RE: The Battle of the Eastern Solomons

RE: The Battle of the Eastern Solomons (Full Version)

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vettim89 -> RE: The Battle of the Eastern Solomons (7/26/2012 3:05:48 AM)
31 July - 6 August 1943 Game consited mostly of air battles over PM and Lunga this week as Larry tried to reopen them. Took some attrition of my forces but they are both closed again. I am moving supplies and reinforcements into the the Twin Sisters of Renell and KiraKira. I have had an occasional problem of TFs "ghosting" the orders of other TFs in the same hex. The first two times it was PT boats that magically picked up the orders from submarines and headed off into "Injun Country" on their own. Unfortunately this time it was my replenishment group with all four of my CVE-R that picked up a AMPH Tf's orders and headed to Renell Island. With so many TFs moving back and forth in this area and trying to turn turns rather rapidly, I missed this error. The Japanese through the kitchen sink at this TF this turn. I lost all four CVE-R plus two AO. In a way this actually helps becasue by disbanding the CVE-R Air Groups, my Navy pilot pools are in much better shape That said, this is a Strategic loss (I will wish I had those CVE-R later) but a HUGE tactical victory. The Japanese lost a/c at a rate of 5 to 1 when you pull the Replinishment Air Group losses out. Look how many NiK1 went down!!!!! As in WitP, the answer for the George is still the P-47. I have four more groups just two days out of Noumea. This is turning into a meat grinder but I really feel I have the edge right now. You will notice Vals and Kates on the loss list - two weeks ago those were Jills and Judys - my opponent has burnt through his pools of the modern TB and DB Enterprise is at Syndney with 50 days of yard time ahead of her. Lexington is south of the Tonga Islands heading for WCUSA. CV Valley Forge (formerly Lexington II) with a CVL consort is just west of Hiva Oa [image]local://upfiles/25806/90F54FE7094B44E98854DE4569118CBD.jpg[/image]

vettim89 -> RE: The Battle of the Eastern Solomons (7/29/2012 6:06:26 PM)
7-14 August 1943 Mostly some sprarring around teh twin sisters. LBA is keeping Lunga, PM, and Buna shut down. Several supply runs have both Renell and Kira Kira well supplied. Then last turn the IJN hit KiraKira with all four Kongos plus a couple of CA for good measure. The base will be unusable for several days, but the SeaBees will clean the mes up pretty quickly. Of note the IJN carriers suddenly reappear north of the Solomons. Is Larry preparing a counter invasion? Just in case the Northern Santa Cruz and New Hebrides AB are now filled with attack a/c. I am really not sure that Larry wanted to go here with the Nuke bombardment. I have the ability to do the same to Munda. I have one BB and two CA/CL based SCTF at Luganville. I have refrained from hitting Munda out of a sense of fairness as I personally feel BOMB missions are overpowered. Now that he let the cat out of the bag, I no longer feel the hesitancy to hit him back. Really think he will regret opening this can of worms. [image]local://upfiles/25806/12FE47F50C50489D8D75D60E645FF429.jpg[/image]

vettim89 -> RE: The Battle of the Eastern Solomons (8/3/2012 11:14:48 PM)
15-23 August The IJN hit Renell Island with a SCTF based Bombardment on the 21st. No where near as much damge as the previous raid on KiraKira. Base should be up at 100% next turn. I was trying to move an AGP and some PTs to Renell but the IJN CVTF showed up. The Support TF ran away (did not set movement orders). The IJNAF impaled itself against my CAP over two days but then a sub sank the AGP last turn - grrrr. This is rapidly becoming a stalemate. I need to move forward but keep losing carriers. Enterprise still has 40 days in the yard. Lexington arrives next turn at San Diego. I lose Victorious in a few weeks. Just keep beating my head against this wall. Very frustrated that I can't seem to win a CV battle. Even when the odds are in my favor an I-Boat has evened them out for my Opponent. Have another CV/CVL duo due in 22/24 days. By the time they reach the theatre I should have Enterprise and Lexington back. Would help if my susb were not experiencing near an 80% dud rate of late (That is not an exageration). Only good news is I probably sunk two I-boats in the last two turns [image]local://upfiles/25806/48EBD497565E40D787C85301C8B276D1.jpg[/image]

vettim89 -> RE: The Battle of the Eastern Solomons (8/4/2012 5:16:52 AM)
24 August 1943 So an I-Boat missed a Tk. The SCs took exception to that and forced it to the surface. What ensued was a gun battle between the sub and the TK. TK WIN!!!!!!!!!!! [sm=00000036.gif][sm=00000280.gif] Oh IJN CVTF witdrawing. SCTF between Munda and Russell Islands. Likely Kira Kira will be hit agin next turn [image]local://upfiles/25806/D5E82577E32A4C8E9498EE3AD51EF367.jpg[/image]

vettim89 -> RE: The Battle of the Eastern Solomons (8/5/2012 3:30:08 PM)
25-27 August 1943 The Kongos do hit KiraKira again on the 25th doing less damage this time than the previous trip. Base should be fully operational again in one or two turns. The IJN detects my attempt to reinforce Rennell again and send the CVs. Before that an I-Boat sinks my AGP again!!!!!!!!! Actually having a shortage of these precious tenders now. So the USN/IJN get within knife fighting range on the 27th but nothing happens. LBA is active and a bunch of Nells and Francis bombers die. The USAAFF sends B-25D1s against the SCTF built around Yamato and Musashi putting five non-penetrating bombs into each of them. A CL also takes one hit. The total carier based attacks consists of one weak raid on the Superbattleships with the USN losing 10 SBDs for no hits. Larry and I both figure weather must have been the deciding factor here. I so want to hit Munda with some SCTF but every time I get units into position, the damn IJN shows up. Still, a lot of fuel is being burnt up in all these forays. CV Bunker Hill is 17 days away. Enterprise has about 30 days left in the yard. Considering transit time, these two carriers should arrive in theatre about the same time. To my great disappointment, CV Lexington has a 120 day repair time. I don't understand this as she was much less damaged than the Big E. I guess it has to do with her larger displacement but still, really? [image]local://upfiles/25806/4B3C539AB381415396041CB39D409F00.jpg[/image]

vettim89 -> RE: The Battle of the Eastern Solomons (8/6/2012 6:04:35 PM)
28-30 August 1943 The super-BB TF engages a PT TF on the 28th but the PT skipper gets away. The rest of the USN forces withdrew to Luganville. Another AGP is loaded up and will head to Rennell Island in two turns. A SCTF built around Ise, Yamashiro, and Hyuga bombards Aussie troops that just arrived at Broome. Very little damage done. BB Mutsu was seen off Port Blair this turn. That likely means that the BB force committed to SoPac consists only of the two Yamato class and the four Kongos. While that is still a lot of firepower, it is nice to know that all the IJB BB are accounted for at this moment. I am considering breaking my fast BB off the CVTF to meet Yamato and Musashi the next time them come calling. I know I will likely lose the battle, but I might be able to put one or both of them out of commision for a while. Anybody have any experience with the modern USN BBs taking on the superbattleships? The Japanese swept Rennell Island on the 30th. I doubt this was the result my oponent was after. The best news is I didn't lose any pilots - unlikely the Japanese pilots met the same fate. This is a little unusual as most of the air battles have been pretty even until now. Wondering if I am finally seeing the tipping point as far as pilot quality. [image]local://upfiles/25806/6CF4CCBCA6FA4C509F12126262042443.jpg[/image]

vettim89 -> RE: The Battle of the Eastern Solomons (8/7/2012 11:03:38 PM)
31 August - 1 September 1943 The USAAF/RAAF catch the IJN trying to sneak supplies into Broome on the 31st. Why after letting this garrison languish for so long is my opponent trying to save them. The Beaforts, B-25s, and A-24 work over this TF prtty badly. Even if they had made Broome, there were two Allied SCTF waiting for them. They were escorting supplies into the Aussie troops who had just arrived via the overland route. Then on the 1st, all hell broke loose. First an IJN SCTF built around CL Juntsu (wondering if Tanaka was aboard) roughed up the PTs at Rennell Island sinking two at night and three more during the day. Unforunately the USAAF B-25s did not find this TF during the day phase to exact revenge. Then it got fun as the previously seen SCTF built around the old IJB BBs showed up at Broome. The "Combined Nations" TF took them on and gave better than they got. The LBA kicked in with the Allied air scoring seven 500 lb bombs into CA Mogami which was last seen with "heavy fires, heavy damage". BB Hyuga took five 1000 lb bomb hits and Ise took four. BB Yamashiro took one 1000 lb hit and was last seen "on fire, heavy damage" IJNAAF got into the act putting two TT into Cornwall and one into an AK. The IJN ran across my CL based SCTF and sank two ships but as you can see, we can add Hyuga to the stricken ship list. Of note: no Yamishiro to be found at this point. Adm Howland crossed the "T" here also. Day Time Surface Combat, near Broome at 62,127, Range 12,000 Yards Japanese Ships BB Ise, Shell hits 7 BB Hyuga, Shell hits 29, heavy fires CA Nachi, Shell hits 18, on fire DD Yudachi, Shell hits 21, heavy fires, heavy damage Allied Ships CL Achilles, Shell hits 10, and is sunk CL Hobart, Shell hits 4 DD Vampire, Shell hits 2 DD Arunta, Shell hits 1 DD Warramunga, Shell hits 2, on fire DD Nepal, Shell hits 1 DD Van Galen, Shell hits 4, and is sunk Confirmed kills for the Allies are the above ships. Cornwall and Nashville are in extremis and may or may not make Port Hedland. Only one DD is listed as sunk for the IJN but I have to believe Yamashiro is a goner as is Mogami. The question now is who will still be in the neighborhood when the sun rises on 2 Sept. 1943. I may have just traded two CLs and a CA for two BBs. I can live with that if I must [image]local://upfiles/25806/4A7EA6094DDD4C93A7C164C6170745B6.jpg[/image]

vettim89 -> RE: The Battle of the Eastern Solomons (8/8/2012 4:53:04 AM)
2 September 1943 Two IJN ships sink during the night. Intel says it was Mogami and a DD - likely correct. LBA snipes at retreating IJN ships only putting three 500 lb bombs into BB Yamashiro; ergo she was not sunk. Nonetheless, I expect all three IJN BBs will be out of the war for 120 days or more. The TF with Nashville and Cornwall can only make 2 kts - ugh. They are sitting in the waters between Broome and Port Hedland like low hanging fruit. Three Kongos once again hit Rennell Island doing heavy damage. Still all the ENG will repair it all in two days max. Hiei was not with them. Somebody ran into a mine a few weeks ago - perhaps it was her? If that is true, four IJN BBs are incapacitated right now plus the already confirmed sunk Nagato. This is a good thing. IJN CVTF are just South of Munda. Need to work on the time where my SCTF can hit Munda on the heels of the IJN retreating from one of their runs. With the coming of 1 September, my sub TT are working nicely sinking four xAK over the first two days of the month. Broome falls under the weight of the 7th AUS Div supported by two ARM RGT. Only Derby remains in IJA hands now. Lastly all the major damage is repaired on the Big E. I hit the "high" pririty button and her repair time went from 32 to 15 days. Finally some good news. CV Bunker Hill just 13 days out.

vettim89 -> RE: The Battle of the Eastern Solomons (8/8/2012 6:03:04 PM)
3 September 1943. Dutch sub adds to Hyuga's distress. USAAF continues to peck away at the retreating BBs putting three more 500 lb bombs into Hyuga and one into Ise. I know the non-penetrating hits do not do much, but it still has to be like a death by 1000 cuts for these poor ships. I have no idea how long, but these three BBs are likely out of the war for a long time. My SCTF continues to inch toward Port Hedland with float damage remaining stable. Three more hexes to go. No new intel on sinking so the butchers bill remains two DD and a CA for the IJN offset by one CL and a DD for the Allies. A convoy with SC escort roughs up I-19 south of Fiji. The older ships of this type are now getting enough crew EXP to be dangerous. [image]local://upfiles/25806/EC3EA773868145A7A2D4C072A675FF3B.jpg[/image]

vettim89 -> The Battle of Renell Island (8/9/2012 1:53:25 AM)
4 September 1942. Odd, odd battle. Weather seemed to play a major factor here and it was not in the IJN's favor. US CVTF escorting a convoy to Rennell island encounter the IJN CV to the west. Both sides CVTF react towards each other. No am strikes by either carrier based a/c. Just odd The USN strike gets through relatively unscathed and rips the one IJN group not in a bad weather hex to shreds: Japanese aircraft A6M5c Zero x 107 N1K1-J George x 7 Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 34 Ki-61-Ib Tony x 6 Allied aircraft F6F-3 Hellcat x 70 SBD-5 Dauntless x 49 TBF-1 Avenger x 42 Japanese aircraft losses A6M5c Zero: 1 destroyed Allied aircraft losses F6F-3 Hellcat: 10 destroyed SBD-5 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 12 damaged TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed by flak Japanese Ships CV Hiyo, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage CV Akagi, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, on fire CVL Ryuho, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage DD Oshio CA Tone DD Asagumo The IJN strike of just Jills escorted by A6M5c is wiped out. A Francis strike fromm Buin (Shortlands) is wiped out. One VT gets lost and loses 5 o7 air frames. Then a Nell strike out of Buin (Shortlands) gets past the F4F-4 escort and puts two TT into Correigador and one into Santee. I think both might make port even if out of the war for a while. I do a full retreat as I have twice snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in CV battles. I will take one CV and one CVL surely sunk plus another in extremis in exchanged for two badly damaged CVE. I finally won a carrier battle. [image]local://upfiles/25806/4D9AA2359AB943F59F32E1EF9D4D2342.jpg[/image]

vettim89 -> RE: The Battle of Renell Island (8/12/2012 3:58:38 PM)
5-7 September 1943 The big news is Nashville made it to Port Hedland. She was only doing 1 kt at the end there from progressive flooding. Definitely a "whew" moment. The two CVE that were hit in the big carrier battle will make port at Luganville next turn. They are small enough to be able to be repaired in theatre. IJN SCTF tangled with my PTs at Rennell Island sinking three of them for no hits in return. However, one CL hit a mine and is extremis between Rennell and Rabaul. September has been a good month. SO far I have sunk or disabled 3 BB, 2 CV, 1 CVL, 2 CA, 1 CL, and 4 DD. Not bad for not even 1/3 of the month gone by. The other good news is with the last decrease in duds, my subs are wreaking havoc. I am average about 1.25 merchant vessels sunk per day so far in September. [image]local://upfiles/25806/F5380947493D451596E887A9174A1855.jpg[/image]

vettim89 -> RE: The Battle of Renell Island (8/13/2012 3:31:34 AM)
8 September 1943 Only thing of note is a big deal. Musashi ate three TT. Two of those resulted in "severe flooding" criticals [image]local://upfiles/25806/5483CFAE81DD4925B43654C4CBA33EB9.jpg[/image]

vettim89 -> RE: The Battle of Renell Island (8/13/2012 4:21:30 AM)
9 September 1943 Three Kongos once again bombard Rennell Island doing moderate damage. That is off set by BB Musashi absorbing four more TT!!!. Once failed to penetrate. The ship is on the sunk list. This time I actually beleive that bit of information

vettim89 -> RE: The Battle of Renell Island (8/14/2012 12:14:10 AM)
10 September 1943 Well, Junyo made it out of the yard in the last few turns. Turn around and go back ye vermin. (FOW wants me to beleive she is sunk. That would be the third time she ended up on the sunk list only to come back. Only one TT hit and no critical. I think she'll make it) [image]local://upfiles/25806/9A15C055E3AF4A3B8963998937765881.jpg[/image]

vettim89 -> RE: The Battle of Renell Island (8/14/2012 3:46:44 AM)
11 September 1943 I sortied heavy surface forces to Renell Island to see if I can lure the IJN out. A sub missed Kaga (or another CV with FOW) just south of Rabaul. I moved 72 SBD onto Rennell Island plus about 130 fighters that are already there. I have two CVTF with 4 CV and 4 CVL (c200 fighters, 108 DB, 70 TB). You can see from the air losses this turn that the IJNAF attempts to penetrate the CAP didn't go well. We shall see [image]local://upfiles/25806/3F03EF72E4214DBBAD5FF00A74183FC3.jpg[/image]

vettim89 -> RE: The Battle of Renell Island (8/14/2012 1:28:30 PM)
12 September 1943 Well, a lot of sorties were flown and a lot of a/c died. Net result was one TT hit on BB Maryland and one 1000 lb bomb hit on CV Taiho. I guess this was a draw but I some how feel I won. That is nearly 500 a/c lossses over two days for the IJNAF vs 300 for me. No a huge lopside loss ratio but still the right side of the ledger for me. Also the numbers in the columns do notequal the totals on the right. I think the totals on the right are correct With Enterprise coming out of the yard in less than a week and the Imminent arrival of Bunker Hill and another CVL, I can say at least that I can stand toe to toe with the IJN. [image]local://upfiles/25806/B03822183FE249D59BA05D727D3031F9.jpg[/image]

vettim89 -> RE: The Battle of Renell Island (8/14/2012 11:04:54 PM)
13 September 1943 The scales of game justice have rebalanced. I lost Enterprise and Lexington for a few months to TT damage. No my opponent has lost Junyo and Amagi. Although with the two "severe flooding" criticals, the latter may be a goner [image]local://upfiles/25806/1768B7CE4E74427FB46E0F1AFB77B4AC.jpg[/image]

vettim89 -> RE: The Battle of Renell Island (8/15/2012 1:25:50 PM)
14 September 1943 IJN SCTF built around four CA and two Cl bombards Rennell Island again after cutting through the PTs like a knife through butter. My CAGs are a mess with no where near enough trained replacements to make up for the losses recently incurred. I may need to start rotating the CVs out to rebuild the strength. No a/c lost on the ground in either this turn or the last; ergo unlikely Amagi sank

vettim89 -> RE: The Battle of Renell Island (8/15/2012 8:13:23 PM)
Note on future plans. My orginal plan was to slowly work my way up the Solomons once the twin sisters of Rennell and KiraKira were built up. Larry's obvious willingness to through the kitchen sink at any move I make in the area slowed me down. Even though my attack groups took a beating in the last inconclusive carrier battle, to a point, that is is irrelevant. I need my carriers to provide CAP more than strike at the IJN CVs at this point. Once I get Auki and Russells built up, I will have two more unsinkable carriers that can cover my advance. At point the USAAF and USMC can take over while the USN pulls back to retrain for the beginning of the cross-ocean phase. From e-mail comments from my opponent, I think the last carrier battle may have broken Japanese Naval Aviation's back. I am going to risk that is true and make a move on Auki (north tip of Florida Island). If I follow that up with a quick grab of the Russells, it may make the return of the IJN CVTF irrelevant as I will have several large bases to launch attack aircraft from by that point. Enterprise is out of the yard in 3 turns. Bunker Hill departs Balboa next turn with a CVL in tow. I have four more CVE near Pago Pago. I am going to mass these assets to try to blow through the Japanese defenses in the Southern Solomons. Elsewhere on the Map I have a huge force in the Bengal region waiting for Monsson to end in one month. When that date hits, I will strike towards North Central Burma with about six division equivalents. That will leave a mark

vettim89 -> RE: The Battle of Renell Island (8/23/2012 1:03:33 AM)
15-26 September Both sides pull back to rebuild their air groups after the last big CV battle. Kongos continue to hit Rennell Island every 3-4 days. Last visit, I saw them coming and pulled all the a/c out. Engineer take about three days to repair damage on average. With The Big E out of the yard (replacing the now withdrawn Vicorious), I decide to move on Auki. A Fast Tran TF will move a Kiwi CMD BTN in first hoping to get an occupation before the main force of an ID plus eng and AV support arrive a day later. But first, I finally think I have my force aligned to meet the Kongos. I am sprinting my old BBs into Rennel (hopefully they will make it in one move phase). If they make it, the Kongos will find a hot welcome this time. Here's hoping In China, Larry move over 4000 AS into Changsa in the last few weeks. A Deliberate attack about a week ago came off at 1 to 3 costing the IJA 14 k casualties vs 1500 for the KMT. I think the base will hold. I have about 1200 additional AS moving in from Chunking and Kweilin to reinforce. If I could move some supplies into China, I could make some noise as Larry has a tendency to concentrate his forces a lot. Anxious for this turn to come back. As Gandalf said, "Its the deep breath before the plunge" [image]local://upfiles/25806/B98396A32ADD4842B0878EE9167C4466.jpg[/image]

vettim89 -> RE: The Battle of Renell Island (8/23/2012 3:29:33 AM)
27 September 1943 No Joy. Larry must have caught wind of my heavy SCTF presence in the area. Instead he sent some bombers to deal with my BBs. Not a good day for the IJNAF. IJN CVs are once again out WSW of Bougainville. Will they come South? Did the math: I have 150 fighters (mostly Juggs) at Rennell, 150 fighters (half Juggs/half P-40K) at KiraKira, and 294 F6F-3s at sea off KiraKira. That's a lot of fighters to try to punch a CV based strike through. I don't think I mentioned it but I offloaded the TBFs from all the CVLs and put a VMF on board with Hellcats in their place. CV Bunker Hill and her CVL consort arrived at Hiva Oa this turn. A CVL arrives next turn at Balboa. That is it for about 60 days when another CVL arrives and Lexington leaves the yard at SD. [image]local://upfiles/25806/24BC94AEE1944A70BD21ACEB4D212ECC.jpg[/image]

vettim89 -> RE: The Battle of Renell Island (8/23/2012 11:24:04 PM)
28 Spetember 1943 That played out about as I had planned it with the exception that my fighter losses were a little higher than I wanted. Larry parked his CVTF (three of them) 120 SSW of Munda (eight hexes from my CVs). What followed was the IJNAF impaling itself against a combined USSAF/USN CAP. With the exception of the Marine SBDs form Rennell that destroyed themselves trying to hit the IJN CVs, my attack planes were tehtered at six hexes. The reason for that is that I knew the only way they would try to attack the Japanese was if they came all the way down to within three hexes of Renell Island thus strethsing any support they would get from the fighters at Munda to the limit. So the USN happily sat back and let the IJN do its worst which was nothing - i.e. no hits. The Auki force lands this turn. If I get an occupation comment in the end turn summary, I will send the real invasion force in next turn. I moved Bong's unit over from Oz to KiraKira - they will help support the Auki landings if they go. My hope is the IJN CVTF will withdraw with such severe losses. A SCTF made up of a bunch of IJN cruisers is spotted near Shortlands. I dispatched my own cruiser based force to Rennell to meet them if the come that far south. AC losses over these two days were 300 to 140 roughly. With 60 of mine being the Marine SBD losses, it is really 300 to 80 of front line units. The Marines were not highly trained and can be replaced much more quickly than USN units as several VMSB are due for withdraw in the next few weeks. Anxious to see if Larry keeps pushing here or pulls back [image]local://upfiles/25806/1C2CE09ED1A14364A09EA181F8F345C1.jpg[/image]

vettim89 -> RE: The Battle of Renell Island (8/24/2012 3:13:10 AM)
29 September 1943 The Auki force got ashore in good order but did not occupy the base yet. I sent the full force anyway as the USN beat back the IJN surface forces during the night. IJN carriers are 80 miles from Rabaul. Two SCTF tangle and the USN gets the worst of it. Image attached. However, the IJN then stumbles across the PT TF and they put a TT into both Furutaka and Tone. After all that interaction, the IJN still pushes through to hit Rennell - grr. The retreating TF bump into each other Day Time Surface Combat, near Lunga at 114,139, Range 25,000 Yards Japanese Ships CL Jintsu, Shell hits 3 DD Shinonome, Shell hits 2 DD Isonami Allied Ships CA Chester DD O'Brien DD Walke LBA and the US CVAir then go after the stragglers. I have had concerns from the get go that the DBB mods to air ordinance has overly nerfed the USN DB. I have not had much success at all hitting anything. These ships had no CAP and were damaged - ergo slowed. I had 29 SBDS record 1 hit - seems wrong. The B-25s, however, were their usual deadly selves putting 4 500 lb bombs into Jintsu and one into DD Isonami Next turn will reveal how srtong my opponents response will be to the Auki landings. [image]local://upfiles/25806/79E4D0C246B442B5AAD0848B47FD06B4.jpg[/image]

vettim89 -> RE: The Battle of Renell Island (8/25/2012 2:25:42 AM)
30 September 1943 The Battle of the Solomon Islands I was surprised to find out we had a carrier battle today. The IJN CVTF were retiring to Rabaul having just been bloodied fighting in the Coral Sea - at least the air groups were. Second image gives locale of battle NE of Auki. The IJNAF strikes with eight AM strikes on the US CVTF for no hits. Severe storms in the hex likely affected both my CAP and the attackers accuracy The First USN strike puts three 1000 lb into Chitose, one into Shokoku, and one into Zuikaku The Second USN strike does this Japanese Ships CV Zuikaku BB Haruna, Bomb hits 2 CV Kaga, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires BB Kirishima, Bomb hits 1 CVL Chitose, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage CV Shokaku, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage CV Akagi, Bomb hits 1, on fire CL Oyodo DD Kishinami CVL Chiyoda Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVL Chitose Ammo storage explosion on CVL Chitose Ammo storage explosion on CV Akagi Heavy smoke from fires obscuring a Japanese CV Fuel storage explosion on CV Kaga B-25s wipe out an ill fated LB TF at Lunga Weather became a factor in the PM. The IJNAF launches several very weak stikes but do manage to put one bomb into BB Idaho. USN must not be able to find IJN CVTF due to weather. The cream a REPL TF sinking tow AO and unfortunately paste a convoy at Shortlands. I say unfortunately because the heavy CAP there is responsible for a lot of todays a/c losses. Day ends with an unsuccessful Deliberate attack one hex east of Nanning and AUki being occupied. I pull my CVTF back a little hoping I can get almost everything unloaded at Auki next turn [image]local://upfiles/25806/71B32B79EB2B4EE6BD2A29FCB700480F.jpg[/image]

vettim89 -> RE: The Battle of Renell Island (8/25/2012 2:26:24 AM)
Locale [image]local://upfiles/25806/3788E400D97047B7A2DB8FB095BC5700.jpg[/image]

vettim89 -> RE: The Battle of Renell Island (8/25/2012 2:29:40 AM)
A/C Losses [image]local://upfiles/25806/0AD9E0596D814ED1A349614EE3AB96E7.jpg[/image]

vettim89 -> RE: The Battle of Renell Island (8/28/2012 12:31:06 PM)
1-4 October 1943 All the TF invlolved in the Auki operation are now approaching Luganville. Once there they will either take turns loading up units for the next phase or head bac to Noumea to pick up units down there. AUki is now Level 2.95 AB with Level 2 forts. Two P-47 sq are now there and Larry tried to sweep with Ki-44s. I lost a Jugg; he lost 22 Tojos to ATA comabt alone. Total A/C losses for the day were 40 to 2 in favor of the Allies. The back of the Japanese Air Forces has been broken. I will start upgrading my F4U sq to -1a version which will allow me to use them more. The servicablity rating on the orginal model made it hard to sustain operations with them. I plan to hit Thousand Ships Bay and Russell Islands in rapid succesion starting in about a week. CV Bunker Hill with CVL consort is just south of Fiji. Every day I get stronger. Every day he gets weaker. [image]local://upfiles/25806/99AB4E19176040F58A9B1CACAE54D77D.jpg[/image]

vettim89 -> Battle of Solomon Sea (10/8/2012 7:02:36 AM)
5 October - 27 November. My life has been busy of late and I have struggled with some health issues; ergo, no posts here. That does not mean our game is not moving forward. One reason for lack of posts is lack of activity. I will update by AOO NoPac Not much going on here. Have devloped the western most Aleutian AB for harassment of the Kuriles. SoPac Here is where the work is being done. I have taken and built up Auiki, Rekata Bay, and Russel Islands. Lots of air activity here which has resulted in the abandonment of Munda by the my opponent. However, he continues to use LRCAP from Buin (Shortlands on map). This will be relevant in the next post. SWPac Air activity has been constant against PM, Buna, and Lae. I retook Tugula Island a week or so ago. Two turns ago I landed two INF BTN on Rossel Island. I was about to unload some ENG when I noticed some activity at Tarakina that looked like a SCTF was heading down to interfere. I toyed with keeping my unloading proceeding, but as I only had a CA based SCTF protecting the landing (Cursor intel said it was a BC based SCTF up north). So I ordered all the TF to d/c unloading and sent every one back to Oz. Then I thought differently. The IJNAAF had made an effort to interfere at Rossel and had taken some big losses on the 27th. Thinking the LBA threat was likely seriously attrited, I decided to move my CVTF to a point 6 hexes SSW of Tarakina. More on that move later China Larry is pushing hard at Changsha and has reduce the forts to 0. Her is pouring a lot of LBA into this campaign with often over 200 bombers hitting the base every day. I keep feeding replinished units down from Chungking but I am running out of units. I may have to pull back to the wooded terrain soon. This would mean ging up not only Chansha but the entire center section with open terrain. Burma I have moved 3800 AS down from Kelemyo and have taken Schweba. This has caused my opponent to break the siege of Myitkiyina. I am now moving that force forward toward Katha. I seems we will likely meet in the clear hex just NE of Schwebo. I have a unit almost ready to enter Ramree Island. Also a Chinese Army retook Lashio this turn

vettim89 -> Battle of Solomon Sea (10/8/2012 7:25:37 AM)
I normally don't like to repost entire combat reports but there is no way to possibly include everything without doing it. Let's start by saying I did not expect this battle. As I said above, I was hoping to pick off a BC or two with the possible additional benefit of atttriting down the IJNAF a bit more. What I got was a full fledged carrier battle. More like a full fledged carrier slaughter. The report (redacted) AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Nov 28, 43 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack near Rabaul at 106,128 Japanese Ships DD Niizuki, Torpedo hits 1 (not a good omen for the IJN) BB Haruna CLAA Tatsuta DD Teruzuki DD Wakaba DD Hatsushima Allied Ships SS S-45 SS S-45 launches 4 torpedoes at DD Niizuki S-45 diving deep .... DD Wakaba fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Hatsushima fails to find sub and abandons search DD Wakaba fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Wakaba fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Wakaba fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Wakaba fails to find sub, continues to search... Escort abandons search for sub -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I sweep Munda which distracts the fighters based at Buin (Shortlands) Morning Air attack on Munda , at 111,134 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid detected at 29 NM, estimated altitude 30,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 10 minutes Japanese aircraft N1K1-J George x 10 Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 6 Ki-84a Frank x 30 Allied aircraft F4U-1A Corsair x 11 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses F4U-1A Corsair: 6 destroyed CAP engaged: 6th Ku S-1/B with N1K1-J George (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 21000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 1 minutes 902 Ku S-1 with N1K1-J George (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 18000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 41 minutes 24th Sentai/C with Ki-44-IIc Tojo (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 26000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 2 minutes 64th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (12 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 4 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 31000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 39 minutes 78th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (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 26000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 1 minutes 203rd Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (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 31000 Raid is overhead 6th Ku S-1/C with N1K1-J George (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 26000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 1 minutes 77th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (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 31000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 3 minutes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Munda , at 111,134 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 28,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 14 minutes Japanese aircraft N1K1-J George x 10 Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 4 Ki-84a Frank x 39 Allied aircraft F4U-1A Corsair x 11 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 1 destroyed Allied aircraft losses F4U-1A Corsair: 1 destroyed CAP engaged: 6th Ku S-1/C with N1K1-J George (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (2 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 26000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes 77th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 31000 , scrambling fighters between 26000 and 27000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes 78th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 7 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 26000 , scrambling fighters between 25000 and 26000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 12 minutes 203rd Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 3 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 31000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 46 minutes 6th Ku S-1/B with N1K1-J George (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 21000 , scrambling fighters between 25490 and 26000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 14 minutes 902 Ku S-1 with N1K1-J George (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 18000 Raid is overhead 24th Sentai/C with Ki-44-IIc Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 26000 , scrambling fighters between 25000 and 26000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes 64th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 3 plane(s) intercepting now. 4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 31000 , scrambling fighters between 27000 and 29000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 14 minutes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Munda , at 111,134 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid detected at 48 NM, estimated altitude 31,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 18 minutes Japanese aircraft N1K1-J George x 5 Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 2 Ki-84a Frank x 32 Allied aircraft F4U-1A Corsair x 11 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-84a Frank: 1 destroyed Allied aircraft losses F4U-1A Corsair: 2 destroyed CAP engaged: 6th Ku S-1/B with N1K1-J George (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 21000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 4 minutes 6th Ku S-1/C with N1K1-J George (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 26000 , scrambling fighters between 25490 and 27000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes 64th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 31000 , scrambling fighters between 26000 and 31000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes 77th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 4 scrambling) 3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 31000 , scrambling fighters between 23000 and 26000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes 78th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 2 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 26000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 41 minutes 203rd Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 31000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 41 minutes 24th Sentai/C with Ki-44-IIc Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 26000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 4 minutes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Munda , at 111,134 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid detected at 11 NM, estimated altitude 36,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 3 minutes Japanese aircraft N1K1-J George x 3 Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 1 Ki-84a Frank x 19 Allied aircraft P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 25 Japanese aircraft losses N1K1-J George: 1 destroyed Ki-84a Frank: 5 destroyed No Allied losses Aircraft Attacking: 22 x P-47D2 Thunderbolt sweeping at 30000 feet CAP engaged: 6th Ku S-1/C with N1K1-J George (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 26000 , scrambling fighters between 27000 and 31000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 38 minutes 64th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 31000 , scrambling fighters between 27000 and 28000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 47 minutes 77th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 31000 , scrambling fighters between 29540 and 30000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes 78th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 26000 , scrambling fighters between 26000 and 30000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 10 minutes 203rd Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 31000 , scrambling fighters between 26000 and 30000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 28 minutes 24th Sentai/C with Ki-44-IIc Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 26000 Raid is overhead -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Munda , at 111,134 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid detected at 21 NM, estimated altitude 33,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 6 minutes Japanese aircraft N1K1-J George x 1 Ki-84a Frank x 4 Allied aircraft P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 15 Japanese aircraft losses N1K1-J George: 1 destroyed Ki-84a Frank: 1 destroyed No Allied losses Aircraft Attacking: 15 x P-47D2 Thunderbolt sweeping at 30000 feet CAP engaged: 6th Ku S-1/C with N1K1-J George (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 26000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 1 minutes 77th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 31000 , scrambling fighters to 35440. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes 203rd Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 31000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 2 minutes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Munda , at 111,134 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid detected at 48 NM, estimated altitude 33,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 14 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-84a Frank x 1 Allied aircraft P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 25 No Japanese losses No Allied losses Aircraft Attacking: 25 x P-47D2 Thunderbolt sweeping at 30000 feet CAP engaged: 203rd Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 31000 , scrambling fighters to 31000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Munda , at 111,134 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid detected at 49 NM, estimated altitude 33,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 14 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-84a Frank x 1 Allied aircraft P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 15 No Japanese losses No Allied losses Aircraft Attacking: 15 x P-47D2 Thunderbolt sweeping at 30000 feet CAP engaged: 203rd Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 31000 Raid is overhead -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Munda , at 111,134 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid detected at 34 NM, estimated altitude 33,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 10 minutes Allied aircraft P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 15 No Allied losses Aircraft Attacking: 15 x P-47D2 Thunderbolt sweeping at 30000 feet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IJNAF strikes first. Some tense moments but no damge (other than one nuisance bomb hit on a BB) Morning Air attack on TF, near Rossel Island at 107,135 Weather in hex: Severe storms Raid detected at 108 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 40 minutes Japanese aircraft G4M1 Betty x 7 Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 12 Allied aircraft F6F-3 Hellcat x 154 Japanese aircraft losses G4M1 Betty: 5 damaged G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed by flak Ki-43-IIIa Oscar: 3 destroyed No Allied losses Allied Ships CV Enterprise Aircraft Attacking: 5 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp CAP engaged: VF-18 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (20 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 14 being recalled, 6 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 42 minutes 16 planes vectored on to bombers VF-25 with F6F-3 Hellcat (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 25000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 1 minutes 1 planes vectored on to bombers VF-30 with F6F-3 Hellcat (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, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes VF-1 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 14 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 14000 and 25000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 40 minutes 18 planes vectored on to bombers VF-6 with F6F-3 Hellcat (4 airborne, 14 on standby, 0 scrambling) 4 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 2000 and 25000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 39 minutes 17 planes vectored on to bombers VF-9 with F6F-3 Hellcat (2 airborne, 14 on standby, 0 scrambling) 2 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 25000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes 16 planes vectored on to bombers VF-16 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 14 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 6 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 25000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 35 minutes 18 planes vectored on to bombers VF-22 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 25000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 44 minutes 14 planes vectored on to bombers VF-23 with F6F-3 Hellcat (4 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling) 4 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 25000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes 13 planes vectored on to bombers VF-24 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 9 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 10000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 41 minutes 13 planes vectored on to bombers -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Rossel Island at 107,135 Weather in hex: Severe storms Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 42 minutes Japanese aircraft G4M1 Betty x 8 N1K1-J George x 9 Allied aircraft F6F-3 Hellcat x 144 Japanese aircraft losses G4M1 Betty: 5 damaged G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed by flak N1K1-J George: 4 destroyed Allied aircraft losses F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed Allied Ships CVL Independence CVL Princeton Aircraft Attacking: 6 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp CAP engaged: VF-1 with F6F-3 Hellcat (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 4 plane(s) intercepting now. 3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 7 being recalled, 6 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 14000 and 25000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 39 minutes 11 planes vectored on to bombers VF-6 with F6F-3 Hellcat (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 4 plane(s) intercepting now. 4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 10 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 25000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 37 minutes 17 planes vectored on to bombers VF-9 with F6F-3 Hellcat (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 2 plane(s) intercepting now. 4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 9 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters to 13000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 38 minutes 16 planes vectored on to bombers VF-16 with F6F-3 Hellcat (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 4 plane(s) intercepting now. 1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 13 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 25000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes 15 planes vectored on to bombers VF-18 with F6F-3 Hellcat (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 4 plane(s) intercepting now. 4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 6 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 13000 and 25000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 43 minutes 16 planes vectored on to bombers VF-22 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 9 being recalled, 5 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 44 minutes 5 planes vectored on to bombers VF-23 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 1 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 8 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 14000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 44 minutes 9 planes vectored on to bombers VF-24 with F6F-3 Hellcat (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 5 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 8 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes 8 planes vectored on to bombers VF-25 with F6F-3 Hellcat (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. 4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 13000 and 25000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 44 minutes 5 planes vectored on to bombers VF-30 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 25000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 9 minutes 3 planes vectored on to bombers -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Treasury Islands at 108,134 Weather in hex: Severe storms Raid detected at 118 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 30 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M5c Zero x 9 D4Y1 Judy x 5 Allied aircraft F6F-3 Hellcat x 16 Japanese aircraft losses A6M5c Zero: 4 destroyed D4Y1 Judy: 4 destroyed No Allied losses CAP engaged: VF-25 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling) Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 3000 and 8000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes VF-30 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling) Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 25000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Rossel Island at 107,135 Weather in hex: Severe storms Raid detected at 115 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 38 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M5c Zero x 27 B6N2 Jill x 24 Allied aircraft F6F-3 Hellcat x 123 Japanese aircraft losses A6M5c Zero: 17 destroyed B6N2 Jill: 14 damaged B6N2 Jill: 5 destroyed by flak Allied aircraft losses F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed Allied Ships CA Portland CV Essex CVL Belleau Wood CV Yorktown II CV Enterprise CV Valley Forge Aircraft Attacking: 10 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp 9 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp CAP engaged: VF-25 with F6F-3 Hellcat (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 4 plane(s) intercepting now. 2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters to 11000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 41 minutes 6 planes vectored on to bombers VF-30 with F6F-3 Hellcat (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. 4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters to 11000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes 6 planes vectored on to bombers VF-1 with F6F-3 Hellcat (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 3 plane(s) intercepting now. 3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 12 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 14000 and 25000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes 15 planes vectored on to bombers VF-6 with F6F-3 Hellcat (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 3 plane(s) intercepting now. 4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 10 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 17000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes 11 planes vectored on to bombers VF-9 with F6F-3 Hellcat (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 4 plane(s) intercepting now. 3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 10 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 18000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes 8 planes vectored on to bombers VF-16 with F6F-3 Hellcat (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 5 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 8 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 12 minutes 10 planes vectored on to bombers VF-18 with F6F-3 Hellcat (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. 1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 6 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 13000 and 25000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 37 minutes 9 planes vectored on to bombers VF-22 with F6F-3 Hellcat (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 6 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 13 minutes 7 planes vectored on to bombers VF-23 with F6F-3 Hellcat (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 4 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 7 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 44 minutes 8 planes vectored on to bombers VF-24 with F6F-3 Hellcat (7 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 7 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 11 minutes 7 planes vectored on to bombers -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Treasury Islands at 108,134 Weather in hex: Severe storms Raid detected at 110 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 28 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M5c Zero x 8 D4Y1 Judy x 13 Japanese aircraft losses D4Y1 Judy: 5 damaged D4Y1 Judy: 6 destroyed by flak Allied Ships CVL Cowpens BB Alabama, Bomb hits 1 (oh, bother) CL Birmingham Aircraft Attacking: 3 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000' Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb 7 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb Carrier support unable to supply air cover.. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Rossel Island at 107,135 Weather in hex: Severe storms Raid detected at 97 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 32 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M5c Zero x 10 B6N2 Jill x 21 Allied aircraft F6F-3 Hellcat x 84 Japanese aircraft losses A6M5c Zero: 6 destroyed B6N2 Jill: 11 destroyed B6N2 Jill: 2 destroyed by flak No Allied losses Allied Ships CV Yorktown II BB Washington Aircraft Attacking: 4 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp CAP engaged: VF-1 with F6F-3 Hellcat (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. 2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 8 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 14000 and 25000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes 7 planes vectored on to bombers VF-6 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 9 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 2000 and 17000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 34 minutes 5 planes vectored on to bombers VF-9 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 12000 and 13000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 38 minutes 7 planes vectored on to bombers VF-16 with F6F-3 Hellcat (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. 1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 6 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 14000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 37 minutes 7 planes vectored on to bombers VF-18 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 6 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes 6 planes vectored on to bombers VF-22 with F6F-3 Hellcat (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 3 plane(s) intercepting now. 1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters to 15000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 56 minutes 6 planes vectored on to bombers VF-23 with F6F-3 Hellcat (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 5 plane(s) intercepting now. 4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters to 10000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 32 minutes 9 planes vectored on to bombers VF-24 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes VF-25 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 6 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 13 minutes VF-30 with F6F-3 Hellcat (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 41 minutes 5 planes vectored on to bombers -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Rossel Island at 107,135 Weather in hex: Severe storms Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 20 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M5c Zero x 18 B6N2 Jill x 30 D4Y2 Judy x 16 Allied aircraft F6F-3 Hellcat x 66 Japanese aircraft losses A6M5c Zero: 5 destroyed B6N2 Jill: 16 destroyed, 3 damaged B6N2 Jill: 2 destroyed by flak D4Y2 Judy: 4 destroyed D4Y2 Judy: 1 destroyed by flak Allied aircraft losses F6F-3 Hellcat: 2 destroyed Allied Ships CV Essex CV Yorktown II CV Valley Forge CV Enterprise BB Indiana CVL Independence Aircraft Attacking: 3 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp CAP engaged: VF-1 with F6F-3 Hellcat (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 5 plane(s) intercepting now. 4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters to 5000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes 2 planes vectored on to bombers VF-6 with F6F-3 Hellcat (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 4 plane(s) intercepting now. 5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 10000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 34 minutes 7 planes vectored on to bombers VF-9 with F6F-3 Hellcat (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 5 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 24 minutes 6 planes vectored on to bombers VF-16 with F6F-3 Hellcat (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 5 plane(s) intercepting now. 1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 15000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 12 minutes 4 planes vectored on to bombers VF-18 with F6F-3 Hellcat (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 4 plane(s) intercepting now. 1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 13000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 14 minutes 3 planes vectored on to bombers VF-22 with F6F-3 Hellcat (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 5 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 25000 Raid is overhead 3 planes vectored on to bombers VF-23 with F6F-3 Hellcat (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 4 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 6 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 22 minutes 1 planes vectored on to bombers VF-24 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 12000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 46 minutes 1 planes vectored on to bombers VF-25 with F6F-3 Hellcat (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 4 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes 4 planes vectored on to bombers VF-30 with F6F-3 Hellcat (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 2 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes 1 planes vectored on to bombers -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The USN opens up a can of whoopass Morning Air attack on TF, near Torokina at 107,130 Weather in hex: Heavy cloud Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 29 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M5c Zero x 31 Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 3 Allied aircraft F6F-3 Hellcat x 83 SBD-5 Dauntless x 56 TBF-1 Avenger x 77 Japanese aircraft losses A6M5c Zero: 4 destroyed Allied aircraft losses F6F-3 Hellcat: 16 destroyed SBD-5 Dauntless: 4 damaged TBF-1 Avenger: 11 damaged TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed by flak Japanese Ships CV Amagi, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage CV Unryu, Bomb hits 2, on fire CLAA Tenryu, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage DD Yugiri, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires DD Harusame Aircraft Attacking: 9 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 9 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 25000 feet 14 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp. 17 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 14 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp. 14 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp. 7 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 25000 feet 14 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp. 7 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp. 7 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp. 7 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp. 11 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 8 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 25000 feet 7 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 7 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 25000 feet 8 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 25000 feet * 4 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 25000 feet 2 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 25000 feet 8 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 4 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb CAP engaged: Akagi-1 with A6M5c Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (12 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 12 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 20000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 8 minutes Chiyoda-1 with A6M5c Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (7 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 2 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 31000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 4 minutes Amagi-1 with A6M5c Zero (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 14000 and 15000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 20 minutes 66th Sentai with Ki-44-IIc Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Unryu Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Amagi Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CLAA Tenryu Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Yugiri -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Rabaul at 106,128 Weather in hex: Heavy cloud Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 34 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M5c Zero x 22 Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 4 Allied aircraft F6F-3 Hellcat x 30 SB2C-1C Helldiver x 28 TBF-1 Avenger x 21 Japanese aircraft losses A6M5c Zero: 2 destroyed Allied aircraft losses F6F-3 Hellcat: 11 destroyed SB2C-1C Helldiver: 4 damaged SB2C-1C Helldiver: 1 destroyed by flak TBF-1 Avenger: 2 damaged TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed by flak Japanese Ships CV Junyo, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage BB Haruna CV Kaga, Bomb hits 1 CVL Shoho, Torpedo hits 1 Aircraft Attacking: 17 x SB2C-1C Helldiver releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb 13 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp. 7 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp. 3 x SB2C-1C Helldiver releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb 8 x SB2C-1C Helldiver releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb CAP engaged: 66th Sentai with Ki-44-IIc Tojo (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 25000 Raid is overhead Kaga-1 with A6M5c Zero (5 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling) 5 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 31000 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 31000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 20 minutes Shoho-1 with A6M5c Zero (0 airborne, 5 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 25000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Carriers react to one another. Once again teh IJNAF strikes first for nothing to show for it. Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Treasury Islands at 108,134 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid detected at 110 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 41 minutes Japanese aircraft G3M3 Nell x 18 N1K1-J George x 25 Allied aircraft F6F-3 Hellcat x 82 Japanese aircraft losses G3M3 Nell: 17 damaged G3M3 Nell: 3 destroyed by flak N1K1-J George: 7 destroyed Allied aircraft losses F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed Allied Ships CV Enterprise CVL Belleau Wood BB Indiana Aircraft Attacking: 16 x G3M3 Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp CAP engaged: VF-1 with F6F-3 Hellcat (7 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (7 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 7 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 25000 Raid is overhead 1 planes vectored on to bombers VF-9 with F6F-3 Hellcat (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 25000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 7 minutes 5 planes vectored on to bombers VF-18 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (8 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 8 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 12 minutes 4 planes vectored on to bombers VF-22 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (7 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 7 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes 7 planes vectored on to bombers VF-23 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (7 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes 7 planes vectored on to bombers VF-25 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 40 minutes 3 planes vectored on to bombers VF-30 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes 4 planes vectored on to bombers VF-6 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 25000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes 16 planes vectored on to bombers VF-16 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 11 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 25000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes 5 planes vectored on to bombers VF-24 with F6F-3 Hellcat (2 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling) 2 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 15000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes 6 planes vectored on to bombers -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Treasury Islands at 108,134 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid detected at 92 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 23 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M5c Zero x 9 D4Y1 Judy x 5 Allied aircraft F6F-3 Hellcat x 62 Japanese aircraft losses A6M5c Zero: 5 destroyed D4Y1 Judy: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged D4Y1 Judy: 1 destroyed by flak No Allied losses Allied Ships CV Valley Forge Aircraft Attacking: 4 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb CAP engaged: VF-1 with F6F-3 Hellcat (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. 4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 13000 and 14000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes 5 planes vectored on to bombers VF-6 with F6F-3 Hellcat (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 3 plane(s) intercepting now. 1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 12 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 25000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 12 minutes 9 planes vectored on to bombers VF-9 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 13 minutes VF-18 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 12000 and 25000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 72 minutes VF-22 with F6F-3 Hellcat (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 2 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 7 minutes 3 planes vectored on to bombers VF-23 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 6 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 12 minutes 3 planes vectored on to bombers VF-25 with F6F-3 Hellcat (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 3 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 25000 Raid is overhead VF-30 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 9 minutes VF-16 with F6F-3 Hellcat (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 5 plane(s) intercepting now. 6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 25000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes 6 planes vectored on to bombers VF-24 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 6 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 4 minutes 3 planes vectored on to bombers -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Rossel Island at 107,135 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 26 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M5c Zero x 11 B6N2 Jill x 9 Allied aircraft F6F-3 Hellcat x 24 Japanese aircraft losses A6M5c Zero: 3 destroyed B6N2 Jill: 6 destroyed Allied aircraft losses F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed CAP engaged: VF-1 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling) Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 12000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes 4 planes vectored on to bombers VF-9 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling) Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters to 6000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes VF-22 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling) Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters to 25000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes VF-23 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling) Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters to 11000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cry havoc and let loose the dogs of war!!!!!!! Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Rabaul at 106,128 Weather in hex: Heavy cloud Raid detected at 76 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 28 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M5c Zero x 16 Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 4 Allied aircraft F6F-3 Hellcat x 29 SBD-5 Dauntless x 57 TBF-1 Avenger x 33 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses F6F-3 Hellcat: 4 destroyed SBD-5 Dauntless: 11 damaged SBD-5 Dauntless: 1 destroyed by flak TBF-1 Avenger: 10 damaged Japanese Ships CV Taiho, Bomb hits 2, on fire (unlike WitP, the 1000 lbers penetrate the flight deck) CVL Chiyoda, Bomb hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage CV Kaga CV Akagi, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage CL Oyodo DD Yuzuki BB Haruna DD Akebono DD Hatsuzuki Aircraft Attacking: 20 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 14 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp. 10 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 13 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp. 6 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp. 7 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 12 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 8 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb CAP engaged: Kaga-1 with A6M5c Zero (7 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (11 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 7 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 31000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 3 minutes 66th Sentai with Ki-44-IIc Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes Akagi-1 with A6M5c Zero (0 airborne, 2 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 15000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 20 minutes Chiyoda-1 with A6M5c Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 31000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 1 minutes Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVL Chiyoda Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Taiho Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Akagi Fuel storage explosion on CV Akagi - uh oh Ammo storage explosion on CVL Chiyoda -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Rabaul at 106,128 Weather in hex: Heavy cloud Raid detected at 78 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 33 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M5c Zero x 9 Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 4 Allied aircraft F6F-3 Hellcat x 18 SB2C-1C Helldiver x 24 TBF-1 Avenger x 13 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses F6F-3 Hellcat: 2 destroyed SB2C-1C Helldiver: 2 destroyed, 4 damaged SB2C-1C Helldiver: 1 destroyed by flak TBF-1 Avenger: 3 damaged Japanese Ships CV Taiho, Bomb hits 3, on fire CVL Shoho, Torpedo hits 5, and is sunk DD Kawakaze, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires CV Akagi, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage CLAA Tatsuta CVL Chiyoda, heavy fires, heavy damage DD Wakazuki, Bomb hits 1, on fire CV Junyo, on fire, heavy damage Aircraft Attacking: 7 x SB2C-1C Helldiver releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb 13 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp. 6 x SB2C-1C Helldiver releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb 7 x SB2C-1C Helldiver releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb CAP engaged: 66th Sentai with Ki-44-IIc Tojo (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. 3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters to 21000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes Kaga-1 with A6M5c Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 2 plane(s) intercepting now. 4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 31000 , scrambling fighters between 18000 and 21000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 32 minutes 3 planes vectored on to bombers Akagi-1 with A6M5c Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 19000 and 20000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 14 minutes Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Taiho Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Akagi Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVL Chiyoda Fuel storage explosion on CVL Shoho Ammo storage explosion on CVL Shoho Fuel storage explosion on CVL Shoho -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Torokina at 107,130 Weather in hex: Light rain Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 29 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M5c Zero x 9 N1K1-J George x 6 Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 9 Ki-84a Frank x 24 Allied aircraft F6F-3 Hellcat x 26 SBD-5 Dauntless x 27 TBF-1 Avenger x 13 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-84a Frank: 1 destroyed Allied aircraft losses F6F-3 Hellcat: 10 destroyed SBD-5 Dauntless: 5 destroyed, 4 damaged SBD-5 Dauntless: 1 destroyed by flak TBF-1 Avenger: 1 damaged Japanese Ships CV Amagi, heavy fires, heavy damage CV Unryu, Torpedo hits 1, on fire DD Mochizuki, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires DD Yugiri, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk DD Harusame Aircraft Attacking: 2 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 6 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp. 7 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp. 2 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 12 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb CAP engaged: 6th Ku S-1/B with N1K1-J George (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 21000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 3 minutes 6th Ku S-1/C with N1K1-J George (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 3 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 26000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 8 minutes 24th Sentai/C with Ki-44-IIc Tojo (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, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 26000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 28 minutes Shoho-1 with A6M5c Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 7 minutes Amagi-1 with A6M5c 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 25000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 9 minutes 64th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (9 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 4 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 31000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes 77th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (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 31000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 4 minutes 1 planes vectored on to bombers 203rd Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 31000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes 78th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (6 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 26000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes 66th Sentai with Ki-44-IIc Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 8 minutes Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Amagi Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Mochizuki Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Yugiri

vettim89 -> RE: Battle of Solomon Sea (10/8/2012 7:36:32 AM)
So my figuring is: Sunk CVL Shoho one DD In Extremis CV Akagi CV Amagi CVL Chiyoda One CLAA Seriously Damaged CV Taiho CV Unryu CV Junyo two DD A/C losses for the day listed 28 Jills lost on the ground. That is more than Shoho carries; good possibility Chiyoda sank also. I realize it could be a much more significant victory but I wan to err on the side of caution [image]local://upfiles/25806/83C20AEB3A2747DB93FA8151CD203891.jpg[/image]

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