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ORIGINAL: Randy Stead
Just finished Coral Sea as Japan.
Allied decisive victory. 1237 points to my 678.
I managed to get the assault ashore, but I let them rest one turn too long. My first assault was a 1-2, next was a 1-1 and I knocked the fortification down to 0. One more assault would have taken it. The scenario description is correct, time is the enemy to the IJN.
In a campaign, you probably would have taken PM, just a few days later. But the scenario timetable takes into account the proximity of RL of Operation MI.
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I was able to shield the landing force by moving my carriers south of PM. It was crazy; I had set my secondary targeting to airfields, so I lost a few planes by attacking PM and Darwin! I then made sure my only attack mode was naval after that. I had one weak attack at just outside American range. I had a whole wing of Kates wiped out due to poor escort. Lesson learned there. I made the mistake of moving closer, so that we hit each other the next day. Each side hit two carriers. On the way back to Noumea a sub sank Yorktown. I got my fleet back to Rabaul in decent shape, but not good enough for air ops. I sent a surface combat TF out from Rabaul and hit three Allied ships, sinking Australia and Hobart and damaged the DD with them. Some small satisfaction in getting off a successful surface combat. I should have done it earlier. Lesson learned.
Attacking a base to support troops is tempting, but when an enemy CV TF is known to be around (or even only suspected to be around), it’s dangerous. Pilots accumulate fatigue, planes accumulate plane fatigue or take damage, stores are depleted... and if you use torpedoes against nearby shipping, that’s your best anti-CV weapon becoming unavailable.
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A sub also sank the AO Tippecanoe. A blow to the Allies. I lost a ship or two to the coastal guns at PM. I need to do more shore bombardment. I realized that too late. By the time I got a decent TF there it was the last turn. Too late the hero, as the movie title says. I also muffed the Zeros from Lae. I had them set for two turns in a row to do a 100' attack on PM just for learning, but it didn't happen for some unknown, to me, reason.
I transferred those long range bombers from Truk to Rabaul, Bettys. They did an attack on the carriers but all I got was a black eye for it. I then set them to hitting PM.
Is there a way of specifically attacking the Allied land forces in PM? I had a few hits on them, minor results, was wondering if there is a way to specify the ground units, or the shore guns?
Ground attack mission will attack the units, but there’s no way to choose which unit in the hex is attacked. Also, any ground attack mission in the jungle, woods, rough, etc, is, I won’t say wasted, but not quite as effective as attacking an LCU on strat movement on a road in a clear hex.
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It was fun while it lasted, frustrating as hell not knowing what damage I had done to the carriers, but since they skedaddled I figured they were hurt.
My subs did very well, torpedoed but did not sink a couple of things, but did manage three hits on Yorktown. That was most satisfying.
I see why it was recommended to me by others to play this from both sides. I have learned that the IJN can be a lethal force if handled well. I did not handle them well, but I am a cadet. I realized the AI was afraid of getting too close to my land bombers. I made the mistake of closing in on them, and not having a properly coordinated strike when I did. Setting land targets as secondary could have cost me much worse against a good player, with my guys blowing their position with those futile land attacks whilst the carriers were still out there. I think the purpose of the carriers is to shield the transports. If the Allies wish to stop them, they must come to you.
As you say, the IJN has a notable advantage in quality in the first year, but it must be used with caution, ‘cause the replacement ships are few.
As for CAP, the ratio will depend on many factors, including how many squadrons you have in the TF, the quality and numbers of the opposition you’re likely to face, the overall situation, etc.
For my part, in an ideal situation with several CV being regrouped, I’ll try to specialize my fighter squadrons. Some will be assigned as Escort 0% CAP, at an altitude maximizing coordination with the bombers, while others will be put to Escort 50% CAP 0 range, to provide CAP for the TF without leaving the hex, but with different altitudes for a layered CAP.
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RE: My first go at this game, very enjoyable! - 
feet, they will probably level bomb. 
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