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Something's up in the Solomons, the previous turn saw a CA force bombard Lunga and it stayed there for a turn, don't know if they forgot to set it to retire or if they were trying to goad my CVs to making an appearance, the Marine DBs stationed on Henderson bombed the CAs but nothing came of it.

Then this last turn (Sep 1) sees the Solomon Sea just lit up with red ship portraits, I'm getting multiple TF contacts and a CL force is just off PM, looks like they're making a play for PM. I've diverted what LBA I have to PM but they all have relatively crappy NavB skills so I'm not counting on my LBA. The CVs will make a speed run from the Reef Islands and join Hornet coming up from Noumea to see if they can influence things, the 2 NC Class BBs are also making their way up. I reckon the invasion of PM (or possibly MB) will come next turn. If that happens, there's nothing I can do to stop the landings but if the transports hang around for the second day my CVs will be in position by then to have a say in how things turn out. Next couple of turns should be interesting.

ALL CARDS ON THE TABLE
Well, this is it then. As can be seen on the map, my opponents have made their move. An invasion of MB, well supported by what looks like most of the IJN. I'm going all in with everything I've got, all 4 CVs will converge at the spot marked X together with my 2 BB TFs. I've flown in 1 VMF to stage out of MB proper to provide additional air cover and a VMB is operating out of PM together with a Beaufighter squadron and a Beaufort squadron, all set to naval attack. My concern would be that my strike packages would be diluted cos of the target rich environment, they only have to hit my CVs while my flyboys have their CVs, the invasion TF and the CA force to choose from, just hope they don't go stupid and hit the CAs. I've stacked it my way best as I could, the combat replay won't be pretty one way or the other, waiting for the return will be agonizing.

watch your carrier aircraft ranges. The fleets are just enough apart where you are in danger of launching unescorted carrier strikes. Everything should be withon max fighter range.

ORIGINAL: JohnDillworth

watch your carrier aircraft ranges. The fleets are just enough apart where you are in danger of launching unescorted carrier strikes. Everything should be withon max fighter range.

Hey John,

Thanks for the reminder, I've been caught out before so I made sure this time everyone was behaving and flying within Wildcat max range. As it stands, the invasion TF will be at max range of my CV squadrons if nobody moves but if the IJN CVs come south a little more it's gonna be one huge furball.

WUT JUST HAPPENED?
Well, the turn turned out kinda unexpected. I was expecting fireworks but not of the magnitude displayed. Just got off a chat with my opponents and we've decided to call it, the situation from their side of the map looks bleak and I don't enjoy one sided games. Short version is the USN came away with Hornet badly damaged (don't know if she's sunk, haven't seen the turn, just the replay) in exchange for Shokaku, Zuikaku and Ryujo lost. The turn started out hairy for the Allies with Washington eating a fish and Hornet getting pummeled but it was all USN from then on as multiple waves of carrier aircraft pasted the IJN's flattops.

Disasters of this magnitude are I reckon far more difficult to recover from in a scenario whose footprint is as small as Guadalcanal when compared to a GC game, both sides didn't see much else the Japanese side could do to influence the outcome of the game which was why we called it, it was fun playing against Mike and Michael and we'll probably have a beer soon to dissect the game a little more, in the meantime, all of us are dreaming of the day when I gather up the cojones to tackle playing the Japanese side and they the time to take on the Allies in a GC game.

Damn - that's a real blow... I was reading this to find out what might happen next ! ie After US gets a foothold on Guadalcanal, but the Japs move in on Milne Bay

(My game vs AI has reached here though the IJN have caught me unawares twice after an initial success against their carrier group so no wipe-out blow for me).

Also, just reading the Richard Frank Guadalcanal book... the preface includes "The attitudes of the most senior American political and military officials plummeted from ill-founded optimism to resignation to humiliating defeat".

Any plans for a rematch with the reverse sides ?

Chris

I suspect this was luck of the draw with the Japanese player coming out very much on the short end. I wonder if there were other factors at play, or if a replay would have shown a significantly different result. Sometime weather plays a factor

Abbreviated the combat report to mainly focus on CV vs CV action, With the exeception of the Marine DB squadron, LBA was mainly ineffective as expected given their NavB skills. No idea which of the SBD attacks listed here was from the Marines.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Deboyne Islands  at 101,139

Japanese Ships
     SS I-168

Allied Ships
     BB Washington, Torpedo hits 2,  heavy damage (Talk about a good start to the turn)
     DD McCalla

SS I-168 launches 8 torpedoes at BB Washington
I-168 diving deep ....
DD McCalla fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD McCalla fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD McCalla fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD McCalla fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD McCalla fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


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Morning Air attack on TF, near Deboyne Islands at 101,139
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     A6M2 Zero x 81
     B5N1 Kate x 39
     D3A1 Val x 15
     D3A2 Val x 50

Allied aircraft
     F4F-4 Wildcat x 64

Japanese aircraft losses
     A6M2 Zero: 9 destroyed
     B5N1 Kate: 3 destroyed, 19 damaged
     D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed
     D3A2 Val: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
     F4F-4 Wildcat: 4 destroyed

Allied Ships (The first and only IJN strike on my CVs, and look at the damage they did)
     CV Hornet, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 1,  heavy fires,  heavy damage
     CA Pensacola, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
     DD Hutchins, Bomb hits 2,  heavy fires
     DD Benham
     DD Shaw
     CL Achilles, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire
     CA Quincy, Bomb hits 6, Torpedo hits 2,  heavy fires,  heavy damage
     DD Gregory, Bomb hits 1,  on fire
     DD Case, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
     DD Farenholt

Aircraft Attacking:
      9 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
              Naval Attack:  1 x 250 kg AP Bomb
     10 x D3A2 Val releasing from 2000' *
              Naval Attack:  1 x 250 kg AP Bomb
     18 x B5N1 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
              Naval Attack:  1 x 45cm T91 Mod 3 Torp
     10 x D3A2 Val releasing from 3000' *
              Naval Attack:  1 x 250 kg AP Bomb
     14 x B5N1 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
              Naval Attack:  1 x 45cm T91 Mod 3 Torp
      4 x B5N1 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
              Naval Attack:  1 x 45cm T91 Mod 3 Torp
      2 x D3A2 Val releasing from 3000' *
              Naval Attack:  1 x 250 kg AP Bomb
     14 x D3A2 Val releasing from 2000' *
              Naval Attack:  1 x 250 kg AP Bomb
     11 x D3A2 Val releasing from 1000' *
              Naval Attack:  1 x 250 kg AP Bomb
      4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
              Naval Attack:  1 x 250 kg AP Bomb

CAP engaged:
VF-3 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 6 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 20000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 42 minutes
VF-6 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 20000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 44 minutes
     3 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-8 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 12000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 35 minutes
VF-71 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 20000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 47 minutes
     1 planes vectored on to bombers

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Hornet
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Hutchins
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CA Quincy

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Normanby Island at 103,133
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 47 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     A6M2 Zero x 18
     A6M3 Zero x 3

Allied aircraft
     F4F-4 Wildcat x 56
     SBD-3 Dauntless x 35
     TBF-1 Avenger x 30

Japanese aircraft losses
     A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
     F4F-4 Wildcat: 5 destroyed
     SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 7 damaged
     TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged

Japanese Ships (First strike by USN, considering the number of planes committed and the bomb hits I was feeling a little nervous at this point)
     CV Zuikaku, Bomb hits 1,  on fire
     CVL Ryujo, Bomb hits 1
     CA Chikuma
     CV Shokaku, Bomb hits 2,  on fire
     DD Harusame

Aircraft Attacking:
      4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
              Naval Attack:  1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
      8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
              Naval Attack:  1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
     15 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
              Naval Attack:  1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
     14 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
              Naval Attack:  1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
      4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
              Naval Attack:  1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
      5 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
              Naval Attack:  1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
      4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
              Naval Attack:  1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
      6 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
              Naval Attack:  1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
      4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
              Naval Attack:  1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
2nd Ku S-1 with A6M3 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     (3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
     0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 10000
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 12 minutes
Tainan Ku S-2 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 10000
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 42 minutes
EI-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 13000 and 16000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes
EII-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     1 plane(s) intercepting now.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 18000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes
DI-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 15000 and 16000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 49 minutes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Normanby Island at 103,133
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 47 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     A6M2 Zero x 14
     A6M3 Zero x 1

Allied aircraft
     SBD-3 Dauntless x 26

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
     SBD-3 Dauntless: 8 destroyed, 14 damaged

Japanese Ships (Subsequent waves of bombers had no air cover which translated to horrendous losses but they pushed through and got to their targets)
     CVL Ryujo, Bomb hits 2,  heavy fires,  heavy damage
     CV Shokaku,  heavy fires
     CV Zuikaku,  on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
      5 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
              Naval Attack:  1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
      4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
              Naval Attack:  1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
      4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
              Naval Attack:  1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
      3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
              Naval Attack:  1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Tainan Ku S-2 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     1 plane(s) intercepting now.
     Group patrol altitude is 10000
     Raid is overhead
2nd Ku S-1 with A6M3 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 19000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes
EII-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 17000 and 24000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 20 minutes
DI-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     1 plane(s) intercepting now.
     3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 20000 and 22000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 11 minutes
EI-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 21000 and 22000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVL Ryujo

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Normanby Island at 103,133
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 31 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     A6M2 Zero x 5
     A6M3 Zero x 1

Allied aircraft
     SBD-3 Dauntless x 36

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
     SBD-3 Dauntless: 6 destroyed, 8 damaged

Japanese Ships (First of two waves which I think really brought the curtains down on the IJN CVs)
     CV Zuikaku, Bomb hits 1,  heavy fires,  heavy damage
     CA Chikuma
     DD Yayoi
     CA Tone, Bomb hits 2,  on fire
     CV Shokaku,  heavy fires
     CS Chitose, Bomb hits 2,  heavy fires
     CVL Ryujo, Bomb hits 4,  heavy fires,  heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
      8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
              Naval Attack:  1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
      4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
              Naval Attack:  1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
     10 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
              Naval Attack:  1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
      6 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
              Naval Attack:  1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
      4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
              Naval Attack:  1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
2nd Ku S-1 with A6M3 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 10000
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 35 minutes
EII-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 13000 and 17000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 13 minutes
EI-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     1 plane(s) intercepting now.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000
     Raid is overhead
DI-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 14000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 10 minutes

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Zuikaku
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Shokaku
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVL Ryujo

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Normanby Island at 102,133
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     A6M2 Zero x 12

Allied aircraft
     F4F-4 Wildcat x 15
     TBF-1 Avenger x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
     A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
     F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
     TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

Japanese Ships (Unyo was by herself in an adjacent hex to the other 3 CVs)
     CVE Unyo
     DD Akigumo

Aircraft Attacking:
     13 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
              Naval Attack:  1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo

CAP engaged:
Tainan Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     4 plane(s) intercepting now.
     Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Normanby Island at 103,133
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid detected at 41 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes


Allied aircraft
     SBD-3 Dauntless x 13

Allied aircraft losses
     SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships (Second of the "coup de grace" waves, note the timing, the 2 most devastating waves round out the morning strikes)
     CVL Ryujo, Bomb hits 2,  heavy fires,  heavy damage
     CV Zuikaku, Bomb hits 1,  heavy fires,  heavy damage
     CV Shokaku, Bomb hits 2,  heavy fires,  heavy damage
     CA Tone, Bomb hits 2,  heavy fires,  heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
      2 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
              Naval Attack:  1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
      7 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
              Naval Attack:  1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
      4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
              Naval Attack:  1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

Carrier support unable to supply air cover..
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVL Ryujo
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Zuikaku
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Shokaku
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CA Tone

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Normanby Island at 103,133
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid spotted at 42 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     A6M2 Zero x 1
     A6M3 Zero x 3

Allied aircraft
     F4F-4 Wildcat x 22
     SBD-3 Dauntless x 16
     TBF-1 Avenger x 25

Japanese aircraft losses
     A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
     A6M3 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
     SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged
     TBF-1 Avenger: 7 damaged

Japanese Ships (Both the Zuikaku and Ryujo are not present at the start of the afternoon attacks, Hornet's airgroup has also diverted to Milne at this time)
     E Matsukaze
     CV Shokaku, Torpedo hits 1,  heavy fires,  heavy damage
     CA Chikuma
     CS Chitose,  on fire
     CA Tone,  on fire,  heavy damage
     E Yunagi
     E Asanagi

Aircraft Attacking:
      3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
              Naval Attack:  1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
     12 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
              Naval Attack:  1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
     13 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
              Naval Attack:  1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
     12 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
              Naval Attack:  1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
      9 x F4F-4 Wildcat sweeping at 20000 feet *
      5 x F4F-4 Wildcat sweeping at 20000 feet *

CAP engaged:
2nd Ku S-1 with A6M3 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     (3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
     3 plane(s) intercepting now.
     Group patrol altitude is 10000
     Raid is overhead
Tainan Ku S-2 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 10000
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Normanby Island at 103,133
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Allied aircraft
     TBF-1 Avenger x 12

Allied aircraft losses
     TBF-1 Avenger: 8 damaged

Japanese Ships
     CA Chikuma
     CV Shokaku,  heavy fires,  heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
     12 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
              Naval Attack:  1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo

Carrier support unable to supply air cover..
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Looking at the numbers, I had the advantage of decks and numerical superiority on my side, once the IJN CVs got stomped on the morning turn it was just a matter of hanging on till the afternoon to administer the coup de grace, the diminishing fighter cover over the IJN CVs in subsequent attacks is testimony to the havoc caused by the morning strikes, land based A6Ms did fairly well all things considered but numbers were on my side, the afternoon bombing runs just finished the job.

I can't really see coming out of this turn losing this in a strategic sense, the worst case would have been a tactical defeat/draw with the loss of perhaps 3 or all of the USN CVs in exchange for the destruction of all the IJN CVs, having cracked open the turn from the Japanese POV, the IJN had the edge in pilot xp but the USN flyboys were post Midway and definitely not wet behind the ears. Also, given the proximity of land bases, I would have been able to save most of my airgroups as well which would not have helped the Japanese down the road.

Still and all, I can't help coming away with the feeling that RNG flipped the bird at my opponents on this one, I was lucky to come away with such one sided result, things could have turned out bad for both sides instead of just 1.

Nice job Arnhem. You had the superior force here.

I can't help thinking that spreading out the CV in several small taskforces is the way to go. The IJN strike focused on one carrier while your boys got to focus on all at once, damaging them in the initial attack and basicly making them sitting ducks after.

Same thing happened in our little CV fight. I managed to damage two of your CV's but the others were unharmed while you hit 4 of my CVs (one taskforce).

Gives me stuff to think about....

ORIGINAL: Cannonfodder

Nice job Arnhem. You had the superior force here.

I can't help thinking that spreading out the CV in several small taskforces is the way to go. The IJN strike focused on one carrier while your boys got to focus on all at once, damaging them in the initial attack and basicly making them sitting ducks after.

Same thing happened in our little CV fight. I managed to damage two of your CV's but the others were unharmed while you hit 4 of my CVs (one taskforce).

Gives me stuff to think about....

Indeed, I was thinking the same thing, although a sample size of 2 doesn't go far the result so far have been telling, I find myself going back to the other AARs and trying to find if others have been getting similar results.

I've only played 2 games of PBEM, one as Americans and one as Japanese in Guadalcanal. And in both the Americans split their carriers up, so that the initial Japanese wave really, really smashed one TF, but the counterattack destroyed all 3 Japanese carriers. Those Jap carriers are so fragile that one or two bomb hits puts them out of action, and then as Cannonfodder says it's sitting duck time.

How about splitting the Jap carriers then as well?

Yep, it seems like the logical move. Haven't tried this yet, but might run a few tests to see how it affects the outcome of the battle.