SqzMyLemon -> From out of nowhere... (4/7/2016 1:43:59 AM)
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March 16/42: Fireworks in the Indian Ocean as the first clash between rival carrier forces occurs today off the coast of Sumatra. Allied carriers were first spotted off the Sumatran coast west of Benkoelen on 13 March 42, by Nell bombers based at Palembang. Despite weak initial intelligence, it was decided to deploy Japanese carriers based at Singapore to Medan on the 14th. No new intelligence on the position of the enemy carrier taskforce was available on the 14th, but it was again spotted west of Sinabang still on a northwest heading on the 15th. Despite continued poor intelligence on the composition of the enemy taskforce, Japanese carriers were ordered to attempt to intercept on the 16th. Ordering a full speed run from Medan, it was intended to put Japanese carriers in a strike position east of the enemy force, providing it remained on the same northwest heading. It did. However, I wasn't prepared to encounter two Allied CV's. I thought perhaps it was me getting ambushed! There was no morning strike, but the lead was flying in the afternoon. Anyway, the AAR follows: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Sabang at 32,70 Weather in hex: Light rain Raid detected at 66 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 24 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 31 B5N1 Kate x 34 B5N2 Kate x 23 D3A1 Val x 25 Allied aircraft F4F-3 Wildcat x 19 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed B5N1 Kate: 1 damaged B5N1 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak D3A1 Val: 1 damaged D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed by flak Allied aircraft losses F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed Allied Ships CV Enterprise CA San Francisco, Bomb hits 1 CV Yorktown, Bomb hits 8, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage CL St. Louis DD Ellet Aircraft Attacking: 7 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 23 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp 15 x B5N1 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp 8 x B5N1 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp 9 x B5N1 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp 7 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 11 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb CAP engaged: VF-3 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 7 on standby, 2 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 12000 and 21000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes VF-42 with F4F-3 Wildcat (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 10000 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 15000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Sabang at 35,70 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 15 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 32 Allied aircraft F4F-3 Wildcat x 31 SBD-3 Dauntless x 55 TBD-1 Devastator x 15 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses F4F-3 Wildcat: 7 destroyed SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 destroyed, 8 damaged TBD-1 Devastator: 1 destroyed Japanese Ships CV Kaga, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires CVL Zuiho CVL Shoho, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage CA Chokai CVL Ryujo, Bomb hits 1 DD Oyashio Aircraft Attacking: 2 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 5 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 6 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 7 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 14 x TBD-1 Devastator launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp. 3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 5 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb CAP engaged: Kaga-1 with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling) 3 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 14000 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 14000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes Ryujo-1 with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling) 4 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 14000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 15000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes Shoho-1 with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling) 3 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 14000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 13000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVL Shoho Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Kaga Fuel storage explosion on CVL Shoho -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Sabang at 35,70 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 20 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 14 Allied aircraft TBD-1 Devastator x 13 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses TBD-1 Devastator: 3 destroyed CAP engaged: Kaga-1 with A6M2 Zero (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 14000 , scrambling fighters between 16000 and 17000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 53 minutes Ryujo-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 14000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 17000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 66 minutes Shoho-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 14000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 19000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 48 minutes On paper it looks like I took the worst of it, and considering I faced two full American CV's with 75% of my force consisting of CVL's, I consider myself extremely lucky. CVL Shoho is in rough shape thanks to the fuel storage explosion, but CV Kaga is actually in ok shape despite taking four 1000lbs bomb hits. Unfortunately, fires are still burning which prevents me from launching air operations tomorrow, not to mention brutal Japanese damage control which could still lead to the carrier sinking! With half my force out of action I have to withdraw tomorrow, and I'm not sure if I'm just facing two or possibly three American CV's. VF-3 is from CV Lexington. What I find extremely disappointing is yet again another poor showing from the torpedo bombers. Only one torpedo hit from 55 torpedo bombers has me concerned. What has happened to the deadly Japanese naval air arm of the past? The first four months has instilled zero confidence that I can achieve a decisive naval victory in the foreseeable future. However, there may be great news, or at least I hope it is and not some synch bug rearing it's ugly head. See the next post. Here's the screenshot showing the location of the battle. [image]local://upfiles/33192/6C874492CFD943419977FEA0DD8AA494.jpg[/image]
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