Can we get a carrier battles only thread going?

[Ketza]

I typically read the AARs looking for the carrier battles. Would be nice if the OPs of the threads posted some of their big carrier battles on one thread to make for a quicker read.

Thanks!

[tocaff]

You could do it that way, but I think that anyone who takes the time to do an AAR should be the one to decide the way it's going to be done.  Most people want more of what's going on than just CV battles as one big one and then no CV fights for another year would make for a pretty thin AAR.

[cantona2]

i agree with tocaff. a cv battle on its own wtih no context would not really make much sense

[Ketza]

I have read many of these ARS from beggining to end was just hoping to get a few abridged versions with carrier battles and outcomes.

If not its cool was just wondering.

[Q-Ball]

I'll give you one if you think it's helpful. Final Tally was 4 US CV's sunk, Yorktown very heavily damaged. CA New Orleans sank later. IJN lost 3 CV's. I was Japan. Though day 2 was better than this one, and all IJN, probably a draw or minor Allied Victory, but alot of carnage (surface engagements and relevant land bases included):

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/12/42


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Night Time Surface Combat, near Tarawa at 85,91

Japanese Ships
CA Haguro, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CA Nachi, Shell hits 2
CA Mogami
CA Mikuma
CA Kumano
CA Kinugasa
CA Kako
CL Naka
CL Natori, Shell hits 2
CL Kuma
CL Tama
CL Kiso
CL Yubari
DD Yugumo
DD Makinami
DD Oyashio
DD Yukikaze
DD Hayashio
DD Shiranuhi
DD Amatsukaze
DD Urakaze
DD Arashi
DD Tanikaze
DD Arare

Allied Ships
BB Washington, Shell hits 6
BB Indiana, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 3, on fire
CA Northampton, Shell hits 7, on fire
CA New Orleans, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD O'Bannon, Shell hits 14, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Laffey
DD Anderson, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Tarawa , at 85,91

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
A6M3 Zero x 4
A6M3a Zero x 15

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 2
B-24D Liberator x 29

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 damaged
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 7 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38G Lightning: 2 destroyed
B-24D Liberator: 15 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
14 casualties reported

Runway hits 26

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 10000 feet
8 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 10000 feet
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 10000 feet
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 10000 feet
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 10000 feet
2 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 10000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 85,95

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 42
A6M3a Zero x 26

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 23
SBD Dauntless x 64
TBF Avenger x 45

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 19 destroyed
SBD Dauntless: 16 destroyed, 28 damaged
TBF Avenger: 15 destroyed, 15 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Maya
CV Shokaku, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CV Zuikaku, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CV Hiryu
CV Soryu, Bomb hits 3, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
8 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
8 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
1 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
1 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
5 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
9 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
3 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
8 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
9 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 85,95

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 19
A6M3a Zero x 12

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 11
SBD Dauntless x 35

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed, 1 damaged
A6M3a Zero: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 4 destroyed, 3 damaged
SBD Dauntless: 4 destroyed, 27 damaged

Japanese Ships
CV Zuikaku, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CV Shokaku, Bomb hits 8, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
7 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
8 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
9 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 85,95

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 30
A6M3a Zero x 20

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 11
SBD Dauntless x 17
TBF Avenger x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed
A6M3a Zero: 4 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 4 destroyed, 3 damaged
SBD Dauntless: 4 destroyed, 7 damaged
TBF Avenger: 2 destroyed, 14 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Takao, Bomb hits 1
CV Soryu, on fire
CV Shokaku, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CV Zuikaku, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CV Hiryu

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
9 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 85,95

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 20
A6M3a Zero x 12

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 11
SBD Dauntless x 53

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed, 3 damaged
A6M3a Zero: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 4 destroyed, 2 damaged
SBD Dauntless: 2 destroyed, 23 damaged

Japanese Ships
CV Soryu, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CV Hiryu, Bomb hits 5, heavy damage
CV Shokaku, Bomb hits 8, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
6 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
9 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
9 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
9 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
9 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 85,95

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 14
A6M3a Zero x 7

Allied aircraft
TBF Avenger x 15

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
TBF Avenger: 11 damaged

Japanese Ships
CV Soryu, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CV Zuikaku, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 90,92

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed, 5 damaged

Allied Ships
BB Washington, Torpedo hits 2, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 83,95

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 42
D3A Val x 21
B5N Kate x 85

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 82

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 22 destroyed
D3A Val: 6 destroyed, 7 damaged
B5N Kate: 35 destroyed, 15 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 19 destroyed, 19 damaged

Allied Ships
CV Wasp, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CV Hornet, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
CV Yorktown, Torpedo hits 3, on fire
DD Buchanan
DD Farragut
CL Nashville
CA Houston

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
2 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
2 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
2 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
2 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
4 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
3 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
3 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
2 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
1 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 83,95

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 46
A6M3 Zero x 12
G4M1 Betty x 11

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 31

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 15 destroyed, 2 damaged
A6M3 Zero: 3 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 4 destroyed, 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 31 destroyed

Allied Ships
CV Yorktown, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
CV Hornet, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 83,95

Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 38
A6M3a Zero x 22
B5N Kate x 39

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val: 2 destroyed, 25 damaged
B5N Kate: 2 destroyed, 14 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 20 destroyed

Allied Ships
CV Wasp, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CV Hornet, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CV Yorktown, Bomb hits 6, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CLAA San Diego, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
2 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
1 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
4 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
4 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
4 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
4 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
2 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
4 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
4 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
3 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
4 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 83,95

Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 21
A6M3a Zero x 13
B5N Kate x 21

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val: 5 destroyed, 11 damaged
A6M3a Zero: 2 destroyed
B5N Kate: 4 destroyed, 13 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 5 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied Ships
CLAA Atlanta
CV Saratoga, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CV Lexington, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
4 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
2 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
3 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
3 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
4 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
2 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 82,95

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7
A6M3 Zero x 2
G4M1 Betty x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed, 9 damaged

Allied Ships
BB Tennessee, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
BB South Dakota, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 89,92

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 4 damaged

Allied Ships
BB Indiana, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 85,95

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 12
A6M3a Zero x 6

Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 15
TBF Avenger x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless: 6 destroyed, 3 damaged
TBF Avenger: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CVL Shoho, Bomb hits 1
BB Kongo
CV Akagi, Bomb hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
1 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
1 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
5 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 85,95

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 12
A6M3a Zero x 6

Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 5 damaged

Japanese Ships
CV Hiryu, heavy damage
CV Shokaku, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 5000 feet
4 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 5000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 83,95

Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 3
B5N Kate x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val: 2 damaged
B5N Kate: 1 destroyed, 10 damaged

Allied Ships
CV Hornet, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CL Raleigh

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
2 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
2 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 83,95

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 13
D3A Val x 8
A6M3a Zero x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val: 4 destroyed

Allied Ships
CV Lexington, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
2 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Ketza]

Wow what a slaughter. How did it change things from the strategic perspective?

[Q-Ball]

Not as much as I would have liked.  The US left the battle with NO operational CV's in the Pacific.  I still had Kaga, Hiyo undamaged, with a couple CVL's.  By then he had a lodgement at Tarawa, and was able to use LBA to keep advancing.  I could have done a better job containing the 4E's.  I'm smarter now, I should have had smaller TFs.

I only gave battle because I knew I could leverage LBA from Tarawa (see large Betty/Zero strike), but that wasn't decisive.