obvert
Posts: 14050
Joined: 1/17/2011 From: PDX (and now) London, UK Status: offline
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14 October 1942 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ A good result today. This was fun to watch. At least I can say I got something out of the HI it cost to build Yamato. So Pac: The bombardment of Suva went just about perfectly. The only hitch was several forays by ambitious KB group commanders that hit CAP and resulted in over 40 airplanes shot down. A lot of pilots were again saved by the subs all over the place. The Yamato and company tangled with a SCTF led by CL Raleigh first. They sank all but one ship in this TF! Banzai! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Suva at 132,160, Range 5,000 Yards Allied aircraft no flights Allied aircraft losses OS2U-3 Kingfisher: 1 destroyed Japanese Ships BB Nagato BB Mutsu BB Yamato BB Hyuga DD Yugumo DD Makinami DD Asashio DD Oshio DD Natsugumo DD Hatsuharu Allied Ships CL Raleigh, Shell hits 8, and is sunk DD Ralph Talbot, Shell hits 1 DD Cummings, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk DD Drayton, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk DD Lamson, Shell hits 4, and is sunk DD Conyngham, Shell hits 5, and is sunk DD Shaw, Shell hits 12, and is sunk Japanese Ships Reported to be Approaching! Allied TF begins to get underway Reduced sighting due to 21% moonlight Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 21% moonlight: 6,000 yards Range closes to 23,000 yards... CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 23,000 yards Range closes to 20,000 yards... CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 20,000 yards Range closes to 17,000 yards... CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 17,000 yards Range closes to 14,000 yards... Range closes to 11,000 yards... Range closes to 9,000 yards... Range closes to 8,000 yards... CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 8,000 yards Range closes to 7,000 yards... Range closes to 6,000 yards... CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 6,000 yards Range closes to 5,000 yards... CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 5,000 yards CL Raleigh sunk by BB Hyuga at 5,000 yards DD Shaw engages BB Hyuga at 5,000 yards DD Conyngham sunk by BB Hyuga at 5,000 yards BB Hyuga engages DD Lamson at 5,000 yards DD Lamson engages DD Hatsuharu at 5,000 yards DD Natsugumo engages DD Cummings at 5,000 yards DD Cummings sunk by DD Asashio at 5,000 yards DD Hatsuharu engages DD Shaw at 5,000 yards DD Shaw sunk by BB Yamato at 5,000 yards Range increases to 6,000 yards BB Hyuga engages DD Lamson at 6,000 yards DD Drayton engages DD Natsugumo at 6,000 yards DD Lamson sunk by BB Mutsu at 6,000 yards Range increases to 7,000 yards BB Hyuga engages DD Drayton at 7,000 yards Range increases to 9,000 yards DD Drayton sunk by DD Hatsuharu at 9,000 yards DD Ralph Talbot engages DD Hatsuharu at 9,000 yards Task forces break off... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- After that there were several small DD skirmishes (that were marred by one of ours hitting a mine and slowing up the whole small SCTF I think). At least they didn't perform very well, and the DD Shirayuki is severely damaged and will sink tomorrow for sure. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Suva at 132,160, Range 4,000 Yards Japanese Ships DD Fubuki DD Shinonome, Shell hits 1 DD Isonami DD Shirayuki, Shell hits 3, on fire Allied Ships DD Hull DD Allen, Shell hits 2, on fire DD Fox DD Electra Reduced sighting due to 21% moonlight Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 21% moonlight: 7,000 yards Range closes to 20,000 yards... Range closes to 14,000 yards... Range closes to 8,000 yards... Range closes to 4,000 yards... CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 4,000 yards CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 4,000 yards Sugawara, Rokorou crosses the 'T' DD Isonami engages DD Electra at 4,000 yards DD Allen engages DD Isonami at 4,000 yards DD Hull engages DD Isonami at 4,000 yards Range closes to 2,000 yards DD Allen engages DD Isonami at 2,000 yards DD Electra engages DD Shinonome at 2,000 yards DD Hull engages DD Fubuki at 2,000 yards Range increases to 4,000 yards DD Electra engages DD Shinonome at 4,000 yards DD Isonami engages DD Allen at 4,000 yards DD Fubuki engages DD Allen at 4,000 yards DD Fubuki engages DD Allen at 4,000 yards Range increases to 6,000 yards DD Electra engages DD Shirayuki at 6,000 yards DD Fox engages DD Isonami at 6,000 yards DD Allen engages DD Shinonome at 6,000 yards DD Allen engages DD Fubuki at 6,000 yards Range increases to 8,000 yards DD Shirayuki engages DD Electra at 8,000 yards DD Isonami engages DD Electra at 8,000 yards DD Allen engages DD Shinonome at 8,000 yards DD Fubuki engages DD Allen at 8,000 yards Range increases to 12,000 yards DD Shirayuki engages DD Allen at 12,000 yards DD Isonami engages DD Hull at 12,000 yards DD Fubuki engages DD Hull at 12,000 yards Task forces break off... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Suva at 132,160, Range 4,000 Yards Japanese Ships DD Fubuki DD Shinonome DD Isonami DD Shirayuki, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage Allied Ships CL Mauritius DD Laffey DD Bancroft DD Sterett DD Wilson, Shell hits 1 Reduced sighting due to 21% moonlight Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 21% moonlight: 6,000 yards Range closes to 20,000 yards... Range closes to 14,000 yards... Range closes to 8,000 yards... Range closes to 4,000 yards... CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 4,000 yards CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 4,000 yards CL Mauritius engages DD Fubuki at 4,000 yards DD Isonami engages DD Wilson at 4,000 yards DD Shinonome engages DD Wilson at 4,000 yards DD Fubuki engages DD Wilson at 4,000 yards Range closes to 2,000 yards DD Shirayuki engages DD Wilson at 2,000 yards DD Isonami engages DD Wilson at 2,000 yards DD Sterett engages DD Shirayuki at 2,000 yards DD Fubuki engages DD Bancroft at 2,000 yards DD Laffey engages DD Fubuki at 2,000 yards Range increases to 5,000 yards CL Mauritius engages DD Shinonome at 5,000 yards DD Bancroft engages DD Isonami at 5,000 yards DD Fubuki engages DD Sterett at 5,000 yards DD Fubuki engages DD Wilson at 5,000 yards Range increases to 8,000 yards DD Shirayuki engages DD Laffey at 8,000 yards DD Shirayuki engages DD Wilson at 8,000 yards DD Shinonome engages DD Laffey at 8,000 yards DD Bancroft engages DD Shirayuki at 8,000 yards DD Laffey engages DD Shirayuki at 8,000 yards Range increases to 11,000 yards CL Mauritius engages DD Shirayuki at 11,000 yards DD Wilson engages DD Shirayuki at 11,000 yards DD Shinonome engages DD Sterett at 11,000 yards DD Shirayuki engages DD Bancroft at 11,000 yards Task forces break off... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Then the BBs went in and nailed Suva fields. A decent number of planes were taken out and Jocke said he had a lot of work to do this turn, presumably switching out groups to heal. A decent number of troops were hit as well. Surprising considering the fort levels the place must have and that it's a level 9 field. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Naval bombardment of Suva at 132,160 Allied aircraft no flights Allied aircraft losses PBY-5A Catalina: 14 damaged PBY-5A Catalina: 1 destroyed on ground PBY-5 Catalina: 23 damaged PBY-5 Catalina: 2 destroyed on ground SBD-3 Dauntless: 15 damaged SBD-3 Dauntless: 4 destroyed on ground P-39D Airacobra: 30 damaged P-39D Airacobra: 4 destroyed on ground P-40E Warhawk: 4 damaged P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed on ground F4F-3 Wildcat: 12 damaged F-4 Lightning: 2 damaged F-4 Lightning: 1 destroyed on ground B-25C Mitchell: 11 damaged B-25C Mitchell: 1 destroyed on ground Japanese Ships BB Hyuga BB Yamato BB Mutsu BB Nagato Allied ground losses: 355 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 30 destroyed, 36 disabled Engineers: 11 destroyed, 4 disabled Guns lost 6 (3 destroyed, 3 disabled) Vehicles lost 27 (15 destroyed, 12 disabled) Airbase hits 13 Airbase supply hits 2 Runway hits 44 E13A1 Jake acting as spotter for BB Hyuga BB Hyuga firing at Suva BB Yamato firing at Suva BB Mutsu firing at Suva BB Nagato firing at Suva -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- After this the BBs took on another SCTF led by CL Mauritius. This ship went down in a hurry. The DDs were harder to take out, but several took big shells and could be hurting for the next round. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Suva at 132,160, Range 8,000 Yards Allied aircraft no flights Allied aircraft losses Walrus II: 1 destroyed Japanese Ships BB Nagato, Shell hits 4 BB Mutsu, Shell hits 1 BB Yamato, Shell hits 2 BB Hyuga, Shell hits 2 DD Yugumo, Shell hits 1 DD Makinami DD Asashio, Shell hits 1 DD Oshio, Shell hits 3 DD Natsugumo DD Hatsuharu Allied Ships CL Mauritius, Shell hits 9, and is sunk DD Laffey, Shell hits 2, on fire DD Bancroft, Shell hits 1, on fire DD Sterett DD Wilson Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 32% moonlight: 11,000 yards Range closes to 20,000 yards... Range closes to 14,000 yards... CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 14,000 yards Range closes to 8,000 yards... CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 8,000 yards CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 8,000 yards Annesley, J.C. crosses the 'T' BB Yamato engages DD Wilson at 8,000 yards DD Sterett engages BB Yamato at 8,000 yards BB Nagato engages CL Mauritius at 8,000 yards BB Yamato engages DD Laffey at 8,000 yards DD Laffey engages DD Asashio at 8,000 yards DD Laffey engages DD Makinami at 8,000 yards Range closes to 3,000 yards BB Hyuga engages CL Mauritius at 3,000 yards DD Natsugumo engages DD Wilson at 3,000 yards BB Mutsu engages CL Mauritius at 3,000 yards CL Mauritius engages BB Nagato at 3,000 yards DD Laffey engages DD Yugumo at 3,000 yards DD Oshio engages DD Wilson at 3,000 yards DD Laffey engages DD Asashio at 3,000 yards DD Yugumo engages DD Laffey at 3,000 yards Range increases to 5,000 yards BB Yamato engages CL Mauritius at 5,000 yards DD Wilson engages DD Makinami at 5,000 yards BB Mutsu engages CL Mauritius at 5,000 yards DD Bancroft engages DD Asashio at 5,000 yards DD Natsugumo engages DD Laffey at 5,000 yards DD Natsugumo engages DD Laffey at 5,000 yards DD Bancroft engages DD Oshio at 5,000 yards DD Yugumo engages DD Bancroft at 5,000 yards CL Mauritius sunk by BB Hyuga at 5,000 yards DD Sterett engages DD Yugumo at 5,000 yards DD Laffey engages DD Hatsuharu at 5,000 yards DD Laffey engages DD Natsugumo at 5,000 yards DD Laffey engages DD Yugumo at 5,000 yards Annesley, J.C. orders Allied TF to disengage BB Hyuga engages DD Bancroft at 5,000 yards BB Yamato engages DD Bancroft at 5,000 yards BB Yamato engages DD Bancroft at 5,000 yards DD Oshio engages DD Laffey at 5,000 yards Range closes to 4,000 yards BB Hyuga engages DD Bancroft at 4,000 yards DD Makinami engages DD Sterett at 4,000 yards BB Mutsu engages DD Bancroft at 4,000 yards DD Asashio engages DD Laffey at 4,000 yards Range increases to 8,000 yards BB Hyuga engages DD Bancroft at 8,000 yards DD Sterett engages DD Oshio at 8,000 yards BB Mutsu engages DD Bancroft at 8,000 yards DD Oshio engages DD Laffey at 8,000 yards DD Bancroft engages DD Hatsuharu at 8,000 yards DD Oshio engages DD Sterett at 8,000 yards DD Yugumo engages DD Laffey at 8,000 yards Range increases to 12,000 yards DD Natsugumo engages DD Wilson at 12,000 yards DD Sterett engages DD Makinami at 12,000 yards BB Mutsu engages DD Bancroft at 12,000 yards DD Asashio engages DD Laffey at 12,000 yards DD Makinami engages DD Bancroft at 12,000 yards DD Yugumo engages DD Laffey at 12,000 yards Task forces break off... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- There were a few other small engagements before the BBs got out to a safe distance. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Suva at 132,160, Range 11,000 Yards Japanese Ships BB Nagato BB Mutsu BB Yamato BB Hyuga, Shell hits 1 DD Yugumo DD Makinami DD Asashio DD Oshio DD Natsugumo DD Hatsuharu Allied Ships CM Oglala, Shell hits 6, on fire, heavy damage -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Suva at 132,160, Range 11,000 Yards Japanese Ships BB Nagato BB Mutsu BB Yamato BB Hyuga DD Yugumo DD Makinami DD Asashio DD Oshio DD Natsugumo DD Hatsuharu Allied Ships YMS-94, Shell hits 3, and is sunk YMS-95, Shell hits 4, and is sunk YMS-117, Shell hits 2, and is sunk -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- After this the KB got involved as daylight broke. Scouts found that several SCTFs retreated into range and although some CAP covered certain hexes, many were left vulnerable. A lot of DDs were hit hard and likely sunk. As many as 10-12 may have been sunk on the day, plus some SCs, putting a dent in his escort and anti-sub activities for a short while at least. SBDs also took off after our wounded DDs but the LR CAP skewered almost 40 of them on the day with one minor hit on DD Isoname leaving 25 system damage and knocking off the forward gun turret. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Nadi at 128,159 Weather in hex: Moderate rain Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 4 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 12 Allied aircraft SBD-3 Dauntless x 20 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses SBD-3 Dauntless: 6 destroyed, 2 damaged SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed by flak Japanese Ships DD Isonami, Bomb hits 1 Aircraft Attacking: 4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb CAP engaged: Hosho-1/A with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 9000 Raid is overhead Akagi-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 15000 Raid is overhead Kaga-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 10000 Raid is overhead Shokaku-1 with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 3 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 15000 Raid is overhead Junyo-1 with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 3 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 9000 Raid is overhead Hiyo-1 with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 3 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 10000 Raid is overhead -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Suva at 132,161 Weather in hex: Moderate rain Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 30 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 41 B5N2 Kate x 10 D3A1 Val x 12 Japanese aircraft losses D3A1 Val: 2 damaged Allied Ships DD Laffey CM Oglala, Bomb hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage DD Wilson, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage DD Bancroft, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk Aircraft Attacking: 10 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo 1 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 3 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 8 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CM Oglala Massive explosion on DD Bancroft -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Suva at 132,160 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid detected at 114 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 48 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 18 B5N2 Kate x 9 Allied aircraft P-39D Airacobra x 64 P-40E Warhawk x 13 F4F-3 Wildcat x 8 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 7 destroyed B5N2 Kate: 5 destroyed No Allied losses CAP engaged: VMF-441 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling) 2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 31000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 31000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes 6 planes vectored on to bombers 35th FG/39th FS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling) 5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 32100. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes 8 planes vectored on to bombers 35th FG/40th FS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 7 on standby, 0 scrambling) 3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 15000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes 7 planes vectored on to bombers 35th FG/41st FS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 9 on standby, 0 scrambling) 4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 11000 , scrambling fighters between 2000 and 9000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 14 minutes 5 planes vectored on to bombers 347th FG/67th FS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 9 on standby, 0 scrambling) 4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 11000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 12000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes 1 planes vectored on to bombers 347th FG/68th FS with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 9 on standby, 0 scrambling) 4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 9000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes 9 planes vectored on to bombers 8th FG/80th FS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling) 3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 6000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes 4 planes vectored on to bombers -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Nadi at 128,159 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 7 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 21 Allied aircraft SBD-3 Dauntless x 17 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses SBD-3 Dauntless: 6 destroyed, 2 damaged Japanese Ships DD Isonami Aircraft Attacking: 1 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb CAP engaged: Akagi-1 with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 3 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 15000 Raid is overhead Hiryu-1 with A6M2 Zero (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 5 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 10000 Raid is overhead Shokaku-1 with A6M2 Zero (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 5 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 15000 Raid is overhead Kaga-1 with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 3 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 10000 Raid is overhead Zuikaku-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 15000 Raid is overhead Junyo-1 with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 4 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 9000 Raid is overhead -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Suva at 132,161 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid detected at 64 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 23 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 51 B5N2 Kate x 7 D3A1 Val x 47 Japanese aircraft losses B5N2 Kate: 1 damaged D3A1 Val: 5 damaged D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed by flak Allied Ships DD Allen, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage DD Sterett, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk DD Laffey, Bomb hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage DD Fox DD Wilson, heavy damage DD Electra, Bomb hits 1, on fire DD Hull, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage Aircraft Attacking: 10 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 7 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo 7 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 2 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 8 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 8 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 12 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Laffey Massive explosion on DD Allen Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Allen Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Electra -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Suva at 132,160 Weather in hex: Light cloud Raid detected at 115 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 49 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 13 B5N2 Kate x 12 Allied aircraft P-39D Airacobra x 63 P-40E Warhawk x 13 F4F-3 Wildcat x 8 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed B5N2 Kate: 7 destroyed No Allied losses CAP engaged: VMF-441 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling) 2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 31000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 6000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes 4 planes vectored on to bombers 35th FG/39th FS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 11 on standby, 0 scrambling) 5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 15000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes 5 planes vectored on to bombers 35th FG/40th FS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 7 on standby, 0 scrambling) 3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 15000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes 7 planes vectored on to bombers 35th FG/41st FS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 9 on standby, 0 scrambling) 4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 11000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 11000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes 13 planes vectored on to bombers 347th FG/67th FS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 9 on standby, 0 scrambling) 4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 11000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 11000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes 4 planes vectored on to bombers 347th FG/68th FS with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 9 on standby, 0 scrambling) 4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 20000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes 9 planes vectored on to bombers 8th FG/80th FS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling) 3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 12000 and 15000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 24 minutes 7 planes vectored on to bombers -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- All in all, a good day for the IJN. Only 1 DD lost and although quite a few pilots went under the water, so did A LOT of Allied ships, planes and pilots. Plus it was fun! subs: At Suva just after the naval battles, DD Shinonome hits S-31 14 times, with a few direct. It doesn't list heavy damage, but it can't be doing well after this. Burma: Notihng. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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