Defending Port Moresby

[SSLConf_Yolo911]

I am doing the campaign as the US. Difficulty Level Captain. I've tried it four times.

It is impossible to reach Port Moresby in time to prevent the japs from landing their troupes.

As a last resort I headed there with two carrier groups and ignored everything else and I still can't
reach it in time to bomb the transports. I have sunk the supply ship but without any troupes of my own
in Port Moresby the japs walk right in.

The three destroyers and one cruiser that starts out near Port Moresby last about 10 seconds against
the large enemy force nearby. I tried luring them away and heading straight for Port Moresby with a
carrier but it still can't reach it before they unload. I have tried bombing the troupes on the ground but it takes too
long and my main force gets clobbered before I can retreat.

And the worse part is the campaign ends if I can't accomplish one of the three goals. I would think the campaign would
continue. Is there a GOD mode? Sounds like that is necessary.

ANd the subs are a heck of a lot better than mine. And I've never discovered one of theirs in about 60 hours of playing.

[hellcat23]

This one is tricky for sure but has multiple solutions...

You can either save some prestige(?) points and navy slots to bolster the small fleet that arrives in the western setup sector around turn 8 or 9. That way you can take the enemy fleet on directly or you can scramble to the south and south east and often split the enemy fleet up and take them down piecemeal with the idea of drawing them away from Port Moresby.

You can also take out the enemy invasion force with just carrier borne bombers and avoid a naval engagement with that fleet near Moresby altogether.

You can also break through the line and chase them with you main fleet forces if you are positioned well to do so.

As for sub detection you need destroyers that havent moved to be able to ping sonar to detect them (within 2 hexes) and only they can make an attack on the sub for 3 to 4 damage.

[Greven]

The first time I didn't realised I could deploy in the west border on turn one, just beside Port Moresby...
The second time I did deploy my whole fleet there.

[SSLConf_Yolo911]

Okay thanks. I didn't know there was a deployment zone on the west side. Sorry about the belly-aching but after doing 120 turns (4 times thru the same scenario will make you crazy, especially with the same outcome).

I'm 66 years old and have been playing various forms of war games for 50 of those years and this one stumped me.

By the way I waited for this game for a year and it is GREAT.

[gunnergoz]

Okay thanks. I didn't know there was a deployment zone on the west side. Sorry about the belly-aching but after doing 120 turns (4 times thru the same scenario will make you crazy, especially with the same outcome).

I'm 66 years old and have been playing various forms of war games for 50 of those years and this one stumped me.

By the way I waited for this game for a year and it is GREAT.

We are the exact same age and have both been playing war games about the same length of time. Nice to see another old codger around here.

I too failed that Port Moresby scenario until I noticed the western deployment hexes. That made all the difference. I deployed a carrier battle group there and eventually united it with the one coming from the east. The rest, as they say, is history. Even managed to save the US tanker Neosho. It is a nicely done game.

[adherbal]

It's easy to overlook some isolated deployment hexes. Perhaps these should be permanently marked on the strategic map so you can get an overview without having scroll all across the map looking for them.

[gunnergoz]

It's easy to overlook some isolated deployment hexes. Perhaps these should be permanently marked on the strategic map so you can get an overview without having scroll all across the map looking for them.

+1

[Longasc]

I didn't deploy in the west initially, but later on only.

Let me copy and paste, I called "Defending Port Moresby" by the scenario name in the thread "Coral Sea USA":

Let me give you a short report how I did this scenario last night. The unfortunate only loss was a core destroyer.

I placed all my core units in the North East and steamed straight North West.
2 Carriers
with 1x Wildcat, 2x Dauntless. Later bought another Wildcat from the per turn income
2 Kingfisher Recon
1 Cruiser
2 Destroyers

Tulagi was bombed by the Dauntlesses, till only the Marines were left. A lone non-core DD steamed there to shoot them. Took a while.
The dive bombers were back for carrier battles. This was when I bought the 2nd Wildcat. Together with the NPC fighter I won air supremacy.
Note dive bombers are best for destroyers, torpedo bombers are better at taking out large ships.

Port Moresby was undefended. When the fleet appeared near it in the East, I sent this fleet immediately straight SOUTH.
The horde of enemy Destroyers and the Mogami followed it. That is the major ruse in this scenario you should use, too. The small fleet will get destroyed, unfortunately.

Then I placed (all core) a Sub, a DD and a Patrol Boat near Port Moresby just in time to shoot the ONLY 2 Japanese Troop Transports. One made it on land with 2 strength points, but got shot next turn by the Patrol Craft. They are great at direct damage from sea to land. The B17 was kinda superfluous.

In the meantime I had some trouble with subs, despite attempts to screen my ships they slipped through and nibbled at my ships. They must be carefully balanced, I know "we" want stronger sub torpedos but they were already an annoying concern and cost only ~60 resources.

I fulfilled all secondary objectives, but I didn't get credit for destroying all Japanese Aircraft. BUG? It even said "Air Supremacy achieved blabla". It might be that the last Jap plane sunk with a carrier and it didn't trigger properly therefore or so.

All in all a very exciting scenario!

[SSLConf_Yolo911]

I ended up keeping a Kingfisher recon p0lane in the area. After I lured the DD's and Cruiser away from the area and the transports arrived I bought a battleship and took care of the transports.

[Dragoon.]

I ended up keeping a Kingfisher recon p0lane in the area. After I lured the DD's and Cruiser away from the area and the transports arrived I bought a battleship and took care of the transports.

Yeah, I did that too. At some point I received 5 additional naval command points. Just enough for a battleship. BB South Carolina saved the day.

[gunnergoz]

Those complaining that they destroyed all Japanese aircraft and still did not win, be advised that the AI is sneaky and will take badly damaged aircraft and fly them off in weird directions, apparently looking for an airfield to repair them at. I have seen this more than once and my recon planes have spotted low-strength Japanese airplanes out in the middle of nowhere over the ocean. You may have missed one such refugee and the game thus determined the victory condition to destroy all enemy aircraft remained unfulfilled. Just my 2 bits, but I've seen this happen.

[Longasc]

Naaa, #orbitalcommand didn't find them either.

[gunnergoz]

Naaa, #orbitalcommand didn't find them either.

Sorry, don't follow you. Are you using some sort of console cheat to look at the entire battle map?