aaffins
Posts: 254
Joined: 3/7/2010 From: Richmond, VA Status: offline
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May 11, 1942 This is the sort of thing that happens when we let Vice Adm. Cheesesteak play with the shiny toys. Rather than heading back into the vast reaches of the Tasman Sea, he convinced me we should move the CVs toward Lord Howe I. Something about convincing the opponent there's nothing to be seen between Oz and NZ (extremely false, valuable convoy carrying USMC units is off Hobart). The KB made a full speed run south, covering nearly 15 hexes and pops up just north of Lord Howe I. Graphic below. Luckily for us they were 8 hexes away, so we got sort of a proxy carrier battle with our squadrons attacking retreating IJN DDs and his attacking an ASW convoy off Brisbane. Notable that no CAP from Akagi appeared present, perhaps she is in fact under repair from that torpedo she took from a sub last month. First, B-25s from Sydney attacking Lord Howe get caught up: Morning Air attack on Yokosuka 2nd SNLF, at 100,169 (Lord Howe Island) Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid detected at 36 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 10 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 10 Allied aircraft B-25C Mitchell x 23 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses B-25C Mitchell: 9 damaged Japanese ground losses: 30 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Aircraft Attacking: 16 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 3000 feet Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb 7 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 2000 feet Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb Morning Air attack on 25th Air Defense AA Regiment, at 100,169 (Lord Howe Island) Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid detected at 33 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 9 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 26 Allied aircraft B-25C Mitchell x 3 B-17E Fortress x 6 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses B-25C Mitchell: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged B-17E Fortress: 2 damaged Aircraft Attacking: 1 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 2000 feet Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb 6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 6000 feet Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb CAP engaged: Ryujo-1 with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 2 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000. Raid is overhead Shoho-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 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000. Raid is overhead Zuiho-1 with A6M2 Zero (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 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000. Raid is overhead Kaga-1 with A6M2 Zero (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 5 plane(s) intercepting now. 1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 3000 and 10000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 12 minutes Hiryu-1 with A6M2 Zero (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 5 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000. Raid is overhead Shokaku-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 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000. Raid is overhead Zuikaku-1 with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 2 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000. Raid is overhead Soryu-1 with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 4 plane(s) intercepting now. 1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 3000 and 10000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes Attack off Brisbane on ASW TF (this was the second of two raids by Vals): Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Brisbane at 97,161 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 6 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 39 D3A1 Val x 25 Allied aircraft P-40E Warhawk x 19 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed D3A1 Val: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged Allied aircraft losses P-40E Warhawk: 4 destroyed Allied Ships AM Kalgoorlie, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk AM Townsville, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk We go after the DDs: Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Lord Howe Island at 102,169 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 6 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 32 A6M2-N Rufe x 6 Allied aircraft F4F-3 Wildcat x 30 SBD-2 Dauntless x 15 SBD-3 Dauntless x 14 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed Allied aircraft losses F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed SBD-2 Dauntless: 2 destroyed, 5 damaged SBD-3 Dauntless: 3 destroyed, 5 damaged Japanese Ships DD Nenohi DD Yugure, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Lord Howe Island at 98,171 Weather in hex: Moderate rain Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 5 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2-N Rufe x 4 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 13 TBD-1 Devastator x 9 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2-N Rufe: 1 destroyed No Allied losses Japanese Ships DD Hatsushima, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk Summary of Losses: Allies - AMs Kalgoorlie and Townsville 13x SBD 11x P-40Es 8x F4F 7x B-25 1x B-17 Japanese - DDs Hatsushima and (maybe) Ariake 6x Val 5x Zero 2x Rufe So overall this would be a loss for us, but it's not decisive. The key is what we do now. With him having gone max speed with the KB he'd be really stretching his fuel to try a second day in a row, but we can't discount the possibility. We have enough gas for a max speed run, so I think we do that. Big question is due south, southeast and try to trick him or west/southwest towards the Aussie coast. In other news, our PT boats get a nice score off Rockhampton: Night Time Surface Combat, near Rockhampton at 95,152, Range 3,000 Yards Japanese Ships DMS W-18 SC Ch 2 SC Ch 3 AV Kamikawa Maru, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk AV Kimikawa Maru AV Kunikawa Maru xAK Arima Maru AK Awata Maru xAK Amagisan Maru xAK Kansai Maru xAK Kashii Maru AV Sanyo Maru xAK Aobasan Maru xAK Asosan Maru xAK Asakasan Maru LSD Shinshu Maru xAP Atsuta Maru xAP Montevideo Maru xAP Teikyo Maru xAP Dairen Maru xAP Hoten Maru xAP Tsingtao Maru xAP Taizan Maru xAP Keihuku Maru xAP Ussuri Maru xAP Ural Maru xAP Baikal Maru xAP Kowa Maru xAP Palau Maru E Ishinui Allied Ships PT-38 PT-39 PT-42 PT-48 PT-59 This is also a massive convoy, I suspect he's brought major reinforcements in. In Burma two RN DDs attempt to disrupt the unloading force, but are beaten off by four IJN CAs. Another ground attack at Akyab doesn't yield for him, 1:1 odds again but I suspect he did not attack with his full force.
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