JuanG
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Joined: 12/28/2008 Status: offline
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Turn 14 - December 20th 1941 SRA As Kido Butai charges after the British ships, they come across something unexpected, but not unwelcome. A USN CV TF has decided to join the party, probably with exactly the same intentions KB itself has - mopping up. The Hyuga group is out of the combat zone, and the Tosa group has moved north after the British ships, and then turned back. Here are the moves during the night/morning, and the subsequent airstrikes, detailed below; Shokakus force strikes first, launching an attack at the US group; Morning Air attack on TF, near Bara at 74,106 Weather in hex: Light cloud Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 45 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 19 B5N1 Kate x 2 B5N2 Kate x 4 D3A1 Val x 6 Allied aircraft F2A-3 Buffalo x 10 F4F-3A Wildcat x 17 Japanese aircraft losses B5N1 Kate: 1 destroyed B5N2 Kate: 2 destroyed D3A1 Val: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged Allied aircraft losses F2A-3 Buffalo: 1 destroyed Allied Ships BC Constellation Aircraft Attacking: 3 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000' * Naval Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb CAP engaged: VF-3 with F2A-3 Buffalo (0 airborne, 7 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 13000 and 20000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 35 minutes 3 planes vectored on to bombers VF-7 with F4F-3A Wildcat (0 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 20000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 43 minutes 12 planes vectored on to bombers No hits are scored, but the CAP is nicely out of position when the main group from Amagi and Akagi arrives; Morning Air attack on TF, near Bara at 74,106 Weather in hex: Light cloud Raid detected at 160 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 60 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 32 B5N2 Kate x 37 D3A1 Val x 50 Allied aircraft F2A-3 Buffalo x 2 F4F-3A Wildcat x 1 Japanese aircraft losses B5N2 Kate: 2 destroyed, 17 damaged D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed, 21 damaged Allied aircraft losses F4F-3A Wildcat: 1 destroyed Allied Ships CV Saratoga, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage BC Constellation, Bomb hits 6, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage CV Enterprise, Bomb hits 1 CA New Orleans, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage CA Chicago DD Craven Aircraft Attacking: 25 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000' * Naval Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb 17 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo 12 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 10000 feet 25 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000' * Naval Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb 17 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo CAP engaged: VF-3 with F2A-3 Buffalo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 20000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 4 minutes VF-7 with F4F-3A Wildcat (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 20000 Raid is overhead The first blow is dealt, and it looks serious. The allied counterattack comes later in the morning, and finds Shokakus group; Morning Air attack on TF, near Manado at 76,99 Weather in hex: Heavy cloud Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 15 minutes Japanese aircraft A5M4 Claude x 14 A6M2 Zero x 14 Allied aircraft F2A-3 Buffalo x 4 SBD-3 Dauntless x 28 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses F2A-3 Buffalo: 1 destroyed SBD-3 Dauntless: 3 destroyed, 5 damaged Japanese Ships CVL Shokaku, Bomb hits 1, on fire CVE Hosho CVE Taiyo, Bomb hits 1, on fire CVL Zuiho Aircraft Attacking: 9 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 2000 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 14 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb CAP engaged: CI-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes 3 planes vectored on to bombers CII-1 with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling) 3 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes 6 planes vectored on to bombers MI-1 with A5M4 Claude (0 airborne, 3 on standby, 8 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 10000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes 7 planes vectored on to bombers MII-1 with A5M4 Claude (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 2 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 15000 Raid is overhead Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVE Taiyo... Shokaku and Taiyo are both hurt, but not in serious danger. The USN group launches its second strike - and hits the transports at Ternate; Morning Air attack on TF, near Ternate at 78,102 Weather in hex: Light rain Raid spotted at 49 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 19 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 1 Allied aircraft F4F-3A Wildcat x 7 SBD-3 Dauntless x 18 No Japanese losses No Allied losses Japanese Ships xAK Zyuyo Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage xAK Meiyo Maru, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage xAK Atago Maru, Bomb hits 1 APD Hagi, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires Aircraft Attacking: 18 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 3 x F4F-3A Wildcat sweeping at 20000 feet * CAP engaged: CI-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 15000 Raid is overhead Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Zyuyo Maru... Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Meiyo Maru... Heavy smoke from fires obscuring APD Hagi... The transports sink, and the single Zero in the area is helpless to intervene. A fragment from the morning strike finds BC Constellation without aircover; Morning Air attack on TF, near Bara at 74,106 Weather in hex: Light cloud Raid detected at 36 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 15 minutes Japanese aircraft B5N2 Kate x 3 Japanese aircraft losses B5N2 Kate: 3 damaged Allied Ships BC Constellation, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage Aircraft Attacking: 3 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo Carrier support unable to supply air cover..... Another allied strike comes at Shokakus group, but this time the defenders are ready; Morning Air attack on TF, near Manado at 76,99 Weather in hex: Heavy cloud Raid detected at 41 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 19 minutes Japanese aircraft A5M4 Claude x 14 A6M2 Zero x 13 Allied aircraft SBD-2 Dauntless x 11 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses SBD-2 Dauntless: 1 destroyed CAP engaged: CII-1 with A6M2 Zero (9 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 9 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 15000 Raid is overhead MI-1 with A5M4 Claude (7 airborne, 0 on standby, 4 scrambling) 7 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 15000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes MII-1 with A5M4 Claude (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 2 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 15000 Raid is overhead CI-1 with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 4 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 15000 Raid is overhead In the afternoon, a much reduced strike is launched against Tosas group to the north; Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Manado at 75,98 Weather in hex: Heavy cloud Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 7 minutes Japanese aircraft A5M4 Claude x 6 Allied aircraft SBD-3 Dauntless x 6 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged Japanese Ships DD Kuroshio BB Tosa Aircraft Attacking: 5 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb CAP engaged: Kawai Det with A5M4 Claude (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (6 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 6 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 15000 Raid is overhead A 3-plane fragment of this visits whats left of the transports. The Kido Butais afternoon strike is equally viscious as the morning one; Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Bara at 74,106 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 34 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 31 B5N2 Kate x 35 Allied aircraft F4F-3A Wildcat x 14 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed B5N2 Kate: 17 damaged Allied aircraft losses F4F-3A Wildcat: 1 destroyed Allied Ships CV Enterprise, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage DD Dunlap CA Louisville CA Northampton, Bomb hits 1, on fire CA Portland, Bomb hits 1, on fire Aircraft Attacking: 1 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo 2 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo 15 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 5000 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 17 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 5000 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb CAP engaged: VF-7 with F4F-3A Wildcat (0 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 20000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes And the fragment makes sure it is over; Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Bara at 74,106 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 34 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 17 B5N2 Kate x 13 Japanese aircraft losses B5N2 Kate: 4 damaged Allied Ships CA Northampton, Bomb hits 1, on fire CA Louisville DD Ellet, Bomb hits 1, on fire CV Enterprise, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage Aircraft Attacking: 11 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 5000 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 2 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo Carrier support unable to supply air cover..... Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Enterprise... A last gasp attack does a number on more transports. While loosing these hurts, I'd rather loose these than my CVL/CVEs. Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ternate at 78,102 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 25,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 5 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 4 Allied aircraft F4F-3A Wildcat x 6 SBD-3 Dauntless x 18 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged Japanese Ships xAKL Hidaka Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage xAK Atago Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage APD Hagi, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk Aircraft Attacking: 14 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb CAP engaged: AI-1 with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 3 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 18000 Raid is overhead CI-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 15000 Raid is overhead Heavy smoke from fires obscuring APD Hagi... Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Atago Maru... Here are the orders for these TFs next turn. I am guessing the allies will make a 180 and scram. Shokakus group will withdraw. None of the ships will sink, but Shokaku and Taiyo will be out for a month or two. The Tosa group will also withdraw. Kido Butai will move south to hunt enemy ships, despite being out of torpedoes. After this she will return to Babeldaob. Ternate falls, but Manado still holds on. I think if he had kept his British ships in the area, this could have gone very badly for me - KB would likely have struck at those first, or split attacks between them and the USN ships. South Pacific As my cover force for Rabaul moves south, it comes across the troublemaking Australian cruiser group. While the Japanese get surprise, Harimas shooting is abysmal, and Canberra mauls so many of my DDs that I have to order the Harima group back to Truk, as they are left with one undamaged escort. CL Perth gets away. Day Time Surface Combat, near Mussau Island at 105,118, Range 24,000 Yards Allied aircraft no flights Allied aircraft losses No Allied losses Japanese Ships BB Harima, Shell hits 2 CA Nachi, Shell hits 2 CA Myoko, Shell hits 3 DD Yugure, Shell hits 5, and is sunk DD Oboro DD Uzuki, Shell hits 1, on fire DD Kikuzuki DD Yuzuki, Shell hits 3, heavy fires Allied Ships CA Canberra, Shell hits 18, and is sunk CL Perth, Shell hits 4 Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions: 30,000 yards... Range closes to 24,000 yards...... CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 24,000 yards... Japanese open fire on surprised Allied ships at 24,000 yards... CA Myoko fires at CL Perth at 24,000 yards... Range closes to 19,000 yards... CA Canberra engages CA Myoko at 19,000 yards... CA Myoko engages CL Perth at 19,000 yards... CA Canberra engages DD Yuzuki at 19,000 yards... Getting, F.E. orders Allied TF to disengage... Range closes to 16,000 yards... CA Myoko engages CA Canberra at 16,000 yards... CA Myoko engages CA Canberra at 16,000 yards... CA Canberra engages DD Kikuzuki at 16,000 yards... DD Oboro engages CA Canberra at 16,000 yards... Range increases to 18,000 yards... BB Harima engages CA Canberra at 18,000 yards... CA Canberra engages CA Myoko at 18,000 yards... CA Canberra engages DD Yuzuki at 18,000 yards... CA Canberra engages DD Oboro at 18,000 yards... DD Yugure engages CA Canberra at 18,000 yards... BB Harima engages CA Canberra at 18,000 yards... CL Perth engages CA Myoko at 18,000 yards... CA Nachi engages CA Canberra at 18,000 yards... CA Canberra engages DD Yuzuki at 18,000 yards... CA Canberra engages DD Kikuzuki at 18,000 yards... DD Uzuki engages CA Canberra at 18,000 yards... Range closes to 17,000 yards... BB Harima engages CA Canberra at 17,000 yards... CA Canberra engages CA Myoko at 17,000 yards... CA Nachi engages CA Canberra at 17,000 yards... CA Canberra engages DD Yuzuki at 17,000 yards... CA Canberra engages DD Uzuki at 17,000 yards... DD Oboro engages CL Perth at 17,000 yards... DD Yugure engages CA Canberra at 17,000 yards... BB Harima engages CA Canberra at 17,000 yards... CA Myoko engages CL Perth at 17,000 yards... CA Canberra engages DD Kikuzuki at 17,000 yards... DD Oboro engages CA Canberra at 17,000 yards... CA Canberra engages DD Yugure at 17,000 yards... Getting, F.E. orders Allied TF to disengage... BB Harima engages CA Canberra at 17,000 yards... CA Myoko engages CA Canberra at 17,000 yards... Range increases to 20,000 yards... CA Canberra engages CA Myoko at 20,000 yards... CA Myoko engages CL Perth at 20,000 yards... CA Canberra engages CA Nachi at 20,000 yards... CA Canberra engages DD Uzuki at 20,000 yards... CA Canberra engages DD Oboro at 20,000 yards... Getting, F.E. orders Allied TF to disengage... Range increases to 22,000 yards... BB Harima engages CA Canberra at 22,000 yards... CL Perth engages CA Myoko at 22,000 yards... CA Canberra engages CA Nachi at 22,000 yards... Range increases to 25,000 yards... CA Myoko engages CA Canberra at 25,000 yards... CA Myoko engages CA Canberra at 25,000 yards... Range closes to 24,000 yards... BB Harima engages CA Canberra at 24,000 yards... CL Perth engages CA Myoko at 24,000 yards... CL Perth engages DD Yuzuki at 24,000 yards... Range closes to 22,000 yards... BB Harima engages CA Canberra at 22,000 yards... CA Myoko engages CL Perth at 22,000 yards... CL Perth engages DD Yugure at 22,000 yards... Range closes to 21,000 yards... BB Harima engages CA Canberra at 21,000 yards... CL Perth engages CA Myoko at 21,000 yards... CL Perth engages DD Yuzuki at 21,000 yards... CL Perth engages DD Oboro at 21,000 yards... Range closes to 17,000 yards... CA Nachi engages CA Canberra at 17,000 yards... CA Myoko engages CL Perth at 17,000 yards... CA Canberra engages DD Yuzuki at 17,000 yards... CA Canberra engages DD Kikuzuki at 17,000 yards... CA Canberra engages DD Uzuki at 17,000 yards... Range closes to 15,000 yards... CA Canberra sunk by BB Harima at 15,000 yards... CA Myoko engages CL Perth at 15,000 yards... CL Perth engages DD Oboro at 15,000 yards... Getting, F.E. orders Allied TF to disengage... Range increases to 17,000 yards... CL Perth engages CA Nachi at 17,000 yards... CL Perth engages CA Nachi at 17,000 yards... CL Perth engages DD Oboro at 17,000 yards... DD Yugure sunk by CL Perth at 17,000 yards... Range increases to 21,000 yards... CA Myoko engages CL Perth at 21,000 yards... Range increases to 27,000 yards... BB Harima engages CL Perth at 27,000 yards... Task forces break off...... The invasion will go on, as I doubt he has other surface assets in the area. KB will still provide cover from the east. I may send Kongo and Haruna to provide cover, they are currently attached to KB. Summary Here are the aircraft losses for last turn; And the ship losses; Interestingly it scores Enterprise as a 'Lexington Class' CV. Haha.
< Message edited by JuanG -- 11/2/2009 4:00:26 PM >
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