I moved KB into the Timor Sea to spy a peek at Darwin and found my prey, Allied CV's. [:)] I managed to get the first hard strike in on the morning of the 28th. Here is the combat report on my strike
Morning Air attack on TF, near Darwin at 76,124
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 78
B5N2 Kate x 128
D3A1 Val x 112
Allied aircraft
F2A-3 Buffalo x 9
F4F-3A Wildcat x 21
F4F-3 Wildcat x 5
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 3 destroyed, 25 damaged
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed, 12 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3A Wildcat: 5 destroyed
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
Allied Ships
CA Northampton
CV Enterprise, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires
CV Lexington, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Edsall
AVP Fazant, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
AVD William B. Preston, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CA Salt Lake City, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk
CA Chester
DD Dunlap
CA Chicago
DD Mahan
CL Marblehead
AO TAN 5, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Flusser, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD John D. Edwards
AO TAN 4, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
AO TAN 6, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
DD Drayton, Bomb hits 1
DD Lamson
DD Fanning, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
DD Alden, Bomb hits 1, on fire
-------------------------------------
Here is response strike, lucky I sunk Lexington and had planned to stay out of his Devastator range.
Morning Air attack on TF, near Selaroe at 77,119
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 18 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 30
Allied aircraft
F2A-3 Buffalo x 7
SBD-2 Dauntless x 16
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
F2A-3 Buffalo: 1 destroyed
SBD-2 Dauntless: 11 destroyed
Japanese Ships
CV Shokaku
CV Akagi
--------------------------------------
I now plan on closing on Darwin with a surface force covered by Zero escort to prevent any Devastator strikes while I move KB Alpha to the west to block any escaping ships. To the east I have Rabaul with the 21st Air Flotilla HQ with 3 Betty sqd. to intercept any ships that way.
