The four US carriers are rampaging around Guadalcanal. I lose several small ships trying to re-supply my troops there. Once in a while Shortlands gets nuked. All is well.
Two weeks into the scenario, I receive two CV, one CVL, and an empty CVE, which I arm with two zeros and a val. I form up, attach all sorts of supporting TF, and sail for Rabaul the back way.
Meanwhile on Rabaul all my bombers are max range six. They haven't flown yet this scenario. All fresh.
The US carriers move closer to Rabaul, close to Shortlands.
My submariners, who are shadowing the US CV's at horrendous cost (over 75% subs lost at this time), report one torpedo hit each on the Hornet and the Wasp, with explosions below decks and fire. However, the next day the four US CV's are together, meaning all that lying about all that damage and fire will come back to haunt CMDR Takahara if his sub ever makes it back.
My CV's are ordered on do not retire to the hex south of Rabaul, max range on air set to 5. The US CV's float near Shortlands, blowing up an AV and some escorts.
The next day I come in my pants.
The US launches several strikes against my carriers in the morning. My Zero's put up a good fight, but are decimated, and both my main CV's report five bomb hits. However, there is no exploding ordinance, which bodes well for the counter strike.
My carrier planes find the Hornet and she receives six torpedo hits, with magazine explosions galore. My pilots basically report a giant fireball. My ground based strike out of Rabaul lashes out at the Enterprise, with 40 out of 100 Betty's getting through. Plane losses are horrendous, but the torpedo's go in.
The afternoon exchange finds the Shokaku on fire and listing badly. But it is the Wasp that pays the ultimate price, being the target of a combined effort from all my survivors.
Next day all the survivors from both side scatter into the wind. The Shokaku limps into Rabaul, but the situation is very precarious with 81 damage and 26 flood. At least the fires are out.
The Saratoga, undamaged, steams back towrrds Noumea. The IJN now has total control of the Air-Sea battle in this scenario. In the coming months, I will receive even more carriers, and the Allies will not. I will slowly build back my decimated air, and take Guadalcanal back from the Americans.
The carrier battle was very iffy. I had two CV's and some garbage to his four fine flattops. But the Betty's made the difference. When 40 get through, and they all have torps, something is going to sink.
