I am still in awe of what just happened. A three hex strike with no counter-strike from the Allies!!! [X(][X(][X(]
As shown below, it is not without a price. The KB air wing is shot. It'll take a week or more to refill the groups. Almost all of the LBA DB/TB groups were decimated, and they contributed little. Over 1600 planes lost!!! Over 800 pilots KIA and 500 MIA. [X(]
Still, the KB will most likely live to fight again! Whatever the Allies are planning, it may still go ahead, so we must be ready for tomorrow with everything that can fly or float.
Attachments
14545info.jpg (704.83 KiB) Viewed 408 times
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill
[font="Times New Roman"]14 May 1945[/font] ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
[font="Trebuchet MS"]-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR May 14, 45
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Saishu To at 98,57
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes
Japanese aircraft
B6N2a Jill x 36
Japanese aircraft losses
B6N2a Jill: 17 destroyed, 1 damaged
B6N2a Jill: 6 destroyed by flak
Allied Ships APA Natrona, Kamikaze hits 2
APA Henry T. Allen
DD Sampson APA J. Franklin Bell, Kamikaze hits 1
APA George F. Elliot, Kamikaze hits 1
APA Charles Carroll, Kamikaze hits 1
APA Zeilin APA John Penn, Kamikaze hits 1
AKA Alhena, Kamikaze hits 1
DD Farragut APA George Clymer, Kamikaze hits 1
AKA Libra, Kamikaze hits 1
APA Neville, Kamikaze hits 1
APA Samuel Chase APA Barnett, Kamikaze hits 1
AKA Alcyon APA Oxford, Kamikaze hits 1
APA Harris, Kamikaze hits 1
DD Hammann, Kamikaze hits 1
APA Thomas Jefferson, Kamikaze hits 1, on fire
APA St. Mary's
APA Joseph T. Dickman APA Latimer, Kamikaze hits 1
APA La Porte, Kamikaze hits 1
APA Tazewell
Aircraft Attacking:
31 x B6N2a Jill flying as kamikaze
Kamikaze: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
Carrier support unable to supply air cover..
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Nakadori-jima at 101,56
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 36 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A7M2 Sam x 187
B7A2 Grace x 182
D4Y4 Judy x 261
Allied aircraft
Corsair II x 121
Corsair IV x 114
Hellcat I x 30
Hellcat F.II x 16
Seafire IIC x 16
Seafire L.III x 4
F4U-1A Corsair x 78
F4U-1D Corsair x 552
F6F-5 Hellcat x 887 [X(]
Allied Ships
CVL Independence, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
CVL Langley, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage CV Viking, Bomb hits 7, Torpedo hits 3, Kamikaze hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage CV Valhalla, Bomb hits 6, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CV Bunker Hill, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires
CVL Cabot, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Healy CV Victorious, Bomb hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage
CVL Cowpens, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires CV Franklin, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
CVE Makin Island, Torpedo hits 1
CV Indefatigable, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage CLAA Oakland, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Mertz DD Remey, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage CVE Corregidor, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage CLAA San Diego, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Evans, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
DD Halford, Bomb hits 1 DD John Henley, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
DD Hale DD Albert Grant, Bomb hits 2, on fire
DD Converse
CVE Matanikau, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage DD Luce, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
CVE Battler
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x D4Y4 Judy releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 800 kg AP Bomb
8 x B7A2 Grace launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVL Independence Fuel storage explosion on CVL Independence
Fuel storage explosion on CVL Cabot
Fuel storage explosion on CVL Cabot Ammo storage explosion on CVL Cabot
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVL Cabot Ammo storage explosion on CV Franklin
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Franklin
Banzai! - Sagara H. in a D4Y4 Judy is willing to die for the Emperor Ammo storage explosion on CVL Langley
Fujita P. gives his life for the Emperor by ramming CV Viking
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVL Langley Massive explosion on DD Remey
Massive explosion on CVE Corregidor
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Viking
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Victorious Magazine explodes on DD John Henley
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring a Lexington class CV Ammo storage explosion on CV Valhalla
Fuel storage explosion on CVE Matanikau
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Indefatigable
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Luce Ammo storage explosion on CV Viking
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CLAA San Diego
Banzai! - Asada C. in a D4Y4 Judy is willing to die for the Emperor
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CLAA Oakland
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVL Cowpens
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Bunker Hill
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Evans
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring a 'P' Class class DD
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD John Henley
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Saishu To at 98,57
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 117 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 32 minutes
Japanese aircraft
B7A2 Grace x 23
Japanese aircraft losses B7A2 Grace: 2 destroyed, 8 damaged
B7A2 Grace: 3 destroyed by flak
Allied Ships
CA Tuscaloosa, Torpedo hits 1
DD Hudson
CA Chester
CL Cleveland, Kamikaze hits 1, on fire
CA Chicago
CL Springfield
Aircraft Attacking:
19 x B7A2 Grace launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
Carrier support unable to supply air cover..
Inano J. gives his life for the Emperor by ramming CL Cleveland
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Saishu To at 98,57
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 36 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A7M2 Sam x 18
B7A2 Grace x 9
D4Y4 Judy x 24
Japanese aircraft losses
B7A2 Grace: 2 damaged
B7A2 Grace: 1 destroyed by flak
D4Y4 Judy: 2 destroyed, 10 damaged
D4Y4 Judy: 1 destroyed by flak
Allied Ships
CA Chicago APA Noble, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DE Neuendorf
CA Chester
APA Marvin McIntyre
DE Alvin C. Cockrell
CL Springfield
APA Laurens, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
DD Patterson APA Renville, Bomb hits 2, Kamikaze hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
Aircraft Attacking:
5 x D4Y4 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 800 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Saishu To at 98,57
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 113 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 31 minutes
Japanese aircraft
B7A2 Grace x 19
Japanese aircraft losses
B7A2 Grace: 6 damaged B7A2 Grace: 1 destroyed by flak
Allied Ships APA Menifee, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
APA Sumter, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires
APA Noble, on fire, heavy damage APA Wayne, Bomb hits 2, on fire
xAP Cape Meares, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
Aircraft Attacking:
7 x B7A2 Grace releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Saishu To at 98,57
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes
Japanese aircraft
B6N2 Jill x 23
Japanese aircraft losses
B6N2 Jill: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged
B6N2 Jill: 1 destroyed by flak
Allied Ships
DE Kendall C. Campbell APA Marathon, Kamikaze hits 2, on fire
DE Alvin C. Cockrell, Bomb hits 2, on fire
APA Mellette, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
DE Osmus, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage
APA Pickens, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
Aircraft Attacking:
8 x D4Y3 Judy releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
Aircraft Attacking:
21 x B6N2 Jill bombing from 2000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
Carrier support unable to supply air cover..
Nojima B. gives his life for the Emperor by ramming APA Marathon
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DE Alvin C. Cockrell
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring APA Mellette
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Saishu To at 98,57
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy x 9
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy: 4 damaged
Allied Ships SC-634, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
AK Iran Victory, Bomb hits 1
AK Canada Victory, Bomb hits 1, on fire
Allied ground losses:
Vehicles lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
Carrier support unable to supply air cover..
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Nakadori-jima at 101,56
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 33 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 117
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 41
Ki-67-Ib Peggy x 22
Ki-100-I Tony x 33
Allied aircraft
Corsair II x 105
Corsair IV x 99
Hellcat I x 28
Hellcat F.II x 12
Seafire IIC x 10
Seafire L.III x 4
F4U-1A Corsair x 72
F4U-1D Corsair x 498
F6F-5 Hellcat x 768
Allied Ships CV Victorious, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CV Indefatigable, heavy fires, heavy damage
CVL Cowpens, heavy fires
Aircraft Attacking:
21 x Ki-67-Ib Peggy bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Nakadori-jima at 101,56
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 12 NM, estimated altitude 1,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M5b Zero x 15
A6M5c Zero x 36
D4Y3 Judy x 18
J2M3 Jack x 72
Allied aircraft
Corsair II x 103
Corsair IV x 98
Hellcat I x 25
Hellcat F.II x 12
Seafire IIC x 8
Seafire L.III x 4
F4U-1A Corsair x 70
F4U-1D Corsair x 475
F6F-5 Hellcat x 719
Allied Ships CVL Cowpens, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
CV Valhalla, Kamikaze hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CV Indefatigable, heavy fires, heavy damage CVL Langley, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
CV Victorious, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVL Cowpens
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Valhalla Ammo storage explosion on CVL Langley
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Victorious
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Saishu To at 98,57
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 15 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
Japanese aircraft
P1Y2 Frances x 36
Japanese aircraft losses
P1Y2 Frances: 23 destroyed
P1Y2 Frances: 1 destroyed by flak
Allied Ships
CL Vicksburg
DD Charles Ausburne DD Brownson, Kamikaze hits 1, heavy damage
CL Pasadena, Kamikaze hits 2, on fire
DD Colahan
DD Bryant
CL Heimdal, Kamikaze hits 1
CL Wilkes-Barre, Kamikaze hits 1
Aircraft Attacking:
36 x P1Y2 Frances flying as kamikaze
Kamikaze: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
Carrier support unable to supply air cover..
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Nakadori-jima at 101,56
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 33 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A7M2 Sam x 91
B7A2 Grace x 91
D4Y4 Judy x 163
Allied aircraft
Corsair II x 65
Corsair IV x 86
Hellcat I x 29
Hellcat F.II x 19
Seafire IIC x 12
Seafire L.III x 4
F4U-1A Corsair x 21
F4U-1D Corsair x 339
F6F-5 Hellcat x 753
Allied Ships CVE Saginaw Bay, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CVE Liscome Bay, Kamikaze hits 1
CVE Roi, Torpedo hits 2, on fire CV Shangri-La, Bomb hits 1, Kamikaze hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CV Illustrious, Bomb hits 3, on fire
CLAA San Juan
CV Formidable
CV Randolph, Kamikaze hits 1
CV Midgaard, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CVL San Jacinto
CV Ticonderoga
CVE Santee CVE Shipley Bay, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
CVL Bataan
CB Alaska
CV Yggdrasil, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CVE Battler
Fuel storage explosion on CVE Saginaw Bay
Banzai! - Kaneko G. in a B7A2 Grace is willing to die for the Emperor Fuel storage explosion on CVE Roi
Banzai! - Doigawa E. in a D4Y4 Judy is willing to die for the Emperor
Banzai! - Araki J. in a D4Y4 Judy is willing to die for the Emperor
Banzai! - Hirano J. in a D4Y4 Judy is willing to die for the Emperor
Banzai! - Minobe C. in a D4Y4 Judy is willing to die for the Emperor
Ibusuki I. gives his life for the Emperor by ramming CV Shangri-La Ammo storage explosion on CVE Shipley Bay
Banzai! - Hagiri T. in a B7A2 Grace is willing to die for the Emperor
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Illustrious
And it continues for a day two ... the decisive battle of the middle of May!
Day two has some surprises, and this time it's only LBA from the Japanese side, but more carnage for both parties ...
For these wild days I think the images tell the story best. The night began with naval engagements in the hex where the previous day's air battles occurred. The fast Kongo class shot through the Tsushima straits and was met by Allied CLs. The BBs got the worst of it in low moonlight, but then found the Bunker Hill and escorts ...
Attachments
Screenshot..08.22.43.jpg (714.67 KiB) Viewed 408 times
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill
... our DDs find the Allied cruisers burning heavily after their encounter with the Kongos, and they fight them about evenly at close range. Most battles are under 8k yards due to the low moonlight conditions ...
Attachments
Screenshot..08.26.01.jpg (715.48 KiB) Viewed 414 times
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill
... a fast IJN CL TF hits the Bunker Hill next and gets to many of its escorts without taking a serous hit. Then the MTBs get in for the Coup de Grace ...
Attachments
Screenshot..08.29.22.jpg (704.29 KiB) Viewed 414 times
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill
When the airstrikes began the number of escorts looked promising ... until I realized less than 20 strike planes were with each of the first few packages that had plenty of firepower to break through. This kind of difficulty in coordinating from 3-5 hexes out with something like 8 air HQs in range and the escorts fully coordinated makes no sense. Having go the better of the two days I can't complain, but it's silly to have several hundred fighters leading 15 DB while later strikes all come in solo, even though they originated in the same base.
Conventional wisdom about coordination just doesn't work in the beta, especially in massive battles like this late in game. Keep your KB around! Here are some shots ...
... in this image for instance all kinds of fighters coordinate, but the 400 2E bombers in the same base do not ... ? [:@][:-]
Attachments
Screenshot..08.54.10.jpg (625.34 KiB) Viewed 414 times
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill
... still, I can't really complain, as Allied CAP is spread all over the place and we hit probably the most diverse and wide-ranging set of ships that have been damaged thus far in one battle. A little bit of everything. This makes it difficult to stop anything, but could lead to some dividends later when many of these ships can't support the newly established landing. We'll see ... [;)]
No CAP over these CVEs all day?? [X(]
Attachments
Screenshot..08.56.25.jpg (686.55 KiB) Viewed 414 times
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill
... again, there are 300-400 DB/TB/2E in Nagasaki and none but these few Judys head out with the main body of escorts ... [8|]
Your pilots are very brave ore very stupid [:)]
Yes!! Strangely enough, a lot of the bravest, traveling without escort and hitting the fleets at Moppo, actually come back alive! [:'(] (While those traveling with 300 escorts universally did not!)
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill
... after most of the 200k troops the Allies brought to Moppo unloaded the IJN flyboys got a few good shots in sinking a good number of APA/AKA. Some Sonia and Ann kamis from Fusan actually made it through as well but couldn't get a hit.
Attachments
Screenshot..09.00.41.jpg (692.29 KiB) Viewed 414 times
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill
