How to deal with Jap Coastal Artillery?

[ruffels]

Hi Guys
First off, thanks to everyone for the great discussion on my "Japs are Superhuman" thread. It was very informative and I learned a great deal from it.
I think I am a typical new player (Allied) as I have been extremely aggressive offensively in this number 19 scenario but perhaps it has paid off as it is now mid December and I "own" Lunga, Lae, Finschaven and have a new base at Rendova island. I've lost a lot of transport though and now only have enough lift for 30,000 load points (ouch). My next move is to take Shortland Island and Gasmata and I'd like to take Shortland first to get rid of their **** planes. Problem is, its loaded with Coastal Artillery and I remember from a previous game that my transports were shot to hell. I can't afford to lose too many more.

Does anyone have any tactical solutions for putting CA out of action? That is to say...Bombardment task forces? Airgroups on ground attack? Both?

I could conceivably go for Gasmata instead which would be a much easier go if it I think and give me a great forward base to launch escorts for my Fortress attacks on Rabaul.

Thanks all and great discussions. I LOVE this game!!!

Bye for now

[RevRick]

the bad guys have there. How dark is that LCU symbol. I got suckered into a two division attack on Shortlands only to loose the greater part of two divisions. They must have been cheek by jowl on the land because I got hit by two division, a brigade and enough garrison troops to have occupied San Francisco. Bomb it, Bomb it, Bomb it, and bomb it some more. Keep enough anti shipping AC around to let it starve for a good four months, and keep bombing it. And then, if you can, take Buin instead and totally cut it off with PT's DD's and mines.

[Mr.Frag]

Shortlands is a bit of a tough nut to crack.

(a) You must kill off the Aircraft

(b) You must clear the Minefields

(c) You must silence the Coastal Guns.

(a) is fairly easy to deal with simply continue to bomb the base with airfield attack as it will eventually cause the base to run out of supplies. Once out of supplies, aircraft will no longer fly. Switch them to Port attack now which will start weakening the CD units.

(b) is easy too, since you have grounded the aircraft (a), you can sail a little convoy containing 2-3 MSW to clear it in a large hurry. Provide CAP for this little group by a separate CV TF. Do not put any other ships in this group. The CD's will not fire on the MSW. 2 turns, you'll be all done.

(c) Put all you BB/CA in a TF for this as you need long ranged heavy hitters. If you place smaller ships in with these, they will draw closer then you want to the coast and the CD guns will be able to fire back with effect. Rotate this Bombardment group in/out a few times.

After this, the CD's will be completely disrupted and unable to fire off a single shot when you take your few remaining transports in without being fired at.

[Peter Weir]

Shortlands is a bit of a tough nut to crack.

(a) You must kill off the Aircraft

(b) You must clear the Minefields

(c) You must silence the Coastal Guns.

(a) is fairly easy to deal with simply continue to bomb the base with airfield attack as it will eventually cause the base to run out of supplies. Once out of supplies, aircraft will no longer fly. Switch them to Port attack now which will start weakening the CD units.

(b) is easy too, since you have grounded the aircraft (a), you can sail a little convoy containing 2-3 MSW to clear it in a large hurry. Provide CAP for this little group by a separate CV TF. Do not put any other ships in this group. The CD's will not fire on the MSW. 2 turns, you'll be all done.

(c) Put all you BB/CA in a TF for this as you need long ranged heavy hitters. If you place smaller ships in with these, they will draw closer then you want to the coast and the CD guns will be able to fire back with effect. Rotate this Bombardment group in/out a few times.

After this, the CD's will be completely disrupted and unable to fire off a single shot when you take your few remaining transports in without being fired at.

Why wont the cd units fire on minsweepers? Your strategy for the Tf's without ther destroyers implies theres a mechanic in there to determnine range to shore but I cant find that in the manual anywhere. Is that something new?

[Mr.Frag]

Yep, if you don't approach the coast, they don't seem to fire. MSW's are not attempting a landing so they don't get fired at.

Bombardment TF's and Transport TF's get shot at.

Don't particularly agree with the logic, but thats the way the game is.

[Hornblower]

B-17's 24's and 25's are your friends in this case, moreso if you can escort em in. I took shortlands 3 times, and by passed it once. When I took it, it was after a few months of bombing- to knock out the airfields, then Hit the port. I normally had a dd squadron on react at Vila or Munda (I always took that first so as to have fighter cover) gradually you'll starve them of supplies. That I feel is the key. Hit it with a few CL's and CA's on bombardments and your on your way. Side note, I stationed 3 squadrons of P-39's at Vila one game, put em on sweep at 100ft. For 2 weeks straight I was racking up 15-20 jap planes a day in DOG. I'm guessing that the Air groups of the 2 jap CV's I sank in that area decided to make Shortlands there home.. So, take your time and soften it up. Great game isn't it??