Battlestations: Pacific/2nd Battle of Guadalcanal

2nd Battle of Guadalcanal is a relative easy mission in that you, the player, can focus on controlling a single type of unit with very little to no orders to any other unit needed. The mission is divided into three different parts, beginning with you being in control of a submarine stalking three troop transport with the objective of sinking at least one of them. After that the player gets a fighter unit and some PT-boats to take out more transports and lastly gets control of a battleship tasked to sink the enemy battle fleet.

Primary Objectives
 * Prevent the Unloading of any Japanese transport ships.

Secondary Objectives
 * Both Battleships must survive.

Hidden Objectives
 * Destroy all three seaplanes stationed at Savo island.

USS-Sub eliminating Japanese transport ships


For this mission, the upgrade is between a sub, fighter airplane and battleship upgrade. Since the first two parts of the mission are relatively easy, upgrading the two South Dakota class battleships to Iowa class for the last part is advised.

The first part of this mission starts with giving the player control of a Narwhal class submarine with four tubes forward and two backward, unless the player chooses to upgrade it. Begin by increasing speed to full ahead and raise periscope for a look around, which will reveal three transport ships just ahead of you, making for some sweet targets to practice some torpedoing skill. So use your four forward torpedo launchers to send the first ship to the bottom, while continuing at full speed ahead.

This attack will cause a number of Japanese PTs to be sent out toward you, but ignore them as you should be gone toward the safety of the deep by time you're finished and they get to you. Instead, use your periscope to keep track of the closest ship, because the moment you passing in front of it you should turn right facing the third and farthest away ship. This maneuver will allow you to use your two stern torpedoes to launch and sink the ship you just passed. The main reason for the right turn is to get your torpedoes to rise up to hit the target, as torpedoes launched too close will just pass underneath.

The moment the aft torpedoes are launched, do a hard left turn to position your forward tubes to take out the last ship. At this point, one can either complete the left turn to sink the last ship with torpedoes as the forward tubes should be reloaded by now, or you can rise to the surface to use your artillery to sink it while doing the left turn to steer your sub to the colored area. Either way, once the last ship is joining its two other sister ships, dive as deep as possible and check the map so you move into the colored area where you can escape deep down and finish the first part of this mission.

Strafing all day long


The Second part of this mission gives you control of six PT boats in formation, a P-40 Warhawk (unless upgraded) and a flight of B-25 Mitchells if you earned this bonus unit on earlier missions. Allow the PTs on their course and instead send your fighter ahead of them toward the Japanese PTs with two transports behind. The easiest tactic is to take control of the P-40 flight and sink the closest PT while you pass them on the way toward the first two transports behind them, then do the same to both transports. At this point, send your own PTs to deal with the remaining Japanese PTs between them and your fighter.

Turn your own fighter toward the next wave, consisting of another three transports and a PT, and strafe them until they are driftwood. Assuming you don't have the bonus unit, the B-25, this is the time to get the bonus objective since the remaining three transports have plenty of distance to cover before they can land. So steer your P-40 toward the lone island and you should see the hidden objective – three Japanese scout Seaplanes on the beach. Do your duty and finish them with a strafing run. If you miss any of them, they will take to the air and you will have to shot them down, although that shouldn't be much of a problem.

With the bonus objective done, time to deal with the last group of transports and their escorting PT. Once the transports have been sunk, the second part of this mission is over.

Time for the big boys to play


The last part gives you control over a South Dakota class battleship (again unless upgraded) with several Japanese ships around you. Start by taking out the ship on your left and then move to the right, taking out the ships as they pass you. There are five or six ships in total – one on the left, and the rest on the right. Since you have a powerful battleship, taking them out should be relative easy, but by the time the last of them sinks a new Japanese force arrives.

Now, if you're daring, just turn your broadside toward them and start bombarding them with your single battleship. But reinforcement is just a little distance away in form of a second battleship plus its destroyer escort, and the moment you see them the secondary objective is given.

It is advised that you move west-southwest while bombarding the enemy fleet, as this not only gives you control of the reinforcement sooner, but draws the enemy toward them. Once you have control over both battleships and the four destroyers, sinking the enemy capital ship and its escort without losing either of your battleships shouldn't be too hard. Once the last enemy ship is sunk, you've won.