FlyByKnight
Posts: 245
Joined: 10/8/2016 From: West Coast Status: offline
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Pardon my inaction. My opponent has been graciously flipping turns with me at a good pace (We went through 7 or so on Sunday. What a good time to be alive). Long story short, the New Hebrides were captured with ease. No Japanese reinforcements arrived. I slowly prepared for my next goal: Milne bay, which would be used to neutralize Rabaul and Port Moresby. diversionary landings of sorts would occur at Lunga and Tulagi. As part of this, the 6 American Carriers attacked Milne bay: AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Oct 03, 42 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Deboyne Islands at 102,136 Weather in hex: Overcast Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 28 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 9 G4M1 Betty x 16 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 49 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed G4M1 Betty: 12 destroyed Allied aircraft losses F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed CAP engaged: VF-2 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 11000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 37 minutes 6 planes vectored on to bombers VF-3 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 11000 , scrambling fighters to 8000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes 6 planes vectored on to bombers VF-42 with F4F-4 Wildcat (2 airborne, 4 on standby, 8 scrambling) 2 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 11000 , scrambling fighters between 3000 and 12000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 32 minutes 10 planes vectored on to bombers VF-6 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 11000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 10000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 34 minutes 8 planes vectored on to bombers VF-8 with F4F-4 Wildcat (2 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling) 2 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 11000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 14000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes 8 planes vectored on to bombers VF-71 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 5 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 11000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 15000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes 4 planes vectored on to bombers Morning Air attack on Milne Bay , at 101,133 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 7 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 19 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 89 SBD-3 Dauntless x 213 TBF-1 Avenger x 90 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed, 4 damaged G4M1 Betty: 10 destroyed on ground G3M2 Nell: 4 destroyed on ground Allied aircraft losses F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 10 damaged Japanese ground losses: 35 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Airbase hits 22 Airbase supply hits 5 Runway hits 57 Aircraft Attacking: 8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb 9 x F4F-4 Wildcat sweeping at 11000 feet 8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb 15 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 10000 feet Airfield Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb 4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb 8 x F4F-4 Wildcat sweeping at 11000 feet 4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb 15 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 10000 feet Airfield Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb 12 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb 8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb 15 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 10000 feet Airfield Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb 8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb 6 x F4F-4 Wildcat sweeping at 11000 feet 8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb 15 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 10000 feet Airfield Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb 8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb 5 x F4F-4 Wildcat sweeping at 11000 feet 10 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb 15 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 10000 feet Airfield Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb 5 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb 6 x F4F-4 Wildcat sweeping at 11000 feet 8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb 15 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 10000 feet Airfield Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb 4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb 4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb 13 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb 4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb 11 x F4F-4 Wildcat sweeping at 11000 feet 8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb 4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb 6 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb 10 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb 2 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb 2 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb 6 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb 1 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb 2 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb 2 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb 8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb 8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb 4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb 8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb 8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb 4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb 4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb 4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb 4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb CAP engaged: 1st Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (6 airborne, 13 on standby, 0 scrambling) 6 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 16000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 9 minutes Then on October 6th, I sent in B17s from Normanton to bomb Horn Island. There were 48 bombers in total, all with good leaders and in the same HQ. The attacks, however, came in fragments: Morning Air attack on Horn Island , at 91,128 Weather in hex: Light rain Raid detected at 36 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 11 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 20 Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 26 Allied aircraft B-17E Fortress x 23 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 1 destroyed Allied aircraft losses B-17E Fortress: 3 destroyed, 10 damaged Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 4 Aircraft Attacking: 9 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb 10 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb CAP engaged: Tainan Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (6 airborne, 14 on standby, 0 scrambling) 6 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 13000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 7 minutes 24th Sentai with Ki-43-IIa Oscar (8 airborne, 18 on standby, 0 scrambling) 8 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 16000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 17000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 8 minutes Kikuchi, T. in a A6M2 Zero makes head on attack ... forces B-17E Fortress out of formation -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Horn Island , at 91,128 Weather in hex: Light rain Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 5 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 9 Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 11 Allied aircraft B-17E Fortress x 6 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed on ground Allied aircraft losses B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged Airbase hits 1 Airbase supply hits 2 Runway hits 4 Aircraft Attacking: 6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb CAP engaged: Tainan Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 9 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters to 10000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 49 minutes 24th Sentai with Ki-43-IIa Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 11 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 16000 , scrambling fighters to 10000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 53 minutes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Horn Island , at 91,128 Weather in hex: Light rain Raid detected at 25 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 7 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 3 Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 1 Allied aircraft B-17E Fortress x 12 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed on ground Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 1 destroyed Allied aircraft losses B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged Airbase hits 1 Runway hits 2 Aircraft Attacking: 6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb 6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb CAP engaged: Tainan Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (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 13000 , scrambling fighters to 10000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 11 minutes 24th Sentai with Ki-43-IIa Oscar (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 16000 , scrambling fighters to 10000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 12 minutes 7 B17E's were shot down, 2 more crashed. The airfield had negligible damage. At the same time, I saw multiple TF's moving through the Torres strait. My suspicions that they were heading for Australia were confirmed a few days later when two messy amphibious landings occurred at Cairns and Cooktown. There was some deception at work here-my opponent had the TF's move to other places, so I saw intel reports like '38th div on xAK heading to Meruake' or something similar. Of course, I had to put a stop to this. North Carolina and Washington were grouped in one fleet led by Ching Lee, South Dakota went with Pensacola and Salt Lake City in another. The Carriers headed out in 3 groups of two, following a TF made of Lexington and Saratoga. Disaster, of course, struck shortly before the fleet was in range to attack: AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Oct 11, 42 ASW attack near Tagula Island at 101,142 Japanese Ships SS I-24 Allied Ships DD Lardner CA San Francisco CLAA Juneau DD Lansdowne DD Lang DD Wilson DD Sterett DD Stack SS I-24 launches 2 torpedoes at DD Lardner I-24 diving deep .... DD Lang fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Wilson fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Sterett fails to find sub and abandons search DD Stack fails to find sub and abandons search DD Lang fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Wilson attacking submerged sub .... DD Lang fails to find sub and abandons search DD Wilson fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Wilson fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Wilson fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Wilson attacking submerged sub .... SS I-24 eludes DD Wilson by diving deep Escort abandons search for sub -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Tagula Island at 101,142 Japanese Ships SS I-24, hits 18, and is sunk Allied Ships CV Saratoga, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage CA San Francisco CLAA Juneau DD Lansdowne DD Lang DD Wilson DD Sterett DD Stack Ammo storage explosion on CV Saratoga SS I-24 launches 8 torpedoes at CV Saratoga I-24 diving deep .... DD Lang fails to find sub and abandons search DD Wilson fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Sterett attacking submerged sub .... DD Stack attacking submerged sub .... DD Wilson fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Sterett fails to find sub and abandons search DD Stack fails to find sub and abandons search DD Wilson fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Wilson attacking submerged sub .... SS I-24 eludes ASW attack from DD Wilson SS I-24 forced to surface! DD Sterett firing on surfaced sub .... DD Stack firing on surfaced sub .... DD Lang firing on surfaced sub .... DD Lang firing on surfaced sub .... DD Lang firing on surfaced sub .... DD Sterett firing on surfaced sub .... DD Stack firing on surfaced sub .... DD Lang firing on surfaced sub .... DD Wilson firing on surfaced sub .... DD Sterett firing on surfaced sub .... DD Stack firing on surfaced sub .... DD Lang firing on surfaced sub .... DD Wilson firing on surfaced sub .... DD Sterett firing on surfaced sub .... DD Stack firing on surfaced sub .... Sub slips beneath the waves So at this point I think 'yeah, well, my CV's have more Aircraft capacity, working AA guns, and Radar. I can still go toe-to-toe with the Japanese Mobile force'. Sara had something like 80 flooding, but she got 4 Destroyers and was sent down to Brisbane. On October 12th, I finally had my decisive battle: AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Oct 12, 42 Morning Air attack on TF, near Cooktown at 96,136 Weather in hex: Severe storms Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 30 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 64 B5N2 Kate x 106 D3A1 Val x 107 D3A2 Val x 53 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 73 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed, 7 damaged D3A1 Val: 10 destroyed, 9 damaged D3A2 Val: 6 destroyed Allied aircraft losses F4F-4 Wildcat: 3 destroyed Allied Ships CV Wasp, Bomb hits 3, on fire CV Enterprise, Bomb hits 3, on fire CA Chicago, Bomb hits 1, on fire CL Phoenix, Bomb hits 1 CV Yorktown, Bomb hits 6, on fire CV Hornet, Bomb hits 2, on fire DD Hull DD Aylwin CA Houston CA Northampton DD Farragut CLAA San Diego DD Worden DD Dewey DD Phelps DD Tucker DD Case DD MacDonough, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage DD Shaw CLAA Atlanta Aircraft Attacking: 9 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 18 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 6000 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 2 x D3A2 Val releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb 17 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 7000 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 9 x D3A2 Val releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb 18 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 5000 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 11 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 18 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 6000 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 10 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 17 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 6000 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 17 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 6000 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 14 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 9 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 11 x D3A2 Val releasing from 1000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb 8 x D3A2 Val releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb 5 x D3A2 Val releasing from 1000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb 9 x D3A2 Val releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb 8 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 8 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 12 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 5 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb CAP engaged: VF-2 with F4F-4 Wildcat (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (14 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 4 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 6 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 11000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 11000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 32 minutes VF-42 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 11000 , scrambling fighters to 16000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes VF-6 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 6 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 11000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 14000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 36 minutes VF-8 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 6 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 11000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 17000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 38 minutes VF-71 with F4F-4 Wildcat (1 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 11000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 16000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Enterprise Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Hornet Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Wasp Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Yorktown Morning Air attack on TF, near Cooktown at 95,136 Weather in hex: Moderate rain Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 15 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 100 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 25 SBD-3 Dauntless x 85 TBF-1 Avenger x 30 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed Allied aircraft losses F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed SBD-3 Dauntless: 8 destroyed, 32 damaged SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed by flak TBF-1 Avenger: 7 destroyed, 7 damaged Japanese Ships CV Soryu, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires CV Hiryu, Bomb hits 1, on fire CV Kaga CV Akagi CV Shokaku, Bomb hits 1 CV Zuikaku Aircraft Attacking: 4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 10 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp. 4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 9 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp. 3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb 4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 9 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb 3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 1 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 10000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 9 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb 8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb CAP engaged: Yamada Det S-1 with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 2 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 13000. Raid is overhead 2 planes vectored on to bombers 1st Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 2 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 16000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 16000. Raid is overhead Akagi-1 with A6M2 Zero (5 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling) 5 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 12000 and 18000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 7 minutes Kaga-1 with A6M2 Zero (7 airborne, 14 on standby, 0 scrambling) 7 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 6000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 15000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes 3 planes vectored on to bombers Soryu-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 11 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 9000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 14000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 22 minutes 11 planes vectored on to bombers Hiryu-1 with A6M2 Zero (5 airborne, 11 on standby, 0 scrambling) 5 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 14000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes 5 planes vectored on to bombers Shokaku-1 with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling) 4 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 13000 and 17000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 7 minutes 6 planes vectored on to bombers Zuikaku-1 with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling) 4 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 13000 and 18000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 7 minutes 4 planes vectored on to bombers Fuel storage explosion on CV Soryu Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Soryu -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Cooktown at 95,137 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid detected at 34 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 16 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 46 Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 3 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 49 SBD-3 Dauntless x 52 TBF-1 Avenger x 29 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed Allied aircraft losses F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed SBD-3 Dauntless: 3 destroyed, 14 damaged TBF-1 Avenger: 2 destroyed, 6 damaged Japanese Ships CV Junyo, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires CS Chitose DD Fumizuki CL Tatsuta, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk CL Natori DD Urakaze CL Kitakami DD Kagero Aircraft Attacking: 13 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp. 3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 14 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp. 4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 7 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 10 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 5 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 5 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb CAP engaged: Akagi-1 with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (14 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 2 plane(s) intercepting now. 7 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 11000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 22 minutes Kaga-1 with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (8 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 2 plane(s) intercepting now. 5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 6000 , scrambling fighters to 9000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 32 minutes Soryu-1 with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (8 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 4 plane(s) intercepting now. 4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 9000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 59 minutes Hiryu-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (7 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 9000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 36 minutes Shokaku-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 11000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes Zuikaku-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 11000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 39 minutes 59th Sentai with Ki-43-IIa Oscar (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 11000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 11000. Raid is overhead Junyo-1 with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 7 on standby, 0 scrambling) 3 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 12000 and 17000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Junyo -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Cooktown at 94,136 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 4 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 21 A6M5 Zero x 1 Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 4 Allied aircraft SBD-3 Dauntless x 17 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses SBD-3 Dauntless: 6 destroyed, 2 damaged Japanese Ships BB Fuso CVE Chuyo, Bomb hits 1, on fire Aircraft Attacking: 1 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 5 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb CAP engaged: 59th Sentai with Ki-43-IIa Oscar (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 4 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 11000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 11000. Raid is overhead Kaga-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (8 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 6000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 11000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 67 minutes Soryu-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (8 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 8 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 9000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 10000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 96 minutes Chitose Ku S-1 Det with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling) 2 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 11000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 8 minutes 5th Ku S-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 11000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 11000. Raid is overhead -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Cooktown at 96,136 Weather in hex: Severe storms Raid detected at 75 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 28 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 9 D3A1 Val x 18 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 49 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed D3A1 Val: 12 damaged D3A1 Val: 2 destroyed by flak Allied aircraft losses F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed Allied Ships CV Yorktown, heavy fires CV Hornet, heavy fires CLAA Atlanta Aircraft Attacking: 12 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb 2 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb 3 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb CAP engaged: VF-2 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 11000 , scrambling fighters between 13000 and 15000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 40 minutes 3 planes vectored on to bombers VF-42 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 7 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 11000 , scrambling fighters between 13000 and 19000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 51 minutes VF-6 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling) 10 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 11000 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 23000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 69 minutes 13 planes vectored on to bombers VF-8 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling) 10 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 11000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 20000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 54 minutes 14 planes vectored on to bombers VF-71 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 9 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 11000 , scrambling fighters between 7810 and 19000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 47 minutes 7 planes vectored on to bombers Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Yorktown Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Hornet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Cooktown at 94,136 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 9 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 16 A6M5 Zero x 1 Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 2 Allied aircraft TBF-1 Avenger x 15 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses TBF-1 Avenger: 5 destroyed CAP engaged: Chitose Ku S-1 Det with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 11000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 43 minutes 5th Ku S-1 with A6M5 Zero (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 11000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 45 minutes 59th Sentai with Ki-43-IIa Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 11000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 95 minutes Kaga-1 with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 3 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 6000 , scrambling fighters to 11000. Raid is overhead Soryu-1 with A6M2 Zero (8 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 8 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 9000 , scrambling fighters to 10000. Raid is overhead -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Cooktown at 96,136 Weather in hex: Overcast Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 30 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 55 B5N2 Kate x 83 D3A1 Val x 90 D3A2 Val x 44 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 30 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 5 destroyed B5N2 Kate: 3 damaged D3A1 Val: 9 damaged D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed by flak D3A2 Val: 1 damaged Allied aircraft losses F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed Allied Ships CV Yorktown, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage CV Hornet, Bomb hits 9, heavy fires, heavy damage CV Lexington, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires DD Lardner DD McCalla, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage CA Chicago, Bomb hits 6, on fire CL Phoenix, Bomb hits 2 DD Downes DD Cummings, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires DD Tucker DD Shaw CA San Francisco, Bomb hits 7, heavy fires DD Duncan, Bomb hits 1, on fire CA Portland, Bomb hits 2 DD Lansdowne, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage DD Stack DD Clark, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires CLAA Atlanta, Bomb hits 4, on fire DD Sterett, Bomb hits 1, on fire DD Case, Bomb hits 1, on fire DD Cassin CLAA Juneau, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires Aircraft Attacking: 12 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 18 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 6000 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 12 x D3A2 Val releasing from 1000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 15 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 7000 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 5 x D3A2 Val releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 16 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 5000 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 10 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 11 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 17 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 6000 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 9 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 17 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 6000 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 7 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 7 x D3A2 Val releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 2 x D3A2 Val releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 8 x D3A2 Val releasing from 1000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 10 x D3A2 Val releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 1 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 10 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 6 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 6 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 2 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 11 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb CAP engaged: VF-6 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 11000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 11000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes VF-71 with F4F-4 Wildcat (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 11000 , scrambling fighters to 18000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 50 minutes VF-2 with F4F-4 Wildcat (3 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling) 3 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 11000 , scrambling fighters between 14000 and 17000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes VF-42 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 11000 , scrambling fighters to 6000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 35 minutes VF-8 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 11000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 18000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Yorktown Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Lexington Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Hornet Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Case Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD McCalla Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Cummings Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CLAA Atlanta Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CA San Francisco Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Sterett -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Cooktown at 96,136 Weather in hex: Overcast Raid detected at 76 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 32 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 6 B5N2 Kate x 12 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 7 Japanese aircraft losses B5N2 Kate: 4 damaged B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak No Allied losses Allied Ships CV Lexington, heavy fires CLAA Juneau, heavy fires Aircraft Attacking: 10 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp CAP engaged: VF-42 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 11000 , scrambling fighters to 20000. Raid is overhead VF-2 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 11000 , scrambling fighters between 18000 and 19000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 78 minutes VF-8 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 11000 , scrambling fighters to 20000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 69 minutes 3 planes vectored on to bombers fternoon Air attack on TF, near Cooktown at 95,136 Weather in hex: Severe storms Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 15 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 83 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 24 SBD-3 Dauntless x 40 TBF-1 Avenger x 17 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed Allied aircraft losses F4F-4 Wildcat: 6 destroyed SBD-3 Dauntless: 10 destroyed, 8 damaged SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed by flak TBF-1 Avenger: 11 destroyed, 1 damaged Japanese Ships CV Akagi CV Soryu, on fire CV Hiryu CV Shokaku CV Kaga CV Zuikaku Aircraft Attacking: 2 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 6 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb 2 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp. 1 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb 3 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp. 4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb 1 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb 4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb CAP engaged: Yamada Det S-1 with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 2 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 13000. Raid is overhead 2 planes vectored on to bombers 1st Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 2 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 16000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 16000. Raid is overhead Akagi-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 9 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 3000 and 13000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes 9 planes vectored on to bombers Kaga-1 with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 9 on standby, 0 scrambling) 4 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 6000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 17000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 7 minutes 13 planes vectored on to bombers Soryu-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 9 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 9000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 14000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes 13 planes vectored on to bombers Hiryu-1 with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling) 4 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 17000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 7 minutes 6 planes vectored on to bombers Shokaku-1 with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 9 on standby, 0 scrambling) 4 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 15000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes 4 planes vectored on to bombers Zuikaku-1 with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 9 on standby, 0 scrambling) 4 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 15000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes 4 planes vectored on to bombers -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Cooktown at 96,136 Weather in hex: Overcast Raid detected at 15 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 6 minutes Japanese aircraft B5N2 Kate x 18 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 5 Japanese aircraft losses B5N2 Kate: 4 destroyed, 1 damaged B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak No Allied losses Allied Ships CV Lexington, heavy fires, heavy damage DD Lansdowne, on fire, heavy damage Aircraft Attacking: 8 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 6000 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb CAP engaged: VF-2 with F4F-4 Wildcat (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. 1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 11000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 11 minutes VF-8 with F4F-4 Wildcat (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 3 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 11000 , scrambling fighters to 14810. Raid is overhead Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Lexington Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Lansdowne -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Cooktown at 95,136 Weather in hex: Severe storms Raid detected at 18 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 6 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 56 Allied aircraft SBD-3 Dauntless x 5 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses SBD-3 Dauntless: 3 destroyed CAP engaged: Yamada Det S-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters to 9000. Raid is overhead 1st Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (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 16000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes Akagi-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. 9 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 13000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 60 minutes Kaga-1 with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 4 plane(s) intercepting now. 7 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 6000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 11000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes Soryu-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 11 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 9000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 11000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 59 minutes Hiryu-1 with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 4 plane(s) intercepting now. 5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 11000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 90 minutes Shokaku-1 with A6M2 Zero (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 13000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 11000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 44 minutes Zuikaku-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 9 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 10000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 68 minutes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Cooktown at 95,136 Weather in hex: Severe storms Raid detected at 48 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 22 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 52 Allied aircraft TBF-1 Avenger x 6 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses TBF-1 Avenger: 2 damaged Japanese Ships CV Soryu, heavy fires CV Hiryu Aircraft Attacking: 6 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp. Soryu was hit once...by a dud CAP engaged: Yamada Det S-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters to 9000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes 1st Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling) Group patrol altitude is 16000 , scrambling fighters to 11000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes Akagi-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 4 scrambling) 1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 11000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes Kaga-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 6 scrambling) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 6000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 11000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes Soryu-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 11 scrambling) Group patrol altitude is 9000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 13000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 28 minutes Hiryu-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 2 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 11000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes Shokaku-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 3 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 11000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes Zuikaku-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 5 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 13000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes In the aftermath of this battle, I lost Yorktown, Hornet, and the Destroyer Cummings. I sorted the task forces out and prepared to weather the mop-up: AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Oct 13, 42 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Cooktown at 96,136, Range 12,000 Yards Japanese Ships DD Yugumo DD Kawakaze DD Nenohi DD Hatsushima Allied Ships DD Shaw DD Downes DD Cassin DD Tucker, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk Reduced sighting due to 14% moonlight Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 14% moonlight: 12,000 yards Range closes to 24,000 yards... Range closes to 22,000 yards... Range closes to 20,000 yards... Range closes to 18,000 yards... Range closes to 16,000 yards... Range closes to 14,000 yards... Range closes to 12,000 yards... CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 12,000 yards CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 12,000 yards Maki R. crosses the 'T' DD Tucker engages DD Hatsushima at 12,000 yards DD Yugumo engages DD Tucker at 12,000 yards DD Tucker sunk by DD Hatsushima at 12,000 yards DD Hatsushima engages DD Cassin at 12,000 yards Range closes to 10,000 yards DD Nenohi engages DD Cassin at 10,000 yards DD Kawakaze engages DD Shaw at 10,000 yards DD Yugumo engages DD Cassin at 10,000 yards Range closes to 8,000 yards DD Hatsushima engages DD Cassin at 8,000 yards DD Hatsushima engages DD Downes at 8,000 yards DD Cassin engages DD Kawakaze at 8,000 yards Range increases to 12,000 yards DD Hatsushima engages DD Cassin at 12,000 yards DD Hatsushima engages DD Downes at 12,000 yards DD Downes engages DD Kawakaze at 12,000 yards DD Yugumo engages DD Downes at 12,000 yards Task forces break off... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Cooktown at 96,136, Range 26,000 Yards Japanese Ships CV Junyo CS Chitose CL Natori CL Kitakami DD Kagero DD Urakaze DD Fumizuki Allied Ships CV Wasp CA Northampton CA Houston DD Phelps DD Farragut DD Aylwin DD Dale DD Dewey Reduced sighting due to 14% moonlight Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 14% moonlight: 11,000 yards Range closes to 24,000 yards... Range closes to 21,000 yards... Range closes to 20,000 yards... Range increases to 22,000 yards... Range increases to 24,000 yards... Range increases to 26,000 yards... Both Task Forces evade combat -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack near Rekata Bay at 112,135 Allied Ships SS Narwhal SS Narwhal is sighted by escort Sub escapes detection -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Port Moresby at 96,133 Japanese Ships CV Hiryu CA Kako CA Aoba CL Nagara CL Naka DD Arare DD Sazanami DD Akebono DD Amagiri Allied Ships SS Seadragon (Dud attack) SS Seadragon launches 4 torpedoes at CV Hiryu Seadragon diving deep .... DD Sazanami fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Akebono fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Amagiri fails to find sub and abandons search DD Sazanami fails to find sub and abandons search DD Akebono fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Akebono fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Akebono fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Akebono fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Akebono fails to find sub, continues to search... Escort abandons search for sub -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Time Surface Combat, near Cairns at 97,139, Range 20,000 Yards Japanese Ships DD Yugumo DD Kawakaze DD Nenohi DD Hatsushima Allied Ships CA Portland, Shell hits 1 DD Duncan, Shell hits 13, heavy fires, heavy damage DD Sterett, Shell hits 17, heavy fires, heavy damage Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions: 30,000 yards CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 26,000 yards CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 26,000 yards Range closes to 20,000 yards... Sherman, Frederick crosses the 'T' DD Yugumo engages CA Portland at 20,000 yards Range closes to 16,000 yards DD Yugumo engages CA Portland at 16,000 yards DD Sterett engages DD Nenohi at 16,000 yards DD Duncan engages DD Kawakaze at 16,000 yards DD Yugumo engages DD Duncan at 16,000 yards Range closes to 12,000 yards DD Kawakaze engages CA Portland at 12,000 yards DD Duncan engages DD Nenohi at 12,000 yards DD Duncan engages DD Kawakaze at 12,000 yards DD Sterett engages DD Yugumo at 12,000 yards Range closes to 10,000 yards DD Sterett engages DD Hatsushima at 10,000 yards DD Hatsushima engages DD Sterett at 10,000 yards DD Kawakaze engages DD Duncan at 10,000 yards DD Sterett engages DD Yugumo at 10,000 yards Range closes to 8,000 yards DD Hatsushima engages DD Duncan at 8,000 yards DD Sterett engages DD Hatsushima at 8,000 yards Sherman, Frederick orders Allied TF to disengage Range increases to 11,000 yards CA Portland engages DD Yugumo at 11,000 yards DD Nenohi engages DD Sterett at 11,000 yards DD Duncan engages DD Kawakaze at 11,000 yards Range increases to 14,000 yards CA Portland engages DD Yugumo at 14,000 yards DD Sterett engages DD Nenohi at 14,000 yards DD Duncan engages DD Hatsushima at 14,000 yards DD Yugumo engages DD Duncan at 14,000 yards Range increases to 16,000 yards DD Hatsushima engages DD Sterett at 16,000 yards DD Nenohi engages DD Sterett at 16,000 yards DD Kawakaze engages DD Duncan at 16,000 yards Range increases to 20,000 yards CA Portland engages DD Nenohi at 20,000 yards DD Kawakaze engages DD Duncan at 20,000 yards Range increases to 21,000 yards CA Portland engages DD Hatsushima at 21,000 yards DD Kawakaze engages DD Duncan at 21,000 yards CA Portland engages DD Yugumo at 21,000 yards Range closes to 19,000 yards CA Portland engages DD Kawakaze at 19,000 yards DD Duncan engages DD Nenohi at 19,000 yards DD Kawakaze engages DD Duncan at 19,000 yards DD Yugumo engages DD Sterett at 19,000 yards Range closes to 15,000 yards DD Sterett engages DD Hatsushima at 15,000 yards DD Nenohi engages DD Sterett at 15,000 yards DD Kawakaze engages DD Duncan at 15,000 yards DD Yugumo engages DD Sterett at 15,000 yards Range closes to 14,000 yards CA Portland engages DD Yugumo at 14,000 yards DD Hatsushima engages DD Sterett at 14,000 yards DD Kawakaze engages DD Duncan at 14,000 yards Range closes to 11,000 yards DD Hatsushima engages DD Duncan at 11,000 yards DD Nenohi engages DD Sterett at 11,000 yards DD Hatsushima engages DD Duncan at 11,000 yards DD Yugumo engages DD Duncan at 11,000 yards Range closes to 7,000 yards DD Hatsushima engages DD Sterett at 7,000 yards DD Nenohi engages DD Sterett at 7,000 yards DD Kawakaze engages DD Sterett at 7,000 yards DD Yugumo engages DD Duncan at 7,000 yards Range increases to 12,000 yards CA Portland engages DD Hatsushima at 12,000 yards DD Nenohi engages DD Duncan at 12,000 yards DD Kawakaze engages DD Sterett at 12,000 yards DD Yugumo engages DD Duncan at 12,000 yards Range increases to 18,000 yards DD Duncan engages DD Hatsushima at 18,000 yards DD Nenohi engages DD Duncan at 18,000 yards DD Nenohi engages DD Duncan at 18,000 yards DD Sterett engages DD Yugumo at 18,000 yards Range increases to 23,000 yards CA Portland engages DD Yugumo at 23,000 yards Range increases to 27,000 yards CA Portland engages DD Hatsushima at 27,000 yards CA Portland engages DD Nenohi at 27,000 yards CA Portland engages DD Yugumo at 27,000 yards Task forces break off... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Time Surface Combat, near Cooktown at 97,138, Range 24,000 Yards Japanese Ships DD Yugumo, Shell hits 1 DD Kawakaze DD Nenohi, Shell hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage DD Hatsushima Allied Ships CA Chicago CLAA Juneau, Shell hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage DD Lansdowne, Shell hits 2, and is sunk DD McCalla, and is sunk DD MacDonough, Shell hits 14, and is sunk 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 CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 24,000 yards Range closes to 22,000 yards Range closes to 20,000 yards CA Chicago engages DD Nenohi at 20,000 yards Range closes to 17,000 yards CA Chicago engages DD Nenohi at 17,000 yards CA Chicago engages DD Kawakaze at 17,000 yards Range closes to 13,000 yards CA Chicago engages DD Nenohi at 13,000 yards CA Chicago engages DD Nenohi at 13,000 yards DD Nenohi engages DD MacDonough at 13,000 yards DD Yugumo engages DD MacDonough at 13,000 yards Range closes to 11,000 yards DD Hatsushima engages DD MacDonough at 11,000 yards CLAA Juneau engages DD Nenohi at 11,000 yards DD MacDonough engages DD Nenohi at 11,000 yards Range closes to 8,000 yards DD Lansdowne engages DD Nenohi at 8,000 yards DD Nenohi engages DD MacDonough at 8,000 yards DD Nenohi engages DD Lansdowne at 8,000 yards Range increases to 10,000 yards DD Hatsushima engages DD MacDonough at 10,000 yards DD Nenohi engages DD MacDonough at 10,000 yards DD Kawakaze engages DD MacDonough at 10,000 yards DD Yugumo engages DD MacDonough at 10,000 yards Range increases to 12,000 yards DD Hatsushima engages DD MacDonough at 12,000 yards DD MacDonough engages DD Nenohi at 12,000 yards DD Kawakaze engages DD MacDonough at 12,000 yards DD MacDonough engages DD Hatsushima at 12,000 yards CLAA Juneau engages DD Nenohi at 12,000 yards DD MacDonough engages DD Kawakaze at 12,000 yards DD Yugumo engages DD MacDonough at 12,000 yards Maki R. orders Japanese TF to disengage Range closes to 10,000 yards CLAA Juneau engages DD Kawakaze at 10,000 yards CLAA Juneau engages DD Yugumo at 10,000 yards Range increases to 15,000 yards CA Chicago engages DD Nenohi at 15,000 yards CLAA Juneau engages DD Kawakaze at 15,000 yards CA Chicago engages DD Yugumo at 15,000 yards Range increases to 19,000 yards CA Chicago engages DD Hatsushima at 19,000 yards CA Chicago engages DD Kawakaze at 19,000 yards CA Chicago engages DD Yugumo at 19,000 yards Range increases to 23,000 yards Range increases to 26,000 yards CA Chicago engages DD Nenohi at 26,000 yards Range increases to 29,000 yards CA Chicago engages DD Hatsushima at 29,000 yards CA Chicago engages DD Nenohi at 29,000 yards Task forces break off... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack near Portland Roads at 94,132 Japanese Ships BB Fuso DD Ushio Allied Ships SS Seawolf (Another Dud attack) SS Seawolf launches 4 torpedoes at BB Fuso Seawolf diving deep .... DD Ushio attacking submerged sub .... DD Ushio is out of ASW ammo DD Ushio fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Ushio fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Ushio fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Ushio fails to find sub, continues to search... Escort abandons search for sub -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack near Port Moresby at 96,133 Japanese Ships BB Haruna CA Kinugasa CL Tama CL Kinu DD Arashi DD Amatsukaze DD Maikaze DD Sagiri DD Shikinami DD Hibiki DD Arashio Allied Ships SS Pollack SS Pollack is sighted by escort DD Sagiri fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Shikinami fails to find sub and abandons search DD Hibiki fails to find sub and abandons search DD Arashio attacking submerged sub .... DD Sagiri fails to find sub and abandons search DD Arashio fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Arashio fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Arashio fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Arashio fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Arashio fails to find sub, continues to search... Escort abandons search for sub Morning Air attack on TF, near Cooktown at 97,138 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 30 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 34 D3A1 Val x 15 Japanese aircraft losses D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed by flak Allied Ships CA Chicago, Bomb hits 4, heavy damage Aircraft Attacking: 6 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Cairns at 97,139 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid detected at 67 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 28 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 5 B5N2 Kate x 29 Japanese aircraft losses B5N2 Kate: 4 damaged Allied Ships CA Portland, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage Aircraft Attacking: 10 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp 10 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp 9 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp The Japanese transports bailed out, so I tried a bombardment. Naval bombardment of Cairns at 92,140 Allied Ships BB South Dakota CA Salt Lake City CA Pensacola Japanese ground losses: 18 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 15 (1 destroyed, 14 disabled) BB South Dakota firing at 1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment CA Salt Lake City firing at 23rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment CA Pensacola firing at 48th Division -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Port Moresby at 97,132 Japanese Ships CV Shokaku CA Kako CA Aoba CL Nagara CL Naka DD Yamakaze DD Sazanami DD Akebono DD Amagiri Allied Ships SS Pollack SS Pollack launches 6 torpedoes at CV Shokaku DD Sazanami fails to find sub and abandons search DD Akebono fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Amagiri attacking submerged sub .... DD Akebono fails to find sub and abandons search DD Amagiri fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Amagiri fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Amagiri fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Amagiri fails to find sub, continues to search... Escort abandons search for sub AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Oct 14, 42 And here is the final action of the battle. The Japanese carriers moved precariously close to the crippled Saratoga...and turned around. Morning Air attack on TF, near Cairns at 98,141 Weather in hex: Light rain Raid detected at 52 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 19 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 39 D3A1 Val x 22 Allied aircraft no flights Japanese aircraft losses D3A1 Val: 1 damaged Allied aircraft losses OS2U-3 Kingfisher: 1 destroyed Allied Ships CA Portland, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk Aircraft Attacking: 8 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 2 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 12 x D3A1 Val releasing from 10000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb Heavy smoke from fires obscuring an Allied BB
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