of course, each time through the campaign plays out differently, but I think you may be onto something here. It seems those that have had the most success have 'allowed' the IJN to take Lunga and then punished them for it. The rest of us <g> have been punished for taking it - and those that held it have paid dearly.

My fear is letting the IJN have Lunga and then being unable to blockade it sufficently. THAT would be problematic. Imagine Rabaul-like LBA flying out of Lunga! Sheesh.

Methinks that a human IJN opponent could really make hay with Lunga.

I love this game.

Preacher

[johnmac]

I've found that building a base on Rossel Island (which will go up to size 4) lets you pound Shortland and the slot into pulp using medium bombers.

I let the Japanese have Lunga - it's literally their funeral. I built bases on Rossel Island, Nevea and San Cristobal and then bombed APs galore.

It's April 43 in my #17 campaign. One thing that's slightly annoying is that because my score is pretty good, CINCPAC will not release any of my carriers from the body and fender shop in Pearl, so I'm down to Essex in theatre

Compliments to the computer, though I did get my comeuppance this evening - I invaded Shortland, and woah, there were 27,000 fanatical combat troops on there, who promptly annhilated the 1st Marines...

I believe that it's a mistake to try and grab either Lae or Lunga too early as the Allies, especially in #17. The Japanese get healthy reinforcements in July and August, and I think it's an unnecessary waste of troops to try and go too early. I took Lunga in February 1943, and most of New Guinea in March.