Preacher
Posts: 59
Joined: 4/26/2002
Status: offline
|
I've completed the Coral Sea scenario twice as the Allies (well, actually, i'm going into the very last day the second time). First time was a marginal Allied victory - very much a learning scenario for me. The Japanese made full sail for Buna and Gili Gili, taking both on the same day. I began establishing a toehold at Lunga, although it is really unnecessary in this short scenario - it's all about the carriers in this one (imho, of course)!
The big carrier battle began about 7 days into the scenario. I moved my carrier TF to a position about 120 miles south of PM. The IJN carriers skirted the eastern shore of New Guinea. I was able to get the drop on them, using fighter sweeps from PM to thin the CAP ranks (moved every available FS from around the theater to PM). With no other real naval threats nearby, my carriers concentrated solely on knocking out the Japanese carriers. Shoho was sunk and Shokaku was badly damaged. I escaped virtually unscathed. End of the game revealed the entired IJN carrier TF retiring toward Truk.
Game 2 went quite differently. I made a bee-line for Lunga/Tulagi from the very start (was going to try and establish a forward base and see if I could rack up some points hunting in the Slot). Seems, however, that they had the same idea. The IJN landed at Tulagi and Lunga on the same day. The day before, coastwatchers spotted a large CV TF coming smack down the middle of the Slot! I had dispatched my CV TF to the NW Coral Sea (again). Having forgotten to take them off "React," my TF swung E/NE to meet the IJN CVs. I was able to launch first, hurting the Shoho badly but doing nothing to Shokaku and Zuikaku. The AI launched a significant strike, heavily damaging the Lexington and a CA. I detached the 2 cripples and sent them back to Noumea. On the way they were missed by a couple of enemy subs (whew!). Meanwhile, Shoho sank and the IJN CVs withdrew northward out of the slot to the open sea.
Just to be different (:)), I followed them, using the poor weather as cover (it rained or "thunderstormed" almost the entire scenario). I ended up camping (and refueling - my oiler was set to follow, thankfully!) S/SW of the small island east of Truk. I was just experimenting, hoping to catch the wounded IJN CV TF (question: if they are docked in port, do i set my A/C to Port Attack? What if they are undocked in port - will they attack if set on Naval Attack?). After munching on medium- to large-sized IJN supply TFs for a few days, the Truk LBA finally found me, putting a bomb in my oiler and doing medium damage to the Yorktown. At that point I withdrew, again under the cover of poor weather. I have yet to figure out where the IJN CVs are.
Loads of fun. Hopefully i'll get a chance to load it up again here in a little while and get to the End game so i can see where they are.
Preacher
|
Printable Version
Newbie AAR - 
New Messages
No New Messages
Hot Topic w/ New Messages
Hot Topic w/o New Messages
Locked w/ New Messages
Locked w/o New Messages
Post New Thread