Raid on Balikpapan | Singleplayer Campaign BS Midway Guide

Last update: 11 May 2016

Units at your disposal: two American destroyers, one of them of Clemson-class (player), second of Fletcher-class Enemy: two destroyers, patrol boats, 7 cargo ships and light cruiser & destroyer (Japanese reinforcements) Level of difficulty: 4 (5 with hidden objectives)

Primary objectives:

• Destroy all Japanese cargo ships (1)
• The USS "John D. Ford" must survive (2)
• Eliminate the enemy reinforcements (3)

Secondary objectives:

• Destroy the PT boat hangar (1)
• Destroy the Japanese fortress (2)

Hidden objectives:

1. Finish the mission before reinforcements arrive (1)
2. Both of your destroyers must survive (2)
3. Navy Distinguished Service Medal

Potential medals to earn:

It seems that two objectives in this mission (primary - to eliminate the enemy reinforcements (3) and hidden - to finish the mission before reinforcements arrive (1)) mutually exclusive each other, you can accomplish only one of them :-). I'd suggest to split your forces (I suppose that you have done your homework, i.e. completed Naval Academy and you know how to do this): send the accompanying destroyer to the fight with the enemy warship of the same type you'll see in the entrance of the Japanese harbor located on the island in the distance. [#1] He should cut a dash. Let us hope so... Support him with your own warship when necessary but as a matter of fact you should sail farther to the south-east, so to say behind the island, because after sending to the bottom first Japanese destroyer you'll see second sailing out from behind that island. [#2]

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Try to quickly deal with him, calling for help your companion if you have some problems this time and your accompanying ship got over with his enemy. Because USS "John D. Ford" (your own destroyer) must survive (2) if you want to successfully end this mission. [#3] After sinking these two enemy destroyers and fighting all the time with the Japanese patrol boats it's time to take care of Japanese cargo ships anchored in the harbor (1) - now you must gentlemanly send them all to the coral. But first, zero in on the PT boat hangar (1) to stop these small units harassing you with their raids. Also focus yourself on enemy coastal fortress situated on the hill above the harbor and destroy it too (2). [#4]

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Each your warship can destroy one construction by placing himself sideways to it and firing at it with his deck guns or you can concentrate the fire of both destroyers on one of these targets first, then on second. Sequence of fusillade depends on which of these targets troubles you more - the fortress or the PT boats. Destroying both structures (fortress and PT boat hangar) completes secondary objectives. [#5] Now you can finally sink all these unprotected at present enemy cargo ships (1). Sail to the canal near the harbor and shell - together with your second destroyer - Japanese ships you're passing by or send each of them two torpedos in order to destroy them. [#6]

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After eliminating the last of them, and if you have additionally managed to do this quickly, mission should end successfully before Japanese reinforcements arrive (1). But if you have loitered and the Japanese in force of a cruiser and destroyer have entered the scene (they can arrive from south-west or north - it's realized randomly I think) you will also have to deal with them. I mean - to eliminate them (3). Probably at first you'll see in your sights enemy destroyer - fix the fire of both of your warships on him to quickly send him to the bottom. Similarly (concentration of fire) deal with second enemy (cruiser). [#7] You can also mistreat him with your torpedos, at last both of your destroyers should have a lot of them. To be sure that your own warship will survive this duel you can order your accompanying ship to get closer to the enemy - let the Japanese focus his attention and his fire on that second destroyer. [#8] However, if you have managed to win this battle with both of your destroyers in good condition and in one piece (2) then you have also completed second hidden objective.

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