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RE: Rookie Problems - Operation Shoestring

 
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RE: Rookie Problems - Operation Shoestring - 4/6/2020 11:45:52 PM   
DanielAClark

 

Posts: 131
Joined: 1/7/2020
Status: offline 		Ah...my main concern with Big E is system damage.

Oops. Will see what I can change.

I really need to assess Saratoga in light of these repair strategies. She has high float damage...>60, and I worry she wont make a shipyard.

Probably best to make for Noumea (nearest naval support) for pierside repairs to systems in order to then try for Sydney?

I need to do some navigational math.

(in reply to BBfanboy)
Post #: 61
RE: Rookie Problems - Operation Shoestring - 4/6/2020 11:50:28 PM   
RangerJoe


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Joined: 11/16/2015
From: My Mother, although my Father had some small part.
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: DanielAClark

Ah...my main concern with Big E is system damage.

Oops. Will see what I can change.

I really need to assess Saratoga in light of these repair strategies. She has high float damage...>60, and I worry she wont make a shipyard.

Probably best to make for Noumea (nearest naval support) for pierside repairs to systems in order to then try for Sydney?

I need to do some navigational math.


Yes. Also, the minor flood damage should also be taken care of. The major damage is in red.

_____________________________

Seek peace but keep your gun handy.

I'm not a complete idiot, some parts are missing!

“Illegitemus non carborundum est (“Don’t let the bastards grind you down”).”
― Julia Child


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Post #: 62
RE: Rookie Problems - Operation Shoestring - 4/7/2020 1:07:10 AM   
BBfanboy


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quote:

ORIGINAL: DanielAClark

Ah...my main concern with Big E is system damage.

Oops. Will see what I can change.

I really need to assess Saratoga in light of these repair strategies. She has high float damage...>60, and I worry she wont make a shipyard.

Probably best to make for Noumea (nearest naval support) for pierside repairs to systems in order to then try for Sydney?

I need to do some navigational math.

Saratoga will not fit in the drydock in Sydney. You should get ALL of the System damage and minor float damage repaired at the first sizable safe port, and then send her to PH using island base stepping stones to put into if flooding starts to increase again.

_____________________________

No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth

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Post #: 63
RE: Rookie Problems - Operation Shoestring - 4/8/2020 6:01:23 AM   
DanielAClark

 

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quote:

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy
Saratoga will not fit in the drydock in Sydney. You should get ALL of the System damage and minor float damage repaired at the first sizable safe port, and then send her to PH using island base stepping stones to put into if flooding starts to increase again.


Sydney shipyard size in this scenario appears to be 50. Saratoga is 36,000 tons...so should fit if my reading of the manual is correct.

Sydney should handle 50,000 ton ships, correct? I assume this is because PH is not in the playable area?




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Post #: 64
RE: Rookie Problems - Operation Shoestring - 4/8/2020 6:10:44 AM   
DanielAClark

 

Posts: 131
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Status: offline 		2 September 1942

The enemy shifts the focus of the Rabaul airfleet to PM. They try to push through to hit the tanker in port supplying fuel for the anti-submarine patrols. A dozen zeros hit the CAP hard. About 18 Betties break through in the morning raid...but find only a destroyer to attack. They miss, while being pursued by the CAP.

A few Betties and another zero straggle in over the rest of the day. We shoot down 2 Betties...but only manage to damage some zeros. For the loss of 3 P39s.

Our bombers continue to hit Buna...13 Port hits today. The Beaufighters hit the track today with bombs.

Enterprise is put into pierside repair to get the system damage down. You can see her damage in the picture in the previous post.

Multiple cruiser groups are heading back towards Sydney for repair and refit.

Hornet has been sent to Espirito Santo, to provide the ability to cover a retreat if necessary. The Atlanta and Juneau have resupplied and will join her. She has Washington and two heavy cruisers in company...with 8 destroyers.

A group of five heavy cruisers is being assembled at Noumea to support our next supply / reinforcement push.

The APDs have supplied Tulagi and are clearing the area towards Noumea.

Saratoga crawls southward at 7 knots, looking to head for Noumea. She is now escorted by four destroyers.

Again, no aircraft raids on the slot. Our search planes locate E boats heading SE and transports hanging outside of strike range. I am pretty sure that they are supplying Tassafaronga at night. Not much I want to do about that yet.

I have ~830 political points...and I am trying to decide how to spend them. I can pick up the 7th USMC regiment...or I can send some heavy artillery and some aviation support engineer units...which is what I am thinking about doing. Should I be considering other units? The SeaBees?

My priority is beefing up the ability of Henderson Field to operate, then the combat capability of the forces defending it from Tassafaronga. Providing naval support that far forward is a tertiary priority in my view. I am going to read the manual again on the types of support units.

(in reply to DanielAClark)
Post #: 65
RE: Rookie Problems - Operation Shoestring - 4/8/2020 6:47:31 PM   
BBfanboy


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Status: offline 		Yes, if the scenario shipyard is bigger than the Sara's displacement she will fit. If there are no other ships in the drydock you can also accelerate the repairs on Saratoga.
I don't know why the SY is bigger in this scenario, but I would guess the same as you - because PH is not in play.

_____________________________

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Post #: 66
RE: Rookie Problems - Operation Shoestring - 4/10/2020 6:21:48 AM   
DanielAClark

 

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Status: offline 		4 September 1942

We stand down the B17s as they have taken enough fatigue going after Buna.

Our B26s and Beaufighters go after Lae today to see what happens...AA fire at 10,000 feet is deadly...lots of damaged planes.

Worse, the enemy uses the distraction (our Kittyhawk CAP escorted the Lae raid) to go after the Tanker in harbor. They hit and sink her with torpedoes after brushing aside the CAP. In addition, they get a torpedo hit on the DD Aylwin...she beaches herself in the harbor and begins the arduous task of pumping out...by hand.

I will put the Beaufighters on CAP this turn, to see if the Betties keep trying to come back.

The Cactus airforce roars to life...making several attacks on transports off Tasafaronga and locations up the slot. The enemy has decided to reinforce in daylight with larger cargo ships. We hit two xAKs and deal heavy damage with >400 disabled troops...and > 100 disabled troops.

On the one hand, this is good as there was no opposition to our planes. On the other hand, they are seriously looking to take Henderson Field back.

My B17s from Noumea hit Tasafaronga...extreme range.

We begin loading up the Marine artillery regiment, an air support unit, and a unit of engineers...for eventual transport to Lunga. The plan will be to risk a cruiser force to cover the transports.

Henderson Field still repairing and shipping out USN planes that are scattered over the field.

Is there any way to prioritize getting certain squadrons repaired first?




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< Message edited by DanielAClark -- 4/10/2020 6:23:08 AM >

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Post #: 67
RE: Rookie Problems - Operation Shoestring - 4/10/2020 3:00:36 PM   
BBfanboy


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From: Winnipeg, MB
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quote:

ORIGINAL: DanielAClark

4 September 1942

We stand down the B17s as they have taken enough fatigue going after Buna.

Our B26s and Beaufighters go after Lae today to see what happens...AA fire at 10,000 feet is deadly...lots of damaged planes.

Worse, the enemy uses the distraction (our Kittyhawk CAP escorted the Lae raid) to go after the Tanker in harbor. They hit and sink her with torpedoes after brushing aside the CAP. In addition, they get a torpedo hit on the DD Aylwin...she beaches herself in the harbor and begins the arduous task of pumping out...by hand.

I will put the Beaufighters on CAP this turn, to see if the Betties keep trying to come back.

The Cactus airforce roars to life...making several attacks on transports off Tasafaronga and locations up the slot. The enemy has decided to reinforce in daylight with larger cargo ships. We hit two xAKs and deal heavy damage with >400 disabled troops...and > 100 disabled troops.

On the one hand, this is good as there was no opposition to our planes. On the other hand, they are seriously looking to take Henderson Field back.

My B17s from Noumea hit Tasafaronga...extreme range.

We begin loading up the Marine artillery regiment, an air support unit, and a unit of engineers...for eventual transport to Lunga. The plan will be to risk a cruiser force to cover the transports.

Henderson Field still repairing and shipping out USN planes that are scattered over the field.

Is there any way to prioritize getting certain squadrons repaired first?


About the B-17s - trying to bomb troops in the jungle is very unproductive. Better to do what they did IRL - bomb the ships that are unloading.

I don't know of a way to prioritize repairs on air units. It does seem to me that the repairs are prioritized by units from right to left by the AI. (units arranged numerically/alphabetically) I don't know if calling up the list of all the units and rearranging by aircraft model or type would make any difference.


_____________________________

No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth

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Post #: 68
RE: Rookie Problems - Operation Shoestring - 4/10/2020 3:26:53 PM   
DanielAClark

 

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Status: offline 		Now that we have good search on the IJN ships coming, the B17s will switch to naval or port. Last turn we did not see those ships on the planning board.

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Post #: 69
RE: Rookie Problems - Operation Shoestring - 4/11/2020 8:39:34 PM   
DanielAClark

 

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Status: offline 		4 September 1942

The enemy sends 4 Betties unescorted against PM. The CAP destroys them all.

The loading of the soldiers heading to Lunga continues. The remains of VF-3 are being added to the Long Island, to provide air cover for the transports.

SS Grayling attacks the enemy transports heading into Tassafaronga. Misses with 6 torpedoes...so engages on the surface.

The Cactus air force gets some bomb hits on the large amounts of enemy shipping. The B17s from Noumea sweep in at 100 feet at get a bomb hit and some shell strafing done.

There are at least a dozen enemy transports around Tassafaronga. Only the Hornet is in range...all of my cruisers are getting ready to escort my own transport push.

Do I risk my only remaining strike carrier to hit the transports?

(in reply to DanielAClark)
Post #: 70
RE: Rookie Problems - Operation Shoestring - 4/12/2020 4:20:14 AM   
DanielAClark

 

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Status: offline 		5 September 1942

Not much action from us today.

The enemy sends some escorted Betties against Henderson Field...but they go after the sub chasers and not the airfield. The enemy escort sweeps aside our fighters.

The only other attack is an unescorted Betty raid on Milne Bay. We splash two of the bombers and damage the rest.

Our Henderson Field reinforcements set sail, guarded by a cruiser / destroyer detachment. The Long Island and another cruiser / destroyer detachment is providing fighter cover for the convoy.

Wasp is covering the withdraw of Saratoga and then will cover the troop convoy deployments.

We are also sending a force to mine Thousand Ships Bay. Hopefully this will catch some of their transports by surprise. They have about a dozen transports at Tassafaronga, and we did not hit them at all today...most likely due to weather.

I hope I can get my reinforcements in place before the IJA comes after the airfield defenses...

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Post #: 71
RE: Rookie Problems - Operation Shoestring - 4/14/2020 4:10:08 AM   
DanielAClark

 

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Status: offline 		6th September

We get the advantage of the Beaufighters today! The squadron makes a morning and afternoon low level strafing and bombing attack on ships in Lae harbor. Several bomb and lots of cannon hits on two freighters. Good stuff.

The Japanese launch a successful airfield raid on Milne Bay. Their escorts are sufficient to push aside the CAP. I am not sure what purpose this serves for them but maybe to diminish the threat of the Beauforts based there on shipping into Buna? In any event, glad to have the Betty's distracted from the Slot...

SS Grayling makes an attack on the freighters unloading at Tassafaronga. Two attacks, 8 torpedoes...one hit and two duds. Grr.

The Cactus Air Force gets a couple of bomb hits on freighters as well, and the B17s out of Noumea hit two more freighters. Japanese losses are vehicles...which is not a good sign.

The Betty raid on the slot is disappointed to find nothing bigger than sub chasers there...yet.

Our Cats out of Henderson Field report a carrier task force heading south east towards the area. Current intel is only one carrier...which I presume is the Zuikaku, back to cover the assault on Henderson Field.

Our reinforcement convoy is on its way...we are in a race against time. I will need to position Wasp so that she can provide air support...but I am NOT going after the enemy CV group. 1v1 is just a recipe to get my last undamaged fleet carrier sunk.




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Post #: 72
RE: Rookie Problems - Operation Shoestring - 4/14/2020 8:56:04 PM   
DanielAClark

 

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Joined: 1/7/2020
Status: offline 		7th September

Our B17s port attack both Lae and Buna. In addition, the Marauders strike the enemy on the Kokoda track.

Cactus Air Force hits a couple more transports today. The enemy is still losing vehicles, so they haven't completely unloaded.

Betties from Rabaul manage to obliterate a sub chaser with an aerial torpedo. Our pilots can't really protect the slot from the raids.

The enemy launches a long range attack on our troop transports. Fighters from Henderson Field AND Long Island distract the enemy zeroes and we shoot the three bombers down. The troop transports are on their approach to Lunga.

Pennsacola and a pair of destroyers detaches from escorting Long Island and prepares to sprint to Tassafaronga.

Long Island will withdraw to cover the supply transports which are following the troop transports.

Wasp is moving into position south of the Slot to cover our transports approach.

Our minesweeper fleet dumps their mines and is returning to Noumea. No attempt at all to even enter the slot. The Admiral's response to this act of cowardice was a series of oaths.

Our search planes locate the enemy carrier flotilla again, just east of the Shortlands. I believe they are waiting for a good target.

The next couple of days are likely to be bloody.




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RE: Rookie Problems - Operation Shoestring - 4/15/2020 3:14:29 AM   
DanielAClark

 

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Status: offline 		8th September

Usual Allied bombing of the track, Lae, and Buna. No surprises here.

We lose an xAKL just outside of Sydney to an I-boat. Our sub chasers arrive late to the scene and fail to find the submarine.

USS Pensacola takes advantage of the 0% moonlight to enter the landing zone around Tassafaronga and engage the transports and patrol craft. She sinks 3 transports, an E boat and a patrol boat before clearing the area as dawn approached.

At dawn, the Cactus air force is up early and attacks the enemy CV fleet. The CAP savages the fighters, and only a pair of Dauntlesses even make an attack attempt at the Kirishima. They miss.

The IJN is also up early with their dawn attacks. A few Kates manage to make an attack on the USN cruiser group that has withdrawn from the slot in the face of the potential air attack...Astoria takes a 250kg bomb, but it does next to no damage. Enemy Betties and Kates also attack the transports and destroyers unloading at Lunga...and score no hits.

Unloading of the troops has proceeded well and I expect the troop delivery to finish in the next day. I may decide to try to pick up the 2nd battalion from Tulagi and move it to Henderson Field as well...depends on how aggressive the enemy becomes with their surface forces.

Wasp was not detected or engaged south east of Tulagi. She will move to be southwest of Henderson Field.

Saratoga is getting close to Noumea. Here's hoping she doesn't get found by one of the I-boats that is known to be skulking about.

Fingers crossed. If the AI sends Hiei and Kirishima into the slot, I have absolutely nothing that can really stop them. Just some cruisers and destroyers who could use up some of their ammo. The enemy carrier task force, with the heavy battlewagons, is just east of Florida Island.

Cactus airforce Dauntlesses are stood down. I could only muster half a dozen ready planes this morning. The fighters will remain operational. I can probably put a dozen or so into the air.





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< Message edited by DanielAClark -- 4/15/2020 3:15:40 AM >

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RE: Rookie Problems - Operation Shoestring - 4/18/2020 4:12:50 AM   
DanielAClark

 

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Status: offline 		9th September

Usual allied air activity around Port Moresby. The track, Buna, and Lae are bombed. No enemy response today.

The IJN decided not to push against our forces today. The enemy carrier force has withdrawn to the north. Our transports are still unloading. The supply convoy also arrives, having survived the enemy Betty raid on the slot. However, one ship did not fare so well. The Long Island takes three torpedoes over the course of the day, and has sought shelter near the airfield. She has 77 flooding, but cannot repair here. She will have to head for Espirito Santo.

We got a little close to Rabaul today.

The SBDs of the Cactus Air Force will be back in action tomorrow.

The question is, were the low Kate numbers yesterday indicative of a weak IJN airgroup...or were the enemy just holding their punch?

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Post #: 75
RE: Rookie Problems - Operation Shoestring - 4/18/2020 6:36:21 AM   
DanielAClark

 

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Status: offline 		10th September

A quiet turn. No enemy action in New Guinea.

No enemy action in the slot. Everyone resting and repairing for the days to come. We send a small cruiser force to look at the landing zone at Tassafaronga. Nothing there. Whatever the enemy did to beef up their troops...has been done. Or did they pull troops out?

P-400s have arrived and have been sent to Espirito Santo, to cover the base being built there. I would prefer to use Efate as my way station base...but the planners in Washington didn't give me air support base forces at that location and I am not going to spend political points on switching that kind of stuff around at the moment.

Long Island is now underway and heading to Espirito Santo. She can make 2 knots. So, like Saratoga, another long attempt at repair. At least with Long Island, there is not much system damage. Speaking of Saratoga, she is looking to make Noumea in at most 3 days. ASW operations ramp up to make sure no pesky submarines ruin this.

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Post #: 76
RE: Rookie Problems - Operation Shoestring - 4/18/2020 6:47:07 PM   
BBfanboy


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Status: offline 		I don't think the AI holds back part of it's air strength. If it sent only a few Kates, that is all that is available at the moment.
IRL, Guadalcanal was a battle of attrition like yours and you have been whittling down his LBA and even a lot of his Carrier aircraft. If you can keep Wasp in the area undamaged and with a half-decent airgroup, you should be able to hold Lunga.

Getting supply and reinforcements on the island is more important than hunting his carriers or surface forces. Knocking off his transports will leave him unable to supply and reinforce. You have been helped by the AI trying to get troops to Buna at the same time, dissipating its strength. Keep doing what you have been doing!

_____________________________

No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth

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Post #: 77
RE: Rookie Problems - Operation Shoestring - 4/19/2020 5:30:33 AM   
DanielAClark

 

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Joined: 1/7/2020
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quote:

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

I don't think the AI holds back part of it's air strength. If it sent only a few Kates, that is all that is available at the moment.
IRL, Guadalcanal was a battle of attrition like yours and you have been whittling down his LBA and even a lot of his Carrier aircraft. If you can keep Wasp in the area undamaged and with a half-decent airgroup, you should be able to hold Lunga.

Getting supply and reinforcements on the island is more important than hunting his carriers or surface forces. Knocking off his transports will leave him unable to supply and reinforce. You have been helped by the AI trying to get troops to Buna at the same time, dissipating its strength. Keep doing what you have been doing!


I did not believe it...I was expecting to get hit hard, and it was just a few non-torpedo armed carrier planes. Plus, he didnt send in the battleships, which I really could not have stopped.

I know he has lost a lot of Betties, mostly at Port Moresby...though we now have reached a point where his remaining Zero pilots are gods and my pilots struggle to get through to the bombers when escorted...

...I dont recall downing many of his carrier planes, but I also didnt keep good track of any losses or damaged planes due to my AA. Things to pay attention to in future campaigns.

I am also a bit hamstrung in not knowing what he has available. My only information on the ships, planes, forces available comes from my knowledge of the historical campaign...

I dont think that the AI has reinforced Buna. I think that shipping has primarily been supplies. The enemy has not launched any bombardment attack on me on that front for at least a week. Port Moresby is probably safe.

I will, of course, keep going. The whole point is to fight and figure things out.

:)



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Post #: 78
RE: Rookie Problems - Operation Shoestring - 4/19/2020 2:49:20 PM   
RangerJoe


Posts: 13450
Joined: 11/16/2015
From: My Mother, although my Father had some small part.
Status: offline 		You can look at the intelligence (i, upper left) screen to see airplane losses. Such losses there are subject to FOW and are about 33% higher than actual.

_____________________________

Seek peace but keep your gun handy.

I'm not a complete idiot, some parts are missing!

“Illegitemus non carborundum est (“Don’t let the bastards grind you down”).”
― Julia Child


(in reply to DanielAClark)
Post #: 79
RE: Rookie Problems - Operation Shoestring - 4/19/2020 9:10:01 PM   
DanielAClark

 

Posts: 131
Joined: 1/7/2020
Status: offline 		11th September

No enemy action around PM. Our bombers hit the track. B17s remain on standdown for maintenance. We receive another B17 squadron in Australia. They will move to Townsville to help continue to deny the enemy easy supply to their New Guinea garrisons.

Canberra and Achilles leave the shipyard. They form an all Australia fleet with two destroyers and make for Luganville (Espirito Santo), where they will be a surface force capable of sortieing for the slot if necessary.

An enemy sub outside of Sydney and one outside of Noumea are both heavily attacked. No confirmation of sinking though.

The enemy sends 7 Zeros and 4 Betties to raid the slot. Our cap of 10 F-4Fs manages to trade 1 for 1 on Zeros, but does not get near the bombers. The enemy go after one of my destroyers and miss. This is good, as they ignored the transports that are loading troops from Tulagi. I am moving the 2nd Marine Regiment from Tulagi to Lunga. Also, my supply unloading transports continue their necessary work at Lunga Point.

Enemy air losses in the intelligence screen show 90 Betties lost...but only 30 Vals and less than 20 Kates.

We continue our efforts at shoring up the Lunga Point position.

Saratoga has made it to Noumea and is at pierside beginning repairs.

I am noticing that as the CVs repair, the number of planes aboard grows. Does this mean I should disband the dribs of remaining squadron fragments that survived the CV damaging?

The fractured groups at Noumea and other locations are irritating my OCD nature of where things are stashed. I also have ASW floatplanes from the damaged cruisers all cluttering up Noumea as well.

Any advice?

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Post #: 80
RE: Rookie Problems - Operation Shoestring - 4/19/2020 9:23:11 PM   
BBfanboy


Posts: 18046
Joined: 8/4/2010
From: Winnipeg, MB
Status: offline 		Air Units offer a better chance of getting through to target if they have more aircraft, so disbanding those dribs and drabs INTO the parent unit is good. If you try and disband them at a remote base without a large enough airfield or Air HQ, you might get a message saying the planes "will be destroyed". Do not disband them - you don't get enough replacements in this scenario. If the aircraft cannot make it to where the Parent unit is, assign a small xAKL to pick it up in Transport mode and bring it home. You can only put one unit or portion thereof on a ship, so if there are several bits and pieces in the same area see if you can get them to the biggest AF and combine them by disbanding (until the message about destroying aircraft comes up).

_____________________________

No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth

(in reply to DanielAClark)
Post #: 81
RE: Rookie Problems - Operation Shoestring - 4/19/2020 10:43:25 PM   
RangerJoe


Posts: 13450
Joined: 11/16/2015
From: My Mother, although my Father had some small part.
Status: offline 		Once you can no longer disband into an air unit, wait. The excess planes will go into the reserves and can be removed. Then disband again as needed. Make sure that the disband color is white when you disband.


_____________________________

Seek peace but keep your gun handy.

I'm not a complete idiot, some parts are missing!

“Illegitemus non carborundum est (“Don’t let the bastards grind you down”).”
― Julia Child


(in reply to BBfanboy)
Post #: 82
RE: Rookie Problems - Operation Shoestring - 4/20/2020 3:40:20 AM   
DanielAClark

 

Posts: 131
Joined: 1/7/2020
Status: offline 		12-13th September

Nothing much happening in New Guinea. Our planes are pounding the enemy force on the track. I have no intention of launching an offensive here...so I am not sure what else to do.

More B17s arriving at Townsville.

I shift some ASW assets around to better cover the approaches to Sydney as I am sending a lot of shipping between Sydney and Noumea.

The enemy tries to land supplies at Tasafaronga by using two freighters escorted by Katori.

The Cactus Air Force savages them, hitting Katori six times with thousand pound bombs and hitting the freighters several times as well. The entire group left heavily aflame.

2nd Marine Regiment is now unloading onto Lunga Point. Supplies are unloading as well.

I load up the Enterprise's groups onto transports and prepare to send them to Sydney. Wasp's old group will go to either Efate or the airfield at Espirito Santo...to await developments.

Supplies at Henderson Field reach the point where I begin expanding the airfield.

Will the enemy throw more at us? How long will they need to recuperate before they come in force? Will the large force at Tasafaronga come to Banzai into the airfield defenses?

(in reply to RangerJoe)
Post #: 83
RE: Rookie Problems - Operation Shoestring - 4/20/2020 5:47:03 AM   
DanielAClark

 

Posts: 131
Joined: 1/7/2020
Status: offline 		Thinking about the New Guinea situation, I looked into the real life actions of everyone.

About late September is when the Australian advance began. I have not been pushed back as far as they were historically (I estimate the current positions to be around Templeton's Crossing or Brigade Ridge, NOT at Ioribaiwa Ridge). In any event, I think it wise to begin thinking of probing the front to see what is in front of us sometime in the next few weeks. Air recon has been bad at identifying units in the jungle.

The whole idea of trying to mount an offensive in this area is horrifying from a supply perspective. The actual reality of how it was done in 1942 is stupifying. Do we even have air supply capability in the scenario?

I was even looking at the possibility of initiating my own Operation Lilliput out of Milne Bay, but there are no base hexes between Milne and Buna that could be developed as a hub to dump supplies and combat assets to.

In real life, the offensive from Port Moresby to Buna took until mid-November, and was greatly aided by a withdrawal from the field by the Japanese forces. I do not yet know if that is the case here, though I suspect that the enemy has abandoned his offensive (due to a complete lack of bombardment attempts on my forces).

In addition, it looks like I will need about 1900-2000 political points to buy out the 32nd Infantry Division, to potentially bolster any attack out of PM...though historically they were not used until 1943.

Anyway, just my musings about the situation in New Guinea...

(in reply to DanielAClark)
Post #: 84
RE: Rookie Problems - Operation Shoestring - 4/20/2020 5:40:45 PM   
DanielAClark

 

Posts: 131
Joined: 1/7/2020
Status: offline 		Apparently, I was wrong...32nd infantry division arrived in PM mid-september.

MacArthur really wanted to get back into the limelight!

(in reply to DanielAClark)
Post #: 85
RE: Rookie Problems - Operation Shoestring - 4/21/2020 4:16:13 AM   
DanielAClark

 

Posts: 131
Joined: 1/7/2020
Status: offline 		14-18th September

A bit of a lull in the action.

I move up some B26 squadrons to Port Moresby, and run the following:
P40 squadron
P39 squadron
Beaufighter 1C squadron
Three B26 squadrons
...out of the airfield. This increases our ground strike capability MASSIVELY, and we do quite well hitting the track.

I move the PBYs to Milne Bay, to give better warning of the Bismarck Sea.

The enemy once again sends Betties after Port Moresby and Milne Bay, and manages to get them through the CAP on most days...but they go after ships in the harbor and not the airfield. Silly. No hits.

On the 17th, the enemy run out of escorts and we savage the bombers.

I move the component parts of the 32nd Infantry Division to the same town...and combine it. More to practice the concept than to use it. I now know how to do it.

My 'plan' for a Buna offensive is to move the component parts of the 5th Australian Division to Port Moresby, form it into a unit, and have it attack along the trail. This will mean some juggling of the units at Port Moresby and Milne Bay, so I will need some carrier cover for the operation. Not sure if I will actually get this done or not.

At Henderson Field, the enemy occasionally sends in Betties against my sub chasers still futilely going after the midget sub hanging around Tulagi. The CAP has trouble intercepting these unescorted bombers, and they eventually sink one of the sub chasers. Sigh. I have more.

Long Island reaches Espirito Santo and is stood down for repairs pierside. The area now has some CAP and some strike force, but its rudimentary.

Transports are finally underway with supplies and the 7th regiment of the 1st USMC division. Once it arrives at Henderson Field, it will combine and then move out towards Tasafaronga, while the 2nd regiment of the 2nd USMC division holds the airfield.

(in reply to DanielAClark)
Post #: 86
RE: Rookie Problems - Operation Shoestring - 4/21/2020 2:17:57 PM   
RangerJoe


Posts: 13450
Joined: 11/16/2015
From: My Mother, although my Father had some small part.
Status: offline 		Maybe put some mines at Tulagi if you can.

_____________________________

Seek peace but keep your gun handy.

I'm not a complete idiot, some parts are missing!

“Illegitemus non carborundum est (“Don’t let the bastards grind you down”).”
― Julia Child


(in reply to DanielAClark)
Post #: 87
RE: Rookie Problems - Operation Shoestring - 4/21/2020 4:27:06 PM   
DanielAClark

 

Posts: 131
Joined: 1/7/2020
Status: offline 		I have mined Tulagi already.
Lost two of my own destroyers to the mines.

(in reply to RangerJoe)
Post #: 88
RE: Rookie Problems - Operation Shoestring - 4/21/2020 7:47:07 PM   
DanielAClark

 

Posts: 131
Joined: 1/7/2020
Status: offline 		19th September

The enemy launches a large Betty raid on Milne Bay...over 30 Betties. Their raid got separated and my beefed up fighters take down 3 Betties and damage 7 more. The second wave of bombers makes it through to the base and damage a few planes on the ground.

(in reply to DanielAClark)
Post #: 89
RE: Rookie Problems - Operation Shoestring - 4/22/2020 2:25:11 AM   
DanielAClark

 

Posts: 131
Joined: 1/7/2020
Status: offline 		20-21st September

We kick over a hornets nest by trying to resupply Milne Bay. The enemy sends over 50 Betties, heavily escorted by A6M2 and A6M3 Zeros.

Our cap does a good job, shooting down half a dozen zeroes and a few Betties for the loss of only one plane. The enemy doesn't hit any of the ships (an xAK and two destroyers) and does minor damage to the airfield.

Resupply and reinforcement of Henderson Field continues undisturbed.

(in reply to DanielAClark)
Post #: 90
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