Coral Sea: How to Win Battle of Port Moresby as Japanese Player

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Coral Sea: How to Win Battle of Port Moresby as Japanese Player

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All Forums >> [New Releases from Matrix Games] >> War in the Pacific: Admiral's Edition >> Coral Sea: How to Win Battle of Port Moresby as Japanese Player

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Coral Sea: How to Win Battle of Port Moresby as Japanes... - 10/4/2016 7:13:12 AM

glyphoglossus

Posts: 71
Joined: 9/26/2016
Status: offline

I've run through this scenario as a dozen times as the Japanese player.

I'm playing Andy Mac's updated scenario, though the results below are similar to stock.

I almost always manage to:

(1) land the invasion forces successfully fairly early on
(2) sink both US carriers

But only once have managed to actually win and take Port Moresby. In other cases, the scenario ends before the Port is taken, resulting in a draw.

I've tried setting the infantry unit to "Delibrate Attack" and/or "Shock", and the engineering unit to "Bombard", as well as both to "Deliberate" etc.

I usually open the conflict with the land-based bombers attacking the PM airfield at first, then, once the invasion troops are landed, switch to ground attack in an effort to reduce the defending troops. As soon as the US carriers are sunk, I switch *all* air power to ground attack the defending Port Moresby troops --- fighters, dive bombers, torpedo bombers, level bombers.

Yet, the battle rages on and on!

There is also an amphibian force with no troops loaded in Tulagi, but I have had no luck actually getting to use it. I always set it to head to Rabaul at cruise speed, but it never gets very far. In the first round, the US carriers find it and pulverize it. It ends up being carrier fodder. No idea how to save this group and/or use it. On the other hand, looking at it very cynically, they DO end up revealing the location of at least one US carrier group, and sometimes both (following the line of origin to the attack).

Post #: 1

RE: Coral Sea: How to Win Battle of Port Moresby as Jap... - 10/4/2016 7:41:25 AM

Oberst_Klink

Posts: 4778
Joined: 2/10/2008
From: Germany
Status: offline

There are quite a few different approaches, so to say. E.g. check the Amphibious or the Bombardment TF and see if there are CLs etc. who are slow, and if that's the case get rid of it/them. You still got time to rearrange even the CVL with let's say a DD or 2 x DD to meet/join the main Air Combat TF. Reece is the key and sometimes, well... one has bad luck. As for the Tulagi TF... disband it or move it to Shortlands and disband it there. With a bit of luck the USN carriers won't spot them and therefore won't switch to port attack. Again, this is just one of many options. It's a test scenario to prepare you for the 'real' deal and what's in store. And remember: The best plan is obsolete once the first shot has been fired.

I have done a series of sandbox scenarios and an illustrated AAR; it is in German, but with G00gle Translate it can be easily translated into English or any other language and still makes sense. Pictures say more than words anyway...

http://www.si-games.com/forum/showthread.php?t=28538

Good luck!

Klink, Oberst

< Message edited by Oberst_Klink -- 10/4/2016 7:43:36 AM >

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(in reply to glyphoglossus)

Post #: 2

RE: Coral Sea: How to Win Battle of Port Moresby as Jap... - 10/4/2016 6:24:22 PM

glyphoglossus

Posts: 71
Joined: 9/26/2016
Status: offline

Agreed wrt to recce. I move the Emily's from Truk down to Shortlands, and between them and the Mavis's and the Rufes/Jakes in Rabaul, I get good overlapping coverage of the area.

I also move the Betty's and Nell's from Truk down to Lae and Rabaul, respectively, and have them on Naval Attack/Ground Attack.

I think I have the naval/air aspects of this scenario buttoned down. Just the Port Moresby land action that has me stumped!

Thanks for the AAR. Looks like a lot of good stuff there, and I will go over it closely; I am sure I will find somethings to help me.

(in reply to Oberst_Klink)

Post #: 3

RE: Coral Sea: How to Win Battle of Port Moresby as Jap... - 10/5/2016 12:29:32 AM

rustysi

Posts: 7472
Joined: 2/21/2012
From: LI, NY
Status: offline

quote:

Just the Port Moresby land action that has me stumped!

I think the key here is to force the Allies to burn supply. Try keeping you bombers hitting the AF, they will get some supply hits and he will spend more firing his AAA. Once you get rid of his carriers try bombarding the place with naval TF's as well. Once his supply is used up he'll fight at a reduced strength. Don't know if this will work in such a short scenario, but it may be worth a try.

quote:

the engineering unit to "Bombard",

Can they even do this? Anyway don't, its a waste of engineers. They are for assaults on fortifications where they will help to reduce same.

Good luck.

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(in reply to glyphoglossus)

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RE: Coral Sea: How to Win Battle of Port Moresby as Jap... - 10/5/2016 7:42:53 PM

GetAssista

Posts: 2732
Joined: 9/19/2009
Status: offline

Your assaulting units in good order with low fatigue and disruption +
+ good detection level of PM
+ hit enemy troops (Ground bomb, naval bombardment) with everything you can at the day of attack to disrupt them
= higher chance of success. Still not 100%

(in reply to rustysi)

Post #: 5

RE: Coral Sea: How to Win Battle of Port Moresby as Jap... - 10/6/2016 8:43:34 PM

glyphoglossus

Posts: 71
Joined: 9/26/2016
Status: offline

So, incorporating the advice above, the next run got it: Port Moresby taken well before the end of the scenario, resulting in decisive victory for the J's.

(1) Disbanding the Tulagi TF indeed saves it from the detection and destruction off the bat. Of course, not sure what to actually do with this TF, but at least the ships get saved.

(2) Had relentless attack on airfields by every air asset to spare. Previously, I hit the airfields in the beginning, then switched to ground attack once the troops landed. But this time, I just kept hitting the airfields throughout until Port Moresby was taken.

(3) Sank the Yorktown. No sign of the Lex. Later after the game ended, found that the Lex had slunk off to Noumea. Despite not even being attacked, let alone hit. No idea why the AI does it, but I have noticed that it does it often enough.

(in reply to GetAssista)

Post #: 6

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All Forums >> [New Releases from Matrix Games] >> War in the Pacific: Admiral's Edition >> Coral Sea: How to Win Battle of Port Moresby as Japanese Player

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