Excerpt from the Courtmartial

[NorthStar]

"So let me see if I have this right Admiral. On the Fifth of May, 1942, you ordered TF 201 -- consisting of the Carriers Lexington and Yorktown with escorts -- to take up a position NW of Espirito."

"That is correct sir."

"TF 201 had was ordered to remain on station, and engage enemy task forces which may appear."

"Yes sir."

"Unfortunately, when an enemy force was sighted and TF 201 moved to intercept, you neglected to order you carriers to launch CAP!!!!!"

"Well, yes . . . . . . but . . . . . . ."

"And what was the result?! What did you incredible negligance result in!? The report is quite sickening, Admiral...."

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Air attack on TF at 30,39

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 18
D3A Val x 39
B5N Kate x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val x 3 destroyed
D3A Val x 10 damaged
B5N Kate x 2 destroyed
B5N Kate x 6 damaged

Allied Ships
CA Minneapolis, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
CV Lexington, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Dewey
DD Hammann
CV Yorktown, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CA Chester, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Monaghan
CA Portland
DD Anderson, Bomb hits 1, on fire


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Air attack on TF at 30,39

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
B5N Kate x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate x 3 destroyed
B5N Kate x 15 damaged

Allied Ships
CA Portland, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Dewey
CV Yorktown, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CV Lexington, Torpedo hits 3, on fire


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Air attack on TF at 30,39

Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate x 2 destroyed
B5N Kate x 4 damaged

Allied Ships
CV Yorktown, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage


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Air attack on TF at 30,39

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 14
G3M Nell x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell x 5 destroyed
G3M Nell x 9 damaged

LCDR V.Sugiyama of G2/Genzan Daitai is KILLED

Allied Ships
CV Lexington, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CA New Orleans, Torpedo hits 1

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x G3M Nell at 200 feet
2 x G3M Nell at 200 feet
3 x G3M Nell at 200 feet

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"The Yorktown sunk immediately after the conclusion of the battle, did it not, Admiral? And the Lexington was left a near cripple, likely never to see port again either!!

"How can you possibly explain yourself, Admiral."

"Well, sir, my fighter pilots were kind of fatigued, sir. And I thought I should give them a rest leading up to the patrol. I mean, that's what you are supposed to do, isn't it sir? And well, with everything else going on, I forgot to set them back. And, I never expected to find Jap carriers in the slot itself, sir. And . . . and . . . well, sir, it could happen to anyone couldn't it? . . . I mean, couldn't it . . . "

"You, Admiral, are a complete moron . . . "

"Yes, sir"

************************

Seriously though, it's a really good thing that I wasn't at the real Battle of the Coral Sea. I'll actually get a chance to try this one again.

[Rob Roberson]

LOL

[Mojo]

Indeed. I've found myself in the same spot a couple of times so far.

[mogami]

LOL
look on Jap pilots face when arriving over enemy carriers and finding no CAP

[NorthStar]

The only good part of the whole thing was that my own strikes were quite well escorted . . .

Although I still only managed two bomb hits on a CV, out of about sixty odd bombers and torpedo bombers. That's a different issue, however.

[Beckles]

You're in a combat zone man, even when you're at Noumea ... It would seem to me that even when you want to rest your pilots you should never, ever, set CAP to 0%, at least keep it at 10%. Of course, the problem is that according to other posts the same 10% will always be on CAP, but they mentioned they might change that in a patch ...

Of course, in this case that wouldn't have done a ton of good ... but I just thought I'd mention my feelings on the matter.

[Dirtweasle]

The real question; " Was the CAG summarily executed?"

[U2]

Originally posted by Mogami
LOL
look on Jap pilots face when arriving over enemy carriers and finding no CAP

Hi Guys

I have a story for you. I am playing a PBEM game against Ironbottomsound and we had a CV battle. I was surprised that there was a battle so I had only 10 CAP level on and when I arrived over his ships he had only 9-12 Zeros for cover! So we both had level 10 CAP on. You just never know. The result of the battle is still TOP SECRET info.

Dan