PzB74
Posts: 5076
Joined: 10/3/2000 From: No(r)way Status: offline
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PART II: Morning Strikes The first strike to go in was 9 Judys with a strong Zero escort from Palmyra meeting 119 enemy CAP fighters including Sea Hurricanes. Half the Zeros failed to appear and the raid took heavy casualties and failed to break through the enemy CAP. - If nothing else it disrupted the enemy CAP and weakened it before the KB strikes arrived. The KB's first strike totalled 172 attack ac and 130 Zeros. Attacking from 8 hexes mean that only 6 Jills carried torpedoes, all Kates carried bombs. Only 98 enemy CAP fighters were left, a reduction of 21. The Zero's handled most of the CAP and only ~10 bombers were shot down by fighters. I was biting my nails as the bombers went in, the Luck "E" escapred...as usual but we set the WASP on fire and hit the Indomitable and Hornet with single bombs. The Indiana took a torpedo while the South Dakota took 6 500kb bombs that put her on fire. 5 cruisers and a destroyer were also hit! BB South Dakota, Bomb hits 6, on fire CV Indomitable, Bomb hits 1 BB Indiana, Torpedo hits 1 CV Wasp, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires CA Chicago, Bomb hits 1 CLAA San Juan, Bomb hits 2, on fire CV Hornet, Bomb hits 1, on fire CA Louisville, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage CA Chester, Torpedo hits 1 DD Carmick, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires CA Salt Lake City, Bomb hits 1, on fire The attack was made in heavy cloud which reduced accuracy. Then 5 Nells with a heavy LBA based Zero escort came in and swept away the rest of the enemy CAP and put a torpedo into the Indomitable. A second KB strike then went in: 54 Zero's, 22 Kate's and 41 Judy's. Only 4 enemy CAP fighters were present and were swept away. The Indomitable took another 2 bomb hits (incredible tough ship), the Wasp took another bomb, the Hornet 3!!!! which lit her up like a christmas tree. The Indiana took a further 6 bomb hits, the South Dakota 2 while the heavy Cruiser Chester also was hit. CV Indomitable, Bomb hits 2 BB Indiana, Bomb hits 6, on fire CV Wasp, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires BB South Dakota, Bomb hits 2, on fire CA Chester, Bomb hits 1 CV Hornet, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires Then more LBA came in: 14 Nells and Betties met no opposition! The CLAA San Juan was sunk and the Indomitable ate another torpedo, still no heavy damage...amazing! More importantly the Hornet was reported dead in the water. CLAA San Juan, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk CV Indomitable, Torpedo hits 1 CV Hornet, heavy fires, heavy damage The final morning attack saw 9 Nells score 3 hits; one against the CA Portland and 2 against the South Dakota which severly damaged her. What a start, we have the enemy at our mercy and half the day is still left We severly damaged 2 carriers, 2 battleships, sank a cruiser and damaged another 4 heavy cruisers and a destroyer. In total I didn't observe more than 4 enemy carriers: Enterprise, Hornet, Wasp and Indomitable. Don't think Andy brought his CVE fleet and both the Saratoga and Lexington were missing from the line of battle. - This is perfect, we outnumber the enemy 2-1!!! AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Mar 21, 43 Air Combat Morning Air attack on TF, near Palmyra at 172,129 Weather in hex: Heavy cloud Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 31 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 67 D4Y1 Judy x 7 Allied aircraft Sea Hurricane Ib x 30 F4F-4 Wildcat x 89 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 14 destroyed D4Y1 Judy: 5 destroyed Allied aircraft losses F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed CAP engaged: VF-3 with F4F-4 Wildcat (4 airborne, 9 on standby, 12 scrambling) 4 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 16000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 37 minutes 4 planes vectored on to bombers VF-6 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 12 on standby, 17 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 15000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 41 minutes VF-71 with F4F-4 Wildcat (4 airborne, 10 on standby, 15 scrambling) 4 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 16000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 56 minutes 4 planes vectored on to bombers No.880 Sqn FAA with Sea Hurricane Ib (4 airborne, 16 on standby, 6 scrambling) 4 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 25000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 54 minutes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Palmyra at 172,129 Weather in hex: Heavy cloud Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 24,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 51 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 104 A6M3a Zero x 26 B5N1 Kate x 12 B5N2 Kate x 93 B6N1 Jill x 6 D4Y1 Judy x 61 Allied aircraft Sea Hurricane Ib x 22 F4F-4 Wildcat x 76 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 7 destroyed A6M3a Zero: 3 destroyed B5N1 Kate: 1 damaged B5N2 Kate: 5 destroyed, 21 damaged D4Y1 Judy: 6 destroyed, 15 damaged Allied aircraft losses Sea Hurricane Ib: 2 destroyed F4F-4 Wildcat: 10 destroyed Allied Ships CV Enterprise DD Balch BB South Dakota, Bomb hits 6, on fire CV Indomitable, Bomb hits 1 BB Indiana, Torpedo hits 1 CV Wasp, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires CA Vincennes CA Chicago, Bomb hits 1 CLAA San Juan, Bomb hits 2, on fire DD Monssen CV Hornet, Bomb hits 1, on fire DD Nicholas CA Pensacola DD Anderson CA Louisville, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage CA Chester, Torpedo hits 1 DD Aaron Ward CA Northampton DD Carmick, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires CA Salt Lake City, Bomb hits 1, on fire Aircraft Attacking: 11 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 4000 feet * Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 2 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 10000' Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb 8 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 2000 feet * Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 3 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb 7 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 2000 feet * Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 8 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 5000 feet * Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 7 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 3000 feet * Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 6 x B6N1 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo 12 x B5N1 Kate bombing from 9000 feet * Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 7 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 2000 feet * Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 10 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 4000 feet * Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 6 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 5000 feet * Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 9 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb 8 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 2000 feet * Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 1 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000' Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb 4 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb 4 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 5000 feet * Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 2 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb 5 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 4000 feet * Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 5 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 3000 feet * Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 3 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000' Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb 7 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb 8 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000' Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb 7 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb 4 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb 4 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb 4 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000' Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb CAP engaged: VF-3 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 4 scrambling) 11 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 25000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 71 minutes VF-71 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 2 on standby, 15 scrambling) 7 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 24000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 49 minutes No.880 Sqn FAA with Sea Hurricane Ib (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 6 scrambling) 5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 25000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 52 minutes VF-6 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 9 scrambling) 12 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 2000 and 25000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 41 minutes Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Wasp Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CA Louisville Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Carmick -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Palmyra at 172,129 Weather in hex: Heavy cloud Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 47 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 60 G3M2 Nell x 5 Allied aircraft Sea Hurricane Ib x 3 F4F-4 Wildcat x 20 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed G3M2 Nell: 3 destroyed Allied aircraft losses F4F-4 Wildcat: 6 destroyed Allied Ships CV Indomitable, Torpedo hits 1 CAP engaged: VF-3 with F4F-4 Wildcat (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. 5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 25000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 40 minutes VF-71 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 22000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes No.880 Sqn FAA with Sea Hurricane Ib (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 25000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 14000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 28 minutes VF-6 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 2000 and 22000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 47 minutes 1 planes vectored on to bombers -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Palmyra at 172,129 Weather in hex: Heavy cloud Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 31 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 54 B5N2 Kate x 22 D4Y1 Judy x 41 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 4 Japanese aircraft losses B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged D4Y1 Judy: 3 destroyed, 15 damaged Allied aircraft losses F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed Allied Ships CV Enterprise CL Nashville CV Indomitable, Bomb hits 2 BB Indiana, Bomb hits 6, on fire CV Wasp, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires BB South Dakota, Bomb hits 2, on fire CA Vincennes CA Chester, Bomb hits 1 CA San Francisco CV Hornet, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires Aircraft Attacking: 6 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb 9 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb 3 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 15000 feet 6 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000' Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb 4 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 15000 feet 8 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 3000 feet * Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 9 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 4000 feet * Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 2 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 15000 feet 2 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 9000 feet * 4 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb 7 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb 4 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 15000 feet 5 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 5000 feet * Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 4 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000' Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb 4 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000' Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb CAP engaged: VF-3 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 4000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes VF-6 with F4F-4 Wildcat (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 15000 , scrambling fighters to 4000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 22 minutes Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Wasp Heavy smoke from fires obscuring BB South Dakota -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Palmyra at 172,129 Weather in hex: Heavy cloud Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 42 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 35 G3M2 Nell x 9 G4M1 Betty x 5 Japanese aircraft losses G3M2 Nell: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged G4M1 Betty: 3 damaged Allied Ships CV Enterprise CLAA San Juan, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk CV Indomitable, Torpedo hits 1 CV Hornet, heavy fires, heavy damage Aircraft Attacking: 5 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo 8 x G3M2 Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo 2 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 15000 feet 2 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 9000 feet * Carrier support unable to supply air cover.. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Palmyra at 172,129 Weather in hex: Heavy cloud Raid detected at 19 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 7 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 23 G3M2 Nell x 9 Japanese aircraft losses G3M2 Nell: 9 damaged Allied Ships CA Portland, Torpedo hits 1, on fire CA Northampton BB South Dakota, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage Aircraft Attacking: 9 x G3M2 Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo 2 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 15000 feet 2 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 9000 feet * Carrier support unable to supply air cover.. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air Strikes
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"The problem in defense is how far you can go without destroying from within what you are trying to defend from without" - Dwight D. Eisenhower
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