rader
Posts: 1238
Joined: 9/13/2004 Status: offline
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It was such a busy turn that I'll just post elements of the combat report with comments because witpqs does a great job with that: October 17, 1943: The Japanese fleet moves to forward positions, hoping the Allied fleet would also come forward and offer battle. We'd been playing cat & mouse for months, with the Allied fleet dashing forward to provide CAP or supply to Taberfane, and the Japanese fleet occasionally coming forward but often holding back. Neither side wanted to engage without support from their own land-based aircraft. First a minor destroyer picket skirmish: quote:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Kai-eilanden at 82,114, Range 7,000 Yards Japanese Ships DD Hatakaze, Shell hits 2, on fire DD Minekaze, Shell hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage DD Yukaze Allied Ships DD Eaton DD Hutchins DD Nicholas DD Philip DD Taylor DD Wadsworth Improved night sighting under 85% moonlight Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions and 85% moonlight: 8,000 yards An Allied cruiser force avoids combat with Japanese heavy units: quote:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Gorong at 81,113, Range 29,000 Yards Japanese Ships BB Nagato BB Fuso BB Yamashiro BB Ise BB Hyuga CA Tone CA Chokai CA Myoko CA Aoba CA Kako CL Kiso CL Oi CLAA Tatsuta DD Hatsukaze DD Shiranui DD Amatsukaze DD Hamakaze DD Arashi DD Asashio DD Natsugumo DD Amagiri DD Uzuki DD Kamikaze DD Harukaze DD Yunagi Allied Ships CA Indianapolis CA Canberra DD Abbot DD Converse DD Pringle DD Renshaw Improved night sighting under 85% moonlight Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions and 85% moonlight: 8,000 yards Range closes to 27,000 yards... CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 27,000 yards Range closes to 25,000 yards... CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 25,000 yards Range closes to 23,000 yards... Range closes to 21,000 yards... CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 21,000 yards Range closes to 19,000 yards... Range closes to 17,000 yards... Range closes to 15,000 yards... Range closes to 13,000 yards... Range closes to 11,000 yards... Range closes to 10,000 yards... CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 10,000 yards Range closes to 9,000 yards... CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 9,000 yards Allied TF attempts to evade combat Range increases to 14,000 yards... Range increases to 19,000 yards... Range increases to 24,000 yards... Range increases to 29,000 yards... Range increases to 29,000 yards... Allied Surface Combat TF evades combat Another picket skirmish: quote:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Kai-eilanden at 82,114, Range 7,000 Yards Japanese Ships DD Makigumo, Shell hits 1 DD Takanami DD Oyashio DD Hayashio, Shell hits 1 Allied Ships CA Indianapolis CA Canberra DD Abbot, Shell hits 1 DD Converse, Shell hits 1 DD Pringle DD Renshaw Some sub attacks: quote:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack near Kai-eilanden at 82,114 Japanese Ships DD Minekaze, heavy fires, heavy damage DD Yukaze Allied Ships SS KXII SS KXII is sighted by escort KXII diving deep .... DD Yukaze fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Yukaze fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Yukaze fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Yukaze attacking submerged sub .... DD Yukaze loses contact with SS KXII DD Yukaze fails to find sub, continues to search... Escort abandons search for sub -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Gorong at 81,113 Japanese Ships SC Ch 41 Allied Ships SS Grunion SS Grunion launches 2 torpedoes at SC Ch 41 Grunion diving deep .... SC Ch 41 fails to find sub, continues to search... SC Ch 41 fails to find sub, continues to search... SC Ch 41 fails to find sub, continues to search... SC Ch 41 fails to find sub, continues to search... SC Ch 41 fails to find sub, continues to search... Escort abandons search for sub Then, the Allied plan is revealed. A long series of night attacks from the Allied carriers. I think he was trying to catch the Japanese fleet without night CAP and sneak through for a few lucky hits. Luckily this didn't work all that well (though it was still a bit of a nail biter and a few hits were scored): quote:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Air attack on TF, near Gorong at 81,113 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid detected at 78 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 28 minutes Allied aircraft SBD-5 Dauntless x 85 TBF-1 Avenger x 18 Allied aircraft losses SBD-5 Dauntless: 38 damaged SBD-5 Dauntless: 3 destroyed by flak TBF-1 Avenger: 5 damaged TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed by flak Japanese Ships CV Hiyo CVL Chiyoda CV Kasagi DD Maikaze, Shell hits 2 CVL Shoho CV Shinano CV Unryu CV Kaga CVL Ryuho DD Yuzuki CVL Zuiho CVL Chitose CV Hiryu CVL Mizuho CVL Nisshin CV Ikoma DD Asagiri CV Shokaku DD Urukaze, Bomb hits 1, on fire CVE Shinyo, Bomb hits 1, on fire CV Soryu CVL Ryujo -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Air attack on TF, near Gorong at 81,113 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid detected at 75 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 22 minutes Allied aircraft B-25G Mitchell x 5 Allied aircraft losses B-25G Mitchell: 5 damaged Japanese Ships DD Yuzuki DD Ayanami CV Hiryu DD Urukaze, on fire Aircraft Attacking: 5 x B-25G Mitchell bombing and strafing from low level Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb SAP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Air attack on TF, near Gorong at 81,113 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid detected at 22 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 8 minutes Allied aircraft SBD-5 Dauntless x 8 Allied aircraft losses SBD-5 Dauntless: 5 damaged Japanese Ships CVL Zuiho CVL Mizuho -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Air attack on TF, near Gorong at 81,113 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid detected at 13 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 4 minutes Allied aircraft SBD-5 Dauntless x 11 Allied aircraft losses SBD-5 Dauntless: 5 damaged SBD-5 Dauntless: 1 destroyed by flak Japanese Ships CV Kaga CVL Mizuho CVL Nisshin CVL Chitose -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Air attack on TF, near Gorong at 81,113 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid detected at 31 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 14 minutes Allied aircraft TBF-1 Avenger x 7 Allied aircraft losses TBF-1 Avenger: 4 damaged Japanese Ships CV Aso CV Soryu Aircraft Attacking: 7 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Air attack on TF, near Gorong at 81,113 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid detected at 35 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 12 minutes Allied aircraft SBD-5 Dauntless x 8 Allied aircraft losses SBD-5 Dauntless: 2 damaged SBD-5 Dauntless: 1 destroyed by flak Japanese Ships CV Ikoma CV Unryu Aircraft Attacking: 8 x SBD-5 Dauntless bombing from 1000 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Air attack on TF, near Gorong at 81,113 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid detected at 25 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 6 minutes Allied aircraft B-25D1 Mitchell x 4 Allied aircraft losses B-25D1 Mitchell: 2 damaged B-25D1 Mitchell: 1 destroyed by flak Japanese Ships CVE Taiyo CA Nachi -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Air attack on TF, near Gorong at 81,113 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 4 minutes Allied aircraft TBF-1 Avenger x 5 Allied aircraft losses TBF-1 Avenger: 2 damaged Japanese Ships CV Kasagi CV Aso Aircraft Attacking: 5 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Air attack on TF, near Gorong at 81,113 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid spotted at 37 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 13 minutes Allied aircraft SBD-5 Dauntless x 9 Allied aircraft losses SBD-5 Dauntless: 5 damaged Japanese Ships CV Soryu CV Ikoma Aircraft Attacking: 9 x SBD-5 Dauntless bombing from 1000 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb Then Allied destroyers finish off a Japanese picket and run from Japanese heavies: quote:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Time Surface Combat, near Kai-eilanden at 82,114, Range 17,000 Yards Japanese Ships DD Hatsuharu, Shell hits 10, heavy fires Allied Ships DD Eaton, Shell hits 1 DD Hutchins DD Nicholas DD Philip DD Taylor DD Wadsworth, Shell hits 1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Time Surface Combat, near Gorong at 81,113, Range 29,000 Yards Japanese Ships BB Nagato BB Fuso BB Yamashiro BB Ise BB Hyuga CA Tone CA Chokai CA Myoko CA Aoba CA Kako CL Kiso CL Oi CLAA Tatsuta DD Hatsukaze DD Shiranui DD Amatsukaze DD Hamakaze DD Arashi DD Asashio DD Natsugumo DD Amagiri DD Uzuki DD Kamikaze DD Harukaze DD Yunagi Allied Ships DD Eaton DD Hutchins DD Nicholas DD Philip DD Taylor DD Wadsworth And get the better of some more pickets and then run away again: quote:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Time Surface Combat, near Gorong at 81,112, Range 17,000 Yards Japanese Ships DD Makigumo, Shell hits 1, on fire DD Takanami, Shell hits 3, on fire DD Oyashio, Shell hits 5, on fire DD Hayashio, Shell hits 12, heavy fires, heavy damage Allied Ships DD Eaton, Shell hits 2 DD Hutchins, Shell hits 1 DD Nicholas, Shell hits 2 DD Philip, Shell hits 1 DD Taylor, Shell hits 1 DD Wadsworth -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Time Surface Combat, near Gorong at 81,113, Range 29,000 Yards Japanese Ships BB Kongo BB Hiei BB Kirishima BB Mutsu CA Maya CA Ashigara CA Suzuya CL Nagara CL Isuzu CL Kinu CL Abukuma DD Kazegumo DD Isokaze DD Tanikaze DD Michishio DD Arashio DD Sazanami DD Yayoi DD Satsuki DD Kikuzuki DD Mikazuki DD Myojinami DD Suruyame DD Tadeyame DD Takakaze Allied Ships DD Eaton DD Hutchins DD Nicholas DD Philip DD Taylor DD Wadsworth Allied Surface Combat TF evades combat And then, oof, this happened: quote:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Gorong at 81,113 Japanese Ships CV Shinano, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage CA Nachi CL Tama DD Tachikaze DD Asanagi DD Nenohi DD Yamanagiri DD Suresushio DD Tachekaze DD Uruyuke Allied Ships SS Thresher Ammo storage explosion on CV Shinano SS Thresher launches 6 torpedoes at CV Shinano Thresher diving deep .... DD Yamanagiri fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Suresushio fails to find sub and abandons search DD Tachekaze fails to find sub and abandons search DD Uruyuke fails to find sub and abandons search DD Yamanagiri fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Yamanagiri fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Yamanagiri fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Yamanagiri attacking submerged sub .... Escort abandons search for sub Shinano was in trouble because she'd already eaten a torpedo from another sub earlier but I decided to keep her in action nonetheless. It was starting out as a really bad day. Then the usual Allied bombardment which happens somewhere almost every day: quote:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Naval bombardment of Dobo at 83,116 Japanese aircraft no flights Japanese aircraft losses D3A1 Val: 57 damaged D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed on ground N1K1-J George: 30 damaged E13A1 Jake: 3 damaged D4Y1 Judy: 14 damaged D4Y2 Judy: 12 damaged Allied Ships CL Montpelier CL Columbia DD Shaw DD Sims DD McCalla DD Sigsbee DD Bullard DD Anthony Japanese ground losses: 40 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Airbase hits 5 Airbase supply hits 3 Runway hits 53 Port hits 10 Port supply hits 2 CL Montpelier firing at Dobo CL Columbia firing at 9th Ind.Mixed Brigade DD Shaw firing at Dobo DD Sims firing at Dobo DD McCalla firing at Dobo DD Sigsbee firing at 22nd Division DD Bullard firing at Dobo DD Anthony firing at Dobo But then the Kido Butai and Japanese land-based air forces finished sipping their morning sake and got to work: quote:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Taberfane at 82,116 Weather in hex: Light rain Raid detected at 76 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 25 minutes Japanese aircraft B6N1 Jill x 65 N1K1-J George x 10 Allied aircraft Martlet II x 45 Martlet IV x 38 F4F-3A Wildcat x 6 F4F-4 Wildcat x 44 FM-1 Wildcat x 61 F6F-3 Hellcat x 537 Japanese aircraft losses B6N1 Jill: 46 destroyed N1K1-J George: 6 destroyed Allied aircraft losses F6F-3 Hellcat: 2 destroyed Ok so that wasn't great, most of the strike lost without a single bomber getting through. But the first Kido Butai strike was perfectly coordinated: quote:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Taberfane at 82,116 Weather in hex: Light rain Raid detected at 119 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 30 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M3a Zero x 27 A6M5 Zero x 298 A6M5b Zero x 22 A6M5c Zero x 92 B6N1 Jill x 356 B6N2 Jill x 15 B6N2a Jill x 15 D4Y1 Judy x 158 D4Y2 Judy x 123 D4Y3 Judy x 47 Allied aircraft Martlet II x 45 Martlet IV x 38 F4F-3A Wildcat x 6 F4F-4 Wildcat x 44 FM-1 Wildcat x 61 F6F-3 Hellcat x 523 Japanese aircraft losses A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed A6M5 Zero: 11 destroyed A6M5b Zero: 2 destroyed A6M5c Zero: 1 destroyed B6N1 Jill: 57 destroyed, 7 damaged B6N1 Jill: 1 destroyed by flak B6N2a Jill: 2 destroyed D4Y1 Judy: 30 destroyed, 14 damaged D4Y1 Judy: 3 destroyed by flak D4Y2 Judy: 17 destroyed, 6 damaged D4Y2 Judy: 1 destroyed by flak D4Y3 Judy: 8 destroyed Allied aircraft losses Martlet IV: 1 destroyed F4F-4 Wildcat: 6 destroyed FM-1 Wildcat: 2 destroyed F6F-3 Hellcat: 13 destroyed Allied Ships CV Hornet CV Wasp, Bomb hits 1, on fire CLAA Oakland, Bomb hits 6, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk CVE Barnes, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk CVE Casablanca, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk CVE Prince William, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk CVE Anzio, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk CVE Santee, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk CVE Altamaha, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage CVE Natoma Bay, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk CVE Nassau, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk DD McCall, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires CLAA San Juan, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage CVL Belleau Wood CV Enterprise CLAA Reno, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk DD Tucker, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage DD Mahan, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk DD Sampson, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk DD Aylwin, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk DD Perkins, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk DD Cummings, Bomb hits 1, on fire DD Craven, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage CVL Independence CV New England BB South Dakota Ammo storage explosion on CVE Prince William Ammo storage explosion on CVE Anzio Fuel storage explosion on CVE Natoma Bay Fuel storage explosion on CVE Nassau Ammo storage explosion on CVE Casablanca Ammo storage explosion on CVE Casablanca Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CLAA Oakland Ammo storage explosion on CVE Natoma Bay Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVE Barnes Fuel storage explosion on CVE Altamaha Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVE Altamaha Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVE Nassau Heavy smoke from fires obscuring an Allied DD Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVE Prince William Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Aylwin Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Mahan Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Tucker Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Perkins Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CLAA San Juan Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Craven A heavy blow to the Allied CVEs at a high cost in Japanese pilots and planes, but unfortunately the strike missed most of the fleet carriers. And a few laggards came in but got badly chewed up without making a dent: quote:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Taberfane at 82,116 Weather in hex: Light rain Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 24 minutes Japanese aircraft N1K1-J George x 127 N1K2-J George x 28 P1Y1 Frances x 18 Ki-84a Frank x 31 Allied aircraft Martlet II x 44 Martlet IV x 37 F4F-3A Wildcat x 6 F4F-4 Wildcat x 41 FM-1 Wildcat x 59 F6F-3 Hellcat x 491 Japanese aircraft losses N1K1-J George: 13 destroyed N1K2-J George: 5 destroyed P1Y1 Frances: 12 destroyed Ki-84a Frank: 2 destroyed Allied aircraft losses Martlet II: 2 destroyed Martlet IV: 1 destroyed F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed FM-1 Wildcat: 2 destroyed F6F-3 Hellcat: 6 destroyed -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Taberfane at 82,116 Weather in hex: Light rain Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 20 minutes Japanese aircraft D4Y1 Judy x 13 N1K2-J George x 42 Allied aircraft Martlet II x 38 Martlet IV x 34 F4F-3A Wildcat x 6 F4F-4 Wildcat x 36 FM-1 Wildcat x 52 F6F-3 Hellcat x 461 Japanese aircraft losses D4Y1 Judy: 9 destroyed N1K2-J George: 11 destroyed Allied aircraft losses Martlet II: 1 destroyed F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed FM-1 Wildcat: 1 destroyed F6F-3 Hellcat: 4 destroyed -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Taberfane at 82,116 Weather in hex: Light rain Raid detected at 104 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 26 minutes Japanese aircraft D4Y2 Judy x 62 Allied aircraft Martlet II x 35 Martlet IV x 34 F4F-3A Wildcat x 6 F4F-4 Wildcat x 32 FM-1 Wildcat x 48 F6F-3 Hellcat x 428 Japanese aircraft losses D4Y2 Judy: 11 destroyed No Allied losses -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Taberfane at 82,116 Weather in hex: Light rain Raid detected at 83 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 30 minutes Japanese aircraft D3A1 Val x 24 N1K2-J George x 34 Allied aircraft Martlet II x 34 Martlet IV x 33 F4F-3A Wildcat x 6 F4F-4 Wildcat x 29 FM-1 Wildcat x 44 F6F-3 Hellcat x 390 Japanese aircraft losses D3A1 Val: 17 destroyed N1K2-J George: 9 destroyed Allied aircraft losses Martlet II: 1 destroyed Martlet IV: 1 destroyed F4F-3A Wildcat: 1 destroyed FM-1 Wildcat: 3 destroyed F6F-3 Hellcat: 2 destroyed -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Taberfane at 82,116 Weather in hex: Light rain Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 12 minutes Japanese aircraft N1K1-J George x 55 N1K2-J George x 62 Ki-49-IIa Helen x 12 Ki-84a Frank x 30 Allied aircraft Martlet II x 30 Martlet IV x 29 F4F-3A Wildcat x 4 F4F-4 Wildcat x 29 FM-1 Wildcat x 36 F6F-3 Hellcat x 347 Japanese aircraft losses N1K1-J George: 4 destroyed N1K2-J George: 11 destroyed Ki-49-IIa Helen: 6 destroyed Ki-49-IIa Helen: 2 destroyed by flak Ki-84a Frank: 6 destroyed Allied aircraft losses Martlet II: 1 destroyed F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed F6F-3 Hellcat: 4 destroyed, 1 damaged Allied Ships CVL Princeton -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Taberfane at 82,116 Weather in hex: Light rain Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 22 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy x 24 Allied aircraft Martlet II x 27 Martlet IV x 29 F4F-3A Wildcat x 3 F4F-4 Wildcat x 27 FM-1 Wildcat x 33 F6F-3 Hellcat x 322 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy: 4 destroyed No Allied losses -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Taberfane at 82,116 Weather in hex: Light rain Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 22 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy x 9 Ki-84a Frank x 36 Allied aircraft Martlet II x 24 Martlet IV x 27 F4F-3A Wildcat x 3 F4F-4 Wildcat x 25 FM-1 Wildcat x 31 F6F-3 Hellcat x 304 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy: 6 destroyed Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy: 1 destroyed by flak Ki-84a Frank: 10 destroyed Allied aircraft losses FM-1 Wildcat: 1 destroyed F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed Allied Ships DD Cummings, on fire -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Taberfane at 82,116 Weather in hex: Light rain Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 12 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-49-IIa Helen x 10 Allied aircraft Martlet II x 22 Martlet IV x 26 F4F-3A Wildcat x 2 F4F-4 Wildcat x 22 FM-1 Wildcat x 26 F6F-3 Hellcat x 259 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-49-IIa Helen: 3 destroyed No Allied losses -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Taberfane at 82,116 Weather in hex: Light rain Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 12 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-49-IIa Helen x 4 Ki-84a Frank x 24 Allied aircraft Martlet II x 22 Martlet IV x 26 F4F-3A Wildcat x 2 F4F-4 Wildcat x 22 FM-1 Wildcat x 26 F6F-3 Hellcat x 247 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-49-IIa Helen: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged Ki-49-IIa Helen: 1 destroyed by flak Ki-84a Frank: 8 destroyed Allied aircraft losses FM-1 Wildcat: 1 destroyed F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed Allied Ships CV Yorktown -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Taberfane at 82,116 Weather in hex: Light rain Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 12 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-49-IIa Helen x 6 Allied aircraft Martlet II x 21 Martlet IV x 26 F4F-3A Wildcat x 2 F4F-4 Wildcat x 22 FM-1 Wildcat x 25 F6F-3 Hellcat x 230 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-49-IIa Helen: 4 destroyed No Allied losses That could have been the end of it, trading a bunch of Japanese planes and pilots for a few lost CVEs. While I was contemplating if the result was even worth the cost, Admiral Ozawa was giving a rousing speech to his air group commanders, extoling them to launch a second strike before the main Allied fleet could escape. Japanese pilots swallowed one last round of sake and took to the air in pursuit of the retreating Allied fleet: quote:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Taberfane at 82,116 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 31 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M3a Zero x 25 A6M5 Zero x 269 A6M5b Zero x 18 A6M5c Zero x 89 B6N1 Jill x 222 B6N2 Jill x 15 B6N2a Jill x 12 D4Y1 Judy x 97 D4Y2 Judy x 82 D4Y3 Judy x 35 Allied aircraft Martlet II x 35 Martlet IV x 30 F4F-4 Wildcat x 11 F6F-3 Hellcat x 335 Japanese aircraft losses A6M5 Zero: 4 destroyed A6M5c Zero: 1 destroyed B6N1 Jill: 40 destroyed, 8 damaged B6N1 Jill: 1 destroyed by flak B6N2 Jill: 6 destroyed, 2 damaged B6N2a Jill: 2 damaged D4Y1 Judy: 19 destroyed, 10 damaged D4Y1 Judy: 1 destroyed by flak D4Y2 Judy: 17 destroyed, 1 damaged D4Y2 Judy: 1 destroyed by flak D4Y3 Judy: 4 destroyed, 4 damaged Allied aircraft losses Martlet II: 1 destroyed F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed F6F-3 Hellcat: 2 destroyed Allied Ships CVL Belleau Wood, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage CV Lexington, Bomb hits 6, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage CV Hornet, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage CV Enterprise, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage BB South Dakota, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 5, and is sunk CV Manhattan, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage CV Saratoga, Torpedo hits 4, heavy damage CV Wasp, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage DD Helm DD Sterett, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk CV New England, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage CV Yorktown, Bomb hits 1 CV Essex, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage CVL Independence, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk CVL Princeton, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage CLAA San Diego DD Benham, Bomb hits 1, on fire DD Dewey CLAA Atlanta, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage DD Stack Fuel storage explosion on CVL Belleau Wood Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVL Belleau Wood Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Hornet Ammo storage explosion on CV New England Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV New England Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Essex Fuel storage explosion on CVL Belleau Wood Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Lexington Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVL Princeton Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Manhattan Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Enterprise Then, to end the day, a series of ineffective land-based air attacks harassed the Allied fleet while Hellcat pilots sought revenge: quote:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Taberfane at 82,116 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 24 minutes Japanese aircraft N1K1-J George x 88 N1K2-J George x 20 P1Y1 Frances x 3 Ki-84a Frank x 42 Allied aircraft Martlet II x 33 Martlet IV x 30 F4F-4 Wildcat x 10 F6F-3 Hellcat x 320 Japanese aircraft losses N1K1-J George: 6 destroyed P1Y1 Frances: 1 destroyed Ki-84a Frank: 1 destroyed Allied aircraft losses Martlet II: 1 destroyed F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Taberfane at 82,116 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 12 minutes Japanese aircraft N1K1-J George x 46 N1K2-J George x 36 Ki-49-IIa Helen x 41 Ki-84a Frank x 16 Allied aircraft Martlet II x 30 Martlet IV x 30 F4F-4 Wildcat x 10 F6F-3 Hellcat x 310 Japanese aircraft losses N1K1-J George: 6 destroyed N1K2-J George: 3 destroyed Ki-49-IIa Helen: 20 destroyed, 7 damaged Ki-49-IIa Helen: 2 destroyed by flak Ki-84a Frank: 1 destroyed Allied aircraft losses Martlet IV: 1 destroyed F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed Allied Ships CL Mobile CV Essex, on fire, heavy damage CV Yorktown DD Gwin -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Taberfane at 82,116 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 22 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy x 27 Allied aircraft Martlet II x 30 Martlet IV x 29 F4F-4 Wildcat x 9 F6F-3 Hellcat x 296 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy: 6 destroyed, 1 damaged Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy: 1 destroyed by flak No Allied losses Allied Ships BB Washington -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Dobo at 83,115 Weather in hex: Light cloud Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 22 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy x 9 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy: 7 damaged Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy: 1 destroyed by flak Allied Ships DD Hutchins DD Eaton -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Taberfane at 82,116 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 12 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-49-IIa Helen x 18 Allied aircraft Martlet II x 27 Martlet IV x 28 F4F-4 Wildcat x 8 F6F-3 Hellcat x 265 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-49-IIa Helen: 9 destroyed No Allied losses -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Taberfane at 82,116 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 2,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 12 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-49-IIa Helen x 6 Allied aircraft Martlet II x 26 Martlet IV x 28 F4F-4 Wildcat x 8 F6F-3 Hellcat x 254 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-49-IIa Helen: 2 destroyed No Allied losses -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Taberfane at 82,116 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid detected at 38 NM, estimated altitude 1,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 11 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-49-IIa Helen x 6 Allied aircraft Martlet II x 26 Martlet IV x 28 F4F-4 Wildcat x 8 F6F-3 Hellcat x 250 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-49-IIa Helen: 4 destroyed No Allied losses -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Taberfane at 82,117 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid spotted at 7 NM, estimated altitude 2,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 2 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-49-IIa Helen x 4 Allied aircraft F4F-3A Wildcat x 2 F4F-4 Wildcat x 9 FM-1 Wildcat x 20 F6F-3 Hellcat x 16 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-49-IIa Helen: 3 destroyed No Allied losses Allied Ships AO Patoka
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