Assault on Port Moresby question

[hummermole]

New WITP'er playing as Japan in the Solomon Islands Camapign (May 42 - Feb 43). Sunk Lexington and Yorktown around May 30th without major damage to Shokaku and Zuikaku. Get 4 other IJN CVs in 10 days.

My next step is Port Moresby, and my question is what's the best way to knock the airfied and based aircraft down to size?

Attack with CVs as a massed group?
Attack the supply lines and wait for them to run low?
Bombardment group?

The Port moresby air garrison seems to be a lot bigger than my guys out of Rabaul. Want to knock it back and then invade.

Thanks in advance for the advice.

[sprior]

Bomb with LBA, then bombard, then bombard some more. I'm not a great fan of using IJN airpower against land targets, it's fragile enough without throwing them against rock.

[hummermole]

Roger that, sprior.
 
In terms of covering a bombardment TF from Allied LBA, how do you do it? It'll be too far to cover with LRCAP from Rabaul.
 
Concur with the futility of using Japanese CV aircraft against land targets - the Lamborghinis can't take the beating.

[Mistmatz]

ORIGINAL: hummermole

Roger that, sprior.

In terms of covering a bombardment TF from Allied LBA, how do you do it? It'll be too far to cover with LRCAP from Rabaul.

Concur with the futility of using Japanese CV aircraft against land targets - the Lamborghinis can't take the beating.

I'd take Lae or Buna on the northern coast, you can use them for escort and LRCAP and also for gathering some intelligence/scouting.

[niceguy2005]

ORIGINAL: hummermole

Roger that, sprior.

In terms of covering a bombardment TF from Allied LBA, how do you do it? It'll be too far to cover with LRCAP from Rabaul.

Concur with the futility of using Japanese CV aircraft against land targets - the Lamborghinis can't take the beating.

You can put fast BBs and CAs in a TF and run them in at full speed. If Allied LBA attacks, it will be with 500lb bombs that won't be able to damage your ships.

This is the most effective method.

[Barb]

Hints:
1. Take Gili Gili. It can provide CAP and size 3 harbor in case of problems.
2. Use CVs for Air cover. Just post them in hex that is exactly 2 hexes S of Gili Gili and 5 (by air, 6 by sea) hexes of Port Moresby (stock map). Set CAP for say 60-80%.
3. Move 2+ Bombardment TFs and 1+ SCTFs into the hex with carriers (by patrol/do not retire), set Gili Gili as Home base, refuel by tankers to full for DDs
4. Run Bombardments TFs (BB, CA,DD no escorts bombard) to Port Moresby with retirement and mission speed. Use SCTFs (CA, CL,DD) to screen them.
5. Count hundreds of airplane wrecks on the field [:D]

[marky]

bomb bomb bomb and bomb some more [:D]