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John 3rd -> RE: The Shattered Sword: John 3rd vs. Anachro--BTS (11/30/2018 5:03:55 PM)
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July 14, 1942
Holy CATS! I had sent Junyo--Hiyo--Nisshin--2 CVE down to cover the Carnavon action and they run into FOUR Allied CVs. THe British Illustrious and Formidable with the twin sisters of Yorktown--Hornet. No one spots each other during the morning but we catch each other in the afternoon. FOUR CVs. Crap. OK. Brace and get some alcohol!
Japanese Strike: 34 Zero, 42 Val, and 26 Kate vs 87 Allied F4F/Martlet. Looks bad for the good guys. A bunch of planes fall but the Zeros do their job and get 31 Val/Kate through the CAP. Every Strike Plane goes after the CVs. Very quickly a single Torp strikes BOTH British CVs. Illustrious takes two useless bombs while Hornet gets hit with a bomb as well. At least it did something.
OK. Did something. Those Torp hits will be worrisome.
Allied Strike: 59 Japanese Fighters meet 61 Allied Fighters escorting 85 SBDs. After 8-10 firing passes, the Japanese Fighters pass through the Allied Escorts (those Allied squadron leaders did a piss poor job!) and nearly 40 Zeros get into the SBDs. Nearly 30 fall to the Sea Eagles before they tip into their dives. To clarify--that would mean 55 SBDs get through to attack--YIKES!
The Japanese observer keeps count as he sees 28 of those 55 attack the three Japanese Command Cruisers escorting the carriers. CB Kiba takes 2 1,000lb bombs and is still capable of 25+ Knots. This leaves 27 SBD to drop on the carriers. Junyo: MISSED! Hiyo: MISSED!! Nisshin: MISSED!!! CVE Ibuki: MISSED!!!! CVE: Taiyo: 3 1,000lb bomb hits. Hmmm...
All things being equal, this is pretty damned good in my eyes. What is wrong with the American SBD pilots? Not complaining. Just saying... As the SBDs race away another 8-10 fall to Japanese Zeros.
No Allied TB were spotted during the entire fight. We certainly laid the hurt upon the American DB.
What will he do? He has two CVs that took a Torp. Probably not terrible but it is an issue. The American CVs are OK but their main weapon has been devastated. I bet 60-40 that he lunges for another attack.
Japanese Moves:
1. Fly in another 36 Zero from Broome to augment the Japanese CAP.
2. CVE Taiyo splits off at 18 Knots heading for Broome and passing near Exmouth if needed. Considering 3 1,000lb bombs, damage is not bad at all (SYS 28, Flot 18, ENG 16, and NO FIRES!). Her flightdeck is barely operational.
3. Retire the CTF towards Broome as well fly in a second Betty Daitai and 48 Carrier-Based Zeros from Soryu/Hiryu. Set the combined group to 14 hex strike range.
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