Finally I get the Enterprise, Yorktown, and Saratoga in one group and the Hornet and Wasp in another group. The Japs hold Lunga/Tulagi but I have ringed it with 2 fighter bases and 1 bomber base. The Japs don't like that and have been bombing those bases with carrier based air. I sail my carriers just close enough to offer long range cap to my bases. Over time this strategy has attrited the Japs Vals and Kates and sometimes his Zeros as well. Now I am ready to invade Lunga, after strangling its supply lines. For the first time I risk my carriers in a direct carrier fight, because I don't want to see my Marines swimming for home.
The Japs show up in the Slot with 3 or 4 CV Fleets of 2-3 CVs and CVLs each and start pounding my bases again. I get there in 2 days with my invasion fleet, supply fleet, air fleets, and bombardment fleets. My subs are converging also.
The Japs strike first at my 2 CV TF's and 2 BB TF's at range 10 or 11. We are running 70% CAP and have good AA. The Japs die in waves and we survive. I slice both BB TF's at them and charge with the carriers. I leave the CAP at 70%. Here is the result.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/22/43
Weather: Thunderstorms
Air attack on TF at 35,38
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 29
A6M3 Zero x 8
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 42
SBD Dauntless x 88
TBF Avenger x 30
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 7 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 2 damaged
A6M3 Zero x 3 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 14 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 7 damaged
SBD Dauntless x 7 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 16 damaged
TBF Avenger x 4 destroyed
TBF Avenger x 7 damaged
LCDR A.Banno of BI-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 5
LTJG V.Patterson of VF-2 bails out and is CAPTURED
Japanese Ships
CV Kaga, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CA Mogami, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CV Hiryu, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CV Soryu, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
CVL Zuiho, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
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Air attack on TF at 35,38
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 11
A6M3 Zero x 2
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 11
SBD Dauntless x 30
TBF Avenger x 13
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 5 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 3 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 1 damaged
SBD Dauntless x 4 damaged
LTJG B.Edmonds of VF-42 is credited with kill number 2
LCDR A.Banno of BI-1 Daitai bails out and is CAPTURED
Japanese Ships
CV Kaga, on fire, heavy damage
CV Hiryu, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CV Soryu, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CVL Zuiho, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
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Air attack on TF at 35,38
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 17
A6M3 Zero x 5
Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 30
TBF Avenger x 25
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 2 damaged
A6M3 Zero x 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 12 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 12 damaged
TBF Avenger x 6 destroyed
TBF Avenger x 12 damaged
PO2 J.Hirusawa of AII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 6
Japanese Ships
CA Suzuya, Bomb hits 1
CVL Ryujo, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Shiokaze
CV Junyo
CV Hiyo, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage
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Air attack on TF at 36,42
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7
A6M3 Zero x 3
D3A Val x 21
B5N Kate x 18
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 121
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 2 destroyed
A6M3 Zero x 2 destroyed
A6M3 Zero x 1 damaged
D3A Val x 17 destroyed
D3A Val x 1 damaged
B5N Kate x 14 destroyed
B5N Kate x 2 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 4 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 2 damaged
LT D. Carmichael of VF-2 is credited with kill number 18
ENS W.Clark of VF-42 is KILLED
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Air attack on TF at 36,42
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6
D3A Val x 5
B5N Kate x 20
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 118
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 6 destroyed
D3A Val x 6 destroyed
B5N Kate x 3 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 4 destroyed
LT S. Ruehlow of VF-8 is credited with kill number 15
LTJG E. Zaeske of VF-2 bails out and is CAPTURED
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Air attack on TF at 36,42
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5
D3A Val x 4
B5N Kate x 14
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 114
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 4 destroyed
D3A Val x 2 destroyed
B5N Kate x 8 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 9 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 3 damaged
LTJG T.MacDonald of VF-2 is credited with kill number 9
LT S. Ruehlow of VF-8 bails out and is CAPTURED
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Air attack on Lunga , at 38,40
Allied aircraft
F-5A Lightning x 2
no losses
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Sub attack at 35,38
Japanese Ships
CV Junyo
DD Shiokaze
Allied Ships
SS Argonaut
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My BB TF's miss, and retire away, but I close the gap to about range 6 hexes and get off two strikes. The second day, I switch to 30% CAP and charge them again. I lost the combat results but it was even more 1 sided and we suffered no ship losses.
Its about a month later and the ships lost list CV Kaga, Hiryu, Soryu and Hiyo. I didn't suffer a scratch. And that was my "Midway Moment".
I don't know how some of you guys manage to do this.