Solomons Bloodbath

Solomons Bloodbath (Full Version)

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NorthStar -> Solomons Bloodbath (1/3/2003 11:00:43 AM)
Ok, I'm playing "The Begining Ends" as the Allies against the AI. The AI has been monumentally unaggressive, so there have been NO carrier battles. Until early August, that is . . . Right after my successful invasion of Lunga, the Japanese sortie all (apparantly) of their CVs in three TFs right down the slot, and begin pounding Lunga. I sortie all six of my CVs in two TFs and move into attack range about three days later. Weather is Thunderstorms, and the following are the result . . AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/06/42 Weather: Thunderstorms Air attack on TF at 35,38 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 109 A6M3 Zero x 9 Allied aircraft SBD Dauntless x 13 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero x 1 damaged Allied aircraft losses SBD Dauntless x 17 destroyed LTJG O.Ikeda of BII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 3 LCDR W. Gallaher of VS-6 is KILLED -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Air attack on TF at 35,38 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 109 A6M3 Zero x 9 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 9 SBD Dauntless x 17 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero x 4 destroyed A6M2 Zero x 1 damaged Allied aircraft losses F4F-4 Wildcat x 9 destroyed SBD Dauntless x 22 destroyed LTJG N. Hodson of VF-6 is credited with kill number 4 LCDR R. Best of VB-6 bails out and is CAPTURED -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Air attack on TF at 35,38 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 105 A6M3 Zero x 9 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 28 SBD Dauntless x 47 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero x 17 destroyed A6M2 Zero x 9 damaged A6M3 Zero x 1 destroyed Allied aircraft losses F4F-4 Wildcat x 36 destroyed SBD Dauntless x 22 destroyed SBD Dauntless x 11 damaged CPO L.Murakami of AI-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 6 LCDR W. Burch of VS-5 is KILLED Japanese Ships CV Kaga CV Hiryu, Bomb hits 1, on fire CVL Ryujo, Bomb hits 1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Air attack on TF at 35,38 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 42 A6M3 Zero x 4 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 7 SBD Dauntless x 30 TBF Avenger x 14 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed A6M2 Zero x 4 damaged A6M3 Zero x 1 destroyed Allied aircraft losses F4F-4 Wildcat x 9 destroyed SBD Dauntless x 12 destroyed SBD Dauntless x 11 damaged TBF Avenger x 17 destroyed TBF Avenger x 1 damaged PO2 G.Nagaishi of AII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 5 Japanese Ships CVL Ryujo, Bomb hits 1, on fire -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Air attack on TF at 35,38 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 78 A6M3 Zero x 7 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 15 SBD Dauntless x 30 TBF Avenger x 13 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero x 6 destroyed A6M2 Zero x 4 damaged A6M3 Zero x 1 destroyed A6M3 Zero x 1 damaged Allied aircraft losses F4F-4 Wildcat x 9 destroyed SBD Dauntless x 25 destroyed SBD Dauntless x 6 damaged TBF Avenger x 7 destroyed TBF Avenger x 7 damaged PO2 G.Nagaishi of AII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 7 LT M. Sato of AII-1 Daitai bails out and is CAPTURED Japanese Ships CV Kaga CVL Ryujo, on fire CV Hiryu, on fire -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Air attack on TF at 35,38 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 76 A6M3 Zero x 6 Allied aircraft SBD Dauntless x 17 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero x 2 damaged Allied aircraft losses SBD Dauntless x 21 destroyed SBD Dauntless x 1 damaged PO1 W.Ohara of BII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 8 LCDR K.Clark of VB-8 is KILLED -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Air attack on TF at 35,38 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 76 A6M3 Zero x 6 Allied aircraft SBD Dauntless x 30 TBF Avenger x 12 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed A6M2 Zero x 1 damaged Allied aircraft losses SBD Dauntless x 31 destroyed TBF Avenger x 11 destroyed TBF Avenger x 2 damaged PO1 W.Ohara of BII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 9 LCDR F. Turner of VS-72 is KILLED Japanese Ships CL Nagara CV Soryu -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Air attack on TF at 39,42 Japanese aircraft D3A Val x 17 B5N Kate x 36 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 146 Japanese aircraft losses D3A Val x 1 damaged B5N Kate x 44 destroyed B5N Kate x 3 damaged LTJG H. Gustafson of VF-8 is credited with kill number 6 LT K. Matsuo of CII-3 Daitai bails out and is CAPTURED -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Air attack on TF at 39,42 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 7 D3A Val x 26 B5N Kate x 18 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 118 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero x 6 destroyed D3A Val x 12 destroyed D3A Val x 1 damaged B5N Kate x 23 destroyed Allied aircraft losses F4F-4 Wildcat x 2 damaged LTJG H. Gustafson of VF-8 is credited with kill number 7 LCDR S. Murata of AI-3 Daitai is KILLED -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Air attack on TF at 39,42 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 33 A6M3 Zero x 5 D3A Val x 81 B5N Kate x 63 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 146 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero x 25 destroyed A6M2 Zero x 1 damaged A6M3 Zero x 4 destroyed D3A Val x 44 destroyed D3A Val x 3 damaged B5N Kate x 50 destroyed B5N Kate x 8 damaged Allied aircraft losses F4F-4 Wildcat x 33 destroyed F4F-4 Wildcat x 21 damaged LTJG H. Gustafson of VF-8 is credited with kill number 8 LTJG W. Leonard of VF-42 is KILLED Allied Ships CV Wasp -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack at 35,38 Japanese Ships DD Akikaze DD Nokaze Allied Ships SS Thresher -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack at 35,38 Japanese Ships DD Uzuki DD Akebono DD Akikaze Allied Ships SS Greenling -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Checking the Intelligence Reports afterwards, the results are as follows: A6M2 74 Destroyed A6M3 8 D3A 47 B5N 100 F4F-4 92 Destroyed SBD 163 TBF 32 So basically, I lost 287 aircraft, for a measly two hits on a CVL and one on a CV. The Japaneses lost 229 aircraft for no hits at all! 516 AIRCRAFT LOST IN ONE DAY FOR NO EFFECT!!! Any ideas, anyone? It seems to me that I have no choice but to withdraw. I have 55 operational SBDs and about 13 TBFs left on all six carriers. I also have three squadrons of TBDs, but I doubt I can get close enough to use them. Hopefully, he is in the same boat (pun intended) and will have to withdraw as well, and I can settle for the pyrric victory of breaking the air bombardment of Lunga. However, if anyone has some brilliant ideas on how I might be able to follow up on this, I'd love to hear them.

Admiral Scott -> (1/3/2003 2:13:56 PM)
Patton said, "When in doubt, attack!"

SoulBlazer -> (1/3/2003 2:35:08 PM)
Indeed, attack! American carriers have more planes then Japanese. Send everything you've got left at the Japanese. Transfer in land based squadrons to your carriers if need be, and if possible, just keep pounding them! Maybe you could even be really risky and send in a surface fleet and hope to catch the carriers. :) Remember the last strikes sent by the US at Midway. That was scraping the bottom of the barrel also.

NorthStar -> Uhh. . . . OK (1/4/2003 12:40:17 AM)
OK, due to overwhelming pressure, I guess I'll try the following: 1. Consolodate all my SBDs, TBFs, and F4Fs into as many near full strength squadrons as possible. In particular, most of my SBD squadrons have from 2-5 aircraft, so if I leave things as they are, I'll get an awful lot of no shows. 2. Move my three squadrons of TBDs to Lunga. I THINK the Japanese are currently within TBD range of Lunga, so this probably makes more sense then trying to move my carriers within range (which would also put them deeper into Rabaul's LBA range). 3. Any Carriers emptied by steps 1 & 2 will be split off with minimal escort and sent back to Nomea. In particular Lexington and Yorktown have better than 10 SYS damage (since they've been around and active since the begining) and could use a rest. Actually, on second thought, rather then send them back to Nomea, I'll let them stand-off about five hexes south of the combat TFs. They'll be safer there, and they can also serve as emergency landing strips for any aircraft which lose their carriers. The only question now is - should I adjust my CAP setting? Obviously, both sides were very defensive minded, and had quite high CAP (I had four CVs with 70% CAP and two with 80%). Thus the bloodbath. Since our fighter loses were pretty close, I would expect the next round to have the same results (although I am sure the bad weather had something to do with the extreme discoordination of my strikes!). An option then would be to reduce CAP settings (to say 50%) in order to provide stronger escorts. Of course, this will also make my carriers more vulnerable, and could be disastar if I don't get the first strike or the first strike is ineffective! Decsions, decisions . . . . .

Bax -> Ugh (1/4/2003 2:59:55 AM)
Wow, I would've liked to see the expression on your face when you saw those air combat results. I know what mine would've been.... :eek:

NorthStar -> Day 2 (1/5/2003 11:27:03 AM)
OK, I decided to stay and fight. The plan I came up with turned out to be moot. Apparantly, you CAN'T Withdraw/Disband aircraft aboard carriers. At least, in this case the options were greyed out. Also, may carriers had actually already moved in to six hexes from the Japanese, so I decided to move in the additonal two hexes. The only change I made was to reduce CAP for all CVs to 60%, to allow for a few more escorts. Oh, and I moved the Marine SBD squadrons to Lunga and put them on Naval Attack, along with a P-39 and a P-400 squadron, alos on Naval Attack (I figured every little thing helps). Day 2 of the Carrier Battle of Central Solomons AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/07/42 Weather: Partly Cloudy Sub attack at 35,38 Japanese Ships CV Junyo CA Chokai Allied Ships SS Thresher -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Air attack on TF, near Shortland Island at 29,34 Japanese aircraft A6M2-N Rufe x 4 Allied aircraft B-17E Fortress x 9 no losses Allied aircraft losses B-17E Fortress x 2 damaged Japanese Ships PG Heijo Maru AP Kaihei Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage AP Hinko Maru Attacking Level Bombers: 3 x B-17E Fortress at 1000 feet 3 x B-17E Fortress at 1000 feet 3 x B-17E Fortress at 1000 feet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Air attack on TF at 35,38 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 43 A6M3 Zero x 4 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 21 SBD Dauntless x 21 TBF Avenger x 6 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero x 5 destroyed A6M2 Zero x 2 damaged A6M3 Zero x 1 destroyed Allied aircraft losses F4F-4 Wildcat x 11 destroyed F4F-4 Wildcat x 6 damaged SBD Dauntless x 7 destroyed SBD Dauntless x 12 damaged TBF Avenger x 1 destroyed WO J.Masuyama of AI-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 9 PO2 V.Kaneko of AI-1 Daitai is KILLED Japanese Ships CVL Zuiho CV Junyo -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Air attack on TF at 35,38 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 32 A6M3 Zero x 3 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 11 SBD Dauntless x 7 TBD Devastator x 13 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero x 7 destroyed A6M2 Zero x 2 damaged A6M3 Zero x 2 destroyed Allied aircraft losses F4F-4 Wildcat x 2 destroyed F4F-4 Wildcat x 5 damaged SBD Dauntless x 1 destroyed SBD Dauntless x 1 damaged TBD Devastator x 10 destroyed TBD Devastator x 3 damaged PO1 W.Ohara of BII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 12 WO J.Masuyama of AI-1 Daitai is KILLED Japanese Ships CVL Zuiho CV Junyo -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Air attack on TF at 35,38 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 14 A6M3 Zero x 1 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 10 SBD Dauntless x 3 TBD Devastator x 15 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero x 3 destroyed Allied aircraft losses F4F-4 Wildcat x 1 destroyed F4F-4 Wildcat x 2 damaged SBD Dauntless x 1 destroyed TBD Devastator x 3 destroyed TBD Devastator x 12 damaged PO2 K.Kawato of EI-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 6 PO2 S.Shiga of AI-1 Daitai is KILLED Japanese Ships CV Junyo CVL Zuiho CA Suzuya, Torpedo hits 1, on fire -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Air attack on TF at 35,38 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 18 A6M3 Zero x 1 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 11 SBD Dauntless x 4 TBD Devastator x 15 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero x 3 destroyed Allied aircraft losses F4F-4 Wildcat x 4 destroyed F4F-4 Wildcat x 2 damaged SBD Dauntless x 1 destroyed SBD Dauntless x 2 damaged TBD Devastator x 4 destroyed TBD Devastator x 8 damaged LTJG L. French of VF-8 is credited with kill number 9 LTJG L. French of VF-8 bails out and is CAPTURED Japanese Ships CVL Zuiho, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage CV Junyo -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Air attack on TF at 35,38 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 10 A6M3 Zero x 1 Allied aircraft B-17E Fortress x 3 no losses Allied aircraft losses B-17E Fortress x 2 damaged Japanese Ships DD Hibiki Attacking Level Bombers: 3 x B-17E Fortress at 1000 feet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Air attack on TF at 35,38 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 14 A6M3 Zero x 1 Allied aircraft SBD Dauntless x 14 no losses Allied aircraft losses SBD Dauntless x 4 destroyed SBD Dauntless x 1 damaged PO1 W.Ohara of BII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 13 MAJ L. Smith of VMSB-231 is KILLED -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Air attack on TF at 35,38 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 14 A6M3 Zero x 1 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 35 SBD Dauntless x 13 P-400 Airacobra x 18 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero x 4 destroyed A6M2 Zero x 1 damaged A6M3 Zero x 1 destroyed Allied aircraft losses F4F-4 Wildcat x 8 destroyed F4F-4 Wildcat x 1 damaged SBD Dauntless x 3 destroyed SBD Dauntless x 5 damaged P-400 Airacobra x 1 destroyed P-400 Airacobra x 6 damaged PO1 W.Ohara of BII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 16 LT Y. Shiga of DII-1 Daitai is KILLED Japanese Ships CV Akagi CV Kaga CV Hiryu CVL Ryujo, on fire -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Air attack on TF at 35,38 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 6 Allied aircraft B-17E Fortress x 3 no losses Allied aircraft losses B-17E Fortress x 2 damaged Japanese Ships CV Akagi Attacking Level Bombers: 3 x B-17E Fortress at 1000 feet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Air attack on TF at 37,42 Japanese aircraft D3A Val x 3 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 61 Japanese aircraft losses D3A Val x 1 destroyed ENS J. Reulet of VF-3 is credited with kill number 2 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Air attack on TF at 37,42 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 26 A6M3 Zero x 5 D3A Val x 58 B5N Kate x 38 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 61 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero x 12 destroyed A6M2 Zero x 1 damaged A6M3 Zero x 4 destroyed D3A Val x 8 destroyed D3A Val x 3 damaged B5N Kate x 7 destroyed B5N Kate x 2 damaged Allied aircraft losses F4F-4 Wildcat x 8 destroyed F4F-4 Wildcat x 11 damaged LTJG G. Kirk of VF-8 is credited with kill number 8 LTJG H. Gustafson of VF-8 is KILLED -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Air attack on TF at 37,42 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 7 D3A Val x 15 B5N Kate x 9 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 53 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero x 3 destroyed A6M2 Zero x 2 damaged D3A Val x 4 destroyed D3A Val x 1 damaged B5N Kate x 2 damaged Allied aircraft losses F4F-4 Wildcat x 8 destroyed F4F-4 Wildcat x 1 damaged LTJG E. Feightner of VF-8 is credited with kill number 7 LCDR C. Shands of VF-71 bails out and is RESCUED -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Air attack on TF, near Shortland Island at 29,34 Japanese aircraft A6M2-N Rufe x 4 Allied aircraft B-17E Fortress x 9 no losses Allied aircraft losses B-17E Fortress x 2 damaged Japanese Ships PC Ch 11 AP Manju Maru PG Heijo Maru Attacking Level Bombers: 3 x B-17E Fortress at 1000 feet 3 x B-17E Fortress at 1000 feet 3 x B-17E Fortress at 1000 feet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Air attack on TF at 35,38 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 5 A6M3 Zero x 1 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 4 SBD Dauntless x 7 no losses Allied aircraft losses F4F-4 Wildcat x 1 destroyed SBD Dauntless x 1 damaged PO2 A.Hirano of BI-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 2 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Air attack on TF at 35,38 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 5 A6M3 Zero x 1 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 32 SBD Dauntless x 24 TBD Devastator x 9 P-400 Airacobra x 5 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero x 2 destroyed Allied aircraft losses F4F-4 Wildcat x 1 destroyed F4F-4 Wildcat x 2 damaged SBD Dauntless x 1 damaged PO1 A.Minowa of AII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 12 PO1 A.Minowa of AII-1 Daitai bails out and is CAPTURED Japanese Ships CV Hiryu CVL Ryujo, on fire CV Akagi DD Umikaze CV Kaga DD Oite CA Tone, Bomb hits 1, on fire -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Air attack on TF at 35,38 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 2 A6M3 Zero x 1 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 21 TBF Avenger x 6 P-400 Airacobra x 9 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed A6M3 Zero x 1 destroyed 2LT R. Amerine of VMF-224 is credited with kill number 2 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Air attack on TF at 35,38 Japanese aircraft D3A Val x 18 Japanese aircraft losses D3A Val x 2 destroyed D3A Val x 20 damaged Allied Ships DD Blue CL Phoenix CA Astoria, Bomb hits 1 CA Northampton, Bomb hits 1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Air attack on TF at 37,42 Japanese aircraft D3A Val x 57 B5N Kate x 36 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 34 Japanese aircraft losses D3A Val x 2 destroyed D3A Val x 4 damaged B5N Kate x 5 destroyed Allied aircraft losses F4F-4 Wildcat x 1 damaged ENS M.Isaacs of VF-71 is credited with kill number 5 LCDR U.Nikaido of DI-3 Daitai is KILLED -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Time Surface Combat at 35,38 LCDR P. Ramsey of VF-2 is KILLED Japanese Ships BB Kongo BB Hiei CL Naka, Shell hits 1 DD Kazegumo DD Makigumo DD Takanami DD Kuroshio DD Hatsukaze DD Yukikaze DD Akatsuki, Shell hits 1 DD Uranami Allied Ships CA Indianapolis CA Northampton CA Chester CA Pensacola CA Salt Lake City CA Astoria CA San Francisco CA Vincennes CL Phoenix DD Blue DD Helm DD Mugford DD Ralph Talbot DD Ellet DD McCall DD Porter DD Arunta DD Warramunga -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Time Surface Combat at 35,38 Japanese Ships BB Kongo BB Hiei, Shell hits 2 CL Naka DD Kazegumo DD Makigumo DD Takanami DD Kuroshio, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage DD Hatsukaze DD Yukikaze, Shell hits 3, on fire DD Akatsuki, Shell hits 1, on fire DD Uranami, Shell hits 1 Allied Ships CA Indianapolis, Shell hits 1 CA Northampton, Shell hits 2 CA Chester CA Pensacola CA Salt Lake City, Shell hits 1 CA Astoria CA San Francisco CA Vincennes CL Phoenix DD Blue DD Helm DD Mugford, Shell hits 1, on fire DD Ralph Talbot DD Ellet DD McCall DD Porter DD Arunta DD Warramunga -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack at 35,38 Allied Ships SS Thresher -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- So basically, same story, different day. A6M2 69 Destoyed A6M3 9 Val 23 Date 13 F4F 47 Destroyed SBD 24 TBD 23 TBF 1 P-400 2 In return for 97 Allied and 114 Japanese Planes destroyed , ships damaged were Jap CVL 2 bombs, 1 torp Jap CA 1 torp Jap CA 1 Bomb Allied CA 1 bomb Allied CA 1 bomb So far, STILL not going well, all things considered. However, I shot down more fighters than I lost, and the Japanese CAP was definitely thining, so it seamed like one more try was in order. I had very little left in the way of attack planes, but it still seemed worth a crack. When in doubt, attack and all that. . . . To be continued . . .

SoulBlazer -> (1/5/2003 11:34:45 AM)
Ouch again, but there is a bright spot -- the Americans can replace air losses a lot easier then the Japanese. Japan has wonderfull planes, but their losses hit them a lot harder. You can rebuild your air wings in a couple months compared to Japan.

NorthStar -> Day 3 (1/5/2003 11:43:02 AM)
So here we go for day three of the battle. The Japanese have begun to withdraw, and two of the three CV TFs have moved north. One is out of range by this day, but the second is hit by one of the strikes. The results of today are disappointing, to say the least, but I have to assume that High Fatigue and Low Morale are the primary culprits (some of my attack squadrons were under 40 morale). Day 3 of the Carrier Battle of the Central Solomons AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/08/42 Weather: Clear Sub attack at 35,38 Japanese Ships CV Kaga DD Hayashio Allied Ships SS S-39, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack at 35,38 Japanese Ships CV Kaga Allied Ships SS Thresher -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Air attack on TF at 34,36 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 35 SBD Dauntless x 18 TBD Devastator x 9 TBF Avenger x 5 no losses Japanese Ships CVL Zuiho, Bomb hits 10, on fire, heavy damage CA Suzuya, on fire, heavy damage -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Air attack on TF at 35,38 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 4 Allied aircraft SBD Dauntless x 3 TBD Devastator x 7 no losses Allied aircraft losses TBD Devastator x 2 destroyed TBD Devastator x 2 damaged PO2 G.Nagaishi of AII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 9 Japanese Ships CV Kaga -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Air attack on TF at 35,38 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 4 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 22 SBD Dauntless x 16 P-400 Airacobra x 15 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero x 1 damaged Allied aircraft losses F4F-4 Wildcat x 2 damaged SBD Dauntless x 7 damaged P-400 Airacobra x 2 destroyed LCDR P.Aihara of BII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 2 Japanese Ships CVL Ryujo CV Kaga CV Akagi -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Air attack on TF at 38,42 Japanese aircraft D3A Val x 9 Japanese aircraft losses D3A Val x 2 destroyed D3A Val x 9 damaged Allied Ships DD McCall CA San Francisco, Bomb hits 1 DD Ellet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Air attack on TF at 36,41 Japanese aircraft D3A Val x 30 B5N Kate x 18 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 40 Japanese aircraft losses D3A Val x 3 destroyed B5N Kate x 3 destroyed ENS V.Riley of VF-71 is credited with kill number 7 LCDR T. Chihaya of AI-2 Daitai is KILLED -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Air attack on TF at 36,41 Japanese aircraft D3A Val x 3 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 34 Japanese aircraft losses D3A Val x 1 destroyed LTJG W. Webb of VF-2 is credited with kill number 2 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Air attack on TF at 34,34 Allied aircraft SBD Dauntless x 4 Allied aircraft losses SBD Dauntless x 4 damaged Japanese Ships CL Naka -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Air attack on TF at 34,36 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 19 P-400 Airacobra x 9 no losses -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack at 35,38 Japanese Ships CA Atago CA Mikuma DD Isokaze Allied Ships SS Greenling -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack at 35,38 Japanese Ships CA Tone, Torpedo hits 1, on fire CA Chikuma Allied Ships SS S-46 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Aircraft loses were light: A6M2 0 Destroyed A6M3 2 Val 9 Kate 3 F4F 0 Destroyed SBD 1 TBD 2 TBF 0 P-400 2 For this, I smashed the CVL Zuiho -- she didn't survive, as IIRC, I got a couple of "Section unable to Locate Target" mesages at the end of the strike. I took a hit on the CA San Fransico, but neither this nor the previous days hits on the CAs caused significant damage. I think I will stay around one more day, on the off chance that I might catch an uncovered CV, but considering the lack of effectiveness of my strikes even when not opposed by CAP, I'm pretty sure my forces are totally combat ineffective. I'll also try again to get a Surface Combat TF among the CVs, but that Japanese BB TF is still around as well, so it will most likely intercept again. Damage to my TF from those engagements was, again, light. Total Combat AC losses are, for those who are inclined: Japanese 357 Allied 389 All Japanese losses are all, as far as I can tell, from Carrier Aircraft. (two strikes or so of Vals came from Shortland, but I think they were diverted from a damaged Carrier, since they had never been there before day 2). My loses include the P-400s and the two Marine SBD squadrons. I have some commentary, thoughts, and questions from this combat, but it will need to wait a while, as my wife is telling me it is time to go to bed.

ADavidB -> (1/6/2003 5:33:54 AM)
One technique I've used successfully against "Super AC TFs" is to let them fight it out against my particular land base ( say, Lunga or PM ) for several days before sending my carriers in. At this point the aircraft on the Super TF's carriers are fatigued and attrited, and I then get quite acceptable resuts. Of course, I'm not usually out to try to destroy my opponent's carriers, just to eliminate their ability to fight, which then allows me to continue on with my plans unhindered. I tend to find it much more useful to use my carriers against "soft" targets like AP's - it's not "sexy", but my opponent can't do a lot without any transport. Oh yeah, one last thing about carrier battles - if you have the chance to place your carrier TFs in one quiet location ahead of time and don't move them, they will launch a lot more attacks on anything that comes by. All you have to do is make certain that you keep plenty of DDs in the TFs to "discourage" subs. Dave Baranyi

wmiller159 -> (1/7/2003 2:42:25 AM)
If your goal was to stop the air attacks, then you were successful. However, if you want to sink the jap carriers you need to lower your cap% so your strikes will damage the enemy. I agree with Dave about having your carriers lay in wait. It seems that you will get the 1st strike and launch more strikes with that strategy

NorthStar -> (1/7/2003 9:26:16 AM)
Actually, the Japanese did spend three days or so pounding Lunga from the slot before more CVs arrived on the scene. That's about how long it took me to form up my TFs at Nomea and sail them into range. The thing that surprised me most was how few Bombers actually managed to bleed through the CAP to the ships. I did not expect CAP to be that efficient on the first day. The second and third day are different, as by then fatigue was high and morale was low, and a fair number of groups were turning back when engaged. Also on the first day, there were a number of "penny packet" raids that got slaughtered, but a couple of decent sized raids with escort were masacered as well. The one raid that surprised me the most was the last Japanese raid. It was acutally numerically superior to my CAP, if lightly escorted, and I really didn't expect to stop it. But now that you mention it, the Japanese were probably more tired than I thought due to the airfield attacks on Lunga. I don't know, it just wasn't what I expected to see. With all the CVs involved and all the aircraft, I expedted a larger scale repeat of most of my smaller engagements. The bomber always gets through! I don't deny that I "won" the battle -- albeit at a steep price. Since I was playing against the AI, it was more decisive than it should have been. The Japanese Carriers actually stuck around for three more days, although they had no offensive power worth speaking of. Weather socked everyone in on Days 4 and 5, but on Day 6 light raids from Lunga and the Carriers (well coordinated together, for a change) put two or three bombs into practically every CV. Why the AI stuck around as long as it did, I'll never know. Just goes to show that the AI is strategically stupid. Going into the situation -- 6 US CVs, fully loaded and rested, agains 8-10 Japanese CV/CVLs, a little fatigued, but at full strenght -- would you have expected the Air Groups to be decimated but to do no significant damage to each other's ships?

The Gnome -> (1/8/2003 2:16:03 AM)
Hiya, as a primarily US player I would expect those results if I hadn't been working up my aircrew experience. I usually have my carrier aircraft pound some ground/soft targets for a while early in the war while avoiding a CV engagement at all costs.

wmiller159 -> (1/10/2003 12:01:12 AM)
Gnome, Have you been able to significantly increase the experience of your fighter crews by hitting soft targets?

panda124c -> (1/10/2003 1:26:11 AM)
A three day running carrier battle wow! One thing you will not have to worry about is a lot of Japanese carrier A/C for a long time.

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