Moderators: wdolson, MOD_War-in-the-Pacific-Admirals-Edition
ORIGINAL: pws1225
ORIGINAL: John 3rd
They are the KEY this early in the campaign. Cannot moves LOTS of troops until those AP get home. I am really TRYING to NOT allow that to happen!
I can't recall, did you convert any of the 18 knot xAKs (Yusen-S, Yusen-A, and Kyushu class) to carry more troops? Seems like they could be a real boon right now.
ORIGINAL: Cribtop
I haven't seen a full effort but in the past there have been complaints that the AMC's lack punch and ammo to finish enemy convoys. That may argue for pairs.
ORIGINAL: Cribtop
I often use AMCs and even large fastish xAKs as refueling units. I call them "Aggie Oilers."
ORIGINAL: John 3rd
I was having kittens watching the second fight with that pesky, BRASSY Indianapolis...
ORIGINAL: John 3rd
December 8, 1941
KB-3
After a magnificent attack upon Pearl Harbor, Vc-Adm Yamaguchi follows pre-war plans and divides his TF into CARDIV1 (Akagi-Kaga-Ryujo) and sends it towards Midway while he turns SW towards Johnston Isle with CARDIV3 (Shokaku-Zuikaku-Zuiho). Fully anticipating a busy day for the 8th, he turns in early and tries to get some badly needed sleep.
At 0345, the Alarm Claxon going off awakens him from a deep slumber. Rushing to the bridge he is shocked to hear main gun batteries firing from CA's Tone and Chikuma. Several DDs and CL Isuzu are open up as he enters the Bridge. Shokaku's Captain is watching the fight off to the Port side of the CV. It quickly is ascertained that the Japanese have run into an American STF sortied from Pearl Harbor: CL Helena and 8 DDs are desperately attempting to penetrate the Japanese Screen. The battle lasts just ten minutes (5 gunnery rounds) and sees the Helena and 3 DDs hit solidly by the Japanese gunnery. The Americans flee the scene as the startled Japanese thank their lucky stars for not seeing a single shell hit the Flattops.
A slightly shaken Japanese Vc-Adm orders tea and decides sleep is useless. He begins to plan the day's operations.
Just after the Task Force begin Flight Operations, Yamaguchi is startled to hear a non-coded warning echo through the bridge as a second American TF is spotted by a Jake just launched from Tone. The enemy is only 29,000 yards distant. The carriers are in a dangerous position as they are getting aircraft warmed up for CAP and have armed strike planes stored in the hangars in anticipation of action later in the day. Taking a big risk, Yamaguchi orders the CAP launched and the screening vessels intercept rapidly closing enemy ships.
Gunnery erupts at 23,000 yards as Tone, Chikuma, and Isuku attempt to interpose themselves with the American force. The enemy consists of CA Indianapolis and 5 DMS. The slowly rising sun disrupts Japanese gunnery silhouetting them and hiding the Americans in shadow. While the earlier fight was tense, this battle is terribly nasty. The American CA is hell bent on getting to the Japanese CVs.
A twenty minute battle roars across the roiling ocean. For the first minutes Indianapolis concentrates on the nearest escorts. She rapidly puts one or two 8" shells into the new Moon-Class DD Sususuki and DD Kasumi. They stagger out of formation and the Indianapolis attempts to shoot through the gap created by their withdrawal. Frighteningly, shells begin to hit the Japanese CVs. How often does a Japanese CV fire its main AA Guns at en enemy ship? NOT OFTEN! Must give credit to Shokaku and Zuikaku's gunnery officers they each hit the American several times. When the range reaches 11,000 and 8,000 yards American 8" shells begin to hit the carrier. Zuikaku takes a pair of shells while Shokaku gets a single hit. Little Zuiho is struck by a 4" shell from one of the DMS. In return, the Americans see over a dozen shells hit Indianapolis with each of the DMS taking 1-3 hits each. It is 3 8" shells hitting the American CA that finally forces her to disengage.
With minor fires burning on Zuikaku, a set of strikes are rapidly moved to the flightdecks and launched with angry orders to sink ANY American ship to the west of the Task Force! The weather is rapidly closing in and the Japanese Strike gets divided and, perhaps, some of it gets lost. The leader of Shokaku's Vals suddenly finds himself over PEARL HARBOR where his escort 16 Zero is rapidly pounced on by 76 American Fighters. The strike is thoroughly shot-up but--amazingly--the vast majority of the pilots survive. The Kates from Zuikaku don't get lost. They find the amaged Indianapolis and rapidly hit her with 3 torpedoes and leave her to sink. The afternoon strikes see a similar thing happen when Shokaku's Kates get separated and find themselves ALSO approaching Pearl Harbor. This group of 24 Zero and 21 Kate do far better in that they are not wiped from the sky but they take heavy losses as well.
A CRAZY DAY!
Taking stock through blinker light, it is found that both CVs have taken real damage. Zuikaku is holed below the waterline but fires are brought under control (15 SYS, 11 Flot, 3 ENG). Shokaku is in better shape but the single 8" shell does cause issues that need to be dealt with (19 SYS and 8 FLOT). Additionally, Shokaku's Air Group is trashed with only 24 Zero, 9 Val, and 4 Kate available for duty. Luckily her pilots are OK with many picked up by plane guard DDs and a few I-Boats (Pilots Fighter 32, Val 23, Kate 22).
Vc-Adm Yamaguchi orders CARDIV1 to come back down and prepares to attach Zuiho, Tone, Chikuma, Isuzu and 2 DDs to Akagi's Group while he takes CARDIV3 home for quick repairs.
NOT exactly a good day! The bravery of the Americans is duly noted....
I'd like to check in and see who is currently reading the AAR? Do we have lurkers?
[/center]ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock
I'd like to check in and see who is currently reading the AAR? Do we have lurkers?
Given that you have 2900 hits so far, I'd say it's a good bet you have many lurkers. As you're probably aware, there is an Allied AAR running, which is also fairly well written. Those who are reading both (present company included) must be exceedingly careful not to leak information from the one to the other. Meaning that we will mostly lurk.
ORIGINAL: ny59giants
I never lurk here. I just pick up my phone and call you!![:D]
