Jon_Hal
Posts: 95
Joined: 2/23/2004 Status: offline
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Dec 31st. The Admiral, on the flag Bridge of the USS Enterprise, looked out into the horizon. He knew the Japanese where out there. Not the first line jobs that he knew were up north, causing havoc among the shipping south of Pearl but here, in the Coral Sea. Planes out of Brisbane reported three smaller carriers coming his way. The Enterprise had missed the bombardment force that had been plastering Port Moresby by a single day. Now, low on fuel and supplies, he had no choice but to head into the Japanese and hope for the best. Three against one was not the odds he wanted but it was the odds he was given. He turned to the flight office and ordered his planes aloft. Enterprise planes passed the swarms of Kates heading towards their home. In the Distance they could make out the wakes of three Japanese Carriers below even as they saw their Wildcat escorts engage the Japanese Zeros. ----------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 53,98 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 21 Allied aircraft F4F-3 Wildcat x 17 SBD Dauntless x 34 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 8 destroyed, 1 damaged Allied aircraft losses F4F-3 Wildcat: 2 damaged SBD Dauntless: 4 destroyed, 20 damaged Japanese Ships CVL Ryujo, Bomb hits 3, on fire CVL Zuiho, Bomb hits 1 CVE Taiyo, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage The Admiral rejoiced as he heard the radio call from his attack group only to look out and see the swarms of Japanese Torpedo planes begin their runs on his ship. ----------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 55,97 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 23 B5N Kate x 51 Allied aircraft F4F-3 Wildcat x 6 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed B5N Kate: 9 destroyed, 37 damaged Allied aircraft losses F4F-3 Wildcat: 4 destroyed Allied Ships CV Enterprise, Torpedo hits 7, on fire, heavy damage CA Northampton CA Chester Not a man aboard the Heavy Cruiser Northampton was dried eyed as they watched the mighty Enterprise slip under the waves. The Battle of the Coral Sea was over and the Americans had lost. Enterprise fought a valiant fight.. hitting all three enemy carriers but she couldn’t avoid the Japanese torpedoes. It wasn’t a complete victory for the Japanese. For they would need to retire. All three of their Carriers had been hit but none and been sunk. Meanwhile somewhere in the United States the keel of a brand new carrier was laid. Someone suggested she be named Enterprise 2. In 470 days the Enterprise will rise again. Ok, so the first Carrier vs. Carrier battle is over. I lost but my guys gave a good accounting before they went down.. Now my remaining ships need to escape before they are hit again. Oddly enough this was only the first catastrophe to happen to the USN today. KB headed towards Pearl, passing the line Islands and plasters a retreating convoy. ----------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 107,77 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 36 D3A Val x 55 B5N Kate x 38 Japanese aircraft losses D3A Val: 1 damaged B5N Kate: 2 damaged Allied Ships DD Conyngham AK Laida, Bomb hits 3, on fire DD Alwin, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage AK Mauna Loa, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage AK Florence D., Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage AK Hirondelle, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire AE Pyro, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage AK Castor, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage AK Manini, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy Damage In Malaya the Japanese Air Raids on Singapore continue to grow in size and strength. ----------------------- Day Air attack on Singapore , at 23,50 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 45 G3M Nell x 92 G4M1 Betty x 27 Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 18 Allied aircraft P-40B Tomahawk x 11 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed G3M Nell: 2 destroyed, 8 damaged Allied aircraft losses P-40B Tomahawk: 19 destroyed, 15 damaged Swordfish: 3 destroyed Hudson I: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged Blenheim IF: 2 destroyed Blenheim IV: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged Allied ground losses: 26 casualties reported Airbase hits 9 Airbase supply hits 4 Runway hits 74 But it’s not enough for the Singapore Air force to reach out and touch someone. ----------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 27,47 Allied aircraft Blenheim I x 2 Blenheim IV x 3 Hudson I x 3 No Allied losses Japanese Ships AK Kinugawa Maru, Bomb hits 1 Meanwhile the Japanese capture Jolo base. Heavy fighting continues in Nanchang and Ichang with no end in sight. Hopefully 1942 will be better then 1941…. Congrats to Ggraven on his well won victory..
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