Steve Carey - 01:55am Aug 4, 2000 PST (#167 of 171) 
Strength and Honor

We completed the Coral Sea scenario of Solomon Sea tonight, taking 7+
hours to go through four days of action before the American fleet
retired. I was the referee (something that I've never done before), and
it was really quite fascinating to see the events unfold. Both sides
(USA/Fen Yan, IJN/Mike Panikowski) played a very good game as their
strategic thinking, luck, and endurance were tested to the max. Here's a
summary: 

The Japanese roll for a variant and are somewhat shocked to see the
Zuikaku and her planes withdrawn from the OOB. Compensation comes in the
form of +10VP's and 4 extra Betty bombers. The USA gets no modifications
(a non-event variant roll). 

DAY ONE has the Japanese, aided by those extra Bettys, pounding the
airfield at Port Moresby. American fighter CAP (weak P-39's) is
obliterated, giving the Japanese a free hand to continue their attacks
without hinderance. 

DAY TWO sees the IJN finding the Yorktown group, but she slips away when
Japanese search planes experience radio problems. However, the IJN
promptly locates the Lexington, who ends up moving into the same hex as
the Shokaku task force. At point blank range, Kate torpedo bombers anvil
attack and cripple the Lexington, but she manages to stay afloat. The
Shokaku is not so lucky as SBD's rain bombs down on her deck, and she
sinks. A larger USA strike fails to find the target, but the damage has
already been done--the light carrier Shoho is the only flattop remaining
for Japan. 

The following surface combat is inconsequential, and the wounded USN
carrier limps away. 

More bad news for the Japanese as American subs ambush the invasion
transports leaving Rabaul, and 2 loaded steps go to the bottom. 

DAY THREE finds Port Moresby completely knocked out, all her planes
being lost. The Japanese are racking up lots of VP's by keeping the
pressure on this objective. 

Meanwhile, poor weather and bad radios plague the IJN search planes. The
Yorktown squadrons nail the remaining Japanese transports steaming for
Port Moresby, and only 1 step of troops remain to land (if they can
possibly get there). 

DAY FOUR shows the Japanese pressing on, and despite all odds (and aided
by some Zekes flying long range CAP), they put that final step of troops
ashore into Port Moresby. The Yorktown is found, but a large force of
Bettys cannot locate her at maximum range. 

Mike exited the Shoho off the board, correctly noting that the CVL would
be no match for the big American CV. 

So, despite losing a fleet carrier and almost all their invasion troops,
the Japanese go on to win on points (mainly those accumulated from four
days worth of hammering of Port Moresby, which was the main objective
after all). Perhaps fearful of the unspotted Zuikaku, and not knowing
that she was not in the battle (remember the variant), the USN was
rather conservative with their carrier play until the last day. Japan
was (for the most part) aggressive, both with her bases and at sea, and
claimed the victory. 

This was simply a superb game! Hopefully those reading this will get a
good feel for the excitement and tension that we three experienced. I
can recommend this game without reservation...