Mundy
Posts: 2869
Joined: 6/26/2002 From: Neenah Status: offline
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07 October 1944 With heavy heart, I'm pulling the plug on my Marianas/Truk invasion for now. My covering force of fleet carriers has been taking heavy hits to the strike planes. The scouts have been getting shredded by Truk's CAP. 40 SB2Cs went down just today, between the scouts and a couple shots taken at ships at Truk. I'm almost tempted to stand down all the naval bombers but I want them up in case KB comes at me. It looks like KB is parked in the hex just east of Truk right now, so anything I launch also has to deal with the 150 land based fighters there. I wasn't really happy with my troop dispositions on the ships anyway, and I had lots of follow-on TFs carrying parts of units which didn't load. I've been getting lots more APAs at Pearl since this kicked off, so I can do a better job forming this up next time. The shots I took were rather lame. 4-6 bombers escorted by some 200-ish fighters. quote:
Morning Air attack on TF, near Truk at 112,108 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 34 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M8 Zero x 177 N1K1 Rex x 14 N1K1-J George x 10 Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 19 Ki-84r Frank x 60 Allied aircraft F4U-1A Corsair x 76 F6F-3 Hellcat x 80 F6F-5 Hellcat x 58 SB2C-1C Helldiver x 7 Japanese aircraft losses A6M8 Zero: 6 destroyed Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 1 destroyed Allied aircraft losses F4U-1A Corsair: 1 destroyed F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed F6F-5 Hellcat: 2 destroyed SB2C-1C Helldiver: 4 destroyed CAP engaged: S-305 Hikotai with A6M8 Zero (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (15 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 5 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 6 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 12000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 38 minutes 1 planes vectored on to bombers 801 Ku S-1 with N1K1 Rex (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (14 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 4 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 7 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 20000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 39 minutes Akagi-1 with A6M8 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (14 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 4 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 7 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes Soryu-1 with A6M8 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (14 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 3 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 8 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes Hiryu-1 with A6M8 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (14 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 3 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 11 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 10 minutes Shokaku-1 with A6M8 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (9 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 3 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes Zuikaku-1 with A6M8 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (9 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 9 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 7 minutes Junyo-1 with A6M8 Zero (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (10 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 6 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 38 minutes Shoho-1 with A6M8 Zero (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (11 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 5 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 36 minutes Ryuho-1 with A6M8 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (11 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 2 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 9 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 11 minutes Hosho-1 with A6M8 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (10 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 10 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 10 minutes Taiho-1 with A6M8 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 36 minutes Shinano-1 with A6M8 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 3 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes Unryu-1 with A6M8 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 8 minutes Amagi-1 with A6M8 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 11 minutes Katsuragi-1 with A6M8 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 12 minutes Kasagi-1 with A6M8 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 32 minutes 3 planes vectored on to bombers Aso-1 with A6M8 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (6 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 4 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes Ikoma-1 with A6M8 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (6 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 2 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes 3 planes vectored on to bombers 13th Sentai with Ki-84r Frank (3 airborne, 18 on standby, 0 scrambling) (10 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 3 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 7 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 15000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 35 minutes 3 planes vectored on to bombers --------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Truk at 112,108 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid detected at 73 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 32 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M8 Zero x 128 N1K1 Rex x 14 N1K1-J George x 10 Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 19 Ki-84r Frank x 59 Allied aircraft F4U-1A Corsair x 70 F6F-3 Hellcat x 61 F6F-5 Hellcat x 42 TBM-1C Avenger x 6 Japanese aircraft losses A6M8 Zero: 4 destroyed Allied aircraft losses F4U-1A Corsair: 3 destroyed F6F-3 Hellcat: 2 destroyed F6F-5 Hellcat: 1 destroyed TBM-1C Avenger: 3 destroyed CAP engaged: S-305 Hikotai with A6M8 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (13 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 3 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 10 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 12000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 10 minutes 801 Ku S-1 with N1K1 Rex (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (14 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 3 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 6 being recalled, 5 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 20000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 38 minutes Akagi-1 with A6M8 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (12 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 2 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 7 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes Soryu-1 with A6M8 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (9 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 6 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 35 minutes Hiryu-1 with A6M8 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes Shokaku-1 with A6M8 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (6 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 6 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 8 minutes Zuikaku-1 with A6M8 Zero (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (6 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 6 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000. Raid is overhead Junyo-1 with A6M8 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 10 minutes Shoho-1 with A6M8 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (6 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 3 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000. Raid is overhead Ryuho-1 with A6M8 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 2 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 7 minutes Hosho-1 with A6M8 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 9 minutes Taiho-1 with A6M8 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 32 minutes Shinano-1 with A6M8 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes 1 planes vectored on to bombers Unryu-1 with A6M8 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 2 minutes Amagi-1 with A6M8 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 4 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 9 minutes Katsuragi-1 with A6M8 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 4 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes Kasagi-1 with A6M8 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 3 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes Aso-1 with A6M8 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (6 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 6 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 9 minutes Ikoma-1 with A6M8 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (6 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 10 minutes 13th Sentai with Ki-84r Frank (3 airborne, 15 on standby, 0 scrambling) (12 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 3 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 9 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 33910. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 35 minutes My carriers are halfway between Guam and Truk, moving NE. I'm trying to get out of range of Truk, so my bombers lay off. Fuel's an issue, so I detached some oilers from the main group with two CVE groups to a spot west of Wake, so I can top everyone off. I did catch some ships near Tinian. quote:
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Tinian at 108,95 Weather in hex: Severe storms Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 4 minutes Allied aircraft F6F-3 Hellcat x 9 SB2C-3 Helldiver x 16 Allied aircraft losses SB2C-3 Helldiver: 1 damaged Japanese Ships DD Amatsukaze, Bomb hits 3, on fire DD Suruyame Aircraft Attacking: 7 x SB2C-3 Helldiver releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb 8 x SB2C-3 Helldiver releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb 1 x SB2C-3 Helldiver releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Amatsukaze KS took a couple shots at my fleet carriers, and they were easily rebuffed. The bombers tended to run this time, so their losses were lower than the first time. In India, everyone but one unit reach Asansol. I'm standing my bombers down to recover. It took me a while to go through every squadron to get the pilot situation fixed up. I figure if he moves planes in again. I'll just sweep them away again. He hasn't been able to stop me when I turn everything on. Calcutta's at 100% while the other two are around 70%. One B-29 squadron withdrew as they were due within a few weeks. Some of the older 7 planes squadrons will be going over the next month. As far as the east Pacific goes, I'm going to move more incrementally. I'll probably take Wake, Eniwetok and Ponape before going further. Maybe Truk only after that. I think I was spreading things out a bit too thin. If/when KB is dead, I can be more carefree with things. I was getting obsessed with the historical timeline, but I really shouldn't worry about that.
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