Coral Sea Battle Results

New Guinea Campaign

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Mission: Link air, naval and land action in a campaign and story context
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Photos: Courtesy of Nick K.
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December 7, 1942/2019 Games

Thirteen players flew six air operations.

Coral Sea Afternoon Mission: USN Aircraft Attack CV Zuikaku

USN Torpedoes Away

Raiden 1/285 Devastator Torpedo Bombers Launch Litko Torpedoes

Note Torpedoes missing in the upper left while two more drive forward

Location:
   The Coral Sea, Southwest Pacific Ocean and Milne Bay, New Guinea

Strategic Mission:
   Japanese Want to Occupy Southern New Guinea

Tactical Situation:
   (a) Each side engaged the others main Carrier Task Force with aircraft.
   (b) Soften up Milne Bay to assist the IJA Invasion Force eventually passing by bound for a landing
         at Port Moresby.

Coral Sea Morning Mission
IJN CV Shokaku and USN CV Lexington Task Forces engaged each other by air.
Both fleet carriers sunk.
Each Task Force had:
   1x CV, 2x CAs and 4x DDs.
   8x Fighters, 8x Dive Bombers, 4x Torpedo Bombers and 1x Observation Plane

Coral Sea Afternoon Mission
IJN CV Zuikaku and USN CV Yorktown Task Forces engaged each other by air.
Both fleet carriers were heavily damaged and are headed home to a dry dock.
Each Task Force had:
   1x CV, 2x CAs and 4x DDs.
   8x Fighters, 8x Dive Bombers, 4x Torpedo Bombers and 1x Observation Plane

Milne Bay Morning Air Raid
IJA 4x Betty Bombers from Rabaul and 3x Zeros from Salamaua raided Milne Bay.
Allies defended with 2x Australian Hurricanes and 2x USAAF P-40s.

Milne Bay Afternoon Air Raid
IJA 3x Betty Bombers from Rabaul and 3x Zeros from Salamaua raided Milne Bay.
Allies defended with 2x Australian Hurricanes and 2x USAAF P-40s.


Our Tactical Results Mirrored History Closely Enough 
   The loss of CV Shokaku and the return of Zuikaku to Japan for repair removed IJN naval air cover for the Port Moresby Invasion Task Force. The Army General Staff must next decide to attempt a landing at Milne Bay or go over the Owen Stanley Mountains as was the historical case to capture Port Moresby.
   Lexington was lost and Yorktown suffered heavy damage as was the historical case. Their battle helped stop Japanese from occupying southern New Guinea and hence protected Allied supply lanes to Australia.

Next Things
   (1) The Allies will attack Salamaua by air on the northeast coast of New Guinea.
   (2) Adapt the Battle of Midway to the tabletop. (Tentatively June 6, 2020)

Campaign Score From Eight Battles:

Japanese:

27: Port Moresby Air Raid #1

07: Port Moresby Air Raid #2

12: Lae Air Raid #1

18: Lae Air Raid #2
30: Coral Sea Mission #1 (CV Lexington sunk)
25: Coral Sea Mission #2 (CV Yorktown crippled)
04: Milne Bay Air Raid #1
06: Milne Bay Air Raid #2
129 points

Allies:

07: Port Moresby #1

16: Port Moresby #2

18: Lae #1

16: Lae #2
30: Coral Sea Mission #1 (CV Shokaku sunk)
25: Coral Sea Mission #2 (CV Zuikaku crippled)
14: Milne Bay Air Raid #1
05: Milne Bay Air Raid #2
131 points

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