Battle of the Coral Sea | Singleplayer Campaign BS Midway Guide

Last update: 11 May 2016

Units at your disposal: aircraft carrier, light cruiser, destroyers, fighters, torpedo planes, dive bombers, recon seaplane PBY Catalina Enemy: 3 destroyers, light cruiser, two aircraft carriers, bombers, torpedo and fighter planes Level of difficulty: 4

Primary Objectives:

• Defeat the Japanese carriers (1)
• Ensure Donald's survival (2)
• Protect the "Yorktown" from sinking (3)

Hidden Objective:

• ? (*)

At first - see short intro movie on which Henry talks with his friend, Donald The Pilot. Enjoy this moment because this is the last moment when you see Donald alive. [#1] Enemy air raid breaks this sweet conversation. From two American aircraft carriers only the one, USS "Yorktown" (yours), will survive that sudden strike - "Lex" is going to the bottom. [#2]

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Immediately launch from your carrier three flights (3 planes in each) of "Wildcat" fighters, additionally armed with bombs. Take-off also with one flight of "Avenger" torpedo planes. [#3] That's the max. number of aircrafts that can take-off from your "floating airfield" in that moment. Fighters will take care of enemy planes flying towards your flotilla from south-east and your "Avengers" will try to sink one of Japanese warships you'll find soon on the sea. So send your "Wildcats" south-east to attack Japanese planes. In the air you have also Donald in his aircraft and a recon seaplane PBY Catalina. Order Donald to escort that last aircraft and send both to the south. [#4]

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After a little Donald should see some "Zero" fighters trying to shoot down the "Catalina" - order him to destroy'em all. [#5] Even if he's alone he is a tough guy and should cut a dash. In fact you don't have to worry about him specially because he's doing fine usually and should survive this mission (2). After shooting down "Zeros" you can direct Donald back to help rest of your "Wildcats" - you should see no more "Zeros" on Catalina's tail later. And this seaplane has a task of searching for enemy naval forces which consist of two aircraft carriers, three destroyers and a cruiser. They should be somewhere in this area on south... In the same time rest of your warships should sail south-east, to cut in the course of mentioned Japanese convoy which sails east. For the moment position your destroyers and a cruiser on the right board of the "Yorktown" carrier, in order to shield him against enemy torpedos and defend against enemy planes, if they have managed to break through Wildcats' barrier. You must protect the "Yorktown" from sinking (3) at last. [#6]

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Remember also that it is possible to convert the Japanese planes into meteorites rain (shooting stars) by firing at them from the destroyers and cruiser, using the AA guns. [#7] Your recon plane PBY Catalina flying somewhere over the ocean on the south will quickly find the enemy. However, don't fly with her too close to avoid getting under the Japanese AA fire. [#8]

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Your task now is to defeat the Japanese carriers (1). "Wildcat" fighters - which I proposed to arm with bombs at the beginning - can bombard some enemy ships when not fighting with Japanese aircrafts. [#9] However, don't milk the bull and target only weaker enemy units - the destroyers. You can also sink one of them now with "Avenger" torpedo planes you have launched at the start. [#10] Two torpedos should be enough to send one destroyer to the coral but you can also - if you feel secure - try to sink the cruiser at the head of enemy convoy. I see no sense in attacking the Japanese carrier with torpedos of three "Avengers", because they will naturally damage him, but they can't sink him for sure. And your "Avengers" will have to return to the "Yorktown" to rearm - when they're here again with new torpedos enemy carrier is repaired and whole party starts from the beginning. So better try to sink one of destroyers or cruiser... [You can also crash your "Avengers" into the one of these just torpedoed enemy ships: in effect he will probably sink and additionally you'll be able to immediately launch new planes (already armed) from your carrier, without waiting for the return of these "Avengers" (it takes a long time). You can as well (also fully tested with a good effect) send in the beginning of a mission one squadron of "Avengers" (4-5 planes) to the south with a task of sinking the cruiser and then take care of Japanese destroyers by attacking them one after one with already only a flight of torpedo planes (3 aircrafts). The disadvantage of this last method is that you have initially small number of fighters in the air and you have to bustle when shooting enemy planes down, you must destroy them even from the decks of your warships when Japanese planes have managed to get dangerously close to the "Yorktown".]

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When you're close to the enemy with your small flotilla you can leave the "Yorktown" behind you and send both destroyers and a cruiser towards the enemy forces in order to destroy them. Let's hope that Japanese warships are sick & tired of your aerial attacks... Strike at enemy cruiser with your ship of similar type, attack with your destroyers adequate enemy units. [#11] Remember to order your destroyers to use their torpedos at free will. This should be one-on-one fight (or maybe you have even outnumbered the enemy) so the Americans should win it. Watch out for Japanese torpedos launched by destroyers, mistreat these warships using same weapon. [#12]

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Sink the enemy cruiser with couple of accurate artillery volleys of yours. [#13] When all units escorting the Japanese carriers have been destroyed you can finally deal with these "floating airfields". Use all you've got - artillery, torpedos, you can sand here more planes with their bombs, etc. [#14]

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However, in this scenario you can only damage enemy carriers, because when one of them is heavily damaged... mission ends successfully (although, the enemy isn't sinking). [#15] Well, this isn't a full success, though, because on the outro movie you see also the death of Donald, which will be killed on Yorktown's flight deck in consequence of one more enemy air raid. [#16]

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[And to the end I left the best - this scenario can be finished in about 5 minutes. How? Just take-off from your carrier (in the beginning of a mission) with a squadron of "Avenger" torpedo planes (5 aircrafts) and head south to attack one of the Japanese "floating airfields". Simultaneously Donald in his fighter takes out "Zeros" in order to not let them shoot down your "Avengers" flying by. When your torpedo planes are close to the target they all attack one enemy carrier (after releasing the torpedo each of them can additionally crash into the enemy). And... voila - enemy carrier becomes heavily damaged, a message telling you that the Japanese are withdrawing appears on your screen and scenario ends successfully. But you have more fun when you play this mission normally, right?]