and after having spotted KB for at least two dozen times sitting 10 hexes off Manado we had around 7 dozen messages like "bombers fail to locate target due to range or weather", "bombers fail to link up", "escorts fail to link up", "pilots being off at the beach" and "pilots refusing to fly because they don´t give a damn about orders, it´s only pixel war after all"... watched these messages for around 90 sec, quite amusing after watching the messages for 60 sec when we had 3 dozen messages for the carrier based Hellcats failing to do anything reasonable... I expected to see the first strike going in with something like no fighters and 15 bombers... though with the old rule to follow in AE, you get the most aircraft over the target if you try to screw up as much as possible with your squadrons being spread out over as many airfields as possible was also true here as some 70 Corsairs from Cotabato managed to escort the bombers from Manado... how does this work on a naval strike? Truly a genius coordination here I would say and I also tend to say that this would have near impossible in real life... the bombers and fighters from the same base fail to do so, heck, but 70 fighters from a base 9 hexes away manage to escort? mhm...
Morning Air attack on TF, near Tawi Tawi at 71,89
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 41 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 174 (first thought: why so few Zekes on Cap?) [X(])
N1K1-J George x 2
Allied aircraft
F4U-1A Corsair x 81
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 12
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 2 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1A Corsair: 3 destroyed
PB4Y-1 Liberator: 1 destroyed, 11 damaged
Japanese Ships
CV Akagi, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CL Tokachi
CVL Chitose, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
Aircraft Attacking:
4 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 5 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
7 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 5 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
CAP engaged:
S-302 Kokutai with N1K1-J George (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 6000
Raid is overhead
2 planes vectored on to bombers
S-309 Hikotai with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 6000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 40 minutes
452 Ku S-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 2 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 6000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 38500.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 44 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers
261 Ku S-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 3000 and 38500.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 45 minutes
10 planes vectored on to bombers
265 Ku S-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 5 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 38500 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 38000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 46 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers
S-603 Hikotai with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 38500 , scrambling fighters to 38500.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 44 minutes
8 planes vectored on to bombers
Akagi-1 with A6M5 Zero (3 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 38500 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 38500.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 46 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
Soryu-1 with A6M5 Zero (2 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 16000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 38500.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 47 minutes
6 planes vectored on to bombers
Hiryu-1 with A6M5 Zero (3 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 16000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 38500.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 43 minutes
9 planes vectored on to bombers
Shokaku-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 5 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 38500 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 7000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 22 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
Zuikaku-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 5 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 38500 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 38000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 39 minutes
5 planes vectored on to bombers
Ryujo-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 16000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 36 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
Junyo-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 5 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 6000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 38500.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 44 minutes
7 planes vectored on to bombers
Shoho-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 16000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 38500.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 28 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
Zuiho-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 5 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 16000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 38500.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 41 minutes
Ryuho-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 3 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 38500 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 38000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 43 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers
Hosho-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 13000 and 38500.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 40 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers
Taiho-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 7 on standby, 2 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 38500 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 38500.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 39 minutes
7 planes vectored on to bombers
Unryu-1 with A6M5 Zero (3 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 6000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 38500.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 36 minutes
8 planes vectored on to bombers
Taiyo-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 13000 and 38500.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 46 minutes
the enemy is coming in with no less than 19 carriers in various task forces and parks them 10 hexes NE of the level 9 airfield of Manado (some 500 bombers of various types and more than 300 fighters) with another 150 fighters at Cotabato, just 7 hexes to the East and then we only meet a meager Cap of 174 Zekes backed up by two Georges on LRCAP coming from somewhere around Brunei... I don´t know what Rainer was really up to, in fact he ends up far to close to Manado... was this an attempt to attack my carriers at Manado that ended up at least two hexes short or another attempt to draw unescorted heavy bombers? With his Cap setting I would tend to think it was too short move to attack my carriers because his Cap setting clearly wasn´t higher than 50% with his fighters doing something else (escort) than flying Cap... the Zekes had the never ending dive from the start until the end of the engagement, they never ran out nor did it ever change over to the Corsairs... I thought this would turn into a total disaster for the Corsairs but in the end it didn´t as the Corsairs fought bravely... while not really taking out the fighters on Cap, the Corsairs mostly evaded the attackers or weren´t shot down but sent home damaged... this enabled the small number of bombers to fly through Cap as if it wouldn´t be existent to put to bombs through Akagi´s deck and another three through the Chitose´s deck which was left heavily burning... one of the bombers was downed by flak before dropping any bombs... insane result for 12 attacking bombers, perhaps I should not use them that low, but I guess with 70 nav skill they wouldn´t perform any different from 3000ft... and I´m always thinking about what 12 Betty/Nell/Frances do to my carriers or battleships when they manage to get through Cap, usually you end up with holes in your CVs´ hulls and these are more severe than 500lb bombs going through the deck...
I was absolutely pleased about the Corsairs performance (when the fight start I expected to see 40 Corsairs being outright shot down), not to talk about the five bomb hits on enemy carriers... this pretty much makes up for the duds on Hiryu earlier this day...
[img]
https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/upfi ... BFD1BA.jpg[/img]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Talaud-eilanden , at 79,97
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 32 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-25D1 Mitchell x 45
P-38J Lightning x 22
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 20
F4U-1 Corsair x 13
PV-1 Ventura x 54
Allied aircraft losses
B-25D1 Mitchell: 1 damaged
PV-1 Ventura: 15 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
4 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Airbase hits 16
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 40
Aircraft Attacking:
12 x PV-1 Ventura bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x PV-1 Ventura bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x PV-1 Ventura bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x PV-1 Ventura bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x PV-1 Ventura bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x PV-1 Ventura bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
oh boy, what a bad timing... had all the low nav trained Mitchells and Venturas on nav attack all the time, just to order a grd training attack now and then... and I did that exactly TODAY... not only were all my Venturas and Mitchells flying to Talaud Eilanden we also had 35 fighters flying with them that also could have reached KB (sending 55 fighters with these bombers to Talaud Eilanden is truly a great working routine, as if the 200+ carrier based Hellcats wouldn´t have been enough as an escort [8|])... again, I can´t set any fighters to "escort nav strike", so I´m "relying" on the routine to assign escorts... and it constantly fails doing it with any logical sense behind it as having some 300 fighters escorting a hundred medium bombers to an empty, damaged airfield (it has been like this for months already) is truly a smart desicion when you have enemy carriers sitting 400 miles off your base and bombers launching to attack them at the same time... of course, I can be stupid again and thinking like this is totally insane and I completely miss the point... I have to admit that...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Talaud-eilanden , at 79,97
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 32 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-25D1 Mitchell x 12
P-38J Lightning x 16
PV-1 Ventura x 9
Allied aircraft losses
B-25D1 Mitchell: 2 damaged
PV-1 Ventura: 5 damaged
Runway hits 13
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x PV-1 Ventura bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Talaud-eilanden , at 79,97
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 32 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-25D1 Mitchell x 12
P-38J Lightning x 22
PV-1 Ventura x 9
Allied aircraft losses
B-25D1 Mitchell: 1 damaged
PV-1 Ventura: 4 damaged
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 17
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x PV-1 Ventura bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
sending my bombers to Talaud Eilanden purely is my fault of course, it would have been smarter to have either the Mitchells or the Venturas doing the training run, while the other type would have been kept on naval attack to see perhaps 15% of the bombers actually managing to attack the enemy ships (like it is true for all the bombers on nav attack today)... my bad, can´t blaim the routine for me being stupid in this case...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Tawi Tawi at 71,89
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 41 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 149
N1K1-J George x 2
Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 65
F4U-1A Corsair x 36
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 6
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 7 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 25 damaged
F4U-1A Corsair: 1 destroyed
PB4Y-1 Liberator: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged
Japanese Ships
BB Yamato
CVL Zuiho
CVL Ryuho
CVL Nisshin
CV Shokaku
CV Zuikaku
BB Kongo
CVL Shoho
CV Akagi, on fire
BB Haruna
Aircraft Attacking:
11 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 10 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
4 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 10 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
11 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 10 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
11 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 10 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
9 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 10 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
5 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 10 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
4 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 10 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
4 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 10 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
6 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 5 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
CAP engaged:
S-302 Kokutai with N1K1-J George (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 6000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 44 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
S-309 Hikotai with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 6000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 8 minutes
452 Ku S-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 6000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 12 minutes
261 Ku S-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 1 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 8 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 9000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 41 minutes
9 planes vectored on to bombers
265 Ku S-1 with A6M5 Zero (3 airborne, 3 on standby, 2 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 38500 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes
6 planes vectored on to bombers
S-603 Hikotai with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 6 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 38500 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes
6 planes vectored on to bombers
Akagi-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 1 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 38500 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 38000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes
9 planes vectored on to bombers
Hiryu-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 16000 , scrambling fighters to 1000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes
9 planes vectored on to bombers
Shokaku-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 2 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 38500 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 42 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
Zuikaku-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 38500 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 5000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes
6 planes vectored on to bombers
Ryujo-1 with A6M5 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 16000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 24 minutes
10 planes vectored on to bombers
Junyo-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 6000 , scrambling fighters to 1000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 14 minutes
5 planes vectored on to bombers
Shoho-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 2 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 16000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 8000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 41 minutes
6 planes vectored on to bombers
Zuiho-1 with A6M5 Zero (2 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 16000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 9000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
Ryuho-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 2 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 38500 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
Taiho-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 38500 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 7000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 39 minutes
9 planes vectored on to bombers
Unryu-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 6000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 38500.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 38 minutes
10 planes vectored on to bombers
Taiyo-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 38500.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 28 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
Unyo-1 with A6M5 Zero (2 airborne, 2 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 38500.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes
5 planes vectored on to bombers
Chuyo-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 52 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Akagi
next strike is mostly made up by high flying USAAF heavy "fighter" squadrons that also carry some bombs to kill some fish a couple of miles away from the enemy carriers... I was amazed about the size of this bomber strike, even if I already knew the untrained B-24 would not hit anything... while taking down a couple of Zekes the Corsairs did not do much more in this engagement (saved quite a lot of them I guess) while the bombers also took out a good number of Zekes before they went in to drop their loads...we only had 6 Navy bombers we could have relied on scoring some hits but unfortunately they all missed...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Tawi Tawi at 71,89
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 41 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 100
N1K1-J George x 1
Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 6
F4U-1A Corsair x 8
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 4 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged
F4U-1A Corsair: 3 destroyed
Japanese Ships
CVL Nisshin
Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 10 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
CAP engaged:
S-302 Kokutai with N1K1-J George (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 6000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 3 minutes
452 Ku S-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 6000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
261 Ku S-1 with A6M5 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 10 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
S-603 Hikotai with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 38500
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 49 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers
Akagi-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 38500 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes
5 planes vectored on to bombers
Hiryu-1 with A6M5 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 16000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 38 minutes
8 planes vectored on to bombers
Zuikaku-1 with A6M5 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 38500
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 32 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
Ryujo-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 16000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 41 minutes
5 planes vectored on to bombers
Junyo-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 6000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 43 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
Shoho-1 with A6M5 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 16000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
Zuiho-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 16000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers
Ryuho-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 38500
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
Taiho-1 with A6M5 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 38500
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 44 minutes
8 planes vectored on to bombers
Unryu-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 5 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 6000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 42 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
Taiyo-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
Unyo-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 38500.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 44 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
Chuyo-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters to 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 41 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
Kaiyo-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 6000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 13 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers
265 Ku S-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 38500 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 24 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
Soryu-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 16000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 32 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
only a hundred Zekes left on Cap but our strikes start to become smaller and smaller without any bombers being able to hit enemy shipping...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Hue , at 66,64
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 46,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes
Allied aircraft
P-38H Lightning x 9
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x P-38H Lightning sweeping at 40000 feet
3 x P-38H Lightning sweeping at 40000 feet
3 x P-38H Lightning sweeping at 40000 feet
[8|] love it... the daily "three fighters unable to fly in formation with their squadron"...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
and here comes the reason why so few Zekes were on Cap over the carriers...
Morning Air attack on TF, near Cotabato at 78,90
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 200 NM, estimated altitude 28,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 66 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 195 [X(][X(]
B6N2 Jill x 9 [8|]
Allied aircraft
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 2
F4U-1A Corsair x 9
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1A Corsair: 1 destroyed
Allied Ships
LCI-84
LCI-333, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
LCI-335
LCI-85, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
LCI-63
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
5 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 38500 feet
2 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 16000 feet
7 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 16000 feet
3 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 38500 feet
3 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 6000 feet
5 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 20000 feet
9 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 38500 feet
3 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 38500 feet
3 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 16000 feet
3 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 38500 feet
3 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 6000 feet
2 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 16000 feet
2 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 38500 feet
CAP engaged:
VMF-225 with F4U-1A Corsair (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 4 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 30000 , scrambling fighters between 27000 and 28000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 39 minutes
35th FG/40th FS with P-47D2 Thunderbolt (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 42000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes
VMF-218 with F4U-1A Corsair (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 4 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 30000 , scrambling fighters to 21000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes
VMF-224 with F4U-1A Corsair (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 30000 , scrambling fighters to 18000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 36 minutes
the routines are the same for both sides, both sides SUFFER from them the same silly way... I don´t know if someone in charge ever really read a book on this matter but having 195 Zekes escorting a laughable number of 9 Jills to attack a target like this TF consisting of two AM and a couple of LCI must be the joke of the day (just as silly as the 200+ Hellcats trying to escor my LBA strikes)... again, I may ask ppl that are truly experts on the Pacific war (which I am clearly not when I read about what ppl on this forum really know about it) to explain me what a real life Admiral would have thought to send 195 Zekes to escort a strike of 9 Jills... I dare to say that this would not have happened... I also dare to say that the routine WORKED in ordering only 9 Jills to attack this useless convoy but it COMPLETELY FAILED to assign a reasonable number of escort for 9 Jills! Being in a test phase, I bet it would be said "sorry, there is something out of whack and not yet working as it should"... unfortunately, we´re beyond test phase... or, again, I fail to see notice this being well reasonable and perfectly realistic, which would lead to a "teachable moment" again... [:'(]
in this case it is getting me an advantage and people might well think this stupid bastard is only complaining when things are screwed up and are disadvantaging him, sorry, but I would have preferred to only see a good dozen escorts here and the rest staying with the carriers, even if it would have resulted in not a single bomb hit so far with far more Allied aircraft being shot down... I can ausure you that Rainer didn´t like it either to see 195 Zekes being sent with a couple of Jills... my complaining and bitching won´t change anything and I doubt this will ever become better as it seems to be seen as working near perfectly but this is something I just can´t accpet, therefore I am going to spit around as I just can´t hold back... I should record myselve while watching the replay, sure would be a nice youtube clip, at least for those who are speaking German...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Tawi Tawi at 71,89
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 65
Allied aircraft
F4U-1A Corsair x 2
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 6
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1A Corsair: 1 destroyed
PB4Y-1 Liberator: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged
Japanese Ships
CV Taiho
CVL Chiyoda
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 5 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
CAP engaged:
452 Ku S-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 6000
Raid is overhead
Akagi-1 with A6M5 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 38500 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes
Hiryu-1 with A6M5 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 16000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes
Ryujo-1 with A6M5 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 16000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 47 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
Junyo-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 6000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes
Shoho-1 with A6M5 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 16000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
Ryuho-1 with A6M5 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 38500
Raid is overhead
1 planes vectored on to bombers
Taiho-1 with A6M5 Zero (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 38500
Raid is overhead
1 planes vectored on to bombers
Unryu-1 with A6M5 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 6000
Raid is overhead
1 planes vectored on to bombers
Taiyo-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters to 18000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
Unyo-1 with A6M5 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
Chuyo-1 with A6M5 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 13000
Raid is overhead
1 planes vectored on to bombers
Kaiyo-1 with A6M5 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 6000
Raid is overhead
265 Ku S-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 38500 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 39 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers
S-603 Hikotai with A6M5 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 38500
Raid is overhead
1 planes vectored on to bombers
Soryu-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 16000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
Shokaku-1 with A6M5 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 38500
Raid is overhead
Zuiho-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 16000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
Hosho-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
Shinyo-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
we´re still in the morning and more piece meal strikes are trickling in... Cap is nearly completely down already...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Tawi Tawi at 71,89
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 60
Allied aircraft
F4U-1A Corsair x 10
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 6
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1A Corsair: 3 destroyed
PB4Y-1 Liberator: 5 damaged
Japanese Ships
CVL Ryuho, Bomb hits 1
CVL Nisshin, Bomb hits 1, on fire
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 5 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
CAP engaged:
452 Ku S-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 6000 , scrambling fighters to 6000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 11 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
Akagi-1 with A6M5 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 2 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 38500 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
Hiryu-1 with A6M5 Zero (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 16000
Raid is overhead
4 planes vectored on to bombers
Ryujo-1 with A6M5 Zero (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 16000
Raid is overhead
2 planes vectored on to bombers
Junyo-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 2 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 6000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 44 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
Shoho-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 16000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 43 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
Ryuho-1 with A6M5 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 38500
Raid is overhead
1 planes vectored on to bombers
Taiho-1 with A6M5 Zero (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 38500 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 11 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers
Unryu-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 6000 , scrambling fighters to 1000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 11 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
Taiyo-1 with A6M5 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 13000
Raid is overhead
1 planes vectored on to bombers
Unyo-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 47 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers
Chuyo-1 with A6M5 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 13000
Raid is overhead
1 planes vectored on to bombers
Kaiyo-1 with A6M5 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 6000
Raid is overhead
2 planes vectored on to bombers
265 Ku S-1 with A6M5 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 38500
Raid is overhead
S-603 Hikotai with A6M5 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 38500
Raid is overhead
1 planes vectored on to bombers
Soryu-1 with A6M5 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 16000 , scrambling fighters to 1000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 10 minutes
Shokaku-1 with A6M5 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 38500 , scrambling fighters to 1000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
Zuiho-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 16000
Raid is overhead
1 planes vectored on to bombers
Hosho-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 13000
Raid is overhead
Shinyo-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
this strike wasn´t nearly touched at all by the enemy fighters and flak proves to be far more effective than enemy Cap so far (at least against the bombers)... being untouched by the fighters, the bombers manage to put a bomb in two so far undamaged CVL... the 500lb bombs don´t cause follow on explosions that often, so far only Akagi suffered a follow on explosion from one of the two bomb hits...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Tawi Tawi at 71,89
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 29 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 47
Allied aircraft
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 6
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
PB4Y-1 Liberator: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged
Japanese Ships
CVL Mizuho
CL Sendai, Bomb hits 1, on fire
Aircraft Attacking:
5 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 5 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
CAP engaged:
452 Ku S-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 6000
Raid is overhead
Akagi-1 with A6M5 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 38500 , scrambling fighters to 1000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 11 minutes
Hiryu-1 with A6M5 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 16000
Raid is overhead
Ryujo-1 with A6M5 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 16000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 14 minutes
Junyo-1 with A6M5 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 6000
Raid is overhead
Shoho-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 16000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 6000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes
Taiho-1 with A6M5 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 38500 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 28 minutes
Unryu-1 with A6M5 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 6000
Raid is overhead
Taiyo-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 13000
Raid is overhead
Unyo-1 with A6M5 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 13000
Raid is overhead
Chuyo-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters to 7000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 14 minutes
Kaiyo-1 with A6M5 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 6000
Raid is overhead
Soryu-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 16000 , scrambling fighters to 3000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 32 minutes
Shokaku-1 with A6M5 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 38500
Raid is overhead
Zuiho-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 16000
Raid is overhead
Ryuho-1 with A6M5 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 38500
Raid is overhead
Hosho-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 13000
Raid is overhead
261 Ku S-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 1000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes
S-603 Hikotai with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 38500
Raid is overhead
still bombers coming in in the morning, when I see the Cap being completely unable to do anything against our strikes, then I´m really pitying my decision to send my mediums on a grd attack run as today would have been the perfect example of what I was planning for all the war so far... competitive escorts and heavy USAAF bombers to clear the way for the bombers that are actually able to hit shipping, in this case PB4Y-1, Venturas and B-25D1 (of course we also got 1E dive and torp bombers and Aussie Beaufort VIII but these were all out of range)... a bomb hits a light cruiser...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Tawi Tawi at 71,89
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 34 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 37
Allied aircraft
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 6
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
PB4Y-1 Liberator: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged
Japanese Ships
BB Yamato
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
CAP engaged:
Akagi-1 with A6M5 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 38500 , scrambling fighters to 4000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes
Hiryu-1 with A6M5 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 16000
Raid is overhead
Ryujo-1 with A6M5 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 16000
Raid is overhead
Junyo-1 with A6M5 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 6000
Raid is overhead
Shoho-1 with A6M5 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 16000
Raid is overhead
Taiho-1 with A6M5 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 2 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 38500 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 9000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 45 minutes
Unryu-1 with A6M5 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 6000
Raid is overhead
Unyo-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters to 4000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 11 minutes
Chuyo-1 with A6M5 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 13000
Raid is overhead
Kaiyo-1 with A6M5 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 6000
Raid is overhead
Soryu-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 3 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 16000 , scrambling fighters to 3000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 35 minutes
Shokaku-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 38500 , scrambling fighters to 4000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes
Zuiho-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 16000
Raid is overhead
Ryuho-1 with A6M5 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 38500
Raid is overhead
261 Ku S-1 with A6M5 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Raid is overhead
S-603 Hikotai with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 38500
Raid is overhead
while being a fat target, Yamato was the wrong target to be attacked with 500lb bombs...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Tawi Tawi at 71,89
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 17 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 27
Allied aircraft
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 6
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
PB4Y-1 Liberator: 6 damaged
Japanese Ships
BB Kongo
CVL Shoho, Bomb hits 1, on fire
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 5 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
CAP engaged:
Akagi-1 with A6M5 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 38500 , scrambling fighters to 4000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 14 minutes
Hiryu-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 16000
Raid is overhead
Ryujo-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 16000 , scrambling fighters to 4000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes
Junyo-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 6000
Raid is overhead
Unryu-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 6000 , scrambling fighters to 4000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes
Kaiyo-1 with A6M5 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 6000
Raid is overhead
Soryu-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 3 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 16000 , scrambling fighters to 3000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 42 minutes
Shokaku-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 38500
Raid is overhead
Shoho-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 16000 , scrambling fighters to 4000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 12 minutes
Zuiho-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 16000
Raid is overhead
Ryuho-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 38500 , scrambling fighters to 4000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes
Taiho-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 2 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 38500 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 47 minutes
Unyo-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters to 4000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes
Chuyo-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 13000
Raid is overhead
261 Ku S-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 4000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 42 minutes
but Shoho takes one now...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Tawi Tawi at 71,89
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 34 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 24
Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 6
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged
Japanese Ships
CVL Ryuho
CVL Nisshin, on fire
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 10 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
CAP engaged:
Akagi-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 2 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 38500 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 13000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 32 minutes
Hiryu-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 16000
Raid is overhead
Ryujo-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 16000 , scrambling fighters to 4000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 34 minutes
Junyo-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 6000
Raid is overhead
Unryu-1 with A6M5 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 6000
Raid is overhead
Soryu-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 3 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 16000 , scrambling fighters to 3000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 38 minutes
Shokaku-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 38500 , scrambling fighters to 7000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 10 minutes
Shoho-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 16000 , scrambling fighters to 4000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes
Zuiho-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 16000
Raid is overhead
Ryuho-1 with A6M5 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 38500
Raid is overhead
Taiho-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 2 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 38500 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 7000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 37 minutes
Unyo-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters to 4000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes
Chuyo-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters to 4000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes
261 Ku S-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 4000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 42 minutes
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVL Nisshin
that´s it for the morning, several carriers have been hit, a CVL being heavily damaged...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
now the afternoon strikes...
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Tawi Tawi at 71,89
Weather in hex: Heavy rain bad news...
Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 2,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 41 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 122
N1K1-J George x 2
Allied aircraft
F4U-1A Corsair x 60
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 25
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 10 destroyed
N1K1-J George: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1A Corsair: 3 destroyed
PB4Y-1 Liberator: 1 destroyed, 24 damaged
Japanese Ships
CVE Taiyo, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CL Natori
BB Mutsu, Bomb hits 2
CVE Hosho
CVL Chiyoda
BB Kirishima
Aircraft Attacking:
4 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 5 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
4 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 5 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
5 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 5 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
4 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 5 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
3 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 5 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
CAP engaged:
S-302 Kokutai with N1K1-J George (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 6000
Raid is overhead
S-309 Hikotai with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 6000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 9 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
452 Ku S-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 2 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 6000 , scrambling fighters between 2000 and 38500.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 41 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
261 Ku S-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 35 minutes
6 planes vectored on to bombers
S-603 Hikotai with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 7 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 38500 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 38000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 36 minutes
6 planes vectored on to bombers
Akagi-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 7 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 38500 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 38000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 39 minutes
7 planes vectored on to bombers
Soryu-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 16000 , scrambling fighters between 3000 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 32 minutes
8 planes vectored on to bombers
Hiryu-1 with A6M5 Zero (2 airborne, 5 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 16000 , scrambling fighters to 38500.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes
8 planes vectored on to bombers
Shokaku-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 5 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 38500 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 5000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 28 minutes
7 planes vectored on to bombers
Zuikaku-1 with A6M5 Zero (2 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 38500 , scrambling fighters between 3000 and 38500.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes
8 planes vectored on to bombers
Ryujo-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 7 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 16000 , scrambling fighters between 3000 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 40 minutes
8 planes vectored on to bombers
Junyo-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 6000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 38500.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 28 minutes
6 planes vectored on to bombers
Shoho-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 16000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 6000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 32 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
Zuiho-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 16000 , scrambling fighters between 16000 and 38500.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 41 minutes
5 planes vectored on to bombers
Ryuho-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 3 on standby, 3 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 38500 , scrambling fighters between 3000 and 38500.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 47 minutes
8 planes vectored on to bombers
Hosho-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters to 13000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
Taiho-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 2 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 38500 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 38500.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 40 minutes
10 planes vectored on to bombers
Unryu-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 6000 , scrambling fighters to 5000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes
5 planes vectored on to bombers
Taiyo-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 13000
Raid is overhead
Unyo-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 13000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 20 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
we nearly resemble the same initial strike that went in first in the morning, this time the Corsairs take down more enemy fighters on Cap than we suffered Corsairs being shot down... bad weather reduced the bombers´ hit rate and while to bombs hit Mutsu while not doing any damage we also score one penetrating deck hit on CVE Taiyo... this trip can really get become costly for the Japanese...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Tawi Tawi at 71,89
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 42
Allied aircraft
F4U-1A Corsair x 42
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 6
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
PB4Y-1 Liberator: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged
Japanese Ships
CVE Kaiyo
CVE Unyo
Aircraft Attacking:
5 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 5 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
CAP engaged:
S-309 Hikotai with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 6000 , scrambling fighters to 4000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 12 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
452 Ku S-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 6000 , scrambling fighters to 6000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 11 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
261 Ku S-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 5000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
S-603 Hikotai with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 38500 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 7000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 80 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
Akagi-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 38500
Raid is overhead
Soryu-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 16000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
Hiryu-1 with A6M5 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 16000
Raid is overhead
1 planes vectored on to bombers
Zuikaku-1 with A6M5 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 38500 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 4000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
Ryujo-1 with A6M5 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 16000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 7000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 28 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers
Junyo-1 with A6M5 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 6000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 9000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
Zuiho-1 with A6M5 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 16000
Raid is overhead
Hosho-1 with A6M5 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 8000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
Taiyo-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 13000
Raid is overhead
1 planes vectored on to bombers
Unyo-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters to 6000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
Shinyo-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
Shoho-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 16000
Raid is overhead
Ryuho-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 38500
Raid is overhead
1 planes vectored on to bombers
Taiho-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 38500
Raid is overhead
Unryu-1 with A6M5 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 6000
Raid is overhead
1 planes vectored on to bombers
nearly no fight between the escorts and the fighters on Cap at all, no hits scored... would have been great to have my mediums set to naval attack/airfield attack Talaud Eilanden, but this wasn´t a possibility as I would have to either attack Talaud at 1000ft (I don´t want to fly ground attacks below 6000ft) or have the nav attacks at >6000ft which would not make sense either with my crews being trained to low nav attack...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Tawi Tawi at 71,89
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 36
Allied aircraft
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 6
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
PB4Y-1 Liberator: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged
Japanese Ships
CVE Kaiyo
CVE Hosho, Bomb hits 1
Aircraft Attacking:
5 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 5 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
CAP engaged:
S-309 Hikotai with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 6000
Raid is overhead
452 Ku S-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 6000
Raid is overhead
261 Ku S-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Raid is overhead
S-603 Hikotai with A6M5 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 38500
Raid is overhead
Akagi-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 38500
Raid is overhead
Soryu-1 with A6M5 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 16000
Raid is overhead
Hiryu-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 16000
Raid is overhead
Zuikaku-1 with A6M5 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 38500 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 7000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes
Ryujo-1 with A6M5 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 16000 , scrambling fighters to 6000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes
Junyo-1 with A6M5 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 6000 , scrambling fighters to 8000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 12 minutes
Zuiho-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 16000 , scrambling fighters to 7000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 14 minutes
Taiyo-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 13000
Raid is overhead
Unyo-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters to 1000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 13 minutes
Shinyo-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 4000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes
Shoho-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 16000
Raid is overhead
Ryuho-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 38500
Raid is overhead
Hosho-1 with A6M5 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 13000
Raid is overhead
Taiho-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 38500 , scrambling fighters to 6000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes
Unryu-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 6000
Raid is overhead
now Hosho is hit... so many enemy carriers means spreading out the attacks on a lot of ships...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Tawi Tawi at 71,89
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 41 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 20
Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 65
F4U-1A Corsair x 5
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 1 destroyed, 9 damaged
Japanese Ships
CV Junyo
CVL Chiyoda
CVL Chitose, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Hamakaze
CV Zuikaku
CV Unryu
BB Musashi
BB Haruna
CVL Ryuho
BB Kirishima
CVE Hosho
BB Kongo
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 10 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
7 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 10 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
10 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 10 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
10 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 10 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
8 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 10 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
7 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 10 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
3 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 10 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
4 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 10 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
4 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 10 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
CAP engaged:
S-309 Hikotai with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 6000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 14 minutes
452 Ku S-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 6000
Raid is overhead
S-603 Hikotai with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 38500
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes
Hiryu-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 16000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 4 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
Zuikaku-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 38500
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
Ryujo-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 16000 , scrambling fighters to 1000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
Junyo-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 6000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 34 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
Shinyo-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
Soryu-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 16000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
Ryuho-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 38500
Raid is overhead
1 planes vectored on to bombers
Hosho-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 47 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
Unyo-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters to 1000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 14 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVL Chitose
here comes the heavy fighter sweep...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Tawi Tawi at 71,89
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 41 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 7
Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 6
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 4 damaged
Japanese Ships
CVE Taiyo, on fire
CVL Mizuho
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 10 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
CAP engaged:
Hiryu-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 16000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes
Zuikaku-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 38500 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 11 minutes
Ryujo-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 16000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes
Soryu-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 16000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 9 minutes
Junyo-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 6000 , scrambling fighters to 13000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring a Taiyo class CVE
7 Zekes on Cap left...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Cotabato at 78,90
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid detected at 200 NM, estimated altitude 27,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 66 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 166 [8|][8|][8|]
B6N2 Jill x 18
Allied aircraft
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 18
F4U-1A Corsair x 9
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 15 destroyed
B6N2 Jill: 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
P-47D2 Thunderbolt: 1 destroyed
Allied Ships
LCI-83, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AM Adroit
LCI-334
PC Vigilant
LCI-75, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
LCI-84, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
Aircraft Attacking:
18 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
2 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 6000 feet
8 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 38500 feet
2 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 16000 feet
10 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 16000 feet
6 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 16000 feet
7 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 6000 feet
4 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 16000 feet
4 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 16000 feet
5 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 38500 feet
2 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 13000 feet
8 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 20000 feet
10 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 38500 feet
2 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 38500 feet
2 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 38500 feet
8 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 38500 feet
5 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 6000 feet
3 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 13000 feet
all these sweeping Zekes failed to escort... [8|] yeah, I know... altitude... yeah, for sure...
CAP engaged:
VMF-218 with F4U-1A Corsair (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 30000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 7 minutes
VMF-224 with F4U-1A Corsair (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 30000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 60 minutes
VMF-225 with F4U-1A Corsair (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 30000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 58 minutes
49th FG/9th FS with P-47D2 Thunderbolt (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 42000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 61 minutes
35th FG/39th FS with P-47D2 Thunderbolt (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 42000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 55 minutes
35th FG/40th FS with P-47D2 Thunderbolt (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 42000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes
475th FG/432nd FS with P-47D2 Thunderbolt (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 42000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 61 minutes
and here´s the main reason for the Japanese "disaster" today... just like in the morning, also the afternoon phase sees a ridicoulosly high number of escorts flying with one and a halve dozen Jills to attack the same useless convoy at Cotabato... even though the number of fighters on Cap was minimal, considering we could have launched 75 Thuds, the Zekes were hit hard and we are not downing useless replacement pilots here, I´m sure today saw many highly skilled, irreplacable Japanese fighter pilots being KIA... I found the morning escort totally off, but after suffering several hits on the Japanese carriers it is even more ridicoulos to see nearly 200 fighters escorting here also in the afternoon... well knowing that this isn´t taken into account if it would be smart or not to send all these escorts, it just depends on the setting and there is no setting like "please refrain from making up a stupidly looking strike"...
this convoy I had at Cotabato wasn´t a bait or something like that, it was just a small priceless convoy I have sent there to bring some troops to Cotabato and until Hiryu was attacked by our sub during the night, I wasn´t aware of KB sprinting in anyway...
