John 3rd
Posts: 17178
Joined: 9/8/2005 From: La Salle, Colorado Status: offline
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Combat Report December 7, 1941 Carrier Action: Pearl Harbor The carriers of CarDiv2 and CarDiv5 arrive at the traditional location and launch a strike of 76 Z, 93 V, 93 K. About 8-10 American fighters are up and they get mostly shot down as the attack begins. The attack is marginal at best. Results: Arizona--3 800Kg Bombs--Heavy Damage Nevada--1 800Kg, 2 250Kg, 1 TT--On Fire Pennsylvania--3 800Kg, 5 250Kg, 1 TT--Heavy Fires Oklahoma--3 800Kg, 1 250Kg--on Fire California--3 800Kg, 6 250Kg--on Fire West Virginia--2 800Kg, 1 TT--Heavy Fires, Heavy Damage Maryland--3 800Kg, 7 250Kg, 1 TT--Heavy Fires, Heavy Damage Tennessee--3 800Kg, 2 250Kg--on Fire Summary: 3 BB HD, 5 BB on Fire---VERY POOR ATTACK! At least everyone got hit by enough heavy ordinance to keep them out of the war for the start. That was always Yamamoto's plan so I guess it is achieved. On the other hand the cruisers docked PH do get knocked about some: CA San Francisco is hit by 2 250Kg bombs CLs: Phoenix takes 1 800Kg and a TT--Heavy Damage, Detroit gets 1 TT, and Raleigh is hit by a 250Kg Hitting 4 of the cruisers at PH is a pretty decent addition to the bag since they are most useful to immediately use. Other: 1 DD, 1 DM, AV Curtiss takes 2 250Kg, and SS Dolphin is SUNK by a Torp. I only dedicated 1 Val Daitai and 2 Zero Daitai to the AF but they seemingly did pretty well destroying about 18-24 planes on the ground. Losses for the Japanese are delightfully small with 2 Vals and 1 Kate destroyed. The CVs split after the attack. CarDiv2 makes a highly visible beeline towards the Marshalls while CarDiv5 manages to disappear to the NE of PH to rendezvous with the AOs. They are not spotted. Manila Attack Manila is a bit more complex to describe so I will also cover the LBA Strikes here. Remember that, due to the time differential, CAP is allowed to be flown over Singapore and Manila by our House Rules. It certainly occurs here! Lew puts up A BUNCH of P-40s for the anticipated Port Attack on Manila. Same can be said over Singers but that isn't important to this story. From Formosa comes Zeros and Bettys to hit the AF while 4 hexes to the west sits CarDiv 1 ready to throw the Kitchen sink at the Port. 1st Attack: 21 Zero and 27 Bombers vs. 34 P-40s---I lose 5 Zero and 1 Bomber while shooting down 5 P-40, hitting the AF, and destroying 8-10 more planes (some A-24). The AF has 61 holes put into it so that is a start. 2nd Attack: 31 Zero, 54 Val, and 54 Kate vs. 16 P-40--The P-40s are CRUSHED! The Carriers only lose 1 Zero and shot down over a dozen American fighters. The Attack Planes go in and---ALSO--get disappointing results: SS Searaven and Skipjack are sunk with another 4 Fleet Boats and 1 S-Boat getting damaged--SEVEN SS not much for the 30 present! Damaged: 2 AK, DD Peary, AS Otis, 2 AP, 2 AKL, 1 TK, 1 PG, and a PT is blasted out of the water. Considering that 108 planes attacked with no interference these results are pretty poor. Good work shooting down the P-40s though! CarDiv 1 moves SW 4 hexes and positions itself for the attempted escape by the Thundering Herd. Soooooo Japan flings her bolt and it fizzles somewhat. Ahhhhhhhh well...just more to sink later I guess!
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