Historical AE. Cantona2 (A) vs Fletcher (J)

[traskott]

Perhaps most of the hits were made from long range, so, although the "PB hit" message, dmg was irrelevant and the DD were forced to close range (firing in the whole movement) to sink her... 

[cantona2]

End of July Synopsis

China has seen the most action this month. Ramon's Northern, Southern and Western Offensives have made ground as he squeezes the vice shut. Sian's northern flank has been breached but the southern bastion still holds strong, once again inflicting nearly 20,000 casualties on the attacking Japanese forces. In the West, Chinese forces were ousted from Tsuyung and in the South Tuyun was being assaulted but robustly defended. It was hoped that the mountainous terrain in the approaches to Kuming would slow the Japanese down and attract some of their Burmese forces there. Already the Imperial Guards Division had been identified in China and SEAC plans for an assault on Akyab in October/November were already in full swing.

Scores end July 42


Top Pilots (screenie taken after events of today)

[traskott]

91 japanese air losses today !!!! 

Free lunch or what ??

[cantona2]

Turn Synopsis 4th August 1942
The Second Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands.

Dawn was cloudy and bleak. Enemy attacks over the beleaguered and battered of Ndeni had eased off ever so slightly over the past week. Whether the B-17s from Luganville had caused him to leave his fighters over his bases or whether he was having supply problems was unknown but the fact of the matter was that the brief respite had allowed a small window for the relief of Ndeni to occur. Firstly, its garrison squadrons were withdrawn some of them, the 12th Fighter Squadron for example was down to its last 2 Airacobras. Secondly fresh squadrons were flown in, namely the 78th (P-40e) and 39th (P-400) fighter Squadrons. Thirdly, and in light of what has happened today, two relief convoys of small transports alighted more than 2,000 much needed tons of supplies onto the island.

As I said the 4th August dawned dull, later becoming very wet. The CAP was up early and expecting its daily tussle with marauding A6M2s originating from the Southern Solomon Islands. Today was now different and radar operators from Ndeni and Vanikoro were soon reporting bogies coming in from the North West. USAAF fighters were vectored to intercept and little did these pilots know about the days momentous events that were going to unfold around them.



The fight with the Zeroes was as usual, they shoot down a couple of our planes, we shoot down a couple of theirs, such had been life at Ndeni for the past few days...but not today! As the morning CAP landed and the midday patrols went up, excited reports filtered down from the radar operators whose screens were covered in a massive blob of contacts heading once again from the North West. The pilots in the USAAF fighters followed the instructions given by their ground directors, fully expecting a direct and full contact with a heavily escorted incoming bomber raid. What met them was a fighter pilots dream. Formation after formation of G4M1 bombers without a single, lithe, deadly Zero to escort them! With aplomb, P-40s and especially the cannon armed P-400 tore into the torpedo bombers that had for so long blasted their comrades on Ndeni. Carnage ensued

Morning Air attack on Ndeni , at 120,143

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 47



Allied aircraft
P-400 Airacobra x 19
P-40E Warhawk x 14


Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 10 destroyed, 7 damaged




Aircraft Attacking:
5 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
14 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
3 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
18th FG/6th FS with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 14000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes
35th FG/39th FS with P-400 Airacobra (6 airborne, 6 on standby, 1 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 13000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes
18th FG/78th FS with P-40E Warhawk (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 4 scrambling)
5 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 9000 and 13000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes

[traskott]

I'm almost sure Fletcher is now making himself seppukku [:D][:D]

[cantona2]

As the remnants of the first wave winged their way home, a second wave of incoming planes was detected. The CAP, whose blood was up, ignored emptying hoppers to once again tear into the Japanese bombers. The 20mm mounted on the P-400 in particular tearing into the flimsy Betties.

Morning Air attack on Ndeni , at 120,143

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 17



Allied aircraft
P-400 Airacobra x 13
P-40E Warhawk x 10


Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 6 destroyed, 1 damaged




Airbase hits 3
Runway hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
18th FG/6th FS with P-40E Warhawk (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 14000
Raid is overhead
18th FG/78th FS with P-40E Warhawk (8 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
8 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 13000
Raid is overhead
35th FG/39th FS with P-400 Airacobra (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
7 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 13000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 78 minutes

Incredibly enough radar once again picked up an incoming mass of bogies just after midday. Either no reports had reached whoever was coordinating the strikes from Munda and beyond, or the Japanese were intent on getting their bombers through. For the third time in as many hours the USAAF was shooting the IJNAF from the sky.

Morning Air attack on Ndeni , at 120,143

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 24



Allied aircraft
P-400 Airacobra x 11
P-40E Warhawk x 5


Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 5 destroyed, 4 damaged




Aircraft Attacking:
11 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
18th FG/6th FS with P-40E Warhawk (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 14000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 39 minutes
35th FG/39th FS with P-400 Airacobra (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 13000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 41 minutes
18th FG/78th FS with P-40E Warhawk (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 13000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 28 minutes

Units stationed just to the south on Vanikoro were listening in incredulously to the incoming claim reports from their comrade in arms to the north eager to be in the fight when they too were surprised to hear the air raid siren coming from the harbour and port areas. It seemed that an undetermined number of Japanese carriers had been stealing its way to Ndeni from the north and had reached its launching point without any interception by the submarines around the Truk area or any detection by the Catalinas on Vanikoro. Dive and torpedo bombers, escorted by Zeroes, attacked several destroyers and light transports at anchor. Surprise was total and no scrambling fighters could get into the air in time to intercept.



The spotting of enemy ships just 46 miles off Ndeni also worried the Allied command, was Ndeni about to be invaded? Of more immediate concern was a second raid on Vanikoro. This time however 13 P-40s of 6th Fighter Squadron were up in the air ready to contest the air space with the IJNAF. Yet despite shooting down one Zero they could not stop the Kates and Vals from sinking a USN destroyer and a RAN minesweeper.



Ndeni was also attacked by carrier borne torpedo bombers, targetting the 3050 ton Transmarine Cargo class transport Chickasaw City. Yet it appeared that the main Japanese carrier effort was over Vanikoro and it was a depleted strike that met the Ndeni CAP. 1 A6M2 and 3 B5N2s were shot down and the Chickasaw City saved from immediate harm. Its Captain now ordered a full steam to the south despite its full load intended for Ndeni.



This last action brought the curtain down on the most successful day the USAAF had had so far in this war. Yes the Navy had lost a couple of old destroyers, and both the RCN and the RAN had lost small escort vessels, but the USAAF had been able to destroy 70 enemy planes for the loss of 10 fighters. The IJNAF bomber force in the Southern Solomons had been severely weakened and many of the downed pilots did not make it home, Admiral Nimitz was greatly pleased by these news as his planned invasion of Guadalcanal may now have a higher chance of success. 39th Fighter Squadron was credited with 44 enemy planes shot down, while 78th Fighter Squadron was credited with 26 enemy kills. Not a bad days work!

[cantona2]

The Santa Cruz Islands was not the only place where enemy planes were being shot down in abandon. P-43 Lancers flying LRCAP from Shaoyang twice ambushed unescorted Japanese bombers over Chinese positions to the West of Henyang. During the morning patrol a formation of Ki-21s was surprised and 7 enemy planes were shot down. The afternoon shift caught a flight of Ki-45's as they were approaching their bombing run and were also able to shoot down another 7 Japanese aircraft.

[cantona2]

SitRep Map around the Santa Cruz Islands 4th Aug 42 and plans for 5th Aug 42.

[cantona2]

ORIGINAL: traskott

I'm almost sure Fletcher is now making himself seppukku [:D][:D]

I am sure he has ordered his commanders at Munda to commit seppuku

[LoBaron]

Congrats cantona!

It seems you are now in a position at the Santa Cruz Isl. where you can really hurt the Japanese air as long as not everything goes according to plan.
I guess its not easy to catch Fletcher like that. [;)]

[cantona2]

Turn Synopsis 5th August 1942

If the IJNAF was given a bloody nose yesterday, today it was the turn of the USMAF and Ndeni to feel the wrath of war. The first indication that something was up was the sounds of an exploding mine in the protective fields around Ndeni. Were the Japs invading? Then frantic mayday messages from the escaping Chickasaw City that reported being attacked by the whole of the IJN!



Her escort was able to escape, even hitting the Yamashiro a couple of times, but the ponderous transport went to the bottom along with her cargo. The battlewagons of the IJN then proceeded to punish Ndeni and her fighters for the damage they inflicted on the Betties yesterday and subjected the island, its airfield and troops to murderous bombardment that knocked out many of the fighters for the days fighting ahead.

Fighting that started with a very brave, mayhaps foolhardy, attack by 16 unescorted SBD-3 of VMSB-142. The expected link up with the escorting F4F-3A's from VMF-111 did not materialse and they flew to attack enemy shipping off Ndeni unescorted and flew into the teeth of a CAP of A6M2's that intel believes came off the decks of the Japanese carriers, now in a position just south east Stewart Island. 6 dive bombers went into the sea.



Once through the enemy fighters they dived upon several small enemy vessels engaged in mine sweeping activities, one 1000lber scoring a direct hit on an enemy AM.



The Wildcats of VMF-111 did however link up with another incoming attack, that carried out by the B-17s of the VII Bomber Command from Luganville. 2 Marine planes were shot down while one A6M2 was seen crashing into the sea. All the B-17s however got through...



... and dropped there bombs harmlessly around one of the Japanese carriers



A smaller raid by 31st Bomber Squadron from Vanikoro also ploughed through the carrier CAP in two waves, the second wave of planes flying against a massively reduced CAP but also missed with all bombs dropped from 13,000 feet.



A-24 Banshees from Noumea and more significantly P-38E's from the decks of the Long Island have flown into Vanikoro to lend their bombs and cannon to the fight on the morrow.

[cantona2]

Turn Synopsis 6th August 1942

Quiet reigns in the Santa Cruz's after the intensive action of the past two days. Indeed the operational debut of the P-38 Lightning was the most dramatic event in the area. Its unexpected presence and its flexibility and speed accounted for 8 A6M2s on various sweeps over Ndeni throughout the day. The P-38s were flying from Vanikoro as the pounding the IJN battlewagons had given Ndeni had knocked out the field there, immediate resupply convoys were already leaving Suva.

Much further to the North there was mixed news for Allied fortunes. Sian was on the brink of falling to a mass armoured assault but in and around the Japanese Home Island Waters, USN submarines sunk two enemy vessels. One light transport was sunk on the Sendai shipping route, while an escort vessel was sunk just off the Korean shoreline.

[traskott]

Looks like China is about to be taken by the Fletcher forces !!!!

[cantona2]

I think that he must have 65% of his Army deployed there. I have certainly seen units that were in the DEI and Burma now fighting in China! He has certainly shown the way for Japanese players in China!

[traskott]

Well...but he has taken that troops from anywhere at the Pacific, so he is WEAK at some spot. 

[cantona2]

That is why I probed in the southern gilberts and Santa Cruz. Burmese frontier as well. I could have maybe 5 divisions ready at Indian border by end of Monsoon

[traskott]

Strike fast !! Strike hard !!

[:)]

[Igel]

.

[Blackhorse]

Just another satisfied customer, dropping by to say that your AAR is impressive, and a delight to read.
[:)]

[cantona2]

ORIGINAL: Blackhorse

Just another satisfied customer, dropping by to say that your AAR is impressive, and a delight to read.
[:)]

Thanks Blackhorse