n01487477
Matrix Legion of Merit
Posts: 4779
Joined: 2/21/2006
Status: offline
|
19~20/7/42: Lexington SUNK!!!
Out of nowhere the Americans emerged, I had caught sight of a TT a few days before, but a number of large TF's appeared near Suva overnight. Of which, at least two have CV's, and I suspect that there might be more lurking in the mist and rain.
**(numbers in brackets are kills)
US Strike 1:
The day started with a 11(6) F4F-4,36(22) SBD & 18(8) TBF engaging TF50, which consists of CV Hiryu, BB Kongo, CV Kaga, CV Soryu & assorted escorts. At the time it was on routine duty covering 2 TT's unloading troops at Suva ... suffice to say very few planes got through the 58(2) plane screen .
IJN Strike 1:
Spotted by H8K's on Suva, orders were quickly radioed through to TF50 and a strike of 12 Zero,14 D3A & 41 B5N took off to intercept the nearest fleet. 25 F4F-4 Wildcat's engaged and 7 D3A Val's were destroyed, 20 damaged & 13 B5N Kate's were destroyed with 15 damaged. The Americans lost 6 Wildcats ...
Allied Ships
CV Lexington, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
CA Salt Lake City, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CA Louisville, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD McCall
IJN Strike 2:
Not content to leave the Lex smoldering, the second wave came in on top of the first and finished her off ...
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5 (2)
D3A Val x 19 (1)
B5N Kate x 19 (1)
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 9 (5)
Allied Ships
CV Lexington, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CA Louisville, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
US Strike 2:(different TF)
Obviously the co-ordinates of TF50 had been radioed through to other TF's in the vicinity, and another wave of American planes tried to break down the ring of fire.
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 53 (0)
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 11 (6)
SBD Dauntless x 36 (19)
TBF Avenger x 15 (8)
Japanese Ships
CV Soryu, Bomb hits 1
CA Haguro
BB Haruna
CV Kaga
BB Kongo, Bomb hits 2
IJN Strike 3:
Hours before dusk the last flight took off, the Japanese pilots obviously tired and hurting from the loss of so many comrades, failed to deliver the knock out blow to the Americans ...
A6M2 Zero x 15 (3)
D3A Val x 21 (13)
B5N Kate x 26 (17)
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 56 (4)
Allied Ships
CA Quincy
CV Saratoga
CL Concord
Total losses for the day:
A6M2 Zero x 7 destroyed
D3A Val x 21 destroyed
B5N Kate x 31 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 37 destroyed
SBD Dauntless: 27 destroyed
TBF Avenger: 16 destroyed
Lexington & CA Louisville sunk.
The American's were up against my best exp fighter pilots, I prevailed for this reason. I have no pilots to replace my losses and the deficit of 60 pilots (although I'm not sure about the real numbers at the time of writing this) .. will be huge. I've ordered 2 CV's guarding the approaches from Aden, to make their way to the Sth Pacific, they should arrive in 15-20 days.
 Attachment (1)
< Message edited by n01487477 -- 1/21/2008 2:28:13 PM >
|
Printable Version
RE: BB1.4 THE BLUNT EDGE - 
New Messages
No New Messages
Hot Topic w/ New Messages
Hot Topic w/o New Messages
Locked w/ New Messages
Locked w/o New Messages
Post New Thread