WPP Beta 3 - Noumea and Effectiveness
Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2021 12:44 pm
US still has a problem defending Noumea. Even though they can now get another unit in they have little chance of keeping supplies open to the port until they have a long range bomber. While they can put an air unit into the port it can't do much without supply. The only way to get supply in is to break the blockade with ships. The ships will be quickly sunk by the two nearby Japanese bombers and/or by Kido Butai.
Effectiveness comes in because the only force with enough air power to support breaking the blockade is the US carrier fleet. But by the time the Yorktown and Saratoga can reach the area they are at effectiveness of 58% which is no match for Kido Butai that has been resting in Rabaul and will have an effectiveness of at least 85%. The US other two carriers are at 87% but if they combine and move near Noumea they will be considerably lower than that. While Kido Butai will probably be over 90% when it responds. Six more effective carriers with two LBA units against four US carriers some with very low effectiveness will be a cake walk.
Effectiveness comes in because the only force with enough air power to support breaking the blockade is the US carrier fleet. But by the time the Yorktown and Saratoga can reach the area they are at effectiveness of 58% which is no match for Kido Butai that has been resting in Rabaul and will have an effectiveness of at least 85%. The US other two carriers are at 87% but if they combine and move near Noumea they will be considerably lower than that. While Kido Butai will probably be over 90% when it responds. Six more effective carriers with two LBA units against four US carriers some with very low effectiveness will be a cake walk.