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mogami -> Eric R PBEM (5/31/2002 5:42:30 PM)
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Hi, I think I may try to talk Eric into a mini AAR on our PBEM game so far. I find it almost beyond words. As Japan my starting aim is to be ready to attack Port Moresby if conditions arise that would allow it. These conditions begin with removing operational allied carriers. Did not happen. Gili is not part of my opening plan as far as capture goes. (I tended to think giving the Allied player 2 places to defend is better then having him pile it all in PM.)
As part of the Operation intended to draw the carriers into battle
A very small transport TF (important that allied search planes report AP's headed south) Was dispatched with a Naval Infantry Unit. It was not actually meant to complete the trip but the TF commander never retired when the enemy carriers moved north.
Then after debarking the transports were sunk by air attack so I was left actually sitting in Gili Gili. Now supplying this place is not easy. And PM was able to take turns whacking Lae and Gili. And the carrier battle left at least one US carrier in operation while one of mine was retired to Japan for repair. (Much later I learned Yorktown had been sunk)
I continued the build up of supply and fuel and combat units for use in NG. New Carrier reinforcement brought me up to where in Mid June I had Shokaku, Kaga, Akagi, Hiryu, Soryu, Junyo, Shoho, Ryujo
against what I thought were 4 possibly 5 US carriers. (Lexington, Yorktown, Enterprise, Saratoga, Hornet) So how to get a battle north of Gili (for the LBA advantage) I thought if I could mass all my air assets and neutralize the LBA from PM and place my carriers where they could interdict the supply and reinforcement TF's going into PM it would force a carrier battle. (Of course this implies a great risk but doing nothing admits defeat knocking the allied carriers out opens wide a door of opportunity that will last for several months.) The opening stages were very encouraging.
By keeping the carriers at Rabaul with the fighters set to escort I sent massive amounts of fighters with my bombers. When I thought it was safe I moved the carriers south (they need to set 8
hexes from PM to keep transports out. The plan called for LBA groups at Lae to help (the Lae fighters are the ones supposed to intercept transport aircraft) PM had damaged Lae badly prior to my opening air attacks and in the actual course of events never provided any benefit to me (in fact 3 airgroups basically got stranded there.)
As this battle was getting underway. The allies began construction of a base on San Cristabol Island (SE of Lunga)
This is a major threat to Lunga since it would be possible to have LRCAP from here cover invasion TF's. (not to mention recon and bomber groups) I had a very light TF covering Lunga at this time. Since it requires the bulk of Japanese assets to attempt the capture of PM. To compound matters still further a USN carrier force began attacking my shipping between Shortland and Lunga.
The airfield on Lunga was not yet to where it could support airgroups (and there were no available airgroups) Lungas state of unreadiness has had a carry over effect in much of what has followed.
Gili had suffered from a lack of supply from the moment it was captured. Also it was undermanned and the airfield unbuilt. This had placed a severe strain on my floatplanes. As a secondary operation a supply/troop transport TF was assembled to provide for Gili. Also a 2 BB bombardment TF was dispatched and a CA surface combat TF to cover them both. (I thought with PM's air in a reduced state a good bombardment would reduce the need for all the carriers freeing up some to move to protect Lungas supply lines.)
(To be continued after sleep)
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