SierraJuliet -> Yamaguchi's Decision (1/8/2017 8:43:32 PM)
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Yamaguchi decides. Flank speed to a position south east of Wake Island in the hope that the American carriers take their time. He knows it will come at some cost to the overall seaworthiness of his ships but the possibility of getting a strike at the American fleet has greater authority. Indeed; how could one face Yamamoto and explain a spurned opportunity to deliver a mighty blow. Anyway, it was not the way of Yamaguchi to meekly turn away. Few saw the order to increase speed relayed around the fleet but everyone could guess that an order had been broadcast and just what that order entailed. The once sedate pace necessitated by waiting for Kaga and her sisters was no more. Engines thundered in the bowels of each ship signalling that Yamaguchi was impatient to be somewhere and be there fast. The Imperial Japanese Navy raced into the gathering night. Raced because now the hunt was on and on in earnest. For my part I felt good about making this move. The American Fleet had been sighted for many days and they had delivered strikes against Marcus and Wake. If they didn’t move fast, I felt that there was a good chance of getting close enough to see a battle take place. I was hopeful that the strikes and general wear and tear of being on guard would put the American aviators at something of a disadvantage should a battle take place. That next morning Yamaguchi and the commanders of the KB waited. Waited for scout plane reports. Eventually reports were returned. American flat tops sighted. Sighted and in range. The Americans, though, were not the only ones sighted. American scout plans had also located KB. The afternoon was set for an exchange of blows not yet seen in this war across the Pacific. Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Wake Island at 142,96 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 30 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 27 A6M3a Zero x 75 B5N2 Kate x 92 D3A1 Val x 45 D3A2 Val x 75 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 41 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed A6M3a Zero: 2 destroyed B5N2 Kate: 5 damaged B5N2 Kate: 3 destroyed by flak D3A1 Val: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed by flak D3A2 Val: 3 destroyed, 3 damaged Allied aircraft losses F4F-4 Wildcat: 3 destroyed Allied Ships CV Hornet, Bomb hits 7, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage CV Wasp, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage CL Cleveland, Bomb hits 4, on fire DD Gansevoort, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage CLAA Atlanta, Bomb hits 1, on fire DD Conyngham CA San Francisco, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires CA Louisville, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage CA Northampton, Bomb hits 4, on fire DD O'Brien, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk DD Morris CA Houston, Bomb hits 5, on fire DD Sims CAP engaged: VF-8 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 14 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 18000 and 20000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes VF-71 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 14 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 6 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 16000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 19000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Hornet Ammo storage explosion on CV Wasp Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Wasp Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CA San Francisco Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Gansevoort Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CA Louisville Fuel storage explosion on CV Hornet Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CA Houston Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Wake Island at 140,99 Weather in hex: Overcast Raid detected at 76 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 30 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 80 A6M2-N Rufe x 20 A6M3a Zero x 29 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 28 SBD-3 Dauntless x 50 TBF-1 Avenger x 32 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2-N Rufe: 1 destroyed Allied aircraft losses F4F-4 Wildcat: 3 destroyed SBD-3 Dauntless: 26 destroyed, 3 damaged SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed by flak TBF-1 Avenger: 9 destroyed, 7 damaged TBF-1 Avenger: 2 destroyed by flak Japanese Ships CV Hiryu CV Shokaku CV Zuikaku BB Kirishima BB Hiei CV Soryu Aircraft Attacking: 5 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo 3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 2 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 7 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo 3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb CAP engaged: 802 Ku S-1 with A6M2-N Rufe (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (20 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 4 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 10 being recalled, 6 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes 12 planes vectored on to bombers 201 Ku S-1 Det with A6M3a Zero (3 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling) 3 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 20000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes 6 planes vectored on to bombers Ryujo-1/A with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling) 2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 15000 and 17000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes 8 planes vectored on to bombers Ryujo-1/B with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling) 2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 6000 , scrambling fighters between 16000 and 18000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes 6 planes vectored on to bombers Ryujo-1/C with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling) 2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 8000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 13000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes 6 planes vectored on to bombers Hosho-1/A with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling) 2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 15000 and 19000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes 8 planes vectored on to bombers Hosho-1/B with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling) 2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 16000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 24 minutes 8 planes vectored on to bombers Hosho-1/C with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling) 2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 15000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes 8 planes vectored on to bombers Shoho-1/A with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling) 2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 13000 and 17000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 11 minutes 6 planes vectored on to bombers Soryu-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 14 on standby, 0 scrambling) 6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 17000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes 15 planes vectored on to bombers Hiryu-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 18 on standby, 0 scrambling) 8 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 15000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes 13 planes vectored on to bombers
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