"Like other military services, the Marine Corps established a nightfighter arm, equipping several squadrons with variants of such aircraft as the Lockheed PV-1 Ventura, Vought F4U Corsair and the Grumman F6F Hellcat. The F6F-3/5N models equipped five Marine nightfighter squadron, the most successful of which was VMF(N)-533, credited with 35 kills. Six of those victories went to Captain Robert Baird, the only Marine nightfighter ace.
Major Bruce Porter, commander of VMF(N)-542, had three kills in the Solomons flying Corsairs with VMF-121 in 1943. His specially equipped F6F-5N Hellcat had a mixed wing-mounted armament of two 20 mm cannon and four .50-caliber machine guns. On June 15, 1945, Porter used his special Hellcat to shoot down two Japanese aircraft, becoming the only Marine aviator to score kills in both the Corsair and the Hellcat, and ending the war with a total of five kills. (See Porter article..)
One of the most accomplished Marine fighter aces was 1st Lieutenant Wilbur J. Thomas of VMF-213, who shot down four Japanese Zeros on June 30, 1944. By the time his squadron left for the States in December, Thomas had scored 16.5 kills in just five engagements. He scored two more kills during a tour aboard the carrier Essex (CV-9) during a mission over Tokyo on Feb. 16, 1945.
Marines had flown from carriers since the 1930s, but had never been permanent members of the air groups, for various political and occasionally tactical reasons. By 1944, however, Marine fighter squadrons were flying from several ships, especially the small escort carriers. By this time, the F4U Corsair had been cleared to operate from American flattops; the British Fleet Air Arm had been flying their Corsairs from their carriers for a year before the U.S. Navy approved carrier operations.
Thus, Leatherneck squadrons went to sea, taking with them the experienced aces of the Solomons campaign, as well as untried, but highly motivated and capable young pilots. By February 1945, eight Marine Corps Corsair squadrons were embarked in four Navy aircraft carriers.
The invasion of Okinawa began on April 1, 1945, and carrier-borne Marine corps fighters were in the thick of the action, protecting Navy ships from kamikaze suicide attacks. A few aces added to their scores. Walsh got one Japanese aircraft off Okinawa in June 1945 while shore based with VMF-222 on the newly secured island. Carl took command of his old squadron, VMF-223, when it transitioned to Corsairs, and shot down two more Japanese fighters in December 1943. But to a large extent, the heyday of Marine aces had passed.
Marine Corps pilots and air crewmen shot down 2,345 Japanese aircraft during the war. The 125 official Marine aces accounted for 976 enemy aircraft, or 42 percent of the Marine aerial victories. "
"On December 28, 1944, Marine fighter squadrons VMF-124 and VMF-213 were assigned to Air Group 4, replacing Bombing Squadron 4 (VB-4). The assignment of VMF-124 and VMF-213 to the USS Essex made them the first Marine squadrons to augment carrier air groups during World War II."
I have 64 Hellcats and 23 F4U1D's on the Wasp TF currently off of Miri
I have a further 103 Hellcats and trained pilots on grounded sqns and another 84 in VR Sqns all at Singapore or Malaya plus 36 F4U1D's
So about 240 Hellcats and 170 trained pilots and 59 F4U1D's all with trained pilots I can load up my 3 Fleet and 2 Light Carriers with nothing but fighters
so 330 berths
I put every fighter onto the carriers and send them straight down the middle via Miri.
So I go for Miri trying to make PZB think its another wave then make a 3 days speed run to Iwo through the gap between Formosa and PI
Its risky but it brings 300 frames and pilots back into the frame !!!
I am consolidating my tattered fighter groups and trying to set up my best units for the fight to come.
I also need to be aware of the surface threat and not take away all my TBM's and Helldivers
Andy
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/06/45
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TF 1006 encounters mine field at Marcus Island (75,56)
Allied Ships
DD Luce
DD English
DD Ault
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TF 1115 encounters mine field at Marcus Island (75,56)
Allied Ships
MSW Spector
MSW Recruit
MSW Rebel
MSW Ransom
DE Chaffee
DE Tills
DD Electra
DD Isaac Sweers
DD Arunta
AK Bengalen, Mine hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DE Stern
DD John D. Edwards
DD Downes
Allied ground losses:
121 casualties reported
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Day Air attack on Kweiyang , at 41,35
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 215
D4Y Judy x 116
B5N Kate x 27
B7A Grace x 44
Ki-84-Ia Frank x 35
Ki-102a Randy x 72
Aircraft Attacking:
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Day Air attack on Soerabaja , at 22,65
Allied aircraft
F4U-1D Corsair x 23
No Allied losses
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Day Air attack on Koepang , at 28,77
Allied aircraft
B-29 Superfortress x 15
No Allied losses
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 31
Aircraft Attacking:
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Day Air attack on Morotai , at 43,68
Allied aircraft
P-40N Warhawk x 4
P-38J Lightning x 9
P-47D Thunderbolt x 4
B-25J Mitchell x 9
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
10 casualties reported
Airbase hits 4
Runway hits 5
Aircraft Attacking:
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Day Air attack on Sansapor , at 44,74
Allied aircraft
Boomerang II x 9
Beaufort V-IX x 11
P-40N Warhawk x 7
A-20G Havoc x 14
No Allied losses
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 1
Aircraft Attacking:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Jaluit , at 81,84
Allied aircraft
F4U-1D Corsair x 9
B-25J Mitchell x 36
No Allied losses
Port supply hits 1
Aircraft Attacking:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Wewak , at 52,81
Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 34
F4U-1D Corsair x 18
F6F-5N Hellcat x 11
Hurricane II x 13
Spitfire XIV x 6
Kittyhawk III x 17
No Allied losses
Runway hits 8
Aircraft Attacking:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Wake Island , at 82,63
Allied aircraft
PB4Y Liberator x 2
B-24J Liberator x 36
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
5 casualties reported
Port hits 1
Port fuel hits 2
Aircraft Attacking:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 55th Division, at 81,84
Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 3
F4U-1D Corsair x 18
P-40N Warhawk x 28
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
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Day Air attack on 43rd Ind.Mixed Brigade, at 75,56
Allied aircraft
FM-2 Wildcat x 40
F6F Hellcat x 18
F4U-1D Corsair x 36
TBM Avenger x 32
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
18 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Aircraft Attacking:
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Day Air attack on 24th USA/C Division, at 25,41
Japanese aircraft
Ki-102a Randy x 30
No Japanese losses
Allied ground losses:
39 casualties reported
Guns lost 4
Aircraft Attacking:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 19th/C Division, at 31,57
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 3
Ki-84-Ia Frank x 4
Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 13
F4U-1D Corsair x 12
TBM Avenger x 22
This is a one shot deal if I lose off of Iwo I have no where left to go my Carriers will take heavy casualties that are irreplaceable so there is no second chance this is it the culmination of the war !!!!
ORIGINAL: Andy Mac
OK Guys I need some advice
I have 64 Hellcats and 23 F4U1D's on the Wasp TF currently off of Miri
I have a further 103 Hellcats and trained pilots on grounded sqns and another 84 in VR Sqns all at Singapore or Malaya plus 36 F4U1D's
So about 240 Hellcats and 170 trained pilots and 59 F4U1D's all with trained pilots I can load up my 3 Fleet and 2 Light Carriers with nothing but fighters
so 330 berths
I put every fighter onto the carriers and send them straight down the middle via Miri.
So I go for Miri trying to make PZB think its another wave then make a 3 days speed run to Iwo through the gap between Formosa and PI
Its risky but it brings 300 frames and pilots back into the frame !!!
If, as you say, the Iwo battle is the culmination of the war, I'd say go for it despite the risk. Send every possible asset you have to the Iwo area - from the DEI & anywhere else you can. My (inflated) two cents.
I cant give any advice as a) Im a freaking newbie and b) I read both AARs. But I do want to say, Andy, Im totally addicted to both games AARs that you are in. Very entertaining and educational as I learn the subtlities of the game. Im a JFB (I actually have lived in Japan for 11 years now...) but reading your AAR made me start an AI game as the Allies just to get a feel for it.
All advice is welcome and I am glrad you enjoy the AAR !!!
I am very lucky to have 4 exceptional games on the go at present (only 2 are AAR'd) not to mention Nemo who is a very tough opponent but our styles were to different - I have been very lucky in all my opponents.
Its the time that gets me I am running out of time on this one I will lose 500 pilots off of Iwo I accept that but if I do that its 10 months of trained pilots and the end of the war - basically I won't replace my pilots before the end of the war.
So to some extent this is the defining momnet of the war - I will begin to bring some Leathernecks on board my carriers but even that will not fully replace my USN pilot losses
Andy
I'd be wary of sending those carriers through -- their fighters might simply get stripped away defending themselves on the trip so they will arrive depleted and not of too much help. The PI are sure to be loaded with troops and planes, and one kami hit on a CV could be a problem. If it was a straight flank run from the Aleutians, then fine, but they have to run a guantlet of steel -- at the least you can expect to leave a smoldering CVL behind. Plus you'll seriously reduce your mobile air assets in the eastern theatre.
I think you should ask PzB to a house rule limiting the size of garrisons on atolls. You already have agreed to limit the size of your Death Stars as well as the % of aircraft on CAP. The second of those is clearly ahistorical but agreed to in order to get around a problem in the game mechanics. The same should be true of garrisons on atolls, the game engine yields ahistorical results and house rules should be in place to avoid creating unrealistically impossible outcomes. If PzB is going to benefit from house rules like CAP and Death Star limits and exploit loop-holes like PDU/Japanese production expansion, then he should at least give you a fighting chance for atoll invasions -- it isn't like a 20-30K garrison is a pushover.
Incidentally, you are ahead of schedule with the invasion of Iwo Jima -- the US invaded on 19 Feb 1945.
Once you secure the Marcus and Wake airfields, you can start pounding Iwo to support your ground troops -- how far out is the invasion force and what CV coverage and BB bombardment force will be goingin in with it?
I'd be wary of sending those carriers through -- their fighters might simply get stripped away defending themselves on the trip so they will arrive depleted and not of too much help. The PI are sure to be loaded with troops and planes, and one kami hit on a CV could be a problem. If it was a straight flank run from the Aleutians, then fine, but they have to run a guantlet of steel -- at the least you can expect to leave a smoldering CVL behind. Plus you'll seriously reduce your mobile air assets in the eastern theatre.
I think you should ask PzB to a house rule limiting the size of garrisons on atolls. You already have agreed to limit the size of your Death Stars as well as the % of aircraft on CAP. The second of those is clearly ahistorical but agreed to in order to get around a problem in the game mechanics. The same should be true of garrisons on atolls, the game engine yields ahistorical results and house rules should be in place to avoid creating unrealistically impossible outcomes. If PzB is going to benefit from house rules like CAP and Death Star limits and exploit loop-holes like PDU/Japanese production expansion, then he should at least give you a fighting chance for atoll invasions -- it isn't like a 20-30K garrison is a pushover.
Incidentally, you are ahead of schedule with the invasion of Iwo Jima -- the US invaded on 19 Feb 1945.
Once you secure the Marcus and Wake airfields, you can start pounding Iwo to support your ground troops -- how far out is the invasion force and what CV coverage and BB bombardment force will be goingin in with it?
It is something I will think on it is risky but it is also bold !!!
Re HR's for stacking on atolls I am the one that refuses to agree to it now (largely because I think lvl 9 forts are to powerfull). PZB has apparently not been sticking more than 30,000 men per atoll and I don't think he is overly happy at me bringing 60,000 per atoll (Corps HQ, 3 Divs and Armour plus support is my norm)
But 30,000 men dug in behind lvl 9 forts with auto shock attacks for subsequent waves and all or nothing control of the Airfield means that I have no choice - if he has 60,000 I will bring 120,000 etc etc I aim to have twice as many attackers as defenders.
Is this realistic NO but if I do anything else I will never take a single base because of the lvl 9 forts without a 6 month campaign.
So overall I am th eone not agreeing to stacking limits because I view it as to subjective and in terms of forts the damage is already done - he cannot destroy forts (lvl 9 forts on a coral reef with no mountains - lol)
As I am not asking for a HR speed and secrecy are my weapons the whole reason for taking Iwo on the run is to avoid a massive garrison - if the garrison is to strong I would probably bypass and go straight for Okinawa.
And yes I am ahead of schedule but with a hostile Marianas at my back !!!
Our game is not PDU or else I would have no chance
Re the plan for the islands I have I think 9 Battleships all modern 4 Iowa's, and 5 NC/SODAK's with Arkansas approaching Pearl with her 12" guns.
Covering the invasion I have a total of 14 Fast Carriers (incl Formidable) and 4 CVL's in 6 TF's plus about 15 CVE's in 3 TF's
Escorting two invasion convoys 1 with the 2 Army Divs and an assault TF of 1 USMC Div
Now the plan is as follows A wave of 4 carrier TF's operating in pairs in advance of the landings supported by 2 Sqns of P51D's that can hit the Bonins from Marcus (if the island can get to level 2 quick) !!!
The job of these TF's is to close the AF on both Bonin and Iwo.
The CVE's (Taffy 1,2 and 3 !!!!) will act as close escort and ground support for the attack force while the other 2 TF's act as Anti Naval and additional CAP for the invasion TF's
On combat duty against his Battle line I think I will have 6 TF's 3 led by a CL with 7 DD's and 3 of 3 BB's and 5 DD's
I will keep three Iowa's together at all times as surface TF but will convert the others to bombardment at the last instant.
If PZB chooses to sortie his Battleships they will run smack dab into 3 TF's all with Modern BB's and 3 TF's of Flethcher class DD's.
I hope that will be sufficient to stop him cold.
The worst moment is the actual point on landing as two of the TF's will end up as Bombardment
Andy
Why didn´r PzBs carriers launch against you? Don´t his planes have a larger range than yours?
Could it be he has LOTS of fighters on them to kill your CAP and afterwards will strike with his torpedo bombers?
Killing your fighters is as effective as sinking your carriers. Without fighters your carriers are dead meat.
If you like what I said love me,if you dislike what I say ignore me!
"Extra Bavaria non est vita! Et sic est vita non est ita!"
Its a possibility that I am aware of but he was clouded off which is why no strikes launched and I had restricted my range to avoid Bonin Island.
Was it a fighter trap it is possible but in my view unlikely.
It is an extremely cunning move if he has done that but given that I am not stacking my carriers to avoid UBER CAP I really do doubt that PZB would create an IJN Ubercap it would probably force me back into stacking mine to ensure my strikes went in co ordinated
Also you need to remember that like me PZB now has bombers with longer range than fighters A6M5 is not actually a LR Fighter so I am sure he is being cautious.
The ideal situation for PZB is to attrit my CAP with Oscars/Tonies/Tojos and Franks before committing highly experienced Navy bombers and probably Zekes on HL Kamikaze
All the way through the Iwo Campagn to come I will try to track this data
TF 58
TG 58.1 Bon Homme Richard, Yorktown, Bataan 99 F6F's and 36 F4U1D's 138 pilots av xp 70
TG 58.2 Ticonderoga, Bennington, Formidable 126 F6F's and 36 F4U1D's 171 pilots av xp 75 (also 24 F6F - N xp 51)
TG 58.3 Franklin, Hancock, Cabot 78 F6F's - 92 pilots ave xp 75
Total TF 58
317 F6F
72 F4U1D
24 F6F - N
Total 389 DF and 24 NF
TF 59
TG 59.1 Lexington, Shangri La, Enterprise - 91 F6F and 35 F4U1D 121 pilots ave xp 66 (also 24 F6F - N xp 59)
TG 59.2 Randolph, Antietem - 77 F6F and 32 F4U1D's 119 pilots average xp 71
TG 59.3 Hornet, Bunker Hill, Princeton 99 F6F, 16 RN Corsair 114 pilots ave xp 64
Total TF 59
268 F6F's
67 F4U1D
24 F6F - N
16 RN Corsair's
Total 351 DF and 24 NF
In reserve or at Midway en route to the front
CVR Sqns
VR - 4 (Marcus) 49 F6F, 36 Pilots Ave XP 65
VR - 8 (Marcus) 41 F6F, 41 Pilots ave XP 41
Midway
VR - 3 40 F6F 38 Pilots Ave xp 59
VMF 155 24 F4U1D 24 Pilot Ave Xp 62
VMF 441 24 F4U1D 24 Pilot Ave Xp 65
VMF 314 24 F4U 24 Pilot Ave Xp 60
VMF 322 24 F4U 24 Pilot Ave Xp 59
VMF 323 24 F4U 24 Pilot Ave Xp 57
VF 37 38 F6F 29 Pilots Ave Xp 69
VMF - N 532 24 F6F - N Ave XP 59
VMF - N 533 24 F6F - N Ave XP 57
VMF - N 543 24 F6F - N Ave XP 50
VFN - 19 24 F6F - N Ave XP 72
VF 37 is en route to join Enterprise after she took heavy losses in her strike group
It is an extremely cunning move if he has done that but given that I am not stacking my carriers to avoid UBER CAP I really do doubt that PZB would create an IJN Ubercap it would probably force me back into stacking mine to ensure my strikes went in co ordinated
So you are assuming PzB is setting the same CAP limits on his carrier TFs as you are on yours?
Hmmm I never really thought a lot about it to be honest - I expect him to operate all his carriers together and probably have them operate in conjunction with LBA (or try to hit my LOC) (to be honest the best use of them is in single carrier TF's raiding my LOC IMO)
Stacking isnt really an issue as he only has 4 or 5 left
If he has stacked them full of fighters it would be irritating but not worth causing a fuss over - if he is stacking fighters on board as a fighter trap to kill my Hellcats its certainly good play as my weakness is Hellcats and navy pilots and he knows it
Basically I don't expect PZB to apply my self imposed stacking limits or CAP %'s
As I said it would be an irritation and would probably accelerate deployment of Leatherneck F4U1D's
You can all see from the above I have about 600 trained Hellcat Pilots and 100 ish trained Corsair Pilots off of the Marianas I was losing 200 per day !!!!
It will not take much to force me to use Marines and I have them ready to deploy when I need them.
If he attrits me to much it accelerates the deployment of Marines - there is no going back this time !!!!
ps lets not forget that several of my Essex class ships now operate a 42 plane F6F Sqn and a 36 plan F4U1D Sqns with 18 TBM's or Helldivers so out of 90 planes 78 are fighters so I would probably be a little hypocritical to concern my self if he is stacking fighters on his carriers
I have more beached bomber sqns than I know what to do with at present I could probably disband and not reform 500 navy bomber sqns and release 500 elite pilots for fighter sqns but the game won't let me.
When the Essex class sqn changes occur you end up with carriers with 1 F6F Sqn (42) 1 F4U1D Sqn (36) 1 Helldiver Sqn (18 or 36) and 1 TBM Sqn (18) so the carriers are overloaded and you need to beach one of the Bomber Sqns
Add to that squns off of damaged CVE's and beached CVR Bomber Sqns (I cannot affored the pilots to operate them and I dont really have the need)
I could easily disband 500+ aircraft for the USN ORBAT to free up trained pilots but the game will not let me.
My Beached CVR Bomber Sqns have so many spare trained pilots that I could fill my operational sqns 3 or 4 times over compared to perhaps 700 fighters/FB's my Fleet carriers probably are only operating 350 strike aircraft at present and 50 Nightfighters.
After the initial strikes my plan is to use the Fast Carrier task groups with 2 Carrier TF's up and 1 replenishing from each task Group at Marcus so I will have 4 Carrier TF's operational at all times off of Iwo
