Remington700 -> RE: Japan: May 21st 1944 (7/28/2021 2:54:57 AM)
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Malayan Peninsula The Combined Fleet steams through the South China Sea to attack the US carriers from the north. The CV Taiho is spotted by PBYs from Kota Bharu followed by a squadron of SBD dive-bombers that appear out of nowhere. Caught unaware as CAP was focused to the south in the direction of the US carriers, the enemy planes target the CV Taiho hitting her once in the forward elevator. Undamaged, the ship stays in formation while repairs are undertaken on the flight deck. However, aviation tanks are fractured resulting is fumes spreading throughout the ship. An attempt to ventilate makes things worse and eventually the fumes ignite. “A senior staff officer on the bridge saw the flight deck heave up, and the sides of the ship blew out. Taiho dropped out of formation and began to settle in the water, clearly doomed.” - Albacore, DANFS. Ahlberg, Lars and Hans. Dull, Paul S. Land-based air attempts to even the score attacking the US fleet off Singapore. Kamikazes from Bandar Lampung attack the carriers in the south of the formation but cannot get through the screen. Zeros flying escort from Palembang mix it up with P-47s allowing the bombers to pass however once on target fierce triple-A destroys the threat before the carriers can be hit. G4M bombers from the Mekong Delta fail to penetrate the screen taking heavy losses but do manage to score of hit on the cruiser San Francisco, although the ship remains in fighting condition. Failing to draw the US carriers into combat the Combined Fleet slips away to the safety of the air umbrella on the Indochina coast. While this is not a good start the battle is far from over. [image]local://upfiles/80250/7478F8CB8200448C9794762948841136.png[/image]
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