MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

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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Coral Sea Naval Battle Pre-Game Briefing 2

New Guinea Campaign

Mission: Link air, naval and land action in a campaign and story context
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Game Date: December 7, 1942/2019
Arrival: 9:00-10:00 am
Flight School: 9:15-9:30 am (New pilots + refresher for others if needed)
Lunch: Noonish
Game End: 4:00 pm Turn In Progress or sooner
If anyone needs to be excused, please let us know asap
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RECONNAISSANCE

Okay Mac, we've spotted 'em. Radio the Lexington.

Right Everett. That's one fleet carrier, two cruisers and four destroyers southbound 150 miles east of Rossel Island. I wonder where the second reported carrier is though.

Get that message sent Mac before we have company. We're getting out of here pronto.

Meanwhile, a float plane from one of the IJN Crusiers spotted the Lexington's Task Force.

Far to the westward a Japanese Army observation plane poked into Milne Bay on the extreme eastern tip of New Guinea.

The Japanese will be sending Bettys to Milne Bay to prevent Allied aircraft there interdicting the invasion force when it rounds the bottom of New Guinea to land troops at Port Moresby.
Reason: We have thirteen participants needing more ergonomic space to reduce people crowding.
Two Japanese and one Allied pilot are needed for Milne Bay.

That is all.

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Coral Sea Naval Battle Pre-Game Briefing 1

Douglas TBD-1 Devastators

New Guinea Campaign

Mission: Link air, naval and land action in a campaign and story context
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Game Date: December 7, 1942/2019
Arrival: 9:00-10:00 am
Flight School: 9:15-9:30 am (New pilots + refresher for others if needed)
Lunch: Noonish
Game End: 4:00 pm Turn In Progress or sooner

Bring: Tape measure and one small snack or beverage to share

Location: The Coral Sea, Southwest Pacific Ocean
Strategic Mission: Japanese Want to Occupy Southern New Guinea
Tactical Situation:
   (a) Each side engages the others main Carrier Task Force with aircraft
   (b) Survivors return to a friendly carrier to rearm/refuel and launch Mission #2

Recommendation: See the new MIDWAY movie before game day.

Coral Sea Naval Battle --- Pre-Game Briefing

Mission #1

Starts 10:30 am or sooner.

IJN Task Force (Back Table)

1x Fleet Carrier Shokaku + (CV Zuikaku off table)

2x Cruisers

4x Destroyers

8x Zero Fighters
9x VAL Dive Bombers
4x KATE Torpedo Bombers
1x Float Plane

CHUCK S. Duties
Assign players and flight plan(s)
Unavailable on Mission 1 only: 1x Zero, 1x Val
CAP: 1x Zero up 1xD4/fuel consumed, 1-2 Zeros ready on deck
Place float plane bogey in vicinity of US Task Force at 10,000'
Form one or two Attack Groups from aircraft remaining
Steer CV into the wind/D4: 1= 45° port, 2-3 = No Change, 4= 45° starboard
Mission #1: Throw 2D6 vs USN. High score launches first.
Chuck S. CinC
Dave G. Attack Group Commander
Keith J.
Tom
Dale F.
John B.

USN Task Force  (Main Table)

1x Fleet Carrier Lexington + (CV Yorktown off table)
CVs are radar equipped

2x Cruisers

4x Destroyers

8x Wildcat Fighters
9x Dauntless Dive Bombers
4x Devastator Torpedo Bombers
1x PBY

Bill P. Duties
Assign players and flight plan(s)
Unavailable on Mission 1 only: 1x Wildcat, 1x Dauntless
CAP: 1x Wildcat up 1xD4/fuel consumed, 1-2 Wildcats ready on deck
PBY Mission: Rescue downed pilots
Form two Attack Groups from aircraft remaining
Steer CV into the wind/D4: 1= 45° port, 2-3 = No Change, 4= 45° starboard
Mission #1: Throw 2D6 vs IJN. High score launches first.
Bill P. CinC
Nick K. Attack Group Commander
Greg B
Dan E.
Morgan E.
Bob M.
Todd C.

Mission #2

Starts after Mission #1 when rearmed/refueled.

Order of Battle:
Lightly or undamaged aircraft returning from Mission #1

1x Fighter, 1x Dive Bomber unavailable earlier
Assign Aircraft to CAP and Attack Group(s) after rearming/refueling.

IJN 
More skilled pilots

Better torpedoes and longer range
USN aircraft shooting at Zeros add +1D6
Turning Template A is available only for Zeros
Mission 1 Attack Group aircraft may launch all planes on the same turn
If Shokaku is out of action, bring on Zuikaku
Bonus Card A/A Fire unavailable
Pilots may attempt to crash land on a friendly beach or near friendly ships in the water

USN
Good pilots but with less experience
Poorer torpedoes and shorter range
Radar aboard carriers
Yorktown has side armor belt
Mission 1 Attack Group aircraft launches on two consecutive turns
If Lexington is out of action, bring on Yorktown
Pilots may attempt to crash land/bail out on the water, on a friendly beach or near friendly ships

FRIENDLY ANTI-AIRCRAFT FRIE
Fighters within 20cms of the enemy receiving A/A must throw for A/A friendly fire too.

ALTITUDE EXPERIMENT
Low 100' or less: Torpedoes may only be dropped on the deck
Medium: 5,000'
High: 10,000'
Aircraft must be at the same level to engage each other
Climbing costs -5cm per level
Descending costs nothing
Shell splash plumes are only at Low Level. Contacting aircraft destroyed

Perspective

CV Lexington Task Force

We are using what we have.

Ships are 1/2400 scale as viewed from aircraft far away.

Aircraft are 1/285 or 1/300 scale. You are in the planes.
Newest pilots will fly bombers.

Fighters have 12 turns of fuel. No fuel consumed until 2nd. turn aloft.

Losses and points will be tracked.

Play turns speedily.

Caveat: Scenario might need adjusting to make a good game.

Main Reference: The Coral Sea 1942, The first carrier battle, Mark Stille

Lady Lex in our adaptation sailing to The Coral Sea